- 5 months ago
On this week's show, host Phil Harrison is joined by The YP's football writing team of Leon Wobschall and Stuart Rayner.
They kick off by discussing Leeds United's reality check with defeats at Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday, the Owls finally enjoying some positives with their League Cup triumph over their Yorkshire rivals and their come-from-behind first league point at Wrexham.
Still no points for Sheffield United but some good news arrives with a step up in signings at Bramall Lane.
A good night for most of Yorkshire's clubs in the EFL Cup, preceded a third round draw which offers numerous opportunities for giant-killing performances.
And we cast an eye over the decision by York City to sack manager Adam Hinshelwood, just four games into the season.
They kick off by discussing Leeds United's reality check with defeats at Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday, the Owls finally enjoying some positives with their League Cup triumph over their Yorkshire rivals and their come-from-behind first league point at Wrexham.
Still no points for Sheffield United but some good news arrives with a step up in signings at Bramall Lane.
A good night for most of Yorkshire's clubs in the EFL Cup, preceded a third round draw which offers numerous opportunities for giant-killing performances.
And we cast an eye over the decision by York City to sack manager Adam Hinshelwood, just four games into the season.
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SportsTranscript
00:00Hello and welcome to the latest edition of Football Talk, the Yorkshire Post football
00:18podcast covering everything from Leeds United in the Premier League down to Harrogate down
00:22in League Two and occasionally dipping our toe into the National League. I'm your just
00:27about, adequate stand-in host Phil Harrison and as ever this week I will be joined by
00:32the YP Football Writing Dream Team of Stuart Rayner and Leon Wobshaw. We look at a contrasting
00:37second week back in the top flight for Leeds United who, after the euphoria of their opening
00:41night win against Everton, came crashing back down to worth with a 5-0 loss against a dominant
00:46Arsenal before a League Cup exit on penalties at crisis-torn Sheffield Wednesday. The hour's
00:52progress in that competition came on the back of their first point of the League campaign
00:56when battling back from 2-0 down at Wrexham, although their troubles off the field continued
01:01to hold them back. We'll also take another look across at Steel City and Sheffield United
01:06who are still searching for their first win under Ruben Sellers but have finally started
01:10to kick into life in the transfer market with a flurry of sign-ins towards the end of this
01:14week. There are three Yorkshire derbies this weekend and we look at one that already took
01:18place this week when Rotherham visited South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley in the League Cup.
01:23We also look at the draw for the third round of the Cup which produced potential for four
01:27Yorkshire teams to cause a shock against Premier League opposition. And finally, we discussed
01:32the shock-sacking of Adam Hinsherwood by York City, just four games into the campaign and
01:37on the back of a 2024-25 season which saw the Minster men rack up 96 points in the National
01:42League only to miss out in the playoffs. You're listening to Football Talk from the Yorkshire
01:46Post.
01:47YorkshirePost.co.uk
01:49As mentioned, we're joined as ever by the YP Football writing team of Leon Mobshull and
01:55Stuart Rayner. We'll start with a bad week for Leeds, it has to be said Stuart. You were
02:02down at Arsenal. Pleasant trip back on the Sunday, as we all know you had. But on the
02:09Saturday, it was not one to forget for Leeds, but I suppose it just highlighted the gulfing
02:14class and where they actually are at the moment and what they need to do to sort of, I don't
02:21know, be a competitive force in the Premier League, yeah?
02:23Yeah, I mean, it's kind of the depressing reality of Premier League football nowadays.
02:30You know, English football always used to pride itself on having the most competitive
02:34league in the world, but there are some teams now who are just a level above and therefore,
02:41you know, you can't really beat yourself too much, even over a 5-0 defeat at Arsenal,
02:47because, you know, when you look at the amount of money Arsenal have spent, not just this
02:51summer, but, you know, summer on summer for a good few years now to still not win the
02:56league themselves. It's a heck of a gulf to bridge and, you know, at times Leeds were,
03:04you know, poor in their passing and struggled to pick up men. But to be honest, I put that
03:10more down to the quality of Arsenal's play than Leeds' shortcomings. You know, we'll judge
03:18them more on games like Everton and the games to come than on that. But, you know, that
03:25said, the League Cup side, which we'll talk about in a minute from a Sheffield Wednesday
03:29perspective, that did highlight how, even though they've made 10 signings this summer,
03:35even though they've spent £100 million, Daniel Farquhar still wants more forward options
03:41because, well, they did have 80% of the ball against Sheffield Wednesday and yet created
03:47very little with it. It's not just about a centre forward to put the chance to wait, although
03:53they need that as well, but about the sort of quality of chances they make. So I think,
03:58yeah, it's been a sobering week for Leeds and they definitely have strides forward to
04:05make, but I think we all know that if they finish 17th, then, and this is another depressing
04:11thing to say, it will have been a good season for them.
04:14Yeah, I think it's one of those, when he was thinking about the season, when he sat on the
04:19beach, he'll have envisaged sort of times like this, wouldn't he, Daniel Farquhar? I mean,
04:25to be fair, I think we've spoken before that, you know, Leeds is sort of, you look at the
04:29overview of the fixture list, there's not that many sort of nasty sticky periods, is there?
04:35But if you're going to pick one or two out, you'd probably say that, you know, it's a pretty
04:40tough start, obviously, a good win against Everton. Obviously, they were much improved
04:45in the second half of last season. Going to Arsenal, first away game is, you know, it's almost
04:49as tough as it gets, isn't it, really? Apart from maybe going to probably Anfield and
04:54obviously Newcastle as well. And, you know, it's just, Farquhar spoke many times about,
05:00you know, the Leeds crowd being emotional and every defeat being magnified. And obviously
05:06now in the world we're living with the social media, it's sort of tenfold, really. So he'll
05:11have braced himself for periods like this. But yeah, he just has the making, I don't know
05:17what Stuart thinks, the game on Saturday for one or two other reasons as well. Obviously,
05:23playing Newcastle, who obviously is a serious side of the Champions League, but you sort
05:28of look at them, they're going to be without a few of their, there's obviously the saga
05:33regarding ESAC, but they're going to be without, is it Tannoli? They're probably going to be
05:37without Joe Linton, two of the, you know, the real, you know, two of the best players in
05:42the competition, in the midfield last season. And Saras Wells, I don't think he'll be playing
05:50with the concussion protocol and Gordon as well. So they look at it and it's, it'll
05:55be a depleted Newcastle side. And, you know, if, if, if they were playing, if they were
06:00fielding, sorry, if they were facing a sort of strong Newcastle side with all their sort
06:05of big hitters there, Leeds might have just sort of settled, not settled, but took some
06:12comfort in the fact, even if they lost and they played, they played really well. But it, you know,
06:15it looks, looks the game now, given the fact that they've got a good, a real good hiding
06:19at Arsenal, a bit of a, a shambolic result in midweek against Sheffield Wednesday, which
06:25Stuart will go on to speak about. And, and the fact that Newcastle are without, you know,
06:31a few of their top players, it makes it, I think it makes it a little bit more of a dangerous
06:36game in that regard for Leeds.
