The Preview Show: He’s our bad guy now

0:00Get on my groovy train everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble Preview Show. England won again and Ireland did Ronaldo. It's Friday the 14th of November. I'm Marcus Speller. I'm Jim Campbell. I'm Pete Donaldson. And I'm the Dushan of Hunter Arja.

0:24Hello everybody. We've made it again to Friday. Congratulations to us all. But I must say, time is running out to vote for us to win Podcast of the Year in the Football Supporters Association Awards. Loads of you have thrown your support behind us already. We're extremely grateful, but there's still work to be done. A little birdie may or may not have told me that we're lagging behind. Right, okay. We are lagging. How do we know that? Do we have access to the votes? Yeah, have you got someone behind the wall? No, no, no, don't question it. It's just a call to arms. Right, okay. I have a feeling that we're lagging behind in the vote.

0:58Okay, and so thank you to everybody who's voted for us so far. But we need, come on, we can mug them off again. It's funnier the second time. It is funnier. It's always funnier the second time. You know what's also fun? Voting a second time. Start another email address. Exactly, yeah. Change your name. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So if you want to help us to mug off the Guardian again and some of the other big boys, it's like the football cliche boys. Right. And all that. Good lads, but come on, let's mug them all off together. That's the spirit, isn't it? That's what this is about. We don't have a big company behind us.

1:30We need to, you know, our company. I'm involved in it. Do you know what I mean? Pete's name's above the mosque. Yeah, that's how small fry we are. So we need all the help we can bloody get. And we hammered them last year. And we're going to do it again, goddammit, if you guys vote. If you've not voted for us yet in the FSAs, please go and do so. Now, the link is in the show notes. And every vote goes a long way towards helping us defend this crown that sits proudly on our heads. yes we've vandalised it a bit but come on don't wait cast your vote now please do it Vish what last thing for you to say to get the listeners involved here we're not necessarily better podcasters than them we're not necessarily better people than them right but I've lost the thread of that but we we will fight you if you don't do it yeah a threat a simple threat from a simple man probably too early to threaten them yeah but yeah I think this is if you don't want violence vote for us yeah a lot of you have signed up for the Patreon we've got your email addresses we could probably dox you okay I hope everyone paused it and then voted and then have come back and gone I can't undo my vote houses are flammable these days right I want to start with England 2 Serbia 0 how about that 2-0 to England or 2-0 to the Arsenal gym yes I don't think Arsenal will get any points for that so we'll probably stick with England.

2:56Oh, right. That's a very, very unfumorous response. You've looked into that, haven't you? I did think, oh, did we get, is there a little extra? Oh, have you used up a couple of goals we could use elsewhere? Vish, what did you make of it all? I, well, very, very professional for about an hour and then very end of termy friendly for the last half. Those four changes really did take the sting out of it. Yeah. Because Serbia, like, knew they needed to get something at that point because they knew the Albania goal had gone in. Yes, exactly. They couldn't rely on Andorra doing them a favor. No, they really couldn't.

3:30Bloody Andorra. No, I thought it was very, it was very enjoyable actually because there was a calmness to it. I quite like the fact that some of the things we talked about in terms of, say, Harry Kane dropping deep and how that would affect people around him really. And I quite liked that everything seemed quite, well, seamless really. There was a moment, I think, so England are 1-0 up, it's like 40 minutes in where he drops deep and there are four people running ahead of him in different ways offering different options and he ends up getting the ball to Nico O 'Reilly on the left who had an excellent game I mean I'm a huge fan of his I'd start him you know every game really but yeah had a nice move and it felt like the flow and the understanding between the players was was as good as I've seen it in a while in terms of comfort I suppose yeah rather than actual like outrageous performance yeah I mean in terms of comfort I mean, the dynamic of the game, obviously, England already qualified.

4:27So really, these England players are playing for pride, and some of them playing for places. Serbia did need something out of the game. So it wasn't the most straightforward of games, although, as Vicious described it wasn't. But it seemed to play out that way, didn't it? It did almost look like a comfortable friendly. And I think we are in an era now where England are capable of that sort of dominance. And it is something to sort of sit back and appreciate, isn't it? Because obviously the Tuchel reign is only briefly underway, and it might very well be a brief tenure in general, but I don't really think we could ask for a lot more.

4:58And before the game, he was talking about how he wasn't going to use these games to experiment. And after the Albania game, I think there's only two games before the World Cup, isn't there? And I thought, well, it depends. Yeah, you'll have a couple of fixtures probably in March and then you might have on the eve of the tournament. Yeah, like a pre-tournament friendly, but essentially there's not going to be very many. And I saw some of his comments before the game where he was talking about how he's not going to use these games to experiment. I thought, oh, is that a little bit of a missed opportunity?

5:20but watching the way the game played out, I thought actually he doesn't really have much of a reason to experiment because he's only got a short window, so he needs to know what his best kind of, essentially he needs to know what plan A and plan B is and he's used that bench really well in a slightly confusing way. I would imagine by the time the tournament comes around, Jude Bellingham will start, but regardless of what he's thinking is, you know, Bellingham came on and that second goal happens because of him really and I think he's shown in that moment where he's won the ball kind of deep in his own half and then release Phil Foden to set up a second, it shows you what an all-rounder Bellingham is and why his status is as it is within the England squad, within the Real Madrid squad, and generally in world football, in that he is one of those players who can do so, so much.

6:03And I think as much as I love Morgan Rodgers, I think that will be why Bellingham eventually gets that place back. But I just thought, yeah, it's very clear what this team is going to do. And it's very clear what the substitutes are going to come on and do. Whatever order they seem to come on in, a lot of people are playing with... Phil Foden. Yeah, but that was... The perfect example of that was how well it worked, right? They had a very, very direct focus on getting to goal. Eza playing out left is unusual as well, but it's very clear what he's supposed to be doing. They're all kind of making those runs together.

