"NOT A GOOD LOOK!" Simon Jordan HITS OUT at Cole Palmer for IGNORING young Chelsea fans!
Simon Jordan criticises Cole Palmer for ignoring a young fan as the show discusses Arsenal's fan disconnect, Arsene Wenger for FIFA president and Manchester City against Paris Saint-Germain
The guest says Arsenal supporters in Copenhagen and Asia feel the club now treats them as customers and has drifted from fans and former players; Simon Jordan then criticises Cole Palmer for ignoring a young fan and calls for clubs to balance global growth with supporter connection. The latter part debates whether Arsene Wenger should or could replace Infantino at FIFA, before a brief look at Manchester City against Paris Saint-Germain.
- Arsenal fans now feel more like customers than supporters, and the relationship between the club and its fans has changed — He says Arsenal fans in Denmark and Asia told him the same thing, that the old connection with the club is no longer there
- Arsenal has also drifted from former players and never asks him to take part in fan-facing work — He says he is not asking the club to call him tomorrow, but he has received almost nothing from Arsenal and finds that sad
- Fans are the most important part of the football industry, and clubs must look after them and build with them — Without fans there are no customers and no money, and football is not a normal business that can be run only like a company
- Cole Palmer refusing to acknowledge a young fan with his shirt was wrong, and young players must remember the value of supporters — The clip showed a child of about ten trying to get his attention; young fans are heavily influenced by their heroes and players should not lose sight of that
- Clubs need a balance between global growth and supporter connection, with a function inside the club to bridge the gap — Big global entities can easily lose sight of the fans who are ultimately the reason for their success
- Arsenal should not have stopped opening its training ground to fan groups as it once did, because clubs need to protect supporters — The Danish supporters' association president recalled being allowed to present an award at the Arsenal training ground years ago, while similar access has not happened in recent years
- Monaco and the French federation do not respect former players, and institutions must not forget what former players gave them — He says the Monaco owner does not care about former players and the French federation is similar; without former players' European and World Cup trophies those bodies are nothing
- Wenger knows football, is intelligent and understands FIFA, making him a better fit than Infantino; his move into FIFA may be a strategy to reach the top and then change things — Wenger dealt with UEFA and FIFA for years as a manager and knows the key people; Infantino knows nothing about football, and Wenger's ideas such as a World Cup every two years may be a route to power
- Wenger could be clever enough for the FIFA job, but FIFA politics could destroy his influence over football development, and Infantino is not going anywhere soon — FIFA is opaque, lacks transparency and has to deal with hundreds of federations, so the role is about politics; Wenger's real value lies in football development and youth pathways
- Paris Saint-Germain will make life difficult for Manchester City away and should not be written off because they tend to respond when in trouble — PSG have struggled mentally and physically at the start of the season, but they respond well in danger, just as Manchester City did against Liverpool
talkSPORT's Jim White, Simon Jordan and Emmanuel Petit discuss Cole Palmer snubbing young Chelsea fans in the street as they ask him for selfies and autographs. The conversation stems from Emmanuel Petit reveals the disconnect Arsenal fans in Denmark and Asia feel to the Gunners as a football club. Subscribe: https://youtube.com/c/talkSPORT Enjoyed this YouTube video? 😍 🖥️ talkSPORT's Website: https://talksport.com/ 📲 talkSPORT's Twitter: https://twitter.com/talkSPORT 📷 talkSPORT's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talksport/?hl=en 👤 talkSPORT's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkSPORT/ 📱 talkSPORT's Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talksport ? 🔴 Download the talkSPORT app HERE! - https://talksport.com/apps/ 🔎 Want to see if you feature on our YouTube channel? Check out our Best talkSPORT callers playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFVMnSsi04LGLa9pS9xDvme-Gjmlu2 talkSPORT PremierLeague
Transcript
