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EPL Week 1 Review + PFA Awards Discussion + Isak Transfer Drama
17 Plays2 months ago
- United vs. Arsenal
- Liverpool vs. Bournemouth
- City vs. Wolves
- PFA Awards: Winners + Our thoughts
- Isak Transfer Holdout
- Games of The Week
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Episode Overview
00:00:10
Emeka
What's good? What's good? What's happening, fans? Welcome back to episode 31 now of the Love of the Game podcast. You know, back in the new season, have to bring the boys with me. As always, I'm joined for my man, fresh from frolicking in the flower fields.
00:00:26
Emeka
I'm here for my brother Chukwu. Chukwu, how you living?
00:00:30
Chuku
What's up, what's up guys? I'm glad to be back here for another banging episode. Yeah, I'm feeling great. you know Always feels great to get three points at Old Trafford. I think, you know, we're going to talk about that soon. But, yeah you know, what a way to start the weekend. So, yeah, should be a good show today, guys, and looking forward to chopping up with the boys.
Arsenal vs. Manchester United Overview
00:00:51
Emeka
As always, man, shouts out to Old Trafford. I'm sure we'll get right into that. Before we do, we got to bring in the super sub, the man, the star off the bench. Chinna, how you living with us today?
00:01:03
Chino Onwuka
Super sub. Damn. That's a challenge. yo know That's a challenge. If I'm a super sub, then I'm the man of Genovia super subs.
00:01:11
Emeka
Exactly, you know Listen, we all have to play our parts. How you living this the week, bro?
00:01:16
Chino Onwuka
Maybe Tony Parker or Timmy D over here, but it is what it is. I'm good, man. You know, life is, you know what? I'm just grateful. Life life is, I'm blessed, you know,
00:01:30
Chino Onwuka
That's all I can say. I'm blessed. You know, I guess it's a, what I would say, it's a pleasure that, you know, even in spite of everything that goes on in life what with work, with responsibilities and everything like that, you know, we always have, you know, days to come back to as a way to, you know, decompress, de-stress, you know, get some things off, you know, sometimes good, sometimes bad. So, yeah, no, excited to be here.
00:01:58
Emeka
Hey, man, let me tell you, I hear that. I've just realized that I always give Chukwu the slander shot, so let me switch it up this week and toss one in the chin, equal opportunity on this podcast.
Arsenal's Performance Analysis
00:02:08
Chino Onwuka
Fair enough.
00:02:08
Emeka
oh Speaking of feeling blessed, as my brother alluded to, we got a yeah big episode to talk about. We got the weekend recap.
00:02:16
Chuku
I'm glad you're here be different one.
00:02:17
Emeka
PFA awards just happened, some other topics around football.
00:02:18
Chuku
I can tell you that I'm not going to be a different one.
00:02:20
Emeka
But as always, we start with just you know touching on the big games of the weekend.
00:02:23
Chuku
I'm not going to be a different one.
00:02:25
Emeka
And I think the start the season, we're going to talk about the teams that finished first, second, and third last year.
00:02:27
Chuku
not going to be different one. I'm not going be a different one.
00:02:31
Emeka
But as you know, we've got to stay true to ourselves. It's Love of the Game podcast. but Love a Gunners podcast as well. And a big match the weekend, our game of the week. Arsenal, Man United, Old Trafford Sunday.
00:02:44
Emeka
Bill does the battle between Reyes and Sesko. It really was the battle between two teams struggling, to be honest. But at the end, Arsenal pull it out one nil Calafiori, our Italian stallion, scores against City last year, scores against United this year, a guy who just hates Manchester.
00:03:01
Chuku
I'm sorry.
00:03:02
Chuku
Just a little bit.
00:03:02
Emeka
Scores a corner, set-piece FC, Arsenal hold on to win 1-0.
00:03:06
Emeka
A lot to discuss this game. As the only guy who picked Arsenal to win in our predictions, I'll start with Chinna. I know you know you you didn't watch the game live, so I'm curious, now that you reviewed it and sat on the tape, what are your thoughts about this fixture?
00:03:23
Chino Onwuka
You know, a lot of the time when you're going back to to rewatch a game is because, you know, it's a big win, there's some good performances, and, you know, you're excited to rewatch it to catch all the little things you missed.
00:03:38
Chino Onwuka
Man, I was not, based off of what I had heard, you know, obviously really pleased with the result, but based based off of what I'd heard, you know, getting thoughts from, know, you guys and others about how the game went, you know,
00:03:42
Chuku
Thank you.
00:03:53
Chino Onwuka
It was more of you know, it was more of a job, you know, having to go back and watch the game because the Arsenal perspective, it was not, it was not pretty at all. you know when i When I predicted Arsenal to win the game, it was honestly based off of what I'd seen in the game against, you know, Athletic Bilbao, you know, convincing win. You know, we saw all of our starters.
00:04:17
Chino Onwuka
Jokic has scored. And, you know, not that I expected us to – I expected a really tough game at Old Trafford, I just thought we would play better. You know, one of the concerns, you know, at the beginning of last season, even before the injuries, was – know, the style of play, being able to create chances, dominate games. And I was hoping, you know, we'd see, you know, the first steps, the foundation of that this season, you know, with all the talk, with the new signings and really it wasn't there.
00:04:50
Chino Onwuka
You know, honestly, you know, what it seemed to me, you know, again, continue to speak from an Arsenal point of view is that where we're seeing a clash of styles right now where we're, You know, with Jokoraz, we're trying to implement a more direct style of play. But, you know, right now, all the players aren't on the same wavelength. You know, maybe players didn't have their best days. So, it was a struggle. you know, Manchester United created most of the chances of You know, we I don't know how many times in the recent Arteta era we've seen us have 30-something percent of possession.
00:05:27
Chino Onwuka
You know, so, yeah, no, it's barely ever happened.
00:05:28
Emeka
Definitely not much.
00:05:31
Chino Onwuka
Usually that's maybe against, you know, a man-seeing or something like that. So it was tough. But look, we here on this pod know the history of Arsenal and Old Trafford.
00:05:44
Chino Onwuka
We've seen more only six wins in the last 30 years or something like that. So anytime you go to Old Trafford and get three points, no matter which way it comes about, that is a job well done. So credit to the boys for Cal Fiore again, getting that goal set piece FC.
00:06:04
Chino Onwuka
You know, it is what it is where if you don't play your best game, you still find a way to to get a
Manchester United's Prospects
00:06:08
Chino Onwuka
result. And we we did enough to hold on at the back. Just quickly touching on the Manchester United perspective.
00:06:15
Chino Onwuka
know, I think that's a really encouraging game for them to be able to play a team of a level in Arsenal and really, you know, Ferris Ferris, they were the better team. know, their new signings and in Cunha and Mbwemo were a really, really massive threat in the game. So that's really promising signs. You know, Sesco came on late and didn't really do anything but the The you know among the myriad issues that United had last year, the biggest thing was how a future they were offensively and it looks like they've we've made some solid steps in rectifying that so you know if they can do that to Arsenal you would think that they can you know do that to lots of other teams.
00:06:58
Emeka
I get what you're saying on that part about United. i just, I don't know. For some reason, i never like when your people are saying, oh, I know you lost, but it's it's a step in the right direction.
00:07:02
Chuku
So,
00:07:06
Chuku
yeah.
00:07:07
Emeka
Like, that usually is a sign of a manager who's not delivering results. And, yeah, look, it's Arsenal. Humbly as I can say this, Arsenal are still are and one of the best teams in the league. So you're not going to win...
00:07:19
Emeka
a lot of times against them. But I don't know. it's it's i so I still see the same issue with Man U persisting down the line.
00:07:24
Chuku
in.
00:07:28
Emeka
Like, yeah, they, quote-unquote, were the better side. They didn't really create much, you know? Like, what was the best chance they really had? I never really felt we were in threat. Like, yeah, Mbwemo and Cunha looked like they were...
00:07:41
Chino Onwuka
mean, Ryan had to make two good saves. don good so Yeah,
00:07:43
Emeka
Yeah, it had to make two saves, but I mean, this is Old Trafford and Man U.
00:07:46
Chuku
one
00:07:47
Chino Onwuka
so right They still have a lot of problems in midfield.
00:07:49
Chuku
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
00:07:51
Chino Onwuka
The defense, you know, maybe they did the defense didn't have a lot to deal with.
00:07:51
Chuku
I'm sorry.
00:07:54
Chino Onwuka
But again, at least at least I think they have more of a threat going forward. Let me just say that. But I see your point.
00:08:01
Emeka
Yeah, know and and fair enough. And like the truth is, Sesco had a token 20 minutes. He's not match fit. They were playing Mount as a false nine. Did not do anything that game. Maybe they look better with Sesco, but...
00:08:14
Emeka
I just feel like the love for Man U are getting, because that's the big takeaway that people have is, oh, man, Man U look good. I don't know, man. they don't look that They didn't look that much different than the previous years. And just want to throw out there, while Arsenal have, you said, six wins at Old Trafford the last 30 years, it's now two wins the last three times. This is the a pretty good stretch we've had.
00:08:34
Emeka
And so sandwiched in between was a draw. Undefeated at Old Trafford in four years. I never thought I'd say that to Arsenal. So after years and years of... This game in reverse, during the Wenger years especially, we come into Old Trafford, we be the quote-unquote better side, create more chances, and then they nick a goal, and then they have a great goalkeeper performance.
00:08:54
Emeka
I got to say, it feels nice to be on the other side of it for once, and we win off a set piece and just hold on, keep or make some saves.
00:08:59
Chuku
them.
00:09:01
Emeka
Like, hey, I can't lie, man. I see why the 30 years were good for Man U fans, because it feels great. But am I tripping Chukwu, or were you impressed by Man U, and what are your thoughts about the game overall?
00:09:12
Chino Onwuka
And really quickly before Chuka chimes in, sorry, one interesting stat, you know, of those six wins the last 30 years, I'm sure you guys have heard this, what's been the score in all those six games? 1-0.
00:09:24
Emeka
1-0.
00:09:25
Chino Onwuka
one mill
00:09:26
Chuku
1-0 to the Arsenal. Yeah, I know. Yeah, I know. I mean, I hear it. I hear it still, but I got to agree with you on this one, man. I think if I was a United fan, oh, for a bit, but if I was a United fan, I mean, I'll take this as a positive sign, even though they you know Even though they they took the L, I really do believe.
00:09:49
Chuku
i mean, Bermos showed signs. But for me, watching that game, just eye test alone, Cunha is just something else, man. I got to just say.
00:09:57
Emeka
He really is.
00:09:57
Chuku
Cunha, he is something. like Bro, this guy was cooking up players, bro. Like, it wasn't just anybody. I mean, look, obviously Arsenal did their thing for the most part to try and contain.
00:10:10
Chuku
But, man, Cunha was a problem. And I have to imagine if he can do or cause this much chaos against a back line that I believe easily, I believe is the best back line in the APL.
00:10:25
Chuku
For me, that's my opinion. Like
Arsenal's Striker Debate
00:10:27
Chuku
all well-rounded defensive.
00:10:27
Emeka
I second that opinion.
00:10:29
Chuku
Well-rounded defense. I would take us above the rest. And for Kylian to be doing that? Oh, man. He's going to cook up the league, man. He's going to... he's go to team that can contain this dude because, bro, I got to believe you add Cunha, you add Mbremo, you add Sesco, you add Bruno.
00:10:50
Chuku
United got something to think, you know, to smile about moving forward as far as going forward offensively, in my opinion.
00:10:56
Chino Onwuka
That's funny because I have Cunha as my flop of the season. So we'll be watching that closely.
00:11:01
Chuku
Well, I... Hey...
