:00:00. > :00:32.Good afternoon, welcome to MOTD 2 Extra on BBC Two,
:00:33. > :00:39.Mark Lawrenson, former Leicester captain Matt Elliott and journalist
:00:40. > :00:44.Use the hashtag #bbcfootball on social media, or text 85058
:00:45. > :01:01.Over the next 45 and we will discuss the following... Manchester United
:01:02. > :01:06.booed off, Louis Van Gaal booed off as they lose again. Leicester are
:01:07. > :01:10.three clear at the top as they put three past Stoke. Can Arsenal record
:01:11. > :01:15.Premier League win over Chelsea and we talked Spurs who are within
:01:16. > :01:20.touching distance of Arsenal after 83-1 at Crystal Palace. The back
:01:21. > :01:29.pages... The Sun newspaper has a headline... The Mail on Sunday
:01:30. > :01:32.claiming that the big four are going for John Stones, Real Madrid,
:01:33. > :01:35.Barcelona, Chelsea and by Chester city. The independent goes with this
:01:36. > :01:50.story... We will get onto that in a moment
:01:51. > :01:56.but first, the Manchester United defeat at Old Trafford.
:01:57. > :01:59.Hear from Louis Van Gaal. What about the reaction today? There were one
:02:00. > :02:01.or two Blues during the game, part-time and full-time. What is
:02:02. > :02:06.your response? They part-time and full-time. What is
:02:07. > :02:14.cannot deny it. I have seen the match also. I cannot deny it. But
:02:15. > :02:19.also, for better or for worse, you have to stick together. What do you
:02:20. > :02:26.say to those supporters to make them believe it will improve? Yes...
:02:27. > :02:31.Because we are working very hard but we have also, a lot of injuries and
:02:32. > :02:40.you cannot change that. I can change it not with words, so, it is also a
:02:41. > :02:47.lot of unlock when you have five full-backs injured. You said, Mark,
:02:48. > :02:53.it's the same interview every week. It is Groundhog Day, seriously. Can
:02:54. > :02:56.I substantiate this? Were they booing the players coming off or
:02:57. > :03:05.were they building the manager, or the result or all three? Yes, well,
:03:06. > :03:10.I think probably all three. The booing started, I made a note, eight
:03:11. > :03:17.minutes before half-time, that's the style of play, that's the caution.
:03:18. > :03:24.That's everything. I suppose. But the manager, as Mark Lawrenson
:03:25. > :03:31.knows, he was booed off at half-time and at the final whistle. I have not
:03:32. > :03:36.been for a few months which tells its own story, I suppose. I have
:03:37. > :03:45.been to Arsenal, Chelsea... Glory hunter! Leicester, you must have
:03:46. > :03:51.been to Leicester. I was shocked, honestly. At how flattered us. You
:03:52. > :03:56.will not be shocked. I was genuinely surprised at what has happened. Not
:03:57. > :04:02.just to the style of play, which is shocking in itself. But the
:04:03. > :04:09.atmosphere at the club. -- how flat it was. The club feels like it's
:04:10. > :04:14.been defeated. I saw them at Anfield last week. The first time ever, I
:04:15. > :04:18.said to you upstairs, I watch them, Manchester United and when they had
:04:19. > :04:23.not got the ball, I closed my eyes and when I opened by eyes, five
:04:24. > :04:27.seconds, every single Manchester United player was just in position.
:04:28. > :04:35.It worked for them on the day but it was almost like so regimented,
:04:36. > :04:38.Manchester United teams of two, three, five years ago, they would be
:04:39. > :04:44.all over the place and that is the difference, it's so regimented. A
:04:45. > :04:48.couple of things. Regarding the atmosphere... I have seen Manchester
:04:49. > :04:52.United even understood Alex Ferguson booed off at half-time or full-time
:04:53. > :04:57.at Old Trafford, I have seen Louis Van Gaal the season food as he goes
:04:58. > :05:02.down the touchline because of the performance but what I haven't seen
:05:03. > :05:11.in a long time and only mentioned it, the team actually been booed
:05:12. > :05:14.while playing. Seven or eight minutes before half-time... That
:05:15. > :05:21.must affect players when they are booed in the process of the game.
:05:22. > :05:26.must affect players when they are are in the midst of the game
:05:27. > :05:29.must affect players when they are mistake, they will booed louder...
:05:30. > :05:34.Double thinking situations, mistake, they will booed louder...
:05:35. > :05:37.called the Theatre of mistake, they will booed louder...
