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Everton’s Run and Alexander Isak’s Form | The Loss of Wemby and the Knicks' Defensive Shortcomings | The Offseason Needs of the Rams and Giants
29 Plays14 days ago
In this week’s episode of Who’s Got The Ball? the lads speak about David Moyes’ effect on Everton and Alexander Isak’s form for Newcastle, before breaking down Wemby’s loss for the Spurs and why the Knicks are good but not good enough to challenge and discuss the off season work required for the LA Rams and New York Giants.
Gan Seans continues with the score at 15-5 to Shane & there is an update on the WGTB Multi-Sport Power Rankings.
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Transcript
Introduction and Liverpool Victory Overview
00:00:09
Speaker
Well lads, welcome back to the seventh episode now of Who's Got The Ball. So we're back again here, myself and Shane. Shane, what's the crack? ah things How are you getting on? I'm good man, good.
00:00:21
Speaker
Obviously highlight the weekend for you is Liverpool beating City. but Yeah. like How are you feeling after that? Brilliant. I'm confident enough to say now that I think it's i think gets's over the line.
00:00:32
Speaker
I know it's 11 points and Arsenal do you have a game at hand, but I can't see them getting eight more points than Liverpool get in the next 11 or 12 games. I think it's... and think I think it's as close to done as it's been for me anyway. So I'm really happy, especially that Arsenal was built on Saturday. like when we were Even when we were doing our grand chance, that never even came into our thoughts as a team that was going to do a job on someone. So no, I'm absolutely beaming now, to be honest. I think they'll be worthy champions if they do manage to hold out. And hopefully I haven't cursed them.
00:01:03
Speaker
No, I think you're right. I think it's safe at this point to say, because I know even last week when we were talking about Arsenal, we were saying that they had the ability maybe to challenge, but it would only depend on Liverpool dropping off, not on Arsenal's ability.
00:01:17
Speaker
And then Arsenal instantly dropped off themselves, so they're not doing themselves any favours there. But yeah, I think it's fairly well wrapped up. um yeah I think it was even like, we brought it up ourselves the last week when we said how when they come up against someone better than Leicester, how would they survive with Michael Mariano up front? And it just goes to show, it was as we said, that it wasn't going to work. And they never, you like one Swiss time with 1-0 up, it was a...
00:01:41
Speaker
Arsenal were always going to struggle to score two goals. I can't even think a real chance they had score one. I think the amount of times we've said that as well, that like if they go like a goal or two or anything down, you don't see them scoring more than that. And they're just lump balls into the box, so like teams like West Ham can defend that all day long. Yeah, West Ham are basically a bray team of centre-box, so it was always going to work out in their favour. It was a great weekend all-round.
00:02:05
Speaker
Nice one, yeah, yeah. Not so much sir for me. Shock in 70 minutes for United, but look, at least they got a point anyway. to At least Ireland had i a bit bit of a comeback there against Wales. Very hard for them.
00:02:20
Speaker
I think they probably needed a bit of shock to the system before the France game. So, yeah, bit of a Bit of a shaky one there though for a while to be honest. Big time there. Yeah. But that yeah, let's let's jump straight into our topics here. So let you take it away. What you want to go with?
00:02:37
Speaker
So we're going to start with you actually. We're going to talk about an ali Alexander Izak from your point of view and kind of see how we go from there.
Alexander Izak's Performance and Future
00:02:44
Speaker
Yeah, perfect man. Sounds good. So yeah, i picked Izak as my...
00:02:50
Speaker
my player for the football for the week. So the reason I picked him is because like as a as as as strikers go, I think he's up there at the moment. Definitely in the Premier League, apart from Haaland, I don't think there's anyone better than him as a striker.
00:03:06
Speaker
And then in Europe, you know at the moment, strikers are at a premium, like out-and-out strikers. Of course, you have your Harry Kane's, Lewandowski, that kind of style of player. But those guys are...
00:03:19
Speaker
aging a little bit in terms of someone who's a bit younger. Isaac stands out to me. and So after Salah, he's clearly having the best attacking season of any Prem player. He has 19 goals and five assists in the Prem, but those 19 goals are coming on 23.32 xG, so he's an excellent finisher.
00:03:38
Speaker
You can always see that. like His shots, if he if he just had to make a tap-in, he would literally lash it in on purpose just to show the power he has. And He looks like kind of a slight guy, but he has like that quick turn of pace and then the strength and a lot of strength in his leg to just literally any shot he has is just pure power, but it has precision into it as well. and To be honest, I didn't know a whole pile about him when Newcastle signed him. I knew he'd done well for Sociedad, but that wouldn't be a team that I'd watch that much, only maybe the odd time if they're in the Champions League or
00:04:11
Speaker
United stumble across them in the Europa League, of course. But, like, I'd only seen him play a couple of times. And when Newcastle bought him, I thought, yeah, this is, thought it was a bit of a risk at first, to be honest. And from the very off, like, straight away in that first season, I think he might scored 10 goals in that 20-year walk game he's played. I think it was, yeah.
00:04:30
Speaker
In and around that, anyway. Yeah, and then last season, and excellent again. And the only negative about him that I can think of is the fact that he's had quite a few injuries. But hopefully, now that he's kind of got his body used to the Premier League, that will fall to the wayside and it'll be only positives from here.
00:04:47
Speaker
Yeah, so you're right there. So and he had 10 goals in his first 22 games in his first season. but Then he scored 21 and 30 last year and is currently on 19 and 24. So he's the second fastest Newcastle player to 50 goals in the Premier League, doing it in 76 games. Obviously, only Alan Shearer has beaten him to it.
00:05:04
Speaker
but And what you were saying as well about like he can do everything. He can shoot. He holds the ball up really well. He can pass. He can show five assists kind of says it as well. he's He's kind of he's the perfect striker for the Newcastle system.
00:05:17
Speaker
which makes me wonder, is he a perfect fit for the system or is he striker that could go to Liverpool and get 25 goals if Salah's getting 25 goals as well? Do you know what I mean? Is he good at being the big fish in the small pond?
00:05:30
Speaker
But the only way to find that out is if he does leave Newcastle. and i think everything is going his way as well. Like the penalty he scored at the weekend against Forrest goes to show that everything he really is going way at the moment. Like chipping it at the keeper and the keeper just falls into the net when this is just like, it's it's one of those things. Oh, 100%. Yeah.
00:05:48
Speaker
oh hundred percent yeah But i I think what he's doing, he's making Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy look better as well with the way he plays with him, especially Murphy. Like Murphy, two years ago, Murphy was someone that Newcastle, like I can't wait to go to get him out. And now he's one of the first names on the team sheet because he just works so well in that front three. He's keeping Harvey Barnes out of the team.
00:06:10
Speaker
I think things like that, it just goes to show that Isaac has been the perfect striker for Newcastle, but would he be as good if he went to a Liverpool and Manchester United and had to kind of share his goals around more than he does at the moment?
00:06:24
Speaker
Yeah, I think that's a good point, but I think I don't really have those doubts about him myself, considering, like I mentioned, how clinical he is. Because I think if there is other players around him taking more shots, I don't think he needs as many as other top strikers.
00:06:40
Speaker
In terms of quality chances, I think he takes a lot of shots. He'll take a shot from nothing is what I'm saying. He's not afraid to do that. I think in a better team, he'll probably have more chances as well, if anything. I agree that ah agree that He has made those guys better, especially Murphy, because he likes to play that ball like down into the channel.
