Malick and the Jets

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3:56Pete Donaldson: Everyone loves a circus show, but I'm the only clown you'll ever know, everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble! The transfer window is closed for another summer. It's Wednesday, 2nd of September. I'm Marcus Speller. I'm Pete Donaldson. And I'm the new Shidahantaraja.

4:20Pete Donaldson: Whoa, it's shut, everybody. It is closed again. Before we get to that, thanks to Friend of the Ramble, Ben. Good old Ben-o for giving us that intro line. If you want to submit an intro line for a future episode and get an extended edition of today's show, and become a friend of the Ramble on our Patreon. Click the link in the show notes to sign up now. It's actually very serious. What is? Serious value proposition. You're mocking with an impression of a dead man. I beg your pardon? A big chin dead man. A big dead chin. That wasn't Brucey. Who was it? Not telling. Find out in today's Ramble Uncash.

4:55Pete Donaldson: Yes, we'll find out who that impression was for. I'm going to do the rest of the show like it so you've got plenty of time to think.

5:00Marcus Speller: Spoiler, it was Brucey.

5:02Pete Donaldson: Nonsense. Nonsense Right The window's closed No more deals The window's closed Are you trying to Don't submit One of those sheets to me pal What A little Can I have a transfer please Yeah Oh but they got They got their little sheet in Before 11am Now you've got like Two hours to do it It's like When does this bloody window shut Just put your sheet in Two hours before Tell them the sheet needs to come in At 9 o 'clock Yeah Ka-chunk At 11 And then the Saudis Are allowed to buy people All the time Well, Peter Did you see Olly Watkins scored on his debut? Did he? Yeah, you see Hitting the ground running And there was me Thinking That it was all a waste of time Oh dear He's paying back all that money There's an awful lot of egg on my face these days Right Enjoy it I'm like a bloody fry up Anyway, deadline day It's over for another summer It is We've done it I'll miss you, DeeDee I'll miss you, DeeDee, baby This has been quite a strange window.

6:02Pete Donaldson: I mean, records are always broken and transferred. Where does the most people with the name, I don't know, Fernandes have moved or something like that, whatever it is. But the... On the mailbag, which we're doing tomorrow, we're going to be talking about who's won the window, and other such things. But it's quite difficult because there's been a lot of buying and selling. There's been a lot of buying and selling between two clubs as well. Well, Chelsea and Man City. well a villa Chelsea Chelsea to Villa it's just like what's the next yeah and then Borough gets a little bit of you know they get 20 % or something it's just all been a bit kind of how much money has actually changed hands here probably very little very very little well we do know that some money has changed hands between Chelsea and Manchester City because Enzo Fernandes has left Chelsea he's left he's gone he's gone for 125 million the deal equals the existing British transfer record Alexander Isak to Liverpool last summer because there's an English tax.

6:57Pete Donaldson: Oh, hang on. But yeah, you've got... So£125 million for Enzo Fernandes. Chelsea wanted a minimum of £120 million for Fernandes. Man City would be very kind to give them an extra five. And I think that's probably... Well, I think that's probably in goodwill. They patted their pocket. Popped it in the top pocket. That£5 million. Pat, pat. Have a drink on us.

7:20Marcus Speller: £5 million in the top pocket. Weighing them down.

7:23Pete Donaldson: Get yourself down to wings. Well, I think this is probably because Chelsea obviously imposed their own transfer window on this particular player for Manchester City and very graciously opened it up again. Man City thought, we see that, we recognise that, here's an extra five mil. Yeah, yeah. Why not? It's just ludicrous practice, isn't it? But he's gone. And Fernandes said, I could not be happier to be here. and I thought, Madrid. But there we are. He's gone. He posted a 380 word message to Chelsea and I'm going to say a touching message. Right. Vish, if I may. Where did he post it? After signing for Man City.

8:02Pete Donaldson: Written on a toilet door. Not great. Yeah, exactly. Twitter. Twitter premium. Yeah, fine. It was at the Ivy on Kings Road. It ended with, you will always be in my heart blues. I always wish you, always, nothing but the very best. Unless, of course, we're in a title race always blue thank you Chelsea I mean it was actually well he's going to a blue side as well so that's fair isn't it I suppose it's a lighter shade of pale yeah

8:28Marcus Speller: always navy blue thank you Chelsea

8:32Pete Donaldson: it's royal blue isn't it oh royal blue Jim's coined oh they'd hate if I didn't call it royal blue yes exactly France is currently navy blue right or are they they sometimes oh no they're currently royal blue it's very confusing football kits you see get your own blue yeah Indeed. You're a royal family. Well, they did for a time, of course.

8:52Marcus Speller: Yeah. Can we talk to that? We've got a spare unwanted prince. You can have one of them. Yeah. You can have him. He's back, isn't he? They come crawling back, don't they? He always do.

9:03Pete Donaldson: He was in a nice range rover this week, wasn't he? Another one who got back through the window. Yeah. Oh, I didn't mean that one. I meant the problematic one. Oh, I see what you mean. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Less said about that. More of that and uncut, perhaps. I don't know. Why not? Enzo Fernandes is gone and he's teaming up again with a fellow Enzo. Yes. It feels like the relationship should have been, you know, given him some sort of discount. But they really have had to be top dollar for this guy, haven't they? Yeah, but they knew that Man City were good for it, let's be honest. Inexplicably. Inexplicably, they will be good for it.

9:39Pete Donaldson: Look, it's a huge one. It's been a saga, let's be honest. He has played for Chelsea this season. He came on against Fulham to a chorus of boos. I don't think he's going to get booed at Man City. He will be a by-away fans and so on, but I think he'll be happier there. As he said himself, I could not be happier to be here.

9:56Marcus Speller: Yeah, I mean, we don't need to read too much into that message because he does have history of being a liar. But I think it is quite funny that he has twice commanded a£100 million transfer. hot and cold at Chelsea but evidently has more structure at Man City more around him in midfield so I say there's more consistency around him in midfield which is always a problem at Chelsea it does bolster that Man City midfield

10:25Pete Donaldson: it does it's a big statement sorry to jump but when Rodri goes people think they're a bit light then they get Bouadi obviously young Moroccan lad who's already a good player he'll go on to be a great player of course and you get Enzo Fernandes in and you kind of go, okay, okay. Yeah. You noticed that gap as well. But does that mark a stylistic change to how they're going to play? He did say it was going to be a bit of a continuation, which I just didn't believe. Well, but of course he's not going to go, right, all that Guardiola crap. Baby out of the bathwater. Balls you out of the bathwater. Get rid of it.

11:00Pete Donaldson: All that stuff you've had to stomach in the last 10 years. Don't you worry, I'm ripping it up. I am my own man. We're going in another direction.

11:09Marcus Speller: We're doing it with Brian Klaff. No, and the Champions League one as well. Put it in the bin.

11:13Pete Donaldson: But I mean, the fact is that Guardiola, they played a totally different way last season to what they did five seasons ago. So this idea of it, will it be a continuation or not? I mean, year to year towards the end with Guardiola, you could argue the same. Because tactics are evolving and so on and so forth. To sort of answer your question in a slightly cheeky manner, I don't worry for them. Right. Don't fear for Man City. I don't because Maresca knows how to get a very good tune out of Enzo Fernandes. And I think Buadi is the one, of course, who's very young and will need time to adapt.

