Who Would Rooney Keep at Man United & Liverpool Must Win Carabao Cup! | Stick to Football EP 74
01:13:54 Share

Just before we get started, I just wanted to say a big thank you to our partner Skybet and please don't forget to subscribe if you like. I hope you enjoy this episode.

Skincare should do more than just feel nice. It should work. Enter Dende, science-backed, high-performance biotech skincare that delivers. Fine lines, dullness, dryness, uneven skin tone and texture. We have it covered. No fillers, no fluff. Just the good stuff your skin actually needs. Today's skin, tomorrow's innovation. Check it out at Dende.com. That's D-E-I-N-D-E dot com. Your future skin will thank you.

Forever!

After 30 gigabytes, customers may experience slower speeds. Customers will pay $25 a month as long as they remain active on the Boost Unlimited plan. Your old or broken phone can let you down when you need it most. Perfect. But at Verizon, trade in any old phone from our top brands and get the most for it. Up to $2,000 in value for an amazing new iPhone 16 Pro with Apple Intelligence and a new line on MyPlan. And iPad and Apple Watch Series 10.

That's like a three for one. And you can get it on any plan. At Verizon, trade in your old phone for a brand new iPhone 16 Pro, iPad, and Apple Watch. The other guys won't give you that. Visit Verizon.com today. Additional terms apply. Service plan required for Apple Watch and iPad. Up to $2,000 value based on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Any subjects we want to discuss? United, stadium, Liverpool going out of Europe. Anything else that we can think of? Roy St. Arslan won't win the league next year. Let's see what Wright has got to say on that maybe. Anything else? Morning. Morning.

Very quiet? Very. What? Why the quiet? Why is Ciarán quiet this morning? What's going on here? Why is Ciarán quiet, Roy?

Happens, doesn't it? Happens, dead right. Great answer. The ups and downs of football. I was stood in between the PSG fans and the Liverpool fans for the penalties. It was so hard not to show any emotion. What's happening here? They were nuts, their fans, weren't they? What's happening here? I'm a man of routine. I don't like change. I wish I got a warning about it. About the FNT? Yeah. I agree. It wasn't from me. I'm not knocking you out. It wasn't from me either.

Yeah, Liverpool. Gary called up after the result last night and was like, let's make a big deal out of it. No, no, no. We're better than that. We're better than that. We're better than that. Be humble in victory and defeat. That's why I was here.

You've got a cup final coming up. Maybe a league title. It's okay. Not bad. You'll be celebrating on Sunday, I think. High class problems, they have. High class problems. Remember that. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. We were at Salford last night. What score was it for now? We got a man sent off after about 15 minutes. He was off camera, so I couldn't see where they were coming from. We couldn't see either. No, we couldn't see either. Was it like a retaliation type thing? Apparently so, yeah. The only thing I'd say at that level, you know when you get the extra man, sometimes they don't make it.

You know, they don't make a tell, but they did, to be fair. I thought we looked open before. A bit. But you had some chances as well. Sorry. Hey, they'll do well now to get momentum back now. I agree. So afternoon tea. Do you like going to them fancy hotels where they give you the... No, you don't want to get little sandwiches and scones. Do you not like that every now and again? You don't like that?

Little sandwiches or something? I'd have like a... Oh, yeah, yeah. But do you have time? You look like a guy that likes little sandwiches. Do I look like a guy that likes... I'm just on about to change. What's up with you? My goodness. I'd just have like a big bacon butty. You want a hot dog outside, don't you? I love them hot dogs in New York. Full of bacteria, isn't it? Creasy. Oh, what is this?

This is lovely. We're celebrating. Wow. Apparently you're leaving the show. So just give me a little. Well, to be fair, this would be my leaving. You don't have to pay for this either, Jill. Oh, God, he's still going on about that.

Jill, the reason we're doing afternoon tea is because we heard that you were at Buckingham Palace yesterday. Oh, yes, I was at Buckingham Palace yesterday. Hey, what's going on? Yeah, it was like a meet and greet for a women's event. Oh, just for women? Yeah. Oh, right. No, there was a couple of guys there. I thought Rydie might have been there. What about King Charles' playlist?

What was it? What happened? It was Kylie Minogue. That Ray, is it? Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You just would never expect it. Did it get leaked from somewhere? No, he's put it out there. He's put it out there. Really? I need to see that. I need to see that. We all like a bit of Kylie. It was good. It was good. But I think sometimes when you have to go in a room and network, how do you start?

like conversation. It was just women there? Sometimes, yeah. Women. There was a couple of guys, a couple of guys who were lovely. No, but in the room it was like Ruby Wax, Victoria Beckham was there, Sarah Lancashire. Like, there was all these incredible people. But Sarah Lancashire, I really just wanted to tell her I was such a big fan. Happy Valley. You know who I mean? Yeah, the one that did the programme that I've, what's the programme called? Black Dove.

she did recently she's amazing Jill I think when you meet people you go I'm a big just play it cool you know what I mean you're on the same level as these people it did get a bit awkward I know that's your fault no what did you say it's your fault I'm a big fan of yours just chill out I know but yeah I did fan girl no no but you can say I like your work but don't be going on but who would you be like that with if there was one person who's there that you'd say like server Lancashire I was like he was a bit like that with Ricky wasn't he when Ricky walked in he was a bit like sort of

And his vibe was... And his vibe was... JJ Watt. JJ Watt, yeah, JJ Watt. JJ Watt, he kind of had a little energy there. Yeah, but I respect him, yeah, of course, but I wouldn't be going, oh, I love your walk, you know, I wouldn't be, like, bowing down to him. There must be someone, who would you... Would there be anyone? Like, who you haven't met, who you think, oh...

He's met Trump, I mean. He's met everyone. Probably Denzel. See? Thanks. Nice to see a white man mention Denzel and not get no shit. Thank you, Wes. Thank you, Wes. He's amazing. If I mention Denzel, just go... LAUGHTER

What would you be like with Bruce? Have you met Bruce Springsteen? Yeah, but you wouldn't be tripping yourself over, would you? No, I would just say, look, I like your work. I love your work, yeah, it's amazing. Yeah, but your body would go funny. Your body goes funny. It does. Gary, your body would go funny if you met him. You wouldn't just say, oh, I like your work. You'd go funny. And it's a beautiful thing.

How have you not met him? Because you go to, like, every concert, don't you? I wouldn't ask to go and meet him. I wouldn't say, can you get me to the backstage or can you do this for me? No, I wouldn't do that. No, but people say Gary Neville's a love to meet you. Listen to Nev. Listen to this fella here. I wouldn't want that. He was on the stage last week playing a guitar with some band. Oh, my God. Oh, Gary's too humble to meet Bruce, but he'll go on stage and go...

We played... Oh, my God. What was that? I think it was Wazza. Me and Wazza played a song with James Bay. So I played the guitar with James Bay and he sang with James Bay. What did you sing? What was? A charity or something? No. Is that your song? Or it got stitched up? No. We're going to get hammered now. It was basically, we had a pre-leaving for the World Cup party in 2006. Oh, it was after. Yeah, but you knew you'd be back in two weeks. I know. It's nice, isn't it?

He was a coach. It was 2012. It was 2014 before we went to Brazil. We always have a party before we go. It was raising money for charity. I had to get up on stage and play guitar. You had to get up to raise money or something. It was part of the evening. Was you miming playing or was you actually playing? I was playing guitar. You can play guitar. On James Bay when I played on Saturday night I was...

The last bit of it, I've gone to hit a high note because he's singing next to me, so he's like hiding me a little bit and he stopped singing and I've hit this high note. How was your high note? It went high. What was the song again? Hold Back The River. It's a good song. Were you just trying to create a bit of spirit that you didn't have? I mean, that's what teams do, don't they? They pretend we're in it together but really you're not. I mean, it's false. If you have spirit together, you have it. You don't need to go and create silly music.

You were good at the charity Michael Carrick's dinner the other day. We did like a foundation. You weren't singing again, were you? No. No, I got stitched over here. I got stitched. Kills presenting, he got me on stage. Didn't know I was going. Nightmare. Did you know you was going to get called up? No. Kills.

Show some respect to him. Wait, can I just say something? But you went on a quiet night, didn't you? It'd be nice to go to a charity function and just have a quiet night and relax. No, but on the script, you know, it gets, like, updated live. It was like, don't get Wayne up on stage, but it hadn't updated on the iPad, so they were like, what were the...

it was a dinner wasn't it with you and Michael so and Kyle who I was with didn't get the live script so he's like come up on the stage Wayne and I was trying to protect you going he might not want to come up and then next thing he comes bounding up and he's like I'll throw and then he went I'll throw in a night out as well after but it's good you can't help it yeah

You can't help having to try and bid. Two people have bidden against each other and then he went, we'll just take both of you. So it was good. Michael asked me to do it and put me on the spot again. I was just like... Jeez, that's once you're on stage. Once you're on stage. But no, it was a fair game. That's good cause. Yeah, always. Afternoon tea. You'll like this. It's the sort of thing that you'll have been doing at Buckingham Palace yesterday, Jill.

