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3:36for the ones who get it done.

3:43Pete Donaldson: I strap on my ear goggles and I'm ready to go, everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble. Phil was Fabrio, was resplendent, and Scott is back. It's Wednesday, 21st of August. I'm Marcus Speller. I'm Pete Donaldson. And I'm the Dishina Haptaraja.

4:07Pete Donaldson: Hello, everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble. Bit of Beastie Boys to start with, Peter. Bit of Beastie Boys. Thanks to the friend of the Ramble, James Chugwin. Chugwin plays pop. Does he? Yeah. My goodness. Don't we all? That's a dated reference even for us, I would say. Chug Noble. Chug Noble.

4:24Marcus Speller: I can play as well. Exactly. Also a dated reference from around the same time. I'm not getting these references. Chugwin plays pop and the disaster in the power station that was Chernobyl. Yeah, Chernobyl. That was later dramatised And starred Keith Jekwin Yes Full circle Some of them did

4:46Pete Donaldson: The block out of EastEnders At Chernobyl It fell off There we are everybody Any other business? Keep it real Ian Veal If you want to submit an intro line For a future episode and get some great treatment and references tagged on the end of it, then do what James Chirguin did. Become a friend of the Ramble on our Patreon. You'll also get an extended edition of the Ramble today, which we affectionately call Ramble Uncut. And it's every single Wednesday. Click the link in the show notes to sign up now. Like the blood cut, you know, was uncut. Ah! Let's all more. Oh, you wee duff tea. Right, Pete Donaldson.

5:31Pete Donaldson: Yes. We only had... No, I say only. We had nine Champions League games last night. But we had 40 goals. We did. 40 goals. That is an average of 4.4 per game. Yeah. How about that? Yeah. I mean, it was all a bit rich, wasn't it? It was, you know, a bit clarity for me. Clarty. I mean, the PSG Barcelona was particularly, you know. You didn't enjoy that.

5:56Marcus Speller: Started on a sour note, good. It was a bit lobster thermidor for me. Yeah, no, no. A bit too much. Heavy on the cognac. not having it more enthusiastic about Chernobyl than four goals a game last night

6:08Pete Donaldson: yeah no that's true when you see the two Champions League favourites going at it which football fan would enjoy that no exactly okay well we won't start no don't start there yeah well let's start with a game that had more goals than Manchester City's game and PSG's game because it was Liverpool's game yeah they beat Villarreal 4-3 three wins out of three for Liverpool in the Champions League they're perfect in a fashion yes in a fashion Marcus Three points is three points. Three points is three points. No pictures on the scholarship, as we always say. No, their perfect start of the competition continues.

6:38Pete Donaldson: They are must-viewing. They are must-viewing. They are must-viewed. They are must-viewed. They're must-viewed. They are essential viewing in the Champions League this season. Like the Chernobyl disaster. Peter. What? Right, come on. No, the TV show. And Van Dyke is very much the elephant's foot of the thing. Right. Oozing problems for decades to come. Who's Gorbachev? I'm getting too involved in this they've conceded seven so far only Villarreal in the top 24 have conceded more top 24 the reason why I said top 24 you love that league table you dirty boy I do yeah you do you've got to get your thrills somehow haven't you but the top 24 of course they're the teams who some of them will automatically progress some of them will have to go through a playoff exactly that's why I thought that was relevant and there was just a couple of teams too many in the bottom bit they've conceded like the eighth amount of whatever So they are the only VRL conceded more in the top 24.

7:34Pete Donaldson: However, to flip it round back at you, only PSG have scored more than Liverpool in the Champions League so far this season. So again, essential viewing, Virtuotian, when it comes to Liverpool in the Champions League. My goodness, they made it difficult for themselves conceding to fairly... Well, the first one, I mean, Virgil van Dijkpeter. Was it back to the keeper? You seem to have cursed him a while ago. Two seasons ago now. You need to lift the curse. I mean, was it back to the keeper? Was it to the defender?

8:03Marcus Speller: I think he was going to the keeper, wasn't he, Van Dijk? Right, okay. And then he just got the angle completely wrong. I think he's looking more at the ball, I suppose, which you kind of... And then at the last minute, didn't look at the ball. And I find, speaking of radiation, I do find the angrier that Alisson gets, the nose just gets redder and redder. He'd do a lovely Santa at the Christmas party. Yeah. He's a very handsome lad But you know what he's going to look like As a 60 year old man His nose is going to be massive and red It's going to be great Sir Alex Ferguson Sir Alex Ferguson Yeah Who he was sworn at recently Did you see that?

8:41No I didn't He was going down the stairs And somebody went Sir Alex

8:44Pete Donaldson: Sir Alex Fucking come Was it John Joe Shelby? Yeah Tom's not in the C word Down for the YouTube edit Yeah 84 years old

8:53Marcus Speller: What another one Tom you big

8:55Pete Donaldson: Right honestly

8:57Marcus Speller: Slagging off an 84 year old man I know Is he 84? Yeah Oh wild Alright That's when I found that Kazim Richards is 40

9:04Pete Donaldson: I was furious about that this morning 84 year old man That's a kind of a General Pinochet defence That is Ah come on I'm an 84 year old man

9:12Marcus Speller: Don't get his attention

9:13Pete Donaldson: You remember what Ferguson did To all those teams He's actually not ever got him Turning up Grabbing three points Wherever he went in the land He's a Man United supporter He doesn't care I know he is He loves it He supports the regime And I'm not having it I'm just saying one man's freedom fighter is another man's Alex Ferguson abuser.

9:30Marcus Speller: It was a long time ago. Let's move on.

9:33Pete Donaldson: It was a long time ago. Anyway, Liverpool beat VRL 4-3. A very entertaining game. Van Dijk made a mistake.

9:39Marcus Speller: The Van Dijk mistake though, Mika Tadze had a lot to do. He had a lot of room

9:44Pete Donaldson: and time to do it.

9:46Marcus Speller: Yeah. Also, maybe he made it seem more that way because he doesn't take his eye off the ball. He takes one touch and then slots it into the far corner.

9:56Pete Donaldson: He was very composed.

9:57Marcus Speller: Yeah, doesn't look at the goalkeeper, doesn't worry about anyone coming to close him down. Very well taken. The second goal was an absolute joke in terms of defending.

10:06Pete Donaldson: Yeah. Cardona's goal.

10:08Marcus Speller: Yeah. And yeah, at the same time, there didn't seem... Maybe I'm misremembering it because of how the game panned out, but it felt like even at that time, Liverpool were like, okay, we'll just up the intensity here. And they weren't as intense as they should have been to start the game. And so they ended up levelling out because it didn't feel like there was any real jeopardy. As soon as Orahul gets that header with the back post to make it 2-1, it felt like there was still only one winner in that game.

