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Episode 022 - Squad Review during the International Break
18 Plays2 months ago
It's the international break so Tom and Jacob are taking a look at the West Ham squad and giving their opinions about how each player is doing so far! How do you think the players have done this season and do you agree with the boys thoughts?!
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Transcript
West Ham Squad Analysis
00:00:09
officialgspn
Hello guys, welcome back to another episode of the daily GSP and West End podcast. I'm joined with Jacob, say hi mate.
00:00:16
Jacob
Hello.
00:00:17
officialgspn
So it is currently the international break, so we're going to do something a little bit different today and we are going to go through the whole squad and just talk about how we feel about each player, how we think they've done, how they can improve.
00:00:29
officialgspn
but we want to see more from them, maybe who we want to see more from. And in the first part of the podcast, we're going to start with the defenders and the goalkeeper. So let's start from the very, very bottom. Let's start with Wedge Fodgingham. I don't think there's going to be a lot of talk about him. Haven't seen him yet. How do you feel about that? Do you actually want to see him?
00:00:46
Jacob
Um, I think that in my eyes, I do think he is probably Ariola's backup. So obviously there hasn't really been any reason to use him yet. So, you know, we, we can't really say a lot. Um, but yeah, I mean, off the bat, nothing to say about him really.
00:01:11
officialgspn
Okay, wait, so so do you think he's more of the backup than Fabiansky?
00:01:16
Jacob
um i I think so. I just think he... I think it's just an age thing, to be honest. um I think that Foderingham would feel very hard done by if he was, you know, third choice to Fabiansky, to be honest. But we've not really seen that yet, have we? We we don't really know. im We haven't had, like, an occasion for so him to even be used, so...
00:01:45
Jacob
Yeah, nothing to say.
00:01:47
officialgspn
OK, well, we'll move straight on to Fabianzky, then, who has actually played 45 minutes. He has played 45 minutes.
00:01:52
Jacob
Oh yeah, you're right, you're right. Yeah, he has.
00:01:55
officialgspn
So how do you feel about his how do you feel about him generally at the club?
00:01:56
Jacob
I forgot about that completely.
00:01:59
officialgspn
Because obviously, as you say, he's getting older. And I think the point about Wes Fodgingham starting to become the number two, you understand why he'd want that because of the age profile.
00:02:11
officialgspn
Fabianzky's not really a spring chicken these days, is he? and to still be getting minutes over someone who is, you know, probably five, six years his senior.
00:02:15
Jacob
No.
00:02:22
officialgspn
It probably isn't ideal, but yeah, how do you feel about Fabio? Let's give these days.
00:02:26
Jacob
um I think he I mean he does look like he has slowly sort of gradually dropped off somewhat you know he's still a decent keeper he's someone you can still call upon um but he's yeah he's very much in his sort of last legs of his career, I would say, before maybe a big move to Saudi or MLS or one of those. I could see it, I think. I think he's still got a few years left playing in him, but obviously just not at that highest level. um I think when he came on, what what game was that that he came on? Can you remind me? Do you know?
00:03:12
officialgspn
I'm not actually sure, to be honest.
00:03:12
Jacob
off top of your head.
00:03:15
officialgspn
Oh, it was the Liverpool game in the Carabao Cup and he played against Man City as well.
00:03:15
Jacob
Oh no. Liverpool game, okay. Yeah, so.
00:03:20
officialgspn
He came off of the City game, didn't he, because area over came off.
00:03:23
Jacob
Yeah, so, yeah, I think.
00:03:27
Jacob
yeah Those haven't helped him, but at the end of the day, I ah ah think it would have been very much the same with Ariola playing throughout. So I don't think it's really fair so to judge him on those. I don't know where you think maybe it's a bit harsh just to put it all on Fabianzky for that.
00:03:47
officialgspn
Yeah it's tough isn't it and so he's nearly 40 like when when we're talking about him getting on like he really is getting on you know like you don't see many players that are playing into their 40s and obviously keepers do have a career that is maybe slightly older than other players but yeah he's he's nearly in his 40s and
00:03:55
Jacob
Yeah.
00:04:07
officialgspn
you don't really see his numbers going up.
00:04:08
Jacob
Mm hmm.
00:04:10
officialgspn
You only see them declining. And I think the little football that he's played this season, like he said he's played in the, you know, he played for us in the Caravale Cup this season and he did okay. And he is a very steady keeper and you know what you're going to get.
