Loading summary
Transcript179 lines
- [00:01]
Mark Bittman
Hi there, it's Mark from the podcast Food with Mark Bittman. Fall sports are back, thank goodness. And Whole Foods Market has everything you need to host a delicious game day party. From impressive appetizers to giant flavors for big appetites like made in house marinated chicken wings, ranch hot dogs and sausages, Giant pizzas for extra large appetites and frozen foods like 365 brand frozen apps so you're never caught without a plan. We're talking samosas, potato puffs, popcorn shrimp, Mac and cheese bites and more. And of course there are game day drinks. Fill a cooler with a variety of frosty beverages. Those Oktoberfest beers are still in play for now. And don't forget non alcoholic brews from Athletic Brewing Company. So everyone has a good time. Must be 21 plus. Please drink responsibly. Be ready when guests arrive by getting everything delivered or choose convenient pickup at a time that works for you. See the Amazon app for more details. Host game day with help from Whole Foods Market.
- [01:10]
Grainger Advertiser
If you're a maintenance supervisor at a manufacturing facility and your machinery isn't working right, Grainger knows you need to understand what's wrong as soon as possible. So when a conveyor motor falters, Grainger offers diagnostic tools like calibration kits and multimeters to help you identify and fix the problem. With Grainger, you can be confident you have everything you need to keep your facility running smoothly. Call 1-800-granger. Click granger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.
- [01:44]
FIFA World Cup Announcer
The FIFA World Cup 26 is coming to North America next summer. It will be the ultimate celebration of sports and culture. So get closer to the beautiful game with a hospitality package. Closer to the action in the best seats and suites. Closer to matchday elevated with world class food and entertainment. Closer to the experience of a lifetime. Book a hospitality package@fifaworldcup.com Hospitality. That's FIFAWorldCup.com Hospitality.
- [02:14]
Ayo Akimolere
The Athletic FC welcome to the Athletic FC podcast with me, Ayo Akimolere. It has been a mad summer transfer window. There have been salts, sagas and also spectacular spending. Today we're going to rank the top 10 moments. But before that we're going to catch up with the Guru himself, David Ornstein, to get the rundown on how it's gone for him. David Right, I've got you and I know you're going to go on a holiday soon, so just just a few questions now. The transfer window has finally closed. Moment of the window.
- [02:52]
David Ornstein
My moment of the Window.
- [02:53]
Tim Spears
Wow.
- [02:54]
David Ornstein
Where to begin? It's got to be breaking the news of Arsenal making their move for Ebereche Eze, which was trailed for so long. Will it happen? Won't it happen? Tottenham came to the party and looked set to complete the deal. But out of nowhere, Arsenal rose up like a phoenix from the athletes.
- [03:16]
Ayo Akimolere
I didn't even gonna say phoenix.
- [03:18]
David Ornstein
And managed to get that done with remarkable speed and efficiency. But Tottenham then finished the Window in style. So I think everybody kind of finished happy with that one.
- [03:27]
Ayo Akimolere
Okay, what about the transfer that kept you up late at night?
- [03:30]
David Ornstein
It's got to be Tottenham's move for Xavi Simmons, really, on my birthday.
- [03:38]
Jacob Whitehead
The.
- [03:38]
David Ornstein
Day I turned 40 and was looking forward to getting some sleep for the first time all summer. And then all of a sudden Tottenham press on with the deal for Xavi Simmons, despite the speculation all window that he'd be going to Chelsea and that one didn't really get agreed. Finally, club to club player medical signings to make sure he didn't go elsewhere until the early hours of the 29th of August. And I think I was up until an ungodly hour just making sure of it all ahead of us, reporting it in the morning. So here's to you, Xavi Simmons, dude.
- [04:21]
Ayo Akimolere
Let the man celebrate. What about the player, I guess that you probably feel a little sad for, who probably didn't get the transfer that they wanted?
- [04:31]
David Ornstein
Yeah, I think the only one that springs to mind and I don't want anybody to get the violins out because it's all relative. This is just football, sport, entertainment. But I think you've got to say Mark Gaye, because by the time palace and Liverpool finally reached an agreement, he had decided, yeah, I'm ready to make this move. Which was such a tough call given his love and affection for palace as their captain, the man who lifted their trophy. He wants to lift even more in the future. But he'd got his head around the idea of Liverpool. It's not a hardship. Go on to Champions League level and more glories. And then to have the rug pulled from beneath your feet because difficulties trying to find replacements. Oliver Glasner not wanting to lose him, he got caught up in all of that. And so, yeah, tiny bit of sympathy, but let's stay rational about this. He'll get a move. Whether it be in January or next summer. Life goes on. And this is sort of first world problems, but yeah, I can't think of many more that will maybe experienced an anticlimax like Mark Gay.
- [05:33]
Ayo Akimolere
Yeah, such a nice Guy as well, Top man. All right. The Premier league spent over £3 billion this transfer window.
- [05:40]
David Ornstein
Small change, small change.
- [05:41]
Ayo Akimolere
Which player do you then think is the best value for money?
- [05:45]
David Ornstein
Best value for money? Well, it involved very little money and I'm going to say Jack Grealish because he went on loan from Manchester City to Everton and he has already hit the ground running. He's found his form. That boy needs love and belief and passion and freedom. And that's no disrespect to Manchester City where he's won everything and propelled his career to a new level after that 100 million pound move. But it wasn't working there and we know that he still has so much to give for club and country and Everton fans have taken to him straight away. He's found a nice role in David Moyes team. He's already making an impact with the assists goals I'm sure will follow. And you know he's already doing more than some have done for large transfer fees. And I know it's early days, let's see how it develops. But my best value for money signing if he continues to deliver is Jack Grealish.
