How did Alan celebrate the Toon’s first domestic trophy since 1955? Is Eddie Howe one of the best English managers of a generation? What went wrong for Liverpool?
We apologise for Micah's shaky camera, we encountered some technical difficulties and should be back to normal next episode, cheers!
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We apologise for Micah's shaky camera, we encountered some technical difficulties and should be back to normal next episode, cheers!
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FunTranscript
00:00Hello and welcome to The Rest Is Football with Micah Richards and me,
00:04Gary Lineker. Newcastle United are the 2025 Carabao Cup winners.
00:11Alan's had an amazing day at Wembley.
00:13Needless to say, he's not going to make the pod because we're recording this on Sunday evening.
00:18I think he's at the party, maybe with the players, certainly with a lot of supporters.
00:22I think he's had a wonderful day.
00:24But Micah, before we start talking about that match, and that's what we're going to cover today,
00:29just the Carabao Cup final, Alan's been sending us updates and little videos throughout the day.
00:35So we're going to share them with you.
00:37Let's start with Alan on the way to Wembley.
00:41I think it's fair to say he was quite excited.
00:43All right, guys, this is where it all begins.
00:46I'm just about to set off to Wembley.
00:50This is the day.
00:51History is going to be made.
00:54The Toon Army v Liverpool.
00:56What a day ahead.
00:57What a long day ahead.
00:59Well, it will be a long day if we get the right result.
01:02Anyway, I'll check in later on with the teams when I arrive at Wembley.
01:06So speak to you soon, guys.
01:08Come on, Jordies!
01:10He arrived at Wembley nice and early.
01:13They had a lunch before the game and then he spotted a good omen.
01:18Guys, I've got to the table.
01:20Liverpool's on the table now.
01:22One for me.
01:23One for me.
01:23One for me.
01:24One for me.
01:24One for me.
01:25One for me.
01:25One for me.
01:26One for me.
01:26One for me.
01:27Two f**king Mike-pies.
01:29It's going to be a hard day.
01:31One or two Mike-pies, mate.
01:33One for Saul.
01:34Two for Jadon.
01:38Now he started to get really excited.
01:40Newcastle had just scored just before half-time.
01:44Right, lads.
01:45What a f**king half that was.
01:47Man for man.
01:48Much better team.
01:49F**king big time, man.
01:51What a header.
01:5245 minutes.
01:53I think we had to score behind them because they're going to change it in the second half
01:57and they're going to come at us because I think all of them are pitching too badly.
02:00We're a better team and they're better fans.
02:0545 minutes of hell to go.
02:07Here we go.
02:08And it's finally happened for Newcastle.
02:10And for the first time, I think, probably in Alan Shearer's life,
02:13he's seen them actually win something.
02:15Here's his reaction.
02:22Oh!
02:27Give it up now!
02:30Come on!
02:32Yes!
02:5170 years.
02:53Oh!
02:55Oh!
02:57Oh!
02:59Oh!
03:01Oh!
03:03We've done it.
03:05I'll see you in Everland.
03:07I'm not sure when I'll see you, but I'll see you soon.
03:12Fantastic stuff.
03:13What a day out, I think.
03:14What a day out Alan's had.
03:16And I'm so pleased for all the Newcastle fans.
03:19I know it's a very disappointing day for Liverpool and their supporters,
03:23but, you know, they've won lots of things over the years
03:26and it's been a long while for Newcastle to wait.
03:28And boy, they deserved it.
03:30I thought they were absolutely superb, Micah.
03:33Yeah.
03:33I mean, it was, first I would like to say the atmosphere.
03:37So I was working for CBS.
03:39We don't normally do the League Cup, normally just do Champions League.
03:42May I say, Micah, that you look very, very dapper.
03:46Ha ha ha!
03:47Well, thank you, Gary.
03:49Thank you very much.
03:50You know, these are not actual shades for the people looking at me.
03:53Why has it got shades inside?
03:54They've just got a little tint on them, you know?
03:57A lot of people calling me a welder.
04:03Oh, but yeah, we got to the ground, we get there obviously nice and early.
04:08And I have to say the Liverpool fans and Newcastle fans were extraordinary.
04:14And we were sort of at the halfway point so we could hear both sides of the fans.
