BBC Broadcaster Chris Coles | A fascinating end awaits in the EPL (15.04.26)

0:00Plenty of round ball news as well. Let's head to the UK to chat some English Premier League. Well, the English Premier League is reaching a torturous climax for Tottenham with six games to go, Spurs. Well, they're outright third last. It's April 15th. And then last league win was December 29th. Of course, we have a vested interest in Spurs because Vangelposter, Cogluz, stint there, but at the top of the table, Arsenal had a slip up to Bournemouth. They're still six points clear on top, followed by Manchester City, Manchester United, and Aston Villa to round out the four with Liverpool in fifth to bring us up to speed is a very good friend of SCN, BBC Broadcaster Chris Coles. Chris, where do we find you this afternoon? Hello, Tom. I am right in the middle of the country, just outside, just outside Nottingham, and looking forward to. Well, I'm actually watching Forrest quite a bit over the next few days, watching them at Porto in the Europa League. Then I'm watching a big game for them against Bernlee, so yeah, it's going to be a fascinating

1:02final few weeks, isn't it? Well, I say this afternoon, it's actually morning here, and it's probably evening for you. So I appreciate you joining us to have a chat about the round ball game. Can we start with Tottenham? As I said, we've got a vested interest in what's going on there. We know that there is a drop zone at the moment. We also know that their league form has been horrible for the best part of four months. What's your prognosis? What's going on? It has been a staggering story this, Tom, as I'm sure many of you guys have been right across because of Angie's links. And really, you can pinpoint Spurs downfall to arguably the moment that Angie Postercoglu left, because he left Spurs as Europa League winners, as we know. Now, they didn't finish particularly high in the Premier League last season, but it was thought that with the appointment of Thomas Frank, who at the time seemed the very shrewd appointment, the former Brentford manager, he would guide Spurs to Karma Waters. And it just hasn't happened. They've lurched from one disaster to the next. Thomas Frank just didn't work. I think fans by the end of his tenure were a bit frustrated by his negativity.

2:03They didn't like the fact that Spurs at home, in particular, weren't playing on the front foot. They weren't playing the kind of football that Angie had Spurs playing, which was this really entertaining front footed, attacking football. But then what happened next was just a disaster from a Spurs perspective, with the managerial appointments that just weren't working. And most recently, Igor Tudas come in for four or five games and had an appalling time at Tottenham. And now they're in this position where they've got what, four or five games of the season to go, and they've brought in Roberto Deserberi, who on the face of it is a very good appointment. But he's got so little time to turn around this juggernaut of a football club who could be facing relegation, which would be catastrophic for them financially. Bear in mind, this is a team that will Europa League winners. They were Champions League finalists not so long ago. Perennial top five, top six challenges in the Premier League, one of the best stadiums in World Football,

3:03and they could be playing in the second tier. It has just been a disaster. Now Spurs fans will point to a few things. Injuries have not helped. So there've been no day and two at Colosseski, no James Madison, two key players for Tottenham. And throughout the season, they've been without some of their key players aside from those two. There's no Christian Romero now for the rest of the season, big player at the back. So they've not been helped by injuries, but they've certainly not been helped by decisions off the field. And for whatever reason that the hierarchy have just not been able to find a direction of travel that everyone is happy with. And it's why they're in this perilous position with so few games to go. Yeah, so they haven't been relegated from the top flight in England since 1976, 1977. I remember a few years ago when Newcastle got relegated and it's been shockwaves through the football tears there. And I think the same would apply here. They still have a fighting chance, they don't they? They've still got what six games to go. So it's largely in their hands at this point. But without looking to the revision mirror too much,

4:04that the decision to sack Angeposter Coglund, we are biased here. And he was on the show a couple of weeks ago, with Jared Waitley. How's that viewed now? Have people changed their minds? Has that now seen unequivocally as an era? Or has that still seen as, you know, probably the right thing for that time? This is a question, Tom, that I think you could probably ask every single spurs fan. And I think you'd probably get an answer that went both ways. I don't think Ange's 10 year here will ever be unanimously agreed upon as a success or as a failure. Which on the face of it is a bit ridiculous because of the success he clearly had, winning the Europa League. And that was a massive deal for Tottenham. We talk about perennial, top five, top six challenges that they were perennial underachievers in cup competitions. And you'll be fully aware of the spursy line that always came Tottenham's way when they kept on failing to win trophies. Now Ange delivers a massive trophy. The Europa League is a huge European trophy. And obviously then gets Jettison because of the league form.

