Wait, are we the bad guys?

0:00Luke Moore: I tell myself, it's not about comparing. But then I start wondering, what can they lift? Are they adding more weight to their barbell than I am? And suddenly, I'm not training. Then I realize, my journey is not theirs. I've earned every step. So I smile. My smile is the shape resilience takes to keep me moving. To put more smiles out into the world, Colgate has supported female athletes for over 50 years with the Colgate Women's Games, the nation's longest-running indoor track and field series for girls and women. Colgate, your smile is your strength. Hey, Pablo Torre here. As a sports journalist, I've covered global sports for many years now.

0:36Luke Moore: And there is one thing that I can promise you. Nothing compares to the World Cup. And this time, it is even better thanks to McDonald's. You have the chance to take home one of nine legendary cups when you order the FIFA World Cup meal. The cups feature some of the biggest legends in football, like David Beckham, Terry Henry, and Ronaldinho, Christian Pulisic, Lamin Amal, and Alfonso Davies. Right now, get one of nine legendary cups when you order the FIFA World Cup meal only at McDonald's. At participating McDonald's, only for a limited time, while supplies last. All rights reserved. Copyright 2026.

1:09Luke Moore: McDonald's at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Granger knows when you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building. You're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners. Lights about to fail, filters ready to clog, HVAC on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering, and 24-7 support. Call 1-800-GRAINGER, click grainger.com, or just stop by. Grainger, for the ones who get it done. This is Nick and Jack from The Best One Yet, and we are excited to tell you about Walmart business.

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2:51Luke Moore: This episode is sponsored by Contentful. Marketers, no matter what pitch you play on, a big win feels the same. Electric. It's that moment when you read the play before the trend even starts. Beat the clock on a campaign with a little help from AI. And connect with customers in real time. Like you've trained for it your whole career. That's Contentful. World-class digital experiences built fast, built beautifully. Create and launch personalised content in an instant. Across every channel your customers are watching. Nor chaos, nor limits, just open field. Take your shot at contentful.com. Free up your vibe, everybody.

3:34Luke Moore: Welcome to the Football Ramble. Crystal Palace win another trophy and Anthony Gordon's off to Barcelona. It's Thursday, 28th of May. I'm Marcus Speller. And I'm Luke Moore.

3:57Luke Moore: Welcome everybody to the Football Ramble. A thrilling Thursday, no less in the kingdom, because one of our teams has won another European trophy, Luke Moore. Come on! We're on for the clean sweep in a World Cup here. What can it mean? What can it possibly mean? It can mean no more pain, no more heartache, good times ahoy. That's what it means. My tea's gone cold, I'm wondering why. Got out of bed at all. No more of that. No, glad all over. No more of that. Glad all over. It's Sweet Caroline all the way home. No, I don't really like Sweet Caroline, actually. I think we need to acknowledge, as a team, by which I mean the English nation for the purpose of this World Cup, that Holly Holly is a much better Neil Diamond song and it would still fit pretty well for the old England business.

4:44And I think Sweet Caroline's a bit overplayed now. But having said that, if it means Conference League, Europa League, Champions League, World Cup clean sweep, I will accept Sweet Caroline being adopted as the National Anthem begrudgingly, but I'll take it nonetheless. Give us a chorus of the other one then. No, I don't need requests. I'm not a jukebox, mate. If it comes naturally, it'll come. Hold your horses.

5:06Luke Moore: if I feel like the time's right I'll do it we've had to have a bit of Dido there so come on the least you can do well anyway enough of the bollocks everybody Crystal Palace 1 Raya Viacano 0 Crystal Palace are Europa Conference League champions we told you we told you Palace fans when you got knocked out when you got denied Europa when you didn't reply to your emails be specific you got banned from the Europa League and you got put down in the Europa Conference League we said don't worry it'll work out better because you get a trophy win and then you get back into the Europa League. Easy peasy.

5:40Luke Moore: It's what's happened, Luke Moore. It is getting pretty easy to predict this with the English teams in the Europa Conference League. It's a long yet very scenic route to the Europa League, isn't it? It's a lovely road trip. Yes, indeed. When you go to places, as I said the other day, like Mostar and Florence, you can sit back, enjoy the ride, enjoy yet another major trophy in that cabinet. And then you've got Europa League next year. You've got Europa League next year. you and Sunderland represented I mean that's great I mean that is great I mean it's great to think of that and I'm I am delighted for Crystal Palace and their fans they're my local team as I repeatedly say and they're a great they're a great great club we do a lot of things the right way and I happen to know a few Palace fans as well so I'm chuffed for them any of the troublemakers that got chucked out well Ben aka Doc Brown he was there wasn't he he was all over the not a troublemaker though well I think I think my personal experience of him is he is a troublemaker.

