The Preview Show: Phil Jonesing for football

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1:47Pete Donaldson: built from last quarter's data and the competitive landscape. Great. Did you include the differentiation angle the CMO asked for? Already in there. Three angles no competitors using right now. Just need your approval. Approved. Thanks. Oh, agents, where would we be without you? Hmm. Somewhere with a lot more tabs open. Create your first Monday agent in minutes at monday.com. Hi, it's Mark Bittman from the podcast Food with Mark Bittman. It's back to school time, which means many of us are going to be busier than ever. But from getting out the door in the morning to enjoying delicious meals together at the end of the day, Whole Foods Market can help with convenient options and delivery.

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3:16Pete Donaldson: Wash your face in the morning sun, everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble Preview Show. The Premier League is back tonight. It's Friday 15th of August. I'm Marcus Speller. I'm Jim Campbell. I'm Pete Donaldson.

3:40Pete Donaldson: It's Friday and the Premier League begins today. The sun is out, the birds are singing and the Pete Donaldsons are here. You must be loving life, baby. I'm loving life. I've got the burps. Just two weeks. I'm crying out loud. Why do you have to behave like this? It's a fair question. It's not really a choice, though, is it? I had two eggs and a bottle of Tabasco this morning. That's not a choice, Jim. And that's not a choice. And so I'm excited about the Premier League, but I'm also a little gassy.

4:10Jim Campbell: You slathered the eggs in Tabasco, didn't you? So you said the studio wouldn't smell of egg. I would argue it just smelled differently of egg. It smelled of better egg. A better quality of egg. You dirty old rotter. You dirty old eggy, eggy rotter. You old rotter. The Football Rumble preview show. I'm excited, Marcus. We're in a new studio. I'm with you. We had like two weeks in the wilderness where we were recording on Zoom. And now we're in a studio together. It's very exciting.

4:37Pete Donaldson: It is. It's too exciting, quite clearly. But the eggs have brought us back down to earth. Yes. Jim Campbell, we don't have to wait till tomorrow for the first game of the season. Tonight, come on. It's tonight. the opening game of the Premier League features the current champions Liverpool host Bournemouth tonight at 8pm

4:59Jim Campbell: I'm so excited I've been jonesing for the Premier League to come back I'm looking forward to all of it Phil jonesing I'm looking for Phil jonesing yet gurning away with excitement I'm looking forward to all the stress of it I'm looking forward to Gary Neville standing like a goat that's also a deputy head boy I'm looking forward to just the new match of the day stuff I've been jonesing for some football that means something. And yeah, I can't wait for this.

5:22Pete Donaldson: It's going to be great. And I can't say, are you looking forward to a second place finish again? Because I predicted your lot to win the bleeding title. Yeah, you can still say that, mate. Don't deny yourself a little treat

5:32Jim Campbell: if it presents itself.

5:33Pete Donaldson: Even if it's mathematically impossible, I will still be standing here. It's more of a curse, really, as we head towards the end of the season. Of course, you weren't here for our predictions, of course. No, but yours have been on social media. They have been on social media and they were incorrect because I said No, they will be proved to be incorrect They will be proved to be incorrect By the final league total standings You reckon you're going to the last round, really? No, probably Christmas would probably be sensible But I believe in Team Vish I'm a Man City to win the league kind of guy I'm excited You're excited for Man City to win the league Well, no, I'm more excited for me to be right That's the only thing that we need to worry about, I think Well, Liverpool, of course could they second they can't prove us all wrong on the opening day but they can give us all a scare and we certainly got a scare from them in general just how good they looked at moments in that first half in the community shield ten minutes was scary wasn't it yes it was yeah yeah yeah but they have a chance tonight to really flex and show everybody what their new shiny players can do in the Premier League of course we all know about Verts one of the best players in the world you might say Eketike looks great blah blah blah I mean a home victory will be on the cards

6:51Jim Campbell: this evening you would think so and also Bournemouth you know four of the five man defence that were so good for them last season have departed one of them too Liverpool well indeed so that is potentially going to be really really tricky obviously they've had a bit of time on the training ground and they've got defenders that have been there for a while that obviously know what they're doing but it's not ideal is it? It's a really really it's not ideal it is literally the worst fixture you could have on the opening day when your new defence is settling. I suppose you get it out of the way. In terms of the experience that you are likely to have, it's probably not ideal, is it?

7:26Jim Campbell: It wasn't that long ago they lost 9-0 there. True. Can't be that bad. Well, it can't be that bad. It can't get any worse than that. Are you saying they'll take 8-0? And go, you know what?

7:35Pete Donaldson: Well. It's been worse than this before. If they're 7-0 down at half-time, they'll take 8-0. No, I think a few people are saying, and I get the whole, you know, they've lost Helsin, they've lost Kyrkic. I don't think Bournemouth are going to be that terrible this season or that bad it might be unlikely because there was a period of time last season where we were thinking are we going to see Champions League football at the Vitality Stadium next season which would have been something we probably said that about Brighton in the past haven't we? there's always a team that threatens it but Brighton have got European football not Champions League so I'm not sure we're going to maybe talk about Bournemouth in that way this season but I really don't worry for them because if you think about the players that they were people thought they were going to lose like Semenyo for example but he's still there and crucially the manager is still there the manager was being linked how good were Bournemouth at periods you know when they turned up and hammered your lot at St James' Park the football they played at times last season lest we forget was scintillating I mean they're going to probably lose

8:39Jim Campbell: Dango Watara looks like he's going to go to Brentford but otherwise in the forward areas they're intact aren't they Evan Nilsson's still there. Which is absolutely key. Justin Klivert as well.

8:47Pete Donaldson: Exactly, yeah. So they've still got players. So I think that this game will be more keenly contested than perhaps everyone or two think. Early penalty for Justin. Oh, that'd be nice. That'd be nice, wouldn't it? It would be nice, yeah. VVD doing a little bit of...

9:00Jim Campbell: I do think he's going to drop off this season. He has to, he's 35. If he drops an absolute stinker tonight, then that is... That's interesting, isn't it? It's a fly in the ointment, isn't it?

9:09Pete Donaldson: Is that like when a big team at the World Cup gets a bit of a bloody nose? in the first or second game and suddenly you think, oh my goodness. It's all up for grabs. But everything just reverts to mean by the end of August. I should point out that Virgil, I need to call him Dick Van Dyke, Virgil Van Dyke is 34. 34, sorry. Does that change your opinion?

9:28Jim Campbell: He's in his 35th year. He's in his 35th, yeah.

