10/04/2016 MOTD2 Extra

Good afternoon and welcome to MOTD2 Extra. On BBC Two, Radio 5 Live and

BBC online. Joining me... The former Liverpool and Ireland defender Mark

Lawrenson, Trevor Sinclair and food all right Neil Custis. Lots to talk

about. You can get involved. Coming up... Leicester can go ten

points clear for a couple of hours at least. With victory at Sunderland

in the lunchtime kick-off. Tottenham face Man United at 4pm, looking to

maintain pressure on the leaders. Asked's title hopes are surely over

after they were held to a thrilling draw at West Ham and Newcastle

suburb another blow in their fight for survival. The back pages this

morning... Not a prayer, the headline on the back of the Sun

newspaper. The Sunday mercy is Yaya Toure will hope to buy himself out

of the final Europe is contract if Man City tried to make him see it

out and the Express newspaper has this...

Only one place to start. At the Stadium Of Light. Sunday host

Leicester, a huge game at both ends of the table. Steve Wilson will

commentate and he joins us. Four 1-0 wins for Leicester, they would take

another one today? Absolutely, if they can extend that gap to ten

points and exert pressure on Spurs in the Late Kick Off there will be

huge celebrations. Great discipline from Leicester over recent weeks.

The time for winning 3-2 and all of that is all gone. Only conceding

seven goals in the last 15 Premier League games, absolutely magnificent

at this stage. It's unquestioningly there is to lose. For Sunderland,

four draws in a row, not really enough, they need wins. I don't

know... They need to keep in touch with Norwich, an enormous game next

weekend at Carrow Road against Norwich City and the outcome today

might decide on who needs what. A drop might suit Norwich a little

better if Sunderland don't get anything today but if they do,

Norwich might need more than a draw. It will be absolutely crucial, the

game at Carrow Road but what we know, if Sunderland win today they

will only be a point behind Norwich as they go to Carrow Road and they

will have a game in hand. I think Sunderland Boswell in January. The

drawers will be frustrating to some Allardyce but the important thing,

their level of performance has been quite high, Kershaw has been

excellent. You don't have to have a name beginning with the letter K to

win but it helps. I still quite fancy Sunderland to get themselves

out of this but I think it will be them or Norwich. A consequence of a

Sunderland win will be Aston Villa relegated today because of the fact

Sunderland play Norwich next weekend. Three points per Sunderland

today and the awful season for Aston Villa reaches its inevitable

conclusion, they would be relegated this afternoon. Thank you. Mark

Lawrenson, for Leicester... They haven't conceded in six and a half

hours of football at 1-0 wins, it's not comparable. It is if you win and

there is nothing wrong with it. It is how you win the league. It's not

about winning games I three goals, it's winning when you don't play

especially well. They have the good, defence platform. Everyone keeps

talking about the two centre-backs... The protection in

front, I think they enjoyed offending. When they play that way

and they can break quickly, absolutely perfect. Only lost three

games all season, staggering. Incredible, and what's coming out of

the dressing room is no pressure. But as it gets close to that point,

it must be building. But I think Claudio Ranieri has done a great

job, he makes the players concentrate on the next game, a lot

of players or three games ahead, but they have to beat Sunderland or not

lose away to Sunderland. You have a lot of selfless players in that

group, not bothering about getting the limelight, happy to work hard,

keep a clean sheet, a couple of special players, they have not been

scoring as freely as they were earlier in the season but a couple

of very talented players. Look at the expansive football that

Liverpool play. They were favourites to win the league, winning 3-2, you

don't win the league like that, you keep clean sheets, getting drawers

if you need to away from home and winning games by the odd goal and

that's what they are doing. The Italian heritage of the managers

coming through. I expect that to continue. Trevor mentioned this

letter players, Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez, but defensively so solid.

Absolutely, they defend. They do the job. They enjoyed offending, it

looks so solid over recent weeks. -- they enjoyed defending. Each game

seems to have been like the one they need to win the title and they have

been clinging on. Sweaty palms and the crowd and everything!

