Fernandes Fires Man United to 6th

20:17First of all, there's a sense of confusion as to what happens next because I think they want to use this next couple of games to buy themselves some time. He's not going to play against Inter. I'm pretty surprised if he figures in the squad against Brighton. I think Liverpool want to kind of keep him away from the team. And then he goes to the African Nations and that gives the club and Salah and his agent the time to work out what to do. but there was definitely a sense of people at the club and around the club being feeling let down by Salah not because of what just what he said I mean Steve will know this but the Liverpool way kept being mentioned to me it's not the Liverpool way to do this it really isn't the Liverpool way it's the modern way it's the way that a lot of players do this now but another thing that was put to me was that Arnie Slott is he's having a difficult time right now but within the club he's really popular he treats people with respect he's honest with people he's straight with people and people feel that Mo Salah's let Arnish Lott down.

21:06Now, just to pick up the point about Salah saying that he wasn't told about this, Arnish Lott has said tonight at his press conference that he sat Salah down twice before the Leeds game to explain. So we have to kind of take both sides of the picture. I'd be amazed if Mo Salah didn't sit Salah down before the first game against West Ham and say, look, you're not playing. But we don't know. Mo Salah said one thing, Arnish Lott may say something else. But, you know, how's it going to end? I think it'll end with Mo Salah going to Saudi Arabia in January. I think, you know, there's a couple of kind of previous incidents that spring to mind.

21:37The first one is Cristiano Ronaldo. He went head-to-head with Man United two or three years ago. They let him go. They cancelled his contract and moved him on. But prior to that, I remember Wayne Rooney had a big situation with Stralics Ferguson at Man United. He wanted to leave Carlos Tevez at Man City, massive bust at Roberto Mancini. But the difference is both Tevez and Rooney were at the peak of their powers at the time, and the club's fought to keep them. Cristiano Ronaldo at United, less so he was a guy that was past his best, And I think Mo Salah has got to that point with Liverpool. I think he's got to the point this season where those stats you showed earlier on, they show it.

22:05His numbers are way, way, way down on what they were last season. That's because, one, he's getting older. He's 34 next year. But also, Luis Diaz isn't doing his running for him anymore. Darwin Nunes isn't doing his running for him anymore because they both left. The tragedy of Diogo Xhota, who was another player that would do the running for Mo Salah. Alexander Eastac has come in and Florian Wurz. They have a different role. They don't play the same way. So the combination of Mo Salah's ageing process and teammates around him being less able or prepared to do the running for him has meant that he's no longer as effective.

22:33So I think ultimately that will decide Liverpool's judgment. They'll let him go.

22:37Dan Thomas:It seems unfathomable to think of a club legend like Mo Salah leaving without saying goodbye properly to the Liverpool fans.

22:48Unfortunately, although we do work with Disney, footballers don't get the chance to write their ending. It's what it is. Sometimes it ends the way you want it to, but very rarely does it end the way you want it to. You know, when you get older as a player, and as good as you've been, regardless of who you are, you don't get to choose when the end comes. And unfortunately, you're right, it doesn't look as though Mohamed Salah is going to get an opportunity. Certainly on the field, he may be able to walk out onto the field after the Brighton game. because I'm with Augie, I think he's gone. And I think he's gone even more so because of what Augie said about the manager actually sat him down twice and told him the reasons.

23:34So the fact that he actually came out and said what he did, having been told twice, is just, again, just ridiculous. Just the wrong thing to do. So, yeah, it's unfortunate. It would be better if he had played, if he had scored, and then he goes off into the sun. but unfortunately as we said you don't get to pick you don't get to pick how you finish at certain clubs to that point little Messi had to leave Barcelona without saying a proper goodbye and if Lionel Messi can leave Barcelona without saying a proper goodbye none of us are exempt from it I'm with everybody on this and I think there are a couple of things this statement from Mo Salah was very self-serving right and I understand that talking about your record at the football club and how much you've done for us and you felt that as a result you you you deserve more fine if you wanted to make this an argument or a popularity contest between you and on a slot stick to that stick to what's happening between you on a slot but from the time you start to bring the club in and listen I've never played for Liverpool but I can tell you you you as a as a player you ask those fans to pick between player and club you're going to lose every single time so maybe he had a chance of making a point if he kept it to this is me and on a slot having a disagreement you ask any fans to pick between two individuals these Liverpool fans you ask them to to go against the club, I'm sorry, that's a losing argument every single time.

