“They Didn’t Want It!” - Insight Into Macclesfield’s FA Cup Miracle & January Transfer Sagas

0:00This podcast is part of the Acast Creator Network. Right, if you're enjoying this podcast, make sure you send us a message. Let us know what guests you want on. Let us know how much you're enjoying it. And please subscribe if it does help the pod. Hello and welcome to That Peter Crouch Podcast. With me, Peter Crouch, Notorious S.I.D. and Chris Stark are with me. It's great to be back in the Chumber One bar, lads. You've got a great glow. Oh, yeah. It likes to have a little winter glow, isn't it, you know? Oh, I stayed out there too long and I apologise for that. I knew it was going to be an extender did you know I actually called it it was an extension but you know it was just one of those ones where we were having such a lovely time really were the kids were having a lovely time so much to do and see which is great but I think the best thing to come from it is you've now got the number for the PSG that's it yeah passing the pod on the global scale work hard play hard exactly right the extension came because I looked at the weather back here and it was horrendous and I didn't actually have that much to do.

1:04The only thing was this and I thought if I could do that remotely, I didn't think you'd have too much. That's lovely to hear. Not a priority. No, no, no. Definitely not. Well, welcome back to the Chumba one bar. I don't think much has changed. It's all so familiar and lovely here as we sort of get deep into 2026. The one thing I did say to Sid when we turned up, the Fanny Fart Lane sign, I don't know how long we can keep it here. It's a major distraction. And also I worry it sounds like our version of White Hart Lane. Yeah, okay. Do you know what I mean? It sounds like the name of the ground. It does a bit, doesn't it?

1:40I don't know if you really see it on the cameras if you watch on YouTube. But it's kind of just, it's in our eye line. And it makes me happy a little bit. I've got you, so on YouTube you can't see this right now. No, you can't see it. Fine then. That's what I mean. We'll carry on. because I'm not sure how well our socials would do if it was in shot. My big concern is, let's say Prince William wants to come back for another one, you know, and fancies a visit, an away day to the Chumba One Bar. We're going to have to have a serious look at what's around it. It's part of the story, isn't it? It's, you know, it's like the paint.

2:14You know, what's going on here, guys? There's so much going on. We've still got the books on the chair. There's contracts, there's little drawings. I mean, the hand of Pod. You remember that? Yeah, that's been taken everywhere. Little cheer-rick shot from Hal Robson-Carno. Plenty of books. Joe Cole's book. That's a good point. We did gather some things from guests last year. Maybe we should encourage every guest that we have on to bring something to the Chumble One bar. To leave. Yeah. Leave something. Leave it, Mark. We've got a few big dunks left a little bit over there. Yeah. You know, Surge has been on recently.

2:47Didn't get anything off Gary Oldman, did we? Sir Gary Oldman? No. Did we not? No. Well, millions of views. Yeah. he left us with that didn't he fair enough Gary alright but what a weekend and we've got to thank you as well Crouchy for a fantastic third round of the FA Cup well you know it's what I do myself and Joe we pulled it out and a lot of people were giving us a little bit of grief for some of the draws of the lower teams but one they didn't see was Macclesfield versus Crystal Palace you know and you know obviously the Macclesfield everyone connected did really really well but I think I deserve the most credit for pulling that draw out of the hat otherwise that wouldn't have happened down to you it was a down yeah I don't want to take it away away from Macclesfield who've worked really incredibly hard and you know achieved something massive but largely it was down to me it's an amazing story that isn't it so 117 places between Palace and Macclesfield the biggest cup upset in history they're saying yeah because of cup holders Crystal Palace and getting knocked out by a non-league it was incredible the holders it was unreal against the non-leagues you know I just could not believe yeah live on the box as well do you know what I mean it's on TV it's not when your mum's away it's at 3 o 'clock and it's let's go there after the game and see what the scenes are like you could see you could feed it brilliant do you know things like that for some reason I get really emotional with those things like when people do well.

4:22Like, I don't know what I've got saying with the X Factor. Like, I end up in tears watching the X Factor when someone walks on and they get no chance and they blow it away and you go... The underdog story. Yeah, I think, like, that for me is something that really gets to me. You know, there's lots of things I don't cry at, like most things, really. You cry at the X Factor, do you? Yeah, I do. The X Factor, I cried once at Britain's Got Talent and I always try and hide it, but... And it was a, it was a fella doing magic. Was it? couldn't believe it magic yeah but magic doesn't normally invoke I get it with Susan Boyer that's what I thought or Gay and Alan but I don't I think people Britain's Got Talent fans out there will know which one it was it was phenomenal I always remember getting emotional to Gay and Alan do you remember Gay and Alan they did it is it called the tubular bells they did the bells the hand bells oh yeah thanks I do that sorry yes Celine Dion my heart will go on with the bells yeah unbelievable when's this well we have gone so often when's this games gone board arriving games gone board well I don't know how we've gone from Maccasfield to Tube Levelle but I am I loved this story I thought it was an amazing story in the FA Cup I saw this video that was doing the rounds of one of the players Sam Heathcote who is a PE teacher and this is what you forget with a lot of these players at this level of the FA Cup what's so magical about this story is a lot of them have day jobs as well various different jobs builders all sorts Sam Heathcote is a teacher a PE teacher a primary school in Altrincham and he came back imagine your teacher at school playing in the FA Cup third round at weekend something else that is one of the best ever isn't it you feel like a celebrity wouldn't you again walking into school Chris you've managed to get a hold of his number right yeah I did I thought we could give him a little call so I've heard that a couple of the lads obviously love the podcast so I dropped him a little message and just said look it's an unbelievable story do you fancy coming on the pod and he is available now I sent a message just before we were recording he says he's in the car this is a great message already he said please yeah I'd love to it would be great to chat to the boys Paul Dawson who's another Macbeth who scored the first goal Paul Dawson's picking me up from school now and then we're heading to meet the coach to go to Woking which sort of sounds ideal should we just I'm not sure we're going to do this should we just FaceTime him or send a little Zoom or something like that and get him on I know he's very excited to speak to you boys oh this is should we do it we'll do this now yeah yeah we can do it now oh wow we're in we're in yes boys yes boys how are you lads yeah good how are you guys good good good where are you off now off down to Wilkin We're playing in the FA Trophy tonight.