06:38Yeah. I mean, I say you came away from the Arsenal game feeling a bit defeatist about,
06:42well, you know, this was always going to happen. But they, you know, they, they can't be,
06:48they can't be defeatist going into these games and say a home game against anyone is, is an
06:54opportunity to take advantage of. And as Leon says, they're probably catching Newcastle
06:58at a very good time. You know, you watched, I watched that game on Monday on television
07:02and it's the win. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Watched that game on television on Monday and it felt
07:08like the world was against Newcastle at the moment in terms of, in terms of everything
07:12that was, was going against them. You know, they played really well for the, for the bulk of it
07:16and still lost. And as Leon says, this, this sort of long list of absentees piling up. So
07:23as Leon says, if they win, it's, it's an opportunity they really have to take advantage of
07:29because this might not come around.
07:32Yeah. Certainly not lose. I mean, it'd be ideal if they win, but I, you know,
07:36they don't want to be losing it, do they?
07:38And really, you know, if, if they, if they were even to draw it, you know, you, you'd look at
07:42those first three games, four points, you'd say they've made, they've made a good start to,
07:46you know, what's a, what's a steep mountain to climb. But, um, winning that Everton game has given
07:52them, has given these next couple of games just that much better a perspective. If they'd lost that,
07:57got a hiding from Arsenal and then lost to Viewcastle, morale's low and everything's,
08:02you know, rock bottom as it is. Um, they've just got to think about how good they were against
08:08Everton, be positive going into that game and, and, and take the chances when they get them,
08:13which was obviously the issue in midweek against Sheffield Wednesday.
08:16I think that'll come to mind. Sorry, Phil, I was just going to quickly say that the,
08:21the sort of first few sort of months of the season, they're sort of truncated, aren't they,
08:26by the, by the international breaks. And he, he probably won't say as much Farker,
08:31but I'd be very surprised if he didn't sort of look at them in, in little blocks of games.
08:35I mean, you sort of look at, at a quick look who they've got next month, you know,
08:38they've got, they've got Fulham and Wolves away. There's, you know, Fulham are a challenging side,
08:43but there's, there's potential for some points there and as away games go,
08:48then they've got Bournemouth and Tottenham at home before the second international break.
08:53So I think, I think Farker will have a bit in the back of his mind, a bit of a, you know,
08:59a tally what he, what he sort of like ideally in the, in those games.
09:03And obviously he'll want Leeds to keep on an even keel in that regard.
09:08But, you know, Stuart says if they get anything out of the game against Newcastle,
09:12obviously it'd be great if they did win, then they've had a, you know,
09:17not always standing the game against Arsenal, it's been a decent star, hasn't it?
09:21I think it's just all about getting momentum, isn't it?
09:23For a newly promoted team. You know, you look at Hull under Phil Brown, for example,
09:27and if you, if you get that, get that good start, it just gives you a bit of a kick.
09:32And, and, you know, the fact that Burnley and Sunderland have both got wins as well,
09:36you know, they might need a bit better start than, than is ordinarily the case.
09:41But if you can just build a bit of momentum, a bit of confidence,
09:44have people worrying about coming to Ellen Road.
09:46Yeah.
09:47You know, it will count for a bit because as the season goes on,
09:49the bigger, the bigger squads will probably flex their muscles more.
09:52So you need to sort of get ahead of the game early on if you, if you can,
09:56and just, just build that positivity really.
09:58I mean, I mean, it was interesting.
09:59I think they were saying on the, on the radio that there's all the three promoted teams of,
10:03I think it had been 2016,
10:0717 since all three of them have won in the first two games,
10:10which is good from that perspective.
10:12But then you've got to factor in that, you know,
10:14you know, Leeds also got walloped 5-0 at Arsenal and, and obviously Burnley got,
10:20you know, done over 3-0 at Tottenham.
10:24So, you know, it just goes to show there's,
10:26even though it's nice to see the promoted teams get, get a win early doors,
10:30there's some massive, massive challenges, isn't there?
10:33Yeah.
10:34Should there be, I mean, out of the two performances,
10:36presumably is there more calls for concern then from Tuesday night?
10:41Yes, I was interested.
10:43Yeah.
10:44I mean, in fairness, Tuesday night was a game they should have won,
10:47but that only adds to the concern, the fact that they didn't.
10:51Yeah.
10:52Arsenal, you know, there's people bandy about free here,
10:55and some people don't like the phrase, you know, including Daniel Farker,
10:59but ultimately you just came away from the Arsenal game thinking,
11:03well, there's, there's leagues within leagues in, in this division,
11:06as Leon said, with, you know, with, with Burnley getting spanked against Spurs,
11:10there's leagues within leagues and, and really against those in league,
11:12anything you get is a bonus.
11:14I say even, even conceding five is, is not a disaster, sad to say.
11:21Um, but yeah, when you, when you then struggle against the Sheffield Wednesday side,
11:25albeit Leeds were much changed and that causes its own problems.
11:28They still have more than enough on the field to get the job done.
11:31And that's the worry because for all that leads was so good going forward last
11:36season, I just feel that goals are going to,
11:39goals scored are going to be more of an issue for them this season as things
11:43stand, unless they can pull a rabbit out of the hat, uh,
11:45in the last few days of the deadline.
11:49Yeah.
11:50Sheffield Wednesday, it was a cracking night for them.
11:53Obviously the, the troubles,
11:54I think it's been a good week for them on the pitch,
11:56obviously picked up the first point on Saturday and then obviously got the
11:59better of Leeds on a shootout on, on Tuesday,
12:02but obviously the trouble still prevail off the pitch.
12:05Um, nothing seems to have moved in terms of a positive outcome for,
12:10for that situation.
12:11But in terms of, of, of the impact that Henrik Pedersen is having,
12:15um, he seems,
12:17he seems to be tailor-made for the, for the sort of,
12:19for the role and the position that the Owls seem to find themselves in.
12:22He seems to have taken it on board fully.
12:25Do you know what I mean?
12:26And he's tackling the problems that they've got head on.
12:28Is that fair to say?
12:30I would say so.
12:31Yeah, I think he's, I think he's sort of accepted the reality without,
12:35to use another word that I've used already,
12:38without being too defeatist about it.
12:39He's very positive.
12:40You know, he's a, he's a very positive bloke.
12:42And, you know,
12:44the, the thing that struck me from watching Wednesday's early games,
12:47uh,
12:48Leon obviously saw them against the Stoke where they had a,
12:51a tough,
12:52certainly a tough scoreline in terms of losing 3-0,
12:54but, um,
12:55the spirit of the group and the whole group as well,
12:58not just the, not just the first 11,
13:00the,
13:01the young lads underneath is,
13:02is exceptional.
13:03Now there's a limit how far that's going to take them.
