Mikel is BACK: Inside Alonso’s Chelsea revolution, Arsenal’s Vini Jnr reality check

26:21Then we hear that Chelsea had a bit of£64 million rejected for Alex Scott at Bournemouth. Where do you see Enzo Fernandes fitting into this Xabi Alonso revolution this season, Joe? Listen, I've always said Enzo Fernandes has had a few seasons where he's played really well for this club. And a few times when I watch him, I can see that he really wants this club to do well. He's playing his hat out, he's running, he's fighting, for the team. He's fighting for the club. And there's a few times as well when I watch him and I think, okay, this is a guy that wants to go. You know, he's ready to move on.

26:55It looks like he wants to go. But one thing I've always said, no player is bigger than a football club. Never. A player is bigger than a football club. If Barcelona can let Lionel Messi leave. Then any club can let anyone leave. Then any club can let any fucker go. Yeah. Honestly. So, if Enzo Fernandes wants to leave, if he wants to go to Madrid and join Cucurella like Cucurella did fine let him go get some money recoup some money you know and bring in somebody that wants to play for the football club Alex Scott like you said I think he's a brilliant player you know for Bournemouth but I think he's going to want to stay there for another season I think he doesn't want to rush his move maybe I think he wants to stay there for another couple of maybe another season and try to see you know sometimes young players they do rush.

27:48Yeah. You know, they move and then they move to a bigger club and it doesn't work out for them. Sometimes it's just because you've rushed it a bit too early. And I probably will say stay for another season at Bournemouth because 22. To grow like that. The renewed ex-season. And then when he finally moves next season, then you know, okay, there's a few more experience that I have, a few more games under my, you know, under my belt. I'm ready. I'm grown now. I'm ready to move. And I know exactly how to play when I go to this big team. So for me, I think he should stay at Bournemouth for another season.

28:21But again, coming back to Enzo Fernandes, he's had, like I said, a couple of seasons where he's played really well for us. Plays really well for Argentina every time he plays with a national team. There's just something with these Argentines when they play for the national team. But listen, he's a brilliant player. I want him to stay at Chelsea and work under Xabi Alonso. But again, you don't want to force a player if he doesn't want to be at a football club. It looks like he wants to play for Real Madrid, but it looks like Real Madrid doesn't want him at the football club. They want Rodri. They want Rodri.

28:54Who wouldn't want Rodri right now? So I think if he wants to stay, we keep him. If we don't get any money from him, we keep him because I think he's going to be good for us. Because now, with the experience that he's had now for a couple of World Cups under his belt, and so many seasons now, many seasons now for three or four seasons right now, he's played. He joined after that World Cup. So yeah, this will be his fourth two and a half. He's gained a lot of experience right now at the football club. He knows what the football club right now is all about. He's going to become one of the senior players at that football club, one of the captains, one of the leaders.

29:29So we need his experience. We need the leadership from him. It all depends if he wants to stay or if the club thinks right now is the time to move him on and get money from him. Because I don't think for us to let Enzo Fernandes go, we're talking about 80 to 100 million. Oh, easy. Easy. because if you get in the likes of Morgan Rogers and Elliot Anderson for a hundred and something million, we might as well demand 80, 90, 100 million from him. Easy. Easy. So that's a huge amount of money. So I hope he stays and try to play for us one more season because I think he's experienced something that we definitely need.

30:07And you've often talked about it on this podcast, John, the spine. Goalkeeper aside, we'll leave that to one side. But LaCroix Ryan Colwell, Caicedo Fernandes, Palmer and Rodgers, João Pedro. And you know, it's funny, I know João Pedro's got a hat-trick against Sydney. Forget that. As you would say, pre-season means very little. It's about building fitness. I'm expecting big things from João Pedro this season. And I'm not a Chelsea fan. If I was, I'd be really excited. I think there is something, you know me, I'm a huge Javi Alonso fan. I think something special is brewing, John. and no European football.

30:45I actually think you boys will put up a challenge this season. Yes, we will. You've just mentioned all these players. But again, if you ask any Chelsea player right now, what are the positions that we need to strengthen now? We have a few weeks left for the transfer windows. It's a goalkeeper situation. Yes, left back. Left back. Or left wing, wing back. And a number nine. You still? Jao Pedro is not a number nine. He's not out and out number nine. He is not. He's a, he's a, what do you call it? Half nine, half ten. Hybrid. Exactly. He's a false nine. Yeah. He is not a number, absolutely out and out number nine.

31:30He's not. Are you about to start the campaign again here, Jao? Don't do it. What I'm saying is, I don't know the situation with Nicholas Jackson if he's staying. Villa, apparently. I don't know the situation with De La P. Delap as everybody knows he's not sorry but he's not a Chelsea player he'll be gone there's nothing wrong Danny Welbeck Danny Welbeck is okay again not an out and out number nine again you need you need you need you need an out and out number nine like a striker striker we've always had that Chelsea we've always had that Chelsea Drogba Torres Diego Costa Diego Costa we've always had like a number number nine actual number nine that doesn't give a shit about trying to play, trying to, no, he is there to score goals.

