‘We’ve Gone Global’ Crouchy Passes the Pod to Ronaldo, Iniesta, Cafu and More!

0:00This podcast is part of the A-Class Creator Network. hello and welcome to that pia crouch podcast with me pia crouch uh notorious sID and chris starker with me um how are you boys holding the fort for me i'm very good crouchy and obviously happy new year we're still saying it um sid's over here is making all sorts of sort of groany noises and uh i don't know if you can see why crouchy because i'm aware that we're remote at the moment and and you're you're abroad um but sid is having a little go on my christmas present here how would you like to describe it it's absolutely sensational i mean i could drift off i don't know i'm gonna have to take well i'll have to take it off is it is it a bum plug this is great because it's a podcast as well if you if you can't see it have a little guess where it could be it's it's not a plug no nor is it was it is it is it is he gonna pull it out yeah have a look at this crouchy so i got this for christmas and it's a little massager with two little hands on it.

1:04Can you see this? And they just gently rotate. They just gently rotate there, Pete. And massage your neck as you go. I was going to let you have a go on it, but then last minute you've decided to stay abroad, haven't you? So I'll save it for when your neck's back. It's almost worth coming home for that. I mean, it does look sensational. What did it feel like, Sid? Honestly, that was... It actually feels like... If you actually close your eyes, it actually feels like someone's hands. Actually, honestly, genuinely feels like a nice, deep, slow massage. Well, it's odd, isn't it? Because it is two little hands.

1:42They've even got little nails on them. So it's two little fake rubber hands there. I love that. Goodbye. Good purchase, that. Well, Christmas present. What did you get for Christmas, Pete? Well, much needed boxes and socks. You know, very important. my wardrobe gets sorted out around Christmas time various kind of outdoor pursuits and things like coats and jackets and jumpers so I was well looked after in that department yeah love that how about you Sid what did I get I got I got some I got a rucksack I got a new rucksack I got a wallet it was kind of like a teenage years I've sort of rolled it back to being 16 It's sad, really, the way you boys say all this stuff, you know.

2:27I appreciate it's hard to get you presents, but I don't know, man. I would have expected a bit more there. Joe, I got a lot of alcohol. Did you? Yeah. We've moved into a new house and we've got a new bar. Really? It needed stocking up. What, is it similar to this bar? Describe it. Very, very similar. Yeah. Yeah, I've just got one whole wall just now full up of, like, shelves. like it would be like behind a bar yeah nice high class bar are you going to name it well we was just going to go Sid's bar Sid's bar um I like it yeah yeah so I'll take a picture please do I'll take a picture what's the plans for Sid's bar is there going to be a big pole in the middle or something uh no no pole no pole the vibe is there's no rules okay just don't piss no one off that's the rule take what you want just don't take liberties nice so uh so yeah nicely done yeah i i i've debated getting a getting a bar myself you know like i haven't really got ours is mainly as you know sid's it's very kitchen orientated um our house but i've always wanted to to create a bar area in my house and call it the croucho club no one's leaving no one's leaving if that happens yeah this is this this sounds like good plans for 2026 and i guess we're here now and i i know we've been banding around a few ideas that we want to do as a podcast as well.

3:52But do you have any sort of personal ambitions as we step into the new year? Is it kind of more of the same, boys? Yeah, I'm going to try and have more fun this year. Is that possible? I mean, last year was quite fun, wasn't it? I don't know. Yeah. We got in touch on a few of the fun things, to be honest. But yeah, I think you've got to enjoy it, haven't you? You've got to keep going for it. Do it with a smile on your face. More of the same is what I'm saying. I love that. I love that. I'm going to try and get the cooey out. yeah yeah i say every year what you're gonna learn it or what i want to yeah oh great well that's good you want to get on the i want to get on the acui get the acui lad mate this is great because if you're willing to start and you want to say do one song i mean can we not get him the warm-up slot at that kasabian finsbury park what can we do crouchy there's got to be a gig that we get imagine we could get him on the on the bill like first what did you do you done one didn't you i did yeah because i play the guitar a little bit but i'm really not great but you done but i got invited to to um join busted that was on stage that was the o2 and i performed a song called sleeping with the light on which was one of my favorite moments ever i mean i was shitting myself but it was it was an unbelievable moment the idea that sid could step up with an akui and play a song.

5:13It's either going to be the Akui or... I mean, I can do a little bit of Spanish, but I really want to go fully in. If I can do the Akui in Espanol, then I'm winning. No, but Crouchy, we've got to understand exactly what he's selling here. So are you saying you want to play like Spanish flamenco guitar? Well, no. Like you would get in the corner of one of those nice tapas restaurants Crouchy goes to occasionally. Yeah, I mean, listen, It could blend into that, but I'm just sort of continuing to learn Spanish, but really go deep into it, as in really go for it, and also learn the Akui on the side.

5:51And if I can blend the two, become a Gypsy King, then we're in. Just try and add another string to the bow. Can you imagine, though, if we actually did that? Is it in Victoria Park, the Kasabian gig? It's Finsbury Park, isn't it? It's Finsbury Park. It's Finsbury Park, exactly right. if somehow in a year's time Sid is doing an acoustic session just before Miles Kane's session in Spanish that'd be some year he's like Sid I'm in now Crouchy you're right because Miles Kane supporting Kasabian perhaps you join him for Baggio you know

6:31anyway okay El Baggio El Baggio El Baggio and we dress you up with like a tash and all sorts. Like go full span. Okay. All right. Crouchy, you're ready. Great ambitions for 2026. Talking of Baggio, lads, I was, the reason I'm out here actually, I went to the World Sports Summit out in Dubai. And yeah, I've extended my trip and I am enjoying myself. And I have to give Sean, my brother-in-law, a shout out. I'm in Rejuvenate, which is like his wellness center. He's got like a gym, KO8 gym, which is amazing. And this is the wellness center. You can see obviously like, you know, with my arms there.

7:09I don't know if you'd see on the camera. Obviously, they're fucking huge now. I've been working out with Sean and obviously recovering at the same time. So yes, I've been drinking over Christmas, but I've also been going to the gym and obviously my recovery's been first class here at Rejuvenate. Yeah, you are looking surprisingly good for it. He is, yeah. I see Abby I see Abby put her little Instagram story up the other day of you lot in a lift dancing and singing and yeah that was that was the other part that was the other part that was the the lubricated part yeah I replied to that with saying that's got written written all over it all down the beach basically on the piece yeah and she just gives me the thumbs up Steve said well I like that one mate I like that one I did like that one but it looks lovely where you are though so that is a wellness centre gym it's got a lot yeah it looks decent very holistic I'll tell you what you'll probably get a nice massage there you don't need old robot hands here do you that's no chance definitely right so if you go there does are you saying your brother-in-law will massage you if you do go there is it you get a sort of well I don't know it's his place oh it's his place great yeah it's his place so he trains here he trains out of here so if you're ever in Dubai you can train with him and stuff yeah it's a top place but yeah that's where I am at the minute but I am in Dubai and the reason our world's here is actually I did the World Sports Summit right and I was invited to come and honestly it was just absolutely incredible I didn't realise you know I'd never been invited as a player because I've you know wasn't quite at the level of some of these players but I mean no joke I was sitting there Baggio was there Paolo Maldini Cafu Brazilian Ronaldo our good friend Andreas Iniesta Usyk Manny Pacquiao Pacquiao was there Nasser Al-Khalifi the PSG owner which is one of the reasons why I was there I got to interview him on stage at this summit and you know I must have been you know they must have recognised me for my question asking because it certainly wasn't for my football ability when I arrived there and they put us in like this VIP kind of holding room anyone who's speaking at the event and I was kind of asking the PSG owners some questions.

