Transcript
Killian Ginnity: We are back. Back again. Pundits back. Tell your friends. I'm Killian Ginnity and I'm delighted to be joined as ever by Connor Glennon and Nathan Byrne. This is Not A Pundit. Gentlemen, how are we doing?
Conor Glennon: Please, please, please call me by my new full name, Carabao Cup winner, Connor. That is my title going forward. Yes, it's pathetic, but we are going to dine out in it for as long as possible.
Conor Glennon: I am very well. How are you, my friend? now
Nate: I'm good, I'm glad you enjoyed winning the Energy Drink Cup. Yeah, all good here. um United win, which is different, so something the we haven't said much this year, but yeah, all good, how are you, Kiddin?
Killian Ginnity: I'm great. Nate, I'm going to throw to you for the big news out of the Northeast. Obviously, it's been on the tip of all of our tongues. I haven't actually stopped talking about it. I'm sure Connor hasn't anyway. um Gateshead apparently are going to be bought by a consortium headed up by Victor and Nietzscheby.
Killian Ginnity: Isn't that mad? Big Vic.
Nate: Honestly, it's probably the biggest news out the North East this weekend. Yeah, it's bit mental. and you
Conor Glennon: You're an awful bunch, you know that. You you truly are just deplorable people.
Killian Ginnity: 70 years since Newcastle won a trophy and I had to be born and start a podcast and have it the year that you spin one.
Conor Glennon: I'll be honest, boys. like I think I said it to you before the game. 99 times out 100. times out of a hundred and we don't win that game. um i i do I am very, very glad, luck to win a trophy, obviously.
Conor Glennon: And whether it was the most boring 1-0 win or the game that it was, it wouldn't have mattered to me. But i I do think, man for man, we outplayed Liverpool in every position. um i think it's, I suppose, the most up for it I've ever seen us what without...
Conor Glennon: The fear, like I think we if we go back to that cup final against United two years ago, we were just shell-shocked throughout. We didn't have a single foothold in the game at all. And I think from from minute one, we we we definitely put a stamp on the game. And and look, there were definitely is questions about Liverpool and what happened there. And and I know they didn't have Trent or Conor Bradley, which on a big pitch like Wembley does hurt you.
Conor Glennon: um But you would have thought... those players are more used to finals than our boys, but we absolutely bloody boss them. And I love it.
Killian Ginnity: See, like, oh obviously for the fans, you're all delighted. Does it mask over how, though? Like, is is he still, like, we've touched on time and time again.
Killian Ginnity: is he the guy to bring you forward? Because, like, i know he's getting teary-eyed, but I saw some suggestions of him getting a statue, and I'm like, come on.
Conor Glennon: Don't even start. Don't even start with that.
Killian Ginnity: Spell caribou, lads, before you start talking about statues for winning it.
Conor Glennon: If you, if,
Conor Glennon: The best way I can describe that whole statute chat is, i I think it was on the Overlap or one of the other podcasts, and one of the fans was like, you know managers get sacked for winning the Carabao Cup. Like, let's put this in perspective, you know, like Louis van Gaal got sacked after winning, was it the FA Cup now?
Nate: Yeah.
Conor Glennon: like i mean I am very aware it's not the highest level silverware available to us. It's just bloody good to crack the duck. But going back to the Eddie Howe question, look, I think you look at it in a couple of ways. um Does it mask over the issues?
Conor Glennon: No. um If you look at the last three transfer windows, we've brought in one player into the first team directly. That's like a first team starter. So, I mean, he has had to play with the players are available to him.
Conor Glennon: I think you can look at players like Jacob Murphy, Joe Linton as Eddie Howe masterclass in terms of Joe Linton was rubbish before Eddie Howe got his hands on him. And yeah again, going back to the, to the cup final outside big Dan Byrne, Joe Linton was absolutely everywhere. he was, it was the best I think game he's ever played. It was some last dance, Michael Jordan energy.
Conor Glennon: So I think long story short, even taking out what what Eddie Howe's managed to bring to the club, there is still questions there, yes. But I do think winning that trophy gives him the cash in the bank.
Conor Glennon: He's till the end of next season. and
Killian Ginnity: Nate, was this a good performance from Newcastle but a much worse performance than Liverpool? like Did Liverpool win this and lose this game rather than Newcastle winning
Nate: Yeah, that's interesting. I think part of it could have been Liverpool lost the Tuesday beforehand, possibly. and They seemed a bit down in the dumps.
Nate: It sort of highlighted how much they rely on Mohamed Salah, in my opinion. and you know I don't mean to hire it back, but I did say Liverpool, once they lose a few games, it might spiral. I think...
Nate: Could we be saying that possibly? and But yeah, I think in terms of like Newcastle, I thought they were brilliant. like i thought they thought they were playing as as if it was a cup final where Liverpool wasn't. and I think they dominated them. I think they were very aggressive and got stuck in.
Conor Glennon: I think you're right with the Salah point. And look, I i absolutely love Mohamed Salah. I think he's been an incredible servant to Liverpool. He is an unbelievable footballer. But the one stat that, look, at us Newcastle people love stats. God knows we were on the wrong side of them for a long time. But the one that I did see after the the final was, I think it it was either 10 or 11. I think it's 11 cup finals that he's been involved in with with club and country.
