We’ve got our worm back

0:00You're a pro at running your life, at committing to your workout, at showing up every day. At Bombas, we're pros too. Pros at making socks. Our sport assortment has specialized socks for whatever sport you're committed to. Running, hiking, golf, Pilates, and so much more. Made with sweat-wicking yarns, blister-fighting details, and targeted art support. Bombas Sport is pro-level socks from the pros of socks. For another pro, you. Go to bombas.com slash audio and use code audio for 20 % off your first purchase. That's Bombas.com and use code audio.

0:58and loaves. Hi, it's Mark Bittman from the podcast Food with Mark Bittman. It's back to school time, which means many of us are going to be busier than ever. But from getting out the door in the morning to enjoying delicious meals together at the end of the day, Whole Foods Market can help with convenient options and delivery. Plus, because it's Whole Foods Market, you can feel good about the quality of the ingredients. Shop back-to-school must-haves at Whole Foods Market, in-store, or online.

1:53Purchase necessary for sweeps. See bonus points, T's and C's and sweeps rules for details and visit bestwestern.com for complete terms and conditions. Think about how you describe your ideal car to a friend. Good on gas. Highly reliable. Nothing over 20 grand. Now describe it to CarGurus the same way. With Guru, you search in your own words and get real listings that match. No endless filters. Just the car that fits your life. It's no wonder CarGurus is the number one most visited car shopping site. According to SimilarWeb's estimated traffic data, buy or sell your next car today with CarGurus at CarGurus.com.

2:31Go to CarGurus.com to make sure your big deal is the best deal. That's C-A-R-G-U-R-U-S dot com. CarGurus.com. Hi, this is Paige from Giggly Squad, and today's episode is brought to you by McDonald's. Honestly, Caesar sauce and a Diet Coke at McDonald's might be the perfect girl dinner. and Mc Crispy strips dipped in Caesar sauce. No notes. Right now at participating McDonald's, the$2.99 Caesar snack wrap is making me rethink my entire go-to order. Caesar sauce is at participating McDonald's for a limited time, so go try it before it's gone. Prices and participation may vary.

3:11Pete Donaldson: Life's candy in the sun's a bowl of butter, everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble. Spurs start with a win and Sunderland are back in business. it's Monday 18th of August I'm Marcus Speller I'm Pete Donaldson and I'm the Dushan of Hunter Raja

3:35Pete Donaldson: Hello everybody it's Monday a magnificent Monday the Premier League boys yeah it's back it's back it's back baby it started it started on Friday and Rua Maui get I had plans I had plans I had things to do

3:51Marcus Speller: for crying out loud and they kept showing the football on my three different subscriptions and totally ruined my social capacity well you've

3:59Pete Donaldson: still got a match tonight we do this round of the Premier League hasn't actually finished but Vish your team Manchester United no goals Peter your team Newcastle United no goals my team Fulham just just got a goal right at the end one goal between

4:16Marcus Speller: three

4:17Pete Donaldson: a salve can we share it around? no that point is for me and my boy although you guys are going to we could

4:24Marcus Speller: King Solomon it we should I'll say let's cut it in half and then whoever doesn't want me to do that

4:29Pete Donaldson: they're the real mother the point in the most correct makes sense now the Premier League of course is back for another season as always at the Football Ramble we'll be here to guide you through all the highs and lows and notable mad shite that the Barclays has to offer if you enjoy the Ramble and would like to support the show we would absolutely love it if you could leave us a five star review If you think it's a four-star show, lie. Give us five stars. Wherever you listen to your podcast, do that, please. That will help us bring the ramble to even more people. And who doesn't want that? It's a conversation starter.

4:59Pete Donaldson: It's a high-five producer. So just a quick five-star review is all you need. Thank you very much. And here's to another season of rambling, everybody. And to mark the occasion, we're starting with Sunderland. I'll tell you something. Can you try to play with? It is, Peter. one for all of the North East to enjoy yeah I think so I've said Tundra should be a strong team they've won the league title so many times in the history not recently you've said other things about the town generally

5:31Marcus Speller: and you're right to say that that is your prerogative they are, especially your opinions but you're right to say that

5:38Pete Donaldson: but you're using this as a platform they're second in the table and you cannot deny that I keep asking people who everybody who works here and is connected with you that why do we keep giving Pete a platform when it comes to Sunderland? I mean, look, it's been a long while since Sunderland have, one of their games has been, in the Premier League, has been dissected on this show. I don't know how long it's been when we open with them. No, exactly. For a positive result. My goodness, they beat West Ham United 3-0, of course. Perfect team to play at this point in the season. But that was the thing.

6:09Pete Donaldson: You're right, Peter. We were saying on Friday, I was saying that this is a great opening fixture for both sides potentially yes yeah and whoever wins if one team is to win well it's going to be if West Ham say won 3-0 which seems a laughable suggestion now of course then Sunderland are going to be like oof right okay yeah back in the big league okay but if West Ham get hammered which you know no pun intended then that's a really damning result but let's focus on Sunderland for the moment you know All three scorers played for Sunderland in the championship last season, which is lovely. The finishes, I suppose.

6:47Pete Donaldson: The build-up was very much about some of the new signings as well. Well, all three assists were from new signings. So perfect stuff for the manager there. Eight players made their Sunderland debuts in this game. Seven started, Vish. Yeah, yeah.

6:59Marcus Speller: Seven from the start as well.

7:01Pete Donaldson: Yeah, which, you know, you think, are they going to gel? But when Pete Donaldson, those people, the good people of the North East, fill that stadium and it's bouncing and rocking, and best support in the league. It has to be said. Best support in possibly the entire 72 below it as well. Already a little dig at Newcastle. I'm not saying. I mean, listen, I will stick by my guns and say that they're still going to go down at the end of the season. This feels very much like you were talking about Mortal Kombat before we started. This is like the start, you know, the ladder of Mortal Kombat when you start and you're fighting all the easy characters.

7:32Yeah. You know, once you get up to Liu Kang and stuff like that.

7:35Pete Donaldson: Is the championships Scorpio? Yes. Yeah, it's Scorpio. Red and all like slightly lame characters.

7:42Marcus Speller: So in this case, was West Ham Kramer? Yeah, Kramer. Yeah, you know, like sometimes they're just putting characters from other shows.

7:50Pete Donaldson: When he was fighting himself.

7:51Marcus Speller: Yeah, it's like, oh, it's Kramer from Seinfeld. Yeah.

7:55Pete Donaldson: It's late to see that. Well, I'm intrigued that you've gone on an enormous charm offensive saying they have the best support in professional. Away Anhorn, they do have the best support. I mean, you've just stunned me with that. Well, Sandler fans, drink that in. Because Pete is a man... They're a big T-4. They brought a big T-4. What about that T-4-vish? Did you see it? With the... Was it a knight spearing a dragon? Oh, that one, yes. Yeah, yeah. Marcus. Oh, that one. Marcus. You sorry bastard. What? That was the Lambton fucking worm. Show some respect. Yeah. Of course it was. The Lambton... Are you familiar with the Lambton worm story?

8:31Pete Donaldson: Yeah, but tell people who don't know. Like me. And me. Right. Lambton... Some little lad, right? Why did you call me a sorry pal?

