Will Bruno Fernandes & Odion Ighalo be good signings for Man United? | Sunday Supplement | Full Show

Subtitles section Play video

on last week's show.
There was a discussion about West Ham following conversations this week between The Sunday supplement and the club.
We apologize for any factual inaccuracies made on the program.
Recently published accounts show that West Ham have invested heavily in the squad since they moved to the new stadium with a net spend of £214 million in the last four years, including club record Sebastian Hala, I have spent over £1.5 million on scouts in the past year.
I've also invested £10 million in the redevelopment of the training grounds at Rush Green and Chadwell Heath.
In response to the claims that the appointment of Stuart Pearce was vetoed by the board.
The club say this isn't true.
During the discussion, it was remarked that the club had a culture of everyone's got their hands in the till.
This was a reference.
The level of commitment of some players and managers on was not a suggestion of any illegality in any way.
We apologize if this wasn't made clear, it was suggested during their time in charge of Birmingham City.
David Gold and David Sullivan presided over no significant investment at ST Andrews during their time at the club that invested in the redevelopment off the ground, including three newsstands and 22,000 new seats as the results.
And Andrews has been awarded asset off community value status.
Scuffles always strives for fairness and accuracy in a programming Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday supplement Manchester United's transfer businesses under scrutiny after they followed their deadline day.
Last minute move for Odion Ighalo with a stalemate against Wolves, Frank Lampard maintains that Chelsea are underdogs for the top four, but who could potentially catch them on this takeover?
Talk again at Newcastle United could really happen this time.
Joining me to discuss all of these topics and much, much more are Henry Winter, the chief football writer at the Times.
Mike McGrath What were reported at The Telegraph.
A great Hope football correspondent at The Daily Mail.
Don't forget to treat the show at Sunday's up on the best will appear on screen over the next 90 minutes.
Jackie's away, so I'm back in the hot seat and here's what we'll be looking at this week that's made the back pages this morning very, very familiar theme here The Observer.
Touching distance.
Historic 20th win in a row at Anfield puts Liverpool 22 points clear at the top.
Quite a few have gone with this one's We'll go.
The express must be time to celebrate.
Yep, we'll forgive them.
That one left of field here from the sun, though.
Quite interesting.
Italian Giants plot £150 million move.
Summer deal for Virgil Van Dyke, You Aventis Well, that could raise some eyebrows over at the Star.
They've changed their focus, if you like city styles facing judgment.
Play big rebuild job in the summer, according to the Star, with seven players playing for their future, reflecting on that stalemate that I mentioned Old Trafford yesterday.
Mirror of Gone with Snorri Story Man United not impressing anybody and again, we mentioned that transfer window down here joins the North Croft.
He's written on the headline on his pieces.
United chaotic loan move snubbed by Rondell Elsewhere, we've got bubble trouble in the people as West Ham throw away a two goal lead against fellow strugglers Brighton.
Terrific win for Everton yesterday.
Express.
Fio steals in Nick it on loss of a horrible, horrible moment for palaces keeper yesterday.
Jaw dropping.
So good morning, gentlemen.
Henry, I'll start with you.
Manchester United in focus.
Um, move Regarding which I think surprised many in the game.
What do you make of what is going on there a moment?
Well, I think if you looked at the game yesterday, they clearly need a striker.
I think they're short term and long term issues here.
The long term once it's in terms of the structure off the club in terms off recruitment on dhe social and others within the club have tried Thio to address that short term.
They should have overplayed Marcus Rashford in in December.
He played eight games in in 28 days, played something like 11 hours of football in 13 14 hours that Manchester United played in that period on such an important player.
Everyone knew he was carrying a back problem.
And then it went, you know, when he came on against wolves.
So look, big issues their short term long term.
The chaos off the last 48 hours.
Manchester United, one of the wealthiest clubs in the world.
You know, with with resources, you know, they should not be behaving like that So it's scrambling around making late night calls.
Early afternoon calls Thio, trying to see if they could get someone over.
Has got, actually had a medical.
Yet you know their issues there on also maybe one or two other issues with with Corona viruses and issues of a player coming in as well.
Look, Manchester United have got good people behind the scenes, but this is a little bit embarrassing.
Having said that yesterday showed that they need a striker.
They also need to clear out some of you.
Look at some of the players in that midfield.
Sorry, just are finally fishing off.
Bruno Fernandez has come in.
He looked pretty decent yesterday.
He's what they need in terms of that creativity.
Got a bit of character.
You got booked some of their strength of mind on dhe.
Well, not so much physicality, strength of might in which would they clearly need?
