:00:07. > :00:43.Good afternoon and welcome to MOTD2 Extra. On BBC Two, Radio 5 Live and
:00:44. > :00:48.BBC online. Joining me... The former Liverpool and Ireland defender Mark
:00:49. > :00:51.Lawrenson, Trevor Sinclair and food all right Neil Custis. Lots to talk
:00:52. > :01:04.about. You can get involved. Coming up... Leicester can go ten
:01:05. > :01:09.points clear for a couple of hours at least. With victory at Sunderland
:01:10. > :01:15.in the lunchtime kick-off. Tottenham face Man United at 4pm, looking to
:01:16. > :01:18.maintain pressure on the leaders. Asked's title hopes are surely over
:01:19. > :01:22.after they were held to a thrilling draw at West Ham and Newcastle
:01:23. > :01:28.suburb another blow in their fight for survival. The back pages this
:01:29. > :01:34.morning... Not a prayer, the headline on the back of the Sun
:01:35. > :01:38.newspaper. The Sunday mercy is Yaya Toure will hope to buy himself out
:01:39. > :01:42.of the final Europe is contract if Man City tried to make him see it
:01:43. > :01:49.out and the Express newspaper has this...
:01:50. > :01:56.Only one place to start. At the Stadium Of Light. Sunday host
:01:57. > :02:03.Leicester, a huge game at both ends of the table. Steve Wilson will
:02:04. > :02:08.commentate and he joins us. Four 1-0 wins for Leicester, they would take
:02:09. > :02:13.another one today? Absolutely, if they can extend that gap to ten
:02:14. > :02:17.points and exert pressure on Spurs in the Late Kick Off there will be
:02:18. > :02:23.huge celebrations. Great discipline from Leicester over recent weeks.
:02:24. > :02:29.The time for winning 3-2 and all of that is all gone. Only conceding
:02:30. > :02:34.seven goals in the last 15 Premier League games, absolutely magnificent
:02:35. > :02:38.at this stage. It's unquestioningly there is to lose. For Sunderland,
:02:39. > :02:44.four draws in a row, not really enough, they need wins. I don't
:02:45. > :02:49.know... They need to keep in touch with Norwich, an enormous game next
:02:50. > :02:54.weekend at Carrow Road against Norwich City and the outcome today
:02:55. > :02:57.might decide on who needs what. A drop might suit Norwich a little
:02:58. > :03:03.better if Sunderland don't get anything today but if they do,
:03:04. > :03:07.Norwich might need more than a draw. It will be absolutely crucial, the
:03:08. > :03:11.game at Carrow Road but what we know, if Sunderland win today they
:03:12. > :03:15.will only be a point behind Norwich as they go to Carrow Road and they
:03:16. > :03:20.will have a game in hand. I think Sunderland Boswell in January. The
:03:21. > :03:24.drawers will be frustrating to some Allardyce but the important thing,
:03:25. > :03:29.their level of performance has been quite high, Kershaw has been
:03:30. > :03:34.excellent. You don't have to have a name beginning with the letter K to
:03:35. > :03:38.win but it helps. I still quite fancy Sunderland to get themselves
:03:39. > :03:43.out of this but I think it will be them or Norwich. A consequence of a
:03:44. > :03:46.Sunderland win will be Aston Villa relegated today because of the fact
:03:47. > :03:53.Sunderland play Norwich next weekend. Three points per Sunderland
:03:54. > :03:55.today and the awful season for Aston Villa reaches its inevitable
:03:56. > :04:01.conclusion, they would be relegated this afternoon. Thank you. Mark
:04:02. > :04:05.Lawrenson, for Leicester... They haven't conceded in six and a half
:04:06. > :04:10.hours of football at 1-0 wins, it's not comparable. It is if you win and
:04:11. > :04:16.there is nothing wrong with it. It is how you win the league. It's not
:04:17. > :04:21.about winning games I three goals, it's winning when you don't play
:04:22. > :04:25.especially well. They have the good, defence platform. Everyone keeps
:04:26. > :04:29.talking about the two centre-backs... The protection in
:04:30. > :04:33.front, I think they enjoyed offending. When they play that way
:04:34. > :04:39.and they can break quickly, absolutely perfect. Only lost three
:04:40. > :04:43.games all season, staggering. Incredible, and what's coming out of
:04:44. > :04:49.the dressing room is no pressure. But as it gets close to that point,
:04:50. > :04:53.it must be building. But I think Claudio Ranieri has done a great
:04:54. > :04:59.job, he makes the players concentrate on the next game, a lot
:05:00. > :05:04.of players or three games ahead, but they have to beat Sunderland or not
:05:05. > :05:08.lose away to Sunderland. You have a lot of selfless players in that
:05:09. > :05:11.group, not bothering about getting the limelight, happy to work hard,
:05:12. > :05:15.keep a clean sheet, a couple of special players, they have not been
:05:16. > :05:22.scoring as freely as they were earlier in the season but a couple
:05:23. > :05:26.of very talented players. Look at the expansive football that
:05:27. > :05:31.Liverpool play. They were favourites to win the league, winning 3-2, you
:05:32. > :05:35.don't win the league like that, you keep clean sheets, getting drawers
:05:36. > :05:39.if you need to away from home and winning games by the odd goal and
:05:40. > :05:43.that's what they are doing. The Italian heritage of the managers
:05:44. > :05:51.coming through. I expect that to continue. Trevor mentioned this
:05:52. > :05:55.letter players, Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez, but defensively so solid.
