Arsenal Aim For The Treble, Haaland To Leave City & The End Of The Big Six?! | Fan Debate

0:00Thank you for calling the Bombas comfort line. Bombas make socks, slippers, tees, and underwear made with the highest quality materials. Press 1 for comfort, 2 for style, 3 for donation. You chose style. Bombas is styles for whatever you enjoy. You can run in Bombas, lounge in Bombas, dress them up, dress them down, but always give back in Bombas. Because with every item purchased, another is donated. Bombas, comfort worth calling for. Go to bombas.com slash audio and use code audio for 20 % off your first purchase. That's B-O-M-B-A-S dot com and use code audio. Hi, this is Mark Bittman from the podcast Food with Mark Bittman.

0:34Have you ever considered how the smallest details can create real emotion? Lexus does. At Lexus, master craftsmen called Takumi are involved not just in physical craftsmanship, but in sensory details. Things like how a door closes, the click of a switch, the acoustic feedback of controls. Because a car that doesn't make you feel something is a car that stops short of amazing. Experience amazing at your Lexus dealer. Hello, I'm Monica Reinagle, host of the Nutrition Diva podcast. Summer is here and with it, the hot and sticky weather. A morning working in the garden, or maybe on the golf course, can leave you more depleted than you realize.

1:15And plain water isn't always the most efficient way to restore the balance. That's where Liquid IV comes in. Its science-backed formula is clinically proven to hydrate faster than water alone. Whether you're exercising, playing outside, or simply surviving a summer heat wave, it's an easy way to stay hydrated. Shop now at liquidiv.com. Liquid IV, hydration that goes wherever life takes you. Is there anything better than your team bringing home a W? How about a personal W for your health? If you're 45 or older and at average risk, it's time to screen for colon cancer. Now the number one cancer killer of people under 50 in the U.S.

1:51It's easy to put off when screening feels like a hassle, but Cologuard Plus makes it simple. It's non-invasive, requires no prep, can be completed at home in about 15 minutes, and is 95 % effective. Talk to your healthcare provider or request Colaguard Plus online, Rx only.

2:33You might not say it directly. I'll say it directly. Those are no nutritional numbers. Brighton are going to be top four. Even though they're in Europe, I think they're going to be top four this season. A big club will attempt to get rid of season six. What's your hot take? I think Seat will get relegated this season. Which is your favourite? Oh. They don't go up, they don't go down, they don't win anything, they're just there. That guy that chained himself to the post, you cannot get that. He saved Evan from being the most boring team in the Premier League.

3:08Hello and welcome back to the Fan Debate brought to you by Skybet. I'm pleased to welcome back Les Ferdinand on the sofa as well as our loyal fans. And the Premier League is back. Gang, we're all excited, raring to go. So with the season underway, we want to hear your finest hot takes. Similar to our previous shows. So, Les, are you familiar with hot takes and have any opinions? Anything you want to put out there that's a little bit... I'm not too familiar. Let me hear how it goes and then I'll probably give you some. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Probably best. So, we're going to bring on Kieran, who's a superstar of the overlap, more famous than anybody on the overlap.

3:48Not quite. Utiline. Right, so I'll kick it off then. my hot take this season Cara is that Maresca and Carrick don't make it to the end of the season I think both of them will go so both Manchester clubs will have new managers at the end of the season 100 % yeah wow this is his hot take he's probably supposed to ruffle a few feathers I don't agree so what do we think with that? I think he'll be half right every time I come on him I'm having to defend Michael Carrick I think he's an easy target because he's he hasn't got the biggest CV in the world But look at what he's actually done We've seen it all before though Oli was the same They're not the same They're not the same manager They're not the same person The squad's different The ownership's different Everything about Man United Is different now To what it was when Solskjaer was there Can I just say something about Oli?

4:35I always think Oli gets a little bit too I think he did alright I think Oli did alright Oli going to Solskjaer He's third and then second In his two full seasons It's better than any other United managers Done in league performances For the last 50 years Do you think Michael Carrick Will do better than Oli going to Solskjaer? I think he'll win a trophy. I think he's got maybe a bit more about him to push us over the line in the final games. I also think he does better against big teams, which will help in the latter stages of the trophy. But I think, like you said, I think Solskjaer did a decent job at United.

5:04And I think his legacy is looked back on almost like through the lens of opposition fans, where it's like, why was he managing in the first place? Like I said, finish third and finish second. It's not the worst back-to-back result. You said you feel like every time you come on the show, you're defending Michael Carrick. And it probably won't change in some ways. but do you think it's because most people on the outside still look at it as almost like an interim appointment in some ways? Yeah, people saw the way he came in was in an emergency one and he was drafted in and it was between him and Van Nistelrooy and even Solskjaer was in the fray to potentially come back as well.

