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Contract Dilemmas: What’s Next for Trent, Salah & VVD? 💼 Is Rashford’s Time Up? 🤔 Fixing Eye-Watering Wages for Young Players 💰
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Liverpool’s contract dilemmas — what’s next for Trent, Salah, and VVD? 💼 Is Marcus Rashford’s time up, or can he turn it around? 🤔 Eye-watering wages for young players — how can clubs fix the broken system?💰
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Transcript
Introduction and Hosts' Return
00:00:18
Killian Ginnity
Back of the net and back on the pod. It is not a pundit. Back for the year that is 2025. I am delighted to be joined for our first episode of the new year by Connor Glennon and Nathan Byrne, as always, and I'm killing you nutty gentlemen.
Newcastle's Recent Success
00:00:38
Killian Ginnity
How was Christmas? How is your new year? How was the break away from the podcast?
00:00:43
Conor Glennon
I won't lie, boys, i was I was missing you, you know, I think Newcastle have been on ah on a steady stream of wins since we we put down the mics or albeit for a proper episode to not a Christmas special episode. So I don't know if I'm going to have to depart the pod ah for the sake of Newcastle's success, but not good Christmas and delighted to be back. Nate, how are you doing?
00:01:06
Nate
I'm doing well mate, nice cosy Christmas. But yeah, now I'm delighted to be back and a huge 2025 ahead I think. So yeah, let's get rolling.
00:01:17
Killian Ginnity
We have lots to catch up on and chat about and lots of plans for the for the new year. So if you haven't already, follow us on socials at not a pununddit pod or not not upon podcast, depending on the platform, you'll find us.
Newcastle Team Dynamics and Future
00:01:29
Killian Ginnity
and Connor, as you mentioned, since we ah took our kind of Christmas break, Newcastle have been on the up.
00:01:38
Killian Ginnity
ah Has the team finally clicked? Has how finally discovered a tactic that works? Or is Esac just kind of throwing his toys at the parameter site? And you know what? I'm just going to drag this team forward.
00:01:50
Conor Glennon
I think it's a mix of all, to be honest, and I know that sounds like I'm sitting on the fence, but you know I think Isak is having some Michael Jordan last dance kind of Salah season. um i think you yeah i I don't think he's trying to pull himself in a shop when nobody definitely has through through what he's doing, but you know I think what is coming to the fore in terms of outside of ESAC. Look, I still think after what I'm about to say, if ESAC went down injured tomorrow, we have big problems, huge problems. But even with that being said, I think players, I think no matter how long, how remains at Newcastle, his legacy will have been taking players who were quite average and making them into above average and kind of above their level of playing. So I'm looking at guys like, you know, Sean Longstaff,
00:02:42
Conor Glennon
jacob murphy's is unbelievable at the moment you know he's he's a player that went out on loan two seasons in a row not too long ago and i think we couldn't find anyone to buy him to be honest i look at guys like joe linton you know i saw it i think he's not he's cultivated a squad that's functioning well together but still hinges on key players. Actually Fabian Scharr is another one I should add into that list of who House kind of managed to bring along so I think look January I don't see us being too active um and i Jesus if it's anything like the summer window I hope we don't buy anyone but um I think come next summer we definitely need to figure out up front and obviously try to keep hold of Isaac.
Newcastle's Managerial Changes?
00:03:27
Conor Glennon
PSO will be an issue there but I don't see the likes of a Callum Wilson staying on and we'll will need a replacement for him.
00:03:34
Killian Ginnity
Do you think Kai was still under a bit of pressure, um despite kind of results going his way now, that it's just kind of, no matter how things really gonna go, there's always gonna be that kind of thing over his head of, you're not the guy to take us forward.
00:03:48
Conor Glennon
I still do maintain that I think for us to get to the next step and get back to a Champions League spot, he may not be the guy. um I don't like saying that because I really like him as as a manager. I liked him before he came to the tune and and what he's done for the tune is nothing short of of amazing in the time period he's been there. But yeah, I think ah There's certain players and certain managers that they hit their level, and that is as far as they can go. And I i hope I'm wrong. I hope to be absolutely you know prove wrong on this one. But I i really think he's starting to hit that ceiling. And look, let's I will say, though, if this is our ceiling, I would have killed for it two years ago. So I think we do need to remember that. But I think if you know our the the if you're going to keep an eye on how
00:04:39
Conor Glennon
economy to go if we're in the same position where we are now none of the two seasons we need to move on so it's kind of like you're almost starting to search somewhat anyway.
00:04:51
Killian Ginnity
Yeah, it's ah I think what could really put the nail in the proverbial coffin for how is depending on who becomes available manager wise, like I think if they have an inkling that they might get.
00:05:05
Killian Ginnity
Merino, they might just no matter how good he's doing, he might get the ball. It might be that kind of El Agrino city.
00:05:10
Conor Glennon
i i take i think I think if we get those play or ah those kind of caliber managers, the only way they'll definitely come is if... if our ownership will release the purse strings. And and in order to do that, it'll be PSOR equation.
Manchester United's Current Struggles
00:05:25
Conor Glennon
So I think what I think is most likely going forward is we will keep hold of how to get us to a place where we sort out our PSOR over the next season, season and a half with the view of bringing in someone who can bring us to that next level once we've created that buffer where they can actually spend to a recruit a manager like that and then buy them players to keep them there.
00:05:50
Killian Ginnity
and Nate and United have kind of, I don't want to say Ameren has worn out the welcome but definitely the shine has gone off him since we ah left for Christmas.
00:06:04
Nate
Yeah, so you can you can certainly say that. um Yeah, it's been it's been a long one, lads. It's been a tough hell of a grind watching some of these games, I'll tell you that for free. and yeah like it has but i don't think like any of that really comes down to him personally like he's mentioned i think the max he's got with players is like two training sessions in a week if he's lucky which is a mental to think about and yeah yeah like the busy christmas period like the max he's had is two training sessions in a row so um it just shows like you know there's only so much you can do with a set of players going into
00:06:28
Conor Glennon
In total? like is it That's the most consistent he's had. Wow.
00:06:42
Nate
a complex system like him like his and and to see results. and That being said though, I think some of the performances have been outright disgraceful um in some parts. Players just like visibly giving up on the pitch. But that's not new. is it like We've gone through about five or six managers, the same thing happening. and and Yeah, I think the big thing now is just um try and get them adapted to the system.
00:07:11
Nate
But we've seen against City and Liverpool, these players kind of lift their level. ah Like against Liverpool, I thought we should have won that game. I thought that i thought that Maguire chance at the end summed up that game where we should have scored it.
00:07:27
Conor Glennon
I felt bad for him and I really did because of all the people that dropped it to like he's the last in your list and like he'd even say it himself he's like why was I the one I dropped to you know.
00:07:27
Nate
and
00:07:31
Nate
Yeah.
00:07:36
Nate
yeah like i thought it was a really good performance i thought we made Liverpool look average um you know trend we made trend look like a disaster which is is ironic i think with with all the noise around him but yeah i don't know about you lads but it's just it's just flat right now um and i think
00:07:53
Conor Glennon
I think i think that you take positives out of that game though man, like I really do, like I know you didn't get three points in the end and people will argue that that Liverpool lost two points but to me that's the best football you guys have played under Amoram. It shows the system can work and I know it's your team your team setup relies on runners if you're going to play the game he plays and therefore you need your players to give it all which is you're having trouble with your players doing that but i i do think if you can carry into your next couple of games that form it's it's off to the races from there because you it's not a make or break moment by any means jesus there's a lot more left in the hammering tenure than than this but i mean for me i think it's one of those
00:08:40
Conor Glennon
you cannot go into your next couple of games without without at least giving the effort from the
Rashford's Future at Manchester United?
00:08:46
Conor Glennon
Liverpool game. Now the results come what may, but it to me, the next, the future of United with with Amoram in the short term needs that at least effort.
