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Heated Arsenal Discussion ! + NFL Playoffs: Divisional Round Preview
10 Plays4 months ago
- Is Arteta the man to take Arsenal to the promise Land ?
- Kai Havertz discourse
- NFL Playoffs: Divisional Round Preview
Recommended
Transcript
Welcome Back and Intro to 2025
00:00:10
Chino Onwuka
We are back. Hello. Happy New Year. Merry Christmas. Welcome to another episode of The Love of the Game. You know, it's good to be back with you all. You know, we we we we give you a little break, you know. It's time for the holidays, you know, time to, you know, recuperate from work, spend time with family and friends, you know, and enjoy everything that the season has
Holiday Experiences and Setting the Stage
00:00:35
Chino Onwuka
to offer. You know, some of us traveled a little bit.
00:00:38
Chino Onwuka
Um, but it is the new year. It is 2025 and we are locked in and we are back and excited for another episode. We, we hope you guys had a good holiday period. And, uh, yeah, we're ready to talk some ball. I'm here with my brothers as usual. Uh, Mike, let's say what's up to the peeps.
00:00:56
Emeka
Hey, wild ground to everybody. you know yeah Even us, we need our winter break too. you know This professional need the winter break. We need the winter break too. Gotta recharge. We back at it. Another week, another episode ready to go.
00:01:08
Chino Onwuka
For sure. Chuku, what's up? How are you?
00:01:12
Chuku
Hey man, I'm glad to be back. Man, I've missed y'all. It's good to be with my brothers again. you know It's good to have that break, you know have a nice you know mental reset, but it's time to lock in boys. It's time to get the people what they want and I think we're ready to have another banging episode. So shout out to y'all for coming back and I think we're gonna be better, stronger and better, man. Let's let's let's let's
Arsenal's Recent Struggles
00:01:34
Chuku
do it.
00:01:35
Chino Onwuka
Let's do it. And we're going to dive right into it. I know a lot of people have been waiting for this first episode because I'm sure everyone knows what we're going to start this, this episode with, you know, hopefully, hopefully, hopefully it was a better Christmas break holiday period for, for, for y'all than it was for Arsenal because, uh, since we've been gone, you know, Arsenal has been mired in
00:01:49
Chuku
You know the vibes.
00:02:03
Chino Onwuka
In some non-ideal conditions, we've had our star boy tear his hamstring. We've had backup star boy coming in from him, get himself injured as well. We've had a sickness tear through the team and we've had some some pretty diabolical results that is, you know, and a lot of narratives to discuss. So so again, you know, and in the last couple of periods, we've had some some really dire results. We lost to Newcastle in the semi-final of the FA Cup at home. Somehow lost to Manu and we're now out of the FA Cup again at home, even though they were down to 10-man. And then there was a draw in the Premier League before that. But we did have some some redemption, some good vibes come back with.
00:02:55
Chino Onwuka
A standard, a standard W against that, that other horrible team in North London, you know, North London is red. So no surprise at the result there. So at least we're coming to this episode with some positive news, but, but yeah, the big talking point is, is we're going to start off with considering, you know, who we have, you know, on the part with Arsenal and the, the frustrations with the team.
Debating Arsenal's Management
00:03:25
Chino Onwuka
The manager ownership set up, and so we'll just get right into that. I know someone who's itching to just get stuff off his chest. We've been holding him back. Chuku, say what you have to say so we can get on with the rest of the episode.
00:03:45
Chuku
Man, you know, so I mean, some background for for some for the folks who don't who we may not still know about this. But, you know, outside of the pod, you know, we have a good relationship, you know, with my boys, chin all my brother, ameca you know, we we have we have some talks.
00:04:00
Chuku
So they know they know how I feel about some certain situations, you know, I'm saying, especially with the manager. And, you know, there's this break and watching.
00:04:09
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, just before he continues, you know, it's the point where, you know, let's say Chippu is driving and, you know, he almost gets hit by a car.
00:04:11
Chuku
OK, good.
00:04:19
Chino Onwuka
It's Arteta's fault. Like, that's that's, that's what we're going to.
00:04:22
Chuku
okay okay okay hey man you say what you want look you say you're entitled to feel how you feel you know but i'm gonna get out i'm gonna see what i gotta say and i think at this point man like i've had some chance to truly reflect on the club and i mean look i don't want to make it seem like arteta has been all all blues because clearly
00:04:23
Chino Onwuka
so
00:04:46
Chuku
I think even the most sane fan can can you know or I should say rather even the most irrational fan can at least admit that Arteta has definitely you know made the team a lot better than where he started at and what he he what he inherited okay so I'm not going to sit here and make it seem like it's all doom and gloom from Arteta's side of view but you know I just want to say like again
00:05:11
Emeka
and
00:05:13
Chuku
I think I've had this comparison before, you know, it came to, you know know, switching to a different sport. But I'm talking about, you know, the Golden State Warriors before they became, you know, who they ended up becoming, right? You know, with Steph Curry, and Klay Thompson, and Draymond, and those boys, you know, basically, you know,
00:05:36
Chuku
they were do our d there were bull Mark Jackson came, for those who may not know, Mark Jackson, a former know coach of the Golden State Warriors, came in, you know had a good run, took them to know took them to new heights. Golden State was not a really you know prevalent franchise at the time and you know got them to the playoffs.
00:05:54
Chuku
they were doing good things and you know just couldn't get it across the line to win any championships and and another guy stepped in we all know who he is Steve Kerr came in and you know they won some rings during his time as the head coach and you know it took them to the next level I just think at this point in time again I'm ready to be proven wrong obviously if time if time know with time will tell but as of right now Arteta has given me the vibes of a manager that can only push us and take us so far and and to the place where we need to be or where we should be.
00:06:31
Chuku
And that is you know competing for the the best honors, AKA Champions League and the Premier League. I'm losing faith. Yes, I will say it.
00:06:42
Chuku
I'm losing faith that Artida's a guide to take us there, man. And the reason why I say this is because...
00:06:48
Chino Onwuka
and And see, you've given this comparison before, and I'll let you continue, but I think you're comparing the wrong situations.
00:06:52
Chuku
Sure.
00:06:56
Chino Onwuka
Because realistically, no, no, no if were were you're going to use that analogy, this just came up to me, because I know you've used this example before. Just just just maybe to audit give a little bit more context, if you're comparing it, what you're comparing really is LeBron's calves, and we don't even have a LeBron, going up against the Golden State Warriors with Steph, Clay, Draymond, and Duran.
00:07:24
Chino Onwuka
That is really the comparison. So yes, we haven't won, but that is like firing Spolstra because they couldn't beat those warriors.
00:07:39
Chino Onwuka
Just saying, what
00:07:39
Chuku
I hear what you're saying.
00:07:44
Chino Onwuka
he never took what was the guy before k he didn't take him to the finals He didn't take them to within one game of winning the finals. So that is not even the same comparison, just to be clear.
00:07:57
Chino Onwuka
does i think
00:07:57
Chuku
But as I think just being we're being a bit nitty-gritty if if if we being if I'm being honest here because again, us the the point is not to provide exact parallels here, it's more so to just point out the thoughts that you know what, Arteta has taken this club as far as you know as and We've come as close as you can get right in terms of being know right there when it comes to Major Honors in in terms of the league. And I hear you and the you know with the talks of you know the Man City squad being the you know Golden State Warriors with KD and all that. like I get it. i hear you I hear you. But here's the thing.
00:08:37
Chuku
okay It's not that it's not like we've not given Arteta time because Arteta has been at the club now what five years going on to six and my issue with Arteta is yes you've helped bolster the team you helped bolster the squad but in key areas where we are lacking and I repeat Lacking and I'm talking about in the front end in where we need to be able to and where we would need a clinic like a clinical attacking options.
00:09:07
Emeka
yeah
00:09:14
Chuku
This man has decided to put his entire feet on one man named a Kai Havertz. And I'm here to tell you all that this Kai Havertz is not good enough to lead us to where we need to be as a front as a team when it comes to winning major honors. He is not that guy. And the fact is,
00:09:39
Chuku
At the same time, I'm not saying Kai Havertz is a bum. I'm not trying to say Kai Havertz is slagging him off. in the
00:09:47
Chuku
I'm not trying to make it seem that Kai Havertz is you know some guy that's going to be just an absolute you know waste or you know a waste of a player in our squad. But at the same time,
00:10:02
Chuku
is the fact that we have, or hes the manager has put so much of his faith in Kai Havert that has given me, oh is given me guess,
00:10:16
Chuku
worries that it has me questioning, is this the guy that's gonna take us to where we where we need to be? And again, you know, season is still ongoing. I could be proven wrong when it's also been done this year.
00:10:32
Chuku
But from what I'm seeing in terms of eye tests, I just, I know, in fact, I have a very strong inkling in my spirits. Okay. Now we're just not going, we're not, we're not that team. We're not that, we're not in that position.
