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The Knicks Take the NBA Cup | Chiefs Eliminated From the Playoffs | Bruno Fernandes’ Man United Future
20 Plays18 days ago
This week on Who’s Got the Ball? James and Shane break down the NBA Cup Final between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, analysing what the result means for both franchises and their championship outlook. The lads then tackle one of the biggest NBA questions right now: If the Oklahoma City Thunder don’t win the NBA Championship, who will?
The conversation shifts to the NFL, with a deep dive into Bo Nix’s standout performance against the Green Bay Packers, an assessment of the Kansas City Chiefs’ season, and a look at the NFL pre-season contenders that are on the brink of missing the playoffs.
To wrap up, there’s a Premier League discussion, including Nottingham Forest’s dominant win over Tottenham, reaction to Bruno Fernandes’ interview, and a preview and prediction of Newcastle vs Chelsea.
Plus, don’t miss the latest Gans Seans Picks and the updated Power Rankings across the NBA, NFL, and Premier League.
Tap to listen — you don’t want to miss this episode.
🎧 Listen if you’re into:
- Football (soccer) analysis
- NBA previews & predictions
- Weekly NFL reactions
- Underdog betting tips
- Draft-style sports debates
- Power rankings across multiple sports
- Sports content from an Irish perspective with global takes
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🌍 Based in Ireland | Talking global sports weekly
(0:00) Intro + Xmas Podcast Schedule
(3:23) Knicks Take the NBA Cup
(11:02) Who Can Win the Championship if OKC Don’t?
(21:40) NFL Clutch Player of the Week
(28:52) Chiefs Eliminated From the Playoffs
(34:37) Lions, Ravens and Bucs on the Brink
(41:45) Gan Seans: Our Underdog Picks
(45:34) PL Performance of the Weekend
(52:09) Bruno Fernandes’ Man United Future
(1:04:44) Newcastle vs Chelsea Preview + Predictions
(1:08:41) Premier League X NBA X NFL Power Rankings
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to Episode 52
00:00:09
Speaker
Alright lads, welcome back to another episode of Who's Got The Ball. Episode 52, so that's with weekly episodes. I know we had a few extras, but it's a year's worth of episodes there if you have one
Gratitude for Hadji
00:00:19
Speaker
per week. We're we're happy to have Hadji this whole time. And and if you are enjoying us, tell tell us some people that you know and to give it a listen or give it a watch on YouTube if that's where you watch it. Just try and share the word if you are enjoying it and get some more ears on board heading into the new year. But Shane is here once again.
00:00:38
Speaker
back with me what's the crack Shane not a whole lot now finally had a quiet week for the first time in what feels like about two months so no mad stories for the weekend I wasn't away anywhere just actually just had a quiet weekend so it was good for a change probably with yourself Yeah, all good. and Just really getting ready for Christmas festive period. Surprisingly, I've all my shopping done, which I rarely do, but actually haven't done this time. and Yeah, just look really looking forward to the time off um work and also some of the games
Christmas Episode Announcement
00:01:10
Speaker
that are coming up. There's a lot over the festive period, as there always is, but it feels like this day year is stacked, especially the and NBA Christmas Day is absolutely stacked. and So next week, obviously, with it being Christmas week, we're going to
00:01:24
Speaker
drop the episode for you on the Tuesday, which is the 23rd. So you get it the day before Christmas Eve and you'll get a kind of some of the usual stuff, but also some previews thrown in there for the Christmas Day games and the Stephen's Day games.
00:01:38
Speaker
And so a kind of a Christmas special a bit earlier than usual. And then we'll we'll hope to drop an extra episode over the festive period, maybe an extra episode or two. I'm a bit shorter where we talk about some of the stuff that's gone on. But this episode today was absolutely packed.
Knicks vs Spurs Game Analysis
00:01:53
Speaker
We had a lot on board to talk about. So we started off by talking about the and NBA Cup. and The Knicks took that one over the Spurs. So we broke down kind of what happened there and maybe what's to come for those two teams. And leading on from that, we talked about if the OKC aren't going to win the championship this year, who will? Will it be one of those two? Will it be the Nuggets? Will it be the Rockets? and You'll have to listen to hear what our thoughts on that
NFL Clutch Player of the Week
00:02:15
Speaker
were. Then we moved on to the NFL. So we gave our Clutch Player of the Week. Back Offensive.
00:02:19
Speaker
Back in the AFC, somebody we haven't mentioned yet. So you'll have to give that one a listen to find out who it was before we moved on to talking about kind of some of the disappointments or the teams that are on the
NFL Team Performance Analysis
00:02:30
Speaker
brink. So the Chiefs getting eliminated this year, everything that happened to them. And then the Lions, Bucks and also the Ravens kind of being on the cusp and not in there right now. And will they make it? And then we gave you Gonçans as usual, our underdog picks. Talked about our performance of the weekend in the Premier League, Forest, Batter and Spurs.
00:02:50
Speaker
What that means for both teams and where Spurs are really going to go from here. Then we talked about Bruno Fernandes' interview, the comments that were released this week um and his future at Man United. What's going to happen off the back of that?
Power Rankings and Game Previews
00:03:02
Speaker
before previewing the Chelsea Newcastle versus Chelsea game and this Saturday quite an interesting matchup both teams needing to win especially Newcastle after the way they played last weekend so we gave that one a preview before giving you our power rankings to wrap up so that's all that's in store for you for this week's episode absolutely packed as I said so let's just jump straight into it
00:03:22
Speaker
Alright so where else to start but with the and NBA Cup. It's very prevalent right now, obviously just went on. So the New York Knicks have taken the third iteration of the NBA Cup, taken down the San Antonio Spurs in the process. So final score in the final game was 124-113.
00:03:39
Speaker
The Spurs kind of had a good hold of it up until like the third quarter. And then the Knicks in the fourth quarter were unbelievable. and i don't want to take it away from them and because they deserve the win. But I'm left wondering whether a full strength Wemby might have kind of swayed this game because the Knicks were incredibly strong and on the offensive boards, especially in the fourth. Wemby played seven minutes in the fourth, but he didn't look physically...
00:04:07
Speaker
fully there and you saw Mitchell Robinson get six of his 10 offensive boards in that fourth quarter which is massive and that really just felt like a snowball they just can constantly were getting second chance points and the Spurs couldn't keep up but what did you make of the game and do you think the Knicks were a good value for the win?
00:04:26
Speaker
Yeah that were they were actually my my two main points as well was The Spurs need Wemby for games like this. I know they beat OKC without him really for kind of doing the same thing with the limited minutes, but this one just showed how much they need him.
00:04:41
Speaker
The Knicks out-rebounded him so comfortably. It was 59 rebounds to 42. Offensive boards was 23 to 18, and defensive boards was 36 to 24. Wemby helps to... Now, he's not going to bring that the whole way back, but he does bring that back a lot if he's kind of at at at the peak of his powers and really playing to his strengths.
00:04:59
Speaker
and So the rebounds made such a difference. Wimby not been there made such a difference. The next fourth quarter just won it for 35 to 19 in the fourth quarter. And they were just, they just got, they just kind of, they got on top of it, but they just weren't then going in.
00:05:14
Speaker
OG Ananobi was brilliant. Jalen Brunson was excellent again. Got the MVP for the tournament. And then Josh Harris is just such a solid kind of, I don't want to call him a fifth man because I feel like I'm giving him damn praise, but he he's such a good fifth man in this roster for starting team. that's like I think they were saying in the commentary after that every team needs a Josh Harris and they're absolutely right. Every team needs someone that that can just just kind of show up and do but do what he does every now and again.
00:05:39
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's interesting interesting as well the way that the roster is being used. I like it a lot more than last year and because obviously Thibodeau was using players like basically until breaking point.
00:05:52
Speaker
And he constantly rolled with that five of Hart, Brunson, Ananobi, Bridges and Cat. And they were just playing so many minutes. Whereas now you see Hart is getting like in the twenty s some games... Bridge is the same. Really, the only players that are pushing 40 minutes are Brunson and Ananobi. Like you mentioned, yeah he was just unbelievable.
00:06:15
Speaker
The fact that like the team isn't built around him, like they probably have sets that they go to for Cat and for Brunson, but Ananobi has to create his own and find his own space. And just his footwork, even though there was one shot early on on Wemby when Wemby first checked in, and i think it was a three and he just looked like he was going to go by him and then he stepped back a little bit. He just needed a tiny bit of space to get that shot off. So he's clearly worked on his game massively. I saw before the Dirk Nowitzki was saying on the broadcast that Ananobi had contacted him and asked him for tips on shooting and was like really asking like very, very small details and stuff. So He's obviously working on his game a lot. And I liked the way Brunson played because you often saw a last season where he would kind of get stuck in the mud where he'd be like, right, I have to win this. I have to keep taking shots. But he was kicking out without any hesitation every time and keeping the ball moving. And that's coming from Mike Brown, I think. he I think he's kind of instilled a new style there um and a lot more fluid. and They're they're not still not a great defensive team, but last night,
00:07:25
Speaker
The Spurs were shooting themselves in the foot a lot, especially in the fourth quarter. So if if you have a very good ah offensive rebounding team, if you even have a mid-level defence, it's kind of going to make up for it.