11:50Marcus Speller: And this transfer buys him time as well. Yeah, exactly. Exactly.

11:53Pete Donaldson: Yeah. I mean, Buadi is, you're signing, what is he, 18, teenager? I mean, he could be there for the next, you know, if it all goes well and Real Madrid don't come out. He could be there for 10 years. He could be there for the next four years. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He could be there until Christmas. He could be, he could be. All options are open. Well, indeed. And I just think that it's a good sign-in. Fernandes was there for the taking. Okay, it's an enormous fee. But a player, I mean, when you say blowing hot and cold, I sort of, I take that point. But he's a quality player. And at Man City, he will be blowing more hot than cold, you would think.

12:26Pete Donaldson: Because at Chelsea, it was a bit up and down. The question mark really is still with the manager. I don't think anybody's kind of worried too much about oh is Enzo Fernandes going to turn up and do his stuff I think he will I think he would play well in any team in any kind of system and he's quite adaptable in that midfield I think he gives them a bit more thrust going forward though because he's a player you want to be going more forward minded rather than defensive minded Anderson can do it all and Boadie will come in and do his thing as well and obviously they've got a few other options in there but it's all about, you know, Mareska what can Mareska do and from Mareska's point of view He's not worried about the price tag.

13:02Pete Donaldson: He's thinking, I've worked with him.

13:04Marcus Speller: I know what he's like. He will have an idea of his ideal position as well in that midfield. Yes, exactly. Yeah, no, no. It does make sense in a, you know, footballing wise and I don't think there's anyone who can legitimately look at that and be like, oh, Man City have messed up here.

13:21Pete Donaldson: No. And also, to bolster their attacking options, they've got Elliman and Jai in as well. Which I was really sad for. I say sad.

13:28Marcus Speller: I feel like he's bolstering their League Cup attacking options. Yeah, that's part of the 65 million gets. It really does. Can we call it for what it is? A bit of a waste? For us? Yeah, for a neutral, yeah. Really fun player. Was totally getting minutes. The Spurs thing would have been more interesting, partly because there's not as much depth at Spurs. And they do get desperate quite quickly. Very desperate quite quickly. He could have played three positions in one game. He could have been given the armband. There's so much opportunity there. But this is just a bit of a... This feels like we need someone to replace Jack Grealish, specifically on that bench over there.

14:05Pete Donaldson: I know what you mean. I do know what you mean. I mean, they are short of wingers, though, Man City, by their standards. High wingery standards.

14:13Marcus Speller: Yeah, and I suppose...

14:14Pete Donaldson: Savio, as we now call him, and Marmouche could also play out wide.

14:18Marcus Speller: Well, I suppose the thing that NDI gives them is that he covers for both Marmouche and Savio because he could play out wide and he can play in behind the striker. He's definitely good enough to do that, even though he hasn't really done it in the Premier League. But that's partly because of how Everton played. So he does fulfil that role, but even then it's like he can cover the two players who weren't really playing that much.

14:42Pete Donaldson: Yeah, I take that point totally. But again, from Man City's point of view, it's a bit like Arsenal, you're playing on all fronts. Right now, I don't think too many people would tip them for Champions League glory, but they'll still be gunning for it because that's obviously their modus operandi right now and with a squad like that, you've always got a chance, you know. So to beef up that squad is important. I mean, Jai said, you know, City are one of the best clubs in the world and I've seen them win everything as I've grown up.

15:11Marcus Speller: Yeah, I mean, that's fine.

15:13Pete Donaldson: That is fine. We've all grown up in the City kind of space, haven't we, I suppose. Yes, indeed. I was thinking to myself, blimey, I'm old because I've watched Man United win everything when I grew up. Yeah. Hey. Those were the days, weren't they? They were certainly days. They were certainly days. Chelsea thought that they had their Enzo Fernandes replacement in the dying hours of the transfer window after agreeing a£47 million deal with Monaco for Lamine Camara, but it collapsed. It fell apart. And I did think, is that going to be like one of those deals where they go, Oh, Enzo, yeah, I know you're holding the shirt up, but we need you back here.

15:50That's what I mean. It was too late, and it was too much money, I suppose.

15:53Pete Donaldson: Well, every media act was quick to say, no, that's a separate deal. It's not conditional. You know, and...

15:58Marcus Speller: You couldn't lend us that five million we gave City, could you? Yeah. The extra five.

16:02Pete Donaldson: Roma also pulled the plug on Manu Kone to Chelsea earlier in the day. Stop doing it on the last day. This is why it's so chaotic. Yeah. This is why everyone's league's a big mess. It is a bit strange, isn't it? So poor old Chelsea. They're down a couple of squad players.

16:15Marcus Speller: Poor old Chelsea. Poor old Chelsea.

16:18Pete Donaldson: Yeah.

16:19Marcus Speller: They might fit into three classrooms now. Yeah. A net spend of like plus 10 million inexplicably. Well, because they've sold a lot, haven't they? They're an annoyingly good selling club, but I suppose that comes from... Having a massive... Yeah, essentially their thing of signing young and selling when they're a bit older. Like Santos, obviously, Man United paid 50 million for him when he only signed for 30 million. Liam Dillap. Liam Dillap, yeah. Wow. Getting a profit on Enzo, having spent 105 million initially, like that's crazy work, but... Well done to them.

16:52Pete Donaldson: Well done to them indeed.

16:54Marcus Speller: We mentioned the Illumina D.I. deal and the Grealish deal, and you mentioned it before with the Chelsea Villa stuff with Jackson going one way, Rodgers going the other. I don't know if you're familiar with the NBA, but every season in the NBA, because of the way transfers, quote-unquote, work in trades, it's so hard to keep track of who's playing for who. and I feel like I'm not a fan of international breaks during the league season sorry Marcus I mean I've made that abundantly clear in the past we could do with one now you keep saying sorry

17:27Pete Donaldson: but I don't want the sorries I want you to change your behaviour and attitude no I think we need a week or two just to see just to get everyone's player you know player versus team in our heads yeah just re-familiarise ourselves

17:42Marcus Speller: with who's playing for who now especially as you said like Enzo's already played for Chelsea this season quite a few players have already you know are going to end up playing for two clubs in the space of three weeks

17:53Pete Donaldson: that is true yeah I mean there is sometimes you think hang on where did that player go they're not in the Premier League anymore but they weren't always Turkey these days exactly just check if a player has just disappeared into a black hole for you check the Turkish Super League if you if you see an unattended player tell Turkey see it say it sorted yeah take him to the airport take him to the airport off to Istanbul mate you'll find a club there you'll be alright And you know what, you're probably in the Champions League in a couple of weeks. Maybe you'll have a good time.

18:22Marcus Speller: If you've lost something or can't find it, it will be in Turkey.

18:25Pete Donaldson: Yeah, exactly.

18:27Marcus Speller: I love that for them. Yeah, do you know what I mean? Do you? Yeah. Well, it's kind of like football equivalent of the lost property box. Yeah. It's like people who are missing weird things. You know when you lost your Richard Keys head on the train? Did you think about, hmm, I might be in Istanbul. It might be in Istanbul, yeah. I'll just go straight to Paddington. Yeah. I'll need for Express. But when you say about... Hello, is that Besiktas? You don't have a big pape mashefa. You do, right. Yeah, I told you.