Eventually, you wonder, does the will take its toll? I can see this

being a draw today and Tottenham beating Man United and then comes

the test. That is the first time people will say, right, we are

coming back, Tottenham are coming back at you, can you handle it? And

that's when you find out what the team is about but it has the

ingredients to handle it because of the atmosphere, certainly. The

spirit within the team. And the manager. He has done the most

remarkable job. People have been trying to make comparisons with

knots Forest, this would be the greatest story ever because

everything in football nowadays is set up for Leicester not to win, the

financial reward for how how you finish, Champions League money,

everything is set up for them not to win the title and that's why this

would be the greatest. They are living the dream. They have put

pressure on other clubs. The reason Martinez may be getting stick at

Everton... Why are we down here, there will be thinking. Other clubs

are under pressure. They have adapted well, men behind the ball.

At times, they have had more possession than the opposition and

they played Tic Tac... It's not about defending, being tied. They

have adapted well in certain games, I wouldn't be surprised if they had

most possession today against Sunderland, away from home. That

might help with the pressure not on them as much. They've all be able to

play a little more freely and that could help. They are quite physical.

Very physical. A lot of things they seem to get away with. It is a tough

game. Sunderland look like a team that wants to stay up, you can say

that about Newcastle. Sam has done a great job since he has gone in

there. He is recruiting as it is every work, it has been excellent,

adding to what they have and he has lifted everything, unlucky not to

have about four more points. I was at the game against West Brom last

week and they battered them. The head in three games before that,

drawing the last four, getting the goal ahead doesn't seem to be the

problem that holding onto it. The performances have been better.

Absolutely. The Man City game, they should have won but they lost. They

have got goals. More goals in them than those around them. Look at the

players Sam brought in. They needed more defensively. Cats three, look

at Defoe... A great finisher but he needs someone to supply it. Not the

finished article, as fit as he wants to be, but he's made a difference,

he's brought creativity to the team. Yes. You know... Sam used to get

criticised by managers like Arsene Wenger, saying it will all

physicality and the long ball. Bolton were a much better team than

that. You don't play the long ball all the time. There is a lot more to

Sam Allardyce and everywhere he has been, the club has been resolved

when he leaves. The question... Mark... Do Sunderland stay up? Yes.

Trevor? Yes. I would swap Sunderland and Norwich, I think. I can see

Sunderland getting the result next week. The experience of the manager,

Alex Neil has done a fantastic job at the experience of the manager and

the players at his disposal, Sam has a better squad, a couple of games in

hand. In the long run, the middle of May, they will have more points. A

bit of a feel-good factor about them. All clubs under threat, seems

to be more positivity around Sunderland than everyone else.

