EP. 361 | Les Ferdinand: “You Must Have Two Strikers.” The Death Of Two Up Top - Part 2

0:00Les Ferdinand: Hello and welcome to That Peter Crouch Podcast with me, Peter Crouch, Notorious S.I.D. and Chris Starker with me. Just quickly, the game's gone bored just to my left ear. Sid, you've been poured a beverage today. Yeah. Would you like to discuss that? Well, just because I've got the game's gone bored right next week. Well, this is going to go on the game's gone bored. I've got a beer and it's in a Guinness glass. And I've just, I see it straight away, I noticed it and I said to girls, that's, you can't be doing that. It's a lager in a Guinness glass. It's a lager in a Guinness glass, yeah. It makes me feel sick.

0:33Les Ferdinand: Even the sight of it is disgusting. Is there something that's making you feel seasick about that? It's kind of, yeah, it's just so not right, is it? Anyway. I was like, is there another glass? And he just said, I'll just turn it sideways so we wouldn't see it. But you can blatantly see it. And I can see it. And just doing it is... I can't explain. It must be a word for it, but that physically makes me feel sick. it's doing something honestly i feel really hot and yes it bothers me yeah this really really bothers me as well it doesn't look it just like it looks warm as well like i mean that's not great glass but yeah but that's a that's a beer glass that's a lager glass isn't it that just that i wouldn't even do that at home i wouldn't know i mean i gotta be honest i had a I had a Guinness yesterday in a San Miguel glass.

1:25Les Ferdinand: I did. I did that at home. Yeah, I'm not sure about that. That's worse. I've let myself down. I feel like that's worse. That's worse. Out of the two, I didn't have a Guinness glass and I, just the cans. Yeah. And I did put it in there. Yeah. Oh, okay. Sorry. Sorry, I need to get this right. You had Guinness in what? I've got like a San Miguel glasses. They're kind of, yeah the big fat chody one yeah yeah Guinness went in it yeah yeah wasn't my finest hour but no I just don't know how you can have the resources you have and frankly the money and like not have your drinks cabinet sorted out like or have someone sort that for you my cabinet said you know about my cabinet yeah that's a great it's a really ice cold drinks fridge stocked fantastically well I don't often drink Guinness at home this is my issue I'm more of a lager amount and a Guinness in a pub but I went with the Guinness and I didn't have a glass clean a Guinness one and I just went with it I'm sorry there's something about taking Guinness glass as well or beer glass are you a glass thief at all when you use glass am I a thief a glass thief if you see a yeah it's great though you actually kind of half buzz off it I do anyway if I see a nice glass I'll be like well I think obviously we can't endorse death obviously no I'm not saying that but what I would say is thievery what I would say though is is a fine line between that and memorabilia collecting do you know what I mean like I like things to remind me of a good night I took a bus stop once I took a temporary bus stop on the way home from a night out well like a stand yes you know when they're doing works on the road and they move the bus stop they put a little hood over the proper bus stop and then they put one on there just in like a smaller one there and we moved it so it was much closer to my best mate's house it was right outside it so then the bus would stop go down Cannon Lane and stop right like right outside his house so you didn't take it home you just moved it to be fair we didn't take it home we moved it after a night out love that I've woke up with a couple of high vizes before.

3:50Les Ferdinand: Have you? Yeah. I don't know where... What were their names?

3:58Les Ferdinand: I'd obviously worn, obviously found a high viz, put it on and wore it home. Yeah. I woke up and it was in my bedroom. You get the old traffic cone here and there, don't you? Or roadside. Usually they go on cars though. They go on top of cars. Or statues. Yeah, statues, yeah. Yeah. Have you been up too much, guys? Half term. really you've just got back from holiday I assume you've got another one due soon it's wrong isn't it I'm away next week are you actually yes wow two days Steve's skis well no no no this is business oh is it no pleasure whatsoever there might be you can have any fun there no fun whatsoever we'll enjoy ourselves yeah yeah we'll do it just enjoy it by being disciplined yeah trying to expand the global brand good for you but yeah it's good to be back we was obviously all off site wasn't we last week yeah we were well obviously we had Les part one we were just going to manoeuvre into Les part two and we had so much amazing feedback from what a legend Sir Les is and you understand the nickname what an absolute hero really you had a lot of feedback Sid's didn't you yeah I was at the gym the other day and two guys at the gym said it and Dorkin Wanderers the lads down there have listened to it as well Mark White and Mark White yeah they always they was like brilliant I think more because it resonates with them you know like that non-league one where a lot of people don't know his background with Les and then just how nice he was as well and you know about folding your kit and just being nice to everyone how far it actually goes yeah I think when someone like Les Ferdinand can behave in that manner it just trickles down through the leagues you think what gives anyone else excuse to behave differently exactly if Les is doing that yeah that's a good role model It's been great feedback from it all.

5:46Les Ferdinand: How was your half term very quickly, Crouchy? Yeah, it was good, mate. Yeah, yeah. I managed to get away, got myself to Portugal for a moment. Yeah, yeah. But obviously in between records, you know. Yeah, it's different with them.

5:59Les Ferdinand: I got through half term. I went to the Dev on one of the nights, our favourite pub. Standard. Did a full on, you know, until you get chucked out and then we went to a place down the road and then I woke up in the morning, my wife ripped off the covers and was basically, you've got the kids today, sort of thing. I was hit with that grenade. Oh, really? Which was fine. Took him swimming. The reason I bring it up is it was only when I got into the pool that I realised I didn't bring any towels and it was rammed in there. Oh, no. So how would you deal with that scenario? No Chris Powell's. No Chris Powell's.

6:34Les Ferdinand: Shocker. Nightmare. Nightmare stuff, that, isn't it? Yeah, I mean, what did you do? Use a jumper? Hair dryers. Oh, hair dryers. scolded the kids you mean I'm rotating like kebabs look at Donna he's got he's got a little bango like a Donna kebab just I bet they enjoyed that they actually did they did they buzzed off it they buzzed off it get away but if anyone saw me in Bray Whitley just to explain what was going on full of Donna kebabs and the ginger to be fair good idea it's not bad you've got to go Bear Grylls in these scenarios and just sort of you know use your surroundings use what you can I love that and you had a bit of a party bus as well I see yeah and it was my little girl's birthday so I booked one of them party buses you know like yeah look good that two hours there two hours back oh that's a bit much that's a bit much songs you know but yeah it was all good yeah there's a toy deal missus actually absolutely incredible I mean you know she popped her head round in the video that went for the viral actually and just 3-1 what a shout she came out with 3-1 which to be fair I think was the fair result actually from that game can I just say about that game you know Sid's little girl was round at my house believe it or not and she was had a lovely day and I dropped them home but I left on 90 minutes and I had 3-1 you'd predicted 3-1 both had 3-1 and we you know I just assumed 3-pointer in the bag went round talked to you about my 3-pointer yeah fair pleasure you didn't say anything to me I went home happy as Larry another three-pointer really pleased only this morning when I woke up I realised he wasn't a three-pointer it was a yokeren what is the actual point of him scoring a four?

8:21Les Ferdinand: I've got to admit even I felt it was unnecessary what is the point? I was in the pub when this and the fourth goal went in but by then suddenly clocked bloody hell Mrs has got this she's now nonchalant put her head round the corner gone three-one I'm like fuck me what did you call her earlier? Do you know what I love about the way she did that? That's a mat, you arsehole. And three-one. Double bosh. Double one. Just getting shit done. Do you know what he called her earlier? Nostradamus. Nostradamus. You need to start leaning into some of, you know, forget the listeners. I'm lagging. I'm so behind.

9:00Les Ferdinand: It might pivot to wife predictions. Imagine she gets it back, new manager. Imagine. Unbelievable. I could do that but yeah well you know we talk about that new manager we talk about Ed Still I don't know if you saw this but someone tweeted me the other day with one of the best nicknames for Ed Still Sniper's Dream Ed Still Sniper's Dream is unbelievable I cannot believe it that's one of the best I've heard we had Sniper's Nightmare obviously the leg's shorter than the other but Sniper's Dream Ed Still that is class good result for him at the weekend of course against Derby as well yeah off to good start there yeah brilliant alright alright enjoyed that catch up lads shall we get into Les part 2 let's do it

9:54we're doing that

9:55Les Ferdinand: certainly in Manchester but you settled in Newcastle certainly good mate further north the city of love yeah city of love

10:02Peter Crouch: I don't know about that part

10:09Peter Crouch: I don't know about the city of love but I fell in love with that football club that's for sure

10:14Les Ferdinand: and it fell in love with you as well I've never known a fan base kind of just rally around and love someone as much as they took to you and what was that? I mean goals help obviously but they really took to you didn't they?

