The Chelsea scrapheap

0:00I stay out too late, got nothing in my brain everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble. Arsenal are perfect. Spurs were better and man city were dross. It's Wednesday 21stay. I'm Jim Campbell. And I'm David Collegy.

0:24Hello, everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble. It's a wonderful Wednesday in the Football Ramble universe. I was going to say Kingdom. You were going to say Kingdom, weren't you? But that would be disrespectful. The actual kingdom that we're in. We're not trying to overthrow it just yet. Thanks to friend of the Ramble JTDTLA 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, then become a friend of the Ramble on Patreon. And remember, we're still offering 15 % off all annual memberships. That means bonus episodes, ad-free Rambles, and access to the Discord throughout the rest of the year.

0:59Just head to patreon.com forward slash football Ramble now. Well worth a turn of the head. Oh, Champions League delivers, doesn't it? Especially if you're from North London, Jim Yeah, or north of the Arctic Circle By about 200 miles And that's where we begin Bode Glimp 3, Manchester City 1 Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear I mean, they reckon it was about minus 9 degrees Celsius In Norway Erling Haaland went back home to face his fellow countrymen And they were gabbed, David Indeed they were against Man City were dug by a team that hadn't played competitively since December 10th I think it was quite remarkable well it was their first win in the Champions League this season I mean one one stand is effectively people's kitchens yes I mean we're all familiar with Bode Glimp by now and how incredible they are as an organisation and how much they've overachieved and how impressive they can be on their day but this is this is the absolute zenith of that surely best result in their well people are saying best result in their history which is understandable.

2:05I mean they were close to beating Spurs of course. They were. And they learned from that it seemed. Was that match day too? It was early on in this Champions League. Very unlucky Spurs obviously pegged them back. But they were brilliant. I mean as bad as Man City were Jim, Bodo Glimp were very very good. Absolutely and they controlled the game really really well. They just essentially I think obviously the first goal is quite sloppy from City and then Bodo Glimp have got enough about them to be smart and go okay they're a bit rattled here and then immediately capitalise again how often do we see teams have a chance just after scoring and they lose their heads a little bit they get a nose beat and they mess it up and they did not do that beautiful finish and that changed the complexion of the game mentally for everybody involved well it was Huck who scored it and when the ball came to David you're thinking you could sky this do you know what I mean this is a finesse finish and my goodness this could go all the way into row E yes it was a beautiful stroke and 2-0 the place was alive now immediately some people will say but Man City were missing players well okay that's fair but they weren't missing Phil Foden Erling Haaland Cherokee Rinders Rodri Lewis was in there okay Donna Rumor Donna Rumor exactly Nico O 'Reilly who's been starting a lot oh yeah they really pulled them in off the street didn't they Jesus Christ they're not making an excuse for this against a team that hasn't played since mid-start of December I mean like come on especially when what we were just before we came on the podcast they bought a whole new 11 in the past year I think it is and spent 500 million I'm not hearing any excuses they were shite yeah that's the stuff so yeah no they simply weren't good enough their big players didn't turn up similar to that Haaland I thought was absolutely appalling admittedly he didn't get the ball much as well but look the balance of that is he doesn't really make too much of an effort to do that to get it Rodri looked absolutely terrible just very forlorn but I was told that they'll be fine when he comes back I think it was me who told you is that what you were going at well I don't know but thank you for reminding me I thought that was a dig a la what you do at a Luke Murray sometimes we've all been saying it he's sly with a speller isn't he he gives off the nice guy little pork in there if he can be proven right then he'll come out swinging but I do admit when I'm proven wrong and I thought Bodo Glimter wouldn't win this game 3-1 so there you go they proved me wrong but yeah but Roger it was ludicrous sending off as in ludicrous from what he did rather than of course it was a second yellow card Oh, just absolutely ridiculous.

4:33Yeah, yeah, it was just a stupidity. It's something you'd expect from like a youth player or something like that. It's not the guy who's won the Ballon d 'Or and who's one of your main leaders. Totally. I think when that happens, that's because they were 3-0 down. Well, sorry, 3-1 down at that point. They'd scored, but Buddy Gleimba had scored. Ryan Cherky was an absolute narc when they were getting a goal. It's not what we want. He will do that. Yeah, I love that. Even in a mongrel that, Cherky still managed to keep his personal vibes going a little bit. But Rodri doing that, That just feels to me that there's nowhere to hide now.

5:05This is it. I saw, I know you're a fan of the man too, Jim, Adam Cleary saying on Twitter, he said, guys, we are deep into the twilight of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City here. And I think that Rodri's ending is almost sort of symbolic of that. If you see what I mean, they're on a stinking run of form. Harland is, Guardiola described him as exhausted not that long ago. He's played a lot. So why is he playing then? Well, why is he playing against games like Exeter and stuff? Yeah. I mean, was that just a sentimental thing last night because he was back in Norway? Mamouche would have played surely, I thought.

5:39For me, David, Guardiola, this is the only other thing we can cross-reference in his incredible career. As I say, I always want to say this so those people know where I'm coming from here. I'm not rubbing my hands going, ladies and gentlemen, we've got him. He's a fraud after all. He's one of the most impressive and noteworthy men in the history of football. 100%. Exactly. I'm not even saying manager, men. You can be that general and also that praiseworthy of the guy. So again, just to remind everybody what I think. But with this, the only, as I say, sort of little bit we can cross-references was that last year at Barcelona, where it was a constant sort of chasing after stealth and couldn't quite get it done.

