:00:00. > :00:37.Welcome to MOTD2 Extra on BBC Two, 5 Live and the BBC Sport website.
:00:38. > :00:45.In the studio... Leicester and Arsenal defender Martin Keown, Mark
:00:46. > :01:01.Lawrenson and Arsenal defender Martin Keown, Mark
:01:02. > :01:06.be champions if they beat Manchester United this afternoon, we will be
:01:07. > :01:09.live at Old Trafford shortly. Newcastle out of the relegation zone
:01:10. > :01:14.with a win over Crystal Palace, Jermain Defoe penalty meaning
:01:15. > :01:19.Sunderland are a point behind Newcastle and they have a game in
:01:20. > :01:20.hand. The Sunday Times focusing on the relegation battle with this
:01:21. > :01:35.headline... Louis Van Gaal insisting he will
:01:36. > :01:36.remain as the Man United manager and The Sunday Telegraph focusing on
:01:37. > :01:47.this... Ranieri and Riyad Mahrez in line for
:01:48. > :01:50.new contracts. Let's deal with the former professionals around the
:01:51. > :01:55.table, you have both been in this position, Martin and Mark, the day
:01:56. > :01:59.of your first league title, put yourself in the position of the
:02:00. > :02:05.Leicester players, were you nervous, more so than usual? Not nervous, it
:02:06. > :02:09.was a carnival atmosphere, and expectation that we had tough games
:02:10. > :02:15.coming up, we had to win that game the particular day, it was a great
:02:16. > :02:24.day, no doubt. The Adams finish, I don't know if you remember... I was
:02:25. > :02:27.at that game. It was a great day,... But you arrived feeling you were
:02:28. > :02:32.going to win the title, there was no element of died. We arrived to the
:02:33. > :02:37.tune of simply the best blaring out on the bass, that was the theme for
:02:38. > :02:47.the season. To be honest, we could have gone to war with that group. We
:02:48. > :02:54.had overcome Manchester United, we had dug in. -- element of doubt. It
:02:55. > :03:00.came to fruition. We would not be stopped. When we won it in 2002, the
:03:01. > :03:05.game at old Trafford, that was a totally different experience. What
:03:06. > :03:10.was the music? Will you still on simply the best? Dreams can come
:03:11. > :03:15.true, I think that was the song. I was a lot of fun on your boss! I
:03:16. > :03:19.will come back to that in a minute, but the first league title you
:03:20. > :03:25.personally won with Liverpool. It was a cure for constipation, quite
:03:26. > :03:30.honestly. We were playing Tottenham, we had to win, a better Ipswich
:03:31. > :03:36.result, they were playing Nottingham Forest, Glenn Hoddle scored after 35
:03:37. > :03:42.minutes. 1-0 down. Eventually winning 3-1. Rob a bleak the most
:03:43. > :03:47.nervous apart from the European Cup final but I've had. 41 games, this
:03:48. > :03:51.was the 42nd, we will used to winning the league, Liverpool, they
:03:52. > :03:59.had won the European Cup. Enormous pressure. From the Leicester point
:04:00. > :04:05.of view, Jason, as Mark said, it's not that they have to win it... They
:04:06. > :04:09.have two more chances and if they lose today, Tottenham have to win
:04:10. > :04:13.tomorrow against Chelsea away, they could be champions tomorrow night
:04:14. > :04:19.even if they don't win today. Two more chances at home, there are
:04:20. > :04:25.opportunities there. It's hard to imagine them not doing it. Even if
:04:26. > :04:32.they don't win today. That will relax them to a certain extent. I
:04:33. > :04:39.think now... The danger with cramming them champions, probably
:04:40. > :04:43.rightly so, they will do it. It is a free hit for them today, a free hit,
:04:44. > :04:49.I don't think they'll feel under too much pressure at all. The whole
:04:50. > :04:52.story has made that even easier. It kind of feels it may be more of a
:04:53. > :05:02.carnival atmosphere as your first title was, and it's a different Old
:05:03. > :05:06.Trafford. I feel Louis Van Gaal same today he will be very next season...
:05:07. > :05:10.He doesn't want to see the champions celebrating on his pitch, I've never
:05:11. > :05:17.seen Old Trafford clear right click than the day it did when we won. You
:05:18. > :05:25.are trying not to smile... We were celebrating, why not? I do not think
:05:26. > :05:28.they will enjoy that. -- Kuchar. United coming into their best form
:05:29. > :05:35.of the season, at youngsters playing, building towards the
:05:36. > :05:38.future. If they were to win today, it's been a season of incredible
:05:39. > :05:45.results. Twists and turns and why not? Louis Van Gaal needs to finish
:05:46. > :05:50.in the Champions League place and if he doesn't, I think he goes, simple
:05:51. > :05:54.as that. He could win the FA Cup... But the weight Man United is set up,
:05:55. > :06:01.with sponsorship and everything else to attract Champions League players
:06:02. > :06:05.for the next seasons... They have to finish in a Champions League place.
:06:06. > :06:09.We'll come back to that in a moment and we'll go to Old Trafford
:06:10. > :06:14.shortly. There is an early game in the Premier League, Swansea against
:06:15. > :06:18.Liverpool. An early goal... 20 minutes gone, Swansea leading 1-0.