00:04:22
officialgspn
He's he's going to do really well. But I think with the way that Ariola has kind of established himself as our number one. It's probably maybe a good thing.
00:04:35
officialgspn
It's the result of Areola's quality that Fabianski hasn't got as many minutes. But I still like him. like I think he's a decent player
Center-Back Concerns
00:04:43
officialgspn
to have around. Obviously, he's like a very seasoned professional.
00:04:46
officialgspn
He's played so many games, I think, for us, and you know generally in the Premier League.
00:04:46
Jacob
yeah
00:04:50
officialgspn
So he's a really good person to have around. And the the debate about who is the number two, I think, is always you know so it's not a bad debate to have, is it? like having two people that can quite happily deputize as number twos I think is always a good thing.
00:05:04
officialgspn
and so So yeah, I think generally not too much to talk about with them.
00:05:05
Jacob
Yeah.
00:05:08
officialgspn
Okay, we'll talk about Ariola.
00:05:10
Jacob
Yeah.
00:05:11
officialgspn
He has done exceptionally for me this year. I think he's done so well. It's slightly unfortunate. He's only got one clean sheet in the Premier League so far, which I don't think necessarily reflects on him because I think he is so underrated and he makes some some quality saves.
00:05:19
Jacob
Yeah.
00:05:25
officialgspn
I know in the Ipswich game, both keepers, Miurich for Ipswich as well, but they were making some good saves. And I think time and time again, Ariola keeps us in games when defensively we haven't been as good as we could be.
00:05:37
officialgspn
well What do you think?
00:05:39
Jacob
Yeah, I think that he's He's shown, obviously, he's shown quite a few glimpses of how good he is. um And we're very fortunate, I think, to have him as our number one, you know, i former PSG Real Madrid keeper. um And yeah, he's he's shown moments, you know, he's where he's shown how good he can be.
00:06:07
Jacob
um And you always feel comfortable with him there. I think with Fabianski, you always, there's a little bit of, you feel there's a little bit of jeopardy when he's there. You know, Ariola can sort of pull out a top save. um Obviously, a lot of, we've had, you know, quite a few results that haven't gone our way. And a lot of that can't really be changed by the goalkeeper, really. So,
00:06:35
Jacob
I'm happy with him so far. um and ah Yeah, I think he's he's just going to continue, really.
00:06:43
officialgspn
Yeah, yeah, definitely. So I i think now we've
Left-Back Depth Issues
00:06:46
officialgspn
covered keepers. Let's move on to the offenders. Let's start with left back. It's been mostly Emerson this year with ah a slight cameo. How do you feel about how Emerson has been playing so far?
00:06:56
Jacob
Yeah, um not a huge amount to note about him, really. he hasn't done a huge amount for us. I don't think he's picked up an assist. I might be wrong. I'm unsure. Yeah, not not a huge amount to say really. He's sort of the best we've really got. So it's I would find it very hard to believe that he would be dropped anyway based on performances. you know he's He's probably our only
00:07:30
Jacob
natural left back, you know, Cresswell probably doesn't have 90 minutes in him. Um, Wampus Saka can play there, but obviously it's not as favored. So I think Emerson, as long as Emerson, you know, keeps putting in steady performances, you know, he's, he's very technically good player. Um, he's yeah, he's going to continue to, to play every game. I'm sure of it.
00:07:54
officialgspn
Yeah, I think it's probably our weakest position, I think, to be honest.
00:07:59
Jacob
Yeah.
00:07:59
officialgspn
If you look at if you look at the depth that we have, Emerson is is someone who we've always questioned whether he is of the level of players that
00:08:03
Jacob
Mm hmm.
00:08:11
officialgspn
So we we signed a lot of high quality players and it's always been a question of do we go in for a left back or do we keep pushing on with Emerson who at times has looked pretty good and going forth going forward he's really promising. I just think sometimes defensively he's not as astute but But yeah, it's but he's been okay this season, and I think with Wamba Saka kind of deputizing in there when he can, it's somewhere where we can kind of get by okay, and it doesn't get exposed too much. But when it comes to Aaron Quezlo, he's just, and again, it's similar to what I was saying about Fabianski, he's someone who's a good squad player to have, and he brings the the Premier League experience and I think in general
00:08:51
officialgspn
squad experience of you know he he seems like a really good professional and he's you know he's been around the club for a long time so i think he's a really good influence on the squad okay let's move the centre backs what do you think about our whole centre back situation right now
00:09:01
Jacob
Yeah, definitely. Mm hmm.
