The Kepa Trilogy

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2:46Jim Campbell: Looking for soccer analysis more knowing than a Carlo Ancelotti eyebrow raise? With the World Cup around the corner, join me, Max Rushton, and the Guardian's expert soccer journalist on Football Weekly for all the latest soccer action and news throughout the week.

2:58Pete Donaldson: We'll cover more ground than due Bellingham in a Champions League final with conversations sharper than an Arsenal set-piece. For fine margins, fun debates, and full-blooded tackles, Football Weekly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and watch the full episodes on YouTube.

3:14Pete Donaldson: Taking care of business, everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble! Pep wins the League Cup again And Spurs are in huge trouble It's Monday 23rd of March I'm Marcus Speller I'm Jim Campbell And I'm Pete Donaldson And I'm the Dishan Hunter Raja Whoops

3:38Pete Donaldson: Oh there were some basic errors on the weekend And it's bled into Monday everybody Welcome, welcome, welcome I've had two months of energy drinks this morning that's what performance you get won't take the edge off that Derby defeat will it no did you were you double fisting them like Stone Cold Steve Austin no no they were both still talking about the monsters I was I drove in I thought well I'm going to need two monsters this is a two monster trip while driving that's sensible well that's what the police wait for him they go he's Donaldson they wait by the train station is he double fisting is he is that a can of Kestrel Lager he's driving he's driving has he got the monster he's got the monster he's on the move he's on the move well let's leave him alone Every commute into work is just like the white Bronco with OJ.

4:22Everyone clearing out the way. He's got the monsters. He's got the... The juice is loose. In Pete Donaldson.

4:30Pete Donaldson: Is that your celebration that finally Carabao are out the way? I can get on the monster until the end of the season, yeah. Yeah, exactly.

4:39Jim Campbell: I maintain the Monster Cup is way better. Yeah. Way, way better. Well, we're all behind that. Also, your autopsy is going to be absolutely fascinating. It's going to be toxic. It's going to be neon, isn't it? As soon as they burst open my chest. I think that's how they do it, isn't it? I believe so. They lay a charge and they explore the chest and then they figure out what's gone wrong.

4:58Pete Donaldson: A bit of dynamite with a big TNT sign on it. The camera rays will be going the other way. Yeah, fleeing. Well, let's talk about the cup final then. We hope one day it is the Monster Cup final, but it is still currently the Carabao Cup final. this is a huge psychological uplift for Manchester City because they are a hundred grand richer after winning that trophy they've also that wouldn't cover a day of lawyering would it? a day? an hour? just spilling off the top of the pot can we have it in coins? well they've put to bed any quadruple chat of course that's bad news for us I've gone all in on that.

5:43Pete Donaldson: Yeah, well, the good news for Arsenal, the treble is still on. So that is the good news.

5:46Jim Campbell: And it's the true treble as well. Well, it is the treble. And the dickhead double is off. The dickhead double is off. Yeah, but you'd wish the dickhead double on your enemy, wouldn't you? Yeah, maybe. And that's it, you're halfway towards that. Yeah.

5:57Pete Donaldson: That's a way of looking at it. And I appreciate it. To remind those who didn't hear that or have quite wonderfully forgotten, Pete referred to winning the domestic cups as the dickhead double in this country. Minus the Premier League, of course, yeah. Yeah, of course, yeah. You've only got to win the two domestic trophies. Arsenal did it in the 90s. First thing to do in 1993. Yeah, the OG dickheads apparently.

6:20Jim Campbell: At the expense of Sheffield Wednesday in both finals.

6:22Pete Donaldson: How times have changed.

6:23Jim Campbell: And there was a replay in one of those games as well.

6:24Pete Donaldson: They must have been sick of the sight of us. Stop stalling. Arsenal 0, Manchester City 2. Arsenal were unbeaten in their previous six meetings with Pep Guardiola's side. Pep Guardiola has now won the League Cup more times than any other manager. This was Arsenal's first cup final appearance since 2020. They've also lost their last four league cup finals. Jim Campbell.

6:49Jim Campbell: Yeah, not our cup, is it? We're just destined to be absolutely cursed in this cup. Now, firstly, the Kepa trilogy is complete, but we will come on to that. The Kepology. Yeah, absolutely. I think the, obviously the main, I'm looking at this through my Arsenal lens, but the main story here is just how good City were. They were comfortably the better team. they set up in a really really interesting tactical way and a facet of that was how they weren't pressing the centre-backs or pressing Kepa what they concentrated on doing was cutting off those passing lanes further up the pitch very clever and Kepa being there was part of the reason that that was quite effective I think is Reyes passing is much better they break the lines a lot more from those positions they essentially didn't do it so when the ball got further out City were marking man for man so they essentially just won those duels every time and it hemmed Arsenal in and the most frustrating thing from my perspective was the first sort of 25 minutes half hour of the game was quite different from that pattern and Arsenal made a chance quite early on and it looked a bit more even from that half an hour on that pattern emerged where where Man City just kind of shut Arsenal off really really effectively Arteta had an opportunity to react to that at half-time and change something and he didn't.

8:05Jim Campbell: And it was very, very clear from basically minute one of the half that if they don't change this pattern, City are going to win comfortably. And obviously Nico O 'Reilly had a really good game, both defensively and in those moments. And obviously Kepa gives him an absolute gift in that first instance. But yeah, it felt like a game from years ago and it was very frustrating.

8:25Pete Donaldson: Yeah, very different to the game that they played earlier on in the season, of course, at the Emirates where it was night and day and when I read all those stats off I thought to myself why on earth did four out of five of us predict Arsenal to win that final but your prediction was a little bit more from left field but I don't believe anybody did lose a limb and Carabelle went everywhere yeah well the reason Lauren texted me in the afternoon when I wasn't on the rambles yeah yeah throw her under the bus I could have said anything and Lauren perhaps didn't write it down properly yeah I could have said 2-0 Man City you never know She's not in to defend herself.

9:01Yeah, she's in the other room.

9:03Pete Donaldson: I guarantee you wouldn't say that if she was in the room. You're a pathetic, cowardly man. She wrote down the screenshot of the message wrong.

9:14I was as surprised as anyone that she's got me down as Peter Donaldson on her forehead and sort of tit.

9:20Pete Donaldson: Well, I think she might do. Tit new mobile too. Well, of course, the CEO of Carabao was present at the game. Lovely to see him. Which was lovely to see. That's what it's all about. But Vish, what did you make of it all? That the final unfolded in front of our TV watching eyes on ITV or Sky Sports? They're both interchanged at times. I have a lot of jumbled thoughts on it. Jim's point just then about it felt like an old game from a few years ago that Arsenal would play, feels spot on actually, because it also felt like a game from years ago that Man City would play. Particularly in that second half.

9:55I think because you know as Jim articulated there because City were able to shut down the passing lanes I think it took them about 40 minutes maybe even at half time to get back in the changing room and think oh wow that's all they have that's literally it so like O 'Reilly gets pushed further forward and comes in between centre back and full back my other thought is I'm not someone who laments you know where football might go because it's so systems based and like the players seem like robots I don't think that speaks to a bleak and less creative future. I think it's just something the game's going through now.

