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Crossover vs Brentford - can City maintain momentum?
14 Plays8 days ago
Episode 64, Daily Manchester City - Jack joins Daniel from Daily Brentford to discuss their strange home vs away form and some standout players.
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Transcript
Crossover Episode Introduction
00:00:10
Speaker
Hello and welcome to the listeners of both the Daily Brantford and the Daily Man City Podcast. We get together ahead of our meeting at the GTech on Tuesday evening. That means I am joined by Jack from the Daily Man City Podcast. How are we feeling ahead of it, mate?
00:00:27
Speaker
Yeah, you know what? I actually got the notification on my phone about the preparations for the match tomorrow. For whatever reason, I thought this game was at the weekend and it feels like it's hit me like a ton of bricks that is literally on Tuesday nights, tomorrow. and It's a bit of a daunting one. Yes, it always a busy one ah at um the Global
Brentford's Challenges and Performances
00:00:47
Speaker
Sports Podcast. now and We have two games in a week and I think that also contributed to Brentford.
00:00:52
Speaker
Not really putting out a full side against Plymouth at the weekend and going out of the f FA Cup, unfortunately. I'm sure we'll come to all of that in a minute. Just before we get going, guys, we're a brand new company, so we're like looking for your support of both podcasts and all the others across the network. this Whether this is a five star review on your favourite podcasting platform or a recommendation to your friends, we are very grateful for any support that we receive.
00:01:18
Speaker
So let's get into it. And normally for part one of the podcast, we hand over to our visitors on Tuesday night. So this is your chance to shine, Jack, and get the lowdown for all the city fans on Brentford ahead of the game. So what have you got for me? Well, what I want to know first and foremost is Brentford for me are the most impressive team in the Premier League at home. and Up until recently, you were the best performing team at home.
00:01:45
Speaker
You've been overtaken by this rampant Liverpool team and as of recently, but you're still second in that home table. However, on the flip side of it, when it comes to away form, away from home, Brentford sit in the so-called relegation zone, and only five points away from home, level with the likes of Leicester City above only Southampton.
00:02:07
Speaker
What on earth is going on
Analyzing Brentford's Form and Fixtures
00:02:09
Speaker
there? How can you be this absolutely dominant steamrolling team at home that that all the top teams are genuinely afraid and to come to you and play at your ground, and yet when you come away from home, you're a little bit mousy, you're a little bit scared. The performance is not quite clicking the same. What's going on with that kind of disparity between a home and away form? Yeah, you're you're not the first team to ask us that either.
00:02:35
Speaker
I would say, first of all, the the biggest influence, I think, is probably the fixture list itself. yeah I mean, if you look at Brent for start to this season, I think our first, in in no particular order, our away games, um roughly, were Liverpool away, yourselves away, Tottenham away, ah Manchester United away,
00:02:58
Speaker
and we got to about October I think before we played a non big six side away and that was even Fulham who are I would say ah a pretty good solid home team themselves so I think On the flip side, if you look at our home games, we've beaten Wolves, Ipswich, Southampton, Palace, Leicester, all of which we haven't been to away from home yet. Apart from Southampton last week, we won 5-0. So, I would suggest it will even out. I think we will be slightly better at home, as most teams are.
00:03:36
Speaker
But I think if we look at this again at the end of the season, I think it will even out. I think away at Southampton um last week, as I said, we won five nil and we look really, really good. um So I don't think there is a reason that we can't perform away from home. We've shown that we can.
