Ruben Amorim's Links To Liverpool, How To Pick A Lineup & 2024 Ballon d'Or Predictions, | EP 108

Should clubs be allowed to pay agents directly? Would Rúben Amorim be a good fit if he took over at Liverpool next season? What advice would our trio give to parents of youngsters getting into the game?
Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the hardest role in sports broadcasting. Is it the presenter, pundit, commentator or co-commentator?
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00:00 - Intro
00:15 - Agents Salary
06:13 - Start, Bench, Sell - England Striker
07:25 - Breaks in-between Recording
07:50 - Ian Wright’s Technique
09:40 - Roker Park
10:20 - Ballon d’Or
12:00 - Advice On Football For Your Kid
16:05 - Ruben Amorim To Liverpool?
17:50 - Hardest TV Roles
22:00 - Deciding On Your Team

[@andypeters9324]

Shearers answer to " Have you any memories of Roker Park"? Brilliant 😂😂. Once again another fantastic episode.

[@curb1sh7689]

The Gary impression from Micah gets me every time 🤣🤣🤣

[@kernowchris]

sounds like micah doing a micah with a soft voice.

[@mikegallagher9835]

“Are you sure you’re the father?” 😂😂Gary was lucky to get away with that one 😮

[@user-wx3hg2eb6p]

Micah's cool gary went with the flow apologised latter

[@makinachannel93]

Why? Having a laugh with his mate 🙄

[@Edgisco]

New to banter?

[@mikegallagher9835]

@@makinachannel93 haha nah it was good bants it shows they must be top pals. Nice to see.

[@mikegallagher9835]

@@EdgiscoNah lad it’s nice to see that anything goes between the lads on TRIF. Can’t buy that authenticity fr

[@mike07707]

Simon Jordan's been banging on about this for years. Laws need changing. The agent can represent all parties and ask for any price they like. Bonkers how its allowed. In any other business its probably illegal already

[@charlielad6124]

Who?

[@user-uq2py1kk6f]

No matter, how low I feel. This podcast and these three gentlemen. Make me smile and bring light into my life and thanks to everyone involved in making this podcast. Thank you.

[@kriissyy09ify]

I don't think the English media and people know how good Amorim is. He is both tactically brilliant but also his man management is up there with the best, players have literally said they joined Sporting to play for him. This is a guy who excelled during his coaching courses and then had teams paying millions for him to manage their club when he barely had any experience. Trust me, he'll be the next Pep/Klopp level manager. Just needs the exposure, which he'll get at Liverpool or whoever he goes too.

[@nonnayoubuzinnes1669]

I fear for Amorim at Liverpool. He better do well from the start or our fans will turn. Klopp is more than a manager he's adored as a person and he changed a lot more behind the scenes than people realise. Getting the players onside will be another huge task as he isn't much older than some of them and they might not like him giving them a b*llocking. I don't see him lasting.

[@joepiekl]

I'm sure he's great, but my favourite thing is all of the pundits pretending they know about him and how his teams set up, as if they're all regularly watching the Portuguese league.

[@MartinP-iy8so]

It won’t be @ Liverpool this summer

[@randyschwaggins]

He's done well at Sporting without being dominant...and he's made little impact at European level. Compare his success to someone like Mourinho when he started his managerial career at Porto. Amorim may develop into a world class manager...but there is nothing to show he is anything other than a decent coach right now.

[@palashrawat401]

I think if Kane gets Bayern through tonight he will be a strong contender because he has been the best individual. Bayern have scored the most goals in all european leagues but there defence and Tuchel's lineups have let them down at crucial points.

[@whitenbald]

If Bayern win the UCL and England win the Euros, yeah I'd give it to Kane probably!

[@drdassler]

Really enjoyed this one. Some excellent points raised & a bit of recognition for the commentators.

[@benukan7085]

Another brilliant episode. Never fails to put a smile on my face.

[@kasumbaasuman8799]

The best podcast in the region i really enjoy it

[@ahadahsan1]

Love this podcast, hope it goes on for a long long time. Gary please don't die. Love from Pakistan.

