Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Hammering Away Ep #10 - WE SIGNED SOMEONE
197 Plays2 years ago
On today's episode of the podcast Jack and Joe discuss Carlos Borges imminent arrival, Aaron Cresswell's move to Wolves, how Moyes can get the balance in midfield right, and whether or not West Ham need a right back.
Music by: LADI OGUN & ANTlll
Blog: Hammering-Away.blog
Twitter: @Hammering_Away
Instagram/Threads: @HammeringAway_
Tiktok: @hammering.away
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Episode Overview
00:00:23
Speaker
Welcome back to the Hammering White podcast. This is episode 10. I'm gonna be your host, Jack Coogan. We got a lot to get through today. We have to talk about Carlos Borges at Obama this morning. It's always better when it's out of nowhere. It's different. It's different when it's out of nowhere.
Harvey Barnes' Transfer to Newcastle
00:00:40
Speaker
Harvey Barnes plays for Newcastle now and I think we might have gotten better value for money. Aaron Cresswell is on his way out. But first things first, how are you doing on this fine Thursday night?
00:00:52
Speaker
I'm doing well, doing well. A lot of good news today.
Weekend Plans: Movies and Football
00:00:56
Speaker
Feeling good. Barbie and Oppenheimer came out today, so gonna see that this weekend. Which one are you seeing? I think we're gonna see Barbie tomorrow and then Oppenheimer on Monday. That's special. What I am seeing is Declan Rice on Saturday.
00:01:19
Speaker
Oh, yeah, you're going to the Arsenal United. You got a weekend coming up, bro. Seriously. He's going to hear it from me for 90 minutes. I swear to God. I believe that. I genuinely believe that. I'm wearing my West Ham shirt, and I'm just going to be screaming the whole time. He better look up in the crowd and see me. I wish I could give you my right shirt, and you could cross out the numbers in the back or something. That would be too good.
00:01:45
Speaker
He sucks though. We were onto bigger and better
Carlos Borges' Transfer Drama
00:01:48
Speaker
things. We truly are. Carlos Borges. Hell yeah. I can't believe that that came out of nowhere this morning like that. Like the deal was basically done as soon as he got reported. Yeah. Like as soon as Fabrizio reported it was, you know, final details are being worked out. And I was like, whoa, it was like, it's what, 645? Like it dropped in the United States.
00:02:13
Speaker
What'd you say? You texted me. You said, wake up. Yeah, seriously. I wasn't even able to register it properly. It was just getting the crust out of my eyes. The crust out of your eyes. You know what it tells me, though? I think that that means that we were in for Barnes until the last second. Yeah, probably. But you know what? I feel like this is a blessing in disguise.
00:02:36
Speaker
Me too. I mean, Barnes would have been great. He's scored his goals. He would have played really well if Skamaka nobody saying wouldn't have been. But if we really do have limited funds this summer, I'm more than confident.
00:02:49
Speaker
and Borges coming in and making an immediate impact on senior football. Not only because he's that good, but all of these City Academy guys who have left for these like 15 million or less fees have all gone on to make good Premier League impacts. Like Southampton went down, but Labia
00:03:08
Speaker
is wanted by everything in the league. Adozi was good. And Borges is like twice the player Adozi was. Yeah. I mean, PL2 player of the season and like 30 goals in the new, in between U21 and Papa John's trophy and all that. Um, it feels like he's like a, I don't want to say like a city quality player, but he's a primarily quality player.
Borges' Potential and City Strategy
00:03:33
Speaker
Definitely a permanent quality player and it really just came down to I think In marinio's decision. Definitely. It's just like I mean, he's not he doesn't fit What? Pep is looking for right now Um, yeah, you said marina. Oh fuck. Sorry, you know Guardiola so already But yeah, it it was
00:03:58
Speaker
He has the potential to be good enough to play for Citi. It's just not what Pep is looking for. Well, that's why the buyback clause is in there. But it's really interesting to me. And I guess we all knew he'd probably leave. I thought he would go somewhere else. And first of all, you see the report that we beat Brighton, Dortmund, and Frankfurt to signing him. I didn't see that. That's awesome. That's good company to have when signing a young player.
00:04:27
Speaker
But I'm surprised they let him go on a full-on permanent instead of alone in a way. But I think the buyback will almost be like if an ex-pep manager wants him because he's so direct. You know who he reminds me of in his play style? I want to preface this by no means am I saying that he's as good as him. But the way that they play reminds me of Sanรฉ. Really? When Sanรฉ used to play out on the left when he was younger.
00:04:55
Speaker
It's like Sanรฉ with more power. I see that. I see that, honestly. It's not the close control that Louis Sanรฉ had. But the way he can hug the touchline, how dangerous he is when he's able to size people up one-on-one. I mean, they're both just so direct. Yeah. It's almost kind of hard to truly analyze Borges because he just made an absolute joke.
From Academy to Senior Football
00:05:21
Speaker
out of the U21s this season? Not only did he make a joke out of the PL2, he scored a hatchet against Darby County in the Papa John's Cup and the EFL Cup. Did he really? Yeah. That's awesome. They were like a good enough team. I mean, we only beat them, what, 1-0? Yeah, I mean, I'm sure they rotated heavily for the EFL Cup. But like, one of the, because like I was watching highlights,
00:05:49
Speaker
And one of the players he beat was Rooney's cousin or whoever the fuck it is. I don't know how the guy is related to Wayne Rooney, but he's related to him. He's one of their senior players. He scored four goals in the U21 Manchester Derby this season. I saw that too. Dude, there was like, I was watching, there's like 19 highlights from their game against Arsenal.
00:06:14
Speaker
Like, he, he shouldn't have been playing down there. A lot of those would have been playing down there. And any, um, Mabood. Oscar Blob. LaVia would have been playing down there a year and a half ago. Like, their academy is the same as their senior team and I could not be happier.
00:06:40
Speaker
It's kind of crazy that they've developed such a, such a good Academy. Like it's really impressive. The fact that
Guardiola's Strategy and Academy Development
00:06:46
Speaker
while they've, they've, you know, been investing heavily, obviously in the senior team, they've still been able to develop. Well, they've invested on that too. Yeah. It's not like, like, man, CUNY, like not that there's anything wrong with this aren't like man, CUNY and.
00:07:06
Speaker
like dudes who they've built up since they were six years old. This is like, Blavia is Belgium, Bob is Norwegian. I mean, Borges joined at 11, but like he spent time in the sporting academy. Like they definitely do a good job with them because they also spend a lot of money on the facilities and the coaches, but I don't know. I mean, it's kind of crazy how Borges kind of, Borges' story and how he like fell into Pep's lap, essentially. Yeah. Yeah.
00:07:37
Speaker
Because he would have sworn for them around the time that pep joined Citi now. Would have been seven, eight years ago. Yeah. 2016. That's crazy. He was 11 years old in 2016. Same way that Obama was 11 years old trying to take a picture with Sanchez. Now they'll be leading the line in the Europa League for West Ham. Dude, I was at that game. You were? Yeah.
00:08:05
Speaker
That's crazy. Do you remember seeing Obama there? No, but I remember Alexis Sanchez vividly. It's not something you forget, I guess. You know what I remember vividly from that game? Alvaro Arbeloa, like six minutes of like the worst right back, right wing back play you've ever seen. That's surprising considering the right backs we've had in the last
00:08:34
Speaker
Yeah, they've all been so great. Who fall saved our lives. We should sign it right back. I like I want to have this conversation with you on record. Okay. We should sign it right back. Why should we sign it right back? Because we don't have enough good ones.