18:51Pete Donaldson: But do you not feel... When you say about the lost property box, often I assume there's a lot of rubbish in there, but sometimes you do get, you know, some gems. Yeah. So that's what I mean with the Turkish Super League. I think it works out well for everybody. Like mudlarks on the Thames. As opposed to... Pick a bold muddrix.

19:09Marcus Speller: Roman crocker. Yeah, there you go, yeah.

19:11Pete Donaldson: Do hand that in to the state, though.

19:13Marcus Speller: Oh my god, they've got a Victrosimon here!

19:15Pete Donaldson: There you are.

19:16Marcus Speller: If no one claims it within a week, we get to keep it.

19:20Pete Donaldson: Exactly. Well, speaking of Everton, as I think we were a number of moments ago, they had a busy deadline day, didn't they? Following Balogun, his move to Everton collapsed after Balogun basically walked away from the deal. He thought, you know what, I've weighed this up, Peter, and I thought, nah. Bit of transfer day edging. Yeah, was that true? I thought it was a problem with his medical. I thought he didn't pass it to medical. to Everton's high exacting standards because, goodness knows, they never have any injured players.

19:49Marcus Speller: So there's two reports that A might be conflicting and B might not be, but that it was an issue with the medical and that he walked away. Right. Hobbled away. Mmm. It was wheeled away. There is an element, I think, of... I can't remember who... Maybe it was Kone actually. but there were players on Tuesday at Deadland Day doing medicals for transfers that hadn't actually gone through yet just so they had the paperwork to be like we've done a medical within the last 24 hours here it is it's like getting your doggy passport I suppose so to prove that you've got all of your shots so you can travel yeah all of your shots as if dogs listening at home would be like I need to identify with this if you've got a dog's daycare they insist on you having the right out of shots and you've got to show them your vaccine passport.

20:43Doggy daycare. I didn't realise we'd solve poverty.

20:46Marcus Speller: Is your dog an anti-vaxxer? Yeah, he's completely refusing.

20:49Pete Donaldson: Your dog is very bigoted though, isn't it? He's very bigoted. Yeah. He keeps talking about protected groups quite a lot. It's quite problematic. Well, the big news is that Jack Grealish is going to be going back to Everton on loan. He's only got one year left on his Man City contract. I think that's good of Man City to do that. I just think, do you know what? Yeah, fine, loan fee. Just pay, you know, however much of his wages. It's an option to buy because the end of the contract is at the end of the contract. You can do what you want at the end of the contract. But Greely said of rejoining Everton, he said, I think I'm at my best at everything in life, not just football, when I feel loved.

21:24Pete Donaldson: That's what the manager has given me, what my teammates have given me, and especially what the fans have given me. Every time I see an Everton fan, it's just pure love. And the way they've welcomed me since that first game against Leeds, I'll never forget that. Bloody lovely. That's the boatman saying that. There is loveliness left in football, Peter. There is, yeah. And I would say playing at a stadium is a lovely way to, you know, sidle into the last sort of contract of your career, I think it's fair to say. Yeah, the Big Dick Stadium. The Big Dick Stadium. Yeah, well, I mean, if you remember the way that he started last season, there was...

22:00Pete Donaldson: No, there wasn't. It was. From you. No. There was. He's going to say, there was a talk of him getting back at the England squad. There wasn't. There was from you, but there wasn't. And I know, and look, you are technically a pundit. You are technically, you sometimes are, I'm a host. You sometimes get quoted in lofty talks and lofty magazines and stuff. No, I don't. We've been quoted in the newspaper before. Marcus Speller of the Football Ramble.

22:25Marcus Speller: Maybe not in the newspaper, but somewhere online. Somewhere online. Yeah. Yahoo News. Yeah. Marcus Speller says, he's my lock-in for an England starting birth.

22:34Pete Donaldson: Yeah. That's not what we're making.

22:37Marcus Speller: I dare you to Google sexy men times.

22:41Pete Donaldson: Editor at large. Editor at very large. I'm going to turn to the producers here because I think there's an agenda against me. And dare I say England in this studio. It was Jack Grealish when he started well at Emerson. There was a bit of chat. I think there was. I think there was. Thank you.

23:00Marcus Speller: He thinks a lot of stuff. I think it was framed in a season... He said Lennon was involved in the Chernobyl disaster. In the Beatles.

23:08Pete Donaldson: Good lord. The same producer. Not having this. Don't, that's naughty. What's that naughty? You brought him in. So I'll bring him in further. Alright? Lennon was long dead. Long dead. Yeah, yeah he was.

23:20Marcus Speller: You're trying to trash Marcus's source. Who will have to go on and edit the show.

23:28Marcus Speller: I think there was a season leading into the World Cup. I think there was a lot of willing and it was written that Jack Grealish could make a name for himself or reestablish himself in the England team. What actually happened was he just ended up scoring two goals all season.

23:45Pete Donaldson: No, he got injured. Remember, he had a terrible injury. Yeah, but okay.

23:49Marcus Speller: But he scored two goals in 22 appearances.

23:51Pete Donaldson: But he started well. Yes. He started fine. We'll admit that. We'll admit that. We can have that. Jack, prove them all wrong. We said that on yesterday's show. Yeah. There we go. So with that quote I just said about, you know, when he feels loved. Jack, we found people that don't love you. Don't come here. That's a great shame. That is a great shame. No, joining the football angle. And sadly for Manchester United, Everton couldn't agree a deal with them over Joshua Zerche.

24:16Marcus Speller: Yeah. I quite like him. He's like a Timu Berbatov. I think he's quite fun.

24:24Pete Donaldson: There's a compliment. You like his little gun celebration, don't you?

24:27Marcus Speller: No, actually, that might be one of the worst things about him. Oh, OK. What are you doing? You can't score one goal every fucking six months and be like, Ah, got ya! I've got one bullet. I've brought one bullet to the gun fight. Yeah, he's the guy who's always shooting at Bond. You're never kidding me. He's a stormtrooper. Yeah, he's a stormtrooper, yeah.

24:47Pete Donaldson: These guys are really well trained. Yeah. Are they? Who's trained them? Oh dear, the guy who's trying to kill James Bond. Beto's left the club though returning to Serie A with Fiorentina sorry okay I don't know where we are here

25:04Marcus Speller: I think it's a reaction that deserves

25:07Pete Donaldson: coming up after this, more transfer news

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26:17Hi, Podfans. Max here. Barry's here too. Hello. And now the Premier League is back, Barry, meaning we'll be providing incredibly astute analysis three times a week wherever you get your podcasts. Barry, with the remaining 10 seconds of this advert, can you provide some astute analysis?

26:30Pete Donaldson: I think Arsenal are going to win the Premier League. And there you are. For more hot takes like that, watch or listen to Football Weekly wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, this is Debbie Millman from the Design Matters podcast. and today's episode is sponsored by Lexus. Design isn't just about function. It is about feeling. At Lexus, every detail is intentionally designed. Master artisans don't just focus on what you can see. They obsess over what you can feel, the way the door closes, the precise click of a switch, the acoustic feedback of every control. Because a car that doesn't make you feel something is a car that stops short of amazing.

