MatchDayReview Podcast

After a weekend of FA Cup action we now know our semi finalists. Leicester City, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Southampton, the 4 teams left. We look at Leicester's impressive victory over United on Sunday night. Would a trophy be a just reward for Leicester under Brendan Rogers?

Meanwhile what stage of the United cycle do they currently find themselves in under Ole, and is there a way out of the cycle any time soon?

And of course there is the inevitable quadruple talk across Manchester in the blue camp, can they get finally get over their European problem, and do they need it to gain respect on the continent?

We are well and truly into the business end of European competition. With the quarter final draws taking place for both competitions we break down the draw, discuss the challenges facing each team, and pick our favourites of those left.

Tottenham missed the chance to extend the gap between themselves and their North London rivals, as Arsenal came from behind to win 2-1 at the Emirates. Is there a mental block at White Hart lane when it comes to the NLD, or does this team still just need time to adjust to Jose? 

Sheffield began life after Chris Wilder in pretty abysmal fashion with a 5-0 defeat away to top 4 chasing Leicester. After the news this week that Wilder was leaving, what does this mean for Sheffield going forward and their prospects of coming straight back up to the Premier League? 

In the top 4 race Chelsea, West Ham, and Everton all joined Tottenham in dropping points over the weekend. With United and Leicester winning are we now looking at a 5 horse race for 1 spot?

Oh, and with the England U21s team being announced just before we hit record we discuss what the announcement could mean for the senior team, and the future tactics of England going forward. 

We know 4 of the 8 teams into the quarter final of the Champions League.  There was to be no repeat of La Remontada in Paris, but Barça gave it a go, and if not for Keylor Navas could have been dreaming of history. As it was though was this the night PSG learnt to 'get over the line'?

In Turin, Porto and Juventus gave us a game for the ages as Porto go through on away goals with a terrific defensive display, Pepe in particular coming in for praise. What does it mean for Juve though. Their win now policy clearly hasn't worked so where do they go now at this cross road?

Elsewhere Dortmund and Liverpool came through their ties, and there was even time to sneak a Premier League game in as well. 

Liverpool's struggles at Anfield continue as they go down 1-0 to Scott Parker's hard working Fulham side, who will now be believing that they can get out of the relegation zone. It has been quite some turn around for the side from Craven Cottage given that the bookies had paid out on them going down from as early as the third week of the season. 

Elsewhere Tottenham continued their good recent form and assault on the top 4 with victory over Palace. Would the top 4 and a trophy be enough for Mourinho to get a statue outside their new shiny stadium?  In the race for the top 4 there is a big game tonight as we look ahead to the Everton V Chelsea, and we go north of the boarder to congratulate Steven Gerrard and Rangers on their 55th Scottish League title. 

It's 21 and out for Manchester City as United roll up at the Etihad and walk away with all 3 points. Goals from Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw give the reds a 2-0 win and cut the gap at the top to 11 points. 

Listen to our instant reaction and analysis of the Red Devils victory as we talk tactics, attitude, and consistency. 

The Premier League dished up some stinkers in the mid week. Least of all the foggy affair at Selhurst Park where Manchester United failed to capitalise on Leicester's dropped points earlier one, by putting in possibly their worst performance of the season. (There has been a few of them recently). 

But with the league dishing out an abnormal amount of drab games will it take the eventual return of fans to kick some of these games into life? 

Elsewhere City won again (shock), Sheffield are officially not the worst team in Premier League history, which I am sure is a relief to their fans, and Chelsea take on Liverpool in a top 4 clash. 

It seems the standard of refereeing in the Premier League is getting worse by the week. This week is no different with Lee Mason making quite possibly the worst refereeing decision ever in English football. Despite their refereeing bad luck however, Brighton really didn't help themselves when it came to taking their chances, missing 2 penalties. 

Elsewhere in the refereeing world Luke Shaw relays what a ref says on the pitch and now faces a ban, not Stuart Atwell for actually saying it, but Luke Shaw for repeating it. I know right, I don't get it either. 

And finally is all not well at Burnley, it certainly wasn't against Tottenham, and could they be sucked into the relegation zone, which could then be the least of their troubles. 

(I hate that we have to talk about the refs so much, but if they will keep messing up. Anyway, enjoy!) 

After an impressive return to European football last week, this week it felt a little bit like the 'B' team had been sent out. City continued their winning run against Borussia Monchengladbach, with Joao Cancelo now playing in all the positions on the pitch. The Spanish teams have struggled in the Champions League and the Europa League, but what exactly is going on over in La Liga. And to cap it all off, just how badly wrong can you predict a Lazio V Bayern Munich game?

For the first time since 1999, Everton came away from Anfield with 3 points.  This time around we look at what Everton got right, because by this time we all know what Liverpool got wrong. Elsewhere in the race for the top 4 West Ham laid down a marker by beating Tottenham and leaving them chasing Europa League dreams. But one positive for Spurs fans would be the performance of Gareth Bale. Is it now time to give him a run in the team? And down the bottom of the table Fulham crank up the heat on Newcastle, could their final day showdown be a relegation play off, or will it not even get that far?