05/03/2017 MOTD2 Extra

Good afternoon, welcome to MOTD 2 Extra on BBC Two,

Joining me today, former Fulham and Middlesbrough

goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, Hull centre-back Michael Dawson

Use the hashtag #bbcfootball on social media, or text 85058

We would like your thoughts on the following subjects over the next 45

minutes... Coming up, we'll discuss the futures

of Arsene Wenger and Alexis Sanchez, who started on the bench

in Arsenal's 3-1 From Cup-winner to sinner,

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is in the thick of it as Manchester United

are frustrated by Bournemouth. A second straight win for Leicester,

under Craig Shakespeare, While Middlesbrough drop

into the bottom three As far as this morning's newspapers

are concerned... Zlatan Ibrahimovic's elbow

appears on most back pages. Tyrone Mings and Zlatan Ibrahimovic

are both facing retrospective action Mail On Sunday has "Hangover",

some referees under fire In the Mirror "We're going to get

Koe", Arsenal battle We are going to start with Arsenal

after their 3-1 defeat at Anfield. Frustration, really. I think the

newsman before kick-off when they learned Sanchez was not going to

start. -- and amusement. It's a bizarre one. His stats this season,

he has been involved in 21 goals. You leave your star player, an

enthusiastic, energetic player on the bench. I don't know, he has

clearly done it for reasons perhaps that he is keeping the equally by

the team, if you like, but it's a very difficult one to justify.

Particularly when your first half performance was as bad as it was.

They looked so poor, Arsenal. I think the fans got increasingly

frustrated during the course of the game. We will also price as

journalists being there at the game. After the game, I spoke to Arsene

Wenger. -- we were all surprised. He said he wanted a bit of an aerial

threat. Giroud's goal-scoring record against Liverpool is very, very

good, but it was a bizarre decision to leave out Sanchez considering the

form he has been in. At the risk of affecting team selections when they

play Hull next, who would you rather go man-to-man with? It's a good

question. Sanchez, we all know what a top player he is. Giroud comes

under an awful lot of criticism, whenever I've played against him, he

is incredible inside the box. The linkup play is a lot different to

Sanchez. If you don't start your main man you are going to come up

under a lot of pressure on people asking questions about why he didn't

start. When we win the game... Both would be a difficult battle, but you

would probably get pulled around for by Sanchez? Sanchez, if you get one

versus one with him, he can slaughter you. His quality, for me

he is one of the best players in the league. One versus one he is

creative. Giroud is a hold-up player in the box. He is a talented man.

They just don't get around him, when you go up to him, he normally sticks

where he plays, Sanchez. The two centre halves would have been

delighted that he wasn't playing. Sanchez asks more questions. When he

came on, every time Sanchez got the ball, Clyne was on the back foot, he

has got the pace to beat me. Where is Giroud is more predictable. You

know as a centre-half you will have more of a battle, more of an aerial

threat. He had fewer touches than the goalkeepers in the first half.

His service wasn't there and he wasn't involved in the game

whatsoever. Do you think that Arsene Wenger had decided on this life he

was going to play at Anfield even before the fall when the Leicester?

-- decided on this line. I know the centre halves were different, but

Liverpool will cause all source of problems by Jamie Vardy running

behind the Liverpool centre halves -- were caused all sorts of

problems. You would expect Alexis Sanchez to have caused similar

problems if he had gone with that sort of line-up was Greg I couldn't

begin to understand it. I think he knew from Thursday or Friday. I

think he has started a huge game at Liverpool without arguably his best

two players. However where you pitch it, I just don't think you can... He

is in a no-win situation in trying to explain it. I do think he was

talking about the need to have some might be much more direct

afterwards, but that is not thing, that is not Arsenal, that is not the

Wenger we all philosophy. They just got lost. The team looked stranded

in the first half, without direction or a player. I think Sanchez's last

game, yes, he came on as a substitute, but his last game at

Bayern Munich I thought was so poor, so infuriating and so selfish. And I

think it's a bit of a hangover from that. I think when you are a

centre-half and you are playing against pace, you don't want that.

You would rather play against a big and strong centre-half. Leicester,

the two centre halves against Liverpool, body caused all sorts of

problems. Pace is not what centre halves want to be playing against.

