22/12/2013 MOTD2 Extra

Hello and welcome to Match of the Day 2 Extra. We're live on BBC One,

on BBC Radio 5Live and on the BBC Sport website. Coming up: We'll ask

what's going on with Malky Mackay at Cardiff. Is he going to stay or go?

Managers of Spurs face Southampton after a week of turmoil on and off

the field. We'll talk about Everton visit to Swansea. Look ahead to

tomorrow night's big game between Arsenal and Chelsea.

With me for the next 35 minutes is Robbie Savage, 5Live's commentator

John Murray, and Ian Ladyman of the Daily Mail. We want your views as

well. You've got 35 minutes to get your

thoughts and opinions to us and I will put your questions to the

studio. You were at Anfield yesterday. It was a very odd

atmosphere wasn't it? It was unlike anything I've experienced really. I

wasn't at the game when Martin Jol knew he was on the way at Spurs or

when Martin Hughes knew he was on the way to Manchester City.

Everything pointed to the fact that at some point yesterday we were

going to find out that Malky Mackay was no longer the manager of Cardiff

City. But for whatever reason that hasn't yet come to pass. Just odd.

It must have been a very, very strange afternoon for Malky Mackay

himself, with the whole thing that surrounded it. A strange afternoon

for him and despite everything that's gone on he did all his media

and press duties after the match. Before we get the thoughts of Robbie

and Ian, let's hear from Malky. 100% I can tell you I won't be resigning

from the Football Club. . I am the manager here. Had I couldn't look at

myself in the mirror resigning and walking away from that group of

players, may staff, the training room staff and office staff. What

we've built here in the last two-and-a-half years, and the fans.

They've been like that home and away for two-and-a-half years. They

should be enjoying the Premier League season this year. Obviously

you are not going to resign. I don't think anybody would expect you to.

Do you know what Vincent Tan is going to do? No, I don't. Do you

think even Vincent Tan knows what he is going to do? I'm not sure after

yesterday, the reaction of the Cardiff fans, the Liverpool fans,

and people in general. People who were respecting the game say it is a

ridiculous decision to sack him if that's the case. I think there might

be a change of heart. From what I've seen over the weekend, from people's

comments, I'm not sure he will be sacked now. What is bizarre is why

everybody asks Malky Mackay if he is going to resign. Nobody in their

right mind would resign. He is doing a good job. The question, will you

resign, for me isn't right. Due really think that a atmosphere at

Anfield yesterday, the coverage in the papers and the media could sway

a club's chairman to change his mind? Not this one. He decided a

long time ago he wanted Malky out of his club. . He's been doing

everything he can to persuade Mali in various underhand ways to

resign.ia would he walk? Tan knows that now. All his methods have fail,

so now he will sack him, maybe not today or tomorrow, but at some

point. Malky will be OK. He's a very good manager and a level bloke.

Whether Cardiff will be OK under the ownership of this crazy guy is more

doubtful. What I thought was telling was that when Brendan Rodgers spoke

to the media after the match yesterday, he said that he had

spoken with Malky Mackay on the Friday night before the game and

either wittingly or unwitting Brendan Rodgers was referring to

Malky Mackay as manager in the past tense. He offered strong support and

said if Cardiff stick with Malky Mackay, they will stay up this

season. He said this guy will go on to be a top manager at a top club,

referring to him in the past tense. So Mali expects to be sacked? Yes.

After this match, they went on to the pitch together, he was talking

to Richard Bevan from the League Managers' Association. The chairman

is a big fan of Malky. I think if he could have persuaded Vincent Tan to

maybe stick can Malky Mackay there could have been a change of heart.

The chairman has proved to be an ally in the last difficult months. I

believe there was a conversation between the owner around the

chairman on Friday night where he was trying to drum sense into him,

but who knows whether that's worked. The word we had on it a, David

reported that the relationship between Vincent Tan and Malky Mackay

had down beyond repair. Weeks ago. They don't talk. So if the

relationship has broken down beyond repair... Yes, but maybe there's

some magician who can repair it. Maybe there's someone in the

background who can do that. How long can this continue like this? You

said on 5Live yesterday Robbie, it won't affect the players. All they

are bothered about is getting their money and making sure they are

playing in the first team. Do you really believe that When I was a

player, from a selfish point of view, if you are a player and you

are seeing what's happening to the chairman, the manager, as long as

you are in that team and you are big picked and paid each month, does it

really have that much effect on you? The second half performance was

terrific. Liverpool were the better team. That's why they got beat. .

