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Chiefs and Colts Sliding | Midweek Madness in the Premier League | Giannas Trade + CP3 Sent Packing
15 Plays6 days ago
This week on Who’s Got the Ball? James and Shane break down Christian Benford’s clutch performance in the Buffalo Bills’ defense and debate how the New York Jets’ five-game surge stacks up against the recent form of the Chiefs, Colts, and Buccaneers. With all three fighting for playoff spots, the lads ask: Which of these NFL contenders will actually make it to the postseason?
Then it’s over to the Premier League, where they recap the biggest midweek matches — Arsenal’s title push, Aston Villa’s red-hot form, and Manchester City’s wild 5–4 win over Fulham. They wrap it up with a full Aston Villa vs. Arsenal preview and prediction ahead of Saturday’s showdown.
To close out, James and Shane hit the NBA. Is the Orlando Magic’s hot streak a result of Paolo Banchero’s absence, or will his return elevate them even further? They also dive into the latest Giannis trade buzz and the Clippers’ mishandling of Chris Paul.
You’ll also get updated Power Rankings, fresh Gan Seans underdog picks, bold hot takes, and plenty of laughs.
Tap to listen — you don’t want to miss this episode.
🎧 Listen if you’re into:
- Football (soccer) analysis
- NBA previews & predictions
- Weekly NFL reactions
- Underdog betting tips
- Draft-style sports debates
- Power rankings across multiple sports
- Sports content from an Irish perspective with global takes
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🌍 Based in Ireland | Talking global sports weekly
(0:00) Spotify Wrapped & Charlie Smyth
(6:12) NFL Clutch Player of the Week
(12:58) The Jets on a Hotter Streak than Chiefs, Colts & Bucs
(22:17) Premier League Midweek Round-Up
(37:56) Villa vs Arsenal Preview + Predictions
(42:57) Gan Seans: Our Underdogs for the Weekend
(46:43) Are the Magic Better Without Paolo?
(53:20) Giannas Wants Out of Milwaukee
(1:02:30) The Clippers’ Mishandling of CP3
(1:08:09) NFL X Premier League X NBA Power Rankings
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Transcript
Podcast's Spotify Wrapped Success
00:00:09
Speaker
Alright lads, welcome back. This is episode 50 of Who's Got The Ball? So we've hit a nice landmark. um It was a nice week in general to to come on because we got obviously some stats from Spotify wrapped. So like we do mention a little bit at the end of the show, but you know, it's great to see us being so high in in a lot of people's charts. I think there's maybe 60 or so people who are in their top 10 and a good few um were in top five and some people number one. We had a good for few people number one as well. I think it was, I can't remember, it maybe six people had us as their number one show. I wouldn't have expected it to be one.
00:00:47
Speaker
Yeah, I think it was that. That's pretty mad. um No, no, no. We're ahead of 87% of all other shows in people listening. um to our episodes all the way through so that is really good as well we're we're just delighted to hear all that stuff but um another huge positive too was also Charlie Smith last weekend Irishman in the NFL so two things for Shane I'm going throw at him right now one is the stats of our of our podcast how do you feel about all that and second what did you make of Charlie Smith? Yeah so the stats I do mention at the end there as well but I just I think it's unbelievable like and when when you sent them over to me I was like
00:01:24
Speaker
is he sure this is our podcast and not someone else's because was just like a like how on earth are we this high in so many people shows and it's sort like I know 50 is a lot of episodes but it's also only 50 in comparison to like the TeeFo podcast must have thousands on it they say it's another kind of shows that we're in we're not in their we're not in their league but we're in their genre and the fact that people are listening to us as well and we're so highly ranked a lot of people people when they put us on they don't turn us off so clearly we're doing something that's engaging people as well so It was really, really good to see.
Spotlight on Charlie Smith's NFL Feats
00:01:55
Speaker
um in terms of Charlie Smith, that kick was good from 70 yards. like that That hit the net so high up and it was so accurate. That that kick was good from 65 or 70 yards. It was outrageous. And then...
00:02:08
Speaker
when when he got the onside kick as well, was like, ah, Jesus, this is the stuff of just the stuff a dreams for him. The way he kicked it, the helicopter kick on the ball, even when he put it down in front of the the tea I was like, i was like is is that how they all do it? like i I literally couldn't remember ever seeing an onside kick in my life all of a sudden. was like, do they all put it down like that? And I still don't know, but I just think...
00:02:32
Speaker
I got so annoyed when they scored the touchdown and i went for two. um Instead of giving him his first kick and then they got to two, as I was like, oh, and Conan was delighted and the of us like, no, you can shut up now. But I was a brilliant. The kick he got to get it from there.
00:02:45
Speaker
I know they lost anyway, but it was just such a positive for him. great to see an Irish kicker doing well because he kind of had it unfortunate with Jude McTamney earlier in the season he couldn't make his extra points then yeah it didn't really end great for him as he got released from the Giants practice squad and this situation now for Charlie like like you said, he piped that 57 yarder. It would have been good from 65, if not 70. And I did see someone on the Saints beat, like, putting out before the game, that one thing people will notice is how high he kicks the ball, which is great, because you're not under any risk of those getting blocked, which has been a ah a team this season. And then that onside kick, the technique was impeccable. Like, he's obviously been practising it so much. And and to convert it, think there only maybe one converted all season before that. So...
00:03:32
Speaker
he He's like just on on another level. and It seems for for what we could have expected and he's going to start again for the Saints this weekend. So amazing. Great to see you. I'm so happy for him and good for irish Irish involvement in the NFL too with himself
NFL Surprising Wins and Predictions
00:03:49
Speaker
and Dan. The only issue...
00:03:52
Speaker
Yeah, the only issue, well, Dan Whelan's another superstar. we I actually think we should talk about him next week, actually, that you've mentioned him. But the issue with his kicks going so high he could be that when he's playing in an outdoor stadium with a bit of wind, could that be an issue with how high the kicks are going? We'll have to wait and see. and like with With the Saints, he's in the dome, so there's no wind at all. So can kick it as high as he wants and it's going to go straight. So we'll see what he's like outdoors. maybe Now, maybe he has the technique for indoors and outdoors. I presume he'll practice outdoors as well. So I'm sure he knows what he's doing because he's clearly an excellent kicker. end It's just, it's so it just makes you feel so patriotic. have two lads who are doing unbelievable. Dan Whelan has been unbelievable all year as a punter as well. He's been absolutely class. So hopefully Charlie Smith can stick with it and maybe be kicking for Super Bowl team next year instead of just crap. It looks like he might be stuck with the Saints now. So, ah yeah, sorry, Conor. But, and sorry, Charlie, too. But, like, look, any mean and the opportunity is a good one for an Irish player in the New York City. 100%. We can see Dan Whelan even make a Pro Bowl um in the next year or two. and But... We touched on a lot this week. and Clutch player the week in the NFL let us off. Another defensive player, um back-to-back defensive players. We then went on to the fact of the Jets having more wins than the Colts, Chiefs and Bucks since November 1st is a bit mad. And what that means for all those teams and their playoff hopes, specifically we looked at.
00:05:17
Speaker
the Chiefs and Coles and what's really going on in the AFC. and Moved on to football then we chatted the games on Tuesday and Wednesday for kind of a midweek roundup and some of the talking points from there before we previewed Aston Villa versus Arsenal which is happening Saturday morning gave you our prediction for that one. Gonçantz is back our underdog picks we've got the NBA teams back in it for the first time this season too um So three picks each there onto the NBA then itself. And we chatted about the Magic. Are they better without Paulo Banchero or will he just add to their run that they're on when he comes back?
00:05:52
Speaker
And then we finished up talking on the NBA side of things about Giannis and Chris Paul, kind of the situations with them off the court. Giannis looking to move away and Chris Paul kind of being forced out the door. and And then lastly, we gave our power rankings. So a stacked episode.
00:06:07
Speaker
Hope you enjoy it. Episode 50, a big landmark. Let's get right into it. So NFL Clutch Player of the Week is back again. um We're going back-to-back defensive players. We didn't have any at all. And now we've done it in back-to-back weeks.
00:06:22
Speaker
Feels like we're compensating. But to be fair, this was maybe a game... Definitely a game changer. Maybe a season changer. um Christian Benford for the Bills...
00:06:34
Speaker
He, in the very first play of the second half, the Bills were losing 7-3 to the Steelers, looking like they weren't going to get anything going. First play of the second half, Joey Bosa absolutely lights Aaron Rodgers up, leaves him with bloody nose. Ball comes out, Christian Benford scoops it up and scores. Yeah.
