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Football Ramble

2 Jul 2025 · 48m · 11 chapters

Episode artwork

We’re going to Türkiye

In short

The Football Ramble discusses Club World Cup matches and broader football business: Man City’s loss to Al-Hilal, Fluminense vs Inter, Real Madrid vs Juventus, tournament scheduling/heat effects, and transfer/PSR implications in the Premier League. They also cover Brentford appointing Keith Andrews as manager, Aston Villa selling its women’s team to its parent company, John Duran’s move to Fenerbahce, and Chelsea signing João Pedro.

Guests (hosts)

Matt Rogers (Las Culturistas) and Bowen Yang (Lost Culture Research) appear briefly in the transcript, but the main football discussion is by Football Ramble hosts Marcus Speller, Jim Campbell, and Eddie Russell.

Key claims

Club World Cup is a “grind” for some viewers but still provides useful tune-up value; City’s overall tournament is “positive” despite Guardiola calling it “pity”; Villa’s women’s sale is driven by financial-rule pressure and will likely spread; Brentford’s internal promotion of Andrews is a high-risk test of their model.

Notable examples

Al-Hilal beating Man City; Fluminense’s AC Milan-style chant posts and Fabio nearing a world-appearance record; Real Madrid beating Juventus 1-0 with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s assist; Brentford replacing Thomas Frank with set-piece coach Keith Andrews; Villa’s ~£55m women’s team sale; Chelsea signing João Pedro for £55m; John Duran to Fenerbahce on loan; Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund quarterfinal.

Written by AI. May contain mistakes.

Chapters

3:21

Club World Cup Overview

Discussion about the latest events in the Club World Cup and its significance.

“And my goodness, it's just more Club World Cup action.”
4:10

Man City vs Al-Hilal Analysis

Analysis of the recent match between Manchester City and Al-Hilal, focusing on key moments and player performances.

“Also, a big congratulations to Scott Graham, who has won the first of our PS5s after completing the stack survey.”
6:00

Impacts of Early Season Competitions

Exploration of how early season tournaments like the Club World Cup affect teams' performance throughout the season.

“But that doesn't really change how it appears from where I sit.”
11:06

Fluminense's Performance and Legacy

Discussion on Fluminense's recent achievements and their historical context in football.

“You know, if you start your season in mid-July, are you going to bottom out and have that problem hit a wall in November, December?”
14:01

Fluminense's Journey and Records

Discussion on Fluminense's recent successes and records in football.

“So they are just having the best time, aren't they?”
24:16

Inter's Loyalty Drama

Exploration of loyalty issues within Inter Milan, focusing on Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Canologlu.

“Do you remember growing up when it felt like every teacher had a favorite student?”
28:00

Brentford's Premier League Journey

Explore Brentford's success and challenges in the Premier League.

“what a massive success story Brentford are.”
33:40

Aston Villa's Financial Moves

Discuss Aston Villa's financial strategies and recent decisions.

“They are set to sell their women's team to their parent company.”
38:20

Mourinho's Influence at Fenerbahce

Analyze Jose Mourinho's potential impact on Fenerbahce's recruitment.

“We are going to see this more, as Jim joked about recently.”
42:00

Mourinho's Future and Fenerbahce's Struggles

Discussion on Mourinho's potential exit from Fenerbahce and the implications of new signings.

“You know, they're a club that are an absolutely humongous club that haven't won the league in over 10 years.”
Show all 11 chapters
46:07

Chelsea's New Signings and Robbie Savage's Appointment

Analysis of Chelsea's new player signings and Robbie Savage taking over as head coach at Forest Green Rovers.

“Yes, Chelsea have signed Brighton forward Joao Pedro for£55 million.”
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Transcript

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2:44Jim Campbell: Podcasting is fluid. Platforms and the formats, they're only the container. What fans are choosing is the moment, what their hands are doing, what their eyes are free for, or who else is in the room. Whether it's the morning run, the commute, the couch at 9pm, or the clip that made you laugh on your lunch break. Four moments, four different things a brand gets from showing up in them. ACAST Podcast Pulse 2026 report maps all four of these moments. Get all the insights at acast.com slash pulse.

3:15Jim Campbell: If I stay here, trouble will find me, everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble! The Bellinghams march on in America and Robbie Savage has a new job. It's Wednesday, 25th of June. I'm Marcus Speller. I'm Jim Campbell. I'm Eddie Russell.

3:39Jim Campbell: Hello, everybody. Welcome to Wednesday. It's here and it's the Football Ramble. And my goodness, it's just more Club World Cup action. I know you two guys are really into it. That's what you were saying before the show. But before we get to that, thanks to friend of the Ramble, Richard the Burns, for giving us that intro line. If you want to submit an intro line, then become a friend of the Ramble. Sign up for just$5-y-dos a month. You'll also get an extended edition of today's show. So just head to patreon.com forward slash football ramble to get involved. No regrets there. Also, a big congratulations to Scott Graham, who has won the first of our PS5s after completing the stack survey.

4:20Jim Campbell: Well done, Scotto. If you haven't completed the survey yet, get involved because there are still four PS5s up for grabs. Just hit the link in the show notes to get started. And if you've already entered, don't worry, you're still in the draw. Well done, Scotta. Scotta Graham-a. Good Keep the laughter going Andy Man City 3 Al Hill Hall 4 Yes I said Al Hill Hall They're out So romantic The romance of the Club World Cup never stops It's the first time an Asian club Has beaten a side from Europe In an official FIFA tournament They've not had that many opportunities Asian clubs Other than in iterations of The Club World Cup And they only had to spend more than PSG to do it.

5:08Jim Campbell: Yes, exactly. Does it actually count, though? Because this is a Saudi club beating a club from UAE, isn't it? Oh. Dunham. Will the satire never stop at the Football Ramble? I don't think it will. It was a good game. It was. Adding yet more credence to the club will. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. You're upset because I was saying it was shit before we came on. And you told me I was wrong. Yeah. My own opinion is wrong. Exactly, yeah. In my own mind. The goals and the... You don't actually think that, Jim. What you think you think is wrong. I just invite everybody to listen back what you've been saying throughout the tournament.

