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Crystal Palace victorious in Europe and can Arsenal beat PSG? - Football Weekly
00:58:45
Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Mark Langdon, Paul Watson and Ed Aarons as Crystal Palace win the Europa Conference League
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- [00:00]
Barry Glendenning
This is the Guardian.
- [00:09]
Max Rushden
Hi pod fans. Max here. Barry's here too.
- [00:11]
Barry Glendenning
Hello.
- [00:12]
Max Rushden
Football Weekly is supported by Hotels.com Now, Barry, question. When you're booking a hotel, do you use hotels.com actually you're probably just going to say, I don't know. Producer Joel does it.
- [00:20]
Barry Glendenning
I don't know. Producer Joel does it.
- [00:23]
Max Rushden
Well, I think you should give it a try for yourself. Obviously, it's a massive summer of soccer and loads of our listeners will be traveling to watch the tournament and and needing to book somewhere great to stay. So it's good to know that when you're a Hotels.com member, you can save up to 20% on hundreds of thousands of hotels. Plus you earn rewards on every stay. So each trip you take helps pay for your future trips. Just use those rewards like cash. And importantly, there are never any blackout dates.
- [00:45]
Barry Glendenning
What's a blackout date?
- [00:47]
Max Rushden
Well, it's a date where you can't use travel rewards frustratingly. Usually on or around major holidays or other peak travel periods. But there are no blackout dates with hotels.com rewards.
- [00:57]
Barry Glendenning
Superb.
- [00:57]
Max Rushden
Yes. So next time you're booking somewhere to stay, just book it at hotels.com hotels.com it's all in the name. Hi pod fans. Max here. Football Weekly is supported by contentful marketers. No matter what pitch you play on, a big win feels the same electric. It's that moment when you read the play before the trend even starts. Beat the clock on a campaign, a little help from AI and connect with customers in real time like you've trained for it your whole career. That's contentful. World class digital experiences, built fast, built beautifully. Create and launch personalized content in an instant across every channel your customers are watching. No chaos, no limits, just open field. Take your shot@contentful.com.
- [01:48]
Paul Watson
Foreign.
- [01:53]
Max Rushden
Hello and welcome to the Guardian Football Weekly. Another trophy for Crystal Palace. At the start of last season, they'd only ever won the Kent Cup. Now they can add the Conference League to the FA cup and the Community Shield if you're being generous. The left shin of Jean Philippe Mateta was the difference. His teammates all joining in with the celebration. A wonderful moment for him and for fans of wearing your shorts that high. Oliver Glasner's last game we think could he change his mind? Adam Wharton was great. While it just wasn't to be. For Rayo, it's given us the chance to learn about this wonderful throwback club in Spain. Also today we look ahead to the Champions League final. Arsenal going for their most successful season ever. Is it as simple as Attack versus defence. Both have fears over fitness at right back. Then there's Havertz or Joker's the Arsenal midfield and how to stop that PSG attack. Also today, Anthony Gordon to Barcelona. Manchester United start spending a complete reset at spurs and Nuno is going to Jedi in the championship. We'll let Paul Watson plug his new book around the world in 80 clubs, talk about Pochettino dumping his players by email and ask if Barry is the new John Peel. All that plus your questions. And that's today's Guardian Football Weekly. On the panel today, Mark Langdon from the Racing Post. Welcome.
- [02:58]
Mark Langdon
Hi, Max.
- [02:59]
Max Rushden
Hello, Paul Watson.
- [03:00]
Paul Watson
Hi, Max.
- [03:01]
Max Rushden
Good morning. Barry Glendenning.
- [03:03]
Barry Glendenning
Hello, Max.
- [03:04]
Max Rushden
And I presume a joyful Ed Aarons out in Leipzig. Hey, Ed.
- [03:08]
Ed Aarons
Good morning, Max. Yes, very joyful.
- [03:09]
Max Rushden
Well, we'll start with you. How are you this morning?
- [03:12]
Ed Aarons
Yeah, well, a bit of a sore head and you probably hear from my voice. I haven't had that much sleep, but yeah, fantastic evening and really just sort of, I think all palace fans were. Again, it was a bit of a throwback to the FA cup win last year. We were sort of pinching ourselves a bit after the game. We had a bit more of an idea of what to, what to do, how to celebrate this time, having won stuff before now, but still it was just, yeah, amazing, amazing day and amazing season, you know, classic roller coaster palace season, but like no other before really, because it's, it's ended in another trophy.
- [03:44]
Max Rushden
Yeah, I mean you have a deep enough voice at the best of times, but after a skinful. Ed, this is absolutely tremendous stuff. We, we spoke to Kevin Day on the radio yesterday about just not quite knowing how to react to Crystal palace winning. Like another trophy. Like you've got the muscle memory of the FA cup, but like a regular thing. Like he was like, I'm not sure I want to be a serial trophy winning team. Like, like, you know, just occasionally gives you the joy. This is, this is a bit weird now.
- [04:09]
Ed Aarons
It's very weird. It is really weird. I mean, I think we, all we can do is just enjoy it, enjoy it while it lasts. I think everybody's aware that, you know, it's the. We're not, we're not suddenly a massive club in Europe and, you know, this is, we're riding the wave at the moment. We've had an unbelievable, unbelievable manager who's, who's just performed absolute miracles in South London. And I mean the next step is, is quite daunting in a way, if you're a Palace fan, because you Think we're going to a higher level of competition next season with a new manager and uncertainty about a few players and whether they're going to be there next season. But, you know, that's for tomorrow, I think, and later in the summer, I think that for now I think we just got to stoke it all up
- [04:51]
Max Rushden
and we were talking to Dan Bardella, very Villa fan, about the perfect way to win a final and I kind of think by one goal is perfect because you have the stress right until the end. I mean, it didn't have the stress of the FA cup final and I don't know if it means quite as much as the FA cup final, but there was still that moment where Ryo had a half chance. They put it wide, the clock had ticked over 95 and you, and you sort of know, you know, you. What was that moment like when you're like, okay, this is done.
- [05:17]
Ed Aarons
Well, I mean from a professional point of view, it was doubly. It was doubled for me because I had to file on the whistle. So ready to go and you know. Yeah, so had that side of things and palace as well this time. So, you know, I, I superstitious about these things. I don't, I didn't want to put my copy in the email until it was certain and I don't tell the desk but I should have sent it a bit earlier. But, you know, I eventually did it when I think they had a shot and like There was about 20 seconds left and at that point, at that point I'd be very calm and then suddenly I think I let out a bit of a shout to be honest. I had a very unprofessional again, but we were surrounded by palace fans in the press box as well. And actually, you know, there are quite a few of the journalists out there were out here all palace fans as well. And you know, it was very different to, to the FA cup final because, you know, that was just, you know, we scored so early in that game and we're hanging on for a long time against, you know, much better, much, you know, city to an elite team. Rayo were decent. I thought, you know, they probably had the better of the first half. But defend. Palace defended so well yesterday and it was just. They didn't really look like scoring. I think, you know, we. I did want to carry chickens until it was all over, but yeah, it was just unbelievable evening.
- [06:32]
Max Rushden
Yeah. And Barry, the left chin of Mateta, that photo of all his teammates doing the sort of kick celebration behind him is amazing, isn't It.
