Is it panic stations yet?

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4:20Take the first step to make your impact. Visit waldenu.edu. Walden University. Set a course for change. Certified to operate by Shev. How can you lie there and think of England when you don't even know who's in the team, everybody? Welcome to the Football Ramble. England with Gubb by Senegal. It's Wednesday, 11th of June. I'm Marcus Speller. I'm Jim Campbell. And I'm the Dushin of Hunter-Rajah.

4:56Hello, everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble. That's what we needed. A line from Billy Bragg. Thanks to Friend of the Ramble, CJ Herrera, for giving us that. You can submit the intro line for next Wednesday's show by signing up to the Football Ramble patron for just$5 a month. By becoming a member, you'll also get an extended edition of every Wednesday Ramble. Just head to patreon.com forward slash football ramble to get involved. And this is my chance to give a quick reminder that Stack is currently running a survey for all its listeners and we'd love you to help us out by answering a few questions.

5:25If you submit a few answers about your Stack listening habits, you'll be entered into a competition with a chance to win a brand new PlayStation 5 at the end of every month for the next five months. You can get one of those football games and play as Senegal. You'll only need to enter the survey once and your name will stay in the prize draw for all five PS5s. Just hit the link in the episode description to fill out the survey and get entered into the prize draw now. Thank you so much. Right, that's enough delaying tactics. England won Senegal three.

5:53Marcus Speller: Jim, what do you reckon? It was only a friendly. I've got them in the old friendly rule. England have never been beaten by an African nation in a competitive match. When it matters. That's the takeaway. And the thing is, judging from the reaction last night and this morning, we treated it as such. Yeah. Not important. It isn't important. Well, it was. Reminded that he was German again on the interwebs. Yeah, here we go. That was good. That didn't take long, did it? Yeah. Yeah, England's first defeat to African opposition, of course, in their history. It was their first loss since October 2024.

6:29It's not that long ago. Not that long ago. No, really not. when Greece won. England's heaviest defeat since that 4-0 loss at the Molineux against Hungary, of course, in 2022. Why do we play in the Midlands? I don't know.

6:42Marcus Speller: They shouldn't be trusted with this. No, I don't. Get back to the capital. Maybe it's a test of how angry we can make the provinces. Good point. Good point. Stick to the home counties. Yes. We're safe, yeah? Uh-huh. Do you mean London? We all endorse this, don't we? Which stadium in the home counties? I don't know. Where is the home counties? It's just all of the counties around London, isn't it? Perfect. Bar Essex. Bar Essex. I think it is a home county, isn't it? I'm not sure. It's a very snobby thing, the home county. So I think they get... Almost certainly not yet. Fair enough. Absolutely fair enough.

7:11Marcus Speller: Everywhere but the London Stadium then. Okay, good. Yeah, we've got to the root of the problem actually. Now should we move on to Belgium versus Wales? Yeah, I don't think anything else needs to be said. Other than Senegal, I'm beaten in 22 matches. Yeah, lovely stuff. And you can kind of see why. Well, actually, Vishy was saying that what you wanted from this game was for Senegal to give us a test and to press us and to harry us. And they really, really did do that. Absolute monkey paw of a wish, that. Yeah, you wasted that.

7:41Oh, dear. Use the next one to try and undo what you've done with the first one. Yeah. I'm sure it'll be fine.

7:45Marcus Speller: That's how it compounds it, yeah. Oh, God. I think the thing I'll say about the overall performance from England yesterday was that they went back to the old days of looking around and thinking A, this shouldn't be happening to us B, why is this happening to us C, who can stop this from happening to us Yeah, and where's Jude Bellingham? Oh, he's here Yeah, I think C is the crucial point for me because that looked like a team who didn't know what their game plan was and obviously the relationships aren't there on the team on the field because it's a bit of a it's an unusual team, isn't it? It's a line-up we're not really seen that much of.

8:29And they just looked a bit lost and a bit clueless, and they didn't really understand how they were getting to goal. Well, I mean, that's, yeah, the personnel who were used, I mean, make what you will. But to me, it was, yeah, the set-up. I found that interesting. We'll talk about more of the details in the game, but it was a sort of 4-4-1-1. And when I saw the team sheets come out and so on, and England were kind of set up like that, I remember thinking, no, it won't be that. It'll probably be there. You know, because we're so used to say that the 4-3-3 is what the 4-4-2 used to be back in the day.

9:04And it's fine if you want to play a sort of a variation of 4-4-2 or whatever. This is the English style he was talking about, isn't it? Except he's actually doing it, which we surely don't want. The English style is the problem. Indeed, I wonder if he thinks to himself, OK, maybe if I set up in a certain way, these players are more comfortable with that. Maybe. Honestly, because the reason why people might go, come on, surely not. But tell me what was he trying to do there? This is the thing. I understand. The only thing I thought is he wants to try and get the best of Eberici Eza and give him, not a free role.