5:44Jim Campbell: Or have you been lying to all the listeners? No, I've not been lying. I've just been saying that Andy and I were agreeing that it just feels like a grind now, doesn't it? If Arsenal were in there, you'd love it. I would probably be invested if I had a reason to be invested in it and therein lies the problem. So be happy for those who are invested in it, Jim. Yeah, I am. But that doesn't really change how it appears from where I sit. How much do you think people are invested in it? I think that's still an enormous question. Yeah, I do as well. Are you talking about fans or the players? All of them.

6:13Jim Campbell: I think the players are. You see the way they're into it. I don't think there's any doubt. They're there, so they feel they have to make the most of it. I think they'd all rather be on holiday. Really? Well, you've seen lots of their responses. I've seen Henrikh Mkhitaryan answer questions where he looked like he was going to fall asleep standing up. I mean, he's quite a bit of hate, to be fair. I think it's a poor example yeah I think not necessarily because it's just one of many talk to me about Simone and Zaghi Andy he seemed happy that's right when we use the word invested with him we really do mean invested I'd like you two to get into the zone Josco Gavardio who says I don't have an opinion on it I'm just it's my job alright if you don't like the Club World Cup don't watch it that's what I'd say to that go trampolining Andy you went there Andy you contributed to the attendance figures.

7:04You're right. I think it's the best thing to do in football if you disagree with the premise of something to just ignore it. That's exactly what reporting is. Oh. That's exactly what reporting is.

7:14Jim Campbell: You can go for a swim. You know, there's lots of options. You can have a crack at being Jeremy Paxman, apparently. No. You do like it. Oh, dear. Well, I thought this was a good game. I thought it was an enjoyable game. I thought it was end-to-end. And Al-Hilal got a famous victory against Manchester City. One of the pre-tournament favourites. And I think a big part of the story of this game is how slapdash City were at the back, wasn't it? I mean, Edison makes two mistakes there. I mean, obviously, Leonardo scores two very good goals as a result of those mistakes, and you have to credit him for that.

7:50Jim Campbell: But this was back to the really fun bit of Man City season, wasn't it? Which we all thought that they kind of got past. Having said that, they did play quite well for a lot of this. I was going to say I think a lot of it though that's the problem isn't it well yeah you're right did you feel like they played well for a lot of parts of last season though because I definitely didn't no the point I'm making really is that you know Man City used to play well for a whole game for about 200 games in a row they were 3-0 up against final that time Andy yeah I think this is slightly different you are right if you look at the tournament as a whole I think City okay they would have liked to go on and win it but I think it's it's a very decent tune-up, especially considering they've got so many new players.

8:33It's overall positive. And I think probably quite a good sort of reminder of we're not quite there again yet. I don't think it's such a bad thing. I mean, talking of endorsing things that you're not completely sure are right, how do you feel about Marcos Leonardo winning this game instead of Mitrovic?

8:53Jim Campbell: Sad that Mitrovic has not been a part of the Al-Halal winning machine. I'll tell you what, imagine if he was. They would have embarrassed Man City. Yeah, they would have. 7-3. It's as simple as that. No need for extra time. So, yeah, it's a shame. But, I mean, it was great for Joao Cancelo, though. Yeah, I mean, that probably feels like some sort of revenge, doesn't it? He left under a little bit of a cloud. He did. I mean, some of the names in that Al-Halal team. Obviously, Cancelo and Leonardo in there. Milenkovic, Savic, Renan Lodi, Ruben Neves, Canadou, Kilibali, goalkeeper. Malcolm. Bono, Malcolm, yeah.

9:26Jim Campbell: Little Malky's in there. Well, with regard to Bono, apparently Erling Haaland was speaking to him after the game and it seems to suggest he was saying, you know, come to Man City. Which, if that is the case... Yeah, because Edison's a bit like... Edison was in the same, like, within the vicinity in the clip that I saw, but I couldn't make out if Haaland was actually saying that. Maybe that's a little bit... I'd like Edison to trudge over and go, hey, hey, so what's the chat? What are we talking about? Like days after Edison has said, I'm staying at Manchester City. Yeah. Maybe he will end up fulfilling his dream of playing at left-back.

9:57Jim Campbell: Well, he might have to. Pep Guardiola called the result a pity, which maybe sums up the situation, Jim, to add fuel to your fiery hatred of this tournament. Because I think Andy's point is right. I think it's overall positive for Manchester City. However, you know, if they stayed playing games in that heat, they probably would be quite exhausted for the start of the season. So I think actually, on reflection for Manchester City, you've got there's been no doubt it's been more positive than the negative and they look a little bit better and Phil Foden looks like he's got the bit between his teeth again and one or two others but as I say to go on and play another few rounds and so it might have been just that bit exhausting Guardiola said though didn't he very recently that it could be a disaster for their season and maybe in December we'll be breaking down and everyone will be saying we're terrible and you know we'll assess it then and he's right isn't he we're not really going to know for them or for Chelsea and obviously for the other European teams involved where the calendar is means that they won't get much of a pre-season we just we simply don't know how much of an effect it's going to have maybe it'll be minimal maybe it'll be huge it's just really difficult I think that's really interesting isn't it the idea of not will it happen but when will it happen like you said will there be a point and you know we've said it before with like say English teams that have started in the really really early rounds when the formatting was a little bit different of European Cups.

11:25You know, if you start your season in mid-July, are you going to bottom out and have that problem hit a wall in November, December? Whereas I think the question here is, like you said, there are various possible places where that could happen. It could happen to you in November. It could probably happen to you in about February after loads of games on the heavy pitches. Or maybe there's just a slow start. What I'm more expecting is a slow start at the beginning of the season.