00:06:50
Speaker
to get the first touchdown of the bill of the Bills' day, also his first ever touchdown of his career. um Five plays later then, he picks off Mason Rudolph um for an interception, his first interception of the season, and that leads to a touchdown for the Bills, which swung the game from 7-3 down to 16-7 up. They didn't look back after that, and that was a win they needed um to continue to kind of keep themselves in in touch and distance with the Patriots. Yeah, that was kind of the the way the Biddles started that game. It looked like they were going to go back to back in losses because they were they were really weren't, they couldn't get anything going on an offense at all. And it was kind of just, it really felt like a runoff from the Texans game where they were really poor as well. They come into this and there was nothing going. And Christian Benford said, I'm going to put this on my back now. And just like, if i if he was like, if basically, if I can get something going, then the offense can get something going. And yeah,
00:07:46
Speaker
As you said, his touchdown was just it was so just so quick on his feet together. And then the interception just changed the swing the game. And as you said, you never look back then when Don, Steelers didn't score again.
00:07:57
Speaker
Rodgers didn't play again for the rest of the game. It just made such a difference to him. I was reading up about him after and he's just really well liked around the facility as well. The the younger players look up to him as kind of, this is who, this kind of the level we want to be at. So the fact that he was able to come out then and make this massive difference for is only going to help as well. and I know you were saying about us kind of going back to back on defensive players now as an overcompensation, but it's just been back to back weeks where the defense have stood up because offense have just not been doing it really for the big teams last couple of weeks. So someone needed to, well, obviously the Browns aren't a big team, but the offenses for the teams that thought we were going to be pushing for Super Bowl just haven't really been at it. So for him to step up now after Moise Gara did last week just goes to show that there's a reason these defensive players get paid the big, big bucks.
00:08:45
Speaker
And it's kind of, they're they're showing it now, really. Yeah, I think coming into his fourth season, it's kind of like, a for him, like to to wait this long to get an interception on the season, and might be a massive turning point because like he that's always been a weakness for the Bills. like The secondary has never been that strong. They've had a good pass rush over the last couple of years, but there's times where teams have just torched them. and Especially in the playoffs. I know they did they do get a lot of takeaways, but that's slowed down this year, so maybe that's kind of the fire to start um the defence on the secondary side of things to kick off. i Looking at their last five games on the season then, um we've got...
00:09:31
Speaker
They're playing the Bengals in Buffalo this weekend. And then after that is the big one against the Patriots on the road. Cleveland on the road. Very winnable. um Philly at home.
00:09:44
Speaker
I don't know, like Philadelphia looked very shaky recently. And then the Jets at home, which they'll be expecting to win. In their minds, they'll want to go four and one here. um But really, the main one is to win against the Patriots because they're currently two games behind them and the Patriots have beaten them. So they'll need to win and they'll need the Patriots to slip up once, if not more than once, if the Bills do lose another game. So do you think they still have a chance like to win the division or do you think the Patriots are kind of too far ahead at the moment and they're just going to keep chugging? I think they have they have got to beat the Patriots, obviously. I know that's like saying the dis sky is blue, but if they can go and beat the Patriots, it would make such a difference. It would kind of it could end this Patriots run. I think they're on 10-game winning run now, the Patriots are, and they're doing that without looking special. Yeah.
00:10:34
Speaker
but I know that sounds absolutely mental, but like they don't look like they're a team that should be going for a Super Bowl, really. So if the Bills can go there and beat them, the Patriots could easily then drop another one in a row and all of a sudden the Bills are right back in it. But obviously they had to get over Sensi this weekend and then they had to beat the Patriots and then work it out from there with
NFL Team Struggles and Playoff Speculations
00:10:53
Speaker
the last three games. If they can get to, as you said, 4-1 or 5-0, I think that would be enough for them to win the division, but they can't go any lower than that and they have got to beat the Patriots as well. Yeah, like...
00:11:03
Speaker
I still think the Bills are a way better team than the Patriots. And I know like the Patriots are our 10-game winning streak and currently they are the best team in that division or in that conference and in that division and by record. But if you look at that 10-game streak, like the teams they played, They beat Carolina, who were incredibly up and down to start. The next win was against the Bills. That was huge. That was the first one where people were like, oh, this Patriots team might be real. But then after that, they played the Saints, Titans, Browns and Falcons, who were all abysmal teams. Then they played the Bucks, who were completely destroyed by injuries. And they nearly threw that away. Then they played the Jets.
00:11:48
Speaker
And then they played the Bengals without Joe Burrow. And then they played the Giants. Like, there's not really even, in my opinion, more than one actual football team in there. The rest are like children playing on field. Like, they played the easiest schedule I think I've ever seen. So that game for me is massive because I want to see them do really...
00:12:08
Speaker
come up against a test especially coming out with the bye week like they're on a bye week now this week the Patriots so if they come out with bye week and they beat the Bills then yeah I'll take them even more seriously but for now I'm still thinking even if the Bills don't win the division I still think they're a stronger team and when it gets to the playoffs yeah especially if you're not going to have my homes I'm still going to be putting my money on the Bills in the AFC
00:12:34
Speaker
Yeah, I'm the same as you, 100%. I think if it comes down to the Bills versus the Patriots in the playoffs, then the Bills will just, they'll just turn it on. Jess Allen will just come out and turn it on. So, yeah, I like i don't think it matters if they do win the division, as long as they just get into dust the playoffs, then I think they'll be absolutely fine.
00:12:53
Speaker
And as you said, if Mahomes and the Chiefs aren't there, then if they they'll they will get the Super Bowl. Yeah, that moves us on nicely to the next point we're going to talk about is... and Kind of an incredible stat, but since November 1st, the New York Jets have more wins than the Chiefs, Colts and Bucks. This is something you sent me after last Sunday. um In my opinion, it's not a sign that like the Jets are world beaters. The Jets have just turned things around. No. it's worse so Everything I have in my notes is that... Yeah, the other teams have just been considering what they hope.
00:13:26
Speaker
They've just been so bad. And over that period for each team, you've got the Colts losing to the Patriots. They beat the Falcons, lost to the Chiefs and lost to the Texans. The Chiefs then, they lost to the Bills ah Broncos. They won that game over the Colts and then they lost to the Cowboys. And then you've got the Bucks who lost to New England, lost to Buffalo, lost to the Rams and lost to Arizona. Now, but Buffalo, they were badly injured and they seem like they're not at that elite level where they can beat like the best teams.
00:13:56
Speaker
So I don't know if there's much more to that. It's more about the Colts and Chiefs for me because they're in the same division. um And yeah, it looks like the Texans, well, definitely the the Jags are already ahead of them, but looks like the Texans are catching up with those Colts as well. And the Chiefs look like it could be on borderline of highly unlikely now that they get into the playoffs.
00:14:20
Speaker
Yeah, I think the Colts in particular have just come back down to earth after the run they're on. Where Daniel Jones looked like, as I think I said at one point, he was the second coming of Tom Brady at one point, the way he was playing this season. But he's just back to who he was.
00:14:33
Speaker
um i just can't believe the Jaguars are getting away with what they're getting away with, to be perfectly honest, with that fellow under centre there from Buss. you what They're going out and they're winning games somehow. um I saw a stat as well about the Bears are top of um of our top of their division and Caleb Williams is passing. It's been absolutely chronic. It's like the good passers aren't getting rewarded and the bad passers aren't getting rewarded.
00:14:59
Speaker
And that's like Trevor Lawrence, absolutely awful, but his team are winning every single week. You have obviously Caleb Williams, awful winning every week. Then you have Mahomes playing some really, really good at football and just not getting anything out of it.
00:15:16
Speaker
I just think like the Jets, it's great that they finally realized how to win a couple of games. They're three and two in their last five, but over their last four games, it's only 942 yards, 462 passing yards a game. So it's just over 100 yards a game.
00:15:32
Speaker
They're just somehow outscoring teams. It's like they're bringing teams down to their levels and then the Jets are going like half a rung up the ladder to just about get over the line by two or three points or last minute field goal.
00:15:45
Speaker
The Jets are still horrific. um Tyra Taylor has been more solid than Fields, but like how could he not be? and He's not really doing anything amazing. He's always just remembered that he is able to run a bit.
00:15:59
Speaker
No, absolutely not, no. Which is a bit annoying as well, especially when... Obviously, like I started the season with so much hope, and that was all diminished in two or three weeks. But...
00:16:11
Speaker
They're just... They're still a bit crap is what I've written here. Despite the fact they're this mini run, they'll probably still end up losing their way to the end of season and everything will just be back to where it was and be like, now who do we put on the centre and now who do we put here?
