:00:00. > :00:40.Welcome to Match Of The Day 2 Extra, on the penultimate Sunday of
:00:41. > :00:45.a fascinating season. I'm Guy Mowbray, sitting in for Mark
:00:46. > :00:49.Chapman. We live on BBC One, radio 5 Live and across the BBC sport
:00:50. > :00:53.website. As usual, plenty to talk about. We have the latest on the
:00:54. > :00:59.title race, as Manchester City remain in poll. Liverpool player
:01:00. > :01:02.Monday against Palace. We ask what next for Palace and Fulham, both
:01:03. > :01:08.down despite five managers between them. Let's get stuck into all of
:01:09. > :01:13.that and more, in the next 45 minutes. I'm joined by radio 5 Live
:01:14. > :01:18.and Match Of The Day comment data, McNamara, Oliver Kay, chief of all
:01:19. > :01:23.correspondent for the Times, and Kevin Kilbane, whose eight clubs in
:01:24. > :01:27.action yesterday managed two wins between them, well done Huddersfield
:01:28. > :01:36.and Sunderland. Of course, we want your views as well.
:01:37. > :01:42.So, what are the papers talking about on Sunday? It is all about
:01:43. > :01:46.Manchester City, mainly. They are rarely there. City Bankers is one
:01:47. > :01:53.headline I particularly like. Another says Mersey Beat, a
:01:54. > :01:56.particularly nice one. Are they nearly there? Let's hear from Manuel
:01:57. > :02:00.Pellegrini after yesterday's win at Goodison Park. It's a good result
:02:01. > :02:05.because I think that was a very tough game. We thought from the
:02:06. > :02:11.beginning that Everton will play this game, thinking what they can
:02:12. > :02:16.do, not thinking if we lift the title if they win today. I think
:02:17. > :02:20.they played very well. They started winning the game with an
:02:21. > :02:25.unbelievable goal in the top corner. I think that was the character of
:02:26. > :02:34.the team, playing away against a very good team. We could turn the
:02:35. > :02:37.match, winning 3-1. After they scored the second goal, maybe that
:02:38. > :02:43.means we were a little bit more nervous. You were there, as I was, a
:02:44. > :02:47.great performance from City. A decent performance from Everton as
:02:48. > :02:51.well. He gives nothing away, he must be the most unflappable manager we
:02:52. > :02:54.have seen in the league? Journalist is often go to the press conference
:02:55. > :02:59.thinking they are not going to get a screaming back page headline. As you
:03:00. > :03:06.say, he is unflappable. The same, if they win or lose. Finally, it looks
:03:07. > :03:10.like they have turned the corner and hit top gear at the right time. It
:03:11. > :03:14.looks like it's very much their title to lose. Not good for you
:03:15. > :03:21.guys, he gives you nothing to go on, nothing phases him? It's sometimes
:03:22. > :03:25.quite refreshing. You hear so much nonsense, particularly at this time
:03:26. > :03:30.of year, from managers chasing titles. I'm not going to name names!
:03:31. > :03:37.Some of them might not be in work any more. At least with Pellegrini,
:03:38. > :03:41.at least he is sensible. At least it is... I mean, he's not there to give
:03:42. > :03:46.as headlines, he doesn't give us headlines. As we say, City Bankers,
:03:47. > :03:51.his team are giving themselves headlines and that was a good
:03:52. > :03:55.performance. Is it their title? I thinking of the Sunderland slip-up,
:03:56. > :04:00.recently. The QPR drama of two years ago. There is a bit more left in it?
:04:01. > :04:05.I was at the Etihad when Sunderland took points of them, I thought,
:04:06. > :04:08.they've let this slip. There was always the hope that Liverpool would
:04:09. > :04:11.slip up, particularly in the game against Chelsea. That is how it
:04:12. > :04:16.turned out. I would not remortgage the house to bet on it yet, there
:04:17. > :04:18.could still be a twist. What is huge, and this is where you cannot
:04:19. > :04:21.underestimate the power of the strength of a squad, Edin Dzeko
:04:22. > :04:30.started the season as third choice striker. Well, fourth! Exactly, you
:04:31. > :04:34.have Negredo, Aguero, looking fantastic and scoring goals. Aguero
:04:35. > :04:38.picks up an injury, as a result there is a loss informed to Negredo.
