The Preview Show: Match of das Tag

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3:38Luke Moore: I used to be a renegade, everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble Preview Show. A big weekend at the prem at the top and down the bottom. It's Friday 13th of March. I'm Marcus Speller. I'm Luke Moore. And I'm producer of Hunter Raja.

4:02Luke Moore: Oi, oi! Freitag, as the Germans would say, Vish.

4:06Vishnu Puranik: Not in a World Cup year. No, come on. He's right, Marcus. Listen, our attitude's got to be totally different in the World Cup year. We've got to be focused. We have got to be focused. We can't let German vernacular slip in to our broadcasting.

4:19Luke Moore: Why do you think I'm doing it?

4:20Marcus Speller: It's unpatriotic. Are you laughing at it? Is it an ironic thing?

4:24Luke Moore: I'm ramping it up, baby. And you two are on board.

4:26Marcus Speller: Come on! Yeah.

4:28Luke Moore: Before we...

4:29Vishnu Puranik: Das ist gut! Das ist gut, ja! Willkommen! Exactly. Rambol der Fútbol.

4:37Luke Moore: Yes.

4:37Vishnu Puranik: Is that how it goes? Is that something like that? Fussball, Fussball. Fussball, yeah. Switch off the pornography and get some veg down you. Yeah. Switch off the daytime pornography specifically on the mainstream TV.

4:47Luke Moore: And the evening stuff and switch on Match of Das Tag. Now, before we get to the Premier League, let's talk about another league that's been going on, the Europa one, where German sides are still Wilkommen, of course. Now, we're going to start, although we're going to go to France. We're going to go to France, another European. What can we say about them? Yeah, we can say that one of our lot beat their lot. Aston Villa beat them 1-0

5:14Vishnu Puranik: reconnaissance mission give them a little jab it's a funny one because in terms of football you want to get right stuck into them in a World Cup year but in terms of geopolitics we probably need them big allies of ours yeah you've got to be careful they have been for many many years

5:27Marcus Speller: many times in World Cup especially when their

5:29Vishnu Puranik: captain is Olivier Giroud who's one of our great imports one of our most handsome imports that's what I'm saying

5:37Luke Moore: he's captain of Lille there he is he couldn't do anything though to Stoppy side losing 1-0 to Aston Villa. The only English side to win in Europe this week. Blimey, O 'Reilly. Thank goodness for Villa, eh? Keeping up appearances.

5:49Vishnu Puranik: I know. And possibly maybe one of the teams you'd expect not to be keeping up appearances because they've been quite poor, love. We have been poor. It was a very British goal, wasn't it? It was. Keeper in no man's land. Yeah. Keep the war theme going. Well, on that. He might as well have been singing Silent Night and offering cigarettes out. He was in no man's land so much.

6:08Marcus Speller: Yeah, there was no resistance there, was there? Yeah. Well, on the wartime front, obviously, long ball, flick on. Oli Watkins gets the finishing touch. Who had the flick on? Argentina's Emi Buendia.

6:21Vishnu Puranik: Who also, by the way, attempted an acrobatic volley towards the end of the game. He did. Which I would have loved to have gone in. It was very, very poorly executed in the end.

6:30Luke Moore: Should he just have done a header?

6:31Vishnu Puranik: Probably should have done, yeah. Emi Goodday should have just done a header. He should have done.

6:37Luke Moore: He should have done, but he didn't. It was only 1-0. but lovely goal from Oli Watkins good to see him scoring he did sort of fluff a one on one later good refereeing not to give that a penalty agree

6:47Vishnu Puranik: absolutely because he just fell over didn't he

6:49Luke Moore: I don't think he appealed much he didn't sort of go down like he

6:51Vishnu Puranik: no he's got some dignity left

6:53Luke Moore: so he appealed directly for

6:55Vishnu Puranik: well

6:55Luke Moore: the only goal of the game yeah

6:57Vishnu Puranik: but he's not the thing with Oli Watkins is go on and Marcus is going to take issue with this so strap yourselves in because we're going to have

7:04Marcus Speller: we've got to build them up a three or four he's already replaying the goal against the Netherlands correct I know

7:08Vishnu Puranik: And so we're about to have a three or four minute conversation that neither you or I or the listeners want, but it's going to happen anyway.

7:13Luke Moore: Three or four minutes? I won't need that long.

7:15Vishnu Puranik: I don't think Ollie Watkins is actually that good. I know Tom, producer Tom is an Exeter City fan, so he's going to take issue with that as well. He's already shaking his head. But as a player, I don't think he's that good.

7:27Marcus Speller: I do agree with you. Do you? I thought you would be. I think he got into a really nice, well, a really good sweet spot. He was on a bit of a streak. I don't think he's technically that good. that's what I mean but you know for example even the goal against the Netherlands that was what he was doing brilliantly in that period is just being instinctive yeah and holding a defender off taking a touch he's definitely better

7:52Luke Moore: when he's instinctive which is what you saw last night I mean yeah that's another example

7:57Vishnu Puranik: and I have to be absolutely clear before I get absolutely mugged off in the comments on YouTube and Spotify and the rest of it

8:03Luke Moore: he's a better player than you

8:04Vishnu Puranik: oh yeah

8:06Luke Moore: it's that kind of comment isn't it I'm 45 Is that kind of comment you go, yeah, all right, all right, are we doing that? Okay. What did you think of that film? I can't comment. They're all better actors than me.

8:16Vishnu Puranik: I'm 45 now. It looks great for 45. What I do want to say to be balanced is that that instinctivity and that, if that's a word, that instinct and that kind of goal scoring ability is clearly strong. I mean, he scored, he's had three Premier League seasons where he scored good amounts of goals, right? I just think it starts to feel like now he's maybe a bit of a dwindling asset. It's finishing returns maybe. And so it was good to see him score. One of those goals that you do think he's good at scoring, just reacting quickly. Keeper was making the decision easy for him, I think. Keeper was poor. But overall, it's a really important goal because for them to win away from home in that situation.

8:58Vishnu Puranik: In a competition, they should unquestionably have designs on winning is obviously really important, particularly in light of all the other English clubs being dreadful.

9:08Luke Moore: Yeah, no, I think that's fair. And I was so tempted to say, well, who are England's number two and three strikers? But there is an international break coming. Fear not, everybody. The sweet smell of it is appearing over the horizon. So keep your power dry for that. But it was just as well that Watkins scored because it was the only goal in the game. And that meant that Unai Emery has 100 victories as an Aston Villa manager. He's done it in 181 matches, is the quickest Villa manager to do it. It's impressive stuff from Emery. He's been very good. I don't think anybody would doubt that. I mean, fierce competition still in the Europa League.

9:42Luke Moore: But as you say, Luke, it's a good victory. There's still work to do in that second league. But it sets them up very, very nicely. And also, they travelled to Manchester United this weekend. They've not been in a good run of form. Vish, how do you feel about this one? Because John McGinn spoke about almost the side needed a reset, I suppose. I don't know if I would go as far to say that with this performance. but the results certainly give him a bit of a spring in this step.

10:06Marcus Speller: Yeah, well, I suppose the reset point is, you know, I suppose it sounds like he's calling for a clear out and he's not going quite that far. But I do wonder if when you're in a position like Villas where you're getting into Europe and you're playing so many games, you probably rarely have time to take stock. If you're not celebrating what you've achieved the season before by, say, getting into the Champions League as they did a couple of seasons back, then you're planning for, right, how do we stay there? And at no point, I suppose even as a fan, do you really get to, you know, take it all in and be like, how cool is this?

10:40You know, the fact that you mentioned that stat about Emery

10:43Marcus Speller: and being the quickest Villa manager to 100 wins, that's an incredibly cool thing to be happening right now in your experience as a football fan, regardless of what club you support. And it's about how do you acknowledge those moments? In terms of this game, look I mean I genuinely think this is a great time for Manchester United to play Aston Villa they are going to be a bit tired from the European exertion Manchester United obviously haven't played for some time yeah can we come off a FA Cup weekend as well and it feels like Manchester United could have you know need a bit of a you know almost a minor reset themselves because it feels like they yeah not being found out but they're this they've hit a bit of the hurdle you know the first hurdle in Michael Carrick's tenure.

