Transcript
Speaker: All right, lads, welcome back to another episode of Who's Got the Ball. Myself and Shane here once again. Shane, what is the crack? You have to catch me in the hot there because we're just coming off one section and I thought you were redoing that section as a second kind of.
Speaker: I can pick between these. have to catch me in the hot there. ah we We kind of will talk about what I did throughout the week when we come into the football section at the start. I was down at the the Irish under 21's game at the Munster FA, Turner's Cross and just such a good evening out. sam Well worth the trip. Well worth the 15 quid.
Speaker: and ireland beating england under 21st level for the first time but would be really cool to be there for that other than that yeah quite weekend and for a change yeah i'm just calling a turner's cross they're not getting the monster fa out me i'm not one of their you have to other one of their of their media men one trip down there and he's one of the you've given it the big one but yeah i think i think that was an amazing game we'll give our thoughts like really soon it's the first thing we talk about in the episode I was over at the Colts-Commanders game in London, my first game as an NFL media member, getting media access to the game. So appreciate the lads over at Gaelic Gridiron for giving me that chance, and I'll be back over again for Jags-Eagles this weekend.
Speaker: So continue to see... and You'll continue to see some content over on our socials or surrounding the game, and also with the lads at Gaelic Gridiron, I'll be involved, myself and Jimmy... um and I'll probably have a write-up over there for them after the game, as I did last week too. So plenty of good stuff. But yeah, it was an amazing experience just to be there. The stadium is immense. like It's one of the nicest stadiums I've ever been in. Everything. Even Shane Steichen after the game was saying like the stadium is amazing. like Even this press conference room is amazing. It's like a cinema. like The seats were class. So everything about it.
Speaker: Couldn't say enough good things about it. So yeah, great trip. I'm looking forward to getting back there. Their soccer team is the only issue they have. Yeah, i like I think I saw something like, ah don't know the exact stat. I think it might have been like the number of wins the Colts have there. like They won once and it's like more than Spurs did this whole year or something like that at home. Something ridiculous. I think Beyonce did no more concerts than Spurs have won games there this season.
Speaker: That is just ridiculous. Like, I don't know. I don't know how they're so bad. They might as well just make that the permanent home of the Jags, bring them over, have them the London Jaguars. And then that's how they're going to make their money. smart as they They should just ship them off to to Jacksonville because they're useless. But yeah, let's get into what we're going to chat about this week. It was a great episode. Plenty covered.
Speaker: As I said, we started with the england the Ireland Under-21s defeating the England Under-21s for the first time in history. and So at Under-21 level, huge for us. And it it leads us into the playoffs for the 2027 Euros.
Speaker: Can Carrick's Man United bounce back? A Premier League topic to discuss going into this weekend. And then a preview of the biggest game of the weekend as well. Liverpool versus City. We gave our thoughts and predictions there. Moving into Gonshance, have a a bit of a lead built up. Shane, you need a five-pointer here. And we gave our picks there for our underdogs of the week ahead.
Speaker: Then we welcomed Michael in. He wasn't able to join the episode this week. A bit of an announcement about his involvement in the show going forward. But he did give us the goods of what happened over the summer, the moves that were made in the and NBA.
Speaker: So credit to Michael for that. Even when he was busy, he still jumped in and gave us some some stuff and and sent it across. So that's plugged into the episode. Then we moved into the NFL. We gave a couple of topics our time. So first off was the Patriots.
Speaker: Did they save their season with the win against the Bills or is it just a flash in the pan? And are the Eagles completely cooked at this stage with what's going on over there with their offensive line and everything else in between? and Then we previewed the two biggest games of the weekend, Niners at Seahawks and Monday Night Football Bills at Rams. Two unbelievable games that will be going ahead this weekend.
Speaker: Then we gave our King of the Hill locks. It's a new segment brought to you by King of the Hill. We'll get into that when we get there. It's a free game. You make your NFL picks every week and you can win money and backed off your free entry, which is great. So give that a listen. And then we wrapped up with a game. and We've been ending our episodes with a bit of crack. So this week I gave Shane a quarterback and he had to stop me when he hears one that's better than him. It's a bit of a a one that splits opinion. so you'll have to listen to the end to hear how that went. But yeah, let's let's get into action. So we have to start with a historic victory for Ireland.
Speaker: Under-21s, beating England for the very first time at this age level, down in Turner's Cross and Cork. Shane was there. You would have seen it because we've got our our clip up on social media after the victory, the lads celebrating. Shane, tell us about the game. What a night.
Speaker: ah First of all, we have to give it its prayer it's correct name. It's the Munster FA Turner's Cross. only one in the whole world. that Like, your super value parking fee is never going to be that, but it has to be Munster FA Turner's Cross because it annoys all the court people, and that's always a good start.
Speaker: It was just, it was genuinely incredible. Like, from once they went 1-0 down to the point that they were 3-1 up, They were just, they outplayed their English counterparts in every single facet of the game.
Speaker: The midfield was incredible. Devaney in there was absolutely superb, besides Roy Finneran as well, who looks, he looks like a superstar in the making. He really does. And the front three were just so dangerous. Like we we spent the Austria game in particular, we had Ida Parrott and Jack Moylan as a front three connecting really well.
Speaker: This front three were just as good, I found. Mullins and Trent Coneydardy in behind Lonergan. They were just brilliant, the three of them. And Mullins, for me, was probably the man of the match. He ran the ball. and He won. He was just all over the place everywhere. And then Trent does the outball. His pace. and I couldn't. like You'd see him when I was watching him for the 21s. You'd know he was fast. But when you see him kind of running at you from the halfway line when he's running into space, you're like, he's after to getting there in like three seconds. It's it's absolutely insane. But...
Speaker: Overall, the performance was absolutely incredible from all them. The back three, which included a centre mid by the way, and they were absolutely brilliant. The two wing backs, it took the left wing backs to get a bit of time to get into the game. and i think he might have lost his head a bit after the goal from um Everton lad. Because he was the one who let him free at the back goals. But after that, then he got his goal and he was brilliant going up and down. and I said think it was him that put the long throw in for the third goal as well. Yeah, he did. yeah yeah i like if if it wasn't a full sellout but the crowd there was unbelievable and everyone was behind the team even when especially when they were one of them the crowd never gave up on them and it was just such a good watch and well worth the trip down i actually knew when he thought they were incredible to a man they just they made the english lads until they made their changes they made the english starting 11 up really really poor and that was a good few premier league players championship starters we had a couple of league two lads obviously lonergan is the top scorer in the irish premier division as well but
Speaker: yeah I'll stop going on now I'll let you talk for a second but I just thought they were absolutely brilliant yeah no it's the type of team to go on about though because it's it's the hope of the future as well as winning that game like all these guys are at under 21 level and then they're going to come up and compliment some of the younger lads like you mentioned Mylan Parrot have so many years ahead of them and then you've got this kind of talent hopefully coming up I thought you could easily just have seen the team fall apart one nill down, knowing they need a win, but they just did the opposite.
Speaker: And I think the first goal really epitomised the way that they played because that tackle by Devani to win the ball in midfield just snapped in there. straight to Finneran and then he feeds Lonergan for the finish and that's the same thing they've been doing across this whole campaign like consistently either Finneran or Devaney winning the ball feeding the other and then they give it in to Lonergan or out to the wings and Yeah, I know Conor Doherty's pace on that goal. That was like the standout thing from like McManus. Again, jumped in wins the ball, overlaps. But the way he runs with the ball, Conor Doherty, and like the little jab touches. So the defender can't fully commit either way and then just perfect ball in. It's really good stuff, like nine goals in 19 appearances for Maldis so far since he signed for them in in February. It's really, really good. And I think that's the type of goal that Ireland should be aiming to score into the future, like win the ball on the halfway line, quick counterattacks with these young guys with pace, which we we haven't had for a long time, but we finally do have it now in abundance.