00:07:38
Speaker
Absolutely. made great point there about minutes as well. um There were seven players last night for the Knicks that played 20 minutes or more. Another played 18. It almost counted in it as well, to be honest. But as you said, again, it was only an NN OB and Brunson have been over 40.
00:07:51
Speaker
Mikael Bridges was 33 and Towns was 30. So he's really... He's not running any of them into the ground at all. And this is kind of... Might be of those games where just left Ananobi and Brunson out there, one, because they were on fire, and two, so you are getting a trophy the end of it, so you might as well try and kind of, if you're going to push in any game, this might be be might as well be the game you push him in.
00:08:11
Speaker
I didn't know that about Ananobi. I think that's a great point, and he looks a far different player this year than he did last year. Brunson as well looks like he's trusting him more as well, offensively, yeah.
00:08:22
Speaker
So, yeah it like yeah, I think they're a really good team. But I picked them as my my championship winners back in our preview. And I'm not so certain anymore. I think they're quite poor defensively in general. But they're really exciting to watch. and So are the Spurs, though. So it was it was actually a really good matchup between them.
00:08:45
Speaker
Yeah, it was great. It was a great game because I think the Spurs and Knicks made a better matchup. if If the OKC, I know that they lost to the Spurs, so you can't really say that, but I think the OKC would have just blown the Knicks away if they played them. It was kind of like a blip for them losing that game against the Spurs. So one thing that did stand out to me and is how Dylan Harper played. I think he was impressive and he was actually aggressive with his shoot his shooting last night. Like,
00:09:11
Speaker
he He made five threes. All season before that, he only made 10. So, like, he showed a lot more promise from three last night and a lot more kind of confidence taking those shots because...
00:09:24
Speaker
The majority of the season he's only been taken like one or two from three. So I think he took seven last night. In general, I feel about the Spurs kind of that they might not be there to win more than like one playoff season series because is be in and out of they're going to be in and out of the lineup.
00:09:42
Speaker
I'm not sure what way they're going to be fixed when April rolls around. But if he is consistently there and they build something and they play like they did against OKC or like the first three quarters of last night, then, yeah, they can push to to get far this time around. But there's still a lot of issues, I think, that they need to solve as well as the Knicks.
00:10:01
Speaker
Yeah, I think they're another team who might be a year or two shy of winning a championship. They they are building a really, really good roster. um Fully young fellas. Stephon Castle, I think, is absolutely brilliant.
00:10:13
Speaker
He wasn't great last night. He was 33%, but he was still, i think he was 5-15, which is like, it's not ideal, but he was 12-15, a double-double. So he is he has come on quite well when Wemby is being announced. So we'll see if he can kind of, he him he can work with Wemby when Wemby is back in the team.
00:10:31
Speaker
And then, as you, who did you just mention for the trees? Dylan Harper. Yeah. He got 28 minutes last night, 21 points and 7 rebounds. It's not bad either. So they are definitely putting together a roster of people who are going to do something, but they need to get Wembley back fully fit to a point where can play his 75 or 80 games if you need him to and kind of see where go then. I don't think they'll be winning a championship this year, but you never know in the next two or three years if they keep getting firsts the way they keep getting firsts. Yeah. That kind of dovetails nicely into our next question is...
00:11:05
Speaker
who else can win the championship outside of OKC? So if we take the OKC out with the conversation, who really is the team that, you know, or multiple teams that have a chance?
00:11:17
Speaker
I think I'd like to start in the East because I think the West is more obvious conversation or there's more teams there that you would consider. For me... There's three or four teams knocking around in my mind, but the Pistons aren't there yet, to be honest, and neither are the Hawks. Both of those teams are teams that need to make a move before they can get there. They have good teams, good rosters, but they're one player away, like a superstar or someone they can really rely on. And I think for the Hawks, Giannis is interesting because...
00:11:48
Speaker
They've played really well without Trae Young. So if they're willing to give up Trae, give up someone else and give up that Pelicans pick, maybe that's whats get what gets Giannis over there. And you have him and Jalen Johnson together would be an unbelievable tandem. So...
00:12:03
Speaker
If they did that, then I'd consider them. But for now, those two are on the periphery for me. The Magic are a little bit closer. i think they could get there the longer they play together. They're still clearly figuring out how to play with Bain. But they are a dangerous team and good defensively.
00:12:17
Speaker
And then top of the pile, I think, in the East is the Knicks. and The Cavs have fallen off a cliff for me. I don't think they're going to get there. But the Knicks maybe could be the only team in the East that I really like. But again, defensively...
00:12:30
Speaker
It's going to be tough. I think the best chance they have is if they win out in a weekend East and they face off against a West team that's like completely depleted and tired by the time they get there. Yeah, I agree with you there. I think Cavs and the Pacers have been the two biggest surprises for me this year. I thought they were going to come in again this year and just run away with them with that division. Neither of them have been able to do a single thing. It's been very, very strange to watch them both at times. and The Cavs in particular, I can't believe how bad they've gotten.
00:12:59
Speaker
Yeah, at least the best you have experience is they have to to have the injuries. Yeah, they have injuries. Yeah. and The 76ers, I don't know if you, like, you I know when you were talking about it, just after Michael said, don't know if you ever tossed, like, I don't think you were ever talking about them at a championship level. No.
00:13:15
Speaker
i've I think they can get playoffs, obviously, and I think they can win a series, but I don't think they're going anywhere close to it either. So, i am inclined to agree with you. that that's It's such a weak division in terms of teams that are in there. Like, it's,
00:13:27
Speaker
The East compared to the West is just, it's, it's I'm not going to use a cliche, so that's why I stopped myself. But it really is just the difference in level is that it's actually, it's it's astounding. like There's four or five teams on the West that could do this. There's one, maybe two on the East.
00:13:46
Speaker
yeah But no, I think the Knicks are the best option from from that side. Yeah, especially given that, I know it's only in the NBA Cup, but it it's competitive basketball and they show they can do it in one-off games.
00:14:00
Speaker
So it's going to be interesting how they kind of navigate a series. and I'm more confident in them now than I was at the start of the season, really, to be honest, especially with how the Cavs have performed, like you mentioned. And on the West, I already kind of spoke about the Spurs and how it's a wait and see. I don't think they're there yet.
00:14:17
Speaker
Lakers offensively are amazing. They have Aston Reeves firing Luka and LeBron, but the defense is is so poor that they're going to ultimately have like a super exciting series, but every time they lose 4-1 or 4-2, once they face a good team, because someone like the Rockets is just going to bully them off the court.
00:14:35
Speaker
So mainly for me, then, it's really just the Rockets and Nuggets that are sitting at the forefront of my mind as the best chances outside of OKC. Yeah, no, 100% agreed. actually thought you'd do more on the Nuggets, or I actually did a little piece on the Rockets, but I think they can win it. Yeah, I've got a good bet on the Nuggets here. Completely unbiased. When I was looking into Rockets' stats, they're third in defensive rating and defensive rating, and they're second to OKC in terms of net rating.
00:15:07
Speaker
The problem is that they haven't beaten any team who's over 600 yet this year, which is something you're to do when you get to the playoffs lot if you are going to win a championship. But against the Nuggets the other night, they were one iffy decision away from winning it in regular time. I'm still not 100% sure if A.M.N. Thompson did foul him or not. It's about 14 different camera angles none of them are conclusive. And that gives you a win there.
00:15:31
Speaker
We play him again on December 20th. We'll see what they're like then. I thought Sengun stood up to Jokic really, really well. The two of them got triple doubles. Sengun was and was it was a really good matchup between the two to two big fellas. But Jokic, what he can do with a ball is actually outrageous, especially for a man his size. it's It's quite scary.
00:15:56
Speaker
And then the Nuggets, I let you lead in on them, but I just think they're an absolute class act. and They really are. just It's not just Jokic. There's just everything around him. just It all works towards him and for him, but also with him.
00:16:10
Speaker
Yeah, I agree with you. On the points you made about the Rockets, it is a little bit concerning not having beaten some of those teams, but it's we're only a small bit into the season, so I think they should study the ship on that front. And I would also point out overtime loss on night one as well.