:05:38. > :05:38.these days, it's like literally going to the theatre,
:05:39. > :05:43.quiet and every now and then it's up ripple of applause and very
:05:44. > :05:46.occasionally in ripple of applause and very
:05:47. > :05:50.booed but it's happening more and more. You must
:05:51. > :05:54.booed but it's happening more and bad place! But the other thing is,
:05:55. > :05:57.everyone has picked up on it, it's not intimidating. As an opposition,
:05:58. > :06:02.to go to Old not intimidating. As an opposition,
:06:03. > :06:05.come on, in the past there would have been bravado, we might nick a
:06:06. > :06:11.point but now, it's we can go and win. Let's get on to the tactics,
:06:12. > :06:13.point but now, it's we can go and both sides played three at the back
:06:14. > :06:17.and give Southampton credit, you should not be ignored in this
:06:18. > :06:26.discussion. You had not been there for a while, given the discussion
:06:27. > :06:28.about what is happening at United, when you go there do you feel the
:06:29. > :06:35.whole package is a when you go there do you feel the
:06:36. > :06:38.as though it's fallen behind? It's a minute thing but I wonder whether
:06:39. > :06:41.it's symbolic, to the extent they must be one of the few Premier
:06:42. > :06:47.League clubs who don't have the big screen, for example. Have they moved
:06:48. > :06:51.with modern times? I don't think they have. You start off with
:06:52. > :06:58.important things like the fact that the
:06:59. > :07:02.important things like the fact that this week. For
:07:03. > :07:03.important things like the fact that so proud for so long with its youth
:07:04. > :07:10.important things like the fact that setup, lots of worrying signs,
:07:11. > :07:13.But I think it's a very valid point. Has it moved with the times? People
:07:14. > :07:18.say it's not important and in some ways it isn't but
:07:19. > :07:20.say it's not important and in some every four, the press
:07:21. > :07:26.say it's not important and in some not complaining. But if you compare
:07:27. > :07:32.it to Real Madrid. Manchester City, Arsenal... It's like it's back in
:07:33. > :07:39.the car park culture. A lot of fines would appreciate that the press are
:07:40. > :07:44.uncomfortable. Absolutely, of course they would. -- a lot of the fans.
:07:45. > :07:48.It's another sign that they don't appear to be moving on, they seem to
:07:49. > :07:54.be stuck in the times of Alex Ferguson and they happened moved on.
:07:55. > :07:58.The counterargument, in terms of sponsorship, they must have more
:07:59. > :08:01.money now than they have ever had before? It's as though that has
:08:02. > :08:12.usurped the football side. Can you talk to me at about the 3-5- two
:08:13. > :08:17.formation. Southampton have used the back 35 times and having conceded.
:08:18. > :08:25.It is a system that evidently works but then but why? It's working for
:08:26. > :08:29.now. There is no golden formula or system that is bullet-proof. It's
:08:30. > :08:32.about the players and how they adapt to it and it's working for
:08:33. > :08:41.Southampton. Other teams have tried it to a lesser extent. I think it's
:08:42. > :08:47.a problem some teams go 3- for-macro-3. But primarily it's
:08:48. > :08:53.pretty obvious, it gives you extra security in the middle of defence.
:08:54. > :08:59.The wingbacks can drop and form a back five. If they have the athletic
:09:00. > :09:02.ability and the intent to get forward and deliver crosses, you
:09:03. > :09:07.have got the extra man in midfield supporting them and importantly you
:09:08. > :09:15.have two front players. Pros and cons with every system but it seems
:09:16. > :09:18.to be working. Primarily you do to stop conceding goals. That is the
:09:19. > :09:24.first spot, it's not that you know it's going to be good because you
:09:25. > :09:28.are attacking. You are shipping goals, probably Southampton were, if
:09:29. > :09:32.it works, you start to build from there. But the wingbacks have got to
:09:33. > :09:38.be the most important people in the system. It worked for them yesterday
:09:39. > :09:44.in the sense that they had a few opportunities on the break, use the
:09:45. > :09:48.pace of players and when they had their back three, there were more
:09:49. > :09:54.players going forward. United had a back three but at times it felt like
:09:55. > :10:02.five because Lingard... They don't move out of position. I thought
:10:03. > :10:09.Lingard looked lost in that position. The sad thing, it has been
:10:10. > :10:16.a great season and so much to look at in terms of flair, look at layers
:10:17. > :10:24.like Riyad Mahrez and Delie Ali. -- look at players. None of the players
:10:25. > :10:28.at United... A team that was known for its player, that almost had a
:10:29. > :10:37.knobbly on flair in the Premier League. -- had a monopoly. I wrote
:10:38. > :10:45.this in my piece, it's almost as if the DNA has been altered, that's the
:10:46. > :10:50.feeling that you get. Dave says how much worse could it get? Mark says
:10:51. > :10:54.the tactics of the manager or as boring as it demeanour, it's time to
:10:55. > :11:01.change. Andy says the Theatre of Dreams, it's more like a pantomime.