00:03:56
Speaker
um Obviously that this week we've got you guys on Tuesday and Liverpool at home on Saturday so our home form will probably drop and our away form will probably get better so i like i I do just think that is probably the answer just the way the fixes have fallen in the first half of the season. Yeah so over the course of the season you're yeah you're hoping it'll sort of even itself out towards the end of it yeah. <unk>d I'd hope so because Well if it doesn't we're either going to get some really good results at home against the likes of yourselves potentially and Liverpool at the weekend or we we're going to really struggle because if we don't get those results and we continue to struggle away from home um that will mean that we go to the likes of Leicester, Ipswich, Wolves, Palace and and don't pick up points then you know there is enough there is a slight
Brentford's Key Players and Potential Stars
00:04:49
Speaker
chance that we can still be dragged into a bit of trouble but
00:04:53
Speaker
I would like to think we haven't we have enough points to to stay away from that and I think we can do a job um away from home against you know teams that we can consider ourselves to be on par with and I think we can get points just like we did against Southampton. We we didn't seem to have any nerves about approaching that game. we you know If that game was at the G-Tech last week, everyone would be saying, oh, look, Brentford has scored five at home again. and And they're doing really, really well there, but they can't play away. So I do think it is more just the games. I think even if you think the away games this season,
00:05:27
Speaker
I think we've been a bit unfortunate at times in terms of against ah the the biggest teams, not necessarily getting a result, even one result here or there. um We took the lead against City and the Etihad. We took the lead against Tottenham. We took the lead against Manchester United. We've just had a bit of trouble seeing that out and staying on and staying on top or in the game for 90 minutes, um which has let us down this season.
00:05:52
Speaker
Yeah. All right. Next question from, from my end is of course, there's a few big names that can be thrown about and, and and some obvious ones at that, but I want to know from you, perhaps maybe as somebody watches Brentford week in, week out, if you're seeing little bits that we aren't seeing, what of course we're only seeing, you know, the match today is the highlights. We see the Brian and Womos, we see the Johan wishes.
00:06:15
Speaker
what Well, who for you has been your player of the season? and You know, maybe trying to stay clear of the two obvious names in that strike partnership up top. Who's impressed you the most this season and that maybe hasn't got all the plaudits? I think my player of the season, even if I was to include those that you mentioned, I would say Micah Dam's God, I think. I was just about to say. He has started to get a bit of a mention on Match of the Day and he is starting to get recognised a little bit more in wider spheres. but I think that the thing with him is he had that breakout euros I think in 2021 or 2022 now. While he was still playing in Italy, yeah. Yes, yeah. And he he scored the free kick against England in that Euro semi-final for Denmark, um which obviously England went on to win. um He essentially replaced Dam's guard.
00:07:05
Speaker
He essentially replaced Ericsson, sorry, in that um Denmark squad because obviously that was a tournament where... And essentially replaced Ericsson in that Brentford squad as well. Yes, yes, he he's done that as well, he's done that as well, but not straight away, that that's the thing. He um got a serious injury with Sam Doria after those Euros, he took took a while to recover from that.
00:07:27
Speaker
I think straight after the US is linked with Barcelona and you know one injury later he doesn't really play much for a year and then we're able to get him even then it took him more a little while to adapt to the Premier League he looked perhaps a little bit lightweight initially and but this season he is looking really really good and everything we do goes through him in terms of going forward, I think the fact that Wisser and Mbuma have got so many goals owes a lot to him. yeah but The way he progresses a ball and the way he creates chances for the both of them, I think only Salah and Saka have got more assists than him in the Premier League this season.
00:08:11
Speaker
and And again, playing for a team like Brentford, I don't think that can be underestimated because you know we we won't have as much of the ball as you know or create as many chances as he likes Liverpool and Arsenal. So I think he will be recognised more soon, but I think he has definitely been our best player this season. yeah I mean, part of me was kind of hoping that he'd bring up Mikhail Domska because for me, he's been the outstanding player and that I can see when I watched Brentford and completely everything that you've just said about him in previous years struggling. I did used to watch him and think he did look a little bit lightweight. But the one compliment I can give to him this season is that he just looks comfortable. He looks like he knows what his role is in this Brentford side. And, you know, you you look at players in certain teams and
00:08:58
Speaker
You watch them and the whole game just happens around them. And Damsgard is definitely one of them players. In fact, I said to my dad a couple of weeks ago, if Mikkel Damsgard and Brian and Buemo both had full hair lines, they would be 60, 70 mil price tags. But the fact that they look ah so much older than they are, it just for some reason, there's not a lot of noise around them. Obviously now when Buemo is kind of perking everyone's ears out. But even he's only 25.
