The Preview Show: Soccer boot cleats shoe influencer

0:00All my friends know the low rider, everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble Preview Show. Liverpool host Manchester United and Big Ang needs a win. It's Friday, 17th of October. I'm Marcus Speller. I'm Luke Moore. And I'm Pete Donaldson.

0:24Yes, it's Friday, Petey. Come on. Come on. Get your tash out for the lads. Feeling good? Feeling fine? let's do Saturday crimes tomorrow what crimes have you got planned tomorrow well I'm spending all day after we finish the ramble planning my crimes more driving offences driving offences, grand larceny you already sound like you're guilty you haven't done it yet remember when you get fined for something Peter which I believe you do every now and then it's not necessarily a crime, it's more of an offence yes, it's a skirmish you're not crimey, you are offensive it's a legal skirmish he does love it he does love it now Friday's back the Premier League is back sadly we've had to leave international football for another month but the Premier League is back well done well done you've come back again but we've made it through another international break what an international break it was now the least we deserve everybody I can't believe the producers are getting me to say this although to be honest it is the kind of pomp and bollocks that I do say to be fair the least we deserve for keeping you entertained ladies and gentlemen is a five star review that's the least we expect it's the least what about a seven star review well I think we should start a campaign yeah five stars is not enough for these lads I'll tell you what speaking of which I think it's the FSA Awards coming up again soon and we're up again big time defend our title so we need our listeners to help us with that as well but for now a five star review will be fine early December that is already got me in the bite so wherever we're going to get you on the bins again well you volunteer you get us back so whether you're listening stop what you're doing and give us a five star review now maybe even write a review no swear words please every single five star review really does help grow the show so we thank you for your support we really do appreciate it it says here thanks in advance yeah no we do genuinely appreciate it don't we Peter we need it I'm emotionally drowning I just need all the fortification I can get really you look magnificent today by the way thank you I think you went for a really low bit a couple of months ago but you turned it around he is he is turning it around slowly but surely and every five star review does help you turn that corner just that little bit more review that review that mustache yeah on the old YouTube it's a tash off today it is just a tash end of the table it is yes absolutely right now Liverpool do host Natasha Beddingfield feel it running your skin Marcus I don't know Villa are playing I think because I believe Matty Tash is playing there we go come on join in now Liverpool see how pondetry is being done by John Tashanu is that right he's a shit isn't he John Tashanu a real shit like a real shit and he's kind of he's sort of come back as the kind of like sort of comedic heel shit no let's not do Liverpool Man United let's do John Fashanu yeah let's do John Fashanu oh you didn't hate him when he was presenting Gladiators because we didn't know too much so you know despite my tone I was correct that's respect coming from a Wolf fan oh yeah right Liverpool versus Manchester United Sunday at 4.30 it's Manchester United's 100th trip to Anfield no doubt they'll have the balloons out celebrate good times come on here they are again celebrate a high line come on we enjoyed it so much last time we had to come back absolutely right absolutely right Liverpool of course on a three match losing streak Manchester United are on a one match winning run yeah everybody's not looking it that way is he yeah he's not looking it like that at all well we yeah it wasn't too worried about losing momentum going into the international break because obviously that is a bit of a signal.

4:01If you have a poor result into the international break okay we can maybe patch that up. It comes at times sometimes. Exactly. Perhaps it was a bit of a sell for Liverpool. Whereas Ruben Amarin were you a little bit annoyed? You know you got positive results against Sunderland and he said well there is no momentum with our team so a break without a break no it doesn't make a difference. It's more of the same really from Ruben. What do you expect from me? It's I mean it's worth sort of remembering that Liverpool's three defeats were away from Anfield and Manchester United do generally raise their game against Liverpool in every fixture that they've ever played in the last sort of 20 years.

4:30Well, apart from when they lost 7-0. Well, maybe they lost 7-0. They gave them too hard, left the back door open. They did lose 7-0 to them, Pete. It's important to say that. Out of how many fixtures have we played in the last 20 years? That's the exception that proves the rule. It's the first one I thought of. I know, yeah, because you were proving me wrong. That's what drives you. That's what fuels me. It's like the Mike De Conjure in your cells. Can I upset Peter today? The powerhouse of the cell. It is going to take a raising of Mary Rose proportions for Manchester United to get anything out of this game one would suggest oh it's a great reference well I remember the Mary Rose being raised yeah it was a big moment wasn't it some were suggesting though that Liverpool on the odd occasion have struggled against like a back three and blah blah blah and could man United and then it was kind of no no they struggle against specifically Crystal Palace right it's about to really well drill defensively okay so I'm not sure that will translate well in your defence Peter it was too old last time wasn't it but Liverpool had a good old lovely turn around the block at Old Trafford didn't they it's fair to say But I like this era of managers now being super honest and negative about their players and their team's chances.

5:32It used to be sort of rinsing the team. Now it's just like how people talk. Everyone's gone anymore. I feel it's more specifically Ruben Amarim. Pep does it a lot. Oh, no. Well. Obviously, the trailblazer in here would be Mick McCarthy. Yeah, I know you're talking. Yeah, but it's almost like it's not just football. Pep was always full of praise. Is that what you're saying? Even he's caught the balkan. Sometimes it would be praise for the other team. When they've lost. When they've beaten the other team. he's not going to go oh they were so so good that's why they beat us 2-0 but if you said to me think of a Pep Guardiola post-match interview or whatever or an interview I'm thinking about when he kept scratching his own head that wasn't during the interview it's a negative thing though isn't it Marcus he did the interview from his bedroom trying to learn Cods the Dashboard confessional tracks that's how sad he was and he was smoking in bed he was vaping he was vaping he was vaping a lost Mary in the 70s everyone used to smoke in bed didn't they one of the biggest A really big killer of people.

6:26Biggest killers. What about, do people still have breakfast in bed? That was a big thing back in the 90s. Teasmaids, big fan of Teasmaids. Bring them back. On my birthday, I want breakfast in bed. I certainly love breakfast in bed. Why? It's horrible. Unless you have a tray, like a raised tray, to losing gamba. Unless you have staff. It's not working, is it? Yeah, I'm going to make this breakfast now. I'm going to take it back to my own bed. I want the bedroom to smell of eggs, please. More of eggs. True. After my night. Smell a pump in your... Pumps. Smell a pump. All right, go on. One more, one more.