00:07:02
Speaker
and That has really helped. and He has a lot running in him. Looking at some of the numbers um behind his season so far, he's 10th in total shots with 68 and 4th in shots on target with 34 total across the season. So 34 shots on target, 19 goals.
00:07:20
Speaker
Pretty good. Pretty decent, yeah. Yeah, and second most goals per match and with 0.79. And another point to add to that is he's only scored two penalties. So like that's a pretty important thing as well, like non-penalty goals for for a striker.
00:07:36
Speaker
and He does need some work getting getting caught offside. So you notice when he is playing, sometimes he needlessly gets caught offside. And he has the third most in the Premier League with 17. A bit of a...
00:07:50
Speaker
A bit of a question here for you now. and So third most is him with 17. Chris Wood has 20 in second place. But guess who has the most in the league? It has to be Darren Nunes with 27 28. No, 27 is right, but it's not him.
00:08:08
Speaker
Is it Mo Salah? No, it's not a Liverpool player. Other side of Marseille's side. Oh, Calvert-Lewin. Yeah, 27. And he's played literally like 500 minutes less than the other two.
00:08:22
Speaker
That's quite impressive. That's absolutely crazy. So, yeah, I think ahs that's just madness. But anyway, um yeah, that is something he needs to work on, I suppose. and But I think, yeah, his finishing is outrageous. Yeah.
00:08:36
Speaker
He is great at bringing other players in. Lots of rumours about him right now, but I hope he does stay at Newcastle at least for another season because I'd like to see him grow with the rest of the team. And I think if he does go, it's going to be an absolutely massive feat.
00:08:50
Speaker
I think it's really important for Newcastle, like if they get Champions League for next year, then think they they'll have no issue keeping them down. But today if they fall off the face of the earth in the next 10 or 11 games and end up finishing seven or eight, like he's not going to want to play Europa League football. I don't know. me I think he might but he might settle for a year of Europa, to be honest.
00:09:14
Speaker
But it would it just be a year because when you look at like next year, City are going to be back stronger. Chelsea will probably get stronger again. mean, either they're going to come back to some stage, maybe not next year, but they will at some point. Spurs won't be as bad. there'll be a lot more competition for a top four, top five that plays it next year. So he might, maybe he will give it another a year and do a year of Europa League and see how it goes. But...
00:09:35
Speaker
He'll be 26 at the end of the next season. I think that's the stage where you either move now or you're not getting that move. So I think he'll 12 months max left. Another season sounds a bit right if they're in the Europa
Everton's Form Under David Moyes
00:09:48
Speaker
especially.
00:09:49
Speaker
and Unless they make a push next season and finish top four, then it could be a thing where he grows with them. But yeah yeah realistically, it could be could be a move away. Yeah. Right now, they're definitely making the most of him because he's been absolutely quality. But yeah, that's pretty much all I've got on him, unless you have something else we we can move on to your team.
00:10:08
Speaker
No, i I do think he's been i think he's been brilliant this season. As you said, no one outside of Salah is having as much of an impact for their team as he has. is From what I can say, anyway, on the eye test, it looks like he's probably the most important attacker outside of Salah in the league. and I kind of agree with you. I do hope that he stays a Newcastle entrepreneur a year and keeps banging in 2025 goals and just be where goes from there.
00:10:30
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. and And I'm going to move on to the other side, the Mersey side, as we mentioned a couple of minutes ago, and I'm going to give Everton small bit of credit as much as I want to.
00:10:43
Speaker
and I was only looking and i couldn't actually believe this when I when i saw it, but before they sacked John Dyche in his 20 games, he had four wins, eight draws and eight losses in his 20 games.
00:10:56
Speaker
Paddy Power actually paid out on Everton to be relegated after two games of the season. Two games in the season they've had out and never to be relegated. didn't know that. The football under Deutsch was pathetic. It was awful.
00:11:09
Speaker
And you can see the difference in, especially in Beto, since Moyzell came in, the difference in him is, I just i can't get over it. He's five goals in the last four games now. He was a handful for United at the weekend. He had a handful for Liverpool the midweek before. He was a handful for everyone at the moment. He just looks so much more confident.
00:11:27
Speaker
hitting the lebron silencer yeah every single time ah in contrast to doish in moist eight games they four wins two draws and two losses and no one in the premier league has taken more points than they have in the last five games with 11 the same as liverpool uh everyone just looks renewed jack harrison looks like he needs to be drug tested because this wasn't jack harrison that was playing the first 20 games of the season when he's playing now he looks like an Aldi version Messi like he's just running the show sometimes like I can't believe how good they've been since Moyes went back in West Ham must be kicking themselves oh surely yeah honest to god I said that to a West Ham fan I said it to him like I said and I said like would you not be regretting letting Moyes go and they're like no we're like we were finished with him at that point and you know but I so i thought it was a bad decision because the man brought them like
00:12:19
Speaker
silverware and there's a reason they went back to him again. Yeah, they did want to change their football, but he does have a philosophy. like He's not like some kind of reductionist tactician, like a Tony Pulis kind of a guy. like He's not like that. So, yeah, to your point, they completely changed. I think they are more open in defence, but they're way more capable attacking-wise. So, in the last six games, they've conceded seven goals, and they only conceded four in the last six games under Deich.
00:12:49
Speaker
But in the last six under Mice, they scored 14. And in the last six under Dice, they scored five. That's including a 4-0 win over Wolves as well, like an outlier. So one goal in the other five games under Dice in last six. like They've completely changed attacking ways. I looked at Beto as well. I thought, you know, excellent player.
00:13:10
Speaker
in terms of confidence, I think he looks like a proper player now. Some of these guys they just need that confidence. I think he's had nine shots on target in his last four, and he had five all season before that because he wasn't getting the minutes, and they weren't giving him the chance to get these shots off and, you know, kind of, like you said, get himself going and causing terror, causing hassle because he's big and he's strong.
00:13:35
Speaker
And he is like the perfect, you know, Barclays player, like a Matata type. You know, he's literally that exactly. So... and Other members of the team that really stuck out to me are Jake O'Brien, obviously, playing right back. like it's no It's no wonder he's he's played so well. like We obviously knew about him previously. He's played for Ireland.
00:14:00
Speaker
I watched a bit of him at Leon and his quality on the ball, like such a good passer. He made a huge difference when Leon signed him. So it's no wonder he's made a big difference here. And Brantwaite being a consistent starter as well.
00:14:12
Speaker
I know he was injured, but Dyche was just basically like saying, forget the system, forget the players that were bought to play. he's just He was just playing who he wanted all the time.
00:14:22
Speaker
And playing Michael Keane week in, week out, like you're just asking for trouble there. and So, you know, it's it's no wonder that they've improved with a more competent manager in playing the players to their strengths instead of saying, no, I'm playing my ultra defensive.
00:14:37
Speaker
This is the system. That's it. Yeah. Like I was going to mention the likes of Jake Bryan, the likes of Brentwood as well, but I think another man who, he like He does come and peak in troughs, but the Corey again at the weekend against United, coming from his deep runs from midfield, are absolutely unbelievable. and He wasn't doing that under Sean Dyche. He wasn't allowed. He was like, sit there besides Adresa Gay. yeah and just You sit there, you get the ball, you give it to the three lads already.
