S1554 - The Xavi Simons Show

28:24I don't think it's a coincidence as well that him and Vert's kind of on the same weekend. I know Vert's has been producing a bit more output than Simmons recently. I think he's got six goals, three assists in his last 10, but it's not really a surprise that around the same time those two have started to go like this. They've found their feet in the league now as well. And I think Simmonds just needed, because we've been seeing these little things week on week. There's been good performances there and moments there to kind of get behind, but he needed like a super Sunday 4.30 game where everybody's watching for people to just, and to perform in that for people to just shut up because against Chelsea, obviously, big game, everyone's watching it.

29:02Got subbed on after five minutes then got subbed back off. And then Liverpool, he obviously got sent off as well. He was on the bench for the North London derby away from home. So he's not really been able to deliver in a big way like that for Spurs yet. But the first thing you said about him, about that chance that you set up for Odebeck, that was my favourite bit of the game from him because it sums up exactly what he's about. I think when things aren't going well and when a team like Tottenham, as we've spoken about throughout the season, about having those midfield issues, lack of progression, I think it's easy for a number 10 almost to kind of hide in the game because they're not, well, it's like, well, I'm not getting the ball.

29:36I'm not getting the ball in the right areas to affect the game. But you've got to go and make it happen sometimes. And that's exactly what he did. And like you said, it's not the first time he's done it. It's either led to a goal or led to a chance. In the European games, especially, I think, where he's got even more rhythm and I think his fitness levels are, you know, at a higher level, I guess, because it's less intense. He's always the one leading the press. He's always the one trying to win the ball back. You see him as well, like dictating and directing and his teammates as well, trying to do it, trying to get the crowd up, trying to get them up as well.

30:03And I think the players feed off of him. I think the crowd then feed off of him as well. When he starts to play well and is in full flow, you feel like he can unlock any sort of defence. And I feel like there's been comparisons to Modric as well, I think, because when Modric first came in, he was out on that left-hand side and then obviously then eventually got moved into the middle. We've seen that a little bit with Simmons as well. And I think he's quite left-hand side biased. he likes to float out over there but once he had about a year or so in the Premier you then just saw him go to another level and I think he almost moves a bit like Modric as well like his hips the way he's able to get away from players and glide past them I just think yeah he was absolutely sensational He's definitely got the mannerisms of him and the similar style of play like we mentioned this before didn't you Rick can you Yeah You didn't want to didn't want to commit too early on him being better than Modric but that's eventually where you got to that he will be better

30:58The Fighting Cock:I did not say that at all you did no I didn't that's a lie what I do want to say is the through ball for Solanke's first goal like apart from scoring nothing gets my dick harder than a good through ball oh yeah and when I saw that and saw Solanke get onto it I was like fucking hell like the blood rushed straight to the fucking area yeah I'm 43 now so like when blood rushes to an area it's like a lot I was like taken aback by it I just started seeing scars shouting at my dad where am I I can't see anything I've got an erection what's happening dad but yeah it's when he will start to produce more and more of those passes gets more comfortable and like you were saying Flav it's it's even the other side of the game that it's that kind of the passing through balls and stuff.

31:57That's what you're expecting when you buy a player like Xavi.

32:02The Fighting Cock:But it's that willingness to get that ball back. It's the pressurizing when they've got the ball. It's slide tackles. It's that aggression. It's just that, yeah, the tenacity and the willingness to try and win the ball back. And we're like second half now, 60 minutes, 70 minutes, 80 minutes. And he's still going and he's still that motivated to try and wrestle the game back into the momentum with us. And like you were saying as well, that I actually thought we were going to get a third. Yeah, I did. I thought, you know, I thought that we had the win behind us, you know, our back. And we were the ones that were looking for that third goal.

32:49The Fighting Cock:And with Xavi, just the way he was acting on the pitch and his defensive duties, it does give that team a lift. And same with Gallagher as well. There was a lot of times where he was getting blocks in or he was nicking the ball. Industry for the goal was just brilliant, wasn't it? Yeah, both of them. So it's good that you've got like leaders like that. You know, I mean, Romero wasn't there on the second half, but Pelinha, he was getting involved, keeping Haaland quiet, very kind of big, aggressive. Then in midfield, Gallagher, Xavi was, you know, having a go as well. Solanke up top, holding the ball up.

