Mailbag: What’s our biggest England concern ahead of the World Cup?

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2:29Pete Donaldson: Hello everybody, welcome to the Football Ramble Mailbag. Pleasing World Cup winners, late bloomers and spying on managers of the orders of the day. It's Tuesday 31st of March, I'm Marcus Speller. I'm Pete Donaldson, I'm the Dush and I have the Raja.

2:53Pete Donaldson: Hello, everybody. It's mailbag time. What a time, everybody. I think you can agree. Now, you are the key to this show. Whoa. Okay. So send us your questions. Message us on xbluesky or Instagram at footballramble. Comment on YouTube. Email us at footballramble.com. And, of course, friends of the Ramble get priority. Patreon.com forward slash footballramble. or sign up on YouTube. The following people have done this. Every last one of them on Blue Sky. Weirdos. Weird freaks. This is from Michael, and he's one of our Patreon people. Oh. The PP. If you are... The PPs. Yeah. Yeah. The PPIs. If you are being completely honest...

3:33Pete Donaldson: Never! Right? Why would we do that? It's literally not the point of the show. And also, Michael, very sorry, but quite clearly the question you asked, we've had to edit it out, and we've put another one in football related. If you are being completely on, we want honesty. We want honesty. What is your biggest England-related fear ahead of the World Cup? I mean, quite apart from a Kane ACL. Yeah. Because he seems the only person interested in scoring goals for England. It's the flatness. I just can't stand. You've been worried about that Uruguay performance. Yeah, I think watching that sort of reminded me it's like we can be very un-endeavor-y, can't we?

4:14I think that doing that Arsenal thing of seeking to control games rather than actually do anything. I think first match, if that starts flatly, Bellingham starts to try and think, I need to take control here. I need to grab this team by the horns. And then I think that's where we've looked a bit silly in the past. So yeah, I think just starting flatly and just trying to control games. I don't want to see that.

4:40Pete Donaldson: I mean, do you think it's... But that's what we'll get. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think the style of England's play over many, many years, decades, forever, has often been like, what are we doing? We're not losing. We're not losing the match. Well, you might do it. In the end. In the end. In the end, yes. We're taking the penalties. And we're better. Beating them on experience. I think I mean I would say as I would that in Qatar I think England actually did play a little bit more excited and expansive football because of where the tournament fell in the calendar and the weather in the evenings despite the worries of Qatar not being as full on as it has been in previous tournaments but yes I think you're very worried about the heat aren't you Marcus no I mean that is my worry but it's a bit of a boring answer.

5:35Pete Donaldson: But I think in the last Euros, it was disappointing, even though England got to the final. They were on the nicest kind of side of the draw. And I think that as England fans, you want to see a little bit of something and you're worried that we're going to just revert to that. We turn up, look a bit listless, don't really know what we're doing. I would, I'd prefer a Craig Bellamy approach to things. Do you know what I mean? Just really, really try. rather than just saying, well, we've got more possession than the other teams. We need to get that ball in the net, guys. I mean, England will have more possession against the teams that they've played thus far under Tuchel.

6:12Pete Donaldson: But the style of play... Yeah, I think... I mentioned on yesterday's show that I think Tuchel actually does have a plan to whether he can execute it or not. Right. Okay, so it's the sort of style of play, if you like. I think that's an understandable fear. What about you, Vish? I think my fear... Yeah. is that all the things that I have worried about Tuchel come to the fore at the World Cup. Double agent. A little bit, a little bit. But basically more that because he has been so, I don't even want to say functional, but so matter of fact about what his role has entailed, that he hasn't sought to like build necessarily a style of play um i don't think that's necessarily a bad thing when you're an international coach nor has he tried to instill a sense of like being a bit off the cuff which is what you need in international tournaments and i'm worried that we'll get into those same settings um and when push comes to shove they won't be able to band together, they won't be able to be off the cuff, and it will just be a bit, a little bit Roy Hodgson England-esque, where it was like they just look lost.

7:31And Southgate did well to instill that, but obviously there were, you know, quite high profile moments where it felt like England froze. And I am just a little bit wary of them freezing out right at the World Cup. I mean, that's my like greatest fear of it, because, you know, I don't think they're going to win this world cup. I don't think, uh, as you said about the, the climate before, I think that's, that is such a big deal. I think the, you know, certainly if you look at England's route to, you know, even the final alone, um, whether they win the group or don't win the group, it's, you know, quite treacherous.

