The Preview Show: Eff off handsome

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4:31Pete Donaldson: You are the highest, you are the greatest, everybody. Welcome to the Football Rumble Preview Show. England are up tomorrow and Wales won last night. It's Friday 2nd of October. I'm Marcus Speller. I'm Pete Donaldson. And I'm Vinicius Dhantharajah.

4:55Pete Donaldson: Oh, it's Friday! It's Friday day morning. Yep. You ruined that. You ruined that. Sorry. I came in listening to some 2000 dance classics as well. Did you? I listened to some... When was that? Oh, I don't know. It feels like... Oh, no. No, no, no. I was more thinking of the sort of thing you'd hear in the Hartlepool Gashaw rooms of 2005. Is that still going? Pretty Blue Eyes, Pretty Green Eyes. Pretty Green Eyes? Pretty Green Eyes, yeah. Coldplay. The Dan Byrne song. Oh, okay.

5:28Marcus Speller: It was great because not only did the choice of song age you, but so did you trying to play it to me over your phone forgetting you were still connected to your headphones. Yeah, it was an atrocious display for me. It really was, yeah.

5:43Pete Donaldson: Well, Bluetooth on or off, it's Friday, and we're going to enjoy this day. Do you use Bluetooth wireless headphones, Marcus? Oh, once in a while. Let's start the show like this. We haven't got anything to get through. He's not using them now, is he? No, he's not using them now. When I'm commuting, and when I am doing little pieces over Zoom, or whichever one you play with, to CNN, or News24 in Australia, your dirty little secrets. who wanted to charge me$125 for the clip, and I was like, most people give it for free. That's a disgrace. Then I usually use wired headphones.

6:20Marcus Speller: You did something for them,

6:22Pete Donaldson: and you asked if you could have it,

6:24Marcus Speller: and they said for 125 quid. That's how big business works, baby. That's outrageous, isn't it? If he gets you on the red carpet, you don't own that picture,

6:32Pete Donaldson: so you can't post on Instagram. BBC and CNN, I appreciate that they are both fake news. Yeah, they are. Absolutely fake. But they give you the clips for free, whereas News24 were like, oh yeah, sorry, but the guy was really nice, and he was like, sorry, but...

6:47Marcus Speller: We're on the other side of the world, no one's going to see it. Just do it, Marcus. Madness, madness. Well, look, Peter. Fascinating. And that was last Friday. And we are going to be charging you£3 ,000 to rebroadcast the rights to MyBiddyAnt later on. Absolutely. Absolutely. You could put a can on this forever for the small price of£3 ,000, Marcus.

7:06Pete Donaldson: We could. We absolutely could. And I think it's worthwhile. But Vish, not only is it Friday, we're a day away from Saturday when England play Croatia.

7:15Marcus Speller: Yes. You finally got your way. Loads has happened in the Man City story, but you finally got your way. I'm not having it. I know.

7:22Pete Donaldson: We all know. We're quiet about England for so long. This is going to run and bleed and run. Okay. And I fear it for a glorified friendly. Peter, Peter, half of the great international autumn break of 2026. has been dominated by Manchester City. It's now time to take our international break back. Well, Marcus, I'll have you know that me and Vish are going to be enjoying the great international autumn break on foreign climbs this coming Tuesday. Are you going to Croatia, are you? No, we're going to go to Luxembourg to watch Luxembourg versus Bulgaria. Are you actually? We are. My goodness. The tickets were€25.

7:57Yes. And the flight was€30. Me and Vish are going to drink red wine and we're going to watch Luxembourg versus Bulgaria on Tuesday. and there'll be a report that we can sell to you for£250 to put on the YouTube.

8:12Pete Donaldson: That is worthwhile stretching the budget for. Was there just two tickets? It wasn't free, Marcus. You went on a new website and bought them. You can buy one yourself. I understand you don't want Luke to come with you. Me and Vish said we'll have to get a... That's a great idea. I love that. Pop away somewhere for an evening and watch a bit of football. That's a great idea, Vish. That type of trippy. Cricket season's over. Let's do it. Yeah, and it's just beginning in Luxembourg, so you might not see him. That is right up my alley, that kind of behaviour. So well done to you. And well done to Luxembourg as well for that, and also allowing England, presumably at some point, having Brian Maggio.

8:47Marcus Speller: What language do they speak? Oh, that's what we should do. We should try and steal his records so they can't use them. Yes. I think they speak educationally, they speak German. There's a bit of French in there? There's French in the business world, I think. and then they've got their... That's the only language we need to concern ourselves with.

9:06Pete Donaldson: And in the pub, it's Cockney rhyming slang. Exactly. But England will take on Croatia for the first time since the opening game of the World Cup. Nearly got there. In Dallas, or both teams were opening World Cup, should I say, game. Slavin Bilic is in charge. He is. And he's overseeing his first camp as Croatia manager. Of course, Croatia's Nations League story, Safar. A 2-1 away win against Czechia, as some people affectionately call them. So a good start. and then they lost 4-1 away to Spain, which can happen.

9:34Marcus Speller: Yeah, but I think it was a very... I mean, 4-1's quite humiliating, but it was a particularly humiliating start, because I think they didn't touch the ball for the first 20 minutes. Is that right? Yeah, they had very few touches in the opening exchanges.

9:51Pete Donaldson: Well, they did get back on level terms in that game, Croatia. Yeah. So we're trying to throw them a big old succulent bone there. Yes, yeah. I mean, incredibly, Luka Modric didn't start the game. You know, so finally, age is beginning to catch up with him. But more on 40-year-old international styles not playing for their countries in a bit. I think he's 41. 40-plus. 40-plus, sorry, yes. 40-plus. It's an edge bracket. It is indeed. It is indeed. So England away to Croatia. I think the general thinking, understandably, is that Croatia are a better opponent than Czechia, even though they gave England problems in the early stages against Prague.

10:30Pete Donaldson: So I think most people would agree, obviously they won there as well, Croatia. This is a sterner test. And that word test, Vish, is one we're going to constantly use with England. I think probably until England wins something. So it could be a lifetime of using the word test.

10:47Marcus Speller: Yeah, I thought this when, you know, after we did the show on Wednesday, and you and I were in agreement that when Ceci got the red card to go down to 10 men really early, that we were a bit dismayed by that. and Luke was on the other side of it, rightly, I think, saying, it's an England game, you want them to win. And yes, there's so much ironing out that could be done in this stage, but they're winning a game, it's only a good thing, blah, blah, blah. And I feel like previously that would have been you. I feel like previously you would have been, no, I mean this sincerely, previously that would have been you saying, look, England have won a game, that's a good thing.

11:23Marcus Speller: They're flexed a bit, there's a bit more confidence, everyone's a bit more together, that's only a good thing. and I am wary now that we might be because of what happened in the World Cup because of reaching the Euros final before that that we might be entering this really difficult space where it might be harder and harder to enjoy England

11:41Pete Donaldson: I know what you mean I do know what you mean because we're looking

11:43Marcus Speller: for things like that we're looking for those micro improvements within a game that England might win 3-1 and we're worried about the one even against a team that we've beaten or drawn against consistently since 2018 we're a bit I wouldn't say a bogey team, but we can beat them and have beaten them consistently over the past few years.

