📜 View Full Episode Verbatim Transcript
52,362 characters
You're listening to the Sky Sports Premier League podcast Welcome Along. The opening Super Sunday of the season took us to St James's Park, where two new managers were in charge for new castle against Liverpool. This is how things sounded when the final whistle blew. Well, maybe that one's for you, King Kev. That sort of drama. That sort of narrative. Hall is broken. From a human perspective, you feel for him because his contribution to the new castle cause was monumental. He had a wonderful game. But Dominic Sobsley had the last say in that game with an immaculate penalty as a result of Hall's one-errant moment. And Langer had sparked a piece with a terrific sprint of a finish very, very early on. Gakpo with the original equaliser quickly rendered seemingly meaningless by Willik bouncing off the bench to reestablish new castle's lead. But as Lewis Hall continues to plead some sort of innocence, the reality is that a penalty was given against him. Dominic Sobsley equalised. And Gary, they share it. Yeah, and that's the life of a fullback. You can beat your man defensively one-on-one or you're attacker one-on-one to the whole game, but he can do you once, and you feel like that. I hope when he looks back, I think he knows deep inside. Then it was a penalty. But I think he'll just set it at the start of today, travelling up to new castle p to the new castle would play like that. They would commit themselves to the game that there would be two on up with a couple of minutes to go and they would get a point against them, but they probably would have accepted it. They've done themselves proud. And you write the story today. Was that incredible tribute to Kevin Keegan before the game? It was memorable that it really was from both sets of fans, and it was disappointing, but I think when he looks back at the video, he'll realise that his team put a good performance in that. And so, in the finest, Keegan-esque traditions of this famous fixture, it ends this new castle united to Liverpool 2, and King Kev would have loved it. Thank you, Gary. Thank you, Peter, a dejected Lewis Hall. Shake hands with the Liverpool players. I have to call seeding that late penalty, and I don't hear a whole aside. I've got a point in his first lead match in charge, and it feels like we really, at this moment, should just start with that man's side there, but he has to decide. Because whilst it feels deflated and feels flat and it feels anger in here, there's so much for them to be positive about after that, isn't there? Yeah, I thought new castle were absolutely outstanding. I think the intensity, the substitutions that the manager made, and the state of the game, of course, Liverpool is going to have possession in the game, it's, what could you stain it with exactly that? They get the second goal, and he's just thinking, can they hold out? It took a decision at the end, someone said it's soft, someone said it was fully deserved, but that doesn't take anything away from the performance. I thought there was excellent, and we talked about new castle, a new look, new castle. It's a young side, very energetic team, and it will take so much confidence away from that performance. As we said at the start, Daniel, both sides are unknowns with new managers or whatever. Probably fair to say there was maybe more concern around the new castle fan base than the Liverpool fan base. Therefore, that's why it feels like there's a lot more positivity for the new castle fans to take away. Absolutely, I think Eryola will be relieved to get a draw. It was a difficult game for Liverpool to control, whilst they were in control in regards to possession in large parts, and we're crying and crying. That threat of new castle on the counter attack was never stated, it was blistering, and the whistle was popping up in pockets all over the pitch, or sawler's pace on the break alongside the Langa cause a lot of problems for Liverpool. You could see that ESAC was dealt within the central areas. There wasn't loads of creativity from Liverpool's attack, and it seemed as if the midfield was where they were searching for. But Munoz came on, changed the game, really sharp on the right hand side, and I think ultimately Liverpool will take a draw. The new castle players just started to leave the pitch, they've had a pause from all four sides to the ground, first name, and off at the end of, well not quite the end of course, but at the end of Super Sunday, not the end of the only weekend full of Chelsea still to come on Monday night football that gets underway at 630 with an eight club kickoff at the cottage. But today wins for Brighton, convincingly a home to ask the villa, and Manchester City who came from a goal down at home to Bournemouth to win that late on, and there was a late equaliser here at St James's Park for Antonia Raolo's Liverpool. Finished all square here at St James's Park, Anthony Alanga, early on with his first Premier League goal for Newcastle, and given them the lead, and then into the second half, it was Cody Gattko, who got the equaliser for Antonia Raolo's side, and then in 99 seconds later after kickoff, the ball was in the back of the Liverpool net once again, Joe Willock with that and Matthias Yessler would have thought all three points were going Newcastle's way right into second half, stoppage time, but then Lewis Hall with that change on Munoz concedes the penalty, Dominic Subosly scores it, and it's a point each for the two sides at the start of this new season. The stats would indicate that Liverpool dominated more expected goals, more shots, and more possession, 61% to 39. I think the feeling of Daniel and Michael is that Newcastle were well worth the point this afternoon. And let's get some reaction from the Liverpool camp, the man who got the penalty in second half, stoppage time, Dominic Subosly with Pat. Well Dominic, as pressure penalties go, I would say that was right up there, but you looked calm as could be, how did you feel inside, because it was quite a long wait stood over it as well. Yeah, to be honest, I didn't even hear the whistle of the ref, so I had to look at him that if I can go, so obviously he was looking at me as I was thinking, okay, it's time to go. Now I was practicing a lot in the preseason, obviously we didn't have any, but in the training, so thanks for the second and the third goalies to be there for me. But yeah, take