13:07You know,
13:09when you,
13:10when you've got such a thin squad,
13:11um,
13:12and you're,
13:13you're basically,
13:14it feels like they're running on adrenaline and emotion at the moment and
13:17doing it really well.
13:19That's difficult to sustain over 46 games.
13:21I mean,
13:22you wonder actually in the cold light,
13:25it was,
13:26it was a really good night for them,
13:27but in some ways winning probably wasn't the best thing for them.
13:32Having,
13:33having another get,
13:34that's the kind of catch 22.
13:35Yeah.
13:36Total,
13:37a completely caught it at the moment.
13:38Every time something good happens,
13:39every,
13:40uh,
13:41every silver lining has a cloud behind it.
13:42It feels like,
13:43but part that for the moment,
13:45it was,
13:46it was a really,
13:47really good night for them.
13:48It just showed what so many football clubs just don't seem to have the bottle to grasp.
13:54And,
13:55and Wednesday have had it forced upon them that if you trust in young kids,
14:00you can get an awful lot out of them.
14:02You know,
14:03I think there were,
14:04there were seven players there and never played a league game.
14:06Uh,
14:07Sean Fusero,
14:08Fusero had only played,
14:09uh,
14:10one in the championship.
14:11I think,
14:12I think it was,
14:13I started,
14:14I should say,
14:15not played.
14:16Um,
14:17Gabrielle Ottakbayo had only,
14:18had only started six league games.
14:20And yet,
14:21this,
14:22the spirit and camaraderie and quality of that group was exceptional.
14:27And,
14:28and yes,
14:29as I said earlier,
14:30Leeds,
14:31the game,
14:32but,
14:33Wednesday defended,
14:34heroically,
14:35gritted the teeth,
14:36got stuck in,
14:37and,
14:38and got what they deserved on the night.
14:40Both clubs got what they deserved on the night,
14:42in all fairness.
14:43Yeah.
14:44I don't think he could have done any more,
14:45Stuart really,
14:46Pedersen,
14:47given what he's,
14:48given the,
14:49given what he's,
14:50he's inherited.
14:51I mean,
14:52he's,
14:53he's obviously,
14:54got the players,
14:55got the players together and he's cultivated a,
14:57a good,
14:58a good,
14:59a culture,
15:00and,
15:01you know,
15:02even in the,
15:03you know,
15:04the game against,
15:05against Leicester,
15:06it was a,
15:07in the circumstances,
15:08it was,
15:09it was a magnificent performance,
15:10wasn't it?
15:11And,
15:12obviously things went against them in the,
15:13in the,
15:14in the,
15:15in the Stoke game,
15:16you,
15:17you can't really underestimate what they did at Wrexham as well.
15:19Obviously 2-0 down against a,
15:20you know,
15:21a team who've got a lot of senior players at Wrexham,
15:23haven't they?
15:24And a real,
15:25And a very physical team as well.
15:26Physical,
15:27a real physical examination for a young side,
15:30obviously 2-0 down,
15:31but they,
15:32they had the wherewithal and,
15:33and the character,
15:34to rally round and,
15:36and get a magnificent draw and,
15:38obviously,
15:39and,
15:40and the events on Tuesday,
15:41Tuesday night.
15:42I mean,
15:43a rough night for Leeds United,
15:44but,
15:45probably refreshing for the,
15:46for the competition.
15:47So,
15:48I,
15:49I really don't see,
15:50how Pedersen could have really done anymore in a short space of time.
15:52Everybody knows the,
15:53you know,
15:54the horrendous sort of issues off the field,
15:56but he's,
15:57he seems to have galvanised the players,
15:59set them up reasonably well.
16:01Tactically,
16:02they obviously,
16:03seem happy to play for him,
16:06and in,
16:07and in his company.
16:08And,
16:09you know,
16:10he's obviously earned the respect of,
16:11not just the players,
16:12but the supporters as well.
16:13So,
16:14I mean,
16:15he could have been elsewhere as well,
16:16couldn't he?
16:17He had,
16:18by all accounts,
16:19he had offers in the summer,
16:20you know,
16:21coaching job at Brentford,
16:22maybe one or two others,
16:23but,
16:24you know,
16:25he,
16:26for all the,
16:27for all the difficulties at Sheffield Wednesday,
16:28he wanted to take on the job,
16:29and,
16:30you know,
16:31on a human level,
16:32it's nice for him to,
16:33to get a few,
16:34really good results this week.
16:36Yeah,
16:37I mean,
16:38sorry,
16:39no,
16:40I was just going to say that,
16:41that that's the thing for him,
16:42and Bannon both,
16:43their contracts had expired.
16:45Yeah,
16:46they both chose to go back in,
16:47you know,
16:48the rest of,
16:49the rest have chosen to stay,
16:50but they've actually chosen to go back in.
16:51And,
16:52you know,
16:53they must be absolute lunatics,
16:54but all credit to them,
16:55you know,
16:56it must mean so much to the rest of the group.
16:58Yeah,
16:59come back and do it.
17:00And,
17:01I mean,
17:02really that,
17:03that squad just needs help.
17:04The last thing we want to see from this,
17:05is these promising young players broken by being pushed over their limits.
17:08But,
17:09I do feel for the Football League in this situation,
17:11because on the one hand,
17:12they,
17:13they are trying to force,
17:14Dajon Chan-Siri out.
17:16Um,
17:17but on the other,
17:18on the other hand,
17:19you know,
17:20Wednesday do need some,
17:21some signing signed off,
17:22so that they can,
17:23they can just have some,
17:24some help.
17:25And it,
17:26it's,
17:27it's an unenviable position for the,
17:28for the league to make,
17:29because they don't want to be,
17:30they don't want to be allowing Wednesday to make signings.
17:32They can't afford and let him.
17:34Chan-Siri off the hook that way.
17:35But I say on the,
17:36on the other hand,
17:37it would be a crying shame if some of these players got,
17:39got burnt out through,
17:41through lack of help,
17:42basically in the squad.
17:44Yeah.
17:45I mean,
17:46with Pedersen,
17:47there was great,
17:48I mean,
17:49when he took the job,
17:50going back to when he agreed to stick around,
17:51but there's a great picture from Saturday as well.
17:53You mentioned the Wrexham game,
17:54where I think at the end of the game,
17:56he did,
17:57he was just sank,
17:58he was sunk to his knees on the,
17:59on the touchline,
18:00having accomplished that draw and,
18:01and the sort of contrasted look on Phil Parkinson's face,
18:04which was one of just total frustration,
18:06obviously,
18:07understandably as well,
18:08given that they were 2-0 up.
18:09But no,
18:10he's obviously a guy who,
18:11who,
18:12who deserves lots of success,
18:14lots of success at Hillsborough.
18:16And like Stuart says there,
18:17hopefully help will come in the coming weeks.
18:20Just moving across,
18:21across the city,
18:22remains a tough,
18:24tough start for the Blades on the pitch.