00:10:50
Chuku
in order to, you know, push and actually win the league. We may still be the inner in or around that top three, top two, whatever you want to call it. But the feeling I have at those as of right now is we're most likely going to have another year where we're competing for the, where they're competing for the, the EPL, but yet we're not going to most likely win it. And the fact that we might not win it this year,
00:11:21
Chuku
with how other teams have slipped, mainly the Giants that we talk about in Man City. That's almost borderline. like Again, but just understandably so Liverpool's the one you know leading the charge and they they have a lot of experience prior. you know they won The team that they have has won a Premier League before. I hear you, I get it. But like it's not like many people had Liverpool coming into the year as favourites to win the league. right So let's not does not act no does not have revisionist history and I think that you know we had these expectations that Liverpool were going to win the league. So when we have a team like Man City fall off, you would have thought Arsenal would be right there to take advantage
00:12:11
Chuku
of the situation and and hopefully try and be clear in terms of of the league and we're just we're just not, we are just not. and
00:12:21
Chino Onwuka
and and And I think that's that's a fair statement, you know, coming in, if you've asked any Arsenal fan or anybody who pays attention to football and said, OK, Man City are going to go on this terrible run of form, you know, this is going to happen. Pep is going to start scratching his face and, you know, putting himself in danger. Who's going to win the league? Everyone would have said Arsenal, except maybe perhaps some some Liverpool fans in and some Tottenham fans.
00:12:52
Chino Onwuka
So with that being said, we we hear all the issues. You know, Yas is not able to take us to the level that we need to do, you know, his faith in in certain players. We've talked about, you know, previously, is is there a little bit too much pragmatism? I'm going to put this to you point blank. Are you saying that we should fire Arteza?
00:13:19
Chuku
I'm saying, it's not as simple as a yes or no question.
00:13:20
Chino Onwuka
no No, no, no, no, no. They say yes or no question. Are you saying we should fire Arteta?
00:13:26
Chino Onwuka
No, no, no. You're saying all these things. He's not the one to take us to the next level. We've agreed. So what does that mean?
00:13:32
Chuku
Okay, if that, okay, glass if you're looking for an answer, if you're looking for an answer, yes, yes, it might be time to look for a replacement, yes.
00:13:32
Chino Onwuka
What is the next step? What happens after one?
00:13:38
Chino Onwuka
Okay. Okay. Cool. No, no, no. Not until Arteta out. Fire Arteta. Let him go.
00:13:46
Chuku
Looking for replacement is is is ah ah is a out, yes.
00:13:50
Chino Onwuka
Okay, cool. Emeka, your thoughts?
00:13:57
Emeka
That might as well follow up some spicy like that. Man, it's really coming in hot with the arteta out. Damn. Well, I mean,
00:14:08
Emeka
I don't know. like a Like you guys said, and it's it's so true. I mean, I can't be shy away from it. You guys have been saying, if I knew Man City would struggle. Out of Inkling, they would struggle. And I would say, over my chest, all preseason, I truly believe Arsenal won the league this year. So I can't just walk that back. I got to be honest with myself. I did think, yo, you know this would be the year. We do something. We win. I really did think so. So season, on that level, I guess, is a disappointment. But like it's we're still second in the league.
00:14:38
Emeka
Secondly, gaming hand behind, yeah, four points behind the leaders. It's not insurmountable, I'll say, for us to come back. Even though, yes, I think we're going to win. I'm going to say it's not like we had years where we're just off the pace. We're not even remotely in the title chase. We're just playing for struggling to qualify for Europa League back in the day sometimes. so We got Champions League. We're looking at that. We're in the title race still. so Arteta has done too much positive for me to join my brother, even though he's made very valid points. I can't, I can't, I can't reach that level because yeah, it might be time to think about replacement, but I just don't know who this replacement is going to be. Like we're going to talk about them later, but man, you, even though they got bailed out today by a teenager hyped up, you know, even I was hyping him up, Ruben Amorin like, Amorin, this guy's a genius to Portugal. Look at how sporting we're handling Man City. He's come over to the Premier League again.
00:15:35
Emeka
I'm sure my new fans will be talking and we beat you guys the weekend. You guys are garbage. I'm sorry, I was about to tell you, man, you gotta know it's not good. It's the hard out there. The Premier League is the hardest league, is is the best it's ever been top to bottom quality wise. And I watch quote unquote minnows every week go out and smack up quote unquote big boys. Man, you and man Tottenham are 13th and 14th in the league right now.
00:16:01
Emeka
It's competitive. So yes, it's disappointing this year. But if I know, I feel like I'm trying to get the tie, as I say here in my arsenal hoodie. But if you really look at all the injuries we've had, but you know what I said, we lost the star boy and the star man. How are we losing both those guys? Jesus, man, pray for Jesus, just when you get into a little bit of form towards ACL. Tomiyasu, I don't know what we're paying him for. Kalifuri, our hot signing in the summer. He's been in and out of injuries half the time.
00:16:29
Emeka
Ben White, surgery, missing games. Look at the list.
00:16:33
Chino Onwuka
Even Declan, Declan's barely been facing, playing with a broken toe and her back the whole season.
00:16:38
Emeka
exactly like it's it's tough and yes the fair rebuttal would be arteta bought all these players i'm not going to challenge that i think we should not be giving arteta full transfer powers if that's what if that's an argument someone wants to make i'll fully back them on that i have some issues with arteta's talent identification and like my brother said Kai Edwards, I don't want to be insulting your family and anything, so I'm not going to go that far. But my brother, I almost got on my Twitter account and said something to you. Because that you were a donkey against Manu. I don't know what that was. That i was my guy. You were a donkey against Manu. I don't know how you missed that chance at the end. And we out here, man, we out here diving with Arsenal Football Club.
00:17:22
Emeka
And we're really out here diving. And not only do we have the nerve to be diving and cheating for penalties, we now miss the pain I felt after that weekend and lost the man.
Philosophy of Sports and Arsenal's Identity
00:17:33
Emeka
Thank goodness we won against the Naderbi yesterday, like coming here with a clear mind.
00:17:38
Emeka
Because if we recorded on Sunday morning or Sunday evening, I might have said something I regret. So I fully agree with my brother on that one.
00:17:46
Chino Onwuka
Man, for some of you that don't know, you know, some mandem had to resort to different activities to get themselves away from it.
00:17:54
Emeka
but I had to get my mind right after that game. I had to get my mind right after that game. And this was on Sunday.
00:18:00
Chino Onwuka
Things were happening, things had a character, so...
00:18:00
Emeka
but
00:18:03
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, and and i there's... there's here yeah Here's what I'll say, because, you know, we've heard what Chikuma said, and Mako has heard you. And I think, I don't know whether it's...
00:18:15
Chino Onwuka
It's weird for me because, you know, when we did our season's predictions, I predicted us to come second because it takes perfection to beat Man City. And Man City has been very mortal this season and this just happened to be the season where Murphy's Law, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong.
00:18:36
Chino Onwuka
Whether it be red cards that we've never seen before, to that leads to suspensions, which hurts us in games, and and subsequent games, to to injuries, to our key players, and then players in the same position, guys who've been stalwarts of our team. you know Maybe we've we've been blessed with luck in previous seasons, but oh the guard was out for long periods of time, you know, still trying to find his form back. Saka has gone for a long period of time. Gabriel was gone for a fair bit as well. We haven't seen Benny Blanco. We haven't seen Calipheori. Marino was out to start the season. Then Saka gets hurt and then
00:19:21
Chino Onwuka
both Ethan and Sterling get hurt at the same time. And then all of a sudden, like you mentioned, Jesus, so it's just been everything that could go wrong could go wrong. Then, you know, even with all that, all of a sudden we can't create anymore.
00:19:37
Chino Onwuka
And that's a problem.
00:19:37
Emeka
I would lie.
00:19:38
Chino Onwuka
And then then and then and then and then hold on, we fixed the situation where even with all these issues, now we're creating all these situations but can't convert to save our lives.
00:19:38
Emeka
In terms though, I feel like we've been creating though.
00:19:49
Chino Onwuka
So it's just is just something. So here's where I'm at in terms of the whole Arteta discussion. Before people say, oh, you know Arsenal fans, and we are at the stage where we need to be winning things.
00:20:03
Chino Onwuka
that is That is now where I feel the standard is for the team. But look, that can be the goal. But one of the things about football, which I love and I think we all love, as long as it's not just bandwagon fans or people who are fake fans, is sometimes football is about the journey and not just the destination.
00:20:28
Chino Onwuka
I think about what this team has done to me and to a community over the last two years, the players and the manager. You know, Chukwu mentioned how long has he been coaching Arsenal? He's been coaching Arsenal for five years. How long has he been coaching overall? The same five years. So he's still a young coach. You know, there's there's there's a couple of idiosyncrasies where, you know, you can talk about the players that we have are not the right players, but these are the same players that almost took us the promised land and went toe to toe with Man City last year. So is he a bad coach in terms of talent ID? Yes, but we have the wrong players and he's still making those wrong players work somehow. So, you know, there's there's the good and there's the bad in that.