6:56No, no, not one more. Dog pumps. Right. Yeah, a little bit. See, that's why I didn't want one more. Liverpool are on a poor run. There's no two ways about that. And there are areas in their side that are obviously not clicking at the moment, Luke Moore, you would say. Fullbacks, maybe. The midfield balance with Wurz going in there. I mean, the German media have been very quick to defend Florian Wurz's form after his slow start at Liverpool. Even former Norway international, Jan Arger-Fjortov said about Virts. He seems to be responsible for everything negative at Liverpool. The only thing missing is for him to be blamed for the Beatles not performing anymore.

7:30Yeah. That's a reference, isn't it? He thinks that that's funny, doesn't he? A mutual Norwegian friend of ours, which I'm sure nobody will be able to guess. Lars Sivetson. He's one of our former. I was struggling to think of another one. I mean, in a way, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is your friend of mine. Nothing that you can accuse Lars Sivetson of saying now is going to be worse than some of the stuff he does say on the show. I don't know too much about it. He said old Fuel Tops is a bit of a rent-a-quote. Of course he is. But they all are, aren't they? Aren't we? We're all in it together. Do we? Go on, Yance.

8:01There's something else outrageous. You can say that about Roy Keane and I bloody love him. Talk about the Beatles. I don't know. Is it to do with Vert's poor form that the Beatles aren't around anymore? I think it's a hell of a coincidence. One hell of a coincidence, Marcus. The sons of Lennon and McCartney are doing their best to resurrect it. Are they doing their best? Resurrect. they're doing the best they could do with the life of immense privilege they've received they're going into a recording studio with guitars that's all we can ask for yeah it's more than we've done to be fair it's more than we've done but you know there's still time but they are struggling to get that balance right I wonder if Virts will play against Man United I think it depends on it depends on the fitness of Gravenberts doesn't it because he came off international week with a hamstring he's since said that he thinks he's going to be fine so obviously if he's fine he'll play if he does play I wonder if Virts is riding the bench is riding the splinters yes well he was put on the bench for the Everton game exactly obviously Derby this is a I mean this is a Derby isn't it you know that kind of atmosphere so I know what you mean I'd also say that you've got definitely got issues at full back and you've also got Slott comes in and wins the league with Liverpool and he doesn't really change much and I was spending quite a lot of last season saying I really admire it I really admire that he's confident enough to go this is working great I'm not going to muck about with it and be arrogant about it but what's interesting subsequently is that when he does muck about with it spends loads of money brings other players in he's starting to look a little bit incoherent there's also big problems at centre back as well with Canate he's been so inconsistent obviously Alisson's out as well so do you feel though sorry you were going to say no it's just it is it is quite quite remarkable to think about because they're still right up there they still had loads of positive results.

9:48I appreciate they're on the back of a bit of a mini bad run. But the performances have been questionable. Yeah, they have, yeah. By their own high standards and you sort of look at... You look at players like Salah who has had a couple of off games and you're like... Yeah, he's not really done much. He's not really done much after a really, really good start for him. I very much like... Get yourself to Acon, lad. Exactly. Yeah, just go now. A little reset. Do a little pre-season, sort of pre-tournament, little sort of... Imagine that. Don't start till December. I'm going now. They've got enough firepower at the top.

10:14Yeah, I've got to get there early to check in at the airport. I've not got the easy check-in bit. He's fast-boarding. I think Wurtz has looked all right, but not in his position. He spends a lot of time in front of the back four just not doing bits, and he looks good there. Maybe retrain him as a defensive midfielder. Quite possibly. Well, I don't know. Look, it's very early days for quite a while. We've seen players... They're still sleeping our eyes. Exactly, Peter. They're still sleeping there. But Wurtz, he's... Players of bigger profiles and more experience have come to the Premier League and struggled to fit in at first.

10:49Well, like Alexander Izak, for example. If you like. So, again, I don't want to go over the top here, but that midfield three of Gravenberch, McAllister and Sobosilay is bloody good. But Sobosilay's had to be a bit of a Swiss Army knife so far this season. He has, but those three... See, this is the thing with Wurtz. When I think of Liverpool midfielders, basically from Klopp until now, obviously, as you mentioned, slot didn't really change that much. I think a very, very powerful industrial midfield. And that's not to take away from the quality and a little bit of the creativity, but I think a lot of running, a lot just relentless and yes, can score goals.

11:27I mean, you know, McAllister and Gravenberts and Siboslav can score goals from range and all the rest of it. So there's a lot going on there. But Wurtz, it is kind of like, where do you put him in? Where do you fit him in is he going to just be out on the wing it would seem kind of a waste you want to kind of drift inside and i feel that that dynamic that they've just they've really not settled on and with salar as well last season slot said right do not defend you know you just stay up there kind of thing i think teams are much more aware of all this stuff and slot himself said that the way teams played against them in the second half of the season compared to the first was very different he said in the first teams were trying to have a go a bit more which naturally gives a little bit more space, etc, etc.

12:08In the second half of the season, he said that they basically just shut up, shut up and try to defend. Liverpool much better in the first half of the season than the second half, even though they were still good in the second half. I wonder if there's quite a lot for slot to sort out and I think teams are looking at Liverpool going, we're not afraid of you as we were and there are obvious little points of, you know, little kind of chinks in your armour where we can sort of have a go at and you're seeing that now. So there's a lot to do because if Liverpool don't get a positive result against Manchester United and dare I even say the performance isn't isn't particularly good I think again it just I'm not saying he's under threat that would be absolute madness and so on but you just start oh hang on a minute this narrative is here you know there's a little bit of a rot but May and I are terrified of everyone aren't they as they should be yeah so it's you know it wouldn't be a massive surprise for May and I to make it difficult for Liverpool but it also wouldn't be a massive surprise if Liverpool just instantly got straight back on the horse and galloped off let me say for the record I do think Liverpool will win right I just think that, again, if it's a little bit of a stodgy performance or not so convincing, people are going to start...

