Isak Drama, Gyokeres vs Sesko & New Season Predictions! | Stick to Football EP 89

I'm gonna go for a banana. No breakfast, that's unprofessional. How are we, Kieran?

Great, how are you?

Very good, very good.

Good summer?

Busy one.

You had a busy one?

Yeah.

Why?

We've been doing the cricket and stuff haven't we? Didn't stop for us.

Stick to cricket.

Yeah.

I like it by the way, stick to cricket. It's alright, isn't it? It's better than stick to football, isn't it? That's what they were saying. You can't beat this, can you? Are you a sponsor? Yeah.

That's good, isn't it? And you've got the gear on.

You've got the gear on?

Just wearing it casually.

You all ready for everybody?

Ben, honestly, the transformation of you, Ben, honestly. Having a glow-up. LAUGHTER

Honestly!

Are you ready for everyone?

Yeah. I mean, they don't normally ask me.

LAUGHTER

I like the pictures of the people who've been on. They're good, innit? You asked for that at the end of last season, so... Yeah, it's nice, that. How good was Johnny Ma, by the way? Brilliant. Brilliant. I hope Hopefully get another musician on.

Yeah.

It's good, wasn't it?

Did you beat me the last time?

What do you think?

You've got a good serve, haven't you?

Is that table tennis table here for you two?

Where are you going to my backhand?

Is this to warm up? Oh!

Up to three. You're not moving well, Roy. My shoulder, I think I have a trap now.

See, I'm going to have to get him on that shoulder. Alright, whose serve is it?

Two nil.

OK.

Header!

Up to five.

When you're good at sports, you're good at more sports.

Yeah.

Yes, right here.

Yes.

That was a great shot.

What's wrong with it? Oh, the angles I'm getting. I feel like Alkerez. I can't pick up the ball. Couple more. couple more. It's not 5-1. Yeah, I'd 5-2 then.

5-2, yeah.

Oh no, James. I like how you improvise there, James. What are you doing? I weren't even ready.

Last one. This is the winner.

6-2, alright.

Come on, we're good.

Last one.

Stop your messing.

Have you heard of or seen in the last few weeks the Ibiza boss?

Oh, the fellow who's doing the dance.

We said to him yesterday, we were at Sky, he's hilarious, isn't he? He didn't have a clue who he was.

Who? You don't know the Ibiza boss?

Why would I know who the Ibiza boss is?

He's broke the internet for the last week.

You have to be living in a cave not to see him. Honestly, gal. I love his hair.

Show me him, then. Are we clashing? Yeah, we get a new partner, And we just both put the same t-shirt on. Yours looks different, is it exactly the same? Exactly the same.

Why don't you not check with each other? There's so much gear, they're just promoting one t-shirt.

But we're just consistent.

We're uniform.

We should wear the same actually every week.

Do you think?

Yeah.

Like a team, Gal?

Yeah, we should.

Can we just live together?

Can we live together? Look at the, there he is.

He's a Geordie, isn't he? I've never heard of it. I've never seen that at all. And I would just, I wouldn't watch that at all. I would literally not watch that.

Yeah, but why not?

Let me see his face.

Let me see his face.

Yeah, he'd be the boss. Aww, I think. It's just his barn, it's that mad, and he's with the glasses. And the teeth. I love it, and the teeth.

Do you think that's funny?

Yeah.

It just makes me smile.

I'm with you, Gary.

You know what?

But how is it funny?

He just looks funny.

He's gone everywhere, hasn't he? You've never seen him. You just... No, I've never seen that guy in my life. doing copies of them aren't they? Abeetha Boss, do you want to come on mate? Do you want to come on the show? Get the Abeetha Boss on.

Get the Abeetha Boss on.

This is actually a new set.

I love it.

It's not a new set, it's just a table tennis set.

Are we doing, is it only them four who gets a picture up in there?

There's no bins though, there's no bins. I like presents. They're R-rated. I'm 54. That's cool. I like that.

You're in a big bag of money.

I hope something jumps out at you.

We'll have a look in a minute.

No, you should have put one of them on.

Oh, look at this.

That is cool.

Let me see that.

These are Scorsese's, isn't it?

That is actually cool.

That is actually cool. That is quite sweet. I'm sure I'd do that with scores. Oh man, that is really nice.

Oh wait, they've got you some shoes. Ah, they're nice.

That's what the lads wear, isn't it? That's the football pundits trainer, isn't it?

Yeah, that big white thing at the bottom.

Because do you know Sky's got 214 games this season? 215 games. I thought you were a little mat, wasn't you? We haven't heard that they've extended how many games they've got this season.

Sorry, I missed one last season.

I saw you having fun.

I'm going to put it back on. Thank you.

That is so cool. I want to put that there.

Rhys and Ryan, thank you. Oh, nah.

And their first, the only problem I've got with them is that their first store's opening in Liverpool and you're opening it. Oh. Yeah. Are you, James? Did you know that? Nice one. Yeah. Nice one, James. I wanted to help the brand. Yeah, you two look like you're coordinates.

Yeah, we're planned it.

You know what?

That's a nice one, Jim.

You wore navy blue all day yesterday, and you've worn it again today. Have you got two t-shirts on, or is that? I'd wear that in the summer with white jeans. I think it's a woman's. Why do people think you don't want to do a media day? Don't ask me. Where did you do it? In London?

I've seen that with Micah.

Yeah.

It was alright. It was quite nice.

I think you'll have to go on the Christmas do.

Sky Christmas do? Yeah.

I think it's a woman's.

I think it's with Micah. Yeah. He was alright.

He was quite nice.

I didn't ask her.

I didn't get asked to go on the Christmas do.

The Sky Christmas do.

Oh.

Well, yeah.

You didn't ask.

You weren't even asked.

Did you go to the Christmas do?

Of course I did.

I am the Christmas do.

Yeah, but you were asked. Yeah, but you were asked. I was asked. Yeah, exactly.

I didn't ask my guy.

Why would they not ask you though?

I don't know, Jill. Maybe it felt like the Grinch.

Probably because he doesn't like dancing.

No.

I thought I got to the Christmas tour a few years ago, Jamie. You were there?

I was there when I was asked. He's judging everyone, so he should have been there to be able to judge people. Just before we get started, a quick thanks to our partners and clothing. We hope you enjoy the show. You can't be angry with agents... But that's their job, Roy. Their job is to protect you.

I understand that, but your job is to train and play.

It's kind of shocking.

It is.

If we're going to be talking, it's shocking behaviour.

Liverpool need two attackers. I'm not fully invested in breaking the bank for Isak. I use that word like, are they robust? Will Fordham be robust enough to play in a week?

I think he is hungry and he's come to the place right now where we need him. So hopefully he can be the one.

If you're on about making things happen, you need to be sharp. A sharp comes from off the field stuff as well. I think Chelsea look good.

Oh, look!

I do too!

Come back to Glastonbury!

Chelsea's still in!

So what have we been doing this summer? What was the highlight of the summer?

Glastonbury.

Was it good?

Best weekend of my life.

I told you, didn't I?

I loved it, thanks so much. Honestly, it was so good. Have you been?

No, I was going to go, but the actual set list wasn't very good.

The people who were on, they were...

Oh, no.

Bruce Springsteen wasn't on.

And I saw you again, was he?

Who were the headliners? Who were the headliners that were on?

Well, Rod Stewart was on, but I actually missed that. Neil Young. Let me ask you something, does it matter who's on? No, I don't think so.

Not for me, I'm not a massive fan. No, for people who go there,

they just want to have a good crack, if you know what I mean.

Oasis at Wembley, bro.

I went.

You know something. And again, Richard Ashcroft.

Oh, you've got the gear on! Can I be honest? I think so. Rich Ashcroft is amazing. In warming up for his songs, amazing. they do just sing, to be fair to them. I do, don't I? I sing. They sing. No, but they do. That's one thing about them. They'll get involved in politics.

They walk on, they walk on, they sing, they get off, to be fair to them.

That's one thing they've always done. But you know every song as well.

It is good. That's the thing, that's top of the Ibiza boss. I see.

Top of the Ibiza boss?

I just remembered.

Someone sent me a video of him.

The Oasis boss.

Oh my God.

Carriger on a train.

Honestly, how many beers did you have? He's enjoying himself. I'm enjoying myself. Jamie, oh, no. Look at his eyes. Look at him, look at him. Look at him.

That was on the way to the concert.

LAUGHTER Have you seen that? Look at his eyes. LAUGHTER Hi.

Hey, travelling with the public on the tube. Beautiful.

How did you get there?

Yeah.

I got a car.

Oh, but you got a private car.

Look at him.

Yeah, he's a private car.

Are you enjoying yourself?

What's wrong with that?

That looks good, James. Not doing anything. Mixing with the public on the tube. Yeah, but you wouldn't retaliate, would you? No, not like me. LAUGHTER

No, it was good.

You know what, actually walking up, me and Mrs, we walked up to Wembley, it was a different energy, different vibe.

I thought it was going to be moody, and it wasn't, to be fair.

It wasn't at all, no.

People were just, like, just so excited to see him.

It was nice, man. You went 27th of July, didn't you? Cos you said, do you want to come? This was about a month before and I said, no, England will be in the final for the Women's Euros, didn't I?

They were. Righty, you were there at the end?

Yeah, I was, yeah.

It was good to see you.

Yeah, it was great to be there. I'd done the same as what I'd done with the and jump out. You missed the group matches, you didn't get to the final. Well, to be honest, I was over there doing my stuff. You know what I mean? It wasn't like... What, did you think that the women were just going to go and win and I'm just going to check in at the semis? I said, when we get to the latter stages of the tournament, I'll be there, whether England are in or not.

And great start that England were there. in a big game, but how can they get over the line and the men don't, I don't get it.

They've got some good players, man. They've got some good players.

They've got some good players, man. The changes off the bench, I think, were big,

weren't they, in the game?

That's one of her changes.

She's really good at that, though, Serena.

But then you have to have people coming off the bench You know, people like Chloe, like Michelle. Why doesn't she start, by the way? Is it just a case of... Well, she's just setting her ways.

She'll come off the bench, isn't it?