We didn't get it. We got a little sandwich. Wow. It's all very... Have you made this? Thank you. It's all very 11th century. Thank you very much. All fresh. Smells nice. Smells lovely. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. I didn't know, Gal. You didn't prepare me for it. Thank you. I didn't know it was... Sorry, here we go. See, this is what we do. It's eight o'clock in the morning. Eight o'clock in the morning for a prawn sandwich. I'm going to have to have a sausage roll. Jill, two questions on Buckingham Palace, because I've never been. Yeah.

What's it like inside? Amazing. It's massive. The decor, the paintings. Unbelievable. Amazing, yeah. Have you got an award? Have you already? MBE, but I didn't, it was through COVID, so I never got to go to the palace to collect it. It came in the post. I got one of them slips saying collected at the sorting office and it was my MBE. So I was just like this at the sorting office. Proudest day of my life.

Oh, no. Did you get... You got yours at Buckingham Palace. That's good. Have you got MBE, right? OBE now. Yes. MBE and OBE. Yeah. Have you got stuff? Have you got anything? Have you got anything yet, Wes? No. Not even for your music stuff? Why do you all get hung up on all that stuff? What the... It's a good day out, though, isn't it? It is a good day out.

So have you been twice? Yeah. Yeah. It's probably the last time I went, Johnny Evans was there getting an MBE. Ah. Yeah. Was your contribution to football, righty? Yes. And, um, and films. And... You chicken have it.

The amount of people I inspired with my chicken dance. But even all the times you sent off and smashed the referee's dressing room up, they didn't take that into... No, but that's part of the journey. That was your recovery. Part of the journey. No, no, no, that was all part of the journey. They just saw the goals in the chips. That's what they were interested in, not the referee's room. Not the referee's room. The referee's room. They don't read that, do they? No.

Do you know what I think about MBEs? Go on. Is that they've made an absolute farce of it with certain decisions that it made, which takes away from the actual people and to be fair, you two around this table are deserving of what you've done, but there are some strange decisions. Yeah, one of our friends has just got one, well, Colleen's mum's friend, Diane, she's got one for work with children. Yeah, community. Exactly. Yeah. Where you can say it's really deserved. Yeah, definitely. MUSIC

Just as they're all leaving the stadium, the PSG fans are there celebrating. I felt like I grew like 10 feet from you. I was just walking around the backfield. It was so good. Is there a way back with this squad? No. I think 10, 15 plays. Wow. You might get one or two half chances.

You better take them. Make the keeper save it. I've not seen him get the ball, try and take people on and really bust them, try to get a shot off out of nowhere. I rung up on the former players one, the food one, the Nashworth one, because I thought, they're not right, them. They'll be blocking your number. You're on stick to football. What happened this morning? We thought you were coming in. I loved that fuss because you know why? What? Because we've won the league. I was thinking this morning coming in,

It's probably just for you, actually. You said on Sunday you didn't think Arsenal would win the league next year. There's no evidence of it. What next year? I didn't think it was a wild statement. I just wondered what you thought about the fact that... Can I just add something to that? Because I look at some of the games this year where you're going, come on, Arsenal. You're looking for evidence to suggest a team can get over the line in certain games. United home in the Cup this year was a big game for Arsenal. Couldn't get it done. Two legs against Newcastle. Didn't score a goal. So there's certain games you look at Arsenal and go, are they really going to step up?

I just don't see it. In the current climate, what's going on? I can't see us stepping up. You saw Man United. If you want to play against a team at the moment at home who are lacking in confidence and obviously got one player who can pull them out of danger, then you'd want to play against United. We couldn't break them down. The mid-block, the low-block is a problem for us. So we had to call up Wazza this morning because Cara...

rung up and said that he couldn't come on so obviously thanks for standing in for Cowder this going out of Europe he obviously couldn't well you know I had a have you had the game? did I see a picture? yeah I've seen him was he in the cup? no? I've seen a picture of him today in the cup he was pitch sad when I first got there what was he doing?

Being Cara, weren't he? Being busy. Cara being busy. Well, but is he not working? He did say... He didn't fancy him. Not to get true, but he didn't fancy him to win it anyway. Yeah, but you like that with your own team. You know what I mean? You feel nervous because, let's face it, Liverpool...

Liverpool at Anfield at this stage of the Champions League they're normally and Pente's shootout is good they are exciting the camera angle and both sets of fans Liverpool obviously it was good I love the way they've got the camera behind the goal you know something the goal looked tiny from that angle it did that's the keeper from PSG of course we saw him for a course it was so good at the end when PSG went 1-0 up

All of a sudden, I started getting abused. Liverpool fans took it to start abusing me. But then at the end of the game, just as they're all leaving the stadium, the PSG fans are there celebrating. I felt like I grew like 10 feet. I was just walking around the field. It was so good. Oh, we had the game win last night. Yeah, we did. Any good lines? Some of the Liverpool lines are funny. Did you remember that it was like... Oh, the same one, Joe. He can't repeat them, can he? You know what I mean? It's...

You know when you're at home and you're watching a penalty shootout? There's always one person when they walk... You say, I don't fancy him. I don't fancy him. I was on a WhatsApp group and, like, when it was thingy and people saw our man Nunez walking down, I must have had three, four people saying...

he needs to score this yeah what they're doing before penalties now the amount of changing the runs and like just go to your penalty what about Dembele's penalty I should say he started to do the side he started the other side but then took it because he's left footed it's brilliant he started the other side because he's left footed and then he done such as he ended up taking it with his right foot it's a great penalty yeah

I don't know about the players that come on as subs and then to obviously take a penalty. Are they fresh though? But I always think if you've had a really good game, like take a penalty because obviously we all know you can miss, but at least you had a good game. I do feel sorry for the lads that come on. Can you imagine something like Dybala in the World Cup? Qatar. He came off the bench and scored his penalty. Yeah. Unbelievable. But maybe you're fresh. Come on, you're fresh. Yeah, but the first thing you're doing is taking a penalty in a World Cup final, right? I know, I know.

Big blow for Liverpool. I mean, sometimes I think there's an acceptable way to go out of Europe. I actually was really impressed with PSG. Oh, they were brilliant. Sometimes you watch a team, I remember that with Dortmund, with Klopp about 10 years ago, and you see a team that you think, young, hungry, playing good football. I thought it was an acceptable way to go out of Europe in some ways. I thought Virg was very magnanimous in his interview afterwards. They...

you know they said yeah over the two games Dunwell spoke well you know what they've got to do now you can imagine Virgil in his dressing room right okay that's gone bam we've got to start focusing yeah don't overreact I never used to like Gary did I I didn't overreact after the games if you've got a fan we're finished I'll be like we're finished I think 10 points can't be leaked his interview we're finished this team's maybe just needs to have a good long hard look at itself too many Rolexes too many fast cars that

That was the usual address coming out of Europe. Is that what you did in the interview? Is that the kind of thing you were saying? Yeah, but you try hand-grenading your own dressing room sometimes. Just to keep people under your toes. Yeah, go on. Neve, I think, were we 12 points clear at the time? Yeah, we were, yeah. And this team is finished. You were 12 points clear and you still said that? Did you dig out any players? You didn't dig anyone out. I just meant a couple of defenders we needed. He won't answer.

I mean, you're okay. You're on stick to football. What happened this morning? We thought you were coming in. No, I'm doing the Champions League, mate. I'm going down there. Don't worry about it. Are you all excited? Are you happy? Liverpool have gone

Have you? Oh, no, we're absolutely the opposite. We're being very magnanimous. We're saying it was a good game and an acceptable way to go out. Give us your little synopsis of what you think of Liverpool going out of Europe. Over the two legs. I only see one after the games. I was in the Kop, so I could only see it when I was attacking the Kop, and Liverpool played very well when they were doing that. But I think Paris Saint-Germain were the better team over two legs. I think Liverpool were a little bit unlucky to get PSG, considering they were top of the league.

the league with the new format and that so they've had a little bit of bad luck there but yeah best team won I hope they go on and win it now and new winners wouldn't they? PSG never won it before Oh you sound very happy to say your name have been out He goes into pundit mode doesn't he? I'm not that forced because you know why? What?

Because we've won the league. Right. Game off. Game off. Game off. I've had enough of that. Do you feel more sorry for Newcastle now because do you think Liverpool have definitely got that trophy? I can't... I said it. I can't see Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah not being winners on Sunday. Yeah. You look at two players and you just think, who's going to take that off them? They're going to...

But it's a setback from last night. It's a setback from last night. It's not like last year when they went out in the Champions League and they got the FA Cup in the same week. Maybe. I think they had like a week where the season just fell apart. So hopefully that's again. What do you think of the atmosphere? Last night? Yeah.

Because I thought it was one of those where, you know, they normally really, even when the opposing team at Liverpool do well, they start, they crank it up. I didn't think the atmosphere was great for them. Look, I mean, you know a lot more about Liverpool, a lot of people know a lot more about Liverpool than me, but there is a suggestion from some of the sort of, like, hardcore fans that the atmosphere has just sort of softened a little bit in that year or two with different types of fans coming in and obviously grounds got bigger, but, I mean, Caro would know more about that than me. I thought to be best, that's my first game

I've been around field for the European game and I thought it would be a lot better. What were the Liverpool fans like when they lost? Because usually sometimes they give credit. To be fair, they stayed there, they were singing, they clapped the team off. So they were good, to be fair. Yeah, they can be. Liverpool always are. The PSG fans were mad, weren't they? It was cold last night because they all had their tops off. Yeah, it was freezing. Was it? It was freezing as well, yeah. You don't feel it. Apparently you don't feel it when you're winning. You don't watch me, but you watch the guys. I don't know.

