02/10/2016 MOTD2 Extra

Welcome to MOTD2 Extra on BBC Two and the BBC Sport website.

Joining me today are Mark Lawrenson, Jonathan Northcroft, chief football

writer for The Sunday Times, and a warm welcome to Hull

defender Alex Bruce, making his MOTD2 Extra debut.

As ever, get involved using the hashtag #bbcfootball

Over the next 45 minutes, we will look at Liverpool coming from behind

at Swansea to go second in the table, Chelsea's win at Hull, and

updates from Old Trafford where it's Manchester United against Stoke. A

huge game later in the Premier League as Spurs host Man City, and

we will also reflect on Arsene Wenger's 20 years in charge at

Arsenal, as they travel to Burnley. The Ryder Cup dominates in the

papers, but there is also Chelsea's win at Hull. Sunderland get a late

equaliser at home to West Brom. The Telegraph choose the line that Ryan

Giggs could take over from Francesco Guidolin at Swansea. And we will

discuss the Swansea Liverpool game in a second. But let's go to Old

Trafford. Man United against Stoke. Both sides could have scored, Peter?

Yes, it could be 2-1 to United. The man who missed the first was Zlatan

Ibrahimovic, put through by Pogba. Lee Grant in the Stoke goal made a

couple of really good saves. Just before you came across, Pogba put

through to the edge of the penalty area, and somehow skewed the ball

wide. After 17 minutes, it is 0-0. Mark, it has been extremely open. It

has. I think Darren Randolph made... Lee Camp made a brilliant save. I

thought it was Darren Randolph! Moving on from there. We will go to

Old Trafford later. We will start with Swansea against Liverpool.

When they played at Anfield, they were very, very impressive.

Definitely. They dug in well. Plop said going into the game that it was

a massive game for them. These are the games they will have to run with

if they are to be title contenders. It was a great result. Good to get a

result down there after the few weeks they've had. You notice a

confidence about Liverpool that wasn't there before. To see Milner

chipped the penalty and express that... Previous Liverpool side

might have gone a goal down there on a tough afternoon and found it

difficult. But Klopp has a different spirit, and gave them the half-time

rocket to put energy back into the team. And it worked. I would say,

apart from the first half, that they are playing as well without the ball

as with the ball. They were brilliant at stopping Hull playing.

