Transcript
Speaker: Alright lads, welcome back to another episode of Who's Got The Ball, myself and Shane here once again. Shane, what was the crack? Not a whole lot, just a grand quiet weekend, went to see the new Spider-Man, decent. and It was one those where I felt like I came out of and it actually felt like nothing happened, but it it just feels like a bit of a filler film for the upcoming ones. But yeah, it was it was grand. It was a nice way to pass an afternoon.
Speaker: Aside from that, I watched Villa put it up to PSG last night, to be fair. They actually weren't too bad. They was in the Super League, Super Cup final. I'm sure you didn't watch it because you had you you were busy doing something else in Proke Park that you can get onto now.
Speaker: Yes, I was indeed. Actually, I also saw Spider-Man. I thought was, I did enjoy it. and But Ash had similar feelings after we went to see it as you did. Just like not a whole lot happened. I do think they're just like building other storylines and I did like the acting and stuff in it. So I did enjoy much one it. The merch they made off it is insane. Oh, stop. And the merch and all that stuff is well as crazy. Yeah. But yeah, was at Croke Park the Wednesday night, so last night as we recording, but couple of nights ago as you're listening to this, and to watch United versus Leeds in a pre-season friendly. The first half was good.
Speaker: Both teams came out firing. It was a lot of the players for United who had played a good few minutes and then some younger guys, so they were all... chomping at the bit second half was some of the more experienced guys they were kind of getting their legs under them after the world cup so a little bit more dull ah united it did win on penalties the game had to be stopped like just that 90 minutes because about 10 young lads ran on to the pitch to get pictures with bruno and konya and telemans and the stewards were so useless that the ref is just like you deserve this is over and And then the steward, then they put an announcement like halfway through the penalty shootout that if one more person runs onto the pitch, the game will be over. And we're just like, the penalty shootout's nearly over. It's over, yeah. But yeah, it was great to see some of the players live in action in Ireland on in such an iconic stadium first.
Speaker: soccer game there since 2009 and the biggest ever attendance for a soccer game in Ireland, which is mad. It was a sellout. And then also met Andy Mitten, who's ah a quality writer for for the Atlantic before the game. So yeah, that was great as well. Such a nice guy. And I grabbed one of his Man United fanzines, which was nice. So yeah, great day.
Speaker: Just kind of wets the beak for the season ahead, actually getting into proper football, to be honest. I'm sure watching that video games. Go ahead, yeah. you move into what do you think of Premier League clubs playing Premier League clubs in friendlies in the summer because I've always been against this Liverpool played Sunderland and Leeds so it's not just the United thing here United played Leeds and I don't know who else you played pre-season actually didn't check but I know there's been lot of like Premier League competitions and in Hong Kong and Malaysia and stuff I just think if you're doing pre-season friendlies while you're playing against teams you're going to play twice in the league like fans already sick of seeing you play Leeds and play
Speaker: United and stuff like that. So what's your thoughts on two Premier League teams playing each other in preseason? i think for fans is probably yeah it's more boring but for the club i think it's very useful because you're playing teams that are going to be playing in the same league it's supposedly the best league in the world it's probably the most physical so you probably don't get that challenge that you would against other teams i think you united it struck a good balance this year because they played a psg and atletico andre as well and then they came into this one and playing a premier league opponent
Speaker: And then they finish off against AC Milan against Ruben Amram's new team are getting battered by everybody left, right and centre. So that's pretty funny. and But yeah, I think it's good for the teams, but less so for the fans. I don't think, yeah, I don't think, and those tournaments like in Malaysia or in the US where it's like mini Premier League tournament and you play like West Ham, Everton and Bournemouth.
Speaker: It's just a waste of time for fans. Like nobody wants to see that. Whereas United play PSG in preseason. I actually watched a bit of it. Whereas I would usually just do the highlights and and read the articles after.
Speaker: So yeah, I think I do think that it's worth it for the club. But yeah, definitely boring for a fan side of things. Yeah, I don't know if you know, but Luford playing Como twice on Sunday. At 12 and at 6. Why?
Speaker: Just to get all the players who haven't played the World Cup. One of them is behind closed doors, so I'd imagine that would be like the likes of Alexis McAllister, Jeremy Jacquet, Wittar Rando will all play the one behind closed doors. And then the 6 o'clock is the sellout one in front of fans, but they're both on.
Speaker: Liverpool FC TV or All Red video or whatever called. What the hell? That ridiculous. I think they've done that every year. You think you'd play the other guys, the guys fans want to see in front of fans, like, you know, if there's probably Liverpool fans over there and then they're not going to see the guys they actually want. Yeah.
Speaker: So we' but but we'll see if when the first line-up drops what kind of a team it is, and then you'll know what you're getting at lock. Yeah, that's quite crazy. and That's mad. Before we get into things, I don't know if you have any thoughts on the Super Cup, but I'm sure that whetted your beak for the season ahead. i didn't I heard that Villa and the their new striker, Mbajo, is it?
Speaker: Mbajo, yeah. Mbajo. Everyone's going crazy about him, but it was just one game, but I heard he looked like a freak. But I think it wasn't it was more than just one game because all pre-season there was talk of he wouldn't be able to play in the league and he was scoring goals. just he's He's like a the next coming of Lukaku. He's big, he's six for four he's 17, he's just strong. Lovely finish, missed a couple of chances, but you're going to miss chances when you're 17.
Speaker: Yeah, I just think PSG are just so comfortably the best team in the world at the moment. Aklacuk only played the first half, but when he was on the pitch, he looked kind of, he looked very silky. That's the only way to describe him. And then obviously Kravitz Ghalia doesn't score easy goals. He only scores bangers.
Speaker: they're just They're just a class act. I thought Villa did really well too. put it up to him. really am disappointed in Lewis Enrique they didn't bring on Lucadina at left-frag, but it could have been because was playing in the World Cup too late as well. I don't know what the thing is behind it. He could have given them 10 minutes against the club that he's just have to sign him for a bus. Yeah, I can't wait for it to kick off now. We're only 10 days away.
Speaker: Yeah, we're getting there now. Well, when this comes out, it'll just be a week. A week, yeah. But, yeah, Kvart Skellier doesn't score bangers against United. You see, preseason just shut down by Harry Amas. Superb stuff all around. Anyway, get on to the intro.
Speaker: um Yeah, so like I said, seven days away, you're just one week out. So it's only right that you get your Premier League preview right now. and So we're going to predict and chat across everything, same as we did last year. so we're going to look at player stats, top gold scorers, assisters.
Speaker: golden glove and give our favorites and underdogs for each of those look at who the best signings are going to be and who the most underwhelming are going to be and then into the table the big one where we predict each and every position where we think everybody's going to finish so we cover relegation european battles mid table first and second spot so obviously that's that's very interesting because we do differ a lot there and then we wrap up with our hot takes and our best bets for the season ahead so we've got everything covered for ye Hope you do enjoy the episode and let's just jump into the good stuff.
Speaker: Sorry lads. This is the second installment of this Premier League season preview. We did it last year. I think it was like maybe 31 episodes in or something like that. And now we're in 89. So we've done like more than a year's worth because we did a couple of double weeks. So it's pretty cool to be racking up the episodes also. But we're going to run through the same format as we did last year because I think it was it was enjoyable.