the positivity of the game, first game of the season, we move on. But no amount of practice in training can prepare you for that kind of hostile atmosphere, can it? That you just have to, I don't know, test you nerve, I guess, believe in yourself. Yeah, it's different. You know, I don't know how I'm in the stadium, 50,000 against you. Actually, you can't hear your own voice, but yeah, that's why we love football, that's why I love football, that's why I'm doing it. And yeah, just as I said before, what was the emotion inside this stadium like for a player today? It felt extra special with the really moving tribute that both clubs played to the great Kevin Keegan before the match. Obviously, to come here is always a tough game, first game of the season, a way in Newcastle, everybody knows, obviously the fans, unbelievable, they have a great team, a good manager, obviously new, but he showed himself in many other clubs, so we was prepared, but I think we, with the new manager as well, we need to get even more closer to each other, we need to know what's going on during the game, but as a good step, actually, after a two-one, come back into the game and prepare again for next week. Did you feel what you should have won? Certainly had enough of the ball, enough chances to win it. I, if I'm honest, yes, I think we were able to win, but yeah, that's football. You don't win easy in the Premier League, doesn't matter against who you play. They were a good team, scored two transition goals, so yeah, this is the things we have to be aware of, and yeah, we have to take care in the next weeks as well. Okay, so lastly then, under new manager, what did you learn today? That we will never give up, that's for sure I can guarantee, and yeah, we have to fight, we have to fight every time, all day long, during the 95 minutes, everybody who comes off the bench, as you see today, they made a big impact as well, we've told you the first minutes in the Premier League, made a penalty already, so yeah, we need the whole squad and we have to be ready. Thank you, thanks. Well, there's a characteristic of that football lassies, and under on the slot were late, late goals, would you have given this, if you would stew it out well? I mean, late in the game, a penalty is a penalty, lose hold, very unlucky, but when the ball goes in there, he does catch him, and when I was just really well, he tries to anticipate where he's going to go, and then he just leaves his leg in there, you just see it here, that he just tries to anticipate what he's too late, and yes, it's harsh, yet a lot of people will be saying this is not a penalty, but if you see there, he catches his knee, it's knee on knee, it's a foul, it's a penalty. It's knee on knees, and it is shifted his body to the side, and he's got a little knock on him, and of course, as the attacker, any little touch you get, when you're going at pace, and you're jinking, and you're jiving, it's going to put you off balance, and probably deserve penalty, if you ask me. It's easy to say with the hindsight of slow motion stuff, but Harvey Barnes was probably getting back on me, or he was going to cover on the outside, but I mean, that's very easy to say, isn't it, with a slow motion replay? Yeah, I mean, it was one of those where he was beaten, and it looks like he could have got in there, but once that's happened, he's in his stride, isn't he? Munoz there, so maybe he would have got in front, anyway, it's easy to look now and say, he would have covered round, but it was definitely penalty. Let's just take a look at Dominic's Baselai's penalty technique, when you look at his career penalty record, you know where it's going, don't you Daniel, but it's unstoppable. Literally unstoppable the way in which he strikes the ball is pure, guides it, but with power, and I think that is one of the hardest things to do, get connection on the ball consistently, and put it in a place. The only player I can ever remember training with, like that, consistently would put it in the exact spot, players from Chelsea would know, Kalu, at training, would always hit the top corner, in training, and you can see with Subbers, and it's not a case of going, I'm changing for the keeper, I think in today's time, you get your statistics, hey look, the keeper dives this way, they get the statistics, and they'll know that Subbers like goes that way, he doesn't care, I've got the ability, I trust my ability, I'm putting it where I want to put it, and he can sustain it. And they're for his instinct, well I'm not going to now second gear, I'm not going to have the, because the goalkeeper knows where he's going to go, so he'll trust his technique. It's almost like the keeper has to make a decision and go, I'm going to stand closer to that side, and almost play a little cat and mouse game, because you can see exactly where he wants to go, and here comes the boss. I don't hear her, I'll join us, thank you very much for joining us. At the end of that, what did you make of it? It's not a result you wanted before the game, but obviously finishing scoring in the last minute, it gives you a better taste, probably, I don't think we deserve to lose the game today, and I value therefore from the player, they never gave up, and at the end it arrived, and we could recover at least one point. So you didn't think you deserved to lose it, you think you deserved to win it, or was that about a fair result for you? I think we, I'm sure I haven't looked at the stats, but I'm sure we will have more chances more everything. You do, yeah. It's a little bit unfair in terms that they've gone winning very early, so they will say okay, it was our turn to attack, and then it's conditioned, but overall definitely, I think we've had the better chances in the, in the game, yes. Well I'm going to tell you, your XG was 2.73, and theirs was 1.43. You said in your interview, you don't buy too much into XG, I actually agree with you on that, but did it feel like a 2.73 XG to you during the game? I think we were arriving, we were probably in the first half, we were not finishing anything, we were having a lot of balls on the edge, and we were trying to overplay a little bit, and we had just to shoot, even the first goal we considered, I think Ryan is in a great position to shoot, great, or edge of the box, finished play, we don't finish it, and then they punish us in the, in the counter. You said in one of your interviews