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Has the Premier League gotten worse? Plus, who deserves a statue at your club?
30 Plays14 days ago
Has the Manchester derby gone soft? 🤕 Are we watching the Premier League’s quality fall off a cliff? 📉 The lads rank Europe’s top 5 leagues 🌍 and debate the big question… does KDB deserve a statue? 👑 All that and more, broken down! 🎙️
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Transcript
Introduction and Opening Remarks
00:00:16
Speaker
Hello, hello, hello and happy Wednesday. The Not A Pundit podcast is
Newcastle and International Football Discussion
00:00:23
Speaker
back. Gentlemen, how are we doing? Newcastle in fourth place, football back in the telly, that is an international football, which is always a positive sign and you know an interesting run into the end of the season, which I'm i'm sure we'll dig into. I can't complain, long story short. How are you, Nate?
Sunderland's Performance and Fan Sentiment
00:00:41
Speaker
I'm still mad at myself for wasting 90 minutes and that crap was on me. I'm doing well. How are you getting I am great. Sunderland won 1-0 and this is the time a year where you just want to grind out results and six games left.
00:00:56
Speaker
I think playoffs are pretty much guaranteed. Like, I can't complain. Yous all doubted us. Yous all doubted. Well, to be fair, it was we're winning the league. We doubted that.
00:01:07
Speaker
Now, your playoff run. At one stage, yous were doubting him the playoff run. Yeah, fair. Like yous were, and we're proving yous wrong. We're proving a lot of our own fans wrong as well, because we're... Sunderland fans or can be an old pessimistic bunch, but... um The North East is having a glow-up on all sides.
00:01:27
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, we just need Middlesbrough to cop on and realise that they're not relevant to anything in the North East and just drop
Manchester United's Disappointing Game
00:01:34
Speaker
out of the playoffs. It'd be fine then. um But, mate, you touched on the United game...
00:01:41
Speaker
but I didn't get to see it was it as bad as it seems on paper oh it was miserable like it was the furthest thing away from a derby let alone Manchester derby that I've ever seen like it was it was it was a really tough watch i like that pains me to say as a United fan but ah yeah yeah it was difficult um More Derby 2007 than Manchester Derby.
00:02:07
Speaker
Yeah, like I think the main thing I took from it was like if this is where, you know, fair enough the two clubs are struggling, but like a Derby
Football Rivalry and Passion Concerns
00:02:16
Speaker
is a Derby. And I think if if that's where we are in 2025, that even a Derby as big as that can get as stale as it was, I'm a bit worried about but where we're currently at as a football and community.
00:02:33
Speaker
It wasn't even just the football, though. was like, you know, I know the media have been banging on about the the lack of, I suppose, fight in between the teams. And look, I think the the days of, you know, Roy Keane or Gary Neville looking straight down the tunnel, not looking left or right or gone. But like, it it really felt like ah Sunday league kickabout with a team you play frequently and you work with half of them. Like it didn't, there was no bite to it, you know.
00:03:01
Speaker
I felt like every player on that pitch could have been transferred to the other club and they wouldn't give a crap. Like, generally, that's not bad. Like, do you think... Does it kind of go down to having a lack of youth players from the area that there's kind of not that kind of pride in the match? Or is it just kind of the way football's going where it's kind of like... It's an international game now. There's no such thing as a local rivalry.
Premier League's Current State and Fan Disillusionment
00:03:29
Speaker
Listen, I think... It's been tough because both clubs have struggled a lot this season, like, you know, from where Man City you have been to where they are now. Like, I know they're still quite high in the Premier League, but, you know, it's it's it's not the excellence that they've been used to for however many years. And, you know, United have been battling relegation at times this season, so that tells you everything. But I must say, like, the actual product, can tell people are getting bored of this season.
00:03:57
Speaker
Yeah. As in the Premier League or what? I think in general across the Premier League, I think it's become a very drawn out long season. um And I think we're starting to see that spilling into the stadiums a bit now.
00:04:09
Speaker
I think, if anything though, man, like when but both teams have been so poor all... year you think this would be the day that you just throw the kitchen sink at it show everything that you stand for as as a club everything you stand for as a player and to be honest in some regard for some of those players put yourself in the shop window you know um like that that's i know it sounds insane when you're playing for clubs like man united and man city absolute like top five most followed teams in the world but
00:04:41
Speaker
there is an element of players there want to move. And, you know, if you're in a team that's stale, like City is at the moment, yeah, look, a lot of these players are still desirable to most clubs in the world, but there's some who aren't so much, you know.
Impact of Internationalization on Local Rivalries
00:04:56
Speaker
I think part of it is kind of like the league has kind of been a foregone conclusion for a little while now. Like there's not a massive amount other than pride. And when you're earning quarter of a million a week, like your pride has been bought. it's Well, it's a little bit like the MLS, like we were talking about, you know, where when there's no relegation, the relegation's fixed and the league seems to be won. It's kind of like, okay, let's just play it out, you know?
00:05:23
Speaker
Listen, I'm just to come out and say it, like, in terms of, in terms of, like, a lot of the fan base, like, now, don't get me wrong, Nottingham Forest fans will be on cloud nine this season, and rightly so, fair play to them.
00:05:36
Speaker
But I think as a general consensus is over the Premier League season, I think a lot of the fan bases are fed up with just mediocre football that's been played. Like, I genuinely think this has been one of the worst seasons for Premier League football that we've seen.
