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Daily Premier League in English: Episode 105 – Tottenham and Man United’s MISSED opportunity, Chelsea disillusion Legia Warsaw, Weekend Preview
18 Plays5 days ago
Join Michael Thompson, Michał Czarniecki, and Kieran McGinley from Daily Manchester United as they look at English teams’ performance in the Europa and Conference League.
In this episode, we cover:
🟣 Chelsea DOMINANT display in Warsaw
🐓 Spurs’ lack of clinical edge at home against Eintracht Frankfurt
👿 Andre Onana costing Manchester United the 1st leg victory
🧠 Predictions – who’s going to Europe next season? Who will join Southampton in relegation?
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Transcript
Introduction and Focus on Europa League
00:00:44
Mikey
Hello and a very warm welcome on this fine Friday where we are normally looking into a forecast of Dreamland Premier League fixtures. However, we have to dis discuss what has gone on in the Europa League.
00:00:59
Mikey
Over this week we're going to look at all the English teams playing in the Europa League. Chelsea, Spurs and United all taking place in their first leg battles.
Chelsea vs Legia Analysis
00:01:09
Mikey
We're going to dis discuss, we are joined today by our regular and resident partner in crime. It's Mikhail, how are you sir?
00:01:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hi. Well, a little bit disappointed by the ah Chelsea Legia result. I'm sure we're going to talk about that. But other than that, well, same ah same stuff, different day, to put it eloquently.
00:01:29
Mikey
Nice with Paul and we have got a special guest on with us today. It's Kieran who's given us an insight into his, I don't know, woes of being a Manchester United fan. might be an appropriate way to say Kieran.
00:01:43
Kieran McGinley - MU
Descent into madness might be another.
00:01:45
Mikey
yeah
00:01:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:01:47
Mikey
I'm quite excited to have you on. Just before we started recording this pod, Kieran just dropped facts about the Europa and European football that might be coming up in the future. ah So I can't wait to get a bit more of an insight into that.
00:02:00
Mikey
But I thought we'd start the podcast today and by going to you guys about the results for Chelsea and for Spurs. I'd like to kick it off with Chelsea. And I know, Mikael, you covered ah this game quite comprehensively.
00:02:14
Mikey
ah so I'd love to get your view on on on how that played out first. I'm going to come straight to you.
00:02:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, Legia also taking on Chelsea at home in the first leg of the Conference League quarterfinal. that would be that That really was a big occasion. like The stadium was packed.
00:02:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Well, actually, in the preview that we made with Kuba Jelenskiy, with the special guest, Jókub Jelenskiy, the Polish journalist from Canal Plus Poland, We predicted that Legia would have to be closed, that they would need to give more space to Chelsea than usual, and the they could just basically park the bus, in other words.
00:02:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Actually, when I was watching the game, I recalled that fun quote from Jose Mourinho. I do not remember from his early Jose Mourinho days when he said something in the lines of... there is There is one way of defending but playing some football and then defend and defend and defend and fall down and wait for the medical department. I got those vibes from how Legia was performing in Warsaw. But come on, like do you really blame them? like Chelsea was really outpowering them, ah but at least second to none.
00:03:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah And in the first half, that actually succeeded because Legia came to the to the locker room like with ah with a clean sheet.
Premier League vs Other Leagues
00:03:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
But in the second half, all it took was one sloppy pass, one sloppy defending by Legia, and George took advantage of that.
00:03:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Basically, the Legia goalkeeper just parred the ball away straight to i straight into the the legs of of George, and he just all he needed to do was just to put the ball into there.
00:03:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
empty net. And from there, it just was, you know, full steam ahead for Chelsea. ah Two goals scored ah more, so that goes to the Talia.
00:04:01
Mikey
Thank you.
00:04:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
3-0 to Chelsea in the first leg. app One positive being that the Polish goalkeeper, Kacper Dobjas, saved a penalty for Chelsea. um Well, he guessed. He basically he has he had a lot of luck, that our goalkeeper, there to save that penalty.
