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Who is Ruben Amorim - the man to replace Jurgen Klopp
30 Plays7 months ago
Game analysis, managerial rumors, and FAI drama - all in one episode! 👀 Don't miss our deep dive into the Manchester United vs Liverpool showdown, speculation swirling around Rúben Amorim as Klopp's successor, and more smoke and mirrors from the FAI. Tune in for the inside scoop! 🔍⚽️
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Transcript
Introduction and Setting the Stage
00:00:17
Speaker
Hello, hello, hello. This is the Not Upon A Podcast. I'm Killian and I'm delighted to be joined as ever by Nate and Connor. Gentlemen, how are we doing?
Busy Football Day Highlights
00:00:25
Speaker
Can't complain. Big day of football in the Champions League, Ireland, women's playing in the Aviva. It's a good day for football.
00:00:32
Speaker
All good here, yeah. Same old depression I've had struggling through.
John Murtagh's Departure: Implications
00:00:36
Speaker
Well, at least you got a little bit of good news today with John Murtagh leaving the club. Is there quite smoke of Mr. Ashworth, Habemus Papum? You'd hope so, anyway. I would have took the seven points though, you know what I mean? Just to keep my level. I would have traded it, but we can't have everything.
Reflecting on Football Results
00:00:56
Speaker
So how has the hangover of the weekend of results been, Nate? It's been rough, it's been rough. We should have had nine points for 90 games, in my opinion. What'd you do? Yeah, we should have, you know, conceived in the last minute to Brentford. That hurt, that hurt. The Brentford game. That was, I admit, it's the only United game I actually did watch. You deserve nothing from it.
00:01:23
Speaker
We were still winning in the last minute, and we didn't deserve to lose a goal in the last
Game Analysis: United vs Brentford
00:01:28
Speaker
minute. You had all of about four shots on target. I think Brentford had something like 32 shots, and very few of them were on target in the end, which is more of an issue of Brentford. But you just had nothing until the last, basically until injury time, and then you just got lucky, and then Brentford... I thought Brentford were hard done by to only get a point out of that game.
00:01:53
Speaker
You know, Ayrton High's tricky reds hitting on the counter.
Emotional Stakes and Referee Decisions
00:01:57
Speaker
I think you're messing up. It's a similar story to the Liverpool game. Like that first half, Liverpool could have been 3-0 up, but I think United in the second half really did play well, to be fair to them.
00:02:08
Speaker
But the big one to me was the Chelsea game. I felt some emotions that I haven't felt in a long time. That was cruel. It's truly cruel. 2-0 down, back 3-2 up and then to concede.
00:02:24
Speaker
Two penalties, in my opinion, weren't penalties. The fella got knocked over by air. Seems to be a lot of penalties in the league this year. We've received three penalties
Is VAR Effective?
00:02:37
Speaker
that have literally no contact. I'm like, what's going on here? That's almost like fire is useless. Who would have thought?
00:02:44
Speaker
Yeah, just not the boss overturn it. That's what I think. It's just years of calm have been built up getting tons of things going their way. That corner hit deep. The anger I felt when no one went down to pick up Kyle Palmer. Oh my God. Oh my God. He's having some season.
00:03:07
Speaker
Yeah.
Thomas Frank: A Fit for United?
00:03:08
Speaker
I have to say though, from the Brentford game, why isn't Thomas Frank being talked about for the United job? He has that kind of slight unlikableness that if he's yours, he's your villain. And I think that would really suit United. It would suit them, but a club that big with that much money at play with it, I don't think he'd scare investors.
00:03:33
Speaker
Listen, I'm grand being called arrogant and whatsoever, but you do not go from Benford to Manchester United. It just doesn't, just doesn't, it shouldn't happen. I mean, Fergie came from the abyss. Yeah. And when he's gone for teams that are meant to be the right kind of profile, that hasn't worked out for you. Getting guys from like Chelsea, getting guys from like Ajax, getting guys from like Everton when they're on the up. How does that feel?
00:04:00
Speaker
No, but you also have to put some perspective in it.
Thomas Frank's Impact at Brentford
00:04:05
Speaker
Like A-10 Hyde was playing Champions League football year in and year out. He did very well in the Champions League as well. So there was caveats to that where Thomas Frank, like, I don't know, has he ever coached in the Champions League? I don't know. No, I don't think so. He was initially brought in as an assistant coach to Brentford with the the co-director of football, who was co-director with
00:04:29
Speaker
Michelin in Denmark and then once Dean Smith, I think that could have been under like Mark Warburton at Brentford and then when Dean Smith left he was then promoted. But like I'd say that's more to his credit because like he's been around English for a long time so he knows the gist of it. He grew the club and let's not forget it was not that long ago that like how people are talking about deserby, that's how they were talking about Thomas Rankin.
00:04:57
Speaker
Yeah, but I have a feeling and this might be like, call me out if you want, but this might be quite ignorant. In my head, I run down as one of the managers that does really well at a certain team. And once he moves on, I don't see him carrying that on. There definitely is managers like that out there for sure. Like I do think Thomas Frank, what he's been able to do there is very impressive and I'd be intrigued to see could he do it on another club.
Media Handling by Managers
00:05:23
Speaker
See, I think I guess my major point more about it is kind of like one, you know, I looked at the right profile of managers like Tenhag, which from before he joined, it was always part of him was like, even the people said like, he's not good with the media.
00:05:38
Speaker
And that's in his native country. Thomas Frank has a kind of arrogance to him, where it's that kind of like blunt Europeanness, which I find quite endearing. He's a bit more experienced in the Premier League than people kind of care to admit. But the other thing with United, there seems to still be kind of focusing on names.
00:06:02
Speaker
Southgate. There's no coaching merit to ever hire him other than the fact he's the England manager. Like that's pure name. And it would destroy Nate's soul so that we can appreciate that. Yeah, but it's just like, why aren't it looking a little bit outside of the box?
00:06:19
Speaker
The first point you mentioned about the press conference and stuff, I actually quite liked that part of Ten High. As much as the media and people around
United's Managerial Challenges
00:06:30
Speaker
football would love you and I to have a Gobi manager that goes into the media every day and says this and that, I actually quite like it where you're not turning up every Friday and wondering, oh God, what's he going to say today?
00:06:43
Speaker
I think I agree with that, but I think at a club like United with what, six press conferences minimum a week plus internal engagements and all of that, he's a bit too, not in a clock way where clock just goes nuclear. I think he's a bit more
00:07:02
Speaker
He gets offended easily. And I think when you're in that position, like, remember when he was talking back on Gary Neville's comments on him, like, when you're a Man United manager, you should not be given airtime to pundits and what they think of you, you know? Yeah, I agree with that. Definitely. And I was actually just discussing this today. I think that where I see this, you know, it's quite currently, I think we need a manager that's a bit more pragmatic. And who would that be for you?
