Another twist in the title race

Joel (Manchester United) and Nige (Manchester City) are back to break down all the big talking points from the weekend.

Gabriel v Haaland - old school brilliance or too much ? 

Arsenal… where are you at? Have they blown it again or is there still life in the title race?

Manchester United grind out a huge win away at Chelsea with a makeshift defence – is this a turning point or just papering over the cracks?

We somehow end up talking Rochdale and York… but there is a reason (kind of).

Plus, predictions for the next round of fixtures and a big question – is Rodri off to Real Madrid, and could that actually help United in the transfer market?

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Second again, only.

SPEAKER_01 0:03

Who was to blame for your comedy goal?

SPEAKER_00 0:05

I'd be laughing my head off at Ganacho.

SPEAKER_01 0:07

I personally, as a football fan, love that. Hiya, and welcome back to This Is The Season podcast. Not a lot to talk about this week. As you know, this is the Premier Manchester City, a Manchester United podcast. Coventry have been promoted, Wolves have been relegated, World Cup's here in 51 days. That's it, really, isn't it, Nig?

SPEAKER_00 0:24

Is it heck? We have got a title race and a half.

SPEAKER_01 0:28

How exciting were you coming in this morning?

SPEAKER_00 0:30

Oh, I loved it. Absolutely loved it. I've been dying for this.

SPEAKER_01 0:34

I mean, you know, so much, so much so you couldn't be asked to come in yesterday. No, well, we were still noodled yesterday, were you?

SPEAKER_00 0:40

I was working. Yeah. No, we had a big celebration afterwards. Uh, not celebrating the league because we haven't done that, but just how important a victory it was. A lot of people, uh, well, there's been a few people saying, no, too much celebrating. But from where we were and the points difference to now having a chance of being top after Wednesday night's game if we beat Burnley. Um, you know, you you can't not celebrate the wins as you get them. You've got to.

SPEAKER_01 1:06

So Man City now, odds on favourites to win the Premier League title. Are you like five from six or something like that? Because Liverpool won last year, didn't they?

SPEAKER_00 1:13

Yeah. We've um we've we've I mean, yeah, we we had four on the bounce, didn't we? In Liverpool, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:18

All right, okay. Right. So you go in Burnley. We'll talk about that in a bit. We'll talk about Manchester United. We'll talk about more controversy. Should it have been a red card? I mean, it's probably been done to death, but we haven't talked about it yet. So let's just go to it now. So from day one of doing this podcast, from the very first day of the season, you says, and you were confident that Man City would win the league, and you have not faltered from that, even when you were nine points behind.

SPEAKER_00 1:45

Yeah, I I still had the belief that we'd win the league, and uh I have still got it. I it's definitely not a done deal. But uh, yeah, we're we're we're looking good, and you know, everybody was talking about Arsenal winning the quadruple only about two, three weeks ago.

SPEAKER_01 2:03

So look at me.

SPEAKER_00 2:04

Uh, and uh, you know, it could be uh a treble for City, a domestic treble. It could be a domestic treble, but you know, there's a long way to go, but we're in a good position for both.

SPEAKER_01 2:16

Where's this come from? From November, Pep was uh scratching his beard and going, you know, this team's not gonna, you know, we need to bed in and whatever, we're not title contenders.

SPEAKER_00 2:26

I'll tell you where it's come from. It's come from the return of Rodri to almost his uh his former self. He's still got a bit of work to do, and unfortunately, he's picked up a bit of a calf injury as well.

SPEAKER_01 2:37

But is he what he's injured again, is he?

SPEAKER_00 2:38

He went off injured after the Arsenal game, so we'll wait for Pep's um conference against uh Burnley, but I don't think he'll risk him in the Burnley game. Uh big game, big games. It is a big game, it's a huge game. If we win, we go top. But the other thing is the signings of Mark Gay and Semenya, definitely. I think the two most sought-after players uh in the Premier League, and City got them for an incredible price. Um, and it's given us every chance and it's given the squad the depth it needed. Uh at the time we were a bit loose with injuries, everyone's coming back at the right time, and it's it's promising, it really is. Your favourite little player, uh, Ryan Cherkey. Yeah. Um at the beginning of the pod, when we first signed him and I'd seen him play, I saw him play. The first time I actually saw him, I'd heard a lot about him, was when he played against you guys in the Champions League for Leon. And was it it was Leon, wasn't it? Yeah. And the amazing comeback, yeah? He looked, and everyone was talking about this player and how good he was going to be. Uh, and it's just the way he plays football. He's amazing to watch. He's a little magician.

SPEAKER_01 3:43

I think it was Europa League. I mean, I can't cast my mind back for Champions League. It probably was. Me lad now going, Demand and I never play in the Champions League. Well, yeah, we used to every year, but not now. Now, so um, I listened to Paul Scholes on a podcast this morning saying that Turkey would not get in the side of Manchester City um two years ago. What do you think about that?