6:35Yeah, like I said, I don't think we can ask for a huge amount more. Peter, what about those subs that came on in the second half? Yeah, I mean... Bringing Bellingham and Foden on is... It's not bad, is it? Not too shabby. It's a bit of a flex, I suppose, isn't it? But I think like you were saying, Jim, I don't think we need to massively experiment at this point in time. We have only got a few more fixtures before the tournament. And you sort of look at how sometimes club form can't translate to international form. You look at how Rashford played last night compared to how he's played for Barcelona and stuff.

7:08So it's kind of like maybe he just needs to stick with who actually does the business for England, which might at times not necessarily include Jude Bellingham. I think I hate that Venom ball. I hate the ball that they're kicking around on these fixtures. I hate it so much. I never want to see it again. What's it, bro? Is it Nike? Yeah. But it looks like sort of Venom's skin and I don't care for it very much. Yes. It's horrible. It also looks like the bad guy in the second Into the Spider-Verse film. Right. Okay. Yes. Fair. Like a Rorschach test. Yeah. Yeah. I hate that ball. It looks like my dad.

7:47I'm going to kick it really hard that's what Eze said did you see the country team for ITV I don't know what I don't know whether they hate Eze or love Foden so much but that real sort of basic pass into Eze's kind of feet for him to score what can already be described as a worldie a lovely finish a lovely finish and they were going oh my god Foden's pass was just amazing it's like it was a pass like it bobbled a bit it didn't have that much I thought it was really good because of the weight of it and also it was about 10 yards George but I think what I liked about it was Phil Foden, because he has the, and let me adjust myself while I say this, because Phil Foden has the best posture of any human being on earth.

8:26I think what he's very good at doing is disguising his intentions. So there were a couple of defenders who weren't quite sure what he was going to do and he released that ball at the perfect time with the perfect weight, which meant Ezer could hit it first time in the way he did. I know it is ultimately a simple ball, but I did think that was a good pass. Yeah, I mean, it was a nice move in particular. I mean I do kind of agree with Pete had he not have made that pass but he did though right but it's the kind of pass that he plays in his sleep he's so good at that if Foden wasn't capable of that he wouldn't be anywhere near this team because his job ultimately is to do that and Joe Hart has the best posture in the football that's a good argument I mean once Saka sorted out his boots literally I thought he sort of played a bit better Didn't he?

9:15Yeah, he did. His finish was very good, wasn't it? With shonky boots on. All the more impressive. Shonky wonky boots. Yeah, I thought he had a good game. It was quite lively. I take your point, gentlemen. I wouldn't be as glowing necessarily, but I'm not therefore the opposite because this game is what it was, if you see what I mean. I don't think we're being glowing, are we? I think it was just... Well, I thought he did experiment because playing Phil Foden as a sort of... Yeah, that's fair. I suppose for me it didn't feel that way because it seemed so coherent. But he's already done the experimentation, hasn't he?

9:51That's the reason Anderson's in there, that's the reason that Bellingham hasn't been in there, why Foden hasn't been in there, why Gordon has been given more of a chance. All the experimentation's kind of already been done. Well, some of it has. Might it actually be that Lee Carsley did all of it? Yeah, maybe. In that game he wants not to do now. All the test tubes are broken. Specifically that game against Greece at Wembley. Which was the last time Pickford conceded, of course. I mean, the first 25 minutes in England were very pedestrian. But again, I understand why. It was chucking it down as well.

10:21It was horrible. We like those conditions. Yeah, well. You're not good. Well, so you say you've got the right boots on. My concern about the weather in North America is saying it'll be absolutely fine. There won't be a drop of rain. But when it does rain. Bring a weather machine. We need a wet and cloud. We need those. Do you remember when ahead of the, a few years ahead of the Qatar World Cup? That's a hell of a Freudian ahead of the Qatar World Cup. That's incredible. Lovely. Unintentional. But do you remember that when they talked about those remote control clouds they were going to create?

10:48Yeah, so we could do with some of them in North America. I think Paul McCartney's had a gore a couple of times, I think. There's rumours when he played Glastonbury he was going to piss about with the clouds. I think that might have been apocryphal. Why? Why? Does he not like something? Because he thinks he's God himself. Or something. I'm hearing in America they have the best clouds. Fantastic clouds. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It'll be fine. So England will be a bit drunk. And then Tuchel kind of gathers the players over. and they've got a bit of impetus. I thought the subs, I thought when it came on, like Bellingham really had a point to prove and I thought he overplayed it a little bit.

11:21Oh, you think? Whenever he's really well to not starting. Do you not think whenever he's kind of put into that position, he sort of overplays his hand a little bit and he's just too all over the place, kind of fantastic? Yeah, I didn't think he played badly or anything, but you're right, Peter, there was an element of that sort of captain fantastic about him and that's kind of why we love him as well and you sort of want that to a degree, but you've got to channel it And I think, again, it's difficult though. Like I say, I'm not trying to be knee-jerk or go too much in the opposite direction. I'm just saying what I thought.

