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Free Weekly Episode - Juventus Must Sack Allegri, Igor Tudor Dream Lazio Debut, Magical Leao, Atalanta Smash Napoli, Inter March On & Much More (Ep. 408)
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From calls for Max Allegri being sacked after Juventus lose putting Champions League football next season under real risk, Igor Tudor dream debut for Lazio, Nicolo Barella MOTM as Inter Milan potentially 3 games away from Serie A title, Francesco Acerbi racism row fallout, Roma dominate but drop important points to Lecce, impressive Atalanta smash Napoli as Gianluca Scamacca stars, Bologna marching on to a top 4 finish, to Rafael Leao show for AC Milan, and relegation battle impossible to call after Udinese, Cagliari, Hellas Verona, Lecce and Sassuolo all draw while Empoli loses, as well as Baggio, Premface and Serie Ass of the week and much, much more when Nima and Carlo break down all the main talking points from an action-packed weekend in Italian football.
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Transcript
Introduction to the Episode
00:00:02
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian Football Podcast. Hello everybody and welcome to another episode of the Italian Football Podcast.
Focus on Easter Weekend Matches
00:00:10
Speaker
I'm Carlo Garganese joined as always by Nima Tavalli and on today's show we will review the Easter weekend matches. Happy Easter to everybody that celebrates it.
Juventus' Crisis and Allegri's Future
00:00:23
Speaker
The big story is Max Allegri who is in complete crisis now as are Juventus after they lose 1-0 in Rome.
00:00:31
Speaker
to cap a dream debut on the Lazio bench for Igor Chudor. Juventus fans, though, want Allegri sacked immediately as Juventus now really risk missing out on a Champions League qualification place with both Bologna and Atalanta winning again and Roma also drawing. Lazio's own disastrous season continues as they are dominated 3-0 at home by Atalanta. Milan continue their brilliant
Milan and Inter's Strong Form
00:01:01
Speaker
form.
00:01:01
Speaker
winning at Fiorentina thanks to a magical Rafael Liao and in to continue their march towards the Scretto with a win over Empoli. The relegation race is as tight as ever as well.
00:01:16
Speaker
We also have our usual Bad Joe, Prem Face and Celia Ass of the Week.
Podcast Promotions
00:01:21
Speaker
For our first time listeners, this is our free weekly episode that we do every Monday, reviewing the weekend Syria action and all the biggest talking points in Italian football. If you want to support the Italian football podcast and receive all of our content that we do throughout the week, including a weekly Q&A episode every Tuesday, plus the weekly Thursday, midweek review show, plus interviews, post-match reaction and much, much more, then go to patreon.com slash TIFF.
00:01:45
Speaker
TIFP and become a subscriber for just $2.99 a month plus VAT. You can also sign up to be a paid subscriber on Spotify. We will provide the link in the subscription, same price in terms. And for all of you who listen on Spotify, Apple and iTunes podcasts, we'd really appreciate if you give us a five star rating, give us a following a like and we're on YouTube as well. It really helps us to grow and do more quality content for you guys. Okay, let's get into today's show.
Juventus' Tactical Struggles and Future Challenges
00:02:15
Speaker
you
00:02:15
Speaker
OK, so only one place to start, and that is Juventus. We're recording this on Tuesday before Juventus play against Lazio in the Coppa Italia semi-final first leg, so it could even work for Juventus and Allegri, but it could be better. We'll have to see what happens in that game. But the overriding feeling among Juventus fans after this game is that Allegri has to go
00:02:45
Speaker
not just at the end of the season, but the overriding feeling among the majority of Juventus fans as they go now, because this dreadful run that Juventus are on is not showing any signs of easing up. In fact, it's getting worse. The performances are getting worse and worse.
00:03:03
Speaker
each game. It's one win in nine and that was for a fortunate in-home winner against Sassuola and this performance against Lazio Nimmo was absolutely a busy one, wasn't it?
00:03:18
Speaker
It was very poor. It was, it just cemented, continued to cement that Juventus, their form is genuinely unbelievably bad. I mean, one win in nine, four draws, one win in the last nine games in the Serie A. It's one clean sheet, they concede eight goals, they don't score anything. It's really,
00:03:48
Speaker
I feel like they overperformed and we knew they overperformed when they were winning and were in the title race, but it's gone the other way now. Now they're underperforming grossly. I think Juventus are somewhere in the middle, but in terms of quality, I think third is what you can ask in demand of this Juve, but the way they're playing,
00:04:13
Speaker
like you said at the top, they do run a risk of missing the Champions League. Not a big risk, not a high risk. I don't want to exaggerate and I don't want to be hyperbolic about it, but there is a risk. Of course there is. I don't think it's a very big risk, but of course there's always a risk. Also, if you take into account the gains that you've got coming up, then there is... It's not exactly the easiest run of fixtures coming in. Juventus have got
00:04:42
Speaker
They've had their easy run of fixtures. After Lazio they got Fiorentina at home, Torino away, Caliari away, then Lazio return leg in the Copa Italia, then Milan at home, Roma away, and then Salanitana, Bologna away, and Monza at home. So they're playing top teams, they're playing the more difficult side. They've had their easy fixtures and they managed to only win one game in those nine games. So they are running a risk, there's no doubt about that.
00:05:10
Speaker
But there's still seven points clear of Roma. Atalanta, there are nine points clear, who obviously have a game in hand. So no, look, the game against Fiorentina, of course, that was postponed due to the tragic death of Joe Barone. So look, it's not looking good at
Potential Consequences for Allegri
00:05:30
Speaker
all. And something has to be done. And I think it just, again, accentuates and underlines the point, the feeling that I've had, well,
00:05:39
Speaker
for most of the season that, you know, the only way Allegri stays past this season is if he wins the scurrito. I think, I don't think he will. I think it's obvious he won't. I mean, it's obviously one, no intro winning the scurrito, but I think for him, it's about finishing with some dignity and that would be finishing third and winning the Coppa Italia. If we don't have that, then yes, this season will have been a failure. There's no, you know, in terms of results.
00:06:08
Speaker
And then that's just how it is. But it's really, really, really risky. Really, really risky. I mean, I think that the immediate question here, I mean, everybody knows Allegri has been a disaster now over the three years. There's no doubts about that. But we need to look at the now. Juventus are at risk in the Champions League. Bologna, two points behind Juventus now with a very easy running.
00:06:33
Speaker
Form and on an on fixture list you back belong here to finish to overtake you enters now Roma are as you said seven points behind So there's a there's a bit of a gap there and Roma don't have an easy running either So so there's a little bit of a cushion there
00:06:50
Speaker
And the Atalanta win the game in hand, they're six points behind and Atalanta have a very easy running actually. Atalanta have Caliareva, Rona, Monza, Empoli, the next four, and Selenitana as their next five fixtures.
00:07:05
Speaker
They also have Lecce and Torino at the end of the season as well. They've got a very, very easy run in. They're in fantastic form as well. Probably going to go out at the Europa League. Well, I'm sure they'll go out at the Europa League to Liverpool as well. At Atlanta, again, on form, you're almost backing them as well. Then it's almost like Juventus are almost relying, thankfully, on Serie A.
