Transcript
Speaker: Alright lads, welcome back to another episode of Who's Got the Ball. Myself and Shane, back here once again. Shane, what was the crack? Yeah, you always try and catch me off guard with the intros because I was sitting there like, you ready? I'd be like, again and then you say nothing. And I'm just like, is he going or what's the story here?
Speaker: Yeah, we're back again. I a great weekend. We had Limerick winning another All-Ireland in one of the most anticlimactic All-Ireland finals of recent memory. But was really good that it was wrapped up after 40 minutes and I didn didn't have to worry for the last half an hour. We could just sit back and enjoy it.
Speaker: what I think is quite possibly one of the best put together herding teams. Definitely since that Kilkenny team, they won the four in a row. This Nimrick team are just insane. Some of their scores, the way they swarm players, they're just a joy to watch. And I know we're not very liked by the other 31 counties in the country, but I really don't care.
Speaker: Yeah, I think you're still liked more than some than some others that we won't name. But there's are some counties that they think that they've they've done something that they haven't done. You might as well be Carlow, lads. You might as well be. But yeah, I think it's between that this Limerick team and that Kilkenny team for the best of all time. But I would doubt, like the like you said, the swarm. Yeah.
Speaker: There's nothing Galway can do between the 65s, the physicality from Limerick. But Galway did well. Young team, made it far. Obviously didn't show on the but they'll be... couldn't believe when saw it that they only scored seven points from play.
Speaker: a I think they'll be... And Limerick scored 123. They'll probably be hanging around and getting better for years to come, especially building back around... Oh yeah, 100%. Jason Roberts.
Speaker: Yeah, and like getting that manager back in, obviously that guided them to their to their previous All-Ireland all those years ago. I think it's it's it's positive for them. But yeah, great win for Limerick. Did you go out then after and enjoy the night?
Speaker: Yeah. and Yeah. Monday wasn't fun at all. like I got home and I sent my friend John a message at quarter to four and it was a picture of my kebab.
Speaker: And it was the worst looking kebab I've ever seen in my entire life. So Monday was really, really tough. I was really glad I was working from home. But like we had the World Cup final the same day. So there's no way I was watching Nimerick win the All-Ireland and then like going home and watching the World Cup. It wasn't happening. I chickened it at half seven. That will tell you the kind of thing. The way the night was going. had picked stuff for chicken up before go and watch the World Cup Finals. So, yeah, it was like, as John Coindley says, you have to celebrate these things because you you're not guaranteed to be back. so
Speaker: Yep, dead right, dead right. Chicken at half seven is a filthy move. There's some strange characters. The amount of people outside as well. There's probably worse characters in there at half seven than there is at 4am. There is yeah you absolutely is, yeah.
Speaker: But anyway, we'll get into the episode because it's a long one. and We reviewed the World Cup. We talked about the final, our thoughts on that and everything that went on after it. England's question mark around Thomas Tuchel going forward as their manager, standout stars of the tournament, and we predicted our 2030 winners very early. and And then we moved into a mailbag for the first time where we got questions from the listeners. So we've got Various questions there. We went pretty deep and long on those ones. So you'll you'll get plenty of answers to your questions there. I think we really enjoyed that. So we'll do it again in the future. But let's jump into the episode and get into the good stuff.
Speaker: All right. The World Cup is over. It feels like there's absolutely nothing to do right now in and terms of sport. know the All-Ireland final is on this Sunday for football, but then after that, it's like a few weeks of nothing. Spain, 1-0 winners after extra time. We predicted correctly that Spain would get the win.
Speaker: and I said extra time, but I said 2-1. want top both teams that score, and it was very far from that. Ferran Torres getting a huge moment, which is great. like i I put on... in one of our posts on, um, on Joff that he had said himself that he was basically in a bottomless pit confidence ways a few years back with Barca and he's only building that back up now. And then he gets that moment. So he's in the history books forever.
Speaker: Great moment for him. What did you make of the game? just I just want to touch on Torres very quickly while you mention him now, but everyone remembers World Cup final goalscores. Everyone remembers the Iniesta goal. Everyone remembers the Gotze goal. When these tight cagey games have finished 1-0, he's going to be in the same conversation now as Gotze. I know his career didn't really go on and had the impact that he wanted, but Iniesta in es sound particular is one that everyone talks about it over and over and over again. And especially when this game
Speaker: was just lacking so much quality throughout it. honestly think it's going the worst games of football I've ever had this pleasure of watching in my entire life. So the fact that the goal was, it was just such a nice finish. And I thought at first he'd like absolutely battered it into the net, but he just opened his foot so calm, so collected, just he said this round putting it and put it there completely out the erroror reach of Martinez. I loved as well that I think it was Molina, he doesn't push Nico Williams, Nico Williams doesn't get to the header.
Speaker: and git doesn't get it back across. So it was kind of, jesus just Argentina were absolutely awful, I thought. Absolutely awful, start to finish. They went out to try and nullify Spain and ended up nullifying themselves, I think, because they couldn't get anything going.
Speaker: I think if it looked like it was a game too far for Messi even. which So how often do you say that over the last 20 years? It was a game too far for him. he just wasn't able to have any he's sort of an impact. And Without Martinez, I think he made the most saves in World Cup final history. Without him, it would have been well over in 90 minutes. But it was just it was just such a slog to watch.
Speaker: yeah Yeah, it was horrible. I think it needed an early goal for Argentina to open up, and just we we didn't get it. And all the stats back up everything you've just said, like 2.29 to XG, that's off the foot mob stats. And Argentina didn't have a shot until the 117th minute. So that tells you everything you need to know. 65% possession,
Speaker: Argentina just didn't come and play whatsoever. it was this It was a bad way to end the competition. I know it was it was good that Spain won. The right team came out on top, but the game was horrible. Argentina had no interest.
Speaker: They were just pushing the limits in terms of how many fouls they could give away. Enzo Fernandez, obviously, his red card was a huge moment. Like, what on earth is going through his head there? Like, he's never winning that ball whatsoever. There's no chance. And it feels like he knew it as soon as he ran, but he's just like, I'm just going to clean him out it anyway.
Speaker: Yeah, it just made no sense. And, like, he's a lot of things, but that's not what he is. Like, he's never shown that kind of hot-headed side to say him. That's more pride as...
Speaker: Romero when he's playing for Spurs, like he's not the kind of player that flies into attacking like that, especially when he's on a yellow and he was lucky he was the second gentleman red because I think could have gone, could have walked straight.
Speaker: It took forever on the television to show that he'd been sent off. So I was like, there's no way you haven't gotten a second yellow for that. And they eventually showed then he was sent off. But see, they took him six or seven minutes get off the pitch with all the moaning they were doing at the ref. Then I thought...
Speaker: The referee had a shocker as well, to be honest. I thought there could have been about 4 million yellow cards there in that game with the way they were carrying on. I'm just looking here, at the stats point to me, the only stat that Argentina won on was distance covered. And that's because they were chasing the ball for 120 minutes.
Speaker: Yeah. I think the ref had a bad game. I think Argentina had a bad game. And I think the ref allowed them to do what they wanted, like you mentioned. I think the fact that...
Speaker: The fact that he didn't give a yellow early, okay, fair enough, in the World Cup, don't want to give one early, but when it got to like the half an hour mark, there was some of those fouls there that were nearly borderline reds. They were so bad. And he wasn't giving yellows. like i i don't like I can agree with somebody gets pulled back on the halfway line and there's nothing really of danger. It's the first 10 minutes, okay, you don't want to make it about you as a ref. But 30 minutes in and lads are getting clattered and you're not stamping it authority there. like Yeah, it's just it's just a disgrace. I think in Argentina, the way they acted after the game as well, they should kind of be ashamed of themselves because they just let themselves down massively.
Speaker: Messi, for all he did, he's an embarrassment for trying to get Cucurella sent off. He's an absolute embarrassment because he he thinks there's so many things he could get away with that. He thought he could get away with that.
Speaker: You could see the shock in Cucurella's face when Messi is like trying to get the referee to to look at the fact that he he literally said that Cubarcy hurt his mouth and did that for like a second. And then Messi is like, oh, he's covering his mouth and saying something. like This is brought in to get rid of racism in football. You know full well he didn't say anything racist towards you or anything harmful and you're trying to use that rule towards your advantage. It's just a joke.