00:16:27
Speaker
Yeah. against the OKC and that was like a very good game too that could have went down to it and in terms of the foul I don't know it's hard to know but at the same time I feel like Jokic didn't get a lot of calls that he should have as well because he's so big that sometimes he doesn't get them so that's one of those ones you just chalk up to it leaving itself out 39-15-10, 2-2 48-55% two and two splits is just unbelievable. like he's not He's not human. like The way he plays basketball, he's by far the best player in the world.
00:17:03
Speaker
Right now, he's sitting at the highest points per game of his career with 29.8, highest assists of his career with 10.8, and that's all on the second highest field goal of his percentage of his career with 61.3%.
00:17:16
Speaker
So he's shooting the ball more, but yet his field goal percentage is the best it's ever been. He's shooting the best three-point percentage ever of his career while shooting the most threes of his career.
00:17:27
Speaker
Like these things don't make sense. And he's second in true shooting percentage in the league with 72%. Now AJ Green is first, which is very impressive. He has a good shot, but he's taken 10 less shots per game than him.
00:17:42
Speaker
So, you know, like Jokic taking 10 more than AJ Green, still basically having it. Law of averages. Being second is is crazy. yeah So I think outside Jokic, then you're looking at some players that are little bit question marks at the start of the season and then injuries too. Like Cam Johnson didn't look fully like fitting into the system, but now he seems to to come into his own a little bit more. Yeah.
00:18:08
Speaker
Christian Brown and and Aaron Gordon both had injuries. ah Gordon looked really, really good until he got his injury. And those guys being in and out of the lineup is tough. But despite all this, they have a 19-6 record, which outside of the OKC and the Pistons is the best in the league. So like to go through periods of having injuries and still being this good, it's just it's tough to see past them and OKC right now. I think they're just on another level.
00:18:36
Speaker
And you're looking at... for once jamal murray actually going right i'm gonna play in the regular season he wants that all nba pick uh 25 points per game four and a half boards and seven assists per game all the best of his career is sure he's he's grabbing one steal a game 50 45 and 90 splits like to have him and jokic on the same team it doesn't matter what other injuries and chopping and changing you have this just but how can you stop that and once it's in the playoffs i think it's going to ramp up even more Yeah, 100%. Jermaine Murray against the Rockets was outrageous as well. Whatever Jokic was doing, like it was it was hard to take your eyes off Jermaine Murray at times as well. 35 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists, I think is what he finished with, which is... When Jokic is putting up 39, 15 and 10 as well, it's like it's really hard to stop it's really hard to stop the two of them. like The Rockets getting that
00:19:30
Speaker
to like To be willing close enough at the end of it was quite impressive when the Rockets just cannot shoot threes at the moment unless their name is Reid Shepard. No one can put up threes. Eamon Thompson shouldn't be allowed shoot from farther than four foot from the hoop at the moment. He just can't. It's it's like he just it just... I don't understand. It's like all of Gartnowitzki.
00:19:50
Speaker
Yeah, 100%, needs to have a word because his cigar his shooting from outside the arc is actually, it's just pitiful. And he is such a good player as well. He's still got 14 and 12, but that's in 44 minutes. He be getting a lot more than 14 points in 44 minutes.
00:20:04
Speaker
Yeah, I think the Nuggets and OKC are just on ah on another planet. i think it's one of those things where when we were talking about the preseason, I just didn't want to believe it. You're kind of just thinking like, gosh, the Rockets will be able to land the glove on these. And...
00:20:19
Speaker
The Rockets now have like they they have played a lot less games than a lot of the other teams. Rockets only played 23, so there's a bit of catching up to do as well, but that means more back-to-backs and probably means more losses for the Rockets as well. So, yeah, I think if it's not going to be OKC, I do think it is going to be the Nuggets that win this out.
00:20:35
Speaker
um If they're playing the conference finals, I'm going to stay up for all seven of those games. You just said oh nice the South. Sorry, the West. I don't know where the South came from.
00:20:47
Speaker
Sorry, if the Thunder Nuggets are playing in the West final, then I'm going to stay up for every single one of those games. You can cut out the other parts. Thanks. No, it's staying in and there now. The deep South. We'll get Adam Silver on the line. He'll be coming up with the South and the North. Soon enough, there'll be about 60 teams in the NBA. I know what I might say.
00:21:06
Speaker
need to do something about the East anyway to make it better because what's the point of it like at this stage? Yeah, no, I agree. But yeah, i think the Rockets still, like they are a little bit off those two front runners. But when you have two pillars like in Sengun and KD in your team, then you can win a series against pretty much anybody. I just think that the Nuggets are on another planet and then the OKC are just even further than that. So I think those two are are definitely the leading contenders. But
00:21:37
Speaker
We'll move on to the and nba or the NFL side of things. So back with our clutch player, the weak pick. Back on ah offense again. This time it's probably somebody who... we could have given it to, or we could have spoken about maybe a bit more this season, but it was always kind of a way till he proves it a bit more.
00:21:55
Speaker
And I think he finally has prove proven it. And that's Bullnick's unbelievable performance against a really strong defense and a strong secondary. 302 yards, 67.6%, four touchdowns on nearly nine yards per completion.
00:22:11
Speaker
So that's, that's his highest of the season on yards per completion. And yeah, the third highest of his entire career. Like they beat the Chiefs, they beat the Texans, they beat the Eagles, all at times where those teams maybe I feel were vulnerable. But this is a Packers team at the peak of its powers and they managed to take them down and he was the reason for that.
00:22:32
Speaker
So how far can Bo Nix take this Broncos team? I'm still so confused by this whole NFL season because the Broncos are 12-2 and two and and so I just honestly don't know if they're good or not. Like, clearly they're good, but I don't know, are they like are they that good that they can go out here and win a championship?
00:22:52
Speaker
I don't think Bo Nix is anything special. I know he's had to put out four touchdowns there yesterday, but this is like, I think it did was his first time in five weeks where he threw more than one touchdown pass.
00:23:05
Speaker
um I know he's come out and he's gone absolutely off the walls here, bo but kids he's quietly effective. like he He hasn't been throwing down many interceptions. He's only had two games all season with two interceptions. He's had seven without any.
00:23:17
Speaker
The rest have just been one. And that like that is really good, especially for... He's only in his second or third year in the league as well, so he is still growing. But this Broncos team just doesn't make any sense to me. like It's the same with the Patriots. How the Patriots are 11-3 and this Broncos team are 12-2. And... two and I just, don I look on paper, the Lions should be better them, the Chiefs should be better than them.
00:23:38
Speaker
They're both now out of the playoff pretty much. The Cowboys should probably be better than them as well. How far can Bo Nix take them? It depends on the teams around them, I think. and it depends on when they play these other teams and how good they show up on the day because i tell I don't think it'll be what Bo Nix does. think it'll be what the other team don't do.
00:23:57
Speaker
will depend on how far the Broncos get. Yeah, i would I'm falling onto a similar line to you. like I spent the whole of last season and all of this season just not thinking he's really above maybe a 12th or 13th quarterback in the league. like He's not up there with the top 10. And he's the type of guy that maybe never will, but he'll just...
00:24:22
Speaker
have a great defense that plays with him, have a great O-line and have a great coach. No matter how insufferable Sean Payton can be at times, he is a very good coach, seasoned. He knows what he's doing. And there's a reason why this is the the highest completion, yards per completion of Bo Nix this season. Most of the time it's all check downs and they just run the ball pretty hard.
00:24:42
Speaker
And they couldn't do that as well. So they drew up something different. And I was shocked to be honest by, by how good he played. I didn't think that he had that in him, especially when they were losing. Cause most of the time they're front runners. They, will they're leading and they come back and they, they hold onto that lead. Now they did come back a couple of times, like against the giants, but that's the giants, like, you know, but this is different.
00:25:02
Speaker
This is the Packers. And I think they were 23, 14 down and to have that come back, It's pretty impressive, but like for me, I agree with you. like They end the season, they play with the Jags at home, who are also kind of on the way up. And I've seen more from Trevor Lawrence in the last three weeks than I did in the past four years. So that would be interesting to see. One of those games was the Jets.
00:25:25
Speaker
That's true. We've been seeing the last two and a half weeks. Yeah. yeah And then you've got Kansas City. Going to Kansas City, I know it's not it's not the same as having Mahomes there. He won't be playing. But at the same time, it is it will be difficult to to take on a division punt at any time. And then to finish against the Chargers, you know, I think the Chargers are very good. And for me right now, if I was looking at the AFC picture, I would take the Bills, the Chargers and the Texans all over the Broncos in a matchup.