7:16FA Trophy? You've done the FA Cup. What are you in the FA Trophy for? We'll go to Wembley twice this year. Go on, the boys. We're obviously buzzing about your story. We've just been talking about you guys. And Sam, I know we've been speaking as well. Can you just talk us through what it was like when you turned up at your school? It's amazing for the kids, but how was it for you? I'm not going to lie. I got a little bit embarrassed walking into that hall and there's hundreds of kids and they're all cheering and clapping. Half of them, they do understand what's happened and what's going on. The other half, not so much.

7:57They made some funny comments to me about the dog waving at me at telly and all that kind of stuff. Half of them was really innocent and it brings you right back down to the ground. The other half, some of the older children who were dead into the footy and they're giving it, I can't believe you beat a Premier League team. How have you done that? It was a really nice day. So, who have we got in the car here, lads? Introduce yourself, lad. Paul. Paul. Paul. Go on, Paul. Paul, talk us through the goal, mate, first and foremost. Well, you can see the head shape's not right. It's a bit all over the glass.

8:31Go on one side, I don't know where. It's got it in the bottom corner, hasn't it? It's a good ball from Duff's. It's a top ball, to be fair. Yeah, and lads in the back? Danny Elliott, a striker, but I was injured, so I wasn't able to play. Oh, mate. I've been here since then and back, yeah, next to San Diego. Nice. I love him. The two rocks are back. The rocks. Hey, by the way, them two are normally crack.

9:0070 million quid in your back pocket, haven't you, something bad?

9:05What was the night like, lads, afterwards? Obviously, you know, we watched the game and we've, you know, we've enjoyed that. Talk us through the evening. listen I know you're a teacher mate so you don't go into the full details but you know I'm sure it was it was an incredible night right? Eventful to say the least we stayed in the club for ages with families and friends and everyone and then some people obviously because we had a lot of people at the game they went off to different areas some of us went into Manchester and I wish I could say it was great I don't remember half of it but woke up and yeah it was just all quality the whole day and it meant a lot to a lot of people that so especially to see all the people from the club packed out in the bar was there a belief before the game you know like i know it's easy to say after the game but was there a belief you could get a result there wasn't there wasn't there wasn't a belief until i met obviously uh the captain mark and their assistant with a referee before the game and Franny Jeffers our assistant turned around to our gaining goals pitch alright to you he went not a bit of me that went into the change of thought I don't want this he put a bit more belief into the boys just that 5 % oh that's class love it boys the signal's awful so we're going to leave I think we're going to leave you in a sec but Sam I know you were telling me before that you used to play up front can you tell me your story about this please I think I think they'll like this so a couple years ago we I've always played at the back but we had no strikers no strikers so Alex Bruce at the time he put me up front in training thinking I might have to play there and all the boys started calling me crouching and then it got to the Saturday and I thought I'm gonna have to play up front so I played and scored and I done the robot and then I scored a couple weeks ago in our league and I done the robot then as well so I'll send you a couple pictures over it needs a little bit of practice alright well do us a deal then so next next round when you play Brentford if any of you score you've got to bang out the robot to pass the pod yeah the deal the deal the deal's on deal love it I love that boys listen I'm so pleased for you I was just saying before like it's always so amazing when you know the underdog gets a result and I'm pleased for you boys because you obviously work hard you've enjoyed it and I hope you get a result against Brentford in the next round and hopefully tonight as well cheers guys thank you very much nice one well done lads isn't it great speaking to the lads they're all in the car travelling down still buzzing probably yeah got another game in the FA trophy now yeah it's working takes you back didn't it because you've done a car school before I've done a car school I love the car school what if they had any hitchhikers you know what there's nothing more fun than a little road trip with the lads and stuff like that and I think they're doing that every week yeah you know getting themselves to games brilliant isn't it how do you keep your focus you know like so they're all meeting up and obviously they've got another game tonight there's obviously still high living off the you know what happened at the weekend how do you how do you sort of get back into it or do you can you get out of your brain I think that's a real struggle like because that high for me is so high I think like I remember playing for you know say I played for Tottenham or Liverpool playing the Champions League on a Tuesday night at Anfield that buzz is so so high but then you've got to play like a game on the Saturday, you've got to get back down to earth.

12:39I think it's a really hard thing to do. I think the best players manage to do it quick, get it out of their brain. And, you know, I found it difficult, if I'm honest. Yeah. Let alone go do your shift as a PE teacher. No, I mean, no. In between, yeah. Like, it's a struggle, isn't it? But, you know, you're just like you say, you just run on adrenaline, I suppose. Yeah. And what about those, it's great seeing them all going and meeting the bus. And obviously you talk about the hitchhikers before, but do you miss that a little bit, that heading to training? I miss, I think the days, the best days of my life were those early days, you know, when you don't know what you're going to be, you don't know where you're going to play, don't even know if you're going to be a footballer.

13:21And you're just getting in the car and you're going to training, and you're thinking, you know, my mates are going, trying to get into unis, and I'm driving the Volkswagen Polo down the A406 with three lads that are too big to be in the back in the back listening to some garage and I'm like there's nowhere else I'd rather be really and then you leave you leave training at six o 'clock at night because you've just loved it so much yeah now that there that there is like a tiny snippet of team spirit in a bigger dressing room do you know what I mean like that things like that that gets you points and that gets you from cup ties like you miss that so much it's brilliant you think about it like the Palace team that they've had there, you're not questioning their team ethic or, you know, their, their, the camaraderie in the dressing room, but they're not travelling to games like that, right?

14:11No. And I think you only build like that close-knit Yeah. with, with doing things like that. Yeah. Their team bonding every single day. Yeah. Every single game they have, they're in the back of the, back of the car together. Paul Dawson seems like a character as well. Brilliant. Hey. I can see him going to that next game now. and maybe it is different you know they said they didn't know until just before the game yeah and a few of them feelings as well but I reckon going to Brentford they must feel different because they know that they've just knocked the winners out well done it yeah well it's confidence yeah it will still be it will be similar to that Palace like not inferior but knowing that there's there are massive underdogs but oh my god it's that it's that it's that it's that as well yeah brilliant room and then the rest of the FA Cup you enjoy it like I did a big rallying cry for Tottenham actually I felt like I really stuck up for them which we'll obviously get into in a little bit but well I'd done the game that was well briefly I'd done the game first half they didn't turn up it was awful second half they give it a real go but it was too little too late and then afterwards tempers flared and I was like I said on TNT I was like that's probably the closest they've got to the Villa Players in 90-odd minutes.