00:04:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So, some positives there. A lot of Legia fans feel disappointment. that we did not go for something more ah because we could have easily just exploited the fact that Chelsea did not was not performing super defensively.
00:04:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah But, well, I guess that's that's it. 3-0 to Chelsea, second leg at Stamford Bridge. And I think Chelsea's in the semifinal. I would love to be wrong, but...
00:04:45
Mikey
Yeah, so I've got i have got a couple of questions on that um on on that game,
00:04:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
Chelsea's Opportunities in UEFA Competitions
00:04:49
Mikey
really.
00:04:49
Mikey
Do you feel that there was a huge gulf in class between not only Chelsea and Legia, but like the the leagues, ah the Premier League and the and and and and the leagues? that that you know Is it comparable or is there such a such a ah depth in class?
00:05:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Big depth in class, really. And to be honest, I was really excited by the first minutes of LEGO when it seemed as if they would go aggressively. They would be the aggressive go-getters. ah But then all it boiled what it boiled down to was basically bad touch.
00:05:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bad first touch, bad control, and players like Cole Palmer, like Reece James, like Dewsbury Hall, who had a great game, Jadon Sancho, ah they were taking up takingging advantage of those sloppy touches from Legia midfielders. So basically, Legia gave the entire midfield up to Chelsea, and that just goes to show that...
00:05:44
Mikey
Thank
00:05:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Chelsea might be struggling in the Premier League, but when it comes to you know facing the opponent like Ligia Warsaw from a good and prospering Polish league, that was just they were completely outmatched.
00:05:49
Mikey
you.
00:05:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the the the the difference of class really, really showed that. And... um Yeah, and and and then again, Legia guys, they really could do something more in that game. And that's why I'm slightly disappointed at the fact that they didn't even score that one lucky...
00:06:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
They didn't slot that one shay one lucky goal shot home. Sorry, i just my my my tongue kind did a twist there.
00:06:18
Mikey
Yeah. and and I'd like to come to Kieran really quickly just on this.
00:06:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:06:22
Mikey
and I'm not trying to throw you here at all, pal.
00:06:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:06:24
Mikey
But from from a Chelsea's point of view, if you're a Chelsea fan, I know you're not, but if you were a Chelsea fan, how do you think that Chelsea fans look at the UEFA Conference League?
00:06:36
Mikey
Do they think think it is like ah an esteemed trophy that they need to win? Or is it a hindrance almost ah to what they're doing in the league?
00:06:46
Kieran McGinley - MU
i To be too honest with you, it's it's the chair one that Chelsea have have to win. you know it said You look at it from a point of view where United were in the Europa League. you know Mad that it was 10 years ago we first entered the Europa League.
00:07:00
Kieran McGinley - MU
But it was a trophy to be won. And now we have that in the cabinet. We have it twice now. For Chelsea fans, this is an opportunity to win the trophy. And they are massive favourites now. you know I mean, they probably were before at the group stages once they made it there. So for Chelsea, I'm not going to say this is going to be an easy road to it, but their fans should expect nothing less than to bring the you know bring the Conference League home to Stamford Bridge.
00:07:23
Mikey
and And if there is any team in the Premier League who've got squad depth to manage both European football and ah league form, I would say that Chelsea probably are that team.
Spurs vs Frankfurt Highlights
00:07:34
Kieran McGinley - MU
i I would agree with you. And with UEFA competitions, you know you've got to fill your bench with and homegrown players, either from your club or the all the nation itself. So it's a good opportunity for any Chelsea youngsters, any Chelsea graduates from the academy to to make a name for themselves, just like Tyreek George did tonight. you know ah Now his name's going to be there forever in in Chelsea. Well, I wouldn't say folklore just yet, but you never know.
00:07:59
Kieran McGinley - MU
you know Games like that could decide futures.
