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15/09/25 The welcome return of the long throw! Is Arsenal's new look front three enough to win them the title? And a dream, dream, dream debut at the weekend for which Premier League striker?
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Join Nick Britten and Iain MacKay for your daily dose of Premier League action.
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Transcript
Introduction and Welcome
00:00:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
A very warm welcome to you wherever you are in the world. You are listening to the Daily Premier League podcast with me, Nick Britton. It is Monday the 15th of September and I am delighted to be joined today by making his debut on the Daily Premier League. I have to say making his debut is the fantastic podcaster from our magnificent Daily Newcastle podcast, part the Club of Sports Podcast Network. That is Mr. Ian Mackay. Ian, a very warm welcome.
00:00:47
Iain
Thank you very much, Nick. I'm just noticing already the professionalism that you bring to your podcast. Making his debut, you said, whereas on Newcastle, I would be popping the cherry.
00:01:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
i think by the lookie you po your cher a long time ago. But we'll gloss on from that.
00:01:03
Iain
Definitely.
00:01:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And to be fair, I'm returning the favour because you did have me on GSPN and Daily Newcastle a few weeks ago.
00:01:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's very, very nice to be able to return that favour. Over the course of the next 25 minutes to half an hour, we're going to just be looking at three things.
00:01:11
Iain
We did.
Arsenal's New Signings: The Final Piece?
00:01:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, last night or last night's podcast, if you joined us then, you would have heard myself and Tom Elkins go through the games over the weekend and a review of them all.
00:01:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
There was one game that we missed out on quite deliberately, and that was Arsenal against Nottingham Forest. And there's a reason we missed that out. It's it's not because we are totally... inefficient is because I wanted to talk in a little bit more depth about Arsenal's front line.
00:01:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And posing the question to Ian, and indeed you all listening today, whether or not this front line they bought, they spent a lot of money on Eberesie Eze, Nani Madweke, and Viktor Korkirash, whether that is the final missing piece of the jigsaw that could land Arsenal the title.
00:01:49
Iain
Yeah.
00:02:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
We all know, don't we? Recent times, they've come of close to Nozakar, And one of the reasons is they've not really had somebody who can net 25 goals, 30 goals a season, or indeed anybody coming close to that.
00:02:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now they've got sort of three players in there who can create and who can score.
00:02:18
Iain
no
00:02:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
So i wanted to talk about that. Now, I don't know if you saw the game on Saturday, Ian, but Arsenal were really, really good going forwards. They dominated for us for long periods.
00:02:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, uh, these three guys are These three guys who played in that front line, because Saka's obviously injured, they look great.
Arsenal's Offensive Power
00:02:41
Iain
i think yeah ah but I think they are great. um and I mean, I know it's not a yes-no answer that you're looking for as to whether Jokeres can be the striker which fires Arsenal to the championship.
00:02:54
Iain
But it's certainly a big step forward from trying to convert Havertz into that centre-forward or Mikel Moreno. And they did come very, very close with a non... What would you call them? A false nines almost? But they're certainly not...
00:03:09
Iain
um got that striker's instinct, ah for example, that we've enjoyed for the last few years with Alexander Izak, for example, nor the striker's instinct that we're hoping Johan Wisser's going to bring for Newcastle, um I think Jokeres does have it. he He is turning up in exactly the right place to be able to score the typical fox-in-the-box type um striker's goals.
00:03:37
Iain
If he can get 22, 23, 24,
00:03:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:03:40
Iain
I think, leaving Saka aside because he's injured, they really pulled Madueke out of a box. I mean, it it was such a ridiculous signing at the time. The Arsenal fans made a petition asking why on earth have we bought this fella?
00:03:59
Iain
But certainly the elevation in profile from when he was misfiring on the wing for Chelsea to England's saviour and so ah sack of replacement, is incredible.
00:04:14
Iain
he's He's a fantastic player. And then one of my own favourites from the last few years, they've brought in on the left, Eze. What a fantastic um fantastic creative player he is as well.
00:04:27
Iain
I mean, they still have Trossard and Martinelli, who did a good enough job to get very, very close in previous years. So I would say, is it enough to win the championship? It depends on how much Further on, City and Liverpool are.