00:07:30
Speaker
getting the fifth Champions League spot. Which they will get in 94% chance to do that. I mean that just shows what a mess it is that Juventus are actually going to have to rely on Serie A, getting a fifth Champions League spot just to qualify for the Champions League. That's how it's looking at the moment.
Juventus' Competitive Standings
00:07:50
Speaker
But you know even that there's no guarantee because if Juventus continue the form that they're in right now and there's no sign at all, zero sign of them coming out of this
00:07:59
Speaker
negative cycle. If they continue this runner form, they're not going to get the Champions League if they continue this form. Everybody's expecting them to come out of it because you think, well, this just can't continue. It's the worst runner form since Juventus went to the Allianz Stadium. Worst running over 13 years. That's yet another negative record for Allegri in his second spell. And there's many of those negative records that he's broken in his second spell. That's another one.
00:08:27
Speaker
then, you know, they're not going to get champions league. So the question is now, I mean, most Juventus fans think they should do it. There's a journalist that say that Juventus are considering it. And that is Allegri, get rid of Allegri now, bring in someone who can just give Juventus a shock to get them over this Champions League line. Because right now,
00:08:50
Speaker
Alegri's not getting that out of them. He's not, you know, with this nine games now, and we're not seeing any reaction from the team. So why should they keep Alegri now?
00:09:00
Speaker
Yeah, but they're not going to sack him and because the options are not better than Allegri. Paolo Monteiro, I mean, come on, it's not serious. And the thing is that if... What are they getting out of Allegri now? Well, that's the thing, though. Again, if you zoom out and get away from everything is shit now, well, he has gotten something out of them this season. No, we're talking about them now. We're talking about who's going to get them out. Well, I'm talking about overall. But that's irrelevant about them.
00:09:26
Speaker
What's relevant now? Who's going to get them out of this negative cycle? Who's going to get them out of this negative cycle? Well, it's not going to be Paolo Monteiro. It's not going to be some primavera coach. I can guarantee you that. I think it's Sacking Allegri at this point would just be reactionary. We said the same thing. People said the same thing about Mourinho and Roma with Daniel De Rossi being a coach. Look what Daniel De Rossi's done. I mean, we need somebody just to give them a shot, even if it's Marcello Lippi, even if it's Massimo Carrera, even if it's someone like that, someone, somebody that knows the club that can just come in
00:09:53
Speaker
and galvanize them a little and give them a bit of that new manager bounce, which you get with almost any manager now. I mean, with Legeri, it doesn't look like he, I mean, he's lost, he's clearly, obviously, if he hasn't lost the dressing room, depends how you want to word it, he's lost the trust of the team. He's lost the ability to get anything out of his players. And we know the attackers have no trust in him. We've seen that, we know that, with Vlawovic and we know that Kiesa just don't believe in him.
00:10:20
Speaker
in this ability to get anything out of the team offensively. So just somebody that can just galvanize the team. You know, if it's bringing back 75-year-old Marcelo Lippi just for a few games. I mean, anyone to get a reaction because Allegri cannot get a reaction out of this team now. I mean, it's gone. It's dead. It's completely dead. So what is the point of keeping someone? I disagree that he can't get a reaction out of the team. I think that what we're seeing now is, like I said at the top, I think we're seeing Juventus that are underperforming.
00:10:50
Speaker
And that's kind of, you know, that's why the league season always never, league table usually say never lies, because when you're overperforming, when you're underperforming, you get the average out of that, and that's where you are. Juventus were grossly overperforming, and now they're grossly underperforming. There's only eight games left. There's no doubt, I think, that, you know, Allegheny's leaving. It was obvious, I think, that this was never going to go past the season. I think they're just basically looking at this going,
00:11:20
Speaker
You know, this is the Juventus way. You have to show, because it's not just Allegri's place that's at stake here. There's a lot of players whose place you are at stake, and it should be.
00:11:35
Speaker
So as well, because I'm looking, I mean, I'm sorry, Sekulov, Vea, Mckenny, I mean, you know, it's, it's, I'm looking at these, you know, Moiskin up front, I'm sorry, as I know you want to, I don't, they're not good enough. Rugani comes back, you know, Rugani, Deshilio, you know, there's so many of these players that are just not, we're talking Empoli quality here.
00:11:58
Speaker
You can't make chicken soup with chicken shit. And Juventus have got a lot of chicken turds floating around the place. And it's just that simple. He's made them overperform. He couldn't get them to overperform throughout the entire season. Now they're regressing to the mean. Now they're underperforming. And what you're seeing is this kind of freefall thing. And it all kind of started before the Inter game.
00:12:21
Speaker
This again goes to show that there's a lot of work to be done in the squad. It's not just on the bench, it's in the
Critique of Allegri's Tactics
00:12:27
Speaker
squad. There's so many players that are not good enough to play at any of the top three sides, Inter Milan or Juve. And there's a lot of work to be done. There's no doubt about that. And I don't think at this point, sacking Allegri, you know, just sacking him to bring in Marcello Lippi. I mean, you talk about bringing someone who's irrelevant. That's OK. Lippi is one of the greatest Italian coaches of all time.
00:12:51
Speaker
But it's a little bit Mazzari-esque at this moment in time to bring Marcello Lippi back to hope for a result. That's what Napoli did with Mazzari and Calzone. It makes no sense. I'm giving an example here. De Rossi is the biggest example of what somebody can do just to give them a shot and get them going again.
00:13:09
Speaker
and that's what Juventus need right now. They need someone. It's not a long-term appointment. It's someone until the end of the season just to get them over the Champions League line because if this run continues, Juventus are not going to qualify for the Champions League. Simple as that. They're in relegation form. They're fourth from bottom during this last nine games, which is a quarter of the season. The last quarter of the season, Juventus are in relegation form.
00:13:30
Speaker
Now, chicken soup or chicken shit or whatever, that's embarrassing for the level of players you've entered have got to be a relegation level team. And there's no signs of coming out of that. And if we look at this game, I mean, the management of the legory in this game is embarrassing. He's gone to a 4-3-3, right? He's changed the formation eventually. Now, it's irrelevant what formation you play if your style of football and your philosophy is
00:13:57
Speaker
is from the dinosaur age because that's what it was. There's no point playing a 4-3-3 if you're going to put all your players behind the ball in counter attack, which is what Juventus did. They had everyone behind the ball. They had their wingers playing the second right backs and second left backs. The average position, if you have a look at the average position of the players on the field in this game,
00:14:19
Speaker
i need one player uv interest player was was in this was in the last year half that's the average position and that was my second just over the halfway line. No that's the average position of the events this place i mean it's so outdated style of football i don't have any place i don't have a place to show you the only just finish the place to show you the first time in eleven months please.