9:38In the hole. But his number 10 kind of position, you know, floating around and doing his thing. And Eza was one of the, maybe he'll try a diamond next. Now you're talking.

9:47Marcus Speller: Christmas tree. Yeah, but that's fine if you do these things, but do it. Don't just kind of go, ah, bollocks, we'll have a go with this now. And that transformation is not, I don't think, going to get the best out of Rice, not going to get the best out of Gallagher in the midfield. And then Saka playing a sort of a right side when you want him a bit further forward. It was a bit strange. I think the players could have and should have done a little better. Yeah, I think there were a lot of, in fact, almost exclusively poor performances individually. But for me, the worry is that, as everybody's been saying, where's the kind of we say improvement I mean look so when Southgate finishes right his time had ended and when when Lee Carsley came in there was like a slight fresh feel it was that funny result and odd performance against Greece and the opposition wasn't too much but it was fairly kind of oh right okay but there was a couple of new places sorry a couple of different quirks within like an overall structure yes absolutely Yeah, so other than that odd game against Greece, you're right, Vish, it's there.

10:54Under Tuchel so far, other than, isn't it great to see big Dan Byrne get a call up and one or two other players? And Lewis Skelly, you know, I think that's been good to see him. Yeah, although he had a poor game. He did. As most of them did. But otherwise, I'm a bit like, I don't know what he's trying to do. When he talked about playing with intensity and a smile on the face and so on, there's none of that. And you can always say, well, he doesn't know his best 11. Well, that's fine. A lot of coaches tinkering. But where's the system? Where's the structure? I'm sort of a bit like, has he learned anything of note from this?

11:30Marcus Speller: Do you think what he's doing at the moment smacks of trying to figure out who he can and can't trust? Maybe. Maybe. Because as you say, as you said at the start, there was no real reason to play this particular formation. unless he's trying to smoke out people who aren't dexterous enough to do different things. I think that is a very generous interpretation. But that's where we are, Jim. What else is it? I'm not saying... I think if he is doing that, it's awful. Right, I see. It's pointless. Yeah. But that's the only reason I could think to trying all these different things is to... You know, he's almost treating it like often club managers treat pre-season where it's like, right, who do I think I can trust over the course?

12:16Marcus Speller: Basically, given what we need to achieve, who can I trust? Who is not going to let me down? But he's big on trust, Tuchel. He's an intense blow. I mean, Saka said in an interview, he said, yeah, it's been intense and he's full on, but he's a nice guy. He was quick to say as well. And the trust thing, a number of journalists have talked about Tuchel, saying he's big on trust, he's big on the character of certain players and so on and so forth. but I mean still though I think we're grasping at straws I think it's relevant to sort of suggest that because otherwise I don't really know what's going on this suggests to me that this is the team picked entirely on what's happened in the training camps right it must be sure it makes very little sense to me to start Kyle Walker at this point I mean it makes little sense to me that he's in the squad I can't believe Alexander-Arnold has only made one appearance from the bench in these two games and I just think he's one of the nailed on starters for me when you look at the, you know, England had a plethora of right backs for a long, long time and Walker never let England down and was a big part of how they played under Southgate.

13:18So I understand why he went for Walker over Trent Alexander-Arnold for a long time. But I mean, that has flipped entirely at this point, surely. I'm really surprised that Walker's still getting the nod. I think it's a shame for Walker because as you say, he's been a great servant for England. The reality is there have been some big moments in huge matches where he has slightly switched off. But I don't want to... And that's what's interesting thing isn't it because his pace is still there largely but it is the times where he switches off like the first goal well I'm talking about the Euros final both goals come down his side and you know you might think well he's a bit harsh well okay even if whatever you may think

13:56Marcus Speller: the second just to jump in there the second is a bit harsh because he's advanced for a reason when they come back the other way but the thing about Walker and it's kind of sad for the reasons that Jim articulated there is he really and truly shouldn't be in the squad and it smacks a bit of the Hendo thing that he feels like he needs the experience in there and I don't think he does from Kyle Walker I don't think he does as well I think with Walker he started off when he went to Milan on loan starting games and then fairly soon after that he found himself on the bench that didn't take the option to buy and he's now going to have to find a club.

14:41It seems like such a waste of a camp. It does. And I think with Walker in particular, I suspect that may well have been his last game for England and that's a shame. And with Walker, I totally get, again, the temptation to think, no, but I can still contribute. I can still do something. And, you know, I've been to two finals. Next summer, you know, World Cup, that'll be my last one. But that happens to every player. Of course, he has that temptation and he's not going to say, no, I understand. Whereas Trippi has said, you know, that's me done at international level. But I think that may work. It's a shame when the player's performance dictates that actually, no, no, no, I think we're done.