04:20So it just seemed like a great occasion.
04:22I know a lot of people talk down of the League Cup.
04:26A lot of people, you know, obviously like the FA Cup,
04:29the League and the Champions League, even Europa League.
04:32But it was a special, special day out and the fans made it incredibly.
04:38I don't know, there was sort of a feeling of a big occasion.
04:43And maybe that's because Newcastle have not won something for so long.
04:47Maybe, you know, Slott, although he's doing very well in the League,
04:52you know, the fans were right behind him and wanted to see some silverware.
04:56So I just thought I'd say that before we started.
04:58As for the game, it was intense.
05:02I thought Newcastle were outstanding from start to finish.
05:07If you go back to Newcastle a couple of years ago against Man United,
05:11I don't like using the word froze.
05:13There was something in it where they looked a little bit nervous,
05:17which you expect, you know, the first final for a lot of their players.
05:22But there was a different calmness about them today.
05:25They knew exactly what they wanted to do.
05:28Yes, at times we had to play longer football,
05:32but in terms of the press and winning the second balls and defending as a team,
05:39I just thought they were brilliant.
05:41You know, we talked about, or Alan talked about,
05:45you know, the loss of a Gordon and the loss of a Lewis Hall.
05:49That's a whole left-hand side which have been brilliant this season.
05:52But I thought Liveramento and Harvey Barnes were exceptional.
05:56I'm not just talking about on the transition.
05:59I'm talking about defensively in that block.
06:02The whole game was just amazing from their point of view.
06:06I'd love to see them give it everything within the game,
06:10but stick to the plan of what the manager wanted, you know?
06:14I think what was really quite remarkable was the fact that
06:17every one of Newcastle players played really well.
06:22Every single one of them turned up.
06:25You know, they had great energy.
06:26There was no fear.
06:28They were confident.
06:29They dominated Liverpool.
06:31As you said, they pressed really well.
06:33There was a great energy.
06:34They won the midfield battle.
06:36They were terrific in there.
06:37I thought Joel Linton was absolutely superb.
06:39He was everywhere.
06:41And then you can, I mean, you can say the same about pretty much everyone.
06:44You mentioned Liveramento.
06:45I thought the two at the back.
06:46I thought, damn, what an incredible performance from him alongside Cher.
06:51Trippier showed all his experience and his qualities.
06:55We said the midfield three.
06:56Isak's just a class act.
06:59And I thought Jacob Murphy's, every single one of them that started,
07:03and even when they came on, they weren't afraid of it,
07:08you know, even though it's been a long time.
07:09And I was wondering before the game whether it just might be a bit daunting for them.
07:15Because the expectation and the pressure on them,
07:18because of the fact that they've not won a domestic trophy for 70 years
07:22and the incredible desire from the fans that they wanted it so badly
07:28that I thought it might have perhaps a detrimental effect on some of the performances.
07:33But to a man, to a man, I mean, they absolutely bossed that game.
07:38They absolutely, you summed it up perfectly.
07:41You know, we'll start with big Dan Byrne.
07:44You know, the fact that last season he's played a lot at fullback
07:48and then obviously they've had injuries to Bottman
07:51and then he moves across into centre-back.
07:53But he was, like, that's one of the best centre-back performances I've ever seen.
07:59And I'm not, and people will say getting over-excited.
08:02I'm really not, because a lot of people say he's not good enough for Newcastle.
08:07He's the one that they should get rid of.
08:09But to have that mentality to go into that game against Liverpool,
08:13but just he won absolutely everything.
08:16He was on the front foot.
08:18He knew when to drop off.
08:20And his goal was just remarkable.
08:23I think a lot of people will talk about the goal,
08:25but did you see the fade from Kieran Trippier?
08:29And I spoke to him after the game.
08:30We had an interview afterwards.
08:32And he said he didn't put in-swingers in because Virgil van Dijk,
08:36he dominates the area.
08:38So to just start to go for the, he said, the centre to the back post
08:44and lift it a little bit higher because Dan Burns, taller than anyone.
08:47So if he could get a little bit of a run and the ball in was just amazing.
08:53And for him to, because when the ball's that high,
08:57and a lot of people talk about what's the difference between in-swinger, out-swinger?