00:14:41
Speaker
which is just embarrassing. Then he plays a full back slash wing back as a right winger. So he plays Cambias as a right winger again. What's the point of going to a 4-3-3 if you're going to play defensive players? Then he takes off Kiesa for yielders halfway through the second half. Instead of playing both together, if you want to play a 4-3-3 and go attacking and play a little bit more
00:15:04
Speaker
to the strengths of a 4-3-3 play two attacking wingers. No, he can only play one of Kiezer or Yield is, and then he takes one off and brings the other on. The mentality is so defensive, it's so conservative, so outdated. That's what I wanted to talk about. It's the mentality. I think this is, I've been saying throughout this entire
00:15:22
Speaker
run a form of this is a mentality issue at Juve and it's not just the tactical mentality, it's the approach. A lot of these players are not mentally strong enough to be at Juve.
00:15:38
Speaker
Um, they don't know what they can't handle being at a club of you with stature. Um, and, and therefore they should, they shouldn't be there. And I think that's, that's the biggest issue. I think, I think it's a mentality thing. I think you went as players in term on top of the qualitative problem. There's also a mental mentality issue here. Um, and of course you can, I don't, I don't think it's just my leg is fault. And I don't think it's just the players fault. So I think it's a combination of both.
00:16:06
Speaker
but in this game Allegri sends out his team to play but that's the thing he's trying to yeah because he's trying to be he's trying to yeah i mean it's latio latio or not you know you're not we're talking about i said you're cheating here no but you're talking about a team who have been a disaster this season yeah
00:16:24
Speaker
You can barely create a chance all season. Yes they've got a new coach and you get a bounce with a new coach which is exactly the same reason why I want Allegri out but it's a Lazio team that basically can't create a chance as bad as Juventus are creating a chance this season and Lazio come here and completely create chance after chance in the first half.
00:16:44
Speaker
And because Igor Tudor is a very good coach and he's someone who we at the time said Napoli should get instead of Walter Mazzari. And now Lazzio have gone and got Igor Tudor. We saw what he did in the Serie A before. He did really well. And I think this is Tudor
00:17:06
Speaker
what he's done is go in and give Lazio a kick mentally in terms of pushing them forward.
Lazio's Tactical Flexibility
00:17:17
Speaker
And, you know, positionally, there was a lot of fluidity in how Lazio played and how they took on this Uvis side. I mean, they really did kind of
00:17:31
Speaker
alternate between a back three and a back four throughout the game. They played a 3-4-2-1 with 3-5-2 and then they played a 4-4-2 without possession. I mean, it was some really, really interesting tactical changes and tactical tweaks by Tudor just in a couple of, you know, how long has he been there? 10 days?
00:17:53
Speaker
So, this is looking really interesting. It's a very good start. And he is a coach who we've really liked on this pod. And it's going to be very interesting to see what he does over the summer and next season. I think Lazio fans have reason to be very happy and hope.
00:18:15
Speaker
and the changes he made as well. I liked every single one of those changes. He played a very attacking lineup. It's a lesson to Allegri. Look at the number of attackers he played in this game. He started the game with Tati.
00:18:28
Speaker
Pedro Zaccagni Anderson-Commander. That's five offensive players in the Lazio lineup, all on the field. And, you know, that was that aggression and that bravery. That's the thing, it's the aggression. And bravery, which is just completely lacking from Allegri. Allegri is a coward in the way that he plays. You know, he won't play Kieser and Yilders in the same, even two attacking wingers when he plays a 4-3, he plays a defensive
00:18:54
Speaker
He plays a full back or a wing back as one of his two wingers. I mean, it's just insane. And we see that. The first half, Lazio should have been two up by half time. And they totally dominated the first half. The second half was the Juventus were a little bit better at the start and then just disappeared back to their trenches again.
00:19:12
Speaker
I mean, Juventus 0.53 XG in this game. I mean, they're just incapable of constructing an attack or alegri is. And they're incapable of, as I've said for three years, alegri is incapable of controlling the play or winning a midfield 35% possession in this game when you're outnumbering them in midfield as well. I mean, it's just embarrassing. But, you know, well done, Salatio. We have to talk about Mario Gila as well.
00:19:42
Speaker
he's been very good and I thought he was outstanding. There were some tackles he did in this game that were just like, it was like you don't see defenders defend like that anymore, you know, these sliding
00:19:58
Speaker
challenges in your own penalty area, winning the ball cleanly, the striker, the attacking player looking like an idiot, wondering what happened. It was really, really cool. Now he's made that place his own, hasn't he? After the last season, it was Roman Yoli and Casale were kind of so good. And in this season,
00:20:17
Speaker
Yeah, he's first choice, isn't he? Casale's been pushed out. Well, he started. I mean, Casale played all 90 minutes. I mean, over this. Yeah, of course. I think it's going to be a kind of a hybrid three, five, two, four. I mean, the way that he moves at Tudor is it's very, very modern. He did this at Hellas too. And it's very Simonin Zagiec in the sense that it's very, very fluid formation.
00:20:45
Speaker
And it really suits Lazio's players so far, at least. I mean, it is a baptism by fire now because they've got Juventus away in the cup. And then, of course, it's the Rome Derby.
00:21:01
Speaker
And that really is, you know, there are easier ways to start your tenure at a club than to play Juventus twice and then in the Rome Derby.
00:21:16
Speaker
But after that, it does get lots easier for them. They've got Salah, Nittana, Geno, Averona, Empoli. So, you know, Lazio are 7th of 46 points.
Inter's Performance in Serie A
00:21:27
Speaker
Of course, it's going to take something, a Herculean task, for them to go past, to make it to the Europa League or the Champions League.
00:21:38
Speaker
I'm thinking Latio will... Conference league as possible, yeah. I'm thinking they're the favourites for that now. And I think that's good for Latio.
00:21:46
Speaker
I think that's good for Tudor and Lazio, because it's a tournament that they can go far in or should go far in and possibly even win. And and that will give the project and them some belief and hope. So it's no, it's looking it's it's looking good for Lazio or looking good. There's there's reason to be positive that the signs are turning the tide is turned this. No, that's what that's what a new manager does. It gives you hope, you know,
00:22:12
Speaker
Not any manager, but yeah, if you appoint the right new manager, like Latzy, who I've done, and not like Napoli did, then yeah, because you have something to believe in. Yeah, for sure. Okay, let's move on to Inter. We don't need to talk too much about this. It was a pretty straightforward win for Inter, 2-0 against Empoli. They're getting closer to the Scudetto now. It's just a matter of time now, isn't it, Nimr?
00:22:41
Speaker
Oh, there's, look, Interaurs could potentially, well, they are potentially three matches away from winning the Serie A title. They have Boudiniers and Caliari, and then they have the Milan Derby. It's 14 points difference. If both Inter and Milan win their two next games, they go into the Derby with 14 points difference between them. And if Inter win that game, then Inter are 17 points clear, and there's 15 points left to play for.
00:23:07
Speaker
So, Inter are storming to the Serie A title. They could even, they still theoretically have a chance of setting a new all-time points high in the Serie A, which is crazy. I don't think they will.
