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Daily Premier League in English - Episode 68: Transfer Deadline Day Madness
14 Plays25 days ago
Please welcome Eshan Weerasinghe and Nick Bird for a half-hour program discussing the January 2025 Transfer Window. The program consists of some talk about the concurrent transfer deadline day, Aston Villa, Spurs, & City's window review, and the best/worst transfers of the window. Enjoy!
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Transcript
Introduction and Transfer Deadline Day Focus
00:00:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to our Tuesday edition of that our Transfer Deadline Day podcast this time. um I'm joined by Nick. Do you want to say a quick shout out, Nick?
00:00:21
Nick
Hello, nice to be joining you for the first time. So a lot of transfers talk about decent amounts happened today, but we're going to end up covering the window generally after touching on deadline day to start with.
00:00:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean that leads us into deadline
Niko's Late Transfer and Arsenal's Midfield Issues
00:00:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
day. um Nick, out of the first few signings that we've had over a deadline day, which has stood out to you?
00:00:48
Nick
I think you have to focus on Niko for, I mean, 60 million euros. It's the biggest transfer today. And after seeing Arsenal, my team obliterated City yesterday, mostly because of their midfield problems and it's been the biggest issue, it's kind of surprising it's taken till today.
Manchester City's Midfield Struggles and Return of a Former Player
00:01:10
Nick
For them to bring a midfielder in and it's it's obviously a player they went in for For the tail end of last week and they've come back to today After not initially wanting to pay as much as they are gonna end up paying it seems so
00:01:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah i mean um ah the one word i've been using to describe city all season uh especially their midfield has been leggy you know they every time they're second to the like the ball and so like you can't keep having that and let's face it like a lot of these players are getting getting onto the older side and so they're losing their yard of pace and like bringing back good dog on i remember when uh the announcement came through, there was this impending sense of doom, and it's quite it's gone quite the opposite way. you know He left at a really good time, could have gone out on the high, and now this will be a part of his city legacy is coming
Evan Ferguson's Signing: Success or Struggle?
00:02:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
back. and um
00:02:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
going through this period. um I would agree. I would um also argue, from from my point that um Evan Ferguson has been the most exciting deadline day signing. I know we've discussed that um he's technically, I think, on ah third the 30th, or not the 30th, but the day before transfer deadline day. But I You just see it going, I see it one it going one of two ways. Either he is a great, great success and rediscovers the form that we all know he can under his previous manager Graham Potter, or he's a crying indictment of what injuries can do to a player and how they can take take a player and in his stride that looks great and he comes back a completely different player.
00:02:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Some other signings that have gone through has been a couple of interesting outgoings.
Lloyd Kelly's Move to Juventus: A Questionable Decision
00:03:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Lloyd Kelly to Juventus. What do you think about that one?
00:03:08
Nick
Why if why from uv's perspective why like they've signed him on a free from Bournemouth in the summer and it's just not like you never played he was obviously at Bournemouth when how was there so that's likely why he's ended up there he wasn't a bad player at Bournemouth but
00:03:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I don't know. where
00:03:31
Nick
just never got game time and he's ended up at UFE because they sold Dean Housen and realized they couldn't get Dean Housen so they've ended up with Lloyd Kelly who won't do anything for them like it's like it's a great it's great for Newcastle they've got massive wages off their wage bill because I think it was on over 100k but we can now they've got rid of that
00:03:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. You. A thousand. and Wow.
00:04:01
Nick
i don't I don't think there's an option to buy. I can't remember off the top of my head right now, but it's ultimately just a bad transfer for you, but looking at it from a Premier League perspective,
Chukwuemeka's Loan to Dortmund: Timing and Potential
00:04:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, fantastic.
00:04:13
Nick
Newcastle have got a great deal.
00:04:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. um The most so interesting outgoing that I've seen is Karney Chukmuega to Bursey Dorman. I think it's like a two million ah pound loan fee, which is not the worst for a player of his quality.
00:04:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think i think when he was leaving Villa,
00:04:32
Nick
I'm surprised they've got a loan fee you to be honest. i mean
00:04:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
all Also true. um But when he was leaving Villa, there was so much talk about him. there wass so much And he hasn't really gotten the chance to so shine in this Chelsea theme.
00:04:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I love that he's going to Dortmund. I think we we we've known this for about a decade now. Dortmund has been the prime hotbed to develop young talent.
