It’s nearly all over for another season

Joel and Nige drop another ep 

Arsenal win the league 

Joel won 500 quid on Arsenal 

The Pep saga continues 

And Nige has a bash at his Ultimate X1 for the season but makes it 12 

As always, thanks for listening 

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Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:16

Hi mate. How are you doing? You alright? Oh, come on, put some effort into it. How am I? I'm right.

SPEAKER_01 0:23

Welcome to this is the season podcast.

SPEAKER_02 0:25

Oh, hang on, just let me go to my bag. 500 quid in there. So start the season. I said put 100 quid on. Odds boost. Four to one Arsenal. £100 of English man's cash. Hard working. Put it down. Pop down to Deansgate in Manchester yesterday and go and collect the 500 sheets. As I predicted that Arsenal would win the Premier League.

SPEAKER_01 0:51

There you go. I mean, I can't even say there's still a chance yet.

SPEAKER_02 0:54

Now there's rumors around this morning that Mikhail Arteta sent Erdgaard to uh your training ground. And I'm I've I've I've been told that there will be a four-point deduction.

SPEAKER_01 1:04

Would that make you win the league? Well, this is what I was thinking you see. My plan was City win 2-1 against Bournemouth, and then I go down to the City training ground with the fake mustache on in an Arsenal top with some binoculars and try and get them kicked out of the league. Unfortunately, neither's happening. As a blue, it's very frustrating. I know Cherky can't play every minute of every game. I know he's not necessarily the answer to everything, but in the first half of the FA Cup final, it was clear that we needed a playmaker. Now I've got nothing against Kovatic because I think he's a great player. I still think he's he's worth keeping in the squad. I think he does a job. But Foden has been showing moments of brilliance of the old Phil. And I just could not understand why either Phil or Cherkit didn't start that game. Because without a playmaker, it was clear in the FA Cup final that we just need one. It was crazy, mate. In such an important game where it was it we really had to go and win. But then you look at it and you go, Pep knows best, obviously. We are playing every three days, and you know, he knows what the squad can do, he knows who's capable, he knows you know the opposition. So you just have to put your faith in him. Uh, and then obviously we went a goal down. I thought it was pretty even first half, to be honest with you. And they scored a worldie.

SPEAKER_02 2:20

The guy who uh Coach Barks put up on the podcast when we're talking about young players to watch and whatever, and he said Kruppy Jr.

SPEAKER_01 2:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 2:26

And he was right, he's another 80 million pound player now, they paid 10 mil for him.

SPEAKER_01 2:29

It was a great goal. Shit keeping, like we that we uh well, he was just sometimes someone you take a shot and you just root a keeper to the spot because it's just unbelievable, and that's what that goal was. No one could have got that. I don't think it was just a great stream.

SPEAKER_02 2:41

Oh, no, Anana would have got that.

SPEAKER_01 2:43

Moving on. Hang on, we can't we can't just move, we can't just move on from your Anana comment, I mean, right? So, what I'm saying is both teams had chances in that first half, and then we went a goal down, and to be fair to Pep, then he brought the changes on and he and he went for it. I mean, I would have left Bernardo Silva on, I wouldn't have put brought Savinio on, uh to be honest, or even Docu, I left Docu on. It's down to minutes and how many minutes these footballers have been playing. Then we get the goal right at the end, and you kind of go, Oh my god, is it gonna happen again in the final minutes? Is it gonna happen?

SPEAKER_02 3:15

I thought it would have just oh honestly, and if Semenya's gonna count in first half.

SPEAKER_01 3:19

I know Pep was very frustrated about that on the offside where the linesman flagged straight away and he didn't let it go. And you know what? There are moments in games where it's just no consistency with the way that linesmen and and of VAR and everything works. I mean, the the rule surely is because players have got injured. Mike Gay nearly got injured in the first half because there was something similar where they play on um until they can that the until the phase of play stops and then they go back for the offside flag for the from the linesman. You've got to do that every time. Yeah, although it was it was very, very tight and and he may well have been offside, you don't just put your flag up like that. I mean, it's just but you can't wait nice. Well, that's not that's what you mean.

SPEAKER_02 4:00

But you can't have it both sides. If it's clear and obvious, and I am I hate the word clear and obvious now, it sounds like a pair of twins, doesn't it? Good name for goldfish. Oh, yeah. It's clear, it's obvious. Um if you if you're there, and I and I'm five yards offside, yeah, right, and it's obvious that I'm offside. I haven't put the flag up. If it's tight, you leave it. But like you say, there's some weeks where you go, he's m-10 yards offside, yeah. And then the keeper goes in, could get injured, break the striker's leg, whatever, and then the flag.