Norwich put in a good stint at Crystal Palace yesterday but they

could have got something, it would have been huge for them. They should

have got the penalty. Let's move to the other end of the table, Arsenal

ten points behind Leicester following the brilliant 3-3 draw at

West Ham, great viewing. Not so great for Arsenal, here's Arsene

Wenger, speaking to Jonathan Pearce. For about ten minutes, the defence

was wobbly. You are powerless to stop them, it is up to the players

themselves? Look... I am not here after the game to blame absolutely

the players. I think we were disappointed to have conceded three

goals, when you are 2-0 up, and I think we were especially look at

ourselves on that. It is a shame. Because it was a good football game

but not the result we wanted. Trevor, two goals up, they blew it,

didn't they? Does that sum up their season? They have had lots of

opportunities, look at the squad they have. The situation at

Leicester, what they have put themselves in, Arsenal will be

kicking themselves. They have the players to have mounted a proper

challenge the title this they should be in front, the top of the league,

but players, at the wrong moment, not producing the goods, it's always

the big games. If Arsenal win this you think they will be flying and

they always seem to fail at the last hurdle. 2-0 up at Upton Park, West

Ham doing well this year, 2-0 up, they should be able to see the game

out, scoring 3-0 away from home, the defence had not stood up to the

test. Defensively, decisions that Arsene Wenger made, Per Mertesacker

on the bench, not coming on and playing any part... But at 2-0 up,

he made a great decision. That was the Arsenal of the last five

seasons, in the 90 plus minutes, everything that is good about them,

lots of things, bad against them. It will be another season of glorious

failure, I am afraid. I believe Arsene Wenger came out and didn't

realise Andy Carroll was playing. If he thought there was a problem,

having Andy Carroll playing against two central defenders come he

could've changed. For me, playing against Andy Carroll, he is, at

times, the right ball going into the box, he can be unplayable. Per

Mertesacker may have helped playing Petr Cech may have helped even more,

but a player of his ability in the error, you have got to either stop

the ball going wide, going into the box or stop across us. He did

neither and they were punished severely. Tactically, if you cannot

stop that, forget about the manager. As a team, taking the

responsibility, we cannot let the ball going to the box, let's get

closer, it's not good enough. I agree. Because the third goal, the

equaliser, was sensational. A goal only Arsenal could probably score

because it was sensational. That is what they are about, that is the

frustration. Again, the banners about Arsene Wenger, the age-old

question, be careful what you wish for, the consistency is incredible,

all of this, but you will not know what Arsenal can do unless... You

make the change and do something. Is this the season to do that? It's

been more stark this time because of the challenge, not coming from the

big powers. Arsenal, Man City, even Man United, are going to be kicking

themselves at the end of the season, no matter what happens. What, Andy

Carroll... Talk about the Arsenal deficiency but Andy Carroll was

sensational. He should be a 50 cap England star, regarded as one of the

best strikers in Europe, but the manager Slaven Bilic alluded to it,

about questioning how dedicated he is to his job as a footballer. And

the question now is should he go away with England? No. The reason I

would say no is because I think he has the ability and defences would

hate being against him... He would have to change the way he plays. He

will get fouls against him all the time. He is way down the list of

strikers. England have a luxury of strikers. But not who can do what he

does. But how often does he do it? I'll often is he playing for West

Ham? You are going back to the dark ages. People said Jack Wilshire

should be playing but if you say how often does he play? But I don't

think he should go anyway! That is fine and I appreciate that. I am

with that, playing week in and week out, you should be considered. Not

playing but you have done something in the past to get into the

tournament, then why would you be considered if you have not played

all season? Not only considered but played when it comes to the big

game, not relying on what people have done, you are informed.

Do West Ham have to get to the FA Cup final for him to go? If he has a

big season does he then go? If he played like he did yesterday, I

think he should go. Because he brings something different. On the

floor, he is superb. He has a very good touch. He doesn't play.

Exactly, but that is not his fault. He is now a father, I think he is

taking the game more seriously and hopefully West Ham will see him

more. I do not think he goes. Lots of opinions on Andy Carroll, let's

hear what Slaven Bilic had to say. Andy Carroll, the decision to bring

him back in, strong, powerful, took his goals. Everything. It is

impossible to stop him. Just watch his work great, watch how he tries

to get a ball from them, keeping the ball, laying it off. The third goal,

a great example, he got the ball, 50 yards, got the far post and scored

the goals. With headers he is the best in the world may be. It is not

only heading, he has got to stay away from those injuries and live.

He is a professional, but he has to be totally dedicated to the career,

to football. That is Slaven Bilic's thoughts, plenty coming in on social

media. Luke says Andy Carroll is so much more inconsistent than Daniel

Sturridge and way more injury prone. Another says I did not see him for

the first 43 minutes, but I would take him if only as a sub. Daniel

says we should not get carried away by his hat-trick, he may have a dry

spell between now and the end of the season. You are the anyone who

thinks he should not go to the Euros. There are better players in

front of him. Is he not developed enough? He does not play another. Is

that down to him? Yes, he is injury prone. How many games as he started

for West Ham? Not that many. Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Rooney,

Sturridge, Danny Welbeck. They are better players, the game is

completely different, it is not just whack it into the middle and fight.

He is not just that though. When has he ever been outstanding? I would

take him over Danny Welbeck. Good luck with that one. There are still

more games to go. Let's have a look at it at the end of the season.