6:35Well, he's not a known troublemaker. Perhaps not known to the football authorities in this country, but certainly known to you and I as a troublemaker. I hope he made it home safely. I think he did. He sent me a few photos and it seemed like he was doing very well and enjoying himself, shall we say. But look, I think clearly it's amazing. Clearly, Oliver Glasner is now the greatest manager in Crystal Palace history. I can't really think of an argument against that. It's him and Hodgson, definitely, yeah. Yeah, but... Yeah, but... Some would say, just by virtue of the fact... Listen, maybe it wouldn't, but some would say that two major trophies for the first time in their 120-odd year history might put them just a smidgen on the owl perch slightly above Roy.

7:25Yeah. You've got those perches where the owls perch, they sit there and you've got other birds of prey, like there's an owl. Obviously, you've got the Eagles more broadly because that's their nickname. Then you've got Oliver is several pedestals above that. And I also, by the way, I was thinking about this. The kind of redemption arc of Glasner, but not just Glasner, but Mateta as well. Yes. It's kind of interesting because basically two of the key characters in this haven't really acted in the most loyal fashion you'd expect, yet they're unquestionably cemented in Palace's history now.

8:06Luke Moore: It's a modern football story, Luke Ball. Because you wouldn't be surprised to hear that Jean-Philippe Mateta is going to leave in the summer. I haven't seen news about him definitely doing that, but obviously he wanted to go to Milan in January, he failed the medical, and then he scores this crucial goal. And then Glasner's obviously said quite early on that he's off, and that coincided with some poor results. And it was kind of discussion about whether he was actually trying to get himself the tin tack at one point, right? And yet he's lifted another trophy with Palace as well. So it's a really interesting, you're right to say, it's a very modern story.

8:39I didn't think of it that way, but that is really what model football has become, isn't it? So it's like that in microcosm, really. Totally, yeah. I thought it was a great event. I thought it was a brilliant evening. I think it seemed like such a special event for both clubs and that really came across in the atmosphere and the emotion. charged into the occasion. But I'm absolutely delighted for Palace. They won the game. They should have won it by more. It was a kind of, the second half was much better than the first. The first kind of, it felt like it was a big occasion for both clubs and they didn't really master it.

9:12And then they kind of, it was almost like Glasner said to them, come on, you're the better team here. And the second half, they kind of put the afterburners on. I don't know how you felt about it.

9:21Luke Moore: No, I get that. I think that for Palace, again, we see it with an English Premier League context. And so Palace have, up until the FA Cup win, never won a major trophy. We say that all the time. Although they did win the full Members' Cup in the 1990-91 season under Steve Koppel. I can't remember what that even is. Was that introduced as an extra tournament because English clubs were banned from Europe? Probably. That sounds right, yeah. Yeah, so the full members cup aside, they'd never won a major. And Glasner comes in and does it. And so we see that as Palace are underdogs. They were, you know, a championship side for a long time.

10:10Luke Moore: Felt like a little bit of a yo-yo side. Might not have been as classic as a yo-yo side, as say Fulham were a few seasons ago. But they were a little bit up and down. If Palace got promoted, it was no huge surprise. if they got relegated not a huge surprise either often they were the type of team who would say survival is our priority in the Premier League this season and battling to mid-table as have the aforementioned Fulham done in recent seasons it was and is an achievement for a club the size of Palace but they've always produced of late decent players as you say I think they are quite a likeable club Brighton fans will disagree but I think a fair few neutrals kind of I do a lot of stuff right you have to say that yeah well Steve Parrish said you know sometimes the good guys win when he was being interviewed.

10:54That is such a Steve Parrish thing to say.

10:56Luke Moore: Yeah, especially with Rai Vajacano who it would have been even more romantic in the grand scheme of things had they have won. He's like, just two great guys. Yeah. Just two great guys. We're the greatest guys today but you might be the greatest guys tomorrow. There was only one woman and there was two great guys. You know, one of us is always going to be disappointed. But look, you know, with that, again, like when Parrish says that, I kind of don't disagree. Because again, we see it from the English Premier League sort of angle. But Palace have far more riches than Raio Vaiocano ever will. In Raio Vaiocano, it's such an achievement.