5:05Now clearly looking back and you think, well, Ange's 10 year was clearly a success because of winning the Europa League. And the club didn't get relegated. And Ange, as I'm sure he did on your program, as he has done in this country when he's been on podcast, has said, listen, there's a reason we finish so low down the table, look at the teams that I played in the last few games of the season. I was obviously focusing on the Europa League title. I suspect that most fans will look at the Ange sacking and think it was probably, and maybe looking at the table now, Harsh. And it would be seen as the right thing to do had Tomas Frank come in and steer the club to a mid-table position, but because that didn't happen and because the managerial appointments post Ange and post Tomas Frank and post Eagle chewed there just haven't worked, then I think you look back and go, maybe they were a bit premature in sacking Ange Poster Cogman. But as I say, you speak to Spurs fans and you will get, I think, a pretty 50-50 opinion

6:08on whether that was the right thing to do or not. Which to me is just remarkable, a club that has been crying out for silver and they finally get it and they sack the manager. But again, put my hand up on bias, we're Australian here and we support our people. And just came to get back into the Premier League. Do you think there's any chance that that happens anytime soon or at all? Well, I think what probably didn't help was the Nottingham Forest stints that Ange had, that I think even he would probably admit was wrong place, wrong time. This was a club that were in desperate need of someone that probably didn't have Ange's vision of football. This was a team that probably needed a bit more of a pragmatic approach to their football because of the perilous situation that Forest were in. So Ange only lasted, I think, well, eight games. He didn't really have much of a chance. Now, that's not obviously much of a barometer to judge. And when it comes to his second job in the Premier League, my hunch is that he will have to go elsewhere before he gets back into the Premier League. I just think there's a little bit too much baggage

7:09with Ange at the moment because of what happened at Forest. But if he goes elsewhere and has a really good time, then I suspect that they will be chair chairman that would look at Ange and think, here's someone that has a track record of winning trophies. He's got a track record of attractive football. He's going to bring some headlines with him. So he's definitely worth a look. But my hunch is that after Forest, I think he's a little bit damaged in the minutes, but that could easily change. Particularly because he always said everywhere he goes, he wins, and then nodding for us, ended up in a blaze of glory. I think it was, what, 38 days or something ridiculous at the time. Yeah. At the other end of the table, it's just to get a little bit tense, isn't it? Arsenal has six points clear of Man City, but Man City had that game in hand, and they also play each other. So the loss that Arsenal's most recent loss is quite significant there. Massive Tom, absolutely huge this game coming up Sunday hour time. So what early hours of Monday morning for you? This is it. This is the title decider, which looked unthinkable a few weeks ago

8:10with Arsenal serenely progressing and Manchester City wobbling. And it looked like finally, Arsenal would win this Premier League first time in over 20 years. They would banish their memories of the last few seasons where they finished second either behind Liverpool or behind Manchester City. And then all of a sudden, they have just had this massive wobble where they were wobbling in the Premier League and then they lost in the FA Cup to Southampton in the championship. They only just got past sporting Lisbon in the Champions League, won it in the first leg. They play their second leg tomorrow. And they lose, as you say, against Bournemouth. And suddenly, it's in Manchester City's hands because of the game they play at the Etihad on Sunday. So the gap is six points, but Man City's to City have a game in hand. That game in hand comes in a couple of weeks away at Burnley, who were 19th in the table. You fancy Man City's to City to win that. So if they beat Arsenal on Sunday and they beat Burnley, then you expect them to be level on points with Arsenal, but probably ahead because of the goal difference,

9:10which will almost certainly be better than Arsenal's, which makes this game on Sunday colossal. And if Manchester City win it, then they become type of favourites. Arsenal are still, I think, the favourites. You would still much rather be in their position. You speak to any manager and they always say, give me the points on the board. Yes, games in hand are great, but it matters not if you'd lose them. Leads to feet over Man United was significant, particularly given Leads position on the table because they're in a bit of a relegation dogfight themselves. They've only won now eight games for the season. So that was two one at Old Trafford as well, away from home. But there was a flashpoint in this match and Australian sporting fans would be, I ain't quite shocked at the way that some managers speak about referee, his post game. I was going to quote Michael Carrick, who is the manager of Leads. He said, I'm sorry, I've mentioned United. He said, worst of all, this is about a hair pulling incident. We've got to be careful where the game is going. It's a shocking decision, absolutely shocking.

