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Can the 49ers & Seahawks Return to the Playoffs? | Forest & West Ham’s Key Needs | The Highs and Lows of the Bills & Jets
16 Plays11 days ago
In this week’s episode of Who’s Got The Ball? the started by touching on CJ Fulton’s appearance in the NBA Summer League (04:13). After this they discussed the ceilings of the Seattle Seahawks (09:27) and the San Francisco 49ers (18:00), before breaking down where they think Nottingham Forest (26:51) and West Ham (35:17) need to improve. This was followed by their weekly Premier League transfer round-up (39:59). James and Shane then finished up with further NFL chat, delving into the New York Jets (51:48) and Buffalo Bills (58:56) from the AFC East.
The lads continued their weekly drafts, where this week they drafted the best strikers from world football (01:05:01).
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Transcript
Introduction and Sports Weekend Hopes
00:00:09
Speaker
All right, lads, welcome back to another episode of Who's Got the Ball. It's myself and Shane here once again. What's the crap, Shane? Not a whole lot going on. Not looking forward to the weekend where the Rebels hopefully can come out and lose their All-Ireland final. Other than that, did you see a man that got Cork All-Ireland Champions 2025 tattooed in his arm? Oh my God, no. They're just looking.
00:00:35
Speaker
I'll send it on to later. They're looking to just... be abused and I'm more than happy to do it from so hopefully they can go and lose the Tipperary at the weekend other than that all quiet the club World Cup is on apparently I think it's over now thankfully finally so we can move on with our lives now and get we get on with more important things like what's for dinner and who's going to cut the grass yeah much more important things than that just like and we don't get 94 million for that sort stuff though unfortunately but unfortunately not no I actually fancied Tipperary and i I backed them to win it out, but I did it in a double goal way to get to the football final and they let me on this year.
00:01:12
Speaker
But still, I'll take some pride if Tipperary do it and the fact that i I actually really like them and I think they're a good young team. I think it'll be a great game. Yeah. Yeah, it's it's it's a big one this Sunday, so enjoy it to everybody out there
Wimbledon Highlights
00:01:26
Speaker
watching. and One thing I wanted to touch on really quickly was last week, Wimbledon was on and it was so good, just the level of tennis that was played. um Sinner was so good. I think he was lucky to get through when he did against Szilic. That was a horrible injury to see, but I think he performed brilliantly in the final against Alvarez. and and I have our our our football draft on the mind that we just did at the end of the episode. yeah and But yeah, Alvarez losing to him in the final, it was great. And a new winner in the women's side as well.
00:01:56
Speaker
Yeah, and it was some match that Sinner and Alcaraz match. and But Sinner was just miles out front of him. There was no... Like, Alcaraz won the first set, and then after that, Sinner didn't look back. It was just, sorry, no, Sinner won the first, Alcaraz won the second.
00:02:11
Speaker
And after that, Sinner like, okay, you've had your fun now. And then just put the foot on the throat and didn't take it off for the whole rest of the match then. He was just not letting himself get broken at all. And then he was just grabbing one break, and that's all he needed. And after that, he was like, I'm holding on to my every game I have here. It was really impressive.
00:02:30
Speaker
Really impressive. and So they'll have good rivalry for a long time, I think, to come. But then we just wrapped up recording as we continue to do this style that we did last week. So we're going to tell you everything we talked about and then you're going to dig into it. So and this week we covered off a little bit of a chat about CJ Fulton in the NBA Summer League, how he got on and maybe a future for him, what's going to happen.
00:02:55
Speaker
Covered off two NFL teams on a season preview. So This week we went with the Seahawks and the 49ers to finish off the NFC West. um So that was yeah that was that was an interesting chat then. We moved over to football and previewed Nottingham Forest and West Ham in the Premier League. So we're working nicely through a season preview for every team there. I think we only have and maybe six teams left or something course Something around that. So we're getting through those nicely. Then a transfer roundup for Yee and focus on some some big deals that are
00:03:27
Speaker
rumoured and going on at the moment and then we did two more NFL teams and Chelsea Chelsea Chelsea always got Chelsea Chelsea have to get a mention if you're not mentioning Chelsea then you're might as well just just cut you off like stop doing the episodes yeah wasting your time they have the reason they're doing all these transfers they just want to get a shout out in their own that must be it like exactly 100% then two more NFL teams We did, because of the smaller portion in the and NBA, we we touched on, we started in the AFC East. So we did Shane's Jets, who he, of course, was very low on. He didn't say anything outrageous at all.
00:04:01
Speaker
And then the Buffalo Bills. And then we wrapped up with a draft this week. So this week, for yeah we drafted the best current strikers in world football. So give it all a listen. Let us know what you think. And enjoy the episode.
CJ Fulton: Irish Basketball Talent
00:04:14
Speaker
So the first thing i want to touch on is CJ Fulton. and So the Irish, <unk> he's played basketball for Ireland. He's from Belfast. A little bit of history into his family.
00:04:25
Speaker
His granddad, Danny Fulton, coached the Irish senior men's basketball team. And then and his dad, who is Adrian, was also an assistant coach when CJ made his and senior debut in 2021.
00:04:38
Speaker
So he's come from a basketball family. family um He played for couple of Division I basketball teams in college in America. He did his full four years there. So he did two seasons with the Lafayette Leopards and two seasons with the Charleston Cougars.
00:04:54
Speaker
He was was probably improving as time went on, and he's known ah lot for his assists. He was 14th in the division last season for assists with 6.5 per game.
00:05:06
Speaker
And he led the nation in assist to turnover ratio across multiple parts of his career. or So I think he's around 6'3". So not that big for the NBA. Kind of a smaller guard, but he he takes care of the ball. Nice to see an Irish guy get called up.
00:05:22
Speaker
So he he did a workout with the Timberwolves and then the Nuggets after, um i think it was before the draft. He didn't expect to be drafted, but he he got a call up then from from the team.
00:05:34
Speaker
Timberwolves and asked them to take part in the summer league with them so nice story as an Irish guy getting getting into the league after a long time getting some sort of glimpse at it now he didn't play in the first three Timberwolves and summer league games he got four minutes last night in the last one so it was nice to see him get get on the court and it's going to be really great for him to have worked out with those guys and hopefully now it paves the way for him to If not get a G League contract, then get something around Europe, which I think he's kind of communicated as his goals. But really great to see for the Irish basketball team.
00:06:11
Speaker
Yeah, it's a massive achievement for him in general, even if he doesn't make it in the NBA. Just have someone Irish playing in Europe or whatever you said, just someone to kind of keep an eye on, kind of watch out and see all how a Panic and I just done in basketball today, because Ceeley Fulton's there. Yeah.
00:06:27
Speaker
And it's pretty cool. I know he got four minutes. He wasn't he said he wasn't overly happy with his performance, so he feels he could have added more. yeah So there's always going to be kind of pre-game nerves as well. First Irishman since Pat Burke back in the 90s to play for an NBA team as well. It's mad how it has been the bones of a 30-year gap between now and then.
00:06:46
Speaker
It's good to see that we have till we do have someone coming through in everything. We have so many that coming through in the NFL now as well. The likes of Charlie Smith and all that. So hopefully they'll get a run out this year as well. He might get some kicking going again this year as well. We'll see. But it's just great to see that we're not just were not just kind of sitting back and resting on our laurels here.
00:07:04
Speaker
People are kind of... The sports are for everyone. So why can't we have an Irish lad playing in the NBA? Why can't we have an Irish kicker? in a Super Bowl so things like that it is it's really really cool to see and I just really wish them the best yeah I think I think it's a good point you make as well about the kickers like basketball while like I think some of the skills are transferable from and football like Gaelic football to handling the ball and obviously rugby you carry the ball a lot with your hands but it's funny because over here like we play a lot of sports where it's predominantly kicking like soccer rugby there's a kicking element and ga gaelic football is clearly a huge kicking element whereas in the us it's a lot of like focused on your hands like you have the nfl there's barely any room for kicking in that then basketball obviously no kick in baseball yeah it's
00:07:55
Speaker
it's quite a different way that they play sports, which I think it's interesting in that we have an Irish guy that's kind of transferred over to that. Obviously we have other great Irish basketball players and some young guys coming up at the moment. So yeah, I think it's good. If you want to, if you look, I don't know if anybody knows before, but on our Instagram, we have like, a like a highlight reel thing from, from stories we've done. And the soccer one is Robbie Brady, a famous goal.
