The Preview Show: Sinners not Saints

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0:44Jim Campbell: I tell myself it's not about comparing, but then I start wondering, what can they lift? Are they adding more weight to their barbell than I am? And suddenly I'm not training. Then I realize my journey is not theirs. I've earned every step. So I smile. My smile is the shape resilience takes to keep me moving. To put more smiles out into the world, Colgate has supported female athletes for over 50 years with the Colgate Women's Games, the nation's longest running indoor track and field series for girls and women. Colgate, your smile is your strength. Pool days call for cookouts and lots of laundry.

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1:47Luke Moore: I know you're wondering, but for you I shall oblige everybody. Welcome to the Football Rumble Preview Show. It's FA Cup final weekend and it's Friday 15th of May. I'm Marcus Speller. I'm Luke Moore. And I'm Jim Campbell.

2:11Luke Moore: Hey, it's Friday. Come on. It's Friday, boys. Give us a song. Oh, I'm a fireball. Never far away. Never far away. Do you know what, boys? I went on CNN. No, let's fake news. Fig news Confirmed I went on there yesterday Just to check it was fake news still Got a pitbull mentioned Did you? Yes How did that happen? Because I was obviously being asked about the World Cup halftime show Yeah Oh were you? Yeah Well they got you as a cultural commentator Quite literally for that Wow Wow Created by Chris Martin Commented on by Marcus Speller There we go Gold medals all round It's a golden age of culture Right You're sat here with me I know To add some colour I'm bringing the spice There you are you see Jim and I are bringing the seasoning and the spiders.

2:58Luke Moore: Jim's bringing the chips. Now, it's less than a month until the start of the World Cup. It's 27 days, I think. That is unbelievable. That doesn't feel real, does it? Before we see Boobley and the boys take to the stage. Boobley and the velociraptors. Looking forward to it. That means it's officially time to start catching World Cup fever if you haven't already. Right, we've got a small matter of the FA Cup. Let's get that out of the way. Champions League, and then we're on the home straight. If you're not excited yet, don't worry, because I and we have the perfect thing for you. You can watch every single one of England's World Cup group games with us.

3:31Luke Moore: None of them can go to extra time of penalties. Okay, so make the most of it. We're throwing three massive World Cup watch parties at 40 Foot Brewery in North London. Tickets are available right now. The first party is almost sold out. The second two are selling fast. The third one is on a Saturday night, by the way. Wow. Eh? Wow. That's going to be full on. Saturday night's all right for drinking my fizzy aunt, Jim. Peak Darls and Fish, they won't even make it. They won't make it to Sunday. to kick off they're just going to leapfrog it into Monday yeah so hit the link in the show notes and grab your ticket before it's too late I think the the other pertinent point to make here is well there's a couple one is that like if your team has still got a chance of winning something you're probably not thinking about the World Cup at the moment no because all of our team has got a chance of winning something but plan ahead is what I'm saying yeah okay because the amount of times I've been going into a big tournament of England and thought I really want someone to watch this game where there's a bit of atmosphere where I'm not stuck at home but I'm not surrounded by morons or it's really, really busy.

4:28We're limiting this to a few hundred people per party and it's going to be full of like-minded ramble types and it's going to be a great, safe, safe, crucially, place to watch England have a good old time doing so.

4:40Luke Moore: Is it always safe with Jim Campbell around? Jim, it's over to you.

4:44Jim Campbell: Yeah, mostly. But not for you. It's not safe for you when you're around. Not safe for me, no, no. The danger is that I'm going to be having so much fun I'll end up drinking like a vish and then, you know, who knows what happens after that. But no, in all seriousness, don't worry, I will behave. yeah right okay trousers down but not pants it's going to be a hot day it probably will be we'll see

5:02Luke Moore: kisses just on the cheek no Frenchies okay right let's move on to the FA Cup final Chelsea versus Manchester City will the romance never end in this competition it's on Saturday at 3pm will the romance ever start well both sides have a poor record in recent FA Cup finals I didn't I kind of forgot about that Man City's it'll be their fourth FA Cup final in a row they do like this competition but they've lost their last two of course Does it get any more romantic than beating Exeter City 10-1 in the third round? They got that goal. And then playing Chelsea in the final? I don't think so. Tell us all this time.

5:36Luke Moore: Callum McFarlane's Chelsea. I know, yeah.

5:39Jim Campbell: More on him in a moment. It's like Ronnie Radford, isn't it? This one will be in all the VTs in the future. Just Callum McFarlane? Yeah, yeah. Just sitting on the bench.

5:47Luke Moore: Well, Chelsea, Jim, have lost three FA Cup finals in a row between 2020 and 2022. Their last FA Cup final victory was a long time ago. They've lost their last six domestic cup finals. They haven't beaten Manchester City in their last 13 attempts. The last time they beat Manchester City was the 2021 Champions League final. There's a load of facts for you there. That's a lot of facts.

6:07Jim Campbell: Comment on at least one of them. I think it's a chance for Callum McFarlane to become a legend like Roberto Di Matteo or Rafa Benitez. Chelsea have a quite mad track record of managers like that actually pulling something out of the bag and then sort of disappearing forever. either sort of really in the field of management or just sort of Chelsea's own kind of view. And it's a massive opportunity for McFarlane to do that. It's like, this is a free hit, really. I'd like him to win it, and I'd like him in the post-match interview do an exact word-for-word reenactment of Chelsea, yeah? That's that famous Sky Sports news.

6:43That'd be great. But you know, on the romance of the cup finals, just more broadly, I mean, when you say stuff like it's Man City's fourth FA Cup final in a row, it sounds boring, but the last two FA Cup finals, you've had some decent drama. I mean, Henderson saved a penalty, Palace win in the last one. Henderson was brilliant in that final, generally.

7:02Jim Campbell: It was actually a really good game. He got away with handling it outside his box as well, didn't he? He did as well. Which was quite dramatic, to say the least. Sean Dyche called the winner, of course, on comms.

