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VARy Arsenal?! (or How Dark Arts Could Win the League). · Football is Life

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Maybe it's my Wi -Fi. There we go. We're in.
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Hello, folks. Welcome to our latest episode of
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Football is Life. Mike is just buzzing. Waza
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and I are buzzing because it's going to be spicy.
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Everyone's buzzing here. Yes, welcome back. Good
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to see you, boys. How are we this fine Friday?
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Living the dream, baby. It's like seething out
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of him, Waza, isn't it? Seething. Waza, how are
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you, mate? Good to see you. I'm doing exceptionally
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well, Ross. How are you doing? I'm pretty good,
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mate. I feel there's an exciting weekend of sport
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coming up. There's lots to talk about, which
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is what I love. So yes, but yeah, we're going
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to have to start where we're going to have to
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start. So the title race looked like it was taking
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another dramatic turn, Mike, but the gods or
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the evil forces, depending on where you lean.
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Yes. So, Mike, give us your, I mean, look, there's
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been a lot made of the late equaliser that West
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Ham were denied against Arsenal in what turned
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out to be a very tense affair. But maybe the
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one that, again, I said that, I felt if they
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won that game, they've won the title. Maybe the
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one that clinches it for them. What's your take
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on the whole David Raya? Is it a foul? Isn't
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that a foul? Like the whole, I mean, I could,
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there's so many things around it we'll get into,
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but yeah, give us your take as a, as the most
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balanced Arsenal fan on the planet that we could
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find. Yeah. Yeah. And I've, I've brought ammunition.
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I'm happy to share some, some clips as well.
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Is it a machine gun or is it? No, no, no, no,
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no. It was a foul. There were two of them. In
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fact, one grabbing his shirt, the other grabbing
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his arm. He was not able to... Don't! Don't!
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Don't! He's not doing it. He's doing it. He's
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doing it. All right. All right. All right. We're
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just going to go right to it. One second. Listen,
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Mike's got all the power now. What's he doing
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here? I love that it's on the podcast, which
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everyone can absolutely see exactly what he's
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doing as well. Do you know what I feel like he's
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doing here? Oh, he's gone into a Mark Goldbridge
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hole. Oh, no. Rob West Ham United with that last
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minute equaliser being disallowed. For some people,
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the Arsenal themselves get away with all of the
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time. Or are people being a little... You might
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as well say crude social in the background as
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well. Grabbing of the arm, the pulling of the
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shirt collar. That is always going to be giving
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us a foul. It's still a great try from claiming
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the ball. We don't need to talk about that any
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further. Then it comes to, do Arsenal get away
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with this themselves all the time, which is what
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people are claiming. And when you ask for examples
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or when they show examples, none of them are
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the same as this incident. None of them are Arsenal
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players pulling on the arm of a goalkeeper, pulling
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on the shirt of a goalkeeper. Most of them are
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Arsenal players bumping into a goalkeeper. Now,
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you can argue that they should be given as fouls.
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But the specific pulling of the arm, pulling
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of the shirt is what this has been given for.
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And the only example that you can find of an
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Arsenal player pulling on the arm of a goalkeeper,
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scoring a goal, is Ben White against Leicester
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City in the 22 -23 season. And what happened?
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VAR intervened, the goal was ruled out, the free
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kick was awarded to Leicester City. That is the
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only genuinely similar example that people can
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find. Using Bainda at the start of the season,
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if you show the clip rather than a still image,
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there's one moment where Saliba is pushing on
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the arm of Bainda before the ball's even come
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in. It is not the same as actively pulling someone's
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arm down as they are attempting to catch the
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ball. And so people are being disingenuous. Why?
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We don't know. Is it because they just hate Arsenal?
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Maybe it is. Because if you look at Bernardo
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Silva on roll against Everton in the week, they
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won't be tackling him during the corner. And
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most people agree that should be a penalty. But
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they might tweet about it once. They might be
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able to comment about it. It's dead the next
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day. Oh, no. Oh, Mike. Why have you done that?
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Mike, why have you given us more than this? You
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don't see anywhere near what we're seeing this
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evening. And ultimately, what people are actually
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complaining about this evening is a correct decision
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being awarded. Now, is it fair? You need to turn
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him off, Mike. You need to turn it off. Oh, Mike,
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why have you done that to somebody? Mike has
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basically gone and said, right, let me go and
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find the biggest melt I can find out there. I'm
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surprised it's like Patrick Malarkey. The mask
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doesn't come off and it's actually Patrick Malarkey.
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But let's just I'm going to go first was and
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you're going to come in and put that spice and
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sugar on top. So let's just break all of this
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bullshit down. Right. OK, so again, I would like
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when you do, I would ask that you to land it
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with facts and examples. Yes. OK. Yeah, I can.
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I can do that. No problem. That's easy. OK, so.
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But yeah, I'm going to do that. I'm going to.
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Again, I know it's hard for you to be... Shout
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out Roy Talks Football, by the way. We should
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give him credit for that. Credit for that absolute
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nonsense, mate. Yeah, that's one of the biggest
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piles of nonsense I've ever heard in my life.
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But yes. But no, I'm just going to break this
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down and talk about what people are actually...
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So again, this is just like... This is where
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people choose a dimension that suits their argument
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instead of being, do you know what I'd love?
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I don't, I know it's hard. I keep asking for
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it. Was it just like a bit of humility from Arsenal?
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That's all I want at times. Right? So here's
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the thing. People are not, look, I don't think
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anyone in the world can debate. Now look, David
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Raya completely made the most, like he embellished
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the contact. that's step one right so in terms
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of he could have just caught the fucking ball
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right but anyway this is what Arsenal players
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Gabriel's done all season this is what they do
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right that's fine now do I think that that should
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be a foul if that happens to a goalkeeper yeah
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I do think it should be a foul no problem the
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challenge is he shows this is where he goes wrong
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you go if you're going to show Bernardo Silva
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and complain about that then it's a penalty at
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West Ham because Leandro Trossard does exactly
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the same thing. Doesn't look at the ball and
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just bear hugs a guy. So this is where Arsenal
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fans lose it. Here's the problem, right? The
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problem isn't about the detail of like, is there
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isn't a foul on riots? Not that, right? The problem
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is Arsenal have been fouling people in the box
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all year and benefiting from it. I would love
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Arsenal fans just to come out and be honest and
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say, if that's my team, I go, do you know what
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guys? A hundred percent. like that should yeah
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it should be a foul we agree but you know what
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we have got away with so much shit this year
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that i understand why people are mad because
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we have done like things that are equally as
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bad maybe not exactly factually the same things
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but the amount of blocking holding not looking
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at the ball interfering with the goalkeeper right
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again doesn't matter if and listen this whole
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thing that guy's getting his pablo is foul before
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he fouls raya He is foul before. And then what
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happens is he's trying to get his balance. He's
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not actually gripping his arm like this. Thank
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you, Ross. I never thought I'd say thank you
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before in my life. It's resting. And what does
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Raya do? He goes, he's got the ball. He can catch
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it. He can just catch it. He goes, oh! Right?
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So look, the point is, it's just classic Arsenal.
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This is why. Nobody likes this. There's not an
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agenda. It's impossible to like a team. It's
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like Arsenal fans criticizing Diego Simuloni,
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Atletico Madrid. You are that fucking team. You
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bunch of clowns. That's who you become. And this
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is what you get with that, right? It is what
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it is. Now, Joe, I would, and I'll, Waz, you
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come in and I'll get to a point of like solution
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focused after this, what I would love to see
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fucking happening, which would be, I think, equitable
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and fair and the right decision in these situations.
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And sigh. I feel great. Honestly, Ross, I never
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thought that I would be such a kindred spirit
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to you in my entire life apart from now. It's
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taken how many years, Ross? How many years? It's
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taken a while. We've been doing this for four
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or five years now, and this is the closest we've
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ever been. Arsenal unifying the rest of the world
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in their mutual hate. Honestly. They're not seeing
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Trossard literally swinging Pablo around and
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forcing him. He's holding the man into Raya.
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Like, Jesus. It's agony to watch. Like, how could
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they not be seeing that? Sure, don't get me wrong.
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I understand the opinion of the ref that they
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brought on a match the other day saying that
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the piece that they need to focus on, the most
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important incident, is the fact that Raya was
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held down. Okay, but how was he? Was Pablo completely
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acting on his own volition of like going, you
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know what? I'm just going to bear hug this guy.
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No, he's been pushed on there by Trossard. How
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are they not? They've done it from so many different
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angles, but they still can't see that absolute
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basic nonsense. But the thing that I love the
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most about this, the thing that I love the most,
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I mean, we, you know, Mike, you gave us, you
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gave us Mr. Tinfoil hat there, putting, putting
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all of these reels there and crying about it.
