FA Cup joy — plus we need to talk about Mo

The Athletic FC Alright, Brad, Sony Evans Hill, walk on, you'll live a pool podcast from the athletic. I made with James Pierce and Andy Jones. Another win back to back clean sheet through the first time since December. You know what? There's a little bit of a spring feeling isn't there? You don't feel good, you know? It's even stopped raining where I am today. You know, and it was raining in my hearse as well. The way Liverpool were playing. Anyway, today we'll talk about the importance of that FA Cup win. Plus, we do need to talk about Salah. But first, let's have your three words, Andy. Well, I'm just going to keep the vibe, oh, because I've said a lot of, you know, quite depressing three words. So I'm just going to go with positivity and momentum. I got to agree with that James. I'm going to go with more like Mo. It was, and well, that's a subject we'll discuss later. Anyway, that's what Andy and James think. Here's what you're saying. Johnny Thompson, are we back? There's a question mark there. It's legit. It looks to be fair. William Cleeman, keep Jones in. Jacob Bach, care his deterior. Chris Canseer, Julius Bach. To join our community of listeners on Facebook, just search, walk on podcast and join the group. Cody Gacto, lovely class outs. I'm not a fantastic Clown, the dog X-Fox Live! That's as good as it gets. Anyway, there's some fine moments in the game against Brighton. Well, there's people who say, you know, the FA Cup isn't much fun, but it's certainly was fun Saturday night. Wasn't it James? And so you've spent your talent on science? They were the best talent times of ever had. Magnificent night event attainment. Yeah, it was funny to think, wasn't it, it was the same weekend a year ago that Liverpool obviously went to Plymouth in the fourth round of the FA Cup and fielded a very different type of lineup and were embarrassed by a team on route to league one. But at the time, of course, we all shocked our shoulders because Liverpool were on the brink of winning the Premier League. And though one was really too bothered about the FA Cup and it sat there watching it on Saturday night. It just kind of struck you out differently. The whole mood around the FA Cup is this season because of the struggles in the Premier League, taking on added importance. I think you could see that with the team that slot put out there. You know, it was only really a Catee-K and Gravenburg, who you would say were kind of given a breather and obviously even a Catee-K comes on late on. I thought it was a performance from the players that showed that they're taking it very seriously as well because, yeah, Brighton haven't been in great form. But they have caused Liverpool problems over the years. And yeah, they, you know, a bit of luck at times. I think, you know, there was those two big chances. Wasn't it just before half time and you think maybe it might have been different if Brighton had got back on level terms at that point. And yeah, loads of positives and a really good week, you know, from being sat here last Monday, you know, in the, in the depths of despair again, having, you know, capitulated late on against Man City to come away with two wins, two clean sheets. Has a corner been turned? It was a great performance and why particularly like to ball says is they went one-nil up and control the game then ruthless, gov to 2-0. But as James said, they did allow chances, but notwithstanding that, it just feels you're for ball sense and I've been watching the game for a long, long while. You know, longer than most listeners have lived and sometimes three or four times that it just feels the trajectories going in the right direction. It does definitely and you know, there's two different types of performances there that we've seen from Liverpool and two types of performances that we haven't seen enough from them this season. You know, to go away to Sunland and grit it out if you like, but also still dominating, control the majority of the game and keep chances low. And then a different type of performance against Brighton where I thought they were much more expansive, you know, a lot more things came off. I think both wingers were felt much more effective than they have been for large periods of this season. But as you said, the ruthlessness as well because it wasn't Liverpool going one-nil up and trying to protect it wasn't Liverpool going two-nil up and trying to protect it, continue to try and put the pressure on and keep the foot on the pedal really. You know, I think they were really good from two-nil to three-nil as well. But yeah, there was low repositions of the ballton. Yes, it's only two games, but as you said, there's a lot of things looking much better in terms of just the cohesion of the team, the way players are linking up. They look like they're a lot more comfortable playing with each other, which, you know, earlier in the season, I don't think was necessarily the case. So, yeah, there's a lot of good things. They've just got to try and keep it going because, you know, there are tough games coming up and different types of tests that they're going to face. But it's good that they are into games they are taking the challenge on and meeting in and to be fair, they did for a lot, you know, up until they scored basically against Manchester