Communicado Official: Antonio Gordón

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4:26Luke Moore: Hello, everybody. It's a terrific Tuesday here at the Football Ramble. And in the kingdom. Well, I would say so, Luke. The World Cup year kingdom. World Cup year. World Cup year. World Cup year. World Cup month. Yeah, World Cup month now. And it'll be soon World Cup week. It will. It will. Bloody Norah. I hope it's got to last longer than a week. And then World Cup wank, and then we're away. You can't go into a World Cup with a loaded gun. What a World Cup shame.

4:55Marcus Speller: Especially not over there. No. Actually, they love it over there. They do, yeah, they do.

4:59Luke Moore: But at the end of the tournament… You've got a license for it. I haven't seen anyone before. He'll be the man with the golden gun after the end of the tournament.

5:04Marcus Speller: I thought you were an open carry state.

5:08Luke Moore: Just cop-shrin' it around.

5:13many apologies to assistant producer Lauren there

5:15Luke Moore: get to the chopper not that one right okay here we are there is a bit of club football we need to get out of the way that's what we're doing today everybody I'll tell you what please listen what a ringing endorsement to loonists everywhere everything you're about to hear we've got to get out of the way so it's going to hurt us more than it's going to hurt you please subscribe bear with us we just like to pay us for this stuff we're not interested in and like other shows

5:37Marcus Speller: we start with the admin yeah we do

5:39Luke Moore: we do indeed we do indeed I tell you what though the admin's done Anthony Gordon is a Barcelona player Antonio Gordon they'll be calling him they will see I mean this says more about my inbuilt bias than anything else and I'm happy to take that on the chin shouldn't be doing it before a world cup no well that's it's treacherous behavior this is a world cup Anthony Gordon exactly seeing Anthony Gordon speak Spanish it was like walking down the street and just hearing a dog talk yeah it was like it just looks weird

6:09Marcus Speller: it was AI wasn't it it was claw it was AI Anthony Claude. Anthony Claude. Cool, there we go.

6:15Jim Campbell: When he was linked to Bayern Munich, I was quite excited about hearing him speak German in a Scouse accent. I did not realise he was prepared to give me that in Spanish because it's still very, very Scouse. It's amazing. He said he learned it because he knew one day he was going to play for Barcelona. Can that be true? Because if it is, it's genuinely very impressive. He's Trented us.

6:34Luke Moore: He's Trented us.

6:36Jim Campbell: The actual quote is odd, right? He says, I wanted to speak Spanish because as a kid, I believed I would play football for Barcelona. I have a physio in Newcastle and we spoke every day and I told him, one day I'll play for Barca so I want to learn Spanish, which to me makes it sound like he's forced the physio to learn Spanish and then teach it to him. He doesn't even mention the physio is Spanish or not.

6:58Luke Moore: How much do you want me as a client? Is the physio the Duolingo owl? What's the physio's name, Steve? Well, he's done it. He spoke very good Spanish. I mean, we're so crap in this country. speaks very good Spanish from what I heard. Was it Steve McManaman Spanish, would you say? Oh, yeah. But the fact is, we're like, oh, get a load of him. Because the chat about Steve McManaman, I hope I'm not putting words in Andy Brassel. Well, fuck it, it's not the first time. Brassel said that McManaman Spanish isn't actually that good. Oh, what does Brassel know? He repeats a lot of it and it's not, it's actually, we're easily impressed by it.

7:33Luke Moore: So does he start with it at the end of the day? That kind of stuff. Spanish every time.

7:37Marcus Speller: Well, it was one of the things that they said about Jonathan Woodgate despite the fact he didn't have a brilliant time at Real Madrid. He threw himself into it, right? Yeah, yeah. He got injured doing that. He had loads of time off because he was always suspended and injured.

7:50Luke Moore: Bien. It's the afternoon, you have to rest. He made the most of it. But look, Gordon's there. Was his Spanish speaking, was it good Spanish, was it? Yeah, from what I understood from my survival Spanish, I thought it was muy bien. No, genuinely, I think he... Which means not bad in English. Bien. Bien, bien, bien.

8:09Marcus Speller: It's bien, isn't it? It's bien. It's absolute, it's absolute dad bien. It's ballet. It's ballet, isn't it? It is.

8:17Luke Moore: It's ballet. Yeah, but what was also good was when he went outside he was signing autographs and he spoke a few words in Catalan as well. I thought, oh, that's lovely. Lovely flex. That's lovely. It's a lovely flex. Yeah, but look, he did well. I mean, from what he was saying, he was kind of like, we're analysing his language skills, not the football.

