Steve Bower Meets Jamie Vardy MOTD: The Premier League Show

JAZZY MUSIC

a chance here for Manchester City to

win it. They shown to date title

winning pedigree.

# Blue moon, you saw me standing

alone

a wonderfully worked goal

# Without a dream in my heart

quality gold! -- goal. That's a

brilliant one, that's the cherry on

the icing that was already on the

cake. Raheem Sterling! Sterling,

Silva. Quite magnificent. Typical,

clinical, Sergio Aguero. Every time

Manchester City attack look like

scoring. Another goal filled

afternoon for Manchester City. Who

is going to overtake them at the top

of the Premier League? Manchester

City, superb. We're getting used to

saying that.

Hello from Manchester and welcome

to The Premier League Show.

A third of the way into the season

and there's no doubting who's been

top of the class so far.

And with me to provide some

Sky Blue thinking, former

City stopper Shay Given,

and the actor and Radio

1 DJ Cel Spellman.

Good to have you. What a good time

to

Good to have you. What a good time

to be a City fan, Cel.

Yes, and when

the majority of your friends are

Manchester City fans.

You could be

playing behind them now.

Fantastic

to watch, the way they are playing,

the brand of football, the goals,

the chances, phenomenal.

We will

have more on the Guardiola

revolution later on.

Leicester and England star

Jamie Vardy tells us about

his rise to the top.

Hip hop star Loyle Carner meets

United legend Eric Cantona,

comedian Nish Kumar delves

into the murky world of football

conspiracy theories,

and we'll reflect on the rest

of the big stories from around

the Premier League.

We will start though

with Leicester's fox in the box,

whose incredible journey

from non-league anonymity

to Premier League champion looks

set to gain a new leg

next summer with England

at the World Cup.

Steve Bower accepted his invitation

to the Vardy party.

# Have a party, let's have a party

#

Oh, what a screamer! What a goal

that is. Finished by Jamie Vardy.

Leicester City in the lead again.

Jamie, good to see you, how is

Leicester life, no manager, how have

you found it with a new manager?

He's good, he's come in with new

ideas, adding us in some new

formations and making sure we are on

board with it, that we know our

roles in a different formation and

that can only benefit us with

different options.

The fact that

he's managed in the Premier League

before, has that benefited the

Leicester squad?

I think so, he

knows what this league is about,

what every game is like, it's a

grind. The amount it takes out your

body, it's unbelievable and we must

be fresh for every game. If he needs

to get the point across, he makes

sure that he does and he's not

bothered if you have an opinion as

well. He'll listen to it and see

where you're coming from and that's

how it should work. You should be

able to talk to each other. When the

gaffer's come in we've had some good

results. Obviously we lost to

Manchester City but Man City and the

moment, they are on fire. They are

beating everyone in their path.

De

Bruyne hits it and does he hit it,

does he ever?

Are they as good as

everybody says?

They are good,

really good. You see the attacking

notch and is they've got. They just

make sure they are as solid as they

can be at the back.

You know how

hard it is to win the league and

what a grind it is. Do you see them

having a blip somewhere?

At the

minute, the way they are playing,

you'd probably say no but it's

football, anything can happen.

Superb play, oh, what a lovely goal.

What a ball, Vardy can't miss.

Do

you see yourself as one of the

senior players, you take more

responsibility? Without making you

feel too old!

No, not really.

Luckily there are still a few who

are older than me.

Given the journey

you've been on as a player, do you

appreciate each season more and more

in the Premier League?

Definitely,

now I'm getting older now! I've got

to keep appreciating it and I hope

it continues for a few more years.

Do you allow yourself days when you

think back?

Yeah, I always think

back, I stay in touch with the lad

from Stockbridge, it's always good

to be like that and it keeps your

feet on the ground.

Do you think you

could be an inspiration for

somebody, going from non-league to

international football the way you

have?

Yeah, why not? It's not just

that, other players have done it,

Chris Smalling. If we can do it,

then why can't it continue?

You have

started an academy, is that one of

the objective, to give lads an

opportunity they aren't getting at

the moment?

