02/02/2014 MOTD2 Extra

Welcome to Match of the Day Two Extra. We're analysing the weekend's

football on BBC One, Radio 5Live and the BBC Sport website. Coming up,

we'll talk about tomorrow's big match between leaders Manchester

City and Chelsea. A couple of games today as well. West Brom face

Liverpool and then Arsenal play Crystal Palace. And we'll review

yesterday's action. Our guests this lunchtime. BBC football pundit

Robbie Savage. 5live football commentator Alan Green. And the

Independent's football writer, Ian Herbert. You can get in touch in all

the usual ways. 85058 on the text, @bbcmotd and via the Match of the

Day Facebook page. Plenty to talk about. I want to start by not

talking about the Premier League for once. But a club who perhaps should

be in the Premier League, Leeds united. There is a 2-page article in

the newspapers today talking about a club that is in chaos and could fall

into the hands of an Italian fraudster, their words. Because the

man who is looking to buy them has been to dump fraud in Italy. On a

couple of occasions. This would be the biggest test of whether a leak

in this country is willing and able and capable of inventing someone

like that from taking over a club. Leeds are in real trouble

financially. They are paying off the debt of being in the Premier League

but they are losing about ?50 million per season. There are

desperate for a buyer and a by-product of that desperation is

someone like Massimo Chellino who wants to buy the club and has the

fact to sack manager before he has even taken over. Normally in these

situations you ask guests what is going on. That is an impossible

question to answer. The Italian side say they have not sat McDermott,

that that came from the current orders -- owners. It is ridiculous.

It is wholly absurd. I'm hoping like probably everyone here that the foot

will leak in this case will take a stand. And when they talk about fit

and proper persons, they will look at it and say that this fraudster is

not fit and proper. Over the last couple of days, he was not in a

position to sack McDermott because he did not own the club. McDermott

does, McDermott knows that if Massimo Chellino takes over,

McDermott has no future at the club. So even if the club issued a

statement saying you're not sacked, come back and everything is fine,

McDermott must know he has no future at Leeds United if the ownership

changes to the benefit of this man. The club statement said something

like Brian McDermott has not been dismissed and we look forward to his

continuing his role with us. But why would he want to continue? It is

very hard. All the sympathy is with the fans. They turn up week in, week

out. They give me abuse when I play against them! You have sympathy with

Brian McDermott who is a good man, an honest man, and with the fans. It

is shambolic. Given the financial situation, they are in danger of

becoming the next Leeds! Going back a bit. That is right. One of the

interesting potential aspect, they're owned at the moment by a

brainy and banker. -- a banker from Bahrain. The money offered for the

club is peanuts in terms of the game. That is how desperate they are

for that kind of injection of money. There are examples all over the

place. You mentioned Portsmouth, playing in front of 15,000 at the

bottom of league two. And Bolton Wanderers, losing ?50 million last

season. Another club who paid to get into the unique and are in trouble.

Leeds United used to be in the semifinals and it hurts. I have no

affiliation to Yorkshire in semifinals and it hurts. I have no

particular but I think the Premier League could do with a Yorkshire

club. And Leeds United is the foremost club in Yorkshire. It has a

fantastic bank of supporters. You can rely on 30,000 plus. And

whatever abuse they give Robbie, they are a great bunch of fans and

they deserve better. I feel so frustrated on their behalf. But I do

not see what the future is unless there is a problem by moving in.

Let's move on to the first game this afternoon - West Brom face Liverpool

having won only once in their last 13 games. To start with the home

side, are they still trying to find some kind of rhythm, the right

formation? It is dismal at this moment. Just one win in 13 games.

They need to improve on that. They beat Liverpool three -yl on their

opening day of the season and they will need a resurrection of that

kind of form. -- 3-nil. Liverpool cut the Everton defence to shreds

with quick counterattacking. So if they are trying to find some rhythm

under Pepe Mel it will be a difficult afternoon for them. And I

think that with them will be staccato. Liverpool very much in

with game against Everton during the week. Yesterday was a good day for

them in terms of cementing fourth-place. That is right. They

can create a bit of a gap if they win today. Suarez destroyed West

Brom at Anfield before Christmas. He is in magnificent form. 22 goals. 14

assists in eight games this season. They did not pick up any extra

injury problems. So it would not surprise me if they remain

unchanged. West Brom may just go to a back three. Keith Downing was in

caretaker charge and he used that. If Nagano plays, he does know

Suarez. But he has been found out for a lack of pace at Premiership

level. West Brom need to make changes and they do not have many

options. The Liverpool defence is not there strong point but I think

they will have too much for West Brom today.

