09/02/2014 MOTD2 Extra

Welcome to Match of the Day two Extra. We're discussing the

weekend's football on BBC One, Radio Five Live and the BBC Sport website.

Coming up, we'll analyse how Liverpool so dominated Arsenal at

Anfield yesterday. We'll ask what it means for the title race, with

Chelsea impressing again, and Manchester City losing more points.

And there's a preview of today's matches, including Spurs against

Everton at White Hart lane. With us for the next 45 minutes are former

Arsenal and England defender Martin Keown, Match of the Day commentator

Guy Mowbray and The Sun's Chief Football Writer Shaun Custis You can

get in touch in all the usual ways: we want you to get involved as ever.

We are going to start with Liverpool's mauling of Arsenal. 5-1.

Let's hear from both managers. Obviously it is a high-profile game

and everybody is looking at it. The players have been brilliant. We were

trying to make this a real difficult place to come and that is what the

players are doing. It is a massive credit to them. We had a very poor

day defensively. From the top to the defence, everywhere we were beaten

defensively. Liverpool took advantage of it. They played well.

We were very poor. Only our fans were at the races today for 90

minutes. Unfortunately, we were not. We get asked about being title

contenders and when you beat the leaders everybody will ask that

question. For me it has always been about finishing the best that you,

in the highest position. We have got your -- a lot of young players. And

we have have young players. 18, 19, 20. We are a team that has a lot of

growth left in it. But they are now finding consistency and confidence.

If they work hard, they can get the rewards. We will see where it takes

us. What kind of horse RU? We are just a fall!

Can we stop the horrors references? ! The express said it was COPPS

against flops yesterday. Brendan Rodgers talked about how hard they

are working. Did that stand out? It did and in spells. Very similar to

the last home game against Everton. I came out of the traps and flung

everything they had at Arsenal. They stepped off the gas a bit and

started the second half in the same pattern. They have got so much youth

and energy in the side, Brendan Rodgers is using it to go hell for

leather. It is working for Liverpool. They were superb. They

were last night he was pleased as punch, you could tell. He was

bubbling underneath. And Arsene Wenger was very honest in his

appraisal. I was expecting a prickly interview with the Arsenal boss. But

this time he held his hands up. Raheem Sterling took on some

responsibility. Make it happen yourself, do think yourself. He is a

good player. And Brendan says he is only young. But he is actually no

taking on responsibility and believing in himself. We will return

to Raheem Sterling in a moment. Martin, from an Arsenal point of

view, what are the answers that -- one of the answers Arsene Wenger did

yesterday was to talk about the 20 minutes, the dreadful opening 20

minutes, conceding goals from set pieces. Does that isolate that 20

minutes from the rest of the game? Yes, to a certain extent. Arsenal

were caught in another storm at the start of this matter. You look at

the emotion and energy at Anfield. Brendan has captured that. There are

front players are of the highest order. From an Arsenal point of

view, I know we want to talk about the game, but the real concern for

me is Mesut Ozil. I know he is criticising the defence. But there

is not enough energy. He said from the top all the way to the back.

Arsenal fans are looking for more energy from the team. They are

starting to look tired. The Crystal Palace game recently was very

difficult. Not the best performances. Psychological damage

to the team. They have to bounce back from this. Manchester United

coming up in mid is an opportunity to get some respect back, first of

all, and show the desire and arrogance you want to be champions.

Do you really believe Arsenal players believe in themselves? Not

enough players in that team have won big trophies. And there is only one

left to won under Arsene Wenger. It does not seem they have that

ultimate belief. There is an arrogance and a swagger about your

play. Some of the games this season, at Old Trafford they did not

play with that confidence. You have to believe in yourself. The manager

can have confidence but you have to have it yourself. You feel Arsenal

are building that. Yesterday a lot of people feeling Arsenal were not

the real deal. They have got to fight back and your personality and

character, do it out of adversity. People need to grow and develop as

individuals. Mesut Ozil was mentioned. He is a world-class

player. He has done a lot in the game. But again yesterday, as he has

been in several big games, he was not there. The third goal, Jordan

Henderson bullied him off the ball. He said on the floor pleading for a

free kick. They missed Flamini yesterday. He is coming from real

Madrid. There are fewer class players at Arsenal. He is the star

player. Certainly not playing like a star player. In a big game for

Arsenal, they have Manchester United at home, Spurs away, Bayern Munich

at the Champions League, for those big games, when you need to play a

certain way, if everybody was fit and free from suspension, would you

have Mesut Ozil in your starting 11? What are you to laughing at? ! It is

a worthy question. When you look at Aaron Ramsey at the start of the

season, Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla, I don't think you can leave

a player out of that quality without being criticised as the manager.