SPEAKER_00 4:02

I don't know. I mean, when Foden was playing as well as he was playing, and also obviously then we had KDB as well. Um, I mean, if we're going further back to David Silva, he's a bit David Silver-esque. He reminds me a little bit of Silver. The goal that he scored against Arsenal was very similar to Silver's first goal for City uh years ago when he played against Blackpool and he turned them inside out and scored an amazing goal. It's that low centre of gravity. He's just so skillful, so hard to get the ball off. He's an absolute magician, and he's also very similar. It was similar as well, that goal to uh Georgie Kinkladse years ago, his goal against Southampton that was just well, to this day, one of the one of the greatest goals I've ever seen in real life. No, Giorgio Samaras. Amazing. No, no, we're talking about serious classes. He's he's a he's an incredible footballer and he's a joy to watch.

SPEAKER_01 4:53

Alright, let's go to the Arsenal match then. So you you you said going in, what did you think it was going to be?

SPEAKER_00 4:58

I had a few, I I just said if we score early doors, we'll be okay, but I think I might have said 1-0, 2-1, and it was it was 2-1.

SPEAKER_01 5:05

Yeah, it was 2-1, and I said 3-0. Arsenal, and you said, where's that coming from? Now, so you you you go up quite early, um, fast pace. Um, let's just move on from there. Who was to blame for your comedy goal?

SPEAKER_00 5:19

What do you mean? The the the goal straight after. Well, I mean, first of all, let's talk about how good Cherky's goal was. You can't just move on from there.

SPEAKER_01 5:26

You pretty much right, he scores he scores a goal.

SPEAKER_00 5:28

It was his job, he's got to move on. Mate, it was it was an insane goal. Come on, you'd still be talking about it now if it happened six months ago to a United player. It was an amazing goal, and it was against the two uh supposable best centre backs in the in the league, and he just told them. He just tore them inside out, and uh, you know, what a finish. It was it was an incredible goal to go 1-0 up, and the atmosphere was already electric in the Etiad. After that went in, it was just insane. And then obviously, just a huge mistake. It was from Donna Rummer. He should I mean, listen who passed it to him? No, it was a throw in. Yeah, but who threw it who threw it back? It was um I think it was Nunes who who did the throw. But I mean, he had space, he had time, he did throw it. But why is he throwing why is he so they can play it out of the back again? Well, that's what they do. That's what they do. He should he should have got rid of the ball a little bit quicker. He took too much time, and it was a major, major mistake. But if you balance out the whole game, the saves he made later on made that they made us win the game. So come on, it's uh it was a huge mistake, but thankfully, we're not talking about the mistake because we're now talking about his amazing saves and the fact that we're three points off the league with a game in hand.

SPEAKER_01 6:38

But if this was 1-1, is this not Emmy Martinez last year at uh Aston Villa when he got himself sent off and they missed out on you know qualification for Euro? Is it a good one?

SPEAKER_00 6:48

It wasn't that though. It could have been, but it wasn't that. I mean, listen.

SPEAKER_01 6:51

He was pinned off by PSG because he's no good with his feet, right?

SPEAKER_00 6:54

I don't think so. There was a there were a few contract negotiation issues with him as well. He uh, you know. The thing is, mate, you are you're dying for me to criticise Donna Rummer. I'm not Don Rummer. We we're fortunate to have two fantastic goalkeepers. Trafford has played amazingly well in the cup. He'll be playing this weekend against Southampton. He's not put a foot wrong, but he's that good. I just as I again I don't want to. I feel sorry for him. I don't want to keep repeating what I say every week on the podcast, but I really hope we don't sell him. I hope he goes out on loan somewhere because he is too good to let go. And he he will potentially be uh city's keeper first choice one day. But Donna Rummer is one of, if not the best goalkeeper in the world. He's amazing. Where's your head at this point?

SPEAKER_01 7:39

So because you you've gone from ecstasies. I couldn't believe it.

SPEAKER_00 7:42

I was I was absolutely gutted uh because Arsenal they didn't deserve to be back into the game at that point. We'd already hit the post. Arsenal came good after this as well. It gave them that little bit of bite, didn't it? And thought, right, we can get at these, we've got a goal that easy from a mistake. It gave them confidence. But um I was I was a bit like, oh, it's gonna be one of them games. Uh because we'd already hit we did it hit the post. I thought it was amazing I was like, from where I was sat, I thought it was handball as well, the chance before we scored, because it hit him at the top, it was like his shoulder, but he it although he leaned his arm back out of the way, he's been doing that, his body then leant down. It wasn't as blatant as Bernardo's when he did it off the line in the Champions League against Real Madrid, but in the Champions League, something it could have been a different story. However, anyway, it doesn't matter. But when you've hit the post and then a goal like that goes in against you, you kind of go, is it our day?