00:07:30
Speaker
For me, it'd be crucial, but I'm more happy with other suggestions. It's just the one thing, and I've always said this, I like 10 hack, I like him as a manager. I think it's probably time for him to go. I've moved the needle a bit, but I do think it's time for him to go. I don't think it's all his fault, let me say that, but I do think
00:07:56
Speaker
we need to get someone in with a bit of pragmatic football. He's not going to get any more out of that squad that's there. I think Stan, there's no...
00:08:07
Speaker
beneficial long-term to having him there. But Tougal, just that long-term is what gives me the alarm bells with Tougal. Like Tougal's a guy, you'll get max, he's a merino, you'll get three years out of him. But can he do what you know I need him to do in that three year period or is it just kicking the can down the road? See, that's what I'm saying about the likes of a Thomas Frank is like, they're just not thinking outside of the box, just that little bit to kind of like, yes, Thomas Tougal, great manager, really good name.
00:08:34
Speaker
Is there, like we will mention
Thomas Tuchel as a Short-Term Solution?
00:08:37
Speaker
them later, Ruben Amarin for most people coming out of left field for a potential Liverpool job. I understand what kind of saying with Touche and you're only going to get a short period of time.
00:08:54
Speaker
But in my head, it makes sense that maybe this spot this United team needs. A manager that we know is not coming in for the super long term, but is there to play pragmatic football that will aim to get these players that need a bit of a kick up? Well, if he can come in and within, say, two, three years, then he normally stays, maybe even forward a potion. If he can recalibrate United to position it for another manager to come in, that's a success.
00:09:22
Speaker
where the club is right now with the appointments they're trying to make above the manager. The club isn't ready right now to get that manager in right now, you know what I mean?
Transfer Window Challenges for United
00:09:31
Speaker
Like, we can bring in a deserby right now, but he's still not going to have the people above him that he needs.
00:09:37
Speaker
that's what i'm saying is like what happens if you take the hit but a calculated hit as a twoshell you know what i mean like twoshell can come in and do wonders for you he might not work but if he does he'll really he'll really get the place going it will give time for when that twoshell era ends or whatever to you know get the inios power flowing that that's that's how i'm starting to look at it if you can't get a short in by the summer i'd agree with a twoshell
00:10:07
Speaker
If you have him in by the summer, not during the summer, by the summer. You want outside the box? I think the summer. Look how quickly Ashworth worked in Newcastle. There was very little lag of the players that were being signed and success on the pitch when Ashworth was involved. So if you have somebody like him, just start the project now. Rip the bandaid off. Why bother waiting?
00:10:34
Speaker
I think this summer is already screwed because I don't think we've been making the groundwork for this summer. I think we're already the best next transfer windows January next year, because I don't think we've been preparing and looking. We don't know what we're doing 10 high, so we don't have a manager.
00:10:52
Speaker
we know that we're going to go get. So how can you plan, you know what I mean? Unless Brailsford and his boys have been plotting in the background, where they may not have been officially in the club, but they're working towards that summer anyway.
00:11:06
Speaker
Well, if you look at Ashford, what's he doing at Newcastle now? Other than robbing stationery. Do you think he's sitting around watching, I don't know, Yellowstone on Paramount, like, no, he's going to be looking at the United games from afar. He's going to be looking at, like, you're not going to take on a job like that without knowing it.
00:11:27
Speaker
like Ashworth's too clever for that especially to leave the likes of a new cast where I'm sure he was making bank and could be making bank for a long time to come so like I think the work is happening and it'd be more a matter of when can everybody be in the building and as soon as everybody can be in the building then the project starts and if it's going to be
Injury Rates and Game Scheduling
00:11:51
Speaker
the beginning of next season that Ashworth's going to be there, then yeah, get a two shill in. January's also a wretched time to be having your first big window because price-wise you're just going to get done. So this big talk, and I'm pretty sure it's confirmed at this point, James Wilcox from Southampton will be our technical director. That's another 12 months leave right there. Yeah. Did he know what it is? Southampton though. I thought he was already gone from Southampton.
00:12:19
Speaker
So what, yeah, but he still has to be placed on guard and leave. So like he swallowed them that they're leaving. He's leaving, yeah. And, you know, he'd offered them money and they turned it down. So he just went, I believe. Yeah. So he'd handed in his resignation. And for me, I thought that was like, oh, OK. That's going to be 12 months. So do you see what I mean in terms of like this ship doesn't feel like it's moving right now. It feels like we're trying to pull them up the side of the ship to get on, you know.
00:12:46
Speaker
Yeah, that kind of changes things. Cause I thought like worst case scenario, you'll have pretty much everybody else in bar kind of few of the, the Brailsford 10% marginal gains people and maybe have to wait for Ashford for a couple of extra months, but like.
00:13:02
Speaker
Parade as in already, that's the only thing the CEO is in. How is that received? Like, obviously, like, it's not like he's from Manchester Group, a Man City fan, but like, you know, obviously, he's an incredible operator, and he's been around an unbelievable transformation of a club, but that's like,
00:13:20
Speaker
one of Killian's cronies at Sunderland coming into Newcastle. I don't know how well it'll be received. I think it's a bit different when it's like people running the shower. More to the point, how is it received when the guy who is the CEO for the whole tenure of the 115 charges is coming over? That'd be more to the point, that CEOs can sink ships.
00:13:46
Speaker
In terms of like, but he wasn't CEO of Man City, CEO of State Europe. Yeah. I don't think he was CEO. I think he was a, it was somewhat a role. It was basically an executive anyway. But I don't think he's...
00:14:02
Speaker
I don't think he's like to blame for that, you know what I mean? I think it'll be easy fodder though for the press that if Sydney do get done with the 115, which I don't personally believe they will get done in the end, but if they do, all eyes on Man United and like, you know, it gets murky quick. Yeah, but like from the fans point of view, that can't be kind of like reassuring.
00:14:27
Speaker
No, I think it is because he's a good operator. Like this guy is highly rated. Oh, there's no doubt. There's no denying that. Like C.E.R. C.E.R. not happy to lose him. Like we're delighted to have him. I'd imagine if C.E.R. get caught out with 150 in charges, there'll be probably a new chant out, Brayden managed to jump ship before it happens, you know what I mean? So like, like we're happy. It's just I don't think we're moving yet. And I don't know when we're going to start moving. So like in my opinion, I would be surprised if 10 hags even around for another season.
00:14:57
Speaker
Joe, that'd be grim for you though. Um, yeah, you know, maybe if we didn't have like 60 injuries a season, we might be in a better spot. I tell you what, I know, like this is maybe a pardon itself and we've, we've talked about it somewhat before, but.