[@pamelabonaparte9383]

Thx guys …especially Normal Alan 😂😂! Never dull ❤

[@malikmusa3068]

Best podcast going right now

[@The_bears1978]

Top class what a way to start the day 😂❤

[@kebabpower263]

Micah at the end sounded like he is working on an adult phone chat🤣🤣

[@3plewconcepts]

Gary would be in trouble now if he weren't the presenter and chief stakeholder 😅😅😅. Lovely and insightful as usual guys

[@abadibakri9384]

Great show 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@John-fw2bp]

Great stuff lads, what we all need now living in these times 😂

[@AJ98NUFC]

What a way to start the day ❤

[@user-yu7ko6do4k]

Great episode guys

[@mymatenick8335]

I’ve been signed off from work for 3 months now with illness and been really low and miserable with it all but I fucking love this show! Cheers me up and you guys are legends. Thanks for keeping my spirits up at times when needed and my football knowledge increased 🙏

[@DYL2020]

9:36 love that🤣🤣🤣

[@Kian_Henning]

Great pod again

[@dutch5469]

I could listen to Alan curse about stadiums all day

[@mashalr7]

I absolutely love the channel and the class videos. I have a small suggestion for the thumbnail as I think it would be a great idea to label the q&a episodes as q&a so we don't think it is a podcast!

[@johndoherty6729]

The Roy Keane book on Micahs book shelf is hilarious

[@jayhill2222]

Hello Gary, big Meeks and Alan. Firstly just want to say this is a truly great podcast, really enjoying it so thanks a lot for all of your efforts. My question to you is, do you only answer questions on the podcast if the person asking gives you a compliment about your podcast first? Cheers, J Hill

[@greenqueenxox]

“You sure you’re the father? Sorry 😂😂😂 Love these three together 😅

[@Northumberlandgeordie]

Yesterday, I posted a tweet regarding the impact of agents' fees on PSR. It is peculiar that in football, the agents' client is not the one who compensates them.

[@mrbgpg8459]

Great podcast as always.. How all of you maintain your fitness after you retire from football

[@philip244]

Pretty obvious they go to the gym, they aren’t on site in the week

[@DeadlyTyper42]

Adrenochrome

[@faflafaflev3899]

"Are you sure, you are the father? 😆" top notch

[@theblackprotagonist5936]

You can go back to players paying the agents, it won’t change the amount they’re paid….

[@wandarah]

Exactly. It's fucked I'm afraid.

[@Dmithisa]

❤ the pod

[@nelsonribeiro3088]

Please, PLEASE, stop saying Sporting Lisbon. There's only one Lisbon and it is Benfica. The name is Sporting Club Portugal. Please guys, for a portuguese like me, it's the same as saying Liverpool United... great show as always, love you all.

[@nonnayoubuzinnes1669]

Chill😂 A few teams names sound different in English. Bayern Munich are Bayern Munchen but their fans don't cry when it's said wrong by others.

[@Fingerbashed3]

Tell them bruh

[@bradley4752]

@@nonnayoubuzinnes1669he’s not crying, he’s educating us. Be humble. You’ll learn something.

[@adambarker9817]

I wouldn't cry about it

[@LudiCrust.]

@@bradley4752intelligent people will thank you for educating/correcting them. Stupid people will hate you for it.

[@Never_Wr0ng]

That agent transfer fee list is another indication of the incredible job Mikel Arteta has done. Almost half of Liverpool. Less than half of Man City. Wage Bill also miles behind them. On his FIRST JOB!!! What a manager! What a man!

[@christianluker649]

Spent as much money as those combined though hasnt he

[@Madahands]

Not sure where to ask but fir next episode what is yoyr opinion on scrapping fa cup replays? And also would it be beneficial to copy the german pokal cup where by the lower league team gets priority for home advantage and all revenue bar (prize money ) goes to the team. Love the podcast , keep it up

[@mrzas100]

You guys should interview one of the reps from the initiative of like Kick It Out or Football for Future around the grassroots up to the premier league and what they do to improve the game

[@D34671]

Gary should have done Micah's laugh at the end 🤣

[@mattsmith5421]

This was a proper laugh

[@markdavis8430]

Couldn’t agree more bud👌🤣

[@mickwalkden]

You really put a jinx on Atletico

[@MarkWeir-cr5tk]

Great advice on the kids, parents should not rob that enjoyment from their kids playing football or any sport

[@GIBBO4182]

Mbappe will probably win the ballon d’Or. He’s got 40 goals again this season…so far. If France have a good Euros in the summer, which I think they will, he’ll be a big part of that

[@philip244]

He was invisible yesterday until Barca got tired with 10 men

[@GIBBO4182]

@@philip244as if he’ll care. 2 more goals, and in to the semi finals

[@Siatounakos]

he wan invincible in the WC final as well till the 81st min but ended up with a hat trick

[@AndrewKruglov]

Well that's a massive IF

[@GIBBO4182]

⁠@@AndrewKruglovwhat? France doing well in the Euros? They’ve been to the last 2 World Cup finals! Not that big an if! Them or us will be favourites, but they actually have a good defence 😂

[@damiansnow6170]

Unpopular opinion: but if Bayern Leverkusen win the treble and Germany do well in the Euros Wirtz could have a chance at winning the Ballon d’or and Xabi Alonso will win best manager of the year.