:05:56. > :06:04.Absolutely, they defend. They do the job. They enjoyed offending, it
:06:05. > :06:11.looks so solid over recent weeks. -- they enjoyed defending. Each game
:06:12. > :06:16.seems to have been like the one they need to win the title and they have
:06:17. > :06:22.been clinging on. Sweaty palms and the crowd and everything!
:06:23. > :06:26.Eventually, you wonder, does the will take its toll? I can see this
:06:27. > :06:31.being a draw today and Tottenham beating Man United and then comes
:06:32. > :06:34.the test. That is the first time people will say, right, we are
:06:35. > :06:39.coming back, Tottenham are coming back at you, can you handle it? And
:06:40. > :06:42.that's when you find out what the team is about but it has the
:06:43. > :06:46.ingredients to handle it because of the atmosphere, certainly. The
:06:47. > :06:53.spirit within the team. And the manager. He has done the most
:06:54. > :06:56.remarkable job. People have been trying to make comparisons with
:06:57. > :07:00.knots Forest, this would be the greatest story ever because
:07:01. > :07:05.everything in football nowadays is set up for Leicester not to win, the
:07:06. > :07:10.financial reward for how how you finish, Champions League money,
:07:11. > :07:17.everything is set up for them not to win the title and that's why this
:07:18. > :07:24.would be the greatest. They are living the dream. They have put
:07:25. > :07:30.pressure on other clubs. The reason Martinez may be getting stick at
:07:31. > :07:34.Everton... Why are we down here, there will be thinking. Other clubs
:07:35. > :07:39.are under pressure. They have adapted well, men behind the ball.
:07:40. > :07:42.At times, they have had more possession than the opposition and
:07:43. > :07:48.they played Tic Tac... It's not about defending, being tied. They
:07:49. > :07:52.have adapted well in certain games, I wouldn't be surprised if they had
:07:53. > :07:56.most possession today against Sunderland, away from home. That
:07:57. > :08:00.might help with the pressure not on them as much. They've all be able to
:08:01. > :08:06.play a little more freely and that could help. They are quite physical.
:08:07. > :08:17.Very physical. A lot of things they seem to get away with. It is a tough
:08:18. > :08:22.game. Sunderland look like a team that wants to stay up, you can say
:08:23. > :08:26.that about Newcastle. Sam has done a great job since he has gone in
:08:27. > :08:32.there. He is recruiting as it is every work, it has been excellent,
:08:33. > :08:37.adding to what they have and he has lifted everything, unlucky not to
:08:38. > :08:40.have about four more points. I was at the game against West Brom last
:08:41. > :08:46.week and they battered them. The head in three games before that,
:08:47. > :08:51.drawing the last four, getting the goal ahead doesn't seem to be the
:08:52. > :08:54.problem that holding onto it. The performances have been better.
:08:55. > :09:02.Absolutely. The Man City game, they should have won but they lost. They
:09:03. > :09:07.have got goals. More goals in them than those around them. Look at the
:09:08. > :09:13.players Sam brought in. They needed more defensively. Cats three, look
:09:14. > :09:20.at Defoe... A great finisher but he needs someone to supply it. Not the
:09:21. > :09:24.finished article, as fit as he wants to be, but he's made a difference,
:09:25. > :09:31.he's brought creativity to the team. Yes. You know... Sam used to get
:09:32. > :09:34.criticised by managers like Arsene Wenger, saying it will all
:09:35. > :09:42.physicality and the long ball. Bolton were a much better team than
:09:43. > :09:45.that. You don't play the long ball all the time. There is a lot more to
:09:46. > :09:51.Sam Allardyce and everywhere he has been, the club has been resolved
:09:52. > :10:00.when he leaves. The question... Mark... Do Sunderland stay up? Yes.
:10:01. > :10:04.Trevor? Yes. I would swap Sunderland and Norwich, I think. I can see
:10:05. > :10:10.Sunderland getting the result next week. The experience of the manager,
:10:11. > :10:14.Alex Neil has done a fantastic job at the experience of the manager and
:10:15. > :10:19.the players at his disposal, Sam has a better squad, a couple of games in
:10:20. > :10:24.hand. In the long run, the middle of May, they will have more points. A
:10:25. > :10:29.bit of a feel-good factor about them. All clubs under threat, seems
:10:30. > :10:33.to be more positivity around Sunderland than everyone else.