10:30Peter Crouch: Yeah I mean when I say to my friends that I was only there for two years, they find it so hard to believe because wherever we, you know, if I'm out and somewhere and we see a Geordie person, they'll come over and they'll start talking and he said, the love you get from, you know, my mates say, the love you get from the Geordies is just unbelievable in terms of the time that you was there. But as you said, the goals, you know, I had 50 goals in 84 games. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? So that in itself and I mean, again, I went, it was a little bit like when I went to Turkey, you know, I just engrossed myself of what was going on.

11:05Peter Crouch: I didn't go to Newcastle and think, I want to be back in London on every occasion that I can be. Do you know what I mean? I just went there and I just settled down and went, this is about football. Let's see what we can do. Yeah. And sorry to interrupt, I was fortunate to be part of that group of players that they call the entertainers. And I think when the football's good in that city, the whole city comes alive.

11:28Les Ferdinand: Yeah. And what a team that was. like seriously like probably when you think about it as a as a as a just watching football is purely for pleasure the best I think that we've seen to entertain when you talk about Hall of Fame Premier League Hall of Fame which you're obviously in well we haven't got there yet we'll get but if you were to do the same with a team this surely is yeah I mean I'm watching as a young kid right I'm watching you demolish Manchester United the best team I've ever seen 5-0 you know the 4-3 games with Liverpool you know I'm watching yourself like Asprea to David Ginola you know I'm just the way football's being played is just

12:15Peter Crouch: off the charts you know the mad thing is the year that we should have won the league we played Man United at St James' Park and we lost 1-0 Schmeichel's unbelievable in goal missed out how we say That is ridiculous save by the way. We actually played better in that game than we did in the 5-0. Really? Yeah. You know, but he was on fire on the day. Yeah, he was. We missed our chance. We hit the crossbar. We did everything. We just couldn't score. But yeah, I mean, it was really strange because I got there and I knew that this was a good team and I knew, you know, what Keegan has said to me, look, I'm trying to build a team that's going to challenge for the league.

12:56Peter Crouch: We're going to try and win this league and I want you to be part of that. and he said to me my vision was to pair you with Andy Cole I wanted to bring you to play with Andy Cole but Andy obviously moved on to Manchester United and he said but you know I'm going to get people to play alongside you he said I'm committed to playing with wingers they're going to get the ball in for you and I remember in one of our first pre-season games he went to them I bought what I think is one of the best headers of the ball in the Premier League you need to feed him and that was Keith Gillespie one side than David Giannola the other.

13:31Peter Crouch: Any good? Any good? Let me tell you, I mean, everyone talks to me about David Giannola because I often say, you know, domestically, he was the best player I played with. Yeah, he was a joke, wasn't he? Yeah, but I can't give him that amount of praise without giving Keith Gillespie the other side. You know, their careers went in, you know, obviously different directions, but Keith Gillespie down the other side was just simply sensational. Knew what he was going to do, he was going to run past it and he was just going to cross it. which is a dream for you

14:00Les Ferdinand: stop stop and check

14:01Peter Crouch: you know David had that in his locker a little bit but Keegan went to him I need you to get the ball in the box for him and after I think it was the first couple of pre-season games he said whenever I get the ball I'm going to cross it in the box because you're going to get on the end of it and that's what he did do you know what I mean just went left or right just went boom boom got it in the box

14:19Les Ferdinand: right in the early part of your Newcastle career I thought did you play with Peter Beardsley yes how good was he because he was one of my favourites I think underrated isn't it yeah you know

14:28Peter Crouch: people don't you say underrated probably from the press accolades that he gets probably not as any player that's played with Peter yeah it's a little bit like Rob Lee Rob Lee was the best player I played with without realising how good he was until I played with him wow yeah really he was just he was just he was exceptional but Peter Beardsley was just you know I mean he was like he was a magician wasn't he

14:53Les Ferdinand: so I had a video at home I used to watch it all the time and he was one of my favourite players. There was a spell, he went to Vancouver Whitecaps.

15:00Peter Crouch: Yeah, yeah.

15:01Les Ferdinand: And it was a little, and I'm sure he was on a little plastic pitch. Yeah. And I've never seen footwork like it. He had this little like scurry. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then he just begged people and then he had a little couple of drag backs.

15:14Peter Crouch: What people don't give him credit for is the goals that he scored. Yeah. He scored some unbelievable goals.

15:22Les Ferdinand: I've got one for you and I think it was my first England games because we didn't obviously live far from Wembley my dad took me I'm sure it was England, Poland and he he hit so you know when the keeper's coming out for the cross and he

15:35Peter Crouch: yeah that's right yeah he's giving the eyes yeah yeah giving the eyes yeah yeah remember that yeah you remember that yeah yeah

15:39Les Ferdinand: that was one of my early football memories he's on the free kick and instead of going for the cross he's running he's dribbling and it looks like he's going to cross it yeah and he's having a look there and you can see the keeper and he's banged it like with the eyes love it love it oh no

15:54Peter Crouch: That was Peter, man. Peter, he had some quality. We had a good team.

15:58Les Ferdinand: Yeah. Who was the best in that group? At Newcastle, who was the best you played with? And also Asprey. You've got to talk me for Asprey. Asprey was just...

16:08Peter Crouch: He's just a law run to himself. Yeah. Fantastic footballer. And a lot of people say that the demise was, you know, him coming into the side and change the dynamics of what we're doing. He did change the dynamics of what we were doing, but he was that good that the manager had to get him into the side. Do you know what I mean? So it did upset the apple cart a little bit but he wouldn't be the reason why we didn't win the league. There's too many of us that lost form, you know, come that January. And start of the season, Keegan went, we're going to go out and win it. We're going to go out and have a go at winning this league.

16:42Peter Crouch: And then we just went out and we played. And if you scored one, we'll score two. If you scored two, we'll score three. And that's how we felt and that's how we played. but you know as you got through to the season we got through to January and then we got 12 points clear and then we started to think about things you know and started to think right let's keep it tight whereas we weren't thinking about any of those things before we were just playing football off the cuff it was just off the cuff and so much so that if there was a free kick Keegan would say I think you can score take it if you think you can bend it in take it so there was no like our city you're taking this or Crouchy you're taking this you're taking that it was just if you think you can take it take it do you know what I mean so there was no there was no real structure to to what we was doing in terms of that

17:29Les Ferdinand: but what about between you all was there not a hierarchy or a sort of

17:33Peter Crouch: yeah but if if I if someone put a free kick down I thought I could smash it in I'd go yeah I'll take this one yeah do you know what I mean so it wasn't like it was no designated yeah because of our free kick and stuff like that and that's how we played and then with 12 points clear and we're cruising in and then everyone starts talking about you going to win the league and this, that and the other and then we start to think about it and as you know once you bring thought into it everything happens a little bit slower and then we got caught and we just couldn't get couldn't get off that slippery slope

18:03Les Ferdinand: When that tension creeps in and you see the press conference from Kevin Keegan what were the players were they talking about it afterwards?

18:13Peter Crouch: It was funny because I think as a player everybody, every fan And once that player to wear his heart on his sleeve, as a manager, you're not allowed to do that because it's almost like a sign of weakness. And the truth is, we didn't actually see it till later on because back then the satellite stuff on the coach weren't that good. Now you can see everything. So he's doing his interview. We're on the coach and the satellite feed's not that great. So we couldn't see what he was saying or what's going on. But we knew he was doing it because every manager does his interview after a game. it's only when I got back home I was like I'm one of those when you've played in the night I'm struggling I struggle to sleep when I get back home so I was watching a rerun of the game so I watched the highlights the rerun and then afterwards he's on there talking and then he'd go and he'd love it I'd love it so when we go in the next day by this time everyone's seen it every single player's seen it and so you know what it's like you go in and you go Tom over to the kit man I'd love it if you'd been like it and you go upstairs in the cabinet and someone goes Siddy I'd love it if you get me a cup of tea that's all it was so no one looked at it no one looked at it and thought our Keegan's melting it we just we just took we just took the tea out of it like everyone was I'd love it I'd love it if you get me some sugar I'd love it if you get me it was just like that and so but everyone else started to say oh he's lost it and blah blah blah and that's what caused the demise but we didn't as players we didn't look at it like that Did anyone say it to him the following day?

