Could Arsenal sign Solanke or Toney? | Retrospect Podcast on title race to transfers!

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Michael Brown joins Sky Sports News reporters Rob Jones and Ben Ransom as they break down the busy festive period, preview an exciting transfer window and catch up with our reporters around the country.

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Hello and welcome to retrospect the podcast from Sky Sports News which brings you detailed analysis from around the Premier League in the company of special guests and our very own reporters as well I’m Rob Jones and with me this week the former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown and our own Ben

Ransom hello to you both happy New Year all the best good Christmas too good too good January now you got to be healthy Haven you this is it now isn’t it smoothies and fish for the for aable future good presents bad presents lots of good ones actually lots of thoughtful

Things which is always nice I’m not easy to buy for socks is always good for my sister but I was going to say what do you get the former Premier League midfielder that has it all I’m sure honestly I get about 40 pairs of black socks off my sister that’s the regular

One a bit of sports where few bits of clothes trainers few drinks obviously nice any newest resolutions Ben um well I’m not really sure at the moment I’m in the market trans winers open I’m not sure whether to buy new new Telly or a

New bed uh do I sleep better or do I have better viewing of Premier League football in 2024 I’m not sure yet well we wait for the January sales don’t we exactly that by the end of the month what would the company man say well myself yeah you obviously say yeah say

Is it not no yeah true it’s true but when I’m well rested I’d like to think I’m a more comprehensive competent reporter maybe not well we we’ll see over the next 45 minutes W be how comprehensive and competent you are let’s just tell you what’s on the way

Then in the next 45 minutes or so we’ll start with the title race uh whether there has changed significantly over the course of the Christmas period we’ll do Europe as well a good spell for West Ham United our Midlands reporter Dan khah will talk Nuno and his impact at nding

And Forest and an excellent Christmas for wolves as well and with former Sheffield United mfield alongside us we will also talk matters down at the bottom but we will start right at the top of the table Liverpool three points clear after seven points over the Christmas period opter have had their

Super computer out Michael Brown to reassess the title chances this is how they see it moving forward from where we are now Manchester City with a 60.5% Chance of lifting the title again Liverpool up 10% to 32.1 Arsenal 4% that’s down 23% Villa 2.9 and Spurs 0.5 would you go along

With that how can you argue with that 10,000 different seasons BR they know their stuff don’t they they know City turn of the uh they all get together bit of rest more players coming back but do you know what Liverpool have just snuck up nicely and then finally they’ve got a

Little bit of pressure around them they’re doing great and um it’s it’s an exciting title race that’s what we want that is what you want isn’t it that it it seems it could go one of the a good few ways it feels like we’ve been here before though doesn’t it it feels like

We’ve had moments in previous Seasons where City have been slightly off the boil normally Before Christmas Liverpool have been their biggest Rivals they’ve been setting the pace and then that Gap starts to come down and you feel like City have built a bit of momentum and look going into 2024 you

Wouldn’t want it any other way would you let’s start with Liverpool then and it felt a bit like a a statement performance against Newcastle the highest XG if you bothered about that sort of thing since it was introduced more than seven scored four against Newcastle and from attacking perspective

Were pretty irresistable yeah fantastic performance every attack it was a brilliant game obviously some key decisions some key moments Eddie H how thought um he felt AG grieve slightly that some of them didn’t go his way U But ultimately Liverpool deserved to win they were the ones who kept attacking

Kept being on the front foot obviously um and the confidence is there I think Jurgen stting to sort of calm down slightly he was under pressure a little bit regards to fixtures schedules he’s got a lot to to come by the way in January um but he’s got to be delighted

With the situation the only problem potentially just appearing on on the horizon is the absence of a certain Mo Salah for the next few weeks and again two more goals the other night against Newcastle um he’s just impossible to replace fully isn’t he he is Liverpool have had to

Deal with this situation before they haven’t they with the Africa Cup of Nations then the last time it came around we had Salah and mané going remember they actually met in the tournament and we know how that went the interesting thing here is how quickly they’ll want him back and whether the

Players in his absence can keep scoring the goals because as you mentioned the XG they’re creating chances at anfield in particular they’re such a dangerous animal Jurgen kops had to rotate these four forward players sometimes he plays them all sometimes he finds three and we

Move one in and one out but there’s a huge pressure on the likes of Darwin Nunes and doo jot getting fit again and Cody Cody gako who in spells has shown that quality required if they can get through the next what three four in the Premier League before Mo Salah comes

Back and they’re still in the title race then absolutely I think Liverpool have a massive there’s one position though isn’t Ben that that he doesn’t generally change it’s most Salah you know the rest sort of move around slightly but if the big games are on you know where he’s

Playing um I think it’s psychologically a a big Miss for them I think they’re in a great place and I think if you look at the uh the AFL cup for instance I think the draw is quite kind that they might just be able to to to get through that

Um but I you know I don’t think there’s too much of a worry slight concern um but um they should have enough shouldn’t they sure I think right now actually on that point the the fact the rest of the four players are playing so well together but there’s an opportunity and

You’re right about the Salah position no one technically plays if he’s fit There’s an opportunity for someone there because other players will be able to do that interesting for me as well that link up with Trent because that’s been so important in the last few weeks and

Months isn’t it Salah and Trent on the right hand side without Salah what does that do to Trent’s game because Trent Alexander arold have been fantastic in so is that one for opposition for instance if you got a mo Sala so you see City come up against Liverpool to play

Sayan nak and say you don’t need to go too far so then Trent can come inside it’s not it’s not a 2v one for instance that can push forward so teams might slightly think well we can adapt we can go and attack Liverpool a little bit