12:00Pete Donaldson: Yeah, the only thing I would say to push back on that is that I took some positives away from the game against Spain. Yeah, fair. I get what you're saying. I'll always try and find some sort of enjoyment with England. I just felt that it was almost for the players' sake, actually, in sort of a weird, slightly perverted way in that, you think well if they win this game now well of course they're going to win it they won't get much positivity from people but anyway they won the game and that was the important thing and against Croatia they will be starting with Jordan Pickford in goal Pete Donaldson James Trafford has had his he's had his one hasn't he he got his clean sheet he got his clean sheet but Pickford will be back in goal what does this tell you Peter about the mindset of Thomas Tuchel It tells us that very much he is the number one goalkeeper for England, I would say, and no more than that.

12:53Despite Trafford starting against Spain, though. Yeah, but I mean, wasn't that the agreement, though? It's kind of like...

12:58Pete Donaldson: But there was an agreement. So to me, it suggests that Thomas Tuchel is not sure. Oh, you reckon? Yeah. Ooh. That's... What is that for, though? Just ball delivery? What is it? Because, I mean... Just the general demeanour of the man? Well, if you think about Pickford... Look, I'm one of those people who say, oh, Pickford's never let England down, because he's never made a howler in a big game or anything like that. And that is huge. I think we sometimes forget that that is as big as it is. I think Pickford has been a brilliant goalkeeper for England. Because the way that he, how emotional he is and how he carries himself with the defence and stuff.

13:30I think if he starts having a rick at him, you do sort of go, well, that's his brain taking over from his faculties a little bit. And you don't want that. No, and we've seen it before.

13:43Pete Donaldson: Go on, Sunderland, yeah. Enjoy yourself. But I think with Pickford, what is he, 31 Pickford? 32, yeah. He's 32. I think that maybe Tuchel is thinking Trafford's ceiling will be higher going forward than Pickford. He was signed by Manchester City, so a lot of people. He was signed by Man City for a reason. He got out of there, didn't he? He did get out of there while the going was good. He's a genius, Trafford. That's what it is. It's to show you that he's very highly...

14:18Marcus Speller: Sorry, the idea that he's like, oh, I don't like the look of this. Oh, that's not nice, that.

14:24Pete Donaldson: Yeah, yeah. Is that Italian fella still in charge of Leeds United? No? Okay, let's go there. So I think with Trafford, the ceiling is higher, one would think, than, say, Pickford. Because Pickford, there's a reason why he's never played for a club who were in the Champions League. However, Pickford, he was also a bit of a throwback from the days where you could have someone who'd never won a major trophy in their life or never played European football and that they're a stalwart in the England team or they're in there. So with Pickford, I think, I mean, you remember when Jude Bellingham mouths, oh, it was in the centre of the goal when Enzo Fernandes scored for Argentina.

14:58Pete Donaldson: And I think the point is...

15:00Marcus Speller: I totally forgot about that, but yeah.

15:01Pete Donaldson: Yeah, so I think...

15:03Marcus Speller: It's rare that Pickford doesn't make a save, though. Is that fair?

15:08Pete Donaldson: I suppose I'm desperately trying to get into Tuchel's mind here.

15:12Marcus Speller: Don't do that, you might get trapped there. Well, yeah. Daniel Farquhar, what are you doing here?

15:16Pete Donaldson: And so I think with Pickford, maybe he's thinking, do we have a goalkeeper who does make that kind of thing? Do we have a goalkeeper who can do the extra stuff? Because I think Pickford is a solid goalkeeper. It's the upgrade. Is this man an upgrade?

15:29Marcus Speller: Let's find out if he is an upgrade. And also, because of the way modern football is played, your goalkeeper is such a huge part of the build-up that you do genuinely need a like-for-like replacement. Well, there's that as well. There's a reason why, let's say, even two, three, four years ago, might as well say five, that Nick Pope wasn't seen as a viable replacement or a backup for Pickford because he's not as good with his feet.

15:56Pete Donaldson: Yeah, now I appreciate Henderson's played a couple of games and he played in the third-place player for what that's worth at the World Cup. But again, Tuchel has to think if he's going to be here for the Euros, which he says he is and the contract is there, you know two years can be a long time in football and Pickford if there's an injury you don't want to go ah crap you know because Dean Henderson is a different type of goalkeeper yeah and I think so even if it is just right I need to just make sure I've got a viable replacement but I suspect because he started that Spain game that to me is a big statement from Tuchel and that suggests he's thinking okay let's let's see if he could maybe potentially be the number one but Pickford will be in goal tonight um and hopefully uh he'll keep his head and he won't think right well there's a bit of pressure on me now.

16:36Pete Donaldson: I'm not used to this kind of competition, to be honest. I'm going to bring myself to the game. Hello, game. I'm the goalkeeper. Nice to meet you. Well, it does look like that Lewis Hall will probably start the game because Nico O 'Reilly has withdrawn from the squad with injury, Peter. Running scared. Full-backs in full-back position, shocker. Well, there we are.

16:55Marcus Speller: Although, I mean, Lewis Hall has... I've just got to get back home for a little bit. Just don't worry about it. I've just got to pack a few things. yeah

17:03Pete Donaldson: that's a shocker for O 'Reilly the last place you want to go right now is Manchester shortly just enjoy you're in Croatia it's a nice place but Lewis Hall though I mean he has played in midfield before but I know what you mean Peter he's seen as a more specialist left back yeah I was I know he's a very very good player and I know he's played great in patches for Newcastle but I'm always very surprised at like the kind of mania around players like Lewis Hall and Tino Livermento where at times last season they weren't that great but if he can sort of continue this sort of Rich Werner farm he did look very very good and very very assured in the last match but I mean is that not because people see him when they play against Barca I mean obviously I'm not talking about the away leg but you know when Lewis Hall did a job on it was Lamin-Yamal you know you see him in those kind of bigger moments and people will often think oh okay maybe they might not see him away to I don't know whoever Fulham do you know what I did think about football, I was thinking, what did he play like against Fulham?

18:04Pete Donaldson: Did he score a hat-trick? I know what you mean, but international football's a funny one, because again, it is, in theory, the sort of the big occasion, kind of every time, other than a friendly. Did you not think he played well against Cechia? Yeah, no, I thought he did, and I think because we've got better sort of forward-facing kind of left-sided players at Newcastle, he doesn't get the chance quite so much to overlap in the Premier League and beyond. So seeing him sort of almost... He flashed one wide, didn't he? He did, yeah. He was lucky. And yeah, I thought it was a really, really excellent assured performance in a defence that at times didn't look that assured, with the caveat that we had like...

18:43Yeah.

18:43Pete Donaldson: It's not like, some possession. Yeah. Sure. But also with Anthony Gordon in front of him. Mm. He knows the player. He knows the club. He knows the player. He knows that booty. He knows the left side.

