Exceedingly Good Carabao

0:00Hello everybody, welcome to the Football Ramble Manchester City March into the Carabao Cup Final. It's Thursday the 5th of February. I'm Marcus Speller. And I'm Luke Moore.

0:24Well, hello everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble on this rainy Thursday in the Kingdom. It's the morning after the second leg of the semi-final of the Carabao Cup between Manchester City and Newcastle United. It ended 3-1 to Manchester City, of course. 5-1 on Ag. Luke Moore, easy peasy for those citizens. Yeah, it's a rainy day in the kingdom, a rainy Thursday, but it's not going to dampen our spirits, is it, Marcus? Oh, no. And if one thing was going to dampen our spirits, though, probably be that Omar Mamouche fortunate goal after seven minutes last night, on which you and I both knew instantly that the game was up.

1:00Put your clothes on, Newcastle. It's all over. Yeah, very little for the neutral after that. you would add. And then, of course, he gets somewhat of a fortuitous second not too long after that. But, I mean, we know that Newcastle have got a stinking record at the Etihad. Absolutely the only way to describe it. The only way to describe it. But I was hoping, as a neutral, for more than seven minutes. Yeah. Well, we both were. I mean, it's our evening as well. We've given up our evening. It's our job. We know that. And we're happy to do it. We're very grateful to have this opportunity, of course.

1:32And we will never forget that. But sometimes it's good when the games meet us halfway. And seven minutes in was pretty thin gruel. And like you said, the goal after 29 minutes as well, that basically ends it as a tie. And despite, Marcus, you banging that drum as hard as possible, saying that you're never out of a game when it comes to Man City, which might I add, they probably weren't because they had so many chances and City lost so much control. Again, Newcastle just aren't in the position where they can take these chances or really push a team consistently because they've been so inconsistent themselves.

2:09Yeah. Yeah. So I actually should revise my statement. After seven minutes, you thought you said, wait, it's probably over. Two minutes or whatever it was after that, Joe Willock is put in. Hit the ball, man. Just hit it. I mean that is one of my pet hates in football is when someone has a presentable chance a very presentable chance to hit the ball I understand maybe taking a touch you steady yourself or whatever I get all that but if you have a chance to score and a very good chance like he did if he hits it over the bar okay you can see what he's trying to do right it goes wide to keep the saves but when you take that extra touch or two and the key we'll never know we will never know No, and it's the not knowing that destroys me, Luke Moore.

2:53Because if they had scored that, actually, despite what I said a moment ago, it would have been game on. And the thing is, throughout the game, despite Man City scoring three goals and missing chances themselves, they could have had about five or six, Newcastle could have had a few as well. They had a number of opportunities. And that is one of the hallmarks of this Man City team, is you'll always get chances. They could score goals, but they're going to leak. But my... Oh, yeah. So it wasn't too much in it for us really as neutral so much. But it was a bit of a spectacle because there was goals in the game, of course.

3:28But Omar Mamouche starting the game up front, Harland was on the bench, so he did come on. You see that despite what Pep jokes about with regard to spending and net spend and all that kind of stuff, they do have a very good squad and a bit of depth in there. I don't think there's too much doubt on that. It was also like a game, it was a story of those early chances, because the first two goals that Marmucci scores are both very fortunate. The first one particularly is incredibly lucky. I mean, no one could do that if they tried. But it's Byrne's fault because he's out of position. And the reason he's out of position is because Newcastle are playing this formation they just don't look comfortable with.

4:09Happened against PSG as well. Took them ages to get into the game. They conceded early against PSG as well. Byrne finds himself way out of position and has to recover. And in recovering, it becomes last ditch. And it is still very unlucky because it was actually a pretty good tackle. And obviously he ricochets over Aaron Ramsdale. But ultimately it comes from a situation where the defender is in the right position. The second goal, again, is also pretty fortunate. But then what I mean by the story being about those early chances, the Joe Willock thing, he's not a goal scorer, right? So they're playing behind a front two in this weird 3-4-1-2 formation.

4:48They're playing Joe Willick in there. I mean, he's 26 and he's got about 30 goals in his whole career. He just doesn't score goals. He's not someone who you want a chance necessarily to fall for, even though he's a relatively attacking player. Got one against PSG, did he not? He did. He got a nice header against PSG. Very much the exception that proves the rule markers. If you would like to make a very heartfelt argument that Joe Willick is a goal-scoring player, I'm here for it. Please, by all means, do so. Well, I thought that perhaps much like Eddie Howe and co, that that goal against PSG was the launch pad.

