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Super Bowl LX Preview | Anthony Davis and James Harden Traded | Can West Ham Catch Forest or Leeds?
2 Playsin 6 hours
Who’s Got The Ball? – Episode 60 | Super Bowl Preview, NBA Trades & Premier League Talking Points
Shane and James return for Episode 60 of Who’s Got The Ball?, and it’s a packed show with wall-to-wall sports analysis.
🏈 NFL & Super Bowl Preview
The lads break down the Super Bowl, analysing the key players, tactical match-ups, and the headline quarterback duel Drake Maye vs Sam Darnold. Who has the edge? Plus, a Super Bowl score prediction.
🏀 NBA Trade Deadline Talk
With the NBA Trade Deadline heating up, Shane and James react to the latest blockbuster moves, including the Anthony Davis trade and James Harden trade, and what they mean for the playoff picture.
⚽ Premier League Breakdown
The football chat covers Brentford’s big win over Aston Villa, asks whether West Ham can catch Nottingham Forest, and delivers a full preview of Liverpool vs Manchester City ahead of Sunday’s clash.
🎯 Regular Features
- Gan Seans returns
- James holds a commanding 4-point lead
- The latest Power Rankings
👉 Subscribe, rate, and follow Who’s Got The Ball? for weekly NFL analysis, NBA debate, Premier League coverage, predictions, power rankings, and bold opinions.
🎧 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
🔁 New episodes drop weekly!
Follow/subscribe so you never miss a breakdown of the latest in the EPL, NBA, and NFL.
💬 Connect with us:
📸 Instagram → @whosgottheballpod | X / TikTok → @wgtbpod
📩 Send your takes → wgtbpod@gmail.com
🌍 Based in Ireland | Talking global sports weekly
(0:00) Intro
(4:21) Super Bowl LX Preview
(21:51) James Harden Traded
(29:12) AD Traded AGAIN
(38:04) Coby White Traded
(40:29) Gan Seans: Our Underdog Picks
(45:30) Brentford Continue to Impress
(50:20) Can West Ham Avoid Relegation?
(55:42) Liverpool vs Man City Preview
(1:01:22) Multi-Sport Power Rankings
Recommended
Transcript
Host's Illness and Missed Super Bowl
00:00:09
Speaker
Alright lads, welcome back to another episode of Who's Got the Ball. Myself and Shane here back once again. Before we get into the episode, obviously I'm not in San Francisco. This is the closest I'm getting. Wearing San Francisco Giants hat.
00:00:24
Speaker
We mentioned the last couple of episodes that both of us were ill and mine came back way worse than it was before. had to go back on really strong antibiotics literally like a couple of days before I was due to travel and I was pretty much bedridden, couldn't do anything, definitely wasn't in a state to travel and just finished those today.
00:00:45
Speaker
Still taking a lot out me because they're a very strong medication that was on. So really disappointed to miss out on heading to San Francisco to cover the Super Bowl, but I'm sure there'll be plenty more chances in the future and hopefully we'll get who's got the ball over there pretty soon. And as I said, plenty more to come, so let's not get too
Episode Release Schedule and NBA Trade Deadline
00:01:05
Speaker
down on it. But yeah, it's That's why we've got our regular release on a Friday instead of what we' we're going to do as an early Tuesday episode. So that's why it's dropping into your feeds on Friday. And as I'll say later, I've got an extra episode coming on Saturday with Michael just talking all and NBA trade deadlines. So that's going to be releasing on Saturday. So two episodes for you still this week. and But Shane, what's a crack?
00:01:28
Speaker
Not whole lot. I went to see the Anfield Wrap live in Dolan's last night. So I'm a small bit worse from where. two of the lads got added into a group chat I'm in from the Ampule Wrap. However, i managed to pull that one off. So just waitingned waiting for them patiently to leave because i think they are surely going to leave the podcast with me and three of my friends talking about Liverpool. Other than that, it's been a quiet week. I am finally off those antibiotics as well. I was on the same one as you and they were they were just mind blowing.
00:01:58
Speaker
Whatever's in them. I know they did do the job and get rid of whatever it is, but my God, they just take it take every bit of energy out here as well. So just wanted to put that in there. Other than that, all quiet. Looking forward to people seeing another masterclass of an episode from us.
00:02:12
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. As usual, was with the good stuff and you get the extra full experience with the two of us now that I'm not in San Francisco, so it's not broken up or anything like that. got the full usual episode for you. So,
00:02:24
Speaker
Quite a treat. Don't say we don't do anything for
Ireland vs France Six Nations Preview
00:02:26
Speaker
you. Ireland against France tonight in the Six Nations. You'll know the crack with the story tomorrow. ah The crack with the story? The crack with the score tomorrow when you listen to this because it'll be Friday. and But I'm kind of nervous about that one, to be honest. I can tell you now what the score was. The score was 31-19 to France.
00:02:44
Speaker
Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if if France did win by double digits. Pretty nervous for that. But let's get into what we talked about in this episode.
Super Bowl Preview and Predictions
00:02:52
Speaker
So obviously we led with a Super Bowl preview. and Had to be done, had to get into the big game, give our predictions on who we thought was going to win and and the thoughts behind all of it. We got into individual players and quarterbacks and and the whole thing. and Plenty of detail in there for you. So full preview to listen into.
NBA Trades Discussion: Davis and Harden
00:03:10
Speaker
We moved into the and NBA then. We talked about the Anthony Davis and the James Harden trades because they're the two major ones that went down. and on wednesday and Tuesday and Wednesday. and Everything that went down outside of that and everything that goes down on Thursday night before the deadline will be covered with myself and Michael on Saturday's episode. Then we gave our gone chance picks. um I'm in a four-point lead at the moment. Moving into the performance of the weekend, then for last weekend in the Premier League, it was Brentford beating Villa.
00:03:40
Speaker
and We took our time to talk about them because we've they've been so impressive and that Irish connection is strong there with them. Then we asked the question, can West Ham catch Forest?
West Ham's Premier League Analysis
00:03:49
Speaker
We talked about our thoughts on that and some key games coming up that will most likely determine the answer to those quite to that question.
00:03:57
Speaker
Then Liverpool versus Man City preview for the weekend. That's the big one in Super Sunday. We're both very much looking forward to that. I think we both thought there'd be a lot of goals and a lot of excitement. So we listen to our thoughts there on that one. and To wrap the episode, we've got power rankings as usual. So A packed episode. Hope you enjoy it. Episode 60 hitting your ears now. Let's get into it.
00:04:20
Speaker
Okay, so where else to start other than the Super Bowl? I guess it's the biggest day of the year for a lot of sports fans. This year is going to be pretty cool because obviously we've got the World Cup as well. So it's probably not the biggest moment of the year for us i'm considering we're soccer fans too. And that's kind of the pinnacle. But this is a close second.
00:04:43
Speaker
It's finally here though. like It feels like it came around so quickly. So the fact that the Super Bowl is this Sunday in San Francisco is absolutely mad. Like it seems like the season was gone by in the blink of an eye. Like we're waiting for it to come so quickly and now it's gone. But we've got our two teams. It's the Patriots and Seahawks.
00:05:04
Speaker
We're going to give you our breakdown, what we think, everything for this big game on Sunday. So let's start with the quarterbacks. Drake May.
00:05:16
Speaker
underwhelming i guess so far in the playoffs it's gone 10 for 21 for 86 yards in the afc championship game regardless of whether that's a pretty horrendous stat line and then when you compare it to sam darnold who had the best game of his life 25 36 for
Liverpool vs Man City Match Preview
00:05:33
Speaker
346 yards and three touchdowns against the rams like there's a stark difference there for me that's That's a key point to start. and if If that carries on into the game, then this is no contest already.