10:11You know, like it's such harsh criticism, but what are your thoughts on that red card and what were your thoughts on the match itself because it was such an important win for Leads? Well, firstly on that, massive for Leads who I think are all but safe now, they were in the relegation battle, but that victory has given them a level of comfort now and such was the manner of the victory. I think that will do them the world of good. They deserved it, I think, even before the red card, they were by far the better team. They were tuna lup at that stage and could have been further clear. Manchester United with flat, Leads were very good. So great win for them. Yeah, the red card has again really divided opinion here. My hunch is this, I think this probably shines with light more on VAR than the air pulling incident. The rules are quite clear. You pull anyone's hair and it's a straight red card. So the rules were applied correctly in this instant, but they were only applied correctly because VAR spotted the infringement. The referee didn't. Now with VAR, it's sadly, it's black and white.

11:12The moment the technology spots it, it's a red card. But the action was negligible, Tommy. It was such a little brushed. Lissandra Martin, they sort of glides his hands through Dominic Calvert Lewin's ponytail. There was no real intent there. It was almost like he was, for me, grappling for balance and just made contact with Calvert Lewin's hair. He post matched Dominic Calvert Lewin said, I didn't really feel anything. I was made aware of it. I said to the referee, this has happened. And it's not really up to me what happens next. I kind of see where Michael Carrick is coming from because I think it does set a dangerous precedent. But also, I think his comments are a little bit over the top and I suspect he'll be getting a letter from the F.A. about it because they were heated at the moment stuff. So is that what happens? They just get a letter and everyone moves on. Well, he'll get it. Well, it depends on the severity of what was said. And if it's not too bad, and in this instance, it probably was a little bit over the line,

12:13he may well get more than just a letter. He may get a touchline ban, he may get a fine. It all depends on how generous or not the F.A.R. feeling. But normally, if it's your first offence, which probably is for Michael Carrick because he's not too outspoken, then he might just get a wrap on the knuckles. But yeah, it'll be interesting to see how the rule changes if it changes at all because it's not the first hair pulling incident we've had in the Premier League this season. And I don't think it'll be the last. Yeah, and there was only just a... You can't even tell looking at it whether it was deliberate or intentional. And yet the VAR gave him a red card. So that will be a talking point in the coming days for sure. Now, I'm looking on the BBC website as we speak right now. Now you work for the BBC. We're talking to Chris Coles. And I'm reading an article from Johnny Coleman who, and the headline is this, when could wolves be relegated? So I click on that because that's a great headline. And I think when they can be relegated. And their season is an utter just debacle, isn't it? 17 points from 32 matches.

13:15Their 15 points from safety was six games to go. Is it one of the worst Premier League seasons we've seen in recent times? Well, no question. No question. I mean, the headline, when could wolves be relegated? I think if you spoke to most wolves fans, they would have said probably December was when we were relegated. It has been disastrous for them. They've not won a single away game all season. It's been coming, I think, for wolves, sadly, because they've been a club over the years that have tended to buy young players, sell them for huge profit, and then be quite fortunate that they've been able to replace those young players with more very good players. So they used to have some, I mean, some world stars, Ruben Neves, Jamutino, Rhinate Nori, who's now at Manchester City, all of these guys who were brilliant, but they've not been able to replace them. So this season has been long overdue. It's not quite the worst season ever. Derby still holds the lowest ever points total. That's 11. So wolves have comfortably got past them, but it's been horrible for them.