Speaker: He literally couldn't have said anything. It was... About literally a second he went like that, if even. And then Messi was straight away looking for the referee, looking at the lines, going with his var hands. And that annoyed me because I'll back Messi to the hilt in any argument about anything. But he's just that so unbackable. I actually find the game really hard to talk about because it was so horrible to watch.
Speaker: yeah There's really nothing that happens. Martinez had a great game, made 11 saves, fair play. Outside of that, it was just boring. it was just a slog. Argentina got away with so much against England, they thought get away with it again here against Spain. And they did in the most part. But the red card changed the game. But I was so convinced Argentina were going to score at the end and put it to penalties. It just felt written in the stars.
Speaker: And no shot on target. Like you kind of, what you mean you kind of, you like you have to have a shot if you're going to win a game of football. Like it's simple as that. And I know when next time they were playing for penalties, they didn't shoot until after they were down 1-0.
Speaker: And at that stage, it was finally too late for them to pull it back the way they have against Egypt, the way they did against England. Yeah, they were just absolutely disgraceful. and like How they got to the final in the first place is something that needs to be looked at because the they were just they were brutal in a lot of games and just mess the messy magic got them over the line. But a team with no full-backs, basically, Tagliafico and Molina, they should not be World Cup final full-backs.
Speaker: Paredes, De Paul in midfield, they're not playing at elite levels anymore. And they just go on and get to another World Cup final because of the genius of Messi. I wouldn't be surprised if Scaloni does step down because if Messi walks from Argentina now, he knows full well that he doesn't have a squad there that he can bring to a third World Cup final in a row.
Speaker: No, I don't think they'll go very far next time around. We are going to talk about the 2030 World Cup in a minute, but I think that there' like you don't look at their squad as something that has too many up-and-comers, and then Scaloni will be gone if Messi goes, as you said. So outside of Alvarez and a couple of others, like Paz maybe coming up, but you don't essentially yeah you don't really look at too many where you're like... Oh, here, this team is sorted for the next World Cup. On Spain then, look, I know Argentina did stink it up a lot, but Spain were just so, so good in this tournament.
Speaker: It's so hard to look past how they're not going to dominate competitions for years to come because of the youth of the team too. Mm-hmm. Like, Rodri was exceptional. I know I just said the youth and named on the older players, but, like, he was well-deserving of his player of the tournament. Then, on the other hand, you had the likes of Kubarsi.
Speaker: Jamal obviously didn't have his greatest tournament, but when he did get on the ball, he's so good to watch. Like, and as a team, and Dele Fuente as a manager, he knows them all so well from the youth set-up. I think they're they're just so great, and I'm glad that they won because they're the perfect team that's supposed to win the World Cup.
Speaker: Yeah, 100%. I can't believe that neither Cuberty or Laporte got into the World Cup Team of the Year on the official FIFA one. I know the two foot-byes got but I think it was up in Meccano and...
Speaker: I think it might have been Mertinez. can't remember the other one was. The two of them had to be in there. It wasn't. La Porte and Koubert. Yeah. Koukerea and Poirot were both in there. But if you go through a whole tournament and see them one goal, like how is your centre-back not in there? And I think it probably should have been La Porte. I thought he was absolutely and immense. Again, we're talking about the older lads, and we just said it's a team full of youth as well. But he was the one leading the line for him the whole way through.
Speaker: Sorry, stepping the line, not leading the line. And again, the proof is important. One goal conceded in eight games is absolutely... It's just insane. Yeah, I'm looking at it here. Yeah, right up at Meccano and Martinez. Yeah, I don't know how the other two don't get in there over them. And great business by Laporte or by Barca getting Laporte in for absolutely nothing. After he showed the kind of connection he has with Koubarcy, they got him for like 15 million euro release clause. So...
Speaker: Just yesterday, I think. Yesterday morning, maybe. So they're kind of taking that Spanish centerpiece and just using it as now their center-back pairing going forward, obviously, alongside the likes of Cundé and Araujo, maybe on the full-back position. So, yeah, they're well set up for the future, too.
Speaker: But, yeah, Spain, superb. Ferran Torres got his moment, and I'm glad they got the win. and Trump, afterwards, with the trophy. What on earth is he doing? Like...
Speaker: I mean, he just, I think he tries to appear like idiotic to be like, oh, I don't know what I'm doing, but he knows what he's doing. Like he's trying to be in the picture. And then I'm really happy that the Spanish FA cropped him out then afterwards when they posted on their social. was just superb.
Speaker: Yeah, was I would tell you that Rodri was basically refusing to lift it until he was enough out the way that I think he kind of knew if he's over there far enough, we can definitely crop him out. Unlike Chelsea at the Club World Cup, where he was still beside Rhys James as he was lifting the trophy.
Speaker: you're never you're never You're never getting the proper image of that again. he's not the kind of man, and Infantino is the same. They're not the the men you want in your a picture that's going to be on your wall for rest of your life. So yeah, it was a lot that they managed to work to work him out of it.
Speaker: Like even like the way he was walking across, he was talking to Victor Munoz. like The lad didn't play minute in the World Cup and he's there just trying to stay in the picture while talking to Moon last and then someone else and they were like, please just just keep going. like We don't want to in this picture.
Speaker: You shouldn't even be on the stage. had Fair enough handing out the medals. Your best friend's Infantino. It could be anyone, but you don't need to be in the picture. Hand the trophy off and just walk away. I think the the fact as well that there's news coming out that two quotes I saw. One was Trump reportedly is going to propose Infantino to be the next UN n Secretary General. Yeah, I saw that, yeah. which Which is hilarious because he says he could get anything done and he has a great relationship. He just wants somebody who could lick his arse in there. And then the other one is he said that the US need to have the World Cup back and while he's in office because it was such a good, big success. But firstly, it's not going to be on while you're in office and it's already signed off for the next location. So I'm the one after that. So please just stop talking like.
Speaker: Even the like the the biggest controversy in this whole thing is always going to be the Balagoon Rickard. That's something that is going to be that's going to be remembered long, long more than this final will.
Speaker: The fact that Trump managed to talk in Patino to getting him out of that Rickard and... That's something that should go against Infantino and in any job he goes for and in future. but Even when he goes for re-election, whenever it is, think he was only re-elected recently, but that that should be held against him as well. When he goes in front of that board of members or whoever it is, I don't know who does the FIFA thing. I don't actually care enough.
Speaker: It's like each country has a vote, but... like the federations are so corrupt that like some of the federations are already fully behind them like uefa is probably the only one that isn't going to be behind them and he already has enough for the other ones so okay yeah it's going to be hard to shift them um but let's move on tuchel because the english media as would be expected after getting knocked out of the tournament are hot on this guy's case i think They're right to be because look this English team, they started with a pair of Man City centre-backs, three worth over 300 million in Rice, Anderson and Bellingham. Rodgers started the last game for them, 117 million he just went for.
Speaker: Gordon has gone to Barca. Harry Kane, one the best strikers in Europe. like the list goes on with the players they have available to them. And yet they couldn't play a singular bit of football in that last game. And arguably they played just as badly across the tournament as they did with Southgate in terms of quality, because Barthes, Yeah.
Speaker: they needed brilliance to get them through games as they did with soque from individuals and they were justtodgy in certain games where they couldn't break teams down like ghana and panama like this team is no better than when so ok was there and tule take this ridiculous squad that was kind of supposed to be like oh look you know I'm picking this for a team but your team clearly didn't know what way you wanted them to play because you said they weren't playing your way but they played the way that your substitutes indicated they played the same way Southgate had them set up so you needed to go in there and be like no this is how we're playing because those players we've seen numerous times they do not have the mentality for England to go out and get the job done. They need someone in there to be like, this is the way we're doing it, we're changing everything up, we're playing this way and we're bringing more creative players in the squad. He's gone and brought Jordan Henderson, like that just sums everything up that you need to know.
Speaker: And he brings off Anthony Gordon for Konza in the 72nd minute in that game and signifies to everybody go back and defend those two things are all you need to know about Tuchel and I think he'd be lucky to keep his job if they lose massively in a couple of the Nations League games coming up I think he will keep his job for the Euros at least.
Speaker: I hope he does for reasons that England fans won't want to hear. But I just think his squad selection was so weird. And even his team selection from game to game was strange. Like, I don't know what the story was with Saka, but you can't be not fit enough to play a minute on Wednesday and then score, go and score a hat-trick on a Saturday.