City, you know, last weekend as well. Well, James, I think momentum is a really big thing and the starting lineup tells you less about how important they are if they cut us to slot. And more about how important is to get in this group of players to gel and wear with each other when the beginning to find a sort of coherence that they had not earlier on in the season. Would it be more to choose a scene? I think there's a bit of both in there. I think you're right that he's desperate to kind of get that kind of those relationships building and building and there are positive signs in terms of things starting to gel. And I also think the flip side is right in terms of where last season, the FA Cup was way down the list of priorities. It can't be like that this time around because it is one of only two opportunities to win a trophy and the season does look a lot different. Doesn't it if you were to if Liverpool were to win the FA Cup for the ninth time and finish third or fourth in the Premier League, that's a different type of season than than just maybe just edging into the Champions League spots later on. So, but yeah, it was I you know, Kirk has for me was probably up there with the biggest pluses on the night in terms of his form and kind of showcasing how far he's come from the early early months of the season. You know, I thought the thought of the midfield controlled the game a lot better than they have done frequently this season defensively looks secure Curtis Jones was excellent as the you know, he was the latest recipient of the who's going to play right back draw the poison position. And yeah, didn't didn't put a foot wrong. I think Frimpong is obviously not too far away now and I'm sure slot will be you know delighted when he looks at the schedule and he you know a full week to prepare for forest away then another full week to prepare for for West Ham at home. Yeah, those these these two weeks would look very different when they if Liverpool had the at the issue was dropping into the Champions League playoff room. Yeah, definitely Andy, suposite is goal. Was that the best one best FA Cup goal over the weekend. It was the best one I saw live. I'll give it that because it was it was a super move. I was at the finish itself. The strike was super. And we're gonna talk about salad later, but I tell you what that was almost doubtless. Yes, the way you played that ball in. You can see that when I was like that type of goal where you can see the run being made as the ball is head and towards the person needs to pass it and in the the executed perfectly and the ball from gap post terrific as well. You know puts it you know makes it really really easy for Salad to literally just put it into bar's lives password. It was a you know was a super goal. I think it was swamped though by by Mansfield Lewis Reed who scored a belt of a three kick against Bailey didn't see that one live. But I think you know, some was like eski could almost say and and it did contribute to one of the rare FA Cup shocks this weekend, which which is well from a barely having covered Bailey. It wasn't good from that perspective, but it was good for my FA Cup perspective because there wasn't much else to talk about was from the from this round. Hopefully they will be later on tonight on my personal play. Sorry to bring food. But yeah, you know, there wasn't much magic of the cup was there, but that was certainly a magic goal from from suppose lying as it was for the Mansfield midfield as well. And I'm going to take rest slightly here because I want to say that you know what I get that people love three kicks and get to buzz live three kicks fantastic and all that. But it's a situation where the balls still everyone standing in one spot or there's not that much movement and yet great and the skills superb. But the way in the past 20 25 years, the fetish of three kicks has grown. I much prefer a goal from open play when there's movement, the structures and you've got you know, you've got people everywhere and you know, I look at that goal from Mansfield number here. Everyone spends the week practicing three kicks on the training grounds. And when they wear yeah, it's great. But what gets me out of my seas? Well, if I'm really uplifting. is a ball like that comes over and you're thinking, you know, "Sathers in good space there." He's in good space, but you know, I mean, there's still a lot to do. And then first time, he plays the ball into the path of a man who's running down the inside right channel and he hits it. And that's that's thrilling. The defenders have been dragged all over the place. They've been beaten and that's in me. We'll out to any free kick anytime, James. Yeah, I don't like to say it very often, Tony, but I agree with you. I actually think it might be my favorite goal at Liverpool have scored this season. I think it also in the context of it was exactly what we've said. We want to see them doing things at speed with precision, not overthinking it, you know, not slowing things down, not giving teams time to regroup and get back in. And it was only really when I watched it back that I realized just how good it was because it obviously comes from Alison, finding Van Dyke down to, you know, down the left towards Gagpo. And of course, you know, one of the big complaints about Gagpo this season has