:10:34. > :10:36.Norwich put in a good stint at Crystal Palace yesterday but they
:10:37. > :10:40.could have got something, it would have been huge for them. They should
:10:41. > :10:45.have got the penalty. Let's move to the other end of the table, Arsenal
:10:46. > :10:50.ten points behind Leicester following the brilliant 3-3 draw at
:10:51. > :10:55.West Ham, great viewing. Not so great for Arsenal, here's Arsene
:10:56. > :10:59.Wenger, speaking to Jonathan Pearce. For about ten minutes, the defence
:11:00. > :11:05.was wobbly. You are powerless to stop them, it is up to the players
:11:06. > :11:12.themselves? Look... I am not here after the game to blame absolutely
:11:13. > :11:17.the players. I think we were disappointed to have conceded three
:11:18. > :11:25.goals, when you are 2-0 up, and I think we were especially look at
:11:26. > :11:31.ourselves on that. It is a shame. Because it was a good football game
:11:32. > :11:35.but not the result we wanted. Trevor, two goals up, they blew it,
:11:36. > :11:40.didn't they? Does that sum up their season? They have had lots of
:11:41. > :11:45.opportunities, look at the squad they have. The situation at
:11:46. > :11:49.Leicester, what they have put themselves in, Arsenal will be
:11:50. > :11:52.kicking themselves. They have the players to have mounted a proper
:11:53. > :11:58.challenge the title this they should be in front, the top of the league,
:11:59. > :12:01.but players, at the wrong moment, not producing the goods, it's always
:12:02. > :12:06.the big games. If Arsenal win this you think they will be flying and
:12:07. > :12:12.they always seem to fail at the last hurdle. 2-0 up at Upton Park, West
:12:13. > :12:18.Ham doing well this year, 2-0 up, they should be able to see the game
:12:19. > :12:23.out, scoring 3-0 away from home, the defence had not stood up to the
:12:24. > :12:26.test. Defensively, decisions that Arsene Wenger made, Per Mertesacker
:12:27. > :12:33.on the bench, not coming on and playing any part... But at 2-0 up,
:12:34. > :12:37.he made a great decision. That was the Arsenal of the last five
:12:38. > :12:42.seasons, in the 90 plus minutes, everything that is good about them,
:12:43. > :12:47.lots of things, bad against them. It will be another season of glorious
:12:48. > :12:51.failure, I am afraid. I believe Arsene Wenger came out and didn't
:12:52. > :12:56.realise Andy Carroll was playing. If he thought there was a problem,
:12:57. > :13:00.having Andy Carroll playing against two central defenders come he
:13:01. > :13:05.could've changed. For me, playing against Andy Carroll, he is, at
:13:06. > :13:09.times, the right ball going into the box, he can be unplayable. Per
:13:10. > :13:15.Mertesacker may have helped playing Petr Cech may have helped even more,
:13:16. > :13:18.but a player of his ability in the error, you have got to either stop
:13:19. > :13:22.the ball going wide, going into the box or stop across us. He did
:13:23. > :13:27.neither and they were punished severely. Tactically, if you cannot
:13:28. > :13:32.stop that, forget about the manager. As a team, taking the
:13:33. > :13:36.responsibility, we cannot let the ball going to the box, let's get
:13:37. > :13:44.closer, it's not good enough. I agree. Because the third goal, the
:13:45. > :13:48.equaliser, was sensational. A goal only Arsenal could probably score
:13:49. > :13:52.because it was sensational. That is what they are about, that is the
:13:53. > :13:58.frustration. Again, the banners about Arsene Wenger, the age-old
:13:59. > :14:01.question, be careful what you wish for, the consistency is incredible,
:14:02. > :14:07.all of this, but you will not know what Arsenal can do unless... You
:14:08. > :14:13.make the change and do something. Is this the season to do that? It's
:14:14. > :14:18.been more stark this time because of the challenge, not coming from the
:14:19. > :14:21.big powers. Arsenal, Man City, even Man United, are going to be kicking
:14:22. > :14:27.themselves at the end of the season, no matter what happens. What, Andy
:14:28. > :14:34.Carroll... Talk about the Arsenal deficiency but Andy Carroll was
:14:35. > :14:37.sensational. He should be a 50 cap England star, regarded as one of the
:14:38. > :14:43.best strikers in Europe, but the manager Slaven Bilic alluded to it,
:14:44. > :14:48.about questioning how dedicated he is to his job as a footballer. And
:14:49. > :14:53.the question now is should he go away with England? No. The reason I
:14:54. > :14:57.would say no is because I think he has the ability and defences would
:14:58. > :15:02.hate being against him... He would have to change the way he plays. He
:15:03. > :15:07.will get fouls against him all the time. He is way down the list of
:15:08. > :15:15.strikers. England have a luxury of strikers. But not who can do what he
:15:16. > :15:20.does. But how often does he do it? I'll often is he playing for West
:15:21. > :15:26.Ham? You are going back to the dark ages. People said Jack Wilshire
:15:27. > :15:31.should be playing but if you say how often does he play? But I don't
:15:32. > :15:36.think he should go anyway! That is fine and I appreciate that. I am
:15:37. > :15:39.with that, playing week in and week out, you should be considered. Not
:15:40. > :15:45.playing but you have done something in the past to get into the
:15:46. > :15:49.tournament, then why would you be considered if you have not played
:15:50. > :15:52.all season? Not only considered but played when it comes to the big
:15:53. > :15:58.game, not relying on what people have done, you are informed.
:15:59. > :16:11.Do West Ham have to get to the FA Cup final for him to go? If he has a
:16:12. > :16:14.big season does he then go? If he played like he did yesterday, I
:16:15. > :16:21.think he should go. Because he brings something different. On the
:16:22. > :16:31.floor, he is superb. He has a very good touch. He doesn't play.