11:50Jim Campbell: A lot of the England players had slow starts, after the Euros last summer from going to the final. But this is the difference, isn't it? If you go out now, maybe you're not as affected by that. Well, yeah, and it gives a chance for the players to have some sort of proper holiday. Although I suppose the problem is they're not having as big a break or a holiday as the vast majority of the people they're competing with, right? Indeed. One negative note with Man City, of course, was Rodri coming off. I mean, it's hard to say. It's quite a common thing after big injuries, isn't it? You then get a lot of little ones.

12:19Jim Campbell: Yeah, I mean, it could be a little tweak because it looks like... We'll see how it turns out. We don't know yet. But that would be a sickener if that was to go, you know, having waited so long for him to come back to get any kind of problem. Exactly. And I guess the thing was about him before, before the major injury, is his durability. The fact that he was unbelievably consistent and the fact that City never lost with him in the team. Well, other than FA Cup finals, Andy. Give or take. To Scott McTominay's Manchester United. But a great result for Al Hillel, you're all kind of glossing over it, but Simone and Zaghi, the man who got gubbed by PSG, his Inter side, of course, in the Champions League final, thought to himself, well...

13:00Jim Campbell: I'll treat myself to a rehab. I want to win a trophy, and I'm not going to win it with Inter, as it seemed to prove, but Al Hillel, they marked John, and he said, tonight we had to do something extraordinary, because we know how good Manchester City are. We knew we had to climb Mount Everest without oxygen, and we were great. So the side of the draw that they're on has kind of opened up. Chelsea obviously play Palmeiras and Al-Hilal are going to play Fluminense who beat Inter 2-0 and you know you've got three non-European sides they're all on one side of the draw yeah there's a lot of quality in that Al-Hilal starting line-up as we've discussed as well Fluminense have got the kind of they've got the biggest of bits between their teeth as of Palmeiras the Brazilian approach has been amazing in this tournament so that will be an interesting game I particularly enjoyed the post-Inter victory Fluminense in Bantz because of course you had Thiago Silva bigging up his Milanese heritage footballing heritage not even nearly the oldest bloke on the pitch yeah that's right yeah well he said didn't he Thiago Silva I've been thinking about AC Milan the whole time I called Max Allegri this week I asked him about Inter he gave me good information so they're giving it plenty and the Fluminense always good to find out something about a team that's just been in the European Cup final absolutely yeah Fluminense's official Instagram account posted the goals against Inter with a traditional AC Milan chant as the background song.

14:22Jim Campbell: So they are just having the best time, aren't they? They sent a little good morning, Flamengo, good morning, Botafogo, how's the weather in Rio? Is that right? In the morning. They've also been putting ketchup all over pizza. No, I'm all for that. I don't even like ketchup. Have they? They have. Yeah. That will wind up Italians. That just will annoy them. You know, all that stuff. Yeah. Incredible. I mean, the joke's a joke. Come on. Are you upset? Really? Is there some Italian heritage in your family we don't know about? Maybe there is. There's something I don't know about. Well, Everaldo, Fluminense said about Inter before the game, they don't have three balls.

15:03Jim Campbell: They have two balls, just like us. Yes. So that was quite enjoyable. But of course, Fluminense's 44-year-old goalkeeper, Fabio, is just three games away from equaling the all-time record for most appearances in world football. Peter Shilton's record stands at 1 ,390. and Fabio has 1 ,387. Although Schilt himself claims that he's only actually played 1 ,387. I'd keep quiet about that. Yeah, that's rare humility from Schilt, isn't it? Yeah, quite strange. But the Guinness Book of Records disputes that and adds a few on. So Fabio would break the record if Fluminense make the final and he plays every game.

15:38Jim Campbell: Yeah, and he's got a contract for the next season as well, so he probably will break that record. He won the Under-19 World Cup in 1997. Blimey. But do you know who's third on that list? with 1 ,286 appearances? John Burridge. Cristiano Ronaldo. Really? I'm sure that'll be chased down. Blimey. Look at that, eh? Well, staying with Inter, Lautaro Martinez says anyone who doesn't want to fight for Inter should leave. It's thought that Martinez was referring to Hakan Canologlu, who had been linked with the move to Turkey. Yeah, there were rumours about that, and then Giuseppe Murata, the club president, was like, yeah, he's talking about Canologlu.

16:15Jim Campbell: Just really unhelpful. Yeah. Well, even Channel Ongeloo's wife got involved on social media and said, some people are not loyal to you. They are loyal to their need for you. Once their need changes, so does their loyalty. Don't regret having a good heart, Hakan. All things come back and multiply. You okay, hun? DM me, hun? Well, I thought, when I first started reading it, I thought, something happened in the marriage, and then don't regret having a good heart, Hakan. Named him, Andy. Don't just smile. This is trouble in paradise. Did you see his response? I've never betrayed this club. I've never said I'm not happy at Inter.

16:50Jim Campbell: There were offers in the past, tempting ones, but I stayed because deep down I know what this shirt means to me and I believe my actions spoke clearly. I've had the honour of wearing the captain's armband for my country and I've learned that leadership means standing by your team, not pointing fingers when it's easiest. Points to make. Here we go. Firstly, that, as we said before, Lautaro didn't name him, but he had his response already in three languages, which he put up pretty quickly. Also, he doesn't say, I don't want to leave. He says, I've never said I'm not happy at Inter, which is quite a difference from saying, I don't want to leave, I want to stay.

17:30Thirdly, having this massive go about loyalty when you literally left AC Milan to join Inter. Although that's actually sort of quite common, isn't it?

17:42Jim Campbell: Weirdly. Yeah, it's still not cool though. No, I guess I'm sure they don't love it. It's not long ago that Inter were on for a treble, isn't it? And now it's just become this circus. That's why Inzaghi left. What's funny, though, is, like you say, is because they were so close and because they're so tired and crotchety, all these old fellas towards the end of the season, it does feel like a load of people who stayed too long for a party, they've had a bit too much to drink and they just sat there around the kitchen table and go, you know what, I never liked you. Yeah. Fuck off. Get Mauro Cardi back at the club.

