EP. 359 | We Rank Your “Game’s Gone” Submissions - “Utter Woke Nonsense!”

0:00This podcast is part of the A-Class Creator Network. Hello and welcome to That Peter Crouch Podcast from me, Peter Crouch. Notorious SID and Chris Stark are with me. How are you guys? Everyone all right? Really good. Yeah. Yeah. You, Chris? Yeah, good, man. Good. How's the guitar learning? If I'm going to be honest, I haven't really got going yet. I've been watching a lot of YouTube for this Senior Sid possible appearance. But I'm going to start cracking now because we're creeping into February-ish now, aren't we? And, uh, it's time sticking away. So I started, started actually, uh, chatting with, to a few people about, you know, bring some guests on and stuff.

0:40I thought, um, Les Ferdinand next week, essentially. Oh, yes. So I've been working away behind the scenes, a little beaver and, uh, come up with Les Ferdinand. It's funny because there's a few people that I think we need to add to our list that, that sort of pop up and we say, oh, we should get them. And then we go in also always let us know if you think there's someone who should appear on the podcast. We talked, I think, last week about maybe David Batty. The other one, I saw this a couple of weeks ago. We didn't talk about it last episode and I regretted it. Did you see the Ian Holloway rant?

1:14No. I heard about it. I haven't seen it. Was it Cracker? Oh, man. Do you want me to play you a tiny bit of it? Please. I love him. Tiny bit of it. Now, I don't fully understand the context of this, but he's seriously not happy. This goes on for quite a while but I'll play you a bit. So this is a post-match interview. Post-match interview. It's something like someone on the staff has not done the admin right for the game and the league have sort of punished them for it. Basically he's not happy. Have a listen to this. Put someone on at halftime who's not named on the team sheet. Whose responsibility is that to let him go on?

1:58Because I could easily use one of the other ones. And they said, quite honestly, yeah, it would be ours, wouldn't it? I said, well, don't do that today then, will you? Why are we trying to blame everybody else? It's disgusting. They want to find me good. They want to ban me good. Do it. Have a look at yourselves, every single goddamn one of you. It's absolutely disgusting. And whenever I get another game at all, I don't really care anymore. I care about my team. I care about my captain. I care about my players and I should be allowed to prepare professionally and if anybody wants to say oh you should have been professional right?

2:35Well I'll tell you what's professional she looked on the portal, she made one mistake but I pressed the wrong button and the wrong name went down on these horrible computers that will take over the world in the end so I forgive her that mistake but the referee and the fourth official let her down at half time and the portal later down there. Apparently she should have checked with the handbook. Sort your lives out. Every single stinking one of you. It goes on. It goes on like that. I mean, I love the passion. I mean, first of all, I love the passion. But the way he describes computers, like, they're this new...

3:15They're going to take over the world. Oh my God. You know he said every stinking one of you there. It made me sound like, it sounded like Tony Soprano. Every stinking one of you. it's so annoying I don't know the contest because it's clearly enough that it's wound him up but it's obviously a girl who's put the team down who's got the wrong player in that and they've obviously said you can't do this and you know it's just computers there's no stuff I think and it's obviously wound him up but I like you it's not just sort of that pitch of going up there it's like up and then down and it builds up to yeah and it goes down again it comes from nowhere doesn't it it goes on it goes on he would be we've got to get him on the podcast but yeah guests you're talking about guests yeah Ian Holloway definitely Les Ferdinand for me I'm a huge fan of Les Ferdinand and you know he's so less for a reason and we'll get into that I mean someone that really helped me when I was young as well coming through at Tottenham I went back there when I went back to Spurs he was a coach and stuff him and Tim Sherwood helped out a lot of people really through his career just by being a gentleman and a a fantastic player first and foremost QPR so yeah I'm really looking forward to getting stuck into that one I played with Salas at Reading what was he like there?

4:35we'll go into it but listen one of the good guys in football but we'll go into it but I've got a great story about his chopper wow it's not it's not what you think but it's a great story what a tease yeah wow Wow. And what are we talking about today? We've not done an episode of that, have we? A whole episode. What, jumpers? Yeah. Yeah, just one other thing, Lads. You know, we talked about the Maccasfield, the warm-up tops. Yes. When they walk out with the team, you know, we've got the tops, we've managed to sponsor it. It's a huge, this is a massive thing for passing the pod. Helps the club out and obviously helps the pod out.

5:19So it's a win-win, really. it's a great design this isn't it yeah we got the design what are your thoughts on it well I love this so just to be clear the players ahead of their Brentford game will come out wearing these jackets I believe so my god we've been spending years passing the pod and it literally says it on their tops they literally pass the pod on the front the Macclesfield you know logo so it's unmistakably ours that's really exciting great of Macclesfield to be doing this as well and hopefully good for them as well which is a nice collaboration yeah we've got a bit of a connection with them haven't we now yeah and also we've done a passionate speech about the FA Cup before and we love the FA Cup and you know secretly as much as I actually love Brentford but I would love Macclesfield to go as far as they can in this tournament now you know what we don't often reveal the guest so what I thought might be nice because we got ahead of it people can just email in or get in the socials get into the DMs or whatever and just kind of what do you want to ask Les you know there'd be plenty of people with stories like Newcastle been around at Tottenham QPR days like what a legend but yeah get your questions in and we'll ask him because there's all aspects of football as well isn't there there's on the pitch there's off the pitch where he's director of football QPR so there's loads of stuff there's loads of and he's obviously an icon as well we're talking like Barclays pen and we're talking like you know vintage iconic Surles some of them goals as well it's Les come on yeah so look make sure you're following us on the socials if you haven't done it yet as well hit subscribe on YouTube so these podcasts land every week when we release them and you can email us if you've got a question for Sir Les peter.crouch at acast.com I'm glad you remember that one Chris okay shall we get into the games gone