00:08:54
Speaker
We have a few people, like Kufal is good when he's fit. He hasn't been like fully fit for an extended period of time in like two years. Carrere's a center back and was like horrendous for months. I love Tilo Carrere. I think he's great. I also think that we have to sign another right back because Tilo has to be more of a backup center back this year. How many minutes can Ogbana play? Even if we sign another one, I think Tilo has to be the fourth.
00:09:24
Speaker
And then like with Ben Johnson, who's he, who even knows if he's going to be here. He's not going to get a new contract. He should be sold. Yeah. I mean, as of right now, I like, I like our right back depth. I think who fall when he's fit is awesome. And you can't really drop him when he's fit for the most part, unless you spend big at right back. I think that we should upgrade on Ben Johnson, even if it's max errands.
00:09:53
Speaker
Like upgrade technically. That's fair. I just don't see where the games come from. I'd rather, I mean, who do you think is a better player, Carrera or Aaron's? Aaron's. I actually probably disagree too. But the thing is, is like, if the games come because you lost Dawson, right? And Carrera is probably going to play more center back this year. You would just assume.
00:10:24
Speaker
because he'll be preferred to Agmana. And, you know, I don't think that we're going to use this 3-5-2 exclusively, but I'm sure we'll see it. Especially if they really want to get Muvama involved. And then now if you play, if you play the 3-5-2, there's only one right back who can play that wing back spot effectively. Honestly. That's, that would be cool. I guess, I guess.
00:10:50
Speaker
Maybe they like Lang I don't he's he's looked good in the preseason. I guess I don't know. I mean I think that if we're signing six players this summer like the whole thing has been five to six. If it's a winger to midfielders a center back a fullback on either side at school. So you'd rather buy
West Ham's Transfer Concerns and Strategies
00:11:18
Speaker
a right back than a left back.
00:11:21
Speaker
Not anymore, not with Cresswell going. What if you convince Cresswell to stay? I would rather buy right back at that point, I think. But I think that Cresswell should be sold just because like contract, you're getting a fee for a 33 year old, whatever. Well, even still, I think that Carrรจre and Kufa have been much more reliable than Emerson and Cresswell throughout the season.
00:11:49
Speaker
I think this thing has had really, really fucking bad games this year. And I know he like showed out late in the season and like preseason has been really good, but he had some dreadful performances. And so did Cresswell. I didn't think Cresswell had that many terrible games besides that one stretch after the World Cup. And it got him dropped. It did get him dropped. It was honestly kind of harsh that it got him dropped for as long as it did.
00:12:13
Speaker
Because he came back into the team and he was better also. Cresswell and Emerson have more of the history of being good fullbacks than Carrere and Kufal do. I mean, Kufal was one of our best players. Kufal was like, yeah. He was one of our best players his first year. But he's been playing in a top eight league for three years of his career. And two of them he's not been really able to stay fit. And Carrere's a center back.
00:12:42
Speaker
But he, he's, I feel like with career, it was more of a adjustment period for the prem. Cause you know, he's like at a slider build, but, and that's why I put a lot of stock into like the later end of his season where he started to really turn up for us. I feel like his ability was always there and he like just found a way that he can show it in the prime. Yeah. I mean, I agree with all that on career, but I think that there needs to be an actual fullback as the second one at right back.
00:13:09
Speaker
Like that's just how I feel. I think it needs to be an actual fullback who has the ability to get up and down the pitch and who can play like passes like inside more often. And Aaron's going to do that. My issue, cause that's what drives me crazy about Kufal is even when he's good, he struggles so much to play back inside. Maybe it's cause suit check is terrible, but I think Kufal just is not comfortable like turning inside and playing into the middle of the pitch.
00:13:37
Speaker
I had a right back who gave us that option. I agree with that. I'd really do, but I just feel like. Allow us to do that. What'd you say? So both left backs allow us to do that. Yeah. They have their own problems though, especially defensively. That's why Crestwood was going and we're going to get in Trevor or Truffay to say his name. This is America.
00:14:06
Speaker
and England, we're calling them Trufford. Yeah. I mean, I guess the point I want to make with the right backs is I acknowledge your points and that they're not perfect. But it's just a lot we have so much work other work to do in the summer and a limited budget. And I think that money is better served elsewhere. And this should be treated as a long term issue, not a short term one.
00:14:33
Speaker
First of all, Aaron's might be a long-term fix, especially with Mr. David Moyes at the helm. And also, I don't think the budget is that limited. I think that we have to be smart about how we spend our money, and Borges is a smart signing. But why can't we be smart about how we sign our right back?
00:14:53
Speaker
Like Truffer is rumored to be 17 million, like 20 million euros is the price on his head. Zachariah would be alone to buy. Like we have the money to use, like there's going to be space. You know what I mean? Like price going and the way the installments are set up, I read somewhere that we could spend up to like 120, 130 million to somewhere if we really wanted to.
00:15:15
Speaker
Let's just say like 125 is the absolute peak, no matter who else leaves. Antonio and Cresswell are probably both going to go for fees. And Ben Johnson might go for a fee, especially if we sign it right back. Like between those three, you're probably getting another 15 million minimum. Why don't we use that money to upgrade? And it's a lot of turnover. I'd rather buy a third center back.
00:15:44
Speaker
Well, we're, yeah, same, but we're definitely going to do that. So you want to buy two center mids, a left-winger, which we already have a left back, center back and right back. Yes. Six players. And I think right back should be the last one. It's like the whole team. That's, that's a lot of incomings since literally early May, even rumored confirmed by X. So we want to sign five to six players.
00:16:12
Speaker
I mean, I guess to be fair, there's only four of those six would actually be first-teamers. And not all of them even walk into the team. To center back is not going to start match week one if Zuma and Aguero both fit.
00:16:32
Speaker
The left back will probably not start match week one, even if he's better than Emerson, like, especially if it's trucker. And it's going to like Moyes is going to give him a second, which is fine. But we're just. We'll probably not start match week one, but he'll, he'll probably get to the team pretty quick. I feel like year one is like, uh, for him, it'll be sub appearances and Europe league. And then, you know, mid season, he'll like work his way in. Yeah, he's going to have everything as well. Great.
00:16:59
Speaker
Um, but yeah, like the thing is, is like six players is a lot, but it's not as much squad turnovers last year. Cause a lot of those players are people to give competition and to improve the baseline of our team, which I think is really important. Well, what, what right backs would you want? Do you have any in mind?
00:17:23
Speaker
Aaron's like, I really would be okay with, I mean, we've talked a million times about that he's a little overrated or he used to be overrated. I think he's become underappreciated now. In my opinion, he would have been the best right back in the championship last year. And we've bought from the championship before and it's gone well. He's good. He's like really comfortable with the ball. He gives a little bit more pace. He's a different option to coup fall. He's definitely a little suspect defensively, but I think
00:17:52
Speaker
Moyes is a great coach. He's only 23. Yeah, 23. Singo, obviously, at Torino is someone that we've liked before. And he gives us a lot athletically if we look into him and he can run, he can move, dude. And I think that pace is something that this team needs badly in general, which is why I'm so happy with Borges. And just on Borges again, his technique is ridiculous.
00:18:22
Speaker
Yeah, it's going to be really exciting to watch him play. And it's going to be interesting because him at left wing, he's going to be our only left footed left winger on the team. So I bet that we see some of him at right wing. I think the boys will play him at right wing before he plays Cornet at right wing. You think so? I just think Borges is more suited for it.