We will let you get on. The only blip for Liverpool was the injury.

They are great in possession and a great counterattacking team as well.

Suarez, his pace over a long distance surprised me. From the

halfway line, to beat Jagielka in a race, incredible. He's the best

centre forward in the world I think at minute. What to think about their

needs from the transfer window? I think they needed extra defence. The

defence they were forced to put out the other night, Martin Skrtel and

Flanagan, they are the only options. Cissokho as a left-back, I'm not

sure what anyone sees in him. So they are vulnerable defensively. But

if West Brom go at Liverpool then I can see with Coutinho and Suarez and

storage, Liverpool counterattacking them to death. This is a day for

Liverpool. The other night was an important figure three. But given

the results yesterday, the defeat for Manchester United, Liverpool

could go nine points clear. It is a huge at noon for West Brom, given

some of the results yesterday. They are level with West Ham. West Ham

just in the bottom three on goal difference. They have slipped down

in many ways almost unnoticed. Roberto Martinez talked about Pepe

Mel, he knows him very well. And he said that is the sort of football we

can expect from West Brom, high energy, a lot of movement. But

Martin is did say it would take four or five weeks to instil that kind of

culture. Pochettino came in quite a lot earlier in the season, trying to

get that off the ground in February. I do not think that they can afford

four or five weeks, that is the problem. A Liverpool fan says, we

could possibly win the title. I do not think Liverpool can win the

title. That argument is based on the fact that aside from going to Old

Trafford, the title Ruppell's vulture all have to go to Anfield.

And Liverpool's form has been sloppy. It is asking a lot. Jumping

from seventh place into first place is too big a leap. But the top four

is possible. One text, David Moyes admits he has not got a clue. He

said yesterday I do not know why we did not win. But he is paid millions

to figure that out. It must be time to go. We can hear from David Moyes

after that defeat at Stoke. We played well today, we lost to a

wicked deflection from a free kick. And the amount of opportunities and

chances, we should have won the game. We have ourselves to blame but

it was a good performance. We just could not take both chances. You are

never satisfied when you lose but your always pleased by making

opportunities in difficult conditions. We lost the first goal

and it was ridiculous. It was a bit of a soft free kick, I felt. But

nevertheless. You lost two defenders today. We will leave it there.

Whether unlucky yesterday? A little bit. I think they deserved a point.

But the top managers, UC Mourinho doing it, David Moyes Mark Hughes at

times, I thought yesterday Stoke battled hard in terrible conditions.

Charlie Adams was exceptional. Lost a bit of weight. If Liverpool win

today, fourth-place should not be too hard to achieve. Surely a player

should be ultimate weight anyhow! If they take him aside and get him

fit, that is to their credit. A footballer should not be overweight

in the first place! It is a fair point. But there are different band

struck as. -- bone structures. I have problems with my bone

structure! Where did Manchester United go wrong yesterday? It is

partly belief, with them. It was by no means as bad as it has been for

them. The positive was they were fighting hard at the end. We have

had some anodyne finishes two games with them. But it is partly belief.

Luck can come into it but there is a loser's luck as well. You do not get

the sense with them that they have the mentality to really battle out

games like this and win through. The injuries were unlucky but there was

a sequence of them. One thing seems to lead to another. David Moyes, his

comments afterwards was so positive. The tone was all wrong. The press

Conference got off to a bad start. He was asked a question that rankled

with him and then he presented it as they did everything right. Which was

ludicrous. A text said they were like headless

change chicken, were they shapeless? Yes in the last chaotic 15 minute,

it was just, everybody rushing forward, you know, one minute Young

was on the right, then the left. I was thinking, well, that is OK, if

you are actually penetrating. But they weren't. Headless chicken, that

is a good description of the way Manchester United were at the end.