Speaker: So surely he had 60 minutes in him on the Wednesday as well. He could have started over Nani Madueke, who is, I just think he's absolutely useless. I really do. I really, really do. He doesn't offer for anything at all ever. He just runs down blind alleys over and over again.
Speaker: it Having someone like Trent in that squad, and I know a big fan of Trent at the moment after the way he's left Liverpool, but someone that can split a defence in just one clip of a ball over the top is um is something they needed.
Speaker: But then Harry Kane dropping back to be a base-tier defensive midfielder for most of the tournament and Belliam playing a striker made no sense either. Just nothing they did throughout that competition made any sense. And as you said, the way they finished that game against Argentina, when they went 2-1 down, they had enough hope.
Speaker: They had six defenders on the pitch. And that was just, is it the German mentality or is it Tuchel mentality? I also think if it was still Southgate they went out the exact same way, that it wouldn't be getting half to heat the heat that Tuchel is. But because Tuchel is German, they're like, we just want some of English back in there and now. And there's a man we'll talk about in a few minutes who I think...
Speaker: should be in there already because he should have been sacked from his job this summer. but um think I know you're done. I think he'll keep his job, but someone's going him down and say, likes of Trent, the likes of Palmer, the likes of Foden. These are the kind of lads you need in a squad.
Speaker: When you're down with 10 minutes to go, somebody can bring on who can play passes through the line, play a serious ball over the top. Like Jed Spence, Gerard Kwanza, all these lads are, they're solid, but they're so one-dimensional.
Speaker: Gerard Kwanza's not going to play a 60-yard ball across the pitch that's going to open someone up or get it to your winger. Yeah, it was just that his squad selection was so strange and he really did let himself down.
Speaker: Yeah, he did. I think the reason they're probably annoyed as well is because after the game and after some games, he had said, oh, they're not playing the way I want them to, or like, it' this is not the exact way I want to play.
Speaker: And then I saw his interview after the final game on BBC, and he was like... oh, your one asked, is this not like the Tuchel football? Like, what what is, what are we, blah, blah, blah, what are we going to see? And he was just like, oh, I don't know how to answer that question because like, what is basically, what do you mean?
Speaker: But the whole tournament, you're the one that's been saying they're not playing the football that you want them to play. So now you don't know all of a sudden when you're in a losing position. i think that's probably a sour taste for for English media and English fans as well. I think,
Speaker: They do need someone stronger in there that's going to actually tell them what they need to do And they need to actually go with it from the start to rather than playing this same kind of half and half style and then sitting back in big moments. Like, use the players you have. And I cannot understand how he said they needed someone to get on the ball and control the game against Argentina.
Speaker: And you had Meynou sitting on the bench. And that's all he's done for United since Karrick came in. Every single game, he gets it in tight spaces and he takes care of it and makes sure that you have the ball. Like, I don't understand the choice not to bring him on. Okay, if you didn't want to start him because you wanted someone who can cover a lot of ground at pace in that midfield, Meynou can't do that. That's not his game.
Speaker: That's fair enough. But when you needed someone to control the ball and control the game, that's what he does. So I can't understand not bringing him on in that moment. Yeah, I can't understand how he didn't get a second on the pitch to home game or the whole tournament. I can understand why Stalaba is not getting on really or Ivan Toney only plays the third place playoff. I'm pretty sure I didn't get a minute before that because they were kind of there as Stalaba was kind of was brought there as a bit of an FU to the rest of them.
Speaker: It's like, oh, we've lost Evermanto fullback. Well, I'm definitely not bringing Trent. So I'll bring another centre back if you can who can cover fullback. That's the one that made no sense to me. Like was do you want to play Arsenal football or did he want to play Man City football? Like there's there was no in between and he was trying to do a bit of an in between where we'll play like City until we're winning and then we'll sit in for the last 20 minutes and do what Arsenal do. And it he just brought too many limited footballers for that to be able to happen.
Speaker: I think there's maybe five players up top of my head who come out of that with any sort of credit. I thought Anthony Gordon had a really good tournament. I thought Jed Spence was absolutely exceptional and I really didn't like him going into tournaments. thought he was a bit of a prick, for want of a better word, but he actually, I think he showed himself to be really, really, really decent up on him. Spurs want him gone. I think Liverpool should be all over because he can cover both sides.
Speaker: Bellingham obviously showed that he is a player for big moments. Harry Kane is just Harry Kane. And outside of that, I just... Where's City? but What City saw in Anderson to pay $115 million? don't know.
Speaker: I don't know. Like, what does Deckman Rice offer really other than a set piece and... just sitting in there. I just, I don't know. It was just a squad full of limited players. He had no legs at all, like as well in that tournament. They used them, the life out of them. Like they should have staggered him in the groups if he wasn't fully right.
Speaker: what, is there something about Spence that I don't know? Why does think he was a prick before this tournament? There was the Neil Warnock thing after just all the comments about him after the playoff championship and he's all he always just came across a bit of a bit arrogant to me. It could have been just completely and utterly made up in my head but I just thought he came across really well in that tournament.
Speaker: I didn't see that. Yeah, I think he came across really well in that tournament I think anyway. Yeah, he did great. I just didn't know what was going on him before. But I think, yeah, he... But the problem is when you're against... I remember that Norway game, he thought he won the penalty. You're looking to him to bomb up and down the field. And you didn't have anybody else that's used to creating, like you mentioned, Palmer, Foden, these type of guys. So, yeah, Tuchel got it wrong and he paid for it in the end. Some standout stars then in the tournament. I think...
Speaker: We mentioned Rodri and Kubarsi already, who are both so, so good for Spain. I had them on my list and and they deserved the two awards that they won. Obviously, Rodri, player of the tournament, Pau Kubarsi, young player the tournament. But someone that impressed me massively and now got a move is Johan Manzambi for Switzerland. He was so, so good. and And you could tell the difference he made for Switzerland. Like that first game, they were so stodgy. He came on, he didn't he didn't get enough minutes. Second game, he came on. Okay, there had been a red card at the time, but he scored twice. That's the next game, a goal and two assists in that one and the next one combined that he started and they get through. And then he doesn't play the last two through injury and and they only scored one goal in 240 minutes. Both games went extra time and they only get one goal across the two.
Speaker: And I think that's down to him not playing because of what he offers. And obviously Newcastle fans will be disappointed, but Villa pipped him to it. And now he's got his move there to the Premier League. So we'll get to see him every week.
Speaker: Yeah, I thought he was absolutely brilliant. And I can see why Villa just came out at home. We're like, no, no, we really need to get this guy and give him Champions League football and all that. So I thought he was excellent.
Speaker: There's a couple of players who kind of like, no one... from like really under the radar kind of stood out to me in this time. Like Mandamba was talked about before going into it, but just thought the likes of Haaland, Haaland had the absolute time of his life when he was away with Norey and he'd gained so many followers on Instagram. He just had his fun, but every time and he was needed, he showed up really bad in the game where he also didn't look fully fit going into that England game and it showed.
Speaker: I thought Pico Lopez was absolutely incredible for Kate Birdie and you can tell how much of a difference he made because Roebers fell apart when he was gone as well. So you can see how good he is.
Speaker: Outside of that, really, it was just like it was all the names you'd expect, but it was it was a tournament where all of the big stars showed up, which rarely, if ever happens. Messi showed up and Bat Bay clearly showed up. At least they thought was brilliant despite not getting a goal.
Speaker: Dembele was solid in moments. you had Kane, brilliant, Belliam, brilliant, brilliant. Feeney Jr. was good as well. It was it was a it was a tournament where the stars showed up, which rarely, if if ever, happens. and It kind of gives me hope for the future of football that once Messi and Ronaldo do retire, there is actually some kind of competition for the next best player in the world because there is a couple out there now who are absolutely insanely talented. I think Haaland is top of that group.
Speaker: Yeah, I had Hallandown, I think, I wrote as well, because he's so much easier watch when he doesn't play for City, because you're able kind of root for him, because he is a likeable guy, but just not when he plays for City. I'd love play for him.
Speaker: Absolutely love scoffer points, isn't it? But if you look at the stats as well, like seven goals in five games, 1.35 goals per 90 in a World Cup, it's just insane. Like, in how far he got in Norway, they could have easily gotten further. Yeah.