10:30Pete Donaldson: It's easy to say when you're not involved. Yeah, but just broadly about football. Yeah. And I had never felt more comforted in that belief than when Ray and Shirky just started doing kick-ups. An hour in and Pep was shaking his head. And it was like, you know when you see those like... Ah, you'll be gone soon, old man. Yeah. But you know, you see those Boston robotics things like, oh God, the robots are taking over. They're not. No. Don't worry. Yeah, this one's just gone on rows and doing kick ups. Don't worry about it. Yeah, what have you got, robots? Come at us. But it was... I thought he had a brilliant game and I'm so glad he had a brilliant game because he's such an enjoyable player to watch and...

11:07Snakes everywhere. Well, no, but just objectively, like the way he touches the ball, it's like he's doing it with his hands. Yeah, he's a very good player. Yeah, he's an absolute groper of a football. In a good way. Like, just... It's a comforting arm. And like, the way he uses his feet, like their hands and... The fact that that works with all the industry that City were putting in as well, like, you look at the work that he got through, and then the work that Kasano got through, and also Haaland actually. It felt like the Haaland and Saliba thing on its own was like pay-per-view stuff. Yeah.

11:40Not good pay-per-view stuff, but you know... One of those D'Saun boxing matches there. Yeah, they used to show on Bravo at like midnight. That kind of stuff. It's still enjoyable. If you come home pissed, you're going to watch it. But it felt like City were doing all the things that like... Sorry, that is public school in a nutshell, isn't it?

12:02Jim Campbell: I've come home drunk. Let's see what I can pay to watch. Outrageous. I think that's a fair comment.

12:11Pete Donaldson: James, where's my wallet? He didn't say he'd get someone else to pay for it. Yeah. I think the thing that surprised me a bit about Arsenal, and maybe actually was carried in the fact that neither Odegaard or Eze were there.

12:23Jim Campbell: Yeah, that was the massive factor. Yeah. But neither were Diaz and Gay though. No, sure, sure. They had no creativity in the midfield. And that's why it's a different issue, I think. But like, just someone to be like, you know what? I'm just gonna... What happens if I just dribble the ball forward through the middle? Let's see what they're about. And they just, they didn't really do that. I didn't... In situations like this, it's really tempting to look at the big player on the losing side and think, where were you? And I have that with Rice, but I can't do that because I didn't really know what he could have...

12:52I don't really know what he could have done.

12:53Jim Campbell: For me, those players were Havertz and Saka. I thought Rice kind of, you know, covered a lot of ground and did a lot of his defensive duties really well and sort of tried very hard to sort of get some sort of handle in the game. I mean, not particularly successful. I suppose criticism is due there. But Saka was a little bit slow in decision making and Havertz just wasn't winning those duels when Arsenal decided to go long. So if you're going to do that to try and counteract the structure that the city had put in place, you have to win those duels when he was just nowhere. Yeah.

13:25Pete Donaldson: Peter, would you have started Kepa for this final? I mean, it was caused to bring him off at like half time which I thought was a little bit wild. would I have? Yeah, I would have but then I'm a bad manager and Arteta's better than me so he shouldn't have done that. Yeah. I mean it was we all knew he was going to start Kepa and obviously Guardiola did as well because as you quite rightly talked about the tactics in that second half, Jim it was, you know it was quite obvious that they were happy

13:58Jim Campbell: for Kepa to have the ball at his feet. Oddly, both teams announced they'd be playing their second choice keepers like the day before the game.

14:05Pete Donaldson: Yeah. that would have been a lovely that would have been very unlike Arteta it was an entente it was a lot of the chat I mean look many pundits said Arteta should have started right Arteta said after the game Kepa is an outstanding keeper and it would have been very unfair on him to do something different he then goes on to say I can never promise a player to play certain competitions they have to earn it and do enough what he's done in the competition and how he's helped us get to the final I believe starting him was the right thing to do so in that answer he says it there it's kind of like well he's earned it on one level but on another level when he says it would have been very unfair on him there is a little bit of sentimentality that's crept in there

14:44Jim Campbell: well I think what that is essentially kind of an admission of is that when they signed Kepa it's hard to get a goalkeeper like Kepa as your second choice goalkeeper right I agree with that you've got to give them something when you're making those negotiations and I would imagine that's what the money's for yeah well indeed and they don't have as much of it now because of the whole failure to win that 100 grand That was his hundred grand. Yeah, exactly. That was earmarked. You go, that's what you're talking about. Money in the bank for a minute. Go get that suitcase. You'll get that whole bonus.

15:14Jim Campbell: Full of Carabao. But yeah, presumably part of that negotiation was that you will be the cup goalkeeper, possibly specifically this cup. And obviously, you know, if he's dropping clangers left, right and center in the early rounds, then that's not going to be the case. But he hasn't done that. So I think this was something that Arteta had agreed to, and it would have been really, really difficult for him not to do that in terms of the squad harmony and promises made. I said on Friday that I would have preferred to see Rhea in goal, regardless of all that, because it's not my relationship to manage.

15:44Teams do like giving Rhea the ball at his feet though as well, like to pressurise. He's not always the best at that, is he?

15:50Jim Campbell: He's pretty good at it. He's possible, but he invites a lot of pressure. This is always my axe to grind. He's always my axe to grind. He always invites too much pressure on his goal. But they pass their way out of it, Pete. Yeah, they do pass their way out of it. We might be the only football show who, after Kefir's mistake, while the hell is like, the thing about David Raya is... I'm just saying that if Raya was playing, it could very well have been a situation where he invited pressure on himself. But that's a tactic, though.

16:21Pete Donaldson: That's a tactic, isn't it?

16:23Jim Campbell: Yes, that's the whole point of it, Pete. Yeah, it's to open up the angles, which they didn't do. The thing about Raya as well that he would have done, which I don't think Kepa did once, is ping it wide. At no point did he do that. Well, certainly anecdotally, you know, I've watched the game, but I can't remember. But I didn't feel like there was a point where someone got the ball out wide on the wing, having beaten that initial press, and then just turned and went, because that was basically the whole thing Arsenal were lacking.

16:49Pete Donaldson: Yeah, when it comes to Kepa or Raya, I understand what you were saying. saying, Jim, about the relationship with the player. I don't think it's terrible that he started the game. Obviously, he makes that error and then it becomes. And his previous in the final, although lest we forget, in that final when he was Chelsea goalkeeper and he didn't come off, he did save a penalty in that shootout, so he wasn't a complete passenger, in it. But, you know, obviously Trafford starts for Manchester City in the final and I understand the point that Jamie Carragher was making, that Trafford was brought in to be a number one.

17:24Pete Donaldson: And then obviously, they have the chance to get Donnarumma. They may not have felt Trafford was up to the job. But it's still the same choice. You're still going with your number two goalkeeper rather than your number one. It just, it worked out there and it didn't work out at the other end. And it's a sickener of an error and it changes the game. Of course it does. I think the, I mean, he won't take any solace or consolation from this at all. But the way the game went, it was going to be Man City's final. They showed the attack and intention. And that is to try and, you know, to try and alleviate some sort of sadness from Kebber.