- [06:41]
Barry Glendenning
Yeah, it's going to be a real iconic photo for palace fans. All the his teammates and the subs who were down in that behind that goal. I'm not going to say it was the greatest goal he'll ever score, but it was one of the most important complete shinner. He did well to keep it under the bar. I guess palace deserve to win. That period of dominance they had in the second half, I thought another goal was inevitable. It didn't come. But they came so close. Hitting the post with that free kick before it hit the other post before Chadi Ria couldn't quite get sort his feet out in time to poke at home. And then Matesa hit the post. So three hitting the woodwork three times in the space of a couple of seconds. And then the Adam Wharton playing the quick ball forward to Pino who's who's crossed for was a little bit behind Mateta but even so he managed to to get a shot away that forced a brilliant save out of Patella. Glad for Palace. I, I know quite a few palace fans and no better man than Kevin Day to find a cloud in the silver lining of winning a European competition by worrying the palace are going to become serial trophy winners. But yeah, I felt a bit sad for the Rao Valacano players and fans. It clearly meant so much to them to be there and they, some of them were horrifically upset at the final whistle when they lost and you know, yeah, the, the German TV producer made sure to keep the camera on them for a long, long time. I'm not sure that was necessary. But anyway they, they gave a decent enough account to themselves. But amid all the cheerleading for palace and I don't begrudge them this at all in the slightest, we do have to remember that they work on a budget that's four times higher than Rao Valacano, so they should be winning that game.
- [08:40]
Max Rushden
Yeah, well, we'll sort of get to, we'll get to that in a bit. Mateta's story, Mark is, is. Is fascinating actually. You know, and he's, it's a sort of a triumph of, of perseverance. I get to get to this level.
- [08:53]
Mark Langdon
Yeah, absolutely. And I think there are times when he still looks like he maybe doesn't belong at the, the very highest level in, in some of his work. But he's, he's a very effective forward and even the kind of redemption arc with Crystal having been booed onto the pitch when he sort of January transfer didn't go through and then to score the winning Goal in a European final is a nice touch. I felt from the game really that Ed feels tense and it would have felt tense for a Palace fan as a neutral that really didn't care who won. Like, I felt after about 10 minutes, I just can't see how Rayo are going to score in this game. And you know, Mitchell had a chance right at the end of the first half and then the dominance in the second half and even, even when rail were pushing late on, I just, it felt like a sort of palace team that was physically so much more imposing and they, as you'd expect, Barry's already sort of referenced the difference in budgets and palace fully deserved the win. The Europa League froze up the potential for some like, amazing stadiums as well. You know, the Conference League will feel great now, but the Europa League is a step up on that. And I saw one skit with a Palace fan on, I think it was on Instagram where he was discussing with his wife this once in a lifetime European journey. And then she says, well, what happens if you win? He's like, well, we're going for another season of it. So, yeah, it's just great when, you know, you saw it with Villa last week, West Ham as well, like, it means so much and there will be debate as to whether Premier League teams, you know, deserve to be in this competition. But I, I think it's great for the individual supporters.
- [10:47]
Max Rushden
Paul, I don't know where you stand on Adam Wharton and should he be on that plane and, and you know, I'm pretty happy with Tuchel squad, but I'm. It's annoying. There's no place for him and he was brilliant.
- [10:56]
Paul Watson
I thought last night, yeah, literally I'd put him on the plane just for that one ball. But for the Mitchell header, that was the most ridiculous pass. The way, the way he did it, it was as if he was just. Couldn't be like, just toss that ball in there. It was amazing pass. But yeah, I mean, Wharton was absolutely brilliant and Via kind of had no answer to him. But I'm presuming what we're seeing is the inevitable. Just missed out on the plane. Incredibly brilliant performance that we can all hold against Tuchel when we flop out of the World cup, right? Because no, he was absolutely sensational and I think to be honest, palace, maybe they were aiming for that one nil nervy win so that everyone could enjoy it more because they could have won this two or three nil, really. And Wharton especially, like Verno, just had no answer to him. Really.
- [11:41]
Max Rushden
Yeah. David Squire sent me a message going, not taking Adam Wharton to the World cup is an act of cultural vandalism, like throwing super Rembrandt. If the soup is Jordan Henderson and the Rembrandt is my hope of seeing England win a World cup before I die. I went on Glassner ed like, is there any chance he'll change his mind? You know, palace don't have a manager lined up. Ah, it's a pity. Is it?
- [12:03]
Ed Aarons
We've asked him again and again and yesterday, yesterday, one final time and now he's. I mean it's, it's a real shame because I think that genuinely, I mean he said before the game that he wants palace to win, not because to win another trophy for him, but so palace can get the rightful place in the Europa League, you know, with the multi top. And he also said that he thinks that they can win it. And I was having this chat a little bit that, you know, if palace kept Glasner and invested like they did in January, then there's that they could potentially be in contention to win the Europa League next season, you know, depending on how they manage the season. You know, that obviously got tried to stay up in the Premier League again with him leaving you kind of fear for what comes. I mean I don't want to be too negative, but the replacement is going to be such a big decision for Palace's board who comes in.
- [12:52]
Max Rushden
Are you annoyed with the board that it's got to this stage because Glasner basically sucked up having best players sold and not investing enough for one season and winning something and then that was that why he was like, look, you've let, you know you've met, let these players go as they go Gay go in the window. Could they have done more? Could Steve Parish have done more? Like again, you can't be annoyed with Steve Parish. He's delivered you two trophies as well. It's hard.
- [13:14]
Ed Aarons
I think what, what you can say is that they could have done more earlier and by the time, you know, they spent all that money in January, it was far too late to convince him to stay. He was set. He'd been pushing, pushing, pushing, trying to sort of raise the standard of the club and you know, take them, take them to the next level essentially and a couple of transfer windows, all the Mark Gay stuff last summer and then, you know, it was irretrievably broken the relationship in terms of, you know, him staying beyond this season and he's a man of his world. He's also been living away from his family for more than two and a half years and I think he feels it's time to sort of, you know, for a fresh break. And also we have to remember that when he left Eintra at Frankfurt, you know, he had had quite a long time out of the game before he took the palace job. And he said that he turned down a few jobs then, I think so I think he's wise really. There's nothing, nothing that's obvious on the horizon for him at the moment. Just take his time. You know, his stock is incredibly high. Again, I think he was really affected by the way that things were dealt with. You know, the way that other clubs see him in terms of potentially hiring him and speaking out against the board won't have gone down very well. But you know, he's always, I found him just to be always really honest about things and really genuine guy who wanted the best for palace and I think that's what he was trying to do. And I think most supporters realize that now obviously how successful he's been.
- [14:39]
Mark Langdon
I just think sort of palace is knowing where you are in the pecking order is not a bad thing and you can actually be a really well run club. So like you said, like, look how good like Lacroix is that that's come in and I'm sure he'll, you know, he could be the next, he could be the next one to follow Gahi. But you know, you lose Elise, you bring in Sar, you lose as a, you bring in Pinot. Like palace are doing very well and it's very difficult to keep doing that and somebody like Southampton, you know, eventually, you know, it can catch up with you doing that. But there is definitely at that kind of level, you're not selling players at the right time and you can go backwards just as quickly holding on to them and kind of contract eventually runs out or whatever. So I mean, I understand Glasner's frustration, but I think as a club I think palace and might irk the supporters. But I think just looking from the outside, I think it's a, it's a really good way to run the club and you can show players from the EFL something like Adam Wharton come in, we will play you and we won't stand in your way. We, a really big club comes in, we won't make it too difficult. And I think that that actually then encourages the next wave of player to kind of use palace as a stepping stone. Now that might not be the perfect solution for, for those that go to Sellers every week, but I Think it is. It's probably the best way to run a club at that level.
