Dawson's Peak

0:00There's a mountain and it's mighty high everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble. Macclesfield were magnificent and Ryan Reynolds was radiant. It's Monday, 12th of Jan. I'm Marcus Speller. I'm Luke Moore. And I'm Jim Campbell.

0:24Hello, everybody. What a magnificent Monday at the Football Ramble. The third round of the FA Cup has nearly concluded. and my goodness that mighty high mountain to FA Cup glory is being trodden up by a group of teams but some, Jim, have fallen off the mountain. Some of them have. Quite spectacularly. With the view of the cup itself just receding into the distance as they plummet. I think FA Cup third round weekend is definitely a Monday where you can say it's another wonderful, magnificent Monday in the kingdom. In the kingdom. In the kingdom. Because it affects all of us. It does, absolutely.

0:59It gives us all a lift. My goodness, not up the mountain, but emotionally. Get us to base camp. Get us to base camp, and then we can decide where we want to go from there. That's true. Before we get started, a quick reminder that for the whole of January, we're offering 15 % off all annual subscriptions to the Football Ramble Patreon. That's 15 % off bonus episodes, ad-free rambles, and access to the Discord for a whole year, including the World Cup, of course. Head to patreon.com forward slash football ramble, or click the link in the show notes to get involved. Now, of course, a side that climbed all the way to the top of the mountain and then stood on top of Mount Everest with the cup in their hands, Crystal Palace are out.

1:39Not even base camp this year. I didn't know that was part of it going to Everest. Yeah, they've become one of those corpses that you use as a marker forevermore. It's a very grim reference. That's what's on Everest. You started this. You brought it in. You started this. Did I? Don't pull it back again. Have a go at him. Was it not a grim reference? He's the least worst of the three of us. But you know that I don't know better. So that's on you. Okay. It was an incredible Saturday for the people of Macclesfield. Unbelievable. I tell you what, they beat Crystal Palace. I imagine it's still an incredible Saturday for the people of Macclesfield in some cases.

2:10Well, I mean, 16 Macclesfield, of course, knocked out the holders Crystal Palace. This is arguably the greatest upset in the history of the competition. Absolutely. I think it is. Because they're the holders. They're the two reasons. One, they're the holders, as Jim says. Two, there's never been a bigger place difference. 117 places in the pyramid. It's the first time since. What a pyramid. It's his first time since 1909 that the cup holders have lost to a non-league side. Extraordinary. The only reason people aren't saying it's the biggest ever is because it's not a Man United, a Liverpool, Chelsea, or a Man City or something like that, right?

2:40Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea. Forget about Man United. Do you know what though, Man United fans? I know they've gone out. I did message a Man United supporter friend of mine saying, look, going out to the odd goal against a fellow Premier League side? You should take that. Take that. Fair enough. It is Danny Weldon who's taunting you again. Sure. because Grimsby are in the next round. It could have been worse. But anyway, Macclesfield. Sorry, Macclesfield. Back on you. Ah! I mean... Genuinely incredible. There were points where, you know, you look at the game and one of my initial notes was, Macclesfield were competitive.

3:13And obviously it's gone on to be way, way more than competitive. But very quickly, you sensed that something special was happening. And obviously when they get that second goal, you're like, I don't think Palace are getting back into this. They didn't really threaten to in a way that was stunning, really. They seemed paralyzed by the occasion. I wonder if being on TV energized Macclesfield. Who can possibly know? But some incredible standout performances from them. I think Paul Dawson will get all the plaudits, understandably. And I think, has there ever been a more fortuitous head injury in terms of how much it made him stand out on telly?

3:51right he's like he's the most famous man in the country for that 90 minutes I thought you meant the bandage meant that he can header it better maybe one of those predator bandages they threatened to make curl it into the corner you're right Jim I think that it all goes into the magic of the cup of course I mean who knew Paul Dawson before this game would you call this game Dawson's peak Jim I would to stay on the Everest metaphor that only got about 16 likes on Twitter that's fucking it's gone to shit now isn't it it's a fucking revenge porn site now that's why it's an AI based revenge porn website that's why and I'm trying to contribute to it I think you get away with a lot as I always say but you deserve more for that I thought you might have gone on to say maybe you'll score next week and start to build Dawson's streak there you go well they actually play tomorrow night don't they against Woking in the FA Trophy scored his nose Dawson's beak nice

4:46look if he wants to get rid of some sort of hoodoo he could piss into all four corners of the ground and it would be Dawson's leak. There we go. That was a stretch, that wonderful one. Dawson's cheek. Are you going to do one, Jim? No. No, I'm not. Because I think it's starting to get old so it's Dawson's Creek and we're done. Let's move on. I don't want to wait for this show to be over. Where were we? That's a shit though, aren't they? They are. They were. Keep losing in Europe to people we never heard of. Do you think that they were scared that Magglesfield officially and unofficially didn't have just one Rooney in their corner.

5:21They had two. And that is quite terrifying, really, isn't it? Do you think John Rooney has had his teeth done? Look, I need to go where he's going because he looked magnificent. He looked great. Yeah, he did. He looked great. What an afternoon for him. Yeah, absolutely incredible. Wayne Rooney was really emotional about it. It was so sweet. That was beautiful to listen to as well. His voice was wobbling and obviously they were both emotional in very, very different ways. Just so proud of him. The whole day was just glorious and obviously, you know, Crystal Palace are a team that a lot of people like.

5:48so this is obviously no dig at them. But everyone outside of being Crystal Palace supporters is obviously like, you know, back in Macclesfield, you always want to see an upset of this magnitude. It is historic. Totally is. In the most historic club competition in the world. It's a seismic, seismic day. It's hard to overstate it. All the ingredients were there, right? Crystal Palace have been in poor form. It's on TV. It's a plastic pitch. Sun was low in the sky. Oliver Glasner picked a you know experimental first 11 that he had to rapidly change at half time they've come unstuck against teams they should beat as I just referenced there in Europe but ultimately you know it was Macclesfield's day the second goal was absolute slow motion stuff oh my goodness why couldn't the goalkeeper get to that I felt like Walter Benitez probably thought well they surely know where they're going to score again this is fine this is fine this is fine oh no they've scored again and it was one of those ones where the ball only just rolled over the line really slow well he was so convinced that the ball was going to come to him he charges out to go and collect it yeah exactly and he's committed too much to it I love the delivery for the first goal yeah beauty brilliant it's absolutely unbelievable it's such good quality but old Buckley Ricketts like lovely bit of ingenuity with that yeah finish my highlight of the game was immediately after kickoff after the second goal the Macclesfield players are doing tricks like they're showboating they're so full of adrenaline half an hour to go incredible I know but that's the thing that they were so on top they deserve to win there's no smash and grab about it I know obviously at the end when Pino scores that lovely free kick but that was the only way they were going to score a free shot at goal and then you just think to yourself when the ball is being put in a box and it's bobbling around you go no no not today come on boys but it never felt like Palace were going to get that second goal no it didn't I mean an extraordinary game of football and you've just mapped it out there, Luke, how the ground was fertile.