00:04:57
Nick
is He's joining at a weird time, though. One, I'm really interested about seeing how he does as well, but he's joining at a time where the squad generally is good at Dortmund, but they've got a new manager this week, and the top level of Dortmund, like the directors and stuff like that, is in a really weird place, and ultimately it won't affect him on the pitch, but... the It's a weird time to be joining Dormander, but like you say, it'd be interesting to...
00:05:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
you No, but stuff like that does straggle down. It'll be interesting to see how their new manager Niko Kovac will do. um I know he's had that bar in Munich that went less than well, to say the least.
00:05:38
Nick
Yeah.
00:05:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But ah very, very interesting.
00:05:40
Nick
But, I mean, it's one of one of four loans going out of Chelsea today. You've got him, you've got DeSasi who we've gone to next, I guess, who it felt like he was going to Spurs and then he's now going to Villa again.
00:05:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:58
Nick
This has changed a lot of times this window and I think Villa's the much better move for
Villa's Transfer Strategy: Asensio and Rashford
00:06:05
Nick
him. He wanted Villa over Spurs and it would I think it would have been my worst transfer of the window if he'd gone to Spurs because he just doesn't suit how Anj plays so I think he'll do fine at Villa.
00:06:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah it'd be such a horrific signing for and because can you imagine like the sassy on the half turn against someone who's just like anthony gordon is running past yeah yeah oh my god lights out lights out it'd be the worst way for him to play is like on the halfway line so think i think i'm glad for most persons that they were able to avoid that because
00:06:29
Nick
Imagine Isak running in behind him from the halfway line like
00:06:44
Nick
yeah no and villa villa needed him as well villa at the weekend had a cinnabac partnership of concert and camara because pal torres is out and so so is uh tyron mings and it's ah unknown about both of them so it's good for them that they've managed to swing him back into joining them that like they massively needed that
00:06:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
15th wouldn't be the worst they would be um Very great Yeah, yeah, yeah Yeah
00:07:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, Lisa, I think we should have a little conversation about Villa because they've also signed Asensio today to couple in with a Rashford sign-up here yesterday. how How do you think their window's been?
00:07:22
Nick
Asensio's a weird one. They've got him in to replace the outgoing Buendia, and I don't love Asensio, but he's gone from playing false 9-up PSG for the most part, for like the start of this season, and now he's at Villa to be back up to Rogers, I'd imagine.
00:07:43
Nick
Like, it doesn't really make sense for Asensio. I don't think it really makes sense for Villa.
00:07:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
It'll be interesting. ah like I mean, I don't... like I haven't heard enough about Asensio, but at Real Madrid, is one of his and greatest strengths was to like not complain about the minutes he got, so if he can have that sort of an impression on the squad.
00:08:00
Nick
Yeah.
00:08:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
If he's the type of player that's, like most players, demanding minutes constantly and like obviously wants to get into the theme but will complain and make it a toxic atmosphere for everyone involved, I could say it going really horrifically badly.
00:08:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
But if he can like play whatever his role is and accept the minutes he has and just give everything for the team, I think he it's actually a much better signing than we think it might be because he's ah he's a player of top quality. We've seen it time and time again.
00:08:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
and i
00:08:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think if a player of top quality can come in and produce the goods, maybe not week in, week out, but whenever they get their chance, you know, like coming in with the right attitude, I'd love to see if Asensio can do that, which brings us into Rashrid and attitude.
00:08:51
Nick
just one last thing on Asensio quickly it does at least bring them Champions League experience so as much as it they've lost their last six Premier League games at the weekend of a Champions League game
00:08:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think, oh, go ahead.
00:08:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Of course, of course, which is so necessary.
00:09:06
Nick
So they needed squad depth and they've added that.
00:09:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:09:11
Nick
Whether they've got better on like is a different question.
00:09:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:17
Nick
and fit i mean Going on to Rashford as well, both the Sensio and Rashford have massive potential to be a bit continually.
00:09:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm. Elaborate. what What do you mean by a bit continually?
00:09:30
Nick
So, like, obviously, Coutinho came in, had that massive debut.
00:09:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like flashy?
00:09:35
Nick
I think it was against Liverpool.
00:09:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, it was against United, actually.
00:09:39
Nick
And we forgot him about, we forgot about him for the next year and a half, two and a half years.
00:09:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah I see what you mean.
00:09:44
Nick
Like, I have a feeling he's still on their books. I can't quite remember.
