The Preview Show: Leave the rat alone

0:00Vishnu Varman: Feel the fire of desire, everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble Preview Show. Forest and Palace go through and Arsenal host Chelsea on Sunday. It's Friday 27th of February. I'm Marcus Speller. I'm Jim Campbell. And I'm the Dush and the Hunter Arger.

0:24Vishnu Varman: Friday again, everybody. Oh, what a lovely little one. Good to have you with us. so close to the weekend, Vish. You've been telling us your weekend plans. Email us your weekend plans before the end of the show. We'd love to read them out. Got one here from Jim Campbell that just simply says two words, Stella Artois. Now, before we look ahead to the weekend... You're on the show. You need to email him. I don't know why I emailed him, yeah. I'm just excited. As you should be. As you should be. Quick look back at last night's action. Both English sides... went through I was going to say marched through stumbled through wasn't I don't know what the right word would be again they are through

1:08Marcus Speller: the forest had arrows

1:09Vishnu Varman: sticking out of them but they are they have marched on they have in the Europa League of course forest lost 2-1 on the night first time a Turkish side has played at the city ground apparently they come away with a victory but a 4-2 aggregate win is Nottingham Forest we move forward I'm happy we played under pressure it was like a thriller with suspense, said Vita Pereira in defeat slash victory vish.

1:33Marcus Speller: There was a lovely moment when Calum Hudson went through in the second half and it was one-on-one with the keeper. Keeper made a very good save and they showed Pereira's reaction during the moment and he was furious and then mimicked dinking it over the keeper.

1:51Jim Campbell: Nice.

1:51Marcus Speller: And I was like, yeah, I like that. More of that. More of that kind of attitude. I don't know if it's going to help them but it's fun for us

1:59Vishnu Varman: I mean he lets you know what he's thinking at all times

2:01Marcus Speller: I like the quickness of thought to be like I would have dinked it why didn't he dink it yes

2:06Vishnu Varman: yeah yeah yeah Fenerbahce of course led 2-0 at one point Jim goals from actor Coglu I mean soft penalty I thought

2:14Jim Campbell: ah you see yeah yeah but still it happened didn't it this is a funny one too

2:19Marcus Speller: were you sad there wasn't enough bar you wanted more bar didn't you yeah I did

2:22Jim Campbell: gives you a little break doesn't it football's quite boring so it's nice to be able to do something else

2:26Marcus Speller: The replays of the football are the best player. Exactly, yeah.

2:29Jim Campbell: It's slower. It's easier to follow when you're at my age. This is a funny one to assess, isn't it? Because as you rightly pointed out, Marcus, they lost the game, but they have won the tie. I wonder how that affects a new manager bounce. This is quite a rare thing within the realms of a new manager bounce. I think the moment you've lost the game, the bounce is over. But they have lost this game, but they've also won the tie because of the previous new manager bounce. so where does that leave the bounce? What can we expect from them against Brighton? Is it over or is it still in play?

3:02Vishnu Varman: Yeah, that's a great question. They did lose to Liverpool, of course. Yeah, but narrowly. And I think you give them that, right? I know what you mean. I think they're still there just about. He did need to make a few subs to make sure because he made six changes, of course. We'll come on to that in a bit because obviously that's with regard to the Brighton game. But I mean, in the end, it was pretty comfortable. In fact, they shouldn't have lost the game really. Their chances at the end. They had loads, yeah. Yeah, and so on and so forth. So it was nearly a cautionary tale of, and Barcelona know this, from not beating Liverpool 4-0 in the first league.

3:35Jim Campbell: No, no, no, no, Marcus. You would forget that Barcelona simply do not learn. No, that's right. So we can disregard that.

3:40Vishnu Varman: No, I'm not talking about mathematics this time.

3:42Jim Campbell: Right.

3:42Vishnu Varman: Or am I? No, I am actually, yeah. They're dreadful with numbers. They are. They are dreadful with numbers. What about this lever? It's a trap door. The levers are metaphorical. Stop thinking about the levers. But Real Madrid keep pulling them. They're different. they're there they're there they're there they're there they're there they're there they're there they're there because Forrest had a great chance to go 4-0 up at the end of the first leg didn't they and I didn't take it so yeah is 3-0 the new 2-0 Fish it's a very dangerous scoreline are you auditioning

4:11Marcus Speller: for Richard Keyes as well

4:12Vishnu Varman: but I think like logically always over two legs it surely is right yeah if I'm watching I don't think I've ever seen my team go 3-0 up in a two-legged affair but if I did I would hate it I would quite simply hate it we'll get back to you on that

4:29Marcus Speller: what was the aggregate score from the first leg of the Juventus Fulham game

4:34Vishnu Varman: 3-1 down

4:35Marcus Speller: right okay

4:37Vishnu Varman: another dangerous score don't go ahead I've said leave it to the last minute and then pounce the TV cameras picked up a Fenerbahce fan in the crowd who was wearing a Derby County kit under his Fenerbahce shirt a bit of shit-housery I love that it's like

4:50Marcus Speller: you'd hide the colours of your own team when you're going to an away game but he was like no no this is fine but to really stick it to them I'm going to wear a Derby County top underneath yeah was it for every goal

5:02Vishnu Varman: he did a Fabrizio Ravinelli style celebration yeah

5:05Jim Campbell: I don't know it was kind of high risk high reward though right because if they had won that 4-0 yeah and then he'd whipped that off that would have been oh that is salt in the wound actually yeah it's not work though I hope it

5:17Marcus Speller: oh thank god I can use this for next time yeah

5:20Vishnu Varman: I hope he found that I hope it was a second hand kick because kits are expensive and for that kind of gag, it's not really landed. Yeah, that's true.

5:28Marcus Speller: That's true.

5:29Vishnu Varman: We're all concerned for you, pal. Now, how about this? Forest captain Ryan Yates has been paying professional dog trainers almost£1 ,000 a week to rein in his aggressive sausage dog called Peanut. Yeah. Yates, a tenacious player himself, of course, said this about his dog. Peanut was very reactive with dogs and people. he'd be lunging when we were at cafes and with family members who weren't seen that often

5:55Marcus Speller: I mean the similarities are uncanny there aren't they yes indeed

5:58Vishnu Varman: him and Peanut in the centre midfield I think could do for Forrest

6:01Marcus Speller: yeah that would be quite nice well I suppose he'd go and fetch the ball wouldn't he he would he wouldn't want to give it to Yates but the thing about this is if you were the dog trainer I mean it's within your interest to be like you know what he's getting better but he's still a little shit really I reckon we're going to need another year on him

6:20Jim Campbell: well he's a sausage dog isn't he so they are notoriously yappy and quite aggressive because they're really low down to the ground and they're probably aware that they're faintly ridiculous and like their bark is essentially there I was looking at both of you faintly ridiculous because I was talking to both of you

6:37Vishnu Varman: when he said faintly ridiculous that's when my ears pricked up yeah steady steady if I'm only faintly I'm moving in the right direction

6:44Marcus Speller: yeah didn't sausage dogs used to be used to like

6:47Jim Campbell: in rolls

6:48Marcus Speller: no no to go into like tunnels and get rats and stuff. Yeah, yeah, that's it.