:04:39. > :04:42.To pick up the slack, you have Edin Dzeko coming in. That is the sort of
:04:43. > :04:44.resources the other title challengers, including Liverpool,
:04:45. > :04:48.brilliant to watch going forward, they haven't had that extra element
:04:49. > :04:53.when one of their main guys get injured. A quick word on your former
:04:54. > :04:58.club, Kevin, Everton. They played their part. Ross Barkley's goal,
:04:59. > :05:03.what a goal. He's such a wonderfully talented, gifted footballer. It's
:05:04. > :05:07.the right time, Roy Hodgson is watching. It sends a message at the
:05:08. > :05:10.right time, for Ross Barkley. The way that Everton set up yesterday,
:05:11. > :05:19.they reverted to system a bit. It's what Martin as did with Wigan in
:05:20. > :05:23.that cup final. -- Roberto Martinez. I think the goals they conceded were
:05:24. > :05:27.poor, they were preventable. Bringing Jagielka back in, they
:05:28. > :05:31.wanted to maybe give him a bit of bodies around him to relieve the
:05:32. > :05:35.pressure on him. It didn't quite work for them. Overall, I think they
:05:36. > :05:39.put in a good show, you can't say they rolled over and allowed back
:05:40. > :05:43.city to win the game. That defeat means they can't make the Champions
:05:44. > :05:46.League. There will be in the Europa league. That means Arsenal are
:05:47. > :05:50.guaranteed to be in fourth place before they play their game against
:05:51. > :05:55.West Bromwich Albion at the Emirates this afternoon. Simon Brotherton is
:05:56. > :05:58.therefore Match Of The Day. The shackles are off for Arsenal? They
:05:59. > :06:03.can play us they want, just how they like it? Yes, absolutely. They have
:06:04. > :06:06.scored three goals in each of the last three games, so they are
:06:07. > :06:10.playing with creativity and confidence once again. Going back to
:06:11. > :06:13.the point from a couple of minutes ago, about Edin Dzeko on the
:06:14. > :06:16.strength in depth up front for Manchester City, I think that is
:06:17. > :06:18.something that Arsenal have and confidence once again. Going back to
:06:19. > :06:20.the point from a couple of minutes ago, about Edin Dzeko on the
:06:21. > :06:23.strength in depth up front for Manchester City, I think that is
:06:24. > :06:25.something that Arsenal haven't and have this season. They relied very
:06:26. > :06:28.heavily on Olivier Giroud, and that a key point in the season, when
:06:29. > :06:31.injuries started to pile up, they wanted more. For a while it looked
:06:32. > :06:33.like they have a chance of the title. They have spent more time at
:06:34. > :06:37.the top of the pen elite than anybody else, with 17 weeks. But
:06:38. > :06:42.those injuries and that lack of strength in depth when the likes of
:06:43. > :06:46.Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott, when they went out, perhaps
:06:47. > :06:50.that came into play. The other thing I thought I should say about
:06:51. > :06:54.Arsenal, when we look back on their season and if top four is good
:06:55. > :06:57.enough or not, in terms of improvement, Arsene Wenger will say
:06:58. > :07:00.they have improved. If they win today, they will have more points
:07:01. > :07:05.than they have had for the past six years. Within the three egg games,
:07:06. > :07:12.against the top three now, they struggled. -- three big games. They
:07:13. > :07:17.conceded 17 goals against the top three. They've got to start better
:07:18. > :07:20.in those games, that's a key area where they have to improve. But
:07:21. > :07:23.Arsenal will feel they are three or four games away from really
:07:24. > :07:26.challenging at the top. Absolutely right about the games
:07:27. > :07:28.challenging at the top. Absolutely teams. West Bromwich homers sort of
:07:29. > :07:35.game that traditionally they have won quite comfortable. What about
:07:36. > :07:39.West Brom? Suggestions Pepe Mel might already be on his way at the
:07:40. > :07:44.end of the season? He might be. It is yet to be decided. There is a get
:07:45. > :07:48.out clause in his contract for him and the club. I think that was about
:07:49. > :07:50.whether they stayed in the Premier League. Although they are not
:07:51. > :07:52.mathematically secure, I think they are safe. I don't think they will be
:07:53. > :07:57.going down. That job is basically done. I think he settled reasonably
:07:58. > :08:00.well in England. He wants to done. I think he settled reasonably
:08:01. > :08:05.continue in the job. Understandably, he would be looking for some
:08:06. > :08:09.assurances from Westbridge Albion. They have 12 players on loan, of
:08:10. > :08:13.contract or who the club have options on over the summer. That
:08:14. > :08:18.means there will be a lot of change. This is a club with a sporting
:08:19. > :08:22.director. I think Pepe Mel wants to make sure he could be in charge of
:08:23. > :08:27.those decisions and also that he will get a reasonable and fair
:08:28. > :08:33.transfer budget. He wants assurances he will be to carry out his vision
:08:34. > :08:36.for West Bromwich Albion. There is no suggestion he will be leaving the
:08:37. > :08:42.club. I think you would like to carry on next season.
:08:43. > :08:45.Pepe Mel, carrying on next season. It looks as though Arsene Wenger
:08:46. > :08:50.will be as well. He's yet to sign a new contract, but the noises are
:08:51. > :08:54.that it just a formality? He suggested all along that he will see
:08:55. > :08:58.how things are after the cup final. From one point of view, if Arsenal
:08:59. > :09:03.were to win the FA Cup, would that be a nice way to go? Probably. But I
:09:04. > :09:06.think he will always feel that he has unfinished business. I don't
:09:07. > :09:12.think is the kind of guy to walk away from a team that he believes is
:09:13. > :09:14.on the up. I think it probably is. They have improved this season, it
:09:15. > :09:22.just hasn't been the big improvement that they needed to maintain the
:09:23. > :09:25.strong start to the season. There could be a trophy, which I think is
:09:26. > :09:30.the be all and end could be a trophy, which I think is
:09:31. > :09:34.fans. But let's not take Hull City for granted. He said two or three
:09:35. > :09:39.signings, that is all. Then they are close to the title. Is he talking in
:09:40. > :09:43.points? There is only seven points between them and Liverpool and
:09:44. > :09:47.Manchester City. I think it might be enough, if they are good players.
