Fan Debate Is BACK With Paul Scholes & Jamie Carragher

0:00The market's uncertain. Revenue's tied and hiring on hold. that's why results driven companies are using upwork to keep work moving go to upwork.com today and start hiring proven freelance talent fast no bulky overhead no rigid long-term contracts just the right expert right when you need them work smarter and faster with upwork go to upwork.com now and find your freelance expert that's upwork.com post a job for free and get started today It was great to watch, but it was f***ing madness. You've not won anything since a decade before the moon landing. I thought you were going to be positive. Are you messing?

0:38Yeah, can you come? You're bringing in players for£40-50 million just because he's played for him three or four years ago. Right, you're the manager and I have to make it work. Anyone in this room who sits and says they know what Chelsea's going to do this season is full of it. You can't finish second three years. £50 million for him just seems like a lot of money. Ten hour gone by November. Jamie, you're just looking at me going, this guy's an idiot. It has to be the number nine for Man United. Everyone said we were going to bottle it, we were going to tail off at the end. How long will you have Eddie Howe before he becomes the England manager?

1:04He should have been a second, third or fourth striker. If you said to me we're going to take four points from six from City, four points from six from Liverpool, I'd be punching you. Now if you win that game, Arsenal win the league, all of a sudden you're killing Manchester City, you're killing your main rival. They're gone. When you come to them big games, when you need to win, that's what you've got to do.

1:27Hello everyone and welcome back to the fan debate on Skybet. I'm sure we're all really excited that the new season has started and Scolese on the back of the Euros going so well for England, almost won the trophy. I mean, do you think that feel-good factor will sort of carry on to the new Premier League season? Yeah, I think so. I think when there is a summer competition, it does tend to take a little bit of time to get everybody back. You'll see now in pre-season games, teams aren't at full strength yet and there's only, what, 10 days to go. So I think it'll take a bit of time, but I think the excitement's there I think we know the quality in that top seven or eight teams is there and I think it'll be it'll be good again to watch Who do you fancy for the title?

2:06It is very hard to look away from Man City as difficult as it is for me to say that Can Arsenal get even that just a little bit closer obviously the random close I don't think Liverpool will be out of it I'm just going to go for Arsenal just to upset upset it for now Upset it or upset Big Steve? Upset Big Steve. Big Steve, the big one in the city. Sorry, Steve. So go on, Steve, tell us, Manchester City, what are you thinking? Four in a row, that was unprecedented. Do you think you can go for the fifth? Why not? Why not? Yeah, we're looking OK. Last year, after the treble season, I think everyone was expecting a big drop-off.

2:49We didn't quite do it in Europe, but we managed to get it over the line in the league. I think there's a couple of problems we need to address I think Rodri, if he's missing, is a big issue I don't think we have anybody that can step in and we seem to be a totally different team when he's not there I think he has to address that but he's freshened it up a little bit with Savino and Haaland's had a full pre-season he didn't go to the Euros and we look okay and it's just Pep Guardiola he's the difference for me how he gets to motivate the team every season without a drop-off. I don't know how he does it.

3:25I mean, Scolese under Sir Alex Day were the same. You know what I mean? You'd think, oh, they're going to drop off this season and then they'd go again. But Arsenal, you know, they ran us close, but I feel like they need a striker. Do you think it's only Arsenal? Scolese mentioned Arsenal as well. Because in the past, it's always been Liverpool and Manchester City going for the title. Do you see Arsenal now as the biggest challenge? I do, yeah. I mean, with Liverpool at the minute, with the new manager, it's 50-50. I don't think anybody knows what to expect. The players are good enough. But I feel like Jurgen Klopp had that little bit of something where he could get that little bit extra out.

4:03And I'm just wondering whether this new guy has got that. So with Liverpool, they could drop off or they could be right in the mix. You mentioned Haaland there. The fact that Alvarez has just gone now for big money, do you think you need to replace him? He was always going to be a backup striker, wasn't he? because you've got Erling Haaland. And I always thought it would be a problem once he'd won the World Cup. It's hard to keep a striker who's won the World Cup on the bench so often. How do you feel about that? I think City fans are relaxed. I mean, the money we got for him is really good money for him for what we paid.

4:35But the issue was last season, when Haaland was out of the team, he didn't really come in and stake a claim for Haaland's spot. I feel like City was always trying to shoe on him in different positions to sort of make him feel part of the team. and sometimes we suffered from that. I feel like with Alvarez in the team, we were a little bit light in the middle because sometimes he was playing right up top, sometimes he was dropping deep, he was getting in the way of the creative midfielders and that. But I'd like to see us go and get someone, somebody different, a different option up front, like if Harlan's out as a number nine, somebody that can play that number nine role.

5:12Scoles, when I think about Manchester City, people talk about the finances, how dominant they are, But I think Pep's, for me, the biggest sort of thing of why they've been so successful. I mean, do you think we've almost all got to wait for Pep to leave? How long do you think he will stay? I can't wait for him to go. Yeah, I think he just makes a difference. As you mentioned about Sir Alex before, it's always about once you win, then I'd say a week or two weeks, you think about it, great, brilliant, celebrate it. then all of a sudden you're on to next year and I think you see with Pappers he doesn't mess about you saw the thing with Grealish last year once he started pissing about a little bit am I allowed to swear on that?

5:56Yeah Sorry I'm not really swearing he doesn't take shit from any player and I think Grealish did step off it didn't he? at some point last year probably start of the year and he doesn't allow that to happen the thing with Alvarez he scored some important goals didn't he? Now, you can't deny what they're buying for, 14 million. He's going for 81. That's just incredible business. You can't say no to that. And I don't think Pep would be too bothered. I don't think he'd be too bothered if he doesn't have another proper number nine instead of Haaland. He doesn't care. He'll bring another brilliant footballer into it because he's got the Foldings, he's got the Bernardo Silvers.

6:36He's got everything that he wants. He's just not bothered about a centre-forward. I think at times, even playing Haaland at times, pissed him off a little bit because I don't think he always wants that type of play and if Alain misses for a few games it won't bother him at all so look they're going to be the team to beat but Arsenal I think will be closest I think Liverpool are alright I don't think Liverpool are far off ok the manager's a little bit well he is different of course he's from Jurgen Klopp and they were up there for quite a bit last year they just fell away the last few games and I'd say a holding midfield player away from being a really good team and possibly something like that.

7:18All right, let's go to Liverpool. Abbey, what are your thoughts on... We know how you feel about Klopp going, but Klopp coming in. The pre-season's gone quite well, but are we the only team now in the Premier League not to sign a player? We're not spending any money at all, and we're just crying out for a DM so badly. Even in the pre-season, you can see the way, at times, Arnd just didn't use Endo. He's using Subozlai in that position. by what you can see throughout the games, like against United, which we won 3-0, by the way. And, yeah, you can just see he's just crying out for a DM, desperately, we definitely need one, 100%.

7:52Like, you look to the players that we didn't replace who've left on contracts that have run out, like Matup, and I know he gets injured at centre-back, but you've got to sort of replace him as some sort of back-up. Qantas, great, fine, still a young lad. Contracts coming to the end, like Savan Dijk, and then you've got Trent's contract coming into the last year, and more as well you know so it's just I thought you were going to be positive are you messing Jürgen's gone have you got scores sorry you're talking about a defensive midfield player and Liverpool haven't got Rodri they haven't probably got a Declan Rice Paul you played that role as well from United towards the end of your career as well I mean how important is that player in any team but especially for a team trying to win a title yeah I think I would say it's a big role when I cross it but I think Liverpool in that area of the pitch you've got some really good players I could probably name four or five when you think of Arvie Elliott there's Curtis Jones there's Sir Bosley there's Graven Birch who scored against United McAllister we've not even spoke about I think it's important they have someone solid at a solid base now in an ideal world with all the time of Rodri Rodri's the best best in the world at doing it I think they were actually players you could have gone for you think of the ladder that Fulham, who went to Bayern Munich, Paulinho.