- [06:39]
Ayo Akimolere
Okay, this transfer window out of 10, you've worked through a lot of them. What you think?
- [06:45]
David Ornstein
Well, I've done every transfer window since the summer of 2006 when I turned professional, which I was just talking with one of our producers. Does that make it 41 windows? So every January and summer from 2007, we're in 2025, so we're getting around the 40 mark. And this beats them all. I'm gonna go for 11 out of 10. Yeah, we're beating 100%. This was box office. It was the hottest ticket in town. Everybody was talking about it. People within football, people outside of football, the expenditure, the amount of narratives, big name moves, twists, turns, strikes, threats of, I don't know, being held hostage. It had everything, every element. And there were surprises. There were great value for money deals, not so good value for money deals. A lot of teams finished satisfied. A lot of teams didn't. I've never known a window where every day has felt like deadline day. And this did. There were moments where you just couldn't leave your phone. You were on calls and texts to the extent that you would normally have on the final day. And you make an exception for that, that your life, your body, your soul, your mind is gonna be destroyed, but it's only dead. This happened every day in periods.
- [08:09]
Ayo Akimolere
But how you not asleep right now.
- [08:10]
David Ornstein
The other thing is that you know the likes of Yokares and Sesko and the spending by Liverpool and Man City before the Club World Cup. In that mini window they seemed like a different year, different world, different stratosphere. Then you had Isaac and even unexpected things occurred at the last minute. Like Zinchenko going to Nottingham Forest with a few minutes to spare. Visser only getting the documentation done and dusted with like 10 seconds to spare or something like that. It was absolutely bonkers. I've never known the engagement from the public and the bands and the social media. Clubs just being in the heart of the most crazy activity. Players not knowing where they are from one minute to the next. This just blew the doors off of the football transfer market.
- [09:05]
Ayo Akimolere
Mr. David Ornstein, go get some rest. Thank you for joining us. What a transfer window. This has been a pleasure. Let's move on. Yeah. Joining us today we have the athletics chat, Pitt Brook, we've got Tim Spears, also got Jacob Whitehead as well. Over 3 billion spent in this transfer window. It's quite insane. And obviously Liverpool topping the list of most lucrative transfers with obviously Esac Vert and also Ekatike. I mean this is a big transfer window firstly but any surprises for you so far or, or did you expect it to be this kind of heavily spent transfer window?
- [09:40]
Tim Spears
No, I didn't expect it to be this big. Normally you might get you know, one or two teams from the big six which go big in any given summer. I think it's unusual to have all the teams go this big and I think Liverpool is probably the biggest surprise of all. Like Liverpool, I mean remember last summer they, I think they just signed Chiesa and there was a big, there was a lot of frustration from Liverpool fans and so on about you know, maybe they need to push a bit harder and bring some more players. But I don't think any, you know, no Liverpool fan in their wildest dreams really would have expected them to. I mean Wirtz and Esac is two different nine figure transfers. That's even before. And there's tons of other really good players. I mean Ekatiko is a huge amount of money as well. Tons of really, really good players they've signed. So I think that's probably the one that stands out as the biggest surprise.
- [10:23]
Unidentified Football Analyst
Yeah, well I don't think there's ever been two nine figure transfer signings by one team in one window. I mean like that is a, a huge step. I think the thing I find kind of odd is the kind of ecosystem thing in that just having the mid ranking Premier League clubs able to outspend so many big historic teams in other leagues. And it's been this way really for two or three seasons. But I still find it odds for Brighton, Brentford, palace, you know, can be beating Cervace, Milan or Juventus or even Dortmund, you know, to signings. It is just, it's great watching Premier League every week because you get these players, but parts of me does still feel like it's. Everything's being a little bit unbalanced by, by this.
- [10:58]
Ayo Akimolere
Right gents, this is what we're going to do. We're going to go through the top 10 biggest moments in the window and then we're going to rank them. So Tim, where are we starting first?
- [11:08]
Jacob Whitehead
I mean when I was compiling this list I did raise my eyebrows quite a lot. Sort of cartoon style. So up and down a fair bit to be honest. There were some pretty crazy fees. Dango Watara going to Brentford from Bournemouth for 42 million was like it's probably the pick of the crazy fees because the guy couldn't even get in Bournemouth's best 11 last year. Nothing sort of epitomizes that than a fixture that was in League Two in 2009. Now exchanging players for, for 42 million. And like I said, not even nowhere near Bournemouth's best player going to Brentford for that amount of money. So there were a lot of silly fees. I kind of feel like, you know, this was maybe the year that the sort of 20 to 30 million for a good first team player sort of went to like 40 or 50 million. You know, when you've got like a Langer and Wisser going to Newcastle, you probably, probably can't get both of those two in their sort of best 11. Whis is 29 tomorrow and he's going for 55 million. And they originally bid 25 million, you know, a few weeks ago. So this, this is some of the, the fees went a bit crazy. Ben Doak was another one which I thought was just nuts. Three Premier League appearances. I mean he's good but he's so raw. 25 million to Bournemouth and then yesterday palace signing a 19 year old defender, JD Canva from Toulouse who's played 20 times in Ligue 1 and he goes for 23 million quid. It's a lot of money for, you know, 20 games in the top flight. He's a kid. It's, it's, it's, it's all gone a bit silly. Jacob Ramsey, 44 million, I think Mad from Villa to Newcastle hasn't got an England cap yet. And yeah, yeah, and Then the other example which didn't happen was Jorgenstrand larsson.
- [12:47]
Ayo Akimolere
Oh, yeah.
