 Welcome to toffee TV. This is a brand new podcast. Let me just tell you what this is all about So we do a little game called ultimate fan where you get cards and you pick a team of six players two defenders two midfielders and two strikers So we are tainting that concept into a podcast every week. We're gonna have a guest on who is gonna give us the ultimate Everton team and Also, they're gonna give us their ultimate Non-Everton team But that can be for whatever reason they want Whatever reason they want it can be the best team the worst team the ugliest team teams that their second names are dogs I don't know I'm gonna leave that to the person who is on the other end of the conversation right for our first ever podcast doing My ultimate Everton team. I have the man they call Astro the man who if WWE Got hold of him or AEW got hold of him. He would destroy every last member of the locker room with his promos you know him from our After-match videos when he comes on and gives us his reactions It is Astro better known of course by the name his parents give him Nick How are you my friend? I am doing excellent pet. I'm doing excellent. How are you this morning afternoon? Well, it's afternoon now, but that that gives us an indication. Whereabouts are you right now? I am upstairs in the sanctum sanctorum in Middle, Georgia So in Macon, Georgia, so US East Coast East Coast of America And that I mean that that's gonna you know, we're gonna get into this we're gonna get into your team, but let's just get into How and why you are an Everton fan Let's just lay it on the table. Well, you know what it all started in January of 2010 when Landon Donovan came over on loan I My my my exposure to football had been limited due to where I grew up I Did actually have an Everton connection before I was an Evertonian I got to see ammo play in the 96 Olympics in Athens. They beat Brazil I happened to be wearing a green shirt randomly I ended up in the Super Eagle section and they beat Brazil golden ball. I'd never seen a proper game of football It was the greatest thing I'd ever seen and I went out and got smashed With Super Eagle fans that night in Athens. It was boss and And obviously like for a US footy fan I was more of a I was more of a fan of the women's national team because they actually won something in The gold medal a couple of days later I got to see them win at the Sanford Stadium in Athens against the Chinese national team and I was kind of just a pedestrian national team fan. Obviously we weren't great And in 2010 I just happened put on a bit of football and Just passing some time and I hear Landon Donovan. I go wait a minute I thought he played for the galaxy next thing I know I'm watching the match and that's see Tim Howard and goal And I'm like, okay, this is incredible like two yanks playing, you know, okay Who's Everton? So I started doing my history and and and it's funny I'm it's kind of a coincidental thing But my my high school that I went to blue and white blues always been like my favorite color They happen to be playing in the black and pink away kit from oh nine and ten But it's still what a boss kid. I'm like, okay. Yeah, these are all right And I start, you know watching because of Landon and I keep going and like, you know I'm just fascinated with the team the personalities because Fellaini, you know, Kay Hill You know, it's so just that that entire squad had so much personality and Donovan left and Then I stayed and I didn't care what happened with him and the other galaxy The I wanted to know whether we were gonna make it into Europe, you know for the next season and and and and Everton shows me through Landon Donovan and You know, what's funny is that, you know you know, Baz knows because Baz was, you know an integral into my first match experience and and ever since and and you've been integral ever like after that first match It was like you were there for the second one and you've been there ever since so, you know for me Yeah, you know, I have to be honest like I've never I've I've I've supported football US football American football supported American baseball There is nothing that gets me riled up and more Involved and invested than Everton football club has because I was not treated like an outsider Even though I have a funny accent even though I'm a bit loud, you know, I mean like people it started on a message board That's where Baz and I started talking on the old grand old team platform, you know and Dave as well, you know David was integral I would message him and Baz with dumb questions and they would always answer him for me You know, I would always ask about this player or that player and they always had time and they always had like I don't know it was an eagerness just to be like, oh man, no worries. We've got this We'll explain it to you and I was treated like family and I was welcomed in and like there was never a person That in blue that ever turned their nose up to me and like I don't know It's like I was I was made to be an Evertonian because there was a kid that I severely disliked in school and he wore He wore Liverpool gear all the time with they had the Carlsberg logo on it And I was like, I and it's like I told Dave on County Road. I was like on the on the Bobbler's podcast I said, I didn't realize I just thought he was a tip, but he was just being on brand You know what I'm saying and like, you know, I Ever since then like and I run into it in the US quite a bit And I just I bristle around cop lights So it's like I was made to be an Evertonian and and I can't I don't know the post-match reactions started as a Joke because it's something that I got on a WCW Monday night nitro promo with me Jean Oakland I've always been the guy people like you won't go up and talk to that person I'm like, oh, yes, I will Winnie Cooper from the Wonder Years saw her in a restaurant walked up and talked to her She was hotter than a two-dollar pistol, but No, no, no, I know I know no no no she didn't get away. I got the right one. So, yeah Yeah, I looked out. I do believe that my better half is is is Superior to even Winnie Cooper of the Wonder Years in every way, but But mean Jean they say go talk to him and I walk up and just start talking to mean Jean He goes kid. We're gonna do a promo with you. He's like you down for that. I was like, man I'm down like James Brown next thing. I know I got 30 people behind me chanting Goldberg and it just fueled me I was just Aided up, right and and it and you know what the match reaction thing started as a joke I was like, you know what? I'm gonna do one for you guys because I figured some of the patrons might enjoy it And it's just like I don't know what do I do when I'm bored? If I'm if I'm waiting on a plane to be fixed. I look at old wrestling promos They cracked me up back in the day So now I always try to drop and I don't know if some people have caught it I try to drop a nerd reference I try to drop a hip hop reference and I try to drop a wrestling reference into every single post match reaction So obviously me calling goodness in part the Terror Dome Okay, that comes from a story where like my high school stadium for a football American football stadium was massive made out of granite big bowl in the ground, you know, like it was crazy One of the guys Mike Williams who was like if you think I can talk trash Mike has a doctorate in talking trash and Mike was like he saw the other team coming in he starts jawing at him He's like, what's up boys? It's like welcome to the Terror Dome. He's and he just starts just Adam He's Adam from that moment. He was like he was like Yeri Mina, right? He get in somebody's head and he would basically just find that guy who would lose his cool And he would ride him like a pack meal