SPEAKER_01 4:31

I know I I just hate VAR. I hate it. I think goal line technology, absolutely fine. Just give the control back to the officials, like literally just bin it off, but they're not gonna, and it's gonna get worse and worse and worse. And the micromanaging everything, and there's no point having a referee anymore.

SPEAKER_02 4:46

The whole thing would be ref AI, weren't you? With a robot on the pitch running round. You probably don't even need that, it would just be some drone going round. Questions from a Man United fan to a Man City fan. I've not got a dog in the race. Oh, I have yeah, back to Arsenal to win the league. Team sheet comes out, and we we we touched on it. Kovac was on the team sheet. I don't think he was very good, and then he came off and put Foden on. Now, I've said how much I like Phil Foden, I want him to get back to his old self. He came on and was no good.

SPEAKER_01 5:13

The thing is, Joel, you're saying no good. One thing I will say is, and genuinely, like one of the reasons that they're the You're gonna have a go now because you used my name then.

SPEAKER_02 5:21

That you've been to media training, haven't you?

SPEAKER_01 5:23

One of the reasons that Bournemouth are doing, you know, having such an incredible season, they've got an amazing defence, mate. They really have. So it's not about coming on and not doing anything. They did open up some space. I think that we had a few more chances after Phil came on. It's not necessarily what he does when he's on the ball, it's where he takes two players out of the way to man mark him, and then you've got Cherky as well. We just couldn't score. I think we carried on and carried on. Uh the we we did have some opportunities as well. I mean, O'Reilly, I think he's been insane, O'Reilly. Him, Doku, there's a good few. I know we'll probably do that.

SPEAKER_02 5:58

I mean, I mean, I mean, let's be honest, every week you've had a different player of the season.

SPEAKER_01 6:01

Well, because we've we've had so many great players, mate, this year, it's been awesome. But you know, O'Reilly, uh, their keeper made some fantastic saves as well. Um, and and it just, you know, it's just one of those things. Congratulations to Arsenal. They're the they've won the league. Do you believe they were the better team throughout the entire season? Well, the league table don't lie, does it? They've got more points than everyone else, more wins than everybody else. They've got a great defence, they've got a way of playing that wins football matches. Do I think they've do I do I think they've Do I think they've played the best football? No. Absolutely not. Every other goal's been scored by a set piece. Exactly. But they've got a way of winning. We've got the best defence in the Premier League that doesn't concede goals, and if they get a chance from a set piece and score, they shut up shop, and there we go. Now, it's not the most exciting football, but ask an Arsenal fan, they don't give a shit. They've just won the league, they're over the moon.

SPEAKER_02 6:52

That's Jose Marinio when he goes back to Real Madrid. Exactly. And we're winning by 1-0 and shutting up shop. Yeah, yeah, we've won the league. We've turned it around with Barcelona and we've won every game 1-0. Arsenal, are you 1-0 winners?

SPEAKER_01 7:04

This is your Burnley. This is this is what worries me about the Champions League final, right? Because they're about to play against one of the best teams. One of the best teams we've seen for so many years, right? And they got rid of all the big names.

SPEAKER_02 7:18

They are superb to watch. That game against Bayern Munich. I mean, both legs, which was phenomenal, but especially the first one.

SPEAKER_01 7:24

They're incredible. They're a very, very special team to watch. Arsenal could beat them. They could beat them. One nail from a set piece. Exactly. They could get a set piece.

SPEAKER_02 7:32

Gabriel D.

SPEAKER_01 7:33

Their defence is that good. PSG aren't going to like playing against Arsenal. And it worries me because I've already said, Taylor, that Sky Sports doesn't go on in the house till the World Cup starts. I've also said to him, I've got rid of talk sport from my presets because I listen to it all the time. That's gone. I I'm not listening or watching to anything now. Like, because I can't, I just can't be. I don't want to see it.

SPEAKER_02 7:54

What? Talk sport, right? Okay, who's calling Talk Sport? Alright, mate, just want to say up to the Arsenal. Oh, it's been fantastic this year, mate. I don't know where Harry Rendap's politics, but exactly. It's been fantastic. I'll tell you what. That riot and goal, mate. He is a fantastic oh, he's a terrific lad. Hello, mate. You want a lolli. Explain this to me at the press conference. Obviously, everybody was um talking about Pep leaving. No official statement. Recording this 11 o'clock Thursday morning, no official statement. No one knows what's happening, but everybody appears to. What was this all about?

SPEAKER_00 8:27

Let me talk about my chairman. So I know they love me so much. I love you more. So I know that. So I adore it. So let me talk about my club, right? So even the people say I talk a thousand million people in person and what's he talking about?