18:28Leon,
18:29you were there the weekend,
18:30but sort of ray of lights have appeared,
18:33in the sort of days since the weekend,
18:35when they lost.
18:36Yeah.
18:37But,
18:38a few signings that,
18:39that Ruben Sellers had suggested on Saturday,
18:41that he was very frustrated weren't happening.
18:44Three or four sort of sprinklings,
18:45have started to come through now.
18:47So,
18:48perhaps,
18:49a room for,
18:50more optimism than,
18:51before the weekend for Blades fans,
18:53and,
18:54and,
18:55and people at the club.
18:56Yeah,
18:57it's probably,
18:58proves it's good to probably kick off every now and again,
18:59isn't it?
19:00Because,
19:01you know,
19:02quite candid in his,
19:03in,
19:04in his,
19:05criticism of the fact,
19:06and he didn't absolve himself on the blame either,
19:08that the window had not been,
19:09had not been good enough up to press.
19:12Obviously,
19:13a lot of it has been made of the,
19:14the AI led signings,
19:15but,
19:16in terms of,
19:17you know,
19:18serious signage,
19:19Sheffield United were,
19:20you know,
19:21certainly well behind the,
19:22behind the eight ball.
19:24And,
19:25whatever's happened behind closed doors,
19:26they've,
19:27obviously,
19:28thrashed out some,
19:29some solutions,
19:30and you,
19:31you,
19:32you suspect there'll probably be,
19:33well,
19:34there'll probably need to be one or two more to come as well,
19:35before the,
19:36the Monday deadline.
19:37But,
19:38yeah,
19:39Danny Ings,
19:40I know he's,
19:41not in the first flush of youth,
19:42it's,
19:43probably fair to say,
19:44but,
19:45you know,
19:46still,
19:47um,
19:48he got,
19:49he,
19:50he's got a couple of years left.
19:51He's,
19:52proven at,
19:53uh,
19:54Premier League level,
19:55even though it didn't go so well for him at,
19:56at West Ham,
19:57but he's scored goals at quite a few clubs,
19:59hasn't he?
20:00In the,
20:01in the top flight,
20:02Burnley,
20:03Phyllis,
20:04Southampton,
20:05and,
20:06he,
20:07he's obviously,
20:08got a successful sort of CV as well,
20:09a few years back now in the,
20:10in the championship.
20:11So that looks,
20:12that looks a,
20:13a decent,
20:14sensible,
20:15sensible signing there.
20:16You,
20:17you,
20:18and his experience,
20:19and if he keeps fit to,
20:21you know,
20:22to,
20:23to get a decent haul of goals and also,
20:24you know,
20:25lead the line and,
20:26and,
20:27and show his,
20:28show his house as well.
20:29Tunganga's,
20:30yeah,
20:31I mean,
20:32that looks,
20:33I mean,
20:34obviously Barry's,
20:35a lot of clubs are after him.
20:37That's,
20:38that's a pretty good loan signing,
20:39but,
20:40you know,
20:41in terms of a serious permanent signing,
20:42Tunganga is,
20:43is definitely that,
20:44isn't he?
20:45He's got,
20:46got some pretty good pedigree at,
20:48at,
20:49at Millwall and,
20:50to be fair to the lad,
20:51I think he probably,
20:52no one,
20:53no one's met him yet,
20:54but,
20:55I'd imagine he's got a bit,
20:56bit about him because,
20:57his manager said that he would have played on,
20:59last Saturday,
21:00at Bramall Lane,
21:01when,
21:02ironically,
21:03Millwall were there.
21:04A lot of players who were,
21:05subject to that speculation,
21:06that have,
21:07that have probably gone up to the manager of the board and said,
21:09hang on a minute,
21:10I'm not,
21:11count me out of this one.
21:12So,
21:13you know,
21:14fair,
21:15fair play to him on that level.
21:16He would have,
21:17from what Alex Neil said,
21:18he would have played if,
21:19if his manager had asked him to.
21:21But,
21:22yeah,
21:23obviously more importantly,
21:24he's a talented,
21:25um,
21:26centre half with,
21:27with pedigree.
21:28And,
21:29you know,
21:30hopefully he'll,
21:31he'll,
21:32he'll fill the void left by Armand,
21:33Armand Odsic.
21:34There's,
21:35obviously Ben Godfrey as well,
21:36who,
21:37he made his debut,
21:38uh,
21:39against Millwall at,
21:40right back.
21:41He moved,
21:42he moved into the,
21:43to the centre in the,
21:44in the second half.
21:45It looked a bit better there.
21:46It looked a little bit rusty,
21:47I thought,
21:48in the first half,
21:49which is,
21:50probably a little bit understandable,
21:51isn't it,
21:52in the circumstances.
21:53And,
21:54um,
21:55yeah,
21:56it was,
21:57I thought they were,
21:58they were too passive.
21:59But,
22:00you know,
22:01in fairness,
22:02they had a,
22:03they had a good go in the second half.
22:04But,
22:05as you often get with teams,
22:06who have started off,
22:07you know,
22:08with a couple of bad results at the start of the season,
22:10and things go against you,
22:11you don't get an element of,
22:12of luck there.
22:13Obviously,
22:14Harrison Burroughs had a great,
22:15chance towards the end.
22:16It just hit the,
22:18hit the,
22:19hit the inside of the post.
22:20If that had gone in,
22:21you know,
22:22won all,
22:23maybe still time to get a winner.
22:24Had,
22:25um,
22:26one cleared off the line from,
22:27um,
22:28from Tyrese Campbell and,
22:29and the goalkeeper made a couple of really,
22:30really good saves.
22:31So it was,
22:32it was better in the second half,
22:33but,
22:34you know,
22:35fair play to Salas.
22:36He didn't,
22:37he,
22:38he didn't sort of beat,
22:39beat around the bush afterwards.
22:40He said,
22:41you know,
22:42it's no good playing well for sort of 45 minutes and playing well for
22:44periods of games.
22:45The team who've been in a playoff final,
22:47you know,
22:48you know,
22:49not too long back and consider themselves to be a serious,
22:51or want to be a serious player at this level.
22:53You can't just sort of,
22:55you know,
22:56have 30 minutes here and there or a half here and there.
22:58You've got to piece it all together,
23:00but they did,
23:01you know,
23:02they,
23:03on the day they did,
23:04did deserve,
23:05deserve something,
23:06but yeah,
23:07they've got a couple of really,
23:08really big games.
23:09Now,
23:10tough games on paper.
23:11You go to Middlesbrough and you talk about statistics,
23:14obviously,
23:15Sheffield United,
23:16I think it's the worst,
23:17worst start since,
23:18since the mid nineties at this level.
23:20They've,
23:21they've lost,
23:22if you include the Cup defeat,
23:23it's four on the trot,
23:24isn't it?
23:25And, you know,
23:26conversely,
23:27you look at Middlesbrough and I think they've won the first three for,
23:29it's roughly in the same timeframe.
23:31They've won,
23:32you know,
23:33three at this level since the mid nineties.
