The Preview Show: It's all been for this

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3:46Pete Donaldson: I'm picking up good vibrations, everybody. Welcome to the Football Amour Preview Show. The Club World Cup kicks off this weekend, and today is Friday 13th of June. I'm Marcus Speller. I'm Eddie Russell. I'm Jim Campbell. And I'm Pete Donaldson.

4:10Pete Donaldson: Hello, everybody. It's Friday. We're here. You're there. The Club World Cup is imminent. The sun is out. And Pete Donaldson's going to see Pulp tonight. I am, yes. Come on. What a great start to the weekend. Pew! The weekend's landed. Yes. And I'm off to watch some thoughtful indie rock music. At the O2, I'm just wanting to make sure that that's where Pete's going to be tonight. Don't like that. All the shapes they can still make. Yes, exactly. That'd be great. So do look out for him. I know you'll all be there. I'll be dressed in a tweed jacket. Oh, yeah. Going like this with my fingers around my eye.

4:47Eye of fire. Eye of fire. In the middle of the night.

4:51Pete Donaldson: That's what you're going to be doing. So the McDonald's is on him after the show. Did sound like Billy Joel, yeah. Club World Cup. Where do we go from that? Well, it is the Club World Cup. This is what we've been waiting for, isn't it?

5:05Jim Campbell: We've been waiting a while. We started the show in 2007, and it's all been leading up to this. It has, Jim. This is what it's all about.

5:13Pete Donaldson: It's going to be huge, Andy. You're going? Yeah, tomorrow. You're off tomorrow? Yeah, tomorrow I'm going to Los Angeles. Bit of a sore head after Pulse tonight. The first couple games? Yeah, exactly. Does Los Angeles need you now, Andy? The trouble they're going through? National Guard on the streets and Andy battling the sheets. He's not having it. He needs a bit of calm. That's what he needs. He needs a bit of calm. To be fair, of all the people I know, then hopefully a lot of them are QPR fans. is it's Sean Deary turned up to go. How much are you spending on each hotel night? I imagine it's absolutely obscene.

5:46It's not that bad, actually. It's not that bad. It's not that bad. I'm staying in Pasadena because the games are at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. I see. The Rose Bowl is in the 1994 Rose Bowl. Oh, yeah, maybe. That's the one. Beautiful. They do good markets. The perfect place for PSG versus Atletico to start at midday. Yes. With absolutely no cover.

6:06Pete Donaldson: I saw a pre-season friendly there between Manchester United and LA Galaxy many moons ago. And it was roasting at like 7pm or whenever it kicked off. But that stadium is so intriguing because if you think about other stadiums that you've been to that have hosted massive matches, they don't come any bigger than the World Cup final. And despite Wembley's breachable security, you go in there and you go, OK, I could see this. or I don't know whether it'd be the Allianz Arena or blah, blah, blah. You start naming them all. That stadium, you think, how on earth did this host a World Cup final? It's almost like a college stadium, isn't it?

6:45Pete Donaldson: Yeah, right. It's quite, I don't know, would you use the word primitive? Is that the right word? Maybe that's not the right word. It feels quite old school. Old school. I'd say that. Can you buy dipping dots or can't you? I mean, just to cool yourself down on a hot day. What's a dipping dot? It's like a tiny bowl of frozen ice cream, I think. and you smear it all over you no you eat it they're just absolutely delicious and you just don't see them very often in this country if it makes you it makes you thirst more it makes you thirst more that's when you go ice cream does yeah that's when you go and get yourself a pint of michelada

7:18Jim Campbell: oh come on what's that 5 % beautiful so they're going to make an absolute fortune out of this basically just from everyone trying all these different methods to keep cool

7:25Pete Donaldson: I think Mr. Slushpappy is going to do well out of you Andy it's full of nutritious stuff talking about retro Yeah, exactly. Is that going to be kind of like basically when you, for the time difference, it's basically going to be morning football. It's going to be like breakfast football for you, isn't it? Yeah. Yeah, that'd be pretty good, wouldn't it? Yeah. All right. Fry up and then you'll get fried yourself. No roof on that stadium. Well, Egyptian side Al-Akhli face into Miami in tomorrow night's opener in Miami, which is 1am British time on the Sunday, Saturday night, but Sunday morning technically, if you will.

8:00See, I won't be watching that because the Gold Cup will be going on at the same time in the same city.

8:06Jim Campbell: Oh, wow. You'll have a laptop on, won't you? We've seen you double screen. Yeah, but it might be reaching the point where I think there's too much football. Yeah, there's a big sort of hippie scene out in LA, isn't there? Maybe you could get someone to teach you astral projection. You can watch both. I think he's going to be down Muscle Beach getting hunky. Who's in the Gold Cup final, by the way? Or is it yet to be determined? No, it's not the final. The tournament's just starting. Oh, I see. So there were two tournaments starting at the same time. And some of the players who should be playing for the USA in the Gold Cup can't because they're playing in the Club World Cup in the same country.

8:42Like Western McKinney, for example. I listened to the official FIFA Club World Cup podcast on the way in. I didn't get asked. No. It just felt very free from desire, the theme. To AI hosts. pretty that was kind of their kind of like you know tasting notes I would say but it had that wonderful gloss and sheen of like a Transworld sport piece and it made me and I'm going to say it very excited for this tournament Marcus Bellasso I am on board with the Club World Cup talking about like the stadium in Nashville get me out there I want to go to Nashville I want to dance on a table at Coyote Ugly a bar I repeatedly went to when I was in Nashville.

9:31Was there one in Nashville? There must be one everywhere. Is there one in Fuckawaka? I think there's one in Liverpool. Is there right? The real Coyote Ugly is in the meatpacking district in New York. Is it really? Right, I see. I'm glad to hear where you guys met. I'm glad to hear a bit of excitement

9:44Jim Campbell: because it's a summer tournament. I've not seen any bunting yet. Walking around, are there any Boca Juniors flags anywhere? Are you seeing any Benfica bunting? No, there's none of it. So I'm glad that you're bringing the excitement for this majorly legitimate summer tournament.