They were unlucky, you lose both central defenders, through injury,

of course that is unlucky, but David's view of their performance I

thought was absurdly rose tinted. It neglected to pay attention how well

Stoke played and I thought Charlie Adam, he was magnificent yesterday.

It wasn't just that fantastic second goal he scored, it was his

contribution all over the pitch, there was an aggression about dammed

that was lacking in Manchester United. -- Adam. I thought United

were better yesterday than they have been but there a long way off. Mata

is an expensive plaster, he maybe an expensive big plaster but it doesn't

cover the wounds. They have more world class player than Liverpool.

They have four, but the big difference between them... Mata,

Rooney and? I know what he is trying to say. Are they world class? They

haveer mo of those elite world class player, I would say, but the big

difference is than Liverpool, but Liverpool look like they believe it,

they believe they can do it. I mean, when they win game they take

incredible amount out of it. I think that is partly down to, you know,

what Rogers, he gives then. He has that ability to make them feel they

can do anything. Do they lack, as well, and Robbie you can start this,

those, I don't know, players that are fiscal, that intimidate. Alan

mentioned how Charlie Adam liked the physical stuff yesterday. United, if

Vidic isn't there, they probably have only Rooney, maybe Robin Van

Persie at a push who like to get stuck in, who like that element of

physicality. Are they too nice. The fear factor, if you take in Rooney,

Robin Van Persie, Mata out of the team, if you think it is going to be

a tough afternoon, if you a forward you look across thinking, we fancy

it today. So as Ian said, I think they have three world class players.

But... Would De Gea be? Barring one or two mistakes. It was a big

mistack at Sunderland. Fantastic result for Stoke who played as team

in difficult conditions for nearly 97 minutes one text said. Josh said

it is not time to throw in the towel with Moyes, a great manager like

Ferguson got the best out of players like cleverly. Another one says

Moyes is too cautious. On that cleverly, as you were saying,

shouldn't a player be in the right shape to play football. How can one

man inspire so somebody so much. You have won the league. Cleverly, I

don't know how so many players can be so ordinary from last year, it

has to be done to -- down to the players. You know, he is 18 years of

age, he looks terrific, but in a year's time, he could be another

Mikada, where is he now? Due respect to Birmingham, you know what I am

say, young players can look very good but let us not make them stars

overnight, because Tay are not. If think had lost yesterday they would

have been pod Tom three, they win and they are 11th. Incredible. We

will move on to the side that are at the bottom of the table. When Alan

spoke about a Yorkshire team being in the Premier League, we know Hull

are in the Premier League, in mitigating circumstance, when I went

to university there Hull was still in Humberside. I can only apologise

to Hull in East Yorkshire. Let us get that sorted and move on. Let

talks about Fulham who were busy in the transfer window and have doped

to the -- dropped to the bottom of the Premier League, beaten by

Southampton, one of the players they brought in were offensive minded,

and the problem is they are conceding too many goal, conceded 53

so far. That is right. There was a good deconstruction of the way they

defended by, I think by Danny Murphy last night on Match of the Day. I

think it was a very very big gamble hiring Meulensteen in the first

place. I think the wrong choice honestly, you have, and I think

there is something about him, the fact he has worked with Ferguson,

there is a certain aura or idea that it is all going to have rubbed off,

but he has no experience of being in in position, so what makes us think

he is going to get them out of it? A couple of the papers in fact are

suggesting that I think the Mirror and the Sun say Alan Curbishley is

waiting in the wings to take over. I wouldn't be that cynical. He is

available, he is a candidate. I think what has happened, actually

since mull Steen has taken over should make -- Meulensteen has taken

over has shown Martin Jol was doing a good job there. They are in

trouble. As Robbie said about Stoke, from bottom three to 11th, courtesy

of a victory, it is difficult at this stage of the season to say I

think A, B and C will go down, because a couple of results, either

way can change the circumstances, look how Swansea have plummeted. Of

all of them Fulham are the ones I would feel most confident to say

that about. At the moment. Man man, Liverpool. Chelsea- Manchester

United, Liverpool, Chelsea in some of their next five games. There was

confusion about, listen, Holt by is a fantastic play e but why get rid

of centre halves and the ones that confused Danny Murphy, Aaron Hugh,

an experienced defend ersent to QPR. Senderos must be thanking his lucky

stars going to Barcelona. You can't blame them was a it was very poor.