- [16:01]
Ed Aarons
Yeah, I mean Adam Morton was. He said before that he was attracted by Palace's record with Eber Ricciese and Michael Elise. So is your right. It's a snowball effect. I think the key to, you know, this season has been keeping all but Gay and Eze are still there from the cup final team. Nine of the players that started the cup final played yesterday with Pino and Canvo coming in and I think that this, this summer, you know, there's going to be a bit more churn. I think there's a few, few players leaving, want to leave, you know, Kamada is out of contract. Mateta, we'll see about him. Munoz, Wharton's got loads of suitors like you said, Lacroix, even Dean Henderson who's been absolutely amazing for, for Palace. I mean, yeah, if they can keep hold of or maybe sell two maximum then then you think that they could have a good season next year. But any more than that, then you really, really start to fear for them a little bit. But yeah, a big summer ahead.
- [16:56]
Max Rushden
Yeah, this was our chance as well, Baz, to learn about Ray of Anacado and like Sid wrote a great piece. But they're an incredible club. They don't sell tickets online. People were queuing up for three days. You can't buy the kit online. You have to go to the club shop. They've only got three stands. It's amazing. They finished eighth in La Liga with this. You can't add to basket. You have to go there if you want the shirt.
- [17:16]
Barry Glendenning
Yeah, well, I was already familiar with the real volcano story just from reading Sid's articles about them over the years. And it's clear Sid has. Holds them in extremely high regard and has a soft spot for them. Phil Kiltremida, his friend of the shows was on TNT last night as well and he was doing their get to know you segment for the benefit of people who aren't familiar with Ray of Alacano and he did a very good job and it was obvious actually from watching TNT's coverage which of the people involved had done their homework and who, which hadn't. I think that tells you a lot. But anyway, that's by the by. But it's a fascinating story for anyone who doesn't know they actually have a lot in common with palace because their palace are in Croydon, this borough of London that's not particularly, well, not wealthy at all. And Ray of Alano used to be similar in Madrid and both have kind of been consumed by the city as it grows outwards. And Valano, as I've said, they operate in a budget four times lower than Palace. They punch well above their weight just being in La Liga in, in the top flight. Their club shop, I believe is about the size of two telephone kiosks. And you've said they, they're still doing very everything the old school way. They have a fiercely loyal relationship with their fans as you saw last night at the. Before the game, during the game and after the game, there was an incident, I think it was in the first half where the goalkeeper just sat down and to get the ref's attention and point there was some sort of medical emergency in the stand and he refused to do anything until that was dealt with. He'd spotted the kerfuffle behind his goal. They're lovely club, real romance there in this impoverished area of Madrid that's full of, largely full populated by immigrants and they have a wonderful relationship with, with their supporters, as Ed said. I think I was on the WhatsApp group yesterday. It's a shame both teams couldn't win, but palace were ultimately too good for them.
- [19:37]
Max Rushden
Paul, we, we do need to talk about Premier League dominance a bit. Colin Miller posting Since the start of 24, 25 Premier League teams have played 21 knockout ties, two legged rounds and finals versus non English opposition across the Europa League and Conference League and have won all 21. I was trying to think of a solution for the Conference League, right, because I was delighted for West Ham when they won it, delighted for palace and I, so I, I put this out. What about if you, you can't enter the Conference League if you've won a European trophy before. I'm happy if there's a cutoff date, you know, like 1980 or whatever. But like if you've won one, you shouldn't be allowed in. This has not gone down well on social media, you can understand, but do you see what I mean? Like Chelsea shouldn't have been in it. I understand why palace are in it. Even if they do have, you know, they, they, you know, their wage budget is, is way more than Vallecano's and you know, Brighton who are in it next year will have a really good chance. I'm just trying to like there where UEFA will be like, this is a, this is an issue.
- [20:30]
Paul Watson
I think, I love that every time you try and like put a good natured, slightly jovial suggestion how we could restructure football, you just get wall to wall abuse, right?
- [20:42]
Max Rushden
I even started it with, I am delighted for Palace. Right.
- [20:44]
Paul Watson
I genuinely am.
- [20:45]
Max Rushden
I think it's brilliant for them. Yeah.
- [20:48]
Paul Watson
I mean, it's a weird situation, isn't it? Yes. There is clearly a problem like it. It shouldn't be this way. And we're talking about the disparity of Wage Bill. This one was an especially stark one because of Ray of A Canoe's unique situation. Right. So it's not. This was more pronounced partly because even within La Liga, Ray of a Carno are a complete outlier. They shouldn't. They shouldn't exist. You shouldn't. I think they've got the lowest budget in the whole of La Liga. Right. And the smallest ground, so they shouldn't really be able to get to this. This tournament at all, by rights. So it kind of slightly made this a more extreme version of a trend that is clearly there already. I like the idea that you've got there of having the Europa Conference League as almost like a starter league for European teams. I get. I get where you're coming from, and I totally agree. This thing when Chelsea are in does feel weird, doesn't it? It does feel somewhat against the spirit of it, but in the end, you set the boundaries where they are, don't you, with your competitions, and if teams qualify for them, they qualify for them. And I, I. You see this quite a lot, don't you, with people recriminating who are in which competitions. It's like. Well, it's like Italy not going to the World Cup. You set the qualification criteria and you see, you hit it. And I don't really think you can do an awful lot about that, can you?
- [22:06]
Max Rushden
Yeah, that's probably right, isn't it, Mark? I mean, this is. This is how it is.
- [22:10]
Mark Langdon
It's definitely soft. The Europa League and Conference League would have suffered in terms of quality by the Champions League teams and Europa League teams not dropping down a level. So. And while I think that is absolutely right, because it would always annoy me when you sort of Champions League team would suddenly get, you know, a second chance. If you think about the kind of teams that missed out on what would have been like, say, the top 16 as it was previously, like Aston Villa would have had a tougher run. And then even in terms of Europa League, like into the Conference League, that would have been harder as well. I think it's difficult to. To manage. You know, the Premier League is just the strongest and wealthiest league at the moment. It's. Doesn't mean it'll always be the case. There was you know, when everybody used to love Italian football back in the Gazette days, you know Italian football was, was dominant and, and they would spend you know, just sums that would just felt mind boggling to, to kind of English supporters back then. So you, you do go in cycles. It is getting to dangerous levels of dominance. I think that the stat that you brought out. But I also think that next season I was just having a look. I, it feels to me like the right teams are in the right competitions almost. Next somebody like Atalanta in the Conference League. That will be a tough test for Brighton and I'm sure Ed will say the Conference League doesn't matter anymore now that Brighton could, could win it. But and even like, like Freiburg who the Europa League was too hot for them still reached the final there in the Conference League which feels about their level. The Europa League. Juventus, Milan. So I, I Leverkusen as well. Yes, and the mighty Sunderland as well. So maybe it's just been a slight quirk. So Fiorentina this season were in the Conference League. They were in a relegation battle for most of the season so actually they had to concentrate on domestic matters. After January I don't think they played a full strength team. I think they had a few injuries as well when they played palace in that game, for example like Chelsea were just a complete like fluke really. You know Betis would have been great winners of the Conference League when, when they were in it. So I thought I would just give it another couple of years before we completely rule it out. And you know there were times when it was Cup Winners cup when you might have one team if they hadn't had a great league season would be like way better than kind of some, some minnows that had one Cup. So I don't think it's kind of, you know, completely abnormal to kind of have you know, a couple of really big teams that are up against sort of smaller ones.