Speaker: And... I think it also, a lot of people enjoyed like hearing us predict a lot of things and today we I don't know how close we were on a lot, but we'll start with the player stat predictions. So that's looking at things like top goalscorer, top assists, golden and glove, but we also give underdogs for each of these as well.
Speaker: So throw it to you, Shane, first, who have you got for your top goalscorer, your favorite and also your underdog? Well, I think the favourite is obviously the easiest pick of this whole thing. You have to be going Haaland as a favourite here. Every single year he's in this league, he's going to be favourite. He's 7 to 10 when I checked this morning. and He's probably coming in again because people are backing him left, right and centre.
Speaker: It's just so hard to look past him. It really is. just scores goals nearly every single week. He has a dry patch every season of about six games and then just goes and scores hat-tricks in two of his next four matches. So he's always to be there.
Speaker: And... I've kind of gone for two underdogs in case one isn't underdog enough for you because i have Izak in. He's 10-1, but he is second favorite, so I don't know if that is underdog enough. It's just some drop from seven to ten to favor to the second favorite being 10-1. So I've also gone with Joe Pedro at 18-1 as the my proper underdog. I think he had a really good season last year.
Speaker: I think this year with Palmer and Rodgers playing behind him, it looks like Chelsea going to be playing a 3-1. 4-2-1. So if he is Rodgers and Palmer feeding him from behind, I think 18-1 is not a bad shout at all.
Speaker: Yeah, I like that. I think Ezek, just given what he did with Newcastle previously, I wouldn't consider him an underdog. But like you said, Haaland is such a heavy favourite. I've obviously gone for him as well.
Speaker: I just don't think there's any point in Goma. Anybody else is my favourite. look he was lethal again last year 27 goals and then in the world cup i think that solidified the fact that he can do it in a team that's not managed by pep and doesn't have superstars all around him and with norway he was one of the stars of the world cup so i'm going with him same as you my underdog is a bit more of an outsider and that's joan wissa he's 33 to 1.
Speaker: So he had 19 goals and in 2024-25. Obviously Newcastle signed him then, but he had a lot of injury issues last season. and They don't have any Europe. He's the another guy who looks sharp in the World Cup and he's been good in preseason.
Speaker: So although I wouldn't be going and putting Wissa, like a tenner on Wissa to win it, I would be looking at him as an each way bet because I think those odds are very good. So yeah, I think Wissa is a a decent shout for this.
Speaker: Yeah, I don't mind that at all, to be honest. I just don't fancy Newcastle at all this year. Even though they've done the decent thing and gotten rid of any how, I just don't know if the manager they've brought in to replace him is the one that's going to do much of them. So I just couldn't be backing anything Newcastle in this at all, to be honest with you. But yeah, I don't mind this.
Speaker: Okay, fair. Yeah, we'll get into positions and see where we both have Newcastle. I think it might be fairly different. Okay, next up is Topa's sister um and then our underdog. I'll go first this time. Last year, I went for Bruno Fernandes at 7-1.
Speaker: Yeah, that was that was my probably one of my best shouts. One of my... Only ones that actually led to a profit because I did bet on it myself and then that came off.
Speaker: But again, this year he's 9-4. It's hard to look past him after breaking the assist record. And then you've got Tielemans in this team to free up and some of that deeper play that he had previously.
Speaker: um So I do think he'll he'll get into some very strong positions and create a lot of chances. And I think the team will just be more fluid even than they were last season. So I like Bruno to to win again.
Speaker: and then my underdog is Morgan Rogers. I think 25 to one is a very, very good price. I know he only had six last season, but he was expected to score for Villan, kind of do everything and when Watkins wasn't firing.
Speaker: But under Alonso, I think he could have a very good creative role. Like you mentioned, with Palmer in that two behind the striker, you have gurow Pedro. I also think that Welbeck was a smart sign-in, and I don't think Nicholas Jackson is is terrible if they do keep him. He looks pretty decent, and he was good last year for Bayern.
Speaker: And also, Rodgers had 10 assists the season before last, so you know that he can do it. I do think that 25-1 seems like a bit of a steep one for him, so I like that value. Yeah, I had him down as well, but did put down too, because I had a feeling you might go with him. It just kind of backs up my Gael Pedro if Gael Pedro's going to score the goals as somebody pushing him into the top goal scorer bracket, I think Morgan Rodgers is a great shout out to 25-1 to be the top assist there.
Speaker: My favourite I've got is Ryan Cherky. Again, following on from the Halland one, he's 4-1. I don't think the odds are great when you do consider up what Bruno did last year and stuff, but I don't think Bruno's going to get as many... assist from corners this year as he did last year. He's going to need more open play assists, which became a thing last year when he just out of the blue, they were like, oh, well, open play assists and everything, so it doesn't matter.
Speaker: So I think Sharkey at feeding Haaland, I think he's going playing very much behind him in kind of a split striker role even maybe in a 4-2-3-1 on Demoski. It could be a 4-2-3, but he'll be doing closest to Haaland.
Speaker: Then I've gone with Fiat 14-1. What he's done in pre-season I think has been a immense. He's been really, really good against Leeds and against Monaco. And when he and Isaac went off in both games, Liverpool kind of fell apart.
Speaker: So if he's setting up Isaac and Isaac stays fit, then 14-1, I just think it's really good odds for someone that could very easily get 10-12 assists and see from there then.
Speaker: Yeah, fair enough. I don't think the reason, going back to the Joe Pedro one, I think that's a good shout if they didn't sign Welbeck. I just think they might split the minutes in the Premier League and it might see a little bit of a you know, obviously they're they're not in the Champions League or whatever, but I do think that both of them need minutes.
Speaker: But i don't I do think that if it was just straight Pedro, like that would be a great bet for a goal scorer with Rodgers behind them. For Bruno over Turkey, I do think, yeah, they probably won't get as many corner or assists, but I do think that Sesco is going to be more accurate this season compared to what he was last year. And also a lot of Bruno's assists came when Carrick did come in, so I think that says something.
Speaker: And Wurz... I don't know. I need to see more before I put anything on him to do anything because even in the World Cup, he's pretty bad. And that was the kind of less physical level in the Premier League. So let's see if he can carry that preseason form. I don't know. I haven't seen any Liverpool preseason form. So I'll take your your word for it. So let's see if he can bring that into the into the next season.
Speaker: Golden Gloves then, an underdog. Hard to look past Rea, but what do you think? Yeah, I have Rea as my favourite, but I really like the look of 28-1 Kinski from Spurs. um i don't know why, I just think Spurs have, they've really, they've done, they've bought well in their defensive ranks. Van Hecke, Sanessi, Robertson, they're all really good players. And again, no Europe, they're only playing the 38 league games, a couple of cup games. They could very easily get 15, 16 team cheats the way they've been playing in pre-season keeps up and I think at 28-1 obviously you can't look past Raya he's 7-5 I think he is probably going to win it again but Kinski at 28-1 just it was too too hard to
Speaker: did nos put it in here Yeah, I considered him for my underdog. I think the reason I didn't is De Zerbe likes to play a lot of like play out from the back, and we saw how dodgy he was at that.
