Hi, I'm Grant Wall, and welcome to the Planet Football Podcast.

Today, S.I.'s Brian Strauss joins me to talk about Man City beating Arsenal

in the League Cup final.

MLS's season-opening storylines, Brian's take on his old friend Neymar,

and my thoughts on whether Jill Ellis's job should be in jeopardy if the U.S. women fail to win the She

believes Cup.

Onward.

As promised, Brian Strauss joining me on the other end of the line.

He is playing hurt today with a bit of a throat issue,

but you were here my man so thanks

for joining me. Yeah it's a long steep fall from eating pizza with you last week in

the office to sitting here on IR so I apologize to our listeners for the sound

quality today. Lots to talk about we've got I want to lead off with Man City

Arsenal League Cup final first trophy of the

Pep Gordiola era at Manchester City League Cup maybe not as sexy as a few other

trophies but it is a trophy and not Cup maybe in a game that it wasn't maybe classic city but Arsenal really didn't put up a ton of

resistance and City basically walks away with it. What was your take? The League Cup's an odd thing isn't it? Yes. It

really is. I like Cup finals and and and let's let's we should be open and transparent with with both of the aforementioned

listeners that you would wanted me to watch you had suggested that we watch the

Manchester United Chelsea game and I slept through that because I'm sick and then I was like oh a cup final well that's more exciting anyway who doesn't like a cup final and so I've been thinking about sort of the nature of the League Cup and what a weird redundant tournament it is ever since then, even though it does, it is Sheffield Wednesday's last trophy.

So I do have a tiny soft spot in my heart for that reason.

But yeah, you know, obviously like you said the first of at least two trophies for Pep at

...