Extended Game Time Impact on Injuries
00:15:13
Speaker
the with games being longer and longer obviously we're getting more goals than we've ever seen but we're also getting way more injuries than we've ever seen made demands of injuries we've had the season but like not even just use like it's it's Chelsea like Liverpool have them we've had a string of them like
00:15:29
Speaker
I know it's also teams that are involved in Europe, but I mean, and it sounds mental when it's only nine, 10 minutes a game extra, but they add up like, but it's not just nine or 10 minutes a game extra. It's extra friendlies every summer. Like who was a Barcelona as soon as the season ended because they needed the money. They're straight out on tour. There's extra cup games. There's extra champions league games. Now, like Van Dijk was talking about the fact that they took over the Euros a week after the Champions League final.
00:15:57
Speaker
You know, yeah. And it's not just like, and look, look at the men to European games and I did the champions thing. There's your opening to the Europa conference league. Yeah. Like.
00:16:05
Speaker
Then there's all the extra internationals that they're trying to cram into every empty weekend or empty week that they can, or they'll make an empty week for it. And the whole kind of chat of winter breaks in the UK is kind of gone again. But I think it's something that really, really should be brought back because. Well, player welfare is going off a cliff at the moment. The other thing that's worrying as well, and I know tech advances
00:16:34
Speaker
So do kind of the medical staff around, but it seems like the windows for recovery and rehab are shortening and shortening and like players are coming back from injuries, arguably on paper too quick.
00:16:44
Speaker
We're like, not to bring it back to you now, but where the hell's Terrell and Malaysia? Like, this fella's been gone for a year. Genuinely, no one's seen this guy. Did he ever play for us? Yes. He got injured. He had a couple of good games. He got injured, came back, done one training session, got injured again. Like, this guy has not been seen. Like, he hasn't posted on Instagram in a year. Like, this guy is posting every day. It's like, what's going on? Free that for me, Terrell.
00:17:11
Speaker
And a crazy stat is we lost four centre backs in 120 minutes of football to non-contact injuries. That kind of thing is outrageous. And like, you know, I had high hopes and I don't want to pin it on one person, but didn't Arsenal, like a Driscoll from Arsenal come over to unite it as chief medical officer. And like he at Arsenal really had them solid. They were pretty injury free for a long time and I don't want to pin it on him. It might just be coincidence, but like questions need to be asked there.
00:17:41
Speaker
I think that opens questions up to 10 hag as well because ultimately it's his, he got his structure in place, coaching wise. So we know he's a decent medical, head of medical in place. It may not work out, it is working in the way that everyone would want.
00:18:01
Speaker
that could be it or what way are they training? Cause like, obviously we've seen with how like, say like Sancho and stuff, like there's been players not happy with the training methods or the demands put on them. And like, it's also what they're training on because there's currently a big debate in, in the U S in NFL around Achilles injuries and ACL injuries and more injuries seem to be happening on fake grass pitches than turf pitches. And there's like an uneven split in the league. I think it's like 60 40.
00:18:30
Speaker
have fake grass and apparently they compound injuries more. And when you look around the Premier League, there seems to be a hybrid of some turf and some fake grass in mostly all stadiums. They have kind of have that 5G piece. So it's kind of like, is there something in what they're playing on alongside, you know, the demands of the likes of 10 hags been put on the players?
00:18:54
Speaker
Yeah, like the ever ever shrinking of the likes of shin pads and stuff like that can't help for free injuries for for contact ones. Anyway, I'll be honest, I was never a fan of shin pads. Never. The thing is, a lot of them now are non contact and that's I think that's the biggest worry is like what prevention is happening to stop players getting injured when it's not through like physical contact. You know what I mean? Yeah. There has to be
00:19:22
Speaker
Like, surely there's studies going on, like, surely. But is that wear and tear? Like, is that a case of, you know, there's a reason players are getting younger and younger. It's because by 30, you're old in football. Yeah, but like, when teams are getting like 60 injuries a season, it's like, at what point is that you're just running all these players into the ground? Into the ground, yeah. Do you know what I mean? We should actually talk to like a sports conditioning person or a physio
Player Recovery Concerns
00:19:50
Speaker
or
00:19:50
Speaker
I'd love that, that'd be fascinating. Just to kind of see like where from their point of view, no matter the level of the rat has got to go and like, what is happening to the body to make this happen? Because Lord knows I didn't do biology in secondary school, so I have no clue. I did and I heavily regretted one of the toughest things you'll ever do. Any listeners out there that are designed their subjects for the Leaving Cert do not pick biology. Anyway, back to football.
00:20:18
Speaker
back to football and we'll head over to Liverpool because apparently the man to succeed, Jurgen Klopp, has been appointed, Connor.
Liverpool's Managerial Succession Plans
00:20:27
Speaker
Yeah, it's, I mean, verbally, apparently, it's been refuted in Liverpool, but Sky Germany are suggesting that none other than Reuben Amorim is their new manager. And I was only discussing this with someone earlier on today in work that, you know, it was looking like it was going to be him, but I think what's
00:20:48
Speaker
interesting for Liverpool is you know where they're going with the C-suite level of the club even because we know that that's kind of locked in and when you look at the names be kind of that that they're securing they're almost doing what United are doing in the fact that you know they've convinced Michael Edwards to come back as chief executive of football which it seems like they've given them the keys to the palace
00:21:10
Speaker
Richard Hughes coming in from Bournemouth, a sporting director. Pedro Marquez from Benfica coming in with a senior role, TBC, on what that is. And one thing I'd be interested to get your opinion on this lads is
00:21:26
Speaker
You know, everyone laughed at United when Fergie left and, you know, David Gill left all the backroom staff and it was kind of ha ha, look at them. They've absolutely made a balls of the whole thing. But Liverpool could be there very quickly. And Amoram seems like a good kind of.
00:21:43
Speaker
elite level manager within the short stint that he's had. But I think Liverpool have more to lose than United right now in their manager selection because at least United have come through a time where they're still figuring themselves out. But that first manager after the main man, not an easy task. Yeah. It's such a poison chalice in the way that
Ruben Amorim's Potential Impact at Liverpool
00:22:10
Speaker
The way I see it is when you go in after like say something like a clock with Ferguson in the past it's like you also need like you need to make an instant impact like otherwise the fans are straight on you and so like I do hope like he's a good manager I don't know how style of football will win over the fans.
00:22:30
Speaker
He plays a 3-4-3 and it's usually without wingers, so I don't really know how that's going to come to play, but I guess we'll have to wait and see. One thing I'm very excited for, and finally a Liverpool manager won't be doing it,
00:22:48
Speaker
always kind of apparently in the press from what I've read he's emphasized that he refrains from engaging in discussions about referees in the media which will be a colossal change for the Merseyside team. That's born. That is born.
00:23:05
Speaker
Well, from the football side of things, he's exciting because he's young, he plays an attractive style of football from what YouTube kind of showed me. But we all know highlights lie. I think they're big boots to film more so socially than they are football wise.