It's as simple as that. Let's hear from a former centre-half, here is a

bemused Martin Keown on much of the day last night. Stunning. I really

can't understand the thinking behind that, why Arsene Wenger wouldn't

want to play him as the best player. He said he wanted to play a bit more

direct. They didn't actually do that in the match. They kept on pressing

with Lallana. I can't remember, I'm struggling to remember in what kind

of tepid Arsenal performance in the last what 20 years and Arsene

Wenger. There was a lack of spirit, of fire in their bellies. They just

didn't turn up in that first half, left themselves far too much to do.

Iain Wright said on BT yesterday evening, John Cross, it's on the

back of the Sun this morning as well, Alexis Sanchez quit Arsenal?

You can see him doing it as well. Well, he has got less than two years

ago. He will have a year left in the summer. Arsenal have a major

dilemma. If he is not starting games, he has clearly upset the

manager, I think there is only one resolution. PSG want the player, as

do Juventus. I think you will have big offers this summer, cute money

on offer in China as well. I understand Arsenal have offered him

a new contract, it has been on the table for a while, he has not signed

it, what's that telling you? There is a frustration. He is an

ambitious, brilliant player. I'm not sure if he is in the top five of the

world, but if he is not, he is just below it. He is a player that would

fit into any top league club that can win trophies. My mates who

Arsenal fans are quite pessimistic at the moment. Mark, if they are

going to be passed to Mr, could they see a summer where they need a new

manager at a club who don't have Alexis Sanchez and won't have to

appears league football next season? For me, what would be interesting

this season, I think Alexis Sanchez is waiting to see what finger

decides to do in the summer, along with a number of players, and that

is going to be the key -- what Arsene Wenger decides to do. There

will probably be a turnover of players. If you leave is, it's a

completely different story because it depends on who comes in and

replaces him, what his ideas are, and whether or not players like

Sanchez and muscle will re-sign. If you are signing for the manager as

much as the club. He either likes you or he doesn't like C. -- will he

doesn't like you. Like Mark said, he is made by looking at that. They or

a club in limbo, for you, at the moment until they sort out Arsene

Wenger's future? Because there is so much talk about this going on, is he

going to be there or not? Is Sanchez going to be there? Limbo any

football club from a player's point of view is hard to be playing. Also

for his own personal contract, is he going to be there? We spoke about

the game against Bayern Munich. It was a different performance that you

would normally see from Sanchez. He is normally switched on. Selfishness

in his game was completely different to what you would normally see on

him. What do you think they will do this summer? And if you think you

will go, but do you think Arsenal will go for? Allegri, your paper,

the Mayor, the headline says that they will try to get Ronald Koeman

from Everton. -- the mirror. He would do you think they will go for?

It's in the balance, there is no doubt about it. There is a contract

offer of Arsene Wenger to stay, but he is not stupid, he knows the

tension amongst the fans. I don't think you staying at the finish

outside the top four. It is a huge decision to make so I don't think he

will stay. They could have gone the Guardiola and felt they had a good

chance last season. There is not an actual really obvious replacement.