00:16:26
Speaker
It's like the the jets the Jets are just a broken organisation. Yeah. and that They just... i don't I don't know where to fix this and we'll just have to wait and see what they can do. what They have gotten... a couple of good players now the two are receivers they picked up in those trades have been really really good since they came in and um the safety uh they came in for sauce to be next to nizel um ak or oh no eight um eight eight a z i can't remember saying him now but he's been really really good since he came in as well so we'll have to wait and see there's a couple of things there but Yet again, we're going into another massive offseason for the Jets that they need to get absolutely everything right. And they like there's just no sign that they can do it that. They've never shown they can go out and get everything right. so
00:17:07
Speaker
<unk> Especially when they have so many extra picks, the pressure is going to be on to get everything right there, as you said. But the interesting thing is the defense has probably been better since Quinn and Williams and Sauce left, which is mad. And yeah, Eddie Mitchell is a good pickup, like I said.
00:17:22
Speaker
to you like that he does have the potential but it's just whether he uses it so I liked him getting in the end zone that was his first career touchdown in the NFL in his second year after he dropped one going over the line for the Colts earlier in the season which is probably what led to him being included in the trade but i'll all good for the Jets I think it's a positive but If you look back then at those three teams, the Bucks, Chiefs and um the Colts, we've got the Jags currently leading the Colts division. but they're on the same record.
00:17:58
Speaker
And then we've got the Chiefs in third in their division and the Bucks are top of their division, but the Panthers have to play them twice. And the Panthers look like if they play well, they could beat anybody.
00:18:10
Speaker
So which, how many of the three do you think is actually going to make the playoffs? Now, two of them are already sitting in the playoff spots, but once it shakes out, I think two of them will get there. um I don't think the Chiefs are going to get there at this stage now. I think it's it's too they've left themselves too much to do. I think the Colts will probably just about win enough games because of the quality they have with Jonathan Taylor and their wide receivers are quite good as well. Josh Downs and Michael Pittman can both make plays as well. So I think da will they will sneak in there as well.
00:18:42
Speaker
I just think the Chiefs have left themselves far too much to do to try and They need to win out and hope for results to go firm as well. I just don't see it happening this year. So I think two of the three. Yeah, i would I would agree that it's probably going to be two. And i think that the Colts are...
00:18:59
Speaker
and in the lucky situation that they play the Jags twice in their last five games. Their other games are against the Seahawks, Niners and Texans. I don't think they win any of those three. and But I do think they beat the Jags both times, to be honest, and that's going to push them in um I think the Texans are going to give them a close run. I think the Texans may sneak in then as a wild card, probably over the Chiefs. yeah That's a massive game this weekend, the Texans and Chiefs, because that The Chiefs, if they have any chance, they need to win that, have that tiebreaker and then get the ball rolling. But if the Texans win it, then it's it's done completely. And then they're in a great spot. And and yeah, the Bucs, I just think the Panthers probably don't have enough to beat them twice. So I'm going to still take them to win that division. So I'm going to say two, the same two as you. but It is interesting that we have so many things up in the air right now.
00:19:48
Speaker
And I don't remember a season like this where it's been like so many new teams that we didn't expect to be in playoff spots and leading the divisions, leading the conference. And then so many big names really kind of...
00:20:02
Speaker
stumbling and there seems to be a massive gulf even though the best quarterbacks are in the AFC it seems to be such a gulf between the NFC and the AFC the NFC just looks so much better probably all around for teams the quarterbacks aren't as good maybe outside of Stafford but the rest is kind of a good team building and good defensive scheme so it's a really interesting season on that side Yeah, the one that keeps catching me off guard is the Lions. I can't believe the Lions have fallen to 7-5 and five and did they look they look in real trouble of getting into playoffs now. um
00:20:35
Speaker
With the players they have, I just don't understand how it's gone so wrong for They two brilliant running backs. They have Amon Rase Brown as their main catcher. I just don't understand how it's gotten to the point where they're behind the Bears and the Packers who, like, okay, the Bears are 9-3, fair enough. They're on a five-game winning run, but the Packers are awful.
00:20:56
Speaker
And, well, no, they're not. That's a bit harsh. But, like, the Bears should be better than the Packers. But the Bears should be better than them, and they're just not. The Lions, you mean?
00:21:05
Speaker
Sorry, the Lions, yeah, apologies. yeah The Lions should be better than the Packers and they're just not. And i don't understand what has happened to Lions this year, that they've fallen 7-5 and five ends dein like i had them picked to be my Super Bowl winner and they're not even going to get into the playoffs then. Yeah, I think that the the pay the Packers have not convinced me at all this season still. And they did get a couple of nice wins. But then at the same time, Jordan Love just randomly decides when he's going to have a horrendous game.
00:21:32
Speaker
So you don't know when that's going to be. um yeah He can be really good when he is on his game, but that's just the unconvincing part of it. And yeah, the Bears just came out and nowhere and I still don't think that that's sustainable with Caleb Williams at all. But um the lines have surprised me, but I guess I've always said about Jared Goff, and I'm still going to stick by it, that he'll never win you a Super Bowl. He's just not good enough. um And he's not giving in them the spark that they need, even though he had a great game.
00:22:01
Speaker
um last week they still managed to lose and that one wasn't on him but there'll be a lot that are on yeah him really and the fact that Ben Johnson isn't there either also is a big loss to them so I think the Bears are laughing now that they've got him in their ranks. But let's move on then football.
Premier League Highlights and Vulnerabilities
00:22:18
Speaker
so we had obviously a full weekend's um round of games. Nothing too crazy on the weekend. I feel like there was not in a whole lot to talk about. and So we're going to focus on the midweek games. So we're recording this Thursday. The only one we don't know the result to right now as we're speaking is United and West Ham, which is due to start within the next hour.
00:22:41
Speaker
You guys will know that, but let's talk about the other nine games because there was a lot of mad ones. We'll start with Tuesday. City beat Fulham Newcastle 2-2 with Spurs and Everton 1-0 over Bournemouth.
00:22:52
Speaker
What were some things that stood out to you on Tuesday and night? um i picked Everton by accident and got chance to beat Bournemouth, but it didn't count because it was midweek and not the weekend. So I'm a bit annoyed about that one. But that Fulham City game is one of the maddest games of football I've ever seen. um City went from being so comfortable and just so in charge to looking soa so soft, so vulnerable.
00:23:16
Speaker
Anything can happen. Fulham had so many chances, half chances to get it back to 5-all as well. It kind it kind of It made me realise that this, unfortunately, this Arsenal side are going to win the league because they're just so solid at the back and so good going forward. Whereas City, like, they score all the goals you want. But if you concede in four after being 5-1 up, sorry, if you concede in three after being 5-1 up, then, like, you're not a serious football team that's going to go on and win a league title here unless Arsenal completely fall apart.
00:23:45
Speaker
So that's very unfortunate. and Spurs are horrific. They just have nothing going for him. don't understand it. The players are there. and Maybe he was the wrong choice as a manager.
00:23:57
Speaker
It's what it's going to look like. It's it's kind of starting to look like he's good at being this the big fish in the small pond rather than the fish in the pond where all the fish are the same size and there's a couple bigger than you and their fans expect so much and they're just not getting it.
00:24:13
Speaker
And then that everything results... Bormut, everyone loves watching Bormut. Bormut seemed to win every week, but they still managed to lose every week. I don't understand. I don't understand where Bormut is at the moment. Like it's, that they play such nice football and then go and lose or lose to Sunderland, draw West Ham, lose Everton. They're on a terrible run, it's another massive three points for Everton after coming back, coming off the back of that hammering by Newcastle at the weekend as well. Yeah, they needed that. And Jake O'Brien, man of the match, is a nice one to see. On Spurs, yeah, I don't know. It's looking like,
00:24:46
Speaker
Frank, the as you said, the fans don't want a certain style of football played, but it seems like every manager that goes in there finds out what the fans are like, finds out what the players are like, finds out the whole situation, and it doesn't ever seem to want to change for them.
00:25:04
Speaker
And i was listening to the TIFO podcast, and they were saying about how Spurs didn't have, like... enough they didn't get enough in in the summer and I was like thinking have they forgotten like how many players they got in like they got Colin Moarney Javi Simons Kudis Polinha Like, they got in very, very good, high-quality European um players who have played in Europe. European players. players um I mean, like, the guys who know how to play at the highest level and they're just kind of falling by the wayside. Yet they've had injuries, but they have a deep squad. Like, they may tell a permanent sign-in as well. Yeah.