18:52Marcus Speller: I don't know why you didn't keep hold of Anthony Gordon. He's a very good player. What a foolish say that was. We just sell him as a running player. But in fact, that guy's got a brain. Yeah. He's got a big old brain. Do you think that's what he was like to do, cast all coaches? Guys, I'm up here. Yeah. He needed to put his glasses on in the reverse of those kind of teen dramas where Alas pulls her head down, she's all that. He's all that.

19:16Pete Donaldson: How do you feel about that, Peter, where in Hollywood, if you take off your glasses, you're a superhero, an incredible dancer, or incredibly good looking all of a sudden? Well, I always think that's the thing, and then I take mine off, and there's two pissholes in the snow staring back at me. But there's a lad over the road from us, my mate's son, who's always worn glasses, and he's got to about 16, 17, and he's taken his glasses off, and he looks like a fucking model. And I'm like, fuck off, 17-year-old boy. Get fucked. With this kind of performance. Bullshit.

19:46Marcus Speller: Was really worried about the age there, but well done.

19:48Pete Donaldson: He's just the latest child Pete has verbally abused. Yeah. For being handsome.

19:52Marcus Speller: There's this kid I've been watching. There's this kid I've been watching from across the road. and he's finally

19:57Pete Donaldson: taking his glasses off there you are there we are Alex Scott made his debut against I'm not going yeah I thought I'd jump in no good lad good lad it's alright two feet he made his debut on Tuesday you were full of praise for Alex Scott on the mailbag Vitoosh yeah and I mean would you ever see him starting in this great autumn international break with Elliot Anderson or do you think that he'll probably go for Miles Lewis Skellige.

20:29Marcus Speller: Would that be the ideal combo? Well, this is what I'm trying to sort of work out. I think this is what these, and I appreciate these are competitive games, but surely this is what this is for. If you're going to have, basically, an opportunity over close to a month to hothouse, you know, situations. Yes.

20:49Pete Donaldson: Only in victory, Peter.

20:52Marcus Speller: So then surely one of the things would be trying to find out the different combos, different combinations of midfielders that you can use, who complements who, who can't play with who... Because you've had Lewis Kelly in there, presumably... He's a funny one, isn't he? I don't really know, I suppose maybe he doesn't know, because he's only really done it at the top level for, it feels like just six months, with the back end of Arsenal's title winning season.

21:14Pete Donaldson: Yeah, because at some point we'll have to, I'll have to stop saying, but he did start that Champions League final, you know what I mean?

21:19Marcus Speller: But like, I wonder what his ideal, you know, without the ball, with the ball, Where does he fit in with England? Who does he play with? Obviously, can Rice play with everyone? Yeah. Probably. Yeah. Can Anderson play with everyone? Maybe? Probably as well, actually. Yeah, similar to Rice.

21:36Pete Donaldson: Well, Anderson's role in this team is clearly the deep-lying midfielder. I mean, you saw that against Spain, you know, when he drops very deep.

21:43Marcus Speller: And because of Gibbs White, he often did that at Nottingham Forest. So he's used to, like, someone's everywhere up there. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I'll stay down here. So that makes sense.

21:52Pete Donaldson: I mean, he's the midfielder that looks after the ball. I mean, I know against Spain there was a couple of sloppy passes and, you know, you give him a little bit of grace because you're playing against Spain there. But I actually thought, you know, having seen him in the flesh, I thought, yeah, I knew he was a good player. But there were some times where I thought, yes, the way that he can look after the ball and also draw a player and then go past a player and play in tight spaces, there's a reason why he cost a lot of money. Yeah. and there might be a reason why he may not cost that much in the future.

22:26Pete Donaldson: But, you know, Anderson's there. He's a starter for England. We know that. If you're thinking about who's going to play next to him in this game, it will be Lewis Skelly again, who he's gone with twice, and he obviously came off at half-time when Chequie were down to 10 men.

22:38Marcus Speller: I don't think that was a slight on him. No, no, I don't think.

22:42Pete Donaldson: Indeed, I agree. James Garner is another option who came on against Spain.

22:46Marcus Speller: Is James Garner? Yes. We've got... Anderson at home. Do you think? A little bit, yeah. Like... I mean, it's obviously not a complimentary way of describing a player. But it feels like he does all the things that Anderson does, but just not to maybe the same hype. Possibly, yeah. To the same level.

23:09Pete Donaldson: Well, maybe in a few years. I mean, I know that some Manchester United fans were a bit annoyed when he went. Yeah, stupid, yeah. Right, there you go. So again, he is rated, but obviously at the moment he's still, I think, growing as a player. But I think he's in the England squad on merit against, was it Uruguay? It was either Uruguay or Japan, I think it was Uruguay. He's 25, isn't he? Do you know what I mean? Yeah, sure. But against Uruguay, I think in that pre-World Cup friendly, people go, why on earth are you going back to that? Well, we're just talking about James Carlton when he plays. England don't play that many games.

23:42No, they don't.

23:43Pete Donaldson: And he was one of the standout performers for England on a very tepid night, let's be honest. And it was, you know, a lot of people were given a bit of a run there. So I think, but again, who's going to partner Anderson ultimately is my question. Is it going to be Lewis Kelly? You've got Garner or could he go for Alex Scott?

23:57Marcus Speller: Oh yeah, sorry, I realise we went on a massive tangent there But I would like him to go with Alex Scott I think Alex Scott is so good in tight spaces I think he's really good driving with the ball He showed flashes of that on Tuesday I really like the fact as well that And this is probably true of all players And everyone who played professional football at a high level He has got that aura, that sense of Yeah, like I belong here but also the drive to show people that he belongs here, that he's not out of place. He's not like messy with his tenacity as well. He reminds me a little bit like, the small spaces thing reminds me a bit like, you know, your Bruno Gimarras kind of players, which kind of like find their way out.

24:39Yeah. When other players come.

24:40Pete Donaldson: Yeah, I know what you mean, yeah.

24:41Marcus Speller: The game he had at the Emirates when he scores... Almost 2-1, yeah. Yeah, he scores a winner. That was such a great moment of watching in real time someone grow in a game and think like, I think this is my day, you know? Yeah. against the champions elect.

24:57Pete Donaldson: I mean, again, the way he took his goal. Yeah. Very confident, you know. Yeah, you've charmed me. I think he should go for a next goal.

25:03Marcus Speller: I think it'll be fun and I think it'll be really good because I think he's the kind of player that can get Tuchel thinking a different way and perhaps, because I think there is still some doubt there in Tuchel's mind, but perhaps get Tuchel closer to the idea that we are good in the middle, England are good in the middle of the park and can play and hold it with some of the better teams around the world. Watch out, Billich. Do you know Islamin Bilic When he was out Of football Is he ever really Out of football You would suggest He did a He had a podcast Did he Where he interviewed Other footballers And it was called The Failure of Champions Oh That's something quite Kind of makes sense As a boy Yeah

25:44Pete Donaldson: So obviously You were just a whisker away From scoring that penalty Yeah Exclusively interviewing Creation football Fair play

25:53Marcus Speller: Slavin, I mean, you did dive. Oh, yeah.