Speaker: You mentioned about Pico and it's kind of funny because like in that first Rovers game in the qualification for the Champions League, he didn't play and they lost 2-0. And then he started the second leg and they won like 5-2. So it shows the, like you said, the impact he makes. A teammate of his...
Speaker: Sidney Lopez Cabral was superb left wing back. He's with Trabzonspor now. He's gone there for 10 million euros from Benfica. So obviously he has a big future ahead of him.
Speaker: And he has some shot on him as we saw against Argentina. I think he'd be, he's another one to watch for the future. A final guy I've got, who I think probably get a big move soon is, is my last are.
Speaker: We saw him in the premier league, obviously for a couple of years, but four goals and an assist in four games. He stood out massively for Senegal. He was so good for palace last season after obviously there after losing as a, and they lost at least a recently too. And, The team isn't what it was with the players going out, but he just continued to provide for them, won a European competition with them, and his finishing has improved massively. He takes the chances that he used just completely butcher, and I think he's definitely going to be on the move, if not in this window, in January if he keeps it up.
Speaker: I actually don't think he will. I actually think the boat has sailed a bit in him getting his big move now. I think he's 27 or 28. I think if he had had this tournament when he was 24, he'd be going on this summer for 50, 60, 70 million. But I think the fact he's 28 now, like Liverpool, United, Arsenal, City, none of them are going to be slashing cash on him now this summer, maybe somewhere foreign might. But I think his his ship has sailed on a top Premier League move now.
Speaker: But I just, and yeah, he he was absolutely superb for Senegal. Really, really good. Yeah, yeah. No, fair enough. The age obviously does play a factor, and but I think he's definitely above the Crystal Palace level unless they want to bring in some more players. like I could see him getting a bit annoyed trying to carry that whole thing with a new manager. But last topic then, looking at the World Cup, is we're going to very early predict... We're going to predict very early our 2030 potential winners.
Speaker: and So obviously it's way too early to do this, but we're picking one... who are like kind of an obvious choice and then we're going to give one a little bit more under the radar. So who have you gone with for your obvious pick that you think will actually do if you have to go for it?
Speaker: Yeah, and I actually have gone with Spain for all the reasons we mentioned above. i actually think they're going to go three in a row the way they did it the last time they won the World Cup as well, where they went Euros, World Cup, Euros. I think they're going to gonna go World Cup, Euros, World Cup this time because...
Speaker: And they won the last Euros too, so it would be it would be four. Yeah, that's what I mean. yes it's done do're gonna go sir yeah They're going to go Euros World Cup Euros again, sorry, apologies. The likes of Pau Kibarsi, young Clare of the tournament. Again, how he got young Clare tournament and still didn't get into the team of the tournament, but anyway.
Speaker: Lamin-Yemal, Victor Munoz, hopefully he has a big impact on Liverpool now and he'll be 28 when the next World Cup comes around. So maybe he could be another star by the time that comes around. And then they'll still have the mix of, maybe not Rodri now, I think he's... Yeah, he's a bit, he'll be older now. He'll be, I think he's 30, 30 right now.
Speaker: I think he's 30 or 31. Yeah, he's 30, so he'll be 34.
Speaker: But then the poor things will have to bring in Pedri and Gavi instead. So I think they'll be okay. I think, i know it's such an easy shout, but I think they'll be there, thereabouts. And obviously France aren't going too far either from now until the next World Cup.
Speaker: Yeah, i've got I've got Spain down as well. They're 5-1. They're the favourites right now to win the next one. and like I'm looking at the ages of some of the other players too. The likes of Baina is 24. And then Cucurella and Paro are 26 and 27. So they could still be in...
Speaker: like prime like years of their careers and then you mentioned pedry and gabby who will be the next bones of that midfield after rodry and and ruiz get older they're still young nico williams 24 pino 23 mark pubel is 23 these are all guys that were already in the squad like and You look back to the last World Cup, Khabarci and Jamal were 15 when that happened. So which new guys are going to be coming out of Barcelona between now and then? like i saw an article on The Athletic and they had players that are uncapped right now that are going to be breakout stars in the next World Cup. And they had Abrima Tunkara. I never heard of this guy before, but he's 16, plays for Barcelona and and he was born in Gambia.
Speaker: But he played for Spain through the youth levels since he's gone to Barca. And he was player of the tournament at Euro under 17 in June. And his unbeaten record playing for Barca through the different levels spanned 60 games.
Speaker: so in games where he's played they they haven't lost for 60 games and he's been rapidly promoted through the spanish youth groups so guys like him like just come out of nowhere obviously not out of nowhere for for the lads over in barca who are bringing them up and scouting them but for us they just pop out of nowhere they look absolutely unbelievable and between now and then they'll probably have four or five more lads ready to go and dela fuente as the manager there's no better man with young players i think They're definitely a great shout. So my money would be on them winning the next one, even though it is kind of an obvious pick, I think, after they just won it. But what about your outsider?
Speaker: i i I really like the look of what Morocco are doing. I think they've been the standard African team for a number of years now. They just seem to, they just keep bringing players through. They're actually Bouyadi now. They're after grabbing him from under the nose of France and he is only 18. So he'll be 22 at the play 200 league matches at that stage in the next four years. Maybe not 200, but he'll play 150 matches between now and then anyway, and he'll be in a far better place. Brahim Diaz will only be early thirty s maximum.
Speaker: And obviously, Hakimi, if he is still allowed play football paul by that stage with the case that's coming up against him, we won't mention too much on that until that goes through. But I just think everything they do is with good reason. If they get a good manager in there, someone that can kind of keep them together, they might win it. But dirt did I think they're the kind of strongest outsider that could really pull up trees in the next one. And then Nori as well, just to get a shout out from me, because that's another team other players, Hallam will only be 29, which is insane when you think of our 30, maybe, I think 25 at the moment, just turned 26 actually. So he'll be 29 going on 30 at that stage.
Speaker: He'll be in the peak of his power. Odegaard will have been lifted from the shackles of Mikel Arteta and he'll probably be able to play football again. and they just had such togetherness that outside of their goalkeeper who I couldn't believe he was still playing football, to be honest, when I saw him rock up for Norwich's first game after being a filler about 40 years ago. His name is completely escaped now.
Speaker: Neyland, yeah. I just, it's like if but if they have a goalkeeper coming through, then they could be a real outside show because... They could have beaten England, then they'd been in a semi-final. And yeah who knows from that then? With Haaland, they could have very easily beaten that Argentina team as well. So like they weren't far away this time. A bit of luck next time, they could be right up there.
Speaker: Yeah, yeah i I think those are good shouts. I looked at the Morocco odds there as we were talking. They're 35-1. I think that's a good bet because it's in Spain, Morocco and Portugal. And read on the Atletic that Morocco...
Speaker: are looking likely at the moment to be the possible host country for the final because there's been only one other final in Africa. So they kind of want it on that continent and they have plans to build like 110,000 capacity stadium.
Speaker: and So there's that possibility too. So having it at home would definitely be a benefit for them too. My outsider... In history, they're not an outsider, but in what we've watched in this World Cup, no one would be picking them going forward, and that's Brazil.
Speaker: I think oh it's the longest they have ever gone without winning it if they don't get it in the next one. So they've gone this number of years before.
Speaker: but they've never gone longer than this between 2002 and 2030. That would be the longest. So they've got to go and grab it if they don't want that to continue. I think they've got a front line that's only going to get better with with age because Vinny's going to be in his prime then.
Speaker: Ryan, Endrick, Cunha are still going to be options there that were in this World Cup. Rodrigo will be back as well. Rodrigo, yeah. He missed out with an ACL, so he'll surely be back around the squad at that stage as well. Yeah, 100%. They'll have various levels of experience in 2030. Then you've got young players who, obviously, Andre Santos, we don't know fully what he's going to be like, but for years he's touted in Brazil as Casemiro's replacement in the team. Esteva was only going to be 23, which is mad. And Ancelotti, I put this together, and before we started recording, there was a breaking news story that Pep Guardiola, obviously we know, is interviewing for the Italian job, but also Ancelotti.