00:21:25
Chino Onwuka
Where I'm at is, this season, everything that almost can go wrong is going wrong. And we're out of the f FA Cup, which is a shame. I thought that was a good chance for a trophy. We're in a dark hole in the Carbell Cup. That was a good chance for a trophy. You know, Prem, let's just fight till the end. Who knows what may happen. Let's just... I know you you joke about teams where, oh, yeah, your trophy's applying pressure. Well, that's all we can do. Let's apply pressure.
00:21:52
Chino Onwuka
Champions League, let's go on a run, see what we can do out of it. You know, out of the five years, this is the first, I would say, really disappointing year. Now, to me, this has to be a year of learning. And the thing with Arteta is he has grown every year. You know, we talked about rotations. He's done better with that. You know,
00:22:18
Chino Onwuka
youth, he's done better with that. Now he needs to do better. I think Ameka made a really good point in that. I think it is dangerous for him to have so much power over recruitment because I think defensively, you know, he's got Gotan ID there because they're able to fit into the way he plays attacking wise. Maybe he hasn't even made enough signings attacking wise to make mistakes. So that's one area that he needs to improve on and not being as pragmatic. I think this season is a disappointment. We can't run away from that. But it's not just to say, OK, there's all these excuses. No, it's like, OK, we now expect you to grow. So am I saying Arteta out after this season? Not even close. I think that is I don't even know what the right word is for it. but
00:23:15
Chino Onwuka
Even with that, we're still in a a position that if you look at recent history is still not common for Arsenal. We need to continue to make that step. We need to make that step. And my desire is for Arteta to be the coach with whom we make that step with. And I believe he is the one that can get us there because is there and Is there another pep or clop out there? Maybe the only one is Chabi Alonso that you could say, oh, this is the guy that everyone identifies the next one. And unless you say Chabi Alonso is the guy coming in to to take over, and even then I'd be like, is he really better than Arteta? Then I'm sorry, unless Sir Alex, Sir Arson,
00:24:15
Chino Onwuka
futurear Future Future Start Club ain't walking out ain't walking out that door. So that's that's what I have to say.
00:24:23
Emeka
i mean fox though that's i mean I hate when people say the question of who would you replace them with because if I knew the answer, I'd be making millions of dollars as a scout. But sometimes it is a fair question. Who would you replace him with? like I can't go or take that out. I just can't, because we had it so good now. And yeah, for every Mark Jackson, there's countless times when a team has fired a coach and gone nowhere afterwards. Because you know and hard to it's hard to take that last step. We're at the final step of the process. It's the hardest step to take, to cross over that threshold from going from newly rans to champions. And yeah.
00:25:03
Emeka
is it There are questions and marks about whether I could touch the guy to do that. But the question marks for anybody we hire, they're the guy to do that. And at least more with a guy, a manager who I know has strengths. We don't lose to other teams in the big six. It's been 600 nowadays since the last time Arsenal was lost in the league to a fellow big six side. He has his strengths. For as bad as you guys, my guy said, it's the Murphy's Law season. Everything that can go wrong, won't go wrong.
00:25:31
Emeka
From as bad as that season has been, they were still second place. I know, yeah, disappointing, quote unquote, still second place. Let me tell you what, you know what disappointing is? Disappointing is man, you, and Tottenham.
00:25:41
Emeka
Those are disappointing teams to me. Like, expectations have grown. I fully understand that.
00:25:46
Chino Onwuka
after today I was like man okay so they finally have you know positive gold if they still though there's still a negative gold difference bro
00:25:54
Emeka
Exactly. So I'm saying it could get a lot worse It could get a lot worse and you know to be fair could get better but I feel like there's a lot more chances where it gets worse than before it gets better and I rather hope that our teta fixes the issues He has then to gamble on hiring someone else and hoping that that guy has a final step.
00:26:14
Emeka
I guess when it comes down to
00:26:15
Chuku
Yeah, I get what you guys are saying and I hear you and I agree with that point 100%. It's just that bro, man. Like, is see. before Before this run of games and and and what I was seeing from us was taking place, right, if someone had asked me, right, how do you, because these are things that have come up anyways, right, in terms of, you know, you know,
00:26:41
Chuku
Outside fans ask, how know how do we feel about Arteta and where's our stance with him and you know what's what's our thoughts you know with him being the coach and how many more years would you give to Arteta? These conversations have taken place and prior to this run of form and what I've been watching, that answer was easily at no another no two to three good years no could could could be given.
00:27:06
Chuku
right but then when you really sit down and like really deep it and like you like you really like deep and see where we're at as a club right in terms of our chances with with winning the major the major honors right there's been one thing right if you know is this again massity led team you know destroying the league and whatnot but look at what a team like little pull is accomplishing right Granted, is with the same group of players that have won no major honors before, I hear it, but even in a turmoil year where they have three of their best players in situation in in contractual situations that you know have been the talk of the year, right? Manager that had brought this group to group of guys together, gone.
00:28:01
Chuku
replaced with a with a or random coach that I know a lot of people didn't know very much of a couple of years ago, but made a name for himself in the in the in the Dutch league, has come in and is about to, again, still got halfway seasons to go, but has brought his team, right, this team, and put them in a position to be viable for the the league. You can't tell me that, again,
00:28:31
Chuku
Arteta, Arsenal. We have provided or given this man a lot in terms of you know power, a lot of cachet when it comes to you know players to bring in. And at the end of the day, it's the decisions that he's made grant Granted, it wasn't just him, right? It was the Arsenal board, but him being a playing a big role because he can't tell me Arteta doesn't have a big part to play when it comes to recruitment because he clearly has, right? We always talk about or hear about, whenever a player comes, one of the first things they talk about is, oh, they had a talk with the manager. The manager has played a key part in all recruitment since he's been at the club.
00:29:16
Chuku
and Again, I have to look at the talent ID. some Obviously, he's hit on some in some cases, in others, not so much. And the players who have been doing, like who have stood out the the most in our club, in my opinion, like most of these players are players that, they want Ateta signings, man. like Think about it. Saka, not Ateta signing. Saliba, not an Ateta signing.
00:29:46
Chuku
Gabriel, not an Aetetas sign in. Ben White, was Ben White an Aetetas sign in? I don't believe so.
00:29:54
Emeka
Yeah, he was, he was.
00:29:55
Chuku
He was, he was? Okay, sure. No, he wasn't Aetetas. Okay, gotcha. But I just named you some of our best players. The two, our two center backs and our right-winger.
00:30:06
Emeka
Gabriel is at the signing for the record.
00:30:07
Chuku
Who? he
00:30:09
Chino Onwuka
and what I didn't want to say anything.
00:30:09
Emeka
Gabriel.
00:30:11
Chuku
ah Who?
00:30:12
Chino Onwuka
They named all the ones, but don't you don't want to name the ones that are good signings.
00:30:13
Chuku
Who? Who was Aetetas sign in?
00:30:16
Chino Onwuka
How about the ones that are OK? Name, list all the ones that are good signings.
00:30:18
Chuku
Who is that to the sign in?
00:30:21
Chino Onwuka
Gabrielle, Ben White, yes.
00:30:21
Emeka
Gabriel.
00:30:23
Emeka
yeah Remember the joke was you can't buy your left foot at center backs.
00:30:25
Chuku
Okay, okay, okay, fair enough.
00:30:28
Chino Onwuka
because You always have the internet too much. Gabrielle, Ben White, Aaron Rammstill, David Raya, Julian Timber. OK.
00:30:38
Chuku
We've had some good sign in, but those are all good friends here.
00:30:38
Emeka
That could erase.
00:30:38
Chino Onwuka
Come on.
00:30:39
Emeka
I can live on my manner of erase.
00:30:42
Chino Onwuka
Trussard, Georgina, come on.
00:30:45
Chuku
Trozza was a stopgap signing. Let's not do this, man.
00:30:48
Chino Onwuka
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
00:30:48
Chuku
look Let's not do this.
00:30:50
Chino Onwuka
Trussard was a stock up, but like, no, if you're gonna name like, I don't like when people make biased comments, right? Because that is annoying.
00:31:01
Chino Onwuka
Has he made bad signings? Yes. Has he made good signings? Yes. Name me a manager that does not make bad signings. Everybody does. We just don't have the ability like some other clubs to just park bad signings away. If they're bad signings, at least he's making them useful. Every club has bad signings. Should I start naming other coaches bad signings? Is that what we want? to that watch Should we start doing that?
00:31:32
Chuku
we wanted to go we wanted to go there we wanted to go there but okay but granted with all the signage that we've that we've made okay the facts still remain since this manager has been at the helm we've only won one trophy the FA Cup
00:31:34
Chino Onwuka
A hand, a hand, a hand. Nope, makes sense.
