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Wildcard Wednesday: Here's to 2025!
40 Plays9 days ago
Gavin starts the New Year by looking back at the first half of the season and assessing the state of the Premier League. He also gives his team of the season before wrapping things up with some predictions for 2025.
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Transcript
00:00:01
Speaker
Every club. Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network.
Introduction to Wildcard Wednesday
00:00:08
Speaker
Hello! Happy New Year! Welcome back to the Daily Fulham Podcast. It's 2025 and the show rolls on. Today we have a bumper episode for you in this special Wildcard Wednesday edition.
Premier League Season Review
00:00:20
Speaker
My name is Gavin Ruffle and today's episode will be split into three parts. In part one I will be assessing the overall state of the Premier League as we reach the halfway stage. In part two I will be picking my team in the season to date. No doubt I'll call some controversy there.
00:00:35
Speaker
and finally I will just be looking forward to the year ahead by giving some predictions and there's only one place to start and that's at the top of the Premier League where Liverpool are the runaway leaders 45 points from 18 games currently occupying an eight point lead over their nearest rivals Nottingham Forest, which is crazy in itself to see both of those clubs occupying the top two spots as we head into 2025. Liverpool, the job that Arnus slot has done at Liverpool has been nothing short sensational. Coming in, taking over from Jurgen Klopp, who has been a messiah of that club for a decade,
00:01:16
Speaker
and they are just playing some incredible football at this moment in time. Top of the standards in the Champions League. Big gap now, as I said, in the Premier League and everything's clicking for them. Mo Salah, we know what Mo Salah
Liverpool's Dominance
00:01:29
Speaker
has done in the Premier League for years, but seeing in the form he's been in this season with his goals and assists, he's just taken his game to another level, hasn't he? And I think for many years we'll talk about the best players in the world and it was always centered around Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
00:01:45
Speaker
now that those two are nearing the end of their playing careers it's often put up for debate and there's no one outstanding candidate but if you look in a bunch of players then Mo Salah most certainly has to be in that in that debate with his just sheer consistency and the the level he's taken his game to from even what we've seen in in the past because we know how good he is at scoring goals and from a wide position but the fact that he's leading the way in terms of goals scored and goals assists just shows that he's not just the goal scorer, he's the goal creator as much as anything and he's been he's been absolutely fantastic for an honest lot and I've seen one or two comments from pundits in the media saying that he hasn't had to do much an honest lot because he's just
00:02:30
Speaker
doing what Jurgen Klopp did with this bunch of players. and Well, that's not accurate, is it? Because Jurgen Klopp didn't have this Liverpool team eight points clear at this stage last season, did he? And he has improved
Nottingham Forest's Rise
00:02:42
Speaker
players. There's people like Ryan Gravenberg and that team, Cody Gappo, maybe no coincidence to the Dutch boys, good relationship with them, that they've taken their games to another level. or So look, there's a long way to go on this season. We are only halfway, but they've been absolutely superb and they've been the team to beat.