- [24:43]
Max Rushden
All right, a big story is from Dale Johnson. Crystal palace winning the Conference League means there are nine Premier League teams in Europe which has a knock on effect. There will be a preliminary round of the Carabao cup featuring Crawley, Rochdale, Tranmere and York which is, it's quite tricky because they have to be north and south. So one of Tranmere, York or Rochdale will have to be a southern team. Anyway, Dale wrote a thread of about 50 posts and I thought this is, this is peak Dale Johnson. Any final thoughts Ed, before we let you go?
- [25:14]
Ed Aarons
Well, yeah, I'm just going to soak it all up and then I'm off to Budapest for Arsenal's my second European final in a week. So best of luck to all the Arsenal fans heading out there and hopefully they can make it three in a row. I'm sure there'll be lots of pieces about, you know, English dominance in, in Europe and how it's a bad thing and all that. But yeah, look forward to that.
- [25:34]
Max Rushden
Yeah, good stuff. Thank you, Ed. Thanks for coming on, Ed. Aaron's there out in Leipzig. And that'll do for part one. And we'll look ahead to the Champions League final in part two. Hi, Pod fans. Max here. Barry's here too.
- [25:46]
Barry Glendenning
Hello.
- [25:46]
Max Rushden
Football Weekly is supported by Hotels.com Now, Barry, question. When you're booking a hotel, do you use hotels.com? actually, you're probably just going to say, I don't know. Producer Joel does it.
- [25:55]
Barry Glendenning
I don't know. Producer Joel does it.
- [25:57]
Max Rushden
Well, I think you should give it a try for yourself. Obviously, it's a massive summer of soccer and loads of our listeners will be traveling to watch the tournament and needing to book somewhere great to stay. So it's good to know that when you're a Hotels.com member, you can save up to 20% on hundreds of thousands of hotels. Plus, you earn rewards on every stay. So each trip you take helps pay for your future trips. Just use those rewards like cash. And importantly, there are never any blackout dates.
- [26:20]
Barry Glendenning
What's a blackout date?
- [26:21]
Max Rushden
Well, it's a date where you can't use travel rewards, frustratingly, usually on or around major holidays or other peak travel periods. But there are no blackout dates with hotels.com rewards.
- [26:31]
Barry Glendenning
Superb.
- [26:32]
Max Rushden
Yes. So next time you're booking somewhere to stay, just book it at hotels.com hotels.com it's all in the name.
- [26:46]
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- [27:11]
Paul Watson
Foreign.
- [27:20]
Max Rushden
To part two of the Guardian Football Weekly. So PSG Arsenal at the Puskas arena in Budapest, 5pm UK time. Only nine teams have completed an unbeaten Champions League campaign. Arsenal one game from becoming the next PSG the first holders to reach the final since Real Madrid 201617 and 2017 18. Arsenal kept nine clean sheets, only conceded four goals in the group stage. PSG run 44 goals, one shy of Bart owners record in the 992000 season mark. Is it simply attack versus defense on Saturday?
- [27:49]
Mark Langdon
First of all, I'm so glad you mentioned it was 5 o' clock because I might have tuned in at 8
- [27:53]
Max Rushden
and completely, completely missed it.
- [27:56]
Mark Langdon
So fake public service announcement. Well done, Max. Yes, it is going to be attack versus defense unless PSG score in sort of first or second minute and it sort of changes the rhythm of the game. But I don't think Arsenal should be ashamed to play in a kind of cagey way. I think it's the best way to try to beat psg. You know, Bayern tried to go toe to toe with them and you know, that didn't work out well for them. And if you leave space for all of their quality players in behind, like they'll just destroy you. So you have to, you do have to play sensibly, you do have to wait for your moments. PSG play a risky sort of game because they want to have the ball all the time so that there will be opportunities for Arsenal to hit on the counterattack. They shouldn't, wouldn't feel ashamed at trying to win the game from set pieces. They'll, they'll have a clear kind of advantage when it comes to throw ins and corners and free kick. So play to your strengths. I think this game is closer than what neutrals kind of. Or the way that I'm sort of hearing the game being spoken about like in sort of betting odds, it's like 60, 40 PSG Arsenal. And the way I'm hearing it being spoken about is if like PSG are this dominant team that are just gonna stroll to victory now, if they play at their best, maybe they, they, they will win the game. But I think it's a lot closer than kind of, I suppose the average person sort of is assuming it will be.
- [29:21]
Max Rushden
Well, you're well above the average person of course there. Yeah, let that, let that slip, didn't you? Mark Landon knows he's above average. I mean that is the point though
- [29:29]
Barry Glendenning
mere civilians think he would be a
- [29:31]
Max Rushden
walk in the park.
- [29:33]
Mark Langdon
Come on. I was the one that was telling everyone to calm down when people assume Tottenham would be relegated. I think, you know, the, the mass and the odds are very important to just kind of understanding the, the probability.
- [29:45]
Max Rushden
Yeah. And you know, and spurs survived with weeks to spare as far as I can remember. Paul, like that is important point though, isn't it? The way PSG attacked against Bayern, it's going to be different because Bayern were doing the same thing and Arsenal won't. So it's a, it's a, it's a more difficult job for PSG in a way. They will have less freedom to attack like they did against buyer.
- [30:04]
Paul Watson
Yeah, absolutely, yeah. Yeah. I think Mark's spot on in all of that assessment, actually, with his superior knowledge. He's, he's quite right, to be honest, because I, I think, I think as we saw, if you.
- [30:15]
Max Rushden
Mark's head in his hands now.
- [30:17]
Paul Watson
No, I mean it's, it's quite something. It's like watching Da Vinci painting or something. But, but, you know, I mean, he's right in that if you try and take him on at their own game, they're just gonna, they're gonna pull you apart. But he's also quite right in this. The way the narrative has been spun to make it sound like Arsenal are a non league team in the third round of the FA Cup. This is, this is not going to be like that at all. This is a very tight game and I think there were moments in the, the campaign so far where PSG have not looked entirely convincing for me. And it's especially, I think, when teams don't play the way that they would like them to play. And I think Arsenal are not going to play the way that PSG want to play. I can expect them to make this into a really tight, nasty, physical battle. And I actually, I don't see why Arsenal can't, can't win. I think most likely this, this is headed for penalties, to be honest. I think Arsenal can close this down, make it, make it bitty and scrappy and. Yeah, I don't, I think the way it's been talked about, it's as if Arsenal got no chance really. But it's, it's, it's a very like close game this one, Barry.
- [31:19]
Max Rushden
Arsenal have a worry at right back. I mean, Hakeemi might not be fit, in which case I remember would go in and he's done that before and he has been brilliant there. But Ben White's out during timbers touch and go and so I guess Moscara could play there, but that is. Or maybe Zubamendi. Arteta tried to meditate right back, but it is crowd Shalia who is sitting there going, I wonder who I'll be up against. And you kind of want your best right back up against Shailia.
