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Are Man Utd actually back? And are Set-Pieces ruining the PL?
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Nick Bird is joined by Viktor to discuss his beloved Man Utd's return to form, the influence of set-pieces in the PL and some Carabao Cup previews.
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Transcript
Introduction and Manchester United's Recent Form
00:00:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome back to the daily English Premier League podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. My name is Nick Bird and like was said yesterday I'm joined with Victor to discuss a lot of stuff today but primarily his team's bounced back to form since we last spoke in Man United. Victor how are you?
00:00:36
Viktor
I'm good, my man. How are you?
00:00:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm very good as well both our teams are ah good for the first time in and quite a while it feels like
00:00:45
Viktor
That's actually true.
Analyzing Manchester United's Performance
00:00:46
Viktor
yeah
00:00:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
we'll kick it off with United how are you feeling about you United right now?
00:00:53
Viktor
I'm feeling pretty good. I got to be honest with you, especially after that win against Liverpool. ah When you have seasons like that for United, I feel like That is something that can trigger your season and and make it successful, a win against Liverpool and Anfield. And that's exactly what happened.
00:01:10
Viktor
You could see in a game against Brighton, that team was just riding the horse of confidence. And it was just very smooth from the very beginning. Then you have goals from Bwemo. You have the very important goal by Cunha.
00:01:22
Viktor
That's what matters also going forward. Again, It's United, after all. You still have the same lapses, and we saw with conceding those two goals towards the end. So that's something they still have to work on, to have that focus throughout the 90 minutes.
00:01:36
Viktor
And I think that's going to be the main focus going forward.
00:01:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's four wins in five now. and and I was looking at some of the stats around United and In areas it looks really promising, like second-most XG, fourth-most non-penal EXG, second-most shot-creating actions Panayi, and this is all while and underperforming XG, but then you look at the XG against, and it's the fourth-worst, and only Forrest, West Ham, and Burnley are behind.
00:01:51
Viktor
Yeah.
00:02:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So while I think the weekend was... I think it was the best performance... Like...
00:02:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Best complete performance... I've seen under Amirim from games I've seen anyway with sort of the pressing, the mountain man pressure pressing into midfield.
00:02:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
They got again so many high turnovers. And I think for the first three goals, they all came from high turnovers. So it it felt like it was finally clicking.
00:02:33
Viktor
Yeah. i
Upcoming Fixtures and Top-Four Potential
00:02:36
Viktor
Yeah. As I said, I feel the main focus right now would be how do we stay focused and compact through the entire game? Because I was shaking at the end. I'm not going to lie. I'm like, this cannot be real. Like if we drop two points here and if they somehow get a tie, that's going to be heartbreaking. Everything that they worked for, not only during the Biden game, but also the Liverpool win, it's going to just fall into water. So I'm glad we scored that four goals that gave three points. And now we're a pretty solid position, very healthy position, ah especially the same time you have like teams at the top, they're dropping points.
00:03:14
Viktor
Liverpool keeps losing, Chelsea dropping points. So, yeah, you you can start dreaming about that top four finish.
Importance of Set Pieces in the Premier League
00:03:20
Viktor
And i was I was thinking about something else.
00:03:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:21
Viktor
I was looking at the standing. I'm like, holy, like if United actually beat Arsenal in the first game week, it would have been tied for first. They would have been tied on 19 points for first place, which is shocking.
00:03:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, just it doesn't feel right.
00:03:35
Viktor
Yeah, that's how close it is.
00:03:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
I look behind Arsenal and I'm like, half these teams have had awful starts. How are you even remotely close? like
00:03:45
Viktor
Yeah. Yeah. Yep.
00:03:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
It blows my mind. yeah You look to the the next four games, like I think that fourth goal could be massive in terms of the keeping momentum because I think even if it if it had ended three two you've won and had a really good performance but the players are coming off the pitch a bit maybe down hard like it it doesn't feel as good as it it should have felt so now going into Forest away at the weekend Spurs away Everton at home Palace away as your November fixtures how many points are you looking at from those four fixtures
00:04:02
Viktor
yeah
00:04:10
Viktor
yeah
00:04:23
Viktor
see that the forest one is very tricky forest is weak but again you have a new coach you play at home so this game what happened to us against liverpool this might be the trigger that forest needs to be united disunited at home to to turn the season around so they're going to be looking forward to that uh i mean i don't know that's a tough game really and then tottenham away that's another one everton at home i think that's going to be a good one to play crystal palace away at
00:04:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:51
Viktor
At the end of November, Crystal Palace is going to be so tired. They have so many games to play. They play Thursday. They're going have like two games on Thursday, away games as well.