- [12:48]
Jacob Whitehead
60 million for a player who was signed for 23 million two months ago. Again, if you want sort of, you know, the epitome of the madness of transfer fees. I'm almost turned it down. That's the craziest thing. So yeah, I mean if you, if you ask Wolves fans in January whether they would have sold strand Larsen for 60 million quid when he scored seven goals in his first 26 games for the club, everyone would have said yes. But he had a little purple patch the end of season, got to 14 in the Premier League and all of a sudden he's a 60 million pound player and they're still saying no. It's just, it's just crazy.
- [13:17]
Unidentified Football Analyst
I was looking at all the top fees from across Europe and the 50th biggest signing was 35 million euros. Like as Malik Fiore to Newcastle. Like that's 50th.
- [13:28]
Ayo Akimolere
Yeah.
- [13:28]
Unidentified Football Analyst
So what Tim says about 40 million first team player. Absolutely the case.
- [13:32]
Ayo Akimolere
Okay, let's quickly go to a moment too. Nicholas Jackson. Jacob, you enjoyed Nicholas Jackson's eventual move to Bayern Munich and it was very eventful. Can you just tell us what happened there?
- [13:43]
Unidentified Football Analyst
I love anything where players aren't where they're supposed to be during the transfer window, where they're either going somewhere or refusing to leave somewhere.
- [13:50]
Ayo Akimolere
And.
- [13:50]
Unidentified Football Analyst
And Jackson is a perfect example of this. So sort of on and off and off and on. He was at the club World cup. Clearly not in Chelsea's plans. Didn't help himself by getting sent off really early for the second time in the last 12 months. Clearly wanted to go clear Chelsea weren't interested in him. But it took a while for the market to emerge. She realized that Bayern eventually he had the place he was ready to go. And literally he's mid air on his way to Bavaria. Dilapidus, his hamstring. They didn't quite get a message through to the pilots. They can't do the complete 180 in the air, but he lands there. Chelsea are like, nick, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. Can you come back, please? And possibly my favorite bit was when his agent turned into sort of a freedom fighter with some of his thing. I wrote down Jackson hashtag, we won't give up. I will fight with everything I have to make sure Nikos accepts. Reflects his talent, ambition and a plan we built together. Amazing statement to have. And so he was refusing to go home to Bayern. You sort of imagine was he sort of kicking around the sort of airport departure lounge. Had he sort of gone through and put his passport in yet? Just to make it clear if he did need to. So it was off again from the buying end, it seemed like on Sunday evening before, sort of eventually got reconstructed during the day on Monday and eventually Nicholas Jackson made his way to Munich.
- [15:03]
Ayo Akimolere
Right, Jack, talk to me. Manchester City, massive exodus there.
- [15:07]
Tim Spears
Yeah, I think this has been one of. Maybe it's gone a little bit under the radar this summer is how much, how much Pope Guardiola has changed the Manchester City squad over the course of this window. Like it's clear that, that, that team that he built in his first year or two at City was probably coming to the end of the cycle. But this season, over the course of this summer, they've lost. Well, Walker's gone to Burnley, Kevin De Bruyne has gone to Napoli. Edison, they've just sold. I think bizarrely, given how important he's been to them over the years. Akanji's gone, Jack Grealish has gone. I wouldn't be surprised if, okay, Gundogan goes as well. So, yeah, it's just a huge turnover and I think it's, you know, arguably it's a little bit, a little bit overdue. Like they did bring in lots of new players last season. But for me this is, this is one of the most, yeah, one of the most important things that we're to see this window.
- [15:52]
Ayo Akimolere
Okay. Right Tim, let's move on to moment four new notes. Santo at Notam Forest. I don't know which is more bizarre, what's happened here or Morgan Gibbs wide doing a U turn from when he was supposed to be heading to Tottenham.
- [16:05]
Jacob Whitehead
Well, Forest have had a fairly sensible couple of years by their standards. But the window topped off by some of the stuff they did yesterday. Crazy. You know, they signed four Brazilians from Botafogo. They signed effect.
- [16:16]
Ayo Akimolere
Sorry about that.
- [16:17]
Jacob Whitehead
Yeah, they signed two left backs yesterday. They've signed three right wingers in this window. Three. I think they've now got four senior strikers. Three or four senior strikers. So it's, you know, for a manager who famously likes a small squad. He used to talk about it every week at Wolves. I still hear him talk about Forest. They, they won't, they'll have to leave players out of their 25 man squad now. So they're sort of back to where they were a couple of years ago. And yeah, his outburst a couple of weeks ago now in his press conference basically saying, you know, even as, even as Deals of sort of amassing 100 million were being mooted and about to happen. The next day he was like, no, like basically saying it's been a terrible window, he doubts everything that's going on and sort of alluding to doubt in his position really. And then I was, yeah, I was at Forest West Ham on Sunday and the sort of language he was using post match about how utterly shocking the team performance was and he couldn't explain it clearly rifts with Edu and it doesn't look good for him or Forest at the moment, I have to say. And there are some very sort of Forest esque managers waiting in the wings, like Jose Mourinho, like Ange Postecoglou, like Erik Ten Hag, you know, someone who might appeal to Marinakis's ego and just and, and come in and replace Nuno in the coming weeks. Because if you're going to be losing three nil at home to West Ham and only have one shot in the whole first half, then you know, that coupled with this crazy emotive outburst sort of, yeah, doesn't look good for his future really.
- [17:41]
Ayo Akimolere
Let's be honest, those three names you've meant, you've just mentioned, do you think they could do a better job than Nottingham Forest? Forest, because that is a stacked team. Jose Mourinho struggling at Fenerbachi, coming to Nottingham Forest. Come on.
- [17:52]
Jacob Whitehead
Well, yeah, if you look at what 10 Hogs has done at the Leverkusen as well and poster 17th last season.
- [18:01]
Ayo Akimolere
Yeah.
- [18:01]
Jacob Whitehead
But Marinakis hasn't done something crazy in terms of a managerial sacking or appointment for a while. So he's definitely due one.