00:08:22
Speaker
in the Orals against Italy. And then the NFL one is Dan Whelan, the punter for the Packers, which on your point could well be making as far as the Super Bowl because he's an excellent punter and their team is excellent. So he could get close to it, which may be a first.
00:08:38
Speaker
And then the third one is Pat Burke. So we'll have to see if CJ gets into the n of NBA or even in into the G League. We might have to replace Pat with CJ for our for our little image there. But yeah, I think interesting...
00:08:52
Speaker
Obviously, only playing four minutes, he can't really get up to speed with the game. But I think it's still nice they gave him minutes. So happy for him and one will be following going into the future. but Definitely, 100%.
00:09:05
Speaker
Yeah, we just wanted to touch on that one before we got into the rest of things because there's really only Summer League going on in the NBA
Seahawks and 49ers Season Previews
00:09:11
Speaker
at the moment. So and next week, we may not even have any and NBA topics really to cover and because the Summer League will be over unless there's a big trade. So We're focusing on our NFL and football previews for the season ahead. So we're going to get back into the NFL, same style as last week. We'll do two NFL teams and first. So we're going to start by finishing off the NFC West.
00:09:35
Speaker
So do you want to go with the Seahawks first? Sounds good. I'll ask you the questions first and you can ask me about the Niners then. Perfect. So where do they need to improve most from last season?
00:09:47
Speaker
So with the Seahawks, I think, The biggest issue was their offensive rushing game. the They really didn't lean on it at all. And that was due to the fact that I think offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb that they had last year, yeah it seems like he got the blame for everything that went wrong last year. They they kind of fired him and straight away off the back of the season. Mike McDonald made him kind of the sacrificial lamb.
00:10:12
Speaker
And i think he did not want to run the ball much at all. And... Yeah, I think that was really a big issue for them because they didn't have any other side to their offense. Like Geno Smith is a great passer, but if you know he's going to pass all the time, then it's easy to prepare for it.
00:10:30
Speaker
And they have Kenneth Walker there, who is a very good running back, and I feel like he should have got more touches than he did. But I think bringing in Clint Kubiak as the new offensive coordinator is not only going to work well with Sam Darnold because he does a lot of play action.
00:10:45
Speaker
And that suits Darnold a lot. He also leans on the running game a lot more than Grubb did. So I think that's where they need to improve. And I think they've already made a step towards it. So for them, that's good start.
00:10:58
Speaker
Yeah, I think that's a good shout. Mine kind of, I lent on yours a small bit, but I went the opposite direction. I think if they're going to keep passing so much, they need to they need to improve their wide receiver core big time. So I know they've brought in Cooper Cope. They have Jackson Smith and Jigba.
00:11:12
Speaker
But outside of that, they've lost Lockett. They've lost... Locked, the other... Metcalf. Yeah, DK Metcalf. He's gone as well. So they really do need to kind of strengthen their wide receiver course. If they're going to continue passing the ball anywhere, they're going to need more than two wide receivers that can come up and come down with the ball. So...
00:11:29
Speaker
Now, as you said, the new defensive coordinator, he might bring Kenneth Walker back into the bid, as he should, because I think he's an incredible talent as well. So we'll have to wait and see. But I think they're wide of the record. If they are going to keep throwing the ball, it's going to need more just the two boys to to to get them over anywhere near over the line this season.
00:11:47
Speaker
Yeah, I think they'll probably be hoping that someone will break out and help there. They have. Valdez Scantling as well, who hasn't been really that reliable. He's been helpful to obviously Super Bowl teams like the Chiefs, but it's different when you already have your offense set and he's like a fifth or sixth option.
00:12:06
Speaker
So yeah, it's going to be interesting to see, but I think they're probably in a better position now than they were at the end of last season. and So looking at the three players on their team that will make the biggest impact, I kind of went similarly along to like looking at the fact that Kubiak is their new and ah offensive coordinator, I think Darnold will work really well with him.
00:12:29
Speaker
I think that he he had a great year, obviously, last year with Minnesota, and it ended pretty badly. And people, you know, the funny thing to say is that he's going to go back to the way he was. And, you know, he proved his true self, like, that he's gone back to, like, falling under the pressure. Like, you can't undo, like, games of of brilliance by a couple of bad games. So I think Kubiak is someone that's going bring out the best in him and he's going to use what he learned on under Kevin O'Connell as well.
00:13:00
Speaker
So I think that would be helpful. Then they drafted Gray Zabel with their first round pick this year. So I think that's with a look to protect Darnold. Pretty big guy. And I think that they're going to focus now on keeping Darnold safe, run and play action and and going on from there. So I think that was a good pick and he'll be someone that will be important. And then The third one is Tariq Wollin or Rik Wollin.
00:13:22
Speaker
I think just as an athletic superstar, I don't know how he slipped to the fifth round with the size and and talent that he had coming out of college. Six foot four and he ran a 4.26, 40 meters at the combine, which I think was like the third fastest cornerback ever. um um And he's which is madness. And then in his first year, he got a Pro Bowl.
00:13:44
Speaker
With six interceptions, but he's only had two interceptions and then three in the last two years. So he's fallen off a good bit. I had higher expectations for him, but I do think Mike McDonald will get a lot out of him now that he's kind of settled as the head coach. So I like him to make a big impact.
00:14:00
Speaker
Yeah, there are three solid ones. I went Darnold as well. I think, I do, I really think he's a good pickup for the Seahawks. As you said, he had 17 games of brilliance last year before... I think the whole team, not just him, kind of fell apart in the playoffs. think it's very hard to just say, oh, Darnold was a fault for all of us. He wasn't really protected, so we'll see if he can kind of keep up the form he had. As you said, he has that protection in front of now. We'll see how he goes.
00:14:25
Speaker
um I went Jackson, Smith, and Jigba as well, because I think if Darnold's going to be successful, he's going to need Smith and Jigba to have a really big season for him. yeah He's going to need him to be his main target. He's going to be need to be able to trust him from the start.
00:14:39
Speaker
So hopefully they can kind of, the two them can link up then the Seahawks could be in for a good season. and And finally they've gone for Ernest Jones. I think he's he's the key their defence. If he's on fire then they'll be on fire and I think if they can get points scoring with Darnold and then if he can get the defence doing what he's able to do then they could be okay.
00:15:00
Speaker
Yeah, I think that and McDonald plays a big part of that. Like after coming over from the Ravens I think that It took time, I think, when he initially was with the Ravens.
00:15:11
Speaker
It was said that. It took a little bit of time before he could bet in his ideas. And we saw something similar last year with the Seahawks. It took about half a season. So I think, yeah, these guys who've been with him for last year and going into this year will make and new guys then coming in to pick up those on those ideas from the guys that were there last year.
00:15:29
Speaker
I think it'll make all the difference in the world. So good shit. Yeah, 100%. Yeah. and twige Do you think they'll hit their over or will they be under seven and a half wins? Yeah, I thought that was pretty low, considering they had 10 wins last year.
00:15:43
Speaker
i think they moved from Geno Smith and DK Metcalf to Sam Darnold and Cooper Cupp. I don't think it's a massive drop-off, to be honest. So I don't think that should lose you two wins. So I think, yeah, they're going to cover it.
00:15:57
Speaker
um Even if they only get like eight or nine, I think they will cover this. amy I think they'd just go over same with you between 8 and 10 we'll see where they go from there then if they can get to 10 wins again then I think they'll be laughing they'll be happy enough with us yeah and finally what do you think their ceiling is for the current roster and coach for the season ahead I think they could be a frisky team that gets carried by an excellent defence and then their new look offence I think could slowly build up as the season goes along and
00:16:31
Speaker
I wouldn't be surprised to see them getting into the wildcard spots and then winning a game in the wildcard round to get to the divisional round. Obviously, this is at an absolute push. As we say every week, this is looking at the ceiling of the team. But I think I wouldn't... This is one, a ceiling that wouldn't surprise me.
00:16:49
Speaker
And I would actually... Like, you know, if I saw them there, I'd think, yeah, that makes sense. Because i actually said previously when Danny O'Brien asked me on the... His radio showed the chat about teams ahead for the NFL season or what they needed to improve in the offseason.
00:17:04
Speaker
I said that the Seahawks were a team that didn't make the playoffs that I'd be most confident about making it next season. But then Gino left, DK left, and I was like, right, not so sure. But now, looking at the way they rebuilt the roster, I wouldn't be surprised if they went and did that this year.
00:17:21
Speaker
Yeah, and the same with you. i I haven't done for wildcard game. Again, will they win this? Who knows? But I'm pretty confident they will make playoffs this year. Yeah, that would be a i think I think they're one that could go under the radar. And I think yeah taking that 7.5 win bet, I think that's nice. I would even maybe take 8.5 there just out of push.