It didn't take a lot on the day. The front six now, as soon as it goes to

one of the opposing defenders or midfielders, they are all in. They

get the ball back so quickly, and Klopp loves it. They are a proper

unit now. You watch them drop Daniel Sturridge for an extended period,

and it's not even a story. People understand the team dynamics. It

makes sense to have some Eno rather than Sturridge. And Firmino,

Lallana... All those players just coming back from fitness. They can

play anywhere across the front. They've all got pace and a little

bit of a trick on the ball. They can all score goals and make goals for

themselves. You have had to play, your Hull side, Arsenal, Man United,

Chelsea, Liverpool and Leicester already this season. The

circumstances of games are different, and there was a red card,

as we said. But from what your team-mates are saying, were they the

most difficult side to play this season? We went down to ten men, so

it was difficult. The way they pressed from the front, they made it

very difficult for our boys. It's difficult at Anfield with 11, let

alone ten. Arsenal were very impressive as well. If I was going

to be honest, speaking to a few of the lads, David definitely given us

the most problems. If we talk about how good they are when they don't

have the ball, are they the most difficult to play against when you

yourselves have had a ball? Definitely. They all have pace, they

all know their jobs, they hunt the ball in packs and they pressed from

the front. The spirit that Klopp has created is rubbing off on everybody,

because from the outside looking in, you can see they've all bags of

confidence. Great time to be injured! Is there a vulnerability

about them? Klopp has admitted this himself, on set pieces? Yes, because

they have conceded goals. The thing about them at the moment, they just

looked like they could score against anybody. They've made so many

chances. The good thing yesterday was that they were poor in the first

half, by their own admission, that they turned it round. When you play

poorly and win in this league, it is the sign of a good side. What about

when you don't play that badly and lose? Do you have some sympathy for

Guidolin and the pressure he's under? I do, because you could see

the reaction yesterday. The players are still with him. They carried out

his game plan, yet it all came to nothing in the end, probably because

of a silly penalty. It was a silly challenge. Because of that, a guy's

job is on the line now, and it could have been different. What I can't

understand is, there's obviously something happening. Why wouldn't

Swansea just name it and say, he's fine, he just needs to win a couple

of games. But there's nothing coming out of Swansea saying he's fine with

his job. More thoughts on Guidolin in a moment, but let's hear from the

man himself now. In my situation, my position, it is

clear for me, because I have just to work with my players week by week,

day by day. I don't know. It's not this my problem in this moment, and

our problem, my problem is our table is not good. To have some points

more in our team, but I think if our team play in this way, we have the

possibility to turn round the situation.

The pressure has built from earlier, mainly from the defeat to Man City.

Some of their earlier results. They have had a poor start. I feel for

the manager because under enormous pressure. If they are going to make

a decision, they either need to back the manager and put everything to

bed, or they need to make a change and get on with it. The problem is,

with all the uncertainty around the place, it feeds into performances.

Yesterday, you could see how dejected the players were. He's

managing the club day-to-day. But they also feel maybe they are in a

period of... I hate this word... I'm going to use it, because I can't

think of another one. This period of transition. I have heard some say

this season already, for example when they lost at Southampton, they

are not sure what their identity is at the moment, and maybe that comes

from Guidolin coming in, losing Ashley Williams... That was the case

last year, when Guidolin arrived. He put round gel back in the team and

got the identity going again. Swansea are like a Sunderland or

West Brom, where they have perfected the art of staying in the Premier

League. Though arguably, they have been better than West Brom or

Sunderland recently. Over the years, but I think they are settling for

that mindset of staying in the Premier League. As a result, they

sack managers very easily. They were quick to get rid of Garry Monk. I

think that might be the problem for Guidolin. They are not going to wait

to see if he turns it around. For them, it's staying in the Premier

League. You will keep getting transition if you keep sacking

managers. Flux is a better word. I do think, with them, it is a case

of, if you keep sacking managers, it never works. Seriously, because the

new manager comes in, he doesn't fancy him or him, wants to turn it

round, and he doesn't get the results. It doesn't work. It is a

short-term solution, which is what Sunderland are facing. They've

sacked so many managers, and changed squad, they are left with nothing.

Can you understand why Ryan Giggs appears to be the favourite at the

moment, Alex? I can. If you look at the recent history of Swansea,

they've had the likes of Garry Monk and Brendan Rodgers, a certain kind

of man. You might think Ryan might fit the bill, a young manager with a

lot to prove. We will have to wait and see. It will be a huge

opportunity for someone like Brian, getting a Premier League job for his

first job. Exactly. Is he the favourite for this job because he is

Ryan Giggs? Without annoying Birmingham fans, if you wanted a

young, upcoming manager, what is wrong with Gary Rau won at

Birmingham, who did great things at Burton and then stabilised

Birmingham, just as an example? I agree. For Ryan Giggs, it might be

better to start with Gary Rau it. If he walks into Swansea, he will face

the same pressures as Garry Monk and Guidolin face. He will have to win

four or five of his first ten games, which is difficult. I think the

better the club and the better the standard of players you start with

as a manager, the better the start you've got. But it is a risk for the

club. It is a risk for the club nowadays whoever you point. Let's go

bad to old Trafford and Peter Slater. It could have been 4-2 by

now. Another fine save by Lee Grant. He tipped a Paul Pogba effort a row

-- over the crossbar early on. But it remains 0-0.

Let's talk hole and Chelsea next, after a win for the away side at the

cake on Stadium. Diego Costa getting one of the goals. We were talking

about what it is like to play against Diego Costa. Reading between

the lines, you were saying it is fun. It is fun. It's not fun if you

take an elbow round the chops from him, but he's a great player. Seeing

his quality yesterday, it was a superb finish. The lads played very

well. They frustrated Chelsea and forced them to make errors. A bit

like Klopp, whatever Conte said half-time, they were a different

team second-half. Two great pieces of skill from Willian and Costa that

had the goals. Is the Chelsea side still trying to find some kind of

rhythm? Definitely. They looked a bit short of confidence, but as soon

as they got that first goal, they gained momentum. They made it very

difficult for Hull. Would you say it is a Chelsea manager who doesn't

know his best team yet? Chopping and changing. He went three at the back.