00:05:01
Viktor
So I don't know. That depends on how tired. the United is going to be fresh. That's a big advantage this season that United needs to take advantage of.
00:05:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:10
Viktor
Having no European games, you have a lot of breaks in between, and this is the time of the year when other teams will get tired. So hopefully we can... I'll be happy with 10 points. I'll be...
00:05:21
Viktor
10 out of the 12 in those four games. Yeah.
00:05:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
That would be crazy.
00:05:24
Viktor
Yeah. yeah
00:05:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Because I'm looking at that Forest game and it feels huge. like Almost season-defining because you win that game, it really feels like United might have turned a corner.
00:05:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
it But I think if Forest can can steal something from that, Dyche sitting low, trying to force United to break middle low bot down, i think it could get a little tricky and then you're starting to wonder, was it just a phase? Was it just Brighton having an awful day, which to an extent, I think they were just really bad at the weekend, but a lot of it was caused by United with that high press. But I think that Forest game could be huge.
00:06:08
Viktor
Yeah, yeah. I mean, if even if you look past those four games, then you have a very weak West Ham that we predicted is going to go down, and then you have Wolves away. So those are six games that you can get easily, like, 15 points.
00:06:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:24
Viktor
So I don't know.
00:06:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
you It feels like you need to pick up these points as well. With with AFCON coming, basically whole right side is gone.
00:06:32
Viktor
Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah.
00:06:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
00:06:34
Viktor
That's going to be dangerous going forward. But I mean, no, it's starting to finally click for
Are Set Pieces a Growing Trend?
00:06:40
Viktor
United. So hopefully those focus lapses they have, they're not going to cost us and they're going to fix those.
00:06:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:06:47
Viktor
But it's it's it's looking good.
00:06:48
Viktor
For the first time in in a while, I can say i'm I'm happy, especially because now I started watching United games at a United bar here in Chicago. So it's like you have 200 people on the second floor.
00:07:00
Viktor
It's a sick atmosphere to watch. And when we scored the goals against Liverpool and the winning one, Harry Maguire. It was just, I wish I took a video. I wish we could show a video actually. It was insane.
00:07:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:07:12
Viktor
Yeah.
00:07:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that about wraps us up. A big big turning point ahead this weekend and then potentially will United really be back or is it just a phase, so shall we say?
00:07:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll hear a bit about Bionique and then talk about the the big topic of set pieces when we come back.
00:08:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
So the big talking point in the Premier League at the moment seems to be set pieces and it's 63 set piece goals across the league out of 241 and all but one team have scored from a set piece this season.
00:08:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
you have any guesses who that one team could be?
00:08:30
Viktor
West Ham.
00:08:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
not No, it's not West Ham. It's Manchester City.
00:08:36
Viktor
Oh, wow.
00:08:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Somehow of all teams, Man City still haven't scored.
00:08:37
Viktor
Yeah.
00:08:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
I guess it makes sense when you look at Haaland scoring basically they are all their goals. But this set-piece conversation seems to be dominating the kind of media discussion of the league at the moment.
00:08:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you really think it matters? like does Does it matter that set pieces have played such a big part through these first nine games?
00:09:01
Viktor
I always thought that the set pieces should be something a smaller team should work on because that gives you the edge. Even those long throw-ins, that's something that teams that don't have the flow, the soccer flow, just can take advantage of.
00:09:15
Viktor
But it's it's becoming a bigger big thing the past few seasons when you even have hire coaches just specifically for the set pieces. And again, if you're as lucky maybe as ah Keith Andrews from Brentford, you might even become a head coach one day. Yeah.
00:09:29
Viktor
So you want to focus on that. Looking at Keith Andrews, maybe other set pieces coaches are thinking, maybe I have a chance. Yeah.
00:09:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
someone's going go and hire Nicolas Jovert from Arsenal to manage their team. It does feel like a part of the game was under massively underutilised.