25:16The most outrageous thing for me, sorry, Mario, he said was, the line was, after what I've done for this club, that's what makes me angry. That's what makes me angry. He will realise one day that it's the other way around. He will realise one day that all the adulation and all the hero worship and all the money and all the other things. You know why he's got all that? Because he went and played at Liverpool Football Club. And Liverpool coaching staff, fans, other players, along with him, made his career at Liverpool what it was. And that's the one line that really gets right off my nose. All that I've done for the club.

26:01Behave yourself.

26:02Dan Thomas:Mario? Yeah, because you know, like also what I highlighted, that when he came to Chelsea and it didn't work out for him, he goes to Liverpool and he did exactly what Chelsea would have loved to see. You know, someone like him and doing all those things. And it didn't work out. And then now when he came out with this statement, also I'm thinking now, it's not only that he wants to play or does Mo Salah want to leave. That is my question now. Is it that's the reason why he maybe came out? Because he knows what's going to come out of this. He's a very intelligent man. And tactically, he knows when he talks and the way he spoke, it's going to come out.

26:40Remember about the contract when he spoke? People straight away, there was already movement happening on the back scene for him. And now he comes out again, right? The timing is perfect. The African-Asian is going to come. I'm going to play anyway. So if I say something, I'm going to have a journey that I'm going to play. Now we both have to make a decision. I have to make a decision. The club has to make a decision. and maybe these guys, he wants that.

27:06Dan Thomas:Yeah, this is a number of problems that Liverpool have got right now. They were leading 2-0 against Leeds when Ibrahima Kanate conceded a penalty in the 70th minute. Here's how Anis Slott described that situation. Unfortunately for him, he does a lot of things well, but he has been a bit too much on the crime scene and that is something I've heard people saying before in England. So that means that he's been involved in goals we've conceded. But, yeah, if you are a centre-back, that happens in football. Stevie, are you OK with Anastolot saying this publicly? Oh, absolutely not. It seems like he's trying to be clever about it and trying to brush it off.

27:55But actually, he's just made it worse. you know just because I keep saying it just because somebody asks you a question you don't have to answer it tell them what you want them to know all he has to say is well you know I'm sure it was a mistake but I'm sure they'll learn from it I mean how difficult is that not try and be clever and talk about bomb scares and crime scenes and all that try to make it fun there's nothing fun about it and there's nothing fun about it if you're canati because he's just doubling down on them.

28:29Dan Thomas:Mario, you can talk about your fellow Dutchman here. Yeah, but I can talk about my fellow Dutchman. He's not in his best form at the moment, or let's say there's too many responsibilities around him. But what I heard, what Stevie said, it was identical because this question was, they asked me that too. And I literally said that in Holland, we are too detailed with explaining things. When you're in England, you don't talk that much. Because the more you speak, the more bumps you are laying down for yourself. It's not to stop to explain too much. It goes too much into details. And then your team players are going to look at you and say, Coach, are you every day going to drop a bum on me?

29:12Or are you just going to keep it quiet and tell me in the dressing room? Because in the dressing room, I can't handle it.

29:17Dan Thomas:OK, Mark, I want to talk to you about this whole Canate situation and the defender situation at Liverpool right now and what we might be seeing in January. Well, they've got a big problem, haven't they? Because, obviously, the kid Lyon from Italy, he got injured and he's out for, what, the rest of the season, Lyon. So that one's out of the window. So they've got no cover apart from Joe Gomez. Can I say his contract expires at the end of the season? But I don't think there's any prospect of him either signing a contract or actually being handed a contract. So Liverpool need to bring somebody in.

29:47But they've kind of missed the boat with Mark Guaya. Mark Guaya was the guy that they wanted and they failed to do that. Now, Mark Guaya's got options elsewhere. You know, he'll have options in the summer. we discussed this last week, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich are all keen to take him on a free transfer. We know that Chelsea like him, we know that Man City like him. Right now, and I know that Stevie disagrees with me on this, I think Liverpool is a bad move, because you go to Liverpool and you either play alongside Canati, who's out of form, or you play alongside Van Dijk, who is not the player that he was, and you're going into a team where the manager might not be there in four or five weeks.