23:35So,
23:36that'll,
23:37I think that'll be quite an interesting game.
23:38I mean,
23:39historically,
23:40they have struggled when there's been expectation on the shoulders and
23:44we'll have a bit of a,
23:45you know,
23:46they'll have a good crowding at the,
23:47at the Riverside and there'll probably be a bit of expectancy for them to
23:50go on and beat,
23:51and,
23:52you know,
23:53beat Sheffield United.
23:54But I don't think it's as,
23:55as straightforward as that,
23:57but yeah,
23:58it,
23:59from a Sheffield United perspective,
24:00after a good week in terms of being in a couple of signings,
24:03potentially more to come,
24:04you suspect if they can finish off with something before the international break,
24:09then,
24:10the mood will be,
24:11I think it'll be soothed a little bit amongst the fan base who booed them off at half-time and at full-time.
24:19Again,
24:20last Saturday,
24:21they'll be maybe pacified a little bit and they could do with something as well,
24:25because after the international break,
24:27they've got a really tough game to open things up again at Ipswich Town,
24:32two hard away games.
24:34So, we'll have to see what Saturday offers.
24:36Yeah,
24:37I'd like to see them bringing another,
24:39another ball winner in midfield.
24:41I mean,
24:42they've,
24:43they've got the numbers there,
24:44but unfortunately,
24:45with the injury record of Tom Davies and Jamie Shackleton,
24:48you can't really rely on them.
24:49And,
24:50and in fairness to him,
24:51you shouldn't really rely on Oli Arblaster either.
24:54We know,
24:55we know what an excellent player he is,
24:56but coming off the back of a ACL injury,
24:59you,
25:00you've got to,
25:01you've got to give him time and time and leeway to,
25:03to settle back.
25:04But,
25:05but the signings over either side,
25:06I think,
25:07I think are excellent.
25:08I mean,
25:09Tanganga's long been one of the,
25:10one of the more impressive championship defenders.
25:12He's such a,
25:13as Leon says,
25:14he comes across as a good character.
25:15He's good physically as well.
25:17And,
25:18and Danny Ings is just a goal scorer,
25:19you know,
25:20that's say just a goal.
25:21So it's,
25:22it's a goal scorer.
25:23That's what his career has been,
25:24been built on.
25:25So I,
25:26I think they're both good additions and it just frustrates the hell out of you.
25:29I said,
25:30we don't know the ins and outs of,
25:31of,
25:32of all of this thing,
25:33but when,
25:34when clubs give the rest of their head start by not,
25:36not getting their,
25:37their business done.
25:38I mean,
25:39if only these players had been in for a week or two of preseason,
25:42maybe Sheffield United might not have had this start,
25:44but there's so many complicated things involved in transfers.
25:47I'm sure,
25:48I'm sure Sheffield United,
25:49it wasn't that they weren't bothered about getting these players in.
25:52Um,
25:53but,
25:54yeah,
25:55they're just playing a bit,
25:56bit of catch up.
25:57And there,
25:58there is plenty of time in the championship to play catch up.
25:59Um,
26:00in terms of number of games,
26:01the people who don't have time is the managers who are under pressure.
26:04But,
26:05uh,
26:06hopefully,
26:07hopefully this is,
26:08this is the start of the,
26:09the belated start of Sheffield United season,
26:11but we'll,
26:12we'll wait and see.
26:13Yeah.
26:14I think,
26:15I think,
26:16I think Stuart's spot on there to,
26:17to mention,
26:18um,
26:19midfield.
26:20I mean,
26:21he's,
26:22he's seen more of the blaze than,
26:23than I have,
26:24but you sort of look at it and obviously our blasters injured.
26:26Davis has never really got going so far as a,
26:27that they lost the salts,
26:28um,
26:29Sousa really in,
26:30in the window.
26:31And there's a,
26:32there's a hell of a lot at the minute on Sidney Peck,
26:33isn't there really?
26:34Yes.
26:35And he's,
26:36he's only,
26:37he's only in his second sort of full season as a,
26:40in,
26:41in the championship.
26:42So yeah,
26:43he,
26:44I think he could do with a,
26:45certainly a little bit of help.
26:46Obviously this Hamer,
26:47but I think Hamer prefers it sort of,
26:49a bit more advanced than on the left,
26:51really.
26:52He's not really a,
26:53a sort of sitting right in the middle of the park central midfielder.
26:56He likes to,
26:57he likes to drift around a little bit,
26:58but yeah,
26:59I think that,
27:00that for me,
27:01that looks to be,
27:02you know,
27:03certainly a key priority for them before the,
27:05before the window closes,
27:06because,
27:07you know,
27:08it's unfair to put,
27:09put so much on Peck's shoulders.
27:11And they're probably going to have to ease,
27:13maybe I'll blast him back for a little bit,
27:15aren't they?
27:16Because he's had such a,
27:17a serious injury.
27:18And,
27:19you know,
27:20Samara was loaned to,
27:21to be that help,
27:22but again,
27:23he's coming from a different league.
27:24He's a young lad.
27:25Yeah,
27:26exactly.
27:27You know,
27:28again,
27:29you can't,
27:30keep the ground running and coming to that midfield would be a big,
27:32a big help.
27:34You mentioned,
27:35obviously,
27:36Blades could do with a bit of a,
27:37a boost in terms of getting their first points on the board.
27:40Before the international break,
27:42it's probably not going to get much tougher than the game they have got up at Middlesbrough,
27:45who have got a 100% record so far this season.
27:47That's one of three Yorkshire derbies that we've got to look forward to this weekend.
27:52Earlier this week,
27:53we already had a taste of a Yorkshire rivalry being staged.
27:57Leon,
27:58you were there at Barnsley versus Rotherham in the League Cup.
28:00Barnsley ends that one.
28:02And it's fair to say I've had the better start to the season in League One,
28:06but it was a good opportunity for you to sort of catch up on both teams.
28:10I mean,
28:11how do you assess each club's start to the season so far?
28:15I mean,
28:16Barnsley, as I say,
28:17as I mentioned,
28:18have had a pretty decent start.
28:20Yeah,
28:21it's been a bit of a funny thing, Phil.
28:22Quite a few of the games have been to this season.
28:25The home side's sort of been poor in the first half
28:27and then being pretty good in the second.
28:30But, you know,
28:31specifically in terms of Barnsley,
28:33I think at the start of it,
28:34we probably mentioned on the podcast,
28:36we weren't really sure how it was going to go,
28:38given how things really tailed off there
28:42last season in the final third.
28:45They were just,
28:46along with Huddersfield as well,
28:47they were just counting down the games really
28:49and desperate for the season to end.
28:51So, you know,
28:52ten points from five matches is very good, isn't it really?
28:58I wonder if even the most optimistic fans of Barnsley supporters
29:02would have been surprised if they'd have said that.
29:05That would have transpired.
29:08And I think the good thing for me,
29:11and they showed it in the Cup game on Tuesday,
29:15their home numbers in their second half statistics
29:20were really poor last season.