9:31Pete Donaldson: Sorry, forgive me for doubting you. The Koreans, you start at one, don't you, in Korea. Yeah, they changed that. Is that right? Yeah, everyone got a year younger recently. Not bad, is it? It's a bit like if your man from Endgame, Avengers Endgame, was the president. The purple guy. Yeah. Barney. Thanos. Thanos. It was like Thanos. Thanos the friendly dinosaur. Bang, you're a year younger. He was the president. Is that what? Because I've never watched any of those gopping films. And when he snaps his... I thought it just kills the whole world and the universe.

10:00Jim Campbell: No, half of it. Oh, right. Just to, you know, make a bit of room. No, just... It's that random. Right. It just thins out half of the universe. Half of everyone, yeah. How did you say Australia there? It's like the bottom half of the world. It was more of it. Quite a lot more in that.

10:17Pete Donaldson: Why don't you go through some of the other countries that are in half the world then? Well, just talk to Thanos. All right.

10:21Jim Campbell: No, no. If you had to take out half the countries in the world, what are they?

10:27Pete Donaldson: We're losing Nobby Solano and Elon Musk. All right, guys? Are you happy? I'm not about losing Nobby. I know. Oh, yeah. He's got a new job. Has he? Forget where. I think it might be Pakistan. Okay. Well-traveled manager that way. Let's hope he's in the right half of the world then. Exactly. Correct. Something we can all get behind. So yes, I forget the point I was making. Bournemouth, they're all a year younger. Virgil van Dijk is 34. Virgil van Dijk is a year younger. We're back, people. We've got a new studio, same old twaddle. So, Virgil van Dijk is younger than we think. But what about the very, very young man that they've just brought in from Italy, Giovanni Leone, who once said that he idolises...

11:08Pete Donaldson: I say once said, it was fairly recently. He said, I take inspiration for Virgil van Dijk. And Chris Smalling, quite pleasingly. Chris Smalling obviously did very well at Roma. Was a part of the side that Jose Mourinho's team, lest we forget, that won the inaugural Europa Conference League.

11:27Jim Campbell: Sometimes you've got a weird favourite player as a kid. I remember thinking Mark Draper was brilliant at Aston Villa. He was a good player, though. He was. Mark Draper.

11:35Pete Donaldson: So leave off. I'm not. I'm literally praising him. Okay, fine. But I mean, he is from Rome, Giovanni Leone. So, you know... When in Rome? Exactly, when in Rome. Do as Chris Smalling does. Do as Chris Smalling does. And when in Liverpool, do as 34-year-old Virgil van Dijk does. So he's joined the side, which, I mean, when he signs for, you know, a fair few million quid, he's 18. He's not played that much football. But quite clearly, he's played enough for everyone to go, this lad's a player. He's 6 '4", 6 '5", tall, strapping guy. good with the ball all that kind of good stuff and you think yeah he's worth about 75 million by the end of the season but is it the sort of side that you need to be at to kick on as an 18 year old like you kind of need to hit the ground running in the Premier League good God I know what you mean it's a hell of a difficult well it's interesting the centre back situation at Liverpool because there's chat isn't there that Ibrahima Canata has agreed to join Real Madrid either this summer or next summer when he's out of contract

12:34Jim Campbell: chat from Spain

12:36Pete Donaldson: from quite tabloidy Spanish outlets I mean if he's going to Real Madrid and he's out of contract I mean this is well sign yeah we're not going to register yeah well I would say normally rats jump off a sinking ship but I mean this the Liverpool ship seems to be sailing quite happily through the night

12:53Jim Campbell: they're acquiring more rats aren't they this rat has actually booked its travel plans quite well ahead of time a part of me thinks that there is a regular meeting in the Real Madrid diary that is just entirely about annoying Liverpool every week they just come up with new ideas you reckon just a little kind of little pot of money to spend to seed out these Instagram stories

13:14Pete Donaldson: yeah they're Raymond would have quite scared in Liverpool these days aren't they that's what it is well we fear you wouldn't be surprising maybe they tried to gazump them for Alexander Ezek well as I said they'll try and sign whoever I mean I don't know why they haven't had a crack to be honest have you seen how many players they've got up there killing Mbappe he's going hang about yeah yeah and he's like it's proved that he's performing at a higher level probably a better defender You're the false nine.

13:39Jim Campbell: He's the real nine. There we go. That's what we're going to do. Sorry, lads. You can't have 12 players. No, he's a false nine. You cannot. Oh, fine. You're at Madrid. Do what you like.

13:47Pete Donaldson: Do what you like. Well, so, I mean, how much we'll see of Giovanni Leone in a Liverpool show this season remains to be seen, of course. But...

13:54Jim Campbell: It does feel like a market opportunity, doesn't it? Rather than like, let's get him straight in there. Not one for now.

13:59Pete Donaldson: Completely, yeah. I mean, because the talk of Mark Gay going to Liverpool. I mean, Gay, the situation at the time of recording, because things can change very quickly with this. It seems that Gay would rather stay at Palace because it's a World Cup year. Which makes sense because according to reports, he's not guaranteed minutes at Liverpool, which would be quite something. I mean, again, the Canate situation, we'll have to see where that goes. But I mean, Mark Gay's thinking, hang on, if I sign for this side, I want to be a star in centre half.

14:23Jim Campbell: Absolutely. And if Canate goes, the problem remains, doesn't it? I suppose in that case, then, you know, Leone probably steps up and plays a bit more. You know, we've seen young players do that, but a centre-back is particularly difficult, I suppose. But yeah, I really I found that really interesting from Mark Gay he's very smart isn't he and a lot of players think you know what I'll back myself to get in the team and don't ever go uncle Mark yeah and I can we've seen it many many times players thinking that they can go and kind of force their way into a very settled unit and it not work out and I think he's taken a step back and going that is a bit risky because you know he was brilliant for for England in the Euros well currently he's England's starting centre-half with John Stones all being well that would probably remain or wherever he ends up, surely.

15:05Jim Campbell: I suppose you're right. He's been excellent for England and there's an argument that he's the starting centre-half, but you've got to prove that to Tuchel, right? You've got to be in his mind. What he's done under Southgate isn't really relevant now. So he'll have an eye on that as well. I mean... I think he would get into an England side wherever he played. I think he'd do a tilt in Saudi and still get in. Do you think? Well, under Tuchel. He's clearly mad.

15:32Pete Donaldson: Yeah, I think... I understand gay thinking it could be a bit of a signal for Palace. It's a funny one though. It's kind of a bit of sweet for Palace because, yeah, as a neutral, I want to see him in a Palace shirt. Obviously, all the Palace fans do and you think, well, they get an extra year of him but then they get nothing following summer and therefore, he defaults to becoming a rat.