7:10Luke Moore: He did. Great. Future Reform MP, Sean Dyche. Naughty, yeah. Is that defamation of character? No, what? say he's going to join what is now a mainstream political party alright should that be defamation of character yes does he have a good character a good standing with which to defame not really alright

7:31Jim Campbell: Sean Dyche was a staunch remainer in the time of the referendum was he really yeah ok there you go bit of balance there you go a bit of balance from Jim Jim's a big Dychey man truth it's not balance it's truth there was an AI image doing the rounds of Sean that's what I'm referring to yes you are

7:49Luke Moore: and he denied it he did deny it very strongly but wouldn't he though he denied it he denied it the way that made him seem really confused about what AI is anyway he's done well to get a mention the cut fire before that United upset City in a Manchester derby and Onana threw one in and that was quite fun there's stuff going on it should be quite a good game the romance of this gym would incredibly be a Chelsea win with Callum and Farley

8:14Jim Campbell: the lucky underdogs of Chelsea compared to Man City and the way they've been going

8:17Luke Moore: with young Callum in charge you know that would be the romantics choice

8:23Jim Campbell: I mean it does feel like this has been the fixture in the FA Cup final for about the last 20 years Chelsea v Man City but it's actually it's not the case no no I can't remember the last time they've rotated the finals

8:35Luke Moore: quite a lot because Chelsea versus Liverpool seem to be certainly in the domestic cups that was a final I mean obviously you remember the League Cup final with the Kepa Arisa Malaga incident and so on in the League Cup it's his cup it is it is he can't unknit himself from it but he's not involved in this one but all's but I say the Romantics choice would be McFarlane and his Chelsea chaps winning it would it be Pep Guardiola potentially almost certainly winning his last trophy

9:04Jim Campbell: in England Jim I mean there is an element to that isn't there I mean it would be fitting I suppose for him to leave on a high if he is indeed going to leave this summer which you've seen after this season imagine that yeah it's still a domestic double it's Pete Donaldson's dickhead double but it's a double all the same so it'll be a domestic treble is what you're saying if they can win the Premier League yeah yeah amazing I was referring to the Premier League and the cup final

9:30Luke Moore: I know you were yeah but I think it would be extraordinary if they were to come away with a domestic treble after the narrative of the season yeah but come on they're not going to win the league I don't think surely but the domestic cup double is very much alive and well yeah absolutely of course it is And yeah, if he could do it, I mean, I do wonder if they'd beaten Palace in the final last year, would that have been enough for him to go, I think I'll leave it there. Clearly he stayed around because they lost, whether that is a correct thought or not. We'll never know. But I'm very much of the belief, as a lot of people are, that he will leave in the summer.

10:10Luke Moore: And winning the world's oldest cup competition that has eluded them for the last couple of seasons to go with the League Cup, whatever happens in the Premier League, I don't think they're going to win it. I think it would be quite fitting for Guardiola. One could say it's completely and utterly boring.

10:25Jim Campbell: But if you take away all the various different criticisms and context, he's one of the greatest managers of all time. He's won a crazy amount of things at Man City. He's been the defining manager of this era of the Premier League. So absolutely, of course. This era of football, you widen it to the global game.

10:42Luke Moore: I mean, with Chelsea, isn't it funny how, again whatever's going on at that club they're in a cup final you know like it just it's crazy isn't it I mean Callum McFarlane as you say could become a Chelsea legend if you like if he manages to overcome Manchester City would he be a legend oh I you've just said that they just get to finals all the time and they win stuff all the time no because I think it's just going to be business as usual

11:05Jim Campbell: I think it'd be lowercase L I think it'd be a pub quiz question answer won't it it'd be a folk hero yeah does Chelsea have folk heroes Yeah, you can't have frontiers at Chelsea. That doesn't compute. You can't have that. You do not? No, no, no, no.

11:19Luke Moore: Oh, okay. I think that's a shame. It will be, by the way, the first Evercup final contested between Chelsea and Manchester City. Yeah, I was trying to think back when I lost my own place. That is quite incredible, isn't it? But Callum McFarlane was being interviewed about all things Chelsea and cup finals. And he said on the final, he said, my girlfriend's family are Chelsea fans, not my family. Well, they are my family to be fair. I don't know what he means by that. I shouldn't say that, should I? But yes, her dad and uncles have been season ticket holders for 50 years and she's a massive Chelsea fan.

11:50Luke Moore: They will be at the game. They're very proud. Just to be clear, though, they are not my blood relations. Callum McFarlane's story is quite an interesting one. Started out in South London, Croydon, and in non-league football, really. Didn't play football at any kind of level. And has followed coaches around as a kind of assistant or a youth team coach or an academy coach or whatever. and I sometimes think in that situation it does benefit you to end up at a club like Chelsea because the rotation of managers is so regular if you just hang around you can really accentuate your reputation by being the under 21s coach who when someone's sacked with all their coaching staff have gone you have to step up you win a couple of high profile games or you get the timing right i.e.

12:34the cup final and at the very least people are going to know who you are because he got a bit of a reputation when Marescu went obviously managed a couple of high profile games there as well

12:44Luke Moore: away at the Etihad yeah exactly and so for him to lead the team out of the cup final it's definitely going to accentuate his career for sure well your reputation is going to go up if you make it to my neck of the woods in London exactly it's true

12:57Jim Campbell: I mean it's not even clear if he actually wants to be a manager he's 14 he's managed five first team games do you not think he's got self-awareness in that he knows he's not in the running sure but I mean in a situation like this you might think you know what why not yeah it was quite crazy because if you think about it what his first game in charge would have been the semi-final against Leeds which they won and then of this you need to state that and then and then he's obviously going to manage in the cup final as well it's wild

13:26Luke Moore: is he Chelsea's Ryan Mason in a way kind of

13:31Jim Campbell: yeah I mean it's break glass get this fella I would say to me he feels a bit more like Chelsea's David Pleat

13:38Luke Moore: that's a bit hard David Pleat was you know had a long managerial career no but I think they always used to break glass for Pleat didn't they in that period Spurs for a long while Ryan Mason's not done over and over and over again yeah but his career trajectories was more similar to Ryan Mason's in that also I've worked with Ryan Mason and he's really dull and I feel it's a bit wrong to say that about Callum McFarlane who seems like a bit of a character he's certainly spicy

14:00Jim Campbell: on Twitter yes exactly so do you think when they sack Jabby Alonso and then sack and Danny Areola next season McFarlane will be back in the hot seat

14:09Luke Moore: yeah I think he might be oh he's playing the long game there's no doubt about that

14:12Jim Campbell: he's going to end up as their like longest serving managers just by constantly being the interim I cannot believe you guys touched on this earlier in the week I was listening to you I cannot believe there's talk of Xavier Lanzar going to Chelsea for so many reasons like it's wild it is like for the fact that I mean the only good part of it was being able to send Liverpool fans mad which is quite fun but other than that he'd be bonkers to go there wouldn't he

14:36Luke Moore: yeah well he's dangling it he's saying come on Liverpool I'll go to them I thought Tuchel was doing that with England for Man United remember I embarrassed myself saying it was just a forced Man United's hand you don't do that with England I know exactly I flew too close to the Sunderland the giant orb not the newspaper that's right well Callum McFarlane will lead Chelsea out in a cup final as so many Chelsea managers have done in the past including the likes of as you say Thomas Tuchel Carlo Ancelotti as well yep we had a lovely story about Carlo Ancelotti, former Chelsea manager, recently from Casemiro, who said that, oh, King Carlo, during a crucial World Cup qualifier, involving Brazil, of course, Carlo Ancelotti gave quite the half-time team talk.