09:01Why do people put fade?
09:02Why do people put bend, curl?
09:03Whatever it may be is when the ball is that high
09:09and it's sort of hit with a little bit of swerve,
09:11but the ball is flat, then you have to get more power in the header.
09:15You're a striker.
09:16You know what it is.
09:17When it's an in-swinger, you can sort of just at times glance it.
09:21So to get the power in the corner, it was just seeing it live as well.
09:27I'm thinking you can't possibly score that
09:29because there's not enough power on the ball to get his head back
09:34and get it in the corner.
09:35It was just a joy to watch in real time.
09:39It was a fantastic header because it was a long way out as well.
09:42It had to be perfectly placed.
09:44He got all the power on it.
09:46You're absolutely right about the technicalities of heading it.
09:48One, if it's bending towards the goalkeeper, you just need a little glance.
09:52But if it's coming away from the goalkeeper like a slice,
09:57the one thing it does help you with, of course,
09:58if the ball's coming towards you, it's perhaps easy to get power.
10:03Although you can't just flick it in sideways.
10:06So you've got to face it head on, literally.
10:10And he certainly did that.
10:12And I think that tactical side of things from the corners really worked for them
10:16because obviously they like to keep Van Dijk in the middle
10:19because they mark space there and he's dominant.
10:22And that was a very clever tactic.
10:24And they were a threat from set pieces right throughout the game because of that.
10:28And it was funny.
10:30We were all watching it.
10:31I was watching it with my four boys at home and everyone cheered.
10:35And I think that would be a little bit like around the country,
10:38except possibly Sunderland fans and obviously Liverpool fans.
10:41But because it was a magical moment.
10:44But you felt like with the domination in that first half and the chances that they had,
10:48you felt like they really needed to get that goal.
10:51And to get it just before half time was a real Philip for them.
10:55But again, you said about Eddie Howe.
10:58I think he's the first English manager to win a domestic trophy since Harry Redknapp,
11:04which was quite a few years ago.
11:05I think it was in 2008.
11:072008, yeah.
11:09It's mad, really.
11:10You know, there's still no English managers won the Premier League yet either.
11:13So do you know the last English manager to win the top flight title?
11:18I already know it.
11:18Howard Wilkinson.
11:19Leeds.
11:20Exactly.
11:20Leeds, Leeds, Leeds.
11:21Well, of course it's one of your teams.
11:23Of course.
11:24Sorry, of course I didn't know that one.
11:26Yeah.
11:27But I was just so happy for Eddie Howe because it's a tough spot at Newcastle.
11:32You have new owners and everyone thinks you're going to spend loads of money,
11:36but obviously financial fair play comes into play and it's very difficult.
11:41It's almost like, what's the plan?
11:44You've got all this money, but you can't spend it.
11:46So you need to work with the players and improve them.
11:50I think, you know, Eddie Howe, I think he's done such a terrific job
11:54in terms of Champions League football.
11:56I was there doing the game against PSG at St James' Park.
12:01Another brilliant atmosphere where they won that game.
12:05I don't remember, Cher scored that long range.
12:08I think it was the last goal in that.
12:11And it was just bouncing.
12:12I was thinking to myself, this is a team that deserves,
12:15no one has a right to be in the Champions League,
12:18but the manager doing all the right things.
12:20They've got the fan base, they're playing really good style of football.
12:26But then, you know, it comes to the transfer window
12:29and they don't really add any top quality players.
12:34So it's down to the manager to say, okay, I believe in this squad.
12:38It brings in Livramento when everyone thought
12:40Trippier should be starting the season.
12:43We're going to go with that.
12:44They get Lewis Hall who could play midfield and he could play left back.
12:48But what will happen?
12:50Well, okay, Hall's injured.
12:52So we'll put Trippier right back.
12:54We've got Livramento's pace on that side.
12:57You've got Harvey Barnes as well that can back up Gordon.
13:00I think Eddie Howe needs a lot of praise for,
13:03firstly, he plays a nice brand of football,
13:07but perseverance as well.
13:10You know, we talked about the England would he be,
13:12and he said it at the time, he didn't get a call for England.
13:15And a lot of managers, it might've affected him.