He put Azpilicueta right back, and Gary Cahill Centre half with David

Luiz. He changed the back for around. And they looked comfortable,

the back four did. Do you think they need a lot of change in January? Do

you think Conte has started to realise that that might be the case?

I'm interested what he will do with Matic, because the balance of the

midfield isn't right. Kante has bags of energy and heat can prove

himself, but he's almost one man at times. Matic hasn't been half the

player he was when he started at Chelsea. Watching them against

Liverpool, Hazard spent ages waiting for the ball. You cannot have

quality players you are not getting the ball to. He needs a change in

midfield, or something. The thing with Abramovich, he's always backed

his managers in the early spells. He's saying he would like to

strengthen it in January. Easy to say, but difficult to do, because

why didn't you do it before August the 31st? What you would say,

despite their fluent best, and despite doubts over the squad, they

are in sixth. But they should be in sixth at the very least. That brings

us to the next point, concerning Hull as well. Is there that top six

and seven, then everybody else below? Absolutely, this year more

than there's been for a long time, most definitely.

Everton might be the gate-crashers from as it were. Leicester could

still do something but the big teams have strengthened and the big

managers have made an impact. Not just strengthened but also spent

massive money which the other teams struggle to do. When the top six

spend 30, 40 million on certain individuals it is difficult to

compete. Is it a cliche used by the media, we've talked about your

difficult start, but in many ways a of those games are free hits for you

and it comes down to when you might play or Watford, or Burnley? They

will be our big games, we will not get judged on Chelsea and Liverpool.

It would be nice to pick up bonus points on those games but if

somebody said to us going into this international break seven points

from seven games with the teams we have played we would snatch your

hand off. And it was of their own doing. We saw yesterday that when

those sides play each other that it's more important maybe not to

lose than to get three points. We have seen so many draws amongst the

similar teams. I thought that at Sunderland, the margins for

Sunderland at times getting that equaliser were huge. They couldn't

afford to lose to West Brom. David Moyes knows you have to win their

home games against your peers to stay in the league. There is a

league within the Premier League, is you want to finish sixth out of the

bottom six, at the top of the bottom six and there is more than six teams

trying to do that. As far as Mike Phelan is concerned, you wouldn't be

saying anything new if you were sitting here saying all of the

players wanted him to stay. Definitely. It's been difficult for

him. It is clarity over his future and he has said he wants the job.

I'm sure they are sorting everything out, I hope so. Has there been

continuity from him from your dad? To be honest Mick Phelan has come in

and he has his own ideas but we still have Stephen Clemence and Gary

was, players who have been with my dad a long time. Not a lot has

changed. But obviously Mick has his own ideas and he's doing his own

thing. The son Fiona runs the club now, interestingly. -- the son of

the owner. Why wouldn't you just sort out his contract? The other

thing is you've got to be careful, Mike Phelan is managing Hull in the

Premier League at the moment but there will be a few clubs who will

surely start sniffing around, particularly in the Championship,

they are dispensing with the services of their own manager.

Absolutely and naturally we were talking about Ryan Giggs and if he

came into a Premier League club he might need an experienced head and

Mick Phelan might be the first person he turns to. If his future

isn't settled at Hull he might look at that as an attractive proposition

and then you look at Derby and other clubs in the Championship who would

go for him. He's got a lot in his locker, he worked with Alex Ferguson

for a long time and achieved a lot of success with Manchester United.

He's been around for a long while and he is a good manager. Why aren't

they giving him a contract? It comes back to the same point. Still

goalless at Old Trafford, 0-0. When do you expect to come back? When you

play Bournemouth! One of the easier games! Back to running next week as

Mike back to running next week, hopefully. Moving on to the game at

the Stadium Of Light, late equaliser for Sunderland for Patrick van

Aanholt against West Brom and it didn't leave David Moyes

particularly positive afterwards. I thought their energy and

commitment was great. I thought their endeavour and what they tried

to do was fantastic. Undoubtedly we are lacking bits of quality but even

today we have no centre forwards to put on at a goal down and no

forwards to put on, I should say. So we had to change the system a bit

and try and find another way to get a goal from somewhere and thankfully

we did. Pat came on and got a goal. Jonathan North Croft, Alex Bruce and

Micah Lawrence are listening to you, David Moyes. Is there a fine line

between realism and pessimism? There is.