33:32The Fighting Cock:You know, it's really good in those kind of, the different parts of the pitch where you've got people that will stand up and be counted when the, you know, when the chips are down or where you're going to try and be the aggressor. it's good that you have those seasoned professionals there. I think we were discussing afterwards, Ben, about what Gallagher is and how good he could potentially be for Spurs. And we don't know yet, obviously. And you're sort of comparing the attributes of Papsar and Gallagher. And then I was just thinking about it. It's like physically, probably not a great deal of difference, right?

34:08And, you know, the efficacy and the performance. But there is a tenacity to Gallagher that has followed him around his career and a will and a drive and a level of leadership, which is hard to see tactically from on a pitch because these aren't tangible things, right? you can count his passes or distance covered, but his desire to influence the game is something that you can't, it's hard to see, but I think that's the difference between him and the other midfielders, really young midfielders. And I know he's not old, but it feels like he's been around and experienced. He's played in Spain now.

34:48He's captain Chelsea. He's gone out and loaned, had various Premier League loans and Championship loans. He's seen a lot of football and understands the game. Pochettino absolutely loved him in midfield. And I just think that when you look, before Gallagher was signed, and certainly before Paulinho was signed as well, it looked like a really young, twinkie midfield. Whereas now, it's like there's actually grown men that could help these kids develop a little bit more. We don't have to rely on Bereval and Gray and Sarr to influence the game, where I don't think they necessarily had the experience.

35:24I don't think anyone can take away the technical ability of Beraval and Gray. I think there's definitely great players in there, but it just didn't feel like there was enough steel in the midfield that I think Gallagher offers. And that was sort of made obvious with his assist for the second goal to win the ball between two midfielders, to then go down and cross into Solanke. Slightly behind him, but obviously, whatever. It was in space. and that was what that was what he demonstrated in that second half and I think his work will often go underrated but it still enables his teammates to play Yeah I do I really like Connor Gallagher I just I do the point I was making the WhatsApp yesterday I do think we're guilty a little bit of underrating Sarr because I think Sarr Gallagher is a better lead than him no questions because he's been around the block and had all that experience he spoke about I also think that Gallagher's got more despite the fact that We've seen Saar crash the box and pop up with a couple of goals here and there.

36:24I think Gallagher's got more quality in and around the final third. I think that was evident with Saar's performance against Frankfurt on Tuesday or Wednesday, where I think he helps us have a lot more control in the midfield. And I always think we just do look a better team when Saar's playing. I've always kind of thought that. But there was a lot of times where that fell to him at the edge of the box and the shot was a bit power to power four, just miles over. And it was like, I think Gallagher in those moments, we've seen that quality for Chelsea before. So I think that's definitely something he's got over Saar.

36:51I think he's definitely got a lot of attributes over him. I think it's close. I think my frustration just comes from the fact that I think Gallagher was a good sign in him and an astute sign. We've not seen the best of him yet because I think he's been deployed in a double pivot where he's not the sort of player that you want getting on the ball in deep areas. I don't think he looks to do it. I think his quality on the ball in those areas was exposed at points yesterday. I think there was moments actually in that first half where he's still a little bit off the pace in terms of trying to win the ball back.

37:20It all clipped together in the second half, though, to be fair to him. Also, he's not played... Yeah, exactly. He's been in and out of the side in Spain, and obviously Premier League is a different pace. So hopefully you will see more. Yeah, he isn't a deep-blind playmaker, but I think people are kind of obsessing over this. I know we need one, but we also need players like Gallagher as well. Yeah, but I also think signing one of those makes... I think the point around the frustration around the transfer policy is that like signing a player like that makes Gallagher 10 times better. Like if we've got someone that takes that responsibility away from him, Gallagher's a number 10.

37:57Like he's not a number 10 like Xavi Simmons, but I think he's at best as like a second striker where he can play off the number nine, can win those second balls back. He presses like a madman. And I do think like what kind of going back to Xavi for a sec, like having those two now and Solanke as if we play, if we're able to get to a world where you've got Gallagher and Xavi as the two most advanced midfielders with Solanke at the top of that kind of triangle. Those three chomping at the bit, leading the press, like getting there at defenders' ankles, making it difficult because our press has been so half-arsed at times.

38:30I think that will naturally really raise the level of the team just a little bit, having players that are able to do those basics better and show more energy from the front. But I think when we do sign a proper midfielder that can help screen the defence, offer something on the ball as well to help us progress, you're going to see Gallagher go to another level. I do think that. I just don't think we're going to see the best out of him right now. But Sunday was a really good step in the right direction because he was playing his actual position. Also, he's next to Basuma. It's like, please, please, Basuma, please.