00:02:59
Speaker
Norton Forest, as I said, they are the team in second and this is completely out of the blue. When we were given our predictions at the start of the season, I might have even had them to go down, so I'll hold my hands up there and just say I got that completely wrong. I just don't know how Nuno has managed to get this team that's been fighting fight and relegation for the last couple of seasons up into ah second place in the Premier League it's just it's just such a massive turnaround and it just shows the difference that a couple of signings can make because defensively they've been fantastic so far this season maybe they don't play the most stylish football but one of the two additions out the back because they've had a problem with the goalkeeper situation haven't they
00:03:37
Speaker
in the last couple of years, Matt Turner signed and then that he was making a lot of mistakes so they find a really good one there in sales who's kept the most number of clean sheets in the league this season and and the guys in front of him as well, Milenkovic, he's been an absolute rock at the back, but alongside Marillo, probably someone with a bit more flair, flamboyant but Milenkovic, I think he signed for 12 million and just within the space of a few months he's probably trebled his market value. So we've seen Chris Wood, he's banging in goals, he's got a guy over 30 there and he's playing the best football in his career. I've said it before, I always felt he was quite of an named underrated player because even in his time at Burnley, not the most fashionable club, don't play the most fashionable brand of football, but he's effective in what he does and he's scored double figures in terms of Premier League goals in four consecutive seasons for them and he's doing the same with Notting Forest now so
00:04:27
Speaker
can they keep up
Chelsea's Struggles & Newcastle's Surge
00:04:28
Speaker
this pace? It would it would be hard to say they can but they put themselves in a fantastic position now going into the second half of the season where they can strive and they can be ambitious and and look at potentially getting into Europe. If the Champions League is ultimately something that's going to be a bridge too far then they're certainly in the conversation for Europe and speaking of the European conversation you have to look at some of many the other teams in there as well and Chelsea, Chelsea It's funny how things change over the course of a week. A week is a long time in football specifically in this festive period where games come thick and fast and it seemed not that long ago that they were title contenders as much as they were saying that they weren't title contenders. Well, I think we can truly say they aren't title contenders now after the recent defeat to Ipswich.
00:05:10
Speaker
But nevertheless, they've had a strong start to the season and Maresca has done a good job, okay? It's fallen off recently. Whilst I said they were title challengers, I never realistically considered them to be title winners. For me, it has always been Liverpool and Arsenal. Well, since Manchester City's dropped off anyway, but Chelsea now, they've they've got a battle on their hands to stay in the top four, haven't they? Because we've seen the form of Newcastle now. they They're on a hot streak now and they've just won their last four games without conceding the goal. and I think if we go back to pre-season predictions, I actually, I think I did have Newcastle to finish in the top four and that was based upon the fact that they're not playing European football. I know they're going wild in the cup competition, in the Carabao Cup, so they have their eyes on one and that, bringing some silverware to St James's Park. They've hit a hot streak at the minute and they've got some really good players, more so than alex Alexander Isak, who seems to be in really, really good goal scoring form.
00:06:01
Speaker
Manchester City. Unexpected, isn't it? No, this drop-off from them this season. I know they won the most recent game against Leicester, but even in that game, they had their vulnerabilities. I think it's just the case, they've done so well and they've got the most out of this squad of players, the group of players for the last.
00:06:19
Speaker
five or six years winning consecutive titles and fighting on all fronts that in the end you just hit a brick wall don't you and that's what's happened this season. Rodry's been a loss of course he has but some of the other players just haven't stepped up to the plate. We saw Phil Filden play the season last season and he's just not replicated that level of performance.
00:06:37
Speaker
So I think it's just the case of they have hit that wall.
Challenges for Manchester United & Spurs
00:06:40
Speaker
I think probably the second half of season you'll see a lot better Manchester City side and whilst they are not in the running for the title, which is a massive surprise at this stage, you would expect them to get into that top four mix again. It would be a huge surprise if they were to miss out on that all together.
00:06:57
Speaker
And then behind them, what we've seen is there's a whole hostess size that are so capable. I think this established top six is a bit of a myth. And we've seen the drop off in Spurs and Manchester United, haven't we? And the fact that Reuben Amorim after the defeat against Newcastle was talking about relegation.
00:07:13
Speaker
It is absolutely absurd, isn't it? And if it wasn't for that late winner they had against Manchester City recently, they'd only be a few points off the bottom three. So he's gone in there and it's not been a quick fix. it's It was never going to be a quick fix because there's just underlying problems of that football club. It's not a case of you click your fingers, bring a new manager in. January comes around, you bring three or four players and all of a sudden you win 10 games in a row, you're back competing for trophies. It's just a constant struggle, isn't it? Even when they seem to get a good result, it's one step forward, two steps back. so I think for them, you kind of want this season to end, don't you? And then just see what happens in the summer. Ruben Ambrim, where he can have a ah full pre-season, bring in his own set of players, and then Manchester United fans will hope they see their club back.