32:18Like a Haaland. So who would you, don't say it, who would you say? I have absolutely no idea, but we need a player like that. So you would want a goalkeeper? You want a left back? Left back and an out-and-out number nine, like a proper, proper number nine. Jao, Jao Pedro is an absolutely superb player. He's done really, really well. He's joining the football club. Absolutely superb. I have nothing bad to say about Joe Pedro. And I think he's just about to sign another contract. They're talking about improving his contract, which he absolutely deserves. But I look at him, he's not a number, number nine.

32:55You know what I mean? Again, like the players that I've mentioned, we've always had that, Chelsea. And for you to win trophies, to win trophies, you need somebody that can be all the time in the absolutely box. that when that cross comes in, when that tap-ins comes in, he's right there. Yeah. He's there to tap those balls in. When the cross come in, he's there. We need that. We don't have that right now at the club. And I hope Danny Walbach is coming.

33:31Again, like I said, he's not, he's not, you've just said he's not going to start games, right? I wouldn't imagine he'll start many games. No, exactly. He wouldn't. So we need an out-and-out number nine. And I just hope that the club does that because... I've got bad news for you, John. I don't think it's going to happen. I don't think it's going to happen because Welbeck is coming, but I don't think it's going to happen. You know, Rodgers, Palmer, Estevec. I know you're going to say they're not strikers, but attacking positions, Estevec, Palmer, Rodgers, Welbeck, João Pedro, you've still got De Lapp.

34:02You've still got Nicholas Jackson. But I think De Lapp needs to go, though. Gittins Pedro Neto I think De La Pneits needs to go you're not in Europe no no yeah I think De La Pneits yeah I think I think for his sake right and for the club I think it's good for him I agree it's good for him to leave the football club to go and somewhere sometimes when you join a big club it doesn't work out it doesn't mean that you're a bad player it doesn't mean you're a bad player it just means that you didn't fit right with the system of the club the system of the football club the way they want to play or the players that you have around you just didn't work out.

34:39Agree with that. There's nothing wrong with that. It doesn't mean you're a bad player. So I hope for the young man's sake, that he leaves the football club, goes somewhere where he can get minutes, where he can start playing again. Because the last thing he wants to do is have same season like he had last season. Not playing, sitting on the bench every time, week in, week out. You want to play as a football player. So I hope he leaves. I don't know the situation with Nicholas Jackson. If he's staying, if he's leaving, he'll leave. I don't know, but we need, we absolutely need, absolutely need a number nine.

35:18Goalkeeper or number nine. What do you need more of? Both. We have to get both. We have to strengthen both positions. We have to make sure we get another goalkeeper for sure. Another goalkeeper for sure. And then make sure we strengthen the number nine position. Yes, Danny Walbach is there for the experience. He's not going to start games. Jao Pedro is not an out-and-out number nine. Super player, Jao Pedro. But to win titles, you need an out-and-out number nine, just like an island. A striker that doesn't care whether he touches the ball or not. All he cares about, give him two chances, he scores one.

35:55That's what we need. If we want to start competing again for the Premier League and Champions League. Watch this piece. I think you're in for a bit of a mood a week. I know you don't think we're going to get it. I think you're going to get a goalkeeper. I think you're going to get a left back slash left wing back. Depending on Enzo's future, you might bring in another midfielder. But I see Chelsea coming towards the end of their business. Not at the start, John. You've added four. Jordan's going to be five. Yeah. And then, yeah, as I say, maybe a goalkeeper, maybe a left wing back, and then done.

36:26And then it's about shipping players out. Because you're not in Europe and you've still got a huge squad. Yeah, yeah, we've got a huge squad. we need to get players out of the door as well and I'm sure the club are working on that yeah they will be yeah the last thing you want is the manager sitting with all those players and not knowing who's you know what his team is and having players who sit in there calling them the bomb squad and all that so we don't want that because that's also a distraction as well for the players for the manager knowing that there's players in the building that are not happy that are just walking around sulking and having a negative attitude in the place you don't want that as a manager you don't need that as a manager so I'm hoping that the club are trying to get these players out of the door get them somewhere a good club where they can go and continue their career continue playing football because they are still some of them will still be Chelsea players they're going to go out on loan and they're still Chelsea players if when you need them they have to come back so they will still be our players but you need to trim the squad you need the managers to know the players that he's working with okay this is the team that I'm working with this is the squad that I'm working with you need to do that now we need to sort that part out right now.

37:30Because this season, it's a huge season for us. Massive, massive season for us. What success? What success for Chelsea this season? What is success? For us, success, I think right now, no pressure on, a huge pressure on Xabi Alonso. So ask anybody that comes in to work at Chelsea. It's a huge, huge pressure. But for me, success right now is getting back into Europe. Getting back in, not - Top four. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Top four. Yeah, not Europa League. I think top four, I think for me, it will be success. I don't think we're going to go on to win the Premier League, but I think top four right now will be the absolute success.