5:37So when you're in that point, it's not the most sort of grand, kind of well thought out way he got the job. Is he qualified enough though? I look at Middlesbrough and Middlesbrough after he left actually went up a level last season And after he left Middlesbrough, they got better. I think he's qualified. He's the manager of Manchester United. But he's almost had it as a... He's had the work experience way of getting the job, hasn't he? He's qualified because he's done it for Man United. Also, I think people penalise managers for going down to the Championship. Say Michael Carrick went straight from being a coach or whatever to be a Manchester United manager.

6:07I think there'll be less naysayers than him going to the Championship and failing, than him just taking the job straight away. I think you need to give credit to managers for going down and trying it. Something that doesn't work. It worked for Lampard, didn't it? But it's the same with Mureska. What's Mureska done to be Man City? What's Mureska done to be Pep Guardiola's successor? You got recommended by Pep. But Chelsea don't... You got recommended by Pep. Do you think of him that fondly? No, not at all. Exactly, you got Lester up. But is that because he left halfway through the season? Yeah, it's just because we nicked him off him.

6:36Would you not go for someone of a higher calibre to replace? But you've done that. Man United have done that. All the teams have done that. They've gone for higher managers who've got great reputations and they've still not been able to do it. This is why it's a hot take, Les, I think.

6:54I'm just pleased to see a British manager.

7:01So in order for us to get warmed up with our own hot takes, we're going to have a look at some of our hot takes from our YouTube community. So Anna says, Brentford will finish ahead of Spurs. Cold take, that one. oh yeah alright I mean I think Brentford will be top 7 top 8 so it'll be close I think also I think with Brentford I mean I don't want to speak on your behalf but all the other teams that you're going to be thinking at the start of the season you'll be competing in and around like Brighton Palace Bournemouth have all got Europe and Brentford don't I think Brentford will have a really good season I mean I think I think definitely we're going to finish above Spurs this season well yeah no no I think the main reason why again I said it's like you know the stability that we've got this season as well, bringing the new players in, and just the attitude.

7:52So I just think that actually, I think it's a good call. And I would never have said that before, I have to say. I think when I did my predictions on Monday Night Football, I think I had Brentford as my surprise European contender. But I think I did have Spurs as sixth. But I do think if you are going to finish above them, I think the first 10 games of the season will be important. Because I think what Ben said last week is that I think Tottenham could take a bit of a while to get going with the new sign. There's a lot of change there. I think we could be looking at the second half of the season where we're seeing Tottenham at their best.

8:28I'm still backing us to finish top six, though. Top six, challenge for top five. I think we can do it. That's a hot take. I'll go then. I suppose we're going to finish in the Champions League. I think we definitely can, but it's just going to take a bit of time to warm up, I think. The feel I've got with the Brentford team is that when we win the Championship, and again, if you're a football fan, you go week in and week out and you know your team inside out. Like last season, they said to us, Brentford, oh yeah, they're going to get Europe. And as fans, we were singing, yeah, yeah, European tour.

8:52But really thought, actually, we're not going to get Europe. We're going to just peter out. And we did. In the championship, all of a sudden they brought in Norgard and Boon Bumo, Pinnock. You know, they brought in all these players. They said, this is the season. We're going to do it. They did that in that season. And Brentford all of a sudden were brilliant. We stayed brilliant football. We knew that. We didn't go up that year. we went up the following year. We're at the stage now again where they've said we're going to just hold off now. Here we go. Bought some players in and the fans are all going oh my God that feels just like that championship season where we actually went up a level.

9:20So I really do believe that we're going to challenge and actually going to surprise a few people. Rosie says Arsenal will break City's 100 point record. Dear me. Rosie needs to sort it out. That's yeah why not? No I don't think we will. I don't think we need to is the big thing I think it will get towards the end of the season for me the big thing is winning the Champions League obviously retaining the Premier League is massive but kicking on in the Champions League and finally getting that over the line is the big thing for me this season so even if we've stretched out a lead where we're on course for 100 odd points I think in the Premier League you start taking your foot off the gas a bit Pat says Haaland will leave Man City in January January Pat are these just people trying to rage bait me?

10:06If you've got no pep and you're not challenging So Haaland's... We're saying it's going to take a bit of time. Haaland's the best goal scorer in the world. How on earth could he ever leave in January? He's got eight years left in his deal. Okay, let's say this season. Who's going to put in 400 million for Haaland? Or 300 million? That's what he's worth. If you change it to next summer... Don't be so ridiculous. What do you mean ridiculous? 300 million? He's always going to pay... He's not worth 300 million. What's he going to go for then? What do you think? What I'm saying is, say Real Madrid.

10:33Right. One to the side. So they'd have to put up 250 million at least. And they're never going to do that, are they? How many years has he got? A long time? Eight years left he's got. Do you think he's got a bio clause? I mean, there might be some sort of bio clause, but I don't think... Still even... It won't be 250 million. He must have one. Do you reckon there's a clause? With a clause, are they going to put... ...in case anything, you know? What's that mean? Do you think there's a clause in case anything's... Do you want to elaborate a bit? Well, just maybe something unexpected happens and suddenly...