13:13You know what it's like in football? Especially with the club like Liverpool. Yeah, exactly. Which he saw much last season. The fan base is very talky, aren't they? They do a lot of talking. Yeah, but if you're still getting the results, though, and they're still in contention, then that's something. He has got a really big decision to make around Verts and around Isaac as well. Well, yeah. Perhaps a little bit premature for Isaac to be talked about in this way. because he's probably not fully match fit yet. But obviously he's not scored. He's got an assist, but that was basically an accident.

13:44He was stripped of the captaincy in the international break with Sweden. So he's not had a good time there. No, no one's having a good time with Sweden at the moment. Let's be absolutely clear. Victor Jokeres was the Nations League top scorer. That's true. As he reminded everybody at a very opportune time. Yeah. Hugo Eketike is obviously wet in the wings. I know he's a little bit of injury down. But he's had a good start to the season. That's what I'm saying. So the point being that it starts to get more complicated for Slott because if shit isn't going right and they don't beat Man United, the big decisions he has to make around really key players they spent a lot of money on.

14:13Kirkes, Ezek and Verts. Not just a lot of money, a lot of headlines. Cultural capital. A lot of headlines, a lot of time, a lot of energy, a lot of chat. It's a heavy, heavy weight on his shoulders, isn't it? Well, it is. Yeah, Verts and Ezek, you spend that amount of money on players. 240 between us, 250 between us. Having not spent anything in the previous transfer window, sorry, in the previous summer, much was made of that. He's gone, right, oh, I was just, you say I can't spend money. Don't you worry about that. Being a non-quantity, I mean, this is the level of, you know, being a team that should be challenging Champions League, you know, titles.

14:50It might well be that also the one player they wanted, they needed, they didn't get, is Gay, right? Because it looks like at the moment, early days and stuff, but it looks like it is a little bit imbalanced and it's difficult to know what players to play in what position and when to stick with them and when to move them on. to the bench and bring other players in but like the one thing they could have done is they could have got Gay possibly and he would have been a massive upgrade on Canate well there was chat wasn't there that maybe Gay goes in January or next summer and then there was reports came in that Gay was apparently interested in Real Madrid and I thought oh rat is he a rat even though he's not playing for them I'll tell you what rat adjacent has to be it's a rat attack he might have done a medical oh he did yeah so if he did a medical and they found out for sure that he's definitely a human I don't think he's he can't be full rat maybe a mouse Yeah Aren't their legs on backwards Like dogs or horses What mice Yeah mice I don't think a mouse Has got the same connotation Does it No Snake I guess not Yeah snake What's this chat about The legs being on backwards Aren't horses legs on backwards Oh god I've moved on to horses now I'm not that confident About the rat thing Which animal do you think it is Because you've got Mouse to horse Which animal's got legs backwards But presumably though For them it wouldn't be backwards No We're all backwards Maybe we are Exactly And that's the perspective Of a horse I've never ever heard that before.

16:04Horse has got legs on backwards. I think so. He thinks. What is it? Cows? Who can go upstairs? No, cows can't go downstairs. Right. Why are they even going anywhere near this? What perverted farmer is doing that? That's why if they walk into a block of flats, you go, don't climb the stairs. Oh, that's them. Why is a farmer luring a cow into a cellar? Yeah. What's going on there? I don't know, Peter. And that's why we should tax them harder. Something, though. The old cow tax. The old cow tax. did you see before we move on did you see that is this to do with tails or Man United Isaac Alexander the player for QPR was his birthday this week he's very enjoyable sign him yeah Isaac he's a tall guy with good feet with his legs on backwards Isaac is a tall player stick him in defence stick him in centre back if his legs are on backwards he can track back quite happily can't he beat the press a proper Sergio Giorgini of a player isn't it Alexander Ezek no Isaac Alexander yeah they should at some point we hope they're in the same side together or at least the same league it'd be lovely and if you don't want that then you need to learn how to love again I'm telling you you've still got joy for it yes absolutely so Liverpool are the favourites should we talk about Manchester United or not bother we can talk about Manchester United yeah go on then let's get them out of the way I liked the chat about them having to possibly give Casemiro a new contract yeah but they were like but not on the same wages yeah But the thing is that the reasons of funny stories because it kind of implies that they have to keep him because they're not happy with Manuel Agate and Kobe Mane wants to leave.

17:41So it's not the most compelling amount of leverage possible, is it, to say to Casemiro, we haven't got any others. Do you mind taking a pay cut to stay? So you need me more then. So I'll have more money. Thanks very much. They also know that they're not going to sell him. You're looking younger every time. You're going to be on a YTS contract in a minute. That's true. Yeah. it remains to be seen whether he takes it or not but they've got an extension option haven't they every now and again though he puts in a performance and you go come on there he is there he is there's still a bit left it's genuinely quite bizarre isn't it quite sad isn't it because what a player he was for Real Madrid and he has put earlier on in his career a shift at Manchester United it's just he has as they all have become a victim of that club at the moment it just madness if he went to like Real Valladolid or something he would just tear it up what a shout lovely mention for them a cult rubbish Spanish team like I'm just sort of thinking like if he went somewhere else he would probably have a nice time is it the climate do you think the climate is he going to be is he going to be an absolute Rolls Royce in North America next summer I don't think he would have picked up 375 grand a week in the Spanish second division well I don't know it's like the other day when people were saying like 375 Jack Wilshere doing that Sunday league game everyone was filming him look how good he is 32 he's played for England yeah you guys were talking about obviously Jack Wilshire starting a career Did you watch his first team talk?

19:02No I didn't He wasn't very good Come on it's the first one Because I interviewed him two years ago Did you suggest management to him? He didn't strike me as being the most charismatic person you've ever met and I do worry that footballers do need a little bit more He also couldn't climb some stairs so I think his legs are absolutely They're on backwards Maybe he needs to He needs to He needs to ride around on a cow And he's right down on the cow. But I did feel sorry for him, a man of such talent and had so many... Definitely the best midfield player I've seen with backwards legs. Exactly. Massively.