But they're individuals there who shouldn't be there like Fred and prayers.
So they need a clearer as well as new players coming in.
You say they've got good people behind the scenes.
Where's the evidence of that when you describe the chaos is so when I say good people behind the scenes.
I'm not a huge fan of wood wood.
I think the but Woodward represents in terms of Here's the facilitator and the representative off the culture from the Glazers.
Another culture from the Glazers is about their investors.
They didn't grow up with pictures of the Busby babes on the wall.
They don't come to games.
I can remember shortly after they arrive they would get away.
Game of Wigan and their attitude towards the Manchester United fans.
I've written about this and I talked to their people about this I thought was an arrogance and that that concern Lee.
Manchester United won the greatest sporting institutions in the world, let alone English footballing institution and you want them to be in the right hands.
So there, there, there, there cultural problems at Manchester United which go back to the Glazers.
All this focus on money.
All this focus on investors.
The focus should be on football Now there are good people behind the scenes to mention personally your front of house.
I like what social is trying to do in terms off the players he's trying to bring in, which is why the last 48 hours of scrabbling round for a 30 year old hasn't played in the Premier League for three years is embarrassing.
But in terms off one of the Sacha Maguire Daniel James Daniel James being overplayed.
He's a terrific player, but he's tired.
But so chas, what he's trying to do in terms of recruitment, I do understand in terms of younger, faster, partly home homegrown.
Obviously, Fernandez says, has come in from Portugal.
But there was Ah, there is a logic there, so you can't say everything's wrong that Manchester United.
But there is a cultural problem on.
They have to move it away from thes obsession with money, focusing back on the football.
Mike, you were all over the story linking Manchester United to Josh King at Borman added that unfold and ultimately, why did it fail?
Well, I think how it unfolded was at the very top of Manchester United.
I think they need a clearer, any clearer direction.
I think there needs to be a director of football working with Edward.
Would tow have that buffer between him in the team because they have.
They have the cultural reboot in the summer.
I thought it was really I thought it was a thing.
It's a positive way direction in terms of going to the championship down James go into the Mid Premier League for Remember Sacha.
But then the first obstacle that came along with Earl and Harlan dues on that track as well.
They don't get him and then they're panicking and it's just a panic that you don't see it at Liverpool when you don't see it topped them really either.
I think that they then looked at markets like like China, which I didn't.
I think there's value in other markets and if they had a really good director of football there, then that would have been different for them.
And then as it unfolded that story itself with with 48 hours left, they're scrambling around for for a strike.
All of us journalists are trying to find out who's on their list, and it turned out that Josh King, who had previously been at United was, was on the on that list and they'd made a bid from him.
So it was a very frantic final final day for them which could have been avoided.
I think with with with a better direction of the top.
Andi, even Negar Lo Sze agent himself said he didn't think that the the deal was on family.
Hey, didn't think it was on until until after the afternoon of deadline date.
So the afternoon over here, I think later in China that just shows you that just shows you kind of the level of panic that there was crazy and reused from Werther.
Embarrassing shooting that's that's fair meant a club like Manchester City failing to land these players on the certain.
In the case of Early in Holland, he's now scored seven in through is embarrassing fare.
Well, they begun the window trying to say, knowing home from the best young players in Europe in the van that it's trying to get it.
A 30 year old out of chain I made a global health epidemic.
You can't really make it up.
I spoke to our Mark Clattenburg's one of our columnists at the meal in Myself and Mark were chatting on afraid.
Of course he is referee chain and that same the garden users Brick and I set the mark.
What's he like?
And market maybe mention this.
He said.
Well, he hasn't played since November.
He cleared in the Cup final over there, which Mark refereed.
He wasn't even started.
He came off the bench.
He said, Listen, he's sharp, but he's nowhere near a Manchester United player, really?
And just come back to the point that I was gonna Henry and Mike touched on it as well.
We applaud what they did in the summer in terms of this strategy of buy in young and British.
But look at the Manchester United team and how many players have they got, truly operating at the peak of their powers?
You look at the great man, you like a team 67 years of that team would have Bean right where they're at that golden 34 year period where you're really at the best.
What we've got now is either players on good enough.
It will never be good enough players that were good enough.
In the case of Martin and Matt each two or three years ago.
Or boys like Wander, Sack and James, who are we're a work in progress, really.
Just look at that team and I watch the game on the tree and diamond last night, and you know that there was one team playing with adventure, freedom of dangerous on the break in it.
It wasn't Manchester United in would have, and that shouldn't be a surprise.
Those walls have simply just got better players now.
That's why I applaud this.
