Gary: you That's funny. I just, can't wait to get to that story now.

Wizzard: ⁓ I know. Yeah, it's a good one.

Gary: It's gonna be ridiculous, it's gonna be ridiculous. All right, well listen, welcome, welcome again to, you know this is number 38 now that we've done of this. It's outrageous, it's outrageous. ⁓ But yeah, 38, welcome to the show. Monday night 40 from Mulligans. Welcome to the lads who are sat in Mulligans watching us now. Hopefully you've not got absolutely drenched walking down there. You were saying it's bad in Obokan.

Wizzard: 38 there we go It was before, I don't know, I think it's a little bit of a light rain right now, I haven't been outside in a little bit, but I could hear it earlier, it was pretty bad.

Gary: That's shocking. We are one down again tonight. It's like, didn't you say this before? It's like marriage counseling, like you're the mediator. One week it's Anthony, next week it's me.

Wizzard: I know it's like I'm the, like we've got a little bit of a divorce going on and I'm just like, I got my dad one weekend. I got my mom the next weekend. So just, you know, you mix in a little footy talk with that. But, ⁓ but one thing I didn't want to give a shout out to, I, you know, I don't want to know, I don't want to say I'm the motivator to this, but obviously I've been dropping some PSAs out there about picking up the dog poop. Someone actually create an account on Instagram.

Gary: I did see this, this is amazing.

Wizzard: Yes. And people were actually sending this to me and saying, is this you? Is this you? I can't take credit for it. All I can say is I saw the mayor posted about it. I saw, we got groups getting started. So love the words getting spread out there. We're a community here. Let's get the word out. Keep picking up your dog shit, but I love that there's Instagram groups getting created about this.

Gary: I honestly thought it was you, you know. I thought it, when I first saw it, I'm like, God, just look at him and he's got 2000 followers already or something like that. It's great, listen, you're doing the right, you're working for the people is what you're doing. You're working for the people. All right, okay, so like as usual, it's just right there at the bottom. If you've got an opinion, if you wanna come after us a little bit, I mean, listen, I put a Tottenham shirt on the wall today for obvious reasons. ⁓

Wizzard: Exactly, exactly.

Gary: We've got a lot to pick apart from that. I wasn't here last week after the, some of the other unfortunate stuff with Liverpool, but I'm here today to take it on the chin, so to speak. If you've got anything you want to stick in the comments, fire away. The usual, like and subscribe to us on YouTube, Monday night footy at Mullies and then on Instagram as well as Monday night footy pod. But yeah, get involved. There's only two of us tonight. So, you know, if we, might need a little bit of moral support along the way, but we'll see where we go. We'll see where we go with it. Couple of things, right.

Wizzard: I'm sure Anthony's gonna jump in the comments at some point, you know. He can't stay away from that long.

Gary: I would like to think so, he's here in spirit. But there's something's gonna get said soon where he's just gonna be like itching to get forward and he's gonna jump in, I think. Definitely think. So here's one for you. So I got a couple of questions. So I wanted to hopefully people again, for people to fight over and this that and the other. I've got two tonight. So the first one is gonna be a question that I think is again, it's sneaky difficult, but it's gettable.

Wizzard: Yeah, sure.

Gary: but it's, you know, you might think it might make you think about it. So again, if you're in the pub, watching the pub, watching it at home, crack it into the comments and we'll give you the answer in about five, 10 minutes time. Once we've been through this past weekend's games, the question is, and it's very Arsenal centric, which you know what I've got to take. We've got to our hands up with the doing all right. So the question is, which two teams did Arsenal not beat during their invincible season? Which two teams did Arsenal not beat? in their invincible season. So if you think you know, ping it in the comments. We might put the right and wrong answers up on the screen, but you know sometimes that triggers a little bit of response. So we'll see what people come up with. So what did you make of this weekend's games, mate? Outside of the obvious ones.

Wizzard: Yeah, mean, I mean, it was definitely an interesting weekend overall. I mean, there's definitely some of the obvious ones. you know, listen, we'll get to Newcastle. But I think, honestly, you know, looking at who I was probably most impressed with this weekend, it was probably Manchester United. And it kills me to say that. But if you look at the last, you know, if you look at just the last probably six or seven league games, what team is performing better right it's really hard because like, you know, it's really like that manager really had no clue what he was doing, Amorim. Cause you see like the same players, he's just getting so much out of these guys and he's picking the right chances to bring in SESCO, starting SESCO in certain situations. I think Cunha is really, really, he, I mean, he was great at Wolves, but I think we're really seeing him take that next step and playing with some better players around him. And then I think we'll talk about it and I think it's one of your other questions, but Bruno Fernandez has been outrageous this season with just the chances he's creating and just, you know, I think he was a part of almost every single goal. Um, that first header by, you know, Casamero, the goal to Cunha like he is just making things happen. And one of the things I love about his game is just everything is just like, get me the ball and we're going to attack. We're just going to every time first time he gets the ball, he's turning, he's going right towards the goal. And he's going to Ibuyemo, he's going to Cunha, he's going to Diallo. He's finding different ways to get through the defense, but he's always just creating opportunities and chances. And I think that's probably the thing that stood out to me the most, because Aston Villa, we all know, has been a top four, top five team all season. Now, they're on the down swing a little bit, but they still have really good players. They have good defenders. They have a good team. And Man United just, they dog-walked them this weekend.

Gary: I have a question for you. don't know if this and I hope if anyone's listening to this as well. The same thing as well. If you're in Mulligans or you're in and around and you see you watching us on the telly, don't forget to tag us in any pictures that you say. Get us on. I just love seeing pictures of whiz on the telly with the hair and everything else about it. Like you can't get away from it. But here's a question for you about Man United and about certain things in general. Like I look at Michael Carrick and what he's done with them.

Wizzard: ⁓ I love it. I love it.