38:57Because, you know, you've had a second chance. You've done all the balloons, all the stuff. You keep turning up late and somehow you're in the team again. Don't fuck it up this time. Everyone's starting to go, oh, maybe Basuma like new signing. And he fucking literally just almost kicked the ball in their own net. So there's a lot. to judge. But just on do you want to say something Rick? I want to go through some of Simmons' numbers. No, go through them mate. Alright, they're quite impressive from yesterday. In terms of his passes, you know in terms of Spurs have had such an issue with forward passes.

39:31He's hit the he's hit the he's got 86 accurate passes which is a pretty average. The passes into the opponent's half is 25 of 31 which is 81%. Long balls are 4 out of 4. Every long ball he tried was successful. And then you look at his dribbles and it's like ridiculous. He's fucking website. Come on. Sorry.

39:54He's got 86 touches and six dribbles, five were successful. And it just seemed like every time he picked the ball up, he went past someone. You know, as well as Odie Bear coming on, there's a lot of people who are comfortable on the ball, tell coming on as well. You know, that was every hand we could possibly play. Frank played it, but it was just good and encouraging in that second half to see the players grab the ball by the horns and not least Javi Simmonds. All the subs made a difference. All of them did, I think. Yeah, they did, to be fair. I guess then the question is well, why didn't we start like that?

40:29It is fair, right? You should, but you're not always guaranteed to be able to do that and we need to see more consistency. I think what was really interesting and encouraging of Frankfurt is we more or less did control it from start to finish. Yeah. Whereas in the Premier League, it's been sort of half performances here and there. Rick, before the game, we've talked about it.

40:51The Fighting Cock:Sorry, you know you said about, why don't we start like that? I think Odebeer was ill. That's why he was on the bench. Was he ill as well? Yeah, he was ill. Getting off of Romero, by the sounds of it. That's hot. Yeah.

41:08yeah I mean like you start you're not no team will dominate in the Premier League for its entirety and you have to look at the positives from yesterday whether you want Frank in or not his actual approval rating now has changed the last time we did it it was 3.1 okay it's now up to 6.8 oh

41:30The Fighting Cock:fuck me moving in the right direction boys come on Frankie boy what But yeah, before the game, sorry, not 6.8, 666. Before the game, how did you feel? Did you want Spurs to lose? Because I kind of did. I've got to be honest. I was like, I don't want ever to align with how Arsenal fans feel as well, right? And so by wanting Tottenham to win, you're aligning with what Arsenal fans wanted. And I can't sit with that. It doesn't feel comfortable. if they want this then I don't want it so I was I was like fucking I don't care like City beat us don't give a shit it's fine it helps stop Arsenal as soon as it started and we started playing well I changed completely I was like fuck it let's like especially when we started to grow into that second half I was I didn't even think about them really at all I worked it and I had in my ear talking about it but other than that i just didn't care i don't know how did you feel how did you feel um so to begin with yeah it was kind of like the position of us beating city from the last time to is now it isn't like if we had lost last season oh sorry if we'd won last season then it would have given the gooners the title and this time it's not like that it's not life and death it's just part of the journey so it's not as um what's the word i'm i'm thinking of it wasn't as much jeopardy yeah exactly thank you um but i still didn't want us to win to begin with and then i was like it was quite nice going into a game thinking whatever the result i'm going to be happy you know so it doesn't really matter but then i kind of as the day progressed i was like i want my little drawsy you know little fucking draws i saw the west ham result and god man it is so fucking depressing when you're like looking out for west dam's result yeah and then they lose and you're like more daylight more day well not more daylight but they're not getting not not gaining any ground on us and then when um forest that they got a draw so it's like so they've got an extra point on west ham so the gap's bigger psychologically they're going to be affected we're not going to be hopefully dragged in there and i thought if we do win or we get a draw it's going to put even more daylight i mean that that's the thing that's that's keeping me up at night fucking relegation just do not pull me in there like if we finish mid-table it's a transition season whatever i can write it down to anything that's fine but do not make me walk down to the relegation and thinking about that so then after that i was like okay maybe maybe if we do go out and win this it'll be all right or maybe if we get the draw it'd be fine because it's not really gonna be i know the goon is happy that we got the draw and city dropped points but they'll get points as well.