8:34Marcus Speller: I think it's right to be, I think it's right that we are impressed around this table at the fact that he gave a foreign language

8:40Luke Moore: but it is indicative of how we are but fine

8:44Marcus Speller: we are the main language we're the original language

8:48Jim Campbell: I think you have to give him credit for the bible

8:53Luke Moore: he's John the Baptist he wasn't João the Baptist he wasn't Julio Baptiste was he

9:01Marcus Speller: imagine if he was Juan the Baptist

9:04Luke Moore: sorry carry on Jim, not John God didn't say let there be loose did he

9:13Jim Campbell: Jim Campbell I just think he does actually deserve a lot of credit for having that much about him he doesn't know he's going to get a move to Barcelona he doesn't have to do it he doesn't have to do it he's just prepared for that I think that's really impressive

9:24Luke Moore: it is yeah I agree with you Jim and it was just as well they're going to love that straight away of course they are that he goes in there and I think that's part of the point as well making the effort unless you're in France well they hate it if you make if you make no they do they hate it if you try not true places like Germany and Spain if you go well in Germany

9:45Marcus Speller: you can get their attention exactly true actually yeah absolutely

9:48Luke Moore: it's a World Cup month it really is a World Cup year isn't it Jim it's been mild up it's true yeah my point the point I'm making is that even if it was shit yes they probably still would appreciate it exactly yeah no you're right enough yeah even you know like when Joey Barton had a go in French they loved it didn't they like when you come to Portsmouth that you come to Fratton Park, you might not hate Isis, but stand up if you hate him anyway. And you bind yourself with the local culture. That is one of the greatest things that's ever happened in English football. But we must move on from it and say that Anthony Gordon is a Barcelona player.

10:21Luke Moore: Much has been made of this move, of course, because it's a huge move for him. He's not had a brilliant season. He's been very good in the Champions League, which apparently caught the eye of the owners at Barcelona. Marcus Rashford has been there and is playing in basically the position you would think Gordon would be gunning for the most on that left wing. He can play across the front line. But he can't speak Spanish. Well, that we know of. I don't think he can. But Vish, what do you think of this? Because some people are saying, why on earth did they not just stick with Rashford? And we've spoken a little bit about it before.

10:49Luke Moore: Other than presumably being pleased for Anthony Gordon, how does he go there and make a splash?

10:56Marcus Speller: How does Gordon go there and make a splash?

10:58Luke Moore: Yeah.

10:58Marcus Speller: Well, I mean, he's younger than Rashford. He's got more years ahead of him. I think he's shown himself to be quite Dexterous in that front three I think he can play all across it

11:07Luke Moore: What great better than Rashford you might say?

11:10Marcus Speller: I mean 100 % yeah He properly like He seems He's a very classy wide player But you know with Anthony Gordon The only way I know how to put this is that You know he's got elbows He does like the physicality of it I think he is comfortable Also playing with his back to goal I can't imagine he's necessarily going to be doing as much of that as he did at Newcastle, per se. But I mean, I think there's a lot to like with this. Obviously, I feel bad for Rashford because it felt like that was quite a sweet little deal for him. But they're actually probably getting more of a starter in Gordon than they would be with Rashford.

11:45I do agree with that point. It's an interesting point because Brasso was on the old OTC Insta saying that, you know, they should have gone for Rashford instead, basically.

11:52Luke Moore: Cheaper. Well, but Rashford is, presumably his wage demands are massive. But Rashford reportedly was willing to take a wage cut. He was, okay. To stay there. I quite like the Gordon move I think for some of the reasons Vicious said but I also think the thing he didn't lean into which I think I would if I were you is saying he can play through the middle he plays through the middle and he's looked pretty good playing through the middle Rashford can do that as well but you're right he hasn't that for age he doesn't actually see him as much as you think a little bit more than you might think if you look at the stats actually because I take your points hang on Vicious a World Cup year and he's English and his name's Marcus and his name's Marcus do you want to reset that he probably can play through the middle pretty well actually No, look, I think all round, all things considered, Gordon is a better player than Rashford.

12:33Luke Moore: I think his ceiling's higher as well. I like Rashford. I like what he's done with Barcelona. He's not been great. He's been a more bit part player, but he's played that role. He's played that role well though, right? Yeah, he has. He couldn't really have done more. Yeah, but I don't think that if you have an injury to Rafinha, say, or even Jamal the other side or whatever, I think Rashford coming in, I think is fine. but if you're talking this is a quarterfinal of a Champions League or something like that I think they're probably looking well they evidently are looking for somebody who can give that little bit more I suspect Gordon will start for England in the summer and I think Rashford is that impact and I think Barcelona would like to keep Rashford but there is that chat of well hang on a minute how much money can we throw at one particular area of the pitch with wages I mean it is Barcelona so hey they're pushing Lewandowski on so that's probably why they find that money and also they don't know how basic maths work so they probably will just chuck a load of money.

