Wael And Steve Just Gassing Podcast
Join former Bristol Rovers owner Wael Al-Qadi and Bristol Rovers writer Steve Hutson
Wael And Steve Just Gassing Podcast
Wael & Steve Just Gassing - Episode One
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Former Bristol Rovers owner Wael Al-Qadi joins Football League World's Bristol Rovers Writer Steve Hutson for a new Bristol Rovers and Football themed Podcast. New Episodes Monthly.
Hello, welcome everyone to Wyell and Steve Jasgassin. Um Wyell, how are you doing?
SPEAKER_00I'm great. Uh thank you for this. Um, you know, it's a pleasure to host this with you. Um, I think it's a great idea. Um uh it's a great way to uh talk about a club um uh which we both love and talk about football, our passion. And it's a great way to be, you know, to continue being in touch with with gas heads and uh uh yeah, really looking forward to it.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, same 100%. Um I'll tell everyone what what they can expect then, first and foremost. Um, so obviously, as you've seen from some of the promo we've put out there, it's basically just us gassing about Bristol Rovers. We'll be going over some of the latest news, obviously the latest results, looking ahead to some um as well. And we'll be hopefully interacting with the audience. Um, gas heads. Um, hopefully you can get involved. Send us your videos, send us your comments, um, and we will um try to discuss them as we're going along. And um, some will agree with, some will disagree with, I'm sure. And that'll be the same for for you guys. You'll agree with us, you'll disagree with us, but please do get involved. Um, today we're gonna be looking back at obviously some of the news in the last uh seven days or so. Um, we will also look back to York and the Caraval Cup exit. Um, and we will look ahead as well, bit of a preview as well, YL, because we are we've bitten the bullet and we are making some predictions. Are you anxious about that? No, no, I'm very confident with my predictions. Yeah, that they haven't changed since um since the defeat on um on Saturday.
SPEAKER_00Well, you know, we were tempted to change a bit of uh our predictions, but um no, no, we're steadfast with that.
SPEAKER_02That yeah, very tempted. So we'll we'll come we'll come to that a little bit later. We'll also as well have uh uh a nice little giveaway as well. Not today, that will be in um future episodes, but um, yeah, that's something to look forward to as well. Um did you want to add anything to that while?
SPEAKER_00No, um again, you know, it's uh really excited to do this. Always uh love talking about uh the club we love. Um and the uh you know the intent is uh not to uh talk or offend um anyone. Uh it's just out of pure love for our club. And um uh again, yeah, looking forward to it.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and and honestly, I think it's inevitable that we will upset people, but um, we're both in the firing line. We're both in the firing line now. So um yeah, but as I say, we want people to get involved. That's what we want, right? That brings that brings interaction, that brings engagement.
SPEAKER_00I mean, uh nothing's changed there. We've been in the firing line before, and we continue to be in the firing.
SPEAKER_02100%, 100%. So let's let's jump straight into it then. Let's look at um some of the news that's come out of um Ravers in the last week or so. Um, in terms of signings, obviously not a huge amount happening, but um Luke Southwood went out, Charlie Binns came in. Um, or Bins obviously came in a few weeks before. Um, and he went out on loan, but was instantly recalled again. Um that's a fee for Southwood, it seems 11 uh signings, new signings, I guess.
SPEAKER_00Um, you know, that's always um that's quite a big amount of uh players, new players coming in, and I'm I'm guessing it's going to take uh a bit of a while until you know the balance is uh is right and until you know the players gel together. So um you know, just uh hope it looks like a very good uh squad. You know, I like um the the height in the squad and the experience that's been brought in. Um I think it was six players that have had promotions previously. So um yeah, it's it's um I think you know, with Steve uh's experience, um I think he's assembled um a very good squad that will compete. Um, and hopefully, you know, it ends up uh with promotion for us.
