The Preview Show: The memes hurt

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3:22Mr.

3:23Vithushan Ehantharajah: Worldwide to infinity, everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble Preview Show. Liverpool host Arsenal and Burnley are off to Old Trafford. It's Friday, 29th of August. I'm Marcus Speller. I'm Jim Campbell. And I'm the Dushan of Hunter-Raja.

3:46Vithushan Ehantharajah: Hello, everybody. It's Friday again. we've done. Does it feel like Friday to you, Vish? No. Well, this maybe will feel like a Friday to you when I tell you that time is running out to take advantage of our 15 % discount on an annual Patreon subscription. The deal runs out on Sunday, 31st of August. As I say, time is running out, which means you only have until the end of this weekend to secure your discount. Sign up for an annual subscription to the Football Ramble Patreon and you'll get 15 % off ad-free episodes of the Ramble up front and on the continent, plus access to our archive of bonus content.

4:23Vithushan Ehantharajah: And you'll be able to join the infamous Football Ramble Discord. Is it infamous now, Jim? Is that how things have gone there? That's what people are saying. Well, if you want to make it famous again, then do get involved. Head to patreon.com forward slash football ramble to get involved. And if you want to save some cashola, make sure to sign up for an annual subscription before I close the weekend this Sunday. That's patreon.com forward slash football ramble to sign up now. well where do we start it's with Vish I'd imagine we're two days on from it a lot of people were annoyed that we didn't do a ramble react straight after

5:00Marcus Speller: because we released a show on Thursday and I said you know what we should talk about the game and you know you and Luke were like no we shouldn't talk about the game and I was like fair enough I'd like to talk about the game but then you know time's passed 48 hours hence as you said you don't want to dwell in the past

5:16Vithushan Ehantharajah: And I say that as a Manchester United fan.

5:18Marcus Speller: You don't want to dwell in the past.

5:19Vithushan Ehantharajah: Let's see what happens, is what I said, before any assumptions are made.

5:24Marcus Speller: There's an England squad letter today. Marcus, did you know that?

5:26Vithushan Ehantharajah: I will get to that. I would simply say, it's Manchester United. Grimsby Town, not Manchester United, out of the League Cup, at Blundell Park. I mean, you should have known! Blundell Park, man! We did know. Sorry, it was League Two, Grimsby Town. The signs were there, weren't they?

5:44Marcus Speller: Yeah, the fish as well.

5:45Vithushan Ehantharajah: What a great penalty shootout though. It was. It got to the point where I thought people aren't bothered anymore. Well, it was genuinely a fascinating watch, wasn't it? Because you could tell, with all due respect for him, that Christy Pym was a little nervous. He didn't really back himself. He was going really, really early on a lot of those penalties. He was. And you thought, okay, this is going to be their undoing. It's amazing that they've got this far, but it is ultimately going to be something that they're going to reflect on as being a near miss. But then Onana was the same. I mean, he got his hand to a few of them, but was very, very weak on them.

6:16Vithushan Ehantharajah: And I just think you have to save, well, I mean, you have to save more than one out of 13 penalties when the other team have winner-winner chicken dinner printed on the back of their shirts. I think you just have to at that level. But surely, though, that's... You have to. It's a winning mentality, though. I suppose it is, isn't it? Maybe that's what powered them through. I mean, it wouldn't have really mattered had Man United gone through because... How many penalties do you think Ruben Amarum saw? Well, he apparently didn't see any. He just turned away. He sat in the dugout. with his head in his hands during the shootout said he didn't watch it because at that stage it didn't matter whether they won or not.

6:48Marcus Speller: Now, I've never... It's the first time I've ever really, truly identified with a Manchester United manager.

6:55Vithushan Ehantharajah: I have to say, I think that is an outrageous thing for him to have said. Absolutely outrageous. There's new lows and there's like brand spanking new lows.

7:06Marcus Speller: I think he's... Like what he said, like what he did was ludicrous.

7:10Vithushan Ehantharajah: Yeah.

7:10Marcus Speller: We haven't even got on to the fucking little magnets. But...

7:15Vithushan Ehantharajah: I like that.

7:16Marcus Speller: Yeah. But what he said made sense because it was like, look, this has been an utter shit show. Yeah. It actually doesn't matter whether we win or get knocked out here.

7:26Vithushan Ehantharajah: Showed a bit of character

7:27Marcus Speller: getting it back into the game. Well, no, because it has been that bad. The collateral from this, obviously it's greater if they lose, but it's still there if they win.

7:36Vithushan Ehantharajah: Yeah, but the reason I think it's outrageous is because they don't have Europe this season. this is another path to a trophy it's a path to Europe as well that's immediately closed down and I think when he says that what he's reacting to is the pressure on him not the reality of his job as Man United manager I think it's outrageous for him to say it doesn't matter of course it matters you have to get through regardless of the circumstances it's quite funny though that's hilarious like I feel for the bloke oh completely and that's I think that's an indication of quite how much the pressure is showing on him right yeah and I think I felt for all the Man United managers even Van Hull even Jose yeah oh yeah more on him in a bit but yeah just ridiculous absolutely ridiculous and did you feel like there was could it go any worse when the Grimsby Town goalkeeper himself Christy Pym said I'm a Man United fan so I'm half fuming but not this is what you play football for even the opposition keeper was annoyed

8:33Marcus Speller: it was a series of like the penalties were long but the memes were longer yeah their keeper wanted you to win

8:40Vithushan Ehantharajah: half of him

8:41Marcus Speller: well

8:41Vithushan Ehantharajah: he certainly looked like it for the first bit of the penalty shoot and he thought bollocks to you I've given you enough I'm going to start trying to save them because it was a little bit sheltered in 90s there was a

8:51Marcus Speller: there was a Manchester United fan who was tweeting from the game and they were front row behind Christy Pym's end for the first half and they were giving him a lot of shit and he turned to the fans and said I'm a Manchester United fan and one of them shouted then let one in you dick that's that's what happened genuinely what happened on Wednesday evening

9:15Vithushan Ehantharajah: Manchester United I I I try to find the words I mean it's it's stunning stuff

9:23Marcus Speller: when when when they were pushing for the equaliser 100 % I knew Manchester United were going to get it yeah

9:32Vithushan Ehantharajah: when Maguire's on you know he's going to nod something

9:34Marcus Speller: it was just like it wasn't even just the wave it was like I know how this goes and it wasn't about getting back into the game it was because I worked out about 70 minutes that it would be much funnier if Man City United lost that on penalties. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

9:47Vithushan Ehantharajah: Yeah, and that was the in terms of funny narrative that's the ideal scenario, right? It's way it's actually way worse than going out in normal time. Way worse. Especially because there were so many penalties. But the funny thing was though it got to the point where Grimsby Town should have been 3-0 up. Yes. And you thought to yourself how have Grimsby you know, when you're 2-0 up and then you've got a lead to protect and they bring on Bumo and all the rest of it you think okay they are going to sort of drop deeper that's natural but here you are thinking or there we were thinking this League 2 side should be out of sight League 2 this is not going to happen but if they suddenly had an absolute shocker of a season they could be out of the football league at the end of the season it's not going to happen but that's where they are in the football pyramid yeah so I mean

10:33Marcus Speller: for a moment I got quite relieved I thought you were talking about Manchester United

10:38Vithushan Ehantharajah: but like

10:39Marcus Speller: but the thing is

10:40Vithushan Ehantharajah: though right so is there any kind of argument here Vish that that this is you know he brought a few players back and said of course Manchester United piss poor absolutely piss poor so but they did look a bit better against Arsenal and against Fulham obviously started really well started really well that first 10 minutes I personally thought from where I was sitting that Fulham and you know second half in particular were on top. Not hugely on top, but they were on top. But ultimately, Manchester United go away against a mid-table Premier League side and all things considered gave an okay account of themselves.