00:09:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mikel Arteta spoke last weekend about this being a 10-year plan around set pieces. He noticed that it was an underutilised part of the game and he brought Jovert to City from Brentford and now he's obviously brought him to Arsenal as well.
00:10:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it will it was a big part during my childhood with the likes of Allardyce, Pulis. But it's really the big teams who kind of re-adopted it and made it this big thing. But now i think the long throws are kind of a new thing being kind of pioneered by Brentford, especially.
00:10:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
We saw that against Liverpool the weekend. is it Is this all just a by-product of how world teams can defend now? You to look to how kind of Sunderland were so comfortable against Chelsea at the weekend defensively.
00:10:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
These set pieces just give a rare opportunity at goal now that you can't really get as easily from open play. is that Is this all just a by-product of that?
00:10:50
Viktor
I feel like it's it's more like It's crazy to me how every team in the Premier League will just see something, someone else do it, and then they want to also take advantage of that and start. But it also adds another kind of practice session. Now you you need to practice to defend these set pieces.
00:11:07
Viktor
If you go away to a team that puts a lot of ah long throws into the game, you want to practice that and to defend because even if they don't play any game, if they don't they don't have any game, they they can still hurt you but if they get a long throw in and they score one or two goals.
00:11:23
Viktor
So, yeah, all that is fascinating to me, to be honest with you, because everyone's trying to do it now only because they've they've seen one or two teams do it and they can get out something out of it.
00:11:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I saw someone say that perhaps it's it's an area of the game that doesn't really need much time on the
Impact of Set Pieces on Premier League Excitement
00:11:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
training field because you can kind of show the images and go, yeah, you're going to stand here, move here, etc.
00:11:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
So with so little time between games, especially for those big teams, perhaps that's why it's become such a big thing that you you just don't need that time on the training pitch.
00:11:57
Viktor
Yeah.
00:11:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
you think that could be a big part of that?
00:12:01
Viktor
Yeah, that it can be. Because if you have games every three games, then you have kind of like a cool down session the next day. You're not going to have like 11-11s or have like some the different drills. You would do those kind of drills when people are just standing and you focus on the long throw. And so yeah, that that can definitely be pretty good for every team.
00:12:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
it does feel from an Arsenal perspective as well. It's kind of just a hot streak at the moment. I think I was looking to see.
00:12:29
Viktor
Arsenal has a lot of dangerous players.
00:12:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:31
Viktor
That's another thing.
00:12:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:31
Viktor
If you have players like Calafiore and Gabriel and Timber that they always get in the box and can give you a goal, then you definitely want to practice more on set pieces. So that's another thing.
00:12:43
Viktor
If I had a player like Gabriel, is it going to be that dangerous at every corner, every long throw?
00:12:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
she like
00:12:48
Viktor
Then, yeah, I would definitely do that.
00:12:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
it it feels
00:12:50
Viktor
Yeah.
00:12:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
it does feel like a hot streak, though. i wonder I wonder if the whole whole league is almost on a hot streak of it at the moment, because i think I was looking at the goals to XG from set-piece, and Arsenal were overperforming it by like five.
00:13:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, it'll probably cool down at some point, but just because... the team at the top are so good at them and scoring so many goals from it. I wonder if that's just why it's dominating conversation at the moment.
00:13:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
But
Carabao Cup Fixtures: Arsenal's Strategy
00:13:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
that, I know that...
00:13:20
Viktor
I mean they they definitely practice every every week they practice different scenarios it's not just as we speak they're probably practicing something else about how they can make because teams would eventually adjust to what Arsenal is playing so Arsenal will have to find a way to
00:13:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:36
Viktor
kind of innovate something new. And when you have a specific coach for that, there's always going to be something new happening.
00:13:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think...
00:13:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it's something that you can't as easily defend though as well, because whereas open play, you can adjust to what another team is doing quite easily.
00:13:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you have Declan Rice and Saka putting the ball so consistently in these areas, then it doesn't really matter how well you defend. like and Someone's going to get on it eventually. so
00:14:07
Viktor
Yep. Yep.