about first half and second half, the intensity in the first half, you won't see that in a second half, is that what you saw today? Yes, I think the players coming from the bench gave us energy, I don't know if they played better words, but they gave us energy, and you can feel, no, the way we want to play, everyone is not going to last 90 minutes, so we need this, this energy from the ones coming from the bench, and I think today it happened. And you know this is a difficult place to come, obviously the occasion was incredible today, and you're a manager who to me seems as if you're flexible and adaptable to the players you have, and I listen to again about restening possession, and you know, wanting to almost control the game that way, in regards to the counter attacks the days, with the control you had, because your possession was 61%, did you feel as if you almost had that control that you would have liked to have seen, was there maybe moments where you would have liked the players to be a bit more aggressive in stopping counter attacks, maybe making fouls or whatever it may be? Yeah, definitely, I think when you can see two goals, no, I think overall we played a lot in their health, I think we had good possessions, good moments of long faces, of fast on the ball, that is what we want, but I think first one is probably more difficult to defend, because it's basically a long, going all the way, super fast player, probably the mistake is more in we should have finished, because we were in a great position to finish the play. The second one I think we had the numbers, and we don't, as you say, probably a foul, probably a, because we had the numbers to defend that transition, we within talking even half time, even, but sometimes you have to finish the play, try to win the ball, or make a foul, and probably it's more difficult to accept, the first one, okay, it's great run, it's difficult to defend it, probably the mistake comes from not finishing the play. When you can see goals on the counter attack like that, is that a personnel situation where you have so many players who are offensive thinking I want to get there, or is that just learning to be a little bit more disciplined, or is that a personnel issue and you need something different in you midfield? I think it was probably we talked about Newcastle, it's probably the biggest strength, the top three players and the subs, if not the fastest in the league, will be second or third, no, and it's a big threat, and we've been talking all the way, preparing all the week, and it's true, we have to finish more plays I think, we were trying to overdo too much in the first phase, and the second one I think we had the numbers, and we don't defend properly, and also we have to create it to them because it's not easy goal that day is good. Okay, thank you very much for joining us today, thank you, appreciate it, go well, thank you, does that make a lot of sense to you? It does yes, I wanted to ask him actually, when he's talking about finishing the plays, is he referring to them just shooting at the end of the action versus almost trying to create the perfect shot? But again, we're talking about Liverpool, now we've got to talk about Newcastle, we see the new coach here joining us. How you doing? Matthias, thank you very much for joining us, how are you at the end of that and your first experience of a home league game in St James's Park? Well, it was a tough end, hard luck, I would say, in general I'm really, really happy with the performance after such a short amount of time, the guys were fighting till the end to put their heart on the pitch and this is something we said that's not negotiable, that's the standard and together with the crowd, it was in general a really good performance, unfortunately we couldn't get the full three points. What is the atmosphere like in that dressing room then? Because as you say, there are probably lots of positives for you and yet this sense of disappointment at the end of that because of how it finished. Yeah, it's of course the fact that the heads are a little bit down but they're also realistic, they know that we had many, many challenges already, there's a huge transition phase at the moment but we tried already encouraged them, that this is another part where we got some challenges to overcome, someone was throwing a little bit some stones on the way, I need to be careful, I heard that already, not to get fines. You're learning quickly. On the penalty, do you accept it? I think you call it here a really soft one, right? Yes, it was soft. It was a really soft one and if you give that then there will be so many penalties in the future. I'm not a fan of that, I have to say, I disagree, but more I cannot say. You said about transition and the club, we got some young players for those excellence, especially Miley and Stirr, it admitted field, I think in the end got a little bit tired, but how excited are you by these prospects? Yeah, it's it's brave, it's a brave project but I like that, I like that challenge, now working with young young lads and you're right and in the end they were tired, Luis Miley just came back from an injury, Sean Stirr, you see that the Premier League is something else, but he did a amazing job, it's just now getting adapted to that league and then we can go through. I really enjoyed watching Stern, I could see that you've given him the belief to receive the ball in the defense and in the buildup play, building with the three as well, I really enjoyed seeing a young midfielder do that. Talk to me about the the attacking areas now, seem visibly number 10 was a difference for me and my thought was okay, Osula's pace and the counter attacking transition is maybe the decision, but I'm not the coach in Newcastle, you are, so I'd love to know why that decision was made. But you're smart, so you could be my assistant. I know there was there was I lost for a big transfer thing. It was indeed the thought behind it, we knew that there will be space to attack, the first half, will was having the chance actually to score, it was a tight situation, we had that transition moments and we can't play on the 10, we knew that before, sometimes it does that in the national team, so I think it was a good link, good combination between the two of them. You talk about your new players and the Premier League being different, for you as a coach, you as a head coach, does it feel