Yeah, definitely. It

puts their faces out there and with

all the skills that turn up, it

shows them what non-league is about.

They might not have watched them

play at the lower level before. The

Academy were a success this year and

it will be better next year.

How

many players actually went?

Four got

through to signing pro contracts,

the first time doing it, from 42

lads, unbelievable. They are playing

now, good luck to them.

Match of the

Day highlights, the Boreham Wood

game, knocking at Blackpool.

Turned

in by Taggart, the substitute with

an immediate impact.

When you see a

player on television doing that,

what is the feeling of satisfaction

that you've helped him have that

opportunity?

Yeah it gives you a

little buzz, it really does but fair

play to him as well, he got the

chance and he kept going and working

hard. He came up against a league

club and knocked them out.

Do you

get as much memory from winning the

title with Fleetwood Town as you do

the Premier League with Leicester?

Quite a while back, that one!

It was

a unique moment in your life.

You

still remember it, you don't forget

things like that. And the time it

was a massive achievement for

myself. I'd just been signed that

season, jumping up two leagues. To

go up that season was unbelievable

as well.

Oh, what a goal by Eden

Hazard. To win the title. It may

have done just that for Leicester

City.

That night you won the league

in your house, will that be a memory

that will never leave you?

It will

never leave me but I've just sold

the house!

LAUGHTER

But memory wise, that is something

that I'll ever forget, especially

the way that happens.

# Champions, champions! The new

owners have good memories in the

kitchen! A bit extra on the price,

where it was celebrated?

No, none of

that.

Was it a pinch yourself

moment, given the journey we've been

talking about, where you come from?

Definitely but I think it worthy

same for everyone in the squad. --

it worth the same. Just going into

their own little zone, ecstatic and

then quiet for half an hour,

wondering what's going on.

After the

league title you had the chance to

leave the club. Is that a sign of

your loyalty and what Leicester

means to you?

Yeah it's a decision I

came to, I thought about the

positives and the negatives. I made

my decisions, stuck by it.

Do you

hope to be here for many seasons to

come?

You always say that but the

manager may get fed up with me and

say, on your bike, so we'll see.

Apart from pushing Leicester up the

league it is the World Cup year,

does that excite you, playing in the

World Cup for your country?

Yeah,

massive but I've got to be playing

well for Leicester to be in the

squad. My main focus when it isn't

international 's is all Leicester.

An important six months for the

club.

If I'm doing well for the club

and the team are doing well, then

Leicester will be pushing up the

table and I'll be putting myself in

the hat for a chance to go to the

World Cup.

Clearly as hungry as ever

and desperate to be in the World Cup

squad. What another incredible

chapter that would be in his story,

to come from non-league in a 2017.

It is so rare and great to see him

giving a chance to other players as

well, Shea.

Unbelievable when you

think where he has come from. Hoping

to go to the World Cup, it is

unbelievable. Macclesfield, they

dream of being the next Jamie Vardy.

What he's done with his Academy,

bringing kids from other clubs,

fantastic as well.

The kids who were

released, I don't know if you grew

up with kids going into academies,

you don't want them to lose the

passion and love for the game.

If

you take Jamie Vardy as an example,

he can inspire and give hope to

these young people but I also wonder

how many amazing players have been

lost through the system and are

playing non-league. If they were

given the chance, they have the

ability to compete at the highest

level.

He is their role model and

having to juggle everything at home

because his wife is in the jungle.

Having a party at the weekend, I

think! She's away, he's having a

party.

Now Leicester seem a bit

steadier, Claude Puel at the helm

and he alluded to good

communication, players expressing

themselves. Not many Leicester fans

were happy when Puel Wenth there,

underwhelming

but the has them

playing the way he once and playing

some good stuff.

They said that

about Ranieri and he won the league.

Let's talk about City, Noel

Gallagher said it is like watching a

team from another galaxy at the

moment, out of this world.

