Transcript
Iain: Thank you.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Hello everyone and welcome back to the Daily Newcastle, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. I'm Michael Grahamslaw and today we're not just talking about another Premier League preview. This is the tiny and weird derby and the talking through with me is Ian McKay and Kevin Estak. Kev, I'll start with you buddy, it's been a while, how you been?
KEV: I'm good. I mean, what a time to come back and, oh my God, this game, honestly. This is the game where you can tell who the pre-takeover fans are because they're absolutely pooping themselves.
KEV: And the post-takeover ones, you're like, oh, it's only Sunday. We're tackling the board. We cannot lose this game.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Well, I'm probably sitting in the camp of number two at the minute.
Global Sports Podcast Network: No, I do agree. I am a a lot. I'm a bit more nervous than I should be, to be honest. How about you, Ian? You doing well? I know we only spoke to you.
Iain: Yeah, I'm doing fine. I am doing fine still, Michael. I've managed to survive that five minutes between finishing the last podcast and starting this one. But i I'm feeling fairly relaxed about it because I don't mix with very many Sunderland fans at all.
Iain: Back in the old days where they turned up at work, turned up at college, turned up when you went out. It's bloody nightmare to lose that. You have to be incognito for six months until you win the next one.
Iain: but But not now. Don't really mix with them. I'll give you my secret soon.
Global Sports Podcast Network: and We've got quite a lot of work and some of them I'm i'm in a Secret Santa with and I can imagine if ah we lose my Secret Santa gift is going to be thrown out the window.
KEV: or
Global Sports Podcast Network: so ah yeah But less about my work antics and Secret Santa, let's get into the real Christmas present for everyone and that is the return of the tiny weird derby in the Premier League.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And obviously we're going to frame this from a Toon point of view. 15 games have gone in the league. We sit one point behind Sunderland. And to be honest, that's something that felt pretty unthinkable back in August.
Iain: Thank you.
Global Sports Podcast Network: It was turbulence, difficult summer, injuries to a few players, inconsistency has been arguably our biggest consistency. Well, that and conceding late goals in front corners. And the fact that we're incredibly fragile away from home. But this is a little bit closer to home.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Ian, do you feel like this is actually the biggest game of our season so far? or is it not even the biggest one of the week?
Iain: Well, ah we did we did have that laugh, didn't we, that it's Sunderland's biggest game for nine years and it's only the third biggest game in the current eight-day period for Newcastle, which is not true.
KEV: Thank you.
Iain: i think it is a pivotal game for us in terms of the rest of the season. If we can win this and jump into the top ten, it sets us up so nicely for...
Iain: Difficult but winnable games at home against Chelsea and away at Man United. And then we've got, a if if we're going into that unmeeting in seven and eight games, we've got a really nice run of Premier League games through into January.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Easy. Easy.
Iain: Home games against Leeds and Palace, away at Burnley. um i you know I think by the end of January, if we win this... Push on. We'll be there pushing for the yeah top six. Easy.
Iain: If we lose it, ah all of that momentum that's built up over the six games since the international break, the our balloon has popped, isn't it? It's really hard to then get up for the rest of them.
Iain: i think it's I think it's huge.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: What about you, Kev? Do you share the same thoughts?
KEV: Kind of, but I think if we do lose, um i think we're guaranteed to then win the quarterfinal at home. I think the players will be desperate to put it right.
Iain: Thank you.
KEV: And the only way you can put it right after losing the game like that is by rocking up at home in a quarterfinal and convincingly putting yourself in the semi. So pros and cons both sides.
KEV: I think, like what you made a good point at start, it was like inconceivable would be one point behind by the time the first derby came around. But let's be honest, as much as I hate to say it, I'm about to wash my mouth out.
KEV: Sunderland have been the story of the season, haven't they? Like, we genuinely have.
Global Sports Podcast Network: probably.
KEV: Like, you look at what happened last year with the promoted teams. Sunderland coming up, the way they came up, like, we weren't even favourites against Coventry.
Iain: go to the one.
KEV: And then they beat Coventry and it was like, and then went on to win the final. And you just think, they're never going to last. They're going to absolutely, but then smart recruitment, good home form. And to be fair, they probably are the story of a season.
KEV: But we're about to absolutely pop that bubble in about, what, 10 hours after people listen to this?
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, something like that. Definitely going to be one of those where if we don't win, we probably won't be heard on on this channel for a very long time. But if you do, you're going expect every hour content rather than everyday content. But looking at the statistics, Opta, and everyone loves Opta, they've given us a 50% chance of victory.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Sunderland only 26%. What do you think about that? Is that about right? Because think 50% is a bit high.