8:41Marcus Speller: Because you don't respect our folktales. Yeah, sorry. Sorry, Marcus, you're being ridiculous. Go on, Pete. Tell us about the mythical worm. Little boy, he finds a salamander in the River Weir. Not a worm. Go on. He's only chucked it down the well, hasn't he? Oh, no. He goes the fuck off for fighting the Crusades. Right. And comes back. This bloody salamander has taken over his entire estate. his entire manor

9:09Pete Donaldson: he's going to have to sort it out he's going to have to slay it he's going to have to slay it and so before he starts to slay it he talks to an owl witch and this witch tells him that after he slayed the lantern worm did you say owl witch an owl witch an owl witch an owl witch she's owl witch an owl witch she talks to an old witch and the witch says you've got to slay the first living thing you see after you've killed the lantern worm or therefore bad luck or follow you so he briefs his dad he said dad as soon as I kill this fucking worm can you release the dog that I've got and I'm going to kill my dog which is tragic don't worry if it's all made up he kills the salamander slash worm slash whatever it is not a dragon and then he and then his dad gets so excited he runs out and celebrates with his son and his son goes you idiot you forgot to release the dog I'll have to kill you now and he kills his dad and the moral of the story is don't skip church to go fishing in the weir right so why are they called the black cats I don't know I don't know why they didn't make a black cat tea for I believe they did last season maybe it was in the wash why is this a celebrated story about a man who killed his dad well I'm going to have to do it now what he sided he sided he sided with the witch with the witch over his dad you've got you just have to trust the voodoo

10:24Marcus Speller: having fought in the crusades where is his moral comfort where is his faith

10:29Pete Donaldson: he's got a thirst for it clearly yeah anyway well so it wasn't a dragon it was the lantern one show some fucking respect I apologize to all of the worms well I would say the whole population so there you go Sunderland what did he tell his mum you're not going to believe this he didn't release is it T4 T4 when it's suspended from the roof yeah why not because it's a big T4 and obviously you've had the stadium help to get that up there I think T4 should be on the crowd only

11:03Marcus Speller: I think to be fair When we look at things that Sunderland have done recently at the home ground, which includes turning one of their own bars into a shrine to anti-Sunderland propaganda on behalf of Newcastle fans playing there in a cup game. If they're going to help out with the T-Fo, let them. This is a new era where Sunderland aren't shooting themselves in the foot. That should only be celebrated. It was a weird football match, Marcus, wasn't it? West Ham controlled the centre of the park. They seemed to be in control of the game. but for a particular period of time well for you know good chunky periods of the match but they just couldn't see off like Callum Wilson came on and was just knocking people over are you Graham Potter's PR agent I'm just saying that West Ham looked okay for the period first half they looked alright

11:51Pete Donaldson: yeah and completely toothless

11:53Marcus Speller: I think they were allowed to do that because I think what Sunler have done quite well not necessarily by accident but they've obviously had this plan in pre-season that they're going to play exactly how they played in the championship for large parts of it uh but upgrade their players and bringing a replacement say for joe bellingham because they're just a counter-attacking side yeah and it does make you think actually they're better suited to playing well in the premier league not necessarily staying up um but they're better suited to playing well in the premier league because they don't need the ball as much as say a burnley have used the ball previously in getting promoted so you know you look at the way that they i don't know just went at West Ham there were definitely patches when it was like is Jared Bowen going to win this on his own like he looked brilliant as ever but they just kept coming at them in waves and it felt like an inevitability by the end the thing is with

12:44Pete Donaldson: West Ham though the really worrying thing for them is that you know Bowen's the player so you double up on him make it really really difficult and they defended well and that was that and they knew that in that second half the breaks were going to come the crowd were up as I said perfect fixture for them because what they want is they want a team that they think oh we can beat these you want a name as well

13:04Marcus Speller: West Ham is a name

13:05Pete Donaldson: perfect fixture at home as well as we mentioned the crowd were great atmosphere there by all accounts and Mayenda from his point of view a brilliant header the goalkeeper the goalkeeping was poor the opening chance for the West Ham goalkeeper he did really well everything after that was just atrocious

13:30Marcus Speller: even then I thought Diara should have perhaps showed a bit more composure in that. But again, that was a great sign of Diara, their record signing, who they got in for like 30 million from Strasbourg, coming in and looking completely at home, being quite a big driver through the middle, doing what I suppose Joe Belliam used to do. But I thought he should have shown a bit more composure then he gave him a save to make. Yeah, there'll be plenty more to talk about West Ham and I think this is the real discovery season for Graham Potter, whether he's a decent manager or not, as we've all said pretty much every week of last season.

14:05But it looks like the only creative spark is going to be coming from Paquetta. And even at his best, he slows the game down way too much for me.

14:13Pete Donaldson: He looked way off the pace. I mean, the first goal goes in, and, you know, keeper's position, I don't know, but from Sunderland's point of view, lovely one. The second one, it's exactly the type of goal we want. Big Dan Ballard. They're like a big Dan in the North East at the moment. Crashes it in. But it was Paquetta marking him. I think we were certainly near

14:30Marcus Speller: and he just drifted away it'd been recycled hadn't it and that ballard stayed up

14:36Pete Donaldson: the tails are up, beautiful ball in and that's when a header like that is powered in the game's over then the manner of the goal and again the crowd are up it just destroyed West Ham I know the goalkeeper produced a great save up the other end but the tails are up and then even the last goal with Isidore scoring he probably doesn't try that if they're only 1-0 up. Yeah, yeah. I know it's a different phase. 1-0, 2-0, it does make a difference. But again, though, damning for West Ham is one of their biggest signings is the goalkeeper. Old Mads from...

15:12Marcus Speller: Who is trash.

15:13Pete Donaldson: Yeah, from Potter really wanted him. That was a player that they scouted and really, really wanted. It's early days. You may well hear a lot of people say, it's early days for a bit. But you need to win points against Sunderland. You do. Where you'll end up finishing in the turbo. Yes, and the goalkeeper, as I say, the one signing that they made, you think, okay, maybe there's an improvement. That third goal, he should save it. It's a big error. So not only do you have the defeat, and it's a heavy defeat, you then have that as well. To me, I mean, I know Potter said, you know, it was a good away performance in the first half.

15:47Pete Donaldson: Okay.

15:48Marcus Speller: I don't think he needs to say that.

15:49Pete Donaldson: I don't think he does as well, and I feel for the man, but it's not like he's just turned up. As Pete said, there's so much scrutiny on Potter here. Luke said in a previous pod, a manager can often be judged on the jobs they take. You can forgive him for Chelsea because it's a huge job and it's a big step up and you think, okay, fine. But he takes that, a bit of a madhouse, a more experienced Mauricio Pochettino didn't make it click there either. So, okay, you can forgive that. When he took the West Ham job, you're thinking, maybe I see that. Could that be such an ill-advised thing to do? Last season you say it was a bit of a right or free hit.

16:27Pete Donaldson: They're never going to get relegated because of what's going on. Now, pressure is piled on from day one. They've got no money to spend. So they may well sneak a couple of freebies or cheapos over the line. Cheapos? Yeah. But, you know, this is such a test of Potter's managerial prowess now. because if they are to have any kind of season, it'll be all down to what they do on the training ground. And that's it. And it's such a difficult ship to sort of turn around, if you see what I mean. And also this defeat for West Ham, it gives Sunderland and Leeds haven't even played yet. We'll see what happens tonight.

17:09Pete Donaldson: Even Burnley lost and we'll come on to them in a bit. Suddenly it's like, there's one we can realize. Yeah, that is the one, isn't it, at this point in time? Wolves and Brentford, of course, are also in the conversation. Wolves, I think you can forgive them. is Man City and they look like they've got the bit between the teeth. Brentford, oof, you know. It's more like on West Ham's bench, isn't it? There's nobody coming on really to... Yeah. But do you know what I mean? Because already the pressure is piled on to West Ham and it's like flippin' heck. Is it another season where it's like, is this a write-off or even worse, a relegation battle?

17:37Marcus Speller: Well, I mean, I don't know the last... Early days,

17:39Pete Donaldson: I know.

17:39Marcus Speller: I don't know the last season was a free hit purely because of the amount of ill-feeling that built up. And if it matters, then that's how you get that ill feeling. Well, free in terms of it,

17:49Pete Donaldson: they were never going to get relegated.