00:05:50
Speaker
We've had barely any exciting, quote-unquote exciting moments. and i think like the yo-yo-ness of form from the whole league is just bizarre. like I really don't get where where it's coming from.
Sunderland and Nottingham Forest's Successes
00:06:04
Speaker
and I think we're seeing the snowball effect to it now. And I think it's going to be an interesting summer where a lot of teams are going to be like, yeah, we're pouring a lot of money in, but we're not seeing we're not seeing the product.
00:06:15
Speaker
I think you're right. Because, you know, whatever about Yo-Yo, you know, the championship is an exciting league for that reason. Because anyone can beat anyone. And, you know, you burn you look at...
00:06:26
Speaker
When you look at that league table, the top five are ties to Ducks' arse and the bottom eight are two. you know like ah like That's fine for me, but like you said there, what the Championship has at the moment is excitement, and that's what's lacking in the Premier League. and it ah You're completely right. like you know like It's been great to see the likes of Forest having a an amazing season or Villa figuring it out, but it just...
00:06:53
Speaker
I think the last like two or three seasons has just been really meh.
Nostalgia for Physically Imposing Players
00:06:59
Speaker
I'm really glad you mentioned the two years, Forrest, because I think they proved something.
00:07:07
Speaker
Big fuckers are back. Big fuckers make you happy. If you have a big gangly man up top, that is You got chance. Not just that. That's not some genetic freak a la Haaland.
00:07:20
Speaker
That is just like... He could be a brickie. And I would love that for him. And him scoring lots of goals and not looking like he should be scoring lots of goals and will never score lots of goals again. There's just something beautiful about it.
00:07:37
Speaker
And I think it's so nice to have that back. Like, it's sad that that's a novelty. But, yeah, like, I think...
00:07:50
Speaker
I think the ah United would be rewarded for getting gangly fuckers back. Don't go for the continental
Modern Football's Lack of Excitement
00:07:57
Speaker
ones. Like, Veghorst didn't work. He doesn't play like a big man. You need gangly fuckers. You need bouncers.
00:08:04
Speaker
You need just somebody that shouldn't be playing football. And I think the Premier League will get good again. Like, Premier League was great when Ricky Lambert was playing. That man is insane.
00:08:16
Speaker
Well, I think you're completely right with this, but i do have to I do have to bring this up, and I hate to publicly shame you. I sent video of 2006 finest strikers to you recently and said that this was the time to be alive, and and you are not in agreement with that, my man.
00:08:35
Speaker
No, no, there is absolutely rose-tinted glasses, but, like, Ricky Lambert was also, like, he was easily at Liverpool in 2013, 2014, so still couple of years after. I can't even remember what year that was. Yeah. But, like, think the...
00:08:48
Speaker
the quality of football is probably better now technically it's like you know when you you know when musicians get like really into it and you get like bands like tool that's like they're playing in crazy like uh timings and it's like not just four four it's like 12 eights and yeah they're going yeah You just don't get it. I think football's nearly gotten to that point of kind of going, it is for stats and nerds.
00:09:17
Speaker
And I do think that there is a space for just... Anarchy. Anarchy. Listen, I'm probably going to offend every coach out there by Big Sam,
Influence of Pep Guardiola's Style
00:09:28
Speaker
but...
00:09:29
Speaker
I'm going to say it. It doesn't feel like we're playing football nowadays. like It feels like we're playing chess. And that's where I'm finding that disconnect. It's like, how do we play the perfect game? Where in reality, like what we're seeing from Forrest is it's a team that concedes goals, but they're there to play football. They're there to score goals. And listen, you guys might jump down my throat here, but I think the big thing is I think a big thing is like the top six struggling.
00:10:02
Speaker
When was the last time where we could sit down every Sunday and watch a huge game and go, these are two huge teams going at each other? Back in the day, that used to be every Sunday. Every Sunday you could sit down and watch a huge Super Sunday game.
00:10:16
Speaker
It doesn't feel like that anymore. well i don't like I can't remember more than two or three games this year that I was genuinely excited about. And to be honest, those games that I was excited about,
00:10:27
Speaker
I just happened to be games that turned into something. They weren't the ones that were billed as the kind of sexy Super Sunday day games. they They were just, I suppose, good football games. And like I really do think...
00:10:42
Speaker
like I hate saying Pep has ruined football. I don't believe that. But, you know, the Pep ball of Barcelona time, that was an exciting type of football compared to the style of football that his teams are playing now. it's wet like I think you are on to referenced a tool like...
00:10:59
Speaker
where they're they're being too technical because like, I'm not trying to bring us back to, you know, Jack Charlton, just kick it long football, but there is something a bit more exciting about that because it's more accessible because it was just, be you every team had like two or three good lads and then some absolute donkeys and then everything in between.
00:11:20
Speaker
Well, now they're all such absolute freak athletes with such technical ability. It's like they're getting in their own way. It's like they've forgotten what football was like when you played it in the garden or on the street. Like Gary Taylor Fletcher would never play in this Premier League era and I think that's a shame.
00:11:36
Speaker
There's so many players that wouldn't get a look in there. But ah be honest, I think he's touching on the one real problem without actually addressing what it actually
Homogenization of Football Playstyles
00:11:47
Speaker
is. And I think what it is is that the Premier League has become and monochromatic in how people are playing.
00:11:53
Speaker
That All the styles are starting to get very, very similar. Whereas before you're saying Nate about like the big games, that would be thatd be the time where you'd have two teams playing similar styles.