Which side of it is David Moyes at the moment? I think he is realism.

You'll never get pretence with David Moyes. He always tries to be upfront

with supporters. Personally if I was a Sunderland fan I'd be happy he is

telling me as it is and he is putting messages out there to be

ownership as well because by talking about having not having players to

put on that is a clear comment that may become the January transfer

window you would want to try and sign a forward. He's always found it

hard to be positive when he doesn't feel things are going well. I think

Fiona has lost a great deal of interest, to be honest with you. I

don't know how he got David Moyes to sign his new contract but I'm sure

promises were made that have not been met. I think it's the most

difficult job he's ever had but when the owner doesn't show much

interest, where is it going? It is the Randy Lerner syndrome. That

would be my fear for Sunderland. Ellis Short. When the owner loses

interest in a football club it really begins to drift and the fans

will pick up on it. The fans will most definitely pick up on it. Fans

want to see belief, don't they? URA fan as well, if the manager of your

club was coming out, being some fans would say defeatist, in post-match

interviews, you would say what is the point, wouldn't you? You've got

to read between the lines of what David Moyes is saying. He's trying

to say to the fans there is a problem. Has been a problem at

Sunderland for a few years, which is when Ellis Short bought the club he

should have put this plan in, do the academy and all these kinds of

things. We are back to that kind of keep sacking the managers, keep

changing everybody around. David Moyes's problem is he is a manager

Ellis Short wanted for about four years and tried to get him three or

four times and he's got him and sat back and thought, things are fine, I

don't need to invest or anything. Don't forget Sam Allardyce got the

England job on the back of keeping them up, and everybody agreed he had

done a fantastic job and that was only keeping them up by one game.

Sunderland hardly spent any money, in the spending table they would be

somewhere near the bottom. Even since dad was there when he was

manager of Sunderland he had a very good strikeforce in Danny Welbeck on

loan, Asamoah Zhang, Darren Bent. Since they left the club, however

many years ago, six or seven years ago, they have never really replaced

them. -- Gyan. Since then the attacking force hasn't been there.

There is so much pressure on Jermain Defoe, if he doesn't score

Sunderland. Score and that's the point David Moyes makes when he

hasn't got a striker to bring on it is difficult in the Premier League,

but on the flip side he cannot change things until January because

he cannot sign anyone until then so he has to stay upbeat and positive.

Will he still be able to change anything in January? It wasn't like

he came in on August 31, he did have a transfer window to try and do

stuff. Yesterday's opponents, Tony Pulis, said maybe there are lacking

quality but he managed to get a couple in. Nacer Chadli being the

prime example. Yes, and he is missing Adnan Januzaj, that was the

big signing he felt he had made in the window. If you look at the

signings they are bargain bucket, loans, scrambling around to see what

he can get. Pound Stretcher. Somebody like Crystal Palace you

might think is an equal team, they side Christian Benteke a. They are a

bigger club through the nature of how many they get in their stadium.

If you use West Brom as an example, but they have a really good

defensive pace to build from. Have Sunderland? No. Back to Old

Trafford, Peter Slater. 38 minutes played, still goalless, it shouldn't

be, I reckon Manchester United maybe could have scored half a dozen,

Kevin Kilbane is alongside me, and my right?

Yes, Lee Camp is playing extremely well at the moment. The saves he has

made, two or three great saves, Stoke are sitting deep, they are

allowing pressure to be built, United gaining momentum, excellent

movement around Ibrahimovic upfront and as you said this could be four

or five at the moment. To be fair he is keeping the minute. What about

Stoke? David De Gea had one shot to deal with. Brilliant movement from

Joe Allen getting behind United's backline and when he gets into

position he should do better, he didn't strike the chance well enough

and De Gea wasn't tested enough. Other than that it has been pretty

much one-way traffic from United. So there we are, five minutes until

half-time, Lee Grant, or whoever the keeper is, have made three saves,

United have missed three and it remains 0-0. Onto one of the other

matches at 2:15pm at White Hart Lane, arguably the best Game Of The

Day, Spurs against Manchester City, highlights on Match of the Day 2

later went Simon Brotherton will be your commentator.