10:30Pete Donaldson: Yeah, I mean, you look at the quality Liverpool have, you know, obviously VRL were in the Champions League on merit, but they're not a big side, okay? I know any team in the Champions League can give you somewhat of a game. They're in the top, was it 25? They're in the top 24. They're in the top 24. At the time of recording. Guys, they're in the top 24. They are in the top 24. It's a top 24 side, everyone. They have a big chance to get into the knockout phase of this competition. but no that's the thing I know what you mean Vish you have to give Liverpool credit for staying calm and then responding and responding well and winning the game fairly comfortably despite the late goal from Villarreal McAllister's goal was very important I think in that is that going to earn him his El Contrato he was quite upset wasn't he because he didn't get a new one he was quite upset

11:14Marcus Speller: that's quite a good point

11:16Pete Donaldson: it seems to have motivated him somewhat

11:18Marcus Speller: yeah and I suppose that's part of the tactic isn't it you don't just constantly hand people contracts. Dangle a carrot. Yeah, you do dangle a carrot. Spanish for carrot, Marcus? Carota. Why not? Carota. Sorry, everyone. Yeah. Sorry, everyone. Mi scusi. Yeah.

11:38Pete Donaldson: You're zuntai.

11:39Marcus Speller: Yeah. I know quite a big deal of it was made at the time, partly by him, but are we saying that the standoff with Mo Salah didn't work in Liverpool's favour when he ended up basically charging them to the Premier League title. It's what we do with Luke every season. Yeah. Dangle that carrot.

11:58Pete Donaldson: Yeah.

12:00Marcus Speller: But McAllister is quite an important point because he's emerged as a bit of the McAllister of old. There was a lot of talk last season that he lost his legs and that was a great example last night of when the game does speed up and when Liverpool play a bit quicker he can be central to that. He was very important in the way they got back into that. I mean he's 27 remember yeah so there's any chat

12:22Pete Donaldson: of like oh well he's his legs clearly like it's ridiculous but it is

12:27Marcus Speller: do you not feel like the Premier League in the last few seasons is just a lot more oh it's a slog your baseline running for example I know we talked about it with Manchester United but generally for a midfielder your baseline running is so much higher than I remember it the window clauses a little earlier with that didn't they exactly you're looking at your last big move 28

12:43Pete Donaldson: at least it is no you're right that's you know much has been made about the fact that that younger players, like very young players, are signed for huge money now because you think, right, well, they've got less minutes in their legs. I mean, if you look at the bench, Wurtz, Isak, Barkela, three£100 million-plus players are on the bench. Now, again, it's VRL you expect to win the game. And they did, lest we forget. But it is, you know, that's not that shocking anymore, I suppose, to think that those huge signings are on the bench.

13:16Marcus Speller: Particularly when they've got Brighton on the weekend as well, which is a big test.

13:20Pete Donaldson: And this is it. The early rounds of the Champions League. Let's be honest. You would probably say right now, the way Brighton are playing, it's a bigger game and a tougher game they're going to face than Villarreal. Despite Villarreal giving them a bloody nose. Again, you have to talk about what actually happened. But I think that was a bit of a surprise. It was just fortunate for Liverpool that Rio and Gamora thought, hang on a minute, I'm really young. I can run for England. Right, I'm going to take over here because my goodness. my goodness when he gets the ball and goes oh hey come on it's exciting Peter it is exciting yeah I mean it was the Nations League only next year and you've made it

14:02Marcus Speller: less exciting yeah less exciting to be honest oh dear there was some was that was that the I think they've been doing those pictures of like ex-Liverpool players like looking down and sort of going on him saying how am I doing boss there's a few memes sort of floating around on Twitter so the original was like was Brendan Rodgers with Shankly I think yeah yes nice he's done well there Shankly to be next to Ross but that was the point that was why it became memeable so who have they been doing it with Ingmar yeah I think so yeah with who with John Barnes and still alive I can't remember who the player was might have been two John Barnes no Brendan Rodgers Brendan Rodgers was on earth yeah oh sorry I thought they were both above.

14:48Marcus Speller: No, no. Brother Brent, he's getting a lot of love on this podcast. Sorry, is that why he went, oh, he's lucky to get in there? As in, like, the kingdom of heaven. Yeah, come on, no. I meant, like, he's up there with Shankly. Yeah, right.

15:00Pete Donaldson: You know. Right, okay. Who do you think should be in the kingdom of heaven? Who is the Mount Rushmore of Liverpool? Well, you've got Rodgers on one side, and then you can pick the next one.

15:10Marcus Speller: There was a really good version of that where, it's a little mean, but it was funny. when Jose Altidore was at Sunderland and he's, you know, on earth, saying, how am I doing, boss? And it's not awkward in heaven. It's like, firstly, I'm not fucking dead. And also, you're trash.

15:29Pete Donaldson: Oh, poor old Jose.

15:30Marcus Speller: Yeah. He's enjoying himself. It's fine.

15:33Pete Donaldson: But Rio and Gamayevich, what a talent.

15:37Marcus Speller: Just has to start. Do you know what?

15:39Pete Donaldson: It's so great, though, isn't it? Because there's been a few times in the Premier League where you see a player like that and sometimes they're drip-fed in and we will get to feel Foden a bit at his performance. And that's understandable and that's the right way. Clearly that was the right way to manage him, you have to say, which is what Guardiola did. And some players, especially when you think of them as pace merchants, you think, okay, what else have they got? Because that is obviously always going to be of value, but you can think of one or two players who were just seen for the pace. Whereas I think now, your comment earlier about, you know, a lot of running in the Premier League.

16:14Pete Donaldson: Yes, but you've also got to have the intelligence. If you've got, you know, it's not just the case of, right, you get the ball and beat your man. The way the systems work now, a coach like Iriola coming in, you know, and what have you. Ingemoa, the talent he has and what he's currently doing with it, it's frightening in a very good way. Yes, yeah. As Halloween approaches. Yeah, good point. Ten days away from the night of the ghouls.

16:41Marcus Speller: Luke made a really good point about why we tend to see more younger players getting game time, particularly when they're out wide, when they're wingers, because they're more willing to gamble. They're obviously quicker, more effervescent, but they've never lost. There's no sense of what happens if this doesn't go my way. They're full of beans and they're almost wound up and set off to go out whoever they're running at. and then with those opportunities you really separate the high caliber wingers because they use those opportunities to fine tune their game and things like that and Ngomou at 18 is doing that every time we see him he seems to get better become more mature, we can see it in real time that's always a great thing to be able to watch.

17:32Marcus Speller: I think the other thing as well, every time I watch him he gets bigger he's built a little bit like Tevez you know he's very broad shouldered he's got a really low centre of gravity but his legs seem really long because he's able to stride past players I think the other really cool thing with him is that you can already tell there's a there's a sense of responsibility there which belies his youth he's almost like right this is on me now

18:00Pete Donaldson: it's a great point

18:00Marcus Speller: and he seems to be thriving under that and it's quite a tough ask for any player regardless of how old you are particularly the team like Liverpool on a night like that. Yeah. But yeah, he's flourishing. He gives them an extra bit. Like at no point do you feel like with say Barclay, Isaac, Ekotike when he comes back and Ungamoa. Previously, we might have empathised a bit more with a younger English player in that bracket or in that group because you think he's probably the one who's likeliest to miss out here. But no, I think they're all one of the same. Yeah. And that's a huge credit to him and the people he's worked with.