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Like, I love that bit. That was very nice and
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lovely addition. We should do crazies of the
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week on this show. That's one thing that's brilliant.
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They got the decision wrong as well, to be perfectly
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honest. Like, sure, it's a foul, but that's because
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it's a forced foul. Imagine like, for example,
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Salah running into the box, right? And maybe
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at the time it was Firmino. Firmino actively
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shoving one of the City defenders into him and
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then they get a penalty. It's as stupid as that,
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right? But the thing that I love is the fact
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that Arsenal now have an absolute bullseye on
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their back. Because this is the, out of all the
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calls I've seen in a number of seasons past,
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this is the most contentious call that I've seen
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because it's a title and relegation deciding
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call, right? Let's be perfectly honest about
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that. For sure. And given that Arsenal, let's
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break down the stats of Arsenal's season so far.
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They've scored 68 goals. 38 have been through
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open play. 22 from corners and set pieces. Four
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from penalties and four from on goals. There
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is no way. There is no way that Arsenal do not
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get further scrutiny about every single action
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that they do in the box after this, given the
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absolute sheer amount of rightful outcry. Because
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you have been doing this all season. Like all
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season, Arsenal have been wrestling in the box.
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The dark arts as every single media outlet says
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every single week. In no way. Like, can you imagine
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if that goal tally around the set pieces goes
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down by even 25 %? Arsenal don't win the league.
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Can you imagine that? And that will happen. That
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is going to happen. Arsenal are not a creative
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side. We have discussed that time and time again.
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After this week, Arsenal have no creativity.
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Let's be perfectly honest. We'll get to creativity
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in a moment when we talk about Phil Foden's backheel
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pass against Crystal Palace. I thought he was
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shite last week. I've lost him again, Mike. But
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at the same time, this is terrible news for Arsenal.
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I'm going to go get a package. You guys unpack
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this. No, I want to ask Mike to come in because
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I think... Can you not see that perspective?
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Absolutely. So here's the thing. I am not contesting
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that Arsenal has blocked and gotten in the way
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of and interfered within the bounds of the law
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of the game right now. What I expect will happen
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is rules will change that will prevent this from
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happening. Two years ago, When something like
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this would have happened, everyone would have
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said the keeper needs to be tougher. And it's
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just like you said about this riot could have
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caught the ball. He couldn't have caught the
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ball. He was being pulled down by two people.
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Watch your back, mate. Watch your back. I have.
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I've watched it a number of times. But again,
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I'm not saying that we have not. There is a difference
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between running in front of someone or blocking
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someone and holding them. There is a fucking
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difference. I know. Okay. But Trossard's holding
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a guy with two arms. The guy who's trying to
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get the ball, and he can't get the ball, so he's
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trying to fight for his life and grab whatever
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he can to get away from Trump. So this is the
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point. The first foul, if you're going to give
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the foul... Look, I understand. See the one that
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people talk about, like Havertz at the near post,
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and I can't remember who it was, and Declan Rice
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and Mavro Panos. Yeah. The reason that that's
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not, in my opinion, it's not applicable is...
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It's not as material to where the ball is. Exactly.
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So where does the ball go? So I'd understand
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it. You see, for example, if I was complaining
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about a random, like Mavropanos being held by
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Rice, I'd be like, it's a moot point. It doesn't
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matter. The point is, is it a foul on Raya? Nobody's
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debating that it's a foul on Raya, right? The
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problem is the foul before it causes the foul
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on Raya. It's like the player is fouled, right?
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He is, Pablo is the foul player. And there's
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another guy beside him in that melee being held
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with two arms. Like this. And then we're complaining
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about a guy's hand resting in his arm when he's
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actually got the ball. It wasn't resting, Ross.
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I promise you that the pool's a pool. It wasn't
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resting. It's resting. Look it back. I promise
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you can see it's not gripped. If it's gripped,
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he's pulling it down. It absolutely was gripped.
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It's not. It's like this. I'm telling you. You
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can see it. But anyway. And even if that were
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the case, the fact that you've got someone else
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from the other side pulling on his jersey. So
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it wasn't one foul. It was two. Yeah, but the
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point is, Mike, you're talking about Arsenal.
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I would say, have Arsenal been smart about how
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they've done the corners? Yes, but they're well
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beyond the laws. They are fouling people every
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week in corners. Every week. And it's been happening
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all season. And it is blatant fouls if you look
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at them. Not looking at the ball and holding
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somebody is a blatant foul. To me, it's just
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a stonewall penalty. You've no intent to play
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the ball and you're stuck. It's different if
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I'm just standing there. But if I grab you, it's
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just a blow the whistle. It's a penalty kick.
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The referees cocked it up. So my point is this.
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You either say, and you know what they do in
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the NFL, and I go to the NFL a lot, right? I
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would have loved my call in that situation, knowing
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what had gone on the whole season, looking at
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that melee, guys. This is offsetting fouls, guys.
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You're all fucking at it, right? It's a goal.
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Get on with it. That's how you stop it. You go,
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do you know what? If you want to go at this,
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that would have been a better decision to make
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and say there's offsetting fouls. You've fouled
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that player. He's fouled your goalie. Do you
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know what? Fair fucks to you all. It's a goal.
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Get on with it, right? Because the problem is
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what they do now is this is the problem. It's
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selective. Okay, yes, the ball's there, but let's
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look at what happened just before that, right?
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And why is Mavropanos' arm like what? Because
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you're trying to get away. I've been in that
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situation and you're doing everything you can
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and grabbing onto what you can to get away from
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the guy that's fucking holding you, right? So
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at the end of the day, I just wish Arsenal fans
14:31
would come on and say, you know what, guys? I
14:33
understand that that made people sick because
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we have been the worst at this all season. We
14:38
have been absolutely taking the piss, right?
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And you have been. And just look, nobody will
14:43
remember that you win the league, you win the
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league, and it's fine. And you'll deserve to
14:46
win the league. And it is what it is. But it's
14:48
like me just trying to convince you guys that
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we play great football this year. We've been
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shite. And I've told you, we're boring. We're
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shit. It is what it is, right? You guys are a
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horrible bunch of players with horrendous tactics
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in terms of, like, Mike, come on. You can't deny
15:02
that. And then to cry and complain when something
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like that and go, oh, this is, guys, come on.
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That is just not on. And this whole, I'll point
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to a decision that was, it's not about the fact
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that, no instance exactly the same, right? No
15:16
instance the same. But the point is, you are
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fouling. at least probably more than they are
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fouling in that box, right? So on the balance
15:24
of things, it should be a penalty versus a foul
15:27
on your goalkeeper, right? It just should be.
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At the end of the day, for me, or offset it and
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say, guys, do you know what? You fuckers have
15:33
been at it all season. You're all doing it. You're
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fouling their player. They're fouling your player.
15:37
It's a goal, right? Tough. And do you know what?
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That is a bit of karma to go, okay, teams have
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wised up to it now and they'll just do what you
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do to them, right? Now, could you argue they're
15:47
a bit cleverer? You see it, mate. They fouled
15:48
the goalkeeper. They fouled it. It was Man United
15:50
first. It's a foul on the goalkeeper. I said
15:52
it at the time. It's a foul. It's blatant. I
15:54
can see it. Deliberately contacted him so he
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can't get the ball. But it doesn't get given.
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So I'm sorry. This whole, like, the violins out
16:01
for Ryan, all this stuff. He could have caught
16:03
the ball. He threw him. Look at the way he throws
16:06
himself to the floor. It's pathetic. Gabriel
16:08
does it all the time. Just, look, when Luis Suarez
16:12
played for Liverpool. He's an absolute shithousery
16:15
off the charts. I didn't pretend that he wasn't.
16:18
I was like, he's a phenomenal player. David Rye
16:20
is saved, by the way. What a fucking save, right?
16:22
We should be talking about that, but instead
16:24
we're talking about shithousery because these
16:26
guys have just got this awful fucking attitude.
16:28
And I just, see if you can just own it and be
16:30
like, see Wimbledon back in the day with Vinnie
16:32
Jones. Their fans loved it. We're just a fucking
16:34
nasty team that will bite and claw our way to
16:37
wins. Just accept who you are, guys. Like, just
16:39
own it. That's all we ask for. I don't think
16:42
I've ever said that. On regular occasion, I've
16:45
said that we've done what we need to do to win.