Gary: And I look at Martin O'Neill at Celtic. Now listen, there's an obvious age difference, but do think there's something to be said for just someone coming in and managing the players? Because that's what it looks like to me. Listen, no question Carrick knows what he's talking about. He's a cracking player. But is there something to be said with just people coming in and putting an arm around the player, motivating them to do well? You know, like these players at Man United that were dead and buried. two or three months ago now are all of a sudden running the show and everyone seems to be contributing. The feel good factor's back at Old Trafford. Do you think there's something to be said for say a management side of it now because everyone's getting drawn into this head coach row and you've seen what's happening at Liverpool and we've got a head coach. I think sometimes maybe they're just concentrating too much on football and not enough on the person.

Wizzard: Yeah, I think absolutely. think even you saw it not even in English football, but I think Thierry Henry made a good point when like Real Madrid fired Javi Alonso. And I think everyone was pretty shocked by that because it's like they weren't even doing that bad. They've been doing well. And but it's just he could not manage those stars. And I think you have to find that healthy balance where it's like you have that control, but you also have that relationship with your with your players. And I think they talked about how Carlo Ancelotti was one of the best at this where like You know, he had his standards. He had like he'd get on these guys, but he also knew when to put an arm around them. And he knew how to kind of like how to, how each guy, like how they, you know, basically how to get the most out of them. think like, you know, I was in a locker room when I played football. I'm the type of guy you could yell, you could scream at me. I could take anything and I could take any coaching, any feedback, just do it. But then there's some guys you yell and scream at them and you may lose them and they may just shut down and they may actually be play worse. And I just think that some of these guys, just, they're trying so hard to have their system in place, like we saw with Amorim. And they're just not getting the most out of these players. And I think you're almost turning some of these guys into robots and they're out there and they, they're just not the way that they, want to play football. And it's just not the way that they were born and bred to play football. And there's just so stuck to these systems and so stuck to this game plan. And it's like, It's just kind of taken away from some of these guys. You see them out there, they're not reacting well to it.

Gary: Well, that's as well, that's the thing, the reaction of it. you know, and I think Rossini is like this at Chelsea. Like, there's no question Rossini knows what he's talking about, but is he the type of person that's going to give you a kick up the ass and not only give you the kick up the ass, but you're going to take the kick up the ass and use it for the better of the team or the better of yourself? And I don't, I just don't know. And it just, it just strikes me as, listen, there's something going on. There's something going on. ⁓ in the background, but I just think that these players coming into my night at it are unbelievable. I've just had a comment as well, you know, I'm not going to put it on the screen, but I know it's one of the flins in Mulligans asking me if I'm going to put an Arsenal shirt on the wall. The answer is no, because I don't have one. So you can, you can get stuffed. It's not happening. I only have a spurs one because scared of me misses kicking me head in after this past weekend. That'll be coming down faster than up anyway.

Wizzard: Now, speaking of Spurs though, why haven't they made that call? They've seen it work. They've seen it work with United. Why are they not called one of their former legends or why haven't they brought in someone just galvanized the team and it's like, hey, let's not get relegated because that's going to be bad for everyone.

Gary: I saw the interview, Harry Redknapp in a car park the other day, which like they always do. He's always in a car park or he's got his head sticking out the window of a car. Somebody, definitely at Cheltenham, wasn't he? like, you know, I mean, I give Tudor a lot of credit because I think by all accounts, he's come out and said to them, listen, what are you going to do? can get, I think he's the right guy just at a wrong time. Like I think if they do, if they do survive and they do keep him.

Wizzard: I he was at the racetrack, right?

Gary: I think he's got half a chance of doing something all right because he does seem like the type of fellow that will go after people and try and get a response. And when Spurs get all those players back, I think they'll be in a good spot. I just can't see Spurs going down. I know everyone's saying it's going to be the unthinkable, but I don't think they'll go. And I don't think deep down, know Arsenal fans will probably disagree with me. And I've got a little bit of stake in the Spurs game, obviously, you know, by virtue of the wedding ring, but. It's like Everton, you don't want him to go down. You want the rivalry, you want that to be good. I don't know, people from down south are just more ruthless, but I just think that he'll do okay. I think he'll get it done. I just don't think some of these coaches that are coming in aren't getting the response. And if you want to go to Liverpool now, I think that's exactly what's happening. We're down on a slot now. I don't think he's getting the response. I don't think he's got the ability to get a response.

Wizzard: Yeah.

Gary: but I could be wrong.

Wizzard: It's been, it's been a tough, it's been a tough watch and you know, I don't know what I think I'd love to know what his infatuation is with Gackpo playing him over at Katika. Like I bet you the Liverpool fans saw the lineup card. They're like, okay, Rio's on the left. Okay. Okay. Slot. Let's see what you got. And then it's like, wait, Gackpo is playing striker. Like he's playing the number nine. What, what has she, what has he shown that he can play that position?

Gary: He's got to have pictures of Arna slot in a pair of suspenders or something, like, you know, IEELS and suspenders, one of these crazy Dutch things. But I don't know. Like, why are you not? I think and we'll get to this as well. We're to talk about this because both our teams have got a bit of a European stake this week. But I don't understand how playing on a, you know, playing on a Sunday and then going midweek, you're going to play all these other players. Why not play the guy who's arguably one of the better players this season in Ekateke? but I don't get it. I just, my thing is I don't think he's got the man management skills. No, again, another one of these people, no question he knows about football. Sure he does. Got, you know, probably got lucky last season with a team that was ready to go anyway and go and win the league. But he's just shown now, especially in the last couple of weeks that he's just not getting over the line. Like that start the other day, like Liverpool, if Liverpool hadn't to give... They've given record amount of goals in the season in the last, after the 90th minute or in around the 90th minute. The last time they did that was 2010. That's when Roy Hodgson was the manager. And we all know how that turned out. I just don't know if we'd have got those points, we'd have had 60 points now and we'd have been like, right, nice one. Liverpool are nailed on. Concentrate on the Champions League, concentrate on the FA Cup. We're in the Champions League next year and we're done. But now all of a sudden we're scrambling.