9:59Pete Donaldson: Bring your Botafogo and Bayern bunting. Exactly. Other matches this weekend, Palmyra versus Porto, Bayern versus Auckland City, the amateurs. Amateurs. It's Bayern. Very good. It's Bayern. It's Bayern.

10:14Jim Campbell: That feels like a punishment more than an achievement. Do you not feel like it's a plum draw for them? Well, in theory, yeah. They don't make much money on them. They get on the pitch and after five minutes, it's like, I've got a stitch now already. Do you get any money for entering? Do you get any money for actually entering? Oh, yeah, you do. Yeah, it's quite the old wedge. Is it? Is it 90 million to win it, potentially? It's a lot of money on it. They're not getting there. They obviously aren't going to get that, but there's a lot of money on offer.

10:40Pete Donaldson: There really is. There had to be to get them there. Yeah. The reason why I think it's a plum draw for Auckland City is because what would you rather be beaten by, some sides that you'd never really heard of or whatever, or you play against Bayern, Boca and Benfica. That is a brilliant group. It's quality. It's absolutely amazing. Some of these guys presumably they've had to take unpaid leave off work. So it's like when Portugal went to the Rugby World Cup for example. It's amazing. To have that in modern sport feels absolutely amazing. Angus Kilcully's not going to be doing any painting. and Andy this week think about it the shirt swapping involved they'll love it they will absolutely love it imagine the scramble for the biggies yeah I know they won't be able to get Eric Dyers though no he's gone to Monaco very wise thinking none of this club World Cup stuff I want a break I want to go south of France agent can you get oh you have lovely Monaco that's me you still only get two weeks he looks like quite a relaxed man who would enjoy a holiday doesn't he he earned his Winners' medal.

11:51Pete Donaldson: He did. Winners' league. I bet he's got a cupboard full of flip-flops. Different kinds of flip-flops. Yeah, all the different Javianas, or however you pronounce it. Elsewhere this weekend, Botafogo against the local Seattle Sounders. But perhaps the glamour tie of the weekend, PSG versus Atletico Madrid. Yeah, that's what I'm going to on Sunday. Is that right? Is that what PSG needs? You've won the Champions League. A lot of their players just won the UEFA Nations League. It's just how you sell it, isn't it? I mean, like Luis Enrique will be turning around and going, right, lads, off to LA. We have a celebration.

12:22Yeah. I guess it's how we've met.

12:23Jim Campbell: Beaten up by Atletico Madrid. Yeah.

12:26Pete Donaldson: That's not the last team you would have faced. Like America's a cool place to go for people, isn't it? Yes, it is. So they'd usually be holidaying there anyway. Well, do you think they're all just going to have a jolly up? I think they're just going to have a little jolly up. Udman Dembri is injured, but he's still going. Yeah. It's that kind of right. No, no, no. All in on that, Andy. And, you know, had you have let me go with you, I would have loved it myself. Like an Olympic village, cardboard beds and just fucking right centre.

12:51Jim Campbell: If they put a Club World Cup village up.

12:53Pete Donaldson: Yeah. I think that if you're Lewis and Ricky, to give the players a little bit of time off and all that kind of stuff, you'd be like, lads, we're kicking off at three whenever they're kicking off. Just get there an hour before the game. That's it. I'll see you in a few days. You know what I mean? You don't need to train for this, Andy, do you? They know their jobs. Whereas normally they have the sort of, I suppose it's going the way of NBA, isn't it? where there's a sort of player's fashion catwalk almost on the way into the stadium. Everyone's looking what the player's wearing. And we're assuming a couple of them come in with candy floss and Mickey Mouse ears from Anaheim.

13:31Pete Donaldson: That would be very good. I would be very pleased with that. Well, despite the teams on the show and Andy Brassel's presence, ticket sales do continue to be sluggish. Well, now you've announced my presence, I'm assuming they'll go through the roof now, right? I would have thought so. You know, some pit bull, innit?

13:50he's got the east coast I'm dealing with the west coast that's what's happening between us that's right

13:54Pete Donaldson: and there's plenty to deal with there are plenty of seats available for tomorrow's opening match there are some tickets available as low as$25 yes I mean

14:04Jim Campbell: Jim you'd be up for that would I? yeah I think this is interesting isn't it because it's becoming quite a big story that ticket sales are sluggish and it will be slightly embarrassing for FIFA if there are visibly empty stadiums for the tournament, especially if they're particularly bad. But does it actually matter? I think it's more about the TV audience is more important, isn't it? It looks bad though, isn't it? It does. You'd fill up one side of the stadium first, wouldn't you? It depends quite how empty it is. Could you direct all the play

14:32Pete Donaldson: down that one side, both teams? That's what you should do. Well, Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA and sort of de facto president of the world, is not worried though. He said, the stadium will be full. you know you never really know what will happen you never really know what I'm talking about that sounds like a sort of thing a baddie would say before pressing a button on something yes but this button means that you have a lot of people suddenly pop up through the floor yeah and they're in the seats what would I mean will they go for the sort of would you think they'll have cardboard cutout fans or something oh maybe worked in the lockdown they did and he was part of it in AFC Wimbledon yeah me and my family were cardboard cutouts behind the goal they are well I don't know why on your one and they had you given a V sign, but there we are.

15:16Weirdly, I was trying to find it in my house the other day, and I seem to have lost them. Oh, no. It probably means my wife has recycled them.

15:24Pete Donaldson: Feeding you into a shredder. Lovely. Did Pete buy you on eBay? Yeah. My family now.

15:35I remember that shot of Putin and Infantino playing football against a robot goalkeeper. And Putin can't get it past the robot. I mean, to be fair, no one can get it past the robot goalkeeper. But Infantino managed to get it past the robot goalkeeper. And there was a lovely moment where Putin was really annoyed about it. So fair play to Gianni. But maybe he's taken the robot footballer, the robot goalkeeper rather, and stuck a load of them in the stands maybe.