More um so will he keep driving inside I’m sure he will uh in the on the other side of the the coin Darwin nun yes M he does so many good things the fans at Liverpool love him he scored 10 big chances in his time at Liverpool he’s

Missed 38 big chances in the absence of someone like Salah he has to be more clinical in the next month you think so because Liverpool will create chances they need players to put them away if look with jotter fit I think that takes a bit of the pressure off him because

He’s got a proven track record of when he comes in the team he delivers he can score in big games in big moments but absolutely I think think the time is now if ever there was a time for Darwin nunus it has to be this month Michael

Yeah you’d say so um I think his work right his energy how he runs in behind the Dynamics of what he brings to the side um would he want to score more goals yes I’m sure everybody would say that would be something he needs to

Improve on but um you know I don’t think you’ll feel too much pressure I think I think the Liverpool are okay I think it’ll be interesting to see how other teams improve as well to put the pressure on Liverpool obviously typically Manchester City be one I would

Be saying would need to do that um but the Midfield area for me so it’s still an interesting situation who supports that attacking unit who plays the six the two8 for instance or how does he move it around so I still think he’s he’s got a touch to do Jurgen when it

Comes to the top top games you mentioned Manchester City there that is who is lurking and Jurgen Klo will know better than anyone else what can come from city after Christmas there was maybe a little bit of a fear from the Champions perspective that when they dropped those

Late points at home to Palace then they were heading off to Saudi Arabia to play the world club cup that teams might just start to disappear over the horizon but Liverpool albe it it’s at home at man united home against Arsenal they still drew two games and they are within reach

Of City yeah I think they were they were very important psychologically might have been tough for City I think there were obviously the disappointment was there for for everybody against Crystal Palace that went away with a tricky trip obviously the club World ch ionships that they come away got great result

Obviously another trophy for the football club the danger for me was Everton I think that was the real dangerous fixture because they travel back they had a couple of days off there been obviously the Christmas schedule um going join the families for that coming back against an EV side who wanted to

Run all over them and once they got through that I felt now that the next month is quite you know sort of accommodating for City players can come back they can rest a few the FA Cup with Huddersfield Newcastle coming then a break so I feel like it’s a it’s a good

Month for City and it was interesting as well to hear Jurgen klopp I think he was talking prematch before the game U against Newcastle he said Kevin De bruyne is warming up and the whole country is shaking that his return and erling harland’s return probably does

Make the rest of the Premier League go oh great here they come again yeah two standout players who when they’ve played together last year in particular they had such an incredible relationship the dynamic was so the amount of chances that Kevin De bruyne created for earling Harland last

Year we can’t forget that because that’s been a huge miss this year and you look at Harland and look at the number of goals he scored he doesn’t feel like he’s quite having the same season and yet his stats show he’s still getting as many big chances he’s scoring plenty of

Goals they need to get him fit of course they do miss him Julian Alvarez in the last few weeks has been excellent over Christmas actually scoring to help them win the FIFA World Club cup and then coming back and getting goals in the Premier League as well so they’ve got

Players but look bringing de Bry in one of the standout Premier League players of this generation is a huge January signing in itself I’m slightly biased cuz I love watching Kevin play I think he’s the all round midfielder um when he came back he he had that little warm-up

Against sheffi United and I know what he got for Christmas he got a new hairstyle didn’t he he got some he got some new locks give Kevin a bit of stick for that by the way but he went down the sideline and literally the crowd went up and in

His back I we think we have to be cautious he he’s going to take a few weeks it was a serious injury to that hamstring yeah it was a repair to the hamstring which you got to be cautious the medical staff will obviously say let’s just be careful with him um it’s

Been a good time now with with the rest that he can just go into training no pressure on the fixers if he wants to contribute a little bit in the FA Cup doku as well coming back towards that so fantastic where does he fit in for you

Michael because is it Alvarez that comes out he’s played really well is it foda moving wide is it Bernardo going back more in a more Central role what a horrible Jo the poor man’s got I know but legitimately these are Big questions for Guardiola because that Midfield in particular rounds the main Striker

Whether that’s alfarez up top or just behind har F you’ve been waiting for that just to say he’s right who’s who does Michael say needs to miss out that’s what you’re trying to get to very clever question listen when Kevin’s at his best or when he’s when he’s fa he

Plays doesn’t he he’ll find different roles whether he been that attacking Midfield area we’ve seen him going to wide positions on the press as well we’ve seen him join an Alvarez or a harand make a two at the top um so there’s loads of ways different games

And I think they will be able to adapt I think I’m not going to commit to say exactly who’s going to miss the situation because they can change it can’t they do you know they could still go with the two if they if they really wanted to rodri and Kevin and Alvarez

And Harland or they could literally say we can move on to the wider areas Phil’s fantastic I think he’s having a really good season he started on the on the wider area coming inside getting him great position behind Midfield players uh but now he’s obviously playing more Central getting chances there’s got so

Much room to to change things around so who knows Ben you know spoiled for choice I think for and you got a good question there Ben so you’re obviously well rested Ben Ransom and Michael Brown with me on retrospect this week and let’s bring in Gail Davis as well who

Covers a lot of Arsenal Gail good to have you with us I’m hoping that you’re going to be slightly more lively than the cat that’s behind you who looks still like he’s enjoying his bre um the life of a Whi it Rob Jones when I do apologize um let’s talk about

Arsenal because it’s not been such a good festive period for them just just one point um from a possible nine defeats to West Ham and to Fulham where do you feel it’s gone wrong for Mikel arteta and his team well actually roll back even before Christmas Rob it’s one Premier League