00:05:47
Speaker
Yeah, that is, i know it's very easy to say, but that is the winning and the losing of this game is if Drake May shows up or not. If Drake May shows up, then it can be a competitive game. And that's really all I'm looking for here because I only see one winner.
00:06:00
Speaker
I just want it to not be and complete blowout where you're going to sleep at halftime because the halftime show is in Fergie anyway. So just go to bed
Future Topics and Episode Wrap-up
00:06:08
Speaker
at half one and get a good night's sleep. I want it to be competitive going into the fourth quarter and...
00:06:13
Speaker
A lot of it depends on which Drake May shows up because I i think we can say with a lot of confidence that Sam Darnold is going to show up. He's shown up all season. He learned from last year with the Vikings what not to do in a playoff game and he hasn't done it once this year.
00:06:27
Speaker
He's been superb and especially superb throughout the playoffs. So we can say with confidence he'll show up, but it's all on Drake May showing up and I really hope he does. yeah Yeah, I think you make a good point about last season's playoffs.
00:06:43
Speaker
and Darnold last season in general, because like when it came to the main part of the season, when it came to the important part, they lost that game um to get the one seed, and then ultimately after that, then they they went out um very quickly.
00:06:59
Speaker
But this time around, he didn't make that same mistake. They beat the 49ers to grab the one seed, got the bye week, played the Niners again, and absolutely wiped the floor with them, and then beat the Rams like that the run hasn't been easy because those three games are probably the three biggest of his career especially considering it's against the divisional opponents the Rams gave him so much trouble during the season causing I think he had six interceptions in two games against them in the regular season and then come into the playoffs he hasn't had one interception in those two Niners games and in the Rams game which it's just a major turnaround and
00:07:39
Speaker
It's funny to say that we know that he's not going to stumble because he was kind of known for that. That was something that everybody was waiting for. And now all of a sudden, i mentioned it last week, but Drake May has a minus 17.7 EPA as a passer in the playoffs.
00:07:57
Speaker
There's only one other quarterback who's had a negative one, and that was Jimmy Garoppolo in 2019. It's crazy how the picture going into this game is now that can May perform and Darnold is definitely going to.
00:08:09
Speaker
When, if you had said it maybe four or five weeks ago, everyone was like, well, Darnold still needs to prove it in the major part of the season and May looks like he can do it. But people forget that May is only in his second year. And yeah it's not exactly an easy task, but he hasn't really lived up to the playoffs as of yet.
00:08:30
Speaker
No, but they still found a way to get through the games and they are still in the Super Bowl. So we do have to give them a bit of respect for that, especially that the Texans game. but Just their defense got them through that really, really well. Everyone was talking about Texans defense are going to put them up, run a mock or do a mockery of it. But they the Patriots defense stood up really, really well and they're going to need to do that again on Sunday because...
00:08:53
Speaker
If you give Jackson spinning Jigba any sort of space, then he's going to hurt you. Cooper Cough looks like he can hurt you at any time now as well at the moment. So it's really hard to see. kind of i just don't i don't I only see one winner, being perfectly honest. I do think the Seahawks are going to win this.
00:09:11
Speaker
The Seahawks are 4-9, the Patriots are 7-4. So if you put a tenner on the Patriots, you'd lose it. I just think that... i just think that I've written the Patriots off all season and they've proved me wrong over and over again, but I just don't see a way where they can put up enough points to stop the Seahawks putting up more than them in this game.
00:09:31
Speaker
Yeah, i've like I've always been the same this season, just waiting for the Patriots to stumble. But then you look at their... You can only beat who's in front of you, and they did that.
00:09:43
Speaker
And then in the playoffs, you said they found a way to get through. Their defense has been superb, like a lot better than... I thought it would be. And the red zone defense improved as well, which was quite poor during the regular season. That definitely took a turn in the right direction. But some of their major players, like Stefan Diggs, is going to have to have a massive game if this is going to be won. Because what other skilled players can you rely on against this this kind of Seahawks defense that's so good? like Who else are you relying on there? like Maybe Booty, if he gets a one-on-one on the outside.
00:10:17
Speaker
um one big throw for May sets them up. Other than that, Diggs is the guy that I think is going to have to perform and he hasn't during the playoffs. And that's down to May's play more than his, I think. But still, he needs to show up because out of everyone on the Patriots offense, he's the one star guy that you'd say, right, this is where you need to show up on the biggest stage of all. You've got your your chance in the Super Bowl. Can you do it now? Because The Seahawks defense is so stacked that I really don't like any of the matchups for the Patriots.
00:10:51
Speaker
I don't like their chances of running the ball that well. know Stevenson cleaned up his fumble issues, but it's going to be tough. So I think it's going to be down one to Stefan Diggs.
00:11:01
Speaker
And the second thing is going to be down to, you mentioned JSN, how he matches up with Christian Gonzalez. If he manages to keep JSN quiet and Diggs can do it on the other side, then the Patriots have a chance. But If those two things don't come off, I don't see big enough players around for the Patriots to step up for this game.
00:11:24
Speaker
How do you keep Jason quiet though is the question. Like no one has managed to find a way to do it in his two years in the league now. He's just, he runs all over everyone. There's nothing anyone can do. So if you can't stop him, then you need to slow him.
00:11:37
Speaker
But then if you double him, you're leaving someone else open. Cooper Cup open or you're leaving Kenna Walker open. Like there's so many people that if you if you try and focus on one, they're like, okay that's fine. We have another two or three options here. We can go to him instead and best of luck covering them all. So Yeah.
00:11:55
Speaker
Like I was saying how Drake May is the winning and losing of this, but JSN is the winning and losing on the other side. So if he shows up in any sort of way, then the Patriots are in big, big trouble if they can't even s slow him down, let alone stop him. And I don't see how you can stop him.
00:12:09
Speaker
I think he's almost like you might well start the game seven minutes to the Seahawks because he's definitely going to get a touchdown at some point. So might as well just put that on the board and kind of work from there. There's no one on the Patriots team that you can say is guaranteeing you a touchdown or guaranteeing you a score.
00:12:25
Speaker
I know you mentioned Stevenson has tidied up his fumble issues, but he's still, there is always going be that fear in the back of everyone's mind that he's one big hit away from just fumbling it again.
00:12:37
Speaker
he's never like He was good in the first year, but after that, he's never been really good at protecting the ball ever since. He's kind of just has fumble after fumble after fumble. So if the Seahawks just attack the ball when they're tackling him, then he will he's more likely to drop it than he is to hold on to it, I think, at some point in the game.
00:12:55
Speaker
So yeah we'll just have to wait and see. But I think Jackson Smith and Jigba is going to have a bit of fun um on unless Christian Gonzalez can manage to just do what no one else has done all season.
00:13:06
Speaker
I think if JSN as well has like a massive game where he has like 170 yards and two touchdowns, then you could see him getting the MVP. I know that Darnold would have had to have a good game too, but if he caps off his season by reaching that 2000 yard mark, which I think he needs like 35 yards to get there to be an elite company.
00:13:28
Speaker
And it's crazy how he's evolved his game too. Like, I agree with you. I don't think there's any way to slow him down because last season he led the league in the slot in total yardage. And this time he this season he led the league on the outside in total yardage. No player has ever done that.
00:13:47
Speaker
Led in two separate seasons, lined up in the slot and lined up outside. Usually you have one speciality and you might be good enough at the other, but you're not elite. He's elite no matter where you line him up.
00:14:01
Speaker
He's, for my money right now, he's the best receiver in the league. And yeah, I think you're right that it's going to be very, very tough to slow him down. And then you look at Kenneth Walker, who's on an absolute heater. Can the Patriots slow him down? Because they've slowed every running back down that they've faced in the playoffs so far.