Let's judge him then, if he scores six or seven goals towards the end

of the season, he has to be considered. He brings a different

game plan to the England squad. We will see what Roy Hodgson thinks. We

will go back to the Stadium Of Light and get the team news for the game

between Sunderland and Leicester from Ian Dennis. Both teams are

unchanged. Sunderland are looking to close the gap on Norwich, four

points adrift with two games in hand. They play at Carrow Road next

weekend. Aston Villa are relegated because of the match in East Anglia.

Leicester City, six points required the Champions League football and 12

points required for the title from the remaining six games. An

unchanged side. Updates of that match on radio five live and you can

hear at four o'clock, Tottenham against Manchester United. Tottenham

are chasing Leicester at the top, what impact will Leicester's result

have on Tottenham players as they head out? It depends what it is. It

does matter. If Leicester win today, it is like crikey. Manchester United

are better against the top teams, I am just getting over Sam Wood the

shades when he got off the bus! -- Sam with the shades. On a penalty

shoot out, do you go first or second, I go first. If you score,

you put the other team under pressure. If you miss, you put the

other team under pressure. If Leicester can get the result and

win, it puts Tottenham under pressure. Even if they lose, it is

still pressure. Tottenham have to make up for that and beat Manchester

United at home, a big task. Tottenham play after Leicester

almost every game this season, how big an advantage is that for

Leicester? As Marcus said, if they get the win... If they go ten points

ahead, it could be dispiriting for Tottenham. When they drew at

Liverpool, it was not a points dropped, they drew at Liverpool, it

was a good result. Whatever they do, it is not making an impact because

Leicester keep on doing it. If Leicester win today, it is

dispiriting, that will have an effect on them. If they lose, they

will come out fine. They are not playing the best United team ever.

They have had a few clean sheets, this is far from a good Manchester

United team they are playing. Do you try to hide the result if you are

the Tottenham manager? You can't, it is impossible. Social media,

totally. Impossible, can't do it. I remember when United and city were

going at it for the title and they were actually watching the Everton

game on the television on the bus on the way to Wolves and they saw

Everton get the latest two goals and they knew it was in their hands and

that had a huge impact on them. You do not need a team talk. It is done.

There was cheering on the bus and they were flying. It was not because

they got any cake! Laughter it was a big game for Manchester United. How

vital is it for Louis van Gaal? I still think there will be a change

in the summer, but he does not want to leave with them outside the top

four, he would love to leave with the FA Cup. No matter what happens

between now and the end of the season, Manchester United fans

cannot forget what they have had to watch over the last 18 months. It is

some of the worst football they have played for three decades. They have

not forgotten that. They think if we win, we will be stuck with him next

season, that is how they are thinking. I do not think United fans

will stand for having him again next season. What about Tottenham's

standard of play? He came out with this bizarre... If David Moyes had

said some of the things that Louis van Gaal had said... About Harry

Kane all Rooney? He said that the teams at the bottom park the bus.