00:09:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he's off their books and at some Qatari side now, if I'm not mistaken.
00:09:52
Nick
Yeah, but they, I mean, he stayed there far longer than I think anyone actually realizes.
00:09:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
OK, I see what you're saying. So you're saying that you're going
00:10:01
Nick
And he was on he was on loads of wages. He wasn't contributing. And I feel like that could happen.
00:10:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
i so So just to clarify, just to clarify, you're saying kind of like a new manager bounce, where you'll see the player come in, give those flashes, but you're predicting that there'll be a follow for both the Zenzio and Rashford.
Rashford's Departure and Future Prospects
00:10:20
Nick
I just don't think they'll be they'll live up to their name value, essentially. like You talk about Accenture having shown quality, I just don't know whether the The quality is there consistently enough.
00:10:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Consistently.
00:10:35
Nick
He might have flashes every now and then, but i don't like like I was saying, I don't think he'll start. Rogers is a better player than him. and then
00:10:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Agreed. Rodgers has been a phenomenon this season. i've i've been It's been fantastic to watch somebody who has not gotten enough minutes before the season come in and show why he's such an asset. I remember reading at the start of the scene when I was researching FEL, they said a good season for Rodgers was like five goals, three assists, and he's far, far surpassed that, just got a hat-trick in the Champions League. So there'll be competition for places, but um
00:11:13
Nick
They're also completely different players. i Which, I mean, is a good and a bad thing.
00:11:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
all true elses
00:11:20
Nick
like You don't necessarily want identical players swapped between. you You need solutions for different for different opponents. But I think they're glad this is a loan without any option or obligation.
00:11:36
Nick
I think they'll be very thankful they haven't added that in.
00:11:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Also true, also true.
00:11:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Speaking of being thankful, we're very thankful for our sponsors and we're going to read this little ad to you.
00:11:41
Nick
compared to yeah compared to Rashford.
00:12:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wonderful, um, so a quick war we've had we spoken about a bit about Villa We could do a whole podcast episode on there.
00:12:22
Nick
We should touch on Rashford quickly before moving on.
00:12:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh You want to go ahead?
00:12:26
Nick
Because obviously we were going to get into Rashford and I brought it back into Asensio.
00:12:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah
00:12:33
Nick
40 mil option. I don't hate on Rashford, but we really I mean I Would have preferred him to leave the country. I think he should have left the country for his own sake Just to get away from the media.
00:12:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, the media attention's gonna be ridiculous.
00:12:47
Nick
I mean we we saw straight away before it was even confirmed. There was a Daily Mail headline, which was just Pointlessly discriminative about him and i think in like I think he should have left the country and but Villas an interesting team for him to join they needed a left winger There is the potential for this to go incredibly well for him But it I think it will ultimately come down to does he wants it to go well like does will he hold that sort of Vengeance against United and want to prove himself. I don't like I He's not a bad person or anything like that. like We saw in his message about leaving United, there was a United under 14s player thanking him for practicing penalties with him days ago. like This can go well for him. This can be a really might statement move for Villa if it goes well. like But I think it's ultimately down to him and and marie can I think Emery can be the manager to get out of him.
00:13:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Emery's a fantastic manager and one of his greatest strengths is development players that earn bad and trodden form.
00:14:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So very, very interesting to see how Rashford does. I hope the best for him, wish the best for him. It's a poisonous end to the United career. One hopes that this isn't the end of the United career from
United's Financial Constraints and Strategies
00:14:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
a United perspective.
00:14:18
Nick
how How do you feel from a United perspective?
00:14:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ah, for me, it's so, it's so like, it's more sweet than bittersweet, but very bittersweet because
00:14:21
Nick
like with how How the exit's gone?
00:14:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
the the the painfulness is rashford was supposed to be like the chosen one you know when he when he came on against midgeland and scored the brace and then a couple days later scored the brace against arsenall a month later he scores the the winner in the Manchester derby at the Etihad you know like very few players have that sort of start to the united korea at 18 years old so to see someone come in with the gravitas he didn't look like a man as much like a Wayne Rooney would have but you felt his presence he felt the lightning pays and so there only felt like there's up to go and he's had ah his moments but it's very much he's been very like
00:15:08
Nick
I mean he scored over 200 goals. like
00:15:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't want to use the words consistent because he's been so flashy, because he's been so up and so down, but he usually gets back up. I think in the last two seasons, we've it's been the longest period where we haven't seen a period of like eight to nine games or Rashford looks like a world leader. I think it's been just moments.