7:15right lads I don't know if you remember this a while back we talked about you know potentially getting a board well I've got the board he produced it doesn't he well you know I feel like I've worked really hard this this this series more than anything mate it feels like your new year's resolution is get shit done get shit done yeah that's how I feel yeah yeah I really do well I've managed to do it well I haven't I did fuck all but the lads don't laugh I asked the lads and they delivered alright here it is look at that how exciting thoughts i like it i'll tell you what it's well made is it heavy yeah it's a bit yeah yeah yeah you know it's one of those where i didn't want to let myself down i did it quickly because i thought if i don't if i struggled to get out that could become a meme um so this here basically it's a bit like top gear yeah yeah like a leaderboard yeah i think we'll have a leaderboard of kind of where things rank.

8:14We can write in with what you think and we'll just kind of, we could just rate it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We'll get guests to pile in as well. So, yeah, if you think something in the game has gone, we might be able to add it to this board. But you're right, we've got a load of, it is exactly like the Top Gear one, isn't it? Yeah, it really is, yeah. The leaderboard on that and then we'll just add it to the wall. Okay. Do you want something to help get it down? Let me have a little go with one. Let me see if I've got it. Oh, look at me. Honestly. all that training's paying off okay as we've said lads I've got a load of them here mainly from people that have wrote in some of them are our own that we've just gonna put them up and just see it's worth a discussion see what you think you know what you might say actually I really like that I think it was good first one made me laugh it's goalkeepers playing out from the back

9:07do you know what I think that stems from do you know what I think that's from I think that's more from goalkeepers like continually to play out from the back when they give it away yes that's where I think if it when it comes off it's great or you know change it up sometimes do it a couple of times then go long but to carry on doing it and then getting found out and getting punished and then the fans are on you as well behind the goal then it's like game's gone yeah because you know why because I feel like it's I mean this is kind of the Guardiola philosophy and it kind of changed the dynamic of the game the sweeper-keeper goalkeepers being high but for me it's not that it's the continually playing out into areas where you're giving it away and I think if you continue to do that then it feels like the game's gone I think that's the politically correct way of putting it but I know you foster a deep resentment of goalkeepers given your job and your position.

10:10Actually, I don't think you like to see goalkeepers thrive. You want them very much back in their box, literally. Okay, I see where you're going with that. And you feel, my interpretation is, you feel quite threatened by the idea a goalkeeper could do what you do as well as their job, which you couldn't do. That would be my counter-argument. I know what you're saying there. I mean, it's something like Troy Deeney, actually, I think it was a couple of weeks, I was watching a match the day too and I think he said it might be a defender giving the ball away or something and maybe trying something silly and he said no one's come to see you you're a defender yeah and for me it just it rang true yeah well I mean that's on match the day yeah he said no one let's be honest no one's come to see him that's very true yeah came to see the attacking players and you're a part of the game yeah yeah no I see that I see that but then when it comes off right when it comes off when it is was it Edison Man City was Man City so when he's out and he's like slinging balls left right and centre slapping them out that's when it's great yeah do you remember that time do you remember that spell when he come out when I think they broke and he's come out I think he's like chest of the ball he's head of the ball and then he's had to play in like one twos on like near enough the halfway line brilliant I think that's where that's entertainment René Aguita I'm going right back to the 90s right is that 90s, early 2000s?

11:38I don't know, I think it was 90s. You know, at Wembley, when Redknapp has that shot, you want to see Joghita, you know, with the scorpion kick. Yeah. You know, I'd like to see that. More scorpion kick and less playing out. Yeah, I get this one, but I think there could be worse. I think there could be worse. You can't put the game's gone with goalkeepers playing out the back. I think there are times where it's actually really useful and it's a part of the game now. And actually, I do think we're going through certain trends with this. So you actually do see it a lot more now goalies reverting back to absolutely spanking it and the weird kickoffs that we see sometimes where it goes back and then just hoot forward.

12:18So we might be exiting that sort of trend that has existed over the last couple of years anyway, potentially. I mean, thinking about it now, I mean, we played in an era where the goalkeeper put the ball down and you know that one's like getting the full backs up every time and I knew my job was to win the header we played in that era that was old you played in an era though where sometimes the defender would take the goal kick which was very odd but would happen very rarely really no yeah I agree even at Liverpool there was just an era of no one really playing get up get up not even acknowledge them not even like no it's not on yeah do they they still wave full backs up don't they still the odd wave but not as much as it was they don't even sort of put their hand on the ball now to even go up no it's not on it's not on it's just like they don't even look it's just like get up get up both full backs have the shirt tucked in and they get that one and they they jog up they jog up for the second ball but I don't think that game's gone there's what I'm saying yeah I agree I agree I don't think that is it's worth a discussion well not quite alright let's move on to laser shows before the game

13:45where do we stand pyrotechnics laser shows I think cup finals I agree with it yeah we'll get into a stage now where it's every game not for me but even at cup finals right what was wrong with the manager walking out in front of the captain with a suit on and a little rose on his suit. What was wrong with that? Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Do we group in the sort of the arrivals thing as well into stadiums? You know, your blue carpets and things like that. What do you mean? The players getting off the coach and... I've been involved in that. Oh, you've had to interview a few... Yeah, I've been doing a TV like from that part of the stadium and I'd not seen it before.