KEV: Where do we get this crap from? We have an awful away record and we have the away team and they have a great home record.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
KEV: Well, pretty good home record and they have a home team. What a whole load of crap. I mean...
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah. manma
KEV: onpierba On paper, on paper, I would agree with that percentage because we should have a lot more. We've spent a lot more on our whole squad, almost like half a billion than the entire squad.
Iain: Thank
KEV: Obviously not the starting XI, but the entire squad.
Iain: you.
KEV: And then you look at Sunderland coming up from the championship, and this isn't even being disrespectful because like I've just said, I'm trying to be as fair as possible. They are the story of the season, but a newly promoted team... and Yeah, I just, a lot of players going off to AFCON who won't want to get injured and I'm thinking, will that have a say?
KEV: um Not maybe going into some of the big tackles, which i mean, there's no chance of Byrne, Joelinton, Tenari, Bruno pulling out. They don't want to get injured for AFCON. So yeah, I can see why even percentages might exist if they completely forget about one team's away form and one of the other team's home form. But yeah, other than that, a whole lot of rubbish.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, absolutely. I agree.
Iain: Well, I've got that quite a different view.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Ian, a better note.
Iain: i think that's good. I think that's right. Our way form. We had two or three really dodgy games, didn't we? We were unlucky against Brighton. We should have won and they scored. Danny Welbeck popped up at the end, so we lost to Brighton.
Iain: West Ham and Brentford were bloody awful. But we've stuffed Everton at their new place.
KEV: hmm
Iain: We've got a draw at Leverkusen, which we're unlucky not to take all three points. We lost at Marseille, but I think we outplayed them for 70 of the 90 minutes.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Mm-hmm.
Iain: I think our away form is coming back. And the the stats that I'm more concerned about are Newcastle having thrown away 11 points from winning positions.
Iain: That's the worst in the Premier League. Sunderland having gained 12 points from losing positions, which is the best in the Premier League.
KEV: End the pod. End it now.
Iain: And Sunderland having scored sunland having scored a a goal in the last five minutes on seven times already this season.
KEV: Oh.
Iain: And we've conceded eight goals in the last five minutes this season.
KEV: Ian, man.
Iain: I know, the stats are horrible.
Global Sports Podcast Network: That's the way.
Iain: Those stats horrible.
Global Sports Podcast Network: We are. You know, you've...
Iain: But i it's that that's that's the past. That's the past. We're unbeaten in six, aren't we? And that includes defeating Manchester City, a away draw at Leverkusen.
Global Sports Podcast Network: well
Iain: Yeah, I think we i think we win.
Global Sports Podcast Network: no you
Iain: I think we've got too much for them.
Global Sports Podcast Network: You've brought us down and then you've rose us up at the end like a true leader.
KEV: this.
Global Sports Podcast Network: We're galvanised now and we're going to move forward with the fact that we're going to win this. and because this Our game management has previously been shocking, but there's no better time to change that.
Iain: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: um But Kev, psychologically, tactically or personnel based, what is the issue with that? Because... Leverkusen in midweek was very painfully familiar. And I'm not 100% sure if it's just one thing or if it's a multitude of things. But why do you think we're so, so poor in the last stages games?
KEV: I'm not 100% sure because if I was, I'd be i' people working very high up at in football. But I think a lot of it comes down to because we've we've done this multiple years and seasons and held on and had good clean sheet records and we've sat deeper and done really well.
KEV: So what I've kind of thought about it or try to think a little about outside the box, I think for years we had Pope, Botman and Byrne or Shaw.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah. Yeah.
KEV: It was Byrne and Shaw. I mean, Botman in that season, we finished four first time around. But we've always had the kind of solid, experienced players, Byrne, Shaw, Pope, Trippier, all quite old.
KEV: All of a sudden, you look at our back line, we have quite a bit of an experience in terms of age. So Lewis Hall, Tino Livermento, Malik Chow, as good as Chow is, he's still very young. And and on top of that, you're then bringing in a goalkeeper in terms of Ramsdale through injury to Pope, who...
KEV: When we bring in Dubravka in, he's a lot older, more experienced, knows how to see games out, knows when to go down, knows when to come for it, knows when to kind of push up, push out, all that stuff.
Iain: Thank you.
KEV: I know Semi's players don't know that, but I just think in terms of game management, they haven't done it as much as our previous kind of back four five have.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I'm not so.
KEV: So, in my opinion, I think communication between Ramsdale, the new goalkeeper in the defence, but also the average age of a defence this season has completely changed like it's more than 50, it's halved because Shaw's not playing as regularly.