:11:02. > :11:04.Jorge Mendes, the agent for Jose Mourinho, has labelled this love
:11:05. > :11:08.letter story is totally absurd adding in a it doesn't occur to
:11:09. > :11:12.anyone that a coach like Jose Mourinho can write letters to club
:11:13. > :11:15.offering their services. Do you think the truth of this might be
:11:16. > :11:20.somewhere in between? Possibly, I wouldn't mind betting that he's
:11:21. > :11:26.written an article or peace somewhere about the art of
:11:27. > :11:29.management. Which obviously, if he has, can be easily adapted to the
:11:30. > :11:35.story that is coming out but I can't honestly... The picture of him
:11:36. > :11:39.sitting in his back bedroom writing this I? Give that to Bobby Charlton
:11:40. > :11:47.then he is in. I don't see that. At all. It is not his style. I wouldn't
:11:48. > :11:51.have thought but? He might put a dossier together perhaps in
:11:52. > :11:58.preparation for being considered for the job down the line? It is what a
:11:59. > :12:01.lot of managers do. But someone has obviously got a sniff of that, but
:12:02. > :12:07.as for writing a formal letter to whoever it may concern... I think
:12:08. > :12:13.it's worth saying that the journalist who has written it... He
:12:14. > :12:19.is a very good journalist, not the type of guy who would just make
:12:20. > :12:23.something up and and I think there have been rumours before that Jose
:12:24. > :12:31.Mourinho would have liked the United job. Yes... Before the Chelsea job.
:12:32. > :12:35.I know it's a quantum leap from saying that to saying he has written
:12:36. > :12:40.a 6-page letter but as I say, I don't think that will have come out
:12:41. > :12:45.of nothing. I presume he has written books, has he not? Or with his
:12:46. > :12:49.cooperation? I bet there is some stuff in there about how would you
:12:50. > :12:56.manage or go about managing. It could easily be lifted. As you say,
:12:57. > :12:58.I note lots of former players who if they think a management job is
:12:59. > :13:05.coming up will put together some kind of dossier... A bloke who has
:13:06. > :13:12.won everything there is to win. He does not... All right... But if he
:13:13. > :13:16.feels which are in mind he did not get it when David Moyes got it, if
:13:17. > :13:20.he feels he will have to persuade Manchester United and the
:13:21. > :13:28.hierarchy... But he has got a super agent? Even he might have to do
:13:29. > :13:36.that. The other thing... Tell us about yourself! But they will save
:13:37. > :13:41.what are you going to do? When every single competition that I ever
:13:42. > :13:45.entered. The argument is, they did not do that with Louis Van Gaal.
:13:46. > :13:50.Because they ought to have known how he has played football, over his
:13:51. > :13:56.career, they did not sit down and ask him about his so-called
:13:57. > :14:01.philosophy. You laugh about this thing, tell us about yourself, I
:14:02. > :14:05.take your point. But I think in English football we are still
:14:06. > :14:12.notoriously... Nudge and a wink, who you know, we all know Jose Mourinho
:14:13. > :14:16.and has qualities but I think if you take the hiring process in something
:14:17. > :14:20.like the NFL in America... It is a lot more formal and thorough than
:14:21. > :14:24.the hiring process in English football and I think English
:14:25. > :14:29.football is starting to move towards that. Jose Mourinho knows there is
:14:30. > :14:34.opposition to him within United about his style so I think as we
:14:35. > :14:39.have all said, maybe there is a truth somewhere, he has prepared
:14:40. > :14:43.some kind of dossier, about why he may feel, however absurd it may
:14:44. > :14:48.sound, that he needs to persuade people. I get that but as you
:14:49. > :14:52.rightly say, they didn't do judo Lydon is on Louis Van Gaal. One
:14:53. > :14:56.final thing, Ronald Koeman immediately in his press conference
:14:57. > :15:01.dismissing any link with the Chelsea job, saying that was rubbish, I
:15:02. > :15:06.paraphrase that. He said a very good week but signing Charlie Austin
:15:07. > :15:10.under the radar and gets that. It has gone swimmingly for him,
:15:11. > :15:17.bringing Charlie Austin on at that stage of the game. A late goal,
:15:18. > :15:19.kills them. Going back to United, Louis Van Gaal... He bemoans the
:15:20. > :15:25.fact that teams come on and said outburst to defend. They came here
:15:26. > :15:29.and defended well, as if it was something that goes against the
:15:30. > :15:35.grain. He has got to come up with a theory or way of breaking teams.
:15:36. > :15:43.The game was up in that regard when he set about Sheffield United last
:15:44. > :15:49.week. They did create chances on the break. I thought they played well.
:15:50. > :15:57.They are a decent side. Of those two sides, they were the only side with
:15:58. > :16:05.any urgency. Mane had that touch on the right-hand side. United didn't
:16:06. > :16:11.manage any of that. #bbcfootball and 85058 to get in touch with us. We
:16:12. > :16:16.have a preview of Everton against Swansea. England have lost another
:16:17. > :16:25.wicket in the cricket. Yes, it is Ben Stokes who is out. A six wicket
:16:26. > :16:30.for the South African bowler. It could have been fireworks for
:16:31. > :16:35.England, a new ball coming out, Ben Stokes looking to have his eye in.