9:09I thought he was brilliant in the World Cup. I thought he was one that could have possibly gone to Liverpool just to sort everything out in that middle of the pitch, make that spine strong, let the rest of the players play. But when you think of Dutch culture, you think of top of football, don't you? You wonder whether he'll try, as you say, he tries to Bozzolaj in there. He might try McAllister in there. Now, they are good players, but when you talk about protecting a back four or two centre-halves they're not quite in that league but as I say you're not going to get anybody in that league I think the interesting thing was when you look at Arne Slott's play it looks a little bit more technical obviously you say a Dutch coach than Jürgen Klopp and you think of what Jürgen did in that position he brought Fabinho in I'm not sure Arne Slott's going to bring that type of football I think he's looking for someone who can actually get on the ball and play and I thought, well, actually McAllister did that role for Liverpool a lot last season, but Liverpool definitely lack legs and energy in midfield.

10:09If you think of how they finished last season, it was McAllister, Endo and Harvey Elliott as the midfield three. All got great strengths, but none of them can run. And when I look at that position, I say it's a fear. I don't know if Liverpool will bring anybody in, but if they do, and it's a total footballer, will he be too similar to McAllister in what they sort of used in that position last season and you sort of lack that physical presence, that energy as Scolesy said there to actually protect the back four No you are spot on, I think if we just have to see how the start of the season goes I feel that he can't take too much from the pre-season to be honest in his style of play because he's still got the likes of Trent to play, I'm dead excited to see how he's going to use them as long as Madrid go away to the end of the transfer window so it's just sort of seeing how the beginning of the season goes.

10:58I'm not betting on us going for the title. I don't think we're going to be in those three. I'd be happy this season with a top four finish and a few good cup runs. That's fine. So you'd be happy with what happened last season? Yeah, when the new managers come in. Listen, the start of last season with Jürgen, you felt like everything was stable. It doesn't matter if all the players went, you've got Jürgen. But we don't know about this fella. He seems fine. But as a Liverpool fan, I know all the other clubs are sort of used to switching and changing managers, but Jürgen's been our manager since I was 14, so I'm feeling unsteady by it.

11:30Even listening to Arnie's press conferences and he's not coming out with it, like that line, like he hasn't got the I'm the normal one line or that in five years we're going to have one title. I was watching his press conference waiting for that sort of like inspiring sort of moment and we haven't had that. And listen, you look at Shankly and Paisley, different personalities, still managed to be great, but I'm just taking it quite late. You've got to accept that. You're not going to get another year. No. But what I would say, about Jürgen Klopp in terms of you could buy into everything he said the way he was I think even other supporters not everybody most supporters you sort of you like listening to him didn't you and speaking I was the same with Alex Ferguson even when I was rivals with them they had that gravitas when they spoke Mourinho I think Klopp had that the new manager may not have that so we can't use that as a criticism against him he's not Jürgen Klopp but what we've also got to remember at Liverpool is Liverpool didn't win everything with Jürgen Klopp you know we come second a lot which was probably doing really well at times because Man City was so good but we wasn't like we won everything so there's definitely areas we can improve and be more successful and maybe win more 12 years so I think we've got to try and take the positives I know I am trying to take the positives but it's difficult it's all new for me and it's not just Jürgen that's gone either it's a lot of his backroom staff as well and Jones is coming out and saying like the training's dead intense and like they're all struggling with it they all say that with a new match yeah well I'm not used to that am I at the minute so I'm just getting used to that but yeah I'm excited I am excited at the same time you look at it you sound it I'm just missing Jürgen so much I think Clive you think this is the season for Arsenal don't you why are you trying to read my mind again you can't finish second three years it has to be this season here we go I'm excited because I'm enjoying what we're doing but we're not playing against a dog and duck are we we've got Man City and Liverpool we were talking earlier wouldn't we that what Liverpool pre-season some of the things they're doing are quite good you know they are playing more the pitch is smaller so maybe the running ability may not be so required right need a player like him at the base of the team and they can get away with that right so I think that's what they need as for Arsenal I think if you look at us from 30 ,000 feet you look at our left hand side of our team and you'd say we're a bit vulnerable on that side of the pitch defensively maybe and our build up on that side needs to improve and so the right hand side everyone knows about it and by me it was a game that really told us that we've got a weakness because they stood on that side the right hand side and they tripled up on there and we're at the Champions League and so how we build from that I think it's really important I was just looking at some numbers this week and looking at how we play obviously I'm loving what we're doing but we've got to get five more points to beat this lot right we have to right so how are we going to get that and how are we going to guarantee that a number of our first goals came from set pieces last year.

14:21Can we guarantee that? Could that number improve? People are going to be looking at us now. And so we've got to think about how we can be efficient in the box. People say buy a striker. For me, it's about efficiency. That comes from a number of ways. A number of focusing on finishing properly, you know, and really taking care to own the story of a game. If we do that, I think we'll be in a better place. You think they'll win the league? Is that just because you think it's due a different team, City can't win it five times, or is it about Arsenal actually having that quality to actually take over Man City?

14:55I think it's a little bit of wishful, more wishful thinking than anything, because City are still the best team, they'll get me wrong. But Arsenal are clearly not far away. I think the thing they're missing is that little bit of mentality where they can actually go on and do it. I think last year, sometimes when you're rivals, when you're going for the league with another team, as we went with Liverpool, as times ago with City, times with Arsenal, you have to go to their ground and win in a big game. Now, I remember watching the game at the end of last season, I don't know how many games are left when it was, but City were struggling a little bit and Arsenal went there and played for a draw really and they were delighted with the draw.

15:36Now, if you win that game, Arsenal win the league. I've no doubt about that. I can't remember how many games left. Eight games to go to one. Is there eight games to go after it? And that momentum is massive. All of a sudden, you're killing Manchester City. You're killing your main rival. They're gone. It's like a dagger to the back, honestly. It absolutely destroys you. And then all of a sudden, your confidence is coming, and it's coming, and it's coming. And you end up winning every game. You should win the league. And when I saw the celebrations after that game from Arteta and the players...

16:07Don't mention celebrations were Arsenal. Oh, sorry. I forgot about that after you. But they were so happy to draw the game. And I thought, that's wrong. because if you go there and win at such a vulnerable time for Man City, I think the difference is between winning the league and not winning the league. Do you think it would be different this season if you went there in a similar situation? I think, can I just count that a little bit? I think at the start of the season, if you said to me we're going to take four points from six from City, four points from six from Liverpool, I'd be punching the air, right?

16:35But the bar's changed, right? It keeps going up and up and up. And I do think there's something what you said is correct. it's time to go to Anfield and win and it's time to go to City and win but it's like you've got to know the course and we know the course now we know what it feels like it was a surprise two years ago we were there for real last year but now we know the course we know the requirements and I think that's the key thing I think the four points the other way round would have been better so if you get your point you draw early in the season I tell you once it comes to the end of the season when you get into April, March, March, April.

17:14Them games against the rivals, it's so big. Honestly, you destroy. That's when you win the league. And I just felt with the celebration, when Arteta was smiling after the game, coming on the pitch. And I really like Arteta. I think he's done a great job. But I just think that shifting mentality, when you come to them big games, when you need to win, that's what you've got to do. I think a lot of people I've spoke to and mentioned in Arsenal, that they think it's just that one step. and I get it because I think for a lot of last season I was watching them with the ball, without the ball. Almost looked like the best team.