KEV: Chau's come in, who's young. Hull, hopefully staying fit. Left back, very young. Tino, hopefully staying fit. Right back, Trippi is injured. So that experience goes, i think there's something to do with that, but I could be completely wrong and I've made that up on the spot, if a'm honest.
Global Sports Podcast Network: ah To be honest, it sounds about right, doesn't it, Ian? What are your thoughts?
Iain: Well, I think, um what do ah what are my thoughts? I think it's some individual errors. I think Tonali was out on his feet the last 15 minutes of the game against Leverkusen.
Global Sports Podcast Network: love you, sir.
Iain: And it was Tonali not doing what he normally does and chasing back. I mean, I thought it was a really good goal. It was a ah very clever dummy.
KEV: was Was a good goal.
Iain: And it took Tonali out of the game. But Tonali would then be normally chasing the guy down and he didn't, he let him go and he was the one who was played through to to score so individual error there and two or three individual errors in the defence to let that overhead kick from Romero creep over the line um
KEV: just a freak, isn't it?
Iain: yeah I mean there there was nobody marking the back post when Burnley so nearly pinched an equaliser somehow, having been outplayed for 92 minutes they nearly got came away with a draw and So yeah, i I don't know what it is. Is it tiredness? It shouldn't be tiredness.
Iain: But I think Howell needs to make and the right substitutions at the right time. I think the substitutes were all too late against Leverkusen. Tonali didn't come off, did he?
Iain: Or did he right at the end?
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
Iain: Tonali was gone. Tonali should have come off after 65 minutes. because I could see that he was knackered. He did one lung-busting run. Did you see that? He lost the ball and chased the fella all the way back.
Global Sports Podcast Network: yeah
Iain: That was it.
KEV: when he slepted When he slipped, when he slipped.
Iain: he was ah He was absolutely exhausted after that. and So, yeah, i i I think it's individual errors. If they happen every game, start becoming a mental problem. So we've got to put things right.
KEV: Hmm.
Iain: Let's start on Sunday.
KEV: Hmm.
Global Sports Podcast Network: 100%. It's a case as well. of you We haven't had that confidence of getting a clean sheet very regularly at all this season.
Iain: Ian.
Global Sports Podcast Network: you know the the last maybe i'm Maybe I'm wrong, but the last one I can think of was the Athletic Club game in Champions League. I think it's it's eight games we've conceded in a row in the Premier League.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And when you think back to when we were so, so good in Howe's first full season, it was because we never looked like conceding. You know, Arsenal, remember the ni mill they could have put, I mean, even last season, we could have played them for 400 minutes in a game and they probably still wouldn't have had a clear-cut chance.
Iain: Thank
KEV: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: um So it is our longest run of both teams scoring in games since like the 1960s. And it's one of those where you you've got to look at us and go, when are we going to get that elusive clean sheet? Because as you say, too many individual mistakes. But are you confident that that's going to change, Kev? Because as you say, it is an experienced backline, but it is a very good one.
KEV: It is a very good backline, but I just think game management one of them things.
Iain: Thank you.
KEV: I'm just trying to think, and obviously at a lot lower level, but when I play football, it's like I'm so different now mentally at the end of the game. When I was 19, I was like, get up a pitch, go, kill them anyway, do it anyway.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yes.
KEV: and As I get older, it's a bit like, nah, let's not be stupid. like Keep it. to I think it's a little bit of age, but it is a very good backline. I think Son of the Bounta score. i just think in a derby, they're at home. It's their biggest game in nine years, our third biggest game this week, like you've already said. So,
KEV: It's going to be, they're going to be well up for it. And I think we're going come back. But I think we're more than capable of coming back. But what's going to be awful, right? And I'd kill it be in this position now. I'm not even going pretend that I wouldn't. But what's going to be awful is if we are 2-1 up and it's 88 minutes and we're sitting back.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I agree.
KEV: I'm just going to, telly off, take dog out. have to do something because I will not be able to watch that last five, six, seven minutes. It's just horrendous. But yeah, I think both teams will score again on Sunday.
KEV: I really do.
Global Sports Podcast Network: ahger
Iain: I think the difference is this season, because we've got Champions League again, Our intensity, which is our identity, is kind of part-time intensity.
KEV: Mm. Mm.
Iain: I don't know if this Bunce fella coming in has got us playing slightly differently to try and to try contain ourselves to to be lasting longer for the season.
Iain: And that's that's why we seem to sit back. it's why Miley comes off and Shah comes on for the last five minutes against Tottenham. That is saying, we're just going to sit back and absorb what you've got.