16:05Pete Donaldson: I think there will be something, whether it's robots, cardboard cutouts, or people that they've just... simply pay to be there. Yeah, I mean, that's the likelihood, isn't it?

16:14Jim Campbell: They're essentially papering it like it's the first night of a fringe show. No one's there yet. The show's not ready. There's 10 ticket sales. All those departees, just pop them in the stadium. Yeah, on their way to El Salvador.

16:26Pete Donaldson: By the way, right, before you give any credit, I don't think anybody was giving Infantino any credit there, but Infantino also said this, and we're in trouble here. One of the best things I've learned here in the United States is the concept of dynamic pricing. I knew nothing about it, but it means prices can go up or down. The spin on this. I bet you fucking did.

16:45Jim Campbell: The spin on this. They don't go down, do they? Not for R2. They never go down. Well, they've gone down here, haven't they? Isn't that how he's trying to spin this as a positive? Like, see, dynamic pricing is brilliant sometimes because it makes it really affordable. Snap up your tickets, kids. And also, but when you hand your credit card over, they go up. Yeah. But there's been talk for a while that dynamic pricing tickets will be used for the World Cup. So Infantino appears to be lying here about only having just discovered that. There will be an interview he has done 10 years ago talking about dynamic pricing.

17:16And I wish it was a two-way sort of interview where somebody could challenge him. I go, that's a lie, isn't it? Yeah. You've of course heard of that. It doesn't, to me, feel a reveal that he could get free tickets to Oasis.

17:28Pete Donaldson: Maybe. Students at Miami-Dade College are reportedly being offered four complimentary tickets if they buy one$20 ticket for the opening match. Students are even being given the chance to intern at FIFA's offices. Don't do it. Yeah, intern in the seats at a stadium. Yeah, the first job is you've got to travel around and sit in all these seats. Do your doggies. I'm up for it. I'm on board. Get me in the seats. But you love it because it's chaos. It's Colorado. It's Colorado. It's a failing thing. and you're the man to do it. Do you still have that FIFA fleece that you bought? Oh, that's a good point.

18:07Yeah, I probably wouldn't wear it in, maybe in Colorado. Pop that on. Yeah.

18:11Pete Donaldson: And yeah, it does go to show that everyone has their price, doesn't it? And mine was just listening to a podcast. Yeah, that's all it was. Well, gentlemen, amid the ongoing controversy and protests in Los Angeles, the US Customs and Border Patrol tweeted, Let the games begin! That is absolutely killing. The first FIFA... Strucking a revolver. Fucking Hunger Games. I don't know. It's amazing, isn't it? The tweet... Licking a billy club. Everybody welcome! The tweet went on to say, the first FIFA Club World Cup game start on June 14th in Miami. CBP will be suited and booted and ready to provide security for the first round of games.

18:54Pete Donaldson: Why are you talking about your boots, mate?

18:56Jim Campbell: This is apparently, you know, not unreasonably been very off-putting for people. because they're going to be essentially like ICE agents at the Games. It's nuts. There was a AAA Mexican wrestling outfit and WWE kind of joint promotion show on in Englewood last week. And I was thinking, if I'm Mexican or anybody from South America, I wouldn't be attending that show. Because like, you know, it's literally just the allow... Like ICE agents are going to Home Depot and picking people up. It was just, you know, day labourers and stuff. It's like, it's not about the criminals anymore. It's about literally anyone they can get.

19:32So horrific, a horrific time to visit America. It is horrific. Would you risk it if it was pulp?

19:41Pete Donaldson: Again, everyone has their prize. You're not from Sheffield.

19:48Pete Donaldson: Well, FIFA will hold a consultation about expanding the Club World Cup from 32 teams to 48 teams. With themselves? If the tournament goes well. I love it. they're not even don't you wait for a weekend when people are concentrating on the football Andy I just I don't they're all New Zealand club sides yeah that's right what keeps being forgotten

20:08Jim Campbell: about this is like if they expand this and it presumably would become another six week tournament as well like they've expanded the Champions League where are we going to fit the Super League

20:18Pete Donaldson: where are we going to fit it I know Arsenal fans are worried exactly you know I it's just it's madness I love the fact that they haven't even waited. They said, well, if it goes well, well, again, that'll be very much up to their interpretation. But, like, just wait for the first ball to be kicked. I mean, already. That's what they want to do.

20:36Jim Campbell: They want it to 48 teams. It could be an absolute disaster. And no one at FIFA would realise. Because Gianni Infantino seems to just be kind of unaware of what makes football interesting or good.

20:49Pete Donaldson: Also, as well, like, where can a 48-team tournament realistically be hosted? The US is maybe the only or one of a very, very few small group of countries that could do that. The UK could do it. I think you've just sold me. Well, several insiders at FIFA have said that it's an open secret internally that the tournament will soon be played every two years. I mean, it's just... Because the next one is scheduled in 2029, so they're going to bring it every two years. Right. And this is when a study has just come out saying that footballers need at least a four-week holiday in between times and then like a four week

21:28Jim Campbell: training this is from 5th Pro isn't it which is the biggest players union in the world I think this is the most concerning thing because the players are all really I think what happens over this tournament football wise is interesting and how seriously teams take it and all the rest of it but I think how the players react and what they say at the end of it because we've had I think more player dissent than ever before about the calendar and what influence the players are able to have on the future shaping of the calendar is really interesting. Because we could be heading towards, you talked about the Super League there, we could be heading towards some sort of old boxing style scenario where you have a schism of associations, a schism of competitions.

22:10If clubs and players say, actually, we can't do this. There are decisions that have to be made. They've definitely taken the easy route of doing it in the US because it is quite a nice place for young footballers to visit if they were doing this in South Africa or somewhere where it's not quite the sort of place they'd holiday anywhere. And it's easier to sell to the clubs as well because it's a market where it's being sold to them as ripe for expansion.