00:12:05
Speaker
And it's kind of like, oh yeah, proper challenge against each other. But next week you'll have maybe United playing reasonably passing football and it could be against... ah an allodized team it could be against Blackpool that's just like route one do whatever it takes to to not like absolutely lose our shirt here and I think that's where element of boredom is coming in because like when even the bad teams are playing the really technical ah football and the good teams are playing it and the differences that are coming down to how much you can spend rather than exploiting true differences and kind of like
00:12:48
Speaker
but Players like Richard Dunn in this era just one wouldn't even get a game, even though it was unbelievable. course The thing is, having that kind of a ah ah defender in 2006 was like, okay, he will win you like 33% of your games because when we're coming against them route one teams, absolutely, he's going to be the man to clear it.
00:13:12
Speaker
you know and I think it's it's it's the diversity. There's a systemic issue with it, though, as well. that you know from a We've talked about this before, that managers are scared for their lives to so have their own style of football because you can get sacked after eight games.
00:13:26
Speaker
you know like i There's also playing to the crowd a little bit in in the fact that if you're not a team that passes out from the back, what are you doing? Absolutely. ah Then the the managers that go against that and actually try to create something or even play back to the footballer yesteryear, if it doesn't work for five games in a row, well, best of luck. See you in the next club because you're getting sack.
00:13:51
Speaker
Fans are part of that problem too. hundred hundred percent 100%. Like, look at Allardyce at Everton. Look at Allardyce at West Ham.
Pressure on Managers for Attractive Play
00:13:59
Speaker
Like, fans started to turn on him because it was like, oh, yeah, we're winning, but we should be winning nicer. Yeah.
00:14:06
Speaker
But if you're if you're not playing pep ball, you're a dinosaur. To 70% of ah football fans out there, under the age of, I'd say, about 35.
00:14:18
Speaker
You know, it's like... And it's it's it's hard for... Like, there's two... Football... This sounds insane, what I'm about to say. There was always high stakes in football. It's not like that's changed. But there's so little room for error in the league now that...
00:14:34
Speaker
i don't I don't even fault both players and managers for playing it safe, you know? Yeah, like, I think we're generally heading for a bit of a dangerous period for football in terms of the product isn't getting better.
Need for Innovation in Football
00:14:49
Speaker
It's actually getting worse. And I think we could be heading for a period where people start to panic when the viewership drops off and, you know, it starts to become stale because to me, that's what it is becoming a bit.
00:15:00
Speaker
And I think, you know, it's interesting seeing like, I'm not not trying to merge the two, but when you see stuff like the Kings League, you see stuff like the Ballers League, where they're adding in spicy stuff to football to try and make it a better viewing experience.
00:15:14
Speaker
is like I'm a bit worried when we get to the point where people are trying to think of new ideas for 11-a-side football, what they're going to come up with. Well, you're right. because i you know Let's face it like like the The core rules of football aren't going to change to what the Ballers League is or anything
Anthony's Performance and Potential Moves
00:15:31
Speaker
like that. But You know, sponsors follow where the eyes are and the eyes are on TikTok right now. The eyes are on social media. what are those fans watching? It's those kind of tournaments, you know, and if the sponsors go away, then it's a whole different conversation that we're having.
00:15:47
Speaker
Just to go back to what you were saying before, though, Conor, about ah players putting themselves in the shop window. um One player that is really doing that, Nate, is Anthony, which apparently Letico Madrid looking at buying him.
00:16:01
Speaker
Yeah, 75 million. like one Take the money. Take the money. I repeat, take the money. If you move that decimal point to 7.5 million, you can still take it.
00:16:14
Speaker
If you needed glasses and you're watching La Liga this season, you probably think Messi's playing. ah he's I don't know what's happened, but he's he's been a revelation for Real Batista this season so far. And, you know, it's to the point where, you know, their manager, their rector's coming out going, we need to try everything to keep this guy here. Do you think it's a flash in the pan? Do you think it's it's him having his Michael Jordan moment or like he's in his is his last dance kind of...
00:16:42
Speaker
fuck the world mentality or do you think it's that's just the player that Man United thought he told was I'm unsure but I think I think like I think it all comes I think it's a bit of everything in terms of like you know he didn't get much game time at United like he's a player that has some talent like obviously or he wouldn't have got the move I think the big thing is like what was a ceiling and If we're seeing a bit of a glimpse of it now, that's good. Do we think it can be replicated back into the Premier League when he's playing for Man United? I don't know.
00:17:19
Speaker
And and i think that's what... I'm a bit worried about now is it's going to fall down to United to make that decision if clubs come calling for him, you know? Well, when you look around the team, like, and, you know, I don't want to jump off this Anthony piece too quick, but, you know, Rashford's performing well at Villa.
00:17:37
Speaker
Sancho's doing better than he was at United at Chelsea. Like, at what point? Not much, but you know what I mean? Like, he's at least performing somewhat to the point where Chelsea are considering...
00:17:48
Speaker
potentially keeping them or sending them back which for the content I hope they send them back but at what point do do you start to kind of think is
Discussion on La Liga's Suitability for Players
00:17:58
Speaker
it the club you know is it just coincidence oh do Too many coincidences.
00:18:05
Speaker
Yeah. like i I don't think it's a club personally because i think he was a player that was bought overpriced by a manager that clearly loved him as a player and he still couldn't get game time.