SPEAKER_01 8:43

I know I work at City, I don't know anything about what's going on. I literally just have the pleasure of getting involved on match day and doing what I do. It's nothing to do with anything. What's the rumours? Because you For me, no, I mean there's rumours going around left, right, and centre. Like, usually when Pep's ask a question in the past, he's he's given an answer like straight away. That's what worries me about whether he's staying or not, because he's pussyfooting away his way around the answer, isn't he? By basically saying, I don't know, I need to speak to my chairman. I mean, listen, maybe he does, maybe he's not sat down with him and had a chat and blah blah blah.

SPEAKER_02 9:13

But wouldn't your chairman be a little bit cheesed off if everybody sky sources I know you don't do much Sky Sports or anything anymore because you can't, because it's uh triggering for you. But when everybody else is reporting it as pretty much facts, and then at the end of it goes, but nothing's still been confirmed.

SPEAKER_01 9:27

Because it hasn't been confirmed, because the main man hasn't said it. So you'd say no, you'd say I'm staying, or whatever. So that's why I'm leaning towards that he is going.

SPEAKER_02 9:35

But I'm Right, fine, hang on, hang on, what's that penny? Oh, it's just dropping off the floor. Penny's dropped.

SPEAKER_01 9:39

No, but I what I'm saying is I would have liked, as a City fan, I would have liked him to tell us so that we can all go to the last game of the season on Sunday and just give him and Bernardo and John Stones the best send-off ever and just have a party because we just won both cups, right? We've got lots to celebrate, and then we say bye to Pep, although every day that goes by, I'm getting sadder and sadder. Like if honestly, people have started ringing me like I've lost a loved one saying sorry for your loss. And I'm like, I do feel very upset.

SPEAKER_02 10:10

That was the first thing I said to you when you gave me sorry for your loss. I know. And I actually meant the Bournemouth loss. The Pep thing is going.

SPEAKER_01 10:16

It's so sad, man. He's literally the greatest manager that we have ever had. Um and who else have you had? Come on. Joe Royal, Kevin Keegan. Do you know what? We've had some crackers, Alan Ball. Uh right, but listen, he's amazing. We've had all this nice. No, but I'm just saying, it's a sad, sad time.

SPEAKER_02 10:37

Yeah, but how's this how's this make Moreska feel then? Because he's your David Moy's going in there now, isn't he?

SPEAKER_01 10:42

As soon as something drops officially, I'd love to come on and tell you everything what I think. But at the minute, I would love nothing more than Pep to turn round and go, I'm staying for another year. I'd love it. That's the dream. However, if Moreska comes in, as we mentioned a little bit on the podcast last week, I think it's the best man for the job, genuinely, because he knows the club, he's been there, he knows the system, all these things. You keep erring and houring around there, I'm not bothered. He is the man to take the job rather than a worldie coming in with his new ways and changing everything. Because we've already started the rebuild and it's like a perfect handover. It really is. And I think it will be I think it will bring success next year. And then if it doesn't work, then someone else comes in. Oh, that's a Sky Sports Alert. He's not left yet. No, it's not, it's nothing to do with it.

SPEAKER_02 11:26

Documents on Andrew Mountbatten wins his appointment as UK trade envoy released. Right, so it's it's not that one.

SPEAKER_01 11:37

I love that. Wipes the sweat from his forehead. That was intense, mate.

SPEAKER_02 11:42

Rumours yesterday, Elliot Anderson. How much? 120 million.

SPEAKER_01 11:46

I don't know. We'll see. I don't know. He he's he's very young, he's very good, he's gonna be world class if he keeps on uh improving. Of course we do, yeah. We're about to lose Bernardo. I don't know whether Kovatic will be there or not. The biggest worry for me, one of my favourite players, and also who I would say is one of the most important players in our squad with Pep leaving, the biggest worry for me is Rodri. That's the one that I think out of all of our teams is most likely to leave.

SPEAKER_02 12:13

Real Madrid, mate. He's leaving. You know, you were sad about Kevin De Bruyne leaving. And I love him as a player. I'd you know, one of my favourite Premier League players. Even when he was at Chelsea and won't get a look in with Salah, he's one of my favourite Premier League players. Rodri, the injuries are catching up. Do you know what? Maybe so. Now is the now is the time. Now, but you also think that Gonzalez, oh Nico, would be his replacement. Ain't good enough, mate.

SPEAKER_01 12:35

This is the problem you've we've got now. When you have the best player in his position in the world, which we have had quite consistently throughout our squad for a while now in key positions, in key positions, but we've always managed to replace them. And I think we'll do the same with our manager because we've got the best manager in the world as well. Honestly, I'm trying to taunt sense and you just come out with this shite. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, so I was right. So he's right.

