Tonight's Football Show also includes the rise of Valencia - with a little help from fellow Scotsman Ian Cathro. Listen in above

Real Madrid and Barcelona are still remaining stoically patient in their tireless pursuit of Sam Allardyce.

But while they wait to snap up Allardici, he has been making a decent fist of the new season with West Ham after fan opposition last season and having to accept a new attacking coach in Teddy Sheringham over the summer

While Allardyce's interest in space age sports science is well known, his ability to churn out what is often regarded as stone age football means he is often derided.

But as Miguel Delaney told us, the football's been pretty, er pretty-ish this season, with the ESPN and Examiner writer describing the performance against Liverpool as "thrilling". 

Miguel was joining us to talk about the reasons why Allardyce's perceived ego should be massaged as he takes his West Ham team to Old Trafford after taking the scalp of Liverpool last Saturday.

"Because he's so easy to parody, these perceptions almost get set in stone. Even though a lot of his football is functional and mechanical, I don't think it's as reductive as people say. Tactically he is very clever," said Miguel, who did add that no manager likes to talk about how they beat the other team as much as Allardyce.

But Miguel did point out that tactical talk is often not focused on by the media in England which makes Allardyce stand out in a way.  

And Miguel fears for United's defence against the pace and power of Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho.