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PREDICTING THE UNPREDICTABLE: World Cup Snubs & CL Final Spoilers 🏆| Episode 26 | Don't Blame The Ref
17 Plays1 month ago
The domestic season is officially dead and buried, but the football chaos is only just getting started! 🚨 In this absolute blockbuster of an episode, we are breaking down the madness that has the entire football world at each other's throats.
First up: The Premier League Wrap-Up. 🤫 We look back at a historic, grueling season. Who overachieved, who utterly bottled it on the final day, and which fanbases need to look themselves in the mirror before the transfer window opens? We give our final, unfiltered verdicts on the winners, the losers, and the absolute frauds of the season.
Then, we pivot straight into the drama that has the whole country talking: THOMAS TUCHEL HAS LOST HIS MIND?! 🤯 England’s official 26-man World Cup squad has dropped, and it is pure, unadulterated chaos. We react to the jaw-dropping snubs of Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Is Tuchel a tactical genius building a cohesive team, or has he just sabotaged England’s golden generation before a ball is even kicked? We clash over the wild inclusion of Ivan Toney and Jordan Henderson’s shocking return.
Finally, we drop our Champions League Final Spoilers. We look ahead to the ultimate club game of the season and make predictions so bold they might just break the football matrix. Who lifts the big ears, and who leaves in tears?
The road to the World Cup starts right here. Buckle up.
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Transcript
Introduction and Season Finale
00:00:35
Speaker
Yo, welcome back to another episode of the Don't Blame the Ref podcast. Make sure you like, share and subscribe. This is like our fifth attempt of trying to record this, so hopefully it comes out all right. But in the red corner, you've got me, Dom.
00:00:52
Speaker
In the blue corner, you've got me, Eman.
Premier League Wrap-Up: Arsenal's Triumph
00:00:55
Speaker
Yeah, so this the last episode of the season, the Premier League season. We're obviously still going to give you some more content over the summer with the World Cup coming up and all these other things. There's always going to be news, so stay tuned in for that. But the only way you can be tuned in is if you're following us on socials.
00:01:13
Speaker
um Just... Yeah, make sure you click the notification button. All of them things, I don't normally do this, so I'm a bit rusty with this like speech and all of that. But, you know, like all of that stuff helps us. just Just follow above. Like, just follow. Like, even if you don't like the content, just follow it. Give it five stars. Just for the fact that we're good good good guys. Just just do whatever. Speak for yourself. I'm not a good guy, bro.
00:01:45
Speaker
ah
00:01:51
Speaker
Anyway, man, let's get the ball rolling, man. Since our last pod, we finally got our champions of the Premier League. That's Arsenal. Anyway, let's move on this topic. um England dropped the 26-man.
00:02:07
Speaker
yeah It goes up to me. That's how long we'll spend on these, man. But obviously, we've done the whole rigmarole. We prayed when we can. done whatever. E-man's done some juj.
00:02:20
Speaker
You did juj. I'm afraid. I'm afraid. I am afraid. I went to the top of the mountain. I just did. Oh, I'm afraid. Like, you know what? You know about? Like, I don't know Eze, but I know of, you know, his friends and, you know, whatever. But, so,
00:02:46
Speaker
Like i almost feel like, yeah, i'm glad for man to win the prom. Like that's a mad thing. But then at the same time, I was hoping that there would just be tears at the end.
00:02:59
Speaker
You know what is for me? What what what this weekend helped me realise is I'm not a big enough hater. Because, like, once they won it, obviously they won it after the Bournemouth-Man City game. They didn't even have to play to be crowned champions. But after that happened and I saw, like, all the group chats going off, everyone left their house, just ran down to the stadium. Bro, one or one of our boys drove an hour to go down to the stadium. Like, and know I'm just like, you know what? 22 years, man. Have your moment, man. don't really care. Like, that one It's like someone else is going to next year, man.
00:03:32
Speaker
The one I'm worried about is the Champions League, bro. I'm worried about that one. I don't need to see no double. I don't need to see no double, bro. But yeah. I'm worried.
Analyzing Arsenal's Strategy and Fan Reactions
00:03:44
Speaker
I guess we there's not much to speak about in the season. The season's played out as it's played out. And obviously the most consistent team, the best team, always ends up winning. So whether we've enjoyed their football or not,
00:03:56
Speaker
Their job isn't to entertain neutrals, it's to get the job done, man. So they got their trophy. Yeah, man. leman And that's the truth for all those people that are in the background trying to belittle their achievement. this All that matters is winning and getting across the line. Like, yes, it may be the worst set of forwards to ever win the league. You know? Yes, it wasn't pretty. Yes, they basically didn't play football for the second aspect half of the season. But that is standard. Like, I've been there where Costa scored literally 15 goals first half of the season. two goals second half the season. our Football's been dying second half the season and we still won the league. Like, it it happens. It happens. It is what it is. Like, well people keep... I think people...
00:04:47
Speaker
People just have such short-term memory. Even City, for the last three, four years, they've been starting slow at the beginning of the season. Where people are saying, oh, it might be, they might not win it this year. This is that. It's just this year, they had such a slow start, they couldn't get they couldn't catch up.
00:05:06
Speaker
So, like, it's normal for a team not to be fully fired throughout the season. It's just Arsenal had a good start and then ended ended poor well ended um poorly the last few months.
00:05:17
Speaker
so yeah yeah they had into the white woman they had a little blip that part of the season where all the conversations started coming out. Have they got enough of in the squad to do it? But then...
00:05:28
Speaker
Listen, man, it's not Arsenal's fault that no one else wanted to compete. We left it all up to City. Both of our clubs just kind of sat back and let City do all the hard work. We went into the season with a manager that shouldn't have been there. If we didn't, who knows how the season went. Chelsea, bro, there's a mess going on over there. Liverpool went and spent 400, 500 million and got 10 times worse.
00:05:51
Speaker
There's so many factors have to play out. But um what actually happened was Arsenal were just the most consistent. They used the weapons they had, whether was set pieces, whether it was long throws, Jokere's moments popped up with big goals, Eze, big goals.
00:06:10
Speaker
The players who they signed this season made an impact. They contributed. So then they've they've what they've won their league title. Yeah, one thing I will say is...
00:06:23
Speaker
The fact is, I haven't won the league for 22 years. Some people's lifetime. nay The fact that they haven't won, actually forgot how big Arsenal are.
00:06:35
Speaker
Like, generally. I just... throw Like, you know they're a big club, but I kind of really did it deep how... mad Arsenal fan base are it's the social media area as well and like obviously when you've got Liverpool won it we're not in Liverpool so we don't know what the city looks like when Liverpool go win it band ceo Man City bro Man City have you seen did you see the parade they just did with the domestic double bro it looked like it looked like there was more people at the Hackney Marathon bro like there's nothing going on over with there bro but Arsenal obviously because we live in London um
00:07:15
Speaker
Like, you can literally feel it, bro. People turn up to work. I work in the corporate office. People turn up wearing their Arsenal tops. There's more than today. Like, the repping, what can you say, bro? I'll tell you this year.
00:07:27
Speaker
If Arsenal do a double... at lock your doors, do not go outside for any reason other than football because I'm telling you, them streets, yeah, they're not getting anywhere.
00:07:40
Speaker
Don't go, and the other thing, list obviously, let's talk about the parade and like who's allowed to go and who's not. Listen, it's football, yeah. Don't be a bag. Don't be a bag, bro. Stay at home. Don't be a bag. Let them have their moment. When your team finally starts to pick up, go to the parade then. when Listen, let me tell you something, yeah? It's even been like 13, 14 years for us since we won our last major. job The day we win, the day we win, I'm taking my car on the way. Straight up. Straight up to Manny.
00:08:10
Speaker
Right, like... I don't even think it twice, so... Yeah, there is what it is, but... um The season isn't on for them. yeah i work Yeah, I will say, God, about any spirit of complacency that performs upon that PSG team, may God just remove it.
00:08:33
Speaker
May God just remove it. no so i want I want a steely focus. I want a determined, a wounded PSG. I want them coming from blood.
00:08:45
Speaker
ah don't Please guys, let's let's just be serious. Let's be serious. Please, just go do your job. Do your job.
00:08:56
Speaker
Don't mess it up. I don't want any... Listen, I want it
Champions League Prospects: Arsenal vs. PSG
00:09:00
Speaker
2-0 by half time. 2-0 by half time. 3-0 by full time. I don't want any close calls. I don't want 0-0 going into 90th minute. I don't want any of that.
00:09:11
Speaker
Please, wake up. Do your job. Please. yes Yeah. um This is a big game.
00:09:22
Speaker
Bro, that is the only thing i have left. We are champions of Europe. It's the only thing I have left. So if they win champions leave, what else can I say, Dom?
00:09:33
Speaker
What else can I say? Hey, listen, man. That's the... Listen, if they go get that as well, man, lock off the streets, man. Calling sick from work, bro. Don't even bother leaving house. Like, this is this is all setting up to be a mad summer for them lot. So, it is what it is, man. I can only hate so much. But I realize I'm just not a big enough hater, man. I'm not a big enough hater. I was happy for some of my friends, bro. 22 years. 22 years is mad, twenty to bro. 22. Bro, us men were in, like, primary school, bro.
00:10:09
Speaker
Since the last time they lifted the major. Primary school. Like, now we're big men, um some of us with kids and all that, like, bro, it's all mad, but, yeah, I just thought i just don't care enough, like, I don't care about them, man, like,
00:10:25
Speaker
that's ah That's it for me. You're Londoner. You're a Chelsea, isn't it? Yeah. you're You're a better man than me, bro. I'm here for all the hate. I'm here for all the tears. Like, I wanted them to go 30 years.
00:10:38
Speaker
I wanted to get 40 years. I wanted to be 80, and then, man, I haven't won anything. So, boy, it's what it is. Tell both of our teams to pack them up in there. Yeah, quickly. and Yeah, go go ahead.
00:10:53
Speaker
Yeah, which what was you going say? No, no, I was going to move on, the but if you had something to say about it. Yeah, no, no, let's go, let's go. Let's move on. you briefly touched on the Champions League. What are your actual thoughts going into that game?
00:11:09
Speaker
Do you think Arsenal have a chance? Do you think it's even? Like, if you have to give a percentage, do you think it's going to win? brown Which way you leading towards
00:11:21
Speaker
Well, look, PSG won the Champions League final last year with 5-0. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Was it funny Quote them. Quote Quote them. Absolutely unprecedented.
00:11:34
Speaker
I don't think that's going to happen. um I think Arsenal will um will be a lot will be a lot tougher. And I do think it will be a close game.
00:11:44
Speaker
um I'll be honest, right now, actually don't i don't I'm not leaning to either side. um really don't know what version of PSG we're going to get. They're going to have two weeks off. oh you know and They might be either well-rested or they might be a little bit rusty without the rhythm um that they need to just go into this game with you know with a lot of rhythm. Hakimi's a big miss on the right-hand side. um But then also Yuri and Timber has been out for the last few months. So, you know, yeah, I have no idea.
00:12:21
Speaker
But what I will say is... PSG need to be, I want PSG to throw the kitchen sink.
00:12:32
Speaker
and And I don't want this slow paced possession play. not to Not to say that they always do it, but I don't want them because it's a final. I don't want the players to know be thinking too much about control.