00:18:18
Speaker
I think a lot of that comes down to him. and I also think some play styles currently and players just don't suit the Premier League and I think Sancho falls into that category. I think players that don't have you know that natural pace and are more of a dribbly type player, I think it's probably harder to make them work currently in the Premier League. So personally, I'd probably looking at getting rid of both of them and bringing in a bit of pace. and But you know I don't get paid the big bucks to make them suit
00:18:50
Speaker
i think I think you're right. like i mean look Historically, the the La Liga's been a league where it's less physical. You get more time in the ball. It is a dribbler's market. you know it players There are certain players that suit certain styles. and you know Again, going back to Man United, if you guys are going to keep Amarim's formation...
00:19:11
Speaker
going forward, going to players that don't fit that system and you need to figure out who they are very swiftly and move them on and bring in people who can play to that system. I mean, it's a huge gamble doing that because youre it's it's short-term thinking, in my opinion, i based off how long managers stay at a club, you're kind of changing your entire club to fit a manager that probably won't be there in seven years' time.
00:19:35
Speaker
But I am happy for for for Anthony. like i mean I think us as a podcast threw so much shade at him, along with most football fans out there. So like look, it's great for him. i just I'm really, really curious.
00:19:51
Speaker
A, like I don't know if Bettis can afford 75 million. like Where are they getting that? So if he doesn't go there, he's not staying at United. Where does he go? and then if he go like Is it a case of, say he ends up somewhere in Italy, is it just back to what happened at United or is or can he make it work there? I think his next move, whether he stays at Bettis, can he continue the form? If he doesn't stay at Bettis, what happens?
00:20:16
Speaker
Yeah, I think that's life's great mystery to get into the transfer window. I'd like to see a move. Not only because I'd like some money back on the transfer, but listen, is a player if it's not working for a player at a club and they move leagues and a starts working for them, go to where me where it makes more sense for you to play. you know Fans seem to be buying in on him as well. I mean, he went for the full Graham Soon as vibes in the derby, throwing the flag into the ground. of ah So i'm I'm always there for a bit of but of pettiness and of shithousery.
00:20:53
Speaker
In fairness, lads, I think he'll end up somewhere like Atletico and you'll have Simeone turn him into like an absolute world leader. Yeah. yeah And like, I know what you're saying about the La Liga, kind of, it is it's a different
European Football Leagues' Rankings
00:21:10
Speaker
way of playing. it is, you do have more time. It's not as physical, and but like,
00:21:17
Speaker
Some would take that as kind of... ah Kind of admonishing the league. Kind of going, well, yeah you're not probably not as good. because like Oh, no. not just to I'm not saying it's a bad league by any means. like but See, this is the thing. is like...
00:21:32
Speaker
oh And i've heard yeah yeah I've heard it being said before, oh, well, if if the likes of an Anthony can go to La Liga and become a world beater, well, then what does that say for the league?
00:21:43
Speaker
But it's like, yeah, what does it say when Real Madrid win three Champions League leagues in a row? like Or Spain win World Cup Euros, or Euros World Cup Euros, was it? Yeah, yeah, that way.
00:21:54
Speaker
um So, like, it's one of them kind of, like... Do you think... as a league, the likes of La Liga is underrated by Premier League fans? Like, where would you where would you use Rankin in kind of like, top five?
00:22:09
Speaker
ah Like, it's hard because, again, we're into, like, it's not kind of rose-tinted glass as an appeal to this.
00:22:20
Speaker
Like, if we're putting... say Premier League prime, Serie A prime, La Liga prime, that's one conversation. But if we're going off today's football, as much as I think the product in the Premier League has gone down tremendously, i think you'd still put that up top. i don't know about you. let's Let's maybe go layer by layer on this one. I would say Prem probably remains still at the top.
00:22:47
Speaker
Should we each give her a top five? Well, it's the funny thing. that what is it What even is the top five? that's We can give it our top fives and see if we differ. Who he is putting in one?
00:22:59
Speaker
I'm going Prem. prayer Reluctantly, but Prem. Prem, but not by much. Two. It's between Spain and Italy. I'm going Italy.
00:23:11
Speaker
yeah yeah Yeah, I'd probably... I'm like 60-40 on the Italy train. I would be... putting Bundesliga or Spain. I think Italy have overperformed in Europe recently. Yeah.
00:23:24
Speaker
And I think there's also been a lack of... Like, where in Bayern winning the league, what was it, nine in a row, ten in a row, something like that? Like, it got very SPL vibes about it.
00:23:37
Speaker
So, like, I think there's worse... How many leagues did the City win? i Well, we'll come back to that. But, like, the... I think there's more spice from a... As a fair-weather fan of that league, of Serie A, you could watch most games and they're exciting and anyone could beat anyone for the most part. While I don't feel that there's that currently in Spain.
00:24:03
Speaker
Okay. ah So, you're you you're putting... these what do What do you say? I'm i'm going Italy. are you going Italy? I'm going Italy. I'm going to say Spain. And then for three, I'm saying Bundesliga.
00:24:17
Speaker
Jesus, you're going high in Bundesliga. I'm going Spain. And then Italy for me is four. Bundesliga four. yeah France five.
00:24:30
Speaker
Oh, I don't know.
France's Ligue 1 and Portugal's League Analysis
00:24:31
Speaker
I'd be putting Netherlands in there.