11:30Marcus Speller: And they're in the midst of a massive luxury themselves where they aren't being challenged week to week.

11:35Vishnu Puranik: I find it fascinating how they're basically in exactly the same spot in the Premier League table, given the journeys they've had to get there. But they're both on the same point. And, you know, both fighting for, you know, I mean, weirdly enough, they might even just both qualify for Champions League football. But it almost reminds me a bit like, you play golf and you play an amazing, in like perfect 7-iron to 160 yards, perfect shape. And then you'd play another one and you fluff it and it goes all the way along the ground and both balls end up in the same spot. Because that's what can happen in golf.

12:06Vishnu Puranik: That's what's happened here. Like the chat around Man United has been circus-like really for the first half of the season. Aston Villa have been talked about, apart from the fact that they had a bit of an iffy start, they've been talked about as being though, can they challenge for the title? And yet in the middle of March, here they both are in exactly the same spot. It's just quite an interesting phenomenon really.

12:25Luke Moore: well it is yeah and looking at the league table of course if

12:29Vishnu Puranik: which you're allowed to do now by the way am I yeah because it's March you can look at the league table now you talk about as much as you want

12:33Luke Moore: well I can do it not under the cover of darkness because I know you call me out on this

12:38Vishnu Puranik: you don't need a special permit no people at Wolves be like what the fuck

12:41Luke Moore: yeah yeah yeah see I'm not dirty we're all doing it now if fifth place does indeed go into the Champions League which it might not

12:49Vishnu Puranik: given the week everyone's just had

12:50Luke Moore: well indeed yeah we all thought it probably would but it probably still will yeah but we have to use the word if then if it does Manchester United Aston Villa Chelsea and Liverpool are the teams despite their fine season I don't think Brentford will finish above Liverpool or Chelsea although anything is possible I don't think Everton will get in there either but you know one of them would miss out and it would be it would be a big big old shame for whoever that is I mean I understand two of them could miss out so do you think you'd get over it in time in a World Cup I think the World Cup would help me get over it I think it probably would this is why I would be gutted for Villa though, in all seriousness.

13:26Marcus Speller: I don't mean this in an arrogant way, but this is why, if Manchester United don't hold on to that Champions League spot, then this has been a bad back end of the season as well. Because only three points between them, Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool, those three teams have European competitions that they want to do well, and granted Chelsea might be out by next week, but they have such a clean run and you know we're about to mention I think what is it they've only got two games in the next 40 days or in the space of 40 days

13:59Luke Moore: yeah that's right they've got obviously Villa as you say and then they've got Bournemouth and then the next game is on the 13th of April yeah yeah just the way the fixtures have gone on an international break yeah and you know

14:09Marcus Speller: it's the FA Cup as well

14:12Luke Moore: there's a chance for a reset

14:13Marcus Speller: yeah yeah I mean we'll probably end up with one of those mid-season friendlies yeah I don't think they'll be going

14:19Luke Moore: I don't think they'll be going to Dubai on holiday they're definitely

14:23Vishnu Puranik: going to play they'll definitely play games

14:24Marcus Speller: yeah yeah they'll be behind closed door games and whatever you can't get that

14:28Luke Moore: long without playing a game they'll play games something else though chaps is Manchester United Chelsea and Liverpool should all be wanting Villa to win the Europa League

14:37Vishnu Puranik: well more games yeah then they'll get in the Champions anyway and they'll go down to six because the coefficient stays as it is well I assume so that's what happened last season

14:44Luke Moore: that's what happened last season and look at Spurs

14:47Vishnu Puranik: now hey who could hold them back Ain't no one Absolutely not That's a runaway freight train

14:53Luke Moore: They're in danger of going down The Pompey Highway They are They are

14:56Vishnu Puranik: There's nothing to fear On a train On the highway You say danger There's no danger Don't worry Yeah

15:02Luke Moore: Whatever motor transport It caters for all Yeah

15:06Marcus Speller: Just on the wrong track

15:07Luke Moore: It caters for all Elsewhere in the Europa League Last night Nobigan Forrest Managed to lose 1-0 at home to Michelin Oh deary me Yeah Oh Forrest

15:15Vishnu Puranik: I mean they weren't that bad I know Oh yeah, it was just the last bit they were missing. But as they started poorly, Michelin should have scored really inside a few minutes. Forest kind of battered them really. I mean, I was at the last Europa League game at the city ground.

15:32Luke Moore: Against Fenerbahce.

15:33Vishnu Puranik: Yeah, and they were terrible. They were dreadful.

15:35Luke Moore: Well, they'd rested on their laurels on the first leg. Correct.

15:38Vishnu Puranik: But the problem is that three at the back they played didn't really work for them. But it did work for them a lot more this time. The conditions were barbaric. What happened? We're out of nowhere. I know, half hour, last half an hour. I mean, I'm not sure, I'm not sure, this is probably too much of a stretch. I'm not saying it should have been called off or abandoned, but the penalty spot was underwater. Yeah. So like, I mean, it was pretty full on.

16:03Marcus Speller: Also the way they play, the fact that like Gibbs White loves playing, like raking balls through, and even like Elliot Anderson is someone who, from deep would play balls in between the centre-back and full-back. suddenly they had to recalibrate in game because the run of the ball was hampered because of the rain. Yeah, they looked a bit low on confidence to me.

16:25Vishnu Puranik: Certainly in front of goal.

16:26Marcus Speller: Yeah, and I think... One goal from their last 96 shots at the City ground. Daniel Storio tweeted yesterday.

16:32Vishnu Puranik: I feel like, you know, that Fenerbahce thing, wrestling on the laurels mark is a really good point because obviously they win the first leg 3-0 away from home. They make a lot of changes. and then they kind of labour quite badly in quite a sloppy way and find it really hard to turn it around and get a fan of that. Go 2-0 down. And then you're like, Jesus, we might actually go out here. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then obviously they managed to scrape through. The issue is they play much better against Michelin. They just can't score. And that to me looks like they felt like after a while they realised they weren't actually ever going to score.

17:09Luke Moore: Well, I worry for Forrest now. it's becoming a thing now that they're not scoring.

17:13Vishnu Puranik: And I would also say, the goal they conceded against Michelin was a really poor goal to concede.

17:19Luke Moore: Olayena gets it all wrong, doesn't he? He does.

17:21Vishnu Puranik: He misjudges the fly of the ball. I initially thought that the forward player had done well and he'd basically given him a quick shove to get some space, but he didn't actually even need to do that. He nipped past him. He nipped ahead of him, exactly.

17:32Luke Moore: And I think Olayena's going, right, I'll use the body here and he's got it totally wrong.

17:35Vishnu Puranik: And you tend to see that with full-backs when the players come around on the other side. They lose a bit of concentration. The player runs off the back of them. This is all in front of him. He knew where it was.

17:44Luke Moore: It's a bad error. He knew it was these reactions straight away. But it's not the reason why they lost. Well, I mean, it is the reason why I lost the game. There's a missed chance. They came close to scoring.

17:54Vishnu Puranik: It was a bit of a comedy of errors in front. At one point, there was a really good chance. It might have been from Aina again. It fucking just hits Gibbs White.

17:59Luke Moore: Yeah, he got in the way of one, didn't he? Yeah.

18:01Vishnu Puranik: So, look, they've still got a chance to turn it around. But I thought the conditions has made it very, very tough.

18:08Luke Moore: I think the signal, though, is that Pereira has improved them a bit defensively. But going forward, you know, another stat to chuck in there, they've converted just 8.6 of their shots in all competitions this season, which is the lowest ratio of any Premier League side. 8.6%. Yeah.

18:23Vishnu Puranik: Yeah, that's really low.

18:24Luke Moore: The lowest of any Premier League side this season. Yeah. Which is, that really is quite something. They'll probably beat for them,

18:30Vishnu Puranik: will they? Probably.