11:32Luke Moore: This final that Raio Vaiocano have achieved will be talked about. It will be eulogised about, you know, on and on and on. Because the likelihood of them reaching another European final or going far, even getting into European competition is very, very slim. You could, of course, say that about Crystal Palace. Absolutely, you could, which is why, again, whoever won this game, there was romance behind it. But the English sides are far more well-sourced, of course, than a lot of sides on the continent. And I don't want to labour that point too much because, again, I can't stress enough, I was so pleased for Palace.

12:13Luke Moore: We all were. But as you say, Luke, look at the players they've got. I mean, Glasner's won a Europa League already with, was it Eintracht Frankfurt? You know, he's on for the treble. Can he get a Champions League, you know, at some point between now and his retirement? Who knows? But Jean-Felic Mateta's in the France squad for the World Cup. You know, even Jeremy Pino's in the Spanish squad. You know, they've got a lot of quality in there. And going back to the game, if I can circle all the way back round, that showed in that second half. In the first half, it was very, very tense and very... Well, there wasn't much between the two sides, really.

12:52Luke Moore: I mean, Tyrek Mitchell has that chance at the end of the first half. And you think to yourself, if Palace don't go on to win this, you know. But of course they did. And Mitchell was busting a gut right at the end of the game and so on and so forth. But it was in that second half that I'd love to know what Glasner said to them at half-time because it probably would have been something along the lines of, right, lads, you've had a half to bed yourselves in. now go and show them that you're a better side because Palace they upped it they should have really probably won by more than one goal Miteta has another chance, Kieper makes a great save one or two final passes maybe weren't there I mean Pino Neely's got a peach of a free kick it hits both posts not expected to score but again they went close and shows you the moments that they can produce That was a remarkable passage that was a remarkable passage of play, that's the first time I've seen the football be like an old-school screensaver bouncing around on the monitor of a computer.

13:47It hit both posts. It came back out and someone hit the post again.

13:51Luke Moore: The defender, I think it was, hit the post. Because the Palace player, I forget who it was, in the advanced position, was offside. So I don't know if it would have been given or not. But the defender, if he'd have put it in, perhaps it would have been, I don't know, but he didn't go in. But the point was Palace then put the pressure on, should have got a second, probably didn't. And then Palace fans, understandably, who'd have been like, have we messed up? Have we had our chance there? Because then what's going to happen? The last sort of 10, 15 minutes of the game, Palace are naturally going to go, right, what we have, we hold.

14:21Luke Moore: Rav O 'Khano are going to come on to them. But Rav O 'Khano just didn't have any quality up top, really. It was pretty easy picking. They're not really a free-scoring side. No, and Palace are a good side defensively. You know, they can shut up shop. And that's what you saw with the dynamic. It was kind of like, you know what, we'll be fine. Dean Henderson wasn't bothered in goal at all, really. And they ran out winners. And like I say, despite Ray Varcano, you know, in what would have been an incredibly romantic story. I mean, you know, for Ray Varcano, you could see Alaves, who lost to Liverpool all those years ago in the UEFA Cup final.

15:01Luke Moore: You know, a side who... They also beat Ray Varcano on the way to that final, by the way. Yeah, blimey, I've forgotten that. so it may well be just a complete one-off for Ravel Khan I suspect it will be could be a one-off for Palace as well but the atmosphere was great there were two sets of supporters who were not entitled at all who know exactly what was at stake Palace were the worthy winners it was great to see them celebrate and as you mentioned earlier Jean-Philippe Mateta you know he could have moved he didn't he stayed there he has two winning goals in finals for Palace he's a Palace legend now he's in the France World Cup squad what a week he's had and Glasner himself who again is without a doubt Palace's greatest manager of all time I mean he's never won the London Football Awards Manager of the Year which Rodson has well that's probably to come I imagine that'll probably come at some point Rodson won that in 2018 so maybe Glasner's on for that this year who knows but when he Arteta will win it this year won't he so he probably won't win it this year yeah that's it yeah yeah well you know life's full of little regrets and even Glasner has one now but I think with Glasner when he said yeah no I am going I can't believe it's my last match it was decided there was almost a hint of ah maybe did I decide too early but he's going Luke he's going but yeah he is and look I think I agree with much of what you said there I'd like to I'd like to lean into yeah lean into the kind of occasion before I do though on the Glasner thing specifically it is interesting that you know he and Iola have kind of cashed their chips in and announced that they're doing so way before the end of the season.