8:07They've not beaten those, you know, that many good teams in a while back to back. But my biggest fear, I think is just like, you know, you realize it was all this, all the last two years have been built on sand basically. because then it leaves us with some quite deep philosophical questions going forward as to like why are we doing this with a group of players a generation of players that are so talented and how do we get the best out of it are we quote unquote doomed for this level of underperformance and the quarter finals and the semi-finals may be against Brazil and Argentina respectively I mean to be fair yeah France as well I mean to be fair

8:46Pete Donaldson: if going on assumption and England get that far, which England are in the four, there was four teams, wasn't there, that they made the draw, seeded, so you meet in the semi-final, potentially, that's how seeding works. Obviously, it was Spain, France, Argentina, and England. So it's not stupid to think, it's not an arrogant thing to think. You do have to caveat it by saying, if England get there. Yeah, I mean, all being well, if England were to win their group and Brazil were to win their group, England would play Brazil in that quarterfinal. Yeah. Again, because of the nature of it and you could play, it's not like it used to be when the first and second would only go through.

9:29Pete Donaldson: There could be a number of different teams to be played in the second round and then the third round. Of course, you've got that extra round. But I don't want to get too ahead of ourselves and start saying, oh, you might play this. I think you can just simply say if England face a team of a similar standard or maybe better than, say, France or Spain, you're kind of worried. I mean, do you feel what you're worried about kind of overlaps with what Pete's saying about the style of being a bit listless because you mentioned Roy Hodgson and his England team? Yeah, well, just like one of the things I love about this group of players is that they've basically got every attacking base covered.

10:06We have the best striker in the world. We have some, you know, we have wide players who are very influential to the teams they play in. We have, for the first time in a while, like three centre midfielders who are also integral to the teams that they play in. And with that, I think, comes an element of being able to think on your feet, being able to think in the moment. And I don't know that I've seen it, apart from maybe the Serbia game that you referenced on Monday's show.

10:36Pete Donaldson: Yeah, the 5-0 or whatever it was. Yeah, that was a game where I was like, oh God, okay. That was really cool to see in-game than being like, we can get out of these, let's kill this game now. And with the pressure of the World Cup, we won't know until we come across it really. But that is my... it's not something that keeps me up at night, it's literally just the one fear that I have that it all falls apart because they can't think for themselves in that moment. I don't necessarily believe that to be the case, but that is my biggest fear. But you said England, you don't think they will win the World Cup and there may be a number of reasons for that.

11:09Pete Donaldson: Yeah, I don't think... They're just looking in the camp. Yeah, yeah. Is there a reason for that or is it simply you think other teams are better equipped? Yeah, that. Right, okay. More that. Right, right, right. Yeah. Yeah. I don't see why... I think it's a fair point. Yeah, I don't see why England can't get to... I would see kind of a good showing in the semi-final as like, you don't want fair play, lads. You've done brilliantly there. You're all sunburned. Yeah, yeah. You're all exhausted. You're all on drips, but well done. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, I think for me the... Atlanta. or Atlanta in the summer.

11:38That is uncompromising heat.

11:40Pete Donaldson: I mean, I remember when our dear friend Andy Brassel went to cover the Club World Cup. There was a couple of times he went, yeah, I'm just hiding inside the building. I mean, again, it's a boring thing about the heat and so on. We know, though, that... What's your biggest fear, then? Well, I... Ghoulies. I think it's ghoulies. Spooky ghoulies. What's your biggest fear? I thought ghoulies were your bollocks. They kill a can be. Right, okay. ghosts and ghoulies a pair of testes will be seen always the prediction isn't it you made that prediction once about a penis let's be clear but my fear actually can I rephrase it what's the most damaging thing that could happen to England at this World Cup I don't want to say injuries take that technique everyone's there and everything's fine I think that

12:37Pete Donaldson: it's I think Tuchel has a plan and I do trust him and I think that there's a good feeling in the camp but it doesn't take much for that to unravel and I think that this plan that I think he has which I'm basing on a couple of performances here and there which seemed quite a long time ago now, it doesn't come to fruition. And it's a bit boring, it's a bit of a boring answer I take that but again it kind of sort of overlaps into what you guys said and really pete was you know talking about that as well it's it's england turn up and they don't tucall doesn't manage to unlock the potential there and the attacking talent and also when he said that he wants england to play like a premier league team to yeah i will lay with the point in that the heat of north america is going to be very very difficult um and people say i'll be the same conditions for everybody Well, yeah.