11:48But again, the game... You're looking for weak spots, aren't you? Well, I'm trying to analyse it as much as we can with what we've got. And again, England had already qualified. So when he came on, but of course he feels like he's got a point to prove. But you mentioned Rashford there. I kind of agree with you that Rashford, if you look at how Tuchel's talking about each player in press conferences, he'll often say he said what he said about Bellingham he's clearly given him a bit of a kick up the arse but he's he's certainly kicking the bell maybe maybe they're kicking the Bellingham so is it all because his mum finds him repulsive quite possibly but he's also said this you know he said before the game about Bakayo Saka I'm surprised he's only got what was it 13 or whatever how many goals for England that's him saying come on son you need to chip in more which I kind of agree with even though I think Saka should start with Rashford he says oh he can be one of the best forwards in the world he very much encourages him and I wonder with Rashford last night yes he lovely touches at points bit of trickery obviously got great pace you can see though the difference when Ezzer came on and again I understand that he comes on and it's a different game but with Rashford and I think Rashford definitely obviously got something to offer but you can see when he gets the ball in certain positions you can almost sort of see the cogs going Whereas when Eze come on, he gets the ball, opens the ball, certain things, he looks more comfortable, I think.

13:15And I think Rashford is ultimately, I think we have to, or this was maybe something for me, maybe others have already acknowledged this, that Rashford right now, he is a player who is a little bit inconsistent, but can provide great moments and can score great goals and whatnot. But I always get the sense that he's just wanting that little bit more from Rashford. That final piece. But I think he's Mbappe accorded without actually having the... But that's the player he is. It's a style thing as well, isn't it? Because when Rashford beats a player, he tries to do it ideally from a standing start.

13:48You know, like stopping a defender and then using his acceleration and skill to beat them. And also when he was out there on the left in the first half, he was not isolated, but Morgan Rodgers in that number 10 role always made sure he was on the other side. So he was closer to Saka than he was to Rashford. and I appreciate O 'Reilly was underlapping and overlapping really well but I think when Eze comes on and you've got Bellingham and Foden there they naturally gravitate together and it's quite a cool thing it felt like HS2 on the field basically you've got London, Birmingham and Manchester all in one but they felt a bit more at ease coming into the middle and as you say Eze doesn't seem to really have to compute what he does it seems to come so naturally to him and I think that is why Rashford stands out in that way but it's also why Tuchel loves Rashford and why he has been so quick to praise what Gordon does because Gordon's just direct and that's basically what he wants from his left side man and again another player who's having a terrible time at his club and doing the business in England colours you'd like him to replicate his England form at Newcastle wouldn't you a little bit some England pants or something I mean Rashford's probably absolutely shitting himself because of O 'Reilly's massive shadow on him.

15:09So, just big men are back, man. They're just going to get bigger and bigger. Well, O 'Reilly had a good game. There's no doubt about that. You've already mentioned that, Vish. I'm still, there's still something about the defence that I'm, I'm not quite, I think it was lovely to see Rhys James playing again. I think, barring injury, he will start at right back. But I appreciate you need a good solid cover, as you would do in any, for crying out loud. So that's nothing new. I think left back spot, O 'Reilly gave a very, very good account of himself and so he's now in the picture for that. Centre half, it will be stones and gay, I would have thought.

15:43I know you're a fan of Konza, Jim.

15:48There's a lack of pace there. I don't think they're necessarily slow, but there's something about the defence I'm still not quite... You mean the centre back specifically? Well, you could say across the line. I mean, Rich James is certainly not slow and he's pretty quick. He's not slow? No, I think maybe it's centre half then. I mean, Konza made a couple of good... His recovery is usually quite decent. I'm just it's that thing with England where of course we're right to praise them for their 100 % record in qualifying and not conceding a goal because one shouldn't suddenly become complacent and think oh well you know that means it's impossible to score against us exactly everyone might but like Italy France Spain they're always going to get a goal you know in your net so the problem we've had is breaking down teams that just suddenly set up a low block because they're ahead that's the problem isn't it I mean defensively I think we are good enough at international level and you know you talked about plan A and plan B plan C is obviously Danburn off the bench now you're talking now you are talking get him up top for headers you were worried the defence was too slow plan B get him up top get him up top if that's what we need get all the 10s around him flick on I mean the 10s situation is so interesting when you look at how many there are to choose from so obviously you've got Jude Bellingham Phil Foden Cole Palmer Morgan Rodgers Ebrechtie Ezza and Morgan Gibbs-White and I think presumably Phil Foden is just a false nine now.

17:09Ezzer starts on the left. Maybe that's the way you get them all in. I think Ezzer being on the left wing will probably mean that Jack Grealish won't feature. Because he is, you know, and people might say, what on earth are you mentioning him for? Rashford and Gordon... Top of slowing down the game too. But again though, with Kane dropping so deep, I mean, now there seems to be the customary Kane sliding tackle on the edge of the box, which is quite an enjoyable thing. I feel like, certainly in the last tournament, we worried about Kane dropping deep. We were like, oh, he's at the best use of his energy at this time, and his career, etc, etc, etc.

17:43But he was magnificent last night, I thought. And actually, at this point, I think, no, you don't want to take that out of his game, because he's such a complete player at the moment. And this is possibly... I don't think it's actually controversial to say this is the best form he's ever been in. The way he's played for Bayern Munich now. He's inarguably one of the best players in the world right now. and it's like, yeah, just don't limit that. Sure. So therefore you need the runners beyond him. Yeah. I also think this summer we are going to have exactly that same conversation. Yeah, because it's after a long season, right?

18:13Yeah. I'd love to see how much ground he's already covered this season because it's great. I totally agree with Jim, but I'm also a bit like, oh, mate. Yeah. There was a point yesterday. When Tuchel took him off, I thought, thank goodness for that. Yeah. When Kostic has a ball in the first half and ends up kind of, you know, Pickford comes out and ends up smothering it on the right hand side the furthest player back having chosen to try and make a block on the line if it came to that was Kane and I was like that's really noble of you stop running please stop running they're six points clear at the top of the of the German league so maybe they'll have it wrapped up by Christmas and maybe we can just sort of rest him they need to go out in the Champions League early seems unlikely though isn't there a point where if Nicholas Jackson reaches a certain amount of games, they have to pay X amount of money.