00:17:42
Speaker
Because I think you could get some nice odds on that, to be honest. but Yeah, I think it's low. Yeah, I think it is too low, to be honest. i Definitely. am I might... look to build one when we're done all of this maybe we can build one each and and see how it goes for the season and um and come compare how we get on but then let's move on to the Niners and big disappointment last year obviously for them and they continue this trend of I don't know how long it's been like
49ers Defensive Depth and Key Players
00:18:08
Speaker
20 seasons or something that they've either not made the playoffs or got to the NFC Championship game just a crazy stuff that they've been carrying on but where do they need to improve most from last season do you think?
00:18:20
Speaker
depth in defence big time they've absolutely nothing so they've their first seven and after that then they really do struggle and so any sort of injuries and that in their defence and there they in big trouble straight away um i don't know what they can do where they can get them from but they really need to improve that defence yeah I think they lost some guys as well like looking at Javon Hargrave was there last year and then Leonard Floyd as well they're both gone two solid veterans So I think that's, yeah, you make a good point there that if you lose two solid veterans, you can't just fill the role with like fifth or sixth round picks.
00:18:56
Speaker
Like you need some guys to fill in. So that could be an issue. i said something a little bit different. I went with, they need to manage Christian McCaffrey and whatever situation is around him a lot better because i I feel like they didn't plan. Well, yeah, they had Garendo there and Mason.
00:19:12
Speaker
So that worked out for them. I don't think they expected either of them to work out this well, but When you're behind Trent Williams, it's a bit easier to to run. and But like I think they need to plan for a possible breakdown with injury better. I don't think they should have let Mason go, first of all.
00:19:27
Speaker
And secondly, I don't think they should keep the fans in the dark on the situation and have them guessing when he's going to come back, what's going to happen. That's not nice either. And they don't need to rush him back if there is a slight injury. Give him a week or two because you can't just rush him back and expect the world of him because he didn't look the same towards the end of last season. Now we have the usual crap of oh, he looks great this offseason. He looks so strong. He looks so big. The thing you hear every single year about a player who literally like destroyed both of his ankles last year, I'll believe it when I see it. But yeah, they need to manage the whole thing better with him.
00:20:02
Speaker
Yeah, big time. teas but When he's gone and he's explosive, he's 100% the best running back in the league. bo Yeah, without a doubt. the debate the greatest about the greatest ability is availability, and he hasn't really had that over the last two or three years. and If he can get back healthy, then it would really, really help him. But again, as you said, we'll have to wait and see.
00:20:22
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, I think so. Two of the three players then on their team that will make the biggest impact. Oh, McCaffrey is one of mine, but I said if he stays healthy for the reasons I just said there five seconds ago.
00:20:34
Speaker
Yeah. And Brock Purdy goes without saying. He is he key for him. um If he can kind of show the level of maturity he's been shown and kind of keep going, he's a massive contract now as well. He needs to live up to.
00:20:45
Speaker
He really needs a proper breakout there this year, more than he's had the last couple of years. He needs to do something really, really special this year. And then Nick Bosa is just a monster, really. He's the centrepiece of that defence again.
00:20:57
Speaker
i They need to keep him healthy and he'll he'll do the rest for him then. Yeah, if he's healthy, he makes all the difference in the world, to be honest. yeah but I've gone with someone I already mentioned a second ago on Trent Williams.
00:21:10
Speaker
Pardy is just bad when Trent Williams doesn't play. like People are looking at the correlation between when Deebo wasn't playing and Pardy's play. But that went beyond and preceded that fact of when he was when Debo was there he was still playing badly and that was when Trent Williams was injured so the statistical decline is all because of Williams if he doesn't have him but by the way he's getting very old I don't think they'll have much more than maybe this year out of him so I think if he's if he's there he makes all the difference in the world so they need him to be healthy and then another thing I i thought was a great addition
00:21:47
Speaker
maybe does replace the output of like a Leonard Floyd maybe tops it is Adam Bryce Huff. And he was really good with the Jets under Robert Sala really poor when he went to the Eagles didn't work out. And now he's back linked up with Robert Sala again as the new and defensive coordinator of the Niners. So I think that's a great move and a great link up because certain players play really well under certain coaches. So I like that.
00:22:11
Speaker
And then lastly, can't leave him out Fred Warner I drafted him in one of the top 10 defensive players in the NFL last two weeks ago when we did that draft so I couldn't leave him out because everything I've said was about him just being the leader on that defensive play caller he's pivotal to what they do I have no complaints on you Warner one hell of a player if they again keep Nick Bosa face keep CMC face they could very well go a long way
00:22:42
Speaker
yeah Yeah, it's one of those things that it's like <unk>s like if things go wrong with their roster, it seems they always go wrong and then it makes sense they miss the playoffs. But if things go right, yeah they are a Super Bowl ability team, so that's why they go so far.
00:22:56
Speaker
So yeah, it's it's an interesting moment then. But their wins is pretty high. Do you think they're going go glu over 10.5? Yeah, I do. I think they've one of the easiest schedules in the whole NFL as well with the way their games lined up. I think they'll they' definitely get to 11, between 11 and 13 wins.
00:23:14
Speaker
Yeah, they get a couple of easier games since they finished fourth seed last year. Yeah. You get two other fourth seed teams because of that. and But I still don't think they will.
00:23:24
Speaker
I think 10.5 is too high. i think that'll that I can see them having a decent enough bounce back here. And I can see them getting like 10 wins. And that might even be enough. I think it was enough last year to win the division.
00:23:36
Speaker
So I think it could be again, and because I just think the Seahawks are going to be better. i think the Rams are really good. Cardinals are always up in the air. So I think it could be four teams that end up on eight to 10 wins.
00:23:50
Speaker
So I don't see them getting 10 and a half. I think it is a little bit high for me personally, but I could see why you would think they they would. And I've kind of, I think if I watch them for like six or seven games, obviously, and everything is is going right for them, there's no reason why they couldn't win 15 games.
00:24:08
Speaker
But i just yeah I just don't see everything going right for them after last year.
Nottingham Forest and West Ham Outlooks
00:24:13
Speaker
So what's their ceiling with the current roster and coach for the season ahead? a Super Bowl.
00:24:20
Speaker
To win it? Yeah. yeah but they can They can definitely get all the way to the Super Bowl. Maybe not win it, but they can definitely get there. Again, injury-dependent. Just looking at the players they have, if they can keep them all fit and healthy.
00:24:33
Speaker
As you said, why can't they win 15 games if things go their way? Why can't they get to the Super Bowl if things go their way as well? I think they're sealing the Super Bowl. Yeah, that's fair enough. i I just have it as the NFC Championship game just because they love to get that far.
00:24:47
Speaker
Not at all. So I'm going to put that as the sealant. And the pure fact of that of that being their ceiling for me is that I think they're a really good team. But when you're in the NFC and your opponents are going to be the Eagles, Lions, Rams, just to name a few to get to that point, plus whatever teams might be sneakily brilliant, like maybe the Vikings will be unbelievable. Maybe the commanders will be unbelievable.
00:25:12
Speaker
Like, I just don't see them getting past and the NFC championship game. But they've got to the Super Bowl. twice in the last like five or six years. So I think yeah it's fairly reasonable for you to say that. so And how much, like how big would you say, of 100%, how big would you say are their chances of winning the Super Bowl this season? Of winning it?
00:25:36
Speaker
Yeah. I wouldn't have it any higher than 15%. Okay, that's fair enough. Yeah, so if you had like 100% chart and you had to give a percent to every team,
00:25:47
Speaker
Some teams are going to get 0%. You would give them like 15. About 15%. I don't think they will win it. I don't think it's in the question of them even being close.
00:25:57
Speaker
But I just think the potential is there for them to get there. But like there's no way they have a whole season where everyone stays first and they win 15 games and win the NFC Championship and get through everything and get to Super Bowl. I just don't see that happening. Yeah. bo When I was sitting there looking at their roster, I was like, oh my God, like does there's no excuses for him not to do it when you're looking at it now.
00:26:18
Speaker
But the excuses will come when everyone starts going down injured after five and they have no one blocking Brock Perry and they have no running backs and Brendan Ayukad kicking up a fuss there, doing something silly and he's not playing. There's so much that can go against him, but there is so much that can go for him as well.
00:26:38
Speaker
It's all down to real health and To win a Super Bowl, you need luck as well as anything else. So, yeah, that could play a part in it. So that'll be interesting to watch. But we'll we'll come back to two more NFL teams in a little bit.