6:52Jim Campbell: Again, tenacious. I like the suggestion that you kind of hinted at there that the dog is copying the playing style of his owner and that this is the reason.

7:01Vishnu Varman: Yeah, well, I mean, look, as I say, Vitor Pereira's yet to meet this dog, as I understand, but that would be a meeting of minds. Give it a pint. Absolutely.

7:08Marcus Speller: Calm it down. Should you be giving animals pints, Vish? Edmundo did to that monkey one time, didn't he?

7:14Vishnu Varman: Yeah, so no. So you thought, oh, I've been given, And perhaps a morally charged question here. What did Edmundo do? Yeah. That's what you went for. Oh, dear. Anyway, so yes, Forrest threw in the Europa League. They've got Brighton on Sunday. Pereira made six changes. He said he had to think of their game against Brighton on Sunday. Now, of course, being 3-0 up from the first leg, all joking aside, that was one of the motivating factors, you might say, for him to go and do that. But this is the thing with these ties and where they are in the Premier League right now. They have to think about that, which is, it's such a shame, isn't it, for a side like Forrest where you think you want to throw everything at the Europa League.

7:55Vishnu Varman: And again, look, they've gone through and they were 3-0 up. So in this specific example, fine. But as the tournament goes on, perhaps as a neutral, I might think, I hope Forrest maybe get out of it because I'd really love to see them go full pelt in the Europa League rather than sort of understandably think, you know, it's all very well. If you win the Europa League, it would be phenomenal, don't get me wrong, but you don't want to be in Europe and in the championship in the same season.

8:17Marcus Speller: No, but there is a level of duty to fans there, aren't there? Because, you know, from Pereira's point of view, because they're going to spend a lot of money to go to the Is Away days. I know I joke before that you'd rather go to Seville than Denmark, but regardless of where you go, it's an incredible part of your story. And it doesn't even really matter about Forrest's history in Europe.

8:38Jim Campbell: Denmark's also amazing. We should make sure. Yeah, yeah. No, no, it is, yeah.

8:41Marcus Speller: I mean, I was being flippant. I'm serious fish now. Okay, cool. Yeah. Don't do that again.

8:46Vishnu Varman: Yeah, I'd rather go to Seville, though, you know?

8:48Marcus Speller: Yeah, of course. but I remember a while ago with Bolton under Gary Mexton when he I think he'd taken over like halfway through the season but they had a great away tie in Portugal

8:58Vishnu Varman: and he just basically

8:59Marcus Speller: wrapped his hand in

9:00Vishnu Varman: because of the league well do you remember I was thinking Stoke and was it Valencia I think

9:04Marcus Speller: right okay yeah

9:06Vishnu Varman: but you know

9:07Marcus Speller: stuff like that like there is there's obviously the priority would be you know retaining your Premier League status but people are spending a lot of money and you have to give them something

9:16Vishnu Varman: I mean Champions League and Championships has got a lovely ring to it.

9:18Jim Campbell: Happened to Wigan, of course, didn't it? They were in the Europa League when they won the FA Cup but got relegated. Champions League would be big. Yeah, it would be a step up, it's fair to say. But actually, Real Madrid on for... Wrecks him on the week. Could you not flip this on its head as Pereira? Just essentially try and use the Europa League as motivation to those players to be like, look, if we can pull away a bit in the league, we can properly enjoy this and properly go out there and have a go at this and start writing some club history. because this game at the weekend is massive. West Ham are playing Liverpool.

9:50Jim Campbell: You would think, obviously, Liverpool would be heavy favourites there. Brighton are having a bit of a kind of... I mean, they won their last game,

9:55Vishnu Varman: but yes, before that.

9:56Jim Campbell: Yeah, they're having an okay season at best, aren't they? Well, they've been on a pretty poor run other than the last game, so it is a game they should be targeting. Yeah, exactly. Absolutely. So this is a massive game for Forest. They keep kind of not doing the business when needed in these moments.

10:10Vishnu Varman: Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I agree. It's a huge game against Brighton and for Brighton as well because, look, when you say Liverpool will be the favourites against West Ham, they will be. But if West Ham were to win and Brighton lose, suddenly Brighton are really looking over their shoulder. Now, I don't think Brighton are going to get relegated. But the fact is, you don't want that conversation to be coming up at all and you want to put that to bed. So, yeah, a big game for them on the weekend. There's no doubt about that. Elsewhere in Europe last night, Crystal Palace beat Zrinski-Mosgar 2-0 on the night, 3-1 on aggregate.

10:43Vishnu Varman: Comfortably through Palace. They dominated the game. Although at 1-0, especially when that header towards the end was it from the corner where he kind of 50p headed it way past the post it's those moments where you're like can we just get a bloody second goal because they had so many chances and they would have won it in extra time I'm quite convinced but they went through ultimately but yeah 2-0 for Palace that first goal from Lacroix what a ball in from Adam Walton

11:06Marcus Speller: it was a ball so good we could have scored it it was such a good cross the pace on it as well

11:13Jim Campbell: and the pace and the precision from Walton he's amazing it's like he was built in a lab to make those balls you can see by looking at him having never seen him play that he can make those sort of balls

11:23Marcus Speller: yeah should we focus a bit more of this research and development on the groin no leave it he doesn't need a groin

11:29Vishnu Varman: does not need a groin I'm duty bound to say this is he going to be on the plane in the summer I thought 26 man squad yes I am talking about England and the World Cup everybody up yours 26 man squad there's even Chad could go to 30 man squad

11:45Marcus Speller: Well, in case I just chuck a few people out. You can't have an allowance for that. Yeah.

11:50Jim Campbell: Or FIFA introduce a bonus game. Flash game, flash game. It's happening now. Where is it? On the pitch? On the school?

11:56Marcus Speller: Just wherever you are. Yeah, as in our football tradition, we're going to have a three-legged game. There you are.

12:04Jim Campbell: Yeah, I would think Wharton will be on the plane, right? Because I think it's going to be Rice and Anderson. But you want another option? Let's do our 26-month sport. Yeah, yeah, you're right. Let's do it. You know what? You've tricked me into this again.

12:17Marcus Speller: Yeah. Do you remember before the show when he was like, right, let's not get bogged down in the Europa League. We'll go into the Prem. Everyone wants us to talk about the Prem. Shall we do our 26-man England squad now?

