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Another lie from the FAI? Is Klopp's legend bigger than his legacy? - Not A Pundit
30 Plays7 months ago
Another week means another manager ruling themselves out of the Ireland job ☘️ This week we dissect Lee Carsley's rejection of the Ireland job, scrutinise the transparency of the FAI, debate Jurgen Klopp’s transformative impact on Liverpool, and ponder if Manchester United's young talents evoke memories of the legendary Class of '94.
Plus listen to this: Corny - The last Irishman in the NFL - GoLoud Player
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Transcript
Podcast Introduction and Political Jokes
00:00:17
Speaker
Hello, hello, hello and welcome to a very, very special episode of the Not Upon The Podcast. Yes, we're going to go through the big news of today. Leo Veradkar has resigned. We're going to be looking at his
00:00:30
Speaker
tenure as 20 years as a politician. We're going to be looking at two stints as Taoiseach. We're going to go true. Who's going to take over the Fiannaigale route? Is this going to be an election coming up?
00:00:41
Speaker
I'm only kidding. We're not going to be touching anything to do with politics. Thank God.
Irish Football: Lee Carisley and Managerial Speculations
00:00:46
Speaker
We are going to be looking at the big political thing though in Irish football, which is Lee Carisley is not coming. Gentlemen, delighted to have you all here. Connor, Rob and Nate, full deck. Full house. What do we think of Mr. Carisley? Who lied to who was Carisley? Never on board and
00:01:09
Speaker
As you told me beforehand, some of us might have drank some Kool-Aid. Or was this a kind of a done deal and he kind of pulled out? What do you think? I think we need a public apology on the podcast. How do I do too? You know, me and Connor called it like clear as day, you know. We saw right through the BS coming out of the FAI. So, you know, here we are.
00:01:36
Speaker
If you don't believe, you'd have nothing. That's all I'm going to say. I do think there might be something in to give you a bit of, bit of something. I think there could have been negotiations going on and there could have been a last minute pullout for whether it's, you know, it was never really going to happen or have the English FA come back with something. Who knows? But either way, we're up.
00:02:03
Speaker
shit creek without a paddle at this point and it's very worrying as to who is going to be announced and I do not believe that announcement is going to get pushed out for me. I don't know about you boys.
00:02:14
Speaker
Rob, what do you think? You were very kind of like, you were very, shall we say, realistic about Kenny. You've been very realistic about the FAI. What do you think is realistically going on here? That's one word for it. I think cars league is definitely, maybe there was a bit of negotiating going on because everyone has a price and if they offer them silly money and are the managers in the past, or in the system managers even in the past, were giving silly money like Joaquin was on like half a million.
00:02:44
Speaker
a year and Trappatoni, when he was there, he was on Mega Money and Tardelli, his assistant was on Mega Money. But as he said today, he sees himself as a development coach. I think that's key. He doesn't see himself at this point as a first-team manager. And if he is going to be a first-team manager, his first job probably isn't going to be Ireland because it's too uncertain. And that doesn't make him any less of a patriotic Irishman. It just means he's intelligent and he realizes that probably not a lot.
00:03:13
Speaker
he can do here. I think we know where the next manager is going to be. It's going to be John O'Shea. Do you think? Yeah, he's there. He's a manager. That's the start. He's ours at second. He's the only going to such a template. We don't know what his coaching is going to be like. But let's be honest, he can't be any worse than Kenny. That's a fact. I know he was a part of the staff, but he can't be any worse than Kenny. He can't be any worse dealing with the media than Stephen Kenny. He's a legend, so he'll be
00:03:42
Speaker
been a good will, he's buying care, back room is more good will. Glenn Whealum has already worked as a coach. I think that's the managing, that's it. I don't think the FBI are going to go, I don't think the net is going to be cast any further. We've seen today that Sky have been announced as the
00:04:02
Speaker
sponsor of the men's team as well like they've been sponsoring the women's team for years and I think the FBI just kind of got them to jump on board with the men's team as well and it could be something similar it's just like John O'Shea he's in the building he's a manager he's an orange legend let him do the job. I think it'd be an embarrassment for them though man because they've been they've been bigging up this this April announcement we have our guy well if you had your guy why didn't you say you know
00:04:27
Speaker
Well it's embarrassment, the FAOI, those two things are go hand in hand, like one-one draws on the ORS team and disappointment and embarrassment and I do think it will be embarrassing but I just I can't see how I don't see any last-minute contenders coming into the fold here. I heard O'Shea's name mention
00:04:45
Speaker
a good while ago and nothing's changed my mind from that. I think he is the safe rare hands they're looking for. Unless someone like Rafa Benitez comes on board. Could you imagine? That's just expensive. They can't afford him. Rafa would be great, but it's either going to be Chris Coleman
00:05:05
Speaker
Neil Lennon, so British out of work, football manager, or an Irish legend type coach like Robbie Keene or John O'Shea. I think O'Shea is in the building. He's not going to offend anyone. Might as well give it to him. That's what it looks like. And he'd be cheaper as well. Well, let's kind of look at here. Let's kind of go through the list of things that was kind of mentioned. We know they have to be cheap. I know what you're saying, Rob, that like
00:05:30
Speaker
Carsey wouldn't be looking for big money, but it's just money we can't afford. We might not be able to afford 750,000 for a manager in a year when he might be looking for 1.2. And in the UK, that would be a reasonable salary, nothing scary, nothing to put anybody off. But they have said that there's contractual obligations until April. That's why it can't be announced. They said this manager has
00:06:00
Speaker
international experience. Now, one would assume that means international management experience, not just being an international player. If they were saying international playing experience, that's a bitch. I don't think that would be it. And I don't think having six weeks as Stephen Kenny's coaching team is going to count as John O'Shea being that. So I don't
00:06:24
Speaker
If they came and said, listen, we thought we had somebody, it fell true. John Shea's going to be the manager. I'd kind of go, okay, I could accept that. But just looking at who is now, according to Paddy Power, the leads for the job. In number one, which I think would be fantastically entertaining,
00:06:45
Speaker
an international defender and an international manager who's currently in a job, so that could explain the April thing, is Willie Sanyal, formerly of Byron Munich. We said this way back when he was like 10th on the list or 20th on the list, we were like, who's low down? Unlikely that. And we were like, it's going to be Willie Sanyal. If that comes across, I want that clip found. I want it highlighted.