:16:36. > :16:42.But he is on his way back to the pavilion. England Trail by two to
:16:43. > :16:47.three. Arsenal against Chelsea this afternoon. You will be able to
:16:48. > :16:53.listen to it on five line. Any predictions? I would think without
:16:54. > :16:58.presence of Jose Mourinho, too busy writing love letters to football...
:16:59. > :17:05.They have a better side. Ozil comes back in today, and Sanchez. I think
:17:06. > :17:11.they will be too much for Chelsea. Ozil coming back is a big boost. If
:17:12. > :17:16.he is 100% fit, it will not take him long to get to that level. They've
:17:17. > :17:19.kept themselves at the top of the lake without them. It
:17:20. > :17:20.kept themselves at the top of the boost. Chelsea are a conundrum. You
:17:21. > :17:27.don't boost. Chelsea are a conundrum. You
:17:28. > :17:33.them. But you have to fancy Elliott -- Arsenal strongly. That point
:17:34. > :17:36.about them keeping themselves near the top
:17:37. > :17:37.about them keeping themselves near these pliers out injured... If you
:17:38. > :17:42.go back to the Norwich these pliers out injured... If you
:17:43. > :17:48.stick that Wenger got about Sanchez doing his hamstring in the game
:17:49. > :17:51.stick that Wenger got about Sanchez one. A lot of people at that stage
:17:52. > :17:59.were ready for Arsenal to plummet without Sanchez. They were. Today, I
:18:00. > :18:03.don't think it is as straightforward as the other two. This is the last
:18:04. > :18:08.psychological barrier for Arsenal but they haven't been able to get
:18:09. > :18:13.over before, maybe because there was this thing with Mourinho and Arsene
:18:14. > :18:17.Wenger. Mourinho was the one person who got under they are's skin, above
:18:18. > :18:25.all others. Even at the start of season when Arsenal were playing
:18:26. > :18:32.well and Chelsea were struggling, I can't remember who they had lost
:18:33. > :18:38.two, Mourinho said, we will beat Arsenal. He knew he
:18:39. > :18:42.two, Mourinho said, we will beat recently where they were unable to
:18:43. > :18:48.beat the four top clubs. But this is a massive game for
:18:49. > :18:55.Arsenal are not going to fall for the three card Costa trick today?
:18:56. > :18:59.Arsenal are not going to fall for When you look at who Arsene Wenger
:19:00. > :19:01.inherited in goal, it is amazing he's gone through all those years
:19:02. > :19:08.without a really goalkeeper. When you look at the
:19:09. > :19:13.psychological advantage that Chelsea have had, when you have been in
:19:14. > :19:17.teams, has it ever affected you, your manager's relationship with the
:19:18. > :19:18.teams, has it ever affected you, opposing manager? It has in a
:19:19. > :19:24.positive way. Even opposing manager? It has in a
:19:25. > :19:33.two managers. I will not go into detail over who it was!
:19:34. > :19:38.two managers. I will not go into shame. Martin O'Neill and others.
:19:39. > :19:44.Martin used to have this mentality. He stoked up the rivalry between
:19:45. > :19:49.certain clubs when he had a difference with other managers. It
:19:50. > :19:58.may have given us that extra bit, it may have made us give him even more.
:19:59. > :20:03.But situations are different. He had a mental block with Mourinho, but it
:20:04. > :20:07.isn't an issue now. Arsenal are looking very strong. For me, you
:20:08. > :20:13.can't really back against Arsenal. But you don't know what Charles --
:20:14. > :20:18.what Chelsea is going to turn out. Ron Atkinson came to Anfield and
:20:19. > :20:23.some Muppets, Liverpool fans, actually sprayed them with CS gas
:20:24. > :20:28.when they came off the coach. We heard all this from the dressing
:20:29. > :20:35.room. Someone said, that will work for us, thank you very much! All the
:20:36. > :20:42.best, boys. That is the 4pm game, Arsenal
:20:43. > :20:48.against Chelsea. You can hear it on 5 Live. Everton against Swansea, we
:20:49. > :20:52.are at the ground. Roberto Martinez has calmed down from the Chelsea
:20:53. > :20:56.are at the ground. Roberto Martinez game and makes two changes. Jagielka
:20:57. > :21:04.is not 100% fit, and they have half an eye on the League Cup second leg
:21:05. > :21:11.on Wednesday. An intriguing day for Swansea is the, with the Italian
:21:12. > :21:16.Francesco Guidolin parachuted in on a rescue mission. He makes one
:21:17. > :21:27.change at right back. Angel Rangel for Naughton. Thank you. Guidolin
:21:28. > :21:33.needs to make an instant impact, doesn't he? He needs to. But will
:21:34. > :21:40.he. It is different for a foreign coach, or head coach, to come in and
:21:41. > :21:45.make an impact so quickly. We have seen similar incidents... You can
:21:46. > :21:51.compare it to Aston Villa's situation. Remi Garde has come into
:21:52. > :21:54.the fray and needed to change things straightaway, and it hasn't
:21:55. > :21:59.happened. There is no bedding in process, getting to know the players
:22:00. > :22:05.or the league, and Guidolin has that problem. I'm not sure the players...