Speaker: So I don't know how he is their starter, but maybe he might not be by the end of the season if they need a new goalkeeper in January. But I actually didn't go at Rhea. heavily considered it. He had 19 last year, but I just think Donnarumma...
Speaker: He had 15 last year. he only conceded three less goals. And I think while Maresca does play similarly to Pep, it's not the exact same. So I think Donnarumma will have less to do in terms of passing.
Speaker: And that will take a little bit of the risk away of of you know the ball being one high up the pitch and conceding. So I think at 2-1, it's pretty decent. not Not an amazing price. Obviously, him and Ray are pretty much neck and neck.
Speaker: And then secondly, someone who you definitely wouldn't be going for is Hornacek in Newcastle. 50-1 as my underdog. 12 clean sheets for Braga last year. And I think Newcastle have a very, very solid defense if they play the right defenders, which Eddie Howe did not want to do at all last season. Consistently shoehorning, burning when he wasn't the right fit for the team. like They have a very solid backline with Chau, Bottman, Livermento and Lewis Hall.
Speaker: And they've got good subs as well in that regard. So I do think he's he's got a good reputation coming into the league from Portugal. They spent a fair bit on him. So I think 50 to 1 is a very good outside shot. I think if you could do an each way on that, that would be a decent one as well.
Speaker: Yeah, again, i have no faith in this Newcastle team. I think their summer has been nothing short of a disaster, to be honest. I don't see they're going to keep their clean sheets. I was listening to Newcastle fans on a couple of podcasts this week, and they're they're saying that Sven Botman looks about a tenth of the player that they signed, and they're all looking to get him replaced before they're trying to win their closes.
Speaker: They're signing another backup full-back, so are they going to lose one of Hall or Libermento in the next couple of weeks? You don't know, so I, Joe, at 50 to one, always, love an outside child, shout like that, word of fibre.
Speaker: But I just, i don't see it with Newcastle and I'm sorry, and I'm sorry to your father as well. Okay, let's get into player of the season then. I'll go first this time. we still don't actually know who won last year, so we can't like prepare if we got right last time because it's announced on the 25th of August.
Speaker: The PFA Awards. No, we got the top six are Haaland, Cherky, Bruno, Gabriel, Rice and Raya. And then there's a ah presentation after the first weekend of games, I think is very strange. but anyway absolutely would Ridiculous. ridiculous.
Speaker: I'm going with Bruno anyway. Six to one. he I think he'll just have more freedom, as I said, with Tielemann. I think they'll be able to rotate him forward as well. like If United don't play Sesco in a Premier League game, if they put him in the Champions League game, say, one week, I think they'll do that quite a bit. and You'll see Cunhaar and Buma up front, which then means Bruno will rotate with them and he might pick up more goals than he did last year. which It might hinder my um my assist shout, but I think overall he'll have a lot of end products. so I'm going with him at 6-1.
Speaker: And then my outsider is Semenyo. He's 16-1. I think he struggled with City versus how he played with Bournemouth because yeah he wasn't the main man anymore. But I think after a full preseason and coming off the back of a World Cup and betting into this team longer term with a new manager, I think he could be kind of the main man outside of Haaland and working alongside Turkey. So I think if City have a really good season, I think he'll be the star of the show. So 16-1 a pretty decent price for me.
Speaker: Yeah, that's not bad. i'm Speaking of someone who's going to be the star of the show, I've gone with Bruno Guimaraes as player of season after his move to Arsenal. I think he's the kind of midfielder they were missing last year. Declan Rice now can play the more reserved role and Bruno can do the running box to box. He can kind of split his minutes with the two with Mendy.
Speaker: And if Arsenal go back to back in the title, it would be one of those two midfielders. would be Bruno or Rice. And I just think it's 16 to 1. Bruno is a good shout. My other one then is Alexander Izak. I don't want to go too much on him again, but he's fourteen to one if If he does what he did at Newcastle and Liverpool win absolutely anything this year, I don't, and he gets 25 goals. i I don't think they're going to keep giving it to Haaland or someone like that because he's it's just kind of expected what he does. So think of fourteen to one at 14-1, if Liverpool have a season to remember, then Izak could be player of the year. But I'm not overly confident in either of those.
Speaker: I think it's going to be Declan Rice or something. I think the Bruno one could be could work if Rice, say, wins it this from last season. Yeah. um And then it goes back and if Arsenal go back to back and then both of them are in the final six again, I think it could be like fought or fatigued. They don't want to put Rice in twice.
Speaker: So think that would be a decent shout if it works out like that. So our second section then is all about the signings so far of the summer. So we want to look at who are going to be the best three signings going into this season and also who are going to be the three most underwhelming signings. So you want to go with your best three first and then I'll throw out mine and I'll throw out my best three or my worst three, my most um underwhelming ones.
Speaker: Perfect. Yeah. So I'm going to go 3-2-1 in my order. So I think Harry Wilson to Leeds is an unbelievable bit of business. um'm It's just such a smart signing. He can do their set pieces. He scores from outside the box, from inside the box. think he had 10 goals for Fulham last year.
Speaker: I think Leeds are a kind of dar an outside surprise one for this year. And I just think signing Harry Wilson is just so smart. He can literally do everything for him. Antonio Silva at Bournemouth I think is just such a smart pickup, so cheap.
Speaker: After losing to Nessie, they pretty much replaced the Nessie with someone who's actually better and younger. And he's going to definitely so slip into that back line from play alongside james James Hill. I keep going to call him james James Gill because I was doing a game last night with Mossy and Brian Hill just kept popping up.
Speaker: And now everyone whose name is Hill, I just keep saying they're calling him Gil, but James Hill is going to slot in beside Antonio Silva, and I think Silva's a great choice. And then, obviously, I've just packed him for player the year. I think Bruno Gemara, who's there, so is one of the main positions they need at helping. I know they have about 40 million midfielders, Mika and Marina and all that as well, but I think he's a proper game changer for them.
Speaker: Yeah, I like the Antonio Silva one. He was right on the edge for me. I think that was such a good bit of business by Bournemouth. I think they're really smart with that. I've got a couple of midfielders to start. First one is Mamadou Sangare. I think he'll end up being one of the best midfielders in the Premier League already by the end of this season. 39 million from Lons to Brentford is unbelievable. I think he's the type of player and that in a few years...
Speaker: you know one of the big literally one of the big clubs is like oh 100 million yeah nobody will pay that whereas you could have had him right now malian midfielder he's come up the ranks very quickly because he only joined lands at the start of last season from rapid vn and then lands just he dominated for them in midfield and obviously their manager is is gone now in the premier league so It's kind of like he probably thought it's time to move on now and make the move to the Premier League myself. And I think Brentford did very, very well to get him in there as their kind of midfield rock.
Speaker: Next up, I've got Andres Santos. I think it's it's hard to judge off pre-season, but he's been United's best player by far this pre-season um in midfield. 50 million from Chelsea. I think the Chelsea fans are going to be absolutely raging even more than they already are after how he gets on this season. They're already saying they shouldn't have let him go.