Maybe it is right to rest him but I don't think you can afford to when

you look at the fixtures. You have to believe in him even more now.

Trust in him and get him to produce. The talk is about possible

implosion. There is always a crisis at Arsenal. That is why he focused

on those 20 minutes, isn't it? The game became completely different. To

temper what you said. After they lost 6-3 at Manchester City, they

had not been beaten again until yesterday. They know how to recover.

When they get beat, they are getting beat. You have to give Arsenal

credit the way they have bounced back. There was a crisis at the

start of the season. The media seem to want to pick a little bit. They

didn't buy anybody in the transfer window. They pushed Arsene Wenger

into signing somebody at the start of the season. It is about keeping

balance. They will be hurting today. They have to prepare properly for

Wednesday. If you are going to have a bad day, have a bad day. Arsene

Wenger seems more irritated when they get narrowly beaten. Yesterday

they had to take it on the chin. He had no option. Here is Brendan

Rodgers on Raheem Sterling. For a kid to come into the club at

Liverpool at 17, in that opening six months of his time here, he was

outstanding. He had a difficult period in the second half of last

season. He has come back to the fore. I'm not sure there is a better

winger in England at this moment in time. He is so fast, direct,

dynamic. He also works very hard for the team. He presses the game well.

He has obviously got a couple. He is probably disappointed he did not

have a hat-trick. How impressed are you with how

Brendan Rodgers has handled Raheem Sterling? He was not in the side at

the start of the season. Very well. Raheem Sterling got into the England

squad when he was young. I think he has dealt with him superbly.

Sterling is showing a lot of maturity. He has taken on more

responsibility. Brendan Rodgers has seen that. He is putting a lot of

trust in a player who is very young. But it is justified. What is

everybody say that genocide is the next star when sterling has played

better? Has he played better? ! Sterling is having an excellent

period. It has taken in time. The two players who stood out from me in

their attitude, both during the match and afterwards, Raheem

Sterling and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. He had a rotten

first-half but he rolled his sleeves up and got into the game in the

second half. He was very sporting, mature and eloquent afterwards as

well. What about Flanagan? He has been pulling his weight and has had

great games. Tom in Blackpool says Liverpool have to be contenders for

the title. Six points off the top and they have to play Chelsea and

Manchester City at Anfield. I think so. Why say they are not contenders?

It is like saying you don't have faith in your team. Flannigan does

not produce unless the manager believes in him. I like the fact

they want to play these young English players. Henderson is

another one who has profited. When Henderson joined under Kenny

Dalglish, nobody believed in him. It has taken two years probably for him

to come through. We didn't know what the fuss was about. He is also

feeling stronger belief in himself. He is taking on responsibility

again. I saw a lot of Jordan Henderson as a young player at

Sunderland. He is a quality player. The attributes are there. I think

the move to Liverpool happen this too soon. It is his timing, his

runs, his energy is outstanding. Now he has got the quality. To finish

those chances, to find those passes. That comes from the environment

created by the manager. Brendan Rodgers is nurturing these players.

Sterling goes out, he comes back in again. It is about development. Do

you think Luis Suarez thinks it they cannot win the title? Do you think

he is not thinking they can have a go? That is why he has stayed. Are

we not in a season where everybody is playing it down? Yes, they seem

scared to think they could be title contenders. Manual Pellegrini has

probably accepted that Manchester City should be winning the title.

Some of the Arsenal texts. ASOS Eden -- need to buy some muscle. --

Arsenal. They need Adams and Keown. It is written there! Arsenal have

ridden their local season. The majority of the team have no drive.

Arsenal made Liverpool look like Bayern Munich. Wenger has paid the

price for not buying in January. Mike Tyson sends one here, not that

Mike Tyson, do you think Arsenal can bounce back against Manchester

United? Yes. Manchester United playing today. Arsenal get 24 hours

rest. Arsenal have done exceptionally well at home this

season. It has just started to dip for Arsenal a little bit. It is

about finding form. I don't think it was about Arsenal yesterday. It was

about how good Liverpool were. Against Palace, they were not that

great. The first target was a struggle. The same with Manchester

City at home to Crystal Palace. Maybe so but I was expecting more

from Arsenal. Keep the text coming in. -- texts. Let's focus on the

first of today's games. Spurs against Everton at White Hart lane.