00:08:02
Mikey
Yeah, it's good start. And it's also like, yeah yeah, exactly. It gives you a name amongst the team and and and and teammates to be able to maybe get a place in the team further down the line. um I would like to move on now Spurs, who also played tonight. They played Frankfurt at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
00:08:21
Mikey
um They were quite a a shock start to the game. Spurs went 1-0 down. And I've seen the goal. and I thought it was taken very well.
00:08:32
Mikey
But Pedro Porro also responded for Tottenham. ah And it had, and I say this with with her very, very little meaning, ah but it had Zola-esque style to his finish. And anyone who's seen like classic Zola finishes, you'll know exactly what I mean.
00:08:53
Mikey
It's a good result for Tottenham, but not the result they would have been wanting. Mikhail, I'll come back to you.
00:09:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes. ah Well, basically, that I was actually expecting Tottenham to win ah over Eintracht pretty easily ah because of the fact that ah crucial players are now go there now back in the squad.
00:09:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And now ah someone would say that Andrzej Postakoglu would no longer have any reasons to complain anymore, even though that injury release is just still pretty big. Yeah. Either way, like it's still good to have Richarlison back. It's still good to have Van de Ven back, to have Pedro Porro, who scored the goal there.
00:09:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
um To be honest, I think Tottenham missed out on a great opportunity to build a great lead ah ahead of their trip to Germany, because in Germany it could be a bit difficult.
00:09:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
But then again, i think when it's all said and done, Tottenham will be through to the semifinals. That's just my that's my take of what's going to happen the second leg.
00:09:54
Mikey
Yeah, you think they've got enough firepower to take them over in the second leg to get them through? What about you, Kieran? What's your opinion on the very inconsistent Tottenham Hotspur?
00:10:06
Kieran McGinley - MU
I had opportunities he missed, I'll be honest with you. you know There were 14 shots in total in the entire game, just having look here. Ten of them went the way of Tottenham.
00:10:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:10:13
Kieran McGinley - MU
I just think you know you've got third place in the Bundesliga right there in front of you. You've got to take advantage of it if if they're looking a bit fragile. And now they're going to have to go to Frankfurt now. On level pegging, you know they have to go to Frankfurt's backyard and and try and get a result. So it is going to be tougher tough for Tottenham. If they had a chance to just put ah a stake in the heart, it was tonight.
00:10:34
Kieran McGinley - MU
And now they're going to go next week and find it's going to be a tough one. Can they do it? ah do Obviously, yes, they can, but they're going to find it much tougher now.
00:10:43
Mikey
Yeah, absolutely. And talking about things that find it tough, if you want to make your life a little bit easier, don't you listen to our chosen advert by Onique.
00:11:30
Mikey
Do it get it. Get it right now. and And we move
Manchester United's Challenges and Objectives
00:11:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
you
00:11:33
Mikey
into the reason why we've got Kieran with us today.
00:11:37
Mikey
It's to talk about Man United. and
00:11:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
okay
00:11:40
Mikey
If you can see all watching us, you can see the dismay in his face.
00:11:43
Kieran McGinley - MU
Right.
00:11:44
Mikey
um Now, it's probably important to mention that the talking point before this game actually came off the pitch um between Onana and Matic. and There was a spot... Matic, I think...
00:12:00
Mikey
rightly said um and told Onana where he fits in the in the history of Man United goalkeeping. um And really sadly for Onana, he proved Matic right twice tonight. um United conceded two goals after, in my opinion, and I'm not going to go into it too much because i do want Kieran to jump on this one, and but they conceded two goals ah In a game that they played quite well in, they controlled the game, they managed to touch well defensively.
00:12:33
Mikey
um There's a lot of positives that I want to try and get in early doors because I do understand they've gone away with dropping two points essentially at the end of the game and and it can only be down to the fault of goalkeeping errors.
00:12:48
Mikey
and Yeah, it's disappointing. Xerxes' goal, you know, he came on, made a difference. And... and Yeah, I also thought on both goals, um I did want to mention when I wrote down while i was watching it, that the second ball was quite pivotal.