14:31Obviously at Man City, it's quite a thing, isn't it? You've got a DJ there. Yeah. I prefer it being a bit more hostile than that sort of thing. Do you know my issue with this? Is there's, it feels like forced fun. Yeah. You know, like, you know, like, there's a good atmosphere or not. You can't, you know, you can't create a fault. It feels like a false atmosphere. If you've got a DJ. well you're seeing more of it as well because the Saturday morning kickoffs that you do you're in that sort of fan zone which is becoming more and more relevant more seasons go by that builds the atmosphere up I just think sometimes it can go a bit American it goes from fan zone to fanny zone and it's just like it's just like it's just a bit it's just a bit too cheesy do you know what I mean it is fans are funny it is you're right I actually don't mind the laser show I say what I like the fire I like the fire yeah when you're doing when it's cold and it's a night game and you're doing the TV pitch side you get a little bit oh keep that coming well that's been around for a long time Bolton at the Reebok like with the you know the people running down with the flags in Reebok and the fire yeah and stuff like that just don't you think in certain games it just looks a bit sarcastic it's a bit over the top for what the game is yeah I do I think there's listen this has got more this has got more about it than playing out from the back yeah yeah oh god there's so many flood in the brain now are we kind of passing or is it like it goes on the board or not or is this like a holding pattern of just brainstorming this is every week we'll have a slight discussion about someone will email in so for example if Mike Dean was still refereeing you know know the way he was you just know he would be dead against the lasers or the flames and things and he'd do a little thing pretend to get burnt that sort of thing do you mean this all of these things are moving as and then it gets my brain going you know has the game gone now fit referees all the referees are absolutely stacked and fit mate they're so fit half of them could be gladiators and I prefer the sort of Mike Dean the David Ellery you knew he was a Harrow schoolmaster yeah it was by day he was a he was a headmaster and by you know on the weekend he would turn into David Ellery the referee I think I think like back in the day like Uriah Rennie was probably the one that was like looked after the majority had like a a bit of a Pirelli tyre sort of around the midriff you know you could tell they're having a few pints on the weekend I sort of like that they've gone professional haven't they they haven't they haven't got a day job anymore they're full time refs yeah they're full time refs and then coupled with this just for the games gone bored just on the referee thing is the talking to the stadiums I don't know there's something about that that sits very odd with me not happy with it I don't know man it's very rugby isn't it it's very rug down no yeah I'm not a fan I'm not a fan but why aren't we fans yeah but there are certain things you know I'll go to you know PSG or there's some great ones like even Tottenham to be fair there's a vibe does feel like a vibe there I think it's all grouped in it's the it's the presentation of football to the crowd yeah I think is now totally it's changed so much you say it's changed but you remember do you remember 92 when the Premier League first kicked off and it was like a whole new ball game and they had the dancers and the fireworks and fire you know it's been around for a while is what I'm saying I think it's just evolving so although I'm with you on a lot of the points we've raised there I don't want to say I'm in favour of the lasers no I don't mind it I don't mind it I don't mind that sort of just pre-game last crescendo of hyping it up and just getting it going I don't mind that this next one this next one's a cool this one for me is potentially going to go I might write it in go on let's kick off one on the board do you want one on the board?

19:07yeah players walking around the giant club badge on the floor oh because the respect thing not standing on the club's badge when it's on the floor I said nine times out of ten this is normally just by the sort of tunnel area isn't it as you go out or in the tunnel or by the changing rooms and you know just walk across it just walk across it what are your thoughts on that? so have I missed the reason why it's disrespectful because I do also see a lot of messages from CCTV of a player suddenly seeing it last second and ducking around it and then all the comments are like, ah, touch a class that, you know, respect to the badge.

19:49But is it disrespecting the badge to walk across a logo on the... Yeah. Is it? Because if that's the case, we're disrespecting the badge every time we... My... Like scrunch up a programme or... Yeah, exactly right, yeah. My also thing was, you know when we walk onto the pitch now to do the game, TNT or something like that, right? Sky, whoever's doing the game. There's loads of stuff on the floor and I don't know what I'm walking across. So I've actually done it myself. I've chosen to avoid because I can't actually read what's there. I'm thinking, I don't know, it could be anything, couldn't it?

20:27Yeah. You know, it could be one of those things where it's that day and you've got, you know, whatever it is. Yeah. But without bringing it back to Thomas Frank, let's say you have a coffee in an Arsenal cup and then go and throw that in the bin. Are you disrespecting the badge there? do you know what I mean I'm only being pedantic for the sake of examining this well yeah if you what if you have a club badge in your rhino yeah did you avoid it probably do you know do you know Chelsea's your rhino yeah you said you'll know this yeah right well I got the logo there's a little little fly yeah on the only in Chelsea's your rhino yeah just you know for spillage so you aim there's a man you know like a 10 year old aren't you you aim at the the flyer there's only at Stamford Bridge that yeah that is true good knowledge for you yeah I just I'm I just they put these badges as well in places where it's they're asking people to kind of do it aren't they I mean it's a bit of I think it's a bit of a media stunt sometimes where they place these badges you think it's done on purpose to catch players is going on this is like the old do you know where you'd super glue a pound coin to the floor and so you pick it up I think as well at big huge clubs like for instance Rio did it at Real Madrid right I think the Real Madrid massive logo there is to say this is who we are and almost like intimidation the history the size of the club you're about to go into this amphitheatre of you know and to make you feel yeah uncomfortable I think that's why they do it yep so would you step on it then if you play at the Bernabeu right you're at Liverpool you're playing in Champions League away at the Bernabeu you go to World Cup pre-game to look at the pitch like what most people would do and you're going down the town you see the badge you see it early are you going to go I'm at the Bernabeu this is you know one of the greatest stadiums greatest teams would you bypass it and go on the pitch or would you just go well I played at the old Bernabeu right but you know I was there and I lasted 15 minutes.