13:31Pete Donaldson: I mean, if you go in the sea, it's the same conditions for a shark and a human being. Do you know what I mean? Like some people have... Brazilian players... Some people have been in our time there. Yeah, exactly. Yes, yeah. Exactly. But Brazilian players play in Europe. Yeah, but they didn't grow up in Europe. And even just... I was talking to this about some other fans from other countries about this, and they're like, well, yeah, even if you do move and live in England the last 10 years, you have literally been acclimatised when you're younger. So I don't want to go... The wall drops, though.

14:01Pete Donaldson: Yeah, so I think frustration can creep in. Has Tuchel really planned for that? If I'm thinking about it, he probably has. All right? He's the England manager, for crying out loud. We have thought about that other previous managers, you know. But take a defensive midfielder. But I think it's that. It's not coming to fruition. You go there. It's probably Kane's last World Cup. He could go on for another four years. He's that type of player. You've got certain bits there. and you think, right, can we actually do this? And when you have, you know, what about Tuchel? We know that Tuchel can upset people if he stays at a club too long.

14:36Pete Donaldson: It seems to be pretty good at the start and then it kind of unravels a bit. Are we going to see some, England don't do the infighting as much as, say, other countries, but is the harmony of this camp going to be there? Is Jude Belling going to get pissed off if Morgan Rodgers starts the first game or even the second game? It does massively help. It's a long old slog, this World Cup. Again, it's the same for everybody. I appreciate that, but you can still have the fears. And I think that to go the distance, to go even to a semi-final, you've got to play seven games to get there. Or that would be the seventh game.

15:09Pete Donaldson: So, you know, it's a long old slog. They're away from home. It's all that kind of stuff. Yes, it's a bit general. Yes, it's a bit boring. I'm sorry about that. But that is really it. What I would say, though, about the fatigue of England players, just quickly, I'm slightly less worried about that because I think Kane has been rested. I think in the Bundesliga, he does get a little bit more rest. There are fewer games. They have the winter break. I think with Marcus Rashford... Don't really have to try as hard, do you? Well, yeah, I think you say someone like Rashford who may well start. Again, he's at Barcelona, but he's not playing that much.

15:41Pete Donaldson: There are certain players where you think, blimey, he's going to be absolutely exhausted. So, yeah, I do worry about, say, Declan Rice, for example, the amount of football he's played, although he is an absolute machine. But again, you get to the World Cup, it's such a slog. It's going to be very, very hot. These would kind of be my fears. So sorry, Mark, it was a bit of a generic or general boring answer there. It was a bit of a boring question. You asked me to be completely honest. Maybe that's a warning for everybody. Don't ask us to be honest. They don't want honesty. Yeah, exactly. All right, gentlemen, let's go for a break.

16:12Pete Donaldson: And after which, we'll discuss pleasing World Cup winners and late bloomers.

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19:02Our next question comes from Patrick on Instagram. Apart from England or Scotland, who would be the most pleasing World Cup winner this summer?

19:12Pete Donaldson: Iran. that's the cheeky answer isn't it Peter? that is the cheeky answer yeah I think they I think they're probably not quite as close to it as other teams potentially happening so do we so I here's a medal for you Donald yes one for you Iran one for him I so I think if you if you I think I think any non-previous winner yeah would be quite pleasing however of the previous winners and he's taken out England there because apparently I think we won one back in the day. The side who have won the most is Brazil. Brazil have not won the World Cup in their standards, bearing in mind they've won the most of any country.

19:57Pete Donaldson: They've won five of the buggers. Was it 24 years? 2002, yeah. And they've not been past the quarter... Well, no, semi-final, of course, in 2014. I'm sure they don't want me to... Yes, indeed. So they've not been to a final for a long time and they've not been past the quarterfinal on a number of occasions since 2002. To get Carlo Ancelotti in as a MacGyver-esque type mission, if he was the man to win them the World Cup, yes, I know that they've won loads, blah, blah, blah, blah. There is something incredibly romantic about that, I think. Yeah, I see what you're saying. To me, Brazil have lost a bit of their charisma.

20:33Yes. And they have basically tried to transplant it with Ancelotti. Which feels like cheating, to be fair. It does.