Saying that Bruno Fernandez, it looks as if they brought in a player who really is 25 year old.
I thought it was terrific last night.
You just get an instinct for these things.
He was progressive.
Shots on goal.
If the biggest compliment I can play a Bruno Fernandez is, you look like a wolves clear, it looks that would fit into that team.
So to come back, the question Is it embarrassing?
Well, yes, it is embarrassing.
The way the window played out, we'll sign Bruno Fernandez.
They spent the most money on a single player in the window.
You look like you coming.
From what?
I mean, are we gonna social said as well?
He's skulls like he's wearing skulls is number.
Gigolo is still in pre season.
They've got about 14 games left in Manchester United, so he's not will be up to speed.
It's only till the end of this season.
It does look a very strange fit.
Doesn't Fernandez.
You can understand that track for a long time came in adjusted perfectly straight away.
Half off the pace is a garland well, first on Bruno Fernandez.
It is half the player that school's WAAS, then Dimension United, have got an absolute bargain because sculptures one the greatest person in mansion also skulls had that winning edge, which reflected that.
Ferguson.
You know that the boys that the 92 scored.
So, yeah, that's quite step A Garland.
You look it on the strikers they've got.
Marshall actually just looks a little bit like he's lost confidence.
Obviously, they've got us off issue in midfield, which Bruno Fernandez is is going to try and dress.
Actually, that Chris Parsa, which which they've missed with Pablo being out the frame for various issues, makes agreement.
I think there's a town.
It's very easy just to look at mentioned.
It's in black and white, so everything's wrong.
Structurally, everything's wrong with Scott.
Actually, there's some pretty decent players in that squad you've got a world class goalkeeper knows have one or two issues, but there's a good is a good goalkeeper.
Brandon Williams is a terrific prospect coming through on one of the Sacko.
What would be in the England squad in the summer?
McGuire.
Okay, maybe not hit the heights of Leicester.
But you know, there's a definite leader says it's about the team to play.
Better.
Team to plan?
Yeah, possibly, Yes, It's certainly Maur settled.
I mean that look.
They're also issues that you can compare watches on DSS social as managers socialise wonder, too obvious tactical decisions.
Has he got Plan B?
Wants disease substitution.
They too late?
Does he make the right ones?
Wanted to issues that you know.
He's had some decent results against the leading team.
She can't write social off.
You can't write the score off.
There is an innate resilience to mention item, which I hope will see them sort of get back fire again.
But they've also got Look, when Mark Tommy Lee comes back, that's an important player.
It's frustrating that poppers, in a world of his own is clearly he's clearly moving on Rash for when he's Fit was in England International is a world class talent, Marsalis a frustration because it Marcie stood up so I'm gonna be a real Manchester United Line leader.
I'm gonna take responsibility that then that would be great.
Daniel James, when you find So let's not write off this court completely, But clearly it doesn't need more work across a few plans to go out.
Garlow actually will do quite well.
I know that it's a limited time.
I do.
I think he's in his actually in his pre season as we know.
But I just think just a change of angle for that attack because it was so flat yesterday.
It was really It was a very, very kind of flat afternoon and evening.
Actually, there was meant to be planned.
Walk out to protest against, um, Ed Woodward on dhe, the leadership of the club.
It never materialized because I always thought that be difficult when the game's on a knife edge midway through the second half, but so that never materials.
But it just felt flat, the whole the whole attack, that they had the way that they were attacking wolves.
It looked like walls.
We're gonna gonna win that game.
I thought that Marshall looked, so he definitely isn't.
He is not a lone striker.
And that's why I think Garlow can come in and just offer something different, even if it's off the bench.
And so when you get up to pace on, you're looking minimum three weeks.
Well, you'd hope that during the during the winter break, you'd have time to work with him.
I think with at the moment Fernandez is a very positive debut for him, but he simply can't do it on his own.
He'll need people running in behind, which Marshall's not doing at the moment.
And you'll need, I think Pope fit and you'll definitely need much Rashford fit, and that's when we'll see the best of him.
The danger with Fernandez is the longer players spend Manchester United, the worst that seemed to get.
When was the last time munchies like truly improved a tile in someone who went in there.
They went to the next level, the next level again, and get a great case in point.
Sorry, Maguire.
Jerry Maguire isn't the same person we saw last year.
You should go into Old Trafford.
You should grow in and shoot.
You should be a better player.
Hurry.
Maguire for me, hasn't been that player who Ultimately, we we thought £75 million was it was a fair price for it in Mate makes a valid point about Fernandez coming in.
And he was so good last night.
You were so promising.
He was.
