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Episode 048 - Missed out on 3 Points?!? Villa Match Reaction
25 Plays1 month ago
In today's episode all three of the boys (Jacob, Josh and Tom) look back at the game against Aston Villa. Having played well with no recognised striker, the boys discuss the performance of Graham Potters West Ham and where we need to look in the transfer market before it shuts to fix our injury issues!
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Transcript
Introduction and Weekend Recap
00:00:10
Josh Keech
Hello, welcome to another episode of Daily GSPN West Ham. Now, this is a bit of a rare occasion for you guys because all three of us are here. Elkins Brothers, how are you both doing?
00:00:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Brilliantly mate, how are you?
00:00:24
Josh Keech
I'm fantastic as long as you guys are. I think we're ah all quite cheerful, aren't we? I think a little bit optimistically, a bit happier after this weekend. But ah but yeah, Jacob, how are yous yourself?
West Ham's Performance Under Potter
00:00:34
Jacob
Yeah, I'm good, mate. i think um um I'm glad we got something out of ah that game. So yeah, I haven't got many complaints.
00:00:44
Josh Keech
yeah I think I think just spot on there with it it's uh it's it's one of those where we're looking I mean the stats should probably say maybe I know we'll go into them a bit later on but the stats might say maybe we should have probably won actually based on the chances we've had and I think we're fortunate enough that we actually play really well considering in a very tough bit of you know a window of fixtures with As I said to Craig on Thursday that it was our third game in 10 days and realistically not that many training sessions under Potter. So it's one of those with not a lot of time and getting a good result like that away for me is something that we can celebrate in. So not quite a win, but enough we can still celebrate, I think.
00:01:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I completely agree. I think if you look at the performance on the outside, you could say it's like relatively disappointing because a draw with our position in the league doesn't really help us massively. But the way that the game played out was so different to how it has done in the past. Like we didn't start amazingly and we conceded early, but We weren't completely abysmal. We just were kind of average. And then as the game progressed, we grew into it so much, which I think is previously under Lopategi. We were absolutely terrible in the first half, probably the first 60 minutes. We made some changes and then somehow managed to salvage something through the the quality that we have in the squad. But when
00:02:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
we played Villa in this game. It was, it seemed a lot more even from the beginning and then we kind of started to take a hold and I think that that's such a good sign going forward. It shows that hopefully there's been a ah mentality shift or there's been some like coaching points or something that Grand Potter has done that has enabled us to start more
00:02:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
competitively, i I guess is the word I'm looking for.
Key Players and Squad Depth
00:02:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
We were able to compete relatively early on and we didn't get dominated, which, yeah, we've just started so many games really poor and been dominated for quite a lot of the first half of games.
00:02:45
Josh Keech
Yeah, I think it's entirely valid with what you say there because realistically, I mean, let's not be around the bush. We did concede in the first, what, half an hour, which isn't quite lopategi bad, shall we say, you know, we've been more scared within the first 10, 15 minutes, 20 minutes of a match where we, but we, we get scared. Something's coming in. This one wasn't, wasn't quite as bad as like it felt a bit bit more of a neutral game. It felt like a bit of chess to be honest, because it was it felt very neutral between which team was going to score first I think for a huge part of it but and I agree they were probably the slightly better team for the the majority of maybe the first half for a little bit but maybe it's more like a 55 to 45 split not not as if it's like 70 30 who's better but um but yeah I think you're right that it's good to be a bit more
00:03:30
Josh Keech
they they look a lot more refreshed. I think everyone seems to be understanding what's going on with Potter's takeover of of the game really for us, so for me I think that was, it was nice not to see us concede so early.
00:03:41
Jacob
Yeah, i think we um I think to put in the the performance we did with the current thin squad that we've got, um I think they were all very good. you know I think if we're talking about specific um outpu ah performances, I would say Paquette has probably had his best game of the season so far. um He was unbelievably put in so much work.