17:46It was so difficult to score against them. The thing I worry with Arsenal is, you've just mentioned how many goals they got from set pieces. Can you do that again? I think how many injuries... We all know what Arsenal's first 11 was, roughly. I think nine out of the first 11 played 35, 36 league games. That's tough to do again. And what I would say in the last two years you've very rarely gone far in a cup competition. You know, the domestic cups, you've gone out quite early. That always helps a little bit. I mean, are we at that stage, I feel, Arsenal are now, where, yeah, you want to win the league, but you've got to win something.

18:20You've got to be, like, going to the... You know, even in Europe, going fair to get into an FA Cup. You might win it, but your team's too good not to go another season without winning a trophy. I totally agree with you. I think the expectation is we should win something. But to win multiple, be in multiple competitions and do well, you need the depth of the squad. If you're honest, the first 13 or 14 was good. But he never plays the other ones, does he? Are we saying they're not good because we don't actually see them play? The same players play every game. Because the first team has really gone to a place where the gap between the squad players and the key players has just grown.

18:56It's not a failure. In football, you just reach a level, right? If you don't play regularly, your level drops. So I feel that gap got too big. and when it comes down to it, to go to City, you can't go there with hope. You've got to go there with your best team and he kept playing it, kept playing it. And he got us to 89 points, right, and 91 goals. Most of them scored in our history. So something is going in the right direction. We just need to do the final bits that you're alluding to. Scorsi, do you think the, I think the still lack a world class, not so much a striker, attacker. When I see sort of Arsenal, look at Saka out of that front race, is brilliant.

19:35But then when I look at City and I think Haaland, De Bruyne, Foden. I mean, I'd put Oldergaard in that. I just look at the centre-four position and the wide left and I just think it could do with someone who I don't know, but you know, do you have the feeling? Do you think they've got enough in their attack? Like, world-class? Yeah, do you know what? It's hard to say they've not got enough because the amount of goals they scored. It was ridiculous and you say set-piece was a big advantage for them. I think signing a centre forward would help it, definitely. I think signing an out-on-out number nine, who will guarantee you 25, 30 goals as Man City have, then yeah, I think, well, I'm pretty sure it would help.

20:19It's just that of them people out there, I know Ivan Toney's probably the one who's been mentioned a lot. What is he, 28 years of age, I think. I think in Arsenal's team, he could score you 25 goals. I think in a lot of teams, he could score you 25 goals. I think it's where you look at Liverpool's front three or four would you probably swap them for your front three or four? You think of the qualities in there with Salah and Nunes not so much he down with Nunes struggled a little bit he has five attackers who think they should play in that front three in terms of numbers I mean we've mentioned what we would call say the top three from last season in terms of trying to win the title hands up Who thinks Arsenal, I think a lot of people may think Man City, but who actually thinks Arsenal can stop Man City this season?

21:12So the two Arsenal fans. So most people, yeah, we all still believe that Man City win the title. Yeah. Yeah. I think it's a good point about, I think it's making the squad stronger. I don't like going back to when we won the Leeds, but there was time to rest players when you can trust them again. You can trust six or seven changes to come and play against a weaker team and you still beat them, you still beat them quite convincingly. Arsenal haven't got that luxury, have they? We're building it. We're building it slowly. You're getting it. Yeah, slowly. We're building it slowly.

21:53Alright, the team, we must say, was a bit of a shock going into the top four last season. Aston Villa, you've had a grin on your face since the show started. What are you thinking? Do you think it's a flash in the pan? Because we've seen teams in the past get into the top four. And then Newcastle last season, we've seen sort of... Did Leicester do it a few years? No, Leicester didn't do it. I'm just trying to think of teams who got in the top four. Everton did it probably 20 years ago, but they just get in there. Do you believe you can stay there? I think that's the objective now, is to stay there and try and remain there.

22:26I think Newcastle found that difficult last season as well. But Emery's come in first season seventh, second season fourth. We've got a real stacked out squad of good players. And I think that's just the aim to try and mix it and remain there. I think if I actually had to answer and say what would be a good season, I think qualifying for Europe again. I think we want to be a team that's consecutively playing in Europe. I think that's really important for Emery. But just to try and compete and grow. and I think a lot of people wouldn't have expected us to qualify for the Champions League last season.

23:00I think we had a lot of injuries that I don't think a lot of people talk about. Mings, Buendia, Ramsey, Kamara. And we've got those players coming back now as well. So our squad is better than last year. And I think a couple more signings, we should be able to remain and hopefully stay where we are. What do you think about the signings, Luke, in terms of Anana and Mattson? They're the ones that stand out that you think may go into the first 11. Those are the two big ones. I think our left-back actively acts as a winger, so I think he was Champions League left-back of the tournament, so he's got that sort of experience playing in the Champions League.

23:35Onana, I've always felt like he's a player that is more than just a sitter. I think Emery can develop him and try and get him pushing a little bit further forward. I think with Kamara being injured until about November, he's probably going to play a little bit deeper for us. So I think with those two players, it's good. I think we've lost Douglas Luiz, which is a blow. I don't think we could have done anything about it. We had PSR issues, and I think if we had to lose somebody, I think he's the one that we would probably have said, yeah, we'd rather lose him than Watkins or Pau Torres. So I think he's the one that sort of made way.

24:12And we've lost the RB to Saudi, who I think, for me, needs replacing. I think we need to replace the RB because his output was really good for us last season, and we need a different option up top as well. I mean, is Aston Villa an example of what a manager can do to a football club? Did you think of where they were a couple of years ago? Yeah, they were in a bad place. Well, it wasn't that bad, but still in the Premier League, I suppose. It wasn't that bad, but the manager coming in Emery, he's got great experience. Not so much at the bigger clubs, but it seems to be them... I don't know how...

24:50No, just below the elite. Just below the elite, yeah. I wanted to be respectful towards Aston Villa, a great club. Like Valencia. Like Valencia, Sevilla, that's what I was going to say. He's been very successful with them type of clubs. So you have to trust him. I think the big worry for Villa, again, will be squad size. Because you think of Newcastle last year. We talk about teams having to play the same team. They went through a spell. Horrific injuries. Oh, horrific injuries. The same 10, 11 players were playing every single week. and they were just shot to pieces. Not disagree, when you said about Douglas Luiz going, he had to go for financial reasons.

25:28You said, I think he'd be a big miss. I thought it was brilliant for them. Now, who comes in to replace him? They obviously have Tielemans, who again, a little bit inconsistent, but I think he is a really good player. He's not that number six footballing number six. I don't think he is one that more likes to get forward. I don't really see the Inanna thing. I've not seen it while he's been at Everton I didn't see it I didn't see it at Belgium either when he said 50 million quid for him I just thought ooh that sounds a little bit too much now look Henry being the manager is he might get something out of him it might be a club that suits him I don't know but where I'm stood now 50 million for him just seems like a lot of money I was never really impressed with him too much at Everton I thought he did alright when I saw him for Belgium maybe a different style of football as well but as I said it would be interesting to see if he can replace Luiz in there But, I mean, another team who will be looking to take your place and fighting for those top four positions will be Spurs.

26:25Come on, talk to me. What are we thinking? Well, I think I'm really excited for the new season. I say that every season. Yeah, I know. I am excited every season. You've got to remember where we are with Poster Coglu. A lot of criticisms of how we defended, how open we have been at times. But really, the project at the start of when he took over at Spurs is to change the philosophy of the football club. and changed how the fans felt about it. And he's done that without question. The difference from the club that we supported under Conte to the one we've got right now is starting day. And, you know, Villa quite rightly got a lot of plaudits for finishing the Champions League, but we were two points off them in the start of what is considered to be maybe a three or four year project with Posta Cogli.