00:14:20
Speaker
If they do slow him down, it limits the play action ability for Darnold, which he loves. Could that make him a little bit uncomfortable if he doesn't have Kenneth Walker to rely on? That's another question mark, something the Patriots could get after.
00:14:33
Speaker
So do you think that maybe the Patriots could slow them down in that way? I think if you slow down Kenna Walker, then it's just going to lead to more ball going to JSN.
00:14:46
Speaker
So it's kind of a I was listening to a thing last and it was like, um would you rather be stabbed or shot? So it's like, yeah do you want to slow down Kenna Walker? Do you want a slow slow down Jackson, Spinn and Jigba? Because...
00:14:59
Speaker
Either way, they're just going to go to the other one. So it's not going to make a massive difference. Well, it will make a difference, but it won't be a massive difference for Sam Darn if he has to just go long to JSN or if he know he does love day just ah the little drop down there to Kenna Walker and just let him do his stuff.
00:15:16
Speaker
The Patriots going to have to try something. So if if it means they start by trying to slow down Kenna Walker and then they're not seeing much benefit of it, then they can switch it up and try and slow down JSN then. But it could get ugly. As I said the top, I really hope it doesn't.
00:15:36
Speaker
and But I also hope to see Auclid win because I don't want the Patriots winning. As a Jets fan, you should never want the Patriots to win. like No. You know, so... that's understandable but like i just think they do have to pick their poison almost because at the start I think they probably will try to slow down Walker because in their minds that's the like that's the most logical first thing to try because if you slow him down it might slow down the play action which might in turn slow down JSN because Darnold is a little bit uncomfortable so let's see if the Patriots come out doing that first I think
00:16:11
Speaker
That could be something they do, kind of pack the box, make it hard for Walker to get going, and then try and see if Gonzalez can live on an island with JSN for as long as possible. And then maybe later in the game, you have to change that up. But I think we could see a close enough first half. Seahawks have done that a good few times in the regular season where they've had a kind of close first half in a game, and then out of nowhere in the second half, they just score like 30 points. And then it's like, wow.
00:16:39
Speaker
this it was it was kind of something that you slow down for a while, but you can't slow it down forever. Yeah. So one more key player I wanted to talk about is Nick Eamonwari.
00:16:51
Speaker
The fact that he's only in his first year for the Seahawks is crazy. 35th overall pick, plays that safety or nickel position. like The fact that he's six for three 220 pounds, he's a unit, he does everything 81 combined tackles this season 9 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and an interception from that position on 11 defended passes and that was just in his 14 regular season games like if he played a full season every single game the stats he could put up are ridiculous but he's like there Kyle Hamilton I know McDonald had that over in with the Ravens so that's obviously why he wanted that style of player
00:17:32
Speaker
And I just think that he's immense. He he has a bit of a an ankle injury. It's been reported coming out the last few days, but it's the Super Bowl. Even if it's something pretty bad, they'll strap that up and get him out there. And he'll play. I think he'll play out of his skin. He'll be a big player here.
00:17:49
Speaker
And that is something to look at. He hasn't, you know, had a forced any funnels this season, but if he gets a hard tackle on Stevenson, I'd put my money on him knocking the ball out. And he's one to watch.
00:18:00
Speaker
for me in this game, because his his ability this season has been oh just amazing to watch as a rookie. To get someone in the second round like that is nuts. Yeah, like last year we Cooper Dezean kind of...
00:18:13
Speaker
as the man who took over the league from corner and this year we have that fella. I'm not going to try and say his name. and I don't want to another clip of me butchering someone's name, but he's just had he's had an unbelievable season. You've listed out his stats there and he has been the kind of catalyst for this defence and they just trusted him. They trust him so much.
00:18:33
Speaker
i I don't blame him. all I trust him as well. I trust him to get ah to get a fumble or two out of Stevenson here 100%. And i just I just think the way Seahawks have just turned around this whole season from last year. No, they were okay last year, but what they've done this year compared to last year is just...
00:18:49
Speaker
It's day and night, but it's just incredible. And he's been absolutely superb. And as you said, he's only a rookie. He's only going to get better. Give him a full season, full regular season, 17 games and see what his staff there and say. It'll be quite scary if he gets a full season next year. yeah Yeah, yeah, 100%. And at the start of the season, I never could have imagined the Patriots getting to the Super Bowl, even at the start the playoffs, even two weeks ago.
00:19:14
Speaker
I thought someone's going to stop them. So credit to them for getting here. an Amazing job by Vrabel to coach this team up because they're still kind of a mismatch of parts that needs more years to build around May, but they're already here. So that's a testament to them.
00:19:29
Speaker
The Seahawks, as early as in the off season, I was on Danny O'Brien's radio show and I said, of all the teams that didn't make the playoffs last season, and the Seahawks are by far the scariest because of how they started to settle into that McDonald defense last season. towards the back end. It took a while for them to learn it, but once they got it, they had a 10-7 season and they were right on the cusp.
00:19:54
Speaker
Now, I never thought that they would get this far because Darnold was such a question mark at the start of the season, yeah despite Kubiak being a play-action king and that working for him. But just to get here, these two teams, amazing. As I said last week, it's the most unlikely Super Bowl ever based on the odds.
00:20:12
Speaker
So, um yeah, both of these teams, they deserve They deserve it for what they did, regardless of who they played. They still got here. You have to get here. and And that's a testament to individual players, but also the coaching.
00:20:25
Speaker
And I just like McDonald's. I love the Seahawks. I love what they've done. And I'm going with a 31-14 win for them here because I think the Patriots can maybe keep it close enough up until we get into the second half. But that's when it becomes kind of...
00:20:42
Speaker
business at the business end of things and that's where the Seahawks come out on top and they're going to get the win here by 17 points I have them winning I didn't want to give a score prediction because every score prediction I've given throughout the playoffs has been miserable to say the least what am going to go for I'll go for 21-10 the Seahawks Okay, pretty low score. think it's going to miles off. I think it might be 10-all at halftime. Yeah, I don't know. We'll see.
00:21:11
Speaker
Actually, i I didn't even think of giving the score because I was hoping to avoid it. So I didn't even try and put the one together in my head. So there we go. We'll just go with the one you've given there. Yeah, let's see how it goes. I think that's teetering on the line as well. It's like the money line or the points line is like 45. So. It's usually close enough, so let's hit around that. And the Seahawks are five-point favorites. I think that's generous to the Patriots, to be honest. and i would take the Seahawks minus six and a half to cover by a touchdown, maybe, if i was if I was going to do something there. And then JSN, I like him as the MVP, is five to one too. So just some bits thrown out there for you.
00:21:51
Speaker
Let's move into the NBA then. Absolutely going wild at the moment with the trades. We're recording this two hours before the deadline. so there's the possibility that a few more bits have gone on.
00:22:02
Speaker
and Some more bits have gone on yesterday and today that we're not going to talk about. So we're going to have an extra episode. I'm going to record with Michael tomorrow morning, just on the extra bits and try out the extra episode on Saturday morning. So keep an eye out for that because that'll be kind of our thoughts on all the the NBA trades that we didn't discuss today and maybe some extra thoughts, but let's focus on the main two.
00:22:24
Speaker
First of all, James Harden has gone to the to the cows your ex-star in Houston obviously when he left Houston it was a bit bitter at the end he tends to do that when he walks out the door of teams it looks like the Clippers basically said that they weren't going to give him the money that he wanted so maybe Cleveland are going to and i don't f I'm thinking about this and look The full trade is the Clippers get Darius Garland and a future second rounder and and the Cavs get James Harden.