25:57Pete Donaldson: Well, Luka Modric, the aforementioned, will be looking to make his 205th cap for Croatia.

26:02Marcus Speller: I remember a time when... Just give the man a sandwich. He's so gaunt. And, like, obviously incredibly fit to still be doing it at this level. Fat Modric. Give us Fat Modric, for crying out loud.

26:13Pete Donaldson: He's earned his cholesterol. He's earned his bore time.

26:15Marcus Speller: What's the opposite of Manjaro? Give him that. What if Manjaro's food, isn't it?

26:20Pete Donaldson: Yeah, it's food, yeah. I don't know, yeah. But only Messi and Ronaldo have more international appearances in men's football. How far off is he? Could he make it? Well, Ronaldo, I think, is 234. No. No, then. Yeah. We can probably cap that.

26:35Marcus Speller: Messi's having his farewell next week. That's right, yeah. Do you remember when we started this podcast,

26:40Pete Donaldson: like Peter Shilton, I think he's still just England's record cap holder, 125 caps. And it is an enormous amount, don't get me wrong, right? you know and then there would be one or two others and I can't remember at the time but someone had like 140, 150 and he'd be like that is incredible 234 but more on Ronaldo later because it does seem unlikely he'll get a 235th any time soon now elsewhere tomorrow Scotland travel to North Macedonia they're looking to score their first goal of course under Sebastian Pocagnoli they really could do with a striker like Troy Parrott among their ranks

27:16Marcus Speller: what a lovely goal

27:17Pete Donaldson: I would have loved to have talked more about the Republic of Ireland, but trying to find footage and highlights of that game. Even UEFA TV couldn't do it. You've got to be Reddit or Twitter highlights, really. Yeah, madness. But we all saw that Troy Parrott goal, didn't we? Yes, yeah. I saw someone recreate it on the AFC on YouTube. Have you seen the AFC? It's gone a bit mad. You can have like 10 goalkeepers in the net. Everyone's getting very upset.

27:40Marcus Speller: Not even 10 goalkeepers would have said that. Exactly, yeah. Well, I mean, the defence... With step ladders. The defence were very much kind of stationary during a lot of it. It was Megs. It was a big Meg's party, wasn't it? Or Gary Megson? That's such a... It was a Meg's party. Gary Megson. This party can't get started without Gary Megson. Gary Megson. I can't think of any other Megs. Apparently, not a good bloke. I guess, yeah. I'll give it a Google. Megsy Markle. Megsy Markle. Meg from Family Guy, thank you. There's a few more there. Carry on, fish. Get on with it. Meg... Wasn't there a cat?

28:18Marcus Speller: wasn't the cat called Mog? The cat was called Mog.

28:21Pete Donaldson: Yeah, Jacob Rees Mog as well. It doesn't work. Yeah, Jacob Rees and Meg. There we go.

28:28Marcus Speller: Why am I just thinking of egg puns? It's not even the right word. You were talking about football. Uh, Troy, so Troy Parrott's goal happens because he is so outnumbered. Oh. No, no, but this is a compliment, but it's, there's almost like a cartoonish element to it. Right. Because they all keep, it's like one person outnumbered and everyone's trying to fight him and he just like bumps them off one at a time and then it's like oh god we are in trouble here yes because he gets past the first person and then he's still got two defenders to beat and they're like well just he's not going to get past all of us but the way he gets past the third defender and he rolls it inside himself to get through him I thought he should have rounded the goalkeeper yeah oh do you reckon because he was already kind of going down I mean he scores yeah but it's just like the meg was on yeah it was a meg party bit It did ruin the goal for me.

29:18Marcus Speller: It did, yeah. Do you not think it was very permissive? Obviously, it was very permissive because he scored the goal, but it just felt a bit like he's not going to get many more like that. I think it's one of those ones where... That's what you thought after he scored, though. Enjoy it because that'll be your last.

29:33Pete Donaldson: Someone's going to tackle him, yeah. Fulham's David Affengruber was involved in that, and I thought, come on. Get that out of line. Enjoy your bit of dried fish on the side of your cage, sunshine. Yeah, exactly. Because he won't score another one like that. Basically, what we're saying is he shouldn't have bothered scoring it. Shouldn't have fucking bothered. Because everything is downhill.

29:51Marcus Speller: DC, a lot of the Irish fans were like, oh, we'll never see that again.

29:55Pete Donaldson: Yeah. Why have you done that? Yeah.

29:57Marcus Speller: At least the possibility of it was exciting. It can't get better than this, it just can't. Yes, indeed. Now it's happened.

30:04Pete Donaldson: Obviously, after he scored the goal, Ireland fans threw tennis balls onto the pitch in protest of their team playing against Israel as well. So, following up from there, I mean, they weren't allowed to go to the game away in Hungary when they played Israel. But yeah, a lot of Ireland fans are very, very unhappy about that whole affair. And they, yeah, as I say, they certainly showed it with the tennis balls on the pitch, which I do think is quite an effective protest. Yeah, yeah. Quite hard to sort of tidy up and get going quickly, isn't it? Yes, indeed it is. All right, coming up after this, was it unfair to call Richard Keyes a spunk bubble?

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33:57I'm trying to describe something that you lot know has been behind our failure over the last however many years. You know it better than I do. I don't know it. I can feel it. I can sense it. And it's starting to feel like it's me. Wow. Honestly. D M W Dead Man Walking

34:28He's starting to sound like a feudal lord in Game of Thrones Yes That kind of you happen upon

34:33Pete Donaldson: As if you didn't know That was Ian Holloway Swindon Town manager Ian Holloway Ahead of their trip to Rochdale tomorrow Fucking cinema Yeah

34:42Marcus Speller: The term Dead Man Walking is about someone about to face their death Perhaps not even being aware that it's coming But then at the end he does an impression of a zombie. Which I suppose is technically a dead man walking. So what's your issue with that? But like, I think he loses his point. In his own mind. He says, what does that look like? It's a zombie. Urgh. Yeah, that's what you mean. And then he breaks into Thriller. We cut it, the clip. True. We couldn't do the whole clip, of course. But he looks great in that red leather.

35:11Pete Donaldson: He does, yeah. Absolutely does. it's wind and town obviously on a current run of five games without a win across all competitions it's an inverse tear it is an inverse tear the flesh is falling off the bone alright then Peter let's talk about Manchester City yeah because we have to we just simply have to we simply have to this is it rolls on and on I mean this is one of

35:40Marcus Speller: if we don't talk about it who will quite literally the Prime Minister will

35:44Pete Donaldson: and he shouldn't and I think Andy Burnham's had a good start to being a Prime Minister I genuinely have high hopes for him I don't want to get too political and I really do but he simply has to remember that he's not the mayor of Manchester anymore Downing Street didn't need to make an intervention I think what the Prime Minister means on this

36:00Marcus Speller: but the important thing to point out is he knows the club he knows the city well this was because he said

36:08Pete Donaldson: the other day he would be really concerned if Manchester City's owners sold the club He said they've been such a huge partner in the building of modern Manchester. In a sports washing project that serves their own needs and wants. Peter, don't get bogged down by the detail. Obviously the building of Manchester City is the global force that it is. I do actually thank the City Football Group and the wider ownership for the money they didn't just put into the Etihad Stadium and the campus around it, but also into the City. And Downing Street issued a new statement yesterday clarifying Burnham's stance.

