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Daily Forest - Ep 75 - Crossover Thursday - how similar are Forest and Newcastle?
9 Plays11 days ago
Stuart joins Iain of the Daily Newcastle podcast to discuss the match on Sunday.
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Transcript
00:00:02
Speaker
Every club. Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network.
Introduction and Overview
00:00:11
Speaker
Hello and welcome to the Daily Newcastle podcast. It is Crossover Thursday and I'm joined by Hewitt from the Daily, is it the Daily Forest or Daily Nottingham Forest?
00:00:22
Speaker
did Daily Forest, so anything about Daily Nottingham Forest we're okay. Excellent. Welcome, Stuart. Thank you very much indeed for joining me to to preview.
00:00:33
Speaker
It does seem a way off, actually.
Preview of Crucial Match
00:00:35
Speaker
Yes, it's on Sunday, isn't it, now? But we're previewing the match on Sunday afternoon, Newcastle at home, the Nottingham Forest.
00:00:45
Speaker
And it's a big, big game for both of us. but so Although we had a very disappointing result on the weekend that knocked us from hopefully going third or fourth down to seventh,
00:00:57
Speaker
We didn't lose any ground on you in third because you had an unfortunate result away at Pulum as well. So it's another six-pointer. And I guess with it being so tight at the top of the Premier League, um these are going to come thick and fast now.
00:01:13
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. um So, I mean, the season is... flying by it somehow, even though it's certainly been very, very cold here today. It is still, there is only 13 matches left of the season. We're almost and into the home straight. And and you're right, we both have had reasonably similar um records in in the in the last few games.
00:01:36
Speaker
But yeah, we do remain remain just those six points ahead of Newcastle, but it four spots. So there's a lot of um change, a lot of potential for change going forward.
Nottingham Forest's Champions League Aspirations
00:01:48
Speaker
Asuka, generally at the start, I mean, be honest with me, when the when it kicked off back in August, did you see Forrest getting off to a good start, taking a position up in the top four and holding it all of this time? know when when When did you start to develop that belief?
00:02:07
Speaker
Because I know you're looking forward to Champions League football next year now. No, we are. um I mean, i'm gonna even though the we've had two disappointing results in in the last three or three in the last four, if it includes include Exeter, I am now sitting here saying that I do you still think Forest will get the top five, which will be Champions League.
00:02:29
Speaker
But to answer the question, and when we first started thinking that Champions League might actually be possibility, was the win against Aston Villa early December. ah Not sure if this is the game you you watched or maybe caught on match of the day. It's actually our only win this season where we came from behind to win.
00:02:48
Speaker
We're really good at taking the lead and holding onto the lead. But this filler game in December, not only did we and go one nil down with 20 minutes to go, but then a few minutes later, our first equalizer was ruled out for the tightest of the AR calls.
00:03:04
Speaker
So the fact that we showed the belief and the desire to a fight past the double setback of going one down and having an equalizer disallowed, that was the moment for me.
00:03:17
Speaker
Villa are a decent side where Champions League started to become ah possibility before then, when this has been a good start territory after that game, it was, hmm, there's actually something brewing here. Yeah, and and i mean, to be fair, it's no fluke, is it?
00:03:31
Speaker
I'm thinking just before we talk, jotting down which players to talk about because they're a real danger and actually think I've written down nearly 11 players here because what a great team you have.
00:03:44
Speaker
um And how much of that is the individual players? How much of it is the tactics that Nuno's put together for
Team Tactics and Performances
00:03:53
Speaker
them? Because these teams are really switched on managers this year.
00:03:57
Speaker
Yeah, so it's intro, I know you wanted to ask me later on in the episode, Ian, who is going under the radar? Or you've mentioned 11, you said you've written down 11 names, that's it.
00:04:09
Speaker
um So the one thing got to worry about is there isn't really any any squad depth. So we've got that good first 11 and a strong first 11. And that's really it. then we'll come to to any unknown gems later, although might be a short part of the episode.
00:04:27
Speaker
um so I think it's definitely a a bit of both from from your question. Yes, or um most of that first 11 are having... having the season of their lives so far. Ilanga getting a half-drake of assists in one game.