17:58Pete Donaldson: It won't. But Man City were the better side. They were the only side who showed ambition. And, of course, O 'Reilly scores less than five minutes after that with a lovely header. And the game's done, really. But I just... How many times have we said this this season about these two teams, but particularly Arsenal, because they've led the way? I think we're all expecting a side. i.e. Arsenal to ignite and go boom ah there they are there's the champions it's not going to happen so what we find ourselves is oh there's a setback oh they're bottling it and then Man City drop point oh and the psychological battle of this game was you know a lot of it was talked about and what will happen after this match I suspect for Arsenal it probably won't change very much at all and in fact I think one of the reasons why Kepa started is because it is only the League Cup and I say only the League Cup, I'd love Fulham to win it, but you know, it's only because Arsenal are on for the Premier League, they're still in the FA Cup and they are among the favourites, if not the favourite, for the Champions League.

19:02Pete Donaldson: So you have to put it in a little bit of context. I don't think this is a disaster for Arsenal at all. What we may expect though from Manchester City is a little bit more after this and when that game comes around at the Etihad against Arsenal, it's even more mouth-watering than perhaps it was.

19:18Jim Campbell: So that's not till April, so there's a fair bit of football to go before that, but it'll come real quick. It'll come real quick. Not for most of the Premier League. True. How it feels now though is that this will massively inform how Arsenal set up at the Etihad and I would fully expect them to set up not to lose. Play for a point. Yeah, exactly. Because a point would be a really good result in the context, depending on, you know, how other results go. You'd probably look at that and go, that's a good result for Arsenal now. And we've seen Arsenal set up for that so many times there. And I don't disagree with you.

19:48Jim Campbell: Okay, so let me say for the record,

19:49Pete Donaldson: I don't disagree with you. However, a lot of people will potentially hear that or, you know, read that.

19:55Jim Campbell: I'm just saying this is what I think Arteta will do.

19:56Pete Donaldson: Indeed, Jim, indeed. And again, I agree with you totally. And this is this season, the idea that anyone's swashbuckling, anybody's really good. It's almost like the previous general election in this country. It's don't lose it. Grind off, isn't it? Yeah, exactly, yeah. Yeah, not in the sexy sense as well.

20:17Jim Campbell: Two angle lines. I've been in my mind.

20:19Pete Donaldson: Yeah, not even with a lovely beat in the background. But, you know... Each grind more blunt than the last. There's two people at Notting Hill Carnival daggering each other to death. Yeah, but on the Tuesday, 24 hours after it's finished. Cams all over the floor. There's no music. It's just... Who wants it? Yeah, that's all it is. It's not what you show at Notting Hill Carnival. Bottle of Henny in your hand shouting, who wants it? I've never been. You're a disgrace. Have you got anything less spicy? Who wants it? Who wants this hot food? Too hot. Oh dear. So yeah, that would be my take anyway. I don't necessarily think, I mean, as with all this stuff, like, you know, what is the psychological impact of it?

21:11We'll find out. Sure, exactly. But in terms of right now, I still think Arsenal are going to win the league. I do as well. I just think City are going to put a better show of it in the running.

21:21Jim Campbell: Yeah. You know, I think what you touched upon there is like, the collateral would be like this philosophical debate about like, who are, you know, what is a worthy champion? What do Premier League champions need to show? And ultimately it's like, it's not for Arsenal to care about. They'll get more points than most. Yeah. That's literally the rules. I don't think this game comes into that, doesn't it?

21:43Pete Donaldson: And again, I can't stress, that is this season. and we're going to talk about this season with the other results that we'll mention. We'll talk about Everton in a bit. Got to mention in Nico O 'Reilly though, Pete Donaldson. He's in the England squad, of course, as he has been a number of times recently. That's why he gets first billing, go on. Exactly, yeah. So is Saka and he's playing poorly. So what does that prove? Because you cursed him. I did curse him, that's right. You did actually. You talk about the psychological effect. What about the psychological effect of one of my curses? Yeah, you better get that hex off him by the summer.

22:14Pete Donaldson: I was about to say, Peter, but crying out loud. There's a lot of Spanish and Brazilian and Argentinian players I'd like you to do some curses on, if you could at the right time. But Nico Riley, he's had a great weekend, he's had a great week into the England squad again, and he himself said, A great birthday weekend. Since I was a kid, I was playing in midfield and arriving in the box and scoring goals. Again, Pep, I can do it, but you know, remember I'm a midfielder man! Well, do you not think that, I mean, it's great because he's from the area as well, and it's kind of, was he a Manchester City fan growing up though?

22:45I assume he was.

22:46Pete Donaldson: I mean, he played for them, obviously, at a very young age and so on and so forth. But defensively, he was excellent yesterday as well. He was very good. I mean, it was his game. You know, we're all said and done to score. The first goal was great reaction because was it Zubomendi who was on him? And you can just see it just goes the wrong side. But again, O 'Reilly's reactions were good. Yes, it was there for the team. Very strong as well in that moment. Very strong indeed for a lad so young. And the second goal was a lovely one. We've seen him do it. Good little hang time as well. Lovely hang time.

23:12Pete Donaldson: Yeah, yeah, yeah, indeed. So, yeah, what a day he had.

23:15Jim Campbell: He's one of many players who is unfortunate to have been the best player in the Kepa final.

23:20Pete Donaldson: Yeah. I'm glad for O 'Reilly that, you know, he did score the two goals because I think that certainly Manchester City fans will remember it as the O 'Reilly final. And I think rightly so. But I take your point totally, Jim. But I mean, again, in that second half, the way sort of Rodri and Silva and Cherky. Yeah, they were excellent. Et al, you know, it was the probing. and I know you've already spoken about it I just think it's worthy to mention again that they just hemmed them in it was them at their best wasn't it we've not always seen that this season

23:50Jim Campbell: no we haven't Roger in particular has had some real off games recently there's a scene player like that oh he's still there he's still in there

23:56Pete Donaldson: just warming up before he gets to the bloody World Cup for sake get a curse on him Peter straight away I just cursed the entire international break whoever's playing don't do that come on we've got a grippy team we can bring in Oh, great BC.

24:12Jim Campbell: We've got two squads, it seems. Especially, there are a lot of players in there. Why would they escape the curse, though, if you curse the whole break? You need to get the ingredients right on this. I'm so confused by it all. Stop putting monster in your cauldron. And yourself. You're confused.

24:26Pete Donaldson: Right, carry on, Bish. Probably the best game Rodri's had since coming back from Indy-Rae. Well, you might say. That reminded me of the bits where... So dominant. Yeah, when you clear the ball, as a team that I've played in City, and it comes back straight away because Rodri's there like 10 yards out from your penalty box and we're like, no, back you go. We've all played grassroots football when you're playing against a team that's just much better. You're like, are they the same age as us? They've got like beards and, you know, tattoos and stuff and you're trying to get out. One of them's got a baby and a papoose.