27:11You know, we spent decent amounts of money, but yeah, I'm hopeful for a new season. We're playing good football again, and there's an identity to the way we're doing things. You say a three or four year project. Do you think he'll be there that long? Yeah, I don't know what... People are asking this... But why isn't that question aimed at Emery and Villa? He's got in the top four, he's achieved something. Or Sean Dyche, for example. We're Tottenham... I think if you're a Tottenham fan or it's your club, you always think they'll do a little bit more than maybe most people outside. I think most people in here would say Tottenham are a team who would fight for the top four would maybe just miss out.

27:48In the past, when you've done really well, what Pochettino did was brilliant. Do you think he's capable and you're actually getting his back to where Pochettino was getting you consistently in the top four? Yeah, of course. There's Postacoglu's tactics and his ability to motivate and you've got to give him time to create a squad to see what we're capable of. It's not just a case of taking another manager's players and fitting them into a system that's completely different to everything they're used to. so we don't know but it's unfair to judge him on the fact that we didn't qualify for the Champions League this year I absolutely believe that he has the ability as a manager to deliver and create great moments for Tottenham and I feel we will finish in the Champions League places this season so yeah I mean I'm super confident Scorsese you watched them last year I'm sure you would have loved watching most people enjoyed watching them we love watching Spurs because it's mental.

28:45Yeah, well, I'm coming to the butt now. But do you think they would have to change it or alter anything to sort of be more successful, maybe get in the top four in terms of being stronger defensively? I don't think he will, will he? I really like the manager. He's adamant. Remember the game last year? He got two or three sent off and he just kept doing the same thing. Look, it was great to watch, but it was fucking madness. No, no, it was mental. I'm not going to change the way I do things. In that moment, it was about instilling an ideology in the players I think so it didn't matter we were always going to lose that game down to nine men I thought that was important and the fact that he won't shift what you just said he won't shift the full back I admire him and I do enjoy watching his team I like watching him speak like listening to him I think he's I think he's brilliant I think it's a bold shout saying you'll be in the top four I think the top three are virtually done for me already in Liverpool City and Arsenal and there's like four or five teams I think I think Fed You think Spurs are going to finish third?

29:45Finish in third. That isn't a mental shout. It's not a mental shout. It probably won't happen, but it's not a mental shout. It will happen. I'm convinced of it. Jamie, you're just looking at me. This guy's an idiot. But I genuinely believe. Are you in the Europa League? I think we could, yeah. You could finish third in that.

30:10I'll take fifth in Europa League. Are you happy with the people who've actually gone? Dier's moved on, Hoiberg, those type of players. They weren't fans' favourites. Are you glad? I mean, Eric Dier should be greatly respected for his time at Spurs, you know, 10 years or so. So he was popular, but perhaps more for his statesman-like behaviour and how he talked about the football club, less than his abilities on the pitch. Although he has, you know, gone to Bayern Munich, to be fair. Yeah, Hoiberg, Dier didn't fit into the post-coglu system and he's brought in players that are profile players. So Archie Gray, massive money for an 18-year-old, but looks the business, wants to look out for, for sure.

30:50But the biggest problem, there were a couple of problems with Postacoglu's system last season. It was how open we were at the back, but moreover, how our inability to keep possession in difficult areas in the front three. And that will be massive this season. What lessons can be learned and fixed based on how exposed we were at times last year. But, yeah, third. We'll go to Adam on Manchester United. Eighth last season. I think you're worst finishing the Premier League, but you finished the season with the FA Cup. Where are you? Where are Manchester United supporters right now on the situation at the top of the club with the manager and the ownership?

31:32I've just been on a tour, so I'm feeling super confident because you're in the sun in California and all that and you're watching your team, Rude Van Nistelrooy is there. Got a little bit of swagger. Did you not watch the Liverpool game? I was, to be fair, at half-time, I switched off. I went to the bar. But no, it was good to be out there. And you kind of see what's going on with Ineos' introductions of Wilcox and Ashworth and Barada. And it feels like there's a collaborative effort going on now. You see them all at the training pitch. That obviously brings pressures with it to the manager, I think, because he's being constantly watched.

32:02But I did want to see Eric Ten Hag with that structure in place. I wanted to see him with those guys in place because I think he can do something at the club. And I think a lot of the coaches that were being linked, Gareth Southgate and all that, like, do me a favour. I didn't want them anywhere near Manchester United. So I wanted to see Ten Haggim some time, even before the cup finals. Seeing him win it, it was great. Obviously a great day out at Wembley, but we need to do something proper in the Premier League this season. It hasn't started well because we're bringing Lenny, our old young lad, he gets injured for three months, kind of continuing our form from last year with the injuries.

32:35and there's a few places we need to fix like the holding midfield position for me when you were speaking about Liverpool I think in a couple of years everyone's going to be knocking on Palace's door for Adam Wharton and the price for him could go sky high because everyone needs a player like that at the moment and that's someone that we need Casemiro's legs are gone at times and I think if we have to play him 40-50 games next season then we're in trouble so we do need to bring someone in in that position but it does feel like there's been a shift in momentum and it feels like there's a little bit more confidence around the club when you've got football people making decisions.

33:11With the Glazers, it kind of felt like they went, right, you're the manager and I'll piss off and make it work. And they never really seem to help the manager out and it does feel like they're doing that at the moment. But he needs to get off to a good start because with Ruud being there, I feel like a couple of games in, if the camera's going to keep cutting to Ruud looking at his watch and all that and the talk's going to start for Ruud Van Nistelrooyd. We've got to do some business. we keep looking at a right back which I don't mind but left back's a big issue for me you've got Luke Shaw who could only be asked to get fit for England isn't fit for Manchester United he'll probably turn up broken biscuits at Carrington this summer and then you've got Terrell Malassia who's an NFT for all his life he's never been about so we need to sort out left back we need to get in another centre what has happened to him?

33:59do we know? has anybody said what's wrong with him? I genuinely don't know It must be 14 months now. Christmas again. Yeah, he's out again. I don't know what's happened to him. And he wasn't a starter for us, but he was someone that challenged Luke Shaw. And Luke Shaw needs a little pride. He needs a little bit of a challenge. I don't think it'd be a challenge. He'd be more of a replacement if Luke Shaw was injured. There's not many better than Luke Shaw when he's fit. What do you think, Scolsy? I mean, you seem pretty confident in the fact that the structure behind him, the club's more together, and you think that'd be a big help.

34:27He's still got a lot of business to do. No, but what I mean is, Do you share that confidence just because there's no owners or are you just looking at the manager? No, I have heard a lot of United fans saying recently that they're excited for the new season. I'm struggling to get excited for it. We were talking beforehand about the middle of the pitch being an area where it was just empty most of the time. The team's just breaking through us all day long. You mentioned Casemiro's legs going a little bit. he's never been that type of player anyway he's never been the quickest around the pitch he had great players around him I think at the start of last year with Mason Mount coming into the team I think Ten Hag is quite he's a coach who likes to go for it I think then he had to change because it wasn't quite working I think he tried to play Casemiro with Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes which two number 10s two footballers really I haven't really bothered about playing that position well so that quickly changed obviously Mason Mount got injured are we going to see a fit Mason Mount this year even if we see a fit Mason Mount when he was signed he doesn't play instead of Bruno Fernandes and that's the only position I see him playing but I still think there are other areas of the pitch which are a problem you mentioned the young centre-half coming in yeah great but he's 18 years of age he's already got injured Martinez injured a lot Maguire got injured towards last season Lindelof no Varane and look Varane was good but again, injured all the time.

35:57I still worry about the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper's a big concern for me. Even watching the pre-season games, a couple of goals he conceded against Liverpool. I worry to death about him. Do you worry for the manager? Because there will be a lot of eyes on him because of the situation at the end of last season when there was that two or three week period where he wasn't quite sure if he was still going to be the manager. I mean, we all know how the world works. If Manchester United get off to a poor start, there'll be so many eyes on him. how do you see that playing out? Yeah I'm concerned for him he has to get off to a good start it has to be so much better than last season you know when they stuck with him I was quite happy because I do like the thought of continuity we've been through so many managers now it's just ridiculous but on the other hand to that from the first season to the second season you like to see a bit of improvement but anything and it got worse.