36:39Pete Donaldson: Well, as the Prime Minister made clear, the initial judgment is serious and there can't be any suggestions that anyone is above the rules. He also stressed that it is an ongoing independent process. It is essential that it is allowed to run its course and the outcome respected. If wrongdoing is established, those responsible should face the appropriate consequences, is what he meant. He was just celebrating the war at Gainab. Of course he was, Peter. He's the one person in the country who does have to wait for the appeal. Because he's the fucking Prime Minister. But there is something in this, though.

37:08Pete Donaldson: Again, to go on about the magnitude of this, as if anybody needs reminding more so, but it's true. They're not synonymous with just Manchester City, these owners. They are synonymous now with, as Burnham himself put it, modern Manchester. So this is not like it normally is. This is not a case of, you know, owner comes in, disgraces himself, you know, Chan Ciri or Chilina or somebody like that comes in. You're spot on. And as clean as it can be sort of divorced, these owners are so entwined with Manchester now. And they've done that on purpose. And people have said Manchester sold. It sold to them.

37:50Pete Donaldson: Others will say, yeah, but look at the, you know, it's helped rejuvenate. Whatever your arguments, I don't want to get bogged down into that because you're here all day and it's unnecessary. But the fact is the decoupling of this ownership from Manchester City, which I think should happen, will remain to be seen whether it happens or not. but if the appeal is unsuccessful which some are suggesting that would be where the smart money is then this is incredibly messy this is far messier than I think a lot of us initially thought I think we've kind of forgotten because they've had their feet at the table for such a long time at Man City and beyond as you said we've kind of forgotten that this was purely a sports washing project because it's been so successful we've kind of forgotten that forget about Sedan forget about Caval forget about all the bad stuff in our country here's a tower block or something do you know what I mean?

38:39so here's a Rocky Santa Cruz enjoy him he's wonderful do you like small plates in pizza? there you go count us in do you like a cat cafe? there'll probably be one coming soon there you go can we have two? yes you can but I mean I think at this point in the week we don't really need the hand wringing about how they've conducted themselves at the club and we've got to remember that these years do start at a certain time and end at a certain time but the platform in which they managed to sort of give Manchester City does carry on to Erling Haaland's been able to buy Erling Haaland and stuff like that.

39:13Not a world-class player, according to Ian Balaguer. Not a world-class player. He's lost his mind as well. Stand by your pep. Carry on, Peter. But I was like, Luke, at the start of the week, I was just like, you know, I'm glad we're getting to some sort of ending to all of this. But by the end of this week, seeing some of the emails and seeing the absolute, you know, bloody mindedness of it all, I'm like, in League Two, do you know what I mean League 2 I think that's it Peter you know take the to expunge their their achievements from the record and stuff and like it's and this season is going to be a shame a real shame the shadow will cast right across the the whole the whole season for the entire pyramid completely yeah I did find it amusing or have a Man City come into a League 2 brilliant yeah that's what I'm trying to get into the league for to get pumped 10-0 by Man City

39:59Marcus Speller: so what about if they got relegated to the Baller League beautiful better

40:03Pete Donaldson: Now we're talking. Yeah, they could presumably re-sign Mario Balotelli. He'd be up for that. Harlan would love it. He loves all the YouTube stuff. He's always hanging out with me. He definitely would love it. The side piece. That's wrong, isn't it? The side piece. The side piece. But they'd have to, like,

40:19Marcus Speller: what if they kept playing in YouTube football, but they kept up this idea of we want the best of basically what they have to pick from. So they get, like, Tinfish Man. Who's Tinfish Man? You know the guy who reviews Tinfish? Oh, yes, yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, so the best YouTubers. Oh, that's why he's called Tin Fish Man. Yeah. Right, right. And they're sort of like, you know, oh, it's Tin Fish Man, and he's gonna be parted in defense by a muckbanger. Yes, nice. A one pound fish man. Yeah. He's not necessarily a YouTuber, but he's very busy.

40:49Pete Donaldson: What does Tin Spam Man review? There's a man on YouTube who reviews old Civil War rations. Okay. And he'll just eat hardtack and all dusty bread and stuff from the Civil War. But he's 125. Exactly. We should all be doing it. He knows the war. We should all be doing it. But it's a fascinating kind of, you know, how it's all kind of panned out and how now people are talking about how the contracts with the players and stuff. I don't know how a player like Erling Haaland and, you know, certain players who may have been signed from Newcastle United through Nottingham Forest may be feeling about it because at the end of the day, they were signed in the full knowledge that this investigation was going on.

41:30Does that mean that that negotiation about extricating themselves from that contract is more difficult?

41:36Pete Donaldson: Well, do you know what? So on the overlap with Neville and co... They had a bigger boy in. Yeah, Paul Gilroy, KC, was in for a period. Obviously, David Ornstein was on before him. But yeah, a much more senior boy was on and he talked about this and he said that in contracts, there's always an assumed trust to them. And he said, obviously it's very difficult to predict what's going to happen and it's difficult to see how it plays out, but he said there may well be a case where it's not a ludicrous thought that if it all goes completely south and it's the biggest punishment possible and all the ramifications for that, that players could actually, in the spirit of the way a contract is drawn up, could rip up their contracts and walk away.

42:25Pete Donaldson: But again, that's far down the line. Other stuff has to happen and you're getting into very speculative territory. Watching that podcast was like three Pete Donaldson and a Socrates. It was brilliant. They were just like... He was really good. What football team do you support? All right, mate. Yeah. FC United and Manchester. That's who I support. The Guardian are reporting that a number of executives at Premier League clubs feel a points deduction that would relegate City to the Championship would not be enough. And I think that anger, Peter, that you spoke about a moment ago when you're reading it through and you think, get them down the leagues.

42:59Pete Donaldson: And that's assuming that the EFL would want them and allow that. And the emails are abrasively separating these deals from anyone with the title shake. It was very interesting how they've managed to sort of do that, to extricate themselves from that. So, yeah, I mean, some of the stuff is quite brazen, and I'm very surprised that really intelligent people have committed any of this to email. But on the other hand, though, two senior, two anonymous senior executives at different Premier League clubs have told...

43:29Marcus Speller: We'll find out why, go on. Yeah, I've told Sky...

43:33Pete Donaldson: Two Premier League clubs, really? Okay, so we know where one's come from. I've told Sky Sports News that they would be staggered and amazed if 15 clubs voted to expel Man City from the league.

43:43Marcus Speller: I think that's a really important point though. Right.