00:04:44
Iain
But they've certainly made some giant leaps forward in in scoring the goals that you would need to score to
Comparing Arsenal's Lineup
00:04:49
Iain
be able to to win the top pot.
00:04:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think so. When you look at, I mean look, let's face it, there's going to loads and loads of Chelsea fans who would have quite gladly driven Madweke themselves across London from west to north. But he started the season really, really well.
00:05:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
I watched him live in the flesh couple of weeks ago when England played Andorra and I went to that game. And he was one of the very few, there were two, there were two b bright sparks in that game.
00:05:15
Iain
Thank you.
00:05:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
One was and one was Madweke. I thought he'd played really well. and i love the way that every time we got the ball is first thought get him a fallback get it a fallback you trying and create some And when you've got that down one side, you've got Eze is a different type of player.
00:05:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not perhaps, he's not he's not a winger of such a player.
00:05:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
and then of course you got bakayoua to come in when he's back but to full fitness. And suddenly now you've got a target man, three goals in four games so so far this season, in Goykeresh, two against Leeds United, one against Nottingham Forest at the weekend.
00:05:47
Iain
Thank you.
00:05:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's really looking potent. And when I look around the other top three or four teams, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle, you know, these sort of the big clubs that you expect to be challenging for Champions League places,
00:06:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
I can't see much better than those sort of four or five players. And even behind that, they've got players like Trossard who can come on and make a difference. They've got Havertz can come back.
00:06:17
Iain
Yeah.
00:06:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
like Like you, I believe, has i mean he's just not a goal scorer, but he's still a very good player. They've still got Gabriel Jesus on the on the bench on the books, which I didn't realise until I started looking into all this. That's a very talented set of frontline creative players.
00:06:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
It really is.
00:06:34
Iain
I think so. I think so. And of course, from a purely yeah introspective, bitter Newcastle perspective, we really hope Jokal Reyes scores 30 goals.
00:06:45
Iain
and takes over the centre-forward spot for Sweden for the World Cup. Because that'll leave a certain striker sitting on the bench watching, won't it?
00:06:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
I can't imagine. ah can't imagine who you're not talking about Anthony Langarier. I can't imagine who you might be talking about. I thought you were going to say, hope he scores 30 goals because then he can go on strike and then sign Liverpool.
00:07:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
But who knows?
00:07:07
Iain
Yeah.
00:07:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who knows?
00:07:09
Iain
No, I think...
Title Chances and Rivals
00:07:12
Iain
I think Liverpool have strengthened as well. Obviously, without Izak, they look very potent going forward. um But I do think that Arsenal have have strengthened in midfield. Zuban Mendy looked fantastic. What a goal he scored the first one, by the way.
00:07:27
Iain
Blimey. If there had been no net, that would still be going up by three o'clock on Saturday afternoon. um And this ah but guy they picked up for £13 million, is it Roccaira or Mochera?
00:07:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:42
Iain
In defence, he looks fabulous. And I think, did they buy Hink... I can't even pronounce his name either. The Ecuadorian guy, Hinkapi. Is that right? um Who we haven't even seen yet, but I think is an absolute six foot six monster that's going to make Gabriel and Saliba look like they ought to be long distance runners rather than centre-halves.
00:08:04
Iain
and I think Arsenal have strengthened all over. They've already got fabulous goalkeeper in Raya. um When you look at Liverpool, yeah, they strengthened going forward, but they are they are really, really vulnerable in defence, I think, to ah an injury or two, certainly through to January.
00:08:22
Iain
Van Dijk picks up another injury. and they They're going to look wide open. um and
00:08:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
They are very reliant on Canate playing well and Van Dijk playing well and staying fit. Behind that, they've got John Gomez, but he's never really played a consistent run of games for the last couple of years.
00:08:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I looking at who Arsenal have brought in, you're talking about Hintapé, who they brought a buyer, Leverkusen, on loan. I mean, you're talking about players like Christian Norgard, who was Brentford's best player last season, arguably.
00:08:51
Iain
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I agree.
00:08:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, was he their best player? I don't He was a driving force, certainly, of the team. Nobody's even talking about him. in the midfield area because you've got obviously Declan Rice in there as well and you've got Zubomendi in there now as well you've got Odegaard in there as well it it feels like this is Arsenal's best chance to me it feels like this is their best chance I thought they might be running into Haaland but this feels like their best chance
00:09:20
Iain
i agree I agree. um but But I do think that all of those top sides have got some fantastic forward lines and have neglected strengthening further through the side.