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28:08No one's knocking at the door. No one's ringing the bell. No one's knocking at the door. No one's ringing the bell. The fans say, if anybody does, open the door and let him in. Welcome back to the Football Ramble. Just do one chorus. The second chorus just makes it worse. It's compounding your problem, sir. He's only got the dildo in the ear, hasn't he?

28:33Pete Donaldson: That was Gary Cottrell. Scots was his Gary Cottrell. No, different guy. Different guy. Different Gary. They're all Garrys on Sky Sports, aren't they? Yeah, one or two of them are. Walter, all Garrys.

28:42Marcus Speller: There's part of me that's really feeling for him because no one will lower themselves to do that unless they really need it. So he must be under so much pressure. I'm a transfer pig! It's like... It's when I come out! He's got to take a deep breath before he asks Arteta a stupid question. Yeah. He's got to do that. Yeah. On the day when the most people are watching Sky Sports news. It's the TV equivalent of eating worms in the playground, isn't it? Yeah. It's for friends. And at least, at least someone's filming him. Exactly, exactly. Yeah. That's what I think about it, mate, about my career. There we go.

29:19You're so opposite me. That's true, that's true. But I'm very much the Gary Cottrell of the Formula Ramble, I'm afraid. Aww, Peter.

29:27Pete Donaldson: Someone knocking at the door. Who'd you... But he was describing you, though. Is that guy knocking at the door? Yeah. He's now looking through the window. He's ringing his own bell.

29:40Marcus Speller: Who would... In the football ramble universe... Don't ask. This is ramble uncut chat. Who would you be door stepping in the way that Cottrell... You know who Cottrell did with Eric Tenhard? Oh, right. Who would you do that with? I think I'd like to see how Jim lives. Because I think he's probably got some quite snazzy furniture.

29:59Pete Donaldson: No, no, no. You would want a reaction and you would want attention, so you'd have to knock on Luke's head. He'd get that

30:06Marcus Speller: No because Jim's good Because I think Jim will panic And do that kind of MP hurry Oh yeah Go for a jog Yeah Go for a jog Yeah And probably fall over

30:16Pete Donaldson: Completely agree I'd invite you in For a chicken keef Cup of tea in the chat There we are Now good people of the Ramble We've got some exciting news To share with you all This Friday This Friday We will be live streaming The Football Ramble preview show On our YouTube channel Warts and all we can't edit things out that we're going to say so get involved not only does that mean you'll get instant access to the show quite literally as soon as we voice it from our beautiful lips but you'll also get the chance to join in with the conversation through the live chat i promise you now it'll be great fun so head over to youtube search football ramble and subscribe so you don't miss anything and if you're watching this on youtube hello um your job is even easier just hit that subscribe button now.

31:00Pete Donaldson: Turn on notifications so you never miss an upload. The Ramble, warts and all, this Friday, preview show, Football Ramble YouTube channel. Right, Aston Villa have signed an 18-year-old from PSG, Ibrahim Mbaye. He's 18. Not many people will know too much about him. He's 47 million pounds, everybody. I remember he was quite good against Barcelona last season. Yes. That was a good one for them. That's all I remember and know about him. That's all you need, though. One good game. No, obviously, He's a very good young player and I understand why they've signed him. So I think that's positive. Also signed Taylor Howard Bellis from Southampton.

31:33Pete Donaldson: I was wondering when he was going to return to the Premier League. Nearly did it last season, of course, through... Osmosis? Footballing achievement. Right, okay. But then that was taken away due to all that business. He spied on himself. Still spying, you know. But he's going to be back in the Premier League, because they need another defender, because Esri Konza left.

31:55Marcus Speller: Is he... I don't... I suppose we're about to find out if he can handle the step up with European football as well. I think he's got a really interesting attitude. And what I mean by that is, clearly he rates himself, and why not? But he has that bit of aggro as well. And that stuff can go one or two ways, can't it? It can really fuel your push to go to the top in the way that I suppose it did someone like John Terry. or you can just end up being a bit of a pantomime villain around the league. I don't really know where it's going to go, but I'm quite curious to see, especially in the Villa side where he will have to pretty much immediately take up quite a bit of responsibility.

32:35Pete Donaldson: Yeah, I think it's a solid signing. I mean, with Villa, obviously those ones on deadline day, you know, and Bayek coming in, young, exciting player, Harwood Bell, as you mentioned there. Nicholas, Jamie, you talked about Villa, obviously, yesterday when they lost 1-0 to Arsenal. Do you feel they've made steps to kind of, I don't know, rectify what has been quite an astonishing window from the neutral? I mean, some people in the club don't seem that worried. Maybe because that is the Emery factor there.

33:09Marcus Speller: Do you think it's the Arsenal game that makes them not as worried? Because it feels like, you know, Brighton...

33:14Pete Donaldson: I mean, Brighton was particularly poor. I understand they went down to Tettin, it was individual errors, and with individual errors...

33:19Marcus Speller: But they were already like 3-0 down by that point.

33:21Pete Donaldson: Yeah, but you can always sort of say with individual errors, well, you know, you don't usually get three in a game sort of thing. Maybe you can be kind there. And against Arsenal, they clearly showed a lot more.

33:31Marcus Speller: Well, it felt like the system was in place to do something. Yeah. And that's people just growing into it. And we'll be talking about this on tomorrow's show, won't we? Yeah, of course, yeah. But I think it's very much the Brighton just knocked the stuffing out of everyone. And like we said yesterday, Vish, They just waited for the transfer window to close So now they can just actually start the season properly Without worrying they're going to lose people

33:54Pete Donaldson: One of the very interesting signings that happened on deadline day Sunderland beating Crystal Palace To getting Lyon winger Malik Fafana And this was fascinating because He was reportedly at Lyon Airport for Fafana With two private jets That's fancy, isn't it? One will take you to Sunderland and one will take you to Crystal Palace. One of the pirates tells the lie.

34:23Marcus Speller: Sorry, to change what I said earlier, or to clarify what I said earlier, Malik Fafana was a player who did a medical in Lyon but didn't know who for. Okay, there we are.

34:31Pete Donaldson: Yeah, so one was bound for Sunderland and the other to South East London. It's a bit the Matrix, isn't it? Red pill, green pill, blue pill? Red and white pill, or red and blue pill. Exactly. You see, it works.

34:44Marcus Speller: You should have had like a third mystery plane. Yes, like a sort of, like a mystery box. Yeah. You don't know where you're going to land. It's just circles. It's turkey.

34:53Pete Donaldson: That one will almost certainly go to the Turkish Super League, or it might just circle back round and you'll be back in the middle.

34:57Marcus Speller: Minty before we take off sir, hold on. Hold on. What?

35:02Pete Donaldson: What are the dessert options? It's just lamb. Do you not find it fascinating? This is a very, very like, you know, base level kind of fan sort of point of view. But the idea That you don't know Where you're going to be living For the next year But you know You saw the young Betis guy Who's crying out You know Driving out The way from Was it Denilson Are we going back to the days Of Denilson No he was crying Because he'd been in the club For a very long time But he was basically A make-wit Because of PSR Or FSR Whatever they call Call it Down in Spain He had to leave And he was like Crying in the car Oh yeah It was like really That's what I mean There's just so much upheaval Not all the joking I mean It happened to Lionel Messi Barcelona like they wanted to keep him and obviously you know it's a little bit different but but I just I find it he's got 10 pelions yeah well he does I just I always find it when you get a story and that detail emerges you go oh yeah well of course I mean look at Balogun you know giving himself up okay actually no no pull the plug and then you go all the way back you know some players we've heard reports before literally on the training ground yeah with their teammates guys who that you know again you have to form bonds very quickly with people.