15:20Although what's frustrating though is that it hasn't. Because I think if that had truly been the case, he wouldn't have even been in the squad. Well, no, as in the performance last night, it will dictate, I think, and it should do. Because if he is in another squad, I think people just go, come on. And I think if Tuchel learns something, it's to go, right. you know scrap all that right what am I thinking here I mean I thought he might see the thing is I don't want to go back to Southgate too much but yeah you do

15:47Marcus Speller: yeah you do get him back I think Sir Gareth I don't want to look at this photo in my wallet too much but while I have it open while it's there often in some of the games if they were a bit drab you could kind of see what he was doing or trying out formation wise and so on I thought we might see Tuchel try sort of a 3-4-3 like Chelsea with wing backs and all that kind of stuff and say okay but it didn't really work it was a bit static or there was elements of that again I I think that's the problem here and I'm look I know this is kind of as I say every straw that one can grasp at I'm kind of am I glad England lost?

16:28No but that forces you to start if England if Bellingham's goal counts which it should have done which it should have done but it would have papered crack exactly yeah but look Harry Kane got his goal of course he did so that's a positive but again even with Kane there's an interesting kind of little subplot here which is that Ivan Toney gets like what three or four minutes at the end I know Kane had come off before that and been replaced by essentially no strike whereas Morgan Rodgers was kind of playing up there but that again is it's just confusing isn't it I'm trying to figure out what he's trying to figure out with these decisions the only thing I can think with the Toney situation is he's seen something in training and he just thinks no you're not up to the level or maybe like his attitude whatever it is you're not for me because he said one minute Tuchel's saying he's the most Kane-like player we have and even compared him to say Ollie Watkins who scored a winning goal in a semi-final by the way for England but he's he basically said oh yeah he's more like Kane Watkins now which doesn't go in Watkins' favour so he talks about Tony in that regard and then when he comes on the pitch and he's asked about this for the last few minutes he then sort of gets a bit chippy and goes well actually it was more than three minutes or whatever it's like okay fine

17:38Marcus Speller: injury time was fine he was you know a total of seven minutes yeah he went on in the 88th minute yeah okay so seven or eight minutes and then he said but Tony's a specialist for this kind of thing and it's like what is he I don't think he is I mean Tony he was a star for Brentford okay in England he came on but anyway so I don't know but look we're going to have this with England I think for a bit or two for the rest of our lives Marcus It's going to be like this for the rest of our lives. I mean, where else do you look on the pitch? I mean, Colwell and Shalabar were the centre-backs. Kind of did okay.

18:11Yeah. In one regard, in another regard.

18:14Marcus Speller: Do you think I like... I really like Levi Colwell. Yeah. But I always get a sense that I want more from him. And I think sometimes I think that because he's a centre-back and he's quite imposing and he's clearly very talented. And then I realise maybe I'm being a bit harsh because he's still very young. and at the same time I'm like do I trust him to be England's centre-backer I know what you mean and I don't think I do probably not yet well I think this is a thing you know John Stones all being well will be starting I don't know if there was even talk of like Stones playing you know in the Andorra game well yeah just in front of the centre-backs and stuff like that like it's yeah I well I don't know if do you think Stones will be do you think Stones might be a bit out quite out of date I don't know I mean Stones will be 32 I think Stones will be and I think that might actually be sort of he might be at the perfect level of experience with enough left in the tank that that could be absolutely ideal I don't think Colwell and Shalabar are starting for England I think surely Gay and Konza are both ahead of them well Konza's in the squad I mean there seems to be I mean people saying maybe Tuchel doesn't fancy Gay for whatever reason I don't know so the back line he needs to sort that out as I said The dynamic in midfield in that game was very, very strange.

19:34And England, I think, I mean, I wonder, you know, going into these matches, England often now talk about, oh, well, teams play in a low block and they dig deep, so we've got to unpick them and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And there's always this assumption that, yeah, well, we're the better side, so we're going to have to do this. Senegal didn't give them a minute. Senegal were fantastic. The way they pressed, the way they harried, England were having to defend quite a lot. and the way they create chances and so on and so forth. You know, I think England only jumped into life when they went 2-1 down.

20:05Now, yes, you can say it's an end-of-season friendly match. That's true for Senegal as well. Exactly, yeah. And people might say, yeah, but they hadn't beaten European opposition since 2018 and da-de-da-de-da. You've got to be better. You've got to think about the bigger picture. And England were far too poor in possessions they were sloppy with passes, all that kind of stuff. And yes, you can tighten all that stuff up. Of course you can. When the tournament comes around, heads are on, etc., etc. But this was a shame for England because Senegal provided a proper test and England failed it miserably.