Challenges Replacing Klopp
00:23:26
Speaker
I don't think anyone's going to replace Klopp in the heart of Liverpool fans to that level ever again.
00:23:32
Speaker
No, but you still have to have an element of it. You can't just go from somebody that was so universally loved there and became so ingrained in the city to having somebody that you actually don't like. You still have to be somewhat
00:23:48
Speaker
You have to be in the middle. And Liverpool is not the kind of place where you can have a manager that you are ambivalent with. You have to like them. You don't have to love them, but you have to like them. It seems to be one of them kind of places. Like Brendan Rodgers, when it came to the end of his time, when people started to not like him, even when he was doing okay, they didn't like him anymore. So he was done. Where he does sound a bit like clapping some of the descriptions.
00:24:17
Speaker
I've read about him as they say he exudes a positive outlook and a laid-back conciliatory demeanor and Braga's head of recruitment, Paolo, I don't even try butcher his second name. He says his playing style is clearly pragmatic. He's a studious coach with the capacity for work and a lot of intuition. He's contagious with his will to win and with the conviction that only with hard work from everyone, this is possible. As a fan, that would excite me.
00:24:47
Speaker
Yeah, like I think one of the things with him though that for us as neutrals is if he stops whinging in the way that Clop does, that'd be great. We're already on side because once we don't have the, oh, everything's great, everything's great until it happens to Liverpool and then it's the worst thing to ever happen in the world and they're all victims.
00:25:14
Speaker
So if you can not do that, that'd be great. But I think one of the things that's going to be kind of really good or potentially good about him is it's a new manager coming in. Like he won sporting their first titles in the guts of 20 years. So like he has pedigree to him, but he's not even 40 yet. So you're going to have this lad who is
00:25:41
Speaker
practically the same age as some of these players. And there's these players that need to be shipped out. And you would imagine a young lad like him will have fresh ideas. And I think that's what that team needs. They're doing well at the minute. But I don't know. I can't see Salah being there coming to start the new season. Not with the money that is apparently around for him coming out of Saudi.
00:26:07
Speaker
Yeah. Like I wouldn't be surprised if Tiago wasn't there. I wouldn't be surprised if Van Dyke wasn't there. I wouldn't be surprised if... Trent has apparently gone next year to Madrid. So like, I think this is where, um, he could be lucky in the sense that if all these guys kind of move on. Well, that gives them an, yeah, that gives them a, not an excuse, but an easier path. But one thing that I do think
00:26:34
Speaker
again, he is a stewed choice for Liverpool is, if you look at his international career from a playing perspective, he's played for the under 18's, the 19's, the 20's, the 21's and
Attracting Players Post-Klopp
00:26:45
Speaker
the first team. So like, he has been a part of youth structures, which is a big part of what Klopp brought to Liverpool. Do you think he struggled to attract players to Liverpool if Tottenham players left? 100%. Yeah, I agree. Like, I think,
00:27:02
Speaker
If you lose a lot of these bigger players, you salvage your trends, so on and so forth. I think with Dan clock moving on, it becomes a lot less of an attractive place to go in my opinion. I think if you're English, Liverpool will always, or not even English, if you're from the UK or even Ireland, Liverpool is an attractive commodity.
00:27:22
Speaker
But if you're as a club, as a club, you had nothing to do with playing stuff. You know, the history, you know, kind of what it's all about.
Liverpool's Squad Depth Issues
00:27:30
Speaker
But if you're coming from some other parts of the world where Liverpool may not be the most followed team, where normally the likes of Man United are maybe Man City now, you lose those big hitters, you lose a lot. And especially then, if if on top of that, through losing those resources from a playing perspective, if they drop out of the top four, if you don't have Champions League and you don't have the big guns, you're in trouble.
00:27:52
Speaker
I'd argue that they probably need to keep some quite badly. Van Dyke's a big one. Van Dyke, I'd even push Salah. I know Salah's not up to the levels that he was a couple of seasons ago and other teams are sniffing around. But he still mows Salah.
00:28:13
Speaker
Oh, 100%. I just think you need them players in there to attract the youngsters. You need that spine. You need Allison and Nets. You need Van Dyke there. You need Sal up top. And I think if you can keep them as your big three kind of in an NBA type kind of not market, but a kind of strategy where you've got your big three players, I think they can bring in the level of talent they require. What do you think?
Moyes' United Challenges and Liverpool's Future
00:28:39
Speaker
this isn't a like for like but I think it's kind of as a close of an analogy as we can get but if like if you look at the team that Moyes inherited they were coming off the back of winning a title so they were obviously good players but there were players at the beginning of the wane and there was players that like it was I think it was even on stick to football or whatever that Rio Ferdinand was basically admitting that by the time Moyes came he should have been looking to move on or should have been there
00:29:09
Speaker
At that time, you would never have imagined getting rid of Ferdinand. But looking back now and with the likes of them kind of statements, wouldn't always have been better off not to have Rooney, not to have Ferdinand, not to have these kind of big players that you couldn't have imagined not having. But if he had been able to get rid of them and open up some space in the team to allow players to be attracted to. Because whatever about Mo Salah being an attractive name,
00:29:38
Speaker
If you're a striker he's a blockade as well. I think for a playing perspective you're completely right and I think going back to the United example, those guys probably should have been moved on by that point but I think from a leadership perspective, when the complete coaching ticket is gone, the CEO is gone. If you get rid of those big players, that could really be the tipping point of,
00:30:03
Speaker
Decades of trouble, you know, you know, and I'll try this questioned about his kind of manager coming in afford to rip up a team like that in terms of
00:30:14
Speaker
Fans will already be skeptical to a certain extent, okay, a new manager, how is this going to go? Can you then rock the boat to that degree where you're getting rid of your both sides? Do you know what I mean? You literally get rid of an era of identity that they've been for the last eight years. If you get it right though, there'll be a statue of you.
00:30:39
Speaker
See, I don't think this is a case of a manager coming in and ripping up the play sheet. I think this is, how is he going to deal when this happens?
00:30:47
Speaker
Because each of them players has now warranted the trust to be able to say, listen, I have an opportunity to go earn generational money here. Let me. And they've earned the right to not be stood in the way of. If Salah turns around and says, I didn't give you everything. He'd have to come in publicly and say it. He'd have to take that decision out of the manager's hands. Because if the manager does it, if a manager came in and got rid of Alison Van Dyke and Mo Salah,
00:31:17
Speaker
there'd be riots. While if Mo Salah commitments like, look, I've done my time. I want the generational wealth from my family. I want to go home to Egypt and build schools and hospitals. No one's going to mess with that. And they'll be like, thank you for your service. Enjoy mate.
00:31:33
Speaker
And also I'd say the one thing that's a bit, probably scary in my opinion, like if I was a Liverpool fan would be, I don't think the recruitment's at the point at Liverpool where it was the last couple of years. Like I'd be worried if you saw them players who they're going to get in then, you know what I mean?
