The Preview Show: Going full biff

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2:31Luke Moore: Running through the world like a running back, everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble Preview Show. It's Carabao Cup Final Weekend as it's Friday 20th of March. I'm Marcus Speller. I'm Jane McDonald. I'm Jim Campbell. I'm Vish.

2:55Luke Moore: Oh, everybody's giddy because it's Friday and it's an England squad reveal Friday as well. Might be the reason. Yeah. Might well. Could be. Might also be the fact that it felt like you thought there were only three people on this show rather than four. You could have got through it, but Luke buggered it up. I didn't. I just love Joe McDonald. Jim wasn't respecting him. It threw me. Yeah. Yeah, there was a very stutter penalty, wasn't it? It was a bit. You went the other way, but you stopped. I did. Marcus is excited because after this weekend there'll be no Premier League games till what, April the 10th?

3:20Yes! I love that the Premier League just can't get out their own way when it comes to their product. Well we're getting into the running now.

3:29Luke Moore: Oh no we're not, three weeks off. There we are you see. Are you legitimately excited by this? Yeah. For like a Premier League? No, well I mean, I can, I'm not, it's not the absence of the Premier League. I love the Premier League. But we've got something else. See, I'm beginning to doubt that now. It's like watching one of your favourite videos Marcus, and live Jasmine popping up. right yeah fucking hell this is fucking sort it out again now okay isn't it right yeah well you just have to click the X that doesn't look like an X but you're fine otherwise it opens another pop up yeah then we're going to Premier League back yeah well this line that I'm about to read is going to hit differently than I thought can you smell it the scent of the international break it's just around the corner and today we find out the England squad we don't know the squad yet we will do by the end of the show.

4:17Luke Moore: The rumours are flying, though. Yeah, they are. The rumours are flying. Get him back in there. It's like one of those political journalists on Budget Day, isn't it? I've just got a WhatsApp. I'm Peston. Yeah. Mark is the Peston of the England squad. Yeah. Go to your trainers. Good old Peston. Pesto. Pesto. Come on. Yeah. Yes, indeed. Goes very well with cheese. Dare I say tuna as well? It's pasta, mate. It's a pasta thing, isn't it? Well, obviously. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Anyway, get free to read so we can get on the show. Anyway, don't listen to those three miserable thoughts. Stop delaying the Premier League even more.

4:50Luke Moore: So Luke and I, you, you've been dragged into it. I've been reeled in, yeah. See, Luke gives it all the chat but when it comes to it, when it comes to our, when it comes to our video on the Ramble YouTube channel later, you're going to be loving it, mate. I am going to be lapping it up. Exactly, yeah. So yeah, we will be reacting to Thomas Tuchel's selections on the Football Ramble YouTube channel later. So head to Football Ramble on YouTube, hit subscribe and you'll be the first to see Luke and I kissing and sharing our thoughts on the England squad later this afternoon. In that order. Yes. First half kiss.

5:19Second half, a bit about Jude Bellingham's hamstring.

5:21Luke Moore: Frenchies first, English second. Yeah, exactly. You've got to know who the main event is, haven't you? Who your headliners are. We'll be French kissing in the USA this summer, won't we? Quite possibly. Quite possibly. Popular culture reference for the teenagers there. There we are. Right, let's talk about last night's European football action. I want to start with Crystal Palace because they did it. they scored a goal and they eventually got a victory scored two against Larnaca it took extra time and two sendings off against the Cypriot team

5:49Jim Campbell: but they got it done Jim they did it in their own really confusing way their approach to the conference league has been baffling hasn't it really but they did do it in the consistently as they have done it throughout it in a way that just makes you go why are you doing it like this why are you making this

6:06Luke Moore: so difficult for yourself they're playing Roberto Baggio's magical kicks because they think if you hit the post or the crossbar You get a point. They did it so many times last night. It's like Pan's Labyrinth. They've approached it like Pan's Labyrinth. Lots of creatures they don't understand. Is the whole thing a metaphor? Why is it raining in Cyprus? Completely ridiculous. Why is it so dark? This is meant to be fun. I appreciate it's a different Labyrinth, but Glasner should dress up as David Bowie from Labyrinth next game. He should. Very, very tight, grey. He's cock and balls, you mean?

6:36Jim Campbell: Yeah, I do mean that. Yes, I do, everybody. You remind me of the babe? This is going to sound massively disrespectful to the teams they're playing, but they're not proper teams anyway, so it doesn't matter. It does seem like at Glasner's office, it's a map, but it's a hand-drawn map that they've found. And this is how they go through the... X marks the spot.

6:55Luke Moore: The conference is everywhere. Blimey, blimey. And it's also impossible to watch it anywhere. You can't even find the highlights. Is it me? TNT Sports, bruv. Yeah, that's true. Is it me or is none of the Conference League in HD? It might not be. Why does it look funny?

7:10Jim Campbell: Is that local camera setups? I don't know. Do we have to donate them cameras as well? What a European... All the aid we send. Behaving like United. What a football elite is.

7:22Luke Moore: Disrespects of teams. It's not even an HD.

7:24Jim Campbell: Marcus, I pay my extra£6 a month for HD. And you get it with Arsenal. Because I have to. So I want it for AEK Larnaca. Fair enough. They're playing Fiorentina next, so that'll be a bit more high-definite. I want that in 4K. Yeah, fine. Well, yeah, whatever. I did quite enjoy that you could hear sirens in the background for a lot of this game. Why was it raining in Cyprus? Someone answer that. Yeah, I don't know. It's supposed to be 350 days of sunshine a year. You would have thought so. Maybe that's what the sirens were about. I feel like this. What's going on? It's raining! It's raining!

7:52Luke Moore: Get out there! It's raining! Sort it out! I just don't think Crystal Palace fans, who should rightly be enjoying a European tour, are going to Cyprus. Lovely stuff. You've got to get the umbrellas out. It's outrageous. It was raining back here, was it? It was beautiful here yesterday. Yeah, yeah. Come back home, lads. That's like, you know, the height of the summer when they're like, oh, by the way, it was warmer in London than it was in Jamaica. Yeah, absolutely. We haven't talked about the game at all. Palace won 2-1 after extra time. Therefore, 2-1 on ag. Ismail Asar was unplayable. That pass from Adam Warton for the first goal was a beauty.

