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EP 52: Forecast Friday - The season so far!
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Join Jake and Matt to get rid of those international break blues as we review the current season, from the manager to the players, and discuss where we think Chelsea will finish and what we will win based on the last few games.
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Transcript
Season Review and Forecast
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everybody and welcome to the Daily Chelsea podcast. It's a bit of a special edition today. um It is the international break, which makes us all a bit sad, but there is no break in the podcast. um Instead, what we'll be doing today is doing a bit of a season review and also as it is forecast Friday, we're going to forecast sort of the rest of the season based on the season so far.
Positivity Amid Challenges
00:00:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
And here to help me do that today is my co-host Matt. How are you doing?
00:00:36
Matt
Yeah, very good. Thanks, Jake. Marvelous as ever to be recording with you.
00:00:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
wait I didn't say Marvelous Matt, I'm so sorry. I'll let the viewers down, we'll not have been a minute in, I'm so sorry. and Yeah, so yeah so it's it's it's obviously been an interesting season so far, Matt.
00:00:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think most Chelsea fans are sort of quite happy with where we are. I think maybe, in my opinion, maybe a little bit crazy to not be too happy with where we are. Although there are definitely some questions around players, maybe some things the manager has done so far.
Cole Palmer's Impact
00:01:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And and we want to we want to take a little look at that. So so we'll start off with, you know,
00:01:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
the players. well We'll start off talking about you know what players have had an impact because we do have you know is it it wasn't too long ago that we we lost to City on that um that August 18th game um and the lineup from that game actually hasn't changed too much but there has definitely been a couple of you know, bumps in the road in terms of getting to the starting level we have now. and Let's start with one simple one. We'll start with with Cole Palmer. um Obviously, he' he's had a couple of incredible games this season himself.
00:01:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
and But it does seem that teams are maybe starting to work him out a little bit, or at least understands his ability a lot more now, and are thinking, you know, we need you know when need to put two players, one player, or we need to you know do something tactically to stop Cole Palmer. Which is nice for us to have, but obviously it's a new issue for us to have as well.
00:02:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Seven goals for Cole Palmer. He is again our top scorer for the season so far. um He's also our highest assist so far. and Matt, what have you thought of Cole Palmer's performances this season and do you think maybe it's he's maybe going to be facing a tougher time for the rest of the season considering that teams are now so aware of what he can do?
Teams Targeting Palmer
00:02:21
Matt
Yeah, absolutely. I think Cole Palmer, you know, he is effectively be the hot topic for everyone in football at the moment. And, you know, like you said, he's saw he's got seven goals and he's our top assistor. I mean, five assists to go alongside those goals. That is an incredibly impressive start to the season.
00:02:39
Matt
and You know, I think it's amazing that he's already got those numbers um into the season so far because normally when players have a breakout season like he did last season, they do sort of cool down, um pardon the pun, very much so within in their sort of almost a second season syndrome.
00:02:58
Matt
But Karl Palmer has shown none of that and you know he is very nonchalant about how he goes about his business on the pitch. He is you know all about you being effective, playing the right pass, making the right decision, um taking the chance.
00:03:13
Matt
and not really getting you know ah overly emotional in the game. um He does seem to be laser focused when that whistle blows um when it comes to the objective of what the team needs to do. And I just think that's really refreshing. there's as As we've seen more and more, I think, as season goes on, um there's handbags all over ah over the place and some players love to you know be a bit of a handful, or be a bit of a rascal.
00:03:36
Matt
um You know, maybe like Neil Mulpay is like a prime example of that. He just wants to you know, get in people's faces and and cause Mischief ah but Palmer he's all about delivering the goods and he is well worth that 42 million that we paid to city um Arguably could be bargain of this decade depending on how the rest of the this decade goes, you know, we'll wait and see and But he's got a long enough contract to for us to see that with them with us So it's exciting times ahead.
