Alex Crook QUESTIONS if Bournemouth beating AC Milan is a CONCERN for UEFA despite 'BRILLIANT STORY'

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The show discusses Crystal Palace's European draw and defensive worries, Sunderland pressure, Bournemouth's win over AC Milan and Bill Foley's ambitions

The panel debates whether Crystal Palace's draw at Besiktas eases pressure after defensive problems, and whether Sunderland's manager is under threat. It also examines Bournemouth's 3-0 win over AC Milan as a sign of Premier League dominance, before Bill Foley discusses Europa League ambitions, wages and Alex Scott's future; the overall takeaway is that Bournemouth are ambitious but may still lose key players to bigger clubs.

Alex Crook, Gabby Agbonlahor and Sam Matterface discuss the latest from European competitions as Bournemouth, Brighton, Crystal Palace and Sunderland all featured. Subscribe: https://youtube.com/c/talkSPORT?subconfirmation=1 🏆 Ready to win? Check out the latest prizes at talkSPORTwin.com Enjoyed this YouTube video? 😍 🖥️ talkSPORT's Website: https://talksport.com/ 📲 talkSPORT's X/Twitter: https://x.com/talkSPORT 📷 talkSPORT's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talksport/?hl=en 👤 talkSPORT's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkSPORT/ 📱 talkSPORT's Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talksport ? 🔴 Download the talkSPORT app HERE! - https://talksport.com/apps/ 🔎 Want to see if you feature on our YouTube channel? Check out our Best talkSPORT callers playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFVMnSsi04LGLa9pS9xDvme-Gjmlu2 uefa talkSPORT PremierLeague

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in the Europa League. Brighton couldn't quite get over the line, but a hardful performance. >> Shots in there. 26 shots was it? >> Yeah. But they also had some against them as well, which were uh Sunland ended up drawing as well. Um it was a hard fought point in a fourgoal clash with Bashiktas. PSR came into the game under real pressure after his side were were thrashed 5-nil by Brighton on Sunday. Um has he done enough to hold off the knee-jerk sacking for now? What do you think? I >> think it is a good point, wasn't it? Away against Bikas. Um, you don't think so though, do you, Cookie? >> Um, no. It's a good point in isolation, but I don't think it helps with a bigger picture because obviously the big concern for Steve Parish, the chairman there, is they're conceding too many goals and giving too many chances away. They've conceded two more. And obviously, they've got Newcastle at home on Sunday. I'm going to be there for game day live. I think that game will have a much bigger bearing on his future than than this one. I know your point to Bashika being on a really strong run of form at home. I'm just not enamored with with with Turkish football. We saw Fenabachi come to Aston Villa names on the team sheet and you think well this is going to be a tough game for >> Aston Villa and they absolutely rolled them over. No they're not. No I agree but >> Europa League winners top team top manager top place to go Villa Park mate >> 6 though doesn't say much for Turkish football. >> Listen I don't think Crystal Palace are perfect but it was a step in the right direction. They worked a lot harder out of possession in the first half. They kept Bashiktas pinned in their own half. The whole first 45 minutes. The only time that they looked dangerous was the first shot on target they had in in stoppage time at the end of the first half. >> They were absolutely 10 times better than they were against Brighton. 10 times better than they were against Forest and better than they were in the first half against Leon when they were absolutely awful as well. Do you not think they have to get >> I'm keen to have a go at them when they when they made a mistake and they were really bad. >> He needed a response and he got but that was better performance. >> It's good as well to see Mateta back in the side scoring scoring finish McNeil's probably got to do a bit more but Sar as well didn't start on the weekend. >> They gave them a little bit of solidity actually having McNeil in the team because he worked a little bit harder than maybe S did. S once he came on you know he's not in you would start SR against Newcastle with Newcastle's defensive problems wouldn't you would you not? >> I'm not sure that you would. No, I think if they had their way, they'd play Kamadada higher up alongside Pino in behind Mateta. They can't play Strson now cuz he's picked up an injury last night which is looks quite bad actually >> with Mateta in the side are a better side. >> But it doesn't solve their defensive issues. >> No, I agree. That's the main problem. >> Did Bashikas leave a couple of their big hitters on the bench as well? >> A lot of their big hitters on the bench. Yeah. >> So, it wasn't Bashik is his first team. >> No, but it's a Bishiktas team that have done quite well so far in this competition and we're going for maximum points and they've made changes in the last couple good point isolation. I'm not I'm not I'm not sure it's going to silence too many of his critics. >> You're just anti-Turkish football. So you're saying that don't deserve if you if you >> How would the tune feel about that? >> Crystal Palace [laughter] Crystal Palace have made a step up in performance. Sometimes you