17:50Marcus Speller: No, but he had to do something. Bear in mind that the investment they'd made in players and the fact that West Ham fans clearly, West Ham full stop, really wanted a style of play to get behind and at least show that they were building towards something. You know, given the success they had with Moyes and the reason they, you know, they parted ways with Moyes as well was for... Them to kick on a bit. Yeah, exactly. in their minds had reached a glass ceiling and they wanted to break through it and Potter was the man to do that supposedly and just seeing Kudus well eventually seeing Kudus play so well in his debut yeah I mean that's kind of unavoidable but then at the same time look at that front three of Fulkerug Bowen and Paqueta and obviously Bowen plays very well but that's a lot of money behind those three players alone in terms of this season I'd be amazed if he sees it out partly because there would need to be such an about turn in I suppose performance and things like that but when you talk about they need more time on the training ground I mean look at what Reggie Libris has done at Sunderland with exactly that with new players and like it is fundamentally down to coaching you can talk about bad vibes you can talk about poor recruitment in the past but you know just I suppose not necessarily as a comparison but to give Sunderland a bit more credit as you said seven starters look like they play together really well there were a lot of positive noises in pre-season about things going the right way and in front of their own fans you see that straight away I mean that's the kind of that's the kind of performance that can springboard you onto something special and to go back to West Ham that was just so last season West Ham totally that's the worry

19:25Pete Donaldson: that it's just continued it feels like Potter's just like a sort of administrative sort of tactician rather than a manager who can sort of put rockets up players you get the feeling that he just he knows how to set up a side but everything else kind of like let's go and get him he doesn't really have I don't think

19:40Marcus Speller: He does have like the emotional intelligence to be able to, I suppose, put his, you know, put his ethos across beyond setting up on a tactics board and be like, you should be stood here with the ball, stood here without the ball. But you don't get that from any West Ham players. And I don't know, like, I feel like it's hard for me to say this as someone who's not a West Ham fan, who doesn't watch them week in, week out. But that feels like a previous iteration of like a gnarly West Ham where it's like, do you actually care about playing for West Ham? Yeah, it totally does.

20:10Pete Donaldson: It felt like last game of the season kind of vibes, didn't it? Yeah, there was a bit of that. When they were safe and they had nothing to play for.

20:14Marcus Speller: Yeah.

20:15Pete Donaldson: It was piss poor. There's no two ways about it. And he has to try and do something. I mean, compare that. So, you know, he's had a big old run-up at this season. And again, it looks like more of the same. Compare that to, say, Manchester United and Spurs, who were the two other big sides down there. I know far bigger budgets, which has been proved.

20:33Marcus Speller: Both teams spent a lot.

20:34Pete Donaldson: And that's been the difference.

20:35Marcus Speller: And the pull as well. Indeed.

20:37Pete Donaldson: So it's harsh to compare West Ham to those two in one sense, but you can see how they've both kicked on already, how they're better. So really damning, but wonderful for Sunderland. I mean, what a return to the Premier League. Such a great victory. 3-0 as well. I mean, it's not a squirmy 1-0. Like really enjoyed themselves. That would have been, for a lot of Sunderland fans, that may be one of the most enjoyable games they've ever been to in their lives. You know, it's up there. and now there's a movement on X we turn our attention to Elon Musk's X where Twitter Mexico has agreed to support a random European team this season so fans get excited to see Mexicans supporting them and the team they've chosen out of all of Europe is Sunderland

21:22Marcus Speller: the whole of Mexico yeah

21:24Pete Donaldson: so this season all Mexico is with Sunderland yeah they're all kind of getting behind them it was actually quite charming to see a lot of Sunderland fans going why are there so many Mexicans so many like Mexico flags and stuff in the replies to everything Sunderland but yeah they're all and they're all Mexicans are having like funny little sort of fights with each other as to sort of say like who's more Sunderland than each other I've been Sunderland since I was born and stuff which is absolutely lovely

21:51Marcus Speller: I love to see it I like the way you described it as Mexico sorry on X Mexico Twitter yes yeah like some kind of beautiful sugar free not sugar free no corn syrup just sugar version of Twitter build a firewall and let America play through it

22:09Pete Donaldson: very good well yeah Sunderland have also announced the signing of Nordi Muciele from PSG again a lovely bit of business yeah it's very rosy in the Sunderland garden also quick mention for Ranildo became the first Mozambique international to play in the Premier League it's good man you love to see it what an opening weekend it's just just stop the season now it can't get any better than this it simply can't but like you know 140 million at last count they're really going for this I mean they are going for it the success stories in the kind of championship to Premier League season this is kind of how you do it you've got to put a lot of money behind it and they're doing so and you know they've got three points on the turn and the second in the league yeah but Pete it is early days it is early days alright coming up after this a bum was seen at Anfield

23:05Hi, I'm Nick, co-host of The Best One Yet. You optimize your workouts, your portfolios, and that rando startup idea that hit you in the middle of the shower. But if you're not hydrated, you're already playing catch-up. So we keep a stash of Liquid IV in our studio. One stick mixed into 16 ounces of water is clinically demonstrated to hydrate faster than water alone with three times the electrolytes of the leading sports drink, plus eight vitamins and nutrients. Whether you're traveling, exercising, or podcasting, the best business news ever, Liquid IV makes it easy to stay hydrated wherever life takes you.

23:34So shop now at liquidiv.com. Liquid IV hydration. That goes wherever life takes you. Ready to experience something new? AllTrails helps you find your next hike. Whether you're looking for something nearby or planning a trip, read reviews from real people like you to choose your trail and know what to expect. You can also download the map in case service gets spotty. plan and experience your next hike with all trails the app for exploring the outdoors download it today and find your outside this message is brought to you by today's sponsor walden university set a course for change now is the time to make a real change in your life career and community at walden university we give you the support and flexibility to get the w Walden's online programs are designed for working professionals like you.

24:28You'll gain hands-on skills to take on real-world challenges and succeed. Your future is waiting, and Walden is here to help you achieve it. Take the first step to make your impact. Visit waldenu.edu. Walden University. Set a course for change. Certified to operate by Chev. Hi, it's Mark Bittman from the podcast Food with Mark Bittman. It's back-to-school time, which means many of us are going to be busier than ever. But from getting out the door in the morning to enjoying delicious meals together at the end of the day, Whole Foods Market can help with convenient options and delivery. Plus, because it's Whole Foods Market, you can feel good about the quality of the ingredients.

25:09Shop back-to-school must-haves at Whole Foods Market in-store or online.

25:26Marcus Speller: I've got a little first question in the form of a new season power. OK, go on. Arsenal are red, United are two. It's Sky's biggest Premier League season ever. We're excited. Are you?

25:39Pete Donaldson: I'm super excited. Oh, fuck off. Welcome back to the Football Ramblin's body. Just fuck. You know, lovely start to the show. Sunderland, three points on the table. And we have to listen to that wank Gary Cottrell asking Mikel Arteta their question in the form of a rhyme and promoting his company's sponsorship or broadcasting of the league on the one hand

26:02Marcus Speller: sorry I'm going to interrupt on the one hand I think the way Sky Sports have operated on their football coverage over the last few years where they have basically influencers talking on Sky Sports News I don't mind the episodic stuff the programming and whatever but mainly on Sky Sports News getting influencers talk about football really fucks me off because it ruins good journalism and it certainly puts good journalists out of work. And then I see that and I think, more of it, please. And that's not necessarily putting a good journalist out of work, but that is fucking abhorrent. Get angry, Ginjon.

26:34Doesn't him? Can't remember. It is, yeah. Have him do a poem.

