24/09/2016 Football Focus

A shot into the back of the net. What a beauty from Jordan Henderson.

What an absolute screamer. Silmaani with two goals on his Premier League

debut. The Premier League's only 100% record still firmly intact. A

brilliant hit there. Another defensive horror show, for West Ham.

600th Premier League game Gareth Barry equalises for Everton.

Everton's best return from the opening five games in the Premier

League season. Southampton. Two goals inside a three minute spell

and Stoke are in big trouble here. Harry Kane. Deadlock broken. Their

first win over Manchester United in 20 years. It is a day that Watford

will talk about for a long time. Wasn't a bad weekend. 36 goals in

the Premier League last time out. More of the same please, Dion Dublin

knows a thing or two about hitting the back of the net. Mark Lawrenson

is also here. And this is what we can look forward to over the next

hour. A grand don't come for free. Tony

Pulis on reaching 1,000 games in the dug out. As a manager you live from

week the week. The one thing I learned early was you have to win

games. We will talk style with Kyle as Spurs prepare for a title

challenge When you are so close and it is snatched away, it was

devastating, we have a season to put it right. It is Arsenal against

Chelsea later, who will hand out the capital punishment? We will hear

from the Brodge, on the pressure of the Celtic job.

It is a great job to be in, and the brutal honesty is there is not many

jobs in the south that can compare with the Celtic job.

And we have sent Clem to Scunthorpe this week to file a report on the

Iron. Should mention that Lawro did score

in a European Cup semifinal. Not that I was moaning about it. ! All

this to come in the next hour. Let us look at the fixtures in the

league. It is a busy Saturday. Big team news there, Rooney being

dropped today. 3pm game, a return to Swansea after EFL Cup success for

perfect Pep and the leaders. Everton take on Bournemouth, Spurs are at

Middlesbrough, without the injured Harry Kane. We are at Anfield where

Liverpool host Hull. Sunderland are their first league win of the season

and what about Arsenal against Chelsea in the tea time treat? Let

us start with Tony Pulis, who today becomes the 250th manager of the

modern era to take care of 1,000 senior matches in English football.

Before he took his new club to one of his own club we grabbed him for a

look forward and back. I have been very fortunate to stay

in a professional, I have loved ever since I can remember. I look back

and say I am not going to give this up. I want to really make something

of this opportunity. When times have dn difficult, it has been that inner

belief and nervousness that this might end, and it drives me forward.

I guess you would never have thought that you would be where you are

right now on this milestone? No, not a chance, I think as a manager, you

live from game to game, from week the week. But the one thing I

learned very very early was that you know, you have to win game, you

know, you have to achieve to stay in the game.

It was such a great community, dockers and steelworkers who live

there, the families were very close, there was eight of us living in a

small terraced house, people pulled together, you know, it was just

fabulous, and I don't think I have ever lost that DNA, that

togetherness that gets you through, it is that group, that team, that

can pull anything round. In a way completely different now, to what

you are working and living in. It is such a privileged industry It is not

just football. Life has changed completely and you have to move with

the time, there is wonderful things that have happened over the years I

have been in management and there has been some unbelievable change,

but there is also lots of thing I have left behind, that will be

always in my DNA, to maintain. Discipline, togetherness, respect.

They are vital ingredient, whether it was back then or now. How do you

deal with the difficult dressing rooms? I would imagine you have

experienced them in your time? The game is difficult enough without

having people around making it more difficult, so you have to be strong

enough to deal with that, and you know, if people don't suit you, and

or you don't suit them, then you move them on and you move them on

quickly and you bring people on that do suit you and suit the situation

that is needed as a football club. Stoke City this time have won it.

The first ever Premier League game at the Britannia Stadium. Stoke City

have won it. Do you go back this weekend any differently than what

you have done before, because of this milestone or not? I couldn't

believe it when they told me the milestone was going to be at Stoke

City away, I just, you know, it was just, and you don't want to make a

fuss. I don't want to make a fuss of it. I want to carry on and get on

with the game. I was there for a long time. I met real accident

people, that is what they are in that area, they are grounded. When

your mother passed away everybody remembers it, you were in South

Wales, you drove up to Stoke that night. Stoke were playing Aston

Villa, you went in the dressing room. Stoke went on to win 2-1. The

emotion of it all, how did you switch that, did you go into

management mode? I got there ten minutes after kick off. I got so

wound up and into the game, that it just took over me really, and

everything that had happened previously, obviously to see mum

pass away and to get up there, that is what mum, I think, that is what

my mother would have wanted, and obviously afterwards was different.

We had won a game. I wasn't concerned about the game or the

team, I was more focussed on mum and the family, and everybody else, but,

you know one of the great disappointment, mum was, was dad

passing away at an early stage, he has seen nothing of this and he was

a big football fan, a nut, he would have loved all of this.