19:36English. Let's have sideways legs. English, yeah. Oh, dear. Well, yeah, it's 4.30 at Sunday. It'll be a lovely treat. I think Liverpool will beat Man United. It's an absolutely textbook 4.30 Sunday game. You've got to watch this one. Gravy on your clothes. Big time. A picture, isn't it? Absolutely right. Not enough at half time. Yeah. Like that. Yeah. No, but you know... Nil-nil after an hour. What? What? But it is the fixture, of course, history of the fixture, you know, the 100th time. But just the state of the two teams at the moment and what's going on. A lot of narrative. Get involved, everybody.

20:10Well, we might not get the scenes like we did on Tuesday night in Taiwan where they were facing Thailand in the third round of Asian Cup qualifying for the World Cup. During the game, they were doing live updates on the scoreboard on the big screen using a Microsoft PowerPoint. so let's hope Anfield have got their admin in place apparently that's quite a big thing in that part of the world is it really because I saw a lot of replies to the video of that on X formerly known as Twitter where there's someone posted a reply video of some people sitting in the departure lounge of an airport I think it might have been maybe in the Philippines so not a million miles away from there where the flight's delayed the bloke is standing behind the counter with the TV screen above it on PowerPoint just go and just type it in 30 minutes.

20:55I don't mind that. If it works, it works. Hitting the presentation button so it flashes up. Do you know, I mean, the only issue, the only reason why we know it's necessarily PowerPoint is that you can see the collection of slides on the left-hand side. There is an option on PowerPoint, so you don't see that. You dual screen it. He's got to work it out. Check out your HMI session. I just worry, though, that there's an argument about fonts about to happen. He's used windings. We don't know where we're going. Would you be happy to go to Taiwan to help them out? Sort them out, yeah. I mean if Taiwan can't get it right exactly I'm not being funny it's the home of tech it's the home of the microcomputer get a semiconductor get a semiconductor on there on out loud a Chinese representative we can help out no no yeah Thailand beat Taiwan 6-1 in their own backyard so you know shove your PowerPoint up yeah exactly whoops Thailand also known as the war elephants great nickname that is a great nickname and Taiwan are the blue wings not as good still not bad still great still not bad I'd watch an anime with those two I was going to get into I was going to get into about why the BBC website keep calling them Chinese Taipei but we haven't got time for that now.

21:57No, no, no. It's interesting. That is disappointing. Very disappointing. I thought their ruling was that we don't call them that. Well, check the BBC website. Take it up with them. Right, coming up after this. A huge game for Ange.

22:17Are you excited to get started? Don't push me. Do you want to tell me a bit? doesn't look good doesn't look good but man handled by security Eric man United a big club come on back to the football ramble everybody now Nottingham Forest hosts Chelsea don't push me on television don't push me on television alright turn the camera off then let's get pushy yeah tomorrow 12.30 Peter the Tricky Trees host Chelsea huge game for Postacoglou after the Sean Dyche rumours that's demeaning isn't it I think I think Ang would have preferred to have had a few points on the table before this one because it's a difficult match and it's early in the morning just as it is dawning.

22:53That's right, yeah. Of course, Chelsea went there last season and won. I think it was by one goal to nil and that was crucial. It was a clincher for getting Chelsea into the Champions League and a damning result for Forrest. It was. So, a teensy bit of history between these two sides of late. But yes, all eyes on Ange Postacoglu in the dugout because, Luke, I mean, if they don't get a result here, then my goodness, Nottingham Forrest, you know, languishing in 17th, just a point above Burnley and West Ham and just three above Wolves in 20th. Not good times. I think if they lose this game, I think he'll lose his job.

23:27Do you think it's as simple as that? Oh, you reckon? Yeah. I reckon he's that jumpy. I think they will lose and I think he will lose his job. I think that's what's going to happen. No, I think he's going to jump, Peter. Absolutely. Especially not given the contract he signed about fucking 10 minutes ago. No, exactly. No, I mean more the chairman, but yes. But it will be... He's pushy. If he does lose his job, it will probably be one of the best financial decisions in football history essentially like seven weeks of indignity to hoover up loads and loads of money yeah is it the part no because Pardew got bought out didn't he I suppose to go to Palace not really sure Brucey Bruce had a long contract didn't he yeah but he was there for ages what did that man have to suffer he did have to suffer a long time that was a proper stretch that wasn't it that was basically that was like him being in jail on the wing with all the snitches and pedos he was getting abused every single week topical he was he was he's only been there for it's hard to be on the non-swing as Lost Profits famously sang yeah yeah they said that because Marks would get annoyed but I do think he'll lose his job if they lose this game I think there's no coincidence that compared to Ian Watkins no you are though I'm not compared to Ollie Watkins I've compared to Ian Watkins from Steps.

24:46Good. All right. Yeah, I do think there's a really good chance he'll be out of work if they lose this game. I think it's no coincidence all the stuff is swirling around. Maranac is a very unpredictable owner. It will be some two, three months this. I mean, going from Nuno, who was broadly like loved by the fans for what he did for them, the players seem not even fully over it yet. Yeah. And that's partly contributing to how bad Forrest have been. And for them to be, to wake up in, I don't know, a week's time and have Sean Dyche as their manager is just a crazy set of circumstances. It's really odd.

25:19It is odd. And I don't think Chelsea have been without their problems, of course, but they have recently appeared to have picked up a little bit. I think one of the things you have to remember about Chelsea is that the issues they've had, say, you know, the Bayern Munich game, certainly the Man United game, maybe even the Brighton game as well. I can't quite remember that one as clearly. Is errors, individual errors, stupid stuff, right? and so and Mureska can include himself in that because obviously he's not going to be on the touchline for this game because he's got a ban but they can move past that and they're easily they're easily good enough to beat this Forrest I mean this Forrest against Under-Ange look absolutely incoherent so I mean yeah you're right with Chelsea I mean I find it interesting you know you look at the injuries they've got it's quite a lot and then you kind of go they've still got a lot of players I mean they obviously they signed everybody but they are missing some key players I'm slightly worried for Chelsea that this season is going to be the same as last season.