16:48
Yeah, and it's horrible. If this is Man United
16:52
or Liverpool, you'd be saying the same thing
16:53
as we're saying. It's not about that it's not
16:57
a foul. Nobody in the world, I don't think, thinks
17:00
that that shouldn't be given as a foul. But what
17:03
I like about NFL is that they have rules at the
17:05
start of the season and they're consistent. They
17:07
don't change and go, oh, we're going to... To
17:09
me, this season... Look at the Everton game that
17:12
was at Everton Arsenal. It was like there was
17:14
guys wrestling each other, right? And no penalties.
17:17
So you can't give that penalty. I'm sorry. You
17:19
cannot give that. And content, it's got to be
17:21
fair the whole season. If you're going to let
17:22
shit like that go, we've got two games to go,
17:24
guys. Just let it go and say, guys, offsetting,
17:27
you're all at it. We're not having it. We're
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going to change the rules in the summer and we'll
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sort it out then. You can rest assured that there
17:32
will be changes to the rules for set pieces in
17:34
the summer. Don't change it mid -season. Or if
17:38
you're going to do it, look at it more forensically.
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It took five minutes. You didn't look at all
17:40
the holding from the Arsenal players that led
17:42
to the incident. Guys, come on. That's poor.
17:45
That's really, really poor. And I feel for West
17:48
Ham because they deserve something from the game,
17:49
I thought. I mean, Arsenal started quite well,
17:52
but I think West Ham did quite well. It's just
17:54
a little bit pathetic. And all this, yeah, it's
17:57
just the way the Arsenal fans deal with that.
17:58
Listen, that was me. I'd be like, guys, we've
18:00
got a way with one there. We've been doing it
18:01
all season. We've absolutely got a way with one.
18:04
I'll just fucking admit it. I remember the absolute
18:06
epitome example of that when we were trying to
18:10
win the season, I think it was in 2017, 2018,
18:13
when Vincent Kompany tackled Jamie Vardy, when
18:18
we were like... when we were trying to go for
18:21
the title in some of the final few games, it
18:22
was when he did that wonder goal as well, like
18:24
where he just banged it in from outside the box.
18:26
I even said in that game, he should have been
18:29
sent off. That was a clear red card. And I said
18:32
that we got away with murder in that game. You
18:34
get breaks. You need breaks. You do need breaks.
18:38
You do need luck. I think I see that again. We
18:41
scored last minute goals against Aston Villa
18:43
the year we won it. You need to get those breaks
18:45
and those things that fall your way. Let's just
18:47
admit that's what it is. It's not a... Again,
18:50
seeing context of the start of the season, to
18:53
me, that should be a foul. 100%. What happened
18:57
to David Raya should be a foul. But what happened
19:00
to the players immediately before that should
19:01
also be a foul. And so you've got to be consistent.
19:04
That's my only problem with it. See if the only
19:06
foul was a foul on Raya, I go, guys, that's too
19:09
egregious. But again, I'll point to the Everton
19:11
game where people were doing way worse things
19:13
than that and no penalty. And I'm like, you've
19:16
got to be, you can't pick and choose how you
19:18
apply the rules. If you're letting this stuff
19:20
go all season, Arsenal, you've set the tone for
19:23
this. You're the club that set the tone. This
19:25
is what you get, right? And if it doesn't bounce
19:27
your way this time, tough titties. And do you
19:29
know what I hate about, this is what I mean,
19:30
Arteta, and not just, look, football managers
19:32
in general and players, right? They all know
19:35
the ins and outs. They need to come out and be
19:37
like, look, just be honest about it and go, if
19:39
Arteta said, look, guys, I understand why that'd
19:41
sting. We have benefited from a lot of things.
19:44
Just be honest. To be fair, that's the one thing
19:47
that I say one thing. That is something that
19:49
I do respect about Slott. In a lot of press match
19:51
interviews afterwards, when he knows that his
19:53
side has gotten lucky, he has openly said, we
19:56
got lucky. Similarly with what Klopp would do.
19:59
Similarly with Pep. They would each say we were
20:01
not the better team. I don't know. Pep or a little
20:04
bit. I don't know. No, Pep has done this a fair
20:08
bit. And Klopp occasionally did go like... We
20:11
were not the better team here. We shouldn't have,
20:12
like... I know, but wait a minute. Pep's been
20:15
fucking bananas. Pep has done that quite a lot.
20:17
I've watched enough City games and he's been
20:19
around long enough. Come on, mate. Forgetting
20:22
all this, that Anfield, like that. Twice! Twice!
20:25
Twice! Yeah, but that's because Anfield and Pep
20:27
and Anfield... The Liverpool thing, that one's
20:30
different. But largely, like, for example, I
20:32
think it was earlier on in the season when we
20:33
played Villa and we did lose. Like, he was very
20:37
open. He was like, we were shite. Or like when
20:39
we got through with the skin of our teeth earlier
20:42
in the season against Everton, he was like, fuck,
20:44
we shouldn't have won that. Like he said, Everton
20:46
were better sides. This stuff happens. But the
20:48
thing that pisses me off really is that whole
20:50
concept of it's fine for us to do. Like it's
20:54
that it's consistency. It's consistency. And
20:56
that's what everyone apart from all the fans
20:58
is complaining about. It's about consistency.
21:01
Everyone wants to see it given as things like
21:03
that, but they want to see the whole before given.
21:04
If you're going to do that, you've got to give
21:05
everything. I think though at this point, and
21:07
I don't know, Mike, tell me, this is what I'm
21:09
curious to hear from you. I don't know. I feel
21:11
as a fan from this season, I just want it to
21:14
end because I feel like this has gone real south.
21:17
Why? It's great. Listen, look, at the end of
21:19
the day, I think the reason I wouldn't mind admitting
21:22
I'm an Arsenal fan, I'd benefit from a decision.
21:24
It can't be changed now. I'm top of the league.
21:26
I'm going to win the league. I don't care. You
21:31
guys are sitting in the Champions League final.
21:32
You've got two pretty good, almost as easy. Those
21:38
games are guineas. They're winning them. Does
21:41
Palace play the final before they play Arsenal?
21:44
Palace is the final game away. They don't play
21:49
the final midweek next week. Yes, it is a midweek
21:52
game. Is it not next week's final? No. No, no,
21:55
no. Champions League is weekend, but Palace's
21:57
European final is midweek. It's before they play
22:00
Arsenal. Yes. So they'll all be still hammered.
22:02
Oh, my God. Same with Villa and City. Same with
22:06
Villa and City. Yes. That is terrible. That is
22:10
terrible for both teams. Are you sure? I don't
22:11
see Palace's game. Oh, my God. That is terrible.
22:18
That is awful, awful, awful scheduling. It's
22:20
bad news for you. Is that definitely true? I
22:26
don't know. Yeah, I'm looking. So Villa's game
22:28
is before the final. No, no, Villa's game is.
22:30
I know that. Forget Villa. Arsenal's is before
22:33
the final. So no, so Palace are rotating. That's
22:37
right. No, you're right. That's right. It's after
22:39
that. Yeah, which is. It's three days after.
22:42
So that's even better. So then they're likely
22:46
to not play a full strength squad for sure. They
22:50
have to. I mean, for sure, they have to prioritize
22:53
that European. Yeah, so Arsenal are going to
22:56
get a freebie on that final day of the season.
22:58
That's it, really. Well, the only thing is, though,
23:00
is that it's at Palace. That's the only thing.
23:04
City at home to Villa. Villa, they're done. They
23:07
play us tonight, and they play their game midweek,
23:09
and then they play Saturday. Yeah. And assuming
23:12
that they win, they're going to be hung over
23:14
as shit. But it won't matter because they're
23:16
in Europe. They're in Champions League, so nothing
23:18
really matters anymore. I think both games theoretically
23:23
should be pretty inconsequential from a Premier
23:26
League standpoint because of the European fixtures
23:28
around them. And also, I'd probably say that,
23:30
I mean, yes, it is Palace at home, but... So
23:33
far they've played 19 games. They've won four
23:36
of them. They've drawn 10 and they've lost five.
23:39
I've got a plan though. The only way this, this
23:41
title race takes another turn. There's only one
23:44
way. If a city draw to, as in like the way it
23:49
becomes like goes to the last day. And that's
23:53
if you just got a parachute, Tony Poulos into
23:55
Burnley and go Tony. Tony, we need you. We need
23:59
a miracle, Tony. We need some real, get him and
24:01
Mourinho in there together and just get right.
24:03
We need a real masterclass and let, and Simeone,
24:05
you get three of them and say mastermind and
24:06
go, right. What do you mean? Just coach Burnley
24:09
and let's get real nasty and just, yeah, you
24:11
know, but no, I think, look, I think everyone
24:14
knows that the title is, and I actually, I think
24:16
Bournemouth. have things to play for. And I just
24:19
think that you've got to cut fine. Yeah. Bournemouth
24:20
has a lot to play for. It's European place for
24:23
them. It's from a, who's got what left to play
24:26
for standpoint. It's absolutely favors. Awesome.
