Transfer Window Latest & What Does Success Look Like For Chelsea? | EP 74

Summary

This football podcast episode recaps January transfer window action, including Calvin Phillips' loan to West Ham. They discuss potential destinations for striker Victor Osimhen, with Chelsea and Arsenal needing a top striker. They review Africa Cup of Nations drama, with wildcard Cape Verde winning its group over Egypt and Ghana. They talk about the Asian Cup, with South Korea and Japan advancing to face each other. The hosts debate club football politics regarding a resignation at UEFA. They assess global league strengths, ranking the Premier League as #1, and note the rise of the Saudi Pro League.

Takeaways

• 😀 Liverpool beat Fulham to reach Carabao Cup final vs Chelsea
• ⚽️ Calvin Phillips joins West Ham on loan from Man City
• 👍🏻 Victor Osimhen indicates he's joining Premier League next
• 🏆 Cape Verde cause shocks to top AFCON group with Egypt
• 😲 Late goals and drama in AFCON group stage games
• ⚽️ Son Heung-min scores as South Korea draw with Iran at Asian Cup
• 👋 Zvonimir Boban resigns from UEFA over presidential term limits
• 📈 Premier League ranked as best league in world by analytics study
• 🤔 Saudi Pro League ranked lower than English League One
• 🏆 Spanish second division ahead of Championship in league rankings

Q & A

What football tournament is Micah Richards discussing at the beginning?

He is discussing the recent Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

Why does Alan Shearer say he feels sorry for Chris Hughton?

Because Chris Hughton's team Ghana were eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations after conceding two late goals against Comoros.

Which Premier League team did Declan Rice join on loan in January?

West Ham United.

Why has Victor Osimhen said he wants to join the Premier League?

He said the Premier League is one of the biggest leagues in the world, hinting he wants to join it next.

Which club does Micah Richards predict will sign Victor Osimhen?

He predicts Chelsea will sign Victor Osimhen.

How did Japan perform at the Asia Cup?

Japan lost to Iraq and failed to win their group, which was a surprise given their 10-game winning streak prior.

Why did Zvonimir Boban resign from UEFA?

He resigned due to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin wanting to change the term limit rules to stay in power longer, which Boban disagreed with.

What is the top ranked league in the world according to the analytics firm 21st Club?

The English Premier League is ranked as the top league in world football.

Which second division league is ranked higher than the English Championship?

The Spanish Segunda Division is ranked higher at number 8 versus the Championship at number 16.

Where is the Portuguese Primeira Liga ranked in the top leagues list?

It is ranked number 12.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Football podcast covers Liverpool-Fulham semi-final, Man City, and player transfers

Paragraph 1 summarizes the opening of the football podcast. The hosts Alan, Micah and Gary discuss the recent Liverpool vs Fulham League Cup semi-final, Man City's depth, and potential player transfers in the January window.

05:01

😀 Analysis of Liverpool's performance and player Joe Gomez

Paragraph 2 analyzes Liverpool's performance in the Fulham match. Joe Gomez is praised for his versatility and steady return to form after injury.

10:02

🤔 Debate over teams playing out from the back and conceding goals

Paragraph 3 features a debate sparked by Alan's frustration with teams like Burnley and Middlesbrough constantly trying to play out from the back but conceding goals by doing so. They discuss whether managers should be more adaptable.

15:03

😊 Liverpool vs Chelsea League Cup final anticipated

Paragraph 4 expresses excitement for the upcoming League Cup final between Liverpool and Chelsea. The hosts feel it will be a great match between two huge clubs.

20:04

😕 The challenges of signing top players under financial regulations

Paragraph 5 covers the challenges Newcastle, Arsenal and other clubs face in signing top players like Victor Osimhen under restrictive financial regulations.

25:05

🤔 Speculation over which Premier League club Osimhen could join

Paragraph 6 features the hosts speculating over which Premier League club Victor Osimhen might join, with Chelsea and Arsenal seen as the most likely destinations.

30:08

⚽ Update on Africa Cup of Nations Group F and player interviews

Paragraph 7 gives an update on the crazy Group F matches at AFCON, including late equalizers and shocking results. An emotional post-match interview with Ghana's Kamaldeen Sulemana is discussed.

35:08

🤯 Recounting the chaotic end to AFCON Group F matches

Paragraph 8 recounts the chaotic end to AFCON Group F, including late penalty calls, own goals, and teams thinking they were eliminated only to end up qualifying at the last moment.

40:10

😕 UEFA exec Zvonimir Boban resigns over length of service rules

Paragraph 9 covers UEFA executive Zvonimir Boban's resignation over his opposition to proposals to change length of service rules. His integrity and desire for football's best interests are praised.

45:12

⚽ The top 10 leagues in world football ranked by analytics firm

Paragraph 10 discusses a data analytics firm's ranking of the top 10 leagues in world football, with some surprising results like La Liga Segunda higher than the English Championship.

Keywords

💡transfer window

The transfer window refers to the period when football clubs can buy and sell players. In the video, they discuss activity during the January 2024 transfer window, which has seen limited action so far. This may be due to financial restrictions placed on clubs like Everton and Nottingham Forest.

💡FA Cup

The FA Cup is an annual knockout football competition in England open to clubs at different levels. In the video they mention that there are FA Cup games happening that weekend, including Newport County vs Manchester United.