19:45Peter Crouch: Were you in a meeting? I think it was mentioned when we went out to warm up. Someone went, I'd love it if it wasn't a long warm up and stuff like that. Do you know what I mean? And stuff like that. It was just you all the time. And he just laughed at it. Do you know what I mean? And he'd say it as well. So it was like, yeah. Great guy, right? Yeah, I mean, Keegan.

20:05Les Ferdinand: I didn't come across him loads, but was he?

20:07Peter Crouch: Yeah, he was brilliant, mate. He was brilliant. You know, I mean, I remember my first team meeting. And you know what it's like, you put your team in, he goes in with the captain, see, and then they come back and they got the team sheet. We played, I think it was commentary, first game of season at home. And he came around the corner. And as he comes around the corner, everyone stops what they're doing. Cause he's, you know, words of wisdom and he's going to tell us who's playing and so on and so forth. And you know, they go on the board now and I say, right, you're picking up this one, you're picking up that one.

20:38Peter Crouch: He looks at the team sheet like that. And he goes, looks down there and he's going, he's going like that, he's going like that. we're all just sitting there waiting and he rolls it up there he goes give them the respect they deserve in there but if you play to the capabilities of what's in this dressing room they won't live with you right simple as that simple as that there you go and our father side on a Friday you talk about Peter and all that every Friday we did like five three teams if you saw how the ball was zipping people used to say to me how do you how do you look how do you lot get to play football like that?

21:13Peter Crouch: I said, the demands that Keegan put on us, and I'll tell you the story, the demands he put on us was that you play at match tempo, you train at match tempo, every single day. So there's no day that you come in and you don't train at match tempo. I wasn't aware of that. So I went in one day and I was having one of those days where, you know, when the ball comes to you, it rolls under your foot, and this, that and the other. And then one bobbled over my foot and stuff like that, blows the whistle he goes to me I'll see you tomorrow 10 minutes into training says I'll see you tomorrow I said what?

21:49Peter Crouch: says I'll see you tomorrow what are you talking about seeing me tomorrow he said no so Arthur Cox comes puts his arm around me he said let's go what are you talking about let's go can you just start training he said no no no come with me I'm fucking throwing my toys out to Brown what are you talking about blah blah blah so he went this training session don't start again until you get off this training pitch so all the all the lads are looking at me and stuff like that so I walk off the training pitch half a cock's her arm around me go in the changing room blah blah pulls me off the training Keegan's who's coming off going to his office she'll have done her what you did at QBR but we don't train like that here if there's any day that you come into this training ground and you feel like you don't want to train come and see me and I'll send you in for a massage or whatever you need or do whatever you need if it's just a little jog you need but don't ever disrupt my training session brilliant

22:38Les Ferdinand: I just wanted to mention there's two you mentioned the Man U game and the goals that's one of the memories for some reason it just sticks in my mind that memory because it was a slick pitch wasn't it that night especially but I remember the header glanced off like the crossbar or the post in that same game yeah in that game wasn't it the 5-0 oh right

23:01Peter Crouch: yeah yeah off the crossbar yeah

23:02Les Ferdinand: so as you've headed it it's like off the crossbar off the post and it's like Schmeichel's even gone for it he did for some reason that sticks in my mind and there's another one where did you plan a game where Vinnie Jones winning goal yes have you seen this have you seen this if you're listening to this or watching it there's a clip on YouTube you have to watch it Wimbledon away Wimbledon up at St James' Park that's right goalkeeper gets sent off Vinnie Jones goes in goal this is a good game right it was a good game Vinnie had a good game it was a good game Vinnie the clear you scored a couple of goals he scored a hat-trick he scored a hat-trick in the end yeah but Vinny goes in goal and there's a few where the shot goes wide and he sort of like does this or something it goes inches past the post it's all like he had it covered and then there's one where it goes through and he comes out and he starts to keep it up and he just and he just boots it as high as he can so you can piss it and put it out of the Premier League go type in Type in Vinnie Jones in goal.

24:07Les Ferdinand: You get a hat-trick, then you're in that game. So someone said to me,

24:11Peter Crouch: you know, your first hat-trick, you know, you scored a hat-trick in Vinnie Jones. I said, no, he was only in goal for one of the goals.

24:17Les Ferdinand: So he was in goal. Yeah, so you scored against Vinnie Jones. I scored against Vinnie Jones. That's a quiz question. I really want to see this. Who scored against Vinnie Jones? Can't be many. Yeah. You've got to watch it. It's a long clip. It's a long clip. That's what I just want. You've got homework. Watch it on the train. That's brilliant. But talk us through your England career, Les. Because do you know what I think about the England career at that time, right? The players at that time. Every single, felt like every single team had a top English centre forward up front.

24:47Peter Crouch: Yeah.

24:47Les Ferdinand: You think about Ian Wright, Alan Shearer, Teddy Sherrilem, Andy Cole, Les Ferdinand, Robbie Fahola, you know, Dion Dublin. Everyone had top level strikers, you know? It's a good, I don't know what was going on in the water around that time.

25:03Peter Crouch: Great players, right? Yeah, it's really strange. And people often say to me, you know, you suffered because of, you know, the players that were around at the time. And I said, it was those players that sparked me on. Do you know what I mean? Because, you know, if Wright scored at the weekend, Mark Bright, if Mark Bright scored at the weekend, you know, all these boys, you know, Matt Letizia. Yeah. You know, if they scored at the weekend, you felt, if I needed to be thought of in those echelons, I needed to score as well. See, next game it was like, I didn't score this weekend, I have to score next weekend.

25:34Peter Crouch: Do you know what I mean? Stan Collymore was another one. Stan Collymore. You know what I mean? Chris Sutton. There were so many. Exactly, you know. But I suppose I feel disappointed because I was in and around the England squad for a long time. And 96 was probably the one that I look at and think, you know, I was a PFA player of the year in 1996.

25:53Les Ferdinand: Which is some achievement, by the way.

25:54Peter Crouch: And not playing a minute for England in the Euros. Yeah. That's crazy. That is mad. I said, it doesn't happen in any other country in the world. No. Do you know what I mean? No.

26:04Les Ferdinand: that's your fellow peers saying that you're the best player in the Premier League at that time bar none

26:10Peter Crouch: why do you think that was then I don't know again I did have a bit of a clash with Terry Venables and you know I used to say to him look I understand if you don't rate me as an international player just tell the press because like wasting my time just coming and not playing and he was like Les Les you know what it's like and I was like no not really I don't do you know what I mean you know it's you know there's no point in having me if you don't think I'm good enough maybe say like I think he's a great domestic player but I don't think he quite cuts it at international level and for that reason I always felt every time I played for England it was like my last chance you know I know Alan went sort of like 17 games without scoring yeah it was a long way before year 96 and every time I played I felt if I didn't score or if I didn't play well that was going to be my last chance and so it was never I never felt like I really had an England career did you think you weren't afforded the chance yeah without a shadow of a doubt yeah yeah yeah that must be it's a little bit like when I was a player when I was at QPR and I used to argue with we used to oversee a managing director called Clive Berlin and you know I was scoring goals in the reserves on a regular basis and that was one of the reasons why the chairman because I remember Don Howe said to the chairman he should sell me to Millwall Millwall wanted to buy me and I think Bruce Root was the manager of Millwall at the time and I think they wanted 250 grand and Bruce Root was like nah no, no, we'll pay this, that, but we're not paying 250.

27:36Peter Crouch: And the chairman kept saying, no, I'm not selling this. I'm not selling this. He says, I see him score goals in the reserves all the time. Why are we selling them? Because I had this clash of personality with Don, he decided it was probably better for me to go. But the chairman just dug his heels and wouldn't sell me. And I always remember when I went to Newcastle, the chairman said to me, this is Don Howe, who, sorry, the late Don Howe, this is the late Don Howe, who was supposed to be someone who recognises talent and be able to nurture it and get it to where it needs to be. He said, if I'd have sold you, Dom would have cost this club 5.75 million pounds.