00:11:05
Emeka
Hey, still time to change.
00:11:05
Chuku
hey times Exactly. Time to change because I can tell you right now you're going to look foolish. da That's going to be your take.
00:11:12
Emeka
The only thing I'll say quickly for to you is that for Man U fans, you heard all those four.
00:11:12
Chuku
i
00:11:14
Chuku
okay
00:11:16
Emeka
My issue is that next to those guys is either Casemiro or Ugarte. And I don't know, man.
00:11:21
Chuku
You say that, but Casemiro had a game, bro.
00:11:23
Emeka
I don't know.
00:11:26
Chuku
I don't know if you're watching. He had a game.
00:11:28
Emeka
was watching it with you, man.
00:11:29
Chuku
Exactly. No, he – but, I mean, honest opinion. Because I know i normally I crash out on Casemiro, and he's usually the butt of my jokes. And I can't even lie to you. Like, before the game, I was, like, laughing seeing him on the starting sheet.
00:11:44
Chuku
But, my God, I couldn't believe what I was watching. Like, he legit was having a game. Like – Stopping, making deceptions.
00:11:55
Chuku
Didn't really foul much. I was watching intensive. Like, this guy was winning the ball in the right areas. Like, dishing the ball, getting the ball out on to Ombremo on the wing, you know, right times. Like, I just, hey.
00:12:06
Chuku
I mean, obviously, maybe it's just one game. Maybe it's the first game season night.
00:12:07
Emeka
Listen, I get what you're saying, and he did all those things, but the thing is, like, you watched that game, it felt like a basketball game because, man, you just couldn't control midfield.
00:12:10
Chuku
Maybe it's first game season night. Hmm.
00:12:15
Chuku
True. True.
00:12:18
Emeka
That's what happens when you play a two-man midfield. And to be fair, they're playing with two people in midfield, which is setting yourself up that way. With Casemiro and Bruno, they're doing...
00:12:25
Chuku
hmm
00:12:28
Emeka
Arteta is the most rigid, you know you know, we don't counterattack at all. We struggle with counterattacks. They play this game against a team that actually knows how to counter. They easily let in three goals.
00:12:40
Emeka
How many counter transition opportunities Arsenal have? There's a montage was going around. I'm sure we'll talk about it afterwards. Of all the many, many, many counter attacks Arsenal had that they failed because we can't do counter attacks at all.
00:12:52
Emeka
I'm telling you, they go to Crystal Palace or a, you know, Newcastle or something, Liverpool, and play like this and give up this kind of control. They're getting eight up on the break.
00:13:03
Emeka
Not many teams going squander all those chances. We saw, you forget the big teams.
00:13:06
Chuku
Thank you.
00:13:07
Emeka
Look at Bournemouth-Literpool. We'll talk about that later. That's Semenyo's second goal. Huh. You get that kind of space against him, he's going to cook you again. Like, that's my issue with Man U, and especially with the Casemiro, Bruno.
00:13:19
Emeka
Yeah, you have all these forwards, Cunha. Look, Cunha and Ibuemo, fantastic. They still play Bruno and either Casemiro or Ugarte, and that is a recipe for games like this all season with absolutely zero control, and they're going to get ate up against a lot of teams doing this.
00:13:36
Emeka
That's just my takeaway from watching the game, and why I'm not really buying the Man United hype like everybody else is.
00:13:42
Chuku
know what? That's a fair point. And, you know, I will say Arsenal, like for the most part, we didn't do enough when it came to those transition opportunities. Always felt like, you know, the person with the ball, oh there was o garde where there was arttanelli whether whether it was, you know, whoever, it always felt like they just held onto the ball a bit too long and never made that, you know, early pass, you know and know, to the right player that was open.
00:14:10
Chuku
You know, so, I mean,
00:14:10
Chino Onwuka
You know what I mean on that? Like, that's a good point. But, you know, watching that compilation again, and you would think that professional football players at that level know.
00:14:22
Chino Onwuka
I'm sorry, but the, like, Chucky made a good point on the passes. But if you look at the runs, all the runs were horrible. Like, I think the most, the biggest one Odegaard not passing, you look at the runs that both, I think it was Saka on one side and maybe Marcinamoli or Jokerez,
00:14:40
Chino Onwuka
They both ran like right into the defender. And so it's like, yeah, no wonder Odegaard held onto the ball because, you know, him passing the ball would have just, and we saw that happen a lot.
00:14:52
Chino Onwuka
It did a bad pass, man. All it did was just leave the transitions the other way. So not only do we got to work, definitely got to work on transitions, you know, the delivery of the ball has to be better, but man, I'm sorry. These guys need to make better runs off the ball because, you know, you watch other teams in transitions and they make it look so easy and so simple.
00:15:12
Chino Onwuka
And then when Arsenal do it and, you know, maybe there is a little bit to the over being over coach. It's like, it doesn't even make sense.
00:15:20
Emeka
See, is that a chicken or egg thing though? Because I feel like it if you believe you're getting the pass, you're making the run with all your heart because you believe you're getting the pass. Whereas if you're if you're not sure they're going to pass it, then you kind of half-ass the run because you're like, what's the point?
00:15:29
Chuku
Thank you.
00:15:35
Emeka
I've seen it with Haaland all the time when... You can tell when he thinks he's going to get a pass because he's really making a run. And then after, like, he does the run two or three times in the game.
00:15:45
Emeka
fair It's exhausting to do. He does it two or three times. Then he's just like, they ain't going pass to me. So now he just makes half-hearted runs and doesn't really get it behind. Like, I think that's a chicken or egg thing where as we progress in the season and we just start trusting to just make the pass, it incentivizes people to make the run because they truly believe if I do this, I will get the ball.
00:16:05
Emeka
You know?
00:16:07
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, no, no, that that's a good point. And again, i saw what, what and and maybe that's ah ah another point, but I saw runs being made and looking at it, you know, in hindsight, you know, you can see where, you know, a different run, some different movement might have given better opportunities for for more avenues for passes.
00:16:29
Chino Onwuka
for past I think there's like an execution is like, you just need to execute better. You know, I'm still chucking it up, you know, fingers crossed to just, you know, us still working on things. And as the season gets better, you know, players knock off the rust, you know, getting better shape that,
00:16:49
Chino Onwuka
We'll see. i'm not I'm not even like just she basic, decent execution because we're not even asking for much. If we're just average at executing on those opportunities, that will just be you know night and day. like Just thinking like some of those early years, like 22, 23 when we came second and even the season before when we came fifth, I remember a lot of really slick goals under Arteta.
00:17:17
Chino Onwuka
in transition and I really don't know what's what's happened since then. Like this the season with Aubameyang, you know, when we won the f FA Cup, that was how we got almost all of our goals. So it's it's it's a really strange one.
00:17:30
Chuku
I mean, again, we could be overreacting, boys. i mean, I don't want to be that guy, but, you know, it is the first game of the season. Guys, you know, guys' legs are maybe be still a little rusty, you know what saying?
00:17:38
Chino Onwuka
First turn. First turn.
00:17:41
Chuku
We got to factor this in. Like, I think, honestly, the way this is going to play out, like, we've seen Arsenal do this before, where we come off a game, we look shaky, and, you know, there's a lot of issues and questions that about our opponent patterns of play.
00:17:54
Chuku
And then, boom, in a game like the next game, we're about to play a Leeds team who I think, again, one of those teams, I feel like they come to play ball. Like if you watch them, they're not trying to sit back.
00:18:06
Chuku
Who knows if they change the tactics for this game. But I personally think heading into this, I'm going to assume Leeds are going to be one of those teams I still want to come out and play. And if that's the case, that could play right into the you know our hands in terms of hopefully we see a better pattern of play in transition.
00:18:24
Chuku
And maybe this is a non-factor, you know I'm saying? So, again, want to hold out hope that's the case. We'll find out a lot, you know, this coming weekend can when we play Leeds at home.
00:18:36
Chuku
But think it's going to be a great opportunity to hopefully kind of, you know, keep the fans at ease and show that, you know, again, what we saw, you know, Old Trafford was more of a blip and, you know,
00:18:48
Chuku
Hopefully, we build it right way. We'll see. Like I said, I'm hoping for the best.
Liverpool's Opening Match Analysis
00:18:53
Chuku
But, you know, I just think... Man, know, it wasn't a good look. You know, Yokora's, I'm one of his biggest advocates. And I got to say, man, even I could be like, you know, he had a very poor game to, you know, to his standards. And, you know, I really hope, you know, again, this Leeds game, we're going to have a chance to see him again with another opportunity to kind of, you know, right his wrongs there.
00:19:18
Chuku
Saka was...
00:19:18
Emeka
Sorry, on that point, though, I just want to say real quick, you say that you don't think I have opportunity to try these wrongs, and I'll toss up both of you, but you can start.
00:19:18
Chuku
Yeah.
00:19:21
Chuku
Yeah.
00:19:28
Emeka
Would you start Yocharez against Leeds would you start Kai Havertz against Leeds?
00:19:31
Chuku
I'm sorry, Norek Perez. You don't buy a guy like this just to come and bench him after one not-so-great performance in the first game of the year. You give him another opportunity.
00:19:42
Chuku
We see what's going on. And even after today, i will still give him another chance. You've got to give a least shows at least bare minimum five games run. Just see what you have with this signing. Because, again, he was a big acquisition. You can't just bench him.
00:20:00
Chuku
for you know, Havers is always going to be there. And trust me when I say if Jokoraz doesn't live up or doesn't, you know, show potential, at any point Havers could step in and become that, know, come in and show us what he has as the leading, you know, as as the starting striker.
00:20:17
Chuku
And that's always going to be there. So why rush to that, you know, right away? It's still early in season. Let's see what Jokoraz can do. He's not in, you know, obviously maybe the tip-top shape that, you know,
00:20:29
Chuku
That, you know, as far as football shape, you know, who knows what that's going to look like as he you know continues to progress playing with new teammates in a new team. You got to at least give guys time to adjust. So basically to answer your question, bro, I'm starting your careers and I will continue to start him for the foreseeable at least, you know, initial future here and see what we have with him. Because again, you don't make a signing like that just to come and bench him after one or two games.
00:20:58
Chuku
That's my thought process.
00:20:59
Emeka
That's my thought. Chinna, what are your thoughts?
00:21:00
Chino Onwuka
i bought it I definitely think you start Yelkeres against Leeds for a couple of reasons. you know One, I will say this. I honestly believe that if Havertz hadn't gotten a little bit of a niggle during preseason, Havertz would have started against Manchester United.
00:21:21
Chino Onwuka
So that's one thing I'll say. Two, I think you need to start Yelkeres because you know some of the things I was worried about you know, with the transition from the Portuguese league to the Prem, you know, you saw a little bit of that in the first game.
00:21:35
Chino Onwuka
So you got to, you need him to get used to the lead as quickly as possible. You know, you could see by you know, De Ligt, you know, apart from his wonder kid hype, he's, he's not someone you'd put up there as one of the best defenders in the world. And, you know, you could see that this was one of the, you know, even a defender like De Ligt, you know,
00:21:57
Chino Onwuka
Jokeres couldn't just, you know, there's one clip of him, know, bullying the lick of the ball, but the lick got him more times than Jokeres did to the lick. And so he's going to have to get used to the fact that he can't just, you know, dip a shoulder and outmatch his man like he could in Portugal. He can't, you know, take the ball in the wing and just dribble and the ball bounce off to defenders back to him like he could in the Portuguese. So he's going to need to find...
00:22:26
Chino Onwuka
different avenues to be effective because, you know, I think I've said this, you know, off air. When you get a striker like Jokeres, you have to understand that it's not going to look pretty with him.