💡carabao Cup

The Carabao Cup is an annual knockout football competition in England open to clubs in the top 4 divisions. In the video they discuss the two Carabao Cup semi-finals, including Liverpool vs Fulham and Chelsea vs Middlesbrough.

💡Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)

The AFCON is a major international football competition held every two years for national teams across Africa. They discuss some of the drama and upsets that happened during the group stages of the 2024 AFCON.

💡Asia Cup

The Asia Cup is a football competition for Asian national teams. They talk about results from the Asia Cup, including Japan's surprise loss to Iraq and Son Heung-min's South Korea qualifying for the next round.

💡Premier League

The Premier League is the top level professional football league in England. When discussing top players like Victor Osimhen, they reference the Premier League and top Premier League clubs that he might transfer to.

💡relegation

Relegation refers to when a football team is demoted to a lower league based on poor performance. When discussing Garner's loss that knocked them out of AFCON, they mention the coach getting fired over fears of how it could lead to World Cup qualification issues and potential relegation.

💡UCL

UCL stands for Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League, an annual club football competition for top teams across Europe. They reference Champions League football as something clubs want to qualify for.

💡El Clásico

El Clásico refers to football matches between rivals Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. When discussing the Spanish league rankings, Alan incorrectly refers to it as El Clásico rather than La Liga.

💡analytics

In the video, they discuss analytics used to rank football leagues globally, with the English Premier League coming out on top. The analytics assessed underlying performance, results, and international competitions to quantify league strength.