Some players might think if the manager goes, they might get back on

the team, but the majority of players now getting their wages each

months, there'll be a new manager, I will still be getting paid, does it

affect me? But people like Craig Bellamy will care. Yes, but the

majority won't. They will have an influence on the players, the more

relaxed players, the more selfish players, people like Bellamy will

have an influence. There are a lot of selfish players. We are seeing

the odds that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is 6-4 on favourite for this job

with Sven second favourite at 2-1. Fans who always go, who would want

to manage Cardiff in these situations? There'll always be

somebody who would want to be manager. One or two people will want

that job and we all know who it is. Would you say it is the Swede? I

would be amazed if Solskjaer took it. I heard Lawro say on Friday

night, who would come in to this scenario? And the answer to that

question was Sven-Goran Eriksson would be a manager who would happily

walk in. He's worked with some eccentric chairman in the past. He

was sacked by an eccentric Far East chairman but it won't put him off. I

have a strange feeling that all the Cardiff fans were so in favour of

Malky Mackay staying, the fans, Ian might dis that fans have an

influence it, but Malky Mackay could still be the manager at the end of

the season for Cardiff. An extraordinary atmosphere yesterday

with the may that Cardiff City fans all the way through the game, like

an old-fashioned atmosphere. I agree. Tan in the director's box

with his black gloves looked like an executioner. He's been getting grief

from Cardiff fans for months. I don't think anything that happened

yesterday will worry him much. Liverpool, the Mail on Sunday's

front page, like so many newspapers, has Luis Suarez on the front cover.

There is a picture of him on virtually every sports section.

Before we talk about whether Liverpool are title contenders,

let's hear from Brendan Rodgers on his newly signed striker. To have a

player of that calibre and quality in your ranks is first class. We've

always said when you've got someone of that esteem in your team, of

course it makes you better. He's really happy at the moment. . His

performance today yet again was outstanding, and he show that the

ball, he squares it and gets his finish. A remarkable man, a

remarkable player. We are delighted he's here and I think it will give

the supporters a boost. On the subject of his new deal, Adam Dunn

asks is it beneficial or is it a means to get a fair fee for him when

Real Madrid come in? With Messi being injured, Suarez is probably

the second best player in the world. If they go it will be Suarez or

Gareth Bale last year for Spurs. If they don't get in the Champions

League, is the second or third best player in the world going to be

happy playing Europa League football or no European football at all?

Contracts this day and age, do they really mean that much? If a player

wants to leave, Brendan Rodgers deserves huge credit for the way he

handled him. . He is an unbelievable player. But no Champions League

football, what is he going to do? If they don't get Champions League

football, on current form you would say they would. There's more than

half the season left to. It is not a certainty that Liverpool will be in

the top four. Robbie makes a good point and the question is a good

question. I think the answer is both. . Liverpool have handled this

situation a brilliantly since Suarez asked to leave in the summer.

Liverpool have done well to keep him. It doesn't mean he will still

be at Liverpool at the end of that contract but it means that if they

face a situation where he wants to go and they feel it is right, they

can now get a very good fee for him. That's a pragmatic thing to do. It

is an intelligent thing to do. It works for them and for him. He is

just so hungry at the moment isn't he. I said this during the

commentary yesterday. He is ravenously hungry to score goals.

Pat who was with me on 5Live yesterday, we felt at half time

Liverpool have got the game one. Chelsea next weekend, two huge

games. Brendan Rodgers will take Suarez. He plays full 90 minutes.

Brendan Rodgers knows he wants-to-be out there. He wants to be on the

field. He doesn't want a rest, so Brendan Rodgers is dealing with him

in that way. The swim way we talk about Arsenal going to Manchester

City, two defining fixtures for us this season, is it going to be the

same for Liverpool over the festive period? Do you think it will define

how and where they finish? Possibly. The big telltale sign was not having

structure imand Gerrard and -- Sturridge and Gerrard and still

winning. They proved, to win 5-0, irrespective how Spurs played, they

were fantastic. Henderson looks a new player, and Joe Allen and

Flanagan with his goal. I think they've got a realistic chance. I

think they will finish top four. That's not great for Manchester

United. City, Arsenal and heal will be above united. What happens if he

dips or gets injured? Are they still good enough to keep in the taxpayer

four? Well... They started very well without Suarez. You mentioned how

they started without Suarez this season. This calendar year they've

scored more goals than any other Premier League side. Yesterday

during the game gay describe hem as Leicester City-Lite. Do you want to

justify what you meant by that? The first half yesterday they were

terrific. It is some way since I've been at Anfield and heard the home

supporters purr at the way Liverpool... Do you think they are

contenders? I do, with Suarez leading them like that. Remember,

the season we are this is unusual because of the change and all of the

big clubs apart from Arsenal, I feel this season there is an opportunity

perhaps for Liverpool. If Arsenal get beat tomorrow, they're fourth.