Maybe if you took your top off. You'd have to go for a walk. Paris Saint-Germain could win it. What do you think about that? So a couple of years ago they bring Luis Enrique in and he just says, I'm just not having this superstar mentality. I'm just going to basically build a team. They look more of a team, don't they? Young, hungry players who can all sort of contribute and he looks like he's on his way to building a hell of a side. I think when you look at Osmond...

like his journey you know went for a load of money to Barcelona was it over 100 million he went for it 140 odd wasn't it wow massive you know to the point where you think wow it's not happening for him we went out on loan I don't think he was great he's obviously he was a bit younger he was a bit longer but his ability has never been in question and so for him to be there now out of the shadow of all of yeah

It must be brilliant for that team. They were saying last night on the comms, I think it was Shiva, that he wasn't a good pro and I thought they were going to say drinking and whatever else. Who wasn't a good pro? Dembele? No, it was late night gaming or something. It's a problem though, Gillian. Really? Yeah, it's a big problem. It's a big problem for young people now and players, to be fair, because of that time that they have. Wazza, you know about this. They play until 2, 3 o'clock in the morning. They're all playing together.

And it happened with England quite a bit when we were there where the lads would stay up all night. And honestly, I just think your mind and your concentration, your focus. But a lot of teams are doing it now. You know what I mean? A lot of the teams. And I think you end up being like a zombie. I think, honestly, it ends up sort of damaging you. It makes you more tired. I think it affects you.

So I do think it is a thing. It's not just a case of, oh, you know, I think scientifically proven, if you look at sort of studies around it... Yeah. Is a card school better, then? No, the direction of players would find... Card school's similar. I was listening to Elon Musk, and he was talking about how... I was listening to a podcast, and he was talking about how...

Playing the PlayStation actually improves your output. I don't care. He's coming out of his mouth. He's got chairs in it. I'm talking about if you played half an hour or an hour, you're playing for seven hours all the way through. Especially the game you're playing as well. What game are you playing?

Do you use play computer? No. I've never played a game. I've never played one game. I like the golf. I do the golf. Have you not? Never. Do the golf is good. FIFA and all the other car ones. I've not either. I've done the Formula One. I've never played it once. The only time I've done it is when the kids are playing them games on sometimes on the iPad. That's the only time I've ever done it. I've never ever played games like that. I think it does sort of like... It does, yeah, it does. Only one with kids in it because they open their rooms for hours doing it. It can't be good for them, obviously. No.

physically or mentally no this episode of stick to football is brought to you by Skybest this show is sponsored by BetterHelp in football the best players aren't the ones who think they have all the answers they're the ones who know when to ask for help

Whether it's a coach, a teammate or a mentor off the pitch, having a strong support system makes all the difference. And it's the same in life. We all face challenges and sometimes the best move is to talk to someone who can help you work through them. That's where therapy comes in. BetterHelp makes getting support easier than ever. It's an online therapy service that connects you with over 30,000 licensed professionals.

covering everything from stress and anxiety to setting boundaries and self-improvement. And because it's fully online, you can do it all from home on your schedule. And if you don't click with your therapist, no problem, you can switch any time at no extra cost. So if you've been thinking about therapy but haven't taken that step, now's the time. Build your support system with BetterHelp.

Visit betterhelp.com slash STF to get 10% off your first month. That's betterhelp, H-E-L-P dot com slash STF.

This episode is brought to you by LinkedIn. Running a small business isn't just about having a great idea, it's about having the right people around you to make it work. It's essential. And when you're hiring, every decision counts. The right hire can take your business to the next level, just like the right signing can transform a football team. That's where LinkedIn Jobs comes in.

With LinkedIn, you're not just posting a job, you're connecting with millions of professionals. That includes top talent who might not even be actively looking, but are open to the right opportunity. It's like having a scouting network that never stops working.

And it delivers results. 72% of small businesses using LinkedIn say they've found high-quality candidates. Plus, with LinkedIn's latest tools, you can write job descriptions easily, share your posts with your network, and even boost visibility to get three times more qualified applicants when you promote your job. So...

If you're looking to build your dream team, make your next great hire with LinkedIn. Post your job for free at linkedin.com.stf. That's linkedin.com.stf to post your job for free. Terms and conditions apply.

Worried about what ingredients are hiding in your groceries? Let us take the guesswork out. We're Thrive Market, the online grocery store with the highest quality standards in the industry. We restrict 1,000 plus ingredients, so you can trust that you'll only find the best high-quality organic and sustainable brands all free of the junk. With savings up to 30% off and fast carbon neutral shipping, you get top trusted groceries at your door. And if you're interested in learning more about Thrive Market,

And you can stop worrying about what your kids get their hands on. Start shopping at thrivemarket.com slash podcast for 30% off your first order and a free gift. Right. Right. United. Obviously, yesterday they announced a new stadium. What did you think of the stadium? I liked it. That's the one that went up. Yeah. This man, United, you can expect something.

Of real stature because, you know, it's United. They've got to try and replace Old Trafford. They're probably going to get the best. They're probably the best architects and designers. It's going to be amazing. There's a good PR for United, actually, there is. Even your piece, then the stadium. They're smart with the timing. Yeah, you did so well with that. I was really proud of you. What do you think of Jim Ratcliffe in terms of, obviously, I think the thing for me is that he's fronting up. And I look at sort of Arsenal's owners or Chelsea's.

or United's obviously for 20 years, even Tottenham's. We never hear from them at any point, in good or bad times, actually. But we actually, at least he's standing up and speaking. But on the business side of it, you think obviously he knows what he's talking about. He's had to, though, hasn't he? On one hand, they're getting rid of loads of people, then they're going to spend two billion, whatever, on...

I still think they can look after people a little bit better. But when he started talking about football, he lost me a little bit. He was talking about the squad and the budget and the players available. They still should be doing better. I would disagree with him on that. But it was nice of him to front up. I didn't understand that bit. I'll tell you what was uncomfortable, Gareth, is the way that he had to...

kind of all uncomfortable having to protect the Glazers. They're the ones. But I think you have to a little bit when you're in business. I got that. I understood that. I mean, ultimately, he did through things that he said.

He criticised them, but he couldn't directly criticise them. So when he says that basically there's been mismanagement for 10 years and we're running out of cash, he's not blaming himself, is he? He's saying, look what happened before. He actually pointed towards the two management teams before at one point. So I think he did indirectly criticise them. But I mean, he's not going to do that, is he? He's a shareholder. You wouldn't expect him to do it. But again, I can't stop thinking about the fact that they've really got away with it.

It's mad. It's what they've got away with. And then, not only when it's got to a place where, all right, because he said something, you'd have run out of money by November. Yeah, that was mad. So you're talking about, so the players, so they would have run out by November. If he doesn't come in, what would have happened? But it's in running out of money. You've got all that, but that's still no excuse for some of the performances. Yeah.

It's no excuse. As a player, you don't really... But isn't it weird, Wyn? You're not getting involved in that, are you? I think you can't use that as an excuse. He's on about saving money at the club, but we know that ex-players, a lot of ex-players have been treated to fund, they had available staff who've been there for years.

And on one hand, he's still treating them badly. And I understand it's a business and you've got to try and make the right decisions. And then the next day, oh, we're building a stadium for two billion pounds for our billion fans around the world. But don't forget, you have to show loyalty to people who have been there for years. And I'm including the X Players Fund and

I couldn't have them to you neither. You know what as well, Gal, when you mentioned... It's not for you. You know what, Gal, what was really good, when you mentioned about the 40,000 and Bruno and Aaron Maguire, you know, the way he answered that when he said, you know, yeah, that's pretty good. It's like, why wouldn't no one have come up with that idea? Are they afraid to say it to him or is he so... He doesn't want to hear it. So why is something so simple where he even on the interview said, yeah, that's pretty good? Yeah.

How come no one's gone to murder? It was quite a simple suggestion, like, no offence, but it was quite a simple suggestion. He was like, oh, no one said that.

I was like, because you said about two people going to do a charity dinner and raising like 40 grand. Look, it's difficult running a football club. You do make mistakes. You sack managers when you shouldn't do. You appoint people that you maybe think, why are they appointing them and stuff like that. I get that completely. I've been there myself. But I think there are certain things and that's why I rang up the club when the former players thing and the food thing. I rang up the comms people. As a role, I'm a broadcaster in the jersey. I'm entitled to ring up the comms department and say, look, what's the story on this? Is this true?