00:15:05
Speaker
But a goal against you United, that he was excellent against Liverpool as well again. like I think the life that David Moyes has breathed back into these players is that just... its It's unfortunately been a joy to watch because they looked like they were going to go down. I thought if they went down to championship with that new stadium, it would have been quite funny.
00:15:26
Speaker
But they're obviously not going down now. I think the three going down are the three that are in the bottom three now at the moment. The worst ever. Everyone pays for the worst ever. and But I think Jacob Bryan definitely deserves a special mention because he's coming at right back.
00:15:40
Speaker
He's six foot five and he's playing right back. And he's not getting turned inside out by anyone. He's so good defensively. His passing incredible. I just say like how Sean Dyche didn't use him at all.
00:15:52
Speaker
it ah It baffles me. His first start was the game after Dyche was sacked. Yeah, I know. It's like, ah it's like, Almost thought they'd jump too far ahead because he's an Irish player doing a goal. looking at Gavardial for City there, big body, strong, makes good runs. like He's not the same attacking presence, but like he's a lot younger um in terms of he's a lot less experienced as well.
00:16:17
Speaker
and I think that's the type of player now that is finding it like role for themselves playing like a right back or left back in the system. It's not the same as it used to be.
00:16:29
Speaker
And he could almost do something like that. um I think he's he's a definite starter at centre back though for Ireland or if we play the back three, obviously play on the right there. But I think yeah right back is really suiting him. And like you said, he doesn't look out of pace out of place with his pace. um And it adds another big, big, tall...
00:16:47
Speaker
body for corners, defending, both of defending and attacking, which is really important for the way they play. And you mentioned Gaither, like playing next to Decore in midfield. Like I saw earlier on from Opta that he has 103 combined tackles and duels won in 2025. So 41 tackles, 62 duels won. The most of any player across Europe's big five leagues.
00:17:13
Speaker
Like that's just crazy. He's an absolute workhorse and he's aging as well. And he looks to be getting more and more of a workhorse with age. Like he has literally, and on like his engine doesn't ever run out. He's like a Joris Elbony there, like watching him. iffield like can like watching him and then Garner next to him, who's literally the perfect Everton player, just kicking lumps out of lads.
00:17:35
Speaker
Those two in midfield, it just works. Yeah, I think the thing about Gay as well, and this is a big shout for me now, but I think he's the closest thing we've seen to Kante since Kante left the league. That's just what was thinking.
00:17:46
Speaker
Yeah, like the way he's just constantly going doesn't stop all tackles he wins and he just goes under the radar. Like, Joe, no one mentions him when they're talking about, oh, who's been the best defensive midfielder in the league this year. There's no mention of him.
00:17:57
Speaker
When everyone's talking about, oh, Roger, he's out. Who's been the next best to him? Can I gaze? He just doesn't even get a look in, in terms of people who are talking about him. And boss and it's I'm really happy you mentioned there because I think he has been, the midfield has been the base for this Everton.
00:18:12
Speaker
turn around the way the way Moyes have kind of switched it into a two and a one instead of a one and a two sorry yeah it's turned into a one and two instead of a two and one sorry and Garner Decora and Gay have just been electric from in the last especially in the last five games the way that they the way they've turned everything around and that's why you didn't mention Alcaraz who they got in like and yeah he hasn't played yet but when he does like he's a he's a quality player as well Yeah, dip theyelected it goes to show the players were always there, just Sean Dyche wasn't using correctly.
00:18:42
Speaker
And David Moyes just came in and said, well, I'm not getting rid of anyone. I don't want to get rid of anyone. We have players here that can get us up to top half. like i Maybe they won't finish top 10 now, but they'll finish between 10th and 14th.
00:18:54
Speaker
And they'll be very comfortable. Very, very comfortable. And something to build on for next season as well. 100%. Yeah. Do you have anything else on Everton? No, just say yeah I thought they'd have ever this small bit of credit. So I said I'd give it to them this week and then forget they exist again then.
00:19:09
Speaker
Yeah. Until they play again next season and they'll be around to go. Oh, we have it next. I think we play them in three weeks at home. So that's an um ill talk about yeah I'll talk about them again then. Hopefully yeah or hopefully I'll talk about them. If they do anything in that game, I'll just ignore their existence.
00:19:26
Speaker
Right, so what are moving on to then, the NBA? We'll go on to NBA, yeah. I want to talk about Wemby's loss and how big a loss he's going to be to San Antonio Spurs, kind of coupled in with Popovich missing the rest of the season now as well
Wemby's Influence on Spurs and Challenges
00:19:40
Speaker
as their head coach. I think it's going to put a real dent in what was looking like a promising enough season for him.
00:19:46
Speaker
I think players like Wemby just cannot be replaced. I know you need to try and do something to kind of replace him, but as someone who is as big a presence as him, he'd be a loss to anyone. He'd be a loss to the Tundra. He'd be a loss to the Cavs.
00:19:58
Speaker
But when he's the focal point to that team, it makes him even more of a loss. Like this season, averaging 33.2 minutes with 24.3 points. but twenty four point tree points 11 rebounds, 4 blocks 82% free throws 35% from 3 points not great but he has also 7 foot 3 so there's only so much he can do yeah um he's going be such a loss to him and oh how you replace him their other centres are nothing special so I think he's just I just, I don't know how I don't know how to give Spurs any hope between now and the playing season. Three and seven under your last time and I can't see it really getting any better than that over the next time.
00:20:41
Speaker
No, I don't think it will. It's really unfortunate. Like, It's for such a young player to go down that early to a big injury. like This shouldn't be like underblown. like To have blood clots, like you've seen previously, that ruined Chris Bosh's career now is different because it's in his leg.
00:21:01
Speaker
So that does make a difference. Apparently I've read that since it's in his shoulder, it's something that could clear up be more easily, but it's still a severe injury that needs to be watched. And there are players that have suffered with blood clots throughout their careers as well.
00:21:16
Speaker
So you don't want to see that, especially with a young guy, someone who is going to be the face of the league without a doubt. Like, yeah, like, like you mentioned there, 35% from three. like Honestly, I think that's good considering his size. And he is looks comfortable shooting threes as well. Then you do look at Jokic and he's just shooting like the lights out from three for absolutely no reason. and But like still, this is this is like an absolute beast. And on defense as well, like I think he was 1-25 to win defensive player the year. And now...
00:21:49
Speaker
he doesn't meet the threshold for games played so jaron jaron jackson jr is now the favorite but like that just shows how dominant he was on defense and he was in with a shout of winning it last year like in his very first season a couple of weeks back where he just put his arm didn't even jump yeah just like he'd reach to us and just outrageous like and he'd only see him stand there it's just crazy like it he's a freak of nature and To mention on blocks, 176 this season. and And the next is 108, Brook Lopez.
00:22:22
Speaker
And interestingly, so it's 176 blocks in 46 games. And then Anthony Davis has 93 blocks in 43 games. So he nearly has double in the same amount games as Anthony Davis. And he's one of the best defenders in the league. yeah So yeah, just outrageous and really unfortunate. Like as you mentioned as well with Popovich. Yeah.
00:22:45
Speaker
It's not a positive time for Spurs, I suppose, with health and injury issues. and You don't want want to wish that upon any franchise. And yeah, it's very unlucky considering they just made that trade for Fox and now things are definitely shut down for the season. They're not they're not making that play and they're probably going to tank now for the rest of the season. and Yeah.