00:07:12
Speaker
You'll be more gloating than I was about me Sammy Smodok's suddenly arriving in the squad but we'll touch on that later. Number two, so Willy's annual six to four, which is pretty low odds now that could just tell you more to the lack of strength in others. And number two at seven to two is Gus Poyette who as far as I'm concerned is already rule himself out. John O'Shea is eight to one and Lee Carsley is nine to one but he's rule himself out. Anthony Barry,
00:07:37
Speaker
I know Tuchel's going to be leaving Bayern but that's also necessarily he's going to and listen he's still part of the Portugal set up so why would he bother a 10 to 1 Robbie Keynes it's not going to happen they can't compete with Israeli money. Rafa Benitez. What do you think he's on out there does anyone know? Low end or primary day, top end of the championship level probably.
00:07:59
Speaker
Yeah, apparently in 2016, when he would have been out in LA Galaxy, he was on three and a half million. I suppose it doesn't need the money, let's be real. And he was on a quarter of a million when he was in the Ireland setup, so he's going to be expensive.
00:08:19
Speaker
and Rafa Benitez is going to be expensive and doesn't have the international experience. So that's another thing that's going against them. A scary one for me is Chris Houghton, a 33-1, who does have international experience and I just don't think is the right man. Chris Coleman, international experience but has already ruled himself out. Roy Keane, sort of international experience, 33-1. Steve Bruce, no international experience and won't be happening despite the tracksuits in it. And Nia Lennon's ruled himself out at 50-1. So
00:08:45
Speaker
I think they don't like, you know, if you're John O'Shea, obviously, he'd be delighted to get the role full time. But like, he also kind of will have been shafted in a Ralph Ragnick kind of way where he's, he's been promised these two games, kind of he in his head, he's probably looking for a job in the in the UK somewhere.
00:09:07
Speaker
And he's probably taken that job knowing that there's not half as much pressure of, oh, now you're the full-time Ireland manager. If you're John O'Shea and then you're given two games and then, oh, by the way, you're here in the building, you may as well have it. That's a whole different situation that I don't think you'd enter in.
00:09:26
Speaker
It's a really, really difficult one to call because I don't think Brian Kerr would have came on if he thought John O'Shea was going to be the permanent manager. I think that's another thing. That's what I'm saying. I wouldn't mind as much if they stood down and said, listen, this isn't
00:09:45
Speaker
what our plan was. However we're delighted to appoint and look how well he's done these two games. I wouldn't be as aggrieved if they turned around and said that and said to turn around and go no no this is the plan all along. We're kidding this is the thing they don't have a plan and they never have had a plan and when early April rolls around and we can start calling them wafflers it's gonna be a great day. Although there's been no overlap this week if Kino's at the Belgium game
00:10:11
Speaker
Who knows? You're getting that tin out of your zone. You don't need no overlap this week after a big United Liverpool game, I'm just saying.
00:10:22
Speaker
There was no Tommy for the job. Yeah, I don't know what they're at, to be honest. I just wonder, though, like if you do the thing is, if they are saying that in a press conference early April, like you'd hope that they have something like otherwise, why are you saying it like? And that's one of the things that keeps kind of trolling me is like, why would you commit to something if you can't guarantee it?
00:10:50
Speaker
But then again, like I go back to what me and Connor said last week or the week before, we're not surprised that they are just waffling about it. So I don't know, man. It's like, at this point I just wanted to come to a bit of an end and know who's going to be leading us forward, but longer to wait on that. Yeah, I agree.
00:11:17
Speaker
But one thing we do know is we do know the Ireland squad for these games.
Ireland's Squad and Match Preparations
00:11:22
Speaker
We also know how afraid Belgium has been with losing both Lukaku and De Bruyne for the game. Obviously not wanting to face up against big Sami Smolux. Rob, what was your reaction to the squad? Were you kind of surprised or not? No, like decent enough. Again, it's still a lot of the players that were there under Kenny.
00:11:45
Speaker
And so, not too much surprise. Smartix is an interesting one. He seems to really rate himself and he's had a great season, but I don't know if he naturally fits into how Ireland play or how they have been playing. Like you said, he sees himself as a number 10, but Ireland don't play with anyone in that position.
