How Good Is The Premier League? | Q&A | EP. 111

Gazza’s Fishy Prank, The Joy Of Tino Asprilla & THAT Adebayor Celebration
00:00 - Intro
00:17 - What's That Behind Alan's Head?
00:52 - What Was The Best Prank?
04:20 - Gary's Ancient Acting Gig
06:15 - How Good Was Pep As a Footballer?
07:43 - What Was Tino Asprilla Like?
08:24 - Who Is The Most Complete Footballer?
09:05 - Will TRIF Continue During The EUROS?
12:24 - Bromance
11:08 - Is the EPL Still The Best In The World?
12:52 - Gary or Alan To Take A Pen?
14:05 - THAT Adebayor Goal Celebration
17:58 - Do Players Respect Managers That Can't Play?
How did Gazza show his ingenuity with a fishy prank during his time at Rangers? Why was Faustino Asprilla such a great character in the dressing room? Did Emmanuel Adebayor plan his notorious goal celebration against Arsenal at the Etihad?
Gary, Alan and Micah also debate whether the Premier League is the best league in the world.

[@JRLeemo]

‘For the younger listeners’ Micah just wanted you to explain to him what CBE meant 🤣

[@LovenArtiste]

“Explain it to me like I’m five”

[@miket7056]

'Premier League is fantastic la Liga is brillant seria a is great bundesliga is dynamic and French league obviously got psg' enough said 😂😂

[@marvinbrando722]

😂😂😂😂

[@nellypringle2875]

I've heard Ally McCoist tell that Gazza story and it was apparently Gordon Durie's car. Genius.

[@cassidinho]

Yeah Gazza and Ally hid the fish in Jukebox Durie's car, the line Ally used was there was so many magic trees it was like a forest :D

[@thomasoneil9338]

It was Ally McCoist and Gazza who were injured , so got Gordon Durie's car keys. One fish went into the spare tyre , the other one was found in a compartment.

[@jeremywentworth1833]

The car was a sponsored car when Murray was chairman it was a tie up with Honda , after months of trying to get rid of the smell Honda demanded the money for the car , it must have been something like a Honda legend as it cost Gazza £20grand as Honda wrote the car off.

[@willowilson5753]

It was Gordon durie car 🚗 not Allys

[@edtcreative]

Al's being modest. His cameo in *Goal* is legendary 😉

[@lukepanch]

What a film!!

[@petar.stoyanov]

Just re-re-watched it - it was Big Meeks that passed the ball to Wright-Phillips, who then assisted Adebayor :)

[@NoFrictionZone]

Thanks for answering my question boys! Best football podcast ever!

[@Moinul987]

The best practical joke has to be Chelsea without Cole Palmer

[@mr__OK]

What u talking about ?They a joke with him also. Didn’t they struggle against Sheffield, Burnley and them teams with him init

[@macurlyfries]

@@mr__OKthink you missed the joke. He’s involved in at least 50% of their goals and they’ve had the worst season for 20 years

[@Jp-ny3qh]

Nah the best practical job is Tottenhams trophy cabinet

[@Bercey]

Can't wait to watch you guys during Euros!! It will be fun!

[@duncantodd1267]

Spatz was the TV show Gary was on. Loved that show.

[@jakeyskywalker66]

haha me too, good choice of kids show to make an appearance on Gary

[@kelanomcfc6326]

Love these episodes 💙

[@bigears9984]

A really great pod to listen to when you need cheering up cheers lads

[@jordanambrose7396]

One the funniest and best episodes allways a joy seeing the thumbnails pop up

[@Strandhill123]

The plans for the euros sounds a treat boys. Please make it happen. Its a struggle through the summer when no footy or footy content

[@Mksin42]

There is the euros

[@leaodaestrela5250]

During summer, my drug is F1... but definitly not the same

[@djassassinuk]

That old TV show Gary appeared on was called Spatz. It was a kids sitcom set in a fast food restaurant on CITV

[@AJ98NUFC]

Alans cameo in purely belter cant be beaten!! "Ahh no Alan, Celine frigging dion"

[@robertjones4201]

Can tell from Gary's pronunciation of Ste Hall that he only spent the one season on Merseyside

[@stehall]

It's always the older people that don't know how to say Ste, they always expect Steve, think next time I'll just put my full name and he'll get it right 😅

[@matty6171]

I thought maybe he spent too long in Barcelona😂

[@Mksin42]

Such a great show.