28:13Peter Crouch: If I'd have sold you for 250 grand, you know, man. And I just said, look, it was a clash of personalities. It was nothing else. I'm sure Dom knew what my abilities were. It just didn't want, it wasn't someone I, he wasn't someone, I wasn't someone he wanted to work with. And I think Venables was the same. yeah

28:33Les Ferdinand: did that obviously the thing with Alan Shearer taking the number nine shirt and things like that I know you've talked about it loads but I mean how was that for you

28:43Peter Crouch: I mean that was a that was a strange I said I when I went to Newcastle I'd never asked for any number I didn't say like I want to be number nine you know Keegan said to me you're someone I see wearing a number nine you know for me you're one he said you're up there with the best strikers in this in this country and I remember we was I can't remember I'm trying to remember the game I remember we Martin Tyler was playing was live on was playing live on the box and Martin Tyler came up to the and he said listen boys and Rob Lee and all that we were all standing there you know just standing out on the pitch before the game Martin Tyler came in and was talking to us and he said Alan Shearer first person to score 100 Premier League goals does anyone know who's the next player who's the closest player to scoring 100 Premier League goals and the boys went righty Ian Wright no and just went for a few names and I started laughing so he went if Les scores today he's the second person to score 100 goals did you know that so you number two I knew you knew that as well I knew I knew like that the players knew so he went you know he's the person and I went by the way I'm the first person to score 100 goals without taking a penalty by the way yeah well so I was second Alan Shearer was first Alan took a few penalties but I was second but none of the players in that and I think that follows my England career and everything else a lot of people didn't realise how far you know because most of most of my goals were scored at QPR at the time and so QPR you watch match of the day they come up there one of the last games on do you know and they show a few clips scored show the goals and that was it so you know perhaps you know when I say I perhaps stayed at QPR a little bit longer than I should have done only because I think if I'd have gone to a bigger club then perhaps I would have got a little bit more recognition yeah it's all sliding doors yeah as you said I had dinner with Clive Wilson the other day you know and he said to me I don't think you get the recognition you deserve in terms of what you did but I think there's a couple

30:44Les Ferdinand: like that I think like Andy Carr I think it's the same you know like when you look at the numbers you know I was thinking why is he not prolific yeah perhaps prolific for a long time and the same with you Les I think yeah there's and be fair Sidney got the number nine shirt why you gotta do me that some people do deserve it why you gotta lower the tone which is mad really because like when you play the majority of your career you must have had two strikers as well

31:14Peter Crouch: so you got two

31:15Les Ferdinand: like out and out strikers whereas nowadays you've got one striker so when you watch football now and you see teams sort of set up and it's just one striker do you watch it and go fucking nice

31:26Peter Crouch: how easy is this

31:27Les Ferdinand: for like for centre-halves because one's marking one, one's not marking another. You don't really get two v two duels throughout every game.

31:37Peter Crouch: Yeah. And I think it'll turn around again, City. I think we've gone through that period of where we got the most important player on the pitch was the holding midfield player and that's starting to change again because I think somewhere, somehow, the manager's going to take the plunge and go, right, I've got to go with two. Because I'm seeing a load of clubs now that got two strikers and I think, why don't you use them? you're so right and then it will come round again it just takes one doesn't it yeah exactly

32:04Les Ferdinand: we'll just get a young Keith Gillespie from nowhere because that's the other side

32:12Peter Crouch: that's the other side of the coin I keep asking what came first the fact that a centre forward doesn't want to hit the ball anymore or the lack of crosses coming from the wing because everyone's inverted nowadays isn't they the right foot plays on the left and the left foot plays on the right so they can come in and have a shot. Is that because there's no centre forwards that want to head the ball or is that because there's no wingers that want to cross it?

32:36Les Ferdinand: That brings me nicely to the Games Gone ball, actually. I think you'll enjoy this. Deadline days, we've got a few bits and pieces. We've got one here. We've got one sent in today, actually. Games Gone from Matt Hibbert. He said, turning on Sky Sports and every segment has a random fan or a social media fan giving their opinion rather than ex-players. If I wanted a random unsolicited opinion from people, I'd have just gone down the pub. That's one from Matt Hibbert there. Is there anything that riles you up with this? Is it the lack of right footers on the right? Is there one thing that riles you up about today's game?

33:15Peter Crouch: That riles me up a little bit. VAR riles me up a hell of a lot. There's a few things that rile me up. Inverted wingers, I think.

33:23Les Ferdinand: It's got to be for this, isn't it? Inverted wingers. Get down the line, cross it. Can I get your views on the size of shin pads in the modern game? Have you seen this? On the right hand side there. It's getting ridiculous now, surely.

33:38Peter Crouch: No one's allowed to tackle anymore, so it don't matter, does it? There we go.

33:41Les Ferdinand: Lack of tackling. Lack of tackling. I'd agree with that. Honestly, what is your view on that? Because you're a big advocate of shin pads, aren't you? I like them big. No, I like them.

33:57yeah

33:58Les Ferdinand: personally I think what we're looking at here is an absolute disgrace it's this for me is games gone the whole board the whole board I think shin pads should be the size of the games gone board I'm an advocate that they actually do a job I'm saying that the reason why

34:12Peter Crouch: they wear them like that is because no one's allowed to tackle yeah years ago you had to worry about your shins you don't have to worry about your shins who tackles you no definitely not I want a couple of

34:23Les Ferdinand: I want I think you should be the advocate for this because you're a man of principle you're a man of integrity you could make shin pads great again I want a couple of lesers on both my legs I want

34:33Peter Crouch: I want

34:36Les Ferdinand: I want the merch coming make shin pads great again the merch is out there I'm telling you get it in the club shop what was that like you know les obviously we're talking about you know the state of the game things like that you and Ian obviously director of football at QPR you know what was that what was that like

34:55Peter Crouch: did you enjoy that role I did I mean there's parts of it you enjoy and there's parts that you don't but seeing it from a totally different side you know as players we go in every day and we expect everything to be in place everything we want the club tries to adhere to but there's a cost to that and as players we just think you've got billionaire owners or millionaire owners who can just go here you go we'll sort that out but going in and seeing how it all works you realise that's not the case if you're going to do if you're going to put some in here you've got to take some away from there and you've got to take some away from there and you've got to do this and you've got to shuffle things around to make sure that's right so that was interesting that was intriguing you know doing contracts and in some ways I was quite fortunate because I went to QBR and we had a massive wage bill that I had to reduce and in the years leading up before I went there, people were going in there and saying, right, I want X, Y, Z for this play and they were getting it.

36:01Peter Crouch: And when I went there, the owners were like, well, we ain't got any more money so we can't do it anymore. So people were coming in and going, well, I want this, that and that was going, thanks very much. Let's not waste our time because we're a million miles away from where you are and where this club is at the moment. Do you know what I mean? Not because I wanted it to be, just the way it was. So in terms of negotiations and stuff like that, it kind of made it easy because there was nowhere near the levels that these people were at and trying to reduce. That was the hardest part because normally when you get relegated from the Premier League, you can use the parachute money to reinforce the squad to go back up again.

36:35Unfortunately, we had a group of players

36:37Peter Crouch: that were probably quite a lot of them all well past their sell-by date. And so you couldn't look at them to bounce back and get back into the Premier League. So it was a case of paying those players off. So the parachute money that you would have used to try and strengthen the squad, that you were using that parachute minute to pay people off and it was quite a toxic environment and when you're bringing new players in to a toxic environment they can soon pick up on that toxic environment and so they become toxic as well without realising it so and I always say if you're in the car with three idiots you become the fourth or you hang around with three idiots you become the fourth yeah I've been doing it for ages you've got three

37:16Les Ferdinand: of the buggers three of the buggers

37:19Peter Crouch: and that's and that's what happened and you guys will know that from from being at football clubs if there's a there's a group dissatisfied and not happy people tend to to attach to that

37:30Les Ferdinand: so if you've worked in obviously in that sort of workspace in that environment under them constraints would you like to go back in or like because obviously if you've worked in that environment going that's as hard as it probably it could be surely if opportunities come up there'd be you know not an easier side but a side that you'd enjoy more

37:53Peter Crouch: yeah you know I've often thought about you know I'd learnt a lot you know and through my career I've learnt a lot and you know to put something back into football and then learning that side of it you know I'd like to go back in and feel like I could help someone definitely help a football club somewhere so yeah I would like to go in and have an opportunity to buy the right players and you know and you think about what we did at QBR you know we were trying to sustain ourselves in the, in the championship. And at the same time, so players were able to sell as a, you know, I think while I was there, I spent 30 odd million in the whole time, in the eight years I was there, but we made them 70 odd million and they're still making on some of the players that are going out now.