15:50Jim Campbell: Yeah. So many rats around. It's true. You're never more than six feet away or wherever it is. We're seeing it more and more. That's in London, yeah. I suppose that's where gay is. Backs up the point, I suppose, yeah. It's also a myth because it's about spiders. but let's not let that get in the way is it really

16:05Pete Donaldson: my goodness well absolutely right so yeah interesting how it will pan out tonight I think that that Bournemouth front line will be targeting that Liverpool back line because that's how forward and defence would work you'd hope so wouldn't you yeah if they're targeting somewhere else it would be a complete waste of time but I mean there are little concerns over Liverpool defensively Jamie Carrick has made that point and one or two others as well so I think it's a fascinating encounter The home side are obviously heavily favourites for it, but I don't think it's quite as simple as that. But the game at Anfield tonight will be the first competitive game at Anfield since the passing of Diogo Jota.

16:42Pete Donaldson: And it's going to be an emotional affair. I think, you know, we said that, obviously, and a lot of people did at the time, after the horrendous news came through and so many of us just kind of staring into the distance and so on just thinking, blimey, just so awful. But then you have the summer. Yeah. And obviously, things happen and you're kind of distracted by it. And you thought to yourself, when the season starts, this will all come up again. And here we are. The thing that kind of hit me was, you know, like the website TransferMarket that everyone uses for a lot of reasons. When a player passes, and I saw this with Cech Teotihu and Christian Atsu and stuff at Newcastle, they turn their pictures black and white.

17:28and I was like oh and for some reason that really brought it back as I was looking a few days ago it's like it's a really sort of poignant sort of thing but I mean his versatility in the side will be missed on the performative side of things and you know we do sometimes have to talk about the football side of things he was an incredible footballer started incredibly well 7 out of 10 goals versus the first few matches at Liverpool and he was a hell of a servant and I imagine that Liverpool will give him a hell of a send-off tonight.

18:04Pete Donaldson: Yeah, you're right because one, understandably, and should focus on the man and you think, yeah, of course, it's his family, his children. Oh, it's awful to think about it because it almost seems pointless and ridiculous to say and he'll be missed on the football pitch as well.

18:18Jim Campbell: Yeah, it doesn't feel like the right thing to mention. Exactly, but it should be a testament to one's legacy to be such a well-heeled sort of player, I suppose. Yeah, I mean, he's a very versatile player and a brilliant finisher as well. And they sort of, I expect part of the reason that they're still working so hard on Alexander-Ezac is they do need to replace that spot in the squad. And, you know, it feels like quite a kind of, it almost feels like a crass thing to say, doesn't it? But they do have to address that.

18:46Pete Donaldson: Yeah, they absolutely do. It was nice to hear that Chelsea have announced so they'll donate a share of the Club World Cup bonuses being paid to their place to the family of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva. Obviously, Pedro Neto was obviously particularly close to Jota, but yeah, lovely. A lovely thing to see and not something you see very often in modern football. Good on them. Yeah, fair play. Okay, coming up after this, Arsenal are off to Old Trafford.

19:21in 2023 a source sent me a tip it tied baseball's biggest star to a vast illegal sports betting operation but then someone surprising confessed to me his best friend i'm ipame izahara and you

19:39Pete Donaldson: do have permission to record me. From 30 for 30 Podcasts, this is The Betrayal of Shohei Otani. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

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20:52Losing weight can feel like a roller coaster, full of ups, downs, and being thrown for loops, like when someone brings donuts into the office or your kid's dino nuggets start giving you that look again. That's why there's Noom. They combine GLP-1s to quiet the food noise with healthy habits that help you keep it quiet, even if you get off the meds. Their program is designed to make weight loss a smooth ride, helping you understand what drives you, so you can build better habits to not just lose weight, but keep it off. Noom. Lose for keeps. Get started at Noom.com. Not all customers will clinically qualify for medications.

21:30Individual results may vary.

21:38Pete Donaldson: You better get your finger out of the right and make sure that you get the fucking results. Welcome back to the Football Ramble, everybody. A reminder to all Premier League clubs there from the great Duncan Ferguson. Now, speaking of Duncan Ferguson, there's going to be some rule changes in the Premier League. There's a new sheriff in town and he's tied you up and he's abusing you before the police arrive.

22:02Pete Donaldson: it's been announced that Premier League referees will crack down on holding in the penalty box this season the expectation is that more penalties will be awarded as a result but not enough for the team that are attacking and too many for the team that are defending what have you got gives love pug mole that's true hugging special adult cuddles in the 18 yard box

22:24Jim Campbell: will this affect goal celebrations we just don't know we don't know any of it

22:28Pete Donaldson: the whole holding thing it's so annoying it is I think this is a really good rule to the point of Jim right as stupid as this is it was like one of the things when I used to play grassroots football you know 11 a side I'd be like how can like anything go just before this corner is taken like get off me

22:47Jim Campbell: it feels like a question that a child would ask when they're learning about football it's like so what's to stop you just like grabbing someone and putting them in like a headlock nothing really actually

22:59Pete Donaldson: if that corner if that ball doesn't go anywhere near you at the corner you do it or for a bit it's odd when I play at 11s it's my only job is to just bother the goalkeeper I'm the back and in guy I did that for years oh I love it I just like being held by big men yeah yeah yeah

23:18Jim Campbell: see I suppose it's just going to see an evolution in that kind of shithouser isn't it yeah I think so which is potentially welcome potentially worse might be more annoying might be funny We don't know yet. It's another rule that they could put in that is very much a matter of opinion. Do you know what I mean? It's like, we're going to clamp down on this. How hard? Oh, this hard. What does that mean? I don't know. It's a game of opinions. It's a game of opinions. We simply cannot decide on a threshold. That'll be the issue, won't it? I wonder, and I hope as well, that if this involves shirt pulling, because presumably it's the same thing, right?

23:49Jim Campbell: When at corners someone holds a player's shirt and can't move. It's the same principle. I think players should have nectarines in their shirts. And if they are bruised or squished, a penalty is given.

24:01Pete Donaldson: Okay, this is why Pugmal are never going to call you. No, they're fucking cowards. Yeah, they are. They're so afraid of change and disruption. Well, Pugmal and the Premier League bosses consulted with stakeholders. Oh, sticks, sticks and work. Yes. Salt Bay. Clubs, managers, players and fans before agreeing on the new approach. Interesting enough. now this one if the goalkeeper holds onto the ball for longer than eight seconds which was I mean very rarely enforced that and very rarely does it happen to be fair to goalkeepers it will now be a corner yes if that happens I like that and I want to see it happen in the first match tonight Liverpool Bomber how many corners is Jordan Pickford going to give a run

24:44Jim Campbell: although he does distribute the ball quite quickly and also I think it's if you're under pressure from a defender the count doesn't start right so it's yeah also more meaningless nonsense then potentially yeah could they not put something in the bowl that makes it hot so you can't hold it

25:01Pete Donaldson: once again fill it with stick bix once again pug mole fill it with nectarines and stick bix so you've got you know that independent fan thing that we all wanted that's coming along this is why it's a terrible idea don't invite me