18:32Luke Moore: Well, it's not at the cottage if we've got a chance. Yeah, it's true. They've got a chance. Well, listen,

18:36Vishnu Puranik: get your snorkel out if they're doing it at the city ground again I love what they're going to do between now and Sunday they're going to have to do something

18:42Marcus Speller: Marco Silva's looking at Forest's Wikipedia oh two European cups you say yeah might turn up yeah oh nice

18:49Luke Moore: I know well Vita Pereira called the result cruel and he said the ball didn't want to obey and just go inside the goal

18:56Vishnu Puranik: I love that yeah that's good that is good

18:58Luke Moore: very very wonderful but I just I wonder though with the English sides in Europe and this does lead us neatly onto Crystal Palace 0 is that is there a bit of complacency? You're playing against with Palace, a Cypriot side okay they beat Palace, I understand that but Forest are playing aside from Denmark Villa were the only ones that really turned it up and Emery said post-match we played very seriously and we were absolutely on it. Now again I don't think they're going in sort of half-assed necessarily but Forest are in a relegation battle. They've got a big game this weekend, a game that they could win which would be an enormous result for them.

19:36Luke Moore: Again I just wonder if there's just an element of taking their eye off the ball and you can't do that in any stage in European competition particularly the knockouts.

19:45Marcus Speller: I mean am I being too generous to suggest that they all might be a bit knackered? I mean that happens in the Premier League I get that

19:52Luke Moore: I do get that.

19:53Marcus Speller: Because our football is better than theirs it's faster it's more tiring. Leave your comments to yourself. I actually agree with that. I think

20:04Vishnu Puranik: Michelin you've got to be careful I don't think that's I don't think that's necessarily incorrect I mean it's kind of you want to be self-aware when you say that kind of thing but I think factually it's probably true you've got to be careful when you're talking about teams like Michelin who you know they've won the Danish league they're used to winning games they've been in and around European football for a long old time with the AEK Lanarka thing I haven't watched all of Crystal Palace's games this season but some of the games I've seen in Europe for them it's been far more stop starts than it should have been and they've also struggled really badly to break down teams that make it difficult for them and you think with Adam Warton and with Ismail Asar and you know different types of players but players who you feel traditionally I feel like you guys tell me if I'm wrong because I'm not really a tactical expert but for me if a team is playing very deep against you you kind of want a deep line playmaker to kind of make something happen and Warton can do that we've seen him do it We saw him do it against Spurs, right?

21:02Luke Moore: But they've made chances, Luke.

21:03Vishnu Puranik: Yes, I know anyone can do it against Spurs. But he did do it against Spurs. Ismael Sarkin makes something happen. He was very close to scoring. But they've... It feels like they've overlooked a lot of these teams in the Conference League. They should be flying in this competition. And it shows you what difference 10 months can make in football. Oh, my goodness. Because for some of the internal decisions that have been made have not been top quality. They're now from a position where they've been super excited about winning the FA Cup and being in the Europa League. They fucked up the Europa League somehow for some admin reason, which is mad.

21:37Vishnu Puranik: They're going to lose their manager. He's not showered himself in glory. They're not going to be relegated, but at one point, they might get sucked in and they should have been in a position where they were building and looking ahead rather than looking behind them. And now it looks to me that they're going to stutter sooner or later and not win the Conference League. And the only thing to credit what happened last night was that Lanarka's kit was very reminiscent of that classic C.R. Smith Celtic hit back in the day, the away one. That was very pleasing on the eye. Other than that, there's nothing to credit here.

22:06Luke Moore: I think it's a fair summation. I think with Palace, you know, last season, their best results came against the bigger sides, of course.

22:13Marcus Speller: Yeah, they were more malleable, weren't they? They were.

22:15Luke Moore: Well, and they were set up to be more reactive, you could argue, or certainly soak up the pressure and with the players they had hit on the break, it worked an absolute treat in the FA Cup.

22:23Marcus Speller: And they could, I mean, you've just said it there, but yeah, it felt like it doesn't matter if they're playing Man City or even like a, I was going to say Spurs again. It kind of ruins every example. But yeah, they would be able to hurt you in different ways.

22:38Luke Moore: Yes.

22:38Marcus Speller: And now it feels like the way they hurt you is like a traditional counter-attack. Yeah. Teams are set up for...

22:43Luke Moore: But they finished 12th last season in the league.

22:45Marcus Speller: But there was a definite kind of similar to Liverpool, a focus on the last bit.

22:52Luke Moore: Yeah, but indeed...

22:53Marcus Speller: Being the FA Cup final, yeah.

22:54Luke Moore: But being a more reactive team, you wonder, okay, in the conference league you're the favourites lads so or at least among the favourites so how are you going to do it but there were some big results you know beating Dynamo Key for example 4-0 so they can do it but obviously they've lost players and so on and so forth you've got to get it done Marcus

23:10Vishnu Puranik: but you do this is the kind of tie that you think okay there's a bit of motivation there because they beat us in the group phase they are their budget and their quality of player is in a different galaxy to us totally get it done on the first leg and you can have a little lovely old holiday in Cyprus yeah yeah

23:27Luke Moore: if that British ship's there if those drones do the job

23:29Vishnu Puranik: so I think there's no excuse for it really and I think it all has to come from the top it has to come from a real distinct lack of focus from Glasner who's carried himself not with a great amount of credit in recent months and that filters down obviously and they're now as a nature by their very nature it's very inconsistent and we would have been

23:49Luke Moore: a bit naughty if he'd have said we lost 1-0 last time we've improved

23:53Vishnu Puranik: we'll win the next one 1-0 and we'll go through do you know what they'd bite your hand off for that I think and we'll get beaten by Lask in the quarters or something yeah yeah

24:02Luke Moore: well Lask are currently in a position to qualify for next season in the European Conference League actually oh yeah okay you meant Narnia

24:09Vishnu Puranik: yeah I meant Narnia I said Lask just because I saw their name in the running order they feel like a

24:12Luke Moore: conference league type team the reason why we've put them in the running order a little bit disrespectful

24:16Vishnu Puranik: to Lask fans if they're listening

24:17Luke Moore: they've just they've just extended the contract of their player Jacob Wanker alright you're happy with that I am he'll play for Spurs yeah get him in get him in there yeah surely what about that side in Peru Deportivo Wanka perfect for them

24:37Vishnu Puranik: and the geezer who plays the South of America it is perfect he's named after Bin Laden sorry and his brother's named after Salamisa who's this you know that guy what's his famous guy football player Bin Laden he's called Bin Laden Osama he's Peruvian Osama Bin Laden that's not true it is true It is, yeah. And he's got, look, he's named after the founder of Al-Qaeda. Right. And the reason he's called Vin Laden is because B &V sounds similar in Spanish. His brother's name Saddam Hussein. Right. And his sister's named Georgia Bush. Of course she is. You must know that. It's an absolute family of roles.

25:14Vishnu Puranik: What a parent's equal. I want an interview with the parents. We're not moving on from this.

25:18Marcus Speller: No, no, but similar lines. Six days ago, we forgot to mention it on Monday show, but on Monday it was Jiz Hornkamp's birthday Jiz Hornkamp very nice

25:27Luke Moore: that's something we could get behind he must be Dutch

25:29Marcus Speller: surely

25:29Luke Moore: he must yeah Brian Penis all the rest of them do you want to quote from Bin Laden but that's that's our national stereotype the Dutch being a bit dirty and naughty right what's happening in Peru

25:40Vishnu Puranik: my friends used to make fun of me and at the beginning it bothered me but you learn to live with it and I feel normal now when Osama Bin Laden knocked down the Twin Towers his name was in the news and my father liked the name

25:52Marcus Speller: Knocked down Yeah

25:53Vishnu Puranik: To avoid criticism Only my first name Osama Appears on my jersey

25:57Luke Moore: There you are There you go To avoid How much more have I got to do It's technically not his fault It's not his fault I know it's not his fault Yeah Get down deep hole son

26:06Vishnu Puranik: Yeah he's not played for For the Peruvian national team But he is only 23 So it could be Could be in the future for him The mind boggles Anyway

26:14Marcus Speller: You just reminded me of

26:15Vishnu Puranik: You could terrorise some defences On the international team Come on seriously

26:18Marcus Speller: Was it

26:19Vishnu Puranik: It's not a laughing matter I was going to say

26:21Marcus Speller: it was Danny Dahl wasn't it a year well no thank goodness I've never been so

26:25Luke Moore: pleased to hear about 12 years ago

26:28Marcus Speller: when he tweeted can't believe it's been nearly 11 years since them slags smashed into the twin towels it still freaks my nut out to this day

26:35Luke Moore: Chad Bones

26:36Marcus Speller: father-in-law everyone

26:39Luke Moore: there's your

26:40Marcus Speller: football link if you want one

26:41Luke Moore: he won't be playing though when Crystal Palace hosts Leeds this weekend no he won't that's a big game it is Marcus every game

26:47Vishnu Puranik: in the Premier League is a big game

26:48Luke Moore: I should say so I should say so I mean, a victory for Leeds puts the pressure on them. I mean, that is a winnable game for Leeds.