00:25:57
Speaker
I'd say they're 50-50 with the Patriots. And then if the Ravens got in, I like their chances to to just be... to know what to do in the playoffs more than the Broncos do now that's an if um so really I'm looking at them maybe being the fifth best team in the division when it comes to the playoffs or in the in the conference but yet they're the number one seed so it's kind of weird saying that It's so hard to just like this whole season, and we're going to talk about it more in a couple of minutes. I won't jump too far ahead, but this whole season has just been so strange to watch.
00:26:31
Speaker
And the teams should be good have been terrible. it teams have been terrible, have been terrible. But then likes of Jaguars, they're all of a sudden, i think they're third seeds. Yeah. that's what Like how on earth has this happened? Like, and...
00:26:43
Speaker
The likes of the Chiefs, obviously, dropping out of the playoff picture is absolute. It's just bonkers to me that that's happened. And then you have Bo Nix shooting lights out. Trevor Lawrence shooting lights out over the last three weeks.
00:26:55
Speaker
The Texans have just been going under the radar, but they're still like they're solid. They just haven't done anything spectacular. They haven't done anything stupid either, so no one's been really talking about them. like i don't I don't like this version of the NFL. I want the old NFL back. The Chiefs can stay crap, but just bring back the old version of the NFL.
00:27:14
Speaker
I mean, it makes it harder for us to, like, analyze it and sound like we know what we're talking about because it's so random. Impossible, yeah. But at the same time, it makes it more ex exciting every weekend because everything is changing. It's kind of like the Premier League this season.
00:27:26
Speaker
Everything from, like... Well, at this point, Arsenal are coming back to the pack a little bit. So everything from the first position to like 13th is just pure random. Like anyone can beat anybody. um And I will say i haven't brought it up since we did the predictions because I didn't want to say it before they get there. But I'm going to come back to my prediction of the Bills and Texans being the AFC players.
00:27:51
Speaker
Championship game. i I'm pretty happy with that because I saw how good the Texans defense was and it was only a matter of a time before they clicked and and they really did and CJ Stroud is balling now so I'm pretty happy with that prediction now. It's not done, it's not there but those two seem like some of the strong, maybe two of the strongest teams in the that conference and and then last year you look at the Broncos as well they got battered thirty one seven by the Bills when they got into the playoffs so that will give you a whole lot of hope but let's see when they get there as you mentioned if you go back to predictions I'm going to say that I did call the Broncos to win the AFC as well in the predictions
00:28:31
Speaker
So people should listen to us both. There you go. You're on the ball there. So both of us are, we do know something, even in the craziest, craziest of NFL seasons, we do know a little bit something. Yeah, I take back what I said. i'm actually, i quite like this version of the NFL where I get things right. So we'll actually keep this one.
00:28:48
Speaker
So like like you said, it's kind of been a really weird season. Want to look at some of the teams that might still make it, but they're on the brink and then the Chiefs have been eliminated. So let's go on them first.
00:29:00
Speaker
First time Chiefs have missed a playoff since 2014. It was an unbelievable run to be fair. They got to the AFC Championship game or better every single year that Mahomes has been the starter since 2018, which is just crazy.
00:29:12
Speaker
Five Super Bowls in that time, I believe. To be fair, he had a good season this year. 3,500 yards, mostly kind of effective on the ground as well, more than he ever ever has been. 422 yards and five touchdowns.
00:29:26
Speaker
I think last year they won way too many tight games and it caught up to them. We both said that that would happen at the start the season and it has. And now ultimately they are eliminated officially. And right as that happened, and I hope people don't remember this as the season that he gets injured and blame that for why they missed out because they missed out way before he got injured. And now his ACL and LCL are torn, nine-month rehab after his surgery. So still expect him to be back week one, I would say. But yeah, a long road ahead and ah a very different road maybe for the Chiefs going into next year.
00:29:58
Speaker
Yeah, so I'm glad you brought up the point about how much running here to do this year in comparison to other years because one of my main points was that they're wide receivers. So Rashear Rice, Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown, they're they're all the same player.
00:30:15
Speaker
They're like, i don't know if that makes sense, but they all they all do the exact same thing as the other one does. They have no one out there who's like a real difference to what they're doing. So it's like everyone just knows, oh, just Rishi Rice goes deep or Wardy goes deep or Hollywood Brown might go deep or he might be the short ball. would say that it was just Kelsey. And then other that, he didn't really have anyone to kind of jump in the chips or down who was he counting on? Because Kelsey was kind of looked a bit over the hill this year at times. And then the three wide receivers are probably just I don't if immature is the right word, but I think Hollywood Brown is definitely immature and for the ball to drop. Xavier Ward, he's young in the league, and Rasheed Rice obviously missed a bit of time over off-field incidents. So i think he only threw 21 touchdown passes, which is nas and not a whole lot for him, and it's because he just didn't have the options.
00:31:03
Speaker
And then his defense was letting him down as well. so Like, yeah no one saw this coming. But as you said, like the amount of one score games they they were winning last year, it was going to catch up to them eventually. And it's just really, really come home to roost this year.
00:31:18
Speaker
Yeah, I think that's interesting because I feel like they probably drew up that like, oh, Hollywood, Brown and Wardy will be like our deep threats. And we're going to go back to like when we had Tyree Kill. Neither of those guys are a patch on Tyree Kill. So it's not the same thing. No. And Rice is supposed to be like your guy in the slant. And then teams are literally blowing him up like with tackles. And in the last two weeks, he got absolutely obliterated in two tackles. And Obviously, the the jokes wrote themselves from there after what he did in the offseason. So it's hard to have pity for somebody who did the things he did off the field. But some crazy some crazy stats on the Chiefs for you right now, right? So this season, 357.9 yards per game. And last year, they had yards per game. So just over better.
00:32:09
Speaker
23.4 points per game scored, 22.6 points per game scored last year, so they're better on that as well. They've allowed 303.1 yards per game, and last year they allowed 320.6 yards per game, so nearly 20 yards better there too.
00:32:25
Speaker
And then this year they've allowed 19.1 points per game, and last year they allowed 19.2, so barely better, pretty much the same. Last year they finished 15-2, this year they finished 6-8.
00:32:36
Speaker
They were better on every single thing, It just doesn't make sense. The way they were winning last year just did not make sense. And this year they've lost way more games than they should have.
00:32:47
Speaker
So it's kind of like the two seasons balanced out across the last two seasons. They're 21 and 10 up to this point, which you'd say, all right, yeah, maybe that's around what they've played. But the way it's dispersed is just pure random. Like last year, it only lose two games despite playing markedly worse than they have this year.
00:33:04
Speaker
Yeah, that's madness. and But it does go it just goes to show, like if you do a Patrick Mahomes, he can get you down the field, get you in field goal range with in the space of 40 seconds. And you like that's why they were winning all those games last year. it was just Harrison Booker kicking balls over the bar or Mahomes doing something absolutely out of this world that they just haven't been able to rely on this year. Booker's kicking.
00:33:24
Speaker
I brought it up on our Twitter um a couple of couple of weeks or maybe a few months back where his kicking has just been so poor. He was missing so many extra points at the start the season and it was costing him games. And like did I know this is ridiculous now, but the Giants moving on to their fourth kicker of the season, they just waived Young Way 2.
00:33:42
Speaker
like The fact that the Chiefs have stuck with Harrison Bucker for the whole season is a bit mad to me. Maybe there's just not many options out there, but like surely if you can trust your kicker, you just get rid of him the way the Giants have over and over and over again. Yeah, but it shows how bad the options are out there when they have to go through four.
00:33:59
Speaker
Yeah, that's the other side of it too. So I suppose it's kind of... They definitely know it better than the one that might come around knock on the door. So, don't know. just think there's so many things this year that have just...
00:34:12
Speaker
just have been so on chiefs like, and the the way they've attacked hasn't been very chiefs the way they've defended has been very chiefs. But it's the lack of attacking threat has really killed them and not being able to trust their kicker when they needed him as well has killed them.
00:34:27
Speaker
Yeah, no I agree with you. Definitely. and The kicking situation as he's missing, like at least one per game, which is not really something you can rely on. But looking at a couple of other teams then that,
00:34:40
Speaker
People expected to be well in it and probably comfortably in it by now and that are sitting on the outside. First of all, in the AFC, we have the Ravens. So they're second in their division. They are seven and seven right now. We've got the Pittsburgh Steelers at eight and six, but the Steelers did beat them already.
00:34:57
Speaker
So next up, the Steelers have Detroit and Cleveland. And next up, the Ravens have New England and Green Bay. Really two tough games. And and then final game of the season, Ravens.
00:35:12
Speaker
versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. Basically, could be coming down to the decider for the division because I fancy both teams to go one-on-one. I think the Lions will beat the Steelers and then they'll beat the Browns. And I think the Ravens might grab one win against New England or Green Bay.
