The Athletic Hello and welcome to the weekend preview on the Athletic Football podcast, sponsored by Bet365.

I'm Dan Bardell, and today, my co-host, George Ellicke and I, will preview the best of the weekends, FACA Cup and Premier League action alongside Bet365 beleaguered Steve Freeth.

Steve, you are upset.

You didn't want to talk about it on air, but I can't resist Steve Bruce, West Brum. No. Listen, I think a lot of people will point to his CV and his record in the championship, which is fair enough. You know, he has got an excellent CV at this level. I'm just concerned about the way he's less clubs in the past. I'm probably a little bit concerned about how up to date he is. The game seems to have moved on in recent times as well. You could argue, well, where else would they go at this stage of the season? I think there's a massive relief from Albion fans that Ishmael has gone. It clearly didn't work. It clearly wasn't work in the dressing room either. Very rigid in what he did. And I'm sure to work out for him somewhere else, but it didn't work. It clearly wasn't working in the dressing room either. Very rigid in what he did.

And I'm sure to work out for him somewhere else, but it didn't work here.

Fingers cross, it works out for Steve Bruce. It wouldn't have been an appointment that I would have made personally. But, you know, I'm sure Albin fans will get behind him. Yeah, I'm sure they will. They definitely will to begin with

and I believe you'll probably get a bounce

in the first few games because that's what he does when he first

rocks up somewhere.

George, before we come on to what Europe they're definitely more to begin with and I believe you'll probably get a bounce in the first few games because that's what he does

when he first rocks up somewhere George before we come on to what you're up to tonight, no show last week Steve wouldn't let us do a show you did make it up to me by getting me a mere gig on Monday but he's not good for you nothing for me yeah it's baked beans on toast for me all week after missing out on last week's show and not getting the...

I know that's incorrect, George.

I know that's not right.

The amount of work you're getting. Yeah, just delighted. I mean, I did hurt when I saw the photo of you guys said next to each other, grins in your face. You know, I thought we were a team, but next time, next time maybe Steve will ask me if he can afford me. Yeah, probably not, George. Probably not.

Yeah, it may have been financial. I believe. I'm led to believe. Financial implications led to you not being there. But on the plus, you have got a new show tonight on Sky, George. So you're not doing too bad luck. Yeah, it's exciting. Steve's very kindly giving me the chance to plug it, even though it's not about 36565 sponsors, so that's kind of him. You should say his face now, he's not happy. It's a one-off. It is, yeah, it's EFL 21 under 21. Myself and Ali Maxwell. No presenter. It's just the two of us. Oh, that's big. So when we recorded it, we had to do the old. and welcome back to EFL 21 Under 21, which was interesting.

But it's... Yeah, going out tonight, just going through some of the talent, you know, we've seen in the last few years... Well, in the last kind of decade, you know, going back to John Stones and Harry Maguire, you've got Jude Bellingham, Olly Watkins, James Madison, a berriese. Some of the best talent in European football, basically, comes through the EFL. And so we thought it was about time. We shined a light, shone a light on that, I should say. And Sky very kindly supported us. So we're going through those 21 players, going through each one with a bit of analysis and what they're all about. and this time in a year we'll look back and see how they've got on. Hopefully none of them are out on loan in the National League, but we'll see.

It's good. going through each one with a bit of analysis and what they're all about. And this time in a year, we'll look back and see how they've got on.

Hopefully none of them are out on loan in the National League.

But we'll see. That's good. I'll get that on my Sky Plus, get that recorded, George. Give you some support. I look forward to watching that and hopefully learning something as well. Because to be fair, I could do with getting my EFL knowledge up and notch. I'll get him the Villa fan

Did you go to a game

When you said last Saturday

What were going to do?

...