Speaker: And yeah, I know it's a pre-season, but just seeing him in the flesh at Croke Park the other night, is hugh he was superb. Like every time he got on the ball, he's so calm. um And all the pre-season games, he's been similar. So let's hope that lasts into into the actual season itself.
Speaker: Part of all, then I'm going with star of the World Cup, Johan Manzambi. For Switzerland, he was superb. We spoke about during the World Cup, but they were night and day when he was on and off the pitch. When he had those injuries, they had no goal threat. And then when he was there, suddenly they looked like a really potent attack. So I think for Villa, he'll add a lot after Rodgers left. So yeah, I really like that one. And he's probably a good one to pick up for the fantasy team as well, I reckon, because he's pretty cheap on fantasy.
Speaker: Yeah, and i'm but Mandambi was on my list as well, on my long list. I think he's an incredible bit of business and Newcastle fans going to be kicking themselves. I think that they didn't manage to get over the line when it comes to, say, September, October, international break. They'd be like, God, how have we managed to let that one slip through the rack? Yeah, it's just that Champions League football, such a pull. Like, Zendela did so well to to get back there.
Speaker: Okay, my underwhelming signings. For the second season in a row, I didn't pick him last year, but I should have but i don't Maybe the deal wasn't done at the time, but Garnaccio, he's useless and he has a stinking attitude. i just He's going to be bad for Billy. He's not going to do a thing.
Speaker: Preseason, I saw like a eight a compilation of him already just losing the ball every time he gets it, so that's pretty good. Next up I've got his replacement, I guess you could say, Kenda for Chelsea.
Speaker: I think he's going to be another Gittins. I know they kind of started to get the deal over the line last year, but it wasn't going to be permanent until this year. um They didn't actually pay it until this summer.
Speaker: So I think that counts for me. and don't know where he'll play, to be honest. Rodgers, Esteveu, Palmer, Neto, they're all miles better than him. he only scored two goals and had five assists in the league for sporting last year so he's not going to do it in the premier league and then lastly think tyree george is a headless chicken i can't believe everton paid 24 million for him he did absolutely nothing for them in 11 league games and yeah it's just a waste of money funnily enough actually all three of my transfers have some kind of chelsea involvement which is pretty funny but they're involved in pretty much every transfer
Speaker: Yeah, I can't believe we have none that are overlapping on this. I know there's been a lot of signings, but we normally have at least one that overlaps. I've gone with Ganchalo Garcia, who's gone to Fulham from Real Madrid.
Speaker: i I just don't i don't get us um He scored 13 goals in 51 games from Madrid, and that's in a team that are dominating most games. He's gone into a Fulham team that aren't going to be dominated most games. He's going to be expected to pick up a lot of slack.
Speaker: From like losing Raul Jimenez replacing him with him, I just think it's a weird one. I know he's young. He might. He's only 22. He might have something in the locker, but i just I think it's such a weird one and I worry you for Fulham this year.
Speaker: Valentin Barco to Chelsea. I don't get it. He wasn't good enough at Brighton. He went and had half a season at Strasbourg and they paid 50 million for Why? I know you lost Kukuea, but there's surely you a better left back out there. You could have brought in there a better left wing back.
Speaker: B is going to go with three at the back. And then Brendan Johnson, and another one of these. nonsense FFP avoiders swapping himself and Dwight McNeil it's like oh our ringer's crap so is ours let's swap our crap wingers ah no goals at Palace he hasn't looked the same since Angi Prostacogno left Spurs and just it's like Angi just packed all his confidence in the bag he was taking with him it might turn around for him but I don't see how this works out well yeah yeah no i i like all three of those shouts to be honest um garcia one you could look at it two ways you could be like arbaloa wanted him because he's he's very good and he thought i want him at fulham or there's a reason why madrid were willing to let him go for a cheap enough price so yeah yeah could be couldn't it could be a bad one or it could be something that you know where everyone else overlooked arbaloa has the inside info
Speaker: But yeah, Johnson, Brennan Johnson, I don't know what happened to his career at all. Like, that Spurs move was a bad one to begin with. He should never have made that move. Or the Champions League final. Yeah, and he did. He did indeed in an awful game, but I just think it was this think with a bad move from to move from Forrest at that time. But...
Speaker: Okay, next up is the table. Now, before we get into this, right, I want to look at last year because i haven't I haven't checked how many we got right, but I'm going to do it right now. Now, you could have won by 10. could have won 10. Both of us could got zero, but we'll give ourselves a point for each one we got right.
Speaker: So... Last year, i had City first, you had Liverpool, so that's nothing. zero you I had Liverpool second, you had City second.
Speaker: So you keep score there while I run through this. yeah you on yeah one and I had Chelsea third, you had Arsenal third, nothing there. had Arsenal fourth, you had Chelsea fourth, nothing again there.
Speaker: I had Villa fifth and so did you. I had United sixth and so did you. Neither of those gave us anything. I had Newcastle seventh. You had Spurs seventh. This is not looking good.
Speaker: And then you had Spurs. I had Spurs eighth and you had Newcastle eighth. it's Jesus Christ. Okay, I had Brighton ninth. No, was one off there. That's pretty close. You had Palace ninth.
Speaker: No. And then I had Palace tenth and you had Brighton tenth. We swapped a remember these, yeah. and we both had forest 11th and we both had everton 12th so no we're close with everything to be fair and then i had fulham 13th you had wolves 13th no wolves are last bournemouth 14th for both of us no wolves for 15th for me fulham 15th for you no Brentford 16th for me. and you had West Ham 16th. Oh, I just remember now had Brentford the bottom three. Yes, you Burnley 17th for me.
Speaker: Leeds 17th for you. i had West Ham 18th. That's my first point. You had Brentford I had Leeds 19th and you Sunderland 19th and then I had Sunderland 20th and you had Burnley 20th.
Speaker: So we got one right. One each. Nice. yeah ah So that's that that's your lead into this year's one. Show us how we're absolute experts at this. So let's let's get into it. It's just so hard to predict the table. like and You're sitting there like I was looking at this when we were doing it and I was like, so what, this doesn't look too bad. And then you run through that and that's like, oh, sweet Jesus, none of these are right.
Speaker: Yeah, I know. So hard. It's actually so to do. of interchangeable. I feel like we're going to be, i feel I'm less confident this year than I was last year. so Me too now that I've just heard that. I wish you didn't do that till after we were interested. I was like, i I haven't checked it, so we could have done great or not. But I was like, let's do a live reaction. So yeah, that went down like a lead balloon. but So we'll start from the bottom and work our way up.
Speaker: Which three teams are going to be relegated? um Let you go first here in whatever order you want to do, 20th up or down? Yeah, I'm going to go 20th up because that's the way I've written them all. So I'm going to go 20th to 1 the whole way. So I have Hull to finish bottom. I would imagine you also have Hull to finish bottom.
Speaker: I have Ipswich 19th. i just don't i don't like I just think all their signings are a bit meh. And they've signed 10 or 11 now at this stage.
Speaker: And I had Newcastle in 18th until 20 past six. kind yeah I have taken them out. put Fulham in. Fulham are 11 to 2 to get relegated.