00:25:44
Speaker
it's just not been good enough and Newcastle should have won that I feel like the draw was basically like an evening of the playing field considering that penalty was it an absolute farce like Dan Burdick was grabbing Bentancourt's arm and then throws himself on the ground for a man that size come on don't you can't be mad yeah like and Byrne was even laughing he was shocked that he got it so that one was a bit mad and on City I 100% agree with everything for me the main thing that stood out from that game was that something that's happened to them all season but second balls like off crosses or corners their whole team just freezes they're all looking at each other to do something yeah and then that's how Fulham got back into it two of their goals because of that and I just think that
00:26:31
Speaker
The way that City defend suits the other teams who are pushing up. bla Villa will feast on them if they play like that against them. Arsenal as well. Chelsea would beat them playing like that. I know they lost to Leeds, but like in general, that's the type of style that these teams work well against.
00:26:47
Speaker
And it's the traits of like a poor, poor team. So, yeah, I don't think they're goingnna they're going to get there this year um in terms of title challenging. um There's no one outside of Arsenal because yeah City got lucky there.
00:27:01
Speaker
Chelsea losing to Leeds. Chelsea controlling it all in to do against Leeds at any time in the season. They're just so immature. Obviously, Claysay, there was a massive loss as well, but they're just a really, really immature football team. I only really saw...
00:27:14
Speaker
and 15 minutes highlights now after because I was watching Liverpool at the same time for my sins but a Liverpool or another team where everyone thought was going to be their nearest challenge and they're I don't want to talk about them again we'll kind of just skim over that one some them were absolutely brilliant deserve the win but Like, who is actually going to push Arsenal? Is it going to be Aston Villa who have won? I think they've won 13 of their last 14 games now. Are they going to be Arsenal's nearest challenger with the way things are going? They're flying by foot. It's just
Arsenal's Title Race and Challengers
00:27:42
Speaker
mad. like yeah We'll look at the Wednesday fixtures then because both of those sides were playing. um like We had Arsenal beating Brentford 2-0.
00:27:50
Speaker
Zilla beat Brighton 4-3 in another high scoring game there was a few others there but Leeds and Chelsea 3-1 stands out as well those are three kind of a the standout games I think and that went on yesterday like to see a team in Chelsea who kind of really seemed to boss Arsenal on the weekend and probably should have beaten them and despite only having 10 men they still look the better team they come out and they get spanked by Leeds just purely complacent like I know Tanaka's goal is a screamer, but the amount of space he gets there, and then that third goal, when they're about to like kind of push back into it almost, they look like they're coming back in. It's just a joke from Saliba, just purely complacent.
00:28:31
Speaker
I think Chelsea will have games like that. I don't think it's going to stop them finishing in the top three or four. um I just think they will continue to randomly have games like that. And then, as you said, Arsenal just look a level above the rest. They rotated the squad and they won that game with ease.
00:28:48
Speaker
So they're laughing at this point. Yeah, Arsenal are just, they they are really are his head and shoulders above the rest them. There's no one that's going to lay a glove on them with the way everyone else is playing right now. and We'll talk about the Villa game a second. I think that might be That would be their toughest game of their season so far with the way Villa are playing in comparison to the way Villa and Arsenal are playing in comparison to everyone else they've played.
00:29:11
Speaker
Like, Arsenal, as you said, they rotated their spot. They're playing a defensive midfielder front and he just scores goals left, right and centre from him and he's playing up there. he's like well it's It's really, really frustrating. Yeah, it's it's absolutely mad. And they were able to, they could afford to leave Saka on the bench. He comes down and scores. Yeah. and They brought in Ben White, so Timber was left on the bench. Yeah. and Again, another clean sheet. Raya only had one real save to make, and it was a good one. Yeah, was good. um Brentford dropping Thiago was a strange one. Yeah.
00:29:41
Speaker
why would you drop him for your hardest game of the season? Like it is, it it's everyone's hardest game the season is going away at Arsenal. And you're dropping your best player, your most in-form player. made absolutely It was one of Keel Andrews' probably his worst performance as a manager of the season really. They were just so so passive the whole way through. I saw the whole first half of this and You just knew it was only going one way from minute five. You're like, yeah, they're not going to lay a glove on them here. Can we talk about Burnley and Wolves being, well, especially Wolves being potentially the worst Premier League team of all time? Oh my God. Another one that lost to Forrest.
00:30:17
Speaker
like they I think they had five shots, one on target. like That is a joke. yeah They're not even putting in... even close to 50% effort to try and stay up. They're just like, they've accepted their faith that already, like at this point. And of course, you United are playing them on Monday. They haven't won a game all season. So there you go. That's their first win of the season. passel But like, come on, they're just a joke. And like, it's and it's, that's one of the places. So they've gotten one of their two points at Spurs, which says ah and more about Spurs now than it does about Wolves. And it kind of goes to show like Spurs are so badly coached, Liverpool are so badly coached, but Wolves,
00:30:54
Speaker
are just it's it's actually like they're not doing any training it's like they play their match they go home they sit on the couch for the weekend and come back out they're so lethargic in everything they do there's just no sign of any sort of life and then i think burnley are just they're just who they are like another one they lost for them as well a team who didn't conceded 13 goals all season last year looks so weak defensively yeah um it's like they've forgotten just everything they were doing um Dubravka, everyone thought he was a good signing, but he's clearly not. He has no command over that back four or five whenever they're playing.
00:31:27
Speaker
Kyle Walker is doing nothing from either. He's literally he's he's issued as a placeholder there for as well. and They're just like, it's like they've got, like Walker is such a good attacking outlet and they're making him sit in. And Quinda, not Quinda, their left back, their fellow they signed in from Feyenoord as well, was so good at attacking Hartman.
00:31:47
Speaker
And they've just, they've made him sit in as well. It's just, it's a back five that don't cross the halfway line. Yeah. Like you're one them down, you need to and make some sort of an effort. As well, like Hartman needs a few assists on the season. So when he goes forward,
00:31:59
Speaker
he's able to do it I just don't know like I'd say i honestly they have a decent enough squad like to get like 17th place but like it's not going to be Scott Parker that does it with them no and like I know Leeds won there last night but I still think the right decision would have been sacking Farquhar in the summer and bringing someone in who knows the Premier League because he's never been able to keep a team up it's a great result last night fair play and it kind of dragged him out of the bottom tree but they have an awful Christmas schedule coming up They have Liverpool twice in the space of a month. Now, joe on paper, that's tough. It doesn't look as tough as it is now. But when you were looking at that when the pictures came out, like they had City, then Chelsea, then Liverpool in the space of a week. If they can come out with that with four or six points, then fair enough. I'll put my hands up. But they're more than likely going to come out with three points, maybe four, because I just don't see Liverpool going there and winning.
00:32:51
Speaker
But outside that, like they just really look so poor at times. I know they did a great comeback against City. So the players are are obviously playing for him. Yeah. But he's on the team of giants who can't.
00:33:03
Speaker
Every single time they they do that, like one win, it's just keeping him in his job. Like that's all that's doing. Like yeah it's not making, there's still not a better team, but sorry, you go on and make your point what you're going to say there.
00:33:17
Speaker
like He signed a team of giants thinking it would help and like I think he was trying to do what Sunderland have done. yeah He's just knocked them on to do it. like If you put Libri into that team, I reckon that Leeds team could be where Sunderland are now. If he got them...
00:33:33
Speaker
All with like a solid plan of this one we're doing, this one we're going. Sunday and last night were just incredible. and Yeah, I think they were just, they were deserving of the points. That Xhaka signing goes under the radar too because he's really, 100%.
00:33:46
Speaker
hundred precise Like solidified that whole team and he knows exactly what to do in elite European games. So he's going to know what to do. in the Premier League with Sunderland. For me, the biggest takeaway from that game is Van Dijk as just a joke.
00:34:01
Speaker
ah Like, he gets way too much credit for his defensive ability, not in the way that he's never been a good player, but in the way that he gets that as an excuse or like a bailout every time he makes a mistake. Oh, do you see what he did this time? Whatever. Like...
00:34:16
Speaker
He turns his back on way too many shots. That first one that was tipped onto the bar by Alisson, he ducks under that. Somehow he manages to avoid. yeah And then for the goal, he gives it away and then just turns his arse to the ball. Couldn't be half bothered.
00:34:30
Speaker
And he'd be the first one then to go and throw someone else under the bus in the in the press conference. zone yeah So... it's i I don't understand why he's always running backwards. Like, why why is he giving... look i i was literally sitting on the couch and i was shouting, like, do not let him shoot.
00:34:47
Speaker
And everyone, they're all just running backwards, letting them just they were basically letting him walk into the box. was like, have so much space, why would I not shoot? obviously the deflection helps, but the deflection is Van Dyke's fault. Because if he's going to it instead of backing off, then he blocks it properly. Murphy's big face on him.