been having 10 touches when two would do and being too predictable. Yeah, he does it fast, doesn't he? He gets away from the defender, looks up and the ball to salary is absolute class. And then yeah, I don't think you'll see a better assist, especially Baron Mine that was Rallett, Mo Salah's right foot, the weight on the pass and where he dropped it into. I mean, does a boss like didn't even need to break, break stride, did he and and have a it in. So the noise around me, you know, went off after that because I think we haven't seen enough of that this season of we and it's kind of like, you just want to see, you want to see more of that because that is what this team, a capable of when they aren't slowing games down and when and when they are doing things at speed. Yeah, I'm the other thing that anti that struck me about the game and increasingly about Liverpool's performances is the way, you know, we talked about Adam Gialan, but the way they relate to each other. I mean, remember back before Christmas, the piece in the athletic about the dressing room dynamics and the main character energy. Well, that seems to have changed, you know, people are, they seem to be getting on and enjoying playing with each other where sometimes in, you know, before Christmas, there were times where it didn't look like they were playing as a team. I think, yeah, I think you're right. I think collectively, this just looks a lot more together. It looks a lot more cohesive, which is a way to use a couple of times. Now, it just all looks like they're on the same page. And I think one of the things that we we have mentioned a number of times throughout this season is is sort of build and those understandings and those relationships, particularly in the attack and areas of the pitch. And there's been stop starts for a number of players this season in terms of trying to build that, whether it's been out the team or just a lack of form. I think players have sometimes tried to play themselves back into the form without necessarily sort of maybe selfishly as the wrong way, but sort of been concentrated on the individual rather than the collective and I think things like that. But, yeah, I think you're right. I think I think it feels like they've all realised that to get away, there will be a pool of need to get to the season. They've all got to be on the same page. They've all got to be together. They've all got to do it together. And I think we're seeing that because I think you are seeing much better linked play between players from the defence in terms of, you know, that van Dyke, his partnership, for example, which, you know, at the start of the season, you just didn't look like, didn't feel like a connection at all. That certainly builds in the midfield as well. I think you're seeing better connection, better understanding of positioning and things like that, which at times have been questioned. And then in the attack, I think, you know, it certainly helped the flooding of the areas looking more and more comfortable in English football every single day and every Sami plays. And I think the players around them have realised that as well. And I know that he is the player to help them get better and unlock their qualities a lot more. And it feels like he's getting on the ball a lot more in better positions. And while he might not necessarily influence it in the final third, he's a major part of getting Liverpool to the final third. They'll get in other players, the ball where they need to get the ball. And I think you're right. I think it feels like it's it's a cohesive unit now. And at times, the season, it's just felt like a group of individuals who you didn't really know each other and didn't really like each other either. You're listening to Walk On. Remember, if you want to get in touch with us, you can email WalkOn at theathletic.com and that's exactly where Andy Massey has done. And Andy says, great pods, go question about Moe. Why is his entire game changed? He's never looked for the pass. He's always been so direct and trying to get shot off. Now it feels every instinct he has is to pass to look for an assist, running the shoes. It's bizarre. It's like he's a different person. How much is this down to him? How much is it down to the system and what's what's asking them to do? James, what's a good question from Andy? Well, you're thought on it. I think it's probably just the natural evolution of Salar as a player, especially in the twilight years of his career. Because I think when we think of the early years of Salar at Liverpool, there was a rawness to him that he had this unbelievable burst of pace, where he could just ease away from defenders. It came so easy to him. And I think obviously he doesn't have that anymore. I think actually one of the things that struck me on Saturday night watching him was that for the first time it felt in many, many months. He was actually beating his man. He was striking a bit of fear into defenders. I thought he had that after bearing this on for a shorter period than the year before. And he's not going to go 30 yards with it over five yards. He's still tiny, am I? Yeah, exactly. Exactly. It's just not realistic. You know, you think of some of those like breakaway goals when he ran after the length of anthill. Didn't he think maybe the one against Manchester