Speaker: And the main thing is is the midfield. Like, if Finneran and Devaney can be international starters, like, that midfield will be sorted because those two lads look like they can read the game so well already at their young age. They're getting senior experience already, which is so important, even though it's not at the highest level. It's still at a high level. And then you've got...
Speaker: the fact that, you know, they were both born in England lingering in the back of people's minds with the Declan Rice situation. I don't think these lads are the same. I think they want to play for Ireland. No, I don't think But you still never know. They made that decision on really good things.
Speaker: Get them capped. They made that decision both of them. yeah so now we're into a playoff to qualify for euro 2027 which is in albania and serbia next summer potential opponents we'll find out tomorrow morning just after this podcast comes out netherlands denmark ceccia please god not again finland greece iceland and turkey uh we played over two legs i think we're like Based on the rankings, we're ranked, um i think, in between Cheche and Finland.
Speaker: i think're I think there's a few below us. So hopefully we get an easier draw. But look, after what we did yesterday, and you think you'd fancy your chances against anyone riding that high. Yeah, 100%. And I think they'll go into any game with so much confidence after the way they played that game on Tuesday night.
Speaker: even the subs that came on, they all made a difference as well. And it was it was a proper, was a squad performance because for the last 20 minutes or so, they really wore backs against the wall. And every single shot was blocked. or green in one I think Green at one point won four headers in a row in the middle of the box, just kept winning them, get kept getting them out. And it's that kind of, that belief they have that they all pull their way. There's no one just stood up front waiting for a ball to come to them the halfway line. Even Coné Darcy was getting back. And he's he's minuscule like but he was still there trying to win headers in the box he was doing everything and then he was the one that was getting out to counter-attack as well I think they'll work great everything about him they were just such a good team to watch and the future does look right and for a change I think it's probably the first time in our generation where our twenty ones actually look like they have more than just like oh tropi Troy Parrott Troy Parrott is the one come true or
Speaker: to things like that where it's always only one or two. This looks like we could very easily get six senior players out of this 21's team. And that's not even, i don't even think that's going over the top, to be honest, because you had the two in midfields. Mullins could get there.
Speaker: Lonergan, think he has a chance. He's 22 now, but if he went back to England or went somewhere in Europe, I'd rather he go somewhere in Europe. Like you'd never know what kind of a Troy Power thing he could do where at 24 he's ripping up in Holland the same way Troy Power was. And then he's another candidate to move into the first team as well. So yeah, i'm I'm really excited. I'm really glad I went to it. And if I mind, I'll try and go to playoff game again as well whenever fixtures are announced for November.
Speaker: Yeah, yeah. No, I i think it was a great the a great experience that you definitely, like, I'm jealous that you had it. would have went if it was in Dublin, obviously Corkville on track when you just finished work. wouldve been I don't know if I would have even made it on time because it started at six, but... Yeah, don't think you would.
Speaker: Yeah, I think... all positives leaning into the future and like we didn't even mention some of the guys as well off the bench like I thought Michael Noonan didn't play a big part but he comes on and the way he he was able to hold the ball up a couple of times like that's proper striker work like it's not a big thing but it's it's something important that you can't teach you either have or you don't like So yeah, big, big future ahead, hopefully for this team. And we'll jump into English league football. And this is a topic we wanted to cover last week, but the amount of news that came out, we couldn't really do it. um So instead, we're looking at it the week before the Premier League is back. And that is, can Carrick's Man United bounce back?
Speaker: so they're playing Spurs at home Saturday evening. They're last on the table. They have only two draws. On paper, that should be ideal, but it's hard to know what this is going to look like heading into heading into another bit of unknown territory for United fans.
Speaker: It's so hard because this is either the most perfect game or the worst game imaginable. Spurs have been a mess through the first five games. Yeah, it is five before the break. yeah Spurs is an absolute mess through the first out five games of the season.
Speaker: And I don't see how over this international break he could have turned them around because so many of them would have been away with their national teams despite how badly they're playing. So he probably has three days with his first team squad again to try and get him in and get a plan in place. And going away to United it is...
Speaker: it's It's one of the worst for him, especially now. Carrick has been... Fulham game is just... It's it's still stuck in my mind how bad United were, particularly in the second half, and Carrick is going to have beaten the life out of him over that. You cannot come out here again after a three-week break and put in into performance like that.
Speaker: I think it's a game where both teams really need a win, which is why it's going to be a draw. It's almost kind of it's all was guaranteed that is... For me, it is one-all written all over it. I think United need a performance board and result.
Speaker: A one-all draw, but United actually show heart, show determination. The players don't look like they're half arsonist, so they actually just go out there and play the football. i We know these lads have, on paper, they the quality of playing.
Speaker: So if they go and do performance and they're just caught on a hop in the 80th minute and they can't get a winner... that would be better than if they were training them up at halftime and just arsed around for the second half. I think they really need to put in a full 90 performance here and get a result as well for Yeah, if you look at the way United have played, like there's games where they, in every game, they've had a spell where Barla Fulham won. That was just drab from start to finish. But every in every other game, they've had chances where they've been in positions where they create chances and they don't take them. And then they're just like, oh, we created a few chances there. sure like What do you want us to do now? ah Keep going. You have to keep creating these chances to get your goals.
Speaker: They've hit the woodwork more than any other team. Like, you can say luck plays a part, but you earn your own luck with the effort you put in. Like, across the board, third and XG, second and shots on target.
Speaker: They've missed 10 or 15 big chances and most touches in the opposition box. On paper, you'd say, that's... That's fine. that's where you're what That's like you're setting yourself up to succeed.
Speaker: But this is the same as when Amarim was kind of early days last season. There was good statistical profile behind the play, but they weren't beating teams. And i think the main issue right now is only 2.6 possessions, one in the opposition final third. That's around, I think, 14th or so on the table. The key to that is Amad.
Speaker: If Ahmed plays, that completely switches because Ahmed is constantly the the trigger for the press. And when he plays off the right and Bumo goes up front and he is way better at pressing as a striker than as a right winger because he's very clueless. He tries.
Speaker: He tries. He tries to be the striker. He tries more and he knows that, look, I don't have to get back now as well. Whereas Ahmed has no problem getting up and down that right wing. So I think Ahmed is a key to a lot of things because he helps out the press.
Speaker: He frees up Mboumo to play in a better position based on how he'd looked at United. He also helps Dalo massively. He makes Dalo's life so much easier because Dalo is struggling without him there. And then the second thing is Beliba coming back.
Speaker: He will be huge, the fact that he'll be back from his injury and actually have a few games under his belt because Luke Shaw has looked... terrible at times and believe it will cover for that massively like he covers that left back spot hugely and it's consistently what he did for brighton and he'll continue to do it for united so i do think believe it and ahmed coming back will make like the whole world of difference to this team it'll probably take a few weeks for them to get up to full fitness but i do think that when they're in the team i feel a lot more positive about what they do because they cover a lot of the issues that other players have but
Speaker: Having said that, you still need to create more chances. You can't just... Look, they've created a lot of chances, but it's clearly not enough if you're not finishing them. And you need to stop letting in worldies because yeah the amount of goals you know you can see like that are just... you know That's also a bit of luck, but it's also like...
Speaker: you know You're letting in some silly silly goals, but then you're letting in some worldies because a lad has an acre of space on the edge of the box. You're inviting him to take that shot. like Their XG is a lot lower than the goals they've conceded. That's because they've been conceded worldies, as I said. So I think it's like close your man out, don't even give him the chance to have a shot from long distance, and then stop making stupid mistakes like that Martinez own goal. Like these, United should not be conceding goals like that. And they should not have conceded that goal to Maitland-Niles. He should be somebody on him at the last second, closing him down. And right there, that's six points for you if you actually did your job properly. So little things in defense, and then Ahmad and Belita, think, will make the difference. But...