00:04:09
Jacob
um He had a couple of chances, which he probably should have taken as well, but yeah, overall he was brilliant. um I think all over the park we saw, and we saw players come on and and make an impact as well with, with skulls. He made a couple of big tackles. Wampus Saka played out of his skin for, you know, the whole game. And I just think that stands us in good stead for when those you know, really important players come back. That can only be a ah good thing, you know, just to add to the, add to the quality that we've got there already. And we know what Bowen can do. We know what Somerville can do. So just, just to add on to that, I think we're definitely going to start picking up some more points, you know.
00:04:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I
Impact of Injuries on West Ham
00:04:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
completely agree. I think one thing that's really frustrated me is like listening to the commentary and some of the talk about Westam. It's so yeah, it's frustrating that no one's actually talking about the injury issues that we've had. Like under a new manager, we have one striker in Danny Ings who isn't really fit enough to be able to to play a full 90 and be as effective as he can. Obviously we've got no Bowdoin who has been our talisman for so many years so like for me it's really frustrating that people would keep saying that West Ham are poor without acknowledging the fact that we do have significant injuries. you know I think that's something that does have to be factored in and when you are trying to evaluate Potter's early tenure as West Ham manager
00:05:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
you need to realize that he has such limited options when it comes to who to have as the focal point of the team. And the fact that Paquetta has played as well as he has is a testament to both Potter and Paquetta because Potter has trusted Paquetta to be at times the most, like the furthest player forwards. And he's done really well. And like Jacob said, that's probably the best game we've seen him have this season, which is an absolute testament to him as a player. and his ability to kind of block out the noise of people not really rating his performances and all of the stuff off the pitch. It's a testament to him and it's also a testament to Potter because he's he's come in, he's identified a kind of makeshift solution to the problem we have. And we probably should have beaten Aston Villa if we're being honest. like We were better than them for ah a large part of the game, like most of the second half, I'd say. like They had some okay chances, but we we made all the big chances. and
00:06:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that's something that Graham Potter should get a lot of credit for. So when you actually do look at the game, it's frustrating that we didn't win, but so much better than we have been. And I think it's really positive going forward.
Future Performance and Youth Development
00:06:55
Josh Keech
Yeah, I do agree with you. I think it's very annoying that we've not won it based on the the so I think the second half, our second half performance where I think we played better was better than their performance in the first half when they were better. If you're kind of breaking it down into a it is a game of two halves with that. I mean, I thought for the end of the first half, it turned into a royal rumble between all the players to be honest, it was quite funny seeing who's getting yellow cards.
00:07:17
Josh Keech
It'd be great if you had a yellow card bet on for the weekend. But ah but yeah, it was a bit interesting. I agree with the lineup and how it's all starting to shape up. I think my my kind of two sort of prophecies, I guess, looking down the line with how this season is going to go, if Posita can continue to get this level of performance out of packetar, I think we can see ourselves shifting up the table a lot more than we we are at the moment. I think I got asked by Craig in the week where I expect us to finish. And I said, 10th is kind of, for me, the the kind of just right level of if we can get to 10th, that'd be okay. But I think we could easily go higher than that. It's just more based on what everyone else does. And if we can continue to have good games like we have this week with a few more players back because my other one is I think if we had bow in this week, I've seen he's in training, which was really good news this week. And for a nice really reassuring bonus for some of the other players around that
00:08:09
Josh Keech
obviously for the all the all the training this week, but saying seeing Bowen, if he was able to get any minutes at all, if he was if he was fit, if he was able to play, we would have won. I controversially think.
00:08:19
Josh Keech
I think he would have been quite a decision.
00:08:20
Jacob
Yeah. I think it's it's easy to forget as well. We were basically playing a near enough full strength Aston Villa as well. So I can't really think of anyone who they were missing. Maybe Oh Nana. I can't. I don't think he played but I can't remember if he's suspended or injured or whatever. But you know we were far from having our best 11 out on the pitch. You know that we've got one one fit an available centre back with a yeah like and a 34 year old who has not started a single game you know two full backs playing his wide centre backs and not a striker so i think we just have to i think our expectations were so low for what we could get out of that particular game i think we we've just got to be delighted with with the way they went about their business to be honest
00:08:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, we have one centre back.