22:39Pete Donaldson: Well, gentlemen, I think we should go for a well-owned break now. But coming up after that, more from the Club World Cup. And Trent, hablo espanol muy bien, Andy.

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25:47Jim Campbell: I'm Martin Keown and you're listening to Football Ramble. Yeah, maybe Swan's more about the football ramble. I'm Martin Keown and you're listening to the Football Ramble. I'm Martin Keown. Keown.

25:57Pete Donaldson: Welcome back to Football Ramble, everybody. Deep cut, that. Proper long school. It was, wasn't it? Good old Martin. Now, Manchester City and Chelsea are getting ready for the Club World Cup, of course. UEFA President Alexander Seferin thinks the European teams will win everything. Only one thing to win, isn't there? And only one of them can do it. But Seferin is in very, very buoyant spirits. So the European clubs, apparently they are taking it quite seriously. Manchester City chief exec, Ferran Soriano, revealed that the club staff have been adjusting the squad's physical programme to ensure they're ready for the tournament.

26:34Pete Donaldson: And, you know, they're in a group with Juventus, Al Ain from UAE and Wydad from Morocco. So, you know, as a group... They'll probably get through, won't they? You would imagine so. There's not going to be much jeopardy. But I suppose they have to take it seriously. And of course, while the tournament goes on and you start facing these other European sides and there's more eyes on the competition and more prize. And the South American side will be a threat as well, you would think. Yeah. Naturally, the competition will sort of ramp up a bit.

27:02Jim Campbell: I don't think there'll be tears if they go out. The clubs have to take it seriously and there's no shame on them for doing so when they're in it. Because they want to be embarrassed as well. There's a difference though. We were talking about this on OTC. There's surely a difference between clubs' needs and teams' needs. And that's what we're going to work out. Because people, and again, we talked about this yesterday, the fact is that people are already talking about Liverpool and Arsenal being favourites for the Premier League next season. Because what sort of shape are City and Chelsea going to turn up in?

27:37Which I think is fair. And I think for City, their need is slightly different to other teams in this. They're using this as pre-season training. Exactly. If you think of the signings they've made this week, the signings they've made back in January, they're betting in a completely new team. There's a deal of freshness to that as well. I think they'll use it as a bonding experience. I think if you think back to before Euro 24, when Julian Nagelsmann took the Germany team on a small tournament stroke jolly to the United States and he felt like it really worked for them because you just don't get that much continuous time with the players.

28:17And I think for club teams, this will be quite unique for them in terms of them having continuous amount of time for each other. Now, a lot of those teams, the last thing they want is continuous time for each other because they've just had that for the past. But you don't get really a situation where you're spending two weeks or three weeks completely within each other's company. It's more like a national team feel. Eating Philly cheese sticks. Oh, exactly. In Philadelphia, in Atlanta. Get a bit of grimy food on the ground. Beautiful. That's what it's all about. But I think for City as well, it's not just that.

28:51They are still in the process of building a global brand. So I think the needs of them, and at the other end of established global brands, Real Madrid it's a massive deal for them it's also huge for the Saudi clubs

29:04Jim Campbell: isn't it it's the first true global exposure that they that they can get yeah

29:10Pete Donaldson: for sure yeah I find it interesting how they'll approach this I mean and I agree with your points and also as well there is the thing that you know if Man City went out of a group with the three aforementioned sides it would be a bit embarrassing yeah it would be but no one would be talking about it like in a couple of months I don't think No, I don't think they would. I don't think they would. In fact, maybe even over here, people will be like, ah, fair play, lads. But I think the whole point with this, because it's a completely new tournament, and I know you'll say, oh, the Club World Cup has existed for ages.

29:40Not in this format. No, no, no, no. It is basically a new tournament. I think it's hard. It's a little bit like with the First Nations League or the first couple of Nations Leagues. You can't really say what sort of meaning it's got until you're into the thick of it. It's like what Pete was saying at the beginning. We've sort of seen it as this abstract concept at this point that, you know, we're expecting there to be a break and there's not a break. But I dare say, once we're a few games in, like, we'll feel differently about it.

30:07Jim Campbell: Yeah, I think the issue is, is that I think what we're all expecting is it to be good because it's football, you know, and we know that the tournament format is an enjoyable one and one we all like. But regardless of how good it is, even if it's the greatest tournament the world has ever seen, I still don't think that justifies its existence. I think it was the greatest tournament the world has ever seen. I'd want it every year. and that's the problem, isn't it? You be careful saying that. Every year. When you're watching Grammy winner Doja Cat and Thames strutting their stuff at the half-time show, they're doing a proper half-time show.

30:40Don't forget J Balvin.

30:41Jim Campbell: Yeah, it's an hour long, isn't it, the half-time show? You see, as you know, my peak of all half-time shows is when Anastasia did one at Bayern on the final day of last season. Oh, yeah, I remember that. They started the second half eight minutes late. the other team, Freiburg, was still going for Europe and they're going... In the end, I and Robin started helping her text dismantle the stage. That's enjoyable. It's taking so long. It's good to have a career to fall back on, Rody. But the whole halftime show is curated by one, Mr. Chris Martin. Yeah, I read that. Really? Of course, yeah.

31:16Pete Donaldson: He'll come on, he'll come on. Hi, guys. I still haven't forgiven him. I shouldn't be here, but I am here. Do you want me to stay? Yeah. Oh, fine. I want you to watch it. When I went to see Jay-Z, I can't remember whether it was O2 or Royal Albert Hall, him and Gwyneth Paltrow, who he's still married to at the time, came on and joined Jay-Z in the encore, and I'm like, I didn't pay for this. I didn't pay for this. Have you got extra roundy? I interviewed him once, and it was the day after I split with my ex, and he said, how was your weekend? Did he play Fix You? He said, you all right, man? How was your weekend?