13:17He stuck to his job.
13:18He's happy at Newcastle and he deserves,
13:21I think the next step for Newcastle now is tie down Isak.
13:26Cannot let Isak leave the football club
13:29because what he gives to this team is just remarkable.
13:33We had that debate a couple of months ago now,
13:35a couple of weeks ago,
13:36and he was talking about, is he world-class?
13:38And my opinion on it, I do believe he is at that level,
13:42but you've got to prove it over a long period of time.
13:45And he's proven what he did to Arsenal,
13:49home and away, exceptional.
13:52And today against Van Dijk and Canarsie,
13:54I agree with the best centre-back partnership in Europe,
13:58people are saying,
13:59and I just think he's got all the big decisions right.
14:03You know, I think in midfield,
14:05like you mentioned earlier on,
14:07they're really energetic.
14:09They've got that tenacity and he's just built
14:11a real feel-good factor around the club
14:14and he deserves all the credit.
14:16It really does.
14:17Yeah, I totally agree with that.
14:20Also, I mean, you didn't really see Mo Salah in the game at all,
14:23shut him out.
14:24No fault of Mo's, obviously,
14:25because if your team's not got the ball
14:27and you can't get you the ball,
14:28then it's difficult.
14:29In fact, I think Alan Shearer was cut up more,
14:33saw him more than Mo Salah during the game.
14:36They kept cutting to him when they scored goals.
14:38Oh, apologies.
14:40They kept cutting to him when he scored.
14:45Massive sneeze there.
14:46Cast your face and the disgust in your face.
14:50Went all over me.
14:52Yeah.
14:53I mean, overall, Liverpool would be disappointed
14:56with their display.
14:57And I do think the game that they lost against PSG
15:00would have had an effect.
15:01That was a massive night for them
15:03where they expended a lot of energy over two hours,
15:07obviously,
15:07and then to lose on a penalty shootout
15:10and that drains you,
15:11not just emotionally,
15:13but obviously physically as well.
15:15So you can understand why Liverpool
15:18were a little bit flat.
15:19It didn't surprise me.
15:20I think it worked really well for Newcastle,
15:23the timing of that particular fixture.
15:26But I think the way that Newcastle won it was as well.
15:29It wasn't even when Leicester won the FA Cup
15:31a few years ago,
15:31which was probably perhaps the last big surprise
15:34when they beat Chelsea in the final
15:35with Uri Tielemann's wonderful effort.
15:38They weren't really in the game that much.
15:39It wasn't a great game,
15:40but this was, not that I cared at the time,
15:43but neither would Newcastle have fans
15:46if it had been that way either.
15:47But in this game,
15:49you know, not only just to win it,
15:51to win a trophy,
15:52but to do it in style like that.
15:54I mean, they could have had more goals, really.
15:56I mean, Isak was very unlucky
15:58with his disallowed goal
16:00because he wasn't offside.
16:03He was marginally offside
16:04because he was deemed to have made it difficult
16:08for the goalkeeper to see the ball.
16:09And obviously he also nearly scored another one
16:12with another brilliant bit of play.
16:14Just behind him, wasn't it?
16:16Yeah, it was.
16:17Yeah, he did really well actually
16:19to get the shot on target
16:21and it was a decent save.
16:24But yeah, they did it in style.
16:25They did it with great energy
16:29and they were really brave in the way they played.
16:31And I loved the midfield, I thought,
16:34you know, the dynamism.
16:35They won most of the 50-50s.
16:37And I mentioned already Joel Inno,
16:40and you could see that they were going to make that happen today.
16:43They were going to make it happen.
16:44And sometimes you have to do that.
16:46There was going to make it happen,
16:48but you know, the goal for 2-1,
16:53Chiesa's goal.
16:54I'm just thinking,
16:56Bruno, he's trying to do a Maradona turn
17:00in the middle of the field.
17:02That was the only mistake they made throughout the game.
17:05And I'm not putting,
17:06you know, that's not a strain on that performance,
17:08but like the energy that they had was just remarkable.
17:13I think since Talani's come back into the side,
17:18they do look like a different team.
17:20And I think he's come back bigger, stronger,
17:24even looks faster.
17:25He's pressing more,
17:27just gives them that base in midfield.