22:40I'm pretty sure when I walked back in 15 minutes later on my own and sat in the dressing room having crossed my team I'm pretty sure I walked straight across it. I would walk across it. I think it's on the floor. I think if someone's going to say to me you've disrespected my club I said don't put it on the floor then. Yeah. Exactly that. I've got nothing but admiration for what Real Madrid have achieved. Yeah. But the problem is is the game's gone element to this the fact that this is now we're judging respect or disrespect like this is this is now a thing in the game which is it's more annoying than anything well this now goes on to the next one about players not celebrating against former teams yeah I mean where do you stand on this players not celebrating I'm your striker yeah you've scored against previous teams did you celebrate well I think it's a little bit of both I've always I've smiled at every single goal I've ever scored I can't keep that in no right I have there are I've scored against previous teams and I've not rubbed people's faces in it, but I've done the handshake, done the hugs, been happy.

23:46But, you know, I'm not niche sliding in front of the, you know, fans, I would say. I think there's an element of respect. There's also respect for your current employers, I think. Exactly. Yeah. You know, like, hold on a minute, like you've just, you've scored for our club. You're not happy. Yeah. And also the emotions and the elation of when you score is a feeling which is incredible and to keep that in check it's a difficult thing to do that that's tough that's tough yeah and i think most football fans understand uh you know that having scored against that team you're not disrespecting them are you respect for your current yeah and i think if you go score and then if you go at the end of the game and applaud the fans you sort of winning back over again.

24:35Yeah. Yeah, it was in a game. So I think we're all on the feeling that you should celebrate, but don't over-celebrate. Yes. That's where I am with it. Yeah. Yeah. All right, I agree. Okay. Half and half scarves. No. I can't believe they're still about. I'm being serious. It's too, to be fair. Oh, come on. I think people have spoken enough about this for them not to be around. I get it for kids. I get it maybe. If it's their first game and the stall was outside. Yeah, first game. Yeah, I can say, oh, I went to that game. You can't buy a fella or grown people can't buy a... Grown people? Grown people can't.

25:22They can't. Can't. You like it. No, I don't like it. I don't like it. But I think there's exceptions to every rule. I think FA Cup final as a memory yeah a little memento it's like having a programme isn't it who played do you know what I mean it's quite especially if you're a smaller team and you're up against something mad no I get that quite a cool quite a cool memento yeah I get that because it was saying Wembley Stadium FA Cup final yeah that's what I mean that's what I mean yeah great about half and half yeah there yeah any other time any other time no it should be made illegal well we've had a few of these ones where we've had kind of I think we had a Tottenham shirt with Saka on the back and I'm certain we had a Liverpool shirt with Rooney on the back certain of it someone had it on the back I think it was one of these you know pre-season trips to like Japan that's what I'm hoping for on Korea it was yeah it was because I remember I certainly was a Liverpool fan who had well a Liverpool shirt with Rooney on the back yeah but if I don't understand the game like I don't understand baseball if I've got a Boston Red Sox you know shirt on and I've got Barry Bonds who plays for San Francisco Giants I wouldn't know do you know what I mean is what I'm saying is if you're from a different part of the world no you can if you don't understand my favourite players really but I love Liverpool yeah oh totally in our perspective it's ridiculous yeah I got Gino De Campo once to sign a Jamie Oliver book and it was exactly that you don't realise how I remember us talking about this somebody's right unless you're in the game you don't realise really you couldn't have a Ramsey White's no you know hanging up in an Oliver restaurant no no sorry it was the other way around it was Jamie Oliver I got that was it I asked Jamie Oliver to sign a Gino De Campo book and he wasn't having it which with hindsight you know is fair enough yeah I agree I wonder if Dina Dina's caught up in all that what the chef rivalries yeah does she hate Nigella do you reckon yeah I don't know I don't know congratulations to Nigella as well big new gig for her with the bake off okay yeah Prouleth out Nigella in just before the transfer window ended that one actually oh good move have we got any personal ideas lads on the games gone got any ones that you think of my one for me my one for me that's probably coming in the last couple of years is I know the world is going this way is when the player of the match or if someone scored the winner the comms guys give them the phone after and they do like a message to the fans oh okay do you like that one right I'm not a fan of that yeah I'm not a fan of that do you know what I mean yeah I know so you don't like the message for the fans no no no no no I get it I get it I get it when he no no no I get it when they're showered and they've got to do media duties after yes but they grab them on the pitch and they're walking off in their kit and they're like they're doing like a quick message yeah okay yeah that's it but that rolls on that my original one would have been when a team wins the fa cup or world cup or premier league and they're out there with their phones and they've got their little uh gopro cameras and stuff as well yeah enjoy the moment yeah i know what you're saying i mean i agree yeah enjoy the moment i i agree there's enough footage to go around that you cannot get it but i don't know but there was one there was i'm gonna to say when there was one person who messaged in about i'm sure someone was watching something else during the game with headphones on watching a fan show yeah yeah that that one for me is unacceptable yeah the only headphones allowed are on the last day of the season yes and specifically on a radio There has to be a handheld radio.