:06:19. > :06:25.They deserve it, creating chances, Andre Ayew has had a couple of
:06:26. > :06:28.those. Aid changes or Jurgen Klopp, to less than when they play
:06:29. > :06:35.Bournemouth a fortnight ago, eight changes from the team that played
:06:36. > :06:42.Villareal, a goal down. Thank you. Let's go to Old Trafford, Guy
:06:43. > :06:51.Mowbray is there. Do you think you will witness history? I am not sure.
:06:52. > :06:55.If I am completely honest. Leicester being doubted to the end and I guess
:06:56. > :07:01.that also then fine, that's how it's been from the start, as your Gestede
:07:02. > :07:06.said, they are under no pressure. A free hit, three goes added. They
:07:07. > :07:10.will play as they played all season. A United team that is tough to beat
:07:11. > :07:15.here at Old Trafford, winning the last six in the Premier League, five
:07:16. > :07:20.without conceding a goal. It will not be easy but that is how they
:07:21. > :07:24.like it. I will give you a flavour, we arrived about three hours before
:07:25. > :07:30.kick-off, the media room is packed, the world's media is here to see a
:07:31. > :07:34.title won not by Man United but by Leicester City. It's a fairy tale,
:07:35. > :07:40.catching the imagination of the whole world. Do you sense, put this
:07:41. > :07:45.in historical context, you've watched football for a long time,
:07:46. > :07:49.how do you rank it? This is the biggest in English football, if and
:07:50. > :07:54.when they win the title, barring after disaster in the last three
:07:55. > :07:59.games. Ipswich Town, 62, their first-ever season in the top
:08:00. > :08:04.division, Alf Ramsey. Forest in 78, the last year English champions,
:08:05. > :08:08.there hasn't been any one new since Forest and 78, for they did
:08:09. > :08:13.afterwards was the stuff of legend, winning back-to-back European cups,
:08:14. > :08:20.Villa fans will say Leicester have done nothing until Bailiff big one
:08:21. > :08:24.in Europe. But who knows? I think it's going to be the biggest
:08:25. > :08:28.sensation we have ever had and it will happen, whether it is today,
:08:29. > :08:32.next week, tomorrow night by default, it will happen. A final
:08:33. > :08:36.question, without going soppy and romantic... What I'm going to...
:08:37. > :08:40.Martin talks about than Arsenal won the title at old Trafford, he had
:08:41. > :08:44.never seen the stadium empty so quick, do you think Leicester have
:08:45. > :08:48.brought some warmth back into the Premier League, they have been
:08:49. > :08:52.applauded off the virtually every weight gain, they don't have any
:08:53. > :08:57.enemies and if they do win today, the Man United fans will stay to
:08:58. > :09:02.applaud them? I think they will, that's a Valid Point. Apart from
:09:03. > :09:05.Tottenham supporters, obviously... And some Nottingham Forest
:09:06. > :09:10.supporters, everyone is behind Leicester City, it's not the way the
:09:11. > :09:12.club has done it, the manager has captured the imagination, couldn't
:09:13. > :09:19.win the league at Chelsea, hasn't won at top flight title any here he
:09:20. > :09:22.is with Leicester City. I was with a prominent Leicester fan the way he
:09:23. > :09:26.was appointed and it was a shock, he was laughed at, this was ridiculous.
:09:27. > :09:30.Look at what he has done, the way he handled himself, it has captured
:09:31. > :09:36.everybody and to talk about the Italian coach... Put some feeling
:09:37. > :09:40.for what it is like for Manchester United, one fan said to me, he is
:09:41. > :09:47.not here after the job of Louis Van Gaal, is he? Jason Burt, you travel
:09:48. > :09:51.up and down the country watching football, do you agree with that
:09:52. > :09:55.feeling of warmth? All right, they have gone for the title with Spurs
:09:56. > :10:01.but a don't have a group of fans who either enemies? I've been in railway
:10:02. > :10:05.stations, other fans have been applauding Leicester City fans,
:10:06. > :10:10.walking here today, Man United fans, some of them will say good luck to
:10:11. > :10:14.Leicester City supporters. There is that sense of goodwill towards them.
:10:15. > :10:18.It's partly because no one ever thought this would happen, no one
:10:19. > :10:23.thought we would see this again, top four, top five, glass ceiling and no
:10:24. > :10:28.one would get beyond that and in the season, it's happened. If it can
:10:29. > :10:31.happen for Leicester City, if you are a West Ham fan... It gives you
:10:32. > :10:36.believe that maybe one day it could be you. We thought were the Premier
:10:37. > :10:41.League is now, the money, that was it, it would never happen again, and
:10:42. > :10:48.they are going to do it. What is there not to like about them? I can
:10:49. > :10:52.anybody not like what they have achieved? It's fantastic, of course
:10:53. > :10:57.it is. It's a great story. I just keep chuckling because when the
:10:58. > :11:00.Champions League drawer, whenever it happens, Leicester City sitting in
:11:01. > :11:04.there with all the great clubs across Europe, you imagine how that
:11:05. > :11:07.will feel for Leicester? And why shouldn't they give the Champions
:11:08. > :11:12.League a right good goal, follow logic, people constantly writing
:11:13. > :11:16.them off and proving people wrong, why couldn't they do the same at the
:11:17. > :11:21.next level? Normally when you win the Premier League, you've been in
:11:22. > :11:26.the making, you have the squad, you almost need to squads to compete in
:11:27. > :11:30.Champions League. There will be so many plates to spend when they get
:11:31. > :11:36.there, can they hold onto Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy... I think we
:11:37. > :11:43.are jumping ahead. That is what we do. We jump ahead. Never look back.