17:29Although I would say from Liverpool's point of view,
17:32they did really miss Trent today.
17:35I said the same thing.
17:37I thought that.
17:37They missed him.
17:38And I think that was,
17:40you know, on a big pitch,
17:42his passing ability.
17:44Konza did really well when he come on against PSG.
17:48Defensively, he's a centre-back,
17:50obviously back by trade.
17:52But I just believe when Trent,
17:55and especially under slot,
17:57tactically, you see,
17:58and even with Conor Bradley,
18:00that make them under,
18:01under lapping runs as well,
18:02not just outside,
18:04that then frees the space
18:07for Salah, you know?
18:09And I think the system didn't quite get it right.
18:13And Salah at times was staying high
18:17and Gravenberch was having to come all the way across,
18:21but then left them a little bit,
18:23you know, light in midfield.
18:25And they just didn't have the same flow
18:28that they usually have.
18:30And, you know, Trent on a big pitch
18:32is a great passer of the ball.
18:35Whether he's, you know, driving forward,
18:38whether he's getting on the ball in that space,
18:40making things happen.
18:41I just thought from Liverpool's point of view,
18:44they really missed him.
18:45In terms of Liverpool, Michael,
18:47it's been a tough few weeks.
18:49They went out in the FA Cup to Plymouth.
18:51They got beaten, of course, by PSG.
18:54And now they've lost this final.
18:56They were fighting on four fronts,
18:58probably three,
18:59because the FA Cup was early stages.
19:01But, and now there's just a league left.
19:04But, you know, it's very, very unlikely
19:07that they'll slip up in the league.
19:09But they've had a little dip in form at the wrong time.
19:13Yeah, well, you know, we've lauded Slott
19:16for what he's done so far in the season.
19:19I've said many times on this pod,
19:21I still think Liverpool have another year to go.
19:25I think that they're really reliant on Salah.
19:28If Salah is kept quiet,
19:30although at the time of the season,
19:32you can't really keep him quiet
19:33in terms of goals and assists,
19:35he's been outstanding.
19:37But I said again on a few pods ago
19:40that Liverpool was fighting for three,
19:44four trophies a couple of seasons ago.
19:46They ended up with the FA Cup,
19:47with the league cup.
19:49Let's not take away anything
19:50for what they're doing within the league.
19:52The league is absolutely huge.
19:55The last time Liverpool won a league,
19:57it was in COVID.
19:58The fans didn't get to enjoy it.
20:00And if you say to a Liverpool fan
20:02at the start of the season,
20:03you know, you'd be what?
20:0412 points clear to win the league.
20:06They would have taken it
20:07after how, you know,
20:09they finished last season.
20:11Yes, it's a disappointment
20:13the last couple of weeks.
20:14Let's not be, like PSG are a good side.
20:17Seriously good side.
20:18If you watch European football a lot
20:20and a lot of people think,
20:21okay, Mbappe's gone.
20:24PSG are a good,
20:25they know exactly what they've got.
20:26A good coach, good tactics,
20:28know exactly what you want.
20:29That could have went 50-50.
20:31You know, it went to penalties.
20:33That's that, you know,
20:34a roll of the dice.
20:35Plymouth, you talk about in the FA Cup,
20:38there was a lot of changes
20:40within that squad.
20:41They played a lot of young players,
20:42a lot of minutes
20:43for a couple of the senior players,
20:45you know, to get some minutes
20:46under their belt.
20:47So I totally understand it.
20:50Yes, it would hurt.
20:51Of course it would hurt.
20:52But at the end of the day,
20:53if you say Liverpool win the league
20:55at the end of the season,
20:57it's been disappointing.
20:58Of course it has.
20:58But you take that.
21:01You take that 100%.
21:02Absolutely.
21:03Exactly.
21:04Do you think they should have had a penalty,
21:05the tripier handball?
21:06Well, I was looking at that
21:09a couple of times.
21:10It just touches his hand.
21:13Yeah, it touches.
21:13I mean, the thing was,
21:14his hand was away from his body.
21:16I mean, personally,
21:18I think if they'd give penalties
21:19for that sort of thing,
21:20but it's ludicrous,
21:22but they do.
