A Whole New England

it's the first International Break um of this uh season um all eyes were on well many teams um around Europe but um obviously I was mainly on England obviously the first game for Lee carsley in charge of England and um well what what do you think yeah I thought it was positive particularly the first half I thought they played some really good football um they were getting the ball looking forward the Press was really good it was really interesting that he picked uh Anthony G on the left hand side like we were all lots of people were saying that he should have done Gareth should have done that in this summer um and I think he justified his selection I thought he offered his pace and he was really direct of course his runs that he's really good at doing set helped set up the first goal um Dean rice I thought was superb in Midfield always getting the ball looking forward driving forward more like the rice that we that we see in an Arsenal shirt um so yeah I thought it was uh I thought was positive it's always going to be difficult to judge in these games when you're when the I mean the opposition the the Nations League games are what is it Republic of Ireland Finland Greece I think it is as well isn't it so not not great opposition but um you've just got to go out and you've got to perform and um thought they did that first half so yeah it was good I think it was a little bit more than just positive I thought it was really positive in terms of we're talking first half really um just the whole balance of the team for me is what I liked and I know we talked about a lot of the Euros where if Kane's going to drop you've got to have uh Runners Anthony Gordon and you know his interview that he had with with ITV I thought it was just very interesting because when we was talking about England during the Euros we wasn't being negative at times we've been maybe too positive at times but all what we were saying or thinking Anthony Gordon basically said where it felt like they wasn't playing with freedom he used the word dynamic and all these sort of combinations of rotations that we wanted to see weren't there but in the game especially for the the greish goal where it's one two movement pop it around the corner runs into the box can you finish really enjoyed greish in the number 10 role at times he was com really deep and trying to link it all intertwined very well so I I'm not looking at the opposition I'm looking at what were they trying to do in the game play through the lines be good on composed on the ball running behind allowed Kane to look a lot better because he could come deep because he had the runners so I thought it was a really positive performance didn't you think think it was interesting did you read Harry Kane's quotes as well in his press conference or listen to Harry Kane's quotes in his press conference about a lot of the players underperform they didn't play as well as they they should have yet it was it was strange during the we we were getting criticized for being critical of some performances it was really interesting to listen to his uh listen to his quotes the one thing you would say though Al you got to back your manager haven't you so yeah yeah I get that we've all been in this Camp from a Fan's point of of you it's all like the players are going to say what what they truly feel now after the event but when you're in a bubble and you're in a group sometimes to the media you're just telling them whatever or to to try deflect what really is going on we all could see it with our eyes and it's just now they're coming out and being a little bit more honest but I don't blame the players for protecting the manager especially in the Euros because we're sort of hanging on every single word during the Euros so yeah but it was it was plain to see what what was happening yeah it was very difficult for the players during the Euros they they all knew the team was underperforming I think the the fundamental difference that I saw certainly in the first half was that I always I mean we know g southgate's a relatively cautious defensive coach I always thought that when we played under Southgate and obviously England overall you know they did very well under Gareth over the period and he was the right man at the right time but I think as the progressed and as the players we had greater quality and more people to choose from I think he fell slightly into the Trap of of playing to try basically playing for your weaknesses rather than playing to your strengths so I think the cautiousness was because right well we haven't we are we're not great in defensive in the defensive part of the game we're not great we haven't got a natural two natural holding players that are really defensive minded and I think that because of that there was a relatively negative and cautious attitude the one thing I noticed today particularly in the first half was that we played higher up the pitch um that as you said Anthony Gordon got behind which I think was really important because you need that to stretch a team and that will automatically push them into their defensive third so I think we were playing perhaps more to our strengths than worrying about our weaknesses now within that you'll look at it and say well occasionally looked a little bit vulnerable to the Counterattack so what so what doesn't it doesn't matter as if you you know you've got to back yourselves um against opposition particularly opposition you know let's let's let's be honest you know Republic of Ireland have not got the players that they had certainly in my era that's for sure um but having said that you could say the same thing about some of the sides in the Euros you know we played against weak opposition and and really struggled and still played incredibly cautiously and I thought there was I think we played more attacking attractive football in in the game in the first half against Ireland than we did certainly against the game in against teams like Slovenia or Slovakia who are equally weak opposition so you know you can't read too much into the first game but I thought it was it was really encouraging I think it's great to see Trent in