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Episode 037 - Can we make it two unpredicted wins on the bounce?! Arsenal Pre-Match Prediction
18 Plays22 days ago
Can West Ham make it two unlikely wins in a row? Jacob and Tom discuss their thoughts on West Ham vs Arsenal coming this weekend at the London Stadium. With line-up predictions and threat identification, the boys give their verdict on how this game will pan out!
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Transcript
Introduction of the Podcast and Guest
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello guys and welcome back to another episode of the daily GSPN West End Podcast. Today I'm joined by Jacob, say hi mate.
00:00:16
Jacob
Hello, how are you doing?
00:00:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I am doing very well.
Upcoming Match Against Arsenal: Initial Thoughts
00:00:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we are doing a little match preview for the game coming up against Arsenal at the weekend. Firstly, I want to know your general thoughts about the game.
00:00:29
Jacob
um ah I mean, I think we all are aware of the um the threat that Arsenal pose. and there's There's no reason to say um that we couldn't get something from the game. We saw it happen against Newcastle and we had those same doubts beforehand. So
Alvarez's Potential Return: Impact Analysis
00:00:51
Jacob
yeah, it will be very interesting. and The individual battles that they'll be. um Alvarez will return for this game. So that you know if he if he's chosen,
00:01:06
Jacob
then that's a huge, huge plus for us. um He may want to stick with what he went with against Newcastle just because of how effective it was, but yeah, we'll see.
00:01:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i it's gonna be interesting, isn't it? I don't know if Alvarez will be chosen. It's like, do you change a system that worked really well? Or do you bring someone in who you feel like has more quality? It's it's an interesting discussion.
00:01:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
My kind of
00:01:29
Jacob
Yeah.
Lopetegui's Performance and Expectations
00:01:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
first initial question thinking about this game is, do you think that Lopategi has taken some of the pressure off himself because of such a ah good performance against Newcastle?
00:01:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think that he's kind of earned himself a poor game against Arsenal?
00:01:45
Jacob
um That's a difficult one. and In a way, I think a little bit, um you know he he may have eased the pressure slightly, but then again,
00:02:01
Jacob
you know Based on what we've seen, I don't think anybody's going to really want to settle for anything less than what we saw now. So we know how difficult the game is, you know, has potential to be, but we saw the performance and, you know, Newcastle were no match for us at all. So I think, yeah, of course Arsenal is a completely different challenge um with the you know, with the quality players they have, you know, Saka and Saliba,
00:02:39
Jacob
Martinelli, people like that, that, you know, ah play, you know, seven pluses every week. So yeah, it's going to be tough. um What do you think?
00:02:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think if anything, it it shows that there's something that he's doing that is positive. Like the players don't play that well completely off their own backs. It has something to do with the way that Lopetaking has been coaching them. So if anything, I think it might have slightly shifted pressure towards the players a bit more because you know every time that we've done a reaction after performing really poorly, we've gone, oh, well, there's not really anyone else you can blame other than the manager because it's something's not working. but after seeing it work it's clear that this group of players can do it so if we start to dip back into kind of consistently poor performances you then have to question how much is the manager's fault if he has done it and it has worked before because it it can't always lie on the manager's shoulders when it you know it has been shown to work and he's obviously doing something good on the training ground so so yeah it's interesting i
00:03:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm slightly apprehensive about the kind of disciplinary issues we've been having, to be honest. um Arsenal is definitely
Importance of Team Performance Against Arsenal
00:04:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
a game where we are going to be on the back foot. you like You would assume that they have most of the ball and they're going to want to kind of dominate us.
00:04:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
so if we do go back into that mindset of being frustrated and not playing well, then we could quite easily see another player get banned, which is, I think it just really disrupts everything good that's happening right now. You know, the fact that Kudos is out, it's good that we've got Alvarez back, but constantly having players mission missing due to suspensions, I think it, obviously it limits selection, but it also kind of messes up the general squad vibe. So,
00:04:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I just want to see a really solid performance. I'm not really as fussed about winning. Obviously, I want to win. But for me, it has to be a positive performance. We have to play well. And losing to Arsenal, there's there's nothing to be ashamed of with that. But if we go into the game really negatively, if we concede early, like we have done so much this season and we you know we make it really difficult for ourselves and then you know just about fight back at the end, you know even if we still lose or we get a draw, I don't think it's as positive for our overall season than if we are able to go toe to toe with Arsenal, show that we can compete and then we can take that momentum into all of you know the subsequent games and in the new year we can really press on and start getting some good results. um
00:05:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
What do you think about um the fact that Kudos is still out? Are you okay with Somerville being the kind of replacement that's there or do you think that we've suffered because Kudos hasn't been there?