SPEAKER_02Hopefully, hopefully, and we'll come back to that more um a little bit later. Um also obviously we had the fans forum last week. Um, I would say not a huge amount came out of that, but um what was interesting, as as always, and you'll know this um better than most, there's always questions about the stadium and what's gonna happen there. Um, if I'm honest, I felt a bit like what was said felt contradictory. Um, for example, you know, in one in one of the responses, there was um it was said that you know it's highly likely we'll move away from the men, but it's not necessarily a given. You know, so so so they're sort of pushing us one way whilst also saying, well, hang on a minute, nothing might change at all. So that that felt very contradictory, um, as did when the question was asked about um whether or not we'll have any news this season or not. And again, it was like, well, possibly, but not definitely. Um, you know, that sort of thing. And I get that they are anxious about giving out um too much information where there's none to give out. You know, they've said that they don't want to um they don't want to be announced in anything on the stadium until they've got concrete signatures or concrete, um, concrete agreements, which you can understand to a certain degree, but also I think you know, if you're gonna have a fans forum, you need to have some sort of concrete update to be given on the stadium because it's an inevitable question. Um, and I think to just be kind of sending contradictory statements doesn't quite cut it. I don't know, that's just my opinion.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean, you know, the stadium question or issue is is huge for for the club and and the gas heads. So I can um definitely understand why the club um have said this about you know not announcing anything until they have something concrete to talk about. So um, but at the same time, you know, I mean, fans are desperate for news, and um uh, you know, I'm talking about experience here. Um, I don't think it's going to be very difficult for the club to uh maintain this stance because of the amount of interest and pressure that fans um have towards this this subject. And not only that, um I mean, you know, there are gas heads everywhere. So if you you know um if there is some kind of talk or or you know progress in in the stadium issue, you will have a gas head in the in the council or you know in the area where the new land for the new stadium has been found. Uh we will get notified by gas heads um that have a scoop on on this story uh before the club uh knows it. So it's going to be very difficult for um this subject to be uh you know kept under wraps um until um you know an agreement has been reached. So it's it's very tricky. I mean, and I can understand uh why the club have said this, but um, you know, maybe, maybe hopefully, you know, we will hear something either from uh people out there in the field or from the club.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, like you say, I think it is, you know, it will be extremely hard to keep things quiet. And it seems to be something that Gauss ads are good at getting um scoops and um putting out information before the club, um, myself included, um, for good or bad. Um, so I mean, there's not much to add, really, I don't think, to the stadium stuff at the moment, is there, until until we have concrete um concrete news, um or or some sort of, as you say, some sort of whispers going around that um something is is happening. Um a little bit more um of the Ravers news to come out in the last few days. Um Taylor Moore um seems to have got um some heckles up online. Um and obviously Bristol Life have since come out and said that um uh or or Steve Evans um has said that um Taylor's had some offers from clubs, but he's turned them down. Um and the heckles were raised because of a comment that Taylor Moore um responded to on Instagram, uh, where I think uh somebody had commented on Andreas, is it Wyman Wayman um on his post um where he's just signed for Cheltenham, I think it is. Um, and somebody said that they would tear us apart when they meet us this season. And Taylor Moore seemed to say 100%. Um, whether that's just clumsy social media interaction, we've all done it. Um, or whether there's you know something a bit more under the surface that we might not be aware of just yet. Um, what do you think? What do you make of that?
SPEAKER_00Well, I mean, you have um one of our players, he's he's one of our players, you know. He plays um he's under contract um for the club. So for him uh to come out and and you know tweet that um uh I can understand many fans being agitated by that. But um I would say that you know Steve Evans, he's come in uh last season, he stopped the the decline, he took hold of the club, took um uh control of everything. Um, and he he's in charge, he's in control now. So I trust him to uh you know to manage this certain situation uh the way he sees fit. Um so you know, not really bothered by it. I I know Steve Evans will manage it uh appropriately.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I mean, I I want to give him the benefit of doubt because obviously he's done a lot to try and integrate fans and then for for mental health and stuff like that. So I I want to say it's probably just a bit of clumsy interaction, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um you know, social media sometimes you know people you know uh get trapped or make mistakes, and you know, it's um again, uh let Steve Evans deal with it.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, um, and of course, then the results. Um, results on the pitch haven't been great. Um, but what you know we wouldn't expect any different. This is the first game of the Carabao Cup, first round of the Carabao Cup, and it's the first game of the EFL League 2 season or the EFL League season. We just don't win those matches, right?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean, no matter how hard we try, it's just the same outcome, isn't it?
SPEAKER_02Um but uh it is, it is, and yeah, I mean, yeah, what is it? Something like three three and twenty-one, I think we we've actually managed to get results from um on the first day of the league season. So yeah, I mean that's what what what can explain that?
SPEAKER_00Is it just bad luck or I mean why do we have to play our first game, uh league game of the season away? I mean something's wrong there. I mean, we need to have a word with uh the EFL. Um, because that contributes a lot to to uh that record, and um um uh it's it's just something we need to to uh fix sooner rather than later.
SPEAKER_02Uh it's an interesting point actually. I don't know how many of those off the top of my head have been home or away. Um I might I might actually have to look into it.
SPEAKER_00I was told I was told it's got to do with the balloon festival, and and you know, uh that's why we have to be away because of that, because of proximity to you know uh the neighbors who played. I did hear that.
SPEAKER_02Well, weren't City home was City home as well? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00They um, you know, they lost um to you know an ex uh rover players scoring twice, I think. So fantastic. Uh but anyway, um, yeah, it's because of that, I think. So um I don't know. We need to we need to fix that.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I I guess that's a consequence of having two, you know, being a two-club city, isn't it? You know, plus we are probably you know one of the busiest cities as well. So there's there's a lot happening, and it's tricky, isn't it? It it's tricky to kind of get that right, but um, you know, we can't blame that. We we can't blame that alone. Yes, yes, it has a factor, of course. Um, but I don't think we can blame that because uh, you know, ultimately, you know, uh other clubs around you know, around the league are also you know away from home, probably won their first matches, you know, off the top of my head. I'd have to get the results out to um to remind myself of that. But yeah, I don't think we can use that as an excuse, but at the same time, it does seem like a weird voodoo that we just can't really shake at the moment.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Um speaking of which, um, see that this is where the editing's gonna come in important as we try as we try to get the flow. We can't do that live. Well, let's do let's jump into the predictions then. Yeah, let's do that.