Teams have been parking the bus against Manchester United for 30

years. The top teams used to park the bus against Manchester United,

they do not now, because they are easier to beat. It is a bizarre

thing to say, he says it in a confident way and you walk on and

then you think what is he on about? If you are a top team and you are

playing a lesser team, of course they will play at the bottom,

individually the players are not good enough to compete. They parked

the bus, they play on the counterattack. I don't think they

park the bus at matched United, they have a go, because they know they

can win. At Old Trafford it has ever been easier to go and play. The fear

factor is gone. Completely gone. I remember David Moyes actually saying

when you used to go to Old Trafford, you wanted to get out of there with

something without being humiliated. Without being smashed. Teams would

be destroyed in the opening few minutes. Norwich went there this

season and had a go from the start. They did not park the bus, they know

they can score. Manchester United, a couple of wins, they have the FA Cup

against West Ham, the replay. Could this in no way define their season

this week coming up? Absolutely, a huge game today. If they go to White

Hart Lane and not lose, that is a really good result. The results

against the top teams suggest that they could get something. Midweek

against West Ham at Upton Park, a very difficult game. I watch the

game at Old Trafford in the first game. Before the replay. They were

lucky to get anything out of that game, a great free kick. They got

themselves back in the game. This next two games could define how

their season pans out. Neil has already said you do not think Louis

van Gaal will be here next season, what about you, Trevor and Mark,

does he stay? If he finishes top four and gets the FA Cup, it is

difficult to get rid of him. Being honest, the fans have given him a

chance, they wanted to like him. I do not think they appreciate the

football he has brought to Old Trafford, but the results of recent

weeks and months have not been too bad. They have put themselves in a

position where they could make the top four and they can win the FA

Cup. If they could get the semifinal of the FA Cup and it may go right to

the wire, you would expect him to stay. If they get in the top four

and they win a major trophy, it would be difficult to get rid of

him. I think he will be out with the empties to be honest. The whole

thing about Renee, if he has not been told of getting the job, why

isn't his agent pushing him for other jobs. -- about Jose Mourinho.

It has gone so quiet. If they pass up this chance to get him as when

Sir and retired, it will not come around again. Whatever you say about

him, people say he will not bring the youth through, he is a winner.

-- when Sir Alex retired. They are up against Pep Guardiola. They have

got to get him or I think there will be a mess. You can see that match

between Manchester United and West Ham in the FA Cup replay on BBC TV

on Wednesday night. You can listen on BB see radio five live -- BBC.

Here is Rafa Benitez. Normally when you are in the position that we are,

it is more difficult, especially at the start of the games. You have

this situation that you are under pressure, you make more mistakes. It

is normal to make mistakes, but we need to show more character in the

second half. The only positive is we have four games at home and the team

is reacting, it is reacting late, but it is reacting. We have to make

sure the team will start the game is in the same way we finished the game

is and hopefully we will have chances to win. Big words from

inside the dressing room after that game. They need to play with more

heart, they do not show an assist -- show enough desire, some of the

comments. I think it is pathetic. It is the worst team I have seen from

Newcastle in terms of passion, dedication, effort. The recruitment

has been terrible, they are bringing in players and telling them it could

be a stepping stone to something else, how they can be dedicated to

Newcastle I do not know. The sad thing is you still get the 55,000

going, we have mentioned every week, but I think they go as a social

thing, they don't go to watch the football, they go to see their

mates. You go every other week. It is pathetic. Those players will go

down in information the way they have adapted to this season. It has

been pathetic. The white fight has waived, at 2-0, the white flag was

waived. They started to show some fight when they were 3-0 down. That

tells you everything about them, we can play now, because the pressure

is off. That is what Aston Villa did at Manchester City the other week,

no chance. One point from the last 21 available, it is relegation for

them. It is relegation. We will not sit here and pretend it is easy.

When you are down there and fighting for your survival in the Premier

League, it is difficult, I have been there and done it. It does not come

down to ability, it comes down to what is in your heart. Your

mentality. Looking at the effort and commitment, the desire. Players like

that are milky players, Fairweather players. I like my tea brew stroll

and -- brewed strong. Too much milk in their team. When it is not going

well, the players go missing, they - the ball and they do not have what

it takes. Stephen Tapper did not play well yesterday, he would be the

first to admit that, but he is a player who I would look at and say

he would want him next year. They did not show that yesterday, he made

a mistake. Janmaat. I am not sure if he came off because his pride was

hurt. That is just me, we have conceded the goal, I would have to

get stretchered off to come off, I would be embarrassing, off.

Neil will know this, have they got clauses in their contract, if they

go to the championship, they get cut up their money? He is someone... If

you are having a red scrap, he can have a tackle. -- if you are having

a right scrap. I am not sure his heart is in the game for Newcastle.

Over three transfer windows, they spent 120 million quid, you can't

point the finger at Mike Ashley and say he hasn't invested. You can add

agreement car, spent 120 million, not one decent goal-scorer. -- you

can point the finger at Graham car. Tactically, early doors, four

players, squeezing against Newcastle. Try to play couple of

times, the defence... I think at Dagenham Redbridge would have done

yesterday, no disrespect to them. You mentioned Rafael Benitez... John

Carver... Three manager since the end of last season, none of them

have been able to get the team going, izzard managers or players?