31:54and I was like, yeah. He asked you a question. He did ask me a question. And I give him all the credit.

32:00Pete Donaldson: Many, many famous people and the footballers and all this of it that never ask you a question. But small talk, not being my forte, I just laid it out there instead of split it with my girlfriend. And how did he reply? He gave me a badge. Indeed? That's nice. What did it say? Loser. It was one of the... I tried hard. Game nil play. Just said decoupled.

32:23Jim Campbell: Consciously uncoupled. Yeah, it's one for you.

32:26Pete Donaldson: Why does he carry these badges around? I don't know. I think he was one of his, you know, they've got those little funny little badges and motifs. Oh, he's got the bracelets as well. Like Neil Warnock with his mum bag. Yeah, it was like a little motif he was carrying around. It was like a badge. Was it a Coldplay badge? Yeah, it was a Coldplay-related badge. Have you still got it? No, I think I gave it away to my next lover. Oh. I call this the breakup badge.

32:48Jim Campbell: I've earned this. It does feel like an ingredient in a curse. Yeah.

32:56Pete Donaldson: Oh, dear. All right. Well, Chelsea will face Los Angeles Football Club. Flamingo and ES Tunis in Group D. LAFC beat Club America in a playoff earlier this month. They needed to fill the spot left by Club Lyon, who were kicked out because of ownership issues. Would never happen in Europe. Would never happen in Europe. The thing is, because LAFC have crept in at the last minute as a sort of replacement, Denmark-esque, It means that they're not playing their games in LA, which is a bit of a fiddle. That is strange, isn't it? It's disappointing. It is a bit disappointing, yeah. But I mean, presumably some of the American sides, I mean, as you said, the Gold Cup's happening, so they're not going to have some of their best players.

33:38I mean, it's super confusing. There have been protests in the MLS that they feel that the MLS season is being sort of semi-cannibalised. Is that going on as well? Yeah, they're having a minor break from the MLS. Do you have MLS? As a friend who lives in America pointed out to me, He's like, I know you like to go to football every day, so you might be able to see a bit of MLS.

33:58Jim Campbell: Actually, his friend who lives in England will point out, Andy, it's just MLS. It's not the Major League Soccer, is it?

34:05Pete Donaldson: It's like it's the Arsenal. It's the same thing. That's the problem. Now, Real Madrid are in the Club World Cup, of course. Some people may well have them down as favourites because they do like to die. I mean, let's be honest. Perez would love to be like, we're the champions of the world again. but they don't need your Champions League. Yeah, which of course they have done in the past. They've won the Club World Cup. But they're in... Just don't turn up. If you're not going to win it, don't turn up like they usually do at the award ceremonies and that. Just don't bother. Yeah, that was okay. Well, they're in a group with RB Salzburg, Pachuca and Alexandra Mitrovic's Al Hillel.

34:43Pete Donaldson: Nice. Old Mitro is going to show them what for. Put them in the Mitro grinder. And again, everyone has their price. Mine is considerably lower than your average because all you needed to do is put Mitrovic up top and I'm all in for Al Hillel. It's a bit of a debut week for Dean Hoyssen, isn't it? Bloody hell. Yeah, trying to deal with Mitro in the heat. Well, Real Madrid, of course, have been saying it would be appropriate to their grand history if they were the first club to win it. Appropriate. Oh, the romance of the Club World Cup. Appropriate. It's just saying like, hand it over. We need not play.

35:18Save your legs. We're worried about fatigue as well. Get fucked.

35:22Pete Donaldson: It's just superb language. Get fucked. Fucking bells. Well, Peter, one man who will be at the Club World Cup with him is Trent Alexander-Arnold. They paid a few million quid to get him in the Club World Cup, of course. He had his unveiling as a Real Madrid player. He took the number 12 shirt because he's going to be a sub-goalkeeper, for those who remember. but yeah so Spanish top sides are required to have their A squad with numbers 1 to 25 he's got Trent on the back of his shirt I don't know whether that will be the case in the games I assume that's

36:00Jim Campbell: what he's going for apparently he's said that people in Europe generally find his name quite confusing because it sounds like three first names so some people call him Alex some people call him Arnold so he's said he's just making this easier for people that's nice

36:13Pete Donaldson: already trying to fit in and of course he spoke excellent Spanish Andy Bressel at that unveiling It shows you that this little rat has been learning Spanish for a while now, and he was always going to go. All right? I thought it was a disgrace, that, speaking Spanish. I bet no fan pages have pointed that out so far. Oh, man. No internet forums have pointed that out. In between listening to that FIFA Club World Cup podcast, I was just watching a lot of Liverpool YouTube. I mean, he should have done a good mind. He should have learned how to defend, never mind learning Spanish. Oh, yes. Turn the tune, haven't they?

36:47Pete Donaldson: Pop it in my veins. What I would have been particularly good is if he'd have done his goodbye video to the Liverpool fans. That would have been a joke. Estoy triste de dejar los ojos. Adios, amigos. It is amazing, though. He's done well. It's such a power move. Like, on the first day to say, I'm not Beckham. I'm not Owen. Seriously, I'm not Owen. Check me out. It's pretty good. It's funny, I was saying to Pete, actually, the way that Ryan Shirky's first interview after he signed for Manchester City, where he spoke English, not quite to the same level as Trent's Spanish. Pete was wearing a bucket hat, so it was funny.