00:12:47
Speaker
Don't think about control. i want For a minute one, I want PSG to absolutely go at Arsenal. Because I think if they do, i think Arsenal lose. because I don't think Arsenal and PSG can go toe-for-toe, head-to-head.
00:13:02
Speaker
um I think Arsenal will come off the back. Arsenal will want to make it as slow as possible. Arsenal will want to um have the numbers behind the ball.
00:13:13
Speaker
Arsenal will want to use their physicality on the counter and set pieces and things like that and win free kicks in different areas of the pitch and you know put balls on their head. That's...
00:13:25
Speaker
like that's that's also arem looking for that. So for me, for PSG, it's about, okay, when we lose it, why don't we sit in let Arsenal come on to us in moments. we Not all the time, but then as soon as we win it back in any moment, don't hesitate, fall on speed, go for the counter, go for the leather. and i I just don't want them trying to retain possession in those transition moments because yeah it'ss it's just going to play into Arsenal's hands.
00:13:57
Speaker
I think PSG will believe that they're a better team, but also at the same time, Enrique is ignorant. He knows like, Arsenal are also a good team. They may not have a lot and lot of weapons, but they can hurt you with enough pressure.
00:14:13
Speaker
Any defense can cave in. So their best case scenario is just take advantage when they can. um I will say they probably have the most deadly attacking threats in the world. like Whenever he's ready to cover Skellia, it's just like, bro, every shot I'm scoring, bro.
00:14:31
Speaker
I don't even care. every Every time get into the final, four they're making the right decision. Dembele left foot, right foot, Dwe on the other side. And then when them lot are tired, Barcola's coming off the bench. And then it's just like, bro, it's just, they've got a lot of weapons. So I wouldn't be surprised. This isn't ending like a 1-0 or something. I'm expecting to see at least like three or four goals in this game.
00:14:53
Speaker
So hopefully we get that sort of game. but I disagree, man. just don't think Arsenal will let it... yeah I just don't see it being three, four goals. I just think Arsenal will do what they do and ensure it's a close game. Yeah, yeah, no, by three or four goals. Or PSG will lick it.
00:15:14
Speaker
Yeah, by three or four goals, I mean, along the lines of it could be 2-1, like something like that. It's not going to be like, it's not going to be like PSG going to wax them like 4-0, 5-0, I mean, it's go to be there's going to be chances on both ends. PSG are definitely scoring at least two, I think.
00:15:33
Speaker
And then we'll just see how it plays out. But yeah, that's enough about them, man. don't care about them.
World Cup Squad Surprises: England's Selections
00:15:40
Speaker
Yeah. All right.
00:15:44
Speaker
Yeah, so let go the other big news is the England squad has finally dropped. Boy, were we wrong about some of these names. where Tuchel, I don't know this is secret agent. I don't know he's a spy from back in the day. They're still around as a sleeper agent.
00:16:04
Speaker
Because some of these names, boy, don't even know. i don't even know where to start, but... I guess the one thing we could do is just run through the key people who are missing out, the surprise inclusions, where we are. So in terms of goalkeepers, we were right. were spot on.
00:16:24
Speaker
The three that we thought were going to go on that one, that's nothing new there. um defense Defense is where the questions start, straight away. So it's like a combination of what we thought, but then at the same time, there's a few surprise inclusions. One of the main ones being Jarrell Quinter.
00:16:45
Speaker
I don't watch my little music. don't even know if he's been playing well this season. I don't know how much he's played this season. I even forgot he was English. How about that? How about that? for um I forgot my little English.
00:16:56
Speaker
ah So, to see him included and then Mr. Harold ah Maguire leaking that Manzler in the squad just because he didn't get picked the day before.
00:17:09
Speaker
Him and Luke Shaw are leaking that, oh, I think I've done well enough to be in the squad. And I'm like, bro, listen, it's not about you, man. They're about to release a squad for everyone and you're going to go ruin it because you're you feel entitled that you should have been picked. you know what hate?
00:17:24
Speaker
you know what hate, bro? like the the media have not emphasised how disgusting that was. Yeah. Like generally how disgusting that was. They've skated over it, tiptoed around it. Oh, he feels aggrieved and he has every right to feel aggrieved. Nah, that was that was low.
00:17:44
Speaker
That was so low. That is so, so poor. Oh, ridiculously poor. Like made the whole thing about me me me me me me me me, me, me, me. And to his family tweeting about saying it's a disgrace, hey, big man, nobody is guaranteed a spot anywhere.
00:18:04
Speaker
Nope. And um the worst thing about it is... Yeah, go ahead, go ahead. They got to a point now. They got to to a point where in their head they thought a shooing.
00:18:16
Speaker
That's what you call of overconfidence. That's what you call being arrogant. Poor, absolutely poor. And you know what? That's the reason why he's not going. And Tuchel saw that. That's the reason why he's not going. I promise you. I promise you it's not a footballing decision.
00:18:32
Speaker
I promise you. Yeah, because apparently there's rumours that... um how Maguire and Tuchel spoke, and I keep saying Tuchel, Tuchel, he didn't say that man's picking him. They just had a conversation about what's going on, didn't they? He probably gave him the PR thing of like, oh yeah, well, if you play most games and you play well, you'll be in contention. But don't mean I'm picking you. What's going on? Because at the end of the day, when you really think about that, if we're really honest, Maguire...
00:19:06
Speaker
Shouldn't have really been in a couple squads. If you really think about it, no one really looks at McGuire and rates him like that. but He just plays for United. If he was still at Leicester, no one would be saying, ah we have to take McGuire, we have to take... No, no, no, no. He's not 10 times better than some of the other names on the list. If anything, if he would have gone, he would have been a bench player.
00:19:29
Speaker
So... i just I just want to be clear. I personally, from the outside looking in, I personally would have taken him. ha I'm pretty sure I had him on my list. No, we both did on this and we had him. We had him as well. they There you go.
00:19:43
Speaker
And I personally probably wouldn't have even thought John Stones had a shoe in. But but to from Tuchel's point of view, and he said it in in the press conference, he wants players who will play their role.
00:19:57
Speaker
Listen to what Tuchel is saying. He wants players who know their role and will play their role. Maguire doesn't want to play his role. What he's saying is, you would have been benched anyway. And I don't think you're a good bench option.
00:20:13
Speaker
yeah I don't think you're good vibe around the camp if you're sitting on the bench. That's what he's saying. He's saying John Stones is going to be comfortable on the bench and he's going to do his job the same. He's going to motivate the lads. He's going to look after them. He's going organise things. He's going to... All from the bench. Tukul said they exactly that.
00:20:34
Speaker
But people just aren't listening. They're not listening. And like most of the squads that Tukul named, he didn't really pick Maguire. So why are we all shocked? Why are we just adding that? He thought when push came to push comes to shove, the big big team bias would have kicked him. But same thing applies for Luke Shaw. Wow. The one season where there's a World Cup, you're fully fit and you play all the games. think he started every single Premier League game this season for the first time in his career and he still didn't get picked. Sorry, he just didn't pick you. But saying that...
00:21:09
Speaker
He did take Jed Spence when I don't think either of us considered him and he didn't take Lewis Wall. So, who knows? Who knows what... I don't know. He included Dan Byrne as well. like Some of these names I don't think we even were even considering. They seem so far-fetched. No, no, no.
00:21:30
Speaker
But, um you know, he's done what he's done. He's picked what he's picked. Yeah, But i do i do I do want to emphasise, I listened to his press conference in four. I don't know if you you did, yeah? No. And once you actually take once you actually take the time to listen to what he's saying, you sort of go, yeah, you know what? Fair enough. That makes sense. Yeah, there's a bunch of names me and you did not even think of. Jed Spence, excluding Lewis Hall's Mad um and John Stones, yeah?
00:22:02
Speaker
But what Tuchel said was he's trying to create the best team. it's it's the team that's good, it's the team vibes, it's the team chemistry that's going to win them the World Cup. And how many teams in the past have gone and won the World Cup and we've gone, that squad ain't even good.
00:22:18
Speaker
Yeah. That squad ain't even that, they're not even that good. Spain, Netherlands, um Well, Netherlands got to the finals. Italy they won the Euros.
00:22:29
Speaker
Italy. um and And then we've all gone like, that squad ain't even that good, man. They're not even that good. But there's a reason why these teams have made it through because of the team chemistry and they've all done their jobs to a T and and won. So it' what he's saying is correct. It's not the best, most talented team that's going to win the World Cup.
00:22:49
Speaker
It's the team that's going to work the hardest for each other. Yeah, and and even looking at it, like the fact that he's taken Dan Bird and Suda Maguire, it leans to more what you're saying because in terms of them ability-wise, would pick Maguire over him. So there's obviously some intangibles that we're not going to see on the pitch. That's the reason why he's not going. And... with the inclusion of Liv Romento and Jed Spence, both of them can play both sides.
00:23:13
Speaker
So maybe it's just like planning for all events because Nico O'Reilly's had a great season, so I wouldn't be surprised if he's starting. But when you need um ah left-back to come on, if you only had Lewis Hall and then Lewis Hall isn't performing well,
00:23:31
Speaker
you ain't got no one else to play left-back either. by taking two backup full-backs who can both play both sides, you're just opening the amount of options you actually have. But um yeah, I guess that's mainly it for defense-wise. Midfield, but this one...
00:23:51
Speaker
Midfield slash wingers, like I don't know how you want to tackle this, but I think we could do just midfielders. the The surprise inclusion, again, that we didn't even consider was Jordan Henderson.
00:24:03
Speaker
I thought we were moving away from the... good for the dressing room kind of thing, but it doesn't seem like that's the case. I think you need senior guys there. And also as well, when you think about the last, was it the Euros?
00:24:17
Speaker
There was loads of talks about, are this person's attitude, that person's attitude in regards to like Bellingham and like Folden and like Palmer being sulky and all this. When you do take someone like Jordan Henderson, it's like,
00:24:31
Speaker
cool, you're not better than any of these men, but you've been at the highest level, won the league, won the Champions League. You've done a lot of things in your career, so maybe you're the missing piece into making sure everyone has their head screwed on in the right way.
00:24:45
Speaker
So... and And yeah, this is... this is This shows, look, I didn't, I've done, there's a video on TikTok of me saying, forget the work of Jordan Hendersons, I don't want to see that man there. Like, okay, cool.
00:25:01
Speaker
But if we take the emotion out of it and and what what I think football football should look at look like you don't take Maguire, you take a Henderson, you know? Yeah. With each unit, you have a lead.
00:25:13
Speaker
With each unit, you have a leader. Hopefully, you have a leader in the goalkeeper, you have a leader in defence, you have a leader in your midfield and you have a leader in attack. So, Kane will be the attack, Stones is the defence and Henderson's probably the midfield. So, yeah um I think I'll wait and see how many minutes Henderson does play because,
00:25:34
Speaker
In my head, that guy should not really be touching pitch. In my head, the only minutes he should get is the third game of the group when we we're already through and he's coming on as a sub. Something like that. Or someone's being upset.
00:25:50
Speaker
That's about it. it was a Yeah. So again, like you can understand the reason for it. um And we may not, I think that the media really, really struggle to see the benefits of having certain players. If it doesn't fit with their own agenda, they struggle to see the benefits generally. And yeah, um and I find it very strange that all Maguire had to do was release that video early and everybody's on his side.
00:26:22
Speaker
Like it's a, or most people 90%, it's a bit strange to me. I can't lie. When you've already got the lead, like they're all saying, oh, if you don't have Maguire, how's the team got leadership?
00:26:35
Speaker
John Stones is there. Henderson's there. Kane is there. And these are not all winners now. These are these are leaders who are winners, not just not just leaders who are leading.
00:26:46
Speaker
It's actual guys who have been there. Wherever you think of Rhys James, he's won the Champions League and he's Chelsea's captain. There's other captains in the squad. Dan Burns, a leader for Newcastle.
00:27:00
Speaker
like, he may not be Maguire or leader of Manchester United, but they're leaders. So I just think this is another agenda driven sort of things. But anyway, so it to speak mostly, let's to speak specifically about centre mid, I think the options, um they they were self explanatory. And They were obvious.
00:27:25
Speaker
And um and i get I understand why Tuchel opted for Henderson over, let's say, a Wharton or a Alex Scott. Yeah, it's less for unfilled ability and more just the intangible stuff again. Because when you're looking at, I guess we could do our predicted, our strongest lineup from the selection at the end. But yeah, one of the main people who who has isn't going is Phil Folden.
00:27:51
Speaker
I think when you look at it on the bigger picture, he hasn't done enough this season to deserve it. He is always pushed as the England darling. So he has to go, has to go. But really, Tuchel made it very clear it's off merit.
00:28:06
Speaker
before anything else is off merit. That's why i'm happy that Kobe's been included because over the last couple of months, he's been mainstay and a key player in Manchester United. Eze helped Arsenal go on to go win the league. Same thing with Declan Rice. Elliot Anderson's just been a good player.
00:28:25
Speaker
Jude Bellingham, out of him and Foden, I'm taking Jude because what has Foden done in the England top? Like, ever. Not even, not even like, could just in this tournament. I mean, like, ever.
00:28:40
Speaker
Even friendlies. I've never seen Foden play well in those scenarios. um um I'm even surprised he took Jude. Like, from all the media reports, all this, all that, you'd have thought Tuchel doesn't like him.
00:28:54
Speaker
So, again, it it just emphasises how much crap the media really reports. Yeah, exactly. Maybe they throwing that out because they knew there was a chance Fulgham might not get picked. So, they're trying to throw someone else on the bus. Yeah, and then obviously you've got the inclusion of the last midfielder, Morgan Rodgers, who's listed as a midfielder, not forward. So, that means two calls of attention is probably to play him as a 10 or an 8, not as a wide left or red white option right wide right option. So,
00:29:28
Speaker
Yeah, in terms in terms of the mid-4, I'm not too mad. You've got a lot of different profiles in there. I would have personally liked Watton because i feel like sometimes you do need the metronome. The guy's just going to get the ball, play it simple, also break lines with passing and not everything has to be like um driving with the ball and all those kind of things. I just feel we might be missing that profile, but we'll see how it plays out.
00:29:52
Speaker
But if Anderson can do that, what do we need him for? If Maywe can do that, what do we need Wharton for? Do you get I Yeah. I'd hate Wharton. I would have taken him. But I just think Tuchel probably saw it in the sense that what he gets from Wharton, he can get from those two.
00:30:12
Speaker
It's kind of like what's more important. What Wharton can do... it's kind of like what's more important what water can do or what Henderson brings because we can supplement for what Wharton can do with the other players but we can't supplement for what Henderson brings with the other players. So it's probably just not to take it like that.
00:30:35
Speaker
And then... un fire bar of well yeah Just speaking on Foden and Palmer, mate, over the last week I've been tuning in to talk sport and all these pundits and stuff.
00:30:48
Speaker
And the message, the some of them of the opinions and messages that I've been listening to is that how can you not take one of Foden or Palmer?
00:31:02
Speaker
You know? and The question that, or Morgan Gibbs, right? And the question I'd like for them to answer is, for who? Mm-hmm. if you take it for Morgan Rodgers, who's had a great season and we know Tukor has played him almost every single game, it was nailed on he was going. If Bellingham didn't make it, you would have you guys would have still made it a story. Most definitely. yeah So what are you going to do? Are you going to bring palmer one of Palmer Foulders to remove one of the wingers?
00:31:37
Speaker
Oh, but now you're suggesting that you could play one of these players out of position just because you guys rate him. Yeah. so though There you go. And that's the point I'm trying to make, bro. They don't learn from their lesson.
00:31:54
Speaker
They don't. Like, post-Korea, Rooney, Scholes, Lampard, they all said it. we probably tried to force all the big names in and it didn't work.
00:32:06
Speaker
The media at the time said it, the media after it happened said it. And now forward 20 years, You're in a position where you've got an abundance of talent and you're all still clamouring for all the big names to be in there. Instead of thinking in your head, oh, yeah, lesst that it don't make sense. We can't have five tens in the England squad.
00:32:29
Speaker
Morgan Rodgers doesn't play out wide. Don't. He's better in the mid flu in in the middle. Don't try it. Foden can't play wing. like Let's stop it. Palmer is...
00:32:39
Speaker
could believe you He could do a little bit of ah of of ah of of a session out there, but more time you want him in the centre. So why are we forcing it? And why are we creating such a dramatic storm now that you have a manager who's got some balls about him, who's got who's got he's got cachet, who's a big boss, and he's gone, yeah, I'm going to pick a squad, not your names.
00:33:04
Speaker
Instead of you guys to be out there going, hey, well done, Tuchel. That's superb. That's superb. you You've been brave there. and you and you've And you've stuck to your guns and you've picked who you think is the best best team, a balanced team, as he he would like to say.
00:33:19
Speaker
It just gets me no mad, bro. It gets me mad. like None of these people are using their sense. Yeah. Yeah. And then speaking of you, Brian Palmer, I feel like he's either like a wing or slash 10, but it means that we have to move on to the forwards. And there's another surprise name that I didn't even know he still kicked ball. Bro, Ivan Tony somehow is on the plane.
00:33:44
Speaker
but I'm not mad at it. I'm not mad at it. When we were talking about that extra backup Shaka spot, bro, we were throwing the names like Welbeck and stuff. like We ain't like nothing for that. but so i don't I don't mind the Tony inclusion, but in terms of the wide players, Bakayo Saka obviously going.
00:34:05
Speaker
Maduweke, Tuko's used him quite a lot in these friendies and he really likes him, so that's not a surprise. um Marcus Rashford has to go.
00:34:16
Speaker
For me, there's no way he doesn't go. One of England's best attackers. Anthony Gordon... That's your leadership, by the way. That's your leadership. Again, just coming off another league foul as well.
00:34:29
Speaker
them men aren't going to want to hear it. They're not going want to say it, but Rashford's a leader. He's a leader in his performance and he's a leader in the way he communicates with people. He's a leader.
00:34:40
Speaker
So i just want I just want to say that. i' And the other thing as well, Rashford...
00:34:46
Speaker
When it comes to England media, if there's one person who's going to know how to help other players get through the dark media cycle, that's eventually going to happen, where they start putting their targets on specific players. If there's one person you can speak to about that, I think it's Rashford.
00:35:03
Speaker
Maybe, maybe that's another reason why it's a good thing to take him. And then you've got Harry Kane, who's Mr. Captain captain Fantastic. He's always going to be there. go to play every minute he can play.
00:35:18
Speaker
Ollie Watkins, I think, is the right inclusion. Bro, surprisingly, but he's finished with 16 goals, bro, in the league. How's that happen? Has that? But you in my head, he's been rubbish all season. And then all of a sudden, bam, bam, bam, towards the end of the season, bam. And then obviously winning the Europa League with Una and Emery's Aston Villa.
00:35:38
Speaker
But he's on the high right now, man. So good for him as well. but um Yeah, in in terms of... Yeah, go ahead. yeah go Just speaking on Tony, um look, i don't want to sit here and defend every decision that Tuchel made. I want to be very clear. like i probably wouldn't have picked Stones. I probably wouldn't have picked Henderson. Probably would have had Wharton. Probably would have...
00:36:04
Speaker
Probably wouldn't have picked Maduweke, to be honest with you. like And I definitely wouldn't have thought about Tony. But again, if you listen to him speak, you kind of understand his is his thinking.
00:36:16
Speaker
He wants a third striker that's different from the two he has. If he takes a Welbeck and a Calvert-Lewin, it's the same striker as Watkins.
00:36:29
Speaker
like they're They're all too similar to Watkins. none of them are going to be as airily dominant or ah as strong with hold-up play as ah as a... um What's the guy's name? Sorry. As a... Who? What's the guy's name?
00:36:49
Speaker
Stryker. Kane. Harry Kane. oh i'm third Third choice. third choice Ivan Toney. Ollie Watkins. Yeah, sorry, sorry, sorry. So yeah, none of them are going to be as aerially dominant or strong as Ivan Toni. So again, once he explains it, it makes sense. It makes sense. It doesn't make sense to vilify him for it and and be um you know all shouting about his his decision to include him. And to be fair, look, one thing I do get though is he's had he's only he's only been called once and he's had seven minutes of time, of... of
00:37:26
Speaker
of field time. So that that argument, I do i do understand. and And I think even Tuchel had some criticisms of him at that time. But again, Tuchel also accepts that, yeah, you know, it was a surprise selection from him as well.
00:37:41
Speaker
So maybe he's... Maybe he just looked at one of his options and just came to this as being the... best conclusion because um even though he has a different profile to ollie watkins he's not gonna run the channels he's a traditional target man like he's got great link-up play he's um strong good in the air and also as well like it's international football bro we need penny takers bro we need guys who as soon as the penny shootout is coming up Man's already got the ball in his hand. He's ready he's said to go. like If you've got Kane, Tony, um I think Jude took one in the last tournament.
00:38:24
Speaker
Rashford will take one. Saka will take one. You've a lot penny takers who are going to just step up without hesitation so you don't even need to think about it too much. but um Yeah, it's just... Yeah, thanks.
00:38:35
Speaker
Yeah, so what what do you... do Do you want to quickly try to do your best 11 from from that um from that selection? and then Yeah. yeah I guess I'll just go with i'll go with James...
00:38:49
Speaker
I'm going to go with Konza Gehi. um There seems to be a lot of of talk about whether Konza should be in for with England's best 11. And I just don't think John Stones, I think John Stones is there to sit on the bench. I don't think he's there to start, in my opinion. I may be wrong. Then Nico Riley speaks for himself.
00:39:11
Speaker
Again, I do think Lewis Hall should be there at least as a backup. um And then midfield three of Anderson, Rice and I personally am not as much of a fan of Rodgers as Tukor is. So I am going to go Bellingham.
00:39:27
Speaker
But I know Rodgers is going to start. And then Rashford on the left and Saka on the right with Kane up top. Yeah, I think my my team is pretty much the same. I like Quinter as well. think Quinter's good. I think he's one of those underrated centre-backs. He's not like a world-beater, but think he's good at everything.