00:24:34
Speaker
It's a toss-up between Netherlands and Portugal. I think the drop-off in France in the last couple of years has been pretty remarkable. And I think the TV rights for that on its own tell you that story, you know? Yeah. Like, other than PSG, there is like, every other team has completely dropped off the face the earth.
00:24:54
Speaker
Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, almost literally. ah yeah like I still think the quality of the league better than Netherlands and Well, I'll put it this way. If I was like, thats I've tickets to an unknown team in Portugal, Netherlands, and or France.
00:25:16
Speaker
We're going tomorrow. What league do you want to go to without knowing the team? why Yeah, but that's not how I'm based on it. I'm based off like the the twenty team and league on Ligue 1, I think, as a collective, are better than the 20 teams in the Portuguese League.
00:25:33
Speaker
I don't know. I think there's more competitiveness. You've got your Rio Aves and Porto. Do you know what mean? like I feel like to the drop-off in Portugal iss a lot heavier after the top four teams.
00:25:46
Speaker
No, but that's what I'm saying with France, though, is the drop-off has now gotten so heavy after PSG. Like, Lyon is not Lyon of even four years ago. Marseille is not the Marseille that we would remember.
00:25:57
Speaker
Like, I still think the teams are a bit better in France, though. I think their reputation is, but I don't think the playing is. I don't know if there's much in it between the three leagues. you know and like I think you could easily fight a case for all three.
00:26:10
Speaker
you just want the official UEFA rankings? Lads, let me say this real quickly. like After the top five in Portugal, I'd literally struggle to name your club.
00:26:22
Speaker
What about Boa Vista? but like But you know what I mean? like You've got your... Estrella, that's a pint of beer there. Jill Vizente, AVS, Forenzi. I just don't know these These are definitely Killian's football manager nemesises from previous saves. I can guarantee it. A lot of them actually came from one player that used to play for Sunderland called Mika.
00:26:54
Speaker
Oh, remember him. Bought him for like a million quid and he never played and we ended up releasing him after a year and a half. and he just kind of He went back to Portugal and actually had a decent career. but it was just like Does that not say what we're saying?
00:27:07
Speaker
ah no No, no, no. This this was some um under Moyes, so we do not judge. this is This is an era of Julian Lescott and Steven Pinar. This was not a good times.
00:27:18
Speaker
um Okay. But the ah official UEFA rankings is England, number one. the Italy, two. Spain, three. Germany, four.
00:27:29
Speaker
France, five. so
Diversity and Characteristics of European Leagues
00:27:31
Speaker
well like I mean i understand like I said the friend like there's not much in it for that fifth one it's it's not exactly the whole position here the points rounding um up and down is like England on 110 on Netherlands 67 and Portugal 62 germany on eighty six france on seventy one the netherlands sixty seven and portugal sixty two
00:28:00
Speaker
So like yeah they're all reasonably... like it England's way out. Italy, Spain, Germany, fairly damn close. But then France, Netherlands, Portugal, all pretty damn close. so like I would love to see, though. I'd love to make a comparison of that.
00:28:18
Speaker
What those coefficients are and what... Is it UEFA that list was? Yeah. yeah I'd love to see what is the sponsorship... in those leagues like does it match up because let's face it UEFA are looking to keep the sponsorship where it is and increase it and not rock the boat so I be i would i would suggest that the sponsorship would be pretty even and going through i'd say I'd say it would match team for team
00:28:51
Speaker
Like what I also find interesting is so it's ah France 5, Netherlands 6, Portugal 7, Belgium 8, Czech Republic 9, Turkey 10.
00:29:03
Speaker
Turkey 10? Yeah. And then Greece, Norway, Austria, Scotland, Poland. Like Switzerland is 17. What number is Scotland? 14. ah fourteen That's a bit rough.
00:29:16
Speaker
Serbia is 22. That seems low. I couldn't name you a single Serbian team. Red Star Belgrade. Oh, yeah, fair. The team, yeah. ah But then, like, Croatia is 20.
00:29:32
Speaker
Like, Dynamo, where Kovacic and all came from. Yeah, but they're one-club countries, you know. It's ben below Cyprus.
00:29:42
Speaker
this It's kind of like... cyprus Coefficients in football have annoyed me for years. It's it's the same in rugby. As a big fan is ahead of Ireland. But does does this take into just the domestic leagues or does it take in their international team where if you play 10 games against Gibraltar, you can go higher in the world rankings, you know? Coefficients.
00:30:05
Speaker
Okay.
00:30:08
Speaker
Which is just absolutely insane. um Like, it's... Austria makes sense. Norway is at 12. Norway has some... dave see They've had some players come out of there, you know? And not not just that. They've had a couple of, like, the you youre Europa runs and stuff.
00:30:25
Speaker
You kind of forget... Rosenberg is one of their big teams. Denmark, 16, seems about right. Switzerland, 17, about right. Israel is 18. slightly surprising. Ukraine is 23, which feels low, but obviously with with what's going on. Yeah, so that kind of makes and more sense.
00:30:43
Speaker
um Yeah, it's just weird. um Like Malta is ahead of Northern Ireland. Well, I don't know too much about... Is it the Maltese League? Am I right with that? Faroe Islands is ahead of the two of them.
00:30:58
Speaker
I mean, we're in the weeds now, boys. Yeah.
De Bruyne's Potential Departure from City
00:31:03
Speaker
But before we completely move on from the yeah United City game, Conor De Bruyne has announced his intention to leave.