00:08:58
Killian Ginnity
Well, I think that's kind of the beauty of kind of use having this wobble early on. And particularly now, because like we're seeing ah like me and Nate have gushed over Amadiello plenty, but he's one of these guys that's actually getting the benefit of the team having a wobble because he's getting more chances and he does try and he is putting in the the work and he's getting the plaudits and the results from it. Like scoring a delivery pool to equalize the game. What a moment for him and like,
00:09:26
Killian Ginnity
for the fans to be able to get behind them in that kind of a situation. Having seen him at something like that is going to do wonders for him. He's one of the kind of players that put an arm around him, have the fan base behind him, and he will just continue to get better and continue to give. And like I think it's going to make Amorim's job in the summer much easier when he needs to get rid of some of these players. Now, there's also players getting rid of themselves, like Rashford,
00:09:54
Killian Ginnity
what's What's your what your thoughts? Because you know my opinion on them already.
00:09:58
Nate
yeah like um he's gotta to go doesn't he like um just being frank i just like i think he is uh how do i put this politely um
00:10:03
Conor Glennon
and do do Do you think that's because of what he said or how he's playing?
00:10:14
Nate
a train wreck. m the way The way he just like, you know, it'll come out where he gets dropped. yeah we we don't We don't physically know the reason why he got dropped or or or the reason i behind that. But then a day later he'll do an interview, a big interview and go, you know what, I think I want to lead the club. I think he turns right.
00:10:35
Nate
without thinking, he just has to get the first word out, of course, doesn't he? And then, you know, when when it comes out to like the clubs aren't really sniffing around for you, pal, because, you know, your performances haven't been too great for the last two years.
00:10:48
Nate
And, you know, it's all this like, yeah, but like if the if the terms are right, I'll stay and this and that. And it's just, yeah.
00:10:55
Conor Glennon
that's even worse that just makes you sound like a mercenary you know he's the most mismanaged player like I don't know who I don't know who's representatives are but I mean oh christ
00:11:00
Nate
Oh, his brother.
Young Players' Salaries and Financial Controls
00:11:04
Nate
Yeah.
00:11:04
Conor Glennon
that like that always goes horrible or like that's a pardon itself of how many
00:11:09
Conor Glennon
like players who have their family's agents and doesn't go to plan but like you know look at the NFL or the NBA like the standard practice for a management team if they're gonna do a situation like rashers they shop the player first they see the interest then do the big interview and then shortly later either sign a contract extension or go to a new team and how how they're in a situation now that like I'd love to know does management tell him to do that or did he just go and do it?
00:11:35
Nate
um like I have no idea on that part, but i'll just the part I'll say about Ashford is he's like the polar opposite of the person who joined the club in my opinion, you know what I mean? The kid that came through under Van Hal, like he was, as the chant goes, Mank burn born and bred, like he was our guy you know he's delivering the goals we were all behind them and this version of Astrid is just like so far away from what that was that like I really do like I feel bad for the guy and to be honest I'm sick of feeling bad for Manchester United players at this rate but I really do.
00:12:11
Conor Glennon
What do you think changed him though? Cause like even during COVID when he was having his troubles playing wise, he was at least like, look, he hasn't seemed happy for a long time, but I mean, even what he was doing in the community was amazing with the food banks. And you know, he he had a purpose or a cause, be it maybe it wasn't football exactly, but he was, he seemed to be in a better head space. I don't, ah maybe be unfair cause I don't know the guy, but I mean, it, it's just like something soured with him in the club.
00:12:38
Nate
Yeah, listen, I'm mature enough to look at both sides and go, like he's been through seven managers in about 10 years. you norman is like That's going to have its impacts on players regardless, like their their development, this and that.
00:12:46
Conor Glennon
Yeah, fair.
00:12:53
Nate
He's never really had a proper run under a manager. and With that being said, though, he used to take responsibility for some of the stuff that goes on in his own personal life. and and like the issues he runs into.
00:13:04
Nate
So I don't think both sides are blameless and I think both have to take accountability one way or another. But yeah, like I just think it's a sad ending now to what what, like, you know, will he go down as a legend?
00:13:19
Nate
Probably not.
00:13:21
Conor Glennon
Nice, yeah.
00:13:23
Nate
Like, goal or like when you when you look at the stats, like you really should. But he's been a great servant to the globe.
00:13:29
Conor Glennon
brace Recency bias will will kill him, I think. I don't know about you, Kaelian, but like for me, i look, he's done he's played great ball there in periods.
00:13:32
Nate
Yeah.
00:13:38
Conor Glennon
but And I think takeaway that he's from Manchester, if you just look at him like he's any other player, ah don't I don't see it.
00:13:45
Killian Ginnity
legacy-wise, I think at the club, he's going to end up like Michael Owen was for Liverpool. That kind of like, that kind of like, yeah, when he when he broke true, incredible.
00:13:51
Conor Glennon
That's a shout, yeah
00:13:57
Killian Ginnity
And that's all you you don't mention the rest of his tenure. You don't mention the fact that he went to United in Owen's case. And I think it's, um, it's it's It's a really good kind of ah teaching moment for young players to kind of look, kind of go and listen. you should You should, I think players should be more loyal than they are generally, but loyalty should only go so far. Like when you get to a stage where you're outliving multiple managers and knowing that you're gonna outlive one and acting like you know that you're gonna outlive this one, like, oh yeah, I'd be grand.
00:14:35
Killian Ginnity
I can phone it in for six months. I'll be i'll be here when Ollie's gone, or Tenhag is gone, or when Venhal is gone, or any of the other managers. like you can keep You can keep going. It's it's never a good um mindset to be in, and I saw that at Sunland. um yeah it's It'll be a sad end. He won't ever get the plaudits and affection that the United fans deservedly gave him at the beginning. He will never get that again.
00:15:08
Nate
Can I just say one thing? and
00:15:10
Conor Glennon
No.
00:15:10
Nate
i I'm sorry, it's my part. Yeah, hours was and ah can I What they want to say is, can we i'm I'm at the point now where I'm sick of the money in football. um I think there's a real, as you know, if I don't last like six years just looking at it, it's like,
00:15:29
Nate
you can see the impact it has on these young players. and it's not it Trust me, it's not a good it's um a good thing. and I'd well and truly be before like caps on wages for age groups because I genuinely think that these kids are getting money too quick.
00:15:45
Nate
and To be honest, I don't think it's even the money that's affecting them. I might think it's the people around them that the money then becomes a bigger thing than it actually is. you know i mean I think
00:15:54
Conor Glennon
i i I was only thinking this the other day, because I agree with you. I think post 18, you can't control it. But under 18, I think you can. But where i where I would be interested to get your opinion, lads, is I don't think you can decrease the money because of the income that the clubs are getting based off these players. But what I think you can do is almost like a trust fund kid, where you know you get, say, 20% of the money each. like when you Say you're getting, I don't know, 100 grand a year. You get 20% of it.
00:16:23
Conor Glennon
And then once you turn 18, you get the rest of that money. And and I think you can then at least give them fair market value, but not inflate their egos with massive contracts.
00:16:34
Killian Ginnity
and in acting that's called a Coogan account, where 15% of all earnings for under 18 is meant to be put into account legally.
00:16:37
Conor Glennon
Oh.
00:16:43
Conor Glennon
fifty They keep 15?
00:16:44
Killian Ginnity
15% of all money that the child earns has to be put into a separate account that the parents can't touch.
00:16:45
Conor Glennon
as
00:16:51
Conor Glennon
See, I'd flip that i'd flip that around and like as in the the they can touch 15, anyone, parents or a kid, and then keep the 80 until they're 17.
00:16:56
Killian Ginnity
Well,
00:17:01
Killian Ginnity
Well, the the logic of it is that that much because it ti takes so much be a child child takes so much work to be a child actor for the parents, that it actually pays the parents and the child because they're the ones looking after the child.
00:17:10
Conor Glennon
Fair. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:17:12
Killian Ginnity
and Because the original Uncle Fester of the Addams family, they he was the one of the first child actors. It happened to him that his his mother left him broke by the time he turned 18.