24:58Pete Donaldson: Now you use, obviously at grassroots level, you lose those games 12-0 and stuff. But it's just like you can't get out and it was quite extraordinary to see that dynamic in the second half particularly. Yeah, Yeah, and especially Bernardo Silva, you look at him like this guy's chronically knackered. Yeah. Look at his eyes.

25:12Jim Campbell: So good in the tackle as well. Yeah, he is a remarkable player. I don't necessarily know. I wonder if in a different league, you know, where, you know, the style is a bit different and a different team. He's like more of a Di Maria type player than Di Maria you saw at Real Madrid, where it's like does all the things that Silva does, but then like has expansive passing from the middle. But what we see of him in the Premier League is just like that looks like a blind alley. I'll find a way out of that. His ball control was amazing. He was exceptional. I actually think Bernardo Silva was the best player on the park yesterday.

25:44Jim Campbell: He's effective all over the pitch as well. It was kind of, you know, he was really, unless I'm misremembering it, played a lot out wide, didn't he? When he first came to City. Now he's kind of, he's a really important figure in the middle of the park, which is an amazing transition. I would also add for anyone of this persuasion, I wore red pants as some sort of lucky thing and it didn't work. So that doesn't work.

26:08Pete Donaldson: All right, well, we'll... If you do see Jim at an Arsenal game, I don't know if you don't mind me saying... Inspector's pants. Feel free. To look at his underwear. That isn't what I was saying. Pull down his pants. Not even in the same postcode as what I was saying. Yeah. Who directed that? Jim or me? All of you. Yeah, okay. And of course, up the other end, James Trafford kept a clean sheet. And made a good save. Triple save in that first half. I haven't mentioned that, actually. And I think that's the difference. Havertz, I know we've talked about it, but when that chance comes to him, it's a perfect one for a forward because your mind is made up.

26:45Pete Donaldson: You know where to hit it. You know how to hit it. And really, you know when to hit it. You're not hugely rushed, but it's there. I couldn't believe he delayed it because it was there. Just stroke it into the net.

26:56Jim Campbell: I thought that was, he's had some harsh criticism on that actually because it comes very quickly. The angle is quite tight and Trafford's rushing out very quickly. I thought that that wasn't a sitter in the way it's perhaps been presented. Did he try to reverse it?

27:08Pete Donaldson: I don't know what he tried to do, but he did the wrong thing evidently. But to me, you know, there was a few tuts at the strikers' union when he waited for that. That's all I'm saying. That's all I'm saying. Anyway, it's all ifs and buts at the end. Manchester City are the Carabao Cup champions again, powering that football club's economy to the tune of 100 grand. Right, coming up after this, Spurs only went and lost to Nottingham Forest at home, didn't they?

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29:16Pete Donaldson: Looking for soccer analysis more knowing than a Carlo Ancelotti eyebrow raise?

29:20Jim Campbell: With the World Cup around the corner, join me, Max Rushton, and the Guardian's expert soccer journalist on Football Weekly for all the latest soccer action and news throughout

29:27Pete Donaldson: the week. We'll cover more ground than Drew Bellingham in a Champions League final. with conversations sharper than an Arsenal set piece. For fine margins, fun debates and full-blooded tackles, football weekly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and watch the full episodes on YouTube.

29:48Pete Donaldson: That question about who's the favourite in the final, it's like asking a bee to explain to a fly why honey is better than shit. I will ask next time I get a chance to see a fly I will ask them why the hell are you sitting on shit when there's honey right next to it and then they say for me it tastes better I said okay go ahead I don't like shit so you can have it I go for the honey maybe Joe has a different opinion Well back to the football animal everybody that was Nils Nielsen the Danish coach of Japan's women's team who's being asked about who was the favourite head of the Asia Cup final against Australia in Australia.

30:31Pete Donaldson: Japan won 1-0.

30:33Jim Campbell: And then in the post-match interview, he did a little bit about how you can't get a beer after 11 o 'clock in Australia and how rubbish that is. He has been sort of treating this as stand-up. What is the deal with Sydney? The honey and the shit thing, he sort of goes back to that analogy so many times during like a five-minute interview. It's great.

30:53Pete Donaldson: It's very enjoyable. Yeah, but in the way that it feels like he's just come up with it. Yeah. Yeah, he's sort of workshopping it into some sort of ship. I think Jim's onto something there. He's going to be opening, you know, live at the Apollo or something soon enough. Well, we should get Google Alerts for this bloke, because this guy could populate a lot of ad breaks. That is very true. I should say thanks to Friend of the Ramble, Fresh and Minty, for sending us that clip. You can become a Friend of the Ramble too. Search patreon.com forward slash football ramble. Or click that Join button on YouTube to get involved.

31:24Pete Donaldson: Not the only enjoyable manager press conference. Stuff that we saw on the weekend. Burnley manager, Scott Parker, after his side's 3-1 loss to Fulham, kept referring to his squad as a young group despite having the fourth oldest squad in the league. A journalist challenged him on that and Burnley just cut the live stream off.

31:45Jim Campbell: Scott Parker's in his 40s now, so everyone's young to him. Yeah, that's true. I thought that was quite good. You've got Ashley Barnes in there.

31:53Pete Donaldson: Trump should do that. Cut off the live stream. No, no, propaganda. That's what it is. Incidentally, Portland Timbers boss, Phil Neville... Incidentally, that term does not give that much weight. Okay. Incidentally. Right. Would you like to finish the... It's more of a volt fast into Marcus Boulevard. Oh, is it now? Is what it is. It's a handbrake turn. Don't make me press the button. What is a cuck chair?

32:23Was that you, George?

32:26Pete Donaldson: Beautiful, Rory. Right, that's it. No, I'm... no. AI! AI Marcus is on the... No, I'm not happy about that. I'm not happy. I'm not happy. So, they've replaced your Phil Nevels with some cook chair action. Yeah. Some AI Marcus.

32:45Jim Campbell: Come in, Marcus. You've been overusing that Phil Nevel button. Yeah, you've been Phil Nevel. He's been sabotaging. He's looking at all the pages. Where's he gone?

32:52Pete Donaldson: No, that's still the same one. Lovely work, production. Lovely work. That's really poor, that is. Lovely work. I'm not happy. Do you want us to explain it, Marcus? I think you already have. All right, fair enough. Yeah, Phil Neville. Well, anyway, Phil Neville did exactly the same thing after losing last week, even though none of his starters were under 22, and seven were 25 or older, including 39-year-old club legend, Diego Chara. They drew one all with LA Galaxy last night. Right, let's move on. Spurs 0, Nottingham Forest 3. How's your young group? Hmm? Us lot How's your young group? Us lot I think you're all a disgrace An absolute disgrace Speaking of disgrace Don't let it affect your performance I'm trying to get on with the joke Right, okay Nottingham Forest came out on top In this relegation six-pointer Spurs dropped to 17th One point above the relegation zone In part because West Ham lost 2-0 to Aston Villa You can forgive West Ham for losing at Aston Villa can you forgive Spurs for losing 3-0 at home to a side who have been very goal shy this season it's fair to say and Spurs are on a they've lost five of their last six in the league they're on the worst run and obviously that draw at Anfield shows you how poor Liverpool have been in the league but after that draw and that win against Atletico Madrid in the Champions game I thought surely they're going to have a bit more something surely no no what a crushing defeat this was.