00:23:04
Speaker
ah Yeah. Like, there's no point in them trying to guard their way to go and win anything now because even if they snuck into playing they're going to get walloped in the first round of playing anyway and still have no chance of getting in any sort of pick then.
00:23:19
Speaker
like I could see like when they had Wembley, you want to keep them happy, you want to look like you are pushing towards championship levels. ah When Wemby's gone, there really is no point. You might as well just try and get the best traffic you can to get more help in for him from next season and start again.
00:23:33
Speaker
Yeah. Even if Popovich isn't back next season, like they'll have a have an off-season where they can prepare and build with a new coach as well as Bus. like This season would have been done in the eyes of Popovich. Everything would have been there.
00:23:45
Speaker
So to lose him and to lose Wemby in one go in such a short space of time, like you' just you have to feel for him really, really, really do. Yeah, and I think to the fact that they also think they they might have the Hawks pick this year.
00:24:00
Speaker
So the Hawks are falling like a stone as well. like So, you know, da they might get two really good picks out with being bad now. So, yeah, yeah it's annoying this season, but realistically, they probably weren't going to make it very far anyway.
00:24:14
Speaker
and So they obviously would have done better with Wemby than not. But I think... in the long run, it may benefit them if they get two nice picks here. And and they have an extra chance, basically, of getting a high pick in the lottery. So, yeah, look, not all bad, but,
00:24:29
Speaker
definitely uh definitely a scary injury over yeah season is over and as you said it it is it's a really really scary injury to get at so young as well is he only 22 or 23. not on the show saw my head boss to get that as such a young age it's going to put a bit of a dampener on him as well and hopefully it is just a once off he may stress this season and it never flares up again Yeah, fingers crossed. Definitely, we hope we hope to see him back next year because, as as I mentioned, like everybody wants to watch this guy play.
00:24:58
Speaker
It's going the face. So,
Knicks' Offense vs. Defense Analysis
00:25:00
Speaker
yeah, I think moving on from Wemby to the East, I want to talk about the Knicks. So, the reason i want to talk about them is because I think they're good, but they're not good enough um to win it. And ultimately, that was their goal with how much they gave up to build this team.
00:25:19
Speaker
Like they're such a good offensive team, but their defense is stinking. Like it's so bad. And they're so, they're so bad at even putting up a positive contest on shots. Like it doesn't look like, like some of these shots that they're, they're contesting are just easy for the opponent. And that's why the scores are being run up like so much.
00:25:41
Speaker
They've lost in their last two to the Cavs and the Celtics, of course. and So that one, that's that's another downer for them because they've they played the Celtics three times a season, lost in every one of them, played the Cavs twice, lost both of them, played OKC once, lost that. So they're 0-6 against those three big teams. That's not a positive thing because they want to be competing against these top teams it's not to say that they're a bad team but they're just not good enough to win it all and I kind of highlighted that concern at the start of the season in my kind of preview for the season that I wrote I didn't think that they'd have enough and I didn't really understand some of the moves they made now offensively they're a lot better than I thought they would be but defensively they're actually a lot worse than I thought they would be and that's mostly down to Bridges being quite poor on defence
00:26:34
Speaker
Like, I was just, looking there now, and, like, they, so in their three games, the last two against the Celtics and against the Cavaliers, Celtics put up 131, 118, and the Cavs put 142. Like, team, a team of the caliber of the Knicks shouldn't be conceding that many points, even if it is to a team who are, like, so they are the top, top of the sport, but when you're, like, when you're pushing and hoping that you are in the hope of winning a championship, like, letting the team score 142 on um needing 149 to beat the hawks in overtime like things like that just shouldn't be happening and as you said like mikhail bridges is very poor defensively but he's not the only one like and the shots that they're contesting yes they're just it's not helping them like and they will obviously get a playoff spot but i can't see him going too far in it yeah i think another thing is that thibodeau like plays these guys so many minutes so you could see them kind of feeling a bit run into the ground um
00:27:32
Speaker
come playoff time, which did end up happening in last season. So looking up looking at them, they're fifth most in points, but they're right in the middle with points allowed. And they've allowed the seventh best field goal percentage.
00:27:45
Speaker
And luckily for them, they have a 49.3 field goal percentage themselves. So I think that's like third best in the league. So they're like... that it's lucky that they're so good on offense, but when it comes to playoff time, really, really good offense doesn't outweigh horrendous defense because teams will slow the game down and just pick them apart.
00:28:08
Speaker
And look, they're not a volume three-point team, which is what the Cavs and the Celtics are. So it's going to be very difficult to beat them because they're their direct opponents. And,
00:28:19
Speaker
They've 12.8 made threes per game, but they've only 34.1 attempted for threes per game, which is 27th in the league. so yeah's So very low. And then on the other side, they allow the highest three-point percentage in the whole league with 38.1%.
00:28:36
Speaker
So that's, again, to mention these shock contests. like Yeah, it's very poor defence, ex-offence. And I don't think that's going to cut it come playoff season.
00:28:46
Speaker
I think that their spacing is always off. like i don't know health like I don't know how every player always seems to make the wrong decision when it comes to defence. And they get away with sometimes. But those stats, figures are shown there, just show that they're They're not getting away with it over the course of a game or over the course of a season. like They always, one of them at least seems to make the wrong decision every single time.
00:29:07
Speaker
And it's costing them. It's costing them big time. I know they're still third the East and they're what, they're six and four in their last 10. Yeah. yeah Not ideal, but it's not horrendous either. So they will definitely get playoffs, but they won't get any further. And I think they'll throw a while away from the title still, I think.
00:29:23
Speaker
No, definitely. And it's tough because it's a small enough window how much they've given up and they've got to pay these guys. Brunson took a bit of a cut. They'll have to pay him in the future. um I think ah a major point is their rebounding as well. So like they were a good rebounding team last year. like From watching them and especially in the playoffs, they were such good rebounders, especially on the ah offensive end.
00:29:45
Speaker
and But looking this year, they're allowing the second most defensive rebounds and the 10th most offensive rebounds. So, you know, allowing the second most defensive means that they're not challenging the offensive boards like they were. That was a key part of beating the Sixers in that playoff series last year.
00:30:04
Speaker
And it's down to Hartenstein going. They're They made a mistake, I think, letting him go and building the way they did. They had a more something that fit, I think, a bit better was him there.
00:30:15
Speaker
He's a good playmaker. They would have had to pay him less than they'd have to pay a cat. And then, you know, he's excellent on offensive boards, giving them second chances. And then you have Josh Hart, who almost has 10 rebounds per game for his size,
00:30:29
Speaker
is outrageous. like he's He's been the shining light for me to be honest because I think he's improved offensively and his playmaking and his rebounds are always there. um but you know so It's not all negative.
00:30:41
Speaker
You have Brunson having his career high in assists with Cat there now shooting the lights out. but Again, it's all down to the defense as we mentioned. Really, really poor. Like again everyone says, but then it's such a cliche, but it is defense that wins championships.