6:24And it just felt that... The symptom of exhaustion, wasn't it? Exactly. and all sorts of things and the cheat code, the empire, the team that it was essentially perfect, it cracked. Now, of course, if that does happen, you've still got a good football team with players who can produce great moments because they're excellent players as you saw, you know, Jerkies chips in with that goal and so on and so forth. But that to me, you know, when you're talking about the spending, when you're talking about all these players, it's kind of like, it's almost, it's harsh to say these words but it's almost like it's a flapping round of right quickly, just right, we need a good goalkeeper, plug that gap, will get one of the best shot stoppers of his generation in Donnarumma you know great Trafford's not worked out for a couple of games let's get another one yeah you know Mark Gay is another one when we need a good defence right just plug that gap and of course for the majority of the time that will work but in terms of the way Pep plays with the system and the you know what it's like what he's produced over the years possibly the best teams we've ever seen it's not that and it won't be again perhaps it's too much churn as well which is something that kind of they might not have considered factor into it because as you've said, there's so many players they've brought in since last January.

7:31So essentially a whole new team. So I mean, when they were having their troubles last season, we were kind of thinking about one or two players who might have run their race. Obviously Kyle Walker was still there and he was probably the most obvious where you think, okay, some of these players are slowing down, they need to refresh it. But perhaps they've gone too far the other way in doing this. But I think, Marcus, you've been banging this drum for the majority of the season. Well, last season. But no, but I think there is a distinction between last season and the start of this season where people were thinking, okay, they've had a few duff results but maybe they're just getting back up to speed and they look like they're going to become normal city again.

8:05I think this result is the first one where people are going to go, yeah, this feels like last season. Yeah. Because it feels rudderless, doesn't it? It feels like they don't know why this is happening. Rodri's a great example of that because it feels like such a kind of emotional response to frustration for him to be booked in a really silly way and then to be booked in exactly the same silly way 53 seconds later or whatever it was. that is just absurd from such an experienced player especially as they've just got themselves back in the game a 3-1 you never know of course not I mean Bird of Glimp themselves had a situation against Spurs didn't they where they couldn't see it out and that would have been in the minds of every player on that pitch and then Rodri does that and it changes it completely and it was a pretty if anything it was 3-1 going on 4-5 yeah easily City were very lucky there was a lot of City fans in my timeline as well saying we should be 4-5 behind here but like said the same about the Manchester derby as well.

8:57I think they should have been four or five behind in that as well. Well, totally. I mean, Guardiola said that everything is going wrong at Man City. And that's interesting because it was only a couple of months ago when he was purring and he was going, yeah, we're getting to grips with it. We're getting in our groove. And that's probably what made a lot of people go, oh, hang on, here they come. But you fast forward, and this is crisis or anything like that. But all teams go, unless they are Guardiola's Man City previously and maybe Klopp's Liverpool at particular moments, and to a lesser extent even Arteta's Arsenal on one or two occasions, every team will go through a patch of sticky results.

9:35But it just feels a bit more for him to say everything is going wrong. It is, you know, I think it's very interesting. But to be whipped like that by a side who, yes, okay, again, we're talking about that Spurs game, it was against an English side and we remember it. It's their first win in the Champions League. It's not like, oh, whoever goes to Bode Glimm, they're in for a surprise because actually they've won all their games there or, you know, they've had a couple of noteworthy wins or whatever. Their first victory in seven games in the Champions League. I don't think it's even going to be their worst defeat this season.

10:09If you look at, we talk about Pep and, you know, you just mentioned about being in Barca and such like that. If you look at every era that he's had at those clubs, at Barca and Bayern, and they've all ended in very emphatic fashion in the Champions League when they've got an absolute whipping that's right I think from Barcelona it was a failure to add a lot of physicality to the team and they were very much based on technical level and they got absolutely whipped in the Champions League was that by Bayern yes that was was it like 7-0 on aggregate exactly and it really defined the end of an era and I still think City have got that result to come whether it be in the Champions League or in the Premier League I don't really know but they've got Salford City next in the FA Cup that would do Gary Neville wouldn't you imagine Just every ex-United player there doing a live podcast.

10:50So there is a sense that if they do not pull it together, that they will, that result will come about. And look, and there's a lot of change. There's more change going to come in the summer as well. There's a couple of contracts running down. John Stones is going to go on. I think he's been quite synonymous, been a big part of this Pep era as well and the way that he plays and his development. You never know if Bernal Silva and others are going to move on as well. So there's going to be more change. This doesn't feel like, you don't look at that City team right now and go, they've got a nucleus of a team moving forward for the next few years you can see what the spine of that team is for the next few years I don't think you can really see that and like I said there's constant question marks over Pep as well it seems like every week something's coming up and look I know it was Richard Keyes but you know I was going to mention this but honestly when he starts pushing the black clouds around as well and others do this week he thought Pep was going to leave the job this week I've been told I'll tell you something we're still a few days left of the week if Keyes is right if Keyes he's got the exclusive here fair play if Keyes he's right I'll come in and do the next recording in Newcastle shirt Pep's not going this week and I'll do it in an England shirt just to remind everybody that he turned England down this is what you get boy if you do that do you mean Pep Guardiola or Richard Keyes when he decided to move elsewhere it works for both both right fair enough no no no he never turned us down we exiled him or did we Yes Never wander anywhere Oh dear Well look Before the game Pep said that he would enjoy Watching the Aurora Borealis Which apparently Has been seen in Britain In the last couple of days There's been a couple of sightings Pep also said I'm not a scientist I just admire it So hopefully he got Something out of the trip Yeah I've never seen it myself It's nice to know He's got other interests Could you do worry about him Have you seen I've not seen the Aurora Borealis I've not seen it I've always wanted to see it It's definitely on my list as well Yeah Well Mr Borealis If you're listening We're coming for you Now, Manchester City, yes, they're struggling.