Speaker: I think Arboloha has a lot to prove. Their signings have a lot to prove. They're all under the age of 22. between their four signings, they haven't played 50 top-flight league games in any league between the four of them. And I just don't think that bodes well going into the season when so many teams are pretty much on the same level.
Speaker: And trying to bed in four players, two new lads from Spain, Shea Charles I think good business, but he's just see he's, you're taking not even Southampton's best player.
Speaker: and you're paying a lot of money for him. I just, I think Fulham could be in trouble as Arbelauer tries to get his feet under the table. I just think 11-2 was too good an opportunity to turn down. well okay, so we're quite different here.
Speaker: I've got Hull last on you, it's obvious. Like, theyre they weren't ready to come up and they signed literally nobody that was any good. I have Coventry nineteenth I don't, I'm kind of like you in the... in In looking at their signings, I don't rate what they've done really in the window. I don't think it's enough.
Speaker: I don't know if Lampard is good enough for this level. He hasn't been before. So I just think that they're they're not going to stay up, to be honest with you. And then in 18th, I've gone for Crystal Palace.
Speaker: They are six to one Now, they won a European competition last year, so they'll be in Europe. They'll have lot of games. They signed absolutely nobody of any use.
Speaker: I know that I mentioned there the manager from Lons is in there now. ah don't know a whole lot about him. He did really well at Lons, given their best ever finish last year. But not every single manager translates from Ligon to the Premier League.
Speaker: So i'm I'm going with them as a relegation candidate. 6-1 to get relegated. It's 12.5-1 for all of these three they like. and But past 6-1 especially, I do like.
Speaker: So yeah, I'm i'm quite a ways away from you at Fulham, actually, which is interesting. Wow. Let's get into 11 to 17 then. We'll keep it going with you first since you're since you're ahead. But maybe if you want to give... 11 down. go or We'll go first. four. Give me an next four and then I'll So Coventry are 17 for me. I do think there's a really, really strong chance that it is just the three that came up go back down this year. I don't think it's a strong three.
Speaker: I have Newcastle at 16th. it's it's no it's not I can't even say it's Eddie Howe at this stage because he's gone. I just think they've recruited so badly. They've lost some big players. They've pretty much lost their their two best midfielders. They've replaced them with lads who, again, haven't played 50 top-light games.
Speaker: And the manager who has never done anything in Europe, really. So I think they could really struggle them to start the season. And I think they could be Lingland down there and there. I know they don't have Europe and that's usually when they somehow finish in the top five. But I just, I don't think this is the year they're going to get top five.
Speaker: Then I have Sunderland in 76, 15th, and then Palace of 14 for me because of the euro factor and all that. But I just think their squad is quite settled. They've somehow managed to hold on to Mateta so far, even though he was meant to go in January. don't what they've done there to change his mind and stay in. But yeah, so it's commentary, Newcastle, Sunderland Palace.
Speaker: Okay, we're different here. I've got Ipswich. Obviously, you have them relegated, so I've got them in that Coventry spot. I think that I wasn't willing to put them any higher, but I actually do like some of the signings because Sasha Lukic is a diop. They're good Premier League proven players.
Speaker: I like Maeda. I think bringing in Fatahou from Leicester was a good one as well. So I think like last year, I completely wrote off Sunderland. I feel like they had a similar window to start the season and then they did really well. And I don't think Ipswich will do that, but I do think that they have a chance of staying up.
Speaker: Next, I've got Sunderland. So pretty close to you. I think there'll be a bit of a fall from grace. They're obviously in in Europe and it's going to be very tough. I think they outdid what they could have last season. And i think they relied heavily on Sunderland.
Speaker: good defense and often that doesn't last for a long time in the Premier League if you constantly have to rely on that. Next I've got Leeds. I do think they'll have a that's like, look, it's not an amazing season. It's one position less than last year, but I do think the Premier League is so tough and every team I'm going to have above them I think is better than them. So next I've got Everton.
Speaker: I think that they actually have a really nice starting lineup and a good squad, but I just, David Moyes is just like, yeah I just don't know. He's gone like he's over the hill. So i I think as soon as they get rid of him, they could make use of the squad, which I actually really like what they've got in place. But that's my next four.
Speaker: and so who have you got then after that? Brinford, Everton, Forests, 13, 12, 11. as thirteen twelve eleven i'm I backed Brentford's shock indeed to go down last year. I don't think they'll be as good this year. Again, it's just the teams around them. Everyone is just doing so much business. And i we we were saying a while ago, anything from like 9th to 17th, you could interchange them. it They'll all be within seven points of each other.
Speaker: It just depends on if they can pick up the points or not. I don't want to put them there because obviously they have the Irish connection. But I just struggled when I was kind of working from the top down. i just struggled to put them any higher.
Speaker: Everton just the Everton everything you just said I agree with 100% I just think they'll I think Moyes will be gone earlier than you seem to think you will and then they'll have a strong finish and then Forrest under Glasner no Europe they've actually signed really well again and so many teams have actually signed really well which is quite frustrating because you just want someone that's a kind of a guaranteed you're going finish 12th so that's that but yeah Forrest at 11th Everton 12th and Brentford 13th Okay, so I've got, we're starting to get some similar teams cropping up here, but I've got Fulham next, so I've got them a lot higher than you, obviously. That's where I've got them in 13th.
Speaker: I do think that Arbeloa will do a pretty good job, and I think they're perpetually that 13th, 12th team. So I think that you can't get any more Fulham than that. And I think Arbeloa will do decently enough with them.
Speaker: And look, we'll see how the signings go, but i do think Charles is a decent pickup. ah Next up, I've got Bournemouth. I think I do like the couple of signings they made. i do think that they're good at recruitment, so I think they'll have a good manager the manager will be a good recruit. then They'll do as well as they can, but Europe is going to be tough, and Areola was such a great manager, and it did take him a while to bet in as well. So that's why I've put them 12th. And then Brentford, a couple of spots ahead of where you have them, have them at 11th.
Speaker: I would have had them lower if they didn't make that signing of Sangare that I noted because I think he's an absolute game changer. And I think they'll probably have to make another signing or two anyway with Europe. But I think and anywhere higher than 11th, can't see it happening. So that's where I've got them.
Speaker: So next up then is 9th and 10th. So we're getting into the top half then. Well, who have you got 10th and then 9th? So in 10th, I have Leeds. Very high.
Speaker: I think they're a really good bet at 9-4 to finish in the top half this season. I like the recruitment they've done. I thought they were really good last season. Calvert-Lewin has looked really fit across preseason. Obviously, I spoke about Harry Wilson.
Speaker: They have a new centre-back as well. I'm not going to try and butcher his name, but i think he's like 6'5". They brought him in from Italy. He looks immense as well. So I think they've recruited really well, and I don't see why they can't get a top-term finish. There's nine teams in Europe in from england England this season, which is wild. I just think a lot of them, and not a lot of them, but if two or three of them take their eyes off the Premier League ball focus on Europe, then Leeds could sneak in and kind of nip nip in above them.