We are looking forward to the game at White Hart Lane. The former

Tottenham manager David Pleat has joined me on the touchline. Did you

have an extra spring in your step as you walked into White Hart Lane

today? Lots to look forward to and tactically it could be interesting.

Early-season glamour game, the top two teams, prior to yesterday they

were top, top and defending well and only conceding three goals, two from

set plays. So that is a real plus for the way they will work and make

sure they defend their gold and City are an exciting team so it should be

an exciting game. You say the style makes for a good game. They are

clever managers and it could be that one of the managers plays

differently, who knows. If they both play the pressing game and try and

win the ball early we will have ebb and flow. It hasn't taken Pep

Guardiola long to make an impact at Manchester City, has it? He has

integrated the players welly well -- very well, Gundogan, he played well

in Germany and I'm looking forward to seeing him because he is getting

going. I think he could be a danger to Tottenham, he is a talented

player. And Aguero scores the goals. Last year City were a bit

unfortunate, Tottenham scored at a vital time, disputed goal, and won

comfortably 4-1, big result. Who is going to be lucky today? Have you

seen much of Tottenham this season? I've seen enough of them. Enough to

feel optimistic on their behalf? Yes, the way they interchange

players is very clever and when they lose the ball they are very

responsible to each other. Wherever they lose the ball, it doesn't

matter if they are in a different position, they get back quickly to

recover to try and regain possession, very good at that. They

pass for fun at times, sometimes overpass, but I think goals could be

the problem without Harry Kane. But at the same time I think they've

done very well because they did have a disappointing few games at the end

of last season but I think they've got over it. To what extent do you

feel Harry Kane's fitness is key to Tottenham's title hopes? Not just

because of his goals because he is a focal point and they can find him

from deep positions if they have two players they get out of trouble ball

and he holds the ball up well but so does Janssen, he holds up the ball

well but he needs luck in front of goal. Whether he will play today I

don't know, they might play sun upfront, but Harry is important to

them because he has this wonderful personality -- play Son. He has a

great personality and he is a fine player and is still very young. Kick

off at White Hart Lane in the sunshine at 2:15pm.

Thank you to Simon and David at White Hart Lane. How would you

describe Spurs so far this season, Mark Lawrenson? Efficient?

Efficient. Manchester City and Tottenham, basically built from back

to front, whereas City front to back, as you would say. If you were

Pochettino today you are not going to let Manchester City's main

players play, that's the first thing. He will say we will be really

difficult and it's probably about making a goal from Tottenham's point

of view. I agree, I think it will be a great game, one to look forward to

and with the strikeforce City have got with the form Aguero and De

Bruyne are in at the moment. Tottenham are a match for anybody,

though. The difference between Spurs and most teams is they are

proactive, they will play against City on the front foot and try and

get at them and we haven't really seen that in the Premier League to

Manchester City yet. Manchester United stood off them and suffer the

consequences so it is a real test from that point of view. I'm just

interested to see how the fact these managers know each other well will

play out. You talked about not standing off them. Obviously on

Wednesday night Celtic most definitely didn't stand off. But

equally I'm sure every Celtic fan would agree, who was at Celtic Park

on Wednesday night, for the last 15 minutes or so the majority of the

Celtic team who had played the full 90 minutes looked absolutely whacked

because it can't just be... It's not just the physical side it must be

the mental side as well. And also at Celtic, going there, it might have

affected some of the City lads and they might be tired and fatigue so

interesting to see their response. Great chance to put a marker down to

say we have gone to Spurs and beating them as well and then the

Premier League will wake up and think they need serious business. We

will see how the game goes. It is far more physical than mental. Yeah.

If you look at the level Celtic play at and then look at Manchester City.