And you know what she says, she comes off the bench. She's kind of like accepted the fact, OK, I might not start, but when I come on, I'm going to do something. She always does.

Right, so the coach's record, is it in tournaments or just the Euros? I remember them saying on the TV, it was like, she'd been to like the last four finals. Five finals.

Five finals.

Four cup finals.

Two with Netherlands and then three.

Just finals.

Three with England.

Won the last three. Which is amazing. Well, yeah, in terms of the Euros, but then the last five finals, she's just, yeah.

You know what, I was really pleased for the goalie. Yeah. because of the situation with Mary Apes before her. It wouldn't have been easy that, would it? She pulled out at the last minute. Probably a lot of focus on her, a lot of pressure.

A lot of pressure.

You know, when she was younger...

She can't ping a ball, can she?

When she was younger, the doctor said she wouldn't be able to play because of the conditions she had with her eyes. She had a really bad condition with her eyes. She couldn't work out the depth and the perception and stuff. He said, no, she'll never be able to play football. Did David De Gea have that as well?

Something wrong with that?

I think I heard something like that.

But like with her, to get through that, we're talking about arguably our greatest women goalkeeper, Mary Earp, she's pulled out and then she's coming in, made some unbelievable saves. You know what I mean?

A distribute, man. She's fantastic. I had a full month in Switzerland. I lived my best life, honestly. Beautiful, isn't it? So beautiful. So expensive, though. Burger and chips was like £70.

Honestly.

For one?

Yeah, for one. You're joking. Honestly, £70, yeah.

You still got your jungle money.

Oh, my God.

This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Arm Clothing. This episode of Stick To Football is sponsored by Huel. Jamie's joining me for an advert this year, so what we decided to do, because I know it's something that all of you like,

he loves Huel as well. I drink it, I don't normally promote it, and look as bad as you Are you going to try and make me look as bad as you have done for the last 12 months?

No, I think every kid that comes up to me in the street now says, will you say I love Huel?

Yeah, do you love Huel?

I love the vanilla flavoured Huel

Oh, do you? Yeah

So when do you have the chocolate peanut butter flavour though? No, I had the one... What was the one you said before? Vanilla. Vanilla, yeah. So I'll... I'm having this now.

What do you think of it? It's too rich for me, that one. I prefer the vanilla.

No, I mean, he thinks he's a brand, he's Gary Bland. I'm Huel. I love Huel and I love vanilla and I am vanilla. Gary the Bland.

We're building the Bland Neville. Huel are back on board and we're set for another big season. New customers get our exclusive offer plus a free gift at huel.com forward slash the overlap. And keep an eye out for these new daily greens cans launching soon.

Anything else this summer? Do you think it goes quickly? Do you all think like each season seems to like merge

one into another like quicker every year?

I've had a great summer.

You've had about 15 holidays?

I've enjoyed the summer, yeah.

No tournaments. Bit of a break. I went on a cruise, You've had about 15 holidays? Best summer I've enjoyed this summer, yeah No tournaments Bit of a break I went on a cruise, really enjoyed that Did you? Yeah, I wasn't sure I would but

No, no, it was fine

Down round there we were in Greece, Montenegro, Croatia

Is it English people on there or British people?

Yeah, a bit of a mix, yeah a mix Did you not get tithed? No, I was OK. Did you get any vibe or anything? It was OK.

I can't imagine you... No, it wasn't like a huge one.

It wasn't... There wasn't 2,000 people.

Did you have a big... How big of a room?

Massive. We upgraded, actually, when we got on. We upgraded to... But it's not that massive.

No, the room looks...

Can I say, I can honestly... Show us a picture of the room. Were you on a cruise or a private one? You're fucking sick.

Gary, Gary, show us a picture. I've never fancied a cruise. No, I didn't, but I enjoyed it. But it wasn't one where there was, again, loads of people on. It's not like singers and bands in the evening. Yeah, all that stuff.

How come it was just you who got the picture, I see? Yeah. Do I not send? Oh, he sent it, yeah. Not on the group chat. I only send you negative stuff. Yes.

Just take me half an hour to find it now.

I see the happiness.

Come on, show us the boat. Oh, no, I haven't got a picture of the boat. That's just, you're not getting a good...

Yeah, but look at the star.

We're on Croatia somewhere.

What's the emoji? Oh, I didn't know Theresa was on the boat. LAUGHTER

No, I've got no picture of the boat, but on the boat, you're not going to see her. Oh, this might be the room, yeah, this would be... You might have a quick... I hope there's nothing dodgy on that. Look, you get a vibe off that, don't you?

Nothing dodgy!

Did anybody annoy you on the boat?

Yeah. I love this, it's like a proper dad video, look. I can imagine you just getting completely and utterly annoyed by bumping into people.

No, I did the first night.

That's a proper dad video, isn't it? He's the water.

What were people just coming up?

No, not coming up to me, but just being rude to other people. Some Americans. What do you mean, being rude to other people, rude to the woman who was playing the music and they were getting aggro with her and I stepped in.

I knew you'd step in.

In what way?

Like Jason Statham, you know what I mean?

Lads, calm down.

Something's gonna happen to me.

The overboard.

He's gonna come in.

He's gonna come in.

He's gonna come in.

No, no, no. but four of them, but same age as me, a bit older than me. Were they rude to wives as well? Yeah. Wives or what? They were rude to this woman DJ. They were like, man, I just went over and I just came down. So I sat down and four of them came across ready to... Did you?

Did you have them?

No, I didn't have them. It didn't kick off, but it was pretty close. What's Theresa saying to you? She wasn't too bad with it. The first night on? No, she said they were really rude.

I had to put a marker down.

How long was it?

I can pre-season again. The charity shield, it just goes...

Studs down the back of somebody.

Once they'd done their little...

They were still annoying the rest of the week, but I just kept my distance. I saw him nearly having a few words with this other guy. I went over to support him a little bit, but it was all... It wasn't as bad as I'm kind of making out.

But...

You know what fascinates me about Americans? You know when you get on a lift with Americans?

Oh.

They're always talking, aren't they?

They're always loud in a lift. I don't ever hear any other...

Like, I've seen so many people talk in a lift. No, these group of lads were like... Even the forestator was showing us around the boat. This is where you go for breakfast and it was just being so loud and rude to everybody.

So where's the point of pulling them in line? Where's somebody to come over and say something?

Somebody did.

They can sit next to you.

Do you not have a conversation in a lift though? I always ask people like, Oh, what are you up to? I can't wait to get out. Or do you just, do you get your phone out? No, no, I just, there's something about being in a lift,

it's just mad, it's just weird, and everyone's looking at the, it's just like, I think you can make a sitcom out of a lift, you know, it's just bizarre, you know, like all...

I feel like everybody gets a phone out,

cos they're uncomfortable. Yeah, and everyone's looking at each other and like... I'm comfortable like that. I was thinking of a podcast idea. I think you'd... The lift! The lift. I think you'd enjoy... Have you enjoyed a cruise?

No, I tell you what, I think you'd enjoy this one. I give it a thumbs up. Besides, obviously, you're always going to get a couple of idiots. But where you start off enough, time off, the food... I'm not a foodie guy, but the food was unbelievably nice. You get 20% off with the discount code KEEN16. You book online. Is that what he's just done?

Did you go to Marlborough? It's not cheap.

But it was worth it, right?

Absolutely. Went to Marlborough.

For the whole time?

Yeah. I spent most of my time in a fire exit queuing up for Ryanair flights. They sort of check you in, but then they leave you in the fire exit.

Stressful, innit? Oh my God. Hey, stressful. I can't imagine that. It's 30 degrees.

I can't imagine going.

A group of lads from Not America, from Wigan, talking about...

What's wrong with Wigan?

Nothing wrong with Wigan.

Fucking talking about, honestly, I spent a lot of my summer in fire escape lifts, queuing up for a few days. I had a couple of days in Miami with three lads. Oh yeah, you sent the picture? Yeah.

I was laughing at that.

You went on a two-world tour?

Yeah, we did a little bit of a tour, I kind of like that.

Do you know what the best time we had in Orlando? We played Crazy Golf.

That's funny.

I love Crazy Golf.

You love it?

I love it, yeah. Crazy golf. Have like the windmill going round. You get it for the windmill and everything?

Yeah, it was cool.

Yeah, you go to the one that goes over and...

I love it.

You end up arguing, and playing crazy golf, and lads are arguing about the scores, and it's like, you're nearly kicking off at your mate. Oh yeah, it's 200 fucking trios.

Crazy golf.

200, 200, 300.

With your pencil. One lad was doing the score and it was like nearly,

nearly coming to blows.

Oh gosh, not over crazy golf. That is actually crazy golf.

This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Arm Clothing.

Football.

Oh, football, yeah.

Football, football.

We're going to start with the teams that are...

Well, we're going to start with our teams.

We're not making our predictions already, are we?

No, I don't think so. We might have a look.

Yeah, let's make a prediction.

We're just going to go through the sort of six or seven clubs. So we're going to start with Liverpool. Good business?

Yes.

Good business or still a bit to do?

Still a bit to do. Obviously a lot of players have gone haven't they? But I think we said on here didn't we last season, even when they were odds on for the league late in the season, I said and I think we all agreed, they probably still needed six players. Three to go in the team, I think they're the three actually that he bought straight away, the left back, number 10, Veert and the centre forward. And that was before even Trent went as well, Riyadu was saying they needed six players, so I think they're going to get at least one centre-back, maybe two.

What's happening with Karnati, is he holding out or what?

Yeah, listen, I don't know what he's being offered or whatever, I'm sure he'll be getting offered a good wage if you like, but if I was him I'd sign. I'm not sure where he would go. I think he's a really good player, I don't think he's irreplaceable.

When's he out of contract?

In the summer. Now? No, like... Next summer? Yeah.

That means he's really worried there.

He's meant it late, hasn't he?

But the thing, Jamie, is the other players...

Once a player gets into that kind of realms of like contract, they hardly ever sign. Yeah, but you said that last year about the same situation with Liverpool last year. Lads in the last year, the two main guys signed, right?

Yeah, but they're at different levels then too.