different? Yes, because of the crowd here, unbelievable and of course the quality in the game, you feel that every situation can be decisive, every change can be decisive and this is something I really enjoy, so I'm looking forward now. So when you're in that technical area, are you thinking there are four or five different decisions I could make here? No, we are really clear in our approach, we're working in the principles, you saw many of them today already and you can adjust within the game, if you plan everything ahead, you still need to have the flexibility to adjust things if needed and that will be our approach now for the season. And no matter where you're coaching in the world, people like me will always ask this, as you get to the end of a transfer window, are you expecting more business between now and the end of it? I hope so. Yeah, I mean today, let's we're doing a amazing young squad, unbelievable, but we have some needs, we know that internally and we keep that also internally. How many would you like? You can count it on one hand. Okay, I would say. Took a while with that, but here's thank you very much for joining us, really appreciate it. Thank you. That was very interesting on the counter, to be able to one to five, is it one or is it five? You would expect it to be near what? Near the five? Again, that's what was it was interesting about it because they're keeping it internally, I actually don't know what he would need. I think today would probably have given him a lot more confidence in what he has and maybe for the ownership group and everybody involved in a club watching, that would have given them excitement. And I think for for him, even talking about the counter attack before the game, we did talk about the selection and this and number 10, again, was a surprise for me, but I guess we were on the same wavelength in terms of the pace of Osula. I think when you're coming up against arguably the team who dominated its possession, which Liverpool did today with 60 plus percent possession, it shows you that you do need that outboard and maybe that's gotten nowadays where you get it down the channels. Back in the days, you'd be like, I'll get down the channels, we'll take a bit out of the game. I think that you could see with the pace that Newcastle has, he's leaning into that and I appreciate that because it's chosen awareness of I'm actually trying to get the best out of the players I've got not having the players necessarily fit into what I'm trying to do and I appreciate that more from a coach than maybe someone who goes, I'm just doing it my way and you have to fit into my system. Do you sense from both them, be it to what you both think here, are there sort of obviously things that need to be worked on for both, but maybe just a quiet satisfaction, maybe even just a sense of relief that the first one is done and now they're of them have lost. Well it's very difficult isn't it because it's the first game of the season, the players are not even fit yet. I think the normally true fitness going into a Premier League season is probably after five games. The way the game panned out Liverpool two and down, late doors, of course it will take a draw, but then he speak to me, look at the stats and he says they deserve to win. If you look at the young manager, yes, with the squad he had available to him to get a draw and it wasn't a dominant performance, but there was always in the game on the transition, so I think both managers will certainly be happy, but both managers will want to improve. He can't go into a Premier League season with just young players. Stairways was good at four at times, he tired, might he's a good player as well, but he's also a youngster, he had Vista who was playing as a number 10, he'd want to probably a natural number 10, probably don't want to go into the rest of the season with just Osula and Vista up front. I know they've got Volta Mada, but there's talks about him potentially leaving, so there's loads of different things that the managers will want to change going forward before the window closes. Which is also why I kind of asked Andy Ural or that question about whether it was just the mindset of the players, whether it might be a personal thing to try and for them to stop being hit on the counterattacks when you look at Liverpool, what are you seeing with nine days of the window left? I think the team needs a defensive midfielder personally, we've been talking about a defensive midfielder at Liverpool for the last three years, and I think Grava Birch and coming into the team playing consistently a Liverpool win in the Premier League sort of changed that philosophy, but if you actually analyse the midfield, they're all naturally more attacking players, and for instance if you look at someone like a Brent for they're bringing San Gare right, and you look at the stats they jump out on the page, third in interception, third in tackles, third in, I think it was possessions recovered. The league on player of there, or in the league on team of the season. Exactly right, and for me, 30, what was it, 39, I can't remember what's the 39 mid in power, sort of thinks to yourself, that's not a load of money for someone like Liverpool, I'm not suggesting that he was the, but the stats jump out the page, and you think Liverpool don't have that profile of player right now, training only, I really really like him as a player, I think his brilliant is more of a ball, playing six, a ball, playing eight, he's not a destroyer, he's not someone who's going to strike fear into the opposition like a San Gare can, or like a, and go look at him over the years. I also think that if I'm being honest, suburbs like I think is probably better as a 10, I really do, I'm just being honest now because I actually think he strikes the ball well, he sets the press very well, and all in all, I think he's a more offensive minded player when you talk about the counter attack and the goal that they're conceded. What were you saying, Meeks, you were saying there's too much space in the centre. But then what do you do with that, and that's it, then, then they all have these, obviously, like any decision, it all has a knock on effect. It does have a knock on effect, but that's for me is very similar to Coutinho. Coutinho was a left midfielder, or a left winger, and also with midfielder, I think towards, when he got older, more mature, more seasoned, he became a 10, he