I rung up on the former players one the food one the Nashworth one because I thought they're not right then they're not right they'll be blocking your number no but they're not right you know what I'm saying you ring up you say they're not right that's not right I'm sorry it's just not right there's a solution around this you know what I mean you can't

you can't be spending a million pound a month on a player one player and taking out food for staff I don't think you can do that I think optically it's terrible I think 40 grand for the ex-players them ex-players are talking about players from the 60s and 70s do you know what they're funding some of the United players from the 60s and 70s funerals who can't afford their funerals players who played for United maybe 10 times 8 times 15 times

who live in Manchester and they can't afford the funerals that's what I'm talking about that's what they're funding they're not funding sort of like don't fund Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville's petrol for the cars this is players from 50 years ago that are struggling to live but even gestures a few times a year why can't and I just don't mean United I'm sure there's lots of clubs out there that don't treat ex-players players who fall on hard times even to

two or three times a year bring them to a match with their families give them a deal do they not do that I don't listen I don't know but I don't have to reach out to a lot of ex-players and go listen just on three or four occasions if you want to come to Old Trafford have a deal with your family your children your grandkids a little treat just a bit of respect but having said that when you look at the new stadium and the plans

It would be fantastic, wouldn't it? Yeah. For the area, for the supporters. I've been going on about it for seven or eight, nine years. It actually means more to me. It sounds crazy, this. It means as much to me as the football side because the idea that United as a football club in stature terms...

the training ground the stadium that's got to be the best because you can control that football you know you can't control Pep Guardiola at City or Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool or somebody doing something amazing elsewhere and you think okay we've fallen behind for a year or two and we're second and we're third and we're fifth and we can't drop to 15th I know that

but the stadium is always in your control especially when they're looking at other stadiums see what Spurs have done Real Madrid have done recently Man United must be Barcelona Barca obviously is going to be amazing so that must be hard that's hard to stomach when you see these other clubs making progress on and off the pitch and United have been left behind and then

But it looks like, at least there's a plan there. Yeah. And if it's five, it's not like ten years, was it five years? Five, six years, seven years, yeah. Has he got like 16 billion pounds? I was thinking, he's sitting there stressed, speaking to you. I know. I was like, just go and live on an island and enjoy your life. There was an element of that when I asked him, I said, why are you doing this? No, but he's got, yeah. It's a challenge. Well, how old is he now, though? He could have retired years ago, Jill. It's not about money for these people. It's a challenge and legacies, and you have to admire that. Yeah.

He's a fan, isn't he? He's a fan. He feels that he's in a position where he can make a change. There's business people out there who are billions, but it's all about the next deal, isn't it? Yeah, he's 72 years of age and he's still got fire in his belly. Absolutely. That's good to see. Yeah, of course. We've not heard from you for a month or two. What do you make of the team? Obviously, you've watched quite a few of the games. What do you make of them in terms of... Is there a way back with this squad? No, I don't think so. They look lost. I think they look scared, disappointed.

Amarin said that right at the start yeah and just scared to make a mistake I've seen the bit Roy done on Bruno I do think he's the one who keeps producing he's a nuiser at times as well throwing his arms up and all that but he's the one who keeps producing but it needs massive changes to the squad I know obviously they can't but I think 10-15 players need to leave the club I think

I'm interested, I mean 10-15 players is almost like a massive clear out obviously they can't do that but I think there's a mentality there where it's not going right this player will pass it on to him he'll pass it on to him and no one's taking responsibility Which players would you keep then? Which players would you hang your hat on and say right okay for three or four years we can probably to a fair build I said this last year and it's the same again I'd keep Bruno and you know Maynew the young ones but

I think there's just a culture there now where, you know, it's too easy for them to lose games and then you see them coming out and, you know, we're on to the next one and all this rubbish and, you know, just show it on the pitch, show some character and fight on the pitch and it doesn't seem to be that. It seems, you know, they lose a game and it's, oh, let's just move on. It's bad, it's bad watching. It hurts, obviously. Yeah.

Being from Liverpool, but spending so many years at Man United, I want the club to do well. I've got my kids in the academy there and watching it here. But you're right though, Wayne. Bruno, Garnaccio and Mainu. You'd struggle to keep the rest. Just talk to me about that. The two strikers, the young strikers, or the youngish, certainly in Premier League terms and scale of club they're playing at in Xerxe and Hoyland.

If United had Harry Kane up front and they were strikers number two and three, would they still be accepted? Do you think you could get something out of those two? Or do you think there's nothing to... Can I ask you about Highland's chance the other day? Just one question, because everyone talked... Sorry? When will you go? We're right, you can pull back. Yeah. People keep talking about, obviously, strikers, their confidence. I get that, 100%. I understand it. But when that's a chance at this level, all you used to do is take a half-decent first touch...

So is that all down to confidence? I thought he could have took it first time. Maybe. He just took a touch away from it. Even after the touch, you see, he takes his touch and then he looks up at the goal. Yeah, yeah. Right, he'll tell you when you're in that position, you know where the goal is, you don't need to... I think it is confidence with him.

But he's not got a good goal-scoring record previously, Wayne. It's not as if he's got a proven track record. When you haven't scored, you start overthinking everything. Exactly. But is that just confidence? Was that actually just lack of quality? You know what it is? He's trying to... You know what he's trying to do, Wayne? It's hard to be too precise with him. Exactly what he's trying to do. Because then you're... Because you can feel the pressure, so you're trying to make sure you get everything right so you can get your shot off. You're not going to get that time like that. But what you were saying there, I was thinking of this the other day.

When we were playing, I'd go back to, and then you've got, you know, myself, Sahar, Ronaldo, then you've got Tevez, Berbatov, like top strikers. Where Hoyland and Zerk are at now is probably when I first joined the club where I had myself, Rudin, and then you had David Bellion. So probably that quality of what Bellion was.

so they're not going to leave Manchester United at this moment in time to go on to the next level they need to be learning their trade fringe players you mean dripped into it to then try and become that players because they're not at that level yet can they get there hopefully they can but they paid 70 odd million I don't know you can pay 70 odd million for a player to be a backup player

That's the way it's gone now, isn't it? Not for a backup player. I think there should be backup strikers. You'd have two or three main men and go, listen, we'll bring you in for the League Cup or whatever it might be or a European game that we're already through. But you're trying to hang out on these lads. And we talk about cutting edge. If you're not scoring goals, we can only go back to the...

the teams we played in with the strikers, you always thought even on a really bad day, you still score one or two goals. United and Arsenal, 1-1. Fulham went and won last week. Ipswich scored two at Old Trafford a few weeks ago. Yet the expectation, you must believe that even on a bad day, United will score two goals. But how many chances are they creating? Because you're saying about the touch. No, but Dembele, yesterday there was a couple where he took a heavy touch, but then obviously they're getting so many chances. Whereas Highland and, you say, the Arsenal game, there wasn't that many chances there.

If you only get them one and two, do you know what I mean? It's got to be perfect. As a striker as well, sometimes, you can look at it and it is a situation where you're not getting enough service. At some stage, you can get the ball and you do something. But do you try and do too much? No, no, no.

When you look at it, they're not trying to do too much. Hoyland, I've not seen him get the ball, try and take people on and really bust them, try to get a shot off out of nowhere, edge of the box. I don't see... So how long do you wait, Reidy? You could say for a lot of strikers who go to Man United, it's a tough job, obviously. You've got to score goals, hardest part of football. How long do you wait for these lads? Do you go, I'll just give them another 12? You know what? While you're waiting, your team is losing. He's obviously recognised that, isn't he?

I think it was really interesting when he played Mainu up top in January. I think that was him saying, listen, I need a forward, I need a... Of course, he was trying to make it a point to the board, maybe that comes in the summer. How do you feel as a striker? How do you feel as a striker, though, when a midfielder starts? It's the end, really, isn't it? Yeah. It's the end. That's what I mean.

I feel for him because, like you mentioned earlier, he's somebody that's supposed to be a number three maximum striker. He came in with nine goals from Atlanta, something like that. So you're talking about somebody who's coming in with nine goals and he's, bam, straight into Manchester United's first team to start scoring goals. It's a lot of pressure. And I think that it's weighing very heavy on him. Can I tell you, Ray, when you play or sign for Man United, and I'm including Bruin and all these boys, and they talk about signing big fees and big contracts and they'll haggle.

but his responsibility becomes that so you can't just sit back down a couple of months later and go he needs confidence he needs to run the games I was trying to make the point the other day but what are you going to do about it what is the player going to do about it so you might say the other day do you know what you're going to get your 15 minutes against Arsenal 20 and you might get one or two half chances

You better take him. Make the keeper save it. You can't come off the pitch after a game as a striker. Down in confidence. You've had 20 minutes on the pitch. Some players only get two minutes on the pitch. Solskjaer only needed five or six minutes on the pitch. But instead of coming on and going, listen, five or six minutes. Listen, everyone wants longer. Listen, maybe that was a bad example. But I would come on with the attitude going, I'm watching the game. I get up to speed. And when Hoyland gets that chance, I'm looking going, that's just about a half decent touch. And if the keeper saves it...

like the chance they had wrong where it was blocked I go I've no problem with that I found I made a good block but that's your chance to score a goal so you go oh no mate it's confident so what you wait another six months yeah you know he's not going to get many chances as good as that in such a big game he's been lucky I think there's no one really there to come in yeah and take his place but is that a problem when you think of the lads we play with I know brilliant we

obviously Yorkie, Coley, Teddy at that time and there was three or four so they were looking probably going I better take my chances why these lads are chomping at the bit on the sideline and coming on not coming on going I'm disappointed I'm going to come on I'm taking a place if you're like Yorkie, Teddy you're on the pitch and you know that