Wizzard: you

Gary: And I don't know if you've seen some of our games towards the end of the season. We've got some tasty games, I think, at times, and it's going to be difficult.

Wizzard: Yeah, one thing that I thought was really interesting was just, I mean, what were your thoughts towards like the last like 15, 20 minutes of that game? I mean, it just seemed like a goal was coming. Like the amount of times that Spurs were able to just take the ball from their side of the pitch and just go and how many chances and opportunities they were getting. It's like, that's not what you typically see in Liverpool teams. I think even last year, it was hard to get the ball. past their midfield. And I just feel like that's not the same. I feel like guys are just they went through them like Swiss cheese at the end there. You look at some of those those chances that Spurs were getting. It's like it was only a matter of time before a goal happened. And I just think like you said like Javi Simeone is just sitting in the midfield. No one marking him. He's getting the ball and he just turns. He sees there's no one there and he's going 30 yards with the ball without anyone getting close to him. I think the experiment with Sabazlai at right back needs to end. He's clearly your best offensive player right now. and he's wasting his time playing right back. He's wasting his time out there, like just running all over the field and he's playing out of position. And I think just, McAllister hasn't been great this year either. I think that the midfield has been the big issues. I think everyone talked about the defense, but I think the midfield right now is kind of a shit show.

Gary: Well, the thing is as well, you look at the last goal, you see how far away Soberslide was, but that's the problem. We can't take, there's a stat out there, I haven't got it to put on the screen, but there's a stat out there in the first half, the amount of chances we created and should have taken care of and we didn't, and then second half it wasn't as bad, but then you're still panicking because you're only a goal behind. So you look at, there's a lot of times in the game where we were going four, five, maybe even six at times, players just flying forward. and the final ball was terrible. Like there was one at the end where Ekateke's gone through, Chiesa's gone screaming around the outside of him and he's played the ball behind him. So then he's on the back foot. Yeah, yeah. they're just not, they're not, they're just not effective enough. And I know that's not Arnaz Slot's fault, but there's gotta be a little bit of something somewhere where we can be a bit more on the front foot earlier and take teams down. Like when we score that first goal, you're like, nice one.

Wizzard: Yeah. ⁓ Yes, I saw that, because he had Sala on the other side too.

Gary: and then you think it's gonna go from there, but it just never does. then, you know, people are getting stretched and Soboslaw is playing right back still, that experiment's still going and we just can't.

Wizzard: You know, it's interesting. It was very similar against Galatasaray too. That first 15, 20 minutes, you guys were all over them and probably should have had two goals. but just that final touch or that final pass. It's like, there's just, they just are not meshing well. And that's where I think you bring a lot of new guys into a team. You got Virts in there. You had Esac for a little bit. Ekateke like they, they're just haven't meshed at all. Like Salah was gone for Afcon for a while. They just can't get on the same page at all. Like they have an, you know, the last six, seven seasons with you guys. Like it was just, you had those three guys up front and they were just all in tune. And even with Diaz and Jota, like these guys, like they'd run, they press, they'd, but they final touch, like a Louis Diaz, he just had so much more from that left wing position. And obviously Salah was significantly a better player than last season than he has been this year. That drop-off's really been big.

Gary: I think that's why Rio, yeah, I think that's why Rio's been effective is because he he's unpredictable. Whereas you know what Gacpo's going to do, you know what Salah's going to do. And I think but you've also got to look at it. I think the players are tired because there's not been a ton of rotation. So, you know, I'm not and again, it's not an excuse because we're just not good enough, but there's no excuse for him to come out at end of the game. And you said to me before, before we came on, like, what is the. You know, what's the problem? What's going wrong? Why can't we do it? And I'm like, I have no idea. But when the players are saying, have no idea. Because the players work on things all week, don't they? They work on things in training. They talk about things. And then all of a sudden, you come to a Sunday. So typically what happens is if you've worked on something all week and then it doesn't work in the game, you know why it hasn't worked. You're like, yeah, we didn't do this. So we didn't do this. For players to come out at the end of the game and say, I don't know. You're like, well, all right. Well, if you don't know, then how the hell are we supposed to know? And then where's that message coming from? I just think with slot now, think it's definitely ⁓ a point of, you know, when it's not if now, I think it's when I mean, and that's yeah, and fans, you know, there's been fans turning on him since November, but at the same time, there's been people like me who've gone, let's just see how it plays out. Let's see how it plays out, but it's getting to the point now where, okay, can we limp? Can we get over the line in fifth place?

Wizzard: And the fans are starting to turn on him now too, right? I heard the boos were pretty bad at the end of that game.

Gary: and then call a season a bust, don't call it what it is, you know, depending on what happens in the Cups. And then we'll move on to next season and maybe he gets the boot in the season. It'd be great. He'll get booted during the World Cup. So it'll kind of go under the radar. But I think another reason, and again, I'm probably sticking my neck out here a little bit is these sporting directions have got to be on the hook for it. Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards have got to be on the hook for this. Like in November when... it looked like it was gonna be a problem. What was the first thing they did? They held one of these round tables and publicly backed him. And then these guys don't seem to have, they have got too much of an ego to turn around and say, listen, we made a mistake. Like it's not worked, but they won't do that. So that's what does, that's what probably pisses me off a little bit more is the fact that a coach is a coach, but if you're panging your hat on this guy and then not having the balls to turn around and make you say you made a mistake. People, think the fans could handle that. If someone turned around and said, listen, we made a mistake here. He should have gone, we didn't let him go, now he's going, but nobody's saying anything. So the fans are getting pissed off because they feel like they're being led down a, you know, down the path by the people above them. But, ⁓ God, let's stop talking about Liverpool's doing me a favour. Because if Packwood would be here, he'd be here all day. I'm surprised he's not even burst into the comments at this point.

Wizzard: Yeah. Yeah, I think like one point one point against wolves and spurs. That's that sums it up right there. No.

Gary: It's not good enough. It's not good enough, it? It's not good enough. I'll tell you what was good enough. Anthony Gordon's goal against Chelsea. ⁓ Let's move it on to positives.