Speaker: I think they need to book up while those two boys are getting up to fitness too because they're not going to be back straight away. Yeah, I think, like, I consider us to be stat nerds. Like, we we we love the stats behind the football.
Speaker: United are one of those teams that make us look really, really bad because everything you pointed out on paper, they should be... well up there 12 15 points they could be top the league with the with the stats are pointing out and then you just do not pass the eye test and they couldn't have failed more miserably in the eye test against fulham despite the stats coming out of that game and if they can get their performance up to where their stats are then they could be in for really good season yeah but this is the week they have to they have to shake off all these cobwebs take their chances and if you get one nil up early on the spurs team it's
Speaker: I don't even need to say it, it they they're probably they are 100% the team in the league with the least amount of confidence, despite the quality players they have. If you get 1-0 up inside 10 minutes, you could easily put four or five past the Spurs team because they're they're literally they're the lowest of any team I can remember being in the Premier League. and They stayed up last year because they had the quality and Deserby managed to get a bit out of them. But if they come into this again, they lose. Deserby is in big trouble then, I think. And United need to be, and especially Carrick, he needs this win more than anything because the murmuring's already starting of the discontent. And it's like, United can't keep doing this circle of...
Speaker: caretaker manager gets the job full-time, they mess him up, he loses his job, caretaker comes in, does a great job, gets the job full-time, bang again. and only so like There's just so many examples. This needs to be the one that United can stick with for five or six years in Michael Carrick. They just need that kind of stability now where they can build a team in his liking.
Speaker: But if they go out and they lose 2-0 to this Spurs team, then I think he could be in big trouble as well. It could be the Derby sitting there rubbing his hands together at the end of this game but I'm going to back a draw but if United go 1-0 up after 10 minutes then I'm going to get you to edit this and say I backed United 4-0 from the start Yeah I think United are going to win just for the fact they're at home I think they have enough to win against the Spurs team. They should be drilled. They should have.
Speaker: Some of the lads like Rashford and Main who pulled out with England squad, obviously they focused on training with United and for for load management reasons, let's say, similar to Cole Palmer. Yeah, load of management. The only thing that has just lingering around in my mind is that I hope...
Speaker: United aren't like one of those classic NFL teams where you win a load of one-score games the season before and then it comes back to bite you and you're terrible because they won so many close games under Carrick when he came in last year.
Speaker: Now that could be a ah mentality thing and that could last for years because that's what the best teams do but so far this season they haven't so they need to turn that around. We're also going to preview another game. So this is a huge matchup. Liverpool versus Man City. Super Sunday. A nice one to come back to on the first weekend, just straight into the good stuff. 15 points from five games for City. Second most goals in the league.
Speaker: Solid defence. Liverpool more of a kind of a slog in attack with only seven goals but they're getting the job done. They're unbeaten so far. So I think this one is a game where something has to give. I think Liverpool don't want to be cut adrift from City so a point is really not too good for you you need to capitalize when you can at home get the win bring it down to three points if you want to stay in touching distance and then city they've had a terrible window for all the negative news around there and financial scandals so they're going to want to come out here and be like well we're going to do it on the pitch and we're going put that behind us so both teams are going want to win i don't think either team will want to draw here
Speaker: a I think it could very easily go the opposite way for these City players and with all they've heard over the last couple of weeks. I'd say they spent more time worrying about what their what their future holds if if you know if Man City get this punishment. As I mentioned, I think it was probably last week that these lads are probably all on the phones to their agents. Like, how watertight is this contract?
Speaker: They could come out here and their heads could be on absolute mars. And that's what i hope happens. I think the atmosphere is going to be insane. I think the flags, the banners, everything. They'll have new songs made up for Man City being Chiefs.
Speaker: There's apparently going to be... The the bosses are going to be welcomed like that time in the Champions League with the flares and everything. And I just hope that doesn't get nasty like it did last time. But... yeah I don't know if this is good or bad for Liverpool that they're the first team to see face off the back of this.
Speaker: That's all going to backfire. That stuff is too much and you're just riling them up. even if they Even if their heads aren't fully in it, that's your' you're challenging the players on a personal level than doing that. yeah like ah I wonder if if it have been better if they went to Fulham away this again and then had Liverpool next again. So Fulham are the first pride team that had to deal with them.
Speaker: Nobody even watches it. i don't know Yeah, exactly. guys It's just 3 o'clock on a Saturday. They just get it over and done with. And then the week after they've Liverpool at Anfield. I am going to back Liverpool here based off the fact that Liverpool are just going to feel there's not a lot, but there's still a couple of Liverpool players in that squad who will have been cheated themselves by Man City out of a couple of titles. The likes of Van Dijk, Galisson, and they're two of the biggest voices in the dressing room as well.
Speaker: They're surely to have these lads riled up. I just hope that all day the yellow markers on fancy football aren't the sign that all these lads are actually going to be missing because it's Isaac, it's Gatpo, it's Jacquet, it's Brim Pong. They all have little yellow markers. Like, oh God, this will be the worst week for yeah most so three of our best performing players to miss this game. But I'm going to back Liverpool 2-0. I'm just going going off the fact that the 50 players' heads are going to be on Mars and they don't come down in time.
Speaker: I was going to ask you about that Ezek situation. like Is there any clarification on him? Is he going to play? What's wrong with him? It's apparently just he he got stood on and his toe was bleeding.
Speaker: like That's genuinely what it's going to then it was talk yeah Then there was talk on the stupid ITK page on Twitter that he had a calf strain, but that has never been confirmed by Liverpool or Sweden or anyone. So I think it is he pulled out to get a couple of stitches in his toe.
Speaker: It could have been load management as well, the way the other lads are. kind of playing it off and hopefully that's all it is and he's able to play because point you said and what I agree you Liverpool haven't been firing an attack at all But individually, Gatpo has been really good. Izac has been quite good well. He's taken his chances when he gets them. He's still nowhere near the player were watching at Newcastle, but he appears to be getting to that level.
Speaker: um I just actually... Liverpool have two clean sheets in their last two league games as well after conceding four in their first two. Or is it three clean sheets in a row? It is, yeah. It's three clean sheets in a row to conceding in their first two.
Speaker: That Alisson save against Bournemouth was unbelievable to keep that. Outrageous, yeah. But if they can keep that back four where they're all fit, so Araujo, Xhaka, Van Dijk and Kirkus, even though Kirkus is headless, the other three have been so solid. So they need that back five with Alisson to start this game. And kind of that's the base you need. It's the base that's kept three and team sheets in a row.
Speaker: Hopefully we can make the four and come out winners. Izak and Vert. I'd love Vert to get a goal. He really, he's shone for Germany in window. I just still hope that's the one that comes back. Yeah, i I think I'm worried about how hard Liverpool go at this. like I think if they play conservatively and just take the factor at home and allow City to have the ball and then hit them where it hurts, they could win this game. But that's not Areola. That's not his style. And I feel like this game has come too early in Areola's reign at Liverpool.
Speaker: I think that... he'll have them hyped up he'll have them pressing high and there's no team you want to do that against less than City like that Turkey Semenyo Haaland front three is just inevitable Semenyo's injured apparently Yeah, i I don't know if that's... I've seen varying things on that, whether that's he's actually not going to play. I don't know. So it's hard to know with these, but either way, the amount of players they have that can make a difference, and Haaland, full stop, like you don't need to know any more than that.
Speaker: So I think Liverpool may go a bit too hard in this game, and it might come back to bite them. So like with the 49ers in the NFL, until they lose, I'm not going to back against them, and I'm going to go with City 2-1.
Speaker: Five wins in a row. I think they'll make it six, but yeah. Let's see how goes. Any other thoughts on the game before we move on? i'm I'm looking forward to it. It's one of those things I'm going to sit down and watch the pre-match coverage because i think it's, again, going to be dominated by these 114 charges. fourteen challenges and i genuinely can't get it enough of hearing it at the moment. I just think it's, i do so I still think it's the biggest scandal in all of sport.