18:38Pete Donaldson: It absolutely is. It's funny because he's distanced himself from chat linking him to Arsenal, saying that talks over a contract extension at Liverpool are going, well, it'd be madness if Liverpool were to entertain the idea of selling him, of course. But I do wonder, because we often see him playing on the right side because of the players they have on the left. And he's obviously right-footed. So, I mean, my hope for him and England, you've always got to keep the big picture in mind, but let's keep it with Liverpool for the moment. if you were multi-screening both things England would be the main screen and everything else would be the little screen my phone someone in the other room describing events to you that's your multi-screen they'd be describing it off a BlackBerry with Igamow playing on either side gives him different dimensions to his game that's classic England for me you can play either side fine not good at either no I know what you mean but he is doing that at Liverpool and you know we see Morgan Rogers now often when he comes on for England if it's Gordon or Rashford on the left he's going on to the right and so with Ingemoa I think that does give you experience of playing and I wonder if maybe we'll see that a bit more because back in the day of course you were right footed you play on the right and the idea of cutting inside or playing on the opposite flank was pretty foreign to you well you know football systems they do evolve but often they're quite secular

20:04Marcus Speller: Where has Maduweke been playing well for Arsenal recently? Exactly. On the left.

20:08Pete Donaldson: Yeah, exactly. So, you know, sometimes you can be pigeonholed or whatever. So he's getting a bit of experience with both. But I do wonder, though, because we are living in the modern era, I have to constantly be reminded, that Nguyen Moa will probably want to play on the left at some point. Now, whether that's in a year, two years, three years, he's very, very young. With the players Liverpool have there, I mean, Barcala, you know, Wurtz even, I know he's a different type of player but he can occupy that ground. It depends what they'll do with him and Wurz came on and played well and scored too.

20:39Pete Donaldson: I wonder in the near future if Ungemar will be thinking, the side I want to play, there's a lot of competition. There's a lot of very moneyed players being quite inconsistent on both flanks so you might think that he might have a chance if he sticks to it. Quite possibly Peter, quite possibly. But Wurz we should mention him, he came on, got his goal which is his first goal of the season of course we were sort of um i say critical of him i mean we were talking about the the the the performances this season haven't been too inspiring from him but he was definitely better when he came off the bench and again this is the type of game it's pretty open you're behind you need something go on go and do it the brief is pretty clear yeah you get you get um more touches

21:26Marcus Speller: in the box. Yeah. Which is quite rare for him. One of the criticisms that Carragher made, I think, after the Man City game was that he, one of the things that frustrates Carragher most is that he'll be in positions where he doesn't shoot. Like he's always looking for the cute pass rather than the actual attempt on goal. And yesterday, you know, got it out of his feet, left foot into the corner. This did feel like a really important game for Liverpool just to tick off a few things. One of them being a Vert's goal Araujo scoring like he's clearly very popular with the fans and also behind the scenes as well by all accounts Neone getting like minutes in the middle again another teenager 80 odd minutes Koumas is a funny one I'm always really impressed by him I know what you mean he kind of like want the goal but he's clearly a really tidy player and him starting games in the Champions League that's only a good thing

22:16Pete Donaldson: and that does show you the strength and depth and they have played some inexperienced players and so but Van Dijk doesn't that's a bit of a shame that he's the one that makes the mistake early on yeah

22:26Marcus Speller: come on grandad and then also you know the broader game pattern of coming back you know coming back from behind like that's a that's a good thing it sets them off into the weekend with a bit of fun you've seen seven goals you've come out on top and yeah like quite a good confidence boosting win that do you think I mean on the confidence boosting thing do you not think that like for the final goal of the match the way they march through or for your real yeah and Oluwase was just a tidy finish what a nonchalant finish was it a tidy finish or was it just no one's marking me and I'm on the training ground kind of finish that for me that made me think Liverpool are not serious contenders any competition they're in this season it was that

23:09Pete Donaldson: but it was still a very lovely finish but on terms of what you've said there are they going to compete this season I suspect with three wins out of three in the Champions League they'll go through because even when Spurs were having a mare in the Premier League you saw that in these early rounds of Europe as we've seen in the other European competitions just the spending power and the muscle of the Premier League in that regard is always enough to go reasonably far in Europe there's no way they're going to be challenging for the Premier League title this season could they win a domestic trophy league cup in Africa yeah absolutely of course they could but this is not a team yet that is going to be challenging for the big big big big big prizes big big prizes I mean they may very well click up top but just that defence just seems very very leaky as a lot teams who are competitive in the Premier League seem to be this season so maybe it's that well I mean it's quite literally why Arsenal won the league you know you tighten up at the back because Arsenal aren't amazing going forward in terms of other Premier League winners but you're right it's about that solidity at the back which is so solid and Vero weren't on a poor side by any I mean they're in the Champions League for one they're in the top 24 and they did rest a lot of players for this so there was a lot of players who were very fresh for this maybe it's a better performance bit of context could they do worse than bringing back young Trent Alexander-Arnold to the club not defensively will that help?

24:41Pete Donaldson: there are some rumours that he's considering his future at Real Madrid after growing frustrated with his lack of playing time, he must have been so gutted when Jose Mourinho got the job because there's just no way Mourinho's going to entertain some of that sort of stuff and obviously they signed Denzel Dumfries as well and you do look at it and you think poor old Trent you know although he is a rat and maybe he's getting his just desserts. Little crossing rat do you think that he was on the height of nothing anyway because Vinicius and Mbappe don't score headers so what's the point of having him?

25:15But Jude Bellingham does they love him though but you need to be up there

25:19Pete Donaldson: I think I mean with with Trent I thought you know the type of player they like at Madrid most of the games they're going to play especially in the league I thought he'd be a great fit to be honest and he's had moments don't get me wrong and this could just be he needs a run in the side though and he's always performed better when he started for Liverpool hasn't he so yeah I mean he was an unused sub in both their last two games but you know it's real Madrid lads maybe you're just one of those players who need to be who just belongs on the fridges even though they spent a lot of money on him that's kind of Real Madrid stuff innit it's also Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid and it's Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid yeah that is the thing

25:54Marcus Speller: he's got to negotiate but I could definitely see a situation where he starts loads of games between January and May

26:01Pete Donaldson: I could be yeah yeah yeah

26:03Marcus Speller: just because of the nature of like Dumfries is a good player Dumfries is more somewhat more of Mourinho's type of fullback yeah but they'll be in situations where they've got to cut through teams a bit more and also as I alluded to earlier Mbappe and Vinicius seem to really like playing with Alexander-Arnold if you're players who like playing off the edge of the defender or coming in into the box wanting a ball on a plate there's only one person in that team even in Real Madrid who's going to guarantee you that

26:35Pete Donaldson: they're not the two you've got to convince though well

26:39Marcus Speller: Mbappe

26:41Pete Donaldson: alright everybody coming up after this Phil Foden runs right against iCathedons.