You were just back from Copenhagen. Yeah. >> And you were mixing with some Arsenal fans over there. What what were they saying to you? Are they happy with the way things are going? >> Yeah, it's the um fans aren the Arsenal fans association in Denmark, you know. So that regroup all the Arsenal fans in in the country in Denmark. So I had a great great event and um take the opportunity to thank them all because it was brilliant. I loved it honestly. But we had um hours, you know, to talk about so many things and um um um >> they must love it. You're champion. >> Yes. But um we agree on one point unfortunately and um they were they were telling me that it's a same in Asia to be honest with you because I do sometimes event over there with Arsenal fans and they they quite um saying the same thing that um they are not fans anymore. our customers and the relationship they they they had before with with Arsenal it's not the same anymore and I said um don't be surprised because um as a former players is kind of the same with us with there is a few ex exceptions you know with former Arsenal players that link with Arsenal and they do events around the world I'm not asking Arsenal to call me tomorrow you know for that but um never receive anything you know never they never asked me to do anything for fame every everything you know I represent every time I represent Arsenal is because of perfect talent you know the the company and but nothing from the club so I was it was kind for me uh a pity you know to hear that you know because the fans are so important they probably as >> for me they are the most important pieces you know in football industry if there's there no no fans no customers no money at all they they're buying for anything you know So, and that that's why I say to them, I'm very happy, you know, honored to to be in Copenhagen because because of you, because of what you're doing with us for the players, we still live through your memories and um it's amazing. But um the fact that um they were so disappointing with uh with the club um I felt um embarrassed you know and um that's what I said to them you should uh unite all your efforts among the world you know the fan base and to to you have a word to say >> what what opportunity do you want from the club what do you want to do for the club that you're not >> I understand I understand it's a business I understand there are customers but I think at the end This is not a common industry. Uh football matters you know um I manage you know and I'm you would probably say that as well Simon is different than a normal company because of the fans. So you you have to take care of your fans. You have to to protect them. You have to to uh to to build something alongside the fans. And uh this is not happening anymore. >> So they can't they feel these fans can't identify with their club. Premier League Champions. >> They're really upset, you know, the Danish fans, you know, for Arsenals and they're really upset with um they they they told me that they used to do things, you know, with the club back in back in days, but now it's not it's not working anymore. They stopped many things. >> Does that disappoint to to for you to to hear that sound that there's clearly a disconnect when someone like Emanuel Pat? >> Yeah, of course. I mean, I'm I'm an Arsenal fan, but you mustn't lose sight, you know, you must as players. me. You saw a recent video of Cole Palmer walking along the street refusing to acknowledge a 10-y old kid yesterday who had his shirt back. Cole Palmer >> refusing to acknowledge him. So, players have got to learn that lesson as well that there's a value in fans. I mean, we have this big debate about how important fans were during co >> and now they come back in and people compartmentalize them. It's easy to lose sight of things when you become a very big entity that's revered and recognized around the world. The key is to try and find a balance where you make people not feel the way that perhaps these associated supporter groups are feeling. And that must be a function within inside the clubs that can reach out and bridge that gap. Perhaps the things have changed. Perhaps the scale of sport has moved on a little bit and there has to be an acknowledgement that they there were slight changes. Yeah. But the key and the balance is is to keep that ability to be able to relate to those that ultimately are the reasons why you're in the position that you're in. >> Not easy. I'm not suggesting it's easy, but it's just something you should be working on. >> I give you an example. Um, >> many people are surprised to hear this. Look at messages coming in. >> Surprised about what? >> Surprised to hear that you have something of a disconnect yourself. Yeah. >> With the club, never mind the fans. >> It's not it's not because of me. Uh, I'm not again I'm not asking anything from Arsenal because I'm very happy with in my life. But if I can help you know in any way I will be more than happy to do that. >> Do you think with you I mean you are a very forthright speaker and you >> that's my problem. Yeah. >> And you are very honest and you say what you see right or wrong you call it >> and other people may be a little bit more excuse the word >> politician >> diplomatic they