Pep's Vedic Maths

[00:00:00] Man City finally got a win, Erling Haaland finally got his goal, United play tonight and it's a happy New Year to everybody listening. Welcome to The Corner Flag, I'm Amogh.

[00:00:08] Rahm Mukesh.

[00:00:16] Happy New Year Mukesh, we are recording on New Year's Eve Eve and the episode will be out on New Year's Eve and then they can listen to it or watch it throughout the New Year.

[00:00:27] So we're bringing it in, how's it going?

[00:00:30] It's going good, last night was a good game of football to watch.

[00:00:36] Yes.

[00:00:37] It was thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyable, despite my fears of a West Hamble sort of situation.

[00:00:45] I was scared of a second half shock comeback because of a Liverpool complacency.

[00:00:51] That did not happen, so that was completely joyous to see.

[00:00:56] It was a great Eve, Eve, Eve, New Year's Eve.

[00:01:01] Nice, lovely.

[00:01:02] I can't say the same about my team, but you know, there's nothing new in that.

[00:01:08] That is so regular programming for us, but we'll get to that.

[00:01:13] Let's start off with Man City, man, because on Boxing Day, they couldn't get past Akarsha's Everton,

[00:01:21] holding them to a 1-1 draw.

[00:01:25] And now they've finally got their victory, beating Leicester 2-0.

[00:01:29] Erling Haaland getting on the score sheet always has to happen after I take Erling Haaland out of my FPL.

[00:01:35] I'm being frustrated with him.

[00:01:36] So obviously he had to score.

[00:01:39] And on that, we'll have a separate segment later on in the episode.

[00:01:43] We'll get to that.

[00:01:43] But Man City are back.

[00:01:45] Do you think Man City are back or is it just because it's Leicester?

[00:01:49] I think they're back.

[00:01:51] I think I said this last episode also, which is that their run of 20 games.

[00:01:57] So I calculated, right?

[00:01:58] So last night I was doing some maths.

[00:02:01] Vedic maths.

[00:02:02] Huh?

[00:02:03] Vedic maths or regular maths?

[00:02:05] Vedic regular maths.

[00:02:06] Regular Vedic maths.

[00:02:09] And I realized that I think Man City can earn on 88 points.

[00:02:13] Right?

[00:02:13] So I think Guardiola is trying to make it tough for himself.

[00:02:16] And he's like, let's go.

[00:02:17] I'm not going to touch 90 points also.

[00:02:19] Yeah.

[00:02:20] If you guys can touch me, you win it.

[00:02:22] Right?

[00:02:23] So you don't have to beat me.

[00:02:24] You just touch 90 points.

[00:02:25] How you touch it doesn't matter.

[00:02:26] Yeah.

[00:02:27] I think Guardiola is going to win everything else from now on.

[00:02:30] He's going to touch those 88 points.

[00:02:32] Yeah.

[00:02:32] Right?

[00:02:32] He's made it as simple a calculation as who are the three title countries,

[00:02:36] four title contenders.

[00:02:37] Yeah.

[00:02:38] Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.

[00:02:41] Right?

[00:02:41] He's like, if it's dumb, then touch 90.

[00:02:45] 90 touch and I win.

[00:02:47] So I think this is the beginning.

[00:02:48] I think he was just like, because he just lost, right?

[00:02:51] He was like, he just lost every game.

[00:02:53] He told his team relax.

[00:02:55] Yeah.

[00:02:55] You know, there's no point of winning.

[00:02:58] We will, how can we be the spinners?

[00:03:00] So I have a feeling they're going to win.

[00:03:01] I feel like this is their comeback.

[00:03:03] Their resurgence.

[00:03:05] And also it pains me that they're still fifth.

[00:03:07] Despite some 12 games of playing badly, they're still fifth, man.

[00:03:12] That's pretty high.

[00:03:13] Like, how are you not punished for that?

[00:03:16] I remember there were days when Liverpool would lose like, I don't know,

[00:03:20] whatever potential nine points.

[00:03:22] They'd get four and then they'd be like, Liverpool's season is over.

[00:03:26] They are out of contention for Europe.

[00:03:29] And here it's like, you can lose 12 games and somehow they're still in contention

[00:03:33] for Europe and winning the league.

[00:03:35] Very sad.

[00:03:36] Sad to see too.

[00:03:37] It is, I mean, again, like a United fan, when we play badly, we are 13th in the league.

[00:03:43] Like, not even in the top half.

[00:03:45] For us, conference league qualification seems like, oh, fuck, man.

[00:03:49] Maybe we should try and qualify for conference league at least.

[00:03:54] But let's go back to the Boxing Day fixture because the one talking point of that

[00:03:58] was the Erling Haaland penalty miss.

[00:04:00] I mean, Jordan Pickford.

[00:04:02] I think what Jordan Pickford, forget what he saw on his bottle.

[00:04:06] Because keepers now have their water bottles with every, with all the cheat codes for all

[00:04:11] the penalty takers.

[00:04:11] Who will shoot there?

[00:04:13] But forget that.

[00:04:14] I feel like it was his facial expressions that put Haaland off.

[00:04:17] Yeah.

[00:04:18] He's like, who's this guy scarier than me?

[00:04:20] Who's this guy scarier than me?

[00:04:23] I mean, surely like with how the IFAB or FIFA or any governing body for football basically

[00:04:32] loves to fuck goalkeepers over in penalty situations.

[00:04:35] It's like, you can't come off your line.

[00:04:38] You can't come up to the striker.

[00:04:41] You'll get a yellow card if you try and get into his head.

[00:04:44] You can't do any of the antics.

[00:04:46] Whereas strikers are allowed to take like five hours to do a run-up and then shoot.

[00:04:49] They're allowed to do the hop, skip and jump.

[00:04:51] They're allowed to do, you know, multiple false run-ups and, you know, non-false run-ups

[00:04:58] or whatever.

[00:04:59] They're allowed to do whatever the fuck they want in that penalty situation.

[00:05:02] I want to know, like how soon will IFAB or FIFA or any governing body be like, no, you

[00:05:08] can't even make faces.

[00:05:09] You cannot get your tongue out when you're a goalkeeper defending a penalty.

[00:05:13] Actually, you know what?

[00:05:14] Fuck it.

[00:05:14] You can't even watch the ball.