[@De3dSh0t]

I think the Prem is the most entertaining and perhaps edges it in terms of pure quality as well, but some people act like it's miles better than every other league which is insane. The fact that the worst United team the world has seen and an injury shot poor Newcastle are literally sitting in 6th and 7th is a testament to that.

[@zeandean79]

For me it’s that ‘little’ clubs will try to, and sometimes do, beat the ‘big’ clubs.

[@00vvvvvvvv00]

Micah is a fantastic storyteller! Makes you feel like you were there. 14:07 onwards

[@catgladwell5684]

Denis Law couldn't celebrate at OT in 1974 when he scored in already relegated United's last match of the season. The other City players ran up to him to do the usual ecstatic goal dance, and he brushed them off. Shortly afterwards he was sub'd and went off in tears. Love Denis.

[@daveb6815]

Best football podcast out there

[@lukepapapietro7625]

"before we through up, let's move on..." 😂 that was an awesome moment of romance

[@jonboy76]

The show was called 'Spatz'. It was a children's sit-com set in an American-style diner.

[@Salacious-Crumb]

I knew the boy lineaker would bring up Gazza soon as the question was asked 😂

[@sukichumber5386]

3 Likely Lads havin a good ol chin wag abt footie! Grt watch!!

[@user-dw6cs8bf6b]

Most complete player - it can only be Ruud Gullit. A former Ballon d'Or and European Footballer of the Year came to the Premier League towards the end of his career. Played defender, sweeper, holding midfield, number 10 and striker during three years at Chelsea with so many man of the match performances. At the 1998 World Cup he even played in goal for Holland when Edwin van der Sar famously refused to play. One of the greatest players of all time and quite possibly the most complete player.

[@harry_lime8610]

Hard to argue about Gullit ... although a Frank Rijkaard XI against a Gullit XI would be some contest

[@davidforman6191]

Who I thought as well. Gullit could do it all.

[@nathanthompson8652]

Wasn't a very good defender though. Team of Gerrards or vieras would boss him. Though you'd never get the ball off a team of xavis or busquets.

[@user-dw6cs8bf6b]

@@nathanthompson8652 I'm not sure if you saw him live, but as a defender he controlled the back four. Amazing player. I'm a big fan of Gerrard, one of Englands greatest ever players but personally I'd rate Gullit over Stevie every time.

[@nathanthompson8652]

@@user-dw6cs8bf6b I remember him being a liability back there and playing in a five, wouldn't have played him in a 4. In fact, didn't he pick himself to play there, as a player manager. He wouldn't have been playing there for a top manager. He'd be bossed in midfield and ran ragged at the back

[@malevellysian]

cant unsee the white stuck on micah's shoulder

[@95konoha]

Spain needs some of the gulf countries investments..imagine sevilla or betis for example becoming rich clubs

[@adegboya]

17:35 Kai Havertz heard you and celebrated last night!!! Brilliant

[@GIBBO4182]

9:05 Gary, it’s Stee…as in Steven/Stephen! 😂😂 I actually went to school with a guy named Stephen Hall, I wonder if it’s him!? 😂

[@mikeryan4055]

I also went to school with a Stephen Hall and now I work with a Steven Hall.. must be a very common name although it will die out, no baby's get called Steven or Stephen any more

[@stehall]

😢

[@GIBBO4182]

@@stehall 👈the man, the myth…the legend!

[@stehall]

😂 It's always the oldies that get it wrong ​@GIBBO4182

[@Liaaaam]

Makes it even funnier that he's so good at pronouncing names and messes up with Ste 🤣

[@JamesQuiffton]

“Steh shall” 😂😂😂

[@JoeHustleDNM]

"No surprise to me, Big Meeks." 😂

[@sriramkasyap6590]

I was looking forward to this episode particularly to Big Meeks bringing up some data/evidence in support of the game getting "more intense" like was discussed in the previous episode. I don't think there is a better group of people who can analyse/compare football generations with appropriate research. Will wait for Micah to get his homework in order, maybe in the coming episodes and win over these two skeptical legends.