00:26:50
Speaker
So we'll do our two Premier League teams now. and We've got Nottingham Forest. First of all, same questions as the last few weeks. Where do they need to improve most from last season? They really are going to need to replace Elanga and Morgan Gibbs-White really, really well because the two of them are, like Elanga's gone, Morgan Gibbs-White is...
00:27:10
Speaker
they can threaten legal action all they want, they still end up with Spurs. Like it going into the season without their two kind of, probably their two most important players from last season is going to be a a big ask and they really do need to get those replaced as soon as possible. And with people either of a similar talent as they are now or someone that is going to become as good as them in the next two or three years, the way they built up a land game Morgan Gibbs voice.
00:27:35
Speaker
Yeah, I had the same exact answer, like identical, just the fact of how important they are and managing them too. I focused on Gibbs White a little bit more because I think he was the most important part of the team. And if he was to go, yeah um that's something that needs to be improved massively, like of what they have left.
00:27:55
Speaker
So I think, yeah, I think that's huge and that's really important for them. I think it couldn't be more important really, like, because you're losing most of your creative flair out of the team there in one go. But two or three players that are left then, that will make the biggest impact, you think?
00:28:10
Speaker
I think Milenkovic for a start. ah What a centre-back. I think he's brilliant. He's really good. He's a really big set-piece for us. and He's a big man beside Murillo, which they need because Murillo is quite small for centre-back.
00:28:23
Speaker
And he's just, I think he's just a class act at the back. He can carry the ball as well. I think he's very, very good. I have Elliot Anderson as well, who I think had a brilliant season in last year, had a brilliant summer again with England under-21s. He was such a good pick-up for them from Newcastle in that fall.
00:28:40
Speaker
we You can have him and... Yeah, yeah i don't yeah I don't want get to get sued, but...
00:28:46
Speaker
and like picking him up and then Newcastle could have done with him for most of last season. He was absolutely superb. yeah And finally, Callum Hudson, although he is going to need to step up big time.
00:28:57
Speaker
and Without Alanga and Morgan Gibbs-White, now whoever comes in beside him and the other wing, if he's going to need to do the lion's share. is going to need score more goals, get more assists and just be be the player everyone thought he was going to be four or five years ago.
00:29:10
Speaker
Yeah, I i think... I found it a little bit hard to, like I know there's a lot of good players there, but I found it hard to pick three guys on this team that stood out because I feel like there's a lot of guys on on an even level.
00:29:23
Speaker
And then there's a big drop off, it seems, in their squad after that. But i also went for Milenkovic. I just think that his presence at the back is massive. And I also went for his partner, Murillo, who you mentioned.
00:29:34
Speaker
I think he's an absolute star and they need to avoid losing him because He's great on the ball, even for his size. He's great in aerial jewels. He's strong, physical, he has good pace, and he's only like 22 years of age. So I think there's a lot of interest with him right now from other clubs. So I really think they need to make sure that they keep him and keep that together because that's the biggest thing that's going for them right now.
00:29:59
Speaker
And then I went for a third one. and i really liked Elliot Anderson's shout. I think that was really... He's probably their best player, most talented. But I went for a slightly different one, something that they just added in Igor Jesus. So they just added him from Botafogo.
00:30:16
Speaker
He's 24 years of age. He scored twice at the Club World Cup. And he scored 17 goals and six assists in 59 games for Botafogo since he joined them. So I think that was worth a punt. And now the fee is undisclosed. So I'm not sure how much they spent on him. They got another guy as part of the deal.
00:30:31
Speaker
So I think... getting in a backup for Chris Wood and maybe someone that can learn from him and ease his way into the into the Premier League scene. And I think that would be that might
Transfer Market Insights
00:30:43
Speaker
work. I think that was a good punt, but surely it's definitely not all they need to do in the transfer window, but it is a good start, I think.
00:30:51
Speaker
Yeah, 100%. I don't know much about him, to be honest. as As you know, I wasn't the biggest fan of the club World Cup, so I didn't actually watch a single second, and even though we played on us, to be honest. But I think they needed someone that can replace Chris Woods.
00:31:05
Speaker
i think they're very good for shopping in those markets that people aren't really looking at. I'm pretty sure they got Murillo from Brazil as well, and look what he's done. So if it's the same kind of scouting system, then there's no reason why they can't be picking up another star here in Jesusville.
00:31:19
Speaker
Yeah, i think he went from, he played in the UAE or something and he went to Brazil and now he came to the forest. So it was an interesting kind of path. But yeah, I didn't know whole lot ah about him until I saw some kind of highlights of him and what he's about and looked a little bit more into it just basically and to see would he be someone that I think can make an impact. And I think it's, yeah, now again, Club World Cup goals don't mean a whole lot, but I didn't watch like two or three games in that.
00:31:48
Speaker
I'm much more of a fan than you were on those two or three games. But yeah, it was pretty poor stuff to watch now, to honest. Because let's be honest, nobody's saying Chelsea are the champions of the world club level. So and that that tells you a lot you need to know there. But anyway, fair play to them. They won. Let's not focus on Chelsea. What is the ceiling with the current manager and squad for this season for Forrest?
00:32:11
Speaker
I think their ceiling is seventh. They need things to go as well as they did from last year. They still a good squad. If they can replace the Langa and Gibbs-Weiss just even effectively, then there's no reason why they can't kind of stay up around where they were. But I think realistically they're going to drop down to the bottom half again this season. Not too far down. Maybe 11th or 12th to be realistic. But seventh is their ceiling. There are definitely six teams better than them. Probably eight teams better than them was...
00:32:37
Speaker
there's no guarantee United and Spurs going to good seasons Milan might fall off a bit as well so we'll have to wait and see I went with 8 so pretty similar to you I just think the fact being in Europe and losing Gibbs-Oid is huge and there's like teams that can surprise you and be good and then there's the usual teams that are going to be good too so I think Spurs are going to be much improved United is left up interpretation at the moment but I do think Spurs will be good So, yeah, i think I think it's going to be tough to see them get past 8th, to be honest.
00:33:10
Speaker
well But what one piece of business do you think they need to do to help them get to their maximum potential? Coming back to my first point again, the need that creative midfielder. And I think someone like James McAtee, who's been, his name has been floated around at the moment for Man City.
00:33:26
Speaker
think he'd be great bit of business for Every time he plays for Man City, he looks a class act. He was good for England and the Euros as well, the 21s. I think they could do a lot worse than bringing him in to try and mould him into that Gibbs White role.
00:33:37
Speaker
Yeah, the only thing I would be wary of is with City, they always drive a high fee for these academy lads. So... and they'll probably have to pay a lot. And I think that I also had that they needed to sign a creator or if they couldn't do that, switch to a two up top and really push for Wissa and pay what they needed to get them.
00:33:59
Speaker
Because I think Newcastle are interested in him now, but I think if if they, i know it's going to be a hard to convince Brentford to sell, but if you offer a lot of money, I think you could get them to sell. And I think they could use the money they get from the other two deals.
00:34:13
Speaker
to get that over lane and have him up top of wood, I think that might work either. um so something along those lines for me. I think Brentford will be mad to sell both Embueno and Vista in the same summer though and I think that's where that could be the stumbling block for a lot of teams. If this Embueno deal does go through to United then I don't see there being any fee in the world that can get them to sell Vista because their Premier League survival kind rests on his shoulders a bit then.
00:34:40
Speaker
Yeah. And there's no point getting 70 million from him if he's then going to be relegated to the Championship. And he's a new manager there as well so I think you need to keep one of your two goal scorers. Yeah, an Irish man at the helm. It's going to be tough for them.
00:34:55
Speaker
Either having lost one of them, and if they lose both, as you said, it's going to be very, very tough. But I think the Dembue Mo deal looks like, as we'll come to transfers in a bit, looks like the newest bid might get it done. So maybe that was something they had in mind as well with Newcastle coming in for Wissad. They knew they had to up it because both aren't going to be allowed to leave.
00:35:16
Speaker
But let's move on then to West Ham. where they need to improve most from last season, I said that they were one of the worst defenses in the league last year conceding 62 goals. So that was the third worst outside of the teams that got relegated.
00:35:31
Speaker
That needs improvement. But I think it will get bit of a boost, at least from a full structured and preseason with Graham Potter as the manager and just having a bit more solid plan in mind with the guys that they bought last summer.