13:28Get another economic lever in there. You're away.

13:30Marcus Speller: Exactly, yeah. Did you see Jordi Cruyff... Lovely to hear his name. Is he involved? Was on another podcast talking about why so many big teams in Europe spend money on English players, are more willing to spend money on English players now. Because we're better. Well, because they hold their value. Because they want to go back to the Premier League. So he gave an example of when Barcelona were looking at signing left-footed wide player and it was between Rafinha and Anthony who is currently at Ajax and they went for Rafinha because not only did they think he was a better player but he would hold his value because people had already seen the Premier League what he did at Leeds and therefore his stock is still going to it's going to hold there to a certain point there'll be I suppose a flaw to what people think of him so I suppose with Gordon as well if it doesn't work out there'll be a few teams that would be willing to take him back on in the Premier League gear.

14:26Jim Campbell: I suppose the interest from Bayern Munich is a different version of that, isn't it? Because they are another club who can spend a lot of money in that same sort of way that the Premier League clubs do. I have been a little bit surprised by the reaction to the fee. A lot of people saying it's crazy money for him, but it just feels in line for a wide player of his age and with his output.

14:47Luke Moore: It's around 69 million boys. Yeah, I think people are

14:49Jim Campbell: looking at the Euro sign rather than the pound sign. We've all done that at the airport. Indeed, sadly quite similar since Brexit. But the chat would be that he had a long contract at Newcastle. That would be part of it. And I mean, yeah, I suppose, I mean, he didn't have a brilliant season. No, no, he didn't.

15:07Luke Moore: But I mean, his return was quite good, wasn't it?

15:10Jim Campbell: But he scored a lot of goals in the Champions League.

15:11Luke Moore: Yeah, there's not many Newcastle United fans who will be that sad to see him go. And I think some of them are surprised he's going to Barcelona for that fee. Now, let's be honest, when Rashford went there on loan, you remember when he came out and said, I'd like to go to Barcelona. and I, you know, to quote myself, I went, well, I'm sure you bloody would, mate. You know, thinking, it's a bit of a tall one, that, but he's gone there and he's done pretty well. He's won a league title. He got a goal in the Clasico as well. Gordon, though, his performances in the Champions League have turned their heads and it is that.

15:40Luke Moore: Barcelona have won the league. What, back to back now? Real Madrid are poor at the moment and Real Madrid may well be poor next season. I know the Real Madrid team can never... Doubtful, given their new coach. True. More on that. Yeah, exactly. They may go unbeaten in the season, but they'll rack up the draws. But it's really, what have Barcelona done in the Champions League of late? Not that much. For a club that size with that tradition, not done that much and they want to get back there. And so you've got to really start to think about the squad, start almost like, not stockpiling, you know, that's a bit over the top.

16:11Luke Moore: But you've got to have a very, very good squad and players who can come on and contribute all over the place. Because it is a lot of football to be played. You know, Rafinha is brilliant but he's no spring chicken. He's old, but you know, He's not as young as, say, Jamal. And obviously Lewandowski moving on as well. I think Gordon, I think it's a good signing from them, to be quite frank. And also the fact is that the contract is spread over, what, five years? That does, you know, I forget who was saying it. It may well have been Brasel himself. We're saying that sort of reduces the cost slightly as it goes.

16:42Luke Moore: I think it's an exciting move. I think it's a really exciting move and I'm really pleased for him as well. And also Gordon is quite, he comes across as often quite a deep thinking, quite, you know, well-rounded lad when you hear him talking about the game and some of his preparation and so on and so forth. So if you hear some of his previous interviews, it's not actually a huge surprise that he's got a very good grasp, maybe even fluent, we'll find out soon, of another language. And actually, you would back him to kind of get in there and fit in because it's not easy moving from, you know, one country to another.

17:10Luke Moore: You know, you're not playing fantasy football. So I think it's great. And I think as well, it doesn't half, again, back to the big picture, it doesn't half give him a spring in his step going into the World Cup. That's done. It's not hanging over him. It's done. Yes, Viss. One question we've got to answer, though, we haven't answered yet. Yeah. Is he a rat for going there? No, I don't think he is. Is he a rat, Jim? No. He was a rat for going to Newcastle, wasn't he? Isn't every player that leaves a club a rat? Particularly in that part of the world. Oh, Jesus. Wait, he was a rat when he left Everton and went to Newcastle.