Madaweike and Sancho's Form
00:04:04
Matt
I do think you know, you're right in terms of other teams are Scouting him out and putting a lot more emphasis in there in their tactics to close him down and drown him out And I think we've seen that pretty effectively particularly, you know when when he was drowned out against Liverpool Curtis Jones just basically just fizzled him out and that game plan really was effective so I think we need to think about ways around that but
00:04:28
Matt
It's basically a good problem to have because if all the teams are focused on him all the time, then that should, in theory, leave up more space, more opportunities for the rest of the team to shine and then score.
00:04:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I agree with you there, that's and that's certainly what we've been seeing in those games where, like you said, Colt Palmer's been sort of, you know, pushed out the game quite a bit. um Especially, you know, just recently with Pedro Neto as well um against Arsenal, and who I who i do sort do do also want to speak about. but and Let's quickly move on to Noni Madaweike and Jaden Santro first, just because there is a stat that combines them. um Both of these players started off, I think, actually you know quite strongly. I think I was not quite surprised considering Santro had not played a lot of football recently. Noni Madaweike obviously had a brilliant start to the season, you know, sort of encapsulated by that hat trick against Wolves. And that was also the last game that Santro started, but
00:05:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sadly, since those since those two games, only Madawake has basically started every Premier League game, um both of them only with two goal involvements each ah since then. And the goal involvement you know also counts as the pass before the assist as well. So it's not necessarily assists that they're they're lining up with. And we have, you know matt as we discussed a lot, attacking players knocking on the door for these positions.
00:05:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
and What have you thought of Nani Madaweike and Sancho on the Wings so far? Obviously very prominent in our first few games and do you think they have kept as of now their place in the starting lineup or is it time to bring someone else?
Starting XI Challenges
00:05:57
Matt
I don't think either of those players have a concrete position in the team yet. I don't think they're anywhere near being on one of the first names on the team sheet, compared to the players like Palmer, Kiseido, Cole Will, those sort of players, just because like you say not only did have an electric start particularly with that hat trick against wolves and that was wonderful to see albeit i do feel some of those goals that he got were quite fortuitous um some deflections within there um i i almost wonder whether that glazed over some of the cracks in his his game just getting that early hat trick within the season and i think we've seen in the last
00:06:38
Matt
ah you know five games in particular that he is great at driving ats um at players and his dribbling is very strong but he has to still continue to work on his decision making. Particularly in the game against Brighton there were a handful of chances that he just chose the wrong decision, he chose to shoot when he should have passed, he chose to drive when he should have cut it back and kept possession um And so his football intelligence just isn't there to, you know, for him to really command that right wing space. um I think he's been in there predominantly just because he's been with the team since 2023. And we've had, you know, new signings like Neto and, you know, Sancho coming to the team. And so I think they're still being embedded in just to the squad and everything like that, where it's been safer for Maresca just to pick Madawaken on that right wing.
00:07:28
Matt
and I don't think it's fair enough um because every player does need to sort of run a game just to keep improving the ins and outs. and But there's still a lot of work for Metalware Kid to do and I would argue that Neto now does command that right wing space ahead of him. In terms of Sancho,
00:07:44
Matt
I have been quite impressed with him. you know so if He played his first three games, he got three assists. That is you know brilliant. um Partly brilliant just to kind of wipe the the the the smiles off United faces. The fact that we're actually you know getting results out of him, whereas they didn't. ah You always love to see that. and um Obviously he's been out with illness and that's why he missed the United game and um our most recent games in the Premier League. um So you know that's been a bit of a shame and so I'm kind of less critical on Sancho um just because I do think he technically is is a level above Madawake.
00:08:22
Matt
um in terms of his ball control, in terms of his dribbling and his football intelligence. I do think, Sancho, he just needs to build up that confidence to to use his pace and and drive as defenders a little bit more. I think it's a little bit he's a little bit too predictable on that left wing. um And he wants the play to be a little bit too cutesy and um a lot a lot of 1-2s, which in the right situation is brilliant, but I think he just needs to vary up his game style a little a little bit more.