:16:32. > :16:35.Exactly, but that is not his fault. He is now a father, I think he is
:16:36. > :16:42.taking the game more seriously and hopefully West Ham will see him
:16:43. > :16:47.more. I do not think he goes. Lots of opinions on Andy Carroll, let's
:16:48. > :16:53.hear what Slaven Bilic had to say. Andy Carroll, the decision to bring
:16:54. > :17:02.him back in, strong, powerful, took his goals. Everything. It is
:17:03. > :17:07.impossible to stop him. Just watch his work great, watch how he tries
:17:08. > :17:15.to get a ball from them, keeping the ball, laying it off. The third goal,
:17:16. > :17:20.a great example, he got the ball, 50 yards, got the far post and scored
:17:21. > :17:30.the goals. With headers he is the best in the world may be. It is not
:17:31. > :17:40.only heading, he has got to stay away from those injuries and live.
:17:41. > :17:48.He is a professional, but he has to be totally dedicated to the career,
:17:49. > :17:53.to football. That is Slaven Bilic's thoughts, plenty coming in on social
:17:54. > :17:59.media. Luke says Andy Carroll is so much more inconsistent than Daniel
:18:00. > :18:04.Sturridge and way more injury prone. Another says I did not see him for
:18:05. > :18:09.the first 43 minutes, but I would take him if only as a sub. Daniel
:18:10. > :18:13.says we should not get carried away by his hat-trick, he may have a dry
:18:14. > :18:17.spell between now and the end of the season. You are the anyone who
:18:18. > :18:22.thinks he should not go to the Euros. There are better players in
:18:23. > :18:30.front of him. Is he not developed enough? He does not play another. Is
:18:31. > :18:36.that down to him? Yes, he is injury prone. How many games as he started
:18:37. > :18:43.for West Ham? Not that many. Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Rooney,
:18:44. > :18:46.Sturridge, Danny Welbeck. They are better players, the game is
:18:47. > :18:52.completely different, it is not just whack it into the middle and fight.
:18:53. > :18:57.He is not just that though. When has he ever been outstanding? I would
:18:58. > :19:04.take him over Danny Welbeck. Good luck with that one. There are still
:19:05. > :19:08.more games to go. Let's have a look at it at the end of the season.
:19:09. > :19:15.Let's judge him then, if he scores six or seven goals towards the end
:19:16. > :19:19.of the season, he has to be considered. He brings a different
:19:20. > :19:23.game plan to the England squad. We will see what Roy Hodgson thinks. We
:19:24. > :19:28.will go back to the Stadium Of Light and get the team news for the game
:19:29. > :19:34.between Sunderland and Leicester from Ian Dennis. Both teams are
:19:35. > :19:38.unchanged. Sunderland are looking to close the gap on Norwich, four
:19:39. > :19:44.points adrift with two games in hand. They play at Carrow Road next
:19:45. > :19:49.weekend. Aston Villa are relegated because of the match in East Anglia.
:19:50. > :19:53.Leicester City, six points required the Champions League football and 12
:19:54. > :20:00.points required for the title from the remaining six games. An
:20:01. > :20:05.unchanged side. Updates of that match on radio five live and you can
:20:06. > :20:09.hear at four o'clock, Tottenham against Manchester United. Tottenham
:20:10. > :20:14.are chasing Leicester at the top, what impact will Leicester's result
:20:15. > :20:23.have on Tottenham players as they head out? It depends what it is. It
:20:24. > :20:28.does matter. If Leicester win today, it is like crikey. Manchester United
:20:29. > :20:36.are better against the top teams, I am just getting over Sam Wood the
:20:37. > :20:44.shades when he got off the bus! -- Sam with the shades. On a penalty
:20:45. > :20:48.shoot out, do you go first or second, I go first. If you score,
:20:49. > :20:52.you put the other team under pressure. If you miss, you put the
:20:53. > :20:56.other team under pressure. If Leicester can get the result and
:20:57. > :21:02.win, it puts Tottenham under pressure. Even if they lose, it is
:21:03. > :21:07.still pressure. Tottenham have to make up for that and beat Manchester
:21:08. > :21:10.United at home, a big task. Tottenham play after Leicester
:21:11. > :21:15.almost every game this season, how big an advantage is that for
:21:16. > :21:21.Leicester? As Marcus said, if they get the win... If they go ten points
:21:22. > :21:27.ahead, it could be dispiriting for Tottenham. When they drew at
:21:28. > :21:32.Liverpool, it was not a points dropped, they drew at Liverpool, it
:21:33. > :21:37.was a good result. Whatever they do, it is not making an impact because
:21:38. > :21:40.Leicester keep on doing it. If Leicester win today, it is
:21:41. > :21:45.dispiriting, that will have an effect on them. If they lose, they
:21:46. > :21:53.will come out fine. They are not playing the best United team ever.
:21:54. > :21:58.They have had a few clean sheets, this is far from a good Manchester
:21:59. > :22:04.United team they are playing. Do you try to hide the result if you are
:22:05. > :22:11.the Tottenham manager? You can't, it is impossible. Social media,
:22:12. > :22:16.totally. Impossible, can't do it. I remember when United and city were
:22:17. > :22:19.going at it for the title and they were actually watching the Everton
:22:20. > :22:25.game on the television on the bus on the way to Wolves and they saw
:22:26. > :22:30.Everton get the latest two goals and they knew it was in their hands and
:22:31. > :22:37.that had a huge impact on them. You do not need a team talk. It is done.