:11:44. > :11:47.These guys, I call them the dirty dozen in the nicest possible way,
:11:48. > :11:51.the manager has always been the bridesmaid, even Kasper Schmeichel
:11:52. > :11:56.is living in a house, you will never be as good as your dad, he could be
:11:57. > :12:00.a Premier League winner. The players are almost misfits, Jamie Vardy
:12:01. > :12:03.coming into the game late, they are grasping the moment, realising this
:12:04. > :12:08.cannot happen again, they do not expect that to happen again, let's
:12:09. > :12:13.enjoy it, get the maximum from it. The manager has been brilliant, no
:12:14. > :12:21.longer at Tinker man. See one of the red tops tomorrow, Martin Keown says
:12:22. > :12:25.Ranieri is the bridesmaid... It's interesting, I did a piece on
:12:26. > :12:29.Ranieri yesterday, he has always been at the top of the table. The
:12:30. > :12:35.history of English football, his fifth season in the Premier League,
:12:36. > :12:39.four seasons at Chelsea, he finished second to the Arsenal invincible is
:12:40. > :12:44.and this year, he will be first or second, he's always been at the top.
:12:45. > :12:49.Other clubs around Europe, he has managed big clubs, mentally he is
:12:50. > :12:53.used to being at the top. It takes courage to keep coming back when you
:12:54. > :12:58.finish second. Exactly, that's why it means so much to him because he
:12:59. > :13:02.finished second, second is fantastic but first is everything. No one
:13:03. > :13:07.knows the coaching staff at Leicester, do they? Craig
:13:08. > :13:12.Shakespeare... Generally, who is like the two to Claudio Ranieri? He
:13:13. > :13:17.has only brought in a couple of people, he is very pragmatic, he
:13:18. > :13:21.does not ring an entourage. He will go somewhere, he will bring in a
:13:22. > :13:27.couple of key people, its continuity. Craig Shakespeare,
:13:28. > :13:30.fantastic job, Steve Walsh, he works with them, very pragmatic, it
:13:31. > :13:39.doesn't come and expect to change the club. But he's demonstrated at
:13:40. > :13:43.64 he can keep learning and adding information to make him a better
:13:44. > :13:47.manager. What is the age when a manager is too old, it doesn't seem
:13:48. > :13:52.to affect on, they are his men, they are not his players. But at the end
:13:53. > :13:57.of the day, it's all about players, and it always will be, in any team.
:13:58. > :14:03.There is a great graphic on the Sunday tell of the whole season of
:14:04. > :14:10.Leicester, when you look at it, since game 18, all the way through
:14:11. > :14:16.to today, gained 36, they've only been off the top of the table for
:14:17. > :14:18.two games. As they have been analysed, the consistency as you
:14:19. > :14:23.expect from someone about to win the title, is remarkable. Staggering.
:14:24. > :14:29.It's ironic, the conditions of staying in the league, that makes
:14:30. > :14:32.them able to meet the challenge. As much of it is about... You're being
:14:33. > :14:38.chased, you are looking over your shoulder, you have to do that every
:14:39. > :14:43.weekend, get your results. I don't think Tottenham have coped quite so
:14:44. > :14:46.well, I kind of feel bad. The last four or five games of the season it
:14:47. > :14:50.would be nice if we played together at the same time, it impacts, they
:14:51. > :14:56.are playing catch up. Let me read some texts and tweets. But the first
:14:57. > :15:01.time ever, I wouldn't really mind if Man United lose today... Mark says
:15:02. > :15:06.this... Leicester will seal the title tomorrow after Spurs lose.
:15:07. > :15:12.That's a positive spirit that we like! And Bradley says this... What
:15:13. > :15:16.are the odds that Kasper Schmeichel will have a song and he will win the
:15:17. > :15:23.Premier League before Liverpool? Another says, how are people still
:15:24. > :15:26.doubting Leicester? And Wilson, there I am in Nottingham, there is
:15:27. > :15:31.no love for Leicester, I am annoyed they got promoted.
:15:32. > :15:42.Let it go. Manchester United not alone in this, but will some of
:15:43. > :15:48.their directors be watching today thinking, this side in front of us
:15:49. > :15:57.more than likely to win the title with well scouted players with a
:15:58. > :16:03.point to prove at a club who have not grown but have thrown ?50
:16:04. > :16:07.million at it. They are not alone. Manchester City, Manchester United,
:16:08. > :16:12.Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, to a certain extent. My theory is they
:16:13. > :16:18.all got a bit complacent, they got a bit fat on the money and they have
:16:19. > :16:22.not scouted all recruited wisely. They have always assumed different
:16:23. > :16:26.wheels would drop off because of the financial clout and they have been
:16:27. > :16:30.caught out. I think there is a reckoning going on. The famous
:16:31. > :16:34.meeting that took place at the London hotel with the big five clubs
:16:35. > :16:39.was born of nervousness. They were thinking, what is happening with
:16:40. > :16:46.Leicester, West Ham and Tottenham, suddenly the top four is top seven,
:16:47. > :16:50.top missing out on the revenues. You miss out on the revenue stream. Are
:16:51. > :16:57.we saying the so-called bigger clubs at the moment use money to disguise
:16:58. > :17:01.a lack of hard work? One more point, I have talked to clubs about buying
:17:02. > :17:05.players where they said, certain players in Europe, we like him, we
:17:06. > :17:10.will at some 's in the Camilli by him and then we will buy off them.