00:09:32
Iain
City, I think, still with Ruben Diaz again centre-half. Rodri, is Rodri come back as well, as good a player as the Ballon d'Or winner that we want?
00:09:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, he did he he did, then he's out again, and he did, and then he's out again. you know, you can't be, it's going to be a long road. It's going to be a long road before you see him really fit and firing him back to his best, even even when he's fit again.
00:09:50
Iain
I think so.
00:09:53
Iain
I think so. I think maybe Pep's masterstroke is to grab Donnarumma at the tail end of the transfer window. know we're going to talk about him later on. um ah You know, he's a fantastic goalkeeper.
00:10:06
Iain
ah But yeah, that's the problem with Chelsea. Chelsea brought all of those young players, ah let Madweke go, which is now looking a bit of a silly thing to do. um But they never strengthened the goalkeeping position.
00:10:18
Iain
It's still Robert Sanchez. And I'm sure even the Chelsea fans would would cross their fingers and hope that they could have had a different goalkeeper playing instead of that. So I think, yeah.
00:10:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, it's not as bad, it's not as bad as the absolute disaster going on at Old Trafford, where they had a chance to sign Emilio Martinez, one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and said, no, let's bring in a kid from Royal Antwerp who's just had one good season in Belgium.
00:10:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's stateroom.
00:10:44
Iain
Yeah, but then they didn't play him. They played outside, didn't they? In the derby.
00:10:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:48
Iain
in their
00:10:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:50
Iain
in the deby um who actually played quite well.
00:10:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:52
Iain
I don't think you could have blamed him for anything. He played quite well, but City blew them away, really.
00:10:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I agree. i mean, he's had a bit...
00:10:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, well, defensively, Man United were absolutely all over the shot. That back three was was so poor. It's just it's just let' say's ridiculous. I mean, ah yeah we talk about Man United lots, we talk about Ruben, Ameren lots, I'm sure we'll talk about him a lot more. So I'm going to ask you, you said at the start of the show, this is not yes-no question. i'm going to ask you for yes-no answer.
00:11:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think that the signing of Arsenal's front three has... significantly strengthened them enough that they're in with a real of winning the title this year. Yes or no?
00:11:31
Iain
a Yes. However, they did lose at Liverpool, and I think that that might be crucial at the end of the season, having already lost to Liverpool.
00:11:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
you for
00:11:42
Iain
But I do think that... I think they are... I think I picked City to win myself, but that... I might have changed that after Sydney lost two of the first three and switched to Arsenal. I can't remember. It's on a podcast for a week or two ago.
00:11:58
Iain
um One of the yeah international break podcasts where we switched our predictions. I think Arsenal will be strong and they'll be there in it right the way through to the end of the season, at least.
00:12:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, we hope so, because we want a competitive Premier League, don't we?
00:12:11
Iain
And I'll be delighted.
00:12:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
we want We don't want anybody walking away the league. Right, in just a moment,
The Rise of Long Throws
00:12:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
we are going to have a look at, well, two things really. is this the a Has the long throw made a welcome return? For a football purist like me, I think it's great. i love it.
00:12:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Long throws in the box, causing carnage and chaos. That's what I like to see. And has that, in some way or not, prompted Manchester City's move for Donnarumma?
00:12:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
an absolute hulk of goalkeeper. We're going to be talking about that in just a moment, before we do a word from our sponsor.
00:12:56
Iain
you.
00:13:24
Iain
He's gorgeous, isn't he, Ken?
00:13:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're listening to the Daily Premier League podcast, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:13:37
Iain
Thank you.
00:13:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you very much indeed for listening. Make us your daily listen. Hit subscribe, hit like, get in touch with us through our socials. ah Get in touch with us on email, dailypremierleague at gmail.com. I think that's what it is. Actually, don't do that because i don't know. I'll find out the right email address and tell tomorrow. I can never remember what it is. I've got that many email addresses swimming through my head.
00:13:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
But certainly you can find us on YouTube, can find us on Spotify, you can find us on You can find us on Instagram, you can find us everywhere. I am Ian the Hot Seat, me and Nick Britton with Ian McKay today.