19:02So they'll probably be trying to avoid that. So however much they've wrapped it up, it might not matter. Jackson might save Kane from himself. Now, the England fans were singing We'll Sing When We Want in response to Thomas Tuchel's comments about the poor atmosphere at Wembley. Proud of yourself? Very proud. Well, I wasn't joining in on that. What I did join in, though, quite early on in the game, somebody sat very close to me through a paper aeroplane and it got all the way onto the pitch. Nice. Early on in the game. And when I saw that I thought We've got a game back Punched him in the throat Do you know what was good No Mexican waves last night No Mexican waves Okay So that's something Is it?

19:38Yeah because normally That's like just sheer boredom Hang on I'm just going to check That you're not calling them English waves now There's not some Thing going on there I can call them Call them what you want Jim Well it would be an American wave Wouldn't it The Gulf of Mexico And all that But how are you bringing in The Gulf of American waves How are you bringing in They're going to build a wave And Mexico's going to pay for it Exactly How are you bringing in a piece of paper Because your ticket can be People sometimes have the paper tickets Oh like a massive A4 sheet Conducive for paper airplanes Evidently yes You know Tuchel's comments about the atmosphere Wembley wasn't his entire point That they just sing when they want Yeah And also I don't understand Why so many of them take it personally The atmosphere at Wembley is awful But again though when you have and it's good to see you have a lot of kids you have a lot of families going out to Wembley which you might not have done 20 years ago so I think that is I think he did get that 20 years ago and it's always been historically poor but you know I think the I don't know I just get a sense of entitlement from England sometimes the way they played in the last sort of well I mean entitlement or just that is just kind of the way it is I mean again with a lot of these matches England at home I think he spoke about this among some of his other kind of mad comments which we'll come on to before the game about how, you know, he's aware that this isn't, you know, it would be lovely for it to be like River Plate against Boca Juniors but we know it's not that.

21:04It's a World Cup qualifier in midweek, et cetera, et cetera. We all know that it's essentially impossible to turn that into a sort of cauldron. Yeah, but I think when the fans are singing we'll sing we want, I think it's a cheeky response. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't think it's, you know, but Tuchel did say when asked if he regrets his comments, he said, if you go in life and only say what people want to hear, then you become a fish I am not a fish when have fish been doing that? yeah I feel like he sort of grabbed the first creature he can think of but all they do is they just stay in their lane you never see them walking down the high street maybe there's a specific fish that does that that he's seen a lot of uncharted territory down there so maybe he's been down there have a look quite often I look at Thomas Tuchel and the things he says and does and think what are you and this just hasn't helped at all it's just like shed no light Sometimes when he has that smirk He looks across between the Joker And the bad guy From what's the The animated film About the little girl and the two Monster Zink Oh right yes yeah yeah yeah Monster Zink yeah But he's a bad guy now isn't he He is yeah But I think it's the unerring confidence Of a man who just doesn't give a shit about Like absolutely going bald right now And he just And I love That he's just sort of going Fuck it I don't care I'm Thomas Ketuchel I'm great and so that part of him I really do like and also you get some of the tits of England fans which is brilliant he's not interested in legacy is he?

22:30no love it certainly not in terms of keeping people on side yeah but I think that he's not interested in all the statesman bollocks that to be fair the last guy absolutely mastered I think you I think Tuchel yeah I mean quite clearly what you said there but Southgate said one or two things I think that he is yeah that is a great point, sorry to interrupt, but Southgate wasn't like the most diplomatic England manager. Not always, no. I think his status was, but some of the things he said... He would call things out if they needed to be called out. I think Tuchel is handling himself pretty well, actually, with the press.

23:06And he's been very... We've already talked about the personnel, so we don't need to go back over that. But the fact is, he comes out and says, Bellingham, Foden and Kane can't play in my team together. And it's not a big deal. It's not as big a deal as it would be because he's not saying all three of them won't play he's basically saying two of them can play together but not three of them yeah but he's not a fish no I wanted to hear how he said that because we know someone with a German accent sometimes heads into V territory so I really wanted to see whether he says I am not a fish and then we could use that as a sound vibe but I am yet to find that clip online there's only one fish there's only one fish yeah and I am not a fish he is a fish just we fish Also, just going what Luke said a few weeks ago, it's probably something perverted as well, isn't it?

23:53Oh, yeah, the Germans, yeah. I'm not a dirty little fish. Well, I wish I was. Slapping around. I'd love to flob about on the side of a boat. Right, after being caught. Now, I'd love to bite down on a fly, I've seen. And then Thomas Google winked at the camera and said, catch me.

24:13Now, the England players, have you seen this? This is one for you, Peter. You're a man of footwear. England players have started wearing a new shoe that I think they're supposed to enhance your pre-game routine with this is a quote enhance your pre-game routine with mind altering science mind shoes are they the Bottmans? they look as chunky as Bottmans they come across between the Yeezys and maybe your nan's reflexology shoe they look off a P-dick don't they? they've got 22 independent form nods is that right they are Nike aren't they yeah Nike again what are you doing with the weird footballs and now your weird shoes well the shoe works by connecting sensors on the soles of your feet with receptors in your brain that just feels like a kind of like a foot massage yeah the whole marketing guff around it is incredible it's essentially like they've just asked Jake Humphrey to describe his ideal shoe and they've come up with stuff like that and apparently the idea is to help athletes lock in their mindset pre and post competition and they are a new sensory footwear concept that helps reawaken the foot, the body and the mind, which suggests quite a cynical view of the general population, isn't it?