20:40Pete Donaldson: It does. my other answer would be of the non-winners and again i'm trying to seek this in a bit of reality but of course any team who hasn't won the world cup it's difficult to make to imagine them at that yeah i mean netherlands or uzbekistan do you know what i mean like obviously one is more likely than the other but i still don't think netherlands is a nice one actually i i immediately just went for the african team well so the african team for me and i'm going to go for the champions the champions in my eyes senegal yeah i think that would be amazing because in africa certainly you know the experience I've had in a few African countries is it would be enormous for that continent and they all support the other African teams, not like in Europe for various reasons.

21:21Pete Donaldson: A little bit like that in South America actually, they will support, and if Senegal won it, it would feel like a victory for all of Africa without sounding like Peter Drury in the opening day of the 2010 World Cup. Bafana, Bafana. A goal for the whole of the British Isles. We'll have to do our bit, won't we? We would, but we've It's been taken out of the runnings here by Patrick. Somewhat unfairly, I would say. So Senegal would be the one, because I think they're the pick of the bunch. Otherwise, it would be wonderful to see... Jim calls them the most World Cup-y team, and I think he's right, Mexico.

21:56Pete Donaldson: Yeah. If Mexico won it, in America as well. The diaspora. Donald Trump handing the trophy to a load of Mexican men. Oh, come on. That would be... Raul Jiménez, come on. yeah you're quite right actually slide bends away build a world cup and let Mexico win it yeah yeah so there's there's well quite greedily three answers from me yeah my one is obviously quite personal as well but like Japan is building it Japan is building something I think I think that's more predictable than me trying to shoehorn England into this come on now come on now alright Moriatsu's obviously been in the job for like eight, nine years now and he was the at one point he job shared between he was the manager of the under 23s and the national team at the same time I get that so it's a bit Southgate-y for me and to see them like they've got a hell of a score at this moment in time and there are a lot of like big nations who are just you know faltering potentially even England space but I think that I think they I think they are in a position where they could really go deeper in this competition and they were quite unlucky in their last outing in the World Cup but I think that would be a big Asian cap.

23:18Pete Donaldson: Certainly from a European and America's point of view no beef with Japan. I think it would be quite a likeable winner. I think there's also with Japan you see it anecdotally across Europe really in the leagues like Japanese players are more prominent They play vital roles in various different teams I think there are currently five in starting 11s in the Premier League alone And it's quite cool to see an emerging nation in that way Where they clearly made a decision about 20 years ago About being more technical And actually the first Japanese team to really get that Were the women's team when they won the World Cup like over a US team who previously far superior to them you know physically better but technically couldn't hold a candle to that Japanese team and to see like the number of ball playing midfielders that emanate from Japan, I know we've kind of historically had one or two here and there who've been quite flair like Nakata and Nakamura and those kind of players like Endo but your Kazuki Honda rather.

24:29But you're in this situation now where, like, across the board they play in quite an engaging way. And they actually didn't give a good account of themselves against Scotland but it would be fascinating to see what kind of challenge they pose England. So I definitely see from a kind of all-round perspective Japan being quite a good story.

24:45Pete Donaldson: Is that your answer or are you going to get behind Senegal? No, I'm going to go Senegal, I think, yeah. Can't take that one away from us. Do you know what? You can have it back. We've got a better one. put it in the arm safe I think I've said see you at the Confed Cup I think I've said before but the fascination I have with Ketika Honda in particular is that he played for Nagoya back in the day you know 2008 he finished his career there and they never went back to Japan at any point he just went you know AC Milan Pachuca Melbourne Victory Vitesse Botafogo Sudover and just never went back to retire in Japan which I find absolutely fascinating he's the backpacker's choice He is, he just never went home It's very sad Yes, we got a message from Zsa Zsa on YouTube Hello Zsa Zsa Not Binks Potentially Do it in the style of Binks Don't do it in the style of Binks No, because if I do that I'll say Miso Which is a different reference Racist reference I don't know how to How to sort of get there really Okay Zsa Zsa Binks was a racist reference Let's make it very clear Yeah, yeah So you're not going to do it then Not going to do it then Not going to do it then Okay Which players would you consider to be the best late bloomers?

26:00A sporting bloomer. Oh, yes. Marcus, if you will. I will. Players that started peaking late into their careers.

26:07Pete Donaldson: Yes. So I don't want to do more mentions in case you got them. There are some very obvious ones. But I would like to bring old Debu Martinez to the table. Right. Emi Martinez. Right. The current goalkeeper of Aston Villa in Argentina. and I think I know goalkeepers obviously they bloom later on don't they they can do but I still think if you remember he won the FA Cup with Arsenal and was very much a backup goalkeeper for that and he'd been on loan all over the place so much and when he goes to Aston Villa that's where he becomes a first choice goalkeeper for a Premier League side a big side and he was born in 1992 he goes to Aston Villa in the year 2020.

