The Preview Show: Get in the changing room, Jim

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2:53Pete Donaldson: And I've already seen everything, everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble Preview Show. Chelsea host Man United and Arsenal are off to Anfield. It's Friday 30th of October. I'm Marcus Speller. I'm Luke Moore. I'm Jim Campbell. And I'm Pete Donaldson.

3:18Pete Donaldson: Whoa, it's Friday. Come on. Come on. Yeah. It's Friday. I did a Rebecca Black last Friday. Marcus didn't take the ball and run with it.

3:28Jim Campbell: No. Who is she? And what is she doing here? She's now somehow managed to get herself into like semi-serious recording artist territory. Yeah, her redemption arc is amazing. She learned a lot of sequencing and sampling apps and computers and stuff, which I always find very admirable. It's not worth it. She was a joke, then she became a good meme. Well, she was bullied on the internet, wasn't she? And then she sort of took ownership of it and needless to say, she's had the last laugh. She spent a load of money on a music video to prop up what is an abhorrent song about Fridays.

4:02Pete Donaldson: Yeah, fine. Absolutely fine gentlemen Glad we've got that out the way It is Friday Tomorrow is Saturday It's going to be a big one Of course We've got Premier League action And I have an important announcement Before we go any further Because our Patreon subscribers They'll have already seen this They've already seen everything But the wider And I thought I'd seen everything Yeah The wider world's public Might not have seen this Some of our patrons Have already acted on it We're offering A limited time discount on the 2026 Football Ramble kits we've made in partnership with Admiral Sports. We've got a very limited stock of both the green and black home kit, which is a beauty.

4:42It is a beauty.

4:42Pete Donaldson: It's got plaudits from around the globe. And the white away kit, which has equally got plaudits around the world. A different globe. A different one, yeah. It went around the other way. So head to footballramblestore.com and use the code RAMBLER20 at checkout to get yours before they go. We'll put that on the show notes, won't we? And we'll put it in the YouTube description as well.

5:04Jim Campbell: And you won't have to roll the R when you write it down as well. It's just one R. It's just one R. The white away kit is very, it's almost unstainable for me. All of my white clothes. And if anyone would know. All of my white clothes are stained. Can I say? That white kit I've worn, Lord. It is completely pristine. But it stinks, doesn't it? I'm going to wear it to my wedding. It stinks. Are you getting married? No, it doesn't stink. Well, I'll tell you what. There's the big news. Not to Sarah. If you're looking for someone to officiate it. Yeah, exactly. How good could it be? It'd be so good.

5:32Marcus could be an official celebrant. You'd be a brilliant officiator.

5:36Pete Donaldson: That's very kind, but I do have a role which people know me for at weddings. Toastmaster. It's not certainly... It could involve that. It is not doing something that I'm unqualified and certainly wouldn't do. Right. MC. MC, there we go. The way you started that, I thought you were going to say you had a genuine objection to anyone marrying Pete then. Well,

5:57Jim Campbell: invite me. Ungodly. And if you do want to attend the wedding, the code is Rambler20. He'll go on early. But you do look fantastic,

6:06Pete Donaldson: particularly you, Peter, in that white away kit, I must say. I love it. And if you want to look as sexy as Peter, then get involved. FootballRambleStore.com Now then, let's talk about the League Cup. We've had a bad week in the League Cup, haven't we, RambleLad?

6:21Jim Campbell: This is a Carabao house, as we've made it.

6:24Pete Donaldson: This is a Carabao podcast, and this has been a terrible week for us. It has. Pete Donaldson's Newcastle United were left in the competition until last night, where they were beaten 3-1 by Everton at the Big Dick Stadium. Yeah, I think both teams saw that Fleetwood fixture and thought, I'm going to put a proper team tonight. And Newcastle's proper team didn't beat Everton's proper team. I mean, that's the longest show of it. That's all you can say, really. You sort of get the sense that Newcastle is moment in time. The manager actually keeps on talking about he feels like it's still pre-season because he's had them for such a short period of time.

6:55But it's a real mentality problem. It could be fixed with a couple of wins, but once they go behind they seem to never be able to sort of get out of it they're pretty turgid away from home but there's just little fires happening little fires everywhere is that a book is that a book probably but you're kind of relying on Asula a player who is very raw they were shopping him around a few months ago Dedic had a stinker they can't really figure out who their best centre back pairing is Dan Burner Fabian Shea too slow for a little fight at the end didn't they Not Shear and Byrne. No, but like Shear and Byrne was involved.

7:32Shear went to the ball back. They ended up in the net at one point. The keeper got involved. It was a good old rock, wasn't it?

7:38Jim Campbell: Yeah, I mean, I think we need to dedicate a bit more time to this because for me, that's the best thing that's happened so far this season. Oh, you reckon? That was amazing. So basically, Pickford's trying to sort of shield the ball from Byrne. Byrne pushes Pickford. Pickford pushes Byrne back. Straight away, you've got some big hitters in there. In comes Joel Linton. Here he is. pushes Pitford. James Tarkovsky enters from the side of the screen, throws him over. They all start going at it. It's incredible. They all start going at it. Joel Linton's got his kind of like forearm up against Tarkovsky's net.

8:09Jim Campbell: Who's laughing maniacally. In the net. Tarkovsky's laughing. Everyone else piles in. Basically, both teams are in the net. I'm not going to overstate this. I think this is serious. Last night, the Carabao Cup ended its attitude era. That was incredible stuff. What I enjoyed about

8:25Pete Donaldson: James Tarkovsky's laughing because he knows whatever he does he can't get sent off so he's a bit like you can hit me as much as you want mate but I can clobber you and it's fine and also Dan Byrne went from I'm really really angry and I'm having this to I am club captain and he was flittering between the two because he went as Dan Byrne for a second exactly so he was not on a week at Harry Kane's on the Ballon d 'Or this was devil to the shirt so he was having a go at Pickford and then he would stop and then Joel Linton came in as you say and then he was like no no no no break it there's Tavkovsky I'll have a go at him right and I go oh no no no break it up break it up and he was just a man caught between two bus stops wasn't sure what he was going to do Gary Locke Gary Locke the original Dan Byrne was like I can't do that to a fellow England striker on the week that he's won the Ballon d 'Or but he did it I tell you what can I have a little mention for Hayden Hackney well I think we do need to talk about Everton we should do because they played very well and they won 3-1 and they've had a week of it because Grealish has done as usual hasn't he he was dropped ahead of the game it's always at red carpet event.

9:22Pete Donaldson: They should put a red carpet at training and he might turn up. Yeah. Well, we'll get to Grealish in a moment because we do need to talk about Everton's win. I don't think they were that good. I think Newcastle were probably the better side for a fair whack. They just pounced on mistakes. Dead itch's mistakes. Almost exclusively. Yeah. But it is quite a good tactic, though, if you're going to pounce on people's mistakes and then take your chance. I just hope for that. But Hackney scored a lovely goal. He did. And the reason I want to mention is because he was everywhere and he's that kind of player and his type of game does really suit the Premier League.

9:51but he's found his opportunities limited since he signed for pretty big money from Millersboro and he was the best player in the championship last season. So I'd like to see more of him. The goal was a really lovely finish. He kind of ghosted in there, a little third man run and he's not starting alongside Garner in that base in midfield in the Premier League for some reason. But I think he's great.