[@kriissyy09ify]

Bellingham will win it because he has the Real Madrid hype behind him. Don't forget it's voted on by journalists and for some reason they continue to allow reporters who have a clear bias.

[@damiansnow6170]

@@kriissyy09ify true Bellingham does have a good shout on winning it specially if England do well in the euros. Specially with the journalist point. I think Wirtz is an outsider

[@nonnayoubuzinnes1669]

Whoever wins the Champions League will get manager of the year, the Europa isn't taken into account.

[@damiansnow6170]

@@nonnayoubuzinnes1669 how is not? What about the winning the Bundesliga for the first time in Leverkusen history? And also going unbeaten….. that must be taken into account. For 11 years Bayern Munich were dominant in that league and Xabi Alonso’s side broke the curse. IMO Xabi this year deserves it, he’s also in the final of the domestic cup too!

[@nonnayoubuzinnes1669]

@@damiansnow6170 Won't matter. If another team wins the league and CL their manager will win it. Most likely Pep at MC. Klopp won the BL twice at Dortmund but only won UEFA coach of the year after winning the CL at Liverpool.

[@toxic_badasss9656]

Mica impersonating Links is hilarious 😂😂😂⚽️

[@Swagdaddy42069]

Here after Dortmund beat Atletico, sorry Micah.

[@englishjona6458]

Just imagine me the chairman of football club being held to ransom by a player and his agent. I’m the person who owns the business you want to work for my business. I’m sorry but I will tell the player and his agent that I hold the power if you don’t like it, I can find somebody else.

[@theblackprotagonist5936]

Held ransom? Are you serious? Firstly, if we go back to agents being paid by the player the self, nothing changes. The charges are exactly the same. Clubs push players out and force them to move when they don’t want to, drop players and don’t resign them when they’re injured ect. Circle of life as a footballer.

[@daviebananas1735]

Clubs are perfectly free to do this. But then you don’t get Bellingham, or Haaland, or any top player probably.

[@nathanbailey2689]

Modelled my game on Patrick viera 9:25 😂😂😂😂😂

[@chamatsprayart2283]

In fine form....

[@chrismiller6317]

Micah watched Zabeletta a lot from the beginning bench 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@superstrongr]

2.3 billion to agents ??? And we wonder why most clubs loose money ?

[@leeab2136]

I agree how can the same person represent 3 parties in the same deal is crazy. Those numbers sound high if you divide 286 million by 10 28.6 million per year. Then by how many players are bought and sold. Chelsea bought and sold around 177 in that time. That’s around 1.6 million per transfer. Wow admin fees are high. Other clubs may vary

[@Fhkms]

Sonny’s dad would disagree 😂

[@bruce_leon1044]

I think we can blame Micah for Atletico's exit from the UCL last night 😂 What a kiss of death that was shouting out Griezmann for the Balon D'Or 😂

[@leaodaestrela5250]

Love the pod.. but... its "Amorim" not "Amorin" and its "Sporting Clube de Portugal" and not "Sporting Lisbon"... cheers from Portugal

[@giteausuperstar]

In England we’ve always called them sporting Lisbon

[@leaodaestrela5250]

I know, but that doesnt make it right does it... I guess it's fine, who cares. but its like you call United, Manchester FC or something like that! For the fans, it hurts... thats all

[@KhanCarnivore]

@@leaodaestrela5250great info, and when you put it that way it makes real sense, thanks

[@jakegrant1606]

Thought Gary or Alan was going to chip in with Micah modelling his game around Zabaleta 😂😂

[@basebear48]

I thought that agents had to registered, so anyone who's not registered is not an agent goes with parents as well

[@canonogic]

Agent fees should work exactly how it does in Hollywood. They find you work, then they take a percentage (around 10%) of the players wage for that work

[@jsss3604]

Football and Hollywood dont belong in the same sentence thank you.

