The Game

The Thursday club of Tony Cascarino, Gregor Robertson and Martin Samuel join Tom Clarke to discuss a fantastic title race and a pressure mounting in midtable.

Villa park was rocking as they extended their unbeaten home run, playing front foot football and bullying the reigning European and Premier league champions. Man City look to be in a mini crisis. Meanwhile Arsenal are a reflection of their big summer signing, Declan Rice – powerful, accomplished and never give up. Rice looks a bargain at 100 million.

Forest and Palace are currently mid table, but the fans are not happy. Steve Cooper and Roy Hodgson are feeling the pressure as modern football is showing its about entertainment, not just survival.

Timeline

Villa

2’ Villa, not just top four but serious contenders. Christmas will be key.

3’ Emery is a very good manager. Does it reflect more on Arsenal that he didn’t succeed there…?

5’ Villa played a high line and battered City

7’ Well drilled, pace at full back, front foot full of confidence. Silk and steel.

9’ When Villa park is up it is a fabulous place. The feeling around the club is very positive.

10’ McGinn outstanding.

City

12’ Why isn’t Kalvin Philips in the team, is he worse than Akanji in midfield?

13’ midfield mismatch – McGinn, Luiz over ran City – Stone and Akanji.

15’ Is there something wrogn at City? MArhez, Gundogan both left and very hard to replace.

19’ very hard to do it three seasons running.  

20’ Very dependant on Rodri and De Bryne.

Arsenal

23’ Declan Rice. Mentality as much as physical ability. A bargain at 100m

25’ As with Bellingham Rice impacts a game.

27’ consummate professional, skilled, improves those around him.

Nottingham Forest

30’ Things don’t look good for Steve cooper. Chairman left at four nil and his pass was found flung into a nearby garden.

31’ But the Forest fans chanted his name in the second half.

33’ post match Cooper referenced the unsettled nature of his team.

Crystal Palace

35’ Hodgson under pressure. Fans want to see better football. Hodgson says the fans are spoilt.

37’ He was lucky last season with the fixtures. This season its proving much harder.

39’ Fans not happy with just surviving, they want better football.

40’ Not that long ago the conversation around palace was a lot different. Players from the local area, young exciting. Now its gone backwards.

42’ what’s the point of playing to finish 16th. Have a go, have fun.

Excitement

50’ Survival isn’t enough. Fans look down the road and think “why aren’t we playing like that?”

Moyes may see out his contract, but look at Bournemouth, Spurs, Wolves all playing exciting football.

Man Utd v Chelsea

54’ Good win, but it was the worst Chelsea team in a long time. Kept giving the ball to Utd.

55’ Chelsea haven’t put in one 90min performance.

57’ they’ve shipped out experience and bought potential, but not established.

59’ they won’t be a top six team. Look at their bench last night.

61’ Utd created lots of chances and things looked better. Only three of top four.