SPEAKER_02 12:58

I'm not Sumero. I'm not winding.

SPEAKER_01 13:00

I'm not winding you up. I'm just saying it's a done deal. Jose's there now. I would love Roger to stay because I don't think there's anyone better. Our team is so much better when he's in the squad and he's in when he's in the starting 11. Never mind the bloody squad.

SPEAKER_02 13:12

So say he's got who you replace him with.

SPEAKER_01 13:15

I don't know. I need a minute, mate.

SPEAKER_02 13:16

I mean, just off the top of your head, is there anybody that you go?

SPEAKER_01 13:19

Now at the minute, with what we've got, it's Nico Gonzalez, isn't it? But I don't think Pep thinks he's he's good enough. And that's what worries me because he would have started some of these most recent games if Pep thought, but I don't even think Pep thinks he's good enough. I know he scored an incredible goal at Wembley. I know at the beginning of the season when Rodri was out, he was a massive part of us still being in this title race till the second to last game. Is he good enough to replace Rodri full time? No. Is he good enough back up for Rodri? 100% yes. So I think we do need a couple of big signings.

SPEAKER_02 13:52

Moreska's your man.

SPEAKER_01 13:53

Absolutely. And also the you know Can you really believe that? Mate, Moreska isn't the man who's just gonna come in and go, I want this man, I want this man, I want this man. Naiber's Pep, right? They come up with the case. Oh, you all get players who come. Pep's the closest thing, sir.

SPEAKER_02 14:06

Alex, if he wants a player, they're in. A player doesn't want to be there, Pep gets rid of him. You know, I'll say absolutely involved. This is how it's gonna work at Man United. Michael Carrick's gonna go, Ela, I've written down some players that are like, they're gonna say, Thanks very much for that, sir.

SPEAKER_01 14:20

Well, this, can I just say to you, this is why This is what you're having? No, but this is why City aren't at the minute going, right, everyone just take some time off whilst Pep decides what he's gonna do. Don't talk nonsense. That's what it's like. They've been planning it just the the the the window isn't even open yet. City, with Pep and the other people involved, right, are at the minute working behind the scenes and have been for ages with the pieces of the puzzle that we need, and they'll have a list of players that they want, they'll have the number one that they want, and then they'll have a couple underneath who they go for if they can't get that man, and they'll have an idea for every single person in that squad if they decide they're leaving or if the if their time at City's come to an end. They know exactly already before Moresco comes in who they're gonna go for this year, and Moresco, that's why he fits in perfectly because he's gonna come and replace Pep and he's gonna just carry on with the way things are going already at City. So that's why he's the right person to come in.

SPEAKER_02 15:14

So none none of his personality, influence, ideas, he's just coming in as a you know, I'll tell you what, let's put a micro chip in you. We'll take out our Pep and put the micro chip in you.

SPEAKER_01 15:22

And you are now you are now Millie Pep. I wouldn't be surprised if he's been involved with the thought process as well since leaving Chelsea because it's been obvious that he's the man to come in. So I would imagine that he has been behind the scenes doing some bits and bolts. But I don't listen, I don't even know. No one knows what's happening yet. Pep might stay for another 10 years.

SPEAKER_02 15:40

Again, thanks for thanks for listening this week. Um, there are podcasts available and know what they're talking about. Oh, I want to mention for next season. Next week, I'm having the podcast studio starting to be installed.

SPEAKER_01 15:51

All right, great. This is very exciting.

SPEAKER_02 15:53

So, this is Invision. Now, I was watching a lot of kids online. I'll say that again. I was watching a lot of kids online. No, that's even worse. I was watching last night a load of people reviewing like software and all these cameras and everything, and I thought I was dead, you know, up to date with technology and stuff. And I was like, slow down. It's like videos for beginners. Yeah, is it is it is it's a ones for absolute stupid people.

SPEAKER_01 16:15

We've got two camcorders coming.

SPEAKER_02 16:18

Nicole's coming round every Tuesday. Shall we there with it on a shoulder? Brilliant. And then you inject and put the tape in. You'd have to go down to Max Spielman to get him to put it on DVD for you. We'll post it out. So I'm working on that at the minute. Thanks for all your help on that, by the way, Nash.

SPEAKER_01 16:35

Are we gonna be in black and white?

SPEAKER_02 16:36

Well, the thing is, it does look really good in black and white. Does it? Right, okay. As a season for you, you rate it out of ten. As a Man City fan, how is your season? And obviously, like like the Man United tax when you're buying a player, we'll all have to take two points off what you're gonna give it because you're um a Man City fan.