25:13Jim Campbell: he's a fan yeah we all get a vote respect me we don't all get a vote then this is why

25:22Pete Donaldson: crackdown on simulation as well there you go like they say every year absolutely something though Peter that you can definitely get behind ref cams are also due to be trialled in 6-8 weeks of the new season these cams will follow the referee home and it will be turned on throughout the night so we're going to real insight here into what they get up to I don't want to see what I learned I think we've had enough we've seen one who filmed himself and sent it to somebody we've seen that referee I think he's been banned from football this week actually yeah I mean it's one of those things where it sounds oh that's pretty exciting that'll be another you know quite visceral bit of footage that can be used on live matches it won't be seen until it's on like a weird Sky Spots program three weeks after with Michael Owen yeah that's true also with Jamie Vardy not in the Premier League anymore that's a shame

26:07Jim Campbell: and Henry Winter the inspiration to us all don't ever go at Henry I'm not I'm being absolutely sincere he said in his little breakdown of the rules regarding the ref can that no controversial or confrontational moments will be shown. Where's the fun in that? Oh my God. Waste of time. Stop pretending that that's not what we all want to see. Release the files.

26:38Pete Donaldson: We can see them doing it from all the other cameras. Just give us a close-up shot. If you're in the front rows, you can hear what's going on as well. I don't understand. Semi-automated offsides will be in use from the off in the Premier League. That's something that we're all pleased about I'm sure. I'm massively pleased with that. It's a massive move. Staying with Henry Winter, his Twitter feed he was giving some facts and figures and apparently the average delay dropped to 39 seconds last season from 64 seconds in 23-24. So VAR is getting better. I don't think VAR gets the credit. I don't trust Winter though.

27:11He did next to the word diving put the diving emoji which was unnecessary.

27:16Pete Donaldson: Once again I had a lovely evening that time at the award show. We had a great chat And I think everyone needs to give him A winter of contentment It was in the winter It was December But I was in winter With You were in winter But not I wasn't in the winter Sex with Henry Winter At an award show At an award show I mean we were talking about England You know Dessert wines were flowing You took him behind a There's no need to go into that much detail

27:43Jim Campbell: I tell you The stuff the elites get into I know I mean they're always in hotel

27:46Pete Donaldson: They're always in hotel ballrooms aren't they I suppose yeah I went to state school just like you did Jim alright 5 minutes lovely

27:58Pete Donaldson: there it is again anyway apparently VR intervened 103 times to overturn wrong decisions last season have a go at the referees feels like a lot 103 times that doesn't seem like enough oh well yeah and that was just during Newcastle Chelsea total VAR errors last season 18 down from 35 in 22-23 that is so high that's 31 in 23-24

28:23Jim Campbell: so again it's improving yeah 35 is really high isn't it that's almost one per round of games yeah and so yeah it's great that they've managed to get that down the real caution is the memos on club twitter feeds isn't it yes like sending like massive sort of memos to the Premier League we're not happy with this no absolutely I want to see less of them no I want to see more of it I want all the all the fucking nonsense more of it more memos Fiending for it.

28:49Pete Donaldson: More letterheads. We're going to have some nonsense at Sunday at 4.30 because Manchester United host Arsenal. I don't know how and where the nonsense is going to come from. Yeah, but it's pretty much guaranteed with this fixture, isn't it, one way or another? Would we call it an opening weekend barn burner?

29:02Jim Campbell: I think so. The size of the clubs, I think you've got to. Yeah, absolutely. And this weather, you know, very dry. Yeah, that's true. All these new players, the petrol all over the barn.

29:12Pete Donaldson: Right. An accelerant, if you will. And I will. Very much so, yeah. Manchester United have only beaten Arsenal once since 2022 and that was a penalty shooter in last year's FA Cup so I mean technically a draw obviously needed the penalty won the penalty so

29:26Jim Campbell: that should sound encouraging to me shouldn't it but actually Arsenal have a terrible record at Old Trafford so they won there in May 2024 before that the last win was in November 2020 and before that was an FA Cup game in March 2015 so they very rarely win at Old Trafford and obviously on the opening day the feeling is certainly that they need to do that because as the Premier League is now, the points totals are high, the margin for error is very, very small. We think it's going to be tight this year. So there's a lot of pressure immediately on Arsenal to go out there and just perform straight away.

30:00Jim Campbell: And I think there's a lot of good feeling around United at the moment in the context of how they generally feel about the club. And there's a sense of... Better feeling. There's a sense of the unknown. And also I think there's a sense that they're playing without pressure to a degree. You know, I don't think... A lot of United fans will just be happy to finish as high as they possibly can. There's no like, you have to get this or you have to get that. So I wonder if they might play with a little bit of freedom. Maybe they've pulled that plaster off a little bit and against a footballer like David Rea, he'll be playing, won't he?

30:32Rea will play, yeah. He very much likes to come out of his box and those Man United strikers, they love shooting from miles out. So watch out. Matthias Cunha does love a ping. Hang on.

30:42Jim Campbell: I mean, David Rea, obviously brilliant last season. than the season before, he had one of the strangest preseasons I've seen an Arsenal player have. Just flapping around all over the shop when he's really normally commanding. I was roundly criticised by a lot of the ramble. Because you were wrong. David Rea needs to... Because what happened... I don't think he's good enough for Arsenal. He made a mistake in a Newcastle game. No. That's what happened. I just don't think he's very good. I just don't think he's... I don't think he's up to Arsenal's level. Because you've only watched him play for 90 minutes in that one game.

31:08I just don't think he's... He's not.

31:10Jim Campbell: I mean, he raised the level significantly. Yeah, he did raise the level. and now he's drowning in the level. He's really not. He's under the level. Drowning in the level. He's under the level. What does that mean? Remember when Sunderland did that badge change a while ago where they, because of, not in tribute to climate change, but they basically, you know they've got water in their badge. Is that why Navigrides drill? The actual water level goes up over the top of the badge, basically. They sort of raised the water. Savage Ray. He's raised the level and now he's drowning in it. Oh, well.

31:50Pete Donaldson: Okay. Now I understand what you mean. Well, Arsenal, they play Manchester United, Man City, Liverpool and Newcastle in their first six fixtures of the season. So you're right, Jim. They're going to have to hit the ground running if they're going to prove me right, which I hope they do. Yeah. But I just think, you know, what is it, the last two, three seasons? Three. That Arsenal have finished second. And, you know, me to say that I just feel that this season, as I say, I think they've done some good business in the transfer window. There may be one or two more, maybe. We'll see. But even if they don't, I think that they've signed well.