00:22:37
Chino Onwuka
You don't buy him for it to look pretty. You buy him for him to score goals. So I would not be surprised if what bears out is most any game where Jokeres doesn't score, it looks pretty ugly.
00:22:53
Chino Onwuka
But that's okay as long as we find a way to, create chances for him to just blast the ball on the net, or if he can create some chaos himself and and get some goals. That's that's what it is.
00:23:04
Chino Onwuka
So I think you start Jokeres against Leeds for that reason, to get him to the league. And, know, the teams that we we had trouble with were where teams lower in the league where, you know, we would dominate the ball, but, you know, but couldn't score. So, you know, I wouldn't be surprised if what you see is, you know, play Jokeres against, know, some of the lower teams in the league, the teams that, you know, sit back, and then in some of the bigger games, you know, start Kai Havertz. So I don't, I definitely don't think it'll be like what Chukwu says, where Jokers is going start five games in a row. No, because you have a player like Kai on the bench, but I would definitely start him against, against Leeds. Am I going to get you?
00:23:45
Emeka
after I agree with every point you made, and i both of you, I do agree. I would start Yoko Reyes personally. I'll just toss in quickly, devil's advocate. Like you said, you have a guy like Kai Havertz in the team.
00:23:56
Chuku
What we said, not going able to do that.
00:23:58
Emeka
you can't You have to keep him happy.
00:23:59
Chuku
We're going
00:24:00
Emeka
Maybe he's to FM my brain where I just rotate people, but Kai came for big money. on big wages. you know He thinks he's the man. he Now he's eating two benches in a row.
00:24:12
Chuku
to be able to do that.
00:24:12
Emeka
It's tough. You know, you got to keep the group happy.
00:24:13
Chuku
We're going to able to do that.
00:24:13
Emeka
One of the things I'm really looking forward to this year is whether Arteta finally starts to rotate.
00:24:16
Chuku
We're going to be able to do that.
00:24:19
Emeka
And if you go to rotate, leads at home is the type of game you should rotate for. That being said, i would start Yocharez mainly for me to build this confidence because, you know, you buy a striker. Everyone knows this. A striker...
00:24:33
Emeka
They're judged on goals, and they want you want to get that first goal as quickly as possible because the longer it goes, the more there's chatter, the more becomes a story.
00:24:35
Chuku
you
00:24:42
Emeka
You want to just nip that in the bud. If you can score in your first two or three games, it's ideal because then you can have a 10-game stretch afterwards of not scoring, and it still buys you a lot more time than when you struggle for that first goal and that dreaded 007 meme comes up. like No one wants to be part of that. Yeah.
00:24:59
Emeka
Yeah, I'm putting Jokers against Leeds, but I hope there is some changes, though. And, you know, maybe we we can try Habits at it at the 8. You know, I wouldn't be mad at that. Odegaard and Habits. Just switch it up a little bit.
00:25:11
Emeka
Leeds at home. But I know our touchdown, at beginning of the year, he's going to try and keep the main tactics. So, hey, i' well I'm very curious to see how that game goes. You know, hey, it's Premier League, man. Every week, nothing's given. So looking forward to the season progressing.
00:25:27
Emeka
Speaking of every game, nothing's given. The opening game of the season, Liverpool at home to Bournemouth. Bournemouth, you know, losing everybody left and right, including a guy to Liverpool. You think it's an easy win for Liverpool.
00:25:39
Emeka
They go up 2-0 early. Smooth sailing. Eketike scores on his debut. Everything's looking nice. And then all of a sudden, Bournemouth fly back. make it 2-2. Semenyo earlier got racially abused and the game had to stop.
00:25:53
Emeka
Comes and hits a brace, including a girl I referenced earlier. One of the most interesting counterattacks I've seen where I was yelling at my screen, pass the ball, pass the ball. And then he scores and I'm like, hey, shows what I know.
00:26:07
Emeka
2-2, you think, man, Liverpool, what a sluggish start to the season. And then of all people, Michael Chiesa off the bench, makes it 3-2. And then Mo Salah, hey, my guy loves to score on the opening day. What can you say?
00:26:20
Emeka
Injury time makes it four two Liverpool win on a pretty good opening game. i was thoroughly entertained. Opening up with you, Chinon, what were your thoughts on Liverpool-Vormouth? And yeah, just what a game to start the season, I'd say.
00:26:35
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, that's exactly what was going to start off with. You know, a great game to to usher in you know, the the new Premier League season it's this is is what we all have come to love about the Prem, you know, excitement, goals, drama. You know, you have a team you know, Liverpool come in as defending champions, you know, with all their signings. And have you know, a team, you know, good old Bournemouth, you know, they've lost...
00:27:02
Chino Onwuka
so Pretty much all of their back line lost some big players and they gave them a game. And it takes heroics from Chiesa and Premier League legend Saba to to so wrap it up. But yeah, I think it was was a really exciting game. you know I was really curious to see how the the new players, especially from Liverpool, how they looked. And obviously the guy that caught my eye was really...
00:27:28
Chino Onwuka
Eketike, he's my type of striker. You know, he looks like he's going to be a ah ah really, really good buy, you know. So, you know, that was one thing i that was of note to me. Wurtz, not his best game, but, you know, you could see his quality.
00:27:44
Chino Onwuka
But, you know and know, just speaking from a Liverpool perspective, you know, some of the things I think we've talked about that could be their Achilles heel is just, you know, especially without Gravenberg, how easily, you know, it was to sort of play through them. And honestly, this might just be a repeating case for every single team of the league because every team in the Prem is so good that, you know, you will get hit at the break. And so...
00:28:11
Chino Onwuka
You know, you knew you saw that a little bit, you know, no Gravenberg. You know, they're really reliant. And like I think you pointed this out on on Van Dijk and his aura defending and Kanate, especially with their two new fullbacks really bombing forward.
00:28:25
Chino Onwuka
So, you know, you saw that by thumb in this game, you know, and I'd be remiss if I didn't, you know, really tip my cap to Semenyo.
00:28:36
Chino Onwuka
You know, for him to so to go through what he did, you know, I know most of us have experienced, know, racism of some part and for him to, you know, to answer that back by scoring two goals, to answer that on the field, you know, takes lot of character, takes a lot of talent. So I just want to doff my cat to him.
00:28:56
Emeka
This game is literally... I know they won. They won and granted no Gravenberg, fantastic midfielder. It's actually a big loss. But this game is why i my bold prediction was that Liverpool finished fourth. Because you mentioned it.
00:29:11
Emeka
These...
00:29:12
Chuku
Thank you.
00:29:12
Emeka
Kirk has... Great fullback, but he's really known for his offensive contributions. Same way, Frimpong, great fullback, he's known for his offensive contributions. They were 2-0 up, and they were both bombed so forward, Bournemouth tore them up on the break, and it was literally just Van Dijk and Cornante on an island against the world.
00:29:33
Emeka
That's ridiculous to me. Now, they're a great team offensively, and they're going to score a lot of goals, and they're going to be good. um But that's the weakness I keep seeing. And like you said, teams in the Prem are so good, you give them a sniff, they're going to punish you.
00:29:47
Chuku
Thanks.
00:29:50
Emeka
Like, that's the the quality of the league is so high. And they they're going have a lot of games like this where even, you know, to one up or 3-1 up, or three one up you can still hit them and you know, maybe slot reconfigures it a little bit. I'm sure he's a great manager. He's going to figure it out.
00:30:06
Emeka
He might have tell the guys to calm down a little bit and I'm grabbing book. It's going to make a huge help, but that's the Achilles heel. I see in this team. And that's why I'm concerned about them moving forward as true title contenders to repeat a lot of changes and man, and they're looking to buy more strikers. Like that's,
00:30:24
Emeka
what they're trying to bet when they're reliant entirely on Gravenberg. He's because slot does not trust Endo at all. It's very clear. So they're Gravenberg ankle injury or a hamstring away.
00:30:36
Emeka
We saw what happened with city last year when Roger Torre's ACL, God forbid that happens to Gravenberg. I can see Liverpool struggling next year. So I'm really curious to monitor them moving forward.
00:30:47
Emeka
What were your thoughts on the game? Chukwu?
00:30:51
Chuku
I just thought Liverpool are are are Liverpool, man. And what i'm mean by that is with the Ekatiki signing, I definitely think first game, he definitely looks like one to watch. And yeah If I to say, like, my type of striker, he's definitely someone that would have liked seeing an Arsenal jersey for sure.
00:31:12
Chuku
But ah it it was obvious we're never going to get him just because of the price that, you know, Frankfurt were quoting it for him. And honestly speaking, he's looking there he's looking worth the price, you know. It's only been a couple of first game, you know.
00:31:25
Chuku
But the way he moves, the way, you know, the way he's able to connect, play with the you know his teammates, and someone's movements are just crazy for a guy that tall. Like, he's just, so you know, he's definitely he's definitely something. So, yeah, no I can see why Liverpool, you know, went for him, and it's just crazy to think there's a possibility of them not adding Isak to that mix.
00:31:48
Chuku
I don't want to even think about it. i don't want to think about it. But, Yeah, Liverpool are just really good attacking-wise, but at the same time, we see the flaw defensively. They are susceptible to counter-attacks and breaks and whatnot. and know Let's be real, they're fullbacks.
00:32:06
Chuku
They're really more like wingbacks that are masquerading fullbacks. They can be get-at or got-at, but the question remains, you know can you score and enough goals again to beat Liverpool?
00:32:20
Chuku
you know, with the talent that they have, man, like, is they're going to be they're going to be a problem. They're going to be a problem, man. And it's going to be a big issue trying to score Liverpool on a consistent basis. you just As a team, you just have to be in your A game because at the end of the day, you know, if you think you're going to go try and hold Liverpool off to a scoreless, you know, a scoreless match, yeah you know, don't think that's something that you can, you know, believe that realistic. You know, I think,
00:32:48
Chuku
If you're going to go into to play Liverpool, you've got to go in there thinking you've got to try and score as many goals are and as possible because they're going to try and score as many goals as they can. And most likely, you know with the talent they've got going forward, you know it does seem like that's how they're going to approach approach games.
00:33:10
Chuku
So it'll be interesting to see what Liverpool look like and when they play the big six teams. because I can definitely see a lot of goals, you know, in those type of in those matchups. But as far as, you know, what Liverpool, what I've seen so far, I just think they're great going forward, questionable in the back still.
00:33:30
Chuku
Van Dijk could solve a lot of issues, but if Kanaty or Van Dijk get hurt, it's going to be a long season for Liverpool. And that's probably why I don't have them, you know, winning the league, doing a back-to-back because winning back-to-back is hard. And I just don't know if Liverpool have done enough to shore up their defense to really have them as favorites to win the league. So I think he's going to come back to bite them so at some point, you know, during the season.
00:33:56
Chuku
And the team I believe that's going to win, I mean, you know, we saw what they looked like this weekend. We'll talk about that. I'm sure we'll talk about them, you know, oh momentarily But yeah, the I just don't think Liverpool are going to be able to hold on to their defense all season long. And unless something changes and they're able to add no substantial help, maybe in January or something.
00:34:22
Chuku
I'm going to hold firm with my opinion that I just think, yeah, at some point something's going to happen, collapse. They're not going to be able to, you know, hold on defensively because defense not
Man City's Victory and Squad Depth
00:34:34
Chuku
enough.
00:34:35
Chuku
They don't have enough.
00:34:35
Emeka
you don't have enough.
00:34:36
Chuku
ah
00:34:37
Emeka
Yeah, no, fair. that's That's the definite concern with Liverpool. And before we get to the the last game of the of the top three, just wanted to say, hold myself accountable. I called him Michael Chiesa. He's a UFC fighter.