00:12:04
Speaker
unless Moshe is going to change that, but even if he does change that, we can't really afford to only have two midfielders because we're not good enough. So I don't know if he's going to be, it's nice to have another new player, but I don't know if he's going to be
00:12:20
Speaker
make a big impact as much as people are hoping. So it's still much for much. But for me, it's still about the manager. Really, you won't learn too much from these games, unfortunately. Look, I watched, two years ago, I watched Ireland draw 2-2 with Belgium. I covered that match. And Stephen Kennedy then couldn't buy a competitive win to save his life. But he drew 2-2 and a friendly with Belgium almost to the day. I think it was around this time, two years ago. So I won't learn too much from it. But what I would like to see is more maybe O'Shea,
00:12:50
Speaker
ditching the back tree that Kenny was stuck to and the wing backs and it didn't work from that all. So I'd like to see him try to play 4-3-3 with Evan Ferguson up front, but I'm not expecting too much. But the squad is generally okay. Like we've a couple of Premier League players, couple of Championship lads, like couple of players in form. No one really stand outish, but enough to kind of
00:13:15
Speaker
throw together an international team with the right manager. So I'd be willing to give him the benefit of the out of shape and see if he can put some shape on it. Like it's one of them kind of squads. It's as good as we can expect. If you look at who we have, I don't think we're missing out on anybody that
00:13:38
Speaker
like that we should be able to call on, if you know what I mean. Like I know there was the rumors of Casey McInteer for Lester going to be kind of coming across and that just hasn't materialized. Um, but like we have Troy Powerton, he's doing very well in the Netherlands. Uh, uh, Ben is doing well in the Premier League, considering Smodak's is what 27 goals plus for Blackburn and all competitions. Um,
00:14:04
Speaker
Adam Iida has hit the ground running in Celtic and if you didn't, to kind of make your question. I think that says more of a Celtic than it does with Iida. And that sounds really harsh, but I've watched that guy play a lot.
00:14:17
Speaker
I never was ever impressed and I look up and he's scoring loads of goals in Scotland. Maybe that's just, he's found a right club. I don't know what's going on with Celtic though. As soon as you're a striker and you will start scoring at a ridiculous level, but if you're a winger, you can go to the championship and become epic even though you are past the side because look at Mikey Johnson.
00:14:40
Speaker
for West Brom, he's absolutely tearing it up and has been very, very impressive. So, like, not to be full football manager on it, but a 4-2-3-1 gingham press or something like that, I think would lead us right in it. Yeah, I see. I don't really know how O'Shea's going to play it. Like, as I said, he was in the Kenny set up. Will he continue on with that type of football?
00:15:05
Speaker
or would he go, you know what, maybe Kenny's didn't work out for a reason. So I'd like to see a bit more pragmatic football. I know that's a bit boring, but I think we need to start setting up towards the future now, go like this allows our goal is to actually make it to the tournament. It's not getting knocked down on the way. Yeah, that's the big one. He needs to talk of like, ah, great football, progressive football. Kenny did an interview
00:15:33
Speaker
couple of weeks ago when he was still talking about this and you're like mate let it go like it's done like you had your chance it's it's it didn't work and I don't think you can cling to this idea of playing good football I think I said before most international football isn't great like France have the most talented squad probably in world sport nearly and they just they're not great to watch they don't play great football it's not about playing great football so
00:15:58
Speaker
Nate is definitely really returning to a pragmatism. If not, that doesn't mean hoofing the ball forward, but it just means probably playing the percentages, ditching the tree at the back, definitely. And just trying to play a bit more cute and a bit more clever and a bit better on set pieces. So yeah, I would like to see that from him, but I'm looking through the squad here and the midfield God Almighty.
00:16:23
Speaker
it's a wasteland like and that sounds harsh so there's we're not expecting miracles are you it is very harsh but it's also it's true it's unfortunately it is true i'm looking true and
00:16:36
Speaker
We've four central midfielders, four like what you call traditional central midfielders. Smallbone, Knight, Cullen, McGrath. McGrath's going on depth balls. I think Malumbi is, he's not here. I don't think, but Malumbi's a great hard worker. Maybe just not at that level just yet. Smallbone has some nice touches, but we mostly saw him play at wide. I'm not a big fan of Knight and Cullen.
00:16:59
Speaker
probably been our best midfielder but he's no world-beater so there's not a lot we can kind of deal with that midfield to be honest. He's been kind of called up that looks to be a very 4-2-3-1 kind of squad like you have plenty of width
00:17:16
Speaker
in terms of like Jimmy McGraw, Callum O'Dowdah, Sykes can play out on the left, Mikey Johnston, or Benny, depending on what way you want to play him, even Ubba Femi can kind of play out on the wing. An attacking midfield role, like you can either play like Ida as that kind of like
00:17:35
Speaker
Target man kind of role and that Rooney used to kind of do and for burbot off or even Ferguson could do that kind of hold-up position or put in small x there and Small bone can play that much that more kind of forward position finna finna Z's as well and then you have Josh Cullen as your playmaker sitting and maybe like a Jason Knight just doing what Jason like does and that all that is is wrong and I have to say I didn't like seeing Robbie Brady getting called up
00:18:05
Speaker
No that seems to be a little bit more of a I don't know personality higher
00:18:12
Speaker
possibly like he's one of the few players I suppose like you could go old-school and go well he has experience of he's playing successful teams he's kind of more back to his left back position he's great he is a dead ball specialist but I suppose you are starting to think like maybe it's time to move on from certain players but I just think it shows as well with the talent pool is so shallow that we just can never fully move by anyone like if
00:18:37
Speaker
If Robbie came as the dust-off to boost the market, could anyone say, no, we kind of come off the bench like we might need Robbie to come on and score because I don't know if we're at a point where we can kind of reel anyone out. But we do have Evan Ferguson. I'm being very... You could call it negative. I'm being a bit pessimistic. I think with Ferguson, we've got Ikela here in grey form and I think he definitely should start.