10:12Pete Donaldson: Yeah, he was good in that and Garner himself got a nice goal. He loved it as well. And so did Tiena Barry, Jim, which is good news. Bearing in mind, he's the only registered forward in the Everton area. Yes, that's right.

10:22Jim Campbell: I think he's got seven goals this season. Four of them are in the Carabao. But I mean, I suppose it's probably a great thing for a striker, right? If you know that whatever happens, you are not going to lose your place because there is literally no one unless someone's being repurposed. But, you know, he's kind of semi-thriving. Lovely finish. It was a nice finish. It was a really nice finish. He had a lot of space, but it was a sort of tricky shot to pull off. Newcastle left a lot. I mean, I say Garner nipped in there for his goal. He got there just ahead of the defender. But Hackney had a lot of space.

10:50he wasn't tracked at all either for his goal that's a real problem for Newcastle I think particularly given they started with what Ramsey and Gonzalez serious players really Gonzalez is a particularly slow player as well but they paid a lot of money for him he's supposed to be that's the thing it's kind of like Gonzalez is like a raking ball monster Ramsey plays a bit more tidily and he puts it on the floor a little bit more so it's kind of like they were going long too much really and like Jesus Christ Jan Wisser he's just gone back to his last season for me he's just such a poor

11:22Pete Donaldson: it's so frustrating he's having a really really more season but it's a very difficult time it's so frustrating and none more so than for him himself of course that brilliant at Brentford and then gets that sort of bigger move and it's just not happening and you think well I mean if this doesn't improve for the rest of the season are they open to selling it like do you know it's one of those situations where you're just like ah come on and like I say Chris Woods didn't score barely any goals for Newcastle and then goes to Forest and of course that does happen sometimes happens doesn't it exactly sometimes it's unquantifiable sometimes it's because managers tactics what's going on in the players personal life goodness knows what but as I say no one is more frustrated than Jan Wisser but Newcastle will really do with him because Ja Eisler himself he sort of he wasn't pleased with his side's performance he lamented their mistakes in defence and then lack of cutting edge up top he said we need to avoid these mistakes be more mature be more clinical this is a learning process we need to learn fast especially with these young lads being a young team is not an excuse anymore.

12:23No, and he's put older players in that side and I think we just kind of forget that Bruno kind of got us out of a lot of situations where he just scored the odd goal here and there. He's already doing that with Arsenal for crying out loud. Yeah, missing his penalties

12:35Jim Campbell: hilariously. Exactly the same one from the World Cup. I know, I know. Exactly the same. Why are you doing that? But he got us out of a lot of trouble. But you wanted him to move on there, didn't you? I didn't want, no. I thought the club was going to a certain level that he was below in my opinion. turns out the club were not going to the level and he slowed the game down and now he's at the champions now he's at the champions missing penalties against lower league opposition but scoring good goals scoring good goals against Sunderland so there's still something for you there she did that a bit more from the castle there we go

13:04Pete Donaldson: there you see but Everton are through they've got a glamour tie at Highbury against Fleetwood of course in the quarter final which look let's be honest Everton will be keenly aware of what happened but that's a lovely old draw for Everton it is a side who have not been in a semi-final for a number of years. And there's that stat that's been going around, or that fact rather. I couldn't believe this was true. It's definitely true. That was going around social media. We're going to run with it because who can be bothered to change? No, apparently it is. Finn's nodding away. No, no, no, it is true, yeah.

13:32Pete Donaldson: They're the only team in the top four flights of English football that haven't won anything or been promoted in the 21st century. So they basically have not had a day of proper celebration. Now people will immediately think, well, that's good because in one hand. Because they can't be promoted. Because they've not been relegated. So fine. But it's that idea of a sort of unanimous, all-encompassing celebration. You know, as I say, being a Fulham fan, you think we've never won a major trophy. But my goodness, when you win the playoffs or you win the championship, that explosion of joy that you get for a day and after whatever it may be, a couple of days, they've just never had.

14:08Pete Donaldson: Since the FA Cup in, was it 95? 95, was it? 95, yeah. 95, yeah, they won. The ride-out final. Yeah, Paul Ryder.

14:14Jim Campbell: Yeah, I think presumably the closest would be when they qualify for the Champions League. And even then they went out in the qualifier, didn't they? Yeah. Because they finished fourth. It was Villarreal.

14:25Pete Donaldson: Yeah, well, indeed. But they've got a real chance here. Because let's be honest, it's a plum draw. It's as good as you're going to get in the quarterfinal of a cup competition to play a lowly League Two side. Yes, they beat Arsenal. They're there on merit. You look around the other ties. Liverpool play Bournemouth. So one of those will go out. Palace play Sunderland. One of those will go out. Okay, you've still got Man City in there. Can Man City hang on by their fingernails re-administration between now and the Carabao Cup final? Yeah, all I'm saying is the champions... To now the Cup final. Yeah, the champions are out.

14:53Pete Donaldson: You look at that, it's why I'm furious that Fulham went out in such tepid fashion against Palace. You're playing against the poor Palace side who doesn't matter how good or poor they are. They always seem to win at bloody Craven Cottage. But for a team who never win major trophies or haven't won for a long, long time, these are the things where you just start to think, you know what, there's a possibility there. So I would love Everton to win it. Yeah, even Newcastle, point in case, you know. Although they beat Arsenal in the semi, you know. We had the Isak up top as well. Isak up top, yeah. And beat Liverpool in the finals.

15:24Pete Donaldson: So they did the hard way, but sometimes you have to. So, look, it is a great chance for Everton. And as I say, I would love to see them win it. Jack Grealish, mentioned him earlier. He was dropped from the squad ahead of the game due to a breach of club discipline. He reportedly missed a training session. I was quite relieved. He didn't finish his buzz ball. Yeah. I was quite relieved when that was the reason for being reported that he was being dropped. Well, there's been reports that he's not really trained all week. It's been confirmed that he definitely missed a training session. Well, I think this was, yeah, this was the big one before the game.

15:56Pete Donaldson: But David Moyes backed the decision made by the club and he said, and this could quite well be just a sort of a PR line to kind of stop the questioning. He said it was the club's decision. And then he backed the club and said they've got the right set of values. they're a great club Everton and they know what they're doing on and off the pitch again that could be that could well be true I'm sure David Moyes was probably consulted in that decision but also it's a way of just saying the club did it I don't want to talk about that I don't want to make a big issue of it and if it is I think that's quite smart from Moyes but he wasn't at that training session he did miss the match against Arsenal due to illness but he started the previous three Premier League games so it's not like he's been in and out he's been playing for Everton but I did think to myself Jack I don't know what's going on I don't want to start speculating but just because of how things have gone for him in the past you're a bit like I want to see Jack Greenish playing football and starting games but the thing is there's a couple of points in addition to this aren't there one is that everything's got a paper thin squad of about 20 players so they can't really afford this nonsense because they need him and he's a big player for them obviously on loan for Man City and he's had success when he was on loan there before second although you're right to say that he started those three Premier League games before that is contributions have been minimal.

17:12I mean, he's not providing anything and they need him to be able to do so and I think he's a kind of player that, well, in fact, the reason he's at Everton at full stop is because he can't get in the Man City team and he's a player that needs to be playing to get into a rhythm to be able to contribute and you don't do that by not training. Indeed. So, I mean, it's bad news all round. I was a bit like,

17:35Pete Donaldson: oh, come on, Jack. We all want you to do well because last season when he went to Everton, I mean, had that big injury but it was just great to see him playing again and enjoying his football and he said he was loving life at Everton you know so I really hope he manages to turn this around or whatever it is but there we are Everton are through to the next round of the Carabao Cup and this brings an end to another epic round of Carabao Cup action it's been great I mean it's been disrespected by the official broadcaster it has a competition yeah well you're referring to Sky sports having the rights to Everton versus Newcastle, but they only put it on their red button service while showing League 2 highlights on their main football channel.