00:34:49
Emeka
Ridiculous. Frederico Chiesa came through with the 3-2 goal.
00:34:52
Chuku
more but very useful thing.
00:34:53
Emeka
And I think it's fair to say, oh well, the best performing debut was either Akitike or a guy going talk about shortly.
00:34:57
Chuku
don't know. don't
00:35:03
Emeka
It's crazy Eketike went for $80 million, and he has zero caps for France.
00:35:03
Chuku
know. good thing.
00:35:08
Emeka
That just shows how stacked they are as a team. Put Eketike on 90% of countries in the world, he's locked for the first team. he might even get He probably gets a call-up after this move, but that just shows how stacked France is.
00:35:21
Emeka
But ah the the other signing who made a huge impact... on his debut. Man City's Tijani Reinders starred as they whooped Wolves, belt to ass, 4-0.
00:35:27
Chuku
Thank you.
00:35:32
Emeka
You know, pretty... I'll give Wolves credit. they they At the first half, they actually looked spryry a little bit and made them sweat, but then as soon as the floodgates opened, a boy that they opened, and Holland comes through with the two goals.
00:35:47
Emeka
Reinders a goal and assists. I was about to call him Chico's favorite player. I'll stop the slander. Oscar Ball comes back, and Has a great assist. Cherokee off the bench has an assist.
00:35:58
Emeka
yeah I'll keep my thoughts brief on this game. Ryan Nettlers, what a signing. Wow. I don't watch Serie A like that, but I've always read their fans.
00:36:06
Chuku
i
00:36:07
Emeka
And when the transfer was announced, every to a man Serie A fan I saw was like, this is a scam. Man City scammed the league. How is this guy going for this kind of money? i was like, I'm going to keep an eye on him. Preseason and Club World Cup, he looked fantastic. And boy,
00:36:22
Emeka
He looked great in his debut. All action midfielder. You know, the true box-to-box guy can go back. But, man, can he go forward, play passes, shoot?
00:36:32
Emeka
her Pep got him on. No wonder I'm seeing interviews now where Pep say, oh, yeah, man, I could be here four years. Like, this team looks nice. They look got a good refresh. Youngsters here.
00:36:44
Emeka
Man City are going to be a problem. They're going to be a problem moving forward in the season. I can definitely tell you that. What were your thoughts, Chiku?
00:36:53
Chuku
Man, exactly what you said, man. Mass City are a problem. And sorry, just to circle back. I don't think it was a question to me of who had the best opening day performance.
00:37:04
Chuku
Bro, I mean, I love TK. He played well. But brother, oh, my God. Tahani Reinders. Am I saying that name correctly? I don't even know, bro. This dude is something else, man.
00:37:18
Chuku
something else. I mean, and like said, I knew, i heard about him in AC Milan, and I'm not going to act like I said I was watching him intensively, but I knew he had was coming off ah ah of a pretty decent, no good season, you know what saying, as as a box-to-boxer attacking the fielder type player.
00:37:35
Chuku
But my word, I didn't know he had tickers like this. This brother is like weaving through defenses
00:37:46
Chuku
but no through ball final no passes or no pass the pass before the pass to the goal. Like, he is doing it all for City. And, I mean, I know no Pep does this Russian roulette when it comes to swapping in his team, but I'm sorry. But, i mean, I know it's the first game, but I just, you know, there's this vibe you get after watching someone play.
00:38:09
Chuku
Especially not just what I've seen this particular game, but if you're watching closely also as well in preseason, he was doing this as well. He was banging and scoring goals left, right, and center, even with limited time. 45 minutes, comes on, scores two goals or almost a hat trick. The brother keeps doing it. and like I just think, man, like he might be one of the signers of the season, man, because...
00:38:36
Chuku
I don't know – I don't see how Pep doesn't just continue to roll with the grinders, man. I think he's he's going to be fit perfectly in in that Man City midfield, especially with – when Rodri comes back, like, but is a problem. mean, you have guys like Cherokee coming off the bench.
00:38:58
Chuku
Like, what is going on? i When I say Man City are going to win the league, bro – Liverpool have really good offense. But, man, with the way I'm seeing Man City at the moment, they're looking like that on steroids because the fact that you can bring in – you still have the machine, Howland. We saw what he did.
00:39:16
Chuku
The brother just scores goals for fun. going to bring Cherky off the bench. You have Phil Foden. You have Marmouche. You have Reinders. You have Rodri. Still, he like, no, this pisses me off just thinking and listing these players. You still got Bernardo Silva somewhere in the mix.
00:39:32
Chuku
You have Oscar Bob. Like, how do Man City do this, bro? Like, this is just, it's not fair. It's not fair. But regardless, this is one of the reasons why I picked Man City. didn't even name Doku. Can you imagine?
00:39:45
Chuku
Even Namesh has still got Savinho that haven't sold. Like, it doesn't make any sense the amount of depth these guys have. And, yeah, I mean, I just think, you know, with the purchases they've made and who knows what the hell they know they do next.
00:39:58
Chuku
You know, they somehow sell Savinho and add Rodrigo to the mix. Like, Lord have mercy. Like, what are we doing here? Like, it's ah just ridiculous what Man City have put together. And I just think.
00:40:11
Chuku
they have everything in motion to win the league this year. And i hope it's not the case, and I hope, you know, obviously we know I want Arsenal to win the league, but if I'm really putting, know, looking at things realistically, from what I'm seeing, i mean, yeah, I just think Man City are just well positioned to do something, you know, to have an amazing season.
00:40:33
Chuku
And, yeah, I think they're going to come back, especially because they heard all the noise of of guys talking last year when they were struggling. You know, I just think they're going to come into the season is definitely one of vengeance for them.
00:40:45
Chuku
And with the additions they've made, it's going to be scary. It's going to be scary, man.
Nottingham Forest's Top Six Potential
00:40:50
Chuku
It's going to scary. So, yeah, I think Man City are definitely going to be one to watch throughout the year. And they just have so many options. So, yeah.
00:41:00
Emeka
What are your thoughts, you know
00:41:00
Chuku
Bye-bye.
00:41:03
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, Man City definitely would look really good. And, you know, Chukwu has pretty much said it all. So I guess what I'll say is the way I see, I really thought Man City were one of the top teams coming to league. But, you know, just in the same way we said with Arsenal is just one game. I'm not really going to be shouting any, you know, hyperlatives after just one game. I mean, it is Wolves.
00:41:29
Chino Onwuka
I mean, I pick Wolves to be relegated. you know, don't think, like, Man City played a good game, but I don't think it's because of this performance I'm going to think that they're going to win the league.
00:41:40
Chino Onwuka
Like, I watched the game and the first Man City goal was against the one of play, in my opinion. Wolves were really, you know, the same thing. What happened with Arsenal, what happened with Liverpool.
00:41:53
Chino Onwuka
happened to Man City in that, you know, they were sliced through the middle and, you know, they were saved by some by some some tight offsides. So they definitely do have a lot of talent, you know, up front. It's going to be really interesting to see how Pep really manages all those players, but that's one of his strengths, you know, keeping a squad happy. And they do have a lot of weapons in their arsenal.
00:42:15
Chino Onwuka
You know, they big will need Rodri back, but paid people forget they spent 65 million pounds on nico gonzalez so they've got him to play and of course chukordi waxed lyrical about tijani and his performance and yeah honestly it's gonna be really really interesting to see how pep really manages the the rotations i think for the first time in a while he's really got a a deep squat again. I think that's why Pep is at his best. So yeah, scary sites.
00:42:50
Emeka
Yeah, no, definitely scary hours for the league. I'm really curious how Pep manages the team, especially with Foden. That's what I'm looking, I'm eyeing this year. Reiners and Bob play the two positions he normally plays in. And, you know, Foden's a pretty big name. Last year, there was some so stuff going on in the background, I feel.
00:43:08
Emeka
So he kind of got away with just benching him. I wonder if he could bench him two seasons in a row without... It's media collapsing, but hey, we'll see. It's funny, if something Chinon mentioned that it's only one game, and he's right. We have to remember that.
00:43:20
Emeka
We're still after just week one of the season, but what's the fun in that? And it's one thing I love about my brother is that he's always good for a hot take, so I'm hoping he can deliver some. If not, a I got some in the chamber.
00:43:32
Emeka
So we're going to, for the next 15 or so minutes, it's a safe space on this podcast. It's just been one week, but what are some of the thoughts you have following the first week of football.
00:43:45
Emeka
You know, like, these aren't predictions. This is just, we got one small sample size and some things stand out. I'll start off by saying, it's just one week, but... Graham Potter, if I was you, I would be i' be renting, not buying in London this time because I think he's gone out of here by Christmas.
00:44:03
Emeka
The vibes at West Ham look horrendous. Sunderland, decent side, and you know maybe they do stay up and the streak ends, but my goodness, West Ham shouldn't be getting slapped around by a promoted team like I saw Sunderland slap them around and If that's how going start the year, i like I said, Graham Potter, if I was you, i'd be I'd be renting, not buying, because I don't think he's going to stick around much longer.
00:44:29
Emeka
ah and ah ah other takeaways you have after just one week for the Premier League season?
00:44:35
Chuku
It's just one week, but I'm really liking what Nottingham Forest are doing with the additions they made. Chris Wood just seems to be Chris Wood.
00:44:46
Chuku
I mean, who's to say? I think they stay they stay in the the mix for top six, man. I think Northern Forest might still be a top six team. you know They might surprise some people.
00:44:58
Chuku
know They still got one of the best better defenses in the league. I mean, surprisingly, people underrate them, but they're legit a top six defense in the league.
00:45:08
Chuku
And... Chris Wood is – Chris Wood scoring goals, man. This is legit,
Arsenal's Transfer Window Frustrations
00:45:14
Chuku
man. And they still kept Morgan's good boy. Adam Douglas-Louis. They got this one French striker.
00:45:20
Chuku
I forget his – I mean, you know you can help me out here. You know what I'm talking about. But um no, Indore is – what's Indore?
00:45:25
Emeka
Enjoy it. doer no
00:45:28
Chuku
played Italy. He played in Italy. There's a striker – no, he's a killer – I can't pronounce his name. Anyways, there's a dude from the French League. I heard about him.
00:45:38
Chuku
I don't know too much, but from what I've heard, seems like a you know pretty good buy. And I think for adding Ndoy to the list as well as another attacker that they added there. I mean, i think Forrest could be a top 16.
00:45:51
Chuku
So, yeah, I think it's too soon, but Forrest, watch out. i Might be sticking around you know in Europe. So, yeah.
00:46:01
Emeka
Yeah, they got also McAtee and Forrest made some moves this summer. I'm not mad at that. yeah Forrest going to surprise people. I think so too. The issue is that they're in Europa League. So we see how they they managed to juggle Ironman Europe.
00:46:13
Chuku
Good job, man. Got the bags.
00:46:15
Emeka
Hey, they got some boys. i well I'm not mad at that prediction. I'm not mad at that. What about you, Chino? Any hot takes?
00:46:21
Chino Onwuka
Ha, it's not a hot take, but I just need to to to to air this on the part. First of all, shout out Sunderland. You know, we all watched, you know, Sunderland to like die you know, saw such a huge club fall from grace, not just the championship, but into League One and then being the wilderness of League One for four years. And, you know, such story, you know, like I don't know if people know, like they...
00:46:48
Chino Onwuka
They're just a bunch of kids in the championship last year, managed to scrape their way into the playoffs and, you know, on a magical sunny day at Wembley, you know, find a way to, as the underdog, make it into the prem.