00:09:19
Jacob
and so yeah it just gives us a lot of hope for when those when those key players return and hopefully we can add to the quality. I know we're leaving it a bit you know a bit late at this point but they've got to do something surely.
00:09:34
Josh Keech
Yeah, you you're you're spot on with it, really, I think is is I think we're at the point now where it's not quite like we're down and out where we are in the table. I do think there is a bit of there is a bit of time still, obviously, I know got another the half the season to go, but everyone else is going to be also fixing up what there's what's wrong with their own games. So I know we'll talk about that later on as well in terms of what we what we're looking for, really, from the end of this window, as we get close to the 31st, what we can expect to hopefully see across the board and equally as well what we can what we can go into moving forward. But before we go into that, so it's time for a brief word from one of our sponsors.
00:10:33
Josh Keech
Right then. So, I mean, a bit of an interesting one to unpack. I know Jacob touched on it earlier, but one thing particularly that I was really impressed is over the last very minimal time we've seen from Potter's influence at the club was the fact that we're finally getting a bit of youth development. For me, that that is a massive win because we've not seen Lopateg, you really do it, even purchasing young players and equally as well. You know, we don't really see much remorse in that department either. So for me,
00:10:59
Josh Keech
The development with Ollie Scales has been something that i've I've quite enjoyed to see and I don't even think it's one that's just been giving a chance. He's looked incredible so far from the time that he has played. I think it's been one of those where it's refreshing to see a bit of youth into the squad with that passion and he hasn't really looked that far off the mark and we'd expect from a player that would fit in the first team to be honest. I think he's really starting to show that maturity of such a young player.
00:11:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I would completely echo that sentiment, to be honest. I think he is definitely a Premier League level player. I think when he's come on, like against Wolves, he came on and was up against Adama Traore. And I don't think Adama Traore actually beat him once, which is kind of insane to think, you know, a young guy that's not really had that much first-team football experience has come in and done an absolute job for us. In this game, he came on and he was instantly making impacts.
00:11:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think his awareness and his ability to make the right decision under pressure, I think, was so impressive. like he was able He was dropping when he needed to drop. And then sometimes he was shooting out and making a what might be class as kind of a risky challenge, putting himself kind of on the the brink of what you really want your defenders to do, especially when you're under the cosh by a team that have the quality that Aston Villa have. He was going and he was making those kind of trying to be on the front foot when it comes to defending which I was really impressed with and I want to see him start a game to be honest I think maybe not necessarily against Chelsea who was our next game but when we play we play Leicester in a couple of weeks I'd love to see him start because definitely deserves it and
00:12:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
the ability to rotate and keep these youth players getting minutes. I think it's going to be so important, especially when it does get further into the season and injuries continue. We want to be able to progress these guys into regular first-team players. And I can so easily see Ollie Skiles taking over from Emerson in a year or two because because I really rate him so highly. And I will be very excited to start to hear other fans talk about him because I would be surprised if Afton Villa fans weren't very impressed with him and I'd also say the same about Fulham when we played them. He looks really good in both games so I think he's only going to start making a name for himself and hopefully start to really fight for a first team position to be honest.
Integrating Young Talent into Main Squad
00:13:20
Jacob
Yeah, I think I kind of just hope it doesn't end up as one of those situations where, ah you know, as you said, we that position, that fallback position is um an aging position for us, you know, with Sofow and Emerson, probably not got many years left as, as you know, top performers. Sofow definitely, I think he's getting towards the the end of his his Premier League career. And and i yeah I just hope that they don't just go out and and look to sign somebody else for big money when we could quite easily have that player on our hands already. you know We've seen it with the likes of ah Ben Johnson. I'm not going to try and pretend that Ben Johnson is you know the second coming of like a kafu or anything like that. but
00:14:18
Jacob
um
00:14:21
Jacob
he he was He never played badly for us and you know he was a homegrown player and the fans loved him and it kind of felt weird letting him go to a ah lower stature team you know coming through and playing quite a lot of games and then just sort of moving him on, not really having a, obviously with Wamba Saka is a great replacement, but still, you know now we've got so far in reserve when I think we could we could quite easily have a ah younger player fighting for his place there.