18:15Pete Donaldson: Is that the Fleetwood Town legacy? Must be. Must be. That's where it's at now. If you want more of that kind of stuff, we've got loads of it. It's not even live League 2? If it's a big League 2 game, fine. I get it. It's fine, but it was highlights. I feel stupid. It must be a mistake. It must be an error someone's done admin-wise down the line somewhere. It must be. It's just someone sticking to the root. That's where we're putting these highlights and that's where they're going to stay. we're going to have to find some other place for the thing that's coming later maybe. I don't know.

18:40Jim Campbell: Is anyone else oddly happy for the red button? Don't hear about the red button very much now. It's like still BBC around. The red button's also those things that would turn up, certainly on the BBC service, where you press the red button and you say, please wait. And you're like, I'm fucking hurry up. I want to watch Glastonbury Highlights. Even the red button's now getting crowded out by your iPlayers in this world. A lot of it's just all iPlayer now. It is a coup for the red button, I'm saying. It's a great week for them.

19:02Pete Donaldson: It's a great week for them. Push the button. Newcastle are hosting Everton on Monday night. again another one of them will that be a red button affair well Monday night it'll certainly be a better performance it just has to be so figure out them centre backs it simply has to be Peter but yeah playing Everton so quick we've seen that as well because obviously Man City are playing Brighton Brighton again exactly you know two games in sort of quick succession it's Thursday and Monday is the kind of factor there isn't it but at least there's a few days in between those two fixtures Peter this is where we go up to Scotland there's controversy scheduling controversy and it goes it runs deep all the way to the fifth tier of Scottish football Johnston Burr are currently being forced to play two cup matches on the same day next month the kickoffs between the two matches you're thinking oh what they've got a couple 30 minutes apart 30 minutes now we've all had double headers before but this explain to people what a double header is if you're in the UK or they don't play so I mean a double header is when there's a bit of a fixture pile up.

20:07Pete Donaldson: It even happens at a grassroots level and you think, right, what we can do is we can play for six points over the 90 minutes, which is my preferred method or we can play two slightly shorter games of half an hour each way and you get your three points and then we have like a five, ten minute break or whatever it is and then we play again. I've always played it where it's been an hour each way. Oh, okay. So it's an hour and that's the first game then an hour is the second game. Okay, so I've never done that. I just think to myself I've just played for six points over the 90 minutes. Yeah, I think so.

20:38You know what I mean?

20:38Pete Donaldson: But that's at grassroots level. But you're a winner. You're a winner though. You're very competitive. I give a funny impression of that. We know you've played under one of the best coaches in the world. We know that. And so it's not surprising to us or anyone watching or listening that that's, you're like, I'm here to win. Get it done. Double jeopardy. Give me my six points. Exactly. I'm thinking about the 12.30 kickoff at the pub as well. We've got to get in there. We've got to make sure we get a seat. I'm like, the double games fascinate me because I'm like... Well, you're running the line for most of it, aren't you?

21:07Well, exactly. For those who have to run the line, maybe in this league, maybe in the Southend Borough Combination Veterans League. Yeah, exactly. It's these French players, they need to run out. They enjoy it.

21:16Pete Donaldson: Well, this is... But this is not even against the same side. Obviously, it's not. So, on the 21st of November, they're due to play against Tayport in the Scottish Communities Cup third round at 2.30 kickoff. But then they host Dunipass, 65 miles away. I forget my pronunciation for any of these. I'm pretty sure Tayport is correct, 65 miles away in the Lowland League Cup first round at 3pm. Now, the situation has risen because neither of their opponents were sort of willing to shift from the Saturday afternoon kickoff times. Now, that does suggest stubbornness and a little bit of, you know... From the Scottish, come on.

21:55Pete Donaldson: Apparently, I quote the article, all options were explored and they just simply because of the fixture pile-up or whatever, they couldn't do it. Fixture pile-up already in November. it's not even happened yet yeah so what are they going to do they couldn't do it

22:09Jim Campbell: there's an incredible quote from the club themselves about this you can feel the rage and the frustration coming off of it we'd like to thank TAPL and the other clubs we have spoken to for considering the options we have put to them and understand that clubs want to stay within the traditional Saturday afternoon kickoff times basically they've just like they've encountered one immovably grumpy Scotsman after another who is just unwilling to help them out or break with tradition. But it could well be, these players aren't professionals, right? No. So it could well be, like joking aside, it could well be like, well, I'm a scaffolder or whatever.

22:43I'm a big job on Monday. I can't be there on Monday night because it just doesn't work logistically. Part of me does think you could have probably moved it to Sunday. One of them could have done Sunday. There may well be good reasons.

22:56Pete Donaldson: But you know what it reminds me of? You know who they need to be playing these games? Come on. Mark Hughes. Mark Hughes. in 1987 do you remember we might not remember Mark Hughes played two games in one day yes he did he played for Wales in November of 1987 he played for Wales in a Euro 88 qualifier yes because he was one of the best players they needed yeah yeah yeah they lost that game but Uli Hurness he was playing for Bayern Munich at the time Mark Hughes Uli Hurness arranged that as soon as the final whistle happened in Prague where Wales were playing he didn't shower or anything he went straight to a private jet dirty got changed into his Bayern Munich kit and he was on the plane, landed in Munich, straight into a Porsche, straight to the game, came on for the second half, and they won 3-2 an extra time by, and it was for a big cup game against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

23:47He didn't score though. I don't think so. I don't think he did, but he did help the team, I suppose. That is incredible.

23:51Pete Donaldson: That is absolutely incredible. I mean, even in, what was it, 87, did you say? Even when we were growing up in the 90s, that would have been unthinkable. so what I'm trying to say is could we arrange do a crowd funder for the guys to get a private jet between the games make it easier for them they're half an hour kick off that's five minutes in Taylor Swift's money isn't it five minutes 65 miles away where's Winston Wolfe get him over there I'd love to hear how they get on they're going to play the games aren't they they're going to I think they're prioritising one of the games and they basically need another team to stand in for them they must have more than they must have you'd have thought so you would have thought so get yourself up there yeah if I was the opposition I would be checking how many rings yeah exactly I want photo ID and I want a photo of you in today's newspaper thank you very much to see when you get registered yeah yeah indeed yeah so yeah we'll look forward to how that one unfolds of course right coming up after this Bruno Fernandes and Michael Carrick are mates again

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28:04I know it's half time in the tie but that's an incredible advantage do you feel like the job is done? No, I don't feel like the job is done but it was a good job done

28:16Pete Donaldson: Well, we're back to the football ramble everybody It's the Mark Hughes derby on Saturday He's going to play a half of both teams That would be great Volleys all round Michael Carrick stay of execution continues The Manchester United hierarchy are reportedly concerned about how expensive it would be to A, sack Michael Carrick and B, pay 6 million compensation to Newcastle United for Eddie Howe per the terms of his contract. So you know what we're going to do? We're going to stick. Didn't they spend like 50 million on a redevelopment of the training complex? But the main kind of big ticket item was these smart urinals that detected how hydrated the players were.