00:09:08
Jacob
Um, I, I do feel as if we might've stabbed ourselves in the foot a little bit, um, in the way that we haven't really added depth. Um, we've added quality, definitely we've added quality, like, um, with Tadebo, you know, he's, he's starting to become, you know, one of the first names on the team sheet, I'm sure. Um,
00:09:38
Jacob
But obviously losing Zuma, Aguerd, Ogbonner, all at the same time, it you know it's not helped us. So it has meant the likes of Mavropanos have got more minutes than he probably would have if all those had stayed. um But it it does worry you a little bit that if we lose one of them, you know we haven't we haven't got anyone else really.
00:10:05
Jacob
um What do you think? i'm I'm happy with generally how they've been, and but I think it's just that concern about you know longevity.
00:10:18
officialgspn
Yeah, we we're slightly light, aren't we? And and you hope that Keeling helps the you know Academy guy get some minutes because when you've got these guys coming through the ah Academy, I think it's always such a shame when they don't.
00:10:30
officialgspn
getting the minutes that they deserve. You know, they've they've worked so hard, they've been at your club for so long and then they get to the point where they should be given an opportunity because we obviously have a clear lack of centre backs right now.
00:10:32
Jacob
Yeah.
00:10:41
officialgspn
So I think if there's the opportunity, you should definitely get in there.
00:10:42
Jacob
Yeah.
00:10:44
officialgspn
But when you look at the the guys that are starting it, obviously Max Kilman seems like a stalwart in the team. He started every game, played every minute. I think he's been really solid. I really like how he plays.
00:10:55
officialgspn
His calmness on the ball is something that I really like. it It gives me so much confidence in his ability when he doesn't seem to rush and he can bring the ball out from defense as well, which I also really like. And then you look at Mavropanos on Tadevo, it seems like the there's been a shift from Mavropanos to Tadebo recently, who's going to have that starting space next to Kilman.
00:11:21
officialgspn
And I like that kind of struggle of who's going to start because I think it brings out the best in both of them. I don't think Mavropanos played particularly badly.
00:11:28
Jacob
Yeah.
00:11:31
officialgspn
I think it was just a case of us as a squad not performing well, so something having to change. So we brought Tadebo in and obviously off the back of the most recent Premier League game against Ipswich, where we do really well.
00:11:42
officialgspn
and I don't know if you saw that clip going around on social media of him like dribbling out of defense. I'll talk about this with Josh. it's It's just really nice to see players that are doing things that show they have something about them and show the quality that they have.
00:11:55
officialgspn
So yeah, generally happy, but the the the worry of if one of them gets injured is I think definitely there.
00:11:56
Jacob
Yeah.
00:12:04
officialgspn
So I think you've got a point there.
Right-Back Preferences
00:12:06
officialgspn
Okay, let's move to right back. I think this is probably the most is difficult for me because I love Sufahl.
00:12:14
officialgspn
I think he's been such a good player for us for so long. It just, it seems like we've brought someone in in Aramon Basaka who is just that little bit better.
00:12:25
officialgspn
So I think Kufal is now gonna take a backseat when it comes to right back.
00:12:26
Jacob
Yeah.
00:12:30
Jacob
Yeah, I think Wambasaka offers a ah different dimension, you know, they both very capable defenders, whereas I think what how Wambasaka edges him is his dribbling ability, his you know ability to take on a man.
00:12:51
Jacob
um just i think maybe just his age and his general fitness maybe i think they're quite there's quite a bit obviously that's that's not me trying to take away from so far because he you know he could quite easily play you know there's no reason why he shouldn't play he's he's proven why he deserves to be in the team but
00:12:57
officialgspn
but just everything about him negatively
00:13:15
Jacob
I think it's kind of a ah no-brainer for me um to have Wampus Saka in there and and maybe use Sufou a bit more sparingly, you know, maybe if for what that something happens to one of our left backs, Wampus Saka can take that role and Sufou will be able to play as well.
00:13:21
officialgspn
That's just everything about him, basically.
00:13:38
Jacob
And I know Wampus Saka is probably it's not his favorite but he's more than capable of doing that and yeah I'm very pleased I'm very pleased to get him at the the bargain price that we did what was it like 15 million I think um yeah like very pleased with that that's that's actually a ah good not all of our business like in terms of who we brought in has been excellent but not all of the business has been good um that's that was very good definitely
00:13:54
officialgspn
Yeah, something like that. Very cheap.