:17:11. > :17:15.That cannot be right. I understand the mindset. But then you are paying
:17:16. > :17:20.ten times as much. To a certain extent some players think it is
:17:21. > :17:29.harder to sell to the fan the ?5 million rather than ?30 million. Van
:17:30. > :17:35.Gaal Cena. The van Gaal saying that Kante would have been much more
:17:36. > :17:43.expensive for Manchester to. But was he even aware? Anybody who has the
:17:44. > :17:48.online system, lots of clubs is this. People around the table
:17:49. > :17:56.nodding, explain what it is, not every window. Internet-based tool
:17:57. > :18:02.that looks at all the different players around Europe, Wyscout. You
:18:03. > :18:06.can set the parameters and get information from around Europe.
:18:07. > :18:12.Everybody knew Kante in France was top of the table for tackles and
:18:13. > :18:16.interceptions. It is available to everybody. Ranieri uses it an awful
:18:17. > :18:20.lot. Not just one tool, you still need a scout and run background
:18:21. > :18:28.research but Man Utd must have known about Kante. Can we hold that,
:18:29. > :18:34.otherwise I will kick you off, a second goal and the Liberty Stadium.
:18:35. > :18:38.Brilliant, brilliant goal, Swansea have been dominant, terrific. As
:18:39. > :18:43.well as they have played all season. This has come from Jack Cork, his
:18:44. > :18:47.first of the season. He picked it up in midfield and ran at the defence
:18:48. > :18:52.and from the edge of the D unstoppable right foot shot curling
:18:53. > :18:59.past Danny Ward. He has made three fine saves already to keep the score
:19:00. > :19:05.down. STUDIO: Your point. I cannot remember... The other thing with the
:19:06. > :19:10.big clubs, surely they should have the most and the best scouting
:19:11. > :19:13.systems anyway because they can afford to employ so many people as
:19:14. > :19:17.opposed to a Leicester which is where it falls down yet again. Maybe
:19:18. > :19:23.the big clubs take too long to make the decisions. It is what the
:19:24. > :19:27.manager wants ultimately. He wants to take a leap on somebody. It is
:19:28. > :19:34.bringing it together and building it. You know what you need, the
:19:35. > :19:39.Arsenal team for instance, they need a centre forward, the spying needs
:19:40. > :19:48.to be improved. Astle is interesting because there is an argument to say
:19:49. > :19:52.that actually will many -- Elneny has done very well. I have not seen
:19:53. > :19:58.every game but he has done very well. The facts may be that it was
:19:59. > :20:10.Elneny who was signed rather than Paul Pogba could be the stick used
:20:11. > :20:14.to beat Arsene Wenger. Only if they do not win something. If Arsenal win
:20:15. > :20:20.a trophy it has been a good decision. If you do not win them the
:20:21. > :20:27.fans will not be happy. There is a psychological thing in the Champions
:20:28. > :20:35.League, does Elneny put the fear of God into other top European team? Do
:20:36. > :20:41.you bring a Pogba in. If Kante is still at Leicester next season, will
:20:42. > :20:47.he put the fear of God into... Dortmund, if they draw them? Nothing
:20:48. > :20:53.you can do about that. Is there a better midfield player. He will be
:20:54. > :20:58.playing for France. If he comes into an Arsenal team that has two had a
:20:59. > :21:05.bit more clout. Hang on a second. I have not moved into Arsenal. He was
:21:06. > :21:10.still at Leicester. How well have Tottenham dun recruitment wise, very
:21:11. > :21:17.good. They are not obviously top four, just underneath. They picked
:21:18. > :21:22.their market. Eric Dier was available, making the best use of
:21:23. > :21:27.summary. He played deep in midfield, at full-back, centre-half. They were
:21:28. > :21:30.looking for a holding midfielder all loved summer and they could not find
:21:31. > :21:35.the one they wanted. To be fair to Pochettino he said fine, he
:21:36. > :21:39.identified Eric Dier and he has adapted him. That is good management
:21:40. > :21:47.as will. He is improving the players all the time. That is the ultimate
:21:48. > :21:50.thing. What ever your browser, however much they cost, if you are
:21:51. > :21:56.improving them you are doing your job. A Leicester title win, what do
:21:57. > :22:03.you think how they have done this season will do to clubs like, West
:22:04. > :22:08.Brom, Crystal Palace... In the summer? Remark it will give certain
:22:09. > :22:13.of those clubs ambition to think they can emulate Leicester. Clubs
:22:14. > :22:16.like West Ham in particular will be thinking they are moving to the big