Conor Glennon: And he's never he's never scored in any of them. um which look I'm not trying to say yeah yeah like ah and you know I'm not trying to take away from the player that he is in the season that he's having but that is and I'm not trying to say he's not a big game player but that is an issue if if you're a team that are heavily dependent on one player like they are I think I do wonder how Liverpool would have performed if they'd had Trent or Connor Bradley from a delivery perspective um and I think that overall all
Killian Ginnity: From open play, I think that was. and he he's i think he's had two penalties or something stupid like that, yeah.
Conor Glennon: both, you know, you heard pundits talking about both the overlap and the underlap that those two players bring. And it did seem like a, from a delivery point of view, just distribution and and a runs point of view, Liverpool were stale. And I think those then infected further up the pitch with Salah. Like he's like, look, Salah has created many goals solo this season, but I think in a pitch that big and an occasion that big against a team that are, have nothing to lose really,
Conor Glennon: That is not the way to win games. and and He struggled. They he struggled.
Killian Ginnity: and When you're talking about kind of the the one man and the reliance on it, our boy Camilo has sent in a message, Connor, for you.
Conor Glennon: Oh, God. I'm im i'm scared now.
Killian Ginnity: Boys, I am elated for Conor in Newcastle. As a lifelong Liverpool fan, believe it or not, there is a Liverpool fan in Uruguay where I first developed my love for the name, lol. Obviously, Liverpool-Montevedo is a top league club out there who, if any football aficion a football manager aficionados out there in 2024, think it's Fabrizio Diaz is a youth player from there who I've signed multiple times. Great youth prospect club.
Killian Ginnity: and I waited 30 years until the pandemic title, so I can only imagine what this means to him. A few weeks ago, I mentioned my frustration with Arne and his unwillingness to adapt at times.
Killian Ginnity: Boys, Newcastle battered us with essentially the same game plan as PSG. Great press, ball movement and possession. And while I'm sure-ish that Liverpool will win the title, I think I can finally this say we've all collectively seen the holes in Arne's system and culture.
Killian Ginnity: Obviously, Stryker is concerned. I'm i'm curious what Conor thinks about potentially losing Isak to us in the summer and how Newcastle build off of what I would consider another positive season.
Killian Ginnity: So obviously two questions kind of there. Three, really. have we Have we seen the chink in Arnaud's armour? What would you do if you lose Isak and will that leave you in a position all to be able to build off of a positive season?
Killian Ginnity: So I think take that in reverse order. Losing Isak, what would that mean to you in building on this season?
Conor Glennon: Well, first of all, I think that's the first humble Liverpool fan I've ever met. So thank you for the lovely words. and In terms of Isak, look, there's been many a conspiracy theory in in Newcastle fan forums since the final where Isak was having a chat with Van Dijk. Van Dijk seemed puzzled when he when he walked away and everyone is jokingly saying he's going, i hope you stay on for next season because I'll be there.
Conor Glennon: um i don't think we lose him this summer i don't think we have him the summer after that um would be the way i look at it he's putting up numbers and performances uh at a young age comparatively and in in football that i think it's undeniable that larger teams than us will want them and he will want to go there um i i'm not worried about it this summer um after that i am i don't know about you nate like do you think he's staying
Nate: and I don't think Liverpool can sign him this summer. I don't see them signing Isaac for that fee when they still have that £80m mistake on their bench. like I just don't see it happening. I think they need to shift him and take the loss on Nunes. To be honest, I don't see any club that will be lining up for Nunes, especially after missing that penalty as well. so I don't know, it's tough one.
Nate: like if it was Isaac like would you want to move when you're in that form and you're settled I don't know
Conor Glennon: Also, I think you know you look like a turncoat. It's not okay. like it's You could look at it one or the other. Yeah, he brought the first trophy to the city in 70 years. But if you dip out straight after that, you're not going to be loved, we'll put it that way.
Conor Glennon: and
Killian Ginnity: But when you look at it from Liverpool's perspective, can they afford not to try and go for him?
Conor Glennon: I think Arsenal are more likely than Liverpool. Yeah. then didn't live report
Killian Ginnity: I don't know, because like when when you look at Liverpool in terms of the Salah situation and whether or not he goes, and I know you're saying Nunes and... Who knows? Maybe they will try and cash in on them. Like they have a lot of wingers. They don't have a lot of strikers.
Killian Ginnity: They have a lot of forwards, not any, not that many goal scorers. And this it seems to be kind of petering out to be an unconvincing Premier League win.
Killian Ginnity: I'm convinced they're still going to do it, but it went from being kind of, oh yeah, absolutely. To kind of relying on other teams, not catching up to them.
Conor Glennon: They're like 15 points ahead though, aren't they?
Nate: And all oh
Conor Glennon: They're bossing it still.
Nate: ah You say Boston, but it's the worst Premier League season we've seen in God knows how long.
Killian Ginnity: ah
Nate: like i i like a ama I'm not trying harp back at but I did say one slot messes up, it's going to spiral, and I think it has. I just think it took too long for teams to figure out how to break them down. m And as as Camillo said, is we're not seeing enough of him trying to adapt his a style of play to to get away from these teams.
Killian Ginnity: Well, see, is that the kind of thing now that we're... know I praised kind of the plan Bs in his formation, but that was more kind of in terms of how players reacted to the game around them.
Killian Ginnity: But in terms of a tactical, oh, they've figured out what we're doing here... as a team, has Slott actually prepared enough for beyond plan A, kind going, yeah, you just move around and if this happens, you just do this.
Killian Ginnity: But there's no kind of like, they now that PSG is kind of nearly given ah game plan, just out and do this. And Newcastle went and did that.