11:19Vithushan Ehantharajah: It's not too inspiring, but it wasn't shockingly bad. Elements of last season. Are we... Early days, nor does it... I understand this is so bad, but is this... do you think this is a portent for the rest of the season? Or do you think, well, hang on a minute, there has been a few little improvements or am I just desperately trying to give Amirim and Co any benefit of any doubt there?

11:46Marcus Speller: Yeah, I mean, I also think you're just, you're being quite nice to me here. It's not Friday as well. But I said after the Arsenal game that it was an encouraging performance, but Manchester United in their recent tumultuous history have actually raised it for the big teams. That's never really been the problem. In particular, Arsenal. Yeah, but like Man City as well. It's not really been what they've been willing to do against the top teams. It's about any kind of structure, any kind of like running thread through, like whether it's a style of play or effort throughout a whole season. And that's always been lacking.

12:24Marcus Speller: Fulham, I suppose like without showing the listeners how the sausages are made too much. If Manchester United beat Fulham, we don't mention it.

12:33Vithushan Ehantharajah: For the ninth time in a row at Craven Cottage.

12:35Marcus Speller: But if Manchester United had beaten Fulham, we wouldn't have talked about it on the show. We didn't talk about it on the show when they drew. We would have talked about it on the show if they'd lost, which probably shows where they should have been with that particular game. Of course, yeah, rightly so. And we're talking about this game two days out. So, like, I do think it's... Yeah, I mean, I think it's done, really. I don't see it getting better. I don't, just the way he was talking.

13:01Vithushan Ehantharajah: Yeah. As he has done throughout his whole time there.

13:04Marcus Speller: Yeah, but this was so different. If you think about like, so he came on the field in the last game of the season and he was actually, you know, I'm not going to say it was Churchillian, but there were elements to like hold onto throughout the summer and be like, look, this guy is actually, does actually give a shit. Like obviously he gives a shit, but like he does seem to know what he's doing. He does have a clear idea of what he wants to do. And then at the same time, the man was playing with magnets. Yeah. Like Jogi Love's probably looking at that and being like, oh mate, I wouldn't fiddle with that.

13:34Marcus Speller: Again, the thing with that though is... He's playing with magnets.

13:38Vithushan Ehantharajah: Yeah, but I mean...

13:39Marcus Speller: In the rain. He's playing with magnets in the rain. That's the sort of thing that only...

13:42Vithushan Ehantharajah: Swallow the magnets then. No, definitely don't do that.

13:45Marcus Speller: It might have been better than... You can do damage.

13:48Vithushan Ehantharajah: Yeah, and you end up stuck to things, won't you? Exactly. Because you're full of magnets. But yeah, I mean, that's the sort of thing that only comes back on you when it goes badly though, right? It's this really easy, memeable thing. Yeah, the magnets and things like that. But obviously it's part of how they're set up. But it's really interesting this because it's such an extreme result that it kind of accelerates the idea of the pressure that they and he are under. And I look at this situation and I think we're very close to a point where it's essentially just a race between which party this becomes untenable for first, whether that's him or whether it's the club.

14:23Vithushan Ehantharajah: Because he does look on the verge of walking. You've been calling this for a long time, Marcus, and I think that looks like the most likely outcome now. But they've spent, it's about 240 million this summer, isn't it? Obviously, that's without money coming in, so their net spend will be lower than that. But they've obviously backed him, so I think they're going to be probably quite reluctant to sack him now, because it might be a little bit of an overreaction to do that, because there are signs of improvement. There is talk that it's going to, you know, of course it's going to take a little bit of time for them to bet in the new signings, and there's still all this talk of the system having to be kind of bedded in, even though he doesn't seem to know how to get the best out of the system that he's kind of hung his hat on.

14:58Vithushan Ehantharajah: But when he's not watching the penalty shootout and he's saying it doesn't matter whether they go through or not, I mean, it's quite literally an absence of leadership, isn't it? I think at this point, I know he's under extreme pressure, but he's just doing a bad job in that situation. Yeah, I mean, I understand why you're saying that and I don't think he should say those words. What he's trying to say, as Vish mentioned earlier, as you'll know yourself, is, oh, this is so bad. I'm fully aware everybody how bad this is he's putting his hair shirt on his knee in that moment yes indeed but of course it does matter I mean when Man United played Coventry in the semi-final of the FA Cup and they won on penalties and they sort of celebrated you know especially Anthony a lot of Man United fans probably thought yeah we shouldn't really be celebrating that

15:44Marcus Speller: but then they go on and win the Cup yeah I think it was also like we shouldn't probably shush Coventry City fans there's definitely that as well

15:50Vithushan Ehantharajah: so you know but I think I think that Amorim, he keeps saying things which perhaps resonate with a lot of the fans. But as a manager, you can't just keep doing that because at some point, you've got to say, well, it feels like Amorim's shrugging his shoulders going, well, I can't do anything with this lot. Why are you looking at me? It's like he's gone into the stands and he's heckling his own team almost. And that's... Yeah, that's the next step. It's not good. You can't have that because he is in the position to change things around. and I think we've I think he's safe for at least another few months do you know what I mean well obviously chaos theory you know if they lose every game 5-0 from now until they're tonked by Burnley but I think that's unlikely but I think he's safe for the reasons you say I know that they spent a bit with Eric Ten Hag and they got burned with that but I think it's it would be so bad if they were to sack him in the immediate yeah I don't think they will no I don't think they will so that's the point I'm sort of laboring I think they should really So I think ultimately, Vish, you're probably right.

16:56Vithushan Ehantharajah: I don't think this is going to turn around. But I think one of the reasons maybe is because the club now have to really sort of, you know, with Wilcox and some relatively new faces at the club. They're not that new, but you know what I mean. They've really got to have a think because Amarim, they went all in on one of the youngest and most brightest managers in Europe, but had limited experience, of course. Yeah. And they also, as you hint there, they changed the entire structure around him. at the same time which is it's impossible for it to be coherent well it is I mean look at Thomas Frank was being linked there my goodness you know Man United fans will think as we say Thomas Frank every three days seems to be able to get his team who largely not his players to play in any system that he devises and give a good account of themselves Man United have been trying to play this same system for how many months now under Amerim

17:43Marcus Speller: and that is that is the crucial point that's the damning thing

17:47Vithushan Ehantharajah: Oliver Glasner plays it and it works Amerim should just go to every Palace game take notes on that They should have raided Palace. They were there for the day. They could still get Mark Gay. Gay, if you're listening, do not go there.