:22:17. > :22:21.stadium. Some other clubs might be slightly nervous, because fans might
:22:22. > :22:25.expect them to go and do this now but we are not sure we can. There
:22:26. > :22:29.will be an element of that. Sometimes it is still just about
:22:30. > :22:34.staying in the Premier League. They do not necessarily want or be able
:22:35. > :22:40.to challenge any higher. With the money from next season, those clubs
:22:41. > :22:46.you mentioned are suddenly under pressure. The fans are saying, why
:22:47. > :22:49.can't we now spend this money? Pardew said at the start of the
:22:50. > :22:53.season when he bought Yohan Cabaye, 18 months ago we could not have
:22:54. > :22:58.afforded him. We could not have attracted him. The thing about the
:22:59. > :23:03.division now, it is starting to compact. Those teams now buying
:23:04. > :23:06.better quality of players. I just wonder whether sometimes when the
:23:07. > :23:09.manager and the start of the season says it is all right getting 40
:23:10. > :23:14.points. Some clubs might think and one minute. Show a bit more
:23:15. > :23:18.ambition. Leicester have dared to dream and you never know what can
:23:19. > :23:22.happen. They started the season saying they wanted 40 points. If you
:23:23. > :23:23.said that to a Leicester fan at the start of the season they would snap
:23:24. > :23:36.your hand off. "If Leicester do would be one of the
:23:37. > :23:40.greatest things to happen in sport". Nick says "A few red faces at Old
:23:41. > :23:43.Trafford if Leicester win the Premier League. I hope they do,
:23:44. > :23:49.worthy winners. Great for the modern game. " And Michael says, "The whole
:23:50. > :23:56.world watching what would be the greatest underdog story ever". Let's
:23:57. > :23:59.go to the bottom of the table. They'd win for Newcastle yesterday,
:24:00. > :24:06.Andros Townsend getting the winner as they beat Palace. We have to play
:24:07. > :24:12.another two difficult game, we have to enjoy this weekend because of the
:24:13. > :24:19.way we won. Just relax a little bit and after that concentrate on the
:24:20. > :24:24.other games. What does it mean, this victory, and to the players? It
:24:25. > :24:28.means a lot in terms of momentum and confidence and connection with the
:24:29. > :24:31.fans. A lot of positives, we have to be sure we can keep this momentum
:24:32. > :24:36.and hopefully it will be the same atmosphere against Tottenham. Maybe
:24:37. > :24:40.we could be playing for avoiding relegation in the last game. If we
:24:41. > :24:44.win everybody will be happy. Hopefully we can keep the
:24:45. > :24:52.atmosphere. They did it by the skin averted but unbeaten in four. The
:24:53. > :24:56.Benitez bounce. It is amazing, at Southampton they waved the white
:24:57. > :25:02.flag from the first minute. They were absolutely totally hopeless.
:25:03. > :25:06.Even Benitez thought, he had got it spectacularly wrong but then they
:25:07. > :25:11.got the draw against City. Came back against Leicester. And they won
:25:12. > :25:16.yesterday. Something is happening. This is why football is so great. It
:25:17. > :25:21.is exactly the same players that Steve McClaren had. I don't know if
:25:22. > :25:25.they fell out, but whatever. All of side and they have started to
:25:26. > :25:31.perform. I will look at that and say, why did they not perform
:25:32. > :25:35.beforehand? The one thing you might say that is different with Benitez
:25:36. > :25:41.rather than McLaren is that Lascelles has come in. But he was at
:25:42. > :25:48.the club. Only because Coloccini has not been playing. Which has happened
:25:49. > :25:52.at Manchester United with the kids. You listen to those injuries, Andros
:25:53. > :25:56.Townsend has been a shining light and one thing he said as he is now
:25:57. > :26:01.playing me in my favourite position. Right-hand side, I can shoot from
:26:02. > :26:08.distance, cut inside. Magnificent goal yesterday, he felt confident.
:26:09. > :26:15.Playing Vurnon Anita at right back, some are out of position. Bet he is
:26:16. > :26:19.generating belief. Results generate Billy. They are organised and now
:26:20. > :26:23.they have the threat on the break and they believe they can get out of
:26:24. > :26:27.trouble. Aston Villa next, they could win there, then you start to
:26:28. > :26:34.look at the Sunderland fixtures and they need two wins. Christopher
:26:35. > :26:38.says, "Newcastle will be relegated, they do not have enough team
:26:39. > :26:42.spirit." Graham says, Sunderland and Norwich because Benitez has found
:26:43. > :26:47.the Midas touch at Newcastle. Beating Villa will give them enough.