Speaker: So even though he signed on until 2030, he was one of my reasons. So this goes out the window if he goes, because a lot of this is built around him. But I think the fact that he has a contract until 2030, guiding this team into Copa America 2028, and then a qualifying campaign that's all led by him where he builds the team, He always allows the brilliance of the best players to shine like Vinny and then builds around them. He's been going to numerous games in the Brazilian league already. And I think he'll identify more talent. but Like I wouldn't trust any manager more currently to bring Brazil back to, to a world cup title than Ancelotti. So they're my outsider pick because I think this, this Brazilian nation needs another world cup. Like we need to see another one because that's what football is about. Like Brazilian football.
Speaker: Yeah, I think two things about that. They really need to sort their midfield options out if they're going to do anything come the next World Cup because having Casemiro and Fabinho still in your squad, I just think they were kind of destined to fail at this World Cup with that.
Speaker: Neither of them were able to run around really, especially in that heat. And Casemiro had a brilliant season for United, but if he's your first name on the team sheet in your midfield, then you really do need to go and try and sort that out.
Speaker: Yeah, the record stands as well that no foreign manager has ever won a World Cup for the country he wasn't born in. so And will Ancelotti be the one that breaks that? I actually just want to pop into my head when you were talking there was Germany as well.
Speaker: if they do have Klopp, they could be a completely different outfit by the time 2030 comes around. If he's able to do with Germany what he did with Liverpool over the next four years, have a good Euros and kind of build into the World Cup then.
Speaker: But again, I just don't, I think this might be a real down time in Germany for players coming through because like Dennis Undeve had a great tournament but he's not going to be starting up front for Bayern Munich anytime soon yeah and like I think they're missing a lot of a lot of kind of lot of players and positions that you consider to be like really key him image will be gone at that stage is Pavlovich good enough I'm not sure he's still very young left to wait and see it. He's had a promising start to his career, but i just, I don't see it really.
Speaker: There's centre-back options. Jonathan Tah will be probably too old at that stage. And then you have your man at Newcastle. Malik Chow. Yeah. And it is like, is he the kind of man you want to build a defense around? I think Schlatterbeck be the guy that they build around because he'll be back and that's a big one. 29 I think at that stage only. So yeah. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah. We'll wait and see. So there is like, there is definitely a couple of challenges to Spain. I just think Spain are the ones in comfortably in the strongest position with what they have coming through. They just, what they've just won with Ferenturas. If it's still be there, he'll have that memory.
Speaker: bringing it in his ears at the next World Cup for every single game he plays. So yeah, I think Spain are in a really strong position. Yeah, and obviously we mentioned the host nations. They'll also be another host nation for this one. So that that stands to them as well. So I do think that they have the best chance and the odds reflect that, obviously.
Speaker: Okay, so moving off the World Cup and into something new that we haven't done before, but we said no better time to do it when there's not too much sport going on. And that's a mailbag from all the listeners. Anybody that wanted to ask a question, we put out there on Instagram. And we've got some questions, I think.
Speaker: There is a good few Premier League based ones. and Obviously because of the time of year it is we're just getting into the season. So I think it's a good time for those. Start with this first one here. How does the UEFA player exchange transfer rule impact Newcastle's potential business with Spurs for the likes of Bergval?
Speaker: So on that one, I've... done a bit of digging into this because I had a bit of a gripe with the Garnacho transfer and it falls under something similar so I'll go ahead and speak on this one first and So one of the clauses in UEFA's transfer regulations defined in player exchange transactions says that multiple deals between two clubs going in both directions completed within a 45 day period will be considered a swap.
Speaker: So basically any profit for the bigger seller of the two will be reduced to the net difference and the smaller seller will be able to record no profit at all. So In the example of the of what's going on now with Chelsea, Villa have just got £117 million pounds for Rodgers.
Speaker: They want to record all of that as profit. If they went out and bought Garnacho, they would only be able to record whatever amount they paid for Garnacho taken away from that Rodgers fee. So they'd be able to record less profit. Whereas what they've done is agree this loan with an obligation to buy for Garnacho when they know they want to buy him already. and then they're going to go and buy him maybe in in the next transfer window in the summer of uh 2027 and they'll be able to amortize that fee across multiple years of the contract rather than putting it down and taking it away from their profit and then chelsea will also be able to book that as profit now whereas they wouldn't have been able to do it otherwise there's a little stipulation in there that if it's an obligation to buy with no conditions
Speaker: It doesn't work under this rule, so the same thing applies. But they've put in conditions that he has to play a certain number of games, which is probably going to be an amount that he reaches. And it's this whole thing is going to kind of avoid... It's 10th.
Speaker: Again, it's just a farce. like It's just a basic way of avoiding this ruling because both teams are under UEFA rulings at the moment of a certain amount of expenditure over the next few years. And their losses can't be like more than €5 million. euros So it's basically, that's the rule and that's the way it works. And Newcastle sold Tonali to Spurs on the 6th of July.
Speaker: So from the 20th of August onwards, they would be good to sign likes of a Bergval and it wouldn't fall under this ruling because it would still be in this window, yes, but it would be outside of that 45-day window. So they could wait until then and I think they most likely will if they want to put buy Bergval and Spurs want to sell them.
Speaker: i I don't, so there's actually a great article today I read on Sky Sports about this and we'll send it on to i senddo on earlier before this, but I i was in the office. I completely forgot then, but I thought Bergvall was almost, almost sorry, almost guaranteed to go to Forests.
Speaker: So well i I haven't seen this stuff with Newcastle come out, but I think in general, like your there's been teams behaving like this for you for so, so long. And Chelsea always seem to be at the heart of it. What they're doing with Strasbourg over the years drives me absolutely bananas. And now they seem to have agreed into little kind of, you scratch, I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine with Villa. And it's six deals they've done now between them. And There's lads on Twitter trying to explain it off as, oh, we signed Mattson because he was just after being in a Champions League final, blah, blah, blah. No, he didn't. like Come on, like, Carney Chukomeka was not worth 35 million when they signed him.
Speaker: Like, when Chelsea signed him. Like, that was just completely ridiculous. Newcastle did the same at Forest when Elliot Anderson went one day and they signed Jemaine Odisees, the goalkeeper who has never seen a minute of football. They paid 20 million 25 million for him for fourth, third choice, third choice goalkeeper.
Speaker: Come on, like it's just, and then UEFA tried changing to this new rule now and i just don't think going to make any difference. Yeah. There's still a way around it. There's always way around it if you have smart enough lawyers in the building. So Honestly, to the person who did ask this question, it's not something worth keeping you awake at night because they're always going to find a way around this and UEFA will do nothing about because they can't.
Speaker: They might try and find these two clubs again because they're under really strict rulings for the next four years, I think. But aside from that, there's very little they can do. If they wait the 45 days and then all of a sudden this transfer is agreed and everything is done in 24 hours, you'll know then that it was just just nonsense.
Speaker: Yeah, I think the the question, like the Newcastle side of it, I think there was links with him, Bergwald to Newcastle, and they did bid for him. And then okay now Forrest's our favourite. So I think this is just a general on how that ruling would work if they were to sign anyone from Spurs going forward. But...
Speaker: yeah that's that's that one um there's a lot of intricacies in the rules but yeah obviously there's always a way around it next one are united ambitious enough with their transfer dealings do they need some marquee names to come in the door such as those being linked to liverpool like barcola i'll throw this one to you because obviously i'm mean a united fan so i have my opinions on this but i'm interested to know what you think Yeah, so I actually like the business they've done so far with Santos and Thielmans, where they haven't been interested at all in getting involved in signing Tenali for 100 million, which is outrageous. They brought in Thielmans, release clause, whatever was, 45 million. 35. 35, yeah. I think it's really, really solid. He was Bill's best player last season for me.
Speaker: but I thought he was better than Rodgers the time. He always kind of dragged the team when they needed him, and that goal in the... Europa League fine as well just kind of tops it off. I thought he had great season. Are his legs gone? Has he played a lot of football by now? I think he's 29, I think he's born in 1970. He's been playing football since he was 16. So I think where the needs to bring in a marquee name is someone to sit beside him who can run.
Speaker: If you have Thielman's, Maynou and a runner, and then you have Santos to come on off the bench who, when he signed, I texted you, like I couldn't even, I wouldn't be able to pick Santos out of a lineup.
Speaker: That's how little I've seen of him. But I just think, again, it was smart business. You're weakening a rival while getting someone in at a decent fee. And if they do go then and sign a big midfielder for 60 or 70 million, then these two deals look absolutely brilliant. And I think they're both better signings than Ederson, which they pulled out of doing because of medical reasons or whatever. But I think they just kind of saw, but we can get these two lads, Premier League crew in.