32:25Pete Donaldson: I mean, Zubomendi and Jokeres are the two players. I think Maduweke is a good signing as well. I agree. Kind of divides a bit of opinion. There's a little bit more context needed there. I just feel that what they did last season and the the confidence and encouragement they'll have got from that Champions League run and so on and so forth I think that they'll have the bit between their teeth and I think we'll see them come out and really give Manchester United what for the thing that is what I find hard to predict is Manchester United in this match I think I expect to see Arsenal you know really not mess around they'll know what's on the table as well from the match on tonight.

33:06Yeah.

33:06Jim Campbell: And also, so from the Man United point of view, they've got three new players up top. Let's assume they're all going to start. That might not be the case, but you would think they would. They will possibly play Amandiello as a wingback. And he was a standout performer for them last season. So he's still in the mix there as well. So that is a pretty kind of exciting prospect. And obviously Bruno Fernandes is a brilliant player in the middle of the park just at all times. He's got a lot more help though with creativity and trying to score goals. He does potentially now not have to do absolutely everything around there.

33:37Jim Campbell: So we'll see. But Arsenal, despite the signings, six signings coming in, they're not all starters, obviously. So it's quite a settled team as well. They're very hard to beat, very hard to break down. But yeah, I mean, they have a terrible habit of drawing games that they should win at Old Trafford, where it just feels like they don't quite go for it enough. There's still a sense that they're a bit too respectful of Old Trafford and Man United as an institution, and they need to overcome that. Yeah, they do.

33:59Pete Donaldson: Well, Wayne Rooney has predicted Manchester United will sneak into the top five this season, which is a bold prediction, but I like it. I like the idea they're going to sneak in. Yeah. Well, when pressed on this, he said, I hope they do, and you never know, they might finish higher. Go on, Wayne. Yeah. He's not proved to be an excellent judge of performance over the past couple of seasons, managerial-wise. What, picking his jobs, do you mean? Well, picking his jobs and picking his teams as well. Well, he's responded to Tom Brady after he questioned his work ethic. Rooney said I think that was this was when Tom Brady obviously when Rooney was at Birmingham City and he said I'm not sure about our coach's work ethic and to question Rooney because he was sat around having a tab no I didn't you know that's what licking a massive lollipop exactly singing karaoke at the same time and this was at half time no Brady obviously said what he said and Rooney responded saying I think that was a very unfair comment Tom came in once which was the day before a game where the days are a little bit lighter anyway and I don't think he really understood football that well football is not NFL NFL works for three months of a year which is apparently wrong isn't it yeah I mean it's a bit longer than that yeah they should I want to see them fight Peter yeah well I think Rooney would probably win that one but I think if you but the thing is

35:19Jim Campbell: Brady would think he would win easily wouldn't he yeah well he'd just think that like mentality of a mate would probably get him through

35:26Pete Donaldson: I think you you said that quite quickly just sort of brushing Brady's eyes the size of him I know but I think Brady would be quite hard of course of course he would be quite hard but I mean I would say that if on the BBC piece there's a picture of Tom Brady and Wayne Rooney next to each other Wayne Rooney looked like he was in landscape they'd done something to his head to make it look wider and so therefore if you were looking who's the NFL you know quarterback I know Tom Brady wasn't a he's not a quarterback is he is he wow I thought it'd be massive if you were a quarterback alright well maybe Tom Brady will win then

35:58Jim Campbell: I don't know I think I think Rooney can take a lot of punishment I think you'd have to hit him extremely hard for him to even feel it right it's like a boss battle in a video game you've got to get him under his right tit or something to make him explode he's just shrugging it off if Rooney went it would be terrifying although Phil Bartley knocked him out fairly easily actually I don't think he's got it in him he's too lovely yeah

36:22Pete Donaldson: he's too lovely we don't want to see any fighting narrowing out loud now have you seen Mikel Arteta has landed a new job as Under Armour's new director of performance. What the hell's going on, Jim?

36:34Jim Campbell: Yeah, I don't care about how Under Armour do. So from where I am...

36:39Pete Donaldson: What happens when Under Armour play Arsenal? I don't know.

36:45Jim Campbell: You're in the Europa League, will you?

36:46Pete Donaldson: They think they should be demoted in the Europa League. Has anyone got a palace in the Champions League? There's an Under Armour kit in the Champions League, right? Arsenal, you're out. Yeah. Under Armour are constantly trying to be cool after their CEO, very Trumpy CEO, came out in favour of some quite problematic policies a few years ago. And they're just constantly just trying to claw back that. His name was Kevin Plank, which is even funnier. That is funny. And they never really sort of got it back. So they're just trying to just, this isn't a cool move for Under Armour. I'll tell you a lot of things.

37:18I don't think he's cool. Hang on, let me read out

37:21Pete Donaldson: why Under Armour have done this. See if you think this is cool. Under Armour said they have got him to mentor and guide the next wave of disruptive athletes. Ooh, lovely. So is he spoken like a true kind of Trumpian guy? We want the disruptors. We want disruptive athletes. It really is, isn't it?

37:40Jim Campbell: I suppose if your target market is intense weirdos, Arteta probably is quite a good figurehead. That's the modern sports person, though, isn't it? Really intense weirdos. Oh, dear. Bring back the fat alcoholics. Oh, dear.

37:56Pete Donaldson: Oh dear. Now, calling all FPL fans, we're giving you the chance to join our Fantasy Premier League alongside your favourite Ramble presenters and other Ramble listeners. Do you back yourself as the best FPL player among the Ramble community? Well, just hit the link in the show notes to join. The sign-up code is E44OHQ. All lowercase, of course. That's E44OHQ. Come and have a go now, if you think you're hard enough. Right, coming up after this, Thomas Frank reveals why he isn't a doctor.

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40:36Pete Donaldson: Tottenham versus Burnley on Saturday at 3 p.m. those poor Spurs boys lost the Super Cup to PSG on penalties on Wednesday night Blimey Neck that was a good Spurs performance I was genuinely gutted for them after that I don't expect you to be Jim but I was gutted that they didn't do that they were obviously leading 2-0 until the 85th minute two late goals and then lost on penalties but there's so much encouragement

41:01Jim Campbell: to take from it oh my goodness realistically I would think most Tottenham fans will already not care given the nature of the Cup but I think I suppose there's a caveat as well that PSG haven't had much of a pre-season, but it's still PSG. And they're 2-0 up against them in the 85th minute, having played really well. Most teams aren't PSG and will not be able to turn that around. I think there are signs that, you know, they are very close to turning a corner already before the season has even started. It's a really good game to take part in, actually, isn't it? It's way better than the Community Shield or anything like that.