15:21Luke Moore: Now, Brazil didn't qualify brilliantly for this World Cup. Obviously, again, the odds are in their favour with their history, the players they've got in tradition. They're always going to qualify. And also, the campaign goes on for like three years. Yeah, it does. So you can ebbs and flows. A lot of travel. so you know it's not like oh my goodness and from the jaws of not qualifying they managed to qualify but still it was a little bit patchy at times and in one game I think they were 1-0 up at half time against Paraguay Casimiro said at half time everyone was speaking and everyone was getting annoyed and the conversation was quite intense and obviously they weren't happy and he said Carlo Ancelotti came in and said guys wait I'm going to smoke I'll be back in five minutes and then we'll speak and off he went and have a cigarette It's like Vishen and Ramble meeting.

16:05A little bit, yeah.

16:06Luke Moore: But this had the desired effect. And all the players, they kind of had it out with each other. And by the time Carlo Ancelotti came back, they were like, oh my goodness, this guy's so calm. He's so confident. He's so in control. We're almost like in awe of him. And that kind of thing would only work if you were a Carlo Ancelotti of a certain age. Yeah, sure. But Carlo McFarlane can't do that. McFarlane, he says, right, lads, I'm off for a little vape. Yeah. And a tweet.

16:27Jim Campbell: And I'll be back in a second. Apparently another thing Ancelotti does, or certainly something that is part of this is that he kind of, the reason for these little breaks apparently is that he'll let the team figure out the issues themselves and then he'll come back and see essentially if he agrees and will correct as he sees appropriate. But that's great, right? Yeah, but he won't obviously say it like that. No, of course. When this story from Casamera came out, Ancelotti then briefed and gave an interview where he briefed a journalist or something saying that I get the impression he wasn't that happy with how he was being perceived based on that story.

17:00Because he gave another interview, like I say, or he spoke to a journalist or whatever, behind the scenes, and the story was that Ancelotti's claiming that he's an expert in every element of the game and talking about his experience as a player and a manager. Because I think people, I think he's starting to get a little bit annoyed people just talking about him as this kind of man-manager type. He's not actually working. Yeah, exactly. But the fighters come out of him at Carnival, and you think, well, I don't know. But you know, touching on that Brazil qualifying thing, you know that obviously Argentina are the standout good side in South America, right?

17:29They qualified really easily. Obviously, they won the World Cup.

17:32Luke Moore: They're well championed. Exactly. But Ecuador were also brilliant. Yeah. And I was reading that Ecuador finished second in that qualifying, and they would have finished even further ahead of third if they didn't have a points deduction for a player called Byron Castillo, who after the investigation, they found that they had used a false birth document to register him as an Ecuadorian national player. Blimey. And so they got a deduction of three points, and they still qualified really strongly. So I wonder if South America will be pretty strong in the World Cup in the summer. Yeah, sadly it looks like Chelsea man Esteval won't be there.

18:06Luke Moore: He's had a bad injury, isn't he? Due to injury, yeah. He obviously won't be playing in the cup final as well. He hasn't played for a while, which is a great shame. That's bad news. It is bad news because he lit up the league when he first turned up. He's got a really bright future. Well, speaking of Ecuador and Ecuadorians, Moises Caicedo. Brought it around full circle back to the cup final again. Indeed I have. That midfield battle will be crucial. All the battles will be crucial, of course. Man City though, favourites for it, Jim, understandably so.

18:31Jim Campbell: Yeah, I mean, they would be favourites even if Chelsea weren't in the form they're in. The draw with Liverpool is obviously an improvement, but their form makes this look a bit of an uphill struggle for them, doesn't it? Yes, it does. I think so. Yeah. Who would you rather win, Jim? Blimey. I mean, I have to say City. Yeah, I think I do as well. Because Chelsea, I mean, I know there's a lot of financial stuff going on and we're talking about the stuff we're talking about geopolitically and petro-states and all the rest of it. but Chelsea were the first ones to fuck everything up. So they're the original end of level bosses.

19:05We can't cheer them on.

19:06Jim Campbell: Both basically got away with it. So I think Peter Mandelson will be presenting the trophy. He's reffing the game, yeah. He's reffing the game, yeah. Tiny little pair of shorts.

19:17Luke Moore: Nothing we can get behind. Okay. Right. Another trophy will be decided this weekend and it'll be a league title. the Scottish Premiership what drama this is Jim and I obviously spoke about Celtic's controversial handball penalty on yesterday's ramble Luke quick opinion was it a penalty it's an absolute scandal listen it was a scandal that that happened because you know why because well I do know why well yeah obviously you know why because it was a header we all know why which is allowed have you seen all the videos of Celtic fans like outside the pub someone throws a football out they have their hand look look the trajectory is the same with it I'll rate that I'll rate that that is quite funny but the reason for it is that it's one of those classic examples about the official you don't need to get involved you don't need to up you're not going to get hammered for not giving that I know and a lot of referees you are going to get hammered for not giving that do you know what I mean it's not like the point being they've inserted themselves in I mean I don't know what I'm trying to say but I guess what I'm trying to say is that you know referees do sometimes come across as they're a bit fearful that if they don't intervene on something obvious they're going to get hammered for it.

20:28That would have been forgotten about in like 10 seconds. It's also the worst

20:31Luke Moore: No, it wouldn't have, Luke. But it's the worst dealing with Scottish football here.

20:34Jim Campbell: It's the worst of both worlds though because once you do get involved give it more than a glance. Yeah. The angle is mad. The angle is absolutely mad.

20:42Luke Moore: What I absolutely love though is with the Arsenal-West Ham one which I think most people would have agreed on it's like why did that take for me? Why is it taking so long? And then the referee does it really quick well I agree it should be longer than that. You know what I mean? It's like sitting in a restaurant It's like sitting in a restaurant going, this food has taken ages, and then suddenly, boom, you're like, that was a bit quick. It's too quick, that's too quick. That's a microwave job. Yeah, well, the Foundation of Hearts, who own 75 % of the club, have released a statement raising concerns about the number of refereeing and VAR decisions across the last two rounds of fixtures, which have had a significant impact on outcomes for Hearts and others.