Incredible. They are title contenders. Graham from Taunton says

Liverpool had every chance of winning the title if we keep Suarez

fit. I suspect Everton supporters might be saying the same thing. Text

us. 85058. Tim from Kent, Malky Mackay for

Spurs. We could do a lot worse. Spurs today are at Southampton. In

charge of them for the moment is Tim Sherwood.

If it was down to me I'm getting a ten-year contract now. Football

don't work like that. It is all about getting results. I played

here, it is my club. I know what the supporters want. I know what they

demand. It ain't my decision to make the appointments. We've got to

respect the men who take that decision. Well, Simon Brotherton is

at Southampton for Match Of The Day 2, which is on tomorrow night. So we

can show you Arsenal against Chelsea. He wants the job

permanently. Do you think he stands a chance? I don't think he's going

to get the keys to the Tottenham job permanently Mark, no, because he

doesn't have any management experience. He does have a lot of

experience of Tottenham as a club, as a player and on the back room

staff. He's been involved for a number of years, so in the interim

he's a good person to have around. I don't expect next season he will be

the manager of the team though. I think he will get the Christmas and

new year period. They will be hoping that the team gets decent results,

because the pressure will come on to make an appointment, if they

struggle over Christmas and new year. Clearly, from what we can see,

the club don't particularly have a plan in place in managerial terms

that they can execute at this point. The big plan he had in place,

certainly against West Ham in the Capital 1 Cup during the week, was

to try to change the tempo against Spurs' play. He wanted them to play

a much quicker style of football. I'm not sure watching it on

Wednesday that all the players were able to buy into that. Well, I think

they probably tried to buy into it but I'm not sure they had the gas to

carry that out for the full 90 minutes. They were winning with 10

minutes to go before sum coming 2-1.The idea of upping the tempo is

probably the right one. It is interesting he chose to do that. He

went to a more traditional British style of 4-4-2. A lot of fans were

excite excited to see two up top, with the wide men out there. The one

thing I've noticed, not just this season, watching the teams that

Andre Villas-Boas is putting out at Tottenham, when you look at the

talent on the pitch, they really did struggle to break other teams down

at times. They were more laboured than you would have expected in

breaking some of the opposition teams down. It is a good idea. What

did concern me though was the suggestion that maybe the players

weren't quite fit enough to be able to carry out that, and they did sort

of run out of gas towards the end. One of the things that Mauricio

Pochettino did when he took over Southampton was to increase the

tempo. This is an ideal chance to get back on track. It is not just

Tottenham that's desperate for a result. . Southampton five games

without a win. To be fair, they have had a tough ticks ture list. It is

not surprising that results-wise it's been a blip. The Aston Villa

home defeat, they would have expected to take 3 points but didn't

get them, so they are desperate for the win here. He's done an excellent

job and he's been linked with a Tottenham job in the last week or

so. Just reading the papers and looking at the story, it seems like

a wide open field. I don't think Tottenham are particularly close to

making an appointment as a successor to AVB.

Bringing you the team news shortly for this game. Why couldn't Sherwood

be the next Spurs manager, Ian Ladyman? Why would he, would be a

more pertinent question. No, the you're here to answer. It is

Christmas, so I changed it around! Of course he knows the club, it

doesn't mean he doesn't know football, but he hasn't been a

manager. I can't believe for a minuta Tottenham are going to get

rid of AVB and seriously give consideration to promote Tim

Sherwood, with the greatest respect to him. Equally I can't understand

how they've sacked AVB without any idea who they want. The press box at

Spurs is above the dugout. He was up most of the time shouting at his

players. To in which this tempo, he was furious so many times with how

slow they were. The defence not push Pep Guardiola up to the halfway

line. They wanted to increase it and they didn't seem able to. I'm

surprise odd, because in the Europa League campaign they should be fit

enough to increase the tempo. Is that stuff on the training ground?