00:13:07
Mikey
and and And United, so for a long time, don't react well on the second ball. And both of those goals came ah from quick decisions made on the on on the possession gained from the second ball. So I did want to highlight that as well.
00:13:22
Mikey
and Yeah, give give us your opinion on the game. Tell us what you think.
00:13:27
Kieran McGinley - MU
Yeah, I mean, i didn't think Matic would be proved so right, which is rather annoying.
00:13:32
Mikey
Yeah.
00:13:34
Kieran McGinley - MU
um But it's it's sort of been ah been underlining what a lot of United fans have been saying and a lot of Premier League fans have been saying that Inanna...
00:13:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
you
00:13:43
Kieran McGinley - MU
isn't good enough. And I've been a staunch believer. Inanna's not a typical Man United keeper. You think of the keepers we've had in the past. David De Gea is most recently, but you could like to Peter Schmeichel.
00:13:55
Kieran McGinley - MU
Both of them very, very renowned for holding their ground and making themselves as big as possible. Inanna's one of those, a bit like a Barthez, who's a sweeper keeper, who will come at you, who will try and close the space.
00:14:07
Kieran McGinley - MU
Barthez did it because he was slightly shorter than than than an average goalkeeper. So he had to do something different. He had to be eccentric. But Inanna's not making catches. You know, the the the first goal is a bizarre one.
00:14:20
Kieran McGinley - MU
You don't see any other Premier League team conceding those sort of goals. It's it's really annoying. it's It's a cross that comes in. Nobody gets to it. And in the end, it curls in rather harmlessly into the back of the net with Inanna just misjudging the bounce.
00:14:33
Kieran McGinley - MU
A weird one. And then the second goal to concede, it's ah it's a snapshot at him. But even a championship keeper is keeping a hold of it. But no, Anana just pushes it back into play, directly into the path of an attacker.
00:14:47
Kieran McGinley - MU
And it's it's a lovely dink over him from Rayan Cherky, who i highlighted before the game on our podcast. It's a lovely chip over him. But Anana's cost us tonight. And that's that.
00:14:59
Mikey
Yeah, and it's hard not to to disagree with ah what you're saying. Sometimes when I've watched him in the past, I thought, well, the defence is so ah inconsistent, that they're not managing with the aerial threat.
00:15:15
Mikey
ah You had Mahari Maguire ah who who struggled and was going through turbulent times on the pitch. But the minute, the reason there isn't that panic in front of him. It's being managed really well in in front of him on the whole. I mean, there's there's there's elements where it could improve, but on the whole, it's fine. um I just think it's so, so costly at the minute.
00:15:38
Mikey
and My other point that I'd like to raise is, and Mikael, you can maybe give us an insight onto what you think, ah is United's centre-forward problem. And although Joshua Zerchese did score today, I'm yet to see what either of these footballers can bring as an out-and-out striker.
00:15:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Well, yeah, and it just goes back to those poor decisions of Man United board and the players that we've bringing over the years. And not to mention the fact that we had a homegrown Marcus Rashford who was super underutilized.
00:16:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And ah you know what? I might get a lot of hate from... ah Maybe certain groups from men from of Man United fans, but I will continue to reiterate this point over and over again.
00:16:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm just going to shove it down everybody's throat. Marcus Rashford was the greatest thing that ever happened to this club. And the fact that we squandered it away based on some like some stupid spat over who's playing and who's not playing, what's the tactic and what's not the tactic, it's just as shameful. It just goes to show what kind of a cesspool Man United it has become.
00:16:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's it.
00:16:52
Mikey
Yeah. And ah who do you who do you leave blame with there? Is Ruben Amorim the problem? is is the club the problem? Is the coach of the club the problem?
00:17:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's the club. It's the club because ah to let's just look at the history of Man Utd, right? You've had so many great managers come and go ah to this club.
00:17:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you could say that it's the owners. You could say that ah those were the the other executives within the club. ah Somebody could even say that the players were bad. Of course, sure. Some players were absolutely so par, like case in point, Andre Onana.