[@mr__OK]

English fans say it’s the best but European record shows it’s Spain

[@paulsears816]

Only 2 teams in Spain

[@mr__OK]

@@paulsears816 those 2 teams have won more than all English teams combined 🙂‍↔️🙂‍↔️. Speaking about Europe u can also mention Europa league with Seville, Villarreal and atlético have dominated

[@Huwandahero]

When Micah doesn’t understand something, “for the younger audience can you explain”

[@DWArch]

We have a question from Steh Hall - love how Gary put a foreign twist on the name Ste, I had to watch it back! ha

[@monrush]

Spatz!!

[@themacraecase4323]

Liverpool squad were abroad before playing a friendly in Tel Aviv mid 80s. Dalglish, Hansen and Souness convinced Steve Nicol that Dalglish was dying - as in days to live - and Nicol fell for it but was also sworn to secrecy. Cue a few days of 3 of them trying not to laugh as Nicol was basically treating Dalglish as a deity, before they revealed the truth. Nicol was apparantly extremey gullible and fell for a lot of pranks.

[@stutoon2755]

Lineker looking more and more like a character from the board game guess who.

[@zeandean79]

It was called Spatz. The show that you were in.

[@canonogic]

Gary was also in Bend It Like Beckham

[@lukepanch]

Al getting all sentimental is the highlight of this episode 🥹

[@nimascolari1508]

Biggest brand. Biggest spenders. As Keane said it's a brand. Italian teams even German teams are doing better with 10% of the spending. Imgaine the Prem's top 6 are worth more than some entire leagues combined. West Ham has more revenue than some league's top 4 teams. Fifa needs to introduce a global salary cap before football is ruined permanently.

[@williamcarter3933]

The TV show Gary was on was called Spatz, it was good by memory, can't remember what it was about!

[@Johndoe-dc7vq]

It was about a hamburger fast food restaurant. I believe it had Dexter Fletcher of "lock, stock and two smoking barrels" fame in too...

[@williamcarter3933]

@@Johndoe-dc7vq that's the f*cker and it also had another actor from Lock Stock innit...the guy who played Rory Breaker

[@Johndoe-dc7vq]

@@williamcarter3933 My god your right, I'd forgotten about him :) Well remembered

[@wullieboyslipandmove9385]

I definitely think the podcast you do on the first English game at the euros you should all wear the England strip that you made your first cap wearing or retro equivalent 😊

[@dannyelliott1512]

It was Gordon Durie’s car that Gazza and McCoist put the fish inside

[@iMertin]

Sure it Iain Durant who got the fish in the car from Gazza. Just ally told the story a few times

[@bantamNeil12]

Definitely Gordon Durie who had the 2 fish hidden in his car...🎣🎣👍🏻

[@michelmalek4145]

Where do you post your question to the guys? I would like to know whether they think Thiago Motta is a good fit to become the Liverpool manager.

[@chippydogwoofwoof]

11 of one player --Bryan Robson

[@math0us323]

Micah forgot to mention he scored an assisted in that game

[@tubbybeaver4471]

It was Gordon Durie’s car, Ally helped him plant the fish

[@jackmiller-johnston8689]

The abuse Adebayor got that day, merited everything he did for that celebration. Football's greatest goal celebration

[@Lionheartz-sf4ed]

I think the EPL is the best league in world football for compilation in which each team can take pionts from each other. But i feel thats some of the world best teams are dotted around different league's

[@rew0rked]

euros watch alongs would be proper

[@stretchystretch269]

I’m a coach but still love joining in training

[@doubleophysiquecreation1525]

Missed a trick as a sheep 🐑 should have been used as the logo for the Farmers League in the video thumbnail 😂

[@woodsox1311]

Gary just watching a VHS vedio that you did titled. Lineker & Thorne Best of friends. Can you please explain on next podcast. Stephen Wood up the villa

[@MrBuzzcuts]

@13:48 Gary Is gutted 😂😂

[@morganjones9381]

Obviously big fans of mark goldbridge with that title thumbnail

[@captainhowdy9845]

Guardiola wasn't brilliant as a footballer, but he played a very important part in Cruyff's Barcelona setup as either the half back who dropped into a back 4 or a centre back who pushed into a holding role. His main job was to receive simple passes from the defence and recycle them into midfield, so he was neither a destructive midfield spoiler nor a playmaker like Pirlo. He was a very important part of that setup and what he did, he did very well, but what he did wasn't especially dynamic. If you were to look at the number of passes he made in the game, and the success rate, they would be big numbers, but then he wasn't exactly a creative powerhouse. On the face of it, an unfavourable conclusion would be that he was the 'water carrier' in that side, but he was more important than that suggested.

