Can Liverpool compete with Man City and Arsenal? | ESPN FC Extra Time
ESPN FC Extra Time: Can managers control stars, Liverpool’s next five and Serie A memories
The panel answered viewer questions about how much power managers really have over star players and dressing rooms, and also discussed Serie A’s money, stars and style. The guests argued that a coach cannot single-handedly close a talent gap, predicted Liverpool will not go unbeaten in their next five, and recalled that old Serie A was not always as glamorous as it looked on TV.
- Alonso is the manager most willing to drop a star player whose form falls short — The reason is that his past handling of a big player showed that kind of decisiveness; Carrick was also mentioned as someone who might drop a player because the squad has few genuine stars
- A manager cannot quickly coach away the talent gap between a team like Manchester City and a team like Coventry — He argued that an inexperienced or lower-profile coach at City would be sensed out by the players, who would do as they please; dressing-room power and individual talent would outweigh the coach, and occasional upsets do not mean a manager can consistently close the gap
- Serie A in the past had money and the best players, but the football was not always brilliant and was often too defensive — He cited Rush saying that six touches in a game counted as a good performance because the priority was not giving anything away; if a team went ahead, the striker might not see the ball at all
- Italian clubs also had an edge in professional physical training and sports science while English football was catching up — He recalled Juventus players going into the gym at seven in the morning to do weights while English players were still having tea and chatting before training
- You cannot map out Liverpool’s points game by game over the next five matches; he only predicted they will not go unbeaten and sees Brighton as capable of beating Liverpool — The reason is that football changes week to week and a heavy defeat affects the mood for the next game; Brighton are in good form and should not be underestimated
Craig Burley and Steve Nicol join Dan Thomas on ESPN FC Extra Time to answer your questions: 0:00 Which manager is least hesitant to drop their stars: Alonso, Carrick, Iraola 1:16 How much of an impact do managers really have? 3:28 Where would you have liked to play outside of the UK? 8:25 How many points for Liverpool in their next 5 games? 12:04 What’s the most regrettable thing you’ve eaten before a match? ✔️ Subscribe to ESPN Unlimited: https://plus.espn.com/ ESPN ESPNFC
Transcript
Welcome to latest edition of Extra Time domestic footballer. Both you sound a bit rough. You're all right. You've got a cold. >> I'm getting over a cold. >> Yeah. Wait, what's yours? Don't sound very well either. >> Okay. You You sound rough. >> Really? >> Yeah. >> I don't think you do. >> Maybe just look rough. Uh Craigy, which which of these managers do you think would be the least hesitant when it comes to dropping their star players from the playing 11, especially if their performances don't reach a level that is expected of them? Chav Alonzo, Michael Carrick or Iota [music] and Putin already, is it? >> Yeah. Bit of Alonzo. >> Yeah. Is it getting funny? >> Oh, I thought it meant at Chelsea, though. >> Uh oh, yeah, I suppose. Well, [music] >> do you do you go down that same road again that got you kicked out of Real Madrid or is it It's different world, isn't it? Chelsea to Real Madrid. >> Like dropping Cole Palmer won't get the same headlines, >> but he still he still gets still got to do, right? >> He's still got pressure on him at JL. You still got to do what's right. Uh >> I don't know. I think Carrick would drop player. >> Bruno Fernandez is the only star player they have, isn't it? >> Yeah, that's where you're at. >> Probably Alonzo. >> Iola. >> I bet Alonzo stands out because of what he did with Vinnie. >> Stevie, how much of an impact do managers really have? For example, if you took charge of Coventry for 6 months while Dan took charge of Manchester City for 6 months, could your management overcome the gap in talent for one game? >> Well, you couldn't. I couldn't watch. Well, because they'd just be going out and doing what they want, >> right? >> Yeah. I mean, they weren't they wouldn't listen. >> They weren't ready to play for laughing [music] at you. No, [laughter] I mean they thought of you stood in the middle of a locker room. >> Imagine be telling anyone to do what they're doing >> with a club track suit on. >> Yes. Look behind you. >> If I if I've had them for 6 months and you've had commentary for 6 months and then we meet in a [music] match, would I make any difference? And would you would make more difference. >> Look, you would to be there for 6 months, [music] you'd have to make some sort of impact. >> Mhm. But my impact would only be negative. But