41:34Pete Donaldson: It's the UEFA Nations League of pre-seasons. As I said on the WhatsApp, The Super Cup is very much the person I introduced myself to by saying good to meet you rather than good to see you. Because I've already met them 14 times. You forget how long this actual cup is. It's not really a cup, is it? It's just a match, I suppose, isn't it? There is a cup. Well, I know there's a cup involved, right? It's a super one. It's a one-match cup. Yeah. It's called the Super Cup. Give us a third and fourth playoff and I'll be happy. that would be great the runners up the runners up play each other as well seldom do you stumble upon such a tasty Warsaw Peter but that is one and they have to play in Stoke oh there it is and the pitch is on fire but yeah it was a really good performance I thought and everybody else did their set piece game was very very strong indeed good press I mean the folks Thomas Frank Bisley men get all the big lads on PSG are tiny let's absolutely dominate and they did but that's the thing though that's why I have real hope for Spurs this season is because of Thomas Frank.

42:41Pete Donaldson: I think, you know, they've made some good additions. I mean, Kudus, you know, he's a player. We know this. Again, but, oh, Palinja as well. Oh, my goodness. Like, I'm not, I'm not at all jealous. You know, I don't know. I don't mind it. No, it is just great to see him playing football in the Premier League. In white. Yeah, I just squint my eyes. Well, obviously, we haven't seen him back in the Premier League just yet, but we will do. But I think, but you're right, though, and that set piece is indicative of what Thomas Frank brings how much stronger and more robust did Spurs look we haven't seen them look like that at all completely different apart from in the Europa League weirdly no but even in the Europa League I'm not taking anything away from that because I can't and it would be stupid to do so I guess the level of opposition it was a competition it wasn't a huge surprise that they won it and even in the final it was just Manchester United were particularly poor weren't they I just like that they're playing to their strengths in the way that they haven't over the past couple of seasons.

43:41They've got big dance-off throw-ins on both sides. Just absolutely whores in the minute.

43:46Pete Donaldson: They had a throw-in competition, didn't they? Was there a leaked photo or something of Spurs where it was like a throw-in competition at 3 o 'clock or whatever it was? But all this stuff. Back to basics. Back to basics, Marcus. Well, bloody has to be. How many league games did they lose last season? So I think with under Frank, you look at that game and you think, oh right, is that how they're going to... No, that's not how they're going to approach every game. That's how they're going to approach that game. And that's the point about Frank. Yes, great pragmatism and so on. And I know people say, what, to pragmatism is to do, is it?

44:18Pete Donaldson: Well, no, hang on. Frank knows how to get the tune out of his players. He knows how to get under the skin of better teams. And just because someone's pragmatic doesn't mean to say it can't be good to watch or it can't be attacking or it can't be enjoyable. and I think that you saw that with Brentford often tailor made plans for particular games so on and so forth he has a better squad at Spurs he has players that I think are going to thrive under him it's just so different to Postacoglu Postacoglu was very pragmatic in the Europa League hence they won it

44:53Jim Campbell: and part of the problem I think in the league with Tottenham was so often you just sense they didn't believe in themselves you felt like they conceded a goal or missed a chance or whatever and you felt like they just they just really didn't expect to get anything from the game but this already looks very very different I mean it's worth remembering that Andrew's first 10 games was like 8 wins and 2 girls which seems

45:15Pete Donaldson: a long time ago and even last like throughout well even towards the end of that season it seemed a long time ago so you're right this is not a sort of stick the boot into Postacoglu it went how it went under Spurs and last season in the league was dire it was piss poor I get the fact that they concentrate on the Europa League and they saved the season and blah, blah, blah. It's all said that. But this under Frank, I'm utterly intrigued how they're going to do. I think they're going to do well. And I think, again, it's things like they look more solid, they're more robust, the focus of the players.

45:46Pete Donaldson: And we're all going really on this game. I know they beat Arsenal pre-season and had one or two other results. But I just think from what you saw against PSG, I think it bodes really, really well for Spurs and I think they should be very excited. Can I predict something? Yeah. Romero, eight goals this season. Eight? Eight. Yeah. I like that. Yeah.

46:04Jim Campbell: So he's been made captain, which I think is a really smart move from Frank, because he can be a little kind of reckless, can't he? And I think giving him that responsibility might focus him in a way that would be really, really beneficial to them.

46:16Pete Donaldson: Yeah, I think so. And as well, I mean, Thomas Frank, if his press conference was anything to go by, we're in for some lovely, we really are. Because he said, in medical terms, the operation succeeded, but the patient died. So not that good in the end.

46:31Jim Campbell: Yeah, I'm thinking... I get what he means though. I'm trying to think of what operation those parameters would apply to. Perhaps it's like a backstreet organ removal where you're going to sell the kidneys on later. It's not ideal that the patient died, but the operation was still a success. Apparently he said with the first meeting with the Spurs players, he did say that, look, we're going to lose football matches and that's just the nature of football. No team goes through the season without losing a football match. Apart from Arsenal's Invincibles. Sorry, I didn't mention that. he didn't do it himself I thought he was I think he was going to take full on Clough approach where he went

47:06Pete Donaldson: I know you won the Europa League as far as I'm concerned you won that by stinking out the place yeah he's very charming very charming beautiful hair I'm expecting good things from Spurs this season but they've got to take on Burnley Burnley are back in the Premier League a bit yeah well every single Ramble presenter and a lot of journalists as well have predicted them to finish bottom of the Premier League I know there are it's not even the state of the team itself it's more that they have experienced an up and down quite recently so there's nothing to fear for them really and I know that there are at least one and more prominent Burnley fans on our Football Ramble Discord and I am sorry but this is you know a lot of people are in agreement here so I mean if Burnley could stay up it would probably be you know up yours to everybody yeah I'd love to be proven wrong

47:56Jim Campbell: I do think part of the issue is obviously losing James Trafford and CJ Egan Riley from that defence that was so, so good last season. Josh Brownhill's gone as well, so there's a lot of change and that's always the case for teams that are being promoted. And actually, what we've not seen a team try in a long time and perhaps Burnley will do that given how good their defensive record was last season. We've not seen teams come up and just try and be really compact and try and be really hard to beat and try to win every game 1-0 and if you can't then draw it 0-0. It's often quite boring to watch isn't it?

48:27Jim Campbell: And those teams get kind of pelters from everyone else. but obviously the whole thing becomes a siege mentality and the fans, as long as they stay up, are kind of understanding of that and like I say, we've not seen a team really try that in a long time so maybe Burnley will approach it like that but I don't know if Scott Parker is the guy. Scott Parker is Fulham. Well indeed, this is it. Was he trying to do that then, would you say? I mean,

48:48Pete Donaldson: Mitrovic couldn't get in the team and he left and that was a guy who was obviously scoring goals for fun in the championship. A while ago now, wasn't it? Oh, it was, yeah. And Parker, that was his thing was to keep Fulham they didn't concede that many but they just didn't score any. And that's my worry and a lot of people's worry for Burnley. Look, they conceded 16 goals in the championship last season. That is phenomenal. Absolutely amazing. Yeah, I mean, it was much, it was talked about a lot, wasn't it, last year?