9:32So I was put in this room and I'm not joking, everyone was already there. And I've sat next to Brazilian Ronaldo, Carlos Puyol, Iniesta, Xavi. It was just all my heroes from kind of yesteryear. You know, I found Ian Rush. He was sitting over on the side there and I sat next to Ian. You know, like the first day at school and you just think i'll sit with someone i know you know so i didn't want to say hello straight away because i thought oh my god i can't believe it so i sat next to rushy we had a little chat that was great and then one by one we just kind of integrated and then now i'm like best mates with our nine that's insane because i did see in the christmas break i saw a little video of you pop up and you were at the tennis and the commentators cut to you and and said uh said oh, there's Ronaldo meeting one of his heroes.

10:27And I just thought, bloody hell, he's only gone and met him. Because I don't think you'd met him up to that point, had you, Crouchy? But it's been an ambition on the podcast. Yeah, do you remember we talked about this? And I remember Tom, obviously, you know, he was quite, it was a big statement trying to get Kim Jong-un. That would have been really difficult. But, you know, you went for Elton John, and I think you were the first to do it, I'm safe to admit that. but I did meet Ronaldo but it wasn't a real it wasn't a real meeting he was on a beach and I I said hello and he kind of he kind of pied me but I have to say I was at the tennis I was at the tennis and and whatever you make of the Kyrgios Zabalenka thing it was like battle of the sexes I went to watch it my little girl was a massive fan of Zabalenka so um the whole way it planned out I mean it was a great evening um but I I was sat there you know and it was there was lots of people there it was full there was a whole row behind us that was completely empty and I thought that's a weird one so actually my you know my mates who were with me they sat behind me and all of a sudden this big kind of entourage came in and they cleared my mates and said get back to your normal seats so they had to go back to their normal seats and all of a sudden this big entourage arrived and it was Ronaldo and Kaka and they kind of got announced and they walked around and everyone was cheering and as he walked in he kind of Ronaldo and Kaka they have to walk behind me so I kind of like I didn't want to I didn't want to get mugged off because I thought these are going to be on camera here so I didn't want it to be a kind of you know like when Cara got pied by Ronaldo on Sky Sports you know like I had that in the back of my mind and I thought I could be a meme in here forever or or I or I go in confident right so I've chose the second option and I've stood up and I've turned around and I've kind of not given them any opportunity to say no and thankfully they obliged with a handshake and a hug and I thought you know stick that up your ass you know I've got that now stick that up your ass to what the press and anyone watching to anyone who thought that could because that because that had real potential I don't think anyone would have got on it but for me personally inside I thought this could this can fucking make or break me this.

12:42And thankfully, thankfully they said hello. And I'm still here to tell the tale. So did they recognise you? That is the most important thing. Did they know that you was Peter Crouch or was you just a normal civilian in the crowd watching tennis? So I think I've got a strong suspicion here that they know. I didn't clarify it completely, but I did say, obviously, when I met Ronaldo the next day, you know, did you enjoy the tennis? and he was like, ah, yeah, fantastic. You know, we had a great day. I said, did the kids enjoy it? Then I spoke about what happened obviously next. So what did happen next was at the end of the tennis, you know, lots of people were going over and I've got a great photo to show you of my little girl, you know, with Brazilian Ronaldo, which was a lovely photo.

13:30And she's got a tennis ball signed by Ronaldo and Zabalenka, which was, you know, absolutely amazing for her. But as Ronaldo got up on the entourage left, I'm sitting kind of next to them, right? So as he's left, I thought, said to Sofia, get up, we're going to just, we'll go behind him. So we kind of went behind Ronaldo and then he was going straight on to the court to meet Zabalenka and Djokovic. Obviously my daughter's a very big tennis fan. So I kind of, you know, when I felt very, I basically got myself onto court by following Ronaldo. Oh, you groupied it. Oh no. Yeah, I groupied it. I fully groupied it.

14:06But I'm not ashamed, Sid. Mate, I would do that. I'm not ashamed of it. I would do that. 100%. I'm not ashamed, you know. So I basically was trying to put myself in Kaka and Ronaldo's bracket. Yeah, you know. But I think sometimes if you're really, really confident with these situations and go like, yeah, yeah, yeah, you know, Peter Crouch, Ronaldo and Kaka, you know what I mean? We're all together. And then you kind of get in there and we did. We did and we got on the court and, you know, the lady was very nice in the end. You know, she said, aren't you a bang average Premier League player? and I said I said yes I am but I've managed to follow Ronaldo on here and you're not going to kick me off now are you it was when I went along those lines we had a picture and photo and you know we had a great day and we were on court there we met we met Kaka Ronaldo and Zabalenka who are my daughter's hero so it was a great evening that's a rare bit of merch she's got there as well a tennis ball signed by that's incredible Ronaldo yeah and also that's an odd one in itself I mean how did you ever feel about signing sort of sports equipment from other sports.

15:11Was this something that you had to encounter, Pete? I know you've had to sign some weird things in your time, like the odd heads, the odd breasts, that kind of thing. But it's kind of weird when you've got to do another sport, isn't it? Yeah, I've had some body parts and various things that I've signed over the years. But I think, yeah, the one that always gets me is shirts. You know, sometimes you have a kid who's in an Arsenal kit and, you know, will you sign my shirt? yeah you know like a Man United shirt or something like that and you know will you sign this for me and you're like are you sure like does your dad know about this like your dad's probably hates me have you heard that yeah I'm sure you've heard that yeah I think it's that little token where they probably asked if you're doing we do like a football escapes that me and Crouch do and they say Wayne Roomies and they've got a Man United shirt and they go oh can you sign this Wazza and then you'll sign the next one and they go oh I've got nothing else to sign can you sign it as well you're like you don't really want me to sign that mate so that is a problem i've never really thought so just explain what exactly is the sports summit what what what was it yeah you know what it is it's like a conference for you know some of the biggest people in in football um and sport in general really um and obviously in dubai they put it on I just could not believe the calibre of people.

16:34Like owners, people that own football clubs, who manage football clubs. There was managers, there was obviously top quality athletes, boxers, NFL stars, NBA stars. Just talking about their life in sport, really. I mean, there was one talk where it was Cannavaro, Cafu Ronaldo Iniesta basically all of them of various different Deschamps Didier Deschamps all won the World Cup you know for different nations and they're all talking about their World Cup experiences and what it takes to win a World Cup and you're sitting there just going I can't actually believe I'm in the same room let alone kind of you know on the bill if you like and I mean you know listen I was asking questions I wasn't giving answers but it was just it was fascinating really fascinating You know, like just listening to those people talking, you know, and we don't get that every day.