He was so fresh was so different enough the reason he stood out because he went into a team who have bean anything but that recently.
I think Chris Smalling is improved as a united player, simply not being in a coma.
And normally, look are having left.
It seemed to have got better.
So it seems like that they're on that.
They're on this path that they've chosen, though, So I think it's just they need to be stronger to do things, the right paths, what they're trying to do culturally come back to that word in terms of the type of player that they're trying to ruin.
What was very interesting when social was talking about Bruno, Finality kept on, stressing.
He's a really good character, is a really good person as well, so obviously he's going down that Southgate wanting for good citizens horrible f expression, good people as well, but they need more leaders and that's what we were they?
Yes, they were.
Fernandez did actually looked like he was telling Fred and Pereira.
I really need to be held by the house.
That time was one.
Whether it is or what he was skipper of Sporting wasn't so.
It's one of those players.
I just look at the team that Alex folks and had had his front six had.
Each six were match winners, and now you're looking at other people.
Is that not the biggest problem We are?
Always talk about what's one explosion hat?
The great mantra started.
He's gone, He's finished.
He's not coming back over.
Each manager's coming.
Since then, it hasn't worked and the culture of the club they're trying to reset.
And Gary never spoke about it last night.
This brought Falcao to Pai de Maria.
Plenty off them have all failed.
So since Sir Alex is gone, there's not any not replace them in the dugout.
They haven't replaced him in terms of signings, both caliber on character.
So is that actually still valid point of reference?
Do you think it's because it's a standard that Manchester United fans are judging their teams by because they are use?
They used to or they've tasted this success and they expects those players on the pitch.
I say the front, the front six, those fabulous front six.
But all the team really had players which would expect the very best from themselves and from their teammates.
And I think since Alex focuses, era of looked at that team and they expect other people to do it and then no, like those players who embraced the responsibility.
And I think now you have that in this technique just throughout this team, people waiting, waiting for other people to be the match winners on bits.
And that is principally why they're in this position for a fan.
Stein.
And you're looking at what's going on that Liverpool on this whole Ferguson thing off being knocked off the perch, the 19 against the 20 on the fact that Liverpool are so well run off the field so well, run on it.
They've got a charismatic manager who's engaged emotionally with the players, tactically, with players emotionally engaged with the fans.
There's a real lower case you to Liverpool being united.
Everyone is pulling in the same direction from owners.
Toe kick meant fans tow you just look at the quality of their football and I think that for if you're looking for man United fans perspective, they must.
It must create even more poignancy when they look at their own issues thing.
Okay, we've got to take a break right now, but we're back shortly.
We're talking Lester and Chelsea.
Welcome back to Sunday supplement.
Frank Lampard says Chelsea are underdogs to retain their place in the top four going into the last throws off this season and he made a big decision yesterday against Leicester City.
He left at his goalkeeper caper a decision he said he did not take lightly.
Craig, what did you make of it?
I wasn't surprised.
I also kept a couple of weeks ago up in Newcastle when you've got so much stall Stoller, 94th minute winner.
And it was the only thing that I did all afternoon which was save what was a fairly routine header and it flew past them on Dhe.
You looking kept.
Many remains may have doubled to here in the early years of Manchester night.
It's only minus the saves.
Now that is, if you know that's it.
A pretty big thing to say about the goalkeeper.
He just doesn't get any a enough, really, You know, he doesn't make enough sales and it doesn't look like a modern day goalkeeper in that.
You look at the you're Alison's in the goddess and you need a goalkeeper now to dominate not just the penalty area, but also the final third and looks like that little boy coming back to the day here in the early as Manchester United.
But then you see really couple air or come in yesterday and you understand why they have persevered with kept for so long.
I mean, Caballero.
Yes, there's arguably comment for the first time.
I know it takes a deflection, but it looks like he's trying to catch a crisp packet.
Really?
In the second girl looks like he's trying to catch a bus where he's going chase the guy outside the box and the front Kim and defended him afterwards.
But when the alternative is is couple aRer you see why they kept kept her on the team?
And I suppose it was so nice and decent sites as well?
Yeah, he did.
But listen, there's a reason we're the couple a Rohit's bounced around two or three clubs.
Now a surgical kit has never really made that position position.
He zone.
And you probably like to think that Frank is trying to send a message to keep that to come back and really be scared, because what we've seen in recent weeks, certainly from Kappa, is probably in the mind.
The progress elsewhere on the pitch for Chelsea.
So am I.
But you gotta have some sympathy for caper in terms of the rotation of the changes of the centre half's in front of him, it would be must be much better for goalkeeper if you actually have built up that sort of triangle with two center after three centre half.