38:07And a cup win, a League Cup or an FA Cup? Well, if you ask me right now, should I take finishing in top four or win an FA Cup? I'd take top four. Top four. You've got to be back there. All day, I'd take top four. So for me, we want to be in Europe, and not just Europe, we want to be in the Champions League. You cannot, as a football club, as a huge football club, Once you start to slide out of that situation of knowing that season after season, you're competing in the Champions League. Mentally, it's not good for the players. Mentally, for the club as well, it's not a good look. You think in one season, two seasons.

38:42No. Slowly, surely you're starting to get yourself out of the conversation. And consistency. And consistency as well, you start to drive your way out of it. We don't want to be that club. yes one season we're not there but we need to get straight back into it you're right we have to get straight back into the champions league positions because that's where we belong that's who we are that is the culture of the football club that's where we belong playing champions league football season after season because that is the least that our fans demand yeah that is the least that we demand as fans of that football club players ex-plays legends of football club that that have suffered for the football club because we want to see our team our club playing the champions league and these players have the responsibility of getting us back into that situation because last season we didn't do it we had a terrible season so many situations so many little situations that happen during games that we need to fix when it's not going well on the pitch we see players throwing their hand friendly i'm trying to blame each other We need to cut all that out.

39:50And I think he will. We need to unite. Yeah. The team, the players, the squad. Everybody needs to buy into what the manager has to do, what the manager wants to do. At the end of the day, Xabi Alonso is the captain of the fucking ship. You have to buy into what he wants to do. And that's what I'm saying. If Enzo Fernandes feels like he doesn't want to be there, that is the last thing you want. A player that's not happy and he's a key player, a vital player. If he's not happy, let him go. Let him go. You need players that want to be in the football club. It's all not. Because that's the only thing that's going to help us this season.

40:31Yeah, players that want to play for the club. Players that want to be in the football club. Unite the team. Unite the squad. Let everybody know this is the way I want the team to play. And we have to get back into contention. We have to get back into competing to win in the Premier League, competing for the Champions League because that's who we are. That's where we belong. And make no mistake about that. Xabi Alonso knows what he's walking into. This is not a fucking project. No. This is now. It's not a project. It is now. Do we give him time? Yes. Do we back him? Yes. Am I saying sack him after six months?

41:05No. Am I saying get rid of him if we're in a relegation battle? Yes, of course, get rid. Of course. cheaper don't don't say that john but what i can see with the squad that he's building yeah with the manager that i know what he's achieved at bayern leverkusen the way i see his team play the way he demands what he demands from his squad i don't see him struggling that much if any i think he's growing as a team and that's why i said we have to back the manager we have to support the manager we have to support the squad the team because that's the only way we can succeed And I know Xabi Alonso is that guy, will be that guy that can get us back to who we are.

41:48Because again, he's played in the Premier League with Liverpool. He's won title with Liverpool and he knows what this Premier League, what this league demands. As a player, he hasn't managed in the Premier League, but as a player, when you've played in this league, you know exactly what it demands. Right. Who's the team to beat? Arsenal are the champions United are retooled Carrick's in now permanently Spurs are spending money 250 million they'll spend more we know Liverpool and Donnie Riola's in they're going to spend before the window no doubt about that Angel Maresca quietly has moved into power at Manchester City Eli Anderson not well it's Nick Lee did it yeah well Chelsea made money from that they haven't even touched on that but who then for you is the team to be in the 26-27 season Wow.

42:38Team to beat. Team to beat. Team to beat. There's so many teams. And the good thing that you can say about this season is wide, absolutely wide open. Absolutely fucking wide open. Apart from Arsenal. You think Arsenal? Apart from Arsenal, you can say, okay, this is the team right now. Settled. They've had the same, exactly. Settled. Yeah. A manager that's been there for so many years has built a team, a squad. And they're champions. That has gone on to win the Premier League. It doesn't matter how they won it. They finally crossed the line. And that's what a lot of the Arsenal fans were saying.

43:12It doesn't matter how we win it. Let's just cross the line. And then we can talk about next season of how we want to play. I want to see now how they play. How they approach this season. How they defend their title. Because, okay. It doesn't matter how you played last season. Played ugly or whatever you wish. Which way you wanted to win it. You wanted to cross the line. And you've done that. It wasn't pretty to watch. No. But they've done it. They've gone out. They've won it. Now I want to see how does Mikel Ateta and this Arsenal squad, how do they play this season? Because they have to defend that title.