17:30And, you know, we're kind of sheltered. We're so Premier League obsessed. When you hear other people talk about their experiences and that, just it was absolutely mind-blowing. And it was just really well put on. And, you know, talking to Nasser Al-Khalifa, you know, like about PSG. And we're sitting in the green room before. And obviously he's got the traditional dress on, right? And, you know, and I'm chatting to him about owning PSG. couldn't be more friendly and like accommodate you you have these people you think this you have a perception of him you know you always see him at the psg games you think you know like what a sound fella and he gave me his number no don't get bigger than that i swear yeah he said you know if you're ever in paris and i was like he joking because i like i will hound you and um He's like, no problem.

18:23He said, bring your lad to a game. Because I told him my lad had a PSG kit. And that was one of the questions. I was like, obviously, when you sign Messi, Neymar and Mbappe, right? You've got those three up front. And I said, you know, was that part of the PSG journey? Because, you know, without those players, are you the global kind of club that you are now? You know, if you start with the kind of homegrown Parisians that they've got now, you know, are they on the map like they are now? Like, are kids in London buying their shirt, for instance? You know, are kids in Dubai or wherever, you know, are kids in other countries, you know, in Africa and different continents?

19:04Are they buying PSG shirts if those players, and he said, no, that was part of our journey. And he said, you know, we had spent through so many managers and we end up with Luis Enrique now. And he just said, we just got the right man at the right time. we decided to switch we sold you know Messi Mbappe and Neymar and then we win the Champions League and it's just incredible you know when you've got a team kind of pulling in the right direction yeah not so many so-called stars I know Dembele won the Ballon d 'Or and Bittinia they've got so many great players but you know there's a team ethic now and he said Luis Enrique was very hard on things you know if anyone was a minute late they don't play on the Saturday and you know he's got a he thinks he's got the right man in charge at the right time.

19:47And yeah, when you look at what they've built and what they've achieved, I know it took time and it took money and they've got a hell of a lot of that. But it's still impressive when you consider it feels like the whole journey was a pathway because he wanted to make them a global team before he made them maybe a successful team. He probably, he said, obviously, it's arrived later than he expected, but I suppose it's still arrived. I mean, that is just incredible. It sounds like you've done some great passing of the pod whilst you've been out there. and sounds like some incredible experiences, some amazing stories.

20:19There's got to be a PSG pod that we do at some. I mean, what an away day that would be, Crouchy, now that you've got your man there. Mate, now we're talking, right? We've got to go to the game. Podders in Paris. P-O-P, pod in Paris. Podders in Paris. P-I-P, pod in Paris. It'd be great. So, okay, I take it, I mean, I'm assuming he doesn't listen to the podcast, but it would be great if we suddenly become the shirt sponsors of PSG. It sounds like Crouchy's got that in hand. It's amazing stuff. Not a problem, yeah. Just the sleeve, maybe, just the sleeve. Talking about passing the pod as well, I mean, for one player, I didn't have to pass the pod.

21:01Paolo Maldini. Yeah, yeah, Paolo. Obviously, you know, I went to say hello, and he was like, ah, he said, I see you do the podcast. Stop it. Wow, no. I promise you, I promise you, he was saying, I see it everywhere. You know, you're doing really well with it. And I said, I said, oh my God, Paolo Maldini.

21:26He's part of the podcast crew. That's unreal, isn't it? Well, I love the pod and you wasn't a bad player either, Peter. No, no, no. So Paolo, he said he loved the pod. I said, listen, I love your work as well. You did really well at AC Milan. Well done. Did he try and kiss the ring? Do you reckon he's an old school listener or newer? No, but he did. I have to say, he didn't kiss the ring, but you know what he did? He did walk past me really fast. And I thought, you know, he knows. He knows. I know. Who else did you get a bit of one-on-one time with, mate? Oh, Iniesta, yeah. Yeah, obviously, you know, Iniesta, you know, friend of the pod.

22:06You know, everyone doubted me with the story with, you know, that he asked me for a photo. You wouldn't believe it, right? So we were in the first half of the summit. So we all get seated. And the girl was, you know, putting us on a seat. So we're all on the front row. You know, and it feels like kind of like the Ballon d 'Or. And, you know, somehow I've found myself on this front row. And then they've seated me next to Iniesta. So Ronaldo's right at the front. Brazilian Ronaldo, I think. I'm trying to think who else was there. I think Khabib, the UFC fighter, was front row. Figo, I forgot to mention.

22:41Luis Figo is on the other side. And then like, so I'm sitting next to Iniesta and he's gone there, we're chatting away. And it was kind of the elephant in the room that I'd, I haven't mentioned the fact that I've, we've talked about him for about three episodes on the podcast, right? So I had to say, look, Andreas, you know, I don't know if you know, but we obviously mentioned on the podcast that you asked me for a photo. And he was like, yeah, yeah, yeah. Like people ask me about this all the time. No way. I said, I've been asked about this. I said, and I said, you know, I can only apologise, you know, but, you know, you did ask me for a photo, didn't you?

23:17And he went, I can't remember which way it was around. So he didn't clarify. He said, I can't remember which way it was around, but I remember I had a photo of you and you had a photo with me because I remember my wife took it. And I said, yes, yes, yes. So I said, if you can, in future, if you could just say, yes, I did ask for a photo. That'll be fine. It's great. We've got the picture in front of us right now. For me, this is one of the most iconic pictures of this podcast. It's become, you know when you see the same picture on the news? Like one of these, like, it's a very controversial picture, this.

23:52It certainly looks like Andreas has asked for the picture in that picture to me. Do you think? Yeah. I know Crouchy's really, like, buzzing with it, but it looks like Andreas is secretly inside having a party going, I'm having a picture of Peter Crouchy. you know you know what's happened here chris look i answered right so what this is the this is the swap so obviously he's had his picture for him right he's had his picture and then i've gone oh god i can't but i can't you know could would you mind taking one for me that is how it went when you were at the summit then were you not tempted did he ask you for a photo there or were you not tempted to ask or is this now a kind of neither of you can ask each other it's a gray area now isn't it it's it's a standoff I'll be honest with you I um I bottled it I bottled the snap I what I could have done I could have done the snap what like a selfie like here like I could have just done that we're having a nice chat and I just thought I don't know I was a little bit nervous about I was just about to interview the PSG owner you know I was out of my depth completely and I wasn't in I wasn't in the Chumba one bar I was you know I was at a summit where I just found myself I was a little bit nervous if I'm honest but um no I get it it's probably not the place to have photos and then also if you have one with one I guess everyone else wonders then why they're not having photos I guess it's not the done thing it's just so tricky because for this podcast that would have been that would have been so important wouldn't it well that's the thing for me I was just thinking if you know if I have one picture of Iniesta I'll have Ronaldo all over me Figo they'll all start you know play it cool trig play it cool that's what you gotta do with them in the environments just own it and just go listen you guys are with me that's it so is this going to be a regular thing now I mean fair play to you because that's a huge gig are you the new I don't know are you the new Rio Ferdinand will we see you doing the World Cup draws from here on in that sort of thing no I'd like to probably I'm going down the route of more like a Des Lynam kind of like a Dubai Des

26:02because obviously you know you know like there's a lot of players there I don't want I can't put myself in that bracket with the players I've just mentioned so I'm more of a Dubai Des but if the World Sports Summit are listening I'd just like to say what a fantastic time I've had and I'm available for more gigs well hopefully I'll tell you what it has done it's put us on the world stage now global stage with the World Cup coming up in the summer mate it's unbelievable it's open doors I couldn't believe it when you said you were out there and doing this stuff I didn't really understand what it was and then all I've seen is incredible things coming from it and it sounds like you've got stories for days which is obviously great for us but you've put us on the world stage Crouchy you've got the podcast out there and we're always encouraging people to pass the pod and you can't really do much better than what you've started the year doing well I've got a picture as well of everyone who was at the at the summit and what I will say is I mean what I'll do now I might put it in the group actually now but what I will say is I was a little bit Ashley Cold if I'm honest just on the side there but what I'm trying to do if I do get invited next year, obviously I hope I do what I'm trying to do is trying to move in just a day at a time, do you know what I mean I'm not expecting next to His Excellency straight away but I think somewhere maybe just two or three would be better.