Win in five and they’re 10 points points worse off than they were last season at this stage I mean the Fulham game Aletta said it himself worst performance of this season and that of course came off the back of a West Ham game where they played well no Premier League sighting I

Think 2009’s had more touches in the Box 30 attempts on goal but they didn’t manage to score and I know we’ll talk about that uh in a moment what I actually think is more of a problem um is at the other end and we’re not actually talking about goalkeepers up at

Arsenal which we spent a lot of the first few months of the Season talking about but defensively they were really poor against for them you look at the goals they gave away they gave the ball away in Midfield uh Gabrielle uh looks devoid of confidence kivia sort of

Helped give away the first goal didn’t he and was hauled off at halftime for Tommy ay who’s now off at the Asian C and if you think back to the West Time game beating it as well Gabrielle mix up uh so I think with zenchenko Ed no Tommy

Assu that’s probably more of a concern um given that they don’t really have anybody that can come in Gail can I ask you because it’s been a topic on this podcast about Arsenal’s goal scoring because what is it 11 Premier League goals I think between the front three of

Martinelli jeesus and sacka this season we saw saaka get a tap in against Fulham but is that an area and do you think they are going to strengthen in January who you’ve missed out on that list Ben is antia who’s got checked out before nine goals this season uh and we’ve seen

Him sort of float in and Float out haven’t we but when you look at saaka I mean you mentioned his goal but what about that Miss late on so uncharacteristic of him way over and that sort of summed up where his confidence is at the moment I think the

Problem for Arsenal is that sacka and Martinelli have been so reliable uh up front haven’t they over the past sort of SE season and a half and both of them have hit poor form at the same time and yes there is Trad that he can rotate but

He’s not not the same player doesn’t put fear into opposition Defenders and I think it’s an issue and jayus has clearly been playing in the middle but when you think about him at City he’s never he said himself he wasn’t really an out andout Striker um so it is an

Issue and every sort of few months when an Arsenal have a bad time it does wear its head doesn’t it about what what they’re going to do um the one that everybody’s talking about is Ivan Tony but I don’t know what Michael thinks I just don’t get the sense that it’s a

Deal that’s going to be done in particularly in this window and I don’t know whether he’s a player that could do any better than someone like edian Ketty who probably would have to go to free up funds to bring him in I think you’ve got to certainly look around the market I

Think they’re constantly doing that I think you’ve seen some signings recently from Arsenal michar Teta real statement signings that they feel when you watch Liverpool that they feel like someone’s going to go straight in that team make that difference I think that’s the type of player they need if that’s going to

Be Ivan Tony is being that number nine then then so be it but I I think we’ve got to be slightly cautious as well regards to over criticism of Arsenal I think where they’ve actually they been the improvements we’ve seen I think overall Squad is getting better getting

Deeper and they’re on top competition against them so listen I think they’ always take another one it’s how You’ do that how you’d slide it in and sometimes it could be more of a problem but you do feel like Edd and Keta would be the one

Who would miss out if they decide to make that choice just a couple of points of of Gils then to to pick sorry Gail did you want to come in I was just concern about edin KY as well having spoken to artetta a lot about him this

Season he the Arsenal fans do kind of get on his back and are critical of his finishing sometimes but he is a player that Eddie and ke absolutely loves and he’s loved watching his progress signed a new deal not so long ago and he’s somebody that the

Artist truly believes can perform in the Premier League for him and and to be fair when you look at the Premier League stats um it is nine goals for him this season a couple of points then to pick up on about who Arsenal might bring in

Uh on on Ivan Tony brenford are losing Yan Wier to the Africa Cup of Nations Brian and Burma’s got a long-term injury you said actually in our production meeting before the poll I’m worried about brenford at the moment it is suicidal almost to then let Ivan Tony go

I know they might get there’s no secret safe is there by the way you know like it was in confidence you’re running straight under say well you won’t be welcome anywhere near bford now he he’s already not welcome in brenford anyway so no reports for you from

Bford he doesn’t go south of ke services so he’s fine um no but I mean from a brenford perspective you are you know chucking your Premier League existence up in the air if you’re without whis and urmo and then you sell Tony surely yeah exactly that look it’s one win Thomas

Frank has made that quite clear hasn’t he he doesn’t want to sell him um and you just can’t you just can’t really see that deal being done in this window when you look at Arsenal’s finances as well the Ry deal had to be a loan and then

The moneyy is going to be paid afterwards they don’t have 40 50 60 million pounds unless they get a huge you know money offer for somebody their players and they’ve made the point haven’t they that ramale is not going and he’d be the one that would command

That sort of that probably that sort of money so yeah I I do think it’s an issue but I also think it’s at the other end where Arsenal really need to look at strengthening and I was just having a look at a few reports earlier even Kieran TIY obviously he’s at loan isn’t

He Ro s dads we don’t know how bad zinchenko injury is they’re missing Tommy Yu at the Asia cup and there’s sort of rumors possibly that he could be recall from his loan because he’s probably a player that Aral could do with to add to their squad over the next

Few weeks so on Strikers Michael we’re looking at brenford we’re talking about their form and the perhaps difficulty that it’s going to take to get ivanon out because look they’ve got a big decision to make one win in eight Premier League games they’re not scoring enough goals as Rob said earlier they

Don’t necessarily have the options up front Keen leis Potter’s doing a good job at the moment what about Arsenal targets what about English forwards we’ve spoken about the trio that are battling for the Euro squads Tony Watkins and that form man sank is he possibly an option for someone like

Arsenal or Spurs for that matter I think let’s be honest um sank will be right at the top of the list for Arsenal and I’m sure that that’s happening in the background that they they’d love to they’d love to take him but again if you’re if you’re Bournemouth you play