17:40Wasn't he? Everyone was calling him a rat. Saying Newcastle's not as big a club as Everton. Would he have been a rat?

17:44Marcus Speller: Trent V. Gordon in El Clasico. Nah, you're talking.

17:47Luke Moore: Would he have been a rat if he'd gone to Liverpool? That would have been the big question. he's a Liverpool fan

17:52Marcus Speller: isn't he he would be the rat going to a bigger ship though wouldn't he

17:56Luke Moore: get involved exactly get involved there we are oh his scout's not English doesn't matter yeah exactly they're fine the Gordon move was on the cards Arsenal have been sniffing around him so Bayern had real interest Liverpool Liverpool indeed it was a big club and Barcelona came in people like what they see he's clearly got a high ceiling he can clearly go and go and go and despite the fact that he's because some would say the Everton to Newcastle move is a sideways move right Newcastle are a big club but Everton are a big club and the reason he was going to Newcastle was probably for a lot more money because of the ownership situation and because at the time Everton probably needed to move someone on and homegrown player all the rest of it

18:33Jim Campbell: and the up-to-day trajectory of Newcastle at the time as well it's not just that Barcelona wanted him it's Bayern it's Liverpool clearly everyone all the people all the boffins all the boffins with their data set they're going this kid's got it so let's see if he has

18:46Luke Moore: yes absolutely right and he will be playing in the same league that Jose Mourinho will be operating in as well.

18:53Jim Campbell: This is a remark.

18:54Luke Moore: This is so good. We didn't even dare to dream.

18:57Jim Campbell: This was already amazing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We were happy with just the link, Jim. We were.

19:01Luke Moore: But there's a detail in this that is just spectacular. So Jose Mourinho has signed a three-year contract to become Real Madrid's new head coach. Three years. Three years, Jim.

19:11Jim Campbell: Have they not erred? The lifespan is much shorter than that now. That's cost them a year and a half of a contract at least. Jim, 15 years ago

19:19Luke Moore: we were questioning 18 years ago he will not be officially unveiled until after the club's presidential election which is due to take place on the 7th of June because his contract will only be valid if current president Florentino Perez is re-elected what?

19:38Jim Campbell: that is I love that club they are absolutely it's spectacular it's just it's Jose out there campaigning like knocking on doors yes

19:46Marcus Speller: but surely though because Perez is obviously I realised because obviously the proviso in that, what does that mean for Mourinho's deal with the devil? I think this is it isn't it? That's a rolling contract

19:59Luke Moore: I think we can say that's eternal but with Perez obviously he gave that extraordinary press conference I forget a week or two ago whenever it was, where he came out fighting and he was ranting away and he said we're going to have another election and he didn't even give any details the election is happening he's obviously incredibly confident he's going to win that election and you know Mourinho's on the ticket as well it would appear so I mean is that not a because surely if we can't believe our luck that Mourinho looks like he's going to be Real Madrid manager surely our feelings should be counterbalanced by an awful lot of people at that club thinking that they don't want it to happen

20:41Marcus Speller: but do you not think this is the product of of how you know insane they've been behind the scenes well it must be the way the way Perez sees it the way other people at Real Madrid see it is that they need someone like Mourinho there to almost right if they're all going to be shouting we'll just bring in a bloke who shouts louder yeah

20:59Jim Campbell: and also I think there is an element of this being another kind of Galactico era team in which it would be useful for Real Madrid for the biggest star to be Mourinho which even now will be the case and it might help sort of manage that and soften it. And you were talking there about the boffins, Luke, identifying Anthony Gordon as someone who's got a lot about him based on the data. This is all down to a feeling. They need boffins. Florentino Perez has had a feeling

21:26Luke Moore: and this is where it's ended. They need boffins there. Yeah, instead they've got chads. But my take, so... Yeah. I don't... Giga chads. I don't understand... Remember, I don't understand Madrid well enough. That's probably true. But Real Madrid are always going to command like huge revenue I think they generate more revenue than another team maybe even in football at least or they're definitely up there and it's a feeling that they can probably go and get any manager they want right

21:56Jim Campbell: oh yeah and they've also got this I also was reading a few days ago because I read some link off some article that they went second year in a row without winning anything and it's like okay well they're not that kind of worried about it because they've got a load of really good young players coming through and all the rest of it like I'm not sure Mourinho is the guy to be helping you develop another team. It hates young players. Yeah, exactly. And so, they actually want to do this. They want to do this. And I'm assuming here, there's a lot of assumption by me, but I'm assuming that Florentino Perez, it's going to be a cakewalk for him to be re-elected.