Speaker: know what they're doing, and they can come in straight away and make a difference. Whereas Ederson would come in you don't know what he's going to be like on the first day of pre-season. He'll have to acclimatise to the Premier League. He had one good season in Atlanta the year. They beat Liverpool in Europa League and got to that final. They won that final. They did, yeah. He was really good that season. But since then, he's just kind of fallen off the face the earth. He was linked to Liverpool that summer and nothing came of it.
Speaker: almost went to United. I just think United have been s smart. Yeah. They're not rushing into anything. There's no real mad links. Oh, United are pushing hard to get Fini Jr. United are looking to replace Lomans after one year and they're going to sign Emmy Martin. They're the kind of...
Speaker: the BS rumors that come out every year with United. There's been nothing about Liverpool either, which has been very surprising this summer. has been nothing really outside of Barcola and Diomendi. I just don't think the journalists can make up about Liverpool and United this summer because they just seem to be doing it smart. I'd obviously like Liverpool to be quicker. think you'd like United to be moving a bit quicker as well now as we kind of barrel towards August. But yeah I like the two they've done. I still think there's a lot more business to be done. I think midfield are right back and maybe a striker you United just still needs. But I think they've made a very, very strong start to the window.
Speaker: Yeah, I agree with that. I think I'm not too worried about no marquee signings and no links to marquee players because, like you said, it seems like you United are moving in silence that no journalist really knows. like Even the lads on Talk of the Devils and on The Athletic have all the inside info and they found out that the Tielemans won as they were recording the podcast live from an Ornstein drop, which is absolutely crazy.
Speaker: and So it shows that Nobody really knows what the club are doing. I think the Tielemans, you made a great point. You need someone with legs in there. You need someone with legs beside Manu as well. So I think Manu and Tielemans would be one rotation. Santos would be probably a ah player for Cups and Champions League nights. You're back up the end to whoever you signed to replace properly replace Casamiro.
Speaker: And I do think that that kind of bigger move will come in the midfield side. And it could be Kone from Roma. It could be Buleba from Brighton. They're still interested in him.
Speaker: Something that's a little bit more expensive and gives you those legs in midfield. But... you're not fully relying on them now because we have three good midfielders in there already, like you said. And and I do think that they're they're moving smartly and then towards the rest of the window, we'll see what happens um in the other positions. But midfield is the biggest one and I'm not too concerned with how they're going about it so far.
Speaker: Next up then, how does the weekly process go for you guys when recording each episode? So basically, like it would start... We'll take it when at the NFL is on because it's everything kind of revolves around that those games on Sunday and then Monday. And then you've just had the full Premier League weekend and you would have whatever NBA action is ongoing. So maybe on the Tuesday or Wednesday...
Speaker: most Most of the time Tuesday, we'll discuss like the topics we want to touch on for each sport, throw them back and forth in a group, and then we'll settle on whatever we want to talk about. Then we'll organize guests if we have to reach out to people, see if they're available for certain times. and We try to get on guests regularly, as you'll know.
Speaker: and then from there it's just organizing a time for us to record always on Thursdays we do and record on Thursday then Shane does the captions and images after we record I do the editing of the video and audio and the YouTube picture thumbnail and then throw all that together on Thursday night allow it to upload and then have it scheduled for Friday morning and then rinse and repeat the next week so I think we've got a good like run going now and we have the space then to enjoy the sport at the weekend and also make note of what we want to talk about the next week as we take it in
Speaker: Yeah, I don't have much to add to that. I was literally going to say so. like It's not just we hang up this call on this evening and we don't speak to each other again until next Thursday. like we We literally spend a week every single day bouncing ideas over and back. We'll be talking about this, what do you think this, what you think of that transfer, what do think this movement in the NFL? It's not just we we rock up into Thursday, pull this together, poke out our arses and then move on and ignore each other for the week. like We are always in constant conversation.
Speaker: It will it be like a Tuesday evening or Wednesday where one of us will kind of put in, this is the episode plan and the other person will say, it's mostly you to be fair, that puts in the episode plan. The other person will say then, you're after missing this or do not see what happened with Burnley. Like we need to talk about what Burnley you have to do. And or if there's a manager sacked on a Tuesday night, we'll fit that in somewhere. And it's kind of...
Speaker: Like we'll have the main portion of it and then we'll have bits that we'll just kind of drop on each other. Maybe last minute, we could literally be coming into the call and we say, oh, actually, need to talk about this. And you have no time to really prepare notes and you're just kind of going what you've heard or what's in your head on it. So yeah, yeah i do as you said, like, like I do think we have really good flow to it now.
Speaker: I just fly, I keep flying in front of me. He's driving me insane. He's not in a good flow. bo I think our flow is really good. And i think it's like if you look back on episode one to now, we were two stumbling idiots on episode one. But now we're far more ourselves now.
Speaker: Yeah. I just think, I think we bounce off each other very well in these episodes as well. And the way we do things off camera, behind the scenes with Jot and all that, I think it does work very well at moment. Yeah, and I think it's easier to get on guests when you're used to doing it, like with each other, because you can kind of be more relaxed with the guests and then that makes them feel relaxed rather than kind of trying to be rigid about it. And we can have a good laugh then with nearly all the guests that come on, we do tend to have a good laugh.
Speaker: And I think you make a good point there, like about, like most of the say you're watching matches and you're, everything's bouncing around your head, what your opinions are obviously. And then you might go and read a few articles and find some, some other things to back up your thoughts. And then usually the day before I'll jot, like spit all that out into a document under each topic and then find some stats that either do or don't back up what I've said, what I've thought. And then Like you said, if something just springs on us, then it could just be free ball where we're just on the air and we're just something that happens like an hour before we record and we just talk about it, which is good as well because you get kind of both sides of that. But there's no like script to anything. It's kind of all just like general conversation, which is good, I think.
Speaker: I think as well on the point you made there about how, so when you're sitting there and you're watching the game and you're like, geez, that right card seemed a bit harsh. Like we'd we'd be on each other straight away within 30 seconds watching that right card or is that something we need to discuss at the weekend? And it's like you said, like we're we're pretty much in constant conversation throughout week as well. dusts By the time Thursday comes around, while there's not a script, we are pretty set and we know where we're going and how every episode is kind of going to run.
Speaker: better like if someone needs to run off for a charger like happened five minutes ago or it takes Michael six goes to get his first sentence out like outside of that it is the trunche but like I think in general like but when once we're in the flow and we're going like it just feels like you're you're on a FaceTime call yeah it just it's a FaceTime call that goes onto YouTube and that's kind of the way I've been looking at it since episode two Yeah, no, nice. Nicely put. Next up then, who we can weakened themselves the most through sales or lack of activity? I think I know what you're going to say for this, so go on.
Speaker: on, have a guess. Newcastle. Yeah, of course it is. Their biggest mistake was keeping the manager. But aside from dust that, they've sold Sonali, they've sold Gordon, Bruno once out. And I was looking at their transfers in and I was just like, who?
Speaker: who they've signed that one lad or they've agreed a deal for a defensive midfielder from Monaco now and he might be good but they still need to replace Tenali they need to replace Gordon they need to replace their manager they still haven't really replaced Izak because Valtimato was not the one last year, Vista is now 30, he didn't look like the one last year either, and the way they sleepwalked through last season, and then they've kept the manager, it actually fathoms, i just, I cannot believe they've kept anyhow, and
Speaker: I think they're walking into this season again in a position of real weakness if they don't really start getting the finger out. end I could sit here and talk about Liverpool for hours on end and their lack of business, but I just think what Newcastle are doing, they didn't have a good season last year. They're about to lose their captain. They've lost their vice-captain to Nally. They've lost their most creative forward in Gordon and they haven't replaced anyone yet.
Speaker: Both their full backs are injured as well. So, yeah, I just think the players they've missed out on, we just talked about Manzambi and how good he was, they've missed out on him.
Speaker: It looks like now James Trafford is choosing go to Leeds over Newcastle, which is one that's... That's the one I can't understand. Why are you choosing to go to Leeds over our Newcastle? And then obviously Victor Munoz was in the door over in Donovan and Liverpool came in over and took him as well. And...