00:07:58
Speaker
to where they ultimately want to be, which is competing for titles, but you've got to walk before you can run, and at this stage, even putting one foot in front of the other is a bit of a ah bit of a task for them. you know Spurs, again, one of the other members of the the top six, the big six, if you want to call it that, and just come under pressure for not winning games, and you're going to come under pressure. It's a results-driven business, isn't it? And their results haven't been what you want, particularly at home.
00:08:25
Speaker
and watch them in some of the bigger games conceding six against Liverpool at home and maybe not willing to be flexible. You've got to admire it in one way, the fact that he sticks to his principles and his philosophies, but...
00:08:38
Speaker
I think as a manager, you need to be adaptable, you need to factor in the opposition as well and just find what the best way of getting a result for your team is. What fans want to see, they want to see their team winning games. Yes, you want to you want to see an attractive brand of football, if you can combine both then absolutely fantastic, happy days. but Fans, trust me, they would take a 1-0 win over Arrival with two shots on goal, then concede in six goals just to score a couple, so they need to work that out and and find find a star that wins games, not appeases the neutrals.
Fulham & Bournemouth as European Contenders
00:09:13
Speaker
So we've discussed the the established big order there, but
00:09:17
Speaker
You've got to pay tribute to so many other clubs that have in good seasons, full of them, of course, being one of them. And what we've seen is that when they have played against the bigger sides of the season, they hold no fear for them. They go into this game those games. Marco Silvers instilled a belief in the squad of players that he has that they can get results from those games. and Maybe it's one or two of the other games against the teams near the bottom of the table where they haven't had that same injection, that same urgency which has cost them points. But it's great to see what they're doing this season and they've only lost four games which is the same as Chelsea, it's less than Manchester City, same as Nottingham Forest who was second in league so it just shows how difficult they've been to beat.
00:09:58
Speaker
Maybe you can look back on several games and think you probably could and should have got three points there Which is a testament to how well the team has been playing the fact that they're on 29 points after 19 games And you look at it and you think they probably chocked away at least six or seven points probably more than that But as a football fan you're always gonna look at things with roasting the glasses you're always going to be looking at a thing and thinking we drop points there rather than the other way around which is 95th minute winners against Brentford and Chelsea where they were able to turn those games around so very strong start to the season for Fulham. Had one or two injury setbacks just in the last few weeks but hopefully going into 2025 they can continue where they left off and we've also got to speak about Bournemouth as well who are just above them in the league.
00:10:40
Speaker
Bournemouth now seem that established Premier League team that those three teams that got promoted a few seasons back Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Fulham they've just shown the way haven't they they've shown that it is possible for teams coming up from the Championship despite expectations of them to go down that you can you can do it and make steady improvements season after season. For Nottingham, it's slightly different because their improvement of the season has been as astronomical. Whereas Fulham, it was steady, 10th in the league, 13th last season and then we've seen them in the top half this season. For Bournemouth, they've been in the sort of lower reaches of mid-table and now we're seeing them as genuine European contenders and watching those two teams play against each other over the weekend. You can see why they're on unbeaten streaks, why the managers are getting the plaudits and
00:11:25
Speaker
seeing the way their teams play football, or the way they operate, they are managing to combine a good brand of football whilst also being able to get results as well.