12:28Vishnu Varman: Yeah, all right, Vish, if you want to. Look, it was a big, it was a big, it was a big, it was a big crystal palace. They're still favourites for the Europa Conference League. Of course they are. But they've not been that good as we know. But this is still, it was a dominant performance. they ultimately won it of course pretty comfortably so on they go did you see a Palace supporters group in the ground ask the club to turn off the pre-match music so they could back the team during the warm ups and give them a sing song and a bit of cheer but the club rejected it on the grounds that UEFA regulations wouldn't allow it they're listening to UEFA now aren't they getting their paperwork sorted now aren't they don't do that we'll be relegated to the cup winners cup or something I don't know

13:08Marcus Speller: we don't want to play in the Anglo-Italian cup next year I mean that is just lame isn't it it is lame I mean what is the do we have access to this UEFA playlist surely it's not just the kind of the conference league theme tune I think you'll find

13:22Vishnu Varman: probably a very very tepid DJ has access to the UEFA playlist yeah fair well Palace of course head to Manchester United on Sunday at 2pm I kind of miss a few months ago thinking Palace need a bit of a pick me up while they're going to Man United yeah don't we all yeah but those days are kind of gone now aren't they don't two out of three of us yeah but for you love the bands Vish presumably you miss a little bit of that

13:49Marcus Speller: no it's nice to I actually thought this when they got knocked out of every other competition I was like it's nice to know that only one day a week will be ruined now yeah okay and now even that day is coming up and being like it's alright actually

14:07Jim Campbell: United are the form team in the league Panthers are very much not you've got to be confident ahead of this one right?

14:11Marcus Speller: I am a bit although they are it'd be interesting to see what happens even with the amount of time between Premier League games that Manchester United now have which is a massive luxury it's interesting to see how many more players Karik is going to trust in a very set first 11 Benjamin Sesko has come on and done brilliantly as as an impact sub but there's obviously something there that he is wanting certainly in his first 11 that he doesn't I believe Cescou will get him. And even, I suppose, he might even be keeping him there because he would make the biggest impact as a substitute. Even Kunja, to a point, he didn't really trust him to start and also because he wanted him as an impact sub and it was only through Dorghi's injury that Kunja's now starting.

14:55Marcus Speller: And I wonder how there is going to be a compound fatigue element there. And I think we saw it a little bit against Everton, who weren't that good and had they had a bit more cunning, might have got something from the game.

15:07Jim Campbell: Do you think that's still the case, even with the lighter schedule?

15:10Marcus Speller: Well, I mean, I thought I saw it against Everton. They actually came into the season incredibly fit under Amrum. It's the fittest I've seen even someone like Bruno in terms of how lives and, yeah, just like the energy he was able to expend. And the way United were playing, even when they were playing badly, they were still running loads. But, yeah, I'm kind of curious to see it. I don't know if Palace are the team, because they're not the team they were. I don't know if they're necessarily going to be the ones that exploit it. but yeah it is just something to look out for because I feel like he's leaning very heavily on about 12 players

15:45Vishnu Varman: good news for Manchester United though is that the hierarchy of the club have been speaking positively about their off-pitch transformation that of course is making people redundant and removing ex-pros from ambassador roles cheaper isn't it and so it's proved to be because the club posted an operating profit of£32.6 million for the second half of last year and the club's debt is approaching 1.3 billion. They need to cut costs somewhere, Jim. You're getting... What do you think of this?

16:16Jim Campbell: I think it's ultimately quite dull. Okay. The financial results are out and we'll pour through them a bit. Yeah, that sounds like it makes sense. I mean, surely right now, they've got an enormous chance to just focus on what's going on on the pitch. Oh, season tickets are going up. Are they for everyone?

16:32Vishnu Varman: Yeah, great, cool. We treat you all the same.

16:35Marcus Speller: I always like when this stuff comes out and it's like well 32.6 million pound of operating profit that's tiny that operating profit what is that

16:45Jim Campbell: yeah it's lots of things actually don't worry about that

16:47Marcus Speller: it's still 1.3 billion in debt

16:49Vishnu Varman: but we can operate you sound like the cabinet well Man United yes hosting Crystal Palace if you're looking at Palace in the league they are 13th you know they get 10 points above West Ham I don't think they're going to get relegated etc and so on but it does seem a little bit after these you know all joking aside about the victory yet last night just a flicker of positivity for Palace just a little something it was good for Gessand to score as well bit of confidence there and so on and so forth

17:18Marcus Speller: he's been quite tidy for them hasn't he

17:19Vishnu Varman: he has yeah so I'm looking forward to this one quite wonderfully Manchester United have you seen this are reportedly considering re-signing Scott McTominay for£70 million in the summer

17:30Marcus Speller: £32 million operating profit put it to use Yeah, exactly. Nearly halfway there. Operate.

17:36Jim Campbell: Yeah, I mean, the fee is... Get Tomaday. The fee is very high for a 29-year-old, and him being 29 makes me feel like I'm living life at double speed, which would explain why everything's so hard and I'm always bumping into this. I have always suggested that, yeah. Yeah, but taking the fee out of it, would you welcome that? Do you think it's likely that he comes back as a much better player?

17:57Vishnu Varman: Just when Bruno Fernandes is back at number 10, fitting in, pulling the strings.

18:00Jim Campbell: It feels odd, doesn't it? But yeah, how would you feel about it?

18:03Marcus Speller: I would feel uncomfortable about it

18:07Vishnu Varman: mixed emotions

18:08Marcus Speller: because he would he would come back and then they'd play him in the same position that they played him before exactly yep and so it wouldn't quite work I also I don't know if there's like a you know personal element to this if like the reason the story's come out is because he wants to move back

18:23Jim Campbell: yeah sure

18:23Marcus Speller: to the UK and specifically move back home

18:25Jim Campbell: he looks like he's having a great time but it might be like we didn't need three weeks actually two weeks all these fags are ruining my lungs

18:33Marcus Speller: I can't do it anymore I would love him to go to just keep going up somewhere if someone else is interested in him and that's a step up from Napoli I would love for him to do that there's a bit of goodwill hunting about it I don't want to see him back at Manchester United if I walk up at Manchester United and see him there again I think you've got a golden ticket and you're ruining it

18:56Vishnu Varman: I agree and I thought that was a good analogy about a wonderful film not Robin Williams best of course Jim Flubber probably Flubber yeah yeah

19:05Marcus Speller: how's that come about Flubber

19:07Vishnu Varman: I don't know I don't even have seen Flubber is it good fish I have seen it

19:11Marcus Speller: I think I saw that in the cinema nice it's a bit of bounce back probably won't do as well as they think

19:17Vishnu Varman: speaking of which Andrean Arna currently on loan at Trabsonspor apparently he will have the chance to compete for the number one shirt at Manchester United come the summer but the club are also reportedly very keen to sell him. I quote, very keen to sell him.

19:34Marcus Speller: That's very much like, no, I really like this jumper, but I do want to sell it.

19:38Vishnu Varman: Yeah.

19:39Marcus Speller: It's like, you know, yeah, like I'm not getting rid of it because it's rubbish. Yeah. I'm getting rid of it because it doesn't suit my style anymore. Yes. Yeah.

19:47Jim Campbell: I mean, of course. No, I won't take a fibre off it.

19:50Vishnu Varman: I'm only selling it for a tenner. Yeah. Yeah. Producer Tom has just put in the running order a quick little review of Flubber from Rotten Tomatoes. With its overactive focus on special effects and tiresome slapstick, Flubber squanders the immense talent of its cast and crew.

20:10Jim Campbell: I don't know why Flubber has caught so many strays in the studio lately, but I suppose it's well placed to just absorb it and spit them back out again.

20:18Marcus Speller: Also, what a sentence to waste on a review of Flubber.

20:22Vishnu Varman: You can use it again, I suppose, but we'll all know now.