29:22I don't think anybody conceded more goals
29:25at home and away in the second half of games
29:27than Barnsley.
29:28And there were some real problems at home, especially.
29:31And, you know, two times this season,
29:33they've been behind and been pretty poor in the first half.
29:36Had a few issues,
29:38whether, I don't know whether,
29:39whether Connor Hoarehen threw a few teacups around this week.
29:44I think he did against, against Burton a few weeks ago,
29:47and he got the desired effect.
29:49I think he was a little bit calmer against,
29:51against Rotherham.
29:52And no matter, they, they were very good in the,
29:56in the second half, Barnsley,
29:58and probably deserved to go through in the, in the end.
30:01And yeah, I think the thing, thing with Barnsley is,
30:04you know, speaking, speaking to Hoarehen this week,
30:08I mean, it's been, it's been a really good August,
30:11but there's still the end of August and the 1st of September.
30:14That, that's going to be so important for them.
30:16If they can manage to get a couple of players in,
30:19they've, I've, looking at them,
30:21looking at them,
30:22they're still a little bit thin at centre half for me,
30:24especially with Mark Roberts, the senior player.
30:26He's, he's going to be out until mid, mid autumn.
30:29If anything, if they get another defensive injury,
30:31they're going to, they're going to be pretty light.
30:33So you'd, you'd like to think ideally in an ideal world,
30:37and it sometimes isn't at Barnsley at this time of a year,
30:40approaching the end of a window that they can get another defender in
30:43and probably another forward as well.
30:46So if some, and again, if something,
30:48if an injury happens to David, David McGoldrick,
30:50or, or Keela Dunn, there's,
30:53there's not too much behind it,
30:55but I think the main thing is that just,
30:57if they can keep those three leading players,
31:00who we've spoken about quite a lot over the summer,
31:03obviously Keela Dunn and Phillips and,
31:06and Luke O'Connell as well,
31:07they're reasonably well placed in terms of the contracts,
31:10but you just never know in windows,
31:12the clubs can reevaluate things, you know,
31:15in the, in the weekend before the,
31:17before the final day, they might have,
31:19some might get a, get a tough result on Saturday.
31:22And then, you know, think, who can, who can we get in before,
31:25before the window closes.
31:26So I just hope for Barnsley's sakes,
31:29that it can be, you know,
31:31a steady end to the window in,
31:33in that regard, because, yeah, he's built,
31:36I think he's building something,
31:37something decent after a difficult season for the club.
31:42Last season, he's integrated a few young players
31:45who were putting their hand up and that's always,
31:47it's always good to see.
31:49I've been impressed by Jonathan Bland in particular.
31:52And yeah, the vibes are good at Barnsley.
31:54And if you can get some sort of decent performance and maybe,
31:59you know, even a win who knows against Huddersfield,
32:01it's been, you know,
32:03it'll turn a good start to the season into a,
32:06into a really good start.
32:08If they can sort of get what they want to happen on,
32:13on Monday.
32:14Rather than I felt a little bit sorry for,
32:16for, for Matt, I'm sure they, they look to me,
32:20I don't know what Stuart thinks.
32:22They look to me, they've got,
32:23they've got a fair bit of business in the summer.
32:26They've bought a lot of sort of promising young players,
32:29but sort of rookies, if you like, at this, at this level.
32:32Then at the other end of the spectrum,
32:34they've got a lot of senior players who obviously
32:39were brought in by Steve Evans and,
32:41and had obviously difficult seasons last season.
32:44And the sort of players that some of them aren't without talent,
32:47but difficult to move them on, isn't it really?
32:50You know, and he sort of, sort of stuck with,
32:52stuck with them to, to some degree.
32:55And they haven't got too much in the middle, have they?
32:57So they're 24, 25 year olds who,
32:59they can sort of build something, build something around.
33:02But they were really good in the first half, Rotherham.
33:04They, I thought Connor Horan was a little bit harsh.
33:09He was sort of implying that Rotherham scored
33:11and then just got men behind the ball.
33:13But I thought it was a really good away performance.
33:15They were, they were sharp in some of the counter attacks.
33:19And, you know, there was a, there was a tenacity to them
33:22and a game plan.
33:23And yeah, they, they could have been two or three up really.
33:27But, you know, in the, in the second half,
33:29Barnes had made a couple of substitutions.
33:31In the introduction of Adam Phillips, that particularly changed things,
33:35even though Horan, I think ideally would have brought him on a little bit,
33:40a little bit later on, but such was the poor nature of Barnes's display.
33:45He had to bring him on at half time.
33:47And yeah, Rotherham, they, they fell away a bit in the,
33:50in the second half.
33:52And I think he made a telling point.
33:54I'm sure he wasn't really criticising him,
33:57but he did say they got too individualised.
33:59They were sort of, it's probably because it's a new team really, isn't it?
34:03You know, they're going to, they're lacking in a bit of game management
34:06and a bit of group understanding really.
34:08And, you know, knowing to each other.
34:10And, you know, that'll, that'll come hopefully in the, in the weeks
34:14and months ahead.
34:15And yeah, they were, Barnes, they sort of overpowered them in the,
34:19in the second half.
34:20And, you know, I suppose one or two things from a Rotherham perspective,
34:23they look like they could do with bringing in a,
34:25certainly another centre half before, before the close of business.
34:29But, you know, it sounds like he's going to have to wheel
34:31and deal a little bit to Matt Hampshire.
34:33And it's, yeah, it's, it's a, it's a hard gig for him.
34:36He's having to pick up the pieces and in a lot of respects,
34:39the recruitment, as we spoke about it many times,
34:42Steve Evans brought a load of players in and it was all about jam today,
34:46wasn't it? You know, getting, getting promoted the first attempt.
34:49The season totally horribly unraveled,
34:51but you still got a lot of the players there and they're on decent money.
34:54So obviously the budget has gone down.
34:57Hampshire has had to sort of be a little bit acute in the market.
35:03He hasn't got a big budget.
35:04He's had to take probably a few punts really on one or two other players there
35:09who've got the promise and the potential,
35:11but they haven't got the sort of league savvy yet.
35:13So I think it's one of those, if you can just sort of,
35:17they're going to get bumps in the road, Rotherham,
35:19but if you can provide some encouragement along the way,
35:21they've obviously bought Martin Sheriff in the loan signing from Everton.
35:25He provided a bit in on his debut scoring against, against Wigan.
35:30And they can, you know, have a,
35:33bring a bit of entertainment back in the, in the home games and maybe chisel what they can
35:37away from home. You know, that would, that would be nice.
35:42Cause I think it's going to be a season where it's,
35:44there's going to be some, some bumps for sure.
35:46And we'll just have to see that they're back at Barnsley in October for,
35:50for the league game.
35:51You hope that one or two of the, you know, the players will have,
35:54the new players will have settled in a bit more and there'll be a bit more of a,
35:57of an understanding and group ethic and see how Rotherham have,
36:02have improved when they, when they go back to Barnsley in, in mid autumn.