17:58Marcus Speller: I'm not sure if you're familiar with him. There is a guy called Joe Lewis, who's on the Stratford Paddock, who called this about maybe like two months into Amarim's tenure. And he made the point that like, in Ten Hag's first season, Ten Hag worked with the squad. It worked. They did well. Into the second season, he thought, right, I'm going to try and do what I want to do. And it didn't work.

18:21Vithushan Ehantharajah: still won a trophy though

18:22Marcus Speller: yeah yeah but it didn't work and then he ends up getting sacked yeah well even at the end of winning that trophy they thought maybe we should we should cut ties here in the summer Amorim came in and tried to do that immediately it's almost like he didn't look at the squad he was like right this is here are the round holes where are those square pegs yeah yeah yeah and so we've not only have we seen his hand and you know you're right to talk about how much has changed around him but it is much better around him than it was over any previous manager in terms of everything geared towards improvement of the team.

18:57Marcus Speller: And at the same time, Man City United have spent a lot of money over the summer and the thing that tips it over the edge for me is that we are fire sailing our young players for the benefit of a system and a manager that in our heart of hearts we know won't work.

19:18Vithushan Ehantharajah: Yes.

19:19Marcus Speller: And it's not even, like, even strip away all the emotion about losing, you know, losing an academy product or like a bright young prospect as Garnaccio and Kobi Menuhal, by the way. Garnaccio being palmed off to Chelsea for 40 million pounds? Yeah. At 21? Like an Argentine international? Someone who is not just being, you know, the most engaging forward that we've had in years, but also like his numbers generally stack up across Europe. but I read this tweet from Chicago Dimitri who's an American Chelsea blogger. Since 2017, there have been four times that an under-21 winger has played over 2 ,000 minutes in a top-flight league, taking more than three shots a game and had two and a half successful carries in the box per game, taking the ball into the box as a wide man.

20:06Marcus Speller: One is Laminio Mahao, the second is Esteval, third and fourth is Garnaccio.

20:11Vithushan Ehantharajah: Wow. There's a player there. And this is the trouble, Vish.

20:15Marcus Speller: No, but it's not like he needs to be uncovered. He's there. Yeah, sure.

20:18Vithushan Ehantharajah: You're absolutely right. So you have him and you know Manu's talent as well. And it's like, how are you not getting a tune where even Ten Hag got a little bit of something? This is undoubtedly worse.

20:28Marcus Speller: But also like, this is where someone from above needs to step in. Those deals should simply be blocked.

20:34Vithushan Ehantharajah: Well, this is where the club are stepping in because Manu apparently has asked to be loaned out for a season. Right. And that speaks volumes. Manu clearly, he's come through the ranks there. He wants to play for a good Manchester United side.

20:44Marcus Speller: And he's also got a, you know, He's got an international competition to think about. Indeed.

20:49Vithushan Ehantharajah: So he's thinking, loan me out because by the time I come back at the end of the season, this guy will be gone. Yeah, absolutely. And I'll have a chance. Well, there's a feeling that, and that's been a problem for a long, long time at Manchester United, doesn't it? And I think the Garnaccio situation is an interesting example of how the more things change, the more they stay the same, right? Because this kind of, as you point out, he's a very young winger with a lot of experience and a lot of talent already. We can see that. He should be a really, really exciting prospect. they have entirely devalued him by kind of essentially making it clear that he's got no future at the club.

21:21Vithushan Ehantharajah: Chelsea have waited until the end of the window so they can get him for a decent amount of money. Garnett just played his part in that. Absolutely, he has. But they need to be a bit smarter than that, I think. And, you know, if you look back to the sagas with Paul Pogba and Cristiano Ronaldo and players like Donny van der Beek, who, you know, obviously didn't work out there and they become almost like un-players. And even David De Gea towards the end of his time, like the idea is always, someone needs to come in and change the culture. This is exactly that culture. This bomb squad approach is the same thing but it looks slightly different.

21:52Vithushan Ehantharajah: Also as well, going back to the point about Amarim and the whole club being trying to shape around his thing. That's precisely the reason why you get in sporting directors. So you don't have that. So you don't suddenly sign a load of players that fit a particular system so if that manager moves on then you're buggered.

22:10Marcus Speller: 100%.

22:11Vithushan Ehantharajah: I mean they need to get the Manchester United culture back at the club and

22:16Marcus Speller: any culture's fine well I don't know because that's I think that's overly generous of you this is the Manchester United culture well let me

22:23Vithushan Ehantharajah: it's the Glazer culture this it is that's what that is let me roll back on that generosity just a little bit what I'm saying is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been sat for fuck's sake

22:31Marcus Speller: why did I take that sincerely yeah that's all just getting back

22:35Vithushan Ehantharajah: Marcus can I just add that Jose Mourinho has parted ways with Fenerbahce because we've had a good cop awful cop good cop worst cop ever combination he's coming I couldn't believe my luck when this morning on the way in Jose Mourinho parted away from Fenerbahce come on fish which one of the two would you rather they were both way better hey one won trophies one won the Europa League the other he got the final and failed on it and mammoth penalty shootout again yeah and he said that thing about not feeding his kids but it was still better let's be clear Jose Mourinho he will be in charge of West Ham come the international break.

23:16Vithushan Ehantharajah: Jose Mourinho. Yeah, yeah. And what I'm saying is what a horrendous proposition they will be under Jose Mourinho as well. Jim, I feel that is mucking bullets from minute one. As I've said before when Mourinho does this sort of stuff it makes me feel like what's his name? Ron Swanson from what's that show? Parks and Rec. Parks and Rec. Where the ex-wife what's her name? Tammy. Tammy, you know the sassy ex-wife

23:39Marcus Speller: 100%.

23:39Vithushan Ehantharajah: Turns up and you're thinking no, no, keep her away from me keep her away from me and then Mourinho turns up and there we are all vigorously getting off with him. Absolutely. The worst of him right at the surface.

23:49Marcus Speller: I think the most intriguing thing will be come the 3rd of December when Manchester United entertain West Ham at Old Trafford.

24:03Vithushan Ehantharajah: He's got his sights on that hasn't he?

24:04Marcus Speller: He is flicking through the fixtures. He's gone through the fixtures. Who are playing my mortal enemies who, you know, the breakdown of the relationship is entirely my fault who are they playing in the next two months and he's just seen West Ham come up

24:16Vithushan Ehantharajah: he's like I can get them way up and running by then yeah I think Man United need a reset and Ole Gunnar would surely be the man give it give it Schultz for the rest of the season

24:26Marcus Speller: to make a serious point about that genuinely not a bad idea I think I think Ruben Amarim's time's up if I woke up tomorrow and he was he was sacked I wouldn't think twice I'd probably be a little happier but ultimately I don't have a solution I don't know who there's no solution I don't know who's available I don't know who would want it I don't know who would come in I don't know who I'd want to take the job you'll come round to it you've still got that poster of him no I threw that in the dump why? because it was a poster of Oleg on a Solskjaer what's wrong with that? it wasn't even a poster it was one of those machine made portraits of Oleg on a Solskjaer

25:06Vithushan Ehantharajah: and Solskjaer has won it yeah you always have that how dare you no don't do that Man United are hosting Burnley I'd give it back

25:13Marcus Speller: I'd give it back now

25:14Vithushan Ehantharajah: oh it's a chance we've got another one against Burnley this this this is something that I am fully behind and I think all the rambolistians will be behind because the goalkeeper situation has been that bad at Manchester United there are genuine reports that Tom Heaton could start in goal Manchester United come on

25:32Marcus Speller: come on so two weeks bloody come on two weeks ago that's three pax

25:36Vithushan Ehantharajah: 39 year old Tom Heaton

25:37Marcus Speller: Two weeks ago, after the first game of the season against Arsenal, when Alte Bayon Deer makes that mistake, and Arsenal score and win the game from that corner, he was asked if there was any thought about playing Tom Heaton. Ruben Amorin was asked this. And he responded to the question, like someone had asked if they could come to his house and piss on his kids. Third game of the season.