26:15Now, when I say I worry about that, they still won, obviously, the Conference League, which was a bit of a gimme, but fair, they won it. And then they win the World Club Championship. They qualified for European competition. At the moment in the Premier League, I think we're all agreed that the title race will, it will go down to Arsenal versus Liverpool. Some might say Man City are going to be in there. But those three, I think, are the best three sides in the league, despite Spurs and Bournemouth being above Man City at the moment. but for Chelsea I do feel that this season is an opportunity because I don't think Liverpool certainly not at the moment aren't as strong as they were Arsenal can have the odd funny result here and there I don't think Chelsea have got enough to catch those two teams but there's a possibility if you remember last season around would it have been November, December time there was very very teensy little talk of could Chelsea have a little title tilt which of course went away fairly soon so I think Chelsea are still in that kind of mire with mire is too strong a word but they're still in that phase where that funk maybe where yes they are going to win more than they don't but despite some of the quality they've got you know Moises Casado seems to be getting these flails all over the internet being possibly one of the best players in the Premier League and that's fair I think he probably has been slightly underrated I think he has been slightly underrated I think what I would say is they're very active in the transfer market of course as you mentioned they've got a lot of players but they seem to not have been able to move past this idea that they still have very obvious holes in their team, shortcomings.

27:46Like, if you look at... I still don't really trust them up front. Yeah. You wouldn't say they've got an outstanding striker. They did a better goalkeeper, for sure. Like, Pedro Neto's had a really boring start to the season playing off the right, and he plays every single game, and he's not really contributed. Playing off the left will probably be Esteval, who scored the winner, of course, late on against Liverpool. Yeah, so hopefully that can propel him. but he's a young prospect of course but very very talented he's having a lovely time but they seem they just seem a bit imbalanced a bit unreliable Cole Palmer missing is obviously massive he'll be back like November time I think but it was I mean it's a sickening with what happened to Liam De Lappe now I understand that it's not like Liam De Lappe is a very experienced Premier League player and you're going oh well they're going to miss his 20-25 goals or whatever I understand that but it was a bit of a sickening because there was a player who was raring to go and what could he do I would say though that Joao Pedro has had a decent enough start to the season.

28:40But it is just that slight disjointed kind of play because with Maresca, there's not that much we've got to go on with his managerial career. Very impressive with Leicester in the championship, played some great stuff and obviously got them promoted. Into the Premier League with Chelsea, as I say, last season, there are flashes. There are flashes. And we've seen bits and pieces. You know, again, qualifying for Champions League is no mean feat and winning those two aforementioned trophies, particularly the Club World Cup. I just I think Chelsea fans are like right come on can we kick on and I think games like this when you go to Ange Postacoglu's Nottingham Forest it's there for them because on their day they can defend on their day they can attack get that right as you say Luke they could run out pretty comfortably getting three points in and if they did it's a great time to play them it absolutely is Pete and I think that if they were to win this particularly win it comfortably then what else is there for Posto Coglu and Forrest to do.

29:36Oh, but come on, just give him more time, more time. In football, when you see things as obvious as this, you've got to throw away a Europa League campaign and you're going to get yourself into a relegation battle. And it's two things that you didn't think would happen at the end of last season. What's happening with Forrest at the moment in microcosm, if it kind of goes to its natural end point, which you'd expect it to, is in microcosm exactly what happens when you have like private owners of clubs in this way. because Maranakis comes in obviously they spend a huge amount of money do well but he's incredibly volatile you know you'll have to they'll look old school innit they'll look back on this you know if we fast forward a week or two and Dyche is in situ I'm not saying he wouldn't do a good job whatever but he's totally different level of manager and totally different ambitions and way of playing and all the rest of it I suppose his way of playing is probably you know he's more similar to Nudo's than say Posta Cogri's is but the point I wanted to make was just that it has to go down it's like an incredible act of self-harm you know there's a real lack of diplomacy in the Nuno, Edu, Maranakis situation which from nowhere causes this real problem where it ends up Nuno losing his job.

30:44They were doing fine. But the quotes Nuno was coming out with, he was always very, very statesman-like and politician-like in the previous season when Maranakis comes onto the pitch at the end of the game much noted about that. He was very calm. Whereas when he started saying certain things, I remember thinking, Nuno, mind there you go there. And of course, it ends up as it does. And I think the real, The real litmus test for me with Postacoglu was the way the Forest fans reacted when Michelin beat them in the Europa League. This is their first home game in Europe for many, many years. They're looking forward to it.

31:15It's a real showpiece event. They're delighted to be in Europe. And by the end of the game, their own fans are singing, you're getting sacked in the morning. There's no way they're losing that game under Nuno. I understand Graham Potter's West Ham beat them 3-0 at the City ground. but I just yeah I totally Moises Cacido versus Elliot Anderson is the clash of the week midfield clash of the weekend stumpy and bums out I tell you what Elliot Anderson going to England now what a holiday that is for him do you know what I mean everyone's like we've got to start he's got one minute he's all over the place at Forest not through I would argue any fault of his own and at England he's like oh well get him in the midfield with Rice can he play with Bellinger he's thinking I'm loving this Enzo Maresca though as you mentioned earlier won't be in the dugout for this game he's been given a one match ban after his celebrations against Liverpool he's been fined eight grand come on up those fines that's piss but if you want to earn a few quid Premier League then do a percentage rather than a fixed fee okay as the FA put it though with regard to the one match ban it was alleged that the alleged we saw it we all saw it anyway it was alleged that the manager acted in an improper manner and or used abusive and or insulting words and or behaviour of you during the fixture.

32:30What did he do? Which led to his dismissal around the night. Turn it into a choose-your-adventure novel. Turn to page five if it was insulting words. Turn to page 48 if it was insulting behaviour. Turn to page 32 if it was acting in an improper manner. Absolutely right. You are dead. You are dead. Goblin has killed you. Don't forget also, we can't up the fine. No. Because if we do that with these millionaires, they'll all just leave the country. So you remember that. Yeah, you cannot levy You can't do that. Any kind of money. It'll just go manned elsewhere. And the trickle down won't reach the very, very grateful recipients.

33:06Exactly. Okay. Ah, dear. Now, before we bring you some quite sensational stuff that's been happening on the Football Ramble Discord, I want to talk about a former Nottingham Forest man, John Joe Shelby. Former Newcastle man as well, Peter. Former everyone man. Former everybody. It's like that game we play sometimes. He's obviously playing in the Dubai. it's third tier isn't it he's playing oh no second tier but third tier I think it's third it's not top flight it's not top flight it's not fully professional but he's over there he's basically the only bloke to have gone to the Middle East for a job and not really getting paid very much for the lifestyle isn't Ravel Morrison playing for the same team name me one other person he's not playing for the same team is he isn't it the same team yeah same team okay I was about to say name me another person who's moved to Middle East for less money that's a complete invert I was about to say I think my mate I was like no you're right Yeah.