34:20Pete Donaldson: So again, a side who have got one winning six themselves, and that's not even Forrest.

34:25Jim Campbell: And Forrest have been very, very goal shy as well, obviously, you know, they've had a good result in the week, in the Europa League, but before this game, Spurs fans, immense credit to them, they came out in their drones, they were in the team bus, they had flares, they were... It's like they just won a cup. Yeah, it could not have been really a more impressive display of support, and for them to then be served up that. To be fair to them, they didn't boot him the third goal. So they, you know, they actually... But they started okay, but then the thing about Spurs is you get one goal and they just...

34:56Crumble. They just crumble and never get anything back. It's weird. I think that's... I don't know where you'd go from that point as a Spurs fan. Because we saw it mobilized in the week with, you know, on social media about, look, there was, obviously the protest planned at most home games but get around the team, such a big game relegation on the line and you look at all the things they've done over the course of this season and even last season as well they've protested, they've walked out they've kept coming, they've kept supporting and they decide to en masse try and create this atmosphere and you almost ramp up the pressure on Forrest as well and little did they know it was counterproductive to their own team.

35:43Somehow. They can't even support their own team now.

35:46Jim Campbell: But they were quite good in the first half. Yeah, they were. And also the fact that, you know, you can see that half-time, just before half-time, obviously that's a blow. Probably don't need to make two changes at half-time though. Yeah. What was that about? Van Der Ven had a fitness issue, did he not? Maybe, but then like, I don't know. I feel like bringing on your doggy. Yeah, and then taking off Spence as well. He was the one who was actually willing to engage and go a bit forward and throw that extra body forward. It was, yeah. I mean, Forrests were brilliant. I mean, even in that first half when they didn't have the ball and they were scrapping, they wanted to scrap more.

36:22And then when they got the opportunity to play, they just played better. Spurs knew the focus of this entire game would be the central midfield, but they just didn't want to just get involved, really. I felt sorry for Vicario. like obviously the busiest goalkeeper and he's like been waiting to get his hernia surgery for a little while and it's like Is that right? Yeah Oh God It's just like I feel really sorry but he's like oh Can you just let me rest for five minutes please

36:52Pete Donaldson: His opposite number sells at a very good game made some important stops but look this is such a damning loss isn't it I mean you talk about the first half yes of course Spurs did a lot the early running they were the better side for most of it and then that sucker punch comes from Igor Jesus unmarked at a corner. Didn't even jump. But it doesn't... Did there's a duke in the celebration, though? Yeah. It's a great header from Jesus' point of view, but, you know, to switch off like that at such a moment, it's such a sucker punch just before half-time. We've just got a few more seconds to concentrate for.

37:25Let's just get into half-time. But they don't, they don't. It should galvanise them. Look, we need a fight. They're clearly a pretty good side for that level of the league competition. But it's kind of like Romero just spent most of his time just screaming at his own players. It's like, look at the ball. Stop shouting at everybody. Look at the bloody ball.

37:46Pete Donaldson: When you said it should galvanize them, of course it should. But the word galvanized is just not one that's appropriate there. They are in... I mean, look, Igor Tudor didn't complete the post-match interviews. It's being reported in Croatia that his father has died. so obviously you know that's incredibly sad for him he left I assume that he's returned home we don't know and obviously don't seek to know it's a very difficult time for him I don't mean this in any sort of counterweight but surely for him and the club surely this right now is where they part ways I would have thought I feel like you've got for his sake you know for obvious reasons but also there's still a footballing conversation but there is still a football And after that loss, you know, a lot of people say, you know, right after the game, he should be gone.

38:35It is, it is, if not now, when for Mr.

38:39Pete Donaldson: Redknapp? You know what I mean? Basically, you spend a week without your players because they're all on international duty. Exactly, yeah. You get the, I always say, you know, you get the code for the printer. You get to make sure your security passes all work and stuff, you know. And you know whoever Redknapp brings in is sort of like second in command. He's going to be an idiot. He's not going to be a familiar. Because it'll be Tim Sherwood. Because it'll be Tim Sherwood. But so yeah, you get a week with that, and then you'll get a week before, they're playing Sutherland, I want to say the next step.

39:06Pete Donaldson: Yeah, Sutherland away next.

39:08Jim Campbell: Sutherland away, which is... Tough game. Yeah.

39:11Pete Donaldson: I just, again, without Santa Callis, but as you say, Peter, there is a football conversation to be heard. They used to have a... I can't, I wouldn't understand why that he would want to stay there now. I just find it incredible that, again, after that victory against Atletico, I know in context Atletico were three goals to the good and they were never going to exert themselves particularly and they won it pretty comfortably in the end. But the effort that Spurs put in, the way that they had a much more disciplined performance, again, the context is important there. I understand that. But the feeling that they had around the stadium after that point at Anfield and so on and so forth, I thought, okay, this is going to bleed into this game.

39:54Pete Donaldson: this is going to carry on into this game, should I say. And you could argue for 40 minutes it probably did. 40 minutes. And they'd also switched to a back four,

40:03Jim Campbell: which basically everybody had been crying out for them to do Spurs fan or not, because it was very clear that back three wasn't working for them. And it did, you're right, I don't think they really, outside of actually winning the fixture, which would have been very, very difficult and kind of unrealistic, they couldn't have put in a better show against Atletico in terms of what they need, in terms of, to use that word, galvanising themselves. But that's just been dashed to pieces. Just been absolutely dashed to pieces by this. Yeah, why did he make so many changes from that game? That's what I don't understand.

40:32Why did Simon start on the bench? Yeah, after the shift he put in, that's baffling. Also, Pete touched on it before about the centre midfield battle. You know what Forrest is like in the middle of the park. Why are you only playing two men in there? Why are you playing two up top? Why are you taking off Mathis Tell?

40:50Jim Campbell: Yeah, he looked really lively. That was a bit strange. Maybe he was knackered again. Like we don't really know. And the other thing, you were talking there about the context of that Atletico Madrid game. And I don't think you're wrong, but we can probably apply a different kind of context onto that in that. Why were they up for that and not up for this? Yeah. And maybe it's the... I think they were for a bit. But I think... Not in the same way. I think they were, and maybe it's because of the system as well, but I think the players should take some of the responsibility. Christian Romero, the way he's walking back for that Gibbs-White goal, for the second goal, when Gibbs-White gives it - He just stuck the peers into frame, doesn't he?