27:33It's like the squad picture, isn't it? At the beginning of the season. You know, if you were sitting down on that front row, you was kind of classed as one of the main guys. Oh my God, this is amazing. What a snap. What a picture. Wow. Yeah. So, I mean, incredible. Wow. The World Sports Summit. oh mate your back left yeah so so like i say like i feel like i kind of took obviously i live at the back that's where the nfl players were the basketball players if you notice that that's where we live and that's fine that's that's where i live i know that but what i'd like to do next year is move more central if i can i think the dubai des has got to be like if you can get front row in four years, I think that would be massive.

28:25If every year, if every year, how many rows back is that? One, two, three, five. If over the next five years you can do, are they doing this every year? Is that the plan? I reckon so. I reckon if you, if year two, year two, if I could jump to row two in a year, I mean, that's outrageous. I'm not expecting that, but like, I'm going to ask some questions. That's what I'm going to say. Mate, I think Didier in four years is something to aim for there. Imagine Dubai Des at the front. That is, there's some names there, mate. Question, two next to you, is that David Dean? Right. Is that David Dean? Yes.

29:05It is, yeah? Yeah, good spot. Brilliant. Because he's kind of poking his head around the corner. David Dean was there. Yeah, you've got Ian Rush just in front of you as well. Look at this. Ian Rush too. Robert Perez. Yeah. What did Ian Rush think of your Tash? Impressed? Yeah, well, I obviously got rid of the Tash, but yeah, he was, I mean, he was brilliant. You're never going to beat his Tash, are you? But yeah, but you know, really, really great to just mix with these absolute legends, really. What a pick. What a pick, mate. Love that. And I suppose the only thing bigger and better than that would have been the New Year's Eve celebrations in Dubai, because I've experienced it and there is nothing else like it, is there?

29:43I mean, was it just over the top as per usual? Yeah, it was unbelievable. where, you know, the fireworks were going off. But, yeah, I had a strange one, if I'm honest. You know, my little boy, and, you know, fair play to him. You know, he stayed up till almost midnight. You know, he's basically, he needed the toilet at three minutes to 12. Oh, no. Yeah, yeah. So the fireworks, I mean, they sounded great, but I didn't see them, unfortunately. I was back in Brewdog New Year's Eve. I see the picture. Yeah, I sent a little picture. You know, where we used to do the pod for, well, for a little bit there.

30:20I actually said to the barman, I said, can I have a la-out? I got there like 15 minutes before I was DJing. I asked for a la-out, didn't know what I was talking about. And I thought, you don't deserve to work here. How dare you? You know, that was an iconic drink. Absolute disgrace. Oh, absolute day. Did you go down the slide? Yeah, I did go down the slide, you know. I'd be disappointed if you didn't. The only problem is the slide, because it was quite busy, because it was New Year's Eve, the slide kind of goes onto the dance floor. So I don't know, you've got to hit it with a bit of confidence to then get out there.

30:52Okay. And I was playing the song, so it looked a bit, I don't know if it looked a bit off. I don't know if DJs should be on slides. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. You've got to do it there. I went through Waterloo recently and my little girl, I went to show her the slide. Bearing in mind, she's not a little girl anymore. She's almost 15. But she came with me and we said, right, we'll go down, we'll go down. And there was a group of lads right at the bottom, that 12 of them. I thought we would have gone straight into them. I just thought, yeah, it was a shame. I just said, I don't know if we should do that one.

31:30I watched it. You got all the way to the slide and then bottled it. Don't bottle it. I walked back and got the train. I didn't lose any of that. I do miss the slide a bit. I do miss the slide. And just whilst we're catching up on things that happened over the last couple of weeks, the darts as well have you been did you sort of watch the final out there Pete I don't know where you were for that slightly disappointing final I would say just slightly disappointing in terms of yeah yeah it was I just wanted a longer evening of it you know yeah you do but I mean like he is just ridiculous isn't he yeah he's just got levels that he just goes to when needed and even though the the fella won the first leg it was like he is just going to go for him now.

32:15After the nine darts, didn't see the nine darts, but let's talk about the darts because you didn't come, did you? You had to miss out. It's the biggest FOMO I've ever had. You know, if you miss a night out and you think, oh, I can just avoid, I'll just, you know, I'm sure it was fun, but you can sort of block it out. You know, you can sort of ignore some pictures on Instagram. Yeah. I was on the radio that next morning and it was just photo, there was one of Sid's, stood on a table, the whole crowd kind of, they looked AI. Crouchy, I mean, during the darts, they were cutting to and from Crouchy, like, on the screen.

32:53He made the, even the players turned around and was like, who's in the building? Who is in the building? The cheers that he got from the whole place was just brilliant. You boys met at one in the afternoon. I've never, I've never felt so scared. It was heavy duty. It was brilliant. The atmosphere was electric, wasn't it? We did our own afternoon session beforehand. We had a few beverages. And then obviously we progressed to the evening session at the darts. And it was absolutely phenomenal. There's two pictures, I think. There's one of Sid's when he's finishing one of his beers. And there's one of me like that.

33:31And it feels like the whole alley palies kind of behind us in the downing of the drink. And that, I want both of those pictures in the Chumbawamba. bar and then we'll put it next to the one of you as a cheerleader Chris yeah absolutely yeah I mean good times at the darts always but next year please can we not have our Christmas party on a Thursday it's just like it's a no-go for me I'm up at four yeah true but it looks amazing and then Sid's I then received reports you were at the darts again I did go again yeah now Crouch here I had a friend who was on Sid's table who absolutely adores Sid's but can you confirm or deny uh because this is incredible if true oh wow what is coming here so you let me unzip this because it's gonna get hot in here i think this is this is great so i heard there's because on the boring boring tables yeah uh there's people that come over and they serve you drinks right yeah so they'll go and get the drinks for you i heard before the darts had even really kicked off you took the person who comes over to the tables to one side yeah and said right we're going to look after you tonight but what i want you to do is bring a round of beers and then every time you go out you bring in another round of beers and we do this until the end of the evening yeah that's true so every 15 minutes that's true and no one else was getting beers all around we was getting other tables beers as well um so next to us was uh the sky kind of sky table so natalie sawyer was on there who works in talk sport um and who's the old girl crouchy uh oh uh i know you mean is it tomlinson yeah so natalie uh sawyer was uh on the table next to us and uh claire tomlinson as well and they didn't have a drink for about 45 minutes and i think we had three rounds in that time only because i knew it takes so long no it's brilliant but it's so do you know that scene in the wolf of Wall Street Matthew McConaughey I mean it sounds it sounds acceptable when it's beers if I was saying to the fella I want two martinis like ten martinis you know with some olives in them every six and a half minutes my mate said he's seen nothing like it it was just the way Sid's had command of the whole of Ali Pali it was phenomenal no no no my boys loved it by the way it's kind of what Sid's does though it's kind of what he does though you know like Sid's I don't know did you do the same thing when we were there because I've never seen a drink like it.