SPEAKER_00Um with the loss of um, you know, the first away game. Um yeah, so my predictions, of course, the most important thing about it is we are champions and we're getting promoted. So um I did predict um, as did you, that rovers would win their first game of the season away. I had it down as 2-0. I think you had it down as 2-1. Yeah, at least we got the um, you know, the number of goals uh scored right. So we got uh something right there for us, yeah. But yeah, again, um Rovers, you know, Steve Evans, um, he knows this league. Uh he's had a zillion promotions. Um he's he's recruited really well, he's recruited players whom he knows, uh he's um recruited captains, leaders, he's recruited um height, uh toughness, um, you know, the characteristics of players, uh, which is very important. He knows how to navigate through this league and get promotion. So um going on from the form of last season when he came in, he took uh hold of the club in all aspects. Um he he got hold of uh recruitment, recruited the right players in. Um, and as we all saw, he stopped the rot and went on this amazing uh winning streak, which was the longest in the EFL. And he's recruited um well again in the summer. Um, and you know, if you add all these things together, I think um with Steve Evans in charge, um, I think we will end up as champions.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, it's interesting actually that those top three that you've gone with, I'll say now as well that I've gone with the same top three, just in a different order. But at that top three, and and we should say as well, we did these before the season started. We did these probably maybe roughly about two weeks ago. Um, and yeah, it does seem to be that across the board of um, you know, if you look on YouTube, you you've got all these um season predictions across the board. People seem to either favor rovers as champions or have those as the top three. Okay, so you know that's good. That's good to know. Um, how about in terms of relegation? Then you've got Cheltenham and Newport down there to um to drop out.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, um, you know, I mean uh just because they're you know rivals, basically.
SPEAKER_02Okay, very much from the heart, then all of this. Yeah, okay. Well, let's take a look at mine then. Let's see, let's see where it compares. I should say this graphic that I'm using is from the um rival app, which was made, I believe, by Gasheads, who also made um who also runs Fanhub. It's a really good app. We're not sponsored by them. We that they don't know we're doing this, but I I would recommend you go and um check out that app because it's a really fun app to play with. Um John Harley.
SPEAKER_00Yes, yes, yeah, fantastic.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, um, I I I've not I've never met him, but I I'm a fan of his work, I'll say that. Um, so yeah, that these are my predictions. As I said, top three. Um, same as yours. Yeah, I've tried to go a little bit more with my head than my heart on this. Rovers, of course. I said weeks ago online that Rovers would be one of the favorites to be champions. Um, you know, I think the way we've started this season kind of makes me feel a bit better about putting them third and just kind of sneaking in because I feel like we are yet to see the Bristol Rovers that finished last season. Um, you know, I don't think there's any signs of that so far this season.
SPEAKER_00Um so I do feel like going to the game, what do you think uh went wrong um at York?
SPEAKER_02At York, I mean it was the same, it was the same for both games, I think. We just left them we left them far too much space. Um, you know, they didn't have to try and break down our lines, they could run straight through them. Um, so that was obviously disappointing. Um again, both games, fullbacks far too easily beaten. Um, in the second half against um Peterborough, they were much better. Um, but I feel like I feel like, you know, like I said, at the moment, we're just not showing any of the signs of um of the team that finished last season. I meant maybe I'm being a little bit critical, you know. These are Peterborough League One, um, York City who are expected to challenge as well this season. Um, so maybe I'm being a little bit too critical. It is still far too early to make a uh you know, probably a real judgment. But yeah, I think we just we were just too exposed. Um, like I said, it was far too easy for them to break us down. I said online as well, it felt like they they just blew us away, you know, they tore us apart, even though we got two goals and the scoreline was 3-2. For me, I feel like we were lucky to get um those two goals. Um, but you know, there are obviously some good signs for Brizio Cavan again, you know, looking like uh like he's gonna be a handful this season. So I uh you know, probably should have and could have done better with his effort um in the first half, uh his first effort. Um, but in the second half, he was he was something else. And actually, when we were managing to get the better of York, it did seem to be um where Carven was the outlet, you know. So yeah, so I I mean look, let's say the jury's out, I think is the summary on that. I think the the games from our perspective were poor. Um, we just didn't um yeah, like I said, just didn't see any of um what we saw last season, I think.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean for me, I I thought you know, I was really uh blown away by how good York were. I mean, the uh variety of play they had, you know, going attacking through um the wide areas, the you know, the um the amount of uh chances they created, they always looked dangerous. Um, you know, their football was very smooth. Um I I didn't expect them to be you know coming out from uh the conference um that good. Uh that I think they're they're going to do very well this season. So um I mean I I think on on uh any other day maybe our luck would have uh gone the other way. We we might have come out with with a draw. Um uh you know, like you said, Kevin had a fantastic chance. Um Which was well saved by the goalkeeper. Also Shaq Ford, you know, an impressive block by one of their defenders. Yeah, if those went in, you know, the game would have changed uh for us. But um uh yeah, I mean there's a lot of uh issues there, um, you know, individual mistakes. Um our midfield, I think, was a bit leggy, maybe because of you know the the younger lads weren't playing, um the more the experienced players were there. Um but I was impressed by Goff, by the way. Uh oh yes, he looks really uh outstanding. And also when um uh Reese Alexander Russell Dennis is his name. We're never gonna learn his name, so we but we let's think of a nickname. Let's think of a nickname for him, you know, make it easier for us. Yeah, what do you suggest we we call him?