Speaker: And then I bore them in ninths. I just think they haven't lost too much of their squad. They seem to be holding on to Alex Scott. They're not going to lose Ryan this summer. Groupies out till Christmas. and No one's going to take him either. When he's back, he'll be helpful. They have three strikers now. They just seem to have kind of...
Speaker: they have equal or similar backups in every position across the pitch, bar maybe right back. And I think when you're a team looking to finish in that mid-range of the Premier League, having players where you take one off and bring someone on, it doesn't weaken you. i think that's the worst piece of success you're going to beating the teams around you.
Speaker: Yeah, my concern with them is the the fact that they're at their centre-back. I know they got Silva, but they're after losing Sanessi the season before. like They lost Zabarni and they lost Faison. So you know I think that might catch up to you eventually. So I'm not 100% sure. That's why I've got them a few spots lower, but Yeah, I think in the long run, they do look like a good bet to stay up a little bit higher.
Speaker: I've got Forrest in a 10th. I think they'll have a great season at Glasner. I think, like you said, they have good recruitment. Chris Wood looked good in the World Cup. So him being back, I think he'll be good as kind of a link up player because i do think Gibbs White will continue that goal scoring form that he had last year.
Speaker: I think he'll bag a lot of goals for them and be really important under Glasner. So i think they'll make a big jump back from from pretty bad season last year in the league. And then Brighton are next for me in ninth.
Speaker: ah just yeah I just can't really... give too much reason as to the next kind of like three or four teams they're all quite interchangeable brighton i just think are gonna have a little bit tougher because they're not in europe um or they are in europe should i say and some of the others are not so i think it's it's gonna be a little bit difficult for them this season to manage everything versus the likes of the spurs or a chelsea who have you know so many less games and obviously have bigger squads and bigger budgets as we saw
Speaker: with Spurs the amount of money they spent. But yeah, that's why I've got Bourne or Brighton in there at ninth. I completely forgot about Brighton and just panic put him in there. But I put him in at eighth because they're the only position. It's the next lowest position can put him in. don't need 19 teams listed. I still don't think eighth is a bad shout for him. I think they're really, really solid. this be the only one that either of us gets right. Yeah, I know, yeah yeah. I just think they're really solid. I think Hoisler's...
Speaker: Pertzler is a good manager as well. I actually have nothing to say in Brighton. I didn't prepare anything except for that they existed. And I think that says enough about Brighton, really. um I've Spurs in at seventh. I think you said there I had in at seventh last year as well, and I was absolutely miles off. But I just think this year, i do think they're going have a good season. i think going to be in or around those Champions League spots and maybe just fall short because the six teams ahead of them have just...
Speaker: one, done it a bit longer and two, this is a Spurs team that's in the biggest rebuild of probably the history of it from where they are to if they get from 17th to 7th, I think that's a really good season and somewhere for them to really build on.
Speaker: This is probably my hardest one, the fifth and sixth. So do you want to do your your seven and eight? and then Yeah, I'll do that first. and Actually, I've got... So I've got, like, way away from you, I've got Newcastle in at eighth. I really like Yaisal, I think, as an option. I do think that the squad is perfectly...
Speaker: set up to play that high pressing style now europe as well obviously they've invested in young players but they've got in a a much better goalkeeper and they've got some pace on the wing i think they have players that will buy into that high press so i think if they make a couple of more transfers they could be well in well in for a top eight They're to finish in the top six as well, which I did like as an outside bet if things go really right for them.
Speaker: And then Spurs next up is the first one where we actually both have them in the same spot at seventh. I think everything you said, like they'll make a jump up. ah from from where they finished in the last two seasons under the Zerbi and I think their squad is so much better but I don't think they go any higher than that because the teams about them are all just so much better so yeah that's why I've got them in at seven similarly to you so what have you got then for your sixth and fifth I have Chelsea sixth and Villa fifth this is so interchangeable between these two and even the next kind of
Speaker: 3, 4, 5 and 6 are all very interchangeable I think but I've just gone with Chelsea to just miss out I think the signing of Henderson and Welbeck are smart because they literally have nobody in the squad who's that age they haven't played a Premier League player over the age of 30 since Thiago Silva's last game for them That's crazy. Which is crazy. So I think they have a good bit of experience now. I think it might take Xabi Alonso a bit of time to get the players to buy into whatever system he's going go. But it does look like three at the back.
Speaker: I don't think that right back they've signed from Italy is as good as they thought he was going to be. He's looked absolutely horrific in preseason. And I've already said that Barco is horrific as well. So I just think they they don't want have Europe, so that will help them. But i think they might have a bit of a slow start and they won't be able to catch up to the Fives that are ahead of them.
Speaker: Okay, fair enough. i've got ifff I've got Villa in in next, so just one spot away from you. I think with Villa, the... You might look at that and go, they finished top four and they won a European trophy last year. So this is the step back. I think Emre to do that after losing Rodgers and the kind of constraints they've been under financially and playing in the Champions League, I think that would be actually a great outcome. And I don't think any other manager other than Emre with this Villa team would be able to do that.
Speaker: I think he's probably the best manager in the Premier League. So I think... I was just going to cut across and say that too. I think he is the best manager in the league at the moment. I just think... So many of the teams have new managers that haven't really done anything at the top level. He's done an incredible job there, Phila.
Speaker: Yeah, I agree 100%. He's definitely the top guy now that Pep has gone from the Premier League. And next up, I've got Liverpool in half-fifth. Look, dad the signings haven't given me anything to really latch onto.
Speaker: i'm Apart from Araujo, Xhaka is improving at this level, neither is Munoz, the guy they signed. Yeah, and then you've got Araujo, who's injury-prone.
Speaker: I think I probably would have had them higher until i read your article at about Liverpool and United. And it made me really concerned. And i was like, this does not sound good because it's just like...
Speaker: A lot of big holes in the squad. And I don't know what way it's going to go. Obviously, Salah took a big step back last season and he's gone now. Obviously, he's spent big in the attack. so that that should kind of translate going into the season. But i'm not sold on Verts. And I think Eketike being out is such a big blow. And I probably would have moved you up if he was here for the whole season.
Speaker: um So that's why I've got Liverpool in fifth. So three and four then for you. Or four and three. So four is United and three is Man City.
Speaker: Ooh. I think for City, the first year after t is either they're going to win the league and 104 points or they're going to struggle and finish Terby or the title race in March and just need a late burst to kind of secure this Champions League spot.
Speaker: I think it's going to be the second one. i I'm not 100% sold on Mareske. think it's... The fact they were so hell-bent on getting him, I think is really, really strange, especially with the way he was acting at Chelsea, the results he was getting.
Speaker: Couldn't get anyone onside, really. i just I just think it's such a strange appointment. so i yeah And then obviously my yeah my bias slash stupidity has left me where I am now when we come to the top two.
Speaker: Yeah, I think if Liverpool had built going into last season and you'd done this, I'd say, yeah, but I think this outrageous to put them in the top two. They're so far off right now, I think. I know, of course. I'm kind of banking on signings that haven't been made yet. We'll be talking about it in two minutes. That's a bad move, especially considering how last year's ones did end up when they were made. But I'm going to go with my next, so fourth and third. I've got Chelsea at fourth.
