20/01/2018 Football Focus

Regis taking it well

on the chest and a lovely piece

of control by Regis.

Oh, what a great shot!

Oh, one of the goals

of the season, Cyrille Regis.

That was 1982's Goal of the Season -

just one of the many

memorable moments

that Cyrille Regis provided us

with over the years.

We'll offer our own tribute

in the next hour, and Jermaine Jenas

and Kevin Kilbane will be amongst

those reflecting on his

remarkable legacy.

We also have all this

on the way for you.

Can Paul Lambert save Stoke City?

The man himself is in no doubt.

None whatsoever. As I told you right

now, none whatsoever.

Christian Eriksen wants

some Spurs silverware.

If we are lucky enough to get a

trophy, a few more...

Valencia new boy Francis Coquelin

on Arsenal's January sales.

Obviously if they let Sanchez go,

they will need to strengthen the

team.

And ahead of the Edinburgh derby,

Craig Levein talks Hearts' revival.

I felt it was partly my

responsibility the club was weird

was, and I felt a real need to try

and help them to fix it.

That's all

to come.

All Premier League players will wear

black armbands in memory

of Cyrille Regis today.

We'll have team news

from the Amex shortly.

We'll also be live at

Turf Moor, the King Power

and the London Stadium.

Sam Allardyce takes charge

of his 1000th game as a manager

when Everton face West Brom,

and Arsenal set to be

Alexi Sanchez-less when

they take on Palace -

more on that soon.

At tea time, the no-longer

invincible leaders host Newcastle.

Tomorrow sees Spurs

travel to Southampton.

And Swansea's match with a red-hot

Liverpool rounds things

off on Monday night.

Last Monday we brought the news that

Stoke City had appointed

Paul Lambert as their new manager.

Paul Lambert as their new manager.

Later that night, he

watched his new side

from the stands at Old Trafford.

COMMENTATOR:

Stoke have taken six

points off Manchester United since

Jose Mourinho's appointment. They

very often raise their game against

today's opponents. Paul Lambert is

watching tonight before he takes

control. Loads of space for Antonio

Valencia, his left foot, into the

back of the net!

Manchester United score. And already

he has to see how his team perform

being behind in the game. The

Manchester United goal is leading a

charmed life here, attempt from

Choupo-Moting. 2-0 to Manchester

United! Anthony Martial. Brilliant

saved by David de Gea! Anthony

Martial know into the box, could

have been a handball from Lukaku.

It's a goal for Romelu Lukaku. Job

done by Jose Mourinho's team. And it

is no buck to the trend that has

seen Stoke in the relegation zone.

is no buck to the trend that has

seen Stoke in the relegation zone.

Thank you to all those shouting at

their television and these two have

been shouting as well.

So a 13th defeat of

the season for Stoke.

It's a big task for the new man.

Paul Lambert has been

talking to Mark Clemmit.

How are you?

Good.

Beautiful. Are

you

you cold?

No.

You have slightly more hair than

me. I have seen how well you have

worked.

Is this a chat up line?

Are

you ready to immerse yourself right

back in this torture chamber again?

It does things with people.

Yes, but

I think it is great. It is what I

have done for all my days, really,

and it is great. I never thought I

would get the opportunity,

especially with the Premier League

club. If you are a manager, you have

been in there, but to survive in the

Premiership... Did I think this

chance would come? No. When you

didn't think you would get a chance

in the Premier League? No.

I think those images of view, on

Match of the Day. It must be

horrendous pressure.

You become somebody you're not,

really, when you stand on that

technical area and things are really

going against you and the fans are

calling for you to go, the banners

up, and no matter what you have done

in your own career, it is all over

place at times. The stress on your

brain, thinking how can I win again?

You try to shift it, think of

something else to do, go to 3-4

systems, five systems. You're

confusing yourself, confusing the

players...

A solution to join

something around, to survive.

That

is what you're trying to do.

COMMENTATOR:

Not a great start to

the New Year for Mark Hughes, and

you can see what the supporters

think of it.

Charlie, have the

players self analysed what hasn't

happened so far this season?

Of

course you do. Especially when you

lose a manager, individually and

collectively you need to know the

reasons why. Let's be honest, and

brutally honest, we have not been

good enough, not reaching the levels

we have reached in previous seasons

and unfortunately the manager

carries the can for the whole club.

I have been through what Mark went

through and I know exactly what it

is like. Something different,

whatever it was going to be, either

me or somebody else, they needed

something different. I good nucleus

of football this year.

Paul Lambert

is the new Stoke City manager,

signing a two and a half year

contract.

You just have to... You

got a call to see come in and chat

and the deal was done very quickly?

Yes. I knew it was great club, the

Premier League there as well, and a

real talented group here. It never

entered my frame of mind, OK, one

manager has turned it down and so

has another, but...

Do you have to

earn your stripes when you go in

there? Do you have to get your tone

just right?

I think you need to lay

down the law, really. OK, this is

what we are playing, this is what we

want to do, what to achieve. I know

the way we want to play, the system

we want to play and what we want to

try and do, and I have it obviously

planned out, but what the game plan

will be on Saturday... It is just a

matter of trying to choose the right

team to win a game. 15 games are

like 15 cup finals I think that we

need to win. What I have seen so

far, there are more than capable of

winning.

No doubt in your mind that

Stoke City will be saved this

season?

None whatsoever, as I talk

to you right now.

He is absolutely

clear he does not expect you to get

relegated this season. Is that an

ethos is shared by the squad?

Of

course, if you look at the talent we

have. And talent alone does not win

you games, it is hard work that wins

games. We win or lose as a group but

for most importance is we get back

to winning days. If we don't,

everybody knows what will happen.

The game is about winning and I

don't think that should never be

taken away from it. You have to win

games, no matter what.