the side some of passes were like superb particularly obviously the one that he hit for Anthony Gordon that led to the first goal I mean what a pass that was and It just strikes me I just think how can this guy not be in the team somewhere he's so good but I think it was that thing all we've ever focused on is his Trent's weaknesses when it comes to England and and defensively oh he might make a mistake but he might make one mistake but he might give you two or three you know opportunities to score because he's so brilliant with the ball at his feet so so I think a you know it was encouraging uh a really encouraging start I mean he's only been working with the players a few days he probably only met a lot of them for the first time um just a you know less than a week ago so I you know I think um I enjoyed it I enjoyed the first half some of the football was really good no it's positive yeah he'll be uh proud um I mean he's been successful with the under 21s and we've said it before about that's how Gareth got the job so and it's a really good opportunity for him um so he'll be he'll sleep well tonight he'll be really proud um him and his family of being England manager and getting the right result going to uh going to uh to Republic of isand and winning like they did so yeah good good for him and he'll look forward to uh to Tuesday night now and hope for more of the same at home to uh to Finland yeah I also thought it was really imaginative to play I mean you mentioned it already Micah um Jack greish in in the 10 role because I think I've always thought for him perhaps that's more of a position now I know it's going to be difficult for him to play there um considering the talent that England have got in that particular position but you know when he's on the wing you know he's he's amazing at keeping the ball and he wins free kicks all the time because he's so hard to get the ball off but the you know the one thing you would say perhaps about Jack is he lacks that little burst of pace to go past people but he's so good on the ball he doesn't give it away and he was you know I thought he did really well and and you have to think about he's not played there if has well he has in the past but certainly not for quite some time well well Jackson an extraordinary player we we know that I think sometimes it's been difficult because when you're at a club like Man City and it's full of stars and you're not getting goals and assists uh I I take your point about on the wing as as well maybe he's quick enough but you know that just like you said that burst to get away I think he feels more in the game when he's in the number 10 and he doesn't just stay in the number 10 like I said he comes up gets the ball deep and the one thing I would say about Jack grey she's not afraid to lose the ball and when players who are trying to create something they might give away the ball at times it might frustrate you at times but often they will open up a door whether it's an assist whether it's a goal I was just so happy for him um today because I think when you go for1 million pounds everyone expects so much and like I said when you've got so many top players around you sort of out shining it can be difficult and you can go into a a place where you feel you're not you're not good enough and I think he needed that he had he said his frustration about not going to the euros and I think because we had a 26-man squad even though he didn't have his best season he felt he could still offer something so going in the squad and getting a goal getting his confidence back I think it'd be you know be great for him going forward now it's interesting as well isn't it that um perhaps some of the things that fans were most disappointed about in the Euros probably three things in well possibly three things maybe more but everyone wanted Anthony Gordon kind of to play on the left didn't they because we all saw that there was a weakness and an unbalanced side um and and you know and also that he could run behind players because we all know Kane likes to go short so you've got to have a threat behind so he did that the other thing was he left Jack greish out the squad which a lot of people were amused by and he's come in and perform really well and obviously you know the kind of he never really trusted Trent Alexander Arnold so you know in the first game Carley's come up with all these things and it's sort of a lot of us are going well you see we we don't yeah but they sort of work together though guys I I think when you talk about Gordon and and this is not to to stick up for Southgate but we all agreed that Walker probably should have started the competition we know defensively um is a lot better than what we have especially on the on the Counterattack I think having Trent and I you you said a couple of years ago Trent could play midfield 100% agree with you but if you look at sometimes it's too congested in the Midfield I think the great thing about it is when Trent starts at right back you Midfield can take one of their midfielders away that allows him to go into Midfield and have time to play them passes and if you saw in the game today if you looked when Trent got on the ball all he was looking for anony Gordon if you have Walker in the side it's a slower buildup it's different you know they've got different assets to to their game so I think having Trent and having Gordon works perfectly together because Trent's always looking for that pass and Gordon's always looking to run him behind so yeah it's and the other thing perhaps we've not really seen with um England in the last few years is that when Trent did do that thing with right backs or fullbacks do now with he turned into a inverted whatever they want to call it but he turned into a Midfield player at times his passing range is is truly extraordinary his pass was fantastic wasn't it for for Gordon with that and and Gordon's gun I don't know whether you noticed it be actually hit a pass in the first minute of the game that was like wow it was brilliant incredible we know that he's he's fantastic at that also guys what's what's your take on the uh lack of Celebration and celebration rice and