30:16So for me right now, if I'm Mark Gray, I'm saying thanks, but I'll wait till the end of the season. So beyond that, the options are limited. the options to get a top quality centre-half in January are very thin on the ground, especially one who's as cheap as Gway would be because you're looking at maybe£20,£25 million because of his contract situation. So they've missed the boat there. They've called themselves a big problem.

30:36Dan Thomas:Do you think he still wants to come? You were saying so last week. Well, I'm afraid I've got to say to Augie that I believe I was wrong when we had that conversation. Having had time to think about it, having had time to think about it, I think everything you just said there is probably right. You know. Thank you, Stephen. No. You can't be right all the time. No, he's thanking us, Stephen. I can't be right all the time. Unfortunately, it's not quite as often as I would like. But, yeah, I'm afraid I agree with Augie. When you look at other options, we're talking about bomb scales. I mean, right now, that's kind of what Liverpool is because nobody has any clue what's happening.

31:21Dan Thomas:Well, you took a good weekend off, Stevie. He wishes he was still off for another week. How bad can things still get for them if they don't reinforce Shekka? Oh, no, it can continue to go down. I mean, this is a team that right now is playing with absolutely no confidence, despite them being reigning Premier League champions. You've got a disgruntled Mo Salah. you've got players who are not playing well and going out of contract there's a lot that's just up in the air for Liverpool right now and then to the point who comes in in January to make that significant a change who will want to come to Liverpool kind of give them some of the options that Liverpool Liverpool shops in a certain market and I'm not sure how many of those players change from wherever they are to come to a club that right now on the face of it is not going to be playing Champions League football next season.

32:17Even if you want to, even if you somehow outbid everybody in January for Margehi, which is a desperate need, how willing are Crystal Palace still to let him go in January? Crystal Palace right now is sitting fourth. I know he's still in December. Crystal Palace is sitting fourth. But let's say we get to the end of January and Crystal Palace is still in the top four. Is it worth more to them to keep him and let him go on a free transfer than to take 25 million and risk that Champions League, that Champions League position. So I think Liverpool have just found themselves in a position here where I'm not sure who the players are that comes in that sparks this team, lifts this dressing room and pushes Liverpool to a top four finish.

32:59That player isn't available in some mid-table club.

33:02Dan Thomas:And now they've got Inter to take on in the Champions League. How do you see this game going this week? You think this is going to be a shadow over them? What, another defeat? No, more just like, how much do they step onto the pitch? Like, can they brush this off them, or is this going to be hanging over them? I don't think it'll be hanging over them. I think they did the right thing in not taking Mo Salah. That means everybody who's in Italy will be able to concentrate on the job in hand. I mean, it won't change the fact that Liverpool will struggle on the field, because that's all they've done all season.

33:36So in terms of this actual fixture, then it's hard to see how Liverpool get in and from it. But in terms of not having Mo Salah there, they have a better chance of getting something from it than they would if he was there and sitting on the bench, for example. Because, again, nobody would care about the game. It would all be about Mo Salah sitting on the bench again. So they've done the right thing and leaving him at home. But, unfortunately, I don't believe it will change the outcome of the match.

34:02Dan Thomas:Any thoughts on how it might play out, Mark, this situation, this game against Inter? Well, I think just as an aside, I think it's an important one. Cody Capo's injured. he's out for three or four weeks so you know no Salah for how god knows how long no Cody Gakpo so it puts a lot of pressure on Isak and Verts to finally come good so you know maybe you know maybe this could be the making of Liverpool this season that you know the new boys that came in with the big price tags that it's their time to deliver and they have to deliver without you know more Salah hanging over the shoulder you know they can't turn to Gakpo so you know let's look at a positive and this could be the making of Liverpool it could be the time when you know Isak and Verts start to deliver but I think I think it's a tall order because they still get issues at the back.