:22:38. > :22:45.There was cheering on the bus and they were flying. It was not because
:22:46. > :22:53.they got any cake! Laughter it was a big game for Manchester United. How
:22:54. > :22:57.vital is it for Louis van Gaal? I still think there will be a change
:22:58. > :23:01.in the summer, but he does not want to leave with them outside the top
:23:02. > :23:07.four, he would love to leave with the FA Cup. No matter what happens
:23:08. > :23:09.between now and the end of the season, Manchester United fans
:23:10. > :23:14.cannot forget what they have had to watch over the last 18 months. It is
:23:15. > :23:20.some of the worst football they have played for three decades. They have
:23:21. > :23:23.not forgotten that. They think if we win, we will be stuck with him next
:23:24. > :23:30.season, that is how they are thinking. I do not think United fans
:23:31. > :23:37.will stand for having him again next season. What about Tottenham's
:23:38. > :23:40.standard of play? He came out with this bizarre... If David Moyes had
:23:41. > :23:50.said some of the things that Louis van Gaal had said... About Harry
:23:51. > :23:57.Kane all Rooney? He said that the teams at the bottom park the bus.
:23:58. > :24:01.Teams have been parking the bus against Manchester United for 30
:24:02. > :24:05.years. The top teams used to park the bus against Manchester United,
:24:06. > :24:09.they do not now, because they are easier to beat. It is a bizarre
:24:10. > :24:14.thing to say, he says it in a confident way and you walk on and
:24:15. > :24:18.then you think what is he on about? If you are a top team and you are
:24:19. > :24:22.playing a lesser team, of course they will play at the bottom,
:24:23. > :24:27.individually the players are not good enough to compete. They parked
:24:28. > :24:31.the bus, they play on the counterattack. I don't think they
:24:32. > :24:35.park the bus at matched United, they have a go, because they know they
:24:36. > :24:43.can win. At Old Trafford it has ever been easier to go and play. The fear
:24:44. > :24:47.factor is gone. Completely gone. I remember David Moyes actually saying
:24:48. > :24:51.when you used to go to Old Trafford, you wanted to get out of there with
:24:52. > :24:56.something without being humiliated. Without being smashed. Teams would
:24:57. > :25:01.be destroyed in the opening few minutes. Norwich went there this
:25:02. > :25:07.season and had a go from the start. They did not park the bus, they know
:25:08. > :25:12.they can score. Manchester United, a couple of wins, they have the FA Cup
:25:13. > :25:18.against West Ham, the replay. Could this in no way define their season
:25:19. > :25:23.this week coming up? Absolutely, a huge game today. If they go to White
:25:24. > :25:27.Hart Lane and not lose, that is a really good result. The results
:25:28. > :25:32.against the top teams suggest that they could get something. Midweek
:25:33. > :25:37.against West Ham at Upton Park, a very difficult game. I watch the
:25:38. > :25:42.game at Old Trafford in the first game. Before the replay. They were
:25:43. > :25:46.lucky to get anything out of that game, a great free kick. They got
:25:47. > :25:52.themselves back in the game. This next two games could define how
:25:53. > :25:57.their season pans out. Neil has already said you do not think Louis
:25:58. > :26:03.van Gaal will be here next season, what about you, Trevor and Mark,
:26:04. > :26:09.does he stay? If he finishes top four and gets the FA Cup, it is
:26:10. > :26:13.difficult to get rid of him. Being honest, the fans have given him a
:26:14. > :26:16.chance, they wanted to like him. I do not think they appreciate the
:26:17. > :26:20.football he has brought to Old Trafford, but the results of recent
:26:21. > :26:24.weeks and months have not been too bad. They have put themselves in a
:26:25. > :26:28.position where they could make the top four and they can win the FA
:26:29. > :26:33.Cup. If they could get the semifinal of the FA Cup and it may go right to
:26:34. > :26:37.the wire, you would expect him to stay. If they get in the top four
:26:38. > :26:42.and they win a major trophy, it would be difficult to get rid of
:26:43. > :26:46.him. I think he will be out with the empties to be honest. The whole
:26:47. > :26:51.thing about Renee, if he has not been told of getting the job, why
:26:52. > :26:57.isn't his agent pushing him for other jobs. -- about Jose Mourinho.
:26:58. > :27:02.It has gone so quiet. If they pass up this chance to get him as when
:27:03. > :27:08.Sir and retired, it will not come around again. Whatever you say about
:27:09. > :27:17.him, people say he will not bring the youth through, he is a winner.
:27:18. > :27:22.-- when Sir Alex retired. They are up against Pep Guardiola. They have
:27:23. > :27:28.got to get him or I think there will be a mess. You can see that match
:27:29. > :27:32.between Manchester United and West Ham in the FA Cup replay on BBC TV
:27:33. > :27:46.on Wednesday night. You can listen on BB see radio five live -- BBC.