00:18:49
Speaker
Probably because of how direct board this is, but I think that I don't know me personally He's played on both sides for City's Academy. It's not like it's foreign to him. Mm-hmm. But he does prefer the left. I would rather see him on the left. I Think we should start him on the left if it doesn't go well, you know how Moyes loves his inverted wingers So we might as well try him on the right
00:19:13
Speaker
Well, that's the other thing. I mean, just to finish my point from before, I don't really know exactly what I would want to do it right back. But I think it's something that we have to explore. But on these wingers, Kornay, that's another one. What's going to happen with him? I think he'll stay. And I think I'm cool with him saying, because he really didn't get a chance to show anything that he's about last year. But like, I think Borges makes the situation even weirder.
00:19:43
Speaker
I think the, his avenue into the team right now is to become Bowens backup. I really think that like, like say first Europa league game is against a smaller nation team and boys, the size of rotate a lot. If he rotates both wingers, I think it's going to be Courtney left and gorgeous, right? I just really believe that.
00:20:08
Speaker
I'm just not comfortable. I'm just not comfortable with board just making his debut in a non-prefer his senior debut in a non-prefer position. I think he's good enough. I mean, I'm not disagreeing. I'd rather play him. I would rather play him at left wing, but I don't think corn is good on the right wing. Like I think that he's a decent player and that he can give us an option, but I think he's just a better left winger and stronger than he is on the right.
00:20:34
Speaker
Well, at this point, this is his last hope because why even play corn and the left wing? You have for now. Well, cause I'd rather play for now is on the left wing. I agree. But in this situation, it'd be for now is down the middle urban Rama. Okay. That's fair. Like I'm talking about like a fully rotated first 11. I think that cornet would play on the left and that we're just playing the right.
00:21:00
Speaker
But that's the thing is like now, now what, but this is what is weird about it. What do you do with Maxwell Cornell? See, yeah, I kind of just figured that we'd try him on the right. And if not, we sell him in January. Honestly, you can even sell in the summer. Who knows? We just had the season he had.
00:21:23
Speaker
right with his mystery injury that nobody knows about second time in 25 years of human history injury right what luck but i mean he did have he does have the reputation of a good player like he can't like when he came to us he was off an incredible season at berlin yeah he's gotta get something it would but like it's a loss man
00:21:46
Speaker
We probably like at least like a 9, 10 million loss and a 17 and a half lane pout sign. Like that's terrible. You might as well at that point. It just makes using him weird. There's no clear place for him on the field though. Well, that's the other thing is like now with Borges coming in, like even if you think that Corne is better than Borges or whatever, not that I think that, but even if you do think that, like,
00:22:16
Speaker
Borges is literally the first signing that Moyes and Staiten will have come together to make. So you kind of are committed to this guy now.
00:22:25
Speaker
You can't just prefer a corn A overhead. That's a real thing that happens in professional sports is when you give these players money or you spend large fees on players, you have to play them. Like, Paquetta probably had a stretch last year where he could have maybe been dropped, maybe should have been dropped. I don't think so, but there's an argument for it. But he wasn't because you spent 51 million pounds on him. The funny thing is, to touch on the corn A versus Borges thing,
00:22:53
Speaker
I know whether or not, you know, who was better than the other was kind of irrelevant to your point. But the first time I ever watched Borges play live was against us. And it was actually Maxwell Kornet's rehab game. Yeah. I may have actually texted this to you. I was like, Borges is better than Kornet. Like they were both playing left wing at the same time. I was like, man, like, why don't we just get that guy? He's not going to find that text.
00:23:21
Speaker
Because, dude, we both like Borges for a while. You especially, I remember the first time you watched him, you were like, we need to get him. I was like, even that sign, no damn, Carlos Borges. You underestimate David Moyse's eye for talent, I think. Yeah, like I just looked up his name in our text, March 3rd, you should sign Borges in FM.
00:23:48
Speaker
Manchester City striker versus Muvama, Carlos Borges, and it's just his video game stats. Yeah, so at the time of this text, Borges had had 17 appearances in the PL2, 15 goals, eight assists, and up against Muvama, who had made 14 appearances at that point, Muvama had 10 goals and one assist. So that's the kind of talent that we're talking about. It's crazy, like... And he had like double his stats,
00:24:17
Speaker
and like 500% more assists or whatever. Like, it's insane. He's a joke. He honestly is such a joke. I'm over the moon with
Carlos Borges' Signing and Impact
00:24:28
Speaker
this signing. I came and it put into words. I mean, it's like, what are those signings that like, usually other teams make and we're like, that was the fee? Why didn't we do that? Yeah, I completely agree.
00:24:41
Speaker
And it's in that way, like in the way that you're talking about, it's so uncharacteristic of us in the best way. And I think that it's something that's started and will bring to us. And I don't think Moyes should be left out of this either, because this definitely shows an ability with Moyes to, you know, have these conversations and be convinced. Because I don't think he's someone Moyes would have targeted by himself, but like clearly, maybe he is.
00:25:09
Speaker
Well, clearly they're working together well for us to get this done as quickly as we seemingly did on a very uncharacteristic signing. The way I see it...
00:25:21
Speaker
Obviously, we're just speculating here, but Borges was listed before Steiden got here and before Steiden was even confirmed as a target for our technical director. So what I'm thinking is this is probably a Rob Newman target because Newman used to scout for Citi. Yep. Oh my God. That's right. And then, you know,
00:25:42
Speaker
He's a pretty undeniable talent. I'm sure Stuyten took a look at the list when he came in. That's another way it seems with some of our targets. It seems like they were on the list. And since he was confirmed by Fabrizio or X, whatever you want to say, it's gotten stronger. And that's also probably just because we didn't start doing business until he came in. Well, another thing is that Stuyten, if you look at his Leverkusen
00:26:08
Speaker
signings like Diabi from Pong like he loves like wide players with pace. Yeah, which like thank God we got him because he's probably he probably saw a board just on the on the on the list. And he was like, man, like, that is the guy that's exactly who I want as a winger.
00:26:25
Speaker
I mean, I've been crying for pace in this team since Jesse Lingard was here. Since probably longer than that, but just like in terms of like, since we've been good the whole time. I mean, the last summer, the last week of the window, I was on my knees for his male assar. It's really cool that we got someone who the entire city, whatever city football group thinks is great.
00:26:52
Speaker
But hey, maybe boys are just convinced because now side it's gonna let them bid for your board prowess. Maybe that's gonna go. Oh man, I wouldn't be cool with that. What do you think about board prowess? It sounds like it sounds like with word prowess, he would be like a third midfielder and he would be like a downs replacement. That's kind of the wild beginning. I have an aneurysm on this podcast. If you sign word prowess, even if we sign him as the not be a starter.
00:27:19
Speaker
Yeah, that's what we're going to do, for sure. That's what it sounds like, because if we're getting rid of downs, we still need two more. I agree. But are we really going to sign three center mids a month? That's one thing. I hope so. It always loves WordPress. It'll be Zachariah on loan riding the bench. Oh, God.
00:27:43
Speaker
No, but not even that. Like, what angers me about word proud is that it's not even that he's like a shitty player. Like he's a solid Premier League midfielder, and he should get a move to the Premier League this year. He should. But he's not the profile that we need. Because first of all, we're trying to replace Declan Rice, who's a freak athlete, ball carrier, ball winner, all these things that we need to sign two players or replace him.