00:14:13
officialgspn
Yeah, yeah, I definitely agree in this. It was ah always, I thought it was always really strange that United were so happy to let him go, to be honest. ah I think he was always someone that was underutilized.
00:14:20
Jacob
Yeah.
00:14:22
officialgspn
So, you know, we can't complain. I that i think it's all the better for us really, isn't it?
00:14:25
Jacob
No, no, yeah, we'll take that. All right, so um we're going to go into a break now where you'll hear from one of our sponsors and we will be back to talk about midfield.
00:15:05
officialgspn
Okay, so we're going to move on to the midfielders. I think the best place to start with midfielders is the CDM issue that we seem to have had where there isn't an outright DM partnership that we've been using most games.
00:15:10
Jacob
Mm hmm.
00:15:22
officialgspn
I know Edson Alvarez seems to be a bit of a stalwart in there now and I really like the way that he plays. I think he's such a He's someone that you want on your team. He gets a bit gritty and he's able to marshal in front of the defense really nicely. And he seemed to be very much favored by Lopategi. So then it comes to who you want to play with him. And the the common argument has been between Sujek and Guido Rodrigo. So where do you stand on that?
00:15:52
Jacob
Yeah, um it's difficult because you bring in a player like Rodriguez who has had the career that he's had um with club and country and he he he does show his age a little bit. you know it's He's clearly got ability and he's clearly you know he He could probably walk into most teams, I think. um But when you've got Alvarez, he has to he has to play when he's fit, when he's not suspended. um And he just adds something that we need, you know, that that extra coverage for the back four, and then allows the players around him, the, you know, the Sioux checks, the Paquettas to focus on getting forward.
00:16:45
Jacob
um because realistically, that's that's kind of what we need at the moment. We've not really scored enough goals. I know the exception really was the the Ipswich game, but that's kind of showing us moving in the right direction and sort of Lopategi maybe starting to realize his starting 11. And I think, yeah, generally,
00:17:14
Jacob
with the midfield happy, um you know, it's tough who who's going to play.
Midfield Dynamics
00:17:19
Jacob
i'm But for me, it's it's always got to be Alvarez and Paquetta. I think the others are up for debate. Maybe how could they look in training on that weekend or, you know, I don't know what you think.
00:17:34
officialgspn
Yeah, I think it depends the opposition that we're playing. I think if we're playing an opposition that's slightly better, I think having Thomas Suchik in there is good because
00:17:38
Jacob
Mm hmm.
00:17:47
officialgspn
Defensively, he's such a a big guy. he you know Physically, he's really, really good on set pieces defensively and offensively.
00:17:51
Jacob
Mm hmm.
00:17:55
officialgspn
If you look at the amount of aerial duels that he wins, it's it's always very high. and Having that sort of a guy offensively as well, the fact that he has popped up with goals, I think has been key for us this season to get some of the points that we have.
00:18:08
officialgspn
I think without his goals this season, we would be in a much worse position than we are now, so we have to be really thankful for that. and then
00:18:15
Jacob
Yeah.
00:18:15
officialgspn
when it comes to games where I feel like we want to control them more, I think using Guido Rodriguez is slightly better because he's got that maybe a slight better technique and he's slightly more comfortable on the ball. So yeah, so I think it's good to have different options and I don't think it's necessarily been bad that there's been competition for places. But if I'm honest, I probably would have liked to see a little bit more from Guido Rodriguez.
00:18:40
officialgspn
um the I know that I was gassing him up probably more than anyone as we signed him because you know the Coming from his success with Argentina and you know nearly going to Barcelona you that those sort of rumors and that history put quite a lot of weight on your shoulders when you come to ah a club that's not necessarily got those sort of aspirations currently, you know, we're not fighting for Champions League right right now, you know, hopefully in the future but I
00:19:02
Jacob
Hmm. Hmm.
00:19:07
officialgspn
right now that that's not where we are so i think i may be expecting a little bit more from him so so yeah i hope that he improves and then i want to go to some of the guys that are maybe slightly on the fringe of the squad so by that i mean andy irving and kylo solaire i think obviously very different players but both of them have have made cameos and looked quite good to be honest i know andy irving has not played much at all and solaire has started to come into the team a little bit but
00:19:25
Jacob
Yeah.