I think Liverpool, in the past, they're prepared to let people go for free. It's not ideal, but I think they're prepared to say, oh, we'll send a message to the restroom in terms of wages. If you go back to Klopp's team, Emery Chan and Wijnaldum left for free, they wanted more money, this is what we think you're worth. Now we might sell you, we might keep you, but same with Trent, obviously Trent asked for a few quid, he didn't, well whatever it was, and he might be the same, but I think

it looks like they're going to get their lad from Crystal Palace. Which is devil's advocate if you're Canarte and you're thinking of extending your contract for say two or three years But they're gonna sign Gay and you said they might sign another centre-half He's probably thinking well I could sign for three years. They get control of me and I'm not even the first team because they're gonna sign two centre-halves to replace me You wouldn't be thinking you're notiefing yourself, you're going, yeah, bring it on. But he might think... He's only got two centre-halves, he has to sign them.

No, I know, but my point is, though, if he's signing a replacement for him as a partner for Van Dijk, which he probably looks like he is,

he might think, well, I think he... Why would you leave now? It's a World Cup year. You don't want to go somewhere you might not play. Because Kennate's still there, isn't he?

But righty, your mindset wouldn't be I might not play.

Yeah, but the thing is that if you want to play in this particular year though...

If you were Gahey, you'd go doesn't sign, I think the more the manager will say, if you're not committed, you're not signing, this fella's not bad. Because before, Liverpool had them two centre-backs and the lad behind, when Kwanzaa was left. That wasn't competition, that was just an understudy. He's an England internationalist, he's like, I'm going for your place,

I'm fighting you for a position. And the longer he doesn't sign... But that's what drives the club forward, right? And if they're buying the lad from Palace, how much would it be paying for him?

50-odd, so...

Right, no. More? The report yesterday was that a deal would be about £35 million.

For what, Mark Gehry?

How can they get him for that when he turned down 60-odd last year? Because he's a year for on a free next season. He must be definitely... But if you're a hamer, you're going for that, even £35, £40 million.

You must believe, yeah I'm going there, they're fans, man, I'm going to play. We've all been in positions like that. When I went to United, when you went to Arsenal, you weren't thinking I'm going over there, yeah there's competition, there's no good to us. That's what drives the club forward. Competition for places, winning the club.

Do Liverpool need Isak? Obviously they've signed Verts, they've signed Ekotike, but obviously they've lost Nunes, they've lost Diaz, and tragically, obviously, God rest his soul, Diego Soto. So they've lost three really fantastic, well, fantastic players for the club and one who to be fair was doing a good job for them coming off the bench, do they need a centre forward?

Well it's just different problems.

Do you think they need him?

Oh yeah, Liverpool need two attackers. Liverpool last season…

More, two more. Now.

Yeah, because they're going to sell Harvey Elliott and they're probably going to sell Keir Isaac. So they do need Isaac? could be another player. What I'm saying is I'm not fully invested in breaking the bank for Isak. I've seen you say that now two or three times in the last week, this idea of why would Isak stay absolutely outstanding and send it forward in the league. You watch him, he's amazing. He looks like he's made for Liverpool in terms of his mobility, his goals, his movement,

his closing down, he's everything that Liverpool would want. Why would you not break the bank for him? Well, you would... I just kind of would think Newcastle and Liverpool should have done a... So, if you remember what happened was, Newcastle have got Isak, they went for Ekotikei, they made a bid. Liverpool have been modest in the situation, they get in touch with Newcastle and say, right, does that mean you want to sell Isak? That's what Liverpool did.

You think they should have done a little bit of a... The more I look at it now, because Liverpool obviously want Isak. The reason I'm not... It's not about him as a player. I do worry about how robust he is to sort of play twice a week for Liverpool. I just think when you spend 80 million on another striker who Liverpool think is going to be the next Isak in Ekoteki, he started really well at only pre-season. I don't know what you're saying there Roy about competition places, but I think

when you break a British transfer record, which it would be, 130, 140 million, that player plays virtually every game. He only doesn't play when he's injured, I would say. Would that be fair if you spent that type of money on someone? And who is that good?

The back up then

He's not back up. He's an understudy for me at Eccatighe and he's too good and too expensive to be that Yeah, you're only gonna play when he's injured and It's not where you go. Okay, give him a year to bed in but then next year he's actually centre-forward I don't think it's being done the wrong way round.

So you're saying they should just forget Esac now?

But are they looking at this way, Carragher?

What I'm saying is, I look at Ekotiki, I look at Esac. Liverpool missed them. Are you getting bogged down by his transfer fee as well?

What if he was 60 or 70 million?

Yeah, but my point being is, when you cost that money, If you're on the manager, he's my guy, he's the guy. Let's use Salah as an example. Salah's a superstar, Isak's a superstar. Who has been Salah's backup for Liverpool? He hasn't had any.

Because he's that good a player. Is that why they're signing him? Because they think, to be fair, Isak, Ekotike, Wurts. When Salah does start to go over the hill in the next 12 to 18 months, we've already got the three ready to come in and now he's available and we can't miss out on him because he goes somewhere else. They might be looking around thinking in the next two or three years

we've got the best in Isak Verts and Efetika.

How do you replace Salah's goals in a year or two? I get that and I take that argument but it's a completely different position. But yes, you've got a great goal scorer and they're not easy to come by. And I get that. I just feel a little bit for the lad who's cost us 80 million and they're thinking he's going to be the next big thing.

I mean, I'm not thinking about it. Look, he's started well.

He don't need to worry about players on top. Pep makes the point, Jamie, he likes a tight squad. But I still think if you can get that quality, I appreciate it. There's no point in having 20-odd players who are all about the same. We were at five last year with Gakpo, Xhota, Nunez, Salah, Andrew. But there's so many games, isn't there? We had four. Yeah, four, brilliant. Whatever you might go, he might play one week. When you have a damn squad of players, you do need a different mix of it.

Roy made a point though, Cowright, I think, is it about the money with you? Do you not like the idea of Liverpool looking like they're splashing the cash?

Not that at all. I'd have paid another £20 million for Vates. I think, wow, what a sign. that position, he's a fantastic player, it's not about the money at all. The point I'm trying to make is, we've all played in teams where there's certain players in our team, there's five or six in every team, great team, who they play and everybody in the dressing room knows they play when they're fit. So for Liverpool it's the goalkeeper, it's Van Dijk, it's McAllister now, it's Salah.

Them players play and there's a knowledge within the dressing room, they're the top men. So what I'm trying to say is, Isak's going to be one of them because he's that good. He is that good, he's going to be that. And I sometimes think when you have someone that good,

the back-up behind them isn't that good because it's hard to keep that player happy. And I know you talk about United and different players so let me use the example of Liverpool's title winning teams so last season Liverpool win the league they've only got Salah who's a star in the in the attack I would say and the rest all interchange so you turn up to a Liverpool game you're not sure if it's Nunes or Jota or Diaz up front it could be Gakpo on the

left it could be this one but we know he's playing Salah because he's the star. And the rest interchange because they're all, they're not 10 out of 10, they're all 7 out of, 8 out of 10 and you can move them about. When Liverpool won the league under Klopp, they had three superstars up front. Mane, Firmino, Salah. You know every time you're going to a Liverpool game, that's the front three. What's their back-up? Origi, Rian Brewster and Injury Hits Sturridge. What I'm saying is, that's not competition.

They've understood these. Do you understand what I mean? For me, I think there's a difference between...

But the whole point is then, they need more competition. For over the last few years, you've picked out a few times when Liverpool have won the league, but the manager knows, had a good look at them, is probably thinking, well obviously, It won't be as easy for Liverpool this year, there's more pressure on them but if you're playing for Liverpool you've got to deal with that. He would look at probably the PSG game where they go, listen we didn't really, it played well but it went out.

That's probably a night like that where he went, we need more options. It's not necessarily for beating...

And higher quality as well.

Yeah, a higher quality player. Well listen... We've won the league by 10 points and they've switched up with a few games to go. I can't imagine that'll be the case this year. And the manager will know that, but go, when we do play PSG, we play Champions League or FA Cup, I want better options than the lad you've just mentioned.

And I get that, and I get what you're saying. And that's why Jota, what happened to him, as you go, he's good enough to start, but it's not the end of the world if he's on the bench. He's not going to be, you know...

Ekotiki might be that now, Kara.

Yeah, but what I'm saying is, I think for 80 million, and watching him already, I'm thinking, he's too good to be that player.

I think he's got a world-class front three and you've got Ekotiki to come off the bench or play in the games that they don't play. Plus, Liverpool are going to play a lot of games this season.

They will play and I get that. I just, that's my feeling. I still think there's other areas in the squad I'd like to sort of, Liverpool to sort of strengthen before they spend that on Isak. It's gone about, everything that's happening with Isaac now, you know, him not wanting to play. Do we like it, right?

You know something?

You've left Crystal Palace, you've left, obviously, clubs. Roy, you left, if you remember, obviously, Nottingham Forest, you had the issue with Blackburn United both wanting you.

Terrible.

Where are we at on Isaac in terms of refusing to play?

It doesn't look good. You have to say there's a lot of talk about what was promised to him, maybe through Stavely, I don't know what's going on.

What did she promise him?

I don't know, maybe she promised him a contract, more money, whatever it was. But then obviously she's gone now and maybe that's... Maybe the gentleman's agreement on what...

You're still a training player, righty, don't you?

Yeah, absolutely.

How can he go back? If you're a footballer and there's stuff going on, I'm always wary that when people say, you were promised something, they're already on deals. And again, we talk about a lot of deals.

Sign a six-year deal.

You get yourself a dog. So all these... But I just think if you're a footballer and all these are gone, and you might be disappointed with the club, but you think you might be leaving.

I had it with Forrest or I go, I'd be ready. Instead of going, I'm down in two, I'm going to go out and train with somebody else for a few weeks.

I can't even imagine ever saying I'm not going back to train.

It'd be different if Newcastle finished near the bottom and there was disarray. They've just had a brilliant season.

Do you think he's lost the fan or not?

I feel sorry for Eddie Howe on this one, because I don't think he deserves it. Of course he doesn't, no. It's terrible, the behaviour is kind of shocking.