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29:00never complained about the referees and action but this action is really incredible incredible

29:07Pete Donaldson: Welcome back to the Football Ramble, everybody. Manchester City 5, Ike Athens 1. Phil Foden was incredible. He scored his first hat-trick since April 2024. Four goals in two games for Philly Foden. And of course, his goal at the weekend was his first for the club since December last year. When asked if he was returning to his best, Phil Foden said, slowly but surely, still a long way to go, but I'm going in the right direction. That's good to hear, Peter. Yeah, I mean, I guess he's It is good to hear And I think we can kind of Ethically enjoy Phil Ford And being a Manchester City Youth prospect Never signed him Never signed him, exactly He can kiss the badge We can enjoy this lovely bit of fugu Without the toxic liver That is the people who want it

29:51Marcus Speller: Give him all the bananas Not as many as the bloke from E17 But give him all the bananas All the bananas Are we confusing potatoes with bananas there? Yeah, we are Why did he? I thought he had bananas No, he ate lots of he ate lots of potatoes baked potatoes oh is that what then he ran himself over yes exactly he wasn't bananas maybe if he'd had the bananas it wouldn't be quite so heavy on his stomach and he wouldn't have gotten confused sorry but Phil Forden's been eating the bananas and also enjoying bananas enjoying bananas and enjoying the banana the general bananery yes scored a goal with a banana shot didn't he exactly why do we call it banana shots anymore for crying out loud

30:31Pete Donaldson: that's true that is very true Well, he was brilliant. There's no two ways about that. He was at times played as a false nine during the match. Said he enjoyed the role. Maresca said before that he believes Foden could thrive there. Even Thomas Tuchel has tried it for England. But it's good that Foden's getting back to his best. I thought it was interesting that he himself said, you know, slowly but surely still a long way to go. Obviously, the previous couple of seasons, it's not been, you know, his performances have been below par. He's been available for selection, but when he has been used, it's been kind of bit part here and there.

31:06His assist, Rish, or his goal and following Rish, hasn't been amazing by his own lofty standards. But it's been a couple of seasons now and it's just good to see him. I mean, it's against the Athens side, but can we play every week, etc.? But he was excellent last night. You've still got to do it. I hope he continues.

31:22Pete Donaldson: Well, it's true. I mean, yeah, the last couple of seasons, he's not been great. And, you know, there's various rumours and various, you know, reasons for that. and we're not going to speculate.

31:32Marcus Speller: Well, I mean, he's been quite honest about how he struggled mentally over the last couple of years, and people close to him have been quite forthcoming about how there was an ankle injury that I suppose is an external issue that people see, but there have been loads of stuff that he's been having to deal with. And as you alluded to before, the fact that he was playing this new role, obviously scoring a hat-trick, looked like he was having a lot of fun, which even at a club like Man City you know in the current situation was still nice to see for someone like Foden

32:07Pete Donaldson: well yeah have fun before the fun stops yes you might say I mean the goal where you know he stuffed it in the top corner just delightful what a finish again it showed you how much he was enjoying it and he was also linking up with Rico Lewis very well at one point I think it was his first goal where he was pointing at Lewis which was a little patronising It was, but clearly not meant to be that. But Lewis has been sort of, you know, in and out the side. Maybe he's, again, I don't want to put words in his mouth or anything, but maybe he's sort of in a slightly lower, you know, confidence is slightly lower.

32:42Pete Donaldson: So Foden wanted to highlight the fact that, you know, that was really good. Whatever it was, it was good to see them linking up because you know Rico Lewis is a fine player. And it's nice to see him in there. Elliot Anderson, another fine player, got his first Manchester City goal. He got a blow to the jaw in the process, but he's off the mark, Pete Donaldson. He is, yeah. Well, he just doesn't score a lot of goals. That's not what he's there for. He sort of breaks up playing and says, give me that ball. Yeah, he does a lot. He does a lot indeed. Let me have that back, please. Thank you. Ryan Shirky scored another brilliant goal.

33:12Pete Donaldson: Can I say he's got one of the worst celebrations in football? Explain what it is. It's just very dislikable to me.

33:18Marcus Speller: It's kind of, it's that pose where he stares off into this and softening in front of the away fans. His own statue kind of thing.

33:25Pete Donaldson: But it's kind of like, do a bit more if you're going to be a statue. So again, if someone does quite a sort of seemingly quite arrogant celebration, I don't necessarily mind that. The old cantonal with the arms out sort of thing. That's kind of what it is, isn't it? Yeah, but it's not though. You've got to be... You've got to earn that, have you? I think you've got to signpost it just that tiny bit more. Well, I'm having a nice time. You've got to mouth it. No, you're having a nice time because of me. Because again, I don't... It's just, it's too like... I don't know. I'm not into it yeah fair what would yours be if you're a footballer top off in the crowd what was your celebration you can't do that every time what was my celebration what was your leatherhead reserve celebration when you played Sunday morning football what was your celebration what was your when you were banging them in when you were banging them in when you were making fun I would wipe my brow in relief and go thank goodness that went in

34:16Marcus Speller: which in its own way is is a celebration yeah is a celebration I don't know Marcus Speller has scored a goal in the World Cup final with his celebration. Phew, I'm glad that went in. He's saying. Why is Winston Churchill commentating on Marcus's goal?

34:32Pete Donaldson: Winston Churchill.

34:34Marcus Speller: Never have so many.

34:36Pete Donaldson: So many people. So many goals been scored by such a little man. So few men. Such a pathetic little man. Such a short king. What was your celebration? I bet you've still got a celebration, haven't you?

34:47Marcus Speller: No, no. Why not? Hang on, you're saying

34:50Pete Donaldson: I should have a celebration. You're like, oh no, not me.

34:52Marcus Speller: The only time I've done a confected celebration was when it was my last school game and we played our rivals. And I kept being called offside because I was fat and slow. And that's just what happens.

35:10Pete Donaldson: I have to think of Vish being fat. But now he's such a muscle man.

35:14Marcus Speller: And then I ended up scoring at the last minute. And I went over to the sideline and pretended to flag. Nice Oh lovely That's good Okay so Like Gazza Like Gazza Like Gazza A little bit like Gazza Yeah Like Gazza for rages

35:31Pete Donaldson: Impersonating one of my assistants Thank you Yeah Yeah so the only time I've done one of those Sort of planned celebrations Was when it was just After my wife gave birth And I did the old baby That's just lovely You've got to do that And it's one of those ones Where I'm like Didn't attend the birth Didn't attend the birth You play football Yeah exactly yeah Well of course they weren't there She was giving birth Yeah Sorry good point Yeah yeah yeah But I I you know I made sure that anybody who knew what I was going on about knew I was thinking of them. Yeah, exactly. Nice. So it was just for me, essentially.

