Paul, Nicky and Paddy are joined by former Leicester, Liverpool and England striker Emile Heskey. The lads start with Arsenal’s win over Everton and the impact of teenage sensation Max Dowman. Nicky recalls first seeing Dowman play when he was just 14, while Scholesy asks whether the youngster might be the type of player Arsenal have been missing this season. They also discuss the fearless confidence Dowman showed on such a big stage and debate how important the senior players around him will be in shaping his development.

Emile reflects on his own breakthrough at Leicester, explaining how Martin O’Neill helped guide him as a young player, while he and Nicky also share how they approach their own sons’ football journeys and why sometimes the best thing parents can do is stay out of the way.

Elsewhere, the panel try to make sense of Manchester City’s recent dip after their draw with West Ham. Why have the results gone south? Has Erling Haaland stopped scoring for a reason? And why might Phil Foden be struggling for minutes - could it even affect his World Cup hopes?
There’s also debate around Liverpool’s frustrating 1–1 draw with Tottenham, with Scholesy sharing a theory on what might have gone wrong this season. Meanwhile, the lads praise the form of Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United and the resurgence of Casemiro in midfield. Does Bruno get into United’s all-time XI, and is he a genuine Player of the Season contender?

The show also tackles some of the stranger moments in football this week, including that bizarre Chelsea huddle that somehow involved the referee, and Liam Rosenior’s claim that his players wanted to “respect the ball” — something Scholesy and Nicky aren’t buying. They also ask whether referees are starting to enjoy the spotlight a little too much, with Paddy offering a theory on why refs should probably go back to being geography teachers.

Emile also shares some brilliant stories from his career, from struggling with homesickness after joining Liverpool to the moment he finally felt settled on Merseyside. He looks back on his partnership with Michael Owen, explaining why it was the best strike partnership he played in, how it started with England’s youth teams and why Owen winning the Ballon d’Or didn’t feel like a huge deal inside the dressing room.

There are some classic football tales too: Scholesy remembers sharing a room with his hero Mark Hughes, while Nicky reveals why rooming with Les Sealey wasn’t quite as enjoyable. Emile also relives the unforgettable night England beat Germany 5–1 in 2001, explaining the story behind his putting celebration. He opens up about playing under Sven-Göran Eriksson, how he managed to annoy Fabio Capello, the half-time scrap during Turkey v England, and the European giant he nearly signed for… before ending up at Birmingham instead.