Newly Promoted Teams' Battle
00:11:34
Speaker
As far as the bottom end of the table's concerned, yeah we talk about there's only about teams coming up from the championship not necessarily being able to make a good fist of it when they come up to the Premier League. It was the first time in a few seasons last season that all three promoter teams went straight back down and you look at the table now what who's occupying the bottom three spaces it's the three teams that came up and I think for the sake of the Premier you don't want to be seeing that season after the season, do you teams that get promoted go straight back down as we've seen in the Championship this season as well I mean Burnley and Sheffield United who were very poor last season and they're up there now and they got a great chance of bouncing back Ipswich had a big win didn't they against Chelsea probably unexpected their first home win of the season and I thought they would be competitive at home it had it has surprised me that it's taken them so long to win at home
00:12:17
Speaker
Because I generally thought they'd be alright, but we've seen walls above them They've picked up recently without having that new manager bounce seven points in their last three games Lester they kind of gone the other way I had a bright start and the rude van this Roy But it's just taking a turn now and it's he's got a big job on his hands that I was ah a bold move for Lester to Sack Steve Cooper. and I know a lot of the fans felt it it needed to happen Myself looking at it from the outside. I didn't quite get it because they were in a decent position in the league. They were about 13th for 14th. And they've gone to Rue van Nissenreu, who has limited experience. Couple games in charge of Manchester United, but that was that was a big move for them and I i just worry if that was that was the right call. Southampton, six points after 19 games. Yeah, it's been an absolute disaster for them, isn't it? And Russell Martin's got to bear the brunt for that. New manager's coming and hasn't been able to get positive results from the get-go, so
00:13:14
Speaker
so phantom fans will just be eyeing up that 12 point mark. 19 games gone 6 points. They're probably fearing the worst. They don't want to be thinking that Darby's record is ah is in with a shout of being beaten. But there's there's just a look at the Premier League, what we've seen for the first half of the season.
00:13:31
Speaker
There's going to be many twists and turns for the second half of the season. Who will win the league? Who will get relegated? I might just touch upon that in my predictions at the end of this episode. But in the next part, I'm going to be giving my team of the season to date. And I'm sure it's going to cause debate amongst fans, some derision. ah But it's my team, so I can do whatever I want. But before I come on to that, I must just tell you about our sponsors here.
00:13:57
Speaker
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencaster came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster.
Team of the Season & Predictions
00:14:21
Speaker
So let's come on to my team then. and I have opted for a 4-3. My goal keeper, I've actually changed this a couple of times. So the rationale, the my thinking behind this team of
00:14:37
Speaker
the year, not team of the year, the team of the first half of the season, I didn't want to occupy it with just too many players from one club. So I have no more than two players in this team that play for any one club. So let's let's start then. My goalkeeper is actually Jordan Pickford. It was Matt Sells because there's been a vast upturn in performance from goalkeepers at Milton Norton Forest from what we've seen in the last season and he's kept the most clean sheets. But I've got to give it to Jordan Pickford because He's been really consistent in the last two or three years now, hasn't he? I think Everton had the most cut clean sheets in the league outside of Arsenal last season and they've kept a lot of clean sheets this season despite being towards the bottom end of the table and that's a testament to their defence and also Jordan Pickford. They don't score a lot of goals, they don't win a lot of games but defensively they are pretty sound. Jordan Pickford has attracted criticism at times during his Everton career
00:15:30
Speaker
At times in the past, in his early time at Everton, after making the move from Sunderland, he might have been prone to one or two mistakes, but I don't i don't think we see that now, do we? I mean, he's very vocal on the pitch, isn't he? Very animated, but yeah, i mean the fact that Everton have kept seven clean sheets, despite the fact that they are 16th in the league, tells you about his performances and obviously the defenders in front of him. so I'm just going to give the Not A Jordan pick for there because I do have a Not A Forest player in this team and that is Ola Einar. Ola Einar's a very versatile defender. You see him on the left, you see him on the right. He can play in the back three. We saw that during his time at Fulham didn't we and he's part of the Not A Forest team where Nuno
00:16:13
Speaker
He focuses on defence first, doesn't he he? He's probably a bit old-school in that department now, and and we do have one or two. I just mentioned mentioned one at Everton in Shaun Deutsch, but a lot of managers now, their focus is on more of the attacking players, and we don't see clubs keep as many clean sheets and have great defensive displays as we used to. What we've seen is not in the forest, success this season has been built on their defence, and Olorine has definitely been one of them. Equally good. Whatever job you ask him to do, in a back four, in a back five, on the right, on the left,
00:16:43
Speaker
He'll do a dependable job for you. And next to him, I've got another Nottingham Forest player. I mean, how can you not have Nottingham Forest players in your team of the year? And that's Milankovic, who signed for 12 million. As I said before, he's probably trebled that in terms of value. He's a big unit, six foot five. Not as flamboyant, doesn't have the flair as Murillo, that Brazilian flair. And he's a threat in both boxes. He's managed to score a couple of goals this season as well. and You'd have to say that's arguably signed in the season, certainly bargain of the season.