Iain: But if if ever they needed some encouragement to have a second shot, because it was only the second shot on target score the second goal, it's it's giving up the midfield and saying, you can come up to the edge of our box and do whatever you like.
KEV: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: No. No.
KEV: Yeah.
Iain: But I don't know if that is partly to do with a change in the way we're playing it. If you remember those games at Bournemouth and West Ham, we weren't we weren't intense at all. We weren't intense against Bayer Leverkusen in the first half, really, in selected parts, but but not all out like we always used to be.
KEV: Yeah. Well, I was...
Iain: You know, that ah game where we attacked Tottenham were five up at half-time.
KEV: Yeah, I was going to...
Iain: We were just on it, 45 minutes.
KEV: If only we could do that every game. was going to make a point there as well about the Leverkusen game. You're right with what you're saying because we tried to sit off Tottenham when we brought Sean and it didn't work.
Iain: Yeah.
KEV: And then Leverkusen, we hit the post twice, once after going 2-1 ahead.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
KEV: We were still in Fleck and pulled off a world you ever saved to keep it at 2-1. So it's almost like we're trying to sit back and it didn't work.
Iain: yeah
KEV: So we're now going to go and kill him. We've hit the post and we keep his pull off and we can't see it again. It's like, I went back to what I think Michael said before. like ah That mentality you then comes in of ah so one of them seasons.
KEV: is just this part of like It's just this rut we're stuck in where like we we literally can't do it.
Iain: I think that's a good question.
KEV: We need that confidence. We need to do it once or twice on the bounce and then think, right, now we can go on a run. and So that would be a great time start on Sunday, but whether or not we do will be interesting.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, it's one of those. We kind of need that confidence from there. think one person that's, just before we go to our first ad and one person that you could really see a difference in them from a change in confidence is Anthony Gordon.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And I think he's going to be one of those that's massive for us in this game.
KEV: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Might not even start knowing Eddie out.
Iain: Thank you.
Global Sports Podcast Network: and but I think he'd be massive. And his change in form, after a bit of confidence, you know, he got the penalties against Union St. Gilroy. But performances, let's be honest, they haven't been great.
KEV: miles off yeah
Global Sports Podcast Network: But against Leverkusen's second half, I thought he was brilliant. And the last few games, we've started to see the Anthony Gordon that you know we thought we were going to get at the start of the campaign. Do you think it's one of those where a good defensive performance against Sunderland, whether we you know we'll still probably concede, as you say, but not conceding late on, that could be a catalyst to you know go on and actually end that going forward? What do you think, Ian?
Iain: to be honest i don't think this is a game where we will set any patterns i think this is war of attrition this is a derby all the form goes out the window it's down to the bounce of the ball it's down to if tonali slips again for example something daft like that um
KEV: Yeah.
Iain: ah I don't think there'll be anything that you can take from that and go, oh, well, that's how Newcastle's season's going to unfold over the next few games. ah Like it would be on a different a different game.
Iain: I just think, you know, I think we'll win. I'd be delighted if we don't lose. I'll put it that way. um Because it's just like a lottery, isn't it? The bloody derby.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, 100%. Do you agree, Kev? Yeah.
KEV: Yeah, pretty much. it's It's not going to be...
Iain: Amen.
KEV: don't think I've ever seen derby game where it's been a good game of football.
Iain: Amen. Amen.
KEV: The only one I can kind of think of where we played relatively well, and we only played relatively well in the second half, was a 4-1 win at the stadium. And like, the second half we were good and Zogbia showed up.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
KEV: Luque looked like a clinical finisher when he didn't would keep a... um i remember ah even Lee Clark was in the middle of a midfield. Like, really old Lee Clark. And he did very well in the second half.
KEV: So... Yeah, I can't remember too many. Even the 3-2 at home with the Emery free kick, that was scrappy and it wasn't a good game. um So, yeah, it's it's not... Going off history, it's not going to be a good game. it It comes down to who wants it more, who gets a little bit more rub of the dice. and God, please be us.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I'm going leave you with this all a thought that it might not be us while you sit and ponder about our first advert, Bionic.
Iain: Peace. peas
Global Sports Podcast Network: Now when you talk about the history of the Tyne and Weir derby, recent history is pretty uncomfortable for Newcastle fans.
KEV: Christ. christ
Global Sports Podcast Network: Sunderland, unbeaten in their last nine derbies. We haven't won a Tyne and Weir derby in the Premier League since 2011. And we've lost our last three away league games at the Stadium of Light. But history cuts both ways.
Iain: Thank you.