00:31:50
Speaker
I mean, that's it with Michael Edwards back. He did a tremendous job the last time he was around. I think they're assembling kind of like United. Between United and Liverpool, they're taking the best people in football right
Liverpool's Recent Signings
00:32:03
Speaker
now.
00:32:03
Speaker
But is the structure there for Edwards that was previously there, you know what I mean? And how long are FSG going to be hanging around? I'm just having a look at some of the recent transfers in and there's been some big money spent for Liverpool and not a whole lot of benefit to it, to be honest.
00:32:24
Speaker
Not great. He looked terrible on the weekend. Yeah. McAllister I think is good. 42 million. Graven Burch hasn't been what I hoped he'd be. Yeah. Another 40 million. All of these have been quite mad apart from, or not all of these, all of Liverpool's signings have later been quite mad, but McAllister, he's had a very good season.
00:32:45
Speaker
How much is that on the midfield alone? Yeah. And if you conclude Endo, who I think has been fine, he's the type of player that they should have been signing for the last couple of years. Just somebody that'll go in and do the job and not be great. Just be good. Just be seven out of 10 every week. And I think that's the kind of player he is. But if you look at that, that's what, 170 million on the midfield. Jesus, that's crazy. You look at that and you could have bought you Bellingham.
00:33:16
Speaker
So like, I think that this is what I mean in terms of like, is there going to be much choice for Ameren if it is him that comes in but to kind of rip up the play sheet? Because like, the squad is
00:33:36
Speaker
It's obviously a very good squad, a very talented squad. There's some kind of stand out, but it's not the most balance either. Like you have no real center forward. You have Darwin, but like, um, center backs are shaky.
Defensive Strength and Transfer Targets
00:33:52
Speaker
Like center backs are shaky. Like what is it? Canatave and Dyke. Matip who's injured. Joe Gomez, who has been the best part of his whole existence, injured. Um,
00:34:05
Speaker
like to be honest the strongest position that they have in a singular position is either the wing or goalkeeper. That goes back to what Connor was saying about the basketball style and you know they've got that spine that's there now and it's like it hinges on that it literally it does feel like the rest of it sort of just being held up by that you know i mean and like they've spent hugely on their midfield i don't think they can afford to spend any more on the midfield
00:34:32
Speaker
And I think they desperately need a centre back in the summer. I think that's definitely there. There has to be their number one target come the summer. Whether Van Dijk stays or goes. Yeah. If he goes, they probably need two centre backs, two really good ones. And let's face it, that kind of calibre centre back is not under 50 million quid like.
00:34:54
Speaker
Darren Nunez, is he the answer for Liverpool? No. When I watch him, he runs around. Do you know what I mean? He's not a goal scorer.
00:35:05
Speaker
Like, he forgets where the goal is a lot of the time. Well, in fairness, but that's not how they play. They don't look for goals from your forward. Yeah. It was such a weird sign of, wasn't it? Like, when you take it back to it, like... Like the money. It's like, what were they thinking? Like, you never played like that on their clock, but you still don't play like that. Why sign a 70 million striker?
00:35:29
Speaker
Like I'm just looking through the team here again. Like the wings are, they're fairly strong. Like I, I think Darwin Darwin could be like a good white target, man. Like I think he could get something out of him, kind of do a little bit of a Joel internet, just move them somewhere else. Um, he's allowed to be out in the way.
00:35:44
Speaker
That's what I'm saying, a wide, a wide target, man. So like, if you have the likes of a, uh, say the likes of a Gackpo or Diaz, do put them in a kind of that kind of false 90 position where like, put the ball out of there, which is going to instantly disrupt teams. Cause there's suddenly their little five foot six wing back that's used to spending most of his time in the opposition box is suddenly going to be going against Darwin Nunes.
Football Tactics: Wide Target Man
00:36:09
Speaker
Well, if Joe Linton can do it, if Joe Linton can do it, anyone can do it. Yeah. Or their centre back is going to have to be dragged out as far as wherever noon as it is. And then suddenly the likes of a Diaz with the ball coming down to them, dude, like it has worked for teams time and time again. Like I know last week we were saying that like Iber Himavic going to Barcelona was a bad signing, but when they played Hema in the wing,
00:36:32
Speaker
that's what they were doing. They were having him there and Messi in the center. And you can make it work with talented players. And I think they actually have talented enough players to do it. And like Jota, Gappo, Diaz, Harvey Elliott, just for anybody listening, we are actually watching the Madrid and City game in the background. Absolute worldy.
00:36:53
Speaker
live reaction straight from Man City. And this is living up to the closed roof game that I wanted it to be. Holy God. Apologies for a cotton of grass here, but what? Holy Jesus. How did he talk? Whip on that.
00:37:15
Speaker
Back into it, boys. So then, if you look at the kind of center midfield-ish area, so kind of tacking to center, like you have the likes of Harvey Elliott, Thiago, I think he'll go. Grabbing Burch, I think, could definitely give him another year or two. He could work. I don't think he's an abicata type. Curtis Jones is very kind of versatile in the midfield role. Curtis Jones is good, but like,
00:37:40
Speaker
When you think of a Liverpool player like Curtis Jones could play in half the teams in the Premier League, he'd fit in fine. But you need players like that. That's how Fergie got his success by having lots of players that just do the job that they're told to do and then you have your good players to
00:38:03
Speaker
do the moments of magic. Like he is, he will be their version of Darren Fletcher. Your Darren Fletcher is your John O'Shea is your G song parks. That's what wins you big games, but it's not players. You build a team around, you know? Yeah. Yeah. Like I think there's that young lad Bartovic or whatever it is, the, um, Spanish Serbian guy who's injured and Endo was your defensive midfielders. I think
Amorim's Talent Spotting Abilities
00:38:30
Speaker
unless Gravenbert is willing to kind of do a little bit of work there, they could do with a more defensive midfielder again, and then maybe considerance of Buzzesly as like an attacking winger. It will be interesting to see like these players that were saying, you know, like say Curtis Jones, like for for all we know, if it is Amorim that comes in, he may revolutionize him and do what Eddie Howe did to Joe Linton, you know, make him into a baller, you know, so like there is always that new manager syndrome.
00:38:59
Speaker
And I think the other thing as well that we shouldn't forget, I think in the UK football scene, the Premier League and all that, it's very easy to kind of like automate the Portuguese League. Amarin is one of the most expensive managers of all time. Like when he went to sporting, I think he was the third or fourth most expensive.
00:39:19
Speaker
I didn't see the number on it, but I read that as well, doing a bit of research on him that it was not cheap to bring him in for Bragg. I think it was 10 million. Because Bragg remember that he came in in the September to take over their B team. He turned down Benfica to go to Bragg because he said he felt he'd have more input. And by December, he was first team manager.