00:04:41
Speaker
Elliot Anderson controlling the show. Marilla and Milenkovic up there for the best central defensive partnership in in the league. But they can only be the best central defensive partnership in the league of their...
00:04:53
Speaker
and allowed to play to their strengths if they've got it's goes to this that traditional Moreno is better on the ball Milenkovic is better in the air type partnership and yeah those wingers and of course Chris Wood we are playing well and true to his strengths as well so yeah although players are playing out of their skin most weeks not every week as we've seen but most weeks they are being given tactics and the platform to thrive and to develop together yeah Yeah, they are
00:05:25
Speaker
they are very good and I guess you've probably only had one or two disappointing results, one of which I'm sure was your early exit from the Carabao Cup.
Newcastle's Squad Depth Concerns
00:05:33
Speaker
The other being a win for Newcastle away from home right at the time when we weren't really winning very much at all.
00:05:41
Speaker
That was out of the blue for us. And I think we we're a little bit like you in that respect, in that we've got a very, very good first team. um We do have a little bit of strength and depth, but then when the when they sell two of those in the January without replacing anybody, and there are a couple of injuries to some key players, then, yeah, we're looking at a bench that hasn't got a lot to bring on and try and change the game as well. and Before we get into actually looking at this that game on Sunday, in part two and onwards,
00:06:19
Speaker
Is there any reason why results seem to have dipped a little bit? I mean, think that game against Fulham, we know Fulham are a good team. They won at St. James' as Park two games ago.
00:06:30
Speaker
and No shame in losing 2-1 to them. but And Bournemouth beat us as well. and We know they're a good team. But that was a heavy defeat at Bournemouth. with That's a good one of results as well. Was there any reason for that?
00:06:46
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, it's interesting you mentioned... both Bournemouth and Fulham. So ourselves, Bournemouth and Fulham are the class of 2022 and the three teams all got promoted together.
00:06:58
Speaker
And therefore amongst the fans of the three teams, we've been benchmarking ourselves against each other ever since. So it could well be that all three of those teams, of course, the last promoted teams to survive or the promoted teams got relegated last year and it will probably happen this year as well.
00:07:17
Speaker
Those three teams, Forrest, Bournemouth and Fulham, could all make Europe together this season. And for whatever reason, and they are our bogey teams. We've lost, I think, all every single game against Bournemouth.
00:07:29
Speaker
um I guess we've been in a couple of draws, but main mainly losses. Fulham, we've beaten once, lost to all the other times. So yeah, for whatever reason, I mean, i'm hopeful and that's why ah next run of games, Newcastle away, Arsenal at home, City at home, will be fascinating because and well it could be just one-off that we always lose to Bournemouth or Fulham or it could be,
Upcoming Challenges for Nottingham Forest
00:07:52
Speaker
unfortunately, the start of the downward trend and signs that we were in a false position after all that, which would, of course, be disappointing and you've seen how well we played against Liverpool and Chelsea and other of the
00:08:06
Speaker
bigger teams as such. So I don't think we'll get no points from these upcoming three games. Four would be very good. Even three would be okay. No, it's um specific to the Fulham and Bournemouth. I think we'll only find out whether they were one-offs or part of a long-term trend once we all also compare them to these upcoming three results as well.
00:08:27
Speaker
Because of course, in in between those two losses through our old friends, Bournemouth and Fulham, there was that 7-0 against Brighton. So at the moment, all three of those results, potentially freak results that you can't really yet draw any trends or conclusions from.
00:08:41
Speaker
Yeah, I hope the Brighton game was a freak result. I don't want you turning up in the sort of mood where you can put seven past Brighton because they looked fantastic last week against Chelsea. Yeah. don't know what happened for them.
00:08:53
Speaker
I heard the yeah the the Brighton manager, was it the Brighton manager who just set fire to his tactics in front of his team? Or am I getting that mised mixed up? One of the managers, got the tactical plan and just kept fire to it. and so that the You mean literally? Yeah.
Newcastle's Inconsistencies Against Top Teams
00:09:11
Speaker
I don't know if it was the Brighton guys after you or if it was the Bournemouth manager who did it.