:26:48. > :26:51.You look at those lost two games and you are thinking Newcastle could win
:26:52. > :26:55.both of those. Roman has given the atmosphere at Villa Park it could be
:26:56. > :26:59.more like a home game. I thought they might run out of games but they
:27:00. > :27:05.can still definitely do it. The big regret might be not getting the neat
:27:06. > :27:10.has in sooner. Not a manager who necessarily will make an immediate
:27:11. > :27:15.impact. He takes a little bit longer. Now we are starting to see
:27:16. > :27:19.it. It might be they need one or two games more. If there were four games
:27:20. > :27:28.left I would definitely say yes but with only two. That equaliser. If we
:27:29. > :27:33.are saying Norwich have gone. You would think it is between Newcastle
:27:34. > :27:37.and Sunderland. Sam Allardyce will have respect for Benitez. Still
:27:38. > :27:41.Sunderland looked favourite to get out of trouble because they have the
:27:42. > :27:45.extra game. If we are saying Tottenham will get beat by Chelsea
:27:46. > :27:49.then the Chelsea team will arrive full of confidence. Are they going
:27:50. > :27:54.to beat them in their next home game? Then Everton and Watford. They
:27:55. > :27:58.need six points. If they can do that... Norwich still have a game in
:27:59. > :28:04.hand and they also have Watford and Everton. Cats among the pigeons,
:28:05. > :28:10.Everton involved in two of those, what happens if Martinez is not
:28:11. > :28:15.there in a week? There is the possible T he might not be manager.
:28:16. > :28:21.They will probably improve. Exactly. It is possible he might not see at
:28:22. > :28:28.the season. I think last game of the season for all of this. I think it
:28:29. > :28:32.will be. Let's have Sam Allardyce and then we will talk about this.
:28:33. > :28:39.His views on Jermain Defoe, 14 goals this season, his best return
:28:40. > :28:44.2009-10. I wonder where you would be without Jermain Defoe. Relegated,
:28:45. > :28:50.probably. That is the answer to that. The other lads have not scored
:28:51. > :28:56.enough. That is why we are still wary. Jermain has kept as close to
:28:57. > :29:00.getting out of trouble because we have got 14 goals from him but the
:29:01. > :29:03.rest of the lads have not scored enough to get the precious wins we
:29:04. > :29:12.needed that ultimately become jaws and ultimately -- today did not see
:29:13. > :29:15.one of our better performances. -- become draws. I sense there is a
:29:16. > :29:20.frustration with him. On the radio as well. He says we are not taking
:29:21. > :29:27.opportunities. He's seemed a bit more annoyed than Rafa Benitez. He
:29:28. > :29:31.is trying to keep the urgency in the group. Never satisfied. You cannot
:29:32. > :29:37.be at the bottom. Looking at the bigger picture. He has got Defoe in
:29:38. > :29:42.the central position. He was playing wide at the start but now he has
:29:43. > :29:45.produced. 14 goals. One of the few players still playing that I played
:29:46. > :29:53.against and there is still the sharpness about it. He is so quick
:29:54. > :29:56.and rapid. Quick works. If you look at his penalty yesterday there is
:29:57. > :30:01.only one thing in his mind. He said he did not know how he dealt with
:30:02. > :30:07.the pressure. He did not like he was under pressure. I would want him of
:30:08. > :30:12.my striker. In that position. I think Sam Allardyce, one of the
:30:13. > :30:14.underlying things is he has put the performances in have been better
:30:15. > :30:21.than the results in the last half-dozen games and is thinking, it
:30:22. > :30:25.might just be a little too late. I think it is going to go down to the
:30:26. > :30:29.very last game of the season. The other thing is I thought his
:30:30. > :30:30.signings in January were very good. That is something he has done for
:30:31. > :30:43.years. He addressed an awful lot of
:30:44. > :30:47.problems in the team. It made an awful lot of difference. That sense
:30:48. > :30:53.of frustration, structurally he has got everything right. Why are they
:30:54. > :30:57.getting results? That's a frustration. You look at it, you
:30:58. > :31:02.think everything should be in place, it's not quite happening. Jason, why
:31:03. > :31:06.do you think everyone seems to have relegated Norwich as a matter of
:31:07. > :31:13.fact... Arguably, we have just done for the last 5-6 minutes. They are a
:31:14. > :31:19.little bit more open, you don't quite know what you will get. The
:31:20. > :31:24.injury to ten closer... That was a big one. Losing the best defender.
:31:25. > :31:31.You look at the managers, he is the most experienced, you look at
:31:32. > :31:35.Benitez, Sam Allardyce... Experienced, top managers, you
:31:36. > :31:41.naturally assume they will be able to do better, getting more out of
:31:42. > :31:48.the team. If they beat Man United at home, next time out, all of this
:31:49. > :31:53.argument moves to another place. They are a little bit of a yo-yo
:31:54. > :31:59.club, going up and down, we expect them to fall out of the bottom...
:32:00. > :32:04.There's less on them? Probably a little less on Norwich. I think,
:32:05. > :32:10.because of the situation, and the other thing, it's not bad bad to be
:32:11. > :32:15.a yo-yo club. If you understand and appreciate the situation, look at
:32:16. > :32:19.Burnley. Hardly spending any money in the Premier League, came down,
:32:20. > :32:25.spend a lot more money. Now they have a great chance of coming back,
:32:26. > :32:29.they kept the manager. Hold on... We have been relegated, not very good,
:32:30. > :32:33.but you know what, we keep these players, we add to the wage bill,
:32:34. > :32:38.the staff and quality and we come back. It's not a great problem, West
:32:39. > :32:44.Brom had a spell doing that. You can do it. Our time at the Liberty
:32:45. > :32:53.Stadium, Swansea against Liverpool, Swansea two goals. Sigurdsson korma,
:32:54. > :33:00.-- Sigurdsson corner. Swansea have been great, being denied four goals,
:33:01. > :33:05.great goalkeeping by Danny Ward. The best chance for Liverpool failed to
:33:06. > :33:12.Daniel Sturridge. The effort going wide. Jurgen Klopp making eight
:33:13. > :33:20.changes, six on the bench. Conor Randall was unwell this morning.