00:15:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that's the stress from a United fan. I think the other aspect of you know a Rashford's game that doesn't help him is that he doesn't track back hard enough. like yeah if you If you watch all the games, you see it week in, week out, that he's just not putting in the yardage to defend. And like I'd love to so tell you that he would. But if that's not his game, that's fine. There's plenty of- Mbappe doesn't defend, Neymar doesn't defend.
00:16:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like if you can have enough quality up top, like a lot of coaches will allow you to stay up top. So hopefully it goes.
00:16:07
Nick
But you you have to be in that Mbappe, Vinicius.
00:16:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly.
00:16:11
Nick
Liao does it and who isn't quite that level, but I love him so much.
00:16:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you have to show that you're going to get the crowd on their feet at every game.
00:16:16
Nick
and But you have to be of that level. Yeah. And I think you...
00:16:24
Nick
Yeah.
00:16:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
You might not give a 9 out of 10, 10 out of 10 every game, but the crowd will be behind you.
00:16:29
Nick
You can't get away with it in the Premier League specifically as well.
00:16:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. and
00:16:33
Nick
How do you feel with how Amorims treated it?
00:16:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Amoram's done a decent job. I think Amoram has responded how he was going to respond and how any manager would respond nine times out of ten. You see you have a lot of quality but you're here to put your stamp on it. If he took that disrespect from Rashford then I I don't know where we'd be because you can't let stuff like that slide.
00:17:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's the simple fact as a manager. So I'm very happy how he responded to it. I think it bodes well for Amorim's confidence and Amorim's stamp on the squad. I think the other caveat, go ahead.
00:17:15
Nick
I think he needed he needed to do it but I think there's a few comments where it's like like we we get it there was one lot I think it was last week where he said he played the goalkeeping coach over him it was like like yeah we get it like he's going to leave like this isn't this isn't necessary well that because
00:17:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
that go okay
00:17:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
it is. like and i fully over the top i totally understand what what you're what you mean by that but i think this is just stuff like that is always going to happen when the saga just continues you know if he was like you got to contextualize it with like that's late january that's like three four weeks where rashford could have left and because of this because of that and mani and i having bad form still the there's so much questions before the game after the game yeah so like he
00:17:51
Nick
Yeah.
00:18:05
Nick
I mean. Yeah, you're getting asked it. Like so many times a week. And to I've generally been really impressed with how he's spoken to the media, especially a massive contrast to how Tenharg was speaking to them.
00:18:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he's so open.
00:18:22
Nick
And that's like, yeah.
00:18:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think i think like it's been one of his biggest praises at sporting was like how good at communication he was. um But we should we should actually like lead in to talk about how United's transfer window has been.
00:18:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
um We're one left back in, one left back out. Molassie is about to leave to PSV. And we got Patrick Dorguin, who looks great.
00:18:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
But how many times have I seen a United player that comes in looking great and leaves
00:18:48
Nick
yeah normally youll do you you'll do more in the summer you're massively hamstrung by finances it came out this month you literally don't have money unless people leave and people have left and
00:18:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
a husk of a person so we'll see i'm quietly happy happy in ah quotes i would say um because we got someone in exactly yeah yeah
00:19:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
So the I think the biggest thing is that um PSR is about about the three-year period. And um at this summer, the Casamiro Anthony window, when Ten Hog came in, and that chaos of that window, when we lost 2-1 to Brighton, and then we lost 4-0 to Brentford, and everything went to panic mode, and we just bought everyone.
00:19:18
Nick
Yeah.
00:19:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
um That is done at that um time. So we can have more than the 100 million
Transfer Windows of United and Arsenal: Strategic Needs
00:19:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
losses. So I think that's the biggest thing um that's going to happen and influence our decision making is that we need that the summer window to come.
00:19:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
You just hope that the biggest, like the top level that United could be at right now is a cup team. Like that's the top level. we there's no I scarcely believe that there's going to be a level consistency within this team just because of one, I think there's an intense pressure from other teams because they see the blood like every team in the Premier League will think of as United as a winnable game.
00:20:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that comes from like Southampton. It's like every single team comes to United and they think three points off for grabs. And if you're.
00:20:24
Nick
It was which were 10 minutes away from Kendall Wynn at Old Trafford.
00:20:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, or Southampton, but yeah. um Yeah.
00:20:30
Nick
What's that time of the year?