It is. If we're going to be told, it's shocking behaviour. I don't know what's happened with his agent, I don't know if his agent hasn't done the job properly, whatever it is, whether, you know, if Liverpool were going to get him,

then Liverpool, go and pay the 150,000. with your agent for not putting a buyout clause in at 17 or 18 We had the same a couple of years ago, lads, with Harry Kane with his bro, remember? You can't be angry with agents But that's their job, Roy Their job is to protect you I understand that, but your job is to train and play If you got into bed with an agent who's not doing their job

then you can't go to the club

My agent should have done a better job I agree, be angry with the agent with no clothes? Absolutely. What are Newcastle's supposed to do?

We've all signed contracts we look back on. I've got a few in there I can show you. You sign and you go, I wish I could have done that.

Of course, that's life. But in your DNA as a footballer should be, whatever's going on in my club, I want to train and play.

Throw this forward because to be fair, The big players in this are the Newcastle owners. So they're sat there in Saudi Arabia, they've got all the money in the world and they're being threatened blackmail, whatever you want to call it, by a football player. The football player said, he's not coming back unless you let me go to Liverpool. What do they do?

Because I'm thinking it from an owner's perspective

and thinking...

Hold out for the value.

I would, well... I'd hold out for the value. Or you then, to be fair, set a precedent that any player can come into your club and say, by the way, I'm not training, I'm not playing, and then you let them go. Do they have to stand strong and say, I'm sorry, mate, you're staying at this football club this season.

If you'd gone about it a bit of a better way, you might have got out of it, but you're actually not going. Do they sell him though, or do they keep him? I don't think he can stay. They sell him for the money you want for him.

He can stay.

Do you think?

The matters of football, for all the fans turn against now, the season starts and he starts scoring a few goals.

You know what fans are like. You're a king one minute, you're an idiot the next.

They'd be all over him.

Louis Suarez at Liverpool had a similar situation, I don't know if it got this strong, but he was actually going to go to Arsenal and Brendan Rodgers said don't train with the team and all that and then he went and had the best season he's ever had and he was a god, no one really remembers that as Liverpool supporters but I'm with you. What did the Newcastle owners do with him? Did they sell him?

Well I think if someone gives them the offer on the table. So whatever his behaviour has been the last month or so, but if they get a valuation out of the thing, like any business...

Don't cut off your nose to span your fame.

I bring his agent in and I say, listen, the way this has gone, we will sell you, but we're selling for what we want for you. We're not going to just let you go just because...

Sometimes you have to lose to win. Sometimes you look at a club, your principles as a manager or as a club, and go, listen, if we get the value of the player that they think, whatever, 150, let them go. Lose to win, you're going to lose a brilliant player. If Liverpool get him, is it just a formality that you think they win the league?

Absolutely.

I think if they get Gahy and Isak. I love Primpong as well, I watched them at City loads.

So you're saying if you get Gahy and Isak, you win the league?

I think so.

I don't agree with all this, like, oh, give them the league, it's over and all that. No, I don't, because...

Yeah, I have it.

The pressure, give them the pressure. The league's won Liverpool, they've bought all these players. Now I agree they had to buy a number of players and the stronger in the three positions I mentioned, but I was watching the charity show, it's one game. I get that it's a friendly and different things, but there was a little element of looking at it thinking, is there actually too many attacking players?

They've definitely got to get the balance right between the players that they brought in, because it is a lot more going forward. It's a massive statement from them though, isn't it?

Winning the league and then going so hard on the signings.

Did Liverpool do that in the 80s?

Did Liverpool do that in the 80s when they were winning leagues and then going, we put a marker down, we go and get a top?

I think they were famous for that though. I think, man, you're nice to yourselves. You put a a message. I don't think this is like, we're doing this to send a message. I think Liverpool... All the fans are getting excited, we're spending all this money.

Liverpool are spending this money because they need to. I think Liverpool could easily go to the next three transfer windows and not spend a penny. But they didn't spend anything last year either. That's what I'm saying. It's not a case of, oh, Liverpool are pay the money for East Ackland and they've got the money?

But Jamie, I think they used to make a point years ago about Liverpool and maybe United, you're buying a player and you might go, do you really need him? I know, yeah, but that makes sure they don't get him.

It's all them silly games, you go, where does he fit in? I don't know. If you look at it now, if you think of what Arsenal have done, if you think of what Chelsea have done, what United have done, they've all got their business done.

There's no-one can afford the 130.

It's probably more than afford, isn't it? Maybe a Barcelona. Replace maybe Lewandowski in 12 months.

But if the player's made a point that he only wants to go to Liverpool...

Exactly.

Then they've got it all wrong. On a personal level, I'd like to think that the Saudi Arabian owners of Newcastle go in and say to him, you're definitely not going this year, it's a fact because of the way you've done it, but you can leave next summer for...

But then it's just going to disrupt everything.

I get that, but what I'm saying to you is, I think ultimately, I mean, it's slightly different, but Cristiano Ronaldo wanted to leave after 2008, and I think they did a deal with him to leave the year after. I think do a deal with him and say you can't leave now because of what you've done. We can't be blackmailed. But you can leave next summer for X amount of money but you're not leaving now.

You're playing for us. Is there something around the ownership? In that they've let Eddie Howe down. You look at the mess at that club in terms of directors of football. They haven't got anybody there. They've lost two in the last two years. I mean, I know PSR issues, they can't really solve that. But there's talk of the stadium, the stadium's still the same.

I don't think the training ground's improved. These are things that you can maybe invest in going forward. And I was thinking about Eddie Howe, and I love Eddie Howe. I think he is a brilliant manager. And I'm looking at England in the summer, took a leave, doesn't he, after the World Cup. Eddie Howe's won a trophy, he's got to the Champions League twice in the last three years. I'm not quite sure he can go any further forward.

And don't forget he had to deal with all this last summer. He couldn't buy any players last summer, they had to sell players they didn't want to sell because of PSR issues. Has an amazing season, he's got this on his plate now all summer. He's going into another season, got Champions League football. He's probably thinking. Do you know what, though? I do think of the England job. I'm thinking one more season at Newcastle.

For all the stuff that's going on at Newcastle,

his temperament seems to suit that.

Yeah.

Inside he might be raising, of course,

and we are short in different ways, Winning football matches, but he manages upwards, he manages the media well. Even all this hassle, he's kept... He's been calm about it.

You can see when everything's happened, because he's found out on the news and stuff, and you see how disappointed he is, but at the same time, very professional, very restrained.

How can they let him go now, at such short notice, when it's not in their plans, they've not a real problem if he leaves. I think for their season and for their success as a football club, and Newcastle are a big club, I just think they have to keep him for one year. If I was a club, you've got to try and do a deal. You've just got to try and do a deal. You've just got to try and do a deal with him to say you can leave next summer.

If I'm going to be totally out now. Would you? Yes, I'd want to get him out now because the rest of the lads now with the way he's acting...

Nah, right, he'll destroy it. Nah, he'll destroy it.

I'm telling you, if they keep him there now, especially... Yeah, but Roy, if he's going to stay there...

Right, if you're a player... thinks he's leaving the false true and even they've been... Yeah, but that's not when they're called... No, no, yeah, yeah, yeah, we've seen it all. And then they come back and if you say,

what, you wanted your top players available? What do you think, they're an idiot?

I know, I'm just going to get...

Righty, if you come back and you start scoring goals, lads... It's too forgotten. a game. So this happened with Wazza and to be fair I thought he'd gone, I thought he was done, there's no way he's coming back from that. To be fair about three weeks later he signed an extension to his contract. How did you feel during the three weeks? Oh no to be fair we made him apologise because he put a statement out before a Champions League game and me and Giggs saw him the day after, we made him apologise to the players, don't I thought he was done. You know, the instances I've seen. And literally about two weeks later, he signed a new contract and he was back in favour.

I think United fans still have that little bit of maybe something

where they thought he was going to leave to City.

He's not done the, I'm not training, I'm not coming back.

Oh, no, he wouldn't do that. He's not the type of lad. He's not the kind of person that he was going to the Spurs, then he signed a new deal a couple of days later. I'm not saying he refused to train, I'm not putting him in that bracket, but players have done a lot worse. Players have gone on strike. Who is Isak wearing on September 1st?

Who is Isak wearing the shirt of?

Liverpool.

I think it'll be Liverpool.

I'll follow the crowd.

Liverpool.

They should play the money. I hope it's Newcastle.

Just a little point as well. Why didn't you ask me the question, Gary? You didn't ask that question.

No, I hope it's Newcastle.

I hope it's Newcastle.

I think it will be Liverpool.

I think a little problem is it won't get... Does Liverpool or Newcastle play each other's second game of the season? There's no way the deal gets done before then. Six point, innit?

Super 6 is back for the new season and they're starting off with a bang by guaranteeing a millionaire. They've stuck a £1m jackpot on the line and here's the best bit, it's staying there every single week until it's won. It's completely free to play and all you've got to do is predict six correct scores this weekend and the money could be yours.

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Does anybody notice that Ben's had a little bit of a revamp? Yeah.

The new album here.

Blow up. The new album here. What was that program you come up from the curtains and tonight I'm going to be?

It has in your eyes.

It has in your eyes.

It's good.

New wheels.

It's transformed you.

I mean, it transformed you.

I look good, but my heart belongs to Super 6. So, let's go.

You're not going to have that top in your size. Look at this. Look how nice this is to see. Lovely, there we go. Look at that. Jill, you're going to have emotional stuff now with Sunderland. I know. We need a good start. By the way, you've lost the last two years, by the way.

Yes.

Has this programme been on for two years?

Yeah.

Has it been on for two years?

This is our third season.

Welcome back to our Super 6 segment. Gary's won the past two years.

Thank you. Can we change that at the top please? Can we put Gary and Jamie and put Roy, Jill and Ian?

Uh-huh.

Please, we need to be inclusive.

Okay.

It's just not about me and Roy, is it?

We have some exciting news though. Super 6 will donate £10,000 each to your chosen charity.

Wow.

And all you have to do is make a kind of hot take prediction for the season ahead.