5:19Could have been. Proved not to be. Proved that he's still stuck on the launch pad when it comes to goals. And Newcastle generally are, you know, there are Newcastle fans out there, one of which notably who isn't here to defend himself, who's been very negative about Newcastle's season this season. and the fact that they lost the first leg so convincingly in terms of a scoreline at home meant it was very unlikely they were going to go and turn it around at the Etihad. Do I think there are some teams out there who could have turned it around at the Etihad? Absolutely, for the reasons that you've already talked about, but just Newcastle aren't that.

5:57And they were getting chances without even really needing to do that much because of the way City are at the moment. but even then they don't have confidence in front of goal they don't take chances um you know there were there are a lot of shots in the game and a lot of missed chances there are 30 shots in the game overall between both sides just it was just a story of missed missed opportunities really yeah it was I mean even when Jan Wisser came on a striker who knows where the back of the net is and he found it plenty of times last season at Brentford straight into the second half and you're thinking to yourself as a neutral.

6:32And I'm reminding myself of Fulham's near great comeback against Man City earlier in the season. I'm thinking, a goal here, you never know. Whisser goes through. I know he gets his foot sort of slightly messed up. But again, it was another chance. And it goes, what, high and wide. We had to wait until... It was a really poor finish. It was, yeah. He missed it by miles. It was a very strange one, yeah. Anthony Alanga eventually scored for Newcastle. His first goal for them, which again kind of surprise tells his story the story of his short time at Newcastle in that he's not really done it has he um I know some fans up there have been quite disappointed with his contribution so far although I don't want to be too harsh on Alanga because this inconsistency or uh unconfidence in front of goal or whatever it may be that is going on there, it does seem to kind of pervade throughout that squad.

7:29And look, they've reached the semi-final, the Cups, that's no mean feat. They're still alive in the Champions League and there's plenty of time to go in the Premier League. It's going to be too harsh in one sense. But again, though, they should have scored more than one goal. There's no two ways about that. And again, the Newcastle fans go away a little bit disappointed. And of course, James Trafford in the Man City goal had a pretty decent game. nearly went to Newcastle himself. Pep said that he will play in the final against Arsenal. So we'll talk about the final in a bit. But Luke, on the point of Newcastle, I mean, it can't just be that, it can't just be that, oh, well, they're missing Isak because they have signed replacements and Voltemard has done pretty well this season.

8:12Can you put your finger on what's going on? They don't, I mean, you know, if you interrogate the numbers, They don't actually have many goal scorers in their squad. So talk about Alanga there. I mean, you can go through them in turn if you want. Talk about Alanga there. Not a goal scorer. He's not. I don't know he's ever hit double figures in his career for goals. But he played with much more confidence at Nottingham Forest, though. Sure, but the numbers. Michael's talking about goals. In Nottingham Forest last season, he scored sick goals in all competitions in 43 games. He's not a big goal scorer.

8:45Fair enough. Voltemada as well. I mean, Walter Mons is a young player, an exciting player. He has really one decent goal-scoring season behind him in which he scored 12 league goals for Stuttgart, right? 12. That's his best return in the league season, right? And I know he's still an improving player. I think he has been very good, by the way. I think he's been better than a lot of people have said. He's adjusted to a much faster league quite quickly. He's caused problems because his makeup and his profile has coincided with the way that a lot of Premier League teams now play. so that kind of helps him with a bit of nuisance value as well but he's much more than that so he's definitely an improving player but if you look at Anthony Gordon this season in the Premier League it's been slim pickings honestly it's not been great domestically so perhaps it's not a surprise that the profile of player they've brought in the profile of players they're getting on the pitch mean they don't score as many goals as they should and there was definitely an example of that last night so that's a question mark over them It'll be tough for them to take because I think the League Cup for them last season was such a big story.

9:51And obviously you want to become synonymous with that and you want to really make hay out of that. And you want to be like a profile like Newcastle, size of club they are, in the back end they've got and the rest of it. They want to start really stamping their imprint on competitions, right? And at the moment, the concern is, I suppose, under how they're not really doing that. I mean, I know they're going to have more games in the Champions League to come, and we'll see what happens there. You'd fancy them to get past Carabag, for example. But they're out in the League Cup in the semi-final this time.