20:25Marcus Speller: Yeah, exactly.

20:26Vishnu Varman: I love that this reviewer can tell the crew have done a sterling job and yet yeah

20:30Jim Campbell: yeah

20:31Vishnu Varman: if we can get the percentage I'd appreciate that as well but in the meantime a Manchester United themed cafe has been fined more than£10 ,000 after rat teeth marks were found in the potatoes can I make the argument

20:45Jim Campbell: that that does seem Manchester United themed in a modern sense yeah it's like if there was a leak in the corner yeah this is authentic as an experience

20:53Vishnu Varman: but other than the leak I think again Carrick has kind of ruined our fun yeah And it's not affiliated to the club, it just happened to be Manchester United themed.

21:02Jim Campbell: I mean, this cafe is always getting itself in trouble and is always getting itself in the press as if it's Man United's responsibility. So maybe they should just like chuck them some money and go, can you sort this out, please? All publicity is good publicity. Apparently so.

21:14Vishnu Varman: I'm sure them and a certain someone else would disagree.

21:17Jim Campbell: And the makers of Flubber would be going, yeah, fine.

21:21Marcus Speller: I probably don't defend Manchester United enough as a fan. So I might as well start now. But isn't that just a talented young French chef tasting his food? Just leave the rat alone.

21:30Vishnu Varman: Leave the rat alone. That's all it is. Yeah. It tastes good. Well, if it's good enough for me, it's good enough for you. Now get that down, yeah. All right, coming up after this, another fashion line from Arsenal and pints with Daniel Farker.

21:53Vishnu Varman: Obviously great to have some players back Fit finally for you Who are the next ones Kind of coming down the line I mean Destiny Doggy And where's Dayan Kulicevsky How are they doing?

22:05Marcus Speller: I don't know I don't know

22:08Vishnu Varman: Well back to the football ramble everybody Igor Tudor they're being asked about injuries For those who wondered Rotten Tomatoes gave Flubber 24%. And you think that's his best film? Out of 25 % no out of the usual percentage. Right Jim your lot are playing against Chelsea Sunday 4.30 should be a victory for Arsenal this because Chelsea have only scored once in their last five visits to the Emirates. That was scored by Nani Madu okay?

22:29Jim Campbell: Yeah. I really hope it's that simple.

22:32Vishnu Varman: You've gamed the system.

22:33Jim Campbell: Yes. I mean the way Chelsea set up in this game is going to be really interesting I think. They were really defensive in the second leg of the Carabao Cup. Obviously Rosinia figured he would be able to find a way to force Arsenal into a mistake and get something and then probably sit back on it, take it to extra time, etc. And that plan didn't work, but it wasn't without its merits. They didn't really create much Chelsea, so they're going to have to approach it in at least a slightly different way there. But he's had time to refine it or he's had time to come up with something completely different.

23:04Jim Campbell: And that makes this quite an interesting proposition, I think, because it's very difficult to prepare for what Chelsea are going to do in that regard. So So, you know, Arsenal have played a lot lately. They seem a bit more confident lately. Obviously, the North London derby will restore some confidence. But when they beat Spurs 4-1 earlier in the season, the next game was Chelsea. And they drew that game, even though Chelsea were down to 10 men. So this is going to be a tough game. They've played them three times. They've all been tough games. So this is a moment that I think is probably going to be very, very important in Arsenal's season.

23:34Jim Campbell: Because it's quite likely, I would say, that Manchester City will be two points behind at that point. So there's going to be a lot of pressure on this. They're playing last again. haven't always responded well to that. So yeah, it's going to be a big one. Yes.

23:45Vishnu Varman: I know what you mean, Vishen, I was nodding when you said about the way Chelsea will set up. I think that I would suspect we'll see more of the second leg of the Carrefour Cup semi-final in this. Because Arsenal, again, after that victory in the North London derby, you think, okay, maybe their tails are up. But with Chelsea, they could do with a victory here, though. Because they're three points behind Manchester United. Now, I know fifth is odds-on to be a Champions League spot, but Liverpool are on the same points as well. The last thing they want is a bit of a gap appearing between fourth and fifth.

24:18Vishnu Varman: And with Palace going to be distinct second favourites for that game at Old Trafford, I think he'll try and do what they attempted in the second leg in that keep it tight and then try and pick them off towards the end. Maybe Arsenal frustrated or whatever. That may be. And Arsenal have found it a bit tricky when teams play deep. and deny them the space, as a lot of teams do, of course. Yeah, and a lot of teams who aren't anywhere near as good as Chelsea as well. Yes, exactly. And have the threat on the break like Chelsea do as well. So then, who would you think Mikel Arteta would go for then? Obviously, he played Ebrecht-Cherese because he absolutely loves it against Spurs.

24:54Vishnu Varman: And again, Spurs give you a lot of space. Yeah, exactly. How will he line up? Who will his, would you think his selection of attackers be?

25:01Jim Campbell: So, I mean, I'm kind of flip-flopping on this a lot in my own head. If Kai Havertz is available, I think he could be someone who comes in to that number 10 spot because him and Jokeres have linked up really well and Jokeres has started scoring goals at a rate where I think now you have to start him, which is good for him.

25:19Marcus Speller: That was going to be my one query to you.

25:22Jim Campbell: Yeah, I think he's earned that trust now, the amount of goals he's started to pick up. Against teams with a little bit, given a bit more space. Teams who are, again, who are not as good as Chelsea, but I think the point stands. I've also been wondering about the left side as well, because Trossard had a pretty rusty game against Tottenham and Gabriel Martinelli hasn't maybe been at his best lately. So I wonder if actually he might keep Ezra in the team by putting him on the left. He's been reluctant to do it since the Aston Villa game, but there is a sense that he might need to start doing it again to get him in the team.

25:55Jim Campbell: And again, after that performance at the weekend, he's kind of begging for inclusion. so the other thinking I'm having is that actually neither of those will play because Havertz will possibly be a useful option off the bench and it will be Trossard and Odegaard in the middle because they are quite technical players who are very good in tight spaces and can kind of thread a pass so those would be my two alternative lineups it's hard to pick I think the latter is probably more likely because it's a bit more of a safer bet

26:27Marcus Speller: I like the way Arsenal in particular in the way that you've described it talk about that side of the front three you know the left wing striker man behind the striker because it's very fox chicken and grain

26:44Jim Campbell: yeah yeah yeah

26:45Marcus Speller: and it's that thing where he can't play with him he will eat him so that doesn't work those kind of combinations I wondered really with Jokeres like I think starting from the bench isn't necessarily a diss as it would have been say a month and a half two months ago for him I reckon Arteta can look him in the eye and be like look I think this is going to be quite a tight game yeah we would either we can we're going to you're going to come on you're going to probably play about 30 35 minutes we're either going to need you to come on and bash down the door that we've already kind of worked off the hinges a bit or run them ragged when we're already ahead and I think that's I think that was always a role that a striker was going to have at Arsenal regardless of whether they'd also be a you know I suppose a 20 goal a season striker

27:33Jim Campbell: another option I suppose is that Havertz would start as the striker which we've not seen yet he's kind of

27:38Marcus Speller: and he fucking hates Chelsea now

27:40Jim Campbell: and he scores against them with kind of regularity at the moment the big question is if he's fit which is a 50-50 and is he fit for a game like that from the beginning in a very, very taxing, very physically demanding role. So, yeah, there's lots of options there, which is good. You know, I'm not sure he could play in a number of different ways, but I think he will probably go for the safer option of Overtegaard.