15:32Just show that in the first half. But you can tell it's getting a little bit toxic. I've seen you doing the rounds, actually. I saw you on TalkSport the other day as well. You were on to talk about darts. I was on darts, yeah. They got a dart board there, haven't they? Yeah. I was listening. I had a good five, ten minutes of you talking darts. Yeah. Yeah, well, I started throwing darts, and like the OCD of me, when I start, I can't stop. So I was on double, I was doing the doubles around the clock so double one, double two and before I went on air I was on double 20 and I didn't get it and then Andy came in and said oh, are you good at darts?

16:09I was like, I'm alright he went, try and get ball so I went, outer ball, ball, outer ball and he went, oh, you're tasty and I was like, yeah so then he said so then he said oh, what we and I said about the OCD and bits and I've missed like, Mrs. has gone out like, she's walked out and gone to barbecues and I've gone I'm not leaving until I get this and then he said well what do you do you didn't get double 20 I said no no when I come off here I'm going to get double 20 and then as soon as I come off here I promise you second dart double 20 I said I could go then I could get home talk sport wow sorry sorry to turn over on but there we go you go straight to the comments on these things naturally it's all Steve Pro's world store Bullseye Sid that's what I think Bullseye Sid yeah Bullseye Sid that's a good nickname that one on the back of the shirt.

16:59I've had a lot of people call me Dubai Days recently. Oh, mate. So good. I have. Senor SIDS as well, got a little bit of traction, Senor SIDS. Yeah, you guys have put it on me here for the guitar. A Spanish acoustic session. Oh, yeah. I'm going to, yeah, it's out. I'm going to start. I'm going to give it a right go. I'm going to give it a right go. Do you know what song you're going to do yet or not? I haven't even strummed a chord yet, so I've no idea. Yeah. Obviously, we suggested She Bangs by Ricky Martin, but I don't know how you'll go about that, especially not before Kasabian. No. It's just a strange one, isn't it?

17:37I think you've got Miles Kane, or Sids, Miles Kane, and Kasabian. We haven't cleared it with Miles and Kasabian yet. No, no. Then dream big, though. No, because obviously, if you hadn't listened to the last episode, then we discussed it. Sids, what's your New Year's resolution? I want to learn Spanish, perhaps learn a bit of guitar. So we've now put him on the bill at Finsbury Park with Kasabian's headline act. I think it's the 4th of July. It's going to be one of the biggest gigs of the year. It's going to be one of the biggest gigs of the year. It's going to be six. Yeah, biggest gig of the year.

18:03Miles Kane's supporting. He was on as well. We've had both of them on. And Sid's, obviously, as the warm-up act. Well, that's the dream anyway, and you've got to manifest these things. So hopefully that will happen. But Sid's, we need a song for you. And, you know, as always, feel free to fire in, ideally, a Spanish song that Sid's can learn and then perform. One that will make the crowd go. This year's going to be a big year for the pod. we'll pass the pod in every way yeah too right yeah like maybe Enrique Iglesias as well I can imagine I can be your hero I can be your hero baby I can be your Sidwell baby I can get away the pain oh yeah I can be your I can imagine the whole crowd I can be your I can be your Sidwell baby if he is going to perform I can be your Sid World baby before Kasabian you know this is going to happen you know this is going to happen it might be listen it might not be in the evening but it might be like a two three o 'clock session even if it's a nearby pub we've you know like the busiest like we'll do something I'm just going to I'm literally going to open it I'm going to walk on stage okay I can just sit in there a spotlight on me and I'm just going to say hola eso si que es yeah and then that's it we're going to start But what Sid said, if you're struggling for Spanish, because there should be a bit of Spanish in it, give your Spanish...

19:28I've never heard this before. What, Spanish? Yeah, how do you do Spanish if you don't know it? You say socks. Sid has just said to us, if you spell socks out, it sounds Spanish. Yeah, S-O-C-K-S. See? That's great. I didn't know that one.

19:48Right, little bit of admin for you guys. If you are enjoying this top quality content, if you like a de goods, then make sure that you hit subscribe right now. Okay. We're trying to gather an army here. First thing you can do to be part of this podcast is hit subscribe. Do it now. Well, lads, I wanted to get into January, uh, chance of windows. Since have you, you moved in Jan? I've done two. Have you? Yeah. Big ones or? Uh, no. Well, but you know the Fulham one, don't we? The Fulham, uh, the wolves. I was going to go to wolves. Big Mick. Big Mick. On the treatment bed. that was January so we know that one I've done that story Devon was was Stoke to Brighton when I left you guys at Stoke yeah and the funny thing with that is I think I brought this story up a couple of weeks ago to you guys really quickly was so when it comes up to sort of January you kind of feel as though where you are in the squad and the team and I wasn't playing I'd spoken to the gaffer and I was like look what's going to go on in January so if something comes up then you know if we can agree with both parties and you want to go I wouldn't stop you it's fine I wasn't involved wasn't playing was just travelling with the squad and then being a bit part so I was like alright okay so I remember in January training and I knew this Brighton move was on the horizon it was sort of bubbling and we went in for a Monday for a warm down and you'd played and the guys were just doing their warm down so we all go out together we do sort of like the boys were jogging around the pitch and I think there was like five or six of us that weren't involved that was training so we stayed out you boys go into the gym and obviously watch training, do your bits.

21:22And I remember training, and it was a January cold, dark, windy morning in Stoke, right? And we was doing like a 3v3 at the end of this training session. And we was doing like a 3v3 at the 18-yard box. So there's one goal there, and there's another goal on the other edge of the 18-yard box. Two keepers, 3v3. Mark Hughes, Mark Bowen, the stand on the side. And I'm thinking, I need to do something spectacular here to like get myself going or get back in the team. And there was a little bit of passenger play, pop, pop, pop, pop, went wide and this ball got lobbed in, right? And I remember watching this ball.