18:14Jim Campbell: Yeah, exactly. You've sought it out. Calm it all down. Well, on the other side of the draw in the Club World Cup, Real Madrid beat Juventus 1-0. Trent Alexander-Arnold got a lovely little assist for Gonzalo Garcia for the winner. Proving worth that£10 million, isn't he? Gonzalo Garcia looks a really good player as well. They've been comparing him to Raul straight away because that's Real Madrid, isn't it? This is the standard. Do that or you're out. Arda Gula, the Turkish Messi. Although they may not have been saying that at Real Madrid, to be fair. but he's been playing a bit more Angelotti didn't really fancy him too much did he Andy but it's good to see the young Turk doing he didn't fancy playing him every week I mean and Arda Goulet obviously found that do you remember his strop at the 2024 Champions League final when he realised they'd made all the subs and he realised it wasn't coming on and he quite kicked off I mean he believes in himself and then some yeah he went off into Soho before the final whistle is that what you say in Central London took the bus home with Adelta Raps.

19:16Jim Campbell: Kylian Mbappe and Rodrigo both started on the bench. Rodrigo, an unused substitute. Is he thinking about Arsenal already? I think Mbappe probably is as well based on that, right? Do you think? Yeah. But it's an interesting situation that, isn't it? It does look as if Ardegula might play a little bit more. Rodrigo prefers to play off the left, but obviously so do Vinicius and so does Mbappe in an ideal world. So it looks like he might be on the market. I don't know if Arsenal can afford him Why not start them all on the left and just have Trent raking those cross-field passes? You've got three of them to get on the end of that.

19:48Jim Campbell: Yeah, you're right. No one would think... The opposition right-back wouldn't know what hit him. They never come to you, do they? No. I think the real question with Rodrigo and how does he fit is because you always play him on the right and he gets through so much defensive work. But the question is, A, where do you play Valverde? Now he's not being forced into right-back anymore. and B, if you're playing three at the back on a consistent basis, and it looks like they might do, they've played it for the last couple of games, it really suits Trent Alexander-Arnold. It's going to suit Antonio Carreras, who's going to come on and play on the other side when he joins from Benfica.

20:28Does the new system squeeze Rodrigo out? That's the real question. Do you think he'll be off? I think because they're going to ask for so much money for him, I don't think there's an immediate move for him.

20:42Jim Campbell: He's the obvious choice if they do want to recoup some money though, isn't he? Yeah, but he has been for the last couple of seasons and it looked like he would be squeezed out when Mbappe arrived and that wasn't the case and they were clear with how valuable he was to them last season. So I think it's too early to say. But I think the Gonzalo Garcia thing's interesting because they would have been looking, I think, for a centre forward. Now look, he's not six foot four or anything like that But he is very, very good in the air for his size. I suppose the Raoul comparison is just because he's come through the academy.

21:12There's no playing comparison to it, I don't think. But that he's making such a case for himself to be part of the squad could also save them quite a lot of money going into this. Because I think when we're talking about money and recouping, part of it is the fact that it's widely believed that Vinicius has already signed his new contract and they're not going to announce it until after the tournament. so there was a possibility floated that he could end up going to Saudi that doesn't look like being the case now so yeah I guess there's a question mark somewhere

21:43Jim Campbell: there was talk as well that they wanted a Hossolu somebody who can slot in there and not cost a huge amount of money and pop up with goals and I mean Gonzalo Garcia is making his case right yeah that would be good yeah now gentlemen Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has had his say on the Club World Cup and I think this is aimed at you two if you believe four tweeters who think that the level of the Club World Cup is shit. You're wrong. Firstly, Jim and I aren't on Twitter anymore. Blue skies. Secondly, you can't see anything from way back there. So what does he know? I see. Well, Real Madrid will play Borussia Dortmund in the quarterfinals of the Club World Cup.

22:22Jim Campbell: Sadly, the Bellingham boys won't face each other because Joe Bellingham got a second yellow card in the tournament and will be suspended for the game. Which is a bit of a shame. That is gutting, isn't it? It is, it is. If Joe Brunswick winning that, what happens yeah I don't know he takes Jude's spot it would have been fascinating to see somebody like genuinely kind of get the better of Jude yeah and who can really give it to him properly little brother him yes exactly go shake his hand and ah that would have been enjoyable done yeah well yeah you know that's a decent quarter final tie it's Champions League-esque I might say that side of the draw Bayern versus PSG and Real Madrid versus Borussia Dortmund Borussia Dortmund Borussia Dortmund will speak Monterey 2-1 Sergio Ramos Moss is out but my goodness in the dying seconds of that game it's really close when he rose for that header and he gets at it you're thinking there's the moment and it just skiffs the post wide the thing is even though he's quite an unapologetic character I think it has maybe saved him from something because he was asked right at the start of the tournament I was in a press conference where he was asked do you want to play Real Madrid later in the tournament and he said well honestly I'd prefer to play Atletico obviously meaning because he scores big goals against him and they're not as good but I think he wasn't as front foot about it as you would have expected.

23:38I think it would have been properly weird for him.

23:40Jim Campbell: The America summer heat gets to us all, Andy. I think that's the takeaway. Especially when you heard that Juventus coach Igor Tudor said 10 players asked to be subbed due to the difficult conditions during the game. Bloody hell. I mean, they all looked as if they were losing a couple of stones during that game, didn't they? Like the humidity was unbelievable. And it's going to be unbelievable next summer as well. All right then, coming up after this, Brentford have a new manager and Villa need some cash.

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26:43I hope he does get it Because then he'll realise what management is all about It's just not as easy Just to be sitting criticising someone Who in all honesty I know A much better career than he had He was dealing at the bottom end of it when I was winning the European Cup.