12:47Arlen Harland, he described the performance as embarrassing. He apologised for it. He's gone a month without a goal from open play. Which is astonishing. Which does seem quite astonishing and he had chances in the game as well. At one point, he hooked the ball over the bar, tried to spit but couldn't get it all out of his mouth so I had to suck it back up again and I feel like that was really an illustration of his evening. Oh, dearie me. Yeah, shock. I mean, they did feel the youngest ever Champions League starting line-up with an average age of 24 years and 84 days. Again, though, when you name some of the players in there, you've got Harland, Rodri and Donnarumma.

13:18Yeah, come on. Yeah, come on. They have announced the signing of Mark Gay from Crystal Palace, who... Good time to very bad news. They really could have done with him last night, I think. Did you see the private jet carrying Gay to his medical was forced to abort its landing on Monday morning, forcing the pilot to do a loop of Manchester? When I first saw that... There's Macclesfield's ground. Remember that? Didn't like that pitch, did you? That's where HHS 2 should be. Let's stop Port County's ground, where Golki was like to smash the ball off their own defenders and score own goals, if you saw that the other day.

13:55Gahey, though, much like Semenyo, he has to come in and hit the ground running. And you would say that of Semenyo in terms of, obviously, Exeter City, but they got a very good result in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final. Let's not forget that. Obviously, Semenya didn't play last night. But Gay, they've looked pretty good going forward this season. They've been scoring goals, despite Haaland's poor record. But defensively, without Diaz and Stones and obviously Guardiola, they've had their injuries. But then, you know, so have Arsenal. So have other teams. Spurs, we'll talk about them in a short while.

14:31But Gay really needs to come in and show everybody why that he's, well, up until now, obviously, signed one of the most coveted centre-halves in the country. Yeah, and look, he's a cracking player. And you're absolutely right. They didn't need another Kusinov or Vita Reis. They need somebody who can come in and impact immediately. And I think there's going to be significant changeover in defence in the summer as well. I mean, Dios there seems permacrocked. Stones has contract, I believe. So there's going to be a bit of a changeover. It might end up being the Gays, like the first choice centre-back next season, looking at it.

15:02So, yes, interesting one. I think, to be fair, though, Mark Gay is the type of character who is used to that sort of responsibility, isn't he? He's the kind of the touchstone for Palace and he's played that role very well for England as well, actually. I think he clearly likes that responsibility and he's very sort of front-footed in that regard. So I don't think that is going to be an issue for him. It's just the chaos around him that might, you know, might do for the longer term. He needs a proper partner, I think, to succeed in that defence. And a consistent one. Yeah, exactly. They play a very particular way.

15:30Pep obviously wants them drilled a certain way, so he really needs that to succeed at the city. Yeah. Just quickly, though, I mean, it's been a fascinating saga with Gay, obviously Newcastle were in for a huge money, Liverpool, you know, the reason why he was brought back was because they couldn't find a suitable replacement. And obviously now he's gone to Manchester City. What do you, you know, we were talking about this the other day on, on, on the pod, just briefly, David, to get your opinion. What do you think of this from, from Crystal Palace's point of view? Cause I felt it was quite, I would, if, if, if it was me as a Palace fan, I would have kept him for the rest of the season.

16:00No, I think when you Palace, you need the money. It's your last chance to get the money. We know how everything is right now with the financial regulations and such, and I think they need to get something in for this player. And look, I think they've kind of accepted their position from now until the end of the season. Just finish mid-table. Be OK here. And they probably can do it without, but it's a shame. And look, Palace bought a really good young centre-back in the summer who hasn't really kicked on in Canvault as well. So I'm quite surprised he hasn't been better than he is. Well, he'll have a chance now.

16:33Yeah, he definitely will. Yeah, yeah. And look, Palace's recruitment has generally been quite decent. So, you know, hopefully they can get somebody in to replace them. But I think they were backed into a corner and they had to take the money here. Okay. Well, he's in at Manchester City. Oscar Bob could be on his way. He's in talks with Fulham for a permanent deal. And Dortmund, but let's not worry about that. Don't worry about that. Well, he's in talks with a side who can beat Tottenham Hotspur in the form of Fulham. And I tell you what, save him from that awful situation from Man City, Jim. I agree, mate.