:09:48. > :09:51.Mesut Ozil is the only time recently when he has splashed the
:09:52. > :09:53.Mesut Ozil is the only time recently recognised superstar. He likes to
:09:54. > :09:58.get them before they are famous. Would you say it has half worked? He
:09:59. > :10:06.had one or two Margot James where he looked off the pace, but I also saw
:10:07. > :10:13.some magical moments. -- one two games. I think he will be a top
:10:14. > :10:18.performer in the league next season. Where he has struggled is that they
:10:19. > :10:21.haven't have the strikers on the end of his creativity. This season, they
:10:22. > :10:25.have not really had an attacking option apart from Olivier Giroud. If
:10:26. > :10:32.he goes out, splashes the cash and brings in two or three players that
:10:33. > :10:35.we look at in a World Cup and say, that is a world superstar, is he
:10:36. > :10:40.going to buy that kind of player? Traditionally, he hasn't stopped
:10:41. > :10:44.some Ed ultimately, I think Mesut Ozil has been a success. He did look
:10:45. > :10:52.tired towards the end of the season. Two or three signings, I think they
:10:53. > :10:59.need perhaps one or two centre halves. There is talk of Lars
:11:00. > :11:01.Bender, as well. He's a top player. It interesting that you say
:11:02. > :11:06.defenders. We have a message on Facebook, should they splash the
:11:07. > :11:12.cash on three goal-scorers? They definitely need a striker. If Giroud
:11:13. > :11:18.stays or goes, they will need support for him. You get a lot of
:11:19. > :11:22.stick, saying that defensively, they have been strong, Mertesacker has
:11:23. > :11:32.looked good, but I think in the big games he has struggled. Alongside
:11:33. > :11:38.him, Koscielny, he has trouble. The top centre half they need, perhaps
:11:39. > :11:47.two. One or two them could leave the club. Arteta or Flamini might leave,
:11:48. > :11:51.and they need a striker on the back of that as well. I think this has
:11:52. > :11:55.been progression. Does it come down to beating Hull at Wembley? I think
:11:56. > :12:00.that is what the supporters will feel. If they beat route it will be
:12:01. > :12:05.a successful season. Overall, I think it has been progression. Is
:12:06. > :12:10.going to become a joke with them that finishing in the top four is a
:12:11. > :12:13.trophy. 17 years in a row in the Champions League is not to be
:12:14. > :12:16.sniffed at. I do think it is important, securing that staters. If
:12:17. > :12:24.there was a question as to whether he would carry on, I think his own
:12:25. > :12:28.pride would take a battering. In the Champions League, I think he will
:12:29. > :12:31.feel there is progress. Get Aaron Ramsey fit for a season and let's
:12:32. > :12:37.see how they do. Let's not forget how important he was early in the
:12:38. > :12:42.campaign. Take that threat out of the team, and this is what we get.
:12:43. > :12:50.You also want to see Jack Wiltshire having a full season, Chamberlain,
:12:51. > :12:54.Walcott. Let's go from the top four towards the bottom. Relegation is
:12:55. > :12:55.confirmed for Cardiff and Fulham sublets hear from their respective
:12:56. > :13:04.managers. Your mission, your desire,
:13:05. > :13:08.personally, is that to stay on and get Cardiff back into the Premier
:13:09. > :13:13.League? Definitely. We have had four seasons prior to this one where we
:13:14. > :13:18.have been top of the Championship. Now we have gone down, taken a step
:13:19. > :13:21.back, it is about showing character and bouncing straight back. You
:13:22. > :13:24.always performed as a player at the top end of things, do you think you
:13:25. > :13:29.will have the knowledge and experience will Championship
:13:30. > :13:34.football? Why shouldn't I? There is no reason for that performance. I
:13:35. > :13:42.want to know why we have the worst game where I have been here, and...
:13:43. > :13:48.I don't expect it. I thought we are fighting against relegation, and I
:13:49. > :13:52.have told the team we have a great chance today. But they never took
:13:53. > :13:59.the chance, we never searched for the chance. It was a terrible day
:14:00. > :14:06.for me. He is a fascinating character, Felix Magath. Do you see
:14:07. > :14:12.him staying at Craven Cottage? I heard a full refund saying he was --
:14:13. > :14:16.a Fulham fun, saying he was all for Felix Magath staging the recovery,
:14:17. > :14:20.but after seeing the team yesterday, he doesn't want him there any more?
:14:21. > :14:24.I can understand a fan looking at that and thinking there was nothing
:14:25. > :14:29.to it, no spine, no bone. There have been a view like that, under all
:14:30. > :14:37.three managers. The records have been very similar under the three.
:14:38. > :14:41.They have been consistently poor all season. They've conceded goals, 83
:14:42. > :14:52.over the course of the season. They have conceded threes, fours, sixs.