SPEAKER_01 8:41

I want to talk about the battle between Haaland and Gabrielle. Now we called it, you know, we we said it was gonna happen. Absolutely. I personally, as a football fan, love that. Yeah, I love that, and it was like proper old school defender against a forward, two big lads just going at it. And Anthony Taylor, referee, I'm not his biggest fan. I think he makes a hell of a lot of mistakes, and I think he's really arrogant. I thought he was brilliant.

SPEAKER_00 9:08

What was refreshing as well, it's also a m a load of praise needs to go to both them players because they they they fully went for it and they weren't throwing themselves on the floor whenever there was contact, and that's why it was a proper battle. How many times now do you just see players just dive on the floor and roll around and over exaggerate a hard challenge or whatever? It was proper footy, it was brilliant, wasn't it?

SPEAKER_01 9:33

It was a real battle. You are died to say if that was Bruno Fernandez, he'd have gone down and rolled himself to the hospital. Well, he completely would. Kikarea is the one that comes at the springs to mind.

SPEAKER_00 9:41

Let's talk about that. I mean, the incident with the with the head butt or whatever. There is a coming together. There's a bit of me that kind of goes, well, let's hope now that uh a bit of good fortune goes our way because he didn't roll around on the floor and he could have been out for three games, right? So let's hope that something good happens now to City because of because of that.

SPEAKER_01 10:01

So what what would have happened? So this is a good karma, yeah. Go on. What would have happened, yeah, right, if Gabriella stayed on the pitch because Haaland hadn't gone down from uh you know an air shot into the heads, like leaned in. So it's not a red card anyway, right?

SPEAKER_00 10:15

But if Gabrielle had come up from a set piece and scored and made it 2-2, yeah, well, I mean, again, we would have, I would be, it would have been the first thing that I was moaned about now on the podcast.

SPEAKER_01 10:25

We wouldn't have got this far around the pitch. So was it a red card, yes or no?

SPEAKER_00 10:28

I and yeah, yeah, you I always go with the pundits who played the game as well. As fans, we all think that that was a red card. Even the pundits. Well, it's a red card in the roof, but it's not.

SPEAKER_01 10:38

I don't want to see you don't want to see a red card for it.

SPEAKER_00 10:40

It's worse than the red card for pulling hair.

SPEAKER_01 10:43

Right. This is what really did me head in because I thought about this all week, and Martinez might as well have just gone into um Calvert Lewin and just give him a forearm right in the nose, broke his nose. It's a three-match ban for severe, serious, violent conduct, yeah, as opposed to pulling his hair and pulling his bobble out of his hair. So it's it's the same thing. So, you know, but refs there, it's a bigger game.

SPEAKER_00 11:07

The thing is, what's VAR there for? That's the thing.

SPEAKER_01 11:10

I know the same, they're trying to get the same with the ref no, listen, it's the same VAR team that called the Martinez Calvert Lewin. So where's consistency?

SPEAKER_00 11:21

This is what I'm saying to you. It's it's it's it is ridiculous. It's it's crazy. And I'd not even thought that, but yeah, imagine if he'd have gone up for the reset piece at the end and sculpt it would have been a nightmare. I mean, imagine if we, you know, I don't even want to think about losing, I'm not putting it out there, but if he then gets the the winning goal in the next three games that he could have missed, I don't know. Do you know what I mean? It's it's one of them, but this is why I'm just putting a bit of good karma out there.

SPEAKER_01 11:45

And this is what you've got to say if you're on skysportsnews.tn say that's why it's the best league in the world.

SPEAKER_00 11:52

Do you know what though? Before that, there was a challenge where Haaland ended up throwing his shirt, his ripped shirt, into the crowd.

SPEAKER_01 11:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:59

Because they were pulling at each other and going for it. And what is this? What is this? It is ridiculous, and it must be very frustrating. I can see, I I could have seen, I they've done well not to be ridiculously hot-headed, hot-headed. Haaland has anyway, because he could have easily lost his shit because he's he's been he's been pulled, he's had his shirt ripped. Every time he's up for a challenge, he's grabbing hold of him. I mean, even when Haaland scored the winning goal, there was some pulling and pushing before it, but you can't then all of a sudden clamp down on that if you're gonna let that go throughout the whole game. And he took his winning goal brilliantly well because there was a lot of pulling uh between the two of them. It was 50-50, but he managed to come out on top and got that winning goal, and the place went berserk, let me tell you.

SPEAKER_01 12:45

Well, let's be fair, Haaland shouldn't have been on the pitch anyway.

SPEAKER_00 12:48

Why?

SPEAKER_01 12:48

Um, because when he got the second yellow after the incident with Gabrielle and the headbutt and all that, he got a yellow there. Right. I thought the little stakes, you're not allowed to take your shirts off. What do you mean? What? Because it's ripped. Yeah, but it was it he he took his shirt off during the game. So it's it's in the right, I've got a rules here. But but that's a yellow card.