But they are basing everything on you would suggest, on Johnny

Heitinga and Hangeland forming an understanding as their defensive

partnership from the moment Johnny Heitinga is able to play in that

team. You are. They conceded too many goals and losing Berbatov, and

that is a good thing, Monaco and Berbatov go hand in hand. What does

that mean? The lifestyle. Perfect. Great match. But can Ben score the

goals? It is going to be difficult. I agree with Ian, Fulham could go.

We are still getting texts a and tweets about Liverpool and

Manchester United going for seventh. "Even if Liverpool lose their games

against the top three they will make fourth." Guarin "Brendan Rodgers

says seventh to fourth is too big a leap. So first to seventh is too big

a fall." Let us move back to the bottom of the table. We will move on

the Cardiff who have started yesterday on the bottom. They beat

Norwich by two goals to one, despite falling behind to an early goal. Ole

Gunnar Solskjaer says the arrival of new faces at the club has come at

the perfect time. S I was hoping we would be in a

better position, given half an hour on the debut, I felt we needed

spark, the crowd needed something, and he gave even a lift, that is for

sure. Could you have hoped for any more from three debut boys? Not

really. Fabio did fantastic. Kenwyne scores a goal. Wilfred makes the

impact. The most pleasing thing is to see the form of Craig Bellamy. He

is the first player who scored for seven different clubs in Premier

League, and that is, that is something for him to take with him.

They in the bottom three, Cardiff. Their next match is the derby at

Swansea, are you more impressed with the players Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has

brought in? Yes, I am. He has brought in the enigma that is

Wilfried Zaha. Didn't get a look in at Old Trafford. I am trying to

figure out why, he wasn't properly tested there. But Ole Gunnar

Solskjaer in his first game in charge, that cup win at Newcastle

was absurdly described as a tactical genius, we will wait and see if he

is, he made a stream tactical move yesterday. Things weren't going on

early on, Mourinho-like, bringing on Wilfried Zaha, the change was

immediate. I thought he was impressive. He has good players

there. He talked about the crowd needing a lift. Craig Bellamy spoke

about how the atmosphere was, wasn't the Cardiff he knew at that ground,

in that first half. The crowd were getting on the backs of the players,

so what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did with bringing Wilfried Zaha on

changed the atmosphere. We have seen that with a few club there is a

spark, the cloud crowd need lifting, and Zaha, I degree not sure why he

hasn't been given a chance at Old Trafford. We don't know know what

happens in training or behind the scenes. David Moyes sees him every

day, so he makes the judgment. It is a great opportunity for him, go and

play in the Premier League, let us be fair, he has not played in the

Premier League. The atmosphere is dictated by their feel totion the

owner, so if it is not going well, they are not blaming the players or

the manager, whoever that is, they are thinking about the ownership of

the club. That was a classic example of a result that kind of, a lot

belies the result. Norwich battered Cardiff in the second half, Norwich

started better, on the whole, Cardiff were poor, right, I mean

Zaha, he made a big impression, but Cardiff were poor, they were very

poor in the cup at Bolton, they are another one I think, you know, they

are not a great side, you know. But Darren on the text says "Notch are

the team most likely to go down. I have backed Chris Hughton but we

failed to address our poor attack in the transfer window. The

performances have been going down hill, we should Judge them at the

end of the season. If we continue to waste chances we could be in the

Championship by then." Norwich better shield their eyes in terms of

the fixtures a the end of the season which are horrible. They are one of

a number of clubs, how many teams are involved in "The relegation

battle"? 11? 11. You would argue. If you look at the back pages this

morning, one word seems to come up quite a lot, which is squealer.