17:04that would be a brilliant signing I think it would be a good move for him as well I think I joked about it there but there is talk that Dortmund are also interested which would obviously be an excellent move if you're going to play in the Champions League and what not but Fulham can probably pay like a thousand times their wages because of the strength of the Premier League now so I mean Oscar Bob's a player that's always looked impressive when he's managed to put a run of games together but it's just been far too infrequent isn't it so presumably at Fulham he'd play a lot right he's a fun player he's eye-catching and also Bob and Kevin together on either side woof yeah well this is the thing though with Harry Wilson's form you know because Oscar Bob is predominantly left foot I think Fulham might be worried that Harry Wilson might leave in the summer because his contract's up despite how brilliant he's been as a Fulham fan I'm thinking offer him what he wants but keep us the right side of the financial business of course but Oscar Bob coming I mean if they were to sign him of course that's obviously the intention it would be a great sign in surely and I mean he can play really across anywhere in the front line he's come up through the Man City Academy he's probably playing goal at some point or a fullback he can definitely play fullback if he's come up through the ranks at Man City he's a current Norwegian international so he's obviously brilliant exactly Jim exactly right coming up after this Arsenal continue their perfect record in the Champions League

18:30let's not take a piss here I certainly wasn't Well I think you are Apparently Roy Hodgson's Version of events After the Mark Gay Signing of Man City Inter 1 Arsenal 3 Unless Bayern Munich Come up Trump's gym Arsenal will become The Champions League League phase winners They are They're on for it You've got to be happy with that Yeah I mean I was arguing All last season wasn't I When Liverpool finished top That that should be A trophy in itself Yes And I stand by it Although I mean Based on Liverpool Then immediately getting PSG it might be cursed that idea but yeah as long as they beat Kairat they will they will be be perfect and even if they don't it doesn't matter at this point that top two finish is significant as well because it means that you play all of your second legs at home for the rest of the tournament which is a massive massive advantage and it was a a really refreshing performance from Arsenal actually I think in the last couple of league games in particular they've looked a bit predictable they've looked a bit stale obviously haven't scored against Liverpool or Forest in those games but they flew out the blocks in this one.

19:32It was a very, very different sort of approach. There was maybe the sense of there being nothing to lose because the result ultimately wasn't that important in the grand scheme of things if it hadn't been a win. It allowed them to play with a bit of freedom. But some of the performances were really, really dynamic and I don't think it's overstating it, and I'm amazed by this, to say that that's one of Gabriel Jesus' best performances in an Arsenal shirt. I think you're right. It was fantastic. I think you're right and yeah to make the point as well that you know Arsenal have obviously with that victory 7 out of 7 they've scored 20 goals only conceded 2 and they're sitting pretty they had the luxury of maybe rotating a little bit and so on and so forth but it's going away to the San Siro Inter don't Inter currently 9th yeah and they need points and they've got Dortmund in their next game so they needed something from this Inter are I think it's still safe to say that they're the best team in Italy they're certainly leading Serie A at the moment they're the team to beat and they're obviously they don't concede many goals I mean obviously it ended very badly but they still reached the final last season this is a formidable side for Arsenal to go there with a line up which you know Myles Lewis-Skelly starting at left back not often the case Mosquera at centre half coming back from injury Mosquera too look really fresh exactly yeah and as you've mentioned obviously Gabi Jesus up front I thought it was very impressive David from Arsenal no I thought it was as well they're just very efficient I think it's 34 games in all competitions this season 27 wins they're just a winning machine and that's a really good sign.

21:00What are machines a touch over the top with the recent draws with Liverpool at Forest? A couple of draws. Come on, 27 and 34. That's good. There's not many teams who are better. You have to give them their credit, I think. Sometimes you need to get a maintenance guy in for the purchase of the machine is to win. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And even more so, the fact that I always think it's a really good sign that you can ring the changes and you come in and you don't really notice much of a difference from the first 11 in terms of the attitude and the application and they absolutely had that here and that's really encouraging moving forward and you know we're talking about blips that different teams have we do wonder if Arsenal really had their blip now like is that that little patch was that it and they now might go on so it'll be interesting to see and look they've beaten the best team in Italy now in the Champions League and the best team in Germany in Bayern now yeah I think you can argue maybe despite having lost the game against Arsenal probably the best team in Europe it's absurd what Bayern are doing in the Bundesliga at the moment well it is and I know Real Madrid are currently second obviously Bayern have that game in hand on them Real Madrid a funny old side this season.

22:00They've already sacked the manager for crying out loud. So it shows you not everything's going well there. 1-6-1 last night. I don't know if you saw the game, but essentially, every goal, including Monaco's, if I remember rightly, came from someone giving the ball away in midfield. And then there'd be an encounter on it. It was mad. It was like watching FIFA. Well, it is a funny old one. I mean, in the Champions League this season, to me, obviously, you've got to mention PSG, who were beaten by Sporting last night. Sporting themselves were in sixth, incredibly. Another Luis Suarez. The third Luis Suarez.