00:17:23
Killian Ginnity
Cole and Dylan Sprouse, most of their money was gone by the time they turned 16 because their mother spent it all. and So there is good examples of it.
00:17:34
Killian Ginnity
But I think with football, the cat is out of the bag. I don't think you can.
00:17:38
Conor Glennon
But that that's what I'm saying, though.
00:17:39
Nate
but like
00:17:39
Conor Glennon
because you So you need to find a structure to keep the the money the same because you're not going to go backwards.
00:17:43
Killian Ginnity
But.
00:17:44
Conor Glennon
You just need to figure out a way to control it now.
00:17:45
Killian Ginnity
but
00:17:46
Nate
Is it too late for a salary cap?
00:17:47
Killian Ginnity
There's a not.
00:17:49
Nate
Like, it is it?
00:17:50
Killian Ginnity
Yeah.
00:17:50
Conor Glennon
I think so. Unfortunately, like I'd be the biggest proponent of having it, but I ah just don't like, I think all that's going to happen there is you'll get players association going.
00:18:01
Conor Glennon
Oh, so the clubs get richer and we stay the same and that's not fair. And then you've got a whole goes to the court of arbitration for sports and inevitably we'll just be back where we are. If not a higher salary.
00:18:12
Killian Ginnity
It's a very short career as well.
00:18:14
Conor Glennon
Yeah.
00:18:15
Nate
yeah I just think it's really sad though that like, you see the impact it's having on your own players, you know what I mean? Like, at a point where, you know, like, you can even look at yourself and go like, imagine you're getting 350 grand at your bank account every week.
00:18:21
Conor Glennon
I hope so.
00:18:29
Nate
Like, wait where's the hunger? Like, what like, like, gli like, literally, like, I don't mean literally, but where is like the hunger to perform on the pitch? Because, you know, it's, it's such a big day.
Wage Structures in Football?
00:18:42
Killian Ginnity
I think though there is in the same way as there is anything like there is examples of good and bad of that. Like look at Odegard. Odegard I think we'd all say is a very level headed footballer doing things the right way, proper family behind them. He was signed by Madrid at 16, it was on 70k.
00:19:02
Nate
Yeah, but there's a difference between 70K and like literally teenagers getting given 250 to 350,000.
00:19:08
Killian Ginnity
No, 70K was his weekly wage.
00:19:11
Nate
Yeah, yeah. no
00:19:12
Killian Ginnity
I imagine what the signing on bonus was and his advertising.
00:19:12
Conor Glennon
but but but but But even what Nate's saying is like that 70 bags a week is unholy, but there's just kids looking at it and not going pathetic.
00:19:13
Nate
yeah
00:19:22
Nate
Jane, yeah.
00:19:22
Conor Glennon
Oh, you're in 170?
00:19:23
Killian Ginnity
ah There's there's there's not not many though.
00:19:24
Nate
Shane Sancho was on £350,000 at £22,000.
00:19:27
Conor Glennon
Yeah.
00:19:27
Nate
Like £350,000 a week.
00:19:28
Killian Ginnity
and twenty twenty That's a 22, so it's outside of the box that you can fix.
00:19:28
Conor Glennon
yeah
00:19:31
Nate
But a a week, like. ah Yeah. and yeah
00:19:34
Conor Glennon
Did you do it as though i don't know is there a way to control the phones again and nfl reference where you know you're on a rocky contract for your first contracts of four years you get a lead minimum of i think three hundred k a year.
00:19:47
Nate
Yeah.
00:19:49
Killian Ginnity
To be honest, I think the only way you're going to get that is did any sort of control like that is to break it down and start it again, like the um MLS did. Because well that's what happened to MLS. They ended up spending so much money on trying to get marquee players that all the clubs went bust constantly.
00:20:03
Killian Ginnity
So they kept they started again and nobody was happy about it. And they have minimum ah wages and they have maximum wages, ah apart from certain designated players.
00:20:12
Conor Glennon
designated players.
00:20:12
Killian Ginnity
And even the league can actually help in on that.
00:20:12
Conor Glennon
Yeah.
00:20:14
Killian Ginnity
I will touch on that again later. but like when your league is it decided upon by the clubs and the clubs make more money off of having the best players and making them into more viable advertising assets.
00:20:32
Killian Ginnity
You're you're never going to get the clubs to vote first. You're not going to get the players to vote first.
00:20:35
Conor Glennon
It's going to end up in super league, isn't it? Or a live golf type tournament, like, you know,
00:20:39
Nate
Well I just think that makes it worse.
00:20:40
Killian Ginnity
Oh,
00:20:41
Nate
Like the Super league wouldn't like like zi League would drive the ages up in my opinion.
00:20:46
Conor Glennon
Oh, but that's what I'm saying.
00:20:47
Killian Ginnity
oh yeah.
00:20:47
Conor Glennon
but that's i'm saying like it's in Yeah.
00:20:47
Killian Ginnity
ah But what would ended up happen is if you the Premier League try to bring this in, well then they'll go, right, Super League, all the big players will follow.
00:20:52
Nate
Nah.
00:20:53
Conor Glennon
Cause if you're earning 200 bags a week and now they're saying, Oh, there's a maximum of 90 or like, hello, any tournament that's going to give me near what I was on, if anything, give me more, you know, you'd have any.
00:21:04
Killian Ginnity
It happened. It happened in the 1950s. Did you know that the FIFA had a wage cap?
00:21:07
Conor Glennon
No.
00:21:11
Killian Ginnity
And it's one of the reasons why Sunderland was so unsuccessful after the 1950s. They were called the Bank of England because they were actually illegally play paying players under the under the table to get the best ones.
00:21:22
Killian Ginnity
But the Columbian League broke away for two years against FIFA because FIFA, the ones that impose the salary caps. So they ended up having the likes of Di Stefano and Puskas play out there.
00:21:34
Killian Ginnity
earning whatever the clubs could afford to give them and which was like language ah before or that yes in 1950s and basically yes this was back when like FIFA ruled with an iron fist and they were still trying to basically do the amateur sport you should only be a working man no matter what and the clubs went well listen we can sell a lot of tickets off your back and we'll pay you lots of money because we'll sell more tickets if you're here
00:21:38
Conor Glennon
Was this like back in the day of Pablo Escobar fronting teams and that kind of thing? Oh, 50, sorry, yeah.
00:22:02
Killian Ginnity
and it collapsed within two years because FIFA undid the rule. But this has happened before and what happened was a breakaway and Super League.
00:22:11
Conor Glennon
Yeah, I think if you were to go forward the only way you could potentially do it for underage players is you couldn't do it across all leagues but like say if all Premier League teams agreed to I suppose ah ah ah an amount per age like say you know a 15-year-old can't get paid more than X a 16-year-old can't get paid more next but it would have to be all the teams agree into it like like I think ah the Premier League couldn't suggest it.
00:22:41
Conor Glennon
A team would have to to then, but then who suggests it? You know, because if you're Bournemouth, you know, you're like, yeah, good for good luck. Like.
00:22:48
Killian Ginnity
But there's none to stop a different country not adopting it and then they all go to there.
00:22:52
Conor Glennon
Yeah.
00:22:52
Killian Ginnity
To be honest, I think I think your best best shout would be a FIFA imposed Kugan account.
00:22:57
Conor Glennon
Yeah, I mean, it's um it's something, you know.
00:22:58
Killian Ginnity
i like So if it was that kind of like, listen. you're going to get X amount, but no matter what, you're going to have this set aside for you. You can keep it at 18.
00:23:09
Killian Ginnity
And what maybe that could do is kind of saying, rather than taking that 18, if you keep it in until you retire as a player and it becomes a pension,
Manchester United's Culture and Transfer Rumors
00:23:19
Killian Ginnity
like you do it as a pension kind of thing.
00:23:19
Conor Glennon
Yeah.