36:06Yeah.
36:07I think for both of those managers coming in at the back end of last season,
36:10it was about what Leon referred to earlier with regard to Sheffield Wednesday.
36:14It's been about culture built, rebuilding the culture at those places.
36:17And I think, you know,
36:19without being sort of disrespectfully simplistic about Rotherham's,
36:24I think they're sort of.
36:27It's a good phrase actually.
36:29The sort of worn Barker Burberry Hampshire culture is all about fitness.
36:37And then adding, adding extra bits on.
36:39So I think for Rotherham in particular, it was, for Hampshire in particular,
36:44it was, it was a blow not to have more signings done before they went to Portugal
36:48and did the real fitness work.
36:50You know, they've, they've made a lot since, but, you know, like I said before,
36:55with regards to Sheffield United, you wanted those players in nice and early to,
36:59to get, to get that fitness work into it.
37:02And, you know, those Steve Evans players whose fitness records were a bit patchy
37:05last season, they've, they've had that at least, but you want,
37:08you want those new recruits buying into that.
37:10Barnsley, it's been a bit more about, it's been a bit more about mindset.
37:13And to be fairness, to be fair, they did a lot, quite a spurge of signings beforehand.
37:18We're now just waiting to see, as Leon says, what the last week of the window holds
37:22in terms of hopefully keeping hold of Keela Dunn, Phillips, Phillips and Canel and so on,
37:29and what else they can bring in. But yeah, Barnsley feel like they're,
37:32they're further ahead in there. They're, they're readier for the season.
37:36But as Leon says, everyone, everyone who knows Barnsley knows that really,
37:40we can't have this conversation until next week when the window's shut.
37:43That, that's what we'll know. We'll know when Barnsley are, where Barnsley are.
37:47But I feel like, rather unlike Sheffield United, we'll have to build into this,
37:52into this season a bit. And as Leon says, they could just do with a couple of players
37:58to bridge that, bridge that age gap. But of course, if you go for the ones at either end,
38:03it's kind of the cheaper option. And unfortunately, the, the world's Rotherham operating
38:09in terms of their finances and that sort of thing. They have kind of been forced a little bit down that road.
38:14But I think once they've got time to gel and, you know, Sharif obviously made an excellent start.
38:20There's some, there's some young players there who, you know, you'd be quite excited about.
38:25And hopefully, if they, if you've got a bit of time to grow together, as Leon says, you know,
38:29by the time those teams play again, we might be starting to see a different and more exciting Rotherham,
38:35to be honest.
38:36Yeah, they looked some promise. I mean, I thought, I thought Hall looked a good player,
38:40especially in the, in the first half, really athletic and powerful. And, you know,
38:45Stuart's spoken about how we sort of saw Rotherham in the, in the Paul, Paul one years.
38:50He sort of, he sort of fit that identica, if you like, you know, really sort of fit, powerful and, and, and pacey.
38:57And I think Ete's a, I think when he's fit and firing, I think he's a, he's a pretty good player.
39:03Well, that's, that's sort of more than half the battle with him.
39:06He's had some real bad problems with, with fitness, but when, if you can just get him, get him fit and in a good place,
39:14you know, I think he's got the potential to be, to be a handy weapon for Rotherham.
39:19And, obviously, Shereef's shown his prowess. I suppose, I suppose one thing that with some injuries,
39:26you know, he'll probably be moaning a few injuries, Matt Hampshire, but the fact that, you know,
39:31Sam Nombay is injured at the minute, it might do him a little bit of a, of a favour in the respect that
39:35maybe he'll be able to keep, you know, be able to know that he'll have kept hold of him by the time
39:40the window shuts, because you sort of guess that if, I mean, I think he got, was it 14 or 15 goals
39:45last season that Rotherham could sort of, he'll afford to, to lose him at the minute,
39:50because he's, at this level, he's a, is a, it's a decent enough guarantee of goals, isn't he?
39:55Yeah.
39:57I will stick with the League Cup. As I say, there was some massive wins on Tuesday night,
40:04some great, great wins for Bradford and Huddersfield in particular.
40:09And we've been rewarded with, or Yorkshire's been rewarded with some plum ties in the next round.
40:15I mean, Huddersfield are going to welcome Man City, Bradford head over to Newcastle
40:20and Doncaster going south down to Tottenham, while Barnsley have got Brighton as well.
40:25So, plenty of good games to look forward to there, Stuart.
40:28Yeah, I'm just delighted by the number, to be honest with you, because last season,
40:33Cup football was such a washout for Yorkshire football.
40:36It's, it's good to see five.
40:38Wasn't we down to one?
40:39Was it one season?
40:40I think we were just down to one, yeah.
40:42So, it's good, it's good to have five teams in the hat for starters.
40:45Yeah.
40:46And as you say, some, some, some good games to look forward to.
40:49Sheffield Wednesday have got, I've got Grimsby as well.
40:52You know, the story of the last round.
40:54That'll be another, another learning experience for those, for those young lads.
40:59I wouldn't be surprised if, you know, if Chanseer is still there,
41:03if there's another boycott as well.
41:04So that might be something else to deal with.
41:06But, but yeah, some, some, some glamour trips for those, for those clubs.
41:10Hopefully they can, they can sort of budget for a bit of money, you know,
41:16that they might be able to throw a manager's way in this last week at a transfer window,
41:19but they won't receive it yet.
41:21But yeah, some games to look forward to.
41:23And, you know, you know that teams like, well, Bradford having knocked out two championship
41:27sides and, and, you know, Doncaster with their whole, their whole mindset that Grant McCann
41:33has, will give it a good go.
41:35And that, that, that's the most important thing.
41:37You know, Huddersfield as well, I'm sure will.
41:39And, and, you know, they'll be playing a very, very, very talented, but much changed and weakened Man City, I'm sure.
41:47So, so why not, why not just give it, give it a good crack.
41:51And yeah, hopefully somewhat, someone along the line will, will spring a bit of an upset.
41:57Hopefully not Grimsby, but the other teams, hopefully someone will spring an upset.
42:01But some, some, some games to, to look forward to and just, just reward for giving the cup a good go,
42:07which too many teams don't do.
42:10I'd imagine that Mr. Chan certainly was upset that Man United didn't get through.
42:14Somewhere lurking in his head, thinking he can open up another stand for, for their supporters.
42:20And metaphorically stick two fingers up at the Wednesday eyes, which is, which he wouldn't put,
42:28he wouldn't put it past him, would you really?
42:30But obviously Grimsby.
42:31Yeah, I just think that it's, it's been a good start to the season, especially, you know,
42:36you look at League One for Huddersfield and Bradford and Doncaster.
42:39And it's just a nice, I think it's a nice reward for them really, isn't it?
42:43You know, they've, they've got three, three good ties.