00:14:54
Josh Keech
yeah
00:14:55
Jacob
um And I think that's what we'll get with the likes of Skalls and Casey and Orford. They're all talented players, so they've got to be given the opportunity.
00:15:07
Jacob
And ah yeah, that seems to already have have started to come through under player.
00:15:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I completely agree. Sorry. I have to say, I think that Olu Skals is...
00:15:13
Josh Keech
Yeah. Yeah, it's definitely.
00:15:16
Josh Keech
No.
00:15:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not just that he's a youth player. I just genuinely think that he is a really good player right now. um Obviously, it's we want to develop the youth guys and I'm ah such an advocate for getting the minutes.
00:15:26
Jacob
Yeah.
00:15:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
For me, it's it's genuinely like... we need to start having a conversation about can we actually integrate them into part of you know, that the actual starting 11, because I think he's really good. I genuinely do. I think defensively he has certain attributes I think that Emerson doesn't have. Obviously going forwards, Emerson is much better. And I'd say, you know, overall, Emerson is a much better player, but I think he has the attributes to become such a good player. And that's the thing that when you do have a player like that, it's so easy to to think, oh, well, he's not as good as Emerson. So, you know, we'll let him go for a little money and we'll sign someone else who's better than Scales is.
00:16:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
For the profile that he has as ah as a footballer, I think he's it's really promising. And yeah, I think we definitely need to hold on to it.
00:16:22
Josh Keech
100%. I think the bit that probably we're all looking a bit problematic with the minutes is that we've only got the prem at the moment. I think before we looked at whether or not it was the right time to get rid of Lopategi. When should we do it? Wait till Christmas. The only thing I can kind of look back and think maybe if we've done it a bit sooner.
00:16:41
Josh Keech
maybe that result we had against Villa the first time round might have gone the other way. And then we would have had more opportunities to play more young players because that's the only thing that will stop us is having a fully fit team and not having the enough fixtures to play everyone. But I think if we look you know at the moment, there is more than enough opportunity in scope for the players to hopefully get a few minutes in where they deserve it. And it's good to see as well that they're not going to get discounted just because of really their age and ability because It's one of the first things is the relationship with the players and the youth development of the two, one of the top two pillars really that he's looking at with, with getting settled in. So that that for me was a nice reassuring matter. Now we've said about Pakistan already and obviously as well about some of the players, but
00:17:25
Josh Keech
There's probably a bit of an underrated one that's gone under um under the radar for me at the moment that we've not spoke about.
Defensive Strategies and Player Contributions
00:17:29
Josh Keech
I thought Wambasaka obviously did have a bit of a masterclass in this game. ah He looked once again tip top. But for me, Max Killman looked absolutely unreal. i don't I don't think it's been talked about enough so far since the match. And I think it's probably one of those where he really showed once again why we've paid the money for him because I think that was one question everyone had about him at the start of the season paying all that money for a centre back that's you know why is he coming to West Ham which is a bit of a sideways move or all this stuff I think he's answering a lot of the questions everyone's having about him at the moment and it's really satisfying to watch.
00:18:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think it is one of the ah shining lights of Lopateki's era. You know, it wasn't the best, but the fact that we were able to sign Max Kilman, I think is one of the things that's kept us where we are in the table and stopped us from kind of dipping down into potentially sniffing at some sort of relegation battle, which is something that none of us ever wanted.
00:18:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, like you say, and in this game, he's so reliable. I think that's something that is so reassuring. How assured he looks on the ball and how calm he is and his ability to take the ball under pressure and his distribution is really good. Physically, obviously, he's a really big guy, but technically, he's also really good, making last-ditch challenges and blocks and winning everything in the air. Yeah, he's he's an absolute monster, and i'm I'm so glad that we did sign him.
00:18:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I really struggled to think where we'd be without him. It wouldn't be good at all.
00:19:04
Josh Keech
Mm.