Speaker: Yeah, I just don't know what's going on over at Newcastle, but I think Eddie Howe is a real problem for him. And I think he's going to be proven, I think he'll prove it to be a problem in the first month or two of a season as well.
Speaker: Yeah, I do think that they should have gotten rid of him. I think it was perfect time to move him on. And I think that's why some of the players are like, and I'm not sticking around here because it's the same story and no Champions League football, which I think played a part in the likes of Manzambi's decision.
Speaker: um They're also the team who I set for this because there's no real other option. Like losing to Natalie and Gordon coupled with Bruno wanting to walk away is enough to answer this question. Like...
Speaker: Yes, they did sign Bamba today, as you mentioned. They signed Traore from Hoffenheim, who's supposed be quite an electric winger, and Storr from Ajax. So those are three players, two centre-mids and a left wing, none of them over 20 years in age. What 18 mean though? Your man Storr is only a child? Yeah, so I think the point I was going to make on that is that it's quite clearly a rebuild.
Speaker: And maybe if they had just gone and grabbed the new manager right now, their rebuild could well and truly be underway. And next season, maybe you try get into the... the europa league and then the year after that then back to the champions league just try and slowly build this up but if how's there they're going to expect to go higher he's going to want to go higher and i don't think it's going to work out with this squad um so i don't know i just think they're in a much weaker position and i think maybe in a few years they'll be better for what they're buying and they have a nice blend of young talent but i can't stay around any longer and i presume that's who you meant earlier when you said he should be the england manager
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. and I just want to follow on on what you said there. I don't, first of all, in them building Soli, their fans aren't going to accept them going back to building Soli again. They won their first trophy in 50 years, two years ago. Didn't follow it up at all last year.
Speaker: for a bit of a Champions League run where they were ultimately absolutely bounced around the place by Barcelona in that second leg. And I thought that was enough get rid of Howe after conceding seven goals, I think. Yeah, seven in the second leg, I think.
Speaker: Yeah. And then Howe keeps his job. And that's I just can't understand this. I know they can't go out and splash the cash because of this PSR rules, but then not being in Europe is not going to help them in that. And finishing 14 last year is not going to help them attract players or be able to spend the money bringing in. They brought in probably the bones of 200 million or close enough to it for Natalie and Gordon. I'm talking in Euros here, obviously. I think it was 100 million Euros and 84 million Euros.
Speaker: So... But when they got that money for Isaac, last year they went wasted it. And they needed sign some ready-made replacement for Tenali, who can just go in straight away and be the boss in that midfield. Joel Linton's only getting older as well, and you have to remember, he was signed as the next Allentier. He was a striker they signed. He was wearing the number nine.
Speaker: And he was like, OK, no. And then they brought in Isaac. Absolutely brilliant move. They got their money for him, but they went and spent £70 million on Fultimada, who... by the end was playing attacking midfields. And this is where Eddie Howe makes no sense to me. Like you're bringing in these strikers, you're making them midfielders, you're making them attacking midfielders because you don't trust them up front.
Speaker: Then go and get yourself a striker you do trust. yeah Because if if they finish between 10th and 14th again next season, their fans are going to be all over that stadium. Get him out, get the board out. We don't want this Saudi backing anymore. You're doing nothing anyway.
Speaker: you're using it for sports washing if we can say that you might need to bleep that out but it's kind of like they just make mistake after mistake after mistake and this there's clearly like if they have ambition they're doing a really bad job of showing it because how do you keep losing out on these players to other clubs over and over again losing out to Leeds losing out to Villa, losing out to Liverpool in one summer, is just it's it's a really bad luck. And I don't know if it's the manager or the board or what it is, but something needs to change in Newcastle, and it's not going to happen this summer, clearly.
Speaker: yeah Yeah, I agree with that. And I think i think they have a new sports director in, so I think the vision is quite clear, obviously, under him. He wants younger talent. um So let's see how that that goes. But like you said, the fans aren't going to stand for it, and the Saudis are most certainly not going to stand for another season like that. after the money that they invested and what they wanted to build there. So things need to change for sure with Newcastle.
Speaker: I have a weird feeling, though, that Wiss is going to be good this season. He looked solid in the World Cup. I know he missed a big chance against England, but he looked good and he was injured for most of the season. So maybe, but obviously he's not enough on his own.
Speaker: Next one is, is there another team in the Premier League that you're rooting for to do well outside of your own? So for me, my dad supports Newcastle, so I do want them to do well, obviously. sleep and We just talked about the way they're going at the moment. It's not looking too good. But a second one then is Brentford because of the Irish connection with Kelleher and Collins and and Andrews as the manager. I really like seeing them do well too, just because of that Irish connection. I didn't really mind it like how they got on before last season, but now I'm invested with those three there.
Speaker: Yeah, so there's no one that I'd really like scream and shout for outside Liverpool, obviously, but for me, there is three teams and they all begin with B. It's Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford. Brentford are literally the same reasons you just said.
Speaker: i was delighted everyone had him ticked to go down last year, including myself, and Keith Andrews did an absolutely exceptional job. Brighton because I just love the way they do their business. Even Herzl, finding a manager like Herzl is absolutely incredible and he's he's done a really solid job there and think he's destined for big things. But also the way they sign players, the way they they sell players on then as well is brilliant.
Speaker: And I said this when we had Harry Bailey on during the year, so this and not just me jumping on the end and doing the Areola train now because he's Liverpool manager, but the way they've gone about, there there the way it's just everything about them, I think they're just such a well-run club. They brought in Areola from nowhere and they stuck with them and they didn't win their first seven games and they were so close to Europe or they got to Europe last year. They got to Europe last year, yeah.
Speaker: Like, I just think the way they've built themselves up slowly and kind of just steadily is absolutely brilliant. dirt They actually put their support teams like Newcastle to shame, the way they go out. And like their stadium is only 14,000 people. Everyone wants to go there. They're in Europe.
Speaker: Yeah, I just, I do like the 3Bs. And then there's teams that I absolutely despise as well, obviously. But that might be for next week's Mailbag. Yeah, I think with Brighton, I just can't because they always give us such a tough game and that they're kind of annoying. But Bournemouth, I can get behind as well. I think they're they're good to watch, like you said. and But yeah, I agree. like I'm not going to be jumping around and supporting any other team, but I do like to see those two doing well in the league overall.
Speaker: next one i kind of answered this already so we'll focus on the liverpool side of it but it's are you and shane happy with the transfers that both united and liverpool have brought in so we talked about united's transfers and then the second part of this question is which of the teams do you think will finish higher in the league so if you want to say what you think about liverpool's transfer dealings and then we'll deal with the second part after Yeah, so the answer the first part is no.
Speaker: I really thought it had more done by this stage. I thought it had a winger in the door at this stage at least, and a right winger, sorry, because Munoz is in the door, but he's a left winger. like Trying to replace Salah, I think Liverpool are still four players away from being level on where they were at the start of last season, and they didn't have enough players at the start last season. Like Robertson is gone, okay, Schimacast has come back in.
Speaker: as the backup left back, fine. like I can kind of, I can deal with this Canata is gone. They brought in Jackie, but they were centre half down last year anyway, so they still need another one. Bradley's out till at least Christmas now, it looks. His injury is is quite bad. They need a right back. They obviously need a right winger.
Speaker: And then at that stage, you can kind of say, okay, it can be one in, one out from here. So if Alexander-Canada still goes to Madrid, you sign a centre mids. If Gatpo goes to Spurs, you sign another winger.
Speaker: But at the moment, the squad that flew out to America was just so, just full of kids and weaknesses. You can't trust Alisson. Is Mamadouš really a good enough backup? We'll have to wait and see. I'd rather was Keller still. But in short, no, I'm not happy with what they've done so far. But I don't think there's any need to panic on it yet because the season starts so late this year as well that it is like an extra two weeks.
Speaker: to do transfers before the season kicks off as well so we'll just have to wait and see what to do yeah yeah I wrote down that we had already discussed the United dealings and that I'm guessing you're going to say no for the Liverpool side of things so I think you've covered that off your thoughts there and which of the teams you think will finish higher in the league I think obviously we're not going to agree on this I just think that you've mentioned the dark commons and liverpool's rebuild areola's first time at this level while i do think he's a great manager i think it might be tough to manage the number of games with the current squad obviously united don't have a massive squad or anything like that but they've got a lot of options in defense um and an attack at the moment and midfielders just need some reinforcements and
Speaker: see where we go from there but I think Carrick built nicely last season it's his first time managing this number of games in Europe too obviously he did it in the championship with a huge number of games but I think it's going to be close between the two teams but I think United are going to take another step up and even if Liverpool do move up a spot like United could move from third to second and Liverpool might move up to third I think it's going to be close but I do have the United finishing four or five points ahead of Liverpool, at least this season.