20:41And in fact, it's funny we're phrasing it like that. For Senegal, who are prepping for the Africa Cup of Nations this year, might say to themselves, England provide a proper test. And they go, well, we came through that with flying colours. It was a wonderful victory for them. But the way they played, you could see that there was much more cohesion with their team. The way they pressed and harried, the way they moved as a unit at times. It was great. Now, England still created some chances in which they should have scored. Gordon should have scored in the first half. Gibbs White should have scored as well.

21:07That was a terrible miss. It was an awful miss, yeah. I think it was brushed over a little bit. And Saka, on another day, maybe that goes in because Mendy produces an unbelievably good save. And that move, when Saka gets on the end of it, was the only kind of bit of real sort of bright spark. This is sort of what we want from England, isn't it? For them to zip the ball around and be a bit quicker. And consistently, England teams are so, so slow. We saw it again here yesterday. But yeah, you're right. I mean, I suppose that was a little bit of a bright spark, but it was essentially one moment from the 90.

21:35Tuchel mentioned that, didn't he? That, oh, there was a little bit of something there. But like, so what? I mean, Gibbs White playing on the left of a four. I know he came on and he showed a bit. It's a lovely moment between him and Ezra, actually, where Gibbs White probably should have done better.

21:51Marcus Speller: Oh, wow. The flick from Ezra was brilliant. That's so good. that was almost worth being happy about yeah it was almost enjoyable yeah it was almost like oh they have joy they are allowed joy I know the smile's been wiped off yeah he hit it straight at the keeper yeah so you know England I think look there's a year to go until the World Cup and we're going to talk about big picture or bigger picture for England on tomorrow's show on a Thursday thrill if you like we'll try and make it as thrilling as possible. But it's kind of like, it's not panic stations because there's a year to go and lest we forget, you know.

22:31When is it, panic stations? What date? So I can put that in my diary? I would say, look for my signal.

22:39Marcus Speller: Comes around quicker every cycle, doesn't it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. You look for my signal. Think of me as the air steward, okay? And there's turbulence, okay? If you see me calm, still serving a drink, you're all right. It's just air pressure. If you see me shit myself and run to my seat and strap in and get a parachute on my back. Right, then you know. Then you know. All right. Imagine sitting in a parachute with a parachute on. Don't worry about it. See my signs on. What is this? No, nothing. It's just a fashion choice. It's a rucksack. Don't worry. This parachute's big enough for all of us. It's one of those fancy little Danish rucksacks.

23:12Marcus Speller: Don't you worry about it. If you can, just grab a limb. Oh, dearie me. We need Tindle in there. That is the huge takeaway. Oh, wow. Imagine if the FA Just like right Thomas We're still going to let you do it But Going to give you a little help Well look It was a bewildering performance From England quite frankly As I say on tomorrow's show We are going to talk A bit more about England And looking ahead To the World Cup And maybe talking A little bit more About some of the personnel And how Tuchel Should set up In England's qualifying group For the World Cup Aleksandr Mitrovic Scored a hat-trick Against Andorra Ooh That's how you do it England got to go away To Serbia In just a few months time I'm nervous, I'll be honest with you.

23:53Right, everybody, coming up after this, Wales and Scotland thrill, and Maranakis is scheming again.

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26:19So yesterday in the press conference, I asked you a question saying that you have never lost a qualification game in your career, and you asked me those matches. I forgot Tottenham. Welcome back to the Football Ramble, everybody. Nice to hear from Jose Mourinho. Sometimes. Sometimes. Now, Monday night was a great game in Belgium. Belgium 4-0, Wales 3, of course. Wales came back from 3-0 down to level it at 3-0, and then Kevin De Bruyne won the game in the 88th minute. But Wales and Craig Bellamy continue to impress. Obviously, they lost the game. But Jim, that was some good stuff from the Welsh.

26:57Absolutely incredible comeback. It's a shame for them that obviously Kevin De Bruyne gets that late winner. But I mean, this is a rivalry for the ages at this point. It's such a kind of regular fixture of the international calendar just through various quirks. and you feel for Wales actually because, or early on you do at least anyway, because Craig Bellamy obviously has hit the grand run. He's been really, really good. They drew the rope and nil-nilled in and said this is the worst we'll be and then they're 3-0 down after 27 minutes. You think, ah, God, this could be a setback in a number of ways.

27:29But then they get that comeback going and that shows the belief that he's instilled in them. And I think, you know, reacting to setbacks is a huge, huge part of your mentality and your ability and your energy and those are all the things that Bellamy's clearly instilling in this group of players and they've done him proud there. Again, it's a shame that De Bruyne gets that winner for them late on but I think it shows them what they're capable of when the chips are down and that is really important in international football and certainly in qualifying campaigns as well. Well, it is. I found goal scorer Sorba Thomas' quote quite interesting when he said, I don't think they showed us the respect we deserve.