00:20:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
um um Yeah, absolutely insane.
00:20:34
Nick
Oh, I mean, Dogu is a good player. Like ah there's Arsenal accounts I follow who were desperate for us to get him in the summer because of the tinny leaving.
00:20:48
Nick
We want that sort of overlapping profile.
00:20:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, um ah well I'm done talking about United.
00:20:53
Nick
So
00:20:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you want to talk about a little bit of Arsenal's non-window?
00:20:56
Nick
yeah so we the window hasn't existed for Arsenal there's been one bid for Watkins which got people excited but apart from that we've done nothing and it's gonna lead to questions about the ownership we've been happy about the cronkeys for three four years they've backed the team after taking full ownership not really somewhat owning up for the super league stuff but that's always gonna hold some resentment from everyone but they've they've backed the team obviously like got rice for over a hundred million and
00:21:40
Nick
given our test of the funds to go and improve the team until the year where we need one last push and that's what's the most frustrating thing is this has happened so often. This happened in 2007, this happened in 2012, 2016. It's always the final window to go and get a striker every time it feels like it's usually a striker and again it's it's a striker and a left winger this time like we built from the back and it's like it's annoying that nothing has happened i even saw before we
00:22:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:21
Nick
started recording I didn't actually get a chance to watch the clip but apparently Ornstein said Villa offered us Watkins for 60 million after we bid 45 which I mean it doesn't feel true but if that's what Ornstein said I don't see why we wouldn't take that 60 million for Watkins is an unbelievable deal If it's true and With the villa signing all these players. I actually had a little bit of hope that maybe that was back on today but They've done nothing. They've not really shown any ambition and the whole window even before our tests been going we need signings like like
00:23:02
Nick
in all the different ways you can say that sentence our Tetris said it this month and Even to the extent that rice has said it on like Amazon Prime or ever whichever game it was Like I'm really hoping we'll add players to the team because we're really sure is essentially what he said It's such a bad window
00:23:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. it's It's very frustrating for an Arsenal fan. um I think that the biggest thing is that they think they can't challenge in the league and they're out of the League Cup and the Epic Cup.
00:23:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:23:37
Nick
like but I mean yeah like i we have such a good draw as well like if you sign Oli Watkins this window there is a genuine chance of winning the Champions League this year at minimum getting semi-finals like we have an incredible draw and we've had an incredible draw in every competition like
00:23:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
But they still have the Champions League as well. Like top eight in the Champions League is no mean feat.
00:24:03
Nick
Up until playing Newcastle, we had the easiest draw in the Caramel Cup. There's a chance we fix that on Wednesday. It's probably not going to happen. And we had an easy draw against United and we couldn't get it done because we couldn't take our chances.
00:24:18
Nick
so we both domestic cup competitions ended a week and now if I you've just had this 5-1 win and maybe they're using that Tron mask over the cracks I wouldn't be surprised if we see a bit of PR later this week of suckers on track for an early recovery sort of thing so
00:24:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:42
Nick
But the one one thing is, if they have tro like tried and gone, we want SHESCO, ESAC, or Watkins, and none of them can be done now for a reasonable price, then somewhat fair enough for waiting, because you don't want to get mugged off, but they've put an unbelievable amount of pressure on themselves in the summer.
00:25:11
Nick
to get not just a striker but they need to get a left winger as well.
Spurs and City's Transfer Solutions and Challenges
00:25:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
They really have. They really have. It's it's it's the same with United, where it's like we're waiting for the summer, but you can only wait for the summers so many seasons in a row, especially with the Arsenal. I'm going to listen to a quick ad, and we'll give a quick word on Spurs and City and their best and worst transfers in the window.
00:26:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, so quick word on Spurs and City. Spurs, do we feel like they've done enough to cover their injury crisis expecting that Mattias Tell does sign in the next two hours?
00:26:17
Nick
I think they've fixed the gaps in the injury crisis. They've got a goalkeeper who has been generally good. They've got a centre back in Danto who I really like and they're seemingly getting tell on loan. I think Maybe they need another center back because draggison's done his ACL we got confirmed today so draggison remera and van der vin or van der vin came back, but He'll probably do his hamstring in the next month so like I think there's still one shorter center back, but then they at least got someone in and I think it's maybe not the most ideal window, but I think The Spurs fan base will generally be happy
00:27:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thoughts about Citi, do we think that they've also covered their gaps and they will have much more of a second a half push or do we think that they are still pipping over the cracks and there's something going on way deeper at Citi?
