Squeaky bum time ?

Joel and Nige get together once again to discuss all things Manchester City and Manchester United 

Is the domestic treble on for City ? How many players are leaving at the end of the season ? 

United just need 2 more points to guarantee CL next season 

Transfer news too 

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Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

What has happened to Phil Foad?

SPEAKER_01 0:02

I think you'll be a starter for City. It's gonna be awful next season for United. You've got no players.

SPEAKER_02 0:06

Are there any of your lone players that you would bring back? Rashford. Hiya and welcome back to This Is The Season podcast. I'm Joel. I'm a Man United fan, just needing two points from the last four games to secure the Champions League where we deserve to be.

SPEAKER_01 0:21

I'm Wingman, a City fan, and uh we've just been to Wembley. And now we're going to Wembley again on the 16th for the third time in a season.

SPEAKER_02 0:28

Why didn't you just relocate to uh London?

SPEAKER_01 0:31

The Etiad of the South. Yeah, I mean, were you working with you in the fan zone again? I was, yeah. It was great, really good. Uh it was a it was a top weekend, to be honest with you. Um, what do you want to do first? Do you want to stick with the Prem and talk about United or do you want to talk about City? Do you know what?

SPEAKER_02 0:46

I want to talk about City because um I tell you what, Southampton look good, you know. They're quick.

SPEAKER_01 0:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 0:51

Um I don't know, I don't know how they're gonna face it in the Premier League again if they do actually, you know, go through the playoffs and and make it again, if they're gonna do a Burnley or or whatever. But they they look good. Did you did you look them in the eye? Did you shit it a bit when you went 1-0 down?

SPEAKER_01 1:05

I did panic a little bit because you just thought it was gonna be one of them games, didn't you? Do you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_02 1:09

Like um To everybody else, they go, I was outclassed, but to you, I just thought it was one of them games.

SPEAKER_01 1:13

Yeah, well, first half with it was we had a good few chances to win the game, well, to go ahead, and uh they didn't really take them. And um you just thought if we're not careful here and we don't score soon, Southampton will get a goal. And they did, and it was a great strike, and they went 1-0 up, and then it was squeaky bum time. You just thought, oh god, it's gonna be lead Southampton in the FA Cup final. Viewing's gonna be crazy for that one.

SPEAKER_02 1:40

So I know you I know you were there, but we were watching the Arsenal game as well. I'm keeping an eye on it as well, because I I was at a barbecue and we kept flipping between the two.

SPEAKER_01 1:47

Yeah, um, I I don't know. I expected Arsenal to beat Newcastle, if I'm honest with you, but I'm glad it was only one-nil because at the minute, goal difference could be a key factor in who wins the league. And it's not happened since we beat you and the Aguero.

SPEAKER_02 2:01

Yeah, all right, yeah. But the good thing about it was you went to Burnley and and I thought, well, this is a chance to maybe score eight, nine, ten, whatever it was, and you managed to score one.

SPEAKER_01 2:10

So I went to the Burnley game and it was amazing. It was a great away day, really good fun. There was a few things that I can mention. Uh, one of them's not football related, but uh on the way out of the game after the football, um You saw Jordan North. No, we walked past um a block of flats, and what can only be described as sexual activity was going on with a lady pushed up against the window, and loads of fans just like kind of gathered round applauding and clapping, and the guy just didn't stop, and the lady didn't seem bothered. But what? I'd just put on a show for the lads.

SPEAKER_02 2:44

Welcome to Burnley. Welcome to Burnley. That's do you know what? Do you remember when we used to work at the same place, um, other side of Manchester? And I used to walk to work to have a car, and every morning, without fail, there were um air hostesses and they they didn't have any curtains, and it was it was three three floors up, and every morning at quarter six, if I got there, there were iron in the uniforms naked, naked, genuinely, yeah, yeah. And everybody clicked onto this, all the taxi drivers are parked up down there, and uh, yeah, it was good.

SPEAKER_01 3:16

So, but Burnley was was good, but you just you couldn't get the second or the third or the fourth or the No the Burnley game was um again like we had that many chances. I'm not bothered if we're not creating chances, and we did. We had a lot of we hit the post about three or four times. You got them in, mate. Had an amazing uh and made a few amazing saves. It was such a weird game because although Burnley were dead and buried, it was that game where if they lost that game, they were officially relegated. So they had a little bit more fights than perhaps they'd have had if we'd have played them a week or two before. Um, and yeah, we won. But the most important thing was getting the win. After the Arsenal game, it was pretty huge. We've had some really big fixtures recently, and it was just really important to get the win. A little bit frustrating afterwards, after seeing all those chances, that it wasn't four or five, but we got three points and kept the pressure on Arsenal, and then obviously this weekend Arsenal got the win one-nil against Newcastle. But again, we had a bit of a uh there was no Rodri for the Burnley game. He didn't feature at the weekend as well against um Southampton, although I don't think he would have started anyway. And fair play to Nico, he's not played in the middle for absolutely ages, and what a goal it was for the win.