28:06I think that they thought the game was done but we showed our Welsh fire. we run through brick walls for each other even though we lost I feel like we won in our own heads

28:15Marcus Speller: that's a concussion from the brick walls you should get that checked out should do he did say as well he went I can't wait to play them in Cardiff yeah brilliant which I love all that and you can see that Bellamy's got this team going and he's right because how you would spin that you would say okay the late goal from De Bruyne well it's a brilliant delivery and a wonderful finish from a guy who's been one of the best players in the world for a number of years now. And I think if you look at the team, I think it might be Brennan Johnson who just kind of switches off and lets him drift because, you know, he shouldn't be unmarked at any point, but especially, you know, six yards or whatever it was from goal.

28:55And I think that these are the learning points. You kind of go, right, okay, that's what you've got to keep the focus for the whole game. But, you know, it took a brilliant moment from, as I say, a world-class footballer to do that. And the fact is that Thomas is saying, you know, I feel like in our heads we won. That kind of confidence they're going to need because it's not the most straightforward of groups. And it's a 48-team World Cup. Like I was trying to convince my Scottish mates the other day, is there's a real chance to do something at the tournament next summer because of so many teams progressing to the next round.

29:29Get yourself in there and keep this momentum going. Do you think that's the motivation that the nation of Scotland needed? You've given them that little pep talk. Well, as I said, I really, really tried, and then they got beat 3-1 by Iceland. But, you know, this is still all to play for because they did just beat Liechtenstein 4-0, Jim. Yes. So have a bit of hope there for Scotland. Che Adams scoring a hat-trick. Thanks very much. Yeah, lovely stuff. Torino's finest.

29:52Marcus Speller: That's him done for another few years, isn't it? Outrageous. No, but it's just on average. It is, isn't it? Do you think he was better off not scoring three? Yeah. Do you think he used them all up? Saved them, yeah. It's June, mate. It's June in an odd-numbered year. What are you doing? against Lichtenstein yeah that would be great save it for Brazil Steve Clarke said that in the post match well I don't know what he's doing I told him specifically I wanted to take him off I wanted to take him off in 24 minutes and he got one in the 25th oh dearie me Aberdeen's backup goalkeeper Ross Doohan started the game but didn't make a single save because they gave them a Doohan yeah oh dear you've got a feel for Slicker you really do Alan McCoyst has been linking Ange Poster Cogluc to the Scotland job I love it yeah Ali McCoy's can do whatever he likes as far as I'm concerned well that's certainly what he felt back in the day are we veering dangerously close to just going to Ali McCoy's on everything yeah I appreciate it this is football related it's his nation as well he's obviously a big fan of Ange having you know done a lot of European football this season he's not that big a fan being an ex-Celtic man Ange of course no no but like as in he's talked I've heard Ali McCoy's talk about Poster Coglu plays and he's he can rise above it yes yeah unlike some can he rise above it I don't know I'm sure he can but there's but yeah like from the ACDC stuff to like you know just being constantly on is that the reason why he would go for Poster Coglu no no but it's just like why is he just bringing this up now like it feels like we're quite close to asking him he might be he might be on a question time panel this time next year he might be Yeah.

31:36No, I think that there's a lot of chat in Scotland, isn't there, about Steve Clarke?

31:41Marcus Speller: Yeah, of course, yeah. And you're thinking, well... It's all very similar, isn't it? It's all very similar, yeah. And similar chats to what they had in Wales about Page and obviously England with Southgate. If you're thinking about who could then take over, because it's all very well said, we'll get rid of who are the likely candidates or whatever. Poster Coglu knows the country and he knows international management. Yeah, he does. And we'll know a lot of the players. Yeah. I don't think it's going to happen, though. No. Not now. I don't think it's entirely impossible in the future. I'd be surprised if it was his next job after Spurs.

32:11Ten months' time. Sure. Another Premier League season somewhere and back in for the World Cup. Well, gentlemen, let's leave international football for the moment and let's talk about European club football. Have you seen that Nottingham Forest have written to UEFA with their concerns about Crystal Palace participating in the Europa League? Outrageous. I made the mistake the other day of having a look on X. Oh, yeah. And saw some people talking about this. We've missed you. There was a Forrest fan having a chat with another Forrest fan. Crystal Palace fans are salty, aren't they? They've only written a letter.

32:44It's like, I don't think he's looking for a pen pal. I think that letter's going to be fairly pointed.