00:23:20
Nate
ahtic
00:23:20
Conor Glennon
Or do it like the tax-free thing that for Irish rugby players get where you you get your top five, I think it's the top five years of your career tax-free if you finish a career in Ireland, but like a similar one of if you keep the money in the Coogan account, it's, you know it.
00:23:32
Killian Ginnity
but it But it would have to be at the FIFA level.
00:23:34
Conor Glennon
Yeah.
00:23:35
Killian Ginnity
It would have to be workable.
00:23:35
Nate
To be honest, if if that was being proposed, I'd probably go against it purely because I don't even know if that's contradictory. is I'd much rather a 16-year-old at United getting paid 25 grand a week.
00:23:48
Nate
um like the the guy The jump will be less severe than, do you know what I mean? In terms of, say, he was making, I don't know, whatever, like five or whatever.
00:23:58
Conor Glennon
Yeah.
00:23:58
Nate
And then jumping up to 80, it's like, you know what I mean?
00:24:00
Conor Glennon
Then you go and insane. Yeah.
00:24:02
Nate
like it's like this I don't think there's a win out of it.
00:24:03
Conor Glennon
Yeah.
00:24:06
Conor Glennon
But it's, it's not limited to sports though. Like, you know, even if you look at like music, especially like you look at characters like Justin Bieber, who went absolutely buck wild, you know what I mean?
00:24:11
Killian Ginnity
influencers.
00:24:16
Conor Glennon
And, and, and that's down to ah an influx of hundreds of millions, you know,
00:24:22
Nate
Yeah, I...
00:24:23
Killian Ginnity
I think influencers is the worst because it's completely unregulated and it's one person like basically the child looking after it nine and times out of ten and then a parent comes in at the end and just takes a load of control of and like that's the worst and I think football can sort of kind of be like that.
00:24:42
Conor Glennon
i I sound like I'm promoting American sports today.
00:24:42
Killian Ginnity
um
00:24:45
Conor Glennon
It's it's just, it's I think that in some ways they do get it right in the way that to be an agent over there, you have to have a law degree, which I do think stands for something because at least you're like, look, a a degree doesn't mean you're intelligent, but yeah you know, I mean, it it it takes away the idea of mediators and football who have
00:24:46
Nate
yeah
00:25:07
Conor Glennon
you know, they could but do anything with they have no, you know, I suppose background in the game, it could be someone's mate, you know, I think it allows a certain security for the players knowing that they they have, I suppose, trusted advisors who've been there, you know, what do you think?
00:25:24
Nate
Yeah, like, just to sum it all up, I think, am personally, I think there's a culture issue at United and I think it comes down to money that's on the table and, you know, players think that when they go there and get the big bucks and all the eyes around them that, you know, they they seem to take their eye off the pitch in my opinion. And I think the only way to do that is to make harsh decisions. And hopefully that's what happens.
00:25:52
Killian Ginnity
Well, speaking of money and the man United game, one man who is very much idling for a move, Connor, is Trent, who did not perform very well in that United game.
Liverpool's Key Contract Negotiations
00:26:05
Killian Ginnity
And did you see that some of the pundits are speculating that there could have been some agent talk ah trying to make a move happen and potentially increase salaries, whether or not he does move?
00:26:16
Conor Glennon
Yeah, I saw rumors down the middle that you know speaking of unholy wages that that Liverpool have offered them 300 chunks a week. i I don't know if I believe that. I don't think FSG would be put in a position to be ah kind of, I suppose, have no other choice than to give them that cash. I think they're there more concerned about keeping hold of more than one player. um I think he just had a poor game, to be honest with you. Do I think he gave 100%? No. But at the end of the day, he's a Liverpool lad playing against Man United. I mean, he's he's he's not going to not try. So i'd I'd like to believe that he just had an off day. I don't know about you guys.
00:27:00
Nate
if If that was an off day, Jesus. like He was so bad.
00:27:03
Conor Glennon
i know it was He played shite.
00:27:06
Conor Glennon
Yeah, he was shite.
00:27:07
Nate
always like I was there watching it and I genuinely was going to my brother going, where is Trent? I think I said it about 20 times during the game. it's like This feather was nowhere to be seen. Even that Van Dijk was losing his head.
00:27:19
Conor Glennon
But there's nothing in it for him to do that because it it it doesn't get him any further in his desire for more cash at Liverpool if that's what he wants.
00:27:22
Nate
a
00:27:29
Conor Glennon
Or Real Madrid go, what on earth is that? Who is that?
00:27:33
Nate
But deliver pill plans ago, maybe it's not so bad if we live.
00:27:37
Conor Glennon
Well Connor Bradley's right there and he he he's unbelievable.
00:27:42
Killian Ginnity
is Trent just kind of one of them players that when he's good he's amazing but when he's bad he's just horrific and is that one of the reasons why England have had been under Southgate kind of not willing to commit to him being there starting right back that's like that he has this it's very much within his capability to have a really off game normally he doesn't have them but when he does can you afford it and not really like there's there's
00:28:05
Conor Glennon
I think that's any player though man, you know.
00:28:10
Killian Ginnity
like plenty of players that even when they're not playing well, they're still playing better than other ones.
00:28:14
Conor Glennon
Shout out Salah.
00:28:17
Killian Ginnity
Salah on an off day would be better than Nunez on a good day.
00:28:19
Conor Glennon
Yeah.
00:28:21
Killian Ginnity
Like and it's that it's that kind of thing. And is Trent just one of them kind of players that can have them really off days and we just haven't seen it that often and now that his head is a little bit turned, could we see it a little bit more for the rest of the season?
00:28:38
Conor Glennon
i I wonder, like i the biggest tale for me that, well not tale, the biggest one for me was like, the only bit of ink the inkling of doubt I had of he's not trying was, did you guys see that look that Van Dyke gave him?
00:28:51
Nate
oh my like but like the thing is if you watch the replay this fellow was like on Mars like literally he was about 80 years down the sideline like where was he like he what like he either wasn't running or or slipped or something like it was oh
00:29:07
Conor Glennon
like that look wasn't even disappointed dad that was like assassin like that was I will I will end you like I
00:29:11
Killian Ginnity
you.
00:29:14
Nate
is he at risk of sour and everything he's built on everyville
00:29:17
Conor Glennon
if he keeps playing like that yeah but like you just don't know you know
00:29:20
Nate
But like if he leaves, because I think personally if I look at it with home ground talent leaving the club, I'd be fuming. There's zero communication coming out about him in terms of... But like give him the contract, yes or no, and let us know.
00:29:40
Conor Glennon
But it seems they it seems to be that they've given them all or at least I know they've given Virgil a contract even salad contract the both of them evidently don't like it but what I think's unfair for FSG is they can't say anything because if they go yeah we gave him a shitty offer it they look shit and then if they gave it they go we gave him everything he wants and he still says no then they just look like that they've no bargaining power that you know.
00:29:40
Nate
like you know
00:30:04
Killian Ginnity
or does it save face for them? Because they'renna listen, we did our best. He wanted to move on. Oh, well, we have Connor Bradley.
00:30:11
Conor Glennon
yeah Yeah.
00:30:12
Killian Ginnity
Because like that's that's not a bad way to be kind of go and listen to listen fans. You think we're we're not backing these players? We are.
00:30:18
Conor Glennon
To make Trent look like the bad guy.
00:30:20
Nate
how like How much money are Liverpool potentially leaving on the table?
00:30:20
Killian Ginnity
Absolutely.
00:30:23
Nate
Like we could be talking on like 350 million, like possibly in terms of in between Zalla and Van Dyke and Trent that's all up in the
00:30:29
Conor Glennon
It's in between the three players.
Salah's Potential Move to Saudi Arabia
00:30:34
Nate
air right now.
00:30:34
Conor Glennon
I mean, I, yeah, you're somewhere in the, you're, you're, you're probably in the two 50, two 50 ish can bear mind age.
00:30:34
Nate
like You know what I mean? like that
00:30:41
Conor Glennon
Cause I think regardless of even a safe salad takes a new deal. He'll probably leave after that on a free, you know.