00:19:05
Jacob
Yeah, he um I think it's just quite easy for him to to go under the radar, particularly with the the amount of of goals that have been going in, you know, past us. and I think obviously as it's hard to big up the defence that we've got, um but, you know, he he has shown his class throughout um and it it must have been very frustrating for him um because you know he's at the moment it probably does feel like a little bit of a of a sideways step because we are not at the level we should be at currently um so yeah credit credit to him for basically stepping up straight away and and bringing the quality that he's got and i think yeah that is one of the few the few uh things we have to thank what pattey for you know having
00:20:05
Jacob
worked under him at Wolves and we may never have got him had we not have had Lopategi at that time you know so it might not have been a player that that Potter would have ever thought about so yeah um I'm pleased and hopefully we can build a ah good defense around him you know with I don't know what the the situation with Tadebo will be I've heard a lot of speculation about him potentially leaving um And yeah, we that that's something that we also need to focus on, but I think paramount at the moment is the strike position really.
Transfer Strategies and Budget Concerns
00:20:45
Josh Keech
Yeah, I think I think the best thing really, I know we're going to talk about some of the links coming up shortly. But yeah, I definitely think it's worth evaluating. I think maybe midfielders are the one of the other things I think I've seen rumoured at the moment. But as I said, we're going to talk about that later on shortly as well. But before we do, it's time for another word from one of our sponsors.
00:21:28
Josh Keech
Now, as I hinted before, there's one question that I've got at the moment about our transfers. I think it's obvious, we've said anyway, striker wise, that's probably one of the bigger questions and I want to hear your thoughts on who, but my first question to both of you.
00:21:43
Josh Keech
Midfielder at the moment is something that's been on the shopping list. I think and but with Potter's eyes at the moment There's something that we're looking at just to have that extra support I personally think we're better off spending more money on a striker or at least maybe maybe some young development But I can understand maybe why he's looking and Sue check. I think it's been class I think Guido Rodriguez hasn't probably been the mark we were looking for but We've got loads of things coming around at the moment. I've seen a player that willing to but why aren't we bringing back Ward Prowse?
00:22:14
Jacob
ah yeah That is exactly what I was going to say. I didn't know you were going to say that. so um ah yeah It doesn't really make sense to me to go out and try and and find somebody in that position. I don't think that's a position that is really of concern at the moment anyway. you know i'm i mean I'm not the manager, so I don't know. He probably feels differently. But um we've got a player of that calibre out on loan, barely and getting on the pitch at all and having no impact and just sort of wasting away over there. like there's There's very little purpose of him being there. Might as well just bring him back. We've seen his levels with us and
00:23:03
Jacob
Yeah, everyone loves him. I don't think it makes sense to go out and splash loads of money on someone else when we've got that player just sort of sitting there doing nothing.
00:23:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, definitely. I think, you know, when you look at the amount of money that we spent in the summer, I don't think we're in a position to splash any large amount of cash really. I think we might, we've got like one good investment in us in this transfer window.
00:23:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that will be a striker. So when you're looking at the squad and you're looking at ways we can strengthen it, I don't see any reason as to why we wouldn't bring him back because it's only giving us more depth, you know?
00:23:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if he's not playing at Forest, then he might as well not play at West Ham because
00:23:50
Jacob
not play yeah
00:23:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, if you you look at the midfield options, I know that Ed's an Alvarez complaint at centre-back. So, if you know we are in a position where we do need him to fill in at centre-back, we've then got Jengfel Prowse who can come in in the midfield, so it's not necessarily the most ideal situation, but there are ways we can kind of rejig the squad that means we have more quality players starting and we're not relying on too many players filling in in positions where they really shouldn't be.
00:24:16
Jacob
No play, yeah.
00:24:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like we should we shouldn't be playing any game with two full backs at White Center backs. Like we we really shouldn't be doing that, especially when they're of the age that they are, are both of them, you know. um So having the ability to bring the players in, it's the same with the youth. like We need to use as much youth as possible and we need to make make good use of all the players that we do have at the club. And James Ward-Prouse is someone who still contracts to West Ham. So I don't see why we wouldn't bring him back.