00:09:16
Speaker
I can't remember. Anyway, that is sending a message where you're going to take responsibility for having lined up incorrectly, isn't it? and We had a problem against Manchester City where Eddie Howe had some great tactics. We just had a whole bunch of players who were just lazy all day and couldn't put them into practice. That was our problem. but little of lamb Lazy, sorry, I just interrupted you there before you get to the advert, lazy because they were tired, do you think? and I know can come to that later, but I think it was just, from your point of view, a one-off day.
00:09:47
Speaker
I don't think they've got any excuse to be tired. The previous week, we we had nine changes, and they'd had a week's rest, but we had nine changes to play the FA Cup game at Birmingham, which they got through, and that was a week later,
00:10:03
Speaker
I think, or was it but was it on after the asster after the Arsenal match? But to be fair, yeah, emotionally and at the start, there was a lot of effort going in to knock Arsenal off the stride, which we did at their place as well.
00:10:17
Speaker
But we coasted it for the last half an hour. You know, Arsenal had nothing. They were 4-0 down and, ah you know, they batted it out. was a great performance. But I don't let team have an excuse to actually be physically tired playing against the Manchester City.
00:10:32
Speaker
It's like they... don't know. I'm wondering if there's so many of them that have played there so often and got hammered so often, way back in the Rafa days and the Steve Bruce days. Psychologically, they're unable to do anything. They're almost conditioned into giving Man City a three-goal start, which, of course, is what they did.
00:10:51
Speaker
Anyway... We decided on Monday that that match never happened. We're not paying any attention to it whatsoever. um and We are focused very much on this coming Sunday, and we'll talk about that after I've done our first sponsor, which is love the lovely...
00:11:08
Speaker
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00:11:27
Speaker
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00:11:39
Speaker
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00:12:03
Speaker
Anyway, welcome back to part two. Welcome back to part two. I'm with Stuart from the Daily Forest. We are about to preview our game on Sunday, two o'clock kickoff at St. James' Park. um One of the main reasons that it can't possibly be the only reason, but one of the reasons we probably did struggle at City was that our
00:12:25
Speaker
midfield destroyer Joe Linton, our very own Tasmanian Devil, he was out injured. He's picked up an injury and he's out until the middle of March, so we are not going to have him to play a again against um Lewis Miley came on at half-time, actually, and replaced a very ineffective Joe Willett, who who had had a man-of-the-match performance against Birmingham.
00:12:51
Speaker
I'm hoping Lewis Smiley gets a start against you as a third man in midfield. Presumably, Guimara Shintzun Ali will actually be motivated to play in front of the home crowd and will put a bit more of a shift in than he did.
00:13:08
Speaker
and Our other big injury doubt is at centre-half where we were hoping Sven Bottmann, newly back from his cruciate ligament injury and man-of-the-match performance away at Arsenal,
00:13:21
Speaker
ah would would make that left-sided centre-back position his own. However, he sat out the Birmingham game. He got a hit ah kick on the wrong knee or the other knee to what he had his ACL on.
00:13:34
Speaker
He missed the City game and was not at training today. So maybe ah there's something a little bit more long-lasting on that. it would Who would that be and in what be? Cher and Dan Byrne would be your central defensive duo after that?
00:13:50
Speaker
It would be Cher and Dan Byrne, who've done very well this year. Dan Byrne, player of the season for us on the podcast, ah just Mr. Consistent, and probably was the best the best man in the back four against Manchester City as well. um He was carrying a little bit of a groin injury from the Birmingham game because he was one of the two that was retained.
00:14:15
Speaker
So he was at training today, so hopefully he'll be okay. Otherwise, because we sold Lloyd Kelly and we've got two young lads that we sent out on loan, we're really short at centre-half. It would be sharing craft.
00:14:28
Speaker
And that's it. If anyone gets hurt, there's nobody else to come on. Jamal Roussel is out for the season or what's up with him? or I know
Injury Updates for Newcastle
00:14:35
Speaker
he was headed ACL, but I don't know. haven't heard his name mentioned all season.
00:14:39
Speaker
No, he's done he's he got his ACL a week or two after Bottman, and he's always been a week or two behind Bottman in coming back. So I think at the moment on the Premier League website, he's due back at the start of March, mid-March.