:14:53. > :14:57.Despite the managerial changes, possibly because of them, I think
:14:58. > :15:01.Rene Meulensteen was sacked at a time when he was finally settling on
:15:02. > :15:05.some kind of formula. I'm normally somebody that stands up for managers
:15:06. > :15:08.and says they should be given time, but I think Martin Jol should not
:15:09. > :15:11.have been given the job at the start of the season. I don't think they
:15:12. > :15:18.should have retained him. Things had already gone stale. Do you think it
:15:19. > :15:22.started a couple of years ago when it was obvious that they were
:15:23. > :15:28.looking to sell the club? I really do feel that. Mark Hughes was
:15:29. > :15:33.criticised for walking out in pursuit of a bigger club and ending
:15:34. > :15:38.up at QPR who got relegated. But I think Fulham 's ambition did peak
:15:39. > :15:44.around the Europa League final four years ago. They have been trying to
:15:45. > :15:49.cap costs. They have had a good academy. We often hear that. At the
:15:50. > :15:54.players have not really been brought through. It seems there has been a
:15:55. > :15:59.loss of vision and real direction over the past two years. On Cardiff,
:16:00. > :16:02.it has been a sorry tale. It should have been a season to savour,
:16:03. > :16:07.it has been a sorry tale. It should season to remember for the fans. It
:16:08. > :16:10.has been awful. I'd member going there early in the season and the
:16:11. > :16:16.beta Manchester City at home. And you think, all the criticism, this
:16:17. > :16:22.is where the romance is still in the competition. This is wonderful. It
:16:23. > :16:31.cannot be all Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 's fault. He has come into a club
:16:32. > :16:35.that has issues in the background. I have no problem with people being
:16:36. > :16:39.superstitious. If you want to play the banjo while hopping on one leg,
:16:40. > :16:45.go for it. But if you force your superstitions on others, is Vincent
:16:46. > :16:52.Tan has, that is where things happen. To play devil 's advocate,
:16:53. > :16:59.he has been very reasonable while. He has had some money as well. Yes,
:17:00. > :17:03.I think the same for Fulham. I interviewed Felix Magath in the
:17:04. > :17:06.tunnel yesterday and he said the biggest mistake this season was
:17:07. > :17:14.signing those eight players in January. I interviewed him in the
:17:15. > :17:21.tunnel. I asked him, will you be in charge next season? You said yes. --
:17:22. > :17:25.he said yes. I think you have to give a manager a trans window. He
:17:26. > :17:33.came in after the transfer window in January. It was a ship on its way
:17:34. > :17:38.down. Felix Magath in charge of fallen, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in
:17:39. > :17:45.charge of Cardiff, will that be the case in August? It is a difficult
:17:46. > :17:48.one. With Colligan Solskjaer and Cardiff in general, I think he
:17:49. > :17:54.touched on it himself, they have been challenging at the top of the
:17:55. > :17:57.Championship for some time. They have experience of the league. They
:17:58. > :18:05.know how it will go next season. There is a less experience that in
:18:06. > :18:09.Fulham 's ranks. Going back to the managers, I think Solskjaer will
:18:10. > :18:12.stay. He will have a good go at it next season to try and get them back
:18:13. > :18:18.up. There will be a question or Felix Magath. They have the youth
:18:19. > :18:20.structure in place and they have not really brought these talented
:18:21. > :18:26.players we keep hearing about through. It might be next season
:18:27. > :18:31.they can establish them. It will be on Justin to see how that goes. An
:18:32. > :18:42.interesting summer awaits, as usual. St James's Park. The Newcastle fans
:18:43. > :18:49.walking out. A lot was made of this protest. It was not en masse but
:18:50. > :18:55.there was a steady stream and they made their feelings known. It was
:18:56. > :19:02.ironic. It was the Cardiff the cup changed Newcastle 's fortunes. The
:19:03. > :19:05.Newcastle fans wanted a good cup run. It did not really work out for
:19:06. > :19:11.them on that day and since then they have gone on a horrendous run since
:19:12. > :19:19.the turn of the year. It is just not worked. Stoke city, they are set for
:19:20. > :19:23.their first top ten finish. Nobody thought it could get better than it
:19:24. > :19:29.was under Tony Pulis but it has. I would disagree psyche. There was a
:19:30. > :19:34.feeling last season that Tony Pulis had taken them as far as they could
:19:35. > :19:38.go. He kept empty as relegation but there were not
:19:39. > :19:42.go. He kept empty as relegation but interviewing Stoke
:19:43. > :19:42.go. He kept empty as relegation but muggle fans at the start
:19:43. > :19:51.go. He kept empty as relegation but season. Loads of respect for Tony
:19:52. > :19:53.Pulis. It is a difficult task. Mark Hughes is coming into a club that
:19:54. > :19:57.has had one man in charge for a long Hughes is coming into a club that
:19:58. > :20:02.time. I think he has done very well. If they win next weekend they will
:20:03. > :20:07.be guaranteed top ten finish. I think there are signs they are going
:20:08. > :20:12.in the right way. Moving to Sunderland. They will be in the top
:20:13. > :20:20.17. And that is all that matters. Gus Poyet said they needed a miracle
:20:21. > :20:26.and he got it. Yes, special, the right time. A moment that we were
:20:27. > :20:30.desperate for points. I think the way we came here and not
:20:31. > :20:34.desperate for points. I think the game very well but we score and to
:20:35. > :20:36.play the game we know is better for us. We keep believing. The boys have
:20:37. > :20:42.been outstanding. It has us. We keep believing. The boys have
:20:43. > :20:46.hard. People do not realise from the outside how hard it was for us every
:20:47. > :21:01.day. We need one more win and we will be secure. Miracles happen. It
:21:02. > :21:02.has been an incredible few weeks. Ever since he used that word
:21:03. > :21:06.miracle, they got Ever since he used that word
:21:07. > :21:12.Manchester city. They have a victory at Manchester 's were not reunited.
:21:13. > :21:21.-- Manchester United. He has at Manchester 's were not reunited.
:21:22. > :21:29.fantastic job. It was apparent from an early stage that he was improving
:21:30. > :21:33.and an improvement on Paolo Di Canio. He had them playing in a
:21:34. > :21:37.better way. He brought players in from the cold and had them looking
:21:38. > :21:43.like a team again. Then it all seemed to unravel around the time of
:21:44. > :21:48.the league cup final. It looked like they were drifting towards
:21:49. > :21:53.relegation. I was there that night that they scored two in ten minutes
:21:54. > :21:57.against Manchester City. That seemed to be the start of it. Even then, at
:21:58. > :22:00.that point, it seemed like they had a huge amount to do to turn it
:22:01. > :22:08.around. And yet they have gone to Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford. It
:22:09. > :22:15.really is amazing. There is this slight cloud possibly with the story
:22:16. > :22:23.about... Norwich, Fulham, Cardiff possibly mounting a legal challenge
:22:24. > :22:27.over the fielding of an illegible player earlier this season. Can you
:22:28. > :22:34.see that going anywhere? I would be surprised if it succeeded. Generally
:22:35. > :22:38.the Premier League are very guarded and they do not like to even
:22:39. > :22:43.consider docking points. I think they would do that is an absolute
:22:44. > :22:49.last resort. They did not wait with West Ham and Carlos tethers a few
:22:50. > :22:52.years ago. I would be surprised if a legal challenge was successful. I
:22:53. > :22:58.think those three clubs are entitled to ask the question. We shall see.