Really well why would you want to do that deal um again it’s one of those that you look at the end of the season and you say well is it time for a player to move on are we in a different position do we get the value that we

Want from a player and this is the point with with Tony as well for brenford they’re missing so many plays they’ve had Ben me recently out the two full Wing backs have been missing so again it’s Squad rotation that you know in depth that you’ve got to look at certain

Situations and timings and Bournemouth On The Run they’ve had it would be easier for them to actually say well we’re now in a position they W want to do that but we’re in a position that we feel we’re not going to get relegated where at brenford now when they’re on

The slide I an Tony as well let’s be fair he’s also got some loyalty towards brenford situation missing games um and he’ll want to move on at some point if a top four Club comes that’s normal do you think that this is where sometimes in

January a manager will come to you as a player and say look just give me five more months just get me to the end of the season 100% keep us up Ivan keep what you saying as well though if you’re saying you’ve been at a club and you’ve

Served them for such a long period of time and you’re for instance got an opportunity to maybe going in a team that’s going to play in the Champions League rewarded as well with a a considerable bigger contract your family has to look at that location there’s lots of things

That come into it and most players will will show that loyalty and wait and have that patience for a manager who’s looked after them um but at times there certain clubs that come come along and opportunities that could go away I think for the Tony situation the finances will

Be key here okay because obviously it’s the balance between what his value is to keeping them in the Premier League versus what they can cash in on now rather than lose him at the end of his contract simple as that and their recruitment as well if we’re talking about brenford is generally structured

For a period they’re going to have to adapt they’re going to have to change because that their target and their sort of position that they felt like they would be in is changed because of the amount of players that they’ve had missing Thomas Frank even said I was at the game against

Wolves that took a poor result before the game I asked him you know does things change and he said yes it does we might have to look and do different different targets different moves in the transfer market because they’ve got to stay away from from that relegation Zone

Who else can be dragged into it because of that sticky run for Arsenal over Christmas they’re just one point ahead of Tottenham who took six points from nine Gail is still with us I mean classic Spurs under an really Gil some great stuff suddenly in the middle of it

They found themselves fourn down against Brighton as as well that is just Tottenham this season and their fans are still enjoying it yeah it’s uh one hell of a ride isn’t it I mean when you look at where they are and think back to the summer I think

Most Spurs fans would be absolutely delighted I was um in Perth when and poog played his first game and huge amount of interest from Australia over there they absolutely love him you know and they said how do you think he’ll do and sort of gauging the opinion of Spurs

Fans and at that point they were like we’ll take top eight maybe top six if we if we’re doing really well you know they were about to watch their Star Striker leave and at that point an said all I want to do is just get a team together

Because so you felt like there was a change then you felt like there was a change in the fan perspective because the last couple of Seasons it’s all been about we need a trophy we have to see something at the end of it so was there a different approach you felt from the

Supporters that they were going to give him more time well I just think they loved what they saw really early on you know they loved the fact that even if they were going to lose they were going to have a go and even at at Brighton they to pull

Two goals back and did have a go at the last kind of you know the last 15 minutes or so I think they understand what Andie is trying to do um they they had an amazing first run in there and then the wheels sort of came off off

Against Chelsea with those injuries and the suspensions a and it is it’s still kind of up very up and down I think Spurs fans also understand that there’s a number of really big injuries aren’t there and come the end of January things might begin to look a bit different the

Lights of mad being back van probably sesson obviously s basuma and saw but sort of you know towards February that they’ve got a real chance haven’t they to push on at this point in the season but they need some reinforcements particularly uh in the back as well I

Just want to pick up on something that g was saying about an Posta kugu because look he’s come in like a breath of fresh we’ve all really enjoyed seeing him in the Premier League as well now naughty one perhaps for you Michael here it’s going to be you’re looking at me

Straight away so I know I’m ready for it it’s like me cricket mate me Cricket I’ve I’ve spent a long time covering Manchester City I’ve spent a long time covering the city football group Pep Guardiola will leave at some point and every so often a name anal absolute

Animal does and is this a friendly podcast or is this like a you know breaking news go on Michael Brown does an poao come into the discussions around that succession P oh brilliant I like that a lot so do you think he’s done enough yet to earn is to earn that sort

Of status for Pep Guardiola I think we love the way he plays football he understands the city group we know that I think he’s got a great Le relationship with pep um but Pep’s got unfinished business yet he’s got to go on and see how I’m dodging away from the actual

Answer do you know what top managers um have to do well for a period of time City will have their targets and they will already be forecasting for a a replacement whenever that day is hopefully it’s not coming anytime soon it’s impressive to watch how h plays he

Doesn’t always want to change and I think what we have seen with Pep Guardiola over the time in the Premier League we’ve seen him adapt we’ve seen him change we’ve seen him be hard to beat we’ve not seen him roll it out where an seems to be different this is

The way I play and that’s it where Peppa’s actually transformed and and and at times late on in games he’s holding it in a corner we don’t you know we don’t play short we don’t play Square um and different styles as well so there’s

The answer you know he’s got to do a lot more If he if he wants to be there but unbelievable manager we love and and and we’re excited by his teams um but again I think there is another way and another tweak that he just needs to possibly

Look at clipped into the leg side that go on interrupt very usually do anyway so I well yeah just occasionally um not with Aleta I learned my lesson there um what is Arta is that what you’re saying is arteta on City because he knows City he and

P and I just really interested to get your point of view because we’re very lucky I spent a bit of time with Anin Perth I’ve done a couple of sit Downs with him this season we get access to chat to some of the Spurs players what I