34:42But I think Inter away is a very, very tough game. I think Brighton at home, they have to win that game and Brighton have been a bit up and down. But for me, it's all about, can Verts and Isat now finally deliver on what the club expect them to deliver? Oggy, can you just remind me of the positives again? That you were talking about? Well, I'm trying to put a positive... Maybe Verts and Isat will come out of their shell a little bit now that Salah's not available. Maybe, maybe. You can't be negative all the time. can't be negative one time Stevie can't be negative one time Stevie

35:16Dan Thomas:Mark Horton trying to be positive he actually the answer he gave me was what I thought he was going to give me he actually doesn't have an answer for that Mark thank you so much for bringing some sunshine to his day yeah thanks Mark

35:35Steve did say earlier if you can't answer a question don't answer it I just didn't answer it. You got me. That's twice in one show.

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36:46Dan Thomas:Real Madrid, and they are falling behind Barcelona. Four points behind Barcelona as it stands right now. They lost to Celta on Sunday and also had two players sent off in that game. They hadn't lost to Celta at the Bayonabeo since 2006. and six this was their first game back at home in seven a game they were absolutely expected to win and they did not do it and the headlines have let everybody know how things are going marco saying with madrid is lost mundo saying that it's a disaster and they're four points behind ask the day of the beast and unhinged say sport we need to talk much more about what's going on at real madrid right now and so we have rodrigo fires joining us here on the show it's great to have you here Rodrigo.

37:31Dan Thomas:How's it going? Thanks for having me. Yeah very is this your first time when I've seen you? I think so yeah this is my first time here yeah okay. Welcome. You know what that's me? Behave yourself. Things are going bad at Real Madrid. Yeah you know what's going on. What's going on here? Well it's a really tough time for Real Madrid now the moment because I mean last night after that defeat against El Davigo there was a meeting at the Santiago Bernabéu in between Florentino Perez on part of this member board and the thing is that you know when I realized that they were in that meeting I asked them is it 100 % sure that if Real Madrid loses against Manchester City on Wednesday night Xavi Alonso will continue as Real Madrid coach and they told me we cannot short that which is for me the main thing now in Real Madrid because there is a lack of faith in the project there is a lack of faith in so many players that they are really below their normal level and indeed they don't really understand why xavi alonso is being more ancelotti than xavi alonso because in the first part of the season we've seen xavi alonso with new ideas fresher ideas that could come up with and players didn't really understand that and now he's like becoming more italian more carlo ancelotti trying after that chat that he had with the players before Olympiacos match.

38:54He's trying to convince players, OK, if you tell me that we can play better this way, I'm going to say, OK, let's play this way. And that way that he wants to play now is like Carlo Ancelotti last season. And to be honest, this is something that, I mean, it's not working now at the moment at Real Madrid. And that's why the board of Real Madrid, they have so many doubts on the project up to this date.

39:17Dan Thomas:So that's to say he's been more loose with them and letting them decide their roles. Yeah, it is a pity because I was talking to one close source that I have on the locker room and he told me, I mean, we are, I mean, most of the locker room is with, with Xavi Alonso, but part of the players that the locker room are against. But that small part of the locker room that against Xabi Alonso are key players are really important players and they don't really understand Xabi Alonso's tactics. They don't really like the way Xabi Alonso is managing the team and that's why they are now winning that game.

39:53And you know that source that I have in the locker room he was saying that if Xabi is going to be sacked on Wednesday if he loses against Manchester City he has to die with his own ideas. and it's not possible and he couldn't imagine Xavi Alonso losing that game without his own ideas and with some players' ideas.

40:12Dan Thomas:That's some pressure to be going into that game against City, Xhaka, especially because it does seem as though City have turned a corner themselves. It's Pep Guardiola who knows well what it's like to come to this stadium. I mean, just playing under that kind of pressure is not easy for anyone, regardless of the opponent. Just look at yesterday's game as an example. And now you've got Manchester City and all that they aspire to be in not just English but European football. And one of the greatest tacticians in the game today in Prem Guardiola. So this is a huge ask for Xavi Alonso. And even in going back to his whole ideas, to who he is, that significant part of the dressing room, albeit minority in terms of personnel, but significant in terms of their influence, you don't win players over that easily.