United in what was that 1920 and things like that. What is he a few months away from his 34th birthday? So, you know, and we have seen it hasn't just happened overnight. It's been a gradual process. The last few years in terms of his number of assists has shot up. And I think he's with that kind of maybe losing some of that pace, but also probably gaining more kind of game intelligence and everything else that he's that he's much more aware of, of players around him and looking for the right decision where maybe before he would just back himself to take it on every time. So it felt like a big step forward watching Mo on Saturday night because you know, he has had a difficult time of it. And it's I wrote the piece about him. And when I got back from anthill and you know, it's still hard to believe. We're in, you know, the second half of February now. And he's got seven goals to his name. And, you know, two of those are penalties. I think the lowest number he'd ever had at this stage of his season in his Liverpool career previously was 18 goals. So, you know, there has been that drop off. But I do think since Afcon slot has managed to get a really positive response from him. And when you think, you know, that relationship looked almost broken beyond repair in the early part of December, that has been some effort. And I think, you know, yes, maybe there's a bit of a marriage, a convenience there from now until the end of the season. But, you know, everyone benefits from that. Yeah, well, get into that a bit more in the moment or two. But, Andy, I've always thought, as pass and range, she was under racist. I always thought it's something that people overlock because of his pace. Yeah, I think so. I think the assisting was something that a lot of people sort of hadn't realized until last season when obviously he was, you know, breaking records and things like that. And it really did, you know, stand out. But as James said, it's not a, it wasn't a new thing last season. He's managed to get assists throughout his Liverpool career, but it has, he had certainly increased. I would say just, I'd refer him back to the question that some of his shooting this season might have put himself off because he's missed a few chances badly, hasn't he? But I know, he's known to think, I think, I think James is right in terms of the way he was able to bully a fallback, which feels like it's not something he's been able to do. I think your right is passion range is under racist. I think there's times when he does try the hardball on occasions and, you know, he just hits it off a defender and that can bring a bit of frustration. But the amount of ball that he gets, he's seeing the right passes and he's seeing things which can't bring who would not defend. And sometimes you need to take those risks and sometimes it can't have games where just nothing feels like it's coming off, particularly this season, where he's trying to, you know, feed things into the box and things like that or put the right crossing. But equally, you know, he's got the eye for it and as James said, I think he's seeing the picture quicker and it is able to use that because he spots the bar's lives running and is able to put it into his path. So, yeah, I think it's just that it was another string to his bow that sort of appeared over the last few years. And the important thing is when you're when you're an attacker is if you're not scoring, you need to be making sure that you're contributing and it's a system number, you know, since he's come back from Afghanistan, there's been a number of assists in there as well. So as long as you're contributing, I think that's a key part and I'm allowed to build confidence. Okay, maybe not in front of the Go Bob! You know if you are setting your team up that's going to make yourself feel good about yourself. I think Well James let's come back to that PC wrote about his Contributions that's why you should be subscribing to the athletic people to read James's pieces there You know it's an excellent piece, but you know took them out for assists in the last six games apparently a corners and assists now But three chances crazy for 90 minutes What's up to 2.4 before the Afcon? He scored an assist in 15 different matches since the start of last season more than any other Premier League play in the Parades but only seven goals as you said to yours in 27 appearances, which is There's no school return at this stage But if you add all them up What seems to me is His form is just seems to be getting better as each week goes by in 2026 the biggest thing for me because I think when when he came back from Afcon I was just intrigued to see how that dynamic was going to work because You know it had been such a turbulent period before he went because Of course, you know before what did he lose 9 out of 12 that then slots reaction to the PSV defeat and the Champions League was to drop Salah and then of course, you know having been out the team for three games Salah's head went and he and he gave that Infamous interview post-match at Ellen Road and then of course he gets left out of the the Champions League trip to Milan comes back against Brighton, but you know no one really knew that day for certain whether it was just Goodbye, I'm off to Afcon or farewell. You won't see me here again You always got the impression