00:35:45
Speaker
obviously bringing in Tadebo well permanently now and I think it will help but it was very very bad last year so they need to improve it yeah same 62 goals is ridiculous like that's almost two a game not quite almost two game but like you're conceding two in most games you can't win games conceding two it's again it's like as we were saying about United last week how they need to stop going 1-0 down West Ham need to stop going 2-0 down and then they might be able to push up the table a bit yeah no it's that You can't have that bad of a defence and expect to be to be challenging for anything.
00:36:21
Speaker
And they ultimately do want to be doing that. But if the three players on the team, then that'll make the biggest impact. Well, first of all, I went with Jared Bowen. I think he's so underrated.
00:36:32
Speaker
Again, I drafted him in our most underrated players draft in the Premier League. I think 13 goals and 8 assists and 16 goals and 6 assists in his last two Premier League seasons is very solid.
00:36:45
Speaker
I think he can make a lot out of nothing. And a lot of the times he does have to do that for West Ham because they don't give him a whole lot to work with. But I think he, yeah, he's very underrated. Taddebo then, I already mentioned him, but getting him permanently, he should be settled into the Premier League now after playing for most of last season. And yeah, he should he should aid the defence a lot. And then thirdly, I went for Juan Bissaka.
00:37:10
Speaker
I think he he's good at that level. he's improved his game going forward and he's a very, very good defender. he always has been. So I think, yeah, he's going to be important to their success and he needs to continue to perform at a good level.
00:37:25
Speaker
Yeah, I had the exact same three. Oh yeah? Yeah. Nice. So at the ceiling with the current manager and squad for the season, I went with 10th.
00:37:36
Speaker
I think that's all Potter can do with the squad. I was looking at the squad. There are some good players in there, but, Nothing to go mad about. They just lost Kudus and the league is just getting strong getting stronger and stronger.
00:37:48
Speaker
I can't see them doing better at intent than 10th and I think top half would be even very good for for this team at the moment. Now I know they probably expect higher and they think they'll do better than that but I can't see it happening.
00:38:00
Speaker
What did you have? yeah I had them at 9th. I don't think they're pushing... The European places, and I think, he went down as far as eight this season, so I just kind of left him out of that fight and put him at nine to the push because...
00:38:13
Speaker
but but Again, they're team that are going to finish in that 11th to 16th train, more than likely. And their fans be fuming. They won't be able to understand why, but the teams around them have just been so much better. Especially since they lost Rice, they've really pretty much wasted the money they got for Rice.
00:38:28
Speaker
um A lot of teams do that when they sell someone big to try and buy 12 players for place and fail. yeah i just I don't see them doing anything of NOS this season. and Yeah, and I don't think Potter is going to be able to perform wonders like they think he will, because there's only so much you can do. And yeah, ultimately, he needs a certain system and a certain type of team. And I don't think this is it.
00:38:47
Speaker
But that one piece of business do you think they need to do to help them this season? I think they need to replace Kudos. And I think Harvey Elias will be a really good signing for him. and if he if like I think Harvey Elliott needs to be in a team that are going to almost build around him I know that won't happen at West Ham straight away you've Jarrah Bowen there but if you put Harvey Elliott in beside Jarrah Bowen as kind of two attacking midfielders and behind a striker or two strikers even in a 5-3-2 I think he'd be absolutely is superb for them so I think someone like him or another creative talent to go alongside Jarrah Bowen Yeah I said they needed a solid striker
00:39:26
Speaker
to just allow Bowen to have more creative space and have someone to set up a bit more because he's got some decent assist numbers, but he hasn't been really providing for many people. So I think that and they need to use the Kudus money well and sign a proper striker, a good one, that they can they can rely on week to week because I think Fulcrogg isn't going to cut it even if he does go on rants about the team not being good enough.
00:39:50
Speaker
and That's not and translated then on the pitch. So I think they need to get a proper striker in there early. Agreed. Yeah, so like let's look at the transfers then.
00:40:01
Speaker
That's our two Premier League teams done. There was a few done deals. It was a quite enough week, actually, on deals done. So the first couple that I have here are, first we'll look at an Irish transfer. Mark Travers gone from Bournemouth to Everton for 4.6 million, and that's in Euros.
00:40:20
Speaker
And then Jordan Henderson, making a bit of a shock move to Brentford, basically replacing the Norgaard role over there for them. So that was fairly interesting. So what did you make of the two of those moves?
00:40:34
Speaker
I'm annoyed that Mark Travers has gone to be a second choice somewhere again. Birmingham wanted him to come in and be their first choice, and he ended up with German Beedle, who isn't. Very good. He had an awful year last year in the championship. I think Mark Travers would have been perfect for them.
00:40:49
Speaker
4.6 million is a bit of a steal as well if you're Birmingham to get in a first-rate keeper. So I can't believe he's agreed to go there and sit behind Gordon Pickford. It just feels like bit of waste. In terms of Jordan Henderson, i wish him the best. and I think his legs are probably coming to the point where they're going to fall off soon. And the fact they gave him a two-year deal, I think it's a bit mad um at 35. So to win and see. I think Brentford needed someone with a bit of leadership. He's clearly shown everywhere he's been that he's full of leadership. um If he has nothing else, he could definitely still has leadership. So he can he'll be a good signing for them.
00:41:25
Speaker
Yeah, I i think it's important and for them to get somebody... that just had experience in that dressing room because they need it, especially with an experienced manager now as well. So I think, yeah, yeah it was, if for anything else, I think at least the leadership and I'm sure he can still provide 60 or 70 minutes most weeks as long as they rest him in cup games. And then with Travers, for me, i yeah, I agree with you. I think going to Birmingham, that's a team that has a lot of money.
00:41:53
Speaker
If you solidify yourself as the number one, you might be their starting keeper in the Premier League in like three years' time. You're 29, you're getting into your peak as a keeper, and then you're pushing to get an Ireland spot.
00:42:03
Speaker
I don't think he really looked as much to the long term in this because Pickford is going to be the number one there at Everton for a good long time to come. So yeah, I don't really understand it either. But then the next one is El Hadji Malik Jouf went from Slavia Prague to West Ham.
00:42:20
Speaker
Now, I don't think he's good enough to be their Kudas replacement, but he is a left winger. um 24 goals uh or sorry 24 appearances seven goals and three assists in um the czech league last year so interesting one 22 million euro no absolutely nothing about them but i hope they don't continue this thing where they're like you said they spend like 55 million on three players that they're taking punts on for like 20 million each and then none of them work out so yeah it's Yeah, it's a bit of dodgy one. This will tell you all I know about him. When I saw El Hadjouf had signed a contract to West Ham, I honestly thought they'd replace Aaron Potter.
00:43:00
Speaker
I thought they'd replace Potter as manager with the actual El Hadjouf. was like, that's a strange move. And i saw then I saw the Malik. was like, oh, this is someone different. I think it's it's it's a mad amount of money for a 20-year-old who 7-3 in the Czech League isn't exactly blowing you off the page. He's not lighting it up.
00:43:18
Speaker
No, we'll have to wait and see. Weird one though. Yeah, next done deal then is Petrovic went from Chelsea to Bournemouth. So Bournemouth sold Travers for 4.6 million and then they bought Petrovic for 28.8 million. That's in Euros again.
00:43:34
Speaker
So they've gone with a new keeper there. Not sure what Chelsea fans think of this, but Sanchez still isn't good enough in my opinion. Even if they are club World Cup champions. So I don't know if Petrovic is going to be and prove another guy that goes to Bournemouth like Kepa and just proves them wrong.
00:43:51
Speaker
um I'd be interested to see i think he is I think he I think he should be Chelsea's number one, not Bournemouth's number one. and He was brilliant a year and then they put him on loan last year to Strasbourg and he was excellent. He got down into Europe.
00:44:05
Speaker
I just don't understand Chelsea and it's it's almost like it's probably on everyone's bingo card at this stage. Like, oh, it's saying we don't understand Chelsea. I just don't get how they're so steadfast on...
00:44:17
Speaker
Robert Sanchez and they're selling this fella for 29 million um it's not like they need the money they just got 100 million for winning the Club World Cup so ah at 25 should be coming in and should be giving him a chance till January at least yeah they just want like it seems like in everything they want something now that works right now and like they're buying young players but guys that are already people think they're good or guys if they're buying other guys they're loaning them out so it feels like now they're just going right we've loaned him out we don't think he's a world beater right now. So he's gone.
00:44:49
Speaker
And they'll probably just buy another keeper to add to the ones they already have there. Yeah. They're loaning, you mind, Kendrick Payes and...