00:17:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah But I think just the the the way how this club is managed, from so from top to bottom is just absolute shambles. And maybe i'm not saying I'm not inventing America here by saying that, ah but the the fact remains true. as As long as the head is rotten, the the the rest of the the the body and the rest of the organism will just fail.
00:17:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
There is no way that this club will function properly without changing of the of the of the philosophy off of managing the club.
00:17:56
Kieran McGinley - MU
and and that's not And that's not changing anytime soon when you're talking about you know a new stadium, 100,000-seater stadium, whilst making redundancies.
00:18:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:05
Kieran McGinley - MU
it It's so facetious. It's so short-sighted.
00:18:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bizarre.
00:18:09
Kieran McGinley - MU
It's so tone-deaf. When will they learn?
00:18:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:12
Kieran McGinley - MU
Apparently never.
00:18:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Never. Absolutely never. Apparently, it's easier to throw millions and millions of pounds in the air and then pretend and then and you know be so pretentious. Oh, look, we got this player. Oh, we got this player. It's it's so easy to be such such so pretentious and you know just and to just to add more salt to the wound, add more insult to the injury.
00:18:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Man United spend more on transfers than Man City. Yes, they did. They absolutely did. And yet look where Man City are and look where we are. By we, I mean Man United.
00:18:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolute shambles. And that discussion about centre-forward. How about we talk about how to reform the club and then let's bring the discussion about the centre-forward. Because...
00:18:55
Kieran McGinley - MU
don't I don't think we've got three hours for that. I'll be completely nuts.
00:18:56
Mikey
Yeah, was going to say, I'm just about to ask Kieran another loaded question.
00:18:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly.
00:19:00
Mikey
If you could nullify it in like 60 seconds, that'd be amazing.
00:19:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
luck.
00:19:04
Mikey
a that
00:19:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
good black
00:19:07
Mikey
So, obviously, the issues at United, um I'd argue that they will beat Lyon and go through to the semi-final at home.
00:19:18
Kieran McGinley - MU
Brave man.
00:19:18
Mikey
Yeah. yeah and ah what What would you say that if you're Ruben Amirim and you're you're the person in charge of of the team and the squad, what is your priority between now and the end of the season?
00:19:35
Kieran McGinley - MU
The Europa League, I think. yeah To an extent, the Premier League, you know, we want to wipe under the carpet what's been an embarrassing season. I started this season and I started a life here at the Global Sports Podcast Network saying, look, last season, eighth place, that was the worst finish United have ever had in the modern Premier League era.
00:19:54
Kieran McGinley - MU
Don't look at the table now, Kieran. Don't look at it now. um So there's no chance of us improving on eight. It's going to be our worst season. So let's wear it like a badge and move on from that. Europa League is ah is a must.
00:20:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh-huh.
00:20:05
Kieran McGinley - MU
we We have to at least put on a show, get to the final and try and beat anyone in our way. And tonight was a great opportunity to take a 2-1 lead to Old Trafford in a time where, you know, stoppage time seems to be our undoing when, you know,
00:20:22
Kieran McGinley - MU
10 years, 15 years ago, it was it was what we did best, just scoring in those added minutes and getting the game over the line. But it just seems less and less now. And unfortunately, it's it's more individual errors again and again. And it costs us time and time again. But I think Europa League has to be the priority. It's a trophy.
00:20:42
Kieran McGinley - MU
We want to walk away with something here, even if it's one of our worst Premier League seasons. If we get away with a trophy... Maybe the grass could be greener, but we'll see.
00:20:53
Mikey
Yeah, well, United's priority, you've heard it here, is the Europa League. ah Our priority at the Global Sports Podcast Network is delivering fantastic podcasts on a daily basis.
00:21:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right.
00:21:04
Mikey
And that's why we choose a fantastic platform to do so. Zencastr is our chosen podcasting platform.
00:21:42
Mikey
Yeah, check it out. We've got so many podcasts available to you on the Global Sports Podcast Network, one for every team, fantasy football, women's football. The list goes on. Go and check us out and give us a listen.