[00:05:16] You blindfold it.

[00:05:17] I don't know.

[00:05:18] Make it as easy as possible.

[00:05:20] Yeah, he has to run along with the striker himself and then see.

[00:05:26] That I feel like you're a fair enough.

[00:05:28] Yeah, I feel like the new thing is going to be the goalkeeper has to stand at the corner

[00:05:31] flag.

[00:05:33] Plug for the podcast.

[00:05:34] Plug in.

[00:05:36] You have to stand at the corner flag.

[00:05:37] And as soon as the striker starts his run-up, the goalkeeper has to start sprinting.

[00:05:42] And if he makes it to the goal in time to save the penalty, then it's a goal.

[00:05:46] Like, then it's not a goal.

[00:05:47] Actually, yeah, in terms of i5 or FIFA, then it is still a goal.

[00:05:51] So, you know, I think that might be the way that they go about it.

[00:05:55] But in this game against Leicester Mukesh, Erling Haaland did get a goal.

[00:05:59] Erling Haaland finally got a goal.

[00:06:01] And his drought run is over.

[00:06:05] His comparisons with Nunes and Hoyland is over, which was quite sad, actually.

[00:06:11] I quite enjoyed it.

[00:06:12] Don't put Hoyland in the same breath as Haaland.

[00:06:16] Who's that answer?

[00:06:16] Who's that answer too?

[00:06:17] One is an accomplished international striker who regularly carries his team on good days and bads.

[00:06:25] And the other is Erling Haaland.

[00:06:27] That's true.

[00:06:29] I like how even in this joke scenario, you didn't try to defend Nunes.

[00:06:32] Which is fair.

[00:06:33] I agree.

[00:06:34] Yeah.

[00:06:35] There is no defending Nunes.

[00:06:38] There is only defending against Nunes that any defender can do.

[00:06:42] Yeah.

[00:06:43] Yeah.

[00:06:45] And Savino scored finally.

[00:06:47] And he's dedicated to his baby who could be…

[00:06:51] We don't know whether she's just pregnant, if the baby's bald, if the baby's two years old.

[00:06:56] Because he hasn't scored in 13 games.

[00:07:01] 18 games.

[00:07:02] I think he hasn't scored since he's come, actually.

[00:07:03] He's not scored for half.

[00:07:05] He scored nine months ago.

[00:07:06] I think that's the only scoring that he cares about.

[00:07:08] Maybe he scored after that as well with wife, with mistress.

[00:07:12] Who knows?

[00:07:13] Oh, I thought you meant.

[00:07:14] That's the only scoring he did.

[00:07:15] Which is scoring with the wife.

[00:07:17] But Savino, or as I like to call him, Riyad Mahrez Jr.

[00:07:21] Same shirt number, same body type, same play.

[00:07:24] But he looks like a very, very good player.

[00:07:26] He got the first goal, got the assist for Haaland's goal as well.

[00:07:28] So, he looks like a very good player.

[00:07:32] Much better than Jack Grealish.

[00:07:35] Who hasn't scored in one year.

[00:07:37] Yeah.

[00:07:37] But nobody talks about that.

[00:07:39] Have you noticed how nobody's talking about that?

[00:07:41] Have you noticed how everybody talks about, oh, what is Marcus Rashford doing?

[00:07:44] You know, he's not informed for club or country.

[00:07:48] He's constantly being dropped by Amorim now.

[00:07:52] How many chances should Marcus Rashford get?

[00:07:54] Maybe it's time to sell Marcus Rashford.

[00:07:56] Jack Grealish, I think people forget also it was 100 million, I think three years ago.

[00:08:07] Yeah.

[00:08:08] Like it wasn't even like, you know what I'm saying, 100 million is cheap now.

[00:08:11] It's still not a bargain.

[00:08:13] Yeah.

[00:08:14] But 100 million three years ago.

[00:08:17] And he's not scored in the last one year, 12 months, in the year of 2024.

[00:08:22] He's not scored a single goal.

[00:08:25] I feel like Jack Grealish feels this is still pre-season after the treble.

[00:08:28] I think he's still hungover maybe.

[00:08:30] Yeah.

[00:08:30] Yeah.

[00:08:31] I think the problem was the treble was too good.

[00:08:33] Like the minute you win the treble, right?

[00:08:35] You need to flush out all the players.

[00:08:37] Everyone should have won.

[00:08:38] Yeah.

[00:08:38] Including Guardiola.

[00:08:39] Guardiola.

[00:08:40] Yeah.

[00:08:43] Absolutely.

[00:08:45] But in terms of what Guardiola does from now, right?

[00:08:49] Like we know that he is somebody who does not stick around at a club for too long.

[00:08:53] And I feel like he's been at Man City for the longest in his entire career.

[00:08:58] He wasn't at a club even at Barcelona.

[00:09:00] I don't think he was at Barcelona for as long as he's at Man City.

[00:09:02] He's four years, five years at Barcelona.

[00:09:05] So what is it?

[00:09:06] Like what is it about City?

[00:09:07] Are they holding a gun to his head and saying you won't leave?

[00:09:10] Like he desperately wanted to leave but he just wasn't allowed to.

[00:09:14] Yeah.

[00:09:15] I think that they have no successor in mind.

[00:09:19] Correct?

[00:09:20] Yeah.

[00:09:20] Because there is really no successor to Guardiola.

[00:09:22] There is nobody who can guarantee that sort of, there is nobody who can guarantee that sort of success.

[00:09:31] Yeah.

[00:09:32] And I think the problem with Guardiola right now, he's struggling.

[00:09:35] He's like, shit, I'm too good.

[00:09:36] I'm stuck.

[00:09:36] Yeah.

[00:09:37] He's like, I'm too good.

[00:09:38] You know, it's like performers are like, encore, encore.

[00:09:41] Encore.

[00:09:42] Yeah.

[00:09:43] I don't know.

[00:09:43] I want to go home.

[00:09:44] Yeah.

[00:09:45] He's like stuck.

[00:09:46] Yeah.

[00:09:46] He's like, my family hasn't seen me in five years.

[00:09:52] They're like, one more.

[00:09:54] One more, please.

[00:09:55] Yay.

[00:09:56] He's like, you know, like kids who never get tired of jokes.

[00:09:58] I'm like, one more, one more.