24:31
Absolutely. Dude, but Bournemouth away for City
24:33
after the cup final the weekend as well. Look,
24:36
to be fair, by the way, fair play to Pep. I know
24:38
fantasy people, I completely fucked up and forgot
24:41
to change my captain and had Calvert -Lewin.
24:43
It turned out not to be as damaging as if Haaland
24:45
had started. Pep, to be fair to him, I do think
24:49
it was smart because I do think... That was the
24:51
match to rotate. 100%. 100%. It's clear he wants
24:56
to win the FA Cup so that they double for sure
24:58
and rest those folks so that they can play 90
25:01
for the next three, 100%. Yeah, well, good. There
25:04
we go. But look, that's the only thing. You've
25:06
got to get Pulis in there, get all the shithouse
25:07
managers in there. That's the only way. But no,
25:10
look, at the end of the day, Mike, that's it.
25:12
Hopefully you're not too rattled from us ranting
25:15
at you, but I hope you can understand our frustration.
25:16
I've been used to it for 37 game weeks. It's
25:19
all good. Okay, good. But yes, City did their
25:22
job midweek. Yes, as we all expected. As we all
25:26
expected. I mean, that was not, you know, I think
25:29
for the first 20 minutes, they looked all right.
25:32
And then after that, it was just... Yeah, and
25:34
then you have the other side of North London.
25:37
And it looked like, obviously, with the drama
25:39
at the London Stadium involving Arsenal and West
25:43
Ham, it looked like what could have been a crucial
25:46
point for West Ham, maybe that game relegated
25:49
them because everyone expected Spurs to go on
25:51
and win their game. against Leeds, and it looked
25:55
like they were going to, but they actually, I
25:57
mean, the goalkeepers, Kaminsky, what a save.
26:00
Holy cow. That was better than Raya's save. That
26:02
was like, that might keep them up. By the way,
26:04
that save in terms of consequence, like, oh my
26:07
God, like that was phenomenal. And like Leeds
26:10
should have won that game in the end. Yeah, Spurs
26:13
were super wobbly in the last 15 minutes. They're
26:16
just like, you expected that one more to go.
26:18
And do you know who Spurs play next? They go
26:22
to Stamford Bridge, baby. That's right. And so
26:25
look, as much as Chelsea would love to send them
26:27
down, right? Like, I mean, if Chelsea lose the
26:31
cup final, which they should, no disrespect,
26:33
but in the way that the form that Man City should
26:35
win that game, right? You know, again, it's a
26:37
one -off game, but in form, let's say that, you
26:39
know, if they lose it, their whole season could
26:41
be about, well, at least you can give us this,
26:43
right? So I expect they're going to be so compelled.
26:47
I don't know if I see Tottenham coming up. That's
26:50
a tough one. And then West Ham play Leeds, don't
26:53
they? West Ham have got Newcastle. Newcastle
26:55
away. Yeah. And then Leeds on the final day.
26:59
And Leeds are safe. And Spurs are home to Everton.
27:04
So I think it comes down. I do think if West
27:07
Ham won. If they find a way to beat Newcastle,
27:10
again, a Newcastle team that are all over the
27:12
place. They're all over the place, yes. If West
27:14
Ham find a way to get a win and Chelsea beat
27:16
Spurs, I think West Ham go above them and we
27:19
just have to match the result on the final day.
27:21
And they're at home against a lead side. So I
27:24
genuinely think... They're on the lead and couldn't
27:26
care. It's this weekend. It's this weekend. Unbelievable
27:31
stuff, Jeff. Like, unbelievable stuff. So, yeah,
27:35
look, at least we have that to be interested
27:37
in. It looks like the race for Europe, but Liverpool
27:39
are trying to make it interesting in Villa. They
27:41
play tonight. I think the thing is, if City beat
27:44
Bournemouth, it doesn't matter. So, anyway, and
27:47
if Villa win midweek, it won't matter. So, it
27:51
just feels like it's kind of somewhat… Things
27:53
are starting to settle in at the top, yeah. Well,
27:55
it's just a bit boring, mate. Man United are
27:57
on the beach already. The rest of the league
28:00
is a bit whack, whack, whack. It's not great.
28:03
Although, yeah, so we'll see. But look, what
28:06
a controversial and entertaining week it's been.
28:11
So, yeah, and we've got big... Arsenal play,
28:13
is it Saturday or Sunday they play, Mike? Are
28:15
they Saturday? They're... Monday, isn't it? Monday.
28:21
That's Monday night. I think that helps them
28:24
under the lights. Yeah, yeah. That'll be – expect
28:27
them to put a few goals past Burnley as well.
28:30
They have to. They have to. Yeah, just in case.
28:33
Yeah. Yeah, there we go. Well, there we go. That's
28:36
a talk at the top then. What about – have you
28:40
been watching any of the Scottish League boys?
28:41
No? I understand. Weekend's a pretty big one
28:44
for Celtic. Did you not see the handball that
28:47
wasn't a handball? Did you see that? I did not.
28:49
So the guy – again it's not one of these decisions
28:52
everyone's going like it's the worst decision
28:54
they've ever seen it's not it shouldn't be a
28:56
penalty I don't think but 2 -2 and Celtic if
28:59
they stayed the same Celtic would have had to
29:01
beat Hearts 3 -0 or 4 -0 tomorrow which is unlikely
29:06
it's at home but I think Hearts won't get beat
29:09
by that many goals and then it's literally the
29:11
last kick of the game there's a throw and a cross
29:13
comes in and the guy goes up the Motherwell guy
29:15
and the Celtic defender go up to head it it's
29:17
in the Motherwell box and the Motherwells arm
29:20
kind of goes up the guy goes down like he's been
29:22
hitting the fake wasn't say it's an elbow i don't
29:24
think it was a foul i think it's one of those
29:25
is armor yeah i think even belches a little bit
29:27
but what happens is because of that his hand
29:30
kind of comes in like like this and then he heads
29:33
the ball now it looks like now there's no hand
29:36
of god but his hand was attached to his head
29:39
attached to it so so the fun this is the funny
29:42
thing right okay so a few few things about people
29:44
that don't watch scottish football I understand
29:46
why they haven't. This season, it's the most
29:48
exciting it's ever been. And by the way, Motherwell
29:51
are playing the best football. I'm trying to
29:54
think of a Premier League team that play as good
29:56
football as Motherwell. Their manager, honest
29:58
as guy, they got them. I don't know where from.
30:00
Oh my God. They should have beaten Celtic. They
30:03
played them off the park. It's unreal. But what
30:06
happened is, they've got all these people saying...
30:08
If the ball hits your hand, it can't go that
30:10
far out for a throw -in, right? And all those
30:12
people being like as if they're fucking scientists,
30:14
right? I'm like, guys, it's pretty fucking simple.
30:16
What happened is, look, the problem is they don't
30:18
have that many cameras in SPL because we're on
30:20
a budget for VAR. So it's like budget VAR, right?
30:23
Poundland VAR, right? And the problem is there's
30:26
a still that they showed the referee. It looks
30:28
like it hits part of his hand. The thing is,
30:30
though, because his hand's here. If his hand's
30:33
not there, it's going to, it doesn't matter.
30:34
It doesn't actually, there's no, and I think
30:36
as people are saying it can't have because the
30:38
ball went so far. No, no, he's headed it. See
30:40
if you had a ball when your hand's there, the
30:42
ball still goes. It's still, it doesn't stop
30:44
it because the power comes from here, right?
30:46
If it just hits your hand, it will fall down,
30:48
right? But the point is his hand is on his head
30:50
like this. And he heads the ball. Now, some people
30:54
say it came off his head here. Some people say
30:56
it touched his fingertips. So anyway, everyone's
30:59
up in it. It's the usual bullshit up here. Conspiracy.
31:01
They're all the referees of Celtic fans. Then
31:03
the Celtic, oh, they're all Rangers. All this
31:05
nonsense. But what it has created is a lot of
31:07
debate, a lot of nonsense as well. But then it
31:10
collects you in actual scores. The penalty, massive
31:12
pressure, by the way. And then they win 3 -2.
31:15
So now it means if Celtic win by any means tomorrow.
31:19
They win the title. If it's a draw, our hearts
31:21
win. Our hearts win the title. And it'll be the
31:23
first time in 40 years that one of the old firm
31:25
hasn't won the SPL title. And my team, Park Tissot,
31:31
who are in the championship, we're in a playoff
31:33
semifinal, second -legged on Firmland at Fairhill
31:36
tonight. Win that, we go to the final against
31:38
St Mirren, who are my father -in -law's team.