It's

genuinely feels that way. It was the

Stoke game, when the fourth goal

went in. I never thought I'd

witnessed that kind of football

live. I only thought I'd see it on

TV, watching the European teams. To

have that football on display and

some of the movement and passing, it

is a joy to watch and we are very

lucky at the moment.

Can you go the

season unbeaten, Cel?

It would be

amazing, I don't think we can. If we

want to compete in all four

competitions there are a lot of

fixtures. We've got two, three

defenders out, stones, Otamendi. Any

more injuries, you don't know. City

have a the Rockies patch around

November and December, we've dropped

points here in the past. -- have a

rocky patch.

Is it important, to go

the season unbeaten? The manager

says it is about every game.

Guardiola, if they lose a game he

won't care if they win the cup and

the league but ideally he'd love to

do that, going back to Arsenal, the

Invincibles. At the end of the

season it's about how many trophies

they picked up rather than whether

they are unbeaten.

So City marching ever on,

and here's what else has been

happening this past week.

Bellerin, Lacazette, good running

behind him. Chance for Arsenal for a

second. That makes it two. Important

statement, victory for Arsenal. Over

to the side and Ashley Barnes

doubles Burnley's lead. Three wins

in a row for Burnley. Six defeats in

74 Swansea. -- in seven, for

Swansea. Fabregas, what a pass.

Hazard, keeper off his line and

Hazard does the rest. Pressure

increases on Tony Pulis as West

Bromwich now ten games without a

win.

It's not about the chairman of

the Mac myself, it's about what's

best for the club, in any job if it

doesn't go well then you're going to

be under pressure.

Lukaku, Pogba!

Great goal. Paul Pogba is back and

bank with a goal.

If I didn't

believe we could win the league then

I'd stop playing football.

The jal

is an! 2-0. West Ham didn't have

much luck and they also have no

points.

We need to play much better

if we're going to get away from the

wrong end of the table. Hopefully

getting a few players back from

injury will help the squad.

In the

last few hours, West Brom have

sacked manager Tony Pulis following

their 4-0 defeat to Chelsea on

Saturday.

Lovely ball by Shaqiri,

brought down well and that's a

lovely goal on the counter. A good

run, and the equalising goal. The

cross from Fletcher, and it's in the

back of the net, Stoke have another

one. Murray still in possession,

across the face of goal and it's

2-2.

Everton striker Oumar Niasse has

been banned from two matches after

being found guilty of diving against

Crystal Palace at the weekend.

Niasse is the first Premier League

footballer to be banned under

Premier League rules.

Niasse, the big news, the first

successful deception, get a two

match ban, if this come to BBC

change and a cultural change with

footballers and diving?

I would like

to think it will, but you never

know. Once you are in the game, you

try to do anything if you need that

goal, sometimes players go to those

levels. But the first one has

happened, and it may set a precedent

where players will think twice about

doing it. You are not missing one,

two.

It is harsh, if I am honest, on

Niasse, with that specific incident.

He makes the most of it, but there

is a coming together. There are

incidents where a player takes a

couple of steps and goes down.

Successful deception, it could come

into play there.

We are

uncomfortable with that!

There was a

coming together. He made the most of

it, but two game ban is harsh.

It

sent out a big message.

Don't get me

wrong, it is the right message, and

people diving should be banned, but

that specific one is a bit harsh.

Let's talk more about Tony Pulis

gone, and not so much about his

departure, but about the idea that a

manager doesn't just had to be

successful in keeping a team in the

Premier League, or being mid-table

can you have to be entertainer, West

Brom not happy with the style of

football. Our fans asking for too

much?

Sometimes. They have only won

three games since March. If they are

not playing well and getting

results, it is OK, but three games

since March is not a good run at

all, it is relegation form. The

funny thing I read in the paper this

week, who is the best man to keep

West Brom up now? Some one said Tony

Pulis. He is so good at keeping

teams in the league! They don't want

that brand of football in the

Championship, I don't think.

It

comes down to what players you've

got, and playing to your strengths.