36:00It was a revolving door of beverages. I think I may have just slipped the way to... Just to make sure, you know, you need to be looked after. It's a good idea, mate. Look, if you can afford a fair play. I've done this at weddings before, you know, where the bar, it's often like one or two people behind the bar at a wedding. If you can just give them 20 quid, it changes your evening. 20 quid, just beginning of the night, just say, look, I'm going to be coming up and down here a few times. Like, if you can look after us. I've done that a lot of times yeah yeah as soon as they catch your eye they literally leave the whole bar and they come to you at the end and they go normal but know this if Steve Sidwell comes to your restaurant or bar it's Steve Tipswell and you know that I do that I do but sorry just going back to the darts the darts of destiny can you remember do you remember this oh this was so good okay so you know this happened on the night so it was a lad called Curtis who did the darts of destiny actually at Ali Pali and he messaged me afterwards because i was so invested in and who was doing this thing because we've been doing it on the podcast the last few weeks if you don't know this you've basically got nine darts to throw 180 uh paddy power choose one person to then potentially win 180 grand if they can get 180 nine darts on stage at alley pali a very intimidating thing to do and it was a lad called curtis who got chosen crouchy i was almost refreshing the paddy power instagram to try and get a video of it on the night I thought it was on TV exactly exactly so anyway I'm there on the Paddy Power Instagram writing on the comments I was there writing when are you going to put a video up are you going to show this because the final was about starting about 20 minutes something like that and I think this like Curtis must have seen it he's DM'd me since and basically wanted to pass on his thanks to all of us and say he's a huge fan of the podcast and obviously loved the experience of going and doing it he didn't quite make it I think Paddy Power slung in five grand.

37:5787, I think he got 87 or 89 or something like that. Yeah. And they said, yeah, here's five grand for taking part. Brilliant. Crouchy's a big fan of the podcast anyway. No, it's absolutely amazing. It would have been amazing for him to do it, wasn't it? What a shame. But no, fair play for him. Because that's that, I mean, it's a nerve wracking. That crowd is a banging crowd as well, isn't it? So it's like fair play for him to get up and fair play to Paddy Power for making a donation for him. Well, it was all for charity as well. Well, I think we, have we got the number here of how much was raised?

38:28Yeah, look, 128 grand. Over 128 grand was raised for Prostate Cancer UK thanks to the Darts of Destiny that obviously we've been talking about. And that's on top of the 1.27 million that was donated by Paddy Power as part of their even bigger 180 campaign. So huge amounts of money for charity. Well done to everyone who got involved in, or at least applied for Darts of Destiny. And they blurred out one of the matches for the style for the eye condition. That's right. Brilliant. Really, really good. Really innovative from Pallie Power. Love it. Love it. Yeah, and I have to say, obviously, we had our own darts of destiny.

39:07And Sid, you won the five points in the league for you pipped Chris by one point during the New Year's Eve pod, leaving it with the final score. You had 107. But well done, Sid. That puts you five points ahead.

39:25Okay, this feels like a good time to have a little break in here from our sponsors. But if you are here, while you're at it, just hit the subscribe button. It does help. This episode of That Peter Crouch Podcast is sponsored by Hire, an official global partner of Liverpool Football Club. Yes, Liverpool. Pete, you had some great times there, didn't you? I did, mate. Yeah, we won the FA Cup when I was there. It was, I have to say, it was a special time for me. Well, today's sponsor shares a similar accolade as this, Hire has been ranked number one global major appliances brand for 16 consecutive years.

39:56Yeah, I wasn't quite that consecutive, unfortunately. Didn't quite manage the 16 years. Unfortunately not. Hire isn't just an appliance brand, though. It brings innovation, performance and style into different aspects of consumers' lives through technologically advanced products. Well, if it's stylish, it's a lot like me, Chris. Same. You can actually connect the appliances via the Hon app. that can tell you how best to set the dishwasher, recommend the best wine to pair with the meal that you've just cooked, and even provide recipe inspiration for tonight's dinner. That is very good. I do need that at times.

40:30Chris, these products are going to make me look like Superman around the house. I am useless, but I love the idea of making a lovely meal for Abby. Me in the oven using the AI camera and let me know when it's cooked perfectly. I never need to panic about it again. Yeah, you really are embracing AI at the moment, aren't you, Pete? you're getting yes you're getting you're getting there and then what's great about this next time me and sid's come over you can make something actually a bit more edible for us okay uh i will try uh now then if you are in the market for some new large or small home appliances then head over to the higher website www.hiat.co.uk and use the discount code higher pod for 10 off please spell out higher you spell it like this chris h-a-i-e-r higher that is discount code higher pod for 10 % off uh please spell this correctly uh chris it's h-a-i-e-r right when we get into the uh the scores now um chris you're on 31 uh i'm on 35 and sid's what was on 40 but with the darts of destiny throws that puts Sid on 45 he's 10 from me and what's that 14 from you is it yeah but I think like what you said no one cares who's top it's all about who's bottom isn't it okay Sid if you're partial I am partial I think here it doesn't matter.

42:08I mean, Sid's blown the league apart here. We're just scrambling here for who's going to be bottom. I mean, there's only four points in it. You know, anything can happen, Chris, in this scenario. I still believe, yeah, there's still a big battle between me and you, Crouchy. And I don't know, you can never rule, you can never completely rule this out. I mean, is there any part of you that thinks Arsenal can throw it away in the actual Premier League? not now no I mean what is it four points you can really say at this point in the league that things are that far ahead I just I just I just see a different Arsenal this season I don't see him dropping I see him dropping points but I see Man City still dropping points see I see Sidwell dropping points Crouchy I just see it no no I can't I think he's a I think he's a relentless well-oiled machine he's a well-oiled dolphin that is true I kind of want to be in the I don't want to be out of sight I want to be in it I don't know I just I want to have the I want to have the nerves it's boring at the top it is boring at the top you're right you're right but I'm happy sitting there yeah yeah yeah I'd be over the moon if it was me listen before we get into the games lads I'm just going to touch on a few obviously you know Amron's gone but Sid I wanted to touch on Leroy Resinia at Chelsea did you play with did you play with Leroy Resinia so Leroy's his dad Liam Resenia.

43:31So Liam. Yeah, I played with Liam at Brighton. Great guy. First of all, as a human, like one of your own, great in the dressing room, like away from football, a great human being. Lovely to be around. As a coach, superb. I've seen him coach as well. A fantastic coach. And I think, look, it's an opportunity that he could not turn down. I think he was always in the system at Strasbourg to potentially be a Chelsea head coach one day I think he's come earlier than what he's expected I genuinely think he's going to be great I genuinely think I think he's got a good squad he's got a young enough squad as well that will take it all on board but Chelsea as a whole is a total different environment I hope like I say environment in terms of how it's structured.