:22:06. > :22:10.I do fear for Swansea. I'm not sure the players have that relegation
:22:11. > :22:16.dogfight mentality about them. It reminds me of West Brom. I saw
:22:17. > :22:20.Swansea against Watford on Monday night. Two very average teams. This
:22:21. > :22:27.is the first time under the new regime at Swansea that they have had
:22:28. > :22:32.a catalogue of making bad decisions. I think that might come to haunt
:22:33. > :22:38.them. I think they have a real chance of being relegated, Swansea.
:22:39. > :22:43.I agree. It's a shame because they have made so many good decisions.
:22:44. > :22:48.Some terrific decisions. This is the first time it feels they are all at
:22:49. > :22:53.sea. They've been such a good team to watch over the years, and I've
:22:54. > :22:58.really admired the fact that they have stuck to the same style. They
:22:59. > :23:02.haven't fallen into the trap where they have appointed a manager that
:23:03. > :23:06.goes in a totally different direction. They've kept the
:23:07. > :23:13.continuity. But this time, it feels like they're plan B has fallen down.
:23:14. > :23:17.It just feels like it is panic stations at the moment. I saw them
:23:18. > :23:22.at Oxford couple of weeks ago in the cup. Another thing is selling
:23:23. > :23:31.Shelvey. I know they got decent money for him. Without a
:23:32. > :23:34.replacement, though. He is a good player, Shelvey. And to sell one of
:23:35. > :23:41.your best players to arrival, I thought that was an odd decision.
:23:42. > :23:45.Unless you have a replacement, it is even stranger. If you suddenly
:23:46. > :23:51.decide you don't fancy him any more, get somebody else through the door
:23:52. > :23:57.before you sell him. The other thing is, the players. The front players
:23:58. > :24:02.have really stopped playing. If you saw the team, Chelsea first game of
:24:03. > :24:09.the season, the front three absolutely tour Chelsea apart. We
:24:10. > :24:15.haven't seen that since. Dyer has left, and Bony... They haven't
:24:16. > :24:26.replaced him properly. Ayew has been linked with a move away. Sunday --
:24:27. > :24:31.and Bafetimbi Gomis. But to sell Shelvey, have a link with Ayew and a
:24:32. > :24:37.rumour about Gomis - that implies that something isn't 100% in the
:24:38. > :24:43.squad. I think the fact that Shelvey has left. It's a time of need, and
:24:44. > :24:50.he is a top-class footballer. Has he got the attributes that Swansea are
:24:51. > :24:53.looking for in a relegation situation? Debatable. The fact that
:24:54. > :24:57.he is gone suggests something was not quite right, because they
:24:58. > :25:04.couldn't get the best out of him. It looks like you parachuted out. And
:25:05. > :25:09.on Guidolin. He is an experienced manager. He did very good work at
:25:10. > :25:22.Udinese. Are we being slightly disrespectful? I mean, are you lot?
:25:23. > :25:29.I don't think so. I think that the analogy Marc Sneyd is fair. The
:25:30. > :25:33.manner in which it has been done speaks of confusion, to me. They
:25:34. > :25:38.appoint Alan Curtis as the caretaker for the rest of the season, and then
:25:39. > :25:42.two weeks later, after they have been knocked out the FA Cup by
:25:43. > :25:46.Oxford, they decide that he isn't the caretaker for the rest of the
:25:47. > :25:53.season, and another guy is coming in. There is no clarity over who is
:25:54. > :26:00.in charge, Curtis or diesel in. It is the opposite of what we have had
:26:01. > :26:07.from Swansea, when everything was clear. The signs are not good. And
:26:08. > :26:12.he has a week before the end of the transfer market. Who is identifying
:26:13. > :26:17.the weaknesses? He is in charge today. They are out the cup. Next
:26:18. > :26:23.time they play, the transfer market has ended. Pete says, Swansea will
:26:24. > :26:34.go down this season. There's no obvious plan. Guidolin says, just
:26:35. > :26:37.because we don't -- Mary says, just because we don't know Guidolin,
:26:38. > :26:43.doesn't mean he's not a good manager. He is capable of steadying
:26:44. > :26:45.the ship. If you are an Everton centre-half, would you be screaming
:26:46. > :26:51.at your midfield for more protection? I would be screaming at
:26:52. > :26:59.my full-backs as well! Way they played... Two centre halves, two
:27:00. > :27:04.holding midfielders. Everton are a good side. They play attractive
:27:05. > :27:09.football. One of the top goal-scorers in the league. But they
:27:10. > :27:16.do have trouble conceding, both home and away. They need to finish off
:27:17. > :27:22.games and sew them up. I know it is part of the game plan, but I would
:27:23. > :27:28.constantly be on at the central midfielders. The goalkeeper is an
:27:29. > :27:40.issue. Everybody who watches Everton Luczak Eddie Howe and says, why
:27:41. > :27:43.would you keep Howard in, when the other goalkeeper has done really
:27:44. > :27:51.well. And you would have to lass sued the two full-backs in. Martinez
:27:52. > :27:58.was the same at Wigan. Great going forward but defensively light. He is
:27:59. > :28:06.being pragmatic, I suppose. If you are too-0 up, try and settle for the
:28:07. > :28:11.win. Not try and settle, win 2-0! There is so much to admire about
:28:12. > :28:18.them going forward. You look at Berkeley, John Stones top Mac I
:28:19. > :28:25.noticed Jamie Carragher a couple of times in his column saying, Stones
:28:26. > :28:37.is a fantastic player, and we all admire him, but sometimes... That's
:28:38. > :28:42.what Jamie Carragher said. Only because he's got fantastic ability,
:28:43. > :28:47.but he will end up giving it to somebody in part of the picture
:28:48. > :28:51.doesn't really want it, which then causes a problem. He is a great
:28:52. > :28:58.footballer, but he makes mistakes in the central midfield. It doesn't
:28:59. > :29:02.detract from his quality. Don't stop him playing that way, but when he is
:29:03. > :29:08.under pressure and he gives it to someone who has a bloke on him... It
:29:09. > :29:14.is his distribution and where he distributes it. It is fine that he
:29:15. > :29:20.tries it. I don't have a problem with that. Or is it the quality of
:29:21. > :29:24.the team-mates around him? I thought the presenter would have got that.