Conor Glennon: I, I, I,
Killian Ginnity: is Is this going to be the worry now for the rest of the season that like,
Nate: it's it's not It's not even just PSG. We've seen it when they played Southampton, when they played Eastbridge. You see what where the the holes lie in this Liverpool team.
Nate: it's just It's taken a PSG when it's on the line to go out and actually put it to them. I think the issue we have this season is I don't think there's too many motivated Premier League teams currently.
Nate: You know, you've got a few in and around ah the top four, and then you've got ones that we've got teams that are, like, miles afloat in the relegation battle. and I think that's the difference, is when you a Newcastle side and a PSG side who are going in with nothing to lose, that's where the holes come afloat, like...
Conor Glennon: I think it's also a case, like you said, Killian, of the adaption of it. I think he, I think plan A has worked so well for so much of the season, he hasn't really had to plan for a plan B. um And look, I i do think it's it's an issue that isn't, look, you can fix that issue pretty swift. They just need to be more concrete defensively when there's a high press against them and you know To be fair to them, they've had injuries in that department and and ah arguably they've got defenders can't defend, say some people.
Conor Glennon: um But yeah, look, I don't think it's okay. Yeah, Liverpool have been found out in their current way of playing, but it's not like it's pet ball, you know, where it's it's so hard to change any factor of it.
Nate: But can this team play a different way?
Conor Glennon: I think this is an easier fix.
Nate: like
Conor Glennon: But that's the other question.
Nate: as We've got agent defenders, we've we've got defenders we with people saying that they can't defend. okay If they go more defensively, then can the attack attack from a deeper position?
Nate: you know We've got an older Salah, we've got other attackers that aren't producing. and like Can they switch to that Salah? personally don't know. so know
Killian Ginnity: There is the other thing we kind of like just to play devil's advocate here. Like it's the Carabao Cup. I like do we think that Liverpool fans or the Liverpool board are going to be sweating and losing any sleep over the fact that they lost in this final.
Nate: Yes, 100%. hundred They had a treble on the cards.
Killian Ginnity: Really?
Killian Ginnity: Ah but it's not true struggle.
Nate: Like, if you you spoke to Liverpool fans a week ago, they'd be like, oh yeah, we and we're we're in the Champions League, we're we're in this. like To them, they had a treble on the cards, and a week later, that's gone.
Nate: So, of course, they'll be annoyed about it.
Killian Ginnity: But there's a difference between being annoyed about it and like really have putting stakes in the line over it. Like it if you were to lose in any of the competitions, it'd be the first one you'd choose to.
Killian Ginnity: Now, that being capitulated off the back of losing in the Champions League, that's where this thing kind of comes in. But like, Do you think, Conor, that this is going to be the point where Slott is going to have to kind of shift into a different gear for the rest of the season? Or do you think they're actually safe enough take on doing what you're doing?
Conor Glennon: I think they're safe enough because I don't know if There's not too many teams that are able to press like that. like I'm not saying Newcastle or... God-level team with you know global superstars. We just managed to crack the code and arguably have one of the best midfields in in the Premier League. But I don't think every team in the Premier League is is able to do what PSG and Newcastle did. So I think they'll be able to coast for the rest the season. They'll work on it in the background, recruit in the summer and and go again next year, what it would it would a plan be?
Killian Ginnity: And in terms of Newcastle now, is this going to set you up to really put on a Champions League push? Is this going to give you his confidence to kind of push on? Or ah do you think that there could be that kind of, like we've seen that a lot of times before, get a nice win or something and teams are like, okay, we know what we're doing now.
Killian Ginnity: And then suddenly they face a team that they didn't know what they were doing against and then it doesn't go the way they want.
Conor Glennon: Look, the the boys are out in Dubai at the minute. I can only imagine the the the the volume of rock shanties they'll be having out there.
Killian Ginnity: Shock.
Conor Glennon: um So we'll see what shape they come back in first. Obviously, there's a couple of players in international duty as well. Hopefully, they they stay fit. Look, at ah I don't want to blow the win out of proportion. Obviously, it's massive to the fan base.
Conor Glennon: It does get the, you know...
Conor Glennon: it gets it off our back that that every every conversation of you haven't won anything in forever and and I think they can just focus on games. They also know they they can win big games now but i I do think it's We still need to treat it like it's just another day. You know what i mean? Like, yes, it's a win. Yes, it's amazing. Let's celebrate it. And, you know, a bit of goldfish goldfish brain about it. Let's back to basics and and keep playing on as we have this year. Because, look, we've had a great season.
Conor Glennon: There's been a couple of poor performances that and we've we've lost points to teams we shouldn't. But as for Champions League, I don't know if it will change anything, to be honest.
Killian Ginnity: ah as Roy Keane would say this but it's your job just go out and win um yeah like I had to had to laugh at the yeah the club's tweet though about Ciarán Trippier being the first one to buy into the project like Callum Wilson was there like yeah even yeah maybe the first signing under the new ownership but like it kind of
Conor Glennon: but
Killian Ginnity: I, outside of Lokenin, I kind of thought did a little bit of disservice to the likes of, who's the defender, Kraft and stuff.
Conor Glennon: Yeah, Emil Kraft.
Killian Ginnity: Like all these, all these guys have been there a lot longer and well,
Nate: Yeah, but were they buying into the project or were they taking a step up? Do you know what I mean?
Killian Ginnity: they're the ones that i have like shielded the team ah while Yeez can't spend.