28:54Oh, we were talking about that. and they also got these kind of dry flotation tanks that made you feel like you were floating dry flotation tanks yeah they made you feel like you were floating in water floating all the way to the top of the Premier League do you want to be hydrated or not do you know what I mean it's quite confusing how does a dry flotation tank work it sounds to be like it's just a box it's just a box isn't it get in the box

29:14Pete Donaldson: it's all like mirrors and smoke and stuff do you know what we should put in this guys water

29:19Jim Campbell: you really can sell Premier League clubs anything to make it science they've got Italian leather in the cinema room apparently where they watch all that tactics proper gold rush stuff isn't it you can't spend five minutes on Eddie Howe well apparently

29:32Pete Donaldson: Jason Tindall's salary is reportedly not inexpensive too great get paid Jason I'd go in there I'd go in there with a magic eye painting because they won't have seen that right they'll go and go right they'll go show you how to work it and when they see it the image come out it's a Premier League trophy and go bang five million and it helps it's a visualisation tool

29:55Jim Campbell: and it also helps your vision on the pitch yeah five minutes quid is going to cost you walk into Ineos walk into Ineos boardroom steal all their noses yeah you want them back for your hands out Jim Ratcliffe maybe that Premier League trophy is behind your ear yeah

30:11Pete Donaldson: I think you could make a few quid doing that I just think they're all ridiculously stupid they have to be the hierarchy at United I mean the thing we've got enough evidence to suggest yeah I think so would you say we've got irrefusable evidence to suggest if it walks and quacks like a duck is all I'm going to say. Yeah, it did. I think you put Smarty Ronalds in the actual stands at Old Trafford because we all know they're hydrated because they're soaking wet. It won't even be a Smarty Ronald. It'll just be one of those stick-on tattoos you get of a chewing gum. Yeah. Or a little spider. Piss on the spider.

30:42Pete Donaldson: Well, Michael Carrick's still there and I mean... He's best friends with Bruno Fernandes now, isn't he? Well, they've had clear the air talks. When you clear the air, you're friends again. Yeah, that's true. he said Carrick said that I spoke to the players and I have to say the boys are hungry I love it when managers say I spoke to the players because that is bare minimum you should be doing that every day every day it shouldn't be a weird thing to happen but he said he said that they're hungry for a performance hungry for you know for the next match in March he said the team was hungry for more before the Newcastle game they ended up losing 2-1 before Bournemouth also in March they said they were hungry for more somebody feed these players Drew that match it's Jim Ratcliffe again well he's kind of the lunches I've only got soup But before Villa in March, he also said the team were hungry to learn, and they won that one.

31:26So it could go either way. The team are hungry, though. Feed them, for crying out loud.

31:30Jim Campbell: That's why they're not running. They're knackered. They've got no energy. Yeah, I mean, they badly need a performance from Bruno Fernandes in particular, don't they? I mean, he's scored three goals and got one assist this season, but they were all in that Ipswich game. And he is such a focal point for them. If he's not kind of firing, it makes such a clear difference.

31:48Pete Donaldson: Well, Jim, this game against Chelsea, so there's been clear the air talks. the board have backed Carrick as much as an incompetent board who don't know what they're doing can in a sort of funny way we've nearly got a full house we have I think it would be very interesting to see how these players perform in this game because if they perform the same as they have done or there's that lacklustre display they get hammered and the body language and all that is the players basically saying we're not having the manager let me ask you what can you think I mean you never know in football I didn't think Spurs had a chance at Stamford Bridge last week and they did and I was wrong about it.

32:23Pete Donaldson: But we were saying about how Spurs are turning a corner. Of course, it's different but as a context to the actual point or the question I'm going to ask what do you think could have happened Pete's already alluded to it what do you think could have happened in the interim period between the Bournemouth game and the game tomorrow that can see maybe not be better? Unless there's been some kind of amazing road to Damascus moment or they've had a big epiphany because the basics are not being done. It's the effort. Quite. Don't they always raise effort against perceived top six clubs though they always kind of they always raise especially for a moment and you sort of get the sense that Xavi Lunders dealing with a lot of injuries right now they've not been great so it's probably a good time to play them although I think

33:03Jim Campbell: the counterpoint to that would be that I think Chelsea are I don't worry about that Mani and I had come swinging in Stoke Holt's pendulum one of the immediately obvious counterpoints is that Chelsea are a better side than them and they need a performance as well Chelsea have been very They have been, but I think, you know, overall, I think it's fair to say that they are kind of more reliable than this Man United side. And they do have a sort of point to prove themselves.

33:28Pete Donaldson: To read off the stats, and Luke, I'm going to look at the league table. I'm going in. We're nearly a quarter of the way in now. I think it's starting to tell us some things. I think a quarter of the way in, I'll let you look at it once a week. Yeah. The league is getting fat. Please put a penny in the old man's hat. Right. Get ready. Thank you. After eight games, Chelsea have won four, drawn one, and lost three. 4-17 against 15. They are box office this season because that is it. I think that they will get Champions League come the end of the season. I think it will sort of come good. But they are scoring goals and they're conceding.

34:02Pete Donaldson: So with Manchester United, they have a fighting chance in this game. Are they up for the fight? That's the question here. You can go to Chelsea and if they get beat, but it's the manner of it. I know they haven't won in eight games Manchester United. They haven't won in the league for two months. Yeah, to me the manner of their performance is what really is. That's what's going to tell here. It's not going to be the result. It's going to be how the players perform and are they going to bloody well run and fight and roll their sleeves up. It's a totally different challenge that Chelsea faced against Spurs who were kind of, there was a feeling that I thought it was a bit of a false dawn.

34:35Let's see. It may not have been a false dawn. Spurs may go on to do well now. Now they're getting players back as well. But there's a different challenge playing May United. All Chelsea I think need to do against May United is kind of break their hearts early which they're capable of doing. I mean, they did it against Bournemouth.

34:50Jim Campbell: They score early a lot. Yeah, they're potent. And United, the problem with the Bournemouth game, and I think if you're somebody who watches football kind of casually and you don't watch an awful lot of football intently because it's not your thing, you could probably say, well, they lost to Bournemouth, lost to a big deal. But you already said it. It's the manner of it. Oh, it's piss-pull. They can't even raise themselves to sprint. And I find it hard to imagine what could have happened in the week between those two games to think that they can go to Stanford Bridge and realistically... It's not a tactical tweet.

35:20No, definitely not. No, we're not talking about that sort of thing. And so I think it's going to be difficult for United, to say the least. And you also look at that, the back four they're going to play United, you can't just... It kind of sinks, really. I mean, you're Martinez, who's caused problems and not been great. Maguire, you know, he's Maguire. He's capable, but he's not an improving player. Masraoui, I mean, might probably play left-back. What's he going to do? Dalo, who I think's been okay overall in this terrible banter era of Man Utd. Poor old Dalai. But he's not. I mean, he's not great, is he?

35:50And are they going to be able to put up with the front three of Chelsea? I just think it's a Chelsea win. I think it's a Chelsea easy win. Yeah, I think so. I said that last time. And I think the thing is, when you talk about stays of execution and they decide they're going to back Carrick, what does it actually mean? It doesn't mean anything in real terms. It just means they're going to keep losing games.