10:56It wouldn't be unexpected, would it, if that's what you're hinting at? Well, depends who you ask. But do you think there is a clause if that happens? Yeah, I don't know, mate. We'll see. Could it happen this season? What if he becomes unhappy? Well, I don't think Arlen's leaving, so that's... He's shaved his head on his head. Maybe that's why he's cut his hair, get used to the hotter climate. What'd he say? Maybe that's why he's cut his hair, get used to the hotter climate. Maybe we'll go bust out. Yeah, don't worry about it. Greg Milligan says, Oliver Glasner sacked by Christmas. Cool. I mean, with Maranakis, that's a mild take, isn't it?

11:29That's a good... Not a great start losing your first two at home to Leeds, is he? No. No. I mean, with Forest, I mean, again, one game a week for them. And they have got a decent squad, but with Maranakis, you just never really... I mean, probably got to be careful. You're unbanning. But, you know, the unexpected is probably the way to go with that, isn't it? Yeah. For sure. City don't make top four and Newcastle get relegated. That's from Aron. Newcastle one going down. Nah. I don't think. How'll I take? How'll I take that? Yeah, edit that one out. That was a crap one. you should keep that in just for that comment it's in it's staying in let's see Fulham will get relegated and Coventry will stay up oh yeah 100 % oh yeah 100 % I think what Fulham no I don't know 100 % I'd say it's decent chance I think Fulham getting relegated there's always one team every year when like the newly promoted clubs come up and everyone's got to come up with one team they think might go down I don't think Fulham will be that near it I think I've put Sunderland I think that's more likely with Europa League I think that's more likely and they overperformed last year as well massively they haven't really signed anyone not that continuity is a bad thing but I don't think they've signed anybody also Coventry have got to stay up in that for that to be right and I don't see that happening either to be honest I think they looked I mean Arsenal are a good team but they looked all over the place I thought

13:01Is there anything better than your team bringing home a W? How about a personal W for your health? If you're 45 or older and at average risk, it's time to screen for colon cancer. Now the number one cancer killer of people under 50 in the U.S. It's easy to put off when screening feels like a hassle, but Cologuard Plus makes it simple. It's non-invasive, requires no prep, can be completed at home in about 15 minutes and is 95 % effective. Talk to your healthcare provider or request ColoGuard Plus online, Rx only. Hi Pod fans, Max Rushton here from the chart-topping Guardian Football Weekly Podcast.

13:36Don't like to crow. If you enjoyed the World Cup with us, you'll be glad to know we're back for the new Premier League season. Expect three episodes a week, questionable predictions, and the biggest stories in soccer from the Premier League to the Champions League and beyond. Watch now on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you for calling the Bombas Comfort Line. Bombas make socks, slippers, tees and underwear made with the highest quality materials. Press 1 for comfort, 2 for style, 3 for donation. you chose style bombas is styles for whatever you enjoy you can run in bombas lounge in bombas dress them up dress them down but always give back in bombas because with every item purchased another is donated bombas comfort worth calling for go to bombas.com audio and use code audio for 20 off your first purchase that's b-o-m-b-a-s.com and use code audio where's your playlist taking you down the highway to the mountains we're just into daydream mode while you're stuck in traffic.

14:28With over 4 ,000 hotels worldwide, Best Western is there to help you make the most of your getaway. Wherever that is. Because the only thing better than a great playlist is a great trip. Life's the trip. Make the most of it at Best Western. Book direct and save at bestwestern.com

14:52So let's crack on with our fans' hot takes. So I'm going to go to you first, Ben. Oh, brilliant. You're looking at me sheepishly. Last year you said, oh no, no, we're not just thinking about this season, we're thinking about last season as well. Yeah, I remember what I said. And yours was, I think Thomas Frank is going to win a trophy at Spurs before Mikel Arteta wins his next trophy. That is a bad one. So what are you going with this year? I mean, maybe, let's go with, Savinho's going to win Premier League Young Player of the Year. Oh. Oh, okay. Or, actually, the more realistic one, I think Mateus Fernandes could win it.

15:32Yeah? Already given up on Savinho that fast? Does anyone really believe any of these hot takes? I think Mateus Fernandes could win Premier League Young. He was my one to watch, yeah, on Monday Night Football. I really like him. I think it's a really good signing. Luke, last year you said Oscar Bob would get more goals and assists than both Man United and Super Bowl. I don't remember saying that one. Might be AI, that one. He had no goals and one assist. And even worse, the one assist was in the first game. That's probably why I said it, to be honest. Yeah, this year I'm going to go with City to do better in the Champions League than any of the team.