Which is being used to describe Flores and his reaction to the Andy

Carroll challenge, which is kind of, the discussion on Carroll is

dominating things than West Ham beating Swansea yesterday. As

somebody who has been known to squeal in the past, Robbie Savage,

what did you make of it? Well I did a very similar thing in the cup

final, when he caught me on migrate lock, I went down clutching me face,

I am embarrassed. I was trying to gain an advantage for my team which

didn't pay off. So when you look back, it is embarrassing as a

professional. You have done it, you try to gain advantage, dididn't

think it was a red card, it is a yellow, will it get rescinded? I am

not sure, he has swung his arm, if he catches him in the face it's a

red. I am not sure it will be rescinded. I thought it was a yellow

card. There is history there. In the game earlier this season, Flores was

rolling round, I remember doing it and you saw Sam Allardyce pointing

at him and laughing at him. So, you know, there is a history between

Flores and West Ham, but Ian, Scot says "What is the difference between

Ashley Young's Daiing and Flores's antics? " "Why will Flores get away

with play acting? No wonder referee referees struggle." I don't want to

be analytical, but... You are allowed to be analytical. If I can

use Alan as an example. It wasn't quite... I will change places with

you. It wasn't quite a natural, you know, movement of the arm and I

guess that is right. Why it might not be resended. His performance,

that is what Sam bought him for, the two knock downs were fantastic.

Cameron says "It is significant they have reignited the partnership and

that might keep them in the Premier League." Let's go to the Emirates

next. Arsenal against Crystal Palace later today. Steve Wilson is

commentating on this game at the Emirates. We can start on the

Arsenal transfer window dealings and the signing of Kim Kallstrom. What

do you know about this injury was Mac -- this injury? A little lesson

on Swedish pronunciation. Think if you have picked up a guitar for your

first ever lesson. It is Strom. He had been training with Spartak

Moscow. Arsenal got him over here. He did not get injured in training,

he has not trained with them yet. They knew he was injured at did the

medical and decided to sign him. They do not expect him to play in

February. He would not play against Liverpool or Manchester United and

at least in the first leg, would not play against Bayern Munich. So

Arsenal went into this with their eyes open. Arsenal are categorically

denying stories this morning that they are trying to pull out of the

deal and ditch Kim Kallstrom. They say they knew he was injured and

hope that he will be available in March, April and May. But they knew

that he would not say in February. Moving off that and on to Crystal

Palace and their dealings. Ledley. Hennessy. Crystal Palace fans will

say that they had a good deadline day and have a variety of players in

different positions. I think they were the big winners on Friday,

Crystal Palace. Tony Pulis and the people behind the scenes have done a

withered job. It does not quite come early enough for them perhaps today.

Hennessy is available. They signed him in time. Jason Punshon also

available. The other three, Scott Dann and Joe Ledley and Tom Ince are

not available today. That confirmation coming in the last few

minutes on Tom Ince. The confusion arises because Stephen dobby who

went to black and unknown was on the bench for them yesterday. So people

said if he is available, surely Tom Ince is available for Pallas. But

that is not the case because the Premier League and the Football

League have different deadlines. The deadline for Tom Ince was midday

yesterday and he was signed after that. He will not play for Pallas

today. -- Crystal Palace. Tony Pulis has halved the rate at which Crystal

Palace concede goals. That is a brilliant achievement. Thank you for

that. Is there a feeling, in the same way as when they went to and --

to Manchester City, that they are in for a game this afternoon?

Technically Tony Pulis was superb. Arsenal will be in for a tough game.

But I think the quality they have got, Santi Cazorla scoring the

goals, I think they might just take it. Even when Arsenal went behind at

the Etihad they had chances to equalise. And they may have merited

a draw on that afternoon. I would not be surprised if they get a draw

today at the Emirates. I think Tony Pulis has brought the

transformation. He has made some goodbyes, it is a shame he cannot

play some of them today. -- good buys.

It is absurd of Arsenal to have taken the Swede on loan when they

know that he's not going to play for a dozen games. They needed somebody

immediately to help replace Ramsey and Wiltshire. A lot of the panel on

deadline day were trying to justify what Arsenal had done, saying they

do need midfield cover. They need someone they can bring in as cover.