26:55Marcus Speller: I don't even know where we are in the running order now. I just got distracted. I've got to close these links and hope it's safe search was on.

27:00Luke Moore: Yeah, exactly.

27:02Vishnu Puranik: You've got Pete's VPN. Leeds win.

27:05Luke Moore: It puts more pressure on Spurs as well. Huge. Yeah, massive. Massive weekend in the Premier League. I'm telling you, everybody.

27:10Vishnu Puranik: Because it's actually quite interesting to think about Leeds in that context because we, I think perhaps even we as well have been maybe seduced into thinking that they're not going to be relegated this season because they've shown some good performances. But the last few games have not been great and they are still only three points off relegation. It's perfectly legitimate to look at the table now because we're in March. Tottenham will not just be worried about Forest and West Ham as the narrative has been, but also about Leeds as well. Because they'll want as many teams as possible to be sucked into that.

27:42Vishnu Puranik: And there's quite a big gap between Leeds and Brighton. Brighton aren't really going to get pulled into it. So Crystal Palace giving themselves a little bit of wriggle room even though they're not going to be pulled into it either against Leeds would be great for the other relegated teams. It will make a much bigger relegation battle for the rest of us.

27:57Luke Moore: Well, for Palace's sake you hope that there's no boos at full time or boos to Jean-Philippe Mateta. No, he came on last night. And he got a little bit of booing.

28:04Vishnu Puranik: Yeah, he tried to engineer a move away from the club and it fell down and you're going to be labelled a prat. Also, fans boo all the time every game now.

28:12Luke Moore: Do you feel like the boo boys are bigger than ever? Oh, I think they are, yeah.

28:15Vishnu Puranik: There's so much power to their elbow now. I'll tell you what's going to come back but a vengeance in England in the World Cup, isn't it? If we're not careful.

28:22Marcus Speller: Is it getting easier to boo Andy?

28:24Vishnu Puranik: I think it probably is.

28:25Luke Moore: I think, you know like when the FA managed to weed out a lot of the known hooligans, they need to weed out the boo boys.

28:31Vishnu Puranik: Take a while. I think it's actually a really good... They're still focusing

28:33Marcus Speller: on the fire sticks though,

28:34Vishnu Puranik: aren't they? Yeah. It's a really good measure of how the public mood is. People are booing because of their team or because Mateta said he wanted to go to Milan or whatever. But ultimately they're booing because the country's and the state.

28:48Luke Moore: Right.

28:49Vishnu Puranik: Honestly it's a measure

28:50Marcus Speller: I don't I don't think that's a terrible take Thank you Fish That's what I aim for

28:54Luke Moore: I feel we don't have I feel we don't have time to go into that What an endorsement

28:58Vishnu Puranik: from Fish

28:58Luke Moore: from Osama Vishal

28:59Marcus Speller: I think every 3pm on a Saturday we should come outside and clap for Premier League footballers Bang our pots and pans Yeah

29:06Luke Moore: A bit nice British Tom just put a note in the running We've got to move on Let's break Yeah fine Coming up after this could Sean Dyche take over the British government

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30:27Luke Moore: Hi, this is Matt from P1 with Matt and Tommy, and this episode is sponsored by eBay. The cars you'll find on eBay are just different. They come with a story that you can't wait to share. Like this 1973 Dodge Charger on eBay that has been tucked away in an Arizona barn for over 40 years, only 55 ,000 miles, and somehow in great running order. It even has a rare sunroof. Suddenly, a car that was hidden for decades is being delivered in just a few clicks with eBay's secure purchase. All the paperwork handled. There are thousands of cars on eBay, from unique finds like the Pontiac Grand Prix SJ to daily drivers, and now with a new way to buy them.

31:06Luke Moore: eBay. Things people love.

31:36Marcus Speller: by Granger for the ones who get it done.

31:57Luke Moore: What is the context of that? Well, back to the book, Ravel, everybody. Nothing but winners here.

32:04Vishnu Puranik: Yeah, that is very... I'm sure there's some kind of name involved in that that sounds like loser.

32:09Luke Moore: I don't know, Luke, and I don't care. I don't want to know.

32:12Vishnu Puranik: Was that Robin Cowan? Imran Loser.

32:14Luke Moore: No, it was Imran Loser.

32:15Vishnu Puranik: Robin Cowan's a fan of the show, so she can give us a quote about it. Say what she wants. It might not have been Robin, though. I can't quite remember.

32:23Marcus Speller: Imran Loser for Watford, yeah.

32:25Vishnu Puranik: Of course it is. Of course it is. I've momentarily forgot a Watford player called Loser. That was poor by me.

32:30Luke Moore: Do not worry. Now, Liverpool versus Tottenham. Tottenham that's a shame

32:34Vishnu Puranik: I thought you were going to talk about whether Sean Dyches is going to let the US government use the air bases Dyches would let them use the RF bases like that wouldn't he no no he wouldn't

32:44Marcus Speller: as they were loading up their Blackhawks he'd kind of like sidle over put thumbs into his button and be like what are you doing here are you bombing Wolk are you bombing Wolk

32:53Luke Moore: I don't think he's

32:54Marcus Speller: yeah I I'd give him a guess do you want to see my Brumandle Mauser yeah lovely

32:59Vishnu Puranik: lovely reference Max and Paddy from Phoenix Knights. Nice one.

33:03Luke Moore: Well, we'll get to him in a minute. Mickey Van Der Ven will, of course, miss this game through suspension for what he did in a previous match. It's also unclear whether Christian Romero and Joel Paulinho will be available after they bashed heads against Atletico Madrid.

33:19Marcus Speller: It's obviously a really serious reason why that is in place. But it comes because it's so slapstick.

33:24Vishnu Puranik: I wasn't laughing at concussion. I was laughing at the way Marcus referenced what Mickey Van Der Ven's suspension was for, like it was I know what you did last summer because of what he did.

33:35Marcus Speller: But then also the way you explain that Paulinho and Remo might also be out seemed like they were linked and it was like Van Der Ven dropped a piano from the 10th story on both of them.

33:44Luke Moore: Could have done. At this stage.

33:45Marcus Speller: And then they had piano keys as their teeth.

33:49Vishnu Puranik: And then they both ate like a whole chicken in one swallow. And then pulled out the bones. Yeah. The elderly lady hit them both with one of those old-fashioned brooms on the end. And they go to

34:00Marcus Speller: He would have brought, just bringing in a ladder and then he knocked them both out. He's got a bucket of paint on the end.

34:05Luke Moore: Yeah. So they are currently being assessed. Then Trigger fell through a bar.

34:11Vishnu Puranik: And he stood up and he had like a bird pair of trousers he was pecking.

34:16Luke Moore: And Igor Tudor came along with a big bowl of soup and you know what happened. Yeah. What happened? Oh, he dropped it.

34:20Vishnu Puranik: Okay.

34:21Marcus Speller: Yeah. He didn't order soup so he sent it back. Yeah. He's not really sorry. This round of drinks is free.