for the rest of the game and it was beautiful. So Goodison Park Terror Dome, you know crushing dreams and collecting points and Snatching victories and and I've already got a name for Bramley Moore. It's already in the queue. I've already got it Got it down. I've got notes. I mean, I have literally got notes So I've got the next I've got content for days now So yeah, I you know, you know what it is people enjoy it and and and like I I think that there's been a lot of negativity And I think there's been a lot of we've all been beat down a little bit You know what I mean and whether that's football or whether that's life or whether that's just in general And I think that a bit of fun, right a bit of laughter a little bit of lightheartedness It can really go a long way and and I think that that's probably the reason why people are enjoying it so much Is because it's just a life it's stupid and I mean listen I take a lot of abuse from copites and of course I do because if a dog like a dog's gonna bark and a cop I it's gonna bite. You know what I'm saying? I mean, they just can't help it. It's in their nature But what they don't realize is when they want they do and they're like, you know, I love There's also a few Evertonians who are like if he was a red we would be you know tearing him apart and I think that Listen take it or leave it I'm gonna keep doing it because to me people enjoy it and as long as people are laughing I'll keep doing it and it's and it's also a way for me to contribute to like the great work that you guys have done Because I don't think that it can go without being said that like toffee tv throughout the last couple of years with everything that's been going on You guys have entertained me. You've made me laugh. You've kept me informed And the quality of the content is always getting better and and I just I don't know I really appreciate the opportunity to pitch in and help be a part We did not pay him to say that by the way. No, no, no I'm freelance, baby. Listen if I'm no, if I'm on nobody's payroll then nobody's pulling my strings. Uh, there you go The words of mine There you go What a journey it's been. What a g when you say then crushing dreams the only dreams of Everton have been crushing is sometimes they're ours. You know what I'm saying? I've never said who's dream for being crushed You know what I mean? We just hope it's the oppositions. Yeah, um But like I've had so much fun like fooling at home was my first match Um, and then after that it was mancity the night we met landon and shamus Uh, and then you yeah, you picked me up at the airport and it was like a roller coaster from there on a wigan away For a fill neville, uh, fill neville own goal. We got to draw out of that boss pies though wigan Yeah, um, yeah, and then uh, and then after that it was a planes trains and automobiles I I kind of feel like these have to get more justice because I started out on one train in germany I ended up on another I missed the euro star. I had to run through the train station in paris I had to run through town. I finally got to london and I got to south hampton right as the match kicked off And I went inside and watched a zero a nil nil draw on a monday night in south hampton st. Mary's I took that out on the city later that night Um, we laid a savage burn south hampton that night, but uh And uh, and then uh, chelsea away where I famously ripped david james over saying that we were going to get relegated I asked him how he was feeling about that prediction And uh, he didn't like that too much and uh, and then yeah, we uh My final match at goodison was west ham. You remember that you took me all over town afterwards went to the tower Went to the social club had had a bevy and he got me over there to get some uh some autographs from the players and Lakaku brought us all three points with a light header. So, you know, for me like my everton experience has been like It's it's strikes and gutters. It's peaks and valleys. You know what I mean? It's like a dickens novel sometimes just either the best of times or it's the worst of times and we don't play in the middle So I don't know that I'd have it any other way. I don't know that I'd ever have it any other way Yeah, I don't know right. Let's get it right. We do not have a goalkeeper. No, no that was brilliant That was all good. I enjoyed all right. We do not have a goalkeeper in our team, but I'm gonna let you Have a honorable mention for a goalkeeper because I think this is important. I think it's important That we talk about your honorable mention goalkeeper. So It let who who is he? Who's your? You know, it's gonna be tim Howard. You know, it's gonna be tim Howard's secretary of defense. Um, you know, he He's such a great guy He's always got time for folks and and I converted a buddy of mine a childhood friend to an evertonian And he goes down to the american match. Obviously, I had to be in england dealing with a family emergency and I couldn't go that and he was gonna go with me and he ended up um He ended up going and he met tim Howard And you know tim had he saw him walking around inside the ground My buddy said hey, you got a quick second for a picture took a picture talked to him for a few minutes Um, and I know it's not just about the quality of his character as a human being It's about how he performed on the pitch and when and when he was on He was he was incredible. I mean he really was the aptly titled the secretary of defense Um, and then that and then like mad things like that goal against bolton when the wind was like nuts and he just booted it To hell and gone and and you know, I was actually listening to that game on on the on the radio On the website didn't get to see it in person until later. Um, but yeah Tim Howard's just he's he's a two. He's part of the he's part of the reason i'm an evertonian So of course, uh, of course, I had to throw him an honorable mention And I think he was a great servant of the club and I think that we got better football out of him than anybody else would have No, he was a great guy. He was a great goalkeeper. He was a good ambassador Yes Probably probably pay played a couple of years or certainly a year longer than he should have because I think I hate I think I hate, um His legacy. I think I hate Roberto Martinez hate the club Um, but and we also never got enough out of him as a as an american brand. Are they such a big Guy and it's such a like an individual. He's not like one of these american plays you come over here and just Uh, you know just melted into the background He really was a presence he where you see that now he does the tv He's got the tattoos and he looks amazing and he just he's just a good and you there's a story with him Wasn't it you sent you took a flag didn't you to your Okay, so yeah, what I did was I had a guide on flag Which is uh, what would march at that column the head of the column of a unit in parade um, so, you know, what You know at the time in germany my squadron drew its lineage all the way back to the 30s, right or late 30s, so You have battle like campaign banners that are attached to the flag And what I had hoped to do Was every time I'd come to goodison I would bring a campaign banner that would say, you know, european cup winners cup 85 You know and one for like every league every championship and everything else Obviously both you and I know my time in germany got cut short for a lot of different reasons and I was never able to do that. Um, but jimmy martin's wife mary You know, she she her their son served uh in afghanistan and we'd actually been in the same place in a couple of times And um and and when I met her for the first time I struck up just a great conversation And she was really really cool to me and every time I would