36:54I think the injuries didn't help Lassie. I know I'm kind of making an excuse for him. I think he got a lot of things wrong, but the injuries were disastrous. There's talk about us possibly bringing in De Litt, who I think could be a good signing, because then you don't have to rely upon Lindelof and Maguire, who I don't think will ever be good enough for Manchester United. Do you know what on Manchester United I talk about bringing players in who can't get in their team from Bayern Munich. He's not playing for them. That has to be a big concern for me, especially when Eric Dier is playing in front of him.

37:24I think he did have a few injuries last year. I'm not joking. That is a massive concern for me. When you're bringing in players for£40-50 million, just because he's played for him three or four years ago, Juventus got rid of him. He wasn't good enough at Juventus. He's obviously not been good enough at Bayern Munich. And he's coming to us as almost like a second-rate defender now. I don't know. I think De Ligt would be a good signing. I like that. Do you know what? He might be. Don't get me wrong. Well, the manager knows him, doesn't he, from Ajax? Yes, of course. That's a big boost. And he's Dutch.

37:55And he signed Anthony as well. Yeah, but you've also got to look at forward players. We haven't got... Hoyland, could he score 25 goals for this season? I'd be amazed. I'd be surprised. When you look at someone like Ivan Toney, if he could come to you, could he score 25? I think he could. I feel sorry for Hoyland, mate. Yeah, look, I think he's really good, Cara, but he's been brought into this country as a 19 years of age. He's asked to be the number nine for Man United. It's an iconic role going after players who are scoring 25, 30 goals, brilliant goals and winning league titles. It almost feels like he should have gone to a mid-table Premier League club for two or three years and then get to that.

38:38To me, he should have been a second... You said that, not me! He should have been a second, third or fourth striker at our big club. Now, bringing experience, and they brought out Zerksi, is it? I'll be honest, I've never seen him play. A big season for Rashford, you know. He's got a regain. I'm thinking more about centre-forward. I think he's got to try to take pressure off. I think Michael's going to play centre-forward but he's much better to that left-hand side. I think goals are going to be a problem. I had a little look at Zerksi. I don't think he's a great goal scorer where he's been. Italy is behind Munich's second team.

39:10He's got like 40 goals in nearly 150 games or something which coming to the Premier League it's going to be more difficult That right-hand side's a bit of a worry as well because you look at that and you go, we spent about£200 million on Sancho, Anthony and Ahmad. It's also Garnatio who can play there. Yeah, Garnatio can play there, but I'd like to see him on the left challenging Rashford. Rashford needs to be kept on his toes a bit this season. Out of four or five, they're probably the best too, but they both want to play on the left-hand side. Adam, what's success for Manchester United this season at Ten Hag?

39:43Get back in the top four, see where we're at in Christmas and we'll never know when. But I think it could be a weird season. We don't know what Liverpool are going to look like. Aston Villa could struggle with that addition of Champions League football. A top four could become doable for a lot of teams. And if you can get top four and then build from there, make the manager feel comfortable in his position again and hopefully get a little bit of confidence. I've seen a swagger from him, you know, and he seems to have a little bit of a... He's Dutch. He has a little bit of an aggression about him.

40:10I like this comment after the cup final where he went, well, I'll go and win trophies somewhere else then if they don't want me. I like that. I hope he brings that into the season because last season he felt like he was a little bit overwhelmed by it all at times and everything was catching up with him. I like him, man. I want to see him be a success. It's gone way up, Tabor. Huh? It's gone way up. Before Ang, you're mentally. He's first out of the door, stitched on. We'll be singing Ruvan Nistra a trial at our last time. It'll be all right. Scores it, where do you think? United will finish. I think the very best they can do is fourth.

40:45They've got to improve on the eighth, haven't they? Has the manager got to change the way he's set his team up? Adam mentioned injuries before. Do you think injuries was the problem or the tactical set-up with the team, or was it a mixture of both? Yeah, I think probably a mixture of both. As I said earlier, he thought he could be a little bit gung-ho in the Premier League, and he found out quickly that he couldn't be in them. You think about the cup final, where there were a lot more discipline in the middle of the pitch. Shamrabat played got around the pitch man played without a striker exactly yeah sometimes when you play against these big teams you've got to sacrifice your belief sometimes we'll see we've seen the Premier League last year with Burnley they'll be Southampton this year who'll try and play the same way but you've got to sacrifice your way sometimes just to get yourself results and it's all about getting results but performers forget about it if you win a cup final it's got to be the result against the best team now there will be times in the Premier League where you can go for it and you might be okay against some teams just being a bit more expansive but in the main there's so many good teams knocking about I think you've just got to be disciplined There's a nucleus there I think to be hopeful about though you look at Carby Maino, Garnaccio you know Hoyland is still young, you're bringing in Lenny Arrold there's like a nucleus of young players I think there's a few coming through the academy as well that are looking good so there is hope there for Manchester United fans especially with some of those young lads at the Clash The market's uncertain.

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42:53Newcastle, another team who finished above Manchester United last season. Lee, the Newcastle fan. How long will you have Eddie Howe before he becomes the England manager? So initially when Amanda Stavely and my dad departed, I was like, hmm, Eddie lost an ally. That's what I was concerned about. but Darren Neal has recently come out and said that Eddie Howard actually signed a contract last season which was kept a lot from the media and even us as Newcastle fans were really surprised we didn't say that I think it would cost the FA somewhere about £15-20 million to get him out do they really want to pay that and get him?

43:33show your money then I don't think he will go I think there is a little bit of uncertainty at the moment with the change especially with Paul Mitchell coming in and obviously he's done a couple of interviews in pre-season That didn't go down well did it with Eric Howe He came out and publicly said something didn't he About having more control at Newcastle In terms of the transfer and the run of the club Do you think that was a clash early on between him And the new director of football in Paul Mitchell I wouldn't say a clash I think it's a little bit of uncertainty He doesn't know the boundaries he's talked about Transfers haven't gone that well this summer If you look at who we've brought in It's basically a couple of goalkeepers back up We're going to be signing a Sheffield United striker who hasn't scored a Premier League goal.

44:14There's injuries last season galore. Everyone's talked about injuries. We had the worst by a mile. We had two goalkeepers on the bench, something like for 20 games running. And that effect of it, can Carroll Wilson stay fit? Because he brings you goals if something happens to Isaac. We need that right wing position strengthened. It's not a great side on that football pitch. So there is a little bit of doubt. But one thing that we have, funny enough, in our favour is we don't have European football this season. every single other club that we've talked about does. And I think that'll help us in this season coming up, where we're only playing one game a week, whereas the rest of the teams are playing two, and I think that'll help us.

44:52How do you feel about, obviously, the only ship come in that took a lot of money. You're probably the team who've been probably affected most in that. You'd love to go by players left, right and centre, the way probably Chelsea and Manchester City did in the past before these new rules come in. I mean, how frustrating that for you as a fan? it's very frustrating because you've seen Chelsea do it you've seen Manchester City do it we've got the money, we've got the richest owners but we don't have the richest club so we've got to build a commercial side we had to sell two youngsters we call a PSR deadline on June 30th, we had to sell them just to balance the books it is frustrating because we know that the money is there we can go out and pick a player because the money is there we can pay them the wages but I understand why the rules are there but sometimes you need to look at it and it needs adjusting I feel because there's clubs that can go crazy and Newcastle aren't allowed to and obviously they don't want another Manchester City happening where there's another dominant club buying players and be dominant for years and that's why the rules are in there, protect smaller clubs and so on.