8:24It took a deflection though, didn't it? Did it really? Oh, that's a shame. That's how good he is.

8:28Luke Moore: It was a trick shot. Ah, yeah, yeah. That's what Tuchel will be saying to him today when he's explaining why he's not in the England squad. Deflection. Yeah, yeah. Texted, deflections. Can't rely on deflections. Frank Lampard did. He's not involved anymore. No, he's not. So, yeah. It was a nice goal. Incredible that they had to wait so long for their second goal, the chances that went there. You're right to say they hit the woodwork so many times. I mean, they were by far the better team, being serious about it. But ultimately, Jim, the fact remains is it was after a time, Larno could be down to nine men.

8:55Luke Moore: Although maybe, were they down to ten? I forget when they were. Yeah, they were down to ten in regular time, weren't they? They were, yes.

9:00Jim Campbell: Yeah. and the descending the second half was right on the end of extra time you know the fourth minute of added time on the second half of extra time

9:08Luke Moore: yeah please just put us out that's the next game isn't it yeah it feels like it but they are through they are Palace are back you think Glasner's happy never oh not more never oh they're Florence lovely lovely part of the world he could probably right there wouldn't he go I think Glasner would love to depart Christopoulos with a conference league title I think he would be happy with that I think that would be a lovely about turn from, you know, some genuine disgruntlement that he obviously, you know, he knew the rules of engagement with Palace anyway, and the fact that they'd have to sell, and the fact that people would court their players.

9:43But it does feel like, yeah, everything will be forgiven with a, you know, a good end of the season, and what better end than that.

9:49Luke Moore: That'd be huge, because they would finally be back in the Europa League. I'd love it. Yeah, the wrong way around. Or if they mess it up, you'd wait for a go, hey, good news, you get to defend the trophy. no one's ever done that in this competition I'd love it if when Steven Gerrard won the Champions League in 2005 there was that chat about joining Chelsea and he was like I'm going to stay I'd love Glasner to do that with the Conference League I'm going to stay everyone no thanks no you're not Glasner we don't have to talk about that now

10:14Jim Campbell: let's just enjoy it but Palace are through did you just call him Glazer or did I hear that because I wanted to

10:20Luke Moore: claim it yeah I did yeah claim it Glazer great Glazer a good win though for Glazer as he's now known the boys into the Europa League we go. And Aston Villa beat Lille 3-0 on aggregate. 2-0 on the night. Pretty straightforward stuff. Nice to see John McGinn back at Villa Park scoring. I know you're a fan of that, Vish. And lovely to see Jadon Sancho doing big bits. It was a great pass from Martinez. Great pass to Sancho. Yes, lovely footwork from Sancho. Great awareness from Sancho as well to lay it on a plate. Good stuff all round, really. Emi Martinez went to get involved in the celebrations and then thought, he's only 1-0 on the 2-0.

10:59It was because his past was so good he wanted people to acknowledge it. He wanted to be amongst it. He didn't want it to be forgotten. I think that's fair. I think everyone acknowledged it straight away. When Sancho squares it to McGinn and McGinn slots it in, Sancho turns immediately to Martinez.

11:12Luke Moore: And McGinn turned to Sancho. Yeah, so it was, you know, little kind of... Like a big daisy chain. Yeah, like Reservoir Dogs at the end. No world on you. But with a soggy biscuit in the middle. There's nothing like that. Where did that come from? Yeah, I did the soggy biscuit one because you let the first one go. about to go further yeah sorry it's alright it's no problem just get on with the quiz and then and then Ollie Watkins put it on a plate for Leon Bailey for the second he did a forgotten figure Leon Bailey lovely to see him it's a great evening for Villa I think they've they've needed that I think well I think again Emery speaking of you're targeting a European trophy Emery's got the bit between his teeth on that I think he feels like they can do something there they've been patchy with their Premier League form started poorly have been poor recently aren't realistically going to are they going to stay in the Champions League qualification perhaps Liverpool and Chelsea are below them but yeah exactly three very at the moment inconsistent teams but for the for Emery's history in this competition and all the rest of it a trip back to the Champions League may come in this competition right I'd be huge if Villa could do it I know that they've got Bologna in the next round a proper side a side who like themselves were in the Champions League very recently so this is where for those who don't believe in the Europa League.

12:28Luke Moore: And I know that that doesn't count for me, having seen my team, and also you, Vish, for seeing your team as well. My team's been in it as well. And so is Arsenal, actually. We're all believers. We're all believers here. But this is, for the non-believers, this is where it gets juicy, I think.

12:39Jim Campbell: Yeah, I think so. Which is appropriate on a day that Meatball has scored a goal coming back from injury. I think having McGinn back amongst the goals is a big, big thing for Villa. Meatball McGinn. Yeah, indeed. They've missed him. Yeah. And, you know, him being back to sort of full power, to full biff, as you would call it, The goggle celebration as well? Yeah, absolutely. To see him at full biff is good. Also, lovely, even though it didn't count, lovely to see an absolute banger from Olivier Giroud. He still got them in the locker room. He looked pained when it was disallowed. He knew that was going in the YouTube reel, which is up there with the greatest players in history.

13:13He looks very good when he's emotional. He looks very kind of impassioned. Yes. I liked it.

13:19Luke Moore: Absolutely, yeah. So, yes, the Europa League is hotting up, it's fair to say. and of course they don't have Champions League teams dropping into it like they did in yesteryear robbing Fulham of victory Noddington Forest beat Michelin 2-1 in Denmark 2-2 on aggregate they won they kept a clean sheet in a penalty shootout you have to respect that they did the most anticlimactic penalty shootout I've ever seen two players hit the exact same part of the post crazy Michelin yeah the post was there was a lot of post action but Forest was a better team McAtee was good Ryan Yates was really good as well scored a good one There was some stats, he actually scored another one which is only just narrowly offside.

13:56Oh, that was lovely, yeah. And it's a bit of a double-edged sword for Forrest because you want to see some of these players performing well, but you also don't want to be going the full distance, the full biff away from home ahead of a massive relegation six-pointer on Sunday.

14:12Luke Moore: Elliot Anderson, when he came on, wanted to go the full biff, didn't he? Oh yeah, he always does. Yeah, he always does, though. It's the only setting he has.