have to just say they've done a good job. >> Yeah. >> You know, actually it's something you can build on if you if they only counts as something you can build on if they back it up with a positive result on Sunday. >> We don't know what's going to happen on Sunday because Sunday's two days time. >> Yeah, I do think they are weak at the back. >> Definitely. But they've had three games in the Premier League without Dassasi playing in the middle of the back three. He's back now. So there is an opportunity, is there not? >> He improves them. >> Yeah. No question about that. >> And they owe their fans a performance by the way of that embarrassment against Brighton. They've got to be at it >> totally. And it's like it's it's a massive game for them against Newcastle because Newcastle themselves not in particularly good form. An early start to the season where everyone was waxing lyric about Matias, but actually looks a little bit too loose and they're a little bit too easy to play against. Galatasroy got a good week um win this week didn't they see was it 4-2 was it you don't fancy Galatas Roy away for Villa Cookie don't fancy you that game they beat >> was it Liil they beat was it yeah 14 was it good >> team that that your analysis your [laughter] analysis of me >> Turkish football is very good and Leil [laughter] are a good team that's it that's what you've got >> is this the same Galatasar I almost never win away from home in the Champions League as well >> they did 142 this this was a bashikas team at home. >> Yeah, it's a good point in isolation, but I'm I'm not as excited about the point. >> I'm not as [laughter] about the point. >> I'm not as excited about as you are. >> I'm not excited about it. I'm just saying it's a point, but more importantly, the performance was much better. If you have a decent performance, it gives you something to build. >> I I I watched the second half and yeah, there were there were some good things going forward for Crystal Palace, but I still worry defensively. >> Interested to see if we can get Hall City owner tune on before the end of the show. Cook's comments about Turkish football. >> Well, would he be happy about them? more of a Fabachi man. [laughter] >> He cashed out a Fenabachi, didn't he? >> He's still a big fan, isn't he? I think he's still got a box there. >> In fact, he was having a Twitter rail, wasn't he? Earlier in the season with the owners because they were trying to take the box away from [laughter] >> He was the vice president when we went out a couple years ago. >> Yeah. Um I I watched Sunderland by the way on the subject of of European football. >> That was not great against [cough] elect Pausnan side who lost their first two Europa League games 4-0. They get the early goal after 2 minutes. Good finish from the young Ukrainian. >> What comments was it from Sadiki of up front? But after that, >> what did Sadiki say after the game? Didn't he say that they got a bit complacent? >> That was after Bournemouth. >> Yeah, after after the B game, >> but he called him arrogant. >> They need a result, don't they? >> It was um it wasn't Sadiki, it was um >> the the right back who said that. >> Okay. >> Male. Mik. >> Okay. Actually played quite well last night. I felt like he had a little bit of a point to prove, but I'd be I'd be concerned if I if I was Regis L. Yes, he made six changes, but having scored early, they should really gone on >> be a result this weekend. Yeah. >> Um obviously that that they're a little bit too easy to play against which has been the problem for for Sunderland but you know over the weekend big game leads at home not an easy one to be able to come out with. >> Is there any easy games and that's what we're talking about in terms of the the high tariff in terms of what you're going to need to stay in the league. That's going to be a massive problem for someone. >> You know someone maybe established might end up dropping. I mean obviously it depends on what happens with Manchester City and the points deduction. So we can't really make too many predictions on that. But Regis Lee, you mentioned that um he needs a result. How much pressure do you think he's under? We're in that season, aren't we? Now we're into November. Everyone starts to think about what the plan is going forward and whether it's working. >> Well, I I did a piece last season, no, towards the end of the campaign that that there were concerns then about Sunderland's drop in form and and their data. Obviously, they've ended up getting in Europe, so they can't change manager then. But yeah, I think if results don't turn around quickly, then he could be under pressure. And the big concern for me last night, they were relatively in control of the game until he made four changes around about the hour mark and one of those changes was taking off Granite Jaca and they totally lost control once Jacqua left the pitch. >> So, a bit too reliant on him, I think. Interesting. See what happens uh with them. Uh Bournemouth, we're going to hear from Bill Foley a little bit later on. Torrential rain at the Vitality Stadium. Ruben Amarim in the away dugout. Milan's captain and goalkeeper Mike Manuel sent off for pushing. Uh Tyler Adams the face. >> Definitely a record. >> Um I'm surprised you didn't go to that that game Bournemouth against AC Milan. That sounds like something that you would be a bandwagon that you would be