36:04Jim Campbell: Yeah, I think part of the issue there as well, right, is that it's the same problem that always is with United, isn't it? Like, if Chelsea win this game, just because they've sort of publicly said there's a stay of execution for Carrick. It doesn't mean the noise is going to stop, does it? It's just the issue with Man United. And I have real sort of sympathy with Man United fans who understand that what the club needs is for things to be quiet for a bit and to be calm and for it to be okay for them to lose a few games. The size of the club means that that's impossible. And the kind of period of grace that needs to be given to people is shorter because of the profile of the club.

36:37Jim Campbell: They're like their own great filter. Do you know what I mean? It just is so impossible so quickly. and this is actually a really unhelpful fixture in a lot of ways having just given him that stay of execution you also look at Saturday lunchtime cameras are going to be on Spurs showed it wasn't maybe a tough place to go but Chelsea are certainly capable we can all agree on that the pressure is going to be massive there's not a story that's going to have happened in the Premier League yet this weekend for anyone to take any deflection away from them if that's even possible because they may not in any way as Jim said but I just think it's got a real embarrassing time written all over it.

37:15But I was wrong last weekend so I may not have fans could take solace from that.

37:17Pete Donaldson: Yeah, I look at it and I think the international break is not that far away thank goodness. And with these Man United players if I was Michael Carrick I'd be thinking can I trust them to actually put in a performance. I'm not saying Carrick has been brilliant but look at what he did last season. He deserves credit there. And these players at the moment I know that Well look at the fans' reaction to Carrick. Totally, exactly. I know the issues are far bigger at this club but they can still run around and try and win football matches and that at the moment is not really happening. And that's what kind of, that's sometimes missed and it's not missed by a kind of Roy Keane or, I don't want to sound like Roy Keane but to me it feels so disrespectful because if I was a Man United fan I would say, okay, the manager is the manager, fine, but you should want to fucking win anyway.

38:03You should want to play well. If you look at someone like Carlos Belaber, I'm not singling him out for any other reason. He just costs a load of money and he's new to the club, right? He should be tearing his hair out trying to get a win. He should be all over the place. They should be really fighting hard.

38:17Pete Donaldson: That's difficult. You know, if that is seen as counter-cultural, do you know what I mean? But the self-awareness is so poor because they probably don't consider the fact that they've seen off like five different matches. Well, and do you know what? I think it's something that we haven't really looked that much at the players. I mean, half of them probably don't want to be there. But that reaction from the fans, that certainly made it far more obvious to the non-Mansion United supporting public. Well, Fizzer was piping up, wasn't it? Did you see Fizzer yesterday? Of course he was. Fizzer said yesterday that when he was there...

38:47Show some fucking respect. He said that. And then he said when he was there under Moyes, he said he hated it because he says that they were basically targeting players for social media follows and commercial potential and all the rest of it. They weren't even signing players for football reasons and he and Moyes were fuming about it. I don't know how true that is, but that's what he said.

39:09Pete Donaldson: and with Benjamin Cesko's injury reportedly going to be out until January which is a bad one for him and you feel for him there's chat now that Man United are reportedly considering Dominic Calvert-Lewin and if you think if you're Dominic Calvert-Lewin okay you've always got the draw of Man City I understand it's a big club and they'll be able to probably give him more money I understand all that but in a pure naive football supporting point of view if you're Calvert-Lewin why on earth would you want to go there you're having a great time at Leeds you're getting back in the England squad big picture why would do you know what I mean but that's where we are Luke I know Leeds United are a huge club but I would I would look at it from the other point of view and I don't mean this in any big disrespect to Dominic Calvert-Lewin because he's a good pro and he's had a good career but if I'm a May United fan trying to empathise with the position having read that I'd be thinking what's he going to do yeah well how's that going to help us well there's that as well but that's where we are right now with Manchester United still well I see yeah it's nothing new Jim We don't know where that kind of story came from, though, right?

40:09So we don't know how true it is. But the issue would be, it may not be really in a situation now where they are thinking, I'll tell you what sort of it, we'll get a kind of mid-table Premier League striker in who's going to be 30 this season to help us out.

40:25Jim Campbell: Can we respect Marcus's wicked whispers and not question them? Sorry, I've no doubt there's a lot of truth to what you're saying, Marcus. You're well connected with Alex Inglethorpe particularly.

40:35Pete Donaldson: Thank you, Jim. And you're talking about players of age. Could we see Danny Welbeck playing for Chelsea? I think we probably could, couldn't we? I think we could. Pedro's out, isn't he? Are we going to see... John Peter's out. Is he? Yeah, I think so. Are we going to see a Jordy Henderson as well? Because, you know, sometimes you sign guys who are a little bit older. It works out okay. I know you spoke about it all yesterday, but it was disrespectful that he got booed at Anfield. Yeah, I know what you mean. It was poor. But he also gets... It's something about Hendo. Like, all the players seem to love him.

41:06You've obviously been a big supporter of his, and that's fair enough. He's very popular among the squads he's a part of. She's a lot. But he wasn't loved at Brentford at the end, the way he left there. He's obviously got something going on with Liverpool. I don't know what it is. He obviously went to Saudi as well. He's capable of making some interesting decisions.

41:21Pete Donaldson: You chaps also mentioned yesterday that people are very keen for Kai Rooney to make an appearance for Man United. I just said he's older than Max Dalman. So all I said, Jim was talking about his record at age group level.

41:31Jim Campbell: Yeah, that's exciting. Look, we've got to get the replacement for Harry Kane bedded in now, just play him. Would May United fans be happier with Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Kai Rooney? Genuine question. True. Genuine question. I'd like to see that.

41:45Pete Donaldson: Speculate on what type of player you think he'll be, Luke. Yeah. I know exactly what type of player you think he'll be. Well, he's a lot more slighter than his dad, I would say. He needs to sort of... Remember when, like, Wayne Rooney used to take Cristiano Ronaldo for drive-through burgers and stuff? No. Rooney... Did that happen? Yeah, Ronaldo wanted to put... more weight on. So Wayne Rooney went, you! Show me your secrets. And he took them for burgers and stuff. Well, he used to eat like cocoa pops and bananas. It's just exactly the same as the thing my daughter eats. Back in the day, it used to be steak in Guinness, didn't it?

42:22He used to fatten people up with steak in Guinness. He's a big battered sausage man, is Wayne Rooney. He doesn't go for a fish. He's a battered sausage guy. Is that right? It's a battered sausage Friday for you today, isn't it? It is. I think Sarah's actually a bit annoying, though. Well, you still get one.

42:33Pete Donaldson: You can still get one. You can have two as well. She's a bit lonely. See, when Jim and I went, we were like, you can have two. For some reason. Because you can't possibly have that when she's around. You dirty bastard. And I love the thought, I know you didn't say this, but I love the thought of Wayne Rooney trying to get Cristiano Ronaldo into a Toby Calvary. Yeah. Nice. I just like, yeah. Do you want soup? Right. Hey, speaking of Cristiano Ronaldo, we're going to talk about him after this.

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44:24So you can find the right doctor or dentist and book instantly. Taking care of your health just got easier. Download the ZocDoc app today and book that appointment on your to-do list. That's Z-O-C-D-O-C. ZocDoc. I've got big news. I switched to Verizon and got the new iPhone 18 Pro. Shh. I can keep my old phone. And I also get the latest iPhone every year. Shh. Anything else? Verizon let me choose Apple Watch Series 12 or iPad on them. Everybody listen up. Shh. Switch to Verizon and get the new iPhone 18 Pro now. No trade-in needed. And the latest iPhone every year with Simplicity Plan. Plus, choose Apple Watch Series 12 or iPad on us.