42:46And I think the good thing as well, well, as you sort of look at them and obviously Doncaster made,
42:51I was there for the, for the round one win at Middlesbrough,
42:54and they actually changed their entire starting lineup.
42:56And, and, and, and still took Borough to the cleaners in a four nil win.
43:01And a serious strength in depth, isn't it?
43:03Yeah. Yeah.
43:05Yeah, absolutely.
43:06And I think the good thing is you look at the squads of not just Doncaster.
43:09I mean, McCann has spoken about having two and a half teams and, you know, 22, 23 players he can pick from.
43:15You know, the same can be said of Huddersfield as well.
43:17They've got some serious sort of strength in depth and, you know, Bradford as well.
43:20Bradford, yeah.
43:21There's a lot of, a lot of squad players who are, you know,
43:24you can imagine it's a really healthy training ground environment that all three of those clubs,
43:28you know, players are really pushing each other.
43:30And it's, from the manager's perspective, it's nice.
43:34He can sort of, he can sort of freshen things up and he won't have to, you know,
43:37if he, if he wants, he can make, make quite a lot of changes and he's not,
43:41there'll be no massive sort of dilution of the strength there.
43:46And yeah, but I think just in terms of, you know, club wise,
43:50it's just nice that they're going to have a little bit of a, of a place in the sun.
43:54I think it's Doncaster's first, I think it's the first game at the, at the new Spurs stadium.
43:59And I don't think Bradford have played at Newcastle since they were in the,
44:03in the Premier League at the start of the, I think it was 2000, wasn't it?
44:08And obviously Huddersfield play, play, play City.
44:13And another, another home draw for Barnsley as well.
44:15That's three in a row.
44:16And they'll be, they'll be, should be pretty happy with that.
44:20And, you know, a decent enough game against Brighton.
44:25And it was just one thing that annoyed me,
44:27the references to Manchester City beating Huddersfield 10-1.
44:31You know, the fact that Huddersfield have actually beaten Man City since then.
44:36And it was a long, long time ago now.
44:39Yes, 1988, yeah.
44:42So that was about the only thing that annoyed me.
44:45But apart from that, it was a pretty nice draw, wasn't it?
44:48Yeah. And just, just good to see, you know, all of those teams we've talked about,
44:51as we've already alluded to, have had really good starts this season.
44:54Good, just good to see them keep that momentum going.
44:56You know, so often the cup is an opportunity to just keep the ball rolling,
45:01you know, whether you make changes or not.
45:03And, and teams don't, you feel sometimes teams just suck it off.
45:07Unfortunately, that's not been the case this season with, with those sides particularly.
45:11Law of averages would suggest that we're going to get one shock.
45:15You would hope so.
45:16To one of our teams at some point, hopefully.
45:19So fingers crossed for that.
45:20I think, yeah.
45:21I think the lack of extra time helps with that as well.
45:23You know.
45:24Yeah.
45:25Obviously helped Grimsby, Grimsby the other night.
45:28We've seen a lot of games go to penalties and yeah.
45:32Why, why not?
45:33As you say, as we say, they'll be, they'll be playing teams, teams with their eyes elsewhere
45:38in terms of Newcastle and Man City and Spurs and what have you.
45:41Yeah.
45:42Yeah.
45:43Great priorities.
45:47Sorry.
45:48Just one last thing before I let you go this week.
45:50News that's come out on Thursday morning, which I think probably caught a lot of people
45:55by surprise down at York City.
45:57Adam Hinsherwood has been sacked or relieved of his duties, however the club have phrased
46:02it.
46:03Just quickly, does that come as a, I mean, it's come as a big surprise to a lot of people
46:07given the season they had last year.
46:08Okay.
46:09They didn't get promoted, but they were, they had a very, I think, was it?
46:12I think it's due in reference to the points hall that they got.
46:15Was it?
46:16Yeah.
46:1796 points, the most they've won since 1984.
46:19Five games later, only one of which was lost.
46:22I'll be, it was the playoff game that Leon was at.
46:25Yeah.
46:26He gets sacked.
46:27Just depressing for me.
46:28Yeah.
46:29Absolutely.
46:30Yeah.
46:31We talked to this podcast earlier in the season about, sorry, earlier in the summer about
46:34how for both Sheffield United and York, they've gone so close that really they didn't need
46:40to rip things up and start again.
46:42It was just a case of tweaking things and going again and that history was in their favour
46:46if they did.
46:48Again, Leon referred to it earlier, the sort of impatience of football nowadays.
46:55You know, you wouldn't be surprised if Russell Martin was out of a job soon.
46:58They're already talking about Graham Potter.
47:00You know, Rubin Sayers is under pressure.
47:03You'd just like to see clubs, particularly, let's say clubs who were a long way from crisis
47:08as York are at the moment with three draws and a win in the first four games.
47:12You know, boo hoo.
47:13You just like to see them have a bit of time to build something, to build these cultures
47:18we've been talking about and not rip things up and start again.
47:22So, without knowing all the ins and outs on the background, on the surface,
47:27it just looks depressing to me.
47:29Yeah, I mean, I'd echo everything Stuart said there.
47:32I mean, obviously a surprise, but not a massive surprise.
47:37I remember obviously in the aftermath of the Oldham game, there was speculation
47:44that he was going to be sacked briefly and he sort of died down.
47:47There was some talk that Martin Joel, I remember him from the days at Tottenham
47:53and the old Panini sticker albums in the 1980s.
47:57Yeah, he was actually going to replace him and it was one of those.
48:06It sort of passed over a bit like a rain shower, really, and things moved on.
48:12But, you know, you just sort of thought that was a little bit unusual, wasn't it,
48:15in the aftermath of a playoff defeat.
48:18Stuart's in a record-breaking season, 96 points.
48:21You know, everything should have been straight away right.
48:24We've had a disappointment.
48:25Actually, next season we're going to seal the deal.
48:28But, yeah, I found that unusual at the time.
48:30There was a little bit of speculation about the future of Hinshelwood.
48:34Hence why I'm sort of surprised, but not sort of stunned by what's happened today.
48:40But, you know, as Stuart rightly said, it's just very sad, isn't it?
48:43And, obviously, you've got to think what he did when he first came to York as well.
48:47They were nearly going to go back down into National League, League North.
48:51They had a bit of a great escape.
48:52And then, obviously, he got everything together in a remarkable campaign last season.
48:58And, you know, it just highlighted the wrongness of just, for me, one team getting automatically promoted at that level.
49:06And I think there's some flaws in the playoff system that didn't help York either.
49:12But, yeah, just very sad.
49:15A good young manager who, by the sounds of it, he'd moved his family up to York as well.
49:20And he'd really engaged with the supporters.
49:23And you would have thought, who's to say what goes on at clubs, as Stuart said,
49:29that it would have been, let's just everyone, you know, get together and, you know,
49:33channel the disappointment of what happened at the end of last season and really go again.
49:38But, you know, football's a funny game and nothing really surprises you, does it?
49:43YorkshirePost.co.uk
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