Highlights

Liverpool got themselves through to the final where they meet Chelsea

Micah and Gary discuss potential destinations for striker Victor Osimhen

The crazy ending to Ghana's AFCON match that saw them fail to advance

The remarkable story of tiny Cape Verde winning their AFCON group

Forast Al Chris Huon being fired as Ghana manager after their AFCON exit

The late drama in the Egypt vs Cape Verde AFCON match

Inaki Williams' crazy 24 hours from AFCON heartbreak to Copa del Rey joy

Micah questions the AFCON release policy for Premier League players

The prospect of South Korea vs Japan in the Asian Cup last 16

Zvonimir Boban resigning from UEFA over presidency term limit changes

21st Club's global league rankings - Premier League number 1

La Liga ranked number 2 in the global league rankings

Saudi Pro League ranked much lower than expected at 63rd

Spanish second division ahead of the English Championship

Russia and Turkey at 9th and 10th in global league rankings

Transcripts

hello and welcome to the rest is

football with Alan Shir michah Richards

and me Gary liner um Micah you've got

your clothes back on after the end of

the last episode are they going to stay

on for the entirety of this episode yes

they are it's too cold outside more

importantly have you got your bra on

underneath that

top now now Alan there there's no need

for that I am actually kind of sick of

the sight you this week um just um we we

actually filmed um filmed and recorded

10 episodes of the um match of the day

top 10 uh podcasts um and we did it over

two days so we've we've been together a

lot we're separate today but um I can

still see you and we're together on

Sunday oh my word yeah for Newport

versus Manchester United in the FA Cup

yeah bit of BBC One um we we're kind of

busy yeah I might need a restraining

order at some point before you move on

what about the splendid lunch that you

cooked us on two occasions one on

Tuesday and one on Wednesday oh no was

it Monday and Tuesday I'm getting Mond

and Tuesday time flies it flies doesn't

it very nice very very nice well that's

very kind if you just say that very

marvelous absolutely outstanding Gary

thank thank you very much I praise

um right on today's episode um we're

going to be diving into the January

transfer window um and it's not been a

lot of action but there are a few things

to discuss uh we'll recap both the um

carabal cup semifinals and um we'll also

have a look what's been going on in the

Africa Cup of Nations and the Asia cup

um some of the scenes are extraordinary

um one group in particular in the Africa

uh Cup of Nations we we we'll come to

that in the second half um but I want to

start with the um the two semi-finals um

let's start um we're recording this on

Thursday let's start with the game that

was played at Fulham uh last night and

um Liverpool got themselves through to

the final where they meet Chelsea um

Fulham had one or two opportunities

didn't they they did they had a huge

opportunity at uh well the game nil nil

I think it was paulinho Miss pinho yeah

missed a big chance from a set piece and

then almost what was it three or four

minutes later

Liverpool Liverpool go up the other end

and and score you just thought you know

when you goalkeeping he should have

saved it yeah um then know but you just

thought when you get big chances like

that in that size of the game then they

have to be put in the back of the net

and I know they rallied late on fulam

and they give it a right good go um but

I mean Liverpool where their injuries

and players away and everything else

that you've got to admire how the just

keep on getting the job done yeah Lis

Diaz with the with the all important

goal I know it was it was a Leno error

but it was still a good bit of play he's

probably been Liverpool's quietest

forward this season I mean he's had a

lot going on um hasn't he um injury

problems and on the personal issues with

with the family when they were kidnapped

in in Colombia so it's it's sort of

understanding that he's he's struggled

to find his best form because he looked

electric um last season so that goal

would probably do uh him a lot of good

and Liverpool are Marching on aren't

they in all competitions I mean we've

talked about them so much now aren't

they I think um we've give klopp all the

credit in terms of not just the starting

11 his in-game substitutions have been

brilliant we've talked about how good

their forward line is probably the best

in the league as a collective and you

know the mixing that with young players

as well again I thought Bradley was very

good until they conceded the goal when

he just just come inside him he looks

like a real talent and his fullback for

Liverpool if anyone's not seen him

already and Joe Gomez looks steady

doesn't he he sort of had that big

injury and he was linked away and then

he's a center half but be playing left

back because Robertson's been out and so

is timas and he just looks like he's

gradually getting back to the Gomez we

all know it's great to see that actually

isn't it because and he he kind of bit

like you michah burst onto the scene

didn't he um and he we all thought wow

what a player signing from Charlton

didn't they if I I remember correctly

and um he's he's played some he was

early days he was brilliant then big

injuries can really affect you and um he

certainly had one or two of those I

think you know the big Improvement for

me is is that I always felt there was a

huge era in him you know but certainly

in in recent games he's been outstanding

and he was again last night uh in that

in that game I thought everything he did

he was

reliable um I thought his Pace was able

to to get Liverpool out of trouble at

times and he defended really really well

so yeah he was he was impressive again

last night yeah give it his versatility

Micah I mean looking ahead to the Euros

obviously if he sustains this kind of

form for the rest of the season it could

be a really good and valuable addition

to to Gareth southgate's England squad

couldn't he because he can play any of

the positions probably across the back

four yeah it's a very good point um the

only thing he's not so good at is

scoring I believe he's not scored in his

Liverpool career which I seen a startat

yesterday I actually couldn't believe it

but in terms of his ability yes I I

totally agree with you and he's got

experience as well just because he had

that knock of injury um doesn't mean

he's not a good player and look he had

at and mati to contend with Robertson

who we all agree is probably the best

left back in the league so it's always

going to be tough for him but his

versatility we mentioned the likes of

Phil Neville sometimes it's gone against

him because he was better than probably

people give him credit for but I think

this could actually work in Joe Gomez's

favor uh we're going to get a Liverpool

versus Chelsea final um they had no

problems whatsoever disposing of

middlesburg despite trailing

after the first leg Alan um you can see

signs that generally over the period of

the Season that Chelsea are gradually

getting it together would you say yeah

slowly um still got to do a little bit

more to convince me I think um still

need to improve but they're on the right

path

um they're getting a bit more belief one