31:40
So that'll be a spicy one. So yes, lots of drama
31:43
here up in Scotland, but just a lot of nonsense.
31:46
But it's really simple. Look, his hand got knocked
31:48
up. It's hard to say whether it definitely hit
31:51
part of his hand or not. The referee got shown
31:53
a still where it looked like it did. He's given
31:54
the penalty. I think it was the wrong decision,
31:56
but it wasn't one of those ones where you're
31:57
like the Louis Diaz offside one. You're going,
32:00
that's the worst thing I've ever seen. It was
32:02
just one of those ones you're like, guys, maybe
32:04
they only took 20 seconds to look at it. Maybe
32:06
look at it a bit longer or maybe get better camera
32:08
angles versus at Arsenal West Ham. Let's take
32:11
five, six minutes. I don't know what you're doing,
32:14
guys, here. Like, you're only looking at one
32:16
thing anyway. You only care about one thing.
32:18
Why did you take six minutes? What the fuck's
32:19
wrong with you? So, yeah, bananas. But again,
32:23
I have to say though, boys, you have to admit,
32:24
who would want to be that referee in either of
32:27
those games at that moment? Like, so, because
32:29
the one at Celtic, Motherwell, right? You know,
32:32
it's title defining potentially. And obviously
32:35
the Arsenal West Ham is both ends, right? It's
32:37
like top and bottom. Imagine being that referee
32:40
in that stadium. Like, I cannot imagine the pressure.
32:44
honestly like that is which is which i'm sure
32:47
is why it took seven minutes or whatever it took
32:50
for them to do that because they understood that
32:52
and i i will say that uh did you hear the audio
32:58
did you hear the audio no i didn't oh my god
33:01
yeah this is what drives me you know me i'll
33:03
go off on one drives me i will say that the the
33:09
fact that a both title and relegating relegation
33:14
deciding call had to come through var is shit
33:20
like it's it's it is ruining the game ruining
33:25
the game it is it's and that and that's the thing
33:28
look my here's the thing like the var audio you
33:30
listen to the guys are i'm not sure what i'm
33:33
looking at i'm not sure you should the my issue
33:36
with all is that everything they get shown has
33:38
bias already in it sure Because I made a decision.
33:41
I want to show you something. So, you know, my
33:43
bias is there's a foul. And what this person
33:46
did is he was obsessing around the contact and
33:48
Raya. Instead of looking and going, right, let
33:51
me, if I'm going to forensic, knowing what's
33:53
on the line, right? This isn't the NFL. This
33:55
does not happen in American football. And you
33:57
see if they look at things and go, see if it
33:59
took them that long. They just go on field decision.
34:02
Get on with it, right? Because do you know what
34:04
it is? You can all live with a decision where
34:05
you go, see the referee there. You wouldn't be
34:07
massively critical. How is he meant to see, with
34:10
everything going on, how can he see everything,
34:12
right? That's easier to swallow than having six
34:15
minutes and coming up with these like, I'm like,
34:18
guys, like you say, it's not good for the game.
34:21
It's not. It is a shit. And if you're a fan in
34:29
the stadium and you're just sitting there for
34:30
six minutes in dead silence while you're just
34:33
looking at a screen, say, under the review, it's
34:36
just like, ugh. So I will say that, you know,
34:40
and for both sides, top and bottom, it is a shame
34:44
for the game that VAR is doing this. Look at
34:48
both our games, Mike. You had a game with Arsenal
34:50
where you go, the referee's giving the goal,
34:51
the VAR do that, take six, but they disallow
34:53
it, right? And then in Celtic games, the referee
34:56
didn't give a penalty. Like, he didn't give it.
34:58
And it's like, you go, I just think, see if I
35:02
look at that Celtic and see this and go, oh,
35:04
that might have been a hand, but you can live
35:06
with that and go, well, how was he meant to see
35:07
that, right? The same with the archery, go, look,
35:09
yeah, there's a pull in it, but there's so many
35:10
bodies, everyone's pulling everyone. You can
35:12
probably live with it and go, I feel like we
35:14
maybe could have had a call, but it's not so
35:16
egregious that you're like, the Louis Diaz, the
35:18
guy's two yards onside. Like, how did you get
35:20
that wrong? Like, that to me is what it should
35:22
be. See this whole, forensically like if you're
35:25
going to do that you have to look at everything
35:27
else going on you've got to be objecting go right
35:28
wait a minute what was the lead up to the foul
35:30
oh wait a minute that guy's been bear hugged
35:32
we either don't give anything or we give a penalty
35:35
like i mean like to me that that's if you take
35:37
a sensible look at that But yeah, look, it creates
35:40
drama. I think they need to make some big changes.
35:42
We'll see what happens. Yeah, for sure. There's
35:44
going to be rule changes for a bunch of stuff.
35:47
There has to be. There has to be. Definitely.
35:49
So Waza, listen, let's focus. We do have in the
35:52
midst of all this, it feels like we have a cup
35:54
final tomorrow. Involving your team, I know.
35:59
People talking about Pep, this is rumoured to
36:02
be his last season. He's got a year left. Taking
36:04
pictures of his trophies around the grounds and
36:06
whatnot. We'll see. We don't know. Look, it was
36:11
Chelsea or Leeds. In a way, I feel like Chelsea,
36:16
the match -up, and sometimes styles make fights,
36:19
I feel like they have been a bit trickier for
36:22
City than maybe they should have been this year.
36:24
Liverpool, the same. Would you think that, in
36:28
a way, I go, I feel like Leeds are actually in
36:30
good form. So I'm almost like, how are you feeling
36:33
going into this game? Is it like super confident
36:34
because you're obviously probably in as good
36:36
form as you've been in most of the season? Or
36:40
is there a bit of a nervousness because it is
36:41
Chelsea and you think that there could be a banana
36:43
skin here? No, I think that we're feeling pretty
36:46
good. you're feeling good especially after the
36:48
weekend uh sorry after the match against crystal
36:51
palace yeah yeah like there's there's no reason
36:55
for us to not feel good right now and also the
36:58
fact that some of the players have been rested
36:59
i think because this is the most important week
37:03
of the season like where we have to win this
37:05
one to win the trophy we have to win the next
37:07
one to stay into the in the race until the final
37:09
day and keep the pressure on arsenal and in the
37:11
final game of the season obviously right like
37:13
i think that fundamentally This is like where
37:16
you see the quality of the players, the spine
37:19
of the team, like in Bernardo Silva, Bernardo
37:24
Silva, Rodri Haaland. Is Rodri back? Do we know?
37:27
Yeah, he should be back. He should be back. I
37:30
don't know how, yeah. I think we're just going
37:33
to pump him full of ibuprofen and hope he doesn't
37:35
break. I think at this point, yeah, just do it.
37:39
I can't watch Nico Gonzalez anymore. He's so
37:42
shit. He's so bad. But Vardyol's back, which
37:44
is good. I know we played a really good game,
37:46
but fundamentally, I think that... I just forgot
37:51
you had him. He's a good player, by the way.
37:54
He's been so good for us, and we've had him out.
37:57
Dynamic. He's dynamic. He can play full, but
37:59
he's very dynamic. But yeah, I think fundamentally,
38:04
I think that you know me. I'm usually quite tense
38:09
about games, especially like cup finals and stuff.
38:12
Tomorrow, I feel pretty confident. Don't get
38:15
me wrong, Chelsea are very frisky at the moment.
38:17
They're very unpredictable, like we saw in that
38:18
game against Liverpool. I think that was more
38:21
of a reflection of how bad Liverpool are rather
38:23
than how good Chelsea are. Don't even count that.
38:27
Yeah, exactly. That's the thing. I'm not counting
38:29
it because that's more of a reflection of how
38:30
shite Liverpool are. I don't think that Chelsea
38:33
are that good. I think that we do have the ability,
38:36
and watch now, Calmer is going to come and bite
38:38
me in the arse and it's going to be a Chelsea
38:39
1 -0 win. But fundamentally, I do think that...
38:43
we will be fine. And also, we can rotate a bit.
38:48
Like, if we can get two goals, like, within the
38:51
first 60, 70 minutes... You'll beat them. You'll
38:54
beat them. Just kill the match. Done. I think
38:57
you'll beat them. They've got some individually
38:59
good players. Enzo Fernandez doing bits is going
39:03
to be a problem. Jab Pedro's in some good form.