Nate: No, but like Callum Wilson going from Bournemouth to Newcastle, I don't really know if it's buying into the project. I think it's just an upward move.
Conor Glennon: Trippier going from Atletico where he he was earning more money and had a longer term contract on the table.
Killian Ginnity: and came back from ah a ban for a gambling.
Conor Glennon: Yes, there is there is that element. But yeah, no, I do i think it was a fair statement. I think Trippier, look, he was getting well remunerated by Newcastle for making that step. But like I said, he walked away from more money with a team that's guaranteed Champions League.
Conor Glennon: He could have easily stayed there in a fantastic team with a fantastic manager. i think he was the... He was the first player that sent a bit of a flare out that we could attract better players than we had.
Conor Glennon: And arguably at that point, Trippier was better than we could get. without that i i don't know how the project would have gone like he's also a seasoned international leader within the squad yes his off the field antics aren't great and have brought a lot of unwanted press to the team but in terms of his his activity on the pitch i think it's a fair statement and i'm bloody glad we have
Killian Ginnity: and I don't know, I just thought it was kind of, I was a lot more impressed about the guys that have stuck it out and managed to find a place in the team when you're signing bigger players than I would be for the guy that tried to rebuild his reputation off his or back.
Killian Ginnity: But you did mention international football and obviously we are coming up to the international break. o
Conor Glennon: Boo!
Killian Ginnity: um Nate, hi Mirrors, latest squad, what did you make of the announcement? Obviously there was two in injury swaps from the initially announced one, I think Ryan Manning and Andrew Moran is in now, but what was your kind of thoughts overall about the announcement?
Nate: um Listen, I think there's only so much you can react to in Ireland's squad. with a There's nothing going to be groundbreaking. I thought it was good to see few youngs just throwing in.
Nate: But yeah, like I think we just now need to see a ah development on ah on a way of playing. like I think we need to see more defensive structure, which players are going take the mantle on that.
Nate: And yeah, like what, this his third international break now? It's like we need start seeing the foundation.
Killian Ginnity: yeah
Nate: So um I'm happy with it. But until I see some improvement on the pitch and a step forward, I'm not going to be joyous about seeing the same names really.
Killian Ginnity: can you Can you be happy though when Matt Doherty and Robbie Brady are in an Ireland squad in the year of our Lord 2025?
Conor Glennon: I do think... I did... The Brady one tickled me, ah but I...
Killian Ginnity: Brady, I don't mind as much. I think...
Nate: Honestly, I'd rather Brady than Doherty.
Killian Ginnity: Yeah, love that's what I mean. like Leave Brady in there. I can get it from a culture point of view or anything like that. But Doherty!
Conor Glennon: That...
Killian Ginnity: When's the last time he played?
Conor Glennon: Well, that's the thing, because with Brady at least... Like, Brady is performing well at a good team. He's scoring goals. He's assisting. Like, he has...
Killian Ginnity: He scored for Ireland recently.
Conor Glennon: Yeah, he's rediscovered a form. And yeah, look, we we're kicking the can down the road like we've talked about before by not bringing in younger talent. But let's face it, we're we're pretty hamstrung in terms of options. And if we don't utilize players that are performing well, what are we doing? um At least in the short term, we just need to get this ship. but We're not even back to steady. We need to get it out from under the water.
Conor Glennon: um The Matt Doherty one just... and like like The only way I can rationalize that is, is he the glue guy in the camp? Is he...
Nate: Oh, he's not.
Conor Glennon: is Yeah, that's what I mean. like the like the The only rationale to keep fucking bringing him is if he's beloved and off the pitch brings something, but he doesn't.
Nate: he he He's the type
Killian Ginnity: If he's the glue, then but give give me the thing that dissolves it.
Nate: of... He's the type of fella who says something about him when he's doing a three-part interview the next day about it. oh He's definitely not the glue, I'll tell you that. way
Conor Glennon: But so I mean, like, so like, it's not as footballing abilities. It's not as chemistry within the team. and the Is it just, is is it ah is it a case when they print the team sheet in the FAI that his name's just on the paper before it goes out?
Nate: it's
Nate: no
Conor Glennon: Like...
Nate: I think it's purely the fact that they look at the players and they go, oh, this fella's still in the Premier League somehow. I think that's...
Conor Glennon: Barely, though. Like, is he even?
Nate: why why I think that's how they go about it.
Conor Glennon: You know
Nate: It's like, oh, this guy's still on a Premier League team. Yeah, we've got to call him up.
Killian Ginnity: Like, he is still... That first Nuno season when Wolves got promoted, he's still riding on the coattails that season. When he was playing right wing back and cutting into the centre.
Killian Ginnity: Like, since then, what has he done other than not play for Atletico and now not play for Wolves? um ah it's it's It's ridiculous. But generally, Conor, I think... It was squad announcement going in the right direction. Nate said some good young players being brought in.
Killian Ginnity: Great to see Rocco Vata commit to Ireland. There was worries about ah Albania and potentially Scotland.
Conor Glennon: Really good.
Killian Ginnity: um Great to see him. This is what we should with these young players. He has been showing a lot of commitment to our younger teams. Give him the caps.
Conor Glennon: Yeah, like, I mean, we again, but again we but whether it's a Robbie Brady that we need to get in the team because he's performing well or someone who is a great player that we need to lock down.
Killian Ginnity: Tie him down.