:27:47. > :27:50.Here is Rafa Benitez. Normally when you are in the position that we are,
:27:51. > :27:56.it is more difficult, especially at the start of the games. You have
:27:57. > :28:01.this situation that you are under pressure, you make more mistakes. It
:28:02. > :28:05.is normal to make mistakes, but we need to show more character in the
:28:06. > :28:12.second half. The only positive is we have four games at home and the team
:28:13. > :28:15.is reacting, it is reacting late, but it is reacting. We have to make
:28:16. > :28:19.sure the team will start the game is in the same way we finished the game
:28:20. > :28:24.is and hopefully we will have chances to win. Big words from
:28:25. > :28:31.inside the dressing room after that game. They need to play with more
:28:32. > :28:36.heart, they do not show an assist -- show enough desire, some of the
:28:37. > :28:40.comments. I think it is pathetic. It is the worst team I have seen from
:28:41. > :28:49.Newcastle in terms of passion, dedication, effort. The recruitment
:28:50. > :28:54.has been terrible, they are bringing in players and telling them it could
:28:55. > :28:58.be a stepping stone to something else, how they can be dedicated to
:28:59. > :29:03.Newcastle I do not know. The sad thing is you still get the 55,000
:29:04. > :29:07.going, we have mentioned every week, but I think they go as a social
:29:08. > :29:11.thing, they don't go to watch the football, they go to see their
:29:12. > :29:16.mates. You go every other week. It is pathetic. Those players will go
:29:17. > :29:25.down in information the way they have adapted to this season. It has
:29:26. > :29:29.been pathetic. The white fight has waived, at 2-0, the white flag was
:29:30. > :29:35.waived. They started to show some fight when they were 3-0 down. That
:29:36. > :29:41.tells you everything about them, we can play now, because the pressure
:29:42. > :29:46.is off. That is what Aston Villa did at Manchester City the other week,
:29:47. > :29:51.no chance. One point from the last 21 available, it is relegation for
:29:52. > :29:55.them. It is relegation. We will not sit here and pretend it is easy.
:29:56. > :29:59.When you are down there and fighting for your survival in the Premier
:30:00. > :30:04.League, it is difficult, I have been there and done it. It does not come
:30:05. > :30:08.down to ability, it comes down to what is in your heart. Your
:30:09. > :30:14.mentality. Looking at the effort and commitment, the desire. Players like
:30:15. > :30:22.that are milky players, Fairweather players. I like my tea brew stroll
:30:23. > :30:28.and -- brewed strong. Too much milk in their team. When it is not going
:30:29. > :30:33.well, the players go missing, they - the ball and they do not have what
:30:34. > :30:37.it takes. Stephen Tapper did not play well yesterday, he would be the
:30:38. > :30:41.first to admit that, but he is a player who I would look at and say
:30:42. > :30:50.he would want him next year. They did not show that yesterday, he made
:30:51. > :30:55.a mistake. Janmaat. I am not sure if he came off because his pride was
:30:56. > :30:58.hurt. That is just me, we have conceded the goal, I would have to
:30:59. > :31:08.get stretchered off to come off, I would be embarrassing, off.
:31:09. > :31:14.Neil will know this, have they got clauses in their contract, if they
:31:15. > :31:22.go to the championship, they get cut up their money? He is someone... If
:31:23. > :31:30.you are having a red scrap, he can have a tackle. -- if you are having
:31:31. > :31:36.a right scrap. I am not sure his heart is in the game for Newcastle.
:31:37. > :31:40.Over three transfer windows, they spent 120 million quid, you can't
:31:41. > :31:45.point the finger at Mike Ashley and say he hasn't invested. You can add
:31:46. > :31:57.agreement car, spent 120 million, not one decent goal-scorer. -- you
:31:58. > :32:01.can point the finger at Graham car. Tactically, early doors, four
:32:02. > :32:10.players, squeezing against Newcastle. Try to play couple of
:32:11. > :32:14.times, the defence... I think at Dagenham Redbridge would have done
:32:15. > :32:18.yesterday, no disrespect to them. You mentioned Rafael Benitez... John
:32:19. > :32:22.Carver... Three manager since the end of last season, none of them
:32:23. > :32:33.have been able to get the team going, izzard managers or players?
:32:34. > :32:36.Neil? I would point the finger at recruitment, the recruitment of
:32:37. > :32:41.players has been awful. No players who would fight for Newcastle,
:32:42. > :32:46.again, the theory about the transfers, bringing them in young,
:32:47. > :32:53.we can sell them on... Aston Villa tried that. We saw how well that has
:32:54. > :32:57.gone. It's the recruit and. Looking at the pictures... Southampton have
:32:58. > :33:03.done it. Because the recruitment has been better. By dumping Steve
:33:04. > :33:07.McClaren is a bad manager... He's more passionate about Newcastle than
:33:08. > :33:12.John Carver. Rafa Benitez has come into a situation for the first time
:33:13. > :33:15.in his career, he has seen players who are not listening. Steve
:33:16. > :33:19.McClaren was having a crisis meeting every two weeks. That tells you
:33:20. > :33:28.everything. Open letters to the fans. It tells you everything about
:33:29. > :33:32.the players. Look at Cissokho. He is six foot two, everything you want as
:33:33. > :33:38.a player, where is he? Jonjo Shelvey... I have not seen anything
:33:39. > :33:40.from him. Look at the goal that Townsend scored, fantastic
:33:41. > :33:47.individual goal but it's not enough. You need more from the team, the
:33:48. > :33:51.team spirit and I don't censored. Crystal Palace all but secured their
:33:52. > :33:56.survival yesterday with a 1-0 over Norwich, here's Alan Pardew.