kind of in the aftermath of that kind of outburst of his at leads that it was More of an emotional reaction to to be in dropped rather than any kind of Concerted approach to trying to engineer a move away, but you kind of felt well It was so clear why he'd lost his place he hadn't lost his place because he'd stopped scoring goals He'd lost his place because he was given Liverpool nothing out of possession and in a team that was missed, you know, malfunctioning so badly You know that Liverpool were just so easy to play through so when he came back from Afcon It was like he is gonna have to adapt He can't just come back and be well, I'm just gonna do what I did before because if he had I think slot would have dropped him again And the reason why he has started all seven games since he's come back is Because he has changed, you know, you look at some of the numbers, you know, he's winning possession More frequently than then he was previously he's actually having a few less touches But more touches in more dangerous areas which Suggest as well that he's benefiting from the team functioning better as we touched upon earlier so yeah And I just thought it was so telling on Saturday night when when slot was asked about Salas performance and as I said to you earlier Tony For me the biggest thing about it was the sight of him actually striking fear into defenders again because you know The penalty was was a bit of vintage Salar really wasn't it the touch the turn the acceleration You know the defender just bounced off him and then Pascal Gross could help himself as a nibble and and Salah goes down But it was it was most telling as fact that that slot said he helped the team so much defensively That was what Liverpool weren't getting off him before Christmas and that was why he ended up being dropped I'll tell you what the television I'm commentator I don't scandallously said I he knows when to go down Well, shouldn't have been there he gets fouled I just say no no but Andy you know we've spoken about this You know it's probably untenable you know we We haven't seen any sign that the relationship has been patched up from before Christmas and You know some people say Salas only in the team because sure to have options But I have to say I think he's in and there's police in the team No, I think even if the options if he's playing like this you go get him in I yeah, I agree I think we didn't really touch on it where we touched on the wing is didn't me in the last pod Without really going into into detail of them But I think there was two ways of you there performance at Sunland and it was it was glass half full of glass half empty And I was sure sort of in the glass half full because that with both sides with with Gakpo and Salah It felt like he would begin on to sort of find the way a little bit and Yes, okay One thing would would come off and in the next thing wouldn't and it was it was frustrating and obviously You know neither I'm gonna go or anything like that But it felt like it felt like I'm in performance that he could build on and I think both of them did Against brightening and to come back to Salah I mean when you looked at it's very rare that you see a full back you just looks quite small and diminutive against Salah because Salah is obviously not the biggest fella But it felt like he he knew he he had You know the pace to beat the full back and the stench to just hold him off And I think that played a massive part in it and I think that's the thing I think running started a difficult to sort of to use I think at times to know where players sort of impact off the ball But when you when you the I test just tells you that he's it feels like he's doing things smarter It feels like the ways he's approaching players when he's pressing is smarter to so it's not easy to just play a pastime or play it You know play it beyond them or bypass him basically It feels like he's he's smarter in his movement. I think the team is helping that One old pro said to me once he says use the space not your legs. Yeah, it's it's the way it You know, it's the way you pressure a player to make it harder for them to pass it past year Um because the amount of time you know Liverpool of the opponents of tag that that space in behind Salah And you know there will be times when opponents do get into that space Um, but it just feels like it's becoming a little bit more difficult for them to progress the ball in the way the the might of area in the season And then you do see it feels like and it might not be the case but it does feel like he's he's offering us for a little bit more help Um, you know getting back a little bit more into into those positions and and just making Liverpool more of a unit And I think that was that was the thing wasn't it that was you know, yes He wasn't scoring earlier in the season things like that, but it was The off the ball thing was a big problem and and that was that was shown by the fact that he was dropped and and James is right I think There's a reason why he's he's come back into the team. Yes, Liverpool needed more that attacking impetus That that was very clear when he wasn't there and you know, they were without without or this other forwards as well But he's come back in and those problems that Liverpool had at the start of the season Particularly in the last couple of games