Overview of The Totally Football Show — "Chelsea survive Wrexham, Sunday shocks + Spurs in crisis"
This episode from The Athletic/Totally Football Show reviews a dramatic FA Cup fifth-round weekend, the Old Firm penalty drama and pitch incidents, and Tottenham’s deepening Premier League crisis — with forward looks to midweek European ties (Chelsea v PSG, Newcastle v Barcelona, Man City v Real Madrid, Liverpool in Istanbul). Hosts James Richardson, Liam Toomey, Daniel Taylor and Colin explore results, big moments, tactical angles, off-field fallout and injury news.
FA Cup (Round 5) — results & key takeaways
- Quarterfinalists confirmed (draw to take place Monday night ahead of West Ham v Brentford):
- Chelsea (beat Wrexham on aggregate), Arsenal, Newcastle, Liverpool, Leeds, Southampton, Wolves? (Wolves lost to Liverpool — Liverpool progressed), Port Vale (shock), Mansfield lost to Arsenal.
- Notable upsets and headlines:
- Port Vale (bottom of League One) knocked out Premier League Sunderland 1-0 — a classic underdog story; club chair Carol Shanahan praised.
- Fulham eliminated at home by Southampton (1-0) — a controversial disallowed Fulham goal earlier in the match.
- Leeds beat Norwich 3-0 (Joel Piroe and Sean Longstaff among scorers); Leeds into quarterfinals for first time since 2003.
- Wrexham pushed Chelsea to extra time despite playing much of the game as the better side; Chelsea advanced on aggregate 4-2.
- Newcastle came from behind to beat Man City 3-1 (Harvey Barnes opener; Savinho bizarre goal; two from Omar Marmoush).
- Wolves 1–3 Liverpool — new signing Rio Ngomou singled out for positive impact.
Big matches & moments explained
- Wrexham v Chelsea
- Wrexham were arguably the better side in open play and had higher xG at 90 minutes; VAR decisions (an overturned Wrexham goal for offside and a red-card challenge review) were decisive.
- Sam Smith’s goal nominated among weekend highlights; Chelsea rotated heavily (context: PSG tie midweek).
- Newcastle v Manchester City
- Harvey Barnes superb opener; Savinho scored an unusual placed finish; Marmoush brace sealed it.
- Pep Guardiola publicly frustrated over perceived leniency in dangerous tackles — faces a two-match touchline ban.
- Port Vale
- Lowest-ranked side remaining; celebrated as a feel‑good FA Cup story with historic kit and 150th anniversary angle.
- Arsenal v Mansfield
- Arsenal fielded many changes but were pushed (Mansfield had 18 shots). Arsenal progressed 2-1; some injury concerns (Trossard, Riccardo Calafiori knocks to monitor).
Old Firm (Rangers v Celtic) — fallout
- 0–0 after 120 minutes; Celtic won on penalties (4–2).
- Game described as poor quality on the pitch (very few shots on target/minimal attacking play) but volatile off it:
- Pitch invasions and clashes after the match; flares thrown between sets of fans; police/stewards kept incidents contained.
- Likely consequences: renewed calls for away-fan restrictions for future derbies.
Tottenham Hotspur — crisis summary
- Current state:
- Lost five Premier League matches in a row; sit one point above the relegation zone.
- Worst home form among notable clubs; morale/discipline problems apparent.
- Igor Tudor appointment (recent) seen as a mismatch:
- Coaches/pundits argue Tudor is not connecting with players; his preferred defensive structure hasn’t settled.
- Fans visibly angry; suggestions that an interim with club ties (eg. Ryan Mason) might have been a better short-term choice.
- Immediate tests:
- Atletico Madrid (away) midweek and Liverpool at Anfield to follow — big matches that could determine Tudor’s short-term future.
- Key point: club faces a genuine relegation scare if poor form continues.
Champions League / European outlook (midweek preview)
- Chelsea v PSG (two-legged tie): big test for Liam Rasenia’s side; Chelsea rotated for the Cup tie but will need a stronger display vs PSG. Tie seen as pivotal for Rossenia’s standing.
- Newcastle v Barcelona: tactical affair expected — Barcelona’s defence has been vulnerable at times but they’ve also put together recent shutout runs; Newcastle must pick the right approach.
- Man City v Real Madrid: City favored but Real are a different proposition in Europe; absences (possible Mbappé/Bellingham misses) could change dynamics.
- Liverpool in Istanbul (Galatasaray): high-variance tie, Liverpool travel to a challenging atmosphere.
- Monitoring: form, key absences and tactical choices (e.g., where City/Real place Foden/Bellingham/Vinícius).
Women’s football: Lionesses update
- England beat Iceland 2-0 (World Cup qualifying). Routine result but England were wasteful (31 shots, many off target).
- Upcoming decisive fixtures vs Spain in qualifying will be revealing for manager Sarina Wiegman’s selection and tactical direction.
Injuries, suspensions & selection notes to watch
- Arsenal: Trossard and Calafiori picked up knocks — check updates ahead of Champions League ties.
- Chelsea: rotation choices after Wrexham tie; midfield/attack usage vs PSG is crucial.
- Man City: Pep Guardiola facing a two-match touchline ban — notable for upcoming fixtures.
- Real Madrid: absences for Mbappé/Bellingham (depends on fitness) could affect ties.
- Spurs: disciplinary issues (Van de Ven red, captaincy disruption) and returning injured players post-international break will influence fate.
Notable quotes & insights
- “The FA Cup is less of a grind for struggling teams — it’s an opportunity.” — explains why lower-league sides often lift performance levels.
- “Spurs aren’t sleepwalking anymore; they’re free-falling.” — on Tottenham’s sudden collapse under Tudor.
- On Wrexham: a reminder that big moments (VAR, marginal offsides) swing one-off cup ties.
Actions / what to watch next
- Monday: FA Cup quarter‑final draw — potential big ties to note for Wembley dreams (Port Vale spotlight).
- Midweek Champions League: Chelsea v PSG; Newcastle v Barcelona; City v Real — these results will affect managerial perceptions and season trajectories.
- Tottenham: results vs Atletico and Liverpool crucial — monitor for managerial change chatter.
- Injuries: monitor updates on Arsenal’s Trossard/Calafiori and Real/City absentees.
If you want a quick rundown of the weekend fixtures/results in a table or a short “watch this match” list for the upcoming midweek ties, I can add that.