00:44:57
Speaker
Mark Pender, was it Mark Penders anyway, to Strasbourg. Chelsea's issue is they just, they have no inclusivity. Like everyone comes in and goes straight out the door again. Like they just, it's like, oh, we've signed you up for 30 million, go off there to our other club. Or maybe it's, maybe it's too much inclusivity with the likes of Strasbourg and stuff and you want them all involved to us.
00:45:15
Speaker
Yeah, I think that it's mad. Piaz wasn't too happy about that, apparently. Yeah, I can imagine. think he expected to be included in the team and stuff like that. So, I think that was a bit of an issue there as well. But yeah, it's always something. Every time you do the transfer roundup, there always has to be Chelsea talk in there because they just always do something.
Liverpool's Transfer Strategy
00:45:34
Speaker
but and other team on Yeah, definitely. Another team that's been very active is your Liverpool.
00:45:40
Speaker
A couple of mentions for them here, both from David Ornstein. First one is that Bayern Munich submitted an official bid to sign Luis Diaz, 67.5 million but Liverpool value him at €100 million euro plus, apparently.
00:45:53
Speaker
He wants to leave, but Liverpool apparently don't want to sell him for less than that, which I think is an outrageous price. And then second one is the Eketike situation. Initially, Newcastle hell talks to them. Looks like he prefers Liverpool.
00:46:06
Speaker
Looks like he's going to head to Liverpool. It's going to be around €80 million, euro I think, something like that. So that's a report and from Ornstein continued into Thursday from Wednesday. So What do you make of those two bits and pieces for Seren and your team? I think Diaz will go.
00:46:24
Speaker
I think he'll be closer to €80 million than the €100 million they're saying. I think that bit from Byte is definitely too low. and Lange went for £55 million.
00:46:36
Speaker
I'm not sure what's the conversion rate is there. yeah So like if if you want him, then just pay the money you can have him. I don't think i don't think he'll be there first of the season. I think he will be gone.
00:46:48
Speaker
I could take it and that whole 24 hours is just hilarious. Like, oh, we're getting EZAC and we don't get EZAC, then we're definitely getting EZAC. So make your mind up, Newcastle. Newcastle was like, no, we're keeping EZAC. We're like, grand, we're getting EZAC. So might I think it's £80 million, pounds not €80 million. year um um I think it's €100 million, frankly, one for him.
00:47:07
Speaker
Hopefully he'll go and pay €100 million again because 200 million signs in the summer, I don't know if I'd be able to. couldn just I think it would be absolute madness but if they can get him for between 80 and 90 million euros I've only watched highlight packets of him I've never ever seen him kick a football live so I don't really have too much to say on him to be honest he's the same kind of profile as Isaac a couple of years younger hopefully he can turn into a player dad e that Isaac is now and we'll see you see where we go from there yeah he looks a little bit more slender than Isaac is but yeah I see the vision but if I'm Newcastle
00:47:42
Speaker
Actually, first of all, it's £58 million in pounds that bid from Bayern. So it's only like £3 million more than Eliana's price. So yeah, it makes sense to up that again. But it's just crazy prices at the moment, isn't it? but Yeah, it's mad.
00:47:58
Speaker
I think if I'm Newcastle, it makes sense that, okay, they tried to get Eketike and then they were like new Liverpool made whatever approach that they did that Newcastle went right. We're keeping Ezeks up.
00:48:10
Speaker
And now Liverpool have someone they spent a lot on. And if Izak goes well this year, they get back into the Champions League. I think then Newcastle are in a position to attract bigger names than they are right now.
00:48:22
Speaker
And people will start actually picking them instead of you know being the second choice for for a lot of players as they were this summer, it seems, which is frustrating, of course. But yeah, I think that that would probably be their goal. Keep Izak, get a Lange in, shop around, see what you can get. If you can't get Wisse, look abroad.
00:48:40
Speaker
spend some of that money that you're willing to spend, keep Ezek happy, and then get back into the Champions League. and But an outgoing then at Newcastle to look at his lead seemed to have an agreement to sign Sean Longstaff.
00:48:54
Speaker
He's in his last 12 months of his deal, 27 years of age. Apparently it's going to be £12 million pounds plus £3 million more pounds in achieving achievable add-ons. and so that's ah i think it's a decent one for Leeds I don't think Newcastle were able to use him that much especially in that midfield which is brilliant I don't think there's a place for him there so I like him for Leeds I think he's a good player I think so too and I think it's what Leeds are doing is smart and i'm bringing in someone like loads of Premier League experience and Really, really solid. He'll get into that midfield and play 32 Premier League games from next season and you like he won't drop below a 6.5 out of 10.
00:49:31
Speaker
yeah I think he's really solid. I don't think he was any longer at Newcastle's level of pushing to the league. So like I think it is time for him to go and try his hand elsewhere and I think Leeds a good move for him.
00:49:43
Speaker
Yeah, no, I agree. Definitely. and um I think then the last... A couple of bits that were coming out today, we've already mentioned it, but just to cover it off is that Ornstein reported that Newcastle were kind of looking at WISA, and then a few hours later, the report came that United put in a bid of £65 million pounds plus £5 million pounds in add-ons for Mbumo. So they've moved up from their previous bid, I think, by like £5 million.
00:50:11
Speaker
um I think £65 million is what Brentford wanted first. Now apparently they want £70 million. So I think this is a happy medium because they've seen the prices of other players and they've said, they're driving a very hard bargain. It's been a long negotiation, but I think this is going to get it done.
00:50:28
Speaker
And as a United fan, I really hope it is because if those, if Cunha and him are in the squad for preseason, then we have time to just sell the other guys as the summer progresses and maybe replace them later in the summer. But we don't play in that many competitions. At least now we've added goals.
00:50:43
Speaker
And I'm happy as as long as we start getting rid of people now after after this, if we get Mbouma on. Yeah, and it's been such a long negotiation, but it's very non-United like to kind of keep pushing the post. But again, they're going to end up paying exactly what Brentford asked for.
00:51:00
Speaker
I think it's a lot of money, but it's also, again, as we just said with Alanga, like the market numbers this summer crazy. So 65 million is probably just price for probably a fair enough price for him. If Alanga is 55 and then yeah, Kuda's 55. Like he is better than both of them. So yeah it probably should be 65 million, 70 million for him.
00:51:22
Speaker
Yeah. i think it's when you look at it that way and if he adds goals and his if his add-ons are scoring related or qualifying for European competition related then it'll be worthwhile if you actually have to pay that extra anyway so yeah no problem with that at the end and I'm happy that they kind of worked on the negotiation over time and saw different things unfold rather than panic like previously so I'm not too annoyed at that but let's move on then to our last two NFL teams for this week I'm going to cover another couple so we're going over to the AFC now starting with the AFC East of course so we can
00:51:59
Speaker
Get Shane's Jets covered off.
Jets' Offensive Needs
00:52:01
Speaker
I'll throw all the questions to you with the Jets. So first of all, where do they need to improve most from last season? They just need to be consistent in offense.
00:52:10
Speaker
It was so frustrating watching them last season at times where the amount of four and outs they had in a row at one stage it was just crazy. They just couldn't get the ball to hand at all.
00:52:21
Speaker
Hopefully Justin Fields can link up now with... the money man, Wilson, and hopefully Sauce Gardner, the other money man, can do a bit on the defence and then just keep him on the hit, keep him on the field and just try and get bit more coherent.
00:52:36
Speaker
Fields and Wilson played together in college, so hopefully that can be a bit of a... a long shot now, but a chase and burrow situation maybe, if we're really, really lucky. So we'll have to wait and see. I know that's completely and utterly ridiculous talk, but they played together in college. Hopefully they can build on the relationship they had then and hopefully just just get me out of my seats.
00:52:58
Speaker
Yeah. very yeah yeah As a Jets fan, you have to be hoping for something. And yeah, that's ah something to hang your hat on, I guess, that they played together in college. Sometimes that works out well, but I've gone with stability at the quarterback position is something that they've not had for as long as I can remember and if you can even get like eight 70 or 80 percent stability out of fields where 80 percent of games he plays solid quarterback and he does well he runs it when he needs to and he makes throws when he needs to you're gonna have bad games from him we've seen it in the past but if he can he knows he's the starter he's in a new position or a new team should I say if he can kind of
00:53:36
Speaker
ease into that and give you 70 or 80% stability of that position. You know you you won't have to change it and midway through the year and I think that's something that mean a lot and help the Jets a lot.
00:53:47
Speaker
But um hundred eight players three players then on the team that make the biggest impact for you. So Sauce Gardner had to get dropped in here because the money they're after giving him.