00:22:57
Speaker
Now, Harden this season has been brilliant. 25-8-5. 35% from three is okay. And he's getting back to the free throw line 8.5 attempts per game, which is something that was lacking the last few years. So he can still do that.
00:23:12
Speaker
But I can't imagine a world where like a Cleveland fan could be overly happy with this because... How many times has Harden fallen apart in the playoffs? He's probably the worst playoff superstar we've seen in our time watching the NBA.
00:23:28
Speaker
He consistently falls apart. And then he doesn't really want to get involved if he doesn't have the ball. And they already have Donovan Mitchell. Now, further into this is that the Cleveland Cavs would have had to check this with Mitchell before they did it.
00:23:44
Speaker
Now, that's not to say he doesn't want Garland. But presumably he was OK with this move or else they wouldn't have done it because he's their star. So all that being said, I don't know if this is the right thing to do for Cleveland.
00:23:59
Speaker
Like, does it push them any further down the chance of winning, given Harden's playoff failures in the past? Yeah, I think it's one of those where they haven't...
00:24:11
Speaker
They might as well have just not done it. Like, because they haven't gained anything. So Garland was averaging 18 points, two and a half rebounds, seven assists.
00:24:22
Speaker
it's only a seven point jump there to what Harden has been doing. And as you said, Harden is more than likely more likely to fall apart in the playoffs than go out and put up a 50 pointer. So it's one that's really, really strange.
00:24:36
Speaker
Like they're losing... They are losing an 11-time All-Star, the Clippers. So, i yeah and I can't get my words out. I don't understand it from either side. I don't understand what to keep what the Clippers get out of it by bringing it in Garland instead.
00:24:52
Speaker
I don't understand what the Cavs get out of by getting rid of Garland to bring him in. To answer your question, no, it doesn't put them any closer to a title than they are already. They're worse than they were last year. I know they've had a bit of an upturn recently, but if they made this move last year, it would make a lot more sense than making it this year. Because last year they looked like they were a team that could go all the way.
00:25:14
Speaker
And then they just fell apart when it came to playing the Pacers. So if this was a move they made last year, fair enough. But this year, I don't get it at all. Yeah, i feel like if they moved Garland in the summer too, they could have got way more than this. like Yeah.
00:25:27
Speaker
You're giving away a 26-year-old who you me listed his stats this season, but in it at his peak, he like in 21-22, he had 22 points per game, eight and a half assists, and he was shooting 38% from three that season.
00:25:41
Speaker
And he's only 26, as I just said, whereas Harden is 36. Garland's only managed to play 26 games this season with injury, 30 minutes per game. realistically, how long are you getting out of Harden? You don't do this unless Harden has been told that he's getting an extension. So you watch, you're going to pay him until he's 38.
00:26:00
Speaker
And then you just gave up like a young star who's happy to be the second option and not somebody who demands the ball like Harden does. Like, I like this for the Clippers, to be honest. i I know I get your point saying, what's the point of them doing this for this season? It probably doesn't push them. closer to winning it probably pushes them further away from winning but for the future I think it's a good move because they bought low they got rid of an old player and they got a guy who has the potential to be a second option on a championship team in my opinion if you had somebody else like if you had Kawhi fully fit and then I don't know what could happen here it really could be something that works out but it's like Garland could be one of these guys where we look in two years time and we go god they just gave up Harden
00:26:48
Speaker
like aging someone who's not proven and proven himself in the playoffs ever for a guy who is now number two option on a team that's pushing for a championship like the Clippers had to do something to get younger they were getting older and older and older but yeah this is so I think for them it makes sense and Cleveland waited too long they should have done this in the summer when everyone knew thought they were going to trade Garland already It's just they've prolonged it and now I don't think they got the optimum return that they could have.
00:27:20
Speaker
No, it didn't get anywhere near what they could have gotten in the summer if they'd done it earlier. but It's one of those things where it's so close to the deadline. You're like, okay, we really want James Harden here. like How do we do this?
00:27:30
Speaker
And then it's like panic selling. Same way with the Luka trade last year. and like The more you look back it now, the fact that we're going to talk about it second, but... They got more picks moving AD on than they did moving Luke on last year, which is mental. So it's kind of one of those where it's like, let's just get this done. What do we need to give up? Okay, let's just do it. A second round pick in Darius Garland is just so little.
00:27:53
Speaker
like compared to what they could have gotten sorry Harden so little for Darius Garland than a second one pick so yeah it's not a move that makes any sense in terms of the money or the what's what's what's gone in both directions but we'll see if James Harden can step up to the plate and actually do something now for the Cavaliers because they the All the pressure going on him now. Everyone's going to all the lights are back on him again.
00:28:17
Speaker
This is his, I think he's demanded now out of four, four organizations in a row. So the Rockets, yourselves, the Nets, and now the Clippers.
00:28:29
Speaker
thank yeah At some point you just have to say, okay, maybe I'm the problem here and not the organization. So he needs to, he really needs to pull his socks up now and actually get get something going here this time. Yeah, and I personally don't see them doing that. And I liked the Cavs more than they did this, to be honest, because I thought that in the regular season, they were kind of in cruise control because the last few years, the regular season, they did well. But sure, what did that do for them? They they fell apart in the playoffs. So I think this time they took it handy. They realized, oh God, we're a bit far behind now. Let's kick it on. And then they kicked it on and now they're doing great. And this actually sets them further back in my estimations, to be honest.
00:29:08
Speaker
But you mentioned the AD trade. Let's move into that one. That was the other major trade. So the Mavs, this is a bigger one. We'll obviously focus on the main parts, but the Mavs sent Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, D'Angelo Russell, and Dante Exum to the Wizards for Chris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malachi Branham, Marvin Bagley III.
00:29:28
Speaker
Two first rounders in three seconds. I really like this move for the Wizards. and Before I get your thoughts on I just want to go through a tweet from this is from Raptors. Harris is the is the type. don't know what this account is anyway, but I saw this tweet and it's very well laid out.
00:29:45
Speaker
So Wizards GM will hawk and Will Dawkins pulled off a major masterclass in asset management here. So essentially, he turned Bradley Beal's awful contract into Chris Paul.
00:29:56
Speaker
He then flipped Chris Paul for Jordan Poole, let Poole get his value up for a season, traded him for CJ McCollum's expiring. Then he traded your favorite player, Kyle Kuzma, at his max value to the books for Chris Middleton's expiring.
00:30:10
Speaker
From that, he used McCollum's contract to buy low on Trey Young and used Middleton's contract to buy low on Anthony Davis. At the same time, he drafted Alex Sarki, Ante George and Trey Johnson.
00:30:22
Speaker
he's managed This is a masterclass in NBA contract management and shows the value of expiring contracts. its It is absolutely brilliant when you lay it out like that. He basically started off with Bradley Beal, who needed to go, and he turned him and Jordan Poole essentially into Trey Young and Anthony Davis while giving up maybe a couple of firsts in the process because now they've got their big two next season and a whole host of amazing young players. So the Wizards are suddenly a team that now you couldt you wouldn't be surprised if they're
00:30:55
Speaker
fourth or fifth seed next season if Anthony Davis is fully healthy all year and Trey Young and him get it get something going and it just gets more depressing by the minute for Mavs fans because all you got back now for Luka is essentially three firsts Chris Middleton AJ Johnson Malachi Branham and Marvin Bagley that's a pretty depressing return Yeah, and like it's as there we have we've we've had a masterclass in trading players and we've had to but a disaster class from the Madison trading players at at the same time. And the fact that they've done this together is kind of like how one side knows what they're doing and the other hasn't a clue.