22:00I remember watching this ball, right? It's coming in, right? And I've gone, this is my moment. This is my time. So I've stopped and it was like, it was like, was it escape to victory? Pelain, right? Where it all just went like, the matrix just slowed down and I've swiveled my body. It's up there and I've gone through every kick, right? And I've gone, and I've gone like this, and I've absolutely erred, like missed the ball completely, right? Missed the ball completely, and as I've landed, like in the six yard, it was right on the six yard line, right? And you can imagine that where the keepers are warming up day in, day out, it was just mud.

22:38And you know the sound of a ball hitting flat mud like a slap, right? That was me with my body, right? And I remember looking at the gaffer, Mark Hughes, and all he did was, right he turned away like this and mark bowen this is the manager and at that moment i've never felt so degraded right so embarrassed right as a professional football player and i remember getting in after trading i remember taking my boots off and my socks i remember looking at my feet right in the dressing room and i was thinking where do i go from here

23:16and a week later I signed for I signed for Brighton so and then obviously it picked back up but yeah it was what do you think they said in that moment they must have they must have because it was near the end of the session they must have gone in the office and like there wasn't even a laugh or a smirk or a smile it wasn't even funny you know like just dead silence

23:39it was bad it was bad I remember you telling that story last time and I had the same reaction I can't believe have we not told that on the pod no I'm not told that you must have told me that it's not really it's not really what I want to bring out to be fair it's in the domain now so when you're wallowing in the mud there no one's no one's saying anything it's not like it's not a jovial atmosphere it just went like oh oh well that that's horrible because that's hard to physically get out of as well isn't it the stand up and it wasn't even I remember looking at the gaffer and he he didn't even smile or laugh it wasn't he just he turned away turned around yeah so uh yeah where'd you go from there but uh yeah I went to Brighton after that but I suppose there are different scenarios where in my in my move you know it's coming like you know it's sort of bubbling away and I had to get a move because I wasn't playing as well it wasn't like a deadline day it wasn't quick but that one was sort of stringing along whereas the Brighton one sorry the the Fulham one with Wolves and Villa that just goes to show you never know what's going to go on with a transfer but with the Brighton one there's a phrase you use there which I only ever hear in football transfers which is if you want to leave we won't stop you or if you want to leave I won't stop you and it's an odd one because you don't you'd never do that in your relationship or would you you'd never use that phrase It's like, it's such a football.

25:12But I think it puts the onus on them. Yeah. You know what I mean? If you want to leave. Yeah, like I'm not, as a club, we're not going to actively seek, you know, another partner for you. As a boyfriend or husband, I'm not going to seek a partner for you, but if you would like to go elsewhere. But I'm going to stop. Yeah. I'm not going to stand in your way. It just puts it on them. That's what I mean, because breakups can be awkward, can't they? But that is such a brilliant way to word it. If you are in a situation where you want to, or are thinking of breaking up with your partner. I think he said a lot in football.

25:43You'd be surprised. That's what I mean. He said a lot in football. And you don't really hear it so much in other jobs. And you certainly don't hear it really in relationships. I think it's a bit of a power move in a relationship, if I'm honest. Well, it's a great fight. Yeah, because it's just like, I don't really give a fuck if you go elsewhere or not. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, but that's basically what you're saying, isn't it? Surely if you say that's the beginning to an end. Yeah, but let's say you sort of know you want to break up with someone. it's hard to sit them down and say look it's not you it's it's me that's the classic so you can't use that yeah you can't say look i just don't think things are working out anymore but if you say look if you want to find someone new i'm not going to stop you that is such a brilliant way to word it because you're somehow it's sounding positive what what mark hughes is really saying there is I don't want you yeah it'll be like a lie but he's making it sound like he's giving you an opportunity yeah but that's got me thinking but you if you you could put football terms into relationships quite a lot right here we are even in a marriage right if you could activate a get out clause

26:56if you're you know they are contracts yeah marriage marriage is a contract you never read the contract that's what I'm saying if I activated you know I don't know like a a£5 ,000 get out clause you know someone could activate that for£5 ,000 well mate you couldn't stand in my way you'd have to say look I left one of the agreement well what about a buyback clause

27:19what if that's for your buyback clause well if I go and blossom elsewhere how if you can activate the buyback clause because you do you get a little glow up when you when you leave off I can go and leave and I can make a real name for myself out there buy back well this let's keep going with this because then we're in the world of when you're going to get married why don't you have say a marriage agent why don't you have someone to represent your interests so you can you say look you're never going to guess what I've got you like don't you know play it cool don't make it look like you want this too much but I think I've got is like and then what could you throw in there what the little bonuses you could get I know all sorts man do you know what we actually I'd love to see performance related like it could be performance related bonus you know kid a kid bonus you know what I mean like you know if you get one or two depends you know Jordan's a scale of it how prolific you are I've just I've just literally thought you know like when have we done this before you know like when they do the pictures you know like when the pictures are signing imagine if there's an agent that's what I mean yeah in the picture it's a business that doesn't currently exist but if because it is a contract you're so right Cratch it's a physical thing that you're signing there imagine you did have an agent who comes in and just gives it a once over could be another another business idea I love it imagine a wedding a wedding agent's business that we set up incredible just to make sure you're not tying yourself into something that's you know not in your own interest as well as it happens in every other walk of life do you know what I mean it does I just think you know it might be something what else did you have in your contracts well I just think negotiating a fever like the that for me feels like it should be between the parents even do you know what I mean like the you know what I think she's worth more than that

29:15and sometimes you can be a big player at a minor club and vice versa can't you it's like that's going to differ the contract I imagine as well but also you know when you're in the contract you know quite often players will kick off and say you know I want to leave you know he's just not he's not matching my ambition whereas you go into a relationship you know if I'm not matching Abbey's ambitions you know she might want to look elsewhere she's a quality player she's a talented she's a talented individual they might want to look for a free transfer yeah potentially could I potentially have a buyback clause on it yeah yeah absolutely it's all to be negotiated okay Well, you know, I went to Burnley in January anyway.