STUDIO: Confidence both from the

manager and Charlie Adam there.

Other managers linked with it,

Martin O'Neill, Quique Flores, but

what an opportunity for Paul

Lambert, Kevin?

A big opportunity

for him after what happened with

Wolves and Villa, so not last

chance, but he certainly... And he

has the pedigree. He had success

with what he did at Norwich.

Has to

learn from his mistakes as well.

Yes, particularly at Villa, where he

had a high budget and a lot of

players and it didn't work out for

him. Going in into similar

circumstances at Stoke, big budget,

big players on big wages, and he

needs to get them all together

quickly.

It is quite obvious what he

needs to do. They concede more goals

than anyone in the top five leagues

in Europe. He needs to shore them

up.

Weirdly, the invested in two

defensive players in the summer,

Kurt Zouma... But when you look at

them defensively, especially against

Manchester United on Monday night, I

thought it was a team issue. I think

that is pretty poor from the

left-back personally. The young lad,

give him the benefit of the doubt,

he will learn from that, being shown

down the line, but it is not just

individuals. They need to be harder

to beat, Stoke. They seem a little

too easy to play against, and this

came in particular, you can set here

and rave about Manchester United and

I fought they were brilliant and

don't want to take anything away

from that, but it also looked really

easy. People playing in third gear.

You think that is why he made that

comment in the interview about

laying down the law? An interesting

tactic.

It is a fine line. They have had a

pretty low season in terms of morale

at Stoke, a lot of pressure on the

manager, Mark Hughes, and the

players, and I think there needs to

be and not in terms of positivity

and I am sure he will bring that

under the training pitch but

obviously the next group of games we

have seen just there are vital, that

they get not only draws but also

some wins.

Look at the three goals

they conceded there. Historically,

how many bodies did Stoke get back

into position? Throwing themselves

in front of the ball. They just

didn't have anyone doing that. They

had more than enough bodies back in

position and it was easy for United

to score.

Perhaps a new manager can

make that subtle change. What about

Huddersfield? Talking about the big

period for Stoke, but crucial for

them as well. They can't slow down

and be petrified of relegation.

They

are only four point ahead of Stoke

and what a difference it will make

to Stoke if they win the game, but

you think, yes, of wins, it is a

vital period for them. If they are

conceding like the Adebayor, they

will be in trouble.

We are all in

our little summer shorts. Shall we

see how cold it was for this one...

Manchester United saw

off Stoke on Monday.

Today, they are at Burnley.

Jonathan Pearce will be commentating

on this one for Match of the Day.

Give an update is not just on the

hat, but on what we know about

Alexis Sanchez?

And getting ready

for rush. With my geographic ability

no doubt I will end up in Siberia,

and if I end up there, it is for

sure that I will be taking Kilbane

with me. Alexis Sanchez said goodbye

to the Arsenal players last night,

and we think the deal will be done

in the next 24 hours. Mkhitaryan's

deal will be done separately. Very

differently because of the fees and

agents involved, but he should be an

Arsenal player again in the next two

days. He said his goodbyes to the

Manchester United players yesterday

I gather as well. Arsenal's next

plan will be to confirm the deal

with Aubameyang who was left out of

the Borussia Dortmund squad for the

last game, but I think all those

details will be confirmed on Monday.

Thank you. Just to give our viewers

one last lingering look at your hat.

If you can stay down the camera,

beautiful. The Phil Davy Crockett!

-- The full Davy Crockett!

Well, like Manchester United,

Chelsea are intent on securing

their top four position,

but it was FA Cup action

for the Blues on Wednesday night

as the Canaries came to town.

It was all about

reviewing the reviews.

COMMENTATOR:

Fourth in the Premier

League meets 13th in the

Championship and we will have a

result tonight. Danny Drinkwater

going for goal, slamming the

crossbar. Just off the top of the

bar! He finds the back of the net,

Batshuayi! It is in! They have

equalised, right at the end of the

game. Lewis has

equalised, right at the end of the

game. Lewis has got it! Norwich City

will be looking forward to the next

30 minutes. Entered Bakayoko,

brilliant play. Goes down inside the

box and the referee does not give

the penalty, given the other way. No

sign at the moment...

We think it is

a clear obvious penalty.

a clear obvious penalty.

Challenged

by Pedro. Already booked and he will

be sent off. Morato, under pressure,

goes down, no penalty, a free kick

and Morato gets the yellow card

within his face. Norwich City have

taken the champions Chelsea to

penalties. Norwich City, saved! By

the Argentinian! Hazard strokes at

home! Finally, Chelsea prevail.

So Chelsea squeak through,

but no Pedro or Morata

for them today at Brighton,

and Simon Brotherton has

rest of the team news.

Plenty of team used to get through

here, six changes for Chelsea from

Wednesday night, although Caballero

stays in goal because Thibaut

Courtois has turned an ankle in

training. Still no Fabregas Gary

Cahill with injury. Andreas

Christensen and Antonio Rudiger

replace David Luiz and Ethan Ampadu

at the back. N'Golo Kante returns in

place of Danny Drinkwater in

midfield. Both regular wingback

scumbag into the team, Marcos Alonso

on the left, Victor Moses on the

right and Eden Hazard starts in

place of Pedro further forward.

Write and make five changes as they

go to a back three, Conor Goldson

coming in, Markus Suttner and

Schelotto the wingbacks, Solly March

starting and the attack is led by

Tomer Hemed with Glenn Murray

dropped to the bench, as if

Izquierdo.

We will look through those sites,

Chelsea with a couple of changes,

Batshuayi upfront and Ross Barkley

on the bench. I wanted to talk to

you about VAR because it has been a

hot topic. We mulled weave onto the

game later. Antonio Conte has voiced

some concerns. You were at the game.