- [18:06]
Ayo Akimolere
Okay, let's move on to moment number five. Jack Isak. We saw Newcastle talk to me.
- [18:14]
Tim Spears
So I think the Alexander Isaac sad Instagram story about how he wants to leave Newcastle was probably one of the moments of the transfer window just because it showed the sort of technological change we're going through. Like it wasn't too long ago when, I mean, Tim's pretty old enough to remember this too. When players wanted to leave, they would do like a note on the notes app on their phone. So I'm thinking Grant Holt trying to leave Norwich city in about 2012, that sort of era. But you know, times change and so we're now in Instagram story era. And I think this was really big, right, because everybody had been waiting to hear from, from Isaac all summer. He hadn't said anything and then eventually he just put something on his story talking effectively suggesting that he had an agreement that he could leave Newcastle. Obviously Newcastle disputed this version of events but that he'd be able to. He would be able to leave. And this led to a statement. You know a sort of response statement from Newcastle and, and I, I wonder. It's hard to tell but I wonder to what extent it's kind of got the ball rolling on. On his eventual move to, to. To Liverpool.
- [19:19]
Ayo Akimolere
Yeah. And make sure you check out our dedicated episode from yesterday on Isaac's move to Liverpool.
- [19:26]
Unidentified Football Analyst
Yeah I mean just quickly on Isaac. Thing I quite liked about that was that the font he eventually used chose his statement is quite far down the list of options on Instagram which means there's this greater image of Isaac doing the PFA Awards being I'm not doing Comic Sans like sad fun for a sad statement.
- [19:44]
Jacob Whitehead
Exactly.
- [19:45]
Ayo Akimolere
True. It's true.
- [19:46]
Tim Spears
Well thought of but I, I and I think and I can't prove this but the really interesting thing to me is to what extent did that influence Newcastle statement which came out late last night which I think was one of the, one of the briefest statements about any, any sale I've ever seen. It all it says is it just, it just marks the fact that he's been sold and it says ESAC made 109 appearances in all competitions.
- [20:10]
Ayo Akimolere
It.
- [20:10]
Tim Spears
It doesn't even mention 62 goals. I thought that is the bare minimum even before you get to the fact they don't have. We thank Alexander for all his service over the last three years. We wish Alexander well for the future. There's none of that at all.
- [20:20]
Unidentified Football Analyst
Two goals per word. Somebody put the goodbye to Isaac Hayden photo next to the Alexander Isaac statement. It's a glowing thing about Isaac Hayden. It's so good.
- [20:33]
Ayo Akimolere
Do you know what is interesting because I want to talk about WIESA as well. Obviously both are kicked off and forced moves out of their respective clubs and you've got sort of Paul Margue here. Palace. He's been the pure professional. Didn't get the move he probably wanted.
- [20:45]
Jacob Whitehead
I mean it's hard to imagine a deal getting further down the line without you know according to widespread reports and then, and then being called off. You just hope that they were doing some kind of Amazon Netflix documentary to sell her Sellers park or the palace training ground yesterday. So yeah, no. And he signed off in the perfect way with a right footed screamer.
- [21:05]
Ayo Akimolere
And you saw the celebration. It looked. It was fairy tale.
- [21:08]
Jacob Whitehead
It was ready to go 3 nil win. I'm seeing a video doing the rounds yesterday. I don't know if that's Legit. His farewell video.
- [21:13]
Ayo Akimolere
I know. I saw that this morning.
- [21:15]
Jacob Whitehead
Is that real?
- [21:15]
Unidentified Football Analyst
I don't know.
- [21:16]
Ayo Akimolere
I don't know. I mean, it's the Internet. I don't know.
- [21:18]
Jacob Whitehead
That's heartbreaking, right?
- [21:20]
Ayo Akimolere
Next we'll talk Eze versus Simmons Grealish. And also Marco Bisot. Marco Bisot. Marco Bisot.
- [21:31]
FIFA World Cup Announcer
This is the Athletic FC podcast with IO Akimolere.
- [21:38]
Ayo Akimolere
Hi, it's Matt here from P1 with Matt and Tommy. And this episode is sponsored by ebay. Buying a car should feel secure, start to finish. That's why you should buy your next ride on ebay. See, ebay's got everything from classics to trucks and imports. Now, with secure purchase, sellers and titles are verified and financing, delivery and insurance options are built right in. Plus, eligible vehicle purchases are backed by up to $100,000 in protection. So buy your next car on ebay. Ebay Things people love. Secure purchase is powered by Caramel Dealer Services LLC, an eBay subsidiary.
- [22:16]
Grainger Advertiser
This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try it@progressive.com Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.
- [22:36]
Darina (OpenPhone Co-founder)
Hi, I'm Darina, co founder of OpenPhone. My dad is a business owner and growing up, I'll never forget his old ringtone. I he made it as loud as it could go because he could not afford to miss a single customer call. That stuck with me. When we started OpenPhone, our mission was to help businesses not just stay in touch, but make every customer feel valued, no matter when they might call. OpenPhone gives your team business phone numbers to call and text customers, all through an app on your phone or computer. Your calls, messages and contacts live in one workspace so your team can stay fully aligned and reply faster. And with our AI agent answering 24 7, you'll really never miss a customer. Over 60,000 businesses use OpenPhone. Try it now and get 20% off your first six months@openphone.com business and we can port your existing numbers over for free. OpenPhone. No missed calls, no missed customers.
- [23:41]
Ayo Akimolere
Tim the Battle of North London. Eze was thought to be going to Tottenham. Arsenal were like, we're not having that. He's coming to us. Ends up signing for Arsenal. But then also significantly, they've got Xavi Simmons, probably one of the young stars of Europe over the last few years. Let's start with the essay one that was an interesting one, wasn't it?