Promotion and Relegation in the Premier League
00:21:54
Mikey
But for now, I'd like to move into our final section. And it's wonderful to have you with us, Kieran, because... Normally, it's me and Mikhail making up scorelines and quite frankly getting them the ridiculously wrong.
00:22:05
Mikey
However, that being said, we shall delve into and this weekend's football and we're going to pick out some of the games that we we would like to talk about. um I think there's two key talking points. and The relegation battle, which isn't really a battle, but there is a conversation of which I would like to discuss with you both.
00:22:24
Mikey
um And then the other part is European football. So first of all, um let's have a look at the relegation battle. um It obviously comprises of Southampton, who are down and out.
00:22:39
Mikey
We've got Leicester in it, which Wolves are 12 points clear. of the relegation zone. and And my question is more about, I think it's a done a done deal really.
00:22:50
Mikey
um Ipswich and Leicester will inevitably go down. But my question for Mikhail first is is, is the gap between teams coming into the Premier League and and and surviving becoming too wide? And what is the key what do you think, in your opinion, are the key problems there?
00:23:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
but is a I think that is a difficult question for me to answer, really, because every single team is pretty unique coming in from from Champions League to Premier League, and they've got their own sort of problems, their own sort of opportunities, really.
00:23:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Somebody would even argue that when you look at championship, the championship is no other ah second division, just like anywhere else in Europe. I mean, championship could still be competitive.
00:23:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Leeds United could tell you about this. Leicester could tell you about this. um And let let's not forget that we're talking about, for example, just just just looking at Leicester as an example.
00:23:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Those guys, ah right before they won the Premier League title, they nearly avoided relegation. Nearly. But all it took is just put some organizational changes for Claudio Ranieri to get a grip.
00:24:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And lo and behold, Leicester won bomb the championship. So I do not think the problem lies within some depth or a class difference. Perhaps, Kirin, maybe you're going to present some counterargument to that.
00:24:14
Kieran McGinley - MU
Yeah, I mean, it's an interesting one. The disparity between the prize money and the TV money between the Premier League and and the Championship is just leagues apart, absolute leagues apart. you know i think when it comes to it, yeah more you you've got, i think it's the second season in a row where pretty much the the three that got promoted are going to go straight down. It's not always the case in point, but it's becoming more and more so.
00:24:38
Kieran McGinley - MU
But I honestly think some teams are here to to to build because they'll get the parachute payments. Obviously, they get the Premier League revenue or the TV revenue come in from being in the top flight for a season. They'll drop down to championship.
00:24:51
Kieran McGinley - MU
But they'll have that parachute payment for the next, I think it's three years, which less and less, but it's still pretty good. It's still a pretty good deal for making it to the Premier League. And it's almost like you've got those teams that get promoted, that sign good players a decent players for the for the Premier League, but who would absolutely tear it up in the Championship.
00:25:09
Kieran McGinley - MU
And what you'll create is sort of a similar scenario to what you might be seeing in the Championship, where you've got the sort of the yo-yo teams, if you want to call them, that have the parachute payments that are going to keep coming up and down, up and down. it was It was such a breath of fresh air to see the likes of Ipswich return to the Premier League. you know, you had Luton Town, who...
00:25:28
Kieran McGinley - MU
have been in a little bit of a free fall since their appearance in the Premier League. But it's nice to see different teams in the Premier League and that's happening less and less often. And I do feel that that huge disparity between the earnings and the revenue between being a Premier League club and the Championship club a few of are absolutely massive and it's causing that problem.
00:25:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Amen.
Race for European Spots in Premier League
00:25:48
Mikey
Yeah, I think it will continue. And I think the that the sad news is that essentially that that relegation ah zone is kind of confirmed. Wolves are needing a maximum of 10 points and from the the remaining Premier League games.
00:26:02
Mikey
and And that obviously changes if if Leicester or Ipswich were to drop points as well. So that that number would reduce. ah Wolves have got some tricky games, but I've said this all along. So even when it was a little bit closer a few weeks ago, the the The requirement is that Ipswich and Leicester can grind out results.