49:14Jim Campbell: That's in the running order, isn't it? Do a lot of shows have entries in their own running orders that mug off their predictions? Maybe, maybe. I mean, heckled by our own running orders.

49:24Pete Donaldson: I mean, this is the thing, you know, what did they amass? 100 points, was it, last year in the championship? Their previous championship campaign to that was 101. They are currently a yo-yo side. And again, with the aforementioned Fulham, the team I support, you experience this.

49:40Jim Campbell: It's an alarming sort of facet of the pattern, isn't it? That you can win the championship with 100 points. He's so dominant and then still go down.

49:46Pete Donaldson: Yeah, I mean, even when Fulham were in that yo-yo period, Parker and Fulham got promoted through the playoffs. It wasn't as convincing as Burnley have been. They've been very, very good in these last two championship seasons and under very different managers. I mean, look at the way, you know, Vince and company got them promoted and then tried to apply that into the Premier League. Admirable in one sense, but obviously it didn't work. Now Parker's in. My question is, if Burnley get relegated this year, will Scott Parker get the Bayern Munich job? It's the only natural conclusion one can take.

50:19Jim Campbell: It seems unlikely, but, you know, we've also seen examples of it happening before, so don't know. Just one. But it's not none, is it? And it wasn't that long ago. He inherited a bit of a mess when he was appointed Scott Parker. So whatever happens this season, I imagine it'll probably be straight back down for them.

50:37Pete Donaldson: I mean, you've predicted Scott Parker to be the first manager to be sacked. I did, yeah. You have to choose someone. And to be fair, I was a bit swayed by the Thomas Frank stuff when I heard your predictions. But no, I'm just going to stick with Scott Parker. But like Marcus Edwards in this football match against Spurs, he will want to prove Spurs' doubters wrong. Well, back in the Premier League. Because he was transformative for Burnley last season. So, yeah, I think he'll be playing outside of himself. Peter, James Trafford has gone, but Martin Dubravka's in. Yeah. I think he's injured, but yeah.

51:12Yeah.

51:13Pete Donaldson: A bit of experience, though. A bit of experience. If he can stay fit. You know what? He's been such a wonderful servant for Newcastle United and a hell of a goalkeeper, a hell of a shot stopper and probably better ball delivery than Nick Pope, to be honest. so yeah I don't really know why Pope was picked over Dubravka after we'd seen both players you know over 10 playing over 10 games but there we are that's football and I'm not a football manager no Amanda Broye has gone there as well for reasonable fee I'm thinking like he's a lovely lad and he's got talent but he's of an age now where it's kind of like where's a proper landing sport for him who are you

51:54Jim Campbell: and I suppose because he had his injuries

51:56Pete Donaldson: and all that because I've had a loan here and there and so on.

51:58Jim Campbell: It's a chance for him. It's a chance for him to actually sort of show what he can do as a cemented kind of starting player, which he's not really had. Even the loan spells he's had, he's sort of been in and out of teams, hasn't he? It's not a signing that fills you with great kind of confidence, I suppose. But it's a really interesting platform for him. I'm also intrigued to see what they do with Kyle Walker. I wonder as he gets a bit older, he might move centre-half, possibly in a three. Might be a sort of canny thing for them to do. We've seen that he's got that in his game and he can do that really well.

52:28Jim Campbell: And his pace doesn't seem to have deserted him entirely, but obviously it is waning a little bit now. And then you kind of protect that a little if you do that.

52:36Pete Donaldson: Yeah, no, you're right. Well, all to play for. You can hear Jim Vish and my predictions by listening to the episode below this one in the Football Ramble feed. You can find out what Luke and Pete predicted over on our socials, where we will be releasing our combined Football Ramble predicted Premier League table later today. Please forgive us. now newly promoted Sunderland start their season at home to West Ham it's a nice fixture that's a good start it's a good start to be honest you want to be at home really Barkley it is you want to be at home in your first fixture and you want to play a side who not that many people think will have a great season what's going on there however though if they were to lose that 3-0 that would be damning yeah Frank Champion was not complimentary about West Ham's preparation this season all of the pre-season ones my father-in-law your would-be father-in-law my would-be father-in-law but that's permission haven't you oh yeah yeah he's the one getting in the way of that if he was that would be amazing it would not for my daughter and understandable yeah I can't let this be that formal there'll be no signing of anything well Sunderland have released their third kit which is inspired by the club's Black Cat nickname.

53:56Pete Donaldson: Great. It looks great. Have you seen it? Yeah, all black and pink. Little cat's eyes on the Mac. Little cat's eyes on the Mac. Watching you. It's better than that Manchester City rainy kit, isn't it? Is that going to throw off the automatic VR? Maybe that's what it is. You know, like, because I can't... The referee can't be offside. At my recording set up, I had, like, a sort of ceramic baby's head that you could put pens in, and I had to rotate it round because the camera kept thinking that was the face it was supposed to be focusing on. and I kept on going out of focus. Really creepy. So yeah, I'm just scared that the eyes might have it.

54:28Pete Donaldson: Eyes. The eyes have it. The eyes have it. The eyes have it. I do love West Ham. I love Southern Les, but I do, it would be nice for them to start the season with a couple of points on the board. Why don't you just say it? A couple. They can't get a couple. They're going to do that. There was a rule. There'll be some financial mismanagement, I'm sure. They'll get one lopped off. There was a recent rule change which made it three points for a win. What about Leeds, though? Another newly promoted side. Leeds are in. They are. They're in the Premier League. They start their season on Monday night at home to Everton.

55:00Pete Donaldson: Now, it's annoying that they have to wait till Monday night, I think. Yeah. For them. And for us as well. You want to see the newly promoted side. It's always exciting to see. At home to David Moyes' and Jack Grealish' Everton.

55:12Jim Campbell: I'm looking forward to seeing if they start Dominic Calvert-Lewin against his old club in his new gaff.

55:17Pete Donaldson: Yes.

55:19Jim Campbell: Potentially really good signing for Leeds. potentially really underwhelming one.

55:22Pete Donaldson: I'm surprised because bearing in mind, you know, Patrick Bamford, obviously the time recording is still there. And Daniel Farker. He's not a Bamford man. He's not a Bamford man. And I can imagine Bamford and Calvert-Lewin getting on really well. Yeah. Okay. Very nice chaps. I think they're quite wholesome. Yeah. Similar type of blokes. I was just surprised. One into fashion. The other a bit posh. Others, you know, injury prone as well. Yeah. Exactly. Playing both up front. Both all. Oh, you've signed me a friend when I'm out. That's nice of you. It's like when pandas don't fuck. Bring another one in.

55:58Oh, God.