SPEAKER_02 4:31

I think as you know, I'm not a massive fan, right? I don't I don't get it, but I thought that goal was Nico Gonzalez. I don't I just do not get it. He'd get in your midfield. Does he not get like was it not like a billion pound release clause or something when he was in Spain?

SPEAKER_01 4:42

He would start in your midfield 100%, and I think he'll be a starter for City if we manage to keep him. The thing is, a lot of our fringe players, there's so many things we can talk about today, but I am um I think there's gonna be about seven players that leave City. I was making a list this morning, um, which is crazy. So obviously, a kanji is gonna stay uh into Milan.

SPEAKER_02 5:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:06

It looks like Grealish is obviously gonna go back to Everton.

SPEAKER_02 5:09

So that's would that be a loan deal or what?

SPEAKER_01 5:11

I don't know. I think maybe they'd sign him. I think there's if Pep went, if we listen, if Pep went, do you think they'd bring him back? I'm not sure. I don't I honestly don't.

SPEAKER_02 5:19

Has he done? Is he you know is it one of those like he's I'm sorry, lad, you've got to move on.

SPEAKER_01 5:23

I don't know. I honestly I don't know. I don't know. What would you do? Would you bring him back? I I mean he he looked good for Everton, didn't he?

SPEAKER_02 5:29

Yeah, so they got injured.

SPEAKER_01 5:30

And you don't know uh what the thoughts are gonna be of a new manager. I think if I think I think Pep will stay another season, I I think that they even though I don't know because he's been injured, you have to play a certain amount of games for the to activate the we're gonna sign the player clause. I don't think it's called that. That's it.

SPEAKER_02 5:48

So what's that again, Nice? Let me get the contract out of here. Oh, I just got my contract here, we've got encyclopedia.

SPEAKER_01 5:54

I've got to play enough games to activate the uh the gonna sign the player clause. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's it. Um anyway, I think that he'll go back to Everton. Well, I know I really hope Jack comes back and uh, you know, uh comes back to the player that we all know he is next season. So that's two players. Calvin Phillips. Well, Calvin Phillips will be gone. I think on, you can't just say Calvin Phillips will be gone. You what do you spunk on him? 50 million. Calvin Phillips will be gone. Um I reckon Johnny Stones, super Johnny Stones is gonna go, and obviously, what a legend he is. Silver. Bernardo Silver's going, what a legend he is. Nathan Ake. Nathan Ake is going. Um it's like an echo, isn't it? He's going. Uh that's Rodri. Off to Madre. I think Rodery will go. I've got a good feeling he might not. But um, anyway, there that you know, there we go. I think some of the other players as well uh may leave a couple of the younger players, but you know Trafford. Trafford's gonna go as well. I hope he goes on loan, but Trafford will go. Look, that's there's eight players.

SPEAKER_02 6:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:54

Rico Lewis, I reckon Rico Lewis will go. What happened to him? Uh a good player, a good squad player, but he wants first team football and he ain't getting it at the city.

SPEAKER_02 7:04

Do you think he's looking at it and going, Savinio's getting more minutes than me, and that's why I'm leaving?

SPEAKER_01 7:08

Savinio.

SPEAKER_02 7:10

There's another one. So I mean it's it's I mean, it's gonna it's gonna be awful next season for United.

SPEAKER_01 7:14

You're gonna have no players. Well, um I'm gonna go.

SPEAKER_02 7:16

Oh, I'm gonna say there's another three billion we've just found.

SPEAKER_01 7:18

Kovatich might go. I I I'd I'd probably keep him for another year, definitely, but he might go. So you look, that's like nearly nine players, which is crazy. Um, so let's see what happens. But let's get back to the football. City won. Um, it was a crazy couple of minutes. Did you see us on the TV as well? Yes, I did. There you go. Very exciting, that one it very exciting. My phone was pinging and pinging and pinging.

SPEAKER_02 7:44

You're meant to be watching the game, and there's I love that. It's when people message you and they go, I've just seen you on the telly, yes, I know I'm doing it. Or I've just I've just heard you on the radio. Yes, I know. I'm here doing it. Yes, I know.