jumping on. Is it because Ruben Amarin was there? >> Did he block Did he block you from >> Did you get banned by Ruben Amarin? >> It's hardly [laughter] a bandwagon, is it? I've been covering Bournemouth for two decades. But no, sorry. Jim Prow Jim Prow, who is one of our senior commentators, he he did that game. So I I did let >> but I thought maybe you just take the night off for a night like that and go and watch your famous >> I was there for the first European home game. Could I be a little bit controversial? >> Oh please do >> cuz it it's a brilliant story but you know Bournemouth beaten AC Milan 3-0 from where they were >> 17 years ago. Massive massive story >> but should it be a bit of a concern for UEFA that teams like Bournemouth have beating the mighty AC Milan 3-0 and nobody's surprised. They were bookmakers favorites. Bournemouth >> of course AC Milan aren't as good as they used to be are they? Loftters cheek still getting game time there. AC Milan are unbeaten in Syria. >> Yeah, but are they top? >> Well, Crookie will tell us because he only judges well after seven game whether whether a result is any good by where they are in the table. >> Now, do you know what? I'm just I was delighted that it went the way it did because had the visitors have got a result and the visiting coach. Can you imagine this fell this morning? That's not [laughter] exactly what you said on the he'd have been all over me, wouldn't he? It's not what you said in fourth position in top. >> It doesn't really count then, does it? doesn't really count a win over AC Milan cuz they're only fourth. >> But you take my point, you know, about the dominance of the of the Premier League. Even the even the lesser lights can can absolutely destroy one of the great names in European football and nobody is that surprised. >> I said it Aston Villa struggled in the game against um Brenford and they go and smash Fenabachi 6-nil. >> Brenford probably beat Fenabachi four 5-0 as well. >> So a couple of years ago and in fact even as far as last January, February, you two, >> not me too, it was him. You two him giving me stick because I said to you that every English team should be favorites against every other European team. You >> accuse him of English arrogance. I don't remember that. >> Yes, you did. >> Did I? I'm glad you receipts. >> Yes, you did. And you turned around and I said, "What if we get to all three finals?" And you said, "Sam, that's English arrogance." And that was on the draw for the first knockout stage. And then Arsenal got to the Champions League final. Palace won the Conference League and your beloved >> the Villa. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Well, Sam, are you surprised though? You know your stuff. You work so much. You You've been around football for so many years. You're the best at your job. I'm not surprised, mate. >> Don't start. Is that Is that you backtracking? >> Yeah, I am, mate. I apologize. And to you, the chief footballer. >> I I do think of the three English teams in the Europa League, Bournemouth are best equipped to go. >> Yes. >> Well, Crystal Palace, I think, will struggle as the as the the opposition gets tougher. I think Brighton obviously in the Conference League. They've got a completely different team that are playing in the Conference League at the moment. They're playing well. >> Why Bournemouth go and win Europa League Champions League football. Would that be enough for Alex Scott to stay? >> I think he'll go in January. >> Uh Bournemouth ran out comfortable winners last night three-0 against AC Milan. Perfect start to the Europa League at the Vitality Stadium. Justin Clberver and Marcus Ta from the penalty spot. I mean Adley with a late free kick. Uh Bill Foley has been talking about their chances in Europe with an extensive interview with our chief football correspondent Alex Krug on the Talk Sport YouTube channel and he asked him is Bournemouth genuinely the healthiest place uh for young internationals to thrive. >> I think we can win. I think we can go all the way. I don't want to make a prediction that we will. That's that I end I end up getting in trouble when I start making predictions. They usually come true, but I don't want to take a chance, but I like our team. I like what we've done so far in Europa League in Europa League and we have a a big game on Thursday and then we and we have a a total then of another what five games, but if we can get to 15 or 16 or 17 points, we believe we'll be in the final eight and that's good. We avoid the knockout round and then we drive on. Once you're once you're in the final eight, anything can happen in my opinion. >> And and when I spoke to you previously, um you were talking about the fact your vision for Bournemouth was to become the club where people wanted to stay, wanted to put down roots, mainly talking about players, but obviously you couldn't keep Andonia and Antoine Smeno left for for Manchester City in January. How close are you, you think, to to realizing that dream, making sure you that actually the these top names are going to commit to Bulma for the long haul? >> We're we're close. You we have to respect the fact that a lot of a lot of these a lot of our our players are younger. They've come to Bournemouth on the on the expectation that they'll get time to play and perhaps move on to a bigger team. And we recognize that. Uh Thiago's job and