Speaker: And once settles down, and I hope they get the punishment they deserve. I'm not convinced by that, but I really hope it's it's done before the end of the season as well. Because if they win the league again, and then it's like, oh, actually, we're taking that title too.
Speaker: I just don't think it'll be a good look for the Premier League or any of the clubs who've been putting up with them for the last 10, 11 years, however long the lads have been in charge. But I'm looking forward to think it'll be a good game and hopefully Liverpool come out and top.
Speaker: Yeah, I'll be watching back because I'll be at the NFL in London. So keep an eye on the score and I'm watching a back then after. But yeah, should be a great one. We'll move into Ganshan's here. So another good week for myself.
Speaker: It's five to ten. I'm up. So you have five points. I have ten. Look, I e was really annoyed that the Raiders couldn't get it done against the Chiefs. I think they really had it on their doorstep and I could have five-pointer. So I had the Jags beating the Bengals and the Giants beating the Cardinals.
Speaker: The Raiders did let me down by three points. You had the Raiders as well. You also had the Jets. Both of those let you down. But you did have the Giants the same as me, so that got you one point. So I'm five points clear. We're heading into another week. and I think it was tough. The Premier League ones were tough. but We have to get at least one of them in there. So what did you get? that.
Speaker: Bournemouth to beat Chelsea 7-2 versus 4-6. Honestly, looking at all 10, it was borderline of impossible. I'd hate to be doing a last man standing this week because Leeds against Arsenal is probably the one you have to go with. it And even that, you can't say for certain, that's going to go the way of Arsenal.
Speaker: After the way they finished their international break. But I just went with Bournemouth. I think they play they play such nice football. And I think Marco Rosa had a good chunk of his squad in with him for the international break as well too.
Speaker: kind of drill down where they've gone wrong in pretty much every game so far this season. They've had the lead in all their games, barred the Liverpool one. So if they can get on top against Chelsea, this Chelsea team looks fragile while they're trying to get used to Javier Alonso.
Speaker: and just hoping for an early Bournemouth goal and they can go from there. um I've then gone with the Colts to beat the Steelers. I have no confidence in either of these teams and that's why I've gone with them. Danny Dimes was absolutely atrocious at the weekend, but he's due a bounce-back game and This Steelers team, really don't have too many nice things to say about them and i need to I need to not do that because I'll be thrown off to get a gridiron podcast if I go like that. but i I just fancy the Colts here. I know it's away, but I just think it's two bad teams and I just think Jonathan and Taylor will make the difference.
Speaker: And I put my money where my mouth is. So this is also my my lock on King of the Hill. I'm back in the 49ers to beat the Seahawks. The Niners are 5-4. The Seahawks are 8-13.
Speaker: You can read it in my preview why I think this. I won't give too much away now. I'll let you take over. Yeah, so we've actually got two of the same. I thought we might actually have all three the same, to be honest, given how tough this week is.
Speaker: I also have Bournemouth to beat Chelsea. I think it's the only logical pick in the Premier League. I actually think Chelsea will win with Bournemouth's injuries and the fact that Palmer and Joe Pedro are probably back. But Bournemouth is the best option of all. And the underdogs, the only other two were Leeds and Spurs, I think, that were against odds on teams. So I couldn't go with either them.
Speaker: Next up, I've got the Raiders to beat the Patriots. This is also my King of the Hill pick, which we'll get to and and towards the end of the episode. and But I think that that's, look, to be honest, it's it's a game that I think the Patriots are favourites in because they're at home and because they won last week. But They still haven't convinced me at all. And I think the Raiders look really good against the Chiefs. I know they lost, but that showed me that they're actually a real team, even though they lost it.
Speaker: It wasn't just against the poor opposition. And then lastly, same as you, Niners at Seahawks, picking the Niners until they lose. I think they're the best team in the league so far. So I'm going to back them until they are defeated and might be against the Seahawks. But i I do think that they match up nicely in this game, how fast Purdy gets the ball out.
Speaker: and so those are our gone chance underdog picks for the week we're gonna throw now to michael so michael is gonna be on the podcast every week from now on chatting nfl and nba as the season ramps up we'll have an nba season preview coming up soon enough but we're throwing it over to michael now for our nba summer roundup of news news moves and all that good stuff so let's welcome in michael First of all, thank you, James, for the wonderful intro that I'm sure you gave me. As you guys can see, unfortunately, i was preoccupied with ah my under 18s that I'm coaching and I wasn't able to join the Shane and James for NFL this week.
Speaker: However, have great news. In 12 days, we have the beginning of and NBA basketball, and NBA opening night. So before we get to you next week with our NBA season preview, I'm going to give you guys a little NBA roundup to this summer. I've got my cheat sheet ready to give you guys all the information you need to catch up and be on the ball when we drop our episode next week. I didn't mean to do if Because who's got the ball?
Speaker: We do. And we're on the ball. First of all, we're going to start off with the NBA draft. So if you've been living under a rock, the first pick of the draft was AJ DeBansa going to the Washington Wizards. Nearly forgot it there because the second pick of the draft is Darren Peterson going to the Jazz and the third pick is Cam Boozer going to the Grizzlies. I think all three picks are great. Each team seems super happy with their selection. I don't think anyone of their fans can complain so far. We haven't seen anything besides Summer League and preseason, but still.
Speaker: It's always exciting to see a nice rookie, especially a highly touted one, come out of college and have a media impact. Some other honorable mentions are Caleb Wilson, who obviously had a fantastic summer league. We have Keaton Wagler, who's currently heating up in preseason. Darius Acuff Jr., who looks so calm and collected in preseason already.
Speaker: Yax Olandeberg, who... I think is a super smart Warriors pick and can definitely impact their season this year. You hope that he can learn from Draymond and not just learn how to dodge punches.
Speaker: And then we have Adeyemara going to OKC. i think I thought that was a super interesting pick. Another huge big man that they can put possibly next to Chet. However, he just seems so slow and immobile in the limited minutes we've seen of him. I'm not sure how to feel. But those are just kind of some honorable mentions from the draft.
Speaker: Now we're going to get into our trades. So we have more or less kind of a big three when it comes to the trades of this summer. So the first trade I'm going to start off with is Giannis to the Heat.
Speaker: So after many, many, many, many reports of Giannis wanting to leave over the last three years, it's finally happened and he's gone to the Miami Heat. I think he's going to love it there.
Speaker: I think Eric Spolstra and Pat Riley are going to give him everything he wants. I think that kind of culture is what he's going to thrive in. But that trade sends Giannis and Bobby Portis from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Heat in return for Tyler Hero, Hamei Hakkas Jr., Kaelwer, Kasperis Yakuchonas.
Speaker: Four first-round picks and a second-round pick. Is he worth that? Possibly not. But with the lineup that the Miami Heat have, you can always bet on Spolstra to be able to pull decent guard play out of undrafted rookies and hidden stars, people that they pick up. So...
Speaker: them not having that much of a depth at Garrett and losing Norman Powell, I think is fine. They pick up Klay Thompson. You know, they seem very committed to Davion Mitchell, who looks amazing this summer. Now could be on Ben Simmons watch with his summer workouts. We'll see how he does in the season, but I think Spolstra has a really good feeling about the guards and wings that he has. And putting Giannis next to Bam is just going to bring unmatched defensive potential that if if they regularly hold teams to 90, 80 points, that would be that would be just a sight to see.
Speaker: Our second pick from this summer is going to be, sorry, a second pick, our second trade from this summer that we're getting into is going to be the Hornets and the Timberwolves, sending Lamello Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves with Josh Green and a second round pick in return for a Nas Reed, four first round picks, three second round picks, and Matteo Spagnuolo.
Speaker: I don't know who Matteo Spagnuolo is. I'm sorry. Disrespect on your name. But Nas Reed is a really quality pickup for the Hornets. And you can really tell that they have been super impressed with what Khan Kanepo has shown last year.