Solskjaer's on the bench he could come on and score a hat-trick I saw him do it at Forest he did four he got four you know what I mean so that's the kind of thing that makes you realise I've got to make sure that I'm bang on it they haven't got that United a lot of teams haven't got that but you look at the player weight that's what I'm talking about players got at some stage you have to look in the mirror and go what am I going to do about it do I walk a bit harder do I knock people over Sirksy get knocked over to be fair I've met him a few times Hoyland and he seems like a real nice hard-working lad so I'm

I'd like to think that he is doing that. I can imagine him being hard-working. I think he will be doing that, definitely. Well, if he's doing that, then the pressure's too much for him. Yeah, mate, that's what I'm saying. I'm not saying he's none of them things. I'll tell you what, his service to him, I mean, I know he got a chance the other day, but I have to say, the quality into him as well is absolutely appalling. And he's got no one alongside him. In the last few games, he's played with Xerxe and Eriksen alongside him, or he's playing with... I get all that, but there still comes a responsibility on the player to say, you've come for big money, there's a big responsibility. You...

you have to carry that that's part of playing for a big club I'd say the best forwards Harry Kane is the best example of it where he mightn't be in the game for 89 minutes but you know when they get that one chance he's going to score right let's do Super 6 right then

My confidence is down in this. Are you hollering? Honestly. Well, you've had enough chances. I think we need to clear out. And you should always look in the mirror first. Yes, Ben, come on, get on with it. Go on, Ben. OK, Gary. Thank you. Thanks for that. Last week, Gary, 16 points. What? Unbelievable. Unbelievable. Unreal, that's what you want to tell us. You sound like somebody new already. Gary, how did...

Top 2% of players, you beat 870,000 players. So that was a big one, that. How many did we beat? You got four points. Wow. That's...

Why don't we stop? No, how did you get to Arsenal Man United? We don't stop because we're sponsored by Super 6. Right, let's go this week. And you went 3-1, did you? Man United-Arsenal. No, I didn't. We went 2-1. Stop saying you. No, I'm saying when you were on Sky Sports for 24 hours, you predicted... You predicted 3-1. 3-1. But you know why I do that? Because every time I go against United, they get a result. So I'm like bluffing myself. Oh.

He's got an answer for everything, hasn't he? I'm serious, that's what I do. Every time I go for United, they lose. Gary Wayne. We've won this, Wazza, haven't we? We've won this. It's done. City Brighton. No, no, no. No, no, no, it's not done. Hang in there. There's a lot to play for. It's on the line. Yeah, exactly. Still come back. David Moyes got you all the trouble, didn't he? David Moyes is the one that gave them that boost. Exactly. 2-1 City. 2-1 City. I'm going with it.

Good call, was it? It's a good show, 2-1. We need to do something different. What about your team doing a weekend? Bournemouth. Bournemouth, hey! But they're still my team, I'm still going to love Bournemouth. We need to do something different. They threw that away, Bournemouth. I know. We need to think outside the box, because we're so far behind. I think Brighton beat City, guys.

do you? no we're being yeah that's been it's not being silly we need to get points but it's not being silly because we're not talking about a City side that's blasting it when they're running what everybody's waiting for City you are like a striker now that can't make his mind up taking an extra touch losing the chance for the shot you're basically just thinking far too much I'm on as good as the service I'm getting used to

Dumb and dumber. Jesus Christ. Dumb and dumber. That's what happens. I'm going to eat this. There's always a truth in a joke, isn't there? Right, one, one, two, one. What are you going to say? 2-0 City. 2-0 City. I'm hanging my hat. I said a draw. He said Brighton and then you go City. Ipswich Forest. No, you take that one. Go on, mate. Forest. 2-0. Ipswich, I mean, Ipswich have won a game since December. Oh.

at home. Forrest. Go on, Jim. Forrest, in the top three, they have to win this game. No, you always... Team's goals. 1-0 Ipswich. I knew it. There's a twist there. You see, that's ticking outside the bank. Yeah, because he's got a bit of credit in the bank. What are you basing that on? They haven't won games. Yeah, but I think there's...

Ipswich's last chance at home. Yeah, but Forrest's going for Champions League, Waz. They're going for Champions. I know, but they've won the last couple of games. They'd be excited. Perfect for them away from home. Don't argue now. Just text us on Saturday afternoon. You're right. You're right, girl. That's really bad. Bournemouth, Brentford. Bournemouth? Saturday 5.30. Bournemouth.

Bournemouth Brentford. Oh, is this you? Oh, what a golden now. Do you buy all of them? Yes, do you? 2-2. 2-2. Go and draw. You should put that stuff on. Have you any bad habits? Yes. Is someone going to win this one? I think someone's going to win it. He's got no nails. Bournemouth. That's not out, Roy. Bournemouth. Bournemouth. Bournemouth. Go on, righty. I'm going to go Bournemouth. Bournemouth all day, yeah? 3-1 Bournemouth. 2-1 Bournemouth. Ooh, ooh.

Indecision. 2-1 Bournemouth. Is he one of his left foot or his right foot? Do Arsenal-Chelsea. Arsenal-Chelsea. Sunday 1.30pm.

Good news is I'm not on, Jill, on Sunday. Are you not on at all Sunday? Oh, I thought you'd been on the Arsenal, Chelsea, Leicester Man United games. Are you doing any? I'm doing the cup final. I'm at the cup final. We have to find something. This is the one at home. In the hospitality. Well, my brother's a Newcastle fan, so yeah, he's flying in from Madrid. I'm at the women's on the Saturday, then the men's on the Sunday.

Arsenal-Chelsea. That's the score I went for. I would have gone for was a 2-1 to Arsenal. You could do it because you're 40 points in front of us. You could do it and just not even bother. You could say, you know what? I'm not even going to do any this week. You could do that. Just imagine. It wouldn't be in the spirit of Super 6, would it? Didn't Cole Palmer... How many penalties did he have in a row? I think Arsenal win, but we'll go 1-1. I don't think it's 3-1. Liverpool-Newcastle. Here we go.

Liverpool Liverpool going 2-1 or 2-0 2-0 2-0 Liverpool you're not giving Isak a goal do you know something we've got two I've seen Newcastle never play well at Wembley look two

two weren't. Who's a Newcastle fan in here? Anyone? I think Mo. Have Newcastle ever played well at Wembley? I hope they do. Well, not the United game. I actually thought they had a chance at final. The United one and they just didn't play well, did they? Yeah. Three-one. Three-one. Hold on, yeah. You know what I mean? Do you know when you watch Newcastle at Wembley, you see all them fans that travel like six, seven hours. Yeah. Go on, give them something. Go on, give them, surprise them. You know what I mean? They never turned up against United. Was that two years ago? No.

No, it was 2-0, wasn't it? And then they just sat in. Got a turn up. Even when we played them. In 1998, when they got there. Righty Joe's thing, that wasn't going to go back, but 98 they didn't turn up. 99 they didn't turn up. I don't know what it is. Two FA Cup fans didn't turn up. United 2-0. It's the pressure and weight of being there. I was going to say, it was with Cheetah and Klatenberg yesterday, and I'm thinking...

Like, making it, I know it's a cup final, but I think for a player, I can imagine being in the city and them all doing the same thing. Like, Jesus. Yeah, yeah.

Just getting it too much for them. But I thought maybe the last cup final and then getting this one, because they did look so nervous, but to be playing Liverpool, they're not going to. Honestly. Especially Liverpool, just lost. Although Man United, Man City FA Cup final, I never thought United would do it. No. Never. Great points. Leicester United. Thanks, Ben. Leicester United. I think United win that, do you? I can't imagine. Thursday night. I don't know. I think Thursday night is big.

Can you imagine if we beat... Are United going through on Thursday night? Yes or no? I don't want to debate on it. I think they're going through. Yeah, I think they're going through. Yeah, I'm getting socially there, I think. What do you think? Do you think PSV will turn up on tonight? I'm really holding the light out for PSG. PSV. Yeah. 2-1 United. You're not sure? No, he's not. Well, I'm not sure either. I think 2-1. Thank you very much. OK. Right. Right.

Your old or broken phone can let you down when you need it most. Perfect. But at Verizon, trade in any old phone from our top brands and get the most for it. Up to $2,000 in value for an amazing new iPhone 16 Pro with Apple Intelligence and a new line on MyPlan. And iPad and Apple Watch Series 10. That's like a three for one. And you can get it on any plan. At Verizon, trade in your old phone for a brand new iPhone 16 Pro, iPad, and Apple Watch. The other guys won't give you that. Visit Verizon.com today.

If I come off of the GLP-1, it's not going to automatically make my weight yo-yo back.

$149 GLP-1s? Now that's Noom smart. Get started at Noom.com. Real Noom user composited to provide their story. Individual results may vary. Not all customers will medically qualify for prescription medications. Compacted medications are not reviewed by the FDA for safety, efficacy, or quality.

Big potential controversy in the WSL where there is talk of scrapping relegation, which to be honest with you was the touchpoint and flair for the Super League discussion a few years ago. Yeah.