my job are really the same, and that's to make players feel comfortable, provide them with the infrastructure they need to understand that we're serious about what we're doing. And uh notwithstanding the audiovisisual issues we had this morning, we're we're in a brand new performance center and it's state-of-the-art. They can't I was just out down having lunch with the players. The canteen is terrific. The food is fantastic. So, we're we're happy with where we are and we believe we'll start making progress in terms of retaining key talent. It it may not be this year. It may not be next year in terms of everyone, but we're close. We're close. We have to prove to the players this is a place they want to be and that they want to stay and they don't want to move on because that's the way we really build a successful team. >> And what about the the wage structure, Bill? Cuz again, you said to me previously that you in a position financially to compete with any team in the Premier League. Does does it come to the stage where players earning £100,000 a week at Bournemouth becomes commonplace? Because obviously it hasn't been up to this point. >> I think I think earning that kind of number Bournemouth should be common place and we should be prepared to meet that meet that challenge. Part of it is ensuring that we have our hospitality in the right spot, ensuring that we have the right sponsorship and ticketing. So that that's why we need need more people in the stands, more people coming to the game early, staying longer, staying after the game, and that's all part of our plan in terms of developing fan zones and and more activities to keep people consistently here at the stadium. And that's the way we have the cash flow and the to really maintain what we've already started. So we've got a long ways to go. We're we're not nearly we're not nearly finished at this point. Number one, win a trophy. Win a major trophy. Uh number two, champions. Play in the Champions League and do it consistently. Be numbers 7654 in the Premier League in this small town. This in this beautiful place, Bournemouth, Bournemouth, UK. Consistency and finish in the top in in the top level, top performance level. That's that's the goal. I haven't changed my goals. I've just accelerated my goals. >> It's it's fascinating actually, isn't it? Because he's clearly got a lot of ambition for for for Bournemouth. And he says there about you asked him about the £100,000 a week being commonplace for a player at Bournemouth. And he responded with almost like an economic plan of how you get to that and and the plan was to make sure you get people to come through the door. How easy is it to attract more supporters to Bulma? Both of you spend time, you live there half the time. you spent a lot of time, as you've told us, 25 years covering them. So, so how what is the catchment area there? >> Well, I I think what's interesting is maybe Bournemouth doesn't attract the level of hardcore supporters as say another South Coast town like Portsmouth would do. >> Yeah. >> But what they do get is they get the casual football supporters who are quite happy to spend money to go out and watch a Premier League game on a Saturday afternoon. I've got to say, what he's done with the hospitality there is unbelievable. >> Very good. And the fact he's saying it's sold out week after week sort of backs that up because it's probably easier to sell hospitality in a town like Bournemouth which is slightly more affluent than it would be at Fatton Park for example where the hospitality suites haven't changed for a number of years. So yeah, I think they do have that potential. But I just love his ambition. I met him before he actually became the owner when he was trying to buy the football club and and he was he was pretty clear. He he had his plan. He knew how he was going to get there and actually got to European football a lot quicker than he expected. So when he says we're going to play in the Champions League, >> I believe him. >> I believe him. >> Okay. So can he hold on to one of his prized assets? Alex Scott has been linked with a move to Chelsea. Bournemouth slapped a100 million pound valuation upon him. Is it a place for internationals to develop or is it actually a club of Bournemouth stature can end up being more than a stepping stone? >> I don't want to sell anyone at any time anywhere. Now, I have to defer to Thiago, uh, my my president of football, and he really comes to me with his ideas and his plans. At this point, we're convinced we're the right place for Alex to be, for Alex to stay, and we'll keep on addressing contract issues with Alex as we move through this year. We'd love to have Alex stay here and sign a new contract and be part of this team long haul. And we're still working on it. We we haven't we haven't given up. But sometimes players get stars in their eyes and they they think that Chelsea is the right place to go or or Man City. I hated to lose Semeno. I mean, what a great guy he was. But to show you his character, you know, he didn't have to play those last two games with us and he stayed and he played and he scored a winning goal [snorts] in the very in the very last game. You know, we believe if we keep on providing infrastructure uh the a common common thread of leadership across this team, they will start keeping more and more players and people will be surprised about that an