There are managers they could go for, but for me, I think Arsenal

felt that Guardiola would have been a great success because of the way

he plays football, the style. I don't think there is a natural

successor. Managers they are probably looking at and scouting and

thinking. But I think it so depends on what happens to the outcome of

Arsenal's season. Whether they finish in the top four or can rescue

the season with a Cup. He is more likely to go in the summer than ever

before. Arsenal have not been in this situation before. Ronald

Koeman, would he really leave Everton? Could they get him out of

Everton? He would be a good fit. I also think Allegri would be popular,

bearing in mind Conte and the success he has had at Chelsea. Wane

said on Facebook, Arsene Wenger cut his nose off despite his face trying

to make a point that no player is bigger than the club. Paul Davies

says, it was 100% the correct decision by finger. They are seeing

how badly we can play before he leaves. Chris Evans, starting

Sanchez on the bench shows he has lost the plot. Steven Gerrard on

Friday night on 5 Live set, Liverpool are at their best when

teams try to go toe to toe with them, i.e., don't set up to defend

and hit them on the break. Being part of the Hull side that has

beaten Liverpool this season, was that your philosophy then, keep it

tight, keep it tight and try and Nick Watt? You have two. With the

front three that they have. -- try and make one. They have players that

can hurt you. Firmino, they are world-class players. If you give

them space, they will hurt you. We didn't give them space when they

came to the KCOM. We hit them on the break, and it worked. Arsenal

couldn't deal with it. That is what Liverpool are good at. Their record

against the other top six is phenomenal. It is very good. With

Liverpool, it works one way or the other. One is to sit back, absorb

the pressure and hit them on the counter. It works less frequently as

opposed to closing them down and starting from the front. Like Lester

did, put them under pressure right from the off. Jurgen Klopp wants

them to play out of the back all the time. If you put them under

pressure, you will force errors, it has shown time and time again this

season. If you don't do that effectively, they will blow your

way. That is what they like to do at Anfield in particular when they play

the big teams. You look at the Leicester game, they have players

getting in behind them. Fardy caused them all kinds of problems. He is so

far up the field, one ball in and he is creating chances. The game at

Anfield yesterday, the way they dominate, they are a joy to watch

when they are in the form that they are at Anfield. When they played

Spurs as well a couple of weeks ago. I thought Mane was terrific, his

energy and determination destroyed them time and time again. The front

three what all like that. Lallana's effort and application from midfield

was absolutely fantastic. I know Lallana has switched positions,

joining up with the front three times, but he is so effective in

that midfield three. I thought he ran the game from midfield

yesterday, absolutely sublime. Last night I didn't think Liverpool

played their best. I thought they sat back a little bit, possibly, you

know, off the back of the Leicester defeat. They weren't as in your face

as normal. But I think the way that Arsenal setup and the way that

Arsenal played it allows Liverpool to gain confidence and win the game.

Firmino, one of the best performances I have seen last night.

He scored the first, was involved in the second with Mane. You know, Mane

can create something from nothing, he has shown that time and time

again this season. Let's move on to the first of today's two games.

And Hugo Lloris says his manager should take all of the credit.

I think, thanks to the gaffer, since the beginning he has brought his

energy, he has brought his philosophy, he's created a real

atmosphere inside the training ground. And in Tottenham Hotspur

since five years now, and I still think that today it is not the same

club as when I first joined. We have improved a lot. And I think the gap

with the best club in England, and this is a way that we try to go, all

together, united, and all committed with the club.

A club you used to play for Michael, I'm sure you are still in contact

with the players that are stored there. What do you think has been

the big difference? Is belief? It is Pochettino as well. When I

left he had just arrived. They are moving to a new stadium, training

ground, the players he has brought in and away the young players have

developed, Kyle and Danny Rose, for me they are the best full-backs in

the league, if not in the world at this point. When either of them

don't play they are not the same team because they are that good

going forward. That would give Harry Kane freedom. Dembele, Wanyama,

Alderweireld, big signings who can take the club to the next level. Is

it mentality? I think Pochettino has instilled the belief. I still think

they need a trophy. Going out of the Europa League was a serious setback.

That was an opportunity for them. I know we deride the Europa League in

this country but I just think Pochettino has made such amazing

strides out of them. Transform the club and push them into being

regulars in the top four. He has that potential and a brilliant young

team. To make an extent they need some silverware. Then I think there

is no stopping them. With the new stadium as well. There is so much

potential. : McNamara is at White Hart Lane.