00:17:12
Speaker
He's been outstanding. Next to him I've got a guy that just continues to be outstanding. He's an absolute Rolls Royce. Probably the best defender in the Premier League over the last decade. Some people would have him up there as their best ever. I'm not sure I would go as far as that. It it would be easier to to assess that in in the next three or four years or maybe when his playing time has come to an end. It's it's easier to make a judgement on that.
00:17:34
Speaker
but it's Virgil van Dijk, whether he's playing alongside Kanate or Gomez, he continues to be a rocking defence and after taking over the captaincy from Jordan Henderson, he's a real leader for that team and you need leaders when you're going going for titles.
00:17:49
Speaker
Next to Van Dyck on the left side the left back is only one choice and it's Anthony Robinson for me. Speak in length about Anthony Robinson, his poem for performances for Fulham and he has just improved tremendously. He's a great athlete, isn't he? He just doesn't stop going forward and he's he's like a Duracell battery that just never runs out. yeah I've never seen this guy get tired.
00:18:09
Speaker
And he's he's a nightmare for wingers to play against because he's just like, give me a break, man. Just stop running. Stop running. And his his crossings improved this season. We even saw on the weekend, he managed to get an assist with his weaker right foot. And he he's had the most assists by a defender this season, seven more assists than any other defender over the course of the last season and a half. So he's he's brilliant and ah hopefully for fallen fans, the big suitors stay away this month.
00:18:36
Speaker
In midfield, I've got Moises Crusado, big money move from Brighton and he started to deliver on that price tag. It was difficult for him coming to Chelsea, obviously with that price tag. Everyone's always going to mention that, aren't they? and I think he's starting to repay that now. It was difficult shoes for him to fill. Let's not forget he had Angola Cante there for many years. He was an absolutely brilliant player. but his performances have stood out this season. He's worked well in partnership now with Enzo Fernandez or Lavia when he's played in games and in terms of that defensive destroyer, Moises Cosedo is probably the best in the league for me. Who's in front of him? Well, I've opted for two attacking midfielders here because it's my team and there's one player I wanted to get in and if i played if I played it a bit safer and went with two DMs then I wouldn't have been able to get him or if I played with an eight
00:19:25
Speaker
The first player is Cole Palmer, so i another Chelsea player there and he's just continued the form of last season, hasn't he? He's a fantastic player and just can produce a bit of magic out of nothing and for Thomas Tuchel he has to find a way of getting Cole Palmer in his team because he's he's a superb talent. It didn't quite happen for him at Manchester City for whatever reason, Pep was happy to let him go and we've seen what a player, what a talent he is at Chelsea, as I said, continuing in the form from last season.