So I've got some sympathy there.
But I think what this also shows is decisive in this of Land Part.
We'll talk to him.
He's got this image is so it is a very nice, intelligent, personable individual.
But I think what shows why Lam Pod is on will increasingly be a very good manager is he has got this ruthless side to actually, you know, that was a big cause.
Using Rick says That was a big call yesterday and probably the white one leave it just sort of focus is kept for a little bit.
I I looked at those girls.
I didn't think I thought he was just slow on them.
It just slowed to the new cost.
One and the bellerin gold against our cities just slightly slow.
I didn't think that they were.
Everything was terminal.
I didn't think that.
What?
This is this guy's back keeper.
You know, I thought that this is to do the sharpness, which can be improved on.
Don't think that he is the world's best keeper because he's the world's most expensive people.
No, I don't think so.
L Traffic estate Peter Schmeichel came into the room in the press room and he just felt president.
And he's got a present, even in a room that long since had hung his gloves up.
And I think that comes with time.
Not physical, but just a presence around the bucket.
The gate didn't have that, like you say, didn't have that at the start, and I think that comes with time.
I don't think it's terminal for him, but I think it's a really it's a good man.
Management in some ways, I think you'll be stronger for it.
I mean, you mentioned the rotation of the centre half in front of them.
Joseph considered 43 girls as the most in the top eight.
Could that be their undoing in their quest for a top four place?
3 34 34 I mean, it's interesting.
I mean, deadline product.
She used the word underdog, Or did he just say that?
Why?
Okay.
I mean, if he said, Well, that's one way and forth so way.
No, we're in the battle thinking, but I think he was referring not to where they are on the table now.
At the start of the season, short on dhe, when the transfer ban was in place, we were underdogs.
People saw us.
Nobody put us in the top four.
Yeah, the transfer ban was in place, and then they got it lifted, and they didn't really go for any world in succeeding.
Going for anyone in there in the window, like I think vampires being a force for good.
I think maybe some of the Mason marriage is what I was watching.
The television makes amount is no quite got that created best they had earlier in the season.
Tammy Abraham looks like he's the winter break's coming at the right time, but you know they're being terrific.
Lamb pot has been a force for good, but this idea of sort of unlock me, Chelsea and established team a wealthy team, and you look at the team above them.
Unless the city of what lived on was, it is, it's still in eight point gap.
Between them, they have no event.
If anyone has overachieving, inverted commas, it's just to see Leicester City in.
That is brilliant.
It's down to good management by Brendan Rodgers Good players, good leaders on the pitch, strong individuals, plus also good academy.
Some of the players I got through it, at least three academy players on the pitch yesterday, and also it's a very well run club on.
The recruitment is fantastic.
We talked about much united earlier.
I mean, so many clubs could learn from how Lester Runners a club run as a team but also their recruitment.
I mean, the players think enemy elements meaty elements could start from Manchester United.
Team is good walk into.
Certainly most Mayfield buying the top two unless the city got in.
I think when you saw Tina and celebrate the goals yesterday, you could just see that bomb they've got on that underdog philosophy, Which Brendan I'm sure he has Bean inculcating in them.
Unless the city obviously had joined the title winning season in 2016.
That is still there, alive on that sort of.
We're the underdogs and they're heading to the champions and it's one of the along with Chef of United.
It's one story United.
Yeah, people.
I think everybody quite like being the underdog in this in this race.
And Sheffield United, Uh, you know, Frank says that they're the underdog.
I can see why when you see Chef reunited playing the way that they have for the first half the season and having a really, really good January, I think they bought really well.
I think that's just a couple of games where Chris World, um, I thought right, we're flagging here a little bit.
They put so much into that first few months when they lost the leader against Manchester United.
You think right these play, you know these players might need a bit of help.
I think he's bought so well with Sandberg coming in.
And I think that if jealousy or underdogs, I think coming up on the rails is Sheffield United and who, you know, they're in fifth at the moment.
You sure manager the if you're gonna vote for it now I know it's obviously something that you know that the l A may do.
But is it clock?
Was that world I almost think you should break with precedent.
They would agree enough to, you know, if you can have in some of the magic of a second award for Chris Wilder, he deserves recognition.
Myself and Mike have spent a lot of time a primarily in this.
Yet invariably, we sit next to each other.
We've seen all of Chef you like.
It's a real victory for management.
What he's achieved there.
Look at the team sheet before kickoff.
In its misfits, it really is.
You know, 12 months ago this was a bunch of guys had never played in the league.
Chris Wilder's identified A were to play, and he had to do this together with League One.