00:26:23
Mikey
And I think that they've let themselves down in in in games where they could potentially have found and results. What's more interesting is ah the race for Europe.
00:26:34
Mikey
And it really is an area of the of the league now that is is coming into its most competitive element, I would say. I'm buzzing that Nottingham Forest are still in third place.
00:26:47
Mikey
And seemingly holding on to this with going through to the end of the season, as they have done all season, I think what a fantastic job that is. and I would like to come to Kieran just to explain as as coherently as you possibly can and what is happening with the with with regard to the european European places as we come to the end of season.
00:27:11
Kieran McGinley - MU
So as we all know, the top four get Champions League football. um But with the new system, the new sort of Swiss League style, there's two extra spots that can be won. Now, this is calculated by how well each nation does in Europe. So all the teams, all their coefficient points, which is how many points they get for drawing and for winning, which is sort of your coefficient basis.
00:27:32
Kieran McGinley - MU
And that's divided by how many teams are in Europe. Now, England as a nation have already secured one of those extra spots. So now one to five in the league will now be Champions League. That bumps Europa down to sixth place.
00:27:46
Kieran McGinley - MU
That'll bump Conference League down to seventh place um with the other the other nation still to be decided. So... your top five will now get Champions League, which means Newcastle are in that spot, Manchester City in the Europa League spot, and Villa in the Conference League spot.
00:28:04
Kieran McGinley - MU
That all is dependent as well on where the likes of Newcastle finish. They're currently fifth place, so they're currently in that Champions League spot.
00:28:11
Mikey
right.
00:28:11
Kieran McGinley - MU
So they're the League Cup winners, so they have their Conference League spot. If they get a higher European competition, their Conference League spot goes down to the next spot in the league, and that so on and so forth for the rest of the European competitions.
00:28:26
Kieran McGinley - MU
It's a little bit of a minefield to negotiate through. i may not have even got it 100% right, but I hope we're close to the target.
00:28:33
Mikey
yeah I think you've absolutely nailed that. we need We need advice like this regularly, especially for me. and I don't have a clue what is going on with these places. So, Mikhail, I'm going to you to nail down for me. and If you had to, right now, on 31 games for most teams apart from Newcastle, um who are you putting as your Champions League finishers? So, one to five.
00:28:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
One to five. So Liverpool, duh. Arsenal, also duh. um So I've got three places left. And just purely judging by the difficulty of opponents, because the average position of opponents for Nottingham Forest, for example, is 13th and for the Chelsea is 9th.
00:29:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Newcastle, for example, 9.88. Like, okay, that's just pure statistics. But looking purely on that, I think that Nottingham Forest will be among those teams, although their form is far from perfect as of late.
00:29:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Has been far from perfect as of late. um So Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle, at Nottingham Forest because if by some miracle Man City manages to secure Champions League football after such a horrendous season they had, the game is gone, as Louis would say after after the quiz.
00:29:52
Kieran McGinley - MU
you
00:29:52
Mikey
ah Yeah, absolutely. So Kieran, can you fill in the the rest of the spots for us? So the ah Europa and Conference, where where who would you feel that could have potential to get in those spots?
00:30:04
Kieran McGinley - MU
I do see Newcastle, i think they've got the game in hand at the moment um and they're still buoyed by their success. You know, four wins in the last five. I'm looking at City's recent form. It's two wins in five, um a defeat in that five as well.
00:30:20
Kieran McGinley - MU
look at Villa who are in good form. I think Villa have a great chance of sneaking their way in there to either a conference league spot or you're a rope league spot. I don't see Man City dropping out, but... it's going to be so tough between them.
00:30:33
Kieran McGinley - MU
mean, you're talking Chelsea ah in fourth down to Villa in seventh, covered by two points at the closing stages.