16:11That's my hot day. So we're going to win it? No, no, than any other English team. I'll go win it if you want. Go furthest in the Champions League of any English club, yeah. And what are you backing that on? I think the last couple of years, obviously, well, last couple of years, our consistency's not quite been there in the league. We were more consistent last season than the year before, but obviously Arsenal won the league last year. Maybe that means we're more of a cup-suited side a little bit. We've got Donnarumma in goal. I think Marescu has probably proven himself as a bit of a cup manager himself anyway, you know, at Chelsea.

16:43Won the Club World Cup, won the Conference League. Maybe not worth talking about as much, but I don't know. I just think Arsenal had a big chance last year. Gabriel squandered that one. And I think United in the Champions League, with all due respect, Villa will probably do even worse than United. I think they're in complete disarray, to be honest. So I think in the Champions League, the English side could struggle a little bit. And I think City will do the best out of the English side. It just depends when you draw Real Madrid and when they beat you, really. Well, yeah, that's the other thing.

17:11Last two years, we've had a pretty bad run. Got knocked out by Real Madrid in the round of 32 and then the round of 16. It feels like however we get through, we've got Real Madrid. Quarter-final, is there? Not going out in the quarter-final? Well, he did that three years ago. And before that, we beat him. You're back in the Champions League this year, Joe. Yeah. How are you feeling? Nervous? Excited? Excited. We've been terrible in the Champions League for 15 years, almost. Quarter-finals are so few and far between. I'd love a quarter-final or a semi-final, obviously, but I think get out of the group stage.

17:41Pretty much everyone gets out of the group stage now, don't they? I could age badly. It could age badly. It's not even the group stage anymore, it's the league phase. That's how long you've been in it. Yeah, that's how long we've been in it. Yeah, I think we'll do all right. I think we'll do all right. All right, Billy, can you give me your hot take of the season, please? I think these smaller, very well-organised teams are actually going to be pushing the bigger teams, actually, in those positions. And I think Brentford are going to get a European place. I'm going to put my neck on the line on that one.

18:08But also, I think Brighton are going to be top four. Even though they're in Europe, I think they're going to be top four this season. Wow. I know, so controversial. And I think they're going to take out Man United. Who else will they take out? Chelsea as well. They'll take out a few of the teams that everyone's expecting to be right up there. Thank God you never said Liverpool. I was expecting Liverpool. I was going to say Liverpool as well, but I saw your face and I thought I'll let you off. Les, do you think we could have that situation where an unfancied side makes it into the Champions League positions?

18:39Look at what Villa did last year. They were unfancied. yeah quite possibly Brentford could be that side I didn't want to say that because you jinxed it now and it's not top four it's top five isn't it yeah I mean last season we were close to getting to Europe but we only needed eight more points to get into Europe and it was that Liverpool game so to be quite honest with you it is actually really close I think it's all really stretched it's really squeezing now with these sort of middle sides actually pushing the bigger sides and like I said to you these smaller well run sides your Bournemouths your Brentfords you know your Brightons and then there's others coming up as well I think they're going to really start challenging these so-called big clubs Well we've got all the big boys here any of you's feeling that your team could miss out on the Champions League this season with an unfancy team coming in?

19:27Not yet I think I do I think there's a space that Villa will probably vacate this season just because of their squad like we've seen Newcastle do it we've seen Villa do it we've seen even a few years ago I think up until the last game of the season two years in a row Leicester almost got Champions League football, didn't they? So every year there's someone sort of overachieving. But if it's not going to be Villa, then I think Brentford or Brighton or someone like that definitely could do it, 100%. And you've got a second idea, Billy? Oh, you've put me on the spot, yeah. Yeah, well, actually, the second thought I had was we saw what happened at the World Cup.

20:02Infantino buddied up with America. And all of a sudden, football changed. Football completely changed. You had sort of kind of America taking over. There were price gouging the fans. The prices went up. It was all over the place. We've got 14, you know, nearly 14 American owners in the UK. My hot take is that I think that we need to do something to control that because they'll have a lot of control. You know, if they decide to actually do something, they can actually control what's happening in the UK. So I think we need to... Like the voting. Like the 14th, 16th. They can vote for the 39th game.

20:34You know what I'm saying? And the broad game, you know, things could change. quick ticket prices, you know, there's a lot of things that could change. So that's my whole thing, that there'll be something to change that within football. Any thoughts on that, Gareth? Well, my hot take would sort of link to Billy's, really. So that works in that, you know, I always try and use this as a little thing where I can talk about some support issues or worries. So my hot take is that a big club will attempt to get rid of season tickets within the next few years. because I think there's a bit of an attack on those fans anyway.

21:08You look at what's going on at Man United, where there's been this big crackdown on touts, but it's sucked up a lot of people who've basically done nothing wrong. And I think there's more and more things are coming in that make it hard to go the match. And I can't help but think it comes from a place where it's people looking at it saying, we've got this, we've got, what is it, probably about 350 ,000, 400 ,000 fans that have got season tickets in the Premier League, if they didn't have them and they could sell those seats at a higher premium, if they could sell them on almost like a legal second market, which you have in America, dynamic pricing, all of this kind of stuff.