44:45The Fighting Cock:They're freaks. They're absolute freaks. If I was happy about it, I wouldn't tell anybody. I'd be embarrassed. If it was the other way around and I wanted Arsenal to win, not a single soul on earth would hear about it. I would just quietly do it. I can't imagine a world where that would either be. I just wouldn't. I can't even consider it. Looking at Arsenal, that disgusting shirt that they wear and those rank little fans and then thinking I want them to win because it benefits me. I don't know if that's small club mentality. I don't care. I just don't. I was just, like, it's embarrassing. Not enough has been made of how embarrassing it is for Arsenal fans cheering Spurs gold.

45:25They should. Also, we've literally got evidence of the shoe being on the other foot as well, by the way, of the situation a couple of years ago when we were in the Champions League final and they were in the Europa League final against Chelsea on the Thursday. It's tax season and at LifeLock, we know you're tired of numbers. But here's a big one you need to hear. Billions. That's the amount of money and refunds the IRS has flagged for possible identity fraud. Now here's another big number, 100 million. That's how many data points LifeLock monitors every second. If your identity is stolen, we'll fix it guaranteed.

45:57One last big number, save up to 40 % your first year. Visit LifeLock.com slash podcast for the threats you can't control. Terms apply. Spring is here, and there's a whole new way to chai at Starbucks that's made perfect for you. Choose your sweetness, dial it up, or keep things light. Add a touch of pistachio, a hint of strawberry, or vanilla. Or make it a spring classic with lavender. Because this season, there's endless ways to chai at Starbucks. Now at the Home Depot, receive 12 months special financing and free basic installation on carpet projects with LifeProof, LifeProof with PetProof technology, home decorators collection, and Traffic Master carpets.

46:39bring a new look to your floors or give them a durable surface that stands up to life's tough messes get 12 months special financing on installed carpet projects right now at the home depot offer valid march 12th through march 29th 2026 exclusions and additional charges may apply for licenses see homedepot.com slash license numbers the amount of like af tv fan cams and all that and even my goon mates were like yeah i take losing to chelsea that meant that you lose to liverpool you cannot win the champions league like before we do so it's like people do have short memories and they have been in a similar position before where they would have sacrificed winning a trophy if it meant that we didn't win the Champions League so they're just hypocrites and I did I did want to win yesterday like I was kind of going back and forth in my mind during the week and I think then West Ham losing obviously was a bit of a funny one because it was like well at least if we do lose my mindset was like well at least if we lose the gap stays the same but I still did want to win and i think that you look at also i think when the first half was as bad as it was going into that second half everyone then gets swept up in the momentum of all of it it's just like we can't keep playing like this and when you see your team actually play on the front foot play with a lot more aggression then everyone even if they probably did maybe quietly say they wanted to lose before the game you get swept up in it you get sucked into it but i'm like you ricky I was like, I'm petrified of us going down.

48:02So I was just like, look, Man City have still got to play Arsenal at the Etihad. And also, I've got a feeling we're going to take points off them in a few weeks.

48:12The Fighting Cock:Oh, we're going to beat Arsenal. We're going to beat Arsenal. So it doesn't mean that. My old man said that to me. He's like, if we win this, don't worry about it. Don't worry, son. We've got the gooners and we'll take points off them. I was fucking roaring with laughter. I was like, when was the last time we did that? About four years ago. I don't think we'll beat I'm not saying we'll beat them but I don't know it's like I think we'll beat them if we play like we did in that second half then they won't they don't like it up them it's like launching balls into Solanke just Solanke fucking fuck off into Gabriel and then anything's possible and we're going to beat Newcastle yeah and we're going to beat Man United yeah yeah that's four wins in Feb that everyone said and then we can finish in Europe mate I think we'll get fifth after that I just checked I literally you think I just said that for a laugh I just checked and we are 10 points behind Liverpool and 11 points behind Chelsea why not I mean why not well I mean there are probably really probably 58 really sensible reasons why not 7th conference league Europa League win it again take that yeah love the Europa League Ben whoa I mean I'll take either because the Conference League has got the same anthem does it really?

49:31yeah no I don't want to be in that shit but I would if we can somehow squeeze into Europa League and have another one of them wouldn't you Rick?