You get stereotyped, the style of football you play, do you feel

underappreciated at all? No, I think what I do, is I go into football

club, look at the strengths of the team, and then get the best results

I can. We went to Palace, and I looked at the team there, and it

took us two or three weeks to find, you know, the right system, that

suited the players because it is not about the manager. It is finding the

system that suits the player, some people will differ and I have

different opinions than me, that is the way I have always worked. The

majority of supporters at the clubs I have worked with will appreciate

what I have done. Even at West Brom, the most important thing is that you

are set in your ways and in your mind, and you make sure the players

are focussed and ready to go for the next game. Would you go into

management now if you were younger? I would never change my career, I

would never change what I have had. Management has changed. It is

getting the a point where two years, three years at the moment and people

want change, if you are lucky to get that long, and that is most probably

the difference. Fascinating insight and the League

Managers' Association will induct Pulis into their Hall of Fame in the

spring. A thousand game, which ever way you look at it is a real

achievement, particularly in the modern game That is not bad. That is

20 season, 50 games a season, I am not really heard many bad words

spoken about him, in general, in the footballing word. To be able to

manage players from 20 years ago, manage players now, you know you

must be doing something right. I like the way he gets a response from

his players when he going into a in football club. I have a lot of

respect for him, he will continue do what he is doing. He looks like a

grizzly old buffer, he is old school, he really is. And away from

football he is is a different person, the thing s there is no grey

area with him, it is black and it is white. The achievement is fantastic,

one of only 25, and I think that is the key, in the modern era to be

able to do that, straightaway, everyone is writing West Brom off

and they have had a couple of good results. But he gets criticised

sometimes for style of football. He faces a pretty uncertain future with

new owners coming in. A lot of fans who have said his previous clubs he

has been, we need a different way of playing for we need to move on, they

have not all done as well, when he has left, so I think it is be

careful what you wish for, tone Egyptian the kind of person who will

stabilise your club. I heard him describe as not an edge of the seat

manager more of an under the seat manager. He won't be bothered. It is

funny his thousandth game comes against a team he managed for half

of those, Stoke are in real trouble. This is them getting real beaten.

You say they are in real trouble. They had a bad start last season. If

they win today they will have more points at this stage of the season

than last. It is nature, they have had a couple of againsts. They have

good player, good manager. Need to tighten up. I am not too worried.

Peter Coates is a top bloke. If it comes to January and they are

struggling he will have the cheque book out. Conceding goal goals like

they have. That is the only worrying thing I think for Stoke. I think

they have good player, they have a good manager but conceding goals

from crosses in the box is what they are worried about. Put some stripes

on and he could still be playing for then. Another man who has had a

difficult week is Jose Mourinho, last Sunday's defeat at Watford was

the first time since 2002 one of his sides lost three games in a row. The

defeat stopped Northampton midweek but the critics haven't gone away. P

The only thing that upsets me a little bit is the kind of criticism

to my players, because, my players are my players. I should protect

them. I would love to protect them, and from you, I can't. It is a

feeling of frustration, but with me, it is fine and the Einsteins they

need monetary policy to leave, they can't coach, they can't sit on the

bench they can't win matches, they can speak, they can write, they can

criticise the work of other people, but I am, I am a good man, I am a

man of good will, do lots of charity, I help so many people, so

why not to feed also the Einsteins, so that is fine. I am not sure she

has any Nobel Prizes but Simon Brotherton does no the team news

from Old Trafford and big news Simon, surrounding Wayne Rooney. The

news is he is not starting the match today. Wayne Rooney is on the bench.

It is one of four changes to the side beaten at Watford last weekend.

Daley Blind replaces Luke Shaw, Jessie Lingard makes his second

league start of the season, and Juan Mata and Herrera play.

Leicester's line up is unchanged following the 3-0 win over Burnley.

Schmeichel is absent with a muscle injury. Looking forward to this one,

lose today and Jose Mourinho will suffer three league defeats in a row

for only the second time in his managerial career.

So that Wayne Rooney is the big team news for Manchester United today.

Jose Mourinho said before the match he wanted a bit more buzz up front.

He has gone with Lingard and Rashford. There is the team to take

on Leicester. I have been having a look at social media. Response from

Manchester United fans is is that he has made the right decision and a

brave decision. What do you think? I think Rooney has played himself

out of the team, his form has been off. He's not playing well enough at

the moment to be in the starting XI, simple as. I believe he's not the

only one who's having a bit of a stinker. You would have kept him in

the team? Yes. There are other players having bad games as well.

This is an Wayne Rooney we've seen out all over the past few games, he

has had a bit of a stinker but other people have had bad games, too. When

did Wayne Rooney last play really well for England and Manchester

United? I think it has been a while. You can't take anyone away from his

unbelievable ability, he's just not playing well. Only time will tell if

he has made the right decision, if Lindgard and Rashford, and do well

they will say, great decision. Interesting to watch Mourinho in the

last few weeks. He has had a bit of a pop this week at the press. Only

the NHS got away with it this week! He also picked out some individual

players. What I found interesting is there's been a reaction and leaks

coming out of the dressing room, which is quite rare, when a manager

of that size comes to a club and he's only been there a few weeks.

I'm not sure, nothing is watertight any more. You guys are on Twitter

and all that stuff. I think he's anxious because he doesn't know his

best team. He's absolutely totally frustrated and he's a very bright

man and his thinking, crikey, this is a bit like Chelsea last year.