:22:59. > :23:03.Manchester United, guess what, they are going through another period of
:23:04. > :23:07.transition. It turns out that David Moyes was not doing such a bad job
:23:08. > :23:15.or after all. It was not just him that was the problem. The players
:23:16. > :23:19.have gone off the boil. It is not just the David Moyes factor. It
:23:20. > :23:21.looks like Louis van Gaal is a certainty now and they need that
:23:22. > :23:26.type of strong character. I know there was a strong sentiment from
:23:27. > :23:30.fans to give Ryan Giggs a go. But last year was the sentimental
:23:31. > :23:37.appointment. They now need an authoritarian toucan in. I think
:23:38. > :23:44.there was that point last week when rain Rooney was calling him dig CND
:23:45. > :23:51.in the interview. They need a schoolmaster approach now. Where
:23:52. > :23:54.does that live Ryan Giggs and the Class of '92? Different roles for
:23:55. > :23:59.them? Is there a role at all for Ryan Giggs and will he want it? Alan
:24:00. > :24:04.Shearer touched on that last night. What is his position going to be. It
:24:05. > :24:10.will be difficult for Ryan Giggs to suddenly say, I will do a coaching
:24:11. > :24:16.job, or even continue playing. It will be interesting to see how Louis
:24:17. > :24:21.van Gaal has that British ship a band running or if Ryan Giggs will
:24:22. > :24:29.leave the club -- that relationship up and running. This is a man, a
:24:30. > :24:35.disciplinarian. There is already talk of Arjen Robben coming in. I am
:24:36. > :24:40.sure that Robin van Persie is delighted with the news. I think it
:24:41. > :24:45.will be nerve wracking for United supporters. When I am hearing these
:24:46. > :24:51.names mentioned of players, why would these players leave Bayern
:24:52. > :24:56.Munich for Manchester United when they cannot offer Champions League
:24:57. > :25:00.football? Obviously, they are a huge club and we all know that, but they
:25:01. > :25:05.are the least attractive that they have been to players in years.
:25:06. > :25:17.Unless they are going to show Manchester City type wages... I get
:25:18. > :25:20.the feeling that they are desperate to go out and make a statement and
:25:21. > :25:26.sign one of these huge world-class players, but it has to be the right
:25:27. > :25:35.one. It has to be one that fixes many would grow one of the many
:25:36. > :25:39.deficiencies. I do not know. It seems like Louis van Gaal would be
:25:40. > :25:45.the guy to drag them forward and make sure they finish in the top for
:25:46. > :25:50.next season. But I do not see what the long-term strategy is. One issue
:25:51. > :25:56.I can see is he will be the manager of the Dutch in the World Cup. At
:25:57. > :26:00.best, he will be starting a job in July but it could even be the first
:26:01. > :26:07.week in July. Is that not the mistake that was made last summer in
:26:08. > :26:10.leaving things to late? He has to be appointed now with the proviso he is
:26:11. > :26:15.working in the background but can he do that when he is in charge of
:26:16. > :26:20.Holland at the World Cup? Going back to what Oliver was saying, players
:26:21. > :26:25.go and play for managers. Manchester United not being in the Champions
:26:26. > :26:28.League, but they play for managers. If Louis van Gaal comes calling,
:26:29. > :26:34.they want to go and play for him. That is the thing. It is that stage
:26:35. > :26:42.of the season when we talk about who will, to the Premier League. Those
:26:43. > :26:47.in the play-offs are out by a month. Plans are already afoot at Burnley.