26:54Pete Donaldson: So he's in his late 20s by the time he goes to Villa. And it's from Aston Villa, his performances there, that get him his first cap for Argentina. His first cap for Argentina was a year later in 2021. Nice. So, you know, again, he wasn't long in the tooth at international level and certainly not in terms of starting in the Premier League and goes on. And lest we forget, shags a trophy in front of him. Makes a statement. Makes a statement. is a cleaner way of putting it, but wins the World Cup. He won the Copa America as well, which is a trophy that had eluded them for many, many years. Which felt like a gateway for the World Cup.

27:30It did. It did.

27:32Pete Donaldson: He was Villa's player of the season in that 2020-21 season. And of course, won the FIFA World Cup Golden Glove in 2022. The best FIFA men's goalkeeper in 2022 does that at the age of, what is he, nearly 30, if my maths are correct there? Certainly at the end of his 20s. And so again, He still is Aston Villa's most high-profile player. Nearly went to Manchester United, there was talk of that. And again, that would have been his sort of big move, if you like, to Manchester United at the age of, what would he have been, about 32 at the time? Again, in his early 30s. So to me, he is a late bloomer for all those reasons.

28:11Pete Donaldson: Because again, when he was at Reading alone in 2019, I don't think anyone would have predicted that in two years' time, you're going to be winning the Copper America and in the year after that, you're going to win the World Cup. You are going to be one of the most celebrated for all the right and wrong reasons, players on the planet, Golden Glove, etc, etc. Yes, goalkeepers can carry on a bit longer, but I think my answer's good. Yeah. Well, I'm glad you reviewed it quite nicely. Thank you. Surprised you didn't go for Scott McTominay. Scott McTominay. Scott McTominay. Yeah, but he's still quite young though.

28:45Is he? Like, is he 28, 29? I mean, that's later in your career, isn't it? bearing in mind that football, certainly outfield football, their careers start about the womb sort of time.

28:56Pete Donaldson: Yeah, but I think it's... I mean, yeah. Again, I don't want to sort of pinch answers from Vish or yourself, who's going to say, but so like Ian Wright, for example, people would say he's a late bloomer. Yeah. Was that going to be your answer? No, no, no. My answer, I think, is a bit rubbish. Okay. But same with Ian Wright, though. Ian Wright was very good at Crystal Palace. You knew there was a player there, if you see what I mean. And again, Frank Lampard, people often say, you know, late bloomer. But again, you know, Harry Redknapp, that famous press conference where he's going right to the top.

29:27Pete Donaldson: He was playing well for West Ham. That's why he got his move to a bigger club, if you see what I mean. So he fulfilled his potential a little bit later, maybe. And look, if someone wants to have Ian Wright as a late bloomer, fine. Okay, the best footballer's career. What is he, 28 or something when he went to Arsenal? He's a bit older. But I don't think it was a huge surprise. Hence, they went for him. Whereas, Emi Martinez, when he signed for Villa, they thought, well, we're getting a good goalkeeper. but let's kind of see. But I just think the levels he got to... Stop going back to your answer.

29:54It's good. We respect it, Marcus. I want to revise my answer.

29:58Pete Donaldson: I think my answer was very good. Say Antonio Di Natale and let's move on. Oh, there you go. Good one. Didier Drogba? Uh-huh. Drogba was also a good one, yeah. Come on, Vish. You said your answer was a bit rubbish. Bearing in mind, you could say Luca Tone. Yeah, well, I mean, you mentioned Luca Tone recently, didn't we? Can't remember what it was about, but talking about the fact that he was a late bloomer. some players just don't find a system that gets the best out of them until you know, until a World Cup comes along until a World Cup comes along go on, who are you going? I think he qualifies, but I think I'm going to get shut down comprehensively Harry Kane yeah, he was at no point when Harry Kane was coming to his spurs were they like, this guy is going to be the best striker in the world yeah, I think in a modern context, I think you're right at the age of 20, he was on loan at Leicester City not really playing Yeah They stuck him in goal For a bit They did If he doesn't work On one side Maybe he'll work On the other side But that is something Can you imagine In a European game For whoever He's playing for Buy and go We are a player Harry you're pretty handy In net aren't you Yeah That is somewhat Indicative Of where he was At that point We can't take off Kimmich Because he runs Midfield Harry you're going To have to go in goal At least At least And Diaz Can do their stuff Try to take the corners Yeah Imagine he's just trying to play make from goal brilliant so I think you're saying to the heights the dizzying heights that he's reached no one would have predicted that yeah or even the style of play I think because he's not very flashy as well it just seems like he's probably got a bit more in him like he's you know he might hit 36 and just start you know being the jazziest footballer in the world Rebona's all over the place Lewandowski's still starting games for Barcelona so I think Kane could go on to that but I don't think your answer's rubbish at all I think you've I think you've touched on there because, again, for a player who's reached where he is, he's at a similar level to, say, like someone Mbappe or whatever, different players, but that's the bracket.