We're thinking, is a bit like Chelsea last year? They have only

played a handful of games, it doesn't mean a great deal. He is

frustrated because he would expect them to be doing much better, but

also he just doesn't know his best team at the moment. Everyone has a

different first 11 for Manchester United. If you asked people they

would all give you a different 11. I would put Carrick in. So would I.

Let me ask you about Leicester. They won against Burnley 3-0 last week

and they seem to have found a decent fella in Islam Slimani. A different

kind of player, a big lad am a big powerful add-on doesn't mind getting

stuck in. You see that header. In amongst the big lads, putting his

head in where it hurts and getting lucky with this one, but he's a

different kind of player to Jamie Vardy. He will mix it and take the

weight off Jamie Vardy. Together, what defences do... What do they do,

go hard or back off? Slimani, you might have seen Andre Gray was fined

and suspended for four matches by the FA after those four-year-old

comments made on social media. Leicester are in Champions League

action next Tuesday, as Tottenham, who travelled to Moscow. Kyle Walker

will be an important passenger on that flight. He's been telling Garth

Crooks that Spurs are ready to go again.

You look as though you're right on top of your game. These days you

seem as effective in the opposition's box as your own box. I

think I admit your order over the last season and a half. I've tried

to concentrate on my defending. I think I'm always going to be a

threat going forward but my first job first and foremost is defending.

You're very serious, I'm told you are the Joker in the pack, is that

true? I've been told to be serious today! Walker ahead of Erik Lamela.

Dele Alli. There is a third. The goal you set up for Dele Alli, I

thought that was sensational. That's a big part of my game I wanted to

improve on this season, setting up goals. I got one against Everton. I

assisted Lamela, and to do that for Dele Alli and be involved in the

goal against Sunderland as well. And he was relaxed and just stroked it

home. Believe it or not I played up front until I was 16. That's long

gone! How much does playing for England give you the confidence that

is perhaps showing now? Langfield country is a great honour. I think

it's more to do with the competition that I have around me for club and

country. -- playing for your country is a great honour. Kieran Trippier

always snapping at my heels at Tottenham. I think that's what's has

made me up my game or. As a young lad, did you find coping with that

pressure and weight of expectation difficult when you first started to

play? I think when you're young you don't think about the pressure or

anything like that, you just go out and play football. It's when you get

23, 24, you start feeling it bit because the crowd, the fans, other

players know what to expect of you. When you just come in for your first

season, no one really knows anything about you. You don't know yourself

if you can handle the Premier League. You're kind of playing off

the cuff and that's probably when you play your best football. I think

Dele Alli is a prime example of that. Last season he was just

playing football like he was in the park. I'm thinking now about when

you beat Stoke last season. Suddenly you have doubters like me talking

titles. What happened? I think after the Stoke game there was a feeling

that maybe we could go on and do something. It was in Leicester's

hands. Going to Stamford Bridge was never going to be an easy task.

Hazard. What a goal, despair for Tottenham, a two goal lead has gone.

We were young and I think from that season we've learned a lot as a

team, collectively, and also as individuals. That has taught me a

lot. When you are so close and it is snatched away from you, it was

devastating. And how we finished the league as well, finishing third was

a real disappointment. But we have a season now to put it right. We've

started very well, undefeated. Hopefully we can be there or

thereabouts. Champions League, FA Cup, titles...

What can Spurs achieve this year? We are in all competitions you want to

win all competitions. We don't go out there and think, we don't want

to win today because we're thinking about another game. I'd love to show

my two little boys that daddy has won a medal with Tottenham and

hopefully it can be this season. He was talking to Garth Crooks at the

launch of a new computer game. He really has progressed. He has always

had that ability going forward but he has material does a footballer.