Wizzard: You know, you know, it was actually, you know, you know, it's actually hilarious about that. So we talked about Liam Racina before. So they actually broke it down. T.A.Rion really broke down that, that goal. And, know, one of the, one of the, think it was one of the garnacher, one them just allows it allows a pass. He allows a pass in to liver Mento and he kind of gets right through that front line. And you can see Racina gets pissed. He turns around to his assistant coaches, throws his hands up in the air, backs turn liver Mento. throws an amazing through ball pass to Joe Willick and Racine has got his back turn. He's not even watching what's going on and literally just a tap in for Gordon. And that was it. That's all you needed. That was the only goal of the game. Chelsea, I mean, they had opportunities in the game, but they just, I don't think so. Listen, we played them a couple of weeks ago. I, and when Anthony Gordon got ran over,

Gary: should have had a penalty.

Wizzard: and there was no penalty there. So, sorry, no penalty.

Gary: Do you think that's what happens when you circle around the ref at the beginning of a game?

Wizzard: I think so. I think that was also the weirdest thing I've ever seen. I think the whole honoring of the ball and the huddle, like it's an NFL game, like what are we doing? It's like.

Gary: Like is that in the middle of the pitch? I've never seen that before with them. Did they do that in the center circle?

Wizzard: They just started doing it recently. Like just started doing it. It's to honor the ball. It's to honor the game. This is men. It's just all like, no one respects this guy. And that's another thing. That's another team too, where they've just got, they've got too many players. every week there's new guys in there. You're like, where did that guy come from? And it's like, they've got quality guys. They've got obviously the Cole Palmer's, Joe Pedro's, the... You know, Kaisato's, they've got guys, but you know, I thought it was a great game ⁓ by Newcastle. You know, one of those things too, where Anthony Gordon, I think, obviously I think he's going to get picked for England because obviously I think they don't have too many options out in the left wing, but he can also play striker. Like he has that final touch. He does it in big games. He can take penalties. That's another thing too, that I think you want to have guys there that can take pens. And I just think that his ability to press like he ran that entire game by the end he was just exhausted. Now also he didn't play the majority of then there was, we'll talk about that a little bit later, but like he's another guy you just see him getting all pissed off after because Scherer and all these guys are like, if I was sick and I said I could play 30 minutes like you'd have to take me off the field like how are you not playing in Champions League game against Barcelona? And he came out and said it wasn't my decision. It was the health and the physios and just that's the whole thing with these sporting directors and these physios. They're the ones making these calls. And it's like, how is Anthony, how is Anthony Gordon able to play? You're saying he's sick, but why is he on the bench? Why is he around all the other players? Like, it just doesn't make sense to me. It's like, ⁓ he didn't train. this like we're playing Barcelona. We need our best guys out there. And it showed against Chelsea. He ran all over the pitch. We also didn't have Tonali in that game too. So

Gary: Yeah.

Wizzard: was really impressed with Newcastle this week. Massive win, gives us a chance. I want European football. Even top six, top five, that's not out of question right now, looking at the way some of those teams are playing.

Gary: No, it's not. And the way, like you say, you know, you put a run together in this league, you win three or four games on the spin and you're right in there. You're right in there.

Wizzard: should be getting Bruno back probably in April. ⁓ That's been a big miss not having him out there. But I mean, to go to Chelsea without Tenali, without Bruno, I don't even think Joe Linton started the game. Jacob Ramsey had an awesome game. They actually played voltamata a little bit into the midfield a little bit. I really love when they go with the front three with Gordon, Barnes, and Murphy. Murphy's got the best crosses.

Gary: That's a big one.

Wizzard: Barnes is he's just like a racehorse out there. Just get him the ball. He just makes things happen and then and They're pressed like they are just they were on Chelsea every time and that guy Sanchez You know him when you put a little pressure on him. He starts to freak out a little bit ⁓ And they just you know, they just played a great game and it was a solid win We haven't gotten too many clean sheets on the road this season so that's a big win for Chelsea for Newcastle against Chelsea and

Gary: It's a dynamic front three, isn't it? It's a dynamic front three, that lot of movement in there.

Wizzard: Yeah, listen, those are the teams we're fighting for, for European points, and we need to win like that. So I think it's great momentum going into. We got the Sunderland Derby coming up too, so.

Gary: might have to repost that clip. wonder if, yeah, I wonder if he's getting a checkup from the coppers. We've got, yeah, we've got to repost it. We might have to repost that one. So, right, so, yeah, no, it was, was decent, it was decent. We'll get to Arsenal now, because I know Flynn wants us to get to Arsenal. He's probably sat at a bar, you know, nursing his bottle of Magnus, and he's waiting for us to start talking about Arsenal. He actually did, because these idiots can't use,

Wizzard: ⁓ yeah, yeah definitely need definitely need to repost that one definitely. But yeah it was a great win.

Gary: YouTube chat, I'm getting texts on this idea. And he asked me, he asked me, was I the guy that Tudor thought was on a slot yesterday?

Wizzard: hahahaha

Gary: Yeah, I was at Amfields yesterday in my bubble jacket on the line and I've flown back today to Jersey to get on this show. ⁓ mate, he didn't have, to be fair though, even at the end he showed the same veller again. And by the way, who was he? Was he the ref? Was he a ref's assistant? like, he did look like Slott, the, I mean, and again, you know what, Flynn, I'll have this one. All baldies look the same, do they? All baldies look the same. Unbelievable.

Wizzard: That guy clearly, Tudor clearly had no idea. know who I think he was a ref's assistant or something I don't know who he was Seriously, that was something else. ⁓ So obviously, I think the biggest thing coming out of that game is 16-year-old Max Dalman, I think youngest player ever in Premier League history to score a goal. Now, a question I have for you.

Gary: Unbelievable, I'd listen.