26:59Jim Campbell: Well, back to the football ramble, everybody. That was Martin O 'Neill on Keith Andrews, Brentford's new manager. Just say what you mean. Say what you mean, mate. Apparently, Andrews was critical of Martin O 'Neill when he was Republic of Ireland boss. After they lost to Wales in 2018, he told O 'Neill to stop moaning, adding they don't have a clue what they're doing. Of course, Andrews himself worked with Ireland in the past. he was more recently Brentford's set piece coach but he's been promoted to first team manager replacing Thomas the Frank engine yes so I think the idea at Brentford was that Justin Cochran would potentially succeed Thomas Frank in this situation which they're obviously well prepared for but Frank ended up taking him with him so they've kind of kept it internal and I think it feels quite risky doesn't it in some senses because obviously the headline of him being a set-piece coach is probably a little bit kind of misleading.

27:56Jim Campbell: But he doesn't have a huge amount of experience. But I think it goes quite underrated, actually, what a massive success story Brentford are. To have established themselves in the Premier League as profoundly as they have. I mean, we're going into their fifth season in the Premier League. It feels like they've been around for way, way longer than that. And they've not been hanging on as well. No, no, they've thrived. They've had a couple of mid-table finishes. their lowest finish is 16th 10th last season the other two were 9th and 13th so you know well well established and this is just this is essentially that same process this is where we find out if they're London Brighton basically isn't it yeah if they have got that that sense of being able to just lose people and carry on on the playing side I think a lot of people I was kind of sceptical about how they would do without Ivan Toney for example and that they rode that out really, really well.

28:51The recruitment's been good. And I think that idea of keeping it all in the tent, keeping it all really, I guess, familiar is something that I think is quite laudable. You've got to admire it, haven't you? Yeah, absolutely. Whether he's got the chops to coach at this level, I guess a little bit like Martin O 'Neill said, even if he was doing it in quite an over-the-top sort of way, we won't know until he actually gets into it. And I guess like the way that people will, a lot of people will look at this is would Keith Andrews get any other Premier League job? Now, obviously the answer is no, but I don't think that necessarily has to matter.

29:35Jim Campbell: I don't think it's a relevant question. No, I don't think so. Because you've already backed out about the sort of uniqueness, if you like, of Brentford or their approach. and of course it's a gamble but it's always a gamble I mean, you know, Eulon Lopategui was an established coach and didn't do it at West Ham Every appointment's different Yeah, and you can cherry pick examples to back up your point, of course you can and obviously when you are appointing a manager you're trying to go for someone who is not a gamble you're trying to do something but the way I think the club has gone about the business I'd be surprised if many Brentford fans had a problem with this because again, this approach...

30:16Jim Campbell: It's what's worked for them, right? Totally. And this will very much test what's going on. This is a huge shake-up and I can't imagine if they would have as big a shake-up at all going forward because obviously you mentioned Tony there, of course, but the manager is the crucial one. You see, when Tony left and so on, you still had Thomas Frank and when Thomas Frank was there, you knew they were going to still be a Premier League club. He's off and then obviously Brian Abuma's going to go, isn't he? Yeah, I mean, the issue might be the sheer scale of the change, right? Obviously, Andrews has only been there since last June.

30:46Jim Campbell: So I suppose that is potentially a factor as well. Losing the manager is, of course, massive. They've lost Mark Flecken to Bayer Leverkusen. Norgaard going. Replaced him with Keevan Kelleher, which may well be an upgrade. But yeah, Norgaard is their captain. And Buma may well go. He was their top scorer. Who knows if Wisser might be vulnerable to moves from elsewhere as the window goes on as well. So, I mean, it's the biggest challenge they've faced in the Premier League. But they also seem uniquely well set up to cope with that sort of thing. And it feels like quite a safe time to take on that challenge, doesn't it?

31:18Really? Do you think? Yeah, when you look at the way the Premier League has gone, the promoted clubs finding it so difficult. Okay, yeah. I think to at least try that, I mean, as Jim says, it's a gamble from every angle. And I think if you bring in a new coach, even if it's a new big-name coach, I think the expectation is they put their own stamp on the team and to an extent the club. Do Brentford actually want that? I don't know if they do, do they? They want to continue in the same way as much as is possible because it's working for them.

31:51Jim Campbell: Yeah, because if you then bring in somebody who is completely unfamiliar and sort of parachuted in, it's the first step to moving away from the model. Your identity, right? Yeah, indeed, yeah. And I think with a club with Brentford, could they push on and try and grab a European spot next season? I think people would probably think that's unlikely because of the changes. But it's not, you know, it's within the realms of possibility as they go forward. But really, much like a number of clubs, they're kind of a mid-table Premier League side, which I never use that as a criticism at all. If Liverpool and Arsenal start to become mid-table, maybe.

32:28Jim Campbell: But context is key, right? And so to do that, as you say... It's very funny that Man Utd and Spurs haven't cleared that bar for you to be able to include them. Yeah, they're lower league Premier League teams at the moment. but you know it's a hell of an achievement that they've done that so if you are going to be in that you know mid-table bracket then do do your own way and give the fans like real pride about how you go about doing it so I think you know we're full of praise for them but this is a huge test and I think that that if Thomas Frank was still there and they lost you know their big players you wouldn't worry about them at all whereas now you think okay and I think the promoted side so just to kind of give the other side of the sort of chat, I think the promoted sides will look at Brentford now and go, okay, there's maybe one we could try and read.

33:15Jim Campbell: Yeah, yeah. But Brentford, as you say, they're set up to try and stave that off. But what do you think, Andy, that two months ago, Keith Andrews applied for the manager's job at MK Donz. He lost out to former Derby manager, Paul Warne. Brought the bullet there, didn't he? There we are. That's the quote we wanted. Excellent. I'll never disappoint. No, you don't, Andy. No. Not to us, anyway. Right then, gentlemen. let's turn our attention to Aston Villa Football Club. They are set to sell their women's team to their parent company. Villa's women's team is thought to be valued at around£55 million and the move would help them comply with the Premier League's financial rules.