16:37And as part of that makes me feel like they're doing that to stop themselves being persuaded. Do you understand what I mean? I do understand, yeah. I've made that decision. If we announce it, I can't go back on it. Because I felt that similar energy in Glasner's post-match the same way you did. So obviously it was there. But regardless, they've got to prepare the ground for what comes next now. It can't be kind of après-mai la deluge because they don't want to be following up this with dropping out of the Premier League again, because obviously they've been in there for some time now. And you're right to say that historically they have been, they've bounced around a decent amount.

17:12But on the occasion itself, this is not me throwing shade on Chelsea and Man City in the FA Cup final and the fans there. But I mean, it is quite stark, the difference between an occasion and an atmosphere when you have clubs that don't normally get to something as big as that. Yeah, totally. And I think that regardless of the first half's football not being of the greatest quality, the atmosphere was never short of outstanding. I mean, you could see, you could really feel the sense of it. Even through the TV, you could really feel it. And I think, you know, it meant an awful lot to both those teams.

17:54On Raul Vercano's side, I mean, they're an amazing story. They're an amazing community-focused operation, really. And I think it seems that every single person that supports that club understands the values of the club, what it means. I understand they've been working quite hard to get rid of the current owner because they don't feel like he kind of fits that. But their strong sense of identity is really actually quite palpable. And it felt like they couldn't believe their luck they were in this final because it's not something they traditionally see happen to their club. And I think it's also interesting that the Conference League, as much as we are kind of quick to criticise UEFA and be like, oh, there's more football.

18:40Everyone's in Europe now. What's the point? Actually, the Conference League has been pretty good for clubs. It's been actually really interesting. It's been something for smaller clubs to hang their hat on. Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely. Broadly speak. I know there's been a Chelsea in there and there's been some other kind of things, but generally speaking it's a bit of an ally though

18:57Luke Moore: aren't they? Yeah, Fiorentina might call themselves Fiorentina might find themselves a little bit kind of regretful to be in it for example but generally speaking West Ham, Crystal Palace one or two others it's been great actually and it's given fans an amazing thing to remember and with these tournaments and these trophies they only ever really mean what the fan base of football more generally decides they mean right? So for example we take the Club World Cup But we'll wait and see what happens with that. But generally speaking, I don't feel like it made a massive impact. The Conference League seems to have made an impact because the fans of those clubs involved have decided it's important.

19:34They've decided to go. They've decided to make memories there. The scenes we saw last night will go a great way towards really galvanising that tournament because it gives people such amazing experiences. And on Reo Vercalen more specifically, if it wasn't a World Cup year, I would feel very, very sorry for a lot of those fans. I mean, you could see the emotion, but the emotion was incredible. It wasn't just like the old director picking out one crying kid. Everyone seemed to be in floods of tears. And it seemed to be the kind of emotion which was like, what a journey we've had. We're really gutted that we've not won, but what an amazing journey.

20:12And there's talk that Inigo Perez, the manager who is going to be moving on, there's talk of him going to Villarreal next. So what happens for Raya Vercano as well will be interesting because, of course, they've got a manager there who's got them punching above their weight. And Perez himself, by the way, is the guy who would have been the number two to Iriola at Bournemouth had he got a work permit. But he got turned down for a work permit and became Raya Vercano manager. And now he's moving on to bigger and better things as well. So look, I think all in all, a great evening's football, a really good entertaining game towards the end, great atmosphere delighted for Palace I thought Adam Wharton was although he was a yard off it I mean he showed his class because he looked injured but he still made the difference the chance for Tyreek Mitchell which he should have scored the goal itself he kind of pulled the strings when he wanted to and he looked like he was only really planned at 60 % capacity and then out wide I mean Vallecano are particularly strong out wide as far as I understand it but Palace were pretty dominant as well so look it was great it was really good I enjoyed watching it I'm delighted for Palace who knows what's going to come along next the interesting thing and we'll come into this in more detail as the summer progresses I'm sure the other side of the World Cup there'll be a lot of upheaval on the management side in the Premier League next season and that will make for a very interesting open competition I think

21:33Luke Moore: yeah I'm so delighted for Palace because that FA Cup win was just huge for them and they follow it up with okay Community Shield but still you know something and then another trophy it's like hang on what's going on here they're like London buses aren't they I know I mean, it's literally the London bus cliche. 120 years, then two come along in a year. Superb. Absolutely superb. Yeah. Right. Coming up after this, Anthony Gordon is off to Spain.