00:05:32
Jacob
Yeah, to a certain extent, you know, not having kudos has, you know, obviously not benefited us. You know, that's, that's so obvious. Um, but some of you has done well and I'm, you know, I'm not going to try and suggest he is the same player as kudos is, but it, it could have been a lot worse, you know,
00:05:59
Jacob
i think we'd have been in a much more difficult situation had we have lost Max Kilman or Jared Bowen you know that would have been exactly exactly so I think obviously it's it's not ideal he's still not here um but it could have been worse and at the end of the day
00:06:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cal Antonio as well would be terrible, wouldn't it?
00:06:22
Jacob
It's fair enough really, I think his ban, to be honest, you know, he, he did go way overboard and I think obviously we could do with having him against, you know, a strong arsenal defense, but we coped fine previously and um I'm sure we can, we can pull something out without him.
00:06:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, I agree. It's, it's a weird one, isn't it? Because obviously you don't want your players to not play and especially when they've got the quality that Kudos has, but it has been the perfect catalyst to kind of ignite Somerville's West Ham career. You know, all of the appearances he, all the appearances he had made up until Kudos got suspended. He'd, you know, had kind of bit part roles at the end of a few games and he'd looked relatively promising that we weren't able to see any kind of long-term consistent minutes and in this opportunity that he's had i think he's taken it really well which is only positive for the squad and i think when kudos comes back there's going to be a lot more competition for starting spaces than i think any of us previously thought because of how good some of it was being and hopefully it just raises a level of the squad generally you know you want players that are competing with each other to raise each other's game and i think it it showed a lot
00:07:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
the relationship between those two guys when some of them scored a couple of games ago and went and celebrated with Kudis. So yeah, that's really good, that's positive. I'm glad that players have good relationships and I hope that we can get the
Player Relationships and Disciplinary Records
00:07:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
disciplinary record straight so that we can kick on and have a ah positive season without players missing randomly. um Okay, we're gonna go to our first advert and when we get back, we're gonna get into our predicted starting 11.
00:08:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, so give me your goalkeeper. I think this one is way more contentious, I think, than it has previously been, because obviously Fabianz has been playing a lot. Ariola.
Goalkeeper Dilemma: Fabianski vs. Areola
00:08:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
okay so give me your goalkeeper i think this one is way more contentious i think than ah it has previously been because obviously fabi anky's been playing a lot ariola ah It's not that he's been playing, he'd been playing really poorly when he was playing. I think it was just that we'd been struggling as a team. So I think it looked poorly on him. So I think it's kind of unfortunate that he had been dropped because of it. What do you think?
00:08:53
Jacob
ah It is difficult because you obviously don't want to see Ariola not play when he's fit. So it's going to be a toss-up, I think, for Lopategi, whether he really feels that Fabianski is the difference maker in this team, you know and keeping keeping him in there is vital for us.
00:09:20
Jacob
and It's tough. I think he's ah think he's going to go for Ariola. um you know you know As long as he is match fit, and I think he's going to go Ariola personally.
00:09:35
Jacob
um Just purely because I i think he he's the favoured player. and As good as Fabianski's been, what do you think on that one?
00:09:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I think he'll go with Fabianzki actually. um I think because of how well Fabianzki's played and I think he his recent performances have really highlighted the experience that he has. Obviously everyone knows how experienced he is but you know when he's not playing you don't get to see that kind of week in week out. but you know in the past few games he's been so positive for us and not even just the basic goalkeeping like he's come out from the back and swept stuff up he's like made reaction saves he's not playing like a an old keeper who's past it he's playing like an experienced goalkeeper who's still in his prime which is amazing for a guy of his age you know being 39 that is unreal so
00:10:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he sticks with it. Again, I think, you know, if it ain't broke, they don't fix it. So I think he stays with it. But equally, if he does go with Ariola, I'm massively confident in his ability. So not really too unhappy either way. Okay. Now we're getting to the defense. I would like it to be relatively similar to what we've seen over the past few games. How about you?
00:10:45
Jacob
Yeah, I think that kind of depends on the Tadebo situation. I think obviously we saw him come off against Newcastle. I'm not sure whether that was more, you know, he felt something and it was more precautionary or, you know, if this is a little bit more of a you know few games sidelined. But I think if Tadebo's fit, he'll start alongside Kilman.
00:11:14
Jacob
But we know we've got Mavropanels in reserve who, you know, has also been decent for us. And I would also feel comfortable either way. So yeah, I think it will be to Deebo if he's fit. If not, Kilman. Sorry, to Deebo.
00:11:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i I think I agree, to be honest. i like Especially after such a positive performance, you want to kind of keep it the same. And I would like to see him able to play, but I actually think if there is any sort of risk, even if it's only like 5% that he's going to make the injury worse, if he does start,
00:11:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Ben Jim, to be honest, I like Maverick Panrockler's replacement.