:29:25. > :29:28.the team-mates around him? I thought like to spread it around the panel!
:29:29. > :29:40.The one time you like to spread it around the panel!
:29:41. > :29:51.Viera can have two men on him and still keep the ball. I really hope
:29:52. > :30:00.that Stones, Dele Alli, I hope we see them in the first 11. Both of
:30:01. > :30:07.them, Stones in particular, has been around a bit. I hope that we...
:30:08. > :30:12.them, Stones in particular, has been is a breath of fresh air because he
:30:13. > :30:16.isn't hoofing it up the pitch. We are saying that part of the
:30:17. > :30:19.isn't hoofing it up the pitch. We he needs to hoof it up is because he
:30:20. > :30:25.doesn't have the quality of people around him. With England,
:30:26. > :30:29.doesn't have the quality of people there was a slightly higher quality
:30:30. > :30:32.doesn't have the quality of people of player who would be able to deal
:30:33. > :30:36.with that. Was that a quantum leap? You get your dictionary out!
:30:37. > :30:40.with that. Was that a quantum leap? going to move on to Spurs. We will
:30:41. > :30:54.talk about Dele Alli. The team that we have, the squad
:30:55. > :31:02.that we have from 18 months ago... The quality... We are trying to say
:31:03. > :31:07.one more time that we are the youngest squad in the Premier
:31:08. > :31:12.League. I think the way we play and the maturity that we show we look
:31:13. > :31:20.older but it's important to keep working hard and any distraction...
:31:21. > :31:25.I look forward now and the challenges for the next game. Spurs
:31:26. > :31:36.coming from 1-0 down to win 3-1 at Crystal Palace. They are for the
:31:37. > :31:44.five points away from Leicester. Hugo Lloris has been praised as the
:31:45. > :31:50.best keeper and Hugo Lloris, his influence, as the captain, should
:31:51. > :31:55.not be underestimated. Not at all. Tottenham are a very good
:31:56. > :31:58.defensively. Look at them yesterday against Crystal Palace, they held on
:31:59. > :32:03.for a while and that is what teams have to do. They reminded me of
:32:04. > :32:07.Chelsea last year. You buy some time in a game, it's not happening for
:32:08. > :32:12.the forward is the other team are having a good spell and you make
:32:13. > :32:14.sure you don't concede. That is what they do
:32:15. > :32:19.sure you don't concede. That is what good a pairing is anyone in the
:32:20. > :32:25.league. I would not disagree. The centre-half players, both of them...
:32:26. > :32:31.That side, very complex. He can play a bed for a centre-half, that switch
:32:32. > :32:36.past, pinging it out for Delie Ali against Everton... They look a good,
:32:37. > :32:45.well balanced, all-round team. Options on the bench. Yesterday... I
:32:46. > :32:53.was going to say Danny Rose and Kieran Trippier... Walker... Plenty
:32:54. > :32:56.of options. The only question is upfront, if Harry Kane gets injured,
:32:57. > :33:01.do they have someone to get enough goals, it's debatable but they
:33:02. > :33:07.looked like a work in progress. They will buy someone before the end of
:33:08. > :33:11.the year. You will think so. They have never been in a better position
:33:12. > :33:16.and they will kick themselves, in case Harry Kane falls over, why
:33:17. > :33:21.wouldn't you go and buy somebody? But he has been very candid this
:33:22. > :33:27.week, Mauricio Pochettino, he is not going to risk bringing he might have
:33:28. > :33:33.used the phrase bad apple into the squad. That does not mean to say
:33:34. > :33:39.you're not signing anyone. But there is obviously a real... You know...