00:31:35
Speaker
The Mavericks have just blown up the organisation in the last 12 months and by starting with that Luka trade and now getting rid of the player they brought in feluca for Luka for... Like it's it's really poor. Like none of those players that come in are going to make any massive difference to a team.
00:31:51
Speaker
Like none of them are going to be a massive help for Cooper flag really. Like yeah unless you're planning to use these first round picks to go and get the next Cooper flag and the next Cooper flag. Like the Spurs got very lucky when they were getting all these draft picks. Like the Mavericks aren't going to be able to hit the way that the Spurs hit wi we with Wemby, with Stephon Castle, which your man this year's name has gone out of my head. Phil Harper.
00:32:15
Speaker
Yeah, like that doesn't happen very often that a team gets that lucky and just ends up the second seed all of a sudden. This Mavs team are in big trouble for next couple of years now.
00:32:25
Speaker
and For the Wizards, I like it as well. so theyre They are currently 13 and 36 and it's not this season that they're going to feel the benefit of it, but it will be next season. I think Dante Exum, so he's averaging nine points, two rebounds and three assists.
00:32:41
Speaker
Like if he's playing enough minutes there, I think that will go up. D'Angelo Russell is obviously a solid player. He's he's been averaging 10, 2 and 4 this season as well. So, I think while they wait for Davis to get fit, I think these two can make a bit of a difference at the end of the season. It might help them win many more games, but just help them settle in a bit and then see from next year if they want to keep him or get rid of him.
00:33:01
Speaker
And as you said, they have their big two then, which Davis and Trae Young will into next season. And what your man has done is an absolute masterclass to get all these players in so cheap and get rid of the ones he doesn't want. Like Chris Middleton is 34.
00:33:15
Speaker
And now you're just getting rid of him. You brought in Trae Young. You brought in Anthony Davis and you're building this a young team around them as well. yeah They haven't taken any nonsense either. Cam Whitmore has been called out a couple of times for being late to training. They're not showing up and stuff like that. So it's like they're they're setting a standard in Washington now that is...
00:33:33
Speaker
it's it's only going to lead them in the right way and I really like this and think fair play to them because they've done a lot quicker than when the Rockets were tanking it took them a while to get back home but this Wizards team have just sorry the Wizards organisation just turned this around really really quickly hello I like what they've done because a lot because it's like they you pointed out there that they've got these two veterans but they've also got so much young talent which is a testament to how well they drafted and and like That lineup is like super exciting next season. If you think about it like right now, let's let's forget about who they could get in the draft. it If it's already Trey Young, Keontae George, Trey Johnson, Alex Saar, and Anthony Davis, that lineup is really, really good.
00:34:18
Speaker
And then you've got some guys for the bench there. I actually think that Jadon Hardy could be decent with his physicality. And like you said, these guys will play this season and they'll have some fun out there, to be honest, more than anything, because the Wizards don't want to win this season. Trae Young is going to sit out the rest of the season. So is Anthony Davis. They want to tank and they want to get maybe a top two or top three pick in what is one of the most stacked draft classes we'll ever see.
00:34:47
Speaker
So they're going to get another amazing player this offseason to add to what they already have. So I think well, well done to the Wizards and shame on the Mavs for what they turned Luca into because like you said, they're just absolutely in the bin now at this point. Cooper flag looks great the last few weeks, but yeah, are you just going right?
00:35:10
Speaker
We've got flag now. Well, you had Luca. So you're asking flag to just show that Luca used to shoulder. And then what happens in five years? Are you going to do the same thing?
00:35:21
Speaker
Like, They need to learn from that mistake. Ultimately, it's not going to be good for Mavs fans to sit there and watch Luka thrive in LA, but they need to know correct course here with Flagg and build a proper team. And I think getting rid of Davis was probably the right thing to do because he was ultimately dragging them down in the long run and not knowing how much he's going to play and things like that. And yeah, DeAngelo Russell is a bit of a messer. I don't trust him. So I think he'll have fun back with Washington and they may ship him off in the summer as well because they've got bigger and better things on their mind than whatever D'Angelo Russell can offer them, and in my opinion.
00:35:58
Speaker
and I don't think the issue is getting rid of Davis. I think the issue is what they started last summer by doing. yeah if they had still If they kept Luka and then got Davis in some other fantasy trades that didn't involve getting rid of Luka and they got rid of Davis now, I don't think would be kicking up half as much a fuss as it is.
00:36:15
Speaker
It's because they they brought this guy in as the, um we're getting rid of Luka, but it's okay. We've gotten one of the best centers that the the game has ever seen. <unk> like he like he literally has lived up to his nickname, Dave to Davis, since his first game. hes His first game against the Rockets. He went off injured.
00:36:31
Speaker
After scored, think he scored 25 points, he was bullying Senghun all over the place, went off injured. And that's kind of been the story of his life in the year he spent in in Dallas.
00:36:42
Speaker
Just get him to Washington, get him out of your minds, forget it ever happened and try and, as you said, try and build around Cooper Flag now and move on and not make the same mistakes again because that there should be heads on stakes in that organisation after this. And I know what there was, I think he was i think he was fired, the GM, after that. not course done yeah But like things like this, these lads are paid a lot of money to not make these kind of mistakes.
00:37:06
Speaker
And yet, they seem to someone some someone seems to make one nearly every week. So, the Mavs are this week's crisis club. Sorry, this year's crisis club. So, we'll see who takes it over from them next year.
00:37:18
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, I think... the you make the point that they ultimately are reacting having Luka and now ending up with this more than having Davis and this so this just this just makes it like you've just gone through all of that and then you're like oh like maybe we can do something with AD and then we've got Flagg and maybe Kyrie will come back and we've got some other good pieces yeah look let's just be positive for this season and now that's just been ripped away slowly, slowly, slowly, slowly they looked worse and worse and worse. And now they ripped away that fully that, you know, that's not going to happen. So yeah, tough time to be a Mavs fan for sure. But Wizards are on the up and up. So two very, very different outlooks. And I just wanted to get your thoughts quickly on Kobe White.
00:38:08
Speaker
He's gone from the Bulls to the Hornets. um And he went with Mike Conley for Colin Sexton, Usman Jeng in three seconds. That's very low. Seems like the Bulls, they're just giving their players away. But I wanted to get your thoughts because of obviously you being a Rockets fan, I know you had your eye on Kobe White. And I think if you only had to give up something like that, three seconds, maybe looking at someone like Terry Eason is better than both Sexton and Jang. So if it was Terry Eason and three seconds to get back Kobe White on a veteran and Mike Conley, I think that would have made sense for the Rockets to do that.
00:38:44
Speaker
Yeah, i didn't actually even see that trade had gone through. I was still kind of hoping he was going to go to the Rockets. So you just dropped that bomb away there. And I think my face said a lot if people are watching it. But for something that cheap, then the Rockets have missed out big time because...
00:39:01
Speaker
I've been saying it now for weeks that they really, really needed to get a guard in before the end of this trade deadline. And he was like probably the best that was out there they could get really. So the fact they've let him go to somewhere terrible as well. Like I know they've had a better year this year, but the Hornets still earned a very good basketball team.
00:39:18
Speaker
On the plane right now, man. yes Oh God, I just, I can't believe they've let that happen without even trying. Well, it seems they haven't even tried to test the waters on it. So unless there's something else up their sleeves for the last hour and a half, I think is what we have left now. yeah Then it's, it's going to be a disappointing season, I think.