40:58when you lose players you kind of lose them for good and that is a concern because there's no way to address that aspect in terms of those players and you can guess who they are and their impacts on the game if they aren't willing to go that extra yard for the course and you worry if it's a losing proposition even from now He's got to be sunk Rodrigo I mean you can't let the inmates run the institution, you just can't And that's what... You're from experience, Steve. I can assure you. You know, as soon as players get a sniff that they can influence you, regardless of where it is, you're sunk. And if you don't die on your own sword by doing it your own way, you're going to feel worse when you eventually get the sack.

41:48Alonso's going to get the sack and think, why did I cave in? Why didn't I follow my own instincts? And the one question I really want to ask here, Rodrigo, Vinny Jr. So the fact that he's turned around, allegedly, and said, I will not sign a contract while Alonso's here. Is that a situation where they don't even talk? They just ignore each other? Well, a Real Madrid board, and when I say Real Madrid board, I say Florentino Pérez. He believes that Xavi Alonso's tactics and decisions are not making this renewal easier for Real Madrid. And they think that as long as Xavi Alonso is on the bench, Benítez Jr.

42:31won't renew his contract to Real Madrid. But that leads us to another question. Is Benítez Jr. now more empowered than Xavi Alonso? Because I was listening to you now when you were talking with Augie about Liverpool, Mo Salah, Arnaz Lodd, and all these things. And I was wondering why in Real Madrid they don't have talking about Xabi Alonso. He doesn't. He's not that back as a coach as Arnest Lott in Liverpool. And for me, that is the key of all. It doesn't matter if we talk about Benicio, if we talk about Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, whoever. It doesn't really mind. This is all about Florentino Perez trusting Xabi Alonso.

43:09If he never trusted Xabi Alonso, why Xabi Alonso doesn't die with his own ideas? Yeah. Agreed. Yeah. You've got to. And as I said, because things have already gone south. And from what Rodrigo's telling us, it's not changing. It ain't going the other way again. Because once players, as I said, get a smell of how they can influence not just you, but influence other people in the dressing room to follow them, and then all of a sudden, the snowball starts and you can't stop the snowball once it gets going.

43:43Dan Thomas:It feels like that with the injuries at the moment. It feels that's a snowball. that they just keep adding to that obviously we saw Militao having to come off at the weekend taking a look at the list here for those injuries this not helping the situation whatsoever Rodri and all of them on defense which is the worst thing of all it makes Xabi Alonso's task even more difficult because Trent Alexander Arnold we know he's going to be out till maybe late January first of February and the bad thing of all is Edher Militao after what happened last night he has been undergoing some tests this morning and at least is going to be out for two months and depending on his going on surgery is going to be up to four months out of the field which is for me the key player of the defense because if Edher Militao is in shape he could be I don't know if the best defender in the world but at least one of the three best defenders in the world and that makes Xavi Alonso thinking again and again and again and again he's uh missing a lot Danny Carvajal, not because Trent Alexander-Arnold is good or bad for Real Madrid, but for the leadership that I think is something needed on that locker room.

44:47There is a lack of leadership and there is a lack of defenders too at the same time that when you mix all together, let's do what's happening in Real Madrid at the moment.

44:57Dan Thomas:What's your prediction for this Champions League game against City? It's a hard one because, you know, I really like the way Guardiola coaches, but at the same time, you know, I'm in love with Xavi Alonso, but I think that Xavi Alonso is going going to struggle and I think that we're a deal is going to win oh wow I think so and will that be Alonso going do you think I think so yeah wow wow Jack um yeah it's it's it's hard to disagree I just feel that um Real Madrid are broken right now and I don't know how you fix that given the issues I don't multi-point I don't know how Xavi Alonso fix that in three days or whatever it is And that's the issue here.

45:37That's the challenge here. Up against a City team who are, I don't think, back to their best of two years ago, but are certainly as good as we've seen them since. Stevie? I thought things were bad at Liverpool. Seems Real Madrid are not doing too well either.

45:55Dan Thomas:They're second in the table. They won the Clasico this season. But the history of Real Madrid... The history of Real Madrid is you are, see you later I don't care, if we're second second isn't any good if you're Real Madrid not any good so thanks for coming well we'll find out we'll of course be here to look back on how all that plays out thanks so much for being with us thanks for having me you're welcome back anytime especially in one of their seats I'll go home we will be safe today with everything that goes on with Real Madrid we'll be following that game and the weekend's game when they are back in action against Alaves on Sunday.