[@Matt-eu3pn]

Is any of you boys like me and worry that var 😝💩 will ruin,take away from the excitement and knowing our our luck probably stitch England up somehow at the euros? Love the podcast guys keep the joy flowing 😀 ps. How underrated and forgotten are great players like Barnes, Rocastle, Robson and the one and only Gary (walkers) Lineker get simply for missing premier league era? Matty in brum

[@daleboyers7486]

Love how much shearwr rates Rooney he's always throwing his name in. A tram full of Rooneys would be mental😅

[@mickeyp1257]

It was Drury who had the fish in his car not Coisty

[@mikeryan4055]

Ah ah ah "Ste Hall" wtf 😂😂😂

[@stehall]

It's Ste, not Steh 🙄😅

[@mikeryan4055]

@@stehallGary said steh that's what I'm laughing at. I know lots of Ste's ah ah I know how to say it.. in fact I know a couple of Ste Halls

[@benitotommassi5820]

9:02 Roy Keane

[@InsaNizzy]

Madrid got lucky vs city ??? Madrid had 3 ACL injuries to their goalkeeper and both centerbacks, their holding midfielder had to play CB in the first leg and couldn’t play at emirates because of a yellow card, gvardiol scored a 1 in a 100 shot, bernardo scored a first minute lack of concentration goal, de bruyne scored off a faulty clearance from rudiguer but yeah sure madrid got lucky lads 😭

[@Stuffthatsfunny1]

Pep was on loan in Italy where the doctor was done for doping. He's hired this doctor at every club he has managed...

[@isaquemarques3223]

A young Gary Lineker kind of resembles Ayrton Senna

[@user-sw9ry3rg7u]

E.F.L best selling point NO VAR . like watching the old days where the actual ref was in charge of the game an its his error alone if one is made When var over rules a ref then says sorry & points do not get re added to the table i refuse see how that isn't match fixing . As for atwell at the weekend , well he awarded reading a ghost goal against watford some years back ( watford ) lutons rivals , so questionable if he is compentent

[@j.e.4610]

The premier league has the best "atmosphere" and the most beautiful football stadiums: I love the English sense of humor. Best regards from the boring Farmers-Bundesliga!

[@SampVilla]

Haha the one thing the premier league doesn’t have is good atmosphere. The grounds are mostly silent. Germany is fantastic for atmosphere, so is the rest of Europe 👍🏻 brilliant fans

[@D34671]

use me as a "Longer Q&A episode" button

[@DYL2020]

Ally Mccoist’s stories about Gazza are always absolutely hilarious, either the firework one or when he burgles his house to make a sandwich is my favourite🤣

[@andrewharrison7767]

nah - got to be the tin whistle / flute old firm where Ally convinced him it was tradition to dance like pied piper after scoring; the celtic fans thought it wasn't so funny though

[@InsaNizzy]

11 prime gareth bales would be unplayable, another one would be sergio ramos, can whip in crosses and score them too

[@InBodWeTrust]

Tell Micah to pick that bit of fluff off his shoulder - it's been there for a couple of pods. 😉

[@aribido]

Balotelli did that to Micah

[@bryanwarren7843]

It was Gordon Durie's car

[@sofiaethanandfabianchannel8722]

Sorry Alan but if you played against Newcastle and scored, you would never celebrate that goal NO WAY

[@mrfog9791]

Question: How do the guys feel about so much football going behind a paywall. Whether its tv subscriptions or rising tickets, its getting harder and harder for the common folks to watch football.

[@Youafool500]

Common folk need to work out how to stream or just buy the subscriptions, not that complicated

[@mrfog9791]

I didnt say it was complicated, and i didnt say they couldnt find a way to still watch. I just asked for their opinion. Thanks for your input though fella.

[@user-dq7xr6kc9b]

Absolutely agree. Especially when you're on holiday and you can watch live matches on regular TV broadcasts.

[@Youafool500]

@@mrfog9791 They not going to care mate, you think multi millionaires like them care about a subscription to watch footy ? Micah spends more on a haircut every week then it costs for a yearly subscription to both Sky and TNT

[@JeremyAweda]

I watch this podcast over lunch please no poo stories anymore Micah.