Wizzard: little bit of a know empty net goal there Pickford went up to try and obviously score does it take a little bit of shine off is there an asterisk that's that's all I'm gonna ask

Gary: I'm gonna say no. I'm gonna say no in this context. I'm not gonna blow out a proportion and say he's the next big thing. Like Gary Lineker's already saying that this kid, along with Rio at Liverpool, should be leading the line for England in years to come. But the reality is he came on, he was heavily involved in the first goal, and then he scores that goal at the end. And you know those goals at the end are great. If you're in the ground watching that as an Arsenal fan, and like...

Wizzard: Amazing.

Gary: Everyone goes up to the corner, you're panicking and then all of sudden the pressure's off and he's a young kid and he goes around, Krati kicks the corner flag and it's great. So no, I'm not, I think it's okay, but at the same time I wouldn't be getting crazy out of hand on him just yet, but I do think it's done now. I do think the league's done now.

Wizzard: Yeah, and I think so as well. I think they've just been too consistent. They've got too strong of a team. You they can withstand bling and all. I think they're in all four competitions still, so I think they've got they've got just good players all around. If they get an injury, they've got a next man up, you know, kind of thing going on there. And yeah, there's guys that we looked at the beginning this year. Like I think if you would ask the beginning season like Miles Lewis Skelly, he's going to be England's left back. Well, he came in. He's not even scratching the team right now. And you've got some of these guys on their squad and it's just like, haven't seen Odegaard in forever. Has it mattered? No, we have Eze. Like, you know, if soccer goes down, we got Madaweke. If we got Trossard, Martinelli, they've just got guys at all positions. And now they're getting, they got Kai Havertz back. I know Yoker has got a goal in this game. He's the tap in merchant, but listen, he does it really well. And that was a big goal. So.

Gary: now. I know. I know. Hey.

Wizzard: Also that was that was all set up by Max Downman too. had a nice little left footed little cross right into the box right off in capia right over to to Yoker as for a little tap in there. So the kid also set one up too.

Gary: Yeah, no, true, true. All right, we'll go one more just because I wanna talk about Mavropanos getting absolutely walloped in the face.

Wizzard: Have you seen the still frame shot of it? ⁓ my gosh. And he scored in it too. He scored in that game. He had an amazing goal in that game. mean, but what a letdown. I mean, I think I sent over to you before, like what's the biggest letdown on the weekend? City, Liverpool, or Chelsea? I think it's gotta be Man City.

Gary: Yeah, it's like half the ball is in his head. Yeah. Yeah. I think it's City because we've been so inconsistent so you can't, you can't, not as much as disappointment around us, there's surprise, there's no surprise, but for City, that's it now, that was it, like it's out of their hands now. They have to win, they have to win the game at hand, then they have to beat Arsenal and then hope somebody else beats Arsenal and I think the only other team that's playing them is, I don't even know. There's another team, there's another team that's higher up that's playing them, but I'm not sure who it is.

Wizzard: We actually... Yeah, I don't know.

Gary: But still, it's done. There's no way. Arsenal, the way they're playing, they should win the league now. It should be done.

Wizzard: Now I have a question for you because you know we were in the bar on Saturday watching together with Packwood. Did you see that? Did you see any of the city West Ham game?

Gary: I saw the last, I'd say, I probably saw most of the second half.

Wizzard: Because we were trying to, I was trying to, Bernardo Silva goal, I thought he was just being cheeky and that was, he was actually trying to do that and meant to do that. Everyone else said, ⁓ no, he was trying to cross it. It just, the way he hit the ball just happened to go in. I think I was probably wrong, but I didn't know if you had seen that and had an opinion on it.

Gary: I don't know. I'm going to say this again and Packwood's going to call me. I've scored a goal like that before. And I can tell you now I didn't. Mate, I know, like I got, I get validated. They're like, I did actually score goals once. No one believes me, but I know for a fact that I didn't mean it. I know what I'm trying to put across in and it's just like.

Wizzard: We need to get some videotape out of some of these goals. Yeah. But we're like arguing in in Cork City just like, no, you don't understand. He's got skill. Like just the dumbest conversation ever. But no, I think that's, that's pretty, I mean, big point for, West Ham. I mean, they need to get any point they can get right now, but I think that's one of those scenarios there where it's like, geez, every time city needs to get like,

Gary: ⁓ That's class.

Wizzard: just keep this race tight at all and they just fumble it every single time. They must be driving Pep crazy.

Gary: It must be so frustrating. I like the fact that Pep Lindas is the one on the line as well, because he used to be at Liverpool and he's the one that balls it on Saturday as far as I'm concerned. All right. The bottom half of the table pretty much stayed the same this week. West Ham got a point, Tottenham got a point, Forrest dropped into the bottom three. ⁓ But I don't know. The way that the games are going, we probably pick that up next week because we've got a bit of an international break, so I'll have more time to talk about it.

Wizzard: Yep.

Gary: We'll move on to the next thing. I've got the question though. I forgot about it. I said five minutes. It's been about 25 minutes. Which two teams did Arsenal not beat in the Invincible season? Do want to hazard a guess? The Invincible season was what? 0-2, 0-3?

Wizzard: Mm. 0203 so I'm gonna say was Chelsea one of them?

Gary: No. There's a random one and an obvious one. Because you think about that time.

Wizzard: Oh, I guess around that time, Man United's gotta be.

Gary: Okay. It was, do want me to throw it up there or you got five seconds? Think about random teams that Caesar. I you don't know if you were watching footy back then.

Wizzard: you Yeah, maybe I was probably in eighth grade. Yeah, would not. I would not have gotten Portsmouth.

Gary: So it's actually Portsmouth. Portmuth and Man United, they drew both games, whole man away. Whole man away. All right, before we go to the next one. Yeah, before, ⁓ yeah. Before we go to the next one, we've got a couple of things to talk about, and this will only be like five minutes or so anyway, all right. Two players to score Premier League hat tricks with three headed goals. So basically three headers in a game. Two players have done it, name them.

Wizzard: Big year for Portsmouth.