00:14:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeahy It does is those just feel like a part of the game that is being focused on a lot at the moment because of the those teams are near the top are really again getting something good out of it at the moment and maybe it'll all move on. but I think is it's fueling this is the Premier League boring discussion and don't I don't know if it actually is boring, so to say, or if people are just unhappy because their teams aren't good at it. I think to Liverpool fans especially seem to be quite unhappy about their team.
00:14:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think is causing the league to be boring at the moment, or is it just just is what it is?
00:14:51
Viktor
No, it is what it is. and And also, if you look at it the other way, it's kind of like gives attacking players a little bit of a breather because if you take, let's say, a long throw in,
00:15:03
Viktor
You're going to get the guy there to throw the wall and then you have the center backs to come in. So it's going to be like a little pause so you can get your breather back. So it's a lot of running. You have a lot of games. So yeah, I don't i don't see that changing anytime soon.
00:15:17
Viktor
I think it's going to get get even worse. That's teams going to focus even more on set pieces than it is right now. That's my opinion.
00:15:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
It does surprise me a bit that all these teams are so good at attacking set pieces that surely someone's got to be like a dominant defensive set piece team at some point. But I guess like I was saying, it's harder to defend these than ah is from open play.
00:15:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anything more to say from your point of view on set pieces?
00:15:46
Viktor
No, another interesting thing that I saw is the the first kick of the game, how teams now, they just adjust to like kicking the ball in the corner so they can press higher.
00:15:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:56
Viktor
They can, yeah. That's something I was thinking was when I was a kid playing soccer and now I'm seeing the big teams doing it. It's not as crazy as it sounded to me before.
00:16:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:16:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
I remember seeing a clip of Bournemouth doing it when i was when they were in um the championship. and it's very It's very rugby, which I don't know if that means loads to you, but I know that that will mean a lot to people in the UK, just kicking for possession or but or kicking for territory.
00:16:18
Viktor
Yeah.
00:16:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
sorry
00:16:25
Viktor
yeah
00:16:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah It'll be interesting if that is another next step, but I don't know if all teams are going to want to give up the ball who straight away or not. I think that wraps us up on set pieces. We'll talk about the Carabao Cup quickly as there are some midweek fixtures and some big Premier
Match Predictions and Analysis
00:16:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
League clashes. But first, let's hear about Zencastr.
00:17:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Carroville Cup, then there's a few games tonight, but they are largely irrelevant from a Premier League point of view. There's, I think, only Brentford playing and they have a very easily easy game, so we'll skip to tomorrow night's game.
00:17:24
Viktor
Yeah.
00:17:26
Viktor
well um Yeah.
00:17:30
Viktor
Yeah.
00:17:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Arsenal versus Brighton feels like ah an opportunity from an Arsenal perspective to finally give a lot of these players the rest that they need.
00:17:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Brighton will need to bounce back from a really poor performance against Man United and perhaps can steal this game. I don't think... A lot of Arsenal fans would be particularly bothered with going out at this point.
00:17:38
Viktor
yeah
00:17:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
But maybe a chance to see someone like Max Dowman with the amount of injuries.
00:17:55
Viktor
Yeah.
00:17:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, Hink Happy, mate.
00:17:58
Viktor
Nick, I am just, I'm just going to say this. Arsenal is stacked with good players. I think the second 11 they line up against Brighton, that's still going to beat the best Brighton team, I think, on ah on a random day.
00:18:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:10
Viktor
So, yeah, this is perfect, perfect time to have like the the young kids to play, get some playing time, give something to think to Arteta about. And then, yeah, that's the thing.
00:18:22
Viktor
i feel like Arsenal is going to win at least two titles this year. Yeah.
00:18:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
it feel It feels like it at the moment.
00:18:29
Viktor
Yeah.
00:18:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Giocarez especially, I think, needs to finally get some rest. He's played far too much football at the moment, so hopefully he gets some rest.
00:18:35
Viktor
I feel like Gjokras is the weakest link right now at to Arsenal. if If they can get him to play, yeah.
00:18:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:43
Viktor
it's Looking at Gjokras, yeah.
00:18:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
think I think a lot of it a lot of it is fatigue, but I think ah the goals will come eventually. Just Arsenal were on a relatively cold streak in front of goal from open play, and but I'm sure it will come once he's not playing 90 minutes constantly with the absence of Havertz.
00:18:57
Viktor
Yeah.