[00:09:59] One more.

[00:10:00] They're like, please let me go.

[00:10:03] As rival fans.

[00:10:04] Okay.

[00:10:05] Now as rival fans, let's have this discussion because it is quite interesting.

[00:10:09] Which is that, see when Guardiola came to Man City.

[00:10:12] Fuck it.

[00:10:12] Let's go pre-Guardiola also.

[00:10:14] When Man City were taken over, that was also in an age where financial fair play wasn't as strict or the profit and loss system wasn't as strict as it is in the Premier League now.

[00:10:25] Which is why we haven't seen the same sort of transformation immediately for, let's say, a Newcastle United.

[00:10:30] Where we all thought that, oh, now that Newcastle have Saudi money, even they're going to get like big name transfers.

[00:10:35] And, you know, suddenly like it's going to change.

[00:10:38] But that has not happened.

[00:10:40] It may happen in the future, but it hasn't been an immediate impact.

[00:10:42] Like, I remember one of the statement signings that Man City made when they were taken over was Robinho.

[00:10:48] You know, so that level of influx of money that Man City had, everybody else in the Premier League, all of the other rival fans, etc.

[00:10:58] Were like, oh, fuck, these guys are going to be absolute challengers.

[00:11:04] And then, of course, in whatever, 2017, I think it was their first one, the QPR Aguero one, was it 2017, 2015, whatever it was?

[00:11:12] No, 2012.

[00:11:13] Sorry, it was 2012.

[00:11:14] 2012.

[00:11:15] That is when they eventually won the Premier League for the first time.

[00:11:19] But when they got Guardiola, that was when everybody was like, oh, this is like now they are proper, you know, regular title contenders.

[00:11:31] And Guardiola's first season wasn't great.

[00:11:34] Like, he did have a little bit of a betting in period and everybody was like, oh, you can't do it in the Premier League.

[00:11:38] All of that was happening.

[00:11:39] But he has made it his league.

[00:11:43] Like, he has dominated this league.

[00:11:46] He kind of made it his bitch.

[00:11:47] He made it his bitch, exactly.

[00:11:50] So what happens after?

[00:11:52] Because he is not going to stay at Man City for too long.

[00:11:54] Right?

[00:11:55] Like, he's got the extension, but I don't think he's going to get another extension.

[00:11:58] One, maybe two years max of Guardiola at Man City is what we will get.

[00:12:03] They've already moved on from Tiki Bergestein, who was their sporting director, who was very close to Guardiola.

[00:12:10] And the whole thing about getting him and that backroom staff that was used to Guardiola set up before Guardiola came was a really well-planned move.

[00:12:19] Now that that is on its way out, the sporting director is gone.

[00:12:23] Guardiola will not be at Man City for too long anymore.

[00:12:27] Where does this club go from here?

[00:12:30] Like, they have achieved peak success.

[00:12:33] Are you saying that they are going to go down?

[00:12:35] Like, like a Man United?

[00:12:38] The rise of City coincided.

[00:12:42] See, there is a space for about four good teams already.

[00:12:45] Four, five good teams.

[00:12:46] You can't have...

[00:12:47] Have you ever seen six, seven genuine title contenders?

[00:12:51] No, it's always...

[00:12:52] It's either one team runs away with it or it's a two-horse race or three...

[00:12:57] Right?

[00:12:57] Three styles and it's four for some time.

[00:13:00] Yeah.

[00:13:00] Right?

[00:13:00] I think the rise of City also coincided with the fall of United.

[00:13:05] So, then you're like, okay, you know, they clearly took so much place.

[00:13:08] On the other hand, for someone like Newcastle to come, someone traditionally good has to fall.

[00:13:13] Right?

[00:13:13] Now, I thought that was going to be Liverpool post-Club.

[00:13:17] That, you know, for a change, it'll be nice for United and Liverpool to be each other.

[00:13:21] Which I think still will happen at some point.

[00:13:24] Where United and Liverpool are being like 10th and 12th and 12th and 13th.

[00:13:28] And that's what I believe you'll be a part of.

[00:13:29] The battle of mid-table.

[00:13:31] The battle of mid-table.

[00:13:32] Right?

[00:13:33] Who gets into single-digit table places?

[00:13:36] It's like...

[00:13:37] Yeah, exactly.

[00:13:38] That's the battle.

[00:13:38] Now, I think in terms of where City go from here, I think the appeal for many players is...

[00:13:45] No one comes to City for money yet.

[00:13:47] Unless you're Jagri-Lish.

[00:13:49] Right?

[00:13:49] People come to play under Guardiola.

[00:13:51] But once Guardiola goes, and there has been no manager who's really announced himself in the world scene like a Mourinho or a Guardiola yet.

[00:14:01] Maybe that'll take him three, four years.

[00:14:03] They're not going to be able to poach.

[00:14:05] There's no one to poach.

[00:14:06] And I think that's sort of what they're holding.

[00:14:08] That's the reason why they're holding Guardiola hostage is that until some Guardiola-type figure or a Mourinho-type figure announces himself on the world stage.

[00:14:18] That I have come.

[00:14:19] I have done this.

[00:14:19] I can achieve this.

[00:14:20] So, these and these teams.

[00:14:22] And it could have been...

[00:14:23] Last year, it started to be Jabhi Alonso.

[00:14:26] But we don't know how he's going to perform it.

[00:14:29] But this season, clearly at the league level, he's not performing as well again.

[00:14:33] And Champions League, we're yet to see what's going to happen.

[00:14:36] Correct?

[00:14:37] So, I think they're going to literally hold him until there's going to be another Guardiola-type figure.

[00:14:47] Now, on the other hand, to outsmart this, I think Guardiola is like, yeah, let me play shit.

[00:14:52] I will be shit or you let me go.

[00:14:55] I will burn this team to the ground.

[00:14:57] I will play four central defenders.

[00:14:59] I will play 4-4-2 football.

[00:15:01] No one will be attracted to this football.

[00:15:04] And I will be shit or you let me go.

[00:15:05] So, I think it's a battle of...

[00:15:07] Will there be a next Guardiola or will the current Guardiola just burn City to the ground himself?

[00:15:13] Whichever one happens faster, I think will be the way forward for City.

[00:15:19] And I hope it's Guardiola burning City to the ground.

[00:15:23] Yeah.