go back You guys would always make sure to help me get in the front door so I could say hi So, you know, I had the flag I brought the flag with me I had the flag pole shipped to dave's and I literally walked from dave's all the way past anfield Right with that flag daring a cop like to say something to me and they and a couple of them did But to their credit once they heard my story and what I was doing they were like oh fair play man. That's all right You know, um, so, you know, I took it and I was in the evertoni There was a story in this in the club magazine. I still don't I've never been able to get my hands on a copy of it So what year was that? So what year was that? That was 2011 It was the 2011 I want to say it was february because yellowvitch was on the cover I think because we had just signed him He was announced the night of the man city match And that's also the game where that dude jumped out of the park end and handcuffed himself to the damn goalpost protestant ryan air He was about seven seats down from davin. I right and I made a couple rows down And we're sitting there watching the match and all of a sudden this dude just jumps up They was like what the hell's he doing it? And there he went, you know, he went out and just handcuffed himself and obviously delayed the match, but uh I don't know, you know, but the but the article I digress the article, you know, uh, it was a cool picture of mary and I sitting in the locker room Somewhere I have a disc with the photos But uh, but yeah, it would be uh, it would be like a grail item for me to actually get that I do troll ebay for it. I have a knack for finding oddball things Um, I mean, I really do like I can I can sit here and go like I that is a custom lando calrissian Smuggler action figure they never made that but I found a custom because I'm a lando man, you know what I'm saying So I can find random things But I just can't find this so this is an appeal. There's an appeal if anyone's got that ever Get left left. Yeah, even if you just like even if you just um, like photo copy the pages that absolutely The nicks on absolutely And if there's one to be had I will happily pay the postage you're shipping And then like you mentioned there, we went mean you went round to the the next game you came to mean you went round to the players Yes, when you're coming out And yes, you spoke to tim howard and tim howard remembered the flag didn't he and yes, he did you Tim tim remembered the flag and he remembered me and the crazier part was that when we met shamus colman, right? Yeah, uh I gave him a coin and a patch from my unit Okay, those that's kind of a big deal to a to a guy like me, you know, it's kind of like a I don't know. I'm sharing something about my career with somebody. So it's kind of a big deal. Those things are hard earned so um And I gave him a patch and a coin And and and he was he wanted to know what I did what I flew on where I'd been He was just honest to god genuine and and no no slight to landon But he was more he was the most genuine of the group, right? And that's just I mean tim and landon were great. It's just that shamus was that much better so Right after we saw tim We see shamus and I say hey shamus. He comes over he signs and I go I was like, I was like, hey, I met you a few years ago and before I could even finish the sentence He goes you gave me that patch and that coin And I was like, yeah, I did and he goes Where you've been going and he was just I don't know like I said, uh, just an absolutely incredible human being um And I think that I think that the quality of his character shows I'm hoping that the club doesn't put him in the position that they put tim Howard in Of asking too much of him for too long because I don't want to see that happen to shamus And I think that the club needs to get all its marbles in one sock pull its finger out and sign a right back So that that man leaves us with only the best kind of memories and in the best and most respectable way possible We owe that to him. Okay, and that's kind of one of my biggest frustrations Listen, just because you love something doesn't mean you don't have frustration with it You know what I mean? It's probably because you do love something so much as why you do get so frustrated with it But regardless, I digress There you go Right, let's get into your team then. So let's start with your your first defender. Who is your first defender? We were just talking about him I mean, it's gotta be shameless. I mean my first my first defender is gonna be shameless Coleman Simply because we were just talking about him You know it like I went back and I watched like old videos like I went watch highlights last night And some of the goals that he scored I mean the one that gets full and that I saw in person was an absolute cracker But like the one against swansy. I mean it just I know we're talking about a defender But sometimes the best defense is a good offense and vice versa And I think that when he was able to defend effectively and then join the attack He added a dimension to our play that we had to have Um to be competitive and and and you know, it's funny. I watched blackpool play in the in the playoff When they came up because he was playing and I knew he was playing for everton But as it told me all about him. So I wanted to watch him. Okay, and and I I'm sitting there watching this You know just to see shameless play and I'm like, wow, he's gonna be a talent and and he was I mean he and he still is you know, not taking anything away from him. He's great But my my next defender is obviously going to be the opposite side of the pitch And it's going to be cool as the other side of the pillow late in veins. I mean, I don't know like he's just The man just oozed class And he just I don't know Unflappable is the word that I can use for he's like the ice man. He's he's cool. He's collected And and you could tell he saw things The way he saw the the field The way he could just bomb down that left side and how he combined with pinar to make such an effective You know too pronged attack And there again and in defense he was awesome. I mean he just he literally was just You know, I can't sit here and go, you know, I remember that game veins just stunk the place out Because you can't because he didn't know because even when he was just bog average. He was still on point So yeah, it was incredible incredible playing like you mentioned their shame is common on one side veins on the other side and you know for For 10 years or maybe a little bit less They were just the ultimate in full backs Where you know, you look at clubs now and they have these amazing full back partnerships and Everyone thinks that they were the first people to do it You know, whenever pool in the league and they've got the full backs Are they revolutionized the full back games like no, no, we really listen like 2007 2000 and like You know seven onwards with with beans and then then then shameless Coleman came into it And you know under martyrs in that first year they were the major, you know They were crossing the two each other at times and one would be at the back post shameless Coleman back post and they were They were they were Oh, it's weird because they sort of seem like a partnership because you talk about them together Even though they were on opposite sides, but sometimes they were like a partnership One guy be at the other of the other side when the other guy was crossing They were they were amazing and what veins how veins finished this career You're absolutely right. That's how we want shameless Coleman to finish this career What wantons more wanting more being gutted that the guy Didn't give us another year. That's how you even though you know in your heart You want