34:26Vishnu Puranik: Yeah. Yeah. Well, Spurs. I think I don't mention the war. I think I can't away with it but don't mention don't mention the war no

34:34Luke Moore: Spurs off to Anfield yeah Randall Colom

34:37Vishnu Puranik: Manuel's gonna start on the right here we go here we go

34:41Luke Moore: obviously Anfield is not the fortress it was last season

34:45Vishnu Puranik: but Spurs have got a fucking toothpick to get in like if Anfield was a crumbling fortress the Spurs army march upon it and they've all got fucking toothpicks to get in you say you say that

34:58Marcus Speller: as if like Like, you know, it's not as intimidating a place for Spurs to go now. But at the same time, if they go to any kind of field with two goals in it, they must panic.

35:10Luke Moore: They must. But the point I was going to say was clearly, I don't want to go on about Liverpool. Oh, my goodness, they're going around for you. It's not, but it is Spurs as well. But before they even get to the war,

35:19Vishnu Puranik: one of them's chucked themselves on a grenade that they accidentally detonated and died. I don't understand. He pulled the pin. Yeah, exactly. And it's an absolute car crash. Do you think? It simply cannot get any worse than this. It's gone from... They'll probably win at Anfield. No. They won't. I simply don't believe it.

35:40Luke Moore: I understand why your brain sort of went there for a flicker, but I'm with Vish. It's so depressing.

35:47Marcus Speller: It's gone from looking out for another team's scores to legacy TV stuff, but old school legacy TV stuff where you can't binge on it. No. You have to tune in every week. Yeah, it's a point-mint of view. And yeah, and it's like... It's a water-cooler moment for every game. For all the wrong reasons. I can't believe Dirty Den just kicked the ball straight to their strike.

36:07Luke Moore: Nice to hear about...

36:08Marcus Speller: Why did you want to agree to this sit-down interview with Emily Maitlis? I can't believe...

36:13Vishnu Puranik: I can't believe that Tim and Dawn finally got together. I can't believe Selankia and Charleston finally got together.

36:19Marcus Speller: No, Chandler's been sent off again.

36:22Luke Moore: But it's... I mean, you know... Is it going to be a super Sunday? it's compulsive viewing Sunday.

36:29Vishnu Puranik: Yeah. Oh, it absolutely is. It's compulsive viewing. I think the Spurs operation has quite simply never been worse. Everything they do is bad. The CEO tried his very best to chuck out a load of stuff about Levy yesterday. Oh, did he? And that kind of backfired.

36:47Luke Moore: What a pathetic smokescreen that one had been.

36:50Vishnu Puranik: It was from a fan meeting at the start of the month, wasn't it? They seeded a load of stuff out yesterday saying, oh, well, Daniel Levy left us in such a state it's not our fault, effectively. Everyone's like, get fucked.

37:01Luke Moore: That's like throwing down a little smoke bomb and then trying to run out of the room as if you'd done some magic trick. It's like, no, we saw you walk out of the room.

37:07Vishnu Puranik: Yeah, and you've gone into the cupboard. Yeah, exactly. You were like George Bush that time.

37:15Vishnu Puranik: The other thing that went on... I missed that guy, sorry. The other thing that went on this week is that... It's an interesting time to bring that in. War in the Middle East again. Marcus misses George Bush. Yeah.

37:25Luke Moore: I'm just compared to what there's now but anyway go on please carry on

37:30Vishnu Puranik: what I was going to say was this is a bit of a kind of inside baseball for purist point but I think it's important I think it's relevant in this context you know Spurs also allowed a video to go out this week of James Madison having a lovely old time playing darts with our old friend Jack Dean from Jack's Happy Hour he now does the does a PDC thing and it's great and it's a really good good show and I like Jack it's not a criticism of him But I worked for a while at a company that sponsored some Premier League teams. And the amount of times that they would pull stuff because it's not great for them for PR, it's pretty standard.

38:05Vishnu Puranik: The fact that Spurs let that go out, it really is indicative of such a poor operation on and off the pitch. We know what they're like on the pitch because we see it. Off the pitch, they're clearly just as poor. The whole operation is completely farcical now. and it's clearly permeating every area of the club. They go to Anfield at the weekend. You're right to say that Liverpool are quite unpredictable. They're not quite what they were, but by rights, Liverpool should skewer them pretty easily because it's not as if Spurs have been unlucky or I know they've got players missing, as we legally mandate it to say at this point, but they are so poor.

38:46Vishnu Puranik: It doesn't even matter. If you've got them all their players back, it's hard to make an argument that they'll actually be much better because the attitude, the application, the stuff that's coming out of the club. There was a story leaked two days ago saying that one unnamed player was quite happily talking about how he didn't give a shit because he knew he was going to get a move away in the summer. That doesn't even narrow it down. Exactly, but that may or may not be true. That's something that people like to say because it gets attention. But the measure of it is you wouldn't be surprised if that was true.

39:16Vishnu Puranik: And that tells you everything you need to know.

39:18Luke Moore: And what is interesting right now is that every manager going seems to be trying to link themselves to Spurs.

39:24Vishnu Puranik: Again, I mean, that's farcical as well.

39:26Luke Moore: Well, I mean, and this is how bad it is. I mean, old Ari Redknapp was talking on TalkSport. He actually went into TalkSport, didn't he? Yeah, he was there. He's at Cheltenham, obviously. Of course he is.

39:36Vishnu Puranik: Gold Cup day today.

39:37Luke Moore: Big time. Yeah. Big time. So we absolutely know where he is, even if he hadn't appeared on the radio. He's not at large. He's not at large. Certainly not at large. Not on manoeuvres. He's having it large, but he's not at large.

39:48Marcus Speller: Imagine if he turns up on a horse. that'd be great we're not Killeen Murphy in Peaky Blinders yeah but it rears at the top bit with the cockerel that'd be great yeah he's just there the light hits him right I'd like to see

40:00Vishnu Puranik: do you know what I'd like to see him do I'd like to see him turn up like that iconic artwork for the film The Exorcist with the light coming down from the window he's got a cross in his hand he's dressed like a priest right but the light's coming from the window at the Spurs ground

40:15Marcus Speller: and he's got his briefcase don't open that he's got his briefcase yeah

40:20Vishnu Puranik: and at the window is not is not Regan from The Exorcist who's been possessed by the devil it's just James Madison in tears well

40:30Marcus Speller: why is his head spinning and he's throwing up by Mr Romero he does that all the time don't worry about that it's good cast he's had his head spun round

40:40Vishnu Puranik: by Bajal Pelinio

40:44Luke Moore: that's what I'd like to see I know you'd like to see that and you always say that that specific thing but so Redknapp was said they need someone as we have been saying he did say

40:54Vishnu Puranik: he said on the camera by the power of Redknapp compels you the power of Redknapp compels you the power of Redknapp compels you

41:00Luke Moore: is that the quote I can't remember I don't remember is it holy water

41:03Marcus Speller: or vinegar

41:05Luke Moore: whatever it was he said he said that they need someone to go in there and basically give them a pick me up like literally vibes that's all you need and he even touted Glenn Hoddle and Tim Sherwood for the job before he touted himself. That's where you are because Redknapp's thinking yeah, I am at Cheltenham I don't want to be called in too early. He said he'd had a phone call from Daniel Levy who said he would have brought him in had he been at the club. Wonderful stuff. Wonderful stuff, Luke Ball. And then they said would you do it? Yeah, of course I'd do it. You know, all that.

41:40Vishnu Puranik: Did anyone ask him about his relegation of Queen's Park Rangers and Birmingham City? I didn't think it was relevant. No, it's not. I didn't think it was relevant. Oh, come on. I ain't talking about then two things. Come on now.

41:47Marcus Speller: Because I didn't necessarily think he was backed as QPR manager. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. If you're not going to support the man, yeah, you can't blame him. I've only got Julio Cesar in goal.

41:58Luke Moore: A new player has entered the managerial hopeful game. Gus Poiette. Come on. Big Gus, the latest one to offer his services to Spurs. He said, I was sitting at home and I'm thinking, why not me? I've been there.

