The Athletic

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

I'm Dan Bardell, and every Friday we preview the best of the weekend's Premier League action alongside Bet365 Steve Freith.

Steve, how are you?

Really mischief, pal.

I bet you've never said that to a Villa fan before.

No, a couple.

A couple of... Okay. Have me a few quid. Yeah, no, it's... No, it's good to have you back and you've lost the odd game as well, which is always sweet. Yeah, I'm sure we will come on to that. It's good to be back. and as usual my co-hosthost, George Ellick, is here as well. Always busy, George. Another busy week for you. So busy forever. I had to postpone the normal recording time by half an hour to fit in all my meetings. But it's all good. So as I keep saying, whenever I complain to my friends, I'm busy, they're like, what, talking about football? I'm like, yes, that is what I'm doing. So it could be worse. Yeah. Definitely.

Someone who... to my friends, I'm busy. They're like, what, talking about football? I'm like, yes, that is

what I'm doing. So it could be worse. Yeah. Definitely. Someone who is not going to be busy for the next few weeks, I imagine he's gone to Portugal, is Steve Bruce, Steve, finally put out of his misery at Newcastle, relieved of his duties. Who do you think is going to be next for Newcastle because it's a bit of a weird appointment because we all know they've got money now,

but they're obviously near the lower. of his duties. Who do you think is going to be next for Newcastle? Because it's a bit of a weird appointment,

because we all know they've got money now, but they're obviously near the lower echelons of the league. And it kind of feels like they need someone who's got some experience of that. So it's going to be a really interesting appointment. Yes, it is. Clearly a load of names in the hat. And I suppose if you're an agent of these type of managers as well,

then you're going to be putting the name forward. I suppose with them being only two to one for relegation, you need to be careful as well. It's clearly going to be a building project for a manager. I mean, in the moment, it seems like the name is being linked. Palafun Seke is the pretty much favourite across the board. but then you've got Eddie Howe, Frank Lampar, Lucian, Favre, the name is being linked palo von saker is the pretty much favorite across the board

but then you've got edie how frank lampire lucian farther the name is being linked but it seems to me

you know as everyone knows like the first step in this job is going to be keeping newcastle up and that is

not going to be an easy task for whoever takes over because they're not a very good side so

you're probably not going

to get the manager who is going to be the manager who takes you to those heady heights that

quite clearly the clubs new owners have ambitions to reach. So you're looking for somebody who's

going to be something of a stopgap. Now, it does bring in somebody like Fonseca who played

great football at Roma,

who's known to be a very attacking coach,

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