Speaker: They're taking away every immature piece that they had on the team. I don't think LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges were the two guys that they wanted Khan to kind of learn the NBA from and be surrounded with as he's kind of maturing in this climate. But I think the Hornets team is super, super interesting, especially with this trade. They have a lot of pieces that I really like for them.
Speaker: But the question is, some of this team is pretty young, and I think a lot of it is built around Khan. How much can he really impact next season? We kind of saw his shooting slump at the end of last year, especially going into the play-in, and where he was really, really disappointing.
Speaker: If he can step up and kind of take that next step, be able to create his own separation, kind of take that step as a scorer, I think this is really, really interesting for the Hornets. On the Timberwolves' side, absolutely fantastic for them. I know Timberwolves' fans are buzzing. LaMelo Ball, you've got Anthony Edwards at the two. You still keep so much of your team this offseason as a Wolves fan.
Speaker: Sneaky add Kaminga, Cody Williams and free agency. and Only issue is they're kind of center depth. They only have Rudy Gobert. They have Rocco Zekarski behind them.
Speaker: Sneaky nice pick was Cody Williams from the Jazz who was balling out in the last couple of weeks of the season. But It kind of leaves both teams in a very interesting position. I think this is one of the trades that both teams kind of walk away super, super happy in two or three years where they feel like both teams won.
Speaker: Our last trade that we're getting to is my favorite, clearly. I had to pull over on the side of the road when I heard this. Jalen Brown to the 76ers for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks.
Speaker: I can see that I've peaked my microphone with the volume. However, my excitement is extremely warranted as we've seen Jalen Brown now in preseason looks like a baller as usual.
Speaker: and I just think he adds so much for the team. Obviously, everybody knows the Sixers have also added LeBron James. We'll talk about a little bit more in the free agency section. But this team has done such a huge turnaround from last season where as a Sixers fan, I was feeling a little bit a little bit despondent about our future, feeling like we're not really going to make any noise. And then we have the best offseason I think I could have ever been here for. On the other side, the Celtics get Paul George, who I think is a more complimentary piece around Jason Tatum than Jalen Brown.
Speaker: You saw Jalen Brown kind of carry that team when Tatum was out. And I think they were having a little bit of an issue deciding their offense when Tatum and Brown were back in, even though they were playing great. I'm not shading either one of them at all. I thought Tatum looks fantastic coming back from from his injury, but he has another season away from that.
Speaker: Will he be able to take that gear up and be able to kind of carry this team? Paul George, it's questionable how much output we actually see from him. I don't know if he's he's not the same MVP season Paul George that we saw in OKC, but As I was saying, I think as a complimentary piece to the Celtics team, I think he might fit a little bit better around Tatum. He might help the Celtics team kind of bring forth some of that regular season momentum into the playoffs.
Speaker: Now, Those are kind of my big three trades. Quick little honorable mention to Peyton Watson going to the Cavs in a five-team trade with the Nuggets, the Clippers, and another two teams that I have forgotten about at this current moment.
Speaker: But the Nuggets are in a very strange situation when it came to their offseason. Definitely looking a lot more depleted as a result of their salary situation.
Speaker: And a lot of dependence on Jokic kind of bringing this team up and just dragging them to the playoffs. On the Cavs side, they add Peyton Watson. I think you had to add something new, something different to kind of change up. I don't think they could run this same team back.
Speaker: I'm surprised that Evan Mobley and Jared Allen are both on the team at the same time, unless I'm completely forgetting. I'm pretty sure they're both there. so If they're not, James, I hope you cut this.
Speaker: But now we're going to get into our free agency section. So I think a couple of like quick little notes that I said, I've mentioned Kaminga going to the Timberwolves already. um but Norman Powell and Nick Claxton both going to the Bulls, I think is super interesting.
Speaker: The Bulls going from super guard heavy team that clearly meant to offload some of those guards before the trade deadline and didn't get to actually looking like a decent fit right now. I think they might be able to overstep the Hornets. I think the Hornets have like another year of maturing they need before they can kind of see the upside of the situation they've put themselves in but the Bulls always kind of seem right there in the middle and I'm wondering if the addition of Norman Powell and Nick Claxton to this team kind of
Speaker: the vets kind of helped solidify this team and play in a way that is actually actually conductive to winning basketball and possibly making some noise in the playoffs and not just a whole boat bunch of fake fanfare that halfway through the season they go from being the one seed down to the six seed.
Speaker: flashbacks to previous seasons, but I'll leave it there. Walker Kessler to the Lakers. Again, if you've been living under a rock, you don't know about this. Walker Kessler signs to the Lakers, kind of bolstering this Lakers team that the front office is having questionable, I think, decisions on. I think he's a great fit next to Luka, and a lot of people are questioning his His numbers on it. He's one of the top when he's healthy.
Speaker: He's one of the top offensive rebounders in the league. He's one of the top shot blockers in the league. I think it's a great pickup. LeBron James to the 76ers just absolutely stacks the deck. They pick up Dean Wade as well. They pick up Anthony Simons. They pick up Caleb Love.
Speaker: i Ariel Huckporty goes down in the first preseason game after five minutes tearing his Achilles out for the season. So they are really hampered at center position behind Joel Embiid.
Speaker: You hope that they can pick someone up ah as a free agent, but I think they're attempting to stay under the the apron right now, and they don't have enough money to pick someone up on the vet minimum, so they may need to waive someone. That's something to watch out for.
Speaker: Whoever they pick up, there's talks it's taco fall, may actually need to play decent amount of minutes during the season if Joel Embiid misses a lot of time, which history has shown he kind of does. But that kind of brings me to the end of my and NBA roundup. Last thing I want to say though, because just like this offseason, last minute, Kawhi Leonard comes in.
Speaker: And gets traded to the Raptors. After the Clippers absolutely fall apart. Steve Ballmer gets banned. Lawrence Frank gets banned. And Kawhi gets to go to the Raptors.
Speaker: For Brandon Ingram. Who's already out for the season. With an Achilles there. Grady Dick. Three first round picks. And two second round picks. To kind of help alleviate. The five first round picks that they lost.
Speaker: In their judgment. By the NBA. That's my highlights of this NBA's offseason. This is my NBA roundup for you guys. I hope you enjoy. Definitely tune in to the and NBA season preview next week. It's going to be a lot of fun. Thank you, James. Always a pleasure to be here.
Speaker: hope to see you guys next week. All right. Appreciate Michael, as always, putting in that time and effort. And as I said, he'll be on. and consistently throughout the season we'll get more of his thoughts and our thoughts too on the and nba as the whole going into the season in just a couple of weeks with our season preview and then it'll be on this at this podcast every single week as it usually is in season so yeah we're looking forward to having michael on for that on the nfl as the as the season runs along and more nfl chat then this time just the two of us taking it over shane
Speaker: Patriots, did they save their season with the win against the Bills? 29-26 win. Drake May looked a lot better um after he shut off that early mistake and he had a nice connection with Romeo Dobbs that seems to be developing in the red zone. I think that's a big thing for them going forward with AJ Brown out. But do you think this is just like a one-time thing and the Bills weren't great, made mistakes and the Pats got the win, or do you think they're actually right in the ship now fully?
Speaker: one swallow doesn't make a summer. I need to get that key say in there somewhere. I think it is a massive win for them. All jokes said, it is a massive win for them, but in terms of saving their season, they need to show us more consistently than one game out of four because even though they are at two and two, their other win wasn't very impressive either and Drake May did look like a football player at the weekends, but the Bills didn't look like a football team. And that's very on Bills-like. I said yesterday on the Get Good Iron, if you haven't listened to that, go over. But this is more for me that the Bills lost it than the Patriots won it. The Bills had a chance at the end to at least tie it and shoot a ridiculous interception. And Josh Allen loves giving the ball to the other team for some reason at the moment.