00:39:42
Speaker
at what, 36 at that point? Yeah. Like, and like it just actually just having a very, very quick scan of this Wikipedia page. Cause that's how much preparation I do for these things.
00:39:54
Speaker
he's dealt with like the sporting team he inherited like had the likes of Jeremy Mathieu from Formula of Barris at retiring at the end of his first year and stuff. He had like lots of players coming in, the likes of Pedro Porro was actually there, Zhao Polina. So like he's well capable of integrating
00:40:19
Speaker
players and like dealing with kind of moving them on and I know it's a very sporting thing but like there's some very very good recruitment done under him like Manuel Ugarte was brought in under his watch who is now at PSG and he's very very good so like
00:40:43
Speaker
I wouldn't be too worried about the ability to replace them because he's probably going to bring somewhat of a staff with him.
00:40:51
Speaker
I don't know if you guys called it, Eric Dyer did an interview with Gary Neville on the overlap and he was talking about his time in sporting as a kid. And he was saying- He was Portuguese eligible. Yeah. And he flew into Portuguese as seen anyone who watched the All or Nothing with Tottenham. But he was saying that, you know, he's found in Spurs that young players today
00:41:13
Speaker
I don't really have the same grit to them or awareness and Dan he kind of credits the fact that he is he's like you can say what you want about Eric Dyer in terms of playing his playing ability but I started jumping into the crowd that time and like he is a consummate professional
00:41:28
Speaker
And he is he said that you know from a very young age at sporting it was a case of you know if you didn't make your bed in the morning at twelve it didn't matter if you're playing Benfica the weekend you weren't playing if you relate to training you weren't playing you know you were media trained from a very young age and there was a respect and
00:41:46
Speaker
respect for authority and respect for the game instilled in them and if he can bring that to Liverpool that that's a major thing again for the young players but the one question I'd have again on Amorim and I don't know him too well but you know recently we were talking about John O'Shea and the fact that he's he can relate to young players really well
Amorim's Age and Management Style
00:42:05
Speaker
That's one for Amorim too, but in the same way that we said, you know, that's great and that, but that's what you want your assistant manager to do. Is he too young coming into a team? Like, you know, he's, he's 39. Like Van Dyke's not that much younger than him, you know? Is he too young to be taken on these big names?
00:42:24
Speaker
I don't really think so. I don't think age plays into management as much as we might think. It does when you don't have experience. Yeah, he's putting it in the hands already, you know what I mean? It's not like it's his first rodeo to say, he's a Champions League manager who's played Champions League football, he's won trophies of sport and put in the years.
00:42:47
Speaker
I'm into the World Cup as a player. Yeah, like I think he has the respect already there. And for what I've gathered and seen online, it seems like a lot of Liverpool fans are just worried about the style of play that he brings. I suppose that happens with any new manager though, but I think especially like you said earlier, with a team like Liverpool who's so defensively minded, a 3-4-3 would be slightly terrifying for them.
00:43:09
Speaker
Yeah and like also the fact that he doesn't seem to use many wingers either which you know I think that could be an issue. Yeah but the only thing about it and I think it's actually something to go into his credit is like he's not clop so why should he try and play like him and I think it's good when you're when you're coming to an end of an era just to have that kind of a
Youth Development Focus
00:43:36
Speaker
a new impetus to the team and like you might start to get more out of some of these players than expected. Because like just looking at some of the players that he's brought, he brought in, there was Victor Goyceres, who's a Swedish center forward. He's now valued at 55 million according to transfer margin. They signed them from Coventry. How much from Coventry?
00:44:04
Speaker
Um, no, let me just double check. I think the total move was by 21 million. Oh Christ. That's a big win for Coventry. Um, but it's also one of them kind of wonder, it's like, that's a big risk. Signing somebody from Coventry for 21 million. Yeah. Like he was getting late, like dad, dad was getting linked with Chelsea and I had like, like not long after going, you know what I mean? Yeah. Like what a boy.
00:44:31
Speaker
Yeah. And like he's dealt with English players. So like there's Marcus Edwards who came through at Spurs and he was a very, very good player in Portugal anyway. And he's, and he is a winger and he's valued in around the 30 million. And I think it was under Amarin that he kind of became worth talking about, if you know what I mean? Cause like he, he, he went from Tottenham to another Portuguese team and then went to, went to, went to sporting. So like.
00:45:01
Speaker
he can get the best out of players and young ones and he can deal with an English player which is a very very good sign because I often notice that like
00:45:13
Speaker
managers that haven't dealt with players that came through the English structure. Because I just think there's such a difference with the money, with the ego, and all that comes with being a footballer in the English model that just, as Eric Dyer said about the difference with making the beds and everything for sporting, you can't imagine that at Spurs. You can't imagine that at United anymore.
00:45:41
Speaker
These are pampered pooches. So if he has proven that he can at least get the best out of one of these guys, well then it's a nice little indicator to have. You'd wonder what kind of money he'll be given.
00:45:55
Speaker
you know, to spend or like wages. Oh no, to spend, like say he manages to like, if Salah goes, there's your obvious, yeah, there's a hundred odd million there probably that they can get out of Saudi for that if the numbers are correct, even when it's high as 150
Liverpool's Financial Strategy
00:46:11
Speaker
last Jan. But like, even though that Saudi well is kind of drying up in terms of those colossal offers, but will he have to buy to sell in some regard? From an FFP point of view, how are they looking?
00:46:25
Speaker
Yeah, I think they might be looking a bit worse for wear with the big, the recent big silence. But like, I don't like, yeah, I don't know how much money FSU would be willing to give. Because again, are they still hanging around, you know? Yeah. Like, I think one of the big question marks that has been around them has been like,
00:46:49
Speaker
It's like, well, for what I'm seeing today was is he is he a big enough manager to take on a club like Liverpool? And in my opinion, when a player to play for Ben Fica goes to manage sport and that stands out, you know what I mean? I don't think you'll get to him.
00:47:04
Speaker
Yeah. And that's a really, really good point because I think, again, with the kind of Premier League bias, we kind of forget how passionate these other leagues are. Like it was only a couple of years ago that was it Porto and Bass Doss was there or one of the teams where the Ultras stormed the training pitch?
Managerial Pressure: Portugal vs Premier League
00:47:22
Speaker
Oh, I do remember that.