Yes, and it's a massive thing in life, maturity. I think he's

suddenly aware of his role in the team, what he's got. He's lightning

quick. His defensive work has certainly improved. I think he

probably feels comfortable in his own skin. He's realised he's a

defender. What he has done, it's hard to see this if you are not

really at the training ground, but he must have worked on stopping

crosses coming in, stopping his winger getting the ball in the box

where the danger is. After he's done that he thought, I've got the going

forward bit down to a tee. He's combined the two and I think Spurs

are a better team for it. And a good coach, Pochettino. Yes. Look at

this. Kyle Walker is one of the few players who have signed long-term

contract. It is a cardboard cutout. A fan asked if they could have a

contract like that with Pochettino and they did oblige, sticking his

head on Eric Dier's. I know we're taking the Mickey out of Spurs, but

the fact they are not selling those players, which they may have done a

few years ago, tells you everything you need to know? To me that's the

manager saying to the people, we need to keep what we have here, in

regards quality and names, in order to attract other quality and names

to the quality we've got already and now they're building what I consider

a very strong squad, that will challenge again this season for the

top spot. I think it's down to Daniel Levy. The recruitment? Not

the recruitment, the whole contract and the money thing, that's his

baby. Keeping the players, Lawro. Yeah. What about Harry Kane. The

last time they played a Premier League game without him they had

Adebayor and Soldado up top. This is where he hurt his ankle. Dion you

are struggling to look at this. He is going to be a big mess, Harry

Kane? He will be a massive mess. Will Vincent Janssen slot in? We

don't know. For Tottenham to be successful they have to get to the

point, a bit like Manchester City, if a Guerreiro is missing, you don't

realise he's missing because somebody else comes and steps in. --

if he is missing. You're asking a guy who's just come in the Premier

League to do so. We will talk about Spurs' trip to CSKA Moscow in focus

for. Before that they are at Middlesbrough today. If you're on

Middlesbrough fan thinking, why aren't you talking about us? Fear

not, Guy Mowbray is waiting to do exactly that. I wonder, your

assessment of how Middlesbrough have started this season? It's almost too

soon to tell, I think. Partly because of the fixtures they've had,

with the exception of their win at Sunderland, with the revival of the

Wear Tees derby, it's been a bit low for Middlesbrough so far. They have

done OK but not really... They went to Everton last week, they got a bit

of a stuffing, 3-1 but it could have been more. They've done OK but there

is a lot still to do for Middlesbrough. It could be three

defeats in a row today. If they can get a result here today I think

people will say they will be fine as the season progresses. If they

crashed to a third successive defeat it will be the other side of the

coin. The big game and a full house. This is the first time they have

played a team from last season's top four. A great opportunity for

them... You said it's too early to tell, but today might give us a

better indication of that? This is the one, although in a way it could

be seen as a bonus game. Aitor Karanka has already spoke of a mini

league developing around them, the likes of West Brom and Sunderland,

even Stoke, which is a surprise to me. Talking about the mini league

and the games they have to win. Spurs could be seen as a bit of a

bonus. One of the criticisms of Middlesbrough, one of their

strengths, they came up last season with one of the tightest defences in

the championship, only conceding eight in 23. But they can be a

little bit dull. People want them to have a bit more -- bit more of a go.

I think I would like to see them, decree in home games, in the future

games coming up, Perry Negredo with Jordan Rhodes, who hasn't yet had a

crack at the Premier League. Maybe two upfront is the way for

Middlesbrough. It doesn't seem to be an Aitor Karanka's nature. Well they

have on offer at the end of the season? They will be bottom half,

but I think with the talent they have, they should be OK. Thank you.

Highlights of that game match of the date night. Following that, Spurs

fans in particular might want to stay tuned for this... This is

called -- you know why this is called football? Because it measures

a foot from one end to the other. That's a lot of trouble. I don't

know what that is! I will come, give a little fake... Come up to me and

give a little fake. Just like that. Just like that! You have to try.

I think we will have to keep an eye on Jan Vertonghen's marking this

afternoon. Later today Arsene Wenger takes charge of his 55th game

against Chelsea. In that time the Blues have had 12 managers across

two decades but the game remains as juicy as ever.

The regrets we had in the last two games is we could play 11 against

11. -- couldn't play. It's not necessarily to push any prior,

because I think the players are ready. It doesn't matter how they

played before, it's a game where you have to go in, give everything,

concentrate on every detail in the game. Chelsea is one of those teams

that every year is in the race for the title, so it will be one of the

teams you have to beat if you want to win the Premier League. Quite a

few games everyone wants to play. We want to win these games.

I think the details can decide. If you can win you can be more and more

confident. We know that we face a good team, big rivals. I'm sure

Arsene will fight until the end to win the title. It looks like it's a

new era, it's a bit more balanced, and we feel we have a good

opportunity to change what I call the inconvenient facts of recent

years. Those inconvenient facts are that

it's five years since Arsenal last beat Chelsea in the Premier League.

Both level on points, ten points from five games so far this season.

What have you made of the pair of them? I think Arsenal look better

than Chelsea, to be honest. I Chelsea are completely unhinged with

what Liverpool did to them last week. I think Wenger's purchases

means more competition for players. Mustafi looks like a very good

player. You can put your mortgage on them being in the top four. Not sure

about Chelsea. But the great thing with Chelsea with a new manager, no

European football. So you have a chance to build, you have a chance

to work on the training ground and you have a chance to instil your

methods on the players. At the moment, they are so-so. I disagree

with Lawro, I think Chelsea will do well. They did get unhinged by

Liverpool, Liverpool were the better side, but Chelsea, going forward,

just have that little bit more. An impressive win for Arsenal against

Hull and a win in the EFL Cup. On the Chelsea thing, it's a surprise

that most people thought Antonio Conte icon and Italian manager,

loves the defensive side of the game. They also have Kante and yet

they have only had one clean sheet and that was against Burnley. Yes,

you would expect better from what they have tried to start with. I

think they will get it right. I think last season, it was a massive

thorn in their memories for the players. That will be hurting them.