00:27:25
Nick
ah It's such a weird window. It's the first time in seven years they've made a transfer in January and they've made three, five. Marmush, Kucinov, Rice, Barr from Valladolid, which counts if you want it to count, and then obviously Nico, who is you all but confirmed.
00:27:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:27:45
Nick
i is there a transfer ban coming is my general thought because this doesn't make a lot of like it makes sense but it's a it's a bit much like
00:27:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i I think very much the same thoughts. um If you look at their fixture list, I think it's like it's a crazy fixture list for the next few weeks. They just played Arsenal. They're going to play for Liverpool.
00:28:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's It's a lot. It's quite a lot of um um hard teams. So I think we will see.
00:28:16
Nick
It's a lot of teams who will punish their weaknesses as well.
00:28:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly. and
00:28:19
Nick
I had concerns that we would because we don't really have the profiles to do it, but we still did it anyway.
00:28:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fantastic game and arsel fine but so I will I do think that they will do to the signings will have enough to have like the classic Last 10 game stretch that city have um I mean, I hope it doesn't happen.
00:28:25
Nick
like
00:28:38
Nick
I'd slightly disagree.
00:28:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
and But yeah, can you go ahead?
00:28:42
Nick
i I don't think they'll go on that city run just because I mean the holes are there and I don't think the holes will be fixed by one midfield signing. The centre backs aren't ready. I think Kucinov is a great player. I don't know anything about Rice but i those won't fix the gaps yet.
Best and Worst Transfers of the Window
00:29:05
Nick
It feels very much like If it's not a transfer ban and they're just trying to get stuff done as quick as possible, then fair enough. And it feels a bit like when Klopp was trying to revitalise the squad before leaving. But, I mean, they've made good signings. It's just a weird window, like, looking at it, not being a C-fan.
00:29:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and that very well may be true. I mean, as a Unite event, I hope that's true. um Let's go through our best and worst transfer before we wrap up the episode.
00:29:34
Nick
Yeah.
00:29:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's go first to you, best transfer.
00:29:44
Nick
I think one of the most interesting, not necessarily best, is the M&F is someone we touched on earlier.
00:29:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:29:52
Nick
Just because we don't know who he is right now. And, like you were saying, injuries might have ruined him. He might just get an injury again. That's something I'm worried about for him.
00:30:04
Nick
At best, Marmoosh, I guess, is that hes the best player that is being signed this window, in my opinion.
00:30:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:12
Nick
And although I've got concerns about him when they're facing low blocks because he's coming from such a counter-attacking team, I think he has potential to be really good. I think he needs to chill on the hero ball. I feel like we're already seeing it.
00:30:29
Nick
a few times against us and against Chelsea he's taken shots from 20-25 yards feels like he wants his first goal to be a crazy goal and that's something we saw from Savino for six months before he finally scored so I think he needs to chill on that but a bit but if they start playing a bit more counter-attacking like we saw against Chelsea then a Marmush Hall and like Gio going in behind could be really interesting
00:30:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Marmouche is also my answer because i but I think that there's the thing I like about the long shots from Marmouche is Pep Guardiola coaches his team to never do that and so I know that Guardiola is just getting mad on the sidelines that Marmouche is going for this time and time again and yet
00:31:19
Nick
I feel like we've seen a lot of it though. Like him, Savino, Foden. It's like, it's becoming an increasing thing anyway.
00:31:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I think he trust like, um, well, that, that also could be the case, but, um, I would argue that Marmouche is doing it far too much.
00:31:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Even, even in the cardio demands, I think this is like a player that wants to do something special.
00:31:36
Nick
Yeah. Yeah.
00:31:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think it will happen. And part of the reason that I predict that city will go on and run in those next last 10 games is cousin Marmouche. I think he adds such a versa versatility to their attack.
00:31:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like there's. Really no equivalent to him in the Premier League in my opinion Maybe there's a player that can play striker left-wing right-wing very seamlessly, but off the top of my head I can't think of it But I think Marmouche is that and I think I didn't watch a crazy amount of Frankfurt games But I watched one and he was just he's just blistering like every every attack Yeah, and we've seen players
00:32:16
Nick
so He suited Bundesliga a lot. like that's That's why I say I've got concerns about the transition to how a city team plays.
00:32:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Of course, of course. Uh, and those are completely valid, but I do. There's a reason that we both picked him as best transfer.