43:47And if you look at out of all the top five, top six team squad, they are the most settled squad. Without a shadow. They still have the best squad in the Premier League. And he's still strengthening the squad. He's still bringing in plays. Plays that he wants. so they are the one if you have to say the ones to beat but again it comes down to how do how does this Arsenal team play this season how do are they going to play pretty football are we going to see the same shenanigans that we saw last season set pieces corner kicks throw-ins and all that I was sitting during the Champions League final watching the game in Budapest you know FIFA the UEFA they invite you know the the legends and everybody who's won I was in the box with all the guys we were watching the game

44:40honestly I couldn't believe the rest of the guys couldn't believe what they were watching the rest of the legends couldn't I was looking at all of them I was looking at their faces the time wasting the liner on the floor the corner kicks 20 seconds one minute to take a corner kick the whole thing was going on everybody was just restless and fucking agitated like I could see their faces they were like Like, what is going on here? What are we watching? This is not a Champions League final. This is not a Champions League. The game is not played the right way. And then straight away in the second half, what happened?

45:16The referee came out. What did he do? Just before the halftime, the referee climbed down on Bukaya Seco going to take the corner kick, right? That's right. Blew the corner kick straight away because he took way too much time. And then the second half, the referee came out and stopped all the fucking shenanigans that was going on. straight away give a look out to what's his name the right back oh yeah Muscara Muscara the referee straight away because you ever went into the dressing room and said listen you have to take control of this this is getting out of hand we can't believe what we're watching we need to speed up the game the game needs this is a Champions League final we need to speed up the game we need to watch a game here yeah and that's why the referee came out straight away in that Champions League semi-final and clamped down on everything that was happening speed the game up make it more of a spectacle exactly and that's why leading up to the World Cup we saw the changes that we saw yeah so on that basis we saw the changes that we saw because FIFA wanted to get rid wants to get rid of this all these things happening you know goalkeepers lying down for no reason you know players taking away too much what is all that giving the goalkeeper room during the four corner kicks FIFA climbed down on all that they did I'm waiting to see is the Premier League what the Premier League going to do about that I think they will are they going to climb down on it I think they will we have to wait and see I think they will so for me again coming back to your question who is the team to beat I think Arsenal Bruno Guimanez we're expecting him to join you know where I'm going with the next one if they get Vinny Jr he's not coming forget about that he's just using Arsenal to get a better deal are you sure about that?

46:52he's not leaving are you sure about that? I'm sure about that 100 % 100 % he's not leaving he just wants to use Arsenal to get a better deal Breaking news Vinny Jr. joins But he's not leaving Remedry why will he listen Arsenal it's a big team You're going to end up with an egg in your face Go on then John tell us why Vinny Jr. is not I'm not saying listen Arsenal is a big team Arsenal is a big team If I sit there and say Arsenal then that means I'm lying I'm not lying Arsenal is a big team yes but Remedry is just a total a giant You know, yeah. Different ballgame. Yeah. And I think this conversation about contract has been going on for such a long time.

47:37He wants a better deal. He wants a new contract with a better deal. And Real Madrid are not willing to budge. Okay. Obviously, Fontino Perez is not willing to budge. No. And he's not willing to budge as well. So, it's coming down to where he's going to have one year left. You don't want a player like Villeginio one year left because then he's going to walk away next season, next summer, for free. You don't want that. So, Real Madrid are trying to, he's trying to get a better deal. Real Madrid are trying to get a better deal. So, I think he's going to end up staying at Real Madrid. Bruno Guimaraes is going to be a good signing for Arsenal.

48:10He's going to be a good, good signing for Arsenal. I think him and Declan Rice in that midfield is going to be... An Odegaard. An Odegaard. That is going to be good. That is going to be good. You can see that Mikel Atleta, he knows he has to play some attractive football this season. You can't play the same way you played last season. He knows. He has to entertain the Arsenal fans because sometimes last season, what the fans were watching, it's not what they wanted to watch. It's not what they paid for. But they just wanted to cross the line. But this season, he has to change the system. He has to play some attractive football because knowing Arsenal, from the years of Azen Wenger, this is a team that plays good football and win good.

48:48Win playing good football. He has to get back to that. He has to do that. So what I'm saying is, when you look at all the teams, Chelsea, new manager. Liverpool, new manager. Manchester City, new manager. Spurs, new kind of manager. United, new manager-ish. So if you're looking at all these teams, and a manager that's been there as well, that has built a team, a squad, that's been backed, has spent over a billion, it's Arsenal. So you're telling me Arsenal are winning the league this year, John?

49:27it's a tough one it's a tough one can they defend it despite everything that I've just mentioned with all the teams right now with the uncertainty of all the teams with all the questions and answers that we have with all the teams right now we don't know what we expect from Chelsea right we don't know what we expect from Liverpool right we know what And Danny Arviola has done for Bournemouth. But is it transferable to Liverpool? Exactly. Question mark. This is a totally different kettle of fish when you go into a big team. 100%. As a manager. There's more pressure. They expect you to start winning every game right now.

50:05Exactly. And United have got Champions League football. They've not got the strength of the squad. Exactly. Enzo Maresco is replacing Pep. I mean, jeepers. Exactly. Enzo Maresco is replacing Pep, who's been there for 10 years. The greatest manager of all time. I mean, walking into that shoes, Enzo Moreska, he must be thinking, this is a brilliant job, but what am I walking myself into? But the good thing with him is that he's been there. He knows the football club. It's going to be an easy kind of settling for him. So he knows the football club. He knows the people. Exactly. So that will probably help him in terms of how he settles in and how he gets the team to play because he knows as well how the team plays.