00:31:14
Speaker
I don't think it's a massive surprise. I think it's been a it's been a fairly, you know... talked about element he dropped ah some breadcrumbs or a more so a loaf of bread not too long ago about going to Saudi um obviously i was only talking about this this so the other day it's a shame he's leaving now in in like don't get me wrong he's still an unbelievable player he was complete servant to Man City he's been there the guts of a decade and at one point he was arguably the best midfielder in the world definitely Europe
00:31:49
Speaker
and where he is now the football is definitely starting to leave him a little bit not to sound like Jamie Carragher but it's time for him to move on I just wish when he left it was at a bit more of a dizzying height than it is it's bit more of a lull now you know Yeah, I think physically and the league kind of is escaping him now.
00:32:13
Speaker
To be able to perform at the level that you'd expect for him, he's kind of lost that bit pace. He's may maybe lost that kind of... a split second of a decision maybe there's a slight kind of like when you hear parents say that oh i used to be a really good driver you used to be really good at roller coasters until i had my kids and then and i think now that he's had the injury problems that he's just a little bit slightly too cautious that than the premier league allows so where do reckon he he's gonna go because uh into miami apparently have his discovery rights for the mls and i'd love to see that happen
00:32:48
Speaker
I'd be a big fan of that as well. um i i really hope he doesn't go to Saudi because I think if he does, that'll entice more players to to flow that way.
00:33:00
Speaker
um I think for him... Yeah. Including the viewers. Because I don't know about you, even on my social feeds, I see MLS clips multiple times a day.
00:33:12
Speaker
The only Saudi clips I'm seeing is Duran and Ronaldo, and that's about it. Or in a negative context. Yeah. So, you know, and leaving the politics out of it, just from a sheer footballing standpoint, like, yeah you know, i think, yes, when we say the football's leaving them,
00:33:29
Speaker
i I just mean that in regards to the Premier League is the 1% of the 1% of the 1%. it's It's not like he is a crap footballer now. It's just at that level, it's it's a bit above where he is.
00:33:43
Speaker
I think it's it's more like... like with hit with injury problems and losing that little element of ah pace or whatever, that the Premier League is punishing him, whereas he still has something to give. 100%. It's just Premier League doesn't allow that.
00:33:58
Speaker
I would like that MLS move. My other suggestion is that he if he's not going to go to the MLS... he should go to Inter Milan. Jesus, that's out of left field.
00:34:11
Speaker
I think kind of like when Eriksen went there, I think he'd be given a little at a time. i think he'd be able to drop a little bit deeper and play a little bit more of a playmaker role without having to have the physicality of running around, but also in a league that'll kind of give him the expanse enough to be able to I think it it hinges on where he is mentally. And I don't mean that from a, like he's having issues there. I mean, it's it's a case of... Does he want to still prove himself at the top? or Does he want to does he want to go I'm not done yet and um prove it?
00:34:45
Speaker
Or does he want to go, you know what? I have worked, I've played an unholy amount of games over the last 10 years. I just want to enjoy what years have left in a footballing context.
00:34:57
Speaker
Go rip it up with Messi. Pretty sure Miami's tax-free. yeah that's there' an There is an issue in Inter-Miami, though. a Designated players. Yeah, they already have the three.
00:35:08
Speaker
It's Messi, Busquets, and I think Jordi Alba. I mean, I'm sure they could restructure a contract where an Adidas or you know Apple foot the bill outside of the designated player through a sign-on bonus.
00:35:22
Speaker
don't know if they can, but... You know what they do in the NFL where it's like your sign-on's 80 million, but you're your season's earnings are like four? i'm not I'm not sure if you can do that. um I'm just not 100% if you can.
00:35:37
Speaker
But even even saying that, like... it'd be one of them kind of things that ah there's other creative accounting you can do. Get one of them onto the normal salary thing and then make a deal with the likes of Apple kind of going, yeah, you're going to do an ad campaign with Busquets in it. And you're going to give him 50 million quid. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. yeah And i look, I think he personally, or personally, I think he will lean more towards that from a family perspective.
00:36:03
Speaker
um I think the the what players like about the MLS is, Don't get me wrong, there's a massive media attention on it now compared to what it was 10 years ago. But compared to the Premier League, it's about 10%.
00:36:16
Speaker
you know Somewhere like Miami is a massive place where he can kind of live a normal-ish life and be out of the spotlight in the way that he's not used to.
00:36:27
Speaker
But it also gives him an opportunity to become more of a mainstream celebrity over there. Does he want it? You know, I don't know. It gives him the option of kind of going, well, if I want to go down that route, I
Debate on Football Statues and Legacies
00:36:36
Speaker
can. and But the other thing it's bringing up, and apparently City have confirmed it, Nate, is that he's going to get a statue.
00:36:42
Speaker
Does he deserve a statue? Or is it this just ah plastic city getting, like, some Nubia? think he's, like... For club with not, you know, the most rich history, have I'd say he... This is a club with Diego Parotti.
00:37:01
Speaker
ah There's a statue of Diego Parotti. Do you remember Diego Parotti? I do not. So and there's a statue in Manchester of um the ah only three...
00:37:15
Speaker
Manchester-born men to win the World Cup. And one of them is Diego Perotti. He used to play for Roma. And he was on loan at City. ah But he was born in Manchester. Oh, Jesus Christ. And he was there for like two years.
00:37:28
Speaker
But have a statue of him. Is that for real? That's for real. Oh, my God. i I don't know about you, Nate. I know you're kind of on the fence and you probably have your red lenses on. But I do think...