- [24:02]
Jacob Whitehead
It's kind of mad now thinking that he would have gone to spurs, you know, now that he's, you know, boyhood Arsenal fan, family of Arsenal fans. Henri was his hero. You know, the video of him getting the number 10 shirt, it looks like he's, you know, so emotional. It means so much to him, the fact that he was, he was, you know, apparently going to join spurs, sort of like Matt Doherty, like cringing at his tweets all over again. So, yeah, a significant moment for both clubs. Obviously spurs to get similar, as you say, feels like they were probably led down the garden path a little bit by Eze and or his people. The way, the way it sort of transpired. I don't know, it always felt to me like Arsenal and Eze was. I'd love it to be played out as dramatically as, you know, he's basically about to sign for spurs, everything's agreed and then, you know, gets a phone call, you know, eastenders style, you know, Arsenal calling.
- [24:46]
Unidentified Football Analyst
I think David Ormstein reported that is essay. Who called? Arteta did call, which is pretty spicy.
- [24:52]
Ayo Akimolere
Yeah, he wanted to go, but it is a bit weird, isn't it? And who holds the power because they're spurs thinking finally. Because I basically saw lots of fan blogs and stuff and they were like, he's coming to us, Jack as ace coming. And then in the last minute I almost saw tears at some point.
- [25:08]
Tim Spears
It really did. I mean, it did feel like it was going to happen. Like, I think, you know, Daniel Levy, we reported this. Daniel Levy and Steve Parish met, they agreed a sort of outline of a 50 plus 10 deal on the Monday of that week. And then on Wednesday morning, you know, Tottenham agreed to all of, all of Palace's demands on the add ons because there's a lot of haggling about add ons and yeah, I mean, it's hard to see what more Tottenham could have done in that circumstance. But as soon as Arsenal came to the table, it was game over, really.
- [25:35]
Ayo Akimolere
Let's go on to moment seven. Jacob players unshackled this one. Jack Grealish. I mean, what a start to his new career. For the time being anyway, because it's a load at Everton.
- [25:47]
Unidentified Football Analyst
Everyone loves this, right? Surely he's been helped out by the fact that two of his assists of the four have been layoffs before someone has spanked into the net from 30 yards. But it's just been so good to see how much he's been enjoying life at Everton. He got put In a headlock after the Wolves game by a fan at the weekend, which quite liked because it sort of spoke to a bit how it feels like he's been treated at Man City a bit since Al prescription has been and you know, he loves being the main man. It's fair to say that like, you know, Everton aren't facing a low block every week so he is able to have a bit more fun. And there's injured hall dibbling, but I mean Everton like, you know, it's quite exciting as a forward line.
- [26:26]
Jacob Whitehead
You can look at data all you like, but Everton has just basically gone for the low sock brigade. Like there's three now, Diblin, Dewsbury hall and Grealish Low sock Brothers. And they're all brilliant. Yeah, I love it. Great policy.
- [26:39]
Ayo Akimolere
It was like the lower soccer system. Goal like Jewsbury Grealish Jews bangs it in the net. So true, so true. Without Emi Martinez not in the squad at all tonight. Why is that?
- [26:51]
Unidentified Football Analyst
Bisot.
- [26:53]
Ayo Akimolere
Marco Bisot. Where is Emmy Martinez though? Marco Bisot. Will he be your future goalkeeper? Marco Bisot? All right, Jack, talk to me. Aston Villa. Is Unai Mary going crazy?
- [27:09]
Tim Spears
No, I think this is brilliant. I think I rate this so highly. I think this was the. I think this was the best moment in the window. So obviously this is Unai Emery's pre match interview before the game the other day. Emi Martinez, who's obviously been megastar for Aston Villa in the last few years, he's not in the team. It's no secret that he wants to leave to Manchester United. So Emery's picked his new backup goalkeeper, Marco Bizzot, who, you know, he's had a really good career. I don't think a lot of people who aren't Billa fans know too much about him. And I think Emery gets three questions from the TV interview, all completely legitimate questions. A totally fair, fair enough line of questioning about why Emery Martinez isn't playing. And Emery just says, Marcus Bizot Marque Bizart. I think it's really good. I think, I mean, obviously, like from a journalistic perspective, you want the manager to give an interesting, informative answer which tells you exactly what's going on from the manager's perspective. You don't want to talk about it. Like, you just don't. You don't want to get drawn into the kind of dirty laundry in public of like, why your most famous player and you're.
- [28:15]
Jacob Whitehead
Yeah, but. And yet by only using two words, we know exactly. He didn't slag anyone off. He didn't criticize the owners. He didn't do a Nuno, he just said two words. And we know exactly what his way.
- [28:26]
Tim Spears
I also think. I mean, part of me thinks, like, he's got this new sub keeper who's. He's come to the club, is probably expected to be the backup, I would guess, to Martinez, who's now in the first team. Maybe this is Emery's way of kind of boosting his, you know, saying, you're my guy now. Marco. Bizarre. We all, you know, we signed you because we know you've had a really good career in France, in Belgium and Holland. We all believe in you and you're new number one. And maybe he's just trying to puff him up that way. I don't know.
- [28:53]
Jacob Whitehead
It's kind of like improv theater where you can only say two words. You gotta have a conversation, you know.
- [28:58]
Ayo Akimolere
Let the audience do the. Yeah, deduce it. Can I just. Before we move on, can I just put it out there? Is anyone else here slightly worried about Aston Villa this season?
- [29:06]
Jacob Whitehead
Yeah, I was. Anyway, to be honest, I'm not convinced by Sancho as an addition on deadline days. Although it was pretty desperate, to be honest. Harvey Elliott. Okay, not bad. But yeah, they've arguably got worse than. Than last season. I think if you look at their squad, I think there's only a few teams you can say that about. Wolves would be another. Maybe Fulham. But yeah, I'd be. It all feels very, very flat at Villa Park.