21:47I feel like someone somewhere, with the type of people that are getting control at our clubs, Bezos coming into Liverpool as well, I feel like someone somewhere will try that in the near future. Am I making this up? Was there something with Man City about getting rid of season tickets? No, I think they basically, before the new stand came in, they weren't putting them back on the market, I believe. So if someone dropped a season ticket, it stopped going. There's also a lot of issues, I mean, with a lot of clubs as well, and attending a certain amount of games. I think at City, you've got to hit a certain quote.

22:19There's people that have jobs that move around, people that are disabled, pregnant, stuff like that. And there's a lot of question marks. I think across the whole league, to be honest, it's a big issue. And yeah, it definitely needs sorting, so I agree with that.

22:38The new season is here. We know football fans love saying the game's gone, but Skybet are celebrating everything that proves the game's back. This is the Fan Debate brought to you by Skybet. Rory, I'm going to come to you. What's your hot take of the season? I'm going to say Arsenal win a treble, but it's the Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup. so it's not quite the treble but a treble Why not the treble? I feel like the Carabao Cup is more suited to the score depth that we've got the two leg semi-final we've kind of been progressing semi-final final kick on I've got a weird feeling Chelsea win the FA Cup this season so When did Arsenal last win the League Cup?

23:17Is it about 40 years ago or something like that? In the 90s Is that the year Steve Morrow? Tony Adams Yeah Why will you beat PSG this time? Well it's either that or they win three in a row and I'm an Arsenal fan so I feel like the time has come. They could beat you and then lose to someone else. They could, but the Champions League has kind of become it's Arsenal PSG. They beat us in the semi-final two years ago. If we'd met in the final, I think that would have been the final. So do we finally get one over on them? I feel like this season we're more equipped to do it. The depth that we've brought in, I think, is with a vision of we need to get to that stage in the season.

23:52Having at least 20 % possession. Well, yeah. 25, 26 % possession. It's a start. We weren't far away. And again, we brought in Esri Konza, Mosquera played it right back in that game, ended up costing us a little bit. So I feel like the depth that we've brought in is definitely aimed at going into those semi-finals, finals of the Champions League fitter and not on our last legs. Practised a few spot kicks as well? Yeah, look, what happened happened, but we came within a kick of winning the Champions League before and I just don't, I just feel like this season we kick on again. And we have, in every competition we've progressed and progressed and progressed season on season.

24:28So for the Carabao Cup and the Champions League, the next progression is winning. Do you think Arteta's ever going to be more foot on throat with this football? Because there's still times, I think, like when Liverpool went to your place last season, I'm like, OK, I expect Liverpool to get blown away by the champions to be. And then we were all over you for a lot of that game. I'm thinking we could have got something. I thought, why doesn't Arteta take the break off? Yeah, well, going into this season, I think a lot of the conversation is like, will Arsenal, now that we've got it over the line, be more free and fluid?

25:00He's spoken about attacking the title rather than defending the title. And I think there will be that to an extent, but I also think the way we control games, we have adapted to sitting off teams at times and sitting in a rest defence where we're just happy to let you have the ball. It's the big games. Arsenal are clearly the most consistent team in terms of getting points, which is how you win a league, but it's the big games. United last season, City three times. That Carabao game was ridiculous, wasn't it? Yeah. So I think you've probably got to go for it a bit more in some of the big games.

25:30Yeah, and I think we will. I think we have more license to go for it now. And even with PSG, you look at like, OK, what happens if we face PSG again? They've kind of scrambled their way through the Champions League the last couple of years. Real Madrid do that every year. Yeah, I know. PSG, can you say that? In terms of the way that they've gone through, I mean, two seasons ago they barely made it through the league. You just had a very easy run to the final. The easiest of all times. Oh, we did, yeah, undoubtedly. That was a Europa League run. But the season before that we beat Real Madrid. But there aren't really that many teams in the Champions League that I look at.

25:58It's really Bayern and PSG that I look at and think... Real Madrid, Jose back this year. I don't know who I've... They're not all going for. They're going to be box office. Also, if you do start playing more attacking, you are going to lose some of the things that won you the league. You can't have everything. You can't be amazing in control, defending, and then be the best attacking team. No, of course, which is why I don't think we're suddenly going to go all out attacking football. I think it will largely be controlling games in the way that we have done. So you'll still be boredom. Hopefully If we're bored If we're bored If we're bored Then I'll take it That might be it Rody was there any other Hot takes that you had?