35:59Marcus Speller: They were watching you at home, though. Yeah, that's for us. I once got a woolen balaclava that had a Batman kind of face on it. I put it over my head like Jonas. And I'd been called offside. It makes it funny because I'm shit, scored a goal in a friendly, and put a stupid mask on for a laugh. and I was called offside how have you managed to be like

36:23Pete Donaldson: almost like VAR-esque ruined your celebration perfect I thought you celebrated

36:28Marcus Speller: by doing an armed robbery got to put on a balaclava

36:32Pete Donaldson: you can't say that on mic surely good win for Man City though 17 year old Floyd Samba Floyd Samba started up top for Man City son of former Blackburn defender Christopher Samba of course makes you feel grandfather age yeah he's bad enough when Liam DeLapp came along this I expect him I know he started off as a midfielder and he's quite unusual for such a tall player to start you know to play there because he was absolutely ginormous as like a 15 year old but looking at his dad he's probably getting even taller do you think young Samba I think he's got he's got a good four or five inches in him okay I mean he's currently he's currently down at six foot I know we're vertically challenged but he's six foot so it's like yeah no one's making a documentary about his height no but his dad was massive he was like 6 '5 or something I'm just saying he's going to get bigger

37:23Marcus Speller: he turns 19 do you not get taller? I'm not still looking for a spurt

37:26Pete Donaldson: I was about to say Peter I think we're going to dash your hopes here stop looking at me when you say chance will be a fine thing every time oh dearie me Luxembourg was a fun evening it was and it's still affecting you by the looks of it but Man City though they crushed like Athens 5 '1 they'll do that I am someone who has seen Ike Athens in the flesh this season Have you? Yeah They played Shakhtar Right Oh yes of course And Shakhtar won 3-1 Weren't you doing the post match or something? No no no You were doing the same singing Were you doing your bit of blue? They don't No I was doing some gags My mother-in-law Again My gags are so It's from Hungary We'll meet again Very specific Hungarian mother-in-law jokes my mother-in-law isn't Hungarian but very why is your mother-in-law I'm not telling you and that was it no not doing it we'll find out I'm going to find out don't do it I'm going to do a tell-all expose podcast about Marcus' mother-in-law she's English

38:34Pete Donaldson: my gags are so subtle that nobody in the room realises I'm doing them right okay nice but did you get a bit dinner I did and I started throwing the plates at the Greek fans they didn't understand what was going on. But the Ukrainians in the room enjoyed it. Good. So there we are. You see, I am available for corporate work. You are available for corporate work. Ike fans were great. The team wasn't great. Shakhtar beat them 3-1. It did not surprise me that Man City were going to win this game. They did win the game. They hammered them and they're having a nice time. They've also reportedly, Manchester City, ordered an additional 30 ,000 inflatable bananas from Imre Varadi's company which is called Imre Banana.

39:12Marcus Speller: It's tax deductible, isn't it?

39:14Pete Donaldson: let's not get into that Varadi played for Manchester City that is a crime yeah he played for Manchester City in the 1980s which wasn't a crime he was nicknamed Imre Banana I'll leave that there yeah so there we go confusing very confusing

39:28Marcus Speller: it was a big thing when they for travelling away fans in the 80s it was a bit of fun and now it's being refashioned into this symbol of defiance yeah something they're guilty of yeah not great no apparently so Varadi kind of set up this company when the Man City fans were trying to I think they did this a few times quite recently after they won the league I think and Imri Varadi decided I'm gonna I should have set this up years ago basically drop shipping printed bananas inflatable bananas I mean quite hard to they're not fun when they're deflated so quite easy to what is fun

40:09Pete Donaldson: when it's deflated well exactly when they're football for example rubbish when it's deflated. And like, so easy to store in that sense, but they're not fun deflated. So I imagine it's quite a, he's probably just got one lockup with like 30 ,000 bananas somewhere. Sounds like he's managed to shift them. It looks like he's managed to shift them. He played the long game. No, he played the short game because he set this company up way too late. Apparently, when it was kicking around, apparently in the 80s when this was happening, West Ham had inflatable hammers, Grimsby had inflatable fish and Norwich had an inflatable canary.

40:41They had one inflatable canary. It was just a lot of inflatables kicking around. We could have had more beach ball, ghost goals. No, beach ball.

40:49Pete Donaldson: Ghost goals are something different. Well, yes. Okay, fine. It's good. Weird pen.

40:55Marcus Speller: Where are they getting these bananas from? Because if they order any more, just with the uncertain situation around the Strait of Hormuz, would you need to inflate them with helium to float over the top, I suppose? To escape. And then would the Houthi Rebels pop them?

41:12Pete Donaldson: do you want my opinion on this?

41:13Marcus Speller: yes have the final word and we can move on is there a is there a land to air banana defence system for the Houthi rebels yes or indeed the Iranians or indeed anyone in the region well what I would say you could paint them a different colour and people think well I mean they might be bananas but maybe they're just little blimps exactly little baby blimps and that's absolutely fine still not great we'll let them go no I was going to shoot at that but no I'm not going to do that

41:38Pete Donaldson: my advice to everybody is don't trust anyone. Good point, actually. PSG for Barcelona 2. Speaking of. The two favourites for the competition, Locked Horns in Paris, or Paris, as it's called. Oh, what the fuck is happening here? What a match. What a match. What a match. Andy Brassel. Remember that guy? Yeah, he's still flapping around. He's still inflating a banana. He said... Took some time off

42:04Marcus Speller: from his looting to cover a game, didn't he?

42:06Pete Donaldson: He's been naughty. he's been saying on On the Continent this season that he would be surprised if the winner of the competition wasn't one of PSG Barcelona Arsenal Bayern Munich oh stick your neck out Andy come on Andy

42:18Marcus Speller: that's the kind of shit we'd say

42:21Pete Donaldson: could be any of these great teams one of the best teams

42:23Marcus Speller: one of these four brilliant teams in Europe true enough yeah

42:26Pete Donaldson: but the point stands though Peter PSG and Barcelona are the two favourites I can watch that every night of the week and twice on Sundays producer Jali said going from watching Newcastle play on whenever it was and Saturday to this was like a real it was a real it's enough to give you the emotional bends I think right yeah was it like watching a British gangster film back in the day and then going I'm going to sit down and watch Casino or something oh okay this is how it's done properly yeah nice okay I see what you mean yeah it was it was brilliant I'm just because obviously Barca I'd say they're the top two favourites PSG were good value for the win I thought they're just going to win this company again they're just

43:08Marcus Speller: they're so annoyingly good at the things that shouldn't appeal to them yeah defending and pressing

43:14Pete Donaldson: unless it's like an Arsenal sort of hit job where they do what they do and like defend the crap out of the tie should they meet them at some point in the competition and then Bruno Gimerez or Rice or whatever just whacks one in but even then like PSG oh man it's it's like you they are so unbelievably good I mean we know this they've won back to back Champions Leagues and you see this game and okay, Barcelona scored two goals but let's remind ourselves what Barcelona have in the side. I mean, you mean LaMalle's goal was lovely. Oh my, just to dig that out of the turf so high. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And he actually gives, to beat Emery for pace like that, like he gives Emery a chance after the header to set himself to make it a fair run and he still beats him for pace and he just fucking toes it in the top.