22:29He's just grandstanding or whatever.

22:31Jim Campbell: Although, someone is standing against him. Yeah, but they have to do that anyway. Yeah, but I don't know that that's true. I think he's run unopposed a few times. Has he really? Okay, fine. It just seems very, very odd. And I don't understand where the motivation for it comes from because Mourinho has gone from, to use a thick of it quote, the man people love to hate to the man people just hate. And it's felt like, hasn't it? And I think he's been amazing. He's been amazing for us. He's been amazing for the game. He's won incredible things. That 2010 season is right up there. Genuinely, he's right up there with what he did with Inter.

23:06But there's been a feeling, hasn't there, not just with us, but generally, that he's been circling the drain for ages. and the big chat has been it's international football next right he went to Portugal that kind of makes sense he is Portuguese had some of his best years there he kind of established himself there he went to the big Turkish club fine they're always going to want a manager of that kind of profile where's he going to go next and we would joke oh maybe Newcastle will do it they're not going to do it because they're not that stupid

23:28Marcus Speller: we speculated Rangers earlier this season there you go so that or I don't know what the situation is with the Portuguese national manager when that's going to come up that'll be his next one biggest club in the world

23:38Luke Moore: I mean this is This is remarkable. Do you not think, though...

23:41Marcus Speller: Imagine what it's going to do to his ego. Impossible to imagine. I was about to say.

23:46Luke Moore: But do you not think, though, that they're hoping that the result is what they got with Ancelotti? Because it was a surprise Ancelotti went back there. And Ancelotti obviously then... But I don't... Are they very different men? I get that. I don't think there's anything to suggest it will be that. Of course, but that's what they're hoping. There must be. Yeah, but if they're hoping that, then... They're deluded. Yeah, because Ancelotti is basically the anathema to Mourinho. Ancelotti is the kind of, I'll get a dressing room full of massive... So take, for example, the Vinicius Junior Mbappé situation, right?

24:11The talk is, you know, it's really hard to get them both playing well together and both firing. And when one's doing really well, the other one's chipping off and vice versa. Then you factor in that Mourinho had a massive flashpoint with Vinicius Junior.

24:24Luke Moore: Yeah, that makes it a bit more awkward, doesn't it? Because of that Benfica thing, right? And Mourinho basically disgraced himself with his comments on that. And he's got to walk into that dressing room. Ancelotti, as we know, is the kind of the player whisperer. get everyone together let's all get a cigar on and have a lovely old time yeah they all have photos

24:41Marcus Speller: of smoking a cigar with Ancelotti exactly so they're going to get cigar burns with Mourinho yeah it's really hard to fathom what they've done it it is really weird yeah are you glad I'm delighted absolutely delighted

24:54Jim Campbell: but we're all looking forward to seeing how this plays out right we all want to see what Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid in 2026 looks like Cloverfield yeah it's all going to be done on fucking video game first person I also really want to see what happens if Perez doesn't win the election I know what you mean

25:12Luke Moore: what happens then yeah I'd like to I want to see both I know what you mean yeah god how pissed off Mourinho will be he'll still end up there he'll find a way they'll they'll do a

25:21Marcus Speller: January 6th I was about to say they will storm the Bernabeu

25:26Luke Moore: that's what will happen yeah damn right that's immediately what I thought of Mourinho's gonna take the social media and say you better fight or you're not gonna have a club anymore yeah He's going to get right in there.

25:37Marcus Speller: Mourinho with some horns. Waiting for the Madrid flag.

25:45Luke Moore: Where's Pep Guardiola? Where's Pep Guardiola? Get into his office. Put your shit on his desk. I don't know if he did that or not. Guardiola comes out with a comment, I didn't understand.

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30:45in football you've worked with and alongside some of the biggest names in the game some of the biggest coaches you've come up against as well who's been your biggest influence in your coaching career i think myself we've had an email uh from a listener a listener called mo

31:03Luke Moore: who said, hi guys, I think you're going to enjoy this one boys. Hi guys, I'm a relatively new football fan here in the States. I only started listening last season. How would you explain to someone like me what the hell happened to Jose Mourinho? How did he go from being the best manager in the world to a bit of a washed up celebrity? So when

31:19Marcus Speller: did he send that question in? Because already it's out of date.

31:242015. We're sure on the inbox. First of all, great to hear new football fans getting involved. That's amazing. So welcome.