26:38Pete Donaldson: Don't mind that. Thanks to Friend of the Ramble, Tom, for sending us that clip on Discord. You can become a Friend of the Ramble too. Kick him off. Is he on the Discord? Can we charge him double next month? I'm going to abuse him well if you want to become a friend of the Ramble you're not logging on there are you it's just five bucks a month you'll get every episode of the Ramble up front and on the continent completely ad free and access to the Football Ramble Discord where you can chat with us and other Ramble listeners and remember if you sign up for an annual subscription before the end of August you'll get 15 % off so search patreon.com forward slash football ramble to get involved right then Manchester United nil Arsenal one Arsenal start the season with a 1-0 winner Old Trafford but Vish, as the BBC caption suggested Ruben Ammer improvement

27:30Marcus Speller: Yes

27:30Pete Donaldson: Nice, okay, right Man United were the better team

27:34Marcus Speller: They were very encouraging

27:35Pete Donaldson: It's been a while since you had a moral victory

27:37Marcus Speller: Yeah, yeah

27:38Pete Donaldson: Couldn't even have that in the Europa League final

27:41Marcus Speller: There were no morals on show at all last season No People forgot about the fracking as well which is always nice and the roof

27:50Pete Donaldson: because the weather's been pretty good

27:51Marcus Speller: yeah exactly thank god

27:53Pete Donaldson: I can't wait for that oh I thought we fixed it oh no

27:59Marcus Speller: it turns out you know eventually once you hit the two billion pound mark you will see some improvement there we go there we go you know if you're not willing to invest if you're not willing to keep investing West Ham you're not going to you're going to see an improvement well I mean

28:15Pete Donaldson: three points off top you know And all those members of staff that were sacked by Manchester United. I just want to, you know what? You sometimes...

28:25Marcus Speller: I tore into Manchester United for the redundancies last year because they were pathetic, really. And now I'm wondering, what were those dinner ladies on? What were they doing? What were they slipping into the food? Because this was an excellent performance. Slipping into the food on their£300 ,000 a week wages.

28:42Pete Donaldson: But Sir Jim knew, though, those who worked at the club and had a job there and liked working at the club. and worked hard.

28:48Marcus Speller: They were sitting in the comfy chair, weren't they?

28:50Pete Donaldson: Well, they were, and quite clearly. And of course, they all want the club to succeed. Well, now they've seen, I mean, it was the zero points at the end of the day, but a better performance. They lost, let's be clear about that.

29:03Marcus Speller: Seven wins at 28 for Uben Amarin, but yeah, go on.

29:06Pete Donaldson: But they saw an improved performance. Do you think that those hundreds and hundreds of members of staff that were cruelly sacked, do you think now they'll go, I see what the benevolent Sir Jim Ratcliffe is doing now. You see, it makes it all worthwhile to only lose one living. At this point, because you want Vishen to say yes, it seems. It's been five minutes on this.

29:25Marcus Speller: Because I think they'd have been at home, you know, having been let go. They might have some memorabilia that they've previously been gifted to them. You know, they're thinking about auctioning it just for a bit of money, just to, you know, pay rent. Just stay afloat as a family, you know. Feed their family and whatever. And they see Cunha breaking from deep and they're like, hold on. Hold on. This is not the Man United way. I've played my part here. But it was mainly down to Arsenal's really rather poor start and Saliba looking like he wasn't a footballer for about 20 minutes that made Manchester United look a lot better.

30:03But they were really, really good. They had so many more chances and shots and stuff. But Arsenal still came with those points.

30:09Pete Donaldson: Well, David Rea was given man of the match, which shows you. and that is one in the eye for you Peter because you've been very critical of him I just don't think he's at Arsenal's level great save from Kunio that one with the fingertips it was amazing

30:20Marcus Speller: I don't even want to get into that yeah

30:23Pete Donaldson: you've angered Jim and now you're angering Vish but yeah I mean Manchester United they've recorded 20 plus shots in a single Premier League game against Arsenal for the first time since that 8-2 win in August 2011 so it does show you that they need to be a little bit more accurate because you keep doing that you might score eight goals soon enough

30:40Marcus Speller: another 14 years you might be there well the like purely on the football side of it they were a lot more energetic I thought they all looked a bit leaner you know even Bruno yeah

30:52Pete Donaldson: to me it was night and day from last season

30:54Marcus Speller: the energy on the field the amount of running Mbumo because they're not getting fed because the ladies have gone on well exactly yeah they're feeling too much Mbumo and Cunha I don't really think that I didn't necessarily think they would be compatible ball when we signed them. But I was like, you know, they'll work it out in a way. And I love the way there was a point maybe midway through the first half where the ball gets played long to Mbumo and he touches it off to Kunia. And there was that understanding that just very good players have. They almost on the field worked out like you're good at doing this, I'm good at doing this.

31:30Marcus Speller: Let's stand a little bit closer. Simple as that.

31:33Pete Donaldson: Because the wing backs give the width. Yeah, exactly. I thought Odorgu was excellent.

31:37Marcus Speller: Yeah, he's only turning 21 at the end of October. But ultimately, there were, it was interesting also seeing the gaps that are still to be made up, because there were points in the first half where Manchester United would get an overlap, often on the right with Dalo, and there'd be no one in the box. And then in the second half, genuinely there was a point where there was too many people in the box. Like you have to get out of each other's way. Their box had reached critical mass.

32:01Pete Donaldson: Do you think as the game went on though, they grew in belief. I mean, they weren't lacking in belief

32:06Marcus Speller: I think they were given space obviously Arsenal they were surprised that Arsenal seemed content the Arsenal subs killed any attacking impetus from them as well I think but I also like you know Miles and Louis Skelly got caught out once maybe twice I thought Timber was excellent when he came on and actually I thought Saliba and Gabriel that's what you yes I know Arsenal need to find a different way of winning games but when they win games like that I thought Manchester United were more energetic I thought Manchester United had more thrust. They're more creative. Yeah, more creative. And Arsenal were just smarter and better.

32:41Marcus Speller: And Arsenal have been smarter and better than a lot of teams over the last two years. And I don't think we're... I wouldn't necessarily define Arsenal's season on what they produce on the weekend, but they do need more than that if they're going to win the title.

32:52Pete Donaldson: I agree with you there. Pete, were you surprised that Arsenal are so sort of defensive and happy? Because the goal was fortuitous. The goalkeeper should do a bit better. I know Joe Hart did a nice breakdown of it on Match of the Day. With his excellent posture. Oh, wonderful. Yeah, good, yeah. He's an Adonis, isn't he? But, you know, so they score fairly early on. And then, again, other than the odd mistake towards the end, they didn't really look like scoring again. It's the type of performance that, for those who go in... I know it's at Old Trafford and Manchester United are a rejuvenated side, but I just wouldn't see that type of performance from Liverpool, Man City, those who are looking to challenge.

33:36Pete Donaldson: So would you be concerned and think, okay, Arsenal, we do need to see you flex a little bit more, which I'm sure we will. Again, it's early days. I think obviously looking at a player like Jokre, he's obviously a supremely talented footballer. I think he had some really good moments in the match. But looking at Martínez, Saka and Jokre as a unit, comparing them to what Manchester United had, it was really stark because I just think they didn't really have A, much service, B, they looked a bit listless, they looked a bit lost it looked like a real first match of the season just kind of walking up from a bit of a slumber kind of vibe Just get it done I mean they did, like you said I kind of disagree, I don't think Manchester are quite there yet, but if they can sort of put this performance in for the next three or four matches, they may look like a completely different consideration when teams are travelling to all traffic Well, another day.

34:29Pete Donaldson: I mean, they've played against what is the best defence in the league. Not scored. Not scored. But have come away thinking, you know, have we not scored? Maybe. As Pete says, playing like that against the vast majority of teams in the league, they will win far more than they're going to draw or even lose.

34:46Marcus Speller: Yeah. And I think like previously, Manchester United have always raised it for big teams. Yes. I think the difference here was the amount of running they did. Just how they pressed, not necessarily how they fought, but how they pressed. There was a bit more thought to the running around, to the kind of physicality of what they were doing.

35:05Pete Donaldson: You can see Amarim's messages finally getting through.