00:19:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll do some score predictions for these games very quickly. Arsenal 2-0.
00:19:08
Viktor
Yeah. 2-1.
00:19:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
arsenal two now
00:19:11
Viktor
so one
00:19:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Moving on to Liverpool Palace then, I think this is this was a game that got played a month ago and both teams were unbeaten. Since then, boy teams are winless domestically.
00:19:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah,
00:19:27
Viktor
Palace will for sure rotate tomorrow heavy because they've played so many games.
00:19:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah they have to.
00:19:33
Viktor
I was looking at the lineup. I know on Thursday they played a full, Mateta played full 90 against Ayik Larnaca, which is like, and they still lost at home. So they he plays another 90.
00:19:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:42
Viktor
Yeah, he has to be rested and time for Nketiah maybe to score a goal at Anfield. We'll see. But yeah, I feel like that game is going to go to overtime.
00:19:53
Viktor
I mean, to two penalties. Yeah.
00:19:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, at some point, Glasner has to trust his depth, and if it feels like a good opportunity. You've got the likes of, i believe it's Uche. He came off the off the bench against us.
00:20:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know he doesn't seem to like Roman Esa, who they signed for Millwall in January, but it's chance to give these players some game time and all that sharpness for those Europa League games you're not losing to the likes of A.K.
00:20:12
Viktor
yeah but
00:20:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Larnica. From a Liverpool perspective, I think more chance for Izac to finally build that match fitness up because he's just not looked good yet. ah Maybe...
00:20:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
do you think Verts plays this to try and build some confidence or does he get some rest?
00:20:35
Viktor
Yeah. No, I think he's going to play this game. I think he's going to play.
00:20:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think...
00:20:39
Viktor
I might even play 90, to be honest with you. Yeah, but Wurz is the type of player that he needs to find his rhythm because fitness-wise, he's one of the fittest. ah I was reading an article about him. He's one of the fittest in in Europe based on data. but So yeah, I think he's going to get playing time in this game.
00:20:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think I give Liverpool the slight edge just because of that quality and depth that they should have. we've got Liverpool 1-0.
Strategic Insights on Upcoming Fixtures
00:21:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
think it would be a relatively underwhelming game.
00:21:10
Viktor
I'm sticking to overtime. I'm into penalties. i don't know why i said overtime twice. I'm sticking to penalties.
00:21:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Another Premier League clash, Wolves versus Chelsea. I don't think there needs to be too much discussion. we I talked with Ken about Wolves yesterday and how they feel kind of too far gone already.
00:21:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Chelsea need need a bounce back. They need to find some confidence, I think. He needs to trust Estavao more. He feels like the only...
00:21:38
Viktor
yeah
00:21:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
he just feels comfortably their best winger from what I've watched. So this should be a... I would say 4-0 Chelsea. They should demolish Wolves even with a rotated team.
00:21:48
Viktor
I mean, yeah if if if I'm Vitor Pereira, I'm sending my 11 that played last weekend away for a day or two to reset completely and don't even think about this game.
00:21:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:01
Viktor
Yeah, Wolves going to need a miracle to survive.
00:22:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:04
Viktor
If Vitor even stays as a coach. So that's that's another big question.
00:22:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
He
00:22:07
Viktor
Yeah. You got to get him out of there.
00:22:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
so you just you just can't stay.
00:22:10
Viktor
if one more One more loss. One more loss. and Yeah, I think they played Fulham over the weekend. Let me double check. Yeah, they played Fulham. So if you lose that game, you're gone.
00:22:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Brendan Rodgers got sacked or he he resigned, but he essentially got sacked ah last night.
00:22:25
Viktor
See?
00:22:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just get him I know he's not Portuguese. with like The owner likes to get a Portuguese manager from the arse end of nowhere, but go and get Brendan Rodgers while you still can, I feel like.
00:22:41
Viktor
Maybe he's and he's already lined up.
00:22:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'll go... Yeah.
00:22:44
Viktor
Maybe there's already been talks.
00:22:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:22:46
Viktor
Maybe that's why he quit, but we'll find out very soon.
00:22:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
What do you have for this game? ah I'll go 4-0 Chelsea, like i said. Okay.