This was this is two or three years in the making now and have never wavered from that belief.
That strategy.
There was something so identifiable about them.
It's taking the primary by surprise.
Really No team yet is really work that we were to combat in.
What are we 25 games in?
In Chris?
Well, that is believable.
Listen, we all sit down in front of managers and just a human peons.
You you get a feel foot for Callie, who are spinning your yon Chris.
Well, there isn't.
He truly is somebody who, if you ain't is dressing room.
You would want to play it from, I think isn't deserving of a job at a club.
Well, that's a question for another day.
But But what he's doing at Sheffield United at the moment, his own team, his own players who have bought into it, suits him.
And there's no reason why the contract for that fourth spot, really, because Chelsea what?
Not even one in five.
Now, I think the likes of Sheffield United Wolves, even with a little bit of ambition, a little bit of focus can go on to take forth well.
Another thing that may will hamper Chelsea is I mean, we talked about Manchester United, their search for Striker in January.
Of course, they had their own problems as well.
Desperate to bring somebody in upfront didn't happen on DDE Olivier Giroud, whose spirits must be lower than a snake's belly right now.
Yeah, well, they want Idris Mertens in, didn't they as well.
The workload on Tammy A.
Brown has clearly Bean so much and he he needs a break.
You really I mean, just look on bachelor his face way When Ross Barkley came on, I think Willie and played up front is a sort of force.
Whatever on did, almost looked like Chelsea.
We're happy to close out for a point was actually in the grand scheme of things, it wasn't what they needed.
Yeah, absolutely.
But this is a border thing, I think, Jason, but we're good piece in your paper a couple of weeks ago about then no center forts around anymore, some outstanding once doskey individuals like that.
But actually there is a dearth of them where that's what tactical changes, whether it's because coming through the academy, every kid wants to be a 10 world in a nine.
You know that that's a border with so should should we should we temper criticism of clubs who didn't find a forward this window because they just don't think so.
Because you have united getting hammered for Simon Garlow.
Yet there actually isn't the number nine's on No, not there.
I think the market for the people I was talking to was really small for what these club clubs wanted.
Prem Illegal kind of champions of experience.
But on alone on that market really shrunk to pee attack.
You ended up going on a permanent Germany on.
Then you've got Slimani.
You ended up staying where Iwas So you're really in an Cavani staying where he was.
I think that market was so small, say in some ways we're having to go.
It got for United panic buying on then Chelsea, I think, keeping their powder dry.
But they also have Olivier Giroud on the bench of World Cup winner and Michigan.
True, I woke up Semifinalist.
I think you know that they stayed calm even though Frank kind of seems to think that that seemed to be a bit of frustration Then We saw front of Newcastle two weeks ago and stroke him afterwards and this was slap bang in the middle of the window and you do you go to safety?
Huddle infront made it clear that he wanted he wanted to strike and we just seen Chelsea dominate again for 90 minutes.
Yet some here Bram look clumsy.
Looked tired.
Listen, Tommy, A fantastic plan will be a fantastic player brought when this news of this bond being lifted broke last year, probably through the the season.
You almost greeted it with our No.
You thought they're gonna throw money at it in this wonderful team are gonna be lose.
The unit's going to be broken up.
Well, we've since arrived at the end of January, and you think and you know what they actually did need some help.
There's a danger that this wouldn't have started this season.
Could be undone by not bringing in a little bit of experience.
A little bit of freshness.
Is it underlined?
Perhaps what we're saying the dearth of strikers available own a manager like Franklin Part, who clearly is very popular than Giorgio, delighted the job he's done so far under difficult circumstances.
So they would have backed in financially in the window, yet they couldn't couldn't buy a strike.
Well, I've been having the same conversation with Steve Bruce for a month.
Now, you castle.
Is that why you had many conversations?
T Why aren't you bringing in a strike?
And it's the same answer every time.
There's none out there in Steve Bruce is.
There's nobody out there better than what I have.
I know what a house is a very Louisville and that gives you an idea is to the death of options that really are.
That's why I took Andy Carroll in the first place.
I think that's why Christian Ben take a became an option for people.
It was just It was just a number nine with some Premier League experience that people wanted and whether it's worth taking the gamble on that for a few for a few months, whether it's worth it.
I think United have and Chelsea obviously think that it's that it's better not drink, drink Toss And Frank Dawson was one of the few players available in three weeks ago.
Steve Bruce let me direct questions that would you take Frank Dawson and I said, Well, yes, because he's somebody in at the moment you've got nobody trained, toss and goes to Crystal Palace is injured.
Well, he also scored when e wanted to get into Newcastle in some depth in the next part.