37:29Exactly, he was walking bow-leggedly. But it was quite interesting. Considering he's 21, he's never lived outside France before, I thought it was quite impressive English. but it was funny because obviously he was like plodding his way through a few phrases like I'm pleased to be here and play for this beautiful team and all this and then the way it was described in the keep because obviously things are described in a much more florid way in French than they are in English it said above Shirky expresses himself in the language of Shakespeare for the first time it's like does he alright then yeah

38:11Pete Donaldson: Shakespeare's language was English, Andy. Yeah. So, you know, they are right in a way. Shakespeare was bad for it as well, wasn't he? You would say so. You would say so. Alexander Odom, the new Gabriel Marquez. Is that right? Gabriel Marquez. Lovely. Well, staying in Spain, did you see that on Wednesday, Real Oviedo beat Almira on aggregate to reach the La Liga playoff final? And I understand I've just said the La Liga final, okay, on the old MLS thing. the winning goal came from a Santi Cazorla free kick you love to see it he's 40 this is 8 years after he was told that he'd be lucky to walk again when he had what 11 different surgeries on his ankles or his Achilles I think it was his Achilles or his car it was the back of his heel wasn't it it was the back of his heel I don't know if you've seen the picture of it but he didn't have any leg left it was absolutely incredible it was complete reconstruction really wasn't it skin grafted from his arm and all that kind of stuff so still at 40 playing at a very, very good level by the way.

39:12Jim Campbell: And he looks 40. He looks like a 40-year-old chipmunk. Yes. And he's just doing this amazing thing. And of course, Real of Yodo is boyhood club, Peter. There's nothing not to love about this. It's so romantic. It's satisfying. It fills me with joy at a time where FIFA are trying to extract as much joy from me as possible to monetise it.

39:32Pete Donaldson: Are you off-board now? You were on board with it again. Then I saw what football could be. Yeah. This is such an emotional rollercoaster. What's pulp going to be like later? This, Andy, this is what it's going to be. They'll be jumping up and down and then the slow bit will come. This is sort of freeze and whiz, this bit, isn't it? Yeah. I think this is healthy ages. Yeah, well, he used his own money to help save Real Oviedo going bust in 2012. He returned there in 2023 on the lowest salary allowed under league rules. He had played in Qatar for three years before. Okay, yeah. As a little feathered the nest.

40:08Pete Donaldson: Well, taken from the rich to give to the poor. Perhaps let's spin it like that for sanity's sake. Otherwise, nothing is pure and good in this footballing world. But it's amazing. And what was funny was he said, you know, yeah, I am 40, but I was disappointed not to start. And I was like, what a man. What a competitive man. Modric-esque, I would say. It's amazing, though, because when they get to the Liga playoff final, I know Oviedo have a lot of British-based sympathises. is fair to say. But they're playing in the final, Mirandes, who've never been in the top flight before. Yeah. Which is amazing.

40:45They're a club from a tiny little place and they spent over half their existence in the third and fourth tier of Spanish football.

40:52Pete Donaldson: Andy, much like a dinner party around your house, whatever happens, romance is guaranteed. Right. Everybody, to make sure we treat the Club World Cup with the seriousness it deserves, we're doing another set of tournament predictions and we want you to get involved. Any excuse? And this is a big old excuse. Here are the categories. We want to know who's going to be the winner. The dark horse. Oh, that's open to interpretation here. Top's goal scorer. The amount of goals scored. The amount of fans who attend the tournament. That's a tricky one. That's a tricky one because they will lie. If you get that right, then you get a football ramble knighthood.

41:31Pete Donaldson: Unless your name's David Beckham. we want to know your prediction who's going to be the most famous non-football celebrity spotted at a match so you can't have David Beckham alright so somebody who's not involved in football ok they might have bought a few shares or something but someone who's not managed not played exactly something that Gianni Infantino will say and be creative and obviously the favourite category notable mad shit which could overlap the previous one

41:58Jim Campbell: Pete once famously predicted that a penis will be seen and you can't have that because obviously Gianni Amphantana is going to be all over it so a penis will definitely be seen. Yeah, already been seen. Notably mad. You'd have to say a bear penis then. A bear penis?

42:12Pete Donaldson: Yeah. In Colorado? Well, they have them in America. The right to bear penis. Covered in honey. The mind boggles. Well, there you go. Something to inspire you for those predictions. So head over to our socials now and you'll see our new predictions graphic. Fill that out yourselves and then tag us in a post using hashtag RamblePredictions. We'll reveal our own at the end of the tournament. It's going to be ridiculous. Now, coming up after this, Spurs confirm Thomas Frank, and there's some wonderful fans, Shithousery, in Italy.

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44:32Pete Donaldson: Right, everybody, let's talk about the Premier League. I forgot it existed for a minute there. Thomas Frank has officially joined Tottenham Hotspur. He was Brentford manager for seven years, of course, including when they were promoted in 2021. But now, Pete Donaldson, he's walked across to North London and he's going to be managing the Europa League champions and the Champions League contenders into next season. Tottenham what do you think Frank yeah I mean seven years that's flown by hasn't it seems like a much shorter period of time but I mean I'll point in the direction of Andy when you wrote your book talking about the Champions League back in the day 2003-2004 sort of thing 2004 you never mentioned Thomas Frank then you obviously you obviously spent you obviously spent a lot of time following a slightly unfashionable Porto side and Jose Mourinho who obviously went on to win the tournament.

45:27And they'd obviously entered through the UEFA Cup back then. And so for that reason and that reason alone, I'm kind of asking you, are Thomas Frank's eyes on upside down?

45:43He's got upside down eyes, Marcus. Answer the question. I don't like it. I don't like looking at him. I'm scared of it. He's got upside down eyes. The thing is, unlike Jose Mourinho, if that is the case he'll be unaware of it because of course the cover of my book was Jose Mourinho kissing the Champions League trophy or kissing his own reflection depending on the way you look at it nice but Thomas Frank has never won a major trophy so he's not had the luxury of doing that he will hope to do that with Spurs or maybe you'll get to give a little peck to the Europa League yeah

46:15Pete Donaldson: a little peck on the Europa League yeah can you go into your own under the cover of darkness go into your own trophy cabinet and just get off with all your trophies. There was a sombre moment. Trent Alexander-Arnold looking at the, as one Liverpool YouTuber pointed out, he's looking at them trophies in the trophy cabinet. I don't know. He's looking at those trophies. He's looking at them trophy cabinets. He's looking at that trophy in the cabinet. Like, he's never held the Champions League. I was like, oh, he's upset.