28:03Marcus Speller: Also, there is likely to be more space because they can't keep 11 players on the pitch. Yeah, there's also that.

28:08Vishnu Varman: Yeah, but they had that, as Jim said, I mean, okay, it was Enzo Mareska's Chelsea, but I don't think it's a far cry. Yeah, that's true, actually. But, you know, they were down to 10, weren't they, at the Stamford Bridge? Good point. And put in a very good performance. Seems a long time ago now, but I think... I mean, in Chelsea years, it's decades ago. Yeah, yeah, yeah, true. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

28:22Marcus Speller: Yeah, he's a different manager in a completely different style.

28:25Vishnu Varman: In the Jurassic period at the Stamford Bridge. Better news for Arsenal, though, Jim, is that it was revealed this week that Arsenal have got a new clothing line out. They've promoted 50 different clothing collections since July 2024. You'll never sing that. Yeah, not since they've been in the Premier League or the Premier League was created since 2024. it's working though their commercial revenues have more than doubled since 2021 which is higher than any of the 10 highest revenue generating clubs in world football

28:59Jim Campbell: I mean it was a lot of it's obviously the case that they've been like pumping out you know line after line and it was very clearly a strategy to kind of make this a thing make themselves a bit of a fashion brand but the thing is they've put a lot of work into it they've done collaborations with a lot of different people and clearly it's been successful so fair play I thought you'd defend it

29:18Marcus Speller: it's so good Jim Why aren't you wearing it? They had an over 50s range, didn't they?

29:22Vishnu Varman: Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's why? Are you going to say that? Hang on, hang on, hang on. They had an over 50s range, which is obviously too old for you. Sure. But the other ranges... And it'll be gone within a fortnight, so I'm not going to get it now. Whereas the other ranges, probably more catered to the youth. Yeah, I mean, it could be absolutely anything. Is anybody going to think of you?

29:41Jim Campbell: The specifically 43-year-old man? Well, probably. Now we've said it, they'll probably go, yeah, actually. Yeah. Wear your own range, the football ramble. Yeah. Do you want to, you pitching for a collab? I'm all for it. Well, I am now. I mean, it could be absolutely anything next. It could be, here's a donut collection. Yeah. This is a selection themed around donuts. Everyone likes donuts, don't they? You like Arsenal? You like donuts? Get the donut collection. The last one was the Year of the Horse. I don't know what's coming next. There was a collaboration with NTS Radio, which is like a legendary London radio station.

30:13Jim Campbell: Just the thinking is wide ranging and quite creative. and it's worked. So, good. So, up yours, everybody. That's it, the up yours, everybody collection. That's next. Which is every collection, you might say. The number 51 collection will be next, just to, you know, capitalise on this.

30:31Vishnu Varman: Chelsea announced English football's highest ever pre-tax loss this week of£342 million. They need to sell some clobber, don't they? Yeah, maybe they do. Get some Chelsea boots going. There, easy.

30:42Jim Campbell: Done.

30:42Vishnu Varman: Straight away.

30:43Jim Campbell: Chelsea buns.

30:44Marcus Speller: We've partnered with Hugo Boss, have you?

30:50Vishnu Varman: Some pensioners can get involved. Yeah, exactly. You know?

30:53Marcus Speller: Yeah.

30:53Vishnu Varman: Uh-huh. Anything else?

30:56Marcus Speller: Have they got stylish fans? I mean, like, you know, famous fans. I feel like Arsenal... Chelsea got some famous fans, yeah. Yeah. Stylish famous fans. Struggling to think. Yeah. Damon Albarn. Brian Adams.

31:09Vishnu Varman: Is he? Damon Albarn and Brian Adams. Is he Damon Albarn or Chelsea? Damon Albarn and the Chelsea fans. Oh, yeah, yeah, quite famously.

31:14Marcus Speller: Yeah, why don't they lean on that?

31:15Vishnu Varman: Don't know.

31:16Marcus Speller: Get a kind of cartoony gorilla into that.

31:18Vishnu Varman: Hang on, hang on, hang on. We need to grill you on this, Jim. Why are they not leading to that? Well, anyway, Chelsea, you've got work to do with the money.

31:26Jim Campbell: But yes, with that level of loss, though, I've seen a few people speculate that they might have to make like a major sale in the summer to balance the books a little bit. So obviously, the way they play the transfer market is pretty unique. But this is also a huge amount of loss.

31:40Vishnu Varman: There's been little whispers, hasn't there, about maybe trying to sell off Enzo Fernandes. To PSG, yeah.

31:45Jim Campbell: Yeah, very specifically.

31:45Marcus Speller: Which would obviously be because they're privy to this information that's come out this week. Yeah. Don't release it. All the other clubs will know.

31:53Vishnu Varman: Yeah. Yeah. A very strange situation. And yet another reason why a lot of the fans are pissed off with the hierarchy of the club there, understandably. Another man who's a bit pissed off is John Terry. He said he was frustrated at being overlooked for a caretaker role following Enzo Mareska's departure in January. Of course, the under-21s coach took over for the game at the Etihad. had. And when asked if he was annoyed, he was overlooked for this. John Terry, who is a part-time Chelsea Academy mentor. He works two days a week as a mentor. So that's what he does. Anyway, when he was asked, were you annoyed at that?

32:26Vishnu Varman: He said, not annoyed, probably more frustrated. What's the difference between annoyed and frustrated?

32:32Jim Campbell: Oh, um, frustration is on the way to annoyance. I think annoyance is the end product of being frustrated. Very well put. Or I'm frustrated that I've stubbed my toe. Now I'm annoyed with myself every day this happens.

32:43Marcus Speller: On his Wikipedia page, his coaching career section is shorter than the subhead in his family and personal life that starts with extramarital affair allegations. I reckon bump the top one up and then we can talk about whether you should feel aggrieved for not being a caretaker coach.

33:02Vishnu Varman: Yeah, I mean you've taken a very particular approach to that, Vish. He has done his coaching.

33:06Marcus Speller: Well, it's just the closest because there's a much bigger one under racial abuse allegations and that felt unfair. So I've got to go with the one before. Lest we forget.

33:15Vishnu Varman: I believe he's a legend at the club and probably thinks that he will get a chance. He will get a chance, surely. John Terry at some point surely will manage the Chelsea first team.

33:24Marcus Speller: Do you really think so?

33:25Vishnu Varman: I don't think so.

33:26Marcus Speller: You've got to put the work in though, haven't you? I say that and I appreciate there is a degree of irony in saying that given Rossini has a job at the moment and you would say that his CV is fairly limited for a job of that stature. But obviously the link between Chelsea and Strasbourg is such that he's under the blue car umbrella so it was, you know, whatever we think of it, it was quite a seamless transition.