don't feel as prominent which which I think is it is a testament You know to slot settle but also the team in general but also Salah himself That do all seem to be again sing enough to shame him sheet if you like and and there's that cohesion there Salah James is there any way you see him being a Liverpool player next year next season Ah, do you know what I was actually thinking about this on on Saturday night and Yeah, I think there is a way yeah, I do think there's a way just because You know in the same way as in the aftermath of of when he gave that interview at LM road and I was driving pack that night I was thinking well that's that's it, you know That's that salad done at Liverpool. There's no way back and you know I think a lot of people felt that way Initially and then of course things settle down and the and the landscape changed and and he's and he stays put now I think the most likely option is that this will be his last season at Liverpool Because I think you look upon it and you think well obviously he's the highest paid player in in Liverpool's history Over 400,000 pound a week plus bonuses You know we we know how Liverpool like to channel resources You want to get bang for your buck? To borrow in a kind of an fsg phrase and and if your highest paid player is only giving you 10 goals a season Then questions are going to be asked aren't they and and and and on the flip side of that You also think well if you're salad he will only want to stay at Liverpool beyond this season If he still thinks he's going to play every week now the only way I think that situation changes between now And kind of the summer is if this kind of what we saw on Saturday night with is with is much improved performance If he can keep doing that again and again and again and if he has a really strong end to the season And who knows he could still win Liverpool the Champions League if he was to win Liverpool the Champions League Now that could be the perfect way to sign off it could also be proof that it would be crazy to cast this fellow aside And that you should keep hold of him for the last year of his contract So yeah, I think it's too early to say I'd say I'm probably 70 30 that this is his last season at Liverpool James James Don't do this to me The suns come out like what seems to be for the first time in 2026 Liverpool have won two games at a row and now your dangle and salad win in the Champions League to me Oh That is a wonderful scenario It's too early to dream Well, I mean, we met a show, keep it positive, while we can before the next bump in the road comes, I guess, I mean, hopefully there won't be any more, but I'm sure that I'm sure there will be at some point. - There can't be one before the second show. - Well, exactly, yeah. - It's so beautiful. But yeah, I think this is the thing, I mean, Salah's gotta replicate these types of performances because I think we're right. I think he did put fear in the fallback, but I think he's too often this season hasn't been able to do that and has been ineffective, and it's the inability to beat a man and things like that, or be a bit of an outlet. The things that have let him down this season, so we saw all of that against Brighton, and it's now a case of trying to replicate it against opposition, against fallbacks, who will probably be bigger, stronger, maybe quicker. We know we can do it, but it's a case of him showing it. And then I think the goals will come. Not once a dampen things at all, but yeah, why not? Let's give him the perfect end to a Liverpool career, if he like, let's say he's gonna win the Champions League in Liverpool. - There is James, the question is if he does decide, he wants to go and Liverpool 111 go. Who's gonna pick up his salary, as you say? It's upwards of 400,000 pounds a week. Who's gonna pay him that at almost 34? I think we know the only kind of place that would guarantee him that kind of money now in terms of the summer would be the Saudi pro league. That interest has been there in Salafah. For a number of years, it was there in January, if he had really wanted to try and get away from Liverpool, but he didn't, because up until now, he's never shown any great interest in wanting to go and play there because anyone that's seen Salafah interview knows that he is incredibly driven and loves breaking records, loves competing at the highest level, and he's not ready to drop down to the standard of the Saudi pro league. That's been his position until now, and I think he'll wanna stay at the top level as long as he possibly can. Now, the question is, will there be more suitors come the summer? The MLS is another kind of possible destination for him. It's been suggested to me that actually it is more appealing in many ways than the Saudi pro league, but yeah, I don't see any kind of real attractive options for him coming up in Europe. But the biggest thing for me as well is what ever happens. I just, I hope there's some clarity before the end of the season, regardless of how the rest of the season goes, because I just think when you've had the career that he's at, I'd love to see him get a proper farewell. I hope it's not one of those ones where a Saudi Amani type where there's a bit of uncertainty over what'll happen and then he leaves not long after the end of the season and misses out on the recognition that he