00:19:03
Speaker
I would definitely go with Collins maybe at the back where Scales has been real there. But I think that guy Jacob Ryan get a run out. He's playing at Leon. But that's a high level. And then it's kind of a bit of a much of a much as both. We can be solid.
00:19:18
Speaker
get Robbie Brady, Eureka, McGrath, some dead balls. Even though he's not in great form, we have got one of the best young strikers in the world. So there's a few little things to cling on to, I'd say. It's definitely not as bleak as it was a couple of months ago. Just what we're doing real quick, Ian, is I'd like to see us
00:19:39
Speaker
move more towards where we prioritize the system now, where we're aiming to build a solid system that we can fit people into. And I'd rather we fit the players into the system than rather fit the system around the players. Because I feel like that's something that we've been doing the last couple of years, is I'd rather we try and make players work in a system rather than do their way around. And I think that's where most good international teams go,
00:20:07
Speaker
get the basics right to get the system right but they're not they're not dictating how they play around the players that they call up if that makes sense. And to be honest I think that's a really really good reason to play Belgium is because like they've tried to play to the players and have had no success for it like they've had probably one of the best kind of golden generations we've seen from a country in recent times and
00:20:33
Speaker
have just consistently underachieved just by trying to fit in all these great lads that can't seem to play together and then having to rely on our lads to try and hold them together at the back but vertongen and all the variables for the longest time which is why I want to see John O'Shea just kind of tell the lads go out there have fun we're all here just to prove ourselves play the game as you can in the best way and
00:21:03
Speaker
just see what kind of comes about of it, because there's genuinely nothing to lose for anybody here.
00:21:10
Speaker
It's not quite to the day, Rob, of that 2-2 with Belgium. It's 26th two years ago and we'll be playing on the 23rd. But I'd much rather see a positive 2-1, 3-1 defeat than a drudging 2-2. Yeah, I'd rather just see a bit of kind of going, okay,
00:21:37
Speaker
against a different day, against maybe a different opponent, we could have really become, become something there, you know? Yeah. And I'll share as well, it doesn't, you don't have to be a brilliant manager. He just needs to paint himself as like, I'm not that other guy. I'm not that, I'm not Stephen Kaney. And you see managers do this a lot when they come in through a place, previous managers. I don't remember when Matt O'Neill got sacked by Sunderland and
00:22:01
Speaker
You got real offended because Paolo Decanio came in and banned RedSauce and had them running up in hills and stuff. You always blame stuff on the previous guy. I think that's what a shade coin should totally do in a way. Just get rid of that tree at the back. Go with the 4-tree tree. Be more confident and direct with the media.
00:22:21
Speaker
and decisive with his substitutions that's what one thing that Stephen Kenny seemed like stung by the criticism but it was also true like he wasn't changing the team mid-match and his in-game manager wasn't on the level of people he's been up against but O'Shea has played to a high level so he has that advantage as well so just I would just try paint themselves the Auntie Kenny basically like just I'm not Stephen Kenny I'm not that other guy I'm not gonna spend 25 seconds thinking about an answer I'm not gonna be scratching my head I'm not gonna
00:22:50
Speaker
talk about how many passes we had. I'm not going to fall into any of this stuff. I'm going to be decisive. I'm going to break with that formation. And that will stand to him. And with the bar so low that, honestly, if it's a spirited 0-0 or 1-0 or whatever it might be, and he showed all those things, he's immediately in the pole position to get the job, whether that's the right decision or not, just because there's no health there, really.
00:23:16
Speaker
yeah and i think off the back of his first press conference actually did come across quite well he it felt like he was trying to just discuss football rather than when sometimes with kenny it felt like he was trying to talk a bit down to you about your football knowledge sometimes it was like he was showing around very fancy words
00:23:35
Speaker
going, this is the vision. This is what we want to do. O'Shea was quite forward with it. He was like, this is our plan. This is what we're trying to get out of it. Where it felt a lot more like down to earth, the press conferences. That's what I thought today.
00:23:53
Speaker
Connor, what do you think? If John does well in these, should he be given the job? And if so, would it be fair to lob the Ollie comparison that was thrown at him earlier? I think it really is down to style of play. And I know that sounds stupid from coming from an Ireland fan where we probably don't care how they play as long as we get a win.
00:24:18
Speaker
You know, I think it really is a see how he goes with it, but I, I, I, I'm unsure of the Ollie tie just yet, but I, I don't know about you guys, but we've talked about this before in the pod. I do think if they are to go with John O'Shea, it has to be a short-term contract, um, to really kind of prove his worth because let's face it, he hasn't had real management experience. I really liked the guy, you know, I hope he does well and it would be great for Arden if he, if he does do well, obviously, but I do have concerns about him.