22:28If you include the old Barcelona and Inter one from the 50s and 60s or whatever it was. And I very much was, Jim. So I'm glad you mentioned that. But yes, to me, the teams to beat in the Champions of the season, Arsenal, obviously, because they're top of the troop. Real Madrid, okay, fine. Although I hope we see them get another schlacking like Arsenal gave them last year in the knockouts. But Bayern, you have to mention them. And PSG, but looking around, you know, Inter are not in that top eight. Obviously, you've got the playoff to go through. Atletico you know they haven't been it's been a while I don't have much confidence I think it's Arsenal PSG or Bayern they are the three I think for Arsenal one of the challenges is going to be keeping everyone fit as much as is possible from now because they've weathered the injuries really well but going into the volume of games that comes up once you get into those you know two-legged really high intensity knockout Champions League games that can be really really draining you're duty bound also to say Chelsea for some reason I don't know why I am duty bound what are you talking about you're the world champions lads you've got to mention them somehow but going back to the game though and Gabriel Jesus he was speaking after the game I did quite enjoy it when he was talking about his goals he was talking about he loved watching Serie A as a kid and San Siro legendary stadium and has been for many years despite it being knocked down soon enough I feel like they've been knocking it down for 15 years but I'm also frightened that they're actually going to do it I think they are it's definitely been fallen down for the past couple of years like most Italians did that's right that's right they saw what Juventus did finally with the Allianz and they thought okay it can be done it can be done in this country but I also quite enjoyed it when he said you know all glory to Jesus and I was like is that Christ or you?

24:08But he also said I'm very happy Victor Jokeres came on and scored a goal I'm so happy I scored and Vic scored I'm confident Kai will score when he gets the chance and you know Jokeres did come on he took his goal very well yeah he did it was I have to say Martinelli's pass out for that goal, pressed his Brazil button. They've all got one. Even Tito, the ice cream man from Sao Paulo, they've all got a Brazil button. They can push and make a little moment like that happen. And there's been a lot of narrative about how Saka doesn't like passing to Jokeres and I think it's almost certainly nonsense, but people keep finding examples where they think that's the case.

24:47But Jokeres tries to play the three ball to Saka. It comes back off his heels and sits up nicely for him. it's like he's made him pass to him. That's nice. A lovely finish as well. Really, really nice finish. I was pleased for him. Soft hand from the goalkeeper, I think, but still. You've got to give credit for it. Yeah, I mean, that is what he's about, isn't it? He's blasting those balls with power and precision. And he is an imperfect fit for the way Arsenal play. There's no two ways about that. And he's going to have to change elements of his game and the players around him are going to have to change elements of their games for each to get the best out of the other.

25:19But this was a perfect example of what he can do when he gets those opportunities. And they've been very kind of few and far between in dropping to him like that. Also, the game opened up a bit. Yeah. Into a chasing. Yeah, and also their centre-backs are very old, all of them. That's always a given, isn't it? It's a perfect stop. Italian team that goes far in any competition doesn't seem to matter. No. But yeah, I wonder if actually this is a great template for how he could be more effective going forward. Because if you do bring him on against tired legs in a game like that where he just needs a chance to fall to him, where space has opened up a bit more, he could be it could be sort of more effective we know he's a sharp finisher if he gets the chances he's just not been getting them from open play but the way to and I understand people you know when you talk about a striker but his movement's good and some people are a bit like he's on keep playing defenders it's all about the goals you know but I think one can be a little bit more nuanced than that and I think that the way he kind of takes the ball in his chest and he drives towards goal I don't think Kai Havertz really does that so much in that kind of way Jesus again it's a different option and I think that it was why he's putting him on the bench because he's not good enough at the moment to be a starting striker for the team to beat in England and the team to beat in the Champions League.

26:31I think that's not a harsh thing to say. But it's a weird thing to say because demonstrably he is the striker of that team. It's a really baffling facet of this season. Maybe that does become his usage that Havertz starts and then Giorgis is the impact player on against maybe a tired defence and he could try and I'm adamant he needs to use his body better. I couldn't agree more. he's strong and he's powerful but you don't really see it you can physically see he's got it but he loses a lot of jaw I remember watching him for Coventry against Sunderland and he absolutely battered us battered the defenders and he stretched us as well and that was one of my few first glimpses of him and I thought is that what his game is that's brilliant and then I've not seen him much of it since but it's part of it he's not going to have that no he didn't really require it in sport No, but he needs to get more of it back, as you say.

27:24Oh, yeah, definitely. I think the issue is his physicality and his pace, that obviously were superpowers in Portugal, are kind of unspectacular in the Premier League. So he's having to kind of find workarounds to get himself the space to get those shots off. But hopefully this is the start of his confidence coming up and him using his body better, him maybe using his strength with a bit more force. Yeah, it can only be a positive. Ethan Duanieri is in talks to join Marcel Lowe. Yeah, and I'm surprised by this because this guarantees that one or both of Martin Odegaard and Ebrecht Chiesa will get injured immediately.

28:00But apparently it's Mikel Arteta himself who's been driving this, even though there were reports recently saying that he didn't want anybody to go out on loan. He's not been near the first team, which I think is a shame because every time I've seen him play, he's been good. There's an idea about him that maybe he doesn't have enough of a defensive contribution. but as I say every time I've seen him play he's been at the very least quietly effective or otherwise has had a good game and I think from Arsenal's point of view in the short term it'd be best to have everybody around but I do think for Warnieri's development to go and play with Roberto De Zerbi which is apparently what Arteta is very keen on Arteta is apparently a big fan of his position and I think that's what leads into what you're saying Yeah I think it will be a very good thing for Warnieri himself and the deal's structured in quite an interesting way which we're starting to see a bit more of now which is where the more Warnieri plays the less it will cost Marseille.