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45:15Pete Donaldson: Welcome back to the Football Ramble, everybody. Liverpool versus Arsenal. Sunday, 4.30. A Super Sunday, you might say, PTD. That's the Super Sunday noise. That's Tommy Carvery noise. Is that the Super Sunday night? Do it again.

45:29Jim Campbell: Ooh. You know how Sky Graphics used to swoosh? Yeah. Somebody would come up and go... Do you remember Benitez did it? Change it with that. Benitez did that time. Remember? Yes. Oh, that was great. We did that and came across.

45:39Pete Donaldson: Yeah, yeah, yeah. But anyway, Liverpool. They've won just one of their last eight league games against Arsenal.

45:45Jim Campbell: Which is a fascinating stat from where I'm sat. Yeah. Because we always get beat there. Because you remember... Evidently, we don't.

45:52Pete Donaldson: But you remember the latter Arsenal Vegas. Yeah. It takes a while for that success to really bed in. And their last game, of course, was Liverpool, the 1-0 win with that Dominic Sabozalai beauty. Yes. How are you feeling with this, Jim?

46:09Jim Campbell: This can't go to penalties. Not great. Yeah, I think there's the stat that I'm... My least favourite stat in world football, which is that the last time Arsenal beat Liverpool at Anfield was in 2012 and Mikel Arteta played in the game. Now, we did actually win a penalty shoot-up there in 2020. That was in the League Cup and obviously winning the penalty shoot. That doesn't count, as we discussed on the show the other day. Yeah, I think this is a very, very tricky game because I think Liverpool, their forwards are starting to click. They are quietly in quite good form. Obviously, Arsenal are very defensively robust.

46:42Jim Campbell: The midfield that played against Fleetwood will presumably be on some sort of naughty step. And I would think it would be Odegaard, Rice and Gimmaras starting. so that should be a little bit of a kick up the arse and I think the one positive I can take from Tuesday which is a thought exercise more than something I actually think is that that was so bad it demands a response but Arsenal get in their own heads at Anfield they really really do and I don't see Arsenal coming out with three points My take on I was interested because obviously when you're doing a ramble and that happens the Arsenal fleet with the thing obviously the role of the ramble is to take the piss out of it so we did but when I heard the Arsenal show the thing about Arsenal I was a little bit surprised to start with how strong the reaction was from Arsenal fans talking about it's one of the worst performances they've seen for ages possibly the worst performance under Arteta whatever it was they said I can't remember but there was talk about it I went back to the banter years type thing but it's seriously embarrassing it is it's one of the worst results in the club's history sure right so yeah fine the point I was just going to make was that it can be corrosive that stuff if you don't get the reaction I know what you mean I know what you mean The standards, whatever you think of Arteta as a character, the standards he set are obviously very, very high.

47:54And when we talked about him being critical of down as he came off the pitch or some of the stuff that happened with Marley Salmon and taking him off at half-time after that mistake, you wonder whether that's going to hurt the confidence of a young player, as we said. But also, from Arteta's point of view, I was thinking about this. It's just, these are the standards we have to set. This is not good enough. This is nowhere near good enough. and I wonder if going to Anfield is the best place for them to be able to re-establish those standards because it's going to be such a tough game because whatever you think about Liverpool the results have been decent but they've not really I mean they've had one they've had one defeat I think this season to Man City in that game when Gravenberch gets sent off other than that they've been great particularly domestically

48:34Pete Donaldson: Yeah I would say great is a bit strong Well they've won five in a row in all competitions Yeah they have been great in those five games They were great so if you win five in a row in all competitions and you'll compete in the Champions League as well as the Premier League, you're doing fine. You're doing fine. So it will be a really interesting game, this. Yes, I do agree. By the way, when you said about the Max Downing thing, obviously the appeal was dismissed by the FA, but the appeal of the red card against Fleetwood Town. But an expert lip reader has looked at the footage and revealed what Arteta said to Downing as he left the pitch.

49:05What was it?

49:05Pete Donaldson: He said, you absolute mug. He said, you've cost me my job. Apparently Arteta said, get in the changing room, Max. Doesn't seem that bad written down, does it? Get in the changing room, Max. Exactly. Different ways you can say it. Get in the changing room, Max. Different. Do an angry one. Get in the changing room, Max. Do a seductive one. Get in the... No, that's too authoritative. It's too dom. A dom version would be get in the changing room, Max. What about a kind of... Get in the changing room, Max.

49:35Jim Campbell: Is that Mark Goldbridge? Do a Shakespearean one in honour of the late, great Patrick Stewart. Get in The changing room Can you do that Macho man Randy Savage You do that one You're good at Macho man Oh yeah

49:53Pete Donaldson: Get in the changing room Get in the changing room That's really good Yeah I'll work on it Shall I do a Mike Tyson For you Please Get in the changing room Max Get in the changing room Max That's obviously Nick here Yeah but Ronnie Corbett doing it get in the changing room Max

50:16Jim Campbell: again yeah it's just not that bad if he'd said it like that there wouldn't be any of this yeah imagine Max now walking down the changing room going what's Ronnie Corbett who is Ronnie Corbett he's been dead for 20 years yeah

50:29Pete Donaldson: ah deary me anyway Max did get in the changing room but the red card wasn't overturned we don't know that he could have changed direction at the last minute he has to have his own changing room we know that Exactly. What Arsenal should have done, though... More of what we said earlier, isn't it? It makes it worse, doesn't it? What Max Downman should have done and what Arsenal should have done was he should have stayed on the pitch and said, no, no, we're going to appeal this red card and you need to respect the process so I actually get to continue his novel.

50:55Jim Campbell: With irrefutable evidence that's not a red card.

50:57Pete Donaldson: Yeah, exactly. Scores the winner. Yeah, exactly. But of course, we have to respect the process because, yes, the referee showed the red card, but he's actually not guilty of a red card because of the appeal. No, he is now because he got the result for the appeal already. Yeah, okay. But only now. Only now. Only now. That's how it works. Speaking of... Do we want to talk about the appeal by the way or are you not bothered? It just got turned down. Yeah, but Jim, you probably got a strong... It's not the biggest appeal that's going on.

51:20Jim Campbell: I was amazed that it wasn't overturned, to be honest. I don't think it was anywhere near a red card. I appreciate it. I have my Arsenal hat on here, but I was really surprised that that was deemed a violent contact. Jim's had his say. There you go. There we are. I want you to give me your saying. Thanks, mate. I agree with you

51:35Pete Donaldson: now get in the chat room speaking of nonsense Harry Redknapp recently revealed just Harry Redknapp that he spoke to Patrick Vieira when Vieira was playing of course about the possibility of joining Spurs Redknapp said Vieira was open to the move I enjoyed what you put on Twitter about this Luke well I just said that on paper for people who don't know Portsmouth as a club very well you'd expect Harry Redknapp to be a legend there because he won the FA Cup with Portsmouth but there's two reasons why he isn't one is because he went to go to Manchester Hampton and second is because you cannot believe a single word that comes out he's the Hulk Hogan of football isn't he really he is exactly that and now he's you know he's been saying a lot of things recently I suppose hasn't he yeah he's Senegalese immigrants coming over here getting everything a house a car a contract from me Harry Redknapp unless they're a combative midfielder we don't want them they're making my Tottenham squad look unrecognisable I've definitely seen Redknapp going down to Dover Yeah, yeah, yeah.