Because it's not a happy comment. Yeah, I think it's a difficult one because obviously what they're trying to do is the likes of, say, Newcastle, Birmingham, teams that are in the Championship, they want teams to obviously invest in these teams but without them getting kind of that guaranteed, they want WSL action and it's so hard for them to get into that league. So I think they're trying to close off the relegation so that if somebody comes in and invests, you're going to get a guaranteed three, four years guarantee

in that top league but we were discussing it before the beauty of English football is relegation promotion do you know what I mean so for it to be taken away you just think is that real English football because that's what you live for isn't it really like them games just give us context what's the situation around the world

in regards to the women's game? Is it fixed leagues or is it promotion? So, for example, America, they do like just... It's always been a fixed league, yeah. But then you look at the Franbundesliga and Norwegian League, they are in expansion now and they're not getting rid of relegation. The things I spoke to... You speak to WPLL and I understand how hard it is and what they're trying to do in respect to the relegation because they want investment.

But the investment that you'll get that will come into that league because there's no relegation, that can't be sustainable in respects of owners after three, four years, or maybe four years, five years, whatever it is, all of a sudden say, right, we're going to open relegation again now.

It's not realistic. I think the whole play with what WPLL are trying to do, they'll just keep it closed off. They'll keep no relegation. Where's it coming from? So just one thing I want to understand is where's this coming from? Who's driving this? Well, it's up to the clubs to vote on it. The fact is what I said was to WPLL is that there's no way I can back anything you're doing if it's got relegation to do with it.

You're taking away one of the core fundaments of the English game, what it's about, the jeopardy of coming up, going down, and everything that comes with that. This is not the NWSL. They're used to that. It's hard for teams to come up, right? You know what? Teams go straight back down like the...

the premiership meant yeah that is what's difficult isn't it teams coming up and staying up there so if you're asking somebody to invest it's like that's do you know what I mean are people going to invest if they think oh they're just going to go up and then they're just going to come back down but it'll also extend the teams in the league as well won't it because you'll have teams going up who came up this year who came up like this season Palace and how are they doing yes

they're struggling. I don't get it. If you invest in something in life, there is no guarantee that it will succeed. I don't get this why this right of football club owners, why they think their money is different than anybody else's money in the world. When you invest in something, whatever that may be, your money can either, you know, your house, it'll either go up or it'll go down. This is the problem for some reason with the women's game and people who are investing in it.

All you're hearing is, well, what about the return on my money? When did you start talking about return on your money? They're doing the men's game without return on investment. Yeah, exactly. But then with the women's game, the reason why we're not getting maybe a load of people investing is because they're saying we want people to come in and invest while it's no relegation. Just give us an understanding on numbers. Because I think to put it into context here, I always look at sort of the Premier League numbers for men. So we're looking at the men's Premier League game. We see a billion spent every transfer window. We see clubs, to be fair, losing...

you know, 50, 60, 70 million a year, right? We're talking about investing what in the women's team in a football club to become invested? 15, 20 million? Yeah.

Well, you know what? I think people are talking about investing £8 million and they're still struggling a bit. It needs more than that. So let's say it's £15 million a year. You're telling me that out of £500, £600 million of revenue or £400 million of revenue, you can't basically put in 3% of your revenue into the women's team without having a guarantee that you're not going to lose money? This is the question. Let's take United because we've just talked about it. United are going to lose money on Rashford, Casemiro...

Anthony Sancho. They're going to lose tens and tens and tens of millions on those players. Sowell Spurs on players. Chelsea have lost a fortune on players. City lose money on certain players. That's football. You lose money on players. You make money on players. Why would they not just invest £15 million a year as Premier League clubs? But that's the question, isn't it? It's the question because when you talk about it, there's so much feast here. They invest that in academies. But they won't for some reason.

When you did your interview with Sir Jim, he said, didn't he? He said, like, I'm focusing on the men's because the women's are only making, like, this amount compared to the men's. But you need to put into something to then get something out of it. Do you know what I mean? So it's kind of, I think that's why investors are a bit kind of closed off to it because, as you say, it is a risk, but people want this guarantee, which you can't get.

but he spoke about it in the interview didn't he? But surely it's not United City, Chelsea who are successful and at the top of the league driving this it must be the club though when you're not going down. Yeah say probably clubs like well you've got Newcastle, Birmingham like teams that have lower down that want that WSL action but investors want them games don't they? They don't want to be in the championship and stuff like that but I do agree with Wrighty like can you imagine football without relegation? It's a scandal Joe. I totally understand. I work today obviously your lads was out there and the United States and

it was weird when you get past the halfway point of the season and

If you're in a position where you can't make playoffs, everyone just completely switches off. Staff, players, it's just like, oh, let's get ready and start preparing for next season. And then the integrity of the game, these players have got a right to then go and compete. It's a strange feeling. I think it's an absolute scandal. And look, I'm not as close to the women's game as you two are, but I think it's an absolute scandal. And what's the scandal about it is the entitlement.

the entitlement of football club owners who think they can invest money but they need a guarantee and a certainty. Scrap relegation as I won't invest in the women's game. That isn't a position of a good person. I tell you... F*** off then. Yeah. No, f***. No, seriously, f***.

off out the game because to be honest with you you know fact the matter is in football you're going to lose money you're going to make money you have no problem with basically spending 350 grand a week on a player and losing 20 million a year on them and spending 60 million on a fee for a player that you might only get 10 million back for but you won't put 15 million I'd say let's say if it was 100 million into the women's game we talk about 15 million quid and that's a lot of money don't get me wrong I'm not close enough to it but what I am against is this idea that basically they want to close shop

and they think that basically they should only be in it and let's name a club for me Gillian the sort of championship of the of the championship of the women's league that basically would have when I was at Birmingham so we used to sit down once a week

We had Hope Powell who was there at Birmingham and we'd have meetings and to be fair, Birmingham would invest a lot of money into it and it was at a point where I'm asking questions because Hope was asking for more for the women's team. So if we got a new physio,

she'd be like will we want a new physio so Hope was really good driving and pushing it but you weren't investing a lot of money into the women's team I've got no problem with I'm sure I know some clubs invest in the women's team a lot my point is name me a club that's probably not going to get into the WSL at this moment in time but they're in the championship give me a

Give me a club. Is Southampton in there? Yeah, Southampton. Newcastle are kind of. So basically, Southampton don't make this cut and they're not in it. So Southampton, one of the great football clubs in our country, they can never get into the top league in women's football because basically the rest of them just closed it off and they've got to do what? They've got to beg, steal and borrow. If they play well, you can come up.

but there's no relegation. There's still promotion. They can come up. They're going to make the league more teams. So what can happen is... Does that work? So what happens is, is that there's no relegation for four or five years, but the teams that come up, they can come in. This is how crazy, this is how... Do you understand what I'm saying? So the teams can come in, so it builds the league up. Make it bigger.

And it makes it bigger. But then there's no relegation. But then what happens is, is that after four years, then they introduce it again. Why don't they just bring the top five teams up?

rather than waiting four or five years. Do you know what needs to happen? They need to increase the scope of the regulator to include the women's game. Simple as that. Honestly. You need some power from above because ultimately the reality of it is you're talking about basically owners of clubs. It's just like, can't be bothered. Determining rules for themselves but actually for the

They don't always think about the good of the game and the wider game. They don't. How is the women's numbers? Are the crowds up? Well, you know what? At the moment, you know, the thing is, is that what the WPL will say is, is that they are. They're interesting. Listen, Chelsea about to win for the sixth time on the spin. You know what I mean? We're talking about there's a drop in attendance is simply because, you know, Chelsea won it by January.

You know, they're trying to get the league more competitive. Welcome to the men's Premier League for the last five years. Yeah, but the thing is, is that for a league that's fledging, it's trying to get going. You want people watching, you want people going to the games. This is why I have certain sympathy with the WPLL, but for them to be involved for a year...

So coming up about a year that they've been involved with it. And the first thing they come up with is, well, no relegation. You need to be doing more thinking than that. You need to be more innovative than that. To answer this one question, is it being driven by owners who basically feel like they're entitled and can never ever be in a position whereby they lose money and go down into another league? Is it because they want a fixed outcome, basically? Is that it?

They want a fixed outcome to put money in. Almost like blackmail. Well, of course it is. It's almost like blackmail, isn't it? Well, that's what's happening. That's why the game is like it is. And it won't get any better. The minute that you start to basically succumb and back down to these type of people, they've got you forever. Yeah. Vice-like grip. And they never let go. So you've just got to basically, I think, resist it with all you can. And...

I think... This is what we're trying to do. With the WPLL, they're really just a mouthpiece for the owners. So when they come up with that, that's worrying because the owners would be happy with that. We're talking about the same owners who would have taken Super League, who would have had that. We're talking about the same people. Well, when the games went on telly, it was like, you've got to be grateful that you're signing these big deals. But then suddenly it was like 11 o'clock on a Sunday when all kids have got football.