14:19Jim Campbell: He doesn't even know there's a biff scale. He doesn't. If Spurs fans were watching the Forest game last night, they'd be rubbing their hands together knowing the effort that Forest are about to put in. Because this game on Sunday is huge.

14:30Luke Moore: True, but I mean both sides, obviously Forest have gone through, so therefore there's much more joy and celebration in that. But Spurs, it was a very respectable show they put in against... Exactly, so it's a confidence builder. It's over after 90 minutes, they've gone home, they can reset. I just think, you know, if you're Forest, you want to get that... an ideal scenario is you go 3-0 up early you take all your key players off and you don't have to bring on Morgan Gibbs White or whatever you know well they went 3-0 up in the penalty shootout they did proved to be enough just too late just a bit too late what a way to win it though eh to the extent that Ortega yeah Ortega was very gentlemanly about that yeah it went over to that mate do you know what it reminded me of it reminded me of Andrew Flintoff going over to Brett Lee yeah that's what it reminded me of do you know the first player who went over to Brett Lee was Stephen Harmson Oh, was it?

15:18I thought it was Flintoff who went over there. He did, but the first person who went over there and did that was Harmson, yeah.

15:23Luke Moore: I thought it was Beefy Botham. Yeah. What are you thinking? Don't look down. What are you thinking? Forrest have got Porto. Sorry, very quickly, he gets too much of a mention on this show. Beefy Botham. Literally for his penis. Not the mention he wants, though, is it? No one calls him Beefy Botham either. Literally no only Marcus. It's just Ian Botham or Beefy. I know. Yeah, and that's not his cricket bat. As you know, I like to be original at any cost. Forrest will play Porto in the next round again proper tie this and that's a great away trip they've beaten him in the group they did Sean Dyche's first game a mere 14 managers ago oh dear well Pereira surely will know them reasonably well but they have a huge game before any of this European action kicks back into place Spurs host Nottingham Forest on Sunday at 2.15 Sunday is packed full of narrative We've obviously got the cup final that we are going to talk about after the break.

16:20Luke Moore: Don't worry, we haven't forgotten it. But Spurs v. Forest is a proper relegation six-pointer, Jim Campbell.

16:26Jim Campbell: It is, yeah. And I think there is a distinct possibility that in the kind of not-too-distant future, Spurs can look back on this period where they were in a relegation battle, supposedly, and think of it as some sort of nightmare that they woke up from. I think if they win this game, they put themselves on the road to being able to do that. Because, you know, what they showed against Atletico was much better than we've seen, obviously. That's going to give them a shot in the arm. A lot of the players that you should expect to deliver, like Javi Simon's been a great example, and Kylo Mawani as well, they managed to do that.

17:01Jim Campbell: There is a sense of belief about them after Anfield that's been lacking before. They've obviously got the advantage of another day's rest or another day's prep over Forest here. and obviously Forrest being one of the teams that they're in that scrap with, it is a proper opportunity to go, this is ridiculous. We shouldn't be in this situation. Stop laughing at us. Piss off. And then just put a few wins together. So they've got a massive opportunity to do that here. I'm not going to stop laughing at them. Fair enough.

17:26Luke Moore: That's not reasonable. Don't do it when you go to the stadium though, do you? You coward. I do. Oh, do you? Yeah, I laughed at them a couple of years ago when they conceded against Arsenal in the North Island. I told you and the guy standing next to me said, you're not an Arsenal fan, mate. I said, no, I'm a Pompey fan. and he didn't really know what to say. He was a bit like, what? Yeah. Why are you here then? I'd have said I was laughing about something that happened earlier. I was just telling myself, to your mum. Marcus! What? Vish and Jim, fucking step up here and never go to Marcus. It's recently Mother's Day.

17:53Yeah. Don't be mean about mums. Anyway. Fuck you now. What's the matter? I don't know. What's the matter with you?

17:58Jim Campbell: I'm going the full biff here. It's England squad day.

18:02Luke Moore: Yeah, exactly. All bets are off. Yeah. Up yours. Now. Yeah, Spurs. That point at Anfield, though, that really did... Because I happened to be at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. For the Atletico game. For the Atletico game. And at that point, I think... What are you laughing at? Just walking in and being like, right, what's going on here then? Yeah, I happen to be there. What are you lot playing at? The way you said it was like, that's why the performance improved.

18:28Jim Campbell: This is not even half Biff.

18:31Luke Moore: Yeah, exactly. And I have Biffy Clyro. Yes, or the chat from Back to the Future. not all biffs are good but with Spurs there was like a lot of people mentioned that point and they were like you know what and I think that Richarlison goal at Anfield you know Liverpool were very very charitable let's be honest their intensity dropped enormously as it often does towards the end of games but that goal it really has done something and I think again we're always trying to look at the that was the moment there where it turned round and so on it could be that for for Spurs but look Forest coming to town this is absolutely monumental This is huge.

19:08Luke Moore: And with West Ham going to Villa, with Villa with their tails up, it's a chance for West Ham, but I think West Ham would have wanted a kind of fixture. Yeah. So, you know, all eyes on the bottom of the table. And those two sides, Spurs and Forrest, obviously a point is better than none. I understand that. But particularly for Spurs being the home side, they've got to take the game to them. They've got to use the stuff you've talked about as a platform. the Liverpool game I don't know how much confidence you take from that I think you guys are making the calculation they've taken confidence from that point and they've taken that into the Atletico game I don't think that's true I think but the performances have been different yeah they have but it's a very small sample size I'm not mentioning Harry Redner that's how much better it's been the corner's been turned officially if that's the case no what I think though is an element to this where they essentially felt like they were out of the Champions League anyway.