But he is injured. But now the cover is not available either. And that is

where the deal looks slightly off. It is supposed to work, you have

four or five possibilities and if one falls away, you do your homework

on fitness before the actual medical. If one looks dodgy you have

others to fall back on. I could not understand why they did not do the

deal for Julian Draxler. They might go back for him in the summer. Where

down the line was Sjostrom? Whether he is the right man for them at the

moment, those questions might of been there. But it would have given

them a massive boost, especially amongst the fans. They have got an

awkward February, Arsenal. Not just the Premier League but in the

Champions League and the FA Cup tie against Liverpool. He amuses me in

the transfer market, Arsene Wenger. Nubile young and you develop the

player. But so close to making the breakthrough in the league this

year, I'm amazed that he did not get a striker, for example. We are

getting a lot of text in. David Moyes doing OK, one of them says. We

should be battling for the top four. And one says if Crystal Palace Park

the bus at the Emirates, there will come away with the points. They had

a couple of good chances to equalise, actually. Crystal Palace

are decent outfit. Talking about relegation places, on current form I

think they will stay up. Fulham and Cardiff I think I've got something

to worry about. Sunderland and Crystal Palace are trying to cut

through. One text came from someone calling themselves just, and Swede,

about the pronunciation of Kim Kallstrom. I wish he had failed his

medical! It would make my life easier. One of the games tomorrow.

City against Chelsea. The players are obviously very good.

Even with very good tyres, if the manager is not good, you do not do

it. So the manager has also to do good work. I think they have

everything and on top of that, and I want to make it clear that for me it

is just a coincidence and nothing else than a coincidence. But the

reality is that they have many crucial decisions in their favour.

We are playing at home and playing for the title also. Anything that

happened in that game is not the finish of the remedy. -- of the

Premier League. Jose Mourinho Ozma comments about West Ham and their

19th-century foot tall. How do you expect Jose Mourinho to it approach

this game? Some ink 19th-century! -- something. But it will not be enough

to keep city at Ray. That squad that they have will be too much for

them, however they try and set up. They are extraordinary. I'm thinking

about Fernandinho, for example. Someone who gets them together and

has helped turn them into a far more attacking force than they wear under

Roberto Mancini. And a more formidable one. If Bremer Fitch he

felt Mourinho was somehow a changed man. I do not think he is. Mourinho

would like nothing more than to park the bus at the Etihad tomorrow

night. Even if you dance, I expect the expansive nature of Manchester

City, albeit without Aguero, to try. One of the ways that Mourinho parks

the bus for Chelsea and also at Real Madrid, is to stifle the middle. To

play three central midfielders and stifle the middle so players cannot

go through. And then take the crosses. You cannot do that with

Manchester City. City has those full-backs. Zabaleta is a key weapon

for them going forward. So if you stifle the middle, Yaya Toure, his

runs have been rate this year. And you have Zabaleta. David Silva, he

is key. He slides those balls through and how do you mark him? You

can stifle crosses with Barcelona, they have no one who can get on the

end of the cross. Whereas Manchester City, they have plenty of people.

These games tend to turn, however you analyse it, they tend to turn on

that one moment of world-class something that you cannot really

define. David Silva is having an unbelievable season. They're all

interchangeable. Negredo gets wide as well. I cannot see them finding

just that one moment of the superlative that will unlock it. You

can tell that the other clubs are worried about city. They have

reached that stage where the other clubs are starting to gang up on

them. They are a wonderful team to watch at the moment. I love David

Silva. I would go just to watch him. But Negredo I think is a step

forward from Edin Dzeko. Talking about Mourinho parking the bus at

Arsenal or at Manchester United, I remember his inter-Milan team, they

lost a player, sent off. And they went into a 6-2-1 formation. He did

not hold his hands up after that. But that would be his natural

instinct at the Etihad. City I think one player short. -- are one player

short. The left side centre have going forward, I think are

vulnerable. To go to the next step of being real contenders for the

Champions League at that is something that needs to be looked

at. One text, no mention of three cracking goals from Southampton

players was Mac and Sunderland players saying you to them to go

down at the start of the season, have you changed your mind? They

have got a new manager. I think the manager has done great. Thank you

all for your company. Updates of West Brom against Liverpool this

afternoon on five live and full commentary, Arsenal against Crystal

Palace and Chelsea against Manchester City on five live as

well. We will see you next Sunday. Thank you for watching and

listening. Goodbye. for the rivalry that runs deeper

than any other. Because our fiercest rivals

are those who are closest.