another you don't think you should have another year You want another year because you know that guy is cool and you then you want them Now, you know, he's still at the club. He's sticking around He's just he's just took over as the assistant of the under 18s Because you just want that guy to be an everton football club because you know that if he's at everton football club Then it's there's going to be a bit of it. That's oh that's cool. It's and it's okay You know, you can teach skills, right? You know, if somebody maybe isn't the best at crossing you can work on that in training. Um composure It can be observed, right? And it can it can kind of be learned, but it can't be taught Right, and I think that bains being who he is with the temperament that he has um could really be a positive force on these younger players that we've got coming through and I think that developing our players and and and and and Re-invigorating our academy is one of the most important things that everton football club could do and and and boy howdy Yeah, I can't think of anybody better that I'd want helping to mold these kids Than leighton baines because hey, he's gonna have them listen into boss music That's just a bonus. That's that's just a bonus. He's not gonna let him listen to garbage You know what I mean? And he's gonna and he's gonna educate him I really do think that that he's a quiet guy But I think that we we're only left to imagine the depths of that man's quality and and it's it's like It's the same reason that I only do post match reaction videos and nothing else I gotta leave him wanting more because I mean listen this voice gets old after a while Hell there's people stopping the podcast right now because they're tired of hearing me Gotta keep it to this thing No one's stopping and hopefully in a couple of years time Sheamus Coleman will join him in that in that youth Academy and will be another major player in there and won't help him out and then you know, you've got two real influential everton players big evertonians Leading the next generation and you know, that's what you want. That is what it is Yeah, it is so that's a great start then for your two defenders. Let's Move into midfield. Give me your first midfield then. Oh, it's gonna be pinar Uh, uh, you know the the combination that he had with veins. I mean It's like you said Coleman and veins could hurt you on either side It's like having a boxer who can hit you with both hands You know, I mean like not just being a predominantly a lefty or a righty But just you know having a wicked cross and a jab at their disposal and and pinar was He was like that knife's edge, you know, and I mean he could cut through a defense and when he was on right? He was unplayable. Yeah But the problem is is he was inconsistent and and I thought really long and hard about the midfields that I had seen um And and and the and the players that I had seen occupy that space And I had to give a little bit of a thought about leon osman because you know a little leaping leon He always seemed to find a bit of magic right where other people couldn't You know and and and he wasn't Though though though he was small he'd be fierce, you know, I mean he was just uh He was a dynamo, but it ended up coming down to you You know one one choice for my midfield was sentimental and the other was going to be uh practical and obviously pinar was the practical choice Pinar is uh, honest to god when pinar is the when people talk about like say michael atethe When they talk about them they actually talk about steven pinar Yeah, pinar is was the best player I think of the moissiere is intelligence the way he he was a playmaker But he was a wide played maker because and he utilized our greatest strength which was Layton baines his ability to find people in the box and you know if there's a word going around now It's the pre-assist they've invented it big for some flashy midfielders who don't get great numbers essentially Like tiago at Liverpool. It doesn't really get any assist Nobody did though didn't they they've invented this word they've invented this that yes because they want to give They want to give more credence to certain players in in the league Uh, what does he do his numbers early does pre-assists Pinar's pre-assists would have been out of this world He was the guy he gave Layton baines the ball to give the striker the goal and he he You know I seen him play sent him a field once with it was against Manchester City Him and Fellaini played Sentiment field and this was like a Manchester City on the up and up and He it was the game Fellaini did the little pirouette and everyone was loving it And I think for pinars got a free kick in it and he was magnificent them to imagine Say yeah, we're playing Manchester City and pinar and Fellaini going to be centre centre midfield partnership You'd be like, um, I'm not sure about that. They were phenomenal pinars brain Was just so underrated and the I suppose the biggest disappointment for pinar was He got his big chance on the international stage in 2010 in that world cup playing for south south africa and he just He it never clicked It never clicked for him He don't know whether it was because he didn't have to plays around them or he's had a long season It just never the pressure of the moment Maybe yeah, maybe because stage for it to be in his home country Yeah, and he never really been relied on to play for his national team in in that kind of manner And I suppose the biggest disappointment um Probably for pinar was or one of the major disappointments was when he came back and he was on loan and he was cup tired And it meant he couldn't play in the semifinal against Liverpool And it was a little moment like that could have been the difference between it was getting to the final not getting to the final Because because I think we have Maggie gay plate start instead And it's just little moments like that that could have made a difference I I love them and I know a lot of people obviously they used the spares thing as a Stick to beat him with which it should never have happened He should have been off at the same contract. Mikhail Artheta was because Artheta was the And I listen don't get me wrong. I liked Artheta, but he was the golden boy. He looked great on posters He but peanut was the heart was the heart and soul of that of that of that machine in the midfield and um He should and the other thing that really was annoying as well Was the way he left the club because he was one it was I think it was him and Tony Him Tony hibbet and and Leon Osmond who famously just got like the text message to say they'd been released And it was just a disgrace like disgrace how the football club treated them at the end These three players who had been magnificent servants for the football club We're just like yeah, see your boys. You've been given a free contract by It's like what the hell why aren't why weren't we looking after these people? Why weren't we you know honouring them and no P&R was injured for the last couple of years and Roberto Martinis could have got so much more out of him if he'd been fit You wouldn't be in a perfect player But uh, you know and we've spoke to Steven P and are obviously on the show and he's such a good guy and I've interacted with him um Steven P and I was in the stadium when I scored a hat trick a good lesson So I was like I went off after we got me third. I was like you ever seen hat trick better than that He was like, you know taking the piss going. No, of course. I haven't I give me side eyes going. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah cause I haven't Such a good guy You think about the timeframe that I watched in right Um, yes, you know our teta was injured early in that right? And I and then he came back from that injury and I don't think I ever got to see him in his in his prime Ability for Everton and his and I didn't see any of his great performances None that really stuck out in my mind and then the way he went to arsenal just wound me up and and obviously Yes, P&R did go to Spurs, but he should have been offered the same contract our teta had and I had no idea That everton released hippo leon and steven by a text I'm gonna tell you something. Yeah, that's some absolute. That's some absolute douche canoe behavior and somebody should have been fired for that That's absolute garbage that Yeah, it was so cool really let's let's move on to your second one. Who is your second midfielder? Landon it's gotta be landon donovan. I know he was more of an attack in midfielder But but the way the strikers I don't really count him as a striker Okay, I'll I'll get the jury's I'll park. I'll give you that. Yeah, I'll give you that I kind of look at him as a kind of a center attack in mid. Uh, you know he I don't know like he he started out with such promise and he went to byron and he bought him out And there were people that said he had a bad attitude and everything else But you know what right you just wanted to see the guy do well. Um, and then when he went to everton There was something about him that clicked and I think that the united states men's national team O's that whole 2010 run that was so exciting for football fans in america It was it was to everton's Loan of landon donovan because I think him getting into the premier league and facing that level of competition that he did You know plan. I mean chelsea was boss that year. We still beat them, but they were boss that year And you know and and playing against man chester, you know, I think it scored a goal against man chester united Yeah, that at goodison in 2010. Um, you know, it's just I don't know I think he was able to sharpen his skill taking his take his game to the next level And I think that that set him up to be that that warrior competitor that he that he turned out to be in south africa And it didn't hurt that clinton emcee had had a boss year as well Um at fulham and he probably had his best year ever So, um at fulham that season because they didn't they go to to a europa league final that year final. Yeah, they did. Yeah Fantastic one. Yeah, well, they had a hell of a run. Roy Hodgson was the was the gaffer at the time for them But regardless, um, you know, it Landon was just it was He was that bit of magic, right? Like sometimes sometimes you just need an introduction And you and like but landon being how I was chosen a blue I mean, listen, I've got the I've got the 2010 2000 or the 0910 uh kit in the closet With with with donovan on the back and you know, that's like literally one of my most prized possessions um And uh, yeah, I mean I've got the away kit long sleep with donovan on the back So, yeah, I've got I used to have an obsessive star wars collection now It's kind of transitioned over to an obsessive everton kit collection But landon was special and and obviously, you know, you helping me get the opportunity to meet him and talk to him You know, they always say to people be careful about, you know, meeting your heroes. You might not want to Because they may not measure up to what you think they are and and I have to say that Between tim Howard between shameless colman and and landon donovan. It definitely Paid off to meet those guys because the quality of their character was evident and I yeah, you know, it just I don't know. I can I can sit and talk about everton forever, but it always starts with landon. It always starts with landon Yeah, I I I've got I've got landed on in chair framed on my wall Because because it's signed to me. Um, obviously I I um, I was very lucky. I got to interview him in 2000 and Uh, like 2010 think it was um And he he was it 2011 And he basically it was the year it was the year that he didn't come on loan basically, wasn't it? And basically he sold me an error when we were doing the podcast of time for the tonians Which he loved it and he said it was like disneyland coming back would be going to disneyland for a kid Was like the back page of a newspaper. It was one of the things that sort of got me noticed There's doing what might you know podcast with eric and stuff Um Yeah, the only thing is the Looking back the audio was really really bad on it because we were so we were so green that we didn't know how to do stuff Like like, you know, it was yeah, but it doesn't really matter But so we got to speak to him and he said how much he loved ever and the quotes went around the world Essentially how much he liked everton and he came back the year after and that's when we got to meet him Yes me and eric and we you know, we brought you in and it was yes It was so so good to meet him And but everton major made a fundamental mistake by not Signing not signing him permanently because he'd obviously signed the new deal at la When he came on his first loan and as you said there, he really really galvanized him going playing in the primary league Maybe just confidence wise and no one he could compete at that level. Yes um You know and no one he could he could hold his own which he did in the primary really really well I remember that iconic image of his first game at arson on the snow and that picture What a performance with the number nine on the back. It's such an iconic picture. Um He came back. He done really well when he came back and everton Just should have done everything in their powers. I think I don't know what it was It's about six million quid that believe mls wanted for him And everton should have done it because the commercial ramifications of having him alone would have been so big And like you saying, you know getting a you're just one fan daily health convert to being an evertonian and it's just such such a loss and Ever since you've heard landon donovan took so fondly about everton and how How that was the how sort of like where is club because okay? We're not like we're not going to put a statue outside the ground like l.a. Galaxy But we we put him on a different level We helped make him feel like he was a world star Because if he'd been l.a. Galaxy's landon donovan who played in the world cup people have gone Yeah, he plays an mls But the fact that he played in the primary league and he was like a brand ambassador Helped convey this message to to the rest of the world that he He he had something and that for him would have done so much He went back to mls and people like well this guy's done it in the primary league. He's up there He can hold his own he he's done it and everton just massively missed the trick there You know evertonians are not easily won Okay, they have to be earned right the love of evertonians has to be earned and i mean for him to have come in And i mean listen you got to think about it. You know how the weather is out in california Okay, you know, I mean, you know, there's there's certain superstars that come up there who don't like the weather who have to You know, you know piss off the warmer climates and and glory go with you and peace behind you Don't let the door hit you with a good lord split you know what i'm saying. I'm glad you're gone Okay, but he came over he dealt with the climate He dealt with the you know, he dealt with the challenge and and and the increased competition And and and you know how boss must it have felt to be standing in goodison here in the glottie street singing He's the lid from america. I mean, oh my god My head would explode. Okay, so yeah, that was the boss's song ever. But you know what I absolutely played bass Over are we gonna sign donovan? Are we gonna? I bet he was like, oh wish i'd