00:08:49
Matt
um And I do think he's one of those players that
Pedro Neto's Emergence
00:08:52
Matt
will thrive under Maruska. He's one of those players that needs to be told that he's loved, that he's really values, that he's really integral to the squad. Because we saw, you know, if he has a fallout with the manager at United with Tenharg, that he'll basically just give up and he'll just be like, oh, sack this, I'm not really bothered.
00:09:09
Matt
um And like it or not, that that is just, you know, you do have those characters in every industry that even if they're paid the big bucks, you need to like pamper them more and more for them to actually deliver. And I think he's just one of those players. But I do think he'll he'll come good. um But on the left wing, I think it's really up for debate whether that's Sancho or Bedric's role.
00:09:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, I do agree with you there. And I think that's probably with, again, with the amount of fixtures and no sort of international break coming up, that'll be decided, I reckon, yeah, by the time we sort of. out of that very busy Christmas sort of January period, and which we'll discuss obviously a bit more when we do a few more forecasts. We will quickly, obviously, as you've just mentioned, you know, one of our best players in in recent form, and maybe a little bit of a slow start as well, was was was Pedro Netto. I think probably slightly expected that as a very different system to Wolves when he came in, although I think a couple of fans were getting a little bit aggy because, you know, it was always primarily proven. We paid some money for a primarily proven player, but
00:10:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's certainly starting to prove himself now. and Pedro and I has been fantastic for me, Matt. I've, you know, just his crossing ability, dribbling ability, um and also, you know, so the way he took that goal on Sunday. I've just, I think a little bit more of that in his game. And I think we're talking about one of the best players in the league. and Just quickly, before we move on to sort of midfielders and defense, what have you thought of Neto so far?
Neto's Future Potential
00:10:32
Matt
Yeah, I mean, absolutely fantastic. I mean, he's only got a goal and two assists in the 11 games that he's played. So not amazing stats wise, but he generally does give a seven out of 10 every game. And that's that's the kind of standards you need to be at the base level to be um and and that level to be across all the players to be within the chance of, you know, a top four potentially title challenging team.
00:10:55
Matt
I don't think we're going to you know challenge for the title of this season, but it's we're in the right direction, absolutely, with the kind of signings that we're making and their performances backing that up. um I think the biggest thing ah with Neto that is just so fantastic is that it's his attitude, it's his willingness to to give it 100% every minute of the game.
00:11:15
Matt
and he clearly loves playing for Chelsea and under Maresco because you saw that in his celebration against Arsenal like properly loving it if even when other players score it's almost like he scored the goal he's celebrating on behalf of them and
00:11:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:11:28
Matt
And that's really what you want to see from every player within the squads. Obviously every player has got a different personality, but I think he brings a lot of ah positive energy.
00:11:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
and topose novel problem i can keep
00:11:36
Matt
And I actually do think that even though he had injury worries at Wolves, we won't really see that too much just because with Wolves there was so much pressure on him, the fact that they were going to sit back and they were so counterattacking heavy that pretty much, you know, most, most, if not all of Neto's game was just sprint, sprint, sprint, sprint, sprint.
00:11:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:58
Matt
Whereas with Chelsea, we're going to have a lot more of the ball. And so he just won't be under that pressure as much.
00:12:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly. And to be able to show his skills, which is, which I think is what we've seen. He's, he's definitely getting a bit more comfortable with the fact that we have so much more possession. And I think. There's a game, I can't remember, where we had one game at home and he was just a bit like...
00:12:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he was running down the wing and he was like, oh wait, I don't but don't have to run this far. Yeah, I've just had a good attack with me and then we might have a good attack. and Yeah, and but certainly he's... And I think he's definitely got the ability to sort of be one of our top players.
00:12:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that's why we've signed him, of course, as long as he can stay injury
00:12:30
Matt
Mm.