What I find surprising is that Mike

Jones, who was the man watching it,

did not seem to watch it from the

right angle, the Willian incident,

or at the right speed to make a

decision.

or at the right speed to make a

decision.

It seems Mike Jones having to

operate the system on his own is not

the way

operate the system on his own is not

the way forward. It feels like they

may need a professional operator to

keep up with the speed of being able

to make the decision and give them

enough angle to make the right

decision. Obviously, I did the

commentary on the day and I felt it

was clear as day it was a penalty.

The fact that they did not seem to

review it. You know, it was not

clear to anyone in the stadium that

we have reviewed it and we are still

saying we don't think it is a

penalty which would have infuriated

people even more. That was really

confusing side of things. I think we

have to be careful because it is

still in a trial phase and you don't

want to start destroying it because

I think it will be good for the game

eventually. But when things like

that happen, it really knocks you

for six. I suppose that is the

problem.

And it is annoying because

the technology is there and we saw

it the previous night at the King

Power when Kelechi Iheanacho's

second goal was rightly given.

It

was and I thought he was offside

initially and it was a good decision

but once it was reviewed, it was

Nathan Pond's trailing leg that kept

Iheanacho onside. I think it was

done in under 70 seconds and I

thought Jon Moss is did brilliantly,

bided his time, waited and he did

not even go to the site to review it

himself he was told from up above it

was clearly on-site and gave the

goal, it was handled perfectly and

brilliantly and there was tension in

the stadium around it but I thought

it was brilliantly handled and

worked so well and that man Jon Moss

handle did brilliantly. No

complaints at the King Power on

Tuesday but I was watching the game

on Wednesday night when Jermaine was

commentating and Jermaine had it

within two replays, two or three,

maximum, he knew it was a

maximum, he knew it was a penalty

and that was why we were watching

it, going "It's a penalty, why

hasn't it been given?"

We should not

moan to much because it is for games

hasn't it been given?"

We should not

moan to much because it is for games

in and it will get better. A quick

word on Peter Grant potentially

cajoled the question mark they gone

to review.

Don't get me wrong, I

thought it was a weird one when I

woke up and heard about it! It seems

Antonio Conte wants a plan B. He has

highlighted taller players to fit

the mould.

Andy Carroll, Peter

Crouch.

I've played with Peter

Crouch and for me, he's as good as

it gets when it comes to plan B.

It's not a long-term situation, big

contract anything. I'm sure it will

be short-term, for Antonio Conte to

have another option in the next few

months.

Let's look at the Brighton

team.

Five changes today, and I was going

to ask you, Kevin change to this is

more personal, do they bring someone

in and last night they signed Jurgen

Locaydia, £14 million, not available

today but is it the right time of

the season to have a change?

I think

Chris Hughton has recognised they

need a freshen up, like we said

about Huddersfield earlier, they are

in a position where it is tipping

one way or another. What does he do?

He's gone out and signed striker

because they need goals, they are

solid and difficult to play against,

they don't concede too many but now

suddenly they are in a position by

signing of striker where they have

more firepower.

These are the set

pieces they conceded against West

Brom last weekend.

That's one of eight games today.

Tomorrow's sole offering sees

Southampton face Spurs.

Christian Eriksen has been a key man

for Tottenham again this season

and he sat down this week

with Karthi Gnanasegaram.

Christian Eriksen!

It's in!

Absolutely brilliant goal from

Eriksen!

Christian Eriksen! That was

smashed in.

Eriksen!

Christian Eriksen! That was

smashed in.

You already know 2018 will be

exciting of the pitch.

Congratulations to you and Sabrina.

You have spoken to Harry Kane who's

had a new baby as well.

Of course,

we spoke to a lot of people who had

babies, trying to learn stuff from

them and see what they do but you

what to do it in your own way as

well and you don't know what it is

before it is so there's not much to

ask.

A big year on the pitch as

well, a World

well, a World Cup year for you, nine

goals in nine games for Denmark in

2017 including a hat-trick against

Ireland to get to Russia. For you,

what does it mean to play in a World

Cup again?

It will be very special

and a big difference compared to the

first time when I played one or two

games before I went to the World Cup

so it was a bit of a quick one. I

was a young guy trying to keep my

level up to the highest level and

now I'm there is so for me

personally, and for the team, it

will be a different experience going

there. Now I'm 26 and I'm looking

forward to it.

You were not the

youngest boy at the 2010 World Cup

at the time. There was a lot of

pressure then. You're now the

talisman for Denmark. What is the

pressure like now and how do you

cope with it?

The pressure back then

was more open, to show yourself to

the world and to everyone that you

can play. Now it is about keeping

the ability and being an important

man for the team, like you said, and

for the country. It is two different

stories, from one who just came to

watch and now you are one who can't

even believe it has been eight years

since the last time. It has gone

quick.

Eriksen! It is in. Harry

Kane. Son Square, 2-0. Great goal.

4-0. Son Heung-min. Harry Kane has

done it!

Great game at the weekend.

It will be different compared to the

first one because they probably

don't want to get beaten as big as

they did last time so it will be a

different game to watch.

You had

such a good run of form that that

was after what was not a great

November. Has anything switched over

in his last period?

Not really, even

the big games in November, we always

had a lot of shots, created a lot of

chances but we didn't score. Now it

is the difference, the ball goes in

the goal a bit easier, the game is a

bit more open and it gives us a bit

more confidence going into the game

that we know we will score two or

three. That is just is. You go on

some good games and bad games and

you are trying to keep the good

memories on top of everything and

really just keep improving when you

do it. Like I said, we are on a good

run but it is only the start. It

will be a long one.

With a group of

players that quite clearly from

watching get on very well, is their

role so the idea you want to win a

trophy together?