36:13Pete Donaldson: You're in a team, you know. I don't know why you have to fly in to meet anyone in this age, day and age, really. You can get independent, you know, testing, your doggy passports. Fine. And you do all your stuff on Zoom. It's like, yeah, I'll come here next week. Just fucking leave me alone. Let me finish training.

36:31Marcus Speller: You know that spate of cracking down on people using AI in job interviews over Zoom? Yeah. Stuff like that. That would be why they want to see it in person. Right. Oh, I found my local doctor, Dr. Nick, he says I'm totally fine. He definitely said I'm fine. I have a back. I definitely got a back. Not broken. With the Malik Fafana stuff and this young lad from Betis as well, is it actually just a bit disgusting? I think there's an element of it.

37:02Pete Donaldson: Like the players have seemed to have a whole joke. Very little say. But they're kids.

37:06Marcus Speller: They're literally kids.

37:06Pete Donaldson: Well, I think it's one argument against the transfer window, because it's that idea of, all right, quick, quick, quick. Come on, you've got to decide. Are you going to Sunderland or are you going to Crystal Palace? I mean, and also as well, but it's not just the...

37:17Marcus Speller: And it's not just in football. It happens a lot. You know, I mentioned the NBA before. It happens in the NBA all the time.

37:23Pete Donaldson: But it's not just the idea of, oh, okay, which obviously not the case with Sunderland Palace, but you know, you go into, it could be different countries, you know. Okay, what's the culture there? Like, well, these kind of questions. It's also, with a footballer's career, it's short. I mean, if you're a young lad, you know, the idea of, you know, the bigger picture and so on, it's quite a difficult thing to get your head around at the best of times, let alone when everyone's trying to stick a camera in your face and so on. But also as well, the move goes well or badly, that massively depends on how the rest of your career may pan out.

37:51Pete Donaldson: So these are huge, huge decisions. I guess you could say the same about military children and stuff like that, you know, people floating around from military base to military base or diplomats and stuff. Like it's maybe corded into their kind of entire kind of setup that that's how you're going to live your life for the next 20 years. But these aren't military children. They're very rich military children. Are you saying military children, that is an untapped source for footballing talent? Well, you're used to moving around the place, you know. You're used to playing in a back three or a back four.

38:17That's how the American-German connection kind of works, isn't it? Is it really? Well, there you are.

38:21Pete Donaldson: You see, we've answered that one.

38:23Marcus Speller: But that's completely different, though, because... Yes, it is. Oh, is it? You've turned on me too, haven't you, Mish? Just leave it there. Just leave it there. Used to be my only ally. Thanks for that, Peter.

38:32Pete Donaldson: But I had nothing to do with what we were talking about.

38:36Marcus Speller: American-German relations. A lot of effort went into those relations. The point being, because of the speed that these transfers happen, a lot of these young lads end up in these places for a certain period of time on their own. Sometimes they might have one parent there or maybe just a, maybe another guardian as well, or they get, you know, they still even a professional like elite clubs get billeted with other families, just so they have local families to get them ingrained. But you mentioned it before, if there's a language barrier, there's cultural issues, and just having to fend for yourself.

39:10Marcus Speller: And also just the dizziness of being like, I was with all my mates, literally yesterday.

39:15Pete Donaldson: Or even this morning. You've been taking off, right, come on, get in the taxi. I'm still wearing the training kit. No, that's it, you're off. You've always got the WhatsApp. Do you get kicked out of the WhatsApp room immediately? In time. That's a bit brutal. The WhatsApp room. The WhatsApp chat room. The WhatsApp collector. It could be. Anyway, he chose to sign for Sunderland, which is a ringing endorsement of the North East of England. Yeah, I mean, Sunderland can seemingly find players who want to go there, so well done them.

39:47Marcus Speller: They've had such a good start to the season with all their new signings. I know, I'm complaining. No, you have. I have now. Oh, they can do it. Yeah, but they found it very difficult to sign time players. All the players wanted to play in London.

39:59Pete Donaldson: Well, there we are. That's one in the eye for London.

40:03Marcus Speller: That's why they're pushing for high speed too.

40:04Pete Donaldson: Yeah, and that's what actually Malik Fofana said as he got on that private jet. He shouted to the other part, that's one in the eye for London! Long live the North East.

40:16Pete Donaldson: Howay is what he shouted. H-A. Yes, thank you. That's how they spell it in Sunderland.

40:21Marcus Speller: And your one is H-O. Your way We actually go for

40:26Pete Donaldson: Awe Like that Like this Awe Yeah It's like Eddie at hell Yeah Nick Voltemada Has joined Juventus On a season long loan He's sad about this Peter I am a little bit I think he could probably Think of himself Being rather Hard done by Because he was such a cult hero For the first I don't know Couple of months Or whatever it was Last season And it looked like He was a good fit He was scoring goals And then suddenly 12 goals Debut season I know

40:51Marcus Speller: Front loaded weren't they

40:52Pete Donaldson: It's just a bit of a shame how, you know, talking of young players moving and so on, I understand that that was a transfer that had been in the post for a while. But the way he turned up, the way that he was taken by the fans, and as I say, it can change so quickly. Lived in that house with his friend? Yes, exactly. Maybe he just got fed up with the journalists. Are you seeing anyone at the moment? Do you remember all that? Yeah. My sister's free.

41:19Marcus Speller: It was weird, wasn't it? You live with another man?

41:24Pete Donaldson: What? Who would you like to get off with? Yeah, anyway, he's gone. Probably for the best for him. Juventus on a season long, loves black and white stripes. Exactly. Can't get enough. Not to scout me next.

41:36Marcus Speller: Or prison. In an American cartoon.

41:40Pete Donaldson: Or riding around on a French bike. Yeah. Referee in boxing.

41:46Marcus Speller: He could work in Foot Locker. That's fine, that's fine. Work in Foot Locker. He could work in Foot Locker.

41:51Pete Donaldson: These people are very lucky. Why are we sitting here bemoaning the foot... I don't have the choice of going to Sunderland or Palace.

41:55Marcus Speller: I think Voldemort has retired from football to pursue a career as a zebra crossing.

42:00Pete Donaldson: That's not long enough, isn't he? It's an Everton mint.

42:03Marcus Speller: I reckon down in like... It's a short lifespan, that. Very short careers being an Everton mint, isn't it? Yeah. I mean, I think it was the next idea for Eddie Howe. Eddie Howe, put him in the field, try and tell him into Joel Linton. then Everton mint. That was his next plan.

42:18Pete Donaldson: It's the natural progression. Newcastle also rejected a£15 million bid from Forrest for Jacob Murphy. Yeah. Murphy's staying, baby. Well, it was a rumour that Alanga was a bit injured in the knee. That's not come out, but that's what I was hearing. But I'm surprised that even Jacob Murphy... I think the way you said that, that's to allude, it's not come out. So if you go... They'll never catch me.