42:11Marcus Speller: Gus Poiette, whose last memorable moment as a manager in English football came about 12 years ago when, while suspended as Brighton manager, he sent an email fuming at the Brighton staff asking who had spread excrement on the Crystal Palace away.

42:25Luke Moore: Yeah, he got sacked when he was on TV, didn't he?

42:27Vishnu Puranik: He's got a file on Match of the Day live.

42:28Marcus Speller: Yeah.

42:29Luke Moore: Well, maybe he could be hired on Match of the Day. That would be a nice reversal, wouldn't it?

42:32Marcus Speller: Actually, with the experience of investigating. That would be very nice. Yeah, or clearing up shit.

42:36Luke Moore: He went on to say, I know the place. I know the relegation battle. I know what needs to be done. I know the Premier League. It's sometimes funny that your name is not related there, but that's the way it is now. yeah

42:46Vishnu Puranik: Redknapp also said he'd like to take Jamie O 'Hara as assistant he never said that he did on Tom's board

42:51Luke Moore: yeah he's just he's trying to throw Jamie O 'Hara Jamie O 'Hara was there

42:55Vishnu Puranik: I think it was like semi-joke right producer Tom's yeah it's not semi-joke

43:01Luke Moore: I think it's a

43:01Vishnu Puranik: well it has to be at least a semi-joke because Jamie O 'Hara is the country's most stupid person

43:05Luke Moore: I was going to say I think it's a full-on erect joke that I don't think there's anything semi about it that's a penetrative joke but on Wednesday on Wednesday it's Friday now but on Wednesday Sean Dyche was the favourite

43:17Vishnu Puranik: Week's a long time in Spurs politics I'm telling you

43:19Luke Moore: to be the next Spurs manager is we are where we are gentlemen would you like to know the current odds

43:25Vishnu Puranik: we should have a lot go on go on

43:28Luke Moore: is Dyche still the favourite

43:29Vishnu Puranik: he's not oh who's there so well they've only got the next who's going to be the manager for the first game of next season

43:37Luke Moore: we're not interested in that

43:38Vishnu Puranik: Pochettino then De Zerbi then Dyche Dyche is still third favourite for that

43:41Luke Moore: okay so clearly De Zerbi and Pochettino are not going to be in charge before the summer, right? Well, Pochner can't be, really. Right, indeed. So I think we can take them away. So Dyche, on the basis of that, I don't know if that's how the bookies work. Probably not. He's the favourite. We are where we are, Luke. I have to ask this question. Is that the worst idea?

43:59Vishnu Puranik: Joking aside,

44:00Luke Moore: put it to one side. I don't think it is.

44:02Vishnu Puranik: I think the problem with that appointment from Dyche's point of view is he's then dangerously close to just becoming one of the next generation of that firefighting manager. And I think he thinks he's better than that. Well, he would be reluctant I don't think he is better than that. I think, you know what I think about Dyche, but just to reiterate, there has to be a very special set of circumstances for a manager of Sean Dyche's quality to get anywhere near a club that size. Oh, yeah. So what he should be calculating in his mind is he should be going, I should snap the hand off of that. I've just been fired from Forrest for being quite shit.

44:36Vishnu Puranik: If I can make it happen and do a turnaround that is so good, I then put myself in position for perhaps even being offered it longer term

44:45Luke Moore: or another job do you know what I mean that's the worst case scenario if he got in there for a handful of Premier League games saved them they'd love him and he gets to hold his head high and go well do you know what I managed a top club in terms of structure and all the rest of it not in terms of playing hence he's there and so on but it won't happen I think the optics are very poor

45:04Vishnu Puranik: for a club like Spurs though because it really I mean they're desperate now though Luke it's such a measure of how far they've fallen of course it is and the type of football Dyche plays like Spurs I think is partly quite deluded but they do like to think of themselves as playing football not like that

45:19Luke Moore: that's partly why

45:20Marcus Speller: they're in this situation though because they thought they were better than that not the manager but certainly the way of playing and having to basically not try and be as forthcoming as an attacking side they're at no point during this period particularly like even early season we're kind of losing the thread of home games for example at no point did they think you know what why don't we just play this like an away game they always felt compelled to attack and I kind of get that not under Frank yeah no but they still at no point did they ever try and like just be a bit more secure

45:55Luke Moore: I think under Frank

45:59Vishnu Puranik: it was that they were way way too conservative and way too kind of meek

46:04Luke Moore: it was the opposite to Ange in terms of the identity's been

46:08Vishnu Puranik: totally lost anyway the central discussion point around this whole thing, in my view, needs to be that it is absolutely ridiculous that Tudor's still in the job.

46:17Luke Moore: But Luke, they have to. They've got to take the medicine and eat humble pie and go, right, stay in the league or whatever.

46:21Vishnu Puranik: But Tudor's not going to keep him in the league. No,

46:22Luke Moore: I know he's not, which is why...

46:23Vishnu Puranik: He should have been fired an hour after the game against Atletico.

46:26Luke Moore: I agree. But that's where we are. And you know what it's like? If they sack Tudor now, they look stupid. And it's kind of like, yeah. But they already look stupid. You're already, so you've got to take your medicine, lads, and make a bloody decision here.

46:39Vishnu Puranik: Your point surely is they should have changed the manager this week. Yeah, I'm agreeing with you. Yeah, fine.

46:43Luke Moore: Let's move on to Chelsea versus Newcastle United. Ooh, this is an interesting one. Bearing in mind both sides still alive in the Champions League. Newcastle more so, of course.

46:54Vishnu Puranik: I felt gutted for Newcastle.

46:56Luke Moore: Yeah, it was a sick nap.

46:57Vishnu Puranik: And the Chelsea thing was funny because I caught Enzo Fernandes when they came back to 2-2. Yeah. Pointing at his Club World Cup winner's emblem on his chest.

47:06Luke Moore: That was silly, wasn't it?

47:07Vishnu Puranik: Yeah, and they got whapped 5-2. No, it was very disappointing

47:10Luke Moore: from Chelsea's point of view. He scored a lovely goal

47:12Vishnu Puranik: to be fair for them.

47:13Luke Moore: He did score a lovely goal indeed. But it'd be interesting how both sides approach this because Chelsea very much alive in the race for the top four or five. Newcastle, which is now having a bit of a funny old season. I mean, if they are to qualify for the Champions League again, then it is more likely through the league, even though I still think Newcastle could actually go very deep in this Champions League. But, you know, where they are.

47:36Vishnu Puranik: I think that's that ship has sailed I think

47:40Luke Moore: the percentages have decreased I grant you

47:43Vishnu Puranik: they're certainly better in the Champions League and they were really really good against Barcelona I thought you guys summed it up really well I thought they were fantastic to a man I thought Pete was spot on the reality is though that's a really deflating equaliser it is and I don't think they're going to win at the Nou Camp

47:58Luke Moore: so what are they going to do in the league I mean how do you prepare for this game we know how they like to play we know that really they're going to just shove everything into that game against Barcelona but this game's a big game it's a tough opponent but I mean if they were to lose you know you could drop down to 13th, 14th in the league so it's a difficult game for them to approach because they still have to show something in the league I mean Howe's got to show a bit more

48:22Marcus Speller: 100 % I mean they're going to the Nou Camp on you know in midweek so that's not a given and because of that yeah you're absolutely right they have to show something in this game and they might even you know fancy it against a Chelsea side who they'd know if you put enough pressure on them consistently throughout 90 minutes, they will give you enough back.

48:42Vishnu Puranik: Yeah. I think they've got to approach it the same way Villa did. Villa won at Stamford Bridge by not really having that much of the ball. Ollie Watkins scored two off the bench, maybe from memory. But they were ruthless and they didn't mind not having the ball. And I was really encouraged. One of the things that you guys mentioned that I wanted to follow up on is that Lewis Hall was absolutely unbelievable. against Barcelona. And so if he can really exploit that left-hand side because he'll probably have Gordon in front of him in this game.

49:13Marcus Speller: Yeah, but it's the battle of two of England's starting full-backs, isn't it? What, who's the other one? He's got Rhys James coming at him.