GIS I loveish when he was he he said s that I'm not get I loved it thought it was brilliant I mean I I I I get de not wanting to celebrate and but greish is have none of it I loved it brilliant it's funny how football throws things at you as well the two players that scored are the both ones that could probably have played I mean obviously Dean was a republic Island player for quite some time so it's it's mad but yeah why wouldn't you celebrate I mean I I totally get Dean because obviously played you know youth levels and other times for for Ireland and he had to make that real decision so um he he definitely didn't want to celebrate but sry greish though greish played your the youth AG Islanders well I know it was it it was brilliant celebration loved it all day tell him well done Micah yeah rubbing rubbing salt to the Irish wounds R into it um what else what else caught you ey in in in the game um I think we have to give a little bit of uh praise to the debutants I think uh and is it Angel Gomez oh I've heard Angel Gomez I've heard Angel Gomez he made his debut didn't he um not a player that a lot of people would probably know about he he's actually at man united as a kid I think and he he was sort of like a attacking midfielder but he went to the 21s when they won it he played as a holding midfielder dictating play and um he plays in France for is it l l l and I've not seen too many of of his games but I looked at his stats he got I think 10 assists from like um a quarterback area on on the pitch as well and he he almost looked like a kid playing with adults today like he get the ball he' move he had so much energy but it was it was nice to see someone get a chance who probably fans were scratching their head when he was he was named I thought mark gay um again looked really impressive I I just wonder Alan why Newcastle didn't go for him in the summer he looked good didn't he I thought his passing was really good as well I thought that he he you know when you fizzing it into the into the Midfield when you've got to get through and break the line I thought some of his passing was uh was superb didn't have to defend that much but I thought when you're on the ball and you you you've got possession then you need someone and I thought he was really good at that yeah encouraging start um should we sing the national anthem what what what did you make of all that I mean I mean KY they do like to stir things up don't they I mean front pages Back Pages it was everywhere it was everywhere wasn't it it was I find it Bonkers if someone chooses not to sing it doesn't you know for whatever reason some I mean I remember some players don't sing because they're too shy um I used to kind of sing a bit but not too loud because my voice is terrible um I always felt a little bit self-conscious singing on a football pitch didn't feel comfortable with it um I just I don't know I just think it's all it's a bit weird you're going to be judged on Bloody football results not whether you're seeing the national Anem or not I know exactly and that's that that's what counts but yeah Mel are you a singer um sometimes sometimes I feel as though I remember seeing you line up with England actually M I've seen footage of this I remember you and I saw you standing there you went we buy any car [Laughter] I mean we buy the car if you want to sponsor our pod yes yeah mean where are they then we'll all sing it we'll all sing it with Mich you got do the mov yeah but don't overdo it Michel because they won't bother sponsoring us if we're going to do the do it for them anyway just wrap up a little bit on England obviously you've got to remember as well that quite a few of the the big stars um and talented players were not available and um so who comes in who come who who's given themselves the best chance do you think that have come in today of the players particularly the ones on on perhaps On The Fringe greish cowi Gordon Gordon Anthony Gordon of course um and and grey playing in that 10 roll so Gordon I thought he was really positive in what he said before the game uh when you say what he did when you're as positive as he is then you've got to go out and perform and I thought he performed really well I thought he give us great energy on the uh on that left hand side um so yeah Anthony Gordon for me I think it depends how how they're going to play I would say I would agree with Val I'd say Gordon I think if we're looking at that one space I'm looking at left back as well because Levi colwell's a very good player did really well again tonight but he's not a left back he's a center he's a center half Luke Shaw's always picking up the injuries I think that left back spot I mean it's it's up for grabs if someone can really grab it but as for tonight I would say Gordon I think when Bellingham and foden come back I think it'd be difficult for GES to play in that number 10 role um Mayu is going to play now isn't he rice has got to play so you're looking at folden or Bing him in the number 10 so yeah I'd probably just say Anthony Gordon really I'd actually go I'd go Trent Alexander Arnold I just thought yeah I just thought he's his passing range and he will benefit from a side that plays on the front foot and if you play in their half um yes England will be vulnerable possibly to the counter attacks occasionally but don't worry about that you've got to you know be brave be bold in football Pep's shown us that hasn't he klopp's shown us that with Liverpool alet has shown it Arsenal you know you you know you go and play in the opposition's third and um it gives you greater chance I think so anyway so encouraging start for England um Scotland was a good game um against Poland I watched that I mean po Poland went um two n up at hamen Park but Scots came back brilliantly they'd had a gold dis allowed um in the first half from mctom but got back in the second half um m Tom and he scored again which he has a habit of doing uh for Scotland um uh Gilmore scored and yeah he was he was chuffed about it Happy Gilmore how long you been working on that one about about about two and a half seconds so they were a bit unlucky to lose at the end penalty but n like 98 minutes