42:42Marcus Speller: I've had the vaccine. If you play that backwards, you'll hear... what is actually going on. But I was surprised, even at 31, it wasn't that long ago that Jacob Murphy was feeding Isaac all of his goals. Yes. I thought that price point was a little bit low, but yeah, I think just for cover for Alanga might seem sensible. But I think it does show the ruthless streak of the manager in that he, in previous seasons, I think those kind of players would be sticking around like Voltemada would just be in the squad, you know, coming on for the last 20, at the end of matches and stuff. But, you know, he's out and he needs that space in the squad.

43:20So, yeah, I'm glad Jacob Mav is still there. Oh, come on. I love Jacob Mav.

43:25Marcus Speller: It's a bit of soul, isn't it? Yeah. You can't sell everything. Yeah. You can't. Somebody said, a Newcastle meme account, Francis Chip on Twitter said, if you told me six weeks ago we were going to the final because we have the transfer window, sitting two points below Hull City and preparing a contract extension for Joe Willock, I'd have believed it completely.

43:42Well, it's happening, baby. It's happening.

43:44Pete Donaldson: what about Arsenal the champions let's go to them they have released three men into the footballing wilderness the ecosystem I mean I say that that's going to mess it up isn't it Gabby Jesus has joined Barcelona on a permanent deal I was like oh that's a big one it's quite tasty yeah it's quite tasty that's a lovely I mean again the positions that he is the players that he is competing for he's going to be quite low down the pecking order so I can't imagine him playing that much but if you go from not playing that much at a big club, then you kind of go, actually, maybe Barcelona. He's done pretty well to go there, I think.

44:22Pete Donaldson: I understand he's a squad player for them. But it's lovely surroundings.

44:26Marcus Speller: I suppose it's similar to, you know, the working out is broadly the same in terms of Arsenal wanted Alvarez as an upgrade on Gabriel Jesus. Barcelona also wanted Alvarez and neither of them are getting Alvarez. So Barcelona are getting Jesus. Yes. Yeah. So it's like they're happy with that as a squad option if he's not going to be a starting option, but Arsenal weren't happy with that as a squad option. And I imagine they wanted to sell him early enough to get, I mean, it's only like 8 million, isn't it? 9 million?

44:55Pete Donaldson: It's not much, but still though.

44:56Marcus Speller: Yeah, it's something. And it frees up wages and stuff like that.

45:00Pete Donaldson: I mean, Martinelli joining El Hillel for 55.7 million. Yeah, ludicrous. That's where the money is. Well, the thing is Arsenal work on such fine margins frequently. They're going to want amount of serious challenge in the Champions League and in there Jesus, Jesus, Jesus Jesus scored a couple, Martinelli scored six and they've lost both of them and the assists on top of that I think we mentioned that on the show yesterday it's they need to cover that somehow but hopefully their new signings will do that Is it nice for Gabriel Martinelli to team up with Oli Watkins at El Helo? I have no opinion on Oli Watkins' idea about what makes a good partner in the box neither jizzes so

45:42Marcus Speller: wondered where you're going with that that is a combination that could have also happened at Villa couldn't it or Arsenal you could you could yeah of course great point yeah so ultimately couple of years in football ultimately who cares

45:58Pete Donaldson: Ethan Vanieri signed for Borussia Dortmund on loan Borussia Dortmund are sort of like at some almost like a de facto sort of academy for English players aren't they they're like a kind of they do cut and shuts They're just kind of like, if your parts of your car aren't working, we'll sort of get bits of other cars and tear them together and just make a new car. Although, on that point Peter - Shut up, Vish, I was right. Yeah, no, no, I'm going with this, Peter. I'm with you. They rehabilitate. No, go on the - Lost souls.

46:28Marcus Speller: This is not rehabilitation, is it? Going on the car part business -

46:33Pete Donaldson: Do what I said, but better. It works, because - because you can't take bits of other players and put them on the players. I'm trying to help you. You know what? There are a lot of badges in the Football League with trees in them. And I think we need to count them all right now. I do.

46:51Marcus Speller: Did you know there's one striker who's won the League 2, League 1 championship and Premier League? Who is it?

46:58Pete Donaldson: And he's played in the old firm derby. He's Nicholas and Elka.

47:02Marcus Speller: He won the League 2 win whoever the fuck.

47:05Pete Donaldson: He's always an Elka to those questions. Or Robert Earnshaw. Although... So, with the car business... Go on, you're backing up, Pete. No, I am, because you're saying that they put all these parts together, they form a car. Alright, very German. Very German analogy, this. And I think you're right, but the problem is, when you then remove that part, and try and put it in another car, it doesn't really work. Yeah, okay.

47:27Marcus Speller: He's talking about the individual as a car. I am. I was saying that it seems to be where careers are rehabilitated, frequently not well enough outside of the German league.

47:36Pete Donaldson: Well, let's hope Nguyenieri gets the rehabilitation he needs. Yes. Gets that oil filter. Teenager. Cabin filter. Teenager. All of his fluids replaced. Power steering the lot. Yeah. Look, I would be surprised if Arsenal, I mean, they're not getting rid of him. Obviously, it's a season-long loan, but he's a good player.

47:59Marcus Speller: But is this not just similar to what they did with Saliba? They sent him away for a few seasons, they got him regular high quality football.

48:07Pete Donaldson: Indeed, and I'm just reminding myself more than anybody, he's a very good player.

48:12Marcus Speller: He's only 19.

48:13Pete Donaldson: Yeah, because Jim has said with Arsenal, you know, that Nwaniere could come in and... Oh, what does he know? True enough, yeah. He's not even here. He's not even here. Yeah. The thing about Jim Campbell...

48:23Marcus Speller: He didn't have the front to answer Pete's questions when he got doorstep. True enough. And he fell over while he did it.

48:29Pete Donaldson: Yeah, bollocks to him. Bollocks to them all.

48:32Marcus Speller: I never want to see him again.

48:35Pete Donaldson: Their North London rivals, though, have had a busy window.

48:37Marcus Speller: Yeah?

48:38Pete Donaldson: You mentioned Mikhailo Mudrik yesterday on the show. I just wanted to say that that was quite a Spursy signing, wasn't it?

48:46Marcus Speller: Well, it's mental, isn't it? Do you not think if you get him on reduced wages, he'd probably be a decent... Reduced wages?

48:56Pete Donaldson: He must be on minimum wage. how are you you've got no leverage here absolutely none we'll pay you expenses and that's it I honestly think it's I love the fact he's back in football he's waited a long time but why are you saying that though like why is he such a strange signing because he hasn't played for so long like the whole thing around him you don't forget how to play football do you he didn't spend all the time in the training shop he hasn't played for two years I just think I just think that he would have benefited from a couple of years in Turkey right okay Yeah, outside playing non sort of...

49:30Doing whatever. Denomination of football. Whatever they do there, playing football. So what we need is basically like an illegal high-level league outside of FIFA and UEFA where players can go... We'll call it the Super League. We'll call it the Super League. We'll call it the Super League. You know, it happens in, I don't know, Fiji, right? And all of the players who have been banned for doping, they go there and get rehabilitated. Yeah, the enhanced games. They're not outtake the drugs anymore. That's what got him in the trouble in the first place.