00:19:36
officialgspn
they They're both guys that seem to be kind of knocking on the door of getting starting places. I don't know what you think.
00:19:42
Jacob
Yeah, I know that and Irving has has only just received his first Scotland call-up, I believe, um which is great to see.
00:19:52
Jacob
He's obviously getting the the recognition he deserves. It's very unlikely he was ever going to get that playing in... Where was he playing?
00:20:03
Jacob
Austria or Germany? I can't remember.
00:20:05
officialgspn
Yeah, it was in Austria.
00:20:06
Jacob
and Austria.
00:20:07
officialgspn
a
00:20:08
Jacob
and um yeah I don't think that would have come. so you know I think if he can impress on the... international stage that will give lopategi way more incentive to play him um and vice versa the other way around as well you know if he's if he's playing for us he'll play for them um so yeah and i think it's it's not a bad thing to have the likes of him and soleil there i think i liked i've liked what i've i've seen of soleil so far um he looks up for it he looks very energetic he looks
00:20:46
Jacob
exciting, you know, when he has the ball, which is what we want to see. And, and yeah, generally, I'm happy with those guys.
00:20:56
officialgspn
Yeah, I think it's been tough for Sol there because he's only made four appearances off the bench in the Premier League this season. So as someone who is on the fringes, it's always more difficult to make an impact.
00:21:06
officialgspn
So I think the fact that he has come on and seemed to have improved games, I think is testament to him.
00:21:11
Jacob
Mm hmm.
00:21:13
officialgspn
And hopefully if he keep pushing forward, he can keep making the midfield to make more difficult, which you know ultimately is he's going to be good for us. so
00:21:22
Jacob
Yeah.
00:21:23
officialgspn
So the last guy in the midfield, Paquetta is classed as a midfielder here so so we'll call him that. I think he's he's one that's really difficult so to put a label on because he seems to be able to do quite a wide range of things. like he He obviously has the the flair of a Brazilian and going forward he's really creative and some of the stuff he does is always really It just isn't what you'd expect with the back heels and the the tricks that he can do.
00:21:51
officialgspn
It's always really positive. But then I feel like he also has the side of his game where he can kind of bite down on his gum shield and do the kind of hard yards defensively.
00:21:58
Jacob
yeah
00:22:00
officialgspn
I just think this season he he hasn't quite had the flair that I would have liked and that we have seen from him in the past.
00:22:08
officialgspn
what do What would you think about him this season?
00:22:10
Jacob
yeah um i i i just think there's more to come basically i think he is slowly building up um And he's going to have ah no doubt, he's going to have some great moments this season. i think I think that's the same for a lot of our players where they're starting to get warmed up now. You know, Bowen's starting to get numbers and same with Sowcheck. And I think maybe that Ipswich game flattered us a little bit, possibly made us look a little bit better than we actually are. But
00:22:49
Jacob
ah That's the kind of environment where Paquette is going to f thrive, isn't it? You know, a ah inexperienced defence, where you can just ping a ball over the top and to Bowen and he'll do the rest. so Yeah, it's it's going to be exciting. I'm sure he'll, he'll pop up when we need him. Um, I think a lot of our players probably will as well. You know, Sue checks are already done, done that for us. Um, and yeah, that's just what we've got to hope for.
00:23:22
officialgspn
Yeah I hope so and he's only got two goals this season and no assists so someone of his calibre is capable of so much more so hopefully in the next few months we can start to see those goal numbers increase because if we want to get up the league it's gonna
00:23:30
Jacob
Mm-hmm.
00:23:38
officialgspn
kind of fall on his shoulders and a couple of the other guys because when the they'll go and get stuff it seems like we rely on those those star players that we have to drag us through so so hopefully he can start getting some girls in soon.
00:23:48
Jacob
Yeah.
00:23:50
officialgspn
Gonna go to another small ab break and then we get back we'll get on to the forwards.
Kudus' Development
00:24:34
officialgspn
Okay, so going into the forwards. I'm going to start on the left. Kudos. Tell me how you feel about aim this season.
00:24:41
Jacob
um I think he has looked slightly frustrated at times so far. He's shown glimpses again, I've said this quite a lot already, but glimpses of how good he can be. I think he's just been a little frustrated and I think there'll be more to come in ah in the coming games. and I think he's starting to warm up as well. um Everybody knows how good he is.