45:52But it's very frustrating because we've got to sell before we buy, which is mental. Well, one team who always spends money is Chelsea and we've got Alex here representing Chelsea. I feel like I need to be on the couch lying down for this comes it over here. I mean, another change in the summer. I mean, I was gobsmacked that Pochettino left. But you've got a new manager in now, Maresca. The pre-season's been shocking, hasn't it? I just, I don't even think everybody else gets to sit here and talk about what's going on on the pitch and that. We're not even there. I can't tell you. Anyone in this room who sits and says they think they know what Chelsea's going to do this season is full of it.

46:31I've got 46 players on the list still at the moment. And then junk coming out of Maresca already about how Conor Gallagher and how, oh, it's the league that have done this to us and we're having to sell all our homegrown talent because of the financial. Stop buying everything with a price tag on it. Like, there's just no self-control whatsoever. And like you say, it was gobsmacking. The only explanation, plausible explanation for Pochettino going is that he had had enough. And he's literally said, give me my retirement plan. I'll walk. I'll keep my mouth shut. You can have it. But it's hard. I was talking to Clive before.

47:03It's not about winning. Chelsea fans aren't annoyed because we're not winning everything. I think everyone here gets that because they're proper fans. What is annoying is watching some faceless organisation that won't even talk to the fans, kind of ripping the still-beating heart out of the club, if you like, and getting rid of, and the disrespect with which it's perceived they're treating players like Conor Gallagher, like Mason Mount. I don't think we can even be talking about what's going on on the pitch because who knows? You've spoken so passionately there about the club and how you feel about the ownership.

47:36How long do you think it would be before what you're saying there really transmits itself to the masses, if you like, at Stamford Bridge and there is almost a campaign to almost sack the board? We hear that a lot, don't we? Sack the board. I mean, how close are Chelsea fans to really revolting against the ownership of the club? See, the problem is that the match-going fans are a minority and they don't care. They either get it and they don't care or they don't get it. I mean, they were told at the very highest end of inside the club by someone who's not there anymore, you need to go and talk to the fans.

48:10And if there is a plan, tell them what it is and they'll get behind you. But that washed for a while. We saw progression. We finally kind of broke our heads above water and saw something better at the end of last season. And then, I mean, if he gets to swear, I get to swear about. Then they shit the bed and get rid of the manager. And we're back. At the end of last season, I might have said to you, I want to go for top four next season. That's why I see us back up there challenging. Now, I just put us anywhere in the top half of the table and whatever. But like you say, I'm not convinced there's not a complete meltdown on its way unless I just come out and talk to us and tell us what the plan is and tell us what the thinking is, because it doesn't feel like there is any at all.

48:54What's your thinking, Scorsi, on this Chelsea situation? Ownership, change of manager, players left, right and centre coming in? Yeah, look, I don't know too much about the ownership. I totally agree with what she said, though. At the end of last season, didn't they win five games on the trot or something? Yeah, so you saw building, you saw a progression, you saw a decent manager. I mean, all right, we hated his guts on principle when he first arrived. Yeah, look, he's a great manager. He is, and I thought he dealt with a lot of grace as well, the situation he was in. But he's a classy man, isn't he?

49:26Yeah. What you're saying is he's got a lot of... And what our owners aren't is classy. Yeah, and when you saw them get, I thought, right, here we go. Chelsea, they're going to be a lot better next year. They're going to challenge him. They'll get it right through the summer, which you'd have to expect him to because of the experience he's got at big football clubs. Now, to bring Mareska in, I was amazed more than anything. To come from Leicester, he'd been manager at Palmer, I think, and had a complete, complete disaster. Obviously got the Leicester job on. and he's probably getting his jobs on the back of working with Pep, really, as a lot of people do.

50:02A lot of people got jobs at Man United. You spoke in the past, didn't it, with Jose? Anyone who worked with Jose got jobs, didn't you? Yeah, well, dude, up in United, Brian Kidd, Blackburn, Steve McLaren got jobs, Mike Trudeau. No, there's a list of them. Carlos Keros went to Real Madrid for him. So there is. There's a list of them. Now, I think a Chelsea manager, a Chelsea going down this head coach role. Oh, I feel like Pochettino went because Pochettino, was not allowed an opinion and not allowed to have a say and a stake in what he was trying to do. And they literally, it does seem like they want a puppet.

50:36And they'll always find one. I'd take the job for nine months. I work for nine months, then you fire me and I walk away with£10 million and never have to work again. Yes, please. Well, I see Maresco as a coach. He looks like he'll just be wearing a tracksuit for the rest of his life. As a coach, do you know what I mean? With his initials on and all that stuff. but at Chelsea you need you need to have character and personality to manage that football club to have success you think of the ones they've had I just think what they've obliterated is our identity it's all this head coach stuff isn't it all this head coach well and as well in the squad tell me what we are like are there 11 players in there that might be good probably I haven't got a clue you've signed a couple of midfield players probably two of your worst players last year and what did you pay for him?

51:24100 odd million? Lots. And I know you're getting rid of Conor Gallagher now, 30 million. He was probably one of your better players. I know that's all your PSR reasons. But the PSR reasons, it's funny. You keep saying the PSR reasons. We've got to sell Conor Gallagher or we've got to sell a local player. Just stop buying players. This is what we were saying before. He was going to do this rant for me because I was going to swear to him. Oh, buy better players. Yeah. If the players aren't good enough. Stop buying everything. I'm not good enough. I come in. And we all do it in the summer, don't we?

51:53You've got Sky Sports News on, you've seen something at the bottom, who's buying who or whatever. It's always Chelsea putting a bid in. 20 million for this player. And they'll buy a goalkeeper, and I'll be thinking, they've got a goalkeeper. Or there'll be a strike. I think they've got three. You've got five keepers now, I think. I think those people, we talk about Todd Bolivar, I think people underneath him who actually maybe do the running of the club and maybe scouting players and directors of football, they're obsessed with buying players and they possibly feel like, if we're not buying players, what am I actually doing?

52:20I do get that feeling with those Chelsea people that are almost that championship manager, but you're just constantly trading players. People keep saying it's like football manager watching us do business. It's not. It's like watching AI run a football team. Do you think they're trying to buy young players all the time to sell them on later for profit? I have no idea because they don't say. We don't know. They just keep spending all this money on all these players. I don't know where they fit in. I mean, we could stick a pin in any one of our signings, but really, why bother? It feels like they're trying to do what City have done with Alvarez.

52:54I'm not saying City have done that intentionally. I think Chelsea are trying to do that. Well, now apparently we're after an Atletico. And this is, again, there's no thought process to going after a striker that is, OK, he's Atletico Madrid, but actually he spent last season playing a team I've never heard of, somewhere in the depths of La Liga, and scored eight goals. And we're going to spank like 50 million on him. Great. But I think you forget a little bit about, when you think of this era of Pep and Klopp, Chelsea were so close to break it. I mean, they beat Man City in a Champions League final.

53:26I think Liverpool, I think we beat them on penalties, beat us on penalties twice in domestic cups. So the games were so tight, they were so close. Tuchel could take on Klopp, he could take on Pep Guardiola in one-off games and win those games. And then this new ownership comes in, and it's just been a disaster in terms of where you find yourselves are right now and when you talk about bringing young players in to maybe sell them in the future or to create a great team there's only Cole Palmer who you've brought in who most of us probably sit back and say oh he looks a tasty player and my worry for Chelsea would be Pochettino's got to be given a lot of credit for how Cole Palmer performed last season because no one expected that not even Pep Guardiola otherwise he probably wouldn't have sold him for 40 million and then you look so you mightn't even have that Cole Palmer this season I'm sure you will, because I think he's fantastic.