00:22:54
Viktor
I'll do a 1-2. Only 2-1 win for Chelsea.
00:22:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, move on to the what feels like the marquee game. Newcastle versus Spurs, and I don't think...
00:23:04
Viktor
That's going to be a good one.
00:23:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Both these teams have been fine, but kind of with potentially with some alarm bells. I think Spurs' ah league position isn't particularly representative of how they've been, and Newcastle, I think, kind of the same.
00:23:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah 12th feels a little bit too low for them, but wouldn't be putting them... in the Champions League places. How do you see this game going? Is there one of these teams that should kind of be prioritizing this cut more than the other?
00:23:39
Viktor
I mean, both teams play Champions League and both teams have a game next week on on on the 5th or the 4th. So maybe this is a game that they can rest one of few of their main players. Tottenham definitely needs to rest Kudus a little bit.
00:23:54
Viktor
He played again last week. He played over the weekend. He's been playing constantly along long games. So it it all depends what the lineup is going to be tomorrow. But I expect to be ah Newcastle win regardless of what happens.
00:24:09
Viktor
that's I think it's going to be 2-1 Newcastle.
00:24:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, they I mean, they've got the history in this competition recently more so than Spurs, so while Newcastle's depth, especially in attack, might be injured, I think they should just be able to kind of get this over the line. ah I'd say 2-1 with ah hopefully some help from Gordon ah domestically, finally, even if it's still not a goal in the Premier League. like he's a His drought continues from January, but
00:24:40
Viktor
2-1
00:24:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
How do you see this going?
00:24:45
Viktor
to cancel. Yeah.
00:24:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
i think, yeah, 2-1 Newcastle as well. I think that about wraps us up. I don't think the the other game was City against Swansea, which doesn't need any discussion as they could play their
00:24:58
Viktor
yeah
Arsenal's Premier League Prospects
00:25:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
children and probably win.
00:25:02
Viktor
yeah
00:25:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Any final thoughts from you about anything Premier League before we sign off?
00:25:09
Viktor
I think United is getting top four. Arsenal, I'm still sticking to my very first thoughts that it's going to get the title this year.
00:25:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:25:19
Viktor
So, yeah.
00:25:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
i've I've moved to thinking and we're winning the title as well, finally.
00:25:23
Viktor
Yeah.
00:25:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it does feel very comfortable at the moment. But you...
00:25:28
Viktor
I'm not even worried about it.
00:25:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:29
Viktor
Even if Arsenal gets like two, three big injuries right now, I'm still confident that Arsenal is going to run to this league easily. If they...
00:25:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
this
00:25:38
Viktor
The moment Arsenal finds their form, Arsenal is not even in form. It's boring to watch Arsenal, but their defense is so good that you need one goal to win the game, as we saw against Crystal Palace.
00:25:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:25:48
Viktor
So, yeah, if when Arsenal starts getting like a flowy soccer, then it's game over.
00:25:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I was saying to Ken yesterday, like we've still not kind of clicked. We signed more players than Liverpool, and it's not even close to clicking yet.
00:26:02
Viktor
Yeah, not at all.
00:26:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And there's so many players injured at the moment, and you can't really tell.
00:26:06
Viktor
Yeah.
00:26:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it it does feel like it's going to just keep getting better for Arsenal.
00:26:13
Viktor
yeah
00:26:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And i think... yeah It feels early, but it does really feel like unless Haaland can kind of just keep this going all year, it does feel quite ominous already.
00:26:28
Viktor
Even if he does, Haaland scores 40 goals, it's still not going to be enough. they yeah they cannot compete with Arsenal.
00:26:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:35
Viktor
They don't have the strength. They fall apart as well too easily. And Arsenal is just strong on every position and they feel compact.
Conclusion and Reflections
00:26:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah feels like a good ah good point to sign off. Thank you for joining me, Victor. hope to talk to you again soon on the podcast as hopefully um for your sake United still in a ah good position but who knows where United could be by the next time we speak.
00:26:55
Viktor
Yeah. yeah
00:27:03
Viktor
Yeah.
00:27:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
That has been another episode of the Daily English Premier League podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. I have been Nick, that has been Victor, and i believe Ken and the other Nick will be with you tomorrow.
00:27:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
But thank for joining us and enjoy the rest of your evenings.