25:26It also represents a new paradigm of performance and how we can potentially make athletes better in the future. Should they hand these out then? As you know, for a general election, you're about to vote, you've got to put those shoes on, so you're all of sound of mind. You get all the manifestos. Yeah, exactly. You get your mindfulness shoe. Exactly. And off you go. I admit it would take the whole process Would be a lot longer But I would argue perhaps

25:52What do you say to that? My dad's got an electric plate That he puts his feet on And it just shocks him Repeatedly over five minutes My dad's got fucked up feet I was wondering if he was like a POW Or something And he kind of enjoyed it He's kinky like our manager but yeah it just reminds me of my dad's electric shoes like the electric plate that he puts his feet on just keeps you awake while you're having a meeting he's walking around going I've been playing a lot of five sides recently and I look to the state of my feet after playing on Tuesday I don't want to know what they're thinking yeah exactly why are you doing this to me maybe Tuchel's assistant Anthony Barry was onto something when he describes Tuchel as a UFO.

26:43Right. And, you know, when he's saying I'm not a fish, you know, we've got this mind-altering science, which is not Tuchel's idea, but maybe he's ushered it in. I don't know. Maybe he's brought it in from a different planet, yeah. St. George's Park could become Area 52. The F could stand for fish. It could do. On the YouTube announcement video of these shoes, because obviously I've got a bi-bear, and one of the comments is, Nike is responsible for me outrunning and getting away from so many cops. God bless Nike. Keep up the good work. The victory starts with your feet. And then about 10, LeBron sucks.

27:19So, I don't think it's set the world alight. No. I don't think people are particularly convinced. No. And we're certainly not, I think it's fair to say. Yeah, but they're not on sale at the moment, are they? Yeah. I think they are, aren't they? And we've not worn them yet. Yeah. Let's try them out. Let's see how fucking attentive I'll be in a football ramble record if I've got those shoes on. There we are, you see. All right, coming up after this, Ireland got in the head of Cristiano Ronaldo

27:51I heard Maguire talking during the week he was like a robot he was like apologies to the fans there's no emotion behind it well Matt and Football Ramble everybody Roy Keane doing a brilliant impression of Harry Maguire less emotion I think he's probably best for that man could be leave him alone leave him alone well he must have had a lovely evening last night I would assume because Ireland beat Portugal 2-0 yeah how about that hey I mean that's quite something isn't it I mean Ireland obviously needed to win they're currently third in their qualifying group Group F Portugal still top with 10 points Hungary second with 8 points and Ireland third with 7 I mean Jim what a win I tell you what four of those are qualifying campaign and you're away you're away absolutely yeah two lovely goals from Troy Parrott the second one in particular was a really really confident finish the sort of finish that is kind of sneaky when you've got a bit of a springing step from having scored earlier he looked really really confident hit it really really well and yeah it's just a really really impressive win let's be honest the main story here is the red card I just wanted Troy Parrott to just get a little bit more sure because it was good striker stuff and I think that second goal in particular, you expect him to put it in the other corner and he does the old slip reverse it on the goalkeeper because the keeper might have thought, you know what, if I was more aware, he's down fairly late to it, but that's all the part of the finish because again, you think he's going to go in the opposite corner.

29:23When I say it's the main story, that is not in any way to underplay Ireland's achievements, but I think if you look at the enjoyment on the faces of the people in that crowd, they would all agree with me. It's a third goal, isn't it? It's a third goal. Yeah, absolutely. as all of us you know among the kind of football loving community it was a magnificent piece of hubris and it was just wonderful to see it happen so if you haven't seen it Ronaldo elbows Dara O'Shea in the back like quite hard it goes for he gets a booking for it it goes for a VAR check he does the sort of crying face to suggest O'Shea has made too much of it it then gets upgraded to a red card and he then starts ironically clapping the fans who are just having an absolutely brilliant time watching him go off.

30:07And before the game, he'd spoken about how he hoped the crowd would boo him. So he got his wish. He kind of, yeah, so he actually said, I hope they don't boo me too much tomorrow. I swear that I'm going to try and be a good boy. Now, of course, there's a narrative here. Because in the game in Portugal, when Portugal got a late winner, he missed a penalty. And was he unhappy? Or there was some unhappiness in the way Keller has saved, celebrated. Keller had did nothing wrong. No. But he did it in the vicinity of Ronaldo. So it was seen as gloating, yeah. Yeah, okay. And obviously they get the injury time win, I don't know.

30:40Indeed. And then Ronaldo kind of celebrated in, was it O 'Brien himself's face or something, or whatever he did. And so there was a bit of sort of stuff there. And then he made a couple of comments and then Ireland manager Hal Grimson said before the game that he felt that Ronaldo was like controlling the referee or something like that. So you have all that. So he says, you know, I swear I'm going to be a good boy. and he started talking about, oh, for me, it's a pleasure to come back here and play again. You know, they love their national team in Ireland. It's all lovely, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

31:09But then he also went on to say, while winking, I repeat, I hope no one boos me again tomorrow. It will take the pressure off the other players. What I want the most is to enjoy myself, wink, wink. So he was sort of like knowing that they were going to boo him and kind of inviting that on as well. But then, of course, as you say, Jim, comes the red card. And when he goes off the pitch, he starts having a go at Hal Grimson. Yeah. and obviously saying you know well this that the other which you made me elbow your player yeah whereas Hal Grimmson just dealt with it quite well after the game and went yeah I just ultimately I think it was a silly moment from Ronaldo you know but then Roberto Martinez did the classic Portugal PR thing Portugal manager PR thing of going well you know I thought it was not much I mean it's all a bit you know and try to kind of smooth it all over but the big thing though is Ronaldo presuming Portugal do qualify they've got to win or get a result at least against Armenia which you'd fancy them to do could miss the first two games of the world cup which i think suits him fine do you think yeah aside from the fact that he's gonna get guaranteed goals he's gonna need to play those group games for a legacy sake he'll want to play those group games because they'll be yeah i don't think that would suit him at all it would well sorry this one's saying you know number he'll get his numbers up in the group games more likely but it also keeps him fresh for the latter stages isn't it?