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23:57Luke Moore: Hey, Pablo Torre here. As a sports journalist, I've covered global sports for many years now. And there is one thing that I can promise you. Nothing compares to the World Cup. And this time it is even better thanks to McDonald's. You have the chance to take home one of nine legendary cups when you order the FIFA World Cup meal. The cups feature some of the biggest legends in football like David Beckham, Terry Henry, and Ronaldinho, Christian Pulisic, Lamine Yamal, and Alfonso Davies. Right now, get one of nine legendary cups when you order the FIFA World Cup meal only at McDonald's. At participating McDonald's, only for a limited time, while supplies last, all rights reserved, copyright 2026, McDonald's at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

24:39This is Nick and Jack from The Best One Yet, and we are excited to tell you about Walmart Business. Staying ahead of business trends means moving fast and adapting quickly. Walmart Business helps you simplify operations so you can focus on building the next big thing. Find exactly what your organization needs with their ever-expanding business assortment and everyday low prices. Keep your momentum going fast with reliable shipping and fulfillment. Eligible organizations can take advantage of tax-free shopping, both in-store and online, saving you more while getting you everything you need. It's Walmart built for your business.

25:10Sign up for a free Walmart business account today at business.walmart.com.

25:20Luke Moore: Hi, I'm Linvoy Primus and you're listening to the Football Ramble. Welcome back to the Football Ramble, everybody. Right, Barcelona have agreed a£69 million deal to sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United. He's reportedly jetted off, because football has always jet off, to Barcelona. today. Luke Moore, did you see this one coming? I mean, there's been a lot of interest with Anthony Gordon by Munich and Liverpool among them, but Barcelona, eh? Not too shabby. Yeah. And I didn't see it coming, no, is the answer. I know that based on how they had their fingers burned last summer, Newcastle just wanted to get shit done early.

25:58They don't want to be messing around because I think they feel like at least partly contributed to derailing their season last season, this stuff with Isak and all the rest of it. And so I I think if it's clear that Gordon's intent to leave, I suppose if I'm trying to spin it positively for Newcastle United fans, I'd say two things. I'd say, one, he's not been that good domestically this season. I mean, you could say that Newcastle United generally haven't been that good domestically, which they haven't, of course. I don't think he'll be missed too much. He's not been brilliant. And secondly, they were learning lessons.

26:31But what they tried to do, they were basically held to ransom by Isaac last summer. And as a club, particularly the club with the ambitions of the size of Newcastle, you can't have that. So the fact they're getting it done nice and early is, I think, ultimately good news for them. And they'll get a good fee as well, as you said. In terms of the Gordon side of it, I mean, Bayern Munich didn't want to meet his fee, apparently. And I don't know what happened to Liverpool, but I think he's a Liverpool fan, isn't he? So I think he was kind of pushing for a move to Liverpool before. But it looks like it's Barcelona now.

27:04I think it's an amazing move for him. And I think it's also really interesting in terms of the wider context of what happens with Barcelona, of what happens with Marcus Rashford. But it's a fascinating move. I'm really excited. I love it when really exciting forward players from this country go to clubs like Barcelona. It doesn't happen often enough in my view. I think it's been great for Rashford. I mean, his numbers have been decent. he's probably certainly on the way to resurrecting his career now after that nonsense with Amorim and we'll watch with interest what happens with him but you know if you think about what they want Barcelona presumably they want someone who can play obviously off the left and someone who can also play through the middle because Gordon's played quite a lot of games through the middle yeah he can do it he's quite a versatile flexible forward and I do think I know this is a little bit of bias again to use that phrase, probably because it's a World Cup year, I do think he's definitely got the ceiling high enough to make an impact there.

28:06I think sometimes when I watch, I don't watch an awful lot of La Liga, but if I watch someone, I see a lower half La Liga team, I think they're there for the taking. They really are. And someone like him with his pace and his kind of quality, I think he'll have a really good time there. What do you think?