50:48So in that aspect, I think Enzo Mareska, probably, yes. Looking at City, they might be, it depends on how hungry they are as well. And a lot of these players, they came to Manchester City to play for Pep Guardiola. They are. Because every player in the last five seasons, if you pick up the phone now and say to any player, what Manchester do you want to play for? Pep Guardiola. How does that affect the players? He's built up such an emotional connection with all those players. Haaland, Phil Forden. Rodri. Diaz. Vardio Diaz. All these places built an emotional connection with them. Is Enzo Mariske going to, is he the emotional kind of guy that's going to connect straight away with those plays?

51:32We saw what he did at Chelsea. He was successful at Chelsea. I liked him. But the one thing he failed to do as a Chelsea manager was to build that connection between him and the fans. Yes. He never did that. Agreed. He never did that. No. how does he do that now Manchester City that's the question yes he's been there he knows the football club the players know him but Pep but Pep is just absolutely level so that is huge for Enzo Maresca and for Chelsea we don't know yes Tepi Alonso he was successful with Bayern Leverkusen but then he went to Real Madrid wasn't successful enough yes there was egos there was issues in the dressing room he couldn't manage he couldn't deal with it is there going to be egos right now at Chelsea.

52:15Yes, we saw Enzo Fernandes. Yes, probably. Cole Palmer wants to play. If he doesn't play, he's going to be angry. You know, Morgan Rodgers is coming to the football club. He wants to play. So there is ego at the football club as well. But he needs to find a way of dealing with that. So there's a lot of question marks on these clubs. Which is why Arsenal, which is why Arsenal, for me, are the favorites. Are the favorites. And they have to capitalize on that. All these things that we've just mentioned now, but the positivity of it, of them being the only team in that top five, top six, that has been together for such a long time.

52:51So I think that's going to be a massive, massive advantage for them. I don't disagree with that. In terms of then, the player that it's exciting you the most, who's the player that John Obi-Miquel is going to be watching, obviously? Ooh.

53:07You know what, actually... Morgan Rodgers. Morgan Rodgers. because he's been at Villa for such a long time, right?

53:19And leaving Villa and joining Chelsea is huge. It's massive. It's huge. And this is a football club that demands winning, that demands success, that demands winning trophies. And playing well week in, week out. And playing well week in, week out. The fans are very impatient. Our fans are very impatient. They want straight away. Of course. I know that, mate. Don't worry about that. They'll tell you straight away, mate, when you're not doing it. They will tell you, they'll let you know straight away when you're not doing it. But I like Morgan Rogers. I think he's a fantastic player. I like the way he drives the ball forward, the way he carries the ball.

54:03If there's one player in the Premier League that is best at doing that, driving the ball forward, running with the ball at the speed that he does, with such control. It's Morgan Rodgers. Yeah. He can do that better than anyone in the Premier League. The next person probably you say, Declan Rice, driving the ball forward. So for me, Morgan Rodgers is the guy that I want to see how he settles into this Chelsea squad. I want to see his combination, his partnership with Cole Palmer. Because if Cole Palmer ends up staying at the football club, which is the rumours. No, he's staying. He's staying. Stop that.

54:40United have no go to cash. I'm a huge fan of Cole. I hope he stays. He stays. And I think he will stay. I want to see the partnership between both of them because they have to play together. They have to play together. Now, how does the manager get both of them to play together? Who gets the ball more? Who is the guy that runs the show? Cole Palmer has been the guy running the show for a while now. And Morgan Rogers will demand the ball. He wants to have the ball because we've seen what he does at Villa. when he has the ball he can create chances he can score goals some absolutely brilliant goals he scored last season really really good goals he's class he's class he's a joy to watch sometimes when I watch him he's an absolutely joy to watch so I hope he brings all that whatever he did at Villa the confidence that he had when he was playing at Villa the directness the directness that he has getting that ball half turn driving forward getting the team up the pitch that's what we need from him creating chances scoring goals Yes, he doesn't defend enough.

55:40But when he has that ball, I want to see him creating chances. We can week out. Every time he steps on the pitch, he has to do that. And when you have two players that can create chances to you and score goals, him and Cole Palmer, Cole Palmer as well, coming off the back of last season, which he had a poor season for his standard. Everyone else is standard. He knows that. We all know that. But he's allowed to have one bad season. He's a fantastic player. He's got a point to prove now. He's got a point to prove now. He has to bounce back. Injury free right now, he has to start the season well.