So that's something outlandish. A little bit out there. Liverpool to finish seventh.

Oh, I'll go with that.

Something like that.

Liverpool not finishing the Champions League.

There you go.

What?

It's an outlandish one. I know, but do you actually believe it?

But you just said it.

Nobody, anyone can say anything.

But it's...

Do yours, James. Don't worry about it. Jim Harman, top scorer, madman. Before we settle that, Jim, does anyone think the three teams will go back to who came up?

That would be three years in a row.

That's a good one.

All three use Hybroid?

No, no, no.

You've got to think it like that.

No, I think one of the teams would stay up. Is that silly? Is that outlandish? No, I say two.

No, no, no. I don't think Leeds are going down. I think Leeds are stale. Sunsland and Leeds. That's outlandish. It's not outlandish. That's fucking predictable.

That's what I think will happen.

You don't think Liverpool will finish outside the top four.

You're not understanding what he means. No, I do know. It's a hot take. It needs to be.

A hot take?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're saying something that you believe that nobody else believes. Harry Kane coming back to Tottenham. You don't believe Liverpool will finish on top four, do you?

They might do.

No, you don't. LAUGHTER

You know they might do.

They might do.

I'm going to go Harry Kane coming back to the Premier League.

Oh, inside information.

January? Yeah, I'm going to say yeah.

Oh, wow.

That's the reaction.

Yeah. Wow. That's the reaction. It's not Leeds will stay up. You've got to change up. Righty, that is a hot take, right? Leeds are staying up is not a hot take. Reject it Ben.

Is West Ham in a relegation fight? I think West Ham should get relegated.

Yeah, I think West Ham will score. I think West Ham will score. Will they get relegated? Jamie, they've just bought that keeper from Leicester.

He's not bad, is he?

He's not bad.

He's not going to be losing every two minutes.

You think West Ham will score more than maybe Wolves?

Remember the other guy?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

How many times have you...

I'm just speaking aloud.

Man United haveishing top six. Wenger and Ash used to cry when they got in the top four years ago.

Top four, the accountants are happy.

Is that what you're doing? A hot take?

Carra and Roy have not got a hot take from you yet.

Remember he said that? No, he said it is a trophy. He said it is a trophy.

Is it not a hot, I think a hot take? A promoted team? No, it's not a hot take. No, it's not a hot take. Could someone go down? Could Brentford go down?

Brentford have lost some of their players, they've got a new manager.

And Brentford to go down is Royce.

Brentford to go down.

Wow, Royce.

No, I'm just having a conversation.

Is that a hot take already wants to happen? Can I take's hot take.

I want to go with Bournemouth to qualify for Europe.

I like your first one, the Harry Kane one.

You like the Harry Kane? I've got so many hot takes, bro. I've got roasting takes.

He's got roasting takes.

If anyone wants that one, Bournemouth.

Who's the first manager to lose his job? That's a horrible one. I don't like answering that. You don't have to answer it. Yeah, but just...

You know something, not saying... And you're right, Joe, not like... Karen. But I think that Wolves might struggle.

Give us a hot take on your favourite club

that are giving you a bit of stick at this moment in time. They will struggle. Chelsea. Dandy. Chelsea's hot take. Chelsea from you. Hot take from Chelsea on me. I don't think Chelsea will qualify out of the Champions League group stage.

Oh, that is a hot take.

See, that's a hot take. What's your hot take?

Your hot take weren't hot enough, Joe.

Yeah, it was.

I've said a lot.

You've talked about mine.

United top six. Roy, show us.

I'm going to say... possibly two of the promoter teams to steal.

There you go.

That's a hot take. Leeds and Sunderland.

Especially with what's happened in the last couple of years.

And then what charities do you want to donate to?

I'll go to...

I'll do Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

I'll do MND Derby Rimmer.

The Keane Foundation. Um, no. I've got the St Anne's Hospice. Irish Guide Dogs, for the blank.

I'll do Kevin Campbell. Kevin Campbell Foundation.

Lovely.

Gill, who's yours, sorry? MND.

Alright, so shall we kick off with Super 6? Before we start, though, Kieran, this is what you were playing for this year.

Oh, now there's a trophy. Kieran, you've got a wife. Look at the finger looks on it. Can we have it?

Look at Jim's finger.

It's on your hand.

You've both got the same trainers. Are they both iron?

They are, aren't they?

Can you give that to us? Because we're the holders of that trophy.

He said it.

I didn't say anything. Have you seen that?

It's heavy. No, that's for this season. We're not the holders.

There wasn't a trophy last year.

They're the holders.

We're not the holders.

It's a new trophy.

That is a nice trophy.

It's behind us there.

Don't lean back, Jamie.

Can we see that?

It shouldn't be there. They haven't won that yet. Stick to football, it's just another award we won. Can we please engrave it with Gary and Jamie on, please, for the previous two years?

And David Moyes.

Yeah, we should Moyes it. We should call it the Super Six with David Moyes.

Excellent, Gary, Jamie.

Brighton v Fulham.

Brighton v Fulham, Cara.

Cara, Brighton v Fulham.

David Moyes got you over the line.

He did.

You go first. 2-1. 2-1, Brighton. Solid start. 2-1, Brighton.

You love 2-1.

Fulham start...

You love Fulham and Bournemouth.

Fulham have had a poor pre-season.

Has Fulham signed anybody?

No.

Pre-season doesn't mean anything.

Who Brighton signed?

I'm going to be on the. He let S2PN go, didn't he, to Milan? 1-1? Yeah, 1-1. Let's go 1-1.

I love a 1-1.

Sunderland will win this.

At home.

You know what we need from OG is to start well.

Over-excited, first game, they're going to think, oh, it's only West Ham and then, bam, West Ham do a job on them.

Nah. job on them. I remember one of the years ago they got promoted Spurs the first game they won 1-0. Yeah. The manager was there and me so yeah. Did Spurs 1-0. Do you want to go to Wigan this season? I've got my season ticket. Yeah we're out in prawn sandwiches aren't we? Yeah get sandwiches. No you're in the prawn sandwiches brigade place aren't you? What's your score? I think we win. Come on we've got 2-1 Sunderland. Yeah, go on, Sunderland. I'd have gone West Ham now. Righty!

I think that it's going to be...

Yeah, 1-1.

The edge of the light is going to be rocking.

Tottenham, Hotspur, Burnley.

Spurs would have done that, I think.

Oh, I don't know.

3-1.

Scott Parker, Expos, lads. Oh! Oh, Riedy, remember last year? Two nil. Two nil. Two nil Spurs? Scott Parker, ex-Spurs.

Are you back in Tottenham this season, Gally?

They've got a bit of business to do, haven't they?

Is that Saturday? When do they play? Is he on Saturday, these games? Spurs need to do a bit of business.

I guess so.

They'll be running, ragy, no chance on you. Wolves. Listen here, Burnley are getting resolved against Spurs.

Wolves City.

But I like, you took control.

That's what you've got to do because you took a bit of lead.

City win that. Isn't used on us?

Wolves v Man City.

We go, yeah, Wolves v City.

2-0.

2-0 to City.

Love that. 2-1 to City. Chelsea Palace. Oh. That's a tough one.

Palace are a good team, aren't they?

Yeah.

Chelsea draw at home against Palace last year.

Chelsea have done well in pre-season. They're looking decent in pre-season.

Oh, pre-season. Don't judge it.

Palace don't worry.

No, they have done well.

1-0 to Chelsea, you reckon?

No.

Just one. 2-1 to Chelsea. No, man, I think Palace. Chelsea, Palace.

So, either 1-1 or 2-1, Palace, I would have won.

1-1.

Go on, then. Chelsea win that.

All right, then, go on, then.

1-1.

I wouldn't have... Ben, did you know the jackpot is £1 million this weekend?

Yeah, I did.

LAUGHTER Thanks for that, Ben. one million pounds this weekend. Yeah, I did. Right.

I should have mentioned that. Thanks for that, Ben.

Cheers, Gary.

Does it have to get all the scores correct?

Yeah, if you get all the scores correct, you win a million pounds. So it's worth playing.

What we do?

You can, yeah, yeah, yeah.

You can get it. Anyone can.

If we get to straight a million?

Yeah, yeah, a big game. This is it. This is a big game. Six pointer. This is the big game.

Got to start well.

This is the big game.

I think we'll get so excited for these fixtures and then the rubbish.

Nah.

Yeah.

United winning that.

Prediction is?

Do you think?

Who's first?

Is it us? I can't remember that. Yeah, we're going to beat them. I think so. I think we are. That'll be a downer. That was a great game. I also didn't know they were a London game member. That was the worst game ever.

Yeah, you were on the tally board.

They know what they have to start with.

I'm going United.

They have to start well.

You think United will win that? I think United... Is Niner in goal? It would be great if United can get a good start.

I think it's a challenging game for Arsenal first up.

Of course it's a...

I can't see Man United scoring more than one in that game against Arsenal.

Is that a goal?

I can't see Arsenal scoring two. But you're the boss, you're paying me. He's the barside, the guy in Ibiza. What's that guy? Ibiza bar? It's the same shape, yeah. Come on, put his hair down a bit. And then just...

Oh!

Ibiza bar.

There it is.

And then really smile, girl. Show teeth.

Do a smile, a big smile.

Yeah.

That Ibiza bar.

Your hair's grown, actually.

Thank you.

Have you done it? Come on, come on, United. He wants United 2-1.

2-1 United.

Thank you very much.

Well done, Ben. Good turn, Ben.

I'm glad to see you, Ben.

Cheers, guys.

I can't believe he didn't go Chelsea win.

Let's move on. Arsenal.

Arsenal.

Right, last season, three problems. Injuries to Saka and Havertz obviously caused big problems, that's keep the players fit, but you had a problem in midfield where you got Zubermandi come in, and you had a problem up top with out of presence really, and Xhocarez has come in. Does that give them the difference to win the league?

I hope so. I think so. Because then, you know, we've added to a team that I think is, you know, they've finished second three times now and we've added goals to it now. You know, Zubamendi, especially with that mid-block, what we can't break. Zubamendi, the way I'm playing, watching how he plays, he can break through there. We've got Djokovic, he can score a goal. 17 goals, what was it, Liverpool? 17 goals we were behind them the season before 7 against City, but defensively we were brilliant

against both of those teams, so if we can sort that out and this mid-block, then yeah, I'm going to go for Arsenal again, of course I am.