should get because we're talking about one of the all-time greats. One of the third highest goal scorer in Liverpool's history, someone who's set crazy, crazy high standards and that's another reason why I was so pleased that, you know, Imen's slot don't need to be best mates, do they? They don't need to be going, they don't need to be having 18 holes at form be hold together today on the day off. You know, they just need to have a functioning work in relationship. You know, they don't need to like each other, a bit like me and Simon Hughes. You know, you get on with it. I was going to say, "Creative tension," you know what I'm saying? Oh, so all in Simon Hughes, where they can be bothered to show. Is he on holiday again, by the way? Always, always. Or a fake holiday that he's black, he blacks his way. Yeah, it's like that. But, you know, increasingly, Andy, as looks as if Major League soccer could be a destination. I mean, Santiago, who, you know, and used the league, the maturity ownership's a British Egyptian billionaire businessman, Muhammad Mansour. I mean, he's got to know, you know, he's based in London. He's got to know what the situation is with Salah and, and we keep the night on it, because what a, what could be for a new team in Major League soccer to get a player like Muhammad Salah? Yeah, it'd be quite a statement, wouldn't it? I mean, it's not about positions of Salah to be in, it's inside the Gota Sadi and the replace Ronaldo, is the face of the league or goes to the MLS and replace Messy as the face of the league. It's sort of just sums of bestanding in the game, doesn't it? I think, but yeah, I think you can see why it would be an attractive option for him. And I think James is right. I think, particularly after this season, I think finally on the team in Europe, willing to pay the wages he's on, I just, it just feels like it's impossible. I think you'd have to, you'd have to take a reduction in his salary, I think to continue playing the top level anywhere else in Europe, which is why it makes sense for him to move and it's a U.S. or a Sadi. But you can see the appeal, particularly of the sort of, you know, the match in the connections that are involved in San Diego and yeah, as I said, it would be some statement for them. And I'm sure Salah would flourish in that league. I'm sure he would, like Messy has done, if you like, you don't necessarily, his brain, as we've talked about earlier and the podcast, his ability to, to fan ways to score goals and set people up, which is what Messy is, Messy is just done, he's walking about basically in the MLS, hasn't he? So you can see how Salah was flourished there. Andy's just alien is the entire American audience with his MLS is not very good line. (laughing) I'm not saying that, I'm saying the level of the player. That's what it is, because Messy went to the league and just sorted apart. And he basically, as you would anyway, to be honest, and I'm sure Salah would do the same. Yeah, let's be honest, the players at that level are gonna do that without the, and Andy was not 10-a-greetin' MLS. I don't think he thinks he's a great, he thinks he's a great, what James? Salah was once subscribed, I mean, I've used this phrase many times on this podcast, as a man with a great sense of his own status, not in a negative way, do you think he'd take a pick at the same Europe? I don't know, I honestly don't know. I think it depends what the motivation is, isn't it? I think with Salah, I think there's that kind of self-belief, isn't there? That I can't imagine that would sit particularly right with him, because I think when you look at even what happened before Christmas, for me that stems from a little bit of a lack of self-awareness about what he was giving the team at that time, which wasn't an awful lot. And I think that's one of the reason why these players are so incredible, aren't they? Because they don't doubt themselves. They do, he will still believe that he can be the greatest player in the world, even approaching his 34th birthday. So I don't know what his motivation will be come the summer, but you'd imagine that money will, of course, it would still play a big part in whatever decision he comes to. But like I said, I really hope that he contributes so much between now and the end of May, the conversation shifts and that it's almost like a no-brainer that you do keep him for the last year of his deal in the same way as it was a no-brainer towards the end of last season that you had to give him an extension because his numbers demanded that. Yeah, and that would be my preferred scenario. And the reason I asked the question, James, is because I live and free of him saying, you know what, I'm going to stay in Europe, is to give some payback to Ernest Lopfele. No, we don't want that, we don't want that, we don't want that. No, but that's a joke anyway. And that's it from this episode of WarCon. Thanks to Andy and James, and thanks to you two for listening. We'll be back on Thursday to talk about the Father's game and we'll catch you then. You've been listening to WarCon from the Athletic FC. For more great football podcasts like this one, including the Athletic FC podcast, the Totally Football Show and our dedicated tactics show, search for the Athletic in all the usual places. WarCon is an Athletic Media Company production.