00:25:11
Jacob
and he's he's going to end up you know having the most take-ons the most completed dribbles just gives us more chance of scoring goals so yeah i've been happy i know there's going to be more so yeah i'm pleased
00:25:28
officialgspn
Yeah, that that's exactly the same thing that me and Josh were saying in a previous podcast is so frustrating to watch him because he he does so much every game But he just doesn't seem to have been converting into actual goals and assist numbers so hopefully When we can get past this
00:25:42
Jacob
Yeah, yeah.
00:25:46
officialgspn
kind of rut in actual numbers for him, we'll be able to get the most out of him. and Because I i think he's he's definitely a player that will get consistent numbers in the league. He definitely has that quality. And when you talk about him with the the dribble numbers,
00:26:03
officialgspn
He just does it every game. He does it every single game. He's and so consistently good at beating a man and creating things out of nothing. it It definitely will come. So I think we just have to be patient.
00:26:14
officialgspn
And he's played basically all of our minutes so far. he's The only large amount of time he didn't play was in the Brentford game when he got taken off at halftime, which I think was a little bit harsh, but maybe more of a ah system issue than him specifically.
00:26:24
Jacob
Yeah.
00:26:26
officialgspn
but But yeah, I definitely think there's there's more to come from him. And then probably the only other person that you would say would play out on the left is Somerville. How do you feel he's been this season?
00:26:37
Jacob
I ah don't even think we've really had enough to to properly rate him just yet. he's We know what he can do. We've seen it. um He's a similar player to Kudas, maybe not quite the powerful accelerator like Kudas is. He's more of a ah technical, tricky winger who will curl one in and from outside the box. And I just don't think he's quite had the opportunities that he had last season with Leeds so far. that The quality of opposition is
00:27:19
Jacob
higher and I think that it will take some time but they you know I've no doubt he'll get a few goals this season it's just gonna it's just gonna take time and he's gonna have to try and make the most of the the cameos he has for now really no
00:27:38
officialgspn
Yeah, it's, he just hasn't played enough. He's only played 140 minutes in the, in the, in the league of the season. So it's very difficult to get any sort of decent stats from so few minutes.
00:27:49
officialgspn
And it's, it's difficult because I think we have the most quality in the wide areas. So maybe his minutes are going to be fast, but you know that the further on we get in the season, the more we're going to have to rotate.
00:27:54
Jacob
Yeah.
00:28:00
officialgspn
So I think there will be plenty of opportunities for him to dish show himself and. I don't think he's looked bad when he come on. There's, there's never any time where he's come on and I've been like, Oh God, he, he looked really poor. He doesn't lie up to the pace.
00:28:12
officialgspn
You know, he, he's come on and he's being competitive and he's, he he seems to have kind of settled at the, the Premier League level quite well.
00:28:12
Jacob
yeah
00:28:15
Jacob
Mm hmm.
00:28:18
officialgspn
So yeah, I think with increased minutes, his, his output will increase. Okay. Let's move over to the right now, because I'm going to save the striker for last. Cause obviously that's one of the biggest talking points.
00:28:30
officialgspn
Jared Bowen, tell me, tell me about him.
00:28:33
Jacob
Yeah, I think that it's going to be another high number season, probably. He just always seems to be in the right place at the right time. He makes things happen. um He, you know, he's probably the best striker that isn't a striker that we've got. ah You know, he's the person we can rely on.
00:28:57
Jacob
And, you know, i I didn't really have any doubt. I know we've had a frustrating start to the season. It's kind of peaked and troughed a little bit. um But yeah, overall, I think we know what we'll get.
00:29:14
officialgspn
Yeah. and And that's the thing, isn't it? you You know exactly what you're going to get with Jarabone. You're going to get consistent golden assist numbers. And I think that's why we get so frustrated that other teams don't appreciate his ability because year after year he puts out these numbers for a team that you know is quite inconsistent when it comes to our attacking output.
00:29:20
Jacob
Mm hmm.
00:29:28
Jacob
Yeah.
00:29:36
officialgspn
So when you you look at his golden assist numbers, they're amazing. and you're I'm always slightly confused and happy that other teams don't come in for him because yeah you know he's he's got such ability and two goals and two assists this season.
00:29:48
officialgspn
He's played basically all the minutes for us as well, started every game.
00:29:52
Jacob
Yeah.
00:29:53
officialgspn
Yeah, it's the same old Jared Bowen and the the goal that he scored against Ipswich is so typical of him, like receiving the ball, driving up the field, being direct, cutting in on his left, whipping it, far toast, far post.