00:14:55
Speaker
So hopefully he'll be coming back into it. I think the fact that they saw Lloyd Kelly is assuming that he will be able to come back into it. the squad and play when he's needed to play.
00:15:06
Speaker
Yeah, so um that's the downside for the Newcastle team. We're probably missing Joe Linton, or definitely missing Joe Linton, probably Botman. On the plus side, Callum Wilson's still fit, even though he's played two bells of football in the last two games.
00:15:23
Speaker
and the Harvey Barnes was on the bench away at City as well so that's some of the strength in depth coming back to be available come on. Harvey Barnes has got a little bit of a thing about playing against Forrest I seem to remember it as well. and you got that like He came on as Melbourne got the last goal at your place I believe.
00:15:43
Speaker
Oh, and in that 3-1. 3-1 in the end it was, wasn't it? I think it was unfortunately, as we said um earlier, it was the Villa game that was our moment where we thought, yeah, we can really challenge. I think the Newcastle game was a week before for that. So that was, again, at the beginning of us worrying in November time, okay, this has been a...
00:16:03
Speaker
good start and a good start only. But again, it's the way we responded from the Newcastle loss to then get that together Villa win that led us to begin to dream dream again and yeah keep up that form for seven wins in a row was up until the Liverpool draw ended the run and then we still remain third and we will be third even if we we lose on the weekend. We've still got a bit of gap. Yeah, you've got a bit of a gap.
00:16:31
Speaker
Bit of a buffer there, which is but good. and It means that a draw at Newcastle is probably a good result. Yeah, I think so. i mean Whereas for us, where we're playing Castle, we don't really want to be drawing anywhere.
00:16:45
Speaker
It would have been nice to get one at City, of course, after that. But we went there thinking we'd got a chance of winning. He was deluded now when he was getting through that game.
00:16:57
Speaker
So, how are Forest shaping up after their match on the weekend?
Nottingham Forest's Lineup Stability
00:17:01
Speaker
Any doubt coming through? <unk>m not Not really. So, as as we mentioned earlier, it's been a very consistent 11, really. Yeah.
00:17:15
Speaker
Well, because it's 12 13, though it' starting in central midfield is probably where the most most changes. um But no, Callum Hudson-Odoi came back from three games out off the bench last weekend.
00:17:28
Speaker
So we'd expect him to start, which means that the only injuries are Taro Aouni, our backup striker, who got a broken nose in the FA Cup game and a concussion. So think due to the because he was a concussion substitute, it meant he wasn't allowed to play against Fulham.
00:17:45
Speaker
I think it's 12 days after the concussion, you're not allowed to play. So think our new our game together is maybe day 13 or 14 out of that. So maybe they'll risk him on the bench, maybe not.
00:17:57
Speaker
yeah And then our backup keeper, Carlos Miguel, got an injury also next to games, meaning our keeper on the bench will be, can you name our backup guy, our third choice keeper be on the bench. Well, it's not Odysseus anymore, is it? It's not Odysseus, no.
00:18:12
Speaker
It's Wayne Hennessy. Ah, right. Okay. In fact, if I stopped the thought, I might have been able to to get that. Because, of course, your first-life goalkeeper, bit of a failure at Newcastle, Rafa bought him, played him about 15 times, and then he lost his place, and then he moved on.
00:18:33
Speaker
So he didn't obviously start very well. That was in the championship as well. Obviously, I think he's the keeper with the most clean seats this season, is he not? Yeah, I think so. I mean, I think, although stats are sort of slightly skewed by, if you look at Liverpool, Alisson and Keller Heller have played about half the games each.
00:18:53
Speaker
So if Liverpool had had just just one goalkeeper all season, then that goalkeeper would be top. So Liverpool as a team have had the most clean sheets, but then because their goalkeepers have changed a bit, sells as the goalkeepers had the most clean sheets.
00:19:07
Speaker
But you know, you're right, um when we signed him deadline day, January 2024, we all remember remembered that he'd been dropped for Carl Darlow at Newcastle in your most recent championship season.
00:19:19
Speaker
So that was what the thoughts we we we had. We'd had such a bad year for goalkeepers last year with Matt Turner and Odiseos Flacodomos being...