49:20Vishnu Puranik: I think Rhys James will play with Phil, won't he? And Gusto will play right back. Oh, I suppose, yeah. So, I mean, James will be helping out Gusto as part of the gig. But I think if they can exploit a left-hand side, if they can play like Villa played against Chelsea, like I said, not be worried about not having that much with the ball. Chelsea again is a team where the fans get on their back if they're not playing that well there's opportunities there for them

49:42Luke Moore: who'll start in goal? yeah it's a good question because I mean much was made of what happened with Spurs I mean Chelsea they put Jorgensen in goal which seemed a bit surprising I thought you meant for Newcastle because you could ask that question you're good it's the goalkeeper Merigo round

49:57Marcus Speller: yeah I suppose Ramsell for now seems to have secured it doesn't he but you have to stop pulling the names out of a hat for the goalkeeper yeah because also that's part of the problem isn't it if you don't have a set number you know we actually had this conversation about Ramsdale at Arsenal didn't we when they first signed David Rea and it's the quarterback thing if you have two quarterbacks you have none and if you have two goals if you're flittering between I appreciate you know who knows Jorgensen might have it on the weekend but if Sanchez and Jorgensen are both there unsure if they're going to start that weekend that doesn't do any of them any favours

50:29Luke Moore: it makes such a difference especially for that back line as well I mean he was putting goal obviously against PSG and Chelsea are now investigating whether someone leaked their starting line-up after the French media correctly reported Chelsea's team around eight hours before It was Alejandro Gagnaccio starting the game Well Liam Rosinia said I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of that if it's the case These things now they happen quite a lot We get information about our opposition Didn't say it in that tone

50:56Vishnu Puranik: Why did you lose 5-2 then?

50:59Luke Moore: Would have been six if we didn't know

51:01Marcus Speller: The interesting thing about that is a lot of the time, like Liam Messina, that's a really nice answer from him because a lot of times they will get info from, say, someone within the dressing room who might have a contact with someone else in the other dressing room. And that often, that is an agent in common. Okay. Because they just like, you know, they'll talk about it quite openly.

51:23Luke Moore: Was it Matt Letizia's brother?

51:25Vishnu Puranik: Could be. Yeah. Never forget the damage Letizia family have done to this nation.

51:30Luke Moore: In more ways than one. Technically, not even from it. no exactly exactly

51:34Marcus Speller: he's retreated to that island when it suits them yeah

51:37Vishnu Puranik: exactly

51:37Marcus Speller: oh they didn't pick me

51:39Vishnu Puranik: yeah because you're not from here yeah stop the boats fish innit stop the boats no stop the boats the small boats that specifically have got the Tissier family members on them that's all I'm saying from Guernsey to England from Guernsey we need to vet those vessels yeah exactly right okay

51:55Marcus Speller: put Matt Tissier back in the boat right this is so we started this you know with the reminding ourselves of the World Cup. Yeah, we've already turned on ourselves. I thought you were about to say we started this with

52:08Vishnu Puranik: the best intentions. I was about to say no, I fucking didn't.

52:11Luke Moore: We're going so far back in history all the way to the English Civil War. Yeah, absolutely. All right. Yeah, Tom, it's time to break. I know. You're not going to keep telling us. You're not charged, Tom. Come and come after this.

52:22Marcus Speller: Can't even my cowpole.

52:26Luke Moore: Fine. I'm not going to even explain it. Could this be a big weekend in the title race? Spoilers, yes

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54:29Luke Moore: Welcome back, everybody. Seriously, well done for coming back.

54:33Vishnu Puranik: Yeah.

54:34Luke Moore: Arsenal versus Everton. Yeah. We put this right at the end

54:37Vishnu Puranik: because I'm just fed up of talking about Arsenal.

54:38Luke Moore: Oh, yeah. Yeah. Well, here they are again.

54:40Vishnu Puranik: Yeah, I'll do it now. Yeah, okay. I don't want to start a show with it.

54:43Luke Moore: That's big of you. Yeah. Are you enjoying

54:45Vishnu Puranik: Stack's Arsenal show? Yeah. Well, yeah, that's part of the reason but yeah it's gone way too much

54:49Luke Moore: a lot of people say that Jim is the Arsenal fan they look to if they're a neutral they think he's not as bad because obviously some of the Arsenal presence online well exactly he's the opposite for me

55:00Marcus Speller: I appreciate listeners won't know this but the thing about Arsenal Jim wanted to call it Jim Campbell TV he did yeah yeah he actually wanted to call it

55:09Luke Moore: by far the greatest team the world has ever seen yeah he did yeah but it's he didn't want to do that he didn't need to defend himself so I'll defend him

55:17Marcus Speller: Yeah, the other title was Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal.

55:20Vishnu Puranik: Or, Thierry Henry, if you're listening, can I wank you off, please?

55:23Luke Moore: Oh, no. Come on. Henry called himself the boss, by the way, the other week. Of course he did. Of course he did. Anyway, this is...

55:30Marcus Speller: Oh, but no, no, a bit of context. That was to Michael Alisse.

55:32Luke Moore: It was to Bruce Springsteen.

55:34Marcus Speller: Was it?

55:34Luke Moore: No.

55:36Marcus Speller: He calls himself the boss. Oh, we can do it because he's blue collar.

55:39Luke Moore: Anyway, this is the final Premier League game Arsenal will play until the 11th of April.

55:45Marcus Speller: They're lazy as well. Yeah. I think they've got a cup final in the European games in there.

55:49Luke Moore: Yeah, they've got an FA Cup as well. Whatever.

55:51Marcus Speller: I love their plans to be playing as national football as well. It insists upon itself.

55:55Luke Moore: Man City's next Premier League game after this weekend is the 12th of April. Even lazier. There you go, you see. Just a bit of scheduling updates for you all. I expect Michael Arteta

56:03Vishnu Puranik: to be using that as an excuse for the reason they haven't won the title. Extra day off.

56:07Luke Moore: But what about this? Will he mention this if they don't beat Everton? Because Everton have only lost once away from home since October. They got a fine victory at Craven Cottage. I witnessed that. what do you think Luke Moore not an easy game for Arsenal this no it's not in between Champions League games of course

56:24Vishnu Puranik: absolutely thank you for that added context not at all I appreciate the fact that there's a Champions League happening it's one of the games where you go into it and you think that's a tricky one I think they might struggle here and then ultimately they tend to just do okay they tend to do fine I mean the Wolves game aside in recent games they've kind of closed it out you see a situation where they draw against Brentford away and they bounce back with a really easy win in the FA Cup they draw against their walls okay is this actually happening now and along comes Spurs give them a lovely little favour and they've been pretty good ever since but then the Arsenal fans that you listen to will say oh you know I've not been that convinced by them they struggled against Mansfield they struggled to beat Brighton they struggled to beat they won all these games that's just

57:16Marcus Speller: fans anxiety is coming to the fore

57:18Vishnu Puranik: I do think the fact of the matter is

57:21Luke Moore: I think it's a bit of both well

57:24Vishnu Puranik: I guess look you could say since that Villa game where they won just after Christmas where I said they might have run out of steam their points per game has been far lower than it has before that but the situation is they've still both been very good points per game scores look they're top of the league for a bleeding reason

57:42Luke Moore: I understand that totally and you know get it done I mean it's all a bit to use this reference again a bit Leicester City Ranieri you know just get a 1-0 all you're interested in is the three points right now and I get that and I respect it actually I'm not that much of a purist Do you respect JCTV?