SPEAKER_00 13:06

He says in the small print, if your shirts rip, you're allowed. Just have a look. Always check the T's and C's, mate.

SPEAKER_01 13:12

Right, okay. So you should so you shouldn't have been on the pitch for a start.

SPEAKER_00 13:14

He should. Uh anyway. He was amazing. Honestly, they all played. I'll tell you something as well. Um, two players who we need to mention from that game Bernardo Silva Silva and Jeremy Jacqueline. No, Bernardo Silva and O'Reilly. But first of all, Bernardo Silva, I mean. Do you know what? I'd let him go in all. He's just going on there now. He was unbelievable.

SPEAKER_01 13:35

That's coming back from Man United fan here.

SPEAKER_00 13:37

Why are you let why are you letting him go? Because you can't force someone to stay. Bernardo was an agreement. Bernardo's been there for years, right? He's he wants to he wants a bit of sunshine in his final career, in final, you know, he wants to go and get a bit of sunshine. He does, mate. He's put up with this Manchester weather for ages. He's been insane. He's he's a club legend. I love him. I'll be gutted me. I'll I like I can't have too many beers on our last game of the season. Because you'll cry. It could be a very emotional day. I mean, at Aston Villa, uh, we we we've been here before against Aston Villa last game of the season. We were 2-0 down, remember? Yeah, yeah. And then we came up, we came back and won 3-2. That was one of the best, other than the Aguero moment. Like, that was that was almost equally as dramatic when we uh when Gundwan and and and and and uh KDB came on and just did that. I mean, listen, it's gonna be a tasty end to the season, but he was incredible. Did you I mean the the clip aga as well that's doing the rounds is him uh he's basically one-on-one, and he's he's right at the bat there. He's the last man in defence, and he manages who's I can't remember the Arsenal player's name, but he's he's fighting against him and he gets gets the tackle, knocks out play. There is an hand ball in there as well. He's just he just he's just honestly, he is again, he's just uh an incredible player, and it's gonna be hard to replace him. It really is gonna be hard to replace him because he's so good and he's played in so many different positions for City over the last like well since Pep's been here. He's played all over and he's just amazing. How many players can play in that many positions? O'Reilly, he can. Now he could be the replacement. He's he is just one of our own, he's insane for a big tall fellow.

SPEAKER_01 15:16

He's a lot taller than you think. When we're talking about footballers, you think it's the taller than you think. Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 15:20

He's a really tall man, he's a he's he's he's he's a build, and he's a bit of skill as well. He's amazing, he's a class player, and he is definitely the young player of the year. He's gotta be. He's just he's just amazing. Uh love him, love him, love him, love him. So, yeah, it's uh it's it's exciting, it's tasty. Arsenal, how are they gonna react from this? A lot of people are trying to find a bit of positivity in how they played because they didn't, but they weren't defensive, they had a few chances to. Do you know what that SA goal would have gone in? Yeah. I mean, how did that? It couldn't have hit more of the inside of the poster not gone in. It was like, wow. So you've got to have a.

SPEAKER_01 16:00

Because I've got Arteta, you've got to give Arteta some credit because he could have sat there and he's what a draw. You know, he'll take 0-0 to take 1-1 at a at a push. Yeah, yeah. Right, nil-nil, he's parking the bus. He didn't. I looked at that team and I was like, this is a this is an attacking team here. So I think that show respect not only to Pep and City, but also to the Premier League as a as a whole. I mean, it was a bit of a stupid thing to do, to be fair.

SPEAKER_00 16:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:23

I mean, he should have just Sean Dijked.

SPEAKER_00 16:26

Obviously, they they paid big money for Victor up front, didn't they? Um some seriously big money. So he's got to play him. And I I think if I was an Arsenal fan, the way that they were set up there without a striker, but this is what I mean. They look much more aggressive. Um, and you'd be I'd be questioning why he wasn't playing that formation um uh in some of the other games that they've they've they've messed up in, like your like your uh Bournemouth game, for example, where they were 2-1 at home. Like, you know, that formation worked better. They looked on a different day, they could have scored three three goals easily, Arsenal.

SPEAKER_01 17:01

Right, you know what? I have a pop because he's an English fellow as well. I thought Declan Rice has been phenomenal this season. I thought he was pretty poor.

SPEAKER_00 17:07

He was schooled by Rodri, mate. That's why. That's what I'm saying. Rodri, this is another reason why we're up there now, because and why we are uh a million times better than we were four months ago before Christmas. Um he's just he's honestly he's it Rodri is he he's such a a beast of a player. He really is. Um and yeah, it's uh I just hope he this injury that he's got. Apparently it's calf injury, don't know anything yet. Um hopefully it's not not too bad, and if it is, it's it's a week or something.