Find really interesting about an is his whole philosophy on management he is really hands off he doesn’t go into the dressing room he doesn’t set the rules for the players he he lets them set the environment and the culture they want to play in he says

I’ll know if it’s not right I’ll be able to see it on the training pitch I’ll be able to see it in games and even like young players that Destiny doggy I sat down with last week he loves the fact that he’s really trusted by him um and

It’s interesting I don’t know whether it’s the group of players that he’s got that have really bought into what Angie’s trying to do or it’s the style but I just compare that to some of the other Premier League managers where they like to control sort of 70 80% of the

Time of what players are doing and I wonder which you prefer and how that has helped Tottenham adapt so quickly to the sort of vision that they’ve got at the club I think it’s always nice to to run your day-to-day stuff do whatever you want turn up when you when you’d like to

I think I had it with um with Chris col we had a brilliant relationship when I was at Fulham I was Captain and he he come to us and he asked what we’d like to do what’s next and really felt involved and that was really important to me I really enjoyed that wonderful

Time with him and and I learned a lot from him um I think Pep Guardiola is is also um he’s very very strict but he has then an understanding of of time off players can have fun and it’s important a lot of managers can’t do that so it’s

Right to have the that environment where the players can can can control the the dressing room themselves um but once it goes into the training ground I think you understand who the boss is and that’s that’s simple as that it’s not going to change so um you know it’s

Having the right players if if the squad’s not too big everybody buys into it everybody’s getting minutes but when it’s a little bit bigger than that and we’ll see it we’d see a different scenario in dress rooms let’s just finish off the top seven then with sixth against seventh West Ham against

Brighton to finish off the the Christmas period Gail there’s a commemorative plaque on the way because he sat through a a nil nil draw involving Brighton which is quite amazing um and a smattering of booze for West Ham at the end which is amazing given that they’ve just beaten Manchester United and

Arsenal over Christmas yeah and wolves and not conceded a goal taking 10 points in their four games I mean it was not the way that I’d hoped to start my 2023 storm Hank on the way got to the TV compound and there was things flying

Around and I thought uh oh this is not looking good and uh that was as dramatic as the game kind of got yeah it’s really interesting isn’t it because West Ham are I mean they’ve taken more points at this stage of the Season than ever before they’re into the last 16 of the

Europa League I it was it was a poor game and West Ham didn’t really offer very much H they up front without Kudos and without patow but I’m not sure that the bees were particularly called for um interesting to see what happens with them over the next few weeks by their

Own admission Moyes has said missing those two will have a you know a big effect on what we try and do and uh interesting to see when that contract does get signed because you know not all West Ham fans are happy with where they are despite winning their first piece of

Silverware and 4 few years and despite uh going again this season on two fronts in Europe and the Premier League I tell you what these West Ham supporters who are not sure about that be careful what you wish for I think that’s all I can say if I’m David Moyes as well I’m

Looking and sort of saying well if some of the sporters don’t want me should I be here or do I think well I’ve got the support of the players I’ve got the support of the board there’s only a small percentage of those supporters who are doing that obviously only recently

Last couple of weeks I’ve been shouting out very loud about the fact that how is he not being offered a contract it’s ridiculous he should be able to take the club forward and and finally the talks are there so um wonderful manager wonderful job um but we’ve got to take

This negativity away from West Ham I don’t know what we’re expecting any anymore for him to do I mean it’s him and his coach and staff he’s got a good support team there um the times have been inconsistent we get that but it’s it is the top of the Premier League and

The resources Etc um it’s it’s disappointing to hear those boo you can you can continue to keep winning every week Gail we will let you go and join that whip it for a snooze on the couch thank you very much indeed for being with

Us be very happy i’ got to take him out for a walk oh god well we’ll let you go and do that Gail thank you very much Ben’s questioning kept him asleep Ben Ransom and Michael Brown with us on retrospect this week we’re going to take a quick breather when we come

Back we’ll talk wolves and notingham Forest welcome back to retrospect from Sky Sports News our reporter Ben Ransom and former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown are still with me let’s just round off talking about the top 10 with eight nine and 10 Manchester United Newcastle and Chelsea and a question for both of

You which of those three sets of supporters should be most encouraged and most concerned by where they are at the moment that’s a good one isn’t it um literally I think we’ve been seen uncertainty from all around I think inconsistency expectation levels were higher that’s for certain um Newcastle

Have seen a a big drop up haven’t they in performances um Squad depth Squad that been tested they look very very tired they need a bit of a rest for me um they need some players back that’s for certain um but inconsistency everywhere else Chelsea got so many players Manchester United inconsistent

Yet again there’s been that takeover option how will that affect the squad but um I don’t think anybody will be absolutely delighted at this moment in time I think the interesting one for me out of those is Manchester United because you referenced the Takeover there the fact that this week again we

Know today um s Jim Ratcliffe s Dave braford are having meetings at Manchester United they’re trying to meet as many of the club staff as they can they obviously had those football side meetings didn’t they with Eric tenhagen the players what can they do in January because until the deal is ratified by

The Premier League technically they can’t be on on the board as much as they can do this kind of groundwork right now will they be in a position to make any changes does Manchester United going out of Europe help them in away because all of a sudden they can plan they’ve got a

Week to prepare for each Premier League game it’s it’s a fascinating Dynamic there because they will want to see an upturn in on Pitch performance even though how do they do that though how did they do that that’s that’s that’s the issue without an influx of players

Or a change what are they going to put in place there’s so many problems around man when you talk about an influx players that that must be one of the most maddening things for Man United supporters maybe for Eric tenh as well that second half against Villa you saw

What they were capable of whether it be rashford Bruno Fernandez garnacho but almost the worst thing about it was that I’m saying straight after the game you can almost tell what’s going to come against Forest that it’ll be back to square one a little bit and that’s what