44:28Like, you know, he's not the head coach at Hull where he probably gets a lot of the say and signings and recruitment. This is going to have to be a little bit of a work in progress for him. But in terms of his day-to-day job on the pitch, improving players, likability, players liking him, I just see it being a success on that front. And I really, really hope he does well. I texted him yesterday to wish him good luck. And I genuinely mean it. I think he's going to be great. I think he's going to be great. So, yeah, best of luck to him. Yeah, it's an interesting one for me. It's an interesting one.

45:02He's an inexperienced manager. But I think when you've got such young players as well, I do think having a young coach kind of makes sense. I don't know. You can kind of speak to them more on a level. If you'd gone and got a very experienced manager in, it's difficult to kind of... I know even myself, when you look at young players now, you're out the game for a little bit. you do it's hard to kind of you're very different to the players aren't you whereas he's only just kind of come out of the game very new to management fresh ideas I think that will I think that will get a tune out the younger players at Chelsea I really do yeah does it does it fit more with this idea of being a head coach than a manager and there's you know obviously quite a bit of a discussion around this especially with Man United as well do you think um it just makes it very clear from the start what they want for him and and perhaps that's a good thing as well yeah and i think this yes man tag is is blown out of proportion um i think yeah it's a head coach um he's there to improve the players improve the squad get the best out of the ability in the squad and then whether it is the hierarchy making the decisions on recruitment and we're going to bring this player in and you're going to work with this player i don't know how much say he will have I don't know.

46:18But it seems to be the case where that model is coming in now into football, especially at two big clubs, Chelsea and Man United. So do I agree with it? Probably not. I mean, as a head coach, as a manager, you want to have a say of who you're going to be working with in terms of players and recruitment or who you're going to want to have in your own team. But if that's the way that the game's kind of going and it seems as though it's going down that sort of American kind of route, the Premier League, you have to just kind of embrace it. yeah I agree I agree what do we make of Amarin's sacking I mean it was it became very difficult for him I think the minute he kind of feels like he's calling out the the owners and you know I don't think that that ever ends well does it and I think unfortunately he didn't have much kind of to back his argument up did he really I think you know did the results haven't been good enough for a club of that size.

47:13I do think he's done some good. I think there was, you know, elements of unrest with some of the players that he's probably shipped out and probably rightly so. He shipped those players out and I think he's kind of building a dynamic. He's trying to build a dressing room. But unfortunately you have to get results and those results weren't forthcoming. I don't fully understand what he was talking about, especially in that press conference. He was sort of very angry about how he's not a head coach, he's a manager. And I mean, the one bit of merit I could see in it, as I understood what he was saying, was Man United have always traditionally done well when they've had a manager.

47:54And maybe that's just not the same anymore, but when you look at where they've had great success, it's with a solid manager figure, someone who oversees everything, Unai Emery, esque kind of yeah a proper manager he seemed to be fighting against what he felt his position was there is that what Man United need perhaps though well I think you you've nailed it there I think he he's basically saying I'll come here to call the shots on recruitment players who I work with and that's been taken away from him especially now with the director of football and stuff like that and that was that's why he's had a part by saying, I come here to be a manager, not just the head coach.

48:39I'm not just, I'm not a head coach. But like what Crouty said there, as soon as you say that, that's it. As soon as you're questioning up above, gone. But yeah, it's going to be interesting now the way that Man United go. Like we're hearing Oli Gunnar Solskjaer might be going in. And I think they've got to wait to the end of the season because at the end of the season and the end of the World Cup, I think we spoke about it before, we guys, you could potentially have Ancelotti coming out of Brazil Tuchel coming out of England you can have Glasner probably at Palace Silva at Fulham there's going to be that's four there's going to be five or six that's going to be on the market top managers for other clubs as well so I think steady the ship to the end of the season and then go and get a big one or Darren Fletcher does brilliantly for this half the season they have what they had with Solskjaer before first phone call do you see it his first phone call Sir X Ferguson yeah really first phone call when he got offered it phoned Sir X Ferguson they had a chat imagine what that chat was like yeah because that but that's another dynamic at that club isn't it Crouchy wouldn't you say that you know the influence of Ferguson or you know how much he he really does have an influence there yeah but you know you know if Darren Fletcher gets it to the end of the season I have to say myself as a student in the dressing room with Darren Fletcher at Stoke and like a real student at a game, someone who, you know, you want to see do well.

50:07And I think, yeah, too often it kind of goes to someone who doesn't know the club or doesn't understand the dynamic at Manchester United or doesn't understand, you know, hasn't played or managed in our league. You know, Darren Fletcher's right there. He's been doing it for a long time. He's been coaching. He's been learning. You know, he's been at Manchester United his whole life. He's someone that the fans would probably get behind, someone who takes to, someone who understands the DNA of the club. Like, I do think it would be, you know, if it's going to be to the end of the season, why not go someone who's inside it all already, you know?

50:42And, you know, he's not the person that would be, you know, let's keep things the same, you know, let's do what the... He's got his own ideas. He's got his own, you know, he's intelligent enough to change things, to do a, you know, to... I think he's worked behind managers before, and yet you know that doesn't mean he agrees with some of the things that have been taking place and I think he would definitely do things his own way and I think the fans will take to him and he'll he'll get a tune out of the players because I think they respect him he'll bring in other players as well isn't he bringing Johnny Evans in Johnny Evans is in there'd be a few others wouldn't there I'd imagine I'd love it if Sir Rikes just said to him Darren Son you need to go 4-4-2 I'm hoping Sir Alex said that and also as well he's got his two sons in and around the first team squad of late oh really?

51:38yeah his two boys have played in the last couple of games yeah well they've been in the squad so that's a bit of a tricky one yeah that is a tricky one I think like oh talk about part

51:56that's a difficult one to navigate Jesus Christ right let's get into the games lads this next part of the podcast is supported by Paddy Power you've got Tottenham Hotspur versus Aston Villa this is in the FA Cup here we go but this is your draw mate these are the games you made happen Crouchy this is all thanks to you this weekend I literally picked these out of the hat two of my old clubs one fairing slightly better than the other Spurs had a difficult season this year. It's been largely poor, I've got to say. They've not, they've won one in five. Compare that to Villa, who have, I think they've, they've won 12 in 13.

52:33They've had a poor loss to Arsenal, which was disappointing for them. But other than that, they've been absolute fire this season. Mad one, this, I was on Sky, I'd done Sky the other day. Tottenham, Hotspur, at home, in the calendar year of 2025. How many home games do you reckon they won? Oh, God. It's going to be brutal, this, isn't it? Four. Four. Four home games in a calendar year. That's poor, isn't it? And they're at home against Villa in this FA Cup. That's in the Premier League, admittedly. You can see why the fans are getting a bit, well, more than angry, can't you? You know, like, Tottenham's not a cheap stadium to go to.

53:15And like, you know, yeah, the experience is nice now, but, you know, you go there to kind of, and you can see why they're they're kind of losing their minds you know you're shelling out a hell of a lot of money to go there and not not see much entertainment like you say they've won four games yeah but the thing is mate obviously it's a great stadium the devil's advocate side that I think you always hear to the Tottenham should be doing better which you know they should be in a traditional centre we grew up with Tottenham and but they're not doing anything that suggests that they should be any better no you're right it doesn't match the ground and things like that but it isn't good enough it's hard sometimes I think with these arguments to go like well that's our memories and that's our experience of it and it would be great to see a thriving you know not from an arse point but a thriving Tottenham and them to be challenging in a way that I saw when you were playing for them Crouchy and that sort of team but it's just nowhere near it yeah I totally agree with that I don't disagree with that at all, Chris.