SPEAKER_01 17:37

Couple of papers are putting out this morning. We talk on Tuesday morning, the 21st of April, that Rodri is off to Madrid. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:43

Uh well, I mean, they've been talking about that for ages. Let's see what happens. It's it's he's got he's got one big paycheck left, he's got one big move left, and City will be matching it with a very, very good offer to keep him, I'm sure. Because he usually will be amazing, mate.

SPEAKER_01 17:57

Yeah, but as soon as as soon as KDB was starting to get crocked, you you were st he was straight out the door. Is it is this not the time now?

SPEAKER_00 18:03

No, he's he's a lot younger than KDB. Was he 29? He's a lot younger than KDB. So that's that's the reason for that.

SPEAKER_01 18:09

Okay, so if he goes to Real Madrid, that means that Man United can get that replacement for Casemira at Real Madrid. What is he called? Um the French lad, uh Chimane or something like that.

SPEAKER_00 18:18

Is that good you don't know his name?

SPEAKER_01 18:19

I hope you sign him. 80 million from Monaco up to uh the 100 million.

SPEAKER_00 18:24

No, he's half decent. Right, great. I mean, shut up, Dick. You need to learn his name and then see fine at who you're signing. Right, well listen, let's let's talk about you guys now as well.

SPEAKER_01 18:35

There's not a lot to say, is there? I mean, it's a brilliant win against uh against Chelsea. Yeah. Uh can I just be really honest? I went to go and watch uh Crew versus MK Dons.

SPEAKER_00 18:44

Right.

SPEAKER_01 18:45

Um and had a few drinks.

SPEAKER_00 18:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:47

Uh after the game.

SPEAKER_00 18:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:49

During the game, before the game. When I woke up on Sunday morning, I couldn't remember the score.

SPEAKER_00 18:56

Right, brilliant. So you got absolutely smashed.

SPEAKER_01 18:59

Yeah, so I I did watch it, I've watched it back since. Well not the full lot, but it was just it was 1-0, wasn't it?

SPEAKER_00 19:05

If if I was a United fan, which is a horrible thought, my god, that was a horrible thought just then. Uh I'd be laughing my head off at Genaccio. I really would. Because just because of his attitude when he left, and then it's happening again at Chelsea, and I think he may think he's better than he is. I mean, I don't think he thinks he's Ronaldo, doesn't he?

SPEAKER_01 19:28

He does. I don't know and he's one of those ones that shows glimpses, you know, and it used to be one of those ones, a bit like Grealish, you look to the bench, and it didn't matter if it was England or it was City or it was Villa, and you'd look and you'd go, he'll come on and change the game a little bit, and he'd come on and buy the, you know, people would buy the fouls and whatever. Uh and Ganacho's got a little bit in him, but he's a little bit selfish and he's got no end product. I just don't think the premiership suits him. I think it's uh I think the premiere finished about 20 years ago.

SPEAKER_00 19:54

You know what I'm saying? Mate, you always take the mate. Well, I'll I'm old school, mate. Do you know what I mean? Old school. I still, I still I still shower with Imperial Leather. Oh, yeah, Bruton um. Uh yeah, mate. I'll tell you what then. Um I just don't think he suits the PL.

SPEAKER_01 20:08

Do you know what I mean? Old AG doesn't suit the PL. Well, the thing is, was it last season or the season before when uh drove to uh old Trafford? Yeah, and I think they had a picture of Rashford, Ganacho, and Bruno on there. They went quite quick. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They went quite quick. Looking down. So we're on level points now with Villa.

SPEAKER_00 20:25

The thing is, that was a massive result for you because of the points difference now between you. You basically, I mean, City uh at the weekend officially qualified for the Champions League. So that's good news. That's good news, isn't it? Uh so you'll be able to. Until you get your points deduction. I don't think it'll be long until you can celebrate that as well. I do think unfortunately you're gonna get in the Champions League.

SPEAKER_01 20:44

Why are you patronising me? Look, we're on 55 points, I think Semi is Villa. Yeah. Uh Villa were 3-1 up at the weekend, took it to 3-3 and then scored in the uh the final seconds to make it 4-3. So that was that. Um Chelsea ain't very good, mate. No. I'll be honest with you. Uh they're just, you know, I mean, watching it back because I I tried to watch it live, but I can't remember any of it. Um I think there's gonna be not very good.

SPEAKER_00 21:09

There's gonna be uh a lot of big teams looking for a new manager this summer.

SPEAKER_01 21:14

Well, yours are gonna be one, ours is Chelsea's one, Liverpool's one, and we've got Newcastle's another as well.

SPEAKER_00 21:22

Yeah, maybe Arsenal. If he if if City win the league, are they gonna keep Arteta? I don't know. Like I say, there's gonna be a bit of a it's gonna be a crazy summer, and we've got the World Cup, and we've just found out that City are going to the Far East after the World Cup for uh to preseason friendly as well. So that'll be good for the players' body clocks.