00:39:50
Speaker
I have no issues with Qantas starting. and um I would take i will put Jude in the head of Rodgers, but like you said, Rodgers is probably going to start. But you know what it
Reflecting on the Premier League Season
00:40:00
Speaker
is For me... I don't like to talk too much until the tournament actually happens, bro. Selections are selections. It's about thought about the tactics, man. How you getting through each game? How you getting through the stages? And just make it work, man.
00:40:13
Speaker
And that's that's the truth. I understand us all having an opinion in the moment, and we all will. But all this outrage, all this shock, horror, death and whatever... Like, it's overflowing. And just wait until the World Cup. What happens? Because if he goes and win it wins it with this team, you're not going give a heck about what team he's selected.
00:40:36
Speaker
No, you're not yeah actually not going to care. but And we'll pass it. Like, bro, come on, man. Give us one summer. One summer of Ingram winning it, bro. The streets will be crazy.
00:40:46
Speaker
Off the back of Arsenal winning the league and Arsenal winning the thing. You're not... Bro, I don't think anyone's going back to work. He's just going to shut down. It's going to be mad. They definitely will do a bank holiday, though. I know it. Oh, yeah. 100%. Please, please.
00:41:02
Speaker
And make it permanent as well. Don't just do it for this shit, man. Yeah. yeah say But yeah, i think that's basically ah covering most of the stuff. I know we didn't do a season wrap-up, but who cares, man? We've spoken about all that stuff throughout our last couple of episodes because both of our teams ain't really had nothing else to talk about. The only I can mention, Bruno, assist record.
00:41:27
Speaker
Just say that. Yo, that was a robbery. That is an absolute challenge. They didn't give it to him in the end, did they? No, but I mean, I saw an article saying they did.
00:41:39
Speaker
Yeah, I haven't i haven't seen like what the final verdict is, but if we're being 100% honest, it's not an assist, bro. That is insane. That should not be ah an assist. I know you're trying to hate on Bruno. know you're trying to hate on Neither am I. Bro, that is mad.
00:41:56
Speaker
um The fact that it even got to a point where it's even a debate post-match, like that's just just give as a own goal. What we doing? What we saying, man?
00:42:09
Speaker
larry for us julie should we should we just quickly do let's just quickly do surprise of the season for our own teams not not the league worse yeah ah I want to be a nice guy and not do worse player of the season but yeah I'm going to do I'm going to do worse player um best player and then ah best young player.
00:42:42
Speaker
Cool. For our individual teams, yeah? Yeah, just for your individual team. So let's let's let's let's first start off with the best young player. um my Look, half my squad is young, so it could be a few men, but I'm going to go...
00:43:04
Speaker
I'm going to put nest for an age cap of 22 max, maybe 21. Because I don't like young player being 24. What are we talking about? No, no, no. I thought I had this like in the bag, but not I'm thinking about it. It's a bit... It's a bit... there's not really much to be happy about, bro. I can't lie to you.
00:43:29
Speaker
I mean, for me, my young player would be koby Manu. He's just come and he's... All the criticisms that have been found on him this season are very unfairly. He's come and shout everyone up.
00:43:42
Speaker
so Simple as. just came came back He didn't do anything special. He came back and did what everyone has seen him do before. It's just that everyone forgot. um the ah And no honourable mention would be for me Aidan Heaven.
00:43:55
Speaker
Every time he's stuck to Nafik, he's looked good. He just hasn't played enough for me to put him ahead of Kovimaneu. But that's it for me. Fair enough. um Wow, I didn't think I was going to be disum stumped.
00:44:11
Speaker
Give it to Hato, man. Nah.
00:44:17
Speaker
Like, he's done better than thought he was going to, but I'm not going to give a young player the year. How old is Jao Pedro? might have to I'm going to increase the age to
00:44:37
Speaker
Because, bro, thought... You ain't got nobody, bro. Let's keep her back. You ain't got no one under the age of 24 that's actually done anything this season. Wow. You actually have nobody.
00:44:48
Speaker
No one. Wow. This is bad. Esteval. Esteval. Esteval. Esteval is my young player of the year. That's it. That's it. All right, cool. Moving on to best player. I think I'll go with the simple ones. um Best player the year. I'm going to go with...
00:45:12
Speaker
just to be honest with you just by the skin of his teeth um it will have to be Kai Sedo, I can't give it to Enzo because he's a waste man.
00:45:26
Speaker
But yeah, I'll just go with Kai Sedo. I've always put criticisms or constructive criticism of Kai Sedo's games and things he can improve on. I've always said that on this pod. However, um he always works hard. He's always... um You know, he's just always fit and he's always given his all for the team. So, he's one of the few that have actually consistently done that throughout the season. His form of flut has fluctuated. It is what is. So, I'll go with Kai Seda.
00:46:00
Speaker
um For me... No, I'm sorry. Jaipedo. Oh, yeah, jo mine my man score twenty goal yeah. 20 goals. Yeah, yeah. Jaipedo. And then he's going to get paid for um Brazil. Crazy stuff. Ah!
00:46:13
Speaker
What? For me, it has to be record-breaking, man. Record-breaking Bruno, bro. I've been one of his biggest critics, yeah. Once our, like, friendship group, even our support United. I said it before. I'm not talking bad on my man's name again. If he wants to run out his contract, run it out, bro. I don't need no one.
00:46:35
Speaker
You're welcome up to the new era, bro. We're going for the title next season. Be prepared, man. We're ready to go. um just i just thinking I just think it feel feels nice to have always been on this side, mate.
00:46:47
Speaker
Hey, man. Listen, man. There's too much going on around my club for me to focus on. I I it. I hear it. hear it. You know what it Amarin brought the club together, man.
00:46:58
Speaker
You brought the club together, bro. You were such a bad guy that everyone just kind of looked at You know what? My man ain't even that bad, you know? even that But yeah, what was your other, the worst player?