49:39The Fighting Cock:oh fucking it oh mate can you imagine four of those I really really hope Villa don't do it I think they might do it but I think yeah I'm exactly the same does that sort of cheapen ours a little bit yeah yeah it does but let's don't say it out loud Wills are falling off a little bit. Yeah, yeah. It does cheapen it but there was an era where English teams were winning European Cups in the 80s like back to back. Like Villa won it twice I think and Liverpool won it. I think Everton would have won it one year if they were allowed in. So maybe it isn't doesn't cheapen it. I just can't stand hearing the oh man the Villa fans.

50:22Did you hear a moaning yesterday about their disallowed goal? that clearly went off the pitch. I didn't, was it? It's on TikTok. No, sorry. Yeah, no, it was a disallowed goal there. Tammy Abraham's equaliser got ruled out. Yeah, that's right. And it's like, yeah, it was a long time before it actually happened, but it definitely, definitely went off. I know it's like a, obviously it's a bit of a conversation, but sending Marlon, Marlon, and bringing in Tammy Abraham to me, it feels like a backward step. I don't know.

50:51The Fighting Cock:And he was really good against us. And I think he was, he was coming into form as well. and then they sold him. I was like, what? Was he? He only signed a couple of years ago, didn't he? He was? He only signed a couple of years ago. Because wasn't he the one who went, I've come for Champions League football and then was left out of the squad? Yeah. It was last January they got him in. Yeah. So that seems a bit weird. You just got bummed him out. Bummed him out. Bummed him out? Yeah. Bummed him out. Bummed him out. Bummed him all the way out of the club. Bummed him out. then we're just bumming him in RB speaking of bum clearance that's Sarr when he just sat down the ball just kept hitting him on the back and he's just being pushed do you see that bit where he's just sitting down and they kicked it off Gallagher could never yeah Rodri's post-match as well oh my god the referees oh no fucking idiot mate fucking behave it was just it was like a 50-50 it could have gone one way or the other it went our way this time Just grow up.

51:52Especially because you had two really bad, well, I'd say really bad, potential yellow cars and you could have been off, son.

51:58The Fighting Cock:Yeah. A bit embarrassing. Yeah. And also, like, it's just this whole thing of City not taking any account. They're becoming like Arsenal. They really are. Like, I remember last season there was a game they played against Southampton where they drew 0-0 and Southampton had already been relegated, I think. And Ruben Diaz came out and started blaming Southampton for playing too negative even though it's kind of stuff. Your man's sitting. It's like the lack of accountability from that team, I think, is like, it's unbelievable. And bear in mind as well, they've got all of the cloud hanging over them.

52:33If they want to talk about the referees not wanting us to win, that's what he said yesterday. And we're still in a world in which they still haven't been charged for all of their potential alleged crimes. It's just like pot kettle black. I just, it's so, I hate that. And I know managers and players are always going to, They're never going to come out and start slagging off their teammates and going, we're not good enough. Please have a little bit of self-awareness. It's just so ridiculous. It's no wonder this is where Artessa learned it from, probably. That's why they're just a pair of scumbag football clubs at the top of the league.

53:05It's a shame. It's a shame for football. Houston Review says, how are we 14th with three genuine Puskas Award contenders? Van der Ven versus Copenhagen, Richarlison versus The Scum, and Solanke versus City. What was your favourite? it yeah it's weird because i think in terms of satisfaction i know we'd lost the game convincingly but richie's was sumptuous that dink yeah it was and the thing is as well and

53:33The Fighting Cock:like we were losing we're losing quite badly as well but even though when that went in i know i've been in that position and i know like my mates were that at the game and stuff like the Gooners, even though they were like caning us and that goal went in, I know it brought a tiny pang of fear to them. And they were like, fuck, they're back in the game. Get the ball. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's those moments where I'm just like, even though it didn't happen, right, that's fine. But knowing that they felt that fucking bit of edge. Oh, mate, I love that. What was the most difficult? Technically the most difficult.

54:15well not technically just the most difficult it's Van der Venz Solanke Solanke I think because Van der Venz I mean it's stupid to say that Van der Venz wasn't difficult but when you've got a player that can run like that

54:25The Fighting Cock:yeah I think it was more about his physical don't get me wrong it's an unbelievable finish from Van der Venz when he gets into that situation and I'm not taking anything away from the goal because I actually think it probably was my favourite but I think still the most difficult is probably Solanke I reckon yeah because also the funny thing about the Richarlison ones like it was just hilarious how it was him like a player with like very little guile or like technical quality yeah to do that so that was probably the funniest but I think Solanke's was the heart probably the hardest I think Stuart Drake says if a certain Mr.