31:32Luke Moore: Yo Mo. yeah exactly you're very welcome here I would say that washed up celebrity is probably harsh yeah but I do take the point you get the energy yeah yeah I get the energy but the answer in short I mean these guys might have another take but my answer to you directly in short is that he pissed off every single person in the sport yeah

31:52Jim Campbell: I mean that is without acceptance that's the headline isn't it if you drill down into it Marco Matarazzi aside yeah yeah yeah and Latani Brahimovic always loved him as well so but that in itself if it's those two that tells its own story absolutely right three islands Rocksteady and Bebop who respect each other massively massively so I mean essentially lovely reference that's great

32:13Luke Moore: that's very good

32:14Jim Campbell: his management style just became unmanageable over initially a three year period where he would isolate everybody at the club he would expect too much of them those relationships would turn sour the third season would always be a bit of a disaster he'd have enough currency and enough quality as a manager to move on to another club where the same thing would happen again. Over time, the game shifted and his methods became a little bit less effective. And essentially, as Luke alluded to earlier, he sort of circled the drain in terms of the types of club he was taking over to and it was kind of slipping a little bit.

32:46Jim Campbell: And now he's quite inexplicably back at the top. And to put in a little bit more detail on that,

32:50Luke Moore: I think that, yeah, I agree with that. I think the type of, I think society's moved on and the type of characters that footballers are now. Yeah, players have changed a lot too. That's absolutely a factor. And that's not a dig at players. I just think, you know, that's just the way it is. And I think that Mourinho's style was very much of yesteryear in that, you know, he would berate players. He would ignore them. He would treat them. Remember what he said to Mkhitaryan? Go on. We did it on the show, didn't we? You could text him at night saying, leave the club. Leave so I can sign Alexis Sanchez.

33:24Luke Moore: I want to sign Alexis Sanchez. Leave. But these sort of mind games he would play with players. You know, John Terry, who still has an enormous amount of affection for Mourinho said that, you know, he would just message him out of the blue going, oh, hi, what are you up to, John? And he'd be like, oh, yeah, I'm watching such and such. He goes, oh, it's good, isn't it? Yeah, no, no, no. Oh, yeah, no, really. And he would say, oh, he likes me. He's asking about my evening and suddenly Mourinho just wouldn't reply. And that was it. You know, he was struck up. Welcome to the dating world in 1999. No, but it's these weird sort of mind games you would play with these players.

33:51Luke Moore: Almost like treat him mean to keep him keen almost. It was a bit like that. And I think that that kind of approach, for better or for worse, and again, I'm not getting into that, has kind of gone a bit. I think it's more than that. I think that's part of it though. Yeah, but it is part of it, but ultimately, you could probably trace it back to when he was at Real Madrid the first time, and then from there, basically, you are, as a player, or as a pundit, or as an owner, or whatever, fan, you're able to forgive what you're able to forgive, because he would hoover up trophies. Yeah. And he came into Madrid in opposition to Guardiola.

34:25Yeah, yeah, yeah. And obviously he won that league title with 100 points or whatever. Very impressive. I know Guardiola did it straight after, but Murillo did it. And so the poking in the eye of Tito Villanova, the kind of behaviour, the anti-Guardiola, the anti-aesthetic kind of football.

34:38Luke Moore: Also the anti-Real Madrid, they see themselves as the good guys. This is how you play football. It's why they wear white. Yeah, it is. But with him, it's the old saying, you want to dance with the devil, often enough, sooner or later he'll follow you home. And he ran out of trophies. He's not winning stuff. But he had a flicker, though, because he then goes to Chelsea. I mean, I don't want to do the whole career, but again, a bit of that magic was there in which he won them that Premier League title. But he had some battle-hardy bastards in that team. And then what happens is the next year, it just completely goes.

35:13Luke Moore: And it really spectacularly went, and then he goes to another few Premier League clubs. And yeah, okay, Manchester United, in hindsight, perhaps it was a little better than we think. It was only really in the last five years or so, I mean, Tottenham Hotspur, what on earth was that all about? But again, maybe that looks less bad on him considering all the managers that have had a go there largely since. At Roma, he got them going a bit, but it was that level down and the whole club needed to be in his image. That's what I'm saying. He won a trophy there. He was circling the drain. Sure. And then Fenerbahce and then Benfica.

35:46Luke Moore: How on earth to go all the way back, Mo? He ended up, well, election pending. He's at Real Madrid. is remarkable to say the least. It's an absolutely ridiculous appointment, a disastrous thing to do, a terrible step into the past, and I can't fucking wait. I was going to say, for Real Madrid, for us, it is a lovely old job.