00:28:09
Speaker
WordPress is not good at winning the ball back or carrying a ball or being athletic. And on top of that, I mean, I've said this a million times, Moises system is so reliant on midfielders, at least at West Ham on midfielders being elite athletes in order to win the physical battle of midfield and just win the midfield battle as a whole. We're not going to like pass around teams.
00:28:36
Speaker
Like it's literally all on the head, the shoulders and do the passing. I mean everything, but like to be the difference maker with the ball.
00:28:45
Speaker
I 100% agree. I was kind of playing devil's advocate for a second because I wanted to trigger that monologue. Dude, I was just going to drive. And the thing is, is that you know this. I tried so hard with the copium for James WordPress. I wanted to get into it. Like I was really trying to get into it because like the free kicks will be fun.
00:29:07
Speaker
Like they'll be fun if he comes, like that's true. And like I tried to accept this in some different ways, but everything about it drives me crazy. It's just not the type of profile that we need. The fee is ridiculous. It's still, every once in a while, for some reason, somebody's like, well, it's actually 25, it's actually 20. No, it's not. The asking price is 40 million and Downs doesn't want to go there.
00:29:32
Speaker
What are we doing? He's going to be on insane wages. You want to put, you want to have another Danny Ings in the fucking squad. Like, are we serious? And like respect to him, he's had a good preseason and stuff. He's on 150,000. We want to put James Ward Prowse on 110, 120. We did so much work to fix. Can you imagine our top two earners being James Ward Prowse and Danny Ings?
00:30:01
Speaker
Dude, I at least Zoom is on like 125. And Paquette is up there too. And Bowen's about to get a new contract, hopefully. They'll probably figure that out after the window ends if I had to guess. I feel like they've been saying that for mad long. Like, it's been like, oh, after this window, and oh, we're in relegation, but let's wait till we get out of it. Just kidding down our own. It's a formality with Jared Bowen.
00:30:29
Speaker
Yeah, he knows he's locked in for life. Dude, he's so stuck here. I've said this to you for so long. He's so stuck. Because he's great, but he's just not quite good enough to be in a possession-based side. He could play for Liverpool as a Bitpark player, but he's not going to go to Liverpool for the asking price. They just don't have enough money to bring him in as a backup for Salah. Maybe when Salah retires. We started doing that one thing with the one girl.
00:30:59
Speaker
And I really locked it in. Now he can't. Imagine, I would never do something that wrong, my father-in-law. Man, why couldn't Danny Dyer go after Rice, man? Dude, that guy doesn't respect these women. We know that. That's true, but at least we could have made him feel bad.
00:31:23
Speaker
He feels bad. You will make him feel bad this weekend. Damn right. Dude, he's talking. He's talking to all the girls in Vegas. Now he's in DC. He's going to be in Manhattan in a few days. He needs to be put on a leash. He does. He does. He's he is truly an enigma. He's a weirdo dude.
00:31:48
Speaker
He's not our weirdo anymore. It's what makes him great, though. I'll give him that. The insanity that goes on, the demons that he harbors is what makes him great.
00:31:58
Speaker
You see the picture of him yelling at a water guard like 10 minutes. He was a 10-minute cameo debut. I watched that cameo. There's some of it. He tried to make himself available. Like, really wasn't. Didn't get the ball in a dangerous position and threw his hands in the air. I was like, are we doing it? Is he going to be? Is he going to get this air again now? He's got to chill. He's got to realize he's not dealing with it's a diop anymore. He can't just yell at these people.
00:32:28
Speaker
I can't yell at these people and get away with it. They are as good as you now. Seriously, they can chat to you. They're not all, but they're pretty good. They're good enough to be on the field with him, which you could not say about every single West Ham player. He looked good, dude. He's going to take another leap this year, I'm telling you. He is. I'm getting in his head on Saturday, and all of that progress is going in the garbage. He's going to take another leap. We're going to be sitting here in end of August, early September.
00:32:58
Speaker
and be like, yo, I don't remember being like that. That's how it is with him every year. You remember that whatever he did against United at home when we beat them, it's like in every rice comp where he like, it's like right after a kickoff, no, it was Liverpool actually. And like he like puts his studs in the ball and does like, you know, like I don't know how to describe it.
00:33:25
Speaker
Like when you do like a drag bag and FIFA, I don't know if that's a technical term for it. Like he dragged it back and put it behind his leg and then just like pinged it across the field. Oh, I remember that. I remember that. Yeah. That wasn't in his bag. And like, like he couldn't have done that in the Leon game. If he tried, he would have fell over his own feet. And he was still great at all then, but like every year
00:33:50
Speaker
When is he going to stop, man? When is he just going to become who he is? When is he going to stop? Probably after two years at Arsenal, right? The second year at Arsenal will be the last time he gets better.
Declan Rice's Development and Team Dynamics
00:34:02
Speaker
If he takes two more significant leaps, how many players at any position in the world are better than him? Legit. I'm so confident in him continuing to take leaps. What other parts of his game can he take a leap with?
00:34:18
Speaker
I guess like he was already really press resistant to use that phrase, but he'll probably look even more press resistant this year in a team that loves to play out. I think he'll just have more of an opportunity to showcase his ability in possession just simply because he'll have more of it. He'll probably become more of a risk taker with the ball over the next year or two.
00:34:43
Speaker
Which will be really exciting to watch. And make like quicker decisions. He was playing really deep for them yesterday. It was almost like playing as deep in possession as he does for England where he just kind of keeps it ticking. Now I'm excited to watch him in person on Saturday. Yeah.
00:35:03
Speaker
I'll have the notebook, I'll have the notebook out the Miss the rice, Declan rice mistake tracker. But what are you doing? But those tickets, bro, they're really selling all this all star tickets, like $200, like an hour before the game. Like I had other stuff to do, but it's like, what are we doing? Like, nobody wants to see this. How embarrassing is it that you assembled the 11 best players?
00:35:28
Speaker
in your entire league and you get stomped of 5-0. Dude, by the way, I'm pretty sure that was Arsenal's first preseason game. Maybe it was their second. It was their first? I think it was their first. I think it was their first, too. Yeah, it was definitely their first. Bro. I mean, I'm probably going easy, too, because, you know, all-star game. It's an all-star game.
00:35:53
Speaker
But damn. Where's the pride, man? You're down 4-0. Like, lock in. Yeah, no. I, like, at 4, I would have been, like, enough. They have good players, too. They've, like, I mean, they have one good player. I like Thiago Amana. Yeah. You know who started for them? It's Riker. Guess. I'll give you one guess. Cheetra. No, he tore his ACL, didn't he? Yeah.
00:36:22
Speaker
So who started? Christian Benteke. Oh, yo. He's nice to me, bro. He's nice, man. I can't believe getting that one. Damn. That's crazy. And this is not an arsenal podcast, so this will be the last thing I touch on. But Timber also looked great.
00:36:47
Speaker
Dude, I've been high on that as soon as they were linked with him. I think that's such a good signing. Do you think they'll win the league, last thing? No. Okay, moving on. I have a question for you. They don't have the heart-eating nine that you require to win the league, unless you're pep. But maybe Arteta is pep. Nobody knows yet. They just got Kai Haveridge, bro. That's your heart-eating nine. That's your Robin Van Persie regen.
00:37:15
Speaker
Eat your heart out, man. Car Haberz is a gunner. That's right, North London. I'm a gunner. Jesus Christ. It makes me so sick, bro. Every time I see his little Instagram story, it's fucking like an ounce of picture. Like, get a grip, man. What do you play for them now? Anyway, I have a question for you. Yeah.