Gary: And it's not as obvious as you think, but when you see the answers, you'll be like, ugh. But yeah, all right, I'll do it again. Two players who've scored Premier League hat tricks with three headed goals, name them. All right, okay, so do we wanna talk about Chelsea getting done 10.75 million pounds today?

Wizzard: I know you did a little bit of research into this and.

Gary: I did, I plugged it into my friends at ChatGPT, which I use quite a bit sometimes. As long as you give them the right context, they usually spit out, know, as long as you're polite to the robots as well so they don't come after you they're, you know, when Skynet comes and all the Terminators start showing up. So they basically got done 10.75 million for financial irregularities. I think it was payments of 47.5 million. to 12 different either individuals or financial entities. And I think it was in like 2008, I believe, or maybe a little bit before that.

Wizzard: Yeah, I think it was from 2011 to 2018 was the time period.

Gary: Yeah, and they've, is that what it was, 11 to 18? And then what's happened is they've been fined 10.75 million and everyone is fuming because the whole thing about, why have they not been docked points? Which was the first thing that I said. And again, as a Liverpool fan, I'm scrambling for everything that I can get hold of this season. according to my friends at Jatt GPT, I compared it to Everton. Because when Everton got done 10 points and it got appealed down to six, that was against the Premier League financial fair play. Like Everton was spending to gain an advantage ⁓ according to this. And what they're saying is Chelsea didn't do that because what they did was pay an agent on the side and that was a violation of UEFA and FA policies. But that doesn't come to fine, that doesn't come to point deductions, that comes to fines. Again, it's Chelsea have done it for years and years and years. think the only reason they got away with it based on what I'm reading, and this isn't all chat, GBT, this is on on different outlets as well, is the fact that when Todd Bowley's group bought Chelsea in 2022, they were aware of it and disclosed it straight away. So then that's come. But it's a bit of a kick in the balls for the likes of Everton because they got they got done, done points.

Wizzard: Yeah, it just seems like, and I saw also because they self-reported, like they were supposed to be a, I think a two year ban or a.

Gary: They've got it, ⁓ it's been a suspended sentence, which is bollocks, because they're never gonna get that, they?

Wizzard: Yeah. No. that would kill it. That would really, I mean, not that they've got enough players on their team. I don't think they need to be signing anyone else, but they also are one of those teams that they like to wheel and deal. They like to sell guys to get money too. I think they think we signed all these young players to eight year deals and lock them up and then we can sell them all around the world. ⁓ And I think that that's something that's just... It's just frustrating to see because like as a team like Newcastle, like we've got owners that would love to do stuff like this, love to spend money. And it's like, you know, if I'm these owners, I'm looking at this, it's like, ⁓ this is only going to cost us $10 million. Hmm. That doesn't sound that bad. Why don't we do it? Like, why don't we go make some of these moves and make some of these? And it's just, I just feel like there's teams that just play by different rules. And you know, we talked about it earlier as well, but like with Manchester city, what's going to happen with them? because we keep on hearing about these charges, these charges, and it's like another team gets a finer and their stuff gets settled. What is taking so long with Manchester City's role?

Gary: Well, think the thing with City, think they're just tying it up in the courts, aren't they? They can throw money at stuff. But I think the sad thing is the likes of Everton, Forrest, Leicester now are getting dumb points. But I think the difference between that one and this one is that it doesn't clash with the Premier League's rules. But for Man City, I think that's going to be a massive precedent. Whatever happens to them is going to set the standard for everything. And I, you know, but again, like you said, when is it going to happen? You know, when do when we going to hear are we going to wake up one morning and it's just been through the courts and this is what happens or are we going to be waiting and waiting and waiting for years and years and years? But anyway, very frustrating. I'm sure there's ever some fans everywhere that are fuming ⁓ on top of everything else. They got to fume about no Saturday games and such and such. But the other thing I had. and we talked about the beginning and we kind of alluded to it a little bit. Has this fella got to be in the conversation for Premier League Player of the Year?

Wizzard: Absolutely, I think we I mean we saw it. think he's on what 16 assists this year. I think you said he's got it

Gary: He's on six, at the moment he's on seven goals, 16 assists, which is a record I think for my United in season.

Wizzard: Yeah. And also too, the chances he's creating, you know, not just in open play, but also he takes every corner. He's taken every free kick. Like the chances that he's creating in games is just, you know, the first goal, the goal by Casamero on the weekend, the header was a beautiful, beautiful cross from him. ⁓ and then you just see the ball, the Cunha he had too. And I just, every time he gets the ball, he just wants to go forward. Like I said earlier, like it really is impressive. And I know there's other guys out there that have had really solid seasons, like, could you throw a Holland in there? I know he's going to lead the league in goals, but like, I don't know. Like I watched that West Ham game. He's not really doing much out there, but Bruno Fernandez is involved in every aspect of the success that you've seen for Man United. He's a part of it all. You heard rumors of them like trying to sell him. He's not going anywhere. He is clearly their best player. You finally are starting to see what it's like when he's playing with with real players like Cunha and Mbueymo and You can see just he's making everyone better around him. think getting Maynu in that midfield too, freed him up to play in his actual position in that 10 roll. had him playing, I remember him had him playing in this central midfielder position, just defending the whole time. And it just, it's not who he is. And he's been really impressive this year. I still think Semenyo is up there for me as one of the top players this season with his goals and. I think he's got four or five assists as well this season. But Bruno Fernandez definitely got to be in the conversation.

Gary: Has to be, you're going be looking at Declan Rice, if they were in the league as well, they're going to be looking at him.

Wizzard: Yeah, Declan Rice, mean, honestly, like you look at it every week and it's like who's scoring for Arsenal? It's like they're defenders. It's, ⁓ you know, you look at some of these guys every week and it's like, ⁓ my gosh, like, ⁓ but no, I think obviously Bruno's just really had a great season. I think it kills me to say it too, because like how bad they were in the first part of the year, like, and you can just see him, but. You know, listen, him, you know, I think everyone looked at him and they said, hey, bad body language. He's yelling at everything, but maybe he was just trying to get the most out of his players and most of his teammates and like, guys, what are we doing out here? But, you know, I think that's where it's been nice as Carrick's come in and he's kind of let Bruno be that manager on the field. You go back and watch some of those games and he's like, get me the ball, get me the ball and we'll make something happen. And I think that's just what's really changed things around for them.