26:30I've done about 400 Some of old Aston Villa Or some of old Tottenham How many does Giocares get? How many goals does he get? Giocares? Yeah Well Kai Havertz is going to get 20 plus goals this season In the Premier League So that's a hot take Aston Villa I think Emery might walk Yeah I don't think he'll be sacked But I think he might walk Because And this is kind of Feeding into what Villa fans feel About their club at the moment Is the restrictions that they've got Whether you agree with those restrictions or not. What more can Emery do at Aston Villa? What more can he achieve when he's won them the Europa League, he's qualified for the Champions League?

27:01Is he going to kick on and win the Champions League? Probably not. It's going to be a battle to qualify for the Champions League again. It's kind of exactly what we've seen at Newcastle United. And he saw, he would have seen what happened to Eddie Howe at the end of that, where Eddie Howe could have left at any point on a real high and probably taken any, not any job, but like he could have taken a big job. Whereas I feel like Emery might look at that and go, well, do I want to have that big off-season. He's been set up so badly going into this season that I think you might just... They're talking about...

27:26I'm talking about Jackson and Leal potentially. Yeah, look at the team. But how many times can you churn and churn your top players and skim your top players off the top and replace them? I just... We saw it with Newcastle. There comes a point where it's just... It becomes unsustainable. Les, what's your feelings on Aston Villa right now? I mean, for me, you know Emery, what a job he's doing at Aston Villa. They've just been ripped apart, haven't they? I mean, do you see this being the season where this does almost come to an end, be, squad's being decimated. I mean, very difficult to keep. Yeah, you have to feel for him because of what he got that Aston Villa team to do last season and where he took him to.

28:02And I totally agree. I think he'll walk away from Aston Villa. And my thought process is, does he go to one of the top five teams in the Premier League? Oh, so that could be Leza's hot take. Unai Emery leaves Aston Villa and takes one of the top five jobs. One of the top five jobs. Who are you thinking? I can't remember. There'll be a few in the mix, won't there? I'll think Curry. He's got a ceiling though, Emery. It's bizarre for a manager to have won that many Europa Leagues because when you win the Europa League, you qualify for the Champions League and when you get to the Champions League, it's the same old story.

28:36I feel like at Villa, he was given the keys to the kingdom and he did very, very well and he's done very, very well. But at the top, top clubs, where there's different expectations, Arsenal, PSG, I think we've seen the shortcomings. Do you think Arsenal maybe came a bit too soon for him though? Like going in and replacing Wenger, Now he's a more experienced manager in the Premier League. Possibly. Villa, maybe. I just don't think you're given the autonomy that you're given, that he's been given at Aston Villa. Yeah, of course. Club's moulded in his image. What if he's given that autonomy at one of the bigger clubs?

29:02Then, yeah, maybe. Maybe, but I feel like it's very rare in modern football. You see people working in sporting directors. I think it's very hard for you to get everything that you want. And right now he's not getting everything he wants. He's losing his best players. But I think when he came in initially... But that's because of the rules, not because Aston Villa want to sell. It's the rules that mean they have to sell. But if he's given the autonomy to say, go and do what you were doing at Aston Villa at one of the top five, six clubs. Oh, yeah, it's a different story, don't you? It's a different story for me.

29:26Kweeke, what's yours? Mine is that despite winning the PFA Player of the Year, Manchester United's best 11 come the end of the season will not include Bruno Fernandes, and I feel like he shouldn't be a star for Manchester United. Who would take that role, then? I feel like they need to move to a more conventional midfield with more legs, and I think that Bruno Fernandes has been given the licence over the last three or four seasons. and he's been Manchester United's best sign post-Fergie, but I feel like with conventional midfields like an Arsenal or like City's over the years, you need players who've got legs and players that stick within a structure and I think Brewer Fernandes kind of breaks that structure.

30:02I think we saw that in the first game of the season and I feel like with the sign of Andre Santos, a player like Kobi Maynou and with a player like Baleba, I think he's just got more legs in that midfield and more conventional for what Manchester United is. Almost play a 4-3-3 without a number 10. Yeah, he's an unconventional number 10 that spams assists I'm not going to say there was empty calories last season, but those 21 assists. You're implying it though, aren't you? You might not say it directly. I'll say it directly. Those are no nutritional numbers. They had no substance or no value. It got us into third place.

30:32You could have done with someone like maybe Cole Palmer to turn up last season and get you in a similar position. I think people do this where Bruno Fernandes is the figurehead of a team that isn't good enough. Therefore, he must not be good enough. But realistically, he's the only reason we've been any good for the last five, six years. He's not the thing holding us back. He's the best thing about Man United. So this idea that without him, we would be better. It's like saying, well, would City be better without Haaland? Would Chelsea be better without, you know, who even? Caicedo. I don't think they would.