33:58Why else? Well, he's revealed reasons why he's moved to play football in Dubai. He doesn't want his children to grow up in England. Yeah, and did you see the response to that? A lot of people online have been painting the St. George's flag on his bald head like it's a roundabout. Yeah. I'm not usually into the bald-heady stuff, but it was a good one. It's great. You simply have to say it's a good one. It really confused me because I thought, there's the flag. But he doesn't want to live in England. Right. I was like, which side do I come down with? it's funny because his main kind of axe to grind bearing in mind that footballers do not experience any real reality in any city that they live in they live out in sticks in these kind of massive houses where what street what street tell me I want to interview them football street he did like living in the north east of England though he really liked that he did well that's what he had me in the first half the whole piece was like London shit Newcastle good I was like oh but he did sort of say I want to walk down the street with my watch now I don't think there's a single democratic capital city in the world that you can walk down the street with a 40 grand watch on it and still feel comfortable.

35:02Bern, Switzerland? Maybe, maybe. But is that that high street? Can you walk down that high street? I just think Bern is the capital of Switzerland, isn't it? Yeah, I think so, yeah. And they also went on to sort of say, oh, you know, I'm seeing people who are getting in prison for tweets. I was like, mate, don't you be tweeting out there. Yeah, exactly. You're getting more than in prison. England's a totalitarian state where are you going to? Dubai right okay good stuff he likes the chocolate I'll tell you what let him go they were absolutely kicking off in a game in the Middle East the other day well if he wants to wear his watch without any bother fine but if he doesn't want to have any plastic bottles thrown at him then mind how you go on the pitch because you're right Luke furious UAE fans were very angry during their game against Qatar where Qatar won 2-1 in a crucial World Cup qualifier so UAE they can still qualify but it's much more difficult.

35:53Two leg playoff, yeah. And that then gets them into an intercontinental playoff. So there's a bit of spice in this fixture that they've had previous. But yeah, it was... Like, when we're saying that it kind of kicked off, do check this out because security... People were trying to get on the pitch. Security of the rest of the... Because you don't really think that because I'm not saying they're not passionate about their football. Do you know what I thought when I first saw it? It was a proper riot. Oh, yeah. I thought, none of this lot are pissed up. No. Seeing lads in Forbes just going for crowd members, you're like, fucking hell, Jesus.

36:21It was an absolute spectacle. But you're right, they can't blame the drink. No. So, but again though, like I said, I know they're passionate about football in those parts of the world. Absolutely right. But UAA and Qatar, like very low crime rates, always come across as very... Don't you start. I'm going to go. I think, you know, get me one of those, what are they called? Sorry, the white... Thorb. Thorb. Right. With the three lines on the chest. Now you're talking. Come on, who's with me? I've only got a black and white one, it's fine. Yeah. I'm not a drinker. but I do love ham I love the gammon maybe it's not for me I don't think they've got too good to go out there either too good to go the deal's off boys it's a bit of a commute to get to Craven Cottage every week alright the deal's off anyway it was good to see it was good to see good old brave hooliganism makes you proud to be alive doesn't it who said the empire was there there's the legacy we left some stuff behind there we've got our game back we've got our game back where's the patio for it sandals on the pitch yeah I love that I mean that's your shoes you're walking home on your bare feet there aren't you annoying yeah but it's like George W.

37:33Bush is on the pitch picking them all up going I can confirm the sadist team in the hottest country in the world imagine bare feet on fucking asphalt at least it means something I suppose you know like when back in the day they used to throw their hats up in the air to celebrate and everyone used to get a different hat to go home with because they could be like that with shoes wouldn't it no but they're on the pitch I've got two left ones yeah I was just going to say that it would be interesting to see if FIFA passed down any kind of punishment for this because if that was in Europe oh my goodness you'd be it would be a huge story close door stuff fine well there are suggestions that that's going to happen but I mean obviously the power base of football at FIFA level now is in the Middle East I know it's not necessarily in the UAE but like you know the reason that part of the reason I presume why UAE fans were so annoyed because Qatar were given an unfair advantage in this whole thing as we mentioned before.

38:21They should have said indeed it should have been played in a neutral country. Yeah, now the sons of Zayed have got to take on the Lions of Mesopotamia in a two-legged one to get through to the Intercontinental. You'd fancy the Lions, wouldn't you? I don't really know. Who's better out of those two teams? Just on the names. Just on the names. But let me tell you though, Julian Lopetegui, manager of Qatar, of course, he was a bit like, yeah, it wasn't great. Three points though, but it wasn't great. He was like, I've had worse reactions in West Ham. He said, what you want to do is the fans are all way away from the pitch.

38:53They'd have a heavy sandal to reach me. Their Reebok classics can't get that far. You know what, lads? I've got a little bit of news before we hit a break. Oh, go on. What's happening? I'm going to become a influencer. A soccer boot influencer. He's going to become a soccer boot influencer. I've become a soccer boot influencer. You're not even convinced yourself of this. I regarded, I need a pair of football boots. Yeah, we all do. The great thing about playing veterans football is no one really cares about what, they care about the colour of the boot, but they don't really care about what kind of boots you're wearing.

39:31You're not going to get criticised for not wearing a Nike or an Adidas. Also, you don't really get on, do you? No, exactly. I'm the best, I'll be the best booted linesman in the town. I want to just clarify for those who perhaps from overseas don't understand this, when he says he plays veterans football, it's just over 35. He's not some war hero. No. Stolen Valor Donaldson That's what they call me But I Take your bag Take your ribbons and medals off I need to Yeah Is that a little Victoria Cross Did you get that all invented Well I I basically Needed I required A new pair of football boots Because it's getting a bit cold I saw this I saw you posted it in the group So I I Require comfort I require style Yes I require a boot that says Look at me And look at what I'm doing Have you gone for the old Harry Kane sketches No I went I went on to Amazon and I found Here we go This is the first Football Ramble football boot unboxing that we've ever done Hopefully the last Yeah, hopefully the last I've gone for the brand We'll put it on the screen on the YouTube It's Bottemans Bottemans Bottemans Not Bottemans I've pronounced them Boatmans Guess how much they are £23 Peter, send me the link Here they are Hold them up to the camera Hold them up to the camera Tippi Fitt And they've got a fake Nike swoosh on them.