39:06
Cole Palmer's dangerous. They've got some dangerous
39:09
players, but... Cole Palmer's a bit hit and miss
39:11
right now. He is, but what I mean is he's got
39:13
a moment. He's got a moment in him. He can pull
39:15
it out of the bag and it's a cup final. Anyone
39:17
can win a cup final. Anyone can. We know that.
39:20
But I think, yeah, Mike, you feel the same city
39:22
comfortable? I think it's, if it's not 3 -0,
39:26
it's 3 -1. Okay. I think a couple of goals. I
39:29
think they want to buy a cup. I can see us. I,
39:31
strangely enough, can see us conceding first,
39:33
but I don't think that they will be able to keep
39:35
us out. That's the bigger thing. Like as bad
39:38
as our defense has been this year. Chelsea's
39:40
has been worse. Yeah, although I would say James
39:42
is back and so is Colwell. James will be back
39:45
for five minutes and then pull his hamstring.
39:47
I feel so bad for him because, you know, when
39:49
he's healthy for those four minutes every season,
39:52
he's so great. But he's just like, I mean, talk
39:55
about made of glass. It's just, it's a shame.
39:58
He's the Abu Diaby of defenders. He's a Daniel
40:01
Sturridge of defenders, mate. He's just never
40:03
fit, man. Although I take Sturridge back now.
40:05
But no, I do think. I think the bigger conversation
40:08
that I'm really thinking about now, because the
40:10
thing is we're going to get swept up into World
40:11
Cup bonanza soon. Like, let's just assume that
40:14
City do win it this week and that's fine. I'm
40:18
more focused on, like, especially after that
40:21
horrible performance last weekend. Liverpool
40:25
fans slotting around. What's happening? I feel
40:28
like there are enough managers currently dotted
40:30
around that are actually viable. Why is it? Why
40:32
is it? The problem is, like, who's there, right?
40:34
Like, didn't, wasn't there a... press conference
40:37
or something? He's confirmed the intent to stay?
40:40
No, he says as far as he knows. The issue is
40:45
that Liverpool fans, generally speaking, are
40:48
generally more out than in. He's definitely lost
40:55
a fan, but I think they seem to disconnect with
40:57
the players. As I said, we're not fun to watch.
41:03
you know even if we're winning I'd be the same
41:05
the same thing I wouldn't be trying to you know
41:07
dress up a turd I'd be like look we're not good
41:09
to watch we're too passive and slow and methodical
41:12
and trying to be overly controlled and it doesn't
41:14
work but I think we're in this like the club
41:17
and I understand it's like because part of me
41:19
is as much as I would prefer a change personally
41:21
for to see something more compelling with the
41:24
players we've got I think we can get more out
41:25
of these players but I think that you get into
41:29
that medigore. Look at Man Utd, Tottenham, Chelsea.
41:31
You look at those clubs. Again, it's back to
41:32
that thing where my fundamental belief is, look,
41:35
you're confident he's the guy. He won the title
41:39
in his first season, and people can talk about
41:40
Klopp's team. I take that point. Okay, this season
41:43
hasn't been good. There has been challenges with
41:46
Salah. It's okay. There's a learning curve. I
41:49
just think it's too reactive. I think if you
41:51
start reacting like that, again, if Luis Enrique
41:53
became available, I think you can make... It
41:56
was like with Gary O 'Neill at Bournemouth, right?
41:58
He did a decent job and then Eriola became available
42:01
and they were just like, we think this guy...
42:03
I'm okay with that. The thing is with Xabi Alonso,
42:07
right? Let's talk about the realistic people
42:09
we're talking about here. I know he's talking
42:11
to Chelsea, apparently. Again, he did a great
42:14
job at Leverkusen. He went to Madrid and just...
42:17
completely failed and so that there is an element
42:19
of like he's not at all because he's available
42:22
we have to make the change like I don't know
42:24
that he's has done it once at Leverkusen right
42:27
so this is in Iola I love the way that he plays
42:31
football right so I'm selfishly yes because I
42:35
know I'm going to what I'll see will be more
42:37
appealing to me But once again, it's a massive
42:40
gamble, right? Because he's completely unproven
42:42
at the level that Liverpool are at with the egos
42:44
and all those things, right? And, you know, you're
42:47
looking then at Glasner, doesn't float my boat,
42:49
to be honest. Like, it's not my cup of tea. I
42:52
said, honestly, I was joking with my mate, the
42:55
guy at Motherwell, if you want good football,
42:57
like, I swear to God, but that guy, like, to
42:59
me is like, honestly, boys, watch Motherwell.
43:01
I swear, I cannot describe how good they are.
43:04
And I'm talking like playing out from the back.
43:07
The football is phenomenal. And this guy has
43:10
made existing players look like world leaders,
43:13
like they were crap last year. So my point is,
43:16
I'm looking and going, no, if Luis Enrique said,
43:19
I want to come to the Premier League and I want
43:20
to manage Liverpool, I think it's an easy decision
43:23
and everyone gets behind it. I just think, I
43:27
just don't want to get into that. You know, I
43:29
think give him a year and if he doesn't, if it's
43:31
the same next year. it's clear the decision is
43:34
clear then right so as much as i'm going to be
43:37
painful for me to watch i think let's see what
43:41
happens maybe he turns it around i don't know
43:43
so in the entire history of the premier league
43:46
yes no team that has sacked a manager midway
43:51
through the season has ever won a league title
43:53
so you basically this is what the board has to
43:55
decide within probably the next few weeks which
43:58
is Do we stick or twist? Because if we stay...
44:01
It's not about winning, it's not about whizzing.
44:02
I think you want to be up there with a chance
44:05
to win. It's not about winning, right? It's about
44:07
being, I think for us now, looking at like with
44:09
Salah going, Robbo going, this is, it's not like
44:13
a full -on rebuild, but there's an evolution
44:17
in the team that's happening now. And you need,
44:19
what you're looking at now is, does Verts take
44:22
a step forward next year? Does Isaac... actually
44:24
not actually play even I said this Ekotiki I
44:28
think has been patchy like does he take does
44:29
he kick on right does Kirkez settle down a little
44:32
bit right so you're looking you've got the new
44:34
centre -halves coming in as well so you're kind
44:36
of like going like there's a lot of things there
44:38
that you go and I think is the answer to all
44:40
it would take is see if Virts kicks on and like
44:43
Isak's fit like all of a sudden the world could
44:45
look very different for Liverpool right so it's
44:47
not like and look here's the thing we've had
44:49
We've been so bad to watch. We've been historically
44:51
terrible. We're still going to finish in the
44:53
Champions League spot, right? So it's like, you
44:55
know, it says a lot about the league. So it's
44:57
not that things are completely rotten to the
44:59
core, like with Man United and you're ripping
45:01
everything up. You've still got Virg, right?
45:03
You've still got Sbozla. You've still got guys
45:05
there you can hang your hat on, right? But I
45:08
think you have, I just, as much as I would rather
45:12
have somebody who plays better football, I just
45:15
think it's probably the right decision, net -net,
45:17
if I'm the owner. stick with him he won a league
45:20
one season you people forget that right so you've
45:22
got you can't just be overly critic too too low
45:25
with the lows here i think that's the problem
45:27
i don't the thing is i don't forget that he's
45:29
won a league but i also i think that your best
45:33
player this season has been sabaz like very very
45:35
largely right but the thing is you keep saying
45:37
this all the time ross the sign of a good manager
45:40
is someone that has improved their players How
45:42
many players realistically, even over the course
45:45
of this year and even last year, like Virg, let's
45:48
be perfectly honest, he's well past his prime.
45:50
I don't think he even has a full season in him
45:52
next year. He's fine. He's fine. Virg is good.
45:55
Slow down. Anyway, that one aside. Do you really
45:58
think there's absolutely no fullbacks and your
46:01
midfield's not functioning? But this is the thing.
46:04
Slot has had an entire year to try to raise some
46:06
of those new players up. Has he even moved the
46:08
needle on them? I will 100 % agree. Can I think
46:13
of a player that he's improved or that's improved
46:15
under him outside of Dominic Sabozlai? Salah
46:20
last year, yes. And Salah praised him for it
46:23
and said about giving more freedom. But obviously
46:25
there's a fallout there. I have to give him credit,
46:29
though, because Salah did say that, that he's
46:31
given him, that's why he's scoring, because he
46:32
had less defensive responsibility. But that's
46:37
not him improving Salah. But I think the other
46:40
thing as well was, I think the problem here is,
46:43
again, there's context to everything. You're
46:45
right, I say that. But if you come into a club
46:47
where Jurgen Klopp manages and he is getting...