I remember eating pasta at 6am in the morning. I was going to play a game at 11am in the morning and then at 6 or 7am on a night. It's going to be a challenge for women's football. It will be because the people only want to eat off the top in respect to the girls get to the final, get to the Euros, get to the World Cup final and everybody jumps in. Because the Premier League is so successful, it

it wouldn't be difficult for them to actually make some concessions and compromises for the women's game, is what I think. You know, it wouldn't be difficult. If a stadium costs £12 million, £15 million for like a 5,000, 6,000, 7,000-seater stadium, whatever that costs...

if you think about it, it's the cost of an average right back. Do you know what I mean? It's probably your second right back costs 10, 12 million. If you think about United, they just bought Dorgu for 20 odd million. They've got Masraoui, they've got Dalot, they've got these types of players. They all cost 15, 20 million. You could build a women's stadium for that. You could play youth team games in there as well. Yeah, but then why don't they go? It seems very simple. But they won't do it. Lose your third right back or lose your fifth centre back for a season. Do something for a season. Just give up a little bit and

It's not difficult for these clubs to do these types of things. Unless they're forced into doing it, I don't know, through the government, whatever it is, unless they're forced, they won't do it. What do the women's get out of the home matches? Well, for the home matches in Boreham Wood, they'll get... Emirates have had it. I've been there with 50,000. They'll get 40,000, 50,000. They'll get 40,000, 50,000. This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Skybet. Community questions. We're moving on. Sorry.

Do you ever hear from your old managers? Yeah. It's funny. Yeah. Roy? Every time I get sacked. LAUGHTER

He gives me a text. What does it say? He gives me a text and says, I'll get sacked, yeah. Keep going. Like, what do you mean? Just a phone call just out of the blue? Yeah, do you ever keep to hear from him? You keep in touch with George Graham. Did you meet him last year? I get the odd text from the boss and speak to him. Every now and then, you know, I'll get something from, like, Steve Coppel might text and say, like, good to see you doing what you're doing and...

I know George isn't great, but he's not well. He's not feeling great, but every now and then I learn from the boss, you know? That's nice, though. Yeah, but the thing is, just when you see him, he's more, you know, I don't get too much link with him. It's funny, he's got my missus's number, though, I'll send. LAUGHTER

Because we're looking to... I thought you said something else. We're looking to rent his gaff. Do you have any concern? Yeah, no. I meet my old managers, some of them, for a coffee now and then. So Nick Cushon got... He left New York and then he's just been... Well, the city manager was sacked. The Man City manager, yeah. Was that a surprise, him getting sacked? He's come back in.

No, I don't think so. I think it was about time. Definitely. I do think it was about time. They haven't been getting the result. I think there's a lot of people... I think a lot of people would be happy with that. Yeah. Especially with the time. Phil, does Phil contact you every so often? Yes, he does, actually. What's Sir Ralph saying? What's he saying, Sir Ralph? He says he really enjoys this, actually. He says he really enjoys this. But Phil's lovely. I think the managers that keep in touch with you after are the good ones, aren't they? Because...

I chose that. They didn't just... I remember. I remember when you said the managers and how they kept you in touch with them. I remember there was a couple of weeks before all the George Graham scandal happened.

I remember he called me in and he wasn't happy with me because he said, you're doing too much. Doing too much outside the game. I'm seeing you on this, seeing you on that. And then obviously the scandal happened. And so it happened in a week later. Went and saw him, went and meet up. He said he wanted to meet up. We just had a chat and he says...

Do as much as you can. Game's short. Make sure you get... I said, Gaffer, you was telling me a couple of weeks ago that I'm doing too much. Do as much as you can. Do as much as you can. I was like... And to be honest, he's always... He always, every couple of months, I'll hear from him. Say, how you doing? That's good. Saw you the other day. Do you keep in touch with players? Like any... When I was a manager, I mean. No, like now, do you check in with some of the lads and stuff? Loads of lads, yeah. That's good.

And it's nice when you bump into a few of them on a match day, Sunday. Yap was there, Peter. It was good. It's nice to bump into lads. What about players who played for you? Yeah, that's what I mean. Players who played for you as a manager? Do you check in with them now? A couple, yeah. A couple of lads, yeah. You're interested in how they're doing, particularly when they're going to coach and manage. You keep an eye out for them. It's good. Some good lads, yeah.

Wazza managers keep in touch with you players that you've managed yeah a few players yeah not many but a few who I enjoyed working working with and then there's some who I hope I don't ever speak to again so that championship is tight now isn't it at the bottom yeah results last week or two tough going Darby had a couple of good wins didn't he Darby won last night beat Coventry and beat Blackburn the weekend I think it was yeah

Tight at the bottom. Right, St Patrick's Day is coming up soon. When is it? 17th. Monday. Monday, yeah. Which country has the best food, the best music, the best drink and fashion sense out of England or Ireland? I'd have to mix some of that, I think. Which has the best what? Say it again. So basically, food, music, drink and fashion. Fashion, I'm going to go England. I think that's easy. Do you know what I think? The rest would be Ireland, no. What, food? Food.

Music. Hospitality. Music and drink, definitely. I'd probably go with hospitality. If you go to the right place in Ireland with the right people, it's the best in the world. Amazing. The best hospitality in the world. The Irish. I'll give you that. Music and drink, I think, yeah. Boys on that Irish stuff on the island for music.

And Westlife. Now, if you go to the right place in Ireland, Ireland. Yeah, but you say the right place. Food? You could go to any pub and just like... Yeah, yeah, that's right. What are the Irish dishes, Roy? I'll be saying it's England in some way, some of them, but... Yeah, I suppose so. Well, obviously, you like your Irish stew, don't you? Yeah, I love it.

I always think like Irish stew I knew you were going to say this and then like you go to Liverpool it's scouse you go to it's like Lancashire hot pot they're all the same aren't they they're like a different no not the same as the Irish stew not an Irish stew you can have a Guinness in Manchester or a Guinness in Ireland or even chocolate in Ireland it's nice it's the milk it's the way they do it

It's the Guinness, it's the water. It's the water. What's in an Irish stew then that's different than the ingredients that are in those? The love is made with it. The love, yeah. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Do you eat carrots?

Let's have a look. He googled an Irish stew, didn't he? Yeah, and see what's the recipe. Did you think the potatoes were nicer? They used to be nicer. How are the potatoes? Chocolate. Cadbury's in Ireland is the nicest. Way nicer than Cadbury's in England. Guinness, red wine, potatoes, carrots. Beautiful. Cadbury's. Do you want to drink the chocolate? It's just the same chocolate. It's not the same chocolate. So the chocolate knows it's gone to Ireland? Right. You could use Irish milk.

I've got here Irish beef stew. What's up with you? Hearty Irish beef in an Irish stew. But they say traditional Irish stew was tender lamb. Which is it?

Is Irish stew beef or lamb? I don't know, I did any of them. Jesus. Quizzing me. Irish stew... I wouldn't want lamb. Beef or lamb? Where are you going? It's a real community question. I'm actually interested. What is it, beef or lamb? Beef, I told you beef. You can have either. Yeah, exactly, I'll have beef or lamb. I'll mix them together. The old-fashioned Irish stew was mutton or lamb. So it was lamb. Was it mutton dressed up as lamb? LAUGHTER

Right. If you could have represented any other country, who would it have been? Brazil, for me. At what? I think it has to be Brazil, doesn't it? Obviously, when we're growing up, it would have been Brazil. As I've got older, probably. Mine would be Ireland. Go on. Would you? Of course. Would you be Ireland, Wayne? I'd be Italy. I'd be Italy. I don't know about your big mistakes. I'd probably go Italy. Could you play for Ireland? I love Italy, yeah.

Italy? Yeah, the Italian. Mick called me up. Mick McCarthy? How old was you? He's a nice guy, apparently. No, he spoke to Lee Carsley and Lee spoke to Mick. And I'm close to doing it. And then they called me up for the 21s. And I was like, I'm not playing for Ireland 21s. You're dropping me off. I'm not playing for England 21s. And then it never happened. Then I obviously went to England.

Wow, that was close, eh? So if they pulled you into the first team, then you would have went? Probably, yeah. Gee, wow. I had a problem with this when I was with England. Jack wouldn't go with England 21, did he, when Gary called him up? I had a problem with this with England because basically they had to do a beauty parade. I think it was for Jack and for Declan, where basically they were going to meet the managers. We had to go and convince...

Like, I think both of them, actually. You know, who to play for, like, what's the plan? You didn't have to convince them. They'd already made their mind up. There's a meeting that basically... Yeah, there's a meeting. There's a meeting that basically they had to go to. Like, no, no, no, I'm really strong about this. Tell them to pick the f***ing country.

It's not a job interview, playing for a country. Like, we'll make sure you get this many caps. We'll make sure you... You don't know. Play as well as you can. You might get in, you might not get in. And I was really hard on that. I felt quite strongly about it at the time that we shouldn't be going interviewing players and begging players. But did you meet them? I didn't know. To go and play for the country. The association did. But my point was at the time, no, don't go and meet them. Do they want to play for England? They play for England. It's a feeling. It's a feeling. It's not a...

conversation we had the same problem Gary when we were speaking to them we're in a squad but if they need to think about it then you're in trouble pick a country it's what you're feeling it's not like because the manager's going to change the FA are going to change the FA of Ireland are going to change and the managers are going to change so Roy might go and meet Jack or Declan and sort of Roy Hodgson might go and meet Jack or Declan but

But, you know, Roy's not going to be with Ireland forever and Roy Hutchinson's not going to be with Ireland forever. But Martin O'Neill was brilliant with the boys. He met them and he obviously spoke to them and they were in a couple of squads and just stepped back and he said, obviously, I know you have decisions to make but, again, if you're trying to persuade a player... I agree. You're snookered already. We kind of knew all along, really, but obviously for Ireland you still have to try and get the best players available but not when you're pandering to players. That's not good, really. Yeah. And I think Jack said to Garrett he'd go with England but he's not going with the 21s. That's another argument to have. Yeah.