00:39:38
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, for sure. I think maybe not disappointed, but it is a missed opportunity for sure. I think as that's kind of one thing, wanted to ask you that as a,
00:39:49
Speaker
as a Rockets fan, because I know you did like Kobe White, and you thought maybe that would be a good option. So, yeah, I think that the Hornets have done well here. Another good option to add to their young team. And they bought low on a guy who could help them in the future. And if they make the play in this year, they'll be scary team to play in the play. And the way they've played recently, like, they've had they had the second highest points differential and in a month ever in the and NBA last in January. So,
00:40:16
Speaker
they blew teams out and they played the Sixers they hammered us so they've got something going and yeah they're on seven wins in a row as well at the moment yeah they're absolutely flying I would not want to play them in the play-in or in the playoffs if they continue this so let's move into Ganshans then last weekend one point between the two of us not very good I had Leeds to beat Arsenal that was a loss Newcastle to beat Liverpool that was loss but massive losses and then I had the Clippers to beat the Suns which did come off Clippers continued their run um up until they faced the mighty Sixers. That slowed them down there the other night. But then we had your picks for the Blazers to beat the Knicks.
00:40:57
Speaker
And the Knicks won that one decently. Warriors to beat the Pistons. what Pistons grabbed it. And the closest you were was Spurs to beat Man City. Spurs mounted a charge second half, but they just couldn't get over the line.
00:41:10
Speaker
But what have you got for us this week? I'm in a four-point lead right now, 24-20. So I would just like to point out, first of all, that when we were meant to do this earlier in the week, I picked two basketball games and I picked the Spurs to beat the Thunder, which happened.
00:41:25
Speaker
And I picked the Wizards to beat the, no, or i'd be I beat, I can't remember the other one, they both came in and they were both Mass Wonder Dogs. then obviously had to change it up for to get to the ones for the weekend.
00:41:38
Speaker
So I have kept everything to beat Fulham. Everything in their 14 to 5 Fulham or Evens. Wait, is that? Yeah, sorry, you know, that's right, yeah. I just can't believe how, yeah, they were the last time I checked anyway.
00:41:52
Speaker
At home? Yeah. Good God, that's a ridiculous price for Fulham to beat someone. So I've gone with everything to beat them i at fourteen to five I just fancy everything. I think everything there...
00:42:06
Speaker
They're having another one of their Everton seasons where everything kind of falls apart at once, but they still pick up a couple of big wins. So hopefully they get one this weekend. I've gone with the Rockets to beat the Thunder, despite the fact that they just blew my mind by not trying to get Kobe White. So the Rockets are nine games behind the Thunder. So why not? It's easy to do. And then the Jazz to beat the Magic. The Jazz are 16 of 35. The are 25 14.
00:42:33
Speaker
There's something about this Jazz team that they're not as bad as they are their record size. So they can definitely put it up to the Magic and why not get one over on them? Yeah, yeah, okay. I think I'm so surprised at that Fulham odds. They've drifted out slightly now to just below evens, but like i'll you you got the odds at the time, so that still counts. And that was a good pick, to be honest, because Everton are...
00:43:01
Speaker
Gosh, I would never put even Fulham over Everton. i would Even though Fulham are on a good run, I just think Everton could beat anybody. So yeah, I like that pick. Sorry I missed that one myself. but and I've got one the same as you. I've got the Rockets to beat the Thunder as well.
00:43:17
Speaker
I like the Rockets, the run they're on recently, and the Thunder have lost SGA until after the and the All-Star break. And they're on a bit of a downturn, 5-5 in their last 10. So yeah Rockets, 31-1.
00:43:29
Speaker
31 and 18 so far and Thunder are 14 and 12. So that's on Saturday night at 8.30. So good time for Irish people to watch a good basketball game. Thankfully for you as a Rockets fan to grab one. It's pretty tough with the West Coast games or 3am mostly. Constantly.
00:43:48
Speaker
And then I've gone with the Pacers to beat the Bucs. The Pacers have 13 wins. The Bucs have 20. I don't see a major difference between these two teams and the Pacers have actually got a few wins lately.
00:43:58
Speaker
That's Friday night at 1am. Yeah, the books are tragic. We talked about them last week without Giannis. So I'm going with the Pacers to grab one there. And then i couldn't pick for football. There wasn't literally none that stood out to me. So I just went with Sunderland to beat Arsenal.
00:44:15
Speaker
Sunderland are a crazy price. They're 11 to 1. And Arsenal are 2 to 9. Obviously, Arsenal are at home. But Sunderland have been shocking people all season. So why not? Let's get them.
00:44:27
Speaker
shocking Arsenal here and making this title race interesting I just think Arsenal are bound to lose a game they shouldn't lose at some point to to make this a little bit more interesting yeah given their their history and but yeah let's let's go with that one it's probably the maddest one to pick but it's the only one I could actually get behind personally that I saw it there and because wasn't going with Spurs to beat United. So that was that was my pick. But there we go. Another week of Gone Chance lined up. Still chasing that five-pointer this season, 21 weeks in. Surely we're going to get it at some point before the season ends.
00:45:01
Speaker
I had four or five five-pointers last year, and I think I've had more zero-pointers now this year than I've had actual pointers. So five-pointer has to come out of somewhere. Has come out of of something somewhere at some point. So hopefully this weekend.
00:45:15
Speaker
Yeah, it's mad the difference from this year and last year between getting them. But I don't think I had one last season, and so I still need to get one. Even though I'm in the lead, it would be nice to to extend that out a little bit. But let's move into football then. and Our performance of the weekend is is going to Brentford because of their effort against Villa.
00:45:35
Speaker
I think there was a couple of good performances. like Liverpool beating Newcastle was very solid, but we spent a lot of time on that last week. Arsenal beating Leeds is very solid too but Arsenal have gotten plenty of chat this season I just think what Brentford have been doing plus the Irish connection is something I want to talk about and we both agreed a ridiculous kick from Shada to get sent off just like how do you ever think you're going to get away with that I get he was trying to push him off him but like you can't do that with your studs and so he got sent off they managed to get
00:46:09
Speaker
to get a goal after this really really nice finish from go and who who we talked about with harry bailey when he was on a bit from his time at brentford or born what should i say he's with brentford now and from there it was just about resilience to be honest because villa had 27 shots five on target 2.4 xg and then brentford only had six shots two on target and 0.38 xg so finally villa lost the game on xg And they were absolutely frustrated. The shot map is hilarious. There's just so many shots and so many from inside the box for Villa. and But Brentford did what they needed to do and they showed why their mentality is probably better than a lot of other teams. And that's why they're so high up on the table this season.
00:46:53
Speaker
Yeah, my top line was Villa got Villa'd. Villa've been doing this to teams all season where they're getting outshot, out-XG'd and still coming out with the win. So it was good to see them on the receiving end of one for a change.
00:47:07
Speaker
I honestly can't believe the job that Keylanders has done here. um I think kids's it's actually immense. And for me, I think the job he has done is better than anyone else's job. I think he should be manager the season. and If they were giving out the award in the morning, I'd be giving it to him because...
00:47:22
Speaker
and So many people had him back to go down. I was one of them. I had him back to finish 18. So I just didn't see how he was going to. Maybe it's my semi-hate for set-piece coaches as well that kind of put me in that kind of. I was like, how are you going to go from e and a set-piece coach to a head coach? And the job he's done has been incredible. Nathan Collins didn't start this game, but he's been superb for them again this season as their captain.
00:47:46
Speaker
Kelleher, I'm delighted that he's he looks as good as he did when he was just stepping in for Liverpool every now and again. He's a really, really good keeper. And then just the players they have around them. I think Kevin Shaday is some player outside of that mishap at the weekend. He's a big loss to them for their next three games now.