00:14:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
We are talking now about, are we seeing the rebirth, and those of us of certain age can remember this has come around two or three times in our football increase, of the long throw.
00:14:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, Premier League's all been about lovely touchy-feely, tika-taka, whatever you want to call it, football, pass the move, blah, blah, blah, blah. And the long throw, sadly, sadly, seems to take a back seat. But it's back.
00:14:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's back, ladies and gentlemen. Stats already from Okta are showing that in the Premier League this season, be an average of 3.03. We'll just call it 3. I want to see what 0.3 long throw looks like.
00:14:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just when you drop it at your feet, I think. Three long throws into the opposition boxers per game.
00:14:49
Iain
Wow.
00:14:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's 20 metres plus into the game, which is almost double. Any other season in the previous 10 years, any other season. So it was almost double already the 2018-19 season where we last had a glut of long throws. Interestingly, that season, that I remember this, 2018,
00:15:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
two thousand and eighteen limple brought thomas gronoma as a long throw coach a specialist throwing coach
00:15:16
Iain
wow
00:15:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah i remember that andrew's guy war on earth but as always Liverpool were before their time because probably everybody's going to have a long throw coach in the next two months you can see it could all sorts but the microphone you can see it I was getting that excited so is this the return of the long throw Brentford
00:15:26
Iain
Thank
00:15:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
scored their equalising goal in injury time on Saturday with an absolute zinger into the box from Kevin Sharday it caused carnage and Carvalho tapped it in from about two yards out as his marker Carnaggio just stood looking up in the air wondering what day it was about five and five five yards away no clue whatsoever but yeah bre and Brentford have scored ah more long throws than anybody else they've got five more goals they've got seven seven right
00:16:00
Iain
Yeah.
00:16:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Seven goals Brentford have scored from long throws since the last start of last season, which is five more than anybody. So they practice it all the time. And there was a great interview with Keith Andrews, their manager, the other day, where he's talking about, look, I used to have to face this. I was playing in the days where Rory Dillap, you remember that? Rory Dillap was the absolute master of these things.
00:16:23
Iain
yeah
00:16:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was playing where I had to face all these things. And it was an absolute nightmare. So listen, why don't we do it? So he was part of coaching staff last year, obviously, at Brentford when they started introducing these.
00:16:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's carried it on and he sees it as a very potent weapon. And it would appear that everybody else is else is catching on. Ian, do you welcome the return of the long throw into the penalty area?
Tactics and Goalkeepers
00:16:46
Iain
It's strange, isn't it because it? Because the long throw is just the first element of that very... um The pathfinders for statistical analysis in management, um Sam Allardyce and Tony Pulis,
00:17:02
Iain
who worked out that you had to have the ball in the box as quickly as possible to have the best chance of scoring. Now, we Newcastle have appointed a set-piece coach, and we've started using the long throw.
00:17:15
Iain
It's a Tino Livramento long throw. And whilst we didn't score from it on Saturday... Jacob Murphy had a shot from about four yards, which came from the chaos of a long throw that Joe Linton got his head on, which was brilliantly saved by Johnson. Off his knee, I think, but he spread himself really, really well. So he could easily have scored from that long throw. what even Even more out of that old-fashioned playbook, Sandro Tonali kicked off on Saturday by wellying the ball straight out of play at the corner flag to give the opposition a really awkward throw in
00:17:52
Iain
two feet from their own goal line, because if we are going to start pressing up there, that's when we win the ball back and turn it over and we're in their box. So these things aren't new.
00:18:03
Iain
And I know they've gone a little bit out of fashion because maybe you maybe there's less skill involved in doing that that. People are ashamed, but they shouldn't be. If it's producing goals, and I mean, it it saved a point for Brentford on Saturday, didn't it? um I'm all for it.
00:18:20
Iain
Why not? i We all love a bit of chaos in the box. And ah it it might level the playing field a bit. If City and Liverpool and Arsenal have got all of the really skilful players, it's just bombarded with long throws and kicks out of the goalkeeper's hand that bounce once on the edge of the box.
00:18:40
Iain
Why not?
00:18:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I've been looking at some of the trends from the early stages of the Premier League and some of the stats, and there are two or three trends that that stand out already. One of them is the long throw. The other one is, as you've just quite rightly identified, teams kicking off and playing for touch, essentially playing for just getting a team up the pitch by booting it rugby style into touch as near to the corner flag as possible, getting everybody at the pitch and trying to box them in.