35:09Marcus Speller: I thought De Ligt, that's probably one of his better performance. I've never seen him look so nimble in a Manchester United shirt. I thought that was really interesting. Even Luke Shaw? I haven't seen... Even fucking Casemiro, thank you. He was great. He was picking passes all over. I was speaking to someone at the game as a journalist, and he said that he's not seen Luke Shaw look as lithe. Right, okay.

35:31Pete Donaldson: I thought the other reason... Because he looked, sorry to interrupt, but at the end of the Europa League final, when Shaw, you know, it's a final, so Shaw turned... Yeah, I thought so. It's a bit harsh on the player, but, you know, jokes aside, I mean, he genuinely was devastated. Yeah. Like so down about losing that game and realised, and I know he's been plagued with injuries. So the determination that you see in him and the other players, and it does help that Kunyuran and Buma, you've got players up top, to relieve Bruno Fernandes from having to do everything. I just think it all bodes very, very well.

36:02Marcus Speller: Yeah, and just to pick up Pete's point about Arsenal's front three, I thought Saka was weirdly... It felt like he was playing within himself. I don't know if he had an injury, but I wondered if he was actually more tactical because of what they expected from Manchester United.

36:17Pete Donaldson: They just thought, we've scored early if we keep this tight. We'll get this done without a fuss. but it just seems a bit odd to kind of I know we saw bits of that last season again early days blah blah blah but I just wanted to see a bit more from Arsenal especially as I've tipped them for the title

36:34Marcus Speller: I wanted to see more from Saka I think Martinelli that's what you get from Martinelli I quite like him but I always feel like sometimes there's an element of him he loves running at players but he's better running at players without the ball and I feel like in his head he has this idea of what he's trying to do but you can almost see the cogs turning nothing seems natural to him when it comes to being a player and I don't know how Arsenal upgrade that at this juncture beyond I suppose Maduweke starting a bit more or even just a bit more rotation of flanks from him and Saka now I'm not saying that you probably end up losing something from Saka if you're trying to give something to Martinelli

37:17Pete Donaldson: even for five minutes or something

37:18Marcus Speller: Yeah, but I thought they were both a bit off it. And it was easy to then point the finger at Giocares and be like, oh, you might be the problem here because they're now working with a different forward. Yes, yeah. Yeah, I thought they should have given a bit more, actually.

37:30Pete Donaldson: Well, I mean, yeah, I think with Arsenal, they never, seldom do any team go to Old Trafford and really thump Manchester United, even with the last season in mind. But it's always been a funny ground for Arsenal to go to. And maybe there's that in the background. Maybe it's the first. One of their players Their captain turned up For the On the Arsenal Social media Social media Basically he was wearing jeans Well maybe they all Felt that they Felt they were all wearing jeans Wearing jeans and playing Yeah could have been that To be fair

37:59Marcus Speller: Manuel Nogate When he came on He looked like he was wearing jeans But both his legs in one sleeve Like a sleeping bag

38:04Pete Donaldson: Yeah I mean And maybe that's it Maybe Casemiro thought I should stop wearing the jeans I'm going to take off the jeans Can you hold these for anything I'll take off the Timberland boots at least Stop having to go on my Timberland boots Well look Ruben Amarim said the performance deserved a different result but when asked about the performance he said the most important thing is we weren't boring yeah that's kind of what Freddie Mercury said didn't he if I died you'd do whatever you want with my legacy but just don't make me boring they made him boring yeah

38:32Marcus Speller: I feel like all fans other than Manchester United fans weren't bored by how badly Manchester United were doing in the league last season no yeah certainly it didn't seem on this show that you were getting bored of talking about how bad Manchester United were in the league yeah

38:45Pete Donaldson: Yeah, so do remember us in all this. I mean, the biggest achievement of Man United in this match was that the new Black Ops, Call of Duty Black Ops Season 5 came out last week, and Luke Shaw's playing fine, so... Wow, maybe Hammerin went around and just smashed his... Smashed his... And that's what it's done. It's fine. This fella's broken. Well, look, Arsenal, they certainly hope to be in the mix for the title. Take your jeans off, lads. Come on. Absolutely. But Liverpool are still the champions. Yeah. After round one is nearly complete in the Premier League, it's still mathematically possible for everyone to win the title.

39:18Pete Donaldson: But on Friday night, Liverpool played Bournemouth 4-2. A great game, it really was. What a start to the Premier League season. Hugely emotional, of course. But we were treated to Liverpool's new sign in Hugo Eketike scoring the first Premier League goal of the season. Slightly fortuitous with the bounce fish. There was talk about how good him and Vietz were at moments in the community shield. But the way he takes that ball and his strike just finishes with a plomb, I just thought, oh, yeah, he looks very tasty. You're talking about players with instinct. Good God. Yeah.

39:52Marcus Speller: Jamie Carragher likened the deflection on that to something that Suarez would do. And I was like, oh, that's actually, that's a great shout. Because Suarez would, obviously incredibly skillful, but would often be able to just like bounce the ball off people's knees and stuff like that and get through. But I thought there was a bit of like early Liverpool Torres about how he was playing.

40:08Pete Donaldson: I felt that as well.

40:09Marcus Speller: Because partly, yeah, And also partly because of his stature as well.

40:13Pete Donaldson: And you're also, yeah, you're seeing things you kind of want to see as well. But I do get what you're saying.

40:17Marcus Speller: Because Torres would come as deep as he would, and then almost immediately have that like five-a-side instinct of giving it and immediately running forward. And yeah, just like his stride. And he's such a big guy, but you feel like he wouldn't leave footprints in the snow. El grande Torres. Yeah, not Torres now. No. That man is punching holes in the snow. but yeah so that's why i thought that comparison but also i feel like the way that game pans out and field under lights with the emotional attachment of it all you wouldn't want your team to win like that every week but if you want if you want us you know if you're having an emotional what you know is going to be an emotional evening yes and an outpouring of as much grief as is joy the way the game pans out I mean that was perfect really

41:09Pete Donaldson: it was and Salah's like crying at the end was a moment

41:14Marcus Speller: yeah and I thought that was quite an important moment because this grief doesn't just go away grieving is not linear as many people have rightly said in a football context oh we're playing football again so it's forgotten and there will be constant reminders of this person that they've lost and it comes from just playing in that team doesn't it like it never goes away yes um you wonder how draining this season is going to be full stop because of it but actually you know there are so many different ways of talking about this but the acceptance of it is probably the most normal way that any of us would deal with that kind of grief and it was obviously quite striking seeing him being as emotional as that but yeah it was just a remarkable sight full stop yeah and i think i think yeah

42:05Pete Donaldson: you would have had to have quite a hard heart or be a bournemouth fan to deny you know to not want those scenes at the end with match with the celebration salah gets his goal and as you say was because i'm sure they yeah how do you respond to that kind of thing i mean even even um molyneux as well, the player that they knew. You saw high emotions. And rightly said, it doesn't go away. You can't just go, right, let's concentrate on the football. He's not signed to a different league. He's no longer with us. And it's really, really poignant. And it will be there for a bit to come. But, you know, it was a very poignant moment at Anfield as well.

42:47Pete Donaldson: And now we talk about the shit bit. Yeah. In a weird way, please hear this in the way it's meant to be you know, Antoine Semenyo being the victim of racist abuse actually even that going on his social media post, a positive came from it, obviously the act is horrible and he reported the abuse to the referee, a man has already been arrested in connection with the incident but going on what Semenyo himself, the guy who you know, was abused he said last night at Anfield will stay with me forever writing on Instagram not because of one person's words but because of how the entire football family stood together to my Bournemouth teammates who supported me in that moment to the Liverpool players and fans who showed their true character to the Premier League officials who handled it professionally thank you football showed its best side when it mattered the most so that's something positive if you see what I mean or not something positive but the reaction and the response I think the way he took it on was obviously no player should ever have to do with that but you know he took it on head on his statement was absolutely spotless and you know what broad shoulders nobody wants to be the centre of attention when something like that it's just fucking it's just needless and I thought he caught with it and dealt with it and he was like the hero of the weekend really I don't know he was incredible the way he dealt with that and fucking put two goals past the end and the second one fucking brilliant him and Richarlison goal of the month contenders already.