00:23:22
Speaker
because that will require them to win all remaining eight games, which I don't see happening. I think they're bound to drop points here, one or two points here or there, especially after you secure the title and you're playing these, you know, relegation battles again. Yeah, you lose a bit of motivation. Yeah, you lose a bit of motivation and you're playing teams that are literally fighting for their existence and they say, yeah, I just don't see that happening, but
00:23:49
Speaker
It wasn't a very good game by Inter. It was sloppy. Inter are a very well-drilled team in the sense that in terms of identity and your beloved patterns of play, everybody knows what's going to happen and what they're supposed to do. Even when things aren't working and they're a little bit sloppy and they're a little bit, you know,
00:24:13
Speaker
They're on clicking and they look a bit tired. They still know what they're supposed to do. So if they go on autopilot, they can create chances. The problem is that the last three to four, five weeks, we've seen them create and play wonderful movements and wonderful chances. But then when they're going to put it away,
00:24:34
Speaker
they squander them, whether it's Barilla, Turam, or Laotaro. And that's more the tangible thing I was referring to a couple of weeks ago after the Atletico game when I said the Inter aren't there yet. They're not mature enough yet, they're not ready enough, they haven't reached that point. Because we've seen improvement every season under Inzagi until now, but the final kind of
00:25:00
Speaker
killers in Killer Touch to go far at the absolute highest level in the Champions League, they still lack. But it's not impossible that they might do it next season. But we've seen it in these couple of weeks where they've looked a bit more tired.
00:25:17
Speaker
they lack that kind of killer instinct on routes that they can routinely rely on, if you know what I mean. The player that impressed me the most in this game was Darella. He confirmed what we saw against the Ecuador game, the last game for Italy, where he was absolutely outstanding. He scored that lovely goal at the end, and he was man of a match in that game. And I said in the post-match to that, that this is the Birella that
00:25:43
Speaker
we need to see it for Italy. Euros, if Italy are, excuse me, if they're going to, you know, try and over-perform a little bit and go right to the end. And it's also, I want to see a Barella that's more unleashed, a bit more left of the hook. But here's the problem. The example I was referring to, that's actually a really good point. He's the one who missed that chance. Like he even missed a complete squander, they fluffed it completely off target.
00:26:09
Speaker
And that's exactly what we were talking about. We need to see Barilla score more. We need to see Barilla make more points in those situations. And he's, like I said, him and Inter are not there yet. I hope that he can begin to start taking these steps in the Euros because he's going to be
00:26:30
Speaker
Maybe he's left the leash in him or more. He's going to get more of those chances and eventually he's going to improve that way, isn't he? He only has one of those chances a game, then he's not going to get as much. Do you know what I mean? I know what you mean, but the efficiency needs to improve if you want to be created seven chances in this game, which is unbelievable. He was unbelievable. There's no doubt about that. I mean, he was the man of the match by far. He came in Bastani.
00:26:55
Speaker
were just, they played on a different level. And a chair being him, I was back. I know it's been a while since the, I mean, it's been a week since the verdict in which he was due to a lack of concrete evidence in his alleged racist comments to Juan Jesus, and he was acquitted.
00:27:18
Speaker
How do you react to all the fallout and the way that it was handled afterwards? Especially because I know you've been commenting on what a chair he said about that he loved the George Weyer as a kid and that means he's not racist.
Cultural and Racism Issues in Italian Football
00:27:34
Speaker
But it's it's a clumsy comment. It's a really, really clumsy and archaic way of talking. And that's the problem when we deal with these things. Problem with Italy, isn't it? Yeah. Well, that's what I was going to say. Like, you know, how many Napoli fans have we not see famous and non-famous Napoli fans painting their faces black to show solidarity with Juan Jesus? And it's like you're just looking at that and you're going.
00:27:58
Speaker
Well, you're going to say Victor Osseman there, but then I realized they've done it. They've done it twice. Yeah, they've done it for Cooley Bali. They've done it for look, it's like they, they don't, it's obvious they're showing support. They're not mocking their own player. So their hearts in the right place. It's just that, look, Italy is a country that
00:28:18
Speaker
is the concept of the foreigner is fairly new to it. Italy is a country of migrants in the sense that they emigrate away from Italy. People immigrating to Italy is a fairly new thing. And so this kind of presents a lot of new situations and that's why
00:28:42
Speaker
Italy, it's a very old population, one of the oldest in all of the world, in Europe, and that's why they react the way that perhaps other countries reacted to racism.
00:28:55
Speaker
30, 40, 50 years ago. I don't think in Italy and in Spain and in many Mediterranean countries, they have an older population. I don't think they quite understand what racism is in 2024. Everything in life evolves and becomes something else. We move on in our conversation. But here, the conversation hasn't evolved.
00:29:19
Speaker
for various reasons, one being, of course, you know, like I said, the lack that Italy is not a country used to a lot of immigration to it, but rather migration from it.
00:29:30
Speaker
And they don't understand what it is. And I don't think at this point, you know, the problem is that we're now living in a world where we're all connected online and everyone sees everything. And these differences in culture and these different, not culture is a bad word, but differences in where we are in these conversations become really, really exposed and really in your face. And I think the reaction to that cannot just be to lose your mind and scream and shout.
00:29:58
Speaker
I think we need to just continue calmly letting talking and allowing that conversation to take place in Italy if it needs be because it's obvious, like I said, when you have a chair be saying things like that and he's reacting.
00:30:13
Speaker
from that place, which is exactly where people painting blackface and saying in order to show support is that it just it feels almost it's so it's naive. And you're thinking what's going on and and you can't just lose your mind over it. I just I just don't think you can. I think we've seen that that doesn't work. If anything, it just alienates people. And I don't think that's what we want to be. The important question for me is looking forward is
00:30:40
Speaker
How will the inter-squad feel going forward? I have to say though, the way this was handled, Gravena coming out and saying those things, there was no need for him to add fuel to the fire like that. There was no need. There was absolutely no need for Gravena to come out and say he was going to give Acherbi a hug.
00:31:03
Speaker
and not mention anything about Juan Jesus, because then he's essentially taking sides. Again, this verdict did not mean that he was found, it wasn't a declaration of innocence, it was a declaration of not guilty.
00:31:17
Speaker
meaning there wasn't enough evidence to convict a cherubim of having racially abused Juan Jesus. That's what it meant, nothing more. Because this was not a criminal trial, it was a civil trial, that means the burden of proof is much lower. That means the evidence that was available was so weak that they couldn't even clear the lower threshold.
00:31:42
Speaker
For me, it suggests two things. This was a golden opportunity where Napoli, Inter and everyone else could have kind of put their anger aside and put their football tribalism aside. And they could they should have probably spoken Khazuz and Acherbi privately.
00:32:00
Speaker
and then come out with some sort of statement together in the sense that, well, this has become now a he said, she said side thing. Shouldn't we, you know, like they do in the NFL and the Premier League, where you have more cameras and more audio to better ascertain what was actually said rather than turning it into, oh, so you're saying he's lying or you're saying he's lying. No, I don't think any of them are lying. I think I think that's that can't be the go to here.