00:24:47
Speaker
So I think comparing them to Ollie is almost unfair to Ollie because Ollie does have solid managerial experience. To be honest, I think any appointment is going to be short term because they can't afford to pay long term money to secure anybody down. And I think for O'Shea himself, it'll be a short term decision if he does take the permit on more because
00:25:13
Speaker
if his stock rises, he could hop on that very quickly and not overstay as welcome or before his stock falls. I think you're right with that. And I think that is where he may buy into this whole thing if he does get given it after two games, even though everyone knows he wasn't the main pick because apparently there's smoke and mirrors April's press conference. But that does give him the license to go, well, I didn't expect to be here for that long. So once he gets an offer, he can dip out.
Ireland Jersey Critique and Branding Issues
00:25:40
Speaker
And did we all see the new Ireland jersey? Not a fan. Don't know about you guys. Boring. I'm not impressed. Boring. It just looks like a train stop. Yeah, it's like how do you make the last one worse with a sponsor on it? I wasn't going to buy you a sponsor on this bland Ireland jersey. I'm not going to buy one with a sponsor on it. It just takes the look off. So not impressed.
00:26:04
Speaker
I thought when I first saw it, I was like, wow, if you saw that in a Middle Island little, that'd be a really good. Or Carol's gift shop. Yeah, it'd be like a really good knockoff when you kind of go, OK, I can see what they were trying to go for. But I don't think anybody can justify paying the money for a Castoria considering you can not guarantee any quality, even on the pitch. Did you see what? Well, look at those kids.
00:26:32
Speaker
Did you see what Sky Sports did today with the logos? No. Well, when they announced the partnership on Sky Sports, they used the old FAI logo. Everyone was like, partnership after a great start, lads. In fairness, if we all could, we all would. Yeah, it was a funny time and they announced it with Sky and then on Sky Sports, they couldn't even get the logo right.
00:27:00
Speaker
He couldn't write that. Did you see the Celtic Ireland jersey? Yeah. I did see that. I quite like that, actually. Like, I think it's kind of funny that they have practically the same elements and is Adidas that Celtic of it? They could just make it feel nicer. You know what I mean? It's just a better vibe to it. It has that kind of like, I don't know if it's just projecting kind of going, I know you're a real brand and you'll do this right. But it just seems to be a level of like,
00:27:30
Speaker
grown-up artistic integrity to it rather than kind of like it's considered it's it's it's they've done it a million times before you know like the adidas have made some of the greatest kits arguably ever and like you know coming out from a new cast of fan is we've got castor not good we're going to adidas I couldn't be more excited and like the thoughts of an adidas art and kit are just they do they you know as long as they didn't go down the kind of Nike template route they'd smash it out the
00:27:57
Speaker
100% and if that salted kit was the Ireland kit, half the country would be wearing it. 100%. Like, lads, he's got one job, make sure the jerseys are nice and you know that money trouble you're in? Yeah, it won't be as bad.
00:28:11
Speaker
But an Ireland jersey really isn't difficult. If you reissued a 1990 style kit, the whole country will buy it. Well, yeah. And if you actually cared about what it looked like, it would look nice. Because I don't think anybody there, sorry if I offend the person who made it, but if you're making that, I don't know how much you care about that project. If you're coming out with that kit,
00:28:37
Speaker
Well, you could make a better kid if you were doing a five-assigned team, you know? At least it's better than the correlation one.
00:28:45
Speaker
Christ, you've had some bangers over the years. Have you not seen it? No, this one's bad. It's like, how do you mess up the crazy jersey? I didn't think it was possible. It's shocking. What have they done? So it's the shorts are all white now. OK. And instead of having the small checkerboard kind of like chess style where it's just like it was a rob four big squares on a white.
00:29:08
Speaker
yeah it's it's terrible it's absolutely terrible it looks like some like they sent on the design and it got like uh corrupted in the email and only part of it came true and they're like oh this looks this is an interesting one let's go with that then pro evo-esque i just looked a little better in the ireland jersey though i believe
00:29:31
Speaker
I'm looking at it here, I take that over the Ireland jersey. If you made them red, if you made the red green, I'd buy that. Jesus lads. No, come on. Have you seen like killing? Come on. The Ireland one is like, is what? Canva.
00:29:47
Speaker
to Adidas' Photoshop. There's nothing wrong with it. It's just not good. The Croatia one is everything wrong. There's nothing right about that. In fairness, considering how often they're bringing these things out now, we'll have a new one in six months time, so it doesn't really matter. At least it's the Croatia one and won't fall apart when you're wearing it. That's the great thing about it.
00:30:15
Speaker
One thing I remember during the week, that's just while we're on the topic of kids. Now, it'll never happen again for obvious reasons from a commercial point of view. But do you remember that time United had the kit that was like two-sided? It was gold. It was unbelievable. One side was what? It was gold and silver, wasn't it? Yeah. And the other side was white. But what happened to me with that one was if you put it in the wash, the gold side would run. Because it was printed on. Like it was Vodafone.
00:30:44
Speaker
was the sponsor of the time and it was kind of printed onto the gold kit side and it would run a little bit and then the white side was probably the better side but that was yeah that was cool um i think that was like 50 pound at the time which was mind-boggling to people but it was 50 pound for two jerseys so do you also remember back in the day there used to be like a full-on man united megastore in dublin
00:31:07
Speaker
Yeah, it was on the keys, I think. Yeah, I think it was down by the Heineken building, I think. Literally across the Heineken building. Yeah, I remember that. Now we just have to put up with Liverpool shops and a Celtic shop in the Jarvis Centre.