or two injuries coming back um yeah no

they I mean as much as they were under

pressure before the game the other night

because of their performance in the

first leg and the result in the first

leg so they were under pressure but the

way they

just they went after middlesbor and

middlesbor just couldn't hand handle it

and they were far too good for them and

it was all over in that in that first

half and job well done for Chelsea and

um yeah I mean if if they were to were

able to get a trophy this season and

finish in in around 6 S8 then you have

to say that that's a that would be a

really good season for uh for poino

considering you know all the criticism

that they've that they've had early

season I was going to that's actually

where you were going to leave me

actually to um whether that would be

considered um a successful season say if

they just won the caribel cup maybe

qualified for one of the European

competitions that that would be a step

in the right direction Michael wouldn't

yeah of course I I agree with on I'm I'm

quite confused with Chelsea because I

remember saying early doors I seen all

the patterns of play I seen what they

was trying to do it looked to me like

they had a clear pan but they just

couldn't get it across on the field and

I wanted to ask you guys as as Strikers

we've done Chelsea so many times this

season and all the approach play has

been excellent It's just that final bit

now are we starting to see the final bit

yes Brer is still young he might not be

the final fin piece right now but if

they had a proper Striker you know all

these games that they were

in Striker scores that I think we're

talking about something different of

course he said well we'll Haven them but

I'm saying it's as easy as when Allan

said okay if Man City get Harland

they'll win absolutely everything I

think if Chelsea were to get that proper

top Striker we we're looking at a top

top four top five top six proper

Contender for me well you should be with

the amount of money they SP I suppose

it'll depend as well cuz if they went

into the market probably it doesn't look

like there's not that much going on the

window and I want to come to this

question later but um about where Victor

Osan might go um and he would be the

sort of player that that probably

Chelsea Arsenal maybe Manchester United

The Big Three clubs but we'll come to

that conversation later but they are

missing that that that's the one thing

that's missing isn't Allan mainly at the

moment and nine because they do get the

ball in the Box a lot I mean Cole Palmer

is is stepping up but he's more of a

kind of 10 um but he can play he can

play in a variety of different positions

and um I I loved his two finishes again

Strokes it in doesn't he's so I mean

he's for someone so young and about his

celebration though LS come on I saw a

still photo of um the Middlesboro fan

when they scored their goal they've been

there was 6 nil down and they scored the

goal and there was a fan in the crowd

giving it exactly the same celebration

and middles fan I thought well fair play

to you no that Chelsea Chelsea missing

without doubt missing a I mean it's hard

to believe isn't that you spend that

much money and you haven't got a bloody

Center forward I mean well they bought

Jackson didn't they but he's he looks

like he's got a bit to do in terms of

his you know his development at the

moment he's not ready to be a regulator

for for a club that want to get into the

champions league and win everything um

he may come good but he's not ready to

be a regular no I just want to ask you

something um Alan because you you were

getting a bit irritated as you do

sometimes with teams playing out from

the back conceding goals you've been

exasperated at times with Burnley this

season um and the same thing happened

didn't it to middles on a few occasions

and you were straight on the group chap

here they go again they're all should we

blame pep for this is this Pep's is this

Pep's

fault no I it's a great part of our game

now it makes it more exciting there's I

think there's more goals well I enjoy it

when you're off decent at it yeah I mean

honestly it just I just can't I get that

everyone wants to play out from the back

and that's the in thing and as a coach

when you're going in for a job you got

to tell the chief executive or the owner

or whoever it may be that this is the

way you're going to play but I I mean I

watched Middlesboro the other night and

I've watched Burnley for all of this

season and it just it makes me so angry

when that they're trying to do it and

they're not very good at it they keep on

getting caught and giving chances and

giving goals away and when is the when

is the point where you say maybe this is

not working we may just have to change

tonight do you not think though if

Michael Carr's got a way of playing

right that's what he wants to do a lot

the you know the upcoming coaches

they're really good players themselves

that's what they want to do they want to

play out from the back and the

championship you could probably get away

with that because if you do Give It Away

you're not going to have like the top

quality level of of forward that's going

to punish you like you get against

Premier League opposition but my

question is when you're suddenly playing

at Chelsea and you've been playing in a

certain way for the whole season and

you've and you've got a philosophy of

how you want the game to be played and

then you play in a team that you

probably know will will press you higher

they'll be more electric and they'll

punish you if they get the opport

unities do you suddenly change your

whole ethos of playing for 90 minutes no

but you suddenly should think Hang on

we're going in against top opposition

here who are really good at what they

what they what they do so not on every

occasion do we have to play out we can

change it now and again you don't have

to do every single time when quite

clearly you're being punished you've

conceded the goals you've conceded

chances there must be a time where you

think in your head hang on let's just do

something different on this occasion not

not I'm not saying kick it long every

time you get a goal kick but just don't

do the same thing every time when you're

clearly getting caught and getting

punished no is that is is that is that

me thinking stupidly or what no you're

right I I think every coach especially

always have a plan B as well so I I

agree with and you come up with

different oppositions so when I watched

Middlesboro in the cup um we we did the

the first game League Cup it did yeah

they did The League Cup and we did the

FA Cup and they had a system where they

would let them have the ball wide and

create as much chaos in the middle of

the park and said okay you can have it

we're going to cross it and we're going

to defend the middle of the pitch and I

watched him the week before that two

weeks before that and it was a

completely different tactic so I agree

with Allan and it's down to one the

manager and carrick's been brilliant in

in able to adapt to what he needs to do

so he's I give him praise last week I

thought it was outstanding the way um

they played against Chelsea in that in

that first first

leg but it's down to the goalkeeper as

well so when the goalkeeper has the ball