21:12Luke Moore: Motherwell also released a statement ahead of their big match against Hibs to determine who will clinch the last European spot, saying, as the world of football mocks our game, we simply have to draw a line in the sand and shift the focus. With the dust settling, we take pride in our display and push one final time on Saturday. Neil Lennon did think it was a handball. So, Chris Sutton's trophy. Chris Sutton. Martin O 'Neill. Chris Sutton went to bat on it on Twitter for about three hours. Yeah, well, talking to everyone. So, that's how you know it definitely wasn't a penalty. The only thing I would say ahead of this game is, and I said it yesterday when Jim and I were speaking about this, is, you, you know, the game, it will be highlighted now.

21:50Luke Moore: So, the referee who's taking charge of it, I know, having spoke to just a few Hearts fans, they've got more faith in him than some of the others. It's not ridiculous to say a much wider audience will be watching this game now. Certainly in Britain, south of the border, but you might even say globally, to an extent, of course, I don't want to suddenly say it's like up there with the Classico or something, but there's definitely way more eyes on this fixture than there would have been prior to this. Because of, again, Hearts going for it for the first time since 1960, all that kind of stuff, but the refereeing decision.

22:23Luke Moore: So therefore, there's more scrutiny. And so these kind of problems in Scottish football, favouring the old firm, which a lot of people subscribe to that view and a lot of them are fans of clubs who are not the old firm, of course. But back in the day, wasn't it like just a farce? Well, I remember growing up in Scotland in the 90s when Rangers were handsomely top of the tree, it was just a bit like, you know, people would always say, you know, like an opposition player gobs on the pitch and a Rangers player slips up on it and a penalty sort of thing, you know. But Alibacois tells that story, doesn't he?

22:51he's playing for a slightly different point but it's quite interesting about refereeing it's an Ali McCoy story not mine but it's funny he's playing in an old firm game and they knew behind the scenes they kind of knew that the referee was a Celtic guy and towards the end of the game it was just like corner after corner for Celtic way over time and Ali McCoy said to the referee wait ref how long and the referee went till we get one son

23:16Luke Moore: as long as it takes it I mean yeah that's his story it's probably apocryphal I mean Rangers have had their fair share over the years as well so you know in the interest of balance but all that aside there's a huge game of football here and history is there to bring it back to reality listen that's a shocking decision it happens they've got to move on I think it was a sensible thing to do to put that statement out puts a bit of pressure back the other way which is clever because if you do feel like you're up against it then that's what you've got to do if that's what you're up against it to try and win a league title in Scotland because of the old firm that's how they feel I don't broadly agree with putting pressure on referees in that way generally we've seen it happen in England and it was a bit weird really I feel Hearts' hand has been forced there yeah absolutely and secondly if you say to Hearts at the start of the season go and win at Celtic Park to win the league or draw or even get a draw you take it so they've just got to go and do it and like I say it's not it would have been a real sickener had it have been if Celtic you know if it was an equalising goal where Hearts would have won the title it shifts the dial somewhat just a little because as I say you know Hearts could have lost the game by two goals but as I also say it's kind of psychologically yes of course you want that cushion but you only want to enact that cushion if you like or action it if you are say one goal down and there's two minutes to go and you think well actually we should be okay just pack the defence but actually going into a game where you're kind of going well we could lose this 2-0 and still win the league maybe not the best mindset so now it focuses the mind obviously you'd rather it but you've got to spin it into a positive you absolutely have to do and we've seen teams before do you remember you don't know what the assignment is really not really been focused totally

24:58Jim Campbell: and they pile in and there's only so much you can do as a group of supporters or even as Foundation of Hearts are kind of owners of the club the statement essentially just says can you just not can we just be sensible here I'd love to see Hearts do of course

25:14Luke Moore: and on the chat of supporters out of the 60 ,000 plus seats that Celtic have there at ground I think it's 800 have gone to hearts they do this all the time yeah that's astonishing yeah but there we are to channel Keggy I will love it if they beat them oh what have you done yeah that's not going to happen is it come on Jim we believe though we believe we all believe right coming up after this can West Ham put the pressure back on Spurs

25:52this message is a paid partnership with apple card this is felix salmon from slate money and i'm here to tell you about apple card even as a seasoned traveler things can still get stressful which is why i use apple card on my international trips and with two percent daily cash back on every purchase with Apple Pay, I'm actually earning daily cash as I travel. Instead of coming home feeling like I've drained my bank account, I come back with cash back I can put toward my next trip. Apply in the wallet app on iPhone. Subject to credit approval, Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank, USA, Salt Lake City Branch, terms and more at apple.co slash applecardbenefits.

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27:14I've got major problems with it. From me looking at that video, that cat hadn't done anything wrong.

27:18Jim Campbell: Welcome back to the football round, everybody. Such an iconic quote. Major problems with it. We've got our cat back. I'd love to know what's the list of things that Sue Ness thinks the cat could have done to justify it. Like, okay, he's stolen a bit of food off the table. That's not that serious. what could he have done he brought a rat into the house a dead rat that's a gift it's still within his instinct isn't it yeah cats are doing that as a gift you can't have a major problem with it I'm just trying to get into Souness's head here I'm not saying the cats should be punished I love it when pundits like that talk about things that aren't football like their football it's great very enjoyable

27:53Luke Moore: Newcastle United host West Ham United in the Alan Pardew derby on Sunday at 5.30 West Ham have a chance I could have said Nobby Solano couldn't I West Ham have a chance to climb out of the relegation zone and go one point above Spurs with a win. Of course, Spurs don't play against Chelsea until Tuesday night. What a game that'll be. A win for West Ham, Luke. Yeah. My goodness, that would be something. They have to go for a win here. No messing around. Newcastle's not in great form. It's still a tough fixture for West Ham. Yeah, it is. My take on this is that, you know, look at the profile team that Newcastle have lost to at home this season.

28:31They've lost to Brentford at home. They've lost to Bournemouth at home. They've lost to Everton at home. They lost to Sunderland at home. Fine, that's a derby, but they still lost it. Bournemouth are perhaps a touch better than those other teams I've listed. The point being, Newcastle are vulnerable at home. They're not trustworthy. They've had a poor season in the league generally. They've had a couple of fairly decent results in the last couple of times out, but before that, they were terrible. And West Ham have got a real chance here because West Ham are fighting for their lives and Newcastle have got nothing to play for.