Jurgen Klopp's Management at Liverpool
00:31:25
Speaker
And speaking of Liverpool, Lads, what did you make of Angry Club? Is he going to have like a meltdown before he leaves? Oh, he's had one. To fly him, Lads comes in, he's had one.
00:31:36
Speaker
One of the main reasons I command him is I have to get this off my chest. Honestly, this is why he has to leave Liverpool, because you just can't calm down. You're seeing here why he's borne himself out, and this is where his Liverpool fans will defend him. It's not a preferred question that he's a world-class coach, he's an elite level coach, he'll be remembered as one of the best in the Premier League, in Europe, he's changed the sport,
00:32:04
Speaker
push all these guys to be better, but he's not very nice, is he? He's also an elite level owner. He's so unbelievable. The guy asked an innocuous question for Danish TV. We're in Ireland. They're Mark Ireland, roughly equal. No one's going to care. It's not like he's being interviewed on the BBC or Sky Sports.
00:32:24
Speaker
So that was his topic. Interviews a guy on, not that money should matter, but show some professional spectacle. He's just doing his job. I remember arguing with a Liverpool fan about this before and they told me I was biased because he's working in the media and I'm biased towards journalists. I'm like, no, you're biased towards Liverpool fans and perhaps Klopp. We're seeing now why you had to walk away because
00:32:45
Speaker
He throws, puts so much into everything and it's basically coming back and it's boring them out and that's why, it's not just an interview, it has to become a battle like and you just can't just let it wash over them. Even the FA Cup match, he messed that up. He wasn't the journalist who decided to play Salah for 90 minutes against Spark the Prag when Liverpool were a true one.
00:33:08
Speaker
guaranteed to go through. That was his fault. He chose to do that. It wasn't his fault that Darwin Nunez gave the ball away in his own half with a square pass and then my night went and scored. It's just punching down. It's the worst trade
00:33:23
Speaker
It's the worst trait you can have in anyone at that level. I find it so confusing though, because like, you know, you look around, his players love him. He's a good man manager. And you think he understands personal relationships, at least with the people he likes. But you think like you'd have more clout within the media, like,
00:33:47
Speaker
That's never going to buy you favours. I know it's a stressful job. I know it's his last season, it's with Liverpool he wants to make it his best ever season, but that's not going to help your cause regardless. The great thing about it though is we inflicted on him, you know what I mean? Did you see Daddy Mills' comments on the club, just considering Rob? Rosie's saying. So he basically says that
00:34:15
Speaker
his Liverpool record, it isn't that good and he's not on the same level as Pep as a manager. I don't agree with that now. Yeah, that's a bit much. If we put in context, like there's no 115 charges against Klopp, like Pep has done brilliantly, but also Man City have amazing accountants and like this, that day is going to come, we hope, but I think Klopp has, I would think Klopp has been probably better than Pep.
00:34:41
Speaker
to be honest, given what he's had to work with. I think what he's done at Liverpool is more impressive than, not like, look, Pep is, like, I'm not putting down Pep here, but he's an unbelievable manager and what he's done at every club he's been to is nothing short of incredible. But, you know, Klopp re-calibrated Liverpool and revolutionised them into the behemoth that they are, were, will be, you know.
00:35:08
Speaker
five trophy-less seasons out of eight and they have spent big money and they've wasted big money, what, continue with 120 million that they just practically poured down the drain. They have Salah on, what, nearly half a million a week. And they have Tiago, like, they... I think he's right. You are right, but his legacy will be a bit of a fergie one in terms of youth. And he got it, like, when you think about where that club was, they were floundering.
00:35:35
Speaker
and he's got a better record than Rafa Benitez, despite the fact Rafa Benitez arguably has had the same amount of success. He's glad, it's going to take a lot longer to defend Klopp here. I might get sick midway here. I think Cillian's winding us up as my United fans. Look what you're forcing me to do, Cillian. I've literally logged on here just to slay. No, he's been amazed. I think I would have him. If you had to plug onto my head, I'd go.
00:36:04
Speaker
I think he's going to probably, it stands up more than what Pep has done. He's won every trophy that he's been in contention for, apart from the Inkler Open League now with complete the set. He played great football. He's made Jordan Henderson at times look like an elite level player, which is incredible. He's made Henderson look like Javi at times.
00:36:23
Speaker
It's unbelievable. And maybe we see Henderson's level since he left. I think it's not just been him. It's been a whole operation, did scouts. And I remember reading an article about Liv before that. You have guys who have data scientists and guys who have PhDs in astrophysics and all this stuff, inventing algorithms about how to identify players. So it's on the New York Times as well, we're reading.
00:36:49
Speaker
You touched on that in an earlier pod. I remember you saying that they went to the Brighton way. They've lined up the players, but he's put it all together and he's been the figurehead. He's been an amazing manager. When he came into the Premier League, he was such a nice guy. I remember he'd be joking and laughing.
00:37:06
Speaker
He'd be laughing at the reporters and everyone thought he was a great crack and then the mask just slipped. We see a very angry man underneath. I know Liverpool fans say he's good to charities or they don't care. Liverpool fans love him, but he really, really should just be punching down, I don't think. How many league titles has he lost by one point as well? I think it's like, is it two now?
00:37:31
Speaker
Yeah, like we all laugh at the Jared slip, but like that doesn't happen. And, you know, like, I think it's like two or three days off by one point or lost on the final day at least. Also, we lost the Champions League final. So like, when you put everything into perspective, there's a lot more that goes on to just the ones that you want as well.
