Andy Goldstein causes a stir with social media users while on talkSPORT after claiming that small clubs winning devalues tournaments.
He claimed that neutral fans would rather watch big clubs (e.g. Man City v Newcastle), and says that this Greece winning Euro 2004 and Leicester’s 2016 Premier League title, or Andy Ruiz Jr. becoming heavyweight champion “embarrasses” or “devalues” the sport/brand because “we want the best to always be the best.”
Co-host Darren Bent strongly disagreed, saying that upsets are exciting, what fans want to see, that they love an underdog, adding he loved Greece’s win, and called “devaluing” an awful term.
Andy said: Do you want to see the underdogs win now? I said this is this is where this stemmed from, I said our meeting it devalues the competition when the smaller clubs win and go through. I’ve said it before. It’s not because I’m an elitist. I’m not an elitist at all. But right, I’m telling you now if Brentford and Fulham get through to the semi-finals and play a two-leg semi final, you ain’t watching both legs.
Darren Bent: I will watch both legs.
Andy: You’re a liar.
Darren: No, but no, no, you can’t prove i’m not
Andy: Because okay because because if City and Arsenal get through
Darren: Yeah
Andy: I know they’re your team, if City and Newcastle get through
Darren: Yeah
Andy: You’ll watch two legs of that.
Darren: Yeah, I’ll watch Brentford Fulham
Andy: I’ve been with you off air and there have been some dog with fleas Monday night matches.
Darren: Yeah, and I’ve watched it. I watch the semi-final and the cup semi-final, but no
Andy: Absolute garbage
Darren: Let’s go back.
Andy: Can I just have my say?
Darren: No, Brentford and Fulham…
Andy: Can I have my say?
Darren: by winning tonight…
Andy: Yeah
Darren: devalue the competition?
Andy: Yes because you want as a football fan now if you’re a Brentford fan or if you’re a Fulham fan or if you’re a fan of a smaller club, you’re going to find out and go that’s absolute garbage, right? And rightly so because you support that club. I haven’t got a problem with that. But as a fan of sport, right? AJ against Jake Paul. Yep you don’t want Jake Paul winning, devalues, embarrasses boxing
Darren: Yeah, because you’ve got one professional against someone who’s not
Andy: Ok Andy Ruiz Jr. against AJ
Darren: Again two professional boxers
Andy: Andy Ruiz Jr becoming heavyweight champion of the world, embarrassing.
Darren: No, it weren’t
Andy: Devalues the belt.
Darren: It doesn’t
Andy: Of course it does
Darren: I don’t think it does
Andy: Okay, why do we make such a big thing about undisputed? Three-time champions want it back. Unbelievable.
Darren: Because it’s incredible.
Andy: Yeah, because we want the best always to be the best.
Darren: Nah
Andy: Ok before we were talking about Terence Crawford, the best.
Darren: Yeah
Andy: We don’t talk about the worst like that, he’s won 6 out of 40
Darren: No, but you earn the…
Andy: We love the best, we never big up the… you want the best, you love the best
Darren: If Brentford and Fulham are the best by knocking out City and Newcastle then fair play, I’ve got no…
Andy: Fair play
Darren: No, but devaluing is an awful way to put it
Andy: I’ve just explained, I’ve just proved it
Darren: You’ve just said it devalues the brand, the EFL Cup
Andy: Ask the sponsors who they want. Because the brand ain’t worth…
Darren: Brentford Fulham semi final devalues the competition
Andy: When Greece won the euros
Darren: Didn’t devalue. I loved it
Andy: Abso… no.
Darren: I loved it. You even, you know what? It’s funny you say that I forgot about that you even said Leicester winning the Premier League devalues
Andy: It did. It goes Man Utd, Chelsea, Man City, probably a bit of Arsenal and it goes oh Leicester…
As mentioned, Andy Goldstein causes a stir after claiming that small clubs winning devalues tournaments…
@HLTCO: Andy Goldstein is waffling absolute bollocks here. I know his pure intention is to ragebait people and I’m biting but I don’t know how you can, as a fully grown fella, talk such shite and take yourself seriously.
@GraemeBandeira: Absolutely clueless
@SelhurstExpress: “I’m not an elitist” yet you want the so called ‘elite’ clubs to always win the trophies 👍
@MWBP7: Palace winning devalue the FA cup? No, it showcased the magic of the cup. Click bait merchant doing his job I guess.
@LFC6PLUS19: Did Leicester winning the league devalue it? Or was it the greatest underdog story in sport
@B6Nigel: This is the mindset that pervades all UK football media outlets as is evident their broadcasting selections. Most fans dial it into their thinking and just switch off listening at this point.
@VillaBraves8295: Here’s my take. It’s fucking boring knowing only a couple of clubs will win everything every season! Saying bollocks like this just shows his typical entitled Manure attitude!
@Scotty_9094: How does it devalue it? If anything it strengthens it as it gives other clubs hope rather than just settling for the same few winners. It’s boring if it’s the same every year.
@Laura_Rads: Absurd. Why would you want to watch the same old top 6 teams compete in a semi final again?! Far more exciting when it’s someone different (or smaller as he likes to put it)
@mark_robinson_: When are people going to realise he says what he is told to by his employers to encourage disagreement and people phoning in the show. He doesn’t believe half of what he says, it is what he is being told to say.
@benhiggs83: But footy isn’t about people watching on tele. If Fulham and Brentford had got through, it would mean the world to them. Next time Everton get to a semi final (never) do you think I’d be arsed if some random fella in another part of the country was watching? Absolutely not
This didn’t devalue the competition if anything it made it more desirable. I don’t care if you aren’t watching elite teams. We watch that every week in the league. I guess you think Leicester winning the league devalued it? Bitter United fan as always pic.twitter.com/U1UjBnomPh
— adam monk (@adwmonk) December 18, 2025