- [29:29]
Unidentified Football Analyst
It'll be really interesting to see if Martinez does get reintegrated because he was, I mean, like, sat in Villa's training ground yesterday, calling up Reuben Amarim and his mates in Argentina, Lisandra Martinez, to come and sign him and saying, come and get me. And they didn't want him. Like, that's A, like pretty embarrassing. And then B, kind of. You've burns a lot of bridges, like, probably is a better goalkeeper than Marco. Bizarre.
- [29:49]
Ayo Akimolere
Yeah, sorry, Marco. Oh, sorry, Marco. Right, let's move on. Moment number nine. This one's for you, Tim and Jack. The battle for the number nines. Isaac, obviously, he's gone. Dior Carez to Arsenal. This has been a big window for the big strikers.
- [30:05]
Tim Spears
Tesco.
- [30:06]
Jacob Whitehead
Yes.
- [30:07]
Ayo Akimolere
Still yet to see Volta Marder. Can't wait to see him. Cannot wait to see him at Newcastle.
- [30:12]
Jacob Whitehead
Yeah.
- [30:12]
Ayo Akimolere
Calvin Calvert, Lewin.
- [30:14]
Jacob Whitehead
Yeah. Yeah.
- [30:15]
Tim Spears
So, yeah, I think we've got some.
- [30:16]
Jacob Whitehead
That's half a joke.
- [30:18]
Ayo Akimolere
I've got it.
- [30:20]
Tim Spears
Yeah. I mean, I think anybody who. Anybody who knows that the highest form of football Is lumping it to the big man. Is excited by a summer in which we're finally getting some big number nines back into our league. That's what it's all about.
- [30:31]
Ayo Akimolere
Calvert, they're in talk today.
- [30:35]
Jacob Whitehead
He didn't look. He didn't look too bad either. Lisa Base signed like three, like injury prone strikers.
- [30:40]
Ayo Akimolere
Are you also surprised no one, not many others went for Cavalier.
- [30:43]
Jacob Whitehead
I think he's, you know, since his big season, what was that, 21, 22.
- [30:47]
Ayo Akimolere
He's been injured since then, basically.
- [30:48]
Jacob Whitehead
He's basically scored like 10 goals in three years, something like that. But yeah, Leeds have signed two players of that Elk. Nemecher obviously had really bad injury histories are again for free. And then Okafor at Milan again really injury prone. So yeah, not too convinced by Leeds business. But yeah, Gyokeres will be the standout number nine for me. I think just in terms of the excitement, I think, you know, we've all sort of followed his career from, you know, from sort of Coventry to Sporting and like, kind of like, you know what can, can this guy continue this incredible scoring record? And then there was such a buzz around his signing with like record shirt sales at Arsenal in terms of the amount of people getting his name on the back of the shirt. And I think everyone's just really keen to, to watch him and see how he can do. He's definitely one of the most interesting players in the Premier League this season for me and maybe one of the most pivotal if he can score 25 goals, that's a massive game changer for Arsenal and I think, I think they're hard to stop for the League if, if he can do that.
- [31:40]
Tim Spears
I think Volta Marder is my man to watch. He has a kind of like deluxe.
- [31:44]
Ayo Akimolere
Peter Crouch Energy Moment 10 the Finale, Marcus Rashford to Barcelona and I guess a much wider conversation around a lot of players that were sort of surplus to requirements this summer.
- [31:57]
Unidentified Football Analyst
Feels like this is something Chelsea have been involved in quite a lot. Man U had five and we're under reporting a bit. When Manu was sort of saying these five come to and said they wanted to leave. You sort of had both parties briefing against each other a bit. Were saying I didn't want to go. Oh yes, no, they wanted to go. Which is all kind of unedifying for everyone involved. But one thing which I think is quite interesting, which may be developing is sort of a legal argument against bomb squads and whether players will have the right in the future to go to the PFA or to FIFA or Anything like that and say, I am sort of having my trade unfairly blocked here by a club, I'm on a contract, I want to be able to show my wares. And yes, I'm being sent to train with the under 21s for no other reason than I don't fit the 4 through 3. But the manager wants to play, which I do actually have a little bit of sympathy for.
- [32:41]
Tim Spears
Bomb squads are why I got. I don't really get outraged by ESAC and Western players like that behaving like they have because the fact is clubs treat players so disposably when it suits them. The clubs, the clubs don't really care about the players. And so I don't really have a problem with players digging their heels in and trying to get what they want from the clubs either.
- [33:01]
Ayo Akimolere
Yeah, you could say the same about Cesko coming in for Hoyland, for instance. Another player just disposable, bought in, said to be the, the savior. Manchester United's number nine situation. And then off he goes again in this summer.
- [33:13]
Jacob Whitehead
Yeah, I, you know, sold the dream two years ago. You know, you're, you're our number nine for X. X amount of years. And then, you know, I was going to say bad half a season, but it's probably bad season and a bit maybe, but yeah, it wasn't helped by the team either. Yeah. And that, that worries me for Man United. You know that on paper they've made three great additions, three really, really good striker editions. But if you look the big money signings they made in the last few years, they've almost all failed. There's just something wrong with that club.
- [33:43]
Unidentified Football Analyst
There's a world in which Cesko was bought two and a half years ago when lots of clubs were interested in him and has had Hojlund treat, would have had Hojlund treatment and Hojlund would have just stayed at Atlanta for another two years, banged in another 15, 20 goals a season and been brought in as the CESKO for 70 million and asked to do the thing. Like, I don't think there's anything inherently massively different about them, to be honest.