32:49Marcus Speller: They've only written a letter. Why have they written a letter? Yes. Well, Palace... You only DM'd your girlfriend, mate. Chill out. Yeah. Palace met UEFA officials last week in an effort to avoid exclusion from the competition because old Johnny Texter, who has a 43 % stake in the club also owns Lyon who have qualified for the same competition. Now Palace argued to UEFA that they're not in breach of the rules because the clubs are not part of the same ownership group and do not share any staff facilities or information and Textet also sort of said oh nobody listens to me at Palace so I've got no influence there.

33:20It was kind of his plea. I mean the frustrating thing about this is it's just it's a little bit of slack admin from Palace isn't it because they didn't think they'd be in this situation but it's nothing more than that. No. Well and they're I mean they're So Forrest, obviously, if you remember, we were talking about this before, and I'm sure you're aware that the Forrest are in the Conference League and they'd be promoted to the Europa League, should Palace have to duck out of it. And Palace's Europa League spot, though, could now hinge on whether UEFA decides to allow Lyon to take part in the competition next season.

33:49Because UEFA disqualified Lyon from European competitions in December, but then allow them to continue playing after the club met certain demands. Lyon are being carefully monitored and could be disqualified from next season's Europa League themselves, which would save Palace. So there's a lot of moving pieces on this board. I mean, it's also very possible that John Harris and or David Blitzer, who are two of the other part owners of Palace, could simply buy John Texter's shares. And that'll probably be what happens, I would think.

34:18Marcus Speller: So Forrest have written a letter about Palace. And Palace are like, right, we'll write a letter about Lyon. Let's try and get Lyon kicked out. That's quite a good idea. I don't know who Lyon... message as well. And the other complication is... None of these people have fax machines. Yeah. It's like an admin version of that last scene in Reservoir Dogs. Everyone just writing letters at each other. Is Leon... What's his name? He's been shot. Yeah, he's on the floor. Leon are on the floor now, are they? Yeah. Is that what's happened? Does he survive in the end? Spoiler. None of them do. They all die.

34:53Marcus Speller: No, they don't all die. One of them calls out. Hopefully that's Palace. So they're Kevin Spacey, isn't it? just walks away and he doesn't have a limp is that right? that's correct that's it yeah yeah yeah yeah and he gets on the helicopter and flies her off that island that's right but he was dead the whole time yeah and Brad Pitt yeah yes yeah he was beating why are you hitting yourself he says why are you shooting yourself oh dear me and they film it in different jumbled up the scenes and stuff like that yeah it's a funny old film wasn't it it's awful keeps saying the n-word doesn't it it's a bit weird really likes putting that in the script in the voice of a sympathetic character and the foot stuff what a prick what a prick oh dear you know what Palace deserve to be kicked out there's absolutely the abhorrent behaviour from Crystal Palace Football Club yeah give Man City the FA Cup yeah coming up after this movements across Manchester With the Discover Cash Back Card, it's payback time when you earn cash back on everyday purchases.

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37:23It's transfer talk, everybody. And there have been movements in Manchester. Manchester City have signed Wolves left back Ryan Aitnori for£36 million. He's a great player, Aitnori. Absolutely steal. Yeah. I was surprised it was that low, actually. But then who knows what's written in contracts these days. He signed a five-year deal with the club. And as soon as Man City were in for him, it was one of those ones where I thought, of course, of course they're in for him. and you would imagine he would be used quite a lot by Guardiola I think oh he'll come in as a starter you would think yeah perfect

38:02Marcus Speller: he plays exactly the way they want fullbacks to play yes and he's got a goal threat as well I mean there was a time a few seasons ago possibly last season where he was actually used as an attacking midfielder and you know if you play for Man City as a fullback you are going to spend some time in those areas so it's a really really good weapon yeah in what is As far as we know, Pep's last season. Well, yeah. That's his contract, Jim. Yeah, but you know, he... Respect the contract. But he often does short contracts, doesn't he? I know that you just want to be right sooner rather than later. When was the last time he did a short contract?

38:39Well, I think he's done that fairly regularly, is he not? This was an extension, though. Right. So he signed a two-year extension, and this is the final year of it. And he has often made those noises, hasn't he? But they've got themselves a player there. It does mean, though, that Wolverhampton Wanderers have now sold£98.5 million worth of players already. They're yet to make a signing. Who are they going to go for? Splurge it on one player. Yeah, be really sensible on it. Just get one guy in. Get Decker Rice. It's a frustrating one, isn't it? Because Wolves obviously finished the season so strongly.

39:11Pereira's been a great character and got them playing really good football. So you look at them and you think they're in a position to maybe surprise a few people next season, fly up the table and make the idea of a relegation battle. look like nonsense but obviously Kunia and Aitnori have been absolutely key players in that so you hope that you know that they can weather that because it means it's a much harder reset isn't it yeah I know what you mean yeah trying to build on that I mean Kunia was always going to go yeah so they got a good way for him good money for him as well yes exactly yeah Aitnori again as soon as it was mentioned I was like oh yeah of course so it'd be interesting what they do you would imagine though that they might sign a Portuguese player or two.