00:19:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the other one is is long balls from goal kicks. whether it be the goalkeeper or whether it be the centre half, because a couple of teams are using centre half, Tottenham, one of them, to take long goal kicks and get it into the opposition half as much as possible.
00:19:14
Iain
Thank you.
00:19:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, Part of that is finally, and not before time, I must say, suddenly realising, look, we're not good enough to just play out from the back and pass the ball in our own area in between the centre-halves the goalkeeper when teams press us from goal kicks because we concede goals.
00:19:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let's not concede goals and let's not try. i wonder, and I don't know if this is a spurious link or not, so you tell me. So Manchester City you bought Donnarumma in, okay?
00:19:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
He is six foot 50.
00:19:48
Iain
Yeah.
00:19:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
You saw him yesterday. He's massive. He's just is's such a bulk, such a unit. And anything that came into the Manchester City sort of six-yard area or thereabouts, he just got a fist to, he got a hand to.
00:20:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
He blocked. He's an old, what I call an old-fashioned goalie. Now, we know that Donnarumma is not good with his feet. So Edison, who he's replaced via James Trafford briefly, Edison...
00:20:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
arguably i mean he was better than my outfield players and in the Premier League, in terms of his ability to pass the ball 15, 20, 30 yards. He was absolutely superb. And he was brought in when Pep brought in that idea that the the goalkeepers are your kind of sweepers, they are yeah they are your outfield player in many ways. their ability to appear.
00:20:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
But with the reliance now on set pieces, i.e.
00:20:33
Iain
Thank you.
00:20:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
corners, and Arsenal, we know about their strength of corners, plenty of others are, but they certainly hold the battle at the moment. And long throws and long balls. Is there now a requirement for goalkeepers not to worry about them being able to play football, but worry about them being able to keep goal and be a presence in the six-yard box?
00:20:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And on that final point, we've seen already this season Too many goalkeepers flap at crosses, flap at when they're being put under pressure, not be able to have that physical presence in the box because that's almost not what they were brought in to do.
00:21:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
So is the game, as we know football this goes in cycles and what was fashionable 15, 20 years ago isn't now, but it be or might not be up until now, but is it coming back in a fashion?
00:21:11
Iain
Oh,
00:21:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is that whole wheel turning, do you
00:21:25
Iain
oh that's a big question, isn't it? I don't think that there's any other reason for Pep to bring Donnarumma other than the fact that Donnarumma is world-class goalkeeper, maybe the best goalkeeper in the world.
00:21:39
Iain
What a shot-stopper is. He still let four in when Paris Saint-Germain played at St. James' Park, of course, but that you know that was a great that was a great night, a special night. No, he's a fantastic goalkeeper.
00:21:51
Iain
And what I was going to say was that even your Edisons um getting pats on the back for bringing the ball out at his feet, but then playing a 60, 70-yard assist to bounce once for Haaland to knock it in, which is a typical long ball. It's just not kicked out of his hands.
00:22:11
Iain
Just because he dribbled it up his box and wellied it up that far, I don't think that is tactically very much different. um But I do think that we've had a ah number of instances where not being able to dominate the goal line at a corner or ah or a throw has cost...
00:22:30
Iain
team's deer. um I'm thinking in particular of that first game of the season when it was Altair who just couldn't get through to the ball and the ball almost bounced in front of him.
00:22:42
Iain
And i think it was it Calafiore who rather embarrassingly scored a header at the far post. Can't remember. I think it was Arsenal, Man U. Yeah, because Man U played quite well, but the goal that Arsenal scored was was was dreadful.
00:22:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
and what It was, yes. Correct, yes.
00:22:56
Iain
um so you know I've always thought that being able to play out with your feet was kind of overrated um or overvalued.
00:23:10
Iain
We've done perfectly fine with Nick Pope, who is another one who is traditionally not very good with his feet. But you know he gets a lot of clean sheets because he's such a good goalkeeper.
00:23:22
Iain
ah We've got Ramsdale on loan that we haven't seen play in the Premier League yet, who's also a big lad. quite dominant, but is meant to be better with his feet. And actually, we're noticing Pope's better this season because he's learning off Ramsdale in training, we think, or he's been pressed by him.