29:22And for me, yeah, I think headphones at a football match is not acceptable. Okay. Yeah, okay. So you're saying, I mean, you know, they might be listening to the commentary. Yeah. And it might be, you know, I don't know. I don't know what they're listening to. But I think it's a complete experience being at a football match. Yeah. I think. And if you've got headphones on, or filming really. Yeah, or Wi-Fi. Just get rid of Wi-Fi. I think that solves a lot of problems in stadiums. Do you know what I mean? I didn't even have to do it. I mean, it's hard. It's hard. Okay. I've got one that I really think needs to be on the board.

30:04And it's adult toys on transfer deadline day. The abolishment of that has ruined that day. Oh, you want to bring them back? Absolutely. Transfer deadline day for me was a... it was like Christmas or something. It was so good. It was a good time. Why has it got so lame? Well, what they've done, they've moved them for their own safety. You know, people like Nick Collins, you know, some of the finest reporters. Oh, I thought it was a COVID thing or something. No, I think they've moved them kind of behind the, in the gates now. So rather than being on the kind of. On the fan side, on the civilian side.

30:40Yeah. That's what, nothing's changed with the fans. I don't think. I think. But do you still get fans? Do you still get fans? at the training ground on transfer deadline day. I don't know. There's just something that's, we need to make them great again. They were so good. It was such a good day in football. It was important because not just the transfers going in, but it was the rumours. It was the wild speculation based on nothing. It was tracking helicopters in the sky. It was dildos in the air. It was brilliant. It was class. It was Redknapp out of a van window. it was odd and wingy it's reporters in the target roundabout McDonald's it was just lies for entertainment's sake it was drama we need to bring that back I worry that we need to make transfer deadline day great again I worry the game goes if that goes it feels like it's right the dying embers of a transfer deadline day we need to bring it all back the excitement the fun even watching it I remember watching it and it would be a random club with loads of people behind them and the jeopardy of like you know one of those people is going to do something absolutely outrageous to that man it was you know what it could be it was you know some water even or just I don't know I don't want to condone it you know or you know someone could get their knob out but it was for me it was like comet relief you know there was an element of, it was, it was, it was all good fun.

32:17A little slogan or something, you know, with one of those like, yeah, a board or a dance. Anything could happen. Anything could happen. That was the beauty of it. And it just feels like we're too, it's all just got a bit too, I don't know, a bit too sensible for me. Transfer deadline. So are you saying that they, the fans are still there, but they're on the outside and the reports have sort of been, sort of been sent into the car park. The clubs have looked after them, brought them inside the gates. The game's gone element is reporters being allowed in training grounds. Okay, so... On transfer deadline.

32:51So instead of the fans coming inside, get the reporters back in the mix, get them outside. They should all be by the entrance. Yeah, I mean, listen, I understand the safety aspect of it, you know? Listen, that's a given. None of us want any reporter to be injured. But lightly humiliated is fine, surely. but I just think I just think it's the test of the reporter's skills to navigate you know excited football fans on deadline day yes and I also think do you not sign yourself up for that job if you're going to be a reporter on transfer deadline day like if someone said to me right we've got you a gig you're going down to London Colney to be to report on any possible transfers you look in the car windows you see any you think you see someone you give us a nudge we cut to you right that's part my job like then I'm dealing with the people like I know what I'm expected to do in that Mark McAdam he's a brilliant brilliant reporter the way he navigated Transfer Deadline Day was a masterclass I respect him more for it as a journalist and he had all sorts he had all sorts yeah great okay so bring back the I'll write it down it's going on thank you so I think what is it in one sentence I think bring back the real transfer deadline yeah do you think or what would you like to write down alright I think in one line what we're talking about here is kind of woke deadline days aren't we yeah woke deadline days Crouch you get it on the board it's woke deadline days more dildos

34:39Right, welcome back to the show. We are, me and Sid are remote. Chris is, where's Chris, Sid? No, nowhere to be seen, is he? Is he on holiday? Is he on holiday? Seriously. I don't get told these things. You're the main man. Your name's above the door. Did he apply for a day off or was that taken to HR? I've lost the dressing room completely. I've lost the dressing room. I've lost it's gone look at us it's fucking shambolic he's not even turned up I'm in my daughter's bedroom

35:19I'm in my daughter's bedroom she's had to come in she's like dad like I've got to do it for you I said no no you've got to get out I'm working dad's working in the bedroom she's had to set me up couldn't set me up at all oh god unbelievable right so Chris Chris hasn't turned up we're all remote and you're feeling a little bit under the weather yeah a little bit chaded yeah so I couldn't make it into the studio feeling a little bit not feeling great for me right okay well here we are let's get we make it do don't we we get it done that's what we do come on we'll soldier on the current stand in the football league are Sid's your top of the league with 52 Starkey he languished in bottom of 39.

36:07I've got 40. I've pulled 10 ahead of him. That's with my three points. Sid, you've got four points. It feels like you can just turn it on whenever you want and go again. So you get four, three, and Chris had the two points. Yeah, I mean, to be fair, that was a big swing and that'll come down to the Liverpool-Man City game where you had 2-2. I'm pretty sure you had 2-2 and with all that stuff, that happened at the end with Shabazz Lai pulling Haaland back. That was the swing for me. If I'm honest, I was doing a Sunday roast, right? I was cooking and I had the TV on the background and when they went one nil up, Liverpool, I was like, that's it.