SPEAKER_02Oh blame, you put me on the spot now. You might you might have to give me a bit of time on that one. I'll come back. Um, it's it's uh it's uh double double barrel, so man, maybe there's something we can do. Uh if he scores some goals, you know, double barrel shotgun. I think that works, maybe.
SPEAKER_00How about double R? Because you know, Reese and Russell. Double R or Okay or the Den. Then the Den the Den Gassen.
SPEAKER_02Let us know what you think.
SPEAKER_00Um, if you can because there's no way we were gonna remember that uh you know, double double barrel name. There's no you know very hard. So yeah, I like the den.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. Well, let's see what comes. Let's see what comes.
SPEAKER_00If he um the den came on, the den came on, and you know, he looks you know. Um, also I remember when we played Tottenham at home, the trophy last season. It was him that played that through ball, that assist, that pass. At the time, I honestly thought that was the best assist I've ever seen in football. It was that good. Um, so you know, really happy. Uh we've got him on.
SPEAKER_02I think Tommy Lee, Tommy Lee, if I'm right, Tommy Lee might have a um a shout on that one. I'm picturing, I can't remember the game, I can't remember who finished it, but I'm picturing a hell of a uh a long ball that um Tommy Lee picked out last season that was put away. So um it might it might challenge you for that.
SPEAKER_00Tommy Lee, I mean, what is signing? Um, you know, again, one of the reasons why I think we're going to uh to to get promoted and uh is you know the quality of Tommy Lee. It's just uh really excited to have him in this in the in the team and watching him play. Um but imagine you know, once the den and um you know Goff get some more minutes, I think uh you know we're going to be uh quite the team.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and it's still early days. I guess I guess that's why it was such a surprise that we were so easily outplayed in midfield in those in those first two matches, you know. I think especially small word who last season, you know, was was really strong um in that diamond, in that sort of back of the diamond position. I think he played last season. Um and uh I think in the second half um of the of the um York game, Keenan Goff stepped out from centre back into that um back diamond position. And it it it you know, we have much better control of it. And Keenan Goff, I mean, yeah, like you said, he does look something special. Um we've got you know, on the face of it, we've got a pretty tidy midfield there. We've got a pretty tidy midfield there. So hopefully they can they can sort of get used to each other, and and you know, of course, Goff and um Reese Alexander. Um, I've probably got that wrong. Um I think I think you know they look like two seriously bright sparks, bright, bright sparks.
SPEAKER_00Um you said you know we were really lucky with the two goals. I mean, you don't you didn't you didn't think that was a penalty, that push?
SPEAKER_02No, I didn't actually. I felt it was very, very soft. I mean, uh well, I can't say I didn't think it was a penalty, right? Because if you push and you're off balance, you're going down, it's a penalty, right?
SPEAKER_00It was a penalty, but it was it was very clear push, and the referee was two meters away looking at the guy pushing.
SPEAKER_02Uh yeah, it looks to me like he just did a superman dive afterwards, though. So he bought it a little bit, I think.
SPEAKER_00Not really. I mean, the guy was full force on him, so it was a stone wall. Come on. We scored it, we scored it, but it didn't matter, did it?
SPEAKER_02It didn't matter at the end of the day. Um, but yeah, I mean, look, we we definitely need to improve. Um, we definitely need to improve. I think so.
SPEAKER_00We will improve. Um, you know, it's it's early days. Um, you know, once the season gets going, you know, I think six, seven, eight games into the season you'll start seeing um, you know, a formidable team.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, hopefully, hopefully. And and I still think you know, we we will be obviously there or thereabouts. Um, if we're not, um, then there's you know big problems.
SPEAKER_00Um I think we will be. And I mean, Steve uh said that you know, expect two more signings, and and one of them uh how did he describe it? Like a Maverick signing, like um yes, and now they're like Tommy Lee out of the blue signing. So I'm hoping, you know, um that you know it's it's obviously it's going to be a signing of impact. And um uh uh you know I trust Steve to bring in that kind of player that will do what um his previous Mavericks signings have done. Um and he he's you know that will be like the icing on the cake. Uh, I think you know it's going to be a forward um uh position player, maybe you know, a winger. Um can't, you know, it's so two more to come in, he said, which will only strengthen us. Um so um, you know, looking forward and excited to see who it is.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and I I really love that word, um, that phrase maverick sign-in. Um, because that that that gets your juices flowing, right? It makes you wonder, well, you know, what what are they gonna be? Who are they gonna be? I think as well, and I again I've been saying this for a little while now. I feel like our our business isn't done yet. We we know obviously that Evans has said one or two more sign-ins, which would fit with what I said a few weeks ago, you know. A few weeks ago I said, um, it's probably only a couple of weeks ago. I you know, I said, I think we'll probably do about five or six more sign-ins inwards. Um, and there would probably be about three that would leave. So I think um four have come in since then. Um, and we've had a few leave.