Speaker: I just think not having Europe and the amount the sheer amount of flares they have. Surely Alonso gets a tune out of enough of them. I do think Lacroix being signed was, i think he's a little bit overrated, but do think he'll do a decent job and for that we kind of value because he's Premier League proven and bringing in Henderson and Welbeck.
Speaker: I don't think Henderson will play that much, but Welbeck will probably play a good bit and you've got that seniority in there right now. so I think Alonso will do a better job there than he did at at Madrid. And I've got City as well at third, same as you. I agree.
Speaker: You lose Pep. and like where are you they're basically losing and our Maybe an argument between him and Alex Ferguson, a lot of people's one and two is the best Premier League managers ever, and you're losing one of those best two managers. And I don't think it's going to fall apart like it did with Ferguson because he was basically working with shoestrings at the end. like He was just pulling things together with God knows what, and then everything went south when he left, whereas this team has just kept spending copious amounts of money, and they have so much talent that I don't think they could do any worse than third. So yeah, I just can't see it without Pep because obviously he is so good and you're going to have a fall off.
Speaker: So that leaves us both with Arsenal and the team we support. So I wonder what you've done here. Who's going to win the league? Arsenal are going to win the league, unfortunately, and Liverpool are going to finish second. They're 2-1 for a top two finish, which I think is actually... If you want to throw your money away, it's a decent bet. Yeah, exactly. It's it's really poor odds, but I just said I'd throw it in there anyway.
Speaker: Look, I'm just banking that they are going to do something next year. He's going to get Barcola. They're going to get another winger. And maybe his centre-mid replaces Curtis Jones if he goes. If they don't do that, then I'll absolutely hold my hands up and say this is this is ridiculous. But I'm just backing my boys and to get a top two finish, to push Arsenal to close, especially with City...
Speaker: struggling and the amount of games United are going to have to play compared to last year I think is going to have a bit of an effect them as well. I'm not sure the squad at the moment is quite big enough but if I'm banking on signings Liverpool haven't made then you can bank on signings United haven't made to make them stronger as well. But yeah, that's a way. yeah I have unfortunately gone Arsenal back to back. I think there's just been so much turmoil at the rest of the teams around them with new managers coming in new managers having their first full season in Carrick's case.
Speaker: Just the sheer Arteta being there and knowing the place and stood like like he hasn't made too many sweeping changes across the squad either. Just Bruno and Zalas are the only two kind of main signings really. So I just think the fact that it's basically the same squad. I know Saliba and Gabriel are out to miss the start of the season.
Speaker: But when they come back, I just think, yeah, unfortunately, Arsenal might go back to back. But my God, I'd hope anyone rather them. Yeah, i I think looking at the centre-back issue, then you go, oh, a couple of lads are out there for a bit. Then you look at them, like, 90 centre-backs, and they're all class.
Speaker: Like, Hincapier, Ben White is still there, obviously. Timber. God, you'd even forget about Timber. Calafiore. Calafiore. Like, it's just, they're such good defenders. So, yeah, I'm going with them back-to-back as well. i think there's no I think there's no better time than right now.
Speaker: for Arsenal to do this because I think a couple of the teams behind them are going to like get a lot of things right going into next season and with this season build on it and it's going to be a lot harder so I think this is by far the best time for Arsenal to do this I think that the signings they've made with Bruno is obviously a very good one I do think they will make one more big signing and go out and grab a marquee player Yeah, marquee forward, I think. And give Jokeres less minutes or at any than he gets already, which is never a bad thing.
Speaker: United then are second for me. ah a lot of this stuff, like, I don't know, is the looking at United's squad depth, like, United have a very, very solid depth of squad. Like, at centre-back, it obviously got...
Speaker: Martinez, Maguire, De Ligt and Heaven as are as our options as well as Yarrow. And then right back Maserawi and Dalo, left back Luke Shaw and we need another left back.
Speaker: But Amas has been playing there pre-season, he looks okay. Midfield Santos, Tielemans, Mount and Maynou, you need another midfielder. But I still think that's a decent enough rotation. I think we will sign an another midfielder. I'm questioning about left-back. But I think United will sign one.
Speaker: And then in the forwards, like going from the wings forward, like we still... Rashford has come back into the fold. Let's see how that goes. But we've got... Did he play last night? No, he's only done like two trainings. So him and Manu and Martinez and De Ligt and Sesko. I forgot about De Ligt, another centre-back.
Speaker: They didn't play because they only had a couple of training sessions. But then you've still got Bruno, obviously probably Premier League player the season last year. Mboumo, Shea Lacey's played a big part in pre-season. Ahmad looked really good in the World Cup.
Speaker: and He was probably the best player last night for United outside of Santos. Sesko. um And if they keep Xerxes, there's another option. But I do think they'll rotate Konya and Buma and Sesko up front anyways. So I think there's it's quite a deep squad. And once they add one more midfielder, I think they're in a good spot to challenge across multiple competitions. I think Carrick is the type of guy they need.
Speaker: Doesn't get kind of overexertive or loses the head. Just kind of calm. He knows the club inside out better than anybody. Clearly the midfield took a massive leap as soon as he came in because he's the best midfielder we've had. and he's i mean he's He's the type of guy we've been trying to replace since he left because he's our last very good midfielder and for a consistent period of time and he capped in the club. so yeah I'm confident. I think United look good. I don't know they'll will they push Arsenal very close but I do think they're the best of the rest right now looking at things.
Speaker: And I think one more central midfield sign and then if they could get a left back, I'd be over the moon, but I'm not banking on that. and Even I saw with Goumere's coming in, Arsenal might want to ship Lewis Skelly, which I think is nuts because he's so good. might But he wants to stay. But if United could grab him for anything less than like 60 million, I think that would be an unbelievable signing because he sorts those two issues, centre mid and left back.
Speaker: and So I think that would be a superb sign and if they if they manage that. But yeah, United in second for me, I think i think they'll have a good season. And I do like Carrick. I think he's the right character. Carrick-ter, you mean? Carrick-ter. I'm not going to come at you for putting United in there because put Liverpool in second.
Speaker: I think we're always going to back our own kind of thing as well. But I'm just glad that neither of us have put our own team we above Arsenal because we were so bad last year that Arsenal aren't going to win it this year because we both have them first. So that's fair. Yeah, there you go. That's a good shout.
Speaker: I think... I think, like, even... I'm saying that when I read that article, right, you, like, picked Liverpool apart to bits and then you still predict them to finish higher than United in the article. And I was just like, yeah, it's fair enough, you go with your your team. But last year, I had United sixth.
Speaker: And I think I'm quite real about United and I actually do have a good feeling right now about the way things are building. And if I think they were horribly placed, I would have them lower. And I think that...
Speaker: Tarek since he came in he had the best record of any manager in the league now you I know they didn't play in any other competitions but I know it's it's down to when that happens so I do think that United will do well I don't think it's like a I don't think it's too big of a stretch to to make that jump up one spot from last year and So those are our our tables. We'll do a full graphic on social media so you can look at them from top to bottom. and But we've got one more segment, same of last year. And first it is our hot take. So we're going to give one each.