Key Matches and Preview of the Weekend
00:30:41
Kieran McGinley - MU
um Oh, why not? Let's go different. I'll go, I'll go What did we say? Newcastle fifth. So I'll go, i'll go Villa sixth and city seventh. Why not?
00:30:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:30:52
Mikey
Yes. I mean, I love the sound of it.
00:30:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's fair. That's fair.
00:30:56
Mikey
Absolutely. And and i'm I'm going to come to each of you in a second. And that's just to wrap up this episode to pick one game from the weekend. I'm going to go first. So obviously if I choose yours, and tough, you're going have to find another one.
00:31:10
Mikey
And, yeah But I'm going to kick it off with ah City eight Palace. I think both of both of these teams at the minute have played ah quite well. I do feel that City have to show a bit of consistency towards the running ah to have a chance of getting European football and prospective Champions League football um if they dream of that.
00:31:31
Mikey
Palace are on the back of, they're undefeated in in six. ah Good run of form. I feel that it's got the potential to be quite an open and open game. And the fact that Palace are like City's bogey team at the Etihad.
00:31:48
Mikey
um Andros Townsend's absolute screamer. It goes back all the way to when he was playing. So, yeah, ah that's my pick of the bunch. Mikael, share with us.
00:31:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going to go for Nottingham Forest taking on Everton. For me, like that's how I feel as the outsider ah from this discussion between Nottingham Forest fans and Everton fans here.
00:32:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think that for Forest, they're currently placed third. It's high time they started playing like so like a team from top three. And it is possible with them because they've shown this season many, many times, looked seventh in victories this season in the Premier League.
00:32:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
that they know how to play football. Nunez Pirito Santo has shown how Nottingham Forest can be great at defending. excuse me brother ah But i really, really hope to see Nottingham Forest pulling it back after this defeat at at at the Villa Park.
00:32:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So that's going to be the pick. that That's going to be the one to watch for me. Forest Everton.
00:32:52
Mikey
Wonderful. And to conclude the Premier League weekend for us, Kieran, our wonderful guest from the Man United. Is it the Man United podcast? Am I getting that right?
00:33:01
Kieran McGinley - MU
It is. Yes, it is.
00:33:02
Mikey
Absolutely. From the Man United podcast.
00:33:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:33:02
Kieran McGinley - MU
Daily Man United.
00:33:04
Mikey
Who are you going to go with?
00:33:06
Kieran McGinley - MU
ah Well, right at the end of the game week, I'm going to go for Bournemouth-Fulham. These are two teams that, with the the coefficients, and now we've got an extra Champions League spot, it's going to bump down the table. We could have up to eight, maybe even nine teams ah playing for Europe. If Chelsea are very successful in the Conference League, if we have if we do have Arsenal making it all the way to the Champions League final and winning it, who knows what could happen.
00:33:28
Kieran McGinley - MU
So those opportunities for ah getting into Europe in league placings are... are there for the taking and Fulham in eighth and Bournemouth in tenth are one of some of the favourites in there with Brighton in there as well the winner of that match is going to put themselves in prime position to just sneak through and take some European competition football for next season it's a it's a must win it's a must win game for both sides if they want that to happen and that's your Monday night football
00:33:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Especially Bournemouth's form,
00:33:54
Mikey
yeah awesome so
00:33:57
Kieran McGinley - MU
hmm
00:33:58
Mikey
Yeah, without doubt, I think i think we've we've we've wrapped up our forecast for the weekend. We are in dismay as United fans will continue to be for the rest of the 2024-25 season, ah but we shall continue to put a podcast with a smile on our face oh and look forward to the weekend's fixtures ahead. It's been an absolute privilege having you on with us, Kieran. Thank you so much for your time.
00:34:23
Kieran McGinley - MU
Thank you for having me.
00:34:24
Mikey
Mikhail, as always, it's an absolute pleasure from me to be on here with you. And until next time, we will find out how well we know football and the Premier League when we do our Monday review.
00:34:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you, Mickey.
00:34:38
Mikey
See you very soon. All the best from the Daily English Premier League podcast.