00:37:45
Speaker
Harvey Barnes, $38 million. Would you have been comfortable paying that? Yeah. Like if I didn't know this board just $14 million deal was on the table, and we had dropped $38 million and signed them, that would have been cool. That's the price that you pay for a guy who scored double digit goals, like three Premier League seasons running. Yeah, I probably agree. I prefer the board just signing, because you know what? Bringing a first choice left winger honestly would have been harsh on Ben Rama.
00:38:12
Speaker
It would have been worse, but I, we, Ben Rama definitely needs competition that isn't for now. I mean, not that for now, this isn't good enough, but I just think that it gives us more options. Cause there are two, I agree. Cause there are two different profiles like him in for now is like that. That's what I like the most about the board. Just thing is it's a completely different option. But he's more similar to Ben Rama, whereas like he can beat his guy off the dribble. You know, he's a direct, another direct player that can.
00:38:43
Speaker
I wouldn't love Ben Rama that direct. Well, on paper, he's like a direct, like beat a man, like- Fury, but in theory, he's also- Cut in sign. I can go back to 2020 and find tweets people talking about. Oh, Pyatt, Regen, Pyatt, part two, Ben Rama's here. The hell were we talking about? Ooh, that's enough.
00:39:07
Speaker
those championship podcasts, those championship compilations, man, they were crazy. They were crazy. He was nice. I mean, I thought he was Demi, but like, Jesus, man, took like a year and a half, two years to like understand that, like, I can't expect this guy to be quiet. Which is too long, man. It's too long. It was like, because even when he scored that solo goal against Ghent,
00:39:37
Speaker
I was like, yeah, this is what I expected. Jesus Christ, man. You held the faith way longer than I did. That's true. That he was going to be pied? No, not that he was going to be pied, but you know what I'm talking about. He scored that goal off the dribble. I was like, this is who he is. Oh, yeah. I had a moment where I was like, he's arrived. He's fully settled. Yeah, it was the fall of 2021. It was like, OK.
00:40:06
Speaker
He had the year to bet in. Now he's going to go for 10 in 10. That was like his best stretch in the, in the primary league or like in, in, in at West Ham, probably that like month or a couple of games in that area. It was, uh, it was August when he scored a few goals in August and a few assists, but performance wise, I think earlier this season was a longer and better stretch.
00:40:33
Speaker
Probably but in terms of like straight open play output and like he was he was really rolling Open play is the key word. Yeah No, can't discount those penalties man. They want us a trophy They did I would just telling people have been wrong as a big game player because he scored against Arsenal twice and easy in the semi-final
00:40:59
Speaker
Just because he's like a bam spot. He was so, like, there are some bad performances in those, like, big game performances, you know what I'm saying? He was not very good against Tarantino. In his defense, he was great against AZ at home. He was spectacular. Yeah. But yeah, he was terrible at Tarantino. It was a dogfight, man. You mean, don't do, man.
00:41:27
Speaker
He was alright for the first 15 minutes. He was better than others. The thing is no one was doing anything in that game for both teams. It's not hard in performance. I mean, that's what a final is, isn't it? I guess. It was in a very good showing for the conference league where two teams are just playing so bad. It was just that team was marginally better. That are like horrified.
00:41:51
Speaker
and anxious because they have their first chance of silver. Especially, I mean, Fiorentina, they just lost the final. Like, they really needed them. They had two chances to qualify for Europe next year. Mess them both up just for Juventus to get banned. Oh my God. Yo, I would be so embarrassed. Yo, rate this signing, Arthur Mello to Fiorentina. Honestly, like, yeah. It worked.
00:42:22
Speaker
You can get fucked. Oh. We destroyed their will. Now they're signing Arthur Mello. Yeah, Arthur Mello. Replacing Amrabbat with Arthur Mello. Well, I mean, he'll be fine for them in Italy. They like to play with the ball and stuff, and he's good for that. But like, you remember, dude, I remember anyone or something funny. Barcelona signed him for 40 million in Brazil however many years ago. It was like 21.
00:42:50
Speaker
I don't remember, I remember if it was like the super cup, it wouldn't have been the super cup because they had won no damn league or the damn Champions League. But I was watching, it was probably the Champions League game. But I watched a Barcelona game like early into the season, like maybe his debut, maybe his second game, maybe his full debut. And I was like, yo, this guy is the truth.
00:43:18
Speaker
Oh, man, dude, I thought he's been a yes, though, bro. I thought they found another one. Hey, man, he landed at a good spot, you know, two finals. Don't ask what happened in those finals, but they got there. So here's the thing about Tarantino. They finished eighth in Syria. They went to two finals and they're in Europe again next year. So like they won one of them.
00:43:45
Speaker
They definitely won one of them. Yeah, that's exactly. They won the don't commit like numerous counts of fraud competition. They won the literally don't be one of the biggest criminals in Europe competition. Did they end up firing their manager, Fiorentina? Because remember, remember some reports out there was that
00:44:08
Speaker
the the conference league final was supposed to be like a dude the conference league final was fucking el sacchico bro like what are we doing that's what they made it out to be but i don't think they filed up with that from ferrantino did it ever get covered how funny it was that the manager managing ferrantina against us was named italiano vincenzo
West Ham in European Competitions
00:44:31
Speaker
italiano they're gonna replace him with fucking dave and moiz is gonna let that guy be
00:44:39
Speaker
They're going to replace him with Tony Mozzarella. Paula Brigutt. My god, what a club. This is also not a Fiorentina podcast. I mean, yeah, but like, dude, they're like, I will make fun of them for the rest of my life. They'll always be the team that let West Ham win a trophy. They better pray we don't finish third in our Europa League group. They better fucking pray.
00:45:10
Speaker
Oh man, a rematch? They don't want to see us over two legs, bro. I'm saying, I want to see them in the final again. I don't think I could handle that. Dude, if we, if we just theoretically.
00:45:27
Speaker
I was thinking about this the other day. If we finish third in our conference league group, or in our Europa League group, and we're like 12th in the league in like December, and we are in the conference league, I can't do it again. There's way too much riding on those games, bro. I'm watching us play fucking Ghent in my apartment by myself, pumping my fist when Paquetta scored a penalty. I need to get a grip, man. It's not that serious.
00:45:56
Speaker
against these like, like fifth place teams in like the random, most random league you've ever heard of. Like, oh man, how are we going to set up against them? Like, worried about Larnaca during the midweek. Like tweeting, like Lanzini, like Larnaca at home comps.
00:46:22
Speaker
Like, man, he really ran the game. Like, they play in Cyprus. Like, they were in a country like more than 30 years. Second or third in Cyprus, when we played them, they weren't even first. They were like, I remember reading about them when we played them. They were like, in a title race. Yeah, there was a race to be had.
00:46:45
Speaker
They were so bad. They were, they were bad. They were the one team who we played where it's like, all right, like this competition's a joke. Yeah. Cause like the other teams were like, you know, European clubs or whatever, but they were. Yeah. They were just not even league one quality. They, they, they kick-started Antonio season. They didn't. And they got, they got Skamaka goal.
00:47:13
Speaker
They started Bowen's season too, when you really think about it. He was playing well, but goals-wise. They were getting everybody. Dude, everybody eats, man. Everybody was eating. We got our last really tasty Lanzini compilation. Yeah. That was the last one. We didn't know. We kind of didn't know. I didn't know. Dude, I thought he had more appearances than him than that. He was like, February. He was like, March.
00:47:44
Speaker
Well, if you really think about it, was he ever going to start in any other game? Me personally, I would have gave him a go. I don't know where. I would have started him against Lester on the final day. Yeah, OK. I would have started in those last few games. Did he start in those last few games? Yeah, he got his little cameo.