:33:57. > :34:00.You skipped into the injured crew room with a big smile in your step
:34:01. > :34:11.and a smile on your face, tell us how you feel. -- a big jump. I don't
:34:12. > :34:16.normally get tense but I could censored, sometimes the media can
:34:17. > :34:21.keep reminding you, trailing it into you and into you and in the end, you
:34:22. > :34:26.have got to carry it. That big burden, the run of games. I wanted
:34:27. > :34:31.to give them a steady hand today and can then down a little bit at
:34:32. > :34:36.half-time. And they delivered. We were better second half, great goal.
:34:37. > :34:42.I was pleased to see we handled the last period of the game very well.
:34:43. > :34:47.The first league win of the year for Crystal Palace. A golfer Jason
:34:48. > :34:51.Puncheon, we spoke about the lack of hard at Newcastle, Jason Puncheon in
:34:52. > :34:54.tears about goal, that is the desire you want, Trevor? He loves that
:34:55. > :35:00.club, he's from the area, his family live there. His second game back. He
:35:01. > :35:05.is desperate to get a result then that's his first game this season,
:35:06. > :35:11.great timing, great technique. Break it down, great touch. Steady finish.
:35:12. > :35:14.Look at the emotion afterwards. It shows you how much it means to him
:35:15. > :35:22.and the players. Both sides played with more desire, more effort, more
:35:23. > :35:28.desperation, the realisation of the situation by Newcastle. The castle
:35:29. > :35:32.could take a leaf out of the books of both teams. Former Newcastle
:35:33. > :35:38.manager Alan Pardew, safe now with Crystal Palace? As we often say,
:35:39. > :35:42.there is one that suddenly drops into it and they were looking like
:35:43. > :35:48.that. They haven't won a game this year, only winning ten all season.
:35:49. > :35:53.It was vital for them, had they not one that, it would start to play on
:35:54. > :35:57.our minds, are we the team that will drop? The unwanted party at the
:35:58. > :36:02.bottom. But there was a clear penalty. The other team were
:36:03. > :36:08.unfortunate, a big moment. Palace got a big colt last week at West
:36:09. > :36:16.Ham. Maybe the luck is changing. I am not sure. The one yesterday?
:36:17. > :36:20.Delaney... It was not as clear. If that was on you you would be
:36:21. > :36:25.screaming for it. It was not as clear as the one on mine Gala. He
:36:26. > :36:32.was kind of going in ten, a little bit on the shoulder. I think it is a
:36:33. > :36:37.foul anywhere on the pitch. He barged into him. A little bit more
:36:38. > :36:43.from the side. Doesn't matter if you knock it over. You are allowed to
:36:44. > :36:49.shoulder charge. The ball wasn't under control, it was coming into
:36:50. > :36:52.him. Some people could say he has gone through the back of him but I
:36:53. > :36:56.don't think he did, the manager said it was one of them... You would have
:36:57. > :37:01.felt partially done to you that was a game against you. Tough for
:37:02. > :37:05.Norwich, Sunderland next. Is that a decider? Not necessarily the
:37:06. > :37:11.decider, we don't know what the result will be today. An
:37:12. > :37:16.unbelievably massive game, the irony as well, the game against Newcastle
:37:17. > :37:20.last week, it was mad, wasn't it? 2-2, going on to win the game. A
:37:21. > :37:28.massive game. They are showing some great. At the right time. I think
:37:29. > :37:34.so, a couple of good wins recently. Alex Neil, definitely deserves some
:37:35. > :37:41.credit. For or five weeks ago I thought they were dead and buried.
:37:42. > :37:45.-- four. The energy from the manager wasn't inspiring the players, for
:37:46. > :37:49.some unknown reason, you have got to credit the character of Alex Neil,
:37:50. > :37:53.he found it within himself to lift himself and the players, get
:37:54. > :37:56.performances. Unfortunate at Selhurst Park not to come away with
:37:57. > :38:01.anything. Playing well enough to give them hope. Should have had a
:38:02. > :38:07.penalty as well. Apparently not, according to Trevor. I am not sure
:38:08. > :38:12.how many games they have left at home but Carol Road is atmospheric.
:38:13. > :38:17.Not a big round. No negativity from the fans. They know they have been
:38:18. > :38:22.in a scrap, not pointing the finger is, they are really behind that team
:38:23. > :38:28.and I think the games at Carol Road could prove crucial. From a players
:38:29. > :38:33.point of view, it's miles away from every club. For every club who goes
:38:34. > :38:38.there, it's a sleepover, it does affect players. The preparation... I
:38:39. > :38:42.used to cover them for the local paper and it was a six-hour round
:38:43. > :38:49.trip for a local derby. In the top league. You are right, takes ages.
:38:50. > :38:55.But it's likely only... We are starting to feel sorry for them. A
:38:56. > :39:01.sleepover! This round trip... It's what happens, isn't it? That is
:39:02. > :39:04.life. The Norwich when having an impact on the table, Aston Villa
:39:05. > :39:09.live to fight another day, it might be... I know that... They were
:39:10. > :39:17.beaten by Bournemouth yesterday, did you see any signs of improvement?