- [31:45]
Barry Glendenning
Yeah, well, it looks like the best right back and the second best right back and you can take your pick of either of them. I'm not sure who's better at White and Timber. But Timber sounds like he's not as. He's more Gold than Torch, it sounds like. And I think the risk of putting him up against Ferraskilia if he's not fully fit could. That could be a disaster. But obviously only Arsenal know how fit Timber is. There's so many key battles in this game. How will Arsenal cope with Ruiz, Vatina and Neves in midfield? You know, with only one Declan Rice, I'm pretty sure they won't play Declan Rice at right back because they've tried that before. It worked out badly and I suspect they're going to need them elsewhere. What they need is about 5 Declan rices, but that's not a viable option either. Will Bukayo Saka be able to get the better Nuno Mendes? Will Arsenal be able to disrupt the PSG rhythm? I suspect we'll be reading a lot about a clash of styles in the coming days and I wonder if maybe Luis and Enrique. Sorry, saw that City, was it the Carabao cup match where City made no effort whatsoever to press Arsenal and, and that worked out well for them. So yeah, it's, it's going to be a fascinating encounter. I, I could definitely give Arsenal a chance, but I, I think PSG would probably be too good for them. But let's not forget, as good as this PSG team is, they got battered by Chelsea in the Club World cup final. Villa ran them really close in last season's Champions League. They are, they are beatable.
- [33:33]
Max Rushden
Everybody's is fit, isn't he? Because he's not been fit for a lot of the season. Mark, is that.
- [33:37]
Mark Langdon
Yeah. So Fabian Reese's. And there has been accusations that he kind of was not pushing himself to get back and, and kind of be ready earlier than maybe some of the Parisian based journalists wanted him to be and he was getting criticism for that. Usman Dembele went off in the last League game a couple of weeks ago, but has returned to training. Akimi also returned to training late this week, but whether that's enough to start a Champions League final, hard to say at the moment. And I think from sort of Arsenal's point of view, I would play Kai Havertz rather than Jocorez up front. I, I just think that neither is going to get great change out of what is a very strong center back pairing of Marquinhos and Pacho. And if I was Arteta, I would want the extra kind of midfield body because you don't want that midfield free of psg getting into a rhythm. Neves fitinha and, and Ruiz. Because if they do, they have these spells 15, 20 minutes where you. You feel like you just can't get near them and you kind of have to disrupt that as much as you can. So I'd, I'd. I'd be in the havoc campo over Yokares.
- [34:50]
Max Rushden
Yeah, it's a really interesting choice, isn't it? Because. And actually it kind of works quite well if you give your course 20 minutes when they're a bit knackered to sort of, you know, try and be a bit more of a batting ram. And then you've got who Arteta plays in midfield. Paul, because, you know, we all expected Zubimendi to play against Athletic, wasn't it? And Louis Skelly played. You sort of think, wow, that is, you know, Louis Skelly is playing in this game against that midfield. I mean, you know, as they say, he's young and has no fear. I survived that young. I'd be absolutely bricks to be playing in the Champions League final.
- [35:21]
Paul Watson
Yeah, I guess this is where we perhaps aren't going to end up playing in a Champions League final. I hope I'm not speaking too soon for you, Max, but I feel like I maybe wouldn't be able to do that even now. No, I, I would put in. I would put Louis Kelly. I, I think it. I think at this point you need to play with players that don't have that kind of fear. And every time that I think he's hit his ceiling, he seems to find a way past it. Not, not his ceiling, but his current ceiling. You know, every time I think, God, he's too young to be doing this, he. He always steps up. No, I, personally, I would have him in there and I. It sounds mental to be saying that, you know, it's a Champions League final, but I actually think that would be your. Your best option. I do think that that's probably the area where, when you look at the two on paper, it's that. That midfield battle where PSG can just look absolutely invincible at points. There are periods where you're just like, oh, this is. This is just not, not. You can't beat this. And I think that that is the worry. If those, if they start to really flow through the midfield, then I don't know how Arsenal are going to deal with it. My vision for how Arsenal deal with it is basically that if they can neutralize it as best they can and maybe get one from a set piece. Because I do still think there's been a lot of talk in the past about PSG being susceptible from set pieces. I still think they can be. I think that's probably one of the routes you can score against them.
- [36:38]
Max Rushden
And then as I or Odegaard Mark probably is a right I, I, I,
- [36:43]
Mark Langdon
I'd be as a for you know you need to, you do need to have a kind of a forward threat and just think with Odegaard he can make a difference but he too often is safe and like as he's just got that ability to take on a couple of players, beat the PSG press, just smash one in from 25 yards. To me he would be the sort of difference maker and that's where I think you would compensate if Havertz is there as well like you can kind of, I think you can have that maybe more just slightly more attack minded player in the 10 position because you can, he can help you do that work. I think one area where Arsenal are better is in goal. You know Safanov and they spoke about him before. Was it Barney that was suggesting he looked like he did come out of a Kent nightclub? I think it wasn't like he does. I don't know if he just looks dodgy because of the ponytail but he, he's definitely unconventional in, in the way that he makes his saves. And Raya, he's just been exceptional for Arsenal and he is capable of just having like an incredible night and, and sort of, you know, just saving everything that PSG throw at them. I'd probably go for a PSG narrow win but it would, you know those are the type of things Arsenal are going to need to go their way. I think if they're to win. Ray needs to play well. You need to, you know, somebody to just do something special in, in that final third.
- [38:07]
Max Rushden
I think it is about time that I admit that signing Raya and putting him in ahead of Aaron Ramsdale was the right call from Mikel Arteta. I think it probably is.
- [38:17]
Paul Watson
Yeah.
- [38:18]
Max Rushden
So well done Mikel Arteta. The right decision. Baz, you wanted to bring up the fact that, that none of these European finals are on Free to air TV. And is that the first time ever.
- [38:27]
Barry Glendenning
It's the first time in 30 years I think that they haven't been on Free to TV in the UK and it's down through a mixture of corporate strategy on the part of Warner Brothers who own TNT Sports, who have the rights here and their rights end this year. Government policy in that the government don't have the legal clout to insist on this on these finals being free to air and expiring contracts, as I've alluded to. So Warner Brothers Discovery, or the parent company of tnt in previous years, they voluntarily put these finals on, made them available to watch live on YouTube as a gesture, goodwill and a tactic for marketing. This year they haven't. And that's because they're using coverage of the finals that we have to pay for to drive subscriptions to HBO Max, which will have the rights from next season. It's quite boring, but. So they have no incentive to keep free viewers happy, basically. And UEFA could have inserted a clause in their contract with TNT to, to have a str, must be free for the final. But they didn't do that because it would cost them some money. So it's just down to greed, basically on the party. But I think it's a shame that a lot of people can't watch these finals.
- [40:00]
Max Rushden
No, I mean, I agree with you. I suppose the arg. The, you know, the argument against it is, you know, there's no Premier League games on free to air, for example, they don't put the final dare, the season, on free to air. If you buy the. The rights. You buy the rights.
- [40:13]
Barry Glendenning
Yeah, I mean, you can make arguments and I'm always amazed, actually, if it's. Whether it's increased ticket prices or this kind of stuff or the price of replica English shirts, you will always find a certain section of the people who are being fleeced will. Will rush to the defense of the people who are fleecing them. And I don't understand it. I just do not understand it. But they're such people exist and I, I just find it very weird.