I'm not surprised they were tied at the end. The story of Spurs' season

last year, they kept the incredible intensity going until the last few

weeks. That's the question about Pochettino's approach and maybe

Klopp's approach but they will have enough energy to press City today

but just a high risk against a team like City because if they play

around you they will kill you. There is no De Bruyne. De Bruyne is

injured. So that helps. Except the then have Gundogan and David Silva

ASBOs two head of Fernandinho. -- as those two ahead of Fernandinho. You

have to go and play, not just watched City. Pochettino is quite

old school, he always gets the striker to play the goalkeeper,

School football stuff. Harry Kane charges at goalkeepers and it will

be interesting to see if Janssen does that to Bravo with the fact he

will try and play football as a goalkeeper. Is that still your area

of biggest question, I suppose, over Spurs? Without Kane is there enough

to super-team, not just scoring goals, but is there enough to

super-team without him? Yes, because he does a lot more than just score

goals. -- suit the team. Jansen and Son are energetic players but they

look a step down to Kane. They have not played anybody great so far. The

thing with Kane, because he's such a good player, he's almost moulded the

team around himself. As David Pleat just said it is not just his

goal-scoring, it's everything about him, he presses from the front. He

is a physical presence and when you take it out of the team he starts

for them, the rest of them go with him.

Is he one of those who wants to play on his own, like Henry? He can run

where he wants, he can do what he wants, and it's difficult to

replicate that with somebody who doesn't play that way. So two

questions there. Because of Harry Kane and how he has developed this

role for himself as Spurs, is it quite hard for Spurs to find someone

to take the load of Harry Kane, because they have Harry Kane? If you

were a strike of the King to join the club, you would think that you

are not going to get in ahead of him. Whoever they do get in, it is

competition. With competition brings a better performance from Harry

Kane, because he knows someone is banging on the door to get in. It's

a difficult one. But when Kane does play, he's an old-fashioned centre

forward, and Spurs don't have anything else. What is he like to

play against? People's you around, his physical, he works hard, and

he's an out and out centre forward. The other centre forwards come in

little holes and drop off. You know what it's like. A totally different

type of player to play. Scores all kinds of goals. Let's go to Old

Trafford now. Still 0-0. I reckon Man United should have had half a

dozen. Lee Grant has made some good saves. They've been good going

forward. They've been excellent. The movement of Rashford and Lingard has

been excellent. United are really having a bit of a field day,

especially in the last third. Credit to league runs are making some

top-class saves. Three top-class saves. He is keeping them in it.

Apart from that, Stoke are offering little in the final third. Stoke

haven't done too much. We discussed real Fred Bony in the first half. He

is completely off the pace. If you get someone that's a willing runner,

who will work for the team, Stoke have a chance in this game, because

United haven't been great. Ronnie is way off it and he does not look fit

enough to play at this level. Both managers look frustrated at

half-time. Thank you. A feud tweets. Why does

everybody think Giggs is right for Swansea? Is it because he is Welsh?

He has never inspired like Gareth Bale. Yesterday they played well

against City and Liverpool. Let's go to one of the other games this week,

Burnley against Arsenal. As far as Arsenal are concerned, all the talk

is of arson Wenger's 20 years at the club. A bit sentimental. I want to

work and I want to do well. I accept as well that it can finish tomorrow.

It is a love story, and a love story you expect always to last forever,

but you know it can end every day. You don't expect it, though, to stop

any time soon. When it stops I think it will be on Wenger's terms. I know

out of contract at the end of the season, but I think you'll get a new

one, if he wants it. He hasn't won any league titles in the last ten

years. That might be a reason. It might. I've been looking at this 20

year anniversary, and you just reflect what he's given English

football and the club, and how appalling it would be for the club

to sack him. I don't think it can. Wenger has given continental ideas

in terms of playing, nutrition, training, which we now take the

granted, that he introduced. He built that stadium for Arsenal. I

think he should have won the title, of course. Surely, that's a massive

negative against all the positives. Yes, but don't forget he's had to

contend with Chelsea, amid all the money. And Manchester City. I'm with

Jonathan. He's up there on the pedestal for me. It's about what

clubs want. Do you want to look short-term and go for something with

quick satisfaction, maybe a title, or do you want to reward a great,

and somebody who's had custodianship of the club? He has built that club.