49:59Pete Donaldson: Was this not... Should there be a drugs window? Maybe. Do all you want in that window, and the window shuts. Yeah. You have to be sober. Juicy September, they're going to call it. You have to be sober. You have to be sober by one minute past 11pm when the window shuts. It's got a goal. You've got to shave all your hair off so it's not in your hair.

50:16Marcus Speller: Quick, get off the deal sheet.

50:19Pete Donaldson: Deal sheet.

50:21Marcus Speller: Yeah, I don't know.

50:22Pete Donaldson: There's an idea. There was rumours that he turned up in the baller league, didn't there? Right, okay. Oh, he was wearing a mask, wasn't he? Wearing a mask. Oh, sorry, there was someone wearing a mask. Well, how did he perform in the baller league then, ballers? Well, having watched all of it, I can tell you. Do you remember Alex Iwobi admitted on a Fulham podcast that he would play at goals? And he basically gave exactly what he wore and everything. And I was thinking, you've told the club you're doing this, and anybody who plays there, you've just given yourself away. He could just move to another goals, couldn't he, I suppose?

50:55Pete Donaldson: Could move to Turkey. Do your Thursday night five-a-side in Istanbul.

50:59Marcus Speller: So Sean Longstaff is a very, very good cricketer and was playing cricket regularly for his first team club side. And now club games are streamed. So someone realized he was playing, went on the stream and he took, I think he took five wickets or something, and then clipped it up and put it online. And everyone was like, oh, fucking hell, Longstaff playing cricket. How cool. Also damn good. And because of that, he couldn't play again. Yeah, gosh.

51:24Pete Donaldson: Oh, what a shame.

51:25Marcus Speller: Nice.

51:26Pete Donaldson: What a shame. Good that Tosin Adaro Bayo is going to Spurs as well, because he'll get some game time. Should never have left Fulham, big boy.

51:35Marcus Speller: Yeah, he, um, another one from the Man City production line. Yeah, people often forget that. Or don't know it. I remember he went on loan to Blackburn, I think, and a mate of mine who supports Blackburn was like, clearly a really good player, but not as physical as he needs to be in the championship, and was wondering if he was just almost a kind of similar to Levi Colwell where it's like really good on the ball but quite big, you should use that to your advantage Oh yeah, he's a big boy Yeah, hopefully this goes well, I mean obviously it won't he's at Spurs but it's, yeah, it was a strange move when he signed for Chelsea Was that also a deadline day move as well?

52:14Marcus Speller: It feels like it was something spur of the moment

52:16Pete Donaldson: I can't honestly remember, I mean look he did win a couple of trophies including the Club World Cup

52:20Marcus Speller: at Chelsea.

52:21Pete Donaldson: So maybe I'm being a bit harsh and a bit chippy towards him. So fair play. Right, gentlemen, let's have a quick break. Because after which, we're going to talk about Leeds United signing Speedy Gonzalez.

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55:24Pete Donaldson: Gentlemen, I want to talk about one more transfer, if I may, because you can get bogged down with all this. Oh, he's gone there, he's gone there. This one, though. Leeds United have signed Jean-Mathieu Bahoya from Eintracht Frankfurt. the fastest player in Bundesliga history. He's the only player in the history of the Bundesliga to run faster than 37 kilometers an hour since records began. Okay, someone check that. What's in miles an hour for crying out loud? So he's like, oh, I've run seven kilometers today. What is it in miles? Just giving me a higher number to show off. Sky Sports had some context for this.

56:07Pete Donaldson: only three players in Premier League history have done this and Usain Bolt's average speed when he set his 100 metre world record in 2009 was 37.58 kilometres an hour.

56:22Marcus Speller: What do they mean his average speed?

56:24Pete Donaldson: What do you think they mean? Oh I suppose, yeah, yeah, fine. From start to finish, what's the average? Bahoya's average speed, well not average speed on a game that would be when he's at full tilt 37.16 kilometres per hour and by the way and I'm glad that producer Tom has put this in the running order at my very recent request because you think 23.09 miles per hour he if he ran through the streets of London would be setting off would be setting off cameras setting off cameras yeah

56:54Marcus Speller: yeah good point good point I hope he doesn't

56:58Pete Donaldson: yeah that'd be very rare well I don't know I don't know if everywhere in Leeds Daniel Farker

57:01Marcus Speller: where are you I'm in London running around the streets what are you doing Stealing fawns. Yeah.

57:07Pete Donaldson: I really don't need a bike. I really don't know what my backside looks like. Give me that. So I'm just running through speed cameras. I want to see what my Bundesliga looks like. He can run 23 miles an hour, Peter. Yeah. What have you ever done? Yeah. It's pretty wild, isn't it?

57:23Marcus Speller: That's a shame, because that was like Dan James' only thing. Yeah.

57:27Pete Donaldson: It is. Yeah, but maybe Dan James has somebody else to be fast with him, so he doesn't feel so lonely.

57:33Marcus Speller: It's like they can hold hands and run through.

57:35Pete Donaldson: Yeah, during training when Dan James is sprinting ahead and he's like, I feel alone again. I've got no one to talk to. Hey, the big man's here with me. Big Jean Matteo, how you doing? They're going to have a little chat while everybody catches up. Apparently, Leeds City's centre speed limit is set to become 20 miles an hour, perhaps because Jean Matteo is about to turn up. Yeah. We'll curb this guy, I tell you what. Showing off. If I know from my car, that's around about 32 kilometres per hour, the 20-mile speed limit, so. Yeah. Well, we know that 37 kilometers an hour is roughly 23 miles an hour now.

58:06Pete Donaldson: Okay. Yeah. So, yeah. Good to see you. I just remembered that I drive a car that just gives me kilometers and not miles. Really? So there's...

58:13Marcus Speller: 30, 48. So there's nothing on your dial that tells you... No, I've got to convert him, you noggin. I don't know. The count... Six points on my license. I'm going on the motorway. Ummm... 110. 110 kilometers around. 114, something like that.

58:30Pete Donaldson: Because of him, the council have built an extension on their main building and employed about 50 more people.

58:36Marcus Speller: So it was like you shouldn't have imported a car from the other side of the world. Well, they drive on the left, don't they?

58:41Pete Donaldson: They do, and God bless them for that. God bless them for that. Yeah, they weren't sucked into Napoleon's nonsense, were they? No. Chaps, before we go, I want to talk about Lionel Messi again. We mentioned him earlier in the show. He's retired from international football. Again. Do we believe him this time? I think because he pulled his little stunt in 2016 2016 2016 it's fair to say he probably was pleased that he reversed that decision yeah I don't know they would have won too wouldn't they without him that's true was that post Maradona or pre it wasn't pre Maradona obviously but was that post Maradona as 10 year I forget no no no oh yes of course no Maradona was 2010 when he was in charge right okay yeah Maradona was yeah I thought you were talking about was he still alive or not he was alive in 2016 yeah that's what I was thinking but yeah I mean with Messi it was incredible wasn't it when he when he announced his retirement back in 2016 just how the last 10 years have been so different for him at international level if because again at that time he was seen by his own country people as you know is he more european there was always this chat is he more spanish than argentinian which is a big thing over there something that you know we can't really relate to the idea of you know all that sort of stuff um he hadn't really done it even though at the 2014 world cup he'd inspired them by and large to get to a world cup final where they were beaten by germany he was both a player of the tournament some people were a little bit suspect of that with a you know one thing or another but anyway he was still he still played well at that tournament scored crucial goals but he he hadn't really done it because if you're going to be the best player in the world without a doubt you have to win the world cup with argentina because there's one major example they have, obviously with the aforementioned Maradona where that had been the case.