Tom and have only lost once at home in the Premier League in every year

but the one visiting manager who did win here was Ronald Koeman, at the

back end of last season with Southampton. Pochettino names and

unchanged team from last weekend, Harry Kane scoring 12 goals in 11

games so far this year. Everton also have a striker informed, Romelu

Lukaku level with Duncan Ferguson's club record last weekend against

Sunderland. The joint top scorer along with Sanchez in the top five

this season. Everton unbeaten in nine league games, just one change,

Gareth Barry can begin. I will ask you a two of you not on

social media so all of the stick will be John Cross. Who would you

rather have in your starting team, Romelu Lukaku or Harry Kane? I was

with Romelu Lukaku and Chelsea, he showed glimpses, you could see he

had the talent and ability. At Everton he has re-established

himself as a regular top scorer. Harry Kane, I think a lot of people

are supplied to the way he has consistently scored goals. At this

stage it is the toss of a coin, but I will sit on the fence. I'm not

sure that was an option. I did not say Lukaku, Harry Kane, fence? It is

a tough one. If I read the stats to you, people will have releasing

this. Both players have 17 goals, 21 games for Harry Kane, 25 Lukaku. 63

and 68 shots. Conversion rate of 27%, 25% for the Lukaku. So it is

fair to sit on the fence. Defence is not strong enough for anybody to

join you. Who would you rather be marking? I mean, playing with

Harry... Coincidently. Training with him, when he was young I scene where

has gone to, however the reserves get on? The years the goal-scorer,

he would get Cav. Half chance and in the back of the net. Lukaku when I

played against him he is so strong, everyone says you should get tight

that you can't do that because he will roll you. The goal last week he

is that strong. I will sit on the fence... I'm still following Spurs,

Harry is the goal-scorer. Might have to play against them last game of

the season. So you are on the fence as well. The two not on social media

on the fence. As the one on social media, the stick will be coming your

way. Believe me, Everton fans of the most brutal fans of social media.

Having said that I am still going for Harry Kane. Open goal for

Everton fans. Over the next five years I would hang my hassle him

getting 25 goals every season rather than Lukaku. I think maybe Lukaku

more of the all-round package. I would not save battering ram that

the leader of the line. I just think your goals for forward, if I had to

pick one I would go with Harry Kane. He is terrific. What has been the

big change in his game since the reserves when you were aware of him.

Is it literally getting stronger? His physique has come with age.

Harry when he was a young lad went out on load, and wasn't scoring

goals that he is now. As a team player when you play against him he

works as socks off. For someone with the quality he has, to work the

Centre forward line figures is incredible. When he doesn't play

Spurs them seem to take. For Everton, we keep talking about the

top six going. Four, are we doing everything in the service? They are

not quite there yet. It is a little bit too far at this stage and it

shows by also the way Ronald Koeman chops and changes his team quite

regularly. He hasn't got that established XI where he can say they

are the ones to rely on whereas there is the think they have got 12

or 13 players Pochettino can rely on every week. Perhaps because Everton

are not as far down the process. That's right, he said judge me after

the second lot of transfer windows. Then I will have the squad that I

believe is capable of competing. They are halfway through that

process. It is going to take time. What they are doing at the moment I

think is exceptional and he has taken on even though they had that

period when they struggled, but since then they have really come on

and they looked very strong. Great to see the young lads getting a

chance, Davis, Luckman. Davis was excellent at Hull. The first time I

have seen him, he went from strength to strength since then. The a few

weeks ago because Man City, his performance was topped off with a

goal. He is a young English that hopefully for the future will be an

international. Like Barkley, the further you love watching. A lot of

criticism earlier in the season. Maybe some of it unfair. But the

prospects. In the Sunday Times Steve Walsh, referring to him as the next

Bryan Robson. That is a heck praise. Suddenly is to me because he was my

boyhood hero. I mean, Ross Barkley clearly doesn't lack belief at all.

Davis, he said. Wow, OK. His socks rolled down, he is a bit of a

throwback. Is he really the Robson type? Captain Marvel. Davis I think

is more forward. It is great to see Koeman. The accusation was a little

bit at Southampton that he did not bring in the young players that

actually he is embracing it now. Giving Luckman an early opportunity.

Ross Barkley, he gave him some serious tough love and the staff of

the season. Nothing more critical of Barkley than his own manager and

actually now we begin to think, I still do not think he has quite

realised his huge potential but if there is one manager who could get

the best out of them it would be Koeman., quickly keeps their feet on

the ground, after that Man City performance he said it was just one

game. An awful lot of work still to do. That is right, the black Steven

Gerrard did it for years which is what makes them world-class. Let's

move on to yesterday. Ibrahimovic and his elbow contacting

Tyron is. This is what he said. Listen, on TV you can see images

whatever. In my situation I jumped up, I Jumpei, at the same time I

protect myself and unlikely the chance into my elbow. Many times

these occasions happen and I hope you didn't get injured. Jumped into

his elbow. Do you see it that way? It doesn't look good. The only thing

you would say is there was a motion towards his direction, and it is a

bad challenge. However referee Mrs it I don't know. That all comes

about because of the chalice beforehand. -- misses. But I think

misses accidentally treads on Ivanisevic, he knows it gets context

that I do not think he knows it is his head. That is the result of that

challenge. Ibrahimovic clearly upset about that. He goes in a bit more

forcefully than you probably would normally. You would expect the first

to be sited retrospectively? Caen -- you expect both players to be cited

retrospectively. They were having a go at each other for 45 minutes.