00:09:27
Speaker
Michael Dammsgaard's 24 and they both looked like they had a pretty tough paper on. So and yeah, for me, Michael Dammsgaard's been and the outstanding player. I think it will come for Dammsgaard in terms of interest from others. I think he probably needs to do it for a little bit longer. And I think playing for a team like Brentford, it probably also does take you a little bit longer to get noticed. but Yeah, in terms of his role, he's basically got a free role in the side. He can drift, you know, you he may be centrally on paper, but he will drift right and left and he will, he will get in those spaces and he will, if we can get him on the ball and get him, you know, unleashing Wisser and Mbuma going forwards, then I think we can cause anybody problems. And I think that's why he's been so good this season. And even in terms of.
00:10:13
Speaker
hes He's just quite tenacious now as well. He he will get in there, he'll put a foot in, he'll win an interception and he will instantly just look look to go forwards and I don't think, I think that's quite rare I think actually, especially for like a mid-table team to have a player like that who's is always so positive and always looking to drive forwards. It reminds me a little bit about Bernardo Silva in that regard. So tenacious but always very creative. and But my final question for you in this little part is, every year I feel like Brentford emerged a player for a name that no one's heard of. I feel like and Buemo and Johan Wisser came in successive years. Of course, after that breakout there that you came to the Premier League, it was Ivan Tony. This year, I feel like it's very much Kevin Sade. I think he's been kind of really starting to make his name known. and I want to know, is there anyone else right that maybe isn't getting headlines at the moment, maybe it maybe isn't getting a lot of minutes in that Brentford squad or set up that we should maybe invest some stocks in for next season or the season after you you think he's really going to explode?
00:11:19
Speaker
I think there's there's not necessarily anyone on the fringes who aren't quite in the team who I think could potentially come into team and really explode the next year or two. But I think that there are some in the team who I think in a few years time, we could also be talking about potentially moving to, you know, a top six club or potentially getting the headlines that and boom, I was getting and obviously c Dam's guard is currently starting to get as well. I think Nathan Collins at center back. I think he's a very he's a very young center back still.
00:11:48
Speaker
I think he's only 22 or 23 and centre backs in general tend to mature a bit later in their careers. There's not too many young centre backs around that we all you know think of, whereas sometimes in more attacking areas you get players emerge at an earlier age. I think Collins has been one of our most consistent players this season. He's consistently very, very good. He is our best defender now, I would say, um even including Ethan Pinnock in that, who's been our best defender.
00:12:18
Speaker
probably over the last five or six years, um he is really growing. I think last season, he was either very, very good or very, very bad. And there wasn't much in between. Whereas this season, he's become more and more consistent. um So I do think he could be one in a few years that bigger teams look at and think he's homegrown as well. So that also helps. um But if they need another setback option, they might look at someone like him.
00:12:46
Speaker
and He's injured at the moment, but Aaron Hickey is also a very young fullback. He's been injured for a very long time, unfortunately. I think Citi might have been linked with him in the past. I was going to say that name does ring a bell. and I've been very impressed with Hickey when I last seen him. But yeah, i don't I can't remember what the extent of that injury was. I do remember him getting injured.
00:13:08
Speaker
It's a hamstring, but it's got like he's had a few surgeries and it's not right in the griner situation. Yes. And he's been out. He's not played now for well over a year, um which is very disappointing for him. He's a young player, but he had started playing first team football in Scotland at about 17 years old. And he had then fit in a couple of years out in Italy.
00:13:34
Speaker
before signing for Brentford. So he had he had come to Brentford with a lot of experience for such a young player. He's two footed, so he can play on the left or the right, which is probably something that would appeal to City as well. I think, again, if he can get himself back fit and if he can have a good few years um with Brentford, again, yeah he could see links again with um with more of the topsides, I think. Absolutely.
00:13:57
Speaker
so That will do it for part one. And after the break, I will be turning the tables and asking questions um of Jack ahead of the game on Tuesday night. Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spend a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencaster came out the clear winner.
00:14:26
Speaker
With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster. Every club. Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:14:51
Speaker
Hello and welcome to part two of your midweek crossover ahead of Brentford versus Manchester City in midweek.
Manchester City's Current Struggles
00:15:01
Speaker
So in part two it is my turn to pose the all-important questions to Jack ahead of the big game. So I'm sure you've been asked about this a lot this season as well but much has been made of City's relative drop-off this season.