00:35:04
Speaker
It just it makes absolutely no sense. He's there running backwards, looking over his shoulder at it, basically. And he's like... like He's inviting him to shoot. I don't know if this is the case, but... Why are you inviting shots? the The point that people make about... You know, that he has that record of people not dribbling past him. Like...
00:35:20
Speaker
I don't know does that play into his mind because he depends he he so many times he runs away from people when they're like looking to go past him that's like am I trying to preserve this thing I had when I was younger and I was faster like I don't know if that actually plays into his mind I don't think it's that doesn't make sense to get to defend the way he does Yeah, the one thing that came to our mind last night was after that Real Madrid game, he came out on Amazon and gave Rooney absolute pelters for talking about him.
00:35:48
Speaker
And Rooney has only been proven right every single week since. Every time Van Dijk plays, what Rooney was saying has just come out and made far more sense every single time. And it's... Very frustrating. They gave himself and Salah the new contract. Salah's not in the 7-11 and he he's only getting away with what he's getting away with this year because Kanata has been absolutely horrific. Another howder last night he got away with He was very lucky. The only reason Van Dijk isn't getting... If Kanata was playing at the level he is, the level we know he can get to and Van Dijk was doing what he's doing now, everyone everyone will be like, oh, Van Dijk's finished. yeah
00:36:20
Speaker
But he gets away with it because Kanata is so far below what what he's meant to be doing yeah that Van Dijk looks like a hero beside him. The amount of goals conceded, we conceded 21 goals in 13 league games.
00:36:32
Speaker
Defended champions. That's absolutely horrific. Nine or ten goals from set pieces. We had none conceded this time last year. And Van Dijk is the one. He sets the line. He sets the tempo. He sets everything. He's the captain.
00:36:42
Speaker
And he's clearly doing absolutely nothing. That was ruining his whole point. He said that. He needs to set the tempo. And like, it's not like someone who's coming out of nowhere. This is a guy who's won multiple Premier League titles. One of England's best players in the last 20 or 30 years.
00:37:00
Speaker
um like He knows what is necessary. And then Van Dijk was kind of trying to throw a few digs in there. And Rooney just stood there and took it and looked at in his face and was like, look, this is what I was saying. This is what I meant. This is my opinion. And everything since then, as you said, has been proved right. But... And everyone on Twitter like, oh, Van Dijk put him in his place, Van Dijk did this. And Rooney was there. And at the time, I was like, don't like that because it was one game. I think it was two wins in a row. We'd just beaten Villa. We were still playing crap. I came out after and everyone was on Twitter was like, oh, Van Dijk did so well there. was like, this is going to come back and this in air. And he couldn't look him the air as well. He was trying to make the little comment and the thing memes for... you know, clips online. He knew what he was doing and Rooney was just like, looking him in the face like, yeah, look, I gave him my opinion, that's it.
00:37:51
Speaker
and Yeah, did this is my opinion. on dear ru This is what happens. and But, let's move on to preview the game for the weekend then. It's the early game on Saturday. Villa versus Arsenal. and We didn't say too much on Villa's win over Brighton, but I think...
00:38:08
Speaker
Brighton are lethal going forward. They could put three past anybody. And the fact that Villa went from down to be 4-2 up... um they kind of showed that they have that resilience to continue this run, even when they're put under pressure. So like you said, they had three points in their first five games. And since then, they have 24 from a possible 27. So they only lost one since then. They've only lost twice in all competitions since September began.
00:38:36
Speaker
So I think coming off a big away win, having rotated their forwards, Arsenal did a lot of rotations themselves, so they'll be fit. um this is a very very big game because if Villa somehow managed to get a win here they're only three points behind Arsenal and they're well within striking distance and considering the run they're on who would say that they're not going to catch them if they do beat them yeah so I mentioned it briefly when were talking about the midweek game so they have 13 wins in their last 14 games in all competitions um
00:39:07
Speaker
like That's the kind of run that when Man City go on, everyone in the world is talking about how good Man City are, but it's Aston Villa, so everyone is just kind of, just like it it's ah it's almost like it just slips under the radar. no one No one even thinks about it. What the football they're playing is unbelievable. Watkins got two goals last night and finally it looked like the player he was last year. after He's had a really, really slow start to the season and they were still winning all these games. Yeah.
00:39:33
Speaker
This is Arsenal's toughest game so far of this season. I know they lost to Liverpool away and they were really poor then, but this is the kind of game where, the same way everyone is looking at Villa and not talking about their run, this is the kind game where Arsenal go, oh, it's Aston Villa. We absolutely have to go there and win.
00:39:47
Speaker
I don't want to think they are going to go there and win. I think the early kickoff helps Villa. think the fact that it's in Villa's home helps Villa. And the fact that they came back from that massive, from Tynneville down to beat Brighton away helps Villa as well. I think this this has a Villa win written all over for me. And it's not just my Arsenal hatred coming out. I just think this Villa team are really, really serious.
00:40:10
Speaker
I know Arsenal are serious as well, but... Everything has been rosy and shiny for Arsenal. They have to face adversity at some point. I think this might be the bit of adversity they've been kind of waiting for, us to be honest. Yeah, I think that Arsenal can play anybody else in the league this season and I'm going to predict an Arsenal win. But in this one, I'm finding it hard to do that because...
00:40:31
Speaker
Looking at Rodgers as well recently, he's just really been amazing after a kind of a slow start. um And the thing for me is that Arteta has been bringing Giacaras off the bench. and And I don't know, is he going to start him in this game because he's increased his minutes? Like, I don't think he should. I think Marino is a better option in this game, kind of with his physicality and creating that extra space then for Saka or whoever else may be coming on. I really like Madueke recently, his performances. so I feel like those two on the wings with with Marino up front would be...
00:41:06
Speaker
really something to cause Villa problems. I think the defence for Arsenal changes a lot too. Like, Gabriel and Saliba are still going to be out, and Mosquera now is injured too. So you're looking at Timber coming into centre-back, like he did last night. But the lucky thing for them is Ben White is back, and he got an assist and was great last night. So that's the positive of all these defenders that they have. For me...
00:41:33
Speaker
Two really good teams. Probably the two best teams in the Premier League right now. But I don't know. I just think Arsenal very, very, very good. And although Villa are great, I can't, even at home, I can't give them more than a draw. So I'm going 1-1 here because I think both defences are solid and two teams would be looking out if they're with something. Yeah, I've gone 2-1 Villa. I'm expecting Villa to come out of the blocks are really, really fast with the confidence they are.
00:42:00
Speaker
If they can get 1-0 up inside 20-25 minutes, I think it makes it really, really difficult for Arsenal. So I'll have to wait and see. i'll be in I won't be watching this. I'll be over in Bath. So unless it's on in a pub that I land in at some point before the Munson match, I'll get see it. Other than that, I'd probably miss it.
00:42:16
Speaker
But... I think it's a really, really big game for Arsenal. If Arsenal win this, I know we've said it a million times already, but if Arsenal do come out of this with a 2-3-1 or 2-3-0 win, then they're going to waltz their way through rest of the next six months and just pick up points after in centre and they'll just be unstoppable.
00:42:35
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's really important for other teams too that Villa get the win because if Villa close a gap to three, that's when you start going like, oh, Arsenal. Gives everyone else bit of confidence. Yeah, and are Arsenal going to go back to themselves or they start overthinking this whole thing? And they know a team is right over their shoulders. Whereas as if,
00:42:51
Speaker
Arsenal win this then I don't think yeah it's it's really curtains for everybody else but let's move into Ganshan's then um last week i we both had one right again I'd really like to claim two yeah that's not going to happen because Shane changes it pick like three times because obviously he picked that Everton over Bournemouth and then I was like what the hell where is that coming from and then you were like oh I don't even know where I got that from then you gave me another one and I was like that doesn't even qualify and then you settled on um what was your point? Everton to beat Newcastle no it was the Saints to beat the Dolphins that Everton and Newcastle didn't fit in the oh yeah see that's why I'm here and I have to remember all this stuff But I've got, last week I had the Texans to beat the Colts and then that came up.
00:43:42
Speaker
Cardinals and Bucks, Cardinals pushed, they couldn't get there. West Ham versus Liverpool and Liverpool won. You also had West Ham to beat Liverpool, so that wasn't a winner. And obviously we already mentioned Saints and Dolphins, that wasn't a winner and you had Texans to beat Colts, the same as me, so...
00:43:57
Speaker
We picked a one up each there. 12-11 to me is the current score. um I'll go with mine first for this week. So we've got the and NBA back. um There's enough games now to start doing it. So we'll explain how we do that one in case you are a new listener or you don't remember from last year, but Usually the odds for the and NBA games won't be out for like the weekend or Friday night by the time we're recording this. So what we what we do is the team you're picking has to have five wins less than the team that they're playing against. So have to pick an underdog that has five less wins than another team that they're up against. and Everything else is the same for for NFL and and Premier League. has to be a team that is an underdog, but they're an underdog to an odds on team. um So...