Midfield Dynamics
00:12:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
free.
00:12:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, speaking of injury free, we will start to discuss the midfield situation and also our defenders as well. One of the more prominent players I'm discussing there is obviously see Romeo Lavia. Um, or take a very quick ad break and then move on to the midfielders, defenders, manager, and of course we'll be forecasting the rest of the season as well. See you shortly. Do you have a story to tell that the world needs to hear? Have you struggled with reaching new audiences who are engaged with your story? It might be time for you to start a podcast.
00:13:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:13:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we are back on the Daily Chelsea podcast. We're of course doing, you know, just a bit of a season review so far as we were on the international break. And we want to keep talking about Chelsea as much as possible, of course. Um, so Matt, we were just discussing sort of, you know, the attacking players we've seen so far. Um, the interesting thing that sort of the start of the season, that first city lineup, obviously didn't include Cole Palmer because, because of where when he had just come back and such. But we did start with.
00:13:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
uh, Lavia, Casado, and Enzo Fernandez. Obviously Lavia has had a bit of an injury. Um, although he has had six Premier League, uh, Premier League appearances so far, which is, which is good. That injury didn't hit him too much. Um, what do you think about, you know, what we're currently going with in terms of Lavia and Casado is, is that our solid midfield now? And do you think Enzo, does, does Enzo, uh, has Enzo earned a place to start in that midfield at all?
00:14:25
Matt
I don't think he's earned a place for that midfield um based on his performances this season. I mean, particularly in that first game against City, it was a bit of a strange game, to be honest.
00:14:35
Matt
And in some ways, it's it's harsh to pick out this performance because that performance was clearly Maresco trying to figure out the squads and figure out the players because we were predominantly playing a 4-4-2 shape, particularly when we were out of possession as well.
00:14:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:50
Matt
And it is, you know, against Man City of of all teams. So it was Jackson up top and then Fernandez playing this slightly hovering number 10 sort of second striker role Which just really doesn't suit him at all. And so he did have ah have a really poor game against City and Yeah, I just think we weren't you know in the best lineup for that ah But having said that yeah, it's it's quite clear that I mean we even saw it last season with Kaisodo and and Fernandez that they were clearly the the choice because they were the big money players and Todd Bowley, you know, they've got to play the big money players foot because that's just, you know, football politics and money politics.
00:15:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
the end.
00:15:30
Matt
um But as soon as Fernando's got surgery and Gallica came in, we were just a better team. And this season, we're kind of seeing the same, but just with Lavia. And I think that's because Quesado and Lavia can do eat each other's jobs very, very well and like for like, and they're very capable of just switching in and out.
00:15:48
Matt
And they're very versatile in terms of they've both got a pass on them they've both got composure on them and they're both really great at tackling and holding up the ball and I think particularly that last um you know attribute of holding up the ball and and tackling that's where sort of Enzo falls down in the pecking order um compared to the other two ah particularly against Liverpool again he was just getting shrugged off the ball very easily compared to Labia but You know, it's all, I think LaVia really needs to work on his fitness.
00:16:21
Matt
Um, and his injury was just because he was out for the entirety of last season, which is absolutely wild. Um, so whatever the medical team are doing to, you know, keep him fit and healthy and, you know, juiced up, we need that 10 times over because him and Kaiseido are a one of the pair.
00:16:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:37
Matt
And I think, you know, if they stay fit, um, they could really dominate the league in the next couple ah couple of seasons.
00:16:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, completely not said one thing now, but I don't disagree with them. matt And, you know, it's the only thing I worry about is maybe maybe a slight over-reliance. You know, I don't know if just just seeing what's happened to City with Roger, you know, I'm not saying, you know, La Mira and Casada are the same level. I mean, Casada, I think, is probably getting there.