:33:40. > :33:43.There is going to be a lot of thought going into it before they
:33:44. > :33:46.bring someone. I wouldn't be be? Because the person they bring in all
:33:47. > :33:55.have to accept playing second fiddle to Harry Kane. You would think so.
:33:56. > :34:01.The flip side of that, I guess, what a good player Harry Kane has become.
:34:02. > :34:04.Every time I watch him I think he is becoming the complete centre
:34:05. > :34:10.forward. His hold-up play is great, his linkup play, he provides his
:34:11. > :34:18.share of assists and finishing and I think he's a great player and if we
:34:19. > :34:22.are talking, as I am talking about England, he has to be pressing for a
:34:23. > :34:25.place. The battle between him and Wayne Rooney, if it is a battle
:34:26. > :34:30.between them, maybe you would like to think they can accommodate both
:34:31. > :34:34.of them because I think to leave Harry Kane out of an England team is
:34:35. > :34:38.a big call. I think he is the number one striker England and you can't
:34:39. > :34:48.upset him. You cannot kick him, he gets on that, a fantastic work
:34:49. > :34:54.ethic. Harry Kane and a N other, isn't it? He could play on his own
:34:55. > :34:59.up there. Physical, strong, after powering other players. Do you look
:35:00. > :35:04.at the Spurs squad and the improvement of Harry Kane and
:35:05. > :35:13.Lamela, I know Nacer Chadli has been out injured. Moussa Dembele has had
:35:14. > :35:18.a great season. Bearing in mind some of those players, they arrived as
:35:19. > :35:22.part of the group... Can you see the influence of proper coaching on how
:35:23. > :35:27.they have developed? Tottenham have got a set way of playing. You can
:35:28. > :35:33.see from the stands, on television, how they set up. Each player knows
:35:34. > :35:38.his job but they are quite fluid, a lot of movement, short list of
:35:39. > :35:42.triangles in and around the age of the box. They sometimes over
:35:43. > :35:46.elaborate. They try and score a perfect goal at times, they could be
:35:47. > :35:51.more clinical. But going forward, they will be a force and they have a
:35:52. > :35:55.lot of numbers of quality players. Delie Ali has been unbelievable. He
:35:56. > :36:01.must, privately, have surprised them. He is young, he will improve,
:36:02. > :36:16.he has been sensational, really. Dear, oh dear. Let's get an update
:36:17. > :36:20.on the cricket. England 267-7, the deficit 208. Chris Woakes and Moeen
:36:21. > :36:25.Ali fighting hard against South Africa. A new ball in hand. The pit
:36:26. > :36:33.is slowly but surely coming to life. England 267-7. Leicester beat Stoke
:36:34. > :36:37.3-0, three points clear at the top of the table before Arsenal play
:36:38. > :36:42.Chelsea. How big a win was that for Leicester? Massive, a couple of
:36:43. > :36:50.reasons. A little bit of a stutter of late. One out of five, drawn
:36:51. > :36:55.three. Lost one. Few people asking some questions and perhaps some
:36:56. > :36:59.doubts creeping in? Against Stoke, you never quite know what you're
:37:00. > :37:03.going to come up against. They can be hit and miss. Yesterday they were
:37:04. > :37:08.a mess and Leicester took full advantage. The first 20 minutes, it
:37:09. > :37:12.was tight but they dominated, when Danny Drinkwater got the strike, the
:37:13. > :37:19.first golfer Leicester outside the box... Yes! But when that went in,
:37:20. > :37:25.there was no looking back. Excuse me, when they beat Tottenham the
:37:26. > :37:29.other week, I think that was... If you are in the dressing room
:37:30. > :37:33.afterwards, you seriously start thinking, we are going to finish in
:37:34. > :37:38.the top four and we might even have a snigger at winning the whole
:37:39. > :37:47.thing. They are ten points clear. I keep waiting for them to blow up. --
:37:48. > :37:50.have a sneak. Stuttgart are decent team. I thought Spurs would beat
:37:51. > :37:58.them and they are keeping going. You know, they are doing it with real
:37:59. > :38:02.style, as well. Look at the assist from Riyad Mahrez for the third
:38:03. > :38:07.goal. Absolutely great, Jamie Vardy still looking razor sharp. A great
:38:08. > :38:11.team to watch. A couple of journalists up but United yesterday
:38:12. > :38:16.were obviously comparing what it is like watching Leicester with United
:38:17. > :38:19.but a couple of them saying Leicester are the best team he has
:38:20. > :38:27.seen this season. Very good to watch. You watch them home and away
:38:28. > :38:31.so when you look at them, the next run of games, Liverpool at home,
:38:32. > :38:35.away against Manchester City and Arsenal... It's not really, judging
:38:36. > :38:41.by how they have played a run that should concern them? They are not
:38:42. > :38:47.intimidated by the prospect of those fixtures. If there was a run of
:38:48. > :38:49.similar games before Christmas, a six-game period, everyone thought,
:38:50. > :38:54.here we go, they will take a tumble and they did not. They lost one game
:38:55. > :38:59.in that sequence, I think. They have gone on to confound the expert and
:39:00. > :39:03.the expectations of most people. But it's a collective effort, Riyad
:39:04. > :39:11.Mahrez and Jamie Vardy rightly getting plaudits. Do you think they
:39:12. > :39:18.are built on partnerships to read the team? Whether it be Danny
:39:19. > :39:28.Drinkwater... The team pretty much picks itself. Over the last couple
:39:29. > :39:33.of months. All players throughout have come in and done a superb job.