[00:15:25] Yeah.

[00:15:25] Just like Nero burnt down Rome.

[00:15:28] Guardiola burnt down Man City.

[00:15:31] On the other side of Manchester, Man United are not going through a great period at all.

[00:15:37] After the 4-0 victory over Everton, which feels like fucking ages ago, Amorim said that the storm will come and this team will get found out at times.

[00:15:48] And the storm has well and truly arrived.

[00:15:51] It has been raining on our hopes and dreams.

[00:15:54] The latest one, of course, I mean, the Carabao Cup losing to Spurs was one thing.

[00:15:59] But also on Boxing Day, losing against Wolves 2-0 was just...

[00:16:04] I mean, Matthias Cunia scoring directly from a corner, which is the same thing that Heung-Wen Son did in the Carabao Cup fixture.

[00:16:10] Like, that's just...

[00:16:11] What is it, according to you, Mookie, that United are not doing right?

[00:16:17] I think they are not able to figure out corners because everyone is...

[00:16:26] Everyone's like just not...

[00:16:28] You know how you're caught ball watching?

[00:16:29] I think they're just like, fuck, I'm not going to touch the ball.

[00:16:32] It's not on me.

[00:16:33] They're not taking responsibility.

[00:16:35] I think it's a clear case of a mindset issue.

[00:16:37] I think as long as you can clearly tell that they're either afraid, it's that fear of failure.

[00:16:44] And getting lashed out, we saw Harry Maguire have it during the worst phase between, I think, 20 to 22.

[00:16:52] Which I think is now probably suffering for the whole team.

[00:16:54] And then it's just confusion.

[00:16:55] It's clearly a lack of communication between the 10 people in the box.

[00:17:03] Because I think I've only seen Hoyland slightly outside.

[00:17:05] So I'm guessing if the 10 in the box are just absolutely confused.

[00:17:08] No, no.

[00:17:08] It's 10 in the box also because Bruno Fernandes got a silly fucking second year low.

[00:17:12] So he was sent off.

[00:17:13] Oh, yeah.

[00:17:13] So it was...

[00:17:16] Yeah, I think it's a clear communication issue.

[00:17:19] These are just 10 different units playing.

[00:17:22] They're clearly not a team.

[00:17:23] It's so evidently they're not a team playing together.

[00:17:26] Yeah.

[00:17:27] So, I mean, on that note, I feel like the one excuse that you can give Man United, especially in this new Amorim era,

[00:17:36] is that these players are playing a completely different system.

[00:17:41] They were used to playing 4-2-3-1 or a slightly more compact 4-3-3 under Eric Tanhag.

[00:17:46] And now they're playing three at the back.

[00:17:47] So it is completely a different formation.

[00:17:49] You're relying on wingbacks to provide the width.

[00:17:52] You're playing with two number 10s and two holding midfielders and one striker.

[00:17:56] Which is completely different from the system that they were playing earlier.

[00:17:59] And Amorim has come in, in the middle of the season, when the team has already been in a very bad place.

[00:18:05] And he keeps talking about how he's not had enough time to train with the players or whatever.

[00:18:11] But he is so adamant about his way of playing.

[00:18:14] Every time he's asked this question, he's had the same answer to give, which is that I believe in my way.

[00:18:18] And I believe in my way.

[00:18:20] There's no other way.

[00:18:21] If I believe so strongly in my way from day one, then even the players, they will start to believe.

[00:18:25] And that's when we will make progress.

[00:18:27] And all that is well and good.

[00:18:28] And, of course, all the narrative from the United fan groups or whatever, at this stage at least,

[00:18:32] is look at how inspiring this guy is.

[00:18:35] You know, this is exactly what we need, etc.

[00:18:37] etc.

[00:18:38] My worry is that is very close to what Ange Postacoglu is doing at Spurs.

[00:18:43] No, no.

[00:18:44] Okay.

[00:18:44] Right?

[00:18:44] No.

[00:18:45] I'll tell you why.

[00:18:46] I'll tell you why.

[00:18:47] I'll tell you why.

[00:18:47] Because Ange Postacoglu at Spurs, the biggest criticism that Postacoglu has been getting at Spurs is,

[00:18:53] yes, you play a very entertaining brand of football.

[00:18:55] Yes, you play very high-pressing, high-octane, high-line football.

[00:18:59] But that leaves you with so many gaps at the back,

[00:19:02] especially when your defense is not as solid as it should be.

[00:19:05] Right?

[00:19:06] The minute Mickey Vendor is not available for you as your fastest center half,

[00:19:10] you are so prone to being hit on the break.

[00:19:14] And that has been Spurs' downfall in every match that they have lost points in this season.

[00:19:21] Right?

[00:19:21] It is very easy to figure them out.

[00:19:24] But Postacoglu does not want to change.

[00:19:26] He does not want to give up on that idea.

[00:19:29] And the big criticism is, you have to be able to manage games.

[00:19:34] You have to be able to turn and adapt and play to the situation.

[00:19:40] Is that what Amorim is doing?

[00:19:42] Is that the same thing?

[00:19:42] So, here is where I will defend Amorim yet.

[00:19:46] Good.

[00:19:46] Not that I am fully aware of what exactly his style is for.

[00:19:49] But we'll be able to see it in full form with the 3-4-1-2 or 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 that he plans to play in the future.

[00:19:59] I think one is, of course, Amorim is not, these are none of, he has not been able to order on Blinkit yet.

[00:20:06] He's a guy who's come, he has whatever that, he's like a hostile mess with a hostile kid's mess.

[00:20:12] There's like, kulkam, like, you know, paanch din ka maggie, or one month old eggs.

[00:20:17] So, he's doing the best he can with whatever there is.

[00:20:20] Yeah.

[00:20:20] Postacoglu, on the other hand, he's like, I will fucking make maggie fried maggie every day.

[00:20:25] Like, I don't care if you have diarrhea, I don't care if you're sick, and you just want dal chawal.

[00:20:31] He's like, I will make this.

[00:20:33] He's choosing to make it.

[00:20:34] Right?

[00:20:35] I'm going to move on the other hand.

[00:20:36] He's like, hey, man, I know, I'll try to make, from whatever, at least, whatever little you've read up about sporting and what he did.

[00:20:42] He seems to be a guy who's, he seems to be a lot more practical.