To win the league, yeah?

Yeah, absolutely. Why wouldn't I?

They're stable Arsenal, aren't they? They're quite dependable

and you think about them players coming in, there were voids last season. You know what's good about it as well is the renewals. Saka, good form, he's probably going to renew. You've got Gabriel, Margares, Ethan. For Berta to come in, Berta's unbelievable as well. When you meet him, he's done unbelievable business.

I said he'd get deals done, didn't I?

You did, yeah you did. I don't believe it, but he's done the deals. He's got it done. Do you think there was a little bit of hesitation

from Mikel around Jacarés in terms of... Did he really... You almost get the feeling that he's got him and I think it's great and I think he'll do a real good job for it, but you got the feeling that he maybe didn't quite...

You know something, you have to... Everybody looks at his journey up to this point and the levels and stuff like that. I think that Mikel, if you're a manager, and I don't know how many winners it is that we haven't signed a striker for, Jane, but you're gonna have some apprehension about what you're thinking and what's gonna happen, because obviously Sesko was in the mix as well,

whether he was gonna come or not. But I'm not fussed about how Mikel felt about him. Because when you listen to Jokeres, even Mark Robbins talking about, every time he trained, what he saw from him was somebody that looked like he's in a hurry. I need to get this done. And when you look at his career with all the teams he's been with, everyone he's gone to, he's done it. He's got to that next place and scored the goals.

He should be really hungry. I think he is hungry and he's come to the place right now where we need him, you know, he looks very calm. So hopefully he can be the one, because I think whether Mikel won him or not, I think that his attitude and his determination to want to do it is exactly what we need now.

That's exactly what we need. I think Jokerez, he's almost had a little bit of criticism for his journey, as if like, how can he be that good? Because he was at Coventry and then Sport Lisbon as the league. When actually I think the flip side of that, that should be champions. For me that's amazing.

He's really gone round the houses.

And it's almost like for everybody else, young players in the AFL, thinking okay look at the journey he's been on. He struggled on loan somewhere, I think he was at Brighton wasn't he? No he was struggling on at Swansea as well. Brighton. The Brighton one was fun. Then he goes to Coventry as well. Now he's had Arsenal.

But before that, he went to Germany. He went to Germany, second division in Germany. And again, he kind of disappeared into it, but scored goals. They came back, and obviously, sport in Lisbon is where it really happened for him. And you just have to look at that he can go to that level of it now.

Yeah.

People talk about who he scores. I'm not really fussed about that.

But he'll get chances, right?

Absolutely. This is what, you know, even the goal he scored the other day, Roy, you know, it's a ball in the box. You know, yes, we got Kai in there as well. Something that we haven't seen for long. Aggressive, weren't it? Righty, what does Zubrmendi do for the midfield?

Do you think Odegaard could have given you a little bit more at the end of last season? Does that help his position within the midfield?

You hope so. When you look at Zubrmendi, and we've got to remember when we were doing the finals, this man came on for Rodri and nothing changed. And you watched everything about him is progressing the ball, even when you're watching him, he wins it, he gets it forward. We need that because we struggle. When you consider we haven't been beaten by a top six side two years, but then we struggle against a Villa or the Bournemouths and the Brentford. So we need a midfielder like him who is not afraid,

that he can turn, progress it through, then you've got someone like Joki who can be there as well. You've got Saka coming in.

I think it frees Rice up. Exactly.

That's a big thing for me.

And then again, the left side. You look at like Calafiori and probably Martinelli would be there. Because Martinelli wants to come in, Calafiori will go outside. Because you know our left side is never activated. So you've got them two, then you've got Noni, Madhu Ekki, and then you've got Myles, who wants to come inside. And so you've got Madhu Ekki staying out wide. So you've got so many different ways of trying to attack a team now.

The Madhu Ekki one was a bit of a strange one.

You know what, it's a strange one simply because it's another player from Chelsea for us. And it's a player that Chelsea fans can take or leave. But again, when Sterling came, I was thinking, right, he can show them now, listen, this team wants you. I think Maduaki's in the same position. Right, they're thinking, right, yeah, man, take him.

Come and show us, because he's a player who can take people out of games.

He's got the pace, he's under that radar and actually does come in. I actually think Zoub... Going back to Zoub Amendi right now... I'm convinced now, I mean, what Arteta did... Arteta definitely stole him, didn't he?

Oh, without a doubt, for Liverpool.

Because when he agreed to come to Liverpool, he said he was coming. And at the last minute, he said, I don't want to have another year here. But Mikkel Arteta's from the Basque area. There's no doubt he's been into him and said, we're signing Moreno this season, we'll come for you next season. The deal was done about half a year ago. Because it's ages. He definitely stopped the deal.

That's why Zoubamedie didn't go to Liverpool. Because I think Arteta got into him.

Listen, that's a lot of competition for places. Name the starting 11, righty, for me. So obviously Raya. We got a Kepa as well, I'm quite pleased about that, I got him for five million, but then you have to look at it because we had a goalkeeper last season who, he was cup tied for fuck's sake. How does that work? So you're probably going to go Raya, it'd probably be Timba, Saliba, Magallanes,

and probably Miles Lewis-Skelly, Zubamendi, Declan, Oerdegaard, Saka, Llores or Kaya, I don't know who that'd be, and probably it might start with Martinelli. But I still think there's more players to come.

When you look at Liverpool starting XI and you look at Arsenal's starting XI, if they were both to keep the majority of their players fit all season, would you prefer Arsenal's starting XI or Liverpool's?

What if they get Isak?

You see, because that's a whole different...

Isak is the only centre-forward I've seen in this league

that's ripped our two centre-forward I've seen in this league that's ripped our two centre-halves. I think he's a guarantee. Just think about Isak for me, he's a guarantee.

He frightens me.

I think he's a guarantee. The ones that have been signed, Cesco, Xhocrez, João Pedro, Dilap, even Wurtz and Eketike are a bit, you think they're going to, but I think absolutely Isak is a guarantee. Because he's done in level, I think. Right, so do you think you... We were talking about this yesterday. Who's the best XI, sorry, just finish off. Who's the best XI?

Who are you choosing?

Arsenal's XI or Liverpool's XI?

I'm choosing Arsenal's XI. I can only choose, just like Jamie. Who are you choosing?

Who do you think's the best XI there? I think they've probably got the better players in attack. If Isak goes there, they've got it. Right, see what I was thinking about teams who win the league and you think of City and Liverpool the last few years, and I said this to you yesterday, normally they have the best player in the league, so Salah a few times for Liverpool, Kevin De Bruyne's been up for City,

and I've always felt with Arsenal, they were maybe a great attacking player. I've always thought could Saka, even though I love Saka, I think he's amazing.

You mean dominant?

You know, could he be what Salah was last season? 25 goals? Yeah, but I thought Odegaard, not last season, the year before, was very close to De Bruyne. I'm thinking, oh, he's getting not far from De Bruyne. That's what you would need. You'd need somebody to be the best player in the league. Do you think one of your attackers could be that man?

Yeah, you have to hope that Saka could be that man. I think Declan Rice can be one of the best. And he's going to be a master.

But almost be, not one of the... Do you mean the outstanding? Yeah, I feel that's what it might need to win the league. it'd probably have to be on Saka to do that. OK, Xhocarez, how many goals does he have to score

in the Premier League this season to be deemed a success?

I think that if he scores 10 to 15 goals...

10?

10 to 15, with... I was pitching in, obviously.

I thought you were going to say 36.

Yeah, but people say things like, oh, 25...

No, I think...

But 10's low, innit. Ten's low, eh? Well, you say 15 to 20, obviously, but you're talking about Premier League goals.

Premier League goals, how many does he have to get to be a success?

I'd say 15.

15?

15?

15 I'd take from him.

I think 15's good.

Honestly, James...

He should be happy with 15.

Do you? No, but at a different time. 15 goals? 15 goals. I don't want to put him under pressure and say I'll get 20, 25 points.

What am I under pressure of?

I think that if he can get 15 and then go from there, it would be magnificent because we've got to get the other guys involved as well.

What did Harlan get last year?

Don't know.

More than 15.

15 times 2. I have a sneaky feeling for Arsenal.

I'll take 15 Premier League. 15 every month. I have a sneaky feeling for Arsenal. I'll take 15 Premier League.

Have you?

Can Arsenal win the league?

Will Arsenal win the league?

Can I just say something? No, Gal, one sec before you say it. Because like I said, I mentioned we were 17 goals behind them. If we can get someone that brings another 15, it's you.

Righty, I'm up with 15.

Sack them. I'm saying no one else is going to score today. Declan Rice and Rikki. Righty, no Arsenal player scored 10 goals last season in the Premier League. Yeah, well, did they not? I think Zoubamende coming in will release Rice, which means he could score 12, 13. He could easily score 12.

Saka can easily score 12 as well.

You love Rice higher up the pitch.

I love Rice.

He has to play higher up the pitch. Love Rice. And Mikael Arteta knows that. What did you say? I don't know if he wants to sign Zoubamendi. You'll see it with Zoubamendi when he comes in and takes the ball off the back foot. You'll see Rice move forward into a position where he needs to be.

I've already seen it.

Anyway, will Arsenal win the league?

What did you say?

Will Arsenal win the league?

I don't with Arsenal.

Are you going for Arsenal?

The only thing, I go back to Liverpool, Liverpool on a bad day will still score two goals every game even when Liverpool are off. You always think Liverpool will score three. How many times, even Charter Shield a week, you might go Liverpool are getting on, they still score two goals, they score two goals every game. I still fancy scoring goals. If you're two goals an average a game more, then that's hard to stop. As good as a key, I'd still find...

I just think when all the new players come in... Last year was different.

If you're playing for Liverpool, you expect pressure.

You said Arsenal are going to win the league.

I'm down with Arsenal, yeah, cool time.