7:44But isn't it incredible how when Palace... Ironically, because the pitch was very... Well, indeed, yes, absolutely, yeah. It was made of plastic. Terrible for the local environment, that. But anyway, when Palace won the Cup last year, despite them being a Premier League side, wonderful romance and fairy tale about it. Didn't we watch that in the dressing room of a live show? We did. Of Cadogan Hall. Cadogan Hall, yeah. Yeah, yeah. That's where we saw it, yeah. Cadogan Hall, sorry, I should say. You know, there was so much in that because again so many sides particularly like unfancied Premier League sides like myself who supported Fulham and so on you think oh my goodness seeing a side of that size win a trophy for the first time major trophy for the first time especially because they've had a few near misses in the cup indeed yeah incredibly special and of course they've got that memory and rightly so that the first first hurdle of this year's competition with the cup there yeah stood on a little plinth at half time that had their own limited edition winner's ball as well that had their own limited edition like Crystal Palace like winners FA Cup winners this ball that's last for one round is this the trickle down magic effect it's going to be the start of a curse Palace got it and it's trickled all the way 117 places down extraordinary I mean it's amazing what a story this is of course but as John Rooney was saying you know it still doesn't feel real I spoke before the game about having a bit of hope in the FA Cup but I didn't really believe it it's mad to say but I think we were deserved winners of the day I thought we were incredible and he did say that didn't he that they were saying come on last night did you really think and normally there's a bit of a politicians answer why a little bit and he basically said there was like no I didn't how could I you can understand that how could I but there they are yeah I mean this was the prize right having this fixture at all would have they'd have been looking at that as this huge achievement and a kind of historic moment now I mean I can't wait for the draw to see who they're going to get it's so exciting well this is it they'll go out won't they away that's how this often goes this sort of thing you hope they get another big team though you've got to get the big team for the payout for the money.

9:41You've got to get the big team so that they can refuse to give you a payout. Well, more of a payout. Yeah. More an exit to city in a bit. Yeah. But the win, of course, quite sadly, was set against a background of tragedy because last month, 21-year-old forward Ethan McLeod died in a car accident. Yeah, that was super sad. Really, just unimaginable. And John Rooney said, I said to his parents, he's definitely watching down on us today and I feel he is here with us. Yeah, they kind of dedicated that win to him didn't he? Yeah, absolutely right. Nice moment, yeah. So, so sad thinking about that but the scenes though when Macclesfield won the game when everybody's onto the pitch and so on and what's great about that is groundsmen can't get annoyed.

10:24Exactly. Everybody on. In fact, the groundsman, did he lead the charge? Do they need a groundsman? The groundsman's got nothing on. The groundsman's just an email address somewhere. Yeah. It's an AI groundsman. Yeah. After the game, Robert Smethurst said you purchased the club of course on right move in 2020 because you would know they've had the financial difficulties I'm looking at the move house at the moment and when I saw that fact I was thinking oh this could happen to me my wife's just turned the TV down but she is it yeah you accidentally buy Dulwich Hamlet I've found it's a new place yeah how many bridges has it got?

10:56none oh dear it's all weather though does it have a garden in a way yeah well Robert said after the game that he'd bought the club and I quote after four days drinking and can't really remember buying it and look where we are now. Yeah. What a life. I was listening to, I was kind of multitasking watching the FA Cup football on Saturday and looking after my toddler. Yeah. And so when I was out in the kitchen having to prepare food and stuff, I had Five Live on. And about five o 'clock, obviously this game kicked up at 12.15, about 5pm, maybe 5.30pm, someone who was hosting Five Live managed to get hold of Robert Smethurst on the phone, live on the radio, and he was still there.

11:37you know having a lovely time yeah yeah let's leave it at that perhaps some might say not me but some might say somewhat under the surface and he claimed there are a thousand people still celebrating around the ground I mean did you see the pictures doing around the videos doing around of Paul Dawson pouring pints in the club bar he's doing his kit and he's kept his armband on he's dressed as a queen mother hey come on it's superb Smith said I think I've already planned a trip to Ibiza with the boys do you remember doing that has he been the players I think all a thousand people yeah they all piled down to the airport after that lovely stuff I mean our very own Pete Donaldson of course has made some confusing drunken purchases as he would say two pianos yeah yes famously won two pianos never a football club though no not a football club maybe he has no he's got a spare toilet in his house that's just full of wood yes I know that and a drawer full of piss and a piss drawer of course Yeah, I'm pleased to hear that.

12:38Because this is Pete Donaldson heritage, because he used to live in a very small flat in Soho, because Soho is a mad place to live. And it was so small, do you remember, he used to use his oven as a cupboard. Well, storage, Jim. Decision, yeah, storage, yeah. Put his clothes in it. If Macclesfield do the unthinkable and win the FA Cup. Which we think now they're favourites to do, I would say. They're in the hat. No one wants to go there. They're in the hat. They're in the hat, Jim. Yeah. They'll become just the second non-league side to do so. Spurs are still the only side to have been a non-league team, of course, and to win the FA Cup.

13:11Which they might be again soon. To mark the 125th anniversary of that incredible achievement, they, of course, wore a special sort of whiteout Spurs shirt. I quite like that kit. It was quite nice. It was good, yeah. Because we've seen the blackout kits before with one and two sides, but the whiteout I thought was quite nice. Yeah, so it was inspired by the 1901 shirt that they wore to win that FA Cup all those years ago and of course they lost 2-1 and were out beaten by Villa the best part of that game was they showed a little bit more in the second half didn't they but the best part was they all wanted to fight Morgan Rodgers for celebrating in front of his own fans the final whistle so you've not really shown anything during the game though so why do you want to fight now was it not Ollie Watkins or was it both of them might have been both of them yeah didn't they kind of that's not the important part also happened to be in front of the fans as the final whistle blew it's not that they even ran over to them No, no, no, exactly.