44:22Pete Donaldson: I did find that interesting because that's what we want to focus on and that's what Semenya wants to focus on, his footballing ability. When he ran through, you saw him and I just thought, oh yeah, I thought some teams were going to make more of a push for this guy. And that was the thing with Bournemouth. People were quite down on them saying they've lost some key defenders. I said, yeah, but they've kept Semenya, they've kept Kliver, there was one or two others and they've kept the manager. So I'm not worried about them at all.

44:49Marcus Speller: no no there was a point in the first half i was worried about them definitely uh but i mean he's such an exceptional player you made a point um during the game on whatsapp um about how two-footed he is lovely two-footed player um there were loads of training videos of semenyo um because he's come through the ranks um that isn't like through the pyramid really yeah and um there are loads of like training videos of him like randomly like on bits of astro turf in the park and i i know he's right foot is and sometimes you're like should you be able to whip the ball into the top corner with

45:20Pete Donaldson: your left foot like that well his second goal was with the left yeah you know the way it's so hard to defend against when he's running at the defenders and he can go either way also he goes

45:28Marcus Speller: downhill at one point there's a point where he breaks into the liverpool half where you're like i didn't realize this was sloped that way yeah yeah yeah i don't know where van dyck's going canate is in a spin um but yeah he is so good i think a lot of people um called on him because teams became wary of him and he wasn't getting as much joy. Right. But he fucking works so hard. I was going to say. He's constantly at it. And like, you know, the, um, one of the frustrations we've aired on the show is when you know a winger has the beating of a defender and they stopped taking him on. And it's one of the laments of like modern football that you don't see wingers take them on.

46:05Marcus Speller: And it's like, actually you do. You just have to look below the man cities and arsenals of this world and see it happening constantly and Semenyo leads the front on that. He's always going at defenders. On both sides, as you say, because he's so good on both feet.

46:22Pete Donaldson: But due to those two late Liverpool goals, he didn't have the final set at Anfield. And it was lovely for Federico Chiesa to come on and score at Anfield. He didn't play that much. It was a lovely hit in the only place it could have gone. Fantastic. It was slightly caressed, I might say. Yeah, stroked. Stroked is the word.

46:40Marcus Speller: Canter Knight FA Cup? Yes. Canals was further behind him wasn't it? Yeah Canals was at the edge of the box He was but he was kind of like leaning away No no further behind him as a body himself Yeah His French body It's behind his French body

46:54Pete Donaldson: He had a packet of cigs in his pocket didn't he? So he had to really He did And we saw a bottom in the celebrations a Liverpool fan had his shorts pulled down whilst celebrating Kayser's goal Yeah I mean like Childish but I don't know I just don't think you should be wearing those kind of shorts this show? I'm just checking, is that or has he committed a crime? If you've D-bagged someone, is that? Oh yeah, right. I don't know. I just think that nobody should... I don't think you're generally pulling anyone's pants down that you don't know, personally. You'd hope so. You'd hope so. And that's what we're going with.

47:29There's so much fucking crime going on in the stands with this fucking man. But the shots...

47:36Marcus Speller: Imagine in the holding cell with the guy... The batsman and the racist. Yeah, a racist abuser. What are you in for? It's like a Julia Donaldson book. God, you probably had a word as well, didn't you? No, my mate pulled up my shorts down. You're a scumbag.

47:52Pete Donaldson: Yeah, I'm a scumbag. I just wanted to see a man's bum. I was just celebrating. I got unlucky. I've got a dick as a mate. And you are just a dick. Oh, dear. I would say that I would say that you shouldn't be wearing those kind of shorts at a football match like footballer shorts like there's kind of sort of they're just not they're not clothing they're sportswear they're loungewear they're it feels relaxed they're the champions they're taking your bins out wear I would agree

48:20Marcus Speller: purely because you can get dekecked yeah you can dekecked anyone's a potential dekecking

48:25Pete Donaldson: he's got to tie him up even if you're tying them up you're getting dekecked something for us all to consider got a bum like me that guy very disappointing

48:31Marcus Speller: I realise I should have mentioned Chiesa with the good feeling thing at the start because he was someone who basically just randomly turned into a cult hero last season didn't really play that much, obviously scored in the League Cup but that was his first Premier League goal for Liverpool but also like do you remember during the celebrations at Anfield when they were lifting the trophy where they were really encouraging him to lift it because they got this song for him that Liverpool fans love. And it was the one takeaway beyond like Trent Alexander Arnold, um, breaking down and being quite upset about leaving.

49:11Marcus Speller: People were constantly seeing that song in Liverpool city center, the, the Chiesa song. And obviously they go nuts when he scores. And I didn't think he'd be there this season. You know, I thought maybe this was like, you know, he would part ways and that would be his nice moment. He's Slot's man. Yeah. He's the only one he saw. But he is their vibesman. Yeah. And he comes up trumps first game of the season. So that man's slot.

49:36Pete Donaldson: Lovely, lovely, lovely. His pants came down. Blimey.

49:38Marcus Speller: We saw a slot was seen. Yeah, a slot was seen.

49:40Pete Donaldson: True enough, yeah. Well, so yeah, two teams that will be involved in the title race, you'd imagine, off to a winning start in the Premier League. So a Man City. Yeah. Title contends apparently 4-0 at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Me and Vish are the Man City for the title boys. Yeah. They looked amazing.

49:56Marcus Speller: They did look amazing.

49:57Pete Donaldson: What about Tiana? Ryan is.

49:59Marcus Speller: Pathetic. 50 million. How?

50:02Pete Donaldson: How are they getting good value? I'm not having it.

50:06Marcus Speller: They have all the money. What are you doing?

50:08Pete Donaldson: I know. It's all them.

50:10Marcus Speller: Not sweet old Ineos.

50:12Pete Donaldson: Harlan looks angry. He's an Augustman. Oscar Bob looks great. Well, look, we could talk a lot about Man City and we're going to in tomorrow's mailbag. So Man City fans, if you think, come on, what about that performance from Ryaners alone? we're going to talk about that in the mailbag tomorrow so keep your powder dry people because we've been asked questions about them right coming up after this we find out who would win in a fight between Tom Brady and Wayne Rooney

50:44this message is brought to you by Coligard if you recorded songs off the radio for a mixtape it might be time to screen for colon cancer the Coligard test is non-invasive requires no special prep or time off and you start screening right from your home. It's just three simple steps. Set up, sample, and ship. If you're 45 or older and at average risk, ask your doctor about the Cologuard test. Available by prescription only. Learn more or request a prescription at Cologuard.com slash podcast. Hi, I'm Nick, co-host of The Best One Yet. You optimize your workouts, your portfolios, and that rando startup idea that hit you in the middle of the shower.

51:21But if you're not hydrated, you're already playing catch-up. So we keep a stash of Liquid IV in our studio. One stick mixed into 16 ounces of water is clinically demonstrated to hydrate faster than water alone with three times the electrolytes of the leading sports drink, plus eight vitamins and nutrients. Whether you're traveling, exercising, or podcasting, the best business news ever, Liquid IV makes it easy to stay hydrated wherever life takes you. So shop now at liquidiv.com. Liquid IV hydration that goes wherever life takes you. Hi, this is Kim and Penn Holderness from the Laugh Lines podcast.