43:47Pete Donaldson: Because... Well, let me give the quote before you say this. One of the executives said, if Man City were expelled, that would have massive commercial consequences for everyone in the league, and ultimately it would cost the other clubs an awful lot of money. Now, again, these are anonymous senior executives. It will go with Sky Sports News that they are genuinely who they are reporting themselves to be, or the positions that they have. They don't back themselves, and they don't back the competition that they're in though. Do you know what I mean? I just... I could lose a Man City. Like Luke was saying on yesterday's show, like we could lose a lot of teams and we wouldn't miss them, I would say.

44:21Marcus Speller: The sport can, we can, people who are in that game to make money can't.

44:27Pete Donaldson: Right. And I think that's the point. I mean, the funny thing is though, Fish, is that, you know, again...

44:32Marcus Speller: Oh, sorry, they probably also can, they don't want to.

44:35Pete Donaldson: Well, so we're taking whoever it is, these two anonymous senior executives at two different Premier League clubs, we're taking all that at face value, right? And that's fine, I think we should.

44:42Marcus Speller: We can see that, how the league has played out.

44:46Pete Donaldson: Well, what I was going to say is though, if Man City are not in there, you talk about making money, that gives other clubs a chance to finish in European spots.

44:55Marcus Speller: I think it's the external commercial revenue that... If the spot goes to Man United, exclusively, fine. but it's the amount of money the Premier League makes around the world it's how it's constant growth as well you've got to remember as well a lot of these owners a lot of these chief execs they're not in it for like 15 years they're in it to bump things up and move on elsewhere a lot of owners who are and you know conglomerates and groups who own football clubs are purely in it to make money the irony is that Abu Dhabi won't yeah and so you know like the It almost comes back to Burnham, really.

45:35Marcus Speller: A lot of these people don't want to... We shouldn't burn them. Expell them from the league, but we shouldn't burn them. That's a good point.

45:41Pete Donaldson: Yeah, that is a bit draconian.

45:42Marcus Speller: But a lot, like, similar with RPM, like, a lot of these people just don't want to burn bridges, burning again. They don't want to burn bridges with people who have that much money and are willing to invest in anything. And for the longevity... Because we're fucking skint and compromised. Yeah, yeah, exactly, yeah.

45:59Pete Donaldson: And again, without going into it, I understand the whole... gentrification, anti-gentrification sort of argument in terms of the city of Manchester and all that. So I'm not commenting on that, so hear me right here. But you're right, Vish. When owners come in and go, want to make a quick bargain and move on and so on, these Manchester City owners, much like Abramovich, they were here for the long term and they're piling in money. Yes, of course they're taking money out in high rentals of flats and what have you. But it is kind of, if you're on the Premier League or your other clubs, it's kind of like what they would probably want to see happen.

46:32Pete Donaldson: Yeah. Loads of us are very, very, you know, suspicious and critical. And look, here we are. Do you know what I mean? Like a state essentially taking over a football club. This is, it is a surprise on one hand, but it is a bit of a told you so from a lot of people as well. So it's a very, very tricky situation. And the Premier League right now, I mean, how any of them are getting any sleep, you know, with what they're going to decide to do. And also, when does it get done? I mean, according to the BBC, a number of senior football figures want Manchester City's punishment to be handed out before the end of the season.

47:07Whether that's going to happen or not, time will only tell.

47:11Pete Donaldson: Again, the mess of this city, just this, we are in such uncharted territory here. Well, Marcus, there's no two ways about it. You've been having a terrible time on the Football Rumble games. I have, yeah. Right? So what you need is more games to play. Exactly. All right? It's time for... It's a Man City Malfeasance Marcus Marzipan mind game. Marcus. Oh, blimey. I heard the word Marzipan, though. That's positive. There's been a lot of stupid bollocks this week. There's been a lot of performative. Yeah. There's been a lot of performative, in my opinion, lapdog journalism. Oh, as they're just. Laid bare on the interviews and podcasts this week in football.

47:50And I've taken some clips from the internet this week from various places, Marcus.

47:54Pete Donaldson: Yep. Wait, wait, wait. You said, where do I get the Marzipan? Well, for every... By the way, I would like to shout out someone on the show. Right. Lovely Irishman called Carl. Right. Brought me back from some Mozart Kugan Marzi chocolate Marzi. Lovely. From his travels. And I'm just saying, other listeners, take note. Yeah. See what they've got in Luxembourg. Well, Marcus. Oh, hang on. He's got something.

48:15Marcus Speller: Foreign cigarettes as well, anyone? Just some cat, please. I've got some clips. And for every voice you identify, Marcus. Come on. Talking about the Man City charges. embarrassing themselves, shitting their pants on air. Oh, what's that? You get a little bit of marzipan. Yes! All right? This might be the carrot that you need. That I need. To win in the game. That was genuine as well. They're Mr. Kipling Battenbergs. Little Mr. Kipling Battenberg wrapped in good old British marzipan. Right, are you ready for your first clip? Come on, give it to me. What is the game here? You shut up. This is nothing to do with you.

48:55I played the clip. Marcus has identified who said it. the words which were used by the Premier League in sham contracts. I felt absolutely devastated. It's heartbreaking. The words I use are heartbreaking. To have a headline of this nature for a club that I love so much, it's been difficult. Marcus, who shat their pants?

49:19Pete Donaldson: That was Al, I mean, Micah Richards. It was Micah Richards. Do you want a little bit more? Yeah. It's ridiculous anyway. I don't understand why people would sign up to that. He's talking about the laws of, you know, keeping your routine. Can I have it after the show? Because there's a lot of sugar there. I'm just passing it on. All right, okay, thank you. Here we go. Let's pass that. That's your first bit of Marzipan, Marcus.

49:41Marcus Speller: So he just has to guess the voice of a famous podcaster. That's the show. It's a Man City Malfeasance, Marcus Marzipan mind game. Did you not hear? Jesus. Right. I wonder who that was.

49:51Pete Donaldson: That's it. Look at that, Vish. Come to Debbie. Marcus I'm eating the baton This one's going to be more difficult Marcus Alright One of the biggest news weeks ever Come on then I will be the last person to sit here and discredit what they achieved On the pitch Should they face the punishment? Absolutely If they found guilty But stripping them of the titles Of what they've done on the pitch The commitment, the hard work Of the players and the manager Sleepless nights that they've had sacrifices that they've done to achieve what they've achieved. Who is that?

50:28Marcus Speller: I know. I know who this is, yeah.

50:30Pete Donaldson: Has he got a podcast? He does have a podcast. Well, they all do. It's not John Obi-Makkel, is it? It is. It is John Obi-Makkel! Oh, get it now! Come on! You get your second bit of Battenberg slash Marzipan.

50:40Marcus Speller: A man who knows what it is to honour a genuine contract. Still angry about that.

50:46Pete Donaldson: Yeah, a little bit. All right, Marcus. This one's a gimme. It's anti-comperative. Thank you. Just pass it over. Pass it over. I'm going to have to share these out. And we've got two more. What are the calorie counts on these? We've got two more. You can question City's behaviour without pretending that everything that Pep did is fraudulent. I don't think he ever got a world-class player bought by Manchester City. No. Erling Haaland? No. Not Sergio Aguero either. Not Kevin De Bruyne. And certainly not Roger. That was the man. Yeah, of course. That was it. Oh, my miles of pounds. fallen over. I'm sort of having a Jenga affair.