We saw beaten at Forest having been really good for 45 minutes against Viller and that seems to be more about the culture than the the ability of the players I think they’re run out legs at times I really do honestly so theyve trying to put younger players in more

Energy trying to keep the tempo up um The Fragile away as well with confidence away from home times feel Manchester United would generally have had this Force around them now clubs are saying well we’re going to have a go we’re going to take you on um and then I’m not

Sure the players can deal with that in that way I think there’s been so many ins and outs I don’t think people really feel part of the future as a player you look and say well am I really going to be here for the long haul a good example

Of that Michel sorry to cut in but is Anthony Langer going back to that Manchester United Forest game because he was absolutely brilliant he’s a player that had a stop start career at United clearly they believed he had a lot of talent because he got into that first

Team and then he wasn’t trusted then he’s had to be sold for relatively modest money now he’s doing well for forest and the other Anthony who cost an absolute bomb is still doing nothing yeah langa been brilliant I watched him a lot very humble I’m enjoying his football works really hard wanted a

Chance obviously um but you look and you talk about an Anthony um costing lots of money whose signing was it was it the managers was IT director of football was it somebody else well ten hard knew him so he must have had imp this is the problem it’s it’s quite disjointed the

Place and I’m not sure um who’s leading the way even getting ten ha in it took so long didn’t it for him to come in the building he’s had enough time now to change things around and um it’s very very Messi and I think there’s more to

Come just below that little group of 8 n 10 wolves in 11th after maximum points over the Christmas period Midlands reporter Dan khah is with us now Dan I mean probably unai emry would be manager of the season in most people’s books at the moment but there would be a very

Very honorable mention by the way can you not afford the heating bill you’re outside God bless you um Gary O’Neal gets a very honorable mention at the moment doesn’t he yeah absolutely I’ll just give you the kind of where I am at the moment I’m in chiam on my way to see

Troy de see how he’s getting on at Forest screen Rovers so thought I’d find a nice coffee shop on the High Street CH D can you just Pan the camera around please because I actually spent my former years in chiam uh would you believe oh there’s the High Street wow

It’s changed a bit since I was there there’s a there’s a famous pastry shop uh right right behind me called uh rhymes with Megs very popular behind me stay out of buds nightclub that’s my advice to you I lost many an hour of my life in there extraordinary trip down

Memory lane this is anyway if we don’t mind B if we can get back to Gary O’Neal rather than worrying about what you were doing when you were 20 what what a job he’s doing Dan yeah no absolutely and I I was gonna Echo what you said there Rob

Because I can sound like a broken record but it’s very rare manager takes you know one of his first jobs I know Gary Neils at Bournemouth did a brilliant job last season but one of his first jobs of his career his second job um and he Tak

It what three four days before the season begins you know and remember that Squad there were quite I think there are a few misconceptions that you know a lot of people said well Ral gimnez Adam atori both left the club they weren’t particularly playing every week has to

Be said especially over the last few years both suffered with injuries but they had lost a lot of Premier League experience in those departures those two Ruben Nea xia matinho as well so you just look at the job I mean you speak about Eric tenan Haag and a few of the

Other managers who are trying to kind of identify way of playing and I think the impact Gary O’Neal has had with all those players leaving and you look at how he’s tried to find Solutions as well I mean they really looked for a number nine in the summer they couldn’t find

One so he made hangi Chan who’s predominantly a Winger into a number nine and he has 10 goals this season he’s off to the Asian cup but he’s been a great success story so far this season just just to pick up on a couple of those points Michael I mean someone

You probably know pretty well Gary O’Neal wolves fans are a little bit underwhelmed to say the least there are people sort of describing him as a PE teacher I know that some of that is probably a reflection on having a a big name manager in hooland latei but he has

Been absolutely brilliant as Dan said picking it up four or five days before the season starts to get them to a point where you would say they’re pretty much safe is an amazing job but they will have to deal without being with hang for the next few weeks but other than that

Everything looks pretty Rosy yeah very good I think we talk about O’Neal when he he took took over with Bournemouth or where that Bournemouth Squad was I’m not sure there was anybody out there who covers games media former players current players wouldn’t have said Bournemouth would have been in that

Relegation Zone well even Scott Parker had effectively said forget it he picked it up he got the results brilliant and then we understand why they wanted to make that change Bournemouth they wanted to play in a different style they wanted to be a bit more Progressive on the

Front foot bit more like a brighten model a bit more creative Etc Gary’s teams can sit in they can wait they can delay so when he got appointed at wolves no prep no preseason no call on what players he could bring in for his philosophy he’s had to find a way he’s

Moved a couple around that he’s not been too sure about he’s found a system he’s found a way and Juan at the top of the pitch he said we interviewed him last week and literally it was he’s the example round the training ground he sets the tone the professionalism that

Everything he does comes from him around the group so straight away that tells you he’s on side with the manager his runs that he drops in gets him behind as well he’s he’s a full credit so um he’s got good support with Shawn Derry guy I

Know very very well and Gary’s done an unbelievable job he started really well at Manchester United um wolves did they were very unfortunate but what they did is that that he straight away turned the players Viewpoint turned the supporters a little bit they had a few little

Hiccups along the way and now an incredible Job full of confidence scoring goals and um he’s doing a great job very thorough yeah and on hang I mean he’s a player that’s had a fantastic season so far I mean he’s really stepped up in terms of goal output this year obviously it means

Clubs start to sniff around the question again is Club Tottenham Michael go would they like him yeah no no but seriously okay not maybe now obviously he’s got to go away to the Asia cup and all that kind of thing but as a forward player is