00:44:44
Speaker
I've gone with the Pacers to beat the Bulls. The Pacers have been awful. They're 4-18, but the Bulls are on an absolute joke of a run. They're just falling off a cliff. They cannot defend.
00:44:55
Speaker
They're all... Vucevic is coming out complaining about the team, saying that they're basically a joke. And I agree with him. Friday at 1am, Pacers hopefully to get their fifth win of the season. Then I've gone with Bengals to beat the Bills Sunday at 6pm.
00:45:10
Speaker
Joe Burrow just looked back. like He looked like he was up for it. And he went on an unbelievable run last season. So let's see he if he can do that again. He's going to need to start by beating the Bills. They're 11-5 on Sunday, 6pm. And then lastly, I know I predicted a 1-1 draw. But I think Villar are probably the more likely of the two to win since they're at home. So since they're 16-5, I'm taking them to beat Arsenal. Obviously, that's 12-30 on Saturday, as we already mentioned. Yeah, so I have two of the same view again. So I also have the Pacers to beat the Bulls because it was the only one that was literally, that I could see, there was an actual just five games back.
00:45:48
Speaker
Like the other one that looking at were like 6-16 versus I was like, I'm absolutely not going there, not this early in the season. I wanted one that was close enough, so I went Pacers and Bulls as well. I obviously also have Villa to beat Arsenal. Villa Arsenal 11, sorry, 17-20. We just talked about why I think Villa are going to do it. I don't need to touch too much on it. And I'm sticking on the Jets hype train and they're going to beat the Dolphins. The Jets are 6-5, the Dolphins are 4-6.
00:46:14
Speaker
Up the Jets, better than the Chiefs. Let's go. Yeah, you've got to go back to the Jets because when you went away from them, they won. So... You've got to stick with them now. Yeah. And... Needs to be in back down there. Yeah, and another thing about the Bulls is they just lost the Nets like two nights ago. So that's the level they're on at the moment. Yeah, and the Nets are awful. That Villa price also is really, really good. 16 to 5. That's... Yeah, I think that's way too... Way too much of an outside for a team at home in that kind of form. But anyway, let's move on yeah to the NBA side of things. um
00:46:46
Speaker
First thing we've got really is... Are the Magic better without Paulo Bancero? Or is it a fact that he will just contribute to this team when he does come back um and continue on the run that they're on? So they're 7-3 without him. They lost to the Celtics. They lost in overtime to the Rockets. And they lost with a last-second block last night. um They had a layup and Luke Cornett came back and got the block against the Spurs. So those are the three losses. um And then with Paolo on the season, they were 6-6. So it was a big difference and it's got in um in their record with them without him. And I don't know, is this run down to everything maybe clicking a bit more? A few shots available for other people, allowed Desmond Bain maybe to settle back into his rhythm. But you think it's more than that? Do you think that they're winning without him because he's gone or they're winning...
00:47:40
Speaker
in spite of him being out, like it they've they've just improved and he'll just add to it. I think he'll just add to it. So in the last 10 games, everything has clicked. But i think it's been more the fact that they're just playing more games, getting to know each other a bit better. I 100% agree that Desmond Bain looks...
00:47:56
Speaker
10 times the player he did at the start of the year he's really come on in leaps and bounds while Banchero has been out but De Silva has been sorry Tristan Silva has been sitting in there instead of Banchero over this run he averages 10-3-1 and when Banchero before he went out was 21-9-4 so he' he's double um if not triple in some and he had a steal in a block as well i think he comes back in and just makes him better i think they they know how to play now so they come back in and say okay everything doesn't have to go through you look at what the lads have done in the last 10 games without you you don't need to be firing all cylinders every single night for us to get these wins he can facilitate more he can bring his rebounds up from 9 to 15 and still get his 21 points as well i think
00:48:38
Speaker
I think it only bodes well for him. If they're on the 7-3 run, when he comes back, if he plays the next 10 and they go 5-5, then I'd be like, okay, maybe there is a problem. But if they could very easily come back and go 8-2 with him and the team as well, with him facilitating the rest of them, the rest of them keeping their level up, De Silva kind of rotating in and out now that he's showing he can do something. Yeah, yeah I agree. So yeah, I i did yeah i think you know they're only going get better when he comes back.
00:49:04
Speaker
Yeah, I agree 100% with that. um He's, for me, like, if if he's not a top 20 player in the league, he's a top 15. Like, he's an unbelievable talent. and Yeah, he does play a certain way that, you know, there's there's strength to his game and there's weaknesses. Like, he's not one of those guys that can do absolutely every single thing. But...
00:49:27
Speaker
I think it's like you said, just this team is finding its way now and because they played more games with each other. And like, yeah, you but you there is some things you can't shy away from too, though. Like...
00:49:40
Speaker
They've been scoring more than six points a game now than they were before. and Their rebound numbers have gone down, but their steal numbers have have gone up by nearly one a half steals a game. The thing that stands out to me is the number of threes they're taking. They're taking about two and a half more a game, which isn't a big number, but those stack up across games. And they're taking care of the ball a lot better.
00:50:04
Speaker
um Like four less turnovers a game. and they're putting up an extra like seven shots per game so 91.8 field goals attempted per game now and with him it was 84.6. Some of those things are down to his style of play because he is a bit slower and they did defer to him a lot.
00:50:21
Speaker
So I think what the the perfect marriage of this whole situation is that they point to these things and say, look, we're actually performing way better when we play faster and we move the ball around more. um It actually is leading to less turnovers because we're moving the ball around. No one knows this. Everyone, the other teams don't know who's going to take the shot. It's not always just going to be you. Yeah.
00:50:43
Speaker
And then they can use that to their advantage. I think that if he is willing to buy into that fact and believe, I think it's it's a belief as well because often he had to be the guy because they had injuries or players not performing. Now he can look at Bain like two games there where he had 37 points in two wins versus big divisional opponents in the Bulls and Pistons. Like those are games that you need to win and they did win them because of Bain's performance. So I think If he's willing to take a little bit of... we Do a little bit of give with the take and show that this is probably better for the team if we do up the pace, take more shots, then i think this team only leaps even further as long as he buys into it. Yeah, I think he has no other option than to buy into it because of what they've done while he's been out. um Everything you've said is is absolutely spot I'm not going to go like double back or say anything that you've just said. I just think that when he does come back, if they can get him and Bane playing as a onet too kind of...
00:51:41
Speaker
just helping each other and everything, getting the ball around the court faster, as you said, i think, as you said, they can only go up because he is some player. Any team in the league would have him in a heartbeat. So getting him back in there with everyone else playing really well as well. you even need to rush him back in now. They can bring him back on the bench and kind of just drip feed him in 20 minutes here, 25 minutes, and get him back up to starting level. Like, there's no...
00:52:05
Speaker
Like when he went out, I was like, oh, they might be in trouble here with the way they'd started the year. But now they've just, they've been so good in the last 10 games. As you said, overtime loss, last second block. And I can't remember Bulls and the Bulls almost very close as well.
00:52:19
Speaker
Celtics area, yes yeah. So it's like this see he's coming back into completely different team that he left 10 games ago. yeah that he i just don't think he's a choice. He has to now buy in and say, okay, it's not all about me.
00:52:31
Speaker
He doesn't need to be putting up 30 points for people to know how good he is. Everyone knows how good he is. So he like he doesn't need to go out here and go, oh, I'm the man, look at me. There's no need for him to do that. Everyone knows he's the man.
00:52:42
Speaker
And when it comes down to it, and they do need a ah last second three, they'll probably give it to him still or over any of the rest of them. So we'll still see the best of him. He just needs to help get the best out the team as well at the same time. Yeah, I think and the best of him will come if he falls into that role as well. And the best of Frank Wagner as well because he'll be given more space inside if they're continuing to put up these extra couple of threes and up the pace. So yeah, i still I had them to win the East at the start the season and although there's still question marks, I'm still going to stick with that because... I think they have that ability. And then with him back, they're only going to leap as long as he buys into it, like I mentioned. But let's touch on um a couple of situations that are off the court at the moment. First up being Giannis.