51:24Pete Donaldson: A little bit Jenga, yeah. Keith Swahili, the word to build, of course. Well, it's obviously Guillain Balaguer, the man who once named, name-checked me on Revista Della Liga. Well, there you go. Yeah. Sounds like you're on the take as well. That was a great show. I didn't end up signing for Sevilla, though.

51:38Marcus Speller: I used to watch Revista Della Liga as well. Give me one. You didn't identify Guillain Balaguer.

51:43Pete Donaldson: Come on, four out of five. Embarrassing himself. Finally, for now. I think there's a story that will come out that will show that City are not the picture that the Premier League or the media are trying to paint. Oh, who's that? You're doing so well in this game, Marcus. You've been very kind for me. Very kind to you. Can I have it again? Yeah, you can. I think there's a story that will come out that will show that City are not the picture that the Premier League or the media are trying to paint. I can't think of his name. I'll hand it over to Vish. Fish, do you know who it is? No. Um...

52:25Marcus Speller: Yeah, the accent is... I know, I can't think of his blasted name. What, do you know what his job was? Oh, um... It's not Bernstein, is it? No, it's...

52:34Pete Donaldson: It's the former Man City... Yeah. Chief exec? Former Man City CEO. C-what? C... C-man.

52:44Marcus Speller: C-O-O, Chief Operating Officer. You can have it. Chris Bird, the former Man City Chief Operating Officer. It tastes good, that, doesn't it, Vish? Yeah. What was that, wow.

52:55Pete Donaldson: Yeah, how can you... So there we are. Right, thank you. Ian Gallagher has referred to me consistently as a spunk bubble. Sorry. That has been... I'm just spat Battenberg all over you. Man City, Malfeas, it's Marcus Marzipan mind game. With Vish. With Vish. so so I mean technically that was a 4-1 victory for me over the beach that was a 4-1 victory fine so whatever happens later you get the Man City Malfeas Marcus Marzipan mind game whatever happens at my video we'll take an aggregate

53:25Marcus Speller: that is a lot isn't it it's good isn't it though a lot it's heavy too much

53:29Pete Donaldson: we really need to go for a break coming up after this is it over for Cristiano Ronaldo's international career Cristiano Ronaldo

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55:33Pete Donaldson: Welcome back to the Football Amble, everybody. Right, back to the real stuff, the great autumn international break of 2026. Wales got a victory. They did. A big victory against a big opponent. Norway lost 2-1 in Wales. The Welsh came from behind to beat 10-man Norway. A brilliant result for them. They hadn't won any of their last six games leading into this match. This opponent, a top 10 opponent, no less, I believe is the first time that Craig Bellamy has done it. Craig Bellamy admitted that it had been a really difficult couple of months going into this game. He said, I've seen the abuse. I've seen the abuse the previous manager got just before me.

56:09Pete Donaldson: We're such a small country. I'm like, why can't we have each other's backs? Why don't we look after each other more? Maybe that's me. I think he's got a point there that if you are...

56:17Marcus Speller: He has a small point in that, yeah, like his job would be easier if there was less stick. The players would feel less pressure and be able to form if there was less stick. But it's not really the point of it. The England Test cricket team are like this as well. It's like, Why don't you just get behind us? Your job is to be good. And we'll report on you being good. And then when you're bad, we'll report on you being bad. But just, that's the bind. The Crick a lot aren't that aggressive, are they? They're not going through people's bins. Well, probably.

56:49Pete Donaldson: Oh, I see. Sing when you're winning, is it? Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I should say that Norway are 19th in the FIFA. They didn't look at when Bob was marching through. Yeah. Ben Deming's gone. What the fuck does that mean? Well, I'll tell you what, another goal for Fulham's Oscar Bob. Looking forward to seeing him down at the cottage. when the international break is over. But it wasn't enough because Dan James had one of those games. He was brilliant. He was. Absolutely brilliant. It's what you want. He was super. I mean, a number of the Wales players had good games, but James was sort of front and centre of it.

57:19Pete Donaldson: He got on the end of, was it Thomas? Sorber Thomas, yeah. Sorber Thomas who crossed. Good finish. And then... Koumas was involved. I'm still not used to having a Koumas still in the Wales side. It's pretty confusing. Yes, I know what you mean. I know he's played a few times with them, but... Yeah, yeah, yeah. Don't worry. I like it. I think we can all sympathise with you Peter. Into the second half though, the defenders thinking, wow, nobody could run that fast to get in between me and the goalkeeper. Dan James, mate. Dan James just nipped in and that is what changed the game.

57:49Marcus Speller: I think what changed the game was Balaguer's comments before the game that Harland isn't world class. You'd fear him, wouldn't you, going into a game like that. And yet you hear that what are we worried about?

58:02Pete Donaldson: As loathed as I am to jump in there and not defend Guillaume Balagay but he said that when Pep Guardiola bought Haaland he wasn't world class he said that he never bought world class players he made them world class

58:13Marcus Speller: That's true but Guardiola's left

58:16Pete Donaldson: and I think we've seen in the months since he's lost it He has, much like Balagay himself Well anyway Haaland was pretty non-existent I know they were down to 10, but still they had a whole half with 11.

58:31Marcus Speller: I mean, to be fair, Haaland was brilliant against Manchester United when City were down to 10. Yeah, he was, yeah. Obviously different players, but yeah.

58:39Pete Donaldson: Yeah, well Bellamy said before the game that he didn't think Erling Haaland would be affected by Manchester City's charges. He also compared Haaland to former New Zealand rugby player Jonah Lomu.

58:48Marcus Speller: Which I can see.

58:49Pete Donaldson: Yeah, that sort of fear and specimen of a man that strikes terror in all who are coming up against him.

58:55Marcus Speller: Yeah, and also I'm not a rugby fan, but Lomu was credited for having a lot of skill as well. But probably the kind of skill that you don't see because he's so huge and he's running over one of the underwoods.

59:07Pete Donaldson: Yes, indeed, yeah. But it's a great victory for Wells. I quite enjoyed Nico Williams' free kick in that the way he hit it across the goal, it's the type of free kick you would... So if you think about the Swiss one from Rodriguez against Scotland, the way the wall is lined up, you think a left footer, either curls it over the wall and away from the goalkeeper or hits it with power, as Rodriguez did, towards the goalkeeper, but it's curling into the goal. Whereas Nico Williams, it was the opposite of that, if you see what I mean. So it's quite an odd one to see. I mean, the goalkeeper will be perhaps a bit disappointed.

59:39Pete Donaldson: The old Villa lad. Yes. But Williams got the goal and that was it. And what was impressive from Wales as well is they kept at it. They probably should have got another goal, to be fair. But they kept at it. They don't sort of, they didn't, you know, soil themselves. We've got a lead. We haven't won in ages. They kept at it. And I think that was really important as well for the performance. So yeah, delighted for them to get a win too. Now, Portugal. Their Cristiano Ronaldo list, Peter. We haven't seen this for a long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long time. What a shame. Yes. Has he played his last game for Portugal?