Neil? I would point the finger at recruitment, the recruitment of

players has been awful. No players who would fight for Newcastle,

again, the theory about the transfers, bringing them in young,

we can sell them on... Aston Villa tried that. We saw how well that has

gone. It's the recruit and. Looking at the pictures... Southampton have

done it. Because the recruitment has been better. By dumping Steve

McClaren is a bad manager... He's more passionate about Newcastle than

John Carver. Rafa Benitez has come into a situation for the first time

in his career, he has seen players who are not listening. Steve

McClaren was having a crisis meeting every two weeks. That tells you

everything. Open letters to the fans. It tells you everything about

the players. Look at Cissokho. He is six foot two, everything you want as

a player, where is he? Jonjo Shelvey... I have not seen anything

from him. Look at the goal that Townsend scored, fantastic

individual goal but it's not enough. You need more from the team, the

team spirit and I don't censored. Crystal Palace all but secured their

survival yesterday with a 1-0 over Norwich, here's Alan Pardew.

You skipped into the injured crew room with a big smile in your step

and a smile on your face, tell us how you feel. -- a big jump. I don't

normally get tense but I could censored, sometimes the media can

keep reminding you, trailing it into you and into you and in the end, you

have got to carry it. That big burden, the run of games. I wanted

to give them a steady hand today and can then down a little bit at

half-time. And they delivered. We were better second half, great goal.

I was pleased to see we handled the last period of the game very well.

The first league win of the year for Crystal Palace. A golfer Jason

Puncheon, we spoke about the lack of hard at Newcastle, Jason Puncheon in

tears about goal, that is the desire you want, Trevor? He loves that

club, he's from the area, his family live there. His second game back. He

is desperate to get a result then that's his first game this season,

great timing, great technique. Break it down, great touch. Steady finish.

Look at the emotion afterwards. It shows you how much it means to him

and the players. Both sides played with more desire, more effort, more

desperation, the realisation of the situation by Newcastle. The castle

could take a leaf out of the books of both teams. Former Newcastle

manager Alan Pardew, safe now with Crystal Palace? As we often say,

there is one that suddenly drops into it and they were looking like

that. They haven't won a game this year, only winning ten all season.

It was vital for them, had they not one that, it would start to play on

our minds, are we the team that will drop? The unwanted party at the

bottom. But there was a clear penalty. The other team were

unfortunate, a big moment. Palace got a big colt last week at West

Ham. Maybe the luck is changing. I am not sure. The one yesterday?

Delaney... It was not as clear. If that was on you you would be

screaming for it. It was not as clear as the one on mine Gala. He

was kind of going in ten, a little bit on the shoulder. I think it is a

foul anywhere on the pitch. He barged into him. A little bit more

from the side. Doesn't matter if you knock it over. You are allowed to

shoulder charge. The ball wasn't under control, it was coming into

him. Some people could say he has gone through the back of him but I

don't think he did, the manager said it was one of them... You would have

felt partially done to you that was a game against you. Tough for

Norwich, Sunderland next. Is that a decider? Not necessarily the

decider, we don't know what the result will be today. An

unbelievably massive game, the irony as well, the game against Newcastle

last week, it was mad, wasn't it? 2-2, going on to win the game. A

massive game. They are showing some great. At the right time. I think

so, a couple of good wins recently. Alex Neil, definitely deserves some

credit. For or five weeks ago I thought they were dead and buried.

-- four. The energy from the manager wasn't inspiring the players, for

some unknown reason, you have got to credit the character of Alex Neil,

he found it within himself to lift himself and the players, get

performances. Unfortunate at Selhurst Park not to come away with

anything. Playing well enough to give them hope. Should have had a

penalty as well. Apparently not, according to Trevor. I am not sure

how many games they have left at home but Carol Road is atmospheric.