00:17:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
and But yeah just the way ripping up those sort of corvid fielders who are doing really well for you can sort of upset your team and that that is a worry of Lavia with his injury history. However it does seem the wrestler on the whole is sort of managing injuries quite well which we'll move on to um shortly. ah we'll We'll discuss the defensive situation quickly because there's there's been a few sort of changes there as well especially since that sort of first lineup against City.
00:17:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah the centre backs will pretty much do the same, Colwell will for Fauna, I don't think there's too much to discuss on them, they're building up a really good solid centre back pairing. and We did start the season without Reece James, and we were sort of seeing Gusto and Kookarero, that was sort of the solid Premier League lineup, but obviously Reece James has come in now and In my opinion, I think he's maybe upset the apple cart a little bit, not as in people are upset with him, but I think the gusto and cucarella sort of balance was working quite well. And now we've got Reese James back. It's, we're now sort of trying to balance out these good full backs. It's sort of a good problem to have, but we don't have the answer yet. and What have you thought about Reese James coming back and do you think maybe it's just, we should be sticking with gusto and cucarella until one of them has really dropped off and formed?
00:18:10
Matt
I mean, first thing on Rhys James, it's an absolute
Reece James' Return
00:18:13
Matt
delight that he's fit and healthy again and that he's not out injured for prolonged periods of time. And obviously it was a slight disappointment to the start of the season because firstly, he had that second sending off offense that was carried over from the end of last season into the start of the season. But then he did get a bit of a niggle. And so his return was prolonged even further. But, um you know, Maresco, the medical team know a lot more about that injury than us. And I think they've started to manage it incredibly well. And I think because of that, Chelsea fans are just a lot more patient around Roos James now. And just when he is playing, we're just a lot more grateful because he is arguably, you know, the best player on our team when he's on form.
00:18:56
Matt
and he is club captain after all. I do think, um you know, Gusto and Cucarello, they've been absolutely fantastic. And like you say, I do think it's a genuinely good problem to have. um We've seen, you know, over the last couple of months that there's a lot of games to play and after the international break, there's going to be even more games to play.
00:19:14
Matt
And so having two very solid capable right backs to switch in and out of, I think is just perfect, you know. um in And also the way Mariska manages the squads, manages the personalities, I don't think there's going to be any real quarrels between Gusto and James. I just think there will be um periods of time where Gusto is going to be in the lineup predominantly, and then it's going to shift to James being in the um first starting lineup predominantly in the league.
00:19:42
Matt
um But at the moment, you know, with our constant ah game schedule of it having a game pretty much every three and a half days with the conference league and soon to be the the FA Cup when that comes in next year.
00:19:55
Matt
um There's gonna be plenty of game time for both of them. Yeah, of course, you know sort of either of them may want to prioritize the league But they're gonna get game time and I think players are intelligent enough and have kind of just seen Enough football in the past to know that you win trophies with a brilliant team not numb and you know sort of being able to go through the marathon of all the games and So I think they recognize that and they'll work it out together But a quick word on Kukarela been absolutely fantastic almost a different player since we first signed him. I think You know with Kukarela similarly, you know when we signed Kaiseido He did say that the price tag did weigh on him in his first season and I think that was probably a similar thing with Kukarela just because we did buy him for about 60 million big money and it was just a turbulent time for the club, so
00:20:42
Matt
I think he he took a lot on his shoulders. um But now he's more comfortable. He's more settled in London. And, you know, Mariska is just such a tactical genius that he plays the player's strengths and now we're seeing the best of him.
00:20:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and it anne announced I think that's he seems to be a good man manager, Antaresca as well, which and I don't know. I've seen a lot of players like to potch, but I don't know if he was
Maresca's Tactical Influence
00:21:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
maybe given them what but they needed you know for this for this team to win. and I mean, there's one player we haven't really spoken too much about, but we have spoken about him at length.
00:21:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
nearly every week now, obviously Robert Sanchez. and So maybe we'll leave leap him off for today because we want to try and keep you know, it's nothing that you know, there's a lot of podcasts you guys can go back and listen to if you want to hear our opinions on Robert Sanchez. But we'll move on to Fabulous.