54:16But a new manager comes in, it's different. Listen, me and Scorsese were talking about this before. The way the pre-season's gone, you've got Man City first game of the season. I'll be surprised if Maresca's the manager there at the end of the season. Very surprised. I do think this season, more than any pre-season, is just not a read of anything with the amount of players. I mean, we're 10 days out now, aren't we? No, but get that. It just feels like extended training. We get 4-0 by Celtic. Yeah, exactly. and I just don't know who is his starting XI. I don't know, probably the XI that are fit.

54:49I just don't know. I couldn't name you while starting XI and I don't think he could either and that's concerning. I think if you're going to ask me to predict for Chelsea what's going to happen this season, frankly, getting to the end of the season without firing another manager is, give us that and somewhere in the top half and you don't get an opinion because you haven't won anything. I feel sorry for you, I really do. because if I was in your shoes... I love it. Seriously, you've not won anything since a decade before the moon landings and you feel sorry for it. Wow. Well, OK. Tell me why. No, no, but if I was a Chelsea fan, I'd look at that squad of young players that you had and that could potentially...

55:29It was a dynasty for Chelsea, potentially, and it's all wins sold. Well, 2021, like you say, we were capable of beating City in that final. We weren't capable of putting a run together of 38 games to beat them in the league, but we were on a stepping stone towards that and this lot have just set fire to it all. It's crazy, yeah. And with what aim, none of us know because they don't speak.

55:56Well, Amy, I'm sure you're going to give me a bit of positivity about Ipswich. One of the stories, certainly, of last season, or the last couple of seasons, really, and the job that Kieran McKenna's done. I mean, how positive are you going into the new season and when you actually think about what happened last season, to the three promoted teams all going down. I mean, how are you feeling about the new start to the season? Beyond excited. We've all been getting our new shirts lately and having the Premier League badge on it, having not had it for 20 years is just, I think we're all still on a high.

56:25I still get well, I still well up thinking about the day we went up and those final weeks, the build up to it, just incredible. And it all just exemplified exactly what Kieran McKenna has done for us in the last three years. It's crazy. I've just been sat here thinking my youngest is about to turn five. And since I had him, we've been relegated, had a couple of years in League One, the worst time as fans. We've got promoted from League One straight up through the championship. Everyone told us last year that leap is too big. You're going to struggle. You need to be sensible. But we all just had this feeling because he is magic.

57:03He just knows exactly what he's doing. And I've got this feeling in the pit of my stomach that we could do something special again next year because we've got that momentum. You speak a lot there about the manager and it's obviously the great job that he's done. And you talk about the excitement of the last few weeks of the season. What were those few weeks after the end of the season like when it looked like he could move on? That he will always be the single most important signing of this summer. Had he gone, I think we would have all accepted that we were coming straight back down. He makes the right decisions for the players.

57:36He makes the right decisions for the games. He motivates the players. We, when we were in League One, that team was so divided and so, like Paul Cook came in and absolutely wiped the whole slate clean, got rid of everybody because the negativity, people were getting just fed up, fans and players. So to see them all have pulled together, and that is Kieran McKenna that has done it. He has picked. He's even, he's saying it in all his interviews at the moment about it being the right type of player coming to our club. We're not just going to fill holes in. We need people who are willing to care about the community, to care about the club.

58:16I think that's what we've got now. We've got League One players playing in Premier League now. It's nuts. But they love the club and they play for that badge and they play for him. So he is, for me, the single most important signing that we've made. Scoles, you mentioned before to me that you thought but they may have an outside chance of staying up. I think at Burnley last season, and you said before as well, they didn't adapt. Do you think that could be a big learning curve for them, what happened to Burnley last season, and that they will have to adapt if they are going to stay in the league?

58:48Yeah, I think so. I don't see Kieran McKenna as that type of coach, as a visiting company where you're a little bit stuck in your ways and you want to play that same brilliant football to get out of the league. I think Ipswich are different. I think they play such an exciting brand of football. It is great to watch. They throw bodies. And it reminds me a little bit of Man United teams. I watched them loads last year. They scored that amount of late goals as well when they're really struggling, they're behind, they're coming back, they're scoring last minute, equalises last minute winners. I just think they'll take it by surprise and they will hurt a lot of teams.

59:26Now look, at the other end, they're going to be facing better quality. that there's no doubt about that. I think at home, especially as well, I think if you can get your home form right, I think they could stay up. You're excited about who you've brought in? I've seen that you obviously brought the lap in from Manchester City. To be honest, for me, the main one was Omari Hutchinson. We've had him, he joined us last year. He was one of the absolute key players for us last year. Scored some incredible goals, scored 10 over the whole season, but really important ones, a draw away at Hull, right in the closing end of the season and then scored the final goal of the season on promotion day.

1:00:05He's just a really exciting young player, perhaps one of the ones that Chelsea have bought to sell on for a little bit of money, although I don't think you've got as much out of us as you might for other players. But I think he's been incredible. And so he, for me, again, it goes back to what I said about keeping that momentum up and keeping the right kind of people at our club. And it feels like what that is, what we have at the minute. But Kieran has said that for him, it's about making sure we have two quality players for every position. And that is where I'm just sat listening to you guys talk about these names that are just blowing my mind.

1:00:38And I just think, yeah, you know, we haven't even got a first team squad really yet. And he wants the biggest squad. And we just have got a long way to go. If they're anything like Omari, we'll take them. Well, Jay, Leicester fan, I mean, you can see the excitement here from Ipswich coming up. Is it similar with Leicester? Because obviously you've been there before. You've actually won the Premier League. How are you feeling about coming back up? I think it's a bit different to Hibs, which, I mean, they've not been in the Premier League for a while. We sort of went down when no one really expected us to go down.

1:01:09I'm excited about the new season, but at the same time, we've got FFP. We've already got a points deduction, which is going to come at some point. It's in the region of between six to 15 points, which is a lot of points to get deducted. And of course, that means we can't spend as much money. The players we want aren't wanting to come to us, and the players we are buying, not really the sort of calibre of players to sort of, I don't think, keep us up. So I think it's going to be a struggle. I'd say anything above 17th and I'll be happy this season. What do you think about Maresca going initially?

1:01:38Were you disappointed? I mean, what was the feeling around the manager last season? Because you were expected to come straight back up, weren't you? Yeah, I think there could have been a handful of managers that could have got us up last season, but Maresca was the one to do it. And he got us playing some nice football. I think towards the end of the season when we were dropping in form, He sort of was very stubborn and wasn't changing it. I think the best performance I saw from us was when we beat Southampton 5-0. And at the end of the game, he came out and said, I wasn't happy with that performance because we didn't play anything like Mareska wanted us to play.

1:02:10So I think for this season, I actually wasn't, and I think a lot of Leicester fans, weren't actually that upset with Mareska leaving and getting Steve Cooper in because Steve Cooper, I think, is an honest manager. He'll say it how it is. He won't take anything from the players. where he'll just play solid football, which I think is what we need. I think Mareska would have been too stubborn and kept us playing this passing possession-based football, sort of like what Burnley did last season. They were very stubborn in how they played. I think if we had Mareska, we would have done that and I think we would have just dropped straight back down.

1:02:37So you actually think losing your manager in the summer, Mareska, and bringing Steve Cooper in, who has got Premier League experience, is actually a bonus for you? Yeah, I mean, Steve Cooper kept Nottingham Forest up when he was there. So he's sort of been there, done it. I know it's a bit different because we've got points deduction and whatnot and we've already have this style of play we've not got too many new players coming in so it's going to be hard to sort of integrate his style of play to it but yeah I wasn't happy but I was happy for the£10 million donation from Chelsea But Martin the Southampton fan is it fair to say your manager I mean he likes to play almost total football doesn't he Russell Martin do you think he'll be one of those managers who we're talking about next season saying he should have changed, he should have adapted or were admiring the fact that he stuck to his principles?