Speaker: Now, last year, my hot take was very close to coming off. I had West Ham to be relegated, but Graham Potter to be sacked as the first manager. And that was on course perfectly until the whole meltdown and with Nuno at Forest and he got sacked for unfootballing reasons, which I was raging about.
Speaker: ah So heading into this season, I'll throw out my hot take first. It's ah kind of specific and it kind of falls off the back of that Forest, the way things go at Forest. And mine is that They're going to have a good season. Glasner is going to do very well and turn things around. And then inexplicably, he's going to walk away in the summer because something gone awry behind the scenes again, even though he does a really good job. So I'm going to have Forrest have a good season and then Glasner to leave.
Speaker: And not because another team wants him, just because he's not happy with what's going on. Because he clearly isn't afraid to voice his concern with things that he did at Palace. So I think that's a very niche one, but that's my hot take.
Speaker: Joel, I don't mind at all because Bull are looking at him to take that Jurgen Klopp role. The one that pays 12 or 15 million a year to do what looks like you make a couple of phone calls, a couple of interviews, and then you just get to piss away the rest of your week. So I think you might do the one year here, say I'm tired and go take the that Red Bull job it's still available. I don't think gotten anyone for it yet.
Speaker: My hot take, yeah the yeah um I'm sticking on my Newcastle Newcastle getting relegated is 10-1. I think at 10-1, I just think it's such a good bet. I just think they the amount of turmoil they've gone through replacing the manager so late...
Speaker: losing their two centre mids and their captain and vice-captain, I think. Tonali was their vice-captain, maybe Joel Linton is? No, Trippio isn't there as well. I just think it's Oh, okay. Well, they've lost him as well. He's gone well, so.
Speaker: Yeah. i I just think it's I just have to throw it out here and just just just let the people know that there is really good money to be had on Newcastle to go down. Sorry, Dad. okay so So we're going with 10-1 on Newcastle to go down and on Liverpool to be top two. so ah There's two money makers There's a good double.
Speaker: Yeah. So you've given us some good bets there now, right? ah I don't need to repute or ah rebuttal against that Newcastle thing. I've already given my thoughts on them this season. You know, I don't agree with that, but yeah you'll do as you wish. ah Our best three bets then heading into the season ahead. Let you go first here since I went first with the hot takes.
Speaker: Liverpool to win the league Leeds to finish top half and Arbeloa to be first sacked is Arbeloa to be first sacked yeah that could well happen if things go very bad I don't see the Hull manager's favourite to be sacked and he's 2-1 I just don't think Hull are going to sack him after what he did last season and they're obviously expecting to finish 20th so unless they have 0 points at Christmas I think Arbeloa if Arbeloa signings don't work out they're really struggling He has a meltdown like he did in that pre-season friendly last night where he pulled his team off and let Malaga take a penalty shootout against nobody. Yeah, because he got sent off and they were all just like, then Malaga celebrated when they scored the penalty. Yeah, I know. just taking the pace. I thought it was absolutely brilliant to celebrate. It was hilarious. So good. The Wiggy man scores the penalty by just rolling it down the middle and just goes off. It's like, yes, get on me. I'm unbelievable. So yeah, Arbel Oates get sacked. I think at 14 to 1 is actually a really good price.
Speaker: Yeah, okay, I like that one. not Not so sure on the other two, but yeah, I like that one, too. her um I've gone with bigger bigger bets here, so it's a a big swing for these ones. But Wissa, get on that each way. You get a quarter of the odds if he finishes in the top four goalscores. So I think that's not a bad shout.
Speaker: And then second up I've got... My top two Arsenal to win and United to be second is 12-1. and i think that's a decent enough decent enough price. And then thirdly, I've got what I liked last year. And I was only let down because Strand Larsson got transferred from Wolves.
Speaker: But I had the top scorer from different teams and I picked a player to score the most amount of goals. And I'm going to do it again, but I'm doing with less players this time and guys who I think will stay with their club the whole season. So I've got Sesco to be United's top goal scorer. He was joint top with Mbuma last year and I think he'll do better this time around. Wissett to be Newcastle's top goal scorer.
Speaker: they haven't got really any other goal scoring option uh asulo is second favorite so i think wis kind of a shoe in here and then thirdly gibbs white i already mentioned him i think chris would have pushed him the closest but i think gives white will be their main scorer put those three together and it's 20 to 1 i think that's very good price for those three so i like that one that's one i'll actually definitely be doing myself and so any need thoughts on those i yeah I have no issues with any of the three of them.
Speaker: I really like that top goals score for clubs, but i I'm the kind of person, if I wanted a better, I'd be greedy and go with five and throw in that. There's a guarantee and Ezek for Liverpool would probably guarantee and some stupid one like Harry Wilson for Leeds or something. That's the one that would cost me. But yeah, i I have no issue with any of those three.
Speaker: Yeah, I was looking at Harry Wilson for Leeds to throw in as well and i was like, God, I'll be the one that lets me down. And then, you know you'll just do Haaland or Ezek or whatever and the odds will, like, you'll get an extra, like, half and half a euro and then they get injured and then you're faked. it's just like, just stick with what you're going. I had five year. what happens here at the World Cup?
Speaker: yeah exactly i put in rafinha and then he got injured but i did cash out on that one so i made a nice nice bit of but i do like that player to score a certain amount of goals or if you look at the premier league one though like they're all like to player to score 10 plus goals is where it starts and the odds are so horrible like even the bad player like asula is like money on to score 10 or more goals and i was just like that makes no sense so yeah that's why i went with this one The lads showing me that handicap betting in the Premier League where each team gets points.
Speaker: I think that's a cool idea, but it just takes one of their promoted teams to have a semi-decent season finish less than, like i think Coventry and Hull are plus 44 on the champion.
Speaker: Coventry could easily get that, and then Spurs at 16, you could be absolutely effective. One of the promoted teams, they were Sunderland. So yeah, just think they're mad. Yeah. It's always hard to get everything right lined up for these. And it's hard to get good odds then if you do less. So it's always the temptation of each. But we'll leave you with that gambling advice. Clearly two experts. Like we both got one team right last year in the Premier League picks. So we're on the ball. Let's hope that next year a better one.
Speaker: Our next season, we we come back to this and we'll we'll have gotten more things right. But that's our full Premier League preview and predictions and everything covered for you, Shane. Any any last thoughts? Yeah, my prediction is that this episode for next season is going to be episode 145. That's the one I'm going with until we need to do 50-odd episodes between now and then. 147 what going to 147. Okay. So from that, just like, follow.
Speaker: okay um's hoping that just just like subscribe follow Keep an eye on our Instagram. We now have 500 posts and over 400 followers. Yep. Which they have just shot up out of nowhere. I can't believe we're at 500 and we're only at it just over a year. The 100th episode is coming up before Christmas as well by the looks of things. So keep an eye out for that as well. That'll be a big one. We might just have every single guest who's ever been on for that episode. I've just decided that there now. No, I'm joking.
Speaker: Yeah, exactly. So just honestly, thank you so much. I'm going to stop off now and we'll talk to you next week. Nice one, lads. Talk to you next week. I'm about to piss myself.