00:30:56
Speaker
Yeah. Because it's like, it's all been good being able to score 135, 136 points in a game. But when you're letting it in the same if and more on the other side, it's just not going to help. And like you lose, you'll win more games than you lose, but in a playoff,
00:31:11
Speaker
Like you will lose more than you win if you if you just can't keep teams from yeah putting trees in from easy runs to the basket too. is like and They just need to sort the spacing or they're going nowhere.
00:31:23
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. Definitely. Yeah, that's all I have on them. So you want move on to Gone Chance? Yeah,
Sports Predictions and Game Outcomes
00:31:30
Speaker
we'll go on to the Gone Chance for this week. i Cool, I'll let you you go ahead first, lead it in, give us the update.
00:31:36
Speaker
Yeah, I've had bad back-to-back weeks now. i went to zero when one and one, so need to try and get back on track this week. so i went to goal Luckily enough, I've gone one and zero, so...
00:31:48
Speaker
Oh, and then I'm keeping out a substantial lead over you. So I've gotten very brave on my first time to be perfectly honest, but it's an early kickoff on a Saturday.
00:31:59
Speaker
It's a derby. I'm going from Millwall to be Palace. Oh, geez. Millwall are Palace are 4-11. It's the FA Cup. If anything can happen in the FA Cup, it's a huge derby. They hate each other.
00:32:12
Speaker
Millwall could go out and just kick lumps out of Palace and Palace mightn't be up for a Palace might concentrate on the league. Very, very unlikely, but the FA Cup is always hard to find underdogs to go with.
00:32:24
Speaker
In the NBA, I've gone for the Pistons to beat the Nuggets. they've hit them there 32 and 26. Nuggets are 38 and 20, so they've just about meet the threshold of the five games. But the Pistons are on a seven-game winning run the moment, the joint most in the NBA.
00:32:40
Speaker
Nuggets lost one after, I think they won nine road in road and they lost one and they won then last night. But I think it's a game that's it's It's kind of it's a bit of a cop out of a pick. does it's It just about meets the threshold and there's no real kind of... I like it. I like it.
00:32:54
Speaker
Yeah, there's nothing there that really kind of jumps out to me. So I think the Pistons are on a good run and I can see them keeping it going now against the Nuggets. And finally, I've gone for Ipswich to beat Nottingham first.
00:33:06
Speaker
I think Forest are going to start worrying about their league position now. was actually looking at that one myself. Yeah, I think Forest are going to worry about the league position. Forest going to want to keep on to that top four, top five place, get Champions League football and kind of build from there.
00:33:19
Speaker
I don't think they're overly worried about the FA Cup. I think Gipswich know they're down. They need to give the fans something to sing out for the end of the season. and And getting into a quarterfinal and potentially semifinal a day out at Wendley, I think Gipswich have a lot more riding on it than Forest have. So I back them at seven to two Forest are four to six Cool. Yeah, I like those. and The reason I was saying I like your your Nuggets and Pistons is because I've also gone for that.
00:33:45
Speaker
and I think, yeah, basically the same things you mentioned. Detroit on such a good run. I know the Nuggets look good, but on a seven-game winning streak now, and and they're just getting better by the minute. Cade looks unbelievable.
00:33:59
Speaker
I talked about them that week that I did the episode on my own. I went into detail on why I like them a lot, and it's really interesting now to see them turn around, like have an awful season last year, the worst team in the league, and now they're making a push to not only be in the play-in, but above that and be...
00:34:19
Speaker
a team that may actually end up getting a home playoff and game if if it does come down to it. But yeah, I'm going with them to beat Denver. Not the non-Denver. I think Denver are excellent, but I just think when teams are on a really good streak, and da they'll continue it, especially a young team like that. So going with them. and Then I've also gone with Wolves to beat Bournemouth. So basically what you picked last week, but just to happen again in the Cup.
00:34:45
Speaker
i I don't know. Wolves are fifteen to four and Bournemouth are So I said, let's go for it again this weekend. Anything could happen. You never know. And then the last one I went for, I was going to go for the Wizards to beat the Hornets, but because the Wizards had nine wins and the Hornets had 14, then some miraculous thing happened and the Wizards won last night.
00:35:06
Speaker
So that pushed that one out. And I've gone with my backup, which was your Houston Rockets to lose to the Sacramento Kings. and So that's on Saturday night. Rockets are very poor recently, 3-7 in their last 10.
00:35:21
Speaker
Kings are so-so, They're pretty much 500 on the season, so you never know what you're going to get with them. So let's just take a punt there and and pick the Kings because I think, yeah, I wanted that wanted those Wizards. I thought they did upset the Hornets, and they probably will. But then i also want to say Timberwolves letting me down. like they They literally beat the Thunder.
00:35:44
Speaker
And then i picked them. They played the Thunder again. They lost to them quite well. And they played them again last night and they beat them in overtime. Like, will you come on? Do you want to give you picks? They let you down. I think your Rockets pick is not a bad shout at all. When you go and lose to the Jazz, literally the worst game of basketball. Like, there's...
00:36:05
Speaker
Yeah, they're a frustrating team to watch at the moment, whatever's after going on with them, but I don't think it's a bad shout for you at all. I really don't, I think. Yeah, I can't see anything against it. I think they're three good picks of them.
Los Angeles Rams' Rebuilding Strategy
00:36:20
Speaker
Cool. Nice one. So we'll move on. Do you want to take it away first with the NFL? Yeah, we'll do. So we're going to talk about and where are the L.A. Rams going and next season?
00:36:31
Speaker
So they have Sean McVay, who I personally think is one of the best coaches in the league. I think he's absolutely incredible. But I think they've kind of, they're They're putting a lot on Puka Nakua now if they are going to try and trade it away Cooper Copp.
00:36:44
Speaker
They have picked number 26 in the draft, so it's not like you're going to go out and get a top-class wide receiver as a wide receiver. You're not going to get another Puka Nakua at 26. Maybe you will. Someone might just come out of the woodwork. bus They got him a lot lower than that. Yeah, so it is doubtful, but I think if they can get someone to replace Cooper Copp,
00:37:03
Speaker
get a good offer for Cooper Cup, get life po to put to do, put the Jets, give up for the Monte Adams, the conditional third that rises to a second. or I'm a bit kind of, I'm a bit down in them. Like I've been expecting whole lot from this season and they had to an awful injury look, really, really awful injury look, but they kind of,
00:37:22
Speaker
They just, theyve they weren't what I expecting from him. for Like Kuka played 11 games and did come back, 79 catches for 990 yards and three touchdowns, which is good in 11 games. Needs more touchdowns, obviously, but it wasn't bad for Fela to come back from injury.
00:37:37
Speaker
But outside of him and Kyron Bildhams, they really don't have much going from They have a big rebuild on their hands, I think. Well, I think it's interesting because I i disagree in terms of basically that they're in a bad situation. Like, i know it's tough losing Stafford and Cup, but honestly, last season I had no real expectations for them and I thought they really overperformed.
00:38:01
Speaker
Getting as far as they did and almost beating the Eagles, they were the closest team to the Eagles in the playoffs. ah They did a lot better than I expected because I didn't think that defense would be as good as it was. And I think they they've done a very good...
00:38:16
Speaker
Very good job at starting to rebuild that. I like Cameron Carroll. I really like Jared Verse. Obviously, who won Defensive Rookie of the Year. So that was a great pickup.