14:16Robert was that the relatively new manager basically has to try and end the season as well as they can and rebuild next season. It's been an example of if you let big decisions just get away from you in the transfer window, if you don't really look too far ahead and you're very reactive instead of proactive, then this sort of thing can happen. And it's happened to wolves. It could happen to Tottenham. It could happen to West Ham. There are some big signs that we're playing in a championship next season, but it's not been great at Mollenue. The wolves fans have really endured an awful season and not winning a single away game from home. It's not been great for the fans on their travels either. So yeah, they've got lots of work to do next season. Pretty grim. Too more for you, the two best football documentaries or soccer documentaries I think in recent years have been Sunderland till I die and welcome to Rexham. So let's ask about Sunderland because they're not too far off from a European spot, which is quite remarkable given where they were when that first season of the documentary has made all those years ago and they couldn't even, I think they're in league one at the time.

15:18Yeah, well, well, the best part about that documentary, Tom, is that the Sunderland till I die documentary was very much there to document Sunderland's, they got relegated to the championship and the documentary was meant to showcase Sunderland's big fight back into the Premier League. Instead, they documented their relegation to league one. And obviously it made for great TV because we're all watching a club in absolute free fall. If Sunderland had a bonkers few years and actually they've been an example of what happens when you get it right off the field. And yes, it was awful six, seven years ago but they've had their time in the lower leagues but they've got it so right this season they've got an excellent manager and Regis LeBrice who is tactically very shrewd, he's a great man manager, fans love him, players love him but they were so good in the transfer window in the summer. They'd strengthened really, really sharply and acutely and they did everything right so they're reaping the rewards for that and they've had a great season, they've had a brilliant season

16:18whatever happens from here on in it's been great at the stadium of light. And yes, because of the way you're at works there's possible that there could be eight even nine teams from England in Europe next season so Sunderland could even be one of those. So great for them and it's a massive footballing hotbed in North East, we've got Newcastle up there, we've got Sunderland there, massive clubs and it's great to see them while Sunderland in particular absolutely thriving this season. In the championship, Rexham, a seventh, four points off six. Now that's a fairytale. That is a fairytale waiting to be written and a bit like what you said about Sunderland when they're making documentaries we don't really want mid-table plotters we want either teams to get relegated and blow up or teams to go up and at least reach the playoff stage. Talk us through the process there and how Rexham can get up into the Premier League next season. Yeah, well Rexham are four points outside the championship playoff places. Now this is a side that has had an absolutely incredible rise up the ranks and this is mainly down to the influence

17:19of the Hollywood A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Tom McLean, who have invested in this club. They wanted a club to invest in and they had quite a few on their radar actually. They had the likes of York, I think we're on there and Rexham and they wanted a club who they felt had great potential but had been completely derelict and run down and Rexham absolutely one of those sides that have been floating around in the lower league. They've been non-league for an awfully long time. Once a very good club and a very big club would have been left to die sadly until Ryan Reynolds and co-breathe new life into it huge investments, huge interest in what the Rexham story is and they've gone through the league's national league to league two to league one. Now they're on the brink of the championship playoffs to get into the Premier League. If Rexham get there, Tom, it would be just an unbelievable story. Now listen, there will be those that are quite cynical and say, well, yes, you pump any club full of money and they are going to rise up the leagues very quickly

18:20and there is an argument to say, yes, it's not quite the fairytale like, for instance, when Luton Town went up a few years ago because they had no real budget but still it'll be an interesting story and it'll be something that the world will be very interested in if Rexham get into the Premier League because as I say, this was a club five, six years ago were getting gates of 1,000, 2,000 and were playing in real low level football in England. So if they do get up, it'll be a story one way or other and yeah, and even if they don't do it this year, it won't be long because as I say, the interest they have and the money there, they are primed to get into the Premier League. Well, it makes me want to go to Rexham where I think I've never heard of it before. I saw the documentary and even after to be fair, even after seeing the documentary, I wasn't sure I wanted to go there, but now they're playing so well, it looks like they've jazzed it up a bit. Hey, Chris, really appreciate your time. It's reaching a very exciting climax to the Premier League season and also the championship and other leagues around the world. I'm sure we'll speak to you again soon.

19:21Look forward to it Tom, take it easy. BBC Broadcast, Chris Coles joining us on Waitley.