00:47:25
Speaker
they take their football a little bit more seriously. So like, whatever they want to say about kind of going like, I think they'd be more harm done for a rival going to a rival in Portugal, then it would be say like a rival, like a city, somebody from city going to United. I think you'd be a lot more worried about your own safety. So like, you have to have mental fortitude that we're not particularly used to. And in terms of the money thing is like,
00:47:55
Speaker
if he gets to kind of have some of his people in and around from sporting because sporting has always been very good at spotting and kind of the under usually Ronaldo yeah but like even just like the likes of the Ugarate they kind of got Bellerin back on track recently enough like they've gotten players like Pedro Porro and they ended up making a pretty penny of him
00:48:20
Speaker
Yeah, the Hubes is about 40 million odd to Tottenham. They can spot value and he's managed these guys, so you're either going to pick up something or you're bringing your staff to do it, and if he can help the likes of Michael Edwards, I think he can get a lot of
00:48:38
Speaker
unearthed gems to fill in. And even if you had the likes of Asala for one more year, I think a guy like Amarin, from what we can see anyway, I don't think any of us will pretend to be watching him every week. But
00:49:00
Speaker
He could put in the groundwork for a very good second season. And as long as the expectations aren't too insane for the first, I think it could be a very, very astute question for you, Nate. Obviously, myself and Kylie and don't have clubs that. Amaran would be looking towards managing, but as United as a, as a big, as a bigger team.
00:49:23
Speaker
would would you like if it was announced tomorrow that he was man your night manager would you be like yes or would you be like oh um i wouldn't be i don't think i'd be either i think i would be intrigued um like you see the more i think of it i sort of does fit that more pragmatic style that i'm looking for in terms of the three at the back can become more defensive
00:49:48
Speaker
and yeah like he's an interesting manager like my thing was in my head I'm like does he have the time in the Premier League to unearth gems you know what I mean like and this is more just a general question maybe to show back to you too as well is managers that are good at nurturing talent and you know they've got a real eye for it and can develop
00:50:12
Speaker
Are they sometimes like looked upon in the Premier League as like the next big thing and when in reality, you can sort of come back to bite them? I think, yes, I think to be honest, as a short answer to that, but I think one thing that I would at least hope is if it's not Amorim or whoever comes in next,
00:50:36
Speaker
The club will appreciate the replacing club so they'll give them more time than some would at other clubs like Chelsea or United.
00:50:49
Speaker
It sounds like I'm sitting on the fence with this one, but I think it's really a time will tell kind of thing, you know? I think people often forget that Klopp didn't exactly hit the ground running. He was given time and he was replacing Brendan Rodgers who had brought them for the first time in a long time, as close as they had been to winning a title, as close as you can be to winning a title without actually going on and letting it slip between your fingers.
00:51:19
Speaker
Liverpool, I think it's one of the kind of good things about their fan bases whilst they are cringe, whilst they are rabid, whilst they are borderline like, as Miriam Margally said about the Harry Potter fans, grow up and that kind of vibe to them, they kind of appreciate somebody that tries and as long as he kind of gets that end of it right, I think they'll give him the time that he needs as long as there's kind of indications of things going right.
00:51:47
Speaker
So if he comes in, says some good stuff about we're going to build a club, but we're going to do it in the right way.
Liverpool Fans' Expectations
00:51:53
Speaker
Yes, this may not be an instantaneous thing, but you will see growth, elements of growth towards where we want to be in two years time. They buy in on their managers if they say the right things. And, you know, I haven't really seen any interviews with them, so I can kind of comment on
00:52:13
Speaker
what he's like publicly but I mean it doesn't take a genius to figure out how to get the Liverpool fans on site so if he plays the game.
00:52:22
Speaker
You know, I think it could work out. Before we move off Liverpool boys, I saw something earlier on and I'm intrigued at your opinion on it. So UEFA have confirmed that both finalist clubs for the Europa League will receive 12,000 tickets each as they're calling it Dublin Arena, which holds a capacity of 48,000. So only 50% of the tickets are available for the fans of the teams in it. Now to me, that's slightly deplorable.
00:52:52
Speaker
And there's a general sale. Okay. I think it's already open now. So like if you can apply for tickets and now that isn't true to clubs. Oh, okay. So it's not, okay. So it's not the case of it's going to companies and hospitals. No, no. Yeah. It's like you, here's your allocation. Here's your allocation. And after that. Free for all. Free for all. Okay. That's okay.
Europa League Ticket Controversy
00:53:18
Speaker
The only issue I would have with it ever so slightly is you're going to have these mixed zones then. Depending on who is in the final, that could make some problems.
00:53:32
Speaker
I must say I love, I love and I wish it was more like this in Europe. The FA Cup had a new Wembley, where it's pure 50-50. Do you know what I mean? Like, saying FA Cup Final, it's pure down the line 50-50. I think that creates some of the best atmospheres that there is.
00:53:51
Speaker
It's easy to do that though when they're all in the one country. It's only a train ride away, whereas like we're an island and the fact that like nobody can guarantee their team is going to be there. So like it's going to be reasonably last minute and you're kind of taking a gamble. So like it's not like you can just go, Oh sure. I'm going to go for Dublin for the weekend. No, cause you're not going to be able to afford the hotels. We can't afford the hotels anyway.
00:54:18
Speaker
Um, so like, I think that's kind of the issue with that. Whereas I think in fairness, business wise, I think it's a clever thing to do, kind of like you're, you're leaving yourself less exposed to, um, being kind of caught on the hop of, uh, not, not filling it. Um, but like.
00:54:41
Speaker
Good business and the FAI and the Irish things is not something that we normally get to talk about so it's nice that you brought it up Connor but we do have to go back to the usual business with the FAI because apparently
Ireland Manager Search
00:54:54
Speaker
We still don't have a manager, and it might be, maybe, Anthony Barry, because apparently he's been approached again, despite the fact we were told, sure, it's a done deal. Can I just ask the question, gentlemen? At what point are we no longer in early April? Because if I remember, there was a certain press conference that we were all meant to be attending. And I don't know about you, but I haven't got an email.
00:55:19
Speaker
Oh, we are well and truly past it. Lawyer, lawyers, pants so far. I want that. I'm telling you, some heads might have to roll here. You can't be lying to the public saying, you know, we could have the manager here. Either do or you don't.
00:55:35
Speaker
I don't know if you saw that, I can't remember which Instagram profile I saw it on, but the French women's manager was asked what his plan was when he's finishing up. And that one threw me for a loop because all I could hear in my head was Kaley and Goan, it's a manager with international experience. And I was like, oh, because that's one that no one would see.
00:56:01
Speaker
Well, saying that, I think I suggested him before. Because he was the Saudi, was he the Saudi manager during the World Cup? Oh, was that him? Because he did suggest him. Harvey Renard. Yeah, him. Yeah. Yeah. Because he is very handsome and I don't think I'd forget that. He's a good looking man. He would be amazing.
00:56:25
Speaker
Don't get my hopes up.
FAI's Transparency Issues
00:56:28
Speaker
And he just lied to us, like, honestly, like, and it take us a bit for Phil here, like, because like, surely the journalists and, you know, people got to start asking questions now, it's like, you can't come out in a press conference and say, we've got this time period, then once you get to this time period, nothing happens. Like, some accountability.