20:04It's a holiday from the league. It's a chance for them to, you know, just throw the shackles off and do something. I just think maybe they're building a bit of momentum. Maybe they're building a bit of confidence. All I'm saying is I don't think we know that yet. And I think we'll find out pretty quickly within about 10 minutes or so on Sunday by what happens in the opening exchanges. Because if Forrest come at them and have a bit of belief themselves and can score, which is eminently possible even though they've been properly good and they're not very good themselves if they score the first goal I mean Spurs could be right back where they were a week and a half ago because they're not out of the woods by any stretch and I feel there's a feeling that because they finally just didn't lose a game and it was at Anfield that oh they're going to be fine now they're not they're still

20:51Luke Moore: I'm not saying but the feeling in that stadium against Atletico is a feeling they haven't had for a while at home they clap them off but it was genuinely so when you said oh it was a bit of a free hit yes I understand that however even when Simmons puts that penalty in at 3-2 he was getting the ball they had a chance to make it 4-2 Richarlison gets the ball every time he scores yeah fine don't worry about that yeah he loves it he's respecting the ball he has to give it back because often it's disallowed as well he's respecting the ball but my point is that little flicker of positivity has desperately been lacking and it's the reason why myself and others have been saying just get Redknapp in to try and lift the mood as ludicrous as it seems You are saying it again now.

21:31No, I've... The corner's been returned back.

21:33Luke Moore: I think Tudor... I think it was a masterstroke bringing him in at the club. Do you want to talk about omens? I'll tell you, here's an omen for you. Go on. Connor Gallagher's 26 years old. Yep. He missed a single game for injury his whole career. It took, I think, something like 40 days for him to miss a game for injury at Spurs. It was an illness. It's still... Still injured. He's still not there. His body temperature is injured. He had a temperature. Fair enough. He's injured. He missed a game. I don't know if he's going to be back. I think he probably will. Well, he's on the bench against the Atlantic.

21:58This is a really interesting game, is all I'm saying.

22:00Luke Moore: It's a very interesting game. Mickey van der Ven will be back, which is a plus.

22:03Jim Campbell: Yeah. Forrest have a massive problem with scoring goals, though, don't they? Obviously, they've scored twice the other night, three times in the penalty shootout. Well done. But it has been a massive, massive problem for them this season. So they need to address that. And I mean, really, this has to be the time they do it. This has the ingredients for a brilliant game. I think there's a good chance. I've said... How about only Wolves have scored fewer goals with them in the league? I think there's a good chance Spurs could just win easily. I think there's a chance of that. Yeah, I'm coming around to that idea a little bit.

22:28I wondered, like, coming in, you know, because we flagged this game up, you know, a week ago, and I wondered coming into it, you know, you need to play quite flowing football to get results from this game because of the nature of it. And that requires a lot of bravery. And who have done that more often in terms of a group of players? It would be Forrest. And then off the back of, I suppose, the fight at Liverpool and the way they played football against Atletico, I thought, actually, you know what, maybe Spurs have it. So, it's easy to say, like, replicate that and then you'll win. But, I mean, I think that's all Tudor has to do.

23:02Say hello to the right person and just tell him to go and do it again.

23:05Luke Moore: Apparently, though, good news for Forest is that it's going to be sunny, apparently, on Sunday, appropriately. And that is good news for them, because Omari Hutchison recently complained about the rain, which caused his face cream to run into his eyes. He's an old war horse, isn't he? It happens, it happens. Why does the sweat do that though?

23:22Jim Campbell: If you're sweating too much, isn't the same thing going to happen? Well no, because your eyes are used to the sweat, it's just when you get some cream in there as well, it starts to sting a bit, yeah. How do you know about this? Because I moisturise all the time. Well you all moisturise, Vish. I want to know when you're out in the piss and rain so much, when it goes into your eyes. Well like when I'm playing football in the evening or something, yeah. It happens, it happens. I'd like to know what Roy Keane would say about that. It's your job! Do you job to the moisturiser? do your job he's having a go at the moisturiser he's holding the tub of it going do your job your moisturiser and you can't handle some moisture

24:00Luke Moore: do your job coming up after this the Carabao Cup final is here

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26:13Luke Moore: With its two juicy beef patties, three slices of melted cheese and tangy Big Arch sauce, the Big Arch is what happens when you start making a McDonald's burger and never stop. The Big Arch, the most McDonald's McDonald's burger yet for a limited time.

26:34What song would you listen to in the dressing room before a match? It was a bit of a strange one actually I was telling my kids this the other day So I'd normally get on a massage bed

26:45Luke Moore: With Rod And I'd actually put Susan Boyle on It was a bit strange Wild horses Did it? Yeah I don't know It just helped me settle down I think Settle down? Like he himself is a horse Yeah Little Subo Little Subo before the game Yeah a bit of Subo there I think that probably I think if he had something Really kind of high octane stuff I think he would have probably Just beaten up the physio or something. Sue's anal bum party. Remember? Famously. Don't remember that and I'm glad I don't.

27:13Jim Campbell: It was a hashtag. It was a mix up with a hashtag. It was supposed to be Susan's album party. But it ended up reading as Sue's and anal bum party. I think someone somewhere knew what they were doing. Yeah, they did. It was Ian Botham.

27:28The beefy One of our finest all rounders. The beefy bastard. Beefy bastard. Right. He's also a bit of an idiot. Go on. He's obviously a bellend. Yeah, yeah. Don't say back Call him a different name Okay Beefy prick There we go

27:42Luke Moore: Right Definitely has one of those Carabao Cup final Arsenal versus Manchester City The two best teams in England Are going to face off To see who can glug the Carabao You pronounced that Because the squad's out today

27:56Jim Campbell: Didn't you England You are just champing At that particular bit Who among us here On Sunday afternoon Will be glugging the Carabao In the comfort of their own homestead while watching this game. I'll be at the game, so I'll presumably... So, do they take Carabao in with you? Presumably I'll just be able to plug it from all over the place. They'll be selling it, I'd imagine. It's going to be like the opening scene from Blade, where the sprinklers open up and it's just Carabao. That'd be great. That's a really good opportunity for them. They should think about doing that. Yeah, they should. No one's been more supportive of Carabao than us on this show.

28:28They've never once thrown us a penny. Did they send us... They sent Jules a load of Carabao once. Oh, I thought it was just Pete Stock, wasn't it? No, no, no. No, I think he's a monster man. He is. Pete's a monster guy. That's probably why they don't send us any.

28:39Luke Moore: Which would be my preferred choice, Carabelle. Assistant producer Lauren's a monster drink as well. You're joking. She has about three cans of Monster a day. Smiling away there. It's crazy. What's the other drink? Red Bull. No, no, no. There's something else as well. Whatever the other option was, Pete last week said he was feeling a bit rough because he's trying something new. And I was like, what are you trying? And he went, I didn't have my usual Monster first thing in the morning today. I had something else. So he usually has Monster first thing in the morning. To be fair, kickstart the engine.