28:47So there's incentive for everybody for him to play a lot. Also as well, he's playing a huge club like that. Guardiola himself was saying that that's where you learn your trade really is playing games. Yeah, it's an obvious thing to say. And he played a lot last season, so this is a really unhelpful kind of stunting of that. Marseille is a good environment for him, I think. You're going to be playing in front of that home. We know how good their home fans are, so it'll be loud every game. They are performing well at the moment as well, so there'll be a deal of pressure in terms of you're going to have to perform, mate.

29:17This is not just a casual loan to a mid-table league inside. You're going to have to perform here. They're chasing top honours. So, yeah, I think this is a great move to shape them. Yeah, and that prepares you for Arsenal, life at Arsenal. 100%. And there's a lot of English players out in Ligue 1 at the moment that should be said as well. So there'll be a few mates there who you can chat to as well for advice. No, no, I agree with you. Gabriel Jesus, the man who got the goals, or two of them at least, against Inter's report, he told Arsenal that he wants a new contract. I mean, last night's performance, you think?

29:47Well, fair enough. Yeah, based on last night's performance, but I think the issue for Jesus, even without the injuries, has always been consistency, right? And he's, you know, he's 28, 29 now. He's on something like £265 ,000 a week. I wonder if, like, you have to be unsentimental with that because, you know, Arsenal spent a lot of money last summer. If they're going to bring other people in, there's going to be some sacrifices that have to be made. And I think, unless he can play like that in every game between now and the end of the season it might be the case that Arsenal have to look elsewhere well Palmeiras where he started his professional career said to be interested in him I mean if he was to sign off for the Premier League Winners' Medal at Arsenal it would be a bad way to do it right let's turn our attention to the other side in North London Spurs 2 Borussia Dortmund 0 a win for Frank following their five game run without one he said post-match I'll have two big glasses of red that'll be necessary yes necessary Jim Campbell I mean this is perfectly time for Spurs isn't it I mean obviously they were playing well before the red card but they've had some rotten luck lately based on how they play so I looked at that bench and I thought this is unfamiliar reading this is a Finnegan's wake of a bench what are all these words just really really the injury crisis is bad there although it's great for them to get Solanke back at the same time as well which immediately starts to mitigate that.

31:13He scored a very confusing goal in this game. I thought he'd done a lovely little flick, and then I thought, no. Or did he do two lovely little flicks? True. Well, Spurs, but Solanke himself, was due a big slice of luck. Because he's had such terrible luck with injuries. And it stops any narrative about him needing to get a goal when he's back. So that's ideal. I was genuinely pleased for him, because he's a good player. A lot of Spurs fans have said, we miss Solanke. Obviously, they've missed loads of other players. And of course, Lucas Bergvail gets an injury to take the victory in some way.

31:43But it was good for them having slank in. And yes, there was a red card, but Spurs were good value for the victory. Yeah, I mean, they were already in front with the red card. And I mean, Dortmund were in 10th place going into this game and they've got Inter visiting them in the final game and obviously Inter are ninth. So both teams need that victory. And I think they've lost once in the Bundesliga and once in the Champions League before this. So Dortmund are in good form. This is a big win for Spurs. especially you know given the injuries and obviously they get that bit of help with the red card but you've still got to put it away I mean it David you don't go to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Champions League and win I mean they have they have the best home record in the entire competition now I know they are fourth what is the record so they have four games four wins ten goals scored no goals conceded no I understand that their tougher games have come away from home I mean credit where credit's due Yeah, yeah.

32:40There's some good things there. It's not all gloom. No, I've been sincere. I love how you just... I thought, here comes the balance. No, no, honestly, I've been sincere. No, it is. It's impressive. It's a shame for them that they can't carry it over to the Premier League, to other competitions as well. Well, this could be the platform. It could be the platform as well. You're not convinced by Frank, though, generally at Spurs. No, but look, they had a guy last season who went all the way in Europe and fell off in the league. They don't want that again. No. Are they actively trying to do that? Is the league form deliberate?

33:13Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, I think they're aware that if you drop out of the Champions League, you don't go into Europa League like you used to, you're thinking, bloody hell, we've got to qualify, that we don't want to play off round. But look, they are sitting fourth. Obviously, you know, there are one or two other sides that have to play. I mean, if Atalanta win and blah, blah, blah, blah. But in Europe, they're having a decent time. It doesn't fully tell the whole picture, of course, because they have had a relatively kind draw in the Champions League this season. Does it not just say that mid-level teams in the Premier League are tougher than top teams in Europe?

33:50So Arsenal have swept aside Bayern. They've swept aside Inter who are both top of their respective leagues, right? The Spurs are performing well here, yet when they face a Brentford, a Bournemouth, a Brighton. Let's say Fulham as well. Fulham, I'll throw Fulham in there as well. They really, really struggle and they come up against it and they find games extremely, extremely tough. Is that not a credit to the level of the Premier League? Is that right now? Well, also, some of the players they've got, I mean, Xavi Simmonds being one, Luke highlighted once, he said, when he plays in Europe, he says, ah, okay, I know what I'm doing here.