became a 8. But he wasn't that when he first came to the club, but yes, he played 10 from time to time, but he settled as a winger. I'm unsure if the way Liverpoolers set up right now, that having vurs, having gravel birch, having suburbs like, having McAllister, having training only, I think it's quite an offensive midfielder, and I think if you are looking to challenge over the years, maybe this season, they won it two years ago, maybe that's an anomaly, and that's changed more of the belief in regards to signing new players, but I really do like those players, I just... I think it all depends on, you've got to look at the context haven't you. Vurs is 100 million, so he's going to start. If you're playing on the left side, in the Premier League, defensively, he'll get exposed. When he plays in the 10, at times, they get overrun in midfielder, so maybe they need, yeah, I think the balancing midfielder is not right. I think gravel birch is one of them players who likes to run with a ball. I think Vurs is the one who likes to get on the ball and make things happen and go in little areas and all that, but he's having to do too much running in the other way, and I think the boss light is completely right. He can play anywhere in that forward line, and his first thought is, how can I get forward, not how can I get back? His work rate gets him out of control, because he gets back. All the time, because he's got that energy, but when he talk about the balance in midfielder, it doesn't seem to be right. I agree with Daniel, the need a defensive midfielder, who's willing to just stay and give that defensive line a little bit of protection. And by the way, we're looking at the reports in the saying, left-winger. For me, you can play Gappo, you've got Vert, you've got Komoa, who for me is a better left-winger at this age. When you're young, I remember playing on the wing as a young player, left foot player at Man City on the left-wing, it's so difficult when you're not as strong as the player you're going up against. Maybe you've got the ability, you can go either way or whatever, but there's something about for me, if I'm buying a winger and I'm Liverpool, I'm saying I'd rather go right-wing, where I've got options left, you can play Verts, left you can play in Central, you can play Gappo, we've seen what he can do today, we can see real. I think Muñoz looked very, very sharp today, but Mo Salas, 20 plus goals this season after wing, we know we're trying to get ESAC firing, but I think you need another right-winger, I'm not sure about bringing in a left-winger personally. That more reactions come if you're on here at St James's Park, where that late Dominic Savosly penalty rescue deployment for Andoneira, all as side finished, two all here, we'll be back in a couple of minutes. 18 plus UK only, brob and 2.5 megabits per second required full-time supply. Let's get back to the studio for more reaction to today's game. Disappointment for Newcastle, as we went into injury time here at St James's Park, as Lewis Hall conceded, a penalty to Liverpool, which gave Andoneira all as side a last gas equaliser. Johan Whistler was Man of the Match, though, and afterwards he spoke to Patrick. Johan, a good day, but so close to being a great day. Is it hard not to feel gutted to be honest up there now? Yes, of course. Of course, this rush, especially 30 seconds before the end of the game, but that's a huge step for us. That's the mentality we need to have all through the season, you know, the manager came three weeks ago, four weeks ago, so he gave us a lot of information, so now we show on the beat that we are ready for our 4G season, but yeah, as you said, we need this win to make a statement in the end we draw in, but yeah, we have so much to work on. Going back to the start, it was an unforgettable day. What's it one of those days? I'm talking about the tribute to Kevin Keegan, where it underlined what a special football club it is that you play for. Of course, of course, what a special club, what a special man. So that's why we give him a big credit, and I think he's been unbelievable, the fans have been unbelievable today. And I think we give them so much today, and that's what now we need to give them the horses. Did that emotion just turn about charge, especially in the early part of the match? Of course, of course, we know we needed it to give them something, you know, after this tribute, so that's why we try to start fast, but yeah, I would say thank you to all the fans because they pushed us until the end, but I'm going to give you this player of the match award in a minute. Was that your best performance in the black and white shirt? We didn't really see the real your home whistle last season. Yeah, it's the best, even I didn't score today. I assist my team but he's one of the best so far, new manager, new role. So I'm so pleased to be here, and today I hope I show that I'm very happy, but that's only the standard I need to keep for the whole season. You had a good World Cup, and the sense was you had a decent preseason. How the term have you been to reset and show what you're capable of? Of course, the World Cup, helped me a lot, you know, play with national team. With the mate, I've been playing with them for the last four years, so they know me and I know them, so he's been a lot of confident game, a lot of goals, a lot of emotion, but yeah, now the pass is behind. Of course, he gave me a big push to step up this season in Newcastle, black and white shirt, but now as I said, new manager, new role and looking forward for the season. So how crazy a preseason has it been with plays come in, go in, manage a change in. It must sort of spin your head a little bit as one of the guys staying. Of course, of course, it's important the preseason, everyone knows, for the body, for the confident, and especially to talk with the guys, makes some mistakes because the preseason allowed that, making mistakes and just have some work to do, but for the body, of course, it's really important. But yeah, now I have good preseason, first game at home against Liverpool Boone with Gilbert, I think we need to be proud of this team because he's been long, young lad, first player, first game for a few of them, so yeah, I'm very happy. And of course, you can't say no to this, but a good feeling from the new manager who seems to have impressed the players in the time that he's had the short time. Yeah, he's