00:56:51
Speaker
Being the resident kind of, um...
00:56:56
Speaker
wishing the best for the FAI of us. Maybe what happened was they thought a deal was done and they were a little bit overzealous. All I'd say is never presume malice when stupidity is involved.
00:57:23
Speaker
You love my life. That sounds like some birthday card. That one a few times. Well, it's the same with conspiracy theories. You can't think that the American government is going to be controlling the weather, Matt Leticia. No. The Irish government is so bad, you can't stop
00:57:47
Speaker
anything from leaking, let alone taking control of some grand conspiracy. And I think the FAI is kind of the same. I don't think they've shown enough. If you look at all the dirty laundry that even the current version of the FAI has aired in public with the likes of the Arachtas Committee,
Delays in Manager Announcement
00:58:08
Speaker
I don't think they have it within them to put in some kind of grand plan to kind of sell tickets by pretending to announce a manager and then actually not having it and hoping to kind of get it done. I think it was probably, listen, we think we're gonna, we have somebody done. Are you sure? Yeah, pretty sure. All right. And then it goes out and says in the press conference, are you still sure after it? Maybe not that sure. Maybe you shouldn't have said it. As the optimist of this trio,
00:58:39
Speaker
How soon do you think we will have a manager? Because I'm going to put it out there. I think first of June, we still don't have a manager. I think the end of the month. Do you think? I think for me, we have a manager. I think we don't have a manager this summer.
00:58:57
Speaker
Also, I'd say maybe July. Geez, you're even more pessimistic than me. I didn't know that was possible. Yeah. I'd second that motion. I'd wait and see. Like if he pulls the rabbit out of the hat here. Even, even, okay. I'll forgive the date if it was a good manager, but like who the hell has actually left?
00:59:26
Speaker
I'll see this thing. And don't forget, like how many times have we seen with clubs over the years that like journalists get like an inclination or something and they go running. Like there might've been a chat with Anthony Barry, but who knows when and about what. So like. I think Anthony Barry would be stone mad to do it.
00:59:43
Speaker
I'd say Barry's gonna be out of a job very soon, though. But he'll get picked up, you know, he will. It's the FBI's job to put water on a fire that gets lit with these rumors, yet they fail to do it. Yeah, but the FBI have also spent years kind of burning bridges with media.
00:59:59
Speaker
They have to have Solve on their side where if an Anthony Barry story gets put out at two o'clock on a Tuesday, by six o'clock, we all know it's not happening, you know what I mean? Yeah. Well, now we're sat here thinking, is it possible our hopes get brought up again? They'll probably come out and say, oh, no, the press conference just got moved to the end of April. We'll get to the end of April and there'll still be no manager and Anthony Barry will have picked up a role somewhere else.
Humorous Manager Speculations
01:00:26
Speaker
Honestly, it's time to get Vera Power in. Honestly, Vera and her boxing gloves. Anthony Barry is 2-9 for Paddy Power. At Jesus Christ, at this stage, if you go down that list, you'll find me and Nathan at some point on it. John O'Shea is 13-2, but Kevin Kilban said, I think it could have been the Irish Times or the Indo, that if he is
01:00:52
Speaker
appointed the manager, then what was the exact quote? It was the Irish Times. If John O'Shea becomes the next Ireland manager, we know the recruitment process was a disaster. Roy Keane is still 14 to 1. It won't happen. How do you power his love in this? Yeah. Oh, yeah. But they have great SEO from it anyway. I have no idea who. I think it's going to be very underwhelming.
01:01:24
Speaker
I thought Willy Sanyal would have been the most realistic, but the fact that Georgia have gotten to the Euros now, it can't happen. Just looking at the full list of Pali Parra and I, if you take out the ones that have been discussed before, even your Demete or whatever,
01:01:43
Speaker
They're throwing in a few other names now, and obviously this is just from people throwing bets on, so it doesn't actually mean anything. But there's a few of them really, really interesting, including one at 66 to 1, Johnny McKinstry. Those who don't know, I am a rabid fan of Johnny McKinstry. Johnny McKinstry is the North Irish manager managing it in Kenya, and who was... This is who I thought you were... I was trying to put the... I was going through the rolodex of my brain being like, is this who I think it is?
01:02:12
Speaker
He was the youngest international manager when he was appointed for Sierra Leone at 27. He got them to their record world rankings during the Ebola crisis. That is amazing. 66 to 1. That's another brand we need to talk to. Absolutely. So yeah, like, I'm so excited to find these guys discussed. But 40 to 1, Jesse Marsh. No, not having it. No, thank you.
01:02:39
Speaker
Hervé Renard is 50 to 1. Jan Anderson, this former Sweden manager, is 50 to 1. I don't know who that is. I'll be honest, boys. He was the Swedish manager from 2016, so getting them to the Euros and stuff and bringing them out of the Ibrahimovic era.
01:03:04
Speaker
So he'd be very interesting. Very meh though isn't it? You know it's very like meh okay did it take that long to get that guy? It's better than Steve Bruce though.
01:03:16
Speaker
At this point, I take the comedy value of Mrs. Downfire. We stop to see Bruce land their place. We've gone past, we've matured as a podcast now. It's time we all open our eyes and see. I think we'd all take Steve Bruce. What age is Bruce?
01:03:36
Speaker
He's like the Joe Biden of football. Like he's running out of road. Joe Biden of football is Warnock or Hudson. Bruce is only 63. Jeez, a lot younger than I thought. Christ. Yeah. Jan Anderson is 61.
01:03:55
Speaker
So there's not that much between them. And I don't think, despite the fact that you don't know who Jan Anderson is, I don't think you would have been pairing the two of them at the same age. But one of the names that I would like to see interviewed, again, he'd be slightly underwhelming, but I think he's a very, very good potential, is Brian Barry Murphy. He's 150 to one. He's the former Rochdale manager, but he's now the head of at least development at Man City.
01:04:24
Speaker
And he's Irish, so. That'll be a good one. I think it'll be very interesting for me being the resident optimist. I hope it's something clever like that.
01:04:38
Speaker
I mean, we all know it probably won't be, but we can live and hope. We can live and hope and we can live to pod another week. Gentlemen, it's been an absolute pleasure. My thanks to Mr. Conor Graham. Thank you very much, boys. Always good fun. My thanks to Mr. Nathan Byrne.
01:04:58
Speaker
Thank you. And my thanks to you to the listener. Tune in next week and don't forget to give us like one of them little ratings or anything like that. Follow us on social. We've been getting in the podcast ranking, gents. We've been top 25 in sports news in the UK even. We're even trending out in America. Somebody's listening, which is wild. So to our listener in America, thank you very much. And we'll chat to you next week. Bye bye. Bye.
01:05:26
Speaker
Messy! Messy! Oh my goodness! That is extraordinary! What a hit! Back of the net