They will still be embarrassed by last season. This is new, a new

manager has come in, he is in charge on the players know where they

stand. There won't be any second chance as the players. He's a

manager that says that's way is, do it or get out. I think Chelsea will

be right up there in the top four. I like the way you disagree on

virtually everything. No I don't! We will look at Wenger weeks 20

years in charge at Arsenal. Chelsea's O'Connor questions at

home. We can find Damian Johnson, you have a fellow alongside you who

remembers how it used to look. That is right. John Aldridge, an FA

Cup winner with Liverpool. Well-known this these parts, the

builders have been in during the summer, what does this say about

Liverpool's ambition? We are fine finally have moved into the 21st

century. I have to say I have been coming here since the mid-sixties. I

took a step back, it was daunting, but it is spectacular and generates

more atmosphere, with 8,500 more fans in the stadium, and at the

Leicester game was-of-it was superb. Excellent. Is there still a way to

go in terms of catching up the likes of the two Manchester clubs, Arsenal

and Chelsea? Probably so with the amount of money, especially the

Manchester clubs have at the moment, but we have come a long way, in 12

months with Jurgen Klopp. Klopp, there is a lot of positives to take

within that year, the players he has brought in, where he seems to be

taking, especially against the top team, we have only lost one game in

14 with the top sides. But you know, think it is well in place, we have

the new stand in place now, he signed a new contract, five, six

year contract and hopefully he will stay there for the next five years

and take news the right direction. Does it help he has had a preseason

with the team? He did take over, it was Brendan's team. I thought he has

done pretty well with another man's tools but he has brought six or

seven players in, so you know, he stamped his authority on the team

and the place, absolutely. Are you one of those Liverpool fans,

obviously you are an ex-player as well who is starting to think yes we

have a chance at the title here? No. I have said that far too many times.

Don't get carried away, we are going in the right direction, I think what

Pep Guardiola has done within the first month, is ridiculous, he, I

thought it would have taken a bit more time for his to settle his mark

on the club and they are flying. You keep on taking each game as it come,

keep on taking the points and see where it takes you. Thanks John,

good to see you, Liverpool against Hull. Thank you. Nice to see John on

the programme. More from Anfield during Final Score you can watch

that on the Red Button from 2.30 and then on BBC One at 4.30. Match of

the Day 10.30 tonight. If that is not enough for you, then

focus will be available on the BBC iPlayer from midnight tonight, you

don't need to miss a thing, which is almost an Aerosmith Song. Still to

come before one. Walk this way for Bournemouth. They

are planning a bright future there. Eddie shows us how. Graham Alexander

on Scunthorpe's wild start to the season.

This is the thing with football. One day you are in the gutter, the next

you're in the stars. And the Dutch master, Michael van Gerwen steps up

for Premier League predictions. Still plenty to get through then, to

Glasgow next where Brendan Rodgers has been assessing Celtic's start to

the new season, with Rob. Liverpool have sacked Brendan

Rodgers, the club made the move after a Derby draw. Brendan Rodgers

has been confirmed as the new manager of Celtic. In making the

decision to come here was there a danger your heart might rule your

head because you had grown up as a fan? You certainly consider that, I

think there is a professional element you have to think what is

the best thing for your career? I wanted to play for Celtic. I was

never able to do that so the next best thing would be to manage it.

You think to yourself, would bit a huge regret if I was offered a job

and didn't take it? I would maybe never be offered the job again, that

would have been a regret. If you are playing Champions League football

and domestically you are challenging each year, it is a great job to be

in, and the brutal honesty of it is there is not many jobs in the south

that can compare with the Celtic job. What it doesn't have is the

platform of what, say the Premier League has.