00:48:03
Speaker
Igor Thiago is obviously immense as well. des just There's players dotted all over that team that are just so unheralded. But they're brilliant. they're like They're under the radar players. They're centre-mids, Jensen, absolutely class.
00:48:17
Speaker
And I just think they're just stillre getting exactly what they deserve for the effort they're putting in all season. They've obviously believed in the coach since day one. And maybe maybe, I think we said it last week, maybe Thomas Frank wasn't the be-all and end-all for Brentford. It was more a day the players there than it was Thomas Franklin, Edson Special.
00:48:35
Speaker
Villa were without five starters. It's still one thing I will say from sort of no McGinn, no Watkins, no Telemans, no O'Nana, no Camara. So that's pretty much their full first choice. Midfield was out.
00:48:46
Speaker
Their captain was out and their striker was out, but they still put up enough stats to win that game. 2.4 HE, I think you should be winning the game with 25 or 27 shots and 2.4 HE, but Brentford just dug in so much and just got over the line.
00:49:01
Speaker
Yeah, Abraham had enough chances as well. He was dangerous enough for them to get something out of it. And you still had Rodgers and other players who are of high quality. Like if you're going to be top four and you're playing a team with 10 men, you need to win it. At home.
00:49:18
Speaker
At home, yeah, exactly. um But I think this has just kind of finally caught up to Villa because we've been waiting for this for a long time for something to catch up to them with with all their ex-G wins, like you said.
00:49:29
Speaker
it's usually what they do and to teams. But Brentford in general, like that you mentioned Jensen and also Jan Alt, Damstad. These guys that you like they bought at a low value and they came in and they took some time to bet in, but they just look absolutely perfect in that midfield and they look like they would work at any Premier League team given how much effort they put into every game. And yeah, Andrews, funnily enough, he came as a set-piece coach, but I think Brentford have the lowest return of goals per set piece this season in the Premier League.
00:50:04
Speaker
member heard i think um Yeah, that's pretty nuts considering you would think that they would be pretty high up there. So it is interesting. and They're not just relying on that to do as well as as they have done. So yeah, we're delighted for them and delighted for Andrews and and the Irish lads over there. But a team that is around where we a lot of people expected Brentford to be is West Ham. Now, I also predicted West Ham to go down and I predicted Brentford, I don't know where, maybe 14th or 15th, but West Ham have just been awful the majority of the season. And the question you posed is, can West Ham catch Forrest? So six points between the two sides now.
00:50:42
Speaker
West Ham should have beat Chelsea. They threw away a 2-0 lead at halftime. Before that, they did beat Spurs in sunderland and in victories that are important to get them those points. But you're looking at Forrest, who have been on a decent run themselves. Like,
00:50:57
Speaker
they They drew with Palace despite having 10 men. They beat Brentford and they also beat West Ham in a game that could have swung this if West Ham won it. And then they got a draw with Arsenal and that's all in January. So they're on a pretty good run themselves. i would actually say it's more likely that Leeds would slip into it given the amount of draws that they've had this season.
00:51:17
Speaker
And if Forrest do beat Leeds Friday night, and this will be coming out on Friday. So tonight, if Forrest beat Leeds, then Leeds are... are right down there in it because West Ham are playing Burnley on Saturday and there might be three points between Leeds and West Ham if that is the way it goes come come the end of the weekend.
00:51:38
Speaker
Yeah, so the thing for West Ham is that in their last five they've picked up two wins. But Forest have still stressed their lead because they have two wins and two draws in their last five. So when it is back to six points and West Ham are starting to look a bit better, their two January signings seem to be fitting in quite well. Your man, Tati and Pablo, they've both been really positive. But I put this question to you because was kind of thinking that one of us would say that there was some hope for West Ham, but I still don't see them having much hope of and turning this around. I still think they've left this...
00:52:11
Speaker
I know it sounds mad to say they've left it too late, we only need to start in February, but they're only coming into a bit of form now and that form could very easily drop again. And as you said, unless Leeds are going to go tumbling like a rock now, I don't see if where West Ham are going to get enough points to get past Forrest at the moment.
00:52:27
Speaker
Yeah, i think Forrest are probably on a beast. Like you mentioned, Aronan, like I said, the think the games specifically that they've had, like if they come out and they go and beat Leeds, like then...
00:52:38
Speaker
ah They're in a very, very solid position. I can't see Forrest going down with the way they've been playing lately. And they're still in the Europa League and they're still in the FA Cup. So, like, they're going strong. I don't think that they're going to slow down.
00:52:53
Speaker
and Actually, i don't think they're in the FA Cup. Sorry, West Ham are still in the FA Cup. But, like, if you look at Opta right now, they have West Ham at an 83% chance of relegation.
00:53:05
Speaker
Leeds are 9% and Forrest are 7%. So they're basically writing in West Ham off at this point. Now that can change with some results like West Ham.
00:53:16
Speaker
They play Burnley next, but then they have United, Bournemouth and Liverpool. Not exactly easy. Leeds. They've got Forest, Chelsea, Villa, Man City. Very, very. Lots of horrible. Yeah.
00:53:28
Speaker
And then Forest are the easiest. Like they've got Leeds. Then they've got Wolves. Now, and Liverpool after that is difficult, but those are two winnable games where you get six crucial points.
00:53:41
Speaker
At the same time as the other teams dropping points against tough opponents, that could be Forest kind of completely out of the picture yeah by the end of the month.
00:53:53
Speaker
So I'd like to see where things look if West Ham manage to get the win against Burnley and pick up a point against Bournemouth and Leeds... would did do lose to Forest and Chelsea then there could be two points between the two of them in in a quite a short space of time and Leeds might start to get a little bit nervous then at that point because they've got Farca as their manager and I would much prefer Sean Dyche than I would Daniel Farca as my manager and in a relegation battle.
00:54:21
Speaker
Yeah, agreed 100%.
00:54:25
Speaker
that run of fixtures that Leeds and West Ham have are really going to, whoever gets more points out of that is likely or the one that stays up. Or if it's if if West Ham are back within two or three points of Leeds by the end of that run of four games, then I think West Ham will just have the know-all to get over get over the line, get the extra couple of results that Leeds mightn't be able to get. And that might be the only way that they stay up. Other than that, if Leeds pick up any more shock points,
00:54:54
Speaker
then I think West Ham could be in for a real, real tough time. And Burnley are the only ones letting down the promoted sides. The other two have done quite well. Sondon in particular have been absolutely immense this year. Burnley obviously aren't. And West Ham just need to make sure they get to three points against Burnley. It is, yeah, you said they're playing Burnley. If they don't beat Burnley, then I think this is all, forget about anything we've said and just delete this part the podcast. Because if they don't beat Burnley, then they're doing nothing.
00:55:23
Speaker
Yeah, and final game of the season is West Ham home to Leeds. So that might be very, very interesting when it comes down to it. Well, I won't be watching the Arsenal game where they lift the title, so I might watch that one instead.
00:55:37
Speaker
and Don't be so sure yet about Arsenal. Let's move into our our preview for the weekend of of the big game. So we've got Liverpool hosting Man City, 4.30pm kickoff on Super Sunday.
00:55:52
Speaker
and Another big game for Liverpool on and on another weekend. They seem to be coming thick and fast at the moment. Interestingly, both teams coming off batter in Newcastle. City 3-1 in the second leg of the cup and Liverpool 4-1 in the league.
00:56:07
Speaker
They snapped a five-game winless streak in the league. Liverpool did with that win over Newcastle. And City did drop two points versus Spurs, as we already mentioned. Being 2-0 up at halftime, they just looked a completely different side second half. So They needed that win against Newcastle.