It is well and good wanting to have

an exciting brand of football. But

at the same time, City are lucky

where we have incredibly gifted

technical footballers. If you

haven't got 3- for those in the

team, and you have to change the way

you play bit. It does maybe mean

defensive play, so you have to play

to your strengths.

The big game this

weekend, double and Chelsea, if you

had to choose one to challenge for

the title, who do you pick?

For me,

Chelsea. It is similar to last

season, they had a shaky start.

After this weekend, three clean

sheets, they seem to have found

their form again. And I think

Liverpool are dynamite going

forward, especially with the form

Salah is in. Defensively, they just

haven't got it quite right.

As they

proved again in midweek, with

Sevilla.

If that gets sorted,

Chelsea is the one we should pay

attention to.

Do you agree?

People

are fed up of talking about

Liverpool's deficiencies at the back

and because they concede, Jurgen

Klopp will be up as well. Three

goals away from home in the

Champions League this week and still

only drawing the game is alarm bells

for me the Liverpool. The fans are

saying, why was it not addressed in

the summer?? So over why he didn't

bring in a defender that they all

say they need.

David Moyes' first game in charge

at the London Stadium kicks things

off on Friday night,

before fellow strugglers

off on Friday night,

before fellow strugglers

Crystal Palace and Swansea also seek

to make home advantage

count on Saturday.

The post-Pulis era begins

for West Brom at Wembley,

while Brighton's visit

to Old Trafford is sure to evoke

memories of that famous cup final.

And at tea time, all

eyes will be on Anfield

for Liverpool versus Chelsea.

There's a triple header on Sunday,

including high-flying

Burnley hosting Arsenal,

before things conclude

with the leaders' short trip along

the M62 to Huddersfield.

2017 has been a good

year for Loyle Carner,

whose debut album Yesterday's Gone

was nominated for the Mercury Prize.

Hip hop aside,

his other passion is football,

and he's been giving BBC Music

a little insight into his love of

retro kits and a certain Frenchman.

My whole tour is sold out, pretty

My whole tour is sold out, pretty

much. One guy from Dublin got in

touch to say he wanted tickets for

the show and he would swap them for

a Swedish 90s kit, I said yes on

Twitter, and after that I was

getting the best shirts in the

world. I am the wrapper with the

best connection...

Ever. I brought some of my favourite

kits with me, once I have picked up.

I was given these at the Bristol

show on the latest tour, it is a

1994 double kit, the year I was

born. This is the shirt I bring to

every show of mine. Eric Cantona is

the king.

Cantona!

One thing I could never find, to be

a football player was to discipline

myself and train every day.

It is a passion. It is why I

retired. I lost the passion. I wish

I could play, only play. To play,

you have to do everything else.

What

music do you listen to?

Hip hop like, pop rock, jazz. You

play an instrument?

Are used to play

the trumpet.

Do you play? I started the trumpet.

Yeah?

But I was banned after Crystal

Palace...

My dad was a fantastic musician, he

promised me that me and him would

tour the world one day. We never got

the chance to do that, sadly,

because he passed away, he was a

massive Manchester United fan, but

more important they, he was a

Cantona fan. You became my hero. He

said, when you score a goal, you

don't submit, you stand there and

let people know what you have done.

Every show I play, I have that

showed around my shoulders. When he

passed away, the ultimate sacrifice

for me was to have this shirt on

stage, as a Liverpool fan, to hold

it up, because of how much you bend

to him. -- meant to him.

This is my dad in the shirt. My mum

wanted you to see it. I took a

photo, it is very special.

You are almost like a legend's

legend. If you can put it into any

words what you think you have made

it.

I don't know.

That is the right

answer.

I had a special relationship with

the fans. I don't want to know why.

If you are nice looking, and realise

you are nice looking, you are not

nice anymore. It is spontaneity.

Here is Cantona! He has done it!

Absolute pleasure, thank you so

much.

He's so cool as well, so call. I

didn't expect to be that call. I

knew he would be called, he cut his

hair as well.

Very, very, very special day,

probably the best day I have had in

my entire life, I got to meet Eric

Cantona, and I showed him this.

Cantona now knows what my dad looks

like.