00:32:23
Speaker
I believe in evidence. I believe in what I can prove. And I think using the technology to certain things, to find more evidence to prove them, that kills this conversation completely, because then it's just there to see. If you have evidence, it's there to see. And then it becomes a matter of what the evidence shows and what way it goes. And I mean, Napoli's statement
00:32:54
Speaker
was ridiculous. There was no need for it. There was no need to react like an angry 16-year-old on Twitter and come out and say that, oh, a cherubim being found not guilty means quite an quesus as a liar. That's stupid. That's not what it means at all. And equally,
00:33:10
Speaker
Gravina's way of coming out and saying he was going to hug Acherbi. Now all of a sudden, Acherbi, I mean, it's just this victimization thing just needs to stop. Like if it happened, it has to be, you know, I interviewed Fulvio Colavati this week, he's coming out on Sempre Inter, and he said, look, racism has to be combated. If you have a situation where
00:33:36
Speaker
Acherbi said those things, he should be punished. But the punishment has to suit the crime and we need to be measured in our responses, regardless of where we are. And I think that's a very, very, that's the right way to handle these things. And it hasn't been measured. You know, Marotta coming out and saying that yesterday that Acherbi is a man with a capital M. I mean, these kinds of statements in a situation like this do not help.
00:34:03
Speaker
I understand why Marotta does, and Marotta's job isn't to fix racism in Italy. Marotta's job is to keep Inter United. And I understand that why- That's the big question. What's going to happen? I understand also, just to finish that point, I understand also why Napoli said what they said, because they want to back their player. I get that. But there's a bigger discussion here, and it's far more important. And the lingering feeling after all of this was once again, the Serie A shut in their hands and clapped in front of a fan.
00:34:31
Speaker
And it just made everything look really, really embarrassing. And it was, and it's just, it's just, well, the bigger question for me is how, how to Ram, uh, and, and, you know, the, the, the black players
Roma and Lukaku's Challenges
00:34:43
Speaker
are in. So we're gonna look at this going forward and how they're gonna.
00:34:46
Speaker
Well, you know, how they, you know, are they going to, are they going to be okay playing with, with a chair, be going forward? And, you know, that's the bigger question, but you know, time will tell. Well, time won't tell because look, I think what Marotta did was he wanted to wait for the verdict to come out. Um, and then of course, have that conversation internally because this thing can, can obviously spiral out of control in the dressing room if it's not handled. Um, it's,
00:35:17
Speaker
It's a very tricky, difficult situation. I personally think that they're going to have that conversation if they not already had it.
00:35:27
Speaker
And, you know, because Taram went out and said he wants clarification. I think he has every right to ask for clarification from Acherbi about what was said. I think we'll know in the summer what happens if Acherbi's contract is extended, as has been reported, that it was before this happened, or if they get rid of him.
00:35:48
Speaker
Yeah, we'll see. We have to move on now anyway. Very, very quickly on Roma, they draw 0-0 at Lecce. Really, really poor performance from Roma. Maybe the worst they've been under De Rossi, especially the first half. Total, total mess. Lecce had 27 shots in this game, which is insane.
00:36:09
Speaker
That's unacceptable from Roma to have to concede that number of shots in this game. Roma lose two points on Bologna and Atalanta. They fail to take advantage of Juventus' defeat, even if they do at least gain a point.
00:36:25
Speaker
Let's say we'll be happy with the performance, but I think definitely we'll be kicking themselves for not winning. I mean, Picoli had a hat full of chances. Dordogu basically missed an open goal. So, yeah, not good from Roma in this game, Nima.
00:36:42
Speaker
No, no. And we're seeing a little, maybe we're seeing a little bit, you know, regress to the meme by here. The new manager bounces die down a little bit. It's too soon to say. But Roma do feel overall structurally more sound under De Rossi than they have when they did under Mourinho. I think this is more an issue of maybe players being a little bit having just a bad day or something like that.
00:37:10
Speaker
other than Lukaku who I think is just finished at this level. He better start learning his Arabic because he ain't doing it in Europe anymore. He just looks so...
00:37:26
Speaker
I think he can have maybe one last dance this summer, this season, you know, if they go far in the Europa League. But other than that, he just looks so, so finished, doesn't he? He just looks so done at this level. Yeah, he was poor, really poor in this game. But it's not just this game. Overall, this season, I feel like they're... No, I think he started the season really well.
00:37:47
Speaker
Yeah, and then I think the second half of season he has he has as it like in terms of his overall performance Even though he's scored he has had some games where he's he's scored. Well, he's well his overall performance the second half of season There has been a noticeable drop off. I think it's a decline. Yeah, we have to only anything It's on top of the decline. We saw it in the last season so I don't know
00:38:12
Speaker
I don't know, I think Roma will part ways with him in the summer and I think that's a good thing for everyone involved, that he leaves European football and goes somewhere else where
00:38:23
Speaker
Because I don't think he cuts it at this level. But I do think that, look, a point away to Lech is not the catastrophe for Roma. In usual circumstances, yeah, but in this stage of the season, when the other two teams you're fighting against win and, you know, you have to win this game. So it is, I mean, it's two drop points. It is two drop points, but I don't think it's a disaster. I still think they're in a good position to finish fifth.
00:38:48
Speaker
Yeah, well, it just makes the Derby this weekend that much more important for Roma, because if they lose that, then, you know, with Bologna and Atalanta... Well, more Atalanta than Bologna, they're not catching Bologna regardless, but it's Atalanta they have to look at. Exactly, exactly. So they're kind of like, everything's must win now, otherwise you fall away. Okay, let's move back to... Well, let's move back to... Well, let's talk about Atalanta.
00:39:18
Speaker
thrash Napoli 3-0 in Naples. Let's talk first from Atalanta's point of view. I thought I was really impressed with them. I thought it was a really impressive performance in wind. Totally outplayed Napoli in the first half. Played some really great, great football. I think it's a positive because we've said on this pod that
00:39:37
Speaker
Atalanta have often fallen short this season in Serie A against the very best teams and they showed here that they showed a maturity here and they were the bosses and They yeah great win for the Champions League Chase that will give them a lot of confidence then that they look in really good physical shape right now which is good and they have a as I said before great run of fixtures coming up and
Atalanta's Champions League Hopes
00:40:02
Speaker
to really cement that top five place, let's say, Caliareva, Rona, Monza, Empoli, Selene, Town and the next five fixtures. I mean, that is a goal winnable. All winnable. Yeah. I mean, it's always when you play relegation fighting teams, it can always be a little bit more difficult at this time of the season. But I mean, that's that's that's a goal. And then throw in, of course, the Fiorentina game that's postponed and you got Liverpool and the champion in the Europa League. They really have a difficult it's, you know,
00:40:30
Speaker
baptism by fire. Well, it's a it's a it's a it's a it's a fourth picture list, but the fixtures necessary. I mean, it's a good run of fixtures and it's a golden ticket for them now. It's a gold. It is. And the only way that you show that growth and maturity that you were talking about is by doing it on the pitch when things are the most difficult because it's been a horrible fixture list for them and they come out on top really, really well. Yeah. And this is exactly the kind of growth that you were alluding to.