Global Sports Podcast Network: We've never in our history lost four consecutive away league games. And if you do remember, January 2024 was pretty comfortable. And I'm not expecting that on Sunday, but what the the reason for that is because we're going to see two very, very different sides. Sunderland, nine out of the eleven will not be there and won't be playing. Only Trae, Hume and Dan Ballard will likely score of score on goals, hopefully again. and But they'll be the only two that play.
Global Sports Podcast Network: but I say a score, I was going to go into the next point that out of the two squads, Dan Ballard is the only one that has scored in this fixture. And obviously it was a glorious, glorious goal. But Newcastle will have some changes as well, quite a few. Ian, I'm going to ask you first, what line-up are you expecting to see from Newcastle?
Iain: I have thought about this all day and before the Leverkusen game. And I'm going to go for... If Pope's fit, Pope will come back in. But if he's not fit, Ramsdale.
Iain: I'm going to Tino and Hall at fullback. Byrne.
Iain: shah alongside burn And Byrne and let the scary Chow, who showed a few cracks... Have a have ah a day off, because he's not had a rest at all.
Iain: I'd bring Shah back for this. He knows what it means. um
KEV: experience.
Iain: Bruno, Tonali and Miley. And then Gordon on the left, Valtimada in the middle and Murphy, who has experience of winning at the Stadium of Light on the right.
Iain: That's my starting line-up.
Global Sports Podcast Network: he does he does I'm going to make a slight bit of a defence for Malik Chow that he is the you probably the only player that I can think of off the top my head maybe Bruno as well who have played probably in a fiercer derby than Newcastle Sunderland these time at AC Milan bo so that would be probably the only reason for me you would definitely be there but Kev
Iain: Thank you.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Any changes you would make from Ian's lineup?
KEV: Yeah, couple. So, Ramsdale and goal, full-backs pick themselves and because we don't have any other fit ones.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
KEV: um Now, normally, i would come on a podcast, and I've done it recently, and I would say Chow and Shaw have to be the centre-halves because, in my opinion, Chow and Shaw are our two best centre-halves. However, to Derby, Byrne gets it.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
KEV: I would go Byrne and Chow. um even i would normally always advocate for Sha to play, because Sha, for me, is still one of our best in the But for the derby, Vernon Chow, midfield, Miley, Bruno and Joel Linton.
KEV: I know Joel Linton hasn't been great, but this is the type of game where you need somebody with four lungs, and he has four lungs.
Iain: That's
KEV: We're going to need it. It's going to be intense. He is a master at that. The only reason I'm dropping Tonari, he looks absolutely knackered. m
Global Sports Podcast Network: Thank you.
KEV: And on top of that, I think he's been... Not that he's been poor. I'm not saying he's been poor because he hasn't. He's still a very good midfielder. But he hasn't looked at the levels which we've kind of become accustomed to. I think a step out would be good for him and maybe bring him on.
KEV: um so that's And I think Miley getting a goal against Leverkusen earns him that spot. Eventually, I maybe agree with Ian's midfield. If Joe Linton still doesn't pick up, then have the Tenari there. But for this game, Miley, Bruno and Joe...
KEV: But I think we've got to go as much as I love Jacob Murphy. Barnes, right, just because he's a goal threat, will hopefully get them on the break. Gordon left, looks like he's back to his best in big Nick through the middle. And the reason I would do that as well is you've got Byrne and Miley, who are very local lads.
Iain: Thank you.
KEV: You've got Bruno and Joe, who are the biggest adopted Geordie's going. And then you've hopefully got the composure up the top with Gordon Barnes and Valtemar. So for me, that's a good mix of mentality and for this game. But yeah, but that would be my team for this derby.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, to be honest, mine's kind of like a halfway house between the two ears. But I was actually thinking while you were giving yours there, Kev, Ian's back two of Fabian, Cher and Dan Byrne is something that we haven't actually seen too much this season.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And we were talking about the experience just there.
KEV: That could help keep a clean sheet.
Global Sports Podcast Network: We were talking about inexperience. Having two centre-backs who have been there and done it might just be the answer, actually, thinking about it. um Not saying Malik Chow is the problem because he's one of the best centre-backs I've ever seen in a Newcastle shirt, in my opinion.
Iain: Thank you.
Global Sports Podcast Network: But yeah, ah raising Joe Linton there, if he is fit, it seems 50-50 whether he'll play or not. You've both put Miley in there, if I remember correctly. But Joe Linton...
Global Sports Podcast Network: performances recently have been very, very poor.