29:00Newcastle, I mean, the motivation for Newcastle is going to be minimal. They're professional athletes, I get that, but it's a World Cup year. They ain't going to bust their bollocks, risk getting injured to move two places up in the league from whatever they are, 14th to fucking 12th or whatever it is, right? I also think that because Spurs in the last couple of games have done well, done okay. Better. Yeah, much better. I think it's starting to be a bit of an... Maybe not Spurs fans because a lot of Spurs fans are kind of, you know, siege mentality and a bit it always happens to us we're terrible type thing but the fact is they haven't lost in their last four league games now they're starting to build a bit of momentum they've got to be super careful because I think I don't think there's much chance at all they win at Stamford Bridge I think they'll probably lose that game despite the fact that Chelsea are in

29:49Luke Moore: it's a big old psychological barrier massive and their record at Stamford Bridge is awful and in recent memories there's been some big blows struck there by Chelsea

29:58Jim Campbell: good time to go there though it's probably the best time I'm in current thinking you could go there, but I still don't think they'll win there, right? And then...

30:07Luke Moore: They would probably, well, I don't want to put words in Spurs fans' mouth, but if Chelsea were to win the FA Cup, then that would guarantee them a Europa League spot. They're not going to get into the Champions League. They're six points behind sixths. So they need so much to happen. So, you know, they'll never cheer Chelsea, and I understand that. But, you know, so that will have a bearing on perhaps Tuesday night. Yeah, but I just think it's such a big... Look, maybe Spurs go down and they win fine and it's okay because Chelsea got nothing to play for either. Fine. But the point being, the pressure's going to be added on if West Ham win at Newcastle as well.

30:40Luke Moore: Enormously, yeah. Because then you're going to be... Well, I guess, look, in summary, it's not that unlikely that Spurs go into the final game of the season in the relegation zone and they've got to play Everton. And West Ham play Leeds at home, Leeds got nothing to play for either. Everton at that point will probably still be going for Europe. Possibly. So it's a heady brew, it really is. It really is.

30:58Jim Campbell: And it's so important that West Ham get this one, isn't it, for that reason. They have to. They have to win. They really, really do. Basically now, if they don't win it, they're probably relegated. And so that's just the motivation they need. Yeah, but I mean... Yeah. Alan Wilson and his old club late on. Yeah, I mean, that would be quite something, wouldn't it? I just... Well, he did that against Arsenal, didn't he? It was cruelly taken from us. Yeah.

31:19Luke Moore: By the rules. I don't care. I can blame who you want. I think that, you know, West Ham are going to have to be careful because it would be unlike a Nuno side to throw men forward and really, really go on the front foot. They'll probably play it like they did against Arsenal because on another day they maybe get something if Fernandes has a chance and so on. They'll have to be careful on the counter because Harvey Barnes is still playing for a World Cup space. Anthony Gordon is wanting to make sure that Bayern Munich get the deal done for next season.

31:51Jim Campbell: I'm really excited about the potential of him learning German and us hearing German in the Scouse accent. Yeah, that would be nice. I mean, he's simply just not going to learn it. yeah it's as simple as that who's he going to start over Luis Diaz or I was about to say that I rate that he wants to go there yeah it's hard to see him getting in the team well Serge Gnabry has managed a decent amount of minutes I think this season as a rotation option so I suppose they play a lot of games yeah so I mean I agree that it's quite amazing he'd back himself it'd be Diaz wouldn't he he'd be in direct competition with but yeah I find that interesting as well well indeed and it's quite well I suppose Bayern

32:25Luke Moore: are the sort of bigger spenders in Germany but you know So as you say, I mean, they spent a lot on Kane, but it's fair to say they've got their return from that. Whereas to spend that kind of amount of money, which you'd think would be more of a squad player than a starter, but, you know, that would be great to see, though, as you say. Going back to West Ham, though, perhaps a little piece of encouragement came from the media regarding them. James Corden said that he could see himself becoming West Ham owner at some point.

32:55Jim Campbell: They're not soft enough.

32:57Luke Moore: Under ownership. Did he actually say that though? So he... He said he ain't got enough money.

33:02Jim Campbell: He said, I think I could do an okay job. I think it was put to him, wasn't it? He's not called a press conference and gone, I'm going to buy West Ham, you know. Just wait around. Give it another week. Singing I'm Forever Blind Bubbles in his car with, I don't know. Who? Shakira. Bruce Springsteen, I was going to say. Good. Yeah, I don't know why. That's the first thing that popped into my mind. He gets big names. He does get big names. He does get big names, you have to say. Some of my favourite Limmy content, so I can't complain about it.

33:25Luke Moore: I always forget he's a West Ham fan. yeah he was very keen to make Smithy his character in Gavin and Stacey to be a big West Ham fan wasn't he I don't know if you've watched it but he's always wearing West Ham stuff and when he has his stag do they all wear West Ham kits and stuff and of course Gavin in the show is a Spurs fan and that's kind of well known as well so I think he is kind of well known I don't doubt it I just always forget it so there we are so huge game for he's not actually from East London is he James Corden no I think he might be from is he from like I want to say he's from like Middlesex or somewhere around there was he?

34:00oh producer Thomas put in the running order he's from Hillingdon in very very west London oh is he? Arxbridge kind of way there you go West Ham I can't remember next door to Danny Dyer it all makes sense in the end

34:11Luke Moore: it does indeed right everybody so yeah huge game at Newcastle on Sunday at 5 because all the Premier League fixtures are on Sunday making room for the FA Cup which I kind of like is it respectful? it is but it would be more respectful

34:24Jim Campbell: if it was the last game of the domestic always used to be there's a game on Monday night and two on Tuesday night yeah it's not that respectful yeah because I always found I always found that like I'm pretty sure I'm right in saying that in in recent memory there's been Premier League games happening at the same time as the FA Cup finals

34:43Luke Moore: I think there's something like that which I think the only domestic games I don't mind being after the FA Cup finals is if there's some playoff finals yeah yeah you know that kind of is and of course I mean you know there may well be one playoff final happening after the World Cup, the way things are going. But we'll get to that in a minute. Last night in the League One playoffs, Bolton beat Bradford 1-0 last night, 2-0 on Ag, to reach the League One playoff final. They will play Stockport, who beat Stevenage 3-0. Big names down there. Always forget it. Assistant producer Lauren's beloved Stockport as well.

35:14So we'll be pulling for them for her.