29:08Jim Campbell: The Monster Cup does sound great. It does! Monster are more extreme sports, motor sports though, aren't they? They're not really into their football.

29:15Luke Moore: Well, anyway, we can only dream about that scenario, but this Cup Final, of course, is a repeat of the 2018 Cup Final, where Man City won 3-0. Don't remember that game. I don't remember that game either. Jim, you probably do.

29:26Jim Campbell: I have got vague memories of thinking, yeah, this seems about right. But it wouldn't seem right this time round. I do remember Sergio Aguero scoring a goal and Scodron Mustafi complaining about him having been fouled when he had not, in fact, been fouled, which was fairly common at the time as well.

29:43Luke Moore: How times have changed. It would have been the first of several Carabao Cup wins because Guardiola City used to love using the League Cup as a little platform to just absolutely decimate the rest of the season. A staging post. Well, I will remind people that back in 2018, of course, if you're scratching your head trying to think of this cup final, It was played, if you remember, during that weather period that we called the Beast from the East. Yes. Oh, the cold wave. It was a big old cold wave, yeah. Yeah, very nice. Lowest temperature. I'm looking it up now. Go on, then. The lowest temperature during the Beast from the East between February and March of 2018 was in Faversham in Kent.

30:20Would you like to have a guess in Celsius what the lowest temperature recorded was? Oh, I reckon about two. Minus three. Yeah, minus four. Minus 14.2 degrees Celsius. Wow, bloody no more. It was a real beast. and there was 57 centimetres of snow in Gloucestershire. So, you know, 1.2 billion pounds worth of damage it caused.

30:37Jim Campbell: There was also a slight suggestion in the tabloids that it was, like, on purpose. Like Russia were doing this, like, deliberately.

30:46Luke Moore: From a Matt LaTissier shout. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Amazing. Yeah, well, we haven't had one since, so up yours. Should we talk about the game or not? Yeah, I should say so. Pep has never lost a League Cup final as Manchester City manager. Didn't need to say Manchester City manager there. But I've said it anyway. Imagine that. Oh, he's done it again with fucking Barcelona. How does it seem impossible? Yeah. Pretty impressed in North End in the third round again. However, though, in the two matches that Mikel Arteta has faced, old Pep at Wembley, Arsenal have won both. The 2020 FA Cup semifinal and the 2023 Community Shield.

31:20Luke Moore: Obans, mate.

31:21Jim Campbell: Obans. So essentially, it shows that what's come before doesn't really matter. Do we think, honestly, that this has a psychological element to it ahead of the run-in? Or do we think it's kind of a bit as apart from that? I think it does have a big psychological element to it. Because if Arsenal lose, there's that sense that they can't get it over the line. And also, they've not won a trophy since 2020, which is one of the kind of separate anxieties that Arsenal carry with them. Obviously, that being not having finished second three times and having never won the Champions League. so getting a trophy done is important.

31:58Jim Campbell: It's, I think, important to strike a psychological blow for both teams, really. Whoever wins... What do you mean by that, though? And obviously, you can expand this out to the other guys. Are you saying there's a chance that if Arsenal, say, get beaten heavily on Sunday or in a dramatic way, there's a chance they could fall apart for the running? I don't think so, but it certainly puts the wind in city sales and it certainly... It's going to introduce some element of doubt, isn't it? And whether it does or not, that will be the narrative. that will be what the club have to then wear and weather in terms of how they're analysed because the title race isn't in Man City's hands now though is it no but I take Jim's points and they've still got to play each other at the Etihad I'm not saying he's wrong I'm just interested I understand what Jim said

32:40Luke Moore: I think the game just because Pep's won 13 major trophies in 15 if you include the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup victories which I do by the way I include the Algarve Cup when it comes to Marcus Silver and Fulham so I would extend to the UEFA you'll never sing that but my point is though that you're right with everything Arteta has done at Arsenal which has been a good job despite what some of the haters may say it is just the solitary trophy which seems a while ago in fact you have to remind yourself of it because it was such a different Arsenal side and a different phase of Arteta managing Arsenal so I think this would be huge for Arsenal if they won it I think that it would give them so much more confidence and it would give the fans confidence and that sort of bleeds into one another.

33:29Luke Moore: I think any trophy is good to win. Any trophy is big for any club but I just, for me, it would mean more to Arsenal, I think, for region stated. Totally. And therefore it would mean it would be potentially more damaging if they therefore didn't.

33:44Jim Campbell: Sure. I mean, I suppose if they don't win it, you always fall back on, oh, it's just the League Cup, etc. And both teams will do that. Whoever loses will do that. You'd have to, yeah. Which is fair enough.

33:53Luke Moore: And Arsenal can point, we're still in the Champions League and as they go, a decent draw in the Champions League and still top of the league. Sure, exactly. So there's plenty there.

34:00Jim Campbell: No one's ever done a quadruple. It's very unlikely anyone is going to at this point as well. So you kind of rationalise it whatever way you will. But it's for the actual cash. For the actual... Arsenal are big favorites for the Champions League, by the way. Yeah. The whole thing. Sure, yeah. But, you know, deal with the crocodile nearest the boat, right? Yeah. In this game, I think the most important thing for them to do is display maturity, right? So Pep Guardiola's team have so much experience of winning trophies. This particular trophy, there's a lot of players in that team who obviously weren't involved in the past wins, but there are a decent amount of them who were.

34:38Jim Campbell: So they have been there and they have done it in a way that Arsenal haven't. So that is a slight advantage for them going into it.

34:45Luke Moore: Some of those players, but yeah, Pep obviously being the main player. So, Vish, are Arsenal going to start Kepa in goal? He has history with his competition. So, you've obviously got Kepa for Arsenal, and then you also have James Trafford for Man City. Should there be, I don't know, should they come up with a deal? To be like, if you play your rubbish one, we'll play our rubbish one. It's not rubbish, that's a bit hard. You can't say James Trafford's rubbish because he's been in the English school. Yeah, I saw it in his eyes. Not today. Not any day. Marcus, it's treasonous, isn't it? He was about to flip the table.

35:17It's treasonous behaviour.