would it be negative enough to close [music] the quality gap or the gap on the pitch between your and your wellorganized commentary? >> Well, because listen, there are games where a team like Coventry can beat a [music] Man City regardless of whether it's you or Pep Guardiola, >> right? But in general, Man City would obviously [music] not go to the dogs because of the individual talent they've got, but they would struggle, right? >> Because you'd end up as much as we were talking yesterday about how the manager only has a certain amount of power in the in [music] the dressing room. The dressing room has an equal amount, if not more. and the Man City team, the dressing room would probably go because everybody would just be able to do what they wanted because because of your lack of experience, you wouldn't know what to do with them and they would smell that in about 2 seconds, [music] >> right? >> So, they'd all start taking advantage of it >> and it would take [music] maybe two or three games before it would tell on the field, >> right? >> So, yeah. No, you >> there were a senior effect. >> You'd have [music] no chance. >> What happened to your ear? What's wrong? Oh, I had it turned up quite loud during the show. Okay. >> Cuz it was >> it was weak. >> Yes. >> And some connection happened there and it almost took [laughter] my ear >> almost took my eardrum out. >> Where would you have liked to have played abroad outside the UK, Stevie, [music] at the peak of your career? >> Oh, do you know I've never thought of that. I've never It's never crossed my mind though. >> So when you were when you were at your peak, Italy was the place to be, wasn't it? actually was the place to be. >> Was there there there was never a point you woke up and thought, you know what, Ellena, let's go. >> Oh, they don't have they don't have fine chips and heads anymore. >> The culture vulture myself. [laughter] >> Where's the D? >> That's I mean you'd obviously go at the time AC Milan into Milan where you know you got Napoli. I mean [music] it would have it would have been nice to go to Napoli and play with Maradona. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I'll take Napoli. [music] Maradon. >> You two would have had a rather good time in Naples. Well, I'm sure he would have shown me >> doing what he does a few spots or did >> he'd have been doing what he did and you'd have been doing what you did. >> There you go. [music] >> A good time. And what about now? >> Now, >> Barcelona. >> Yeah. Spain is >> Barcelona. [music] Yes, please. >> What about you, Craig? >> It's weird how Italy was the uh >> you know, you used to have to be you look at Italy now and you could be a sub for a team in the Premier League and get a move to Italy. And I'm I don't mean a move to Helis Verona or Bologna. I'm talking about a move to Milan or Interuvi. >> Back in the day, [music] uh you had to be the coveted player >> to go to Italy. >> Russia went there, didn't he? >> Russia. [music] Yeah. >> Gazel went there. >> Yeah. >> Uh at one point, >> bunch, you know, a bunch of guys went out there played for Liam Brady years ago [music] went out uh the Republican island. And then you look at the Delpier Zan you the list of like the big big stars that they problem it's just come to me though when you mentioned Rushy >> as glamorous as it came across on the TV [music] too much of the football was born and all you have to do is ask my mate Rushy you know Rushy was like during a game if he got six touches he said that [music] was a good game >> right >> he said never mind chances six touches. He says because 100% [music] it was about giving nothing away. And then and he said, "God forbid we actually went ahead." He said, [music] "I would have been as well going sitting on the bench, >> right? >> Just cuz I'd never see it." So yeah, all the money was there. All the best players were there, but a lot of the football wasn't particularly brilliant. >> Big Joe went big big Joe to Milan. Mark Haley went to Milan. Ray Wilkins went to Milan. Uh [music] Man, Butch went out there, he was perfect for Ray Wilkins, the way he played. >> And when you were at your [music] when you were at your peak, Craig, it it already kind of switched to Spain. Yeah, that's where kind of where the [music] >> the big names. >> No, cuz Macker and that made his move to Spain slightly later, Mike Cologne. >> Yes. >> Uh [music] yeah. Then Spain became I don't know why, but it always was to an extent in terms [music] of Real Madrid. Uh but even they seem to be down the pecking order to like a UV >> time when uh was it Lippy [music] was managing at Juvi and my old teammate was there Ravanelli actually my other team >> Jean Lu Vali Dale Pierro >> uh all those guys and they were listening to them I told you this some of them were in the gym at like 7:00 in the morning they were they just had this Conti was part of that team [music] they had