00:38:27
Speaker
Now, I do agree with you that losing and Stafford and Kopp, which they probably will do, is going to be a massive blow. And it's another level of a rebuild. way bigger than just filling in on defense it's your main parts of your team so yeah I do agree in in that sense that next year might be difficult but I also thought last year would be really difficult and they shocked me and I think if any man can do it it's Sean McVeigh he's an absolute football genius like yeah I do think, as you're saying, look I think their defence is pretty much set. I don't think they need to do too much work to that in the off-season.
00:39:02
Speaker
But having to replace your quarterback and one of your best wide receivers in one goal is going to be really, really tough. And... Like, do you draft a quarterback at 26? Do you draft a wide receiver at 26? Or do you try and sign one?
00:39:16
Speaker
Then, like, what are the options? We'll be coming on to the options now in a couple of minutes we talk about the Giants. But, like, the Rams are not as desperate a situation the Giants, obviously, but it's not a good situation to be in either. Where you're trying to get a quarterback to come in and a wide receiver to come in that will help Pukinicua, help Williams, and not kind of, like, take the spotlight away from the lads who have been doing so well you for the last couple years, too.
00:39:39
Speaker
Yeah, I think... Overall, I think it's definitely going to be tough, but then it's hard to predict because it depends what they get back for Cup and Stafford. If they get like a nice haul back there, they could then flip that to get a higher draft pick or they could use it to trade for somebody.
00:39:58
Speaker
I don't know. I don't know what they get for Cup, to be honest. I think a third or second would be good business for them. ah I think they're probably going to be asking for a low first, at least for Stafford. I don't think they'll get that.
00:40:11
Speaker
they're not going to get it. He's 37 years of age, you know? So I think, yeah, it's a difficult situation in terms of what they do with those two guys. But I think in general, they're set with some of the things that they've brought in on defense.
00:40:24
Speaker
They're set with Nakua, as you mentioned, Williams and McVay will do what he needs to do here. And I think give them a year. If next year is a little bit down, trust me, they'll be back there after with him if he's still there. So I think, yeah, it's an interesting situation and one that's probably going to change a lot over offseason. We'll probably have different opinions at different times on this.
00:40:47
Speaker
I think the big issue for him with Cooper Cup is that three days into the start of the new season in March, that he's owed seven and a half million. And if if he's still at the Rams, the Rams have to pay it or if he goes off somewhere else, that team will have to pay it.
00:41:00
Speaker
You can see teams kind of holding and out and holding out and waiting for the Rams to pay the seven and a half million. and and then coming in with their second or third round pick offers. But not getting and sung for the seven and a half million. and So you can see it dragging on and dragging on, which they won't want either. They kind of want this over and done with and they know where they are. But I can't see it happening.
00:41:21
Speaker
I can't see it happening fast anyway. I'm not sure on the like legal rules of it, but it might be possible for a team to flip it, that they give it to them and like a sign-in bonus or something. And it's different.
00:41:33
Speaker
some something so Something has moved around there to knock it off the cap. I don't know what what could be done, but the Rams will definitely be soured if a team try to avoid paying that and then come in for them after. So it's it's one to watch. It's a difficult situation, but yeah, definitely one of many, many big situations to look at in the NFL offseason.
00:41:54
Speaker
So in in the offseason in general, we're just going to talk about like topics rather than teams and
New York Giants' Draft Improvements
00:42:00
Speaker
players. could be a coach or the draft or whatever. So Shane obviously has gone with some of those issues around the Rams this week, and I've Gone with just basically something to get off my chest here about the Giants for the season that they just had.
00:42:14
Speaker
Basically, yeah, I don't know. I just started off by writing down when I was making my notes so bad. But looking in the season, I expected so much more. But then piecing it all back together, why did I really expect anything? Because how many seasons have we had?
00:42:34
Speaker
like i was just i've just been... kind of thrown off by that season when Daybol first came in and then got us into the playoffs just when he wasn't expected to do so.
00:42:48
Speaker
And I think that's thrown off expectations massively. and But last season was the lowest of the low. It was absolutely tragic. And looking at how important running and rushing is in the league right now, having a good running back,
00:43:04
Speaker
I don't want to focus too much on Barkley going because he wouldn't have performed the same in this Giants team. So that's... for I don't care about that. It's a move point, kind of. Yeah, basically. But they allowed the fourth most rushing yards in the NFL and were the eighth worst rushing team.
00:43:19
Speaker
That's just not a recipe for success. And... that's not even down to the running backs. Like, Tyrone Tracy had over 1,000 yards in his rookie season. Yeah, he was fast that season.
00:43:31
Speaker
Like, it's literally down to me on the offensive line of the scheme. Yeah, honestly, like, just such such a negative. And the ah offensive line is literally number one in my eyes as the biggest issue with this team.
00:43:46
Speaker
you know, they they couldn't do really what they needed on either side of the ball with injuries throughout the season. Like, obviously, Thibodeau got injured. Dexter wasn't fully fit at times. Brian Burns looked absolutely burnt out by the end of the season.
00:43:59
Speaker
And, like, losing Andrew Thomas, who's probably the best player on the Giants roster, like having him there at tackle, he's able to stop two players at once.
00:44:10
Speaker
And I think he has like one of the best block and win, win block rates in the NFL when he's fit. But how many injuries does this guy have to have? Like it's at this point, it's just like, you can't even expect him to be playing because he's injured so much.
00:44:24
Speaker
And when someone who you're paying a lot and it's probably so good, it raises a massive question mark going forward. massive Yeah, it's 100%. And like it's a one of the best abilities is availability.
00:44:37
Speaker
I've heard that over and over again. And as good as he is, and he is the best player on the roster, but when he's not available over and over and over again, there is a stage where you just have to say, okay, we can't rely on him. We need to replace him.
00:44:50
Speaker
He'll be the best backup player in the league. And when he's fit, we play him. But you can't go into the season saying, oh, we have him to play here. We have him to play here. If he's not going to show up, he's not going there for you. like So it is really difficult. like yeah A bit like yourself now, when I was starting out, my first line of my notes is, my God, it's very, very bad.
00:45:10
Speaker
Like I just I couldn't believe looking through it like you pick number three if he's still there, then you go for Travis Hunter playing the corner, see what he can do. But then you're looking at who will the quarterback be like Sam Darnold, Mac Jones.
00:45:26
Speaker
No, it's not going to Mac Jones. Wilson. Like so nothing really gets you off your seats. But man, I can't. but there's like ah i like ah However Darnell played last season, and like the man is going to get crippled behind that Giants line. There's literally no point in playing in there.
00:45:41
Speaker
like I honestly think for me, I think Kirk Cousins is ideal, but then if they don't fix the line either, he's a no-go. So it depends what they do. They need to fix the offensive line before anything else.
00:45:54
Speaker
And that's what wins. Games are won in the trenches. And I think of Thomas, like he can't be like a backup, like you mentioned. like you know But then when he's that much money, like it comes to the point, like you're paying this guy so much.
00:46:08
Speaker
It's just it's hard to it's just hardred as a fan of the team, especially, to differentiate between wanting to let him go and you know whatnot. But I think the best thing for me in terms of the last season was the rookie draft class.
00:46:22
Speaker
So obviously Neighbours was... out of this world receiving passes from four different quarterbacks and then obviously Tyrone Tracy behind an absolutely broken offensive line.