never talked to this kid because all I did was ask bass Like do you ever hear anything about donovan? And you know, I'll never forget the text or the message I got from him saying, you know Hey, you know, I think he's coming back on loan and and I don't know like I One of the things that I desperately want for everton is for there to come a time when we're older And I've got even more gray in my hair and we can talk about the opportunities that we seized and not the ones that we missed As a club and and and you know, that's the thing like I tend to try to focus on the positive side of things because it's the best thing to do for my own mental health And I think with the climate of the world is the smartest thing to do But don't don't get me wrong If I had to if I if I did the festivus airing of grievances with everton It would be some uncomfortable stuff because you know, oh boy's got a list and i'm checking it twice I know he's been naughty and I know who ain't been nice. You know what i'm saying Astro clause is coming to town and i'm gonna chew your ass up and spit you out Sorry, sorry. You see how it happens. It starts small. It just happens and then it just goes Is it just goes it just goes it just goes No, it's a huge huge missed opportunity. Yes. Yes agreed agreed. Um, but I don't know it Like I said, let's let's hope that there are days ahead where we can talk about this opportunities seized and not the ones missed So, right, let's let's so let's talk about your second midfielder then Oh, well pinar and veins or pinar pina. I'm sorry. Sorry pinar and don't know And um, my first my first striker is probably gonna be a no-brainer. It's gonna be lakaku um, yeah, because I you know I'll never forget when he got that header away at west ham. He literally knocked himself out To score for everton and i'm like, oh my god this guy's boss and I remember the whole night The late night transfer When he came in, you know, you guys were doing a live show and it broke that he was coming in and wow I mean After the blow of losing moys, you know, that was such a huge like, you know Sav on the wound and lakaku was just I don't know like he don't get me wrong Louis sahaa on his day was a was an incredible striker and I only saw bits of yukubu But he was that first like just savage like I don't know. He was um I'm trying to think of a fancy way to say it, but I mean like He honestly Like seriously colder than a polar bears toenail just taking his chances. Um, you know, he was just He was an assassin. I mean lakaku was just I mean like and I know that that there this there's this thing where it said that evertonians give him a lot of stick Well, listen, I'm gonna tell you something you miss a hundred percent of the shots you don't take Okay, and and every shot you miss makes you wiser Okay, and I think that lakaku Was able to come here and to grow and I think that his time at everton has allowed him to become the world-class striker that he is um But my god when he was on he was unplayable and he was magnificent and I knew to enjoy him while we had him because he wasn't going to stay forever and Um, I don't know. I think that there's beauty in a thing like that I think that instead of sitting here going god, I wish we had kept him I'm gonna say thank thank goodness We got the chance to watch him play in a blue shirt because my god did he score some goals? I mean And he was powerful and he could hold the ball up well And and listen, I know that he did things wrong and I know that he left and it broke everybody's heart, but you know what? Like I said, I'm not angry that he left. I'm grateful that he was here and I just wish he would have stayed a little bit longer, but But what can you do? Yeah, we had them listen We had them for a good amount of time, you know what like the av what you'd probably have for average player overseas player Well-class striker, you know proof that went to went to chelsea this summer 100 million Yeah, um, or whatever. Yeah, he went to my left us from on you know, I remember he came in that night It was huge that we'd got him on loan west. He was told he was going to west brahm and then we brought him He's straight in there scoring goals away at west time got homes against new castle Score goals in the main side darby a good listen. He just kept it up and kept it up and he was a real favorite I I do find this strange that more people didn't sort of take them um I don't know. I don't I don't understand how There's this idea that more people didn't like him than do like him because I think there's a I think the majority did like him I remember Sitting in I remember when he came back and it was like the picture on on twitter like you know Of him like in a plane and everyone was like and all the and everyone was checking the flight check Planners and all that flight planners and he's so exciting because he's like he's coming back And then they did a press conference and the press conference was even delayed by like two hours And he's like what's going on? There's so much everyone was so Um And I remember everyone was everyone was so but it was frustration because everyone's like oh, it's gone wrong I was like something's obviously happened, but it was just like a An issue with like, you know a bit of paperwork deal And it was so exciting and then the day when he was supposed to sign his new deal And his agent kept on saying yeah, it's 99 done And it really was and it came down to like one like little detail And then he just basically Ever he went to finch farm and everyone fully expected signing this new deal and he walked in he was just like Walked into the room and there's a piece of paper and he's just like I'm not signing it and It was just like it was no one I tell you what to remind me of Right because I was sitting in the studio of bars and we were literally waiting for it to happen And it reminded me of one when Robert De Niro got the phone call in Goodfellas that Tommy actually hadn't been made And he's been whacked That's the way I play it out of my head is like Waiting for this boss news, you know, yeah, Tommy's being made. No, no, he hasn't. No, no, he's been whacked There's not anyone could do with it He killed a maid man and now we've got to put and that's why that's how I feel of the car He's not signing his contract. Um, and then obviously he went to Manchester United We've got a lot of money for it. Yeah, and we didn't do it. We really wasted the money So yeah, he should be and I remember the game after because he scored I think it was against hulk and I think he scored twice And I first when he celebrated he wasn't shown the gladiator sheet like give him real, you know, really Really, you know, give him a lot of applause and really celebrate it to the second one He really locked that up because he knew that The fans were on his side at the game You know, I used to about like what people what, you know, there's people my god Don't like him or whatever attitude doesn't do this do that It's what you do in front of those fans that matters You know, there's been a lot of talk about people going away on international duty and speaking about You know, we know it happens. It's what you do on a on a Saturday Infront of your fans that really counts as a footballer and he used to do it. He used to do it weekend and week out Yeah, I you know it I don't know He around the time that he left weren't the best days that I'd ever known And it was just like it was just like a hammer blow when he left But but there again, you know, I tend to try to focus on the the memory And and like the joy that he brought to the club um And and you know On the on the on the flip side of that like, you know, I don't know an unexpected addition to my team I I mulled it over and mulled