26:02Vithushan Ehantharajah: It's like, got some bad news, kids.

26:08Vithushan Ehantharajah: I've had a change of heart. Right. What's happening?

26:12Marcus Speller: Doesn't matter. Get in the bath.

26:14Vithushan Ehantharajah: Coming up after this, it's Liverpool with Arsenal in a Sunday afternoon barn burner.

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27:28In 2023, a source sent me a tip. It tied baseball's biggest star to a vast, illegal sports betting operation.

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29:12Vithushan Ehantharajah: Strand Larson Strand Larson If you're Newcastle you ain't have him you're not gonna buy him off his no

29:25Marcus Speller: Is that one of Pete's

29:27Vithushan Ehantharajah: It must be. It must be. Well, back to the football hour, everybody. Liverpool v Arsenal, Sunday at 4.30. That means it's first versus second in last season's Premier League table. Arsenal currently first. Yep. They have only won once at Anfield since 2012, and that was a penalty shooter in the League Cup. So, you know, Mikel Arteta played in the last league game that Arsenal won at Anfield, which is quite telling, isn't it? so yeah I was going to say well he knows how to win there but he's had a few goes as a manager I don't think he'll be lacing up his boots no but Kawasaki won't be lacing up his boots he's going to miss the batch no ruled out for three to four weeks with a hamstring injury which I understand is not as bad as first feared but it is a bit annoying isn't it it is a bit annoying but what's very interesting about that is last season or any of the prior sort of three or four seasons that would have been an absolute disaster you've got your teenage sensations you've got the teenage sensation of Max Dalman who I and one year I would be very surprised if Max Downman starts at Anfield.

30:26Vithushan Ehantharajah: Waniere is a teenage sensation. But I think Waniere is seen more as a central player now. Okay. Which is why I didn't mention him. But Nani Maduweke is obviously the answer to that problem. Oh, hello. And that's what's... I think that is really the story of Arsenal season. It's having a squad where there's... In theory, and I hope in practice, there's going to be a lot of rotation. And I think the idea will be that the opposition don't quite know what they're going to be up against. They don't quite know what to prepare for. and obviously you would always rather have Saka, but I go into this game less like, oh God.

30:58Vithushan Ehantharajah: I mean, we haven't won there since 2012, so it's very possible that that will continue. But it's at the stage of the season where it's very exciting to not quite know what you're going to get from Arsenal. And I'm also delighted to just get this one out the fucking way. Yeah, there's that. There is that. I think Arsenal are going to win. You do? Because I think Liverpool haven't quite sorted out their defence yet. And I think Arsenal, we know how robust they are when it comes to that. And I think Everett Giaz is going to make his debut. Where do you think he'll make his debut? Well, I wonder if he starts him.

31:33Vithushan Ehantharajah: He might do. What do you think, Vish?

31:35Marcus Speller: Yeah, he could do. I mean, if you look at Liverpool's problem areas, like if you really narrow down into it, into the fullbacks. Kirkhouse has another great start.

31:43Vithushan Ehantharajah: Sobbslite actually played pretty well on Monday night against Newcastle. I wonder if that was you know with something in mind because Connor Bradley was on the bench yeah maybe

31:54Marcus Speller: maybe preparing him for this game because definitely they'll need legs in those positions given what Arsenal do

31:59Vithushan Ehantharajah: Odegaard could possibly be fit by the way to play so yeah I mean would he start Eze over Martinelli maybe I mean

32:06Marcus Speller: that is a no brainer for me

32:08Vithushan Ehantharajah: yeah no you say that but Martinelli is by some distance Arsenal's best forward in terms of his defensive responsibilities and obviously Mo Salah needs special attention so I wonder if Martinelli might get the nod which if Odegaard's not available means you could have Eza in the middle but also he trusts Ethan Winnery in these situations so as I sort of mentioned earlier it's very difficult to know what he's going to do which is an exciting thing

32:30Marcus Speller: would that then also depend on whether you play Myles Lewis Skelly or Califuri yeah because if you play Califuri then maybe you can play Eza ahead of him but then if you play Myles Lewis Skelly then you would need somebody who's going to it's a very congested area if he's going to

32:43Vithushan Ehantharajah: kind of invert although he has been sort of learning in the kind of wider fullback role a little bit more as well. So who bloody knows? Who bloody knows? I do think we'll see Ezra at some point. And it's been so perfect for the story, hasn't it? With what we've been seeing, you know, when he was...

32:57Marcus Speller: Yeah, I mean, they haven't bought him for display only. Of course, yeah. I mean, they could have. They could have done, yeah, in those jeans.

33:03Vithushan Ehantharajah: Yes, exactly, yeah. And their new prehistoric leisure wear range as well. Have you seen this? What is going on, Jim? Well, that makes it sound like they've released lots of merchandise that's just like bear skins and stuff but it's not it's just the name that would have been better that would have been more understandable we'll get back to the game in a minute but Arsenal have launched a this is their words not mine a prehistoric leisure wear range they marketed it with a tagline the North Bank Highbury 4000 BC some things are forever what is going on there? well the area of North London was there a long time ago it probably looked quite different yeah it might not it might the continents may not have broken apart yet, as you mentioned.

33:46Vithushan Ehantharajah: But I don't see an issue with that because what it means is that when Arsenal release a new set of clothing, I think literally every month, it means the commercial revenue goes up massively and that's how you get someone like an Eberetje-Ezza. So sign me up.

34:02Marcus Speller: Isn't the issue here that, you know, with this prehistoric leisure wear...

34:09Vithushan Ehantharajah: There's no Gunnasaurus inclusion. Where's the Jurassic Leisure wear race?

34:15Marcus Speller: It's the Mesozoic era, isn't it? The Gunasaurus That's when the dinosaurs exist I did have to Google that But like Young Squad, it doesn't make sense Unless They're learning about it Did you ever use that thing Where you'd have a sleepover At the Science Museum?

34:30Vithushan Ehantharajah: No, because I lived in Edinburgh Right

34:32Marcus Speller: They don't have science up there?

34:34Vithushan Ehantharajah: Not the Science Museum They don't have science up there

34:40Marcus Speller: Bloody elites I asked you didn't answer

34:43Vithushan Ehantharajah: it's the asking of the question

34:44Marcus Speller: yeah but you're the one who's always encouraging listeners to do their own research I was just wearing

34:49Vithushan Ehantharajah: there are different ways of doing research fine I never had a sleepover at a museum either yeah

34:55Marcus Speller: you lot are missing out honestly

34:56Vithushan Ehantharajah: we know we went to state schools anyway sorry for the bollocks back to Liverpool versus Arsenal today is Rio Nguembeau's 17th birthday lovely to get a goal in just before he turns 17 isn't it Why not even be the youngest player on the pitch with young Max, with fantastic Max?