00:47:04
Chino Onwuka
Then, you know, as I'm just thinking about how, what on cloud nine Southern London fans must be feeling right now, because then, You know, you have this spending spree where they're bringing in exciting players. Players, they need to sign because their team was really not at the level. And then first game back at home in the Premier you win three-nought day. Like, wow, like, what a moment for them. And and honestly, they they they probably deserve it. What I just want to say is Arsenal, we have a great coach.
00:47:35
Chino Onwuka
We have great players. But I'm sorry, as a club, as an institution, we are not a serious club because I'm sorry. You come, you know, first last year after we we went out to Bayer and you said, okay, we've identified we need to make certain signings in the attack, know, to give us that extra bit special unpredictability.
00:47:57
Chino Onwuka
What did we do? Nothing. Okay, coming to this year, we saw the way the season ended. You see it. We see it. Everybody sees it. We need a striker. And we need left wing upgrade.
00:48:11
Chino Onwuka
So what do you do? You strike out on your first choice striker. You don't even strike out. You don't even make a move for him. And it turns out that that he's he's available once out and we're not even the picture.
00:48:22
Chino Onwuka
Okay, fine. Don't get your second choice striker for probably legitimate reasons. You get Yoko Rez. Okay, fine. The thought is you save all these money on backups. You save money on Yoko Rez because you can go.
00:48:34
Chino Onwuka
and do something big on the wing. What do you do? Spend that money Maduweke. Tell us, oh you know, it's a separate deal.
00:48:47
Chino Onwuka
And all we have to show for it is an extension to 30-year-old Shossard on bigger wages, but no more years. I don't get it. I'm annoyed. This has got nothing to do with the players that we've bought. It's not nothing to do with our current team, just the powers that be. you know This is a chance.
00:49:07
Chino Onwuka
Again, I keep saying it. We always seem to do enough instead of wanting to just go for it It almost seems like the winter years where we kept saying,
00:49:18
Chino Onwuka
We had a striker and a DM, and you know we kept making half measures, and we saw a really promising generation not attain what they should have attained, and I'm i'm beginning to see those signs again, and I'm just... I'm upset because we we're not acting like a big club.
00:49:36
Chino Onwuka
We're not acting like a big club. A big club sees the situation that's going on with Rodrigo and goes and signs in. And yet we've re-signed Trussard, We just gave him a raise for no reason.
00:49:48
Chuku
love
00:49:49
Chino Onwuka
Just when when we're trying to, I don't even know that.
00:49:53
Emeka
Hey, man, you preach it.
00:49:54
Chuku
it
00:49:54
Emeka
Listen, I love Trossard.
00:49:55
Chuku
hundred
00:49:55
Emeka
I really do. I do not understand giving someone a raise without – my thing – that's what I'm saying.
00:50:00
Chuku
month No added years, bro. No added years. Just give him give them more money.
00:50:05
Emeka
Like, I don't care.
00:50:06
Chuku
For what? Oh, bro. Dude. What...
00:50:09
Emeka
At least get a team option. Get a team year. Get something back in negotiation.
00:50:12
Chuku
the
00:50:14
Emeka
This is – we're just giving men a raise.
00:50:14
Chuku
what
00:50:16
Emeka
We're just saying, bro, that's true.
00:50:17
Chuku
what you know Do you understand what they've guaranteed? is that Bro, if we're not planning on resigning Chaucer for extra years after his contract is up, we're pretty much just guaranteeing him walking away for free.
00:50:29
Emeka
no that's That's what this was.
00:50:29
Chuku
is there doctor
00:50:30
Emeka
This is a guaranteed Charles Hart is leaving for free.
00:50:31
Chuku
That's what it was, right?
00:50:32
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, he's working for free.
00:50:33
Chuku
That's nasty that' nasty work. That's nasty business,
00:50:35
Emeka
You can't
Tottenham's Managerial Changes
00:50:36
Chuku
boy.
00:50:36
Emeka
even sell him on his current wage.
00:50:36
Chuku
This is why we get............
00:50:37
Emeka
Now we're giving him a raise. Like, doesn't make sense. And again I like Charles Hart. I like Charles Hart a lot.
00:50:44
Emeka
I just do not understand giving him a raise. I don't. I just don't. And the only logical thing I can think of is um i'm so i'm um i i the guy before Bertha. What was his name? Can help me out, you know?
00:50:44
Chuku
cook
00:50:59
Chino Onwuka
I do. or iTunes.
00:51:01
Emeka
There was someone in between. Yeah. The only logic I can think is that Aito promised him a raise in January. And then Bertha comes in and he's like... I got to honor the agreement because I don't understand how someone who they hype up is as ruthless as Berta is would give a man a raise just for no... Just after trying to sell him in the same window. That's what I don't understand.
00:51:22
Emeka
it was clear they were trying to at least open to selling him. And so the agreement, I guess, was if we don't sell you, we'll give you a raise. Well, no wonder he's going to turn down clubs because he's saying, why am I going over there for this dusty wage and I can just sit tight and get a pay raise and live in London and ball out. So...
00:51:38
Emeka
I'm with you, Chanal. Hey, listen. I made my piece long ago. I said it was propaganda they were putting out. What they saying, Mendoicke doesn't impact future moves. I laughed. That's not the Arsenal I know. 52 million on a guy. He's going to play.
00:51:51
Emeka
And lo and behold, all of a sudden, hey, you know, in one area, he's going to play.
00:51:52
Chuku
Thank you.
00:51:57
Emeka
Mendoicke is going to play. our and That's just how it goes. So, hey, I'm not going to... It's a little dramatic in my opinion, but it's also not as fair. And I don't blame you because... I guess I made my piece of this early in the summer and people coming around it now.
00:52:11
Emeka
But hey.
00:52:13
Chino Onwuka
it's It's, I think it's like, it's a difference when, you know, what what makes it frustrating is that it's there. You can see the path forward in decisions that can be made, know, bold steps.
00:52:28
Chino Onwuka
And we're just choosing not to do it because, hey, have a really good team. So let's hope that with this good team, we can make it work rather than, you know, putting all doubt aside. And Obviously, people point to a lot of parallels with, you know, the Denver Nuggets and Jokic where, know, seemingly, you know, they have generational start and they haven't done enough.
00:52:52
Chino Onwuka
I think obviously there's some differences there, but, you know, if if if you're pessimistic, you know, you can look at that and just be like, damn.
00:53:02
Emeka
Damn. Well, hopefully, know what? i'm just going to let it go. I'll give a quick quick mention to another team in North London. It pains me to say this. Just one week, but Tottenham got a good manager in Thomas Frank, boy. Boy, did have a good manager. I don't think it will translate to anything major this year, but I love Thomas Frank.
00:53:22
Emeka
I love a manager who can change his play style to suit the different opponents. That's my number one thing i look for in a manager. Taxable flexibility. Yeah, they lost the penalty shootouts is what it is.
00:53:33
Emeka
They look fantastic, my opinion, against PSG. And then they play um hit so against that team, sat on the break defensively. And then four days later, they go and smack up Burnley by playing front-facing football.
00:53:46
Emeka
I love a manager who can do that. I love Thomas Frank. I hope he burns and crashes and taunt him. But I got to give him some a shout-out. Spurs, you got good one in Thomas Frank. And any any other takes or we can move on from this topic?
00:53:59
Chino Onwuka
Look, no, go ahead, and go ahead.
00:53:59
Chuku
Yeah, on that Spurs... Oh, go ahead.
00:54:03
Chuku
i was going to say, on that Spurs note, man, I'm just going I know i talk we've talked about it, or i brought about brought it up at least on the... ah ah outside of here, but kudos, man. i don't know how we we let North London get kudos, man. I just don't get it.
00:54:20
Chuku
like I mean, look, I'm not going I've been wanting to know still try and believe on the Madoviki stuff, but I mean, bruh, I just, when Kudos was available, I just, there players that with the eye test, you just see what they can do. You've seen, even if, I know we've had, know, conversations about, like, you know, the season he had previously and, you know, the whole, like, not showing up when, you know, the team needed you type thing. I get it.
00:54:49
Chuku
But my stance is just West Ham, it's hard to show up as an attacker in West Ham. I don't know how Jared Bowen has been able to do it all these years, but It's just it's tough. And honestly speaking, there was lot.
00:54:58
Chino Onwuka
Exactly. Dreadbone has been doing it. Dreadbone has been doing it.
00:55:01
Chuku
oh I understand it, but hey, listen, I hear it, I get it, I understand it. But like at the same time, I've seen enough from Kudos to know that there's a lot there's this' quality there.
00:55:12
Chuku
i mean And the fact is, getting, by the way, K, for quite little bit under but similar price as a guy like Kudos when was just available for a couple extra, I just think,
00:55:27
Chuku
the Kudos and Saka combination would have been no one to watch because, again, they they they have similar builds, similar you know ability to take on their you know their the defenders.
00:55:42
Chuku
And forget about just the Kudos. It's the one I'm hearing after Kudos. I mean, don't Was there any? Maybe if I missed an update or let me know, boys. But far as I can so last seen,
00:55:55
Chuku
I'm pretty sure they're on track to get Eze. Is that correct, boys?
00:56:01
Emeka
Fabrizio said 85% today. I don't know how he gets the exact scientific percentage, but that was what he said.
00:56:07
Chuku
Well, hey, man. Tottenham gets Eze and Kudos already. Like, they're cooking. They're cooking something, and it's not something I want to see, you know, come to you know come to fruition.
00:56:20
Chuku
But... Yeah, man, I definitely think fra of know Frank is a really good manager. And worry is that he's going to to turn Spurs into a no ah ah pretty decent outfit.
00:56:32
Chuku
And yeah, it's not looking good right now, man, because, boy, right now, like the the fact that I've seen they have the ability to you come and play in different formations, five at the back, no four four four, three, three. like for you know There's so many different formations.
00:56:50
Chuku
that you know Frank is putting them in put putting them in positions, in and it's just like, man, this guy just knows what the hell he's doing. And, yeah, it's annoying it's annoying to think that Spurs really got a ah pretty no pretty good manager at their hands, and they're going to be definitely a team to watch this season as far as, know, I'm very curious to see where they land.
Premier League Week One Reflections
00:57:13
Chuku
But, yeah, they're goingnna be they're going to be a a team to be worried. No, want a team to check in with. i want say I'm not going to go to the route of worry just yet just because, you know, I still don't believe in their strike force with Solanke and Richarlison just yet.
00:57:28
Chuku
But if Tottenham get a serious striker to go to the mix, I mean, they it could be ah it could be it could be long. But hopefully that doesn't happen anytime soon. so
00:57:39
Emeka
I can't defend Eze. We should have signed Eze. I will just briefly defend Kudos a little bit in the sense that Kudos is much better than Maduike. Much better. He's a baller.
00:57:49
Chuku
Okay, it's okay.
00:57:49
Emeka
but like you said
00:57:50
Chuku
It's
00:57:51
Emeka
But like you said, he's so similar to Saka. I feel like he's thinking, I go to Arsenal. compete I'm not guaranteed. He plays a lot places. He rarely ever plays in the left.
00:58:03
Emeka
He's not guaranteed a spot.
00:58:03
Chuku
okay.
00:58:05
Emeka
I go to Spurs. I'm the main man. I'm starting every game. know, they're pitching him. You're starting every game. You're the guy. I can see that being hard. I i don't um i i think there'll be external factors influencing signing Kudu versus Madwek. That's all I'll say. Like, Kudu's much better.
00:58:20
Emeka
I just think we have one of the few guys better than him in his position. And in the other position he plays, we have Odegaard. Say what you one about Odegaard. You're not benching Odegaard.
00:58:29
Emeka
So he's singing.
00:58:29
Chuku
I disagree, though.
00:58:30
Emeka
Hmm?