21:23But they do, you know,
21:24sometimes we saw it
21:25in the Champions League final
21:26when Tottenham played Liverpool,
21:27didn't we, in that first minute
21:28and the hand went up in the air.
21:30And so, you know,
21:32we have seen those entirely
21:34accidental handballs.
21:36But when I saw the replay,
21:37I thought, ooh, they might give this.
21:39I did actually.
21:40I was like, ooh, what's happening here?
21:42Then it just went on, didn't it?
21:43So, yeah, I agree with you.
21:45If it had been given,
21:46no one could complain about it.
21:48But it wasn't.
21:49It's one of those things,
21:50I think, you know,
21:52even I was listening to Liverpool fans
21:53on the radio coming back from the game.
21:55What are they saying?
21:56They've all been saying
21:57congratulations to Newcastle fans.
21:59It's just one of those things.
22:02The better team on the day won.
22:04And sometimes you have to accept that
22:06as professionals.
22:08We've all been there.
22:09You hold your hands up and say,
22:10look, it wasn't the fluke.
22:12Newcastle were better
22:13in every area of the pitch.
22:16For Liverpool fans as well,
22:18you know, the likes of Chiesa,
22:19what he could do.
22:20I'd like to see a little bit more from them.
22:22Don't forget Salah's in Ramadan now as well,
22:26where he's fasting.
22:29It's only normal that he's not going to have
22:31the same energy levels as when he can eat.
22:34For him to be actually on that pitch now,
22:36playing at that level,
22:37is outstanding just to be there, you know?
22:40But I just think maybe he could have given,
22:43you know, with the amount of minutes he's played
22:45against, you know, PSG over the two legs.
22:48And I just thought maybe
22:50they could have brought on Chiesa a little earlier
22:53and freshened things up sooner.
22:56He got his goal, didn't he?
22:57And as soon as you saw the first replay,
23:00you went, oh, he's on.
23:02And I was saying before to the lads,
23:04I said, Liverpool will definitely get one
23:05because it's never that easy.
23:07There's always a moment.
23:08But even that time that they had to manage
23:12at the end, they did it really well.
23:13They got in the corners and kept the ball
23:15and they did all the right things.
23:17And Liverpool really never threatened
23:19to get that equaliser.
23:22Yeah, no, I think I was sort of disappointed
23:25with Luis Diaz today.
23:27You know, I know he's been through a lot
23:29with, you know, his father getting kidnapped
23:31and all that sort of thing.
23:32But when I've seen him previously,
23:35he's been electric, he's been up and down.
23:38But it's hard for forwards though, Mike,
23:39you know, if your team's being dominated
23:41and you're not getting much of the ball
23:43and there's not, you know,
23:44whereas most of the season they've been
23:46easily the better side in the games they've played.
23:49And that's when forwards come into their own.
23:51But yeah, but he did have a quiet day,
23:53as did Mo.
23:54And in fact, they were pretty blunt up top,
23:57mainly because they weren't getting the service
23:59because Newcastle was so good
24:00and they defended really well as well, I think.
24:02It's tough playing up front
24:04when your team's not got the ball.
24:05And well, I mean, they actually had
24:06quite a lot of possession, Liverpool.
24:08I think they have more possession than Newcastle,
24:09but it wasn't the kind of penetrative possession
24:12that you need as a forward.
24:14Yeah, exactly that.
24:15I don't know, I'm not, you know,
24:16I'm not picking out Diaz at all,
24:18but I just think on a big pitch like Wembley,
24:21where at times there was space to exploit them gaps.
24:25I just wanted to see a little bit more.
24:27You know, I think this team at times
24:29is so reliant on Mo Salah,
24:32expecting a welding from him,
24:33a penalty, a free kick, whatever it may be.
24:36I just thought from Liverpool's point of view,
24:39the performance was a little bit flat.
24:42Maybe it was psychologically from the PSG result,
24:47but yeah, I wanted to see a little bit more.
24:50Yeah, it wasn't a great day for them.
24:53And you know, it happens,
24:54you have days where things don't go for you.
24:57It was very much Newcastle's day today.
25:00It really was.
25:01Where do you think Liverpool perhaps,
25:03I mean, they've had such a good season
25:04up until the last couple of weeks,
25:06but where do you think they need to strengthen?