41:26Yeah! He gives it to Hudson-Odoi, probably about 35 yards out from goal, and basically makes - He just runs in a straight line towards that front post, and gets opportunity. There are like six, maybe six Spurs players around him. I think he has a run past three or four at the time. Romero had he shown I don't know had he broken into a skip would have been able to intercept that ball that Hudson Odoi pulls across you can't put in that little effort and then at the start of the game have a video of you doing the rounds on social media and in the ground talking about coming together and fighting like if you don't believe in it mate don't do it

42:01Pete Donaldson: yeah well that's where we are you know again it sounds so bloody stupid but I would if I was in a decision making capacity at Tottenham Hotspur, right now I would be saying, right, I think it's best we part ways, Mr. Tudor, and I would be getting in the aforementioned gentleman or whoever because they are in huge trouble. As if it wasn't painfully obvious, and it hasn't been for a number of weeks and months now. That result to that side in that manner and all the rest of it, bloody Nora. There won't be a flicker of confidence left in that team. after that performance. A 50 first defeat at that new stadium.

42:45I mean, come on.

42:46Pete Donaldson: You know, it's just, it's, and it's Vita Pereira's first league winner's forest manager. They've got that. I mean, look at, post-match, Vita Pereira says, in the end, if we have the spirit to sacrifice ourselves, to give everything on the pitch to achieve our goals, we are committed and ready to fight. And you see the performance that Gibbs White puts in, okay? Gibbs White was brilliant. Amari Hutchinson as well, someone who's more attributed with being a flair player. But there's a spark. there's something and I know Forrest Forrest have been worried and they'll still be worried you know don't get me wrong they're only three points above the drop zone and West Ham are ultimately in that 18th place it's not Spurs

43:21Jim Campbell: Spurs aren't in the relegation zone and they've not been in the relegation zone at any point this season one point from the last six games indeed but while they are 17th and there are seven games to go I think yeah like that could be enough of essentially a shootout for someone to come in and give them that shot and it just does not look like Tudor is able to do that no

43:40Pete Donaldson: In the context of it all, you would say he's been given time to do something and nothing's happened. I don't know where, oh, deary me. It's not even about the, you know, the point there. It's not even about the time he has been given. It's the time that's left. Yeah, it's desperate. But look, a great win for Forrest. A great win for Forrest indeed. That gives them so much. They're three points above the relegation zone. They're very much in the relegation fight. So are Leeds as well. although Leeds, they're just getting, they're picking up draws, aren't they? That draw against Brentford at home and so on.

44:12Pete Donaldson: The amount of games that Leeds have been drawing of late, that should be enough, I think. If they continue with that, getting the point here and there, that should be enough, shouldn't it? You've got to remember Spurs were playing a side who took a team in Europe on Thursday to penalties. And they still ran rings around them. I know the personnel were slightly different, but still. No, you're absolutely right. Well, goodness knows what Spurs do. but they need to do something. Right, coming up after the break, big wins for Sunderland and Everton.

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46:40Pete Donaldson: Welcome back to the Football Ramble, everybody. Let's move on to the North East. No. Okay. Don't worry about it. Newcastle. Not with a left. They all smashed it up, didn't they? We have to do it, Peter. All right. Come on. The stripey derby. Yes. The red lot one. Newcastle United 1, Sunderland 2. Regis Lebris becomes only the second Sunderland manager after Gus Poirier to win his first two league matches against Newcastle United, while Eddie Howe becomes the first Newcastle United boss to lose his first two league derbies. And of course, Sunderland undefeated in 11 Premier League games against Newcastle, which is the longest run in this fixture's history.

47:17Jim Campbell: That is really something. Yeah, that's mad. It doesn't, usually this sort of fixture doesn't sort of take into account any kind of like league or any kind of form really, because it's a bit of a one-off. But I think this time it did.

47:32Pete Donaldson: That's why when Luka9 gifted them the opener, it was like, don't worry lads, we'll be okay. Yeah, Gordon looked alright, to be fair. He's probably one of the few players who came out with any sort of credit. He was very sharp in that moment. Yeah, absolute toss. Oh, Petey. It was really poor. The first half. It's good for the region though, isn't it? It's good for the region, yeah. Richly abusing players and stuff. Oh, blimey. Well, okay. Let's talk about that. I mean, before the game, there was a lot of fighting, quite frankly, wasn't there? Between set of supporters, some unsavoury scenes just outside the ground before the game.

48:06Pete Donaldson: And then, as you mentioned there, Peter, the game was paused for three minutes after the referee was made aware of racist abuse made from the crowd towards Sunderland's Lucharel Gertrude. and it's depressing that that happens. It's interesting to see the process sort of happening with the referee and stuff and how that's going to sort of... Yeah. So have I seen that before in the... I guess you don't see it quite so often in the Premier League anyway, but...

48:32Jim Campbell: I don't remember the last time it happened. It may well have done, but you're right. It's not a regular occurrence, is it? No.

48:40Pete Donaldson: So obviously after that abuse, which is horrible and we're all agreed on that, I'm, you know, pleased that there is a process. I know that sounds sort of a silly thing to say.

48:50Jim Campbell: It's a difficult thing to phrase, isn't it, when you're saying it. It's a good thing that the process was followed. Yeah. Because you'd rather the incident didn't happen in the first place. But these protocols are there for a reason. And if you don't enforce them, they become toothless and they become pointless. And yes, it's annoying that a game has to stop because someone's been an absolute idiot. And what you want is, I suppose, self-policing after a little while from crowds. So people know that this isn't acceptable. it's probably not ultimately going to solve the problems we have in society and that are reflected in football, of course it isn't but you need to do something and it's a good thing that the protocol has followed here.

49:23Yeah, and I think the only reason we know about the protocol is because of the size of the delay as well, because I think that's why they were like, by the way, this is what happened and the statement came out almost immediately from Premier League as well so, yeah, I mean as Jim said the process is good it's just the idiocy of it that needs to

49:43Pete Donaldson: yeah that had to be addressed you'd have to go through that at a round you don't see that sort of thing as often I would say but back to the football if we can yeah I mean Eddie Howe said that when they scored he said post-match when they scored the first goal he thought they were going to go on and sort of dominate the game and obviously has he watched any of the matches this season? because every time Newcastle score they just sort of sit back and just invite pressure and then just get to you did you think that in the first half I mean Bottman had a header first half was pretty solid but But, you know, do you mind, your brother said that every time.

50:17Oh, yeah, yeah. When they come out from second half. It was about, so I was messaging my brother, who's a Newcastle fan, and Pete, also a Newcastle fan. And during the first half, I messaged my brother about half an hour in, saying, you know what you've done? He's like, you're all over them here. Almost with a nod to saying, you probably could do with killing the game in the first half. Yeah. Or as much of it as you can, get another goal. And he replied immediately saying, we're going to fuck this up in the second half, we always do. And I forwarded that on to Pete and Pete replied with J.Willock, a green arrow suggesting he was coming on and in brackets 59 minutes.

50:53And I swear to the second the 59th minute clicked over and there was a shot of Eddie Howe with a clipboard showing it to Joe Willock. And the only reason he didn't come on in the 59 minutes is because the ball didn't go out of play. Sokst. But it was, you know, it said to me as someone who has only watched the odd Newcastle game this season, I suppose about how predictable their in-game situations are, and that was part of the problem, I suppose. Because as soon as they don't kill them off, it feels like Reggie Libris has the half-time team talk of, well, we know what they're like, don't we? But that's been Eddie Howe's kind of late, and I think it is late, Newcastle career.