36:52Then I'm going to get back into it, City. Then City got one back. Then they went two, one up and when I'm dancing around this kitchen, I was celebrating like you can't believe. When that equaliser went in, when that equaliser went in, I dropped to my knees I promise you I dropped to my knees then the whole debacle about it being disallowed and you know I was I was get up there the three points come on sorry Arsenal fans sorry Liverpool fans but this is this is the most important league oh my god without doubt what a game by the way it was a brilliant game of football in it like just carnage that last kind of 10-15 minutes was absolute carnage yeah do you see do you see the video of of Harlan's dad watching it in the stands have you seen that little clip going no no it's brilliant it's when he when he's taking the penalty he slots it and then but there's a camera on him in the stand and it's class just he pulls he's chucked it up you know up to his eyeballs and he just celebrates like that so that's what I was doing basically but yeah it's a little it's a little healthy lead mate Chris is ambling you're right he's on 39 points so you're 10 in front and I'm what 13 in front so he's got a bit of work to do yeah alright well let's see shall we get into the league this week yep ok right let's get into it the next part of the podcast is supported by Paddy Power it's a big weekend fixture it's the big weekend fixture it's the FA Cup this weekend Sid always good love the FA Cup when it's FA Cup week Villa versus Newcastle kind of all Premier League Newcastle wins 2-1 Villa 23-20 draws 5-2 interesting repeat the last meeting would be 11-1 which was 2-0 to Aston Villa at the moment I wouldn't back against that 11-1 that's not bad I think that's very very generous odds considering where Newcastle are as well at the moment I think in the last the last five games is it they've had four losses and one draw so they're not in a good place in Newcastle at all I feel for Eddie Howe as well he's coming under a bit of stick I think he's doing a great job there I always find though with these FA Cup ones they feel like the international break you don't know what to expect because you don't know what the team they're going to sort of put out they're going to rest the couple surely these two have got to go for a bit of silverware this year you know FA Cup these two could definitely go and win the FA Cup.

39:33I'd be disappointed if they don't play our strong teams, mate. Yeah, I'm with you on that totally. I think these two clubs especially are like, you saw when they won the Carabao Cup how big it was for Newcastle, having not won for so long. And Villa, it feels the same. It feels like they're two clubs that probably need a trophy, yeah, and are good enough to win it as long as they put the strong teams out. Shall we listen to Chris's prediction him first. Yeah, go on, let him go first. Guys, you know my feelings on the FA Cup. I absolutely love it. Obviously, all the stuff with Macclesfield is going to be immense.

40:11Really excited to see that. I've gone through the DMs. Thank you to everyone who sent me a little message with their predictions. To kick things off, I'm going to go Villa 2, Newcastle 1. That's Villa 2, Newcastle 1. Yeah. Typical, isn't it? Yeah, typical. Yeah, he's away, you know, coming, just sending us missionary picks not what we need do you know what I mean if we're away he's got to spice it up I need you know he is if you're going to send if you're going to send voice note and pictures you know then they need to be spicy can't have a full missionary no no he I've got a feeling the other two could be the same with him I've got a feeling more of a feeling that you're going to go the same as last year I think you're going to go 2-0 I think you'll I think you'll you like that 11-1 odds 2-0 Villa I did like it it's good well I might might well have a bet on it as well because it's a good odds as well I'm happy with it yeah I'm going to stick with that 2-0 okay jeez I was going to say 2-1 right okay I'll be different to Chris I will go I'll go 3-1 Aston Villa alright we have got Paddy's boost this is where we all each pick a leg of the CrouchPod bet builder the odds in the bet builder will then be boosted by 20 % it'll be put on the special section of Pandy Power's website or app I'm going to go player to score first Oli Watkins yeah good shout like that okay player to be carded I will say Bruno Gimrush nice okay in the absence of Chris I'll choose a player to have two shots on target that'll be Harvey Barnes the odds are correct at the time of recording please gamble responsibly alright moving on Sid we've got Grimsby Grimsby of League League 2 placing playing Wolves yeah haven't seen much of Grimsby I'm not going to lie yeah well yeah I haven't either to be honest but apparently they are in great form three wins and two draws from the last five haven't lost in their last nine matches.

42:30They're at home to Wolves who are struggling, let's be honest. Yeah. Well, you know, like, quite often I think these games and things like that, like while they're on TV, you always know it as the Premier League team. Yeah. You know, when you're like, oh, the cameras are down here and, you know, you're playing like a lower league team, you know full well, it's everyone there is hoping and everyone at home watching is hoping for a shock. And because Wolves have struggled this season but they're a Premier League side, this is where the cameras or the people behind the cameras are expecting an upset.

43:12Well, I think there will be. Only because Wolves are having a shocker. What? No, no. I think you're going to go for the rims, Pierre. You scared me. That scares you, mate. Yeah. No, I think there could be an upset here. I really do. Grimsby are in a bit of confidence at the moment. They're just outside the playoffs. They're playing decent. They're at home. It's an FA Cup. You're playing against a Premier League team that's struggling massively. I do fancy Grimsby to get a result. do you want to listen to Chris first? Yeah, shall we? Let's do that. All right, lads. Next up, Grimsby Wolves. I'm going to go Grimsby 1, Wolves 3.

44:06Bosh. Oh, he's got 3-1. Okay. I mean, they should, look, Wolves, if they turn up, they should do it. I fancy Grimsby on this one. I think it's going to be a bit of a cup upset. I'm going to say I'm going to say Grimsby 2 Wolves 1 I'm going to go 2-1 Wolves oh that's right okay alright let's move on then Birmingham versus Leeds again on the Sunday yeah Blues are in great form going very well since three wins two draws last five not lost in seven yeah good stuff yeah no they are playing good stuff and they've only lost one once at home I think as well they're in good form at St Andrews Birmingham Leeds has always been a bit of a tasty game that and again I think this is going to be a good cup a good cup tie Leeds are doing alright they're doing alright aren't they Calvert-Lewin's finding a bit of form they're in and amongst that relegation sort of group that's down there I think they've got definitely enough to get out of it I'm hoping again that they play a strong team I think the Premier League is going to be their bread and butter we know that I'm hoping they put out a good team Birmingham definitely will I think this is in the balance this one it'd be a really really good atmosphere at this game yeah yeah agree I'm actually really in the balance of this I think this could really go either way I don't know what to say go on let's let's say Chris first okay last game I'm going to go oh it's a tricky one this one.