might be a little bit diplatic about certain times. You think that may be >> and I'm jealous about that >> they they're diplomacy. >> Yeah. >> Well I don't think I think there you're not going to plain speaker. You're a plain speaker. >> It's too late. I'm 56. So >> yeah. Yeah. What were you going to say just before Simon mentioned something to you there on Arsenal? >> Yeah. Um they right I met so many people you know in Copenhagen and one of them the president of the association is look he came to me and he said do you remember that we've met once you know back in days when you you won the double and uh we you were named the best player of the season for Arsenal. I said uh no I don't remember. He said, "We came at Arsenal training ground and we offer you the price and the club was very happy. They opened the door for us to do so and we tried to do that later >> the the last couple of years and u it's not happening anymore." So that kind of things, you know, that for me it's really important and that's why I think we need to protect the fans because without the fans nothing's happening in football. >> Maybe Arsenal will be listening and I'm sure they are. >> They are not the only one. I mean u I take I I speak about my former clubs. It's the same with Monaco. >> You know I refuse to check of left hands you know uh two years ago for the century of the club because the lack of respect they have for former players. >> I I'm not going to lie to pretend being diplomatic or politician you know in front of those people >> the owner of Monaco. >> Yeah. They don't care about former players and I can understand why sometimes but honestly without us it's the same with the French federation that's what I always say to them without the former players without the fact that we won European trophy or world cup world cup trophy you are nothing without us. Were you surprised just in the passing to to hear Emanuel talking about Arsenal though away from the scene the experience he had in Copenhagen there Simon? It it it is a shame because I would presume Emanuel you still have the same amount of affection today for Arsenal if not more. >> Yeah. Well >> and when you did when you walked out for the last time. >> Yeah. But it's not because I'm a former player. I'm like this a human person you know. I deal the same matters you know with normal person that not involved as a fan. You know, for me it doesn't make any difference to see a football fans that to see a human being. >> Yeah. >> So that's the most important thing. >> I mean, you were showing us the video there. Don't mind saying it in the commercial break of Cole Palmer. >> Yeah. >> Walking and ignoring seemingly a young 10year-old, 11 year old. I don't understand that. >> No, I don't understand. I mean, listen, I mean, context and nuance is everything, and I'm always a big one for that. But if you watch a 30, 40 second clip, you get the context. If you don't want to be bothered by He's a young >> Don't walk in the street. Don't walk in the street. He's a young player, Cole. and when he when he matures and gets a bit older, maybe has a family of his own, he'll understand what it's like to be a young supporter. He probably was one himself in the beginning. But I didn't like what I watched. I didn't think that's right. I think that young players um need to remember that young supporters are highly influential in highly influenced by their heroes. They regard them as heroes. I don't expect them to walk around as role models like >> and they represent the next generation. >> Yeah. And they should remember that and they should not lose sight of it. It's but that's the industry. Sometimes it enables kids to get carried away of themselves. You know, you got a 15-y old kid leaving Man United because he thinks he's going to get a better gig at Man at Real Madrid and Barcelona because probably his parents can benefit off it. I don't know. Look, the bottom line is I didn't like what I saw from Cole and I suspect he'll catch some flack from it because it's not good. Look, not right. Not right. >> Emanuel, before you leave us, Infantino is growing reportedly in increasingly confident. Sorry about that. Just clear your throat before you answer this one. Infantino increasingly confident instead of keeping his job as FIFA president. The elections are held next March. Opponents of Infantino want your man Arson Wenger to run for president. >> Would you say >> a Christmas gift before time? >> Benu Ar do do you see it as a runner? >> Yeah. Well, when he was a manager, Aren, I have a huge respect and we have a long relationship, you know, between us. But um when he was a manager I remember how many times you know he he was fighting against UFA or FIFA you know for any decisions and he was always protecting the club interest and the players now that he stopped and he joined FIFA um maybe he's playing a role actually he's like keep his head