00:19:30
Speaker
completely not up to the job. So, Sales was brought in because his name wasn't Matt Turner or Odisei L'Odemos. It wasn't his ability. It's just because he was somebody else and he did okay. In the second half of last season, we stayed up just, but throughout the summer, the assumption was we would sign Aaron Ramsdale or or Sam Johnston or someone like that, goalkeepers who were available. um But we didn't. We said sign Carlos Miguel, a young, raw player.
00:19:57
Speaker
Keeper from Brazil, played against Hewitt in that Carabao Cup game, of course, back in August. um But Sells has just kept the jersey and he's grown in confidence, grown in strength. And he is now one of the league's mostly outstanding keepers, always up for save of the month.
00:20:13
Speaker
Sometime in some games has his own save of the month competition, it seems. So we're now very, very happy with Matt Sells, despite that slow start.
00:20:22
Speaker
Thank you. I think Martin Dubravka won the January save of the month. um So, yeah, I get what you mean. Come in and then suddenly start performing like that.
00:20:33
Speaker
Dubravka's a little bit of a forgotten man with Nick Pope. He hasn't played so many games. um Dubravka seems that Pope is fit. I seem to i think Pope playing the Cup, but Dubravka is now the league number one as well, or this is just Dubravka getting a reward for no performance and you expect Pope to play in Carabao Cup final, for example?
00:20:54
Speaker
No, I think Dubravka was lined up to go to... Saudi Arabia in January and had to step in because Hope didn't come back.
00:21:08
Speaker
And he's played really, really well. He still hasn't thrown in a typical Dubravka bad performance to get himself dropped. He couldn't blame him for any of the goals that were let in really really in against Manchester City.
00:21:22
Speaker
And he was in goal throughout the nine-game winning run. Some games he didn't have a lot of shots to stop. There always are shots to stop on target, and he's stopped them. So, yeah, we're all big Dubs fans now. I think he'll be he'll be the number one until he has a howler.
00:21:41
Speaker
But Pope is there ready and ready, and Pope made one of three really good saves in the Birmingham match. So, Pope scares everybody, though, with a ball of defeat. His distribution is awful.
00:21:54
Speaker
And gravity as we've noticed when De Bravica came back in, his distribution is probably just adequate, but it's so much better than Pope's. And the way we attack, the transitional play, the quick turnaround, that's what we need in goal, someone who can get the ball out accurately and quickly.
00:22:11
Speaker
So I guess for that reason that he's still in there. But I am going to pause just there, Stuart, because I can look at the time and realizing that the Zencastr guys will be wondering where they're at, at least.
00:22:23
Speaker
Here it is, coming along right now. Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencastr came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start a podcast that starts, that sounds great, and is delivered efficiently.
00:22:46
Speaker
If you're ready to tell your a story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencastr. Only one stumble there. Never mind. Can't be perfect every time.
00:22:58
Speaker
And we're back for part three. Here we go.
Influence of Key Players
00:23:06
Speaker
Are there any players who you fear on the Newcastle side might have something they're not in for us to worry about?
00:23:16
Speaker
um I mean, yeah, I was surprised um earlier in the episode where you said Dan Byrne was your player of the season because of how good Alexander Izak has been. um and So, yeah, I'm just certainly very interested to hear whether Dan Byrne is a cult figure or or maybe whether he is genuinely the top player of your team. Because surely, from the outside looking in, it's got to be Izak. Izak who, in our first season back, so was He's actually scored both goals in the game. It was March of that season. I think it was Hezak's first game back from an injury or something, and he scored one one or two.
00:23:54
Speaker
And that was the first game. He scored one weird volley off his skin in midair, didn't he? Which was actually a really well-taken goal, the way he'd adjusted the midair. Yeah, he scored that one. He got a penalty when we lost 3-1 at St. James' last year as well. and That second goal against you, was that him?
00:24:13
Speaker
I remember in even the season before, was it not him that scored the last minute? Was that the last minute penalty? Yeah, so when Moussiniac gave away with a handball. So that was when I thought Izak at 60 million was certainly a very steep steep price tag. And I don't think he had injuries at the start, but he's just got better and better and in my eyes. And he certainly, know PSR is a curious topic, but I think it's going to,
00:24:42
Speaker
benefit you guys almost because you're not going to sell him for anywhere less than 100 million and because of other clubs PSR constraints no one out there has 100 million who would realistically go to so it's it's good that he's going to hopefully be in that black and white shirt of Newcastle for some time to come and you can build a team but would seem around him if you haven't already or would you say Bruno or Tonale even are more crucial to the way he actually played and he's like himself No, Izak is the cutting edge, ah definitely.