35:15Marcus Speller: Oh, happy birthday. I wish no one happy birthday the other day. No, it's his birthday. It's always someone's birthday. That's how the world works, you see.

35:21Vithushan Ehantharajah: We're a jolly planet always celebrating. I wish that were true. But are you going to be celebrating, Jim, after this game? I do fancy Arsenal for it. There's something about it. I've backed them for the league. I think this is going to be a big statement. And I do worry about that Liverpool back line a bit because you look at the games they've played so far, a small sample size this season. But it's... I know what you're saying. But I think it's there. I also do think, though, there is a sense that Arsenal haven't quite clicked in an attacking sense so that they could, in a very basic way, cancel each other out.

35:51Vithushan Ehantharajah: That's damning on Leeds United. Yeah, but Leeds United were quite shit. Okay. Arsenal had five shots on target and they all went in. Right. So, you know, that tells its own story. There were a lot of kind of misconnections even in that game. This game, I know obviously he got his goals, Jokeres, against Leeds. But this is the type of game where people will scrutinise his performance. It already was at Old Trafford when he didn't get much of the ball. I wouldn't blame him for that. That seemed to be the way they were kind of set up. He had a couple of moments he could have done better in, though.

36:20Vithushan Ehantharajah: Right. And you're absolutely right. This is a big game. These are the games where you get a little sniff at goal, you've got to take him. This is the levelling up that he needs to do. And obviously, he scored goals in the Champions League, so you would hope that that was in there. But this is about as stern a test as it gets, basically, in world football, isn't it? Anfield away. So, yeah. hopefully he'll get a chance and he'll take it we'll see I've got a feeling in my admittedly very clumsy bones that if Ethan Waniere does feature in any way who have some sort of positive impact because he's just completely fearless and he's completely unfazed by things I think there's a sense that because Max Downman's getting so many headlines as well he's almost like the forgotten man at 18 or like yesterday's news or like essentially like he's just like oh yeah Ethan's just part of the squad now he's pretty historic yeah exactly yeah and I think I've got a feeling that that's put a little bit of fire in his belly there's the feeling and I've got a feeling that you've got a flicker of hope in your eyes I do have a flicker of hope there's always a flicker must be nice as Ange Postacoglu once said I'll let him dream indeed now why are you cursing that he's got nothing to do with anything anymore

37:27Marcus Speller: I'm a Liverpool fan

37:29Vithushan Ehantharajah: is he? yeah yeah I suppose a lot of them are that age aren't they Australians? no men and women right Champions League draw happened yesterday last night more specifically before the Oi Oi Jim before the draw started by Leva Kuzn just hoping we don't get Grimsby so unnecessary so unnecessary and who was their manager Eric Ten Hag Eric Ten Hag was given the was given the password for five minutes and that's what he does Oi it's a lovely dig it is

38:02Marcus Speller: it's a good dig also quietly the reason Man City United were in a position to lose to Grimsby is because they weren't in any European competition. In fact, hammered home when my brother asked me yesterday who we got in the Champions League.

38:14Vithushan Ehantharajah: Nob. Oh, dear. Deary me. Well, Newcastle United, they're in there. Another team that's playing black and white. They will welcome Barcelona to St. James' Park. And if Tino Asperger is not made the guest of honour for that game, I don't know who will. I mean, that's going to be absolutely electric, isn't it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. They travel to Paris Saint-Germain or Paris, as they prefer to be called, which is why I will never call them that. Obviously, you know, they were hard. It's not their name as well. Indeed. They were hard done by at that ground. What was it? I can't remember now. Two seasons ago, was it?

38:45Vithushan Ehantharajah: Or there or thereabouts? At St. James' Park? No, well, they won at St. James' Park. They hammered them. But in Paris, when they were playing Paris Saint-Germain, there was that, was it a penalty or a goal? They were hard done by there. So a chance to put that straight against, a good news for them, Donnarumma probably won't be in goal. So, you know, that will backfire on Luis Enrico. Presumably Chivalry is quite good though, isn't he? He can't be as good at stopping shots, surely.

39:12Marcus Speller: Yeah, you're joking, Jim. If you've seen his arms, they're tidy. They're normal sized.

39:15Vithushan Ehantharajah: Man City will play Real Madrid for the fifth season in a row. They both deserve that. Yeah. They do. Are we going to see Jude Bellingham do his little walk that he did towards the end of it? Maybe. Yeah, and will Jude Bellingham's dad join them? He gets about, doesn't he? He's been causing trouble in the Dortmund dressing room lately. He certainly did. Yeah, Andy Brassel was talking about that on OTC that he went down and entered the dressing room and was asking the manager, why did you sub my son at halftime? All I'll say is apparently Jude Bellingham and Joe Bellingham's father is a bit of a stern character.

39:52Vithushan Ehantharajah: Yes. We'll leave that there. There's a reason why Jude Bellingham doesn't do any press stuff with England. Now, Man City will play Scott McTominay's Napoli. that's the one you wanted to avoid Scott McTominay last time he played them would have been that FA Cup final of course which he was victorious you've essentially got to mark the air against Scott McTominay and you simply can't do that unless you've got floating players and some of that air will be cigarette smoke yeah exactly follow the tomato juice and cigarette smoke and you will find a very very happy Scotsman the flying Scotsman well indeed Jim indeed I love the fact that Tottenham go away to Bodo Glimton in the Champions League yes and that is a But that is a...

40:33Vithushan Ehantharajah: We meet again. Very much a symbol of how far they've come in a short and baffling time. Yeah, both sides. Bode Glimt didn't even win the Europa League and look, there they are. They signed Xavi Simons today. What, Bode Glimt? No, Tottenham Hotspur, as you well know. And that, I tell you what, what a tonic that is for missing out on Gibbs, White and Ezzo. That is a fantastic signing. Have they got it over the line or is Maranacis going to turn up and scupper it somewhere? Good point. Good point. Chelsea could suddenly fancy it and he'd be whisked away. So at the time of recording, we're pretty sure that Javi Simmons is going to Spurs as we were with Morgan Gibbs-White and maybe Eberichie as well.

41:09Vithushan Ehantharajah: Arsenal and Liverpool both play Inter and Atletico. Enjoyably, Liverpool also play Real Madrid. He's coming. That is, well done. We're going to see Trent back at Anfield.

41:23Marcus Speller: Are they going to make rat signs or are they going to get little ears to look like rats?

41:28Vithushan Ehantharajah: I think Trent is going to have to get in touch with Jurgen Klopp and say, please, can you come to the game and do your little message like you did last time? Yeah. Because that saved him a lot.

41:38Marcus Speller: Please shush them. Please shush them. Imagine. I mean, if Jude Bellingham scores in that game,

41:47Vithushan Ehantharajah: because they're really good mates, aren't they? I don't think he's going to be shy. He's going to run over to Trent and be like, celebrate with me now. Yeah. He's going to make him. Otherwise I'm going to set my dad on you.