this unbelievable believable mentality. >> Yeah. >> Of they not only were they great players, but they [music] were that they were I think they were the first of the kind that they were really athletes just toned muscle, you know what I mean? By doing all the weights, whereas we'd be sitting with a cup of tea, [laughter] you know what I mean? I was like, I've seen it firsthand when when when uh when Roberto de Matanazola and and Jean Luca Vali came, Labou was already there. When the Italian, he never did the weights. too busy talking. When the Italians came was the first time we all went like that, >> we felt bad. >> Yeah. [music] And that was then part of their transition. There was much more money in the Premier League then than there was being >> Well, they'd come in right honestly in the morning. They'd come in, they'd be all chatty and happy and they'd have a joke with you, but they'd get the kit on and I'm going to say an hour to 45 before training and they go in the gym. We'd come in chatty happy, get a kit on and go and have a cup of tea and sit and chat for another 45. and they were doing all these sort of leg presses and everything just working the muscles which the sport scientists in Italy had sort of taught them all this whereas we were in England they were still catching up >> we we have a few coming in 5 minutes before the boss left >> or before training started >> making just just getting on the field in time >> really >> yeah just on time >> how things have changed even >> just a little bit >> not for the better uh next five Liverpool games Stevie how many points Oh my goodness. >> City, [music] City, Brighton, Brenford. >> What about Brighton have been really good. >> They are fantastic obviously against Arsenal. It'd be interesting to see if they can continue that. >> I don't know, Dan. >> Well, will they be unbeaten? Will they be unbeaten after those five games? Cuz they obviously are at the moment. >> I don't think I'm sticking me neck out and saying that that >> they will not [music] be unbeaten. >> Yeah. >> Right. So, tomorrow we said a point. You said a point. Yeah, [music] >> I'll take a point tomorrow. >> Okay. And then Brighton, another point. >> Where is the game? We don't know if it's at Brighton. I >> assume it's a bright. We're not that interested. >> No, you're getting it now. Well, it does. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. I could honestly >> The games that games at Brighton, I could see Brighton beating Liverpool. Excuse me. The away games. Brighton away. Brenford away. [music] Chelsea away, Arsenal away. >> And Brian's at Anfield, >> right? >> Brenford's [music] away. >> So the away game, the away games at Anfield. >> I'm not sure of >> again generally [music] Liverpool do well against Arsenal and Anfield as they do against City. >> Okay. So, three easy points there. You're saying? >> Yeah. [music] Yeah. I I I [snorts] do you know I hate this because some of my staff at the revs used to do this right we'd be we'd be sitting and and one of the boys would come in and go say I was looking at the fixtures I looked at the next 10 fixtures right >> okay >> and I reckon we're going to have like 20 points from there right what you know what do you think I'm like you think so I said how you how are you thinking that well you know just cuz you know we played it I said you don't know what's going to happen week to week and our team >> and in our team we don't know exactly what we're going to get every time we step on the field back that annoyed I see >> you can't sit here [music] well you can't sit here and say well we'll get three there we'll get three there we might lose there we'll get that and it's exact I'm looking at that and think that's exactly what's going through my head is when the boys used to go oh [music] we should get so many points and then that means we'll be >> right >> you can't do it it doesn't work that way because if Liverpool beat Man City because where it'll put them particularly without Gako and Each [music] then I would fancy them to beat Bright Albin at home. >> Yeah, you're taking this question very seriously. >> Well, because [laughter] I do take it seriously. If you get if we get pumped 3-0 by city at home, >> right? The Brighton game's like, "Oh, no. It's Brighton." >> Okay, hold on. Do you get any stick in Canada or was everybody a lovely >> No, no, no. >> Someday it was >> No. tell you come on >> a big Indian mate [music] came up to me the first thing he said to me he went you know bit critical of Liverpool [laughter] >> and I was like I'm so glad [music] this happened so well I went I said by the way I said uh do you remember 18 [music] months ago when they were winning the league and we were slapping them on the back kissing the backside saying how brilliant everybody was yeah I goes well you didn't have a problem with that did you went No. I said, "Well, in the last 12 