00:31:55
Chuku
And that was with the first group of players that this manager inherited since then. And since he's been able to build his quote unquote team, whether you like it or not, the facts remains we have not won a significant trophy in that time.
00:32:11
Chino Onwuka
One question, why don't people always bring that up?
00:32:11
Chuku
why is that
00:32:14
Chino Onwuka
Those players that you inherited, the other managers that have them, what did they win with those players?
00:32:20
Chuku
We won we want FA Cups.
00:32:22
Emeka
I'm thinking, what if it comes to winter? What if it comes to winter?
00:32:26
Chino Onwuka
Okay, but people say it was Emery's team. That's what old people always say. What did Emery win with that team?
00:32:32
Chuku
It's not about who's team it was.
00:32:32
Emeka
Hey, you're up to a league final.
00:32:34
Chuku
like I'm not even going there.
00:32:34
Emeka
You're up to a league final.
00:32:36
Chuku
I'm not even going there. It's not even about team it was.
00:32:37
Chino Onwuka
Yes, he tried to put one corner of the argument and then leave the other people say, oh, it was Emory's team. Emory didn't win anything with that team. So Arteta wants something with somebody else's team.
00:32:48
Chino Onwuka
That's a plus.
00:32:49
Chuku
But again, what Again, that has nothing to do with what I just with what i just mentioned.
00:32:54
Chino Onwuka
What you're saying has nothing to do with anything. He won a trophy. It doesn't matter which players he won it with. He won a trophy. Who cares?
00:33:02
Chuku
Okay. Okay. I see where why I went wrong with this. Okay. But regardless, but what but still stands, since his first year at the club, he has not won a single significant trophy since
00:33:06
Chino Onwuka
Yes, come correct.
00:33:21
Chuku
what you How, good question for you, question for each and all. How many more years are you willing to accept not winning a significant trophy and by significant trophy?
00:33:33
Chuku
I'm just, I'm mentioning any of the FA Cups, Carlin, EFL Cups, Champions champions League, how many more years can you go in here?
00:33:43
Chino Onwuka
I want it now. I want it now. I want it now. But what I'm saying is right there can be two different things where I can want it now and say it is a disappointment or even a failure that we don't win it.
00:33:58
Chino Onwuka
But that does not equate to saying, at this point, I want the manager out. I've not seen anything.
00:34:06
Chuku
But that's not answering my question. All I'm asking is how many more years can you say, what?
00:34:09
Chino Onwuka
I just said now, which means zero.
00:34:13
Chino Onwuka
so what I it last year.
00:34:13
Chuku
Say, no, no, no, you're not going to ask, no, no, no, no, you're not going to get them.
00:34:16
Chuku
I'm saying, how many more years can you go before you're saying, Anteta out? Or we need a new voice in the world.
00:34:22
Chino Onwuka
It depends on it depends what happens in the season, right? if If it's a season where we lose a title by one point, I might not want him out. If we go next season and we finish fifth, or if we go next season and we finish 13th, then of course I'm going to want him out, right?
00:34:38
Chuku
that def reflectting though like No, no, no, you're not answering my question though, because again, let's we could go the next three years and we were off it by one point or whatever, how many points, whatever you want to call it.
00:34:38
Chino Onwuka
It depends on the context.
00:34:51
Chuku
You're telling me that if that was the case for the next three years, we're off by a point or a few margins here or there, you still want to manage here?
00:34:58
Chino Onwuka
Yeah. the next thing I'll be honest. If the next three years, what happens is you get to the final day of the season and we lose out on the title on the final days of the season three years in a row. I probably would know him out. I'd be frustrated as hell, but it wouldn't be like, or to like.
00:35:13
Chuku
Oh, man.
00:35:13
Emeka
but i'lluse you you won to mount youku gramju chin on this If we went the next three years to the last match name of the season, I would never want to match.
00:35:14
Chino Onwuka
but i
00:35:14
Chuku
Okay.
00:35:20
Chino Onwuka
Yeah. Yeah.
00:35:23
Chuku
With zero tokens, we won nothing in those two years.
00:35:23
Chino Onwuka
Like, it's not something that we don't want it to, like, look look think about it this way. Like, look at, like, I think about it seem like, at Litical Madrid, where they've had semione for so long. They don't win every year. They're not the biggest club in Madrid, but he takes them to the maximum of what they can be. And how many years? They've had many disappointing seasons. Do you see them firing their coach? No.
00:35:50
Chino Onwuka
So if you take it and we finish 13th, we finish 8th.
00:35:51
Emeka
Hey, it was not long ago. We appreciate it.
00:35:55
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, that's a different conversation. But if, like I said, we're in a title challenge every year, we want, I want to win. I want to win, but I'll be honest with you. If we're in the fight, we're not losing against our rivals.
00:36:11
Chino Onwuka
I'm seeing my Starboys come through. I'm not going to want, we we are we are the arsenal. that We're not like other clubs. That's not what we do.
00:36:22
Chino Onwuka
and And I respect, no, one of the things, I respect that you have a different opinion, right?
00:36:23
Chuku
All right, I get it.
00:36:26
Chino Onwuka
I'm just telling you why my view is like that. I respect that you have a different opinion.
00:36:30
Chuku
At that point, would have done we were gone eight years and we would have won only an FA Cup at that point. And you guys are saying you would have still wanted to sign your end.
00:36:39
Chino Onwuka
Look, trueu and even with that, we are lucky to be Arsenal fans because there are some people who are Tottenham fans.
00:36:41
Chuku
Okay.
00:36:47
Chino Onwuka
There are some people who are Crystal Palace fans. There are people who are what teams that had former glory days. Sheffield fans went when they were team and they've not won anything in 50 years.
00:37:01
Chino Onwuka
So that's sports. Not everybody can win.
00:37:05
Emeka
All I know is the last five years, I'd rather be an Arsenal fan than a Manu fan.
00:37:05
Chino Onwuka
The journey, not the destination.
00:37:11
Emeka
Yeah, they can claim their FA Cup and their calling cup. Congratulations, good for you. I've thoroughly enjoyed watching Arsenal a lot more, and I'm pretty sure most Manu fans have enjoyed watching Manu over the last five years.
00:37:22
Emeka
So yeah, we look, trophies are, while you play the game, quote, unquote, yes, trophies, I get all that. I've never, I guess it comes, even like my NBA, things like this. I've never been a rings guy. I guess that's equivalent for in soccer, it's trophies. Only one team wins every year. I just never subscribed to that thinking of when there's one winner and then 19 failures. It's a spectrum. If we're finishing second and we're taking it to like last season can never be considered a failure to me. I just refuse to accept that. I just, last season was amazing. Every game we're in, it we went 16, one and one, the last 18 games of the season. 16 wins and the last 18 games.
00:38:02
Emeka
I can't be watching that and think that's a failure. I just i guess that's just how, like I said, it's a different story for different folks. I guess that's how it is for me because, yeah, it's been, last time Arsenal won the league was what, 2004, so it's been 21 years and Arsenal never won the Champions League. And for a lot of people, they're only two major trophies in football. So for a lot of people's characteristics, Arsenal haven't won anything really significant in 21 years. I disagree with that because There were some years when we, quote unquote, won the FA Cup or something, and we looked awful. And there were years, these last two years, where yeah we didn't win anything at the end of the season. I had a great time. Last season was one of the best years of my life watching Arsenal. So I guess that's how I, you know, it's always been like that for me.
00:38:46
Emeka
and again we're
00:38:46
Chino Onwuka
and and And I think, you know, to something you touched on, I think in a way, football is viewed differently than other sports because, you know, Chuku, what NBA team do you support?
00:38:47
Emeka
but yeah
00:39:02
Chuku
Rolando Magic.
00:39:04
Chino Onwuka
When was the last time you you all won a title?
00:39:12
Emeka
never yes
00:39:14
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, you never want to and i'm I'm not trying to yap, right? I'm just making you think about it.
00:39:16
Chuku
yeah Yeah.
00:39:18
Chino Onwuka
When you have you you have this really good coach now on a young team, are you like, oh, man, we didn't win the title this year, this guy out? No, I think football is the only sport in which we have that sort of mindset, right?
00:39:34
Chino Onwuka
And so critical and and like you said we we think about it differently because
00:39:34
Chuku
It's a different game, it's a different sport, man.
00:39:36
Chuku
this is not I don't know if that's equal comparisons, but fair enough, I hear what you're saying.