00:56:22
Speaker
I hope we see a game where both teams go after it. I think we will because Liverpool, there's no reason for them not to go for it because they're outside the top four right now. A point at home does nothing for them regardless of the player.
00:56:36
Speaker
They need to win. So I think they go for it and that and that in turn will then kind of make City go for it. So I see a really exciting game here. Yeah, I agree. I think it is going to be exciting. and Both teams there, one win, three draws and one loss in their last five as well. so Now they're coming into this the teams that were going against each other for the title there and they're clapping. These are two teams who are both kind of fundamentally a small bit broken.
00:57:03
Speaker
And I think that's why it is gone to be it is going to be a bit of a high-scoring game. It's going to just come down to can Halland get his touchback or can Eketike keep doing what he's been doing. And obviously I hope Eketike keeps doing what he's been doing and Verst keeps winding his feasts. But I think it has a belt there written all over us.
00:57:22
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, me too. i I think I wrote down that i can't imagine another game where Haaland doesn't score. Like, it seems that it's been so long. And Ekotika is the second person who came to my mind as someone who, at this point, you can't you can't really envision him not scoring because of how well he's been like playing lately. I think both sides are going to take each other on and exploit the frailties that they've shown.
00:57:45
Speaker
It's hard to know how this will go tactically, which is funny because you would always back, like, Well, last season you would have said Slott got his tactics on like a perfectly a number of times. This season, not so much.
00:57:57
Speaker
And then Pep has always been tactical mastermind during his career. But this season he seems to be coming unstuck. like he got the better of him. Thomas Frank got the better of him in the second half last weekend. and When United played against him, Carrick clearly got the better of him.
00:58:15
Speaker
So I don't know like which manager is going to come out on top. And whether it's just going to be game where they send the players out there and they go, right, just go for it. Like, yeah I don't know. We don't know what to do against each other because both teams have issues and both teams seem to be doing different things every single week.
00:58:33
Speaker
So i'm I'm seeing a game which could be a bit mad and not really tactically something that's a masterclass, but just a really exciting game on Super Sunday. So I'm going with a 3-3 draw here.
00:58:48
Speaker
would have went with 4-3 to City if it was... Aidan the Etihad, because I think they're a slightly better team. But since it's in Anfield, i' I'll give the the benefit of the doubt to Liverpool to grab a draw here, and I'm going a high-scoring one at that.
00:59:02
Speaker
I'm not sitting on the fence this week like I did last week when I should have backed Liverpool to batter Newcastle. I'm going 3-1 Liverpool. OK. That's the same as what you went for Liverpool and Bournemouth, I think.
00:59:15
Speaker
Didn't exactly... pan out I don't care that was that's in the past I don't remember what happened that game to bore my wind I can't remember moving on it's time for the power rankings ah go on are you giving 3-1 what do you think is going to happen i just I just really liked what I saw from Liverpool in the last week. And I know Carbag are nothing special, but they still scored six and then put four past Newcastle. Now, the first 20 minutes against Newcastle, they were really, really poor. And I was like, oh, God, we're in serious trouble if they don't cop on here. But Florian Wirtz just looks like the player we thought we were signing now. and He looks like really got his feet under the table. Ekitike, obviously, we just spoke about him. He's on absolute fire.
00:59:57
Speaker
And I just think Liverpool might just be able to run over him in the midfield a bit. um I don't think it's easier don't think it' easy to do that. But I don't know how fit Rodri is. and If they don't start McAllister, then I think they have a far better chance than with him because he seems to have...
01:00:14
Speaker
forgotten how to be able to run and I just I just like Liverpool to win it they always seem to do well against City City of a really poor regular Danfield and it's on the weekend of my birthday and the last time Liverpool played City on my birthday they got walloped at Anfield so they they owe me one yeah I think that the midfield point is actually good I would I was just about to say before you finished that or after you finish that, they should probably not play McAllister and they cut over on that midfield, but you got there with with the point. And yeah, I want to see Virts in this game. um He played really well against Newcastle.
01:00:51
Speaker
I thought against Bournemouth, he was really poor. And the week before that, he was really good. So he's, he started to put more good performances together, but it's still not consistent yet. So let's see it in a big game.
01:01:03
Speaker
and And let's see, let's see, let's see how it goes with him. And, Turkey and Semenya being the big signings on the other side. Let's see if they get on. I think I've no doubt Semenya will play well. I think it's it's maybe down to the other guys. and So interesting game. And I'm looking forward to watching it because I think it'll be a high-score one. um So last up, power rankings. I'll go first.
01:01:27
Speaker
Last week I had Seahawks, Pistons, OKC, Patriots, Arsenal and Man United. So I'm starting off with the same first two, Seahawks and Pistons. Seahawks, obviously, they haven't played since we last did it.
01:01:41
Speaker
They're superstars. They've been brilliant in the playoffs, and I think they're going to win the Super Bowl. Pistons second. They're up to 37-12. If they won their next three games in a row, they'll be on the same record as the OKC. So right now, they're the most powerful basketball team. OKC are s slipping.
01:01:59
Speaker
They're 8-2 in their last 10. They've won their last three. Patriots move up a spot. um Arsenal also move up a spot. Both of them are are moving up because OKC are dropping.
01:02:11
Speaker
I think the Patriots, yeah, they've they've done well all season. They've got to the Super Bowl. Arsenal, good last three games, but questionable before that. The Knicks are a new entry for me at fifth, so OKC are gone because I think the Knicks win an eight in a row, and moving up to 33-18 and only being a few games back from the Pistons and starting to push them a little bit down the stretch. is really good considering how poor they were over Christmas. They've really bounced back. So they're in at fifth and I left United in at sixth. I didn't move them up for beating Fulham with a last minute winner, but I still think they shouldn't drop out because of that. The three wins in a row now, and the best streak in the Premier League and they look solid enough in the top four. So they're staying in sixth right now for me.
01:02:54
Speaker
Yeah, so mine is extremely similar to yours in the fact that we have the exact same six teams. So I have dropped out OKC and Newcastle who were fourth and fifth for me last year, sorry, last week.
01:03:06
Speaker
OKC have just been on a real, really poor run of form. The Pistons, as you said, are the best team and with the way things are going the moment and the Knicks and the run they are just deserve to be in there as well. so my friends My top three are the same as yours, and they're the same as they were for me last week. So Seahawks, Pistons, Patriots.
01:03:23
Speaker
The Knicks come in at four for me, taking over from OKC. United come in at fifth because I hate Arsenal, but I can't take them out, so they stay sixth. Okay, okay. So i United are where? Fifth? Fifth, yeah. Arsenal are sixth. You've got United ahead of of where I have them. I didn't think you would put them in, but...
01:03:45
Speaker
I think right now it's hard to ignore them. Yeah. In terms of form, there are, and there's not many teams that are on a good run. So yeah, no, I'm happy that you put them in there to see them on the list is, is nice.
01:03:57
Speaker
And I think the Knicks definitely needed respect from both of us, given what they've done over the last couple of weeks. So happy to see them in both of our lists, but that's another episode wrapped episode 60 done plenty more to come for you. Obviously the super bowl, recap will be next week and then we'll be looking forward to the draft and free agency in the NFL which is always a fun time the and NBA will be taking a bit more of ah a forefront look in our minds and then we'll be building up to the World Cup so plenty to come really exciting year ahead but thanks for listening as always and I'll throw it to you to wrap it Shane
01:04:35
Speaker
Yeah, thanks guys. As James said, there's so much coming. So hit the hit to hit subscribe, leave comments, hit the like button. and It all means a lot to us and we'll see you. James will see you again on Saturday. I'll see you all next week. I do.
01:04:48
Speaker
Welcome back to another episode of Who's Got the Ball with Shane and James.