SPEAKER_01 16:52

Yeah, I mate, mate. I think I I'm 80% happy with this season, if I'm honest. 80%. That could even be higher, the more I think about it.

SPEAKER_02 17:00

Well, that's an out of ten. 80% is not out of ten, is it? So come on.

SPEAKER_01 17:03

I reckon it's an 8.5 out of ten. Really? 8.5 out of 10. I'll tell you why, right? At the beginning of the season, we thought it would this was a complete rebuild season. We'd lost some absolute legends over the last couple of seasons that we never thought would be replaced. And then we end up right until the second to last game of the season, being in with a shot a shout of the title, right? We've won the FA Cup, the League Cup. We've had a pretty successful um Champions League, although going out again to uh Real Madrid, which isn't a bad thing. They are the wizards of the Champions League. Oh, come on. They really are like they're the most successful Champions League team in history. So I won't say I'm in the final. Oh, they're not now. I think it has been definitely an 8.5 season. Uh we we we're looking very good. The the the other thing you need to think as well is how we're looking going into the next season, and I'm very excited, although I don't know who the manager's gonna be. I don't know who the players are gonna be. I'm very excited because the squad that we've got has been outstanding, and I would say second in the league, two cup wins, that's a top season.

SPEAKER_02 18:10

Okay, compare it to other seasons, you're asking me, uh, I'll give you six.

SPEAKER_01 18:13

So why are you giving us six?

SPEAKER_02 18:15

Because you didn't win the league when you had three opportunities to do it. When Arsenal screwed up, you got in here, City were long odds on to win it, and and it was in your hands, and you managed to balls it up. The Everton, you ballsed it up. I mean, look, I'm not, you know, it's not down to a single goal or a single mistake, and people can point out and go, it was um, you know, your defender's fault or it's his fault or ours. It just happens, right? It just happens. It's frustrating. It's frustrating. So uh yeah, I'm giving you six out of ten. Let's move to Man United now.

SPEAKER_01 18:41

Six out of ten, million. Okay, so you've just given City for winning the FA Cup, winning the League Cup, and finishing second in the league, you've given us six out of ten. So, what are you giving United season?

SPEAKER_02 18:53

Well, I'm splitting it into two. First half and the season. No, no, just one.

SPEAKER_01 18:55

No, but I'm I'm showing me workings here, TJ.

SPEAKER_02 18:57

Oh, sitting on the fence. No, I'm not sitting on the fence. Just get to the point. First first half of the season, probably a two. Second half of the season, an eight.

SPEAKER_01 19:05

Right, okay.

SPEAKER_02 19:06

Because I'm not going down with that stat again about, you know, have we just took Carrick's uh wins into consideration and since he's been here we'd have won the league. I'm not not into all that.

SPEAKER_01 19:13

So overall, you're giving your season, like I've given it, an eight out of ten.

SPEAKER_02 19:18

If you put it all together, no, it's gonna be a because you've got to have the Amran stuff in there, isn't it? What is it? No, your season a seven out of ten. But compared to last season, it's it's a twelve. When we said, well, I said that um United may finish second in the league this year, that was my bold prediction. Okay, but we finished third.

SPEAKER_01 19:35

So you've given City a six out of ten, and you've given United a seven out of ten. Compared to No, no, no, no, no. It's based on the season. So you yours is honestly, seven out of ten. Just what did you win? It's not about what you won.

SPEAKER_02 19:51

It's it's about the future, as you as you say. Yeah. Carrick's now at the wheel and he's got a pair of driving gloves. Okay. That's what he's got at the minute. We we've we've won a lot of games. We've won them ugly, but we've won the games. Yeah. A seven out of ten. I think it's fair. Probably seven point five. It's not about what you've what you've won, Nigel. It's about the taking part. Okay. Did your parents never tell you that? If you were as straight at football and every other sport that I was, and I'd go, oh, everyone says I'm rubbish. You've done really well. It's not about winning, it's about taking part. Well, what would you give us, then?

SPEAKER_01 20:29

I'd be really disappointed if I was a United fan. Um really? You went out of both cup competitions at pretty much the first round, and one of them was it against Grimsby?

SPEAKER_02 20:38

Yeah, I was in Italy that day.

SPEAKER_01 20:40

Honestly, absolutely. She went to a podcast.

SPEAKER_02 20:42

I went, no, you're right, Chase.

SPEAKER_01 20:43

Horrendous. Penalties, though, can go either way. Horrendous. Um, so I mean, that was horrendous. That was under Amarim. You've played one game a week, you've finished third, and you've got to Champions League football, got a manager. Merry go round.

SPEAKER_02 20:58

You're now giving it to the uh football writers player of the year.