We will go to White Hart lane in a moment. First, Tim Sherwood.

The team that finishes fourth will be the ones that takes the most

points in and around them, and that includes Everton. It is very

important. I'm glad that the players think it is as important as I do.

They will be reminded it is a crucial game. It could be a

springboard. It is open for any team to put a run together. There are

teams around that spot who can put a nice run together and elevate

themselves. The top three are away, I think, too far for anyone to

catch. Steve Wilson Zat White Lane for Match Of The Day. Do you agree

with Tim Sherwood? Yes, he's probably right. If that is the case,

you would have to Liverpool favourites. Liverpool are in pole

position. They are five points better off than Everton, and six

points better off than Spurs. Given Liverpool's victory yesterday, you

would not want to lose today if you are Spurs or Everton. If it ends up

being a drop, that is not great for them either. The onus is on both

teams to try and win today. That will hopefully bode well for a good

attacking game. Will Roberto Martinez be concerned about

Everton's recent away form? Everton do draw a few games, but you have to

look at their away form in the bigger picture. Where have they been

beaten this season? The only places they have been beaten are at

Manchester City and Anfield. That is not a bad record. They are missing

some through injury. I think that situation will improve today. Gerard

Deulofeu and Lacina Traore have travelled. I think Kevin Mirallas

has stepped up brilliantly over the last couple of weeks. He has become

a real force for Everton, particularly against Aston Villa the

other week. At -- Everton have a lot of character about them. It is a

mouthwatering one today. If there is a winner, they are hard done

Liverpool's yields. -- they are hard on Liverpool's heels. Thank you.

There is an interview in the Observer today. Some of the players

are talking about how training has changed under Tim Sherwood. He says

that now the training sessions are shorter and sharper. What is the

difference for the players? My preference would be for short-term

and sharper sessions. Why? There is more of a period when you're

focused. You are trying to managed your energy levels. -- manage.

Sometimes it is a game during the week. You do not want to release too

much energy on the training pitch. I think he has simplified the sessions

and made them more enjoyable, by the sound of it. Andre Villas-Boas was

working to a set way of doing things. That is what we will find

out about Tim Sherwood on the tactical side. We know he is playing

two strikers. But the game is often won and lost in the midfield area.

How were your sessions at Arsenal, Martin? I am wondering if this was a

modern thing. I know that Gus Poyet when he took over, he made it 90

minute training sessions? Sometimes every session finishes with a small

game. If you are out there for half an hour, you sometimes leave your

best stuff on the training pitch. It has all got to be done

scientifically. They manage the players now, they track the

distances they covered in training. The manager needs to know who is

tired, who is not, and get the right energy into the sessions. Our Spurs

a better team under Tim Sherwood, better than they were under Andre

Villas-Boas? No. Some people say that the ADB was unfairly dismissed.

He was unlikely to leave his job. -- to lose his job. Tim Sherwood will

have to go into the job tactically. Bringing in a manual Adebayor, that

was a good move. AVB was not using him. He has been a big fine for

them. Do you think a lot has changed? I am not saying that, I am

asking if they are better team. They are pushing hired up the pitch. It

is not that anything has changed massively, but the players seem to

relate to Tim Sherwood more. They clearly wanted him. Sometimes that

is a problem, you like the manager. Is that always a bad thing -- a good

thing? It will be interesting to see how he manages it. He will not have

managed to much. He was the head of youth development. He will not have

Dundee today management as such. This is a step up for him. I do not

want to see him lose that light touch. The first few games in

charge, he always had equipped. The next few games, more serious. -- a

quip. He may only be there for the summer. They may bring someone else

in. He may have to enjoy it well he can. I think you're right about the

freshness, and the players sensed that. The manager is a mirror image

of the team. He created the change, and he has got to keep doing that.