- [40:40]
Max Rushden
Are you accusing me of that just because I asked that? I'm in the.
- [40:42]
Barry Glendenning
No, it's a legitimate question. I don't have the answer to it, but at least, you know, the last day of the season you can watch Match of the Day later.
- [40:50]
Max Rushden
No, I know what you mean. It's just. It's finding a tricky balance. Right? And, and the, the money that they pay for the rights adds to the amount of money that clubs have to buy good players that make us like the teams more, etc. Etc. I guess, but you're right, I don't have the answer either. But, but my general feeling is most
- [41:08]
Barry Glendenning
people support teams who don't have good players.
- [41:15]
Max Rushden
There is, there is that. Anyway, that'll do for part two. Part three will begin with some transfer news.
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Barry Glendenning
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- [43:15]
Max Rushden
Welcome to part three of the Guardian Football Weekly. Barcelona have agreed personal terms with Anthony Gordon on a fee of £70 million. Paul, what do you think about this one?
- [43:23]
Paul Watson
I've got various views on it, but I, I think, I think it's actually in a way a very good signing for Barcelona. I just can't quite get over the price tag. I feel like it's, it's so much money fantasy Gordon and I don't know if I'm still just very old and that, that is actually just a completely fair amount to put on him. But also I'm kind of imagining it from anti Gordon's perspective. He must be absolutely over the moon, right? Imagine he did just imagine signing for Barcelona. I don't feel like he's the kind of player that ever felt like he would sign for Barcelona. But again, maybe I'm, maybe I'm still looking at things from an old lens where English players were less likely to do this, but I just think you'd be so happy, wouldn't you?
- [44:01]
Barry Glendenning
From what I can Tell about Anthony Gordon's extremely high opinion of himself. He might consider Barcelona beneath him but that's just me.
- [44:12]
Max Rushden
That's a good question. There's a question of how good is he Mark and and what it means for Marcus Rashford.
- [44:19]
Mark Langdon
I think after my average Joe faux pas earlier on maybe on the Anthony Gordon of football pundit. I think Gordon is underrated in the Premier League terms and Barcelona and Bayern Munich wanted him. Thomas Tuchel loves him. It hasn't finished well this season for him Newcastle but there were times earlier on in the season and during his time at Newcastle where I felt like he was kind of ready for that next step. And Newcastle will feel like they are waiting maybe the final step but I think there's a lot of potential still there that's untapped. The way that he runs in behind causes a lot of problems for teams. I'm not actually sure that he's exactly what Barcelona need. When I look at kind of the quality they've got in that forward line already. I would have felt like like spending that money on the center forward given Lewandowski's age might have been the wiser option. As far as Rashford goes I mean I would yeah I would assume that like he does a similar job. They're going to be competing aren't they for that England spot on the left hand side. But you never say never with Barcelona because they have a weird way with kind of transfers and their policy for bringing in players. But I wouldn't have thought you'd bring in both.
- [45:31]
Max Rushden
No, I think so. I imagine I've confirmed Michael Carrick while we've been between pods. I mean not just his existence like a Catholic. No, it's not a Catholic ceremony. He's had his confirmation will on with writing that they've agreed a 37 million pound deal with that's answer for Brazilian midfielder Edison. Who is Edison Mark? Is he good?
- [45:55]
Mark Langdon
Casamiro replacement defensive midfielder has been. Been very. He was very good for Atalanta when they were like Europa League winners and kind of knocking on the door being a one of them Champions League teams that was dangerous. I think Atalantra have gone backwards slightly this year. Not through any thought of Edison and he feels like a Premier League ready player. I don't think there'll be any you know from a physical point of view in the way that he gets around the pitch he kind of should be suited to the Premier League.
- [46:27]
Max Rushden
Lots of talk about Elliot Anderson who Manchester United want but is likely to go to City. Enzo Fernandez wants to leave Chelsea they want £120 million. Doesn't seem there are that many people who are that interested in spending that much money on on him.
- [46:41]
Barry Glendenning
I mean Enzo Fernandez is a good player but his attitude seems to stink and that would put me off pain any amount of money for him especially one that high. Chelsea got hammered by Everton and not too long ago he was terrible in that game and he wasn't trying a leg and he was part of that dressing room cabal that down tools when Lemur senior was there. Not for me Clive, just one other thing before you move on from Manchester United A I heard this talk yesterday on the radio of Ederson moving there I was thinking I I presume they were talking about the Brazilian goalkeeper.
- [47:19]
Max Rushden
That was my first thought and I
- [47:21]
Barry Glendenning
was wondering why is no one bringing up the fact he used to be and his Sunny lemon's not like pretty good. He's had a good season so that's how much I knew about Ederson the Atlanta midfielder before I went and had a Google I see he's not in the Brazil squad. It emerged yesterday that it cost Manchester United almost 17 million pounds to get rid of Reuben Amaram and if you add that to the 11 million it cost them to bring them in it's a good job they sacked all those tea ladies and receptionists isn't it to make up that shortfall
- [47:58]
Max Rushden
Arsenal what Morgan Rogers which interesting to know where he would fit he's obviously a brilliant footballer. I mean that's sort of interesting for Erdogan is a Etc. And then Andy Robertson to Spurs is on apparently feels sensible Mark.
- [48:11]
Mark Langdon
Mark. Yeah it was on and then off again in January Ben Davis set to leave the club. So somebody that is very good in the dressing room which everybody seems to think Andy Robertson is very experienced player won't necessarily have to play every week but is very strong competition through doggy A left back There seems to be this belief that you know Tottenham will go for more experienced players this year after you may be focusing on young players previously they have been also linked with John Stones as well. I just got to be careful of going for too many of that type of play. You end up with like a Harry Redknapp style squad and expendables.
- [48:53]
Max Rushden
Yeah yes.
- [48:54]
Mark Langdon
In isolation I think Robertson is a very clever and solid signing and yeah just a good guy.
- [48:59]
Max Rushden
What have you made Mark of the you know chat coming out of Spurs? You know I think it has saying you know they need a complete reset but not saying he needs to reset himself. You don't turn himself off and on again. Amongst other things.
- [49:11]
Mark Langdon
Yeah, there was a letter from the non executive chairman, Peter Charrington as well, that said exactly the same things that they've been saying for years, like it's actions will speak louder than words, you know, until they start up in the wage bill, I don't think anybody would trust them. And, you know, I mean, Venkateshen, if he'd be lucky to still be in a job in a couple of months, it wouldn't be my choice of the reset. Yeah, I mean, he's just blaming other people. You know, he was as much to blame as just about anyone else for what happened this season.
- [49:41]
Max Rushden
Nuno's gonna stay as West Ham manager, which we didn't expect, but that is perhaps good news for them. Can't quite work it out. Club sources estimate it'll cost them 200 million in lost revenue getting relegated after a loss of more than 100 million in their latest accounts. So, you know, lots of their players will leave, as we expect. Mauricio Pochettino has emotionally defended himself, Paul. Against charges that he didn't phone the players he left out of his squad for the World Cup. The players who didn't make the roster don't want to hear anything from me. Oh, I'm sorry. If I call, it's making it a bit about myself. Do you agree with. Because Tuchel called the players, Pochettino emailed the players. What. What's the right way to be told you're not going to be in the squad?