down you know don't make any noise you know try to walk step by step you know until the top that's probably uh you know his strategy actually because uh I was very surprised when he joined FIFA and but now that he represent himself he was so close to Infantino for since he arrived at FIFA that I'm quite surprised that now maybe I understand why he joined FIFA because he knows that >> for this moment >> yeah I think if if you want to change something in football then you you need to get on top of it to get the power to change it but Splatini tried to to do that to do so and he was kicked off uh very easily So I don't know but I'm very happy that he's putting his name on the next election because Infantino come on the door is over there. >> Would arson fit the bill? Would he be the perfect man in your view to take over if and when Infantino? >> I think he has the knowledge of football. He's intelligent as well. He know um FIFA is running now. He knows everybody that's important as well into this institution. And I think he he's got some ideas, not the one he present, you know, as soon as he he came into FIFA, you know, um he wanted to get a World Cup every every two two seasons. >> Yeah. >> But uh I think um that's as I said, it's probably a strategy from him, you know, to to get into the top of it and to change probably things. I hope. But I'm not I'm not a kid. I'm not stupid. I'm not naive. I know that the system won't change. And but if Aren can can replace infantino he he was a manager he knows football infantino knows nothing >> nothing >> no only you do you do you understand how much he would have earned >> if FIFA was sending you know the world cup right yeah >> do you understand how much money he would have earned >> 100 million personally >> at least >> at least so >> do you think arson fits a bill it wasn't that long ago You interviewed us. >> Well, I suggested arson. I was the one that >> to arson. >> No, I suggested Wenger about 3 weeks ago. I said, "If you want people to stand, first of all, we want rid of him, you know, stand against him. It's all well and good for flapping his gums, but he's tried to change the con constitution of UEFA to make sure he could stay longer and then decided that that didn't wasn't a good look." >> Um, and he doesn't stand so he could stand. I suggested Arson and I spent a lot of time in Geneva with him and it was a fascinating conversation because there was FIFA's backsides went as tight as a snare drum when some of the things he said that they didn't want on camera. Um because he talked about the ownership models and how it concerned him that there were certain ownership models that were going to be taking away the direction of ownership of football clubs into the wrong area. >> Yeah, >> I think he could because I think he's clever man. I think he he transcends just being a football manager. >> But there's a clever man and there's a politician and in order to run an organization like FIFA, you are not just dealing with the sports. He has very clear visions about what the sport should look like and how they the recruitment channels of developing uh different countries to produce more players. So there's more players available. The food chain is for players is constantly being fed. >> Yeah. >> But to actually politic your way through an organization like FIFA that's a not for-p profofit that's opaque and lacks transparency and has to deal with hundreds of different federations. As much as we might think that Wenger could potentially fulfill that role, I think it would destroy any influence that he had then had over the football side of the operation that he's supposedly running for them, which is development of the next generation of footballers and the way that money is distributed to around the federations. So, as much as I'd like to see him there, >> yeah, >> I I think it's a very I mean, I don't think Infantino is going anywhere anytime soon. And if you haven't done him in by now, I don't think you're going to do him in by February. >> Do you think Alson has got a chance? I don't think he's going to put himself forward. >> Okay, Emanuel, before you leave us, uh, live in talk sport on Wednesday, Manchester City against Paris Sanain. >> Um, >> are Paris Sanjaman capable at this time of going there and winning this? >> Well, top stars, you know, at Paris Sanjaman from the start of the season has been struggling, you know, um, mentally and physically too. Dash Kya for example um hasn't had a good start of a season then belly as well he was resting during the weekend and it's a lot it's a big issue in France you know about that but um you never know what to expect you know with Paris Sanjan because every time they are in danger and they are going through troubles they responded very well on the pitch exactly the same way that city did yesterday against Liverpool so it's going to be a tough clash between top clubs