Dembele, he is on a hat-trick. Scott Sinclair might just have tied up all

three points for Celtic. How was the experience in It was special. You

count have asked for a better firm game in the Old Firm. We wanted to

make the supporters proud. We want, like I say we wanted to put a marker

down against one of our rivals, maybe for the league title. So to

win the game 5-1 and to have the place packed out, it was a real

special feeling. It was an emotional day for you

because it was five years after your dad died and 31 years to the day of

the death of Djokovic Stein. As soon as I saw the date I earmarked it. I

missed the Swansea Arsenal game, I flew back to Ireland, and was with

him when he died, so ironically, a game that I would have loved have

have been at five years later, he wasn't able to be at. Hope flip he

would have been proud watching that. I went to the Celtic musical which

was a brilliant show, it emphasises about the legacy Djokovic Stein left

at the club. At the end when it came on the time line and seen he passed

away on that day, it was poignant it matched the same day as my father

died. Is he onside? Barcelona 7, Celtic 0. How damaging was the 7-0

score line? There is many words that can describe it. There is a bit of

humiliation in it, because no matter how good the team are, and how great

the players r it is still very difficult. We had come off the back

of a great performance and result in the Rangers game and we go within a

matter of four days of playing on a real low because of the Barcelona

experience. So my job as the manager is to stabilise all the motions that

have gone on between the two game, reinforce the great start we had

made. It is Manchester City and they are flying under Pep Guardiola. He

has done brilliant since he has gone in there, he has honed them into a

real aggressive team. We look to learn from that, Barcelona

experience, it is a huge change for us at home. We won't be as passive

as what we gr that game, and hopefully be much more aggressive in

our play. Talk about the Champions League in a

moment, do you think he has a reputation to restore after

Liverpool? A little bit, because that year where Liverpool very

nearly won the league in honesty was Suarez Sturridge and Gerrard, they

were seven sayingal, but you know, he did a good job there, I think the

problem is, that there is, he has to win the league, Scotland, he has to

win at least one of the cup competitions but the gulf between

the level of football that Celtic play against all the other team in

the Scotland and the Champions League is just massive. Some of the

players did mention the embarrassed word and hue mail -- humiliation and

they got Manchester City to come next week. You know what a special

atmosphere they can produce, but can they trouble Manchester City? I

don't think they will have the ball long enough, I really don't. I think

the 63,000 fans that are crammed into that stadium will make an

amazing noise, but I just think City have too much, I think Lawro is

correct, I was fortunate to play for Celtic, only for a short period of

time but I got a feel of what it is about, what the club is expected to

do. They have 70% of the play most gapes they play when they are in the

league, they will do well to get 30 or 40% of the ball. City are that

good. Very difficult and Lawro is right. The gulf is huge. And they

have won nine from nine so far, Manchester City. What do you think

of Pep Guardiola's hard ball with Toure and his agents, saying if you

don't apologise you are not playing again? I don't understand the fuss

about that. One of the first thing he did at Barcelona was sell your

man, he sold him to Manchester City so he told him that day you might be

a good player but I don't rate you, everyone is wasting their breath.

Don't get me starting on -- started on the agent because I might swear

and it is not even 1.00. You are feisty today. Talking of causing

trouble, Mr Joseph Barton, do you think we have seen the last of him

in that shirt? Yes. I believe so. Because he doesn't want to play for

the club or because he can't repair that damage? I think, you know, I

don't think it is about so much the argument with the player, must be

one of the coaching staff, it has to be for the club and mark Warburton

to act in the way he has acted. We have been in dressing rooms where

players have been fighting at half-time. Sometimes it is quite

good because it revs everybody up. There is more to that than just him

and Halliday. That That is the difference, that is what I would

have explained. Lawro is right. If you have a bust up with a player it

is fine, you want that, it shows passion some time, when you are

having it with the staff, something said, fisticuffs, that staff member

has chosen by the manager, you have challenged the manager's judgment,

so, it is very difficult to key keep a player on if that is going to

happen. Promising career ruined Ening by a niggling brain injury.

Thank you Mark. Manchester City made it five from five with a 4-0 defeat

of the Bournemouth whose forward thinking manager opened the club

doors to the BBC this week, in walked Gary Lineker.

Thank you for having me down. Here it is. Not one of the biggest ground

in the Premier League. You could say that, it is unusual for the Premier

League teams to come down and play in this environment, but the pitch

is lovely, that is the thing that usually the association is, you get

smaller ground, horrible pitch, pitch is beautiful, so from that

perspective there can be no complaint. The playing surface is

important for you because you like to keep on the ground, you are not

the English manager from throw back times are you, you like to play.

Yes, we like to play, and we made a vow, a pledge to ourselves, that on

promotion we wouldn't change, we would keep doing what has got us to

this position, we played outstanding football in the Championship. I

wouldn't want to be a manager if I changed what I believe in. This is

my office. Quite a cold office. It is chilly isn't it! Someone has put

the air conon. They certainly have. You have a few philosophical things

going on here, do you spend a lot of time thinking about the game, does

it sometimes kind of become an obsession in some ways? Yes,

absolutely, it very much my life, obsession is probably the word. Do

you have to have certainly have. You have a few philosophical things

going on here, do you spend a lot of time thinking about the game, does

it sometimes kind of become an obsession in some ways? Yes,

absolutely, it very much my life, obsession is probably the word. Do

you have to have a word with yourself, "Hang on get a bit of

perspective"? No, I can't do that, I think you have to accept when you

are in this type of job, that is how it is going to be until you are out

of it. How ambitious are you? I have always

been incredibly am by shurks as a player I was determined to get to

the top. Never got there, as a manager, my thoughts are slightly

different. I am very ambitious for this club, for myself... That is why

I asked the question, if you are that ambitious as a person and a

coach, do you not feel at some stage to get to the, you know, the top or

be perceived like mourn or Guardiola, do you feel you might

have to move on? Down the line maybe, but I think when you in this

seat you have to think really short-term, if I want to be the best

manager I can be, I have to get now right, and that is why say I am

ambitious for this club. If you had said to me Bournemouth could get in

the Championship I would have said it is a tough ask. If you said they

could have win, I would have said that is impossible. If you said can

they maintain their Premiership status, I would have laughed. We

have proved the sealings don't exist for us. How have you done that Hard

work. There is no secret. And intelligence. Loads of different

things but the main thing is hard work.

He is highly regarded but he knows it is about results and their

results of late they are not particularly good are they.