Conor Glennon: We need to just start locking players down. And I look i don't i don't want, like I've said before, i don't want players who are just coming to get an international cap with any country. thatll that'll do it but that is not the case here and if the alternatives are footballing nations like albania who look i don't even know would we beat them at the moment to be honest with you but we should be beating them and like if we're to lose players it It should be to high-caliber teams that you're like, okay, I understand that. But ah when you when you put a player like that and his other options are Albania, we need to secure those players and and just get them two, three, four caps. And look, if they don't work, they don't work. but We won't know until we try.
Killian Ginnity: um Like one of the things we did kind of Criticise Jaime for Before was his media handling and or lack thereof I'm just seeing here that John O'Shea has been out in the media Which is Like
Conor Glennon: again like really
Nate: His media handling is still shocking. Did you see the late lacce
Killian Ginnity: At the late late I thought was It was fine
Nate: lay No, but he's still going on about this League of Ireland and stuff. It doesn't look good, does it?
Conor Glennon: well it's they need to kill stories better than they are they're like they're giving oxygen to a lot more of this than they need to
Killian Ginnity: no
Killian Ginnity: Again, as we always said, though it was more FAI comms not minding some of these situations in a way that, like, if it was Man United or Newcastle or something, you'd have somebody kind going, actually, just maybe...
Killian Ginnity: But John O'Shea insists club time was the determining factor in different animal math dodgy bouncing back from his shock Ireland axing.
Killian Ginnity: um And apparently he's a shoe in, according to O'Shea.
Conor Glennon: Well, it when the manager, let's just call him the manager because he's picking the team, doing the interviews, Heimer is almost turning into the sidekick. and But I think when ah when someone in the management team says something like that, Matt Doherty has to come out and prove that or he's gone, has to be gone. Like if they're saying it's a rebirth of him, he's through theses rediscovered form and he just comes out and plays in another dud, it's...
Nate: Wait, where was the bounce back? Because i think I missed it.
Conor Glennon: know but That's what I mean.
Killian Ginnity: but like
Conor Glennon: like Isn't he great?
Killian Ginnity: but The bounce back is that he's gotten game time under the new Wolves manager. But like this...
Conor Glennon: like Man turns up to work, gets an award.
Nate: Oh, God.
Conor Glennon: Yeah. like
Killian Ginnity: Alright Kino.
Conor Glennon: yeah
Killian Ginnity: But like there there is the other ah element of it we can't forget about Doherty and despite the fact that he may come at us over and anything that we've said he's 33. is he's thirtyre Like, this isn't somebody that you should be investing as much time and effort in.
Conor Glennon: dad
Killian Ginnity: Like, he was fuming that he got dropped early into Jaime's tenure. Good. We want that reaction. But you deserved every minute of it. And arguably, you still deserve it to be now.
Nate: Can we stop acting like this fella's messy as well, please? Like, I know he wears the number seven jersey, but, like, do know what mean? Like...
Killian Ginnity: A crime. Still a crime. We said it when we first started the podcast.
Nate: ah I swear, yeah he gets covered for Ireland like he's messy.
Killian Ginnity: Crime. Crime.
Nate: I think that just shows how bad our quality is.
Conor Glennon: Well, like, that's the thing. When we're talking about... bringing out a 33-year-old every single team. It's not a 33-year-old who is banging in goals. It's a 33-year-old who's causing goals against us.
Conor Glennon: it's I don't... it just We could talk about this, the cows come home. I just will never understand it. And I am sick to death of Irish managers picking the same team over and over and over.
Conor Glennon: It's that whole thing, like, so the idea of Manus is doing everything the same and changing nothing, you know?
Killian Ginnity: Jeff Hendrick thing.
Nate: Oh, ah like, it's actually, like, when you when you sit down and put it into perspective, our assistant manager, who's, like, technically our manager at this point, is...
Killian Ginnity: Jeff Hendrick.
Conor Glennon: he's He's the co-manager, honestly. Let's just call him that at this point. like
Nate: Yeah, it's like, remember the Salford duo? They're both managers together. Like, that's what we've got going and
Conor Glennon: Yeah.
Nate: But we're basically speaking about a 33-year-old right-back who's currently helping his manager battle relegation Like he's leaning on Messi because he is literally Somehow he's the biggest thing to do with Irish football I don't get it Like He's a player
Killian Ginnity: Isn't it mad he's talked himself into international contention?
Conor Glennon: By bad-mouthing the team.
Killian Ginnity: Because that's... Yeah, like that's that's basically what's happened here. But like, let's look at the team. ah Obviously, Jake O'Brien has found some form and in some game time at last under ah David Moyes.
Killian Ginnity: But it at right back, so who would you be starting? Because for me, um unless it's going to be a ah wingback situation, I think there's only one solution.
Nate: Jake O'Brien every day of the week.
Killian Ginnity: Jake.
Conor Glennon: Well, like, it's it's it's a no-brainer. Like, it's as it's the sky's blue. Like, play Jake O'Brien. Like, he...
Nate: I, and I think the fact he's now right back actually suits Ireland. Like, you know what mean?
Killian Ginnity: Yeah.
Nate: We were struggling to fit centre-backs in, like,
Killian Ginnity: Like it,
Killian Ginnity: but if If we were to play with a back five, I would rather have Jake on the right-hand side of the three and then have Jason Knight as your wingback. Because obviously he's played right back for Derby for ages in his former team. Now he's at Bristol. He's very versatile. So if we're going to play a wingback, play him. Because he's just going to run anyway. He might not do much else, but he'll run.