SPEAKER_01 21:41

So we have got another game coming up.

SPEAKER_00 21:44

Do you know what? Can I just mention something? Oh we are. Here we go. Before we talk I didn't mention Kushanoff. Oh, he's brilliant. No, before we talk about City's next game and and and United's next games, I want to talk about York versus uh Rochdale. Right. Have you heard about this? So no no, come on. Right. So in the uh basically the conference, right, the top two clubs at the minute is York and Rochdale, right? And they're on like about from memory, I think they're on about 107 points, and the other one's on about 109 points, right? So York were winning, and Rochdale were drawing. So York were about to get promoted, okay. And in the like ninth or minute of injury time, Rochdale scored to win and take it to the last game, which is happening this Saturday, and it is Rochdale versus York. So the winning team goes up. Both teams are on over a hundred points. The gap to the third place team is like 30 points, and only one of them goes up automatically. So that team who's 30 points ahead could end up being in a well will end up being in the playoffs, whoever loses that match. It's a huge game. It's gonna be on TV, hasn't it? We'll find out.

SPEAKER_01 22:59

It's got to be on TV.

SPEAKER_00 23:00

It's an absolute massive game, and obviously we're rooting for the our Northwest uh Rochdale.

SPEAKER_01 23:05

Well, well, no, because I'm from Scarborough and York were sort of the rivals, but I used to go and see him quite a bit at Booth and Crescent when they were going playing Man United Fake Cup, you know.

SPEAKER_00 23:12

We should have done this. You should have had a York top on, and I should have had a Rochdale top on.

SPEAKER_01 23:16

Mate, it's it's we've got no pictures. Yeah. I'm wearing a York top this morning. Yeah. Are you wearing your Rochdale top? I've got my Rochdale top on. That's a nice sponsorship. Who are you sponsored by uh Crown Oil?

SPEAKER_00 23:27

No, it's not, it's Lisa Stansfield. No, it's Crown Oil. Right, listen, I'll tell you something. What? AI can make that happen. Oh, can it? We are wearing those shirts, aren't we? Yeah, there you go. Um anyway, so I just thought I'd mention that because it is exciting. And I mean, what uh what an amazing finish to that league as well. It's crazy. Is it gonna be the same in our league? It's gonna be it's gonna be tight, mate.

SPEAKER_01 23:52

You've just got to go and smash Burnley. But you've got to go and smash Burnley by you know four, five, six, seven, eight, nine goals. None of this fanning about.

SPEAKER_00 23:58

We're recording this um obviously uh the day before the Burnley game. So we don't know how Rodri is. Um and obviously that game hasn't happened.

SPEAKER_01 24:07

He's in Madrid, mate.

SPEAKER_00 24:08

But we have to we I'm not bothered. I'm not I'm really not thinking we've got to win 7-0, we've got to do this, we've got to do that. I just think anything, we just got to win the game. Honestly, we've got to win the game tomorrow and we'll go top tomorrow. Um, and then who knows what's gonna happen. It's gonna be it's gonna be an exciting end to the season. But Daglas, you played you played twice before Mike play again. Yeah, yeah, because we play Saturday. On Saturday, I'm I'm off to London this weekend, off to Wembley, uh hosting the fan zone again down there, which is gonna be nice.

SPEAKER_01 24:39

I bet this is great for your house extension, eh? Yeah, excuse me. How many I mean, because I don't I don't like I like the final at Wembley and that's it. Oh no, mate, I'm I'm with you on that. It's it it takes it away a little bit and it's all money making, but you're down there and you're getting a few quill in your pocket.

SPEAKER_00 24:52

Yeah, I'll be able to scream down a microphone. I need it now to get some uh petrol for the Malone. Yeah, so you're down there, so you're playing Southampton. Yeah, so Southampton, and you know what? It's a tricky tie because the thing is, it's all about momentum between now and the end of the season. So I hope he doesn't rest too many players. He always plays quite a quite a strong team, and to be fair, our bench is pretty, pretty bloody good, isn't it? So I reckon we just have to win that game, not just because it's the FA Cup and we're out if we don't, but momentum to the end of the season. We've got to keep on winning, and even um if he does drop a few players and oh don't even want to think about losing to Southampton, but we have to win that game because the slightest little knock now could knock us or Arsenal off. And we've seen what happened with Arsenal after the after the League Cup final. It's happened again now against City. It happened the week before against um uh Bournemouth. So, you know, let's see how they are with their next game. How what does how does he how does he get them fighting for this now, especially if we beat Burnley?

SPEAKER_01 25:58

Sally Phoenix players, could he on emergency loan?

SPEAKER_00 26:00

Not before the end of the season. Yeah, Teves and Mascarano in. No chance. Um so what's gonna happen? It's it's just honestly, it's crazy, absolutely crazy, and you know that the panic in them Arsenal fans, they were absolutely gutted leaving the game.