I'm just interested in what you think realistically is going enough points for fourth place because it's a very, very low bar.
Mean little in 3 2004 finished with 60 points.
That's their lowest total for fourth.
Chelsea on target for that moment.
Those are the numbers.
What?
Why has there been?
This is four way elsewhere, it Liverpool being so Liverpool adjust and it looks like the rest.
Everybody else's scrambling for those other three positions in the top four.
I just think that they're so good.
Yeah, and it goes right down.
It goes right down to Everton.
You might get there.
You might even say Yeah, but it's also a consequence.
It's also a consequence of the teams at the bottom.
There's no dead men this year as well.
They're all picking a point.
So what you've got is a trunk.
It's middle of the table, almost if you like.
I mean, you know, West Times, on 24 points in the third bottom, the picking of appointed games you're looking at the barrier for a story that the watermark for survival being sort 39 40 points.
It hasn't been that for for a lot of years.
This year, even you got way keep on reference and their intense in there by no means out of it.
You know that you could argue Newcastle should be looking up rather than looking over the shoulder there.
There were, because every team down there at the moment is capable of getting points even know Rich we saw last night.
You know they're bottom, but they're decent.
T the last 2 to 3 weeks of the season could be interest because he might have teams fighting gets the allegation and also flirting with Europe.
It does constitutes which is this light reflection on?
It's a lot of great league borrowing, things phenomenal.
Liverpool team on Dhe wanted to outline.
Will Sheffield United?
We have a lot of credit.
I think Southampton could have gone seven.
Yes, I mean, not so long ago, you know, battling relegation and it shows you how quickly that that can change for these taken turn.
What's it look like?
They turn the corner or seven on the other one was Burnley which him which I love going to cover, and Sean Dutch looked like he was battling relegation and then a couple of wins over Christmas.
In the reports of asking me, You're not far off seventh anyhow.
Yeah, I mean took of results on the you know that they're on the move.
But Henry, you say it's not a great leaders that based on the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea munchie snack it for me because for me, if you see the teams at the bottom, I think the likes of Brighton Villa will never see them.
The generally play well.
They played good football, but I don't think it's the strongest link with her borrowing the phenomenal livable.
Okay, we have to take another break right now, but afterwards we're talking Newcastle United.
Welcome back to the Sunday Supplement.
We're joined this week by Henry Winter off the time it's Mike McGraw, The Telegraph and Craig Hope off the daily mail.
Now, Craig, I want to talk to you about your relationship with new counsel and in particular Steve Bruce and the last time you're on the show, which was back in October the sixth you said and I'll quote.
It's hard to tell what the identity is, what the style is, what they're all about.
What Steve Bruce is trying to do, which Steve Bruce responded off.
Manage 400 games and the family.
You know, I think I know what I'm doing.
You said I'm not interested in that.
Later the same day they beat Manchester United.
One Neil there, now the top half 10th 7 points above the relegation zone.
Do you stand by what you said?
Do yet the more you still say the same.
Yes, in terms of there is no identifiable style to that team.
The more I watched that team this season, the last they understand football really do.
There is.
There is no clear identity if what they want to achieve, yet somehow defend themselves intense and relatively comfortable.
Now this is this.
This might sound ridiculous.
This has been a relegation season in order points tally.
It really has in every measurable degree possession shots conceded shots on target.
Girlsschools conceded everything you want there in the bottom three.
Yet somehow they have found a way to win matches and nice that Steve's credit.
They found a way to win matches through a combination of good fortune.
The brilliant goalkeeping homemakers is mine.
No match every week in things you probably quite con quantify, like spirit and and teamwork and work ethic and all the rest of it.
Brute.
There is no still you watch them last night and there is no you watching the team, and you think, What are they really trying to achieve?
What Steve percent and them to do?
They should have been beaten by Norwich last night.
It was incredible that they emerged with a goalless draw, really?
But that's how they've played all season, only minus the late the lake goes to build a Not really.
Defenders have scored 12 from 24 this season.
There's very little imagination in the final third.
They've got four strikers.
We've got one goal between them, they've got nearly a £1,000,000 straight.
Forces include the wingers who have only scored four times between them this season.
And I think over time, if you must be down to the Were they up early and they should really be in the bottom three, I go back to mention this off.
You expect the girls now I'm a big believer in expected calls when it supports my argument, and it does this time expected girls would have Newcastle bottom of the primarily on nine points in terms of, you know, worthy on the bonds of chances should there if one games.
But forget all of that.
Just believe your eyes.
And I watch this team and it's it's listen it.
It's a team.