00:23:39
Iain
So I don't know. I think there's still, if your team is is strong enough, there's a big argument to keep possession and play it out from the back because hoofing it up the field becomes a bit of a lottery because whoever gets the first ball, whoever gets to the second ball,
00:23:57
Iain
Whereas if you can play through the opposition, then you've retained possession and you're on the attack. um
00:24:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the flip side of that, though, the flip side of that is, and you take Manchester City at home to Tottenham earlier this season, they conceded ridiculous goal because James Trafford was standing on the six-yard box with the ball to take a goal kick.
00:24:05
Iain
ah
00:24:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
He had his centre-half standing on the corner of his six-yard area and Tottenham players were all lined up on the edge of the area ready to swarm. And when you see that, you go, yeah, this might not be the best idea. but no no, no, it's been drilled into me, I've told I've got to do So he passes to his defender and within about five seconds the ball's in the back of his own net.
00:24:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:24:43
Iain
yeah Well, I mean, Newcastle a very, very strong pressing side and we love teams that are playing out for the back. I mean, I don't know how many goals were scored against Tottenham by them cocking that sort of thing up.
00:24:54
Iain
and But I certainly remember Gordon's second goal so at at home in the in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final. was purely down to Rea playing a ball and getting and it getting intercepted back to go and score.
00:25:08
Iain
and The number of goals that... I mean, that first goal in the match against Paris Saint-Germain was an interception of ah of a short ball out that was really well saved by Donnarumma from Isak, but Arnuron came in and scored the rebound.
00:25:24
Iain
So, yeah, I mean... Watching Southampton struggle again and again and again last year, doing it when they just weren't good enough to play through. If it's OK for them to hoof the the goal kicks up so midway through the opposition a half, fair enough.
00:25:43
Iain
But that might just be losing possession to watch the team come back at you.
00:25:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I think I think
00:25:50
Iain
But at least you're not at least you're not self-destructing. It always looks like a complete self-destruct if you get caught like that.
00:25:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
i would much rather i would much rather lose possession in the opposition half than lose possession in my own penalty area.
00:25:57
Iain
Yeah. Yeah.
00:26:02
Iain
yeah
00:26:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's as simple as that.
00:26:04
Iain
yeah
00:26:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is as simple as that. So, yeah, well, we'll see. We'll see. be really interesting to see how Man City play from here on in, whether... Yeah, you're right. Listen, this this could all be it could all be speculation and the fact...
00:26:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
They might have just bought Donnarumma because he is available. He's one of the best goalkeepers in the world. And why wouldn't you? But they were obviously losing Edison for a particular reason. You tell me what that is. They bought in James Trafford and had a couple of shaky games.
00:26:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it feels like, you know, obviously Man City changed the way they played last season by or two seasons ago by bringing in Ireland. so and and and he was the first traditional number nine a couple of seasons prior to that when they were playing in false nines and no nines and all of this kind of stuff so I'm going to keep a very close eye to see what all this all this is about yeah
00:26:49
Iain
Yeah.
00:26:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:26:50
Iain
I mean, 95% of Donnarumma's balls out short are easy balls out, aren't they? I mean, it's just a little ball knocked to the fullback.
00:26:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:27:01
Iain
And it's there it's how good your central midfielders, and we're talking therefore about Rodri and maybe Foden who are picking the ball up with them, facing their own goal. It's how good they are at ball retention as to whether you get caught.
00:27:16
Iain
and And they're experts, they're past masters at it, aren't they? I don't think Donnarumma needs to be playing those 60-yard one-bounce assists straight through to Haaland because you know that is only six or seven times he's ever done that.
00:27:32
Iain
and And most of the most of them playing out short, he can do just as well as anybody else. We could do what, take a leaf out of Pope's book and throw a really accurate ball out to the halfway line rather than try and kick it there.
00:27:46
Iain
Because you know, if you try to kick it to the halfway line, it would be in the crowd.
00:27:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah sir You very much like my wife, Ian, who managed to turn every conversation around to how brilliant Newcastle are and how they match their...
00:28:01
Iain
No, I'm not saying that. I'm not saying that. I'm not saying that. All I'm saying is that Pope's heavily criticised because he's not very good with his feet. I mean, honestly, he he looks every time the ball gets played back to him, it's like there's a bomb scare.