41:55Marcus Speller: That's all I have to look forward to. This season is Trent scoring, shushing them, Bellingham joining in, Bellingham's dad going up to Arnaslop, patting him on his head. That's it. That's all I have left. That's what you're clinging to. Yeah.

42:11Vithushan Ehantharajah: And the potential of Ole Gunnar turning up.

42:14Marcus Speller: Stop ruining it. This is all I have.

42:16Vithushan Ehantharajah: Go back to the dump. All you have is imagining Liverpool losing because they're not actually doing it.

42:23Marcus Speller: They don't even have to lose. They don't even have to lose.

42:26Vithushan Ehantharajah: Oh, dear.

42:27Marcus Speller: Just want that moment.

42:28Vithushan Ehantharajah: Did you see the FC Kairat, I was talking to rats, FC Kairat of Kazakhstan. Did you see them celebrating the draw like they were a lower league team in the FA Cup? Yeah, it's great. And they're playing Real Madrid.

42:39Marcus Speller: Like they're a team from Kazakhstan who are playing Real Madrid, yes. I'll tell you what.

42:43Vithushan Ehantharajah: In Kazakhstan. Arsenal are playing them. Crucially, they're hosting them. Yeah. That would have been, what a signal that would have been. I mean, everyone's hoping to avoid that away. That is horrendous. But I really wanted Newcastle to play them away because you know Pete would go. He would, yeah. He would have been there. He would have happened to be there anyway. So he could have taken in the game.

43:02Marcus Speller: But then not gone. No. That would have been Pete. It's like there was a, what was the Dortmund game? It was Dortmund by Munich. Dortmund by Munich. Der Klassiker in Dortmund. Yeah. He was there the week before. No, no, he was there the same weekend. Was it?

43:14Vithushan Ehantharajah: Yeah. And we were like, are you going to the game? I didn't know the game was going on. Oh, God. He didn't even try. Oh, dear. Well, let's go down a couple of European competitions. Crystal Palace will be in today's Europa Conference League draw. They qualified for this draw for the first time ever last night. They achieved this with a nil-nil draw away to Friedrichstadt, described by some people on the live text on the BBC as one of the worst games of football of all time. But they got through. Mark Gay played, as per Glasner's wish. They got themselves over the line. I didn't think it was going to be that close in terms of the scoreline.

43:54Vithushan Ehantharajah: But, you know, an aggregate wins, an aggregate wins, an aggregate win, as the old expression goes. Just imagine if they'd gone out. How abysmal that would have been. Yeah, but they didn't, Jim. They didn't. Okay. So, yes, for me, they are immediately one of the favourites for it. Fiorentina did go through as well, just about. Sadly, though, Hibbs went out. Aberdeen will be in this draw. They lost in the Europa League, but they dropped down. but Hibs were so close to a famous result they lost in extra time and thus will not play any more European football this season. So Rangers and Celtic... Oh, boo-hoo.

44:31Vithushan Ehantharajah: What?

44:32Marcus Speller: Yeah, not everyone gets to play in Europe. Yeah.

44:35Vithushan Ehantharajah: They can organise a friendly with Manchester United. They can, yeah.

44:38Marcus Speller: They've probably got what they'd leak up as well, haven't they? Yeah. The final of that is like in November, isn't it? Go out to Singapore

44:44Vithushan Ehantharajah: in the League Cup dates with Hibs. On Pete's little mid-season mystery tour. Jim, who opens? Who headlines? So, yeah, so Scotland will be represented in European football this season with Aberdeen in the Conference League and the mighty Rangers and Celtic in the Europa League. Bless them. All right, coming up after this, have Newcastle signed a replacement for Alexander Azak?

45:18In 2023, a source sent me a tip. It tied baseball's biggest star to a vast, illegal sports betting operation.

45:29Marcus Speller: Shohei Otani! But then someone surprising confessed to me. His best friend. I'm Ipe Mizuhara, and you do have permission to record me. From 30 for 30 Podcasts, this is The Betrayal of Shohei Otani. Listen now, wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, it's Paige from Giggly Squad. You know when you finally get started on a project around the house and then five minutes in you realize you're missing one thing? Somehow it's always that one thing that sends you back to the store. That's why I love this from Lowe's. If you're a My Lowe's Rewards or My Lowe's Pro Rewards member, you get free same-day delivery.

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47:21Vithushan Ehantharajah: Leeds United, the side who were described as a bit shit by Jim earlier in the show, are hosting Newcastle United. It's a Saturday early evening game, Jim, so you can watch them on the telly box. Newcastle United have agreed a fee of around£70 million for Nick Voltemada from Stuttgart. He was the top scorer at the Euro Under-21s this summer. Got a silver medal because the gold went to His Majesty's men. People are saying this is a replacement for Alexander Isak. The great Andy Brassel, of course, was saying that Volta Mard, it's a lot of money for him, but he thinks in terms of playing style and whatnot, it's a pretty good replacement for Isak because surely this move, this signing, paves the way for Isak to go.

48:09Vithushan Ehantharajah: And that's what Newcastle have been waiting for. The fee suggests so, doesn't it? Indeed it does, Jim. You can dig your heels in if you're Newcastle United. Isak has made it very, very clear. And we all have our thoughts on that. And I think it's ultimately poor behaviour from Isak. But whatever one thinks, the situation has become so toxic, really. And he's kind of set fire to every olive branch, hasn't he? Exactly, yeah. So we're expecting Liverpool to make a new offer for Isak. I mean Liverpool obviously want a top quality centre forward so they're going to do that you would imagine very funny if it was less less than the one they offered before we know you've spent your money it's a proper like look we've already got a good squad do you know what I mean we will be challenging for everything we've got that other guy you wanted exactly and he's really good it's dead like they could get a cut price deal on deadline day I'm telling you but we shall see we shall see so what do you think of Nick Valtomada Jim I mean maybe not seen that much of him From what I know of him, he was highly, highly regarded enough by Bayern Munich that they went in three or four times for him.

49:16Vithushan Ehantharajah: They were trying really, really hard to get him. He's six foot six, which is slightly terrifying. We've got a lot of these monsters in the Premier League now. It seems to be the way of it. So as Andy mentioned, I suppose what Newcastle are looking for are players who are where Isaac was when he signed for them. It's worth remembering they spent quite a bit of money on Isaac when they brought him in. because he's obviously he was more than a prospect. He was someone who'd proven himself to a certain degree and I think he fits that bill as well. As somebody said though, is it just Anthony Gordon with a slight disguise and a moustache?

49:48Vithushan Ehantharajah: Yeah, and kind of stretched in Photoshop. Yeah. Possibly. Yeah,

49:52Marcus Speller: we just don't know.

49:53Vithushan Ehantharajah: At this stage, we don't know. We'd have to wait until we see the moment. Yeah, until he spans over from the red card. well, you know, conspiracy theorists.

50:03Marcus Speller: Good point.

50:04Vithushan Ehantharajah: We'll have a field day with that one, you think. It's also been reported that Newcastle still want to sign Johan Wisser from Brentford. Wisser, I'm going to get confused with this, Wisser and Volta Marder. Sort your W's out. Because it is Wisser. We're often tempted to say Wisser, but it is Wisser. Here's a simple guide. Wisser's with the w sound. Volta Marder's with the v sound. There you go. Oh, I see. It's actually not that complicated. Fair enough.