Killian Ginnity: And then just having Jake O'Brien in the squad is a good thing.
Conor Glennon: i I agree with you if we are to play five of the back, but I swear to God, if we play five at the back, I am going to absolutely tweak.
Nate: if we play four at the back and I see Doherty ahead of Jake O'Brien all week, like um I'm just being dead in serious, like there's no, there's nothing on this earth that should stop Jake O'Brien starting the next two games for Ireland.
Conor Glennon: Like,
Conor Glennon: Well, this goes back to what we're saying, like invest in the future.
Nate: Like he's proven himself in form.
Killian Ginnity: for
Conor Glennon: Like he is the future of that position. Like, why are we waiting?
Killian Ginnity: Forget the breakaway League of Ireland. We might have a breakaway national team if Doherty starts.
Conor Glennon: Oh my God. Yeah.
Killian Ginnity: But looking at the midfield, Cullen Knight, Taylor Sykes, Aziz Moran. Nothing to complain about, nothing to get excited about.
Nate: ah we
Killian Ginnity: Good to see Moran in.
Nate: the the midfield is so poor though like we we need to see some some serious shake up there like I but that's the thing is like that's the worry is who else could be brought in is like we need to be proactive in our thinking on how we line out our midfield because having two sideway passes is just not going to go there
Killian Ginnity: Who else could have been brought in though?
Killian Ginnity: Yeah, it's not. It's not great. But yeah, I don't know. Depending on how how they play, what kind of more concerns me is the fact of how few wide players we've brought.
Killian Ginnity: Like, I know Sinclair aren't
Conor Glennon: we just don't We just don't have them, you know?
Killian Ginnity: Yeah, like i know Sinclair Armstrong can play out there. and Johnston is an out-and-out winger. Vata, which is great to see, as we said.
Conor Glennon: Yeah.
Killian Ginnity: ah hes he He's a winger. Warren, you could play out there, you're not going to get the best out of him.
Conor Glennon: But why are we at a point now, is it like all around the team, we're going, oh, he might work over there.
Killian Ginnity: Yeah.
Conor Glennon: Like there has to be players that are Irish or have eligibility to play for Ireland that, you know what, it's actually their position. It's not just, oh, we'll try Like, what are we doing?
Killian Ginnity: Yup the granny rule. Bring them all in.
Conor Glennon: um Honestly, at this point with that midfield, i want scouts out in every niche country you can possibly imagine finding someone for us.
Killian Ginnity: They...
Nate: Surely half of America is eligible for Ireland.
Killian Ginnity: Well, the last proper prospect from America that was eligible for us was Jack McGlynn, but he's now cap-tied in the same kind of way that Liam DeLapp is, Connor. Um...
Killian Ginnity: there There is a winger who is out in America. He's now eligible for America, John Gallagher, who's playing well. So he's a winger, but he plays left or right back for Austin.
Killian Ginnity: He kind of plays left back. He's playing at the weekend, had a decent game.
Conor Glennon: Hi, Mir, are you hearing this? Sign him up, please.
Killian Ginnity: And he's, I think he's 27 now. um So I don't think it's beyond the realms of reason um to do it.
Conor Glennon: Possibilities, yeah.
Nate: But like...
Killian Ginnity: ah There's um like, um there's your man out, Paul Niebel, who is like one of the breakout stars of the Bundesliga, Irish eligible.
Killian Ginnity: Why aren't we getting him and attacking midfielder?
Nate: But also, like, just off the back of Paddy's day, just to bring the relevance in, where half the world claims to be Irish, it's like, come on, the scouts, you aren't looking for needles in haystacks here. like There's got to be toys for a lot of these fellas. Like...
Killian Ginnity: If Jamie Carragher's son can play for Malta, there has to be some good players and out there for Ireland.
Conor Glennon: I saw that. Yeah, I thought I honestly read that wrong when I saw it that that he declared for Malta. And like it it it the first thing that came into my head after realizing it was actually Jamie Carragher's kid was you, Killian, because it's it's that whole thing of, would you rather be play for a tiny team and be the hero?
Killian Ginnity: oh Go and be the hero. Why not? Have fun with it. It's going to be class. and And obviously Jamie Carragher has a good Irish connection as well.
Killian Ginnity: And so does Malta. There's a Maltese Irish team out there. There's a team in Malta based on...
Conor Glennon: The Maltese, FC Maltese or something.
Killian Ginnity: our
Killian Ginnity: ah
Conor Glennon: Oh,
Killian Ginnity: I was ah ah probably a couple of months ago now, I was actually got to meet the ambassador to Ireland from Malta and he was talking about the Irish connection and to Malta and true football and those teams have been founded by Irish people out there.
Killian Ginnity: So.
Conor Glennon: wow. Yeah.
Killian Ginnity: um Yeah, so that's it's it's a little island we should explore and ah see that Irish connection obviously now being played out through James Carragher, who is of course always at welcome to come on the pod.
Conor Glennon: Yeah.
Killian Ginnity: Why not, sir? You you go out and have fun with with the Maltese. I love it. I think there should be more of that. and bo With the players that we have at our disposal, are you going into this window excited? like Do you think that there's going to be an element of kind of going, okay, if we get a couple of results here, there's something to build on? Or is is there, after the last international break, there was a level of apathy from you?
Killian Ginnity: Is that kind of just holding out now where you're kind of bit like, it's another one?