35:19Luke Moore: If I got in charge, it would be treasonous behaviour. They both... Keppa and Trafford have both... have very similar physical profiles as well. Yeah. They both look... Long. They're not tall, they're long. And instant reaction is too thin for a keeper. They'd fulfil different roles in the same boy band, wouldn't they? Shit boy band. Yeah. Most boy bands are shit. The keepers. No, I don't agree with that. Well, most of them are shit, yeah. Maybe most of them, but when they're good, they're really good. Yeah, I'll give you that. Yeah, yeah. We finally agree on that. Without being disrespectful to James Trafford, particularly on the England World Cup School announcement day, which is not going to be a part, let's be clear.

35:55But it's still, there is respect that needs to be sent up to that end of the table for this. Thank you. I think if you're putting a boy band together, and I'm trying to think of a way of saying this in a non-disrespectful, in a respectful way. Oh, God. If you're struggling...

36:09Jim Campbell: That says so much about you. Yeah. Trying to, not in a respectful way, in a non-disrespectful way. Yeah, that's how my pro-send goes, yeah. Most of the time I don't even think about it. I think you're scraping the ground where the barrel used to be if you've got James Trafford in your boy band. Yeah, I mean it's a goalkeeper specific boy band. He's a handsome lad as well. No, no. And he'd be tall and height is a lot. You know. Alison's performing the J from Five Roll. Yeah. No, Alison's more of a, Alison's in a band band. Yeah. Alison's a musician. Oh yeah. He's a bass player in Bush. Yeah.

36:43Luke Moore: And Amy Melton is his drummer. Yeah, sure. Yeah, big time. Andy Martinez is the animal from the Muppets, yeah. Yeah, there you go. How old do you think Kepa Arisabalaga is? He's about 29, is he? 30. He's 31. Oh, wow. Yeah, he's still got that baby face. And he's been in two losing finals. And he must have started, has he started every League Cup game for Arsenal? To be fair, he wouldn't have been in one of them had he agreed to go off as a sub. That's true. Well, ultimately.

37:11Jim Campbell: So, for his sake, surely. I mean personally I'm hoping it's third time lucky for him I imagine that when he joined the club because it's you know it's a big deal to have a keeper as good as Kepa as your second choice goalkeeper you've got to make some sort of concession I wonder if the agreement was that you would be the cup keeper particularly in this cup like I personally think they should start David Rair he's a better goalkeeper he adds a lot to the way Arsenal build up their play it's not in the spirit of it indeed yeah but I do think Kepa's paid his stuff it's important to yeah and there's a lot of money on the line I suppose as well I think it's important to play your best team I suspect he will go for Kepa I'd prefer to see Raya they need to make a decision you've got to go Kepa joking aside Arteta's got a lot of decisions to make ahead of this cup final for all the reasons we've talked about he needs to think about what is the most respectful decision for Carabao right and if he's going to say you know I'm actually now the game's important what he's saying is the games before the final aren't important but the final is and so I'm going to pick Raya I think that's disrespectful to the great sponsor that Carabao have been over the years.

38:15I think no one else will say this, Mark. I think it's important that we say this on this show. I think it's very important. I think also because Arsenal love doing fashion stuff, what they should do is they should, when they go for the walk around Wembley ahead of the final, they should wear like Liverpool, but instead of cream, luminous green. Nice. That would be very respectful to Carabao. That would be. That's the only right thing to do.

38:35Jim Campbell: Luminous green suit suits. And that way, when the sprinklers turn on, you won't notice. It's true. You'd already be living the brand.

38:42Luke Moore: Yeah. Look, 100 grand's on the line for this cup of wine. He's like Jeremy Clarkson who wants to be a millionaire. Isn't it? They don't even have that as a round, do they? Don't they jump that? Use David Rara as your lifeline. Yeah. You want to get that full prize, man. I think it goes 64 to 125, is it? Yeah, not even they're messing around with the 100 grand. Nah. Not worth it. Messing around. Yeah. Arteta, if you wanted to make a few... You wouldn't cough for that, would you? You wouldn't have to cough for 100 grand. Not like the major. Not like the major. Right then. coming up after this everybody it's time for the time we're delby

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42:02Luke Moore: Newcastle United host Sunderland on Sunday at midday this is a proper super Sunday this is a great great day finally a super Sunday we can all get behind a narrative driven Sunday before we get into this I was just looking in the break and I don't think this has been brought up before but the aforementioned Connor Gallagher Marcus used to play for a team in Leatherhead Did he really? He used to play for a team as a kid called Leatherhead Predators. Do you remember them? Don't remember them. Maybe they're new. Yeah. He's one of Leatherheads Beautiful Boys. Does that mean you like him even more?

42:28I do like him even more. Because he'll be in the English squad, won't he, probably, today?

42:30Luke Moore: Possibly. I think they were called Leatherhead Copper Mundiales when I was a kid. But I'm all over that. It's great stuff. All over that. Because the only other player off the top of my head from that neck of the woods he had, Matt Elliott was from Epsom. I think he might have played for Epsom Eagles. Conor Gallagher is from Epsom yeah but he played a bit in Leatherhead yeah and who's your man who scored the second goal for QPR when Man City beat them 3-2 Jamie Mackey Jamie Mackey Clint Hill he was involved he was involved but he's not from that he's from Trammer isn't he yeah he's from up that way anyway is any of that relevant no but the Conor Gallagher thing quite simply it's terrible broadcasting I should have mentioned it at the time I forgot but my ego then got in the way and thought if I don't get that out it'll be annoying to me personally so I've not thought about the listeners I've thought about myself but I thought you might be interested I could have easily told you that in the kitchen after the show I chose not to or on our England squad dedicated YouTube show that is happening later today maybe I'll re-up it for that can I get a rewind yes you can David you can get an amen from me now Newcastle host Sunderland Sunday at as I say.

43:43Luke Moore: And it returns to St. James' Park for the first time since 2016. Obviously, we had the fixture earlier on at the Stadium of Light when Nick Voltemar scored a lovely header at the wrong end. But yes, in the history of the derby, the teams are currently level, having won 54 each. Oh, proper bragging rights. That's a really good stat. Isn't that lovely? Even the fact that it's happening at midday on a Sunday. Obvious why that's happening. Yeah. If they could, they'd have started at 10am. Just really cut down on the boozing time. That's a fair point. No, but then you'd encourage them all night, wouldn't you?