the manager will say to you in training

only play out when we are set and what

that means is when everyone's in the

right position okay there's going to be

times in the games where it's not going

the way you want it and you've got to

take a little bit more of a risk but if

it's not on you don't play out it's it's

as simple as that so I do agree with

with Al on that but that's down to the

players in the moment taking

responsibility and when it happens once

and you get

punished you don't do it the second and

the third and the fourth time of course

not therefore Alan you're not thinking

um stupidly um which you know it's the

first time for everything so well done

that's a fair

point be a good final yeah be a great

final yeah um yeah two huge teams teams

that are used to success okay Chelsea

not so much uh in the last couple of

years

but two big big football clubs yeah and

it's it'll be a great final I think

what's really interesting about the

League Cup you know you had Birmingham

and in 2013 was

Swansea you know and they wasn't

competing in the the top flight so

people are taking it really seriously

now or is it because they I don't know

their squad or their backup players or

just that good and Miles better than so

many other teams I just think with pep

pep always took it seriously didn't he

he said well to be honest M though you

could look at anytime pep puts a side

out because you look at the squad of I

don't know 22 23 players what whichever

10 11 players he puts out there you'd go

oh he's g a really strong team and then

you go well actually they're all all

good so much depth you know certainly

the teams in in uh in Champions

League it's certainly in the earlier

rounds for them it's a competition that

they always put their squad players out

or their younger players in to uh to

give them a game now that might that

might have change over the years when

they get to semi-final or a final but

that it's it's without a doubt a

competition that so many teams rot

rotate and give Squad players a game I

absolutely agree I want to move on to

the January transfer window it's not

been that much action um I I wonder

whether that's because perhaps of what's

going on with you know the the rules and

the you know the the problems that

Nottingham Forest and obviously very

much Everton have had you know they're

all being a little bit cautious I mean

the January window is never like the

summer window is it but there more often

than not guys there's always a been a

fair few quid I mean ridiculous amounts

spent sometimes in January but I mean up

to now and I I don't expect it to change

that much at all uh over the last few

days of the window that I think it I

think it's sort of hit home with what's

happened to Everton and um Nottingham

Forest being uh being charged I think

it's hit home and other clubs are really

looking at and and having to um and

having to sit tight well your own club

is um in in that kind of situation is

looking like the Miguel almeron um will

probably go to SA and and that asks a

few questions as well it's obviously not

you know one of the same clubs that um

own by New Castle but you know who knows

what's actually um the reasoning behind

that be but they need to you know they

need to sell to buy we've talked about

this uh before there was rumors about

trippier but they the club have actually

said I think now that he's not for sale

um but then who knows yeah you just you

you never know I mean yeah that's the

situation that Newcastle are in and

perhaps others are in as well who want

to try and go to the next level I mean

we've already said before haven't we

that the rules basically stop you doing

that basically stop you challenging the

elite um I mean the the the finances and

the numbers I'm sure that will be

changed this summer because to me

they're outdated um and in some

occasions not really right so yeah you

can Castle have been linked with selling

one or two um which is the way they're

going to have to go I think one or two

will be sold whether that's this window

or certainly in in the summer for them

to try and go to the next level and try

and catch the elite somehow I think the

most standout um signing probably so far

in the window and I know it's only a

loan um to West Ham but that's Calvin

Phillips because um you know he's had a

tough time hasn't he micer at Manchester

City it's not really happened for him

he's not had a looking to be honest he's

not had to running games at any point I

don't think um obviously rodri plays in

in that position um for Manchester City

and he's probably the best at it in

World football um at present so it's a

good chance to him because he needs to

play from football particularly with the

Euros coming up obviously Gareth really

likes him I he stuck by him through

thick and thin even when he's not been

playing he's been fiercely loyal towards

Calvin Phillips so this is an

opportunity for him and I I think a

great addition I for for West Ham

probably if he can find that form that

he showed you know regularly not just

for leads but also for his country yeah

and I I often say I feel sorry for

players but I I actually genuinely feel

sorry for him because just when he was

getting like he was going to get a run

of games he he got a bad injury I think

it was his shoulder then he he he come

back and getting into the the flow of

things then he gets another injury he's

got rodri who who's the the best

defensive midfielder in World football

who rarely misses a game like rarely

misses a game ever and when he

played we all been there and we could

all say this as footballers you're

playing within yourself so when I say

playing within yourself it means you

just doing the bare minimum and you just

want to doing the game going the game

without making a mistake just keeping it

simple you're going what's going through

your head is you're thinking okay is my

injury okay so you don't push yourself

to the absolute limits and I thought

he'd be an

outstanding signing for Man City not

just because he can play center half but

he he slipped into that Center Center

back role at leads and sometimes the way

they played out from the back and he was

so good on the ball and his and his

passing is excellent why do you think

it's not worked out for him at

Manchester City because even to be

honest even on the time that rodri's

been out he had a suspect he's he's

never really been a g to and actually

even pep said himself I feel he said I

feel sorry for him it's just I've wanted

to get but every time I have to make the

decision and and I've not been I've not

felt didn't pep call him out in the

media wanto as well for being uh for

being overweight as well what did he

yeah but I think that was taken a little

bit out of context in terms of like they

all get weighed in a morning and they

might come come through preseason and

you are your required weight might be X

and he might have been a little bit over

that so when he said that he just means

he's not at the prime condition to play

for me right now and he did the exact

same with Yaya Tori as well couple of

seasons ago and then everyone was saying

on on social media he's overweight he's

fat he's he's not taking it seriously it

wasn't that it was just taken out of