00:47:13
Speaker
Yeah, worst, man. Okay. Bear mind, surprise can be also be good or bad. So, whatever you want that to be. So, think about what your surprise of the season is. Okay. And then... For me... The worst player, and is based on what I expected them to do this season, is Ahmad, for me. i i think I think he's got full enough lift. but relative relative to where he should be. Yeah, yeah, He's taken so many steps backwards this season. Obviously, this last game of the season where we were 3-0, I figured that was one of his best performances since before AFCON. He...
00:47:54
Speaker
He's just been too hot and cold this season, but mainly cold, bro. Like, he he needs to go into next season. Me, personally, what my aspirations are for next season, we don't have room for that. We don't have room for that, bro. We've got Champions League. We've got the league. We've got all this stuff that we want to push towards. so you and Mbwemo need to fix up. But Mbwemo's at least getting G8. Like, what can I say?
00:48:19
Speaker
anything speaking Who's your worst player for your team? ah There's a few, man. There could be a few. Starting at 11, man. Yeah, before I name... We'll start at 11.
00:48:34
Speaker
Before I name the individual, I do want to give some honorary mentions, or one honorary mention. Look, Enzo got ten over 10 goals, 10 assists in all camps, yeah. move But that defensive work that he has put on display for the majority of this season...
00:48:51
Speaker
that is honestly shambolic, shambolic. And it reeks of a guy who just doesn't really care that much. To defend in a way that he defends, the lazy leaving a leg in to trip people up, because you can't be bothered to twist your body and run. ah Don't get me mad.
00:49:11
Speaker
So for me, Enzo, you're very close. However, It would just have to be on a show like it's it's gone it's gone exactly the way everybody thought it would go.
00:49:26
Speaker
And however, I felt it would go a different way just because you know sometimes where something is just overwhelmingly positive or overwhelmingly negative, You know, sometimes fate just has a way of twisting that on its head and and it becoming something else. This has not happened yet. That's not happening with this gone actual situation.
00:49:49
Speaker
This has gone exactly the way every single person has thought it's gone. And you know what? There was a period of time where he was actually showing um some progression. He was, you know, scoring some goals. He was sharing the ball with teammates. But...
00:50:07
Speaker
Somewhere in between Maleska Sakin and Rosinio coming in, he's just looked absolutely defeated. And that strong mentality we always rated in Garnaccio's game,
00:50:22
Speaker
to go again and again and again, no matter how bad things go up, that has gone out the window. And what you're left with is a player that needs a lot, a lot of work and support. So yeah, Konacho, unfortunately you will take this award.
00:50:40
Speaker
Yeah, that's it. But any sort of go natural slander I'm here for, bro. Times it by 10. i So the final award surprise of the season. This could be positive or negative. Whatever you feel it it the most dramatic thing that's happened or whatever.
00:51:06
Speaker
See, I was going to do something bad, but Thinking about it, come on. We can't end the season without giving praise to Ankh, man. um This is a farewell tour for the A-Q. Bro, he's he's already like an icon in Manchester United, bro. if i mean Anytime he turns up to watch the game, everyone everyone's got to stand up, applaud him. Casemiro, yeah, this is a way to bow considering one of your biggest players was an ex-Liverpool player for you to just shut up and not by doing all these speeches and threatening to fight man and blah blah blah no he just was bald that's it
00:51:46
Speaker
That's it, man. Do you know what it feels like to me? One of them, you know, one of them superhero movies or animes or whatever, where the protagonist uses his life force or her life force and like sacrifices themselves, their long-term health to come and to to perform now. and And that's what it feels like. It feels like he's probably taken two years off his career to give you guys that last year to show, hey, you guys remember me. up I was good big Casemiro man big up man big up so my surprise of the season probably be you know what my surprise of the season will probably be be
00:52:36
Speaker
yeah I didn't anticipate Palma being this bad for this long um yeah so I was going to go for Fofana You know what? No, no. I'm going Because Palma didn't have a great second half of last year.
00:52:51
Speaker
So I wasn't hot on Palma anyway. And there was already rumblings of his injury, of his chronic injury coming out during the summer. So no, I wasn't... um I wouldn't say overall I'm too surprised because, yeah, would it's it's an easy thing to to say would happen. I'm going to go with Fafana.
00:53:08
Speaker
Fafana, I've been... I'm going go negative. I've been really surprised that he's dropped off in level. We started the season, and it probably has something to do with the coach, don't get me wrong. We started the season with probably about seven clean sheets in a league. I think overall we ended up getting about...
00:53:30
Speaker
12 and most of those came in the first half of the season. Literally two or one came in the second half of the season. So you can see how our season has just capitulated. But some of the form for Varno's showing, man, bro, he plays like he drives...
00:53:47
Speaker
like with those 50 points on his license it's like he plays he plays like a car crash no no care no thought no deceleration no change without just back voice voice miss bats everything's just it's just scattering the place so he's ah yeah man bro for fun please you're doing too much bro Maybe he feels like... the Yeah.
00:54:13
Speaker
I know other people have been demotivated, but he's just he's just really taking taking it to a new level. So been really disappointed with him this season. Yeah. think that wraps it up for us. So like I mentioned early on in the pod, we'll have more content for you. We've got the World Cup coming up. We can give you a breakdown on a couple of dyslexions from all other nations.
00:54:37
Speaker
how far we think England are going to go, the route to the final, the route to win. that We've got a lot of ideas coming up, so stay tuned. Make sure you follow us on all the socials, like, share and subscribe. Yeah, that's been us. So don't cry, don't beg and don't blame the ref.
00:54:54
Speaker
Peace.
00:54:59
Speaker
Now, hopefully this recording don't come.