The final thing about that article in the Observer, he says that Spurs

got to be considered favourites for fourth, because they have

experience, their experiences and fighting for fourth place. I am not

sure that I follow that one. They have the Europa League as well, to

get in the way. I will Tim Sherwood handle that? I think Liverpool title

contenders. They have to be favourites to drop down into fourth

place, if not. Let's talk about Chelsea. Jose Mourinho spoke to Gary

Lineker on match of the game last night. His targets have remarkably

low. I know that today we are top of the league, but I look to the next

game. I want to be far from fifth place. When we are far from there

and we have a Champions League position under control, it will be

time to look to Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, to see where

they are, to see the distances, and from that point we can start

thinking about other things. But that this moment, it is too far for

that. In the Premier League, it is very difficult to achieve every

objective. The Champions League spot is clear -- is our objective.

Step-by-step. We want to win the next match against West Brom. We

want your thoughts. Get in touch. Why is he playing it down so much,

Shaun Custis? He did this at the start of the season. He said, in his

first press conference at Chelsea, I do not think we are title

contenders. When he brought in players during the transfer window,

is the said, -- he said, this is for next season. Suddenly you're

thinking, Chelsea are really contenders. He is box office, but he

is conning us. The Sunday mail today has Eden Hazard on the front cover.

Jose Mourinho said that he is the best player in the world of his age

group, to qualify. Of the 23 olds around in world football, he is at

the top at the moment? It is hard to argue with that at the moment. He is

certainly the best Premier League player in that bracket at the

moment. It is the way that he drifts. He is a joy to watch. He

dictates the play. Jose Mourinho is talking a lot of sense when he

speaks about Hazard. He is talking rubbish when he says they are not

title contenders. You almost start to lose respect for him. I get the

impression that they face that the players see, it is totally different

to what we see. I think he says to the players, this is ours to lose.

Think how he treated Hazard. Jose Mourinho basically gave him a one

match ban. He said, he is a good kid, but he has got to learn. He has

always been known as a bad trainer. But he has seen the Jose Mourinho

way, and fitted in. Jose Mourinho has identified the players in his

squad that can win him the league. He is one of them. He is making sure

that he can do the job, and he is now polishing him up. He is saying

that he is not getting the credit he deserves, he is trying to get awards

for him. It is a different message that we're getting on the outside. I

had him down as the first Portuguese James Bond. But to be honest, he has

not got a chance, because his acting is rotten. Lots of fans and people

in the media are saying, here he goes again, we do not believe what

he is saying. Do you think anything he has said over the last couple of

weeks has rattled Manuel Pellegrini and Manchester City? There is

history there. There is history from Spain. It is all to do with what he

said when he took over from Pellegrini at Real Madrid. That is

when it comes from. I think he has got under his skin a little bit.

Manuel Pellegrini has been nothing but a gentleman since he came to

this country. He is like a wise old owl. He did not let Alan Pardew get

under his skin when they had a touchline row. But on Monday night,

he appeared to be agitated after the match. I have actually felt that

Manuel Pellegrini is pretty boring. We went to his opening press

conference, and we thought, this will be difficult, getting

interesting lines from him. But his team are doing their talking on the

pitch. Manuel Pellegrini is probably thinking, I have got to get back to

what I am doing. Managers are not there to entertain us. No, but it is

good when they do. The thing about Jose Mourinho, and the line about

horses, it was very funny, very witty. It was someone speaking about

three horse race. That is he gives you. When Manuel Pellegrini came in,

you felt that Roberto Mancini was almost suffocating the team. This

guy is allowing them to play. I know they are without key players, but

everyone else's as well. You cannot moan about it. It is two key players

for Manchester City for the first time this season. Three players, in

fact. The stat we had last night was that they have had 39 shots in their

last three games, but only five of those have been on target. With the

players they have got, you would think that they have enough

firepower took. But they are missing Sergio Aguero. You feel that Chelsea

have the feeling that this is ours. They are starting to grow. If you

had your manager giving a different message to the outside world, what

would you think, if it was a different message to what he was

saying to you? I think he would have a bit of a chuckle. You do not like

it when someone gets something over on your manager. Ferguson was

fantastic at the mind games. You felt that you were playing against

him as much as Manchester United. Jose Mourinho makes Chelsea sound

like a non-league club. They are the big teams, we are not up to it yet.

This may be one of the best Chelsea teams that I can remember watching.

They have got rid of Juan Mata, so that players like Oscar can play

regularly. One viewer has got in touch. Eden Hazard is the best

played in the Premier League at the moment. Robin Liverpool says, I

think it is Chelsea's title to lose. They have got the better defence

than Manchester City. Chelsea have better defenders. They will win the

league. They are vulnerable and at the back, Manchester City. Bit of

coverage today about Yaya Toure and his kick at Wolves sprinkle. If they

look at that, they may have to look at what went on in the Cardiff game?