54:21That's the team is not a top four side, is it? Let's be honest. I do think they're a long way off that. I think the signings, if you look at the team, obviously the best team that they had, with Kane and Son, Dembele, the centre-halves, Alderweireld and Vertonghen, with Rose and Walker, that's a ridiculous goal. Lloris in goal yeah they had Lloris in goal that's a top side they're not that that was the team they just needed to add one or two and they go win the league it's dropped off quite a considerable amount I love Thomas Frank as a manager and I love him as a person he's struggling certainly with the injuries as well there's a lack of confidence lack of belief and then when you're playing at, I'm still going to call it YR Lane, when you're playing there, your, you know, fans are going to get on top of you.

55:21It's a difficult place to play because, you know, because they haven't seen enough and there's a lot of frustration down there at the moment. But in this game, does it, does it, sometimes for me, when you're having a difficult time in the league, you go in the FA Cup and you can kind of take your mind off it. It's more of a cup atmosphere. You have a bit of enjoyment. Go and enjoy it. I fucking love the FA Cup. especially these fixtures as well I fucking love it boys it's my favourite thing the shine will never go the third round of the FA Cup is one of the great weekends of the year you've just about binned off New Year's resolutions and all the sort of thing you get back into it weekend of football giant killings weird matches I just love it and I love how they take on because of where it sits in the season you're so right crouchy it takes on a different importance for some teams and in this case for Tottenham it really feels like you know they get a decent cup run here they need this they really need this not just from a PR point of view but just to back up this idea that you know they are a top if you're going to say a top top side top four side top six side whatever you want to say like it's so important and i love that it comes in now there's a there's a route for them to to to really apply to it what you say there you're actually right it's a rousing speech if you're a tottenham hotspur player if you're a fan like let's you know fuck it off let's go and win the cup yeah that one aston villa right they're going for what they're going for they want to win the they want to win the league they want to win the champions league bollocks we want to finish mid table win the cup yeah it kind of sounds like to me that you boys are going to go for spurs what's the next tucker's 19 saying uh i've just whacked the scores up yeah i've left it a little bit late today um but thank you to everyone who sent me a little dm um it's a very small window i put up this is little normally a picture of me and sid just before crouchy arrives and uh and then and then ask for the score predictions but uh hello to uh artem sam morris pavlos mcparland matt Roberts.

57:32Kino has messaged in. Josh Nugent. This is a great name. James Droop. Dennis Suarez Daily. I mean, my DMs are fruity. Some great names in here today. Great names. Artem has gone for a Villa 2-1 win. I do feel like a missionary 2-1 here is probably the sensible choice. Tom White here, just looking at your DM. Hi chaps, very happy new year, regards to all your families. Also shout out Sid, who I had the pleasure of bumping into at a charity ball last year. I just walked up to him and said bonfire, needless to say he knew. He's gone for a 2-1 Villa win.

58:17These are great. I love the ones with the messages. Nathan Hurst, high one ball, tango testicles and the BFG, regards to your families. I'm going to go for a one-all draw. It's all going again in 2026. One more, best name of the day, Adam Discipline. Oh, okay. How is that a last name? Mate, enjoy him. Enjoy his score. Enjoy it by being Adam Discipline. What is his score? What is his prediction? He's gone, well, he says, Afternoon Squidwell, One Ball and PC15. although everyone's going to know you as the Dubai Des from here on in I think I'd like to lock in a Spurs v Villa Desmond I've got to go with Adam Discipline haven't I?

59:09So what would be calling for a replay there would we? I mean it has averaged 3.4 goals per game in the last five meetings so there is goals in this My heart says Villa on this really but go on we've given a rousing FA Cup speech I think Tottenham fans need something to be hopeful for. So I'll join Adam Discipline here and I will enjoy the FA Cup third round. I'll enjoy it by being Adam Discipline, like you said, Crouchy. And I'm going to go for a Desmond in this game, please. Oh, okay. Right. I'm going to go Villa 2-1. Bollocks. I'm going to go... I can't believe he's just done that as well. You both...

59:50Bastard. That's locked in as well. I'm going to go Vida 3-1 okay

1:00:06that was a shithouse move listen I hope I need I want Tottenham to go and do it I really do I just it's been shit for them you know and like go and go and get a win I do want it to happen but I just I just see I see Morgan Rogers like last couple of minutes just bending one in or something, you know, killing a few people. They've won four games at home, Spurs. You know, as Sid says in the calendar year, it's just not good enough. And, you know, I just fancy Villa. Okay, should we go for the Paddy's boost, lads? Yes. This is the Paddy's boost. We each pick a leg of the CrouchPod bet builder. The odds on that bet builder will be boosted by 20%.

1:00:42It'll be put on the specials section of the website or app. I'm going to go for, yeah, I'm going to go with a player to score first. This means you'll get two in a game because I said he'd get the last goal as well. But I'm going to say Morgan Rodgers to score first. Okay. That's a good shout, actually. I'm going to go player to be carded. I'm going to go Christian Romero. Okay, cool. Yeah, and player to have two plus shots on target. Let's go Olly Watkins, eh? Why not? Okay, odds are correct at the time of recording. Please gamble responsibly. On to the other games. Wrexham versus Forest. Yeah, Wrexham, listen, they're underdogs, but they've been on fire, haven't they?

1:01:22Let me read it here. Yeah, mate. They've been on fire. They've lost, what, two of the last 14 matches? Scored goals, looking good. They will be underdogs, as you'd expect. But, you know, the story rolls on, doesn't it? You know, with the owners, they've got good players. Can they do it? Well, it's crazy. Obviously, right now, for me, as a Watford fan, the championship is so exciting. I'm loving it. I'm at this stage, now that Watford have hit a bit of form and we're winning games, and I'm watching every other game around. and it's so many moving parts to it. But you're so right. One of the maybe slightly surprising stories about the championship has been how well Wrexham are doing and how comfortable it seems to be for them.

1:02:06It obviously won't be too long, it looks like, before they potentially even jump that. But really, really exciting. I think this is a really exciting game, you know. Yeah, Friday it says 7.30 kickoff. So I'm assuming that might be on TV as well. so that's always as a little bit of spice and Forest they are struggling they are struggling aren't they I think if you're a Forest player that's just desperate for some kind of performance and a result I know they picked up and they got the the result against West Ham but there is a little bit of a decline there but that would have given a little bit of confidence but this is a very very potential banana skin for me I think with the Forest West Ham game it feels like you know and I I hate it for West Ham fans but you kind of got a sense of blood in the water before that game.

1:02:54Whereas this one from a Forest point of view is worrying for them because you kind of feel with all the sort of stories that come from Wrexham that they will really fancy the magic of the cup and sort of the romance of it that we've been talking about and wanting to be the TV team as well. So I think it will go their way. What, Wrexham? Yeah. Pete, what do you reckon first? You can have a go. I feel like the same, if I'm honest. I feel like this could be a big one. The fact that it's at Wrexham feels like it's, as you say, Friday night, people are on the beers. Yeah. The atmosphere's electric.