33:53Jim Campbell: The move mimics what Chelsea did, just as that guy, Jim Edward Campbell, predicted. You must be feeling pretty smug about yourself. I'm actually kind of worried about it because I keep making jokes and then they come true because football is now so stupid that it's kind of beyond satire. It's like The Thick of It on Nathan Barley, isn't it? Yeah, exactly. Or The News.

34:17Jim Campbell: Villa recorded a£195 million loss over the last two years. And do you remember that a loss of more than£105 million over three seasons constitutes a PSR breach? Well, the thing is, we know that they're the club that are closest to the line. Because, I mean, wage bill alone, Andy. Yeah, and it was always an interesting thing, wasn't it? when you saw them go out and loan sign Rashford and Asensio in January, and you thought, whoa, this is big. I mean, obviously, without re-qualifying for the Champions League. That's a big loss. Yeah, they were never going to be able to go for it in that way again.

34:56And I thought it was quite interesting. In the same week that this news is announced, you have that thing where they did a post on Insta where it said, we'd like to thank Robin Olsen for everything he offered the club also all the other loanees who've gone back to their clubs and you flick down and on like slide five there's like Marcus Rashford and slide seven there's Marco Asensio very bad news I guess yeah and I guess because there was no chance I mean whether they would have actually wanted to bet the farm on Rashford I guess a question but I'm sure they would have loved to keep Asensio because Asensio was legit one of the best players in the Premier League in the second half of the Premier League.

35:37Jim Campbell: I think it shows you quite how much you have to throw at the wall if you want to make a serious challenge to kind of break into the traditional top six when you are from outside it, right? Yeah. You have to kind of take quite a lot of risk and also maintaining it. Yeah, well indeed and you have to maintain it, don't you? Otherwise you end up in a situation where you're having to sell yourself your own women's team or whatever or get creative in that way. Because you budget in a way that, well, we're a Champions League club now. Yes. That's how we budget and then of course you don't make it you're in real trouble exactly and I really do think we're going to see more of this and I wonder if it I mean where it stops in terms of what assets you can or can't sell yourself because Chelsea sold themselves a hotel didn't they as well yeah I think it's a massive problem I mean you know I guess we touched we talked about it a lot on OTC last week and I talked about it on the OTC Monday YouTube video as well the fact that Leon and John Textor to me this was the worrying thing before the team got shit in the first half of not season just gone, but the season before.

36:36So 23, 24. More concerning than what was happening on the pitch is just that he was selling everything that wasn't nailed down. So he sold the US women's team that they had, OL Reign. He sold the women's team. He sold the stadium, the basketball and concert stadium that's dead opposite the Group Armour Stadium, the actual main stadium sold the old academy building and this is a real problem I think it's like if we go back 20 years and when you think Leeds sold Thor Parch their training ground you're like shit they're really in trouble now and I think we can kind of have this assumption that Premier League clubs have got so much money they'll be fine

37:25Jim Campbell: they'll just be fine they're selling essentially selling it to themselves aren't they? so it's slightly different right? yeah it is but it isn't how do we know that the parent company is is gonna own villa forever you you might get to a point a little bit down the line where the club is sold on and owns none of its assets sure that's that's the problem and it's always the problem when people look at the person who's buying a football club isn't it it's not about the person you're selling your football club to it's the person that they sell it to that that's the concern isn't it it is and and you're right to highlight all this but there's another angle to this that people have been saying is what does this mean for women's football yeah it kind of it kind of treats it such a you know in a kind of slapdash kind of ah yeah just sell go on ladies yeah was yeah you're over there now kind of thing it's just i i it doesn't feel like a lot of consideration for the future it doesn't feel right it really does not feel right this um and unless the premier league change stuff and close loopholes and all the rest of it.

38:28Jim Campbell: We are going to see this more, as Jim joked about recently. Anything else we're going to see more, Jim? 30 plus degree weather in England. Yeah, don't do that. Actually, the likelihood is that the Gulf Stream will collapse and that because we're on a similar latitude to Canada that the weather would be more like it's there, apparently. So that's not a joke. It's very serious. Hopefully it won't happen. All right. Well done to take them down the mood. Now, former villain John Duran is set to leave Al Nasser just six months after joining for 70 million. Absolutely box office, this guy. He just basically can't sod this.

39:05Jim Campbell: Sod this. It's like he's doing his career backwards, though, isn't it? A little bit. A little bit. He's poised to join Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce. Come on! On an initial loan. I'll tell you what, Mourinho's got his eyes on all these types of players. Jane Sancho, of course. They're in for Asensio as well. What's he planning, Andy? well obviously an assault on the Turkish Super League and yes he's planning to destroy Galatasaray and yes I've chosen those words but I mean you know if old Mourinho's still got a bit of pull factor which he may well do surely you know he should that's what he's trying to use he's trying to say this that's why you come play with me and you know if you're fed up with that crap come and play here I don't think this is I think it's easy to see it from an international perspective as Mourinho's pull I don't think it is I think you look at You look at Jadon Sancho and the way they've approached Jadon Sancho, and he's probably thinking, I'm really keen to stay in the Premier League, make a go of it.

40:02And he's done one of those things that builders do when they don't want to do a job for you, and quote you a ridiculously high price. And so Jadon Sancho's gone, yeah, I'd like£12 million after tax. And they've gone, okay. Can I offer you a few private jet flights on top of that? He's like, holy shit, I was bitten. I can't believe it.