1:00:13Pete Donaldson: He left the Portugal camp before their game against Denmark last night. And this was after he didn't feature in their win over Norway. So he then didn't join his teammates in greeting fans at the final whistle. He headed straight to the changing room. And he left a statement on social media. He posted a photo of himself with a caption saying he left the camp with a caption, following a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation. And then he said, in due time, I will tell all the Portuguese about the reasons that motivated my departure from the national team. Because we just can't guess, can we?

1:00:49Pete Donaldson: Which I always dedicated myself to. Now you saw, Peter, that they had a massive drop-off in their people following the Portuguese socials on social media. And this is one of the reasons, certainly Andy Brasel gives, why the Portuguese football authorities are very keen to have Ronaldo in the setup. Because the attention that that team gets because of him is enormous and is good for revenue for a country and for a football association, which is skint and has not got a lot of money, to say the least. Whereas George Jesus, the current manager, is a bit like, yes, but I think winning football matches is my job and it's more important.

1:01:33Pete Donaldson: And he said of this apparent incident, there was no incident whatsoever. It's nothing to make a fuss about. So it's quite a fascinating situation there. I think we can guess what's gone on and why Ronaldo has left. But ultimately, he left the camp and Portugal went to a tricky place in Denmark and won 4-2.

1:01:53Marcus Speller: Yeah.

1:01:54Pete Donaldson: What do you think, Vish?

1:01:54Marcus Speller: Who could have seen that come in? Playing with a mobile striker.

1:01:58Pete Donaldson: Gonzalo Ramos.

1:01:59Marcus Speller: He could see it coming. George, as you said, initially going into that Norway game, they had an agreement that Ronaldo wouldn't start. Not even an agreement, really. That probably makes it a bit too formal. It was one of those things of, you're 50. You know, you're not going to start every game. You'll start on the bench and you'll come on after 30 minutes. And during the course of the game, you know, those plans changed because essentially he wasn't needed. And he kicked off about that. And that is the maddest thing about it. You look at someone like, you know, we discussed Luka Modric, Lionel Messi, and the responsibility that anyone has when they've had a long decorated career, even if it's not particularly decorated, but if you're a senior player at an international level, there is a level of stewardship that you have for that team while you're still in it.

1:02:45Marcus Speller: And he's still like, it's just so childish. And none of this is new, none of this is particularly... I dare say none of it is particularly interesting to talk about, because it's actually quite pathetic that this bloke doesn't grow up. On the other side of it, it has been really interesting seeing, you know, the difference between, I suppose, the online drop-off and, by all accounts, what's happening on the ground in Portugal. So the journalist Miguel Dantas wrote in The Guardian, this particular paragraph that I'll read out, Across the Portuguese media, most newspapers and commentators have sided with the view that Ronaldo behaved selfishly.

1:03:21Marcus Speller: There are, however, some voices, particularly in newspaper and television outlets, in which Ronaldo is a shareholder, who have turned their criticism towards Jesus, accusing him of ingratitude and of indefensibly going back on his word.

1:03:37Pete Donaldson: I mean...

1:03:38Marcus Speller: It's fantastic, isn't it?

1:03:39Pete Donaldson: It is fantastic. If you think about, like, take Harry Kane for England, right? We all know he loves playing every game.

1:03:46Marcus Speller: I'd love to see this from Kane.

1:03:48Pete Donaldson: Would you?

1:03:49Marcus Speller: What, buying a newspaper? Yeah, going on TV news and being like, well, I should have played. I want to score 200 goals. You better not write bad things about me because I can't read and I don't know.

1:03:59Pete Donaldson: That's true. But I mean, when he's not played in the third place playoff, I don't think he had an injury if he has, forgive me that. But he's not kicking off.

1:04:05Marcus Speller: No.

1:04:06Pete Donaldson: Do you know what I mean? A game where you could score a few goals, and I stress a slight outside chance for the golden boot as well. There is gratitude and he is, you know, loved, but you simply have to hang up your face at some point.

1:04:19Marcus Speller: Do you think he should get a farewell game? Do you think that's a way of making a clean break? I do, yeah, all about Ronaldo. A Trump-esque kind of like, you know, day of gratitude. A day of national mourning for a national career. I don't fucking care. Do something like that.

1:04:33Pete Donaldson: I think he probably should. I mean, I don't know if anybody should have.

1:04:39Marcus Speller: Well, Lionel Messi's getting one. Wayne Rooney, we get Wayne Rooney one

1:04:42Pete Donaldson: I mean, Wayne Rooney effectively had one I see what you mean, slightly different Okay, if I'm being totally fair and I'm trying to put his behaviour out of my thinking Yes Then yes, he's 234 international caps Hugely However many goals, you know, well over 100

1:04:56Marcus Speller: Legitimately one of the greats of the game Indeed Little Ronaldo tournament at the end of the season Totally

1:05:00Pete Donaldson: And, you know, in the 21st century, the Portuguese national team have had a marked improvement in performances since, you know, in the previous... I know at 66 and 96, they went far in those tournaments, but not every tournament can be held in England. And in the 21st century, they've gone on. And look, he was a part of the side. Yes, he got injured in the final early on. Part of the side who won the Euros, he did win the Nations League, and it does count. So I think he probably should, but this is the problem, once again, with that man's behaviour. He's one of the greats of the game, one of the finest goal scorers.

1:05:35Pete Donaldson: One could argue the finest goal scorer that's ever walked the earth, right? That's what we're talking about here. And yet, he makes it hard for you to say very obvious and basic but extreme praise that he's deserved and warrants because of his behaviour. Yeah, as do his fans. Yeah, well, indeed. And that's what the shame is about all of this. And there we are. Anyway, speaking of shame, my big aunt is up later. That will be available later today. It's me versus Vish. I've had a tough time against Jim. So we thought, you know what? Speller needs a confidence booster.

1:06:10Marcus Speller: I'm wary that you've drugged the Battenberg that I had. Yes. Yeah, well played, Peter. It has gone straight to my head. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It is a bit boozy, Marzipan, isn't it? So, you know. That one was. I didn't know.

1:06:25Pete Donaldson: Lie back and think of Luxembourg. Okay. There we are. Yes, do subscribe to the Football Ramble in your podcast app so you do not miss it. But thank you for listening to the Football Ramble, part of the ACAST Creator Network. It's been an absolute pleasure. Thank you Peter Bye bye Thank you Vidushan

1:06:39Marcus Speller: They speak French In Oh you're right Government Administration And the legal system Which hopefully We won't have to deal with When we're there Goodbye

1:06:48Pete Donaldson: And thank you Luxembourg See you later For that video

1:07:01It's a man city Man mouth

1:07:04Marcus Speller: Keep all this in Keep all this in it's a man city I wasn't even looking at it it was a nightmare I knew I'd fuck this up the football ramble is a stack production and part of the Acast Creator Network

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