45:50My boss is right next to me so I'm going to bring him in because he's a fan of the podcast as well. So my boss, Brent, Birmingham leads, what are you saying? Birmingham nil leads two. We're going to go Birmingham nil leads two and that concludes my FA Cup matches. I made that sound like I'm doing the draw, I wish. Boys, I hope you're well, regards to your families and I'll see you soon. Good luck, everyone. Enjoy the FA Cup weekend. Right, well, now I feel like Chris is cheating on us. I feel like it was like, oh, sorry, lads. I'm working late tonight. I won't be home for dinner. And then like a voice note of his boss with a score.

46:39Oh, my God. Brent. I reckon he's met Brent at a hotel bar. He's definitely away. he's a million percent away 100 % he's on holiday and Brent he's our British boss he's he's made up a name Brent the boss in the office like he's just made up a name yeah and Brent and Brent's called 2-0 did he call 2-0 Leeds yeah he said 2-0 Leeds oh I think he did he did yeah okay what do you fancy then if you're ready Sid you go okay I'm gonna jump in I'm going to say the Blues get it done and I'm going to say 2-1 Birmingham well I'm going to side with Leeds the Premier League side I'm going to go with 2-1 to Leeds this is big this is a big weekend right well that concludes the fourth round fixtures back to the studio now a little bit of listener mail

47:45alright lads Well, you know, that's our first one, right? First good one to go on. Yeah, well, you know what? We're going to have a little segment every week. You can always write in. People have written in already. We've got topics here for discussion. Ref juggling balls. It's from Charlesburg. Oh, yeah. This was a couple of weeks ago, actually, this one. I don't mind that. I don't mind it. Do you believe it's okay for refs to do keepyuppies? I think if you can perform like that. Yeah, I agree. I'd actually quite find that. If I come out the tunnel, if I come out the dressing room and I see the ref doing that, waiting for the players to come down, I'd be like, oh wait, that's pretty decent.

48:22So what would you do if you went out to the pitch before the game and you know when you're there and you're just sort of looking around the stadium and you see the ref and the linesman they're having a little kick about? On the pitch. On the pitch. No. I know where you're coming from. It's a bit game squad, I know, but... No. You're not having that? No. No. They're there to do one job and that's not to kick a ball. Yeah, true. To officiate. I mean, I don't mind that. It's down the tunnel. It's a little bit out of the way. It's not in front of the crowd. They're not on the pitch. Yeah. You know.

48:51But then we've seen videos previously where the refs are warming up as well, you know, pretending to put a flag out. And like, that side. Yeah. That's fine, isn't it? It's just warming up for their job. Well, that's that. It was a week's job, isn't it? I just think they're trying to be the best at their job, yeah. I mean, it's a tiny bit. Game's gone. You don't want to put your flag out cold, do you? you could do your arm in yeah just talking about referees and assistant referees where are we on the the socks ah yeah you know the like the cut socks or cut socks holes in socks grip socks have you seen that referees or referees wearing them yeah or the assistant referees with the grip socks yeah yeah I know what you mean I mean I get it it's all about comfort you don't want to get blisters but well what about the players cutting holes in their socks more fashion I mean I'll be honest with you I used to do it a little bit when I was playing I actually get it you know I used to cut the tops of them a little bit like it felt like you'd get cramp if they were too tight that's how I used to feel I get why players are doing it and it is purely because there's no fashion thing about it but then everyone just can't believe all these multi-million companies can't make bigger stretchier socks but it's true yeah it's true I think the funniest thing is when you see if you ever see a kids team or like the kids at my little girl's age when I play football they've got the holes in the soil yeah I don't think they're getting cramp the calves are too big yeah alright well look a few people are piling in on this already Mitch has messaged us says hello Wumble Senior SIDS and Dubai Des it's really odd Dubai Des would love to hear your thoughts on Moyes getting booked for celebrating the last minute equaliser on the weekend just gone.

50:45Game's gone, surely. Love the pod, listen every week, keep it up, makes my week. Yeah, what do we think about that? He wasn't happy, Moyes, was he? First of all, though, how funny is it? It's like the granddad skip, isn't it? It's like, brilliant. Do you know what? Now that there is football for me and you can't punish that. I know you're into the field of play, which is probably what he's done. You can't really tell. It looks like he's gone on and done a big loop, but I love that. Yeah, I agree. That's the best. You know, David Pleat, when he ran across, he was skipping and running, you know, across the pitch.

51:19Mourinho down the top line. Fergie, Brian Kidd. Cop running on, you know. You want to see it, don't you? Yeah. It's just raw emotion. Yeah. Yeah, and also, I don't really understand that sort of entering the field of plaything because surely for 20 seconds after a goal, the rules don't exist. The game's not on, right? You're pausing the game, aren't you, to celebrate. Yeah. so in my mind the manager can do what he wants that's a bit like booking a manager after 90 minutes when the whistle's gone yeah for entering the field of play I agree that moment from when the goal goes in to the restart of the game I think anything goes yeah in that moment yeah yeah apart from you know we don't have fans running on or whatever but if you're part of the playing staff yeah I think I think as long as as long as it doesn't involve the opposition playing staff yeah like not rubbing in their face or anything like that not running around their bench yeah do what you want I think so what would happen what would happen if the manager run into the crowd so you know if the player scores and gets in the crowd he gets booked yeah what happens if like Moisey turned around I know obviously it was away but imagine if he turned around and ran if it was at home and jumped into the home fans I reckon he'll get booked would he get booked for that I think he probably would yeah I wonder if he takes his shirt off this is what I was thinking what happens there so and that must come down to the fourth official I think Because the referee wouldn't see it, would he?