so the challenge I was thinking you could see wasn't it Grant Hanley straight away you just you put his head in his hands straight away within half a second he knew straight away that it was a terrible Challenge and he'd give him the penalty and lost the game so after after doing so well to get back into the game as well and the way they did then to lose it that way it was a nightmare for he just didn't need to do the challenge did he just say him out there's no threat it's not like guys one-on-one goal it's hard though you know you were in that situation you know when you've already made up your mind and then as he was going down he think I've made a mistake here I've just he just knew straight away he' made made a mistake and yeah you're totally right guys he should have just held him up you know what I think we need to give mctom his flowers you know because there's so many times he's been lambasted at man united for being just a Workhorse or he's only in the team because he got nobody else but what is done in terms of attitude application he runs into the box really fit and good enough on the ball and what he does for Scotland he's he's brilliant so he actually need to put some respect on his name because every time I see him play it makes a difference so did you say give him his flowers his flowers yes minut earlier yes did you flers have you never heard that h h h the younger boys have heard of that H John I'm getting the thumbs up give him give him his flow of Scotland give him his flowers his flowers okay maybe I'm not a youngster then are you showing your age now yeah give him his flowers you got give him his flowers yeah yeah which flowers would you give him M tulips roses uh pet petals petals are not petals are the things on Flow if your donut I knew I think I think you meant giving me stems brilliant H AB did you see the 10 hard quote about Momin actually seemed really disappointed to lose him um and it was another one of those deals that homegrown talent and I think you know PSR reasons and and all that so but it was good money was it was it 30 odd million was good money but you know good money doesn't you know score you a goal true true yeah let's talk about Wales because you know new manager as well like England um Craig Bellamy who you've both played with yes BL yeah um I think it a it's I mean we when you look at Craig we all thought that he might stay at Burnley what's he going to do and then that opportunity comes along for him and uh great opportunity for him great that they can appoint him going to try and do one or two things differently so I think it was a reasonable start for him also wasn't it nil nil draw um not not a bad start for him no as turkey played well in the Euros so we saw that so yeah it's not not a bad performance I've got I've got a quick story about Bell so we obviously both played with Bellas and bellaz is a he Marite you either love him or you you hate him he he works his socks off when he was at Man City he did all his preactivation but it would tell you how it is if he play rubbish he would tell you so I've gone to see I remember last season Man City had Burnley first game of the season I go up I go see a trading session a couple of days before and I and I go to the game and I'm I'm walking into like the it was that the the ground it was I think it was at the ground we went to the ground for for whatever reason I went to go see company and I see Bellas come up and it goes [ __ ] me you're [ __ ] everywhere talking [ __ ] all the time I always knew he knew what he was talking about there be I said B what what what do you mean talking talking [ __ ] he said you boys on analysis don't know what you're talking about you've got basic analysis it's ABC one two three stuff if you want proper analysis come to Burley trading ground and I I will show you how it's done and I was thinking to myself I didn't know if he was being serious or he's having ban but he was he was being deadly serious but I didn't know how how how to take it you know what I mean and then I thought to myself but I didn't say nothing I got in my car and drove home and basically thought he's just mugged me right off there in front of everyone and I've and I've basically just taken it so when I see him again I'll be pulling him up on uh C certain bits and pieces he's certainly never gave you flowers petals or anything good Lord petals oh love it big Meeks love it I think one of the most surprising results um over the last few days was was Italy winning in um Paris three goals you wouldn't have said that after seeing the Euros although you know France didn't exactly set it a light did they um they've stuck with what about the volley what about the goal the volley Beauty was play a little onew wasn't it with tanali on the edge of the Box who sort of flicked it around and the volley oh my God what a goal that was it was yeah I mean they they were really poor in the Euros but and they they stuck with um spetti didn't they as well and um might have paid off I want to finish with the the the moment of the weekend like we we often do and it has to be doesn't it s Marino San Marino won their first ever competitive match a one- nil win against the mighty Luxembourg the world's lowest ranked team by FIFA anded it was the longest winless run in football stretching back two decades 140 games imagine going 140 games and and two decades without winning a a competitive football match wow and the celebrations were brilliant weren't they afterward you see the see mad brilliant well done great to see absolutely fantastic brilliant okay chaps um that's it um for this uh episode um let me tell you about what's coming up though on Wednesday and Friday I've been out to KO um to interview cesk fabrigas who's um the head coach there and um he gave me lots of time um so we split it over two episodes and it's about his career obviously his time at Arsenal Barcelona uh Chelsea and of course um you know so much success with the Spanish National tie so I think you'll enjoy that um so please do give that a listen but um for this episode that's it so goodbye from me goodbye from me goodbye from me have a great week everyone [Music]