32:29Because Portugal are going to get out of their group. Yeah. I just think on, you know, I can't see him being happy sat there doing nothing. He will get the attention, as you say. He'll try to get in the stand rather than go down the tunnel, which is quite funny. Could sit next to the president. Could sit next to the president. Oh my God, he's going to do that. Will they try and give some sort of presidential pardon so he can play in those two games? Well, I mean, to be fair, Rooney got sent off against, was it Montenegro ahead of the 2012, euros for just lashing out one of the players really unnecessarily they should reset for the tournament well yellows do but straight reds don't and Rooney got straight red for that and he missed I think England appealed because he was going to miss the whole of the group stage people think well should you take it oh yes but they got it I think they got it so he missed the first two and then of course I think he scored the winning goal against Ukraine in the third game of the group so I would be surprised if he would miss two because it's not in it's not in FIFA's best interest is it yeah but like I say there is precedent there with Rooney so I don't want to kind of launch in too much let's see if he goes down to one or goes down to zero that's the question I suppose but I mean but what a win though for Ireland it was impressive like every player played like above their level I would suggest it was really good particularly ex-Spurs man Troy Parrott yeah and well Sheffield United fans of which I have a couple of mates there he must be very surprised that Ogbenet has managed to stretch the play on a couple of occasions in that match he hit the post at one point he got the football out of his feet with a terrible touch and then absolutely lashed it against the post I really wish he'd scored that one but he played really well and he's been pretty poor for sure all season well yeah they're having a tough time aren't they but look you're right they needed something like this at Ireland to stay alive quite simply but off the back of a victory to follow it up.

34:28This is kind of a marquee result. Of course, if they go to Budapest and play Hungary and don't get a win, then it's kind of like, it was a good evening. I still think, I mean, look, away in Hungary, Hungary are a good side. I think Hungary will be slight favourites for that. It's still something. It's still a result to show that there's progress. But ultimately, if you don't qualify, then it's a bit of a sickness. But it gives them huge confidence going into that game against Hungary but you're right to say that the collective raised their level they're going to have to do it again they needed two famous results to get to the to reach the playoffs well they've got one against a very good Portugal I say a very good Portugal side what if all the whole nations get there and Ireland glad you corrected yourself we could all meet in Stansted yes and like go to the spoons and like wait for everyone and we'll all go to the US beautiful yeah but Ireland they have US customs within Ireland they do yes they do they have a lovely set up with America so if they are to get to the World Cup then as soon as they touch down in America see you later suckers they don't have all the nonsense that we do but it's a huge win and you look at the Portugal side the names in it again they are the UEFA Nations League champions gentlemen lest we forget there's a number of Champions League winners in there there is a number like a surprisingly high amount so a fabulous win for Ireland and they go into that game against Hungary knowing that if they can win that game then a World Cup playoff place will be theirs.

35:58Right, gentlemen, let us move on to tomorrow night's proceedings. At 7.45, Scotland take on Greece away from home. A big game for Scotland. They need a result, not necessarily a victory because if you look at the table in Group C, Denmark top with 10 points, Scotland second with 10 points as well. Denmark's goal difference is superior and Denmark have got to play Belarus. Surely Denmark will beat Belarus, meaning they go on to 13 points. Belarus had rock bottom with zero points. If Scotland can get a victory, great, or a draw, whatever happens, as long as they avoid defeat, it does set up that game that we all wanted and suspected might happen in that Scotland have Denmark at home and if they can win that, then they'll top the group.

36:45So a mouth-watering prospect, but they've got to make sure they do the doggies in Greece. They do. If you pardon the expression. They do, and I think the... The stray doggies. the Athens best straight doggies I do think they have to win though because I think momentum the pressure on that Denmark game is the same you know as you've outlined but winning is so important because they're not a free scoring side and you almost want a bit of a performance to strut into that game at Hampden Park because a lot of it has been built around solidity and just off the back of the last, despite the fact that Scotland, what they've got 10 from 12, despite the fact that the last window ends with like, you know, McGinn talking about how annoyed Steve Clarke is, there is a genuine belief in that team, like we're on to something here, this is going really good, everyone knows what they're doing.

37:40And this Greece side, while they have underwhelmed, do have like quite a lot of like promising talent. We're surprised that Greece have been poor. They've won one and lost three. But they're definitely in a space where they're waiting for that talent to almost come over and make this a transitional period. And this smacks of a game where that might happen. Yeah, so obviously Greece can't qualify now. So that, you would think, would play in Scotland. Well, it does play in Scotland's favour. And Greece have lost three on the bounce. But as you say, they're slightly surprising. Especially at home as well.

38:12There's a sense of playing for pride maybe. And a sense of like, let's get cracking on the next campaign now. You see these games happen like that, don't you? and obviously, you know, Scotland beat them last month and they beat Belarus as well, but the strange feeling after that was really one of anxiety, wasn't it? Six points and a bit of an existential crisis because the Belarus game in particular was kind of really dicey at times and they eventually sort of put it away, obviously, but they really sort of laboured to do that. So a performance doesn't ultimately matter, does it? As long as they get the points, they'll take the points over the performance, but there is a sense going into this potential kind of essentially final with Denmark that they know they're going to need to be better against the best team in that group despite having the home advantage.