I think every team

has it. Every team wants to win

something. Some of them are lucky

enough to get a trophy or a few

more. Of course, we have not had

anything at Spurs. It will be new

for us to be in that position. We

have been close, lost a final of

course but getting there will be a

big step for us and I'm sure we will

keep the level up that we did the

last three seasons and hopefully be

a trophy again, yes.

A big year in store for Christian

Eriksen on and off the pitch. He

dropped the T bomb, trophy, there.

This site had a blip around

November, really good over Christmas

and New Year but unless they win

some silverware, will everyone

always said they were good but what

did they win?

They will do, simple

as that. That is getting thrown at

them on a daily basis even now. They

are that good as the team, the

manager is fantastic and there is

just this one thing everyone is

waiting for. Individually, they

could all come you know,

waiting for. Individually, they

could all come you know, we have

seen with Kyle Walker, looks like he

will go to Manchester City and win

another trophy, they have started to

put in the performances as we saw

last week against Everton, they were

phenomenal in this game but I think

the most important thing that is in

these players' mind is they have

been together for so long now, they

want to win something together. It's

going off on your own to bigger

clubs in winning silverware which

they are all capable of doing but

doing it together with this manager

in this moment, when they all feel

they deserve it is what will be

really special.

But how long can it

last? That is the question.

They

will lose players, I suppose, which

is part of the issue and the longer

you go without a trophy, the more

pressure it puts on you. But they

are good enough to cross the line. I

suppose they need a bit of luck

along the way to get themselves into

another final oral final.

New

stadium on the Wes Welker exciting

times for Spurs but everyone is

crying out for the silverware. In

Southampton this weekend, no wins in

ten. We have got relative positions

after this number of games in the

last six seasons. Most times we say

they sell their best players but the

model works. Could this be the

season that it fails them?

I've been

to watch Southampton a few times

this season and it's becoming a bit

lifeless, watching them. There's no

sort of excitement watching them

like there has been in the past and

that is where, if you asked the

question, do you feel as though the

model can continue, it always seems

it will come to an end eventually.

That is just doable.

You can't keep

doing it.

How sustainable is it?

That is the thing. Personally,

watching them, I think they will be

in trouble to the end of the season

because I feel as though there is no

spark watching them. They are going

to Spurs tomorrow, Spurs are playing

against a side where you feel they

could go there and hurt them badly

with the players they have got. I

worry for Southampton.

Well, if Southampton and Spurs can

tomorrow produce anything half

as good as the game at Anfield last

Sunday, then Match of the Day 2

This could be an epic game of

attack, attack, attack. Good run by

Oxlade-Chamberlain, goes for it and

scores! Liverpool lead! Leroy Sane

scores! Great equaliser from

Manchester City. Delph! Flicks the

bar. Firmino, no foul! It is

curling! It is in! Mane! He's hit

the post. A let off for City. Mane.

This time, he scores! Listened to

the noise! Mo Salah, does he go for

it? He does and he has scored!

Anfield is shaking. Manchester City

are rocking. Aguero, beautifully

played, gun began, good block,

Bernardo Silva scores for Manchester

City. 4-2. Gunn began, dangerous,

goal! 4-3. If Manchester City get

out of here unbeaten, it will be

practically miraculous. Manchester

City free kick. This is going to be

interesting. Kevin De Bruyne's bull

in! The flag was up anyway. City are

beaten for the first time in the

Premier League this season. Their

dirty game league unbeaten run has

come to an end. -- 30 game.

That was

a proper game of

come to an end. -- 30 game.

That was

a proper game of football. Do you

think, people have talked about

Manchester City losing for the first

time

Manchester City losing for the first

time and have Liverpool fan some

frailties or was it one of those

games when everything that could

have gone wrong for Manchester City

did?

I think Liverpool can do this

to anyone in Europe when they are at

it and the stadium has that type of

atmosphere, anyone could rock up to

Anfield and ship for goals. Yes,

City makes some big mistakes which

we have not seen this year but let's

not forget, Liverpool still had to

score four to win a game at home and

it nearly still didn't quite go

their way. It's one of the best

games of football I've seen in a

long time. I absolutely loved it but

it felt like a one-off to me. City

still showed so much character and

spirit to get into it even after big

mistakes from Ederson, just like

that. But Liverpool, what a

performance. Like I said, they will

do that to anyone, I really believe

it.

Mo Salah scores again. Klopp has

confirmed Loris Karius as his number

one so does that mean he will not

strengthen in that position and

stick by him?

He clearly needs to.

Either goalkeeper, you can't be

convinced by. Personally, I think

this is a mistake, a good strike

from Leroy Sane but I think it's a

mistake. This has happened regularly

with Liverpool. They were so

dominant in the first half, they

could have been two or three up and

a goalkeeping error has allowed City

back. In the first ten or 15 minutes

of the second half before Liverpool

got the second, City were on top so

the mistake can Kostyuk and it is

continuously happening. He's not

been convinced with Mignolet, Loris

Karius has not been convincing

cities gone there. I think it is the

key area Liverpool need to

strengthen now and if they do, they

can seriously content neck season.

They are formidable. City host

Newcastle in the late game. We keep

on having the same conversation

about Newcastle. The manager wants

to strengthen but the club cannot

seem to get the sale over the line,

they are holding out for a better

deal at both ends up things. If they

don't sort

deal at both ends up things. If they

don't sort this out in January, and

Benitez does not get the players he

is talking about. Could this then

badly?

Triggered. I can't remember

the last Newcastle were the Premier

League and did not have any issues.