00:24:46
Josh Keech
Yeah it's one I can't quite put my finger on because it's something as well. and I know we we had to see the full style of Potter's play but equally at the moment but we have that that free kick option really with him. we' weve We've been yet to really see that promise with him when he did play for us and I don't think it's something that's not there. I think it's just getting that that kind of situation out of him where we can find those opportunities to come from him. And I think this game pretty well as a couple of, you know, it wasn't exactly one of those games where it was nice and sensible. There was a million different scraps going along on in the picture chip from the halfway point, the match onwards. It was one where I was a bit surprised by how much was going on and
00:25:25
Josh Keech
when you can get those lucky yellow cards or lucky fouls in those places that's where his time comes to shine normally and equally as you say not only going backwards but if you could pull everyone back really we're we're playing soocheck quite high at the moment i actually think he's been quite good there but equally if we we can't be doing that every game it gives an option to play more defensive by bringing a suit check back and we can have someone else there if we're keeping pakata forward while we still get injuries having someone else there that can provide some support for him in the movie field that can pass a bull which at the moment i think is we stringing passes along and keeping it all up as what's been helping us in this match because we had more possession than villa and to me that was one thing we were struggling with for a huge chunk of last uh last season and the season before was
00:26:08
Josh Keech
the boys countering ball and actually keeping some of the ball for once. So for me it's. It's something that i'm I'm surprised isn't being spoke about a little bit more, but it's something we should definitely be seeing why that's not an option, because if Forest aren't playing him, then but we should be as well. But I mean, links wise at the moment of you guys, and there's been tons and tons of players as every season with us, there's there's a million different things that we seem to always get. But which do you think are the most promising to happen when we're getting so close right now? Do you reckon it's going to be a a silly season panic at the at the end of the window? He's going to see a deadline day
00:26:42
Josh Keech
panic transfer.
00:26:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know. It is tough.
00:26:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know we've been linked with John Duran again and it seems like the price is going up basically every day. It feels like he's getting reported that we put a bid in and that gets rejected.
00:26:57
Josh Keech
yeah
00:26:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, you know, at what point do we do we just say it's not worth it? Because we can't just continually let them raise the price until they decide that they want it and then it will mean that we're desperate.
00:27:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'd much rather us just go for someone we know we can get and do it early before we're in a position where we don't have the power in the situation. um Yeah, I think the the John Duran signing would be great. It's just, if it's going to be upwards of like 65 million, it's a risk. It's a big risk because he is really good and he's really promising, but there's there's no guarantees. And how many times have we had players that look unbelievable before they come to West Ham?
00:27:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then they just aren't any good. you know in love've We've seen it so many times, so I think we need to be really careful with how we spend our money. And, you know, like, full cricket is still at the club, you know, and Jarrad Bowan will come back. So I don't think that it's really...
00:27:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Obviously, it's a problem issue, but I think it's more just getting people in that can play rather than having to spend massive money on someone, to be honest, especially when we've we've already got a full click at the club because he will return to fitness.
00:28:04
Josh Keech
Yeah.
00:28:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
like He's not out for the season. That's why I've always liked the Evan Ferguson deal, to be honest. I think that's the one for me that makes the most sense. so someone who's not playing for his team, who has obvious qualities, scored in the Premier League, but isn't going to come with the sort of ridiculous price tag that John Duran's going to have. And I think we could probably get him alone with an option to buy, which would be ideal if we can get a decent option to buy of, you know, maybe 40 million. That to me seems like a relatively fair price for someone who's not playing, who has showed quality, but hasn't done it for a huge amount of time. And
00:28:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll be able to have the the last six months of the season to be able to work out whether he's any good. And if he does well, then we can sign him. And if not, then we don't have to. But the John Duran is very much putting all of our eggs in one basket. And if it doesn't work, then it it just looks really bad on us to spend all that money again after we spent so much money in the summer just for someone else not to play well and for us to not do well. So, yeah, I think I'd probably go with Evan Ferguson. I don't know what you guys think.