[00:20:47] And I think the reason there were early comparisons to Mourinho, to him, was also more than playing style in that he is a lot more pragmatic than any other manager.

[00:20:57] Whereas, Postacoglu seems to be holding on to, I think, in an era where idealism is sort of dying, like that Guardiola way, or there's a clopite way, or there's a, or even a simioni way, or whatever that might be.

[00:21:12] I think that's dead now.

[00:21:14] Right?

[00:21:14] I feel like that era is over now.

[00:21:16] It's just about adapting to each game, adapting to each team's style of play.

[00:21:21] And then, can you combine and do a synthesis of these things?

[00:21:24] Which I think Mourinho is capable of.

[00:21:25] Or at least, that's the reputation he's coming with.

[00:21:29] Unfortunately, there's nothing at United.

[00:21:33] Even if it was an empty fridge at United, and you have to grow your own shit and work with the players of the academy, that would still, you would still be able to make something.

[00:21:42] But here, he has to work with rotten ingredients.

[00:21:45] And then, there's like this, at the centerpiece of it all, there's one giant, just like giant rotten jackfruit, which is Rashford, stinking up the whole place.

[00:21:57] Right?

[00:21:58] Which I think, well, hopefully, they'll get rid of in Jan, if not in April or May.

[00:22:03] Right?

[00:22:03] So, I think you have to be a lot.

[00:22:04] I think Amram deserves, I think, one year, two years even.

[00:22:08] Yeah.

[00:22:08] Right?

[00:22:10] Possocoglu, because like I said, Possocoglu's a guy, he's choosing this.

[00:22:13] The problems are in his face, they're very easily fixable.

[00:22:17] Yeah.

[00:22:17] Right?

[00:22:18] They're so, I mean, easily, at that level, they're easy to fix.

[00:22:21] Right?

[00:22:22] Yeah.

[00:22:22] And he has the talent to fix it with.

[00:22:24] Like, it's not, I think people forget that Tottenham is not a small team.

[00:22:28] Like, they, like, and in fact, this season, right?

[00:22:33] They should have been the ones capitalizing on everything.

[00:22:36] Because Arsenal have relatively fallen off.

[00:22:39] The city have fallen off a little bit.

[00:22:41] And there is no reason why Liverpool should be even under one.

[00:22:44] Which I don't even think is sustainable.

[00:22:45] I'm saying, why are you not at least second way at Nottingham Forest?

[00:22:48] Right?

[00:22:49] That's where you should be.

[00:22:50] So, I think Possocoglu's doing something very silly in this idea of trying to stick to an ideal or whatever.

[00:22:56] I think maybe it's a very old school romantic notion.

[00:22:59] Yeah.

[00:22:59] I will at least stuck to my guts, which, I don't know, which I think is a very silly thing to do in the modern world, in the modern world of football.

[00:23:07] Whereas Amurim is, it seems a lot more practical.

[00:23:10] So, I think…

[00:23:11] Hopefully, what you're saying is true and with the time that he hopefully gets given, it will sort itself out.

[00:23:19] United go from a bottom mid-table to a mid-mid-table team.

[00:23:23] That's cool.

[00:23:25] Yeah.

[00:23:26] Like I'm saying, like, Conference League qualification also is great.

[00:23:29] Like, chalo.

[00:23:30] At least something…

[00:23:31] You will go to Bodo Glint and turn up.

[00:23:34] You're more than happy.

[00:23:35] I mean, honestly, the fucking Chelsea are playing the Conference League right now.

[00:23:39] They played a game in Kazakhstan in temperatures of minus 17 degrees.

[00:23:44] Like, you know, fuck it.

[00:23:46] That's a great away day.

[00:23:47] If that happens, I'll see if I can take some time off and go to a place like that and watch United get beaten 3-0 by a Kazakhstan side.

[00:23:59] Chamachaka FC.

[00:24:01] Yeah.

[00:24:02] United do play Newcastle later tonight.

[00:24:04] We are, of course, recording on a Monday night.

[00:24:06] The game is at 1.30 a.m.

[00:24:08] So, by the time this episode is out, that result will be available for everybody to see.

[00:24:14] We can't really comment on that.

[00:24:15] But how do you think that game is going to go, Mookie?

[00:24:18] Because Newcastle are looking dangerous.

[00:24:21] Alexander Isak is in the form of his life.

[00:24:23] Like, what Erling Haaland was to Man City in terms of form, Alexander Isak is replicating that for Newcastle.

[00:24:28] I, yes.

[00:24:30] Even three seasons ago when he came, my stock was…

[00:24:33] I was always behind Alexander.

[00:24:34] In fact, I thought he was excellent.

[00:24:36] I'm so glad it was paying off.

[00:24:37] I wish he was playing at a better team.

[00:24:40] Unfortunately.

[00:24:40] I think he will.

[00:24:41] I think next season he will go to a better team.

[00:24:43] Whether it is…

[00:24:44] I'm saying any team that can practically finish in the top six.

[00:24:48] He can take a team that finishes sixth.

[00:24:50] He can take them to third.

[00:24:51] The team that finishes third, he can take them first.

[00:24:53] So, it's got to be…

[00:24:55] And since Liverpool don't have a reliable striker.

[00:24:58] Yeah.

[00:24:59] So, I think Liverpool or Arsenal or even United can do…

[00:25:04] He'll do wonders at a place like that.

[00:25:06] But my bold prediction is that this game will finish one all with Isaac scoring a goal and a pragmatic approach from Amirim giving him a point.

[00:25:21] I mean, I definitely think that that is what is going to happen and I'll tell you why.

[00:25:28] And we're going to do that in a new segment that I want to do.

[00:25:32] And hopefully, we'll have a jingle ready in time for this thing to go out tomorrow.

[00:25:38] So, this new segment is called…

[00:25:40] How did Amog fuck up his FPL this week?

[00:25:47] How Amog fucked up his FPL this week?

[00:25:53] Or if you want to know the title of the segment in Hindi…

[00:25:56] How did Amog gook in FPL?

[00:25:59] So, Mukesh, are you ready to see what my FPL situation has been this week?

[00:26:05] Yeah.

[00:26:06] I am.

[00:26:07] I'm very excited to give you advice on FPL also.

[00:26:10] Okay.

[00:26:10] So, coming into this game week, right?