Speaker: I think it does keep their year alive for now. But I know they got to the day Super Bowl last year, but we did mention over the summer that they have a much tougher schedule this year than they did have last year.
Speaker: And I think theyre another they're just one week away from us saying, have the Patriots punted their season. So no, I wouldn't say they've saved their season, but I do think it was really important win for them. yeah i think that it keeps the confidence of drake may as well at least somewhat impact like he had such a bad string of games all four playoff games the opening three weeks of the season were bad too and he started this game bad as well and it was like is he gonna make this eight in a row but he steadied the ship he had some really nice passes that passed for a second touchdown to dobbs was lovely
Speaker: the Dobbs catch was kind of the more impressive of the two, the yeah out of the throw and the catch. But and then later on, as you evolve into the game, another nice pass to Chisholm, but that catch is just outrageously good. And if they're going to get plays from guys like Chisholm and then their big players like Dobbs can step up a little bit more, then I think their ah offense could take a little bit and The defense has been consistently okay. Like there's not been a problem on defense this season, but I do feel like The game was there for the Bills and Josh Allen threw it away. Like that second and six thrown into double coverage literally just threw the game away. They had two more bites at the apple there to get the first down, get your big play. All they even needed was a field goal to bring it to overtime and you'd fancy them there.
Speaker: But he just kind of panicked and went back to that old Josh Allen where you just fire in any direction. You see a receiver and you don't really care the outcome. which I was surprised to see that I felt like he was kind of done with the game um you can't really do that they needed that win you know 4-0 would have been a great position you kind of kill the Patriots with that win but credit to the Pats like they took it I think as I said in gone chance I think the Raiders beat them this season this weekend to be honest but it's a good win for them I think that the Raiders will pose ah a tough test and if they beat them
Speaker: they'll be on a nice track because you wouldn't say going into the season, oh, if you beat the Raiders, you look good. But the way the Raiders have been playing, it could be a good win if they do win it. Yeah, I think the one thing it does, it has stopped the slide before it became a kind of like a full-blown crisis.
Speaker: But i I do think they'll lose this weekend as well. And two and two... can fall to two and three and then into two and four very quickly, especially with their schedule. And and at that point, then, they are in real, real trouble. So think getting that second win before playing the Raiders was absolutely massive for them.
Speaker: But I'm still not convinced by them. I still need to see a lot more. Now, I do agree that connection between May and Dobbs does look really, really good. ah Dobbs was a really good player for the Packers last year. Yeah, last year.
Speaker: And I think he seems to be picking up with a bit confidence now. I really wish he'd get rid of the Guardian helmet. do I know it has a purpose, but it looks it just looks so ridiculous on him, I think. But yeah, I'm backing the Raiders to beat him this weekend as well. But I think I need to see more over the next two or three weeks from before we can fully say it they've saved any season or they've punted it away.
Speaker: Okay, what i took from that is you just want more players to get concussed. So we'll make that on the yeah the headline note of the episode. In all seriousness, I think the the fact that the offense of the Raiders has been good...
Speaker: That's the key to this game. Whatever we talk about, Drake May, he's the big story. But it's about whether the Pats' defense can hold him. So they're one of the best scoring defenses in the league, the Patriots, with the amount of points they've allowed, only 19 per game. And the offense for the Raiders is top 10 with nearly 29 points per game.
Speaker: So it's whether these two, whoever wins that battle, I think is key more so than anything really Drake May does. But I do think Max Crosby bringing the heat will be a a tough thing for him to handle because he makes mistakes under pressure we've seen. So really good game. I'm actually really excited for this one. and And I'm on the same spot as you. I actually don't think the Pats have saved their season. Really, I'll lean fully into that. i I think that they still have so much to prove. so that let's go into another team that are possibly in crisis and that is the eagles they completely got their pants against the rams they just completely fell apart they were in a position to win it they were 20 to 10 up with seven and a half minutes to go at the rams two yard line and they somehow lost that game like that was just inexcusable they didn't get any points there
Speaker: They go down, they give up two touchdowns, and they just look terrible all game. They were 0 for 12 on third down, just horrible from Jalen Hurts all the way around. Barkley gets injured.
Speaker: You see Lane Johnson retire then after the game due to like family mental health issues. and He's had a great career, but it's a huge loss for them. And then off the back of that, they trade Cam Jorgons away, which I would say, okay...
Speaker: The return they got, a second rounder and a fifth rounder for Juergens and a seventh or rounder is actually a good trade because you got a good second round spot and you don't have to pay him now and you can move into the next draft with with extra capital.
Speaker: But don't do it after you literally just lost Lane Johnson and you already lost one of your best linemen a few weeks ago as well and he's on IR. Like their whole offensive line is completely obliterated now and that was the best part of their game. That was what drove the touch-push, drove the run game, gave Hearts his time. And now they're to be a they look in serious trouble. like I think the Jags could batter them this weekend in London.
Speaker: Yeah, it's not just the O-line now that's trouble. They no Barkley, potentially no Devontae Smith, no Dallas Dodgers, obviously Dane Johnson and Juergens you mentioned as well. So how they have any sort of confidence or any kind of wherewithal coming into this week that they can win this game?
Speaker: Jalen Hurst is passing It actually only looks like he's not comfortable showing the ball more than 20 yards. and Any of his long throws, they just look so labored and they're either loopy and coming down and it makes it impossible for a receiver to get any kind of yards after the carry as well.
Speaker: He looks terrible. Their ah offense looks absolutely abysmal. In their last two games, the Bears and the Rams, they've looked atrocious in the second half. of both of those games. I think it's 31-0. I meant to check because I said last night I think it was thirty one now But I think it's 31-0 in the second halves of both of those games that they can see the points-wise.
Speaker: As you mentioned, st zero third downs in the second half as well. They look like a team who have... on the whole game well yeah and they look like a team who have literally decided to punt away their season now and that's not something a team as big as the Eagles can get away with and Nick Sirianni is probably going to lose his job off the back of this at some point in the season they might wait till the end of the season but I wouldn't be surprised if they don't if they take a bad hiding here in London he could be out of work pretty much straight away
Speaker: yeah I just find it so hard to kind of put a like yeah kind of put a pin on where this has come from. But I feel like it's probably been in the post since they won that Super Bowl and now it's finally just just really all come together and won and it's kind of like, oh well, we literally aren't to we are nowhere near as good as we thought we are. And the players are starting question themselves with ah Yeah, I think that we spoke a little bit on the Gaelic Red Iron podcast about Sirianni. And I mentioned Jalen Hurts as another player, as another asset that they're probably looking to move on from, and given how bad he's been this year and the heat was on him last season. So you could see a double quarterback and head coach.
Speaker: firing at the end of the season or whatever way they go about it i think they would wait till the end of the season given the way they operate but yeah that could be a really interesting thing because they would be completely restarting at that point their ah offense is the second worst passing offense in the league 160 yards per game the teams you're in company with there are the vikings dolphins and titans So you don't want to be at that level the way that they've been playing this season. i think the Jags' defence is so good that they're going to take advantage of Hurts all evening. They'll get at least one pick off them, I think. And I like the Jags' run game to kind of gash.
Speaker: the the eagles on the ground and bashal tootin maybe to run in one so i really like the jaggers think the eagles are actually in in proper trouble at this point and yeah if the if the jaguars win i'm going straight to that eagles press conference after the game sitting front row and i'm ah i'm waiting for that nick sirianni and jalen hart century to ask them some questions because it The way Sirianni answers questions, but it's going to be fireworks if they get battered. So yeah yeah, that is that is the the Eagles debacle covered. We've got a couple of games to preview because there are some really big games and three of the teams we're chatting about were actually all NFC West teams, probably the best division in the league. But the first a straight up NFC matchup, Niners at Seahawks.
Speaker: We both picked the Niners in Gone Chance. The Seagulls? The Seahawks did get out of jail. There's a new team for you, the the Seattle Seagulls. They got out of jail against the Chargers a little bit, but Darnold struggled. i think that I think he needed to go to JSN more. he He just targeted six times on Sunday.