SPEAKER_00Um, so yeah, I think I think you know, he wouldn't say, you know, uh, you know, uh advertise that we're getting a Maverick signing unless he knows that we're getting a Maverick signing. So let's hope. Yeah, I mean, uh, it'd be very cruel of him to tease us that way, you know. I mean, uh when he said it, I'm expecting, you know, a Yusuf-like signing, um, or an Elliott Anderson-like signing, yeah, and a Tommy Lee-like signing. So something's happening. Um, you know, we've the window isn't shut. We've sold a lot of players, we've signed um uh 11 or so players on loan or or as free agents. So with him saying, you know, Maverick signing, it's all these uh factors put together. Um I'm really looking forward to seeing who it is.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it's exciting, isn't it? I I I feel like you know that you know, I I also feel like it's possible. Again, I said this quite a while ago, that I think you know we could see a record broken for fees for transfer fee spent. Obviously, the last time they did that didn't go quite so well with uh promise on the share. Um, you know, that can still I'm I'm still you know, I'm I'm back in promise.
SPEAKER_00I'm I know how why would you say why would you say you know maybe uh record signing? What makes you think so?
SPEAKER_02Well, I mean a few things. I think first of all, the money that has come in from the Southwood sale, the Hutchinson sale, the Conte sale, um who was the other one? I think there was one other as well. But I think the money, the the money that has come in from those, um, you know, you would imagine should be a decent figure, which a good chunk of it should be spent on you know that Maverick signing. Um I think also if we are looking for a striker or a winger, then you know their valuations will probably be quite steep. Um I think we also have scope to do it because of TV money and and and what have you. And um uh I think the um commercial side of the the club is also doing better, it seems financially. Um, so I think the scope is there to do it. Um I think you know, whether or not the appetite is there to do it because of, you know, obviously the club did make a big loss towards the end of um at the end of the last um accounts period. Um and also there might be some fear because of what's happened with Promise. You know, Promise 500 grand and he's barely been on the pitch. Um, so it could go either way, but I I feel like it is, you know, there's a good possibility that A we will see um you know a marquee signing come in, um, but also I think it will be for a pretty good fee. But we'll probably never know because it will probably probably be another one of those dreaded undisclosed fees.
SPEAKER_00Well, you know, um the transfer window, when does it shut? Um uh 1st of September. First of September, I think. Yeah, not long to go, so you know. Steve Evans, excited to see what you're bringing in. Um yeah, so you know, let's let's wait and see.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, 100%.
SPEAKER_00Um but whoever you bring in, I mean, I'm going on, you know, um based on his experience and based on him uh taking full control of of uh you know the footballing side of the club. Uh I trust him to bring in that Maverick player who he thinks will you know will improve us uh massively um based on you know uh his previous signings and the players he's brought in into the club.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and and Steve Evans, you know, you you have to back him, right? You you absolutely have to back him.
SPEAKER_00Um he has been backed and rightly so. And you can see um you know the results going back from when he came in until the end of the season. Uh, you know, you can see what Steve is about, and and he has been backed, and hopefully he will continue to be backed.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and and he's actually um you know been at pains to say that um you know he's he's got nothing but but um good things to say about Hussein al-Saeed, who he says, you know, is is you know giving him all the back in he can need. And in fact, he said that the um the chairman is constantly on his case um with sign-ins. So yeah, that sounds positive as well. So there probably is an appetite.
SPEAKER_00And it shows you, you know, full credit to Hussein for you know turning it around and and um uh getting Steve in and backing him. And you know, by the way uh that that uh Steve described Hussein, he's he's excited. He's excited to see which players Steve is gonna bring in because he can see that you know we we're building something here, and um hopefully, you know, that will be um um finished uh capped off with a promotion.
SPEAKER_02Take take us inside the mind of uh of a club owner at this at this point when you're you know the the the window is you know moving on a bit now. There's only a couple of weeks left of the window, and there's probably all sorts of players that you'd like to attract or to attract, or or there's some business that you'd still like to do, or even maybe discussing kind of budgets with the managers. How how does all that work?
SPEAKER_00Well, I mean, uh exactly like Steve said, that um the owner is like, okay, what happened with this target? You know, he's anxious uh you know to see progress. Um uh what have we done with this uh uh with this target, this you know, number one target we have, you have the budget approved to go and get him. Why isn't he in the building? The excitement of the the owner um uh uh about potential targets shows you that the owner is enjoying it and he's having fun, he's he's happy with the way you know his his uh uh his manager is um progressing with with and and how he's building the squad. So you know that that basically shows me that you know if if the owner is excited about potential signings coming in and he's asking about where have we reached, um he's anxious for the player to come in, it shows me that he is enjoying it, he's having a good time, and and that he's really optimistic about you know um where we're gonna be at the end of the season.