52:32Look at the boat. Right, get the ball. Yeah, I love you. Just ping balls. I love you. Yeah, yeah. See what happens.

52:40Pete Donaldson: Hand him a pint. Can you drink it? Yeah. Right, you're in. Speaking of the pint thing. Yeah. Because he always used to encourage the players to do that. Yeah, but at one point, he, I think this was when he was at Portsmouth, I think. He said, the problem with a lot of the foreign players is they don't like a beer. Yeah, that's right. And then in the same month, he got pissed off with a player because he'd always call out players by, if he's on a tough time, he's trying to deflect. So he would always do this thing, Redknap, where he'd go, if they won a game, he'd go, we this, we that, we this. If they lost the game, very subtly in post-match, he'd go, they this, they this, they that, right?

53:16And a player got injured or whatever, and he had been out on the piss or whatever. And Redknap said, well, the problem is with these professional athletes, you don't put these in a Ferrari, do you? it's like well last week you were saying they don't get pissed enough which is it you're making up as you go along and with Vieira he said he said he had to say four separate times on this show that you're talking about that he went to Patrick Vieira's house because Tim Sherwood simply was not listening Tim Sherwood just kept going where did you meet him in the hotel no I went to his house alright like five minutes later where'd you meet him I went to his house so he had to keep saying it which made it worse lovely picture of him laughing at the Ballon d 'Or at the bar brilliant yeah I mean for Sherwood yeah he was involved yeah of course he was involved terrible nightclub terrible place to have it I said that I thought it was a very straight nightclub

54:03Pete Donaldson: oh Peter you've been there I have been there and it's awful fair enough that's circus one isn't it so I think there's a good chance there is a chance that Redknapp met with Vieira maybe because it must have been it could have been when Vieira was at Inter

54:18Jim Campbell: he ended up at City didn't he in the last season of his career so it might have been when he was winding down but I was doing a bit of detective work myself and I was thinking do you remember when Spurs were being managed by Redknapp and they played in Milan and Joe Jordan and that big thing with Gattuso so Redknapp could have met if the years add up we need to get the old HMRC of footballers on to find out but he could have met him there but it doesn't mean Vieira said anything and he could have

54:40Pete Donaldson: he could have just turned up at his house yeah exactly let me in it wouldn't be beyond Redknapp gentlemen let us turn our attention to Coventry City versus Sunderland 19th to face 20th in the Premier League come on I'm looking at the title You only get lit up until one day a week at this point. And today's the day. If you choose today, that's fine. I'll give you a pass. Coventry, of course, have got some points on the board. They're still down there, though. I mean, the relegation battle is fascinating so far this season, and I think it will continue to do so. I don't think there are going to be any whipping boys.

55:15Pete Donaldson: I was worried it was going to be Fulham. Could still be. Hopefully not. I don't think so. That worry's not quite disappointed yet, is it, after that? I mean, if we play Palace every week at Craven Cottage, then we're buggered. But that shouldn't happen according to the schedule. So Sunderland beat Brentford in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. They made 11 changes to their starting 11. But Peter, your North East neighbours are struggling a bit this season. They are. I think they're starting to pick up a little bit, I think. Is that fear talking? What do you mean? From you. Are you like, oh, they strung three passes together, maybe they're going to turn it around.

55:50but when you say

55:52Pete Donaldson: they're picking up I mean not in the league in Europe in Europe in Europe they're doing well but that that could be it could turn out to be an unwanted distraction which is such a crappy thing to say I hate that phrase I do as well because European like a journey you know enjoy that and so on but like right now you know obviously it is only eight games in but in the Premier League they've lost four of the last six and drawn the other two I think so they are performing pretty poorly in the Premier League The hosing that Newcastle got at the hands of Coventry kind of massages how people feel about Coventry, in my opinion.

56:26They're quite a poor side, and Newcastle just let them in so many times. Just a massive lack of concentration. So I think Sunland will probably win this one. I thought that, you know, I saw Coventry at Spurs. They lost the game. What did you think of them? I thought they were okay. I actually thought they were okay. I don't know if I said it at the time, but I just thought they lacked a bit of belief. and I was surprised chiefly for what because of what Pete's saying because they beat Newcastle handily fine if Newcastle were the architects of their own downfall I would defer to you on that because you know much more about Newcastle than me but I was surprised they didn't follow that up with what looked like a confident performance particularly given the context of the game Spurs were under pressure big time at that point they didn't quite have the belief Coventry and then they lost at home to Fulham of course and that was a it's been a couple of weekends of narratives is for this type of thing because Fulham were under the cosh themselves and they managed to make it happen.

57:19Pete Donaldson: So that game against Fulham is precisely the type of game where Coventry and any team down the bottom, by the way, but particularly a newly promoted side is if you're not going to win it, don't lose it. And I think, again, if you draw nil-nil with, say, Fulham, you can always sort of say, well, do you know what, lads? You can go in the changing room after and say, do you know what, lads? We've held an established Premier League side there and you've still got a point. But to lose it is, you know, I know that can happen but that's the kind of thing that just sort of chips away at the confidence.

57:47Pete Donaldson: But they are playing better since the start of the season. There's no doubt about that. But Sunderland, though, I mean, you had those Nordin Muciele comments, very strong comments recently, saying that maybe Sunderland have gone into the season being a bit too arrogant. And, I mean, look, that's what he's saying. Again, this season, it is all to play for down the bottom. And, you know, you look at the teams down there, okay, you expect Manchester United and Spurs to kind of get out of it, even if Manchester United, like, I don't think they're going to get relegated even though they've been piss poor because they'll bring in contact or they'll bring in somebody.

58:21Pete Donaldson: They can do that. They've managed to deny it. They've always got that button to press. What does the button look like? Another red button. It's got Jim Rackler's face on it. It's Jim Rackler's red nose. Exactly. It's Peter Schmeichel's red nose. Or Alex Ferguson's. They need this many buttons. Loads of buttons. Loads of buttons. But you have to press the button the same time as one of the glazers does in America. It's Alex Ferguson's tip. and the nipples the butt. You want to go back to that, do you? Yeah, I always want to go back to that. The theory is under pressure because Carrick must be sucking on the teat.

58:53I don't think he is. He's part of it. I don't think he is. Well, maybe the nourishment that,

58:57Jim Campbell: you know, he took from the teat is how he got to the position to get the job in the first place. But when you're in that hot seat, you're on your own. I think he had a good old suck last season.

59:04Pete Donaldson: It worked. And this season he's going, no, someone has to put a stop to this. I like how Mark goes, oh, gross. A good old suck. Get involved, Peter. It is one for you. I'm not going to. It's a question for you. Not dirty enough. If we go back to when you were 18. Here we go. Or 17. Leverhead under 18. Yeah, 17. You're a prospect. You know, you've got a chance. You've got a bit of basic ability. And it would have been what? Very basic, yeah. About 99? Is that about when it was? Around that time. Yeah, about 1999. Still the 90s. So it's great. It's when Fergus is at the peak of his powers. Yeah, but Britpop's gone though.