SPEAKER_01 21:02

You've got into the Champions League though, so fair enough, there's a tick.

SPEAKER_02 21:06

To be fair, look, to be fair, if Arsenal win the um the game against PSG in the Champions League final, and uh last night Aston Villa demolished Freiburg in Turkey. So to be fair, I think the top 14 clubs Champions League.

SPEAKER_01 21:21

If I'm giving City an 8 out of 10, it's an 8.5 really, I'm giving you guys a six for your season, definitely.

SPEAKER_02 21:27

Right, so last game of the season is now on it for anyone, is there?

SPEAKER_01 21:31

West Ham and Totland, that's where the excitement is this weekend. All eyes to the bottom of the table.

SPEAKER_02 21:36

But again, you could have you could have made the final day so exciting. I couldn't. To be fair, you'd probably work would be better than Savinio and Kovitic. But even at the age of 49 or whatever you are now, right? If you'd just beat Bournemouth, it I I know you're not really gonna, you know, win the league on the final day because Palace will put out like all the kids, right? Uh huh. But anything can happen, but at the West Ham Tottenham. It would have been more exciting. Sunday, four o'clock. We can build it up like sky as much as we want. There's nothing to play for in any of those games. I know what you're saying. There's gotta be Tottenham can get it. There's gotta be there's gotta be no Aguera, Balotelli, Aguera.

SPEAKER_01 22:14

There's gotta be none of those, man. I'm gutted for that, to be honest. If there was one thing that made me gutted the other night more than anything, it was that we'd not taken this to the last game. And it I was gutted. I went to bed. I'd love those last games of the season. I love it. And you think that's good for a neutral? Imagine what it's like for you as a fan of that club, like just to go into that game with a chance. Although Arsenal aren't gonna they're not gonna beat Palace, but you watch what happens now. Now that we're not in it, Palace 3-1, and we're like, but for God's sake, it's happening again.

SPEAKER_02 22:45

It doesn't matter anymore. And I've I've watched that um Man City QPR game so many times. And it's brilliant, you know, even as a United fan, and when Jerry Barton gets himself sent off and then just gives it Tevez, wasn't he? He took Tevez down, gets a red card, and then Jerry Barton just goes, right, am I checking out here? And just takes out Aguero. People will say, Oh, yeah, advocating violence and all this. It was the last day of the season. United are standing there. I just remember Phil Jones' face. Yeah. Do you remember? And it's like Fergie's looking at the watch. Yeah, yeah. And it's oh, do you know, all you've got to do is score. Oh, Balotelli there, Balotelli to Aguero!

SPEAKER_01 23:17

I I love the drama. I love those last minute. I you know, I wish more than anything that we were going into that final game with just a small chance of something to play for. But for me, it is still gonna be, and genuinely, I'm really looking forward to it. Like I said, I'll be gutted if John Stones doesn't start at the weekend. Of course, he will. I can't wait to give a send-off to these boys. I can't wait to celebrate with all the fans the two trophies that we've won. I'm looking forward to the parade on Monday. I can't wait for that. And uh, who knows whether it's going to be a bat a good buy for Pep, but I can't wait.

SPEAKER_02 23:52

Just forget, oh, because I work in Manchester, all the roads will be shut.

SPEAKER_01 23:56

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 23:57

Oh, for God's sake! That's why Man United stopped winning stuff. Well, they used to do these parades round here. Oh, bloody you don't have a parade for a domestic double.

SPEAKER_01 24:06

Of course you do, you celebrate, you of course you do. I can't wait to celebrate. I can't wait. Honestly, I'm really looking forward to Monday.

SPEAKER_02 24:13

All right, uh, who's going down? Uh, Tottenham or um West Ham?

SPEAKER_01 24:17

West Ham. What do you think?

SPEAKER_02 24:18

You're not a football fan if you don't want Tottenham to go down.

SPEAKER_01 24:21

I mean, listen, I what I would be crazy news if Tottenham go down. Only because West Ham have been down more a lot more recently. Tottenham have just got this new stadium. Uh people say this. It's crazy. Have you been to the London Stadium? West Ham's. It's it's not like you know, you're playing at crew. Oh, I know exactly what you mean. But I think it's just because they've never been out of the top division.

SPEAKER_02 24:44

Right, before we go, do you want to got some early teams of the year? Call do you? Do you want to have a little look? And I've I've made no notes of this. Um I've got a blank sheet of paper. Okay. Okay, and let's just go through some positions here. So, keeper of the year. I'll give it Josh Rummer and then I'll give it Trafford.

SPEAKER_01 24:59

No, no, it's Raya, isn't it? Go on. That's Donald Truman.