50:32Marcus Speller: I like the idea that being like, you know, the way Izak's behaving I don't want him at our club anyway. Such disrespect to his contract. Brentford, you really should give us a visa. Please.

50:43Vithushan Ehantharajah: Yeah, indeed. I mean, it would be, if they get Wisser as well, then suddenly everything looks like it's turned around at Newcastle.

50:51Marcus Speller: Yeah, very much so. You've got someone with Premier League experience who is a hard worker, and then you also have someone who is young and exciting, is massive, and also does, like, profile-wise, as people have said, the way he operates on a football field is not too dissimilar to Izak. Because of Wisser, Voltomar has a chance to smooth out whatever rough edges he has to be better equipped for the Premier League.

51:19Vithushan Ehantharajah: I mean, this window, in terms of the talent that the Premier League has sucked into it, has been astonishing, really. Record-breaking, Jim. Yeah, but obviously in terms of money, we are the good guys, for sure. We are so good. But it is a really exciting prospect. You look across the board, the squads that most teams have now as five subs have come in and everybody accepts that with the amount of games they have to play, they have to have bigger squads. There are some really, really exceptional kind of bulletproof looking squads in there. Patrick Bamford has left Leeds United though. Well, that actually, can I revise what I just said?

51:53Vithushan Ehantharajah: Please do, yeah. His contract was terminated by mutual consent. Very Bamford-y. Is it? Well, I was just, I was surprised he was still there because Daniel Farker clearly made it clear that Bamford wasn't a part of his plan. Do you think it's hard to take it seriously when Daniel Farker tells you that you've got no future at the club? Yeah, I think that's probably it. You're joking though, right? Because it sounds like everything you say is a joke. Yeah, he'd have to do it face to face because if you look into those, he looks tough. He does. If he did it over the phone, you'd be like, yeah, all right, Danny, baby.

52:22Vithushan Ehantharajah: Yeah, why are you kidding? Who is it? No, honestly, who is it really like? I'll see you at training tomorrow and I will be a bit late, so up yours. So anyway, Bamford is a free agent Who is going to snap him up?

52:33Marcus Speller: Well, I feel like he wouldn't have been much money over the summer and no one snapped him up.

52:38Vithushan Ehantharajah: Yeah.

52:39Marcus Speller: A championship club.

52:40Vithushan Ehantharajah: I mean, he scores goals down in the championship.

52:41Marcus Speller: Yeah, yeah. He's been a very, very good championship player for Leeds. Had that small window, I think, ahead of Euro 2021 during COVID where he was pretty good for Leeds in the Premier League.

52:52Vithushan Ehantharajah: And got an England call-up.

52:53Marcus Speller: Yeah, yeah. That was then, yeah. But, yeah, it's just... I mean, they've basically upgraded a little bit with Calvert-Lewin in that they have someone who's done what Bamford's done sometimes in the Premier League, who's also very handsome and very injury-prone.

53:12Vithushan Ehantharajah: Yes. But they have signed someone, unlike Fulham, who played Chelsea on Saturday at 12.30. It's the West London derby. And the Premier League weekend kicks off with it. What a game to do it to, Jim. Fulham beat Bristol City 2-0 in the League Cup. second round this weekend and got that seven grand prize money that you get from winning the game. As I say, Sir Jim will be sick to the back teeth that he's missed out on 7 ,000. No one's getting sick. He missed out on 7 ,000 boys, Vish. He'll be absolutely gutted with that. 7 ,000 Spondulik. But Fulham have got their share of the cash on their road to get in the 150 grand pot or whatever it is this season.

53:52Vithushan Ehantharajah: Fulham, yet to sign any new outfield players so far this window. A real statement of intent from Fulham. Well, that's it, isn't it? We're happy. How do you feel about that in terms of hanging on to Marco Silva? Because to me, that suggests that, you know... Yeah, he's not happy. Yeah. Well, I do fear that this could be Silva's last season at Fulham. I've felt that a few times. And things like they got a record Premier League points tally last season, which some clubs will be like, you can get anything tangible off a European place. But still, it's some marker, I suppose, from Marco. I think the recruitment's been poor.

54:33Vithushan Ehantharajah: Whereas in previous summers, it's actually been all right. Considering that, you know, all the way back when Mitrovic goes, they're getting Raul Jimenez, who, on a free, which I thought wasn't bad business, when Polina goes, they're getting Sander Berger, who's done well. You know, they've recruited. I mean, even getting Polina, as they did a few seasons ago, I've made a lot of noise about how good that was. Keeping Anthony Robinson at the club, keeping Kenny Tete, you know, one or two of these players, I think they've done well. But clearly they were after a winger and they haven't been able to get Rhys Nelson in, who they had on loan last season.

55:08Vithushan Ehantharajah: Yeah, although he missed a lot of games, didn't he? There's talk that he'll be off to Palace. So they might be looking at that thinking, we need a more reliable option now. There is that as well. There's talk of Kevin from Shakhtar, the wonderfully named Brazilian Kevin from Shakhtar. I think he scored last night in their playoff. Very highly rated. Okay, it's the Ukrainian league, so not one of the top levels, but still though, I think... Plays a lot in Europe, yeah. Yeah, he's one that they're willing to have a club record transfer fee for. Samuel Chukwese from AC Milan is another one they're being linked to.

55:40Vithushan Ehantharajah: Again, two wide players, and that's really where they're looking to reinforce, particularly in this window. The talk of Andreas Pereira possibly leaving as well, which is a little bit surprising. Yeah, I mean, he doesn't play that much, to be honest. I like Pereira as a player. I think his end product is lacking a little bit. But he's been a good player for Fulham over the years. And I think a player like him should be starting games for another club. And he knows that more than anybody. So that's probably what will happen. So I think Fulham are all right. I think a decent keeper, all right back.

56:07Vithushan Ehantharajah: You know, they're pretty sort of fairly solid and functional all over the pitch. You just want that little bit of starless. I mean, I thought, it seems ridiculous now, I actually thought they should have tried to go for Jack Grealish. And maybe they did try that. But it is that little bit extra. And I think this young lad, Kevin, big Kev, young Kev from Shackdale, could be the guy who you think, ah, there's a little bit of something because if you want to try and improve. But, of course, as time goes on and if Marco Silva thinks, you know, I've repeatedly hit my head against the glass ceiling here at Fulham, then perhaps he'll go somewhere else come the summer.

56:40Vithushan Ehantharajah: I sincerely hope he doesn't. But it's not all doom and gloom at Fulham because the other day on X, they did tweet out and this is in lack of signings of course they tweeted this introducing our incredible line up of chefs on rotation in the gourmet restaurant for the 2025-26 season Judy Jew Sally Abbey and Ben Murphy will be joining Alex Dilling and lifelong Fulham fan Oli Marlow season and match day hospitality is now available and you know what I thought Jim when I saw that I thought we've got our game back you and I have obviously enjoyed the hospitality at Fulham which is frankly It was frankly sensational, isn't it?