It's ridiculous, there's always

something going on. The issue is as

a player when you want to join an

amazing club like Newcastle, one of

the big things you want is the

assurance Rafa Benitez will be there

to help continue your career in the

right direction, as well as joining

a fantastic football club. But

right direction, as well as joining

a fantastic football club. But there

no assurances Benitez will be their

past the summer with what is going

on right now, the uncertainty of

being able to strengthen and bring

in players and they desperately need

to. Dropping points to Swansea last

week, it said a lot to me. It is a

worrying sign. They had to win this

game. The fact they didn't was a

terrible result. Yes, they got back

into it but at the same time, they

need goals and they need to be

stronger at the back. They need more

to stay in this league. As it

stands, for me, I've said before, I

think it will be an unbelievable

result if they manage to even stay

in the Premier League this year.

Well, Liverpool were amongst

a number of clubs taking part this

week in the launch of Super Movers.

Heard about that one?

The BBC and the Premier League have

made it their mission to help

primary leak children move more.

Superstars like this...

And this,

will be joining forces to energise

young kids and help kids get moving,

to the Super Movers beat.

Well worth checking out.

Time for another type of mover now

in Francis Coquelin,

who has swapped north London

for the sunshine of Spain.

I have been here only a week now but

I am settling in very well, all the

people are very nice. There was

interest from Valencia in the summer

and I think I will try to get my

place back at Arsenal, but that

didn't happen so in the January

window when I heard they were still

interested it was a good opportunity

for me to enjoy my football and,

here and try to do something.

The league is different in England,

you know, a bit more physical. The

way the top teams try to play, but

it is quite physical as well. Here

you have physical abilities as well

but technically I think that La Liga

is superb, and that all the teams

can play. It all a lot to Arsenal

Football Club, they raised me as a

footballer but as a man as

footballer but as a man as well -- I

owe a lot to Arsenal Football Club.

To the manager as well, he raised

me. And I am at Valencia to write a

new chapter of my life.

Theo Walcott

has left and Alexis Sanchez is the

big move, possibly going to

Manchester United.

Heard a lot of

things in the dressing room but I

don't really know where they come

from. He is someone who is always

keen to work. I don't think the

squad is the problem, it is just the

uncertainty around him.

I don't think it a crisis. Obviously

they need a couple of results to get

going again obviously if Alexis

Sanchez goes, they will need to

strengthen the team, and for the

fans as well, because they demand

obviously a competitive team.

They will be upset if no one comes

in in the transfer market for

Sanchez.

Is Wenger the right person

to see the club through this?

People

tend to forget what he has done for

the club. The frustration, I think

everyone needs to stand by him. He's

the manager of the club and I think

everyone has to be him. Because that

is the only way the results will

turn around.

STUDIO: Surprised he left Arsenal.

He did a good job?

I'm not surprised he left. I thought

a couple of years ago he was doing a

really good job and everyone was

talking about this guy, solid

midfield, love the tackle, and I

think this year, and the second half

of last year, I felt the Arsenal

fans turned on him a little bit.

Yes, he had some poor performances,

and I think the sending off at White

Hart Lane was one of the big ones,

but at the same time, younger

player, stick with him. Help build

him up, maybe. I know me and Kevin

firmly believe he is better than

Elneny, so have they let him down a

little? I just think of it Arsenal

fans turned on him and it had a

knock-on effect on his performances.

Another man who has left Arsenal,

Theo Walcott. Off to Everton. I

don't know if you saw the press

Conference, but speaking with great

confidence, enjoyed being with big

Sam Allardyce there as well. Right

move for him at the rate he

Ministry?

I thought he was great in

the press Conference, spoke

brilliantly, obviously got it to

have left Arsenal the way it is. I

think it is perhaps two years behind

when he should have gone because

almost in those last two, three

years, he has gone a bit stale and

some players need that moves to

reignite their career. I think it is

a great move for Everton. They

desperately need pace and don't have

a lot upfront. I think he will be

that player they can bring in to

make those runs that Gylfi

Sigurdsson Wayne Rooney can pick him

out, so I think there's a good move

from their point of view. I look at

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and I think

Theo Walcott is thinking, hang on,

he left and all of a sudden he's

producing this form at Liverpool. I

want a piece of that. I want to go

and get better. And I think that

will happen now years gone.

Chelsea

have already scored against

Brighton, by the way, Hazard scoring

for Chelsea. Talking about players

coming in, Aubameyang, an

interesting one. Is that the right

sort of move for Arsenal? Because

the fans need something this

January.

I think so. We definitely

haven't seen the best of Mkhitaryan,

at Borussia Dortmund, always linked

up with Aubameyang and hurt teams in

Europe. I think what hearts Arsenal

the most is sending one of their

stars to a rival, but I think it

will appease them, if they can bring

in Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan, I

think it is a step in the right

direction, to appease them. And also

perhaps adapting their style a bit,

going forward and be more creative.

And they take on Palace today. The

statistics around them are

ludicrous. There start of the season

and they are now 12th and they have

only lost three of the last 16. What

a job he has done.

You have to

admire him. He is not trying to play

anything up, post much, just plays

it cool, not pulling his own

trumpet. Says we have a long way to

go, just playing it cool, that is

his ethos and it has been great to

see -- post match.

OK.

Bournemouth buoyant after beating

Arsenal and then, a midweek FA Cup

exit at the hands of Wigan.

They got off to a bad start

when the Wigan skipper Sam Morsy

slotted home after Will Grigg's

effort was saved.

The League 1 leaders

doubled their advantage

in the second half.

Substitute Dan Burn converting

Max Power's cross.

In off the bar, and three minutes

later it was all over,

when this well-directed header

from Callum Elder

made it 3-0.

How about that for are perfectly

aimed header?

Paul Cook's side will now face

West Ham in the fourth round.

So it could have been

West Ham and Bournemouth

in the FA Cup next Saturday.

It is West Ham and Bournemouth in

the Premier League this afternoon.