31:57Pete Donaldson: Mbappe was brilliant when he was younger. I don't know about, I mean, Lewandowski, maybe he would be an answer. I'm not sure. But you would think, again, the way Kane has got to the top of the game, scoring the amount of goals he does, he would have shown something before the age of 21, for example. So I think that is a good answer. Yeah, because it felt like when he made his breakthrough at Spurs, it was because they went through a habit of just signing naff strikers, or certainly strikers who, you know, on paper felt like they would have fit the bill, but didn't, and then they were kind of forced into playing him.

32:34Or I suppose giving him more opportunities, whereas it wasn't necessarily like... I feel like we've heard more about Troy Parrott, for example, when he was coming through at Spurs than he did about Harry Kane. No, but Kane, there was almost an element that he was a slight joke figure.

32:49Pete Donaldson: Almost. A joke figure's too strong, but he was that sort of, oh, he's a local lad, I'll give old Kane a go kind of thing. Oh, a little bit, yeah. Do you see what I mean? I don't know what the right word would be. His first Premier League start came at the age of, you know, a few months before he turned 21. Yeah. But from Tim Sherwood. It was that 2014-15 season where the number of Premier League games he'd played before that, 2012-13, he'd won Premier League game, won Premier League appearance. The season after that, 10. The season after that, where he'd scored three goals in the Prem, 19 games in all competitions, four goals.

33:26Pete Donaldson: The season after that, in all competitions, 51 games, 31 goals. It kind of comes out of nowhere. People called him, is he a one-season wonder? Yeah, yeah, it was huge. The next season, 50 games, 28 goals. And then that was the joke, is he a two-season wonder? And then he goes on 35 and 38 and all comes in 41 and the rest is history. So, yeah, I think so. All right, I think that answers your question, Jar Jar. Yeah. Yeah? Enjoy it. All right, coming up after this, which player or manager would you like to spy on?

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36:06Pete Donaldson: Welcome back, everybody. Now this from Joshy McSquashy on Discord is the next question. It was non-league day on the weekend. If the pod could bring in a similar day to raise awareness about something in the game, what would it be and how would they do it? Rufus Patrick replied to this question from Joshy McSquashy on the Discord and said a day where every team other than Chelsea collectively disrespect the ball. They huddle around it and piss on it, rub their arses on it like dogs. Like dogs! Like dogs. Yeah. Just an example of some of the Discord chat you can get. Patreon.com. Get in it. See some of the pictures.

36:50Glistening there Glistening

36:51Pete Donaldson: Just from you that is What do you think To Joshy McSquashy's question How would you answer it Vish I've got quite a sincere answer I do as well Annoyingly Oh Yeah I think go out And play football Right Do you just have A celebration of the game Organise a game With your mates And play football Grassroots day or something Yeah yeah What will you call it Recreation Football recreation day Yeah something like that Just go and have a kickabout A friendship day Park Life Day and small bifters Peter they should have random drugs tests in this nobody gets away with that is your idea the enhanced non-legal everyone on bifters everyone on weed gummies so this is a bit of an aside but this is why I came up with this answer so we've got a few mates who've moved over from the US to the UK they've got a 7 year old kid he loves football was having a kick about it was just like kicking the ball on his own in a park and these other lads his age came over and were playing with him and he was a bit intimidated by it because he was just like he just wanted to kick the ball by himself and felt like they were bullying him but not in a kind of overly aggressive way but found it intimidating and Olympia is someone who's always played a lot of pick up football and myself who's grown up over here we were making the point that actually like they just want to play with um your kid because your kid has a ball that's the only thing you need and you just split up into teams and that's how you play so it's actually like a way of meeting new people but also just having a game of football it's like quite common over here yeah that people do that and i was thinking about like you know i turned 40 recently i love playing football um you know to the poor standard that i do but i really enjoy it like makes my week yeah and i think a lot of people haven't played football in a while and then you see them get back into it and they might get back into it in like a maybe a five or an eight side game that is just a little too serious and then it puts them off for even longer and it's like no they just can't play yeah because if you're kind of certainly at my age like if you're still playing football regularly which i i tend to do all three of us do yeah there's there's expectation that you have to be at a certain level.