[00:26:13] Coming into game week 19.

[00:26:14] Coming after Boxing Day fixtures.

[00:26:17] My front three were, I think, Jorgen Strand Larson.

[00:26:24] Sorry, Jacob Strand.

[00:26:26] Jacob, Jorgen, whatever.

[00:26:26] Strand Larson from Wolves.

[00:26:28] Evan Ilsen from Bournemouth.

[00:26:31] And I had Yuan Vissa.

[00:26:34] Okay.

[00:26:36] And I had taken out Saka and I got Luis Diaz.

[00:26:42] Before Boxing Day, I got Luis Diaz.

[00:26:44] Took out Saka because Saka got injured.

[00:26:46] Now, last week, for Boxing Day, Luis Diaz didn't play.

[00:26:49] So, zero points there straight up.

[00:26:52] Evan Ilsen didn't do shit and got taken off at around the 75th or 80th minute.

[00:27:00] Strand Larson against Man United did get a goal but it was given offside.

[00:27:06] And Matthias Kunia, who I had before, scored a goal and got an assist for the second goal.

[00:27:13] So, that was that.

[00:27:14] So, now for this week, I had one free transfer left which I used to take Evan Ilsen out and get Isak in.

[00:27:22] Then, I took a minus four and took Strand Larson out and got Kunia in.

[00:27:27] Now, what has happened this week?

[00:27:29] Matthias Kunia has been taken off at 45 minutes.

[00:27:32] So, I didn't even get 60 minutes out of him.

[00:27:34] Strand Larson scored a goal and Evan Ilsen scored a goal.

[00:27:41] Oof.

[00:27:41] So, what are the changes you've made for this week?

[00:27:43] That's what I'm going to put five minutes.

[00:27:44] So, that's what that is.

[00:27:45] That is what this current game that is on.

[00:27:48] That are the changes.

[00:27:50] So, Matthias Kunia has got me, I think, one or two points.

[00:27:55] Evan Ilsen took out.

[00:27:57] Isak is going to play tonight.

[00:27:58] But now, going with my luck, United will probably lose.

[00:28:03] But Isak will not score or assist.

[00:28:05] And he'll get injured in the third minute or something.

[00:28:07] And it'll be Anthony Gordon who has a lot more ownership in my mini leagues who will get goals and assists.

[00:28:14] Maybe somebody like Fabian Scheer will fucking score from a header and get a clean sheet also.

[00:28:20] So, who knows?

[00:28:21] But yeah, that's how I fucked up.

[00:28:24] However, I must thank Liverpool because captaining Salah did really well for me.

[00:28:29] Oh, wow.

[00:28:29] And I had Trent and Luis Diaz.

[00:28:31] So, Trent got a goal and a clean sheet and Luis Diaz got a goal as well.

[00:28:34] And Zara got two assists and a goal.

[00:28:37] Wow.

[00:28:37] Yeah, yeah.

[00:28:38] So, that has the Liverpool contingent, the Liverpool triple up that I have in my FPL has single-handedly kept me in contention for some sort of acceptable showing this game week.

[00:28:48] A respectable mid-table finish.

[00:28:51] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[00:28:53] And that was it for how has Amog fucked up his FPL this week.

[00:28:57] Hopefully, and hopefully for listeners and hopefully not for me, this will be a regular segment that we do.

[00:29:04] But let's talk about Liverpool then.

[00:29:06] Five fucking nil against Julian Lopetegui's West Ham.

[00:29:09] This is when this West Ham side under Lopetegui was starting to look good.

[00:29:14] Like, they were starting, they had a very bad start to the season.

[00:29:16] They were starting to look decent.

[00:29:18] And then Liverpool come to town.

[00:29:19] Wait.

[00:29:20] Even before this game began, they deserved to be punished for sacking David Moyes.

[00:29:26] I feel like I have held it against them that they sacked David Moyes, who was on to something so good.

[00:29:32] Right?

[00:29:33] He needed time.

[00:29:34] He needed resources.

[00:29:36] Again, there is no reason not to come for us a second.

[00:29:38] That could very well have been a David Moyes with giving the right amount of backing and the right amount of players and the right amount of time.

[00:29:44] Right?

[00:29:45] Yeah.

[00:29:45] The grouchy guy might have messed up here or there.

[00:29:48] Might have messed up one season here or there.

[00:29:50] But West Ham, I feel like the way I am so angry about David Moyes, they should be delegated.

[00:29:56] And if you noticed, everything, United and West Ham, all three, every club that was unfair to David Moyes is now suffering.

[00:30:04] I was quite happy that they got thrashed, let alone by Liverpool.

[00:30:07] But had West Ham gotten thrashed by any team would have been happy.

[00:30:11] Yeah.

[00:30:12] Because I am actually, as a football fan, I am super upset with how they handled David Moyes.

[00:30:17] Because I think he took them to places where they should not even have been in their wildest dreams.

[00:30:24] So to see them suffering was nice.

[00:30:28] I also feel like, yeah, you're right.

[00:30:30] There seemed to be a little bit of a bump and it got completely caught.

[00:30:34] I actually thought they were in delegation pits.

[00:30:36] But okay, they were, I think, again, respectable 12-13.

[00:30:39] So they've done, I think when they have won, they've won reasonably.

[00:30:44] Well, they've collected three points quite a few times.

[00:30:47] But I think, honestly, to be very, very honest, I don't think Liverpool played as well as the score reflects.

[00:30:54] More like they didn't have to play that well.

[00:30:55] I think West Ham was straight-up garbage.

[00:30:58] Yeah.

[00:30:58] Like, West Ham was straight-up garbage.

[00:31:01] Like, their defence was garbage.

[00:31:03] I mean, like, the only good thing that came out of it was that, I don't know, Joe Gomez got injured.

[00:31:08] But at least, I think, a few players were taken off, I think, 20 minutes earlier.

[00:31:14] That's preventing any fatigue or injury.

[00:31:16] But West Ham was straight-up garbage.

[00:31:18] This was not...

[00:31:18] Liverpool did not play as well as a team beating any Premier League team should have had they won final.

[00:31:26] Like, this was probably a 2-0 performance from Liverpool.

[00:31:30] But just West Ham's recklessness.

[00:31:33] I mean, starting from Paquetas to right at the end, right?