35:16Luke Moore: Hopefully she'll be there, cheering the boys on. Now, elsewhere it's been announced that the Championship playoff final may be delayed as the fallout from Southampton's Spygate continues. I love this story. Do you know why? I bet you do. I love this story because I... Right, I'll tell you why. Because Portsmouth have been relatively shit this season, right? Everyone regularly listens to this show and they'll know that I support Portsmouth. Southampton are our big rivals, obviously. Southampton have got a manager. He's come from nowhere. They've blitzed up the league like Roy Keane Sunderland back in the day.

35:46Somehow find themselves in the playoff final to get into the Premier League, right? Now, when you're in a position as a Portsmouth fan, you're thinking, the only thing that can stop this is like force majeure. Something please happen. Food poisoning. I don't care what it is, right? It actually might happen.

36:03Jim Campbell: Yeah. And that is incredible. Because I just say for the record, based on what I've read, I don't actually think they should be kicked out for this. Of the playoffs. No. I think it's too much of a punishment. I think it depends on what comes out and how long they've been doing it, what evidence they can compile, blah, blah, blah. but based on what I've seen so far, it looks to me like it's got a big fine written all over it, right? But if more evidence comes out, it would be, I have to say, just remarkably funny if they get booted. And what's really fascinating though is that I was reading about this yesterday and I was seeing the betting markets move quite a lot in favour of Middlesbrough, which is really interesting because those kind of money men don't tend to get it wrong.

36:47And secondly, they've stopped selling tickets and stuff. Middlesbrough are still trying to

36:53Luke Moore: have taken tickets off and the FA released a statement saying that there's going to be stuff could move around it's wild

37:01Jim Campbell: well Middlesbrough are saying they've got evidence that this has happened to two other clubs at least because there's a bit of a paper trail isn't there because he used his debit card in a place nearby that was owned by Steve Gibson the Middlesbrough owner so there's been a bit of detective work going on here so presumably that is how they've kind of got this evidence elsewhere as well. So, I mean, if it turns out he's done this to every club, I mean, what happens then? That surely becomes a lot more serious because it is a rule breach, right? I'm surprised, Luke, that you said that you think it's a bit harsh of them being booted.

37:34Well, let me clarify.

37:36Jim Campbell: It's funny for you if it's harsh, isn't it? Yeah. If they get booted out and it's not even warranted, that's even better. But the point being that a lot of the stuff around it at this point now is conjecture. We don't know that. We haven't seen the evidence that's being presented that the case, we need to know what they're actually going to say. You're not on stand, you're in here. Okay. I want them out. Right. I want them down a lead to.

38:01Luke Moore: For those who haven't maybe kept up with this story, it is very interesting because there are wider suggestions that, as you say, Jim, this has been going on, this has happened more than once, I'll word it like that. I mean, there was a, so the guy who was caught standing by the tree looking like he was videoing it. The picture's amazing. It's the picture of the lad who's one of the backroom staff, Eckert's staff. Will Salt, his name is. Yeah. And you need to really understand the vibe between what Portsmouth is as a city and what surrounded it as a city to find that funny. But the fact that he's called William Salt and he looks like that is honestly even funnier.

38:39Luke Moore: Yeah. So he's pictured in one of Eckert's photos where he's got the manager of the month trophy. Yeah. And he's in the background and that's the photo they're using to say, look, there's the guy. There he is by the tree. we got him yeah okay but there's another photo of Eckhart who's same photo same people in the photo of another manager of the month award but Will Salt's not there and it was the same day that who is it now was it Derby or somebody there was a game going on anyway they're basically saying why wasn't he there was he somewhere else on another assignment yeah what a gig I know so exciting I'd love to do that job if this if this unravels and it is a case of oh this might explain why they were imagine if I've been doing it since the early 70s and they get their cup final taken up

39:29Jim Campbell: but the thing is right he looks young but he's actually 74 years old presumably he's been put up to this you don't unless he's pitched himself in his job interview I'm actually quite an adept spy as well but he's not an adept spy is he we know he's not well if he's bad it depends how many times he's done it he's fucking battled and bogged he's Russ Abbott the question I wanted to pose to you right is like if you're given this assignment to go to a training ground and just sort of hang around a bit and film a training session with enough detail that it's actually useful to you, like, what are you doing differently?

39:57Jim Campbell: Because I'm just hovering as well. Just hovering by a lamppost. I think if you are going to do it properly, you've got to kind of get yourself in there as some type of, like, consultant that isn't attached to any club. Yes. You know what I mean? You just, you just, you kind of set yourself up as a result. Truly undercover. And you want to go and do some shadowing or you want to kind of, you know, you're training for your badges or whatever. and you get attached to different clubs during the season. But that's probably maybe not feasible. Ultimately, the most important thing is that I would like to make it absolutely clear, having said what I've just said with my sensible hat on, on the Sun article for this story, they put a poll on there saying, what do you think the punishment should be for Southampton?

40:35And I put kicked out of the playoffs. Right. So I voted. Were you in a majority at the time? 67 % also voted for that.

40:42Jim Campbell: People just want to see the world burn. Yeah, they do. Yeah. So it's a fascinating story. it is and also the one thing about it that I was going to throw in there as well is the way that Tom De Ecker responded to the question he got from that journalist in that press conference did look really sus as well he kind of really pissed off when the guy said to him oh have you been cheating or whatever and the press officer exploded as well which is funny

41:05Luke Moore: yeah say well show some respect because you were sort of caught cheating show some respect on a wider discussion before we go move on do you think it should be should it be cheating are we just being very British about it because Bielsa was surprised wasn't he when he got caught yeah but he's Argentinian that's the other end of the true well cup you so what you like about Argentinians yeah I I I I

41:34Luke Moore: whatever I think I I think but they are the rules were brought in should the rules I think more rules have been brought in since Bielsa I think the rules should have been brought in because I think it's spying

41:44Jim Campbell: but it's still a harsh punishment

41:46Luke Moore: it would for breaking that rule but what if though say that they've done this I don't know 10, 11 times you know and it's helped propel them to get where they are are you saying that oh yeah oh well they're yeah they could still go up and then they get all the riches and so on and they just get like a I don't know a hundred grand fine but the amount that they get in the Premier League they'll ultimately be laughing about that because if you say to any club in the land or you'll get a fine which is it's not going to be over a few hundred grand you wouldn't have thought you'll get into the Premier League you're up there the money you'll get blah blah blah I don't think they'd take that is it a points deduction would that be better I think a points deduction would probably be too severe also very severe yeah yeah I you've got to do something you have to do something and I'm a bit stumped I honestly I honestly don't know Swampton have also taken ticket sales off their website yeah what do you think Jim Luke says it's a bit harsh I do think it's harsh the current accepted and confirmed evidence yeah you went to a lot of other stuff sorry I know you asked Jim but just very quickly you went through a lot of other stuff there about how if they've been doing this a long time and if it's been 10 or 11 games and if we just don't know that well that's why if it is that I think they should be kicked out yeah