46:43Jim Campbell: Yeah. He's upset. He's upset at a man looking at a cabinet. He has held it.

46:48Pete Donaldson: He also is probably looking at the two that Real Madrid won off Liverpool. Exactly, yeah. Probably off Liverpool, they'll beat them in the final. But I think it's going to be a very difficult job, Marcus. Yes. You don't think? I wish him all the best, the best of British luck. I think it's a good appointment, though. And it's good that they've got it done early. That is a surprise. So he can have his pre-season. That is the key thing, because there is going to be a stylistic change. I think Tottenham will be a little bit more practical under him, which they've needed. Look, I mean, the whole Ange Postacoli thing has been taught to death.

47:21But what I think has not been emphasised nearly often enough when there's been the whole should they sack him, should they not sack him. I think people know how I feel about that. You're an angiot man. Yeah, how I've felt about that for a while. But that doesn't mean, just because I thought it was the right time for him to go, that doesn't mean that the whole appointing him has been a failure. I mean, he was really positive for them. He was exactly what they needed directly after Mourinho and Conte and his two years for various reasons have put Tottenham in a better place than where he picked them up.

47:58I would suggest despite the dreadful league form of last season. But now, we know a lot has got to change and Frank is going to want to condition the team in completely a different way. I think the fact that he's got all his backroom staff with him is absolutely huge as he attempts to sort it out and he's got time and they've got a transfer window where they really need to help him out.

48:20Jim Campbell: Yeah, and actually, I think that there's a lot of... In fact, I think there are exclusively positives about this because you talk about the conditioning there. A lot was made of Postogoglu possibly sort of pushing the players too hard in training and that's why they were getting a lot of hamstring injuries, that sort of stuff. There was talk of the medical staff themselves suggesting this and it not being listened to. So I think, you know, Frank works his players pretty hard, but it might actually still be a step down, which is kind of perfect, really, because the players perhaps feel like things are slightly less intense and the level's still really high.

48:49Jim Campbell: That squad is far better than the league position suggested. Obviously injuries played a part in that light to the point where even before they make a single signing, you would think that they're still in a really good position to do significantly better than last season. The level of signings they can attract is obviously much, much higher now because of the Champions League. And I think this, realistically, this is the best appointment since Pochettino because obviously Conte and Mourinho, the styles didn't quite work. They wanted a kind of big name manager to take them over the top and it didn't quite play out like that.

49:20Jim Campbell: Nuno was a bit of a disaster. Obviously, Postacoglu has had a tangible success. So you have to include him there highly. But I think we do all expect them to improve in most games under Frank. So I really do think you're going back to Pochettino. And again, he's a very, very pragmatic manager. And I think actually part of what has been an issue for Spurs before, even in their periods of relative success, has been that it has been kind of all out glory, isn't it? And sometimes that has kind of bitten them and they've kind of been perhaps a bit naive, left the back door open. Frank's a lot more pragmatic than that.

49:51Jim Campbell: I think you can say that Frank is a more pragmatic manager than it, even than Pochettino, who had a little bit of that about him, but was, again, perhaps a bit, you know, do or die in some cases. So it's a really, really good appointment for them. I agree. And there's mainly probably less development required than when Pochettino had to undertake when he went in. because, again, it was transitional at the beginning and he got them into a good place. I think he's been left something to work with, it's fair to say. It was interesting the Romero kind of nailing his colours to Ange's mast after the announcement.

50:26Have you got the... We've got a transfer window left.

50:29Pete Donaldson: So, yeah, an hour after Frank's appointment, yeah, Spurs captain Christian Romero thanked Ange on his socials and said, you paved the way despite the many obstacles that always existed and always will exist. Yeah, so it always will exist. You sort of feel that that was a real kind of quite deft negotiation, like negotiating yourself out of Spurs by doing that. News, he's no longer Spurs captain. I just think it's clever. He's in a tricky position though, Romero, isn't he? I mean, I think that's probably why he's putting some sort of subtle pressure on the club, unlike him to be subtle, isn't it?

51:00But I think you look at it and the fact is he would like to be in a more established Champions League team. probably one particular team in Spain that's consistently shown interest in him but the fact is that particular team slash club don't really have the money to buy him and that just bought Dean Howson right? no I'm talking about Atletico but like Spurs are not going to sell him for cheap they paid a lot for him in the first place he's in a difficult position I think

51:33Pete Donaldson: I mean there was a lot of love from the players towards Postacoglu on their socials which shows you that they did like him and respect him and all that kind of stuff. But this is a different twist though, isn't it? It is a different twist, but also as well, players like, you know, people were making things of some of the players saying, yeah, I'd like Postacoglu to stay on and so on. They're not going to say the opposite, are they? No. Realistically, they're not. So if they ask the direct question, they're going to be quite politician-like. I think a lot of them were quite like that. They said, thanks for everything that you've done.

52:04It's been a pleasure working with you. they didn't say the club shouldn't have sacked him

52:07Pete Donaldson: but again they're not going to say that as well so I think the players did like Ange but in terms of should he stay on or should he not who knows what their actual opinions are so one can read into socials as much as you want but I think the one thing that you would definitely say the players did like him because as I say try and find that level of social media engagement when Ten Haag got sacked from the Man United players you won't what would be quite amusing if Thomas Frank just started signing Wisser and just like going after, you know, he gets some bubo last minute, you know, that kind of thing.

52:43Well, I think that's the thing. What happens over the next couple of weeks?