Steve Bower is there for us.

Apart from comparing notes on Wigan,

an aborted game for both sides?

Yes,

you're right. Both have had a

resurgence -- an important game for

both sides. Speaking about Crystal

Palace, but West Ham have something

similar. They picked up three points

from 24 and in the last 24 they

suddenly have 15 on the board and it

led to David Moyes yesterday

speaking about five more wins to get

to that magical 40 point mark. Real

momentum suddenly about West Ham. He

has brought that organisation which

we knew he would do and he has goals

at the other end. Marko Arnautovic

is a big reason for that, six

is a big reason for that, six goals

in his last seven games, linking up

with Manuel Lanzini. Only losing one

of their last eight at home and

suddenly there is a different

feeling in the stadium. This fixture

of course open the Premier League at

the London stadium, which they won

one of his era. For these teams,

suddenly of results go their way

they could find themselves in the

top half of the table

psychologically by the end of this

evening. Speaking psychologically,

Bournemouth, yes, after that FA Cup,

Eddie Howe making eight changes, but

what a lift and a shot in the arm

for them to beat Arsenal at home.

Since I saw them lose heavily at the

Etihad Stadium, what a change, they

have a chance to keep that going.

These two are separated by just one

point. A landmark day for Eddie Howe

as well, his 100th Premier League

game, the youngest Premier League

manager to reach that landmark. I

will let you there think about the

other two.

Brighton are 2-0 down to

Chelsea, Willian getting the second.

More from Steve

on Final Score later.

Dion Dublin and Alex Scott will be

across all the 3 o'clocks

with Eilidh Barbour.

Jermaine is back tonight

with Alan Shearer

and Gary on Match of the Day.

MOTD2 extra tomorrow

with Southampton

and Spurs to look forward to.

And Mark Chapman will complete

the weekend at 10:30pm tomorrow.

Last Saturday, West Brom

won their first league match

since August, but any joy

was quickly tempered

by the news on Monday

morning that their former striker

Cyrille Regis had died suddenly

at the age of 59.

Albion fan Adrian Chiles looks back

on his life and legacy.

He was just a leader, a trailblazer.

Very dignified.

Cyrille was a lovely

guy, a gentleman.

God must be short

of strikers, and he has chosen the

right one.

The man who did so much

to change British football was

actually born in French Guyana.

Raised in West London, he trained as

an electrician after leaving school

but in 1977 his talent caught the

eye of West Brom and suddenly a new

career and a new era in British

football sparked into life.

COMMENTATOR:

Superb! Cyrille Regis

has come from semiprofessional

football, and he has blasted his way

into the scene at the top.

He played

with a certain freedom, because he

came from non-league. A wonderful

centre forward. He played with a

smile on his face.

He could bring

people into play quite comfortably,

make runs, scorer goals from all

sorts of places, spectacular goals.

A real powerful runner. A number

nine that most clubs now play with

more than a lot of money for, but a

team player that had real good

individual qualities that could

create something and of course we

remember some of the wonderful

individual goals he scored.

COMMENTATOR:

What a great shot! One

of the goals of the season, Cyrille

Regis!

As the goal Lewin Dooley Max

Lowe in far uglier things flew down

from the terraces. At a time when

not many black players played

football, he was the target of vile

relentless racist abuse.

I was

listening on the TV, and obviously I

didn't know what was going on but

you could hear the monkey chants.

The aggravation we talked about in

the 70s and a diplomat, all the

racial aggravation, I never saw

Cyrille get angry. He just seemed to

show people his ability -- in the

70s and 80s.

If you can apply your

trade on a football pitch well

getting abused, nonstop, you are

bigger man than me because I

probably would have reacted. That is

what makes them different, what

makes Cyrille different.

His bride

defied prejudiced the matter how

extreme.

I got picked to play for

England. A letter came through the

post, and I got a letter saying if

you ever step foot on this Wembley

pitch you will get one of these in

your knees. We showed it to the

boys. It wasn't going to stop me.

A

death threat shrugged off with the

same ease he would see off a

defender's challenge. He would

eventually get the silverware his

career deserved, with Coventry in

1987, the FA Cup. But his impact in

football can't simply be measured in

goals or trophies. His greatest

triumph was what came afterwards,

inspiring and paving the way for the

next generation.

I remember my uncle

Cyrille, everyone so proud of what

he was doing and the Strachey was

making not just for himself and our

family but for black people in

England -- the strides that he was

making. Sign without the strength of

character he had, people like me

would not have had the opportunity.

--

yes, without the strength of

character he had.

We will try and

take on what he has taught us and

inspire the next generation of

footballers, black, white, orange,

we don't care.

Cyrille Regis open

and closed mind and in the process

open the door to a new era for

others. His legacy will be seen on

football pitches up and down the

country on this and every weekend.

He was an inspiration, an icon, a

hero and a friend, and society, as

much as football, should forever be

grateful to them.

much as football, should

forever be grateful to him.

What a man. So sad he has gone.

People paying tribute not just

there, but throughout the week, of

what an inspiration he has been to

so many players, whatever

generation.

Yes, and I think it was

put well better by those players,

Brian Deane and so on, about exactly

what Cyrille brought to the game. In

my house he was like a god. I

obviously didn't really get to see

much of his era but my parents, my

mum and my dad, the always

emphasised to me what Cyrille

brought to the game to allow me to

go and enjoy the game, basically,

that I loved, with freedom, because

that is what I got. I suppose what

he went through as an experience was

far beyond that but it was the level

of class he did it with, and that

was just one side. What an

unbelievable football player as

well. Seriously sad day, and I think

you can see how emotional the people

that were closer to him are.

I find

it amazing. What was alluded to the,

the skill of the abuse he received,

and yet not react to that, and sort

of kill them with kindness, that is

the mark of the man, isn't it?