57:17Vithushan Ehantharajah: Yeah, not to this level. But even at the level we've been to, it was pretty great. And looking at those chefs' CVs, they're all genuinely pretty impressive. I'm excited. I don't know how it's come to this. That is the kind of tweet, everybody, where you think, what is our club doing over the summer? I saw that. Yeah, we signed some chefs. I got so excited. I really, really did.

57:37Marcus Speller: Oh, we're building a new stand. That presumably for bigger... Oh, I see. Okay, yeah.

57:42Vithushan Ehantharajah: I love it. Or do I? Fine dining. Yes, indeed. Well, they're off to Stamford Bridge. And of course, Chelsea, last night's Champions League draw, were given a special award for winning all six UEFA trophies. You ought to take your hats off to them, do you? You do. You do. Chelsea reportedly closing in on a£40 million deal for Alejandro Garnaccio because they love wingers. They're going to... So many. I was reading another one. There's another couple of wingers they want. I'm like, surely, like, you can only play two... Is this some formation that he's going to create? Is it 2-3-5?

58:17Marcus Speller: I wonder if he's literally just buying up assets because they're...

58:21Vithushan Ehantharajah: I mean, they're absolutely doing that.

58:23Marcus Speller: Yeah, but because they're very... For some reason... Well, maybe not for some reason, but wingers are very sellable. Yeah, they are. And if a team is stupid enough to part with a 21-year-old for 40 million with, you know, so much Premier League experience, then more fool them.

58:40Vithushan Ehantharajah: I mean, they're more sellable than goalkeepers and they bought a shed load of them before. so maybe that's what maybe old Todd and the boys are learning this at Chelsea they're thinking ah we went heavy on the goalkeepers it's not really worked that investment

58:50Marcus Speller: yeah what's the furthest distance away from a goalkeeper all the way over there

58:54Vithushan Ehantharajah: on the wing let's buy a load of them boys maybe they're looking at Garnaccio thinking if we don't play him that much he'll try and force himself out in the January window and yeah exactly yeah make a bit turn a profit on him which they're amazing at doing yeah oddly well Chelsea v Fulham who do you fancy for it Vish?

59:13Marcus Speller: Chelsea spiteful Jim

59:15Vithushan Ehantharajah: yeah I mean so I read that obviously Fulham won this fixture last season which ended a run a 21 game winless away streak at Stamford Bridge and they've never won consecutive games so I have to say obviously you've never won consecutive games with that 21 I mean no but never ever in history yeah I mean they've not often been in the same league Jim sure yeah but the point stands Marcus that they very rarely win at Stamford Bridge bridge so I too am going to go for Chelsea.

59:43Marcus Speller: They cracked it last season. They know how to do it. Is that Marco's team talk? Look, we haven't brought anyone new.

59:49Vithushan Ehantharajah: You all hit last year. Do it again. That's what I mean. I know we're only fielding nine players today. Just get on with it. I think it's a real thing. Put that whisk away. Take that silly hat off for a start and just go and do it again.

1:00:01Marcus Speller: Are you ordering food on your phone? Yeah. Stop saying behind. Not everyone's seen the bear.

1:00:09Vithushan Ehantharajah: Good ref. Let's be honest. is you being the foodie that you are. You were salivating when I read out those list of chefs.

1:00:15Marcus Speller: The names of chefs. It's not why I'm into food. Oh, right. I thought you had a Panini chef album. Do you think I was getting hard when you were listing all the rubbish Manchester United managers you might come back to the club earlier today? That's not the bit I care about.

1:00:27Vithushan Ehantharajah: Oh, dear. What about the old firm? Will that make you somewhat eroused? Is that because I said hard? Yeah. Rangers v Celtic this Sunday at 12 p.m. I mean, they are both in such dire straits at the moment. that this is going to be so entertaining. Oh, Celtic are in much better shape than Rangers. But they are themselves still off the back of an absolutely humbling result, aren't they? They are. And you're right, and I'm sure they're going to... I'm just sure they're going to take that frustration out on Russell Martin's Rangers. I just wonder if... For now. If they get, like, you know, Ali McCoy to manage them this game.

1:00:57Vithushan Ehantharajah: Or do you know... This... This could be a very, very one-sided offer.

1:01:02Marcus Speller: What would the score need to be... Yeah. well the school need to be at half time for Russell Martin to think you know what I'm just not going back out there where's that little board with the magnets

1:01:14Vithushan Ehantharajah: I reckon five or six about half time I don't think they're going to do that half time by the way

1:01:20Marcus Speller: and presumably that'd partly be also looking out for his safety as well someone being like look you might as well go home

1:01:31Vithushan Ehantharajah: some joking aside if they got absolutely tonked in this game then I think he could get sacked yeah and if if they win though I mean obviously it doesn't obviously it doesn't you know make up for going out of Europe in the way that they did but it keeps the wolves from the door for a bit in a weird way I think that if like if Rangers were to lose but a battling loss that in some way for the fans would be annoying because they think well at least if we got hammered he would probably go do you see what I mean? you think Rangers fans are sitting there hoping they get hammered no I'm not saying that but there would be consolation in the fact that if they got hammered then they would change the manager he would be like right you've put us out of our misery but I yeah I think this is a fascinating it's always a fascinating old firm but if Martin this to me is the absolute acid test of how much does he dogmatically stick to his principles because they're not working.

1:02:33Vithushan Ehantharajah: But is he going to at all mix it up for this game where he could lose his job if they get hammered? Make no more bones about that. This is one of the biggest fixtures in world football, one of the most intense rivalries in world football. Do you kind of just ignore the noise and go, no, no, no, we're going to get it right?

1:02:49Marcus Speller: But he's already gone past that because if he was going to play a new system, he would then have to teach it to players who he's already chewed out. he's already laid into their lack of dedication to the club and the fact that they're not fighting for each other but more importantly if Russell Martin does get sacked after this game because the result goes as we probably expect it to would you rather Mourinho at West Ham or Rangers I forgot about that

1:03:23Vithushan Ehantharajah: he'll look at that and think I could win a title here he is a grade 8 Rangers man Isn't he just? Yeah, absolutely.

1:03:29Marcus Speller: That's a great point about the title as well. Oh, what would I prefer?

1:03:34Vithushan Ehantharajah: I think I've got to choose West Ham because I'd see him more.

1:03:37Marcus Speller: He would see it as conquering Britain if he did that.

1:03:42Vithushan Ehantharajah: He absolutely would. He absolutely would. Counting himself as the greatest manager Britain's ever seen.

1:03:51Marcus Speller: We have to end it there.

1:03:54Vithushan Ehantharajah: Oh, dear. Right. this afternoon it's Jim versus Vish in my biddy aunt Jim you're up against the guy who beat me last week Vish is the man to beat as he often is in these games the lineal champion Vitu Shinhantaraja my biddy aunt it's going to be out late this afternoon get involved in that make sure you subscribe to the Football Amble in your podcast app so you do not miss it thank you for listening to the Football Amble part of the ACAS Creator Network the keys are in the lock the weekend is open Mr. Worldwide to infinity set the room on fire thank you Vish thank you thank you Jim thank you and a pre-thank you to Jose Mourinho

1:04:43the Football Ramble is a Stack production and part of the Acast Creator Network

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