44:18It would bleed in from the previous night. Yeah, good point. Then you're in danger. Let's do 11.30. It's a 7am kickoff. If you're doing it at 10am, you are in big danger with the straight through crew. Exactly.

44:29Luke Moore: Hair of the dog, guys. Terrible. Because that would be class. Absolutely terrible. But it'll misty-eyed, Vish. Yeah, come on. Yeah. That's a campaign you can get behind a 10am Sunday morning kickoff. Vish and Pete. And to the extent you, Jim, maybe not these days. You never know when the party's over, do you?

44:43Jim Campbell: Sadly, my body tells me these days, yeah. These days, Vish and Pete. But your mind tells you, yeah. Lovely for R. Kelly to get a reference. I think we can all agree. I thought it was Christina Aguilera. Was it? No, it was... I've given you an escape. You give me an hour, but I'm going to have to go with Mr. Kells. Be honest. Be honest. It was R. Kelly mentioned.

45:01Luke Moore: Oh, well, Keza. But in a world of football where we have so many stats now, and I've said to you before, my idea on that amount of stats on this show would be zero, but everyone loves stats, right? Which is a stat in itself. It is. You've had enough of expos, you've been content on that. Yeah, not surprising if I can sit in front of you. Ooooooh! But the stat that they are literally neck and neck, across like over a hundred years, is genuinely a worthy stat to include.

45:28Jim Campbell: Also, there's a great kind of bit of jeopardy in this game, in that if Sunderland win, they're currently in 13th, Newcastle are in 9th, but if Sunderland win, they'll leak from them in the table as well. so it's the big old big old carrot there I love a leapfrog me indeed I love a carrot yeah

45:43Luke Moore: the two together my goodness well look Newcastle need a pick me up after they were ultimately hammered in Barcelona by Barcelona amazing incredible act of self-harm that extraordinary one of the stranger Carabao cup ties I've seen yeah I mean at half time I know you guys talked about it yesterday but at half time clearly Hansi Flick went right no more mistakes and how perhaps didn't say that when he should have done Yeah, he'll be kicking himself, won't he? He'll cover the mistakes again. I said, just keep going forward. But there's a chance here to put it all right against Sunderland. And do you know what?

46:18On the Sunderland thing, slightly more seriously, they started brilliantly. They've had a really good season. Whatever happens now, they'll look back on this season and be like, what a successful first to stint back in the Premier League, right? But in a weird way, it also promised quite a lot more. And they are now falling behind badly on the thing that's kind of got them going, which in the first place, which is their home form. But weirdly enough, you know, away from home, like the winner Ellen Road, you know, they won recently away from home. They might think, you know what, this is a bit of a free hit for us.

46:50Now, it sounds weird because obviously there's always kind of pride at stake in this type of game, but I don't think they'll be under as much pressure as Newcastle. Newcastle have come off the back of an absolute battering in the Champions League. They're kind of in a bit of a hinterland, don't really know what they are or where they're going to go, with Sunderland have got basically one simple task in front of them, which is just fucking enjoy yourself and beat Newcastle in their own backyard, I think it'd be a really interesting game.

47:11Jim Campbell: Yeah, I mean, Sunderland aren't in great form though, aren't they? They've won once in the last six Premier League games, as you've sort of alluded to there. So, I mean, as a neutral, the conditions for this are perfect, right? Because it's going to be potentially really attritional and they're going to be kind of, the banter will flow from the stands, shall we say. They're definitely running that, to use the phrase I used to some controversy earlier in the season. They're definitely running out of steam. Like, there's no real excuse, Marcus, with due respect, to them be losing heavily at home to Fulham.

47:39They shouldn't have lost at home to Brighton. You know, their home form has really struggled and it's something they've built their reputation on under Le Brice. So it'll be interesting.

47:49Luke Moore: Yes, absolutely right. But of course, Newcastle themselves, he didn't Champions League football next season, really. This is where they've got to start. They've won back-to-back Premier League games. But this, my goodness, you know, as I say, get rid of that feeling that they had post-Barcelona game. They're not going to get Champions League football this season. But they are fighting to get themselves into European contention. And they need that as a minimum, right? I take why you're saying that, Luke. They need snookers quite clearly. You know, it's looking, again, as we've said so many times, it is looking likely that fifth place in the Premier League will go into the Champions League next season.

48:22Luke Moore: I think there's quite a few clubs knocking around there. I really hope Aston Villa win the Europa League as well. So I think if there was six, than Newcastle even then work to do. So I do take that point. What do you guys think about Newcastle chances of finishing in the top five? To me, it just feels completely fanciful. You could see them finishing higher than Everton and Brentford maybe. Then Chelsea and Liverpool with that point, Cushion they've already got. Chelsea six points above them in sixth.

48:50Jim Campbell: I just think there's too many teams ahead of them. It's not even just about the points at that point. It's always about the points, Jim.

48:56Luke Moore: Sure. Unless you're in the Carabao Cup final. when it's all about the prize money. No, it's all about the Carabao. True enough, true enough. Now, have you seen the Sunderland player, Habib Diara, who was in the Senegal squad that played at the African Cup of Nations? It's been reported that Senegal coach Pape Tau has taken the AFCON trophy to a military base following the news that CAF have awarded the trophy to Morocco. Outstanding.

49:20Jim Campbell: Yes, I'm fully on board with everything that's happened now. This has completely flipped my opinion on this. This is absolutely glorious stuff.

49:29Luke Moore: come and get it I love the news report that I read around this obviously we get it put in the running order and we have a look at the link it's like a load of controversy at the start of the news report about Senegal and how they feel about it and it just says at the bottom of the article, Morocco however, have accepted the decision I bet they fucking have I think they're going to have to need to they're going to need to make another trophy this whole thing is absolutely ridiculous The very notion that you can do this in some kind of sporting endeavour is, I mean, even if it was accepted because it was so egregious that it just had to be done, it would still set an outrageous precedent for anything in football going forward worldwide around controversy around matches and how they were conducted.

50:15It's farcical. Do I support wholeheartedly the country of Senegal taking military action? Yes, actually, I do. Why not? Why not?