40:4823 Norts. Come on. That's a bit like... Not bad? That's a bit like saying, I've got these new football boots. They're four strokes. That is so close to a Nike. It's the colour of lust. It is the colour of blood. Pete, I looked them up. And bear in mind, you are a man not of inadequate means. You're not a poor man, I wouldn't say. Dressed like one. Yeah, but I looked up... A 1950s poor man. I looked up the Boatman shoes that you bought, some of the boots you bought, and you appear to have bought a pair of football boots off Amazon with the following product description. Boatman men's football shoes, breathable boys, girls, soccer trainers, cleats, professional football boots, unisex.

41:27And that's them saying that. That's just the SEO. But yeah, I'm going to find out what these are like at the weekend. Put them on now. Put them on the ad break. I'll put them on now. I'll wear them for the rest of the show. Now wear them for Jack's later. Okay, right. Bottomans. the boys do the tagline to the camera are you a bottom and buy

41:51put them on now Jesus

41:58now everybody before we talk about the Premier League I did say that there was something that happened on our discord which was worth mentioning Pete you and Vish were describing your business lunch last Friday which consisted of beer and crisps and you mentioned that you went for prawn cocktail crisps. Which I would have in my top three flavours of crisps. They're very good. Okay, fine. Well, on the Football Amble Disco, there is currently a tournament called the Crisp Bowl. It's a full-scale knockout tournament which pits different crisps against each other. It's down to the semifinals. I've got an update.

42:30It's actually now down to the finals. You're joking. Overnight. So let me, that's breaking news. Tell us the semifinal draw and I'll tell you what happened. So the semifinal draws were Doritos versus Monster Munch and in the other side of the draw it was Pringles versus Kettle Chips. as friend of the Ramble Moon put it, Monster Munch are the only non-seeded crisp left. I did seeding. Seeding. Which is wonderful. So for me, I hope kettle chips are in there because despite them, I think they're a British brand. Despite that, they still call them chips, not crisps. But I can overlook that for their magnificent taste.

43:00Yeah, so I've got a lot of feelings on this. My only crisp left in that semi-final lineup, which I think is worth a damn, would be the humble Monster Munch. You're not having kettle? Not really, but it doesn't matter. Chili and sour cream are the best ones at the supermarket. It's all irrelevant now because the final has been announced and it's Doritos versus Pringles. You're joking. And Pringles aren't even a crisp. I'm gutted with that. I don't count Pringles as a crisp. Doritos are a corn chip. Exactly. So they're having a giggle here. The Discord doesn't let themselves down. I'm gutted Kettle of Corn.

43:28This is why I'm so you don't have Osman doing it on Twitter. Yeah. Used to do it at Christmas, didn't they? Used to do it at Christmas. Pickled onion, Monster Munch, and the sizzling bacon, if you remember them, Monster Munch. Yeah, I like a spicy Flamin' Hot as well. Flamin' Hot, of course, yeah. So Doritos versus Pringles, who's your money on? Pringles all day, every day. Once you pop, you can't stop. It's Alien versus Predator to me. Whoever wins, I lose. I've never purchased... If I had to purchase Pringles, I would buy the salt and vinegar flavour. If I had to purchase Doritos, I'd do the...

43:54Tangy cheese? The cool ranch flavour. I'd go Doritos, I think. Although it just... I just feel like we've sold out to American imperialist capitalism. I think Doritos... Which we gave them. Yet again. I think Doritos are crisps for people who don't really like crisps. and the reason I don't like kettle chips necessarily I will eat them and I'm not going to turn my nose up at one but in principle to take this all the way back to their little rant I had about Notting Hill last week or was it last show on Wednesday? You feel it's a bit that do you? I just feel it's a bit like crisps used to be a really perfectly acceptable snack for the working class family and then some Don Draper because posh people didn't used to eat crisps mate and then some Don Draper guy just went oh what if we make them really expensive and then wealthy people can eat them as well and took it from us they're always on offer in the supermarket It was cultural vandalism as well, isn't it?

44:41Okay, fair enough. Spurs versus Aston Villa, still in the Premier League draw. They play each other on Sunday at 2pm. Big news for Spurs, Fabio Paratici has returned after a 30-month ban from football. That was, of course, the punishment for his role in alleged false accounting at his previous club, Juventus. Someone said he was banned when it went into your inn.

45:02I mean, yeah. Fine. Yeah, fine. Absolutely fine. Joint sporting directors at Spurs now. I smell a sitcom Do you? My two dads One can only tell the truth The only can only lie Which player are you signing? Don't know Does Thomas Frank know This guy was coming back? He's like Who are you? You're the guy who got banned Alright okay You find that you're on my ship now Big boy Yeah Well Paratici's back I don't know whether That will propel Tottenham To get a win against Aston Villa It's quite a intriguing game Isn't it? Because Aston Villa have picked up Yeah and Morgan Rogers He needs to play with an England shirt On underneath his Villa shirt Right okay Spurs still a few injuries and whatnot but again under Thomas Frank they are ultimately going well I mean they're third in the table they're only two points behind Arsenal who lead of course they're scoring goals what do you think about Spurs this season Peter do you think that they can maintain this or do you worry that they'll no I'm not going to say Spurs it up because that's not fair I think they sort of I think they threw off those shackles some years ago after winning a European tournament you mean specifically last week some years ago by which I mean 0.3 years ago yeah well eventually winning the campaign starts you know six months before I think they've become a much more kind of tenacious sort of chewy side to play and I'm enjoying them play a lot more it just feels like every goal they score they're not going to let into the back so I think every Spurs fan has got every right to sort of be really really happy with how Thomas Frank started and how different that side looks under him defensively then they already look much better.