young, he's young, he's got a lot of energy and I'm very happy that he's here. And I think with the new role he gave me, he gave me a lot of confidence. Now, I'm one of the leaders, so I need to back him because on the pitch, sometimes we can't hear him, but I think he trusts me to make sure that the guys are always on that line. You just lastly then tell us a bit about that new role that you have and what he expects from you. Yes, back to everything, to be a leader, to lead the group, as you're having guys as well today. We need to both make sure that everyone is on alert. Every time I think you forward, try to go for the kill and you know, it's sometimes just become, but yeah, a lot of energy, just keeping a lot of energy because you want a lot of energy and I think that's the world you give it to me, so I'm very happy with him. Well, disappointment in the last seconds there, but overall, a positive day, and as I said earlier, you are the player of the match. Well done. Thank you very much. He's my first one. He's like, I'm playing with my league, so he's really proud. Including Brentford. Including Brentford. Well done, you. Thank you very much. Well done. Thank you. Wow, that's lovely. That's a few of them. He said several times in that new manager, new him. That's the most minutes he's played in it in a game for Newcastle. It's only his nine-star for Newcastle, and as you said to Mattias Yassler, when he was with us, he reveled in that role. Very much did, and you know what? Surprise, they didn't get a man in the match because he scored about 19 goals for Brentford, but for me, playing in number 10 is very different than playing as a nine because your role is essentially to create. Yes, to score, but to create to be that glue between a midfield and the attack, and for me, he played that role perfect today, driving the ball forward, doing little tricks here and there, holding it up, not forcing it either, as you can see there, making a run, touch a move, and maybe that could have been a goal. That was a two-one as well. And you'll be disappointed, you know, because when you get opportunities as an attacker, you want to take every single one of them, but for me, he was absolutely brilliant today. Yeah, I just think, you know, watching his clips there, his position scene was taken up, it was very clever, because normally when you're playing number 10, you're up against someone, and you're trying to find space, there's no space. Actually, what he was doing was going a little bit deeper than driving with the ball, so I mean, feel you know what to do. The defence was like, do I jump or not? And they couldn't quite figure it out, and then like you said, when he goes from number 10, and then he's one who can run him behind, and his 40th overall game was fantastic, especially with this season he had last year as well, because you know what it's like, as footballers, you're not scoring, fans running back, you know you can do better, he knows the standard he set last season wasn't good enough, but to have a game like that, and the first game of the Premier League, we'll do the world for his confidence. I mean, the other thing that he had actually was, he had a decent World Cup for Fidiar Congo, did with that, and Alanga actually had a really good World Cup for Sweden, and I'm sure there'll be several Premier League clubs who will benefit from some of their players coming back, who had really good World Cup, and know you're critical on the Alanga goal, though, Michael, off the Liverpool defending, but he took it well. Yeah, I think, and I think he said it half time in terms of he's not got that much time to think, sometimes when you go forward, and they've got too much time to assess the situation, you overthink it, rather than hear it, on this occasion, look at his blistering pace, the weight above the swimmers, perfect, one touch, and then finish. People talk about I'm not spoke to Joe, I'll have to speak to Joe out to that, but I think he's too far left, which opens up the angle, but let's not take anything away from the finish. Well, how are we going to wait to hear what you have to say to me, it's about that, but you know, I think for Liverpool, you know, Cody Gapall in a central area here, we were used to seeing him play there from time to time during his career at Liverpool, but listen to the turn, and the finish, the accuracy of that, we used to see him cut inside, and people were questioning, oh, is he predictable at times, he can be, but in that central area, he did not think twice, pick a ball up, and let it fly. Yeah, I was in Liverpool, was growing into the game, but again, the balance in the field, this is, this is your awareness, this is actually nothing to do with positioning, because we're actually in a position, but you've got to take the file there. And that is what Eriola was talking to us about me, he was talking about the first one, fair enough, nothing I can do about it, but here, Meeks, we're talking about the bodies in that central area. Yeah, I just think tactically it's not good enough from Liverpool's point of view. This toilet shrub Willock, though, he's great. Yeah, and it just keeps it close to his body, and then opened out and finishes, absolutely brilliant. But look at the pass from from this or there, timing was great, finish was exquisite. Yeah, and you know what, credit to the manager, as well, for bringing Willock on instant impact. I know, I know you have a question for him on counter attacks, but he might Liverpool got done twice on them. Absolutely, I mean, the first goal, right, we talked about they're not necessarily being a way to stop it, per se. But what I'd like to know, right, is when we looked at that character attack, Liverpool had their four defenders in place, and in my mind, I've always sort of thought, okay, typically it's a three, two centre halves, one of the fallbacks, and a defensive midfielder in front. But dealing with a counter attack with four in defence, what would you say is your preference and from your experiences, what is easier to deal with? I think it all depends on the situation. So where the counter attack came from, it was strange because you had curcas, it was left back, but he wasn't all the way in. You probably want your left back, maybe to come across, but it should midfield. If all you midfielder go and try and crush the box, then you leave yourself exposed. So a lot of people would be saying, Van