56:05Pete Donaldson: Oh, dear. And that is Leeds United's new nickname, the pandas. And that is Leeds United, the pandas. The black and white pandas. Frigid pandas. Jim Campbell. Right. Aston Villa and Newcastle United, of course, they get Saturday the second day technically of the Premier League season underway Saturday at 12.30 first Saturday early kick off of the season that's right yeah right in the middle of my daughter's sleepy time which is could not have gone better for me quite frankly how are you feeling about this Bravnik well she sleeps quite well what oh the football yeah I mean yeah I think Aston Villa aren't in any great state compared to how well they have been in the past but yeah I think Newcastle will be able to do this It's a bit of a stern test, I suppose.

56:49They've been pretty turgid in pre-season. They didn't win a single match, even against the Korean XI that they put together against them. They've been pretty turgid. But yeah, I still think Newcastle have got enough to get past Villa away.

57:03Pete Donaldson: Yeah, they've been doing some transfer stuff with Aston Villa for Jacob Ramsey. Yeah, Jacob Ramsey. Really good player. Jacob's Thrive at Newcastle United. Exactly. It's a Jacob's ladder. Yeah, exactly. A success in the career. it now it's it's quite we don't want to see a jacob scream cracker though do we no um what um quite quite the price for i'm gonna look at you jim not looking at marcus um it's quite the price for a relatively injury prone player is that is that fair i think it's actually pretty good value

57:32Jim Campbell: to be honest um i think ramsey's one of those players that flies under the radar a little bit and i think he's actually of a really really kind of high quality and obviously you know staying fit will be a big, big part of that. He wanted a move because he wanted more game time, I believe. But you do sort of look at the situation at Newcastle and it's like, oh, you're not going to get it there. Yeah, that is also an issue, isn't it? I think that. But I think he's a really sort of good addition to that midfield. I have to say, I think it strengthens Newcastle for sure. And Malik Thjord, I'm going to pronounce that like that, it looks a good signing as well.

58:04Jim Campbell: Another six foot four behemoth, very versatile. Yeah, and the versatility that will be needed in a Champions League campaign. Absolutely, especially because you know Dan Byrne and Fabian Scher as effective as they are are getting older aren't they never forget the botman well the problem is the botman often is out injured isn't he well they need to go

58:23Pete Donaldson: to South Korea and get a year taken off they do they do people go to Turkey to get hair put on South Korea for a year off teeth filed down and then put on again oh yeah oh did you see Anthony Alanga and Will Osula did a rooftop tour of St James' Park very wholesome stuff It was lovely that I thought to myself Anthony Alanga I think is going to be a hit And Newcastle United He's obviously a very good player We saw him We did it for us last season Yeah well he's only Singing Dan Burns song He's just To me he's like Oh he's got this He's got the Geordie fever I do not want William Ossler On the roof of anything Because he's just Too unpredictable He's proper mad He's not like a lemmy He's not going to launch himself No no but like And I appreciate They were wearing Some very tasteful Black and white Newcastle United branded head protection helmets.

59:14And yeah, I just think he's too unpredictable. I think he might throw himself off or try and bend one of the girders or something. I don't know. It's weird. Nowadays, modern football is like a lot of the ground tour kind of experience at grounds is like going up service fucking corridors. Yeah, it's weird, isn't it? It's a weird thing to sort of...

59:34Jim Campbell: Well, like when they used to have a McDonald's birthday party where you could go in the kitchen for a bit. Yes, indeed. Never had that. I never went to a McDonald's birthday party

59:40Pete Donaldson: Have you ever done like the Wimpy birthday party I went to the state school as well Have you ever been to What is this What is this I didn't go to McDonald's There was a Wimpy Tim was eating Jacob's Cream Crackers Wimpy along Princess Street in Edinburgh I'm sure it's still there Because Wimpy just will not fail Will it die Wimpy's one in Leon C High Street Wimpy was long gone Very disappointing in the Bender Burger Not as good as I thought it was going to be But yeah Have you ever done the Skywalking at Spurs or Fulham? No.

1:00:10Jim Campbell: No. Should I have? I mean, it's just where engineers used to piss in bottles. Yeah, it's just people where you fix legs. It's not the interesting bit of the stadium, is it? It's weird. If there's a match going on, fucking cracking, brilliant. Yeah. But if there's nothing going on, what are you looking at? What are you going to do? Piss in a bottle? What are you going to do? Piss in a bottle? Even if there is a match going on, it's still the worst seat in the house. It's kind of like a bird's eye view, isn't it? It's the old football manager of your view, isn't it? I don't want a bird's eye view.

1:00:36Jim Campbell: I want a person's view. Should we talk about Villa a bit? Brushed over them there? No, I don't think we have. I don't think we've got time for it. Okay, all right. Sorry, Villa fans. Sorry, Villa.

1:00:45Pete Donaldson: All right, well, go on. What are you going to say?

1:00:46Jim Campbell: Well, I just think it's a very interesting season for them coming up because they've not done a huge amount of business. They're quite up against it with PSR. It looks like they're not going to lose Ollie Watkins. They've brought Evan Gessand in, who seems an interesting addition as well. They're going to win the Europa League. They'll probably win the Europa League because Unai Emery is really good at that. but it's I mean he's been there a while now isn't he and Emery has had a little bit of a history of kind of falling away a little bit when he's kind of been at a club for a while things maybe go a little bit stale so they're going to have to fight that off I think this season very hard to predict where they're going to finish obviously they want another tilt at the Champions League they just missed out on it last season you wonder if the squad might not have been refreshed enough to make that realistic this time around so yeah I think they're an interesting case this season I think the younger players like Redmond and stuff will be seen more than you would expect because they've obviously got European competition this season that they'll need squad this far and I'm very excited to see it looks really good

1:01:45Pete Donaldson: Lovely, right now, exciting news to end the show. Today is not only the start of the Premier League season but it's also the first day of the season for our weekly football ramble game and for this season we will be playing a mixture of My Biddy Aunt, the game formerly known as Luke's Game and Jack's Encyclopedia which means more belts for Vish to steal and even more admin for official Ramble Games Master Jimmy to the B. Thanks, Jimmy. We will continue to release the game as a separate episode on the feed, which means more rounds and even more Friday fun. Today's episode will be available later this afternoon, so make sure you subscribe to the Football Ramble in your podcast app so you do not miss it.

1:02:23Pete Donaldson: There we are. We've reached the end. Thank you very much for listening to the Football Ramble, part of the ACAST Creator Network. The keys are in the lock and the gates to the Premier League and the weekend are officially open. Let's do it. Let's go. It's that time again, everybody. Thank you, Pete Donaldson. No holding. Thank you, Jim Campbell. See you. And thank you, Pitbull.

1:02:46The Football Ramble is a Stack Production and part of the Acast Creator Network.

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