28:22Luke Moore: I think he'll be a better forward as a result of this. I think it puts play to Marcus Rashford at Barcelona next season sadly for Rashford because Rashford said he wanted to stay and I think some people thought he'd done enough to stay I think his numbers have been all right I think it's wages isn't it it must be wages well he said he'd to take a pay cut I think Rashford wants to play somewhere where he is excited to play and he's appreciated now he's not been brilliant but he's been pretty good at Barcelona and I think with you know we know that Barcelona love a uh a financial irregularity in uh in their doings um Hang on, how does this work again?

29:01Luke Moore: Just basic, arithmetic chaps. And so, with Rashford, he was obviously there on loan. Manchester United have got an asking fee of, what is it, about 26 or 27 million pounds? Around that. It's 30 million euros, I think. Yeah, and Man United say, I think that's a fair price. And I would agree with them, actually. Obviously, Man United is just pure profit. But Rashford's wages are huge. But he has reportedly said he'd take a wage cut to stay at Barcelona. They've just been umming and ahhing whether they think that he is a player that they want there for another few years. It seems like that is not going to be the case because with Gordon, he basically plays in the same position and can add a little bit more.

29:39Luke Moore: People might say, well, Rashford can play through the middle. I don't think Rashford's played through the middle effectively for a while now, whereas Gordon has. You've also got fierce competition for places in that side. I mean, Rafinha, marvellous player, plays off the left as well. so with Lewandowski I think on the way out certainly age-wise would would suggest that Gordon might find you know he has to be a little bit more dynamic and maybe kind of mix it up a little bit which I think he can do I just I mean maybe they do keep Rashford you know I mean if you if you know if you are a side who realistically want to be firing on all fronts you know every season Barcelona will be eyeing up a treble do you know what I mean they're that type of club They've won the league.

30:19Luke Moore: They've won it pretty handsomely this year. They want to be going much deeper in the Champions League than they did this year. You've got to have a squad to do that. So maybe they do think, well, actually, he's a similar position and whatnot. Maybe they do. I'd be a little bit surprised if they would. I think it's brilliant for Gordon. And it's come at no surprise as well, because, I mean, Eddie Howe said that Gordon was being left out of matchday squads because he was looking at the future. Everyone knew he was going to go somewhere. I think it would have been particularly stiff competition for him to try and usurp Luis Diaz at Bayern.

30:52Luke Moore: And obviously he's not going to play through the middle because that's old Harry Kane. That's where he is. So from Gordon's point of view, Barcelona actually makes more sense than Bayern in terms of playing. Yeah, I think it's interesting points. I think what I'm coming down the side of is that these top clubs, you talk about Gordon versus Diaz and Gordon versus Rafinha and whatever, and Rashford and whatever. To me, it just feels like there's so much high-intensity football being played now. They need flexibility. Yeah, they do. They need forwards, particularly forwards. You can play in different positions.

31:25You say Ruffinho plays off the left, which of course he does. He has played off the right. He has played a little bit deeper. And with the Diaz thing, I mean, Luis Diaz is a great player. But I think Gordon would... Look, maybe we've not seen enough evidence of that domestically this season. But we certainly have in the Champions League. Gordon would back himself I think to usurp Diaz certainly on occasion so I think it's about I don't know if clubs at the top level are thinking about it in that way I think they're thinking about look we want maybe we play say I don't know what it is three behind a one or a four, three, three or whatever we actually probably want five top quality quite versatile forwards and you might have a Kane who just always plays in that position I get that and also don't forget by the way Barcelona a shift in Lewandowski who has got a huge amount of wages going to be off the wage bill, which gives them a bit more financial flexibility.

32:17But outside of a Lewandowski and a Kane, most forwards now are versatile wide forwards, right? Yeah. So the reality is, I think, based on what I've read, and there was some really great reporting on it in The Athletic, Bayern just didn't meet the fee. I don't know if Gordon preferred Bayern or Barca. Presumably he preferred Barca. But the reality is it's Sophie's choice because Barca have met the fee and Bayern haven't.

32:39Luke Moore: I just think if you're going to pay that amount of money for a player, I don't think, for a squad player I'd say particularly if Barcelona have had their financial worries but from Gordon's point of view I think he's more likely to play more than Barcelona and I think that could come into his thinking as well No I think that's a fair comment but I also do think it's worth considering A. that clubs want flexibility and B. every player of that quality rates themselves to usurp anyone like you talk about this we talked about this you know like the Elliot Anderson thing so Elliot Anderson is probably going to go to Man City right may not have want him as well looks like he's going to go to Man City You would be forgiven for thinking and saying, well, you know, why does he want to go there?