SPEAKER_01 26:11

I wonder what you're feeling if you're an Arsenal fan. It's it's because you were the Arsenal fans were being really cocky, but some of them just know it's they're turning spurs.

SPEAKER_00 26:20

On the way out, um, I mean, everyone was singing at the final whistle as they were after the first time.

SPEAKER_01 26:24

When you say everyone was singing, me.

SPEAKER_00 26:26

No, no, but I mean the Arsenal fans weren't singing. No, no, everyone was singing second again, oh lele, second again, oh loli. And it's not because we think it's a done deal, it's because you've got to put it out there and get in their heads.

SPEAKER_01 26:41

Is that what you've done? Yeah. The psychological that's what it's all about. Uh so Man United versus Brentford. Uh, I'm unsure of uh who we've got in defence because we we don't appear to have any defenders. I must give Ms. Murray um that's Ms. Rowie. Uh and that nice little mention. He played with Aidan Heaven, who pretty much hadn't started under uh Carrick and after 15 minutes. He played really well, and Ms. Rowley was really good as well. And he's he's one of those players um that he can play anywhere. He can play anywhere. I thought Maney was really good uh as well at the weekend. Uh Big Bry looks a little bit slow. He looks a bit tired now, does Big Bry? How's he gonna cope with 60 games next next season? Um but no, it's okay. So Brentford.

SPEAKER_00 27:20

Big Bry needs to become medium, Brian, he needs to work on his fitness before before next season.

SPEAKER_01 27:25

So Big Bri came from Brentford, didn't he?

SPEAKER_00 27:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:28

So when he when he scores his hat-trick on Monday night, and you know how good we are at these evening games, Monday night, eight o'clock, is he gonna celebrate scoring a hat-trick against his old club?

SPEAKER_00 27:38

No, because he's not gonna get a hat-trick.

SPEAKER_01 27:40

He won't start. He's not gonna start, is he? He's not gonna start.

SPEAKER_00 27:45

And also, uh this is the thing as well, it's always I reckon it must be quite easy when you do because we've got Palace, you see, and it's one of them. If you're oh god, I watched Palace.

SPEAKER_01 27:53

I watched that Palace game last night. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_00 27:56

It's hard when two teams don't want to lose.

SPEAKER_01 27:58

But yeah, but it was nil nil, it was the most you know, some nil-nil are great. Yeah this was the ball fest of all shit shows.

SPEAKER_00 28:05

If that overhead kick would have gone in, that would have been a bit good though, wouldn't it? Yeah. Little scissor kick that would be very good.

SPEAKER_01 28:10

Um I'll support in West Ham because I think it's hilarious, it's supposed to go down. Well, I think are they gonna be playing Lincoln next season?

SPEAKER_00 28:15

I'm rooting for West Ham, and that game for City wasn't actually that bad. That result for City wasn't actually that bad because West Ham drawing, West Ham have got Arsenal at home uh still before the end of the season. That's gonna be a huge game because they they need to win to stay up, and Arsenal need to win to potentially win the league. So tasty fixture that.

SPEAKER_01 28:37

Right, give us a couple of your score predictions then. So and also at the end we'll we'll come back to who is gonna win the league and hand on heart. And also, you can analyse my £100 bet at Arsenal 4-1 to win the league that I put on the start of the season. So you can analyse that for me. Um, so your first game tomorrow night, Wednesday, against Burnley.

SPEAKER_00 28:56

I think we'll win that um kick 3-0.

SPEAKER_01 29:02

I think Burnley will score early like they did against Forrest. They scored, they scored it was the last kick of the first half.

SPEAKER_00 29:07

That'd be horrible.

SPEAKER_01 29:07

And but they were they were 1-0 up and then lost 4-1. Right. And then the Reds the Reds come off last last 30 minutes.

SPEAKER_00 29:13

Alright.

SPEAKER_01 29:14

I think they'll score early.

SPEAKER_00 29:15

Okay, well, they always put this out there.

SPEAKER_01 29:17

No, I'm just I'm just saying I think they will. They will score early. Ed's will come off, and then you lads will go on, maybe I'm gonna 6-1.

SPEAKER_00 29:25

Right, bloody hell. Well, I'll definitely take that. I think maybe 3-0. Did I say 6-1? Sorry, I meant 1-0 Burnley. 6-0. We we going for. Uh in all seriously. I'm gonna go 3-0 City against uh Burnley. I just think you know, we've got we even without Rodri, uh Nico will come back in and um I think we'll uh we'll be okay.

SPEAKER_01 29:46

All right, and then on to Southampton at Wembley again.

SPEAKER_00 29:50

Yes, uh again, I think he'll he'll potentially rest a few players.