42:54Jim Campbell: based on what we know now I think it would be very very harsh to boot them out there should be some sort of fine I think the points deduction would be harsh as well there is an element of them kind of getting away with it a bit there but is it so severe that it's definitely had an impact on the games we don't really know they knocked Arsenal up the cup they did and that was out of order exactly yeah fuck them the whole thing's not very saintly is it no it's not that's the ironic thing about it isn't it they're sinners not saints that should be their punishment that's been nicknamed officially the sinners for the next 10 years

43:25Luke Moore: coming up after this the World Cup halftime show has been confirmed thank goodness pitbull pitbull sadly not

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45:24We'll be right back.

45:32Luke Moore: gentlemen we've got a Friday night treat it's Aston Villa versus Liverpool it's the Harvey Elliott derby hey how about that Emery on that see Emery's quote on that everyone should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves including me something like that he said yeah poor old Harvey brilliant poor old Harvey should never have left Fulham you see yeah exactly that's what happens are you listening Harry Wilson yeah are you listening Are you listening to Fabio Carvalho? Are you listening to former Prime Minister Harold Wilson? It's unlikely. No, he's not. Very unlikely. Definitely not. Died of dementia 30 years ago.

46:03Luke Moore: There we are, you see. This match will have major implications for the race for Europe, you would think. Liverpool fourth, currently above Aston Villa, who are fifth on goal difference. And here come the permutations. Aston Villa must finish in fifth and win the Europa League if England is to have six Champions League spots next season. Are you watching Bournemouth? Well, I'm sure they are. The winner will guarantee Champions League qualification, of course, of this game, Aston Villa versus Liverpool. So whichever team loses risks being caught by Bournemouth or Brighton. A draw would mean neither team guarantees qualification at this stage.

46:38They wouldn't guarantee it, but ultimately they'd both be on 60 points. So they'd be five points clear with Bournemouth got two games left. It's fairly likely they'll be fine. It's an interesting game on one level because I get the impression that Liverpool fans are well and truly fed up of this season.

46:57Jim Campbell: Yeah, and Aston Villa feel like they're running out of steam a little bit in the league because their focus is elsewhere. They're desperate for that final, aren't they? They're desperate for that final. That's their big shot. Ultimately, it's quite unlikely Villa won't be in the Champions League next season for one way or another, right?

47:10Luke Moore: I would expect so. Again, you offer them the Europa League final and they're playing Freiburg. Freiburg, currently seventh in the Bundesliga. They're massive favourites. You would have thought so. You really would, especially with Emery. I mean, they are seventh Freiburg, but they are 14 points off sixth.

47:30Jim Campbell: Is there a danger that Emery's so ashamed of himself over Harvey Elliott that this all piles in now? I'd be surprised if he let that get to him, but... Just doesn't turn up, can't get out of the house. He's just so upset of himself.

47:41Luke Moore: Yeah, maybe. You're right to say that Liverpool fans, I think, are desperate for this season to finish, but they have to make sure that they get the Champions League. It'd be unthinkable that Liverpool would not get it. And if they didn't get it, I mean, all this talk about slot, surely that would be that. Yeah, I thought that, I mean, I remember saying earlier in the season, I think, you know, it's been tricky for them to follow up what they did last year. There's been a lot of upheaval, which is a very disrespectful thing to say in some ways because obviously they had a terrible tragedy as well.

48:05And I was of the view that if they got into the Champions League again, you'd think, okay, that's probably the minimum requirement, but that keeps slotting a job and all the rest of it. But I kind of don't feel like that now. I feel like he should go anyway. I feel like the way he's handled a lot of the situations, a lot of the stuff he said, the type of performances as they've been turning in. I just, I'm not sure, obviously the relative quality of other candidates that are there that purportedly want the job. I just think taking all those things into account, I think it's better if they move on.

48:35I mean, they could finish the season on about 61, 62 points or something, which is a really big drop off. So I just wonder whether it's the right thing to do for them to be sticking with him. But I mean, we've done that to death anyway. I think Friday night, Villa v Liverpool, is a lovely game to watch and we'll be looking forward to it. Absolute treat.

48:50Luke Moore: And it's good that this game has got something on it as well. Absolutely. Because these games, at this stage of the season, you think, oh, what's left to play for? Still a lot to play for in European composition. And the interesting one with Villa, because win this game at home against, you know, a Liverpool side haven't been great. It's not a bad side. Then you're there. And then you can just relax into it. Because if you lose that, you're looking over the shoulder and then put some, maybe a teensy bit more pressure on that cup final in the Europa League.

49:15Jim Campbell: And another factor, Marcus, and this will be right up your street, is Oli Watkins is playing himself into form at quite a good time very much so you have to concede that I've been very critical of him

49:25Luke Moore: well you'll concede it if you've gone the other way no I have conceded the fact that he's been good I've been critical of him and now I'm conceding that he's coming to form at the right time so would you I'm conceding Jim's point I'm not conceding Ollie Watkins as a concept I'm conceding Jim's point

49:42Jim Campbell: although I'd back him in a one on one against you as a concept yeah what type of one on one are we talking I actually meant in a very literal football sense yeah

49:53Luke Moore: because I think Luke might no what a goal he's definitely good at game of chess I'd back Luke Moore I don't know if he's into chess he might be we know that Eberiaz he's really good at chess so it could be a thing it could be a thing for forward players in the Premier League at least he's into it as well I think game of snooker Luke Moore yeah I'd back myself in snooker I'm pretty good at snooker you're good at pub sports I think darts as well yeah misspent youth or well spent youth bunking off sixth form college to play snooker wow what a way to learn maths though yeah it's true I'm shit at maths though Okay, well, unless there's a double.