SPEAKER_02And and that's good because you know it's no secret they they had a shocking start to to their reign. Um, you know, but I think I feel like lessons have been learned, you know, and I feel like we're we're moving in the right direction. Um and yeah, let's see.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. And you know, um give credit where credit is due. They they turned it around, and um, you know, um uh yes, it was a tough uh initiation um and a tough uh learning period, but you know, it is what it is, and um it looks like uh we're on the right path now.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Um so let's just let's just look ahead then before we go back. Um, because we're gonna we're gonna look back in a little bit. Something I didn't say at the start, actually, is even though this is why and Steve just gassing um mainly about Bristol Rovers, we will also be just gassing about football generally. So shortly we'll we'll look back at the World Cup. Um we'll talk a little bit about the whole FIFA situation and look at some photos that um that you've taken and and sent to us to have a look back from your escapades in America. Um we've also got something that's been sent to us from a Rovers fan as well, which we'll take a look at in a minute. And again, we want we want more of these. Um so we'll we'll go to those in a second, but let's just look ahead to um matches that are coming up. So we've got Newport this Saturday, which I'll be at me and the missus. Um, we got our tickets, so we'll be there on Saturday. Um, and then we've got um Chelsea under 21s in the uh EFL trophy, the some people call the Mickey Mouse trophy. Um, and then it's Crawley in the league. Um, and just just on that Mickey Mouse trophy, I have to say I don't understand that mindset. I'm of the view if you're in a competition and you've got a chance of being competitive in that competition, take it as far as you can. You know, I I genuinely feel like we need to be taking all the competitions seriously because we need we want more trophies, right? We want we want more things to celebrate, we want more trips to to Wembley. Um and we want to see our players get more because the one one thing about that EFL trophy is that you can um, you know, you can play some of the the the young lads, you can play some of the guys who perhaps haven't been um starters as well. Um, and hopefully they're of a good enough grade to to take you on. Um, but then you take it, you know, I I feel like we need to be taking that competition seriously. Um, and I was disappointed a few years ago when I think we got to the quarterfinals, and then we seem to just give up on the competition. Um, whereas we I think that year we had a genuine shot at taking it all the way. So I would like to see us treat that competition seriously. I know a lot of people will disagree with that. I know there's grumbles about under-21s playing and the risks to you know players, um, you know, first team is getting injured and stuff like that. I actually think it's good for those under-21 players to get that level of men's senior football. It's different to Premier League two, um, different probably to a lot of the competitions they play in. So I I'm actually not against it as much as I think the majority of people actually are. I don't know what you think.
SPEAKER_00Um I think, you know, I'm with the fans on this one, honestly. Um, you know, it's it's been hijacked by the under-21s from the Premier League. And um it doesn't need to be hijacked that way because you know the amount of money they put in the competition is ridiculous. I mean, uh that's this is the Premier League they're talking about. If they want us to, you know, have a tournament where they can play their young kids, well, they should pay much more and and benefit the lower league clubs much more than they are. It's it's um it's laughable what what how it's set up. Um but um you know it's a it's a rovers fixture, it's a you know, it's a rovers um uh you know part of our calendar of playing games. And um, of course, when you enter the game, you'd like to win it. Um it's not respected by people in the game, honestly. I mean, if you look at managers and the way they've managed their trophy games, uh you can tell that uh you know that they're not really respecting that tournament as much as you know uh is needed. So I think in uh it needs to to revert to the way it was before these Premier League teams came in. And and you know, that they keep on saying it's a way of helping out the lower uh leagues. Well, there's another way where they can help us, and that's through the solidarity payments, which uh they they're not really uh doing a good job of. So yeah, um end of the day, it's another Rovers game, and we hope you know Rovers win every game they play in.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and that's interesting. I I think we'll revisit the um the sort of financial aspects of the Premier League and the EFL on another episode, maybe, because there's there's quite a lot to um sink our teeth into.
SPEAKER_00Well, I mean it's it's very simple. I mean, they've offered uh uh the EFL the new deal, which is ridiculous in my opinion. It's uh I think it's one and a half billion over 10 years. I mean, if you compare it to the deal that uh was in place before, it's really you know not much different. I mean, it's only what 10 Elliott Andersons worth of uh extra payments, uh, which is for the Premier League that's ridiculous. Um uh remember that they uh during COVID they forced us to come back and play um because the Premier League promised the government that they would take care of the lower leagues, lower league clubs, and until now they haven't. So this offer is now being studied by the EFL board, and I really hope they reject it and throw it back to them. Um because yeah, because I mean if you look at the numbers, it's it's kind of it's it's after waiting all this time from COVID for them to fulfill their promise, uh, you know, this is laughable what what they've offered.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. There there was some news that that um was released, I think, or or leaked even um a week or so ago that there was that there was a new offer to be made or there was an agreement. had had been made. And it looked it looked like they were coming to a conclusion.