00:30:48
Nate
Like that's a lot of money, like in terms of like, and I don't mean to be rude when I say players as assets. It's like, that's a lot of money going out the doors. You know what I mean?
00:30:58
Conor Glennon
Oh, if you would you do have to look at it like that.
00:30:58
Nate
ah
00:31:01
Conor Glennon
And I often have that argument with people when that when players, there are people who are like, why don't white do players not get up after they've been tapped because their career is on the line and they earn a hell of a lot of money.
00:31:11
Conor Glennon
And if you're you know if you get absolutely molar, you could get replaced within six games. you know They are assets. It sounds awful, but they are.
00:31:22
Nate
Yeah, like I just think now like Liverpool need to be a bit decisive in terms of like, you need to get an answer out of like, sooner rather than later because number one, you'll have to replace them.
00:31:29
Conor Glennon
yeah Yeah.
00:31:34
Nate
Number two, then it's the if you wait till the summer, teams are going to see you come on a mile off.
00:31:40
Conor Glennon
See, I think they'll be smart. I don't know about you, Killian, but I don't, I think even if they, like Connor Bradley's the Trent replacement, they don't really need to worry about that. They can get someone who's somewhat decent to be the the backfill on that. Salah is the problem.
00:31:54
Conor Glennon
That is, that's like, strikers are not cheap. are Okay, he's not not exactly a striker, we're going forward based off fantasy football.
00:32:01
Killian Ginnity
Yeah.
00:32:03
Conor Glennon
But, ah
00:32:04
Nate
dode Do we know Bradley's the answer though?
00:32:07
Conor Glennon
no, but he's the best hope they have.
00:32:08
Nate
He's a book player. like either He is. I've been really impressed with what I've seen. But there's a difference between going from Trent on a really good day to Conor Bradley. Do you know what I mean?
00:32:17
Killian Ginnity
But in how slot has been playing, that right back position is kind of less influential as it had been. So you don't quite need it to be as world class. Like you can get away with having a very fine player.
00:32:33
Nate
Oh, for sure, yeah, but then you're also losing that world-class ability out of the squad, you know what I mean?
00:32:37
Killian Ginnity
but you're youre you're But they're not using Trent in the way that they had been using Trent pre-slot.
00:32:39
Conor Glennon
yeah
00:32:43
Killian Ginnity
like Trent is not creating as much now. He's not that kind of fulcrum for ah plays to be going through.
00:32:47
Conor Glennon
Yeah.
00:32:51
Killian Ginnity
He's a little bit more defensively playing since slot come in, which isn't great considering he's
00:32:57
Conor Glennon
I think the hierarchy of the real problems for them, if they if they leave, is Salah's number one, Virgil's number two, Trent's three. because And I'm only putting Trent at three because they've got Bradley there.
00:33:09
Killian Ginnity
Like we we did say that we reckon the two out of the tree would sign before.
00:33:13
Nate
yeah but don i don't even think that i don't even think that now like i think siloed and drank gold
00:33:14
Killian Ginnity
I still stand by his eye.
00:33:17
Conor Glennon
i i
00:33:18
Killian Ginnity
I think so. I think Trent is gone.
00:33:22
Conor Glennon
See, I think if Sal and Trent go, the Virgil's like, right, I'm dipping too.
00:33:25
Nate
Yeah, I think, but like, honestly, if I was the owner of Liverpool, I'd be like, who has let us get in this position? You've left us in wide, out like, I'm not even messing, like, it's, it's terrible management, like, you know, you start, you stagger the deals, like, you stagger the deals, so you deal with one this or another next somewhere, but like, you know, you're, you're losing like 15%, 20% of your spot there, possibly.
00:33:34
Conor Glennon
yeah
00:33:37
Killian Ginnity
Well, it's director of football leaving after six months.
00:33:47
Conor Glennon
ah But I do you know the owners have to blame themselves though because for how long of those three players contracts as FSG Apparently being about to sell the globe, you know the best team in Europe like they are
00:33:49
Killian Ginnity
there's
00:33:59
Killian Ginnity
and can't keep a director of football.
00:33:59
Nate
True.
00:34:01
Killian Ginnity
like that That can't be understood. Director of football is meant to be the long-term thinkers. But there's another thing that ah we're not mentioning here. This is a team that's probably going to win the Premier League this year. like They will have a lot more cash than they did last year based on that alone.
00:34:16
Killian Ginnity
I think there's less convincing that you have to do with the likes of a Virgil and the likes of a Salah than there is with Trent. Because I think you're kind of going, listen, that's after winning the Premier League.
00:34:26
Nate
I don't, I actually, I don't think so. I think, I think Salah's mind's already made up. I think he's not, I don't think he's brave enough to say it, but I think he's already at the door in my opinion.
00:34:36
Conor Glennon
And where do you think he's going grabbing the bag in Saudi?
00:34:36
Nate
I think, I think I personally think so. Yeah. I think what he's thinking is if I win the league this year, I leave on the ultimate high. I can go make my money.
00:34:49
Nate
Perfect.
Liverpool's Contract Strategy
00:34:50
Nate
Perfect idea. Like I genuinely don't see him staying and I think
00:34:53
Conor Glennon
if if If this was United and he did that, how would you feel? He wins that he brings the runs the Premier League sales out to Saudi and are you like, okay, fair enough, you've been a servant to the club or are you like, and F you, I'm not going to curse, but you know.
00:34:58
Nate
ah i
00:35:09
Nate
I'd be fuming at the club not matching, say, a good offer, like with a good offer. But if we know that he got a really good offer and then turned it down, I'd be annoyed.
00:35:18
Conor Glennon
But what kind of money is he looking for?
00:35:19
Nate
and
00:35:20
Conor Glennon
Because if they're given trend 300 bags a week, what are they giving him?
00:35:24
Nate
I have no idea, but like I think the big thing is, although Kylie makes a good point about them getting good cash flow this summer, is I think they're in, now I could get eaten alive for this one, is I think they're in a mini crisis in terms of if they lose all three of them players, I genuinely think that they will struggle to to match the quality.
00:35:46
Killian Ginnity
Oh, um, yeah. In the, in the immediacy, I'd agree with you. Like you can't.
00:35:51
Conor Glennon
even Even panic of it in the team, you know.
00:35:54
Nate
Well, that's what I mean is I think like, I think you'll see even other players go like, okay, so like you say, and like, I know they've already bought a backup goalkeeper.
00:35:54
Killian Ginnity
Yeah.
00:36:02
Nate
We don't know how good he's going to be is, I think you even have Alison gone.
00:36:03
Killian Ginnity
Mm-hmm.
00:36:06
Nate
What's going on here, lads? Do you know what I mean? I think it's, it then spreads to be, to even the players gone, like they they they don't know how we're going to be, you know what I mean?
00:36:15
Conor Glennon
So, Keven Keller has sat there on the bench going, I hope those three lads go, because then Alison might go and I might get a number one gig.
00:36:24
Killian Ginnity
Like there is ah like another thing as well. Like we're not seeing Saudi smash the cash in the same way. So while it's always there, they haven't been doing it.
00:36:35
Nate
I think this summer we are now because ah that World Cup husband has been secured.
00:36:40
Conor Glennon
Remember the churn though. That's like how many players have gone out there for a year and gone. Nope, you know a Yeah, Alan maximum was another one like I mean Jesus like, you know, there's a solids I've seen like it I saw a carousel on Instagram today and there's solid like eight players have lasted a year, you know,
00:36:46
Killian Ginnity
Or in Henderson's case, from four months. Neymar's on the move now.
00:37:03
Nate
But i think I think the big thing though is that World Cup is secured now.
00:37:03
Killian Ginnity
like yeah
00:37:08
Nate
Them buying players is literally advertisements. you know i mean
00:37:12
Conor Glennon
Yeah but that that's what 2034 like that's a long way away man.