46:51
That's an elite manager, all -time elite manager,
46:53
like Sir Alex Ferguson, right? Like Pep. And
46:56
they get the extra 10, 20 % out of these players,
46:59
right? That's what they do. The problem is he's
47:01
already doing that, right? And it wasn't like
47:04
we had all these young players. I think that's
47:07
really hard and probably harsh and unfair. I
47:09
think now with the new players, this is what
47:12
I mean. I think you've got to give him next season
47:13
to say, can he take Florian Wurz from being this
47:16
great talent in Germany? to being one of the
47:19
best players in the Premier League because we
47:20
know he can do it. He's got the ability. He's
47:21
got everything there. And I think that's the
47:25
thing. I think the problem this year with that,
47:27
I think the Salah thing is huge. That's been
47:29
a doubt. I do think he's, and he'll have learned
47:31
a lot this year about managing huge egos, right?
47:33
Because he came into where there was a lot of
47:35
harmony and then all of a sudden there's not.
47:38
So you learn a lot from that. And also now it's
47:40
like, he is going to have to, Ekotiki is going
47:42
to have to develop. He's going to have to get
47:43
better under slot. So I do think, yeah. My prediction
47:48
is that if Liverpool do stick with him, they're
47:51
going to sack him before Christmas. I definitely
47:53
think that there's an absolute risk for that.
47:58
I just don't see him pulling the key players
48:02
up, as in coaching them to be improving substantially
48:05
enough. I just don't see it. I didn't see it
48:07
all year. There's nothing I've seen that gives
48:11
me... I'm going to back him and say he's the
48:13
guy. The only thing I would say is he is... he's
48:17
definitely like you say that the way that he
48:19
comes across that I do think he's got some a
48:22
good tactical brain I think my hope is he's learned
48:25
I think the big thing is if he he's either going
48:28
to be one of these fixed -minded coaches and
48:29
he's going to fail and he'll be out by Christmas
48:31
I promise you that that's what will happen because
48:33
the football it's not just the results it's the
48:35
football that's got to improve right so if he
48:37
will either learn and adapt and he's shown to
48:41
me, more characteristics that he may be willing
48:43
to do that than somebody like Ange Postekoglu,
48:45
who's just like, it's my way or the fucking highway,
48:47
right? But if he is fixed -minded and stubborn,
48:50
like some people say he might be because he's
48:52
Dutch, then he will be sacked by Christmas, 100%.
48:55
And I will back the sacking because if it's the
48:57
same thing with just some better players and
48:59
more fit players, it won't be good enough. It
49:01
still won't be nearly good enough. So I do agree.
49:04
If you were to ask me now... What do I think
49:06
will happen? I think he will be sacked. Will
49:08
he be our manager by January next? No, I don't
49:10
think he will be. But I'm also happy to be proved
49:13
wrong. And I would love to be wrong because it
49:15
would be better for the club. So the thing is,
49:17
based on what you said, so this is the thing.
49:20
I fully hear your point that next year, given
49:23
that there is some transition happening with
49:25
new players coming in, betting in, I fully get
49:28
that. City habit, like where so many players
49:30
come in one season, takes them a season to get
49:32
used to the league, get used to the system, and
49:34
then they do better in the next season. Very
49:35
normal. But the thing is, is slot the person
49:39
you want to try to get them to be competitive?
49:42
I don't see it. He's earned the right because
49:45
of winning a title. I don't believe in this earning
49:48
the right. I'm sorry, because the thing is, fundamentally,
49:51
they're going to go through another, effectively,
49:53
a fallow year. They don't know that. It's like,
49:56
has Michael Carrick earned the right to manage
49:58
Manchester United next season? By bringing them
50:00
up from, effectively, a relegation place to champions.
50:03
Yes or no? Yes or no? Yes. He's absolutely earned
50:07
the right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's earned the
50:08
right. He has earned the right. No, but the thing
50:10
is, it's about the current season. It's about
50:12
what he's done this season. No, no, no. The thing
50:13
about the title, though, Ross, is that... There's
50:15
no bank. There is no bank. The... you mentioned
50:18
it right like he won a title but it wasn't his
50:20
team no yeah i get that but but again again okay
50:24
we can all go down that road and go okay so when
50:26
alex ferguson left why didn't david moyes win
50:28
the title show me show me another manager that's
50:31
happened it doesn't happen like it's so so rare
50:34
now look do we know why now we slot got a lot
50:37
of credit for that not just from the pundits
50:39
from the players right in terms of and again
50:41
he came in so what he's shown is he's been able
50:43
to really tactfully manage that transition which
50:46
is Historically, almost impossible to do that,
50:49
right? So it is. With an elite all -time coach,
50:53
figure like Klopp, go and find me somebody else.
50:56
Arsenal, what happened? Two very different situations.
50:59
No, no, no. The Man United team that David Moyes
51:03
inherited was absolutely shite. Yeah. The team
51:07
that Scott inherited was gold. But listen, listen,
51:10
boys, boys, boys. They won league titles, right?
51:14
Okay, so the point, my point is... They won a
51:15
league title and just barely as well. But listen,
51:20
listen, you're not listening. The point is this,
51:21
right? Elite managers, right? We've said this,
51:24
get extra out of these players, right? So the
51:26
point is to be able to manage that transition
51:28
shows some level of skill. Because again, if
51:32
it didn't and anyone could do it, this would
51:34
happen more often, right? It doesn't happen,
51:36
right? Now, did Klopp leave the club in a particularly
51:39
good position? Yes, but a lot of my mates were
51:41
telling me, look at the text, when Klopp left
51:44
and Slott came in, you guys are fucked because
51:46
all these guys are going to, they're not as good
51:48
as you think they are. Your squad's shit and
51:49
you're going to fall off a cliff, right? And
51:52
that didn't happen. So at least he was able to
51:53
maintain things. Now, it's only lasted a year.
51:56
He's then had a bunch of challenges that he's
51:58
probably never dealt with in his career and he's
51:59
not dealt with them particularly well, in my
52:01
opinion, this season. But this is the first real
52:04
adversity I've seen him come. come up against
52:06
right so the point is he's shown enough he's
52:09
earned the right because he delivered a lead
52:11
that is like again mike you should know about
52:13
anyone how hard ask michael arteta how fucking
52:15
hard it is to win this league right so to just
52:19
kind of go it's the ghost of klopp I'm sorry.
52:21
No, if that was the case, it'd be the ghost of
52:23
all these great managers and Arsenal wouldn't
52:25
fall off a cliff when Wenger leaves. And when
52:27
Guardiola leaves, let's see what happens to Man
52:28
City, by the way, right? Let's see who comes
52:30
in. Wenger is the same, is similar to the Sir
52:33
Alex thing. Like the team was not, they were
52:35
treated in fourth place like a trophy. Yeah,
52:39
but you look at Chelsea, many times the great
52:40
managers won the league, left Chelsea, team's
52:41
been great. Now the manager comes in, they're
52:43
crap. My point is it's not easy when an elite
52:46
all -time manager. leaves a club because the
52:50
gulf that they leave is on a slope. For sure,
52:53
but there's also the health of the club and the
52:56
timing. And for both Sir Alex and for Arsene
52:59
Wenger, they overstayed and resulted in... So
53:03
when they exited, the team was not on the ascendancy.
53:06
But the thing is, I would argue Liverpool were
53:10
not on the ascendancy under Klopp either because
53:11
all of our best players are old. And everyone,
53:14
you're telling me Virgil's done. This is what
53:15
I mean. People talk about this, and they go,
53:17
on one hand, they're saying this, and then your
53:18
players are old and not as good. See if he'd
53:21
inherited the team with Firmino, Manning, or
53:23
flying. I'd be like, yeah, you're right, guys.
53:25
That's not what he inherited. No, he just inherited
53:28
a set of schmucks that were Luis Diaz, who went
53:30
to Bayern Munich for a record fee, and then Salah,
53:33
who had the best season of his entire Liverpool
53:34
career. Also, I can argue, Diaz maybe had his
53:37
best season under slot. my point is like, you've
53:39
got to be balanced here, right? You've got to
53:41
be objective and balanced and say, look, I would
53:43
rather, I would rather. I just don't think that
53:45
you can compare the Liverpool season, the Liverpool
53:48
team that slot got through the United team, the
53:50
David Moyes, David Moyes reinforced. And do you
53:52
know who he got? Marin fucking Fellaini. I'm
53:55
sorry, but that's all he had available to him.