KEV: have
Global Sports Podcast Network: do you think this is one of those games where you may be attacking because of poor performance? yeah It's been mentioned quite a lot in the media recently. Joel Linton's never had a red card in the Premier League.
Iain: Thank you.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I imagine some referees are going want to change that um So, is this the perfect game to protect Joe Linton, do you think, maybe?
KEV: Jesus Christ.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Or do you think your bruise is there, needs to give Xhaka a kick in the first 10 seconds?
KEV: This is...
KEV: This is the game for him to get his phone back. If you remember, I think Joe Linton's last excellent game where I thought, wow, that's what Joe Linton would become accustomed to was the Man City game at home. He was excellent. So good.
KEV: and big game, big atmosphere. i think these are the games where you need him. I'm not saying, obviously he's 29 now, I think. So he is going to get older. He is going to kind of naturally, should become a worse player. But for this game, you just need, you need that not hot-headedness, but that aggression alongside someone as calm as Miley and then somebody kind of in the middle with Bruno who's a little bit cleverer with kind of making fouls.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
KEV: Don't get me wrong, I'd bring Joe Linton off about 60, 65 minutes if it's not going well and bring Tenali in, but at least Tenali's then had the first hour of the game off and can hopefully influence it in that half an hour because I think a lot of the issues for Newcastle at the minute, little bit like what Ian said before, is make him a substitute early and bravely
Iain: Thank you.
KEV: But then having quality to come on, like imagine Tonali off a bench in a derby would be lovely. Whereas I think Joelinton would give you as much off the bench. um he's better ah He's better to start that game than Tonali to give you a little bit of quality and calmness, hopefully when you've already got the the lead.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah. Yeah.
Iain: I'm a bit concerned. I picked Tonali because I thought he's less crocked than Joe Linton because Joe Linton came off with a groin injury and Howe didn't know afterwards how bad it was. But if they're both crocked, I've been impressed enough by Joe Willock to think that he could be the third midfielder and leave the pair of them on the bench, make it half an hour out of each of them.
KEV: I agree. He'd be next in. Yep.
Iain: But i I don't mind starting with Willock, Miley and Bruno.
KEV: Legs.
Global Sports Podcast Network: No, I think it's one of those where every time Willick has come off the bench, I've not been impressed.
KEV: Yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: But every time he's started a game, I've gone, you know what? Kid might still have a future here because against Bournemouth, defensively excellent. know he started on the left. um But it was one of those where you're looking at him going, you know, he he might be back. Then started against Tottenham, got the assist in the 2-0 win, played well.
Global Sports Podcast Network: and I'll say I thought he was decent. And again, against Burnley, I thought he was decent. Certainly better than what Jacob Ramsey was. So, you know what? Joe Willick, we were saying in the summer, would probably ship him off.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Clearly been listening and he's thought, you know what? I'm going to... I'm going to raise that price tag, get people interested, because he has has been very, very good. um But he isn't the only one.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And Ian, you've been advocating for Lewis Miley to be in the Newcastle team for a very, very long time. Longer than I can remember. How impressed have you been with Miley in the last few games?
Iain: I've been a while super impressed. I think he changed the game against Leverkusen. Came on for Joe Linton.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Hmm.
Iain: We suddenly gained control. Scored twice. Hit the post. Could have scored a chow header. Could have been clear. And that was Miley's influence. It was immediate.
Iain: um And i think i don't think that's a fluke. I think you know he was very good against Everton as well when he came on. he start against Everton? can't remember. ah Very good against Everton.
Iain: Scored in both those games. There's a goal threat now. He's bulked up. He's 6'4". He did a fantastic late run into the box to head that that goal against Leverkusen. ah Eddie Howe says he's a brilliant player. He's got everything. There's a goal in him.
Iain: I just think that's ah that's a step up from one or two of the midfielders who would normally be first choice at the minute.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, absolutely. certainly and
Iain: Let's keep him on. let's not Let's not let him wither on the vine like Elliot Anderson where he ended up selling him. And now he's going get an England team built around him.
Global Sports Podcast Network: what
Iain: Let's have Lewis Miley. Lewis Miley is playing for the under-21s now at 19. I think if he gets a run in the first team, he might force his way into going to America.
Iain: There go.
KEV: Ooh, if Miley ever needed a Tinder profile, just ask Ian.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Well, yeah. We've lost
KEV: Wow, feel love with him.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Miley.
KEV: He's 6'4", he's calm on the ball. i was like, four I fancy him a little bit here.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Do you agree?
Iain: Did you not see the smile he had when he'd scored as well? It meant so much to him.
KEV: Yeah, what a lad, what a lad.