56:14Again, he has to come back to the Cole Palmer that we know. A lot of questions, people were questioning last season. Oh yeah, what's happening with Cole Palmer? He has to bounce back right now because he has a point to prove again. He has to show the Chelsea fans that I am Cole Palmer. I am the main man here because yes, you brought in Morgan Rodgers, but don't forget who I am. I am Cole Palmer. So it will be interesting to see how both of them perform. and Xabi Alonso has got a tax of trying to see how he fits both of them in that quarter. And let's not sleep on Estevão either. Estevão as well, yeah.

56:44He's the other one. Again, he's coming back from injury as well. I want to ask about another very quick Cheggs, Chelsea player better known for his Liverpool time at Liverpool. Mo Salah being linked with your former club, John. Oh, I don't see that happening. Traps on Spor. Traps on Spor. Hey, listen, Traps on Spor is a proper club. Proper club. proper proper club um it's a it's a club that is for the for the people for the fans you know you have people working nine to five jobs people bricklay's people uh that is strubson working class working class football club is the people's club streaks move though for him but i don't see him i i don't see him i don't really see more what are you hearing no no no no i just i I just think, you know, the rumours have always been there that Mo Salah wants to go to Saudi Arabia.

57:42I mean, why not go to Saudi Arabia and get all those cash? I'm not quite sure Saudi are spending what they once did. You think they're not? You think that's what he's waiting for? But, I mean, if there's one place that you think Mo Salah is going to go? Saudi. Saudi Arabia. I think we said Italy as well, or at least I was like… Yeah, there's a few rumours about Italy, but I don't see him going to Italy. Because money? Yeah, because I think no one is going to be able to pay Mo Salah in Italy. It depends on what he wants. If he still wants just to play, play the Champions League and, you know, take a massive, you know, pay cut from his salary.

58:13I think he wants weighed in, John. Then he has to go to Saudi. I think Saudi is the only... I'm sure, come on, I'm sure there's one or two teams in Saudi that's probably calling his phone right now and saying, oh, Skylar, come here. We can still pay you, I don't know, 20, 40, 50, 60 million a year. There is teams that he's going to do that. We're in August and he's not going to come. Nah, he's going to get a move. He's going to get a move to Saudi. I'm pretty sure about that. So Trapsonsport fans don't get too excited. Is that the message? No, don't. Don't. Definitely don't. So Arsenal fans don't get excited with Vinny.

58:44Trapsonsport fans don't get excited with him. I don't think Vinny's coming to Arsenal. I don't think Vinny's coming to Arsenal. That is... Okay. I probably said that is certain. That's for sure. Breaking news again, John. Fee has been agreed. If he does, that is one hell of a fucking deal. If he does, it's probably going to be the signing of the Premier League so far. Without question. Without a question of that. It will be the biggest transfer of all time. You're saying it's not happening. But I just think it's not happening. I think Vini is going to stay at Real Madrid. Yeah. I think so. Yes, there's this little thing that happened between him and Jose Mourinho when Jose was at Benfica and stuff like that.

59:28Of course. Yeah. But I just think as professionals, you find a way of working together. I think both of them are professionals knowing Jose Mourinho that I know you have a fallout with him he tells you exactly what he wants if you do what he wants you move on you move on you guys are best pals so I'm sure that Vini wants to stay at Madrid and Madrid wants him to stay so I think he'll end up staying there and I don't think Arsenal are going to get him but if it does happen that's going to be huge huge huge for Arsenal Real Madrid get Rodri before the window as well could be huge Denzel Dumfries in Ibrahim O 'Connati in Mark Kukaria in Bernardo Silva in Yandy O'Mandy potentially and then Rodri to finish it off what a summer that would be what a summer that would be for Real Madrid but this is a club that always pulls the big guns isn't it the team that always pulls the best players and if you're looking at one team on this planet that's going to pull the biggest transfer of all time it is Real Madrid.

1:00:34Yeah. Now, Rodri is what? 32, 31, 32? His next birthday, 31. And he's had a massive, massive injury with cinema bounce back from it and played absolutely so well. Jose would love him. He would love Jose. But then he's just had a minor surgery, a back surgery. Yeah. So, but he's still Rodri. He's still Rodri. I mean, Jose will love him. Listen, when you watch a player right when you watch a player as players we can see we can see we know and i've been singing praises of this guy oh no you keep saying if rodry's in manchester city they will win that absolutely win the title i know what i'm saying and the season he's just been injured the past couple of seasons he's been injured he's been in and out of the squad and when he plays we've seen it during the world cup this world cup played every game It's a difference he makes.

1:01:33And you see what happens. So for me, he's just a joy to watch. A player that just keeps the team ticking over, you know, just those little passes. And it's just not the little pass, the weight of the pass and passing the ball in front of the player, not behind the player. The right place at the right time. This little thing, sometimes the fans don't see, but as a player, if you've played the game, You can see that, that little thing. Even the way he controls the ball, the weight of the pass, his positioning, receiving the ball, and progressing the ball forward. Just those little things. When I see them as an ex-player.