Conor Glennon: i to be To be honest, it's been a it's been a long, long, long time since I've been excited about an international break in general, regardless of Ireland, but...
Conor Glennon: i'm I'm kind of desensitized to the whole thing. like Obviously, it's a bloody football podcast. I'll evidently be watching the game. But I'm kind of going into it defeatist a little bit. like I'm not expecting to see anything new. I'm expected to come away from it annoyed, disappointed, and frustrated as per usual, as per every other bloody international break at this point. and maybe i'm Maybe I'm just in in in a bad mood, but I just...
Conor Glennon: That team doesn't say anything to me that ah goes, oh, yeah, things might be changing. It just feels like another same, same team. We're going to play the same, same football, and it's going to go in the same direction.
Conor Glennon: you know it's Look, hopefully I'm wrong, but yeah. I don't know you, Nate. I'm still in the where we left off after the last international break.
Nate: Yeah, same old, same old. I think Irish football is I think the worst thing about that is it doesn't feel like a hard thing to say for me because it's so evident.
Conor Glennon: Yeah.
Nate: I think the issue is like um we're when we're looking at tournaments down the line, it's like like Can we say that we have a better chance of qualifying for a tournament now than we did before?
Nate: I think absolutely not. So where's the roundabout that gets us on the right trajectory? I personally don't know.
Killian Ginnity: If the squad was full of young players that you didn't necessarily know, would you be more excited? kind of going in expecting late losses rather than maybe not losses, but kind of going, okay, well, I have something to kind of build on i look forward to.
Conor Glennon: yeah
Conor Glennon: Absolutely, because at least we're trying something. you know like ah it's it's My problem has been that if you look at an Irish team of 10 years ago, a lot of the players that are there now were there then.
Conor Glennon: you know that That's my issue, and You know, we're we're so dependent on a core group of players whose ability is not fantastic. So, yeah, I've said ah i would have no problem.
Conor Glennon: Look, we're going to miss out in the World Cup anyway. At least let's try and build towards the next one with a group of young players. I don't see the harm in that. And yet, look, I don't know if there's a manager in the world who would sign up for that.
Conor Glennon: Knowing that you're just trying to effectively be a youth coach in ah in an international team and you're going to get the sack because you don't get the World Cup. And if you're not from here, you're not going to see the bigger picture.
Conor Glennon: But i would I would absolutely, look, maybe I would sound like some bloody martyr, but like i i I just think what we're doing is pointless and we need to build for the future.
Nate: You know, I'm actually, like, I'm at a point where, like, I'm okay in Ed's day. I think keeping John O'Shea was a big mistake. and
Killian Ginnity: Just as part of the staff.
Nate: Just as part of the staff, I think lines got too blurred when you were leading them on for, what, what was it, three months at one stage? Like, lines got seriously blurred there.
Nate: and i think there's an issue with him being from the old administration, yeah, is, like,
Conor Glennon: Guard, yeah.
Nate: watch changing is the same ideology just coming over like i feel like like irish football was at that stage where i just needed a a clean cut and i don't think we saw that and you know he's like i love john ashay's next like as much as the next man like he's he's a legend in my book and this and that but i do think it was a mistake to keep him
Conor Glennon: Looking back with hindsight, probably. i do want to say, though, that at the time, was glad he was there. It did give me some belief in the squad. And I understood why they kept him with Heimer for ah transition, I suppose.
Conor Glennon: But him still being there
Killian Ginnity: When does the transition end?
Conor Glennon: is but Yeah, and it's it's also like, it's those blurred lines, like you said, like ah if he kind of stayed on as a consultant role, like not assistant manager, like in the setup, like Brian Kerr was to him kind of situation of just a bit of advice, a bit of a sounding board.
Killian Ginnity: What about as an actual just normal coach rather than an assistant coach? Where is it going to be a little bit more hands-off in terms of obviously media and stuff?
Conor Glennon: I don't think he'd do it. I don't think he would have done it. you know i think it would have worked better, but I don't think he would have done it from a financial perspective as well.
Killian Ginnity: Well, another decision that we may come to regret, and obviously England have a announced their squads as well. Lee Carsley, more importantly, has an announced his under-21 Did everyone forget Lee Carsley is still the young England under-21 manager?
Conor Glennon: I genuinely did.
Killian Ginnity: it was one of the ones that kind of felt like he'd left, but he didn't.
Conor Glennon: yeah
Killian Ginnity: But we may may not be happy with him this week because he's called up three people I've been calling for to be called up for Ireland.
Killian Ginnity: Obviously, Joe Bellingham.
Conor Glennon: Is Dennis Serkin one of them?
Killian Ginnity: Dennis Serkin is one of them.
Conor Glennon: Oh my god.
Killian Ginnity: He's got an England under-21 call-up.
Conor Glennon: It's happened.
Killian Ginnity: So that may come back to bite us. Joe Bellingham, obviously kind of less less likely.
Conor Glennon: We were never going to get him. Ever.
Killian Ginnity: But hey, Wayne Rooney said we could have had him. So I hold hope.
Conor Glennon: I think he knew what he was doing there. he was trying It was around Paddy's day. he was trying to curry favour in that part.
Killian Ginnity: and No, I think 16-year-old get an opportunity for a funded international cap in a friendly, he absolutely would have done it. And then England would have came in said, yeah, we're going cap you next time. Don't do it again.
Killian Ginnity: Okay, happy out.
Conor Glennon: yeah
Killian Ginnity: um But the other one, which I was surprised about, and he's playing very, very well, and I think this is a position that we really could have done, especially in light of the Daugherty chat, is CJ Egan Riley from Burnley.