46:38Yeah, and they've only really had one bad result, and that was against Bournemouth, who looked pretty good. Yeah, yeah, good. And that was a real surprise, wasn't it? Because then, yeah. It's also interesting how quickly that Frank's got them purring away and got them drilled and got them playing in a way that's really commensurate with the quality of player they've got. They've obviously strengthened as well. They've brought some good players in. Obviously, Rando Calo-Marnier hasn't even featured yet. I mean, he's still kind of languishing with injury issues. So he can come in as well and really strengthen them.

47:06I also think it's fascinating how in his first press conference at Forest, Postacoglu was asked how long it's going to take the team to understand his way of playing. He was like, Wednesday. Which was Wednesday. Which is the away game in the League Cup against Swansea. Exactly. Which they lost. Yeah. But Frank's come in, changed how they play completely and it's been really good straight away. Because we were all worried for them, weren't they? When they played PSG, you go all the way back to the Super Cup final. And they gave a really good account themselves. So close to getting a famous result.

47:31But they did give a good account themselves and people might say, oh, PSG were tired, blah blah blah they're the European champions even if they're tired they're still a good side and you're right they've kind of he's turned it round really from what it was their last season he's presumed as getting injured on international duty rather than at home exactly so there you are progress but Villa themselves down in 13th not had a great start but as you said they've gone on a four game winning run one man who's been doing a bit better in a Villa shirt and scored on the international break was the Dutchman Mr Marlon Big Don Yel Big Don Marlon Donnie Marlin.

48:05Donnie Marlin. There you go. Got there in the end. Got your football boots on now. Got your football boots on. Oh, right. Got a blister yet? What? Got a blister yet? Yeah, kind of hurts. Bit tight, are they? Yeah, a little bit tight. Not necessarily my size. What are you going to do? What do you want to say about Donnie Marlin, Marcus? I think he might be crucial. Watkins, don't know whether he'll start the game or feature. Got a bit of an injury. They need good new stories, I think, at this point in time, away from home at Spurs. Yeah. Well, I mean, to be fair, though, I mean, our very own Jim Campbell did say that at this point under Unai Emery, teams often find it a bit difficult when he's, what is he, two or three seasons into the job.

48:39And there's a little bit of stagnation. Failing to qualify for the Champions League was a bit of a blow. Didn't have a great transfer window. So again, with Villa, okay, again, four matches on the bounce, they've won. You've got to say that that is an improvement. They're going in the right direction. It will be interesting if they can crunch through the gears and keep on going. Because it is a side who look like, much like they did last season, although they were much better off last season I think some Villa fans are already looking at their January transfer window saying who can come in and maybe kind of refresh a little bit but it's still a little bit out there so I think the form of Doniel Marlon has been certainly welcome for Aston Villa Both teams generally come off the back of international breaks winning matches so it'll be interesting to see how this one pans out but Frank's not been great against Emery in the past so maybe Emery's got his number Well, 2 o 'clock on Sunday get your eyes around that lot now former Spurs man Jermaine Genas has declared that the San Siro in Milan has the worst toilets in football he said the actual guts of the San Siro is a bit of a shithole because he spoke very glowingly about the stadium he loved playing there as a player you know what an iconic ground yeah they are they're tearing it down aren't they going to build another one but he said the dressing rooms are tiny I remember going to the toilet and all they had were these two handles and a frigging hole in the ground I've spoken about the San Siro toilets before I'm drinking a pint doing a wee and watching the football at the same time shouldn't be allowed no any of those kind of things happening at the same time shouldn't be happening was that in the away end was it no that was in the home end I was in the home oh of course you were there for the Champions League final I thought you met in the toilet I thought you met in the toilet you were doing all those things at the same time I was doing all those things at the same time so you were having a pint so there was a wall that had been kind of half knocked down so I don't think you were allowed to drink alcohol while watching the match because it was the Champions League and I could do all of those things because I was stood in a toilet drinking at the urinal a beer and watching the match at the same time not too shabby Jermaine Jermaine slags it off I know hey do everything you want he's probably worried about losing his really expensive watch you're speaking of doing lots of things at the same time he's a non-multitasker bound for driving for mucking about on your phone over and over again right okay he does love his phone he loves a text he loves texting I have heard that in the away end the San Siro the toilets are shabby I've been there before but I was in home end so it seemed okay Get yourself the front and park.

51:01But let me tell you... It is crumbling. When people talk about Old Trafford crumbling, it is dust. Have you had the tour, though? I had the tour. I'll tell you, what do you mean? If you played for one of the home teams, the toilets are lovely there. Are they? Right. Lovely. But the hole in the ground, I mean, it's French service station stuff. Unbelievable. Japanese long drops. Glastonbury. Yeah. No, but at least Glastonbury got a portal. Which is a drop. No, you still have the long drops where everyone's poo mixes together. Oh, nice. Yeah. Yeah. Very nice. Okay, fair enough. So basically, would you say that the San Siro toilets are worse than Glastonbury toilets?

51:29It's about the same. What day? Friday? I'm doing the same thing. I'm drinking, watching the action. But I mean, San Siro, as you said, is going to be demolished, but it's going to have a little farewell, isn't it? Because it's going to be one of the hosts for the Winter Olympics first. Is that right? So it's going in the start of 2027, which I think will be almost exactly a hundred years of it being a stadium. How about that? Slagging it off, but it has been there since 1926. Get yourself along there. If you haven't already. We will miss it. Yeah. While you still can. If you are going there, though, do not use the away dressing room toilets, though.

52:00No, I'll try not to. All right. Thank you very much for listening to the Football Ramble by the ACARS Creator Network. Remember to drop us that five-star review wherever you're listening. Splash it. Yes. Splashbackers all over Apple Podcasts. Five brown stars. We will, of course, see you later on today for Jack's Encyclopedia, where I take on Luke Moore. Oh, right. Is that what's happening? After that very questionable victory that you had the last time we faced off in Jack's. I imagine it'll be a bueno game. There we go. Naughty, naughty. Thank you, Pete Donner. Thank you. Thank you, Luke Moore.

52:32Thank you very much. See you later on. Oh, they look so good. Terrible boots. Look at those studs.

52:47You're not going to play in them, are you? You'll really hurt your feet. The Football Ramble is a Stack Production and part of the Acast Creator Network. You