It is Manchester City at the top of the league and it is Yaya Toure. But

it is the same sort of thing. I don't think it is conclusive. It

looked bad but it has happened so quickly. That must happen 19 or 20

times in a game. If it is going to be trialled by TV, let's roll them

all out. You cannot single one out. If you kick somebody a little bit,

is that OK? I think West Ham fans would be saying that Yaya Toure

should be done. I think it was a petulant kick out. No more than

that. Your point is, if you are going to kick out, do it as part of

a tackle? I think you should probably wait a bit and make a hard

tackle later. David Beckham got harangued by everybody from making a

petulant kick out at the World Cup. I don't see there was much

difference. Let's get back to White Hart lane for the team news.

One change for Tottenham this afternoon. Dembele is fit again and

comes into the side for Roberto Soldado. Andros Townsend is on the

bench after eight weeks out with a hamstring injury. Someone he can

bring on in the second half if you need to. Everton's defence has been

stretched in recent weeks. Seamus Coleman comes in for John stones.

One of three changes from their win against Aston Villa. Ross Barkley as

dropped to the bench. Steven Pienaar and Steven Naismith, in Fredericton.

If you are listening to us from Five Live, there will be updates on that

game throughout the afternoon. It may be worth watching this back on

the iPlayer, just to see the ridiculous headwear being worn by

the Spurs players. Let's go to the Welsh derby. Swansea against

Cardiff. Before we get the thoughts of our guests, let's hear from both

managers, head coaches, whatever their titles are.

They could not have got much better. I was so focused on making sure the

players were all right, I hadn't bought their head. Get the players

prepared and ready. Get the Swansea way. I understand all that stuff.

That is what I tried to put across to the players and thankfully we get

a great performance. We going to these games with heart and head. The

passion will always be there in a game like this. They got off to a

great start. We have got to respond on Tuesday. Obviously is not an

Oscar, but I thank my family, the chairman, the Board of Directors,

the fans. It has been magnificent. I can't thank them enough. I guess we

have to carry on the work now and make sure the boys take the belief

of this game into the next games. The Kate Winslet of football

management! Richard has been in touch to ask how significant the win

over Cardiff will be in terms of steadying the ship at the Liberty

Stadium? Very much so. It looked like getting rid of Michael Laudrup

was a big mistake, a few days before the biggest game ever, possibly,

against your local rivals. He has handled the situation beautifully.

He looks as though he is really up for the job. He is only a young man

and there is big pressure. He has enjoyed the day. He knows it Inside

Out, let's be fair. I think probably Hugh Jenkins will be looking to

bring somebody in with a lot more experience than he has. It is a big

job to manage Swansea City. Having said that, Gary Monk made a big

point of saying that he knows the Swansea City way. Hugh Jenkins has

always been very careful to make sure that every manager employed

knows the Swansea way. It may not necessarily be a high-profile name.

Yes. We cannot tell anything on one game. It is a local derby. It is a

different breed of game. The players like him they with him. If you think

about it, and in Rogers, Roberto Martinez, Michael Laudrup, blend of

those three together and you have got a heck of a head coach. Is he

ready for it? They were surprised when Brendan Rodgers got the job

because he had not done well at Reading. But actually his philosophy

fitted the Swansea philosophy? Absolutely. Gary Monk is another one

that the players like. Do you only have a short period of time where

that works before he has to go into the transfer market? It is most like

a young player, if you are good enough, you are old enough. Nothing

can go wrong for him to end up with this job. I think he would be very

surprised if he ended up with it properly. There is a suggestion if

he does not get the main job he will be part of the coaching staff. You

do want that it succession plan in management. White Alan Curtis has

been there throughout all of it. Do not like players to become managers?

They are going with their mate, Gary Monk. We want to do it for him etc.

I don't know how long you get a feel good factor out of that before you

have to prove yourself much more. What does it say about Cardiff? They

are not very good! I saw them playing Manchester United earlier in

the season and they were excellent. Really strong, the crowd were Fred,

fantastic. There was a feel-good factor. And Vincent Tan seems to

have killed it. I'm not saying that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not going to

be a good manager, I think he probably will prove to be. But he

has come in at a difficult time. All of the teams in the bottom three

have new managers. They were not in the bottom three when they appointed

those managers. He has not had the effect. Let's hear from another of

those new managers, Rene Meulensteen of Fulham. Fulham go to Manchester

United this afternoon. He says he has been taking advice from his

former boss at Old Trafford. Sir Alex Ferguson knows what I am

capable of and he is the first man to reassure me, to say, stick to

your beliefs, you know what you are capable of doing. That's what I am

doing. He said I need to stay optimistic, make sure the work we

have done is good. I cannot fault the players for one minute. Every

effort they have put into the training pitch. Day in, day out.