31:01Yes, we've been bad and he's been there. But he's the only reason it's not been a disaster. I don't think that's an exact science. I think that teams can get better with losing technically better players. I think Liverpool got better when they lost Coutinho. I think teams can get better. I think, like, Gareth Bale leaving Spurs. When they lost Coutinho, they replaced him with Mane, who actually scored way more goals. I understand that. So it's not as though Coutinho was a technically good player, but he wasn't an absolute machine in terms of output. I think Bruno Fernandes, I do get your point, and that sometimes a different player, even with fewer numbers, can be better.

31:29But I think he's so good, to put the blame on him is wrong. You as a back in the Champions League, it's been a while since you've been in the Champions League, he's the best player in the league on the back of last season. Do you think this season with Manchester United back, Do you think we'd be talking about Bruno Fernandes as one of the best players in the Champions League when we see all these great players playing for all these top clubs? I hope so. I think he's at that level. I think when you look at his numbers and his creativity numbers, you can say he's spamming it, but I don't really know what that means.

32:00What about the World Cup, though? Yeah, exactly. You put him in the best midfield in the world, the two from PSG. Yeah, but what did Vitinho and Neves look like in that midfield? They were poor. I don't like the manager at Portugal. I don't like the way they set up. The emphasis on Ronaldo doesn't make sense. but you look at all those players, they're completely different for their clubs and Bruno's no different. I think Bruno's one of the best creative players we've seen in the last generation. The numbers back that up and I don't think it's just because he gets all of the ball. I think when he doesn't play, United are worse.

32:28Maybe if you replaced him with someone who was just as good, then maybe it won't get any worse, but that's not the case because there aren't many players who are just as good as him. I think that heliocentric kind of give the ball to your best player and let them kind of dictate. I don't think it works in the modern Premier League where teams are built in the images of managers. and I just feel like Bruno Fernandes has been given licences that other number 10s haven't been given and I just look at a Manchester United team that maybe lack a little bit of physicality in that midfield. If you move to a three without Bruno Fernandes, I think you might be a better team in the long run.

32:56I know what you're saying, but I think, especially as someone that supports Chelsea, I think Cole Palmer, you were praising his maverick streak, the fact that he isn't going to be pigeonholed into a tactic or a manager's vision. To do the opposite with Bruno Fernandes, I think, you know, it doesn't make sense.

33:20One second, you're enjoying your day off. The next, your phone buzzes. A window's been broken at home. You're miles away. In one second, everything can change. That's why ADT's security systems can monitor your home 24-7. They're backed by the most company-operated monitoring centers in the industry, so you're always supported during an emergency. When every second counts, count on ADT. Visit ADT.com to learn more. A beautifully designed Squarespace website is the difference between thinking about photography school and selling your portraits online. It's the difference between giving away those cookies you just made for free and running your cookie empire.

34:00A beautifully designed Squarespace website is the difference between having a movie reviewing hobby and a movie reviewing career. Squarespace. Because no matter what you're into, a website makes it real. Use offer code THEDIFFERENCE for 30 % off select plans, terms and conditions apply. Take this as your sign to go. Just get out there and go. This summer at Best Western, get 1 ,000 bonus points and a chance to win 250 ,000 bonus points. Life's a trip. Make the most of it at bestwestern.com. No additional purchase necessary for sweeps. See bonus points, TNCs and sweeps rules for details.

34:42What's your hot tea? I think Seale will get relegated this year. I think this whole thing of these charges just hanging over them and we all get into the point where it's like, I'm sick of talking about these charges. We can't get sick about talking about them. It's such a huge stain on the Premier League and we have to finally get to the bottom of this. And we even saw this week reports in Bloomberg that UAE officials are saying that it may negatively affect relationships between the UAE and the UK if there's negative charges, negative sort of results brought to Man City. Like putting pressure on the Premier League to not even...

35:18But all these words, putting pressure, you finally get to the bottom, staying, all of them are assuming guilt. And we've talked about this for three years, like you said, we can't get sick of it, whatever. Are we going to go on for it for three years if City are found not guilty? We're not going to do that, are we? We're not going to sit here for three years going, oh, when City, I can't believe that. We're not going to do that. So you've got to wait for a conclusion. That's what you've got to do. I get that. But if you have people from the other side pressuring the British government... I don't think that's the case, does it?

35:44Okay. That was sort of one tweet. Bloomberg seemed to think so, who are a relatively reputable source, that there is implications that this may affect or negatively affect relationships between two countries. It's one of the reasons why, regardless of whether City are guilty, states should never own football teams. We talk about the American... Well, they're not actually state-owned. OK, they're not technically state-owned. If Man City's owners have proven to have cheated on this level, which the Premier League think they have, the charges weren't brought by a member of the public or an annoyed United.

36:13There was a hack involved, but yeah. OK, so what? So you found what we were doing... So what do you think should happen if City are not guilty? Because we never talk about that. We have to work out what they're not guilty on because you're clearly guilty on... All these words clearly... No, I'm asking, if I said no... It's possible, you've launched counter-investigation. I'm going to wipe the slate now. So you're saying, as far as you're concerned, you think City are guilty. You can have that perspective. If City are not guilty, what do you... Because we never talk about that. So if City are not guilty on everything, first of all, it's going to be hard to believe that because of the pressure that's been put on the Premier League.