00:39:43
Chino Onwuka
Do I want to win? Yes, more than anything, more than you wouldn't believe. There are some things that I will not share on this podcast publicly about how badly I want to win something for so many different reasons. But is that the only reason why I love Arsenal, why I love this team? No. I love this team for the joy that they can mostly bring me on the weekends, for the people I share it with, for simple moments like
00:40:13
Chino Onwuka
Lukai Osaka, our star boy, coming in and doing what he does for the team. Someone we watched come of age and, you know, you see these guys we promise, he's one of those people where what happens in FM is happening in real life. For the simple joy of Ethan, someone I've been watching since 14, breakthrough, and looking like he doesn't have to promise. For the simple joy of Miles Louis Skelly, just shrugging of grown men,
00:40:45
Chino Onwuka
living rent free in their heads pumping up the crowd like we did we Did we win a title? No, but that when he was when he was I don't know why he got the yellow card for After a ton of people got he was supposed to be walking across the field But if you watch it again and with that wasn't it wasn't even two seconds The ref just got round up on this game a yellow card like he wasn't even ye Yeah, yeah
00:40:57
Emeka
I know why he got the yellow card. I know why he got the yellow card. I don't believe in that.
00:41:10
Emeka
Because my friends are dirt, meat, masses, jaw, you know what? I want you to cook your pork. Obviously, I know why he got the yellow card.
00:41:15
Chino Onwuka
And then he just laughs like, are you serious?
00:41:15
Emeka
I love when he got it.
00:41:18
Chino Onwuka
You gave me a yellow card for that. And he's like, pop off the card. That was beautiful. That is, that is, there's joy in that. So look, only one team can win every year.
00:41:29
Chino Onwuka
Unless you're a Man City fan, unless you're a Real Madrid fan, if the only way you get joy in your team is if you win a title, then be ready to be depressed a lot.
00:41:42
Chino Onwuka
That's all I can say. And we don't have that same view in our other sports. You take it as it is. If you lose some disappointment, then you judge the season on its merits, whether to disappointment or not. The fact of how long it's been, you know, yeah, that plays a part, but is that how you should judge every situation? I don't think so.
00:42:04
Emeka
Hey, man, my idol, Monsio Wenger, once famously said, Tom Ford is a trophy.
00:42:06
Chuku
and
00:42:09
Emeka
By that logic, we winning trophies. So that's how I'm going to look at it.
00:42:13
Chuku
this is i mean man this is painful but you know what I think this is this is just one of those things we're just gonna have to agree to disagree on because bro I refuse to settle and believe that all we're here for is just the joint like yes that should be a part of it listen
00:42:27
Chino Onwuka
that is not what I said. That is not what I said.
00:42:29
Emeka
right
00:42:30
Chuku
listen I'm speaking
00:42:31
Emeka
and I'll back you up toco for the record.
00:42:32
Chino Onwuka
That is not what I said.
00:42:32
Chuku
yeah i'm afraid
00:42:33
Emeka
That's what I said. That's what I said for the record. that's what I said
00:42:35
Chino Onwuka
what record I said I accepted I thought i want it.
00:42:36
Chuku
okay thank you
00:42:39
Chino Onwuka
The funny thing is I want a trophy. I can guarantee you more than you do.
00:42:45
Chuku
okay okay it doesn't but doesn't sound like it's me bro but look i hear what you're saying i listen i hear what you're saying like i said
00:42:46
Chino Onwuka
More than you do. what's Trust
00:42:55
Chuku
I enjoyed these things too, man. Trust me, I get joy seeing players like Miles Lewis Kelly, someone that we've has had great hype coming to the first team, balling out of control, doing what he's what he's doing at at this young age. I enjoy seeing Bukai Osaka. I enjoy seeing certain mandemes in this team. But at the same time, man,
00:43:18
Chuku
Holy, we need a trophy, man. like we We are starving for a trophy, man. We are starving. And like we can't go on. like ah I hear what you're saying about, obviously, you know all these things in terms of, you know obviously, only one only one team can win you know one of these trophies each year, man.
00:43:41
Chuku
But god damn it, man. like Yo, for as good as we have been, this team deserves a trophy.
00:43:45
Chino Onwuka
Why can it be us? Why can it be us? And one day, please, and one day, please God, let it be us.
00:43:49
Chuku
This team
00:43:53
Chino Onwuka
Please God, one day, let it be us.
00:43:54
Emeka
Uh, too cool. Quick question. If this is, this is a crazy hypothetical, not going to happen, but I'm just curious your thought. If it somehow comes out, the Man City one 15 thing, they get sanctions stripped of the titles and retroactively, we get awarded one print.
00:44:12
Emeka
I think it's going to be one or two, but you got what it is by one, one print. Would that change your mindset about our tanta? Same exact performance. Just retroactively. We got awarded a Premier League title. I'm just curious though.
00:44:21
Chuku
Again, that's not a hypothetical, I know what you're saying. And like, truth be told, man, it's not gonna, I mean, look, i it obviously changed the narrative, and you know, in the history.
00:44:34
Chuku
It's still not gonna feel the same because obviously, you know, I mean, it's not gonna feel the same because and there wasn't any ceremonies or there wasn't any, you know what I'm saying?
00:44:36
Emeka
Yep, I agree.
00:44:41
Chuku
Like, you know, it's just like, hey, okay, yeah, we won that year because of technicalities or whatever you want to call it. but like I hear you, for the sake of the history books, sure, it changes ah ah changes the you know the dynamics of of you know the storyline behind Arteta and the football club. Yes, yes, it does. But at the same time, as far as like me, the the the you know I guess the fan, is not gonna I don't think it will truly hit the scene as actually you know
00:45:16
Chuku
winning it in real time and having that whole celebration. I just don't think we hit the same. That's just how I feel. But yeah, that's all.
00:45:23
Emeka
No, our facts. And I raised that point to show, crudely, that there's more to it than trophies. Because if it was just trophies, and if we got a retroactively given them, we'd be like, yeah, we got a trophy. Everything's lit. But it's about the journey, like you said. It's about the celebration. It's about seeing it week in, week out, and getting rewarded for it. And yes, we've not gotten in the final reward.
Arsenal's Current Challenges and Solutions
00:45:42
Emeka
But man, me and you and other people, I remember we gathered around in my crib last May. We watched our final game. Yeah, we lost. but like That's why I support Arsenal. It's the community feeling it brought. And we mean you know what I'm going to say next. we go Me and your Arsenal fans because of our father. We've got no choice in it. We're giving it by birth. And during those down winter years and the emery years, our father gave up Arsenal. It was a team he was supporting 40 years of his life. He said he can't deal with the disappointment anymore.
00:46:11
Emeka
My guy, Mikael Arteta, managed to bring my father back from the break. Now he's rocking Arsenal gear and checking about results. That's why I can't beat Arteta out. Because I know we had some years, man. I keep bringing it up for a reason. We were finishing eighth! Eighth! There was a time in our lives we were checking Sheffield United results to make sure if they lost, when we go above them, we were... crying for, and the underrated story of Arteta winning the f FA Cup is that if we didn't win the FA Cup, we'd have been out of Europe. Imagine that whole arsenal out of Europe. And what happened next year? Well, Yaki got out of Europe. There was a season. I am 30 years old this year.
00:46:52
Emeka
29 years of my life, Arsenal have always played European football. But for one year, we did it. That was down, that was down horrendous. That was where we were. So we went from that, and that wasn't that long ago. That was four years ago. We weren't in the champion, we weren't in any European football four seasons ago. Now we're complaining that we're finishing second. So I know like,
00:47:14
Emeka
I get what you're saying, I truly do. like I really understand where you're coming from. i just Maybe if we didn't have the Emery years, maybe if we are touch that came directly after Wender, I probably feel like how you're feeling. But because we had those year and a half of Emery, when we were getting 20 shots of Norwich, and just seeing how damn bad it is, you know what? Maybe it's conservative now, and I'm scared to change managers.
00:47:34
Emeka
You can always hire Emery 2.0. Shouts out to Emery. He's at Aston Villa right now. He's doing great. Every time I read, people say, even my my idol, TT Henry, had the nerve to say that quote where, oh, Emery was treated badly, also given more time to FIACWA. Because even you remember what it was under Emery.
00:47:53
Emeka
I can't accept that. So, you know, if that's still in my brain, give me what it took to end the day of the week. Like you said, I will take finishing second 80 plus points to end the of the season, a decade even. I don't care if I don't have to experience what it is like again to be checking my phone for Chef United results ever again.
00:48:12
Chino Onwuka
And I think maybe the one difference, you know, and i and mic yeah thanks for your thoughts and Chuku thanks for your thoughts. That's why I think the one difference between you and I is I do think that one day you don't think our teta can get us somewhere.
00:48:29
Chuku
Wait, so I'm just saying, us we hold on on, before you continue.
00:48:29
Chino Onwuka
I think or you're not willing, there's only so much time you're willing to wait on your patience is run out.
00:48:32
Chuku
I'm not coming to that.
00:48:36
Chino Onwuka
Sorry.
00:48:37
Chuku
It's running, it's running out because you were making me give a yes or no answer. like You earlier were pressing me to give a yes or no answer, right? but If I had a chance to give my full take, I'm still giving him this season, right?