00:40:55
Speaker
He keeps doing it, Gasperini, and you've got to hand it to him. He continues to get this Atalanta side, whether it's the first at the Gasperini 1.0 at Atalanta or 2.0 or in this case 3.0, he continues to show
00:41:12
Speaker
that he isn't on top of things and that he shouldn't go anywhere. I mean, I was one of those who were calling that saying maybe it's time for him to leave. He's been there for many years. It's time to go somewhere else. But when he continues to get to turn things around and build new atalanta sides time after time after time and continues to have them perform in two different competitions in the Serie A and in Europe, getting to the latter stages, quarterfinals.
00:41:41
Speaker
and top four, top five finishes, you can't but just tip your hat off. You know, just tip your hat. It's so impressive what he's doing there. And I wonder if after Spalletti, this guy shouldn't take over the Italy national team.
00:41:57
Speaker
Yeah. My only question, Mark, is the same question Mark always have with Gasparini is how he deals with bigger profile, bigger name, reputation stars, and you need that. He does and he just destroys them. Yeah, you need that at bigger clubs and you need that at the Italy National Team, we have bigger players. So that's my doubt. That's why I'd ask. His way of handling it is by going nuclear.
00:42:20
Speaker
Exactly, which is why I don't not sure whether he's the right man for Italy or for a bigger club and maybe Atalanta is the right team for him. But speaking of bigger play, I mean, he has a nuking. I mean, he has nuked Scamaka, but Scamaka's response. Look, this is why I think he should be in the squad. I agree. I agree with you. I think he scored. Listen, we're so bad in attack that, you know, we have to we almost have to take a gamble on Kiesa and Scamaka, even if they're not playing
00:42:50
Speaker
consistently consistently well and even if they do have a few injury you know concerns over their head because you know they can do things that none of our other attackers can do and you know schemekta can shoot from outside the area like none of our players can and he did it again in this game his link up game his hold-up game his his little flick-ons i mean it is italian ibra with an egg tattoo as i call him like he he has this kind of
00:43:14
Speaker
these genius things about him and he's 25 now, he's got to start delivering more consistently now. But he is a ridiculous talent, but it's all in his own head. Look, it's all down to him. I want to see him end the season well. It was a good reaction. This is the reaction we wanted to see from him. He was left out of the Italy squad.
00:43:38
Speaker
He's and even I even really like this interview at the end of the game where he was basically asked About the criticism from from both Spelletti and Gasparini and he says I think they do it to to motivate me good and that's exactly the reaction I wanted to see rather than him hitting him back at them and saying oh well look what I did so that that's the reaction I wanted to see and also the way them and he was asked about he was the one that the
00:44:05
Speaker
Allegedly played was playing PlayStation till till till the early hours of the morning and That's who spell that he was talking about. Mr. Maka before the Ukraine game and then you know, so I liked it I like I hope he's learned from that if he is playing PlayStation. He stops playing PlayStation Exactly
00:44:25
Speaker
I mean, I'd like to know what he was playing on the PlayStation. That'd be interesting. If it's FIFA, then bloody hell, then I'll have no sympathy whatsoever for you. I mean, seriously, adults, like... It's pro-evolution soccer. Oh, I assess. Oh, Championship manager. That's fine. I can accept that.
00:44:44
Speaker
But if it's FIFA, then I'm sorry, you don't deserve to be nearly squirted. No, of course he's playing FIFA. You think he's not playing football manager? Come on. What are you talking about? The other player I wanted to single out from Atalanta was Hien, Isaac Hien. I've been big on him. After his first few games at Verona, I said that I really like the looks of this guy and then he joined Atalanta and he's really starting to grow the latest of Atalanta's
00:45:11
Speaker
the scouting that they do find in the right players. I really like them. He dominated Osseman in this game. He was really, really good. And that brings me on to Napoli because Osseman was awful, again, dominated by Hien.
00:45:25
Speaker
He's
Napoli's Struggles and Speculations
00:45:26
Speaker
got dominated by Paul Cubasi, a 17-year-old kid who's great, who's fantastic talent, but, you know, 17-year-old in the Barcelona game. It just seems like Osseman gets dominated by everyone right now. He's checked out. He's checked out mentally. He's on holiday. Like, he's not... It's obvious that he's not playing anywhere near his full capacity, because he's mentally checked out. He's counting the days down till this season ends, and he will leave Lapoli.
00:45:55
Speaker
It's obvious. Then we can, you know, what you think about that and whose fault it is and blah, blah, blah. That's a separate discussion. But I think it's obvious this is what's going on. He's mentally checked out. He's trying not to get injured. He, because in order to get that Premier League move in the summer. And again, I think this is something that a situation that has partly been poorly handled by Aurelio dell'Arentis again.
00:46:20
Speaker
who should have had the wisdom to understand that this could happen, should have fixed the contract situation already immediately after this, should have appointed a proper coach instead of two or three gym teachers, one of which one of whom was retired, brought out of retirement. And then they should have he should have properly strengthened the squad after Kim and Jay left. He hasn't.
00:46:49
Speaker
And now Napoli are not going to be in Europe next season. And they're going to lose Aussieman. And they have a sweet-check for Atrelia who demands a better contract.
00:47:00
Speaker
and so on and so on and so on. He needs to have a proper sporting director there. All of these things go down to one man, and it's Aurelio De Laurenti. All roads lead to Rome, and all roads in Naples lead to Aurelio De Laurenti's office. This is him who has created this entire situation. Of course, Osteoman should be more professional. You think you can ask that of him.
00:47:29
Speaker
I do see why he doesn't care, because he's looking around him, and everything is crap. Everything is turned to shit. It's the worst title defense in modern times in the Serie A, and in a situation where it shouldn't have been. It's all down to mismanagement from de la Rentis.
00:47:51
Speaker
which is truly remarkable and unexpected because the way that he's handled Napoli since buying the club has been fantastic, second to none. He's got pretty much every single major decision right.
00:48:07
Speaker
Um, but here it was a little bit case of, of pride cometh before a fall. He thought he was the only reason why Napoli became Scurretto winners. And, and so he acted like, like, like, like he does. And congratulations. Here's the results.
00:48:24
Speaker
Yeah, the only other thing from this game from Napoli is just their defense, just how bad their defending was. I mean, the first goal, the second goal as well, the Mirenchuk goal, but the Rachmani, the way that Juan Jesus lost the ball to Shkamaka for the second goal. I mean, the defending was a bit, I mean, it's been abysmal. You call it pub goal. I call it children. That's how children defend.
00:48:47
Speaker
Like seriously, small, six, seven-year-olds, when their bodies haven't developed enough, they can coordinate their hand and feet and heads. That's how it looked. They looked like children. They looked cartoonish. Yeah, it was cartoonish. And the other thing I wanted to say was Respa Dori, I was looking at this, especially comparing him to Scamaca and who's going to go to be in the Italy squad. I didn't realize it was this bad. I knew it was bad. I didn't think it was this bad.