00:25:12
Speaker
um Such a good player. And he can come look across and play on the left, put in. ah Almost a telepathic understanding. On the games when they're firing, with both Murphy on the right and Gordon on the left.
00:25:26
Speaker
um To be fair, Gumarish now is a little bit further forward. His first instinct on the transition is to look up and see where Izak is to play him through.
00:25:38
Speaker
and got a wonderful goal against Liverpool with a quick ball, quick release ball from Bruno where he put, just made Virgil van Zijck look like Stevie Wonder as he went round him and put in the top corner.
00:25:49
Speaker
um He's actually an important player and there are some real superstars to be in that team now. But, I wouldn't say they all put it in every single week and I think that's what has been most impressive by by Dan Byrne.
00:26:07
Speaker
Dan Byrne is, everybody he knows he's a limited player. And I think he is a little bit of a cult hero because he's a Geordie and he's lost his finger. And we love him. He's a freak, isn't he? Six foot eight or whatever it is.
00:26:21
Speaker
But we just really, really appreciate the effort um and and the the effort that he makes to make the very best of his limited talent, I guess.
00:26:32
Speaker
And still be able to hold his own in a team full of those superstars. Call them superstars. No doubt they'll turn in another performance like the Bournemouth one or the Fulham one.
00:26:45
Speaker
Sometimes students who don't think they're superstars. But yeah, I think it's just down to his effort and his attitude. And he's a funny guy as well. So yeah. and So you've got Isaac.
00:26:56
Speaker
Anybody else?
Impact of New Signings
00:26:58
Speaker
Yeah, think it's... I've been sort of quietly impressed by how well Tonali has um come back from from that ban. Of course, his comeback game was our Carabao meeting together in August.
00:27:10
Speaker
But because Tonali was so new at the club anyway, new and new to England, hadn't really settled in, to be honest, it's a small surprise I'm not following it too closely that he didn't just go straight back to Italy.
00:27:23
Speaker
He didn't sort of write off his England career and thought, OK, I've come here, I've got band, let's just go back to Milan and get on with playing there. So I think it is impressive that he has been able to come back from that band as a ah stronger player, um even.
00:27:40
Speaker
Well, Hamidi got spoiled, really, um by the Newcastle fans, you know, and and the team. and god He trained with them all the way through last year. although he couldn't play any matches.
00:27:51
Speaker
And the fans had all the songs and were singing them all through last year when he wasn't playing. So I think that he's got to perform for us because he owes And he does.
00:28:04
Speaker
But fortunately, um as to the in-and-out performances of the first few games, when Howe finally decided Tonali was his sixth and it wasn't Bruno, and Bruno trusted him to then play further up as the eight,
00:28:19
Speaker
That's when we went on that run of nine straight wins. And they do look very, very good because I'm saying Tenali's the sixth and Bruno is the eighth. Just when you're least expecting it, you'll suddenly find that they've swapped and it's Tenali that's bursting through.
00:28:35
Speaker
As you saw the ah third goal that they scored against Southampton, it's Tenali that suddenly is broken through and he 15 yards ahead of any defender bearing down on the goalkeeper.
00:28:47
Speaker
So they're quite good at swapping over when you're not expecting it, and I think that's quite a useful weapon. But yeah, Tenali's super. On your side, i mean, I'd be most impressed.
00:28:58
Speaker
I don't think it's just by most impressed this season by how well Elliot Anderson has settled in. Yeah, know it was very interesting that he was signed to provide cover on the wings.
00:29:11
Speaker
um That was where he played in in pre-season and we thought he'd just be another option. um yeah to play on the wings, but instead announced today England will be playing Senegal at the City ground in the summer and we're now fully expecting Elliot Anderson to be starting in that midfield for England. um and and in zeels midfield um He's been that good, that that impressive in making position um his own with his his work, where his energy, his his passing.