SPEAKER_01 7:55

And also, my phone will vibrate while I'm doing it. Yeah, it was honestly, it was mad. And then, like that six minutes where we got the got the first goal, um, a bit of a deflection, but uh, you know, well done. Doku came on and changed the game, I think. Uh, and as soon as Pep brought on the big dogs, a lot of people, what what's your thoughts on this? Would you, in a game like that, would you play your strongest team and then bring them off at halftime when hopefully you're kind of comfortable in a comfortable lead, or would you bring them on like Pep did at the end to salvage something and win the game?

SPEAKER_02 8:29

Uh I've not won any Champions Leagues, uh, not as many as Pep, but I would have done exactly that. I would have started with my strongest team.

SPEAKER_01 8:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 8:36

Uh, and then hopefully Haaland scored a hat trick, and then you take him off. Uh that's I that's how I play it. If I'm playing football manager, that's what that's what I do.

SPEAKER_01 8:44

But you have to, it's weird, isn't it? Because you've got to keep your squad happy. But that's not keeping them happy because that's another one who might leave.

SPEAKER_02 8:51

Yeah, but you okay, but you're Marmous, right? And you're there and it's not going for you. It's just not your day. So you have to come off. So therefore, you're gonna make them pissed off anyway, aren't they? Or I suppose the other way as well, if you're three-nil up, then they put him on, you're like, well, what am I gonna do? What's that?

SPEAKER_01 9:05

I kind of looked at it and thought, right, there's fair few players on here who hopefully they'll they've got the start, they'll take the opportunity and go, right, I should be playing in in the first, you know, the first 11, and this is my chance to let Pep know how good I am. And not uh not many people did that. Nico Gonzalez was very, very good.

SPEAKER_02 9:25

Okay, I got it.

SPEAKER_01 9:26

And it was a great goal as well. It was amazing.

SPEAKER_02 9:29

But the thing is, like, we always say, you don't get extra points. You know, if it's a great goal or it comes off Casemira's arse, it doesn't make any difference. No, it's a goal is a goal.

SPEAKER_01 9:37

You always say that to me. Well, listen, I'll tell you what it does mean that we're in the final of another competition.

SPEAKER_02 9:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:43

Four seasons on the row City have been in the FA Cup final, more history. No club has ever done that before. Four seasons on the bounce in the FA Cup final, uh, back down to London on the 16th, and we're playing against Chelsea, who uh that was a dull game, wasn't it? Chelsea Leeds.

SPEAKER_02 10:01

Well, is I so your manager at Chelsea, I don't know in the commentary, wasn't he managing a seventh tier team in the FA Cup early rounds a couple of seasons ago or whatever, uh, with 58 people there or something? He was the is that the new manager bounce?

SPEAKER_01 10:15

He's the number two, and he the last time he um stepped up when they got rid of one of the managers, uh his first game was against City, and that's when they got that 1-1 draw at our place. So there we go. Anyway, hopefully that's his bounce done, and uh we can beat them and get another trophy. I mean, we've got to be favourites going into that against Chelsea, but Chelsea have got some players who can win a football match if it all clicks and it just depends, isn't it? Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 10:38

I mean, they're all on 10-year deals anyway. Wouldn't it be great? Just imagine, right? I I'm playing for Altringham Reserves, right? And I'm there and I'm 21, and that's my level. Yeah. But I have a worldie, and I get signed by Chelsea on a 10-year deal, and they realise that I'm absolutely crap, right? And I've still got a 10-year deal, and they're trying to get rid of me. No, I'm alright, I'll just say, Well, you never gotta play. It's crazy. That it absolutely nuts. How are they getting away with it? I know I should be asking you. Is it the sign is it just a loophole in these these 10-year deals and all that?

SPEAKER_01 11:09

Must be. There must be something in it, definitely. I mean, they're that young the players the sign in, so they're just getting them on these huge deals. And like, yeah, you know, why would you leave a football club? I know they all say that footballers want to want minutes and want to play, and the your career's very short. I mean, I'm I'm I'm all up for uh you know reaching the heights of a career, but when you're getting paid 350 grand a week for 10 years, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 11:34

Sterling. Yeah, I'll be alright, you know. I think it's not alright at the end, I don't see. Um before we move on, I want to ask a question. And it's it's probably a serious question, to be honest with you. Um, from an Englishman's point of view, what has happened to Phil Foden?

SPEAKER_01 11:47

It's weird. Really?

SPEAKER_02 11:48

Two years ago, he was uh I'm like, oh, this kid, this kid is unbelievable.