[00:31:38] Yeah.

[00:31:39] Just garbage.

[00:31:41] Carbber performance.

[00:31:41] Yeah.

[00:31:42] I mean, Liverpool did score five goals.

[00:31:44] It's a 5-0 victory.

[00:31:45] It's a comprehensive victory.

[00:31:46] Multiple goal scorers.

[00:31:47] Great performance from Salah again.

[00:31:49] Trent getting on the score sheet.

[00:31:50] But all the talk is still the talk of things happening off the pitch, right?

[00:31:56] And namely, Salah's contract situation, Trent's contract situation as well.

[00:31:59] Trent Alexander-Arnold, of course, did the all-talk celebration after scoring.

[00:32:05] And Slott was asked about this.

[00:32:07] And does this mean that Trent is not really interested in going to Real Madrid?

[00:32:13] Because that's the heavy link.

[00:32:14] So, here's a sequence of events, right?

[00:32:16] There was a big rumour just the previous night.

[00:32:19] I mean, the night before the game that said, okay, Trent has officially confirmed that

[00:32:23] he wants to move to Madrid.

[00:32:25] Correct?

[00:32:26] Then everyone's like, all right, fucking Trent.

[00:32:28] How can you do this?

[00:32:29] What the hell?

[00:32:29] What's crazy?

[00:32:30] That's what a rat.

[00:32:32] Right?

[00:32:33] Right?

[00:32:34] Then mid-game, whatever, he scores.

[00:32:39] And he does all talk, you know, don't let it affect you.

[00:32:42] It's all nonsense.

[00:32:43] And everyone's like, yes!

[00:32:45] And then they ask Slott, what do you think?

[00:32:49] And he's like, the way he celebrates should tell you.

[00:32:53] You know what that means?

[00:32:54] And everyone's like, oh my god!

[00:32:56] This definitely means he's staying.

[00:32:58] And I was like, yes!

[00:33:00] And he takes out a Real Madrid shirt while getting off.

[00:33:03] And then someone pointed out that Jude Bellingham, one month before he left Dortmund, he did the exact same celebration.

[00:33:17] He did the exact same celebration.

[00:33:23] So now I'm like, fuck, is this guy going to leave in Jan?

[00:33:26] Forget May, he's going to leave in Jan.

[00:33:29] So I'm actually more worried now after this, the second.

[00:33:34] And I was before the night, before the game, when the rumors came close.

[00:33:37] And I was like, oh yeah!

[00:33:39] And then someone else pointed out how just before Enzo Fernandes moved to Chelsea from Benfica, he kissed the badge.

[00:33:47] And he told the fans, I'm staying here!

[00:33:49] I'm staying here!

[00:33:51] That's not even the god!

[00:33:52] 100 million!

[00:33:53] Oh god!

[00:33:54] I think I'm more worried now, actually.

[00:33:58] As a Liverpool fan, I'm more stressed.

[00:34:01] I love it when things like this happen.

[00:34:06] Football fans tend to be so fucking gullible.

[00:34:09] It is amazing.

[00:34:11] Amazing!

[00:34:12] And I'm not taking digs at any other fans.

[00:34:16] I'll start with my own fans, with Man United fans.

[00:34:18] Anthony, first game against Arsenal.

[00:34:21] Scores on debut.

[00:34:22] Does eight celebrations.

[00:34:24] Two of which involve kissing the badge.

[00:34:27] Why?

[00:34:28] Why?

[00:34:28] Why?

[00:34:28] Why are you doing?

[00:34:30] Why are you doing all of this?

[00:34:31] I feel like Anthony scored on his debut, did eight celebrations to create a backlog of celebrations.

[00:34:37] But he's banked all the celebrations he should have done over the next two seasons.

[00:34:41] One man, one goal, 32 celebrations.

[00:34:43] Yeah.

[00:34:44] He has no iconic celebration.

[00:34:46] We have iconic goal.

[00:34:47] My god!

[00:34:50] Yeah, signature, signature goal.

[00:34:52] Not signature celebration.

[00:34:54] Shit.

[00:34:56] But, so that is on track.

[00:34:58] But even with Mo Salah, like he has said that we are very far from that when asked about an acceptable contract discussion with Liverpool.

[00:35:09] Of course, he continued and said that, but I don't want to talk about it to the media.

[00:35:15] I don't want to focus on that.

[00:35:17] That's for the club to decide.

[00:35:18] I have only one thing on my mind, which is winning the Premier League with Liverpool.

[00:35:23] I was like, Bencho, you have even talked about Southampton media and said that no, no, actually, I don't know.

[00:35:28] I'm very disappointed about the contract situation.

[00:35:31] You only went to the media.

[00:35:32] Now, after doing that, you can't be like, I don't want to talk to the media about that.

[00:35:35] That's for the club to decide.

[00:35:37] See, but he can get away with it.

[00:35:38] He has English is not my native language card.

[00:35:42] But if Trent did it.

[00:35:43] I mean, to be fair, he's playing for Liverpool.

[00:35:46] For whom, English is not their native language.

[00:35:49] So, I mean, have you seen Curtis Jones talk?

[00:35:51] Like, I don't know.

[00:35:53] I don't know how Joe Gomez understands him on the pitch.

[00:35:57] So, you know.

[00:35:58] No, also, did you see Trent after Salah's goal?

[00:36:01] He went and hung up and they whispered something into each other.

[00:36:04] That also threw me.

[00:36:05] He's like, oh, you barren de ol for me, Real Madrid?

[00:36:08] Pack this club.

[00:36:10] Might be like, let's do a package deal to Real Madrid.

[00:36:14] Oh!

[00:36:16] Yeah, that means you get the Ballon or this year.

[00:36:19] You'll get the Trent, you get the Ballon or next year.

[00:36:20] Both move to Real Madrid.

[00:36:22] And even when Liverpool win the season, who really won?

[00:36:25] We really lost.

[00:36:26] Yeah.

[00:36:28] So, I was quite, like I said, I think post this match,

[00:36:31] I'm even more terrified of who might leave mind.

[00:36:35] Now, before my aim is sign the contract.

[00:36:38] Now, my aim is please leave in the summer transfer window only.

[00:36:42] Please, not in January.

[00:36:47] So, before we wrap up the show, I just wanted to do some random pieces of news.