Speaker: And to be honest, when they feed him the ball, that's how their offense gets going. But they struggled to do that. And Purdy... He's just continuing his terror. He's like an MVP out there every week for these Niners.
Speaker: Yeah, Purdy is playing as the best quarterback in football at the moment. He's definitely leading that MVP race with the way he's going at the moment. But I've said a couple of times now that it's it's his kind of veteran and weapons that he has that are making his life so easy for him.
Speaker: But C-Mac...
Speaker: Kittle and Mike Evans, they're all in such good form and they're all they're all making, their routes are just perfect, everything is going to them and their defense is really holding up strong as well. I think this is their biggest test so far this season against the Super Bowl champs, but this is Seahawks seeing that they look to have spent their money a bit wrong in the summer, and letting Kenna Walker go and not backing him as the main one.
Speaker: I think it'll be a close game. I think there's a couple of 49ers injuries that could cost them. So Kajdjusic is questionable and Bosa is questionable as well. So if they're missing then, it kind of, it does change at a good best.
Speaker: But I still do think they will get over the line here. They just keep finding a way to win. And that's that's all you can ask for on your team, especially this early in the season.
Speaker: If they're looking this good and just getting over the line in every game, they could be on for a really, really solid season. Yeah, I think that you're right probably about the fact that they didn't pay Kenneth Walker. I'm sure they're regretting that massively with how green Jadarian Price has looked since he came in and now he's on IR.
Speaker: Charbonnet opened a practice window for him, so that's big. Him coming back could potentially be helpful, but... I think it'll be interesting to see how they play a party this week. I think he likes to get the ball out really fast, which like the Seahawks defense gets at you fast. So what do they do to counteract that?
Speaker: I mentioned, um, It could be a fact where they kind of look like they're going to rush. The D linemen look like they're going to rush off the edge, but then drop those linebackers into coverage and then take off the edge with the likes of Witherspoon, Eamon Worry from deep. It worked in the Super Bowl against Drake May. Party is obviously on a different level, but I think that could be something that'll make him you get rid of the ball quickly. You might get a couple of batted passes. You might scramble him a little bit, but...
Speaker: Shanahan is so good at the way he dials things up. I think he'll have a new plan in place that the Seahawks and or any team have probably never seen all season because he knows he needs to be good against this defense. And Seahawks are three-point favorites. I think they're probably the favorites because they're at home, running Super Bowl champs, but...
Speaker: I'm going with Purdy. I don't see him wavering in this one. And if it comes even down to just picking your quarterback, I'm taking him over Darnold any day. and So until until this 49ers team falls apart because of the power station, which it may eventually do, I'm picking them to win every single week and I'm taking them against the Seahawks.
Speaker: Yeah, it's very hard to back against them when they are playing like the best team in football because they are Purdy, CMC, everyone. You could name the whole team. Not one of them is playing badly. If they can keep everyone out of IR, away from the power station and then off the cart, then I think they'll definitely get the win here and they could be in for a really, really really solid season as well.
Speaker: Yeah, so next up then is Bills at Rams Monday Night Football. and Another big team in the NFC West facing in the AFC East leaders. And Rams are three-point favorites at home. The over-under is huge on this. It's 54.5 points.
Speaker: The Rams snuck through against the Eagles. I think that McVay thing of calling a team meeting with the ah offense on the sideline, it worked because they got the win and it looks great. But if they lost, everybody be like, this is crisis mode for this team. They had to have a team meeting and they still lost.
Speaker: So it's all kind of the way things work out for you and things worked out well for them. The Bills, highest scoring offense in the league, 32 points per game, but one of the worst defenses in the league, 27 points per game allowed. And you can see that every single week. So,
Speaker: this could be This could be a shootout, and I do think it will go over that huge points total because I think both offenses are ticking. Yeah, it's the game of the week, really, isn't it? I think any game involving the Rams at the moment appears to be game of the week because everyone had them so heavily backed as they're going to go unbeaten this season, they're going to walk the Super Bowl, and they have looked very, very get-at-able. and That's not a word, but it is now. there Their defense isn't what I was expecting from them. I thought they'd be a lot, lot more solid, and maybe it's just taking the likes of Aaron Donald a bit of time to get back up to the fact that he's now a professional athlete again after...
Speaker: Sitting watching watching it on television for a couple of years, but the Bills have been so bad the last two weeks and duve I know they've gone one on one. They were very lucky to get over the line the first one and Patriots just kind of just shot him out at the end of the last game. So they need to come up about 40% in their effort if they're going to have any chance of getting over the line against this Rams team.
Speaker: And I like the Rams in this. I like the Bills to go back-to-back losses. And Josh Allen then is real issue on his hands because he is on paper the best own best quarterback in the league, but he's yet to show it this year. and <unk>s All the praise we gave him over the summer is now coming back to bite us.
Speaker: It's like we do it every summer. We pick one guy to kind of heat the praise on and all of a sudden they get space jammed. I'm going to use that for season. and I think it's absolutely such a good way of describing things. it's It's two Super Bowl favorites. It's whoever kind of, if some one team can get more than a score up, I think they're the ones that win it. If some team can get 10 points up, then I think they're ones who'll be able to see it out and I think it will be the Rams at so far.
Speaker: Yeah, I think i I'm going the other way. I think the Bills, if it's a shootout, the Bills take shootouts. I think they're a better shootout type of team. like They're playing against a Rams team who are terrible on special teams still. I don't know how they can never sort that out. Stafford has had six interceptions and six touchdowns. There's no problem with yards, but terrible turnovers costing the team...
Speaker: I'm not going to go that hard on Josh Allen. I think he's been good this year. like He's been running in a crazy amount of touchdowns. lot of passes have been perfect. He was good at getting the Patriots game up until that silly turnover, and they did win their first three games. So I'm not going to go hard on him. I think he's been probably top three in the league so far. But we do have such high expectations that when he makes mistakes, it's it's easy to rag on him a little bit. I think Keon Coleman has been a real weapon.
Speaker: most most wide receiver yards on the team 217 but dalton kincaid is leading them in reception receiving yards with 270 out of the tight end spot each of those guys has six big plays each so that's a play of 20 or more yards and we need more of dj more and khalil shakir shakir is his number one option for years dj more they brought in to be wide receiver one now you can continue to get it out of the other guys but if these two also step up and add to coleman and kincaid I think this offense becomes virtually unstoppable.
Speaker: James Cook, six yards per carry Yeah, I think i think James Cook, six yards per carry too is... Insane. Insane through four games to have that many outs per carry. I think the only thing that the Rams might be able to target is that he's had a couple of fumbles and that was an issue at the end of last season. So maybe Chris Shula has his guys primed to punch the ball out and work on that. But I don't see the Rams winning this game, to be honest. I think the Bills bounce back. And I don't think the Rams should really even be 2-2 at this point. I don't think they're even value for that. And I think two and three for them would put them in in a position that they probably deserve to be in and they might need to look at themselves after this.
Speaker: I think they need to look at themselves regardless after this because they have been really, really poor and lucky against the Eagles and got battered in Australia. i think I think they might have come into this season seeing how heavy favourites they were for the Super Bowl and thought, oh yeah, we just have to coast through.
Speaker: does This isn't a league anyone can coast through in. There's too many good teams that will put it up to every single week. The Raiders are showing you a prime example of a team who have come out here with a point of proof.
Speaker: If the Raiders don't start looking like they have something to prove, then they could very easily fall to a record that puts them and in trouble at playoffs. yeah i don't so I don't think they will fall out of player contention, but if they keep going where to where they're going, they could be on the verge of it.
Speaker: I am going to stick with the Rams, despite your very convincing argument for the Bills. I'm not goingnna change my mind now, but I do think it's going to be a hell of a game, and it's it's quite annoying that it's a Monday night at quarter past one Irish time.