00:35:28
Speaker
And then that'll come down to the final game. So that's... It's going to be really interesting interesting. It'll come down to other tiebreakers within the conference and divisional records and stuff like that. Won't bore you with all that right now, but...
00:35:39
Speaker
Like, do you think the Ravens are going to have one one over here or are ire the Steelers kind of already too far ahead that that one extra game will make all the difference? I think if the Steelers do lose to the Lions this week and coming and daynight i ander Ravens win, then I think the Ravens will pick them to it.
00:35:57
Speaker
In the Ravens defense, the injuries they've had across the board this year have been absolutely outrageous. It's just one of those freak seasons where I think everyone on the offensive line at one point has been out injured and LeMars has missed games as well. So it's been hard for them to get any sort of momentum. So for them to still be...
00:36:15
Speaker
even within fighting chance of getting a playoff spot at this point, i actually think needs to be commended a bit. I think if the Lions beat the Steelers, then the Ravens will pick them to it. Yeah, I think there was one point in the season where like maybe their five highest paid players or five so of their seven highest paid players were all out. And it was like over 100 million in cap space that was out. So it's it's kind of tough when you have that. The other side of it is Lamar looked really poor when he first came back because he was clearly not himself. But then last week...
00:36:45
Speaker
He was very good against the Bengals and he kind of put the Bengals to bed. So i do i do think that this weekend is pivotal because, like you said, if the Lions go out and they beat the Steelers and then you've got New England versus the Ravens, and I think that's on Sunday night football, that'll be a huge game then. And that'll be one that the Ravens need to win. So if that does go that way, I do fancy them to get there too. And and then another couple of teams I've highlighted on the NFC side of things are the Lions and the Bucks.
00:37:16
Speaker
So in the Lions situation, they're really looking to catch the Packers because I think The Bears have run away with that division maybe, unless the Packers do beat the Bears and then they are pulled straight back into it.
00:37:29
Speaker
But I just think that the Bears are kind of in a prime position right now, especially with Micah Parsons having gone down. and It's going to be tough for the Packers. So the Lions might be trying to catch the Packers for that seven seed. And then they're playing in Pittsburgh, Minnesota and the Bears.
00:37:45
Speaker
And the Packers play the Bears, Baltimore and Minnesota. So I find it difficult to see which one of these is going to get through because they both have very, very similar um lead-ins. It's really whether you value the Steelers or Ravens more and we we all of you kind of made a mark on that. So I think the Lions could still scrape in if they win their last three and and the Packers stumble to the finish line.
00:38:10
Speaker
Yeah, I'd like the Lions to get through, mostly because I did pick them to win the Super Bowl. So that's where all my money is. But they don't make the playoffs, I'll actually have to just hang my head in shame. be absolutely scandalous.
00:38:24
Speaker
The Lions team confused me because they're so good at at scoring points after point after points. But then they lose so many games. Like the game last weekend, they had such a commanding lead at halftime, just came out in the second half and forgot how to play.
00:38:36
Speaker
And they've done that a couple of times this year. and Then they go and beat the Cowboys, which was a tough game, and then lose again the week after. So they they they are really going to need to win. always think they have a 48% chance at the moment.
00:38:48
Speaker
okay Hopefully if they can win this weekend and get that up to about 73 and work out from there then. Yeah, I think that this Steelers game is... It's so funny the way these all interlock because you're looking at the Ravens and Steelers wanting to get in. You're looking at the Bears, Lions and Packers wanting to get in and they all end up playing each other at some point or some variation of that. And then over in the the NFC South, there's a different story altogether. It's like two teams that don't want to get in, in the Panthers and the Bucs, just growing games away.
00:39:19
Speaker
i think the Bucs have it now at this point because... Currently, they're leading the division because of their either division or or conference record. i'm not sure which one. They play each other twice. So it's the Panthers against the Bucks this weekend.
00:39:34
Speaker
Then the weekend after... The Bucs have the Dolphins and the Panthers have the Seahawks. So the Panthers have a way tougher game there. And then they finish up playing each other again. So I think the only way that the Panthers get this spot is if they beat the Bucs twice. Because I like the Bucs to beat the Dolphins. And if they split the other games... then I think i think it's it's lights it's it's good night for the Panthers there, unfortunately, who had a great chance. I think the books are just going to sneak in and then they'll probably get hammered in the first round of the playoffs because they don't look the same team as they were six, seven, eight weeks ago even.
00:40:09
Speaker
Yeah, and I think the Panthers would be happy with the way the season has gone from in general. and From how bad they were last year to what they've done this year has been a massive turnaround for them. So... I don't see them beating the Bucs twice and winning their other game as well. So I agree with you. I think the Bucs will sneak in and then get absolutely walloped out the door in the first round or the wildcard round.
00:40:30
Speaker
Yeah, this is a really tough NFC as well. then they'd be playing like They could play the Lions, Packers, Niners, Seahawks in the first round. like That's going to be way too tough. So, yeah, I think it's going to be interesting and it's interesting to see these teams just still sitting on the outside after how long we are into this season and different times when we expected them to just... They looked already this season, like the Lions especially, and the Bucks both looked like on fire at points in this season and now they've just fallen off really. Before we do move on, just one more thing. The Christmas Day games went from looking like a group of world-beater games to games that could mean absolutely nothing by the time we get to them.
00:41:09
Speaker
Commanders, Cowboys, Cowboys and Commanders could be out of the reckoning. Vikings, Lions. If the Lions lose this weekend, they're out of the reckoning. And then Chiefs, sp Broncos. Broncos are through and Chiefs are out. So Amazon and Netflix must be hair and hair out left, right and center. Like how have we let this happen? Were these the games we picked and none of them have any meaning for the 300 million we spent on them?
00:41:30
Speaker
I know and Jadon Daniels is shut down for the season as well so it's like a completely boring game I think ah nobody will be watching that and then it'll be the ah they'll just be praying that the Lions can win this weekend to keep that other one interesting but yeah So gone chance then from, from last week, you had one, right? And I did not have any. So we're even right now. We're 14, 14. Um, yes. I think the first time we've been tied or maybe in a long time, for the first time. Yeah, no, it is the first time we've been tied. Yeah.
00:42:01
Speaker
I had the Bengals to beat the Ravens and that didn't come off. That was awful. Burnley to beat Fulham was bit of a mad game, but it didn't come off. And then the Hawks to beat the Pistons. um The Pistons ran away with it late. You had the Lions to beat the Rams, which the Rams kind of enforced their will at the end of that game West Ham to beat Villa which was an interesting game as well but didn't work out and then the Bucks to beat the Celtics which probably was the least likely out of the three for me in my mind but still that one came off it was the least likely of the six that were picked I think yeah
00:42:36
Speaker
So you you got that one over the line. I'll throw out mine this week. So first up, I'm going with the Chargers to beat the Cowboys. Chargers are 11 to 10 and the Cowboys are 10 to 13. That's Sunday at 6 p.m. I think I don't know why the Chargers are underdogs here, because I know they've got a banged off ah offensive line. And i I think it is in Dallas. But either way, the Chargers just basically love to muddy up games and and beat teams the way they want to beat them.
00:43:03
Speaker
So i think they'll just do that again. Everton then 9-2 to beat Arsenal, who are 3-5. That's Saturday night at 8pm. i just think it's written in the stars that Arsenal lose this weekend and City win, so that City are top at Christmas after how well Arsenal have gone. And it just happens that that that's the way it ends up at Christmas time.
00:43:21
Speaker
It would just be such an Arsenal unfolding of events. And I think Everton will want to bounce back from that Chelsea loss because they've been very up and down this season. I think this could be one of their... Games where they're in the up at home um in an evening game before Christmas. And then lastly, i know I've talked good about the Magic and I expect them to continue to put it together, but I'm going with the Jazz to beat them.
00:43:43
Speaker
The Jazz are 10 and 15 and the Magic are 15 and 12, 15 and 11, sorry. And that's at 2.30 a.m. on Friday night. But like... The Magic, they they do lose games and you saw we saw the Jazz, they can put up like 140 points in a game.
00:43:57
Speaker
and Like they almost did to the Rockets, they they beat them and put up a lot of points. So I think the Magic sometimes find it very hard to score a lot. So if the Jazz have one of those nights, then i think this one could come off. um I can't tell you how close we are to having three the same this week.
00:44:14
Speaker
I had i have the Jazz, I had the Chargers. I was so close having Everton to beat Arsenal, but I actually changed it up last second. and I've got my Wolves to beat Brentford. Wolves 13-5, Brentford evens.
00:44:26
Speaker
Wolves are going to win again eventually. Brentford are absolutely horrific away from home. Wolves have gone well have've gotten some of their confidence out that arse the game last week, knowing that they can. They're still absolutely atrocious, but knowing that they can kind of put it up to someone.