51:30He likes to play the underdog. They always excel against your Man City's, and Man United down to ten men, and the first leg against Barcelona, but they can't put, you know, worse sides than them to bed, and they should be.

51:44Jim Campbell: I only watched the first half of this game because I went out after that. Basing it on what I'd seen, I was amazed that Newcastle didn't win that game. But, you know, as you say, this is a sort of chronic situation. But it's the management. Absolutely. I mean, look at the Barcelona game. Well, indeed. I mean, that's the most glaring example of it, isn't it? Harsh example, but ultimately in that second half. It is the same problem, isn't it? Put Voltemada on Xhaka. Yeah, brilliant. Yeah, that was going to be my question. So, you know, it didn't always seem in practice that Valtemar was actually playing in midfield.

52:11Jim Campbell: He was sort of drifting into those forward areas. But there were definitely points where, as you say, he was on Xhaka. Like, what is the thinking there? I think they were trying to sort of say, well, you know, Sunderland gets pretty decent value out of some dead ball stuff and Valtemar is tall. And it was as simple as that. But the thing is, Valtemar is not that good in the air for a man who's gigantic. You know what I mean? It was a weird one. It's just a classic manager just not picking players on form. I don't like Joe Willock. But Willock played incredibly well against Chelsea last time out, and he probably deserved a berth against Barcelona, and he didn't.

52:46He just doesn't seem to pick on farm. He just picks on kind of like, oh, well, you know, we'll put Dan Byrne in there because he's Geordie and stuff, and he was warfully exposed constantly in this match. I thought the logic with Valtomar was also a little bit like, if it's congested in the middle, he's quite slick with the ball at his feet so he can get us out of tight situations. But you know, Marcus, what you were alluding to there about like getting into those pockets. I wonder actually if it's easier to drop into those pockets rather than jump up into those pockets. Because people see you coming, don't they?

53:16Yeah, yeah, yeah. Set-backs see you coming off, the midfielders are like, well, there he goes. And the good example, I think it led to the eventual winner, was Xhaka's ball through the middle. I can't remember who picked it up, but he basically plays it from halfway inside his half to halfway inside Newcastle's half. and I was like oh that's a really good ball and it was a good ball but on the replay it was the most open pass he had which is crazy I mean and that's a Tenali-less kind of yeah okay and presumably Gimmaris as well would have yeah

53:47Pete Donaldson: it's an incredibly poor defeat for Newcastle as you've mapped out for the reasons had they have won that game you know they would have been up in ninth and because of the ineptitude of Liverpool and Chelsea you know there would be still a chance of Champions League football. Yes, mathematically, there's still a chance of even Champions League, but with that performance, with what we've seen... They can't get the ball in there. Bruno's got mumps. I think it's a very, very difficult point to argue that Newcastle will get Champions League football next season and will accelerate in these last sort of seven games of the league.

54:23Pete Donaldson: They're behind Sunderland. They are behind Sunderland. And it was a great win for Sunderland. I don't know

54:26Jim Campbell: if anyone else is making that argument.

54:27Pete Donaldson: Well, I think Eddie Hale probably is.

54:30Jim Campbell: But they have to go for something. They can't finish 12th. I don't think it's about, at this point, it's not about going with the Champions League though, it's about getting European football from here. And even that looks difficult now. Well, I mean,

54:40Pete Donaldson: they could well be if Villa do everybody around them a solid and win the Europa League. They have to put like one of their kind of legendary, you know, maybe last season or the season before runs, you know. That's what I mean. But Jim, it is possible to go back on you there. Newcastle finish above Sunderland, Brighton, Fulham, Everton and Brentford. Right? That is possible. You know, they're only four points off Brentford there. Chelsea and Liverpool, I mean, they are in very poor form and they are not to be trusted, really, are fifth and sixth. So if Newcastle, but unfortunately for Newcastle, you know, everything that's been said there, they're untrustworthy themselves.

55:20Pete Donaldson: So therefore, I don't think they are going to finish in the Champions League. His next few matches include Brighton. We always get beaten by Brighton. Welms always scores World East. He's having a lovely time. Great form as well. And Eddie Howe can't beat Bournemouth, so that's the... Well, no, he won't beat Borg. Yeah, he refuses. But what about Sunderland, though? I was going to quickly on to them, because we've talked a lot about Newcastle there, and they were the losers. Sunderland were brilliant. I mean, when old BB scores the winner, the celebration. I mean, never has a man seen so triumphantly victorious in a derby like that.

55:51Pete Donaldson: Shirt off, he's like, ah, what a man. A brilliant win for them. They're on 43 points. There was a, I don't want to use the word danger, there was a slight possibility that the back end of the season was just going to drift a little bit. And fine, they've got themselves into a position where drifting, they've earned the right to drift. They've had a magnificent season. Double love in Newcastle and a drift is absolutely fine with them, I'm sure. But that victory gives them that little bit more impetus. And they, on 43 points, can they dare to dream? Marcus, they are atrocious at this moment in time.

56:23There's no way they're going to... The wrong Monday you've chosen to describe Sunderland as atrocious. They are atrocious at the moment in time. Luke O '9's about turn from giving the goal away to then just like, I'm just going to head everything now then. I can't be trusted with my fans. I'm just going to head and boot everything.

56:39Pete Donaldson: Well, just remember where you've come from. Don't try. Did he try and play out the back or was he trying to smash that long? I didn't quite know. I think he was trying to, I love the ambition of it. I feel like he was trying to reverse the ball out to the right wing on his weaker foot, which as a centre-back at the best of times is incredibly brave. It is, yeah. And also dumb. As it proved to be. But with Brian Broby as well, I thought he had an outstanding game. He was beating Dan Burn in the air. Yeah. He was out-muscling Sven Botman until he went off and Malik Tiarra as well. And his touch and pace is just exceptional.

57:17You know, I didn't realise until they mentioned it on comms, but he's got back into the Dutch national team.

57:22Pete Donaldson: Yeah, of course, yeah. Great time to do it, obviously. But... World Cup, yeah. Yeah, well, he was outstanding. And I love that they kept him on as well. I think a lot of people get through the work that he did and understand would be knackered and you'd need a bit of a refresh. And it was only after he got the winner that he was taken off. Yeah, I think he was man of the match.

57:41Jim Campbell: He's 24, Brobby. And obviously this is his first season in the Premier League with a promoted side who have kind of, you know, kind of overachieved in terms of expectations. And you look at him and you think, he's a guy who could be established as a reliable Premier League goalscorer for some time actually he's got all the tools he needs to beat that

58:00Pete Donaldson: who had a better weekend Brian Broby or Beto do we have to choose can't we just enjoy them both yes everybody calm down for crying out loud did anyone know that Beto had a little dink in his locker no and James Garner did that's why he threaded it through James Garner what a player

58:15Jim Campbell: Everton 3 Chelsea 0 we've moved on that little dink my favourite thing about it is because he has to do it at speed he falls over afterwards because you've just got to throw everything at it. And just as he rolls back into place, he sees the ball cross the line. It's a beautiful moment. He's just got that moment to appreciate his work as a spectator. Yeah, it's like he accessed an extra dimension to get a different kind of angle on the ball. Because it's basically like a pool trick shot. You kind of stun the bottom of it and get it to jump over a ball in front. It was delicious. And then a bit of curl when it lands.