SPEAKER_02 25:03

Raya. I've been saying this for weeks, and you're going, no, no, Donald Rumor.

SPEAKER_01 25:07

No, no, I I I I love him at City. I love our goalkeepers. Anyway, I'll put David Raya. Raya.

SPEAKER_02 25:13

Uh yeah, I'll put David Raya in goal, yeah. Yes. Where are you from, mate? Yeah, yeah. Raya. All right, give us some defenders. Uh I mean you can have a left back, right back, and a couple of central defenders if you want, or you can just give us some who are you putting in your team?

SPEAKER_01 25:26

My team is gonna be very city heavy, but I would I would definitely put Sully. I'll put Saliba Saliba and Gabriel in the in the centre halves. Hang on. So the first three you've got yeah, give me Arsenal ones in now, because these these these are the ones that are centre halves, Gabrielle and Saliba. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 25:44

Give us a left and a right back.

SPEAKER_01 25:45

I'm gonna go for Cities, I'm gonna go for Nunes, um, and I'm gonna go for definitely O'Reilly. There you go, I could have predicted this. Nunes and O'Reilly, definitely.

SPEAKER_02 25:58

Centre mid, right. If you're not putting Declan Rice in here, can I can I this is gonna be Rodri for a start? I've already started writing him.

SPEAKER_01 26:04

It's not, it's Declan Rice, it is rice. Right, okay. For the season, it's rice, okay. Definitely. Do you know what? This isn't just because I'm um Bruno. No, I'm putting I'm not putting Casemiro in there at all. No way. I'll put Bruno in. Bruno.

SPEAKER_02 26:20

Give him Rice or uh Fernange.

SPEAKER_01 26:22

I'm gonna put Bruno Fernandez in for the season that he's had. That will be the only time I ever put a United player in there.

SPEAKER_02 26:29

So just to confirm, Bruno and Declan Rice. Yeah. And emitting Rodri.

SPEAKER_01 26:35

Rodri's been injured for quite a large part of this season. Definitely putting Bernardo as one of my midfielders, 100%. Bernardo Silva, I think he's been outstanding for his own.

SPEAKER_02 26:43

He's actually an emotional.

SPEAKER_01 26:46

He's been insane this season, mate. Bernardo Silva would get into any team in the Premier League. I'm gutted he's leaving. He's he's he's he's an absolute player. He wants sunshine. He wants to be near nearer to his family.

SPEAKER_02 26:58

That'd be so funny if you end up at Sunderland, wouldn't it? On a big money deal. He wants to be closer to his family.

SPEAKER_01 27:03

He's not he's not he's not going to Sunderland, mate.

SPEAKER_02 27:05

Alright, okay.

SPEAKER_01 27:05

So I'm gonna put Doku in there on the wing, because I think Doku has been outstanding. Do you think he's hot and cold? I think he's been hot for the majority of the season. He has moments where you he has moments, he has better games, but every player does. Over the season, Docu's got a bit of a game.

SPEAKER_02 27:24

He's probably the best dribbler in the in the league, but sometimes he's a bit Antony.

SPEAKER_01 27:29

Yeah, I know he's not as never that part. He doesn't fall over. So all right, you're gonna give me a couple of strikers. Harland is the striker. I mean, if we're going off goals, then it's um uh what's his name? You'll add it at Brentford. Yeah, Tiago, yeah. He'd been he'd be number two. Did you put Ekatique in there? Do you know what? I'm I I know that we have signed him, but on the other side, I'm gonna put some menu because I think he's had an amazing start to the season with Bournemouth, and I think he's carried it on with City, so I I'm putting him in there as well. Am I missing the obvious here? Go on, Dominic Summersly. I don't think uh any of Liverpool players deserve. No, no, but out of that Liverpool squad. Um I think Turkey's had an incredible season. There it is! I was I was waiting for it. I I just think Volume I I I think he's been outstanding. I do. I think I've been I've been gutted. He's the main player that when Pep has not played him, uh when I get the starting 11, I'm like, for God's sake, why is he not playing? Because I think he just changes games, he's amazing to watch, and I've loved it. And I'm obviously very biased, but I I think he's class.

SPEAKER_02 28:35

All right, I'll I'll uh I'll I'm gonna save mine to next week. Right because the five.

SPEAKER_01 28:40

Let's go through mine then in goal.

SPEAKER_02 28:41

David Raya. You had uh Ninez, Saliba, Gabrielle, O'Reilly. Okay, Bruno and old Declan Rice. It looks like he cuts his own hair. I do like Declan Rice, so he's he's the first name on the England team, should he?

SPEAKER_01 28:57

Hang on, there's 12 people in that team.