:26:48. > :26:53.Where is your money in the play-offs? I would have to say
:26:54. > :27:06.Wigan, considering the run that they have been on. I am problem recycling
:27:07. > :27:09.bias. -- probably slightly biased. There is huge pressure on Harry
:27:10. > :27:14.Redknapp at QPR. Ryton have got themselves in with that great
:27:15. > :27:18.performers yesterday. -- Brighton. It is so open. I would not want to
:27:19. > :27:23.predict anything. I think maybe slightly Wigan, considering the form
:27:24. > :27:30.they have been in. What a day in the Championship yesterday, at the top
:27:31. > :27:33.and the bottom. So much drama. This is why I think four foot pole fans
:27:34. > :27:41.-- football fans, there is always an -- football fans, there is always an
:27:42. > :27:44.escape route. For burning, you would just have thought going into that
:27:45. > :27:50.game, the way the game progressed, during the match, it was all going
:27:51. > :27:54.against them, the scenes on the screens at the fantastic -- for
:27:55. > :28:06.Birmingham. And next season, someone else will be in that addition. --
:28:07. > :28:10.position. For Lee Clark, I knew Lee Clark as a player is a lively and
:28:11. > :28:14.bubbly character. In management, I have seen him becoming dour, not a
:28:15. > :28:18.lot of humour about him. To see him like a little kid again at the end
:28:19. > :28:27.yesterday was good to see. Yes, an angry little kid! Nine or ten months
:28:28. > :28:31.of pent-up anger and fury and tension being let out at the final
:28:32. > :28:37.whistle and sprinting towards the fans to celebrate. It is the
:28:38. > :28:41.emotions of that final day. It must have been an absolute roller-coaster
:28:42. > :28:46.for him and the players and the fans who have been through a terrible
:28:47. > :28:49.time the last couple of years. Great for them that they have stayed up
:28:50. > :28:55.and hopefully they can finally start rebuilding. A big club avoiding the
:28:56. > :29:01.drop. What about Bristol Rovers? Right at the bottom. It is almost
:29:02. > :29:05.unthinkable, they are effectively a non-league club. Yes, such a big
:29:06. > :29:10.club getting relegated, the way in which they did as well. You look
:29:11. > :29:13.through the whole season and they have not been good enough. I have
:29:14. > :29:16.seen them play a couple of times this season and think they have good
:29:17. > :29:20.layers in the side and should not be down where they are but if you are
:29:21. > :29:23.not getting the results, confidence goes against you and the turnaround
:29:24. > :29:33.at Northampton are produced, that is unbelievable. Everyone questioned
:29:34. > :29:39.his sanity joining them. Full credit to him. He has turned the club
:29:40. > :29:43.around. They were dead and buried. To turn them around anyway he has
:29:44. > :29:51.done, he deserves so much respect and some accolade for what he has
:29:52. > :29:54.done. Wycombe Wanderers are safe as well. I love the drama that we get
:29:55. > :29:59.at the end, in the Football League. We could have a double, with Brendan
:30:00. > :30:02.Rodgers and Nigel Worthington being cousins. That is one of the
:30:03. > :30:05.remarkable thing is one of the remarkable things that has been
:30:06. > :30:14.overlooked. Leak two from international management. -- League
:30:15. > :30:18.Two. It has pushed domestic names down the leagues, with international
:30:19. > :30:22.names coming in. Not necessarily a bad thing, if you can have a manager
:30:23. > :30:25.that has experience in the Premier League managing at a lower level,
:30:26. > :30:28.it's good for the clubs. They are getting people that are used to
:30:29. > :30:32.proper structures, professional ways of doing things. I still don't know
:30:33. > :30:37.how they managed to get him, somehow. Let's go from Brendan
:30:38. > :30:41.Rodgers's cousin to somebody that was once his boss, Jose Mourinho.
:30:42. > :30:45.Chelsea are in action against Norwich City, with their title hopes
:30:46. > :30:54.still, at the moment, very much alive. Their two commentators is
:30:55. > :31:01.Steve Wilson. -- to commentate is Steve Wilson. They could go top, but
:31:02. > :31:04.most people are ruling them out? It's a strange one. They could go
:31:05. > :31:10.top with one game to play, and yet nobody is getting entirely excited
:31:11. > :31:13.about that for obvious reasons. For Chelsea to win the title they need
:31:14. > :31:17.Manchester City and Liverpool to lose a game. It's very hard to see
:31:18. > :31:22.Manchester City dropping any points at home to Aston Villa or West Ham,
:31:23. > :31:26.let alone actually losing. So, it's very early here, we don't kick off
:31:27. > :31:30.until four o'clock, so there are not many fans around at the moment.
:31:31. > :31:33.Business as usual for the groundsman and everybody else. I don't think
:31:34. > :31:36.there is any great expectation that Chelsea are going to end up with the
:31:37. > :31:42.Premier League title this year. Next year is a different matter. They
:31:43. > :31:48.will invest. We are respecting Diego Costa to come here, there is talk
:31:49. > :31:52.about Paulinho from Tottenham. A big season for Chelsea. Jose Mourinho
:31:53. > :31:55.has not said it will be necessarily a headline grabbing summer, but I
:31:56. > :32:00.think they will do a lot business. Next season is a big one for him and
:32:01. > :32:03.them, you would expect them to win something next year. Didn't win
:32:04. > :32:06.anything last year, may not win anything this year. What are the
:32:07. > :32:10.odds of him going three seasons without a trophy? What about
:32:11. > :32:15.Norwich? They have to win today, don't they? Can you make a case for
:32:16. > :32:22.them at all? I mean, Sunderland did it. I'm struggling. I've seen quite
:32:23. > :32:26.a lot of Norwich in recent weeks. I thought they played really well for
:32:27. > :32:30.about 70 minutes at Carrow Road against Liverpool. They gave
:32:31. > :32:35.Liverpool a real scare in that game and ended up losing 3-2. But it was
:32:36. > :32:39.an unrecognisable performance a week later at Old Trafford. They looked
:32:40. > :32:44.like a beaten team. The unfortunate thing for Norwich is that they have
:32:45. > :32:47.to win. We are not saying there is any wriggle room for them, because
:32:48. > :32:53.there isn't. They've got to win this game. With the best of intentions, I
:32:54. > :32:57.can't see it. Nobody is there to be penning any blame at Neal Adams's
:32:58. > :33:00.door, he came in with five games to go and I think there were looking
:33:01. > :33:04.for some kind of balance in that big game against Fulham and they did not
:33:05. > :33:09.get it. It was mission impossible from then. I would be very
:33:10. > :33:14.surprised, and I apologise to Canaries fans travelling today, but
:33:15. > :33:19.I would be surprised if relegation isn't done and dusted by tonight.
:33:20. > :33:28.Sitting on the friends the microphones, beautifully! Simon is
:33:29. > :33:33.at Arsenal, we can get the Arsenal match in as well. You would expect
:33:34. > :33:37.them to go all guns blazing, but you have reservations about how they
:33:38. > :33:40.have been playing? There was a lot of criticism, last weekend, a lot of
:33:41. > :33:43.suggestion from Liverpool fans that they won it in the wrong way, it's
:33:44. > :33:47.not the correct way to play football. I don't buy that, there is
:33:48. > :33:51.no bad way to win a football match. There is a bad way to play for all,
:33:52. > :33:55.as a Newcastle fan pointed out to me, but not a bad way to win a game.