14:06Yeah, do you think Palace should have got a bit tasty at the end of the game? Imagine that. All the fans running on. They're just right. Brian Cuffinit. Glasner just out, free for all. Yeah. Go for it. Although, Mark Gay, he was having a chat with some of the fans. He was, yeah. I think when he was trying to placate some Palace fans, not unreasonably, I think they are fairly reasonable in being aggrieved about that. Glasner looked like a man on death row, but a version of it where they, for some reason, interview you before they put you in a chair. Yeah. That's next, isn't it? I think they do that.

14:35If TNT Sports did death row, that would be what they would do. By the way, half-time interviews with managers or coaches or anything, utterly pointless. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That is one of those extras, we're doing that, no one else is, because there's no need. You don't get anything out of it. None of us need this. I'd rather see a fucking advert. That peaked in Brazil, didn't it? When a dog ran on the pitch and when it ran off the pitch, a couple of reporters ran up to it, cornered it and put microphones in its face. Yeah. You can't get better than that, so just don't do it. But it was very much like that.

15:00I don't know if this still happens, but certainly back in the day in Brazil, if a goal scorer scored, I remember of it clipping it on one of those Danny Baker or Nick Hancock football videos or whatever, scores, and I think it was like a diving head and sort of rolls over, and they're all just shoving microphones. How do you feel? You've just scored. Getting packed, essentially. Can I go back to Mark Gaye? Please. His afternoon was, because we're led to believe that Mark Gaye spends his spare time ruminating, chilling in his hands about whether he's going to go to Real Madrid, Liverpool, Man City or whatever.

15:32His afternoon involved being outlept by amateur player Paul Dawson for the first goal and picking up quite a late booking on the way to captaining his Premier League side to a historic defeat. So I'm not surprised he was trying to placate some fans. I would encourage Palace to sell him in this window. Yeah, is he trying to knock his price out? Might be. Might do. Could be. Well, what a win by Maglesfield. I mean, it's just... What was the beauty of it? The earlier kick-off, well, my goodness, what a tone setter for the rest. the rest of the tournament you might have it's an all-time great it's insane and the really gutting thing for Palace fans is of course is that they can't enjoy this amazing thing do you know what I mean no exactly if you see that happen to another club you're loving it absolutely loving it I remember when Oldham won at Craven College and put Fulham out of the cup and you're thinking this is really annoying because normally I'd be delighted for a team who have had a lot of financial troubles and all the rest of it but I'm sat in the home end today yeah Portsmouth have been knocked out at home by Harrogate Town before so it happens something for all to enjoy Arsenal were very close come on to that later indeed they were now we should mention the other lowest ranked side playing in the round of fixtures Western Super Mayor of the National League South of course they lost 3-2 to Grimsby Town no disgrace there they gave a good account themselves yeah exactly I mean look bigger teams have been knocked out of competitions this season at that ground yeah I mean it was 2-0 at one point Grimsby were in danger of their season being remembered for a cup set so they've managed to navigate that really well what would have been good is the boss of Western Supermare get a little tactics board out a little come on that would have been great lovely little bit of trolling yeah that would have been good to a man who's no longer in the job he's probably not watching lest we forget yeah there is no chance on earth that Ruben Amaroom has tuned in for Grimsby v Western Supermare see how they got on the first fight with Ruben Amaroom after he left United looks about 15 years younger Yeah.

17:27He couldn't believe his luck. Oh, I've been freed. I tell you what, long trip for Western Supermare. Absolutely. 571. Hardy Souls made their trip up there, yeah. Absolutely right. The Seagulls. The Seagulls. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Did you see that Scott Rogers, Western Supermare manager, the man who I would have loved to have seen with a little tactics board, had a beer with his Grimsby counterpart, David, or Dave Artel, after the game. And Artel said, Western deserve a huge amount of credit for how they played, as do their fans, who never shut up a whole game. It makes it sound like a bad thing. Poor choice of words there, but I think we get what he's saying there.

18:01Before we go for a break, there was a significant cup set in the north of England. Sheffield United lost 4-3 at home to Mansfield Town. Sheffield United currently 16th in the championship, of course, Mansfield 12th in League One. At one stage, they were winning 4-1 and absolutely loving life. I don't want to stick the boot into Sheffield United too much because they've had their trials and tribulations this season and obviously they're not the most troubled club in the Sheffield area, of course, but Mansfield Town, come on, 5 ,000 travelling away fans had a bloody lovely time. The first goal was an absolute screamer as well.

18:36And the second one, he tries the same thing again and it gets two deflections, essentially. That's one of those ones where when your luck's with you, it's with you. But you scored four good goals, right? There were so many good goals in the round that we just saw. Honestly, enough for like proper sort of really, really meaty goal of the month. I mean, Cissé's goal for Stoke, possibly the best goal of the round, maybe. I just wanted to give it a mention. So many belters. Yeah, Callum Utter-Doy second. Oh, that was a lovely one. We're going to talk about them later. Shout out to Nigel Clough, who's been managing Mansfield for about five or six years now.

19:10Loves it, yeah. And he is, this is a really weird one, because he's basically, I mean, so he obviously used to manage Sheffield United as well, but mostly he's managed in the lower leagues. Massive name. And Clough is one Clough is one of the biggest names in football in this country. He's been consistently in a managerial job in an era when marriages get fired all the time. It's basically since 1998. It's amazing. I've just looked at it in front of me here. He's managed 1 ,560 games. It's incredible. A bit underrated, I think. But you feel like he found his level and he thought, that's me. Steady work.

19:44Absolutely. And a great result for them. Yeah, Sheffield United. Someone who defended him was very, very poor. I know the first goal was an absolute beauty. Second goal you can't do much about. But you find yourself 4-1 down at home to Mansfield Town, who have found a bit of form, actually. I mean, they're mid-table in League One, but they've come off the back of a few straight wins. It's poor stuff. It's thin gruel. Thin gruel. But they're in the hat. Mansfield Town are in the hat. All right, coming up after this, Man City put 10 brackets T-E-N past Exeter City.