51:51This episode is sponsored by Oli, your wellness partner for back to school and beyond. Back to school season is here. Packed backpacks, packed lunches, and packed schedules are officially back. Ollie Kids Sleep helps little dreamers wind down with a gentle blend of melatonin, L-theanine, and botanicals for restful sleep. Translation, an easy way to put those school night negotiations to bed. And for the grownups, Ollie Sleep helps you fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up feeling refreshed. Because as you know, the morning mayhem comes early. Visit Oli.com and stock up on back-to-school must-haves today.

52:27That's O-L-L-Y dot com. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

52:43Pete Donaldson: Welcome back to the Football Ramble, everybody. Tottenham Hotspur 3, Burnley 0. Richarlison Richarlison Come on I was watching this match And The first Richarlison goal I saw Then I went Out And that was a lovely one It was a lovely one And then it went out And I saw on the BBC site That he scored a bicycle kick And I was like That's not a fucking bicycle kick And it was a fucking bicycle kick That's not a bicycle kick That's not a bicycle kick It was like he was refining his form Every goal A little bit yeah He was pissed off to be subbed off I know He was like, I'm on a hat trick. I'm happy to take pens.

53:22Marcus Speller: You know how many goals I've had disallowed? You won't let me get a hat trick.

53:25Pete Donaldson: He was fuming. Frank had to probably arm round him. Don't worry, there'll be other times. But we'll do. Solanke might start hitting four. Well, that's the thing, though, isn't it? He's kind of like, if you can get Richarlson's head right, good God, this is what he can do here. Yeah, I mean. I'll do it for you, rather. Well, indeed. I mean, sometimes played out wide by Spurs. They signed him for a lot of money for good reason. you can forget like on his day he can be a good option going forward and I know Solanke is a good option as well but Richarlison loves a volley, remember the volley in the World Cup in 2022?

53:56Pete Donaldson: That's what it reminded me of

53:56Marcus Speller: and also that performance reminded me of Brazilian Richarlison because I feel like sometimes especially when he's out wide and when he has a strop, I'm like are you cosplaying as a Brazilian here? This is the idea of a Brazilian winger but you just don't have the wares to do it and then like you know we've also got here that he scored 13 goals in his last 16 Premier League starts what?

54:19Pete Donaldson: yeah where's that come from? I know I was tempted not to read that out because I thought someone would go you idiot you dumb fool I know but I mean what a start to the season for him and Mohamed Koudous as well that little touch that little touch he said didn't he in the post-match that he does like to entertain the fans a little bit and all that and I thought yeah that's is that a bit of a dig?

54:42Marcus Speller: well because at West Ham when he started it was like yeah oh we've got one well indeed

54:49Pete Donaldson: in the first season at West Ham you know you remember him running through and powering through and scoring goals and doing that celebration where he sometimes sit down and all that so it's in there we know he's a player but Tottenham already he looks like he's got the bit between his teeth he looks powerful as well and again I think all the Spurs players do since Frank's been there so much more robust looking and whatnot. But look, 3-0, I know Burnley are the whipping boys this season. That's what a lot of people have got them down for. So ultimately, it's a good start to the season for Spurs.

55:26Pete Donaldson: But they do look still a bit suspect at the back. Burnley should have scored. That's the legacy, doesn't it? I mean, particularly towards the end of that first half, you're thinking, how are Burnley not equalised here? So a bit of work for Spurs and Frank to do. Yeah, I mean, Burnley need to take their chances when they've got them because they're not going to get many this season. Well, yeah, there's a couple of times. I know it's easy to say when you're sitting in the couch at home, but if you get a chance to shoot, you've got to bang it. And for Burnley, for me, I think that there are positives to take from this game.

56:00Pete Donaldson: I know you lose 3-0. And look, we knew Spurs were going to be different under Frank this season. But I still think, Vish, looking at that performance from Burnley, they were a little bit more creative and a little bit more attacking than people may have thought they would be. I know defence was their thing last season and to ship three goals is a bit disappointing. But I didn't think it was all doom and gloom for them. I'm trying desperately to try and find positive.

56:26Marcus Speller: But the only thing I have...

56:28Pete Donaldson: Am I being too lenient, do you think?

56:30Marcus Speller: No, I just think you're offering the necessary caveats after the first game of the season. You wonder if, because of how distorted the league has become if it really just is about beating the teams around you which in that case is fine if you're if you think the league's going to pan out that way and Burnley are going to be consistent in the way they play based on the Spurs game but also last season then fine that might work but yeah I mean even just taking shots yeah even just like you know I suppose like starting with more than two attacking players I mean it's like with five at back on the weekend.

57:06Marcus Speller: Yes. Which is fine away to Spurs, but you wonder what else Parker has up his sleeve for teams that they are on one and even keel with.

57:15Pete Donaldson: Well, we will see. Yeah. And we'll see very, very soon, of course. Martin Dubravka in goal became the first goalkeeper to be penalised for holding the ball too long. Newcastle where? Is that right? That's what I was trying to do back in late last season. Certainly soon before that, we were spending a lot of time time wasting. Time wasting,

57:31Marcus Speller: I'm so glad that law's in place. Do you know the ludicrousness of that law? Yeah. The fact that it was penalized there, and Giocarez, during the Manchester United Arsenal game, was penalized for not trying to stop the keeper, but just kind of being in his way. Yeah. We see that all the time. Yeah. And he was being penalized for that. And the referee's justification, you know, the referee had this conversation with him. and I think one of the pundits understandably justified it or justified the referee's penalising him by saying well if there's already an eight second rule then the referee technically is already you know putting pressure on the goalkeeper the game is already putting pressure on the goalkeeper so Giocares doesn't need to do that Giocares obviously didn't know that and then it turns out the eight second thing isn't hard and fast it's not on a timer it is the interpretation of eight seconds I mean you can't have the interpretation of a finite number can you really like that's mad so it technically starts when he has the ball but also it's just it's still up to the referee's discretion to start it when he feels like a striker

58:37Pete Donaldson: isn't you know close enough yeah it's just I think it's don't take the piss yeah it's really that rule isn't it

58:42Marcus Speller: then don't say eight seconds then

58:43Pete Donaldson: yeah

58:45Marcus Speller: well then time it then no

58:47Pete Donaldson: I think it's either a number or it's not why have we even got seconds then I mean there were some decisions I think from the opening weekend thus far yeah I think we can deduce that they are being less Yavar is intervening less I mean we didn't actually mention it

59:03Marcus Speller: Did you hear the Saliba Kunja excuse when Kunja's got his back to Saliba six yard box gets a ball played in Saliba goes to take the ball in front of him gets his foot and Mike Dean on Sky said it's fine it's just foot on foot contact It's foot on foot contact And I was like what? Is that not a foul? But it's almost like this is a season where they're like right a load of Victorian bylaws that no one knows about. What's like that? Someone in a month's time is just going to pick up and leg it and be like, well, actually, this used to be fine.

59:35Pete Donaldson: It's just fist on jaw contact. Run that sheep across a bridge. Shoot a Welshman on Tower Bridge. Look, it's just steel

59:45Marcus Speller: on Welsh contact. That is allowed. Harry Wilson's running down the wing. You do know after dark in Newcastle in your scene.

59:52Pete Donaldson: Yeah, I mean, we didn't even mention the handball that wasn't given at Anfield when the Bournemouth defender wafts his hand. I looked at that and I thought, oh, he's off for that.

1:00:03Marcus Speller: Sorry, I said a month ago, in a month's time, they'll pick up the ball and run. That's what he tried to do. I think we're so pleased at football's back, we've kind of ignored the fact that it was a pretty mad refereeing weekend, wasn't it? Well, it was.