00:15:17
Speaker
which from the outside appeared quite sudden so because if we if we think back, you were up there near the top of the Premier League not too long ago this season. So in your in your opinion, what is the cause of this? And now with three wins in a row and 14 goals scored in that time, albeit eight of those are scored at the weekend, our city back now.
00:15:42
Speaker
Well, to be honest with you, it all depends for me on how the next few weeks go. We've already at this point got two or three signings that look relatively done and dusted, obviously just need to finalise a couple of extra details. But to answer the first part of your question, what do I think it was down to?
00:16:00
Speaker
I say this to everyone that asked me this question. It was a complete culmination of a lot of things. It was a cacophony of errors and injuries and aging squad and all of these things that kind of just toppled all at once. Pep Guardiola has come out in in press conferences and media in recent years and and and said how much he loves a smaller squad. That's all well and good when that small squad is completely fit, but such as football injuries happen. We just happen to have a quite unlucky season, but it happens to everyone and this is what happens when you've got a small squad.
00:16:37
Speaker
In addition to, I think we've had about 18, 17 or 18 individual injuries since the start of the season. That includes massively long-term ones like Rodry's ACL, Oscar Bob ah like braing breaking his leg in training at the start of the season, what would have been a breakout season for him. ah Kevin De Bruyne has had a massively long-term hamstring injury and that he's only just starting to ease back into.
00:17:04
Speaker
Ruben Diaz, John Stones, all been out for long periods of time, as well as Nathan Akay, who's been playing through injury for the past two months now. So it's a cacophony of errors. It's just a culmination of a lot of things, and that's what it can be put down to. But if you look at the squad that we've got at the moment, not only is it small, it's the fourth average, fourth highest, or fourth oldest, sorry, average squad in the Premier League. And we're now talking about our captain, Kyle Walker,
00:17:33
Speaker
I'm one of our most senior players leaving in a January transfer window. That's pretty unheard of for most teams going through a rut like this. It is starting to look a bit better. and It is starting to look a lot better. But if you look at the games that we've won, those three in a row, other than Salford, who like you said, half of them goals came against, you know, Leicester and West Ham. and I was at both the Salford and West Ham games. Leicester and West Ham, we did not play well. We did not play really that great at all the scorelines massively flattered us in fact Leicester were much better than us throughout West Ham started the first half they could have been about three nil up and it just so happened that those goals didn't go in on another day they might have so the the the signs is still there that we're playing poorly but I just think that those three wins back to back to back are giving us enough kick on
00:18:26
Speaker
to go and keep up this pace and keep grinding out these wins that maybe we don't deserve so much so that we can get this squad through the January transfer window, replenish it, and then we might start playing a little bit better as well as getting the wins. So are we back? I think we might be. I think it's possible.
00:18:44
Speaker
Yeah, I guess the difficulty with the city squad as well is it's not just the age of the players. It's the fact that your players, most of them would have been at the Euros, so they wouldn't have had much time off. You've been challenging for most competitions that you've entered in the last two or three years. So if anyone's going to be affected by um the increased calendar and um you know suffer injuries as a result of that or burnout by by this period after City have been challenging for so long. I guess it is aging City players who have have been through it all for so many years.
00:19:22
Speaker
Yeah, I also think on top of that point, that it's it's possible that it gets worse for us before it gets better. Because if you look at where we are in the Champions League table now, we're on the cusp of the second eight that qualify. So either we go out, which for me would probably be a preferable situation at this point, or we um go through in the second eight of the Champions League and play an extra two knockout games added to our calendar we're only out of the ah EFL Cup at the moment so we're still in every competition so the calendar is still looking unfavorable for us and we've still got a massive chunk of players going through repeat strenuous injuries so until we've got you know a full-fit squad or we can go through a run of five to ten games where we have
00:20:10
Speaker
and you know relatively injury free, then I think it's possible that it could get worse for us before it gets better. And it all depends on how these young players that we're getting in the January transfer window come in and hit the ground running really.
00:20:23
Speaker
Yeah, should take a leaf out of our book. We've only got 18 games left this season. All of the Premier League. Nothing else to worry about. A couple of weeks um in a few weeks when the fourth round takes place. So what are City's aims then for this season? I guess you've had to reset that and um look at it in terms of.