00:37:51
Speaker
I will say though, sorry to cut across, you killed. The last thing I'd say now is what I would love to have seen is now that Michael Edwards is back at Liverpool and they've just poached you in from Humphries or from Brentford, but they seem to be getting the C-suite level sorted out. And if they just had Klopp there, or if they get Alonso, it's going to be very exciting.
00:38:17
Speaker
See, my thing with Klopp is not trying to diminish, like he brought them from being, let's not forget how good Rodgers had them as well. Rodgers had them challenging the title, so it's not like it was this kind of like bringing them from having Paul Kinchesky as a left-back kind of transformation. Rodgers did that work for him.
00:38:37
Speaker
brought them on to the next level as you should so absolutely but like Liverpool fans are putting them up alongside their versions of Saralax so Bob Paisley and Bill Shankly and it's basically on vibes like that would be the personality statue rather than a success statue because like as
00:38:58
Speaker
It's the most Tottenham thing I've seen a non Tottenham team do is basically kind of say, yeah, you had some success. Now you have a have a statue because you made us not as bad as we were. I think I think I think you're really taking a Madame Pope. No, he's after Alex, like, let's get one. Well, if you talk if you talk to a Liverpool fan, that's that's the kind of esteem that they're holding him in. And it's not like he didn't do this on a budget. How much was Van Dyke?
00:39:26
Speaker
like the prices of the prices have inflated. I think he's there's definitely like you the Catenos and those kind of ones. Yeah, that that was dreadful. But like, I truly think his impact on Liverpool is much greater than most managers could ever even dream of. Personally, I just think that in eight years time, if
00:39:52
Speaker
Uh, Mikael Arteta had the same success at Arsenal. We'd be laughing at Arsenal fans for calling for statues for him. Oh, I don't know. Like beating Man City to any title is amazing. Champions League, Club World Cup. Like they've had that game against Barcelona. All these moments played high intensity football. I think there's a bit of a design flaw in how he plays. Like it is very much.
00:40:17
Speaker
go go go and it's one paste and that can be a good thing because when they're playing really really well it will be 100 miles an hour and no team can live with them. I think we saw that today against United where they
00:40:33
Speaker
they should have put your night away but also needlessly lost the ball in their own half and the clock is so intense he plays Salah for 90 minutes on a tourist day before the match on a Sunday so it's all very much go go go so there's definitely a design flaw and I think he probably should have won.
00:40:50
Speaker
maybe one more league title, given how close they were. But I think overall you'd have to say it's been pretty good, really good. And I don't think you'll see as much success from Liverpool over the next nine years. I hope not anyway. Yeah, please, please God, God willing.
Manchester United's Management and Future Prospects
00:41:07
Speaker
And what do you think of Diallo's goal?
00:41:10
Speaker
Excellent. Amadiello can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned. I think the man needs to come back to where he's actually appreciated though. Come back to where he's seen it. What do you mean? Do you not see the eruption in Old Trafford? He's only living off that for a bunch now. That is a Makeda moment, or Makeda. That'll keep them warm when they have him playing for the Under-21s again next week. No, no.
00:41:38
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's great to see him finally come true. He was fantastic for Sunderland. I don't think it's actually worth his time sticking with United. I think he's too good for Sunderland. I'd love him to go to an Aston Villa level team where he can be that little bit more of a linchpin and show himself off.
00:42:00
Speaker
the way things are not just but united but in the way that they're kind of set up is he'll never be the main man and he's the kind of player that thrives with pressure in that sense. He is like realish Aston Villa.
00:42:16
Speaker
I think he's going to start games now once he gets back in suspension because Anthony, I know he scored and then he undid the goodwill by giving out about having to play left back. Did you guys see that? That was ridiculous. He's almost like, I'm being a messie. How dare I have to go back to playing defensive? Make your first goal or assist in a year. You're getting goal if we ask you.
00:42:45
Speaker
He hasn't been great, Rashford's form is still so streaky, and the only one who is really going to guarantee the spot in those void four positions now is Garnaccio, and he ran himself into the ground so he's going to need to be rotated.
00:43:00
Speaker
Like, that wasn't a fluke like the way we saw Makeda years ago. That was a brilliant finish. I know I joke about Makeda at the moment, but he's amazing. My concern isn't with Diallo's skill, it's more with Tenhag, considering how long Tenhag played Antony ahead of Kudos in Ajax, how long he's
00:43:24
Speaker
Stuck with some players that just aren't that good when there's other guys waiting in the wings so like I just think It has too much political currency wrapped up in the likes of Anthony that I just I just don't have faith that he'll do right by No, just like if you're 10 hag now again going back to me the politician you ditch that Anthony going distance yourself from him he is an albatross around your neck and
00:43:52
Speaker
beat Eric Tenhagde, the man who gives you the chance, and Diallo, and all these other Kobe mania, that will be his calling card when Jim Radcliffe, when he comes to have a chat in the summer at his position, he might not be able to point the trophies, but he can point to people like Diallo and mania and say, well, look what I can do. So that Anthony guy, yeah, it was a mistake. Blame it on him. Blame it on Richard Arnold. And all those other guys. So I don't know. I think he could have a big player to play.
00:44:23
Speaker
Speaking of politicians in Man United, Garrett's side gate links continue, Nate. How are you doing over there? Do we need somebody to check on you?