context a little bit but yes everyone

started jump on him after that Al I

think I think he he had to get out um

and had to get out and

play doesn't matter where he just had to

get out and play

because um you just can't you can't sit

around for that long waiting hoping cuz

it may never happen and it was probably

never going to happen at Man City for

him so is it a is it a bit of a bit of a

gamble on West Ham's part if you believe

the figures that were banded around in

terms of a loan fee his salary plus with

an obligation to buy the end of end of

the uh this season for someone that

hasn't played that or proba hasn't

played any football really in the last

six seven eight nine months I I think

there'll always be question marks won't

they I think sometimes when you've been

out that long it's can he get back to

that level I believe he he can I don't

think it's too much of a risk cuz he's

still a good age and he's hungry and

he's been fit all this time you know so

um I I I've not quite seen the actual

figures what that would be but you know

a couple of seasons ago he was everyone

wanted him I believe in his ability he

just needs to to play starts for England

in Center mid you know I agree with you

Al he'll show everyone exactly what he

can do and the last point on that is

it's very difficult sometimes when

you've been earning a lot of money at at

one club and Man City are not going to

sell to the competitor at that time so

he's got to go maybe down the leagues to

to get the football he wants and needs

at this precise moment so you rather

stay at Man City and play a you know big

part and potentially win a trophy or go

somewhere where you're going to be the

number one and like West Ham you know

winning European trophy so I see it is a

good fit but really

in my mind he's he's a top four player

when he's fully fit let's hope it goes

well for him because it's it's obviously

because everyone wants to play and it's

great that he's made the decision that

he's going to he wants to play uh

football and um I suspect he'll do a

really good job for West Ham I want like

Victor Osman I mentioned him earlier

he's kind of come out hasn't he on um in

I think it was Instagram or something or

social media anyway um and he said I

already know what I want to do with my

career I already know my next step my

next destiny Nation I think 60% of the

people mentioned the rumors about me

being linked with the Premier League the

Premier League is one of the biggest

leagues in the world um so he's

intimating um that he's he's coming to

the Premier League in the summer I think

he's got um in his his contract now a

buyout for about what 120 million I

think which is a lot of money but I mean

he's some player I remember um couple of

seasons ago when leester played in the

um Europa League and we

went to the king power with my boys and

and it was he was unbelievably good

against Leicester um he was such a

handful um brilliant in the air

incredibly quick his movement was very

intelligent um and he's going to be a

great signing for someone which English

Club a do you think need him and B who

will get him do we think he's going to

suit a red and white shirt or a black

and white

shirt oh

in the equation can you but that's the

thing I'm saying here with with the um

the you know the rules of of of signing

players and the amount you can spend how

can a club like Newcastle spend 120

million on one player um yeah that's the

problem they're going to have um and

that's why they'll have to sell to

invest again depending how much they

bring in with selling players maybe this

January or even in the summer but and

therefore Alan if they're selling

players that's not going to be a great

motivation for osim men to come is it

for someone like that as yeah that's a

problem that's that's yeah probably

won't be in the Champions League yeah

well Newcastle won't be in the Champions

League uh next season because it's

highly unlikely they're going to finish

in the top four or five so um yeah that

that that that also um makes it really

really difficult I agree with you yeah

uh what do you think really

realistically probably Manchester United

Arsenal Chelsea or Arsenal they all need

a number nine don't they I mean

obviously yeah United have got a young

upand cominging player playing in that

position but all three of those clubs

need the top quality um Center forward

don't they well you two are

Strikers everybody's wanted it that one

stage you had an opportunity to go

Chelsea Manu or Arsenal in the Summer

where where you going me I I I think I'd

look at it and I'd go at the moment at

this moment in time yeah if you know if

they all off you know obvious we're

talking about everyone offers the same

thing that's what you want blah blah

blah your contract that doesn't you know

that's because I mean to be honest they

earn so much now that you can just

choose where you want you'll get that I

would say arsenal are probably a center

forward away from winning things Chelsea

are a center forward away from becoming

competitive again and Manchester United

are a center forward away from

improving but they've still got a long

way to go if I and and if I were him I

you want to go somewhere where you think

you're going to win win things now

whether Arsenal have also had the thing

haven't they about you know the

financial plans and stuff and been styed

a little bit in this window they've said

that kind of they can't do anything at

the moment whether they can do in the

summer and that amount of u money we'll

have to wait and see I guess but um it'd

be a brilliant sign for all three of

them I think I think he's a wonderful

couldn't agree more with all with

everything you said there I think that

that sort of summed it up perfectly he's

a he's a top player and he will score

goals and there will be Mass massive

clubs after him for that reason where do

you think he's going

M something in my mind says Chelsea I I

I don't know why but I just I I think

Chelsea you know because they're the

most desperate for a striker I think

Arsenal would love to have him but they

still see jayus as a number nine and

they've gotten ker where I I

think Chelsea will do it wouldn't

surprise yeah I just something I don't

know why I just think Chelsea will get

him okay we uh we'll find out in due

course um let's take a breae and when we

come back let's talk about um what's

been going on in other parts of the

world of

football Micah before we get on to

discussing the um afcon um I can't where

is that the old trophy the chocolate

thing behind

that we talked about the other day

someone asked a question because you're

back at home now two seconds I'm sure

people um certainly watching on the

YouTube channel here it is can you see

that can you read that oh my goodness

never mind your premier league title

that's the important that's not the good

that's not that's not the best bit

what's the best Bit O here we go what's

that say it's back to front on here read

it out is it find a legend with a

legend unwrap my Richard shirt in a pack

to join him for a

VIP

experience

well not eat that I think a night out

would be enough have you not eaten

it

yeah on a bar of

chocolate you've always wanted to eat

yourself

yeah can I say at this point other

chocolate

[Laughter]