:33:56. > :33:59.We were in Munich and saw Real Madrid absolutely demolish them. Not
:34:00. > :34:02.playing an altogether dissimilar side to Chelsea, they defended very
:34:03. > :34:06.deep on the edge of their own penalty area, central midfielder sat
:34:07. > :34:12.in front of the centre half. The difference is the quality of attack,
:34:13. > :34:15.the pace of Gareth Bale, Ronaldo and Benzema, it made them of devastating
:34:16. > :34:20.on the counterattack and better to watch. I think if Mourinho had
:34:21. > :34:23.better strikers and wingers, the whole style becomes a more
:34:24. > :34:28.attractive prospect. If you look at storage, Suarez at Liverpool, we've
:34:29. > :34:33.mentioned Dzeko and Aguero, that is the sort of calibre of striker he
:34:34. > :34:39.doesn't have. If he gets that ride over the summer, the whole picture
:34:40. > :34:42.comes together. We almost need to have a hybrid of Arsene Wenger and
:34:43. > :34:45.Jose Mourinho, to cross between Stamford Bridge and the Emirates.
:34:46. > :34:52.Arsenal are unhappy they are not defensive enough and don't shut up.
:34:53. > :34:57.Chelsea are unhappy that they are to dour. What is the happy medium? I
:34:58. > :35:00.guess it is Manchester City, who are top, scored a lot of goals and not
:35:01. > :35:06.conceded as many as Liverpool or Arsenal. If you look at Chelsea in
:35:07. > :35:09.the second half of the season, it's very interesting what Mourinho said
:35:10. > :35:13.on Friday, when he was talking about how, at a certain point in the
:35:14. > :35:16.season, which I would suggest is December, he decided he needed to
:35:17. > :35:20.forget about this evolution of the team into something younger and more
:35:21. > :35:26.expensive and a more controlled, probably more boring, attritional
:35:27. > :35:32.type of football. That has been quite obvious. I know we can say
:35:33. > :35:36.with a better striker they would win more games, score more goals, I
:35:37. > :35:40.think that is true. And I never think life looks like a picnic for a
:35:41. > :35:46.strike at Chelsea. The quality of the service has never been good. The
:35:47. > :35:51.fullbacks don't come forward, they get little from midfield unless
:35:52. > :35:56.Frank Lampard is there. We have had Hazard and Oscar having their work
:35:57. > :36:02.rate question. I think Mourinho has to have a more cavalier attitude in
:36:03. > :36:07.that team. That is what Roman Abramovich has been looking for, he
:36:08. > :36:15.did not buy it to be dull and attritional? He plays to the
:36:16. > :36:20.strength of the squad. The centre halves have been protected. When
:36:21. > :36:24.I've seen them play, the back four is quite rigid. If one full-back
:36:25. > :36:29.goes, a central midfielder drops in. So, this is where it is difficult
:36:30. > :36:33.for them. If you have not got a striker scoring the goals, or where
:36:34. > :36:36.the movement is good enough for the players to play him through, the one
:36:37. > :36:41.thing I would say is that he played to their strength. Perhaps that
:36:42. > :36:46.Atletico game is one game too far. No matter what Brendan Rodgers says,
:36:47. > :36:50.you set a team of one-way, to play a certain way, set up your side and be
:36:51. > :36:55.organised, difficult to play against... You don't think it's easy
:36:56. > :36:59.to coach? No, you are trusting your players. One player does one thing
:37:00. > :37:03.wrong and it comes trembling chilly crumbling down. One play out of
:37:04. > :37:11.position for the first goal against Atletico, then they conceded and
:37:12. > :37:16.they were not chasing the game. You make a case for Norwich today? I
:37:17. > :37:21.can't. I really can't. I've seen a lot of them, it comes down to
:37:22. > :37:27.strikers. Van Wolfswinkel, this is a guy who scored 25 goals over the
:37:28. > :37:31.last four seasons. Last summer he was in the Dutch squad. He looked,
:37:32. > :37:35.on paper, a good purchase. One grass he has been atrocious and cannot
:37:36. > :37:39.score a goal. Look at Swansea, they have stretched away from relegation
:37:40. > :37:46.trouble because they have Wilfried Bony. 19 goals in his last 20 games,
:37:47. > :37:50.ridiculous. That is the firepower that Norwich have not had. Connor
:37:51. > :37:54.Wickham, finding a bit of form, getting Sunderland out of trouble.
:37:55. > :37:58.No striker has found a run of form for Norwich. Sorry, I can't make the
:37:59. > :38:01.case. From Norwich apparently getting stuff that Stamford Bridge
:38:02. > :38:05.to the action at Selhurst Park tonight. Liverpool are still in the
:38:06. > :38:10.title race, facing Crystal Palace. Let's hear from Brendan Rodgers,
:38:11. > :38:15.full of praise for the job his opposite number has done. I think
:38:16. > :38:18.he's done an outstanding job, really galvanised the team. I watched them
:38:19. > :38:22.recently at Everton and they defended very, very well. Players on
:38:23. > :38:30.the counterattack with speed that can hurt you, Puncheon, he's got a
:38:31. > :38:35.real spirit amongst them. He's done an outstanding job. As I said,
:38:36. > :38:39.looking to keep them in the beak, which he has done, it's been a great
:38:40. > :38:47.effort. Great effort from Tony Pulis. He's got manage of the month,
:38:48. > :38:54.there has been a debate about Manager of the Season. Is it down to
:38:55. > :39:00.those two? Those two and perhaps Roberto Martinez. Steve Bruce? There
:39:01. > :39:05.have been a lot of managers that have done a good job. Those two,
:39:06. > :39:11.Rogers and Tony Pulis, Liverpool, it looks like they will fall slightly
:39:12. > :39:16.short, most people will expect that now. The fact they have scored 96
:39:17. > :39:21.goals, 80 points with two games remaining, they've had a wonderful
:39:22. > :39:24.season. We can say there is no wrong way to play football, but Liverpool
:39:25. > :39:28.have played the right way, I think. They have done it with a group of
:39:29. > :39:33.players that nobody really have them down as title challengers at all.