00:58:30
Chuku
I say that Kudos plays left wing, bro. I've seen Kudos play left wing for West Ham several times. Like, when Bowen was playing right wing as well.
00:58:37
Emeka
I get it,
00:58:39
Chuku
Like, come on. like cut if If I'm saying buy Kudos, I'm buying Kudos thinking he could be our, he could have been our left winger. Opposite of Saka is what I'm saying.
00:58:49
Chino Onwuka
Like, this isn't FIFA, guys.
00:58:50
Emeka
yeah
00:58:53
Chino Onwuka
Like, this is these are real players. This is, you know, Mecca brings a valid point. You know, when we were when we talked about this, the reason we've struggled to get a a backup for Saka for a long time is players have have known that Saka is the main man.
00:59:09
Chino Onwuka
We went for Rafinha. It didn't work. And Wemo, same thing. I think Emeka makes a valid point there. And then this whole thing of, yes, there are guys Kudos can play on the left.
00:59:22
Chino Onwuka
Like, that's fine. But where is Kudos' best position?
00:59:26
Chino Onwuka
Chukwu, where's Chukwu's best position?
00:59:29
Chuku
Sure, on the on the right wing.
00:59:31
Chino Onwuka
So why would you spend money on a position where there's a player ahead of him, right? It's it's all about, which is lot of our complaints about Madueke.
00:59:37
Chuku
You just did that with another wiki.
00:59:44
Chuku
But if you're already going to complain about Malawika, at least... Sorry, hold on.
00:59:49
Chino Onwuka
Well, Madueke, no, no, no, that's a fair point.
00:59:50
Chuku
If you're...
00:59:51
Chino Onwuka
But Madueke, he was one of the players that was willing to come in and and and play that role, right?
00:59:58
Chino Onwuka
Are we sure that Kudos would have wanted to play that role?
01:00:00
Chuku
But are we sure that he wouldn't?
01:00:00
Chino Onwuka
in doesn
01:00:02
Chuku
Are we sure that he wouldn't want effort to play that role?
01:00:04
Emeka
i mean, the proof we have is that he went to Spurs in on Arsenal.
01:00:05
Chuku
We don't know.
01:00:07
Emeka
Like, I mean, you can't tell me if they both offers on the table. He'd, you know, it's clear he he made his choice. and Fair play to him. That's his choice. Like, he can't play on the left. Yes, it's lopsided. Let's be honest here. He plays the majority of the games either in the middle or on the right.
01:00:24
Emeka
Those are two places that are recovered. Maduweke at least started most games. By the end of the season, he was pretty much exclusively starting on the left. So he does it. And I also think it's a matter of like stature and willingness.
01:00:37
Emeka
Maduweke clearly wants to get the F out of Chelsea. And he's fine being quote-unquote role player, even though we all believe he's going to start more. Kudus is going to a place where he's the unquestioned man.
01:00:49
Emeka
He's going to play every game.
01:00:49
Chuku
you
01:00:51
Emeka
He is fit. He's the first name on the team sheet. And I don't think we could offer him that in Arsenal. I just don't think... That's why, like... Again, I don't defense for Eze. We should have signed Eze. I'll give a little bit of grace for Kudus in just the sense that it's tough when we have Bukayo Saka on the team.
01:01:08
Emeka
lot of guys... I shouldn't name them off. A lot of guys aren't going to come and and compete with that because... You know what I'm saying? We have we have we have the one at the worst top three or top five best right wingers in the world.
01:01:20
Emeka
And again, say what you want about Odegaard. It's clear to Arteta. He's the guy at that position. That's two of his bots taken away. You know, still Champions League, still London.
01:01:31
Emeka
I think it's fair to say, you know, who just went to go to Spurs to be the man. I think that's just fair to say for me.
01:01:37
Chuku
Fair enough. Fair enough.
01:01:39
Emeka
But Eze, hey, no, no, no. don't want to hear anything about Eze. Like that one. The fact that we're just letting him go easily unopposed. Oris-team made the point today to be like, it's a one-horse race for Eze. That means we just bowed out.
01:01:50
Emeka
All that talk, I was seeing, man, propaganda. I call it propaganda, man. This club just feeds.
01:01:55
Chino Onwuka
I'm not surprised we didn't get Eze, guys. i've I've said this multiple times.
01:01:59
Emeka
So have I.
01:02:01
Chino Onwuka
yeah Well, for different reasons, though. he's Once we signed Madueke, for me, it was a left winger and Eze. But once we signed Madueke, Eze isn't a left winger.
01:02:14
Chino Onwuka
He can play there. That is not his best position. so It's sad that he he's going to Spurs. I wish... He was a player Arsenal because he's a wonderful footballer, but in terms of what we need, he's still not what we need with the with the other signings that we've made.
01:02:33
Emeka
a Ain't that the truth? Ain't that
Mo Salah's Legacy Discussion
01:02:35
Emeka
the truth? Well, only one week, lot of weeks to go. We'll see how all these teams shape up. But i you I love the Premier League, man. I got to say, I'm glad it's back in my life.
01:02:45
Emeka
I'm glad it's back in my life. Earlier today, the player PFA awards were held, you know, every year annual prestigious award in football. I'm sure you've all seen it. Mo Salah, Player of the Year.
01:02:59
Emeka
Morgan Rodgers, Young Player of the Year, the Team of the Year. Before we begin, let's have a a quick pop quiz for Chukwu and Chinat. I always wondered about this, and I looked it up for once because I was curious.
01:03:10
Emeka
In Top Flight in English Football, there are four, I'll say four because the fifth one is a little unofficial. There are four, quote-unquote, Player of the Year awards.
01:03:21
Emeka
Can you tell me all four of them and bonus points if you could tell me the different voting bodies that make up the four awards?
01:03:29
Chuku
Bro, what? of my
01:03:31
Emeka
it's not i
01:03:33
Chuku
I...
01:03:34
Emeka
PlayFA Play of the Year was awarded? There's three more. I know you don't know most of these, but I'm curious if you can do all four.
01:03:39
Chuku
Young Player of the Year or something?
01:03:42
Emeka
No?
01:03:43
Chino Onwuka
No, he's talking about the associations.
01:03:46
Emeka
Yeah, different associations that I've always wondered about the Pred. For some reason, there's four of them.
01:03:50
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, there's the Players Association. There's the Premier League itself.
01:03:55
Emeka
Yep, that's two Premier League Player of the Year.
01:03:57
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
01:04:00
Chino Onwuka
What's the... yeah I know them at the back of my mind, but I can't reel them off right now.
01:04:04
Emeka
There's the Football Writers Association Player of the Year.
01:04:07
Chino Onwuka
And I don't know them.
01:04:07
Emeka
And then there's the PFA Fans Player of the Year.
01:04:09
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
01:04:10
Emeka
I don't know if it's so weird that there's four of them.
01:04:11
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
01:04:11
Chuku
Oh, and that's interesting.
01:04:13
Emeka
Yeah. I don't know. Consolidate this. Premier League. Listen, be better. Consolidate these, man. We don't need four different Player of the awards. so Make them all into one. But anyhow, Salah wins.
01:04:25
Emeka
The most prestigious, it's fair to say this, the PFA ones. Voted by the players. He becomes the only player in history to win three. Surprised me. I feel like there should be more. But yeah, everyone else has two. Henri, Ronaldo, KDB, Gareth Bale, and some others. Alan Shara and Mark Hughes were the others to have two.
01:04:43
Emeka
Salah becomes the first guy with three. know it's been going around social media. We don't spend too much time on it, but... You know, I feel like we all throughout the season, we just every time we talk about Liverpool, just mention it out.
01:04:54
Emeka
And Sela scores again, Sela scores again. He's now had, I think, two of like the best 10 seasons I've seen for a forward in the Premier League. His debut season and this season. In between, just high consistency.
01:05:05
Emeka
Just... If you were ranking Mo Salah in the annals of the Premier League, where would you have him? Is he the best forward? Is he the best African? Is he the best period? like Where would you have Mo Salah in the hierarchy of the Premier League? Now he's eighth season in Liverpool, two Premier Leagues won, three players of the year, 30 goals three different times. How would you rank Mo Salah as a Premier League footballer?
01:05:30
Chino Onwuka
He's definitely the best African. You know, top forward still is Thierry Henry. I don't think it will take a lot for somebody to eclipse that, but, you know, Salah is close. I think probably the the Mount Rushmore Premier League attackers anyway are Henry, Rooney, Aguero, Salah, and Cristiano.
01:05:52
Chino Onwuka
That's the... Mount Rushmore is what, for four people? I just added a...
01:05:56
Emeka
About to say, I was actually ahead of Mount Rushmore, but hey, we'll out, we'll out.
01:05:58
Chino Onwuka
I just added a fifth one. We need to make more room.
01:06:01
Emeka
Make more room, man. Don't worry.
01:06:03
Chino Onwuka
He's unreal for him to to keep going you know at this level. he's He's a legend of the Prem for sure. But I think that the greatest of all time is is still on read.
01:06:16
Chino Onwuka
That's not even partly biased, but I think when you see all the rankings, he was the first player voted the Premier League Hall of Fame. know, even till this day, you know, you see, I think there were what, like three celebrations, you know, over the weekend that were, you know, Henri's signature celebration.
01:06:34
Chino Onwuka
And you think about it, it makes sense, you know, for for players, fans our age to hold him in that regard. But then what do you think of the ages of these guys doing celebrations? You know, if you do the math, he was done by the time they were old enough to start watching football. So that just shows you his aura and his impact.
01:06:55
Emeka
Yeah, I think with aura, there's no one. I mean, and mean we're biased. I'll always be biased towards Henri, my childhood hero. I love Thierry. But they nailed it. It's the aura he had. It just looked so effortless when he was doing it.
01:07:07
Emeka
And like you even guys who didn't grow up watching him, you just see his highlights. There's a certain arrogance about him that I love. But... You know, i lot already has all the aesthetics. You got the ruthless efficiency of Salah one thing I'll, when he eventually does hang it up, I always remember him by.
01:07:24
Chuku
I'm do
01:07:24
Emeka
The guy just scored goals. And it seemed, it's like a guy playing FIFA in real life.
01:07:25
Chuku
I'm going be to you're going
01:07:29
Emeka
Like, it used to annoy me how you just cheese pace in FIFA.
01:07:31
Chuku
be
01:07:33
Emeka
L1 triangle, running behind.
01:07:33
Chuku
sure you're able to that.
01:07:34
Emeka
That was Mo Salah for almost a decade.
01:07:35
Chuku
you're going be able do that.
01:07:36
Emeka
And there was no one better at coming in from behind than Mo Salah on the break. There's no one the Premier League.
01:07:41
Chuku
you're going do that.
01:07:43
Emeka
That one I can save my chest.
01:07:43
Chuku
you're able to that. I'm you're do that.
01:07:44
Emeka
He was better at making that kind of run and finishing it.
01:07:46
Chuku
I'm you're going to able
01:07:46
Emeka
and Three-time player of the year. Like, it it really made me reflect. Like, man, Mo Salah is that guy. Like, yeah he's the best African in the Prem.
01:07:53
Chuku
be to do
01:07:54
Emeka
I might even have him as the best African of my generation. Like, Sam Mulatto, I don't want disrespect you because you're a legend in your own right. But maybe because I watch Salah week in, week out. I just, man. The Egyptian king for a reason, man. I don't know. Shouts out to Liverpool fans in my life. You guys got blessed. like Growing up, i I was a little too young to appreciate Henri.
01:08:14
Emeka
like I knew he was amazing. I knew he was great. I loved him. Like said, my childhood hero. But I didn't really understand what I was seeing. I was seeing one of the greatest of all time. I'm not going someone like this again.