43:59It's one of those ones

44:00Pete Donaldson: again back in the day where I'd have gone, use your weaker foot. You kind of think, it did, it was very effective though on your stronger foot. It's lovely. So yeah, look, I get, you know, Barcelona had a little bit of joy, but PSG still had an awful lot of joy.

44:13Marcus Speller: But PSG, sorry, Barcelona have been one of the most exciting teams in Europe. Yes. For the last couple of months. Yeah, the first couple of months of the season. And they were taken apart. Yeah, I mean, they were fish. But they looked, they looked a little clueless as well. There were a number of times they lost the ball because they kept trying to go back and try and combine. Garcia was on form the first sort of 10 minutes. Well, he needed to be. I mean,

44:33Pete Donaldson: Ferran Torres, you know, obviously scored the winning goal in the World Cup final you know that's safe that's in the bag but my goodness he isn't half passing up chances

44:41Marcus Speller: there's a little bit of Morata about him isn't there I know what you mean it's like you're a good striker but fuck you miss a lot

44:46Pete Donaldson: the two goals that separated the sides they come in in the last 10 minutes the game doesn't finish on 80 minutes so they count that's absolutely fine but it almost gave the illusion that this game was closer than what it was yes true and that's what I mean you're right Vish to say that the way they took Barcelona apart you're just like bloody Nora and in the early rounds PSG don't normally give a damn they've gone through the playoffs in this new format which seems madness considering what they've done in it so you know they went to Man City took Man City apart I know Man City you know it was a funny game you could argue about the atmosphere or whatever but still Man City is still a very good football team and look what they've been doing in the Premier League it is I mean Andy says you know PSG Barcelona or Bayern Munich I think you could just limit that to PSG right now and say well it is very difficult because And again, when you're in the knockouts, who can beat them over two legs?

45:38Pete Donaldson: I think the only... You saw Arsenal in the final took them to penalties last season.

45:43Marcus Speller: I think it's got to be a one-off game. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, 100%. Also, particularly because of how they rotate with their squad. A, because they can, because it's deep. Totally. The way... They basically just prime them for that running. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. They obviously have the situation where when it gets to the you know real crunch time in the Champions League they can turn to Liga and be like we're not playing that game by the way so you can add it on later on we're already 15 points clear anyway give us that weekend off and we'll you know I don't know we'll give you something it's a dream innit

46:19Pete Donaldson: yeah

46:20Marcus Speller: but then you end up we saw even not just Arsenal but we saw it against Bayern Munich even of people who have a similar rich opportunity to rest and rotate Bayern Munich were cooked when they played them. Well, that's what I mean. They run them ragged.

46:34Pete Donaldson: Because in that game, PSG, look, with that first leg last season in the semi-final that you're referencing, was just one of the greatest games you'll ever see. But even then, you know, at one point, PSG, I think, were 4-2 up in the first game. And they kind of took their eye off the ball. But they still won the tie. And then away in Munich, they showed that totally different dimension. I know it ended 1-0, but it was Kane who scored a beauty very, very late on. But how many times have we seen them do that? we've seen them do that at Arsenal before in Knockouts as well they go ahead early and they go right do you know what that'll do us and you can't break them down they're just they're so strong everywhere unbelievable really shame for Anthony oh I see oh real shame for Anthony Gordon he's got four points out of out of PSG before didn't get any close did he Peter he's having a lovely time he's having a lovely time let him live it somebody pointed out that he he's dressing like in like lovely suits and stuff now he's on the continent and I was a bit like and I was a bit like his dress sense his dress sense was atrocious and somebody pointed out that bullying does work so well done the Brits we managed to tidy him right up and that's the takeaway from today it's not PSG or anything like that it's bullying can work yeah you know so does a nuclear deterrent but it's just a shame that we have to have it right there we are there we are did you see the big T4 I did see the big T4 that was I don't know why that's allowed to describe it It was a big chainsaw with blood all over it, hacking to bits the Barcelona badge.

48:07A masked man was holding the chain. A masked man was holding it, yeah.

48:10Pete Donaldson: What do you feel about Tifos in general? Well, I think that one's... Is that too much? I'm thinking that do club badges have circulatory systems? Right. Is that why they don't step on them when they're on the floor? That's what I was thinking. Do they have blood in them? I'm scared. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So that confused me. But should he be having chainsaws with blood? and blood and guts. Should Tifos be looked at before they unveil? That's all I'm saying. It's nearly Halloween. It is nearly Halloween.

48:36Marcus Speller: That was the guy holding the chainsaw was Mike Myers. Was it right? Of Halloween fame. Of Halloween fame. So that makes it alright, does it, Vish? Well, yeah. It was kind of a tribute.

48:46Pete Donaldson: Yeah, it does. He knows the job. He knows the club. Why couldn't they have done an Austin Powers themed one? Of him shagging the Barcelona back. I think that would have been more offensive. It would have been better, I think. Right, okay. More offensive. Does Austin Powers actually do? And the flag and the badge is saying, yeah, baby, yeah. It's like, that's confusing. That's not his thing.

49:04Marcus Speller: It's not his catchphrase. It's not his catchphrase.

49:06Pete Donaldson: He could be saying it. Why is mini-me watching?

49:09Marcus Speller: We didn't do seats together. The late great of Aunt Troyer. Does Mike Wise do any shaggy not in Halloween in Austin Powers? No, he does. He's just a hairy pest, isn't he? Yeah, he's just a hairy pest. Yeah, he does.

49:21Pete Donaldson: He does. He's a hairy pest. I think there's a lot of euphemistic shagging. You know, it's not a particularly dirty film. you didn't see it but there's I've seen versions have you right let's move on swiftly then

49:32Marcus Speller: there are two different versions before we go for a break

49:36Pete Donaldson: it's a different version before we go for a break something more wholesome and something we can all get behind it was wholesome Scott McTominay scored his first goal since having heart surgery in a 4-3 win he does have a circulatory system for Napoli over Bodo Glimm come on did you see the reception he got when he returned to the field for Napoli it was wonderful it was wonderful he is the king of naples He makes me so happy. And he has dressed better and he deserves it. Oh, stop it. I remember... How do you use that as a dig at gourd?

50:04Marcus Speller: Yeah, that's harsh. Do you remember Ezequiel Lovetsi? Yes. Argentinian forward played for PSG as well. I think he moved from Napoli to PSG and when he left Napoli he said one of the things he loved about playing for Napoli was being in Naples. Like obviously with the history of Maradona and being Argentinian and how much it meant to him. And he said one of the things he hated about playing for Napoli was living in Naples because you couldn't go out. Yeah. Everyone was always on top of you. And they, at the time, I think, have thrown a bit of money at it. So people expected them to do well. They couldn't quite do it.