59:35But you're just about turning 18, right? So you're legally an adult. On your 18th birthday, you're legally an adult. I'm allowed to go to the big dressing room. someone says you can have a good old suck on Ferguson's teat for half an hour half an hour half an hour yeah and him after that after that you'll have a professional career would you do it of course would you do it like that bang professional footballer give me that teat yeah would he look at you or talk to you I think he probably it would be like a breastfeeding scenario it'd be a kind of you know loving tender burp him a couple times burp him a couple times do you know what

1:00:13Pete Donaldson: I can sit here and try and be cool and say I would. I don't think I would. Why? I don't think you would. You wouldn't have the ramble. Exactly. I wouldn't be able to sit at the same table with Jim Campbell.

1:00:23Jim Campbell: Also don't know that I'd trust him that I would definitely be a professional footballer after sucking on his teat for half an hour. Be red wine in there, wouldn't there, anyway? Yeah, exactly. I don't drink. Yeah, you were underage at the time anyway. No, I said on his 18th birthday. I said 17th, because he was still at Littlehead Under Reserves. And then he went still in the 90s, like it was an achievement of his. I'm still in the 90s.

1:00:43Pete Donaldson: Time master. Anyway, I was getting missed the eye. See what we said to the producer? We said, we do this game quick and we'll move on. We've done five minutes on Ferguson. Can I answer? I'm going to quote Frank Lampard. Go for it. He said, after... She's a lady. That's an actual quote. That's an actual quote. He's a 17-year-old. Frank Lampard, after Coventry lost the film last week, he said, every game pretty much we're going to be underdogs. Let's make that clear and let's give everything together to try and do it. It would be an achievement. if Frank Lampard can keep Coventry up this season.

1:01:16Pete Donaldson: Absolutely. And I just, I think that there's, when the fixtures start coming in and we're looking at the league table in December, and I really look forward to that, even as a Fulham fan. I think that Coventry and Lampard, I think there will be a fighting spirit that will kick in. It'll be interesting to see. I don't think Coventry, I don't think Lampard's under pressure. Like, I mean, every manager's under pressure. He's not under pressure like other managers. so I think Coventry will stick in there Sunderland are an interesting one some of those players are used to being in these kind of situations but it is quite an odd one they find themselves in and if they don't sort it out soon suddenly they're a bit like hang about this is not what we're about Sunderland fans are under pressure they were roundly criticised for poor attendance in the week is that right?

1:02:06yeah it was noticeably empty wasn't it

1:02:08Jim Campbell: and I think the thing with Sunderland this season is they do seem a bit less intelligent than they were last season and the intensity was a big part of how they played and they got in teams' faces and rattled them. I wonder if it's Europe taking a toll already or the sort of, you know, having eyes on their extra competition. My angle on this game is that Sunderland can seed a lot of XG, a lot of chances and Rudoni's a great creative player for Coventry. He can really make a difference even against Spurs who were a better side than Sunderland and it was away from home. He was popping up everywhere and he gets his goal.

1:02:40he's very difficult to track very difficult to mark he's not actually he's like a yard short of pace from being a genuinely top player Rodoni in my view yet he's still able to affect games and I think he can operate in those areas and really hurt Sunderland to me I'll go up against I've not taken into account whether this is going to be Donaldson's curse or not so I'm playing with fire here but I think this is a Coventry win yeah

1:03:04Pete Donaldson: I think you're right a spooky Coventry win they'll be targeting it very much so as well and Sunderland they were so good defensively last season this season that's not been the case and they're joint lowest scorers right now in the league they're on the slide I also don't I haven't seen a massive amount of Sunderland this season but I don't also really think I don't think their fullback I mean if it's Mandava on the left and Hume on the right I don't think their fullback has been very good this season and Contra got a lot of pace out wide as well so I think they're almost almost I'm stopping short of saying this almost tailor made for commentary well but you always need a fighting spirit in the Premier League absolutely Most of our fans will tell you.

1:03:40Pete Donaldson: And I think that friend of the Ramble and Carlisle fan Alex has drawn our attention to the kind of fighting spirit that a football team needs. Because he said in Carlisle's most recent game against Harrogates in the National League, Carlisle went down to nine men. Nine men. And that is where you need to club together. You need to band together. Because if you're down to nine men, my goodness, you get out of there with a point, if you could even win, they'd get incredible. Within 30 minutes, they were down to nine men, I should say. They still won 3-0.

1:04:07Jim Campbell: Yeah. how piss poor it's incredible no well Harrogate Tanner actually second in the National League so this is even more of an achievement from Carlisle I've never seen a more confused manager who's just a bit embarrassed down to nine men within 30 minutes

1:04:21Pete Donaldson: they won three do you know the Simon Weaver story at Harrogate as well so he has he's been at Harrogate I think since 2008 is it 2008 2009 he's managed 890 something games in a row at Harrogate wow And he's taken them from the, I want to say the Northern Premier to League, so they got relegated last season back down to the National League. But he took them up into the Football League. He's a legend there. And like Jim says, they're second in the league at the moment. It's completely unexplainable what's happened. It's madness. You see Brian Galvin,

1:04:52Jim Campbell: who scored the third goal, was dishing out cards as a celebration. That's great. That is lovely. That is lovely. It's super.

1:04:59Pete Donaldson: Super. Very nice. Gentlemen, we've got to finish with this. Cristiano Ronaldo has won the boat, the Ballon d 'Or of all time. I mean, this was for his 2008 Ballon d 'Or win in which he scored 42 goals in all competitions and won the Premier League and the Chairman's League with Manchester United, of course. It was a month-long public vote. He narrowly beat Lionel Messi's 2012 season. Who presumably didn't even know it was happening. Maybe not. But Ronaldo Messi made up the whole top 12 of the final vote because you had to vote for the sort of individual season that they won it, which was the best Ballon d 'Or season.

1:05:30There was a list of 32, the top 32 winners. and like you said you have to I think you have to pay a euro to vote you did and some people were pointing out like who are the people I'd love to meet the people who have paid a euro to vote for Carl Heinz Rumanigas 1986 as their favourite personal ballon d 'oe of all time imagine the profile of that person

1:05:51Pete Donaldson: yeah maybe some might say that this whole thing is utterly pointless but Cristiano Ronaldo and his fanboys will not I remember that try to sign him Peter he's the boat stop the boat stop the boat I couldn't sign him Right, stop the boat. This is not a small boat if it's Cristiano Ronaldo, is it? It's a big old boat and it couldn't be stopped, evidently. Did you think it was a worthy winner, Peter? I'd have liked Kevin Keegan to win myself, but I wasn't willing to pay a euro. I think you don't care in your heart of hearts.

1:06:18Jim Campbell: No, you're right. Yes, finally. Can you kind of really, truly celebrate an achievement from 2008 that you've already had celebrated? Why do we need this? Any of this? None of us need it. It's surviving skinny trousers. Do you know what's better than winning that? Winning the World Cup.

1:06:37Pete Donaldson: There we are. That's what I'll say if Arslan and Messi. I'm only going to have to assume that. Why do we need it? It's something that people ask about the Football Ramble all the time. But sod them and thank you for listening to the Football Ramble, part of the ACARS Creative Network. We'll see you later for my biddy aunt, of course. And remember to join us live on YouTube at 9.30 on Monday morning as we review the weekend's action. Which team's going to lead that show? I reckon it'll probably be May United. Could well be. Could be. Could well be. Thank you, Peter. Thank you. Thank you, Lukey.

1:07:08Pete Donaldson: Cheers. Thank you, Jimmy. Thank you. And well done, the boat.

1:07:19The Football Ramble is a Stack Production and part of the Acast Creator Network.

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