1:02:15In that position as well. In that position, it's just a joy to watch. It looks very easy, but it's massive for the team. It's massive for the team. And I'm just a huge admire of Rodri, just the way he plays again. And if Jose gets him. If Jose gets him, it's just the icing on the cake for him because you're looking at that Remedy squad thinking, wow. Is Jose back? Wow. You're looking at Rodri. Mbappe. Mbappe. Vinny if he stays. Vinny as well. Diamante. Bellingham. Bellingham. Valverde. Valverde as well. Kukereya. Some team. Jose's back. Jose's back. Jose's back. I think everybody thought Jose's washed and done.

1:03:01But I mean, when this whole Real Madrid rumour started, I was like, no, no way, no way he's getting it. But then, Jose's Jose. Jose's back. I mean, he's back. He looks like he's... Yes. He's back. He's hungry again to achieve more, to win titles. And don't put it past Jose you're looking at at the end of the season, you see Real Madrid in the Champions League final. Don't put that past Jose Mourinho because if any man is that can do it, can get the best out of that Ray Madrid squad, can bring them all again together to play together, to put all their differences aside, Jude Bellingham, Mbappe, you know, getting along, whatever it is, whatever that's going on, if there is one person, one manager that they all can look at and say, you know what, wow, that is Jose Mourinho and he's telling us exactly what to do.

1:03:46He has the ego, Jose. He has the character. He has the personality that when he tells you exactly what you have to do as a player. You have to listen. And if there is one man that can bring that squad back together, it is Jose Mourinho. And I think that's why Florentino Perez has gone out and looked at every single manager and said, you know what? I need a manager with character. A manager that has been there, done it, knows how to win title because this is what this Red Madrid squad needs. A manager that has ego. because this place is full of egos. I need somebody who has more egos than they do.

1:04:27And who's that guy? Jose Mourinho. He's the only guy that when he walks, you look at him, wow, that is Jose Mourinho. When he walks into the dressing room, I'm telling you, Chris, when he walks into the dressing room, he's always like this. And straight away, he knows exactly what to say. You look at his face sometimes when he's serious. He knows what to tell you. He knows how to play the mind games with every player, every single player. How do I get the best out of this player? It is Jose Mourinho. He knows the player that he can put his arm around. He knows the players that he can absolutely destroy and get the best out of them.

1:05:07He knows every single player. And he is that guy, when I look at that Remedy squad, the regional manager right now, they can walk into that dressing room and get all those players to stop behaving like kids get their shits together and play for the football club yeah put all their differences together put all the differences aside and play for the club because it doesn't matter how you look at it it is the fucking real madrid the most successful football club in the world 15 champions league title 15 incredible it's ridiculous and if one man is going to walk into that dressing room and get everybody to get in line to what he wants to do and how the football club is being run is Jose Mourinho.

1:05:53Right. Jose's back. Arsenal are going to win the league. Morgan Rodgers is the one to watch. I didn't say Arsenal are going to win the league, man. When did I say that? When did I say that? They're the favourites. I never said that. I'm putting words in your mouth. No. Favourites to winning the Premier League. I just said everything we've talked about with all the uncertainty with all the big five, big six. I'm saying Arsenal are in the best position right now. They are in the best position in terms of being together for such a long time, having the same manager for five, six years now, coming off the back of winning the Premier League.

1:06:29Manager has brought in his players. All the players in that squad is the player that he wanted. He's built that squad for the past five, six years. He spent money. He knows the players. He knows every single player in that squad. And I just think they might pick up from where they left off last season. But picking up from where he left off last season, do you have to play the same way or you have to change the system? That's what I want to see with this squad. He has to tweak it. He has to try to get the best out of Bukayo Saka because I watched him in the World Cup. He looks like a player that has lost that bit of creativity.

1:06:59He looks like that player that has lost that creativity. Mikel Ateta has a job of getting him back to being the Bukayo Saka that we know with all the creativity that he has. Martin Odegaard, get him to start playing again. Let him be that guy that creates chances, creativity, everything that we know those players can deliver. Get them to start playing the same way again. Not only scoring by set pieces. Yes, it's part of the game. But I just see there's so much quality in this Arsenal squad that they will depend just on set pieces, corner kicks, throw-ins, free kicks. There is too much quality in that squad.

1:07:35There's too much potential in that squad. he has to find a way to get them to play in attractive football because that's what Arsenal fans and Arsenal the Arsenal fans demand the pressure off I think helps them do that this season that will be interesting okay so Arsenal favourites are going to win it but they're the favourites top four give me your top four I'll hold you to these top four wow top of the season I think Arsenal will be there

1:08:09City City Ireland right yeah when you have Ireland correct but I'll say City depend if Rodri stays or Rodri goes that's how big he is oh wow if Rodri stays top four top four Rodri goes top four and might compete to win in the Premier League same with Arsenal if he goes if he goes less chance of of City winning the Premier League and less chance of them finishing the top four. So then we've got Chelsea, Tottenham, Man United, Liverpool. So I go Arsenal, City, depending on Rodri, situation. I put Chelsea in there. I think Xabi Alonso will do well with this team. I agree. I think there's something, I think there's something brewing there.

