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ESPN FC

Sensational Semenyo

13 Jan 2026

Transcription

Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?

5.127 - 23.689 Dan Thomas

Welcome in to the latest edition of ESPN FC. I'm Dan Thomas joined by Craig Burley and Shaka Hissop. Lots going on today. Later on in the show we'll be discussing one of the biggest clubs in the world hiring a new manager. Plus, Manchester United have confirmed Michael Carrick. We kick things off though with Newcastle against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup. This is over two legs of course.

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24.029 - 42.504 Dan Thomas

Manchester City with a huge advantage to make it through to the final. Semenya would make it 2-2 since making that move from Bournemouth to give City the lead after the break. Newcastle had quite a few chances, but it was the visitors who scored the set and, second, Schurke making it 2-0 to put City very much ahead. For more on this, Frank LaBeouf is with us.

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43.145 - 45.63 Dan Thomas

Frank, it's all about taking your chances, isn't it?

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48.648 - 72.102 Frank LaBeouf

Exactly. And Vissar and Voldemort would have a bad night because sometimes you don't need to control a ball to shoot it. One touch is more than enough. And Vissar should have done on the first chance that he had and Voldemort as well. And they didn't. And City were more clinical than Newcastle.

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Chapter 2: What were the highlights of Manchester City's victory over Newcastle in the Carabao Cup?

72.323 - 75.988 Frank LaBeouf

And as Craig said, it's already dead for me.

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76.087 - 90.29 Craig Burley

Bissell was, you know, that first chance he had, I think it was Shaq and I, we said, I think we both went, I think Votermatter would have put that away. And then he came on and stumbled over his. And I think that was the kind of summed up the evening for Newcastle. I mean, James Trafford had to make that save.

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90.35 - 107.129 Craig Burley

You saw on the clip, there was a couple of other really good balls in in the second half. from Newcastle. Voltaire couldn't get on the end of it, but I think City deserved it. Semenya, great start to his City career. Thought he had two, but he got one. I think that's a big debating point, this whole VAR thing.

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107.91 - 119.801 Craig Burley

Doku on the other side gave Lewis Miley a hard time, particularly in the first half, the first 20 minutes. He's not a full-back, and he roasted them every time. So they have all these options going forward.

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Chapter 3: What were the key moments that decided the match between Newcastle and Manchester City?

119.841 - 126.85 Craig Burley

I know they have the problems at the back, But all these options they've got going forward now with, you know... So, does Semenyo start against United?

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127.27 - 127.811 Dan Thomas

I think so.

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127.951 - 147.117 Craig Burley

Yeah. Yeah? Yeah, absolutely. I mean, what he does with Doku, I don't know. But, you know, you've got Doku on one side, Pacey and Quick. You've got Semenyo, Pacey and Quick, you know, very good in the final third. He's got two goals already for City, although one was against Exeter. But getting in the right place at the right time. And I think Semenyo...

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147.097 - 167.58 Craig Burley

does play O'Reilly played in midfield tonight and did a good job obviously that's his natural position so Rodri will come back in there he came off the bench he'll come back in there not sure how the back four will look do you think that front five is the front five for the United game I think it could be, you know that?

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167.84 - 170.263 Dan Thomas

No Reinders, no Shirky. What about Shirky?

170.363 - 195.373 Craig Burley

All right, Frank, I said that. No, listen, we're off the cuff here. It's live TV. Too late. I think Shirky will come in, but come in for who remains to be seen. I mean, does he leave Docco out and sort of shovel somebody out there or move some menu across? Or does he leave Phil Foden out, who hasn't been the worst? I think he'll play Bernardo Silva in these big games. He generally always does.

195.714 - 206.803 Craig Burley

But I think one of those guys in the front line will probably set aside for Ryan Scherke because he's been very, as I mentioned in the highlight, first six months of the season, very good.

206.783 - 229.066 Shaka Hislop

Left after me, I play the two white men in Semenya and Doku. I just feel the pace that they bring from both sides, unsettled scenes. And unsettled Newcastle, and albeit young, young, married on the day. But I just feel that's where they look their best. And then you have genuine options through the middle, whether you go Foden and Bernardo Silva, as you do today. You've got Reinders.

229.086 - 248.535 Shaka Hislop

You've got Chirky. It could be one or two. What would you do, Shaq? Don't say Chirky, just annoy him. Don't say Chirky, just... I play Foden and anybody else in that case. But to Craig's point, I'd prefer Chirky if I'd been out of silver, if it were me.

Chapter 4: How did Antoine Semenyo adapt to life under Pep Guardiola?

342.503 - 343.965 Frank LaBeouf

I won't enunciate better for you.

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343.985 - 346.009 Dan Thomas

6,000 miles away. That's all right. Don't worry.

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Chapter 5: What impact does VAR have on the outcome of football matches?