20:24I think there was a bit of disappointment with him because the move didn't go through. I think it was to Wolfsburg, was it? I think last in August time. Am I telling you something that you didn't know? Am I? Possibly. Possibly? OK. That never happened. That never happened. It wasn't Wolfsburg at all. No, absolutely. I think it was Augsburg. It was something else. No. Okay. Cut that. Well, back to the Football Ramble, everybody. Thanks to Friend of the Ramble, Liam, for sending us that clip. You can become a friend of the Ramble too. Search patreon.com forward slash football ramble or click that join button on YouTube to get involved.

21:10And get 15 % off. Come on. Yay. All throughout January. Martin O 'Neill there, of course. Martin O 'Neill, Celtic manager once again. Celtic on a stinking run of form. Just walks back into the job. They've lost the derby. They were struggling. Wilfred Nancy got the sack. 73-year-old Martin O 'Neill walks back into the job and promptly gets a 4-0 victory against Undy United. What was Nancy doing? Do you reckon he just goes and just does nothing? It feels that way, doesn't it? Just gets out of the way. Just kick that in there. Off you go. And it works. Off you go. You know you're better than these.

21:40Get out there and show it. That's it. I just... Yeah. It's remarkable, isn't it? Yeah. Rangers, though, ahead of Celtic by three points. They have a game in hand. But hearts. Hearts have kept the gap going with a famous 1-0 away victory against Dundee. You're not telling anyone who's listened to that that's not news to them. They all know already. They're following this intently. I'll tell you what, expect a fair few 1-0 wins for Hearts. So they were down to 10 men to be fair. Craig Gordon with the save of the weekend. It was a good save. I think people are going over the top because he's old.

22:08And the context of it, right? Yeah. It was a good save. Banks-esque. It was a good save, Rory, right? It was a great save according to Hearts fan Rory. I think it was a good Borderoon great save it wasn't a worldy save Jim I'm just pleased he made it to be honest because it keeps us alive I mean the city of Dundee has taken some unexpected collateral damage this weekend but we're here for it as long as hearts stay in it you've abstained again I didn't see it well Arsene Wenger it was a good save I would say a great save there we are right Manchester City 10 Exorcist City 1 you know what please Man City give us some more can we have more of a share of the goals yeah you want some more do you we give you some more yeah I respect City for scoring 10 teams ease off right teams ease off all the time we see them start racking up a big score and they just take it easy but City like nah not after what you've requested from us can I tell you the highlight the absolute highlight George Birch scores a lovely goal for Exeter City goal of the game to make it 9-1 in the 90th minute he rushes to get the ball what are you going to do what are you going to do he wants to do that again yeah he's like we're only eight behind now come on I love that yeah what a goal though goal of the game it was the goal Roderick's was probably the goal of the game no Birchie we'll give it to Birchie if he wants it I found the whole thing quite unsavory did you yeah I understand that players are playing for their careers every game like that you know you're not far away from you know not being picked and then kind of your career going in the direction that perhaps you don't want but I just think there's something quite unsavoury about the amount of goals being scored.

23:47You're trying to dampen McAidus? Yeah, I mean, yeah, look, they're doing a job and I'm not blaming them at all. They should respect Exeter a bit more. I just, I mean, well, what do you think about it? I mean, you get to six or seven, one or whatever, and, you know, the game is done. Why do they continue to keep scoring goals? It's not like, it's not like, let me give you an example. When Germany played Brazil in the semi-final of the World Cup, they are two even-matched teams who deserve to be in the semi-final of a massive tournament, right? and one of them's had a bad day and the other ones haven't.

24:17There's far more, you can understand it far more when it's like that. When you know that the odds are stacked against this team anyway, they've come away from home, they're already on their haunches, they're basically bankrupt and you just keep beating them and beating them and beating them. I just think it's unsavory. What is it entertaining in your home crowd? Are you not, though? I'm not blaming the players. The players are doing their job. But I guess I'm not suggesting there is a solution to it. I'm just saying it's quite unsavory to watch. I get that. And to the point of when Arsenal lost 8-2 at Old Trafford, I remember Ferguson.

24:47I like that. No, no, no. But there's a reason why. Ferguson said after that, he wasn't gloating. He actually said, yeah, I didn't think we needed to do that many. And he wasn't being sarcastic or, you know, he was genuinely like, yeah, I felt we were actually a bit disrespectful there. And I know that, like Ika Casillas asked the referee to blah up, you know, on 19, not play injury time in the Euros final when they hammered Italy 4-0. and so these things there is that I mean I suppose Guardiola he was up in the stands serving the bad so maybe you know if he was going to message the players go look come on he's off you've proved your point but the only thing I would say is that there was a number of young goal scorers in there and for them you know you saw the way like McHady in particular celebrated he was loving it big knee slide big knee slide I think with a changed score of the ninth yeah with a changed side first goal was Carrillo I suppose yes exactly As I'm saying, you know, all that, you can't begrudge young players scoring and then enjoying it and thinking, you know, this is a chance for me to score my first goal for Manchester City.

25:54And this won't be at the forefront of their mind. But they're thinking, how many times will I get, how many chances will I get here? You know, Semenyo on his debut wants to impress as well. So it was, you look at that one, 10-1, yeah, it can be a little bit of an icky feeling. But in the context with the young players and so on and so forth. Yeah, look, I'm not suggesting anyone's to blame for it. I mean, Nexon did score two home goals, didn't it? They did, yeah, that's their fault. I can't get on board with that. Yeah, exactly. I just think it's not much of a, it's just a bit of a calamity, isn't it?

26:30It's not much of a spectacle. goal. Well, Man City with nine different goal scorers, well as I say, two own goals scored by Exeter as well. That shows you, I think if Harland played and scored six, you'd be a bit like, alright, you're knobbed. The goals were shared around, let's say, a number of young goal scorers. But look, it was a huge victory nonetheless. The scoreline matched the club's biggest ever win which was 10-1 over Huddersfield Town in 1987. Also, they're the first English top side to score double figures in a match in any competition since Liverpool beat Fulham in the League Cup in September 1986 and the first FA Cup double figure scoring side since Spurs beat Crewe 13-2 in 1960 that's too much Spurs were pretty good in the early 60s yeah I love that they conceded two though yeah exactly go on the Crewe yeah but new signing Antoine Semenyo started debut assist and a debut goal Jim what do you think of him in that Man City shirt it's terrifying yeah he's a fantastic player obviously we don't need to really go into much detail about that because everyone who's seen him play can assess that for themselves and I think he has the ability to be someone who is a significant player for them for a long, long time and also he's an eye-catching really fun entertaining player and him and Ryan Cherky in the same team is going to be something really enjoyable for Man City fans for a long time to come I would think.