00:32:31
Nick
Yeah, yeah, I think I think another one you could say his Duran leaving for 77 million euros Is an unbelievable transfer for sit for Villa and that's coming from I talked to about this last week with Victor.
00:32:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um.
00:32:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. What.
00:32:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Unbelievable. Is that correct?
00:32:47
Nick
It's like I Feel like they needed to just cash in now because he wasn't gonna be their star And he hasn't proved that he can be a star in my opinion.
00:32:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
00:32:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. um
00:32:59
Nick
I getting him out at the height of his value, I think you I've done a really good job.
00:33:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
A thousand percent. I think this is where all the media attention would have been. I think in another six months, he might have lost some value. You know, it does it just takes value is so.
00:33:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
In flux that in six months, he could have been worth 30 mil because he had ah like a stretch of four or five bad bad games and not the whole world coming into
00:33:19
Nick
Yeah. And Andy didn't get on with Emery. which would have tanked his value as well like and they said this was corroborated a lot but like even before the trend first started and then obviously now he's gone there was an article so
00:33:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
i've I've heard that as well. I've heard that as well.
00:33:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
We are fresh for time, so we're gonna have to switch on to worst transfer before we end the episode. um I'm gonna go first, and I'm gonna say that Diego Carlos is my worst transfer. I'm sure there's mitigating circumstances, but the player probably wanted to leave. He was out of selection for a long time. Probably some injury problems. We know he turned it towards ACL in his first like game in England, and then had that recovery process, which I'm sure was horrific. However,
00:34:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
like Filla injury crisis at center back center back leaving make it make sense on paper.
00:34:14
Nick
Yeah.
00:34:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's something wrong there and The I I think to back to the games I saw him um Against United or some other games of the Europa League that I passively watch he looked incredibly solid was making an incredible line of interceptions and blocks and Just looked like the center back you'd like to have in your defense.
00:34:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
What's your worst transfer of the window? I
00:34:39
Nick
I was going to say Philogene, but I just remembered. Metoman not being sold for 90 million.
00:34:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh.
00:34:45
Nick
It's objectively the worst, the worst decision.
00:34:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh my god. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:34:49
Nick
It might be the worst decision I've ever seen a club make in the Premier League. It doesn't make any sense.
00:34:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:34:56
Nick
This is a guy they've signed for three and a half million pounds, and they've got a 90 million offer for a player who is probably a 30, 40 million pound player at the moment. ah He doesn't have much output.
00:35:08
Nick
he I think he had a bit of a resurgence this year. I think he had quite a quiet season last year and then he looked really good but like they turned down 60 million which felt mental and then like two hours later there was news over 90 million pound bid.
00:35:29
Nick
How have you not sold him?
00:35:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
we We talk about maximizing value, and like there's an argument that like John Duran couldn't have gone for more, but this is the peak window. This is the time to sell him.
00:35:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And with Matoma, it's very much the same case, where it's like, okay, this is the time to sell him when he's performing decently well.
00:35:44
Nick
they have they have good depth as well like a dinger is a good winger they've got rutter who can play on the left if they needed him to they got minter like it's not like they would have lacked a body
00:35:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I imagine the higher ups in Brighton fully wanted this deal to go through, thus it being reported on heavily. And I know when this is a complete hearsay, but I have a feeling that Hertzler just really loves Matoma and thinks he's so crucial to a system.
00:36:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that that that can all be the only reason, because what other reason is there to turn down ludicrous amounts of money for a good player, but not a world reader?
00:36:16
Nick
each Yeah. Yeah.
00:36:24
Nick
Yeah.
00:36:27
Nick
He hasn't even earned that sort of power. To be left because he didn't have any power in transfers. like If i that was the reason which it might not be.
00:36:39
Nick
but i mean I've also got questions of like, did this actually happen? like Because it's such a ludicrous sum of money.
00:36:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it feels very surreal.
00:36:47
Nick
it doesn't like Surely it didn't actually happen.
00:36:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely ludicrous.
00:36:53
Nick
It doesn't even make sense from a Saudi perspective. He's not a Saudi league player.
00:36:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:37:00
Nick
Like people aren't going to watch Matoma play football in Saudi Arabia.
00:37:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:37:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's a completely valid point. And on that note, we'll have to end the episode. Thank you, Nick. Thank you so much for being part of this episode. I really appreciate it. And I'm just going to go ahead and play the outro now.