38:54So this is going to be a really interesting game in terms of how Scotland kind of perform, really. I mean, they're guaranteed a qualification playoff spot, of course, but to qualify automatically would be great. I think, looking into the psychology and you mentioned Scotland when they played Belarus, I think this may... I think it's a blessing in disguise playing away in Greece because you've got the home team, you have probably quite a hostile crowd. I don't think any of the jitters of, you know, we should get a result here, so the onus is on us. And if we go a goal up... When has that ever been said about Scotland?

39:29Well, against Belarus, you know, as Jim would say. I understand, but it's not familiar territory to them, Pete. And Greece need to, obviously they don't need anything, but they need a little bit of pride. So at least they'll go at Scotland a little bit, which might leave a bit of a cheeky Scottish counter. Could be. Also, just with the pressure Greece are going to put on themselves, it'd be quite easy to turn that hostile crowd inward. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, good to see, though, that young Scotland player Ben Ganondiak has said that he's no doubts in his mind that Scotland will qualify for next year's World Cup.

40:03Oh, there you go, then. There we are. So put the kettle on that. And then maybe Steve Clarke will have a little smile in that angry face of his. would we realise? yeah maybe not he did crack a smile once recently I think and it was quite I thought to myself I think he stepped on the nail didn't he? well the virtual world of football manager apparently is predicting somebody played basically a game of a new football manager 20 ticks and Scotland won the World Cup did they? which feels incorrect yeah I mean this new version of football manager let's just say it's been much maligned It's a little bit buggy here and there.

40:43And this may be the big bug they need to deal with first. I think that's why they delayed the release of GTA as well, because England won the World Cup in that. In America, yeah. Is Vice City one of the host cities? I think it should be. Is that where it's being moved to? I think it is, actually. Vice City is FIFA house. Well, if Scotland did win the World Cup, I'd imagine the President, Mr. Trump, would be quite happy. Of course. His mother's from Scotland. He has great affection and affinity with the country. Another medal for the White House. Exactly. Coming up after this, Dick Advocat is having a lovely time in the Caribbean.

41:27Now, chaps, before we move on to Liechtenstein versus Wales, you remember the former president, or now former president, of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, who was convicted of sexual assault on Jenny Hermoso so after the Women's World Cup final in Australia. Well, he's currently promoting his new book, Matar Rubiales, which translates to Killing Rubiales. Suggests to me he hasn't necessarily learned a great deal. Unless he has, and it's about how he did it to himself. Right. He tanked his own career. No, I mean, if you look at the blurb on the websites for the publishers, it's very much, there's a lot of inverted commas when it comes to sexual assault and stuff like that.

42:14What makes me laugh about the publishers, who could not be more low-rent, on the main page, obviously, you know, they're in the middle of a massive press tour with Ruby Isles doing his stuff, and he's on the main page, and the second, when you click the arrow to the right, to the next title, Zouphilia in History and Art is their second book, they're advertising what people fucking animals what they're innocent stuff the only publisher they could find third book's about the Stasi fourth is about you know el maximo una religión sin Dios imagine just a lot of shit Ruby Allis talked to his agent and be like there's no other publisher no what about Penguin no not like that no not like that I mean the book will be controversial special quite clearly and let's be honest ignored uh-huh well uh i mean it's it's it's already causing some waves um at a launch event in madrid rubiales had eggs thrown at him by his own uncle what a family do you remember when when this this whole scandal first erupted his mum locked herself into a church and went on hunger strike yeah they're obviously yeah an unusual clam.

43:28Loose clams. So yeah, his uncle threw eggs at him at the launch and his explanation of the situation was interesting as well. So Rubiales said, he was carrying eggs and throwing them at me but I didn't know what he had in his hands and when I saw him I thought he had a weapon so I quickly ran towards him because he was like, he had a hoodie tied up as well and he was basically disguised. He had Pete's headphones over the top of the top. Yeah, it was very hard to see who it was, I'm sure, even if he's your uncle. And he threw the egg and Rubiales did like a spin move. Yeah. Brilliant. So he went on to say, we were lucky that they stopped me.

43:57this man had in his hand. I didn't know if he had a weapon. I saw a pregnant woman who was my friend Paco's wife with two small children right where he was standing with something in his hand and I thought about the children. If I had grabbed him, we would be in a different situation. So he stopped short of telling people not to call him a hero. Yeah. It's like the whole thing is just absolutely absurd. Yeah, against karate. That's sort of like, isn't it? Yeah, very much so. Fantastic. What on earth? It's just the way that he spins around, one of the eggs bounces off him and smashes against the screen, which is even better.

44:25Yeah. He got some pretty good hits in anywhere. Well, I don't know if the book will be out in English, but if you are a Spanish speaker, Matara Rubiales can be yours for a fee. What is that story exactly? Terrible man does a terrible thing. Yeah, exactly. Peter, if you want to know more, read the book. Now with added egg. White clean kindle. Gentlemen, back to the qualifiers. Tomorrow at 5pm, Wales face Liechtenstein away from home. Wales are all but guaranteed a World Cup playoff. because they won their Nations League group. However, finishing second in their World Cup qualifying group would guarantee home advantage for the playoff semifinals.

45:04And they can guarantee this with wins over Liechtenstein and North Macedonia. Automatic qualification is unlikely, as Belgium will surely secure top spot in this group with a win over either Kazakhstan or Liechtenstein. Belgium always involved somehow, even if Wales aren't directly playing them. It's very, very true. So yeah, I mean, it's good that they've got that guarantee of a playoff. They have a game in hand on North Macedonia. North Macedonia have the better goal difference. So it's still something to play for. I mean, against Liechtenstein, who have lost every game in the group, who haven't scored, that is a chance for Wales to score a few goals.