[00:36:53] And I say random not because one of the world's best athletes is involved in this,

[00:36:56] but because it is, after all, the Saudi Pro League.

[00:36:59] Cristiano Ronaldo has been talking a lot.

[00:37:01] He was interviewed recently where he said that Vinicius Jr. did deserve the Ballon d'Or.

[00:37:07] Really playing into his Real Madrid and Manchester United slash anti-Manchester City opinions.

[00:37:15] But more than that, he defended the Saudi Pro League at that time.

[00:37:19] And he said, you know, people say that the Saudi Pro League is easy.

[00:37:23] To them, I say, come here and try.

[00:37:25] It's not that easy.

[00:37:26] I would love to see them sprint in temperatures of 38, 40 degrees.

[00:37:30] It's not easy.

[00:37:31] You cannot compare it to League One.

[00:37:33] League One, it's not great.

[00:37:35] There's only PSG.

[00:37:36] Nobody else competes.

[00:37:37] You know, he went on a fucking rant.

[00:37:38] He also said good things about United.

[00:37:40] He said that the storm will clear and the sun will shine again under Amirim.

[00:37:44] So, you know, all that is nice.

[00:37:46] But now, there has been a response to that.

[00:37:50] Right?

[00:37:51] After Ronaldo said that League One is terrible.

[00:37:56] Adil Rami has come back.

[00:37:58] Adil Rami, a French footballer, former footballer, World Cup winning former footballer, in fact.

[00:38:06] He has hit back.

[00:38:07] And he has said that Cristiano Ronaldo does not realize how good the French top flight is

[00:38:13] and hit out at the Saudi League in this fashion.

[00:38:16] He said, Cristiano, we may love him, but that doesn't mean because he had a fantastic career

[00:38:21] that as soon as he says something, it is the truth.

[00:38:23] The guys in Saudi Arabia are overweight.

[00:38:27] They are overweight.

[00:38:29] You're a big fan.

[00:38:30] Like, that is the level of discourse now in football.

[00:38:32] They are overweight.

[00:38:33] They eat McDonald's every day.

[00:38:36] Come to France, overweight and see how long you last.

[00:38:38] You don't realize the level of League One.

[00:38:41] Drama, drama, drama.

[00:38:43] I mean, which side do you follow?

[00:38:46] Do you feel like the Saudi League will be more competitive soon?

[00:38:50] Or will it be like, it'll be on par with the...

[00:38:54] The Saudi League, unfortunately, does not have the player power that any of the other

[00:38:59] leagues have.

[00:39:00] Like, Europe is a different beast altogether.

[00:39:02] In Europe, again, the big league is still the Premier League.

[00:39:04] Everybody wants to play the Premier League.

[00:39:06] And especially for Indian fans, it's because it's the most broadcaster, it's the most easily

[00:39:09] attainable league for fans to watch in India.

[00:39:12] Right?

[00:39:13] Like, even watching La Liga or the Bundesliga or even Serie A in India is not as easy as

[00:39:18] watching the Premier League.

[00:39:18] That is why the Premier League is the biggest league in Europe.

[00:39:23] But all the other European leagues also make sense because it's very easy for European players

[00:39:28] or players who are playing for European teams to transfer to the Premier League.

[00:39:31] So, because fans like to keep in tune with the transfer activities, they know about the

[00:39:38] European leagues a lot more.

[00:39:39] And that's not just India.

[00:39:40] That's global.

[00:39:42] Nobody gives a fuck about Saudi Arabia, unfortunately or fortunately.

[00:39:45] Nobody gives a fuck.

[00:39:46] Right?

[00:39:48] But they don't have enough players from outside Saudi Arabia who are playing there.

[00:39:53] You have an aging Cristiano Ronaldo.

[00:39:55] You have Alexander Mitrovic.

[00:39:56] You have Neymar who hasn't kicked a football in a year.

[00:39:59] Right?

[00:39:59] Like, he's gone.

[00:40:01] Who was, if not for fate, would have played in Puna.

[00:40:05] Yeah.

[00:40:06] Exactly.

[00:40:06] I mean, Navi Mumbai, not Puna.

[00:40:08] Let's be honest.

[00:40:10] But yeah.

[00:40:10] So, you know, it's not that.

[00:40:12] And there is no winner here.

[00:40:14] Like, League One is not great either.

[00:40:16] League One is basically Qatar with PSG.

[00:40:18] And Saudi Arabia is basically Saudi Arabia because they own all the clubs.

[00:40:22] So, it's a fucking this thing.

[00:40:23] But I love what Adil Rami said.

[00:40:25] Like, they are fat.

[00:40:26] They are overweight.

[00:40:27] Like, this is full playground insult, dude.

[00:40:30] I haven't said you're fat.

[00:40:32] You eat McDonald's every day since like third standard.

[00:40:35] And that's when McDonald's wasn't even in India.

[00:40:40] But I would still say he's right.

[00:40:42] Wait, who's he?

[00:40:44] I would say Ronaldo is right.

[00:40:46] I would probably not respect League One as much.

[00:40:50] I mean, to be fair, he does have a point.

[00:40:52] Considering we live in India where the temperatures are similar, if not the same.

[00:40:56] I can tell like how hard it must be.

[00:40:59] Especially for people who have been born and brought up in Europe and know that climate more than anything else.

[00:41:04] Like, we see foreign players in the ISL also.

[00:41:06] Yeah.

[00:41:07] They find it very hard to adapt.

[00:41:09] The conditions are terrible.

[00:41:10] The weather is not conducive to a game like football.

[00:41:13] But it is what it is.

[00:41:15] So, let's see how that goes.

[00:41:17] The war between Cristiano Ronaldo and the rest of the world continues.

[00:41:22] Right.

[00:41:23] On that note, it is time to end this episode.

[00:41:24] Thank you so much, everybody, for listening to The Corner Flag.

[00:41:26] If you'd like to get in touch with us and tell us what you thought of this episode, you can reach us on our social media.

[00:41:31] You can find Mukesh on Instagram at Mukesh Manjanath.

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[00:42:01] Shout out to Keza Gherda for composing our theme tune.

[00:42:03] And until next week, it is goodbye from us.

[00:42:05] So say bye, Mukesh.

[00:42:06] Bye, guys.

[00:42:08] And it's bye from me.