1:00:27Pete Donaldson: And Cut's a very different figure on a number of levels and a vastly different person to Maradona, of course. But here they had this gem who hadn't quite shown it for them, really. I mean, I would argue again in 2014, but because of what came before, then they would say he hasn't quite done it. And retires because they'd been beaten by Chile in a penalty shoot. They couldn't even win the Copa America. That trophy had eluded them for many, many years. And he was just like, Barcelona, everything he touches turns to gold, magnificent stuff, as we all know. And Argentina just couldn't quite crack it.

1:01:03Pete Donaldson: And then, I mean, even two years after that, the 2018 World Cup, they go out to France in a great game, but really they were quite disappointing. It wasn't until 20, would it have been 2021, if my memory serves me correctly, where they won the Copa America during COVID, they beat Brazil in the final in Brazil 1-0 and when they won that trophy boom that was the monkey off the back and Messi was crucial in that and you saw a little bit more of his leery side at various points which of course Argentinians love yeah well I mean that's

1:01:32Marcus Speller: that's quite an important point because it feels like playing for Argentina and being Argentinian became the edge to his personality that he was perhaps lacking before he tapped into it yeah yes not in any kind of performance context it wasn't you know, it clearly didn't affect anything about what he did on the field. But in terms of how you perceive him, you know, the European thing that you talked about there, that he was accused of a lot in Argentina.

1:01:58Pete Donaldson: Are his bags still packed? Or has he unpacked his bags? Is that kind of expression? They thought he'd unpacked his bags, Peter. Right. Finally.

1:02:05Marcus Speller: But then when he comes around the Argentina team, obviously he's actually still himself. But he's in blue and white. He's surrounded by people who are perhaps quite literally willing to die for him. Yes. And it shows out. Like even the World Cup just gone, I appreciate they'd lost in the final, but it still felt a lot like we got to do it for him. And it felt like the energy behind it was -

1:02:28Pete Donaldson: We've got a protective shot coming in a little bit. But the song they all sung in the dressing room, you know, when they were talking, you know, some political stuff in there, blah, blah, blah, but it was all, and it's Leo's last one. That was the song they were all singing. Yeah.

1:02:38Marcus Speller: And I think that's it. And the motivation felt like it was - it would have been his first World Cup win.

1:02:43Pete Donaldson: Yeah, I think that with... Totally. I think with Messi at Argentina, you know, you've said it all there, that this idea that he was so universally loved by the footballing world, but in the country where it mattered the most, it just... They were just like, it's not clicked. And Scaloni takes a big role in this, coming in and moulding the team around Messi in a way that it crazily hadn't been before. I suppose because they had so many quality other players as well. Obviously, he's the best one. But you think, well, okay, how can we get the best out of Aguero as well? How can we get the best? And obviously, Aguero's kind of, you know, all but really finished his playing career.

1:03:24Pete Donaldson: By the time that Copa America comes around, I think, was he in the squad now? He played. But, you know, and other players as well. And it kind of be like, right, okay, this is the old Shankly court. You know, you need 10 men to carry the piano, but one man to play it sort of thing. And with Messi, Scaloni was just like, we are all here essentially to serve you. And Messi, this is not, you know, people say, well, that's very arrogant. They're all into it. Look, again, the whole team in the World Cup just gone singing his name in a song that is a part of their story all the way to the final. It shows you what they think of him.

1:04:02Pete Donaldson: And they win that Copa America. And that is, I say, the monkey off the back. and of course they go on and do what they do in the 2022 Qatar World Cup. And his performance in that World Cup is, the collective is good, but the individual performance is up there as some of the best individual performance we've ever seen at a World Cup. He has his Maradona experience, if you see what I mean, very much on the pitch. And I can't stress that enough. God, he'd be awful at it, wouldn't he? But even in the World Cup, it's little.

1:04:29Marcus Speller: Watch his own highlights in an afters. Oh God.

1:04:33Pete Donaldson: But even little things like when they beat the Netherlands in that tempestuous quarterfinal in Qatar. And, you know, there's no love lost between those two. And off the pitch, after the game, Messi's being interviewed. And I think it was Vecors, Vecors goes past, and there's all this sort of staring going on. And Messi's being interviewed. And as he's being interviewed, he looks over and he's like, what are you staring at? And he calls him like Bobo or Bobo. It's a very Argentinian word. Very, very, you know, it'd almost be like an English player. Like, is he American or whatever? And he goes, what are you looking at, Nobhead?

1:05:04Pete Donaldson: And you go, oh yeah, he's English. You know, it was a bit, it's little things like that went into Messi becoming the Argentinian that they wanted and needed. Right. And just little things like that. And again, you know. The angel dirtied up his face. A little bit, Peter. Look, he was still gracious in victory when they beat England in the last World Cup. Do you know what I mean? He's not getting involved in the Malvinas banner. I wasn't really concentrating on him, but yeah. Jude Bellingham's not slapping Messi. Do you know what I mean? So again, he's still Messi, but there are these little bits and pieces where people go, oh, there he is.

1:05:39Pete Donaldson: It's in there. Right. If you see what I mean. But of course, if he went the full tilt, then he loses the calmness and the coolness, which is what we know him on the pitch and so on and so forth. And they win that World Cup, you know, and that's it really. I mean, that reporter before, I think it was before the final, the Argentinian reporter, I forget her name, said to him, quite emotionally she said, what you've done for us already and what you've made us feel, it's done. It's almost a... I mean, it's easy to say when you look back and you've won it, but whatever you go on to do now, you're one of us sort of thing.

1:06:11Pete Donaldson: There was almost that recognition that we're all as one here kind of thing and obviously goes on to win it. And even in the last World Cup, as I said, the last thing that he needed in his career was to get a victory over England and the bastard managed to do it. He was very much allowed to do it, But even in his last World Cup, when you're thinking he's still 39, still scoring the goals and so on, and his tears in the final after the game as well, it's been amazing, as I say, since he decided to, well, the last, I don't know, six years or seven years of his international career has been what he deserved, I think.

1:06:52Pete Donaldson: Yeah. A great tribute, Marcus. Oh, well, yeah. Three months too late for me

1:06:56Marcus Speller: But well done, Lionel

1:06:59Pete Donaldson: Exactly, yeah So well done, Lionel Messi Once again There we are, everybody We've reached the end of the show Thanks for listening to the Football Ramble Part of the ACAR's Creator Network We'll be back tomorrow with the mailbag So get your ears around that lot For those of you who are friends of the Ramble We'll see you later for Ramble Uncut But until then, say goodbye, Peter

1:07:21Marcus Speller: Goodbye, Peter Say goodbye, Vish Goodbye, Vish

1:07:23Pete Donaldson: and for international football we say goodbye Lionel Messi

1:07:27Marcus Speller: and Cristiano Ronaldo not yet

1:07:40the football ramble is a stack production and part of the Acast Creator Network

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