33:19Is he going to be better than the players I've already got? Is he going to get in the team? Or is he going to be another Calvin Phillips or whatever? Now, I don't think that will be the case. I think he's a better player than Calvin Phillips. I think he offers more. And it's actually probably not a brilliant example thinking about it. But the point I'm making is that if you get to that level in your chosen profession, you back yourself against anyone.

33:38Luke Moore: Yeah. I don't think it's a calculation. with the odd occasion I mean there's going to be an odd exception you're not going to you're realistically not going to usurp a Pete Lionel Messi or a Cristiano Ronaldo for whatever reason but generally speaking I promise you now Anthony Gordon looks in the mirror and he goes I'm better than Luis Diaz and I'm better than Marcus Rashford and I can do what Rafinha does whether or not it's true remains to be seen but he will definitely think that Will he do enough at Barcelona presumably he goes there to get himself a statue That's what you've got to be aiming for you've got to be aiming for that and then work back I've always said that.

34:11Luke Moore: First class basics, get them right. Aim high and aim for that statue. If you don't have a statue made in your honour at some point in your life before you die. You've got one outside the Ramble studio, haven't you? It's very small. And I'm talking from experience. Then essentially you've failed because that's what life is about. So everyone out there without a statue, you're a loser, quite frankly. We started our own statue business, didn't we? This is ramblestatues.com. Anything counts. buy two get one free that bloke who did that bust of Cristiano Ronaldo he'll knock you up one Pete did one of Jim busts count as well oh he did yeah do you know what paper mache counts if you're thinking I don't want to be a loser get yourself a paper mache is that why our big finale in our live show was us beating the shit out of Richie Keys because it was affectionate papilla mache statue stuff well hang on you're acting as if it was some sort of piñata sort of well that's what I lobbied for but I was overruled yeah Pete wanted to put it on his head and run around wearing just a pair of pants and funnily enough he got his way but talking of statues there is a statue of Barcelona legend Lionel Messi in Calcutta in India now I've seen a statue of Lionel Messi down by the waterfront in Buenos Aires it's a great one I've got a photo of me with it there are probably other statues of Lionel Messi littered around Argentina now and I just say you at the time you would have absolutely refer to that as Lionel Messi's statue getting a photo with you.

35:40Luke Moore: So I didn't realise... A little pat on the bum on the way through. Yeah, I didn't realise there was a statue of Messi in Calcutta, and it appears that it's not going to last very long. It is set to be taken down after an inspection found the statue's structural integrity to be severely compromised. A West Bengal state legislator said, we have noticed that the statue is swaying in the wind. the statue now has a big yellow rope wrapped around his waist now I know he was jinky and he's you know he could sell a defender and drop the shoulder and maybe people were going, bloomin' heck that is a very forward thinking statue because they've managed to build that in to the thing but no it was the structural integrity and the statue will be taken down Why do no statues look like the people they're supposed to look like?

36:29like this statue is 70 feet tall right and i respect and admire the ambition 70 feet tall it looks nothing like him whatsoever the only way i'd know who it was is it because it's because he's holding up the world cup and presumably it's got some kind of plaque next to it saying who it is but it's it's just bizarre how much it doesn't look like him so and i wonder i also i often wonder about the protocol of this like do you have to get permission from messi himself to do it i

36:59Luke Moore: yeah so I think this went up when they were doing he was on a pre-season tour or something but I mean imagine yeah but how much permission is verbal permission enough maybe because you know what people just shout stuff yeah yeah whatever do the statue I think also we've covered a lot of statues on the Ramble over the years yes we have and I would say at absolute best the good ones have been like 50-50 50 % good ones. No, but of people, because we love a plaque and we love some kind of... Some plaques are easy, aren't they? Yeah, indeed they are. There are good ones. I mean, the Thierry Henry one outside of the Emirates is good.

37:39Luke Moore: Yeah. Yeah, and the Churchill one in Parliament Square is a good likeness. And the Field Marshal Earl Hague on Whitehall on the horseback is a very good likeness, if you don't mind me saying. And I could do this a long time if you want me to give some more. I know I'd love that. The football ones seem to be quite hit and miss. What about the Michael Jackson one at Fulham? Yeah, the thing about the Michael Jackson one, there's a lot that's been made of that. Free hit, really. And it's now in the National Football... Yeah, right. It's now in the National Football Museum. Of course it is, in this rightful place.