00:49:12
Speaker
The last 30 games that Raspidori has played for club and country, two goals, two assists. I mean, that is horrific. I mean, I mean, yeah, I mean, I know Spelletti likes him and he can play the system, but he was really bad for Italy in the international break as well. I mean, the question is, is also there with Raspidori. Should he really, should he, does he deserve to go to the Euros? I mean, you could probably say none of them deserve to go to the Euros, but I mean,
00:49:39
Speaker
I mean, with that performance, with that, with those numbers, I mean, that's, that's horrendous. Horrendous, horrendous numbers. And for, you know, so yeah, we need to see more from respiratory in his last, last month or so the season. Bologna, though, they win again, really straightforward win three nil, no zirksi, no problem.
Bologna and Milan's Standout Performances
00:50:00
Speaker
He did come on, and so he's back as well. Champions League is pretty much a certainty now, I think, with the run-off fixtures they have. Two points behind Juventus, and like you said, there are two great strikes, Nima from Orsolini and Salah makers. Yeah, it was a very good game. Ok, Salah and Itana are relegated, it's just a matter of time before they go back down mathematically, so it wasn't exactly the greatest opposition, but
00:50:29
Speaker
He gets it right again, Thiago Motta. He gets his selections right. He gets his reads of games right. And Orsolini scored a wonderful goal in the opening goal. And Alexis Salomekis from the other wing did something similar, although I think Orsolini's was much better. But no, they continue to impress and they comfortably continue to win and comfortably continue to show how good they are.
00:50:59
Speaker
Now they've got Frozino at Nueve, Monza at home, before Roma, then Urineus at home, Torino, Nappoli and Juve, and then end with Genoa. So it is a bit tough for now, but they do definitely seem like they're going to finish in the top four, which I think they will. I don't think any... Top four finish almost certain, but we'll see if they can even get third. But no, they look really, really good. There's no doubt about that.
00:51:27
Speaker
Yeah, they sure do. And so do Milan right now. They've got six wins in a row now. And after winning 2-1 at Fiorentina, quite an emotional study of flankey after the Joey Barone, sad passing. But from Milan, I think two players to single out here. Two of the most informed players, I think, best performing players in the calendar year of 2024, since the turn of the year.
00:51:56
Speaker
Rafael Liao and Loftus Cheek, both of them, and Liao, a great solo goal that effortlessly took on the keeper. And he's an assist for Ruben Loftus Cheek. And he's an assist, yeah.
00:52:08
Speaker
I blame the defender a little bit there as well. I think it's a better defender. That doesn't happen, but yeah, great to see. It's enjoyable. But six goals, seven assists in 2024 for Rafael Liano. The quality of his goals in 2024 as well. So many amazing goals. Like if you do a highlight reel of his goals in 2024 so far, I mean, they're all some fantastic and all different goals, solo goals, dribbling goals, taking on the keeper,
00:52:42
Speaker
fantastic in 2024 after being so underwhelming in the first half of the season. I disagree with you a little there, as you know, due to the breakdown we did of how he played. I think what we're seeing now is exactly that. We're seeing him more on goal. He was far away from goal before, but now Pioli's pushing him more towards goal. And you can see a maturity in how he moves, in how he plays.
00:53:01
Speaker
long-range strikes into the top corner.
00:53:09
Speaker
It's not just vibes anymore. There's actual thought. He's much more concrete. He looks much more a mature, ready player now. And it's, you know, we know the quality of the talent is never up for debate. And he is unbelievable. And he when he's in this form and he is in the form of his life and he needs to be in the form of his life because Milan go or, you know, want to reach and perhaps win the Europa League.
00:53:38
Speaker
and they need Rafael Liao to be at his best in order to do so. I would do want to just give praise to Milan for their signings. I mean, Pulisic, Loftus Chik, Reinders all have been very good signings for Milan. They've all succeeded. The ones that haven't are, you know, Musa, what's his name?
00:54:05
Speaker
Chukweze, although I think Chukweze was really good in this game, he was only missing a goal. Okafor's injuries, Jovic has been good as well. Overall, they've done really well in this Milan 2.0, or Pioli 2.0.
00:54:21
Speaker
And it's, every single player has pretty much, except for one or two, have really hit the ground running. And the others who haven't, it's more like a watch this space kind of thing than get rid of him. I do want to pick up on what you said about Loftus Cheek, because he's scored seven goals in 2024 now.
00:54:42
Speaker
And he's he's he's you know after he had a few injury issues at the start of the season but once he's got going he's been fantastic and he's he's he's got such a, I don't call him the English Pogba but there is a bit of Pogba about him like the way that he's got that blend of technique and physique that hold off challenges. And intelligence. And intelligence yeah and he,
00:55:04
Speaker
He's, I mean, for me, he should go to the Euros for England. He should be the Vice Bellingham for me. I mean, obviously, he's not Bellingham. No one is. But as a Vice Bellingham, as somebody to just to have as a somebody to, you know, to fill in for him.
00:55:21
Speaker
I mean, he should be the vicebending for me. But we know that Gareth Southgate, he doesn't watch any football outside the Premier League. And he's a prim face and he picks, you know, he picks Lewis Dunk over Tomori. And, you know, he doesn't want to pick anybody that plays in there outside of it, except for Harry Kane. You know, so so unfortunately, yeah, he doesn't. And does even pick Harry Kane's BFF Eric Dyer? I mean, I wouldn't rule it out.
00:55:51
Speaker
He'll be above Tomori. I just want to, like on Ruben Loftus' cheek, I've done it a couple of times, I'll happily do it again. I didn't understand that signing.
00:56:05
Speaker
what it was they were looking to bring in. But now I fully see it and it's been an absolutely brilliant signing. I think Loftus Chica's been brilliant. I think the signs were there that he was going to be great when you saw just a few games in the season when Pioli took him off. I remember before the season started. I think the signs were there that he was going to have a great season when he was going to be a great signing when Pioli took him off a few games into the season and I remember a few Milan players
00:56:33
Speaker
almost like criticizing, berating Pioli for taking him off. And I remember Teo Hernandez was one of them. And I think when you've got that kind of respect from your teammates, that they're not happy with you being taken off because they value you that much. I think that's a sign that you're going to be an important player for your team. And we have to just finally give a shout out to Mike Mignon, who made some two magical saves. He's going to have to be this good.
00:57:01
Speaker
if Milan are going to do something in Europe towards the end of the season? Yes, definitely. Whoever is going to beat Liverpool is going to need their goal. I mean, the save on Bellotti was just ridiculous, the one hand save. I mean, just look at the replay on that, the slow motion on
Relegation Battle in Serie A
00:57:22
Speaker
that. It's just
00:57:23
Speaker
Yeah, for sure, for sure. Right, just the rest of the Serie A matches just quickly. Genoa won, Flossinone won, Torino won, Monza-Niel, Callery won, Verona won, Sassuola won, Udenezi won, a lot of draws. I mean, that doesn't move the dial at all in the relegation races, pretty much as we were in terms of the
00:57:43
Speaker
But it's mental now. I mean, look at Frosinone, Empoli, Sassolo, all within one points, and then two points up to Cagliari, Verona. This is crazy. Yeah, Nudenez and Lecce are still in there as well, so it's where we were. I think they all drew, except for Empoli. All the teams fighting against religion drew, except for Empoli, you lost. It's impossible to call this.