38:34Peter Crouch: So in terms of what the club asked me to do, you know, we in the same, at the same time, we built a new training ground and just changed the whole landscape of what was going on at the football club. but supporters don't always see that yeah

38:50Les Ferdinand: that's difficult yeah I think like if I go in I've got clients my clients Steve Sidrell and I say you know this is what we want and you say there's no way you're getting out you're getting out I go thank you very much maybe that's not why I'm an agent you command respect I'm sure you'll get another stab you'd like another stab at you yeah we've got to get on to this hall of fame Les like what what an amazing achievement

39:14Peter Crouch: for yourself and your family yeah no you know my family always say I don't get get excited about too many things but when I was told about this it's yeah it's a little bit like you know PFO player of the year you know being voted and going into you know you feel about you feel like the period that you've come through in your career and the amount of good players that you played against and played with and so on and so forth and then you're chosen out of a group of those to go into this Hall of Fame it kind of makes everything feel like feels like it was worth it

39:46Les Ferdinand: do you know do you know exactly what the what it what's going to happen

39:51Peter Crouch: yeah well it's next Tuesday I go up to Manchester and I could have had it where you know the awards given to me at one of the clubs that I've been at before but I couldn't you know I'm a Tottenham fan I had a great time at Newcastle I had a great time at QBR so I couldn't really pick you know ideally it probably should have been QBR because this is that's where it all started but I thought the best way was to to actually go to the Hall of Fame and my family's going to come up with me my kids and everything and my partner and my family my sisters and all that and they'll all enjoy the day yeah absolutely well deserved thank you well deserved before we finish

40:30Les Ferdinand: I've just got to say a story on Les so you know what's going to come here so it's it's it's when when Les joined Reading and it's always the back end of his career and we was having a bit of a tough period towards the back end of the season and Steve Coppell said, so Les has got his own helicopter licence. So I think the gaffer said to you, we played on the Saturday, I think we was in on the Sunday and then we played like the Monday or the Tuesday. So he's gone to Les to lift a bit of spirits and morale. He said, just do you want to fly the chopper in tomorrow for the lads? So he's going, all right, no worries.

41:06Les Ferdinand: So we were obviously at the training ground, we didn't even know. so we're at the training ground and all of a sudden so obviously we all know that Les has got a helicopter licence but we didn't know like ever that he was going to bring it in all of a sudden oh you could just hear we were in portal cabins and these portal cabins started to shake as well a little bit so we're going fucking hell Les must like Les must so we go outside there's like everyone's just congregated outside so all of a sudden this helicopter literally just lands right next to these portal cabins on the training pitch so Les just obviously all slows down the propellers so Les just like gets out walks in and we're like fuck damn so

41:46Les Ferdinand: so he comes in so we're like we're walking around this helicopter we're like wow this is like incredible look at this no one's ever been in one before so he comes he's got a bit of brekkie gets trained like as nonchalant as you like so we go out to start training and we're going out and as we're doing like the warm up the boxes one of the the stewards comes over like Terry like when he's been there he's about 90 or years old when he's been there he hobbles over and he comes over like in the middle of the session right we're just warming up and he goes and we go you alright and he goes sorry lads sorry he goes Les we need you to move your helicopter please and then we look over and we go what was the problem and it's a Sunday so we've all forgot we look over he goes the under 10s can't kick off so we looked over and there's like kids out there with all their parents I swear Les is sitting in his boots right his laces are undone he's just jogged over was this helicopter he's moved everyone back he's just gone like that and then dropped it to the pitch next to him and left the keys in there wherever it is just got out and carried on training oh mate amazing and that was like brilliant

42:51Peter Crouch: all that started was because Lloyd Owusu and all that was saying to me you've got a helicopter in your list and I said yeah and he said so what do you do when you go somewhere I said well I call up flying school and they get it ready and I go and fly it I went no so where do you get picked up from I said no no I go to the flying school and no no no but where does the pilot pick you up from and I went no I'm the pilot and he wouldn't believe it and then it was like that's when Coppel heard that you have got your own license

43:17Les Ferdinand: but I remember because you did it at Tottenham as well remember you landed at Chigwell and that was the second time and I remember for you the lad said we're going to go up with him and I said like as much as I love you Les I just want my my pilot to just doing pilot stuff his whole life you know what I mean I've been watching you score goals for me I'm like how can he be flying helicopters do you know what I mean you're right they're two very big jobs in their own right yeah they shouldn't be blending in fact does anyone else that you know of have played in the Premier League at your level and fly helicopters

43:56Peter Crouch: not don't know probably someone will come up and say yes but I don't know what's another pop quiz question yeah it is it is

44:03Les Ferdinand: yeah why why why why why why why why why why why why

44:12Peter Crouch: so when I went up when I went up to Newcastle um I remember Keegan saying to me look you're not this is not London you can't get lost it's a goldfish bro um what do you want to what do you want to do so I said I want to I want to I want to learn how to cook learn the saxophone learn the saxophone and learn how to ride a motorbike so I went I'll help you with two of them but the third one we're not going to allow you to do well you asked me what I wanted to do and I've told you so anyway he did in the end he let me do the motorbike test I passed my motorbike test I learnt to play the saxophone learnt how to cook and then he put this in the programme saying like you know things to do and all that and this fella come on and said do you want to learn how to fly a helicopter and I was like nah not really and he said to me well you know why don't you come down to the flying school at Newcastle Airport and he said have a look and I'll take you up and blah blah blah so one day we played on a Saturday the Falcons the Newcastle Falcons the rugby team were playing on the Sunday so I went to watch that and then from there I went to the flying school and when I got there I was like playing a bit of a gal and I thought and a fella went to me and there was this little R22 Robinson helicopter two seater thing and he goes oh once we get above a certain level you won't feel I ain't getting above that certain level today mate and he put he just planted the seed in my head and then he came on to me again and I was like then I moved back to London and he'd moved down to Milton Keynes and he called me again and he said, look, you know I said to you about learning how to fly a helicopter.

45:36Peter Crouch: I went, yeah, I want to do it now. So I went out, did my, had my first lesson and he gave me control and when I first went up I was a little bit nervous and then he, and he said, where'd you live? And I said, I live over there. So he took me to my house. As soon as I saw my house, I was like, wow, I like this. And then he gave me the controls and I was like, okay, it was a little bit all over the place but like started to, and that was it. and when I when I passed my test the first thing I did I took my kids up and I remember my son was like buzzing he was like talking to my daughter was like didn't say anything her and her mum didn't say nothing sitting in the back and I remember what he did with me and I said to her look I'm going to fly over the house flew over the house and once they saw the house they was like they were fighting do you know that meant it was like so I did a big loop and I came back landed back and I always remember my son saying my missus saying to me at the time she went you know when you get on a plane and you hear them making the radio calls like you know you know they've been doing it all their life a little bit like what you just said but you I know you F about all the time do you know what I mean so listen to you making those radio calls and doing those things because I just love it

46:41Les Ferdinand: I froze up for a little bit but yeah wow that is absolutely incredible so good alright go ahead Lev we got a couple of questions from fans if they've wrote in to us if that's alright yeah this one's from Tom Oliva says Big Les in the world of football past and present who would be the player you wish you could have played with Brazilian or Ronaldo yeah your mate yeah he's my pal now yeah would that be in a two

47:08Peter Crouch: yeah that would be I mean he's my favourite ever

47:12Les Ferdinand: who's wearing the number nine shirt I'll let him wear it I'd have a little argument with him but I'll let him wear it

47:19Peter Crouch: in the years

47:21Les Ferdinand: brilliant fair enough do you think QPR will ever be a consistent

47:25Peter Crouch: Premier League team in the future? I'm certainly hoping so. I know the owners of the football club are still very good friends with them and, you know, they've plugged a lot of money into it. Would love to get it back into the Premier League but we knew it was going to take a long time to get back there and especially with the financial constraints they have because unfortunately, it's not, the financial constraints are not something that's just there and then all of a sudden you can forget about them every three years so they can't just go out and splash the cash in the way that they would like to.

47:55Peter Crouch: and they have done in the past. So it has to be a gradual thing. And I'm hoping that they get there one day. It's been far too long. Far too long, yeah.

48:05Les Ferdinand: Okay, one from Brad Evans. He says, what are your top three goals you've ever scored?

48:11Peter Crouch: It's a tough one, that. It is. Because, you know, the one you speak about, Man United, that was one of my favourites. I scored my first goal for Tottenham just because it was a team I supported as a boy. do you know what I mean so it means more and it means more but my first goal I scored for Newcastle and I always go there and I said I always say to people and it wasn't the best goal I've ever scored in my career but when I went there I knew what the number nine shirt I knew that everyone talks about the number nine shirt and blah blah blah but when I scored that first goal the first day of the season if there was a roof on the stadium it would have come off and then I realised how important the number nine shirt was

48:50Les Ferdinand: so it's the sentiment of the goal rather than necessarily the technicality of it yeah Yeah, amazing. All right, well, you're going to have to go home now, Liz.

49:02Peter Crouch: I scored a goal in the cup final when I played for Turkey for Besiktas. I scored a goal in the cup final. That would go down. It was one of my better goals. Yeah.