46:38Dan Thomas:What will the story be then? Who will be in charge? Find out by watching us on ESPN+. That was a big day for Milan. Christian Pulisic came on at half-time, had the flu and scored a second-half brace to win the game for his side. What a trooper. It was his Michael Jordan flu game, apparently, for Milan. Well, I'm sure they'll be talking a lot about that on Football Americas. He's just given them plenty. to this bus. Hercules Gomez is all over it. He's been on Twitter and everything. No one checker. No. Ali and Christina having a chance for this one. I am one of Mochanui. On July 10th. Maui, you will board my boat and restore the heart of Te Fiti.

47:24And here we go. The journey begins. See her light up the night in the sea. She calls me. The ocean chose you. Let's go save the world. I got your back chosen one. Disney's Moana.

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48:18Dan Thomas:Please stick around. Mario, Stevie, we'll be with you for extra time, which is coming up next, and we'll discuss my roots over there.

48:31Dan Thomas:I've been a quarter Scottish sometimes. I've told you this before. So many questions. My granddad's from Asher, my last name's Murray, I've even got my own tartan, I'm a quarter Scottish. My last name's Nicol, that's French. I'm not a quarter French. I've heard you're honking on. Although, in a strange quack of flate, Frank and I got them very well. Maybe that's why. Have you ever said hello to Frank without saying hee-ho-hee-ho? No. I didn't think so. No. Mario's with us too. Here we go. Stevie, as you can imagine, in your bones. There's a lot of questions about Liverpool tonight, so let's get started, Stevie.

49:16Dan Thomas:When you played at Liverpool, did you have any teammates go through a similar situation as Salah? Listen, there are plenty of people who get dropped. and at Liverpool there's some big names big personalities but I'll tell you what there wasn't one of them did what Mo Salah did because they all knew what the outcome would be the club wins every time the club wins every time and the club has to win every single time they can't have they can't have players in charge of anything you know unless they're on the field to play with a ball at their feet, then they're in charge. But other than that, no chance.

50:00And anybody who wasn't happy at not playing and would create were gone. Absolutely gone.

50:08Dan Thomas:We talked about this on Gab and Jules today. It was Nadam and Jules. Do you remember any situations like this, Shaka, with teammates? No, no. You obviously didn't do this, did you, Shaka? Me? No. Mario, do you remember anything similar?

50:25No, but I know that if you try to go against the club, they definitely come for you. We had it at Ajax, I had the two brothers, the Boer. They went on strike because they wanted to leave. And the club was holding them, they were kind of turning their arms behind their back. So the guys went on strike and then later on they came back in the team, they played and eventually at the end of the season they left. But it wasn't easy in the team.

50:48Dan Thomas:Stevie, if Salah did this in your era, what would the reaction be in the locker room? I would have been told by everybody regardless of whether he was one of the he's one of the senior players now but if one of the senior players had done that in the time in the locker rooms I was in in the 80s he would have got it both barrels both barrels and it may you know I'm saying we're gone if there wasn't an instant change then you would be gone you know it's not it's not a straight out the door but if there's no if there's no humbleness no apology no really showing that actually you understand how big a mistake you made if you show all these things then there is a second chance but if there's none of that then you're out the door do you think anyone in this current dressing room would be a big enough character or name to stand up to him and say something Alison, I'm going to throw in that name I don't see anybody else Not in terms of Yeah, because Alison said something similar tonight in the press conference and he'll have a private chat with him Not in terms of that Don't do that I don't see that I don't see that from any, if many, today but that's what would have happened certainly in the 80s Has Amarim genuinely improved any players at his time at Manchester United?

52:27Got to improve Mithra's goalkeeper, that's for sure. Ahmad? Ahmad? Ahmad has improved. And, you know, during the show we're discussing Africa Cup of Nations, I think he'll be the biggest miss for Manchester United. Out of the three that they have, Madness. Nobody has his skill set. I think the thing that Ahmad does, and I know this is not the question, Ahmad is the only player in that dressing room who gets the ball at his feet and runs at defences. Nobody else does. There are a lot of good passers, but nobody would just take defenders on one-on-one. So I think his skill set would be the most missed.