Urgent Transfer Needs and Options
00:29:12
Jacob
Yeah, I'd say yeah if if the money is you know going to be ridiculous for somebody um and we haven't got that money to spend, then I don't think we should. um I think
00:29:30
Jacob
it's difficult if they're going to leave it too late that is might might be what ends up happening where they feel obliged to spend loads of money just to keep everyone happy but I think they should really be looking for somebody who has proven themselves in the league and even if that's just a loan till the end of the season i'm Yeah, just some with some experience. And I know obviously Ferguson doesn't have loads of experience, but we have seen what he can do. And I think he would be an exciting player for us to bring in and maybe get a, get a cause in there for a future fee if it works out. And I think that would be the best way to go. It means we haven't got to commit to another striker and, you know, potentially be disappointed, but.
00:30:24
Jacob
Yeah, I mean they're leaving it a little bit late and I'm sure they're working hard to to get something over the line, but I think we're all just Praying that you know, it's gonna be somebody that can make that immediate impact when we when we really need it, you know Yeah, I mean I haven't heard a lot a lot more
00:30:39
Josh Keech
Yeah.
00:30:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Jacob, I know you're a you're a fan of a certain championship striker that plays for Middlesbrough, if I'm right. I know you've spoken about him before.
00:30:52
Jacob
ah about him since and we were initially linked, but that was ah that was Latte Lat of Middlesbrough, who I don't have the stats off the top of my head, but I think he's got about 12 or 13 goals.
00:31:03
Josh Keech
Hmm.
00:31:10
Jacob
um Ivorian, Striker, 26. just, yeah, scoring for fun for Middlesbrough. And we've seen sort of the quality that some of the Middlesbrough players have been showing this season, especially. um And, you know, moving on to so bigger and better things, the delights of Morgan Rogers is an example of that. A villa who, you know, had recruitment guys been sort of privy to his ability, you know, he could
00:31:45
Jacob
he could be playing for us quite easily, you know, he didn't go for a huge amount of money and i'm I think everyone's probably kicking themselves, the Arsenal's and saying, oh, why didn't we pick him up? But, um yeah, that' that's an option. I don't think we'll go for him. um But that that would kind of please me if we if we had someone like that, big and strong, sort of a workhorse that will, you know, just knows that's sort of boring and that really.
00:32:15
Josh Keech
Yeah, I mean, it's one of the things we don't really consider. we've We've not really considered too much of the championship as of recently, and we're looking and at work with Bowen. So ah there's a lot of examples we've got at the moment where there's we we we don't consider it enough, I don't think, because I think a lot of us can say from from witnessing games that sometimes we do think is a bit more of a tougher league where players have to do enough to shine and get that chance to move away because
00:32:22
Jacob
Mm hmm.
00:32:36
Josh Keech
they you know that's how they get their move away is by looking that good so when players like that do do stick out we should be looking at them with a bit more of a magnifying glass and seeing whether it's worth actually doing it because also because well financially wise it's a bit cheaper than looking in the in some of the other bigger leagues as well at the moment when you know we need to be keeping our eyes on the purse a little bit but the only other two players that i've seen i think that had reasonable interest in the last couple of
Loan Moves and High-Profile Transfers
00:33:01
Josh Keech
days. One of them, ah Andre Silva from the Bundesliga, that one on loan, I think that's one of those ones where it would be a, I'm glad it's a loan deal because I could equally see that not having much, I can see him doing really well. And I can also, I think you can see it with every play, but you can also see him having a really stinky time as well. And it's the next striker down the line that we can't ever get right but playing, playing properly for us at all. The other one,
00:33:27
Josh Keech
it's gonna hurt me seeing it out of my mouth because I don't think it sounds right more than thinking about it but with the context that we're not the only big bigger team in the league that are down the bottom at the moment and we've seen with the likes of Lingard and Juan Bassaca
00:33:28
Jacob
Mm hmm. Russia.
00:33:43
Josh Keech
Would we discount a loan move for Rashford? Because I've seen that that's the only other big thing at the moment that's been lurking for us where I can see it being a another another one where you can see it being a flop or not. But the way that it's been happening with a couple of the united United players around, I could see that one if it was a loan and not much money.