Ibrahimovic had thrown Mings to the ground five minutes earlier. People

saying how good a battle it was. All of a sudden this happens now it has

been taken, there is that elbow and stamp, Mark does not believe it was

intentional but only Mings knows that. The elbow looks as though he

has had a go. I'm sure the referee will be looking. They will, on the?

Without any shadow of a doubt Zlatan will be cited. I thought it was a

running battle. He feels whether Mings meant it or not, that one is

less clear-cut, I think there's no doubt when you see Zlatan looking

up, he thinks Mings has done him. I think he has gone out to avenge

that. It is a very clear elbow. I will be amazed if he does not get

charged. Trevor says they should both be given retrospective bands.

The Abramovich has no excuse. It was dirty from both players. Another

disgraceful performance. Kevin Friend was ridiculously bad, the

referee. How did Ibisevic survive with only one yellow?

The mail on Sunday has headlined the referee 's stag do for Anthony

Taylor during the week. What is wrong with that? Nothing really.

When you look at the performances this weekend is that a coincidence?

Just unfortunate? One of those that stands out is Swansea Bernie, the

handball given against Swansea. It was such a bad decision. It was a

bad decision, mistaken identity, it wasn't because they were on a stag

do the week before. They have had a time. Maybe they were confused after

seeing people calling for a abattoir. Next season when you do

that you are inviting criticism. Yes they got permission from the Premier

League but three of them went away to Marbella and afterwards it was

highlighted, Greg Foe by the way, in The Times, brilliant story,

basically on red alert. Sure enough two of them have had nightmares. It

is the wrong time to do it. , it is lifeless, when you see them out,

having a get together, if you don't then perform you are coming under an

awful lot of pressure. You are reading things, now the referees are

doing that because they didn't perform well yesterday. Obviously

the Swansea- anyone could have ended up not being so costly. He could

have been under more pressure. So the ten months of year they have to

live monastic click? If a group of players went on a stag

do mid-season, they would get hammered, they really would.

Mid-season. Leicester last Christmas, they were dressed up as

teenage Ninja Turtles and went abroad at! Everybody was saying that

it was team spirit. It was a three-day stag do, that was beyond

the pale. By the way, Leicester were able to do it because the following

weekend they performed and then the following weekend and they won the

title. That is when you get away with it. If you perform the next

game, everything is OK, they talk about it and joke about it. But when

the performance doesn't match up to it then all of a sudden you are open

for criticism. Unfortunately for the referees, it was the very next game.

A three-day stag do doesn't mean they are on the lash for three days.

We are judging them by our own standards at! Inevitably when you

have journalists and footballers involved, it is very debauched.

Mistakes happen, it's not the first time a referee has made a mistake

and got it wrong, but it gives people opportunities to look at, why

has that happened? It's got nothing to do with the stag do, but were

chatting about it. I saw it wit, I think it was Daniel Sturridge. Be

prepared for discussion about whether referees should go on stag

dos! Aside from the stag do, the serious point is at Old Trafford,

for example, the Hull who heart regarding Mainz and Ibrahimovic just

took two minutes to sort it out -- regarding Tyrone Mings. With a video

screen it could probably have been sorted in one minute or 90 seconds

and you have moved on. As long as they haven't been on a stag do!

Video technology is a must. It is a multi-billion pound industry. It is

laughable not to give them the technology. The Premier League are

onside with it, I think the FA are, the sooner it comes the better.