49:12Les Ferdinand: Yeah. One of my better goals. So is it straight to the chopper now? Outside the Chamba 1 bar?

49:17Peter Crouch: No, unfortunately, you have to get permission to fly over London. I had a single engine one rather than a double. If you've got a double, you can land in London, Is that what it is? Yeah, that's right. Who'd have thought? Do you know why that is? Because if the engine fails, in a normal head, if the engine fails, you can bring it down to land. But if you fail in London, obviously there's not many places you can land. That's why you have to have a twin engine. Take that with you. A bit of knowledge. Good info.

49:45Les Ferdinand: All right. I've loved it. Yeah, nice. Love everybody. It's everything I knew it would be. Thank you. Thanks for having me. Les, absolute legend. Cheers, mate. Thanks very much. Hall of Famer. Yeah. Les Ferdinand. Brilliant.

50:02Les Ferdinand: Oh, well, there we are. So, Les Ferdinand. Great to get into the shin pads as well. We're going to try and make that a campaign now. Make shin pads great again. You should drive that. Yeah. Well, I've wanted this for years. You've been driving this for my time. He has tried to, but you should really... I mean, if Solis is behind anything and he's got them shin pads... Imagine his face on the shin pads. you know as we were saying just a couple of lesers on both your legs it just it really would be the dream but look I think at this stage I think we at this stage of things we get the shin pads big I'm talking big shin pads double straps yeah double double like double scenario back front yeah and strap ons I'm willing to wear them I don't know if we can get a huge pair of you know Sondicos or Robson Golds but I've got a big game I'm coming up actually so this is a bit of an exclusive you've got a game coming up you can't go into it yet because I don't know I don't play many no but I'm back in the saddle and you're willing to wear the shin pads I'm going to go big on the old pads yeah that's great this is full hog shin pads so the ankles the straps let's make them great again exactly this is a celebration of pads celebrate pads wherever you are and then if you start wearing them maybe we can get a couple of players in the Premier League to start wearing them and it will trickle down, as you say, all the way through.

51:24Les Ferdinand: You imagine we can single-handedly, as a podcast, reduce the amount of injuries in the football league by 25%. Just with the pads. Do you think about some of those contacts, some of those tackles on the ankle? It's better for the game. Some people, they don't think it'd even go down. Yeah, but also we'll get better tackles. Some of these pads. We'll get better tackles back in football. Everything's better about it. Do you know what it might actually do as well? On the flip side to that, it actually might make wingers and mavericks go for it more. Dribble more. Because they're worried that they're going to get tackled, they're going to get a whack.

51:59Les Ferdinand: Get the duck's back. You know what I mean? If someone comes in and tries to side them down, not a problem. Didn't feel a thing. Carry on running. Also, from a striker's point of view, is there nothing to be said for shin pads? It sends the ball off in a couple of weird directions occasionally if you catch it right, doesn't it? If one comes off the pad, I've scored plenty off the pad. So why aren't people wearing it? It's harder if it bounces off the pad rather than the... surely it's a good thing to have them. It's just, it's going to make the game so much better. Can't wait. I really can't wait.

52:26Les Ferdinand: If you want to pile in on this, anything at all you want to pile in on with this podcast, get behind this shin pad campaign. You know, bring it to your football team that you play for. It could be brilliant. Make shin pads great again. Okay. Like the football league. I had a good week. I got every, well, every team correct. But I was so close to the 3-1. Really, really close. She self-sids as well. We both got three points. I'm putting a little bit of pressure on you at the top there. Yeah. Chris, you are languishing. I know your missus is getting involved and that hopefully will sort you out.

52:59Les Ferdinand: Nobody does. Yeah, we obviously called the Arsenal to beat Spurs. City beating Newcastle and Liverpool to win at Forest. Although that was a mad one. Slightly a game's gone. I don't know what you felt to the Alexis McAllister. The first goal that hit him on the arm. Yeah. the handball for you it's well it I mean technically it kind of is yeah well technically it is because it is armed but I think it's one of them because it's so close and it's like you're sort of half doing that as well like turning your back but it's kind of like I think we're going to get into a lot of games gone yeah in the next couple of weeks there's been a lot happening I mean Gabrielle's dive in the box as well was that's a set of half that's not for me there needs to be we've talked about a different colour card for these things.

53:51Les Ferdinand: I think some of them... It's a bluey, isn't it? It's got to be a bluey. It's got to be a bluey. I'm happy to use a bluey. It's a bluey all day. It's a bluey to get yourself back up again. I just think if you'd have given the goal there, I think you would have nipped that in the bud. Now he's going to do it again. Yeah. Yeah, you can't encourage that. It's been encouraged, is what I'm saying. You can't encourage that. So what do we need to do about it? I feel we're good like this as a podcast. We need something done about this sort of thing. Well, what about if you don't give the goal, but he gets a blue in, it's to sit off for a little bit.

54:23Les Ferdinand: Just have a look at himself. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? Have a look at yourself card. Like, technically it's correct. We're not going to give the goal, but just have a look at yourself. And he has to sit there with the monitor and watch the monitor. He has to keep watching on a loop. Or you put him in a photo booth, but with a mirror in front, and he literally has to look at himself. He has a mirror and he has the incident for five minutes.

54:55Les Ferdinand: It could catch on. It could catch on. Have a look at yourself, Carl. It's just a little, you know one of them little mirrors that the girls have? You know, you flick it up. Have a look at yourself. That's it. That is it. You flick the mirror. Yeah, yeah. Have a look at yourself.

55:15Les Ferdinand: You can even have a little bit of mascara in it. have a look at yourself alright let's carry on

55:24Les Ferdinand: ok let's get into this week's games guys this part of the podcast is supported by Paddy Power the big weekend fixture is Arsenal versus Chelsea Arsenal as you'd expect favourites 8-13 Chelsea 4-1 in this which feels feels pretty big repeat of the last meeting was 1-0 6-1 to Arsenal not bad which way do we see this one going? This is twitchy bum time isn't it for Arsenal there's a lot out there now really putting it on them putting it on their toes okay so this is this is a Sunday game so Arsenal will probably play after Man City which play on the Saturday 5.30 against Leeds so so you said City could put a little bit more squeaky bum time on them yeah let's be honest right with the Spurs where they are at the moment with the new manager I thought yeah there could be a bounce.

56:16Les Ferdinand: Did anyone really believe that? When the teams came out and I looked at both the teams, unfortunately, Arsenal are way ahead of Spurs at the moment and that kills me to say that but that is the truth of the matter. Yeah, up into the tech problems at the start as well, Arsenal were like 80%. Dominant, right? and I don't think, and I thought the crowd, the atmosphere was electric. I thought it was brilliant. I mean, they gave them kind of everything that you could get but I just didn't think the golfing quality is big, I think, between the two sides and the league table, you know, is, is, is evident.

56:48Les Ferdinand: It makes it evident. But devil's advocate bit of that though. They're at two, one, they get that goal immediately, which was phenomenal. Yeah. Get it back that quickly against the run of play. Yeah. Two, one down, Gabriel incident really could have gone, maybe should have gone the other way.

57:07Peter Crouch: Yeah. Two all.

57:08Les Ferdinand: Yeah. I agree. But I still, better than you would have expected from, well that, yeah, but I mean, I don't think there was a, you know, that was the only shot they had was, those two. Yeah. I think even at 2-0, it seemed... Yeah, would you agree? Like, 2-0, it seemed unlikely they would even then hang on to it to the end. I don't think. No, I don't think so. It felt better. There was a good atmosphere and, you know, it wasn't a disgrace, but I just think Arsenal are better than Spurs. I don't think... Whereas this game, I think there is more of a chance of an upset. I think there's more people that can hurt Arsenal for Chelsea.

57:43Les Ferdinand: Yeah. and it's a squeaky bum for our sort of moment it is well this is where you want to be it's like you know people say they want to be having the pressure taken off of them they can't they're there to be shut down when you're top of the pile and teams are chasing you you've got to take that pressure you've got to take it on the chin Chelsea will be better away from home they're struggling at home poor performance against Burnley on the weekend really really poor they've got to see them out and they dropped points against Leeds a week before so they need a bit of a bounce back be massive for Rossini to get a result here wouldn't it yeah yeah I'm saying easy I mean he's done he's won games but that was disappointing on the weekend yeah two disappointing games always good game this I find I think I predicted a 3-2 in this a couple of seasons ago and it come in at the bridge interesting what's Ria saying Chris she's not got back to me she's not that's the problem with this one is that quick call good call her yeah Shall we call the missus To see what they would say I thought she'd be Well briefed on this Oh yeah Well you want to Call all the wives Might as well Yeah We'll have a look We'll have a look Shall we call it Wife week Once a month Welcome to Give Gaff's life Give Gaff Give Gaff Fucking hell He's tired He's tired He's tired He's tired He's tired He's tired you know it's gif gaff gif gaff fantastic network oh come on gif gaff he's got gif gaff we haven't all played in the premier league she's capped she's capped an allowance she's capped she can't gif gaff I won't have this gif gaff slander who are you with what are you you ring your wife let's hear what she's on he's gaff he's gif gaffed I can't believe it.