00:34:02
Josh Keech
you know it gives us an option in a lot of different positions we can play him out on the left and get someone up top we can play kudos back on the right where he enjoys it like it's are in the deep bit happy days that's that's hard it looks like a really sweaty fever team in my eyes but uh equally i i could see it not being very well but i thought i'd see what your guys would take on that was
00:34:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
i I actually like it as an option, to be honest. I think there is a good player in there. Man United is just such a difficult place to succeed. You know, the the pressure is his next level and you see so many amazing players go to Man United and just not do well. Obviously, Wamba Saka is the best option that we can look at right now.
00:34:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
he was not getting any sort of consistent minutes of Man United, but we've signed him and he's been unbelievable. He's been really good. I think, you know, yeah he's been one of the best players for us this season and the price, you know, was it $15 million?
00:34:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Which is not a lot, really, for for ah such a high-level player is like he is.
00:34:56
Josh Keech
Mm.
00:35:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it's it's tough. If Rashford did come to West Ham, I don't think he would ever go back to Man United. It's kind of similar to the Jesse Lingard thing. like Jesse Lingard did really well at West Ham, but I don't think there was ever going to be a ah world where he went back to Man United after he left. I think it's kind of weird to to play for a different team in the Premier League when you're a Man United player, if that makes sense. um I just can't really see him going to any other team in the league at all, to be honest. I probably see him going to someone like Borussia Dortmund or maybe Barcelona. But, yeah, if we were able to get him, I think he'd do really well. I think he'd be brilliant.
00:35:41
Josh Keech
Mm.
00:35:43
Jacob
I um don't really know to be honest. i think I don't think any of us can really sort of imagine it actually happening. It just seems like he I think his wages would just be ridiculous and I think it's a little bit too much of a risk to for someone that's barely played with the price tag and the sort of um I don't know, really, the sort of image he has around him, you know, being a lifelong man, you know, a player and. Yeah, I don't think it's what we need. You know, he's not an out and out number nine and. Yeah, I don't know. I can't see it happening. If it happens, we'll see. Can't really complain, you know, um but I think it's I think it's unlikely.
00:36:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Would you not say that it's better than nothing? Like I imagine it's Rashford or not finding anyone. Do you know what I mean?
00:36:50
Jacob
Yeah, I mean, I get what you're saying, but at the same time, I think I'm kind of surprised we let like Maxwell Cornett go. I'm not, I'm not trying to say that Maxwell Cornett is, has the same ability as Marcus Rashford because he probably doesn't, but
00:37:09
Jacob
seems odd that we were letting him go when, you know, obviously he's he's had opportunities for us. and But now seems like the time where you have to so sort of utilize all the players you've got. And i I mean, I'm sure he wasn't particularly happy with his situation at the club. And maybe he was pushing for the for the move away. But, you know, I could see it going down that same sort of path, like where we bring someone like Rashford in and he just doesn't get on well here, you know, and we didn't sign a striker and we signed a sort of left-winger slash striker and we're no real better off because we've got, we've got Kudas or Somerville that can play in that position and play better than him in that position. So I see what you mean about, you know, ah it's better than, better than no one, but
00:38:07
Jacob
I think we need to sort of focus our energy more on somebody who who's going to have a massive impact for us.
Conclusion and Listener Engagement
00:38:16
Josh Keech
solid. I have no no faults on that I think is that's a good question that you'd raise Tom and Jacob just answered I have I have no I have no rebuttal to that at all.
00:38:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think I agree.
00:38:21
Jacob
so
00:38:28
Josh Keech
ah's I'm sorry once it's a rare occasion.
00:38:29
Jacob
and
00:38:34
Jacob
OK, sweet. So I think we'll we'll wrap it up there. We've been rambling for about 40 minutes or so. So um thank you all very much for listening or watching to this episode of the Daily GSPN West End podcast. Say goodbye.
00:38:49
Jacob
but
00:38:51
Josh Keech
Take care, everyone.
00:38:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bye guys.
00:38:56
Jacob
ah Please rate our podcast Five Stars and check out all the social media that's linked in the description. There's also all the other GSPN network podcasts to check out, fantasy football, women's football, wrap ups in multiple languages and all the other family league team daily podcasts as well. and Thanks for listening and we'll speak to you soon.