50:36Marcus Speller: They're still sleeping giant, but they were getting closer to it. And I think it's really nice to see this version of Napoli. And particularly to feel it a bit more through someone like McTominay, where it seems like he just has the run of the city and they adore him so much. And that reception was perfect.

50:53Pete Donaldson: Yeah, and also when they did win the league, because they've had what two league titles of late that having gone so long that first one when they won it it does release a lot of pressure

51:04Marcus Speller: well to the point where Spalletti was the manager wasn't he and when he won it the ultras returned his steering wheel

51:11Pete Donaldson: alright you can have this back

51:12Marcus Speller: yeah but I think that was a really important moment for them

51:15Pete Donaldson: for Spalletti yeah so he could get out of

51:17Marcus Speller: Naples yeah no I'm just going to the shops I will be back you do not need to follow me let me just get something out of my car but that was clearly a big moment to chill them out a bit. Then they win the second one and it just feels like one of the best cities to be playing football for. Exactly. And that was, I love the, you spoke about the glow up with Anthony Gordon. What a lovely time. What an unexpected time it must be. Especially after heart surgery.

51:44Pete Donaldson: And Manchester United as well. Yeah. Lest we forget. Alright, coming up after this, we're going to look ahead to tonight's Champions League action.

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54:06Pete Donaldson: Welcome back to the Football Ramble, everybody. Bayern Munich versus Arsenal tonight. It's a classic Champions League tie. Jim reminded... Pardon, Peter? It's a big one. It's a big one. It is a big one. And Jim reminded us of Arsenal's 10-2 aggregate defeat to Bayern on yesterday's mailbag. The good news for Arsenal is it's not a two-legged affair at this stage of the competition. It's unlikely they're going to lose 10-2. They've played each other three times in the Champions League since then. Arsenal winning the most recent bout in November of last year, which was a superb performance from Arsenal.

54:32Pete Donaldson: And that was at a time last year, a little phase of the season where Arsenal looked imperious. Obviously, they would go on to win the league, but there was you know the willies were put up at various points of the season to the point of some people going ah they've stuffed it or Man City going to come good and then obviously that Declan Rice you know it's not over and all that sort of business as we got towards the end of the season but at that point last year I remember the game it was there I think it was 3-1-0-1 Arsenal just took Bayern apart and they looked superb they didn't look like the kind of defensive you know set piece again we'll just win it 1-0 they were expressing themselves that they were superb this is of course in Munich but I just wonder if we're going to get any of that from Arsenal tonight Vish because they've they have sort of so far you think about that win against Nottingham Forest and one or two other results it does seem like a a little bit more they're digging out results aren't they yeah it's a little bit more of a continuation usually Bruno Gimara she's digging out results like he did it like he did it in Newcastle and that's what Newcastle are missing this season totally yeah no you're right I mean yeah the goal against Sunderland and obviously he's gone against Leeds United.

55:43Pete Donaldson: Again, Arsenal have been good. They've been effective. They're winning games. Again, it's not a criticism. But I did wonder if we were going to have a little bit of a spell or even a slight change of approach from Arteta this season. But to me, it does seem... Again, there are tweaks and there are little bits and pieces. It's not exactly the same, of course. But it does feel like more of a continuation from last season than perhaps I maybe hoped it would be, Vish. I don't know what you think about that.

56:08Marcus Speller: yeah I feel free to disagree with me no I see what you're saying I think one of the things that will help them tonight is I suppose that assurance that they've they've banked over them recently this is a little bit of a chance to flex partly because you know you just have to play a stronger midfield against Bayern Munich so that would be say Gimoures-Rice and Odegaard in a three who can play quickly together and have that solidity. Huge, huge, huge deal that Michael Alise suspended for this. Yep. Silly boy. Because he has been absolutely unreal. Obviously, you've got Kane and Diaz, but Alise is just a different proposition altogether.

56:54Marcus Speller: Like one of the best players in the world. And he's not going to be there. So it does give you a bit of freedom. You can probably play Califuri at left back with his usual remit to wander a bit because presumably it'd be like Glennon Carl on the right. So like obviously a decent player, but you don't have to double up on Michael Alisse. Really, really interesting to see what happens with Eze. Yes. Just after he was hooked on the weekend. We've been talking about that before, haven't we?

57:23Pete Donaldson: About he's just not quite at the races.

57:26Marcus Speller: It'd be, you know, also be quite cool to see what happens with Manoweke, whether he starts and gets another goal on the left and the opportunity to really go at the full-backs, particularly if he's on Conrad and Lyme's side. So yeah, they have an opportunity to do something worthwhile. I think it'll be a good watch.

57:46Pete Donaldson: Do you think, though, if I can jump in there, that with what happened last season, with Arsenal playing an enormous amount of football, going all the way in the Champions League, winning the Premier League, and they were so close, like Arsenal, that monkey on their back is still not having that Champions League victory. That they are, you know, that's the one thing that some fans from other clubs, they're really going to try and wind them up. It's like, you don't have the European pedigree. You don't have the trophies. And that aside, of course you want to win the Champions League. That is the big prize in Europe, of course.

58:17Pete Donaldson: In a game like this, this is where Arsenal, and maybe Arteta, you know, I've talked about that phase where they were, you know, really, really good, say last November. They were tired when it came to the final. and okay PSG is still the best team in Europe but there was a tie in us there and they did well to get it to penalties I thought you've got to take your hat off to them for that I wonder though that are they going to go full throttle yes of course you want to win this game you always want to win a game of football for crying out loud but I wonder if we might just see one or two players in there it could be Lewis Skelly starting in the field for example for Arsenal this is not a knockout game are they going to go right this is our best and this is a game we've targeted because you've still got the...

59:00Pete Donaldson: Arsenal will go through. Whatever they do, they will go through. And I wonder if some of the teams will kind of see what PSG have done in the past and gone, do you know what, a way to Bayern, let's play a strong side, but not our strongest side, but a strong side that's going to compete and might have a chance of winning. But if we lose by the odd goal, it's not a disaster.

59:18Marcus Speller: Yeah, I see what you're saying in terms of not needing to, you know, pull out all the stops. but I think to be effective in this game probably means that they have to, you know, pull out all their starters. Yeah, all their starters.

59:36Pete Donaldson: I mean, I take the point, and again, that game last time round, maybe Bayern were not great. I mean, Arsenal were brilliant, but perhaps Bayern have that in the back of their minds as well. Now, it has emerged, apparently, that Mikel Arteta came close to joining Newcastle United as their head coach in the summer of 2019. It was back then, Peter. It was Mike Ashley's Newcastle United. Pre-COVID Mike Ashley Newcastle. I know, yeah. Thrilling, isn't it? Heady days. Of course, he later became Arsenal manager that year. Later that year. He was nearly out on his ear at Arsenal. He could have gone there.

1:00:09Pete Donaldson: How times could have been different, eh?