[@keithhunter3101]

should be getting ready for work, but watching this instead, gotta get your priorities straight!!

[@rolfereneetheron1504]

Been at work for 2 hours and watching

[@maairegyengnefrancis6077]

Is that Micah trophy cabinet behind him😂😂😂

[@andrewlarasen9615]

In order to determine whether the English Premier League (solely based on Europe performances) is the best in the world, ask yourself the following question. If PSG were to win the CL, does that make the French League the best league in the world?

[@KezieKez]

Pep was good, I liked him as a player

[@jahjah8762]

Btw it’s 3:00 am in America , I’ve always wondered what time it is in London and why he always post so damn early in the morning lol Like for everytime Gary plays with his nose 😂

[@joshyboy333]

8am

[@jahjah8762]

@@joshyboy333makes sense

[@GIBBO4182]

EPL has had 3 different winners of the UCL in the last 5 seasons. Newcastle we’re in a group of death, and only went out to a poor decision, and the teams that went through are both still in the semi finals. Arsenal went out to Bayern, and City went out to Madrid…nothing to be ashamed of there. Only Man Utd were a let down really

[@MH-vp7lf]

But I thought its "best league in the world" arsenal lost to a team from the "farmers league" as English fans call it

[@GIBBO4182]

⁠​⁠@@MH-vp7lfArsenal haven’t even been in it for years, and Bayern are a powerhouse! And what would you call a league that had the same winner for a decade?

[@lambert8915]

Not really, United decimated by injuries and knew we were gonna struggle from pre season. Cup runs elsewhere always inevitable

[@GIBBO4182]

@@lambert8915 come on. They threw away so many points from winning positions!

[@hyywe240]

Villa still in conference league as well. West ham and Liverpool made it to quarters

[@dajo8723]

Real Madrid didn't get "lucky" they defended well and learned from their mistakes from the previous season against Man City.

[@andyjack37]

Imagine 10 out-field Ruud Gullits

[@JD-rk1rn]

most complete player question, give me 11 Yaya's im with Micah

[@showtimetwin]

The Premier League for me is one of the best leagues not THEE best league. It has all the money and wants to be the best. That’s the confusion!!

[@monikathakur4285]

True. Most competitive=serie a. Most entertaining=Bundesliga. Most physical=Ligue 1. Most young talent=LaLiga. Best league? Prem😅

[@showtimetwin]

@@monikathakur4285 I hear this!! Most Money: Premier League Lool… I just beg people just watch a different league of football than the Premier league for a weekend and you will soon see!

[@AItakover]

The most money corrupted epl

[@Thai.Farang]

When you're at the Euros, will Gary leave his bloody nose alone!?

[@ErinStephanie-mf2qk]

Would be great to see Dortmund to win the Champions League. And Atalanta to win the Europa league.

[@sjaakbral83]

11 Ruud Gullit's

[@SampVilla]

The strange thing Alan says when talking about the premier league still being the best, is he says atmosphere. The atmosphere in the premier league overall is pretty poor. Leagues across Europe are far superior with atmosphere and it’s been that way for years. The crowds are far more passionate and tbf less policed in the stadiums across Europe . English football has been really watered down. Just find it strange to bring up atmosphere when it’s the one thing we really lack here now. I’m a season ticket holder at my club Villa. I love the premier league but I don’t think it’s the best to watch. I think sky do a good job hyping up a lot of games that are very dull. I’ve always loved Italian football since the channel 4 football Italia days and it remains my fave league. I’ve followed Sampdoria for over 30 years since seeing them as a kid on Sunday afternoons on chan 4. Sadly they’re now in Serie B.

[@Thegdee]

And Big Meeks had an assist

[@Angel_M777]

La liga is brilliant, Bundesliga is dynamic, France got PSG 😂😂

[@misterc5783]

“Do you think it’s going out of fashion not celebrating against old teams” It’s more that people are just more prickish now.

[@markdavis8430]

Ally is the next guest would be great guys As a older rangers supporter

[@MH-vp7lf]

Entertainment wise yes, but quality wise I'd say it's very overrated. Football has a whole has dipped in terms of quality compared to before

[@josephwragg6723]

Most complete player definitely goes to either John Charles or Ruud Gullit.

[@tonymcmanus8290]

Can Gary go a whole episode without picking/rubbing his nose?