00:58:04
Speaker
It's impossible to call this. It is impossible to call, which is what I've said consistently for the last three months. I've said, I have no idea who's going to go down. I don't think anyone can predict who's going to go down and stay up. It's impossible right now. It really is impossible. Could go down to the final day with everyone.
00:58:21
Speaker
Five teams a month. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Okay, right. Let's finish off with Badgio. Actually, before Badgio and Preppe this week, just a note that it's the Coppa Italia, Juventus Lazio, and on Tuesday, first leg with semi-finals and Fiorentina Atalanta on Wednesday, and we'll review those on Thursday's show.
Podcast Conclusion and Engagement
00:58:42
Speaker
Okay, Badjo, Prem Face and Selly Ass of the Week. Okay, so Badjo of the Week, Nimr, I have one player who I wanted to single out, not so much for the last week, but obviously for the last two weeks since the start of the international record, and that is Goodmanson, Albert Goodmanson, because I thought he was absolutely magnificent during the international break for Iceland. He's got four goals,
00:59:05
Speaker
in the semi final final, single handedly took Iceland to the final, almost single handedly took them to the Euros themselves. They took one, they took a one year lead against Ukraine and then they've got pushed back and the Iceland really don't have a good team. They're not the Iceland of 2016. They're a really poor team now and it's literally a one man team. And he was, he was, I mean, he's, he's such a great player and
00:59:28
Speaker
He really, he will get a big move in the summer and he will be a really, really good sign in for whoever gets him. He's such a, he's a fantastic player. No, he is. And make sure to check out our, we did a deep dive on him on one of the pods a few couple of months ago. You go and check that out on YouTube. We've just reached 2000 subscribers on YouTube. So please do, if you haven't subscribed, please do subscribe. And also, but for me, my, my budget of the week has to be layout.
00:59:55
Speaker
I mean, I can't go past. You can't score goals like that and do assists like that and not be budged on the weekly. Players like that are the ones that kids
01:00:11
Speaker
fall in love with football. He's the guy who fills the stadium, you know what I mean? That's the kind of player that people come to. That's what I meant with that back heel. I think you do that back heel against a top, top team. The defender probably clears it and you're criticising the alpha for overplaying, but it's great to see. And it's the kind of actions that we just don't really see much in football anymore. So I'm all for it. I love to see it.
01:00:39
Speaker
Yeah. And of course, also Lini's goal as well was absolutely fantastic. Yeah, it was. It was pre-face of the week, Nima. So we have, I have one written down from you, which was a video from, I think it was on TalkSport, where the whole TalkSport crowd was saying that England's B team would get to the quarterfinals of Euro 2024.
01:01:08
Speaker
I mean, I don't even know. I'm not sure. I'm not sure which prem faces it was that said it. Yeah. It's like, it's stuff like that all the time, isn't it? Like this, this, this notion. And who was it that said this last week that not a single France player get into the England team except for Mbappe? I mean, it's just like this nonstop. It's like the closer we get to the euros.
01:01:31
Speaker
the more it's going to be like this. And it's like, yeah, during the euros, we're going to have about the pandemic. Yes, it will be a pandemic, but we're going to have about 50, 50 to choose from each each each show. I mean, it's going to be. Did you see Michael Owens?
01:01:51
Speaker
It wasn't about this, but his message to Sven Gore and Eric. I honestly don't think Michael Owen lives on this planet. It was the most insane message. He was hyping up the Euros.
01:02:10
Speaker
What was that? So awkward. He's such a socially awkward human being that I kind of almost admire him for being so socially awkward and sticking out. Do you remember when he was playing for Liverpool? He's probably like in his early twenties and they were doing some like specially filmed video with some like 14 year old kid. And I think he was even younger than 14. I think he was like 12 year old kid. And basically this 12 year old kid was in goal.
01:02:38
Speaker
and Michael Owen was taking shots from one-on-ones with him and Owen just like was each shot that he was doing. Neville Southall, the former Wales and Everton goalkeeper was kind of like the was in the video as well and he was kind of like a goalkeeping coach and he was like giving some advice to this 12 year old kid.
01:02:55
Speaker
and Michael Owen was kind of like running up to take each shot and he was just blasting it into the top corner and like into the bottom corner every single time like giving no chance to the goalkeeper at all and and then he was celebrating each goal he was like going yeah on each one and like Neville Southall was like yeah well done Michael um you know you just you know you just you just scored against a 12 year old kid have you ever seen that video
01:03:21
Speaker
No, I haven't. But I when I was a kid, Glenn Houssian, who used to was the captain of Sweden and played for Liverpool. He his kid went to my school and we used to play penalty, like take penalties with him. And he did not mess about. He used to bang them into the top corner against everyone. Didn't give a shit. And we interviewed him once and he told that story. He doesn't mess about. And I told him that story and he was like, and he was like,
01:03:50
Speaker
Well, he's done laughing, but that's just how he's just like that. Some people are just like that. He also called Graham Soonness a CUNT, didn't he? Yeah, on the pod, he doesn't mess about. There's no filter there whatsoever. He's a very, very funny guy. Make sure to check that out. And we have for all our patrons, actually, we have basically done it so that when you're a patron, you can click on collections and then
01:04:14
Speaker
exclusive interviews and then every single interview we've ever done just comes up in chronological order with the latest top at the top. 84 of them I counted in the last two years. Yeah, I know. It's funny we list everything like that. So yeah, no, it's funny as hell. And also,
01:04:36
Speaker
Yeah, it's so bizarre, Michael Owen. Just go and see that thing, and just look for the Sven tribute, and Michael Owen's message was just...
01:04:53
Speaker
It was weird. Him and Joe Cole, I wish there was a reality show where they just followed these two around and asked their opinions on everything and anything, because I'm sure that it would be so... They don't live in reality, these two. I feel like the reality they live in, I would like to have a glimpse into it, because I don't think it looks the same as everyone else.
01:05:23
Speaker
It's just brilliant. It's la-la land. Saria asks of the week, are we going to Cherby for his George Weyer comment? Yeah, that entire situation. The way that this was inflated. Cherby's silly comment about I can't be racist. I'm not racist. I idolized George Weyer as a kid. And George Weyer was the first one to write to me when I had cancer. And it's like, what?
01:05:46
Speaker
And also, you know, the Napoli fans painting their faces black, Giuseppe Gravina saying he was going to, you know, making that situation worse, saying he was going to hug the Napoli statement into his reaction. It's just the whole thing is just, oh, migraine.
01:06:05
Speaker
Yeah, okay, right, let's leave it at that and we'll be back on Thursday for the, we're gonna do a Q&A and a review show of the Coppertalia games. We're gonna record those on Thursdays and then we'll push them out. But yeah, have a great week everybody and we will see you next time. Ciao ciao.