27:51Yeah, Semenya was described as a classy guy because he took out a full page ad in the Bournemouth Echo on Saturday to thank the Bournemouth fans. Yeah, that's a nice touch. To all the fans at AFC Bournemouth, thank you for all the memories. I wish you all the best. And of course, he signed off playing for Bournemouth with that lovely goal against Spurs. On his birthday. On his birthday. Absolutely right. I mean, it's a signing which you think could really help them in their title chase. I think the thing with Semenyo is that if you were to build your own winger suited perfectly to the modern game, he's not far off what you come up with because he's so two-footed.

28:29He's very powerful. He's very good at retaining the ball. he's quick it gives you so many options it's that that ambidexterity is so rare and is such a powerful thing I think he's going to be you know you can't really call many kind of city signings a game changer because they're already so good but he's going to improve them and again it's very hard to identify a lot of players where you can say yeah that's an upgrade on what they have well totally I think it just needs to be a centre-back doesn't it because the injuries they've got at this point well but I mean you get the impression though with Guardiola with I mean let's see what they do but it's like the one thing that they are have been good at this season is scoring goals as Exeter City bloody well found out so at the back and honestly if you if I was a if I had the year of Pep Guardiola I'd be just going more don't worry about that double down on what you're good at and just try to outscore everybody but Semenya yeah I mean he's you know I understand it was only against Exeter City and they knocked 10 past them but that's a lovely start for him you know and as you say Jim you pick him up and put him in any team in the world you might even argue and he's you know what he's doing but yes Guardiola of course had to watch from the stands with his little flat cap on yeah which means we don't get a press conference do we we don't get a little interview because I think that's part of the suspension isn't it it seems to be anyway I think you should have to do more interviews I do too yeah I think you should have to comment off yeah blimey I wish I could have done that if I was down there I'd change that now that'd be great be really insightful I tell you what I get a little vibe who wouldn't who might be up for that kind of thing, Liam Rosinha.

30:03Oh, yeah. He loves the attention. He seems to absolutely love it. Won his first game in charge of Chelsea. Beat Charlton Athletic 5-1 at the Valley. Pretty comprehensive win, yeah. Foggy Valley as well. Well, yeah. I was about to say, I always get misty-eyed when I see the Valley. Not because of the fog. It's because it's the first ground that I ever witnessed a streak alive. Right. Oh, really? Yeah. Nice to know. Yeah. I think I've only ever seen two, actually. When was it? Highbury. I've never seen a streaker, actually. So you met Jim, didn't you? Yeah, I was going to say. put this blanket on.

30:31I said, thanks. It wasn't frog at the valley. It was actually crisp dust. Is that? It was just stupid because they were just getting into their crisps. Yeah. It was when Aston Villa Beach Hilton 1-0. Probably late 90s. You're still going to know about your streaker? Yeah. Tell us about it. Yeah, tell us about it. Well, I was going to. Yeah. Do it like a proper rest is history type episode. What was the weather like? What should we be picturing? It was chilly, but it was a clear night. Was it a fella or a lady? A fella. What was your impression of his old chap? Too far away, but he was sitting in the front row Did you see his ass?

31:02Saw it all from my vantage point That's the point of a streaker isn't it? Indeed it is No I didn't look down I ordered yourself Although that would be disrespectful because clearly the streaker wants you to see it Exactly Did you swoon? You swooned back in your seat so you couldn't see it all I quickly got a telescope out and I thought right I'm going to give this fella the respect he deserves but he was in the front row and I saw him get up Did you? No genuinely and it was almost as if like I have bollocks to this I've had enough and off he went quite literally bollocks to this exactly was he wearing like normal clothes or did he have one of those status quo type ripped a suit off and he's got jeans underneath so he probably did but it was so far like it was I couldn't see that detail but it was like hilarious it did just sort of look like a fan going someone's got to do something as I say the other one was at Arsenal when they played Farbray Town in the third round of the FA Cup that was actually the last time that a non-league player scored against a Premier League team as well before this weekend Was it Rocky Baptiste?

31:58It was Rocky Baptiste. They lost 5-1, didn't they? That's right. What a day it was. Anyway, Charlton lost at the Valley. 5-1 to Chelsea. They got their pants pulled down. Slapped across the chops. Yeah, indeed, yeah. But they were doing all right. With Chelsea's big cock. Okay. They were like doing okay. And then was it Hato who just thought, no, I'm not having this anymore. I just absolutely... He was a killer as well because it was right before halftime. I know, but there's the strike as well. it was immense quality it's a big goal for him as well because he's not really featured much and he came in with a big reputation player you expect could be a difference maker for them eventually so to get a goal like that immediately as the new regime comes into play is potentially great for him it is yeah I mean I know Chelsea won 5-1 they could have had a few more but at one point when Charlton were 2-1 and they had it you know they were going forward you're like oh it could be tough for the new man but no Rosinia got his victory that he craved he said recently Lee Rosinia you ask my mates who I'm still with now going to school in Bristol.

32:58I was managing the school team at 11. I was doing shape with him on the school fields after school. Yeah, but I mean... High performance stuff, Jim. Yeah, but well, his dad is Leroy Sr, isn't he? He's obviously a kind of very well-respected, well-known coach. Well, kind of respected. He managed to talk E once for 10 minutes, didn't he? Yes, which was not his fault, really, was it? No, it wasn't really his fault. There was a takeover, wasn't there? But that's not the way you treat someone with respect, is it? No, it's not. It's not. So I'll say medium respect. All right, there's no his career apart from one or two moments.

33:28A specific 10 minutes. But I mean, he has been kind of learning the ropes of coaching since he was 10 years old. I saw an interview with him where he talks about reading a book about coaching when he was like nine years old. He's like, I disagree with all of this. This isn't getting the best out of the players and this isn't the spirit of the game and stuff. And he apparently has always seen himself as more of a coach than a player and was in the dugout with his dad when he was 10. And even as a player, if he wasn't playing, he'd be sort of standing on the sidelines trying to figure stuff out.