00:37:40
Speaker
10 years, how many Premier Leagues, he's won everything there. That's as big a player as they've ever had you know outside your Vinny companies from a leadership perspective. I think from a talent perspective, outside Sergio Aguero, I'd say he's the most talented footballer that's gone through the gates there in the last 10 years.
00:38:00
Speaker
I think give it a few years like first. I'd say like let the nostalgia try and kick in a bit. like and They know he just won't come back. Yeah, he won't be available unless they don't Once those charges hit, they won't have enough money to make a statue. you Yeah, I don't know.
00:38:17
Speaker
I feel like statues with City will always be a funny thing. Let's face it, whether they whether he wants the statue now or in five years, it's going to look crap like every other statue that happens to be made. what do you what what What's your thinking on it, Killian?
00:38:33
Speaker
ah Like, they already have given one to, like, company and stuff, so off with them. It's... it's kind of telling that we're kind of giving statues to lads that are like at the club.
00:38:47
Speaker
It wouldn't be my first choice, but it does kind of give an interesting kind of dilemma. Is there any player at your club that you would give a statue to now? Like currently at the club? Currently playing?
00:38:59
Speaker
Yeah, like De Bruyne's situation. Like if I had to pick one, like... If he's going to say Bruno, I know he is. It's Bruno, isn't it?
00:39:10
Speaker
To be honest, I don't think you could afford the actual bronze needed to make like a one for Casanova. Be a tinfoil statue, yeah. I think it'd have to be Bruno. At least Rashford, you can put the charity angle onto it.
00:39:27
Speaker
Nah, I'd probably pick still pick Burnham. I wouldn't. I'm just going to say that now, but if I had to pick someone, it's Big Dan Burn for obvious reasons, and he will be dining out in that goal for the rest of his life, let alone career.
00:39:44
Speaker
and but no No love for Callum Munsell. Yeah. uh bruno gimaras probably tripier being the first one to join the project don't get me started on that again um anyone ah anyone up your rotten side of of the northeast uh if you say jack clark i'm hanging up uh he's not there anymore he's ah he's i know playing no games at ipswich um Luke O'Neill, like, he joined us when we were in League One as an attacking midfielder from Wickham, had the worst debut, thought that was his career ruined.
00:40:21
Speaker
Injuries came, he started playing right back, and now he is a starting centre-back in a championship ah promotion playoff run-in.
00:40:33
Speaker
And he's captaining the club now. and 300 games in the league for Sunderland like it's a great great turnaround so him or that's not a bad one like I don't like statues like i' in a football context I think they're given to far too many people or at least offered to far too many people but like I understand that one but like I like what's that you guys currently have because like the ones I think of outside Newcastle are Bobby Robson, Alan Shearer that makes sense easy to get trophies at Sunderland these days isn't it We have like a bob Bob Stokey and stuff who like won the FA Cup in 1972 as the manager when we were a second division side against Leeds.
00:41:16
Speaker
like but Like the statues that I'm fine with. i don't about you boys, but like the Henri one makes sense. You know, the Dennis Law, Charlton one at the front of United.
00:41:27
Speaker
Cool. Holy Trinity. Yeah, that like I get those kind of ones, but like, I just, it's like the way people use the word legend too frequently. Frequently, yeah. it's it's i I think getting a stand named after you is more classy than a stand too.
00:41:46
Speaker
But see, that is one of those ones that you cannot rename a stand. you like That has to be. like whatever A statue can can go missing or be replaced, but a a stand, that is bigger.
00:42:01
Speaker
Connor, what about your Alan Shearer one that Mike Ashley wouldn't allow at Newcastle? Are you happy about that? like I know he's a local legend. but like but i mean like When you look at that, like not even just because he's Alan Shearer and you know we all know I love him very dearly, but like he's also the record goal scorer in the league. like He achieves something that's still standing. you know well Most of his name is based on achievements. Blackburn.
00:42:27
Speaker
yeah that aren't at Newcastle yeah like in terms of new Newcastle career it's like that's a local statue you know yeah he like has he national prominence but it's more of a a team statue he is like he is our greatest ambassador like outside but Bobby Robson like that is the if if you know Bobby Robson like Bobby Robson's statue is is the one if if we were only allowed one that's the one I'd keep you know but that's not to say I don't want this year one but like I i don't just is there any other ones that you feel that the club is missing out on like yeah all time like is there is there one that you're kind of like oh you probably should have one of him i don't know like i don't i'm not big on them because like at what point do you stop like i don't want it to be 10 statues strewn around a stadium like you know it' like one or two and leave it at that put a bus somewhere if you really must you know
00:43:21
Speaker
Yeah, but anything like that. doesn't mean, like, is there anyone that you think deserves more of a memorialization around your stadium? The one that comes to mind for me is Gary Speed. Yeah, that'd be nice.
Potential Memorials and Tributes at Manchester United
00:43:32
Speaker
You know, just from a human perspective. He played a lot games for you as well, didn't he? He did. He was a hero of the tune, and, you know, think that'd be nice, and I think...
00:43:44
Speaker
I wouldn't go full statue, just, you know, like when they kind of put a bust on a wall kind of situation. Or a big mural or something. Yeah, something like that. I'd i'd i'd i'd be down for that. and Nate, I know he already has a stand, but is ah Fergie the obvious answer?
00:43:59
Speaker
He has a statue, doesn't he? Yeah, he has one at the front of the Concord. Oh. But, to be honest... The club wouldn't allow that.