- [34:01]
Ayo Akimolere
Okay, well, next we'll get down to business and rank those moments from 10 to 1.
- [34:15]
Verizon Advertiser
Popsicles, sprinklers, a cool breeze. Talk about refreshing. You know what else is refreshing this summer? A brand new phone with Verizon. Yep. Get a new phone on any plan with select phone, trade in in MyPlan and lock down a low price for three years on any plan with MyPlan. This is a deal for everyone whether you're a new or existing customer. Swing by Verizon today for our best phone deals. 3 year price guarantee applies to then current based monthly rate only. Additional terms and conditions apply for all offers.
- [34:49]
Unidentified Football Analyst
Moving money used to be slow.
- [34:54]
Tim Spears
But.
- [34:54]
Verizon Advertiser
Now you can move money fast with Visa Direct. Meet the need for speed even across more than 11 billion cards, accounts and wallets. Move money your way. Learn more@visa.com VisaDirect.
- [35:15]
Grainger Advertiser
This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try it@progressive.com Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.
- [35:41]
FIFA World Cup Announcer
You're listening to the Athletic FC podcast with Ayo Akimolere.
- [35:46]
Ayo Akimolere
All right, before we go through ranking the top 10, some honorable mentions, Tim, you want to talk about Lucas Paqueta?
- [35:52]
Jacob Whitehead
Oh yeah, I was at City Ground on Sunday. Watch. You know, reports have come out the night before in the Athletic that look, he might not be playing for West Ham at Forest on Sunday because he's in talks with Villa and he might be leaving. And then so, you know, we're all excited to the team sheet. There he was on the team sheet. Okay, he's playing great. He had a shocker of a game.
- [36:12]
Tim Spears
Awful.
- [36:13]
Jacob Whitehead
West Ham go one and up, then they get penalty. He steps up to take it and then this. I mean, you can't really see first angle what he was doing with celebration, but you knew he'd done something. And then we see the replay and he's basically mime's taking a phone call, rejecting the call and then kisses the badge 24 hours after basically being in doubt as to whether he'd even play the brass neck on that guy, honestly. So, yeah, it was West Ham, a really interesting one. And then you got this whole Callum Wilson thing where he was probably the least popular signing of the summer by, you know, most fans get behind a new signing, like, yeah, let's at least see what I can do. But because of this banter he'd had with Michael Antonio and his podcast, he compared Antonio and West Ham winning the Conference League to winning a trophy on FIFA and that. But that's, that's it, I think, you know, but. And that got picked up and retweeted loads when they were linked to them this summer. And the amount of replies to West Ham's announcement tweet saying we don't want this guy get out of that club. Like, it's just ridiculous.
- [37:12]
Ayo Akimolere
Say humble pie. The only club that might take you.
- [37:14]
Jacob Whitehead
Yeah, exactly. And then he scored on Sunday and everything's fine.
- [37:18]
Ayo Akimolere
Yeah, right. We'll see. That will come back and haunt him. Jacob, what are you thinking in terms of honorable mentions?
- [37:23]
Unidentified Football Analyst
I love it when someone who we've been talking about for years and years finally arrives in the Premier League. So I think the one for this I'm thinking of is Xavi Siemens, who seems to have been linked to every single one of the top six clubs.
- [37:33]
Ayo Akimolere
I just want to see this kid flourish, mate, and have a home.
- [37:35]
Unidentified Football Analyst
And it's quite nice that. I mean, maybe some of our listeners may watch far more Bundeslig for me, but for me, I sort of catch him at major tournaments, saw him in Champions League, and he gets a few glimpses of him and you see what he can do. But then idea to see him week in, week out, have a disappointing defeat at Brentford or star in a win at Burnley, like just. Just having masses of regularity. It's just a little bit of excitement when you finally get them every week.
- [37:57]
Ayo Akimolere
Sophie Simmons, an exciting one for Tottenham.
- [38:00]
Tim Spears
Yeah, I'm really excited to. To see how he does. Obviously comes in with a huge reputation and generally Tottenham haven't. He's a kind of. He's a kind of like. I think what fans want is. They want them to. They want teams to sign players generally from abroad who are young and have got a bit of a reputation, but who are not kind of too well known yet. And spurs generally, in the last few years, they've spent their money on Premier League established players, which I get. But I think from a sort of fans perspective, you want to bring in players from abroad. So I think that. I think this is probably the most exciting signing that Tottenham have had for years.
- [38:31]
Ayo Akimolere
Right, let's get into our ranking of the top 10 moments that we have already discussed. Which one starts in 10th place? We got a name we can put down or moments we can put down for 10th place?
- [38:44]
Tim Spears
City's pep exodus. 10th. Not a lot of banter there.
- [38:48]
Ayo Akimolere
Yeah, I'm with you on that one.
- [38:49]
Unidentified Football Analyst
It's a slow burn.
- [38:50]
Ayo Akimolere
Slow burn.
- [38:51]
Tim Spears
Yeah.
- [38:51]
Ayo Akimolere
Well done. Okay, so city's exodus. Number 10, number 9.
- [38:55]
Jacob Whitehead
I feel bad for saying Dango Watara's like a real irate. You know, he's. I like watching him, to be fair, so maybe we could put him, you know, a bit further down the list.
- [39:03]
Tim Spears
What I would add, if I can just come back on that really, really quickly. What I would add on Watara is that I do think that Brentford probably had benefit of the doubt just because their, their recruitment has been so good in for years now. I think if it's another team doing that I'd think what on earth are you doing? Because it's Brentford I maybe they've got.
- [39:19]
Jacob Whitehead
But I would cancel that by saying Bournemouth also know a good player when the C1 as does it raiola. So that fact is willing to let him go. Loving this. Bournemouth, Brentford.