1:08:54There's something building up there. You can see that. And I want to look at the players as well during this preseason. There's a bit of hunger on their faces. I think there's something, there's a bit of fire in their belly. There's fire in your eyes looking like the players, they know they've let the club down last season. They know they've let the fans down last season. They know they underperformed last season as a team, as a squad, as individuals as well. They know they underperformed. They know that the club and the fans demand way more than what they gave us last season. And when I look at those players now this season, during the preseason, I can see there's a bit of fire in their belly.

1:09:34in their eyes that they have something to prove. They know they have something to prove. Do we have to bounce back pretty, pretty quickly? Because right now we have a very, very good manager. Sometimes it's not about the manager. At some point, you have to look at yourself as individual, as players. And I think this is the time now for this players, our players, to look at themselves in the mirror. It's not about the manager. We can't keep chopping and changing managers every single season. Because Xabi Alonso, when I look at him, he is a brilliant, brilliant manager that needs time to build. But, the players, at the end of the day, they're the actors on the pitch.

1:10:17Yeah. They have to perform. It doesn't matter what the manager does. The players have to perform. And these players must know. They know. And they should have a word with themselves. That's what we used to do back then. When we know we've had bad season, bad run during the season. We have a meeting. We don't wait for the manager to call a meeting. You see it. The top boys organize meetings. Yeah. And everybody goes, sit down. We talk about what we have to do. We talk about what we have to achieve. What is realistic? What we have to achieve going on from now? What can we do better as a squad, as a team?

1:10:55You need leaders to be able to organize those meetings without the manager organizing that meeting. You as players, you as leaders, you as individuals, will look at yourself. Take that responsibility. That's what I want to see. Rich James, step up. You are the captain. You are the leader. Be fit. Levi Corwell, now he's also one of the leaders. Take the responsibility. Organize, galvanize the squad. Yes, it's the manager's responsibility, but the players at the end of the day, They are the soldiers. They are the guys that will galvanize this squad. They will bring everybody together. And those leaders right now, the Enzo Fernandes, the Caicedos, they have a responsibility of doing that.

1:11:41They have to talk to each other, knowing that they've let the club, the fans, everybody down last season. Because that standard we saw last season, it's not the Chelsea standard. It's way below standard. They have to bounce back. They owe the fans that. They owe the club that. And that's what I have to say about that. So Chelsea, Arsenal City, final, top four.

1:12:09Tottenham, Liverpool, United. Realistically. Ooh, United is there, right? Champions League. That's a worry, given their squad depth. Liverpool haven't really strengthened this season, though. But I like Andani Arreola. I think what he did with Bournemouth, he probably also need time and taking into account that Michael Carrick has been there last season he was in the last season now he's built something he's built something with those players chemistry with those players he knows the players he knows how to get results United United I'll probably just stick United there so I'll go Arsenal Man City Chelsea United United Top 4 Top four.

1:12:57Cannot wait. But if it's going United, Liverpool. Spurs? No. No, no, no. I think Spurs will get to Europe, but I think Europa League. I think the Derby needs a bit more time. August 21st, John. That's when it all kicks off. Arsenal, Coventry, Eurodmacher, Frank Lampard. Yeah, Frank. It's good to see Frank back, you know, in the Premier League. I think he's done. The job that he's done there with Coventry is just incredible. Taking over from when he took over the football club. And, you know, last season, they couldn't do it. The season before they couldn't do it. But then again, to be able to have that consistency of going season after season and pushing to come back to the Premier League is just incredible.

1:13:36And I just wish him well. I think he's done an absolutely superb job there at Coventry. And I hope he has a good season. I hope they'll be able to stay up. I don't want to see them go back down again as we see a lot of teams come up and then go back. But I just think Frank is a smart guy. He's a smart guy. If that's one thing I have to say about Frank, he's absolutely genius in terms of the way he thinks about the game. So I hope he stays, he stays up with Coventry. Can't wait. Can't wait. We are back at Ferris C, brand new studio for us as well. Obi-Wan podcast made possible by Betwinner. Big names, obviously big names, guests.

1:14:13We've got loads that are going to be coming up. Yep. Yeah. We've, yeah, we've been in Africa. We've interviewed one or two. So big things. We've got some big names coming up. We're going to start rolling out again soon. don't worry everyone I see the messages sometimes you know on social media when are you guys releasing you know another episode of the Obi-Wan podcast we are coming we're coming we're big we're coming out big it's just because obviously the World Cup put everything on hold and I'm sure everybody else you guys enjoy the World Cup as we all did but I think now it's time to get back to rolling out those big names and get back to business getting back to business day job right follow us Obi-Wan podcast we're back for another brand new season.

1:14:54Check us out on YouTube as well. Download us. Tell us, tell your friends about us as well. We're back. Taking Mikel. Well done, Johnny. My new studio. We're back for another season. Ta-ra for now.