Speaker: Yeah, I obviously have the opposite. i just I think Liverpool can't be as bad as they were again last year and the season before it they were champions. So Liverpool could very easily be pushing towards the top. If they get the transfers right between now and the season's starting, then I think they could be pushing City. And I think Arsenal are going to be the one that will fall away. If if any of the three them are going to fall away, I really do think it will be Arsenal.
Speaker: I think Gerteta is going to to try and go and play a different style of football to the way he did last year because by the end of the season even Arsenal fans didn't want to watch him. And they've won the league now so he needs to try and do it the proper way. I just think like you United it had the easiest possible season last year. They literally played 40 games. i think they're going to playing at least 12, if not 14 games more this year. You'll have the eight Champions League games.
Speaker: They'll surely get out of that. Then you have probably two or four more in the Champions League if they have to play last 32 and then a quarterfinal or a quarterfinal and semifinal. And they're not getting knocked out of both cups again in the third round. So there's a lot of games to add in on top of what they have already had. And as you said, their squad is a massive.
Speaker: And their centre-backs are quite injury-prone. I know Luke Shaw played every single game last year, but he's a bit like Joe Gomez, where it's like you just start to get excited about him again and bang, he misses three months. How much to do then? So i think if he United don't get it right with managing players, managing players, can say the same about the Riola, then I think it could be a real issue. And I'm just going to go Liverpool not be as bad as last year and push back up towards the top again.
Speaker: Yeah. ah What would you have said if Slott was still the manager? You probably would have still gone Liverpool, but I don't think you would have been as confident. I would have Liverpool, but I wouldn't have had any confidence. I would literally just be saying like because I wasn't going to back United.
Speaker: Yeah, i was so I would be of the same opinion. I would have been much happier to say United if it was Slott. But Areola makes it more difficult because he is a good manager, I think. and But I do look at the United squad. You make good points there about the number of minutes.
Speaker: And I just do look at the squad and I do think that they are... kind of smartly building at the moment because you've got in in a centre-back, you've got Yarrow and Maguire who didn't play at all in the summer. And then Martinez, it looks like a minor injury, but he'll be back. De Ligt should be back in a month or so. And you've got Heaven who looked good. And then Masraoui and Dallow right back. You've got Shaw and Dargu left back. And then Dargu can push up and play a left wing. Rashford isn't going anywhere, so they're going to have to give him minutes. And then they're trying to buy up in midfield. So I think the squad is going to get bigger, but I do take your points. I think it's fair. You mentioned in our in our messages, and when we paused when we when we got this question, I sent it to you.
Speaker: and Do you want to say what you said to me over message? Yeah, I think we need do a little bet on this because i think we're going into next season where both of us are kind of being a bit of an unknown of who's going to finish where. So I think if we just do a little bet on whoever finishes higher, the other person buys them next season's jersey.
Speaker: And the real McCoy, the one that's going to cost 180 euro or whatever it's going to be by this time next year. But I think it has to hurt in some way that not only have you finished behind the rest of them, it's cost you the bones of 200 quid as well. So put a little bet on.
Speaker: Maybe add a player if you like something enough. plus I'm 35, so I won't be adding players to my jerseys anymore. but No, no, I haven't had a... I haven't had a jersey and my ah name on my jersey outside of the NFL and obviously the the NBA ones. is no You always get them. But and on on a soccer jersey, I can't remember the last time.
Speaker: I actually don't even remember it. like But when I see adults going around with names on the back of their jerseys, unless it's like an old retro one. Yeah, Declan Rice 41, like, and you're going around with the new jerseys. just wrong.
Speaker: But yeah, I agree to that. The price is wearing the number of your age. And you're going around with him in the back of your jersey. I was only thinking, if can you imagine seeing a basketball jersey or an NFL jersey without a number on us Yeah, would. It would actually just look so naked. At least with a Premier League jersey, you have the sponsor on the front. You barely a crest on an NFL jersey, and there isn't a crest on an NBA jersey. So they wouldn't yeah look right without...
Speaker: a big massive number planted on the front of it was, yeah, I think the loser has to buy the other one, the jersey of their choice for next season. I agree with that. after even I agree with that. Good bet.
Speaker: And as you see, like you said, i have the Sixers jersey there. Like, imagine there was no number on the front of that because that's like a massive part of it. It would just look really weird. but It would look ridiculous. Last question then that we got.
Speaker: This one is NFL based. If you could take one player from any NFL team and add it to your own team for free, who would it be? um So obviously Shane supports the Jets, I support the Giants.
Speaker: I'm imagining you're going quarterback here. So who would you take? Yeah, i'm I'm having Josh Allen, plain and simple. i think he's the best quarterback in the league. We're stuck now with Gino Smith going into next season. And it's just, it's it is the stuff of nightmares. If we had a quarterback that we could just sit in there for the next maybe 10 years that we know the quality of him, then we we can build around that. But at the moment, we're building around little to nothing. So i think it would have to be quarterback at goal and it would be Josh Allen because he can just do it all yeah wouldn't be a runner back then could could could have not given the money to Brees Hall in that case yeah I think that's the best pick like I could easily go Allen as well even though we have Jackson Dart and go oh we could trade Dart away for picks but let's just say we're going to keep Dart because he's he's one for the future and we've got that position we've got a good edge rushers
Speaker: We have some potential in the secondary on defense. We've got Scadabo. We've got Tracy. I think we're okay at running back. I just think if we had Justin Jefferson on that team, it would be absolutely unbelievable. Like if Dart had neighbors on one side and Jefferson on the other, Jefferson is the type of guy that you can throw up a 70-30 ball and he'll catch it. And he always continues to move with his unbelievable routes. Like, Dart moves around a lot in the pocket. So if if Jefferson did, like, an off-the-cuff route and just lost the DB as Dart is extending the play, I think nine times out of ten, that's going to be the outcome. And nine times out of ten, Dart finds it in the end zone.
Speaker: So I think that would be a massive addition for the Giants. So I'm going to go Justin Jefferson, the best wide receiver in the league, added to the Giants. Yeah, but... I think this will be his last year in Minnesota as well. I really do. I think he's going to want to go to a team that is properly challenging very, very shortly. And don't see being able to do that in Minnesota. If he finishes without a ring, it will be of the biggest travesties in NFL history. So I think he'll end up going somewhere like a Chiefs or like Biddles come next season if the Biddles doesn't work out with DJ Moore. So yeah, we'll put that one in the pipeline for 12 months time. Yeah, that's what I think is going happen.
Speaker: Yeah, imagine what they'd have to give up to get him. That'd be huge. I know, it'd be so worth it Especially for the Bills, if they don't do it this year, they'd be like, okay, how as what is Allen actually missing? And like, I know Mahomes, I know we weren't on top of the NFL, but I know Mahomes has done it with like sub-par wide receivers couple of times. Mm-hmm.
Speaker: Can Josh Allen do it this year with DJ Moore? We'll have to wait and see. you But I think if he had a Justin Jefferson, like I think the difference Justin Jefferson would make to him and the difference would make Justin Jefferson, it could be, i think it would be a Joe Burrow, Jamair Chase in their absolute prime, surrounded by players that were actually quality as well on top of it. It could be absolutely outrageous. So yeah, yeah that's my...
Speaker: my stupid pick for on top of the world pop 2030 that that's my other stupid pick for the week yeah let's keep an eye on that one i wouldn't uh wouldn't mind that blockbuster that make for a good podcast but that's the mailbag wrapped up all the questions hopefully you enjoyed it if you did we'll do it again and we'll give you more notice next time so you can get your questions in and in due course um before the episode records but yeah throw it to you shane to wrap it up Yeah, so I'm back two weeks in a row, which is probably the first time in about eight weeks. So yeah, good good to see the viewers there. They're always rising, getting a couple of bites on threads now, which is more than we ever got on Twitter, which is great as well. And I'll be back next week, James. Be back next week and we'll see you then.
Speaker: Bing bong.