10:23They're not going to do much at all in the league this season. And so it feels like it might be on the verge of starting to stutter a bit under Howe. It might be a bit of a project that's now stuttering. I think last night in microcosm, in fact, probably across both the legs, it probably summed up the issues with where they currently are. So they get beaten at home by Man City, who are a better side, but they can't stick in there. They can't stick in there and stay in the tie, really. And then they go away to City, where, as you said, they've got an absolute dreadful record. And they're 3-0 down after half an hour.

10:59You know, it's done. It's absolutely done. And so, you know, they are struggling to impose themselves on this season across the board, I would argue.

11:16Well, in stark contrast, Manchester City, a Carabao Cup win for them, would be Pep Guardiola's 19th trophy in 10 years at the club. Yeah. It is fair to say, Luke, that he's done well. but we as you know we are in the twilight of pep at manchester city but the final will be the first time that he faces his former student michael arteta that's not how um michael arteta refers to himself and probably nor guardiola him but uh yeah the first time that faced each other in a major final i'll be interested in your take on this is there any merit in the kind of conversation around psychologically because this final is a it's It's the first big showpiece final of the season.

12:00It's at Wembley. Is there an opportunity here in this title race? You know, over the next couple of weeks, so there's a few twists and turns. I'm not sure there will be, but so there's a few twists and turns and it's still very much alive. Is there a chance to strike a psychological blow here in the form of this final? Does it represent that as well or do you think it's separate to that? I think it, without sort of towing an obvious media narrative here, I think it would be a psychological a huge psychological boost for Arsenal if they beat Man City not because oh we can beat them because if you remember the game at the Emirates earlier on in the season the way Man City set up was very much oh we're playing a better side here and let's see what we can nick and they were very close to a victory so yeah it was a weird one to watch though wasn't it it was odd yeah and he's got to give them some kind of credit whereas in previous seasons You think about Arsenal going away to Man City in the two-all draw when they were down to 10 men and they just defended in quite remarkable fashion for the whole of the second half.

13:04And then in a previous one, I think they drew nil-nil. They certainly drew a game against them and they were quite pleased. And you thought, no, those are the games you've got to go and win. So I think for Arsenal, it would be a big one because, again, you've got the trophy. You've got something tangible. Those players who a lot of people think they're the nearly men now. and a lot has been made of that. I think that gives them a boost. I think it probably relaxes the fans a little bit. But I don't think it can be dismissed, the importance of it to Manchester City as well, because they're a side who have got question marks.

13:38They've been top of the tree for four out of the last five years in the Premier League, right? Remarkable stuff, what they've done. It's quite clear that Guardiola's powers are on the wane somewhat. And they lost the FA Cup final as well last season. If they could win a bit of silverware, I think it would put a bit of spring in Pep's step again. Because I think this season we have seen him go through the motions a bit. Around, I think it was November, December time, not that long ago, he was like, oh yeah, the mood's good and you could see he was there. And now he's kind of slumped back into his, he's getting irritated by the press again.

14:14He's looking a bit worried on the touchline. The fans are a little bit nervy. I think it would be bigger for Arsenal. I don't think there's any doubt about that because of the lack of trophies that they've had. But I also think that there's some importance to it for Manchester City. But it is an intriguing cup tie, or cup final, I should say, because I'm struggling to think now when the two best teams, no disrespect to Aston Villa, but the two best teams in England have gone against each other in a cup final like this at this stage of the season when they're clearly the two who are going to go the distance in the Premier League title race.

14:49You think about when Liverpool and Man City were going at it, they played each other in cup competitions. You remember in the Champions League, for example, although I suppose that was before Liverpool were winning the league. I think it was the quarterfinals, was it? Oh, forgive me if that's inaccurate. But it was always Liverpool v Chelsea, it seemed, in cup finals when Klopp's side got the better of them and so on. So, yeah, I think this scenario, it doesn't happen too many times. So it might be boring for some people thinking, oh, well, one of them are going to win the league. and now one of them are going to win the League Cup as well.