00:11:53
Jacob
Yeah.
00:11:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he's really solid, you know, some of the performances he's done for Grease recently have been really impressive. Whenever he's prayed for us, I think he's, you know, maybe at times slightly rash and maybe looks a little bit maybe inexperienced at the highest level, you know, with some of his decision making, but I think if you look at it from when he first signed for us to now, he's only improved and he's only going to keep improving.
00:12:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah, for me, if there is any chance that Te Debo is still slightly unfit, then go with Mavropanos, be safe.
00:12:20
Jacob
Yeah.
00:12:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then, you know, if, if um, Mavropanos is having an absolute holler, we can always bring Te Debo off the bench. You know, maybe it is a risk if he is still slightly injured, but if we're playing really poorly, then maybe it's a risk we need to take.
00:12:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, either way, not the end of the world and fullbacks kind of write themselves at this point, don't they they? They played so well for us and especially in that last game, so really happy with that.
00:12:44
Jacob
yeah
00:12:48
Jacob
Yeah.
00:12:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is where it gets difficult for me anyway, the midfield. Can you tell me what your midfield would be? How many players you've got, where
Defensive Lineup Decisions: Tadebo's Fitness
00:12:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
they are, who's in, who's out?
00:12:58
Jacob
It is very difficult um because I think it it is really tough. It is really tough.
00:13:09
Jacob
um
00:13:10
Jacob
um'm I'm edging towards going with something a little bit rogue. um As much as I'd like to keep the Newcastle, you know, um the team we we put out against Newcastle to remain the same, I think with Alverez back, I think we have to have him in there just because of that defensive protection he offers us um and against a team like Arsenal, I think that will be very important. I know, you know, he's not the only one that has that ability, but he's certainly the best at that, you know, getting that last ditch tackle that we need. um So I would, I would go Alvarez,
00:13:58
Jacob
Sucek, Soler, Soler and Sucek both played
00:14:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Really?
00:14:04
Jacob
very, very well. Soler in particular, obviously, we know Sucek got the goal. That's something we are kind of used to anyway, really, doing, scoring that kind of goal. um But Soler looked a completely different player to what we've seen in those sort of cameo appearances off the bench. And I think it's important for us to to keep him in there to keep that sort of momentum that he might have.
00:14:34
Jacob
um ah Mine with Paquetta, I mean this is kind of forward slash midfield but we we kind of play like a 4-1, 4-1 anyway really don't we?
00:14:45
Jacob
So I would go with Paquetta out on the left and Bowen on the right and have Somerville as a substitute.
00:14:57
Jacob
um you know If Paquetta isn't
00:14:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Really? Oh wow.
00:15:01
Jacob
making enough impact then we know we've got Somerville to come on and you know run on the defence. But I think we need these creative players um and I think Paquetta did well enough last game to hold his place in there, to be honest. um He was one of the the best players on the pitch and I think we need we need his creativity and I know it it seems harsh to leave Somerville out And the likelihood is he probably won't be left out i because we need that we need that balance of attack and defense. But um yeah, I think that's what I would go for anyway.
00:15:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's fair, that that's an interesting line up, something a little bit different to what we've seen. We're gonna go to another short advert and when we get back, I will tell you my midfield and forwards and then we'll get into a bit of match predictions.
00:16:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
okay so that's a very interesting way to approach this game actually i think it the one thing that's good about the way that you set out having piqueta still on the pitch is that if we are under the cosh he can kind of cover very well defensively you know we saw in the new castle game he was bossing the midfield going forwards and going backwards so yeah it's an interesting approach mine's slightly different so in the midfield i would actually start
00:16:34
Jacob
Yeah.
00:16:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Guido Rodriguez as the more defensive um DM. And then I would have Paquetta and Sucek in there as well. I think that having Alvarez straight in after a ban, I don't know if he's gonna be as fit as you'd like him to be, especially like match fit and sharp. Obviously when you're not playing it, it's difficult to stay sharp. I also,
00:17:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Having the same midfield that we played against Newcastle is is a thought ah that I'm kind of slightly drawn to. It's just, I don't know about the defensive capabilities of those three as a trio, to be honest, because, you know, going forward, it's really silky and it's really smooth, but we did concede quite a few chances against Newcastle and against Arsenal. I feel like we're going to be punished a lot more and a lot quicker.
00:17:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
so Guido Rodriguez's defensive ability but also he's slightly better on the ball I think than it's on Alvarez so if we are looking to replicate the you know the kind of triangles and 1-2 passes that were happening in the midfield I think Guido Rodriguez will be able to do that better with you know the likes of Perchetta and other players around him than Edson Alvarez. So I think that's should what that's all we should start with. But again, it's we've utilised substitutions so well this season. So I think if that's not going well, we can just make substitutions and change it and try something else.