SPEAKER_00It the offer is, you know, um basically that there's an extra amount for uh clubs, you know, infrastructure rebu stadium rebuilds, um so something like that. And um a fund where if a club goes broke, you know, they step in and I mean uh but but the actual solidarity payments um is is again uh the set probably the same maybe a slight improvement um and I'm I'm talking like what every club's uh set part of of the payment is going to be there's not much of a of a an increase um and you know again I come back to that point where we were forced to come back and play during COVID times on a promise that the Premier League would take care of of the lower um league clubs financially and that hasn't happened um until now um and in addition to that uh you know this also ties back to to the trophy games and what have you uh we take on their players um on loan um and if you fast forward three or four years these players are being sold for 116 million and and you know uh numbers like that and we feel that you know we had a big part to play in in that value it's not being reflected for by the Premier they are totally ignoring this and um you know they continue to buy players for 120 150 million and the increase in the solidarity payments to all of the league is around that much 125 million 150 million whatever so you know I really hope the EFL board um uh refuse it and if they they bring the uh offer to the clubs to vote on I really hope the clubs um vote it down and then you know it goes to the new regulator who will decide what the um the the the future payments should be structured like yeah you would think the ultimate the ultimate say well particularly if there's no agreement you'd think the um the new regulator will step in and um and will kind of make um you know make an agreement that that that is fair um I mean it's it's interesting because you know Elliot Anderson was with us for what five or six months um and obviously he's he had an extraordinary time when he was with us had an extraordinary time since um you know you wonder how much how how much entitlement does a club have to say that they have you know pushed on a player's development um you know how how can that be measured you know and I I guess with Anderson it's fairly easy right I mean he was in our team um and he basically bossed it you know I I've said before I got in a little bit of trouble on social media for saying that he single handedly um won us uh the league a few years ago but um you know he was certainly a big part of it so I'm I mean it's an interesting one isn't it how you know how much of of then transfer figures should go to loan clubs I mean a player might have two or three different loans in the season and it it must get so tricky and so complicated. Yeah definitely needs a regulator to look at if you look at the England squad in this World Cup there was a lot of players that you know started off in in in the EFL. So why not think of a more fair uh reward for the lower league clubs who take these players on loan and give them their first experience and minutes in men's football which help them go on to become what they have become so um you know if if you fix that yeah you don't need to have an EFL trophy where the Premier League under 21 teams participate and and destroy that competition you know you can get rid of that. The solidarity payments same thing you know um things can be resolved if they in my view look into this um uh formula uh where you know lower league clubs have in uh an impact on the value of a player um that eventually becomes of high value in the Premier League. Yeah well good luck to the people looking after that um yeah so okay well let's um let's let's leave it there and let's let's look back um we got we put out or I i i put out on social media last week when when we said that we were going to be doing this I said gas heads we want we want your your interaction we want your videos terrace takes I called it um of fans on the terraces reacting to a moment on the pitch it could be any moment off the pitch as well you don't even have to be in the terraces you could be like me sat at a kitchen table with your Ravers shirt behind you or a dartboard and lots of holes where we've missed um you could be anywhere send us your videos send us your comments we will take a look at them we will um share our views on them and maybe agree maybe disagree but we were sent um something from the Rovers Cheltenham game last season the one where Steve Evans went into the crowd um I'm trying to remember the name of the guy who sent this just give me one second and I will grab that name um but um he wanted us to look back at the Rovers Cheltenham game where Steve Evans was in the crowd and and Evans actually shared an interesting um story on this as well at the fans forum uh last week where he said that the EFL even before the game were all over Bristol Rovers to try and make sure that um all the rules and regs were being abided to um his his name is Gadge Insta his his gad tweeting yeah yeah so yeah so I've got uh gadge um works in in law enforcement so um so I don't know if it was arranged uh pre-arranged that uh Steve would happen to you know go into the the the Thatcher's end and be placed right next to Gadge because he was really mobbed wasn't he steve evans he's like he was there for a couple of minutes it's a good thing it's a good thing he had gadge uh next to him to protect him being in law enforcement this is a video he sent there's no sound um for some reason I'm gonna have to try and work that one out this is the um this is the first time I'm I'm using any of this first time I've done any sort of podcast so I'm learning on the fly um but yeah this video um I mean what a crowd what an attendance gas heads we always do it don't we we managed to um we managed to pack it out and um yeah that was some atmosphere he also sent us the photos um of um Steve Evans there look at this as well you're talking about mobbed look at this yeah good thing he had uh a bodyguard around him did he actually have well he had yeah the law enforcement yeah yeah I'm sure that was part of the plan yeah um so he said he sent us um a couple of them that's brilliant I think you know that's that's the way it happened and you know once he went in he was he was in there for what minutes um good few minutes good few minutes and then you know we just happened to score a goal and the celebration was right where he was so um yeah it was just I'm sure it was a great great fantastic feeling um uh he was really mobbed um and I I'm guess that's you know if he stayed in a bit more uh well we could have scored a few more goals yeah exactly what what what are the chances of us actually scoring a goal at that moment yeah it was really wonderful and epic and and I'm happy that you know it happened the way it did. Yeah it's great and and that that is one of the things I love about Steve um the way he is more than happy to sort of get in there with the crowd and chat with fans and listen to what fans have got to say and yeah he's one of those that seems never afraid to kind of um put themselves up so nice yeah big respect uh honestly um for him to want to go in and celebrate with the fans that's what it's about to be there as one with the fans and um uh I mean I I I remember some um games which I went to with the fans where you know um we had uh some kind of celebration like that and and that moment when you know where everybody's just you know limbs in the air and uh you you you end up being you know you started off at the top of the terrace you end up being at the bottom of the terrace and and just uh really good beautiful epic moments and I'm I'm glad he experienced it and I hopefully he'll have many more like that and you did lots of that didn't you where when you were owner you you spent quite a lot of time in the crowd away matches and stuff yeah and and you know when it when it happens like that when you score I mean MK Dons you remember we were losing 3-1 and we scored two goals at the death that was beautiful um Rochdale away you're losing 3-1 in the 90th minute and you're out of the playoffs and then what happened happened you win 4-3 and you're in there with the fans I mean uh what better moment is there than that insane absolutely insane fantastic um if you love football and you're passionate about football and that's what it's about these these epic moments and um like in promotion the first time uh when we won promotion Gloucester Road I was told not to go there and but I was like why not I want to celebrate and uh I went and then you know uh I was as I was walking you know I was like why were they worried there's no you know it's normal day and and all of a sudden I'm whisked um away by some Rovers fans put on the shoulder and I'm walking and I look ahead of me I see a sea of gas heads like you know and and we're wading straight into them and then I'm like oh I should have listened to to the guys but yeah but you know but what memory though it was fantastic you know it was such an experience and it was joy all around and such good times um you know you've got to celebrate when your team wins yeah yeah 100% and I and I actually you know there's a lot said about the disconnect between players and fans and owners and fans managers fans whatever um so when you're able to do something like that and um and it's not forced either when it's kind of off your own back and yeah I I think that's great.