Heat they have been like United. God help whoever will replace him. On

who will replace him, should he have a say in it? I think so. Arsenal

have a certain identity from what he's built there. Arsenal have an

attractive style of football that you want to watch. I think if Wenger

left and they went away from that identity, it would be a shame. I

think it would be right if he had a say. Why wouldn't you want to pick

his brains, if you were the chief exec? As long as you don't ask

players, it will be fine. But for all the great stuff he did for the

football club, for all the great football they've played, the success

side of it, which is what fans want... I'm sure Arsenal fans

couldn't give two hoots what Arsene Wenger has given to English

football. They care about their own club first and forwards. I am

speaking as a neutral and a romantic, maybe. The question of

succession. If there is one chink in Wenger's armour, he hasn't developed

his ex-players as managers, kept them in the club. None of the

ex-Arsenal players have gone into management in the way that ex-Man

United players did. Ferguson always encourage them to be in the setup.

That is the odd thing about him. And choosing a successor, he doesn't

seem to think in those terms. Is that a weakness? I am guessing here.

If a lot of them went into it, would they want his job? I don't think so.

I think he's fairly bullet-proof. What he has failed to do is win the

league a couple of times in the last ten years. So have 18 other clubs

every season, plus Arsenal. I think he's been an absolutely fantastic

manager. Sometimes he makes me laugh and comes out with banners and so

one, and then somebody goes and sets fire to the banner in the garden.

And how many years has he been chief of football as well? You could see

them finishing in the top for every season. It just shows how difficult

it is, with Chelsea last season. I am playing devil's advocate.

Champions League football, finishes second in the group and goes out in

the last 16. I know what you're saying. But that is playing

Barcelona as well. That's because they finished second in the group!

If you are the Sunday Times football correspondent and deliver great

articles, do you then reserve the right to choose when you leave the

Sunday Times? That's completely different! I am not going to go down

as one of the greats, whereas Wenger is in that category of Ferguson,

Shankly, Busby... He has made that level of impact on English shocker.

I would hate to see a figure of that stature be sacked. How do Burnley

approach the game this afternoon? Bearing in mind, they beat Liverpool

with 90% possession. After seeing Arsenal last week, light a candle

and hope they have an off day! When you play the top four, you've just

got to hope for a bit of luck and hope they have an off day. If

Arsenal turn up, they will be in for a tough afternoon. Talk about Spurs

not going to sit there enjoy it, I am not saying that Burnley will sit

there enjoy it, but just be solid and try and hit it? If you dominate

the midfield, you dominate the game, and it is something Burnley will

have to stop Arsenal doing. They have differential Ocado which is a

big chance today. -- they have Jermain Defoe. Talking about games

against sides who will be there or thereabouts around you, you have the

bonus against Liverpool and the three points. That will give more

confidence as well. That is on 5 Live this afternoon. Full coverage

of the Ryder Cup as well, with all the singles between Europe and the

USA. Also Southampton against Leicester this afternoon. Jonathan,

you wrote the book on how Leicester's season went last year. I

bet that was easy to write! He chose to do it in August as well! What is

different this season to last at the moment? The big thing is Kante.

Doing that book and looking back at Leicester, you realise exactly how

good he is. That is the big thing on the playing side. Also, they had to

change the way they played because teams were sitting in against them.

That is why they signed Sadio Mane. There is a chance for them now,

having scaled the summit, what do they do now? It is all of those

things together. At the King Power Stadium, they will be the same old

Leicester. The problem has been away from home, where they've not been

able to impose themselves. Wes Morgan looks as though he's had a

good summer. What you mean? He's never had great pace, but was it

Captain Morgan who sponsored him? He has always had that shape. Once you

win the league, it is so difficult to win it again the next year,

because you're just there to be beaten. We are all guilty of it. As

soon as they lose a couple of games, we say, it's not the same. Another

team were mid-table that year after winning. They were mid-table. At

home, I think Leicester have the second-best record. You have to

balance that at Champions League, because it looks as though they will

go through. You have to balance that, and the expectation. And

Southampton were very impressive against West Ham last week. Four

games this Sunday. Burnley against Arsenal on 5 Live sports. Updates

this afternoon, then highlights of all four games on Match Of The Day 2

tonight. Thanks to all of you, and we will see you in two weeks, after

the international break.