00:44:11
Speaker
I think the thing with United like, I feel like United do this type of stuff really well. Like, I feel like we don't have too much going on, but we hit the right note in terms of, like, you know, you've got Busby stands, you've got the, you know, you've got Sir Alex has a stand and a statue, you've got the Holy Trinity, you've got the Munich Tunnel, like...
00:44:33
Speaker
I think we hit a... right In terms of what i'd add, maybe like Class of 92? I was going to say Class of 92 mural somewhere.
00:44:45
Speaker
Not statue, you because that would just be mental. But ah I'd say mural somewhere. You should guess get one of the yeah you know the boxing mannequins for a Ryan Giggs one, just so that people can fight back. I think a Ronaldo one eventually will probably happen. I you was so curious if you'd mention that. That is wrong, man.
00:45:03
Speaker
What do you mean? We made him the player that he was. I know, but like... What a Ballon d'Or United. Do you know what I mean? It's a boy. Like, no. I'm not here for that.
00:45:16
Speaker
Rooney, I could get behind. I could understand that. I think you should have a memorialisation of Eric Cantona kicking the fan. like yeah cover a photo it is like you know we could have a million bleeding statues as island i think it's just picking the most i think cantona deserves one either you could see a cool one collar up hands in the air yeah i could see that cool or like definitely a big mural I think what he's done for the club when he joined is underrated.
00:45:48
Speaker
like I think it's still underrated to this day like in terms of turning that period around. one One United one, i there may be something for him, and forgive me, can't remember his name.
00:46:00
Speaker
When the Munich disaster happened, and bo he was in the hospital, who Was it Duncan Edwards you're going to say? um and No, the manager who carried them through that period until Busby recovered. Oh, yeah, the the the assistant manager. the Yeah, but ah kind of David Tennant played him in the end of the movie.
00:46:20
Speaker
ah Him. I think that would be one. I think he has a huge thing in the Munich tunnel. All right. Yeah. Jimmy Murphy. Jimmy Murphy. That is it.
00:46:31
Speaker
Yeah. Those kind of statues, are that like that's more impactful than just football. you know I think, what's it called? I think Duncan Edwards is theres one of my opinions.
00:46:44
Speaker
i He has a statue, but I think that's like wherever he's from. Yeah, I think what he done in such a short life for United was like, he was the belief at that time, you know?
00:46:58
Speaker
And I think ah that saying that like you know the busby babes as a whole probably deserves but they've got their tunnel haven't that's the thing like yeah you know and and it's you don't go overboard either like one thing that united to do well is history you know like that museum is fantastic
Cultural Icons and Football History
00:47:18
Speaker
and you know the the likes of the the busby memorial like united do it well I think um Newcastle are missing definitely one anyway of the fan punching the horse.
00:47:32
Speaker
Oh, Jesus Christ.
00:47:36
Speaker
Like, think he's just missing and, like, ignoring part of his or culture. I mean, lest we forget. Yeah, like, ah I think there's a couple of them in Sunderland that would be nice to see, um like, Kevin Phillips and Niall Quinn, especially for, like, what Niall Quinn did for the club as, like, an owner as well. That's a strong one. I don't... But then at the same time, it's like, are we just giving statues to Sounders? You know what i mean? Like, I know he did great things for the club, and he kind of almost reinvigorated the club, but, like, ah not to say, like, Roy Keane, but that's your job. Well...
00:48:11
Speaker
the The thing with, say, like ah Kevin Phillips, he's still the only Englishman to win a golden European golden boot in the Premier League. So in the same way with like Shearer, it's like, well, nobody else can say that. So there should be something to kind of commemorate that.
00:48:30
Speaker
um So I think some something like that would be good. um And one other thing I think clubs don't necessarily always do quite as well um is, like, some kind of recognition to, like, their founders.
00:48:44
Speaker
So, like, Sunderland was founded by teachers, and I think something like that would be kind of a cool thing. I think... United should actually have one of a St. Bernard, considering when they were Newton Heath, there was a St. Bernard ran from the club into some like posh place, and from that chance meeting, they got funding to keep the club going, and ah that owner rebranded um the club into Manjie United and moved them into Old Trafford.
00:49:09
Speaker
That's kind of cool. like There should be ones that have stories, I think. so I think it's a case of, you know... It's so far back. So most people don't know those stories, you know, the origin stories.
Closing Remarks and Appreciation
00:49:25
Speaker
I think with United's new stadium, we'll see a ah flurry of new statues, I think. Actually, how's that going to work with the Busby Memorial? What do you mean?
00:49:37
Speaker
As in, are they going to leave that in its existing spot? Are they going to move it? Yeah. Yeah, I think they'll leave it where it is. And the clock and the whole thing, like. Yeah, I think they've i like that that that is all Trafford, you know i mean?
00:49:53
Speaker
Or they're incorporated, kind of like what Wembley did with some of their old bits, kind of bring it into the new stadium. But I think we're going to wrap there, lads, because there's one statue that will never be beaten, and obviously that's Michael Jackson at Fulham. So if if we can't beat it, let's not even try.
00:50:09
Speaker
Gentlemen, thank you very much. I will chat to you next week. Bye-bye.
00:50:16
Speaker
Messi. Messi. Oh, my goodness. Vitelli. Aguero. Oh! That is extraordinary.
00:50:28
Speaker
What a hit. What a hit. Back of the net.