01:08:25
Emeka
I'm old enough that if i was a Liverpool fan and I was seeing Salah, I realized, yeah, I'm not seeing this again for a decade after he leaves. Like, this guy is amazing. And, man, I hope he gets his flowers. I know he's probably not going to win the Ballon d'Or, but I hope he gets his flowers eventually in that kind of regard. He's that level of player. He's that level of
Award Controversies and Debates
01:08:44
Emeka
talent.
01:08:44
Emeka
Mount Rushmore, I'll put him up there with anybody in the Premier League, man. Like, what ah what a talent Mo Salah is.
01:08:51
Emeka
And moving on from the the main player of the year award, we have an award that always causes me to to boil my butt a little bit. Young, yeah quote unquote, young player of the year.
01:09:02
Emeka
Went to Morgan Rogers. If you listen to this podcast, I think episode two, this exact time last year, we spent 20 minutes gushing about him because he looked like a combination of Yaya Toure and Patrick Vieira against Arsenal that game last year. So i'm not surprised he got his flowers. He's great.
01:09:19
Emeka
It just, this guy 23 years old. We've given 23-year-olds Young Player of the Year. i's For some reason, this award always irks me. It should be strictly reserved for teenagers.
01:09:31
Emeka
don't Don't show me ah ah guy who can be renting cars in airports winning Young Player of the Year. i don't for It just upsets me. But, you know, that's how that the criteria. I can't be mad at it that other nominees were MLS, Dilap, Kerkhez, Nguyenieri, and Hoisin.
01:09:46
Emeka
Of all those guys, I think Morgan Rodgers had the best season. Personally, MLS, I put him up there anybody, but he really started half the year. Fair enough. Morgan Rodgers can win it, but, man, can we give teenagers the award and stop giving grown men?
01:10:02
Emeka
I don't know. if it sir No disrespect to Morgan Rodgers, but just the fact that a 23-year-old can win the award always just gives me – I just don't like it. I just don't like it personally.
01:10:15
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, I think based off of the the the nominees, Morgan Rogers is definitely a very deserving winner. We've talked about it multiple times on on on this pod, you know, that the young player of the year, you quotation marks, is a really, the criteria is is really, really flawed.
01:10:32
Chino Onwuka
You know, but Morgan Rogers, I think, you know, he, someone with a lot of talent, you know, people forget he came to the Man City Academy. know, maybe you could say last year was his breakthrough season, honestly, and maybe it's ah' it's almost like a most improved award, well, at least in his case.
01:10:50
Chino Onwuka
Well, yeah, think deserving, you know, if i if I look at real young players, you know, out it would be your your MLSs, your Hewson's, you know, i think those would be your your favorite too, but then just what I think either Houston or or or or MLS would be deserving of the award if it was really based off a young player. you know MLS starting for a team, gunning for you know the title in Champions League, you know making his England debut at 18.
01:11:20
Chino Onwuka
i mean, what more can you say? And then Dean Hoyssen leading Bournemouth to ah a a European charge you know and and playing good enough to to earn a $50 million dollars move.
01:11:32
Chino Onwuka
to Real Madrid, as well as getting games for Spain. I mean, that says it all, but you know Morgan Rodgers, what a talent. no Loki happy he he stayed at Aston Villa for at least one more a year before he probably gets his big move.
01:11:49
Emeka
Yeah, I know. Honestly, was surprised he stayed at Villa. Like, he opens lot of eyes. I think you nailed it. It was the breakthrough season he really had. And, you know, fair enough. Criteria is the criteria.
01:12:02
Emeka
i Just every year it gives gets given out. It just it boils me a little bit. Like, young player of the year, like, I don't know. I remember being 23, and I wasn't no young player of the year back then. I'll tell you that free. But, hey.
01:12:15
Emeka
Shout out Morgan Rogers and all the other nominees.
01:12:19
Chuku
Thank you.
01:12:19
Emeka
Also given out at the awards were the team of the year. Just real quick, keeper was Matt Sells, the defense, Saliba, Gabriel, Van Dijk, and Kerkes.
01:12:31
Emeka
Midfield, McAllister, Gravenbach, Decken Rice. Fords, are Wood, Isak, and Salah. Funny enough, I went back and listened and saw the episode. Halfway through the year, we all predicted our team of the year.
01:12:43
Emeka
And we I got to give us credit. We nailed a lot of it. We all had Gabriel and Van Dijk. We all had a Liverpool guy. We all had Isak and Salah. I had Sells. you know None of us had Rice. That shows how he really you know improved the second half of the season. But I'll give the boys credit. We make a lot of dumb predictions, but I think we're really, really good about Team of the Year.
01:13:06
Emeka
But just real quick, any additions you'd make to the Team of the Year, any substitutions? or you Are you happy you think that reflects the Team of the Season from last year?
01:13:18
Chuku
Man, I thought Kerkers was good, but I thought Cocorella was actually better, though. I mean, I could be wrong, but I was just thought Cocorella was, the ah thought would have been ah the choice choice for left-back position.
01:13:35
Chuku
Other than that, I mean, for the most part, I think they got that team as close, spot-on as you could, as you can get.
01:13:44
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, i guess it's interesting that, you know, they made a ah ah right back spot to fit Van Dijk in, which I thought was pretty interesting. But I think one name that we all had on our midseason, this was Antoine Robinson.
01:13:59
Chino Onwuka
And I thought he had a really good season. And I would have been nice to see him make team of you. But again, you can't complain too much with it this list.
01:14:08
Emeka
It's not the biggest complaint. I'll just throw it in the pile of Erling Haaland continues to be the most disrespected and underrated footballer, in my opinion. Yeah, Wood had a good year.
01:14:20
Emeka
Haaland played less games and scored more goals than Chris Wood. One played for Man City, one played for Nottingham Forest. Cool. I just think it's just we take it for granted that we have a guy like Erling Haaland in the Premier League and, you know, we never make a team of the year now.
01:14:33
Emeka
Only scored 22 that You know you have sauce when your worst season your bad season is when you have a big injury and you only you score 22 goals. Standards are standards of early hell, you know?
01:14:47
Emeka
Well, the the i take I think in fairness, I mean, look, i love I'm a nerd, so I love stuff at the PFA Awards. But I think it's fair to say the biggest news that came out of the PFA Awards was right before...
01:14:59
Emeka
Isak broke his silence, hadn't said anything this summer, just stayed in the cut and was getting his name played with.
01:15:01
Chuku
Thank you.
01:15:06
Emeka
He finally said, enough is enough. put out a statement that said essentially he's not going to show up at the awards because promises were broken to him. What these promises are, who knows? We all can assume either was a transfer promise or a new contract.
01:15:20
Emeka
And it's a theme I've noticed this year. i mean, it's always been happening, but I feel like probably it's because of social media. I'm noticing happening more. And that's players... I won't say going on strike, but making it difficult and making it known that things have been promised to them that have been broken and then the relationship is unrepairable. is that you know We have Isak doing it to Newcastle.
01:15:43
Emeka
we At the same time, when Wisa is doing it to get to Newcastle, he's kicking off. People are going to forget because he got the move fairly early, but... There was a time there where Yoko Reyes was going scorched earth on sports and essentially and saying, I'm not playing for you guys ever again in July. Like teams, players are are really putting their foot down.
01:16:01
Emeka
We have Garnaccio and Anthony essentially saying, I'm only going to this one specific club. Everybody else can kiss my butt. I'm not going anywhere else. Like players are really putting their foot down now and trying to force moves.
01:16:14
Emeka
And I just wonder, what do you guys, you side more off the teams? You know, we have a contract, listen to it, or you sign with the players. You know, only have certain years left in my career. what they're saying is true, these managers are making promises to them in verbally, not in writing. And then when it's time to come do, they're saying, ha, she'll get that in writing and and finessing them.
01:16:34
Emeka
what What are your stance on all these transfer drama we're seeing and this year?
01:16:38
Chino Onwuka
Hey, it's the player empowerment era. You know, I remember when it came to the NBA and honestly it got a little bit too much. And I think we're starting to see, you know, that start to filter across, you know, in the world of football as well.
01:16:55
Chino Onwuka
In terms of where I side, i don't know. it's I don't want to be a hypocrite because, you know, when when is a player trying to come to your club you know, you love it, you know, you say it shows, you know, a certain amount of drive and that they've chosen you and they really want to play for your team.
01:17:12
Chino Onwuka
But then when you're on the other side of the foot, you know, it's something that you you hate. I know we we went through it so many so many summers in a certain way with Cesc, you know, in Barcelona and them putting the jersey on him and that's tame compared to what we're but we're seeing now. So I don't know. i just think there can be a little bit of a balance, know,
01:17:33
Chino Onwuka
I think that, you know, teams have a right to to hold on to players that are under contract.
Transfer Hierarchy and Player Moves
01:17:45
Chino Onwuka
And if they've set a fee, it's up to the buying club to try and meet that fee. But if they do that, they need to understand that players are going to take note of that and they will have that in the back of their minds when they're trying to decide to come to your club.
01:18:03
Chino Onwuka
Another thing that I will say is that in football, unlike maybe no other sport, you know, there is a pecking order.
01:18:14
Chino Onwuka
The big feast on the little and, you know, yes, every club wants to be upward mobile and rise to the top, but we all know who is above you. And I think You know, we've seen that over the years in that, you know, teams seem to understand that, you know, when it's time for a player to to make his move to a big club, you know, they usually don't stand in their way as long as a fee is met. But I don't know. I think all the instances we've seen this summer, some of it is a bit much. Obviously, we don't know the whole story.
01:18:49
Chino Onwuka
We don't know what discussions have taken place. So, you know, I don't... When it's my club... I side with whatever is in the best interest for my club, but on the other side of it, you know, I tend not to judge because I don't know what's going on in the background.
01:19:05
Emeka
No, to that point though, I got to say, i really realized fully how much of a hypocrite I am what exactly you just said. Because growing up, Fabregas, Henri, Van Persie's little child, when it was Arsenal players that were going on strike...
01:19:21
Emeka
I used to get so upset. i used to be so mad. Fabregas, after Henri, was my most favorite gunner I've ever seen. And I still have hate in my heart how he dealt me, young me, and left to Barcelona.
01:19:34
Emeka
And yet, with all that being said, boy, did I love every single headline I read about Jokarez waging war against the sporting director. When it's going to your club, it feels fantastic. You think, damn, this guy has ambition.
01:19:48
Emeka
He has drive. And so it was so, like my brain cognitively couldn't understand why. Reading it with Jokarez was so amazing. And yet reading it against the players on my side, like God forbid in a year I'm reading about Saliba going on strike to go to Real Madrid.
01:20:02
Emeka
I'll curse his father's generation. But reading it the know, a story, I know it was fake. I love it. I was reading that Jokarez broke up with his girl because she's from Portugal. He's got nothing to do with the country anymore. Like, It's just funny how hypocritical we are as people.
01:20:16
Emeka
I just... Kids, if you ever have a promise from your employer, getting in writing. Like, it's in the world of football, in the world of employment, and anything in your day-to-day life, getting in writing. All these players coming out with these supposed agreements they had, you have an agent. Have your agent email them and say, just to confirm, you did agree.
01:20:37
Emeka
If a fee of $120 million comes in, you're going to accept it. Getting in writing because these clubs just laugh at you. Yeah, you shake my hand. Good good job. Good job. Go back to training. So...
01:20:48
Emeka
you know We've seen it happen week and week again. Isak is... I'm very curious. i mean The latest reports is that Newcastle, after this latest statement, are doubling down and keeping him.