00:20:43
Speaker
maybe just getting into the Champions League this season and then how does that affect next season as well and obviously Pep Guardiola. Until not very long ago there was rumours about him potentially leaving the club. He did sign a new deal. How much longer do you expect him to stay as well at City? I think he'll do a full 10 years. I think once he's done a full 10 years, which I think is at the end of his extension because he signed a year plus one,
00:21:08
Speaker
Oh, he might be staying for 11 years, actually. say But I think he'll do what the end of this current extension that he signed. I think you'll see that out. And then I think he'll leave in terms of our aims for the rest of the season. Now, although it looks bad, like I said, we are only out of one competition. I don't think the Champions League is feasible. I don't think we've got a Champions League run in us at the moment. and I think it's just a different ball game in terms of mentality and fitness. You have to be on top of both everything completely, mentally and physically.
00:21:38
Speaker
to prepare for the Champions League and you have to have kind of a momentum that's really built up during the group stage and of course it's different this year but the premise in there and the platform is still the same and you have to build up that mentality from the start and we just don't have that behind us at the moment. But I do think it's entirely possible that we could go and win the FA Cup this season especially if we're not in the running for the league necessarily. I would not put it past our team to go and put all our eggs in that basket and you know, the the FA Cup is probably the trophy that we've won the least under Pep Guardiola if you're not counting the Champions League. We've only won it twice. and But it is a fantastic trophy to win. and and And when it comes to the Premier League, okay, it does look bad. We are, I think, fifth or sixth maybe via Newcastle at the moment.
00:22:26
Speaker
One thing I will say, never, ever write a Pep Guardiola Manchester City team off, because these are the times where in previous seasons, we've won every game. We've gone on 15, 16, 17 game win streaks and and won every game for the rest of the season.
00:22:41
Speaker
Do I think it will be enough from this point to win the league? No, I don't think so. I think Liverpool are too smart, too experienced, too professional, um and they'll just completely see out the rest of the season. However, do I think we'll give them something to think about? Absolutely. Absolutely I do. They've still got to come to the Etihad. We've got horrible runner fixtures in February.
00:23:04
Speaker
but if we can get through February and it's looking relatively positive, I don't think there's any any way that you can write us off as as a possibility of at least pushing them right to the final day. I have to hope you win every game from the weekend after this one then. yeah little bit my that was one mli yeah yeah like Last one then, what what does City need in the transfer market and who do you think City should be looking to move on given the age profile of the squad?
00:23:30
Speaker
and Well, to be honest with you, I didn't think we should have moved off moved on anyone in January. It looks like we're now moving Kyle Walker on. and He's getting interest from AC Milan. He said no to the Saudi Pro League already, so he still wants to compete in Europe. but That, for me, is is strange. I understand that he does get a lot of hate from our fanbase, and he's probably sick of it by now, but it looks like he's more in than out at this point.
00:23:55
Speaker
but I think that the business that we've already done and are in the process of doing is fantastic and we've got to know from lands at lawns who's who's coming in to do his medical early this weekend could be done by the time that this is going out.
00:24:11
Speaker
And that fees already been agreed for around 33 million pounds. And I think ah Omar my moosh from entrap Frankfurt looks to be a done enough deal. I think just some formalities left. I think a deal has been agreed. But maybe the you know the the formal proposal hasn't been slid across the table yet. And we're also after A young Brazilian centre-back from the Brazilian league called, I think it's Rhys. He's only 18, but the room is there that he's coming in to immediately play first-team football. That to me looks more like a Kyle Walker replacement because he's a centre-half who can play on that right-hand side. And I think he's kind of maybe wanting to go a little bit back to that treble-winning team where we just had centre-backs all across the pitch.
00:24:56
Speaker
One thing that has surprised me massively though in this window is that there's been very little noise about any names in the midfield. There was some interest right at the start before the the window had opened about Bruno Gramares and Zuby Mendy. Those haven't accelerated since. So I think it's entirely possible that we could be signing all of these centre halves to push a Manuel Akanji or a John Stones into a permanent midfield position as the season kicks on.