SPEAKER_01 11:53

He was built up to be what like the the most incredible player that's coming through the ranks, and he came through and he was uh you could see he was just outstanding. I thought he was gonna be elite. He was he was so carefree, he just he was just um a naturally incredibly gifted footballer, and obviously that's still there. You don't just lose it, there must be a confidence. I don't know, but Pep has given him chance after chance after chance. There were moments at the start of this season where we saw the old Phil Foden, and I wish nothing more than for Phil Foden to become the Phil of a couple of seasons ago. But it was, I mean, it you're gonna be able to do it. It was quite sad.

SPEAKER_02 12:35

Yeah, I was watching it and I felt, you know, I shouldn't be doing this as a man United fan, but I'm watching it going, you look at certain people and their heads are down, whether it, you know, I watch all sorts of sports, a darts player, and you see them and their heads gone and they're just throwing the darts, they just want to be off there quickly. He he just he didn't look like he was enjoying it, and whether it's personal, so whatever it is, don't matter, it's nobody's business, but he's got to do it on the pitch, and as you say, class is permanent, for it's temporary, but it's been it's been it's been very temporary for a long time.

SPEAKER_01 13:04

I can't ever see Phil Fordin in any other shirt than a City shirt, and um I don't know what's going on. I just really hope that he's alright and that he can get back to uh the fill of old because he's an amazing player.

SPEAKER_02 13:20

Who is your man at City that would be the one who goes, you know, takes him out for a drink or takes him for something to eat or takes him to a country pub or whatever it is, goes round his house and puts his arm around him and goes, you know, come on. Have you got that sort of person?

SPEAKER_01 13:32

I don't know. I know and I I honestly I don't I don't know the answer. I don't know that. I don't know. I mean I would have thought that every club looks after all the players.

SPEAKER_02 13:40

Yeah, but I don't mean like somebody in HR or somebody's well-being. You know, when you've got a mate, like you just you just come here night, you'll go for a party and everything alright. You know, one of those.

SPEAKER_01 13:48

Well, yeah years ago, I don't know. I mean, I'm not saying that this was the case, but you you're Vincent companies and you're like, you know, th those kind of players who were like the club captain who would be like, right, you you you maybe that's what what would happen that a manager would say, right, Vinny, go around there, go and see what's going on, check he's alright. But I don't know that anything isn't. I'm just you know, it's like it's weird. You just I don't I I honestly don't have a clue.

SPEAKER_02 14:13

But this is World Club player World Cup play as well, isn't it? Because I mean there's you know if uh Thomas Dougler is going to take people on on form, there's absolutely no way he's gonna be included in that squad.

SPEAKER_01 14:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 14:26

Which is another heartbreak for him because when he's on fire, he's better than most of them. Much better.

SPEAKER_01 14:32

It's weird, it's really weird. It's like it's almost like the the the playing for England after having such an amazing season was the start of his confidence knock. Like, I don't know. I don't know what's going on there, but I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 14:46

Let's have a look at some of the transfer rumours, right? Okay. Um, because it looks like you'll probably nick Elliot Anderson. Elliot Anderson. Elliot Anderson. We would end up with Elliot Henderson. Elliot Anderson, it looks like you'll nick him from us because Man United have come out of this race saying we're not gonna pay over the odds for any of these hundred million top, and you go 105, whatever it is. He's a good player. Is he somebody you desperately need?

SPEAKER_01 15:09

Well, Bernardo's leaving, um, and obviously we need another midfielder. There's uh I've just listed a load of uh potential players that are gonna be leaving the club. So I obviously and he he does seem to be the best Englishman in his position.

SPEAKER_02 15:23

Yeah, I agree.

SPEAKER_01 15:24

Definitely. He's he's he's he he looks like he could be world class one day. The thing is as well, now with with City, I mean, no one knows if Pep's gonna be here next season. I think he will see out his contract, I think he will do another year, even if we win three three um trophies this season.

SPEAKER_02 15:42

Uh sorry the domestic treble. It's a bit like having a domestic cat in it. What sort of cat's that? It's a domestic cap.

SPEAKER_01 15:48

It's a domestic treble, mate. Have you ever won the domestic treble? I mean, what is a domestic treble, let's be honest. It's something that every club in uh would would like to win, and City have already done it, and there is a chance we'll do it again.

SPEAKER_02 16:01

Morgan Gibbs White is 26, right? He's having a belter.

SPEAKER_01 16:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 16:05

Is he a player that you'd look at?

SPEAKER_01 16:06

I think City were looking at him last season.

SPEAKER_02 16:08

Uh he's better this season than he was last season.

SPEAKER_01 16:11

Yeah. And uh Forest aren't, are they?

SPEAKER_02 16:13

No.

SPEAKER_01 16:14

Sword because there's two players that are at Nottingham Forest, and Forest have uh could could still go down.