15:20But I think just to pound back from that, I think it's an intriguing battle and the psychological advantages that could happen, et cetera, and so on. Yeah, I think, yeah, one thing I would just add is, if City have been a bit stop-start and they have been found it difficult to kind of rage against this dying of the light when it comes to Guardiola, you know, standing up on that podium, lifting a trophy and like you say, the fans get happy about it. City have kind of, under Guardiola, it feels to me like they have used a League Cup a league cup when there's a real springboard for a good end to the season right and maybe the drum you've been banging for a while now is spot on and you know it's just diminishing returns and they can't do that anymore but it'd be interesting to find out and I do think what you said there about settling the fans down for Arsenal and getting a trophy and not being nearly men and all the rest of it well if that's the case which I think it is then the opposite must be true as well if you get to a final there and you go okay we've been beaten by City who we know we're better than, it does start to feel like it might become a bit edgy.

16:22Now, by that point, of course, Arsenal could be not quite out of sight, but on the verge of being out of sight by then. Six points clear at the moment. There's a few games between now and then. They could be seven, eight, nine points clear. If that's the case, then it becomes a big gap to overhaul. But I do think the neutral in us probably, and it's very difficult to make an argument that any neutral should want Mancic to win anything, I understand that. But in this specific context, the neutrals among us who would like a title race would probably want to see Man City win the League Cup. Do you think?

16:57Because that gives you... Yeah, because it gives them a springboard and it gives them added confidence and perhaps gives them a better chance of pushing Arsenal all the way. That would be my argument. I don't know if it'll transpire like that, but it feels like that might be the way it turns out. So you're trying to squeeze as much potential drama and jeopardy out of this and you feel that that could get you an extra couple of drops. Maybe the argument is that the City players don't give a shit about the League Cup. But I don't think that's the case. Yeah, I agree. If you look at Semenyo, you look at Cherky, you look at Gaze come in.

17:33These new players, one or two others as well, they come in, some of them not winning an awful lot. Gaze won the FA Cup, I understand that, but that's basically it. You know, Semenyo won't have won anything. So for them, it would be really important. So I do think it would present a springboard, yeah. But I also think that if you start winning trophies, unless exceptional circumstances, you want to keep doing it. You want to stay there. And I can't imagine any of those players, if you think of Rodri going into that game, he's going to go, ah, do you know what? I'll be okay if we just get a silver medal here.

18:09It's just not in their DNA, which is why they play at the top of the game. And it would be lovely for James Trafford if they could do it, but it would be lovely for Arsenal as well. You know? Of course. Maybe I'd like them to share the cup, Luke. Well, that would be certainly an approach. I mean, do you think you'll get many takers for that?

18:28I think you could weed out one or two Arsenal fans who would go, yeah, all right then. Does that mean we don't lose it? I don't think so, mate. I think that's cheeky even for you. All right. Okay, fair enough. Well, let's move on then because Guardiola said he was going to make a letter and send it to the EFL to allow Mark Gay to play in the final. And he doesn't understand. I like how he says they'll make a letter. Yeah. He doesn't understand why Gay can't play in the final. I like the idea of him in some kind of medieval village. It wouldn't be medieval, would it? It'd probably be a bit later than that.

19:01Some kind of old-fashioned village, you know, making his own paper, you know, and pressing it and, you know, by candlelight writing a letter to the EFL with one of those seals on it. and saying, why can't Mark Gahey play in the final? The reason he can't, for those people out there who are more interested in admin than I certainly am, is that the rules did change. So you can play for two teams in the EFL Cup now. So, for example, Semenya would have benefited from that because he played for Bournemouth in an earlier round and he's allowed to play. But the reason Gahey can't play is because there's a loophole in it which says they have to have signed before the end of January or the first semi-final, the semi-final first leg, which Eves earliest in Gahey came after the first leg.

19:44So he's now not eligible to play in the final. Look, it's hard to have a bit of sympathy around Fraglioli, around players being available, but this does seem a bit weird. I find all that kind of crap ridiculous. It is so archaic, those kind of laws, because they kind of hark back to a different generation where teams might be tempted to sign someone for the cup final. Yeah, because there was no transfer window. Well, there was no transfer, but even when the transfer window, So, well, you could, I mean, what was it up to like the 31st of March or something? You know, there was always some sort of period of signing and not signing players.