Last question. If you could go back in time to change anything, what would it be? It's an open question, that, because it could be in your own life or it could be a moment in history if you want to go deeper and bigger. If we're feeling philosophical. Change anything. If you could change... If you go back in time and change anything, what would it be?

I think we're all looking at you, righty? You'd want to score that penalty to charge the shield against United. No, I'd want to score that goal against Italy in Rome. I'd like to score that. That would have been good. You just said you wanted to play for Italy. Yeah, I do like Italy. I love Italy. That's a really hard question, isn't it? I would change the ownership of United and make sure that nobody ever really had a hold on it.

I know that people always have had a hold on it they've always had you know it's always been owned by family local family or now an American family and obviously I would go back and sort of try and fix that so when it went to sort of like the stock exchange and it became a bit more of a obviously then you're open to anyone owning it but yeah so you'd stop that you wouldn't do that I think I'd look at football club ownership erm

in a different way. I think less, not necessarily Germany, where you go to 51-49, I'm not necessarily thinking that either, but I just think the idea that

fans don't have a position in football clubs and don't have an ownership stake of 10, 15, 20%. So they've always got like a golden share of some kind of things wrong on certain things. Good answer. I think we've gone past that now. We've gone beyond that point. But look, football clubs have always been owned by local businessmen usually. So I get it. I'm not trying to, but I think it should have been, when it saw it going away a little bit, it should have been grabbed.

I would change my word and if I got smashed by Marlon Harewood too, I got heavily tackled. And now every time I walk down the street, people don't shout Marlon on it. That's what I would change. That one word everywhere I go. You know what would change? What would you change? I'm going to put two things to you. Would you change the way you left United at the end? You've said before that you basically could have just sat there and sat it out.

Or... Well, I wouldn't have just sat it out. I would have trained properly and got back in the team 100%. Yeah, and then the other one is the Ireland situation. Yeah, but I was kind of out of my control, really. But you could have done something different, couldn't you? No, but I don't want to walk with people who treat me like crap either. No, I get that, but would you change that? Would they be two different situations? Obviously, I'd change them. Oh...

I think it's hard to say you change it's hypothetical to do with football because that's part of your journey part of your character sometimes it's good things bad things if I was advising a player in my position a bit older and a bit wiser my situation at United I'd be saying you just sit where you are don't go anywhere until you know where you can and can't go I didn't even know what

But Roy, lads are doing that now to be fair. You think of lads like, say, Casemiro said he's not leaving and Sancho said they're not leaving and Rashford. I certainly know all the options. As I said, the silly thing I did was left that day and I didn't know, I couldn't sign for another team until January. So I was injured so I had to sit around for another six, seven, eight weeks. Whatever, but the financial side of it, at least know all your options and then make a decision. But the World Cup stuff, no, I don't know what I...

No, people challenge you and you can't back down with people either. What about that Walker's Crisp advert? Did he do one? Did he do one? Yeah. It was a charity gig. He's got a picture of it. You'll see it afterwards. Yeah, let's get that. I went to Ayia Napa for a week. I should have gone for two weeks. You must be proud that you've always stuck to your morals and values, though. Do you know what I mean? Like, you've never...

You've never gone away from who you are. But you make compromises as you get a bit older, don't you? Yeah. I think that's a good trait to have, that you stick to who you are. That's right. So, righty? What, in respects of change? Anything. Sign for United. Imagine being in our dressing room. What chance you would have had? You've got 50 goals a season. You know what? I think if I was a few years younger...

I think I could have got to United. Yes! But I'm not saying I would have. I'm just saying if I was a few years younger, I know I could have thrived in that dressing room. But if I could have... You're playing on the shoulder. We're putting balls down the side. You'd be getting goals. You'd be getting chances every week. Do you think you are as good as finishers, Coley, Teddy, all these boys that were getting loads of goals? You're thinking, if I was getting their chances...

Definitely be scoring for Fon. You watch Man United on a weekly basis as a striker and you think, jeez, I wish I was playing for them. Of course I'm going to take those chances. So your biggest change would be you'd rather play for United? I'm not saying I'd rather play for United. Is that all you're in with? Right now, the way United were playing back then, there's no striker. But is that your thing you'd change? No, I wouldn't change that. I'd probably...

If I could go back and change something, I'll probably change, hopefully Palace winning that FA Cup against you lot. Because I think the Palace fans deserve something. Mine would be, I wouldn't have went to the World Cup. I shouldn't have. Which one? The big man's back. Yeah. The big man's here. What was it? What did you say? I can't remember. You shouldn't have gone, what? I broke my foot before the end of the season. Was that Chelsea? Yeah. I rushed back in. I always remember walking in and Jermaine Defoe was walking out. Yeah.

He was on standby and I felt so bad for him and then I was never fit. I was never fit for the tournament. And then in the end I got sent off in the quarterfinals. She never went then. I know, but... Do you think you're injuring everything yourself? It was the first World Cup and you're doing everything. I remember reading about it when you were injured. I think they were interviewing somebody and they're on about athletes trying to get back, not just the footballers. And there's no way they'd ever rush back for something. If you're injured...

if you've got a bad injury, you've got a bad injury. I know, there's two things though. One, you were quite young and two, you miss out the fact that, to be fair, there was almost like a country, a manager in a squad, like begging him to come back because of how important it was. The pressure he was under, I get that. But sometimes I just go, listen, will I really get my very best? And if you're not, you always have to be brave enough to say no. Yeah.

I also wish my first touch was better when I got injured. Gary Speed, God bless his soul, tackled me and I never was the same after that. I didn't play hardly after that for three or four years. I thought you meant your first touch in general. I thought you

I thought you were going to stop there. I was touching that. Your second wasn't great either. You're going back. See with Portugal, you remember when you done the Metatarsus and just blasted on the scene, a proper blast on the scene. That's what I'm talking about.

That was a change, that injury. I think we win that tournament if Wayne doesn't do his best job. I thought you said World Cup, go to a tournament. I thought you obviously had two or three. I think you might have said that as well. I'll take the Palace one because I was involved in that one properly. The ones with England, you can't deal with them managers choosing people.

over here and that for whatever reason I got left out of every squad and as soon as they come back from the tournament I got pulled back in left out pulled back in left out pulled back in that was Udo Theo coming forward

Theo went 2006, weren't he? But if we all go through our careers, there's more than three. I wish that was me. That's the only thing. I don't know if all that problems I had with Riyak in that season had a bearing on me. That time when you hold yourself, Sheila...

Ferdinand Cole Colly Moore Sutton you think of all these forwards there isn't there but you think of your football career sometimes something comes back something can come back to me when I'm out walking the dog just something will come from nowhere and you go loads of moments like that where you go but that's

Isn't that all part of your... Like you said, Wayne, it's the journey, isn't it? Definitely the journey. You don't even think about the success, do you? It's definitely the memories. And you wouldn't have them memories if it had been different. And the injuries, isn't it? When you're a sports person, you get badly injured. But then again, you have to count your blessings. Listen, it was a

The cock jockey died, was it four or five weeks ago? So these jockeys went about football, it broke my foot, and we missed a game. And these sports people, a lot of sports people, poor lad, 24, 25, cock, you're passing away like that. I'm not saying that. Count your blessings. Yeah. OK, well, that's the end of this episode, and thank you very much. Thank you. Such a solemn end. Such a solemn end. Let's move. What are we doing? We're easily upset now. Thank you.

Come on down to Boost Mobile and turn your tax refund into six months of savings? Nope, all wrong. You're on the radio touting Boost Mobile's 5G network. You gotta use your radio voice like this. Come on down to Boost Mobile and get six months free when you buy six months on our best unlimited plans. Now you go. This is just how my voice sounds. Just say it like you mean it. Okay.

Plus, enter to win up to $10,000 and double your tax refund. Oh, my. Requires upfront payment, taxes and fees extra, terms and exclusions apply. Visit BoostMobile.com for full offer terms and sweeps details. 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 at Progressive.com. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.

Hey, folks, it's Mark Maron from WTF. Look, I've known Bill Burr for decades. In fact, I just had him on my show. But now you can watch him in his natural environment on the standup stage. Bill is coming to Hulu on March 14th with his hilarious standup special, Bill Burr, Drop Dead Years.

Get Bill's provocative and unfiltered point of view on everything from marriage and parenthood to dating advice and, yes, dropping dead. See the new hilarious stand-up special, Bill Burr, Drop Dead Years, streaming on Hulu March 14th. Thanks for listening and thanks to our partners, Skybet. If you want more, please subscribe and you won't miss an episode.