SPEAKER_02 16:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:20

It's it's it's crazy. Um I do think though, as well, that you know, when you'd sign an English player, the difference is you you are looking at kind of if they're any good, 100 million if they're to that level. Whereas for if he was if he was Spanish, I don't reckon he'd be worth anywhere near that much money.

SPEAKER_02 16:38

All right, and and the final one, um, because I think Newcastle will get rid of loads of players and probably the manager as well. Um, there's Tanali in there, uh, and also uh Gimaraich.

SPEAKER_01 16:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 16:48

Bruno. Right, would would you look would you would you be happy with any of them two signings?

SPEAKER_01 16:52

I mean, all four of these names that you've mentioned, I think as a United fan, you'd want them either. Yeah, yeah, 100%. Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 16:59

But but you always come in and you don't need them. You know what I mean? I I feel sometimes like City are at KFC and it's it's 5 to 11, the closing, and you're in front of me and you and all you want is a couple of chicken wings, but you decide I'll just get everything so the person behind me can't have them.

SPEAKER_01 17:14

That's what I feel. I'll tell you, I'll tell you something. Another reason that Pep has been amazing for all these years is because, and I know it helps when you have a good run in every competition, but he does keep a squad happy. And if you look at some of those names that are probably going to be leaving this year, he always Pep's always said, Look, if you don't want to be at the club, then you can go, right? Which is uh potentially what Newcastle should have done. Um, and they wouldn't be in the situation they're in now. If at the beginning of the window they just said, if you don't want to play for the club, you go, and we'll get a replacement in, rather than trying to keep a player right till the end of the window, um uh that he's clearly unhappy and wants to leave the club.

SPEAKER_02 17:54

Well, the one that I looked at, which shows the what's the word, inexperience and absolute I don't want to say legend because he's manager man C, but the way that the Chelsea thing with Enzo Fernandez was handled, when he says, you know, he wants to go and play in Spain and whatever, too much ban. Yeah, you know, and when you're not having a great time, too much ban, arguably best player, right? Yeah, you've got that. Whereas Rodri pretty much said the same thing, and Pep came out and said, Why would you not want to play in Madrid? It's uh it's a great place, and it's probably still the best club in the world.

SPEAKER_01 18:28

And also that Rodri interview was if you listen to the full interview. It was a little bit, it was a little bit, of course it was. Um, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 18:37

Okay, you're working on this podcast with me, yeah, and Gary Neville phones you and says, I want you to bid him off and come and work for us at the overlap. What would you say? You'd say You could say Gary Neville, you're red, but how much you're paying me.

SPEAKER_01 18:48

Yeah, but that's what I mean. You'd find out how much you're paying. But this is the other thing this is the other thing that agents do as well. Obviously, with the Rodery situation, he's got one big move left or one big contract left at City at the age he's at, right? And one Achilles left. And and that obviously that means then that you you're not gonna just just say, as an agent, you're not gonna say, yes, re-signing for City. There's no way that City aren't gonna match um whatever Real Madrid come in for come in with. So let's see what happens. I personally, I know I've spoken to loads of City fans who've said, right, okay, if you don't want to be here and blah, blah, blah. I don't think he doesn't want to not be at City, he just wants to get a nice little payday for his last uh his last big big move.

SPEAKER_02 19:33

Right, let's go to Manchester United then last night. Um I missed I missed the turning on the motorway yesterday. I was I was playing a game with my daughter. We're going through the alphabet of animals. Right. So yeah, you ever played that game? Great game. Yeah, great game. Antelope, beaver, cat, dog, elephant. I'm like, oh shit! Run ah forgotten. Extra 40 minutes. So I heard the first 20 minutes on on Talk Sport. And then I got back in, made sure I didn't look at my phone and watched it from the start. I thought we were phenomenal first half. I generally didn't. And Ahmad was getting a lot of a lot of diss, but he I Ahmad's one of those, he's hot and cold. Sometimes you think get rid of him is a bit, you know, a bit gr uh not Grealish. What's he called? Ganacho. And sometimes he's really good. And and you saw the Jekyll and Hyde in that in that first in that first half, but you know, you the players are stepping up. I think we've we've hit goal with um the lemon and goal. Uh he's I think he's phenomenal.

SPEAKER_01 20:30

Also, I mean, let's let's I know we Casemiro, right? Casemira, right? Since he said he's leaving, he's not stopped scoring.

SPEAKER_02 20:37

Highest scoring season ever, uh, since playing, right? Uh, you know, from a defensive midfielder's range, and once again, it's a header, right?

SPEAKER_01 20:46

He's love playing for Carrick as well. He's loved playing in that formation.