Does the managerial structure and Fulham surprise you? I'm not sure

surprises me. I wonder how long it can't continue like that. Rene

Meulensteen was brought in to help Martin Jol. A few days later he was

in charge. Alan Curbishley brought in to help Rene Meulensteen. He is

no technical director. The idea is that he's helps to sort out the

defence. It has got litre. That's Magid has got more leaky. I just

wonder if Fulham have got too many players of too much quantity and not

enough quality. They have had a problem shifting the older players.

They are an ageing squad. They brought in a player who may not be

totally fit. The thing that worries me is we have not got -- we have a

group of cultures and nobody knows who is the manager. If I am a

player, I need direct management. A lot of good cultures but there has

to be a leader among those men to give them direction. I think it is a

big Ascot for Fulham. I can understand, the Sheffield United cup

replay in the week, AIDS changes made, it is almost giving people a

game for the sake of the game. -- eight changes. It is another hammer

blow. What is Fulham's best team? See borrowing ideas from Alex

Ferguson? -- is he borrowing. You surely cannot manage a team at the

bottom the way you manage a team at the top? You pass the ball out from

the back, if you have a philosophy, yes. He made a mistake in the

midweek. As far as Manchester United are concerned, is it a big mistake

to let a village leaves? Either any current players are good enough to

replace him? -- are there any current players. Did you described

him as a quitter yesterday? I have a great deal of respect for him, by

the way. He is one of the best centre halves. It doesn't sit with

me very well that he is willing to quit the club in this manner. I was

entrenched in the Arsenal theme. You had to push me out of the club

kicking and screaming. Somebody would have to push me out before I

was told to go. There was not a contract on the table for him. Why

is he insecure about that? If he wants to make that position his

own, he dictates that by his performance from now until the end

of the season. If David Moyes had wanted him... Maybe that is it. He

has picked up the vibe from the manager. There must be something

wrong in that dressing room. Manchester United have had that

changing hands with players. You want that experience in the dressing

room. He is one of those. There are several subjects there. On who it

gets passed down to in the dressing room, you could argue that

Ferdinand, village are over 30. Evans is 26, Rooney, Darren

Fletcher... The next generation are ready to take that mantle. If you

keep him, how are you going to help Chris Smalling, Jones etc? Is

partnerships. David Moyes has said he would sooner play a young

goalkeeper than a young central defender. If that applies, keep him

at the club. He has never been the most mobile. It is nothing new that

he has lost his mobility. He is losing the support of his manager. I

think you should stay there and fight for his club. It is a massive

club. You only go downhill when you leave Manchester United. I feel he

has the necessary skills to play that position for a number of years.

Jonny Evans has become virtually the senior defensive player. Vidic Has

played 54 games in the last three seasons combined. That is why a new

contract is not there. He is missing too many games. Smalling and Evans

have played the majority of games. Jones not so much. I don't think it

is a big deal for David Moyes now. What David Moyes needs to do now is

work out who is playing there. Is it going to be Chris Smalling or is it

going to be Phil Jones? If you are a young player, look at Skrtel. Jamie

Carrigan has gone and Skrtel has been given the role to play. He is a

different player. Chris Smalling is slowly starting to build a

reputation. He has been a utility player. He has not had the

opportunities. Jones is a utility player as well, it seems to me. With

then you feel like you are a jack of all trades, master of nothing,

really. I personally would like to have seen Vidic with Smalling. I am

not convinced by Phil Jones. I am not sure where he is going to play.

We still do not know now. I feel that if Ferdinand is not going to be

there, you keep Vidic. You need to get to Old Trafford! Thank you to my

guests. Five Live for Manchester United against Fulham. Updates from

Tottenham. Bye-bye. The Six Nations

continues on Saturday with Ireland's massive

clash with holders Wales, followed by Scotland against

England in the Calcutta Cup. On Sunday, France

play host to Italy. The Six Nations - our fiercest

rivals are those who are closest.