39:13Yeah. I'm not at that certain level. You will be one day. I am very much at the bottom. Keep going, yeah. Do you want to do training midweek? I'm not going to learn anything at 44, am I?

39:22Pete Donaldson: That's the spirit of God. That is the... Peter, we've set up a training session just for people like you. I don't need that. Maybe we do need... Maybe I need a little goalkeeping session or something. Honestly, a bit of a tangent here, my favourite thing is training. I love training. Training is fucking brilliant. Really? Yeah, you just get better. You get better so quickly. Do you? Honestly, the thought of being a professional footballer, you turn up to work, you get given nice kit, you have a body that compliments it. You know, you go out there, you just kick, you know, do your drills, your running, the fitness, everything.

39:56Pete Donaldson: Oh my goodness, I would be... Getting your Maserati. I would be in serious trouble at my age. But, you know, the thought of being... Honestly, I love every single thing about it. I agree with you totally. Oh, he's got all misty eyes. Part of the reason, you know, you said you played in goal on the weekend. You're not a goalkeeper. But part of the reason you do that is because... Not on that performance. But part of the reason you do it is because, like, right, if no one's going to go in goal, I will bite the bullet. I'll have the burnt pieces of toast and go in goal so that everyone can have a...

40:26You're a club man. Proper club man. Yeah. I think, I mean, to be fair, in that same match, I believe one lad didn't start the game, so he went home. So that's the level we're talking about. We play with 10 men second half. and I was he didn't start the game so he went home

40:43Pete Donaldson: so what would your day be so Vish is quite lovingly no well maybe it is with love has talked about this idea of a sort of a park game recreation day of football mine would be very much like we did in the in Covid times we should have a moment of reflection for the referees because I saw a video it was it was unhelpfully a referee appreciation day Yeah, transmitted Do you want us to come out and clap for the referee? Yeah Bang your pots Not the West Ham one The video itself that I saw Of the referee It was the Newcastle-Sunderland match From a couple of weeks ago And it was filmed Or certainly broadcasted In sort of portrait Sort of phone mode Right Which made it You know It just made it feel a bit more intense Because you don't get the field of view But the referee Just seems to know everyone's names Yeah I know that's bare minimum, but they seem like, I just always thought they'd go on numbers.

41:41Do you know what I mean? Because you've got numbers on your shirt and stuff like that. But they just sort of go, I mean, obviously trippier, but there's like Sunderland players that, you know. Well, of course they know their names. They're not. Yeah, but you've got to know the best part of 30 players.

41:53Pete Donaldson: Yeah, but I think you'd be surprised. Although quite wonderfully, I do think referees sometimes, even with the bigger players, to kind of knock them down a pick. If they book them and go, name and number. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Give me your number as well. Yeah. I'm Erling Haaland so I do think number nine blue I do quite like that if indeed the referee still do that I just think it's a very intense job and seeing that video for the first time oh actually yeah this is I like the idea of it I don't think it would take off bang your pots to the refs I like the idea of it I want no part of it I like the idea but you're not coming to London A march for referees.

42:38Pete Donaldson: Yeah, to be fair, perhaps one of the more wholesome marches. Yeah, I think so. I would go for the 21st of April every year. Right. We should have a, lest we forget, European Super League day. Because it was on the 20th, according to the BBC, all six English Premier League sides withdrew from the European Super League on the 21st of April. That was an official thing. And we should never forget that. six Premier League teams willingly joined up for a European... And I'm going to name them. Liverpool, Manchester United, Man City, Arsenal, Spurs, lol, and Chelsea signed up for a European Super League and completely turned their backs on the football in this country.

43:20Pete Donaldson: And it was the fans who overturned that. And so there is a serious point to this that it's a reminder that fans, you actually can change stuff. That you did it that day. and if it wasn't for those fans goodness knows where we'd be right now you'd like to think it would have crashed and burned the project but there was no guarantee of that so those fans of big clubs and it's big clubs let's be honest you think well I don't have a say how on earth am I going to change Sir Jim Ratcliffe's mind about anything or whatever I know he wasn't involved then but you know you get what I'm saying and so a day he absolutely would have loved to have been oh he couldn't yeah he couldn't believe his luck he was like that's getting me involved that's my ticket to football and we were constantly reminded around that time in COVID times of football's nothing without the fans.