33:52Vishnu Varman: Terry has his coaching licence, UEFA. He's basically done everything he needs to do to get these jobs. Yeah, and I don't think, look, I don't think, you know, by now he should have managed Chelsea's first team. I'm just saying, clearly he has a desire to do that. He's done coaching, he's worked at big clubs he was obviously Aston Villa for a bit wasn't he and so on

34:13Marcus Speller: so he was Aston Villa under Dean Smith and then he moved with Dean Smith to Leicester City and then became you know took on that Chelsea role yeah

34:22Vishnu Varman: and also as well it would be the type of move that if the board and those in charge of the club like the fans really really started to turn and there was all this that and the other they could just they could just drop John Terry in there to calm him down a bit you think

34:35Jim Campbell: I'm not sure if he is kind of perceived as that type of figure as a coach because it is weird, isn't it, that he's not managed to get any sort of head coach role. He might not have been going for the club much. No, I think he has been. And it is surprising. But maybe there's something about the fact that he so clearly wants to be Chelsea manager more than anything else that puts other clubs off. There could be other reasons. I'd defer you to the Wikipedia page. He's obviously a very divisive character, isn't he? So maybe clubs are looking at that going, that might bring us some attention that we don't want.

35:09Jim Campbell: You might be right there.

35:11Vishnu Varman: You might well be right. And some players might be like, well, hang on a minute here.

35:14Marcus Speller: John Terry could also be like, well, you know, Joey Barton got work.

35:17Vishnu Varman: Oh, yeah, absolutely. Yeah, yeah. If that's your defence. Although Terry did go on to say, now listen, people have got to make decisions. I love it when people make decisions and they go yes or no. Clearly the ownership or whoever made the decisions, the sporting directors, have gone no, not to include me for whatever reason. I don't know why.

35:35Jim Campbell: well I mean he has you know in the past got himself in trouble for essentially racism right so do you want to bring a character like that into a dressing room like a multicultural dressing room maybe not maybe not Jim

35:47Vishnu Varman: maybe not well look going back to the bigger picture Arsenal versus Chelsea it's going to be a great game I look forward to it a proper Super Sunday that 4.30 and Manchester City who go to Leeds tomorrow evening will very much have an eye on that one whatever happens now Leeds these days a tough place to go yeah It's always a tough place to go.

36:07Jim Campbell: I saw a stat the other day that they are unbeaten at home under the lights. Oh, very nice. This is a new category of statistic. I mean, Arsenal gubbed them at Ellen Road. Yeah, but it was light when the game started, I think. Oh, I wasn't...

36:19Marcus Speller: I wasn't trying to go against the stat.

36:22Vishnu Varman: Sure.

36:22Marcus Speller: There's a vampiric quality to lead tonight. And Daniel Farquhar. Yeah, maybe, yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah, he's...

36:29Vishnu Varman: The nicest vampire. Yeah, can you see him sipping a little bit of blood? Some Man City... Coffee, cake and blood on the sofa. Just a little bit. I don't think he's, you know, he's a gentle lover. Vampire. Now, gentlemen, this is mildly relevant to what we're talking about. Theo Walcott was asked where Real Madrid would finish if they were competing in the Premier League. What a question. He said eighth. And that they would struggle at Crystal Palace and Leeds away, specifically. And then he said, plus the weather will play a part.

37:00Jim Campbell: It does get cold in Madrid during the winter. Yeah, it does. players can handle the cold can't they? that's an odd take no because

37:08Marcus Speller: they won't get their nap in the afternoon so they'll be all over the place our plates are much bigger than theirs so they're full all the time

37:15Vishnu Varman: and the rain in England falls mainly on the players not the plane yes

37:20Marcus Speller: so they'll be so confused

37:22Vishnu Varman: they will be confused they won't be speaking English yeah

37:25Marcus Speller: they won't be used to that

37:26Vishnu Varman: and Spanish players notoriously have done really badly when they've come I've noticed that

37:30Marcus Speller: whenever I go to Spain they don't really listen to us even when we speak slowly and loudly and chuck stuff they ignore us and if they're not going to they obviously have to have no appetite to learn the language so they're not going to fit in but they'll like though

37:43Vishnu Varman: that there's Airbnbs everywhere they will like that

37:46Marcus Speller: we won't spray them with water yeah

37:48Vishnu Varman: because they'll always be wet for the rain now Leeds away a tough place to go is what Theo Walcott said in a very strange way but he was asked a strange question to be fair to be fair now Daniel Farker was asked about Pep Guardiola letting his players go and have some cocktails to ease the pressure on the title race. He replied, that's the difference between the clubs. They drink daiquiris and here we drink proper pints of beer. We're looking forward to this game. Come on! Love that. Here come the cocktail boys.

38:16Marcus Speller: As I've always said, why not drink both?

38:18Vishnu Varman: Yeah, you can. You are a living proof of that. Would you alternate or would you sort of, is it beer time and then right, I've proved my point, now I can do the cocktails.

38:26Marcus Speller: Having turned 40 last week. Congrats. I, you've got to, you cannot be switching back and forth anymore.

38:36Jim Campbell: Yeah, cocktails are dangerous. As someone who doesn't drink, Marcus, you may not be aware of this phenomenon, but they're a bit of a Trojan horse. They taste like fruit juice. And you're like, oh, this is nice. I'm aware of that. This one's interesting. Right, but the thing is, you feel normal and then hammered. There's no bit in between with a cocktail. So yeah, you've got to be really careful with mixing those up. So, so careful.

38:59Vishnu Varman: So, so careful. Yeah, okay. So maybe that's what Farker will do. Is he going to line up the drinks in the home dressing room? Go on, sear it off. Otherwise, you're all pathetic.

39:08Jim Campbell: Yeah, that suggests defeatism, doesn't it? It's like, okay, if you're going to have to drink, because they've put this in motion, just have a pint, all right? Yeah. Just one pint, all right? I'll give you that. A pint of cocktails.

39:19Marcus Speller: Dangerous.

39:19Vishnu Varman: That would do with them. Dangerous.

39:21Marcus Speller: Man City delayed coming out for the second half because they're all waiting for their drinks to be made.

39:29Vishnu Varman: oh dear oh dear well I I think it could be a good game actually it's a televised game it will be a brilliant game it will be yeah just one game a season that's all we're asking oh Anton Stack

39:42Marcus Speller: why did you order the Guinness last for fuck's sake

39:45Vishnu Varman: oh dear alright coming up after this an East Midlands derby and we celebrate 10 years yes celebrate 10 years of Gianni Infantino

40:04Vishnu Varman: Welcome back, everybody. Tonight, a little Friday night. Fancy Wolves host Aston Villa at 8pm. A West Midlands derby, I think we can call it, Vish. Yeah, yeah. We looked at the map, and lo and behold, everybody, we've discovered that this can be called a West Midlands derby.

40:21Marcus Speller: Well, we're from London. Well, certainly, we live in London. But we get to decide what everywhere else is called anyway. Yeah, so this is a...

40:28Vishnu Varman: This is the middle derby. This is a north of England derby.

40:32Marcus Speller: This is the battle for the north middle earth. Yeah.