There are times, when you look at the Mainz challenge, are you 100%

sure that he didn't do it on purpose -- the Tyrone Mings challenge. If he

didn't do it on purpose, if you can establish that, does that mean he

doesn't get penalised for it even though it was just an accident. You

are still allowed uncertainty with video technology. If you take Rugby

Union Orogbemi, if it is given as a Traore field, and -- a try on the

field, the referee will say, I'm giving it, you have to find a reason

for me not to give it. You can still have the uncertainty. We have that,

we still have it. Look at the Burnley incident. It was some folks

who handled the ball last, it was very clear. Many people will say,

that wasn't a penalty. With Tyrone Mings, the elbow, you probably have

to have a panel of four people, yes or no. In all of the sports that

have the technology, there are still instances where it is not clear,

like cricket. You will eliminate with the handball, you will

eliminate things like that which are so obvious and you can reverse that

decision right there and then, which can have a major, major bearing on

the club's future. It is so tough on the referees as well. Would you want

to be in their shoes? We are watching on TV and saying, is that a

penalty or not? We have to give them credit, they get a lot of criticism

as well. A little more video analysis. Write when the decision

has gone against you, you say to the referee, I realise it's tough for

you, I accept that! The Scottish Cup quarterfinal weekend. Holders

Hibernian went through yesterday. How are Celtic doing? Celtic on the

losing to the bottom club in the Scottish championship. It was a

beautiful training ground move, a free kick played to Cammy Smith who

peeled off at the last second from his marker, got into space, John

Sutton headed back across the goal and Davies from close range left

footed past Gordon. Celtic are trailing Sinckler and by 1-0. Let's

focus on Leicester's 3-1 win over Hull.

Two consecutive victories under caretaker Craig Shakespeare.

Martin Keown had some rather interesting, is to make an much of

the day last night. This is what he said. He suddenly wants to be a

manager, it doesn't really said that comfortably with me. If you are an

assistant manager for Ranieri and he has walked, why do you certainly

want to be the manager? It is not necessarily Ranieri's man who was

brought in. You have personal ambition, but I feel it is almost

out of order he wants to jump in for that job. Surely they will go for a

manager that is bigger with more experience. Leicester are a big club

to manage, they are playing in the Champions League. I re-round bout

three times just to check that that is what he was saying. Tom says the

pundits or Shakespeare's back from wanting the job. Shakespeare has

been here four years and has more right than anyone to throw his hat

in the ring, says Andy. I don't have a problem with it. It is not Craig

Shakespeare's problem or fault that the manager has been released of his

duty. He has been there for a number of years, he feels he is up for the

job. On the last two performances, the way he has turned the attitude

of the players around, the enthusiasm and the joy back in the

game for the players, why not? Why not give him the opportunity for now

until the end of the season? Unless they have got somebody who they have

had their eye on and think is the ideal person for the job, why not

give it to him? What happens when a number two takes over? It happened

at Hull over the summer when Mike Phelan stepped up. It started great

but then things started to go awry. Is there an automatic increase in

energy and belief to try and do it for the number two? You have seen

the reaction they have got at Leicester, two games and two wins.

Ourselves at Hull, when we went through a situation when Steve Bruce

left and Mike Phelan took over, we were in a difficult situation

because we had just been promoted. The staff had left us well. Mike did

an incredible job with the players that we had, there was a lot of

injuries. And he got us off to a great start.

Obviously he got the job and things didn't go to plan. We all know it is

a game on results, if you don't get the results, unfortunately is the

manager who gets the sack. The relationship changes, doesn't it?