40:22Jim Campbell: Yeah. Do you think, do you think, I mean, we are going to see Fenerbahce surely sign some players because Mourinho, the fact is he's still there and he's thinking, right, I'm not having any. It's not, I don't think this is Mourinho. I think attaching those players to Mourinho being in charge, I don't think it's the same thing. Now, I know people want to believe in his magnetism and that's true to a certain extent. But having said that, I, like I said, with the Sancho thing, I just think it's an extraordinary amount of money. these clubs and Galatasaray can be included in this as well remember they offered Victor Ozyman earlier in the summer 15 million after tax a year to sign for them no other club in Europe is coming anywhere near that now of course it turns heads so I don't think this is anything to do with Mourinho being in charge any more than it's to do with Ockham Buruk being in charge of Galatasaray and he plays nice football wouldn't it be fun to play for him I don't think it's anything to do with that my point was fair I was going to say that Mourinho because Galatasaray mugged him off so spectacularly last season we know what he's like I mean the fact that you know when Guardiola was at Barcelona playing that football he still won a very impressive league title there Mourinho and he has to respond he can't go oh well you know as long as we're in the Champions he has to respond which is why of course you're right to say all about the money but it would be very interesting to see the type of player and some big names that he's after.

41:52I think...

41:52Jim Campbell: Because he has to respond to that absolute piss take. It's more that Fenerbahce need to respond, I think, going back to that. You know, they're a club that are an absolutely humongous club that haven't won the league in over 10 years. Like, especially with the amount of money that they've been spending on salaries. It's just unacceptable. I reckon the Mourinho question is how long does he last that season? Because if you bring in John Duran, like, okay, it's a great signing. it's an eye-catching signing, we know he's got a massive ceiling, all that sort of stuff. He's not a total guarantee of like 30 goals a season, is he?

42:28I mean, he's an enormous talent who so far has shown bits of that talent and he's also shown the capacity to lose his head at various points as well. So they're paying cast-iron superstar money for someone who's not yet a cast-iron superstar. Now, I think we can get it slightly twisted from a Premier League perspective as well, because we're so in this zone at the moment where the biggest clubs would rather pay for a potential and big upside than they would pay for someone who's established in 27-28, because everyone's thinking about Ceylon, because everyone's thinking about PSR and all that sort of stuff.

43:09But if John Durant goes there and finds it a bit difficult at the start of the season, which is not off the table. Like I said, I don't think it's a given that he scores 25 or 30 goals next season. And they're miles off it in November. And Mourinho gets an offer from the Premier League. He's off. Oh, cool.

43:29Jim Campbell: Of course he's off. But is he going to get that offer? Well, that's the question. That is a question that we don't have time to answer today. Because really, Fenerbahce can't pay to get rid of him. That's the thing, isn't it? Oh, God. They're stuck with him, aren't they? They are stuck with him. That means we're not. They, Jim, they are stuck with him. They've taken a bullet for us. We're not stuck with him. They are. What did we say, Brentford in November? Oh, God, blimey. Coming up after this. That's the one Premier League team we can guarantee won't go to, right? Coming up after this, Chelsea have signed yet another striker, and Robbie Savage goes vegan.

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46:07Jim Campbell: Yes, Chelsea have signed Brighton forward Joao Pedro for£55 million. His contract will run until 2032. Of course. Long time, long contract, and that's what they're all about there. He joins Chelsea's growing list of strikers, Liam de Lappe, of course, Nicholas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku. Joao Pedro, interesting one, Jim Campbell. Yeah, very interesting one. He can take penalties. He can take a lot of penalties. Yeah, he's particularly good at that. He's also very versatile, isn't he, Pedro? he can play Pendro Pendro sure he can he can play out wide as well which is probably part of the appeal isn't it to make them a little bit unpredictable I think it's an interesting one for Nicholas Jackson this because I remember when Liam DeLac first signed we were talking about what that's a great duo of strikers to have because you know they both score goals now but both have the potential to score more I wonder if Jackson might look for a move with Pedro coming in as well because surely that limits the minutes well I find Pedro an interesting one because Because clearly the signing of De Lapp, even though it was for a relatively cheaper Premier League price, and that sounds funny for a guy who only had one season in the league, but because of that release.

47:14Jim Campbell: It was a classic market opportunity, wasn't it? Well said. So surely he's going to be the one. I don't think Chelsea will want to get rid of Jackson necessarily. I think Pedro's in there as a completely different option. The way Maresca kind of wants to play, the way he wants to evolve the team, I kind of think, oh, that is an interesting one. Will he play just behind a forward, which I think he could do and sort of restructure the midfield? It feels quite likely, doesn't it? It does, yeah. And as you mentioned about out wide, he offers a different option than some of the wingers. But the way Mareska likes to play with the width and those kind of pacey wingers, I keep saying that a different option.

47:51Jim Campbell: I mean, for£55 million, just to have him as a player who's going to be on the bench most of the time, again, I'm trying to wrap my head around this, Andy. What are your thoughts? I feel like he would have been a better signing for Newcastle than he would have been for Chelsea, if I'm being perfectly honest. Especially if he does want to play. Because they were the other one who was, I think they had a bit rejected. They were certainly very interested. They were close, weren't they? And I guess a lot of players would prefer to go to Chelsea than Newcastle. Newcastle aren't in the Club World Cup.

48:20Jim Campbell: He wants to get the tail end of this tournament. That's right. Once again, mugging both of you off. It's like, I've been on holiday for four days and I'm bored. Give me football. Yeah, I think that could be part of it. It's like, oh, I don't have to pay you 55 million. I'm very keen. But I think the elephant in the room that we haven't really mentioned, another expensive striker is Christopher Nkunku. Yes. Presumably he goes. And then it makes better sense for Chelsea, doesn't it? And it affects Jackson's future less. Because they are going to play a lot of football next season. And Chelsea don't really have a lot of centre-forwards, do they?

48:57Jim Campbell: Well, they do now. They do now, yeah. they're also in rude financial health it's always worth pointing that out because they spent a billion pounds or whatever but they make an absolute fortune in sales and obviously they do their quite creative accounting the women's team was worth a few quids yeah and the hotel exactly these things that they are somehow getting away with I mean Diara to Sunderland they might be getting a little bit of that who knows there you go I'm intrigued what Chelsea are going to do next season and looking at the Club World Cup they are on the easier side of the door they could end up winning that which more in the pot yeah exactly well I mean the thing is that they have made quite a few quid from the club so that all goes in there that goes in there by the way quick note we've mentioned Turkey earlier and we're mentioning former Chelsea man Tammy Abraham is heading to Turkey that one we know and he's not going to Fenerbahce he's not even going to Galatasaray who's he linking up with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Besiktas what a treat for Brassel this show is everyone's heading out to Turkey to Kia To Kia, sorry.