Iain: He was just... like His face nearly fell in half because his smile was so big.
KEV: ah
Iain: I just loved it.
Global Sports Podcast Network: who've lost myationon
Iain: And I think he said Geordie, isn't he
Global Sports Podcast Network: miley
KEV: Stick him in in the derby.
Global Sports Podcast Network: you agree ah Kev, have you been impressed by Miley the last few games?
KEV: massively impressed. I loved him when he first came in, but I was kind of one of the ones where I was like, don't like kill him too early. Don't put him in over and over again just because he's young and he's been forced and and done well.
KEV: And honestly, I think ever since I've been doing podcasts with Ian, which is now in multiples of years, um he's always said Lewis Miley is going to be an absolute player. And I've always been a little bit in between of, will he just be like another long staff, hardworking, good grafter, but he's I think he's already shown... Now he's come into a team that he's he's got the potential to be a very, very, very good player.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, that
Iain: you can see You can see that he's picked up some really good habits from Tonali and from Bruno and the way that he protects the ball.
KEV: Yeah.
Iain: he'll He'll just turn away from the defender and take a foul. And he's learned that off those guys.
KEV: Yeah.
Iain: um But he's better at it now than the pair of them.
KEV: Not Bruno.
Global Sports Podcast Network: was the same.
Iain: So some games, some games.
KEV: Not Bruno. Bruno's had the best season. Honestly, I think Bruno got a bit of stick early early on in the season, right? It's honestly, in my opinion, since seeing him at Newcastle, it's his best kind of personal period. Not for the team, because we're not doing as well as we want to do.
KEV: But in terms of Bruno, like grabbing games by the neck with Liverpool when we're down to 10 men, Bruno was immense.
Iain: here
KEV: Dragged us through it.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah.
KEV: Even he came off a bench in another game after that. And I thought he scored, actually. He came off the bench and scored. And he he grabbed that game by the throat. but burn The Burnley game, he was he was pretty good, not as good as normal. And then the Man City game, he was unbelievable. A couple of passes in that and that. think, you know what, Bruno gets so much, well, around where I sit, I just sit around idiots.
KEV: But Bruno gets so much stick and I think, you know what, he's been our best midfielder for donkeys. He doesn't get the praise Tenardi gets anymore, but he should because Tenardi's the new shiny one. I just think bruno Bruno has been our best player this season so far. He's been so good.
Global Sports Podcast Network: yeah 100 the one
Iain: Miley is the new shiny one, Kev. Miley's the new shiny one.
KEV: Yeah, my like Miley is now. Tanao, he'll start getting probably stick.
Global Sports Podcast Network: yeah probably will i think it's one of those we've always had to add goals
Iain: Yeah, was
Iain: he's deserved it. He's dropped off a cliff in the last three or four games, I think.
KEV: He has. He's been poor, yeah.
Iain: mean, I know Tenali was like a Duracell bunny. Fantastic in the first part of the season. But ah it says he was since he's been ill, he missed a couple of games through illness. Yeah.
KEV: He did, yeah.
Iain: And it's not got anywhere near what what he yeah what he was.
KEV: I tell you what I'd love to look at.
Iain: I know he's been kicked a few times.
KEV: I'd love to look at our record with Miley this season because Miley came in for Tenali when Tenali was ill. You've just reminded us there and we won both games with him in the centre midfield and I think his record starting for us must be pretty good so um I've now absolutely convinced myself that Miley and Bruno start and play one more with them.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Very interesting.
Iain: How can pick himself as a third midfielder?
KEV: ah Yeah, stick them in.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And you ask and you shall receive. I've got it right here. um So when Miley has started this season, we have drawn Bournemouth, beat Bradford 4-1, beat Benfica 3-0.
Iain: hmm
Global Sports Podcast Network: He came off the bench there. Started against Fulham where we won two one although that ah for me that was his worst game of the season.
KEV: It was, yeah.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Everton
KEV: Still won.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Started, we won Tottenham, he started, we drew to two So we are unbeaten games that Lewis Miley has started this season.
KEV: Told you.
KEV: Stick them in.
KEV: Big game.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Lewis Miley is clearly the difference.
KEV: Stick them in.
KEV: Also, we need to have a chant or something a bit better than what he's said like I don't know. He's from Stanley. He only costs £2.90. I'll let people make up a rest. But we need something for him, don't
Iain: Mm.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, we're not the most creative when it comes to chance.
KEV: we?
Global Sports Podcast Network: But let's bring it to a close. We've got 33 minutes there, a lot longer than I thought that was going to be, to be honest.