Are the players not physically fit enough? Surely this far into the

season the players should be fit enough to increase the tempo. You

made a point about Pochettino. I agree with Ian, I'm not sure

Sherwood her has enough experience to manage. He's picked an attacking

team, Lloris in goal, Dembele, Soldado...

Spurs fans the other night as well. Their anger wasn't necessarily

directed at the players when we spoke to them on 5Live or at Andre

Villas-Boas, but at Daniel Levy, saying explain to us what's going on

at this Football Club. It is a fair question. Looks as though they are

going to be 4-4-2 again today with Adebayor and Soldado. All options

are open for Spurs in terms of Tim Sherwood, possibly. A manager until

the end of the season. Or they bring in someone now. But again, it just,

all options are open, but it means where are they? Glenn Hoddle. I

would give him another go. There is an issue at Tottenham like at some

other clubs, nobody is sure who is buying the players at Tottenham. The

Continental system that some clubs like these days, I'm not convinced

it works. I think any manager who is going to go into Tottenham,

especially if it is someone with the history of Hoddle and the ego and

the self respect that someone like Hoddle's got, is he going to manage

a club where he can't be sure he will be choosing the players next

summer? The papers are saying they want the Dutch coach, van Gaal. If

Baldini was to go, the would it clear things up for you at Spurs?

Would ITMA make the next managerial appointment easier? Roberto Mancini

gets a mention in the Daily Telegraph as well. Baldini was

getting a huge amount of credit at the start of the season when the

seven signings were made. What was Garth Crooks's quote? There are so

many memorable Garth crooks quotes I can't remember. They sold Elvis and

bought the Beatles, remember? Everybody thought Baldini had pulled

off a master stroke, but there were injuries. The key to Tottenham's

season was how they spend the Gareth Bale money. You lose one of the best

players and replace him, that was always going be crucial. If you are

the coach or manager and you don't have the final say, how is that

going to work? You will have problems. It appears there is no

strategy, and Spurs' season a damaged as a result. John Murray

asked for Everton texts. When John Murray speaks, the people listen.

What's the secret to Everton being so strong this season, asks Mrs

Walker with, who says she is Evert's biggest fan. And this one says there

is another club on Merseyside, guys. This one asks could we get top four

with luck on our side? Michael says win today and we are well in with a

chance today. Don't count us out. Robbie Savage? The key to Everton,

the manager's a fantastic tactician. I've never seen forward-thinking

players thinking of this so much. When they get in between the lines

or the back four on the midfield, they are so attacking. I've never

seen a team get united in the way they did. They get between the lines

had and attack. They are fantastic. Barclay is a player to watch. So

confident, so poised on the ball. I was speaking to David Moyes about

him and asked him what he thought his development would be. He said he

can do anything he wants. He is so confident. So clear in his mind what

he wants to do when he gets the ball. He and Lukaku have been

fantastic this season. ALL TALK AT ONCE

Consistency of selection I think is a big thing for Everton, which

doesn't work for every team. The players happen to be in form, and

very good loan signings for Everton. They are well coached. Manchester

City fans can't work out how well they do... Let's move on to City.

How big a result was it for them yesterday Robbie? Just because they

allowed Fulham to get back to 2-2 and there've been so many questions

about their away form. Yeah. ??FORC At 2-2 there was a period when

Fulham looked dangerous. . City have moved up a gear and scored four

goals away from home. 51 goals s. Three goals a game... I'm not bad at

maths! I'm improved. We could all see the cogs whirring there. Now he

has to work on the English! I think The their away form is crucial.

Let's give City credit yesterday. They scored four goals away from

home. They were tlivg. They had that period at the moment, highlighted on

Match Of The Day John Murray, when they had 20 minutes away from home

where they struggled to keep possession. We saw it at Villa and

Stoke. That section where they don't tend to have at home Robbie is

probably a better man to answer. Will there be any damage from the

fact that there was that wobbly spell, or will it be brushed over by

the fact that they did come back in the game? Conceding two goals,

Fulham have come back into it but they scored four goals away from

home. They'll think we can outscore other teams. That was without

Aguero. They are not right defensively. They did concede three

at home to Arsenal, despite scoring six. Is that will improve. Joe Hart

is back in goal. You will imagine that respect with Hart and Kompany,

you can see them getting better. I think they will be the champions.

They are the only team of winning ten games straight in the league and

just putting a zip on and putting distance between them and the rest.