00:19:52
Speaker
and next to him I've got a guy who actually played alongside Cole Palmer as a young academy player at Manchester City and that's Morgan Rogers. ah He's just such an exciting player every time I've seen him. Just a great ball carrier and he's only going to get better for me. I think one area which will take him to the next level is scoring a few more goals which he he has done just in the last few games but i think he's I think he's a top player. I think he's a player for me that should be looking to score double figures goals every season and I was surprised that he would play such a big role for Unai Emery early on. I thought he was one of those signings that was that was going to be a long-term prospect and might end up going back on loan, but he's an absolutely superb superior player and we saw in a game against Manchester City actually. absolutely
00:20:38
Speaker
had them ah had them on toast and yeah really exciting exciting player for them on the right wing there's only one candidate but i love bucayosaka and i think he's had a great season and he's a big loss for arsenal at minute with his injury but it's got to be mo salah it's got to be mo salah more goals than any other player more assists than any other player the sheer consistency is incredible I know Liverpool fans will be desperate for him to sign a new contract but if this does prove to be his last season then there would be no better way for it to end than him delivering those goals and assist that guide Liverpool to that to that Premier League title. And on the left side, this was a bit of a difficult one for me really. There's so many great players that play on the on the right side, maybe on the left we don't have those
00:21:24
Speaker
Top class players, world class level players in the Premier League. Given the season Bournemouth have had, I had to find a way of getting a Bournemouth player into this this team. And that player is Antoine Semenyo. And he's just behind Harlan in terms of shots on goal. I could have had Justin Clyver in this side, he's scored more goals than Semenyo, but a few of them have been penalties. So Semenyo, he gets in this team. Bournemouth, they've impressed me so much under Iraiola this season. so How can I not have a ball with player in this team? And finally, my centre forward, I've gone for Alexander Esak, who I've always rated. I think he could play for 99% of the teams in Europe. I think he's that good. There's there's only probably three or four sides across Europe where he wouldn't get in. That's how good a striker I think he is. He's been in splendid form in... the recent resurgence of Newcastle and again he's a player there that I feel like probably not this month but in the summer I can see big clubs wanting him and they're gonna have to spend a lot they're gonna have to break the bank for him because because of what he can offer. I look at a club like Arsenal I think I've said this a few times before if he was in the Arsenal team they would be so much better it would be so much better with him in there and do I think Arsenal can win the league well we'll have to find out in my predictions but
00:22:42
Speaker
I think if Alexander Esau was playing that front for them, then I think they'd have every chance. So that's my team, folks. I've got Pickford in goal, a back four of Olorina, Milenkovic, Van Dijk, Anthony Robinson, ah Midfield. Mike Haw's a bit of a stir, this one with two two cams in there. I've got Kaiseido, they're having to do a lot of the donkey work there with ah Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer in front of him, and then a front three of Mo Salah, Antoine Sameno and Alexander Esau. Some of those picks were obvious, some of them,
00:23:12
Speaker
required a little bit of thinking, but I'm happy with that team overall. You guys will have your opinions. There might be some differences there. Hey, get in touch. Feel free. Let us know what your 11s would be. And in the final part, I'm just going to run through a couple of predictions I have for the second half of the season and maybe the year ahead. Before I do that, let me draw your attention to GSPN.
00:23:36
Speaker
The Global Sports Podcast Network is changing the face of football podcasts. With dedicated daily content for every Premier League team, women's football, fantasy football, and a daily Premier League wrap-up broadcast in five different languages, it's your one-stop shop for your daily football fix. Find GSPN wherever you find your usual podcast.
00:23:56
Speaker
My predictions for 2025. We've spoken about the top of the league there. Liverpool's impressive start. How they're fair and under on a slot. Do I think they'll stay the course? Stay the distance? Well, I think everyone expects them to now given the lead they have on those other clubs. But... But I'm going to go for Arsenal. I'm going to go for Arsenal. They've been in the run in the last couple of seasons with Manchester City. A couple of seasons ago the wheels did come off towards the end. Last season they were just beaten by a better side towards the back end of the season. There was only that one defeat they suffered against Aston Villa. Apart from that they were flawless. And they're going to have to do something sibling now to stop Liverpool. What they have to do is
00:24:40
Speaker
If Liverpool are dropping points, they have to be able to take advantage. What we've seen so far is when Liverpool have stumbled, which has been very infrequent, then invariably Arsenal have also stumbled as well, so they've not been able to reduce that deficit at all and it's only got wider.
00:24:56
Speaker
But we've seen in the last week that Chelsea have dropped points. They've taken one point out of their last nine available. So it just shows you have to keep going. You have to keep going. You can't get ahead of yourselves and be complacent because something like that can happen. And if Liverpool, for instance, were to take one point from the next nine available, an Arsenal win the next three, then it changes just like that, doesn't it?