00:46:35
Speaker
Tyler Newbin at safety was excellent and Drew Phillips was was really really good cornerback. I think that was one that shocked me a lot so I was happy with the with the draft in general and that keeps me positive about this one especially in terms of I think Shane Bowen did an okay job as DC. Not amazing. Blitzed a lot, probably one of the most in the in the league.
00:46:58
Speaker
And that led to less passing yards. But obviously, there was a lot of rushing yards. And I think Dexter needs help in that middle. I heard now that the D-line options in this draft class are very, very deep. And they're one of the best.
00:47:12
Speaker
So possibly could pick up someone early second round. but Yeah. Yeah, I think... O-line and D-line need to be fixed before we worry about anything else. But then, as you mentioned, we don't have a quarterback.
00:47:23
Speaker
so like i kind know i've I have two things that I've written down here. so One was, if Cam Ward was still available at three, now it's extremely unlikely that he'd still be available at three, but if he was, would you be taking him over taking Travis Hunter?
00:47:38
Speaker
Would you to get Cam Ward in and just kind of deal with not getting him? Or would you wait for the second round and bring in Jalen Milrow? and in the eighth second round and kind of just put all your tips on him.
00:47:51
Speaker
I think, yeah, i know knowing the Giants, they're taking Cam Ward if he's there at three. Yeah. Like, i I just know in that situation, that's what they do. um And also the fact that I've seen, like, Dayball and Shane, basically Joe Shane, saying that, like, they they wanted, I don't know, they had some conversations with Cam Ward and I've heard some rumours about them liking him a lot.
00:48:16
Speaker
But I've also heard that the Jets would like to trade up for Cam Ward. So I don't know what's going to happen with Cam Ward, but i I can probably say it for for certain he won't be there at three.
00:48:27
Speaker
Sanders might be there at three, and i don't I hope the Giants don't pick him because it's just an accident waiting to happen with him. I don't know. I don't think he's good enough to go in the first round.
00:48:39
Speaker
and a lot of drafts,
00:48:43
Speaker
rankings and ratings of him that aren't just like, you know, doing a mock, of course, he's going to go high, but actually looking at his film, um people a lot wiser than me have said similar. So what I want to really is what you said and Travis Hunter, either him or Abdul Carter.
00:48:59
Speaker
I think we probably don't need an edge rusher, but we might not exercise the option we have on Thibodeau's contract if we do get Carter. So it's hard to know what we're going to do there, but I'd be happy with either.
00:49:10
Speaker
Probably most happy with Hunter because if there's any team that needs a player that can play a cornerback and wide receiver, it's the Giants. So... Like if you you keep like you clearly have your wide receiver one and you're running back one in neighbors and Tracy.
00:49:24
Speaker
like There isn't really any need to go out and bring in a wide receiver that's going to take neighbors in place. So it is, as you said, fix the all line, get a quarterback, get Travis Hunter, he's still there three and just kind of run with him because he is monster of a player.
00:49:39
Speaker
and know I know I can't. Now I don't think he can play both in the NFL. No, i wouldn't I wouldn't. No, I don't think so. So, i like, you put him in a corner. Yeah, so put him in a corner and just watch him grow the way Cooper Duzinho grew with the Eagles this year.
00:49:54
Speaker
He might do it in the same kind of pace as Cooper Duzinho, but he definitely is a talent to be top five center. Sorry, top five corner yeah and in in the next couple of seasons. Like, I do think he's that good from what I've watched of him.
00:50:08
Speaker
Oh, yeah. i think he's i think he's up there. Like, look, going into the season, i think you're looking at more of a Quinion Mitchell level even, how good he I think he's so good ah as a cornerback and he has that ability to catch a ball and be an interception hawk, which not many cornerbacks have. so Yeah.
00:50:27
Speaker
Yeah, I think play him there. And I think he could play in certain packages wide receiver with, if you needed, say, someone to go deep um with neighbours running a slant or something. I don't know what way they would dial it up, but he probably will have some reps at wide receiver too. But surely what a cornerback would be would be the main thing for him, no matter where he goes. and but i think as well, like it obviously his catching ability, which he has shown his wide receiver, is going to be massive for interceptions.
00:50:57
Speaker
yeah like you so two teams team trying to go deep with him <unk> it's like you're throwing for him as your wide receiver but the way he catches the way he's been catching a ball in college like you'll be trying to avoid him as much as possible and anything who has anything who has him is going to look is good they're going to be a danger like obviously the d-line is going to need to be a lot better than it has been as well but having him following a wide receiver one having him following a justin jefferson It could almost takes Justin Jefferson out of the game because it has to be the perfect pass or he he has more than a 50-50 chance of getting it because he's looking directly at us.
00:51:33
Speaker
Justin Jefferson is always running away, whereas he's waiting for it to come. So I think i think he'd be a massive pickup if whoever gets him is going to guess a hell of a player. Yeah, i think I think so as well. Like definitely that's where the comparison to Mitchell comes where players don't even throw in their direction. They're that good.
00:51:51
Speaker
And I think Banks is a pretty good cornerback, but he's not a cornerback one. So I like that combo there. So I think that would solve a big problem and it might free up the fact that might not have to blitz as much. as So look, we'll see what happens.
00:52:03
Speaker
So many question marks and leading up to the draft, I'm sure we'll do a bit bit of a mock draft or at least the first 10 picks at some point to look at what could happen. But yeah, a lot of questions and we won't get a lot of answers very soon. I think it's going to be a long game here for the Giants. but Definitely.
Weekly Sports Power Rankings
00:52:20
Speaker
Yeah.
00:52:21
Speaker
Let's move on from the sadness of the Giants, man. Let's move on to the power rankings. but Perfect. I'll let you go first this week because pretty sure i so I stole the show last week. No worries, man. I'll go first. So last week to write re... What's the word I want to say?
00:52:36
Speaker
Roundup. right No, like to... yeah refresh. want to refresh last week. Last week I had Liverpool, Thunder, Nuggets, Cavs, Arsenal and Bournemouth.
00:52:50
Speaker
So this week I've stuck with Liverpool first of course, beat Man City in what seemed to be quite an easy fashion so why would I drop them? A new entry for me actually have moved all the way up to second. I think The Celtics have been unbelievable and they're ramping right up um to a position now where they look very scary for anyone who thought the Thunder were going to have an easy walk this season or any team would have an easy time.
00:53:18
Speaker
I think it's making things a lot more difficult for the Cavs how good the Celtics are being. are becoming, ramping up right at the right time. I think, you know, championship teams usually do that.
00:53:30
Speaker
They find it a little bit tough at the start the season and then they hit their stride. They have pushed the Thunder down to third for me. Still second best team, I think, probably in my opinion. Right now, best team in the NBA.
00:53:42
Speaker
But I think... yeah I think I'll have to give it to the Cavs just on recent performances, or to Celtics, and just on recent performances because they did beat the Cavs. Then the Cavs are still in fourth for me.
00:53:55
Speaker
Still really good. I think better than any of the Shouts from the Premier League. So let's keep them in fourth. Then I've gone with Newcastle in fifth. Good win on the weekend. Not an overwhelmingly good performance in the second half, but...