We finished second three times, bro, and why should I go somewhere else? I predicted them last three years. So I'm not arguing with you. Stop predicting us, you're a dink. I want to... Stop it, can't we come in second?

I think that we've added strength.

You said Liverpool before.

No, I said if Liverpool get them players, but I might thought, I think Chelsea look good.

Oh, my God.

Have you seen who you've knocked?

She's still in. Chelsea.

Chelsea, they've just got a full… Just offer the goalkeeper a loan they can't.

Unless they bring a goalkeeper in…

Why have you not signed a goalkeeper?

If you look at their positions, right, if Rhys James is fit, I think he's the best right back in the league.

I do.

Paul Palmer, I think he's the best ten in the league. You've got Pedro. I just think they've got, I do think they've got a good team. I think they'll close the gap and make it a top four. Wouldn't it be great if they won the league? I know exactly.

I'm going to replay this clip.

I'm going to be in the back.

We never let it up until you say it.

Not with that goalkeeper. I think Arsenal...

Not with that goalkeeper.

I think Arsenal can win the league, but they've got to almost change the style. We said this a lot last season, it was very marine. Yeah, and that's the whole point, but it's still the manager.

What do you mean? Like physical, you mean?

No, what I'm saying is he's become a guy who wants total control on the pitch. They're the best defensively in the league. And we used to always say, didn't we, oh, the best defensive get the most goals are on the front foot. And I always felt he'd gone, he'd almost started here, you know, he's almost a Pep Guardiola coach. And slowly as time had gone, he's got a big, powerful,

strong, direct team, set pieces. And I think it'd just gone too far that way.

You need to... I think Zimmermann needs to kind of...

That's what I'm saying. He changes that. So that's why he could be the difference. He's got to pull it back a little bit with a more in control in terms of being on the front foot. How many games did they draw when they were winning 1-0 and concede?

That's the thing. That's what we need to do.

They've got to go on and score the second or third goal.

Will Arsenal win the league?

No, because I think they've got to be careful with that Arsenal, putting too much pressure on the Arsenal. Don't write City off though.

Will Arsenal win the league, Jill?

No.

No? OK.

I don't think you can write City off though. Have you seen that Reinders?

We'll come on to City.

Yeah, we'll come on to them.

We'll come on to City. We're going to touch on Manchester United next.

They'll win the league. This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Arm Clothing.

Are you happy with where United are at in terms of the signings from where you maybe thought they would be at the end of the season? Yeah, yeah. I think a few attacking players who know the Premier League at least. To me over the last few years they were bringing too many players who were trying to get used to the pace of the Premier League. They weren't robust enough so at least they brought players in. The next challenge for them obviously can they do it for United a week in, a week out. But a few signers go, yeah, looks a bit better. They've had their usual PR this season, you know, throwing out messages about the new training, that's well and good and fantastic and progress on that side of it.

Obviously, Marcus moving on, still trying to weekend. But they've done the same last summer, there's a lot of good stories coming out about United and they're training them as this and I know it's a different manager and he's had his first full pre-season. So there is positives but I'll judge that over the next few months when we're watching them week in, week out. Are these players up to Are they scoring enough goals? I think Mbemo and Koonjie have shown they're robust enough, can you do it for Man United? wide players who were not really expansive in terms of being able to open the legs. These do look profile-wise a bit more dynamic. A bit more pace, a bit more power. Obviously they've got more of a goal threat of course.

And last year if you look at the goals record for United, even the final against Spurs, you know, not even scoring a goal in a final. They had to change that. Still a lot of problems of course. I think the priority was to try and get some attackers in to score goals. If you're not scoring goals, you're constantly under pressure at the back. Still use question marks. You can't be here all day worrying about the goalkeeper situation. And defensively again...

You have to get a goalkeeper, don't they?

Yeah, seems to be.

Donnarumma's available.

But apparently he might be going to City. But then what does that look like for Trafford? That's where the missing goes. I heard this morning on the radio. Oh, OK.

The goalkeeper's a problem for City. Trafford, obviously, I like Trafford. But I think City, the goalkeeper, he's...

Donnarumma not playing the other day. He didn't play the other day. That just happened.

Who didn't play the other day? Donnarumma. He was pulled out of the game. So he's going somewhere. If United were to get him and then there's talk of Boliva from Brighton, which I can't believe... They'd be able to find that money you mean? I just can't believe they're going to spend £100 million on it.

Brighton are going to want big money from him. I thought they were going to go back to Wendy. I was thinking, where did they get this money from? They were months away from going bust Wendy. Was that your interview with him? How are the staff going to get their sandwiches back? I'm trying. 100 million people are starving. I mean, the Dunerama one will be 30 million, whatever it's going to be.

So that'll be fine, I would imagine.

But again, huge wages, never in another long...

The midfield does look worrying, doesn't it, with Icardi, Casimiro...

What's happening with Kobi Menuh?

I looked at Kobi Menuh last week and it looked like he physically changed in terms of he looked stronger, looked like he was more sort of like sturdy than he was before and he lost a bit. I don't know whether he thought that...

Does he look sharper though? Because that's the problem. Amorins doesn't think he can cover the ground.

Look, it's early. I mean, I thought that Kobe Meunier would be an absolute certainty to players one or two midfield players for United for the next five, ten years. manager is fully on board with that. His name was mentioned, we've gone, I'll show you when we get rid of him. Agathe's been very poor, I mean, we just have to say, he's been poor. Casemiro, obviously, we know about in terms of legs. So you've got Bruno in there, that's going to happen because the three up front are going to play, you'd imagine.

So it's who partners...

But at least send it, he's not busy. Is everything alright?

Yeah, no, fine, yeah. I was just worried about mum and...

What's she worried about, gal?

No, it's fine, it's fine. I'll ring you after the show, mum.

I'm going round for tea tonight, so he wants to know what we're having for tea.

Chippy.

What do you have? Have a chippy tea. What do you have when you go to your mam's?

She's asking takeaway or shall I make something?

Oh.

It's still pre-season.

Have a chippy tea.

At least United's attack, because then White will get United up to pitch. So there's slightly less pressure on their midfield, don't get me wrong. But that'll still be the problem that will hold them back over the next year or two unless they bring in players but they have to start somewhere. They weren't going to bring seven or eight players. Do you believe it can happen at whatever it is, 90 days? I'd be surprised if it happened.

Yeah, I'd be surprised if that happened.

Because I still think that he's got to do a bit more. You're not going to be 100 million. You're not going to be. That's what I think.

I'm excited for Hakumi, though. I think he's brilliant. I think he just plays the game like he just loves the game. That's a great opening game. It's a great first game.

Unbelievable first game. Brilliant game.

Nil-nil.

No chance.

Last one, Shesco. Cesco, we know less about him, obviously we've seen bits of him. Because obviously we've seen Santa Forge come to United over the last 6, 7, 8 years. It's not been easy. There is going to be a pressure on him. Obviously Hoyland's still there. What do we think in terms of Cesco, would it be success? Do you know what, obviously he's scored goals of course,

United win a football match, but the answer is, do we really know? Can he guarantee your goals? You know the thing as well with him, Roy, is that you look at Fesco, he scored 13 goals, I think 38 games in the German league. Marmouche left in December and had 15. That says to me as a striker, he should be scoring more at that level. So you come into United, I think him like Jokeres, he's got such great ability and physical.

I think he's going to be another... He'll get 15, I think.

You think so? I do, yeah. I do think so. I was saying yesterday, I think those three, if they could get 35 between them, which is like 15 and 10 each, and maybe 40 would be unbelievable. But that is a worry, though. 13. That would be a... What's wor a worry? 13 for the whole season? That would be a worry for me. If you said to me right now, in his first season, if he gets 13 goals and he does get 10 or 12,

I'd be saying that's 35. I'd say I'd take that now to be fair. That's a good first season.

What about if he got 10? No, no, no, seriously. What if he got 10? You mentioned Joker is in 10. And now you're thinking about Sasko. Joker is further on in his career, I think. I don't care. It's Man United and you have to expect...

I think 10...

Am I hearing this?

The reason I'm stuttering is because I'm wondering how Kunya and Bemmo are going to do. If he scores 10 and the others can chip in with 12 apiece, I'd still say 35 from the three of them is a massive... So I can't have that for Xhocares and Sasko?

I said 15, I think it's a good result for Xhocares.

I think it'd be great.

But when I said 10, you turned your nose up. Like you're smelling poo.

No, because... Well, the reason I say that right is because I think Arsenal will going to get more chances. You're going to get more chances playing for Arsenal than United. Sesco is not going to get as many chances as I would have thought as Xhakarez. It's where I would be at with it.

Even with the new directness? It's changed. It's not the same attacking threat. Don't be putting United in the bracket of Arsenal.

Obviously Liverpool and Chelsea are not in that conversation. So where do United finish? We know there's obviously a lot of teams that are better than them at this moment. At best, United for me.

Top half?

Easy.

Eight or nine?

Yeah.

You don't think they can get sixth?

I'd be surprised.

You know what?

Would you?

Gary?

Yeah.

I think sixth would be, I think fifth, sixth would be like, that's where I think you look at Chelsea Arsenal sitting in Liverpool and you think it's difficult, but I think they've got to be looking to break into that Villa-Newcastle-Spurs bracket. They have to be looking at it. They've got no Champions League, they've got no Europe. They have to be looking at that fifth and sixth. I agree, but then I look at some of the other managers in the league

and Amiran's obviously coming with a great reputation. It's been poor. They've averaged a point a game. Under the manager, now I know it's not all about the manager, but...

Point a game, isn't it?

Is Ruben Amunds a better manager than Eddie Howe or Unai Emery? Or Thomas Frank?

I don't think we know yet, do we?

That's what I'm saying, so this idea that... I don't know if he only thing is last year defensively the goals, the home record, they'll have to obviously improve and all that. You've got to get a goalkeeper, I think the midfield player, if you've got a goalkeeper and a midfield player I think 56 would be to be fair, achievable. I think without a goalkeeper he's eighth, ninth.

You haven't got a good goalkeeper. Yeah, you won't do football, Man United goalkeeper. I think it's the most scrutiny that anybody comes under. I think they've got to get a proper... I don't know about Martinez, when they said Martinez from Villa earlier in the season, I wanted him.