29:59Yeah, I was at Stoke at the time. And we've talked about it before, but that was the only, I think that was the only January move I did. And I moved around quite a lot, but it was always in the summer. But that was a weird one for me. Starting at a club and then moving halfway through, I found a bit strange. Yeah, but does it make you feel like you have almost a different role in that signing, especially in your instance where, I don't want to make it sound like you're in later life or something you know you're still a young fit football player but coming in at that point in the season is kind of I don't know does it feel like you've been given a different role to maybe being signed?

30:38I was playing the championship we'd got relegated with Stoke and I thought I wasn't sure how long I had left and I had the opportunity to go to Burnley and finish in the Premier League I kind of knew that was my last season and it was great and I went from kind of a not a great dresser if I'm honest at that time to a brilliant one and Burnley was struggling at the time and bearing in mind and we turned it round when I went back there absolutely nothing to do with me I have to say I think I played about five minutes the whole time I was there but it felt nice to be part of an uplift of a team that started doing well you know training with some great players great lads again really enjoyed my time there although you know I won't be etched in Burnley history, I felt, for me personally, it was such a nice place to kind of bow out.

31:25I don't know if they still got the thing on the bridge there. Yeah. I don't think they're still there. That'd be a lovely tribute. That would be a nice tribute. Also, when you go in January, it makes you feel worth, I mean, it feels like, so when I went to Fulham, it was a case of, look, we're trying to get into Europe. Yeah. When I went to Brighton, we was chasing in the championship to try and get in the Premier League. So you feel as though you're going there for a reason. and I think that's when you walk into a dressing room as well with the players like you've been dressing rooms where in January when someone's signed you go oh that's a big signing well don't you think the January ambitions must be more realistic in some ways than the you know you're starting a season and obviously hopes and aspirations everyone wants to finish as high as they can but with January you've got a clear marker of where you are so there's realistic ambitions about what your impact is going to be and why you're brought in yeah well let's look at the signings now we've got Semenyo going to Manchester City for 65 million Brennan Johnson which is a bit of a surprise one there I think he'll do well at Palace I really do yeah Connor Gallagher that is surprising that one looks like he was going to Villa to me and then you know turned that right round and went for the Spurs and I think I think he is he could potentially be the catalyst for for a real improvement I think he kind of the way he plays the game I think it will inspire others to to press to work hard to do the right things and I think he is fair play to Spurs as well I know they get a lot of stick but if I'm reading this right I think the Villa one was maybe was like a loan move with a view to a permanent and I think Villa Spurs have just come in and just gone bang like there's something to say permanent like here we go let's do it and which is like a lot of people give Spurs a bit of stick saying you know they don't cuff up the cash and the money they've just gone we need something to turn our season around so fair play for them to do that at that time special mention to Castellanos as well at West Ham he scored the winner in the cup game against QPR they need something big time could he be that I mean if he if he keeps them up or you know they look comfortable staying up I mean what a sign that would be yeah I mean there's some yeah I think they're doomed if I'm honest I don't want to go dive into football, but if he single-handedly keeps them up, that's brilliant.

33:52Money well spent, 25 million quid. That's mad. You're not looking good at West Ham, is it? No, no, it's not. Do you know what I always think with these January signings? Normally when you see them, right, it makes me laugh. So January is always freezing cold here, isn't it? And it makes me laugh, especially when it's up north as well, is when they get these South Americans or these Portuguese and they're standing there and it's freezing cold, right? And they're standing there with this shirt, right? And they must be thinking, what am I doing? It's the Esprit factor, right? So I was thinking exactly the same thing.

34:27So I think the Esprit one was actually in February, right? And this was before it was before a January windows, the January transfer window come into play. But that is exactly what springs to mind, isn't it? Esprit standing there in the snow, right? He's holding up this black and white jersey, which by the way is an iconic Newcastle jersey as well. Yeah, yeah. but he's got to be standing there thinking what am I doing what am I doing I do wonder at times I mean there's lots of people in there like do you say I don't know if you saw Angle Di Maria's wife's comments recently did you see that about Manchester she doesn't like Manchester right yeah but it was quite scathing but I mean like if you don't you know you turn up at a place and I don't know you look at the contract you look at the team how much do you really know about the the place and the culture.

35:15Don't you think sometimes it's always seen the wrong way around? Like I agree with you and they must stand here and think, you know, what the hell am I doing here? But then, have you ever seen it where players go the other way and they're just like, I can't deal with, this is why I never go on holiday. I can't deal with the heat. Here's a question. I can't do anything above 23, 24 degrees. This doesn't matter. We're going off peace again. I'm really sorry. Someone asked me this and then I've asked a lot of people after. Would you rather be freezing cold, right? Or too hot? No, freezing cold. Would you?

35:46I quite like being cold in bed, you know? Yeah. The cold in bed's the one for me, yeah. But I'm talking like cold, cold. Like if you're doing punditry and you're out and your toes are gone, your hands are gone, you're freezing. Or if you're like, you know, wherever, and you're, I'm talking cold. Or would you be? No, I'd say cold every time. Would you? Yeah. But this is what I mean about the Esprit thing is, and I feel we as a great nation here, sometimes get criticised as in players must turn up here to our incredible country and think, you know, what the hell am I doing? And I'm like, well, I couldn't, I'd be the same in Spain.

36:23Portugal, you know, it's too hot. Yeah. Well, yeah, I mean, I remember playing in certain games and I was like, this is horrendous. I'd much rather play in the cold than some of those. I remember playing in Houston once and it was just unbearable. And I'm watching these, like, young lads, like, running around I'm going like what are you doing how are you doing this that's why I don't think we'll win the World Cup sadly few of the stadiums have got air con though because we're English few of the stadiums that were in have got air con yeah I think that's a big factor that I think it's a massive factor no because we would we would really struggle the Dallas is it the Dallas Cowboys stadium we're playing Dallas Cowboys we're in Dallas Cowboys we're in Boston and New Jersey yeah but aren't they some of them air conned you'd like to think Dallas Cowboys wouldn't you also I'm aware I speak for the minority here.