Gary: he has, he's definitely staking a case, isn't he? We've been very pro Man United and pro Arsenal tonight. Doesn't it?

Wizzard: Did you see that your boy with the hair had gotten a Patti Power commercial? saw that he's really, really...

Gary: Taming it up now, isn't he? I'm half hoping he's gonna be like that hock to a girl. Like once he gets his head shaved, he's gonna disappear.

Wizzard: Yeah. Yeah, he'll get he'll he'll he'll do some crypto scam or something soon and and they'll get them. They'll get them.

Gary: All right, so before we move on to the last part, and I understand you've got a cracking story about the Champions League from last week, but before we do that, all right, the question was two players to score Premier League hat tricks with three headed goals. You got to name them both. And I'll give you a clue. Both of them have played for Newcastle.

Wizzard: ⁓ yes.

Gary: So how much of a Newcastle fan are you?

Wizzard: Is is andy cole one of them? ⁓

Gary: no I'm waiting for someone to post into the chat here, but they're not gonna. I'm getting text messages, but not. We are definitely there, we're definitely there, but, lads are watching, they're on via text. Because they're not, you know, I can't imagine that tech savvy, overly tech savvy, anyway. Okay, I know, I'm gonna give it to you though. I'm gonna give it to you. Answer is Duncan Ferguson and Solomon Rondon.

Wizzard: Are we live up on YouTube? we checked? That's good, that's good. Wow.

Gary: Actually, ironically, both of them play for Everton as well, so I wonder if Packwood would have got that one.

Wizzard: Probably not. He doesn't know that much.

Gary: Nah, probably not. He's nice. Well, he's corporate, isn't he? He goes corporate, so he won't know. He won't know. He won't know. All right, okay, so before we get to the predictions, you have to, like, we've got Liverpool and Newcastle have got tough games this week in Europe. Liverpool are gonna come back from this 1-0 absolute horror show in Turkey. But what is going on with your Newcastle story?

Wizzard: Ugh. I need, I need, I need, you know, I'm going to hold the mic up for this one because I got to set the scene for this one. So, you know, Champions League games kicking off around four o'clock. I usually work, you know, in the city Wednesdays and Thursdays. So, you know, I'm in the office, you know, the game, I can only, I'm literally walking up and down the streets of New York City because I just want, I want to watch this. I don't want to take the 20 minute path where I'd miss it. So I'm literally like just. I'm like, Hey, I'm just going to walk around, just go for a walk around New York city and just watch this game on my phone. Cause I should have just gone to a bar somewhere, but like that area I was in, I just didn't, I don't know. I just didn't see anything. really didn't. I, I drinks tonight before I really didn't want to drink again. And basically like I'm literally just pacing around, just waiting. I get Harvey Barnes goal. I think it was like in the 83rd minute or something like that. Great goal. I'm like, this is awesome. We're up one nil. We really need, I would love to be up by like one or like. Probably two goals going into Barcelona is kind of what you need. But all right, we'll go up one, nothing. Hopefully we just hold onto this. You know, I'm, so I go into the path. I'm like, all right, let me see. Okay. It says like seven minutes till next train. Okay. I let that train go by. I'm sitting there, you know, 93rd minute. So they say there's going to be four minutes. I'd say that it's about 93 minutes and 40 seconds. We get a free kick. I'm like, okay, I'm getting on this path there.

Gary: Mm-hmm.

Wizzard: They're, not going to, it may be, be another 40, 50 seconds, but there really shouldn't because there's been no goals. There's been nothing during it during extra time, no time, not really any time wasting. So it's 93, 40, 40 seconds. I get on the path. I lose service. I swear to you, I get off the path. I'm like, you know what? Let me just go check. Make sure nothing, nothing crazy happened. I open up the ESPN app one one. I'm like, how, how, how? How? How did they give up a goal in the one minute I didn't watch the game? How? How? And I literally then pull up. All right, I got to see what happened. Malek Thao a minute later gave up a penalty to Dani Almo. Just blatant penalty, kicks him right in the leg. Lamin Yamal scores a goal, blown whistle. 1-1 to Barcelona. 1-1 going to Barcelona. You can't make it up. I literally said in my head too, like, man, nothing's going to happen, right? But no, I go, I let the game, I didn't watch it to the last second. And that was the problem. And that's something I'd give out as a PSA. Don't get on the path. Just sit there. Wait for the next train. Wait till you hear that whistle. Because I literally, like, I thought there was no shot. There was gonna be much time left. We literally had a free kick with like, there should be only 20 seconds left. It's like, literally, and everything had to go wrong for them to do this. And there's nothing worse than that. than getting off and seeing 1-1

Gary: That, if that my friend is football in a nutshell, the second you think you've got it, no you haven't. Once it'll take it away from you, it'll take it away from you.

Wizzard: It's cruel. I legitimately lost service at 93 minutes and 40 seconds. And they said four minutes of stoppage time. So now it's one, one going, yeah. One, one going into Barcelona now. They're going to be going crazy there because all I've seen all week is just videos of Lewis Hall putting Laminia Moll in his back pocket the entire game. What do you think that kid's going to be? That kid's going to be on fire this week.

Gary: ⁓ It's like going to the toilet and missing a goal. You never know, there's been many a game played in that stadium where you think you're done and then all of a sudden you pull something out your arse. So you never know, never know.