00:37:12
Killian Ginnity
but and Like, and there's the other thing, didn't they put in higher tax rates for non Saudi purchases?
00:37:25
Killian Ginnity
It's one of the reasons why PIF is starting to slightly pull back on their spending in European sports.
00:37:32
Nate
But like is that literally not a PIF that makes that real?
00:37:32
Killian Ginnity
So like,
00:37:34
Conor Glennon
Yeah I was gonna say why would they do that to themselves yeah.
00:37:37
Killian Ginnity
because the so not not all the not all the clubs not all the clubs are owned by PIF and Decided League now and basically what they don't want to happen is what happened in China by a load of superstars they all leave and then you have nothing to actually show for it at the end and But there was that especially like if the UK does do this kind of government run checks and balances thing over the league like
00:37:39
Nate
Oh, they're just taxing themselves. Yeah, yeah, I get that.
00:37:44
Conor Glennon
Oh yeah.
00:37:49
Conor Glennon
but Yeah.
00:38:05
Killian Ginnity
There is these kind of bigger stuff that will have in in influence on how and Saudi Arabia spends money, especially when it comes to the Premier League.
Saudi Arabia's Influence on Football Market
00:38:14
Killian Ginnity
But, saying all that, we're going to look at what's what's happening at the minute.
00:38:19
Killian Ginnity
um What's happening at the minute is Saudi isn't spending money right now. The Saudi League hasn't been for the past however many months, really. like what it' it It's been a year.
00:38:26
Conor Glennon
PIF in general, like we're we're getting no money from from ah the kingdom.
00:38:31
Killian Ginnity
Yeah, but it's what, a year since the proper spending.
00:38:35
Conor Glennon
Yeah, like I still think Asala opens those gates though, because he like I look think about him as a commercial property, again, asset in that market.
00:38:35
Killian Ginnity
That's a long time.
00:38:46
Conor Glennon
like
00:38:47
Killian Ginnity
But I think they're at the stage of that they have to lose one to get another now. And maybe a NAMR leaving might open that up. But like, is this where you they're now going to be dependent on Benzema retiring to try and get somebody else in?
00:39:00
Conor Glennon
Yeah.
00:39:00
Killian Ginnity
I think we're closer to that stage than most people are giving credit.
00:39:05
Nate
I personally, I think what I would say that I've seen over the last couple of months and I will go back to the World Cup is I think they haven't wanted to annoy people in football before that's secured.
00:39:18
Nate
Do you know what I mean?
00:39:19
Conor Glennon
Yeah, I get you.
00:39:19
Nate
And I think i think they they haven't wanted to go and
00:39:19
Killian Ginnity
that may be
00:39:20
Conor Glennon
That's a shout.
00:39:20
Killian Ginnity
and
Kevin De Bruyne's MLS Speculation
00:39:24
Nate
you know, tro tro throw the big cash around at Newcastle and stuff and maybe, you know, ruffle some feathers.
00:39:24
Conor Glennon
Ruffle feathers. yeah
00:39:30
Nate
I think personally that's how I would see it. I could be totally wrong, but that's how I'd read it personally.
00:39:34
Conor Glennon
That's a good point I didn't think of that.
00:39:37
Killian Ginnity
Yeah. um Speaking of big players potentially moving for big money, um Connor, you mentioned one Kevin De Bruyne as being linked with North America instead of the Middle East.
00:39:52
Conor Glennon
yet and i mean not that he hasn't been linked with with the middle east you know like we said in previous policies not only left bread crumbs is left bread loaves of his ah his interest to go over there but now that the surprise one for me was you know firm source being the athletic on this one that san diego fc is potentially a landing zone from and which was a surprise to me not that it was the mls but i don't know much about san diego fc i don't know about you guys it's that one's kind of flounder under the radar for me but What is interesting is when you look at De Bruyne's output over the last couple of seasons, and like look I know he's had his injury troubles in the last 12 months, but when you look going back as far as 2019, so 2019-2020 season, he played 81% of City's minutes, next season 58, next season 64, then we're into the 2022 season,
00:40:43
Conor Glennon
Comes back strong enough with 70% and then 2023 35% 2024 45% so I mean his minutes are dwindling I think he's also getting fed up with As we've said in previous pods there seems to be a little bit of a rift with pep even before this downturn in their form and I yeah I think he's going to get big money either way.
00:41:05
Conor Glennon
I think if he goes to the States, it's, it's and another, they're not as big as a messy deal, but I think it'll be somewhere in there. But I don't know about you guys. I was surprised that and MLS didn't surprise me.
00:41:16
Conor Glennon
San Diego did.
00:41:19
Killian Ginnity
uh, San Diego are joining this season.
00:41:21
Conor Glennon
Oh, they're an expansion team.
00:41:21
Killian Ginnity
So I'm not, yes, I'm not surprised that they're going for a big name.
00:41:22
Conor Glennon
Okay. That makes a lot more sense.
00:41:25
Killian Ginnity
And, but the way the MLS works, um, cause I know we'd all be thinking Beck and rule and all that. And do they have money?
00:41:31
Conor Glennon
Hmm.
00:41:32
Killian Ginnity
They do have money. It's Mansour group that owns them and a Native American tribe.
00:41:38
Conor Glennon
oh
00:41:39
Killian Ginnity
So it's it's kind of an odd but Mansour is that kind of is that UK Egyptian dude that is like sells tons of cars.
00:41:41
Conor Glennon
Oh!
00:41:46
Killian Ginnity
So like was the Mansour.
00:41:47
Conor Glennon
Oh, the Mansouris! Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:41:49
Killian Ginnity
and So he's worth a couple of tens of billions so and himself.
00:41:49
Conor Glennon
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:41:53
Conor Glennon
Yeah, so he he he'll be our right front in that pool.
00:41:55
Killian Ginnity
And yeah but also because the way that their league works which is basically the clubs on the league and the league owns the clubs and they can actually apply to the MLS not only for designated contracts but also for financial help to kind of go well as a league this will be better for us and ah they can actually get financial assistance or offset costs later on by missing.
00:42:21
Killian Ginnity
We know we we're only allowed to invest X amount per year, but you're going to allow us to go beyond that to allow this move to happen. So like your whole club could actually benefit for maybe three to five years with an extra 10 million of your personal cash injection.
00:42:33
Conor Glennon
almost like a ah rebate in the film industry to get more tourism in the country.
00:42:38
Killian Ginnity
Yeah, that kind of thing. um So they they can afford them even in in the world of Saudi, they can afford them and to be offering a better life. and Now, the thing about San Diego is their two big signings so far have been Irving Lozano, the man from PSV, the Mexican winger, and ah Paddy McNair.
00:42:55
Conor Glennon
Yeah, I was gonna say, yeah oh wow, now that I did not expect.
00:43:00
Killian Ginnity
So, you know, Paddy McNair and De Bruyne in central midfield, what do you reckon?
00:43:09
Nate
Yeah, I, to be honest, when I said it earlier, I was, um, yeah, like I probably was like, is San Diego FC and like the second tier of American robot?
00:43:14
Conor Glennon
I don't think you believed me when I said
00:43:21
Nate
Like I just like, yeah, but I just had to join the MLS. Um, yeah, it's just a bit of a weird one. Like his, like I think his downfall needs to be studied somewhat. Like it's, it's been that sharp.
00:43:33
Killian Ginnity
So bad, my god.
00:43:34
Nate
It's been that sharp of a decline.
00:43:35
Conor Glennon
But when when it was good, boys, Christ, he was electric. He was the best midfielder in Europe at one point.
00:43:42
Nate
careful
00:43:42
Killian Ginnity
Who'd you think had a worse fall-off, Rooney or De Bruyne?
00:43:46
Conor Glennon
i I maintain, and I've said this for a long time, that I think Wayne Rooney is arguably the best English player to ever play in the Premier League. And even with the downfall that he had, I think what that man did, it's not remembered how it should be. So I'd say i'd say De Bruyne's fall off is definitely worse.