He the sort of player that an poogle would like to say yeah you’d say it’ be the it would be a perfect one wouldn’t it somebody can play across the line he can he can filter in and out and what I like about him like I said he’ll drop

Down he’ll make the runs behind he’s clever off shoulders so as long as you’re playing forward passes and getting him behind different situations and again he’s infectious so um I had a little bit of a bit of fun with Gary the other day that he come off at brenford

With his little spasm in his back and I went he did he was he brave enough there he said he’s got a couple of goals we let him off he’ll be all right for the next one so yeah he’s doing really well I think he’s getting better he’s found

His confidence and um no it’s great to see I love the way when he’s not hosting he just hurs in bounces to as well because if you get annoyed and walk out it’s me who has to pick up the pieces thanks for that Ben let’s move on to um

Woles former manager Dan Nuno with two wins uh from three over Christmas after a Bournemouth game which changed on that ludicrous red card for Willie B but to beat Newcastle to beat Manchester United is he having the impact you imagined he would or has it got even better even

Quicker than than maybe Forest fans would have thought yeah it’s an interesting one isn’t it when you because I think you know of course there was so much love for Steve Cooper you know at the city ground I think the players really wanted it to work under Steve Cooper as well but you

Know it just felt like they’d gone through multiple difficult runs without winning a game from last season and into this one as well that maybe just a fresh voice would uh help and I think Nuno the impact he’s had of course I mean I was at the Manchester United game and you

Know they just looked really good and they looked kind of their best selves of last season and I think a big part of that mentioned this on the last episode but Morgan Gibbs white again I think quite often when he’s on song the rest of the team are and his goal against

United was brilliant but just everything ticks around him the one thing I would say is their next month is very interesting because they’re going to miss six players through afcon and a lot of that’s in defense you have serier OA Willie Bal and M I think the fullbacks

You could probably get away with because you have Harry tofo and uh gonz monal as well and niik Williams so I think they’re well covered there I think the two I’d be kind of worried about is Ibrahim Saro uh because he’s just started to look really good and czechu K

As well they could probably get away with Ryan Yates and denillo but I don’t know Michael what do you think in that Midfield there for the position of yours I mean they don’t I know they have a really big Squad but they probably don’t have a lot of kind of midfielders like

That really yeah I I understand your point of view and I thought he had a good reaction um in his first game I think Gibbs white was the talk Point wasn’t it regarding Nuno getting rid of him at wolves didn’t really fancy him how does he address that with a when he

Walks into the door Gibbs white now being the the sort of star performer what does he do how does he how does he react to him and I know I did the game at Newcastle they made six changes Gibbs white was immense in the game Not only

Was he great going forward on the turn trying to get balls in behind he’ drop in on newcastle’s two Midfield players or you know just that defend Ive mindset as well and then he set the tone very very brave With The Changes Langer Hudson s Chris Wood Etc getting goals

And now they’re developing even more so they’ve got the players there he wants to see everybody but when you’ve got those results so quickly it’s again it’s a nice problem for him I love the dynamic with Nuno and Morgan Gibbs white because let’s not forget this was a

Player that became so frustrated with his lack of opportunities under Nuno wolves he sought that move it was really unpopular I’ve been to Forest wolves games where he’s been the the absolute pantomim villain in the middle of that Nuno comes back in Michael has there ever been an occasion in your career

Where you’ve been a player and either a manager or a coach has gone away that you maybe haven’t seen eye to eye with then somehow you Collide and end up working with again well there a little bit um obviously I got on great with Neil waro at Sheffield United and um

They thought well great times moved on later on in my career um we had Neil Redford manager at lead United and I remember on the Friday he says to me um yeah you’re not going to play tomorrow I was like really so we’re going to try

And move you on and I’m thinking well Neil Warner might be coming in tomorrow so Neil walks in changes everything he was back in back in the building um had fun again with Neil um so yeah that that things changed so quickly when you might be in you might not understanding a

Manager and I’m sure what Nuno would go across by saying was um you’ve now developed into the player I thought you your potential had and he said that that’s be his line but what else is he G to say you know go on D sorry sorry to

Interrupt you guys I was just going to say actually ask n know about it before the United game about reuniting with Gib zwi and you know off that off the back of that Newcastle performance you mentioned that Michael and he basically said you know he was really happy to be

Reunited because you mentioned on the field he’s matured but I think off the field he’s become a dad this season you know with his partner and actually that was something Nuno mentioned quite a lot was you can sense the maturity because he’s become a dad and he felt like that

Was kind of a real big responsibility off the pitch and he could just sense that kind of growth there as well and I think you know let’s not forget the context here you know when Nuno and Gibbs white kind of had that maybe conflict Gibbs white was 16117 and

Remember this is a wolves team who were in Europe who were doing extremely well so it wasn’t the easiest team to get in it’s not perhaps the wolv side you know that would maybe be perhaps easier if Gibs white was at this stage of got walk

Say he’s just got to walk in and say Morgan hands up got it wrong I love the where you play but I need you come on let’s go can you forgive me please Dan we’re going to let you go cuz I I’m worried that Sky Sports might be liable

For your hypothermia otherwise but just before you do a quick plug for when we’ll see that Troy deie interview uh yes so that will be on SOC Saturday pre-match thanks very much Rob we’re gonna he’s had four games in charge so far not got a win yet but

Performance a big game against Su is it yeah absolutely sford still without a manager um so that would be an interesting one and yeah I’m really interested to see what tro has to say you know how he’s found his first few games in charge any surprises things