SPEAKER_02 28:59

I've just worked out there's 12 people in that team. There's 12 people in that team, so you need to get rid of.

SPEAKER_01 29:05

If you say Bruno, Turkey's gone, that's my team of season. No, start again. That's that's absolutely hilarious. We've just gone through it and we've got 12. We've got 12 in the team. No, start again, start again.

SPEAKER_02 29:15

David Raya. Right, Saliba, Gabrielle, yeah, Nunez. Yeah. Is it Nunez or Nunez? Nunez. O'Reilly, yeah, Bruno Fanange, Declan Rice, Samenio, Silver, Doku, Haaland.

SPEAKER_01 29:30

Yeah, I think that's uh that's that's pretty fair. So next week you can do yours. Oh, next week I'll do mine as well. And manager of the season. I think he's gonna do big things. Enzo Moresca. My manager of the season is Iriola. Ariola, okay. I I just think what he's done there is amazing. I know he's leaving, but for me, he's the manager of the season. Would you have him at City? Ariola. Ariola.

SPEAKER_02 29:53

Would you have him at City?

SPEAKER_01 29:54

Um he's got a name he can't pronounce, so you know, you might as well. I wouldn't have him at City now. Oh, it's not. Because um it's all yeah, we need someone who just keeps this going. This incredible effort.

SPEAKER_02 30:06

Right, uh, so we're back next week, final games of the season.

SPEAKER_01 30:09

Predictions for the weekend then? Okay, so City are playing against Aston Villa. I think well, no one does care, but I do, and I think we'll win 4-1.

SPEAKER_02 30:17

Because I'll be honest with you, and the Aston Villa players, they'll still be hammered. Well, yeah, happy days. I hope. So, easy, easy win for you.

SPEAKER_01 30:25

Yeah, definitely. So, what are you thinking you're gonna get on?

SPEAKER_02 30:28

Who have you got Brighton? Uh uh we'll lose 4-0.

SPEAKER_01 30:30

Right, okay, okay.

SPEAKER_02 30:31

This is the season. That was the season. Doesn't matter. Right, so we started this right at the start of the season. Can you do this? On paper, it's really easy, but no one has managed to do it yet who's been on the show. 20 Premier League teams currently, as it stands, on Thursday, the 21st of May, 2026. 60 seconds, and your time starts now.

SPEAKER_01 30:54

Newcastle, Sunderland, Manchester United, Manchester City, Everton, Liverpool. Have I missed anyone but that's okay? No. Forest Aston Villa Wolves is running there. Arsenal, Arsenal. Hang on.

SPEAKER_02 31:33

Um, full of no, no, it's twelve.

SPEAKER_01 31:38

Um Crystal Palace Aston Villa.

SPEAKER_02 31:44

I've got to put them in twice.

SPEAKER_01 31:46

I think I've already said Aston Villa.

SPEAKER_02 31:47

Um three. Two one. Shit.

SPEAKER_01 31:52

See, that was worse than worse than one.

SPEAKER_02 31:53

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve.

SPEAKER_01 31:57

Yeah. That was bad, that. Maybe. Well, listen, let's move on. Listen, I've been stressed, mate. I've had a really tough few days. Well, let's say a very up and down week. Uh, so that was unfair. We should have done that on the last podcast of the season.

SPEAKER_02 32:12

You know what? I I might do it next week because I've never done it.

SPEAKER_01 32:14

Right, okay. Well, you can do it next week. I've never done it. The thing is, though, you'll practice it all week. I don't think about it. I don't just think that's it right now. I've not thought about that since the last time. Yeah, I do. I've never given it to the kids and the missing. I actually genuinely do think you'll you'll play it like literally every second of every day. You'll be like a kid who's learned his his exams and you'll you'll record it on a dictaphone and then listen to it on your headphones.

SPEAKER_02 32:37

Walking round my house going, right, here we go. Um forest, lead, follow. Daddy, you mess wolves. You mess wolves. Uh, thanks for listening. Um, make sure you follow the show because um I've been doing some stats this week. Okay. A lot of people listen to the show but don't follow it.

SPEAKER_01 32:52

Right, okay.

SPEAKER_02 32:53

Well, I don't know what that means. So you can't.

SPEAKER_01 32:54

Yeah, what you need to do is you need to hit the follow button. Uh that would be amazing. And then what happens then? If you hit follow, every time we do a new episode, you'll get a notification to say there's a new episode out because we don't just do one a week, sometimes we do two, and sometimes we do the bonus episodes, sometimes we have guests on. You never know what you're gonna get, but this is the season uh and it's almost done.

SPEAKER_02 33:14

And fair play to Arsenal, thanks for the five hundred quid and have a brilliant weekend.