44:04Pete Donaldson: It was probably the broadcasters who were giving us that message because they do rely on the fans' money to, you know... Not the good thing for Meneos. Yeah, for their product. And also, you know, as it was at the time, the audio. Yeah, exactly, yeah. So it is vital. As I say, it's a serious answer. But if everybody got together, let us remind ourselves that six of our biggest clubs decided to turn their backs on our footballing tradition and culture and all the rest of it. And it's not to hang them out to drive fully because I know different owners change. I suppose they're doing that themselves.

44:38Pete Donaldson: Well, indeed. Yeah, get rid of them. They might be playing in a different league next year anyway. So for that reminder, but also just to say to fans, look, there's a lot of stuff in the game that could be a lot better. And that day would remind everybody that those fans took on the biggest clubs on a very specific issue, I grant you, but they got it overturned. so that would be my answer there Joshy McSquashy I had to say his name to bring us all back down to earth good on you oh dear Peter you've got the last question I've got the last question and it comes from Henry Robinson we've got following the Rodri drawn chat where Rodri's been flying drones weird little peeping Tom which player manager which player or manager past or present would you most like to spy on I'll beat you to it and say mine is Daniel Farker on a treadmill that's nice yeah Is that nice?

45:29Following a man on a treadmill? I don't know what that reference is, really, I suppose. He was talking about... Because, you know, he loves running. Yeah, right. He doesn't love running. He might do, but you know he got booked for running. Right, okay, so yeah, I see.

45:42Pete Donaldson: Would you... You have to be careful, though, because depending on how much of a peeping Tom you are, you know, you choose a manager and, let's be honest, could be a massive shagger, do you know what I mean? Right, yeah. You might see Alex Ferguson's testicle. You might do. Has detail on it yesterday, sure. So, you know, not related. I'll choose Alan Pardew. There's a lot of American psycho just doing it himself. Do you know what? I'd love to see what Pep Guardiola gets up to. Could shock me. It could make me feel... I reckon he's got a very normal... No. Can't, Pete. He can't. It'll be like William Shatner in Family Guy.

46:18Pete Donaldson: When he gets home and really relaxes every word he speaks, his body contorts into a different position. Why are you putting up Perspex sheets on a Monday afternoon? Weird. Who would do that? Ordeon would be fat just to see his normal day. Yeah, just how he deals with... I reckon he will go... Which box of cereal does he choose? He's there and he's like... But if he goes to Tropicoplicus... Yeah, exactly! The variety packs. Because you know the way the supermarkets are set up with the aisles and what's presented to you at certain times it's done with there's a lot of research behind it and what your eyes drawn to and this idea that he's trying to game it and he'll try and I'll go from the other way actually and I'll actually zigzag he's like climbing over shelves just to you know free his line of sight and yeah I reckon I'd do for similar reasons Bielsa I was that was my answer yeah it was nice to see him sitting on his bucket at Wembley it was but then also I forgot about the bits in between where he's sometimes he's just rocking back and forth talking to himself do you know what I think it would be a lot of that I thought about he famously owns or certainly rented a granny flat in Leeds didn't he yeah and so like I would like to just see what goes on in the granny flat I bet he just eats beans what goes on in the granny flat I bet he just eats these little packs of beans do you think while watching two games at the same time oh yeah I mean I guess his telly game would be hey come on you'd want someone a bit more saucy than this no I don't know yes you would no I think I think seeing how like a man who's like you know worth millions and millions of dollars no just living a very spartan spartan home life who do you come on be honest well Bielsa was when I'd have to have a think to be honest I would say he's not a manager you'd like to see what Jason Tindall gets up to but it would just be the same as every other man who lives in Essex where I live why does he have so many issues of nuts and zoo they stopped printing it like a decade ago he's got a lot of pictures of Tommy Shelby up on the wall hasn't he oh dear there we are Henry you ask a silly question and you get a silly answer but that's what we love all questions are welcome you know I think we've proved that on today's Mailbag thank you very much for listening to the Football Ramble part of the Acast Creator Network do get your questions in for next week's show lots of love we'll see you tomorrow we'll talk about England as well we'll talk about England as well until I do that again no leave it in

48:56The Football Ramble is a Stack Production and part of the Acast Creator Network.

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