00:44:36
Speaker
Just, I'm ignoring the leagues at the moment, you know what I mean? I don't see any truth in it. Are you hearing it? I don't let them bother me. No, and I'm too afraid to even ask, so. Just for context, in the WhatsApp group for Not a Pundit, Nate threatened to walk away from, not Man United, football.
00:44:57
Speaker
if Southgate gets its job. And it's endless joy. I'll keep it, I promise. I trust me, I will. No. There's no way I'm planning on planet Earth that Gareth Southgate gets the Manchester United job. No. If it happens, I'm getting it on a t-shirt. Honestly, I'm cutting ties at the sport at that point. Rob, as a fellow United sufferer, would you take Southgate?
00:45:25
Speaker
Absolutely not, no. But I don't think he's bad now as Nate is going on. Let's be honest, would he be any worse than 10 Hack? Yes. At least he wouldn't sign Anthony though. No, he'd be no sign for Anthony though. Listen, I wouldn't be in my top 10 of choices, but if you want me to make an argument
00:45:48
Speaker
Listen, I don't know. I hear the worst ideas, like, to be honest. Like, I wouldn't want them. Definitely not. But I don't think, I don't think it'd be any worse than 10 hack. Oh, I think we need to sign Henderson for this.
00:46:02
Speaker
yeah i know i couldn't you just i couldn't say to that it'd be a terrible choice he's just not a good fit for you know yeah all all so not no way lads just one thing cut back to the last point i just want to drop this bombshell we're about three players off the class of 2024
00:46:20
Speaker
Oh, you've been waiting to save us for weeks. We're about four players, three or four players off class of 2024. You know, this, you know, if you didn't take, let's talk football manager terms, you know what I mean? You didn't take, it's crazy. Like, yeah. Who? Who? Gurnachal. Gurnachal Hoyland. Gurnachal Hoyland. You can't claim Hoyland. Why can't you?
00:46:46
Speaker
It's not like a class of 94 where these are broad trees. These are like 100 million tied up in Diallo. I'm a Diallo. Meinu. My bottom is 78 now.
00:47:07
Speaker
So that's like being 29 in today's football. You're not going to gaslight me here, right? We've got Willie Centreback, what a man, he looks like a decent player.
00:47:28
Speaker
Oh yeah, because that's what the class of 94 were, just decent players. Nicky Bolton, Phil Neville, man. Yeah, he needs your Nicky Bolton here, Phil Neville's like, Gary Neville to a certain extent. Um, boy, like, Antonio, lads, the youth coming through, we've got Shay Lacey, who's in the under 21s now, you know. Johnny Evans. He's looking good. Okay, come on.
00:47:53
Speaker
I'm taking Hoyland because this huge little, okay, maybe not class 24, maybe I wanna be a bit over the top there, but the youth, people go on about Liverpool's youth. Let's start talking about United's youth there.
00:48:08
Speaker
Yeah, we could if there was enough to talk about. I think before we finish up, we do want to talk about a chat that I find very entertaining.
Challenges and Potential in Asian Football
00:48:20
Speaker
And Nathan, Rob, I'm not sure if you got the chance to listen to it, but Richard Harkus last week bringing us through what it's like to deal with Asian football in totality. It was such an interesting conversation, you know, and the same with when we talked to
00:48:36
Speaker
Coach Charlie Palmroy, that like, I think just, it's a part of the world that from a football perspective, I really didn't know too much about before, chatting to both of the lads. But, you know, it really seems that there's such potential there, but there's so many roadblocks stopping it from being what it can be. I don't know what you thought.
00:48:59
Speaker
Yeah, like I thought it was very interesting to kind of see like how basic some of the issues are and the kind of lack of transparency in decision making and lack of consistency. But like when you have.
00:49:16
Speaker
lads like Richard and Charlie and even like again going back to my Filipino obsession like Stephen Schrock going back like you have these lads bringing European structures over there like it can only be good and like we've seen both the Japanese and South Korean leagues kind of take off over the last little while and I think
00:49:41
Speaker
come the next Asian golf, I think there'll be a lot more eyes watchers. I think one thing as well, and not to, not to blow smoke, um, uh, Richard, I just think guys like him who, you know, he's, he's so well studied in the sport, both from a, you know, actual like degree and master's level, but I, you know, he's, he's done the hard yards of everything from grassroots to UEFA licenses. And I think the more guys like him involved in any league around the world, it's only a good thing.
00:50:08
Speaker
Oh, 100%, 100%. Gentlemen, it's been great to have a full deck back. It's great to see you on a lovely Wednesday evening. Someone call us the class of 2024, you know? Yeah. Yeah. Don't worry, Nate. We're going to get branded track suits and you'd be happy then. Thank you. And on that bombshell, I'd like to thank Nate.
00:50:38
Speaker
Bon Appetit!
00:50:40
Speaker
Rob. Thanks lads. Connor. Till next time boys. And you the listener. This has been Not a Pundit and in case you didn't know us we have a fantastic new intro and outro thanks to Lachlan Hart who has a fantastic American football podcast about the last Irishman in the NFL. 100% worth a listen and we will share it in the description of this and we'll chat to you next time. Bye bye.
00:51:12
Speaker
Messy! Messy! Oh my goodness! Vitaliy Acuero! That is extraordinary! What a hit! Right, right, right! Back of the mat!