1:03:35It's going to be tight. It's something different for the players. I think they nick it. I think they nick it 2-1. Oh, he's got missionary as well. I feel this tactical player. That's two missionaries there. I've got double, double missionary. Peter Crouch and missionary shock like I know I get the whole Christianry thing but I do want it noted Peter Crouch is regularly going missionary well I don't I don't want to preempt it but I can see him going 2-1 in the next game as well having a look right at the bottom of the screen sticking on this game my gut is saying Forrest 1-0 but it's the FA Cup and there's always goals in the FA Cup but I'm going to stay at 1-0 Forrest Forrest just get it done 1-0 away at Wrexham because I do think they score I think 2-1's the sensible shout out here and there's going to be some sort of last minute I think there's more chance of a draw in the cup isn't there yeah do you know what fine I'll go Desmond again please and it's going to be a last minute Wrexham just to see it into extra time a double Desmond you're going for the double Desmond double Dubai Desmond so horny for draws mate unbelievable wowza a horny Desmond okay honestly so what's happened I've gone full missionary and he's going horny dead ones everywhere it's unbelievable

1:04:59who's not guessed okay what did you say I said 1-0 Forest 1-0 yeah okay alright well you know we're moving on to a Premier League game which is actually out on Thursday so it's happening Arsenal versus Liverpool well massive game obviously but you know will it be comfortable for Arsenal Liverpool have just not have been have been disappointed they've lost obviously Ekotiki was out in the last game and and Isak kind of longer term the attacking options feel depleted with Salah being away as well not what Liverpool fans would have been expecting but Arsenal still roll on yep Arsenal are flying the bench looks strong the subs that are coming on making impact I don't see anything other than an Arsenal win I'm going to go 3-1 Arsenal in this.

1:05:49Straight in. Straight in. Yeah. It's hard to go against that, really. What have you gone for, Sid? 3-1 Arsenal, mate. Just having a quick look what Adam Discipline's gone for on here. Oh, he went a Forest win. Maybe I've made a mistake here. Did you see the Fulham goal? Did I? Bloody hell. wow strike yeah Harrison Reid he'd only been on the pitch a couple of minutes yeah top bins friend of the prod Harrison Reid isn't he he's a podman isn't he is he I believe so I might have just made that up I'm sure he's I'm sure he's a friend of the prod well I hope you didn't because then that will call the Maldini stuff into question from earlier and I'm still buzzing from that yeah no we've got Harrison Reid Maldini yeah they're all yeah I agree I agree some episodes this what a journey alright come on then I reckon what did you just go for 3-1 I went 3-1 3-1 alright I'm going to steal Crouchy's missionary here I'm going to go 2-1 who to?

1:07:03Arsenal alright I'm going to go 1-0 to the Arsenal love it George Graham George Graham I'm going full George Graham okay well that concludes the games lads good luck to you all just before we go you know just a couple of bits and pieces there are lots going on but just one thing did you see the the referee who kissed the ring and then pointed to the sky as if he was cacker I'm not sure if it was the referee it might have been the linesman it was it was the linesman yeah QPR was it looked like it was at Loftus Road yeah so yeah basically We got an email in actually from Jahon. John? His name's John, but it's spelled J-A-I-H-O-N.

1:07:53Is that Jahon or just John spelled strangely? I'm not sure. John's good for me. I'm going to go with John Sedgley, Steve's son. He said, good afternoon, fellas. Not sure if you've seen the absolute state of this Lionsman performing a walkout ritual before the QPR game. I'm all for supporting the force, but the Lionsman is getting ahead of himself here. and as you see he comes out he kisses the ring and then he kind of does the old you know it's like a Suarez kiss thing and then points at the at this heavens so basically we just wanted to let you know that we are getting a Games Gone board behind where Sid's is sitting now it's actually going to be a custom made Games Gone board so it's gone into production I mean this isn't just going to be we thought about whiteboard but I think it's bigger than that because I think every week we're going to get emails in about the game's gone at various different grounds and I think this is one of the first ones a linesman kissing the marriage ring and looking up to the heavens thoughts Well my thoughts are I'm actually totally here for it I do understand what you're saying but I think in 2026 I think given the prominence of referees in the league now we need to just celebrate the celebrity of them a bit more and their individual quirks.

1:09:15I don't think they should just be grouped in under linos and referees as they used to be. I mean, I saw videos of kids at Christmas who were getting referee kits and VAR screens, which...

1:09:34No, you're not feeling that, Crouchy? No. No, Chris. Chris. No, no. I've seen it, Crouchy. I've seen it. There's kids out there. Santa has brought them referees kits and VAR screens. Yeah, I've seen a video of a kid and he goes out in the garden, scores a goal, and then he's got a little screen next to him and he runs over to that and puts the headset on and obviously it's his VAR checking, you know, on it. That is unreal. Seriously. Is it great? Do you know what? that is like actually for say a 9-10 year old that would be a lot of fun like if you're playing with your mates the game's gone someone's scores the game's gone the game's gone the game's never been better the game's gone just a little thing on that linesman as well was he wearing tights was he wearing like under suck off sins I am not even joking is he wearing tights am I in a parallel universe is he got tights on as well is he wearing skins or is that my bad eyesight?

1:10:42He's wearing skins. Game's gone. He's wearing full-on skins. He's got... What chance we got? I mean, look, but what I would say there, but there's obviously some sort of personal meaning in this for him. So obviously I don't want to... No, I get... You know, we're not going to stamp all over that. No, no. We've just not really seen this with referees before where they do the kind of celebration and things that we see football players do. you know, as referees. He's living his dream. 2026, honestly, I think referees are going to be more like gladiators than ever. You know how people watch, how we used to watch gladiators, it was Wolf, Hunter, that sort of thing.

1:11:23Kids now love the new gladiators. I can't name a lot of them. I said Apollo, Giant. Would you give it a go, Celebrity One? I couldn't do it, mate. Again, without signing you up to too much already, you 100 % need to do gladiators. you're 100 % into it Senor Sids has already got too much on he's playing with Spanish and Lucui I can barely get up the stairs for this podcast let alone the travelator I would love to see you I would love to see him get up the travelator come on I'll die can you imagine it has anyone ever done gladiators with has anyone ever done gladiators with shimpans on it's a fair point it's a fair point mate okay so so anyway keep an eye out if you do spot something where you think the game's gone let us know because it sounds like Crouchy's building something pretty special yeah yeah get your emails in game's gone listen lads fantastic to catch up with you I've had a lovely Christmas the new year there's lots more to come from that Peter Crouch podcast you know as we say you know we're moving into to 26 with games gone boards we're moving in with you know Senor Sid with Dubai Dez.

1:12:37I mean, there's going to be so... It's action-packed this year. And stay tuned for it. You're not going to want to miss it. It's That Peter Crouch Podcast. It's what we do. This episode is brought to you by a load of pricks.net. We are the experts in selling houses. Chris couldn't sell his house. What did you do, Chris? I couldn't sell my house for love nor money, Crouchy. Three different offers I had, all at the last minute, fell through. I turned around 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?

1:13:11They 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 aloadopricks again? I'd use them every time, Crouchy Go to aloadopricks.net They will sell your house like no other aloadopricks.net