- [50:23]
Paul Watson
Can you imagine checking your emails? Checking your emails? No, I. I think what I would want as a player is to have a set time by which you will be let know one way or the other. Because you. Can you imagine if you don't get a call, you are literally sitting there and you've probably got your teammates as well. You don't know whether they've got in, you don't know whether they're gonna. So. So you've just got this complete tension. So I actually think you want a call as a player whether you're in or out, because if it's that thing of if you get a call, you're in, you're literally sat there waiting with your phone out all day.
- [50:54]
Ed Aarons
Right.
- [50:54]
Paul Watson
So. But the one thing you definitely need is to know which way around it is you don't want to be sat there waiting. Your phone goes, it's Pochettino. And then it turns out he's telling you you're not in. So I kind of get what he's saying, but I think he just should have had a stronger policy on it. I also think an email is a rough way to find out, isn't it? And I think, to be honest, I get his point. No one wants to hear from me if I'm. If they're not in. But I think that is part of your job, isn't it? Is to these players might be. Not for him, but for other people. These players might be your players for years to come. You've got to let them know in person they're not going to be in the squad. I think it's was, to be honest, I did think that was quite poor from him.
- [51:27]
Barry Glendenning
Yeah.
- [51:27]
Max Rushden
I don't know. I think you want judges, houses, you want Louis Walsh going. It's not good news. It's great news coming to America. There's not. I think. I kind of think Pochettina might have a point. Barry. There's no good way, is it? There's no good way to, to do this. Maybe there is.
- [51:43]
Barry Glendenning
The grown men. It's not an under 11 team. They don't necessarily deserve an explanation as to why they're not in the team. I had this image yesterday of a tearful Geo Reina looking at his inbox and then going to his trash folder on the off chance and suddenly find, oh, I have been called up. Despite only playing 140 minutes for Barossi, Munching glad back this year and despite being a really disruptive influence in the squad last season, I have no problem with the manner in which Pochettino did it. Phone calls, probably grand. If it was me, I wouldn't want to hear from the manager. I don't have a chat with him. I just, I. I've been left out. Fine, get on with it. I haven't been hugely impressed with Potch's behavior otherwise in the build up to this pub because he's. He had a go at, is it Timothy Ware for criticizing the price of World cup tickets and he sort of slapped him down and said, you know, stay in your lane, Tim. Football brings people together and unites the world. He's very much parroting the, the fever line and I thought, ah, come on, pot, you're better than that. But apparently he isn't. So I was, I was sad, I wasn't angry, I was disappointed with Potch and I hope he sits looking at his bowl of lemons and has a think about what he said there.
- [53:11]
Mark Langdon
I just wonder if Thomas Tuchel should have emailed Harry Maguire's mum and maybe that would just calm her down.
- [53:18]
Max Rushden
On FIFA, a non profit organization which supports people with serial spy. Ling, who was forced to cancel a raffle for two World cup tickets after receiving a cease and desist letter from a law firm representing FIFA. This is Adam Crafton in the Athletic spinal cord injury. BC organized a promotion which invited people to enter a draw to secure two tickets to New Zealand against Egypt at BC Place on 21 June, with proceeds intended to benefit various programs. Chris McBride, executive director of that charity, told the Athletic the legal letter told us we were in violation of FIFA's trademark and their ticketing policy. The letter added that contravening FIFA's trademark and policies may result in them not being released at all to the buyer. FIFA's ticketing regulations for the World cup state a ticket holder shall not use a ticket for advertising contests, sweepstakes or other commercial, promotional or marketing activities unless they have authorization from FIFA to do so. So, yeah, that's good stuff, isn't it? Well done, well done, well done. Gianni Paul, you've written a book called around the world in 80 clubs. Tell us about it.
- [54:19]
Paul Watson
Yeah, I have. So it's loads of little short stories about the weird and wonderful places that I am obsessed with and football all around the world from. Yeah, like, you know, when I come on this pod, I tend to tell you a load of really odd little stories from weird places. And this is a whole book of them. It's about 80 of my guardian football weekly segments in one book, basically. So I don't know if that's. I don't know if I'm selling that at all. But if you're someone who.
- [54:47]
Barry Glendenning
We get a cost of the price,
- [54:50]
Paul Watson
you got an acknowledgment.
- [54:52]
Barry Glendenning
Okay.
- [54:52]
Max Rushden
Oh, that's good.
- [54:55]
Paul Watson
Basically, just simply because I know you love an acknowledgment and also because you do put up with my world football nonsense on a regular basis.
- [55:02]
Max Rushden
I enjoy it tremendously. Give us a couple then.
- [55:06]
Paul Watson
So we've got Ibis, the club in Brazil who labeled themselves the worst in the world. And now their fans get on the back of the team if they win any games. So if you ever see Ibis win a game, their fans post on social media going, this is a disgrace. And at one point they got on a winning run and their fans, the ultras, called a meeting with the players and said, this has to stop, we're winning too many matches. And they had this old hero, this legendary old player called Mauro Shampoo, which sadly isn't his real name. But he was a hairdresser and a player and shampoo came to meet with the players and said, yeah, you've got to stop winning. Like you're destroying the legacy we created as players. So there's that one, the Seychelles. One of my favorite stories in the book is when the Seychelles national team accidentally appointed a guy on holiday as their national coach. It was. It was a case of mistaken identity. A guy called Andrew Amos Morrison, who was a. He was a football coach, but he was a kind of community coach. Very good coach, but, right, just a community coach was there on holiday. The Seychelles Football Federation thought it was Andy Morrison, the Man City player. So they just offered him their national job on the spot. And Andy Morrison, the Man City player, only found out because a journalist from the Seychelles phoned him up. And he was, I think somewhere in Wales at the time, phoned him up, said, what are your plans for the Seychelles national team? He said, I don't know, I've never been there. And the best thing is the statement that Seychelles FA put out. Initially they were going to give the other guy six months to prove himself. They then took his contract away and put out a statement saying he was not the man for the job. It's like, well, quite literally, he wasn't the man. So, yeah, there's that one. And my other favorite one is this game. There's these two islands in Estonia, Huma and Saarema, and they, they're like rival little islands off Estonia, and they wanted to play a match against each other. They couldn't agree on where it be played, so they decided to play it on the ferry that goes between the two islands. And so they kitted out a ferry to have a five a side match that they had. And. And one of the funniest bits about this as well is that they had loads of obstructions on this ferry. So they were like, they were like barriers and there were like rails in the way. And one of the teams said that the other team would have an advantage because the pitch on that island has an oak tree growing in the middle of it. And it does. They've got an oak tree on this pitch that just grows right in the middle of the pitch. And so they said, well, you're gonna have the advantage because you're used to playing around an oak tree.