I think they have won two games in 13... A bright manager, good

manager, but he's having to live with that the other week, he could

be the new Arsene Wenger, could be the new England manager. He must

hate that? Ramus, let him get on and win some games. Doing a good job

with Bournemouth and linked with all these ridiculous stats and jobs. We

can't let people just sit there and do their jobs. We always find

something to talk about. Let him breeze. I like him as a manager, 38

years old and I think he's done a great job with a very small Premier

League football club. And his ethos and the way his football team plays

is great. He needs to win some games. Well done for talking about

him without talking about him! Warm up against Everton, which gives us a

perfect opportunity to say... Remember this?

Mori, and it's in. Lukaku, got his shot in. Everton defending stoutly.

Smith. What a cracker! Josh King. Stanislas has equalised for

Bournemouth. It's gone in, it's Ross Barkley, and Bournemouth have a

chance again here. It's their, Stanislas again. I don't believe

this is 3-3. One of the best Premier League games of the season, surely.

Motty enjoyed that slow one so much we have sent into the south coast

again. They use in the dugout, making decisions. That was one of

the games of last season but I doubt Ronald Koeman would allow his side

to be so relaxed at the back? No. And what people forget, that Ross

Barkley goal that came in the 90th minute gave Everton 3-2 but because

they celebrated Forcillo so long on the pitch with some of their fans,

the referee added two minutes more of stoppage time in which Stanislas

scored the equaliser. In a sense that was a pivotal game. I'm sitting

on the bench, by the way, where Roberto Martinez was then and were

Ronald Koeman will be today. Let's look at what has happened to the two

club since the draw. Bournemouth and Eddie Howe saw that as part of their

revitalisation, enjoy and keep their Premier League place. I've just been

talking to the German who says he thinks that was the turning point in

their season, as they went on to gather some good results around the

Christmas period. -- talking to the chairman. For Everton it was

different. Out went Roberto Martinez, in came Ronald Koeman.

Their season tailed away. But look at them now, second place in the

Premier League, unbeaten in league matches, though they and Bournemouth

lost to lower division opposition in the FA Cup. Ronald Koeman is

gradually rebuilding the Everton team. The fans love Bolasie on the

right wing, Ashley Williams in at centre-back. Looking pretty good.

Despite the League Cup defeat, they will go into the game with renewed

confidence because Romelu Lukaku, missed the game midweek, is coming

back, all being well, into the side. That's about where things are. I

know you do like a statistic. It's been widely reported this week that

this is Everton 's best start with season for 38 years. That is true.

It was 1978-79. What they didn't want to say is in that season

Everton were unbeaten until their 19th game, just before Christmas.

That's a target for Ronald Koeman, isn't it? The manager then was

called and we they finished fourth. Knowledge is power! Taken a good

start and added a bit of Motty magic. More from John on Final Score

and Match of the Day. Gary Lineker's full interview with Eddie Howe is

available on BBC iPlayer as part of The Premier League Show. Match of

the Day two extra is on tomorrow. And Match of the Day in the company

of Robert Kilbane and Robbie Savage. That is followed by the Women's

Super League. Manchester City will clinch the title if they avoid

defeat. A number of players involved tomorrow were also in action on

Tuesday. England's women took on Belgium. Nikita Parris but the

lioness is in front. England had qualified for the finals of 2017 but

this secured top spot. Karen Carney with the second a nice little

celebration, possibly for the Ryder Cup next week. Scotland got a 2-1

win. Two goals from the prolific Jane Ross, enough to win group

winners Iceland. The second from the spot after that penalty was given

away. The draw is in November for the Euro rose, on the same day as

the US presidential elections. It will be a busy one.

I've been trying all morning to think of an elaborate link to get

from Abraham Lincoln to Lincolnshire but I gave up a few hours ago. That

is where we go next. Scunthorpe have started the season remarkably well,

currently top of League 1 and Mark Clemmit has been to see if The Iron

born can make it all the way to the throne this season.

For a club more accustomed to life in the bottom of the division, the

last decade has been kind to Scunthorpe United who have twice

been promoted to the championship. Under Graham Alexander they may well

be going back there. Since he took over six months ago this weekend

they have won a whopping 75% of his games in charge. Of all the managers

currently working in senior English football, only Pep Guardiola can top

that. The players have been superb since I

came in in March. They have won a lot of games. Their work ethic has

been superb. This is the thing with football. One day you are in the

gutter, the next you are in the stars. It's the game I love and love

being part of and hopefully that will continue. Alexander clips it

right in the corner. Can you explain? No. If you asked me when I

was playing if I'd missed it I would say yes. It's probably the biggest

surprise for me, after retiring. Because I went straight into

coaching and managing I didn't have a chance to miss it. The thing I get

a buzz from is seeing these boys training, enjoy their training,

playing and competing. I enjoyed every minute but now onto the next

age. By my reckoning you have played 1000 games combined. You will

appreciate the experience that the gaffer brings, having done 1000 on

his own. It must have a huge effect in terms of respect, on the changing

room? I think so. If you look at his career, what he's done, what he

achieved and how he conducted himself off the pitch, it takes some

doing even to get to the 500 mark. I'm approaching that myself. It's

hard, but credit to him. He implements that with the team, how

we play and how we perform. It feels like this is a very different club

to the one you knew as a player 28 years ago? Yes, I came here as a

16-year-old out of school and managed to a professional football

player. I came stayed until I was 23. When I came back as a manager in

March it seemed so familiar. I still had that excitement, coming round

the corner there was the ground in all its glory. I get a buzz from

that. The biggest one was coming in and winning games and working every

day. It was a great feeling. You are 30, you are 35, the gaffer played

until 41. I'm not suggesting for one second you are journeyman, but

football has its ups and downs. There will be part of a club on a

run like this, it must give a tremendous buzz to the whole squad?