1:00:12Marcus Speller: I don't think he could have spent£600 million with Mike Ashley, but who knows? So he would have been what? Arsenal, sorry, Man City assistant at the time. Yeah. And that would have been Bruce? Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Following Stevie Bruce. Bruce was there for a long time. Yeah, but then, so they just didn't get rid of Bruce or? Yeah. Well, I mean, they did eventually. No, no, no. But when this potentially could have happened, Bruce was in position and they were thinking of getting rid of him. Sounds like Bruce was really achieving a lot in your castle life. Master Bruce. A coach at another side is going to be slid in.

1:00:49Pete Donaldson: I think you're sort of suggesting that, well, they couldn't have done that because Bruce was in the job. yes he was in the job but my goodness hanging by a thread the whole time

1:00:56Marcus Speller: but the idea

1:00:57Pete Donaldson: we can't think about this Bruce is in the job give him time but the idea that Ashley

1:01:00Marcus Speller: was like right it's either Arteta or no one to replace Steve Bruce

1:01:04Pete Donaldson: I think they would have taken Pete would have taken no one in the job I would have taken no one no one is it would you have taken Foreman Ucastle United striker Duncan Ferguson no because he's been roundly terrible in every job he's had punditing and managing since he quit football and jail Jail or Jill did you say that?

1:01:24Marcus Speller: Can you quit jail?

1:01:26Pete Donaldson: I think it was their idea Escape jail I think it was their idea Right, okay I quit by the way

1:01:33Marcus Speller: I know I've got another six months but I've had it

1:01:37Pete Donaldson: He's got us over a barrel This is too much He has us over a barrel

1:01:40Marcus Speller: I know I've got holidays so I'm going to use all that I don't have to serve at notice period Open the doors I'm obsessed with the law that if someone serves one jail term for one crime in the media you're not legally supposed to bring it up because of the time served a lot and why are you obsessed with this? I'm obsessed with it because the fact that he keeps mentioning it himself on every podcast he's on so I think it's fair game is that true? if you serve a time then no one can mention it? yeah if no one can mention it in a journalistic piece about you you're not allowed to mention it because you've served your debt it's an isolated incident and that's what defines the law in this country Vish has mentioned

1:02:19Pete Donaldson: what you did a few times exactly no look

1:02:22Marcus Speller: is that true? apparently so I've spoken to a lawyer about it because of a documentary I was putting together in your next cricket piece

1:02:28Pete Donaldson: why don't you put in there what Pete got done for in Luxembourg look up the term time served different jurisdiction you wasn't talking to a Luxembourgian council you did mention the UK

1:02:39Marcus Speller: because immediately I just thought OJ?

1:02:45Marcus Speller: he's a great naked gun you always have to say he was found not guilty in the court of law and then everyone stopped talking about

1:02:55Pete Donaldson: he was guilty of being in a very funny film he was yeah careful as you clip that up I don't know why we're still talking about him but he looms large in every person who grew up watching the Premier League years are we talking about OJ Simpson or Duncan Ferguson both very 1990s characters he's become the new manager of Glen Torren in Northern Ireland it was a great press conference he gave, did you see it? no, I didn't one of the journalists he was chatting away and one of the journalists said are you going to be living in Belfast? and he really turned around and went are you a policeman? he's like, I'm not going to tell you where I'm living but obviously he was asking I could see him in a hostel with seven other men who work on oil rigs who are doing exactly what he tells them to do well good luck to Ferguson good luck to Como and Manchester United this evening they're facing off against each other massive game for Como this has got 2-0 win Como written all over it why because and I'll tell you why because Manchester United are shit and Como are full of beans not that shit yeah they are full of Como beans full of Como beans and also it's one of those it's a massive tie for Como young diamond full of Como they are you know new to the Champions League and the level that Fabregas has taken this club to is amazing if you think about it.

1:04:20Pete Donaldson: They need a big old scalp. And Manchester United, as we know, in a playing sense, are not a huge scalp in it. At 5.45. Yeah. All done before tea.

1:04:29Marcus Speller: Everything about it. Yeah, that even has me on edge. but it's right. I would adjust your dinner time.

1:04:35Pete Donaldson: Yeah, well, here you would, but presumably it's what, 6.45 there. Or would it be even 7.45? We just don't know at this stage. But Manchester United...

1:04:43Marcus Speller: What are Italians like? What are they, What are their dining habits? What were they... What do you mean? As in... It's got to be Mediterranean kind of like... So later.

1:04:51Pete Donaldson: Northern Italy though. Right. There is a difference. But also you're saying it's 7.45 where they are or 6.45. I mean, it's very much about the Manchester United team that we're worried about here. Yeah. They're playing at a normal time and Manchester United aren't playing at a normal time. Yes, that's what you mean. I don't think they're going to have pasta for breakfast. They're going to have pasta for breakfast. Maybe for lunch though. We're deep in Lake Como. And they're all in time for kick-off. they have potential defensive injuries going into this game Luke Shaw Alessandro Martinez Aidan Heaven also out of Tuesday morning's open training session yep Lenny Jorow edit I can't remember well done Lenny Jorow is suspended of course after his red card against let's go Madrid Vish are you worried about this game yes yeah good I'm worried about every game even like a non-league opposition in the FA Cup over Christmas are you worried about it I'm telling you the Coma fans that they will be looking at the badge, they'll be looking at the Manchester United colours and thinking, blimey, we can do this.

1:05:49Pete Donaldson: I think it's going to be a famous night for Como. But I hope for Vicious sake that it isn't. Think of the strength of the Premier League. Yeah, exactly. Think of how much money Manchester United have spent. The might. Yes, the might. Exactly.

1:06:00Marcus Speller: The injuries are an interesting one. And you're right, because Fabricas has done a very good job at Como and they are very exciting. this is absolutely ripe for an upset but i think they'll have he talked you into a branded banana skin there yeah yeah a little bit yeah um straight out you know from the straight of homus um the um the thing that will i think will play out is that come will just be good for it and the the potential positive on the horizon for man's united is i suppose showing a bit of fight that they did against Leeds because that battle will be won and lost in midfield against such a well organised side but we'll see

1:06:46Pete Donaldson: Indeed we will and of course Villa host Viking or Viking as they should be called of course Norwegian side yes Villa perfect record in the Champions League so far battered Fenerbahce 6-0 Villa Park of course so they should batter Viking They're in a rich Vela farm I think they're really sort of starting to click Battered Newcastle 1-0 They didn't batter us, but they were good. You got battered. We battered ourselves.

1:07:12Marcus Speller: You embarrassed yourself and you embarrassed me.

1:07:16Pete Donaldson: Thanks for listening to the Football Ramble, part of the Acast Creator Network. Friends of the Ramble, don't go anywhere. Keep listening for Ramble Uncut, where we're going to be talking about all manner of sexy things. If you're not a friend of the Ramble, sign up now. Patreon.com forward slash football ramble. Right, enjoy the football tonight. And I want to say thank you, Vish. What? I do this every time. I just did it in a different tone. Right, okay. Thank you, Vish. Right, thank you. Thank you, Peter. Can you not do it in a different tone, please? Thank you, you too, Marcus. And thank you, Scott McTominay.

1:07:44Pete Donaldson: Thank you.

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