00:30:07
officialgspn
um Yeah, it's just quality, isn't it? And I think it's something that we've gotten used to and we're so thankful for, I think, especially when we've not been playing as well as we could have done.
00:30:18
officialgspn
He always seems to create opportunities for us and kind of drags us out of difficult times, which
00:30:19
Jacob
Yeah.
00:30:25
officialgspn
I'm so happy for and and long may it continue basically. And there's, it doesn't really seem like anyone else is going to be playing out there.
00:30:29
Jacob
Yeah.
00:30:30
officialgspn
I know that some of you can and kudos can potentially. And then we've got Lewis Guillerme on the bench as well. The young Brazilian guy that we signed, he's been playing a lot in our youth teams.
00:30:41
Jacob
Yeah.
00:30:41
officialgspn
And I think he got a goal of the month actually for quite a tidy finish.
00:30:43
Jacob
Yeah.
00:30:46
Jacob
Yeah, I believe so.
00:30:46
officialgspn
How do you feel about him?
00:30:47
Jacob
He also made a a little cameo. I think he made a cameo in the Ipswich game as well. We didn't really manage to see a lot of him.
00:30:58
Jacob
um But yeah, I think four minutes.
00:30:58
officialgspn
Yeah, I only played four minutes.
00:31:02
Jacob
Yeah, so. maybe it was more of a experience type thing in a comfortable position where he can afford to arrest somebody um and and give him a few minutes, give him some confidence probably.
00:31:16
Jacob
um But yeah, I'm hoping he'll be like a new Vinicius Jr. maybe. We'll see.
00:31:24
officialgspn
That would be amazing. Yeah. And from from what little I've seen of him, you know, in these teams and his little cameo, he looks exciting and similar so to, you know, the the Brazilian flair that you talked about with Piqueta.
00:31:26
Jacob
That would.
00:31:29
Jacob
Mm-hmm.
00:31:37
officialgspn
He's got that creativity, which I think is so useful, especially in a team that isn't always necessarily as kind of positive and dynamic in our attacks. Sometimes we we lack a little bit, especially with not having as much quality in Stryker that we're about to now talk about. Having people like that coming through, I think is always good. And I'd like to see more of him, to be honest. I think, I know he's still young, but if he's, you know, doing well in our younger teams, our youth teams, then let's let's give him some minutes in the first team and and see what he can do. I think that can only only benefit him. and
00:32:12
officialgspn
when you look at the the quality that we do have, I don't think there's any risk of rushing him because he's not gonna be getting any extensive minutes. It'll just be little cameos here and there, but I think that'll do so much redevelopment.
00:32:22
Jacob
yeah
00:32:23
officialgspn
So yeah, I wanna see a lot more of him. Okay, so let's move to striker. The classic West End problem that we seem to have every season. How do you feel
Antonio's Role and Future
00:32:34
officialgspn
about the strikers?
00:32:34
officialgspn
I think that probably the first one to talk about is Meccal Antonio. It's someone that me and Josh have spoken about a lot. How do you feel about him this season? Wait, I'll give you some stats about him this season. So he started six games, got one goal and one assist.
00:32:44
Jacob
Yeah. Okay, okay I think that
00:32:50
officialgspn
So it's it's okay.
00:32:52
Jacob
Yeah, I think that's also what I'm looking for. Respectable, really. I think maybe he probably didn't think he would be getting the chances that he has this season with full Krug, but we know his his issues that he's had and is still having.
00:33:01
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:33:15
Jacob
um So, I think that we still probably are in the exact same position we were towards the end of last season or throughout last season, really, ah where we kind of have to rely on him unless we play Jared Bowen up front. um And then hopefully when full crew comes back, he starts to make some some kind of impact. He you know, he's not too dissimilar to Antonio as a player.
00:33:47
Jacob
really, I think he's just got that you know that finishing ability that Antonio hasn't got. um Whereas Antonio has got the ah power and the pace, which always is always dangerous to have, doesn't mean he always uses it well enough or is clinical enough.
00:34:07
Jacob
But yeah, ah I don't really know what to say, to be honest.
00:34:13
officialgspn
Yeah, it's it's difficult because I love Miquel Antonio and I've always sung his praises and he was our first player to get 100 combined goals and assists in the Premier League.
00:34:13
Jacob
ah What do you think?
00:34:24
officialgspn
So he does have quality and he he has been such a good servant for us. it just He's gotten to the point where he just can't play 90 minutes and and be effective for the whole game.