58:51Pete Donaldson: I love that obviously Everton in their first season in the new stadium, Beto is the first Evertonian to score a brace at the stadium. That's nice. Who's going to be the first hat-trick man? I don't know. But Ily Mellenjoy, I believe, was the first goal scorer at the stadium. And he certainly got another one against Chelsea. Absolute rocket.

59:11Jim Campbell: Beautiful stuff. Peter, talk to me about Robert Sanchez. What do you mean? You've been critical of David Royer. What on earth? Vish has a theory that you think Robert Sanchez and David Ray are like the same guy. Maybe it is. Maybe that's right. Okay. Sanchez very much laid an egg for Beto's second. No, but I mean, these things, look, I'm going to be charitable. These things sometimes happen in the rough and tumble of the Premier League.

59:38Pete Donaldson: I mean, it was diabolical on that second goal. It's different levels. I mean, he nearly had a shocker, of course, in the first half, didn't he? Got away with that one. Why is he being like this?

59:48Jim Campbell: I just think he's a liability at this point. He wasn't always like this.

59:53Pete Donaldson: But earlier in the season, he'd actually hushed some of his critics, hadn't he? Yeah. And he'd done okay. But do you just think this is Chelsea at the moment? I mean, they're in a funny old...

1:00:02Jim Campbell: Perhaps it's the style that Rossini is asking him to play because he doesn't mind kind of having the ball and essentially sort of making those similar to Ray, like releasing the ball quite late to find those angles. but he's getting pressed a lot and he's being kind of targeted because he's slightly slow at that that's no excuse for the goal the goal is just weak hands and I think even despite what happened against PSG you're surely looking at putting Jorgensen back in now Jim talk to me about

1:00:33Pete Donaldson: the man on the other end Jordan Pickford

1:00:35Jim Campbell: I would love to talk to you about Jordan Pickford he is just in such good form at the moment other than that which I didn't mind. So he's he's like a kid who's already let's be honest riddled with ADHD at a birthday party full of sugar just running around being absolutely chaotic. He was really really good again. I loved his little salute to the crowd. He loves the celebration doesn't he? It was a great save. He's enjoying the new stadium I think. I don't know why. It looks like a good place to go. I want to go.

1:01:08Pete Donaldson: It was a great weekend for the Macklems all around wasn't it Pete? Yeah. As a Macom fan, that's one of the YouTube comments. Yeah. We're delighted. Yeah. But look, it all means that Everton are three points off a Champions League spot, realistically. They're on 46, Liverpool in fifth. We're very sure that that's going to be a Champions League spot. Come on, Villa,

1:01:30Jim Campbell: do the right thing and win the Europa League. Marcus, you've been talking up the Champions League chances of basically every team we've spoken about so far. I'm going to talk about Fulham in a minute. Are Everton the most on the verge of all those teams?

1:01:42Pete Donaldson: you have to say although they've sort of put some kind of run together which they're capable of I think I said earlier on in the show I said I was talking about it's this season right that this season is a little bit different and so on Everton back to back home wins for the first time in the Premier League this season right that shows you it's this season because back to back home wins in the Premier League are a side who quite at this late stage in the season after 31 games could find themselves in the Champions League spot. That's all it takes, isn't it? Win three matches. Make that man cut his hair.

1:02:15Pete Donaldson: It's almost like getting into the playoffs in the championship. You know, you can have a side hanging around mid-table and win a few games at the end of the season, bang, they're in the Premier League, right? That's what it could be.

1:02:24Jim Campbell: Boom, Champions League, Jim. Their away form is excellent, right? And they've got away games against Brentford, West Ham, Crystal Palace, and on the last day, Spurs. Come on. Yeah, so a lot of away trips to London.

1:02:37Pete Donaldson: But that Brentford one, they're both on 46 points. Now Brentford Brentford have sort of They've been drawing a few more games So you have to say They've dropped six points This month haven't they Brentford yeah Yeah but The fact is That Brentford and Everton Are genuinely in the conversation Yeah For European football And even Champions League It shows you how inconsistent And poor Chelsea And Liverpool have been In the last few games Of course you would think That Liverpool would get it together But there's no guarantees I mean Last day of the season Richarlison throwing flares Into the crowd Then getting one back And then getting one back And then just throwing it What and then saying Can I come back and play for you?

1:03:10Can I come back and play for you please?

1:03:11Pete Donaldson: I mean if Moyes could pip... Moyes and Everton, the first season in their new stadium, could pip Liverpool to a Champions League spot.

1:03:19Jim Campbell: And they are playing each other soon as well. They're to dream.

1:03:23Pete Donaldson: Oh no, that's a signal because he's got a terrible record in the bigger games, hasn't he? I'm the Pip-man. There you go. Oh, Pip-boy, do you remember the Fallout little fella? The video game, Fallout. Yes. The Pip-boy. He looks a bit like Pip-boy. Does he? Moyes! little fella you know Moyes he looks like an old pit boy

1:03:40Jim Campbell: Jordan Pickford's got a bit of the pit boy about him he's got a pit boy about him yeah Jordan Pickford prefer pit bull myself we all know that mate and we respect your respect your choices on that so there was a stat doing the rounds I say doing the rounds Alan Shearer said it on match of the day about how Chelsea that'll do the rounds have been outrun in every single game in the Premier League this season which is really quite damning

1:04:03Pete Donaldson: isn't it it is I mean it started well under Rosinha but it's it's going bad and he said himself that this was probably the worst game that he's had as Chelsea manager and after that news as well um obviously with all the investigations and so on and so forth Chelsea's a bit of a shit show at the moment and you could see them dropping I know they've got a squad that is far superior than these all these other sides that I'm talking about with Everton and Brentford and and so on but my goodness they are dropping um and it's and it's and it's damning but great for Everton though what a what a game for them what a performance and Beto the main man said after the match, I don't think I'm a hero, but I think I am home.

1:04:40Pete Donaldson: Oh, that's so nice. It's the Hill Dickinson, baby. It's the Hill Dick.

1:04:47Jim Campbell: The Hill Dick's will die on. Just a little shout for... And die on.

1:04:52Pete Donaldson: Oi, that's it! You can't answer that!

1:04:55Jim Campbell: I was just going to give a little shout for Drusher Gay's engine at 36 years old. Yeah, fair. Absolutely unbelievable. Do you see Illum in the eye at the end of the game? Staring to the camera as a proud Senegalese man and say African champions did he actually did he

1:05:10Pete Donaldson: that that is what we're all talking about everybody so long as we get some of that drama spilling into our world we're totally happy absolutely I'm team Illimanjoy yeah Senegal and there we are everybody thank you for listening to the Football Ramble part of the Acast Greater Network we're back tomorrow for the mailbag subscribe to make sure you do not miss it until then thank you very much Vish thank you thank you Jim see ya thank you Pete goodbye Thank you, Hill Dickinson.

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