00:25:24
Speaker
That for me wouldn't surprise me. I don't think it would be favorable for us. I think John stones is much better in the midfield than manila kanji, but the way it's looking manila kanji is much fitter than John stones. So if we've got maybe five more games left to the season of John stones, then I'm not too sure how it's going to go with, with that midfield, because that is still the big glaring issue. If we get one more name in and it is a midfielder, then I think that we've had pretty much a 10 tenant window.
00:25:53
Speaker
Yeah, especially for Jaguar, I think it's quite unusual. It's unheard of that we would spend this kind of money in January. We're usually a team that gets one marquee signing in January if we're struggling and do a rebuild completely in the summer. That rebuild has been completely fast forwarded and pushed up to January, and we've kind of been forced into this position. But yeah, it's something unheard of for a January transfer window, really.
00:26:15
Speaker
Yeah, I think that's across the board, though, I think if you if a club came from to Brentford now about Brian and Bumo, we'd demand a lot more than we'd demand. You'd pay a premium. Yeah, yeah. Definitely. After the break, then we will be giving out all important score predictions and how we think the game will pan out on Tuesday.
00:26:44
Speaker
The Global Sports Podcast Network is changing the face of football podcasting with daily dedicated daily content for every Premier League team, women's football, fantasy football and a daily Premier League wrap-up broadcast in five different languages. This is your one-stop shop for your daily football fix. Find GSPN wherever you find your usual podcasts.
00:27:07
Speaker
Every Club
00:27:11
Speaker
the Global Sports Podcast Network. Welcome to part three of the midweek crossover episode where we will now give out all important predictions.
Upcoming Match Predictions and Key Factors
00:27:24
Speaker
However, before we do that, how do you think, Jack, the game will be won or lost on Tuesday? Unfortunately, as much as it pains me to say it, I think that it's it's going to be won or lost with that one man.
00:27:37
Speaker
And I think it's going to be the Brian and Wemo turns up and we go home with nothing or he doesn't. And we could possibly get something. and I think the way that our team is clicking at the moment, it's very possible that we could pull a big performance out of the bag and really show us, the you know, the Premier League that we are back now in business. But if that man, that Brian and Wemo turns up.
00:28:01
Speaker
it's it's really difficult for any team to deal with him, especially with the link up that he seems to have with every single Brentford player on the pitch. He is the talisman at the moment, and and everything seems to be going through him. So I think it really might just be a case of if this one player turns up, then we could be looking at a really long day at the office. Yeah, I think if we can be strong on the transitions, and I think that may be an area where City might be slightly weakened anyway,
00:28:28
Speaker
If we can get like to Dam's guard on the ball and then Boomer and Whistle running off him quickly after you've had a spell of possession, then I can see us causing you guys problems and I can see us scoring goals. On the flip side, I think you still have individuals like Erling Hardin, like De Boerino or Foden, whoever else plays.
00:28:47
Speaker
who are quite clearly very, very good players and you know don't need too many chances um to rack up goals themselves. So I definitely think there'll be goals um ah on Tuesday, sorry. um But what I will say is a couple of years ago, I think two seasons ago, we lost on penalties to Gillingham in the Carabao Cup.
00:29:10
Speaker
in I think it was in November before the World Cup and then three days later we went to the Etihad and won 2-1 and that was a game where Ivan Tony scored the winner in the last minute. so Yeah I remember that game it was it was absolutely horrible. I think I just finished the shift at work and I was listening to the last five minutes on the way home in the car and when that I think it must have been 97 minutes gone Ivan so only went up the other end after we'd just been peppering you put with pressure and possession. It was the most typical city performance of all time. But what I will say on that game, and that's been a kind of running theme over the last few years, Brentford comes to the Etihad and it's a very long day for us. But vice versa, when we go to to the G tech, we find it a little bit easier, I think maybe. and I think was it last season, the game where Phil Foden scored that hat trick?
00:30:04
Speaker
Yes, yeah i think i think yeah yeah I think so. So maybe you're avoiding that this season because he's been pretty dross in the Premier League that is. But like you said, individual talent can make or break it. And if if our players turn up, then there's no reason not to think that we can come away with three points. But I do think that we're actually better that at your ground than at our ground against you and vice versa.