- [57:37]
Max Rushden
So by that book, Everybody around The World in 80 Clubs by Paul Watson Benjamin writes hello to everyone at the pod. I was pleasantly surprised to receive an abundance of messages the other day from friends sending me photos of Barry wearing my Band T shirt on an episode, I gave Barry the T shirt after shaking his surprisingly smooth and gentle hand at south by Southwest in Austin, Texas. After disappointing my bad mates upon the declaration that I was going to leave our after show party, I raced back to the hotel for some much needed sleep to wake up early and attend your enlightening live podcast recording. I then presented Barry with our T shirt with no shameless request that he wear it, just a token to say thank you for all the amazing work you do. It's truly a touching moment to see the Dharma Chain shirt was worn barrier a true man of the people. Being a musician is a difficult career to pursue. Moments like this make it all worth it. It I wonder if someone could could persuade Jonathan Wilson to review our album. Could we be the band to finally convince him that music is a beautiful thing? After all, Jo John brewed no Doubt would love it. On a serious note, maybe the members of the pod could share a song or album that they loved recently. Barry the Dharma Chain send their love and appreciation as we enjoy your our inevitable fame and riches surely coming our way. We will never forget you, Ben. There you are, Barry. You're launching new music.
- [58:48]
Barry Glendenning
Well, yeah. I mean, I went to see the Super Furry Animals at Brixton Academy over the weekend and met a lot of Super Furry Animal fans who also listened to Football Weekly beforehand in the pub and they were so good. Is there. Sorry. 30th anniversary of the first album Fuzzy Logic, which makes me feel really old. They were so good on the Friday that I went again on the Saturday and I had a wonderful time both nights. So that's my most recent musical experience.
- [59:24]
Paul Watson
Oh, I love this.
- [59:24]
Max Rushden
We were discussing this. My favorite band growing up.
- [59:27]
Paul Watson
So I love the super so much. But do you remember when they were they. They always used to do crazy things for their live shows. And there was this one time they bought an actual tank. They owned a tank that they.
- [59:37]
Barry Glendenning
Yeah.
- [59:37]
Paul Watson
Drove around there. Yeah. Oh, no. The Super Fairies were amazing. Absolutely love them.
- [59:41]
Barry Glendenning
It was fitted out as a sound system and they subsequently sold it to Don Henley from the Eagles.
- [59:47]
Paul Watson
I didn't know that. What I did know is they were often late to their gigs. They were always like crazy late. If you ever went to see them. They came on like an hour after, so furious. It built this amazing atmosphere. And I was like, wow, what showmen? And someone asked them, this is way back in the days of old style computers like amigas. And someone said, what you do? Why are you so late? And they're like, we're playing Worms on the Amiga and we just get really stuck playing it.
- [60:10]
Max Rushden
Well now suddenly, fair enough, you know, they're on level, they're on MegaloMake and they just can't stop playing. Well, me and Barry in Austin had this discussion of what was the last gig we went to and I said, well, I definitely saw the Red Hot Chili Peppers being supported by James Brown in Hyde Park. We established that James Brown had died in 2006. But then I did see Alanis Morissette in Austin, so that's my last gig. Mark, I have to ask you this question.
- [60:34]
Mark Langdon
Yeah, well my last gig was Oasis last year, so that it feels a bit populous, isn't it? But yeah, I was at Wembley. I did see somebody reading Jonathan Wilson's book on a train two days ago though. So yeah, the two brothers, they seemed engrossed as well.
- [60:50]
Max Rushden
Finally, Callum says Dear Guardian Football Weekly, long time listener, first time emailer here. You recently had an email from a long suffering Scottish Arsenal fan who was about to get married. My friend Matt and I fit the same demographic. We're from Fife, Arsenal fans to our dads, and in this case On Saturday 30th May, the day of the Champions League final, Matt is getting married to his fiance Hannah. As the reception overlaps with the final, Matt said he's going to screen the match on his laptop top and implement some kind of incomprehensible rotor to allow guests to watch in 10 minute increments. I can't wait, he says. If Barry could wish the couple luck in getting through the day, if not the rest of their lives, it would mean a lot to give Barry something to work with. Matt and I met in school when we were 12, we're now pushing 40. Have been listening to Football Weekly since about 2011. Whereas I'm a natural Arsenal pessimist who's hardly been able to tolerate a game for the last few months, we kind of prefer it if it if we won nothing. Matt is a crazed optimist with a long history of abysmal Arsenal related opinions. For instance, he was the only person in the world calling for Owen Coyle to replace Wenger circa 2010. He was adamant that Dwight McNeil, who he called a Pure 10, should be signed as an upgrade on mesut Ozil circa 2019. More recently predicted Raheem Sterling's loan signing would be transformational. But just as Sterling signing led Matt suddenly to rate him, so he brings the same blind loyalties to his friendships. Which is why I love him and While he'll be a great husband, he recently moved from London, where I live, back to Glasgow, so I miss him very much. Football Weekly has continued to be a crucial tie, keeping us in touch with. Thanks for all that you do. Best wishes, Callum. So it is Matt and he is getting married to his fiance, Hannah.
- [62:19]
Barry Glendenning
Well, it's very much a rookie error to book your wedding day on the day of a major final that the team you support might be in. But maybe they didn't have such high hopes for Arsenal this season. But I have been at such weddings. There's no point in not trying to show the game, people will watch it anyway, and it's a very shaky foundation on which to build a marriage. But it sounds like they've been together for a long time. They're probably sick of each other. The proposal was probably just because they ran out of things to say to each other and someone said we would get married.
- [62:56]
Max Rushden
That's lovely. Have a lovely day and enjoy the Chamber League final. We'll review the Champions League on Monday, then we'll get on with our World cup previews, then we'll fly to LA and kill each other. And I look forward to all of those things. Paul's joining us for a week. You're joining us for a week as well, Mark, so that'll be great. So we'll see you in person soon, but that'll do for today. Thanks, everybody. Thank you, Paul.
- [63:15]
Paul Watson
Thank you.
- [63:16]
Max Rushden
Good luck with the book. Thank you, Mark.
- [63:17]
Mark Langdon
Thank you, Max.
- [63:18]
Max Rushden
Thank you, Barry.
- [63:19]
Barry Glendenning
Thanks, lad.
- [63:20]
Max Rushden
Football Weekly is produced by Ty Papula. Our executive producer is Joel Grove, back on Monday. This is the Guardian. Hi, Pod fans. Max here. Barry's here too.
- [63:45]
Barry Glendenning
Hello.
- [63:46]
Max Rushden
Football Weekly is supported by Hotels.com. now, Barry, question. When you're booking a hotel, do you use hotels.com? actually, you're probably just going to say, I don't know. Producer Joel does it.
- [63:54]
Barry Glendenning
I don't know. Producer Joel does it.
- [63:57]
Max Rushden
Well, I think you should give it a try for yourself. Obviously, it's a massive summer of soccer and loads of our listeners will be traveling to watch the tournament and needing to book somewhere great to stay. So it's good to know that when you're a Hotels.com member, you can save up to 20% on hundreds of thousands of hotels. Plus, you earn rewards on every stay. So each trip you take helps pay for your future trips. Just use those rewards like cash. And importantly, there are never any blackout dates.
- [64:19]
Barry Glendenning
What's a blackout date?
- [64:21]
Max Rushden
Well, it's a date where you can't use travel rewards frustratingly, usually on or around major holidays or other peak travel periods. But there are no Blackout dates with Hotels.com rewards superb, yes. So next time you're booking somewhere to stay, just book it at hotels.com hotels.com it's all in the name. Nine out of the 10 largest banks get it. They get Advantage Score the modern credit
- [64:50]
Paul Watson
score is the leader in predictive power,
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Max Rushden
improving mortgage default predictions and saving lenders billions.
- [64:56]
Paul Watson
Better predictions, better for your business with
- [64:58]
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