:33:21. > :33:25.Thank you. John from Burnley, what odds on Burnley to win the Premier
:33:26. > :33:30.League next? Worth a tenner. Early fans have obviously got together...
:33:31. > :33:36.Chris says, if Leicester can do it, it next season it could be Burnley.
:33:37. > :33:39.And Paul says, as a Chelsea fan, we looked at the Leicester game at the
:33:40. > :33:43.start of the season, thinking will be need points to win the league on
:33:44. > :33:49.the last day, now it's turned out differently, well done, Leicester.
:33:50. > :33:52.And Alan says, Leicester have sprinted to the front and they have
:33:53. > :33:59.stayed there, do it for the little people. Make says Roberto Martinez,
:34:00. > :34:05.out, out, discuss this, he is ruining England's Riders prospects.
:34:06. > :34:09.The protests at Goodison Park, at the Emirates as well, some fans
:34:10. > :34:16.holding up banners saying time for a change.
:34:17. > :34:21.My job is to win football games and make the fans happy, I am sorry if I
:34:22. > :34:25.don't achieve it. We just have to work even harder to achieve that. Do
:34:26. > :34:30.you find it irritating after 19 years at the club you have to go
:34:31. > :34:36.through your CV and justify what you have done? No... I am irritated and
:34:37. > :34:41.frustrated if I cannot keep people happy, ideally, they have respect
:34:42. > :34:45.for this club and I have, I have given so much to it but your dream
:34:46. > :34:50.is to make everyone happy, when it doesn't work, I am not happy. Good
:34:51. > :34:56.question, should Arsen Wenger justify his CV? Yes, because we do
:34:57. > :35:01.it every day, that is what you do in every job, justify why you got it.
:35:02. > :35:04.You cannot rest on what you did before, that gives you time, and
:35:05. > :35:10.respect and more time than other people because you have achieved so
:35:11. > :35:14.much but he's incredibly well paid, with a fantastic CV, but, questions
:35:15. > :35:19.need to be asked about why Arsenal are not improving. They are spending
:35:20. > :35:23.money now, a strong squad, but there is almost like a mental block they
:35:24. > :35:28.cannot get over, third or fourth best in the Premier League, and that
:35:29. > :35:34.is it. I have to say, pretty pathetic demonstration, I think the
:35:35. > :35:41.people who were demonstrating were shouting more, put your banners
:35:42. > :35:48.down. It brought fans who support Wenger to the floor... But we don't
:35:49. > :35:54.hear from memory often, to be honest. They are happy chap ease.
:35:55. > :36:01.Not happy campers, but they are happy. The thing about it is, look
:36:02. > :36:05.at him now, I think as we said before, is he improving the players,
:36:06. > :36:10.and you would have to say, over the course of the season, arguably, no.
:36:11. > :36:15.I think that's... He said at the start of the season it's the best
:36:16. > :36:20.group he had since 2004, is he saying... Is he comparing this team
:36:21. > :36:25.to your team? He said it's as good as God as he had then... It was
:36:26. > :36:28.there for the taking and it hurts massively, they can still finish...
:36:29. > :36:34.There are some fans who would rather not, so they could actually say, we
:36:35. > :36:38.need to create some... This team has nothing like the character that your
:36:39. > :36:42.team had. You have probably seven or eight managers on the pitch, this
:36:43. > :36:50.team... It doesn't matter what we did... But it does if he says...
:36:51. > :36:54.They are not doing that. It is very difficult, it would be like you
:36:55. > :36:58.having a go at Bob Paisley, saying, many years later... I wouldn't dream
:36:59. > :37:04.of it. Exactly, I can't understand, I left the club will view is well,
:37:05. > :37:07.went to Leicester City, to see Leicester winning a Premier League
:37:08. > :37:13.title before Arsenal, it is unthinkable. I don't understand, he
:37:14. > :37:19.signed a five-year contract, 12 years ago now, that affected the
:37:20. > :37:24.stadium, for some years, but not now, that excuse cannot be there. I
:37:25. > :37:27.think everybody will completely understand that you are not going to
:37:28. > :37:32.criticise a manager who gave you so much and maybe he was a different
:37:33. > :37:36.manager when he managed you... I think that is the point. Maybe
:37:37. > :37:42.everything has changed. But he had a different set of players. There was
:37:43. > :37:49.an urgency, we were coming to the end of our careers, no doubt. Marry
:37:50. > :37:54.up that with the drive. Your team could play against any team and they
:37:55. > :37:59.could fight. But this team? I think he inherited a lot. The fans had
:38:00. > :38:04.hoped that Wenger will find a way, they want him to be the manager.
:38:05. > :38:09.That is why he decides... He deserves the right... In that year,
:38:10. > :38:13.it's about getting behind the manager, if it's a difficult
:38:14. > :38:17.situation, no one is winning, the home games costing them, I am not
:38:18. > :38:23.sure about that, third in the away record. They did not get that right
:38:24. > :38:26.completely, but it will be another year, people put their energy into
:38:27. > :38:32.getting behind the manager. If you are an employee of the business,
:38:33. > :38:39.that demand success, do you deserve the right to choose when you go?