33:56so he's like you know he's really really done the work and he's got as much experience as you can have with the sort of in air quotes limited experience he has as a coach so far he's been he's been training for this all his life which is going to be really interesting to see how it pans out would you say he's displayed world class basics absolutely if anyone has look I understand that inevitably some of the stuff he sounds like it does sound as if he's being interviewed by Jake Humphries however when you put it all like that that feels like something that like that feels like a curse yeah do you know what I mean And you should always call him Jake Humphries, by the way.

34:27Always call him Jake Humphries. Would you rather have it that you can't ever see anything below your knees or always sound like you're being interviewed by Jake Humphries? It's tough. It's a good would you rather. It's very good, yeah. One for uncut, maybe. But all that nonsense aside, you have to admire what Liam Rosina has done and is doing because, as you say, a proper scholar and student of the game, if you like, was doing well at Strasbourg. He's got his chance at Chelsea. And I'm, look, I know that the way this has come about, the whole relationship that Chelsea Football Club with Strasbourg is under scrutiny and rightly so because it does feel very, very wrong, quite frankly.

35:11But I don't want to, if I can divorce that from say what Liam Rossini is doing and the chance he's got, I'm pleased that a young English manager who is full of, full of ideas and full of chat has got this job. And I know he's Chelsea manager, but I still wish him well because it's a real chance for somebody to do something who, as you say, has had an incredible education in the game. So, I mean, the chances are he'll probably be chewed up and spat out by Chelsea Football Club and, you know, more experienced and bigger names have had that than him. But before that inevitably happens, I really hope he does do something and do something pretty well and show what he's got.

35:53Yeah, I think he can definitely have a chance to do that when he gets reports for the first day of pre-season training as manager of Nottingham Forest. There you go. Which is almost certainly going to happen. I think that sums it up better than what I was saying. Right, Portsmouth led Arsenal 1-0 for five. What are five minutes? It's a great five minutes, yeah. They lost 4-1, but they were 1-0 up. They were. I was going to tell you this before the game. You didn't enjoy it, though. I was trying to, on the WhatsApp group, I was trying to sort of pump some happiness into you. Yeah, I didn't not enjoy that situation.

36:24I just found you tedious. Why is that? It's not the same thing. I was trying to pump some happiness into the situation for you. I don't want you to do that. I don't feel like you have to do that. I think you need it though. Let me enjoy my own day in my own way. Yeah. You did predict that set pieces would undo Portsmouth. And I said we'd lose four or five won. You did. And it happened. So that doesn't make me feel any better. But I thought actually it was, what I was pleased about was that Portsmouth went about it the way they normally go about it which is playing really dynamically pressing really hard taking teams on no matter who they are and eventually inevitably losing because they could have gone low block let's be frightened and probably could have lost five or six nil and this way at least had a bit of a go they exposed a few weaknesses in Arsenal I thought if they could have if they could have got the ball more often and kept it for longer which is two big ives they're having quite a lot of joy in the fullback position against Arsenal.

37:18You know, so, and some of the, some of Portsmouth players did actually shower themselves and caught a lot of credit. So overall, I thought it was a decent performance. I obviously didn't want them to be embarrassed in front of the country on TV. They weren't. But ultimately, you know, Arsenal were worthy winners. You're essentially putting the best set piece team in the country genuinely against one of the worst. If Portsmouth had to deal with those set pieces Macclesfield were thrown in there, they'd conceded loads against them as well they are absolutely shit at defending they were very very soft weren't they I think actually you know Portsmouth attacking the game in the way they did made it an entertaining spectacle didn't it and I think Arsenal kind of essentially stood off them a bit and just kind of exploited the gap when they needed to essentially yeah but I think actually you know it's been a long time since Arsenal and Portsmouth played each other and I can't believe in the time we've been doing this that I've never asked you this question and I imagine that a lot of listeners will be interested in it as well like who is your Premier League team you must have one based on that he goes to Spurs a lot I've got a photo up in my downstairs toilet of Thierry Henry and of course my shirt everyone knows so yeah you do go to Spurs a fair bit yeah I do that's more of sort of rubbernecking we've established that you enjoy not having happiness pumped into you no by you specifically pumped at him I can pump it at him if you want the idea of Jim pumping happiness into me might be quite good chiefly because Jim's not the sort of person that would ever try and do that.

38:46So it might be quite nice. And more's the pity. I've been accused of being a Spurs fan and an Arsenal fan this past week by the people on Twitter. So, you know, I told you I hate every team the same apart from Portsmouth who I hate slightly less and Southampton who I hate slightly more. Right. That's it. Okay. Congratulations to Gabriel Martinelli on his first hat trick of his career. Yeah, bouncing back after he was an absolute disgrace again in that Liverpool game. Well, he was a disgrace in that moment. He was. Colin Brandy's out for the season. Not because of him. he's not made it better again though Martinelli didn't realise that he was a seriously injured do you know what the problem with that whole thing is it goes way too far the other way that you then start defending Gabriel Martinelli like you do not understand because people are people are acknowledging that Martinelli didn't understand the severity of it but criticising him for it as if he did which is just the way that the world works we covered it last week but he responded to his critics by scoring a hat trick very very well I'm disappointed that two of them are headers I've never seen him even head the ball before That's not...

39:43Yeah. He got... Won at Anfield, oddly. But yeah, that's not the sort of strongest part of his game. But it was that sort of day, wasn't it? Because I think if you lose 4-1 to a couple of set pieces, which we know are a weakness of Portsmouth, and it's like Gabriel bludgeoning them in, you think, well, he does that against everyone. Martin Elliott, the near post, is disappointing. Or one of your own players. Yeah, or your own players. No, no, probably that all the time. That's why I'm used to that. Not a matter of working, missed a penalty. Yeah, and it was one of those stuttered run-ups, wasn't it?

40:09Which you're not supposed to do. So I think we'd probably all agree that the ref should have made him retake it. I don't know what the rule is now. Have they changed the rule? Because it doesn't seem to have affected anybody. I appreciate we were only 11 days into the new year, but it's definitely the worst penalty of 2026 so far. Yeah, it was bad. He had a funny game. He obviously got two assists from the corners, but he went to ground quite easily a couple of times. He made some poor decisions. Not his best day. I loved it. My highlight was a little nutmeg of Ben White right by the touchline.