50:23But I think the criticism of Ollie Watkins, you know, spearheaded by me, has been that he's not a great all-round player. Right. But he is a good goal scorer. And I think the problem is, if you take the goals away from him, what's he offering? Yeah. But I do genuinely think now he's coming into form. You have to pick players for form going into a tournament. And he's also a different option to Kane. So I think all things considered, he'd be very hard done by not to go. I mean he's got 12 Premier League goals now but he's scored a lot of them recently yeah he's also in the Europa League one of the really enjoyable things

50:56Jim Campbell: about Oli Watkins as a player in general is that from a hard angle he is exceptional you put him in a weird position and he's really adept it's a fascinating thing about him

51:07Luke Moore: you'd expect Emery to start him tonight because obviously playing on the Friday night that little bit more time to prepare for the Wednesday night Europa League final but Tammy Abraham will be waiting in the wings yeah yeah absolutely I kind of forgot about that. I know, yeah, you do. Tommy Abraham's a player who, not that long ago, people would be saying, look, is he on the cusp of being on the England team as well? Yeah. Now he's kind of playing second fiddle and not really talked about because there's so many other options. But I mean, yeah. Good for him to get a mention, Marcus. Well done.

51:33Luke Moore: Indeed. You're not making him a forgotten man. Absolutely not. Gentlemen, let's talk about the World Cup final halftime show. Do we need it? Do we need it? Well, I'll give you the details and you tell me. FIFA has confirmed the lineup for that World Cup final halftime show. Madonna, Shakira and South Korean pop stars BTS will perform during that halftime. I was about to say during the game. That would be a very unwelcome announcement. The line-up was created by Chris Martin. He filmed a video with the Muppets and Sesame Street to announce the acts. It's always nice to hear from the Muppets and Sesame Street.

52:10Jim Campbell: I love the video. If the halftime show is just Muppets, I'm all for that. Yeah, I love the video. It was great. it had Statler and Waldorf in there lovely it had Animal in it played quite a prominent role look I would have personally I would have personally preferred I'd like to have seen Pepe Le Prawn and Rizzo the Rat in there nice but other than that I can't really complain I mean the thing is was Beaker there? he wasn't no Gonzo's missing as well which is quite big I guess in like a two and a half minute video you're going to get certain Muppets in there but Muppets are basically as Jim's alluded to there they're basically a cheat code for content yes because everyone loves them you cannot trust any I've never heard a single person say they didn't like the Muppets.

52:48And if you did say that and you believe that, I think you belong on the fringes of society.

52:53Luke Moore: So the point of Ian Wright tried to use it in his defence once when he called, I think he called a referee a Muppet. Yeah. And when he got hauled up in front of the FA, he went, no, I meant it like them cute fluffy things everybody liked. Worth it. Worth a go. Worth a go. Because everyone does like them. Yeah. Does that make sense? But those grey men in grey suits

53:09Jim Campbell: weren't falling for it. Yeah. If we reframe this, if we reframe this to ourselves as a Muppets World Cup, does that make all of it okay? The farce of it. If Fantino and Trump should have done that and no one would have complained about it.

53:22Luke Moore: And if we knew the Muppets themselves were getting rich I'd be like well fair. They've put in a hell of a shift over the years. They have. They deserve everything they get. Having said all that I am unclear on what the role that he's presumably been paid I mean to be fair to Chris Martin I think he does do a lot of charity stuff so maybe he would have given the money to charity anyway. But I don't really know what the role entails of curating that half time show. Was it calling up the agent of Madonna, Shakira and K-pop sensations BTS. Will you play the World Cup final? Yes, of course we will.

53:48Thanks.

53:49Jim Campbell: How long we got? 11 minutes. Is that long enough to get the stage put up and taken down? Probably not. How's that going to work? I really wouldn't worry about that. This is one of the big things, isn't it? So they've claimed that the show will be 11 minutes, but obviously you have to construct a stage and figure all this stuff out. And the Club World Cup final had a halftime show and that took 24 minutes. And the stage wasn't on the pitch. Yeah, but it's like when you see them changing the car tyres on F1. Like if you and I change a car tyre, it's taken two hours sure they do it under five seconds but there is a precedent here and it took 24 minutes and it wasn't on the playing surface so

54:23Luke Moore: wasn't there a time Andy Brassel spoke of when was it Bayern were involved was it a Champions League or something and I and Robin basically started helping them getting the stuff off the pitch it was it was the Champions League final yeah he was a bit like can we just get on with this yeah I've got retribution but some but some half times in football matches are 20 minutes long, right? It's not 15 like people think. Well, the laws do state that it's 15. Yeah, but I think in certain competitions it's 20. Don't quote me on that, but I think it is. And if you look at, say, the average halftime show in the Super Bowl, I think it normally comes in between 25 and 30 minutes.

55:01Jim Campbell: Well, there you go. And that's including the stage and everything. Yeah. So I imagine they... Because a halftime in an NFL regular season game, I think it's 13 minutes. It has to be. So I think it probably will be slightly longer. But then, I mean, there's an argument to be had here, and I'm not sure I definitely share it, and I'm putting it out there, and you guys can shoot it down if you like. But I think there is an argument to be made, at least to be talked about, that when you're having a World Cup in the US, everyone likes to talk about the fact that, you know, places should adopt local cultures.

55:35The entertainment industry is basically what the US is known for. Sure. So as long as it doesn't... as long as they don't take the piss yeah because the thing is you talk about stoppages and you talk about the fact that you know players call down all the rest of it there's so many stoppages in football now anyway that I wonder whether it makes a massive difference and if you are talking about a showpiece event where it's part of the entertainment industry more broadly as long as it's done properly I don't hate it in the World Cup final in the US specifically I would rather hear

56:01Jim Campbell: from the pundits at half time who are they though who are they going to be you'll have that option anyway I'm amazed they've got to you too to start with I want him being paid for that. I think... I made an absolute nightmare in my sense there. There is traditionally a big closing ceremony anyway, right? So there's an opportunity there to just do that in a big way and have the show then. Yeah, it is gimmicky. The halftime show, you're right, is part of the sporting culture there. So it's just, if they can do it in 15 minutes, great. They won't. It'll be 25 minutes, won't it? Yeah, it will be. Chance for Carlo Ancelotti

56:35Luke Moore: to have two cigarettes. Well, if he's got Brazil to a World Cup final again, he can have his main cigarettes He's earned that. Statler, Waldorf and Carlo. Right, everybody. We've come to the end of the preview show, but I've got enough time to say that my biddy aunt is back this afternoon. I'll be taking on the mighty Luke Moore. It'll be available to listen to later today. Make sure to subscribe to the Football Ramble in your podcast app so you do not miss it. And I want to say thank you for listening to the Football Ramble, part of the ACAST Creator Network. It's been a pleasure. We'll see you back here for my biddy aunt later this afternoon.

57:08Luke Moore: Looking forward to it. Until then, thank you, Jim. Thank you. Thank you, Luke. Thank you very much. And thank you, The Muppets.

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