54:59Levy was still in charge do you think Frank would still be in charge no no no I don't think yeah I think he would have but then again he didn't sack Ange last season did he so I don't know I don't know and Callum Bradker says have we reached a point with Frank is now unsackable for the rest of the season. I think it depends who you're asking. I think, like I discussed previously, I think Venkatesham and Langer have just, they've just said that you're not going to be sacked. The players have been told that Frank is not going anywhere and now just make this work. And like, I'm like, as I've said also before, is that I don't know, I can't take another fucking interim, Ryan Mason interim.

55:41Not that I don't like Ryan Mason. It just shows what a mess the football club is. And sometimes you have to go, no, you guys got to sort this out. You guys got to... The players, you know, there isn't going to be a new manager, right? So you've got to play for Frank. There's no dedication to the cause. And you've got to get us out of that. I think might be the best decision right now. I don't know who you'd get in, but then you look at fucking Man Utd and Carrick and they're fucking flying. They just changed their manager. So I'd like a bit of that as well. So I just don't think, you know, Ryan Mason coming in would be a better solution than what Frank can offer.

56:21Yeah.

56:21The Fighting Cock:It's probably like they're going to go down a point above the fucking relegations and the championship or something like that. They're banging trouble. The thing is with Mason, they were getting a little bit unlucky at points. Like it was, they would win on XG everywhere. You could not take the chances. But when it keeps happening, it's not bad luck, is it? There's something wrong there. and I think maybe he stayed in charge for a little bit too long. But I've been quite vocal in terms of saying that I want Frank to go. But I think I'm in the position of the guy that asked the question or made the statement in terms of the fact that I actually just, at this point, I actually just don't care.

56:56I'm willing him to try and turn it around. I don't really believe in him, even though we've made steps in the right direction in the last few weeks. And you can give him the credit for trying to try something different. And I think it's changed, probably still be made in the summer if we carry on the rate we're going. But I'm just, I'm a bit, I'm a bit checked out from it now. I just like, they're not going to sack him. So there's no point in, there's no point in moaning about it, I don't think. Yeah, which is kind of like, it's leadership to some degree. I mean, you might be leading us to disaster, but at least it's sort of conviction in your, because we kind of feels like we've lacked conviction as a football club.

57:31The leadership, lacked conviction in the leadership that there was this sort of passive nature. And eventually if it goes wrong, Dan will leave you a sack him and get someone else in. But there have been moments of true crisis at Spurs, genuine crisis in the last four years that, you know, Conte, end of Conte's reign, Paratigy being, you know, convicted of cheating and, or, you know, manipulating the books. You've got Ryan Mason and Stellini. We had two managers. We had three managers that season. It was just a mess. And then Daniel Levy suddenly running the footballing entity of the club as well.

58:09and you're like, stability isn't the end of the world. We're all a little bit dejected and a bit worried about what this season means and it could just be in the nothing season again. But I kind of like craving that stability. And if that is the decision that's been made, that Frank has the job, regardless, we have to just accept it, then I'm more comfortable with that than I am with just rolling the dice of Ryan Mason again or Johnny Heitinger giving him a go. yeah yeah I agree I do agree as much as I don't really believe in him I do agree with that both things can be true to you yeah yeah

58:46The Fighting Cock:is it Paratici's last day today yeah the fuck's he done anything has he he hasn't fucking done anything Dresden's got a little surprise for us up his sleeve well Fiorentina signed like four players are you fucking kidding me I'm not kidding you no do you reckon they've got him a cake at a hospital way like yeah yeah Torre yeah you know what you know when it's like a teenager's birthday and you have a cake that represents their hobby or whatever they've just got a big like airpod cake always on his phone yeah apparently he's moved back to he met a bird as well yeah i saw that yeah we're actually signing four players for fiorentina already is the mood he was moving like me when i'd handed him my noticing at my job and i was just making loads of tiktoks to be like right this is going to be my job now.

59:35I'm just like, I'm checked out. I'm not doing anything anymore. That two-month notice period, I'm just like, right, double down. I just need to check whether or not what I said is true. But yeah, what else have we got? What other questions? Apparently we want an attacker and a defender today, by the way. Can you, I mean, we're currently recording at 12.04. And so the window slams shut. Is it seven or five? Seven, I think. Seven o 'clock. So if we predict zero, one or two coming in, Rick, after three, on four, we'll all guess. Right. Well, say on four. Yeah, on four, you say it. So is it zero, is it one, or is it two players coming in?