36:45But I'm telling you... And secondly, we still shouldn't have states owning clubs or people who are so intrinsically allied to states owning football clubs because situations like this can come up time and time again. it's not about it's the first time it's happened but it won't be the last time that it happens look at we've seen the situation with Newcastle we've seen all different clubs we've talked about the American investment in the Premier League this is a step above that this is actual country zone in football clubs it can't be allowed and I think when City get relegated which I think they will hopefully we can see the owners kicked out of the league right I'm going to bring Les in Les you've heard all the hot takes which is your favourite

37:28I think we could get relegated and come back up and win the league yeah okay yeah we'll see okay one last community question for us all before we go I think it's a little bit harsh this one but who was the most boring club to have ever been in the Premier League Arsenal last season yeah boring club Ipswich oh nah nah 80s Huddersfield. Huddersfield. Huddersfield. Some of those Norwich ones where they didn't even try and stay up, that was pretty good. Yeah, they kept coming up and down. Uh, Hull. It's more the journey to get there as well. You've got a hole, right? The other hole. The other hole.

38:12Swindon, Swindon. Swindon, yeah. Didn't they get knocked down in the league? Swindon got... That didn't go on for three years, did it? Swindon had to do it. They weren't doing counter-charges every two seconds. Forget all the lawyers, just get Joe to show us. Who are we going on? What team? Swindon's not there. Currently I feel like Fulham. You said Luton, you've never seen their ground. Fulham are just a bit... Vanilla. Just do something. Can you be the most boring if you were up for one season? Has it got to be someone that's spent time in the Premier League and they're just there? Yeah, well they've not won anything.

38:50and it's just even Palace you know they go Palace have won a few I'm saying Palace should be the Fulham should be looking at Palace if you're building like your ideal 20 Premier League teams what's like a team that definitely doesn't make it that's Fulham is probably one of them yeah probably I mean I'll be biased I'd have to say Fulham as well I mean I have to back you up on that one just for no reason whatsoever we're going with Fulham well is this question based on the rant about Everton being pointless by Jason Gundy oh I saw that no I've just it's just there I don't know He did have a rant saying, what do they ever do?

39:22They don't go up, they don't go down, they don't win, and they're just there. But was there a thing about Everton that... 34 years or something, isn't it? We've got an Everton fan who's not actually officially on the fan. He made Brees now at the back with his 87-88 top on, I think. Something that Everton are the only team who haven't had a... won a trophy or had a promotion or... A promotion or gone up out of all the 92 clubs. Is that... Have I got that right? Yeah, current 92. The only team not to have a promotion, relegation or win something since the year 2000. It was like a joy league, wasn't it?

39:57They were top of the joylessness. What? You've got new ground. They're always banging about building all your grounds. Everton provide too much entertainment value, I think. That guy that chained himself to the post, he cannot get that. He saved Everton in the most world. He did. There's nothing quite like a Goodison boo either. they provide too much value I think OK so what are we going with? Middlesbrough they were quite boring we're not going to get one are we? no that's harsh there's a few OK anyway well that's it for another great episode of the Fan Debate brought to you by Skybet catch you next time APPLAUSE

40:44This has been a Global and the Overlap production

40:50Is there anything better than your team bringing home a W? How about a personal W for your health? If you're 45 or older and at average risk, it's time to screen for colon cancer. Now the number one cancer killer of people under 50 in the U.S. It's easy to put off when screening feels like a hassle, but Cologuard Plus makes it simple. It's non-invasive, requires no prep, can be completed at home in about 15 minutes, and is 95 % effective. Talk to your healthcare provider or request Cologuard Plus online, Rx only. I'm Jake Stouck, co-founder and CEO of Serval. We built Serval to automate the IT work that slows companies down.

41:28Onboarding, password resets, access to applications, my laptop stopped working. While employees wait for help, their real work is put on hold. IT desperately wants to automate this work, and that's why they need Serval. You just tell Serval what you want to automate in plain English, and it's built. No drag and drop workflows, no expensive consultants. Employees get unblocked and IT teams go from drowning in tickets to building what actually matters. With Serval, IT becomes the AI engine powering the entire company. This is a new way to run IT. We guarantee you'll automate 50 % of all tickets and we'll prove it to you in a free four-week pilot.

42:09Go to serval.com slash tickets. That's S-E-R-V-A-L dot com slash tickets.

42:42Shop Halloween decor now at Wayfair.com. That's W-A-Y-F-A-I-R dot com.

43:12arrives, you need a vehicle that rises to meet it. The Range Rover Sport. Exclusive offers available now. Explore further at RangeRover.com.