00:21:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
at The Enzo that ah is is informed, certainly, Enzo Miretica.
00:21:34
Matt
Very good.
00:21:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:21:35
Matt
Yeah.
00:21:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
he's i mean For me, Matt, he's been absolutely fantastic. like He's come in, he's given this team an identity in his press conferences, he's rigid, he's defensive of Chelsea already.
00:21:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
and and tactically he's he's been absolutely fantastic and it seems it seems that he's really making these players you know start to reach the best of their ability. um What have you thought of Enzo Mariska's dinner Chelsea so far?
00:22:04
Matt
He's been world-class to me. you know He has come into a club still searching for an identity, still reeling off some very poor seasons, 12th and then 6th, with a lot of money spent, a lot of pressure coming in. um yeah the The club could have gone into administration, but thankfully didn't.
00:22:25
Matt
And he's come in almost seamlessly and just gone, yeah, okay, I can do this. Yeah, I got this, you know, so you want this, this and this.
00:22:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:32
Matt
Yeah, that's fine. I'll sort it out. um You know, we want to buy this player, that player. Yeah, that's fine. Just give me those players. I'll work them out. That's fine. And just such a calmness and um a serious composure about him, ah you know, very pep-esque effectively.
00:22:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:47
Matt
um I wonder whether he's just been an absolute sponge to to pep. um about, you know, how do you deal with this player? How do you deal with this confrontation? What do you say to this question? All of that stuff. um He's just been able to, you know, bring into Chelsea and, you know, you know if you can't beat him, join him. There's an element of that phrase with us, you know, getting Marusca from Man City and wanting to play very similarly to the way Guardiola sets up City in a bid to try and challenge for against them. And I don't think there's any shame in that. I think it's just a clear sense that
00:23:19
Matt
Pochettino wasn't quite there for us. He wasn't quite doing it. Pochettino probably laid the the foundations of a good man management and you know squad happiness for Marisca to come into. so There's probably something there, but Marisca's just taken us to a new level.
00:23:36
Matt
and You know, particularly with players like Kaiseido and Kukarella, like we've mentioned already, um they are just, I think, so much better now that they have a manager in Maresco there. um Yeah, some players were disappointed that Pochettino left, players like, you know, Jackson putting posts out like that. And I think that's always going to be felt by some players.
00:23:55
Matt
But you've got to say that all the players, you know, they do love Mareska and, um you know, he's, um he's getting them to produce good things. There's nice little clips where you see Mareska saying to like Noni Madaweike, like, you know, do two touch, not three touch. And it is those little things that the coach just needs to tell the players, you know, straight about those crucial things. um Because, you know, if I don't, if Mareska doesn't say that to Madaweike, I'm not sure he gets those goals against Wolves.
00:24:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah hundred but Yeah, yeah, definitely. it it's is the The way he works on details for us is is absolutely incredible, which which is one of the things I love, just because for me, you know we have so many young players, and i don't think I don't think this is even the case five years ago. but all those extra little details in today's game, in today's modern game, matter so much more.
00:24:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think maybe that's where Pochettino maybe felt a bit outdated for me. He's a very good man manager, and but you can't really rely on the same things I think Pochettino was relying on. But Enzo Maresco just seems to be yeah one of these sort of new evolution managers.
00:24:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
But for me, he has a bit of Chelsea about him as well. you know Italian manager, you know he's the way he walks in press conferences.
00:25:03
Matt
Yeah.
00:25:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
I like it. It just seems like it's a very good fit. and which is just lovely to see for Chelsea fans after the turbulence we've enjoyed obviously. and We're going to have a very very quick break and then we'll be coming back to finish off the podcast with our forecast for the rest of the season.