1:00:27Okay. One, two, three, one. Zero. Oh, one. I don't think we're going to do anything. What are you thinking? You don't know who. You're just guessing.

1:00:38The Fighting Cock:Yeah, I don't know who. Maybe a little loan dog or something like that. Take a little loan dog. Just go and get a couple of loans. Make us feel good. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Any new players? Ricky, do you reckon it's more likely to be a centre-half or a forward? I would probably go with centre-half. Although I did think we've been linked with forwards a lot. but the more I'm kind of thinking about it is that if we are shifting to this back three for the rest of the season and injury to Porro, injury to Spence, Udogi's made of biscuits, Danso... Danso snaps his ligament in his toe. Oh, for fuck's sake.

1:01:23When we was at the game yesterday, someone said to me, apparently Gary Lineker spent the whole season out of his toe ligament. That's right. I remember it vividly, Ben, when I was a kid. We were like, we need him. We are rubbish. We need Gary Lineker. He's the best record. It's like his toe. It's still his fucking toe. How long can his toe... Do you remember it, Rick? Yeah, I do actually know you mentioned it. Who is it? Was it Paul who said that to you? I think it was Paul. Yeah. Yeah, I think it might be. Oh, my God. It was like he's been kept out for like nine months with his fucking toe. That's mental.

1:01:56Big toe or little toe? it was the big toe yeah yeah big dog fucking injections get out of here fucking you know what I mean I wonder if they look for someone who's like you know how Liverpool tried to sign Gertrude who was on loan at Sunderland but pulled out of it because Sunderland didn't want to let him go who can play like right back centre half I wonder whether they look at someone like maybe not him but someone like that maybe who can cover a couple of positions yeah apparently we were trying to get at Kliouche but they don't want to let him go without a replacement it's like well you've had fucking 31 days mate it's fucking ridiculous let's put him on January 1st number 1 first and then they can they've got a whole fucking month to find a replacement then haven't they it's unbelievable

1:02:41The Fighting Cock:even before that tap him up yeah fucking where have the tap dogs gone he was going he was always going to yeah but I mean that's I mean we got caught I mean Paratis got caught so he can't do that anymore it's really fucking useless actually do it better yeah Yeah, he's just going, he's just, he's going to sort of take this bird to, you know, Florence, just loads of shagging. You can't blame him though, can you? Like, thinking, he's in his mid-50s, he's getting the potential for loads and loads of sex. Yeah. Or, stay at the fucking hell mouth that is Tottenham. Like, I'll go back to Italy, want amazing food, mad sex with this new bird.

1:03:20Or, I can stay in fucking North London. Yeah, I've got a meeting with Johan Lang this morning.

1:03:29well you know I'm going to have sex if that's alright see you later Spurs are expected to loan out Mason Malia today and I hope the young Irish striker will start getting involved around first team training as he closes on recovering from a back problem he arrived with last month there you go I thought Alistair Gold said we weren't oh no sorry sorry I'm reading Alistair Gold's tweet he said he's not currently expected correct sorry Alex if you listen to this I nearly can prove you've got to be really careful with that really like read things properly because his reputation just to see what you said they're expected to load him out because they want him close to first team training in the next few weeks I was like what?

1:04:13yeah that doesn't make any sense we did a podcast on the lab about Mason Media and it's just a massive jump isn't it from fucking Irish football to the Premier League it's a massive jump from Championship in the Premier League. We'll see. But then, with that back three, you've got, next season, you've got Van der Ven, Vuzkovic, you've got Romero. Did you see Vuzkovic against Bayern Munich, by the way? Like, man of the match. Scored a header. Shitloads of tackles. He's never playing a minute for us, is he? Nah. No, what do you buy Munich in a Bayern? Probably. Just say no. Just say no. No.

1:04:52The Fighting Cock:He's our player. Just say no. he's got like three years four years in his contract but then he'll go well no let's buy Munich I'd like to go and you're like you're fucking coming here we bought you when you were 16 you prick yeah I don't think he will it just wouldn't be surprised it wouldn't surprise me no I know what you're saying he wants to stay at Hamburg next season because his brother has been banned for four years yeah fuck that yeah he goes I want to play with my brother we don't care mate yeah we are shit we need you can we just sign his brother as a workman yeah come on is he in English No, he is.