37:12I think most people do enjoy just really hot weather. I'm well aware of it, but I still think it's... Then you buck the trend, don't you? You like hot weather. Well, yeah. I mean, I like a bit of sun. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I like it. I mean, I don't sit on a sunbed all day. Yeah. But in a partial.

37:35Right, lads, let me give you some history of transfers here, right? and you tell me which is your favourite just out of this list because there'll probably be some we forgot but Van Dijk went from Southampton to Liverpool for 75 million in January and that was in January 2018 Bruno Fernandes went from Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United for 47 Vidic from Spartak Moscow to Manchester United for 7 million by the way seems like a steal Torres went from Liverpool to Chelsea remember that for 50 million that was in January Tevez to Manchester United he was a free agent there was a lawsuit with West Ham over that one but there's some good transfers big transfers if I remember rightly I'm going to say as well Suarez when Torres went to Chelsea Suarez went to Liverpool in January Suarez went to Liverpool when Torres went to Chelsea in January Suarez Carroll went to Liverpool in January in January Coutinho as well went to Liverpool in a January window as well I think if I remember rightly I think Andy Cole went to Man United was from Newcastle I remember that I remember that like it was yesterday do you remember that what do you remember well I was doing a paper round oh you've said this we talked about this before and I remember seeing it on the back of the paper at 6.30 in the morning when I was delivering it yeah he said and I went what so I'm standing there and I always remember Fosse Way I was on right Fosse Way and it was an annoying one because I did the Argyle Road.

39:09I did Fosse Way and it's another one there. And I'm in Cleveland Place or something like that. And if you live in that area, that's where I was when Andy Cole went to Manchester United. I was on my bike and I remember seeing it and I remember posting to one particular, and I always remember the house because when I drive past it, it's my mum and dad's. I go, that's when I found out Andy Cole was going to stuff. Yeah, honestly. But I remember the exact house. I looked at the paper and I went, before I delivered it, I went, oh my God. how is this happening? That was huge, wasn't it? Yeah, because I think it might have been the, he might have even had the shirt, or they superimposed the shirt on him, or I was like, how is it?

39:45Kevin Keegan, was it on the stairs? He had to come and explain it. Do you remember that? I remember Kevin Keegan on the stairs. That's what I remember. Yeah. That's what I remember. Because they were my two favourites at the time, Beardsley and Cole, that combination, because I think they were, didn't they come up from the, what, the old Division 2? And didn't he score, because I used to play championship manager, this is a championship manager, we used to use the space bar, right? You know, to skip. And I always used to have, I used to love being in Newcastle and have Cole and Beardsley up top.

40:17Brilliant. It didn't matter what you remember. Yeah, it's crazy. We should, obviously we won't do it now, but like you should show us the house on Google Maps. Yeah. And then we need a blue plaque on there. Blue plaque, yeah. This is the house Peter Crouch realised Andy Cole. Yeah. on his paper well it's been weird we've been been we've we've been we've been we've we've we've we've well the

40:50owners of the house won't realise well they're sitting on fortune because I think as soon as you put a blue plaque on anything it becomes 5 minutes on Sam which is sadly I haven't been down there recently to have a look but well it's gone it has gone but we don't know what it's been replaced with God rest his soul yeah absolutely let's perhaps see about that because that would be fantastic yeah here is the site where Peter Crouch discovered Andy Cole went to Manchester United yeah went to Man United on his paper round unreal so out of all them players and signings just quickly what do we reckon is the greatest well out of those are they men And what else was there?

41:34Andy Cole, Suarez? Suarez. It depends where you're coming at with this because obviously the money side of things is ridiculous for Vidic. Yeah. But then I think when you look at, say, the Fernandes amount, I mean, it is a lot. But for the date it was and kind of the amount it is and the impact he's had. Okay, you look at the whole thing, yeah. I think Bruno Fernandes has got to be up there. Yeah. I'll tell you one who's undervalued or underrated. Ivanovic at Chelsea. I was there when he came in January I think I mentioned this on a previous one he's one of the things there is to win as well remember yeah in domestic as a right back as well so I think I don't think they paid a lot for him as well wouldn't have been a load so value for money he'd be up there Tevez to Manchester United as well was was pretty phenomenal so that was was that Masquerano was that the when him and Masquerano was it yes did Masquerano come to Liverpool then at the same time.

42:32Must have done that. Because that was some midfield because I was there then when they had Masquerano, Alonso and Gerrard in midfield. It was an unbelievable midfield. Lomo Sissoko. Good. Terez to United though. That was big. That was big. But yeah, and then again, Virgil van Dijk, I mean, what he's achieved at Liverpool to come in, I think that was the, I feel like him and Alisson, that was a real statement. You know, when they came in. Yeah. It felt like Liverpool just went to the next level then started competing. Yeah. Yeah, but it did feel like that was, it was sort of a plan that came to play wasn't it I mean it was it felt a big investment but with almost guaranteed results it feels like yeah and worked out brilliantly and then you've got obviously manager transfers you know around this time you speak of Alonso you know he's just he's just left as well Alonso yeah which is like I suppose under under a bit of pressure at the moment as well I didn't think of that what Liverpool end of the season really oh listen I'm sure things will improve I think it's a big shout because Slot's in the job and I like Slot and I hope he does well and you know I hope it works out but you know this summer is going to be the biggest one isn't it manager merry-go-round there's loads in there there's loads right lads we've got to get into our league quite nice for me if I'm really nice yeah I had a correct result I had Villa to beat Spurs 2-1 that was a three-pointer for me Chris you went for the draw and and Sid, you got the one point.

44:01I was, I was at Villa, I'd done the game, wasn't I? Yeah. And honestly, the last five minutes, anyone could have scored. Anyone. And I knew it was in the balance. I knew you had three points. I knew if Spurs scored, it was 2-2. See, I gave up watching at halftime because the first half was awful. Were you disgusted? Yeah, I just thought, I can't do this to myself. Because I also felt like I'd backed Spurs as in this is an FA Cup game, you know, the magic of the cup, like get some positivity. We gave a bit of a rousy speech, didn't we? Exactly. and I love the cup for it I mean look what happened with Wrexham as well in the FA Cup you know we kind of called that we actually said pretty much how it was okay slightly different order of goals but kind of how it was going to play out and that was the one I really fancied as an upset and it yeah I suppose it was in the end but yeah a bit closer than we thought it was going to be but yeah anyway that puts us on Chris on 32 puts me on 38 and since on 46 how are you feeling Chris?