:39:18. > :39:20.These last five games, it's embarrassing, they gave up the ghost
:39:21. > :39:24.two months ago, goodness knows what will happen in these last games. It
:39:25. > :39:30.is pathetic, what they have done. I have never known three clubs of this
:39:31. > :39:38.size in the bottom three, we were talking about the combined
:39:39. > :39:42.attendance... It shouldn't... But again... Aston Villa, like Newcastle
:39:43. > :39:46.in terms of recruitment and people meddling with the manager and
:39:47. > :39:49.telling him what players he should take, Tim Sherwood, they had a good
:39:50. > :39:56.manager there. It messed about with him. I have to say that, I am on
:39:57. > :40:00.with him later. If you don't give the manager full responsibility of
:40:01. > :40:05.the recruit and, the players that he brings in, how can you hold him
:40:06. > :40:10.accountable? You cannot. Remi Garde could not buy a player in January,
:40:11. > :40:14.what was that about? The writing was on the wall, conceding 64 goals,
:40:15. > :40:18.tempered people, they could get relegated today, he could have got
:40:19. > :40:24.relegated yesterday. It's imperative they get a manager in shortly, he
:40:25. > :40:28.will have four or five games to work out who he wants to get out the
:40:29. > :40:33.door. Why is that taking so long? The same with Newcastle, they are
:40:34. > :40:38.down there because they are not doing well. You don't expect them to
:40:39. > :40:43.be world beaters but what you expect, as soon as they crossed the
:40:44. > :40:48.flightline, to give everything, blood, sweat and tears and I didn't
:40:49. > :40:53.see that yesterday. Players, 19 and 20, giving him his debut, Eric
:40:54. > :40:58.Black, the caretaker manager, giving him the debut in a game like that, I
:40:59. > :41:03.don't fancy my debut in a game like that, the fans are walking out.
:41:04. > :41:08.Forgettable occasion. Possibly not one for him to remember but we
:41:09. > :41:12.should credit or not. I have to admit, I didn't think they would
:41:13. > :41:17.survive this season, but they are a fantastic. Most of us were that way,
:41:18. > :41:20.we thought, Bournemouth Whidbey last year's Burnley and we were all
:41:21. > :41:27.patting them on the head and saying you have done really well. The great
:41:28. > :41:31.thing is the manager hasn't changed his philosophy or the way he plays
:41:32. > :41:34.football and he has brought players into play that particular way and
:41:35. > :41:39.all the players who have come through the divisions, how well have
:41:40. > :41:43.they done? They are almost as big a story as Leicester. There was a
:41:44. > :41:53.stage of the season they could have wobbled. I think again, the game at
:41:54. > :41:56.Bournemouth, they played Aston Villa, first game of the season,
:41:57. > :42:00.they played well, there were signs they could do well. They have not
:42:01. > :42:05.change the philosophy, still play the game that Eddie Howe wants them
:42:06. > :42:09.to play, pressing game, the second fittest team in the Premier League.
:42:10. > :42:13.The play football and when they had an injury to Wilson, they adapted,
:42:14. > :42:17.brought in players that they needed to go to the next level. They've
:42:18. > :42:22.done that, Fairplay to the entire club. They deserve credit. Great to
:42:23. > :42:28.see Callum Wilson back on the pitch. That's finished by talking about
:42:29. > :42:31.Everton, drawing 1-1 at Watford, banners in the crowd saying Roberto
:42:32. > :42:36.Martinez should be sacked, he is under pressure, what's your
:42:37. > :42:39.thoughts? The problem is they keep losing in front of most of their
:42:40. > :42:43.fans which is at home. Look at the away record, tremendous, they keep
:42:44. > :42:52.losing at home. I think that is unfair. They could be in the FA Cup
:42:53. > :42:56.final. In the semifinals of the FA Cup but at home, they've been bad. I
:42:57. > :42:58.said earlier, Everton fans are looking at what the likes of
:42:59. > :43:02.Leicester and Tottenham are doing and the players they have got and
:43:03. > :43:05.thinking, why are we doing the same and I think they are starting to
:43:06. > :43:10.appreciate the organisation David Moyes brought to a team which they
:43:11. > :43:15.haven't got now. Which they didn't have under Martin is at Wigan,
:43:16. > :43:18.either. And I think they are looking at that and appreciating it. A
:43:19. > :43:23.couple of my mates are big Evertonians and they say we are like
:43:24. > :43:29.Wigan but that players. That is what they say. They go every single week.
:43:30. > :43:35.I did not say that, they did. I do not think the banner is unfair. We
:43:36. > :43:39.have a democracy. Look at the gold thread Everton have, the
:43:40. > :43:45.midfielders... You should not be in the position they are in. Martin is
:43:46. > :43:49.could do with a little bit of help. Thank you very much. That is all we
:43:50. > :43:54.have time for. Thank you to all my guests. Match of the Day two is an
:43:55. > :43:56.BBC One tonight, highlights of all the Premier League games, thanks for
:43:57. > :44:09.joining us. MUSIC: I Just Want To Celebrate
:44:10. > :44:13.by Rare Earth