1:05:25When he was, he was the part of the reason why they stayed up. No, they actually, I think the true story I read up on this the other day is that he was their best defender by a country mile. And then he got this dodgy ban, which they're still contesting. And then they, from that point onwards, they went down. They got relegated, something along those lines. But yeah, no, he's class as well. he got a four year ban he's only 24 yeah he got a four year ban for it as well that's a piss take yeah anyway so he wants to play with his brother the Vuscoviches maybe if he's class we'll take him as well yeah why not alright alright boys this has been the Fighting Court podcast we'll be back on Thursday with more gold we haven't got a game this week have we it's quite nice quite relaxed yeah yeah

1:06:21The Fighting Cock:Yeah, nice. I hope to get some of those injuries back. Let them have a little rest dog. Anyone, any idea? Apparently Spence is like three weeks. Porro, probably the same. Three weeks? Fucking three weeks. Spence is three weeks? Cough, innit? Little cough. Oh, God, I didn't know that. Yeah. God, fuck's sake. I don't want that. I don't want that, Ben. No, I don't either. I don't. You said that with a little bit. We've got 11 injuries. 11 first team injuries out I know I reckon Madison's going to be back before Kulosevsky as well yeah yeah 100 % 100 % I genuinely think Kulosevsky might not play again yeah I think he's done you think he's done sell him sell him to who no one's going to we buy any car him we buy Monaco yeah Monaco we get out for you shall we yeah that's yeah I think that's what that's that's what's going on in my head at the moment.

1:07:21Did you see that clip of him saying Arsenal aren't going to win the league? Yes. I like that. Yeah. He's still Spurs. Proper Spurs. Kevin Dansoe, he's no return date, not available, ruled out. It's just what he says next to his name. Brilliant. Even Madison has a return date. What's that saying? He said June. June 1st.

1:07:40The Fighting Cock:Oh, God. That's a lie. He's been running about. Yeah, Madison's on grass. I've seen him, boy. I've seen him on grass. I've seen him on grass too, Rick. and I think he says it's still a long way to go but I'm thinking if you're on grass and you're running why can't just play yeah yeah yeah 10 minutes off the bench yeah but apparently it's you know some risk of re-injury or some nonsense fuck that bollock yeah Ben's a core out till May so that's the season for him oh no kudos April Ben David's saying April he broke his ankle and he's coming back quicker than fucking... Nah, it can't be right. But I don't know though, because when Isaac broke his leg against us, they reckoned it was going to be like three months.

1:08:27So it's a hairline fracture, something like that. Yeah. So it might not be as bad. Ereval, April. Charleston. End of Feb. Pedro End of Feb. Pedro Porrasalceda is his name. Didn't know that. Yeah, no, no.

1:08:43The Fighting Cock:God, April's going to be a great month for us. He will be fucking relegated by then it'll be too late who have we got who have we got in April oh mate March to April we're going to win every game in every we I think we're going to go on a 12 game winning streak I really do I just feel like it's going to be like Royal Rumble they'll be calling from the injuries just running down the tunnel here comes Pedro Porra he's not really done yay and James Madison yay this is injury music oh just running in there's foot pumping Vanderveen Vanderveen it says 16th of April here what? joking joking I'm sorry you little I know I'm sorry right that has been the Fighting Cock podcast thank you gentlemen and like I say we'll be back on Thursday if you want more of this shit then become a patron patreon.com all the best bye

1:09:46It's a flame It's a flame Cock! A Chad! It's a flame It's a flame Cock! It's a flame It's a flame Cock! A Chad! The West Ham

1:10:17Monster Energy. Everybody knows White Monster Zero Ultra. That's the OG. It kicked off this whole zero sugar energy drink thing. But Ultra is a whole lineup now. You've got Strawberry Dreams, Blue Hawaiian, Sunrise, and Vice Guava. And they all bring the Monster Energy punch. So if you've been living in the white can, branch out. Ultra's got a flavor for every vibe. And every single one is zero sugar. Tap the banner to learn more. shot clocks big shots upsets aces tgl playoffs are here first atlanta drive starts their repeat run against los angeles golf club then rory's boston common golf and tigers jupiter links face off in their playoff debuts who will advance keep up its playoffs tune in tuesday march 17th at 6 30 p.m and 9 p.m only on espn and the espn app