:39:34. > :39:42.Simpson proved if you doubters wrong. -- throughout the team. A few
:39:43. > :39:48.of the reserves. And the manager. We talk about so-called experts, when
:39:49. > :39:54.Claudio Ranieri was appointed there was almost uniform underwhelming...
:39:55. > :39:58.Everybody was thinking, this is a step accurate and he has proved
:39:59. > :40:04.everybody wrong. What he has done, superbly well, is look at the team,
:40:05. > :40:08.he hasn't made any changes initially, it's been mentioned, he
:40:09. > :40:12.has kept the backroom staff, that's important, Steve Walsh... They know
:40:13. > :40:17.the players, the players know them and they can relate what he was
:40:18. > :40:21.trying to do and he has adopted a system that suits the players. He
:40:22. > :40:26.has got the personnel to do it. If Riyad Mahrez has scored two
:40:27. > :40:31.penalties... Seven points clear and they would have won, highly likely,
:40:32. > :40:39.against Bournemouth and Aston Villa. That is beyond belief. He has built
:40:40. > :40:45.on Nigel Pearson, he did a good job. The players say that. Yes. One of
:40:46. > :40:51.the games of the season at Carrow Road, Liverpool beating Norwich 5-4.
:40:52. > :40:54.Even Jurgen Klopp was saying his side can be easy to play against. By
:40:55. > :40:59.that, does he mean you can score against them from set pieces? You
:41:00. > :41:05.can, you can believe them as well. They do not really have... If you
:41:06. > :41:11.look at a lot of the teams that they have beaten this year, Crystal
:41:12. > :41:14.Palace, West Ham... West Bromwich, look at those teams that are
:41:15. > :41:19.physical but in the right manner with Liverpool, it's a real problem.
:41:20. > :41:25.They concede from set pieces but they concede,
:41:26. > :41:29.They concede from set pieces but left-back, Moreno, makes mistakes
:41:30. > :41:33.They concede from set pieces but they have got at the club, the only
:41:34. > :41:34.left-back before the end of August, the previous manager must have
:41:35. > :41:41.looked and thought the previous manager must have
:41:42. > :41:46.a left-back. He is at with the empties. Luis Enrique. Penalties
:41:47. > :41:54.conceded yesterday, one of the most bizarre pieces of defending. Chelsea
:41:55. > :41:58.when they won 3-1. The first role of defending, the guy you are marking,
:41:59. > :42:04.no 30 years. It's a catalogue and the only thing for Jurgen Klopp, he
:42:05. > :42:10.knew within two weeks what he had got. And it has not changed. He has
:42:11. > :42:15.not had his mind changed. We are not that bad. They are about bad,
:42:16. > :42:23.defensively. Izzard leadership? It's part of it, they are a soft touch.
:42:24. > :42:32.-- is it leadership? To do your job, they can do it on occasions but it's
:42:33. > :42:36.-- is it leadership? To do your job, Switched off. The ball was into the
:42:37. > :42:39.box. People know they are a liability back there. The example
:42:40. > :42:45.was Sebastian Bassong. liability back there. The example
:42:46. > :42:48.of the game. Lumped liability back there. The example
:42:49. > :42:50.Three of them backed off. They liability back there. The example
:42:51. > :43:02.down, should have been a liability back there. The example
:43:03. > :43:06.ground. Could you not? Yes. Salford. When it comes to the game, they
:43:07. > :43:09.ground. Could you not? Yes. Salford. conceded a goal against Olson at
:43:10. > :43:13.West Brom and Emre Can was marking him, I kid you not. The ball was
:43:14. > :43:17.comment from behind me and I am shouting and looking at Olsen, he
:43:18. > :43:24.never even looked at the ball and Olsen got a look in and scored. Come
:43:25. > :43:32.on, Mark, your ladder is not a bad player. He could do with a bit of
:43:33. > :43:40.pace? He has inherited his father's pace. We have ten seconds left. They
:43:41. > :43:45.won 5-4. Roberto Fermino, every game he looks more and more settled. He
:43:46. > :43:52.can blow hot and cold. But he is great.
:43:53. > :43:54.can blow hot and cold. But he is you. Arsenal against Chelsea on BBC
:43:55. > :43:56.Radio 5 Live from 4pm and receive further highlights later on tonight
:43:57. > :43:59.on BBC One.