not if you want sponsor of C VIP it was

the VIP experience with no one turned

up let's talk about the Africa Cup of

Nations because it I don't know whether

you've been watching it but it's been

absolutely nuts uh particularly the

group that involved um Egypt Cape ver

Garner and mosm Beek um and it was just

extraordinary at different times

everyone thought that they were going

through uh Garner were two up against

mosambique U needing to win their

particular game to to guarantee they got

through and then conceded two goals in

pretty much in injury time the first one

was a very soft penalty a hambo where

he's so close to him his arm was

slightly away from his side it was I

mean that ridiculous um hambo laws and

then the second goal which was

ultimately the one that did for them was

that um there was a ball came in and it

was going well wide and the keeper was

was going towards it and he stuck his

hand out and then thought no actually I

should leave it which he should have

done and it flicked his hand and then

went over and from the corner cap verie

scored they ended up winning the group I

mean of all the teams to win the group

in that was remarkable because I mean

cap verie if you know is it's just what

is it a tiny little island it's got just

over half a million population um just

off the coast of senagal

um um so amazing story for them but also

the roller coaster of of what happened

with with Egypt as well because um they

thought they needed to win it was 1-1 it

was getting right near the end of the

game then they scored um so they thought

they won they're all going mad they cut

to celebrations of Mo Salah on the on

the bench because obviously he's been

injured all big celebrations and then

somehow Cape verie get a goal in the you

know the last seconds of of the game all

all the Egypt players are down on their

knees they think it's all over and then

because of what happened in the other

game that mosambique came back to scor

two goals in basically an injury time um

that that meant that um Egypt still went

through so both cape verie and Egypt

went through garana managed of course by

forast Al Chris huon um a man I know

from my my Tottenham days love guy I

mean I felt sick for him and um and they

didn't quite make it and he's lost his

job I mean I know he got in job yeah he

was fired after it and I remember at the

at the end of the game all the

journalists they you know the Garner

players wanted to just get out of there

and then there was like a kind of they

were stopping all the journalists

getting to them with the police and the

journalists sh all we want to do is ask

questions and you know and there was an

interview with cudas at the end of the

game from you know West Ham will be now

coming back to W ham so you know mixed

emotions for West Ham fans um but and

and he's pretty much the player of the

group stage and he's been brilliant um

and he was I saw that I saw the I saw

the interview and the um they kept

asking the questions and he he took like

10 or 15 seconds didn't he to keep

answering it to thinking you could just

see the disappointment and anger and

everything etched on his face and he

wasn't quite sure how to to get out what

he wanted to say um and it it was a

really painful interview for him wasn't

it that best be especially painful for

the keeper of oh oh that moment of I

mean it was just like a little bit of a

panic wasn't it just shoved his arm out

and he and then he tried to get it away

quick and he a bit spin on the ball

there wasn't there so he was sort of in

two minds shall he go shall he he tried

to say no no I didn't touch it I didn't

touch it as well didn't he when clearly

he did didn't he yeah his arm his arms

went up to say no I never touched it but

he did I know no he did he definitely

did uh it it was quite extraordinary um

there's been some great stuff elsewhere

um you know morania won their first game

um in the AF in the afcon against um

twice winners Algeria they went out they

came bottom uh in their group um

Manchester United keeper Nana was

dropped for Cameroon last game against

Gambia um Cameroon scored two goals in

the last five minutes as well to qualify

I think second in the group that was

another crazy game the Ivory Coast lost

4-0 at home to Equatorial Guinea a game

I watched quite a lot of and there had

so many chances I mean 4-0 was kind of

slightly absurd um result in that game

but in the end they went through in

third place because what happened in the

Garner game meant that they had a better

third so the whole thing was that it was

so complex at one point um but it's been

really entertaining because the Africa

Cup of Nations 2 years ago was kind of a

little bit drab in terms of the actual

games but the excitement in this one has

has been immense absolutely brilliant

I've loved it I've loved watching it um

the only thing I don't understand is you

know like players going from the Premier

League how come Anana was allowed to

leave so late I I seen um players going

at different times and then it's just

Madness surely there should be a cut off

point when he can go so he could prepare

and then he's being dropped the whole

thing is just chaos maybe that's maybe

that's one of the reasons why that I

don't I don't know I can't say that for

sure but even but then you look it on

the other way after what happened to GH

um in Yaki Williams went back to play in

The Copper Del Rey against Barcelona

pretty much on the same day that he

landed well it was exactly the same day

as he landed it went to extra time and

then he scored a goal and then his

brother Nico Williams scored a goal not

the one that was um Liverpool and Forest

a different Nico Williams his his

brother um and bill baell beat Barcelona

I mean what a mad 24 hours he had he

talk about going from like absolutely

distraught to absolutely um enthralled

and Thrill Is commitment eh just a bit

isn't it yeah it just shows you

footballers do generally want to play

course do yeah exactly let's move on to

the Asia cup and and and that's been

quite um remarkable as well because um

mainly because Japan have lost to Iraq

um and that meant that Iraq actually won

the group and Japan um who've um

struggled and was matter because they

had 10 straight wins going into it

including of course that 4-1 win over

Germany uh didn't they so so what

happens now that um in fact it's it's

coming to an end the game that South

Korea playing um which if they win the

group um they will play um Japan in the

last 16 now obviously those two sides

are the favorite for the tournament um

so wait Al on the current son's just

scored a pen that's right son's just I

know no they have that's exactly the

thing K so South Korea have just scored

um which means they'll if I mean I think

we're in the3d minute at the moment so

it's not quite finished but before the

end of the podcast we'll let you know

but it'll be old news by the time the

podcast comes out but never nevertheless

um South Korea against Japan in the last

16 obviously the the two favorites to

win that tournament and that will also

mean of course if one of them goes out

which obviously they will if they meet

each other either son and hang who play

for South Korea or matoma and Endo U

will be coming back to to the Premier

League earlier than than they would have

thought now I I suspect fans of of

Tottenham wolves Brighton and Liverpool

will forget forget that you fantasy

football fans we we need them back

oh really oh well that's the most

important thing here nothing to do who

cares about the Asia cup or or getting

your players back to play on your team