00:18:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
then if we go to the forward line, I think just keep the same forward line that we've been playing. I think some of it on the left bone on the right and Tony up front, just keep it how it's been. It's been, you know, solid and last game, it was really positive and Jaraburn had an absolutely blind eye like he always does. So yeah, I think just keep that the same and then kind of in a similar vein to what I said previously, you know, we've got substitutes, let's use them. If we need to make substitutions, let's make them early, that's not be stagnant in the way that we approach the game and let's try and be on the front foot and actually bring it to Arsenal because I think if we do respect them too much, then we'll just let them attack us massively. So yeah, that would be my starting 11. Predictions. What are your actual specific match predictions for the game? Who do you think is going to play well? Who do you think maybe is not going to play well? And who are you kind of scared of from an Arsenal perspective?
00:19:05
Jacob
um I mean, there's a lot of Arsenal players I could kind of pick, to be honest. and One
Arsenal Game Predictions and Key Players
00:19:14
Jacob
thing to note as well is that Gabriel may not be included. um He came off in their game yeah against sporting, I'm not sure.
00:19:26
Jacob
what his current status is on his fitness. um But he yeah, he did come off. and And I think that would be a ah big bonus for us if he doesn't play because we you know we know how good that Saliba Gabriel partnership is. you know Not to say that it is solely built around him or anything, but he also has that that goal threat as well.
00:19:52
Jacob
um which we've seen. And yeah, I think probably the most dangerous player that we we should watch out for is is going to be Saka really at the end of the day. He makes 75% of the chances that you know that's not a fact, but that's what I assume.
00:20:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:12
Jacob
i'm that Arsenal have and yeah I think that we're gonna have to seriously double up on him and and not allow him any space at all because he he's dangerous in every game he plays so yeah I think he's probably the most obvious one that comes to my head. um Prediction wise I think um it's really hard to call I think I think hopefully we're going to come out quick like we did in the last game. You know, we're at home. We've got, we've got momentum. We've got something to to build on now. So hopefully we start quickly and take the game to them and not just sit back and allow them to to come at us and absorb tons of pressure. And then have to try and find a way back from behind, which we've done so much in the past. Um, so I'm going to go.
00:21:11
Jacob
I'm going to go for a one-all draw. um I think it's going to be two two second half goals um and then it's going to just sort of be a stalemate really. What do you what do you reckon?
00:21:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
think that's pretty fair prediction. I really like the the way that you said about coming out quick, because I think especially when you're playing against a team that are as good as Arsenal, they go into probably most games, a lot of games, expecting to be the more dominant team in that game. So if we are able to really take it to them right at the beginning of the game,
00:21:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh, you know our home ground I think it might take them a little bit by surprise which I think can work so nicely in our favor So if we can go and get a really early goal That puts us in such good stead for the rest of the game because I feel like it Completely knocks their morale and I think they are a team that if you take it to them, they can be beaten so
00:21:53
Jacob
Yeah.
00:22:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I really like that. I would love it if we did that. I'm not sure we will. I think we can see it early because Arsenal just do have that sort of quality and we are susceptible to doing that. But I think we end up fighting back and I think it is 2-2 in the end actually.
00:22:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:22:20
Jacob
Okay.
00:22:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think it go and goes in at halftime, ah one nil down, make some changes. Those changes are really positive. We come out swinging, get an equalizer, and then from there, I can see it going either way, either them getting another one and us equalizing or us getting another one and them equalizing. But I think there's quite a few goals because I think attacking wise, we've both got quality and i think I just find it difficult to think that we are gonna beat them, to be honest. I think it's definitely possible, and if we can be positive, and if we don't come out really poorly at the beginning, I think there's every chance that we can, but that's just the one where we've not seen enough performances like the Newcastle performance to make me think that we do have the ability to consistently start really well. So it's gonna be an interesting game. I'm looking forward to it. and
00:23:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I just hope we put another good performance in. Result isn't really as much of an issue for me. I just want to see the boys play really well. Take some momentum into the next game.
00:23:18
Jacob
hundred percent So yeah, let's see what happens um and yeah, there's not a lot more to say. Let's just that let's just pray for another good result.
00:23:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I hope so.
00:23:28
Jacob
um Thank you very much for watching this episode of the Daily GSPM West Ham Podcast. Please say goodbye Tom.
00:23:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Goodbye, mate.
00:23:38
Jacob
and Please rate this podcast five star and also check out all of our social media that is linked below. um There's also a load of other GSPN podcasts to check out.
Podcast Conclusion and Social Media Call to Action
00:23:50
Jacob
um There's the fantasy football pods, the women's football, wrap up pods in multiple languages and all the other Premier League team daily pods as well. and Thank you for listening and we'll speak to you soon.