SPEAKER_02And hopefully something that Evans can can do again. I think he said that if we win promotion he's gonna do it so um so we'll see yeah hopefully that's one one reason for us to all get behind the team this year. Yep.
SPEAKER_00Okay so with that that let's go on to just gassing about football shall we and although we've been doing that uh anyway we can try we can try yeah so we're gonna we're gonna look back a little bit to the world cup um and FIFA and and all that um goings on let's have a look at some of the video uh some of the photos you sent because you you sent um some photos because you were with gas heads right yeah so um I went to the England Ghana game um and you know all my rovers top and you know just before the kickoff around the stadium uh I was stopped maybe 12 times uh gasheads um you know it was wonderful to meet and see them and um uh had a great time with them um I was also uh recognized by uh fans of the other team in the city and and you know gave them some banter so yeah it was it was great and um managed to see um Ellie Anderson's dad for a coffee in Boston before before the game and bumped into Henry Winter um so it was a beautiful World Cup for me you know it's uh good to see old friends and gas heads and uh although the game England Ghana was a horrible game it was really I was really angry you know went all the way to the world cup to watch England play and end up in a nil-nil score nil it's so disappointing uh my lot by the way uh I went uh to the South Africa World Cup back in when was it 2010?
SPEAKER_022010 yeah and that's the only other time I got to see England play in the first round and it was against another African nation Algeria and the game ended nil-nil just like this game ended nil nil it's your fault it's my fault but what happened in the world in that 2010 World Cup Spain went on to win the world cup then they won one what happened in this world cup Spain went on to win the world cup one nil isn't that increasing you up after this can you come to the next one as well well no they just have to look at England's result against an African nation in the first round if it's nil nil they win the world cup we'll be looking out for that we'll be looking out for that next one round yeah these weird things in football and of course we can't talk about the World Cup and FIFA without talking about the um Gianni infantino craziness um I think I'm right in saying that Jordan FA are one of those who have decided not to back him um along with many many others um yeah we we were the first to hit out against him and highlight uh exactly how um he runs FIFA in in a kind of uh like corrupt way by we highlighted the fact that you know we had some payments due to us for since eight months ago uh which he has withheld um because he wanted to make sure uh that we vote for him uh next time if if we you know um promised him our vote he would release the payment so it's kind of blackmail so we highlight that payment's been made now though right yeah after you know we can't we we um yeah yeah it was made um so you know that's the way infantino operates i mean not only that the the way he allowed um cristiano ronaldo to play where he had a a ban previous uh to the world cup um and the way they uh reversed the red card for balogan the american player disgraceful just there's no way no way back for him after this you know forget forget all the other things that has happened after but you know that's that he he should go he should go and I hope he does yeah honestly I I don't know how how you can stay in that job I really don't you know um like you said the Balogun stuff I mean that in itself should be enough um because that jeopardizes every piece of integrity this game has right every little piece of integrity this game had I feel like was shot to pieces during this World Cup it was a great world cup to watch there were some really good games some really good performances from the likes of Cabo Verde and so on um but I feel like it was the most into in terms of how it was run pricing and what have you as well it was it was just hydration breaks you know come on um you know even the fans at the games were booing uh the hydration brakes so it just shows you how far away he he how detached this fever FIFA leadership is from the actual football world yeah the I mean look the tricky thing with the hydration breaks is uh one rule for one one rule for all right because in certain in certain places you're gonna have temperatures that were were so high that a hydration break is almost necessary um you know like if we had to work up here in the summer 38 degrees yeah indoor arena it's it's very you know cool temperatures you don't need a hydration break but FIFA needs a hydration break because it's you know commercials and and money so um it's it's just you know hopefully things it's always about yeah it's it's always about the money it's always about the bottom line um but like yeah look like you I think he has to go i that there's just it it's untenable for him to stay now i i'm amazed that he hasn't gone already yeah he's due for re-election I think next year it'll be interesting to see what happens in March next year but there's a lot of pressure on him now to um to quit or or resign uh but he's you know um he he's he's being very stubborn about it he's he's not going anywhere he's just um sacked the uh chief operating officer i saw yeah who um came out against him so uh it's a civil war it's civil war between the federations and um we shall see what's gonna happen it's ridiculous it really is but um yeah it'll be interesting to see how things unfold over the next um next few months um okay i mean i i think that basically wraps this first one up doesn't it um how was that oh that hope we didn't bore anyone and um you know uh I think it went well uh thank you for this um and yeah thank you for for watching if you've stayed with us all the way through um we will be mixing these up between lives and recordings um that's for sure because we want maximum engagement so we'll have to do some lives um and um yeah that's that's about it so uh from me and from YL thanks everyone for watching out of the gas the gas