00:28:13
Iain
That's how nervous we are when the ball gets back to him. But actually, most of the time, he's controlled it and knocked it to Trippier or to Bern, and it comes back again without there being any incident. um It's just how good the team are that are pressing.
00:28:27
Iain
And I guess if you've got a good pressing team, then you're welly it up the field a higher proportion of times than you normally do. um ah Try and get a deflection and get a long throw. And it all works.
00:28:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep, fair enough, fair enough. Right, okay. We're going to have a word from our sponsor, after which we are going to move on to the last... bit of the podcast which is talking about a Dream, dream, dream, and another dream, a debut for a certain striker this weekend.
00:28:52
Iain
the
00:28:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
But here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform.
00:28:58
Iain
Thank you.
00:28:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Zencaster came out the clear winner with 4K video recording from your phone, AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs, although not Ian's 2000 Newcastle references in a daily Premier League podcast.
00:29:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is super easy to start a podcast that sounds great don't don look Sounds great and is delivered efficiently. So if you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencastr.
00:29:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I couldn't get you on this podcast, Ian, without ah talking about Nick Voltomato and his debut on Saturday, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
00:29:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
How long is it before the Newcastle fans go, Isaac, who?
00:30:00
Iain
yeah we're already trying to do it um no I I mean I think when the dust settles you know Isaac was a fantastic player and it's you know it's a feather in our cap that we took the chance and bought him for 60 odd million and then doubled our money in three years um and we've had some fabulous days out with him but life there's life afterwards um It was so good that Valtemada was able to have a dream debut, as he called it, because it looked like Visser had a nightmare debut, which should have been on Saturday. He came back from Congo with a dodgy knee.
00:30:35
Iain
You still haven't heard, I still haven't heard how long he's out for. um So Valtemada starting up front isn't something that Eddie Howe would have planned for. You know, it took Bruno six weeks before he got to start when he came in.
00:30:49
Iain
It took Bottman a little bit longer before he got to start. and The guys coming from the foreign leagues are always bedded in to learn how we're playing. Longer than we want. We always want to see them come on.
00:31:02
Iain
But Valtemar got chucked in. um He'd only trained with them twice, two full sessions. um But yeah, he looks a really intelligent player. um anticipating Anticipating a bad ball, for example, and running...
00:31:19
Iain
against the way everybody else is willing to be the first man to pick up a bad cross and lay it back to Murphy to have a shot that whizzed past the post. ah Yeah, it's strange. i think I think he's going to bring lots more than what he actually scored his goal doing, which is being the tall target man on the far post and powering ahead into the top corner.
00:31:44
Iain
I don't think that's what he's built his reputation on. And he certainly looks as if he's going to play a lot of the game with his back to goal. ah So he's not a replacement number nine. It might herald a slight change in how Newcastle play.
00:31:59
Iain
If he's a false nine with Alanga and Gordon or Murphy and super quick Barnes coming in from the wings or Whisser coming in from the left, I think that might be where his position is.
00:32:13
Iain
But he did a job on Saturday and he did it really, really well.
00:32:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, there can't be, I mean, look, there can't have been a better debut in as much as, you know, from the in front of the Newcastle fans. I mean, you talk about talk about coming in from the foreign leagues. He's played at Stuttgart, plays for the German national team, and he played for them during the international break. That's not like, saying, bringing someone over from South America or even coming over from other European leagues like the Dutch league.
00:32:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
The German league is probably as close as you'll get to the Premier League in those European leagues.
00:32:42
Iain
and
00:32:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think he's probably well set up to do so. and What I liked about his performance, i mean, it was a great goal, by the way. It was a great goal. I like particularly liked his movement as he just peeled off his defender. didn't ludge the defender, peeled off to meet Murphy's cross.
00:33:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
was a really smart bit of movement. And even though he's 6'200", he still had to kind of jump for it a little bit. And I think he did anyway. i don't think he's two feet with plants on the floor.
00:33:11
Iain
He's got he's got extra extra joints in his neck to be able to get over the ball that is behind him when it comes in as well.
00:33:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And stuck in the top corner.
00:33:18
Iain
I don't know how he did that.
00:33:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it was a great header.