SPEAKER_01 29:54

So Savinio starts, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 29:56

Savinio might start. I think Foden will start. He might play um uh Ake. Who's the ones we get back? John Stones might get a run out. Uh he might I mean, listen, he might. I don't know, Stone's not injured. He's on a bench at the weekends. Right, okay, yeah. I think he'll play Stones and Ake, maybe. I think he'll play Rinders. I think Foden will play. She's gonna fight him. I think. Well, I'll get to Rinders. I think Gonzalez will play, Marmous will play, Savinio will play. Trafford will play. Yeah. Uh yeah, it's uh it's crazy, mate. It's absolutely crazy. So what's your score? Um they're on an incredible run. They've not like won about 18 games on the bounces.

SPEAKER_01 30:38

They're good to watch, but you know what's gonna happen, they're gonna come up in bed straight by down. But this is their I was saying, this is their final, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 30:45

It really is, yeah, of course it is. This is why they do the semi-final there. Um because it will have been played by the time you come up with your score prediction. I think it will be Jesus now. 4-1 to City. 4-1-City. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:59

3-2 City.

SPEAKER_00 31:00

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 31:01

Because I think that'll be a better game.

SPEAKER_00 31:02

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 31:02

Well, I can be honest with you, though. I really don't care.

SPEAKER_00 31:05

That would mean that we're one game away from that would mean we're in the final. We'll be back at Wembley in the final. Let's not think about that yet. But if we do, we'll be against either Leeds or Chelsea. Who's winning that game?

SPEAKER_01 31:20

Who do you want in the final?

SPEAKER_00 31:21

I think Leeds will beat Chelsea. Yeah, I do as well. I just think at the minute. Chelsea, Chelsea.

SPEAKER_01 31:26

No, don't Chelsea don't want to play for that manager.

SPEAKER_00 31:27

No.

SPEAKER_01 31:28

And they're not very good. I think Leeds will win. I do as well. Because it's just, I mean, imagine this in the final. Who do I want to lose more? Leeds, Leeds against Man City in a final. I'm watching it as a Man United fan. Who do I want to lose more? Oh, minus one apiece. Alright, so um Brentford, Man United, uh, Man United at home, Monday, eight o'clock. You appear to have played 16 times before. Um, and Luke Sure and uh Casimiro would have been Chinatown and that all you can eat that's great Chinatown, all you can eat buffet, by the way. Um what are you going for?

SPEAKER_00 32:03

I think 2-2. No, no, because listen, I think 2-2, yeah, you're asking me. I think 2-2.

SPEAKER_01 32:10

Alright.

SPEAKER_00 32:10

Okay. What do you think?

SPEAKER_01 32:12

Um I couldn't call it, I couldn't call it. I think they're on the beach already.

SPEAKER_00 32:19

I think if you win that, Champions League football's pretty much guaranteed, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01 32:24

2-1.

SPEAKER_00 32:25

Two.

SPEAKER_01 32:26

Two Man United. Two one, two man united. I'm just trying to make it a little bit more exciting. Yes. And what do you think? What would you what would what would you say now of my £100 on Arsenal to win at 4-1? So a few weeks ago I was counting that and I was getting £500 quid back. I'm I'm just better off getting my lighter out and setting fire to it now.

SPEAKER_00 32:47

What what does what can you cash out?

SPEAKER_01 32:49

No, because I've done it in a shop.

SPEAKER_00 32:51

Uh I don't know, mate. I don't know. I don't I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 32:54

I always confuse it's kicking me out. I phone now I just say, what would you do, mate? I've done this and I've done this and I've done this. She hates me. I don't know, mate.

SPEAKER_00 33:02

No, I always say, let's have a pint and let's talk about it. Well, you pay for it, yeah? Yeah. Right. Honestly, I the thing is, mate, although I am confident, I'm not confident enough to start putting things out there like making you burn a betting sheet, because that's just gonna come back and hurt me now. I'm being nice to everyone now. I'm eating my walnuts and I'm being nice.

SPEAKER_01 33:23

Right. Uh, thank you for listening. I enjoyed it today. Um, it's a good end to the season because if you'd lost at the weekend, you know Season's over. We're basically looking at is it West Ham or is it Spurs going down? Yeah, exactly. That is it. Everyone's on the beach. Um, so I'm gonna make up some rumours for next week just in case. Whatever.

SPEAKER_00 33:40

It's bloody exciting and it's top being a blue and a red.

SPEAKER_01 33:45

Uh thank you very much for listening. Um please subscribe because a lot of people listen to. Shut up, I'm doing the admin. A lot of people listen to the show, but don't press that subscribe button. And what's it called? Please, yeah, honestly. Download it.

SPEAKER_00 33:58

Yeah, give us a follow, basically. Whatever you're listening to this on, please give us a follow, and then you'll get a like an alert every time a new episode drops, which is pretty much every week now that we're back from half-turn. Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next week.