it over and mulled it over and I got to go with dcl For my second striker because I and I know that this may be a controversial one, but this is a This is an exercise in the belief that I have in the the quality of that young man's character and his ability And I think that when you invest Belief and energy into someone who has the talent that dcl does it's only going to pay you back And we don't need to sit and think about well, what if what if listen if what if what if he gets hurt What if he stays hurt? What if he leaves listen if ifs and buts were candy and nuts? We'd all have a merry christmas. Okay, so I don't deal in ifs and buts. All right I'm dealing in what is and what is is that dcl is Far better than I thought that he could be and I think that he's going to only keep getting better And I think that you know with the success that we've seen so far this season He has not even been able to contribute his best because even when he did play early on he was playing injured Yeah So we haven't even seen how good this team can be All right, and I think that you know the adversity that you know You face through injury and that you've faced through some of the Off the pitch issues that this team has been forced to deal with You know I've said this before there are no atheists and foxholes And when you have to share a trench with somebody and you you bond and you fight for that person You you end up fighting more for that person than what you started fighting for and and I think that this team has the appropriate mentality provided by the most I don't know the most surprising managerial selection you could have hit me with and and and I'm absolutely Made up with the fact that we are here right now in this situation because you know Benitez demands better Okay, um He's doing that out of Townsend and he's getting these he's getting his results. Demari Gray is the same thing I I have worked for people for leaders who have challenged me to do more and to be better And it winds me up in the moment because I'm like I'm giving you my best It's that second later where you realize that this person thinks that I'm capable of more And that belief helps fuel you to up to the next level and and I think that we are going to see that because I think that that's the type of manager he is and and you know, you're talking about You know, it's it's like it's like a great combination. It's it's like a it's like a tag team partnership You know what I'm saying? It's like Hulk Hogan and macho man as the mega powers in the 80s You know what I'm saying? It's like this perfect combination of the mania and the madness coming together and and you know I'm just so excited For dcl's future. I really I really do think that he's going to be I think he's going to be great and I think he's already been great And I love the fact that you can see that he gets it I mean you can see the heat that and and you know what? That's the reason I love everton. That's one of the that's the primary reason that I love everton Because you know when you see the players that love this club and fight for that badge, they completely get that There's no I in team Okay, you know what I mean? You're doing it. It's big team little me. I'm doing it for my teammates I'm doing it for my club And and you know what when you do that when you play like that You will get the success and the in the fame that you're looking for and it raises your level Rise and tide floats all boats man, and I'm really excited. I'm really excited to see What effect what the knock on effect? Uh, uh, benitez is going to have and I will sit here and say this I cussed on a 40 minute drive home enough to make I would have made the pope blush Okay, as much as I was cussing in the car listening to y'all coming home When it looked that it was going to be imminent that raffle was going to be the manager And and you know what I was wrong No matter What happens from now until the end of the season? I was wrong because he's done a better job And he's just better than I completely expected. So I'm happy to eat crow. Um and admit when I'm wrong. So But yeah, I you know, I just I don't know I'm wicked excited I think that I think that there are a lot of problems that ever to need to address that aren't necessarily on the field anymore I think that um You know, I've said this before I don't like how raffle is being left out on the flank exposed to answer all the hard questions I think that leadership is best undertaken when it's at the front A real leader a chairman an owner would be out front And they would be taking the hits and they would be answering the questions that raffle is being forced to answer Okay, now raffle. He's got balls so big he totes him right on a wheelbarrow So he can handle this kind of exposure. All right, but but it's not just about it's not just about soaking up the good times It's about being there when they're bad and answering the hard questions and not just being like, oh, we're breaking ground Yeah, okay Well, you're also, you know breaking dreams by by by instituting bad policies, you know And like I said, it's leadership Leadership trickles down, right and all you can hope is that raffle and his staff. Okay are Are gonna kind of shield the players from the Bafoonery that may go on at the top because I don't know I mean, I don't I don't know I'm assuming right and hopefully that leadership that fact that he's the first I think he's the first one in and the last one out And I think that he's working with the players and and and he's not absent He's got his hand on the wheel. He's he knows what's going on. Okay And and I think that that attention and that care Okay, and that investment because when you know, somebody cares about you and your future you'll run through walls for that person. Yeah Sorry, I didn't mean to get long-winded pal. I just once it starts. It's like verbal diarrhea and it just keeps going Yeah, so your Ultimate Everton team is Seamus Coleman Lincoln Baynes, Stephen Pina Landon Donovan, Ramu Lukaku and Dominic Carlin living there you go. That is Astro's ultimate Everton team Fantastic stuff. Right. Let us just move on very very quickly. Yes to your snide six But there you go. He's gone for the ultimate snide six. Yes Give me your first defender I actually had a personal interaction with this guy at the airport and John Lennon on my first trip Martin Skirtle Baldi twat Um, I'm in I'm in the airport, right? And I've got the echo in my hands because and there was a Liverpool on the sports section It was a Liverpool thing not an Everton right up and he sees me carry in the paper And I'm sitting down and we're both going on the same plane to Amsterdam because my connection was going to frankford after that And he sees the paper and he looks at me and I look at him and there's there's recognition there But not the brand that he wants and he's like, uh, do you want me to sign that and I just said I said no and I pulled my shirt open and I tapped that badge. I said, I'm cool So, you know, he was trying to be nice and I wasn't um, but yeah I just assumed had somebody keep me in the nuts with a hobnil boot than to have him sign anything um But then there was my sorry my other defender is a defensive mid, huh? Go on go on. Okay. My other my other is a is a defensive midfielder, but I hate him so much. He has to go in um There was this yard dog that played for west bram named claudio yacob And he always hacked down everton players like like it was going out of style Like it was the greatest thing in the world to him He and he was snide and he was just I don't know like if he played for us He probably would have loved him but because he played for the baggies I couldn't stand the sight of him. In fact, like he's the reason why my oldest