39:52Yeah, one or two. You know? And they'll probably be fine. There's a little lad called Vettinha. Get him back. Bye-bye backwards. We've got a clause there. Yeah. That would be quite something. But even though apparently Lionel Messi thought he was crap, according to reports. Although he's denied it. He says that never happened, doesn't he? Yeah, he's not going to get into war of words with Messi. Yeah, but then obviously that man's a liar. Look at him. Messi? Vettinha. Do you think he looks like a spiv?

40:18Marcus Speller: Ah, yeah, yeah. there's a bit of kind of d 'Artagnan mixed with the Artful Dodger about him yeah a little bit like that there's an episode of the Simpsons where Homer and Bart are at a fun fair and there's a guy like flicking cards between his between his hands forget the context but Homer looks over him and goes that guy looks like a sucker it's like that guy's going to rinse you for everything you have and Vettinia looks a lot like that man which is what I base this on which is kind of proved in the Champions League this season yeah and the UEFA Nations League he's just pickpocketing opposition big field all day long what on earth they just don't notice him yeah yeah yeah the other thing about Messi he oh that guy yeah but I can't imagine at any point in his eyes has he uttered an opinion on someone oh he did at Barcelona apparently yeah full of opinions yeah there was talk he said a similar thing to Alexis Sanchez at one point who knows who knows pull your shorts down yeah they look ridiculous anyway Man City yeah this is horrendous Tajani Rinders is confirmed now Ryan Cherky they're after Liv Rimento as well it's like they're trying to do a kind of transitional period but in the space of about a week.

41:22Yeah. Because they brought in lots of new backroom staff as well. They are really just like no, hard reset, none of this nonsense from last season again. Well, there we go again. Also sign Marcus Bettinelli from Chelsea as a replacement for Scott Carson. It's boring but you have to do it. You have to do it and they've obviously, and I didn't think it would happen this way but they've heeded my advice. Yeah. It's always nice to have a Marcus in there. Well, oh my God, yeah, they've even got that box ticked. Yeah, so I am quite concerned because obviously Guardiola had heard me saying that the Empire is finished.

41:51And he's thinking, we're going to do old Speller, aren't we? Giving him the motivation that he needs. Yeah, well, they're going the right way about it. But Ryan Cherky signing from Lyon is a big one. Reported for about £34 million.

42:04Marcus Speller: What? Yeah, that's a release clause one though, isn't it? And it's so annoying. Yeah, but they're not the only ones who knew that, surely? Well, the clubs tried to get him last summer. Fulham tried to get him. And he basically went, no, I'm better than this. And I was like, Yeah, he's really cool as well, so I believe that. I don't like what Marcus Speller's been saying about Pep Guardiola. I'm going to hang around and see if I can get a move there. Bide my time. Oh, that goal he scored against Spain, it was ultimate outrageous. But he's a glorious footballer. Do you think he'll come in in a De Bruyne role?

42:33Marcus Speller: No, no, no. I think he'll be... I genuinely think he'll be a bit of a luxury. He's going to... I swear, swear to the man above, if Guardiola turns him into a functional recycling machine out wide, I will burn that place to the ground. That's what makes me wonder if he might play in the middle a bit more, though, because he's played across those kind of front positions. And they're fairly well stocked out wide. But then maybe part of the reset is Guardiola going forward with a bit more flair. So maybe he's seeing Cherokee as someone who, actually, I like what this is about. Let's see more of it.

43:12It could well be actually that Cherokee plays wide and Foden just stays central now. Yes, yeah. I mean, they're getting the business done early. They are not pissing around.

43:21Marcus Speller: Isn't that where's Marmouche going to play? Well, yeah. You probably sent her off. Don't mind that at all. Next to Rinders. There you go. I mean, they are getting the business done and there seems to be a real steely determination, as you say, and a sort of a clinical edge to this of last season, no. That was a load of bollocks. That's not how we do this in this horrendous regime. Exactly. And we're going to prove all the doubters, you know, whoever they are, Jim. Couldn't name any of them. We're going to prove all the doubters right next season and we're going to have it. Also, they're going to have all the youngsters we saw last year.

44:00Yeah.