00:53:28
Speaker
Once again, of course, he's playing unreal. 30.8 minutes per game with 30.6 points per game before last night's game where of course he he went down. They said it was a calf strain. He's going to miss like two to four weeks. He only played like three minutes. But before that, the numbers were insane. And it was the best pace he had um for points per minute in his entire career. But yet the state the team is still... 9-13 outside the playoff spots. They're 10-13 now after winning last night. But before that, they were
00:53:59
Speaker
nine And thirteen and he had he had played, he had missed six games. They went 1-5, losing key games to conference opponents. They lost to Philly, Detroit, Miami, all with him out. And then even when he does play, the team looks far off it. So what he has done,
00:54:15
Speaker
in return is remove everything for the team off his social media accounts, change his profile picture to him in a Greece jersey, He just has his bio as NBA player now. It's not, you know, Giannis plays for the books. he didn' know He doesn't want that on his account anymore. And his agent has now spoken to the to the books about what's going to happen in the next few weeks. And they hope to come to an agreement, whether that be him leaving or a clearer path for the in the future for him staying. Ultimately, he's going to leave.
00:54:46
Speaker
So that's that's what we're looking at now. I didn't think he would do this because... as I mentioned at the start of the season, like American players often do this, but we've yet to see a European like superstar do this in the NBA, but it looks like he's going to be, he's going to be the first one. I think he has, he has obviously outgrown the boxes level now.
00:55:05
Speaker
He's far too good to be playing for a team that isn't challenging for a championship. Mm-hmm. I just think he is he is so important for them. Like, as you said, to went wonderful five it out him they're going to go another two to four weeks now. Conveniently, he's going to get an injury when he wants to get a trade, which seems a bit kind of something to throw up in the air.
00:55:25
Speaker
Yeah, a non-contact injury out of nowhere. But I think he's just so important for them that... The only way he gets out is if some team offers something absolutely outrageous. And there aren't many teams left who have the ability to.
00:55:37
Speaker
I was looking at something. The OKC could absolutely do it, which is will be a major problem if they got him in as well. They have so many picks. They so many players that are just kind of playing role players. There would massive difference makers for a team like the Bucs. They have Caruso could go in there and make a massive difference for the Bucs, for example. um Him, a couple of others, and a couple of firsts gets Giannis.
00:56:00
Speaker
like it Is there any hope for like what did the Lakers have to offer? What can the Rockets offer? Like so these are the teams that he's probably looking at. so there There isn't enough there. The Rockets definitely don't have enough of what to give up to get in um to get in kaie and they're not going to give up Amen or Jabari Smith or they're definitely not giving up someone like Shingun. So there isn't a whole lot of teams that can get him and his price is going to be mental as well. But he definitely will end up somewhere more than likely be the Lakers I think. Yeah, I think for me with the Lakers, though, I don't know what they have that they can give up.
00:56:32
Speaker
Like, they're in ah quite a difficult situation that what do they do there? Like, that like the LeBron is going anywhere. Like, he's going to veto and eat anything. He's still not to want to go to the books. He's too old. The Bucks don't want him.
00:56:46
Speaker
They're not giving up Reeves because they like that No, and they're not giving up Danchich, obviously. Even though the two of them can't defend together at all. um That would be the knowledgeable and smart thing to do is give up Reeves, I think, in my opinion. And...
00:56:59
Speaker
I know he's playing great this season, but like, come on, it's Giannis. Giannis is Giannis. Yeah. um ah yet A lot of teams don't have enough. I think one of the only teams that do is OKC and OKC aren't going to do it because they have exactly what they need and they've won are like the championship already. They're on a historic pace again this year. They just want to prove everyone wrong. for twitter They want to build with what they have and they don't want to be like, oh, we went and got a superstar.
00:57:25
Speaker
They want to build their own like kind of superstar team. like the books are just a joke right now like nineteenth in points allowed per game and 18 in points for per game so ever since that whole damn Lillard debacle getting him in didn't work out gets badly injured had to let him go still gonna be paying him off for next like four years they've just set themselves up for failure and Myles Turner's come in what's he doing like he's not providing the team scoring and maybe 12 points a game. it's It's not made any difference. And Ryan Rollins probably looks like the only shining light outside of Giannis. And that's certainly not enough to keep Giannis there.
00:58:06
Speaker
So, yeah, I don't know. I think I find it hard to see certain teams giving up what they need to give up to get him. But like you said, yeah. the Lakers is probably the most likely because it's like a fashionable destination and it's going to ultimately be where the Heat is. Yeah, the Heat is a good choice too. But again, they don't have a whole lot, but it's like Miami, that's where you want to be. So I think it's it's kind of, if he doesn't want to go there, then don't even bother putting a trade offer for him because unless he wants to go to your team, then you're wasting your time.
00:58:38
Speaker
Yeah, and just looking here, so they're 10 and 13, they're one place below the 76ers who are 11 and 9. Yeah. just So they're like they're so far back. Yeah. So they they played what? They played 23, you played 23. They're three games played more than ye, and they're...
00:58:54
Speaker
They're seven and a half games back. You're five games back from the Pistons. They're just so far removed from the team that... I think it's from the team that Giannis thought he was staying on that summer. I think he wouldn't have stayed there if he didn't think there was a chance of getting into the playoffs having a winning record. And they're just so far removed from what you expect of the Bucs with Giannis on the team.
00:59:17
Speaker
And they've signed as two brothers. two them are... They're Irish league players. They're horrific two of them. only there to keep them happy. like um but Wherever he goes, if he goes the Lakers, the two of them are coming with him.
00:59:30
Speaker
If he goes through the Heat, the two of are coming with him. It's like, it's literally, it's the biggest case of job for the boys I've ever seen in my whole in entire life is Giannis bringing his family on an American tour with him. um i just I just think, I think he has to go.
00:59:42
Speaker
i think he will go. I think someone is going to end up Obviously with a great player, but they're going to giving up so much to get him that it just if it's not going to seem worth it to any team in the league. I think that's the problem. If he'd went in the summer, he'd have had so many more options. Like the Rockets could have taken him over KD.
00:59:59
Speaker
I think KD has been brilliant. I've no issue with the bus. They had enough to get him in the summer if Gianna said, OK, I want to go to the Rockets now. yeah And they got it done before they did the KD deal. They don't have it now.
01:00:09
Speaker
And the Lakers probably do have a small bit enough. I think he'd have more of a hope of going to... OKC when they're riding the back of we won the championship now we got Giannis like that would have been some kind of one two punch of a headline they're not going to do it now with the run they're on yeah 21 and 1 is absolutely outrageous like it's it's not something you see that the level of consistency from them is it's just crazy how can you only lose one game in 22 like that's It's like they're on record to finish with four losses over the course of the year.
01:00:40
Speaker
There's no other team in the whole of NBA who have less than five losses at the moment. yeah straight to the hand Joe, they're just outrageous. absolutely outrageous. Like if they could bring him in and it could just screw everything. yeah It could be the bad apple in the apple cart that absolutely destroys him. They're not going to change anything now. Yeah, I was watching them the other night against the Warriors and they were like kept in like close to them the whole game. And then right at the end, they were just like, nah, see you later now. That's it.
01:01:03
Speaker
And they just like pull them on. It's the same. I watched them against the Blazers as well. I watched them against Trailers. It was the exact same. yeah I put it on because the Blazers looked like they were actually doing something. OK, see, we're like... It always ends the same way. we're going to stop playing with our food now. Yeah, we're going to stop playing with the food now and just put you away because you're actually making those a bit uncomfortable here with how we how close you are. Yeah. Just go and just finish them off. And Shea annoys me with how much he gets to the line. um he like He draws so many fouls. He creates fouls. Some of them aren't fouls. So like he's getting them.
01:01:34
Speaker
No, there was one the other night where he dragged the fella's arm into him and then just threw the ball up. It was like, ah, come on. That brings me on nicely to why can't Giannis throw free throws? I know we didn't put this in the agenda, but why are his free throws so bad? I know it's not just him. There's so many good players who cannot throw free throws, but he's definitely the worst for a man of his talent.
01:01:57
Speaker
And he takes four years to get him up. Yeah, yeah. hits the front of the rim or the backboard he just can't throw free throws it's kind of funny but when I was watching him when the Rockets played him he was just taking so long i was like Jesus bud just get him up like we know you're going miss him but you're taking 30 seconds over every single one but the crowd used to him down as well for it yeah yeah that's a gas but I think it's going to it's going be very very interesting to see where he ends up yeah I agree it's one to keep watching um and another situation surrounding a player off the court is
01:02:30
Speaker
Chris Paul, so obviously he's a he's a Clippers legend. He went back to the Clippers this year for his very last year in the league. um think he's 40 or 41 years of age.
01:02:43
Speaker
And just horrendous treatment he's after getting from the Clippers. Basically, he was cut from them overnight on Tuesday. So the team an announced he was no longer with the team. um And Chris Paul said himself on his Instagram that basically...