52:39No. Do the same rules apply. All right, got another message here from Eddie. Says, hi chaps, regards to your families. I'm a Coventry fan and have been to our two home pre-season games and have seen more evidence of how much the game has gone. Are the Coventry fans clapping and applauding the away fans during the game and when they scored a goal? I know it was just a pre-season and they'd travelled far, but we're all used to fans having great banter between each other. so friendly or not clapping the opposition fans is woke nonsense and the game is gone you don't see Arsenal and Spurs fans applauding each other in the pre-season game in China what are your thoughts is the game gone here or am I wanting league football back too much so you must have sent that a while ago Eddie yeah the supposing fans clapping each other right but if someone scores it's all context this isn't it because I think I've applauded at a different goal at Watford where it was insane exactly when he came off came off got applauded I quite like that I think that's appreciation that's football fans understanding what they've witnessed do you do that as players how much do you communicate with other teams I saw one recently it was a couple of weeks ago it was Man United versus Fulham and in the last minute do you remember Kevin cuts in and whips one in the top bin unbelievable goal it's one angle beyond the goal where Mbwemo I'm sure he's clapping it but as he just hit the net he claps it really?

54:10yeah so I get that right because it was an outrageous goal but what the bit I don't get of that is that if I remember correctly that was in like the 94th minute for them to equalise like if you're 4-1 up or you're 4-0 and it doesn't know then you just go hell of a goal that yeah but to do that when he just got an equaliser at Old Trafford in the 94th minute and also in that game as well Jimenez scored a penalty put it top corner yeah and the goalkeeper amends is it he got the ball smiling and smiling I saw it you're a friendly bun you know that United players what's happened what's happened to everyone I saw that you're right when he runs to get the ball from what I was used to what I grew up with you push him in the gun try and beat him up yeah if he tries to take the ball and run off the goalkeeper usually holds it they have a wrestling match then everyone fights in the goal map but dare I say as well that penalty is dangerously close to going on that board as well I thought that was I actually thought he really screwed screwed up as he was all the stutters around like for me this could go on the board the stuttering run ups yeah consistently stuttering yeah that for me I think it could be that could go on the board that not a fan of it at all yeah these players looking cool I don't think it improves your penalty at all.

55:35There can't be a logic to all the stuttering, can there? There can only be one logic or, I don't know, way of putting a keeper off if you stop at the ball. Not that you can stop at the ball, but if there's just one stop, if that makes sense. Not like, shut, stutter, stop, run. Feels a bit much. Yeah. Well, yeah, we just had a look at it there and I can't see him actually applauding. So, well, it doesn't matter anyway. We'll just go with what he did. Never let the truth get in the way of a good story, mate. But have occasionally, yeah, I've got to say, you're right. if you're 4-0 up 4-1 I remember Watford losing to Chelsea it was a game at Stamford Bridge tempted to say it was an FA Cup Good Johnson had scored and scored a really good goal and I remember just thinking actually fair play you're just way better than us yeah we're clapping it almost Barcelona around Madrid was it Ronaldinho scored and they was there you go applauding it yeah I'm not sure about applauding like a rival team like fans no yeah no Okay, another message.

56:35Afternoon Peter from Bahrain, Bonfire and Womble. Not sure if you're across this, but yesterday at the Forest vs Sunderland game, not only did each team have mascots, but so did the referee. Young lad in purple, following the referee for warm-ups pre-game and standing in front of him for the official photo. The game has never been more gone. Regards to your families, keep up the good work. From Rich. Referee mascots. Referee mascots. I don't know where... I'm hoping, I'm really hoping that there's a reason for this. You know, whether, I don't want to be a sad story or, but I hope there is. Because if you're that little kid and you've been given the referee's hand, you're absolutely devastated.

57:19Well, I mean, what game was this? You're devouring up. What game was this? Was it Forest, did it say? Yeah, no, I'm just thinking back to certain scenarios, right? Imagine you're in the tunnel, right? And Man United Arsenal back in the day, you're Keane and Vieira, two captains, right? Potential to walk out with either of those. And you are the one that gets the referee to walk out with. Assuming no reason, though, it's just one to keep an arm for the ball because if we're now normalising referees with mascots, that is potential games gone, I think. Well, I just think if it's luck of the draw, for instance, then just have a look at the little lad's face as he walks out.

57:58if he just stood in the wrong position at the wrong time and he ends up walking out with the ref then potentially he could have walked out with one of the players yeah let that kid look forward to that game all week got through school and then gets to that match day and it could potentially be his son or something you know the ref's son which is we're like he's obviously turned fine but yeah something to keep an eye on anyway okay well that's that was the launch of the games gone forward loved it it's it's interesting because I feel it was a bit of a theme throughout the year anyway so just to to get the ball up and up and at them is good I think yeah as we say just keep an eye out with these things feel free to send them in and also when we've got guests on as well we can get some of theirs as well I think we've done that with Tony Pulis we asked him we asked Marcus Mumford as well he said about the spray I think this is really going to go going to go to town the first one's on there woke deadline days love it this episode is brought to you by a load of pricks.net we are the experts in selling houses Chris couldn't sell his house what did you do Chris?

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