34:18In the Premier League, a bit more of the cut and thrust and so on, not so good. Because it's tough. It's a tough, tough league. And I'm not being like a big, you know, I sound like a pro to Barclays man here and everything like that, and just say, oh, it's the greatest league in the world. But, I mean, the proof is there. The team's still strong. But there's also been a tactical shift, hasn't there where the pace of the game has increased we know that but also it is now getting a little bit more kind of playing to percentages really and a bit more industrious and stuff and I think we are seeing playmakers in particular struggle with that because they just have less time on the ball and that makes perfect sense the great news for Spurs is that their final game in the Champions League is against the absolute mad men of Eintracht Frankfurt so that will no doubt be absolute chaos and Spurs will win 7-4 or something like that Oh, that'd be good.

35:04But look, again, just to make sure everybody understands, you know, talk about the home form. You know, at home this season, they beat a very underwhelming VRL side. They beat Slavia Prague. They beat FC Copenhagen 4-0 with that great Mickey van der Ven goal, of course. And now they've beaten Dortmund at home. Dortmund were the ones. That's the most impressive result. The other games, you'd expect them to win. And they have, to be fair to them. So, you know, I don't want to go overboard with this. However, having had such a disappointing season so far, I think there is something to hang your hat.

35:38They're fourth in this Champions League phase right now. Even if that is, by and large, beating sides they should be, they have beaten them. Why don't they revive the Super League thing in the summer then and say, we want to be part of that? I mean, it might be their last chance to do it. I'm in. Like they were last time. But the red card, though, just quickly, Daniel Svensson was sent off after the referee overturned his original decision of yellow card. Was that a red card, gentlemen? Yeah, I think so. David? I'm surprised, David. I think you were going a bit soft in your old age. Yeah. I thought that...

36:10It's one of those ones... It's high and dangerous, surely. But the way he goes in for the ball, I think Svensson's really unlucky. He's really unlucky. And if I'm going to have a bit of a cop-out answer... To your own question. To my own question. Look, you two, even if I did 2v1, so you guys win. The Football Ramble votes that it was a red card. But as it has to be. But I looked at that and I just thought, oh yeah, I'm glad I'm not an official. I do need to see it again. I've literally only seen it once. Yeah. So proper look, I'll have a look and see it. Yeah. A couple of quick mentions. Jed Spence was excellent last night.

36:45Really, really good. Good to see. There are places this summer up for grabs at the World Cup. I don't know if I've mentioned it. But when Lucas Bergman came off an injury, 17-year-old Junai Bainfield came on becoming the youngest Spurs player ever to play in the Champions League. Something, you know, experience for the youngsters and so on. I know that they've had to do that at Spurs, but I thought that was noteworthy because he's a record-breaking player. So good on him. And we'll see what Byfield can do because the way that squad is being depleted, you would imagine he may well get some more minutes going forward.

37:19Right, coming up after this, Mo Salah could be back in action for Liverpool.

37:33Gentlemen, tonight, Marseille host Liverpool. Mo Salah could make his return to the pitch after being named in the travelling squad. Is that a good or a bad thing? I think it's fine at this point. I imagine he's very grateful to Brahim Diaz and Brooklyn Beckham at the moment. Just moves him right down the gossip column, doesn't it? What are you worried about, listen to him? Business as usual. Let's get on with it. How did you get on in AFCON? Did you see what? Well, they finished fourth, of course. Nigeria beat them on penalties to get that bronze. He's going to be back. He did take part in an open training session on Tuesday.

38:11It never stops for a top-tier professional footballer, does it? It really doesn't. Slott recently said he would be pleased to have Salah back, even if the club has 15 attackers. Yes. Oh, love me, love me. Pathetic. It is going to be interesting to see how he performs now because there was such a spotlight on his lack of defensive work and obviously we understand that that was kind of a deal between them. He wasn't expected to do defensive work. So we also know that that was causing Liverpool problems. So it's going to be fascinating to see if he changes or if Liverpool change something to kind of double up on someone else covering his ground because it's an area that everyone's going to be trying to exploit.

38:51Yes, absolutely. I mean, I'm just interested to see what has changed. I mean, he's just been away with Egypt to roll up the even bigger red cards. Yeah, exactly. In terms of the license, what he has to do, what he wants there. So I'm interested to see what has changed and how he does integrate. But this is a really tough game for Liverpool, I think. I honestly do, because people are saying, oh, they've turned a corner, their form's a lot better and such like that. But then there's other people saying, if you've actually watched them and haven't, they're really plodding through games. And this is going to be a massive test.

39:22Marseille is going to be straight in their faces and they're going to pose them a lot of problems I think this is really interesting one to see where Liverpool is at right now I think this game yeah we know what kind of atmosphere it is down there and so how are Marseille doing in Ligue 1 at the moment they're doing very well and I think they've got one of the best forwards in Europe right now Mason Greenwood who has been absolutely lights out assists goals his general contribution we were talking about Ethan Wanneri before and why he's going to Marseille and what he's learned there he will look at what Greenwood has learned and how he's produced as a player there and how he's improved his game under De Zerbe and take a lot from that.