38:09But the thing about... that I would say, apart from the fact that he's a deeply problematic character and, you know, and he's not... his relationship to football is tangential at best, right? I think the thing that really threw people about the Jackson statue is it's in full colour.

38:25Luke Moore: Yeah. it needs to be brass and the thing is why did they why did they do the statue in full colour because the man himself says it doesn't matter if you're black or white they didn't need to do it they didn't need to do it it's not what he would have wanted no indeed Luke what is that you're holding in your hand oh nice link I haven't printed out an email for some time Marcus just to be very clear on that but today's a new day yeah I actually chucked out the printer when I moved house. So that won't be happening again. But I have had an email, a missive, a piece of correspondence, if you like, from our friend and listener, Carl Bennett, who emailed after Tuesday's show where we did our prediction results.

39:10And he says, in reference to the results pod where Luke and Jim were comparing Mark's approach to an unlikely win to, quote, an Australian figure skater. I know you can't give any credit to Aussies now we are nearing a World Cup, But the speed skater you were referring to was, of course, Australian folklore hero Steve Bradbury, who won gold in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics after running dead last in the final until the final turn when the other three finalists all wiped out and he cruised past to take the win. It's a common phrase in Australia nowadays to celebrate our first ever Winter Olympics gold medal by referring to someone or something as, quote, doing a Bradbury, i.e.

39:49coming from an improbable position to win or succeed. These days, he does a talking circuit. He's got his own beer, as do all the cool kids, as a general doyen of the nation. Anyway, I'm supporting the Aussies in the World Cup, but honestly, I've got a little wager on England this year, as well as for Kane as top scorer. I think it's your time. Marcus, feel free to reach out and thank me for my support of the kingdom. And that's from Carl Bennett.

40:12Luke Moore: Yeah, you forgot the last word he signed off with. Lol. Yeah. It feels like to me that he's supporting and betting on England to try and jinx us. and you can't trust Australia. Listen, you can't trust Australia generally, let alone the World Cup year. Right. They're on my list now. So now it's France, Germany, Spain, Argentina and Australia now. Yeah, well, he said, you know, feel free to reach out and thank me for my support for the kingdom. Or if you're going to support the kingdom, you've got to support Scotland as well. Which I'll be doing. Because it is a kingdom here. But look, you know, it's for kingdom, for commonwealth, whatever it is, the common good, I think, for all those countries in there would be to see an England victory.

40:55Luke Moore: Yeah, absolutely. Because I think, you know, Australians are very, very famously gracious and do swear quite a lot of fealty to us as their overlords as part of the Commonwealth. Outrageous. We do. Listen, you started it. Yeah. I've just got the bollocks to go the full way. That's the spirit. I'm not just dangling a leg out there, mate. I'm two-footing it. Yeah. You're Captain Cook. Right. Remember, you can send us whatever nonsense you fancy to show at footballanball.com or that's where you can send your irate emails as well because no doubt we've angered some of you. They've angered us because of the Ashes.

41:30We talked about that with Vish. They've angered us with the Ashes. They started it. Yeah, true. So we will be watching their progress with interest. I wouldn't put them... Look, to me, Argentina are top of the rivalry board at the moment. Right, right. Then Germany. We kind of vanquished Germany. me there didn't we that was kind of done

41:50Luke Moore: yeah oh don't say that sorry yeah throwing out loud then probably France Spain have got to be out there Spain yeah I would say Italy but they ain't there lol and then Australia right fine and no doubt we'll get some new rivals out of the World Cup because that's just how we sadly operate yeah because we'll just get beat by Panama or something and that'll be that and that'll be that but well done to Crystal Palace though you are the Euro Conference League champions it's official now I've said it so go and have a lovely old time thanks for listening to the Football Ramble part of the Acast Creative Network I'll be back with Jim and Pete tomorrow to look ahead to the Champions League final excited can't believe it and don't forget that Champions League finals at 5pm UK time on Saturday earlier time do not forget that I didn't actually know that that's great public information I will remind you of that tomorrow as well there we are thank you very much Luke thank you and thank you Oliver Glaston see you tomorrow

42:56Luke Moore: The Football Ramble is a Stack Production and part of the Acast Creator Network.

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