SPEAKER_02 20:49

So everybody you ask, and you say, Oh, come on, you're gonna you're gonna go and and say, Look, you you had the option of of a year, yeah, um, and they didn't say, yeah, stay for another year. Um, and he announced it, so it's it's gonna be a bit stupid now. But with the Champions League next season as well, he's not gonna play it for a game, obviously. He's gonna play what what 25% of the games. But he's your big game player, yeah. And you can see he's playing with a smile on his face. The fans are loving him, but everybody I've spoken to, independent people, have said it's the cash because he gets 25% more, as does Rashford on loan at Barcelona, gets an increase of 25% on his wages. If you get in the Champions League. Yeah, so that's gonna be nobody knows what he's on, but it's gonna be close to 600 grand or something now, you know, with it with all the bonuses and everything like that. Uh at his age, do you keep him or do you try and get two, three players on, you know, on the wage and split it down? Me personally, I w you know, and you need leaders in there as well. And he's obviously respected by everybody there, and he's been a phenomenal player. How many Champions Leagues has he won? And he's and he I'd I I I love Casemiro and I'd I'd do everything I could. To keep him, but I know there won't. And also, he'll go really shit once he signs a two-year deal on two million quid a week.

SPEAKER_01 22:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:09

You know that's going to happen.

SPEAKER_01 22:10

Well, I don't know. Do you know what? It depends. It depends who you bring in to play around him as well.

SPEAKER_02 22:16

Kobe Mainu is phenomenal again last night. I mean, if I if I was if I was looking at the, you know, obviously a big tick for Bruno, but Kobe Mainu and Casemiro and uh Laman to goal last night were just were just great. They're really, really good.

SPEAKER_01 22:28

Kobe Maynew was another one of those players that was probably going to go in the summer if you wouldn't have changed managers. Yeah, also. There are other players who have left who are now actually playing in the position they were bought to play in. Well, the team that are playing in a position. But I mean the ones that are alone, are there any of your lone players that you would bring back if Carrick was the manager? Rashford.

SPEAKER_02 22:48

Because we're going to need a big squad. So if Carrick gets the job permanently, will he not fly out to Barcelona or wherever Marcus Rashford's retreat is and do the old we need you? Arm round, you are a brilliant player. Come back leg. Yeah, come back leg. Listen, I played with this man and you were world class, right?

SPEAKER_01 23:06

And I think I think he'd come back if he if he fancied it. If you think about it, it's again, it's all down to who makes you feel good, who do you want to play for? It's alright wanting to play for a club, but if you've got someone in charge who doesn't get you, you don't doesn't get the best out of you, doesn't make you feel special, and doesn't want make you want to be part of what they've got going on, you you you're not gonna want to stay at that club, even if you love the club. He's never said he doesn't love Man United. He's just not like the club. He's clearly not been enjoying himself.

SPEAKER_02 23:37

No, but I've always used this example of at school, uh it didn't matter what the subject was, if I liked the teacher and got on with the teacher, I would try for him. Yeah. And that's the the the way that I look at it. Same now in you know, if I was offered two different jobs and one was, you know, a better, a better job with more money, I wouldn't necessarily take that if I didn't like the person.

SPEAKER_01 23:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 23:57

If there was a better boss, I would I would go there. I mean, that's that and I think that's the situation now. But again, it depends if Carrick gets the job or doesn't get the job.

SPEAKER_01 24:06

Do you reckon that the do you reckon the fans would be I I mean, if Carrick gets the job and he comes back, do you think the fans will be like, right, okay, it's the Rushman of old, like, or do you think there'll be a lot of hate there?

SPEAKER_02 24:20

Talking on a pitch, innit? I don't think you do interviews, I don't think you do the press conference where, you know, I'm very happy to be back and it's great. Because you know it's a lie because he's he's he's living the dream. Now he you know, piss it down every day in Manchester. He's out there in Barcelona loving life. You know, he's he he he his his form's a bit up and down, a bit inconsistent, but we need players. We we need bodies and his expensive body, uh and if he just does his talking on the pitch, and he's gotta be in the right headspace, if he's gonna go out there and go, look, I am your main man, then then yeah, because um there's there's there's there's the form that's dipped. Cunning wasn't playing last night, but Big Bri, who I love, he's his form's dipped. It's you know Jessica was playing yesterday, but he scored, but he's not your uh not your elite, is he? He's not he's not your top, top, top. But you get Rashford back to that standard, but you know, but it always goes back to we need bodies, we need bodies for the for the full time next season.