KEV: Byrne's going to score.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Probably going to add another five doing our predictions. So the Opta supercomputer goes our way of 50%. On paper, we do have a bit more quality, but this is probably going to be the most hostile and one of the toughest away environments of the season.
Iain: Thank you.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Kev, I'll ask you first. Give me your prediction for Sunderland versus Newcastle United.
KEV: I don't want to say my prediction. I don't think we're going to lose.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Okay, Ian. Mm-hmm.
KEV: I don't think we're going to lose. um I'm really tempted to predict what my head says, which is a draw. But I'm psyching myself up. Lewis Miley's going to start. We've got Geordie Lads in there. I've convinced myself about the balance with the passion for the Geordie Lads and the composure of the front three. Gordon being back to his best. Big Nick wanting to become an icon.
KEV: I can only see Sunderland 1, you're casting out at 3. even though I'm lying to myself, but that's what I'm going for. And I'm also delaying because we're on 34 minutes. That's the number of Gwana Jagger in this episode. Cannot have a 34 in it. Three, two.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Oh, it's all right. It definitely will not. Ian, Kev has stolen your three one But you...
Iain: He has, he has has he.
Iain: Right, I'll tell you what, I'll but i'll say it was 3-1 and it should be 3-1 and we should win 3-1 but Sunderland will score from a corner in the last minute and we'll win 3-2.
KEV: three two the That's good prediction.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I'd love a two-goal cushion going into the last 10-1. Ha, ha, ha. Yeah, um I am the pessimist of this channel, aren't Yeah.
KEV: I wanted to go a draw, to be fair, but I've kind of... I can't bring myself to do it. The reason I want to go draw, right? Ballard has had the transformation of, like, some sort of half-decent player out of nowhere from the last time we saw him. He is bound to score on Sunday. If I had to put a bet on it would be damn Ballard to score. Because...
KEV: He had a shocker, he's Guaranteed him to score.
Iain: I'm
KEV: that's going 3-1. don't know who you're talking about. I know
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, he's got someone to prove, hasn't he?
KEV: know who. don't I
Global Sports Podcast Network: First derby, he was probably the worst player on the pitch.
KEV: know know
Global Sports Podcast Network: um
KEV: I know
Global Sports Podcast Network: That Swedish fella, forgot his name now, tore him apart.
KEV: don't don't know who. know who. don't know I know I know don know who know don't who. don't know who. don't know know who. know who. I don't know don't who. don't don't
Global Sports Podcast Network: Kraft.
KEV: don't don't who. don't don't know who. don't know don't know who. know who. don't I know
Global Sports Podcast Network: Sorry, how dare I? No, I am going for a 2-2 draw myself. I think it's going to be back-to-back 2-2 draws.
KEV: That's what my head says.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I think going be identical to the Leverkusen game.
Iain: And, you know, it's a very good
Global Sports Podcast Network: I want to say 2-1. I think we'll be leading 2-1. I don't think we'll ah we'll ever go behind in the game, to be fair.
Iain: thing.
Iain: you know, very thing.
Global Sports Podcast Network: That'll be the difference. But we'll concede from a corner. look vulnerable late on, although we'll have control over most the game and look pretty decent coming out of it, but it'll be another game where we feel like it's two points dropped.
Iain: And, know, it's very good thing. And, you know, it's a very good thing.
Global Sports Podcast Network: ah Ian, I need something positive because I've just brought a massive downer to the pod.
KEV: i could I can predict every scorer.
Iain: No, I watched... They're a point ahead of us in the league, so they have had a better season than us marginally. However, you look at the last six games, Sunderland have only won one in their last six games.
Iain: And I think we're on... Have we Have we won three, drawn two and won one of our six? So we're in much better form. And also... Two goals, four goals. We've scored six goals in the last two away games.
Iain: Come on. That's the three that we're going to get.
Global Sports Podcast Network: You know what? I'll take that. Six goals in the last two away games. Six more coming now on Sunday. ah wish. um But thank you both for joining me.
Global Sports Podcast Network: This has been the old tiny and weird derby special of the Daily Newcastle. Notice there's not a Daily Sunderland. Yeah, they end that in porn. Part of the Global Sports Podcast.
KEV: Not that big.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, no one would listen to it, so it's fine. But if you've enjoyed this episode, it was a little bit longer because it is a massive, massive game.
Iain: Thank you.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Make sure you subscribe, leave a review, share it with your friends, unless they're madams. I've been Michael Grahamslaw.
KEV: Too busy working at this one.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Enjoy the time. In fact, share it with them after we win on Sunday. but We're going to see what Newcastle United are really made of. And for now, it's goodbye.