Dyke should have stepped up there, but what he's trying to do is delay, delay, delay to get numbers back. The reason I would like to go with three in them, one in front, because then you can go wide, you can fall some wide to the year, protecting the middle of the pitch. Once it goes wide, then everyone can shuffle a crop. When you go four, and then you get, you sort of leave yourself exposed if the time is not right. So that's why you see curcas. He didn't know where to jump. He's in the midfields in front of him, and he was like, okay, I'm a little bit late now. So then he's trying to run back, and he gets caught out. But then if you've been really critical, you can say, they could be higher, but that's something that they've not worked on, defend, and midfield, and it was obvious that today. Well, I think Gary said that in commentary, didn't he? If that was Arsenal, they'd have been, but that's a difference though, but they're drilled to do it. Sometimes ideally, you want, and man's city do it really well. So in that situation, you'll see their center after green really high, and try and strangle into that position. But what happens then, if one ball goes over, and like Alanga's pace, you're sort of liable for that counter attack. So the reason why he did him is because it was too far, the time he was off, and then he tried to delay. I want to just, sorry, I might have one more question about the psychology behind the defending though, right? So for instance, I'm coming from the second perspective, and I'm thinking, Alanga's one of the fastest in the Premier League. So if you're having a foot race with me, in my mind, I'm saying Alanga, I'm going to win, right? Does a defender take into account the speed of the player they're playing against, and then also is there a way of trying to negate or stop? Like, give yourself a yard. If you're not way out to the yard, no, no, no, but, you know what I mean, he's because of the way the play was developing. He didn't know what to do. He got caught out. If you're in doubt, go back because you can always get people back to support you and help you, but he got caught in two mounds. Now we find himself in a race, you're not going to win a race of Alanga. Just give yourself five yards and get try and get people back as soon as possible, but he does, he does play into your mind when I play against fast wingers. I get off bail, I was thinking like, first thought, if I was playing, I would just say have the ball, let him, let him turn on it there, and I'm going to get in position and try to get midfields back. I do not want to be here and get into a race of Garabale because if he turns and beats you, isn't it make you look stupid? And that is the things about the discipline, you respect the speed of Alanga. And that is a speed of Alanga, and that's why he wants someone on the pitch. If it doesn't always have to be Van Dyke, it's got to be someone that made a little part to say, you can go now, you can stay now, but at the moment they're not getting the balanced right. A two-all draw here at St James's Park, two other games earlier today, and there were home wins in both. Just about for Enzo Moresca and Manchester City against Bournemouth, very comprehensively for Fabian Herzler and Brighton against Villa. We'll round up everything that's happened next. The football season is back and you can keep across all the action on Sky Sports with 1,500 live games available for you to watch this season. That includes 80% of all televised Premier League games, plus matches in the WSL, EFL and Scottish Premiership. If you're not already a Sky customer and want to sign up, head to sky.com to get all the details. Now though, let's get back to the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. Well, whilst you were watching the commercials, Tino Asprey joined us, sometimes you want to play cool. Sometimes you just can't play cool. And when Tino arrives, we were proper fanboys there. I don't know if he wins, right? Let's focus on the earlier games. Buddy, I've got a late winner from Manchester City in Enzo Moresca's first league game in charge of the club. Here's all the reaction from their two-on-win over Bournemouth. Enzo, a bit drama for your first home game. What was key in the way you guys stepped up in the second half and pushed for those two goals? To be honest, I think even first half we were good before the goal we considered. We didn't consider one shot. We had three-four clear chances to score, but then they scored the goal and then become a bit more difficult. But overall, I think we deserve to win again. We did many things in a right way. And I think second half, I hear the feeling that we really get the momentum on our side. But at the end, it's about one corner. We defended not well. And then the goal got open again. And the second goal we were to pass in our box, and then it's just a question of time that the team with this quality find the space to score. About Marguerhi, could you talk us through the decision-making process of starting him in that central midfielder position? Yeah, we are looking for a solution. I knew Mark since he was at Palace. I really like him. And I think that he can be midfielder also. He can be a central defender step in, or he can play as a midfielder like today. I think it's fair to say that a lot of people were surprised to see you starting in midfield. I mean, yeah, so was I. But you know, just the idea that the manager had, we worked on it in the week. And you know, I think he's trying different things, different solutions for the team. And you know, I'm glad today it paid off in the end. There were some reports that Man City reached an agreement about Boadie. I just wanted to see if there's any updates on that. No, yeah, that wasn't asking out, but no one told me nothing. It does a lot of that deal for Boadie is very close to the fee of around 85 million pounds, just about squeaked home, didn't they? I mean, they did have some other chances sitting. Yeah, it's, it worked great, but they got the job done in the end. Just listen to the manager there talking about game in midfield. I mean, if he's going to be in midfield and stay and protect the back four, I don't mind it, but some of his runs going ahead of his other midfielder. He was more, he was higher than Philfolder at times in the game. So yeah, he did okay today. Obviously got his goal from the set piece, but I want me looking at game