00:25:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:25:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:25:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we are back for the last part of today's Daily Chelsea podcast. and So season review, players review, manager review, all ticked off, Matt. Now we must be bold and predict what Chelsea will do for the rest of the season. So I want
Chelsea's Trophy Prospects
00:26:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Matt from us.
00:26:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah A predicted Premier League finish. and And just because we are a little bit short on time, you can just say how many trophies we'll be adding to our Premier League finish.
00:26:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
So obviously our Conference League, FA Cup, not the League Cup anymore, of course. and Will we be winning either of those trophies?
00:26:28
Matt
No.
00:26:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And of course, if if we don't, you can get a little statement went on where you think we will go or why we won't win that competition. and oh would Would you like me to go first?
00:26:42
Matt
No, no, no, I'll go first.
00:26:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right, OK, go back to me.
00:26:43
Matt
It's all right. you you've You've demanded answers and I shall give them. um I think we will be adding one trophy to our cabinet by the end of the season.
00:26:54
Matt
And I do think that will be the Europa Conference trophy. I think it's a competition that we absolutely have to win. You know, if West Ham are winning it um a couple of seasons ago and we're in it,
00:27:07
Matt
we have to win it. like There's just no excuse for it. um the The caliber of teams, we are so far above that and we have to just bring that home. ah you know If we do win it, we'll be the first club to win all of those three European and competitions in terms of Champions League, Europa League and then Europa Conference, ah which would be a nice little you know stat to have. ah But yeah, we absolutely have to win that um because Especially like you say we've got such a young team.
00:27:33
Matt
They need that trophy boost. It doesn't really matter what the trophy is We just need that trophy boost. um It's a bit like Yes, he is exactly exactly exactly what I was gonna say, you know Josie really prioritized the lead card because that's the first trophy to win
00:27:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like Joseph did when he came in, and he got that five point cut.
00:27:48
Matt
And then the players just get that under their belt. They'd get that feeling of what it's like to be a champion. um So I think we'll win that. Epic Cup, I think unfortunately we will get knocked out along the road um on the way to so the final. It may be around you know the last 16 quarterfinals we might get knocked out. I just think um A bit like, you know, sort of like Joseph said many years ago, we're we're still a little horse, you know, we need a lot of milk and we need a lot of training. um And we're not quite there yet to win that kind of trophy. um So, yeah, I don't think I think similarly what we it might be a similar thing to what happened with the League Cup that we come up another Premier League team that is really, really gunning for the Epic Cup. And we just put out a slightly weaker side and we get undone um just because I think
00:28:36
Matt
in in the marathon of games i think marusca will always prioritize the premier league because i think he's very i think his top objective must be getting top four minimum within the league to get back into champion's league where you know undoubtedly like chelsea belong And speaking of the league table, I do think we'll get fourth. I think we'll get fourth this season. ah you know we're We're almost a third of the way through the season, 11 games in, and we are third. That is really positive signs. Honestly, I wouldn't have predicted us to be there um at this stage of the season.
00:29:10
Matt
Admittedly, it's very congested from third all the way down to 13th. There's only four points within that. um So a lot could change in you know a month's worth of football. But um there's really positive signs that you know we're still above Arsenal um by goal difference.
00:29:27
Matt
and you know, how different is that compared to the last two seasons? We couldn't buy a goal for like a whole season.
00:29:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:35
Matt
We literally couldn't. I think there was a start of about two and a half months where we just didn't score. It was just absolutely dreadful last season.
00:29:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:44
Matt
So the fact that we're we're actually scoring ah in a free flowing manner is an absolute joy. So yeah, bank, one trophy, not the f FA Cup and fourth.
00:29:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fair, yeah, yeah um i'm I'm very similar to you actually. I think, um yeah, I agree with you. i think I think from where we are now at this point of the season, and just also, I think just looking at the amount of Premier League teams that sort of beat in each other and how it is literally sort of any team can beat any other team this season. It's quite interesting. and I think we'll have, we'll have enough points out of that um to beat someone else in the fourth place, 100%.