44:57no it's nightmare stuff it's nightmare stuff it is if I could make some January transfers I really would yeah what can I do yeah I don't know would you come out a missionary he was missionary he rocked my the villain if anything he rocked my missionary don't knock it I think it was reverse cowgirl time you can at this stage you can try anything do you know what I mean I put a couple of Desmond's up there and then I saw in the comments I always have a look on the Instagram comments on it because it's a bit of a running commentary out of the weekend people started calling it Chrismond Chrismond it's like whatever I go for they're they're renaming yeah that's good you have been going for a lot of Desmonds recently I'm going full missionary from here to the end of the season I can't muck around I'm so far behind honestly mate

45:49okay well let's get into it the next part of the podcast is supported by Pally Power big weekend fixture is Manchester United versus Manchester City I'm going to I'm going to give you some odds 13 to 5 Manchester United 10 against you 36 pound about City of favourites here 17 to 20 yes City of strong favourites yeah so Michael Carrick's first game I would I'd done the game the Brighton game at the weekend and it's it's a mess it's a mess United it really is is it is it a is it one of those like how can he how can he win there really I don't know if he I mean he could I don't think there's any good that's going to come out of it he knows he's there at the end of the season because there's a bigger pool of managers to get at the end of the season in the summer so they're out of all the cups they're still in with a chance of getting Champions League of course they are I think they're only three points off but for him personally you know what's yeah it's such a great opportunity though isn't it of course it is I was fingers crossed for Darren Fletcher as well, you know, when you got to work out for him, obviously.

46:59You know, still, it just felt like the same old sword, isn't it? And I was fingers crossed for him. And the same is for Carrick. You know, they're both good people. I want to see them do well. And, you know, go in and shake it up. Yeah. And he's shaking up, right? He's blossomed into a proper manager, Michael Carrick. Yeah. It was like how people regard him, how people talk about him. Just looking at it, I don't know what you call it. You can't say the bench, the dugout, I guess. they've got an awesome dugout when you look at it you never really think of this backroom team go on then Steve Holland yeah what this is confirmed yeah okay assistant manager obviously as we record the podcast I think this is just coming out so so bear with if if this all changes by time but no seems to be I think pretty much confirmed assistant manager Steve Holland Jonathan Woodgate will be with him and Johnny Evans yeah okay all good lads good lads and we hope they succeed yeah but City is still strong favourite to this strong favourite yeah I mean what a first game but then again the way I look at things sometimes it's like these games that you're not supposed to win just go out there you know this new manager bounce on crack this isn't it go and pump City at home is it Old Trafford yeah oh so yeah you'd like to think that it's going to be the hype the noise the expectation Do you want to go first then?

48:24The eyes on it. Do you want to go first? No, you go first, mate. I've noticed this little technique. Wind me up into excitement. Get me to commit to some sort of 5-1 united situation. Honestly, I watched Pat last week. I watched Pat last week. I know what you're doing. He's on to us.

48:48No, you go first. I'll go first. You want me to go first? you don't care anymore no no no I'll go first if you want me to go first go on then I think City go there and smash them I want to say City 3-0 okay alright wow okay obviously threw this out on Instagram all sorts of names piling in here Tom Sargent Chris Alexander Matt Corbett James Mifflin James Mifflin try to find someone with an interesting name because you've got a Sargent none of discipline recently. We have, yeah. We've had some good names in the DMs. Robert Barrett. Robert Barrett? Isn't that a shop? Earl Barrett? Oh, no. Oh, no, I'm thinking Holland Barrett.

49:33Netherlands and Barrett. Finley Gundry. Great name. Great, we've got to go with Finley. Let's see what you're saying. Finley Gundry. Gundry. Afternoon Dubai Des, What's It, and Womble. I'm going for 3-1 the thing is the way he's done the score here he's suggesting to me Man United win this 3-1 which I I think that's too it's just that bounce isn't it I think that's too punchy so I'm going to have to reverse that I'm going to go City 3-1 in this one no do you mean no right there is going to be some sort of bounce but they're not going to bounce to victory so I'm going to go 3-2 wow that's also an extra point that is an extra point yeah I forgot about that well here we go it's CrouchPod Bet Builder it's Paddy's Boost we each pick a leg of the CrouchPod Bet Builder the odds on that Bet Builder will then be boosted by 20 % and put on the special section of the Paddy Power website and app Sid I'd like you to go first on this one if you don't mind oh okay yeah you go okay I'll go player to score first.

50:52It's got to be Haaland. Erling Haaland, yeah. I'll go player to be carded, Casemiro. And I'm going to go player to have two plus shots on target. I'm going to go Sesco. Okay, the odds are correct at the time of recording. Please gamble responsibly. Right, okay. Let's move into Leeds United versus Fulham. I mean, I've seen a bit of Fulham recently and they're playing well, I think. They're looking sharp. I think a combination of Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez as well I'm pleased to have me Jimenez back to full fitness again do you know what I mean Harry Wilson in the form of his life playing really well yeah Harrison Reid come on the other day scored on that absolute well what about that goal oh my gosh I was actually that game live wow and it was Liverpool right yeah the last minute one yeah unbelievable brilliant what buzz for him as well come on as a sub did you say he's a he's a likes the podcast I believe so I know Harry Wilson does I believe he's a they're friends at the pod they like it he's a Fulham pod they're in good form Fulham you know you score a goal like that who Reid yeah Harrison Reid Harrison Reid you score a goal like that it changes how the crowd treat you then for the next game doesn't it like whenever you think you've got a chance or you come on as a sub the expectation's massive well they tell him to shoot to shoot constantly even in his own half I love that they're in good form Fulham they're in good form and as are Leeds I've got to say you know they were probably to go down I think I think they probably just might stay up I think they've got a good chance of it Calvert-Lewin scoring some goals yeah Calvert-Lewin playing well yeah I like the Leeds as well I think it's really interesting game this I feel like the Ellen Road factor does play a part and I think Fulham maybe going there I think it'll be slightly slightly more difficult than if it was at Craven Cottage I think it's a difficult place to go Leeds away when Ellen Rose rocking it's good isn't it yeah Leeds they've been drawn recently haven't they with United and Liverpool it was narrow against Newcastle yeah I think they get the result here today okay you reckon Leeds I think Leeds will win this 2-1 I like that yeah that's a good shout just looking at what people have sent in here Tom Tom Sibley, Will Lafferty.