00:54:08
Speaker
Solid win overall. And they're in in the Cup Final as well. So i have to give them a shout because they're consistent and they're pushing for the Champions League. And in sixth, I've gone for one based on form alone. I've gone for the men that we chatted about earlier. I've gone for Everton. So no other team that i that I really wanted to add in here that I thought were impressing me with Arsenal's loss at the weekend and Bournemouth's loss and looking at City losing. I thought, yeah, let's give it to Everton on their form. I know they didn't win at the weekend, but They should have won and they're on a very good streak. So that's rounding up my six.
00:54:40
Speaker
Nice. I'll give you a refresh of mine before I get into them. So last week I had Liverpool, Arsenal, the Cavs, the Knicks, Man City and Thunder. I've gone for a 4-2 split this week of and NBA with four and the Premier League with two.
00:54:53
Speaker
It's a bit like yourself. there was There was no one in the Premier League that was moving me enough this week to kind of get them back in there. um I've kept Liverpool at one. Obviously, I get beat Man City at the weekends. They're 11 points here at the top the league.
00:55:06
Speaker
They're probably current form the best team in Europe, but we'll see how they get on when they play PSG in the cup. um I think it's the weekend. This day next week, I think, actually. um I have the Cavs at two.
00:55:18
Speaker
i just I still think they are one of the best teams in the NBA, if not the best. I have the Thunder at three. They're another team. They're on an eight and two run. um I just think they're they're top tier.
00:55:29
Speaker
I've added in the Pistons. Nice, I like that. When I was looking at the mirror, they are on the longest running winning run in the league with seven at the moment. They're coming along nicely, as you mentioned on in that episode you did on your own.
00:55:43
Speaker
They're a young team that are playing really, really well together, and I really like watching them at the moment. um I have the Celtics in at five, a bit like yourself now. They've gone nine and one in their last ten. They're a team to be feared. They're beating the Knicks. They're really, really good. And they're another team that are kind of coming along, coming together at the right time with the playoffs, kind of just kind of around the corner now at this stage.
00:56:07
Speaker
And I have had to leave Arsenal in at six, but they have dropped from second to sixth. Yeah, big drop. I've only left them there because there was no one else in the permanent that i kind of was really, really shouting and roaring about. I didn't even consider Newcastle, to be honest. I probably should have. But Arsenal have just kept their place in there, even though they did lose to West Ham.
00:56:25
Speaker
They are still second. They will probably finish second. So i just kept them in my top six. Nice. I like it. Got a bit of variety there, and I really like the Pistons' shout as well. One I was thinking about, and I think possibly let's let's look
Liverpool vs. Manchester City Recap
00:56:40
Speaker
at next week if they keep this up, they'll definitely deserve an addition in there on both sides. But any other business you have before we wrap up the episode?
00:56:47
Speaker
and Because we didn't get to talk about it, I would like to give five minutes on Liverpool Man City and just not even get into the stats and the figures. We just kind of go with kind of high level overview of it, just there from the eye test.
00:57:00
Speaker
Yeah, let's go for I thought the way Luke would play this was perfect. Playing in a low block is not something you see very often from a team that are out on top of the league, but they did it superbly. The two centre-backs again are just, they're a joke.
00:57:16
Speaker
The two of them, Kanati and Van Dijk are just a joke. grabbing Murch McAllister, Sabaslay, rend themselves into the ground, up and down. Sabaslay in particular was just nonstop back defending, up scoring his goal, back defending, up supporting Salah.
00:57:29
Speaker
And then Salah is just what Salah is like. He's just incredible. 25 goals and 16 assists. I think he's on now the first player in Premier League history to get 25 goals and 15 plus assists in a season.
00:57:41
Speaker
First player in Europe to have 50 goal and goal involvement as well. He's just out of this world. And I know Trent was torn to shreds by Doku, but there was nothing Doku did after he got past him that was scary. The way that the way they defended outside of Trent, Salah tracking back for a change as well. I just thought what a performance.
00:58:02
Speaker
No, that was really impressive from Salah. And on the other side as well, the fact that Robertson is getting help too. But of course, that's when you're in that low block. But I think, yeah, they worked at that. It didn't matter.
00:58:14
Speaker
Trent was getting rinsed there on the outside by Daku, but I don't think it mattered because like you had that low block and you had extra bodies in the box, literally just crowded the box and City find it very difficult to not go through the middle.
00:58:30
Speaker
yeah And then when you don't have Haaland in there, you're not crossing it to anybody. Crossed it to no one. Yeah. So like it was it it was a ah tactic that worked very well. i think, took the chances very clinically as usual.
00:58:43
Speaker
You know, I think they they basically played it part to perfection. and only yeah The only gripe I have is about Slott basically going to town, about United playing a low block against them earlier in the season and saying they were playing long balls when they literally weren't playing long balls, but they were playing a low block. They were playing long balls, but not long ball tactic.
00:59:06
Speaker
The first Liverpool goal against City was a long ball from Trent down the line. The second goal, sorry, that Salah set up sa as like was a long ball by Trent to set up Salah. Exactly. yeah It's okay when Liverpool it. just like it don Little teams need to to play better football. Yeah, that's it.
00:59:22
Speaker
Even though that game, we were we're passing it around you for the laugh. One of our only good games this season. Let us have it. and But yeah, I think it's just because he said it in a negative way after that game. Like you're doing it yourself.
00:59:33
Speaker
Not that there's anything wrong with the tactic. I think it was perfect way to beat City. that's what need to do. you probably got it from that game. You probably picked it up in that game. You're like, oh, this can work against a team that are going to... Like City are probably going to have more ball than they were in general because Antigua had City love keeping the ball.
00:59:50
Speaker
Nico Gonzalez loves to keep the ball. So... He's like, I might as well double down now and have none the ball and just take our chances when they come. And thankfully, they took the two chances in the first half. And there wasn't a single stage in the second half where was worried that Man City were going to score one, let alone two or three.
01:00:07
Speaker
Once the two-goal lead came, I felt it was over. Yeah, 100%. Once it went 2-0, I was like, City aren't getting back into this. They haven't done it all season against my team. They haven't looked like they're going to turn into the round. I was pretty confident at 2-0 that it was over and done The title is over and done with.
01:00:25
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. I think definitely, I think it's done. That was the last, I think, big hurdle unless you go on a five-game losing streak, but winning that game shows that that's not going to happen. So, yeah, I think all good things from from your your perspective and your point of view and City are in ah and a heap of trouble at the moment. They just look like they're running out of ideas and don't know what's going on with the Haaland situation too. Yeah.
01:00:50
Speaker
They threw a ball of money at it, this transfer window, and it didn't work. So back to the drone board in the summer. Yeah, I look forward to seeing them fall like a stone, hopefully, and potentially, and what's the word, and these alleged charges. Hopefully yes yes they're no longer alleged.
01:01:07
Speaker
won't say too much on them, yes. Oh, lads, that might be a celebratory episode if we see that happen. We'll see all the you know we'll see all the the fraudsters for what they are.
01:01:20
Speaker
But yeah, as you said, it's all alleged now. But like either way, that they're just even you see in this window, that they just pumped money into it and it didn't work. so and They just pump money in all the time. So regardless, they do spend a lot of money, whether this is like a charge that goes ahead or not but uh yeah i think that's pretty much it that's all i have so thanks again lads for listening and like if you can share around that would be great again and let us know what you thought if you have any feedback and give us a like and comment all of that stuff really does help so as much as you can do do it and work away and we will be back again next week for another good episode so thanks very much lads and chat to you then cheers lads thanks so much see you next week