44:01Marcus Speller: Because they're at that age where they just develop quicker over the summer. And Nico O 'Reilly is going to be the best player in the world. Well, totally. And also, they made a few signings in January, of course. So they'll be bedded in. They've got that whole summer. they've Rodri's back Rodri's fuck's sake are you crying Vish I understand yeah when we talked about Manchester movements we really have just focused on Man City you thought to yourself hang on well the Man United have done some alright business they've done some great business threatening to do so but also though Man City you mentioned about changing backroom staff and so on they've appointed former Liverpool coaches Pep Linders as assistant coach and James French the set piece coach Colo Torre as well former well I suppose former Man City man he was coach at Leicester wasn't he Coletorio yeah he's rejoined the club as well rejoined Money City as he said it in his press conference that time remember yeah I mean appointing the former Liverpool coaches especially Petr Linder there's something about they're going to put a statue of Carlos Tevez up next aren't they they're not they're not messing around oh dear oh dear well look let's talk about the red half of Manchester they are in talks with Tom Heaton over a new deal.

45:11So it's exciting all over the city. Why are you bringing this up

45:12Marcus Speller: after talking about all that? All their signings for peanuts. Oh, Man City have signed the Angel Gabriel for£10. Oh, you like to talk to Tom Heaton? I mean, just all the club. Former England international. Yeah, we still have to convince him. He never did anything wrong last season. Oh, he did make that mistake on the post-season tour. Yeah, which is quite embarrassing. Yeah, OK. Well, look, I think it's important that he's there. On the post-season tour. City didn't do that did they? I've got Club World Cup yeah Manchester United also confirmed that Christian Eriksson Victor Lindelof and Johnny Evans will leave as free agents and when they say free they very much mean they're not shackled they are like off you go must be like serve their time leaving prison yeah exactly good behaviour you can go now where do I go now?

46:00that's simply no longer my problem yeah but it should be your delight you don't have to be here get some wages off the books though doesn't it? yeah I suppose it does. I do suppose. Although, I mean, we joke, but Kunia and Mbwemo are fantastic signings and we should acknowledge that.

46:17Marcus Speller: Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, Mbwemo's not confirmed. It's looking likely. Mbwemo's not. He only wants United. But if Mbwemo goes there, that would be... There's also, I mean, Victor Ossiman has suddenly started being mentioned. Yeah, he's a funny one, isn't he? Because I think he's turned down and moved to Saudi. I'm sure he's going to he's not going to stay at Galatasaray surely but that was there was a lot of there was a heavy hint towards that there was I think they would like him to stay I mean he scored an absolute hat full of goals there he won what was it Ligue 1 Cup double you know very very good season clearly clicked with what's going on I mean he he is that oven ready striker for me and I think with Manchester United they've still got the pull obviously if they get in Cunha and Bwemo and Ossiman I mean the idea of them not creating chances not scoring goals that's not a bad response to that no absolutely it's not bad at all so Pogba's still available on a free is he really come home just saying come home Paul all is forgiven oh dear I never I never complained about you anyway no exactly yeah so I yeah because I'm an idiot well well until Manchester United actually do something again in the transfer market we will just mention what they have done, which is, of course, getting rid of, I said getting rid of, some of those players have left and Tom Heaton's talking about a new deal.

47:41So, there we are. Right. What about this then? Something completely different to end the show. Tuna Company, John West, have been forced to deny that they have any financial interest in Sheffield Wednesday. I love this. It comes after Wednesday and now into their second week of late payments to employees. That less so. Their statement reads, neither Thai Union Group nor John West Foods have any interest financially in or connection with Sheffield Wednesday FC. For further info, please contact the club directly. Thank you. This feels like good but weird PR to me from John West. Just seeing how that works.

48:17John West denies it has any involvement in the discovery of a new Earth-like exoplanet. Don't ask us about it. You could just pump this stuff out. Yeah, exactly. I should clarify that the Thai businessman, Dejvon Chan-Ciri, owns Sheffield Wednesday and his family are the owners of the Thai Union Group who own MW Brands, which is the company that owns John West Tuna, among other brands. So, you know, something... I think it smells fishy to me, fishy!

48:46Marcus Speller: Yeah, this is so, so weird. Isn't it? Because then surely then, like, every company that they own... Yeah. So, like, I don't know, if they own Ravita, would Ravita have to come out and be like, no, it's nothing to do with us. And it suggests that Sheffield Wednesday players have been turning up at like John West factories going, where's our money? Yeah. Where's our free tuna? We'd rather money actually. Can we have both? Yeah. Well, there we are, Sheffield Wednesday fans. I think that clears that up. Okay, so no further questions needed. Thank you very much for listening to the Football Ramble part of the ACAST Created Network.

49:18Patreon subscribers, don't go anywhere. Keep listening for Ramble Uncut. And if you're not a Patreon subscriber, sign up to get Ramble Uncut every single Wednesday. Head over to patreon.com forward slash football ramble now. And thank you, Jim. Thank you. Thank you, Vish. Thank you. Thank you, John West.

49:41The Football Ramble is a Stack Production and part of the Acast Creator Network.

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