that you support it's all about the

fantasy isn't it mad though we've got

the we got the Asian cup we got afrian

Cup of Nations we've got the carabal cup

we got the Premier League we've got the

FA Cup coming up at the

weekend yeah crazy it's great there's

never any shortage of football um um

that's for sure it's free old G kidding

it's come through it's coming through

live I've got the live feed up it's free

all breaking news here but by the time

you hear it won't be breaking news but

Morales

Ramirez this is just me thinking off

piece here a little bit um and also I

think South Korea have to be very sure

of what was going on in the other games

but you know do you want to play Japan

don't even go there Gary in equalizer in

in the 104 minute and therefore avoid in

Japan and all Tottenham wolves

Manchester so all the fans of Tottenham

wolves Liverpool and Brighton will be

going oh no they're both going to be go

through to the to the next round so um

Stu I just want to move on to u a little

news story um at UEFA um because um

chief of football at UEFA zvonimir boan

or zon as he's known to his friends and

I have to say he's a good friend of mine

um has um resigned from his role at UEFA

um and that's because um jeffrine who

came in um and in 2017 he brought in a

mandatory thing that says you can't

serve more than um three terms and it

was one of the reasons that he probably

got that job in the first place isn't

often the case in these things people

get settled in this kind of high-profile

job and who knows what's happened and

and now he's he's kind of trying to

reverse that statute so that he can ser

Beyond and um I know ban um took umbrage

to that and he thinks it's the wrong

thing to do and I must say um I know ban

very well and he's he's a man that lives

and breathes and loves football and he

wants the right thing for football and

he's also you can see from this that

he's he's a man of principle and a man

of integrity and it's it's such a shame

to lose him from somewhere like that

because to actually get former players

that genuinely have the best interests

of the game at heart to have them in top

roles in those job is something that you

know it's and it's such a shame that

he's felt he's had to do this but I do

admire his um Integrity yeah he'll um

it's a shame CU and Gary if you remember

he was dead against the uh the handball

law he he he spoke out so many times and

tried to give as much Clarity and say

how much he was against it and how

common sense needed to come back in

particularly on that on that law so yeah

that's that's that's a shame he's he's

done that cuz I I I just think he spoke

football sense if you know what I mean

say you get somebody in there who

everyone really likes I mean what is it

12 12 years somewhere is a long time

anyway you know let let's be honest you

should always give someone another

opportunity but if you get someone who's

really good at the job and doing really

great for the game would you be happy

for them to stay or is it just the fact

that I I I just think any I think the

problem is if you get stuck in a role

for so long it becomes about you not the

role and I think that's I think that's a

really important um distinction and

changing the rules yourself to enable

yourself to carry on I mean I just I

that's a lack of I think self-awareness

at best lack of self-awareness at best I

would say right we're going to finish um

we're going to finish

this particular episode with um a best

leagues in World football and there's

been an um analytics firm called 21st

group that crunched the numbers and

they've ranked all the world's

professional football leagues from the

best and most competitive uh to the

worst um I think they assessed something

like 7,000 teams around the world by

onfield results League tables underlying

performance and then consider

International competitions like uh each

confederation's Champions League um and

the club World Cup to assess you know

the relative quality of different

leagues so uh for example although

Burnley haven't played Verde Breman uh

this season it can be assessed how they

rank um based on teams they've played so

Burnley have played Manchester city city

have played lipick who have played

Breman and so on you understand where

I'm coming from so my question to you

both a couple of on um who do you

think's the top League Premier League

obvious of course Premier League that

comes that comes out top where for

example would you think the Saudi pro

league ranks oh how many is there

they've ranked the top 100 Allen so um

for context um just to give you a guide

League

one um that's the English league one

ranks 52nd League 2 ranks 95th and

obviously there's a lot of talk about

the Saudi pro league how good is it Etc

um but at the minute where do you think

they are

um 75 to 80 no well 63rd so they ranked

lower than League one wow wow um yeah so

is there enough data on that though with

all the new players going there well I

think it's early days and the league

there is now attracting those top

players so I imagine it will kind of

March up that leaderboard but it I think

it's um I I think it's quite interesting

what if they got the top five so Premier

League one right I've got the list in

front of me um give me the top 10 gives

you best guess we've already said the

Premier League's number one which is is

hardly surprising two La Liga correct

three

Bundesliga yes sir

four France going to be no Italy mhm yes

Italy and then France Alan which is not

surprising that those five are the top

five um leagues and um interesting

though didn't Ronaldo say that the Saudi

League was was already better than than

Liga um not quite sure about that and

then where do we go uh any of you get

this you get in fact we'll give mic an

extra bar of chocolate and you'll get

sent one as well no Portugal

nah you need to go much further a field

how are we talking South America mhm

Brazil Brazil they've got all the stars

there aren't they yeah they've got some

great players CIA is it called over

there um same as Italy um then where I

mean then it's the Dutch I don't think

you get this in a Month of Sundays so

I'm going to just tell you it

is Spanish Segunda division second

division in Spain wow which is ahead of

the championship in England which is

ranked 16th so that would that surprise

you maybe because all the you know the

technical abilities of the the the that

surpris who knows yeah yeah um and then

um I think you said Portugal before

that's their next um the premier leager

in in Portugal and then where it's got

to be one of like turkey you think of

Champions League turkey Russia far off

Mah you've got it there Russia very good

oh very good Micah and then and actually

you got the next one as well you went

Ria turkey and that's exactly who are

nine and 10 erid de 11 m is not as DFT

as he looks you

know it's

not I thought that might be quite

interesting and if you want to see the

full list of how all the different

leagues stack up against each other and

find out more about the methodology of

how it's worked out it's all in today's

newsletter sign up for that at the

restis foot.com that's the restis

foot.com and remember it's completely

free um well that's it for today other

than to tell you it did indeed finish 33

um which you'll know by the time this

goes out anyway and South Korea will not

play Japan so that was um all in all a

bit of a kind of damp squib in the end

but there we go uh that's it um from us

thank you for listening um goodbye from

me goodbye from me goodbye from me have

a good

[Music]

weekend