346.029 - 367.588 Dan Thomas

It wasn't very interesting. Chelsea against Arsenal. That's the first leg tomorrow. Here's everybody's predictions for that tie. Rossini, of course, in charge. Do we have everyone's predictions? There they are. Everyone thinks Arsenal are going to win, apart from Xhaka, who's going for a draw. Yeah. There you go. Let's have a humongous... No, let's not do that.

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367.628 - 410.89 Dan Thomas

We've got interesting things to talk about. Let's do it. Chelsea against Arsenal then will be the main discussion point tomorrow on ESPN FC. I think we've all seen the last few games of the season and how hard they worked the other day in the Super Cup final.

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411.022 - 436.067 Craig Burley

I think we have not only a great squad, but a team of lads who are willing to give their all, knowing what Real Madrid demands. Let's not forget that there are players who have won six European Cups and many of them have already been champions with Real Madrid. It seems that is quickly forgotten and winning with this badge can only be done on the basis of those values you mention.

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436.047 - 443.087 Sid Lowe

On the basis of effort, sacrifice and perseverance.

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446.864 - 456.022 Dan Thomas

For more on this, let's welcome in show Frank Leboeuf, still with us, and Sid Lowe, who is, who has marked the departure of Xavi Alonso by getting rid of his horrible beard. So at least that's one positive.

456.062 - 459.128 Unknown

And his glasses from yesterday.

460.471 - 461.272 Dan Thomas

Sid, what's the point?

461.513 - 465.14 Unknown

Hang on, I thought the glasses were supposed to make me look clever. No, no. I can put them back on if you want.

465.2 - 479.571 Dan Thomas

Rossignol, that's the only reason he got hired, they say. Anyway, right. Serious stuff, Sid. What's the point? If they're not going to listen to Xavi Alonso, they're not going to listen to Carlo Ancelotti, why is this squad going to listen to Alvaro Albaloa, who hasn't got anywhere near as much experience as those two?

Chapter 6: What are the implications of Xabi Alonso leaving Real Madrid?

1625.018 - 1644.352 Unknown

I think he will feel that this is an opportunity maybe maybe lost. But I think right now the feeling will be, yeah, better off out. And also with the assuredness and the certainty. that there will be other clubs who want him now. That clubs will look at what he did in Germany and that will eclipse what's happened in this brief spell at Real Madrid.

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1644.372 - 1654.107 Unknown

That clubs all the way through the Premier League, the best four or five clubs in the Premier League, will all be thinking, this is someone on the market that we would very much like to have here. So yeah, in that sense, absolutely, 100%.

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1654.328 - 1657.092 Dan Thomas

Frank, I'll give you the last word on everything. What would you like to use it on?

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1659.046 - 1678.873 Frank LaBeouf

Do you know what, for the next coach, I don't know for how long it's going to last, but for the next coach in Real Madrid, they have to ask a question before signing. Can I ask MbappƩ and Vinicius Junior and Judith Billingham to track back? Is that possible? And if they don't do that, can I put them on the bench or I will be sacked?

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1679.213 - 1684.48 Frank LaBeouf

That would be the next crucial question because otherwise it will never work.

Chapter 7: How will Alvaro Arbeloa's management style differ from Xabi Alonso's?

1684.46 - 1694.319 Frank LaBeouf

And as I took the example of Paris Saint-Germain, we have the certainty that if not everybody is working, that doesn't work.

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1694.339 - 1699.228 Dan Thomas

A couple of other bits from La Liga, Cid. First one, Jao Cancelo official now at Barcelona.

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1701.217 - 1714.5 Unknown

Yep, official, not the player that they wanted initially because they wanted a central defender, but given that he was an opportunity on the market and they think that maybe Jules KoundƩ can end up being a centre-back, so it bolsters their defence, if not precisely the profile they were after, a useful player.

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1714.68 - 1717.926 Dan Thomas

Is that their business done? How many levers can they pull for this window?

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1718.969 - 1724.059 Unknown

I think that probably is their business done. And by the way, Real Madrid think that their business is done as well. At least that's what they're briefing.

1724.28 - 1732.877 Dan Thomas

Well, we'll have a low last till the end of the month. Sid, meanwhile, last bit, Conor Gallagher looks like he's going to Spurs. What happened at Atleti? Why didn't it work out?

1734.697 - 1745.071 Unknown

He didn't really get the opportunities, I think, to start with. We all thought he was very much a Simeone player because he was intense, because he was aggressive, which is exactly what Simeone wanted. But I think he never quite had that role of being able to control the midfield.

1745.091 - 1762.394 Unknown

And I think at times, in truth, I don't want to oversimplify this, but I think Simeone looked at his midfield options and just thought there are better players around than him in terms of controlling and running the game. I really hope it goes well because he worked really, really hard. He was very personable. He was very likeable. Everyone at Atletico Madrid liked him.

1762.515 - 1768.232 Unknown

But I just think in the end, It was just a sense of, well, the level of our midfielders means that he's just not an actual starter.

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