25:08I would say, I think they need a nine.
25:10Yes.
25:11Definitely there.
25:12Totally agree with you.
25:14I think they need a nine.
25:16I think they need a left-back.
25:18I think Robertson has been a fantastic servant for Liverpool.
25:25I know they've been linked with Kerkes at Bournemouth.
25:28He's got real energy.
25:30He's really good. I like him a lot.
25:32I like Connor Brandley at right-back.
25:35I do believe they do need another centre-half
25:38just for cover.
25:40I think, you know, if Kanate is getting his injuries
25:42or depends what happens with Van Dijk,
25:45I think they can freshen up everywhere.
25:47I really do.
25:48And I think what's a good thing about it
25:50is Slot's got an opportunity
25:53to get exactly what he wants
25:56into this system and this team.
25:58Let's not forget about Slot.
26:00He's going to win the league in his first year
26:03with what, having Chiesa as his signing?
26:07That's remarkable in itself.
26:08Who's hardly played.
26:10Exactly.
26:11So I'm looking forward to see what they do business-wise.
26:15But yeah, I think they need freshen up in all positions.
26:20Yeah, totally agree.
26:21Liverpool will, I'm sure, go on to win the league,
26:23but it was all about Newcastle today.
26:25We'll get the thoughts of Alan tomorrow
26:29if he comes down to earth.
26:33But before we finish, it's time for the latest edition
26:37of our special segment, Raise Your Guinness Glass,
26:41brought to you by our friends at Guinness,
26:43official beer of the Premier League.
26:45Every month, we raise our glass
26:48to an incredible Premier League moment
26:50as the beautiful game meets the beautiful pint.
26:54This month, our standout moment came at the city ground
26:57as Nottingham Forest beat the reigning champions,
26:59Manchester City, to show they're here to stay
27:02in the race for Champions League places.
27:05Sorry to pick a game against Manchester City, Micah.
27:08You knew exactly what he was doing, didn't you?
27:11Had to be against my city, didn't it?
27:14But to be fair, they've been outstanding.
27:19And I've said many times, Nuno Espirito Santo
27:22has got to be up there for manager of the year.
27:25He's doing a top job.
27:28A few eyebrows were raised when he got the job,
27:32but he's been doing a fantastic job.
27:35I mean, yeah, Hudson-Odoi as well.
27:38Goal against Man City.
27:39He's been in sensational form.
27:42He has.
27:42And the ball was from Morgan Gibbs-White,
27:45who's been brilliant.
27:46Just been called up now.
27:47Late call up to the England squad as well.
27:50Was that your doing?
27:52Was that your doing, Gary?
27:53I think maybe the power of match of the day.
27:55We mentioned it on Saturday night
27:57that we thought he was very unlucky
27:59not to be in the squad.
28:00Lo and behold, the next day,
28:01there he is in the England squad.
28:05Thomas must be a match of the day fan.
28:07He must be.
28:09It's 1980, 81.
28:11So that's 44 years since Forest played
28:16in Europe's top club competition.
28:18It's staggering.
28:19They won the thing as well.
28:20A couple of times under Brian Clough.
28:22Yes.
28:24I mean, you know, it looks like
28:25there's going to be five places
28:26for the Champions League as well.
28:28They're sitting pretty in third.
28:32And they just keep doing it, you know?
28:34I think they had a few dodgy results.
28:36And I remember the Newcastle game
28:38where they conceded four,
28:40but they've stiffened back up.
28:42They really are a great team to watch.
28:44And I think when you go to Forest's ground,
28:47it's just amazing.
28:49Absolutely bouncing.
28:51So yeah, I'd love to see him
28:53in the Champions League.
28:54Yeah, with some of the other contenders
28:55losing points at the weekend as well.
28:57And they beat Ipswich
28:59pretty emphatically away from home.
29:00I think they're in really great shape.
29:03Anyway, that's it for the March edition
29:06of Raise Your Guinness Glass,
29:09brought to you by Guinness.
29:11Official beer of the Premier League.
29:1318 plus.
29:14Please drink responsibly.
29:16For the facts, visit drinkaware.co.uk.
29:19Cheers.
29:19Cheers.