Which

is not an easy thing to do.

When

people hate and are viable, the

things through the post, not only to

kind of kill them with kindness but

to show I think the level of

bravery, to step into that type of

arena, face that type of adversity

head on and deal with it, I mean,

that is why everybody else behind,

following Cyrille, says, OK, they

can get a bullet through the post

and step on that pitch in an England

shirt I step out and do myself proud

as well. Unbelievable.

You came across at West Brom?

He was

my coach said two years. I signed

for West Brom as a record signing

and it was a bit of a burden on my

shoulders at the time. I struggled

initially to adapt and adjust.

Cyrille was there alongside me. You

spoke about a burden, it might have

been a burden on me but what I was

feeling was nothing compared to what

Cyrille felt when he played himself.

He used to put his arm around me,

honestly, firstly, his smile was the

most infectious smile you could ever

imagine. Just when he used to chat

to you in a calm way, you would come

away from Cyrille feeling ten feet

tall, we just knew him as Big C, he

was a great character and

personality but what he meant to

Midlands football in general, and

particularly West Brom, wherever we

would go or travel to, they did not

want to see us, the modern-day

birds, they wanted to speak to

Cyrille and listen to his stories.

Having all those rivals and be loved

by everybody.

How we could play for

Wolves and West Brom and be loved by

both, I don't know, Coventry and

Aston Villa but I can't speak highly

enough for what he did to me from a

personal view. He was not a black

coach to me, he was just a coach,

that is all. He was great around the

place, an amazing character.

We saw

Chris Hughton in the piece and this

was the minute's applause before

Brighton and Chelsea today, and it

will happen at every game and the

players will wear black armbands.

Thank you for your beautiful

tributes, both, I know he knew

inspired you and you knew him Wright

Chu-Young gripper germane. -- knew

him in your young career, germane.

John Motson is at the King Power

Stadium today for Leicester's

match with Watford.

I know you, dated lots on Cyrille

Regis write your career. It's been a

tough week in Kaboul. What are your

particular memories of him?

Not just

the memories of Cyrille, it is what

they had to put up with in the 70s

and 80s, the black players, when I

was commentating. I won't go into

detail but things were thrown, said

enchanted, terrible abuse. I was

once on a plane with the England

team when John Barnes had scored a

great goal and there was a far right

group of people on the plane who

were shouting down the aisles,

"England only won 1-0 because we're

not counting your goal". That was

the kind of level it went to. This

was the era Cyrille Regis came into

along with Laurie Cunningham and

Brendon Batson, the three degrees,

as Ron Atkinson christen them at

West Brom and that was a fine team,

by the way. But Cyrille presented a

lot of other players, Clyde Best at

West Ham, one of the first place to

receive series of abuse but Cyrille

brought dignity and decency --

decency to it as well as brilliant

football. I can't top Adrian Chiles'

words on his fine career, it was

magnificent. I have to say, having

thought about it this way, I think

he was probably a pioneer, a

vanguard in a movement which saw the

black community, and we are not just

talking football, by the way, get

the state is they deserved in the

70s and 80s. It was a social issue

and he was right at the heart of it.

I am at Leicester this morning,

dang, and you won't mind me saying

we have had a great hero passing in

the week here, too, Rodney Fearn,

played in the 1969 cup final for

Leicester City against Manchester

City. He passed away at the age of

69 so in addition to the sentiment

that will be coming Cyrille Regis'

way today, there will be a lot of

people here at Leicester, the Foxes

will remember a very fine player,

Rodney Fearn.

Thanks, John. Briefly

on today, there will be a minute's

applause today as well before the

game. For Watford, only five points

in their last 30 and it seems to

have unravelled a bit since the boss

was linked with the Everton job.

I

think you are absolutely spot on.

Let me tell you about Watford. They

have a habit of changing the couch

every year. When he came in, Marco

Silva, OK, he had been at Hull City,

I don't think that was the greatest

achievement in the world, to be

honest but Watford appointed him and

he won the first three away games

and everybody went, "Oh, we have got

a good coach here", and he spoke

English which the previous coach

didn't and they were pleased with

that. Then suddenly, along come

Everton. Do you know what I been?

Whether you blame Marco Silva for

this or not, I don't know but it was

a destruction. And Watford's form

became more inconsistent after that

incident. Now it is not for me to

say what will happen. Watford may

well get on a run which he badly

needs by the way, to get out of this

terrible one in ten record they have

got at the moment in the Premier

League. But I certainly think he

could do with winning a few games

because the family, the Pozzo family

are great owners, they stay in the

Premier League and change the

manager again and again so he has

got to be careful but it would help

if Richarlison, the Brazilian who

everybody says they want to sign,

would get a goal, he has not scored

since November, by the way. Anyway,

just to say finally, Dan, I thought

the tribute to Cyrille Regis was

most appropriate and most deserved

and I shall be joining in the minute

of appreciation which will happen

here along with all the other

Premier League grounds today.

John,

wise words as ever. Great to hear.

Well, Leicester and Watford can both

look forward to FA Cup

action next weekend.

Our coverage of the fourth

round begins on Friday night.

Huish Park sees League 2 Yeovil

welcome Manchester United.

Jermaine Jenas will be there!

On Saturday, Focus will

come from Notts County

ahead of their tie with Swansea.

Highlights of all the day's

action later that night.

And there's another live match

for you on Sunday afternoon,

as Cardiff take on Manchester City.

It's the fourth round of the Cup

in Scotland this weekend,

and the big tie tomorrow sees Hearts

host their Edinburgh

rivals Hibernian.

In the home dugout will be

Craig Levein, who's been reflecting

with Rob Maclean on a turbulent few

years at Tynecastle.

