Manchester United’s Fernandes blow & player discipline at Christmas
Football Daily
BBC
4.3 • 4.5K Ratings
🗓️ 25 December 2025
⏱️ 40 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Katie Smith is joined by former West Ham and Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker and Brighton midfielder Fran Kirby to look ahead to the busy festive football period.
They discuss what it’s like to be a footballer at Christmas time and whether it’s possible to enjoy the holidays while also getting ready for matches.
Boxing Day’s only Premier League match this year sees Manchester United host Newcastle, the panel discuss how much Ruben Amorim’s side will miss Bruno Fernandes during his spell out injured.
Coventry City look to take another step towards promotion to the top flight when they host Swansea on Boxing Day and Sky Blues fan Katie Stafford discusses what life is like at the moment.
The panel also chat about West Ham’s struggles and the WSL headlines going into the winter break.
1:00 – Nigel and Fran’s Christmas traditions 2:30 – Player management at Christmas 4:10 – Nigel on players being weighed after Christmas Day 7:30 – Festive training plans 11:00 – How much will Man Utd miss Bruno Fernandes? 17:30 – Opportunity for Kobbie Mainoo 19:30 – Newcastle focus 24:00 – Coventry City fan Katie Stafford 30:30 – Fran Kirby on WSL 35:00 – Nigel on West Ham 37:40 – Nigel and Fran’s Christmas wishes
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts. |
| 0:05.0 | Ellis, our podcast is over 500 episodes old. |
| 0:10.0 | But what have we learnt? |
| 0:11.0 | Ellis James and John Robbins. |
| 0:13.0 | I've learnt that when you're doing live radio, if somebody texts in in block capitals, it's very really a good sign. |
| 0:18.0 | We've had a confused text and it says, I want to listen to this rubbish. |
| 0:22.0 | I learned that if you lose to lose Sanders |
| 0:24.1 | in a board game |
| 0:24.9 | and don't mention her on the show, |
| 0:26.3 | you are going to get an unexpected call. |
| 0:28.4 | Oh dear, oh dear. |
| 0:31.1 | Ellis James and John Robbins, |
| 0:32.7 | 500 not out. |
| 0:34.1 | Lovely stuff. |
| 0:35.5 | Listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:38.6 | You're listening to the Football Daily podcast with Katie Smith. |
| 0:43.3 | Hello everyone. |
| 0:44.3 | It is Christmas and the football just keeps on coming. |
| 0:48.0 | We're going to chat about the big stories in the Premier League with Manchester United against Newcastle, |
| 0:52.9 | the sole game in the top tier on Boxing Day. |
| 0:56.1 | And we're going to find out what life is like as a Coventry fan right now, as Frank Lampard's side fly high at the top of the championship table. |
| 1:03.9 | Joining us are Euros winning lioness and Brighton midfielder Fran Kirby, former West Ham and Aston Villa midfielder, Nigel Rio Coker, with us as well. Merry Christmas to you both. The first point I've got to pick up on here, Nigel, I don't know if you remember, right? We did this show together last year and you promised fancy dress. You delivered a year ago. Do you remember what you came as? Because you're not dressed like it tonight? |
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