45:39It really should be. Yeah. Well, I mean, they will win the game, surely. But to score a few goals and try and get that goal difference looking a bit better because they will then go into that game with North Macedonia. I would have thought due to that I mean North Macedonia are six goals ahead of them goal difference wise I would have thought that they would still need to win the game because you know if they don't win it by more than six you know that's how the maths works so all to play for Jim Campbell with Wales we'd fancy them to do it but again good that they've got that playoff spot secured absolutely yeah I mean it allows that sort of extra little bit of freedom doesn't it you'd like to see Craig Bellamy at the World Cup Absolutely, I'd love to see Craig Bell in the World Cup.

46:25Like a boxer trying to make weight. No, I think he's in quite good shape. I think we'd see a tight t-shirt from old Craig. What do you think? Could be. It's sweaty though, wouldn't it? Yeah, but I think that'd be a bit sexy, wouldn't it? Didn't he get drenched in the bomber jacket? And I suspect, wasn't it raining one game? Yeah, yeah. And I suspect he's wedded to it no matter what the weather. Right, yeah. I don't want to see that put to the test. Sweaty bomber. In Florida. He's one of those, you know, everything he said as a manager is like how much he loves the struggle and the challenge. So maybe he doesn't want a home tie to start the playoff.

46:55Oh, okay. Maybe he needs one of those, you know, spacey shoes that England... Yeah. The mind shoes. The mind shoes. The mind shoes. And then he wants a kind of MLS-style three-legged playoff. Yes. All away from home. Against Belgium. Three ties against Belgium in the dark. Well, gentlemen, we now know that France have joined England in the European teams qualifying for the World Cup. There's a lot of teams copying us. Yes, indeed. A lot of teams outside of Europe have already qualified. You can see the list for yourselves. There's some interesting stories, such as Uzbekistan, qualified Jordan as well.

47:30But there is an amazing story emerging in CONCACAF. Kurosaw, a small Caribbean island of roughly 155 ,000 people and just 171 square miles are one game away from qualifying for the World Cup. Pete Donaldson. I mean, I love the idea of them qualifying. they're almost like the Kit Verdi story but even smaller yes brilliant 155 ,000 people they hammered Bermuda last night they did they beat them 7-0 which put them top of their qualifying group after Steve McLaren's Jamaica Drew won all with Trinidad and Tobago have we got confirmation that they made it back from Bermuda ah the old triangle that would be a sick knee yeah I mean I was I was sort of torn in this one because Curacao obviously great story we're all familiar with Dick Advocat great that he's gone down there to manage and they're a game away.

48:23But Peter, Bermuda have a union flag on their flag. So I don't like to see them getting having 7-0. But what's happened's happened. I mean, it's the first time surely a drink has managed a drink, isn't it? I think so. Oh, yeah. Since Clough and Kenny Burns. Is that right? Different vibe. Come on now. The Curacao Cup. Like a bit of Curacao. It's like orange, isn't it? Yeah. Well, yeah. The blue Curacao liquor is what you're... That'd be dangerous to drink out of a cup if you win it, wouldn't it? Well, the World Cup, if they were to win, that doesn't have a... It's not actually a cup, is it? So you'd have to sort of lick it off of it.

49:05Yeah. Well, it is liquor. Cover it. Oh, no. Submerge it and then put it in the fridge. And as it takes on the flavour, put it then in the freezer and then you can use it as like a nice lolly. Get a lick. Everyone gets a lick. That kind of booze You sort of think Is stronger than it actually is I recently discovered That apple sours Is only like 15 % Recently How old are you? Like a wine You could have a glass of it And it'd be fine A glass of apple sour Until your teeth fall out How big is the glass? Are you having a pint of apple sour? Just a glass of wine A lovely bright green glass of wine How did you not realise It was so low in alcohol?

49:40I don't know You not wondered why When we were kids We were like Oh we could have 15 It's brilliant I thought it was a powerhouse Do you look at People have brandy On menus they have things to have After meals Where are the apple sours I don't want any port Well Curacao Back to them, former Dutch colony Only became a country in 2010 Very late Making them the second newest nation in the world But they are on the verge What a story it would be Do you reckon Digavicar went there just for like a bit of relaxation yeah a bit of blue yeah kind of low pressure like what a great place to spend you know a part of your life especially at his age and then he's just found himself succeeding being like oh for fuck's sake like he's in a sort of got the media now like he's the littlest hobo type just sort of like just cannot help but just start managing a football team wherever he lands yeah maybe that's it well good luck to them like I say now good luck to myself and Jim because Jackson's Encyclopedia is happening this afternoon.

50:47Vish won the Jack's Encyclopedia belt last week where he absolutely took Luke and I to pieces, tore into us, grabbed the belt and he's off to Australia soon. He wants to take the belt with him so Jim and I need to stop him from doing that. We need to stop this villain. Yes, we might need to quite frankly cheat, Jim. You and I. I'm all for that. Good, good. Give him an elbow in the ribs, don't get sent off. But either or, Jack's Encyclopedia is happening this afternoon. It's going to be a belter. So it'll be available to listen of course later today, make sure to subscribe to the Football Ramble in your podcast app so that you never miss an episode.

51:21Thank you very much for listening to the Football Ramble part of the ACARS Creator Network. We will see you later for Jack's Encyclopedia. And remember to vote for us in the FSAs. Thanks, PT. Bye-bye. Thanks, Jimmy. Cheers. Thanks, Vichy. Cheers. Thanks, Dick and the Cat.

51:42The Football Ramble is a Stack Production. and part of the ACAST Creator Network.