00:29:40
Speaker
Not yet with his goal scoring, just got the one for us so far and we're hoping that will increase as the season Progressive, yeah, we are, I said, certainly got the absolute best bargain of the season, getting him for just £15 million, pounds once you consider that you got that. Allegedly, we received £20 million in return from the Connemouth. So, yeah, I mean, modern football, it's a shame that these things have to happen. I mean, and but we can do a whole other episode on on PSR, but in this deal, we certainly lucked out
00:30:14
Speaker
Yeah, i think you would I think you scored there. But then maybe we owed you because you did take John Joe Shelby. And at the time, we thought, oh, look, they've taken Chris Wood and given us nearly all of our money back. But, I mean, he he's been a super buy.
00:30:29
Speaker
He was only 15 million as well, wasn't he? Yeah, that certainly is a... um big part of, yeah, i you you never can tell how well a football transfer works. um Yeah, I was happy happier with Yandres Shelby than I was with Chris Wood that 1st January.
00:30:50
Speaker
um Only two years ago now, feels like a lot longer ago. But ah with Shelby, it was the proven Premier League central midfielder, a bit of creativity, a bit of work rate. And Chris Wood, as you said, he'd barely done anything for you.
00:31:05
Speaker
but Newcastle, We didn't play long ball football. So, yeah, um it was... yeah but we i mean, if you look at them together, think we paid 15 for Chris Wood and got Jojo Shelby on a free. If you average it out to 7.5 a signing, then it makes Chris Wood even more good value.
00:31:24
Speaker
Yeah, good value, good value. and Right.
Game Predictions
00:31:28
Speaker
Let's move on to our predictions for the game series. It'll be interesting if either of are trying to get what on earth either of our teams are going to perform like.
00:31:38
Speaker
I guess you've got even more variations. You've got to consider whether it's a 7-0 winning performance or a 5-0 defeat performance coming up. I've got a 4-1 against and 4-0 against City to weigh up against 2-0 at home to Arsenal. So who knows how it's going to go?
00:31:57
Speaker
But you tell me you think that game going to go on? Yeah, i mean, that's true. um So if you think Newcastle will win, then I'll take that as a compliment that you think we are as good as Arsenal, or we're only a place below them in the table, so maybe we are as good as Arsenal.
00:32:13
Speaker
I don't know, should we agree on ah on ah on a score draw based on how unpredictable our teams have been in the last few games? Or do we need to put our heads on the line and really we're really um say something? i'm gonna um yeah well I'm going to say we're alternating. We lost to Fulham, so we're going to beat you and then and then lose lose to Arsenal the following week. So I'm going to say two one to Forrest.
00:32:38
Speaker
Okay. Interesting. I won't go for the score draw. I would never go for the score draw. Anybody, any regular listeners of the Daily Newcastle know that every single one of my predictions, which I can back up, by the way, with logic, but I always predict that Newcastle are going to win And that's paid out three or four times in the last few months.
00:32:57
Speaker
So, you know, from whether I was a away at Nottingham Forest was a payout, I believe, at 3-1. And Golden Bromley was a payout at 3-1. Away at Southampton was a payout. I'm going to go for 3-1.
00:33:10
Speaker
um I think Isaac will score probably Gordon again but I i would like to see one of the midfielders that doesn't normally score come through maybe we get a Lewis Miley goal the second goal yeah but then to be fair if we are if we're struggling if we're playing like we were playing against Fulham we'd take a draw now yeah if we played like we played against Fulham we'd take a draw now that's what have Fulham done to us I know, they're awful.
00:33:41
Speaker
Anyway, look, good. We've both predicted wins for our teams, which is what our listeners want to hear, isn't it? Definitely. We'll have to see how it goes on Sunday. Thank you very much indeed, Stuart, for joining me to preview that game.
00:33:55
Speaker
I'm a moppel-doner of it to go over the half an hour. um Thanks very much, everybody, for listening. We will be back. probably when are we going to be back?
00:34:07
Speaker
This is Crossover Thursday, so we'll be back tomorrow with our own preview of the game. I'm not sure who the lineup is there, but it'll be more than me on my own, anyway. See you soon.
00:34:20
Speaker
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