00:53:58
Speaker
He needs to prove now that if he's going to be the highest paid cornerback of all time, then he needs to be the best cornerback of all time. and Obviously, he's not going to be, but he needs to just get back to his ah season the one form.
00:54:11
Speaker
He dropped off a cliff last year like to rest the rest of the did. So hopefully he can get back to some sort of form that made him a pro bowler um in his rookie season. and and Then we have Wilson. Again, it's the two lads are getting paid. If you're not bringing them up in your tree to make the biggest impact, then are you going to mention them? Back with his college quarterback. and If it works out for the two of them, then it's huge.
00:54:32
Speaker
Again, it's a massive contract I've given him. It's hard to trade away if they want to do that. He needs to hit the ground running this year and get touchdowns after touchdowns after touchdowns. And finally, Quinan Williams, and the anchor of the defence.
00:54:47
Speaker
he's His form with it returned a good bit last year and he needs keep that up now and kind of just be the leader of the defence because they seem to be losing a loss kind of around him, but they're keeping him. So he needs to be the one that steps up and gets everyone going.
00:55:00
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. No, three good shouts. I went with Sauce as well. I said he needs to be better and prove, like you said, why he is the highest paid cornerback in the NFL and in NFL history.
00:55:12
Speaker
yeah It's a big thing to step up to. He has a big ego. He backs himself a lot. So he needs to to do that in the right way now. And I think the way they've gone about this season with getting Aaron Glennon, I think that will help on the defensive side. And I think that will help the likes of Sass. So I hope he does because he's after getting paid. So he needs to back it up.
00:55:34
Speaker
Then Armand Membo, seventh pick in the first round this year. i think... There's always been trouble with the defensive line for the Jets. It's actually been not as bad last year. And I think adding him to this as well, he's very mobile for the size of him. So I think that'll be helpful and that'll help Fields as well.
00:55:53
Speaker
And then the third one I went for was mill Will McDonald. Third season in the league, and another defensive-minded head coach, which has worked with him so far and seems to work with the Jets defensively when they have a defensive-minded head coach.
00:56:08
Speaker
Like with Salah, they did really well on the defensive side of things. And I think they just needed a better ah offensive coordinator in that position. But I i think now another defensive-minded head coach, 10.5 sacks last year for McDonald. I think he's going to improve on that again. So I really like him.
00:56:24
Speaker
And I think, yeah, he can be good along that line with Williams, as you mentioned. So I think they're two important players and two guys who can really be stars if they pan out. so Yeah, i agree with all of them that.
00:56:37
Speaker
Yeah, six and a half wins then? What do you think? um Over. I'm always going to go over. New head coach, new quarterback. Extending their best players. It really is time now to just do something.
00:56:51
Speaker
For one to be better at putting it. If they come out of this season again with a losing record after giving all that money, drafting really well, bringing in the new head coach, then it's just, it's complete and utter shambles.
00:57:03
Speaker
They have to be winning more than they lose this year. Yeah. Yeah, I think I went with over as well. I think they're going to get a couple of extra wins after adding a new head coach from last year. I think that they're going to be better. So I think they will get over.
00:57:18
Speaker
and What was it last year? Six wins? Six, yeah. Yeah, so I think they can get seven or eight at least. So looking at the ceiling and then, what did you have? Super Bowl.
00:57:30
Speaker
No, I'm only joking. I'm only joking. really hope they can just push for a playoff. If they can get out and over 500 records, that would be such a bonus. But just trying to get back in the playoffs would be great. 12 wins with a bit of luck.
00:57:46
Speaker
Jesus. 12 wins. We'll see. with with with With a lot of luck. Super Bowl is more realistic than 12 wins. think I think give kids they can if they can just push for a wildcard game, then its it's a good season. Yeah.
00:58:01
Speaker
I think, like you say, you want the playoff appearance and that over 500 record as well. like Those things are going to have to go hand in hand. So if you get if you got over 500, that's kind of the only way you're going to get into the playoffs in the East or in the AFC, should I say.
00:58:19
Speaker
it seems like, in any side of things. But I think, yeah, I think I went with nine wins, and that's with the caveat that if the Dolphins are useless, they'll get nine wins.
00:58:33
Speaker
I think if the Dolphins are like really good, I think it's going to be hard. um But I think, yeah, that could be two easy wins there if the Dolphins are bad. So, yeah, let's see what happens there. But I don't think they can get any more than nine personally, but As a fan, you're going to have to whack your team. so I do think the 6.5 is too low, though.
00:58:53
Speaker
Yeah, it is definitely too low. So then, moving on to the big dogs in the AFC East in the Bills.
Buffalo Bills Analysis
00:58:59
Speaker
For where they need to improve most from last season, I said that Shakir needs to be a true wide receiver one for them. and They can spread the ball out just fine. like There's no problem. They can spread it around. They show they're a good enough team to get to the AFC Championship game doing that.
00:59:17
Speaker
But teams always need their main man and he's not wide receiver one yet. And let's see if he can get there. Yeah, do the same thing, that they need to find a wide receiver one and stick with him.
00:59:29
Speaker
Whether it be Shakir, which um I think he probably will be going into the season, we'll have to wait and see how he pans out. But he needs to have a consistent number one target that he knows he can go to. um And he just doesn't seem to have that at the moment.
00:59:44
Speaker
Yeah, I know that that's a sore point for... and Their GM, Billy Bean, I think is his name. Or Brandon Bean, sorry. Billy Bean is from Moneyball. Moneyball, but moneyba yeah But yeah, he's like... I think he went on Buffalo Radio after the draft and they complained something about not drafting like a wide receiver on that station the day before.
01:00:10
Speaker
And he just lost his mind and tore into them saying like how would they just want... to some bad language but yeah that's just saying that they were a non-stop whinging that you know things things weren't working out and that they didn't have a wide receiver one and last year it worked out just fine they got the afc championship game so that's a sore point for him but sometimes that's where you hear the most truth and i'd say he probably knows himself that they probably do need a wide receiver one um definitely yeah so the three most important players on their team to make the biggest impact who did you have here
01:00:42
Speaker
um Josh Allen goes without saying, one of the best quarterbacks in the league. I know we we like when we started off, we weren't going to these obvious players, but it's really hard to pick three players that are going to make the biggest impact and leave him out. He's just incredible.
01:00:56
Speaker
I have the other boss, Joey. um I think he is an unbelievable bit of business for him. Absolutely incredible. He's going to add so much pressure. And their defence was a bit of a sticky point last year, so having him in there...
01:01:08
Speaker
is really going to help. It'll work out unbelievable. Yeah, exactly. And then Traverius White as well, another a great signing, plays in the secondary. they just They really needed a lot of help in defence. It was up there as well with my things they need to improve from last year and yeah because I didn't think there was a need to bring it up then when i'd like bringing in the two of them, bringing in Bosa and bringing in White is a big step along the way to stop them conceding so many points.
01:01:31
Speaker
Yeah, I think getting in White is a really, really good corner and I think they they made a good move doing that but I think that Bosa will work out very well if they if they if they can keep him on the field. and Last year they relied a lot on like interceptions and turnovers and stuff like that, which doesn't always work all the time. so yeah It's a good point to say that their defense probably does need to improve overall. and That's probably why I've mentioned two defensive guys here. First was Greg Russo.
01:01:59
Speaker
Eight sacks last year, heading into his fifth year in the NFL. I think he's so important. I think he's so talented and I really like him on this team and with AJ Finesa along that line as well. I think Caruso is just superb for them.
01:02:12
Speaker
um And then I also went with Matt Milano. um He's kind of the heart of the defense there at safety or linebacker, depending on where he plays. he's He's restructured in a kind of what seems to me like a bet on yourself kind of deal because he had two years left. It's been restructued restructured into a one-year deal.
01:02:32
Speaker
and He wasn't healthy at all the last couple of years, but its it's like I think it saves the team money. But it also is like he needs to prove himself this year if he wants to get another contract now after this.
01:02:43
Speaker
And I think he will have a good year because I think he's very good. on my And whenever he's on the field, he I think he usually is the guy who spies on Patrick Mahomes. He watches him when they play the Chiefs and stuff like that. So that's obviously really important in the AFC.
01:02:56
Speaker
And then third one, also went for Josh Allen. I said the same thing that we don't usually pick quarterbacks or things that are too obvious, but he's the MVP and everything that this team is about is is is Josh Allen. So he has to be the answer here.
01:03:10
Speaker
Looking at the wins then, 12 and a half. I thought this was really high. 13 wins last year was was very good. And a team with an only receiver one, I'm just going to have to say no. I don't think that they can get 12 and a half.