00:44:10
Nate
I know I 100% agree. um like I think Rooney's was much more gradual where like I think we literally went from De Bruyne whipping in these unbelievable passes to the next week being like, what happened here?
00:44:26
Nate
and i i like it's like I'm genuinely mind-blowing that this has come up like because I know he's struggled with injuries and stuff, but yes.
00:44:36
Killian Ginnity
It was only like a year ago that we were talking about deploying and being out with an injury in the same way that we're talking about Rodry now.
00:44:41
Nate
Yeah.
00:44:42
Killian Ginnity
Like, it's it's been that rapid. Like, it is...
00:44:44
Nate
I think it's actually, it's hard to wrap your head around.
00:44:49
Killian Ginnity
Yeah, no, like i think I think your point about Rooney's more gradual fall-off. Like, Rooney had an amazing season, and amazing season, decent season, good season, not good season, bad, bad, awful.
00:45:00
Nate
I think the thing that goes...
00:45:00
Conor Glennon
But but but even even and even in that time, the numbers he put up from a goal-scoring point of view were very good.
00:45:01
Killian Ginnity
Like...
00:45:06
Conor Glennon
it like you know yeah and and and like Even when he was on his drop-off, he was still getting 10-11 goals a year.
00:45:06
Killian Ginnity
Oh, all relative. A relative sense of like him having a great season as somebody else having like a the the best that they could ever, ever wish for.
00:45:10
Nate
Yeah.
00:45:14
Nate
And I think the big thing as well, Ernie, is um like he sort of went from like he's his his cutback was more games wise.
00:45:17
Conor Glennon
you know
00:45:26
Nate
So like he'd play a few less games and a few less games. And then I think there was a year, a year and a half where you vividly remember being on the bench and you go, Jesus, what happened there where, you know, it was a gradual thing.
00:45:39
Killian Ginnity
Plus, that it has to be mentioned as well that, like, De Bruyne is having this level of fall-off in a much stronger team.
00:45:45
Nate
yeah oh by like please god
00:45:45
Killian Ginnity
Like, Rooney's fall-off was coinciding with, you know, finishing, you're finishing in the ninth or eighth or whatever there.
00:45:50
Conor Glennon
United's fall off, yeah.
00:45:55
Killian Ginnity
Yeah, like, and in fairness, the way the city's going, they could still be closer to that than um then winning. But we have to mention forest lads.
00:46:08
Conor Glennon
it's it's It's beautiful.
00:46:08
Killian Ginnity
We are we like, why was Brian Clough reincarnated as a Portuguese former goalkeeper?
00:46:10
Conor Glennon
It's still so great to see.
Nottingham Forest's Strong Performance
00:46:18
Killian Ginnity
like Forest shouldn't be in the top four comfortably. There are four points ahead of Chelsea and Ford.
00:46:25
Nate
I don't know what's happening.
00:46:27
Conor Glennon
It's, it's far as sleek to lose lads, you know? Um, I know like jokes aside, I don't, I don't see it being a Lester thing, but it is amazing. I, there's not a single pundit in the country or even fan in a pub, even less or Lester forest fans.
00:46:43
Conor Glennon
No one would have called that. and like
00:46:45
Killian Ginnity
like forests are level on points with arsenal and our concept oh no oh that he is having his me shoe moment just don't change anything it's not gonna work next year just enjoy it
00:46:48
Conor Glennon
Which is wild.
00:46:49
Nate
Do you know what's funny? It's like Chris Wood, yeah, is like I genuinely even brought him in and wrote it to him. It's not working like. and
00:47:03
Nate
Oh, it's mental.
00:47:08
Conor Glennon
Even Alan Shearer said it, because like they would have ah like you would have seen him at Newcastle and he was like he was like, I don't even mean to be insulting. He was like, I don't didn't know that was in him.
00:47:18
Conor Glennon
yeah like
00:47:19
Killian Ginnity
not to I guarantee if you said that to Chris, he'd be like, I don't know what's happening. It's just working.
00:47:25
Nate
and i can't Can I also provide the other side of this now is that how I've personally been feeling about the Premier League this season is I think the quality is God awful.
00:47:36
Nate
like
00:47:36
Conor Glennon
Oh, that's a big take.
00:47:36
Nate
i I don't know what has happened. I'm being honest, I've been watching a few Serie A games, a few of the league games. I'm genuinely enjoying watching that football more.
00:47:49
Nate
The product that I'm getting from the Premier League right now is just so polar opposite to what it was a few years ago.
00:47:55
Conor Glennon
i I do think that for me, the thing I've noticed, I don't, I don't know if I totally agree with what you're saying, but what I will agree on is there is far less kind of crosses into the box shots from outside of the box.
00:48:08
Conor Glennon
It's, it's, it's becoming a very different game or league, should I say, while the likes of Syria, Bundesliga, La Liga, they're more expansive in the types of goals that are coming.
00:48:12
Nate
Yeah.
00:48:25
Killian Ginnity
So what you're saying is Big Sam was right and the Premier League's becoming too monochromatic.
00:48:29
Conor Glennon
i it it would it it wouldn't be like It wouldn't be like me to to to love a big Sam statement.
00:48:30
Killian Ginnity
They're all trying to play it the same way.
00:48:35
Nate
um like I'm genuinely being honest, I'm not happy with the way the Premier League
Sunderland's Successful Season
00:48:40
Nate
currently is. I think the teams are playing worse, like in terms of results and results are just all over the place.
00:48:48
Nate
Like, come on, Newcastle are on a seven win streak, Jesus, that's my narrative.
00:48:52
Killian Ginnity
and but
00:48:54
Nate
But no, seriously, like, yeah, I've been much enjoying watching other leagues. like I know that's just me being honest. and
00:49:01
Conor Glennon
But in' speaking of other leagues, there there is another team in our Mists that are undefeated in 2025 and i I hate to say it, it is the filthy Mackhams of Sonderland.
00:49:14
Conor Glennon
Killian, take it away my friend.
00:49:15
Killian Ginnity
um
00:49:16
Conor Glennon
How are you feeling into 2025?
00:49:20
Killian Ginnity
I am happy out. Like we are still um in in the running for the league. We're only three points behind leads who are first. and I still think that we're gunning for that second spot, automatic promotion. And if not playoffs, I would, I would have taken your hand for a playoff at the start of the year. So I'm happy out. We're undefeated at home this season and the only team that is our level or above that, is still has that record as Arsenal.
00:49:45
Conor Glennon
i Don't know I don't know about you Nate there's there's some there's some washy gray stats you pull out when you're when you're on the
00:49:45
Killian Ginnity
and
00:49:53
Nate
Well you and I are unbeaten in 2035 as well, so that says everything's boring.
00:49:57
Killian Ginnity
No, no, but season, unbeaten at home.
00:50:00
Conor Glennon
yeah no that that is that is impressive And you put twice as much yeah
00:50:00
Nate
Oh yeah, yeah.
00:50:00
Killian Ginnity
is and this and't And don't forget, the championship starts well before the Premier League. and Yeah, like we're, what was it, 46 game season now?
00:50:12
Killian Ginnity
So my only worry is, and I can't begrudge any of it, is that we're going to get pilfered in January. I don't i don't think we're going to. I think there'll be a lot of transfers organized this month.
00:50:25
Killian Ginnity
Arsenal, Palace, United, all sniffing around Joe Bellingham, who people are now realizing is absolutely fast.
00:50:32
Conor Glennon
He's on, but didn't he sign a new contract? His bio would be huge.
00:50:36
Killian Ginnity
I don't think we necessarily have buyouts, but like he's a very, very, very good relationship with our director of football.
00:50:45
Conor Glennon
That's only gonna last so long though.
00:50:45
Killian Ginnity
and
00:50:46
Conor Glennon
And if that director football goes somewhere, he's gone too, if it's really that tight.
00:50:49
Killian Ginnity
ah no no no he in the Basically, the club has been handed over to him. like He's running the club.
00:50:53
Conor Glennon
Okay.