53:08In terms of players improving... Can't think of any of the other ones, can you? No, not really. No. Maybe there is one. Maybe I think De Ligt started to play better than when I saw when he started. Yeah, I'll give it up. He's kind of picked it up a little bit. Quarter, quarter Dutch. He's a quarter Dutch. Speaking of Dutch.

53:35Dan Thomas:The next question is about the World Cup group draw, Mario. What have you made for your Netherlands?

53:44I know Japan, what's the other one? I don't know all of them, but we talked about it. Look, one of the key things what I will say about the World Cup, this is the key thing. What is going to be really crucial for us to get to the next round is that play for business. Do the business. Don't always try to play the most beautiful ceremony and everybody is loving it. We already bring in one of the greatest fan group because everything is going to be, a lot of parts is going to be orange. But fight on the field and make it business. And don't always try to go and entertain everybody that says, oh, you play so beautiful.

54:22Don't worry about that. Win.

54:25Dan Thomas:Japan, Tunisia and then obviously TBD. It's one of the players. And they're going to crash out. Oh, that's not a can. Cassidy is just getting on to that group personally. You've got to get through in that group.

55:05Look at that man. Yeah, you know, and then write something, you know, like nice as he walks. You know, really proud. And it's a good thing. Add an orange shirt. Looks good. Looks good. Very nice colours. Okay? You're a bit of a mongrel, really. Don't worry. You'll be fine.

55:22Dan Thomas:Gab Marcotti was trying to make a case for if Italy don't make it, maybe they should just follow Scotland because of the Scottish players playing in Serie A right now. He also has a Scottish wife, so I think that... Remember when in 2006 Scotland did qualify, but we had a player named Jason Scotland in our squad. That was so much fun. Scotland, where did the World Cup then? That was the whole thing. It was so good. It was so much fun. I'd love to slaughter Gab, but... Actually correct. Yeah, it's funny. But although Craig accepted Gab, but he didn't accept me even though my grandad's Scottish.

55:58Dan Thomas:He said that the Scots don't accept me. Do you accept me, Stevie? Please, please. What part are you? The quarter part of the year. Is that your feet? Your hair? What are we talking about? What are we talking about? Stevie, Stevie, you just ask her if she eats the breakfast like the way you eat it. That's what you need to figure out. Let's see if she likes what Stevie likes. I like a bit of square sausage. It's all about the square sausage in Scotland, isn't it? You've got to down a whole haggis. If you can sing, there's a moose loose about this horse, then you're Scottish. What's the moose loose about this house?

56:35Dan Thomas:Nope. What's that? Sorry, OK. What country was that? Boy. I'll eat a fried Mars bar. You're from Tasmanistan or something like that. It's Donald Wagey Trooses. What? Can somebody translate that for me? All right. Oh, boy. Last question for the actual, genuine, real borough part of me, where I was actually born. Oh, there's another bit of you. Kate, why do you think Rob Edwards left Borough for Wolves? And what, if anything, will this mean for your team? He left Borough for Wolves because his family are down there and he has a connection with the club. You don't seem overly thrilled about any of this.

57:20Dan Thomas:Well, I wasn't at the time, but things have turned out all right since he's left and we are winning under our new coach. So I think it's turning out OK so far. Thank you very much. You're not bitter. Best of luck, Rob. Oh boy! Oh boy, that was a... Keep going. All I'm saying is he came into our club, he didn't have to talk about team unity and this is a dream come true and then leave us as soon as the first club came knocking. Just a few months in. No classics. You know what? We're better off without you, Rob. So far, anyway. Long may it continue. Jilted. But I'm not bitter. I really don't mind So when was the last time you've been to the game Kate?

58:05Dan Thomas:When's the last time you've been there Kate? It's been too long I haven't been home to the North East since 2017 Wow I was just after you went to watch Holland play You're more Dutch than Bara at this point I'll be back soon though Hopefully in 2026 after the World Cup hopefully for the promotion party. All right, okay, good luck. Without Rob Edwards. Thanks so much for sending in your questions, everybody. We will be back tomorrow to do it all over again.

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