Wizzard: I I wonder almost if there is a mentality thing where, cause we have, we did play well in that game. Like we honestly played, we dominated them. Like Joe Linton, that midfield, they, they have that we played really, really well against them. We probably should have had more goals than just one. But I know that the way that we've played this year, whenever we've had a lead, whenever we've been up, we play defensive, we don't play our game and we sit back. And I think we would have gone in one nil against Barcelona. And we would probably would have lost three one four one. We would have sat back, done nothing, just prayed they didn't scored and they would have just destroyed us. I think going in one one, it's like, Hey, this is just, it's kind of like, it's, Hey, it's nil nil. We're restarting this over. No one's got any advantage. Well, obviously they have the advantage of being at home in the new camp. That's pretty big advantage. So I'll take that back. But you know, then we get a win against Chelsea on the road. That gives you a little bit of momentum. know, Tenali, we sat him that game. So he's going to be fully healthy, ready to roll. Joe Linton didn't start that game. I think we've, I kind of like what I saw, but it's going to be very interesting to see what the starting lineup is going to be. I'm hoping they go with Gordon up front, Murphy on the right wing, Barnes on the left. I don't know what they're going to do in the midfield, but Jacob Ramsey has been playing really well. Hopefully Tenali will be back in there. I think you got to play Joe Linton. ⁓ I think having Livermento back, I mean we saw on the goal against Chelsea. So we're gonna have both of our left and right backs will be in there, Trippier's old ass, grab some bench this week.

Gary: Let's see what happens, let's see what happens. And then going into this weekend, let's see what happens exactly. Same with Liverpool, let's see what happens. These Galatasaray fans won't be there ripping seats out. All right, so there's only eight games this week because of the Carabao Cup final. So Palace of Wol-

Wizzard: Yeah, let's see what happens. How do you wait, wait, before we jump into that, what are your thoughts about Galatasaray? mean, down, down one nil. You think you'll get through? All right. I'm just hoping not to see Gakbo in the starting lineup.

Gary: I think we'll get through. Yeah, I think we'll get through. Well, that's another one of the texts I got. Why did Gackpo dress like Michael Jackson with his white rubber glove on? Why did he stay on and Rio came off? don't know. couldn't. You know what? In the words of Sobersly, I don't know what's happening. ⁓ All right. OK. Predictions for this week. Eight games. City Arsenal are in the cup final on Sunday. So Palace and Wolves get the weekend off. First game is Bournemouth Man United on Friday night at Bournemouth.

Wizzard: good game. I like that. I like that. That's right in the middle of March Madness on Friday afternoon there. I like that. I like that. You know what? I'm going to go with Man United. Let's get get let's let's start working to this kid cutting that hair, you know?

Gary: Mm-hmm. It's a great weekend. Yeah, it's a great weekend. Yeah, I'm going. I'm going Man United as well. All right, Brighton at home to Liverpool Saturday morning. Early Saturday morning.

Wizzard: Honestly, I'm going to go Brighton. They got no game during the week. You guys got a big one against Galatasaray. I'm going to go Brighton.

Gary: Yeah. I'd gone draw but I'm not overly optimistic. 12.30 kick off on a Saturday. In England. Alright, Fulham home to Burnley.

Wizzard: I'm going to go full on in that one. Even though they have not played great their last two.

Gary: Yeah, me too, Fulham. The EF are playing Chelsea.

Wizzard: I'm going to go draw on that one. Chelsea's Chelsea's got a tough one there. They got boat raced by PSG and then they got to play them in the second leg this week.

Gary: Yeah, I've gone to Roar They did. Four o'clock on Saturday. This is not a bad one as well for the pub on Saturday between March Madness and Premier League. It's a long day. I might try and an appearance later in the day. Leeds at home to Brentford, 4 p.m. Saturday.

Wizzard: Interesting. I'm going to go leads because they're at home.

Gary: I'm going Leeds as well. ⁓ the big one.

Wizzard: And Brenton Brentford looked pretty they wolves gave them everything today.

Gary: Yeah, they did, didn't they? Newcastle Sunderland.

Wizzard: We got momentum at home at home in the Derby. This is a little hey little return going to be coming to Sunderland. been. They've been on a downward spiral recently and I think they're going to get a nice serving of humble pie.

Gary: I've got a new... I've got a new... They really have been, actually. All right, Villa West Ham.

Wizzard: I'm going to go draw on this one. Villa have not been playing well and West Ham has been giving teams some trouble.

Gary: Yeah, I've gone Villa, but we'll see. And then Spurs-Forest, absolutely massive game this. At Spurs.

Wizzard: Oooooh I'm gonna go. Wow, that's a tough one.

Gary: I'm gonna go spurs.

Wizzard: I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go draw now.

Gary: I'm gonna go spare just because I feel like Tudor got a little bit of something out of him this week, so we'll see what happens.

Wizzard: Yeah, I'll get band event back in but they also they're another team. They got a Champions League game this week.

Gary: That's it, you never know, do you? All right, next week is gonna be an international break, so we may go championship next week. We might have to get Al back in, see if we can snag Al in.

Wizzard: Yeah, we'll definitely recap the Champions League. We'll definitely recap some of the championship, obviously, some of the games from the previous weekend. But yeah, maybe it's good time for a little bit of an international.

Gary: Exactly, yeah, might be the move.

Wizzard: I did see Reese James went down with an injury, hamstring. So he's gonna be out for the next couple of weeks. So that's a big, that is a big loss, not just for Chelsea, but also he, I don't know who's gonna be playing. I think Liv Vimento is back healthy. He's probably gonna get the nod, but I don't want him playing too much, but he probably needs the game work. ⁓

Gary: Could be a shout, yeah. That's true. Well, we'll find out, mate. We'll think about it for next week. All things to think about.

Wizzard: Yeah, absolutely. Maybe both parents will be on this time.

Gary: Yeah, well if mum's alright, maybe she'll come on next week. We'll see, we'll see. Alright lads, thanks very much for watching again. As always, like and subscribe if you can, and we'll see you next week. Nice one. And always tip your bartenders, yeah. Have a good one, all best.

Wizzard: Tip your bartenders. That was good. It was awesome. ⁓ yeah.

Gary: I love that, thanks for watching. Lovely snowy stuff.