Being a captain, you speak to the gaffer now, he never really changed

too much. He was still doing the coaching, an awful lot of coaching

when Steve was there, but then you have the press to do, signing

players, going from a coach to a manager must be incredible. When he

goes home and doesn't have to deal with players. Now he has to deal

with everyone, the whole training ground. It must be a big deal for

him. But they have got the reaction that Leicester wanted. Not what Hull

City wanted because they had a great win against us yesterday. If you

follow Michael's for process that, at the moment Craig Shakespeare is

very much coaching the players and getting the results, and everything

that comes with being the manager will snowball over, he doesn't have

to sign players or Scott players at the moment, that will also ball. It

will. I think I can take on board what Martin Keown was making in

that... Go on the. I went to the Leicester press Conference the day

after Ranieri got sacked. I was surprised at how upfront Shakespeare

was about wanting the job. We shouldn't knock someone's ambition,

I get that. But I also felt that he was a coach under Ranieri, and you

have to tread a fine line between respect and ambition. And I think

that he was making no bones about it, being completely on the

ambitious side. We shouldn't knock that, but why I think it sits

uncomfortably in this issue is that basically the players, I felt,

wanted Ranieri out, wanted the change, and it's clear to me that

they basically suddenly turned up again to play for their man,

Shakespeare. And that's why I think that, turning on and off the tap,

just sits uncomfortably. It looks like the players have gone, Ranieri,

not for us, we won Shakespeare. And they've elected Shakespeare. It

still sits uncomfortably with me -- we want Shakespeare. It seems that

way. It seems obvious that has happened. Ranieri has been relieved

of his position, that minute the players completely change their

attitude and their performance on the weekend, you know, Craig

Shakespeare knows the vast majority of those players, particularly the

core of the players that he played. There was only one different from

last season. All of those players, Ulloa back on the bench who had a

huge fallout with Ranieri prior to him leaving. That is the hard thing

to die just, Ranieri did a great job and he was so well liked with

everyone outside of the club -- hard to die just. To see such a

turnaround is such a short period of time, people have was questions.

From the point of view of fans going forward, you can't continue to look

backwards, you have to look forwards. The fans, the best thing

that could have happened, the next two games have got six points. Is

Leicester hadn't won the league last year, would this be a talking point?

Leicester City, all they were looking to do was they in the

Premier League. Under Ranieri they were struggling, Shakespeare has

come in and had two wins. The owners will be thinking, I've done the

right thing. And for all the talk of players changing their efforts, you

talk to the Leicester fans about Ranieri's tactics this season, what

Shakespeare has done is go back to how they were playing last season,

Okazaki, Vardy, the same midfield with the exception of in DD for

Kante. He is taking it back to basics. Monday night I didn't think

there was any subtlety about it in terms of he has completely ripped up

Ranieri's tinkering tactics, gone back to just end DD for Kante. You

had the same manager, the same work ethic, the same style, hitting its

long, Vardy off, as you say. It was just so obvious to me that they

basically started playing again. Look, they have got to turn it

around, they've got to do that, I understand why they have done that,

because they have got to dig themselves out of that problem. But,

yes, I just don't think that we should particularly be lauding

Leicester's heroics in the last two games because I still think it is

plagued. I want to rent in the relegation battle -- it is playing.

-- I want to end on the relegation battle. Middlesbrough, without a win

in ten and in the bottom three. The biggest frustration for the

Middlesbrough fans is the way that they play. They are setup to not

concede, and they do concede, ... They have scored just three goals.

He has brought in three strikers but still plays with the one upfront. He

made a change at the weekend. He played Gestede upfront, but didn't

seem to have any real effect on the game. That has been the major

frustration for the fans, he hasn't made the change sooner. We have a

lot of social media from Middlesbrough fans saying it might

be a change with Karanka. Hull got a bit of a bounce with Marco Silva.

Swansea have definitely got one would Paul Clement. Crystal Palace

have been a bit up and down with Sam Allardyce. Is this what the law by

fans want" the general consensus from fans is probably yes. They are

concerned with the slide they have had towards relegation. Steve Gibson

is very, very loyal and doesn't make a decision based on Frans Botha Mac

reaction, he will make a decision based on his own thoughts -- fans'

reaction. Do you think you're rix periods of being in the relegation

battle will benefit you this time? -- Elor experience. I certainly hope

so. Scoring goals is the biggest thing. Centre forwards are worth all

of the money in the world because they are hard to get. Middlesbrough

have a good defensive record by scoring has been a problem. That is

the majority of the teams down at the bottom, conceding too many goals

as well. Scoring. Our experience can hopefully stand us in good stead. We

have Swansea at home next week and we are looking to try and pick up

the three points and climb up the table. Marco Silva has given the

place a lift? He has come in. Mick did a fantastic job on limited

funds, and players that we have there. The gaffer has come in and

the first things now. Hopefully he can keep us on until the end of the

season and get us out of the bottom three.

You can hear Sunderland-Manchester City on 5 Live at 4pm.

I'll be back for Match of the Day 2 tonight.