00:34:34
Jacob
Yeah.
00:34:35
officialgspn
He just doesn't have those sort of legs anymore. So I'm just hoping that Fulcro can get back as soon as possible because so
00:34:37
Jacob
No.
00:34:42
officialgspn
Yeah, i just I just don't like starting Antonio and you just after the first half he's usually okay and then you you get into the second half and as the second half progresses you just see his output when it comes to like running and the way that he plays it is so physical and that output just drops off steadily throughout the half and then you get to about 70-80 minutes and he's usually done and you've you've got to take him off and
00:34:57
Jacob
Yeah.
00:35:04
officialgspn
I don't think that's the best way to get the best out of him. I think he's better coming on and running up tired defenders because he does play so physically.
00:35:09
Jacob
No.
00:35:12
officialgspn
If he's playing against defenders that have already had to play for, you know, an hour, I think that's when he's most effective.
00:35:13
Jacob
Yeah.
00:35:17
officialgspn
So I would much rather share those minutes more between Ings and Antonio until full Greg is back. And then when he is back, we give him as many minutes as we can.
00:35:25
Jacob
Yeah.
00:35:28
officialgspn
and utilize Antonio off the bench if we need someone who is slightly unorthodox to kind of get us over the line. So, so yeah, a little mention of Danny Ng's there.
00:35:39
officialgspn
I think he's actually been okay to come on, to be honest.
00:35:40
Jacob
Yeah.
00:35:42
officialgspn
ah He's not played a lot, but in in the time that he has played, obviously he's scored that equalizer in like, you know, the the dying embers of the game against Fulham. And I think he's been, he's looked better than he did last season.
00:35:50
Jacob
Hmm.
00:35:54
officialgspn
I'll say that. What do you think?
00:35:56
Jacob
Yeah I think maybe he feels he's got a ah bit of a point to prove. I think he does deserve more opportunities than he he has got with us. I know his output hasn't been what it should be for a Premier League striker but he has come up clutch recently so I think he does deserve it and I think whilst we've not got full crew, I think that he should be utilised with Antonio's lack of fitness. I think i think he's shown what he can do when he comes off the bench. I don't think he necessarily should be a bench player. I think maybe it should be the other way around um where Ings
00:36:43
Jacob
will be the starter and and Antonio will be the impact player. Like you said, when the, when the opposition to defenses has been running for 65 minutes, you know, we'll see. I don't know what's going to happen.
00:36:59
officialgspn
Yeah, I think so much emphasis on our season lies on when full cricket is back because we've not really got a proper chance to see what it's like in a West Ham team that settled with him up front because even like, you know, with the few minutes that he did play, we were still trying to work out what our starting 11 was.
00:37:07
Jacob
Yeah.
00:37:13
Jacob
yeah
00:37:17
officialgspn
So now I feel like we've got to the point where, you know, we've played well in our last game. The the first 11 is kind of starting to emerge. As soon as we can get him up front, I think the better.
00:37:28
officialgspn
and the I think that then subsequently means that Antonio will have a better impact when he does play, and kind of the same for Ings, I think, because they're both slightly older, I know they're all older, I'm not saying Fort Crook is young, but he's someone that has been performing at the highest level, so he has to have the start, and then the other two, Ings and Antonio, I think, when they do get their opportunity,
00:37:38
Jacob
Yeah.
00:37:44
Jacob
Yeah.
00:37:54
officialgspn
I think they'll be able to perform so much better because they're not playing for as long. And I think their issue a lot of the time is that they don't have the kind of longevity in their fitness to be able to perform at a really high level for a full game.
00:38:08
officialgspn
So, so yeah, I think for me, it's let's get full crew back as quickly as possible.
00:38:10
Jacob
Yeah.
00:38:13
officialgspn
And I think when he does get back, I think he'll be really positive. And I'm very excited ah to see what he has to offer for us.
00:38:21
Jacob
Yeah, definitely. All right. Thank you all very much for listening. um Please give us a five-star rating if possible. um Check out all our socials in the description. You'll find them all there.
00:38:36
Jacob
um And also please check out all the other GSPM podcasts. We've got fantasy podcasts. We have got a women's football podcast. We have the PL wrap up in loads of different languages. And yeah, just generally all the other GSPM podcasts, but thank you very much for listening. Say bye Tom.
00:38:57
officialgspn
Nice one. Thank you guys. to See you later.