00:44:39
Speaker
I could see them going out here and just getting 1-0 up and just holding out. I know Igor Tiaga is scoring goals like there's no tomorrow. And if if a man called Hallen didn't exist, he would be the top scorer in the league. But...
00:44:51
Speaker
Brentford's away form is just so, so poor that I think Wolves, if Wolves don't win this one, then it could be March before they even look like winning the game. So I've gone with Wolves to beat Brentford, Jazz to beat the Magic and Chargers to beat the Cowboys.
00:45:03
Speaker
We're actually on two counts very close to being same because I was like very, very close to going with Wolves. And I was thinking the exact same thing. They have to win at one point. And then I was like, I don't want to go against Brentford because of the Irish thing. was like, I'm just going with Everton because it's more funny if they manage to get a win over and City win. So, yeah, interesting. I think those are to the four solid picks between us that we've we've come up with there. So, I like them.
00:45:32
Speaker
Let's move on then to the football. We've got our performance of the weekend as usual. So Nottingham Forest 3, Spurs 0. An absolute battering. Right from the start, Forest looked like they were rattling that Spurs defence. I think it was Sangare hit the post after like five minutes.
00:45:48
Speaker
Spurs could not deal with the ball into the box at any point. And and honestly, I can't stand Vacario. I think he's an awful goalkeeper. He makes so many mistakes and then he tries to blame it on everybody else. Like that one against Fulham where he kept the ball in play, jogged back to the goal and then started blaming everybody else. And then he did the same thing in this game. Gave it to Archie Gray. didn't shout Didn't give him a shout there to someone behind him.
00:46:11
Speaker
Gray loses the ball, it's a goal, and then he gives out to Gray. like You put him in a dire position there. Both of you should be taking the blame. You can't blame him. um But... On Forest side of things, Hudson-Odoi on fire. Second goal was definitely a cross, but the technique was brilliant anyway. And then Sangari's technique for that goal, my lord, off the post. So yeah, what did you think of Forest on Saturday?
00:46:42
Speaker
First of all, I want to continue the the dumping on Vicario. He's absolutely atrocious. He can't do anything anything from corners or crosses. Blames everyone else. His shop stopping is, it's it's average. it was and It was a lot better last year than it is this year. I just think he, he's not a keeper to be playing for team playing Champions League. um I think he's absolutely awful.
00:47:04
Speaker
But Spurs are far worse. We'll get on to them in a second. I think for Forrest, honestly, at this point, I think there's no team in the league is in more of a false position than Forrest are. They're far too good to be down where they are in 16th, I think, the year now. If they keep going to where they're going, they'll surely get into the top 10 or top 12. might be top 12 with how poor they started the season, but...
00:47:25
Speaker
And Elliot Anderson, St. Gary is coming into his own now. Callum Hudson, although he was excellent against Spurs as well, Spurs just couldn't deal with him. Just could not deal with him at all. And Thomas Frank's subs made no sense. Bringing on Ben Davies, because you were struggling with people running at you, is you might well have just like, just taken off dead friends and brought on no one. Because Ben Davies has no pace anymore. So what are you doing putting him in there as kind of left-sided centre-back of a back four? It just made no sense.
00:47:52
Speaker
Thomas Frank will be in trouble. he just I just, Elliot Anderson is some player. Sangare, they signed him years ago and he did nothing for a while, but now he's he's looking like the player they wanted this year.
00:48:03
Speaker
I'd love their two fullbacks. They were excellent against Liverpool as well. Salah Neen, Salah Minow, and Nico Williams. Sabona, thank you. Should have written it down. full i it's ah It's Christmas, was talking about Semolina.
00:48:18
Speaker
Jesus Christ. Yeah, just Eve. Awful. Even on the stats, like 15 shots to five. Spurs should not be going to nothing for us at any point than giving up three times as many shots.
00:48:33
Speaker
Especially when this Forrest goalkeeper is making his Premier League debut and he's absolutely awful by all accounts as well. like You need to just start firing balls at him left, right and centre and seeing if he'll do what Ficario does over and over again.
00:48:46
Speaker
Spurs, more fouls, more yellow cards. Just like, but the fouls weren't even, i'm angry at you, I'm going to kick you so I get a bit of anger out. It was just, they couldn't keep up with Forest players running past them. So they just had to just hack at them. Like it was just, it was actually embarrassing from Spurs.
00:49:04
Speaker
Yeah, it was. It was, I think they're just absolutely miles off it. And the overlaps are interesting because you had Ange there last season and... Then he went to Forrest and he's the one that got Forrest into this position. And now you've got Frank in at Spurs. and their defense is as bad as it should be statistically. The amount of chances they're giving up, they're conceding around as much as they're giving up.
00:49:27
Speaker
And then they're overperforming their attack by 10 goals. So they should actually be even worse than they are, which is hard to imagine. And I don't think Frank is going to last too long. because they're going to slip down the table playing like this. They've got Liverpool and this weekend. I think that should be a game that Liverpool will be licking their lips over and a great opportunity to keep climbing. Then Palace away, which is such a tough game. Brentford away, which has proven to be tough.
00:49:53
Speaker
um Sunderland who just don't seem to quit and they seem like a team that could just run all over Spurs because Spurs look unfit and unfit not physical at all at times as you've mentioned and then lastly they've got Brentford away or Bournemouth away sorry which is another really really tough game so about that next five If he doesn't pick up more than nine points there, he he could be gone. Because i honestly, if they lose three in a row or four in a row at any point, I i don't know how they stick with him because the football just isn't something that you can get behind either.
00:50:26
Speaker
Yeah, I think a couple of those games are coming at a good time. So especially playing Sunderland now, they've lost five players AFCON. So and unless any of them are back and by the time that comes around, I think it's a really good time to play Sunderland around now.
00:50:40
Speaker
Like if Newcastle played Sunderland this weekend, I said last weekend, they'd probably beat them. But I love that Newcastle performance. I'm glad we don't have to talk about it, to honest. It was absolutely atrocious. But Sunderland weren't much better than them either.
00:50:54
Speaker
Like, they're losing, I think it's five, sorry, they're losing seven players Afgan and five of them played against Newcastle. So, if if if none of them are back, it's a good time to play them. Outside of that, I hope Liverpool can go and just do a job on Spurs. Palace were really unlucky. I know they lost 3-0 in the end, but they were actually really good against City at the weekend.
00:51:13
Speaker
It's just, Man City just have that freak show up front and Phil Foden is on fire as well, so hard. Like, there's not much you can do, honestly. It's, It's never a 3-0 game. So like you could see Palace absolutely pulling one over on Spurs there. and then then Brentford at times looked like they could beat anyone at times, but they could lose to tiny anyone. So that that's the one that really is um a toss-up. And then Bournemouth away depends on what Bournemouth chose opposite to nil all against Chelsea or the four all against United. We'll have to wait and see. us it like did They could be without Temenya at that stage. Temenya could be at City or United or Liverpool or Spurs.
00:51:48
Speaker
So we'll have to wait and see by the time that rolls around. Yeah, it is an interesting run of games. There's so many things going into it. And and also the Palace game might be the best time because you have known Munoz and he's so important to the team. So that's an interesting interesting one too. But I think enough time on Spurs. I don't know what's going to happen there, but it doesn't look good.
00:52:09
Speaker
Bruno Fernandes. So he's there's an interview done with him. um The Portuguese national team set it up and it was done a couple of few weeks ago. um and But the quotes are only coming out from it now. So we'll just give you like the synopsis of it and maybe what it means and what says about Man United, to be honest to me, more than it does about Bruno. and He said that the club wanted me to go... in reference to the summer and he said he has that in his head he told the directors that but i think they didn't have the courage to make that decision i decided to stay because of family reasons which we knew his wife and kind of talked him into it but also because i genuinely like the club the conversation with the manager also made me stay but from the club side felt a bit like if you leave it's not so bad for us
00:52:55
Speaker
It hurts me a lot. More than hurting, it makes me sad because I'm a player that they have nothing to criticise about. I'm always available. I always play, good or bad. I give my all. Then you see things around you, players who don't value the club as much and don't defend the club as much. That makes you sad. i think it's...
00:53:14
Speaker
Kind of sad to read those quotes as a United fan because it's a disgrace what the club have done the time that he's been there. How amazing he's been at United since he joined, since 2020. they've not put a good system around him that works. They've moved him all over. They've asked him this year to play defensive midfield, for God's sake.
00:53:34
Speaker
We have so many different managers in, so many different players, and so much different drama and stuff going on and off the pitch. And he's always given... his full effort. and i think James Madison on Monday Night Football last week put it well when he said that he's underrated because everyone knows he's good, but he gets a lot of hate for other reasons. And also when you play for big teams, you're going to get hate. But like...