00:30:28
Speaker
Yeah, well, in in that treble-winning season, we did win both games, but the second game was a final game of the season when you were preparing for the FA Cup and Champions League finals. But that's a quiz question for years to come. Who did the double on City of the Year? Six-miner, yeah. So what are you going for then? What's your prediction for today? You know what?
00:30:47
Speaker
I think it's going to be, I think like you said, I think it's going to be goals and I do think you will hurt us on transitions, but I feel like it's make or break for City now because we've had three wins on the bounce against poor performances and poor opponents really. So we have to make a statement here on Tuesday night and really put in just a gritty performance where we just breeze past you. And I don't think that's going to be breezing past you without conceding.
00:31:15
Speaker
I think you'll get a couple actually, but I'm going to go for a high scoring 3-2 City win because I have to back my boys and I think it's now or never really. Yeah, absolutely. I'm normally the sensible one on this podcast and I rarely say that we'll beat a team who are technically much better than us. But on this occasion, I think I'm going to back us because of cities vulnerabilities at times. And I know what you mean when you're talking about that West Ham game, it wasn't a four one game West Ham had a lot of shots. And I think with our frontline, I think we do have one of the better attacks in the Premier League, certainly a top half attack in terms of Whistler and Bremo Dabbsguard. I also think you've got one of the better midfield in the league.
00:31:58
Speaker
Yeah, so I think we can hurt you and I think there will be goals and I'm going to go for a repeat of a couple of seasons ago when we got knocked out of the cup to a lower league team and pe beat City a few days later. So I'll go, I'll go 3-2 Brentford. I think it will be an exciting game with goals because like we're not the best defensively either. What we haven't done this season yet is beaten one of the real top teams. I say Newcastle, the only team who are probably better than Brentford on paper, that we've beaten this season. Whereas all of our other wins have come against the teams that we're probably a little bit better than on paper. I've completely forgot, right? And I had to ask this question. I don't know why I've not mentioned him on the pod at all. Is Mark Flecken fully fit?
00:32:45
Speaker
Yes, he's fully fit. He didn't play at the weekend. We're not scoring a goal then. We are not scoring a goal. That man against us every time pulls out the performance of his life. I think in that game that Phil Foden scored a hat-trick in last year, it was one of the best goalkeeping performances I've ever seen. yeah That was actually his turning point as a broke the player, I think, because he struggled initially at the start of last season, obviously replacing David Rare was never going to be easy because He's still probably one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, David rare. So it was never going to be an easy, easy boots to fill. I think we signed him mainly for his ability on the ball as well. A bit like David rare. He's quite comfortable with his feet, but that Manchester city game last season, the one at the G tech, I know, I know which one you're referring to that, that basically turned his Brentford career. I think because he was struggling quite a bit. I think he was a bit low on confidence before then.
00:33:41
Speaker
And since that game, he has been much, much better. And I think yeah he just he just got some confidence from that evening. And I guess he just needed that to happen. Well, I'll tell you what, I won't back out on my prediction. I'll still go 3-2, but I think that I'll change the player that I think if they turn up or not, it's it's a long day for City. And I thought I'll change that from Brian and Buemo to Matt Fleckin.
00:34:03
Speaker
Okay, okay. Another one that's back is Rico Henry. um He was out, he he got injured last November, and not last of November, November 2023. So it's been about 14 months he made his first start against Plymouth at the weekend. I don't expect him to start this one because it's probably too soon for him to play so much for him. I think his minutes will be managed, um but it's great for all Brentford fans to be back. um I don't think he'll be back to cause you too many problems on Tuesday. I think if anything, he might play 10 or 20 minutes from the bench, but everybody at Brentford is very, very happy to see him back and he's our longest serving player of the current squad as well. and I think that will do
00:34:50
Speaker
there so thank you for listening to the Daily Brentford and the Daily Manchester City crossover episode. We hope you've enjoyed today's episode and once again we'll be grateful for your support as this will enable us to go bigger and better moving forwards. Daily Brentford can be found on X Instagram and TikTok under the handle at GSPM Brentford and Daily Manchester City I believe is at GSPN Man City. We'll be back again tomorrow where we'll have a more in-depth look No, we we're back in tomorrow, actually, where we'll be reviewing um the game um on Tuesday evening. And until then, from myself and Jack, thank you for being with us.