STUDIO: Special times when Eric

Cantona was gracing the Premier

League, did you come up against an?

I don't think I did, I was too

young, would you believe! What a

great player, voted by Manchester

United fans one of the best players

of all time. I think that Sunderland

goal, the goal he scored against

them, personifies person, chip the

keeper, stood around with the collar

up.

He could wear a shirt, he looked

good in his Manchester United shirt,

as a City fan, you have tried that

shirt on yourself, haven't you?

It

was a career low. It was the lowest

point in my career. I have some

first-degree burns underneath.

Your

dad, James Nesbitt, is a mad

Manchester United fan.

He took great

pleasure in me wearing that shirt.

It was horrendous for me, honestly.

It really was. I felt like I was

letting my grandad down. It was only

acting. I wanted to take the shirt,

get summer detonation, and set it

alight. -- some redemption.

I made my debut for island and I had

the most rascal shirt ever. It was a

bright purple thing, it was like a

bunch of six Rob splashed paint on

it. It was my international debut

shirt, I will never live it down.

You would have photo shopped it

nowadays.

Yesterday marked

the 54th anniversary of

the Kennedy assassination,

and since 1963 the debate

has continued to rage

over exactly what transpired

that fateful day in Dallas.

And as our own deep throat

Nish Kumar has uncovered,

football too, isn't without its own

conspiracy theories.

Hello, I am Nish Kumar, comedian and

football fan. I am also a big fan of

conspiracy theories, or am I! I am

that is why I was asked to do this

bit.

Let's look at some of the greatest

football conspiracy theories of all

time. In 1998, the night before the

World Cup final, Ronaldo was taken

ill with a mystery illness.

What about this Ronaldo business

again. What do you make of it?

I have never had anything like this

in my career, this is the second

team sheet that says Ronaldo plays.

The theory is Nike forced him to

play, because he was too important

to this Bond ship, so they may have

taken their just do it slogan

literally.

-- sponsorship. South Korea at the

2002 World Cup, after a string of

poor refereeing decisions against

Spain and Italy, the hosts reached

the semifinal.

The ball was out, the ball was

out... The linesman has made a

terrible decision.

That was costly,

and more will complain.

Was this favourable decision

designed to benefit them or just

human error? Sepp Blatter said be

human errors were not premeditated,

which almost certainly means they

were.

In 1970 World Cup, England captain

Bobby Moore, paragon of virtue,

nation's hero, stitched up over the

theft of a bracelet at a hotel shop.

The situation is this, no England

player or official will comment on

any news in Colombia until Bobby

Moore is safely in Mexico and back

with the party.

Was it an attempt to extort money or

were they tried to put the world

champions up as they attempted to

defend their crime. He was released

later, and if you weeks said,

England went out to West Germany

after Peter Shilton was taken ill

with a case of food poisoning.

Speaking of food poisoning, on the

final day of the 2006 season, all

Spurs had to do to finish above

Arsenal and qualify for the

Champions League was much there was,

in a game against West Ham.

As the teams come out, the West Ham

fans are singing, but hot and may be

blowing hardest in the first half

here.

Unfortunately, they stayed in a

hotel overnight, had a lasagne, and

had what can only be described as an

apocalyptic case of diarrhoea. It

was literally a storm.

Bobby Zamora Ord terry shedding --

Teddy Sheringham, they can put the

skids on that today.

You have ruined that.

Spurs will finish fifth and go into

the Uefa cup.

I do have a couple of questions, why

did Spurs a hotel when they were

playing down the road? Two, who has

a lasagne the night before a

football match? This is the

delicious, but it is a cheese pasta

cake.

STUDIO: Any conspiracy theories you

have?

Thank you, gentlemen.

Nice to get to know each other?

I am

buzzing.

That's all we've got time for today,

don't forget if you've missed

anything then you can find us

on the iPlayer.

We're taking a little winter break,

but The Premier League Show will be

back in the new year

fully recharged.

Until then, the BBC

will have your football covered,

each and every weekend.

Goodbye.