Like that I’m really interested to see what choice of py that you pick on your right shoulder what do you suggest I was trying to cover it with my shoulder but what do you suggest I’ll go whever you think steak one Dan thank thank you very much you certainly won’t be getting a

Steak pasty at Forest Green that’s what we know for sure Dan khah alongside Ben Ransom and Michael Brown on retrospect this week let’s talk about matters down at the bottom Michael you sure we have to go here we’re running out of time tried to make two teams is it is it Burnley Luton

That’s their the ones yeah just below them unfortunately with anybody else is well Sheffield United um and the question would be and look I don’t think fans would ever want to hear this but sometimes people at football clubs have to be the adults in the room when even

When you get to January do you start thinking of next season and things potentially being too far gone they’re now seven off safety I think as a board of directors um a manager I think if you’re doing you planning you have to look at that you have to consider the

Situation if I’m going to go into the market or I’m going to change somebody are these players going to be good for the next 18 months are they’re going to be somebody who we could take on board take the club forward um I think Chris Wilder will be he’ll be very good with

That sort of choice they’ll understand it because they’ve been through that situation already um if if he gets a couple of players in do I believe they can catch people yes the problem we’ve got is who are the ones you can catch Everton have being on a good run I know

The question marks are starting to be asked because of the Spurs but they could have won that um and then they um lost the city and one poor performance against wolves but realistically they were on a good run for a period of time brenford who obviously Ben said they’re

Going to be right in the relegation battle it’s comes to mind who’s somebody you can catch but um you know we it there’s positives there’s positives around Sheffield United the fans were a little bit disappointed and I went on a couple of bits that they weren’t brave

Enough at Manchester City and and I thought that was quite tough to take it’s tough to go there but couple of players change it around give Chris Wilder a goal um I’m sure they can get some results and the point is and I remember speaking to Sam allise about

This years ago about you go through blocks of games and you target we’ll get five points from these four we’ll get six points from those four you’re never going to stay at based on what you do at the ETI had and actually the killer was being in front against Luton and losing

3-2 big big game I looked at that and thought this was a a must-win for Sheffield United I think the positives they can take away is that it was a strange game freak freak goals a freak result that that cheff United performed in the game so there’s a positive I try

To be positive I try to give them something like against Manchester City they took something from the game they had a couple of opport unties City didn’t completely go away with four five and six which can happen um and now going forward I think you know a couple

Of players will really freshen it up for him let’s just finish them with a bit of transfer chat because we’ve discussed and alluded to a number of times that the window is open but we’re also ticking down to when GTH Southgate will have to start thinking very seriously

About his Euro Squad obviously every time a squad is named at the moment there is a lot of conversation about Calvin Phillips should he be playing more our colleague in the Northeast Keith Downey reporting interests from Newcastle Juventus have been linked with him as well what does Calvin need to do

Do you think between now and the end of the season listen he’s a great lad I’ve known him since League United I see him at Manchester City quite regular and he just wants to play football he’s a great professional he does everything um but right and um he just needs football but

The point is you know me looking from the outset and you say well he’s on a decent contract he wants to go and play he wants to get uh England minutes he wants to play football never no not necessarily just for the Euros he wants to play every single week that’s like

Any hungry player who are doing the right thing so if there’s a loan deal I possibly say I’d be slightly cautious of that if it was me um I’d look to say who are that club who want to take me on a long-term project because I feel like

There’ll be a lot of those when the time is right and if he has to was wait a couple more months it’s going to be in a team who are up for all sorts of trophies again although not playing those minutes he’ll be part of it and

Sometimes your timing has got to be key how do you see it from a city perspective because it feels as though some of the things we’ve heard from Pep Guardiola in recent months it’s an amicable parting of ways that it just does not fit sadly into what pep wants

To do it feels that way because pep has spoken glowingly about him publicly he’s apologized essentially for not picking him but the truth I’m afraid is in his team selections the fact he’s had so few starts and appearances in 18 months of the club is just it shows that he

Doesn’t trust him Ro has missed let’s not forget four matches this season through suspension and Phillips literally has not been the go-to when you perhaps just think that was the one time he’d get in the team so pep clearly doesn’t feel he can do it in this team

And I think you’re right rob a kind of mutual amicable passing of the way seems about all right it’s like when rodri was missing what chance is he going to get it would be coverage it’ be R Lewis two cent he play you know um we’ve seen Azie

Go we’ve seen Jon stones and ultimately he’s not fit um it’s a shame it just hasn’t it hasn’t worked out but you know he’s going to have um you know lots of football in him and whoever gets him next you might see the best of Calvin Phillips and I wish him well hopefully

That move comes sooner rather than later and I’m sure Manchester City and Calvin Phillips would probably wish to do that but like I say don’t just go for four months for a loan I think it’s I think there’s enough people out there who will will do it at the right time and

Interestingly when the Premier League resumes it is Manchester City against Newcastle that is the week after next still lots to enjoy on Sky Sports this weekend final weekend of regular season action in the NFL so it’s the Jaguars against the Titans and the Chicago Bears against Green Bay as well and Tennis is

Back on Sky Sports as well we saw a couple of long awaited returns earlier in the week for Emma ranu in ockland and for rapael Nadal a 22 time Grand Slam champion in Brisbane as well you’ll be able to watch all the buildup to the first grand slam of the year the

Australian Open live on Sky Sports as well Michael thank you very much ben thank you I’m assuming there’s going to be some sort of scrap in the car park after who no way not take take on brownie exactly thank you very much indeed gentlemen thank you as well for

Watching or listening remember you can see it on YouTube every week well like subscribe and continue to listen wherever you get your podcast next week the former Manchester United Captain Steve Bruce will be with us on retrospect but for now it’s bye-bye