His personality.

He's got the energy to take on United.

Yeah, he's got that presence. But he's made a lot of mistakes last year as well. No, no. But in terms of personality and character, you think you'd deal with playing at Old Trafford, of course. I agree with that. Jill, are we staring the obvious in the face

that Rodri's going to come back in a couple of weeks?

Yeah, well, Rodri's injured. Phil Forden's injured, isn't he?

Wow, you're making excuses.

He got injured at the Oasis concert, didn't he?

Did you go? You missed out. How long is Rodri out for? I don't, it's not too long. I think he said after the international break. He said he had a little knock on Rodri.

Has he had a little knock on something?

But if Rodri comes back and you've got Haaland up top, you've got Diaz, are we looking, Pep always wins titles every year apart from one or two. Is it just the obvious that we're ignoring City

and thinking that with Rodri back- Reinders and Cherokee, I think they've been two great additions. I know obviously it's only pre-season but I am excited by them. I think just both-footed creative players. And then I don't want to jinx them because I mentioned them last year but Oscar Bob's back, right wing. I think there's Torgas Savini or maybe Leiven but Oscar Bob is brilliant with Harlan.

Do you think the goalkeeper is a problem from now on? He doesn't make big saves anymore. But if they've got Trafford... Oh yeah, but is he going to put Trafford in?

I think we could get Donnarumma. I'm going to put it out, manifest it.

Do you know what City have stopped doing the last year or two? They've stopped winning big games. They've stopped, even always bonks back. I don't think so this year. Do you think it feels a bit transitional?

Does it feel transitional?

He's never not won the league for two years on the bounce.

In his record as a manager.

I don't think he's ever gone two years without winning a cup. There's one time for everything, isn't there? I thought that I think City would probably win the league, because it is Pep because of that. But then I think last season, Pep was the manager, and how long they went without winning, it's like... They were four on the bounce, weren't they? The point I'm trying to make, he was trying all different things

like any manager would, and you couldn't believe it wasn't winning.

Pep looked like a normal manager, didn't he?

So it just shows you that he wasn't superhuman. So if he hasn't got the squad of players that is good enough to win the league, it is going to be...

But this is what I'm saying about...

The goalkeeper's a problem for him.

The goalkeeper's a big problem. But what I'm saying, what about the age of the players? You mentioned even Kushanov, it's a young team. I think there's a transitional thing going on here and notice off with City, maybe they don't mind them not having the pressure of City's gonna do this. They'll just like, they're gonna introduce those players in and see if they can just like really surprise people.

I think we need to keep players fit. John Stones is a must.

Yeah, but Gin, how many times you said about Rhys James earlier, but apart from being a footballer, half the battle has been available for a manager. Stones never seems to be available, I'm not knocking the lad, he might... Well he's fit at the minute, so touch wood. I'm always fit every summer, do you know that? It's fucking when the games start.

I think Rodri is out to be back and be at his best.

Right, yeah.

And he's out to the boat, is it October? Just so you're slower to the blocks, what you can be after six, seven, eight points behind Liverpool or even the Nationals What's the thing now? The City team years ago used to do that, you go, don't worry they'll come back You used to say that in the United League But you look at it and you go, no that's not going to happen now You can't be hunting these, Liverpool are too good for that, Arsenal are too good for it

You're not going to hunt them leagues. But just say one of them, just say that Arsenal beat United 2-0. Oh United beat us 2-0. You'd be almost like writing Arsenal straight away. If Liverpool win the Friday night, you go Liverpool played on Friday night. Just say Liverpool win, the other teams go, you're already three points behind them after two or three games.

I think Mourinho introduced that back in the 2000s where you had to start the season like it was February. Arsenal can't afford to do what they did at the start of last season, they dropped points in that first 10 games.

If they start the season like they're in the title race from day one...

Did Arsenal start as well last year?

Yeah, we did start well.

No, they lost a player...

We lost a couple of draws, weren't we?

Arsenal won loads of big away games in the first seven or eight games. They dropped points, they had players sent off. Squatting them away. You go back to Liverpool, even going back to last year,

the first game at Ipswich, the first half.

Yeah.

But if you said that time, if anyone stopped you going,

they're going to win the league by ten points,

you'd be like, what? Liverpool?

They were losing back to City.

But when you say about City, I'm like, You speak about all these new strikers coming into the league. I still think Harland with the... Obviously, Grealish has gone. Yeah, I like Marlon.

Do you think Foden can get back to his best, lads? Do you think Foden can get back? Are we getting one of them ones? Because it's Pep, because it's Foden.

Yeah, I think he can.

Can I just say, Foden's won five Premier League titles, he's won Champions League, He's had an unbelievable six, seven years. Do you remember that period that Giggsie went through at United, sort of like late 20s, where people were questioning him in terms of if he was going to go to Inter Milan? He was out of the team, there was noises around him. He just lost a bit of his... He was picking up a couple of injuries, remember, his hamstrings.

And there was a bit of a doubt about him at that time.

And he went on to play... I think you're right. But this period is always going to come in your career.

In what position for him though?

We know where Giggs is going to be.

Giggs has changed his position in the next 10 years after that. You've said here before, you're talking about Foden. Every player will have a dip. You know that. Foden's not different from anybody else. But then when you were pushing for Foden to get in England,

and then he was getting opportunities. What's your worry that he can't come back a mean? It's the whole package. I always worry about players like Grealish going... I always worry about young players who have had unbelievable highs and who've won big titles and have been the main for them. What, the hunger, the lifestyle, the preparation? The whole package. What he's doing off the field, his relationship with Pep,

position in the team. Can he get... You have to be robust. Can he get 10, 15, like stones, to get back up to speed for players, it's not two or three games, to me it's 10, 15, 20 games where your body just gets used to being, I'm playing again, I'm playing two or three days, I'm ready, where some lads are going, I can't, I use that word, are they robust? Will Ford have been robust enough to play in a week and a week ago? So you'd want to keep going back to one, two, because before you know it, it's another few months ago. No, that's two or three years ago, lads. Like gigs you had dips, of course you did.

But did it go on for like two years?

I'd say there was a point for a season or so where...

Phil last season played with a lot of injuries, I think, which weren't out in the media. I think he was playing but whereas now I think they've brought midfielders in I think a fit Phil Forden easily gets back to his best.

But he's not fit is he? He's not fit is he? He's missing to Saturday. We're having a conversation about Phil Forden If you're a manager you go, talk about him all day. We spend more time here talking about players who were injured You need to talk about players who were available for the manager to the two season, said he'd start well, you think Pep's going to bring him back on the team? He's going to go, you bide your time. Like he's done before when he was a young player, when we were all saying, Ford's got a player, send him out on loan, Pep's going, no, no, I'd bide my time with him, don't worry didn't, we just reading the game and stopping people from playing.

But if you're on about making things happen, you need to be sharp. And sharp comes from off the field stuff as well. Listen, we could go on sessions, I'd go and drink the session, I'd get away with it because my game is stopping people

and being football intelligent. These lads, if you got to be sharp. Jack Reed is a prime example. Jack's good, Jack's good when he's playing 20, 30 games in a row. When he's up to it and he's sharp. But when he's not playing, and sometimes you go, but when's the penny going to drop for these players?

Sometimes for us, for me got to get all that packaged. Whether we like it or not, you have to make sacrifices. The diets, the booze, whatever it might be, cut all that crap out, or else you will continue to, believe it or not... You know what you're doing, off the field stuff? Guess what? You do pick up injuries from it.

Yeah, it catches you.

It catches up with the best of them. Do you think Everton's a good move for Jack? Do you know what I think it is? In playing every week. In playing every week. The World Cup, it's on the road for them. David Moyes is an experienced man. Everton, new stadium, he'd be the main man there. I think Jack at Villa was the main man. When he was at City, he probably never was.

Was he ever probably Pep's real favourite? Even though Jack had that first season when he won the treble and everything was great, we were saying, but it's not the Jack Grealish of Aston Villa. But when you think about it, he's getting the ball at Man City. And even though he's in the team, there's still probably four other players in that team who you'd think, no, Jack, pass it to him. You know what I mean? You're giving it to De Bruyne, you're folding it in. Bernardo's sitting there. It's like, no give Jack the ball. And then let him run with it. And when he's going to Everton, it'll be like, get Jack Rielis the ball. That new stadium looks fantastic.

Give him the ball. All the supporters will be going there to watch Jack Rielis.

It could be an unbelievable season.

You want the Aston Villa Jack Rielis. You don't want the Man City.

But it's the breezes.

Is that still in him? games. You don't judge them in the next first month or two. No. I'm just pleased he's going to play every week.

Some players don't thrive under structure, do they? I don't think Cole Palmer did, I don't think Jack Grealish does. It was interesting actually that Shirky did an interview and he said like, Pep said I'm going to get all this freedom and everything and I was thinking just wait. He's like, you can have all the freedom you want, come for City but as soon as he gets there they don't get a lot of freedom. Where will they finish Jill? Third, I'm going to go Chelsea, Liverpool, City Arsenal.

Chelsea for the league? Yeah.

Can I just reiterate, with that goalkeeper, they haven't signed a new goalkeeper yet.

I like them, I just think they've got a lot of quality.

Would Trafford be alright? Would you think Trafford's up to it if he was trointed?

Yeah, I think he's a good keeper.

That'd be a lot for him to be thrown into a city side now.

How big do you think Trafford is?

Tall.

He's 6 foot 6.

Is he?

No chance. Honestly, I said something. Is he six? Five foot six. He can't be six, is he?

I looked at him.

I looked in my Bailey and thought, he's not ready for the Premier League.

Oh, Jamie, you've been in Glasgow.

I read it in a newspaper. I couldn't believe it. Oh, do you believe everything you read?

I couldn't believe it.

Can someone get me the size of Trafford. Let's get the size of Trafford.

Let's get the size of Trafford.

Is he 6 foot 6?

Why do you believe everything you read on your phone?

It's on Google, isn't it? Yeah, that's not true.

He's 6 foot 6?

I can't believe it. I can't believe it. James Trafford is 6 foot 6.