1:00:12Pete Donaldson: So they're being more lenient, clearly. And this shows you, football fans, listen here. It's not an exact sign. So when we all moan, that's too harsh. Why are you overturning that? Okay, we'll be more lenient. Well, come on, you've got to give that. we're all in it we're all in it we're all culpable this is it you can count your eight seconds but you can't suddenly say we want it to be more lenient oh it wasn't this is the problem with it

1:00:35Marcus Speller: you cannot you also cannot swipe your hand at the ball so that should have been

1:00:38Pete Donaldson: a sending off for me and I thought again we haven't talked about is when Josh King was quite clearly fouled for Fulham when he kicked the ball and he could have sort of followed through and I didn't think the defender even got the ball I couldn't believe Fulham never got a penalty for that and there was one or two others as well it's going to give us lots of talking points it is what's good for the game isn't good for the ramble no other way on the way right so anyway I want to end the show with some with some with some nice with some Brits abroad chaps if we may Harry Kane won another cup the German super cup cannot be stopped yeah apart from next summer he cannot be stopped I just don't use them all up now Harry I was watching this match while doing some soldering very enjoyable really trying to fix a baby monitor I feel like you'd be doing

1:01:28Marcus Speller: one or the other the patient died dealing with something that was melting metal

1:01:34Pete Donaldson: were you trying to engrave Harry Kane yes by Munich in a solder on my arm 2025 Super Cup winners yeah he's won a final he has yeah and scored in them Andy Brassel was chatting to him after the game Andy Brassel did have a little chat to him do you remember him yeah he leaves us and now he's knocking boots with England's finest unbelievable he's not shagging Harry Kane he might be well at the time of recording Harry Kane wins again yeah Marcus Rashford made his debut for Barcelona at the weekend they managed to register him I can't believe Admin Admin Admin when he said yeah I want to go and play for Barcelona I thought yeah so do I mate but look

1:02:11Marcus Speller: it happens so did Danny Olmo for a bit

1:02:14Pete Donaldson: so did a lot of people for a bit it's good to see a Marcus finally an English Marcus at Barcelona I never made it he did so well done once again to him first Englishman since Gary Lineker to play for Barcelona if you look at the Englishmen that have played for Barcelona it's thin gruel you have to go back to the 20s before Lineker it's funny because Real Madrid much more open and friendly to us I know you're angry about your Airbnbs and your tourists and all that Barcelona but clearly you've got a problem with us so let's hope Marcus Rashford can build bridges

1:02:44Marcus Speller: and we'll say this now on the pod I'm tempted to say it down the barrel but I don't want to be held culpable for it If you spray water At Marcus Rashford We will come for you You'll spray water At all of us We'll come for your Little potatoes Your little servings And we'll be there I was going to say At the dead of night We can come during the afternoon When they're all asleep

1:03:01Pete Donaldson: If you're going to throw Your plates and bowls at us We've got much bigger Plates and bowls Yeah we'll overpower that

1:03:06Marcus Speller: Yeah if you've seen The state of our buffets We will have you

1:03:10Pete Donaldson: Yeah yeah It will be Toby Carvery Against your little tapas

1:03:14Marcus Speller: Tapas versus Carvery No chills Oh not at 2pm I'm having a nap But fucking wake up then We're here the truth about Catalan's and English dogs any water gets on our brave English boys head right we're coming from here we'll take you off

1:03:28Pete Donaldson: and in Italy the best player in Serie A Scott McTominay he missed a chance for Napoli was it the weekend or the previous weekend previous weekend previous weekend yeah this has come to light to us and he was caught saying mamma mia when he headed the ball over I love that because you remember when Jude Bellingham went vamos or something

1:03:48Marcus Speller: Well, Bellingham keeps saying vamos and all the England players take the piss out of him for it.

1:03:52Pete Donaldson: Because he did it, was it in the friendly against Scotland at Hampden? It was like, what are you doing? I get it, like the New Campbell's.

1:03:59Marcus Speller: How do you say Mamma Mia in a Scottish accent?

1:04:01Pete Donaldson: Oh, I don't know. Mamma Mia. I mean, more of a Mancunian accent with him. I suppose, of course, yeah.

1:04:05Marcus Speller: Yeah, but I'm sure he can do both.

1:04:07Pete Donaldson: He's bilingual by now. Now, before we go and leave you to get on with the rest of your day, on Friday we discussed who would win in a fight between Wayne Rooney and Tom Brady we all thought Rooney would do him but Drexel on X asked X's AI Grok who would win in the fight and Grok said Tom Brady would win the way to be

1:04:29Marcus Speller: Grok being involved in some American propaganda don't ask don't ask Grok don't encourage him yeah who's your AI supplier I'm a chat GBT man oh yeah yeah well get it up then well not really you've got to pay for it so I'm not doing that oh right I'll stick to Grugle. You're technically the Ramble AI, aren't you? Yeah, exactly, yeah. And you're saying Wayne Rooney? I'm still saying Wayne Rooney. He's just got more pep. Tom Brady wouldn't care. Tom Brady would care.

1:04:59Pete Donaldson: He would absolutely care about winning. He's much bigger. He's got much bigger reach. But it would feel like at the weekend in Mexico, seven foot four, Omos, the wrestler, fought two foot Microman. Yes, I saw Microman. or Microman as we were calling in Mexico City once when I went to watch the wrestling and he was wrestling with other people with dwarfism and even then he looked tiny yeah he's astonishing hence his name he's the son of Kimi Nito the other wrestler who got kicked off a wrestling ring but it was I don't know you'll know the clip you'll know what he said he's a man he's a man dressed as a green gorilla I do know the clip yeah if you find yourself in Mexico City go and see it don't be snobby it's genuinely wonderful and don't use Grop go and see Mexican wrestling what we like as a civilisation I have no idea but I want to thank each and every one of you for listening to the Football Ramble part of the Acast Creator Network we're back tomorrow for a brand new mailbag in the meantime follow us on X, TikTok, Blue Sky Instagram and YouTube by searching Football Ramble the Premier League is back and so is that guy Pete Donaldson looking forward to more Premier League action please yum yum Thank you, good sir.

1:06:13Pete Donaldson: And thank you, Vish. Thank you. And thank you, Micromant. See you tomorrow. Handsome.

1:06:23You ready? Ichi, ni, san, ganbare!

1:06:27Marcus Speller: Life's candy. Sorry. Got to do a different one than that. Why? Sorry, that's ludicrous. Why? What did you do? Did you do Japanese? One, two, three. Good luck, go. What's wrong with doing that? It was the good luck that lost me. The Football Ramble is a Stack Production and part of the Acast Creator Network.

1:07:09possess the conviction to claim it. When your time to lead arrives, you need a vehicle that rises to meet it. The Range Rover Sport. Exclusive offers available now. Explore further at rangerover.com. This message is brought to you by Cologuard. If you recorded songs off the radio for a mixtape, it might be time to screen for colon cancer. The Cologuard test is non-invasive, requires no special prep or time off, and you start screening right from your home. It's just three simple steps. Set up, sample, and ship. If you're 45 or older and at average risk, ask your doctor about the Cologuard test.

1:07:43Available by prescription only. Learn more or request a prescription at cologuard.com slash podcast. Hi, I'm Nick, co-host of The Best One Yet. You optimize your workouts, your portfolios, and that rando startup idea that hit you in the middle of the shower. But if you're not hydrated, you're already playing catch-up. So we keep a stash of liquid IV in our studio. One stick mixed into 16 ounces of water is clinically demonstrated to hydrate faster than water alone with three times the electrolytes of the leading sports drink, plus eight vitamins and nutrients. Whether you're traveling, exercising, or podcasting, the best business news ever, Liquid IV makes it easy to stay hydrated wherever life takes you.

1:08:19So shop now at liquidiv.com. Liquid IV hydration that goes wherever life takes you. Now at Lowe's. Faster quotes. Start at the Lowe's Pro Desk. Got a material list handwritten on a sticky note or saved as a photo? Perfect. Bring it to us and get a quote in minutes. And if you don't see what you need on the shelf, we'll help you get it. You can access thousands of products beyond what's available in-store or on lowes.com, right from the Lowe's Pro Desk. Build quotes faster and source the materials you need to keep your jobs moving. Just like that at Lowe's.