50:28Luke Moore: Let's up the ante. People reading that from here and suddenly they get a call from Guardiola, be like, so how much space have you got in this military bag? Exactly. We could store things there as well, could we?

50:39Jim Campbell: There's a great little detail in the article as well. It says, according to multiple reports, the trophy was taken to a secure military facility, where it is now under armed guard. Yeah, they filmed the whole thing. They are ready for Morocco to, you know, come and get it, essentially. they're ready for the ball boys it's first Morocco in a weird situation because like philosophically what are CAF going to do next right are they going to say right we we officially acknowledge Morocco now as champions right they basically said that right so what happens with the trophy which of course is the symbol of the champions they make another trophy up well presumably Senegal aren't going to give that one back

51:16Luke Moore: presumably Senegal have got a replica surely I don't know or do they keep it for a week and they have to give it back for a week well if there's a replica involved I'll just give a rep because of everyone. Flood the market like I do with elephant tusks. I think that would be a bit silly. Oh, yeah, because nothing silly is happening now. Believe it or not, Luke, you've managed to find something that would make this whole thing silly. It's what I do. It's what I do. You've got to look at the top of the tree. You need strong and steady leadership, which leads us on to a FIFA update. They've announced that they will be releasing an official 2026 World Cup album.

51:47Luke Moore: Oh, and how they announced it. How they announced it. They announced the news via social media, of course, with Johnny Infantino holding a guitar. Yeah. With no strap. It wasn't even plugged in, the guitar. And that's not even the half of it. I mean, that basically plays it down, if anything. Yeah. Basically, what they've done is they've... Right, FIFA have got a budget. Let's all agree on that, right? They've got a surplus. Sorry, yeah, they've got a surplus. They're not a profit. Famously, a very, very respectful non-profit. So they've got a surplus, right? Fine. An enormous surplus. They'll take a marketing budget, a marketing surplus out of that wider surplus, right?

52:20And they've got, it's like they've said to Gianni Infantia, right, we're going to make you stand like you've never held a guitar before, without a strap. Now we're not going to light your face properly or the set, so we can't see you really. And we can't really hear you because you've not been mic'd up properly. And you're going to announce an album of FIFA songs ahead of the World Cup. And no one's hopefully going to wonder why the head of FIFA is doing this.

52:47Jim Campbell: Yeah. Also, can you describe it like you don't know what music is. Yeah, exactly. And also, we're going to make the actual audio quality of this really, really bad. I don't know why they're doing that to set some sort of expectation, but Infantino just seems like a kind of mad king at the moment, doesn't he? Where he has an idea and then just all the underlings kind of fly into action to make it happen. FIFA album. Let's do a FIFA album. Yeah, cool, boss. Brilliant idea. Let's go do that. Let me put it this way, right? If Taylor Swift is putting a new album out, they don't get the head of a label to do the advert.

53:19No, they don't. Because he's not a performer, is he? Just page one stuff. Just get some of the artists on it.

53:24Jim Campbell: But he's fun Uncle FIFA, isn't he? He's desperate to be famous. He's desperate to be a celebrity. This is why he keeps putting himself front and centre.

53:30Luke Moore: Well, in the video, he promised the album would be groundbreaking and set the tone for everything to come. And of course, not only is it England Squad reveal day, the first song of this album will be released today.

53:41Jim Campbell: To promise that it will be groundbreaking is really something. Imagine if this is genuinely a sort of landmark moment in music. Imagine if it comes out It's like the modern Sgt Pepper We'd have to climb down Fair enough Johnny Fair enough I'll have to pretend You don't like it They didn't need Guitar straps all along Oh it was Spotify rapped End of the year Gutting Gutting It's all the FIFA album You'd sit the whole Whole year Turned everyone into shit

54:06Luke Moore: I think we'll be fine Yeah I don't think That's much likely That happened The cringy cunny Now This afternoon Just say cunt Yeah You may as well say cunt In a way It's more your style No but in a way that it's worse than saying the word cunt. Why is that? It's just because it feels like... Yeah, well, so therefore I got it right then. Yeah, okay. Oh, you win again. What a surprise. Well, am I going to win at Jack's Encyclopedia this afternoon? No, probably not, no. It's me versus Luke versus Vish. Luke holds the Jack's Encyclopedia belt, which he took from Bidouche. Vish, of course, kept his MyBiddyAunt built in fine fashion last week.

54:41Luke Moore: But can Vish unify the belts once more? Will Luke hold on to that precious belt of his? or will I get involved in the action? Jackson Cyclopedia will be available to listen to later today. So make sure to subscribe to the Football Ramble podcast in your podcast app so that you do not miss it. We are waiting a while now for you to get involved in the action.

55:04Luke Moore: Could the wait be over? I don't know. It's England Day. What a day to do it if you are going to do it. Do it for Harry. Harry Maguire, I can say, is in the England squad. What a teaser trainer. That is for the show later. Name on the belt. Come on then. Don't forget to check out the Football Ramble YouTube channel later where Luke and I will be talking about Thomas Tuchel's latest England squad. Until then, thank you very much for listening to the Football Ramble, part of the ACARS Creator Network. Back later with Jack's Encyclopedia. And say thank you now, Luke Moore. Thank you now. Thank you, Jim Campbell.

55:36Luke Moore: Thank you. Thank you, Vidushin Handa Raja. Thank you. Thank you, Thomas Tuchel.

55:48The Football Ramble is a Stack Production and part of the ACAST Creator Network.

56:17and parents to keep kids happy. Learn more about our commitment to finding lasting solutions at empowerourfuturecoalition.com slash solutions. Paid for by the Coalition to empower our future. Do you want your soccer analysis more direct than an Arsenal set piece? Join me, Max Rushton, and the Guardian's expert soccer journalist for the latest action and news from the Premier League to the Champions League and all the way to the World Cup. We'll have chat more out of the box than a Dominic Sobber's life pre-kick, more panellists than Chelsea of players, and unlike VAR, we know where to draw the line.

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57:26Luke Moore: With its two juicy beef patties, three slices of melted cheese, and tangy Big Arch sauce, the Big Arch is what happens

57:33Jim Campbell: when you start making a McDonald's burger and never stop. The Big Arch, the most McDonald's McDonald's burger yet for a limited time.