They have got some issues which I think were outlined last night on

Match Of The Day but I think they will start those out. Let's look

ahead to the big Match Of The Day 2 is on tomorrow

night. Arsenal against Chelsea. Let's hear from both managers. Look,

it is not a personal battle. Honestly, we had some big games and

what is important for me, I'm completely focused on Arsenal

Football Club and on my team and doing well. Do we play Monday night

against Chelsea or anybody else? For me it is exactly the same. What is

at stake for us is to come back to winning habits. It is not me against

Wenger. It is my Chelsea against his Arsenal. That doesn't play Monday.

It has no influence. For the game of Monday it means nothing. How do you

see this going tomorrow? Referring there to the fact that morinho has

such a good record at against Wenger with, nine tames his Chelsea have

played Wenger's Arsenal and Arsenal have yet to win against Jose

Mourinho's Chelsea. I feel it is almost a bigger game for Arsenal

having been beaten so badly by Manchester City. If Arsenal had been

able to get something at Manchester City, I think that would have eased

the pressure a little. Huge, huge night for Arsenal in particular. You

were nodding and agreeing? I totally agree. It is more predictable to see

the way Chelsea's season will go from here. They are not the most

exciting team to work at the -- to watch at the moment. They should be

though. The Morinho doesn't see it that way. Arsenal terrific on the

day, the a little more unpredictable. What's interesting is

that two of their biggest games this season they've already lost. One at

Manchester City and one at Manchester United. I think it will

be those games that might just come between Arsenal and breaking this

long period without a Premier League title. I think the game's midfield

battle, the Capital 1 Cup game, he played Essien and Mikel that day.

Morinho keeps saying Chelsea are playing well. I haven't been seeing

that. I think they've been lucky to scrape past Palace. When Jose

Mourinho was first here, they had Drogba, a young Essien. I don't

think they have got the same spine of the team this time. Chelsea might

need a transition period. This view says he needs at three or four world

class signings. The gulf in quality with Manchester City is massive. We

should point out that you and I will be there for the commentary tomorrow

night an 5Live. Do you want to answer her question rather than plug

yourself? I thought I was going to get away without you mentioning

that! I felt that the Manchester City-Arsenal game, an awful lot has

been loaded on to that. A Arsenal in some quarters have been dismissed.

But I felt on that day Manchester City virtually to a man produced

very good performances. . The opposite applied to Arsenal. They

were below par. They could have scored five on that day. And

conceded ten equally. Initiative over seen an Arsenal team give the

ball away as often as that did. Arsenal look vulnerable when they

don't have the ball. . Any team with serious aspirations of winning

things can't exist in that environment you have to be more

secure when you don't have the ball. At the moment I don't think they

are. No Koscielny for this game, which is a loss. Do you have any

problem with Ashley Cole going to a rival team's Christmas party? Not

really, because in football you usually have acquaintances and not

mates. You can move from club to club and you will be friendly with a

few players. It is no it a rare thing. I've got no problem with that

personally. OK. That's the game on Monday night. We'll have Match Of

The Day 2 after it on BBC One. We should pay tribute to David Coleman,

who passed away yesterday. Described by so many as being the best sports

broadcaster of all time. John, just a chat about what he was like as a

commentator. Well, he was one of those voices who I grew up with.

Memories of Grandstand and Sports Night and listening to David

Coleman. When it was announced during the Liverpool game, when

Liverpool scored, I was thinking it would have been great to say 3-0,

almost by way of tribute. To come out with a line as simple as that,

just to give the score when the goal goes in the net, and be remembered

for it, is... What better tribute than that? The other thing we spoke

about yet was his journalistic side, which came into force so many times

during the Olympics, particularly the 1972 Olympics. It was one of the

great things about him. He wasn't just a comforting and in many ways

inspiring voice, he was a reassuring voice, because you trusted what he

told you. From any journalist, whether written or broadcast, you

can't ask for more than that. David wafz comprehensively reliable. And

we all grew up with him. Sports Night. I was allowed to stay up on a

school night to watch that. A fantastic commentator. 5Live will

have more tributes to David Coleman throughout the afternoon. Are Mark a

Liverpool fan texted. The only title rival Liverpool have to play away

from home is Manchester United. If they can is a stay in touch, surely

will will be a big advantage. On 5Live start this afternoon,

Southampton against Spurs, Swansea against Everton. . Match Of The Day

2 tomorrow night on BBC One, 10. , 10.35pm.

Bye-bye.