01:03:26
Speaker
wins i don't think they can get 13 again i think it's i just think it's too tough maybe 12 at max maybe 11 yeah yeah it's a mad line i yeah mean the 10 to 12 bracket as well i don't see him getting 13 again a lot went dry from last year to get 13 and and all they just do is drop one game to be below that line and the line is mad yeah yeah it's it's it's very high i think it's the highest in the league right now and There's a good few your teams on 11.5, and I think the Bills have teetered between the two, and it seems like they're on 12.5 right now at the moment, which is madness. But yeah, there are no twelve they're they're mostly a 12-win team, you know similar bo as the Jets, as you would say.
01:04:07
Speaker
But let's look at their ceiling then for the current roster and the coach. What do you think? I think they're a serious Super Bowl contender again. and With their signings and their defence, if they can get their offence clicking the way they did last year,
01:04:21
Speaker
nail down a wide receiver one, then they're definitely right up there in the conversation for Super Bowl. I don't think I'm breaking any ground here by saying that, to be honest with you. I think everyone knows where they are and where they're going.
01:04:32
Speaker
um I just think they're still one of the best teams in the league. Yeah, I said Super Bowl as well. I think there's no reason why they can't win it. I love either the Emerg or the Ravens in the AFC. I think they're within touching distance now, and one of them I think will get over the line at least to get into the game this year, in my opinion, but that's Let's see.
01:04:51
Speaker
Those fans will be hoping and they'll theyll be hoping they finally get a Super Bowl ring because they've never had one, which is madness for such a history franchise. Let's move on then to the draft for this week and wrap it up on that.
Strikers Draft Debate
01:05:05
Speaker
This week we've gone with the best current strikers in world football. so Last week I think it was me that went first. Yeah, it was. so It's up to you this week. I'm I'm happy you to go first again if you want. know there are two picks in a row.
01:05:22
Speaker
No, no, no. It's up to you. Rock away. Okay. I'm going to go with the obvious and take Ernie Haaland. How can you not? How can you not? He just an absolute scores goals for fun.
01:05:37
Speaker
He's so many goals already at 25 years of age. he's He's going to top 1,000 goals. He is the best stroke in the world. Well, looking at this, looking at this I actually had him second.
01:05:51
Speaker
My number one ranked overall. No, Kylian Mbappe. I had him number one. I just think he's just a complete package. Again, sometimes he doesn't play up front, but he is a striker.
01:06:05
Speaker
Originally, he is a number nine. And most of the time he does play there for real Madrid. So I think just his level on the ball, the things he can do, the performances he put in in that World Cup, scoring a hat-trick in the World Cup Final, it's just unbelievable what he can do. and While he started off quietly last year, he still had an excellent season.
01:06:27
Speaker
I think he's only going to get better. and then My next pick, you just mentioned him, Harry Kane. That's why I wanted to to keep my second position here. I was not giving that up because yeah taking two guys out of Kane, Haaland, and Mbappe, I think they're clear above everybody else by by a bit of a distance. so I've gone by Mbappe and then Harry Kane second.
01:06:48
Speaker
Yeah, so they were my top three as well. I had Haaland, Mbappe, Kane. You had obviously Mbappe, Haaland, Kane. In my fourth spot, I had Blithorio Martinez. I just think think he's absolutely quality. I think he's just a really, really good striker.
01:07:05
Speaker
And then in my third spot, I am going to put in Mr. Alex Ilec himself after the last few seasons he's had for Newcastle. Yeah, just lethal when it's in the Premier League as well, it makes a big difference, I think.
01:07:16
Speaker
and I actually had Martinez as well on my list, but a bit further down. Izak was my next one. So I'll go with my next two then at this point. Back to Serie A, Robert Lewandowski.
01:07:29
Speaker
Just complete striker. When you think about strikers, he's just unbelievable. like he He can finish pretty much any chance. He's getting older now, but There's not been a year that he hasn't put out mad numbers.
01:07:43
Speaker
Like from Dortmund to Bayern and now to Barca. Last year he had a super season. He was just feeding off Rafinha and Jamal the whole time. it was And Jamal, it was working perfectly for him.
01:07:55
Speaker
So yeah, I think he's still up there with the best of the best in the world as a proper striker. And then next I went with Victor Osherman. I know he went to Galatasaray last year and he was kind of in a league that not many people watch, but He was putting out numbers there, his pace, his ability on the ball. He has everything for a striker.
01:08:14
Speaker
He's just so good. I think I couldn't leave him any longer. So they're my next two picks. and You did say Lewandowski was in Serie A, but he is in La Liga, as you mentioned. that yeah Yeah, because if we when you're like, I'm going to back to Serie I was like, on earth is left in Serie A? But yeah, i think you were obviously Oshman on your mind. I am surprised.
01:08:35
Speaker
I am surprised it's just that it wasn't in your top four. I'm going to pay Julian Alvarez. Yeah, he's next on my list. The man is a monster. I think he's absolutely superb. And with nothing he can't do. He can play in the hole. he can play up top. He can play anywhere, really.
01:08:49
Speaker
And in my fifth spot, I'm going to try one. And if it doesn't work, then I'll go for another one. Can I have Ousmane Dembele considering he played all season as a striker for PSG? Yeah, go on. I'll give it to you.
01:09:01
Speaker
I was thinking about him, but I was like, nah, he's not he's not a striker. But yeah, you can make the argument that he is because he plays there a lot for them. So yeah, I can't. but Yeah, I give that one to you. and Well, it's there's not much say about him. What a season he has.
01:09:15
Speaker
What a season he has in general. I know they ran out of steam in the final there, but... The travel 10 with me for the first time walloped from the team left, right and center. And he was one of the key components of us.
01:09:27
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. I think, yeah, I think that's a good shout. The next, the next person on my list is left, but I kind of want to pick my last, the last guy I had at number 10, just because know it's going to annoy you. So yeah, I'm going to go with Cristiano Ronaldo as my last pick.
Ronaldo's Record and Comparisons
01:09:46
Speaker
Let's go with Cristiano. Striker. lighting it up over in Saudi. Now, to be fair, he's playing in a hopeless league, but the number of goals, the sheer number of goals he's scored over the years, and playing through the middle as well.
01:10:01
Speaker
And then, let's not forget what he's doing with Portugal still. He's scoring pretty much a goal a game for Portugal against top countries around the world, and he's playing up top at, what, 38 years of age?
01:10:13
Speaker
I'm sorry to Ollie Watkins, who's left on my list. I'm going have to go with Ronaldo here, because just More so than anything because, you know, I just love him and had to throw him in there. And apologies for saying Serie A earlier. I didn't even realise I said it.
01:10:27
Speaker
I meant to say La Liga, but anyway. this is This is a bit like Michael picking LeBron in the future of the NBA draft. Now you put Ronaldo into this. I hope Michael listens to this and has a goal with you because abuse you gave him that time. I'm going to let you away with it because...
01:10:42
Speaker
He's clearly very good. If I was putting one of the two of me in, it would have been Messi because he's now playing as a striker as well. So I'll let you have Ronaldo, I suppose. You see, Messi's scoring 10 goals in five games.
01:10:53
Speaker
Yeah, which are like, you know, what they're doing over there. I know, it's another hopeless league. It's absolutely, it's a
League Competitiveness Debate
01:10:59
Speaker
joke. Like, 10 lovely finishes in five games is just a bit silly, though. Some of the goals, though, like, it's all one or to just, like, basically pass the striker to Suarez and you square it to him. It's like, what is this? Yeah.
01:11:10
Speaker
Or the one where all the defenders are basically sitting on the floor waiting for him to just go around him like cones as well as another one. They just want him to break records over there. But at least in Saudi, there's at least a few other decent players.
01:11:23
Speaker
don't think there's anyone really much more
Final Player Selections and Farewell
01:11:26
Speaker
talking about in MLS. But I think the one thing I will say for myself on this situation is that I wouldn't pick Ronaldo in a next five years draft, whereas Michael would pick LeBron. In 10 years' time, he would still pick him.
01:11:40
Speaker
But yeah, yeah that's that's my five. Mbappe, Harry Kane, Robert Lewandowski, Victor Oshman and Cristiano Ronaldo. And I have Erli Halland, Pletoro Martinez, Alex Iyak, Julian Alvarez and Ousmane Dembele.
01:11:55
Speaker
Beautiful stuff. So that's another episode for you lads. Like, subscribe, share, all that good stuff. Another long one. Hopefully you enjoyed it and chat to you again next week.