- [39:26]
Ayo Akimolere
Yeah, no, it's nice. Is this number nine?
- [39:28]
Tim Spears
Yeah, yeah.
- [39:29]
Ayo Akimolere
Okay, number nine. Brilliant. Okay, let's move to number eight. What we thinking?
- [39:33]
Unidentified Football Analyst
The bomb squad stuff seem to happen quite early in the summer, which is unfair. But recency bias is recency bias for a reason. Recent stuff's fun, we like it.
- [39:41]
Ayo Akimolere
Okay, bomb squad, number eight, number seven.
- [39:45]
Tim Spears
Jack Grealish to Everton.
- [39:46]
Jacob Whitehead
Good signing, good signing, Good moment.
- [39:49]
Tim Spears
Not spectacular.
- [39:50]
Ayo Akimolere
There's some romance in Grealish. Everton, isn't there?
- [39:53]
Jacob Whitehead
Yeah, everyone's happy for him. I think everyone loves, everyone does.
- [39:56]
Ayo Akimolere
Okay, all right. Number seven. I thought we might be a bit. We might be like number three or four. Number six.
- [40:03]
Jacob Whitehead
The Nuno Bombshell comments. Maybe. Yeah, you know, not the best moment but pretty good.
- [40:09]
Unidentified Football Analyst
We needed one more like public shoving, I'd say or a sort of marching onto the pitch again to sort of really throw that into the operation.
- [40:17]
Ayo Akimolere
Yeah, okay, Fair, fair. Fair. Number six, Nuno Bombshell. Number five.
- [40:22]
Tim Spears
Big man, Summer jockers.
- [40:24]
Jacob Whitehead
Tesco.
- [40:24]
Ayo Akimolere
Okay. Yeah, Big striker summer. Yeah, that's nice. I like that. Very clean, very solid. Number four.
- [40:31]
Jacob Whitehead
We've got Jackson, I guess.
- [40:33]
Unidentified Football Analyst
Yeah, yeah, I'd have that higher because of us sticking around and refusing to leave.
- [40:37]
Ayo Akimolere
I like the build up story to that. Jacob.
- [40:39]
Unidentified Football Analyst
Maybe North London.
- [40:41]
Ayo Akimolere
Can we hold that? Can we hold that? What would be then a number four if we swap this battle of North.
- [40:46]
Unidentified Football Analyst
London at number four.
- [40:47]
Ayo Akimolere
Yeah. Do you know what the essay one. Yeah, yeah, let's put AZ number four.
- [40:51]
Jacob Whitehead
So what have we got left?
- [40:52]
Ayo Akimolere
Jackson three.
- [40:53]
Jacob Whitehead
Oh, we've got the Insta. Insta bombshell.
- [40:56]
Ayo Akimolere
Insta, exactly.
- [40:57]
Jacob Whitehead
I think we all know it's coming in one, so. Yeah, maybe.
- [40:59]
Ayo Akimolere
So number three is Jackson. Yeah, definitely. Number three, Nicholas Jackson. Number two.
- [41:03]
Unidentified Football Analyst
Social media.
- [41:04]
Ayo Akimolere
Yeah, Exact statement, tight font. I like that.
- [41:08]
Unidentified Football Analyst
Yeah.
- [41:09]
Ayo Akimolere
And number one, Marco Bisoto. Marco Bisot. Marco Bisot. It has to be the UNAI meltdown or not. Or Marco Bizot, number one keeper. Who knows? So many storylines here. But I think that is a really good list. So let's refresh ourselves. Number 10 Pep City Exodus. Number 9, Dango Atarafi. Number 8, Bomb Squad Chat Number 7, Grealish Treverton. Although I don't like that a bit more down the line. Number six, Nuno Bombshell. Number five, big striker Summer 4 Battle of North London Eze to Arsenal. Number three, Nicholas Jackson to Bayern Munich. Number two, the Instagram statements. And number one once again, Marco Bizot. All right gents, let's end it there. Really appreciated that. So much fun. Really good insight. Jacob, Jack, and also Tim. And continuing the theme of ranking things, we have the book for you. We're so excited to announce the release of the athletics the soccer 100. From Pele to Messi Cruyff to Mbappe, it's our definitive ranking of the greatest footballers ever to play the game. It's available from the 18th of November. You can find the pre order link in the description of this episode. Thanks for listening and we'll see you tomorrow.
- [42:33]
FIFA World Cup Announcer
You've been listening to the Athletic FC Podcast. The producers are Guy Clark, Mike Stabre and Jay Beal. Executive producers are Abby Patterson and Adie Moorhead. To listen to other great athletic podcasts for free, including our dedicated club shows, search for the Athletic on Apple, Spotify and all the usual places. You'll also find us on YouTube at the Athletic FC Podcast, so make sure you subscribe. The Athletic FC Podcast is an athletic media company production.
- [43:09]
Ayo Akimolere
When you're a forward thinker, you don't just bring your A game, you bring your AI game. Workday is the AI platform that transforms the way you manage your people, money and agents so you can transform tomorrow Workday, moving business business forever forward.
- [43:25]
Verizon Advertiser
If you're a custodial supervisor at a local high school, you know that cleanliness is key and that the best place to get cleaning supplies is from Grainger. Grainger helps you stay fully stocked on the products you trust, from paper towels and disinfectants to floor scrubbers. Plus, you can rely on Grainger for easy reordering, so you never run out of what you need. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done. This is Rose. Rose's flight is delayed again. At this point, she has walked the entire terminal twice and has memorized every news headline on the airport tv. All she really wants to do is take off. Good thing Rose has a library of free ebooks. With Prime. Suddenly she's chasing bad guys, kissing hot vampires, solving murders. You know, living her best life. Free ebooks library. It's on Prime.