53:57
And look at him now. Look at how well he's doing
54:00
now. But the thing is, you're talking about Arne
54:02
Slott saying nobody. Just stuck with what he
54:05
had. Didn't get any new players in, right? So
54:07
no reinforcements, no depth, right? In a season,
54:09
by the way, where this Arsenal team are going
54:11
to win it because they're so fucking great. Well,
54:12
what happened there, right? Don't think so. So
54:15
the point is, like, you can't... People just
54:17
over -rotate. You've got to be like, look, you
54:19
cannot discount what he did that season. Not
54:22
many managers in the world ever get to do that,
54:26
right? And to say it was all Jurgen Klopp and
54:27
any chump could have come in, he has shown some...
54:30
He's shown some level of some skill. The problem
54:33
is that skill might not be the skill that, to
54:36
your point, Mike, that goes, you're going to
54:37
build the team yourself. That's a different skill,
54:39
right? That's what I'm worried about, right?
54:41
Because the pieces that he's brought in, injury
54:45
aside. And Jamie Carragher made this point. He
54:47
said he's brought in more technical players.
54:49
Yeah. Klopp brought in people that had that work
54:52
with him. Heavy metal. Yeah. So the point is,
54:55
this is very much, and this is my point, Wazza,
54:57
I think you can't, you've got to give him next
54:59
year a go, because next year you can go, Arnaud,
55:01
this is going to be your team. There'll be no
55:03
excuses, right? That's right. And I don't believe
55:06
in excuses. This year you can go, look, the way
55:08
that Isak signed, there's a lot of things that,
55:10
again, he'll have learned from that were out
55:11
of his control that didn't set him up for success.
55:14
Even though we started the season really well
55:15
in terms of results, I know it was sketchy in
55:18
terms of last -minute goals, but yeah, and then
55:20
the Salah follow -up and all these things. he
55:22
either kicks on and learns and he, if he improves
55:25
as a manager, I think he will be Liverpool manager
55:27
next year. If he sticks and thinks this is the
55:30
only way I do things, he is done. So that's it.
55:36
But yes, let's talk fantasy quickly. Is that
55:38
okay? Are you going to go one? You go a good
55:40
time to go because you're shit at fantasy. That's
55:41
great. Yeah. I'm making a hot take, Mike. Look,
55:47
there's two weeks to go. A lot of people might
55:49
not be interested because you've got Hee Haw
55:50
to play for. I'm still trying to make sure that
55:53
I just, I think this week will determine just
55:54
if I stay top in the leagues I'm top in. And
55:56
no, Mike, you're always top of many leagues.
55:59
Here's my hot take. I've done it already because
56:01
I didn't want to be talked out of it. And you
56:03
know me, Mike. You're a data guy. Do you remember
56:05
to captain the right player? Yeah, I did this
56:08
time, yeah. But you know what I mean? I'm an
56:10
instinct guy. I'm vibes. You're very much data
56:12
and common sense and maybe a bit of intelligence.
56:16
I have got rid of Erling Haaland and put Victor
56:19
Giocharez in. That is a hot take. So are you
56:23
tripled up? On Arsenal? Yes. So I've got Raya
56:27
and I've got Gabriel. Yeah. And because it's
56:30
Burnley at home, this is where I believe. Yeah.
56:33
Is it this? He feeds. He's going to feed, right?
56:36
But I think he's going to play because I think
56:38
he should play ahead of Havertz, right? Yeah,
56:41
I think that Havertz is going to be preferred
56:43
for the Champions League game. So yeah, I would
56:46
think so. And I just feel like Haaland, I know
56:49
Haaland's going to start in the cup final. I
56:51
think there could be, because they play Bournemouth
56:52
quite shortly after. I think there could be,
56:54
I'm worried again about pet rotation. If he had
56:57
played even a nanosecond. in the game earlier
57:01
in the week, I'd be worried. I think he's going
57:03
to play all 90 of the next three. Maybe, but
57:06
I think Bournemouth, I don't see that being a
57:08
big hat. I think goals for City have been coming
57:10
from other places. Yeah, Bournemouth's playing
57:12
great. That is not an easy match. So tell me
57:15
what you think. Give me your honest feedback.
57:16
And look, the thing is, I probably shouldn't
57:18
be taking these chances because I'm probably,
57:20
but I like the spice. If you're chasing, no,
57:24
I mean, I think if you're chasing, I think it's
57:27
an interesting move. I'm not chasing. I'm just
57:30
want to, well, you're chasing me. Motherfucker.
57:33
You're too far ahead though. My point, if I,
57:35
if I had like a triple chip or something, I'm
57:37
not going to. I would like to have two pieces
57:43
of the arsenal attack this week, but it's two
57:45
transfers. So I've got Saliba and Gabrielle and
57:48
I've got Saka. I think Saka's minutes are a little
57:51
bit safer for the full 90 than, than Yacara's
57:54
just given where they are. But. I think Jokers
57:58
is on penalties, even though it's home. And so
58:03
I do think that if one of the two of them, either
58:07
Saka or Jokers, was going to explode for a match
58:10
week against Burnley, it's probably Victor. So
58:15
I don't think it's a bad take. I don't think
58:18
it's a bad take. Would you, if you're top of
58:20
the league in certain leagues like I am, and
58:22
I could finish second if I fucked this up, would
58:23
you be taking the risk? Yeah, it's a game, man.
58:27
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, exactly, man. Absolutely.
58:30
Absolutely. And I mean, it's not as outlandish
58:35
as like selling him for, I don't know, Welbeck.
58:39
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it's – like these are the
58:44
games that all season is where he's been racking
58:46
up his goals, right? So it's the last game at
58:49
home and all of these things. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
58:52
No, I think it's an interesting take. I mean,
58:57
I still have Holland, but I don't know if I'll
58:59
have him. What happens this week will likely
59:02
determine how many City players I have for game
59:05
week 38 or not. That was the other thing. I think
59:09
the league could be, I don't know. If the league
59:11
is done this week, then yeah, I think then there's
59:16
going to be a lot of rotation for both City and
59:18
Arsenal. Yeah. Because Arsenal is now going to
59:22
be focused myopically on PSG. And so, but yeah,
59:27
we'll see. I mean, I don't, I don't hate that
59:28
take. I think that's a, that's a pretty good
59:30
one. It's a pretty good one. I'm not sure what
59:31
I'm going to do. I've got two frees and 3 million
59:33
and I, the team's good enough to roll so that
59:36
I could make three changes on the final week
59:39
and maybe wait for some team leaks and take a
59:41
punt or two. But, but yeah, it's, I mean, this,
59:44
this is the time in the season, like team value
59:47
doesn't matter. It's, this is like, you know,
59:48
pick a horse and bet on it and, you know. have
59:53
fun in those last couple of weeks. But if you're
59:55
chasing, you've got to go differential. You can't
59:57
match what the other players have got. 100%.
1:00:00
Yeah, and the Liverpool -Villa game tonight,
1:00:02
Liverpool need to get some good. And that could
1:00:04
be one you could pick up somebody, I think. And
1:00:05
normally I wouldn't be seeing that. But, I mean,
1:00:07
Liverpool with Ekotiki out, though, Isak's injured
1:00:09
again. The only thing is that Villa is so focused
1:00:13
on Europe. So, I mean, Liverpool, I think, could
1:00:16
be in terms of an attacking option for Liverpool.
1:00:18
So, Basel is the only guy I like on Liverpool.
1:00:20
I agree. The only one I would say is that Rio
1:00:22
and Gamora, massive flyer, but Gatpo does show
1:00:26
up with goals. He does, even though I don't like
1:00:28
him. Salah's going to get only five or ten minutes
1:00:31
to say he's not ready. Gatpo's guaranteed to
1:00:34
play a big role. He'll play through the middle,
1:00:36
I think, and he'll play Rio on the left, and
1:00:38
then I don't think he'll play on the right. We'll
1:00:40
see, but I would say that that's one. If you're
1:00:42
chasing and you need a flyer, I think because...
1:00:44
Liverpool will want to go and win that and just
1:00:46
get it done. Villa will be the opposite. It'd
1:00:48
be like, I don't know. Don't get hurt. We've
1:00:50
got a big European final. Yeah. I think that's
1:00:53
another sneaky one. Just looking at the fixtures
1:00:54
and stuff. And then obviously look again, you
1:00:56
look at the teams down the bottom. It's, I mean,
1:00:58
Jared bones and all this one, but it's, I mean,
1:01:00
I like him for game week 38, especially if they're
1:01:02
still fighting for it, for sure. okay well listen
1:01:05
mate always a pleasure never a chore but yes
1:01:08
I hope you have a good weekend enjoy the you
1:01:11
get to enjoy it for the weekend until Monday
1:01:12
and then you'll be nervous a little bit I'm sure
1:01:15
but I'm sure you guys will get it over the line
1:01:17
now yeah sure hope so okay well thanks for listening
1:01:20
everyone take care take care