53:18In fact, a few people saying the same score. Matt Kelland here. Matt Kelland says, up the two Villa boys in the one ball of Watford. I'd say one. Leeds United won, Fulham won. It says, PS saw Crouchy in a McDonald's at a services on the way back from a Villa game years ago when I was little. He was with Gareth Barry. Of course he was. Always Gareth Barry. Was he getting a McDonald's with Gareth Barry? Too scared to ask for his signature and dad didn't even get me a Happy Meal, raging. What a Carl Kelland he was that day. Anyway, up the villa. Call your dad a Carl. Can you? Carl, what a Carl he was.

53:57How can you take your kid to a McDonald's and not get him a Happy Meal? What was going on there, I wonder? Anyway, he's gone one all and I'm going to follow Matt Kelland there. I think that is a great show. I wonder what me and Gareth went for that day. What was your normal? That era was an early era. I think that might be the quarter pounder era yeah how many though and if you've had a few bevvies you can go we've all got OTs here and we're on a McDonald's order I've never had more than one quarter pounder though oh yeah but you'd have like 20 nuggets a quarter pounder you'd have a you know you'd even end up somehow there'd be a fillet of fish in there so what the hell never a fillet of fish Gareth's the type of character might go for a he might have gone for a fillet of fish alright okay tell me what you want to pile it do you know what I mean just quietly see him eating it yeah well 1-1 yeah you said 1-1 that's a good shout okay I'm gonna go I'm gonna go Fulham 1-0 away win alright the final game of the party power section here is Chelsea versus Brentford West London derby yeah Brentford you've got to say they've been very very good haven't they incredible yeah like let's look at it they lost big players the manager and look where they are the big man up front Igor Thiago I remember watching I did the game at United and even then it was really early on in the season I thought he's a handful pulling people around like the lit was really struggling with him and I think he scored a couple that day but he's just he's just continued it and you know the way he's playing could you see him getting the Brazil squad for the World Cup or not he's every chance I covered him the other day against Everton when he scored the hat-trick mate, dinking it over the keeper little one like going through one-on-one yeah, he's every chance Keith Andrews brilliant job that he's done fifth now by the way like it's amazing but they're going to the bridge Liam Rossignor what?

55:59Rossignor Rossignor Rossignor it's weird I've been a teammate of him I've always called him Rosie but he's always like Rosie that's what he is, yeah but Rossignor But it's always... So what does he want it to be now? He said the other day that it should be pronounced like, was it Rossenoir? Rossenoir. But Rossenoir. It does, it does. This makes me laugh, you know, when someone says this is the correct pronunciation, we say, yeah, we get that, but we can still call you this. Yeah. Well, why do we have to pronounce it correct? Do you know what I mean? We've said this before. Yeah. Otherwise you can insist on crochet.

56:35You could send him a WhatsApp and ask that he calls you Senor Sids from now on. yeah yes funny this because Matt Smith the commentator at TNT I work with him someone tweeted him and said something like why does he always when he's doing the Italian football like pronounce the name so like you know as if he's Italian and he said I think he tweeted back saying I think it's just the problems you have when you're completely fluent in Italian so good is you saying the names correctly well stop doing that he's a legend as well he's great he's brilliant I think if you know the right name I think when you're English your brain's just shut off to know how dare you I think Kevin De Bruyne I said it was Kevin De Bruyne and everyone went not even that we've been calling you De Bruyne for years you can't do that not in here but if you're Brazilian you can just shorten your name to whatever you want by the looks of it I don't know do you know what I mean if I was called Crouchinho if I said that is now going to be my new name they wouldn't have it would they if you're Brazilian you can yeah no you can't you can't do that with people going down their high street Grouchy that's like Grouchinho it's like hasn't got the same Chelsea Brentford Chelsea at the bridge Brentford away there got some good results away 2-1 Chelsea I reckon he's gone in he's gone in how sneaky was that yeah I actually do fancy a draw in this I'm going to go 2-2 alright I'm going to go 1-0 then 1-0 alright

58:20ok lads listen by the way we are across your emails but that was you know we've we've gone on a bit there so we can't really just shoehorn this one in but we've had we've been inundated with people talking about the bowling chat you know when you go on dates and And I think I said you can't put your fingers in a six. Well, mate, we did an episode, I think it was New Year's Eve, which was, I think, meant to be about four or five minutes. Yeah. Just to tie things over, we ended up talking 20 minutes about bowling. About bowling, yeah. So we've been in on dates with listening messages, and we will get back onto it.

58:53I mean, Sarah's sent one in actually now. We've got it here, but it's just not a short one. No, well, let's do it properly. Let's look forward to that. I mean, I just don't want Sarah's thinking, if a first date puts the fingers in an eight, you're really giving her the ick you know okay well let's hold this discussion alright love it alright we'll hold it for next week but I enjoyed that today it was really good fun and remember keep sending in your emails as well obviously hit subscribe wherever you're watching this or wherever you're listening and share it around past the pod and if you want to send us an email people don't know the email address but it's peter.crouch at acast.com send us questions feed in it's what it's all about back stronger next week guys Chumbwamba This episode is brought to you by aloadopricks.net We are the experts in selling houses Chris couldn't sell his house What did you do Chris?

59:40I couldn't sell my house for love nor money Crouchy Three different offers I had All at the last minute Fell through I turned round to my wife and said What can we do to sell this house? Every estate agent is failing us Then I told her Let's go to aloadopricks.net But Chris, what did aloadopricks do for you? They were brilliant Crouchy They sold my house right away The sign had barely gone up when a well-dressed gentleman came along and offered me twice the asking price. Chris, would you use a load of pricks again? I'd use them every time, Crouchy. Go to loadofpricks.net. They will sell your house like no other.

1:00:14Load of pricks, loadofpricks.net.