00:33:20
Iain
sort of didn't jump straight.
00:33:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was just brilliantly taken. And after everything that's happened at Newcastle over the summer, and all the rancour and the bitterness over Isaac and Willie, won't you but all of that, for him to come into that atmosphere, to come into that dressing room, to come into that team...
00:33:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
and score the winning goal on your debut is just what everybody connected with Newcastle United would have wanted and needed. The supporters needed it. Volta Marder needed it. The club owners and everyone needed it.
00:33:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
The whole city needed it. And i was really really pleased. But the other thing that I really was impressed with him about when I watched the game is how he dropped off, link play. Didn't just link it, though. Once he'd done that, he turned and moved into that nine position.
00:34:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
and so And he was always looking I thought. So, yeah, I think you've got a real player on your hands.
00:34:16
Iain
Well, he had the thing is you've noticed him because of all of that work rate, But I think I saw the stats that of all the players that started the game, Valtemar touched it fewer times than any other Newcastle player. um which which so that But he's always available and he's always there pressing, involved.
00:34:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, listen, i don't ah know you're right, but stats are stats, and stats can mean anything you want them to mean. Because players who run off the ball, players who create space, players who do the dirty work so that others can do the glamorous work, their stats might say, well, he only touched the ball once.
00:34:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But if you've made three really good runs and it's drawn to fenders away and it's created a couple of guns well Your value to the team is massive, but the stats might not show it.
00:34:57
Iain
Absolutely.
00:34:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
So if you if you're, as Volta Vanna, scaring the bejesus out of wolves and you're attracting two players to you every time you make a move, yeah, you might not touch the ball, but you're creating plenty of space for others to operate in.
00:35:13
Iain
Yeah, we were, we're excited. We're excited to see what Eddie can do with him because Eddie Howe has got a long track record of improving players when they've come in.
00:35:24
Iain
He's still a young fellow with more improvement in him anyway. and And he's coming into a team with ah an established way of playing where there are no secrets with a lot of the established players. We've had them for three years.
00:35:37
Iain
The team knows each other really, really well. And this chap, his English is great. His character seems... i mean, apparently the players love him. He's quite funny. He's quite relaxed.
00:35:48
Iain
Doesn't seem to have any massive ego. um He'll probably fit in really, really well. And you hope that would be a quick bedding in period and so and and some real surprises to come in the way that Newcastle change their attack in certain games.
00:36:05
Iain
There'll be games where we don't need Tonali, Bruno and Joe Linton in midfield. Some would argue Wolves at Home was a game like that, where we might play a double pivot and have Valtemarov as a proper number 10.
00:36:20
Iain
That would be exciting. That would be very exciting. with Wisser in front of him and the two fast wingers down either side. um But he's got options. That's the massive, massive change from previously.
00:36:33
Iain
You can't necessarily guess the way we're going to going to take on a game by just looking at the team line-up. And i think I think you could do that last year. Arsenal still didn't get to the bottom of it, of course, but um we'll see this year, won't we?
00:36:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, after a summer where it was a messy breakup, it was a messy breakup and Newcastle fans' hearts were broken. Are they about to be mended? Because you all looked a lot happier after such disappointing and traumatic time.
00:37:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
So best of luck to him and we hope gets on very, very well. Right, that brings down the curtain on today's episode Thank you very much indeed for joining us.
00:37:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ian, thank you very much indeed for stepping in at the last minute because it was meant to be Ken and I today, but his plane got delayed coming back from France. So thank you for stepping in at the last minute.
00:37:25
Iain
very welcome. I've enjoyed it.
00:37:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's been great to have you. You can hear much more Ian and his fellow Geordies on the GSPN Daily in Newcastle. you can find that on Spotify and loads of social media things. they do They do some great stuff covering Magpies.
00:37:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah So do check in and his teammates out fact you're you're off in just a moment, aren't you, to record today's daily Newcastle podcast.
00:37:48
Iain
I think I've got enough time to grab a sandwich in between, yeah.
00:37:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
00:37:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good man. Well, we'll listen out for that. And for everybody else, thank you very much indeed for listening. We're back tomorrow. Ken and I are back tomorrow in the hot seat with more of your daily Premier League.
00:38:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Until then, look after yourselves, look after each other. Goodbye.