36:10Marcus Speller: Is that Prince Andrew back in the royal family?

36:15Jim Campbell: Got his title back. Yeah, where's that come from? He's just... If you vote me king again, I promise you I will get your Prince Andy I'll get Randy Andy back that was his nickname it was his nickname that's not on us that is not on us I never said it was

36:34Marcus Speller: I'll get Randy Andy back in the palace yeah

36:37Luke Moore: four more years four more years there's five in this country it is not for the king he's got it till he you know yeah till he gets fired by Florence apparently it's fired from life well of course Mourinho this is off the back of his spell at Benfica and they did plan to replace him with Marco Silva apparently though according to reports at the time of recording that those negotiations have collapsed due to financial disagreements he's big time yeah do you know what I'm glancing over at producer Charlie thinking are we going to have a breaking news Marco Silva's gone to Benfica I'm like oh no basically the financial muscle of the Premier League I think Benfica were offering him something like five million a season, and Fulham were like, how about 7.5?

37:20Luke Moore: Yeah. So is he going to sign a new contract with Fulham then? That's early days. That's been talked about, has it? It's very early days for Marco Silva. But he's out of contract now, isn't he? Yeah, so... I don't think that many people are interested in this, but Silva, I think, Benfica, he wants to stay in the Premier League. That's where he wants to manage it. Unless it was a huge job abroad, and obviously Benfica's a big job, but I think for him it would maybe feel like going home a little bit too early, if you see what I mean, despite Benfica being an enormous club and obviously a much bigger club than Fulham, for crying out loud.

37:50Luke Moore: Although I don't know if Benfica have won the Intertoto Cup.

37:53Marcus Speller: You'd be wary of going in there after Mourinho just in case the office was booby-trapped. You'd have to fumigate the place, wouldn't you? A load of fucking fish thrown into the curtains.

38:05Luke Moore: So, well, I'd say, so their producer, Charlie, according to reports, the talks are progressing positively now with Marco Silva and Benfica. Yeah, it's just standard stuff. if you're Marcus Silva is he George Mendes I would assume so if he is it doesn't matter if he's got a decent agent of course you're going to say we're not very happy with I think he is Mendes you're not going to have we're not happy with this talks are collapsed see you later because if Benfica really badly need a manager are they going to get a better one than him probably not so he's got all the leverage it's like when Deserby just basically pulled Spurs pants down yeah I'll have a 15 year deal at 48 million a year because you need me badly yeah absolutely so there we go Right, gentlemen, let us move on to James Milner, who retired from football yesterday.

38:50Luke Moore: The news broke. 24 years in the Premier League. He's obviously the Premier League record appearance holder. 658 appearances across Leeds, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton. He made his debut at the age of 16 in 2002, making him the second youngest player to play in the Premier League at the time. 24 years, Vish, in the Premier League. I mean, we often take players for granted when they play in the Premier League. But when you hear players who have played a lot in the Championship or even below that, they go, I've got to make it to the Premier League and maybe they get a season there or something like that.

39:26Luke Moore: 24 years in the Premier League. Unbelievable longevity and a load of trophies as well.

39:32Marcus Speller: Yeah, yeah. Just the consummate professional, but also quality footballer who basically started out as a winger and then was able to establish himself as, you know, a very accomplished, useful midfielder in a midfield three for, you know, some of the best sides we've seen in the Premier League. I always think back to his Aston Villa era as the, you know, Aston Villa had a really like exciting young team that actually young was a part of it as well. And I thought it was really cool seeing the point where he, he almost basically moved into attacking midfield, like through the middle. Yeah. and just showed a little bit more than just beating someone on the outside.

40:13Marcus Speller: I think also it should be said that he was so well-liked that pretty much every manager he played for just put implicit trust in him. I know this is not a great example, but I still remember, you know, England under Hodgson, you'd know the World Cup. Now you're talking. Where he was just like, he just played him on the right wing. You're just going to be my right wing now. At a time where he was established as a centre midfielder. His versatility was remarkable because you think about the type of tactics and stuff in 2002

40:41Luke Moore: and in the noughties, how football has changed, in this country particularly, so much. To the point of, he's at Man City when all that stuff's going on. Then he's at Liverpool under Klopp. He wins the lot. Champions League, Premier League, all the rest of it.

40:55Jim Campbell: So decorated. 61 England captain there as well. Yeah, and years of age. And years of age. Presumably straight off to Withenshaw. Get into that team. There you go. Yeah, it's really, really impressive to have been so versatile in his whole career and you don't really think of him in a particular position, do you? And often that goes against players and it can mean that they kind of don't necessarily always find a home but with the quality Milner had he was able to transfer that skills or use that skill in some very, very big clubs and as you said, won everything. First time I saw him play in the flesh was the 25th of April 2004.