:39:34. > :39:39.This was the season, if it was going to happen, with Manchester United
:39:40. > :39:43.not being involved. This is what will be killing the Liverpool fans
:39:44. > :39:45.from the inside. It is possible Maxis and everybody is going to
:39:46. > :39:52.rebuild, Manchester City are going to spend more money, when will they
:39:53. > :39:56.next get this close? They beat Crystal Palace 6-0, suddenly people
:39:57. > :40:01.will think... It's not going to happen. Well, it could happen! I
:40:02. > :40:04.have been at Stoke, when they beat Manchester United. I have been at
:40:05. > :40:08.Crystal Palace when they beat Chelsea. You can take nothing for
:40:09. > :40:13.granted. That is why it has been a fantastic season. They are going to
:40:14. > :40:17.take it to the last day, at least? I would think so. I can't see them not
:40:18. > :40:21.winning against Crystal Palace. An interesting last weekend of the
:40:22. > :40:24.season. This is what we wanted, we wanted it to be like this. And
:40:25. > :40:28.Chester city don't do things the easy way, they proved that against
:40:29. > :40:35.QPR a couple of years ago. They've had a roller-coaster ride. I am sure
:40:36. > :40:39.they are going to have twists and turns. I liked sunnier Nasri's
:40:40. > :40:43.reaction, last night. With a nice smile, you have a smile that lights
:40:44. > :40:47.up football when he is in the mood. People put that lying to me,
:40:48. > :40:51.please, no. We can't have another repeat of Queens Park Rangers. I
:40:52. > :40:57.tell you what, you would take it. You can see it happening. Well, in a
:40:58. > :41:01.way. One of the things about that game against QPR was that QPR were
:41:02. > :41:09.scrapping for points until the very end. Villa and West Ham, I don't
:41:10. > :41:12.think they are the toughest home games you could have in that
:41:13. > :41:15.position. Having been through that, having tripped up a few times this
:41:16. > :41:20.season and finally got things back in their own hands, I think most
:41:21. > :41:24.people would expect City to win these games and not be swept aside.
:41:25. > :41:28.You're not buying that old wives tale, when you play against a team
:41:29. > :41:37.that has nothing to play for, they are relaxed and give you a harder
:41:38. > :41:40.test? It would be a surprise. If Aston Villa West Ham pulled
:41:41. > :41:43.something out of the bag, they are not teams that have scored a hat
:41:44. > :41:48.full of goals this season. They are not teams that look like they are
:41:49. > :41:51.going to go and cause a sensation. Manchester City are probably a
:41:52. > :41:55.little Budweiser for the experienced two years ago when they came so
:41:56. > :41:58.close to blowing it. The point was made to me yesterday about
:41:59. > :42:02.Pellegrini, people say he is so often the bridesmaid in management.
:42:03. > :42:05.We are so blinkered to think about European football? In South America
:42:06. > :42:15.he has titles galore, the second most decorated club manager. I think
:42:16. > :42:17.his idea was to get them through the Champions League. He got them out of
:42:18. > :42:22.the group stage, not particularly great after they got through. That
:42:23. > :42:25.was his remit. He signed quality players in the summer. They are
:42:26. > :42:32.progressing and going forward again. Overall, probably going back to
:42:33. > :42:35.teams like Everton, there was a lot of negativity around Everton's game
:42:36. > :42:38.yesterday, whether or not they were going to roll over. They didn't do
:42:39. > :42:43.that. They went up them. It was an open game. I can't see teams doing
:42:44. > :42:50.that, but I think Manchester City will win the last two games. City
:42:51. > :42:54.for you for the title? Connor? I think so, they had been in
:42:55. > :42:57.high-pressure situations before. It is possible Aston Villa could turn
:42:58. > :43:00.them over midweek, absolutely. The only time I've seen them struggle
:43:01. > :43:04.was restored Palace around Christmas, when they needed a late
:43:05. > :43:10.goal. If it is still 0-0 at half-time, things will get edgy. But
:43:11. > :43:15.they score early and turn teams over. That is what I was alluding
:43:16. > :43:19.to. I can foresee is getting to the last game of the season, 0-0 at the
:43:20. > :43:28.Etihad and Liverpool winning? Almost hoping for it! With City, again,
:43:29. > :43:32.they do have the individuals to dig them out. In the second half of the
:43:33. > :43:35.season, I don't think Manchester City, as a team, have always
:43:36. > :43:40.performed to that level. They have always had an individual to step
:43:41. > :43:46.forward. Yaya Toure, Silva, Aguero, Dzeko. We could have gone on for
:43:47. > :43:52.ever, but that is your lot for today. My thanks to Oliver, Connor,
:43:53. > :43:55.and Kevin. Live text commentary is already up and running on the BBC
:43:56. > :43:57.website. Enjoy your bank holiday.