00:30:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I also think we're going to win a trophy. I, however, think it will be the FA Cup.
00:30:24
Matt
Ooh.
00:30:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I don't think we're going to win the Europa Conference League.
00:30:26
Matt
Oh really?
00:30:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
and the only The only reason I say this is because the FA Cup obviously has its own separated weekends for games and the conference league will always be a midweek sort of competition.
00:30:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I think in terms of what we're sort of looking at say we get you know eight games away from the end of the season and we're in a quarterfinal I think at that point it'll be the quarterfinal of the conference league um and possibly in a quarterfinal of the FA Cup because the FA Cup will have its own weekend where we can dedicate players to it for example and the conference of league will be midweek I think will prioritize playing players in the FA Cup maybe and also trying to get that fourth place I think that fourth place will mean more than anything because as much as conference league will be a trophy it only qualifies us for the competition next up so it's only the Europa League we get in
00:31:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
um The only way into Champions League football this season for us is top four. And I just think it's going to get closer to the end of the season. It would have been a long season. We'll have a few more injuries. It won't be like, we'll be it won't I don't think we'll get to this stage of the season. We'll be able to put two 11s out the same way we sort of are doing at the moment. and That's sort of my thinking as well.
00:31:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think we're probably we went up prioritizing top four. Um, but I do think we'll get that. I do think we'll get fourth place this season. and And I think we'll, because of the way it would maybe we'll work out with fixtures. I just think the FA cup will try very hard and I can also see other teams getting knocked out of that as well. Just because of how the champions league is, I think, um, considering the champions league is basically sort of.
00:31:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
constant besides a sort of four-week break over Christmas. and A lot of bigger teams, I think, will start to get knocked out of that as well.
00:31:56
Matt
Hmm.
00:31:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'm hoping we actually take a bit of benefit there, a bit of an advantage.
00:31:57
Matt
Hmm.
00:32:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
But otherwise we're in agreement, which Chelsea fans, you know, we're predicting top four on a trophy, which I think we'll all take this season when we met.
00:32:08
Matt
Happy days. Happy days. Yeah. Uh, I have a feeling that Liverpool could run away with the league this season. They're just super, super efficient.
00:32:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
They are, they are incredible. And just if you look at their form as well, like the only time they're dropping points is for a draw, which they shouldn't have even drawn. It's just like, it's I think, I think I still predict.
00:32:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll do this last season before we go, Matt. Do you predict Liverpool for the Premier League this season?
00:32:30
Matt
I do. I do. I think it would be Liverpool city, Arsenal, Chelsea.
00:32:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fair enough. I think it will be City.
00:32:38
Matt
Yeah Really well just being inevitable
00:32:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you want it still? Yeah, I do. I just yeah i think, For me, i I just think, I just think they'll pull through and I think Liverpool, they'll have the same issue they've had before. You've got people forget that he didn't sign anyone in January, in in summer and stuff like that. Their squad is not going to do the entire season, plus Champions League, plus one wanting to win it on all fronts. In the Carlin Cup, as it keeps there, Carlin Cup is a long time sponsor. and In the League Cup as well, they're putting out a very strong 11 at the same time as well. I don't think he's going to drop.
00:33:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I think they're going to burn out by the end of it. And I think we'll just pick them a closer race than anyone else wants.
00:33:16
Matt
Absolutely.
00:33:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it is, of course, the International Break Week, but next week we are back to normal with our won't have a match a Monday review, but we'll of course discuss the England fixtures and then move on to predicting the game versus Leicester later the next week.
00:33:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Matt, it's been fantastic podcasting, predicting and reviewing review today, mate.
00:33:35
Matt
Thanks so much. It's been marvelous to be with you too.
00:33:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I've been, I've been jamming after this.
00:33:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Thank you so much for listening guys. We'll be back on Monday. ah Please check out our podcast from the rest of the week as well. And it's been Danny Chelsea. We'll speak to you soon.