like was exposed to the four letter f word for The first time Was me watching a match with west bram and me saying something really uncalled for but uh, accurate But uncalled for in that moment. So I mean he was just he was awful He was always clipping somebody's heels just being an absolute douche canoe and I just couldn't have him so And then there's then there's gerard. I I just You know what I tried to be like First midfielder steven gerard. Yeah first midfielder steven gerard. He absolutely terrorized us in those early darbys when I was a In the beginning of my everton uh fandom And I mean I just there's a lot of there's a lot of red in this list and and that's all right, but I mean I just He's just such a I mean he's just like when I think of him. He's just like he's such a cop Like I mean, he's just uh, he's just uh, I don't know He's a chode and I can't stand him and I can't have him and I don't want him to ever win anything I don't care where he goes I don't know. I can't get over it like I can't have him like you don't want to wind him up You don't want to you don't want to wind him up because he's so good And I recognize the talent and skill unless he's slipping on a banana pill when you're playing chelsea But I mean other than that I mean, you know, he's got it and he's got it and by the boat load He's a smart guy But he's a twat because he's steven gerard and I can't have him And I just don't like him like I just don't if I wasn't in my house. I'd want to spit on the ground every time I say his name um Sorry, but uh, and then there was um the stunt double for um sloth and the goonies dirt cowl um listen, um I've never like I've never like wanted to throw things at televisions because they're expensive and I ain't got that kind of money But boy howdy I could not stand that guy and the sight of him. It was like I don't know. I just I couldn't have him I he was always committing these egregious fowls and getting away with it And it was always like he was always in the position to be in to hurt us the most And I don't know he just had a knack for being in the most painful place for evertonians on the pitch Whether it was scoring a goal or whether it was with a challenge and getting away with murder. I mean, I don't know I just You know, I've never been able to look at the goonies the same sense All sympathy for sloth is lost. Yes. Yes, that's true. I even had to give up baby roof But yeah, that's beside the point. Um, my next one is moving on to the forwards So so my midfielders were jarard and and and and then there's uh, there's there's there's old harry cane Listen, that that that horse face twat seems to score against us every single time he gets on the pitch I think he's got like 11 goals against us. He could be in the he could be in the parking lot and score against us I don't know what it is. He and you know what? I don't I just I don't like the cut of his jib And it's probably because of the fact that he scores against us And I've never liked spurs like even when like I used to say the most awful things about um I used to say that if uh, the west end ever opened a Broadway show or a west end show for for Wizard of Oz um, or You know, Peter Crouch could have been one of the evil trees. You know what I mean? Uh, uh, gareth bale could have been one of the flying monkeys before he got his ears pinned back um, you know, and uh, what was the name of what was the name of that? harry redknapp could have been the cowardly line You know what i'm saying like so you had the whole cast right there and I just I and because of that I've always despised Tottenham Especially when they took pnr. But but yeah, so harry kane Listen, no no no offense to the guy and all it's all joking and good fun He's a great striker, but I can't have him and I wouldn't piss on his teeth if his gums were on fire because he always seems to score against everton Are we gonna have to recut this because some of the things that I'm saying This is going out This is going out as is Go on I'm gonna be beloved by evertonians and hate everybody else Who's gonna be your final striker than your own old donkey teeth louis suarez, man He bites more than a stepped on dotson. You know what I'm saying I tell you what man, if there's ever anybody that I wanted to see get their teeth knocked out I mean honest and goodness if I saw louis suarez like in the airport I'd stick my foot so far at his ass water off my knee with quenches thirst I have a pure hatred of that man I really can't stand him and I know that you know Get a t-shirt made up for him. You know what I mean? He bites folks and he's a racist or is that wasn't that what it was? He made a racist comment bit somebody made a racist comment and he was he was he you know, he he's just an all around Listen, he is just an all-around jack wagon and I can't have him old donkey teeth louis suarez I like I don't know I don't know it's just There was no Liverpool player in that period of time that has produced a level of anger that that guy did I mean, it's just I don't know. He's just a I mean listen and Somebody breathed on him and he dropped like he just got hit by a high-powered sniper round And roll around on the ground and it just I don't know like I said talented player, but he's an absolute You know chode Yeah, so there's my massively obviously massively haters when he was out at Liverpool Louis the rabbit alpaca swore and don't forget they you know, they They all wore the t-shirts for him didn't he they all wore the t-shirts for him at wigan And after he'd been suspended, you know, and I would not expect anything less from Liverpool. No, they're not just being tits They're just on brand just just one of the worst pr decisions anyone's ever made One of the worst pr decisions anyone has ever made the person who decided I don't know what it was, but yeah Yeah, I'd rather I'd rather walk alone But there you go with that that that is astros non-evident Ultimate team snide six very very interesting very interesting snide six what you could have done with the side six just picked six players from The different super league clubs, but you've gone you've gone for a very heavy Liverpool side But just fair enough my friend that is that is it's your opportunity to get that out there and you have done that so Absolutely incredible astro. I thank you for being our first guest on The ultimate 11 ultimate Everton team. I can't even I can't even get the title And I I I you have challenged other guests you have challenged other guests to be Yes, whatever you've been today you've challenged those guests to be as entertaining as you have been So I thank you say for coming on and entertainers and I thank you for doing your reaction videos every single week And I I thank you for your your friendship because it is um It's a journey. It's a journey. Yeah, hopefully it's a journey that's far from being done It's literally my honor and my privilege to be able to come on board and to do anything I can to help you guys out because you know you guys are Like the pillars of my Everton story and and and and great friends on top of that So it's like I said, it's my honor my privilege to be here, sir Thank you very much. Don't forget you can check out the ultimate fan app. There is a link in the dial There is a link In the description to download So please do that. You can play for free and there's a couple of subscription Offers as well one for 299 and one for 499. So please do that as well if you like playing fantasy football Card game type things. Yeah, what some of our videos we completely Tell you how to do it there. We'll we'll tell you how to do it. We'll be back Very very soon with another one of these I don't know if it can be top, but we we will try we will try we will see you then