There's a new stand and a new

sparkle at Tynecastle but it is

probably worth reminding ourselves

about the dark days of financial

crisis for Hearts.

Yeah, I think the

supporters are very much aware of

the recent history. I believe they

were one day away from closing the

doors.

It's a great story because

the bands effectively saved the club

but they needed direction, supplied

by the woman who is affectionately

known now as the queen of Hearts,

Ann Budge.

She has managed to build

the bridges that were burned down in

the latter years of the previous

administration. She is very unique.

I've never dealt with anybody else

like her in football. She does not

always look at what is the best for

her. She thinks about mainly what is

best for Scottish football I think

which is quite refreshing.

She

brought you back into the club. It's

not a job for you because the club

clearly has a big place in your

heart.

Coming back to Tynecastle has

been a huge help. I'm excited by Ann

Budge's enthusiasm. It is three and

a half years now I have been back

here. I have been really pleased

with the way things have gone in

general.

You had great success with

your first young head coach in

Robbie Nielson, who is now at MK

Dons. Does Ian Cathro go down as a

failure?

I don't like to use that

word because you are talking about

people and I think he's a very good

coach. I think he will be a very

good coach at another club. But I

think this was a bit too early for

him.

Is it a strange situation now

that the director of football is

also the head coach?

I have been a

manager and director of football

before Adam Dundee United so it is

not alien to me. After Ian left, I

felt that it was partly my

responsibility that the club was

where it was and I felt a real need

to try to help and fix it.

Harry

Cochrane! The invincible 's are in

big trouble at Tynecastle.

Were even

new surprised at Hearts 4-0 Celtic

and the ending of that unbeaten

domestic run for Brendan Rodgers and

his team?

It had to end! It was not

going to last forever. A lot of

circumstances went our way that day.

The stadium itself, with the new

stand, makes it feel even smaller.

Everything is right on top of you

and it is so intimidating at times.

I said beforehand, and I will say

again, it will be a long old time

before anybody manages to do

something like that again in

Scottish football.

You are looking

forward and hoping for a good result

in the Scottish Cup against Hibs and

Hearts have not had a win against

your Edinburgh rivals in the last

nine, I don't think.

Absolutely,

yeah! I mean, in my long career of

playing for Hearts and managing them

previously, I can count on one hand

I think the time we have lost

matches do Hibs said this is quite

alien. Such a buzz going into it.

I've never seen a match that just

goes health leather for 90 minutes

like this one does. -- Hell for

leather. The players find extra

energy from somewhere. The last game

at Tynecastle was a whirlwind for me

and I expect this one will be the

same.

Great to see them moving in the

right direction. Highlights of that

on BBC One Scotland or night. We are

currently on BBC Two Scotland

because it is St Mirren against

Aberdeen in the cup and Aberdeen

approaching half-time, leading the

game 3-1. Craig Levein we know is a

former Scotland manager. It seems

they are a bit closer to knowing who

the next got manager will be. Seems

to tick all the boxes, Michael

O'Neill lives in Edinburgh, he

sorted out the severance package

with Northern Ireland and has been

in talks with the SFA so it seems to

be a matter of time.

They targeted

him almost immediately after the

switch to the game that took

Northern Ireland at and I should

have taken into the World Cup in

many respects. -- that should have

taken them. It is a huge blow for

the FA in Northern Ireland but as

you say, just with family, living in

Edinburgh, it might make sense

logistically for him. But again, a

huge blow for Northern Ireland.

They've got a big rebuilding job to

go through.

Michael O'Neill

potentially new Scotland manager.

Wales seem to have found their man

in Ryan Giggs. I don't know if you

saw his press Conference this week,

almost quite defensive because

there's been some criticism of the

fact he was not always present as

Wales player and now he's trying to

lead the team to a major

championship. Can you understand

some of that?

It is always going to

be thrown at him and I suppose that

is the issue. People will talk about

the inexperience of it being his

first managerial job. I personally

think it is the perfect job you

don't have to deal with Sony other

things that you do at club level,

agents, fees, all of those

complications like budget. He can

watch the players that he needs and

go and watch them in depth and get

exactly what he wants. I think it is

a good appointment, I really do but

it will be interesting to see how he

gets on. Hopefully all that stuff

will go away.

We must also send our

best wishes to Plymouth's Brian

Entwistle, 24-year-old defender who

had surgery for testicular cancer,

Ryan, we wish you the best with your

recovery.

That's all for today.

Thanks very much to

Jermaine and Kevin.

Remember we're back at 12 next

Saturday, live from Notts County.

We'll

leave you with the predictions

of Pete Wentz from US band

Fall Out Boy, whose new album

Mania is out now.

And apart from being an ace of bass,

he also co-owns US soccer team

Phoenix Rising with Didier Drogba.

Or should that be Dro-egba?

Goodbye.

# I need to come down

# An-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-nother

day goes by

# So hold me tight

# Hold me tight, or don't...#

I only really follow football super

hard-core during the World Cup.

But maybe not this World Cup!

Sometimes late at night, I'll watch,

like, YouTubes of, like, Messi,

like, where he just goes down

the whole field and just, like,

embarrasses everybody or whatever.

It's kind of like mesmerising

to watch that kind of thing.

When I was little, it was Alexi from

the US team and now it is Tim

Howard. I love him.

Myself, Diplo and a few

others own a soccer team

in Phoenix, Arizona.

But yeah, we've got Dro-egba,

who plays as a player owner as well,

which is pretty cool.

I think that that's an interesting

way to own a team, to be

like the guy who is,

like, "I can literally change

the fate of the team".

Burnley?

Yeah.

Burnley.

I knew that one.

2-0.

Everton, 1-0, in penalty kicks!

LAUGHTER.

That is so stupid to say!