SPEAKER_01 25:16

Yeah, no, exactly. I mean it's a bit worrying the the lack of games you've played that they're off form. Like if you look at the if you flip it and now go back to city, why is it that our players end up playing the best football of the season at this time of the year in the running? Um it's it's weird, isn't it? Is it fitness? Is it just can't be asked?

SPEAKER_02 25:35

Yeah, there's a bit of that, but as we know, this how many teams are on On the Beach? There was it was a game in the championship at the weekend, it was like mid-table versus mid-table, and it looked like it was like to me, to you, chugging on the style. I'm not bothered. Are you bothered? Do you want to go for a pint later on? It was it was one of those.

SPEAKER_01 25:51

But um Did you like seeing Harry Maguire back in in defence as well? Because I need to tell you something.

SPEAKER_02 25:56

Yeah, I did, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:57

Last Wednesday, um at the local pub near me, the the uh the ship. Yeah um as they call it locally, the shit. It's good, it's it actually very good. It's uh Wing Wednesday on uh on a Wednesday, Wing Wednesday. So with your pint, you get free wings.

SPEAKER_02 26:12

Sorry, I thought you were doing a gig there. No, it's Niger Wingman, Wing Wednesday. You come on in.

SPEAKER_01 26:17

Wing Wednesday. I went in last week, as I always do, and I sat down, I always go into the back room, sit down there, turn round. I remember it's for Wing Wednesday with his family, having a lovely time. He wasn't drinking, but he had a few chicken wings. And I'll tell you something, they were good chicken wings, and I knew he the next time he played for United, he was gonna have a great game because he was at Wing Wednesday's.

SPEAKER_02 26:38

Wing Wednesdays at the ship. Yeah. Yeah, I remember meeting there for a pint. Yeah, yeah, it's nice. Trying to get parking space is the worst. But he's growing his hair as well. Yeah, yeah, no, it was good to have him in. And he has got a lot of flack, and I think you know, as a Man United fan, he was your um he was your pantomime villain for so long, wasn't it? And it wasn't his fault. I mean, look at everything. Some of them were happened. No, some of them were, and then when his mum came out to defend him and stuff, and it was it was a bit bit sad there. Um but the United thing last night, I thought it was um it was alright, they scored. Um, don't look a bad side. But did you hear about this thing about Brentford and the whole Brentford may have to lose on purpose to Liverpool thing? No, right. So I'm gonna try and explain this to you.

SPEAKER_01 27:21

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 27:21

I've just I've pulled it up on a year. I heard on Talk Sport yesterday. I searched for it this morning, I've heard a couple of people try to explain it, it's really, really difficult. So there's a guy here who said, uh, it's come to my attention that sixth place in the league can qualify for Champions League, but only if Villa win the Europa League and finish exactly fifth. Due to Liverpool playing Brentford in the final game, I've realised something very bizarre which could happen. If Villa win the Europa League, Liverpool are in fourth place, Villa end up in fifth place and one point behind Liverpool, Brentford being sixth, let's say four points behind Villa and four points about a seventh, guaranteeing sixth place, they would have to purposely lose against Liverpool on the final day to get Champions League.

SPEAKER_01 28:06

How's your head? It's an absolute mess, mate. I feel like I'm uh I don't know. What's what's that? Did it do it? Boom! I've got brain burned.

SPEAKER_02 28:15

Yeah, it's brain burned. So so essentially, this could happen if uh if trying to break it down, if Villa finish exactly fifth and win the Europa League, that opens another space on um not fair play, what's it called?

SPEAKER_01 28:31

No, but then no, I get I get what you mean. But they they automatically qualify for the Champions League because they've won that, and so that means that that position, someone else takes it the one below.

SPEAKER_02 28:39

But this is what I thought. Now that's that's easy because you just keep winning games and you finish in the top six, seven, whatever it is, yeah? Oh no, it's all about it's either fair play or something like this, but Brentford needs Liverpool to finish fourth, but if they don't finish fourth, Brentford don't get Champions League. Right. You we need somebody to come on and explain it.

SPEAKER_01 29:00

Like I remember when City was shit years ago, right? And uh we qualified for Europe for the first time because of fair play. It's like fair play, we've got in. It was all down to like number of yellows, number of reds, and all this and the other. And we got into a European competition because of the fair play rule. And I was like, fair play to the fair play rule.

SPEAKER_02 29:20

Yeah, and and then since ever since you've thought about the fair play rules and you've thought, don't worry about that. Anyway, are you still winning the league?