months, particular, have we been any good?" He went, "Well, not really." I said, "Well, that's what I said." God. >> I said, "So, why are you going to go with me?" And he went, "Oh, [music] fair enough." I went, "There you go. >> There you go. >> Then go and get me a fight." [laughter] God, >> chief negotiator. >> No wonder people want you cut out of pictures. [laughter] The >> final question. What's the most regrettable thing you've ever eaten before a match? I feel [music] this is towards you, Steve. >> Oh, easy peasy. Half a dozen bags of crisp. But you did that anyway, didn't you? Wasn't that a >> No, no, I did this the afternoon of the game. >> Okay. >> So, we're in Morocco. It was pre-season. Um I'm going to say it was like [music] 82. >> Okay. >> And >> what degrees of the year? >> Yeah. A year. And I'm like I'm sat there. I was actually room with a guy called John McGregor at the time. So, we decided well we're not going to be involved, right? And I had a load of crisp and we back. I didn't bother going for a cip. So I just I got I got a can of coke from room service right >> and I tanned all the crisps, >> right? >> And we get to the ground cuz we never used to get the team till we got to the ground and he got told me I was playing and I never thought anything about it. And then in the 60th minute my some it was like somebody just punched [music] me in the guts and was squeezing me. I was like I was in absolute bits. Oh, I've never forgotten it. [music] And so I've never the game done that again. But oh my goodness, >> I don't think anyone has ever done that. >> Apart from yourself to be honest. >> No. >> I don't think anybody's ever done that. Like [laughter] never. >> Yeah. Oh, >> sex. >> What was your What did you eat before games? Did you have [music] a routine? >> No. >> It just you'd eat anything? >> Oh, we had this Oh, well, no. We had all the standard stuff. >> So you'd like pass. >> If you're in a hotel, I'm going to say 12:00. >> Yes. >> You go. We used to go like 11:00. They go for a walk. >> I hated that nonsense. >> Yeah. Then the go. >> Why did you go for a walk? >> No idea. >> No. Do that with the revs. Did you walk? >> No. Absolutely. No chance. >> No, there's not a single every single person was [music] moing each other going, "What? What are we doing?" >> Okay. And I don't know why. Even Kenny did it. >> But then Kenny surely would have been moaning about it before. >> For some reason, they love going for a walk. >> I have no idea. I don't know. >> Absolute nonsense. >> Right, we're going for a walk. >> Get us out of bed. >> 12:00. Well, most of us were out of bed. [laughter] I guarantee you a buffet before a game. Boiled chicken, >> right? >> Pasta, some sauce. >> Stop playing. >> Yeah. >> But you know, you know what? You know what the thing is, right? The thought process was that that was kind [music] of healthy before a game. >> Yes. >> But unless you're doing that, you know, back back then you went, "Oh, I'll have a bit of chicken and pasta then. I'm going to be able to run from >> Yeah. Considering what you've done the previous week." >> Yeah. But, you know, you're just shoveling stuff in that you haven't been eating all week anyway. [music] So it >> it was only years later that sudden suddenly people realized I actually heard John McInn >> uh recently Scotland's John McN of course your nemesis. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Deflected goal against Haiti. What are you talking about? [laughter] >> He's got his own chef. He's not like he was on a podcast or he was on that one of these shows. He said he had his own chef >> and [music] not that he's a fancy like you know big-headed guy but that's what these clubs do now. And you know, can you imagine? You be like, I'm not eating that. >> Good for him. >> Imagine he goes home. He goes home. He's got a little bit of chicken, couple [laughter] of bits of pasta, no sauce on it. >> Can you imagine? >> I know. >> You flip. God. >> I mean I mean, imagine having some strange guy in your house anyway. >> I'm assuming the guy comes to the house, right? >> Yes. Yes. >> But these houses are big, aren't they? It's not like >> Well, he said it was a chef, but not the gender of the chef is. No, >> but that's what some of these players are doing. >> No, I know it's mental. >> Clubs are saying to them cuz he said he was one in particular that he was overweight. Yes. >> He said it was actually Steven Gerard that got him on the [music] straight and narrow >> when he came down from Rangers. He said, "Look, you need to change >> your lifestyle and do this. [music] >> If you have a chef, why not? [snorts] >> You got Ellen, Stevie. You're all right. >> You've got Yeah, exactly. You're sorted." And that is it. ESPNFC back on your screens tomorrow. big games of course United against Spurs plus [music] a great triple header in La Liga. We'll be discussing all of that and more. Join us.