59:46Les Ferdinand: Right, come on. Let's call. Who's your wife with? Who's your wife with? Hello, babe.

59:54Peter Crouch: Okay.

59:54Les Ferdinand: Yeah, you're all right.

59:56Peter Crouch: Yeah, good.

59:57Les Ferdinand: Good. We'll just record. What network are we with, by the way? Sorry, we're just recording the pod. Are we with O2? We are. Yeah, O2. Of course he is. Of course he is. Babe, just a quick one. It's Arsenal versus Chelsea. this weekend in the big game. What's your prediction for that game, please?

1:00:19Les Ferdinand: Do you know what? I'm going to go 2-1 Chelsea. Oh. This is great. I love this. This is a new dynamic. That's a great answer, babe. Thank you. You taking the piss. No, that's good. That's good. All right, there you go. We're just doing the one game. Love you. Bye. Bye. Bye. Do you want to give Gaff it again? I'll go if you want. Yeah, you go. Go on then, because it'll give a bit of time. It's funny if she picked up that quick either. I know, yeah. That was great.

1:00:55Les Ferdinand: Check the phone network as well. Yeah. She'll write another clue. No clue. As long as it works. Hopefully it goes to voicemail we can listen.

1:01:10Les Ferdinand: Has she got a personalised voicemail?

1:01:13Peter Crouch: Your call has been forwarded to voicemail. The person you're trying to reach is not available. At the tone, please record your message.

1:01:21Les Ferdinand: When you have finished recording, you may hang up. Hi. Hi.

1:01:32Les Ferdinand: I wonder what network that was then. Well, I believe we're on Vodafone. Yeah, you strike me as a Vodafone. Vodafone, yeah. You strike me as a Vodafone. You give Vodafone. You give Vodafone vibes.

1:01:46Les Ferdinand: That's what we should rename ourselves on the scoreboard. Vodafone. I think a lot, a lot could be said about what your network you're on. Don't you? Like, give cafe. That's, I've never heard of it. I'm going to get you on. Give cafe was an internet thing. I'll get you on. The hell's give cafe? No, they're great. What is it? Vodafone network run by you. What?

1:02:17Les Ferdinand: what's gif gaff what do you mean what's gif gaff gif gaff I've seen it but I didn't know it was a phone network I thought it was I like them they're like the Watford of phone networks for me they're slightly under sort of is it good service they're like the underdog I think you've got all your biggies you've got your one with the arena do you know what I mean yeah yeah there's no gif gaff arena he's an O2 man isn't he 100 % he stinks of O2 You absolutely reek of O2, mate. Do you... On a serious note, are you still on 3G? Or do you get 4G yet? I get 4G! Or 5G? You get it all. Do you need to get credit on the way home or not?

1:03:01Les Ferdinand: How's this ending up like this? I don't know. Have you got three different networks? God's sake. Okay, I'll go 2-1 Chelsea. 2-1 Chelsea, okay. Do you know what I'll say about Gif Gaff? When this video goes out, Gif Gaff will be in the comments. Guaranteed. Do you reckon there's a load of people on Gif Gaff? There's more than you think, mate. Do you really? We're like, there's a groundswell with Gif Gaff that I find quite exciting.

1:03:37Les Ferdinand: Jade! Jade! She's come from nowhere. He's on GIFGAS. Hold on, are you boys on GIFGAS? You're not on GIFGAS, are you? No. Is it EE? EE. Yeah, I can see it. Sky. It's a bit flaring. I can see that. Flaring sophistication. EE, that's like, I think he's just, he's solid. Solid. You can stand up guy there, aren't you? EE. Editor's choice, isn't it? It's an editor's choice, EE. It's very much, I need, signal, I need Wi-Fi, it has to be done. It's been EE. There's nowhere he's going to go on this planet where he doesn't get service. Did you move there from Orange back in the day? Were you an Orange man or was that before your time?

1:04:24T-Mobile.

1:04:25Les Ferdinand: T-Mobile. Hi.

1:04:33Les Ferdinand: The wife's not got back anyway. At least one wife. That is concerning. of three gentlemen phone their wives in the middle of the day. Only one picks up. Why don't we leave? There's a slight loyalty test there. Yeah, no, exactly right. Yeah, why don't we leave a voice note and expect one back just later on. So we'll leave this game for now. Okay, okay. Let me just explain this to her. Ria.

1:05:00Les Ferdinand: Quick one, just because you were so close. You were so close with the prediction before. Boys want to know what you think about Arsenal against Chelsea. Which one's at home? Arsenal. If you could just let us know, thank you. Arsenal, Chelsea. Big up, Giffgaff. Imagine getting that, imagine getting that voice done. No, seriously. I'm not going to talk. Okay. Hi, babe. It's me. Just need a quick prediction from you. Arsenal versus Chelsea. Could you please give us the scoreline there? Also, babe, what network are you on phone network please ASAP love you brilliant this is great alright this is great okay we'll do Paddy's boost anyway each pick a negative the Grouch Pod bet builder the odds of that bet builder will be boosted by 20 % put on the special section of Paddy Power's website or app I'll go player to score first Jokarez I can continue to form yeah nice player to be carded Enzo Fernandes yep and a player to have two plus shots on target let's go Cole Palmer odds are correct at the time of recording please gamble responsibly and we will update the scorelines hopefully at the end of the podcast when we get some messages from the girls nice yeah I don't know what to make of Fulham at the moment up and down really aren't they they lost a few games they've had some good results as well and they look good at times really good yeah massive result against Sunderland away wasn't it that was big for them normally if I remember correctly against Spurs at home they fare well they fare well all the eyes are going to be on Spurs because they're for me now they are they are in a relegation battle they are they are in a relegation battle I think with West Ham and Forest doing okay doing okay around them all the focus is there for Spurs to be shot at with this one and if they lose and others do win around them.

1:07:07Les Ferdinand: What are they, four points clear in the minute? Four points.

1:07:13Les Ferdinand: Mad injury list as well, but I like the new manager, I actually like the noises coming out of the camp from him. I like kind of how it looks like he didn't take any shit. Did you see what he was saying against the Arsenal game? That he was telling them all to get up, was he? The back line to get up, Van de Ven especially, get up on the half-brain to play a high line. I think afterwards he said, what was his words? That they're good players but in bad habits. so if you can get him out of that but it's just confidence for me with Spurs it looked like a team's shot of confidence yeah they do they do this is the Sidwell Crouch derby isn't it this one so I feel like my allegiance is with Spurs to get a result but I don't believe they can win so I'm going to go with 1-1 who are you 1-1 I'm looking through all the messages here there's quite a lot of people shouting for a Desmond

1:08:08Les Ferdinand: I'm just looking at some of the names hello Paddy MacDonald Liam Craven Sam Young Connor Burns all good names I'm going to give Connor Burns the limelight do you ask him what service provider he's on shall I just quickly DM quick one imagine you're a fan of this podcast this is happening he's gone 2-1 Fulham by the way so he thinks that's not a bad result but let's judge that prediction on his service well if it's a shit one then we get rid of him what's your phone service provider Jesus you just never know which way this is going to go this lad doesn't or is not aware of how important this question is what do we reckon we're all waiting on what are we getting let me see his face I'll tell you exactly who he's with

1:09:10Les Ferdinand: profile picture of him and his missus he's well travelled so he needs a good one that's international he gives a E to me he's got a E written all over him he could be an O2 man looks well travelled like a Sidwell it's a snap from a wedding I think that's a wedding abroad isn't it what do you reckon I think he's one of the big I think he's EE he's top top level I think he's EE EE he could be EE I'm just looking he DMs every week with his score predictions right I've never replied and I'm just scrolling through the old messages he sent he's like he's done oh my god is that Mila Kunis I think so I think he's sort of mocked up in different football shirts.