00:48:10
Speaker
He got his goal against Leeds. That wasn't everybody that's game. That was storybook. That, that dude, that was the most WWE game that maybe we've ever had. Leeds scored. I mean, no, we don't want to talk about race. It was one of those games. Like, you know, when teams are really in the shit and you just know that they suck.
00:48:36
Speaker
They scored early, and I was like, yeah, we're going to win this game. Yeah. It was like they scored too early. Rice was always going to score. And then Lantini came out, and I was like, man, what if? Dude, that was me. I was like, man, he wouldn't. It would almost be too good to be true. It was.
00:49:01
Speaker
And then he kept the assist in the link up and he was definitely offside too. It don't matter. How the hell did they say he was onside?
00:49:11
Speaker
Dude, he did that along the touch line. And I was doing that in my house. I was trying to move in the house all day. Honestly, I still do it. Sometimes off the wall to yourself and shit. Yeah. Like rolling it to my right foot and then hitting it across the keep. Yo, here's a really weird and specific question. What was your favorite piece of Lucas Paquette The Flare?
00:49:40
Speaker
in the first season of this guy. Just the one that really got you out of your seat. The one where he received that long pass with, you know. Yeah, yeah, I guess. He had Cresswell cracking up on the bench. That was Aaron Cresswell's legacy. It really is. That was the moment where I was like, man, he's here.
00:50:09
Speaker
Yeah, that's crazy. He plays for us for the first time because I remember like specifically Cresswell would never like talk highly of Felipe Anderson is so weird. Like he wouldn't say anything bad about him. But like when they asked him, like, oh, it was just never mentioned that it was good. Like seeing him approve like the cut. I was like, all right. Like he's got he's got the stamp. Like he really was like, damn, like that boy. Nice. That boy. Nice. I liked
00:50:38
Speaker
The one against Ghent when we ran them off the pitch was a lot of fun. When he backhilled it to Emerson. What was the game? I can't remember if it was Ghent or if it was another game. He was like, he did something similar against Silkborg earlier in the season, but this one was at home. And he was like mad off balance and like dragged it back and then flipped it behind himself. I don't even remember how he did it. I'll have to find the clip.
00:51:08
Speaker
dude i just love the way he's like he can like just hold on to like hold the defender on his back for hours and he'll be like the most dangerous position like in our own third in the corner and he'll just be like all right i'm just gonna stand here like you can't do anything to me well he almost was in the it was in the final wasn't it when he almost fucked it up doing that yeah that was crazy he had he had lost the ball there all season
00:51:34
Speaker
He was taking armor by for a ride a couple of times. Yeah. Yeah. Especially like the further into the game it got like before his assist, he was getting better. He was, he was also terrible for a lot of that game. So was everybody though, but he just stood out cause he was like, you know, the one always on the ball. It stands out with him when he's not doing it well, but look, he was signed to make one pass and he made it. Hell yeah.
00:52:02
Speaker
That was my first thought when he made that assist. I was like, that's it. That's the fee. Hey, done. That's all we ever wanted from him. The rest is gravy. And what's crazy about it, it was like, remember he signed it. It was always like, man, like Bowen running on to his passes is going to be special. And we hadn't, we hadn't scored from one yet. There's the one again, when Bowen put it wide, then there was a, there was another one. I can't remember it now.
00:52:33
Speaker
But like, we definitely missed a few chances for the season. I remember that pass because the play that was when I was like, he's here. Like I played women. It was like first time like broke two lines. The ball in the box. I was like, what? Yeah, I mean, he's a joke. He is a joke. Have you come around on Alvarez at all?
00:53:00
Speaker
No. Why not? Not at all. Why not? He just gives me the ick. I just don't get it with him. He doesn't do much. To be fair, the majority of times I've watched him play was for Mexico. Mexico are horrible. But he doesn't stand out amongst the shit, which is my issue. We'll do plenty of good England players have not stood out among that shit. Like when they were terrible.
00:53:29
Speaker
But I don't know, just in one-on-one situations, it just doesn't matter who's around you. Why are you getting consistently dribbled around in the CONCACAF? You know what I'm saying? Zhao Polinya for $50 million or it's an Alvarez for $40 million. Not even that $50 million. The price is going to be higher than $50 million and we're going to walk away. If we spend $60 million on Polinya, I'll be disgusted.
00:53:57
Speaker
I prefer Paulina to Alvarez. I don't know if the price, like the price difference is one thing, but I would, I would like to go on the record and say, I would prefer Jia Paulina to Edson Alvarez. If we end up getting Alvarez, um, you know, strike this from the record and I'm going to switch my narrative. Yeah. Yeah. But I would prefer Paulina.
00:54:22
Speaker
my ideal outcome is to get fofana and zechariah and it's gonna stay that way to the end of the window that's totally fair but i i really i really do want a sitter which is why i want alvarez i don't think we need one i don't think we need one why because they can they can first of all they can both do the job it's not like you know with rice and soup check where one has to be
00:54:51
Speaker
just play a true pivot together. I don't think that I think we would just benefit from having like a, a discipline duo where they both have freedom, but you know, they can take turns in them. One is like, that's kind of how a race and suit check were. Not really, dude. Suit check was the average position next to Antonio. You say it was Haverds?
00:55:17
Speaker
I was saying his, I said his average position was like in San Antonio. It's just like a weird area. Like, look, I would be thrilled with Fafana and Zachariah. Those are probably the two best players that we're linked with. So like, if we can make that pivot work, I'm all for it. It's just like, I don't know. There's something in me that like just wants to say I want more of a sitter, but maybe that's just like being scared, man. Maybe I'm just scared. Maybe I just got to let go.
00:55:47
Speaker
You should be scared, because this is a scary time. But I was watching Fufana, and in possession, he is like opera for Monaco. He operates that first phase. He drops in the center backs. He receives the ball from the center backs. He plays it wide. He plays it forward into the central attacking players. He makes those passes that we rely on Rice to make. Now, out of possession is a different question, because he
00:56:16
Speaker
For Monaco at least, he likes to press like the first guy who receives the ball in the midfield. So say like the center back passes it to the center mid, like Fofana is on his back.
00:56:31
Speaker
You know, like that is what, how he seems to be comfortable operating. So we would need a guy. I mean, Zachariah could easily be this guy who is able to cover for, for him when he'd like, you know, takes those chances. I think Zachariah can do the job. Why can't he? It means Zachariah is a great ball winner and he's combative and stuff. Yeah. I mean, it's the injuries of Zachariah. They're the biggest worry there.
00:57:00
Speaker
But I mean, I guess if you said Onana for fun, I mean, I'd be cool. It really is just the being scared of it not being someone who sits. That's what Moises is thinking. Yeah, I was going to say it's tactically also Moises decision. I just don't want to, you know, necessarily hinder somebody like Zachariah by just telling them to sit. But I guess, you know, in possession, not in possession, it's two different things.
00:57:28
Speaker
I don't even think he's just straight up sitting. Like I think that they can alternate. Like Fofana, it's not like Fofana is, he can't defend a transition. You know, he can, and he does it quite well, but I think it would be limiting to just keep him there. I get Zachariah is a great ball winner and like Fofana is capable, but like Alvarez and Pauline are both like elite, like top of the top level ball winners.