he is a midfielder going forward. Okay, the other game was at the Amex. Brighton Thrashing has to build a 4-0, but the developing story from there involves Oli Watkins. This is Unai Aremri arriving pre-match, and then he was asked about the absence of Watkins in the matchday squad by Johnny Phillips. Supporters will see there's no Oli Watkins in the squad. What can you tell them about that? Is that the end of his time here? Silence. Does that maybe suggest something? No, no. We are the players we are today here. It's okay. We're not just speaking about that. That was pre-match. This was the final whistle after a hugely disappointing 4-0 defeat. All of Brighton's goals in the first half and post-match, Emery was again asked by Johnny about Watkins. Now the game has finished. Can you just clarify why Oli Watkins wasn't in the squad today? These question is for him. So can you call him and make a question for him? So that confirms it was not your decision. It was his decision. Ask him. Is it disappointing? I only can ask it by silence. Does that make it a very challenging situation for this if it's not in your control? The players they are here, they show it, they commitment and it's a really fantastic and this is the way. Of course, losing, this is the way. So silence, he mentions commitment with the players there, that's commitment and ask him. That's not good, is it? That doesn't sound good at all. Let's be real. I mean he seemed like he was really really frustrated and almost as if that move is out of his control in a sense. But say and ask him, it points the finger towards maybe Watkins forcing a move or... It's always hard though, isn't it? It's hard in these situations, don't expect it to speculate and say, it's hard to interpret. But this manager deserves a lot more, he deserves respect. What he's done for us in football has been absolutely brilliant. All the good times he's bought to that club and for him to be without concert, dinner, tealermans, rogers and then Watkins today. That's not good enough. It says something internally in the club with PSR, having all this success and not being able to spend money. It's not right. It doesn't, it doesn't feel right. Watkins shouldn't want to believe in Aston Villa because the club is in a really good position. 95 days since they won the Europa League final and that spine and more. I mean, if you're it has gone, if you are, if you are a Villa fan tonight, I mean lost, you are worried, aren't you? More than worried and it's not fair, you know, like I said, the good times and then Europa League final win that. You think, okay, how come we keep on next season? Can we get some more players in? And for whatever reason, maybe it is PSR, maybe it's not, but to have you spine ripped out of you, it's just disheartening to see. And the manager who's done this, basically with players who are very good players, but he's improved. He's not like he's got out there and had a big checkbook and signed 100, 200 million pound players. He's done this with those players and now the leave and it's just I'm rack him a brace to think of something that were an 11 like that that wins a European trophy on Ravels, if that's the right word, so quickly. I mean, I got a lot of love and respect for us in the Liverpool club as a local boy, you know, grew up about five minutes, 10 minutes from the stadium and built this club up now to be consistently in the Champions League and in European football, something that I didn't get to see growing up when I used to go and watch games. And now, you're sort of looking at maybe one player moves and you think, okay, two, you go, okay, but when you're getting three, four of your best players leaving the football club, that also sends a signal to other better players at the football club. And if we're being real, when that happens, players go, you know what, like, I don't want to be the last one left. What's going on here? My best player, my assist merchant, my this, my that, all my guys are gone. Like, so there's a level of I see both sides of this. On one side, you've got Aston Villa, a football club that I really Champions League, they're a team that deserve a wealth of respect, but then on the other side you've got maybe a player who's looking at it going well, you know, I'm a top player and I want to be around top players and my best mates and best teammates that provided me chances that I had a vibe with throughout the years has now moved on. So it's a difficult moment for the club to deal with and there's only nine days left to go, so we'll see how it unfolds. Yeah, but I think if we look to the wider context, because we have to do that and have a deep dive, they've got Newcastle having to feel young players and having to sell homegrown players to spend money. If Aston Villa had all this success and having to sell all their best players and it feels to me like it's so much harder for them now to get in the top four top five and that's why you have to respect the job that M-rays doing. It's almost like where are the top click now and we don't want anyone else to sort of come and be invited to the table. So what we have to do, we have to sell our best players, all that's going to make the jump to get to the top four top five, even harder, which is not what this league's supposed to be all about. It needs real looking because I don't I don't see a way out for teams trying to get into that. I want to 100% agree with you. I also believe that in these moments, right, as players, former players, I'm not privated the financials of the situation and how many players they have to sell. What I would say is ultimately the better players at Aston Villa have moved on or are moving on. Malik Chow's kids are desperate to get past us so they could leave, so it's probably time. It's probably time that we'll try and let them, and the lawnmowers are here as well. So we will, we will get Daniel will go, Daniel will go rescue the dummy. We will come off air so that Malik Chow and his family can leave St James as part. It's finished to all here this afternoon here. It's been a week and full of story lights. Monday night football round, everything up tomorrow. Gary alongside Jamie and Dave for that, all the build up to full and Chelsea from 630 Sky Sports Premier League. Thanks for listening to the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. Make sure you give us a follow so you don't miss an episode. See you next time.