Speaker: Yeah, that's always the thing with these big games, but at least we have Niner Seahawks at a reasonable time for us on Sunday to watch. Yeah, thank you, Dolores. We're going to move into a new weekly segment, and you're going also see a post to go with it and coming up every Sunday morning before the games come out.
Speaker: This segment is brought to you by King of the Hill. and The guys over at King of the Hill are are going to work with us on this podcast and as I said, over on social media. So it is free to enter. You go in every Sunday or leading up to the games. You pick your teams.
Speaker: All you have to do is log in. Pick your teams, free entry, and you can win money. That's as simple as it is. If you nail every single pick, you're putting yourself in a great position to win some of that prize pot. And and it continues across the season too. So I think it's it's really good that the fact it's free, it's kind of for anybody to use and you can take a look at it. but there is a feature on it that you lock in a team to get double points so each pick is pointed if your team is an underdog with the bookies it's going to be worth more points than if you pick all favorites so you can take those risks too and try and rack up points that way but you can lock in one pick to double your points on that pick every single week so our king of the hill locks is going to be coming to you every single week
Speaker: First up, I'm going to give mine. I'll throw it to you, Shane. And then since Michael can't be here, I'll read his out. And then you'll also get the post. And I'll be on socials later in the week. But I'm going with the Raiders. They are 26 points. They're an underdog. So I'm taking advantage of the 26 points on offer for this underdog because I fancy them to win.
Speaker: One good week of Drake made. Doesn't fix all the Pats woes. and And I think Max Crosby is going to cause Drake made issues. So that's why I'm going with the Raiders locked in over the Patriots. Yeah, I do like that pick, but I have gone with something different, as mentioned earlier. I've gone with the 49ers. It's kind of what you said, actually, in the post. I've written down my first line is while they remain unbeaten, I'll continue to back up. I like the matchup as the game the week as well. I think Purdy has more than enough in his arsenal to get one over on a divisional rival, even if they are Super Bowl champs.
Speaker: Yeah, so we've also got Michael matching you there. He's gone with the Niners as his lock. and And he said Brock Purdy has been balling out so far, and I think he's keeping that momentum this week to make a statement on the defending champs. So the two of you are backing Purdy.
Speaker: I like the Niners to win, but I also like the Raiders, so i thought I'll take the little risk to get the extra points lock for this week. But yeah, we'll be bringing that to you every week, so check out King of the Hill. and you can create your account for free, as I said. So... Give that a go and let us know how you do get on. and We're wrapping up with a game, as usual, having a bit of crack. Last week went terribly for me. I did not get any of the the questions right that Shane sent across. This time it's not actually a quiz. It's more of a a bit of a fun one to to see what your thoughts are on a particular quarterback.
Speaker: So this is a question that I asked. I got some fan videos outside the London, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London last weekend. And it's interesting where people rank this guy. So I thought I'd bring it to you as well.
Speaker: So I'm going to give you a quarterback to start. And then I'm going to list quarterbacks, 10 more. And you tell me when there's one that you think is better. You might think none of them are better, but we'll see how he goes. So the quarterback I'm giving you is Dak Prescott.
Speaker: Tell me when you think. This is going be problem for me. and chicken can you have ah You have a varied opinion on that Prescott from some people. but I think he's severely overrated. And I think that's where the problem is because I know he's good, but I just don't know how good he is. So let's see where he where he lands here.
Speaker: That's the problem because some people won't take any of these over him. And then some people are like, yeah, after like three or four, give me whoever because they don't like him. But yeah, i I think I might be going if if I go out, if I go past the top eight or whoever many have, I'll be shocked here. Go on. OK, OK, I've got 10 in total. So we're starting with Dak Prescott. Stop me when you hear a quarterback who is better than him.
Speaker: First up, Deshaun Watson. Bo Nix.
Speaker: Jackson Dart. dr jail Jalen Hurts. Not now. He would have been last year. Okay, we're continuing to go Baker Mayfield.
Speaker: Nah. He thought about it. Drake May. No, not the way he's going. Okay, Jared Goff. He's turning down since the end of last season. No, I can't. Fuck.
Speaker: Justin Herbert.
Speaker: God, no. Trevor Lawrence. Yeah, I probably would have Lawrence over him now. that's that is That's closer than I thought would be, though, because if you had asked me that question after, I wouldn't have taken any over that press stop because i e I think the only quarterback have more varied opinion on is Trevor Lawrence. like that this could If you ask me this next week, it could be the other way around. and bo But with the way things are going at the moment, I would take Trevor Lawrence over him. There's something about Dak Prescott, and I don't know if it's just the fact that every time he goes to playoffs, he just loses his mind. It could be that because like the offense he runs every year is is all always really, really good in the regular season.
Speaker: And then they fall apart in the playoffs. Yeah. Justin Herbert hasn't done anything in playoffs yet either, got but with the way things are going this season, I think Herbert looks like an adult in the room for the first time. And I do think he's better than Dak Prescott at the moment.
Speaker: Jared Goff was a close one for me. I was very, very close to taking him. But I don't know, there's something about him that just is maybe it's just the fact he's now, has gone on in age quite a lot now and he was probably a lot better Four years ago, there's no question who you're taking, but now I think the Lions are going to be looking for an upgrade soon, whereas the Cowboys are going to stick with this fella when the Cowboys come home.
Speaker: Cowboys come home. Oh, well, you have to get another pun in there somehow, but I i think Goff, I've always said, if the Lions don't get rid of him, they're never going to do anything in the playoffs. I just think he's... there yeah He's kind of puts a cap on them. And I think Dak has more explosive ability. Last year, I probably would have taken Herbert over Dak up until like midway into the season.
Speaker: But then Dak has been electric with CD and Pickens. And to start this year too, their offense has been great. I think I would have got as far as Trevor Lawrence and then decided between the two. I'm not sure which one I would have went with, to be honest.
Speaker: But yeah, I find like these are all some people have... really high ratings on the likes of Baker Mayfield or Bo Nix and they just stop you and you're like, well, I don't know if they're better than Dak Prescott, but the slanderous levels could start if you give.
Speaker: Yeah. I think if you ask that question at this stage of last season, You would have had Baker Mayfield, you'd have had Bo Nix. You might have had Jackson Dart. I can't remember what day the giant star was like, but he did look really solid towards us.
Speaker: Okay. Who else did you say? There's not much, and obviously not. No. Jalen Hurts. Drake May, he would have taken last year. Yeah, 100% he would have taken Drake May. Yeah, so I think...
Speaker: It's mad the way things can flip in 12 months as well that he's now, for me, he's the 10th best quarterback in the league. the big Who was the last one? Was Trevor Lawrence the last one? Yeah, I only put in 10. No, I just put 10 in. and So, like, you could have any rating outside of these, but these are guys I just think are all hard to kind of put your button on. I started up off easy, obviously, with Deshaun Watson and then...
Speaker: progressively I think a little bit higher level but yeah so you got all the way to the end Trevor Lawrence was was where you went and so yeah that's that's that wrapped up a bit of crack this week and Shane that's another episode wrapped up if you want to finish us off Yeah, just thanks so much for listening again. So as you can see with James in in London, me going down to Cork, that we are putting in the de hard hardre hours in this as well. And especially on TikTok, we the support has actually gone insane over the last couple of weeks between us putting up the Gone Chance pics.
Speaker: James informed me before this started that our video of the Irish Lads celebrating is our most liked on TikTok ever as well. Just really appreciate support over there. And if you could just click that link tree and go to YouTube and just press subscribe, that it really would mean the world to us.
Speaker: i hate begging every week. I might give you a break next week, but if you could just just hit subscribe on YouTube as well, it'll be absolutely brilliant. And just continue watching. We love doing this. You love watching it by all accounts. So we'll see you next week.
Speaker: What am I talking about? Just yapping.