[@AuGAlaN]

let me introduce you to Wrexham

[@adamoldfield9707]

I look at the bigger picture, Amorim has a good bit of experience winning titles at a young age and also inacio one one of the best young centre backs in Europe could follow him in as a long term successor to van dijk as he’s 32 and can’t go on forever, I’d be more than happy if Amorim got the job

[@connorf4035]

Id like to know where Liverpools money is going to when it comes to agents? Liverpool don't sign big stars like the 2 other teams they're mentioned with

[@disrupt_ist]

I'd like to see Harry Kane win the 2024 Ballon d'Or. He deserves the recognition, and especially so after the cruel twist of fate in the Bundesliga this year. He certainly did his job at the club. Also, it would probably mean he did well for England in the Euros if he won it. I say this as a Man Utd fan, believe it or not.

[@OfficialFingazMC]

Was trying to sort ultimate team before I watched. (it's back on now). But wow, you can be involved with 2 or 3 parties, surely that's not allowed, like Gary says conflict of interest and greedy b'stards making money without kicking a ball!!!

[@cauliflowerpete616]

The NFL has a 3% cap on agent fees. Should do that.

[@hartshaped]

In regards to agents, here’s the sorry state of things that got little coverage When Newcastle were looking for a striker back in 2022 their first choice was Hugo Ekitike, the fee was agreed and Ekitike agreed a contract and it seemed all done, except Newcastle couldn’t agree the agents fees… it dragged on with the agents fees and then eventually PSG came in willing to pay the excessive demands from the agent Ekitike then seemingly immediately trolled Newcastle with a post posing with his agent, both laughing with the caption “Njoy” At the time I found it absolutely baffling that a player let his agent potentially hamper his career and cause the collapse of a move, considering both a fee between the two clubs were agreed, as was the player's contract. Worked out well in the end Ekitike has barely kicked a ball for PSG, was heavily criticised for his attitude, they tried to sell him after a single season and after struggling to sell him, they instead shipped him out on loan and who did Newcastle opt for in the end? Alexander Isak…

[@damiansnow6170]

If Kane brings Bayern to the final and England win the euros…. He definitely has a good chance on winning the Ballon d’or.

[@spudgreg]

Florian wirtz for balon D’or if they win the treble and Germany do well

[@stephenmorris8947]

The best

[@pedrocortez8325]

Can Amorim coach a Premier League team? Could Mourinho, also in the beginning of his carreer?

[@garynixon1684]

My 5 year old has got himself in to golf so just ordered him some clubs

[@weira1816]

In America, there is a max 3% for agents

[@hrydhcbfue]

"Alan gets the knob" 🤣I think you mean nod Micah lad

[@neiladdison4457]

I think it's a disgrace that clubs pay the agent's fees. They work for the player, the player should pay. Also, they start off half of the rumours in order to generate moves that pay them huge fees. I have no idea how clubs don't load that on the player. I'm guessing it started out as a way of a club getting the jump on a transfer by offering to pay those fees, then it became the norm. Mental.🤯

[@kaileung9780]

Played a good few times against will

[@Kobble8]

The Balon d’or will go to the best player who wins the UCL and the Euros

[@adlchapman]

This pod got Micah on CBS admitting to his Gooner side lol yall done made that man own it everywhere he goes lol

[@jeremywentworth1833]

As ever brilliant, Big Meeks impression of Gary was crap he didn't constantly touch his nose .

[@adammchugh5456]

Hahahahaha you guys need to call Damiano Tommasi!

[@mikeryan4055]

My mate is know as David fucking fairhust 😂😂 he had a stutter/stammer and used to insert "fucking" to help. Also Alan got me with "ITS A FUCKING SHIT HOLE"😂😂

[@colincampbell4261]

10% for a few phonecalls, texts and meetings, easy money.

[@pjduff7577]

Also that money is going out of football, if the club receives it it will be used in other transfers probably

[@mikeryan4055]

Agents are taking a lot of money but so are the players everyone but the fans seem to win

[@patrickbyrnes7137]

I agree with the co commentator point far too many speak when it is not needed and it is irritating

[@hartshaped]

Any word on why the BBC gave zero coverage on MOTD to the the RNID initiative shirt demonstrated at the Newcastle Spurs game? Not even a passing mention. My wife is partially deaf and she was quite excited by this RNID event that was taking place with the club, I happened to be in hospital the day of the game but followed along with the score of the match and saw in disbelief Newcastle winning 4-0 with an entire 11 unavailable for selection against an almost full strength Spurs who are in contention with Villa for a Champions League space, I said to my wife, that this would be fantastic for the RNID cause, the match will get a lot of coverage and it's almost certain to be the lead game on MOTD later that night. Fast forward and the lead game is City thumping the 18th placed team in the league 🤷‍♂ I think nevermind bit disappointed but hopefully it will still get plenty of time, the match comes and goes and not one mention of the RNID initiative, I sort of felt embarrassed that I had got my wife's hopes up that MOTD would give it some decent air time, not even any camera shots cutting to the crowd and a passing line, I was so disappointed, I had felt certain that the BBC who are meant to be acting as a public service would be thinking it was a worthwhile story and to bring a spotlight on the match raising awareness of how football as a whole could be making people with hearing impairments feel more included in the match day experience. It was pretty shameful, especially when the BBC's social channels managed to make a brief mention and the likes of TNT and Sky gave it a massive amount of coverage. I realise this likely has more to do with the producers and editors of MOTD than you guys directly but it felt like a massive missed opportunity and a big let down.