SPEAKER_01 29:27

Uh well, listen, we've got uh that Pep's given the players a week off, so they're all over the world at the minute. Our squ our our team, anywhere they want. He's giving them a week off just because he can. Uh they they deserve it after getting into the final again. I have to come back. And then on Monday night, we play on Monday night. What's it like playing on a Monday night, mate? It was great last night. Right. Well, we've got it next Monday away at Everton. And this is the two away games are the ones that I'm a little bit worried about, to be honest with you. Um we've just again, we've just got to get the win away from home. And at home, we need to get the win and score some goals. That's how we're gonna win the league. Win away from home however you can. 1-0, off the arse, off the shin, not bothered. Um at home, that's where we need to score our goals. That's what Arsenal didn't do this weekend.

SPEAKER_02 30:14

You know, I always say if I have a pop-up player on this podcast on the radio, wherever it is, right? And you're never gonna see him, so it doesn't matter. And I went to go and see Everton, uh, Hill Dickinson Stadium, took me lads, and I said to you, I think Beto is arguably one of the worst strikers I've ever seen live. I was sitting next to him yesterday. Having lunch, this this this big big big um you know Chelsea tractor turns up, it gets out, and I'm going, Is that is that he's sitting as far as close as I am to you. Yeah, Beto. So I was like, go on, go on at this weekend. Do you get Patrick? No, we're not gonna get a pick. I've just slagged him off. I'm not gonna two-faced nights. Yeah, do you want to see the pick? It's really nice. Wow, you really are close to it. Yeah, yeah, sure up. Uh, right, so uh prediction then for you versus Everton.

SPEAKER_01 30:59

I think, oh God, it's really this is the tight one now, and I think it's gonna be a 2-1 nervy win that City get. I don't think we'll be nervous, I just think Everton, um, you know, they're not they're not useless, but they, you know, they couldn't beat Everton at home. We we've got to beat them. We've got to beat Everton. We can do it uh 2-1 City.

SPEAKER_02 31:20

All right, 2-1 City. I'm going 1-0 City because you've turned into Arsenal now, and it'll be a set piece. Okay. And you'll probably rattle the bar 47 times as well.

SPEAKER_01 31:27

I'll be happy with that.

SPEAKER_02 31:28

Yeah, all right. And the big one on Sunday, because um it's it's all about the big teams on Sunday.

SPEAKER_01 31:33

Man United, Liverpool at Old Trafford.

SPEAKER_02 31:37

I think we've said it before, really sad. Ekatique out for the season and uh out of the World Cup as well. He's been uh he's been a shining light. And again, as a Man United fan, saying that about a you know the Scouts team. But hey, it's really sad. Um Salah, he might be done for the I reckon it's gonna be a high score of this.

SPEAKER_01 31:53

I think both teams are gonna score a good few goals. Just go for it. I reckon it is just gonna be one of them because but like you're both pretty much. Hand breaks off. You're both pretty much in the Champions League. We need two points.

SPEAKER_02 32:09

Well, I'd love it. Look, you'd take a draw, wouldn't you? You obviously want to win, but you'd you'd take a draw. But if it was a 5-5 or something like that, and it was a it was a great match, because we need two points from the last four games, and you know, take a point for I mean Liverpool ain't as good as it were, right? Obviously, falling off a cliff. But yeah, I'm going, I'm going, I'm going 3-3.

SPEAKER_01 32:27

Right, okay.

SPEAKER_02 32:27

3-3.

SPEAKER_01 32:28

Yeah, I tell you what else is weird. It was the same weekend that City played uh Liverpool and uh I don't know. There's been there's been there's been uh two Manchester clubs playing two Merseyside clubs already this season in with the same weekend. It's all and now it's happening again in the same weekend. They know what they're doing that TV lot.

SPEAKER_02 32:49

No, I tell you, it's it's it's all it's all it's all generic, it's all generated. It's uh it is, yeah. All right. Um that is true, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01 32:57

We've already had a Manchester Merseyside weekender this week this year.

SPEAKER_02 33:00

Yeah, but the but but surprisingly, they have one in Manchester and one in Liverpool.

SPEAKER_01 33:04

Right.

SPEAKER_02 33:04

And then no one realizes that both people have got to get back from the train station. Anyway, thanks for listening. Yeah, thank you. Yeah, poor Nicole's got to edit all these. Come on, City! Come on, City! Are you winning the league, are you?

SPEAKER_01 33:16

I think so. I hope so. We're gonna win the FA Cup, we've won the League Cup, and I hope we win the league.

unknown 33:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 33:23

I really hope you do as well. And we'll have a look next week or the week after at our predictions, by the way. One of us was spot on, almost, and one of us was miles away. I'll just do a little taster now for you. I think I put Spurs in third, didn't I? How's that gone? Have a brilliant week. Thanks for listening, and come on, United.