00:48:51
Chuku
I see where we're where we go. Because again, all the time.
00:48:53
Chino Onwuka
you you You said he's not the man to take us there. You didn't say, I don't, he will not.
00:48:57
Chuku
Oh, yeah.
00:48:58
Chino Onwuka
You said he's or you already said he's already not the man.
00:48:59
Chuku
I wanted to lead it to the point he's given me the impression that he's not the man that can give us or take us to where we need to be, to to the point of winning.
00:49:10
Chino Onwuka
And you're okay, all right. And you're giving him to this season.
00:49:12
Chuku
But and I want to be proven wrong. Go ahead.
00:49:15
Chino Onwuka
If he doesn't win anything this season, then then to you, that is sort of the the whole resume that you need to see.
00:49:15
Chuku
Go ahead.
00:49:19
Chuku
Depending on how the season goes, like to your point few earlier,
00:49:25
Chino Onwuka
If he doesn't win anything, he doesn't win anything by the end of the season.
00:49:29
Chuku
to your point earlier, hold on one second, to your point earlier, right, if we're down the stretch and it came down to the last day, that's a whole different scenario as to being like, coming out losing out to the league to the same Liverpool team weeks in, weeks out prior to the end of the season and they've already won the league by game week 32 or something like that right that's a whole different scenario depending on where the club ends up finishing or what the club does from this point to the end of the season but anyways carry on though carry on
00:50:04
Chino Onwuka
Okay. You know, what I'm just hearing is we've managed to bring you a little bit more to our side. that That's all I heard. So good thing that we brought a little bit more rationality into the discussion. So.
00:50:18
Chuku
You were the one that was pressing me to give an answer right now, right here, right now.
00:50:23
Emeka
Hey man, get pressed.
00:50:23
Chuku
And you you want you want to yeah you want let me finish i've finished my thoughts? But hey, look, all I'm saying is I'm getting... i'm getting I can see why people are there.
00:50:31
Chino Onwuka
Guys, Google has switched from Arteta out to Arteta back in. Breaking news, breaking news, breaking news.
00:50:37
Chuku
Oh, man. All right, man.
00:50:39
Chino Onwuka
Okay. All right, we I knew we would we we had a whole agenda list of things to talk to bit today.
00:50:40
Chuku
You're right.
00:50:45
Chino Onwuka
I knew this would take up most of it. So we're going to scrap. you know other We wanted to talk about you know some teams that have been overachieving and underachieving. We'll talk about that and focus on those teams next week.
00:50:58
Chino Onwuka
Since we've spent 50 minutes talking about RSL, let's just finish the discussion. One major element of the last couple of weeks narrative is we've talked about Kai and the attack and the lack of bodies. I'm just going to say this. what Just because I'm saying this doesn't mean it's going to happen. We're all very pessimistic. Is this what is happening? We need to sign a forward, preferably a striker, whatever you need. to I know we're trying to be financially prudent, you know, save our workers for the summer. The time has gone beyond that. Summer transfer window was a bit of a shambles.
00:51:36
Chino Onwuka
Desperate time comes for desperate measures. We need to do something. I don't want an old retread. Bring us something. Look, at least you can bring us some excitement with the player. That's the very least you can do. So whether it's a striker or a young hotshot winger, I feel like we need to do something. Even try and fail. Let's just see that you're trying something. I would love for it to try and be successful, but at least try and fail.
00:52:05
Chino Onwuka
Let it be a Kai Seder where that we see him put something on Instagram and we have hope. Give us false hope. That's all. Because we can't regardless of that, we're down to just Kai Havers as a striker. We have to play tyranny at left wing. Something needs to be done. Whether it's a loan, something needs to be done.
00:52:29
Emeka
Arsenal fans around the globe, man. ArsenalDirect.com, put your orders in. They're calling me some money, apparently. So put your orders in, man. jerseys, t-shirts, sweaters, whatever.
00:52:40
Emeka
the We got to do something, man.
00:52:43
Chino Onwuka
I think the issue is convincing players and clubs to let go of yeah of their players at this period.
00:52:43
Emeka
We got to do something.
00:52:48
Emeka
Exactly. But I just saw Man City do it for Frankfurt. So what do I know? What do I know?
00:52:53
Chino Onwuka
So, yeah. So, okay. All right.
00:52:57
Emeka
No, no, no, no. I but put my foot down on something, because I got to say something. Real quick, I promise. I know we're going to skip this for next week, but I realize it's been 13 weeks, and we've like barely said one word for one of the most impressive Premier League seasons I've seen.
00:53:12
Emeka
So just give me let me give a quick shout out to Nottingham Forest FC. If you had given me 20 guesses to tell me what team will be third, it would probably take me to guess 17 before I reached Nottingham Forest.
00:53:16
Chino Onwuka
Yes.
00:53:25
Emeka
I can't believe what I've seen from them.
00:53:25
Chuku
Fox.
00:53:25
Chino Onwuka
but and i didn't I didn't want to do them to dis deserve it. I wanted to really, really give them the the respect of actually spending time to talk about them. That's why I didn't rush it there. so
00:53:36
Emeka
No fair.
00:53:37
Chino Onwuka
getting which metal
00:53:37
Emeka
It's quick. This one's just quick. I just feel like...
00:53:39
Chino Onwuka
We're going to talk about William Forest and other surprising teams and other disappointment next week.
00:53:42
Emeka
Actually, we will.
00:53:42
Chino Onwuka
We promise, we promise. So let's just wrap up. Another thing work that we wanted to do this week that we'll say for next week is we're going to do our halfway through team of the season.
00:53:53
Chino Onwuka
So please stay tuned for that. We're going to quickly just touch on the game of the week because it's related to what we've been talking about. Arsenal, Aston Villa.
00:54:04
Chino Onwuka
I'm just going to do it real quick. It's going to be a draw, frustrating draw. tu Two, two.
00:54:12
Emeka
After I just slanted Emery, I'm standing ten toes on it. Three-one arsenal. Kai Havard's brace.
00:54:17
Chino Onwuka
Amen.
00:54:18
Emeka
Kai Havard's brace.
00:54:19
Chuku
man you three the faith faith have the faith you have holy the faith you have is all i'm gonna say man yo villa about to give us three one bro i don't know what you seen i don't know what you've seen i don't know what you're looking at man
00:54:20
Chino Onwuka
It's my buddy.
00:54:20
Emeka
Speaking into existence.
00:54:22
Chino Onwuka
He goes six, my buddy. He's my buddy.
00:54:29
Emeka
Come on, fam. Come on, fam.
00:54:34
Chino Onwuka
you
00:54:38
Chuku
but Villa or a team that's yeah, Ollie Watkins. Yeah, okay Morgan Rogers. Yeah. Okay. Like I said Villa.
00:54:49
Chuku
Yeah, yeah three one.
00:54:49
Chino Onwuka
Oh, that's a bad boy.
00:54:50
Chuku
Let's go
00:54:52
Chino Onwuka
And I want that's a bad boy. We need to play. I don't want to see again. This needs to be a proper. Her ramp performance. I don't want to see no, I guess part is probably enough to play right back.
00:55:03
Chino Onwuka
I want Merino and Declan in midfield, please. Anytime working picks up stills, just bring him to the ground as like, let's, let's just go.
00:55:14
Emeka
and
00:55:14
Chuku
gobi It's gonna be a long day. If we got a point, man, I'll be happy. I'll be celebrating.
00:55:18
Emeka
I can't be hearing this.
00:55:19
Chino Onwuka
yeah
00:55:19
Chuku
I'll be happy. That's all I'm going for.
00:55:20
Emeka
I can't be hearing this. I can't be hearing this.
00:55:22
Chuku
Hey, say what you want. Say what you want, man. Like I got said, it's Aston Villa. We lost to Newcastle. We lost to 10, man, United. Could it break them down?
00:55:33
Chuku
And it's now Villa. You want it to come and break down? Listen, listen, listen.
00:55:35
Emeka
And we beat them, we last I checked, we beat them at Villa Park.
00:55:36
Chuku
I'll be...
00:55:39
Emeka
Started the season.
00:55:40
Chuku
Yeah. Is that the same team we have now?
00:55:43
Emeka
All right, we're going to see.
00:55:44
Chuku
No Saka? Okay, okay. what and twain In the big 2025, rocking Trossard, Sterling, Havarts. Okay.
00:55:53
Emeka
Ask Pedro Porro about Pedro Porro about Trossard.
00:55:53
Chuku
Well, I wish good luck. I wish us good luck. Like, like nole no, no.
00:55:58
Emeka
Yeah.
00:56:00
Chuku
Can we actually deep this? In big 2025, if somebody had told me we're rocking a front three of I repeat, Trozad, Sterling, and Kai Havertz.
00:56:22
Chuku
Lord have mercy on my soul.
00:56:24
Chino Onwuka
it it depends It depends which year.
