Les Ferdinand is back — and this one goes everywhere.

From the pressure of wearing the iconic number nine shirt to why modern football has drifted away from two-striker partnerships, Les doesn’t hold back. There’s a proper centre-forward masterclass in here — plus a full dissection of diving, simulation, and why shin pads have basically disappeared.

Yes… we’re starting the campaign to Make Shin Pads Great Again.

We also get stuck into the “blue card” debate, inverted wingers, why no one attacks crosses anymore, and whether football’s gone a bit too nice. Then it’s straight into predictions, the wife’s score calls, and one of the strangest deep dives into mobile phone providers you’ll ever hear on a football podcast.

Part 2 delivers.

If you love proper striker chat, nostalgia, and a bit of chaos — this one’s for you.

Drop your score predictions below 👇

00:00 – Beer in the Wrong Glass (Game’s Gone Already)

02:45 – “Memorabilia” vs Theft… Bus Stop Confessions

05:58 – Half-Term Chaos & Dad Life

07:34 – Ed Still: sniper’s dream

09:45 – Les returns for part 2

11:45 – Dressing room standards & how far respect actually travels

17:30 – Transition into deeper football chat before tactics debate

23:45 – Build-up to striker system discussion

31:12 – Why Football Needs Two Strikers Again

32:36 – Inverted Wingers & The Death of Crossing

33:25 – Shin Pads Are Getting Smaller?!

33:57 – “Make Shin Pads Great Again”

48:31 – The Pressure of Wearing the Number 9 Shirt

49:09 – Helicopters, Cup Finals & Big Moments

50:04 – Double-Strap Shin Pads Return

53:26 – Diving, Simulation & The “Blue Card”

54:22 – The “Have a Look at Yourself” Card

55:24 – Paddy Power Segment Begins

55:45 – Arsenal vs Chelsea Preview

1:08:16 – Listener Predictions & Service Provider Debate

1:15:05 – Giffgaff vs The Big Networks

1:17:26 – Final Premier League Predictions

This episode is sponsored by The AA, the UK’s No.1 breakdown provider. It’s OK with the AA, they’re the fastest major breakdown provider with more patrols up and down the country, 24/7, 365 days a year. So, if you want that peace of mind and be back on the road in no time - Join today at www.theaa.com/Crouch T&Cs apply. Verify claims at theaa.com/best

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FROM THE VAULT: One clash. One superstar. One reputation that followed him everywhere.

In this clip, Duncan Ferguson revisits his attitude on-pitch towards David Beckham — and explains what really went through his mind in such heated moments. Known as one of football’s ultimate hard men, Big Dunc doesn’t shy away from the aggression that defined his playing days… but he does open up about the consequences.

Does a former enforcer get judged differently? And can you switch off that mentality once it’s part of who you are?

If you like this clip, you can catch the full episode here:

https://youtu.be/57W315KAXho

Chumbawamba

For more Peter Crouch:

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On this week’s episode of That Peter Crouch Podcast, we’re joined by one of the Premier League’s original centre-forward royalty… Les Ferdinand.

Before the goal compilations, before the Sky Sports montages, before strikers were measured by pressing data and heat maps, there was “Sir Les”.

QPR icon. Newcastle hero. The man leading the line when the Premier League still felt brand new. A proper No.9. Power, presence, goals everywhere he went. If you grew up in the 90s, you knew exactly what Les Ferdinand meant.

He joins Pete, Sids and Chris to talk about the journey from West London non-league graft to becoming one of the most feared forwards in the country. There’s the unbelievable story of starting out as a goalkeeper, the Turkey move that changed his mentality forever, and the sliding doors moment with Manchester United that could have rewritten football history.

We get into loyalty, ambition, dressing room politics and the brutal advice from Ray Wilkins that stuck with him for life. It’s honest, funny, reflective and packed with the kind of insight only someone who’s lived it can give.

We’ve split our conversation Les into two parts, and after we transition out of the nostalgia fuelled Part 1, things immediately descend into remote chaos.

We build up to Macclesfield’s FA Cup tie and what it could mean for the pod, update the leaderboard as the pressure ramps up, and dive into this week’s Paddy Power predictions with a North London Derby thrown into the mix. There’s a live package opened on air that nobody fully understands, some technical mishaps, a bit of shouting about scores, and the sort of disorder that only seems to happen when we’re not all in the same room.

Part 2 with Les drops next week. Trust us, you’ll want it.

00:00 – Intro: One of the Premier League’s original No.9s

02:12 – Early career doubts & never expecting to go pro

05:48 – Growing up in West London & early football influences

08:36 – Playing as a GOALKEEPER for three years

11:04 – The hat-trick that changed his position forever

14:22 – Non-league graft & the reality of rejection

17:10 – FA Vase Final at Wembley before the big time

20:45 – The move to Turkey: why he said yes

23:58 – First training session… 30,000+ fans watching

26:41 – Battling imposter syndrome abroad

29:55 – The mindset shift that transformed him

33:18 – Returning to QPR a completely different striker

37:42 – Becoming one of the Premier League’s most feared forwards

41:06 – Manchester United interest becomes real…

43:45 - Part 1 with Les ends

44:00 – Macclesfield FA Cup update ahead of kick-off

46:50 – Instagram shoutout (Greatest Kits)

50:30 – Catchphrase encounters in Soho

54:07 – Paddy Power segment begins

1:08:50 – On-air package chaos!

1:10:40 – Sign off… tune in for part 2 next week

This episode is sponsored by The AA, the UK’s No.1 breakdown provider. It’s OK with the AA, they’re the fastest major breakdown provider with more patrols up and down the country, 24/7, 365 days a year. So, if you want that peace of mind and be back on the road in no time - Join today at www.theaa.com/Crouch T&Cs apply. Verify claims at theaa.com/best

Follow our Clips page https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLNBLB3xr3LyiyAkhZEtiAA

For more Peter Crouch:

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