49:58Jim Campbell: Did you say... They're not just getting the band back together. They're having their own Glastonbury just for you. Galatasarabri... No, don't worry. Tammy was so keen. While he was on the private jet, he actually got the shirt on. No, just lifting of the scarf for him. Apparently he said, hello, Black Eagles, I'm coming for you. That's Besiktas, of course, because you're wondering what I'm going on about. He spent the last season on loan at AC Milan. He just scored three Serie A goals. You'd imagine he scored a few more Super League goals. He played better than that would suggest. Okay. He was pretty useful for him.

50:28And I think he got like 10, 11 in all competitions. Look, he must have been better, Andy.

50:31Jim Campbell: He's earned a move to Besiktas. It's only going to sell, sure, for crying out loud. What more do you want? Now, let's come back home. There are some new faces in the Football League. Forest Green Rovers have appointed Robbie Savage as their new head coach. Luke was particularly pleased with that because he thinks Savage will probably do less media work now. But, of course, Savage has been doing the old managing and so on for a little while now. Two weeks ago, he signed a new two-year deal to stay as Macclesfield manager. But obviously, that wasn't worth the paper it was printed on because he's now gone to Forest Green Rovers.

51:05Jim Campbell: Savage, which is a very, very harsh way of looking at it. Savage won three promotions in four years at Macclesfield, being involved there. So credit to him. Yeah, he's done an amazing job. Credit to him. I know it's Robbie Savage, but you've got to give credit where credit's due. Yeah, he was the sporting director for some of those, wasn't he? He was. He only became the coach relatively recently. Yes, yes, it's good to point that out. I think it's really interesting. So important to take some of that credit away. He set the foundation and then he went, right, it's now my turn to shine. It's really interesting that he's been like a fixture in the media for so long that you kind of assume that, okay, probably coaching's not for him.

51:44And obviously he's got the bug while he's been coaching Wacklesfield. A relatively late stage, I think we can say. You could see Savickson. He's like the back end of his 40s. he's obviously felt yeah this is me this is me

51:57Jim Campbell: but I kind of get it though I mean I look we know what type of character Robbie Savage is but passionate and full on and all the rest of it definitely words you could say about him so I think you know again really genuinely fair play to what he's done at Macclesfield he's having a go at Forest Green Rovers who have chopped and changed managers a little bit I mean Duncan Ferguson and Troy Deeney were managers there there is a sense with Forest Green isn't there that they like her quite a high profile manager but that is from slightly left field yeah that isn't to say though that Robbie Savage hasn't earned a shot at a high level I think yeah they Macclesfield themselves failed to convince Wayne Rooney to replace Robbie Savage which would have been glorious they now have appointed his brother John Rooney though sort of glorious which has joined up thinking in a way yeah exactly I am quite intrigued how it's going to go for old Robbie at Forest Green Rovers because I do get the impression with Savage if he doesn't irritate everybody there which he could then he could have like a galvanising effect and do something I suspect he's different in that role though because he's done so well at Macclesfield and he's learned a lot well as he's admitted it's quite a high pressure job as well I know like people will probably look at that from a distance and go oh it's only Forest Green but realistically they fell through successive divisions and they went out in the playoffs last season you know There are some humongous clubs, as always, in there.

53:24They've got a very high-profile owner, and they've got a profile of a certain sort because of their investors, because of their values, because of Dale Vince, all of those sort of things. And he said, didn't he, quite openly in the introductory press rounds, that I'm quite aware that if it doesn't work, I'll be booted out.

53:46Jim Campbell: And they finished third in the National League. And that is the thing, isn't it? I mean, they did finish third, but they're absolutely miles behind York. They've been quite busy in the transfer market already this summer. Look, this is a tough job and no mistake. Yeah, absolutely. But I mean, if he can get them up, it'd be a huge achievement as well. So good luck to him. And it's in a beautiful part of the world. Beautiful part. It's in the Cotswolds. Lovely, lovely, lovely. Right. Let's move up a couple of leagues to League One. Blackpool have appointed former Spurs and Birmingham City midfielder Stephen Clements.

54:22Jim Campbell: He joins Steve Bruce's first-team coaching staff, which consists of assistant manager Steve Agnew, first-team coach Steve Dobby, and goalkeeping coach Steve Banks. All the Steves. Yeah, all of the Steves. They've got five of the buggers now. That's why he's glad he's doubled down on Stephen. Yeah, I think he's set his stall out very well there. Yeah, definitely. He doesn't want to be called Clem, does he? but he might have to there we are thank you very much for listening to the Football Ramble part of the Acast Creator Network Patreon subscribers don't go anywhere keep listening for Ramble Uncut if you're not a Patreon subscriber sign up to get Ramble Uncut every single Wednesday head over to patreon.com forward slash football ramble now thank you Andy Brassel thank you thank you Jim Campbell you're welcome thank you everybody we'll see you on Friday for more football chat and of course Luke's game

55:15The Football Ramble is a stack production and part of the Acast Creator Network.

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From the publisher

Alarming news coming out of Ramble HQ: Marcus has been in Gianni’s pocket the whole time. Turns out the biggest cheerleader for this foul jamboree has been right under our noses.


He’s joined by Jim and Andy for more Club World Cup business as Man City were knocked out by everyone’s favourite underdogs Al Hilal, while Real Madrid march on and Inter fall apart at the seams. Elsewhere, Robbie Savage gets a new gig, everyone else is off to Türkiye and Macclesfield had turned to the Rooneys for help… Just not the Rooney you’re thinking of.


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