Killian Ginnity: So he can play centre-back, can play right-back, can play kind of defensive midfield.
Conor Glennon: Utility player, yeah.
Killian Ginnity: But he's really, really good, kind of can play with the ball. um Like, he kind of broke through under company. Like, he can play football. um And now he's after getting an England under-21 call-up.
Killian Ginnity: Is this another batch of players, Nate, that we're missing out on by just not being proactive? Yeah.
Nate: Yeah, like, i think there's a difference that, you know, they're only getting called up to the English 21, so there's still a chance. and i think England are probably just covering their bases in terms of, like, they're on the radar, let's try and keep them sweet.
Nate: You know, the ball's in Ireland's court, whether they want them or not, you know what I mean?
Killian Ginnity: Yeah. um Now, I know we're saying that Ireland has issues with some older players getting called up for their squad, but the England team, on obviously this being what is it, Tuchel's first window, um calling up ah Jordan Henderson and Kyle Walker.
Conor Glennon: Yep.
Conor Glennon: I'm not opposed to it.
Killian Ginnity: and
Conor Glennon: I'm not opposed to it. ah Mainly for the fact that...
Killian Ginnity: Once there's nurses on the side of the pitch.
Conor Glennon: Like, the Walker one, i don't think was needed. ah But I think the Henderson one you know, he very much has been talked about by his peers as ah manager on the pitch. He's also beloved by the squad.
Conor Glennon: I think Tuchel knows what he's doing in the fact that it's his first training camp. he he He wants it to be familiar for the players. um i i I don't think it's a long-term solution, obviously, and it'd be interesting see how many windows he's called up for. I'd imagine Henderson will get the first handful anyway.
Conor Glennon: I think akin to what we were saying with O'Shea in a transition period, I think this helps Tuchel from an in-camp perspective. Not from a footballing perspective, but from an in-camp perspective.
Killian Ginnity: Nate, what was your reaction to Marcus Rashford getting the call up?
Nate: and
Conor Glennon: Mm-hmm.
Nate: Yeah, fair play. I think it felt a bit like a s spite one. I don't think we've seen enough for him to go from where he wasn't getting called up to now getting called up.
Nate: Yeah, I don't know. like I think Tuchel's going to have to experiment and see what players he likes, what players he doesn't like. Rashford on a good day probably suits Tuchel's profile, so I reckon that's the reason why he's gone for him.
Killian Ginnity: And obviously Connor, Dan Byrne, getting his call up.
Conor Glennon: ah you you love to see it i mean ripe old age of 32 getting your first england call up um
Killian Ginnity: He's the second or third. If he gets capped, he'd be the second or third oldest debutant for England. i think Kevin Davies is the oldest at 35 or 36 when he was at Bolton.
Conor Glennon: 35 making your debut, Christ. Yeah, no, I'm delighted for him.
Killian Ginnity: One capped.
Conor Glennon: I think when you see where you he's come from, like non-league football, lower league football, it's nice to just see someone live out their dream, and deservedly so.
Conor Glennon: is there. How many caps he'll get, who knows. But long live big Dan Barron.
Killian Ginnity: Well, speaking of long live, Conor, there's some players that apparently weren't doing that over in Bulgaria. What was that about?
Conor Glennon: Oh, God, this one really tickled me. So a Bulgarian football club um called Arda Kads Halley have had to apologize and for holding a minute's silence for a former player who is still very much alive, my friends.
Conor Glennon: um So basically, picture this. Two full teams, around the centre circle, of halfway line, full minute silence. I mean, we're talking picture up on the screen. thinking What a nice tribute to a former player.
Conor Glennon: Not dead. Very much not dead. ah So the poor man's wife, ah he'd popped out for the day. His wife flicked on the telly, saw this, um didn hadn't a clue what was coming and what was going on.
Conor Glennon: um And then player comes home. His name's Petko Gangev. Wife's in absolute tears. and He's like, what's going on? She's like, you're apparently dead. LAUGHTER
Nate: Thank you.
Conor Glennon: its
Killian Ginnity: Literally the wife.
Conor Glennon: very much very much that but my favourite bit of the whole thing was the club had to come out and obviously apologise for what happened um and the club said the following the management of PFC Arda would like to express huge apology to former Arda player Petko Ganchev and his relatives after the club received wrong information about his death this is my favourite bit though We wish Petro Gantjev many more years of good health and to enjoy the success of Arda. Somehow they still made a positive note at the end.
Conor Glennon: But yeah, I'm sure it's probably the first time that's ever happened, but it'll live Renfri in my brain for forevermore.
Killian Ginnity: My favourite bit out of the whole thing, Nate, was apparently when he found out, he says, oh, when I heard the tragic news, I poured myself a brandy. Love it.
Killian Ginnity: That's the stuff.
Nate: Honestly, like that's the most bizarre story I think I've ever heard. Like, I don't understand how it gets to that point, but you know what?
Conor Glennon: Well, that's, yeah, how many hands does it have to go through? Evidently not many um to get to the point.
Killian Ginnity: Well, has to be clear by the ref. The other team have to find out and nobody went, Here, should we sit send a condolence to the wife?
Killian Ginnity: Well, on a story that won't be topped, you shan't even try. Gentlemen, it's been an absolute pleasure, as always. And chat to you next week.
Conor Glennon: Bye-bye.
Nate: Bye. aye