Not a big round. No negativity from the fans. They know they have been

in a scrap, not pointing the finger is, they are really behind that team

and I think the games at Carol Road could prove crucial. From a players

point of view, it's miles away from every club. For every club who goes

there, it's a sleepover, it does affect players. The preparation... I

used to cover them for the local paper and it was a six-hour round

trip for a local derby. In the top league. You are right, takes ages.

But it's likely only... We are starting to feel sorry for them. A

sleepover! This round trip... It's what happens, isn't it? That is

life. The Norwich when having an impact on the table, Aston Villa

live to fight another day, it might be... I know that... They were

beaten by Bournemouth yesterday, did you see any signs of improvement?

These last five games, it's embarrassing, they gave up the ghost

two months ago, goodness knows what will happen in these last games. It

is pathetic, what they have done. I have never known three clubs of this

size in the bottom three, we were talking about the combined

attendance... It shouldn't... But again... Aston Villa, like Newcastle

in terms of recruitment and people meddling with the manager and

telling him what players he should take, Tim Sherwood, they had a good

manager there. It messed about with him. I have to say that, I am on

with him later. If you don't give the manager full responsibility of

the recruit and, the players that he brings in, how can you hold him

accountable? You cannot. Remi Garde could not buy a player in January,

what was that about? The writing was on the wall, conceding 64 goals,

tempered people, they could get relegated today, he could have got

relegated yesterday. It's imperative they get a manager in shortly, he

will have four or five games to work out who he wants to get out the

door. Why is that taking so long? The same with Newcastle, they are

down there because they are not doing well. You don't expect them to

be world beaters but what you expect, as soon as they crossed the

flightline, to give everything, blood, sweat and tears and I didn't

see that yesterday. Players, 19 and 20, giving him his debut, Eric

Black, the caretaker manager, giving him the debut in a game like that, I

don't fancy my debut in a game like that, the fans are walking out.

Forgettable occasion. Possibly not one for him to remember but we

should credit or not. I have to admit, I didn't think they would

survive this season, but they are a fantastic. Most of us were that way,

we thought, Bournemouth Whidbey last year's Burnley and we were all

patting them on the head and saying you have done really well. The great

thing is the manager hasn't changed his philosophy or the way he plays

football and he has brought players into play that particular way and

all the players who have come through the divisions, how well have

they done? They are almost as big a story as Leicester. There was a

stage of the season they could have wobbled. I think again, the game at

Bournemouth, they played Aston Villa, first game of the season,

they played well, there were signs they could do well. They have not

change the philosophy, still play the game that Eddie Howe wants them

to play, pressing game, the second fittest team in the Premier League.

The play football and when they had an injury to Wilson, they adapted,

brought in players that they needed to go to the next level. They've

done that, Fairplay to the entire club. They deserve credit. Great to

see Callum Wilson back on the pitch. That's finished by talking about

Everton, drawing 1-1 at Watford, banners in the crowd saying Roberto

Martinez should be sacked, he is under pressure, what's your

thoughts? The problem is they keep losing in front of most of their

fans which is at home. Look at the away record, tremendous, they keep

losing at home. I think that is unfair. They could be in the FA Cup

final. In the semifinals of the FA Cup but at home, they've been bad. I

said earlier, Everton fans are looking at what the likes of

Leicester and Tottenham are doing and the players they have got and

thinking, why are we doing the same and I think they are starting to

appreciate the organisation David Moyes brought to a team which they

haven't got now. Which they didn't have under Martin is at Wigan,

either. And I think they are looking at that and appreciating it. A

couple of my mates are big Evertonians and they say we are like

Wigan but that players. That is what they say. They go every single week.

I did not say that, they did. I do not think the banner is unfair. We

have a democracy. Look at the gold thread Everton have, the

midfielders... You should not be in the position they are in. Martin is

could do with a little bit of help. Thank you very much. That is all we

have time for. Thank you to all my guests. Match of the Day two is an

BBC One tonight, highlights of all the Premier League games, thanks for

joining us. MUSIC: I Just Want To Celebrate

by Rare Earth