41:31Allen Road against Portsmouth. He played the whole game. He didn't score. Ian Hart scored I think for Leeds Pompey 1-2-1 obviously this is very sort of unique to me as an experience but like I cannot tell you how long ago that feels it's wild it's absolutely wild and I think you know whenever you think of professional football just as a career as a profession if you take I think if you take every player that graduates outside of every player that graduates out of an academy and finds a club to play professionally for all those players the average length of career is two years and he's played at the top level for 24 years

42:11Luke Moore: and that's the point I was trying to hammer home earlier that this idea that we're in the Premier League you'll stay there but that's not a patronising thing because you might say that about a player who maybe never won much and you want to focus on that part of their career because that's actually say someone like Seamus Coleman for example what will be made of his career when he eventually retires is the appearances and all that kind of stuff but Milner won the lot Yeah, in the Toto Cup 2006. Now you're talking. But he really, really did. I mean, remember when he moved from Man City to Liverpool?

42:43Luke Moore: You know, you're thinking, okay, is he getting on a bit then or whatever? And then into Klopp's midfield. I know he wasn't always a starter for Liverpool, but my goodness, they were firing on all cylinders in every game and in every competition. He was the type of character, though, that could always accept that,

42:56Jim Campbell: which I think is really impressive. But a great engine, but the professionalism. The professionalism is exceptional, and I think this informs what I'm about to ask you. Any of you hazard a guess It is under 21 caps

43:06Marcus Speller: Oh yes Oh he had the record Didn't he It was him and Carragher Who got there 46

43:11Jim Campbell: He was actually playing When he was over 21 As well Because you were allowed A few players No it's also because The cut off point The cut off point I think it's The first qualifying Game for a tournament Under 21 there You think it's at the Olympics You're older

43:25Marcus Speller: He's got a January birthday As well There we are So he gained the system Yeah he did There was a while

43:30Luke Moore: Is he going to actually Go to the full senior side at England

43:33Marcus Speller: well it felt like because we'd always seen the under 21s it felt like there was this ceiling that he had on his ability I suppose but it's interesting he's three years older than Theo Walcott Theo Walcott played in Soccer Aid on the weekend yeah that's how quickly things go yeah he must have I know that Dalman and maybe one other player has taken his record as being the youngest player in the Premier League James Vaughan Vaughan that's right

43:58Jim Campbell: Ethan Waniere now as well right but he must have be among the youngest and the oldest players to play in the Premier League and that tells you everything you need to know basically

44:05Luke Moore: I mean he became the youngest to score in the Premier League at the time I remember that yeah when it was you know he wasn't in vogue Vaughan took his scoring record I don't know if he took his age record in terms of appearances yeah who knows he'll probably

44:16Marcus Speller: go back and get it it feels like he's like you know in Tenet where like they're moving a different you know people are moving forward people are moving back he might just decide to go back like the Robert Pattinson character in there get him in the World Cup squad yeah

44:29Luke Moore: what about a move to Saudi that'd be nice wouldn't it then we could have an argument whether we should be selected for England didn't you know what my answer would be thanks for listening support the regime we know big big support for the regime they are allies of us

44:48Marcus Speller: even in the World Cup wasn't my choice

44:50Luke Moore: right thanks for listening do the football ramble part of the ACAST creator network now get a load of this everybody Luke and Jim will be back with David tomorrow for the main football ramble pod but make sure you join the boys live at 12 o 'clock noon on the Football Ramble YouTube for another edition of Lions Watch make sure you subscribe to our YouTube so you get notified when they go live so midday tomorrow to see those boys chatting away about England and Luke scoffing humble pie when he has to talk about Ivan Tony I might just not talk about him it's the same way it took us not here

45:23Jim Campbell: if there is going to be pie I am up for that though fine fair enough I'll have a bit meat pie sausage roll come on England give us a go there you go Oh, we've got a corner. That's how it goes, isn't it?

45:32Luke Moore: It is, yeah, yeah. Me and Jim doing a live YouTube thing. Who's going to present? Yeah. It's going to be chaos. It's going to be great. I guess we'll battle it out. Yeah, we will, yeah. Just so whoever can speak first. Arm wrestle. Yeah. So make sure you're there. And until then, have a lovely old time. See you soon.

45:54The Football Ramble is a Stack Production and part of the Acast Creator Network.

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