52:46Pete Donaldson: He just totally ruthless, guts Brentford down. What happens over the next couple of weeks for Brentford is really interesting because Justin Cochran has gone with Frank despite the fact that he was mentioned as a contender for the Brentford job. Also part of England's coaching staff. Yeah, Obviously, what they want is very highly rated, of course. A lot of what they want is stability and to continue on the way they're going. So the next move they make is a really key one because what they've got to do is not just plan for next season, but kind of stem the flow of players who've seen a long-serving coach go and thought, you know, it would not be surprising if Vissa sees Mbumo, who's presumably going to go this summer, and thinks, you know what I've built my reputation as a Premier League player here is the wind blowing in a certain direction he's in a strong position you need you need someone who's going to come in at Brentford impress the players and say it's business as usual onwards and upwards yeah and they need to get that sorted quite quickly yes they do they absolutely do right gentlemen I want to turn our attention to Sampdoria the side from Genoa of course they're playing a Serie B relegation playoff or play out as they call it in Italy, which is quite a strange thing.

54:01Pete Donaldson: Play out at the bottom, yeah. Yeah, play your way out of trouble, maybe. They're playing against... Or play your way out of the division. Oh, yeah, depending on you. Playoff sounds a bit too much like payoff. Maybe. Maybe they've got it right, then. Yeah, maybe they have. Changing perceptions. Well, Sampdoria up against Salernitana on Sunday. Now, fans of Samp's arch-rivals, Genoa, have been buying tickets for the game under fake names to try and get them to play in front of a half-empty stadium. is wonderfully lovely. The inventiveness of it is amazing really because Samp have thought, right, okay, we need to really get everyone behind us.

54:36Now they were actually relegated. They finished fourth bottom and then Brescia went bust. So they got, sort of got reprieved and promoted into the play-out. Massimo Cholino, obviously heavily involved in the Brescia thing. So Samp Doria think, okay, let's really, they've already done that earlier in the season when they got Alborigo going Avani involved, Mancini involved, Lombardo involved to try and bring back old Sam. Didn't really work that well on the pitch. And now they've gone, okay, we can film Morasi if we charge like a fiver for the tickets. Or it's like$2.50 for concessions. And Genoa fans have thought, all right, then, bring it on.

55:18Bring it on. We can have fun for not much money.

55:20Pete Donaldson: They've also been enjoying the names that they've been using. So, for example, Diego Melito has bought some tickets, obviously famously played for Genoa. Massimo Ferraro was one of them. The former president of Sampdoria. Is that right? Yeah. Financially ruinous, quite extravagant. I mean, if you're going to do it, do it properly. Yeah, this is it. They've grasped themselves. So Sampdoria will cancel all tickets which are considered blatantly absurd, as they put it. No team, no club has anyone in the box office to do fraud detection on this scale. They just don't have it. Let them in. Don't let them in.

56:00Pete Donaldson: But you're highlighting it, though. Hang on a minute. There's tickets here for, you know, Atilio Lombardo or something like that. Svenja and Eriksson. I'm sorry, I'm not having that. So, yeah. We shall see if they can fill the stadium for that very, very, very important match, of course. Now, gentlemen, let us finish with a little mensch for the England under-21s. They kicked off their Euro Under-21 defence with a 3-1 win over Czechia last night, which is a good start. I mean, the funny thing is, Lee Carsley said to his side, he challenged them and say, right, be even better than what the England side were in the previous tournament.

56:38Pete Donaldson: Of course, who won it? Now, that England side won every single game and didn't concede a goal. So, they've already failed, haven't they? They have. That's backfired. Get yourself home, lads.

56:48Jim Campbell: Yeah, I love it. Go even better. It's like, come on. Well, the goal difference has got to be higher, surely. That's all they've got left after one game.

56:55Pete Donaldson: That's all they've got, Jim Campbell. Carsley's about aesthetics. He is. That's what he's about. I think so, yeah. Harvey Ellick scored. I tell you what, Tino Liveramendo had a lovely time galloping down that left side. He did, yeah. William Musler played very well for Denmark for 20 minutes. Oh, yeah. Set one up, scored one. Beautiful. So, yeah, it's a good tournament. The under-20-ounce in your castle. Always a lot of fun. Yes, indeed, yeah. Someone at Channel 4 who was showing the England's games I was getting very excited about it. Every programme synopsis on the TV guide throughout the day mentioned England, which was quite enjoyable.

57:27Pete Donaldson: Strange. Well, yeah, there was a chap on X called Chris who suggested that I might be working for Channel 4. Channel 4 continuity. Yeah, so just to read this. So this is Channel 4. The programme is A New Life in the Sun. Where are they now? And the synopsis reads, Kevin and Laura race to finish renovations in northern Italy. Will Brooke Norton Cuffey, who plies his trade in nearby Genoa, feature for the Young Lions tonight? Interesting. This one, Chateau DIY. Christina and Sasanne's irrigation system is leaky. Let's hope England's defence isn't similarly porous as they face checking the end of€21 tonight.

58:07Pete Donaldson: Which was very, very good. Well done, someone. And then this on Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back. Gordon tries to save Sherman's restaurant. Speaking of Gordons, can any of the current young lines replicate Anthony Gordon's player of the tournament success at the last under 21 euros? Amazing. That's brilliant, man. I have a DMACC where they keep on telling me to talk about the motocross. I have no concept about the motocross. I don't know what it is. I don't think you've really done TV or radio until you've advertised a product that you know nothing about. No, it's a good point, actually.

58:36I remember being on TalkSport and going, yeah, buy two grip fills for a tenner from this place. what's a crib Phil did I put the emphasis in the right place

58:49Pete Donaldson: you've got tons of the stuff now don't you Andy for free there we are thank you very much for listening to the Football Ramble part of the Acast Creator Network do remember to get your Club World Cup predictions sorted by finding the template on our socials right now it's going to be a hoot myself Jim and Andy are back tomorrow for the mailbag make sure you subscribe to the Football Ramble in your podcast app so you do not miss it thank you Andy thank you thank you Peter as soon as you do watch Alaska the last one dear thank you Jim Thank you. And thank you, everybody.

59:26The Football Ramble is a Stack production and part of the Acast Creator Network.

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