:38:40. > :38:46.It's exceptional circumstances. Just remember... Not just done for the
:38:47. > :38:53.playing side, but moving from Highbury, you know, moving to a new
:38:54. > :38:58.stadium... You could argue, by allowing him to choose when he goes,
:38:59. > :39:01.Arsenal have missed out on managers who might have been suited and they
:39:02. > :39:05.could have got there... Particularly this season? The long-term
:39:06. > :39:13.succession plan management that it is to be looked at, Steve Bould?
:39:14. > :39:17.What we are watching and ceiling, does Arsenal want to be a part of
:39:18. > :39:24.that process, does he want to manage the club? Leicester will win the
:39:25. > :39:28.league. And that, when we talked about clubs who have to reflect when
:39:29. > :39:33.watching what Leicester have done, Everton are. I appreciate... We
:39:34. > :39:38.haven't talked about Roberto Martinez but we saw at the Emirates,
:39:39. > :39:43.there are people supporting Wenger, it seems there are less people
:39:44. > :39:47.supporting Roberto Martinez. He is facing a perfect storm, and new
:39:48. > :39:53.owner in the club, trying to buy Arsenal, he has a lot of ambition,
:39:54. > :39:57.got a good squad of players, some of whom may leave this summer, John
:39:58. > :40:05.Stones, Romelu Lukaku... There will be money to spend, those two, 80 -
:40:06. > :40:09.90 million comedy Everton trust Roberto Martinez to spend that
:40:10. > :40:13.money? Beyond that, you have him talking about how great the players
:40:14. > :40:21.are. He has talked it up somewhat, he has written that. It's very much
:40:22. > :40:25.a family club. I was at the funeral for Howard Kendall, God rest his
:40:26. > :40:31.soul, it appeared to me, they don't want to cast people away, Martinez
:40:32. > :40:34.is considered one of theirs. It seems like he is conducting an
:40:35. > :40:39.experiment have the time at the expense of being able... He does not
:40:40. > :40:45.have the balance to his play. He wants them to pass the ball but the
:40:46. > :40:51.players want to win the games. There is frustration, it seems, it looks
:40:52. > :40:56.fantastic to us, but there is a rumour... But that is the problem,
:40:57. > :41:02.he doesn't follow with anyone. I am hearing different things. The other
:41:03. > :41:07.thing, this is his third season. And after three seasons you expect to be
:41:08. > :41:17.going up the table. The problem with Everton... They are going down. Bill
:41:18. > :41:21.Kenwright, but he is not sleeping partner, he wants to do well he
:41:22. > :41:25.wants success. He might go, otherwise. He has gone in there,
:41:26. > :41:28.having tried to get involved with Arsenal and didn't happen. He will
:41:29. > :41:35.want to see something. Who will they look at? That is the question. The
:41:36. > :41:40.market is not overflowing? So many names thrown out there, Eddie Howe,
:41:41. > :41:52.I do not think Slaven Bilic will go near it. Ronald Koeman? Another
:41:53. > :41:59.one... Mark Hughes has been linked? Why would he go from Stoke? Martin
:42:00. > :42:07.Amis is in the job, they need to decide if he is the right man.
:42:08. > :42:11.Eventually, Ranieri, it has taken him to 64 to get it right. What he
:42:12. > :42:15.needs to sort out... The other thing I would say in his defence, said
:42:16. > :42:20.results in reverse, a waveform, it would not quite be... But if he was
:42:21. > :42:28.the manager for Liverpool would he be there? John says he gave an
:42:29. > :42:33.interview to Jamie Carragher saying he could easily make the changes by
:42:34. > :42:38.addressing defending but he's not prepared to do so, effectively
:42:39. > :42:42.confirming that he would rather lose playing his way and that is why he
:42:43. > :42:48.has lost. Then he will fall on his sword, he needs to find a winning
:42:49. > :42:52.formula, yesterday was important, he didn't follow the philosophy, it
:42:53. > :42:56.matters most, it's about winning. Chelsea and Spurs tomorrow night,
:42:57. > :43:00.that is an BBC Radio 5 Live, will the title be over, will Spurs be in
:43:01. > :43:10.the running? I think they will be but I don't think they will win at
:43:11. > :43:13.Chelsea. Was that to quit? They could both Lewis and Leicester would
:43:14. > :43:17.be champions. The inevitable thing is Leicester will win. Do you think
:43:18. > :43:27.Babel when it today? I hope they do it on my watch. I would love it. I
:43:28. > :43:33.was there, 16 games. It was a very different club. -- do you think they
:43:34. > :43:39.will win it. Today, I think Man United might win, it has been at
:43:40. > :43:44.overseas in. Chelsea with Eden Hazard last week... He said he can't
:43:45. > :43:51.wait. You filled that time beautifully. It is all about you.
:43:52. > :43:56.Thank you to all of my guests, find out whether Leicester can win the
:43:57. > :43:58.title on BBC Radio 5 Live throughout the afternoon and an Match of the
:43:59. > :44:00.Day two tonight. See you next week.