01:21:02
Emeka
We'll see how that plays out. I guess I'll ask you, Chukwu. We're doing this podcast in two weeks' time. Transfer markets ended. Where is Isak playing? Or, don't say playing. was Where is Isak's contract and which contracted to in two weeks' time when the window closes?
01:21:19
Chuku
The guy with Liverpool, man. Liverpool. It's only Liverpool. It just depends on what price that wasn't to accept and take because I don't see where else Liverpool seem to be the one that's most interested for his services. And you know what? Yeah, it is what it is. So I would say, yeah,
01:21:45
Chuku
it just is what it is.
01:21:47
Emeka
So you think Newcastle are bluffing then by saying they're going to keep him?
01:21:48
Chuku
Yeah,
01:21:52
Chuku
because what are you going to do? So if you you're going to keep him holding my stage, and not playing for the entire year and then try and sell them in summer, like, doesn't make any sense.
01:22:03
Chuku
You're already buying, you know, or spending the the money anyways that you think you're going to get in the signings. So at the end of the day, I just think for all parties involved, it's going to just make more sense for them to, you know, good get that money and, you know, reset the team.
01:22:26
Emeka
I agree it makes more sense, but I guess I'll put it to you. Let's say they do keep him. They say, you know what, kick rocks, we're not selling you.
01:22:31
Chuku
eight
01:22:33
Emeka
Do you think Isak willing to go an entire year without playing? He'd still be on strike for the entire season or do you eventually crack?
01:22:41
Chuku
i mean, you ask me if you ask me what I think personally, I think he would crack at some point. But again, why even put yourself in that position? but oh i would think you know he would crack. But again, my line of thinking is why put yourself in that position in the first place? like Why even want to even find out? but In the event that you were trying to find out, you know I just think what it sounds like, I do think I could also see a scenario where Isak stands firm with his belief and is choosing not to play at all. And if that's the case, you know you've just wasted a hundred plus million dollar a assets just doing nothing with it. So I think it's going to make more sense for them to just no accept an offer from Liverpool
01:23:35
Chuku
in excess of over 100 m's and call it a day. And that's was' why I think it's going to happen.
01:23:42
Emeka
I know, fair enough. I mean, it's funny. i just To a lesser extent, a little bit, but this happened last summer with Oseme and Napoli. And the entire time, I got to be honest, I just thought, you know what? Eventually, he's going to be like, you know what? Try to buy me. I'm going to come back. We'll break bread. We'll make amends.
01:23:58
Emeka
He held firm. Even when the main window closed, he still had firm. Ended up on loan to Galatasaray. So, yeah, so you told me at this time last year, Oseme will be signing to Turkey. I'll never believe you. So, you never know. Some things can shake out, but...
01:24:12
Emeka
Personally, and when it's not my club, I can say this easily, I want to see a team call these players bluff for once. I'm really curious if Newcastle do say, you know what? Yeah, we're not selling you.
01:24:23
Emeka
Would Isak be willing to sit out the entire, well, I'll say six months till January?
01:24:25
Chuku
sure what saying.
01:24:27
Emeka
I don't know. Usually people will say, okay, oh, it's a World Cup year, blah, blah, blah.
01:24:30
Chuku
not sure what I'm saying. sure what saying.
01:24:32
Emeka
Isak could be on the couch playing FIFA for, you know, eight months, and Sweden's still going to call him up.
01:24:33
Chuku
I'm not sure what saying.
01:24:38
Emeka
So it's not even that. But it's more just... You know, do you, as a player in the prime of your career, you just had the best season of your life, are you willing to roll the dice and sit around for six months?
01:24:43
Chuku
sure what I'm not sure what saying. sure I'm saying. sure what sure what I'm saying.
01:24:50
Emeka
Like, I just don't know.
01:24:50
Chuku
not sure what I'm saying.
01:24:51
Emeka
Getting fined every week or whatever is going to be and uncomfortable.
01:24:51
Chuku
I'm sure what I'm saying.
01:24:55
Chino Onwuka
especially in a World Cup year, right?
01:24:57
Emeka
You know?
01:24:57
Chino Onwuka
That's one aspect of it.
01:24:57
Emeka
Yeah.
01:24:59
Chino Onwuka
So, I mean, you would think that regardless of the decision, if Sweden makes the World Cup, you would still make it. But, you know, yeah but that's a really good example on with Oseman because, yeah, he he just did it and it sort of worked out for him because, yeah, I think, you know, Ameka, you were talking about, you know,
01:25:06
Emeka
Look, he's going to get called up. But it's all about, like, will you be match fit? Will you be red? I just...
01:25:23
Chino Onwuka
Newcastle standing their ground and Chukwu made some good points in that you know if they say if they stand firm which I i get their their their feelings on that then they might just be in a situation where you know next summer he still says he wants to leave and maybe it's less money but you know if maybe it was any other club that would have to be their calculus and they would cave like most teams do but This is, I mean, we're saying Newcastle. This is Saudi.
01:25:56
Chino Onwuka
these the These men got pride. So they are they do not want to be made to look like like pricks in front of the whole world. So money is nothing to them. Yeah, they're limited by FFP, PSR, but you know they can afford to have
01:26:16
Chino Onwuka
is that just sit on the on the bench to to prove a point. They will pay his wages gladly and that will show teams that, hey, look, I know Newcastle is no one's dream club, but we have an ambition to be this and we're not going to get pushed around because it also does set a standard because then the other thing that might happen is, you know, what we've seen happen to a lot of teams as they try to move upwards is as they get good, then teams just come in and and poach all their players.
01:26:43
Chino Onwuka
So honestly, I don't know I honestly don't know how it's gonna turn out. And so I'm just sitting here with popcorn watching.
01:26:51
Emeka
Yeah, and just to your to echo your last point here, I think it's a really good point to raise, is, like you said earlier, it's understood generally there's a hierarchy in football.
01:26:57
Chuku
Thank you.
01:26:59
Emeka
I think of all sports, you nailed it. It's funny, you know, America's capitalist. The sports are socialist. Europeans are more left-leaning. The sports leagues are capitalist. Football is the most capitalist sport in the world. You buy players.
01:27:11
Emeka
You don't trade for them. There's a hierarchy that's understood. You're pecking order. But when you want to change the hierarchy, you have to do things like this. And that's what Newcastle are thinking. They're saying Saudi Arabia comes in, buys this team. We're a Champions League now.
01:27:24
Emeka
We want to be amongst the big boys. And how are we going to get there when... Liverpool are coming in, stopping their chest around, and trying to buy our best player. Like, there's a pride thing. And, you know, pride and business don't mix in well.
01:27:37
Emeka
But, hey, i'm i you I've got my popcorn and i and I'm looking forward to it. And it's a perfect segue because, like, the schedule makers sniffed this out early.
01:27:50
Emeka
Game of the week time and i jam-packed weekend. I think it's only right we do a doubleheader for game of the week. The first one, the Monday night game. Would you look in that? Would you, lo and behold, would you have it?
01:28:02
Emeka
Newcastle host Liverpool. And there's there's an internet conspiracy theory that I'm not a mad at. I kind of believe Liverpool doing all this nonsense just so Eastside can sit out that game and they can play Newcastle without him.
01:28:13
Emeka
And then Newcastle are going to break bread and now Ars are going to go to St. James and Eastside going to be there and score a brace. Neither here nor there. However, Liverpool, lucky bastards, get a freebie, play Newcastle without Isak.
01:28:25
Emeka
I know that crowd is going to be rocking, and they are going to come at Liverpool. It's going to be hostile environment, and they're going to take out all their frustration on Isak on Liverpool. I cannot wait.
01:28:37
Emeka
I hate that it's a Monday game. right I'm looking forward to it, man. So start with you, Chukwu. What are your predictions in the Isak Bowl? Liverpool coming to Newcastle, St.
01:28:45
Chuku
fossil assistance
01:28:46
Emeka
James Park.
01:28:49
Chuku
With Noe Isak playing for Newcastle, I think I'll give the onus Liverpool to get a victory 3-1.
01:28:59
Emeka
you know
01:29:02
Chino Onwuka
Wow. Yeah, pretty, well, yeah, it's going to be, I can see fireworks in that game, especially from Newcastle's side. you know Who knows what Joe LinkedIn is going to do, but I still give the edge so to Liverpool in this game, and I think it's going to be a 2-1 victory for Liverpool. But I am, I think already gave my conspiracy theory you know Isaac is going to obviously conveniently miss the game again
01:29:37
Chino Onwuka
game against Liverpool. And whether it's for Newcastle or for Liverpool, he's going to playing football again in time to face us. So just lovely.
01:29:49
Emeka
Yeah, sadly, I do agree with that.
01:29:50
Chuku
That's what I'm to do. Right? I'm going to have a lot of people in the background.
01:29:51
Emeka
I want to join you guys and pick Liverpool, but I just think that crowd is going to be rocking.
01:29:54
Chuku
just took a lot of time to make a lot of people. My was going to be lot of people.
01:29:59
Emeka
There's going to be fireworks. There's to be hard tackles.
01:30:00
Chuku
That's what I'm going to do. I'm going to have a lot of time to it.
01:30:02
Emeka
going be a mess of a game.
01:30:03
Chuku
I'm going to a lot of time to
01:30:04
Emeka
And I just, for some reason, even though Newcastle can't score without ESAC, I'm going to say draw. And a highly contested, controversial VR decision, something like that. Like, I just i just can't see Liverpool winning, and going to prove me wrong and slap them up maybe. But the crowd is going to be rocking, and boy, I cannot wait.
01:30:26
Emeka
In the opposite end, the early game of the weekend on Saturday, 5.30 our time.
01:30:29
Chuku
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
01:30:32
Emeka
God forbid. We'll see if we make up to see it. Man City
Upcoming Premier League Matches Preview
01:30:35
Emeka
coming off a 4-0 win. Play, I think, fair to say their bogey team, even though they beat them, facked them up last year.
01:30:42
Emeka
can tell you something. talking told about Spurs beat them like 5-1. Anyhow, Man City versus Spurs, a great game. Spurs always seem to have their number. I'm very curious to see how Thomas Frank sets up against Man City.
01:30:54
Emeka
I'll start it off, and I'll say I'm going to go out on limb. I'm going to say a 3-2 Man City win. Another great game. I just liked i like i like the vibes in Man City right now.
01:31:06
Emeka
So I'll give them a slight win, even though I hope Spurs do. The one time of the year I root for Spurs. I hope Spurs gets something, but I'm going to give it 3-2 Man City. Chinon, what do you think?
01:31:17
Chino Onwuka
I'm going Joe. I think it's going to be another fascinating game. You know, Spurs have had Man City's number the last couple of years. But, you know, i just think it's going to be a good clash of styles. You're going to see City try and dominate the ball and Spurs try and hit them with the counter.
01:31:34
Chino Onwuka
know, Spurs are going to be a more defensively solid team. You know, we saw the, you know, I think Thomas Frank is going to platform their attackers. They're going to be, you know,
01:31:46
Chino Onwuka
really, really dangerous on set pieces as well, hopefully more so at the back. So I'm gonna say a 2-2 draw.
01:31:56
Emeka
And Chuka, what do you think?
01:32:00
Chuku
I think Man City Handle Business, easy dub. Another 3-1.
01:32:07
Emeka
Well, there you have it. You know, a great, great Premier League weekend coming up. I more callente i love the Premier League, man. It's back Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Taking over the weekend.
01:32:19
Emeka
As always, join us next week to break out all the big news, maybe some transfers and results from the next week of Premier League football and football and beyond.
01:32:23
Chuku
it's yeah
01:32:27
Emeka
Don't worry. I know we've been Premier League heavy to start. We'll get to other leagues as well as the season goes across and other sports. is All that and more on the Love of the Game podcast.