40:36Vishnu Varman: It's the Badlands. Yeah, yeah. It's not the north, Jim. It's the Midlands. Don't forget it. Yeah, sure.

40:42Marcus Speller: But it is north of somewhere, isn't it?

40:44Vishnu Varman: Jim knows. You lived in Birmingham for a short while.

40:45Marcus Speller: I did, yeah, for a very short while. Why did you do that? They kicked him out.

40:48Jim Campbell: At university. I didn't finish it, so... Make of that what you will.

40:53Vishnu Varman: He didn't like it. Left. His own decisions. I think they kicked him out.

40:57Jim Campbell: They did.

40:57Vishnu Varman: They all got together as a city. We're not having this. Pitchforks at the ready boys. And off went Jim Campbell into the night. He's drinking daiquiris. Wolves boss Rob Edwards has said his team's performance needs to look like it matters. Yes.

41:13Marcus Speller: Even if it doesn't matter. It doesn't need to look like it. At least show your pride.

41:16Jim Campbell: The least you can do is pretend that you think we can get out of this.

41:21Marcus Speller: Yeah, I mean, it's... They're still turning up. I don't know why they're still turning up, but we have to pretend we care.

41:29Jim Campbell: If the Villa fans are secretly wearing Derby County shirts, now that I'll understand, yes.

41:34Vishnu Varman: Well, you remember Matt Doherty not that long ago when Wolves were really... I mean, I know obviously they're still bottom of the league. It doesn't feel as bad. Maybe there's an element of acceptance. I think the performances have improved, and this is your point here and there. and you would fancy them not to take Derby County's unwanted record because just two more points and they'll do it but you remember how bereft he looked after it, I forget who they were playing and he was just like we have to try

42:06Marcus Speller: There's an element with Dottie that he's like lads, I know I'm the only one who's going to be here next season

42:13Vishnu Varman: please So Rob Edwards sort of channeling a little bit of that but as I said I don't think it's as bad but clearly they're still bottom of the league so it's not exactly rosy. But a win here at home to Villa will march them past Derby County's unwanted record because they're currently on 10 points. I mean, it does seem... There was like a little flicker of something with Wolves, wasn't there, with a couple of better performances and results but 17 points from safety and Forrest have a game in hand. Yes. It does seem incredibly unlikely. It would be perhaps the greatest of all great escapes. It would, yeah.

42:48Jim Campbell: Well, I mean, the thing is, if Villa go 2-0 up and then have a complete existential crisis for no reason,

42:55Vishnu Varman: Wolves might have a chance to get back into it. Arsenal's showing that 2-0's a very dangerous scoreline. I mean, it's probably positive for Villa that it's not at home, because have you seen this little bit of chat recently that the atmosphere at Villa Park's not been that great? Really? People sort of say, well, how can we try and improve the atmosphere? Yeah. Interesting one. Because I've not been this season.

43:13Marcus Speller: They've got a first-half performance. Well, they're very slow to get into games, aren't they? and I think as we've mentioned many times the loss of McGinn Kamara and Tielemans is huge

43:25Jim Campbell: Massive any team would struggle with a midfield and it's worth reiterating

43:29Marcus Speller: because it is their starting midfield three but yeah there is a frustration you almost feel bad for Emery and the Villa players because you think an incredible run you had in the guts of the season just spread it out a little bit I think it's

43:46Vishnu Varman: bigger than this And I think it is an almost inevitable problem as well with the regard to the atmosphere and how supporters approach games, if you see what I mean. Villa, they were in the Champions League last season. You would think that they're going to be in the Champions League next season unless they have a disaster. They've been in the top four since November. They're firing on all fronts. And I think that inevitably, and you see it in Newcastle United as well, people often think that St James' Park, you know, great atmosphere. And of course, like Villa Park, when it's on song it's brilliant I've witnessed it in James Park fairly recently of course it is quite something but again you've got so many fixtures and when you do enter European competition and you've got the likes of PSG and Barcelona or whoever Bayern Munich coming to town then when you do play I don't know Leeds United at home or something in a game where you're kind of expected to win the expectation changes and I think that that does have an effect and that's just that's only natural and I think some Villa fans have been complaining maybe or certainly noticing that in more recent seasons.

44:50Vishnu Varman: I don't think it's just this season. It's happened at Arsenal before as well. It's very difficult in the stadium to affect it. That happens at Craven Cottage every week. Ever since that Juventus win. No, you know what I mean? So anyway, they're not playing at Villa Park. I stress they're at the Molineux. They're not on a brilliant run. They've only won two of the last six and their home form has really suffered of late. So again, a chance for Villa as well. I mean, had Villa been on a slightly better run, they might well have found themselves back in title contention talks. We always thought it was a little bit fanciful in the end.

45:25Vishnu Varman: Or fanciful is too strong a word actually. It's a bit harsh. It was such a huge task. Yeah. Which if you look at the squads at Arsenal and Man City have.

45:33Jim Campbell: And again, it goes back to those injuries, doesn't it? Because they just kept winning. And it was like, you would think, oh, they run out of steam and then they didn't. But losing a whole department like that is going to do that. Yeah. you know it certainly would

45:44Marcus Speller: I think a lot you know you mentioned the discontent among Villa fans I think a lot of them also realise that their financial situation is very very iffy at present yeah they're right up against it

45:57Jim Campbell: aren't they yeah which is essentially has led to quite a strange January window yeah

46:02Marcus Speller: they've got like so a couple of days ago it was reported sorry yesterday in fact it was reported that they have an estimated pre-tax loss of 82 million in their submissions to UEFA for the 24-25 season. Not as bad as Chelsea, of course. No, but it's the third successive year that they've lost money. There were 120.3 million pre-tax loss in 2023 and then 85.9 in 2023-24. They obviously have to sell players. They have to get Champions League football. And I think if you're a Villa fan, just in touch with even half of the stuff going on behind the scenes, with regards to the finances, you're probably like, geez, this is, we're right on the edge here.

46:46Jim Campbell: But they're an ambitious club, right? And that costs money.

46:49Vishnu Varman: They're going to have to play it very, very cleverly in the summer, I think, to be competitive again. They need to get into the Champions League again. Yes, they absolutely do. Absolutely do. Gentlemen, I want to move us on to something far bigger than anything we've talked about so far. Gianni Infantino celebrated 10 years of FIFA presidency yesterday. 10 years, Bish. and can I be the first to say 10 more years 10 more years because apparently oh serious vicious back again

47:18Marcus Speller: he'll be like the man who drinks his son's piss he'll live forever won't he

47:23Jim Campbell: yeah it's mad that he's kind of still there isn't it they have like a limit of time but they just collectively decided that because his first term was only three years it didn't count what is the logic there

47:34Vishnu Varman: so I'm trying to get the wording of this right in relative terms it's not mad because it's FIFA and all the rest of it. Yeah. In absolute terms, it is mad. And we all just go, oh yeah, doesn't count because it was three years. Yeah, well, they're due to... Logically, don't worry about that. FIFA is due to have an election next year. Infantina will be able to stand again despite FIFA's own rules limiting a present to a maximum of three terms. A committee ruled that his first term, as you said, Jim, just to put a bit of sort of legalese on that, it didn't count and only three years. So he can do it again, Jim.