1:03:25I really like him. I think he'll adapt as well because throughout the season we let a lot of goals in last year in the Championship. We had a huge amount in the Premier League last time. But the one thing he did, he adapted when we got to the playoffs and like I said, we were leaking goals, we went to Leicester, got absolutely thumped that night and we thought it was all over at that stage. Went to Ipswich, we lost late on, a lot of late goals in. But when we got to the playoff campaign he made us harder to beat. He went to a back five, and the playoff line was unbelievable. I thought we were superb that day, but he did adapt, and I think he will have to do that next year without any doubt.

1:03:59He's made some really good signings. They've got Flynn Downs in the door, who I think will be immense. He's a brilliant player, and he deserves a really good chance at the Premier League. Taylor Harwood, Bellis in from Man City, brilliant bit of business. 20 minutes, I think, is a steal. I think he's going places big time. The one area that really concerns me for Russell was he likes, like you say, play total football, Jeremy. And he will need a goalkeeper that can play how he wants to play. He doesn't have that. I think Aaron Ramsdale is somebody that he needs to try and get in if he can do a loan.

1:04:27And a striker as well, because we've got to find goals. Adam Armstrong scored goals last season in the Championship. But the prior two years, he only scored four in two seasons. He was brilliant last year, 24 goals. He was our talisman. But we're going to have to really step up next year. Home form will be so key for me. we need to make St Mary's a really hard place again back at the Dau Paul would say when you went down to the Dau it was a tough place to play wasn't it tough place yeah it's not tough they change kits yeah and the home form is everything isn't it as a promoted side I think we need our fans behind us can we have sticky I think you'd have more chance at the Dau yeah definitely the Dau was worth so many points you think about that with Ipswich ground as well that's a really tight ground atmosphere there can be brilliant those news don't create it do they those news teams It was like, well, you've got that.

1:05:15So don't create the atmosphere. But the one thing we did do back in the last season, our fans were immense. In the playoff campaign, everybody come together, stuck together, really got behind the side. And if we can do that next year, we'll give ourselves a real chance. But we will need everybody. Russell will bring in leaders. He wants characters over talent, he said. And I think that's really important. The big worry I have about Southampton is the goal is going to score. I think you mentioned it there with Adam Armstrong. I always think teams that come up, if they can score goals it gives you a real chance that's why I've got half a fantasy for Ipswich because I really think they'll score goals they play brilliant attacking football they throw players in the box I think you're going to have to rely on the likes of Adam Armstrong to score your goals and I'm just not sure we've put Brent Diaz in but I'm not sure he's in the Premier League with Sheffield United yeah he got 6 and 14 games in a short period of time just on the low end of last season but I think we need more I think we need to go and find somebody that's played in the Premier League that can lead the line and find goals because a goalkeeper and a striker would be everything to us.

1:06:19Who do you think will stay up? I don't know if it's three. Ipswich. Do the two go down? Sorry, I think Southampton will go down, yeah. I think that's a very Burnley-like situation. Look, I don't mind managers having their philosophies and sticking to the ways of being stubborn about it because that's the way they believe it should play and that's the way they want to get out of it, as company did, as they found out they fell short and they couldn't score enough goals as well. And I think Southampton will be very similar. Leicester, I don't really know. Can't work Leicester out. I think he made a lot of really good points, but the one advantage you have, they've got a manager who's got experience of staying in the Premier League.

1:06:59The points, obviously, to auction could be a problem. I think something about Leicester is they'll have that mentality. I think sometimes the mentality of believing you're a Premier League club. I think at times last season, even with Luton who I thought were brilliant they don't believe they're a Premier League and I think that was probably a situation for Ipswich even your supporters and players playing in the Premier League do we actually belong here you know that's because you haven't been there for so long so I always felt last season it felt like the three teams who came up felt like they were championship teams and the three teams that went into the championship were actually Premier League clubs in some ways but Leeds obviously didn't make it back so I actually think that mentality maybe of Southampton and Leicester maybe gives you more of an opportunity than Ipswich I can give you a bit of arrogance as well, Leeds United.

1:07:41Sorry, but they were too arrogant, as it turned out, in the end. And they didn't keep going. Everyone said we were going to bottle it, we were going to tail off at the end. And that confidence, that excitement, actually, was what pushed us forward. And I do think we might be the ones who can do that again next year. I hope so. Thank you.

1:08:04So, prediction time. All of your hot takes Of the season Big Steve Come on Shock us What do you mean? What's your hot take? What's your big prediction? Of the season I think Aston Villa Are going to struggle And I think Crystal Palace Are going to do well Yeah Good shout out Yeah okay Clive? I think Arsenal Are going to do quite well and I think one of the big things that happened this year will be the amount of games I think it may impact the quality of football we're going to see I think there's a lot of games at the top end of the league extra champions league games and I think we've already just come out of Euros where we've watched a lot of tired players I think quality of matches is going to be key and how you manage that situation for teams so the ones that can stay fit and healthy, that's going to be the big talking point for someone like you.

1:09:05OK, Adam? I think Marcus Rashford's going to have a big season this season, you know. Why? I think he has to. I've seen this. He looked, I don't know, it was very briefly, but he looks like he's got a little bit of drive, a little bit of confidence. Did he smile? Doing things. He doesn't, he never smiles. But I don't mind that as long as he scores some goals. It looks like he's doing things off instinct again, which I like. He seemed like he just had the world on his shoulders and he couldn't enjoy it. I hope he starts enjoying his football and he gets back in the goals. Martin from Southampton.

1:09:35For me, I think Ipswich and Southampton will both stay up and I think we'll both do it. I think we just might have enough about us. I think the fans will be massive, like I said. I'm going to go with Tottenham to sneak top four. I think they'll do it this year. I like Poster Coglou, like the way he plays football. So fancy you guys for top four. Alex, come on, shock us. Something on Chelsea? We might not end the season with the same manager we start with. That was mine Alright, at least one of our players that we've signed of the four million that we've signed will turn out to be semi-decent Luke, Aston Villa I'd say we could win a trophy I think where Emery is at Villa I think Villa fans all want to see us lift a trophy and I think we've got an upper trajectory and I think we're a good team and I think we'll still be in the mix for top four but I think if we can win something it'll be amazing Amy, I'm expecting more positivity on Ipswich.

1:10:32I feel definitely really buoyed by what you guys have said. I wondered if I was being a bit naive with how confident I am. I think mid-table and certainly the bottom half, but the top end of that, and I think we're going to really surprise people whether we can keep that going, whether that impression that McKenna will give will mean that he goes on to bigger pastures in the future, I don't know, but I'm hoping that we can prove that it's not just about money, It's about the way the whole club is set up. Flav, is this Tottenham season again? I think Arsenal won't make top four. Fifth. And I think Archie Gray will be named young player to you.

1:11:11OK, good. Newcastle? I think we'll finish fifth, Newcastle, and qualify for the Champions League through the back door for the Coefficiency. And I think Ipswich will stay up and will shock a lot of people at home. Do you hear you, Clester? I think Enzo Mareska will get sacked before Christmas. I think so. And I'll beat Liverpool. I'm going to have to be positive now, aren't I? Because I've been shown that I could be a negative. I think we'll probably get to Wembley a few times in the truth. A few times? A few times, yeah. Go on, we'll do the cup double with Arnie, I'll say. OK, all right, we'll take that one.

1:11:49Scolzi, what was yours? Someone take it. The two people have took mine. Maresca gone by January I've got another one And Ten Hag No And Ipswich to finish in the top 12 Wow Top 12 She's taught me round Yeah The news has in there It's brilliant isn't it What's mine? Ten Hag gone by November International break We'll either win the league Or vanish to rugby Our manager at Christmas One of the two I know which one it'll be

1:12:25right thanks for joining us for the fan debate brought to you by Skybet make sure you join us next week

1:12:51You