40:38That was lovely. I'll take that. That'll keep me warm at night. What about Arsenal bringing on defender Marley Salmon? Yeah. 16 years and 135 days is the youngest player to ever feature in the competition for Arsenal. Yeah. I mean, we've played that competition for a while. There's a point, isn't there, where footballers all sort of look the same age. Yeah. But Marley Salmon looks like a little boy, almost. But he was very capable when he came on. He wasn't on for a huge amount of time, but he slotted in a right back, did really well. Lovely. Coming up after this, joy for Ryan Reynolds, but anger for Sean Dyche.

41:19Welcome back to the Football Ramble, everybody. Wrexham 3, Donningham Forest 3, Wrexham 1, 4-3 on pens. I mean, we said obviously on the Saturday that Macclesfield set the tone, but this, for a lot of people to set the tone for the whole round getting it going, I mean, what a match in Wales, Jim. Absolutely. And I mean, it's the dogged nature of this victory is what really sets this apart, right? because obviously they were 3-1 up at one point, Wrexham, and they're flying. They had a point at 2-0, and they had a point to make it 3-0, where you thought, right, Forest are not coming back from this if they manage that.

41:49Yeah, that one we went through one-on-one and put it straight to the key. When that was missed, you thought, ooh, but then, as you say, they then get the goal to make it 3-1. You think, oh, well, okay, maybe not, but then Callum Hazard-Odoi had other ideas. Yeah, with the second goal in particular, we alluded to it earlier, the control of his chest and the finish from that is absolutely superb. It's such a hard thing to do that. But then, you know, Wrexham have got the stones to see it through on the penalties as well. So, enormous credit to them. Really, really brilliant occasion. Obviously, Forrest are going to be absolutely gutted with that.

42:23But they've got bigger problems, haven't they? There's some act of self-harm, this, that we're witnessing now at Forrest. Yeah. Because this has all been precipitated by Maranakis, just, you know, this falling out between Nuno and Edu, and Maranakis brings Edu in, presumably because he wants to, because it's what big clubs do, and it upsets the whole thing. they've not really made any good signs on the Edu anyway. And he's now under pressure as well. Yeah, and they've gone, if you fast forward, sorry, rewind a year, they're in the middle of an amazing season. They're very unlucky not to actually, not unlucky, but they just run out of steam from Champions League position.

42:56The only reason now they're not in mortal danger of relegation because three other teams are so bad, they're getting dumped out of a big competition which they would ordinarily have designs on going deep in onto their third manager of the season one of which has been a complete unmitigated disaster and the other one now is in the kind of super honest apologies not good enough stage of his managerial career already at Forest and he looks increasingly out of his depth with the players he's got it's a disaster at Forest they've gone out narrowly they did well to battle back there were some good goals in there but they've gone out to lower league opposition with the players they've got at their disposal that is yet another example of really poor management yeah and they're still in the Europa League of course and as we said they should go deep in that competition there's no there's no God-given right that you can and it also comes at a cost if you're in a relegation battle now obviously there's seven points clear in West Ham but that can turn around quite quickly I also think with the Europa League like I understand that the budgets for Premier League clubs and all the rest of it and perhaps in this new format particularly the group stage is you know is fine you know last time out I think they beat Utrecht away from home, you know, FC Utrecht aren't going to win the Europa League, right?

44:10But it is a competition after a while. It does come at you fast. No, no, it does. Before you know it, you're drawn against someone good. I just feel like Forrest, they do crumble under kind of any pressure. They find it hard to do... Like a Garibaldi. Yeah, basically, yeah. Exactly like a Garibaldi, which is, I think, one of the most underrated biscuits, Jim, by the way. And certainly the only biscuit named after someone who unified a country that I can think of. But you wouldn't use it as a building material? No, you wouldn't. I take what you're saying about the Europa League, but when you look around at the sides and some sides who have won it and gone deep, there is the potential to do that.

44:40But again, with Dyche, like I say, he'll be there for the remainder of the season just because of the situation. Because if they changed it up again, it would be mad. And also, there's no guarantee that they wouldn't sink like a stone. They are helped enormously that Nuno can't get anything going at West Ham, that Wolves are particularly bad and hardly any points and Burnley are very unlikely to get themselves out of it. They'll probably finish 17th, Forrest, you know, as it's going, maybe 16th at best. But it's a great shame for them that they're out the cup, they've got the Europa League, yes, but, again, if you were to take what Nuno was doing last season, and you're like, okay, finishing the Europa League, you bring it forward into this season, there would be a genuine chance to win that competition and just Spurs won it last season.

45:33Okay. And what happened? They get into the Champions League. Now I know that they've, you know, they're in danger of throwing it all away as well. But with Forrest, there was a real chance of, you know what? You've had a huge leg up here. It's, you know, it's a season that nobody predicted, but my goodness, you've bumped yourself up. You're established Premier League club. Now you're looking up. That's what you got to do. Now it's just, it's reverted to time. And it's also, and again, in danger of completely throwing it all away. There is no God given right that you, that a team is suddenly, we're now a mid table side.

46:02and everything's hunky-dory. And you just look at it and as you say, they're just wasted away almost. The teams that have managed that are run incredibly well and incredibly calmly almost in comparison to how Maranac is done. Well, they're cohesive. Yeah. Because you just never know what's going to happen next there. And it invites this kind of sort of instant chaos. I mean, Dice said after the game with regard to, you know, go back to the Wrexham match. He said, I could have taken them all off at half-time, including myself, probably. Which is, you know, it goes into what you were just saying there, Luke, about this, oh, he's this super honest manager and he thinks if he just talks things into existence, it'll sort of happen.

46:43The first half was completely unacceptable, Daish went on. I let the players know, and certainly some individuals will know, they all knock on your door and say, why aren't I playing? Well, the evidence is quite there, to be honest. Too many were not ready in the first half. But that's fair enough, right? It is fair enough. But when a manager starts talking like that, especially in public it doesn't usually it's usually it's almost like last resort sort of stuff and it's like oh yeah we like the sound bites we like the sort of the vibe of this but actually the substance of what you want isn't really there they were totally outclassed in the first half and the damage was done okay they fight back and they get it to 3-0 and you know they get it to penalties which they you know lose on anyway but it was embarrassing you can't forget the players that Forrest have at their disposal the amount of money that's been spent on those players.