00:53:59
Speaker
For me, he's probably the most creative attacking midfielder in the world right now. And yes, he's playing defensive midfield. And yet he gives all his effort.
00:54:09
Speaker
And the club are literally, they literally said to him, like, the money is there. The money that's there is a good offer for you. So if you want to go, you can go. In other words, yeah, whatever, you can go.
00:54:20
Speaker
That's not how you speak to a player that you want to keep and someone that you want to be happy. And yet he's still, I think he's put in more effort this season than any other. And that's what happened in the off season or the preseason. It's, yeah, i just horrible taste in my mouth was left after reading that.
00:54:40
Speaker
Yeah, so in England, when a player starts approaching 30, they start thinking they need a makeover. It's like the furniture. That was one that stood out with me because it's not like he's been on a and a decreasing level over the last two years. If anything, he's been getting better and better. So, like, it's not football manager. I do that in football manager when players start getting 30, I start looking at getting rid of him. But I'm not the manager of a real football club. Spend but the hundreds of millions on the line. Like,
00:55:07
Speaker
I was reading the quotes again today, just going through them, and they're just they're mad. and I completely understand he's come out with them. I don't understand how it's taken the bones of three weeks for the quotes to come out into the public. It it seems kind of conveniently timed coming into the January transfer window for me.
00:55:24
Speaker
But um um i um until you win trophies, you're not valued as much, regardless of the club and league you're in. I was valued, and what values me most has to be the club. Although lately, I feel like I'm on tin ice.
00:55:36
Speaker
If he's on tonight, then the rest of them are in real, real trouble because the rest them are doing absolutely nothing in comparison to what he's doing. There's another one as well about... He nearly left two summers ago. and yeah The issue of loyalty is in view the same as it was.
00:55:50
Speaker
i could have left the last transfer window, earned him much more money. i was going to leave a season ago. I won't say where, but I would have won more trophies that season. I decided to stay because of family and you've gone into them and I genuinely love the club. But United are trying to push him out for the last two years and now...
00:56:05
Speaker
it's like there's another there's another offer in January from Saudi. So he's like, release those quotes the fans know if I go in January, it's it's not really my decision. Yeah, it's not my, yeah. I kind of feel like it's, on one hand, I kind of wish Salah would have come out and just spoke like this instead of being so kind veiled cloaks of his one.
00:56:25
Speaker
But also, I don't like that either them have had to do these interviews in the last couple of weeks to try and defend themselves at the clubs they've given so much to. And as you said, that it leaves a sour taste. some I thought Salah was in the wrong. I don't know.
00:56:38
Speaker
i think Bruno might be in the wrong. It will depend on how it plays out from here. We'll have to wait and see. But I just think it's a really weird in interview you to do. three weeks ago for it to not come out straight away. Like how is, how is a journalist sitting on this for three or four weeks and then saying, okay, now is the time to release this?
00:56:54
Speaker
Yeah, I think it could have been, like you said, coordinated with the but the time, but also sometimes things are embargoed until certain points based on, obviously, whatever period it was done in a different country as well with the Portuguese media. I don't know what way that that whole situation worked, but it does seem conveniently timed, almost as if, like you said, if I go in the summer or in the January transfer window, it's it's because of the club. But I think this couldn't be further worlds apart than what Salah did. Like, he's coming out and saying things that actually happened and what the club actually said to him. Yeah, that's what i meant when I said, I wish Salah would have done it this way, would have come out and said, the manager said this or the board have told me I'm not going to start for next day weeks instead of come out with all the kind of the nonsense he came out with. So no, I agree with you there. just wanted to say that. Yeah. Yeah, I think not even like on what you said there, but I saw an article today on yeah ESPN basically saying that the two of them did the same thing from Mark Ogden, who openly admitted he hates Man United. So I don't know where the journalistic integrity is there. But like these these things are not the same. I think Bruno is in a situation where the club is clearly not treated improperly for how well he's done. Like if you're looking here,
00:58:10
Speaker
This season alone, like you said, he's only getting better. Second most goals and assists in the Premier League with 12, most assists with 7, most chances created with 50, which by the way, he's the first player in Europe's top five leagues to reach 50 this season.
00:58:25
Speaker
Since his debut in February 2020 for United, he's created 588 chances. It's 156 more than second place.
00:58:34
Speaker
So he's just on another planet in terms of his ability as an attacking creator. And as I've already said, he's he's not playing in the right position. i just I just don't know. like The team cannot let him go. They just simply can't. If he if he goes, it's going to be even worse. like the talk The talk in the summer will sell him and use the money to get Baleba. Do you see how horribly Baleba has been playing this season? like You're talking about one of the best players in Europe, of the best in the world.
00:59:02
Speaker
And you want to sell them just so you can get an unproven player. No, Balebo is the type of player you need to play alongside him. And these things, yeah, the fans as well just don't make sense. And I think as as if you heard the fans all saying, you know, sell them, whatever, they're just seeing it from the outside, not knowing what's going on. But then inside the club, this is what's going on.
00:59:24
Speaker
That's just a massive issue. And and it's just creating more smoke because... Manu, like you know he he didn't get to play much and Amarim had terrible quotes on him and some of the other young players. Next thing, Manu's brother is wearing a t-shirt saying free Kabi Manu, throw smoke on the fire. And we know what that's going to lead to the way the the media is in England, the different types of... articles that are going to be written about Manu and his family there.
00:59:49
Speaker
um So that doesn't help anything. And now this with Bruno is just constantly something, especially when in that Bournemouth game, I know it was 4-4, but United looked so much more promising than they had at any other point this season, attacking-wise, and kind of more fluidity and...
01:00:05
Speaker
finally looked like a United I watched 10 years ago because they actually fought back. they They threw the kitchen sink at the game and it didn't work. But I would take a 4-4 playing like that than the horrible way they've been playing over the last few years any day of the week. So to come off the back of that, to just be brought back down to earth with this and the Maynou thing is just, yeah, it's just sickening.
01:00:29
Speaker
Yeah, Khabib Maynou's brother is an idiot. is all I'm going to say in that. I think it's absolutely ridiculous. like Things are bad enough for for the kid without your brother trying to use you to stick on to his 15 minutes of fame because his Love Island contracts are running out. That's all he's doing. He's just trying to keep himself in headlines in the media. Oh, look what Cobby Maynard's brother did.
01:00:51
Speaker
Oh, look, that's the guy from this. like He's an absolute idiot. He was an idiot back then. He's an idiot now. i like Who gives anyone the sign off to into stadium and do that? There's no way Kaby Maynard was like, oh yeah, i absolutely do that. I can't wait to see it. Like that's something he's decided to go and do off his own back. Yeah.
01:01:07
Speaker
I'm an absolute clown. um Yeah, I think that like if that's if Kaby Maynard goes in January now, then I think that what his brother has done is going to have played a massive hand in in how this works out for Kaby Maynard now. And That's absolutely ridiculous from from any family member to do that. it's The reason it annoys me so much is because this is what Trent's brother was doing at times last year, not as pronounced as free Trent Alexander-Arnold, but...
01:01:35
Speaker
like putting up like Instagrams during the match of like beating Liverpool on FIFA and stuff like that. Just little things that were all out to try and just get in people's heads and like, oh, well, we had to go because Trent was upset with how was been spoken to. It was like, yeah, the stuff you brought on yourself. But we're not here to talk about Cobby Maynard. That could be next week's story. But for Bruno, everything you've said is dead right. And He's one the players that if he's on your team, you like him, it's not on team, you love him. And he's not on my team, so you don't love him if he's not on team. And I really dislike him, but there's no denying that he is a really, really good footballer. I just dislike because he's so mouthy.
01:02:15
Speaker
um I said last year I didn't think he was much of a captain for United. did I've been kind of made to eat my words for 99% of that now since since I said that back. I think it was either know our first or second episode 51, 52 weeks ago or episodes ago. But if he goes in January and Kaby Maynou goes in January, then United are in, they're in real bother. If Maynou forced a move and they accept this Saudi offer that I think is probably on the table for Bruno, then Where are you going? are you going to sign Tomenio and play him defending midfield next? Because defending midfield is not that far from when Amarim wants to play him as right wing back. So we'll have to wait and see what United do. bus
01:02:59
Speaker
Like, yeah I actually, that game was so enjoyable the other night as a neutral. I'm not sure if you enjoyed it as much, but when United went to the 4-4-2, they just looked so much better.