01:02:57
Speaker
They told him he needs to go home because they were on the way to Atlanta or whatever for their game. And they were like, yeah, you need to go. um you're You're going back home. You're not playing with us anymore. um ESPN said to move on for him. The Clippers would have to waive him and pay out 3.6 million salary.
01:03:14
Speaker
agree to a buyout or look to trade him and they can't do that till December 15th so they've just basically tried to blame everything on him because Sham's tweeted today saying that Chris Paul and his and his leadership style clashed with the Clippers and that he's he was voicing his concern with the team's management, coaches and the players' accountability.
01:03:37
Speaker
um And the team said that that was disruptive and Ty Lue didn't speak to him for the last few weeks, which is crazy stuff. Like a legend of the franchise comes in, sees that the franchise is an absolute joke.
01:03:51
Speaker
They're not taking anything seriously. They're losing every single game. And then they just, the coach doesn't talk to him, sends him home, goes, yeah, off you go. Back there, we're not speaking to you and we'll trade you in a few days because we're holding on to you until then.
01:04:04
Speaker
I think maybe trusting an ancient roster bringing in Bradley Beal and doing ridiculous things like that might be more of a reason why you're useless not Chris Paul sitting on the bench and telling you all that you need to cop on and take accountability. Yeah there's something I saw the other day which actually drove me not drove me mad it just baffled me the Clippers have no retired jerseys yeah Like, they've they've no one they've seen no one at a level of a player to retire jersey, which means that Chris Paul it is probably one of their best ever players. Yeah, probably. If you're going off that.
01:04:36
Speaker
Yeah, or did are their best players. And the way they've treated the two them towards the end of it has been absolutely criminal. um I just, like, as you said, bringing in the Ains and roster in the first place was the issue. It's it's not just him being 40, it's...
01:04:50
Speaker
wow, Kawhi Leonard and his trees now are another issue. James Harden there, another man who's on a retirement run. Like, they're just a retirement home and it's not working at all for any of them. And he was like, I read that as well from Shams, that he was the one telling them, this is not good enough. This a team that should be...
01:05:07
Speaker
During the playoffs last year, they're not getting there. This year, obviously, they're nowhere near the level 6 and 16. yeah And they're like, okay, you're at the problem. Get out. Watch them go and lose their next five games again because he's not the problem. The problem is absolutely everything. yeah The problem is the fact that they came into this season and just decided, yeah, there's nothing we can do.
01:05:25
Speaker
off like After two games, they're like, this is done. And what annoyed me as well is that they managed to win that game against Atlanta. So I know, yeah, look what you were so right. Like, no, that's, this is only going to make you even worse. And it makes you more of a joke. Like what you said, the whole Kauai situation. Now he's injured again. he just loves taking that money that that's getting fed to him. And, um, who wouldn't, but at least but put something out on the court. Um, I don't know, allegedly injured, I would say. Um, but I think the Chris Paul treatment is horrendous and,
01:05:57
Speaker
Yeah, James Harden is their only hope right now. And he's doing his best, but like the rest of the team is too old. and Yeah, I don't know. They clearly are not in a good situation on and off the court. and But we'll see where he ends up going because any team would be lucky to have his leadership. Look what he did with the Spurs. Look what he did with the Rockets. Look what he did with OKC. All of these teams, he was the one that helped him transition and mature, helped other players that were there mature and and and move into their next phase um without him there after he moved on. So he's clearly a very, very experienced veteran with with a valuable voice.
01:06:33
Speaker
and so Yeah, look I think for the sake of 2 or 3 million, I'd absolutely have the Rockets take him until the end of the season. yeah and He played 82 games for the Spurs last year, so clearly fitness isn't an issue for him. He's just not being picked by the Clippers. Even if you had him on the bench, as you said, if he was the one that was telling the players...
01:06:50
Speaker
like
NBA Legends' Impact on Teams
01:06:51
Speaker
This isn't good enough. You're going out and losing to the Jazz after whacking him off the court the night before. like Chris Paul wouldn't stand for that. So having someone like him in there along with Kevin Durant to be like, if you think you're going to win a championship, you don't go and lose on a back-to-back to the Jazz. You have to beat him off the court two nights in a row. I'd have no problem if Rockets been out and said, we've signed Chris Paul to a deal to the end of the year for $3 million. like yeah That's great business. Yeah, 3.6 million is nothing done in this league right now. so yeah Yeah. i like like And if he's getting that to be bought out at Clippers, then he'd probably take less than the Rockets just to have somewhere to finish the season. So so he might take 2 million yeah on top of it. So i think whoever does bring him in, and someone will bring him in, whoever does bring him in it has made a really smart move. I think they're so stingy they don't want to buy him out. They just want to trade.
01:07:39
Speaker
And who's going to give up anything for a player that old? like they're just for that de for the sake of six or seven months it's not going to happen and that's kind of what the Sixers have Kyle Lowry like he doesn't play but he's from Philly and he's kind of there he's won a championship and he's give that experience and knowledge to the other players so they're not going to be sending him out on the road like where you're from where you you know all these things matter and they mean a lot and they had no respect for it so I don't like that but let's move into the power rankings then to wrap things up
01:08:12
Speaker
So week 13 of the power rankings and since the NBA came back, we've been doing it before then, but we've obviously well incorporated and NBA teams at this stage.
Weekly Power Rankings and Team Analysis
01:08:21
Speaker
We've got two Premier League, two NFL, two NBA. Do you want to throw out yours first and give us last week's first before you do? Yeah, we'll do. So last week I had Arsenal, OKC, Pistons, Patriots, Broncos, Villa. um I've only made one change this week. So a couple of position changes, but only one new team. Arsenal and OKC stay as my top two.
01:08:40
Speaker
um Best team in the Premier League, best team in basketball, it's very hard to knock either of them off. I actually probably should put OKC top at this stage now, so ah my I'm actually going to do that now. OKC won, Arsenal 2, off the cuff. Villa up to three for me. They were six last week, but the run they're on is just hard to ignore.
01:08:59
Speaker
The Patriots and Broncos both stay for me, so 10-game win and run for the Patriots, 9-game win and run for the Broncos. And the Rockets are back in for me over the Pistons, 8-2 in their last 10, and they just look really good outside of that Jazz game where it it was just like, it was it was like they were just on a sort of punct or something, how bad they were. But it was their first back-to-back at season. Might just take a bit of getting used to it. Stephen Adams was out as well, and he's been superb for them. So OKC, Arsenal, Villa, Patriots, Broncos, and Rockets.
01:09:27
Speaker
Nice, nice. Yeah. I've got a good few similarities to you. So last week I had OKC, Arsenal, Rams, Pistons, Patriots, Chelsea. I've only also made one change, and but the order is different. So I've still got OKC and Arsenal 1 and 2. Third place for me then in is still going to be the Rams. I know they lost last week, but like...
01:09:51
Speaker
you know, you're going to have those games and they're still clearly the best team in football for me anyway. um Then in four place, I also have Villa. So that's a new entry for me. um I brought them in instead of Chelsea because just the run is unbelievable and jumped them straight up to fourth. Next up then, i have the Patriots. They're in fifth. And then I've got the Pistons in sixth. um just I think the Pistons are still on a great run. They're seventy to five top of the East. And i think they're yeah of that position.
01:10:24
Speaker
Yeah, I have no issue with them. I just wanted to guess one of the teams I like into the top six because it's just been a really, really tough year. Yeah, yeah, true. Can't argue with
Celebrating Episode 50 and Future Milestones
01:10:32
Speaker
that. But that's been episode 50. Appreciate all the listening throughout the year and we're going to keep going until next stop is going to be 75. So a big milestone. I appreciate everybody listening throughout year since we got started in January. And I'll throw to you to wrap up, Shane.
01:10:51
Speaker
Yeah, so we got our Spotify wrap-up last night, and I think the numbers were quite surprising from all of us, to be perfectly honest. The amount of people's top tens, top fives, number one shows really kind of, it blew me away a bit, to be honest. I didn't think it was going to be yeah level it was, and people don't turn us off when they turn us on as well because they listen to over eighty people listen to us through as well which was a bit shocking as well I thought people put us on for 10 minutes and say okay that's the Premier League over we'll I'll leave it there I want to listen about the other two but the support has been really really good it's great to see
01:11:24
Speaker
um Yeah, there's very little left to say. Just keep liking and subscribing if you can. It does mean a whole lot. And as you said, episode 50, 75 soon, 100. We're still on the road to 100,000 subscribers. So get going on that as well for us. And thank you so much listening every week. It just, it does mean the world to us. Nice one, lads. See again next week.
01:11:46
Speaker
Welcome back to another episode of Who's Got the Ball with Shane and James.