Yes, it's fantastic. Not just for us old-timers but the whole squad. We

finished last season strongly, won the last six. We have maintained a

good pre-season and started the way we finished last season. It's not

the normal run-of-the-mill job. Professional football, it's a

fantastic privilege and you have to work hard at it. We didn't just talk

about what we did at the end of last season but went in depth to what we

did well, broke it down to what we do on the pitch and the lads have

continued to do that. There is a long way to go. We have only played

eight league games. As long as we keep that work ethic up, seeing the

quality in the ranks, there's no reason we can't continue. I did get

that age right good night? I looked older, I've had a hard life! Ages on

the number, likely say. We'll keep going.

The tune on that with Unadkat. All the music from today's football

focus is available on the playlist. Chris Smalling has put Manchester

United ahead against Leicester at Old Trafford, they lead 1-0. You

must know Graham Alexander well from your time at Preston. He seems to

have been one of those blokes who has the right attributes to be a

manager, sit in the dugout and speak to new players. If you listen to

him, he's talking about hard work and he worked extremely hard as a

player, to get over 1000 games, as well. A great striker of the ball.

Didn't have any great pace, if he had great pace he would have played

for one of the top four teams. A good manager, young, ambitious, new

ideas, a proper bloke. I think you will enjoy this, Scunthorpe players

weren't eating alone in that piece. Look at this, then sharing their

dinner at Glanford Park... Have a look when we go across. There are

some pensioners taking advantage of an early bird special! It looked

like a scene from Cocoon. You are landing in all sorts of grief today!

Scunthorpe played Sheffield United today. Dion Dublin's old club

Coventry, they have their lowest positions in the 1950s. It is a

worrying start, is net for Tony Mowbray's men? Absolutely awful. You

better get Dion Dublin's fingers in his ears. A continuing tale of woe.

34 years in the top flight, came to an end in 2001. Taken over by an

investment fund nine years ago. Since then another relegation, seven

managers, time in exile at Northampton. Haven't really sorted

their own stadium out because the Ricoh Arena is owned by wasps. I

think I even heard tales this week wasps are trying to squeeze out the

young players from the Academy to use that for themselves. The main

training ground is subject to proposals for housing. This week the

local paper launched a petition which has been signed by 12,000

people to try and squeeze the owners out. They have themselves a ban

survey can't talk to the managers. Tony Mowbray has to go to Gillingham

with the youngest players in the AFL to try and get his first win That is

one of the quake games we will be covering in Final Score. Plymouth

Argyle, beaten player finalist in League 2 last year, only had three

players contracted in the summer. Signed 16 and yet today they

entertain Hartlepool United, looking for their eighth consecutive win. We

have had a goal in the early kick off in League 2. Grimsby are 1-0 up

at Mansfield. Omar Bogle is currently the top scorer with eight

goals. Preston beat Wigan 1-0 last night in the championship. If you

look at today's games in that division there is one standout

match? Two Champions League winners going head-to-head. Rafa Benitez and

Roberto Di Matteo. All the talk of calls about Villa has been about

midfielder Jack Grealish on his extracurricular activities. Subject

to an investigation by the club. Having attended an all-night party

last weekend, we are told. Obviously he does have previous. Tim Sherwood

and Remi Garde both reprimanded him and Roberto Di Matteo has had to do

the same this week. Lovely to hear from you. We will try to keep this

regular throughout the season. We have quick time from a comment or

knew about Jack Grealish. What would you do with him? I can't really say,

a lot of expletives. He is a player that could achieve a lot, but I just

think he's letting himself down, letting the club down, letting the

fans down. People around him aren't helping. Get your finger out, do

your job, earn your money, that's what I'd say to him. He got too much

too early. But still has the talent if he gets it right. That's the

frustrating bit. Gentlemen, thank you. It's been lovely, most of the

time! If you have missed anything, we are on BBC iPlayer from midnight

and back at the same time next Saturday. Following us is the

Champions League of Darts. We will check out with the reigning

matchplay champion Michael van to win taking an Mark 'The Beast'

Lawrenson in Premier League Predictions. It is fantastic, of

course, the biggest name of darts playing on the BBC. It is something

new and I am looking forward to it. I support PS3. When I was growing up

Ruud van Nistelrooy, that was probably the main man. And Romario

and Ronaldo. Arsenal and Chelsea, that's a good

one. I'd go for... A draw, 2-2. A couple of duchies did I think it's

going to be... 1-1. Burnley against Watford, I'm not

sure who is a Burnley supporter, but I still think it's going to be a

draw, 1-1. # And put your hands

where I can see them