20:18And there's no way someone's going to sign something for the cup final in this day and age. I think that's a bit mad. So I hope Pep's letter strikes the right tone and finds favour. But they're not going to change it. They're not going to change it now. Well, I can still have hope. There's no, I mean, because they obviously changed the rule, didn't they, for the Champions League about six or seven years ago now. So that's kind of done. But I mean, the EFL have changed it. There's just this weird loophole in it. So, I mean, look, I suppose from Guardiola's point of view, they're by no means the only team who just sign loads of players.

20:50I mean, lots of teams do it. Arsenal have done it. Liverpool have done it. United have certainly done it. You know, these top teams do do it. So I guess from his point of view, he's like, well, this could make a difference for us. We've got players out injured at centre-back. We signed Gai because we've got players injured partly, and now we can't play him. I understand that. It seems a weird rule. I'm probably missing something really obvious. Well, I think the thing you are missing is Pep Guardiola is desperate not only to win the Carabao Cup, but to get his hands on that prize money. It's a massive amount of money.

21:16It's a life-changing amount of money. I think they should have to go on to speak to Alexander Armstrong and tell them what they're going to do, how they're going to spend it, like they do on Pointless. Go on fancy a nice new kitchen, Alex. I'd like to think, I mean, if we're going to talk about game shows, and you know I like a reference in the past, do you think that every participant in the Cup final, no matter what happens you get a Caravelle Cup a checkbook and pen that'd be lovely I'd like to see I'd like to see the squad all staring around Noel on like on Deal or No Deal which Noel? Noel Edmonds of course he's long gone now isn't he he's now living in the museum I think Stephen Mulhern presents presents Deal or No Deal now on ITV bizarrely oh is that right and he basically if you can't afford Anton Depp get Stephen Mulhern yeah I think that's fair but that's not a terrible thing he'd be happy with that wouldn't he yeah but you see that on X we had a tweet from average guy who says he found a parking space in London that is being sold for 160 ,000 pounds, which is 60 ,000 pound more than the Carabao cup prize money.

22:15We were wondering if there was a car park space in London that would cost more than the a hundred grand you get for winning. Jim's spot on for saying that. Well, and he's right. Average guy has confirmed it. I'd also like to bring something in from the discord as well to finish on. This is from PM who yesterday evening posted, And this is for anybody who doesn't listen to Ramble Uncut and thinks to themselves, you know what? I might fancy a bit of that. PM said, I've been listening to the Ramble for 15 years. Thank you so much, PM. Blimey, what a true friend of the Ramble you are. And I remain an enthusiastic patron supporter, but fair fucking play for reading out the frequently asked questions on the Mr.

22:54Kipling corporate website to stop the fans getting too above their station. Listen, I stand by that. That was outstanding content. I do. Listen, I think there's something in the idea that the world is so crazy at the moment. You've got every single podcast talking about the Epstein files and World War III and is Keir Starmer going to stand down, Peter Manson, all this stuff. You can tune into Ramblin' Cut and you can hear a genuinely passionate deep dive from me, you, and Jim about the best mixture Kipling products, how the products are made, the FAQs on the corporate, website to allay some fears you might have about how the Kipling guys do things.

23:38I thought it was actually genuinely very good content. It was insightful. Our mission is to not just inform, but to entertain as well. And that is well worth five bucks a month. I don't think you could argue against it. No. And I love the fact that the man who read out the frequently asked questions, he himself declares that's very good content. Yeah, exactly. I think you've got to back yourself in these situations. I challenge you to go out today or tomorrow to buy some Kipling. Yeah, I'm getting, what I'm waiting for today is a phone call I'm going to get from the commercial team here at Stack, the money men who are going to say to me, why are you giving Mr.

24:11Kipling so much presents on the show when they've not paid a single penny for it? Because of the love of the game. Love of the game is love of the game. It's a passionate, heartfelt fandom of Manor House, of Angel Slices, of Baker Slices, of, in your case, Marcus, the Mini Battenbergs. You know, we love the game and that's why we're doing it. we're also dangling the carrot in front of him thinking this is what you get without sponsorship imagine what there'll be crumbs everywhere in our studio have you stumped up a bit of cash Kipling yeah damn right thanks for listening to the Football Ramble part of the Acast Creator Network we'll be back tomorrow for the preview show where it's all going to go off everybody right until then thank you Luke Moore thank you very much and congratulations to Manchester City yes and once again thank you Mr Kipling

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