It's a band of brothers.
If you like, you keep on going to the end.
Evidence by the two Lakers.
They got evidence, but it's not a good team.
And I worry that over time they will revert to probably what they deserve.
And that is a team who should really be in the relegation mix.
Okay, playing Devils Africa expected goals.
You could say if my aunt visible so Matt.
And also as well you say other than points, that is the whole point.
The heart there, halfway up the table, you know, stuck in a rap off criticizing them.
No, I'm afraid to move away from the horses.
Well, you mentioned this band of brothers, this spirit.
You could look at some teams in the family table.
Some of the top half managers would give their right arm for that, absolutely give their right arm for it into Steve's credit.
What I will say is the players have never really down to earth from one or two games this season.
They have, but there's always been a response, and that is muster.
Beauties credit enough.
I've committed that to print as well, but I just think the bigger picture in where they are going, where they're going into Steve, but don't yet see what he wants to do with this team.
And I'm just concerned that the longer you mean style of play.
Yeah, well, there isn't state of play.
The style of players go out, play a relatively poorly, give the ball to the opposition, doing create any chances and hope that you Nick something like that that's not deliberate.
And also is there not?
A case is what he can only work with what he's got the rich stuff.
But I still suspect this team is perhaps better than what playing the moment.
Steve comes back to the if you wanna call it an excuse, but you know they're limited.
He says that they can't do what he wants them to do and that he's got Revert back to ruffles techniques, which in the first half of last season certainly was.
Sit deep, you know, keep it tight, don't give away many chances and see what you can get on the brick.
But that ignores the fact that towards the back and last season, independent as they actually developed into a pretty free flowing attacking team who was good to watch in this year, they've seen anything booked up for the large part.
It's being awful.
It really I agree with your point about Anita's.
I mean that that that was crazy, that he left.
But they are above Arsenal on how many off Newcastle's players will get into arsenals.
11.
No, actually, that many on that is too great credit to Steve with you.
Talk about a CZ.
Jeff says that you know the team spirit and the work ethic that the manager set the tone for that you make the point about quite a few of the goals you say it's 11 or 12 goals will actually come from defending 24 72 Fantastic.
Well, let's break that down.
How many of those have come from set pieces and then the crockery to that is actually should the Bruce gets credit for that coaching, but they've also got a player in Ellen sat Maximum, who was certainly the first hole for the season mask.
A lot of the shortcomings.
He was a real jack in the box, and he was someone who took the border areas of the pitch, which on the balance of playing possession, you got no right to be.
And then he would invariably win the throw in the free kick of the corner from from which this scored right?
Isn't that tactics by the manager?
You've got this magical individual.
We will love watching him play on it.
Bruce is tactics are give the ball to some maximum and let him do his magic in.
But there was no that was planted.
There was there was no Plan B.
And when some maximum was like the team you got to love only one wants without women.
The site this season it just without some some marksmen in this site.
For me, it explores the short comings over a clear like it was when he came out with the site was like, That's a reflection on squad strength and is the manager completely responsible for recruitment of the club?
You know better than that, then I would some of the players that for me they don't look good enough of that club.
You can't blame Steve Bruce for the whole kit came in and said he was absolutely delighted with the Windows.
You applauded the saying that a jeweler in the £40 million center forward don't forget he has got another club record you would know with Joe Lynton, Steve Bruce.
I know he wasn't absolutely not Steve Bruce for that.
If he's dealing with the sword effectively, the strange recruitment of other in the not Lemon Steve Bruce put up what I'm saying.
That he was given a £40 million strike at him when he came in the club said he watched him and that he ultimately signed off on the deal.
Now they've been tracking dueling for the best part of nine months.
Whatever it was, Steve Bruce wasn't the clip them, but he did say that it was his decision to give the green light to stay.
You have.
I think Steve Bruce had a massive say in a massive role in Danny Rose coming to the club.
Andi had Danny Rose had a lot of offers.
I think that's, you know, that's credit.
Steve Bruce on the real cool.
That was a big, big, big sign of Carson.
I'm not feeling great being overly harsh on Steve Bruce.
I do, actually.
But then I'm looking at it from the outside and I'm looking at someone who's covered Steve Bruce's career, Certainly the latter part of it a za player, but also having interviewed him all the way down the line.
And there is a passionate football man who, because of his engaging character, people underestimate the fact that there is a taxi mind in there.
You look at the managers that he's worked under, particularly Ferguson.
Sir Alex Ferguson.
I think you're right in the middle of it.
You have a relationship with the club.
You see Newcastle every week, but looking it from the outside, we have seen Newcastle United often.