00:56:24
Chuku
like
00:56:27
Emeka
I want to say last year, two of those same three were running with the same team that won 16 straight games.
00:56:27
Chino Onwuka
which year yeah
00:56:28
Chuku
and
00:56:33
Emeka
So, you know,
00:56:33
Chuku
Again, bro, I don't know. You know what?
00:56:36
Emeka
that was just one year ago, one year ago.
00:56:36
Chuku
It's okay. Hey, we carry on,
NFL Playoffs: Ravens vs. Bills
00:56:38
Chuku
man. We carry on. we We move, we move, we move, we move, man.
00:56:40
Emeka
Obviously, Misaka for the record.
00:56:41
Chuku
I'm relying on Sterling to prove. I'm relying.
00:56:41
Chino Onwuka
yeah I think part of the issue that I have sometimes around this album we need to move on is
00:56:53
Chino Onwuka
Like, players are in a bad, bad form, right? Trusara's really struggled, Haber's really struggled. Bro, you've picked this team to come first with these same players after the summer, so, like, be disappointed in these guys, but, like, you know, keep it on a level, right?
00:57:14
Chino Onwuka
You have faith in these players. You have faith.
00:57:19
Chuku
but like
00:57:19
Chino Onwuka
Yo.
00:57:19
Chuku
and take this
00:57:20
Chino Onwuka
No, it's great, you know. All right. Okay, guys.
00:57:22
Chuku
what what's go
00:57:26
Chuku
feet we what do the what happened you know of baby food I have faith in one guy named Bocayo. morecayoakca bro That's who I had faithin bro have in.
00:57:39
Chino Onwuka
okay at
00:57:41
Chuku
the rights sterling bro and feet and to again yeah oh
00:57:43
Emeka
Okay, why are you mentioning throwing back and forth?
00:57:44
Chino Onwuka
I didn't mention Sterling.
00:57:44
Emeka
My time has started.
00:57:46
Chino Onwuka
I didn't mention Sterling. Also, I was hyped about Sterling coming in.
00:57:50
Emeka
What?
00:57:50
Chino Onwuka
I knew him a lot.
00:57:50
Chuku
you know initially initially
00:57:52
Chino Onwuka
you give me something
00:57:53
Chuku
Hey, listen, you know what? The funny thing is that Sterling has actually not been though. He's actually showed something.
00:58:02
Emeka
No comment.
00:58:03
Chuku
so Anyways, okay.
00:58:03
Chino Onwuka
Okay, okay, okay, okay need to we we've had You know, this is you know the love of the game podcasts we talk ball we talk all ball and You know
00:58:03
Emeka
No comment.
00:58:05
Chuku
that's well
00:58:15
Chino Onwuka
I know people have been asking us to to talk a little bit more NFL, and we're going to do that today. We are now into the divisional rounds of the NFL playoffs. that's I don't know what you guys thought about the wild card games.
00:58:28
Chino Onwuka
It was a lot of blowouts, a lot of matchups that we I expected to be more exciting, but a lot of blowouts.
00:58:30
Emeka
oh terrible
00:58:34
Chino Onwuka
So we're going to talk about the playoffs.
00:58:35
Emeka
Now I look forward, let's look forward.
00:58:37
Chino Onwuka
I don't know whether you guys want to focus on the previous games or just focus on the divisional rounds. Let's look forward. All right, so we're gonna talk about the divisional round matchup. So we're gonna start with the AFC, which is doing alphabetical order. So we've got Kansas City Chiefs versus the Houston Texans. And then the big one, the pre Super Bowl, you could say, the Baltimore Ravens versus Buffalo Bills. So I'll just start there, blanket, you know, whatever you guys wanna talk about.
00:59:10
Chuku
Man, I think the focus should really be on that Ravens Bills game because in all honesty, man. I don't think anyone expected a ah ah great, a good game from that Texas Chiefs. I mean, okay. All right, man. I got Chiefs within that by a decent margin. So I don't think that one's going to be too close, but that Bill's Ravens. That's going to be, that's going to be, that's going to be a game. That's going to be a game. Those are those are two quarterbacks obviously buying for the MVP this year. And I mean, like, yeah, it's going to be, it's going to be,
00:59:46
Chuku
I honestly still think ah the game is de that's definitely the game of the the weekend, in my opinion, by by none, right? By none. But in all honesty, man, personally speaking, I was expecting it to be Ravens beat down. That's what I'm expecting. Because I just think Ravens are the better team. They have the better offense. Lamar Jackson is my MVP.
01:00:11
Chuku
He is playing the best football I've seen him play in a long time. And like those who are sleeping on the edition of their currently, no you know, you know, earlier, like and on the off season, definitely is sleeping on that edition this year as we've come to see with that combination of one, two and what and what I saw them do in the previous round. But when I tell you like, yo,
01:00:39
Chuku
There was no answer from the Steelers when it came to Jackson and know the Jackson Henry combination on the Russian game. they There was no answer. like They could not deal with that at all. like It was it we dick ah ah it was is ridiculous. And for most defenses, I mean, that's I feel like that's just going to be the case. like How do you stop a Russian attack? that the The quarterback can get 100 yards in his sleep.
01:01:08
Chuku
And then on top of that, you got to address Derek Henry through the middle. like it's It's ridiculous. So personally speaking, as much as I definitely agree that or definitely think I should say that's going to be the game of the week, personally, I'm going to this weekend thinking it's going to be a comfortable Ravens beatdown. It's going to take everything from Josh Allen to keep them even fighting in this competition. But I just think at the end of the day,
01:01:38
Chuku
Ravens are going to have too much for them in the in the rush game. And in the p playoffs, being able to move the ball with your running ability, as well as the fact that let's not sleep on on Jackson now with the throwing, man. You know i'm saying he can still throw that rock. I just don't think Bills are going to have enough. It's not about enough that Bills don't have enough. It's more that I don't think the Bills are going to get enough chances offensively because of the style of play that the Ravens are gonna deploy. And I just think at the end of the day, it's gonna be a game that you know the Ravens should, sure in my opinion, walk away with a victory for him. So that's my thoughts on that.
01:02:19
Emeka
Yeah, I wish NFL was like the NBA and I wish they gave it the the MVP a worn out pregame of the Ravens bills because that's really what I know, you know, people always say quarterbacks don't play each other, blah, blah, blah. Let's be real here. That game is Lamar versus Josh Allen. And i'm willing I'm fully with my brother. To me, Lamar Jackson was the best player in football this year. Unbelievable season.
01:02:43
Emeka
I gotta give some credit to my boy Josh Allen because I saw that in the last 15 years, Josh Allen is one of two quarterbacks to be all to the make the All-Pro team, let a single All-Pro teammate, the Ravens have seven All-Pro teammates. So my guy is carrying the bills on his back and he if he pulls this off, I love both those guys. So it's sad that to me, the biggest loss of this weekend is that They have to play each other. i Whoever wins this matchup, I am rooting so hard for them against the Chiefs next week. Because no offense to the Chiefs fans out there, and I know it's the biggest hypocrite saying this is the Patriots fan. Can someone else win? That's all I want this year at NFL. Can please somebody else win? I'm tired of seeing these guys.
01:03:32
Emeka
on the upon the big stage. But, regardless of this weekend, like my brother said for the AFC, yeah, I think Chiefs in the Texans classic Saturday afternoon game, easy Chiefs dub for Bills, Ravens. I'm not gonna go far and say beat down, but I do agree that I think the Ravens just have more talent than the Bills. And I think this comes down to, it's just cause it's gonna come down to that. Ravens have more um weapons on defense and on offense and Lamar and Josh probably cancel each other out. I'd rather bet on, him as good as he's been this year, I'd rather bet on Derek Henry than James Cook when it comes down to it. And I just think the Ravens have a little bit more and we're gonna get Ravens Chiefs AFC championship repeat again in next week's time.
01:04:18
Chino Onwuka
it is the clash of the titans you are getting the two mvp favorites going up against each other you know chuku said lamor is his mvp i'm gonna raise you that lamor is the mvp better passing stats than Josh Allen, better rushing starts with Josh Allen, but those are the two premier playmakers in the game, both with their arms and both with their feet. I think it comes down to a couple of things. First, you know, they were a reminder that these two teams did play each other already earlier in the season and it was a beat down from the Ravens on the Bills 35-10.
01:05:00
Chino Onwuka
here Here's what I think. I think the Ravens are the more talented team. You talked about all the all-pros they have, you know, coming into the season. People were worried about the Bills and, you know, they they they lost Stefan Diggs. You know, they had a lack of of talent. You know, I'm a pass-catching position and he has just raised them to new levels. My worry with the... I'm gonna put it out there. Lamar is my favorite player.
01:05:30
Chino Onwuka
in the NFL. He was my favorite college employer. He's my dad's favorite player. That's how that's how much we we love Lamar over here. I want him to win. In fact, as long as it's any of the Chiefs, the Bills or the Ravens, I want the an AFC team to win, not the Texans for obvious reasons. My issue is the Ravens are the more talented team. Which team had to buy?