48:04Vishnu Varman: So you and the other haters need to just pipe down a bit.

48:06Jim Campbell: They're also just their own rules and they can probably change them, can't they? Because they seem to think they're a government.

48:11Vishnu Varman: Yes. And some governments around the world do this. And so FIFA...

48:16Marcus Speller: That's very common.

48:16Vishnu Varman: Yeah, I was going to say. I was going to say.

48:19Marcus Speller: Might be happening in the US.

48:22Vishnu Varman: Infantino's predecessor, Sepp Blatter, always nice to hear from Uncle Sepp these days, said this week, FIFA consists only of President Infantino. It is a dictatorship. The FIFA council, with almost 40 people, has nothing to say. Between me and FIFA, there is only contact via lawyers. I have never been convicted of criminal law, but FIFA continues to try and take action against me at the Labour law level, even though everything went right. And Blatter's ban from football ends next year.

48:51Jim Campbell: So this really does feel like he's... A day after the election. This does feel like he's paving the way for some sort of spectacular return, or at least to make a lot of noise, which I'm all for. Remember they made that film, that really self-aggrandising film. If they were to make a film about the internal politics of FIFA now, That would be amazing.

49:08Vishnu Varman: But it's come to the point, hasn't it, under Infantino and the way things are going, that we'd, again, welcome is a strong word. We would find it amusing, at least, if Sepp Blatter managed to get back in there.

49:18Marcus Speller: We'd find it amusing if Sepp Blatter comes back in there. He turns 90 next month.

49:23Vishnu Varman: Oh, yeah. Yeah, but they all live forever, don't they? 91-year-old Sepp Blatter, good point.

49:28Jim Campbell: Havilanga was so old when he died.

49:30Vishnu Varman: Yeah, old men leading very powerful organisations, Governments and the rest of it Seems to be all the rage these days

49:37Marcus Speller: Coming back in an adult nappy And sweet haymakers

49:42Vishnu Varman: It's sleepy sep everybody

49:45Marcus Speller: Sleepy blatter

49:48Vishnu Varman: I don't know I don't know Well anyway It's sure to be interesting Whatever happens Slash downright predictable Now FIFA though This is something that we didn't see coming Currently being dragged into a dispute With the American town of Foxborough In Massachusetts in the northeast of America. Now, the town itself has 18 ,000 inhabitants, so not the biggest of dwellings, but, you know, of reasonable size in terms of towns, and five locals sit on a board which sets local policy and protects the town's interests. Now, crucially, it decides whether or not to hand out entertainment licenses for the Gillette Stadium, which is hosting several World Cup games this summer, including England and Scotland matches.

50:32Vishnu Varman: The board has said that the World Cup games are probably more of a headache for the town and not a moneymaker, I quote. And they go on to say, it's going to be a flat no unless the money is there. So they're digging their heels in. Now, the board has said that nobody has provided financial commitments to cover the cost of policing and public safety, and they won't hand out any licenses for the matches until they do. So they are, and legally and fairly, if you like,

51:01Jim Campbell: digging their heels in. This is absolutely the sensible thing to do. So they estimate a cost of$7.8 million to cover police and public safety expenses during the tournament. But no one's provided commitments for it. So there is money to come, which is from Donald Trump's big, beautiful bill, which is like dealt with in that. That's the real name for him. That's not Jim's opinion on the bill. That is the name he gave the bill. If it sounds sarcastic, that's not on me for once. But yeah, so I mean, it appears very possible that the money that is due to them from them won't cover the full costs. And this group of people is amazing.

51:35Jim Campbell: This feels like a sort of Saipan-style movie to come in the future. It's a committee of five people. It's very like Parks and Rec, almost, the kind of local government of it. I hope they're incorruptible, though. Can you imagine if they go,

51:48Vishnu Varman: it's absolutely fine, they'll drive off in Bentley.

51:51Jim Campbell: It doesn't seem like the city's going to do very well out of this. However, you could do very well out of it. But they do seem pretty inscrutable at the moment. And there's sort of transcripts from the meetings they've had I've read where they seem absolutely exasperated that nobody from either FIFA or the craft organisation that run the stadium and are essentially letting FIFA sublet it can explain to them clearly where the money is going to come from how much it's going to be and when they can get a guarantee of it and fair enough I mean if FIFA can't get an entertainment licence for some England games

52:24Vishnu Varman: that would be astonishing it would be quite funny well all the host places in the World Cup are responsible for financing all the various costs for hosting the games, even though FIFA take all the income from tickets, broadcasting, sponsorships, and even parking. You can do it.

52:41Jim Campbell: Parking? You can do without the parking, lads. We're going to build a World Cup and we're going to make them pay for it.

52:46Marcus Speller: It's just someone's front yard. They're charging a tenner.

52:48Vishnu Varman: It's absolutely ridiculous. The parking fees went up, though, this week because of variable pricing. How about this? Disabled parking outside. So if FIFA is... The parking is dynamically priced. Is that what you're about to say? It appears, Jim. Oh, my God. Yeah, but before you think FIFA are immoral, and the whole thing is, Jim, disable parking outside the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. It's only$300 per match. It's only$300 per match, Jim. That is good, yeah. Parking.

53:18Marcus Speller: What do you think of that, Jim?

53:19Vishnu Varman: By the way, that doesn't include a burger.

53:21Jim Campbell: No. Even if it did. Even if it included 10 burgers. Well, what if someone's bought 10 burgers in the line before you, and they've gone, ah, these burgers are in high demand. How big are the burgers?

53:31Vishnu Varman: 40 quid. Yeah, yeah, yeah. How big are the burgers? No, burgers are not included. Nothing is included. 300 pounds to put your car in a disabled space. $300. $300, sorry. Get an Uber. Get an extremely surge-priced Uber. But look, some Americans, I say some, there are certain individuals in the United States, Alexei Lalas has been one of them, who have been quite proud of these prices, aren't they, for some fucking reason, really?

53:59Marcus Speller: I don't mean proud of the prices. they're very much defending

54:02Vishnu Varman: it shows the demand

54:04Jim Campbell: exactly that is absolutely soulless isn't it truly the first dystopian world cup actually no not even probably the third

54:12Marcus Speller: no and often in the trilogy they jump the shark don't they yeah true this is that bloody Nora

54:18Vishnu Varman: we're all doomed however something positive is happening this afternoon right here in the Football Ambulb studio it's Jack's Encyclopedia it's me v that guy Vish Vish holds the belt but I'm coming for him Oh, I'm coming for you. Ten more years. Yes, it will be available to listen to later today. Make sure to subscribe to the Football Ramble in your podcast app so you do not miss it. There we are. We've come to the end of the show. We're looking forward to Jack's Encyclopedia. Until then, thanks very much for listening to the Football Ramble, part of the ACAST Creator Network. It's been an absolute pleasure.

54:50Vishnu Varman: Get your ears round, Jack's, and enjoy whatever you're doing in the meantime. Thank you, Jim. Thank you. Thank you, Vish. Thank you. And no thank you, G.I.