[@NECinho]

Is Jackanory still a thing. Anyone else think Gary would be perfect fot it?

[@theblackprotagonist5936]

The disrespect on Mbappe is insane! 42 goals in 41 games and you’re saying Foden, then maybe Jude and then mentioning Mbappe after? 😂😂😂😂 He’s the new age Neymar. He’s world class, year in year out and just gets ignored. 15 plus years ago, it didn’t matter what league you played you. If you played well and stood out, you were respected. Mbappe is also doing it in Europe. 8 in 10 now.

[@Lu-cj8it]

Mbappe has been poor in the UCL knockout stages, even last night, despite scoring a brace, he was noticeably poor (the general public does not care about Ligue 1). The game is much more than stats and thankfully the general public still feels this way. Foden has been clear of him, and I'm not even a City fan (on a separate note, Mbappe will never be anywhere near as good as Neymar - he could score a billion goals and win another world cup, but the fact will remain)

[@palashrawat401]

Mbappe has those goals in very poor games like scoring 4 goals vs Orleans or scoring 4 against 3rd division Revel or friendlies of France etc. His UCL goals vs Sociedad and Barcelona were not even impressive. Infact by his own standards he is having his most unremarkable season beyond stats

[@neilmiller6214]

Harry Kane for the ballon d’or

[@gmstores7794]

New winner this year yeah since modric..

[@dardobartoli]

And you want to increase the allowance for clubs...

[@phillsmith9255]

Balon dor, how's about Harry Kane, 43 goals currently, Bayern still in champs lge, if England win euros?

[@VanAugur]

mino raiola prob made so much money

[@giteausuperstar]

I’m pretty certain the ballon dor winner will come from whichever team wins the euros

[@wideboii4523]

Yeah probably if England wins Jude or Kane if France wins then Mbappé and if Germany does Wirtz will

[@englishjona6458]

What did you just say an agent can represent the footballer the buying club and selling club and then you’re not gonna call that corruption that surely that’s illegal and people should be in prison surely that’s called stealing

[@arvindhmani06]

Math's a bit off there, Feb 2015 to Feb 2024 is 9 years not 10

[@bantamNeil12]

Absolutely love Alan's response to memories of Roker Park...lol...😂😂😂

[@fplyerbs5251]

Are agents not similar to recruiters? The company pays not the candidate...a company might pay 20% of the base salary

[@vijayarneja7973]

Agents in American sports make 3%-7% off of every player no matter the contract or player. It makes it much more equitable for the players, the teams, and makes sure there completions between agents so there isn’t only a couple of big agents with all the big players.

[@Koluvuma]

Honestly if Germany win the euros than Wirtz might have a chance or any Man City, COYG ❤ players win a PL,UCL then England win euros , players like Foden or Saka will win it

[@mrhoway2886]

F**k off Alan 😅😅 safc how many times did we beat you in a row again 🤔😘 love the podcast guys keep it coming 👍

[@nunofreiredossantos2285]

What's Sporting Lisbon? Don't know any club by that name. Ruben Amorim is Sporting Club of Portugal's head coach, with widen powers over the whole football area, close the old football manager's in England. Btw, he knocked Arsenal out of Europe, last season.

[@Robert.Sheard]

I don't understand why the agent model changed. The agent works for the player(s) and should be paid a percentage of the contract he negotiates for his client. The current system sounds like an invitation for collusion and corruption. I come from the book world and my agent is paid by me, not by the publisher. He makes more when he gets me a better contract. It keeps everyone's incentives aligned. (In publishing, it's generally 10%-15%.)

[@OCMRick]

Why present the agent argument like that? You can't be that naive? I suppose the structure remains fundamentally the same, but the vast majority of these 'fees' are disguised sign-on bonuses that will be paid/relieved back to players in a variety of ways

[@NECinho]

Messi will still probably win the balon d'or thanks to a couple of tap ins in the MLS!