00:25:26
Speaker
I wouldn't be paying out on Liverpool right now. There's a long way to go. We've seen we seen deficits like this overturned in a shorter space of time. If Liverpool are still in this position with eight games to go, then you'd have to say they're huge favourites. But we're only at the halfway stage so far. so For me, Liverpool still, they've got many challenges in front of them. It's just take it one game at a time because every game comes with danger. I'm just going to go for Arsenal because last two seasons they've been in the running they've fallen short and you'd like to think for their perspective that they would have learned lessons from that they need to go on a run now and win 10-11 games in a row to put the pressure on Liverpool and I think they are certainly capable of doing that so I'm gonna go for Arsenal against the odds
00:26:11
Speaker
However, I i am going to back Liverpool to win the Champions League. They're currently top of the standings. They're Liverpool fans. I'm sure the priority would be the Premier League. They do only have that one Premier League title and I'm sure some, not disappointment because you can never be disappointed about winning titles but a bit of regret was that it happened during the Covid season and they weren't able to celebrate that in front of their fans so they'll be extra keen this season to get that title and so they can celebrate the Anfield in front of their loving fans. But I think they're going to win the Champions League. I'm going to go for them to win that. And I'm going to go for Mo Salah to win Player of the Season. I mean, how can how can he not? He's 17 goals and 13 assists, which is absolutely ridiculous numbers at this stage. So barring a long-term injury, that's bound to happen, whether Liverpool win the league or not, just the numbers he's putting up there.
00:27:03
Speaker
Can he get close to Harlan's 36 goals in the prem? I mean, Salah's best on a personal level is 32, so he'd be probably eyeing that up as long as he can stay fit. And the big thing for him on a slot is, there's no drop-off in his level. He can play Champions League, Premier League. He's not someone you worry about, okay, you can't really afford to rest the minimum. They have good attacking options, but most Salah is just, he's the main man and just goes from strength to strength, doesn't he? end With Liverpool winning the Champions League, I think Mo Salah will win the Ballon d'Or this year. With no international tournaments this year, so no World Cup, no Euros, no African Cup or Nations, it's just focused solely on the domestic side of things and European competition. So I think if Salah can spearhead Liverpool to ah to a title, whilst I said, I think Arsenal might get it, the chances are in Liverpool's favour.
00:27:57
Speaker
and As I mentioned, I think they'll go a long way in the Champions League, so I think Mo Salah at Ballon d'Or, and that will be fitting, that'll be absolutely fitting for the career, the career he's had and the career he continues to have. From a full-on perspective, I think they will break their points tally, their record points tally for a Premier League season, which stands at 53 back in the 2008-2009 season.
00:28:20
Speaker
29 points from 19 games I think they were better that where they were finished I'm not quite too sure ah I'm gonna go for a top half finish but it could be anywhere it could be 7th it could be 8th it could be 9th it could be 10th but yeah that 53 point tally that will be better this season. One other prediction I have away from the football side of it and it's linked to VAR I think we will see semi-automated offsides come into the Premier League. VAR is always a hot topic of debate, that's never going to go away and I feel like I'm one of the few proponents, one of the few people that actually back VAR if it's used correctly. The big problem in this country is our officials are inept and they can't do their job properly. That's why they make the system look poor. The system's only as good as the people using in it and unfortunately a monkey could do a better job than what some of those guys have been doing at Stockley Park.
00:29:12
Speaker
But I think they could do with some help and I i like what I've seen with the semi-automated offside. It's just black and white, isn't it? It just doesn't leave anything up for debate. You accept the decision straight away and it just speeds up the process, doesn't it? Because a lot of lot of time fans at the ground, you spend three or four minutes you know twiddling your thumbs wondering what's going on because there's a VAR check.
00:29:33
Speaker
and it just it takes too long and they get the lines out and you just want to see that process speed up because it is ah it is a sport that flows you don't want to see too many stoppages loles in the game kills the momentum of it so that's definitely one thing I think we will see at some at some stage this year and I think it would be to the benefit of of everyone really to just get those decisions ah made instantaneously. What are you some of your predictions for the year ahead? Do let us know, leave a comment. We'll come back to this in due course. That'll do it as far as our first episode of 2025 is concerned. Join us next time as we build up to the next game and that next game is Ipswich at home. We'll see you all for that. Every club
00:30:21
Speaker
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