Overview of Totally Football Show
This episode is a lively midweek-to-weekend roundup of English and European football, with the panel focusing on pressure building at Manchester United and Tottenham, Brighton’s impressive comeback win at Old Trafford, Arsenal’s emerging teen star Max Dowman, Sunderland’s return to Europe, and a packed Premier League weekend preview.
Midweek Results and Main Talking Points
Carabao Cup and Premier League action
- Leeds 4-1 Newcastle: Leeds blew Newcastle away with three first-half goals in 13 minutes and continued their excellent start to the season.
- Liverpool 3-1 Spurs: Liverpool advanced after a strong performance, while Spurs again struggled to turn promising play into goals.
- West Ham 2-3 Fulham: West Ham twice came back but still lost in a frustrating cup tie.
- Arsenal 4-0 Ipswich: The standout moment was another brilliant performance from Max Dowman, who scored a brace.
- Man United 2-3 Brighton: United collapsed after leading 2-0, with Brighton controlling the final stages superbly.
Europe
- Sunderland beat AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League, a landmark night as the club returns to European football after decades away.
- Benfica beat Milan 2-0 in the other European tie discussed.
Manchester United: Bright Start, Familiar Collapse
Brighton’s quality and United’s fragility
- United started well, including a strong opening and a good goal from Shea Lacey.
- Once Brighton settled, they were described as brilliant, calm, and in control.
- Brighton’s strengths highlighted:
- aggressive pressing
- regaining the ball in dangerous areas
- quick transitions
- a deep squad with players who fit their system
Key individual note
- Pascal Groß was singled out as a masterful presence in midfield, with the panel praising his composure and game management.
What it means for United
- The collapse reinforced the idea that Old Trafford no longer feels intimidating for visiting sides.
- Benjamin Šeško was criticized for a subdued performance.
- Bruno Fernandes once again felt like the player United lean on to rescue games.
- They also discussed the ongoing issue of a VAR mistake in a previous United match, noting that the audio release showed how stressful and human the process really is.
Tottenham: Bright Moments, But Still No End Product
Spurs against Liverpool
- Spurs were said to have started brightly but again lacked finishing power.
- The panel felt there were positive signs in their general play, but the underlying issue remains:
- not enough goals
- not enough ruthlessness
- no obvious reliable striker solution
Bigger concern
- The discussion centered on whether Spurs are genuinely improving or just looking better without converting that into results.
- The panel suggested that the squad still feels incomplete, especially in attack.
Arsenal: Dowman Shines Again
Max Dowman’s special talent
- Dowman’s brace against Ipswich drew major praise, especially his first goal:
- picked the ball up from distance
- drove forward with close control
- finished with his weaker foot
- The comparison made was that he has a Messi-like ability to manipulate the ball and change direction in stride.
- The hosts felt the goal was the kind that makes people immediately think: this kid might be truly special.
Arsenal’s outlook
- Arsenal’s next big test is Brighton away.
- The panel framed that match as a clash between:
- Brighton’s attacking invention
- Arsenal’s defensive control and ability to suffocate games
Sunderland’s European Return
- Sunderland’s win in Europe was treated as a major moment for the club.
- The atmosphere and occasion were highlighted as just as important as the result.
- The panel emphasized the scale of the turnaround from lower-league struggles to European football.
- There was also some affectionate nostalgia about the club’s journey and its supporters.
Weekend Premier League Preview
Biggest fixtures
- Brentford vs Chelsea
- Spurs vs Aston Villa
- Brighton vs Arsenal
- Newcastle vs Hull
- Bournemouth vs Liverpool
- Leeds vs Crystal Palace
- Man City vs Sunderland
- Fulham vs Man United
What to watch
- Brighton vs Arsenal: top scorers against the league’s best defense.
- Spurs vs Villa: the panel debated whether this could become a pressure game for one or both managers, though they mostly felt it was too early for a true “sack race.”
- Man City vs Sunderland: City will be without Phil Foden through suspension.
- Fulham vs Man United: seen as another awkward test for United after their midweek collapse.
- Newcastle vs Hull and Leeds vs Palace were highlighted as evidence of how unusual and open the table feels this season.
Broader Themes and Side Discussions
The “Class of ’22” from Manchester City
- A fun segment looked at the extraordinary number of current Premier League players who were around City’s system in 2022, including:
- Cole Palmer
- Morgan Rogers
- Liam Delap
- James Trafford
- Romeo Lavia
- Pedro Porro
- Phil Foden as the one still at City
- The point: City’s academy and youth exits have produced a remarkable number of top-level players.
Footballers with degrees
- The show ended with a light-hearted “and finally” about players with academic qualifications.
- Names mentioned included:
- Tyro Awoniyi
- Vincent Kompany
- Ian Dowie
- Slaven Bilić
- Shaka Hislop
- Simon Mignolet
- Andrea Caracciolo
- Awoniyi was noted as especially well qualified, with multiple degrees and diplomas.
Bottom Line
The episode’s core message is that pressure and unpredictability are building early in the season:
- Manchester United look vulnerable despite flashes of quality.
- Tottenham are improving in moments but still lack cutting edge.
- Brighton, Arsenal, Liverpool, Leeds, and Sunderland are all generating positive momentum.
- The weekend is set up as a major early-season test for several clubs and managers.