00:57:57
Speaker
Like, even if you don't believe that about Alvarez, that that's, you know, the billing, that's what it's advertised as, is that with those two, like you are getting somebody who's semi, like sort of close to Rice and their ability to win the ball back. And so like, if you get them, you just essentially have like solved that part of the problem. That's fair. But like, the other thing is like, we can't just try and be the same team that we were with Rice. It's not going to work.
00:58:26
Speaker
Exactly we can use this opportunity to be a different team and a more Sustainable team now. We don't have to play suit check all the damn time. You know, we can have to just be one guy who wins the ball Also fucking pisses me off now, right is gone now we can acknowledge a suit check sucks Like what bro You spent off. Yeah, right how much money we spend last summer? 150 180 million
00:58:53
Speaker
none of it could be used to replace your check. We couldn't drop more than nine million on a midfielder to play next to Rice. The most thing is the risk averse player in the history of sports. The thing is Rice is a pretty boy. You don't want to get up for those balls in the air. You don't want to share a spotlight. That's what it was.
00:59:18
Speaker
Now he just didn't want to get his hair messed up going up for a header in the midfield. So he was like, we need a guy right next to me who's just going to do that. I heard that Declan Rice actually, he's the one who stopped the Onana deal. Yeah, imagine. He said, yo, mm-hmm. He can do it. I got a price tag to detect.
00:59:47
Speaker
I'm trying to play for... I'm trying to be a goner. No beginning. Dude, if you think he's long in his home... Slapping in the fucking mouth. Dude, you've been pretty... You've been worse with rice this episode than me. What's going on? What's going on? I am so emotionally all over the place. I can't believe he's gone. I guess now seeing him for the first time and playing in an arsenal shirt, it's like, man... It's just... Dude, it's just making me mentally unstable and unwell.
01:00:18
Speaker
I can't shake this feeling that it feels like he left out the back door. Right? He kind of slipped out, didn't he? I understand that this was well covered and everything, but I just feel like I didn't get enough.
01:00:38
Speaker
Dude, Nevez was crying on camera at demolishing you. We got an edited video by Dan Sube on the fucking page. Dude, Rice didn't know about that video.
01:00:56
Speaker
Yo. All the clips he's talking, I don't even think they're old clips. Yeah, I think they're all from like post-game interviews and stuff. Oh, post-game interviews, bro. Dare I say that he gave us an Irish goodbye? He might. Yo. Oh, man. He really kind of did stuff out the back door, though. Like, he kind of...
01:01:25
Speaker
I didn't get any closure. What the fuck? He needs to answer for all this. He needs to speak with me one on one. I'm going to set it up on Saturday. I'm going to chase him down. Dude, I was going to go wait for him. Next Saturday. I mean, yeah, next Friday. Sorry, that's when the episodes come out. Next Friday, exclusive interview with Declan Rice.
01:01:52
Speaker
Uh, it's being set up currently and yeah, really excited to say no, he will be, he will be convinced. Yeah. I feel, I feel, I feel secure announcing it ahead of time. Dude. I actually, I saw where they were training. They were training at George Mason university. It's like 15 miles from me. I was like, this guy is so lucky. I'm employed. I wish I was a little bit more of a loser, just a little bit more.
01:02:18
Speaker
Slightly less dude. The worst was uh, he was at the white house, right? And that's like the way I go home from work And I didn't see him or killed him I would I would have fucking do I would I would have strangled them but it would have been it would have just been like a really tight hug but like malicious
01:02:46
Speaker
You know, I think about that sometimes during this whole thing. I'm like, what would you say to Rice if you saw him like just walking in the street? Like, I don't know what I would do. I don't know if I'd be angry or be like, oh my God. In all honesty, I would say thank you. I'll say thank you for everything. I'd be like, you were the only person who's ever delivered from me. I keep telling everybody important in my life that Declan Rice is the only person who ever delivered from me.
01:03:14
Speaker
Like on the phone, like, yeah, he's the only one who ever came through. You know, I wish it wasn't him though, honestly. I wish I still had never seen any of my team succeed. It would be better than this. At least he didn't play well in the final. That's my cope. Dude, you like.
01:03:37
Speaker
Brad on that so fucking quickly. That was like the first, like one of the first things that I said to you like, like once we have a FaceTime after the game, I was like, and Rice was bad. Like, we're going to be all right. Dude, we are going to be all right. Well, that's what's crazy is that I really believe we're going to be all right.
01:04:03
Speaker
Me too. I always thought that, but this could have gone, like if we were having a bad preseason, this could have really gone. They're lucky if we're not spending any money. Seriously. I mean, everybody looked like against Tottenham, everyone who needed to look good looked good. Like the midfield sucked.
01:04:26
Speaker
And that's fine. I think that they all recognize they had a shitty preseason last year. And you know, preseason doesn't matter for some teams. Like it's about different things for different teams, but I think that they all recognize how bad they were last preseason. And they're making a point of like being on it and being ready. Which is awesome. It's really nice to see. And the young guys have been great too.
01:04:53
Speaker
They've kind of, I feel like they've kind of served as, the young players did play last year, but these young players are much better than the ones that showed up last year. Young players, I feel like there's also just been more faith put in them. Like these young players have been told to believe that they can make it and that they can make it. And I think that as far as I'm concerned, one of them has made it. Like if you know, it's not a consistent feature in the senior squad next year and like making
01:05:21
Speaker
I really need at least 15, 20 appearances from next year in a few starts. That's like the bare minimum. If Ings and Skamaker fit all year in Firing, I think Antonio should be allowed to go wherever he wants. We'll get a little fee. He's got the books. I was reading about the new Financial Fair play.
01:05:43
Speaker
Rules. So starting this year, your squad worth like cumulatively can only be like a hundred percent of like your revenue. So I think it's like, like recent transfer fees plus like the wage bill and like agent fees. I don't really know exactly how it all works. Like, I don't know how recent the transfer fees have to be. And then next season it's 90% of your revenue. And then the year after that it's 80%.
01:06:12
Speaker
And then apparently I think it was an athletic article I was reading. And after that is when it started to Mike, it's spooky for us. After that it's 70 million of your revenue. And then it goes down to 60 and then it's going to stay at your squad. Like where it can only be like between, like, I don't know if it's all the transfer fees. No way. It's all these fees. Um, but yeah, so like basically if you make 300 million.
01:06:42
Speaker
a year and spend 150 on players. You can only spend, I don't know, there's 180, 60% of 300 million. You can only spend... Whatever. This isn't a math podcast. Yeah, but the financial fair play rules are changing. That's interesting. It's a great time to have a bunch of Academy kids coming in. That would be a great way to save money or earn money. Exactly. Because none of them will have fees attached to them.
01:07:09
Speaker
But the other thing is, because I was reading about, I think that we had $252 million or $258 million of revenue last year. And I think that the squad, either the word, like, I don't, again, I don't really know how it works. But like, we're at like $180 million, I think, something like that. So it's mine, for now. Like, we're going to be spending money. And like the rice fee.
01:07:33
Speaker
obviously helps with the revenue. You're just tacking on $33 million onto it. Yeah, I mean, especially because he came in for nothing and he's leaving for $105 million. Yeah. Good stuff. We're going to have to navigate that. We've got all these big earners in the books. God damn, Paquette, the $50 million. Better have a good season, my man. Danny Yang's. Danny Yang's. $150 million every week.
01:08:02
Speaker
Every single week. $550,000 to that. Thank God. His contract will be done by the time we have to start really worrying. Because we're not the only ones who are going to struggle to, you know. Wolves as well. I guess wolves are probably out of it now. I mean, I would say every team that isn't in the top six and is trying to do well is going to have to deal with these things. Villa. That's probably why Villa are spending so big this year.