01:03:10
Speaker
Mateus Cunha just had so much freedom down the left. Mbremo was quite an issue the other night, the amount of chances he missed, but... That's just one of those games as well. I don't think been like that all season. i think he's been scoring goals. So just kind of chalked that off as one of those. But even Seshko looked reborn having a second man beside him. I know he didn't score, but he didn't look terrible. And he was he was like leading breaks as well. So 4-4-2 might be the future. It gets Brumino further forward as well. And that was some free kick he took too. But I just think if you United start selling players like him, then...
01:03:44
Speaker
everything, even if you're not back on the way to where you were, you just go plumb him right back down to the bottom of the mountain if you're going seven players like him again. Yeah, I 100% agree. If him and Maynard are gone, it's pretty much...
01:03:57
Speaker
two of the most enjoyable parts about the club for me because one thing is just playing young players and if they're not going to get played like me who had a good game I thought when he came on so this is I think the next thing would be he'd get a a start in the next few weeks and this might just put him way back to the back of the line and the thing that his brother did obviously and now we've got Bruno possibly leaving like I just yeah let's wait and see what happens because if those two things If those two guys are gone, it's it's really bad. and But yeah, I agree with the 4-4-2 just made the world of difference. Even in the first half, it was set up as a 3 the back, but Ahmed pushed so high, it was basically 4-3-3. And it looked kind of it looked good there too, and then the 4-4-2 looked good as well. So all of it looked a lot better. So let's hope it continues as a United fan. Let's quickly preview Newcastle versus Chelsea.
01:04:46
Speaker
So we've got Newcastle at home to Chelsea, 12.30pm Saturday, the early game. It's a pretty big one for Newcastle, I would say, because at home they have 16 points in eight games, but overall they have only 22. So they're only taking six games from their other eight six points from their other eight away from home. So this one is at home.
01:05:07
Speaker
It's hard to evaluate because they were so bad away at Sunderland. I think Eddie Howe set them up all wrong again away from home, just hoping to scrape out a nil-nil or a one-nil counterattack. which he's done a lot this season. And then at home, they look at a completely different team. And and then Chelsea, their overall form would would point to a win because they've they've looked better over the last few weeks. and But they were on a winless run of four games before they beat Everton at the weekend and and Cardiff in the League Cup. So not exactly world beaters. And then away from home, they're actually the second best team in the league. 14 points in eight games, 15 goals for and eight against...
01:05:46
Speaker
So there's so many confusing things that are counteracting each other in form and how these teams are playing to call it. Yeah, that Sunderland-Newcastle game was one of the biggest games of nothing happening I've ever seen in my life.
01:06:02
Speaker
The own goal from Baltimore is just some finish from a striker in the wrong box. Yeah, it's unbelievable finish. post and Eddie Howe started that game like he was 1-0 up. 4-5-1, just playing so deep. Sunderland's back four were basically playing on halfway line. And this is Sunderland team who want to sit back and kind of draw pressure on themselves. It was like two teams just sitting off each other, didn't know what to do.
01:06:25
Speaker
i think the XG was 0.24 to 0.24 at the end, which is criminally low for a game of football, especially a derby. And I've said it for a long time. look I don't think Eddie Howe is the biggest spoof in the league. I think that's Arteta. But Eddie Howe is definitely the heir to the throne when Arteta gets sacked at the end season as the biggest spoof in the league. I just don't. I think he's an okay manager, but he's not a manager to be managing a team that is in the Champions League.
01:06:53
Speaker
After every Champions League season they have, to to so here during the they're in the Champions League, they're always really poor. He can't do this three games a week. He doesn't know how to do it. His subs, again, were very strange. You know, had a couple of players missing, but I presume Joe Linton wasn't fit or he would have played some sort of minute, so he'll probably be back this week.
01:07:12
Speaker
I think Chelsea just going to walk in here and just stroll about and walk out again with a 2-0 win. um I don't see Newcastle being able to put a judge on him. I still don't know if Chelsea are good. It's a bit like all the NFL teams, but this is not one we're going to be able to judge him on.
01:07:27
Speaker
Yeah, i I've said, my dad is a Newcastle fan, I've said to him like multiple times throughout the years that I don't think how is good enough for the level Newcastle want to be at And then it always seems like a month after that, then Newcastle win like six games in a row.
01:07:41
Speaker
And it's like, oh, how, you know, he's doing a good job
Chelsea's Champions League Performance
01:07:44
Speaker
now. But like like you said, being an elite manager, it's being able to navigate these seasons where you do have Champions League. They're doing brilliantly in the Champions League this time around, but then in the league they're doing so bad.
01:07:55
Speaker
And the way he sets them up away from home is... It's it's really hard to watch and it's hard to get behind. and It's hard to to see that that's the right thing to do. And you can clearly tell that it's not, despite how they played away from home
Chelsea vs Newcastle Predictions
01:08:08
Speaker
last season. It doesn't excuse it. And so, yeah, I don't know. I think Chelsea are quite creative. and They create a lot of chances, third most big chances in the league. And...
01:08:17
Speaker
Then they've got Cole Palmer coming back now. so they're going to get more clinical, going to create more chances. And I just think, despite Newcastle's home record, I think Chelsea will have too much for them. So I've gone with a 2-1 to Chelsea here. So we've both got Chelsea to win. and i think, yeah, I think it's going to be a win for Chelsea. I think they might go on a bit of a run here, as they tend to do, and then fall off again. So let's see how that one
Updated Sports Power Rankings
01:08:41
Speaker
goes. Wrapping up then on our power rankings, I'll throw it to you first if you want to give last week's and and then this week's.
01:08:47
Speaker
Yeah, perfect. So last week I was OKC, Arsenal, Villa, Rockets, Patriots and Broncos. I've made a couple of changes this week. So OKC stay top because... they're just They're the best team in all of sports at the moment. Villa move up to second for me.
01:09:03
Speaker
Broncos up to third. The Bills are in to replace the Patriots. That game was mad. I can't believe didn't actually touch on it when we talking about it, but the Bills are just an absolute class act.
01:09:14
Speaker
I have had to drop out the Rockets for the Knicks, obviously and NBA Cup champions, but they're also 9-1 in their last 10, so they're on a really good run. And I finally got the chance to knock out Arsenal.
01:09:26
Speaker
And they're gone. And in Cumban City, who are four wins and a draw
Team Performance Discussions
01:09:30
Speaker
in their last five. And will hopefully go top to Premier League this weekend. Yeah, i I like the list. and I still can't believe you don't have the Rams in there. Because for me, they're just such a good team that I just can't see how they can't be in there. They're just unbelievable. But I've got a changed up list. I'm going with the Knicks first.
01:09:51
Speaker
They won the NBA Cup. Let's give them a pop. um they're i can already tell you they're going back down again next week but i wanted to give it to them for this week because i think they deserve it for their cup win um in second i still have the rams they haven't moved okc are in third but they're probably going to climb back up um just with next seven haven't gotten this little cup run Obviously, they're still the best team in basketball, but it's nice to have a bit of a change at the top. Fourth, then, I've got City.
01:10:20
Speaker
They're a new entry. and Five wins in a row. they're They're just, in all competitions, they're just flying. And and they're winning right now in the Caribou Cup, as we're recording this one on a Wednesday. And 1-0 up to Brentford. Fifth, then, I've got Arsenal.
01:10:36
Speaker
three wins and a draw in their last five and one loss so not horrible but they were pretty poor against Wolves and didn't look very powerful compared to the way City have looked recently so they slipped down one and then the Broncos are in for me at six because what Bo Nix did with them is really really special against the the Packers but I don't think it's a long-term thing but for now they look powerful so they're getting that last spot So I've got Knicks, Rams, OKC, City, Arsenal and Broncos. and I'm sorry, last week. Four the same. day
01:11:07
Speaker
Yeah, four the same. Last week, i I forgot to say mine was OKC, Rams, Villa, Arsenal, Seahawks and Spurs and San Antonio Spurs. So I dropped out Villa, Seahawks and San Antonio Spurs. I can't believe you dropped out Villa of all teams. I just think that like we talked about last week, like they they're overperforming massively. And I think. Oh, yeah. It makes no sense.
01:11:29
Speaker
But like they're still really good and they'd definitely be third on a Premier League
Episode Wrap-Up and Listener Engagement
01:11:33
Speaker
power rankings. But I just think City, what they're doing, and Arsenal, what they've done across the season just is a little bit better for me.
01:11:40
Speaker
Fair enough. But yeah, that's it for this week. Got a lot in there for you guys. Hope you enjoyed the episode. All the usual good stuff to like and subscribe and leave a comment. Rate, review, everything. All you can do, do it for us, please. Shane, I'll throw it to you.
01:11:55
Speaker
Yeah, there's not much to add to that, lads. We'll see you next week. Thank you very much. Nice one, Eds. Welcome back to another episode of Who's Got the Ball with Shane and James.