47:31You know, to come unstuck in quite that way. Anyone can lose a game. Take it away from home. We've seen that with Crystal Palace, right? But they were completely out-thought, completely out-thought, and completely out-played in the first half. They've got players like Douglas Luiz and James McAtee in there, who are, you know, players with big reputations. Certainly in the case of Luiz, we've seen firsthand that he can be a really, really high-level Premier League performer. You know, when all said and done, like, it's a signal for Forrest and the Forrest fans, because you've almost got one thing and then bomb.

48:00Congratulations to Wrexham. I know it's a controversial situation there, but unfortunately the modern football in this country means that for teams to do well, they have to get some kind of benevolent owner because the model doesn't work otherwise. Phil Parkinson, who's managed them for a long time and had some success elsewhere as well as a manager, has come up through the leagues. Now he's taken a Premier League scalp as well. So Wrexham do deserve credit because people who listen to this who support Wrexham will be thinking, hang on a minute, we've just knocked out a Premier League tub and you haven't talked about us.

48:27so it's a good result for them obviously praise for Arthur Okonkwo as well who saved the crucial penalty in the shootout yeah he's very highly rated there as well and he's doing well there I see Jay Rodriguez as well yeah he scored the winning pen was it I think it was he might have been the last one I think it was yeah there we go it's a bit of a graveyard for everyone to go to when they've gone towards the end of their career and they want a payday isn't it we were stunned that Vardy didn't end up there yeah we were but look at him now I know he doesn't need him speaking of graveyards just very quickly West Ham beat QPR at the London Stadium Nice for them to get a victory.

49:00Went into extra time, of course. Everyone was gunning for them to get beat. The supercomputer had them losing 4-1. 4-1. Well, the supercomputer, I'm glad you mentioned that, Jim, because the supercomputer predicted that Forrest would win the game against Wrexham five through on penalties after a 2-2 draw. So not a million miles away, ultimately wrong, though. But quite impressively, the supercomputer predicted West Brom would beat Swansea 9-8 on pens after a 2-2 draw. Well, it was a two-all draw, and they won 6-5 on penalties. So the supercomputer just went that little bit too far. That's worryingly close.

49:32No, not good enough. Okay. Don't call yourself a supercomputer. It predicted Fulham 3, Middlesbrough 1. Did it really? Oh, yes. There we go. That's better. It's an okay computer. Yeah, there we go. Exactly. Lovely, Jim. Lovely. No surprises, isn't it? Castellanos scored his first goal for West. I tell you what, just thrown in. Yeah. I can't stress enough how you need to hit the ground running Sunday. Yeah, exactly. But he got it. He got the goal. And maybe they will be coming for Forrest. We are going to lose this war, son. Try and get a few scalps if you go. No, you can't be taken as a prisoner of war.

50:05What would that entail anyway? Sitting on the bench of Forrest? I only feel like one. Gentlemen, I want to end the FA Cup third round review with a great match involving two Premier League sides. Newcastle United 3, Bournemouth 3, 7-6 on penalties. Newcastle won it. I love this, man. My goodness, though. What a game. You can take your eyes off it. They're trying to be as Kevin Keegan as possible. since Kevin's had the really sad diagnosis which you wish him well about Newcastle as a club have decided to go as Kevin Keegan as possible in every game and I love it and actually Newcastle and Bournemouth are both absolutely box office at the moment if you look at their sort of recent results last minute goals in injury time in the normal time and extra time do you know what the supercomputer said this what 2-0 Newcastle normal time bollocks idiot computer I would like to put a special mention out there for Harvey Barnes yes in such good form who is not finding himself a regular starter for Newcastle by any means he's looking less and less Scottish every week isn't he he kind of is I like that yeah but well Jim for him to look less and less Scottish he needs to start essentially starting as many games as possible because he I know they played him and Gordon this time around because obviously they're both quite versatile players but Barnes has got 11 goals in all competitions this season so far and he's only started 9 Premier League games but he is like he's almost like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on that he's so handy off the bench makes such an impact off him when he comes on.

51:24Keep taking advantage of it, right? Some players can be hindered by that. I know, he's a funny player, Barnes, because he's always among the goals and looks quite graceful sometimes when he scores. He's also very, very comfortable in tight spaces. Yeah. Yes, I know what you mean. Look, a handy player for Newcastle to have, there's absolutely no doubt about that, and played his part in the victory here. Anthony Gordon, yeah, with that 95th minute penalty, I thought, good, Gordon. Get some positive penalty practice. Massive Adidas headband. Yeah, that was... Massive running advert for Adidas. Yeah, that's true.

51:58As if they need the money, Luke. Great performance from Aaron Ramsdale on the shootout. Yeah. Three penalties. Yeah, it's nice to see him playing. I know Pope's back is the number one there, but good for Ramsdale to get a run out. And to, you know, make a significant contribution as well. That's not easy. I mean, he was... He never looked the most comfortable facing penalties at Arsenal. So he's obviously worked on that side of his game. And it's nice to see that pay off for him. We better wrap up here, though, because his dad's coming in to do a podcast in a minute. Newcastle's still alive in all the Cups though.

52:27Yeah, in the semi-final of the League Cup. A trophy they're keen to defend themselves. Twice, for some reason. Yeah, they've got to play two games, exactly. I thought you were going to say defend it twice. If they win it though, then that would be the case next season. But you're talking about those ridiculous two-legged affairs. Thank you very much for listening to the Football Ramble, part of the ACAST Creator Network. We're back tomorrow for the mailbag where we're going to be talking about Newcastle United and the other sides involved in the League Cup semi-finals this week. Thank you very much.

52:53Lovely old job. Macclesfield, my goodness. I hope you're still celebrating. I hope nobody has turned up to work this morning in the Macclesfield area, unless you work for the club, of course, because someone would have to turn the lights on or off, depending if they're still there. And I hope you go to Man City in the next run and beat them 10-1. There you go. How about that? Lovely. Thank you very much, Luke Moore. Thank you. Thank you very much, Jim Campbell. Thank you. Thank you, John Rooney.

53:22The Football Ramble is a Stack Production and part of the Acast Creator Network.