1:10:04Les Ferdinand: The only thing is, need good service for that. He could be, Burns is a Scottish name? He could be up in the Highlands. He could need serious signal up there. He's clearly a fan of the podcast, this fellow. Have you really pleased me to shut up? I'll stick with his score for now, 2-1. And I'll let you know what his phone service provider is. So you've gone 1-1. Oh, it says seen just now. Oh, you've seen it? oh he's typing he's typing he's typing oh it's live this is O2 O2 yeah I knew it was a big dog I knew it was a big dog yeah that's not a gift gaff man nah he doesn't even know what gift gaff is hello mate we were just recording the podcast and thought we'd go with your prediction yeah O2 makes sense yeah yeah what did you call Crouchy he called O2 I said O2 or E one of the big ones it was O2 or E but yeah look have a good one anyway I'm sure you hear this when you hear the podcast but I hope you enjoy and fantastic name by the way do you know what that would have given him a spring of his step today he is going to bounce him today you won't believe it you've gone 2-1 Fulham you've gone 1-1 I should really go Spurs just to make it I actually think Fulham do this I think Fulham 1-0 yeah I think Fulham 1-0 Connor Burns very quickly cheers gents thanks for that do what it is I was saying a couple predictions I sent you an email just of yourself and unfortunately I loot and cut if you want to have a look at that but it's just obviously you know yourself you can't go can't go wrong with a 2-1 I think and keep up the good work gents and we do not like cars and I'll not repeat it on the podcast but fuck them brilliant I think he's been here a while yeah great great so Van United Next match.

1:11:59Les Ferdinand: Sorry, I... You zoned out. No, I didn't zone out, no. No, I was just thinking about providers and... There's a lot going on. Yeah, cars, there's a lot going on there. Manchester United versus Palace. Not quite sure what's going on. Listen, your finger's on the pulse in South London, Sid. What's going on? Well, Glasner's just cooking up a storm, isn't he, really? It's a shame how he's got like this, because he said, you know, a good few months ago that he's going to be leaving at the end of the season. It all seemed quite amicable then. And you're thinking, you know, just ride the season out. He's brought them, obviously, a bit of European football, the FA Cup.

1:12:36Les Ferdinand: But, I don't know, he's going the wrong way about it now. And I know a lot of Palace fans, and they want him out now. Yeah. It's not good. It's not healthy. Well, I saw the banner, obviously, reacting to that, didn't he? Yeah. Humble. Just remember where you come from. Such a shame, like, from where they were. And it was the ability to kind of, it could have kicked on. Yeah. You know? they've lost players they've feels like they've not been back the more I see this sort of situation the more respect I have for Brentford or a club like that I know it's a weird thing to say but you just see a club that is steadily growing yeah and doing so well and without the noise that even when something so good happens to Palace it it's it's gone from that to this and it just shows how fragile everything is with these clubs yeah they should be really enjoying this season they should be really enjoying and as you say kicked on from that well they just didn't build on it did they felt like they could have built on it it depends on what they wanted I understand you don't want to reach for the Champions League and end up that's happened to previous clubs before but you do want to just improve every year don't you and I think Glasner in some capacity was right in some way what he said but it feels like it's gone too far now you can't keep throwing your toys out of the program it's like you saved what you said now let's get on with the job and somehow the lines have been blurred and it's not good for the fans.

1:14:00Les Ferdinand: Whereas at Man United, it is going from strength to strength. It certainly is, yeah. Brilliant job of character. I see something about Jonathan Woodgate the other day speaking Spanish to some of the players. Amazing. Brilliant, isn't it? Yeah, yeah. Well, I'll suggest Jonathan Woodgate and it's amazing when he's speaking to the South Americans and the Spanish so fluently laughing and joking and then obviously he speaks in his middle of Braxton twice. Legend. I wonder what they hear. Yeah, are they hearing Spanish in a Middlesbrough twang? A teased accent. A teased accent. Teased Spanish, sort of.

1:14:33Les Ferdinand: I've never known. I wonder if I'd love to hear from their point of view what Middlesbrough Spanish is like. Yeah. True. United are flying anyway, and they're at home. Why not provide us ease on? It's all you think about now, isn't it? Every person. Everyone I look at now just think, oh, he stinks of Vodafone. Let me hit you with some names. Dan Walker. Dan Walker. Vodafone. Vodafone. Yeah. Yeah, I think you're right there. Roy Keane. Sky My Bowl, wasn't he? Sky My Bowl all day. Roy Keane, definitely now. Yeah. They would have put him on that. Is there any rogue ones? Who would you put as a gif gaff?

1:15:19Les Ferdinand: A gif gaff. Gif gaff. Holloway? Although I don't think he'll be sort of, he wouldn't be across it, would he? The great deals that you can get.

1:15:36Les Ferdinand: Who would you say gift cards? Do you reckon it would be an old, would it be like a Harry or a Sam Allardyce or someone? I don't think so. I think it's a new thing. I think it's a Gen Z. I think it's a Gen Z environment. Yeah, but someone who had like the, the attitude of like Kante back in the day you know someone that would run to and from training and you not need the flashy things in life I know what you're saying but you're right you need to be kind of a bit younger and on it James Milner James Milner yeah he might be Giff Gaff I've imagined him shopping around well yeah straight after a game I reckon he shops around okay yeah he'll get email notifications won't he I imagine so yeah cracking deal he'll get it and then shout down to Mrs you'll never guess what we're changing to gift card we've got it's a£10 bolt on going for 36 month £10 bolt on alright I can see that you tied in for three years you tied in for like you've gone big on the contract when you sign a contract we should do it like you know we talked about the marriages like I've just signed for O2 actually I've just done three years doing three years at Monofone feeling secure I've done that I'm doing a testimonial at Monofone now fucking hell I've been there years

1:17:06I've done that

1:17:07Les Ferdinand: whole episode on phone networks you're the Peter Crouch of phone networks shopping around the fucking clubs listen knowing you you'll be on the fucking advert before you know you that's true this is a gift I'm not against it

1:17:26Les Ferdinand: I will go and I'm going to go 3-0 to Manchester United I'm going to go 2-0 to Manchester United I'm going to go 3-1 Manchester United this Abby Abby's on yeah she's well it's 13 seconds she obviously can't be bothered to say much

1:17:48Peter Crouch: Chelsea Arsenal I'm going to say 2-1 to Chelsea and I think I'm on Vodafone why is this so amazing

1:18:01Les Ferdinand: do you know what that was efficient very efficient scoreline service provider done that was so good from your wife

1:18:12Peter Crouch: Chelsea Arsenal I'm going to say 2-1 to Chelsea

1:18:16Les Ferdinand: Prediction. And I think I'm on Vodafone. Phone network. Do you know what I love about that so much? That's so good. Is that not even like, oh, you're so stupid, or just not even, didn't bat an eyelid. Yeah. Prediction. Service provider. Yeah, she's pretty. That's how to reply. That's efficiency. I'm not getting it. I'm not getting anything. So both the girls have gone 2-1 Chelsea, by the way. I think we've got to stick with it, haven't we? I want to stick with it. Well, I can't give my prediction right now, but I suppose what we can do is I will forward this on later when she does reply, if she replies, and then you can just whack my score into the Instagram post, yeah?

1:18:53Les Ferdinand: So you'll see my prediction on there when my wife gets back to me. Could we ask what you're thinking? I'm erring on the side of... What's the team? Chelsea-Arsenal. 2-1. Arsenal, yeah. That's what we all went for. Yeah, but you've both gone Chelsea, haven't you? Oh, we're Chelsea. Yeah, we're Chelsea. So I'm hoping she comes back Arsenal. I really am actually. She's proved herself in previous opportunities. All right. Okay. May the best... Woman win. Couple win. It is like a couple's come dine with me. We're inclusive of all. Yeah. Okay. Well, I've got to be honest. I really enjoyed that. Great hearing from Les.

1:19:34Les Ferdinand: Please get involved with your service provider on YouTube or on our socials. We'd love to know what you're on and who the majority of our listeners are on. And also, if you could put your service provider, that and also just a celebrity or a football club and say what they would be on. Pile into the comments and we can read a few of them out. Yeah, that would be good. Sorry, very quick one before we go. Wife's replied. Oh, brilliant. I've not heard this. I'm going to go 3-1 again. Arsenal. 2-1 Tottenham. What? Oh, she's going to the... Fulham Tottenham. 2-1 Tottenham. Manu. Manu, Christopher Palace.

1:20:14Les Ferdinand: 1-0 Manu We'll just take the first game then Okay, okay Very quickly I'm going to go 3-1 again Arsenal 3-1 Arsenal Good one Obviously we all know she's on Gifgaf