00:50:54
Killian Ginnity
Joe Ban Jude Bellingham spent Christmas in Sunderland. On Christmas Eve, Jude Bellingham was walking the pier in Sunderland. Genuinely and that's a good of relationship.
00:51:05
Killian Ginnity
He has with the Bellingham family and He I'm sure has an agreement with them. I'm gonna go listen We're gonna keep them here We're gonna develop them for as long as we think it hits it's gonna benefit them and as soon as a club That's gonna benefit a more comes in We let we let just go for a reason
00:51:22
Conor Glennon
I think they'll be smart though and it won't be an English team. They'll do what they did with Jude. They'll be sensible and go somewhere where he gets minutes without mass exposure, but still gets exposure.
00:51:32
Killian Ginnity
i think I think he can do a little of exposure because I think it's worth him breaking the Bellingham name. Like, he's Job. He's not Bellingham.
00:51:43
Killian Ginnity
Like, leave Bellingham over in Madrid and now let's remember Job.
00:51:43
Conor Glennon
Yeah.
00:51:48
Killian Ginnity
But I do think, yes, he it's not gonna go for, he's not gonna go to Man United to put it that way. Like, there's no benefit. If he's gonna be in England and be the likes of a Brighton or some team that's gonna actually guaranteed to play on the game.
00:52:02
Conor Glennon
What agency again?
00:52:05
Killian Ginnity
Is he 19?
00:52:06
Conor Glennon
Jesus, that's terrifying.
00:52:07
Nate
Sorry Laz, I just can't wrap my head around dad the parents having to be in Madrid one week and then Sunderland next week.
00:52:12
Conor Glennon
one One lives, yeah.
00:52:13
Killian Ginnity
No, this split. Yeah.
00:52:15
Conor Glennon
Yeah, one lives in Madrid and one...
00:52:16
Nate
might You imagine there's like crossover there, it's like fuck.
00:52:19
Conor Glennon
good yeah a lot of A lot of the time it's the dad.
00:52:20
Killian Ginnity
who's but Who's pulling them straws?
00:52:20
Nate
Fuck it. Who's the port fella? Who's the port warden that has to live in Sunderland?
00:52:27
Killian Ginnity
yeah
00:52:28
Nate
Jesus.
00:52:28
Killian Ginnity
like ah Yeah, and jo like Jon's terrifying. he He's 20 in September. He was born in 2005.
00:52:39
Conor Glennon
don't get me started on this stuff like
00:52:41
Killian Ginnity
It's not disgusting.
00:52:42
Conor Glennon
but
00:52:42
Killian Ginnity
and No, but like we have ah our forwards are starting to click. We have a young another 19 year old Miena who him himself and a guy we have in on loan.
00:52:53
Killian Ginnity
but ah an option to buy, they're starting to click now. It's it's it's fun. Again, and we had a blip. Nate, we had a blip. And that's fine.
00:53:03
Killian Ginnity
Teams can have blips and before Christmas.
00:53:04
Conor Glennon
Don't get me started on
00:53:07
Killian Ginnity
But it's all kicking on.
00:53:07
Conor Glennon
United's has just been 10 years long.
00:53:09
Nate
yeah you ida have on a ten year b li
00:53:09
Conor Glennon
this stuff. yeah
00:53:10
Killian Ginnity
Yeah. um um No, it'll be great. And I'm going over to see them in February, which I'm going to very much enjoy. It'll be against Watford, so a good kind of
00:53:20
Conor Glennon
That'd be a great game.
00:53:22
Killian Ginnity
Yeah, um so yeah, it's it's an exciting season. um I'm still on the fence about whether I want them in the Premier League next year because i don't I don't know how good we're going to be in the Premier League next year.
00:53:34
Nate
Yeah, you know, I want a tenure.
00:53:35
Conor Glennon
Well, I mean, if you
00:53:38
Nate
material.
Southampton's Poor Performance
00:53:39
Nate
Come on.
00:53:39
Conor Glennon
it's yeah, the only thing I don't want them in the league is in case you bloody beat us.
00:53:43
Conor Glennon
But I mean, it'd be interesting to see how this season goes in terms of the relegation fodder, because if it's a second year in the bounds of the three that went up, went down, it's not exactly great for the championship teams.
00:53:56
Killian Ginnity
No, but on that before we go, do we think that this Southampton team is going to rival the infamous Derby team?
00:54:05
Conor Glennon
I knew that's where you were going as soon as you said it.
00:54:07
Killian Ginnity
And will they have the worst points total in Premier League history?
00:54:11
Conor Glennon
12 is the worst, isn't it?
00:54:13
Killian Ginnity
I think so.
00:54:14
Conor Glennon
And they've got like, and they've got something like what, eight?
00:54:14
Killian Ginnity
It's 12 or 11.
00:54:17
Killian Ginnity
They're on six.
Wrap-up and Transfer Window Preview
00:54:19
Conor Glennon
Oh, that could be tight. No, I don't know.
00:54:22
Nate
yeah i think I think they will end on 18 points.
00:54:22
Conor Glennon
They'll get, they'll get more. They'll get more.
00:54:26
Killian Ginnity
great
00:54:30
Conor Glennon
I was going to say 16.
00:54:33
Killian Ginnity
I'm not so sure lads because like so the Derby record is 11 points and I think Derby either had the same or more points at yeah so after 19 games Derby had seven points and Southampton after 19 games had six then I won 20 games and they're still on six
00:54:55
Conor Glennon
I would argue though on Nate's point previously of the league dropping off a cliff that the delete Darby had a harder chance of getting more points than Sadam did. I think Sadam could get a couple of wins you know towards the back end of the season when teams are tired.
00:55:11
Nate
Jesus, they nearly have double the last as United have. I would have lost my head.
00:55:19
Killian Ginnity
See the thing thing with Southampton is now they have a new manager coming in and he's a Premier League unknown. So we've seen this before it could either go absolutely class or yeah like this is one of the four Roma managers this year.
00:55:31
Conor Glennon
or the arse folds out of it.
00:55:39
Nate
Well, like, where's Matt and O'Neal and stuff? You know what I mean? Matt, get the fuck in.
00:55:44
Conor Glennon
I actually on Martin O'Neill boys, I'd not to promote other podcasts, but if you get it, I don't know if you've listened to it yet, but listening to the Martin O'Neill pod on stick to football, he has some fascinating insights of yesteryear and and just even good Ireland chat between him and keynote.
00:55:44
Nate
Get them involved.
00:56:01
Conor Glennon
It's definitely for for all of our listeners, it's it's worth a listen, but don't listen too frequently. Just keep coming back to not upon me.
00:56:06
Nate
He also said he's a big fan of the non-tournament podcast.
00:56:06
Killian Ginnity
Yeah.
00:56:09
Conor Glennon
Yeah, he he did.
00:56:09
Killian Ginnity
perspective
00:56:10
Conor Glennon
Yeah.
00:56:11
Killian Ginnity
And Sunderland. Grew up a Sunderland fan.
00:56:12
Conor Glennon
No I know enough of that.
00:56:13
Nate
Don't recall here in that part.
00:56:14
Killian Ginnity
Lovely.
00:56:17
Killian Ginnity
Gentlemen, that's been our first episode. Delighted to be back, are you? so
00:56:22
Conor Glennon
Absolutely and I'm even more delighted about the fact that Newcastle are 2-0 up against Arsenal and the game's about to end so it couldn't get better boys we are so back.
00:56:22
Nate
Yeah.
00:56:32
Killian Ginnity
natively, if Newcastle's aren't doing well, just kick them out and just break away podcasts or something.
00:56:37
Nate
This has got to end at some point, doesn't it?
00:56:42
Killian Ginnity
Well, we leave it there with ah United 12 points behind Newcastle in the Premier League, Sunderland on the up in the championship and lots of transfers to happen in the January window. It's going to be a fun 2025. Catch you later.
00:56:57
Conor Glennon
but Bye-bye.
00:56:57
Nate
Bye.