01:08:31
Speaker
is because it's not going to be there in the future be there. They're not going to be able to have the most exposure. I mean, every 10 got to be in the every 10 are in big trouble right now. I'm surprised they're not like actively shopping. Oh, no, no. That'll be their highest price guy. They're comfortable in knowing that he's going to leave this window. To who though, if not us to who?
01:09:02
Speaker
Someone's going to sign them. Like, I mean, Chelsea could pull out the Quesado deal. I'd be shocked. Brighton are being crazy. I mean, he's their partner. Do what they want, but they're being crazy. They, they like basically told Chelsea is better than Rice the other day. Yeah. For like north of a hundred million, which is funny, like Boli and all those, they can all cry. But, um, it'd be awesome.
01:09:32
Speaker
Yeah, they'll sell a non of it. Will they sell anyone else? Do they have anyone else worth demanding a fee? No. They sold Sims. They, they, they, uh, commentary. I'm sure a team would be interested in, uh, Patterson, but right back. But I don't think they would want to sell him. But how, what, what kind of fee would they demand for one worth selling him?
01:09:59
Speaker
Yeah, he's more important to their squad. Yeah, I mean, because I think that with Sims going for a fee, they're gonna, I think then Jim is gonna play striker for them. Which could work out really well. Yeah, because he doesn't do the off the ball work that a dike is gonna ask him to do. But he could really, he could really help them playing as a striker.
01:10:22
Speaker
But I mean, you got to be embarrassed letting him do that to you. Right? Like he, dude, he really took them. And now he's going to play for them. There's nothing they can do about it because they need him. No hard feelings all of a sudden had all that vitriol for us. But now. Everton, it's like he ever had our comeback.
01:10:47
Speaker
I guess so. I think they have hard feelings for him. I think it's funnier that they have to swallow their pride. I think it's also funny. He has to swallow his pride. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Like, I wasn't good enough for the team I left you for. I'll come try it out with you guys. Oh, man. It's gross. Still would, though. Still would. You still sign him? Still would. Like, theoretically, you're nuts, dude. I'm emotional. He called me at an emotional state. He's not. Like, he wouldn't work.
01:11:16
Speaker
Don't care. Still one. You're a clown. Hopefully they get walligated. I hope he's horrendous. I think he'll do fine, especially if he plays striker, but I hope, I really hope gross things for his footballing ability. Is it another loan? It's a loan. Yeah. Jesus Christ. They're spending a fee on a player. They're probably paying the wages. Dan Juma needs a home. And I think David Morris has to give it to him.
01:11:48
Speaker
Alright, I'm ending it there. No, no quick hitters? Quick hit. We can quick hit. I have one saved up. Hit me with it. Alright. I'm gonna time you. Oh yeah? Well dude, I was trying to get out of here. I was trying to let your Danjum Obama that you'd still take him be your outro. So I apologize. Nah, it's cool. It's cool. I've been planning this. 15 seconds. 15 seconds.
01:12:17
Speaker
on the clock. sell me on post rice West Ham. Ready, set, go. David Moyes is at the wheel. He genuinely is. And we have aimed set it times because we have one of the best mid blocks in the world. We're making fun, exciting signings that fit the place style well. And we're back. That's that's it. We're back.
01:12:39
Speaker
I like it. I like it. So the answer is David Moyes. That's it. Yeah, that was so nerve wracking. I was trying to find something of substance to say I didn't have it. So I should, I should have given you 30 seconds. The answer is David Moyes though. No, if you would give me 30 seconds, I would have just stumbled over my words for another 15 seconds to be honest. But yeah, I mean, he's taken the reins. I, I, I trust him. He's a great coach. I think that
01:13:09
Speaker
He would have learned though, he's not an idiot. He would have learned a lot from last year. He tried to expand their play style to crack the top four, top five, and it didn't work. I think that will revert a little bit to what we've always known. Um, but like in a way that suits this group of players. And that's what's really exciting about it. Yeah, balance. And I think also the pressure of not needing or not feeling like, okay, now is the time that we try to crack this top four.
01:13:40
Speaker
Cause it's difficult to do it as a counterattacking team. But I think that without that pressure, we're going to see a really good version of West Ham and a different one, man. It's a new era. Damn right.
01:13:56
Speaker
I think our path to the Champions League is not top four. It's top five because it's top five. Well, whatever it is, it's not a Premier League finish. The focus is on the Europa League. Well, the good thing is that Rice is part of what made us such a good knockout team and it's because we had an elite ball winner and just an elite midfielder all around. I mean, Rice is some of his best performances have come in Europe.
01:14:22
Speaker
I still think that attribute of ours will be there, just being a tricky European composition side. Just because we're going to stay physical, the idea is to keep by a midfield that is physical, and that presence is still going to be there.
01:14:42
Speaker
It's probably not going to be Antonio, but Mobamba will continue that tradition of having, you know, a physically aggressive center forward. And yeah, we'll go from there. Yeah, I think that we're still going to be like a problem for teams in the knockouts, but we definitely have questions, the answer of our own with no rice, no Antonio on the knockout round. For sure. For sure. They're the two biggest reasons that we are effective in Europe in the knockouts. So we'll see. But Moyes is also one of them.
01:15:10
Speaker
Yeah, I think not enough credit is given to him. I mean, he had the perfect profiles at his disposal. I said to you before, like the first year we were in the Europa League, I was like, this team is perfect for knockout football. I didn't think it was this good. We'd be where we are now. Thank you everybody for listening. Um, you can catch us on Twitter at hammering underscore away.
01:15:38
Speaker
Uh, tiktok is hammering dash way. We don't post on tiktok. Um, you're supposed to, I mean, I'll figure it out. There'll be time. Oh, I mean, you said you were going to post that one comp. Which one? Oh, the piketto one. Yeah.
Engaging Fans and Future Content
01:15:54
Speaker
Maybe I will. We'll see. I texted you two. He said yes. Did he really? Yeah, I responded. To get the comp going up on TikTok. You can find us on threads on Instagram at hammering away underscore trying to keep those accounts active.
01:16:18
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, see you next week. We will hopefully have new player to talk about next week and another bomb. Declan Rice will be on the pod next, next episode. So make sure you tap it. He will answer for his sins. Exclusive.
01:17:18
Speaker
I'm talking to my shutters, I'm talking to my team I hit you in the morning right now with the beast This hit me down the yard and I think it down the street This hit me down the yard and I think it down the street
01:17:30
Speaker
And I need fire, you gonna ride You better slide, hop in the whip, better step on my side Cause this highway vibes your wave, wash my wave tie Don't trip, now you might slip, slide Cause I drip, sauce and I drip, fly And I lean back when I whip, ride But I'm way too infinity, feel for my team to fuck up my vicinity This shit goin' crazy, bumpin' our shit, from last to Miami Down the highway, and I'm just my Jamie's One of those two, does it come in dually? My nigga name Rico, you strapped with the two, leave me blasting my shots If you acting up fully, you striving for a party
01:17:54
Speaker
Don't you know you perfectly imperfect nigga You worth a nigga, I kickflip and I flip shit I'm a Westman nigga, you slip shit And I will smit the Westman niggas I'm a French prince, don't check it nigga I breathe deep, I'm testin' niggas Go check your mate, it's night time You were built today, I might take your queen But that was yesterday, and I offer you points I'll be the accolade Cause I'm the realest king to ever play And I'm a black king, worried up to my black skin And I run shit cause I'm African people Gotta tell me I am the man