40:00So he's going to be the main player for Liverpool to watch here. Yeah, you're right to say that about Greenwood. I mean, obviously, you know, one doesn't want to say the name too much, but he's been phenomenal. Oh, yeah, absolutely. Come on, everybody who listens to this knows everything about it off the pitch. I'm just talking about it purely on the pitch here. And that can't be denied how well he has been playing for Masse. Yeah, I mean, De Zerbe's doing well. he's obviously been linked to the Manchester United job what's he done to deserve that? It's a test isn't it I think taking the job is failing the test Yes it is I think if I was him I'd be like that's a piss take I might be linked to that job Oh Roberto you've got such a nice life now why go and ruin it Yeah exactly Well Ibrahim Mekate has been left out of Liverpool's travelling squad for the match against Marseille he's returned to France for family reasons obviously not that part of France and Liverpool are said to be somewhere apart over a new contract for it's been going on a while now it has been going on a while yeah I mean obviously you know he had his head turned a bit people think about Real Madrid which is standard yeah I thought it was PSG I thought it was I heard it was PSG well neither all do yeah yeah yeah I tell you what the interesting I mean if this still is ongoing and they are far apart the ready made replacement in Marquee is gone gone yeah so they need to readjust considering that they were going to sign him a whisker away from signing him it's a funny one isn't it how I Mad City seemed to sign him without too much of a fuss really well it's because they were really decisive and everyone else was kind of wondering about you know getting him free in the summer potentially preparing for that and I think essentially City just put up massive wages not quite what he would have got in the summer but still an eye watering amount and did a deal very quickly that Palace felt they couldn't say no to I think they were just really really efficient in the market.

41:51But it's such a cut down price. Yes, I don't understand the wages but I mean that's just, you know, you really want to play nowadays. But I mean this is the issue that Liverpool find themselves in with Canate. I think he wants parity with Virgil van Dijk or near to it. And I mean he's been a big player for them and obviously he's not had a great season so far but all the talk is that he wants recognition of his position in the squad and what he means to that defence regardless of what has happened this season. And I suppose that makes sense. Coming to an age where it's like if I'm going to sign this contract.

42:21It needs to be a big one. Makes less sense, though. He's got less leverage. Yeah, but he's not going to go into this going, I'm going to continue to be a bit shit, actually. So do you want to bump me down a bit? He's not going to do that, is he? True. If he was at Chelsea, though, maybe that's how it works there. I don't know. But Chelsea themselves are playing Paphos tonight. Liam Rosinha's Champions League debut, of course, as a manager. He never played in the competition as a player. I mean, it's a kind entrance, really, to life in the Champions League. Every game he manages is a different competition.

42:55That's just Chelsea manager for you. Isn't it? It is. I'll be doing one of those kind of Man United style pre-week friendlies at some point. Oh yeah. It's mad. So this is, delightfully, the David Luiz derby as he is currently plying his trade for Paphos. Yes. Which is a lovely old job. You reminded me of this pre-show that David Luiz was there. I completely forgot. Yeah, I thought you just just enjoying seeing his career in Brazil but just fancy a little change absolutely it would be lovely to see him back at the bridge certainly now the build up to this game Liam Rosina said he had a really good conversation with Bomb Squad member Axel De Sassi Bomb Squad member does sound like it's some sort of you know Hollywood feel elite Navy Seal team that are going to extract someone yeah absolutely doesn't sound like the you know the kind of you know junk pile which is effectively what it is Doesn't sound like Sterling de Sassi in a West London training ground somewhere.

43:51Yeah. Well, it's in Surrey, of course. In Surrey, of course. Of course. Yeah. I mean, but I think this, I'm pleased to hear this because I know they own a lot of money, et cetera, et cetera. But I'm sad for these players who are being exiled. And we're seeing it at a few clubs where it's happening. And it's obviously because of the nature of modern football and the huge cost of players and essentially people away from the kind of management staff trying to force them out and get some money for them or at least get their wages off the wage bill. And I think there's a massive, massive human cost to that.

44:23And I have sympathy for De Salsi and for Sterling. And I think it shows Liam Rossini in a really good light that he's gone in there and addressed that straight away. Yeah, well, I agree. The bomb scored as well. It's misleading. Call it scrap heap. It's become a real... That's after the bomb's gone off. The shriek no heap. this term has really become a thing in the past year hasn't it I guarantee you'd never heard of it before this year sorry before last year no I remember oh right I think it was Mark Hughes at QPR oh right that was when I first heard Bomb Squad and I forget which player it was oh it could have been anyone QPR back in those days my goodness it could have been you Jim could have been Peter Odenwenge never even got the move could have been Peter O'Toole I don't know it could have been anybody but yeah that was when I first heard I didn't hear it but I think it was one of those ones where it wasn't like out in the media so much I get you you know one of those things gentlemen I want to finish with this former Paphos midfielder Jason Punchen again that's wonderful news to me yeah has become a new co-owner in the UAE second division with the side Arabian Falcons the UAE second division is the third tier of football in the UAE.

45:48And it's the same club that John Jochel and Ravel Morrison play for. What a trio. You can see what's going on there. Yeah, how much did they put in your pocket for that little bit of PR? They are the new QPR, is what I'm saying. Get yourself over there for a lovely old time. The weather apparently is definitely more sunny. I was going to say better, but quite frankly, I think I would prefer the climate here. And is it discount code speller for the accommodation? You try it and see what you get. Thanks for listening to the Football Ramble, part of the ACAST Creator Network, Friends of the Ramble.

46:20Don't go anywhere. Keep listening for Ramble Uncut. And if you're not a friend of the Ramble, head over to patreon.com forward slash football ramble to sign up now. Thank you, Jim. Thank you. Thank you, David. Thank you. And thank you, Arabian Falcons.

46:41The Football Ramble is a Stack Production and part of the Acast Creator Network.