57:59Vishnu Puranik: No exactly Jim Campbell TV

58:01Luke Moore: Well when it gets going I'll give you my answer but until then I'll campaign against it but with this is the type of game again I understand the jitters that Arsenal fans have I also understand that with Man City they're both in the same boat which is why it's a neutral I'm bloody loving it

58:16Marcus Speller: because you

58:17Luke Moore: honestly Arsenal at home to Everton I think Arsenal will probably scrape a victory by the odd goal I mean if they get a a helping hand in the form of an own goal or a very cheap penalty Vish that would help matters yeah yeah well they've got the referees in their pocket they've played a lot of those cards this season you might say yeah they have they have played it superbly in Europe midweek

58:37Marcus Speller: yeah I didn't know it transferred but they probably had it on a Monzo so they didn't get charged the conversion fee I was reading an article on the BBC yesterday and this completely passed me by but since Moyes has returned to Everton in the 14 months since they've won the most matches on the road of any other Premier League side other than Arsenal

58:57Luke Moore: that's what I mean you know their away form has been scintillating at the Big Dick Stadium they've struggled a little bit but Moyes has said Moyes I think he's eyeing up European football for next season because that would be massive if they could do it that'd be huge and it's achievable I mean look where they are

59:13Marcus Speller: in the league it might also be the thing that really like takes off that stadium as well

59:17Luke Moore: I get really excited as Luke's given me licence to let's crack open the league table again because if you look at it that mid table I understand you get a big like scroll it's like wine isn't it

59:28Marcus Speller: once you crack it open you've got to finish it every week I add to

59:31Luke Moore: the tapestry one I've got at home in the west wing but and that's an English reference not an American one because you think I'm getting political again because the Royals are outside of politics. Now, but Everton, they are...

59:46Marcus Speller: We separate the church and state over here. Fucking Alan Partridge.

59:51Luke Moore: They are five points behind Liverpool. Now, I don't think they're going to finish in the top five, Everton, but they really do have a chance and they are going about their business pretty well, especially away from home. Moises said, we will not take our foot off the pedal. Odd if he said the opposite, but that's what he's saying going into the final phase. He didn't say which pedal either. That's right, yeah. but currently in eighth which could well be enough for European football depending on who wins the FA Cup but we know the Conference League place will be up for grabs because Arsenal and Man City are in the final of the League Cup of course

1:00:20Vishnu Puranik: it's all to play for you summed it up when we went into the break where you basically it's a massive weekend in the Premier League title race the reason for that is one thing you guys haven't mentioned is Everton basically just don't really concede goals they've got the best defence in the league outside of Arsenal Man City and obviously Man City go to West Ham who have been improved right So actually what we could see here is we could see, it's not that likely, but it's possible, that both Arsenal and Man City struggle in these games at the start and it then depends on who panics and who doesn't.

1:00:52Vishnu Puranik: Because I think that if Arsenal get to 60 minutes and it's still nil-nil, it'll be very interesting what happens. In that situation, I would trust Man City more than I trust Arsenal.

1:01:03Luke Moore: And this is the thing.

1:01:04Vishnu Puranik: West Ham's record against Man City, by the way, is diabolically bad.

1:01:07Luke Moore: yeah I would have assumed that had you not told me I've not even checked that's how confident I am but with Arsenal though one of the things that I think is coming to the forefront is that it's the attacking options who's going to break them down which is why you know fair play to them with the set pieces but the own goals and the penalties I don't give a fuck

1:01:25Vishnu Puranik: that shit is such a boring chat though what's that that coverage is all over I'm not talking about you but I'm just trying to cut in but like this chat about like set pieces this and own goals that it's just such fucking boring shit

1:01:35Luke Moore: no I'm saying they are goals right I'm not taking that away from them my point was to add to yours that if it is 0-0 or 1-0 or whatever a draw we'll call it with say 20 minutes to half an hour to go that's the moment where I think who have Arsenal got to say bring on or they've got some good players there that's where I would maybe trust Man City a little bit more

1:01:54Vishnu Puranik: even though Man City

1:01:55Luke Moore: are second currently

1:01:56Vishnu Puranik: yeah I agree I just think that you know there's people saying I know people say stupid shit for attention all the time now yeah myself included but the we've got like pundits talking about how there's a bit asterisks over Arsenal if they win the league and whether it's actually going to count. It's just such fucking stupidity. It's like rank stupidity. I think it will be, I'm happy to go on record and say, I think it will be hilariously funny if Arsenal don't win the league this season, right? I do think that. But the very fact that like if they win it, it's like somehow less valid because they've done this, that or the other.

1:02:27Vishnu Puranik: It's just such fucking stupidity. It's rank stupidity.

1:02:30Luke Moore: Completely agree.

1:02:31Vishnu Puranik: It's ridiculous. But it is a big weekend because Man City will probably roll West Ham over.

1:02:35Luke Moore: Well, West Ham haven't lost at home since the beginning of January.

1:02:37Vishnu Puranik: Yeah, but I've got the last six games between them here. Right. And I'll read them to you. I'll read them to you. Go on then. 3-0 Man City, 3-1 Man City, 3-1 Man City, 4-1 Man City, 3-0 Man City. Okay, so this sort of... Just kept saying... Goal, goal, goal, goal.

1:02:51Luke Moore: Yeah, okay. So Man City have kept a couple of clean sheets against them. But I think this West Ham side, they are rejuvenated and they are on the... I think... I think Somerville's out though, isn't he?

1:03:01Marcus Speller: I don't worry about that. I mean worry about the guy who might get the one

1:03:05Luke Moore: I'll tell you I'll tell you why West Ham are rejuvenated because their eyes have lit right up now they can drag Spurs into it oh yeah that is their that is their motivating factor I think

1:03:14Vishnu Puranik: we could be going through this weekend and having a long break obviously we are going to have a long break obviously and Spurs could be in the relegation yeah I mean it would it would need Forrest to beat Fulham eminently doable it would need West Ham to get something spectacular out of Man City it probably won't happen but it could happen and in the middle of March that is crazy exactly

1:03:36Marcus Speller: how badly do Spurs need to lose against Liverpool to get doctor point

1:03:41Vishnu Puranik: I think it's 12 goals no 12 if it's a turnaround 12 goals they won't get doctor point but the goal difference if West Ham pick up something they'll be in the yeah but if West Ham

1:03:49Marcus Speller: don't pick up something how bad does it have to be for them to be like we'll take one off you now

1:03:54Luke Moore: that's awful it's the last thing we need right everybody we've reached the end of the show but we do have time for me to tell you this Luke Moore won the Jackson Encyclopedia belt last week it was a stonking victory I did it for the nation for the Luke nation absolutely right he has now though got the chance to unify the belts this afternoon My Biddy Ant will be available to listen later today and it's Luke versus Vish this is turning into Tyson Holyfield stuff

1:04:20Vishnu Puranik: I'm historically better at My Biddy Ant as well and I may bite Vish's ear if he takes his headphones off

1:04:26Marcus Speller: do I not get the opportunity to reclaim the belt you know you're a boxing fan isn't that usually

1:04:33Vishnu Puranik: it's not my choice mate

1:04:34Luke Moore: this is not boxing this is the football ramble we do things differently

1:04:37Marcus Speller: he's trying to buy my ear off

1:04:38Vishnu Puranik: I will do that

1:04:39Luke Moore: yeah again this is not boxing that's allowed I probably won't need to

1:04:42Vishnu Puranik: I've got the nation behind me now after your performance last week we've had record numbers of membership to the Luke Nation so it's fine I've got the power behind me

1:04:50Marcus Speller: I'm going to eat your children

1:04:52Vishnu Puranik: praise to Allah I'm going to rip I'm going to rip your fucking heart out I've got to eat your children

1:04:56Luke Moore: yeah yeah to quote Mike Tyson again I'm sure Jesus Christ is a lovely guy and I reckon he'd have a drink with me make sure to subscribe to the Football Ramble in your podcast app so you don't miss an episode of course I'll tell you what though that's been my bitty art match

1:05:11Vishnu Puranik: if I was to ascend to heaven somehow and I got to have a drink with Jesus and Mike Tyson I'd be pretty happy with that

1:05:16Luke Moore: yeah it'd be surprising though Mike Tyson being a Muslim having a drink but there we are that's the point of that quote everybody in case you wondered what I was going on about thanks for listening to the Football Ramble part of the Acast Creator Network we'll be back this afternoon do not miss it Thanks Luke Thanks Thanks Vish Cheers And thank you Mike Tyson

1:05:41The Football Ramble

1:05:43Marcus Speller: is a Stack production and part of the Acast Creator Network

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