01:05:58
Chino Onwuka
Which team at the bar?
01:06:00
Chino Onwuka
Oh, sorry. I thought the bills, I thought the, who the bills play?
01:06:05
Emeka
They stacked up the brocos.
01:06:08
Chuku
You took the dual square and you took the That was a beat down.
01:06:08
Chino Onwuka
Oh yeah, yeah. I guess I took that game as a bar.
01:06:14
Emeka
I mean, it ends up being a bar.
01:06:16
Chino Onwuka
I took that game as a bar, right?
01:06:17
Emeka
so
01:06:18
Chino Onwuka
But I guess the point I wanted to make with wrong facts is that, For all the talent that they had, the Ravens were so frustratingly inconsistent at some point in the regular season, where they lost games that they weren't supposed to lose. And and I guess what I'm thinking of, who have I seen carry their team in the playoffs in the past? That has been Josh Allen, which players have you know maybe fallen short a little bit in the playoffs.
01:06:51
Chino Onwuka
You know, that's Lamar and in some instances, Derek Henry as well. Even though he has had, there was that one season where he carried the Titans deep. So Raven should win this game. I just worry that maybe due to expectations, maybe due to that lack of something, there's that ceiling they're wrapping their head against. You know, Josh Allen just finds a way to to magic him himself to win, but I would I want Lamar to win.
01:07:16
Chino Onwuka
I want them to win the Super Bowl this year, you know, but I'd be be happy with any of them, but those are the Chiefs winning because I love all those quarterbacks.
01:07:25
Emeka
Screw the Chiefs, uh, I know what I'm gonna go hot take for a second I'm gonna go ESPN standing sharp for a second and just throw it out there Lamar smacked up his dealers last week. So fair prop to him. Guess his flowers lamar Lamar's gonna win, to me, Lamar's got way more pressure to win than the Bills and Josh Allen does. Because my man's gonna be a three-time MVP. And if you're a three-time MVP, we hold you to certain standards in the playoffs. And Lamar's playoff history is spotty.
01:07:55
Emeka
I bring this up all the time in our group chats and bring it up again on the part. Last year, on the sideline, my guy Odell Beckham had to beg him to run. Anyone who watched that Chiefs Ravens game saw and were confused, flabbergasted.
01:08:09
Emeka
Lamar Jackson choked. To block a better word, he choked. Are you going to be another MVP now again after that? Are you going to choke again in a big spot? Like Lamar has playoff record against good teams is spotty.
01:08:22
Emeka
This is by far his chance to set that apart.
01:08:24
Chino Onwuka
that's my That's my fear.
01:08:26
Emeka
and to show people wrong, but I don't know, man. Every time I see him in the playoffs, I just, that image of Odell begging him to run is burning my brain.
01:08:34
Chino Onwuka
I think what my benefit a lot of pressure, but here's the thing, because of the
01:08:35
Chuku
it was the heart take though
01:08:37
Emeka
I don't know, well, just a lot of pressure on him.
01:08:38
Chuku
aies now the sorry i mr well the hot take that's whole take
01:08:42
Emeka
I must have got a lot of pressure on him to win this game.
01:08:43
Chuku
I don't know if that's a hot take, though.
01:08:44
Emeka
Yeah, I mean, it's not really a hot It's not really a hot thing, I think I should be fine with it already.
01:08:45
Chuku
I don't know if that's a hot take, though, because quite honestly, I mean, I think that's not good.
01:08:53
Chino Onwuka
because of the Kaiju in the AFC, in the NFL, all those guys have a lot of pressure because you got to take just Allen has a lot of pressure as well.
01:09:00
Emeka
Oh facts!
01:09:04
Chino Onwuka
So I think the one thing that helps Lamar is He's got King Harry to take some of that weight off his shoulders, and I think that's why he's playing a little bit looser. It's not that pressure of it all being on him. I don't think i think in the way he plays, it's not all there anymore. So i think that's that i think I think that Texan's game is... I think the Chiefs will win, but just because of the way they've played the whole season,
01:09:30
Chino Onwuka
I think that's going to be a closer game than Raven's Bills, just because the Chiefs just find a way to win. They've not really been blowing teams out.
01:09:38
Emeka
of that hey That is a take. That is That the record,
01:09:45
Chino Onwuka
Their record is what it is, but a lot of those games came down to, sorry?
01:09:48
Chuku
All the take?
01:09:51
Chuku
All the take?
01:09:53
Chino Onwuka
I think it's going to be a closer game than people are expecting for the Chiefs.
01:09:56
Chuku
The... The Chiefs?
01:09:59
Chino Onwuka
Yes.
01:09:59
Chuku
Texas?
01:10:00
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
01:10:00
Chuku
Really? Oh, my days.
01:10:01
Chino Onwuka
if you If you look at the whole season, Chiefs were really blowing teams out like that.
01:10:04
Chuku
Oh, my days.
01:10:05
Chino Onwuka
They were winning on defense and an unjust enough Mahomes place to win and luck.
01:10:12
Chuku
Hey, man.
01:10:13
Emeka
for the record
01:10:13
Chuku
My home is out of town, so stay healthy. Get healthy and agree with me.
01:10:16
Chino Onwuka
It's not about being like, I'm not talking about the injury, the whole, a lot of the season he was healthy.
01:10:18
Emeka
oh
01:10:19
Chuku
Well, obviously.
01:10:20
Chino Onwuka
and
01:10:21
Chuku
Whoa, there was definitely long stretches in the season. Mahomes was not playing fully healthy or as healthy as he could be. He was playing with some, he was playing with some, some, some knocks. And we all know that, you know, uh, playoff Travis Kelcey is a real thing.
01:10:36
Chuku
You know what I'm saying? You know, they, they, it's a real thing.
01:10:37
Chino Onwuka
circle I think maybe maybe because think it's a beat down if you know the Texans commit a lot of turnovers.
01:10:39
Chuku
all I, I, all I'm going to say is, well, look, I hear you and I mean, we'll find out surely soon enough, but I'm expecting the Chiefs, like, like blowouts.
01:10:49
Chuku
I'm not like a handle.
01:10:54
Chino Onwuka
It's just that Texans D is pretty strong, at least in the past Russian department, and chiefs haven't You know, you know, they're not a team of all where they're getting banging 40, 30 points on people.
01:11:07
Chino Onwuka
So I can see like a 2117 victory, something like that. So.
01:11:13
Chuku
But either way, we're seeing a cheese victory though.
01:11:15
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, yeah, I just said I said a closer game.
01:11:17
Chuku
Yeah.
01:11:17
Emeka
I know, I want to point out, on the record, Chiefs are favored by eight and a half, Ravens are favored by one.
01:11:19
Chuku
That's a take.
01:11:24
Emeka
And the guys say they're going to be closer for the Chiefs than the Ravens.
01:11:27
Chino Onwuka
yeah
01:11:28
Emeka
Hey, fair enough.
01:11:30
Chuku
That's a take, man. You can make a lot of money in Vegas,
01:11:32
Emeka
Fair enough.
Eagles vs. Rams Preview and Confidence in Eagles
01:11:33
Chuku
you know what I'm saying?
01:11:33
Chuku
About, hey, yeah all right.
01:11:35
Chino Onwuka
it's that That's just the way I personally i personally feel. we pretty Okay, so now we'll move on to the NFC and utter respect from and i out respect for my boy on the pod, we'll start with Chuku to talk about his eagles.
01:11:44
Chuku
or boy my
01:11:52
Chuku
Yes, sir. Yes, sir. You know what I'm saying? The Eagles, man. I mean, this year, we have big expectations, you know what I'm saying? We had that boy, Saquon, Saquon, Saquon Barclay, you know what I'm saying, in the cut. So, I mean, look, I'm expecting us Oh to, you know, we handled our boy, business last week, you know what I'm saying? We my did what ego. we needed to do. And I expect the same, more of the same, this week, you know, I think, you know,
01:12:19
Chuku
uh wait who i haven't even checked who were you even playing who we playing who we playing who i'm not even worried that's how that's how that's how worried i am about about my team that's how not worried i am about my team well playing the rams the the rams yeah i i think we got that one comfortable but i i just think like
01:12:24
Chino Onwuka
my love even over play is that coffee You see it doesn't
01:12:43
Chuku
Obviously, you know, the team wasn't clicking at and all cylinders, you know what I'm saying? But even the way I feel about it is even when we're not even clicking in all cylinders, we are just so talented in the off offensive positions that We just find ways to win, you know what I'm saying? We just find ways to win. And I just think Jillian Hurts, he's been here before. He knows what he needs to do. And like we have so many ways to beat teams now. It's crazy. Like, again, Seq won. We've seen what the kind of historical run this guy went. I know it's a shame we didn't you know let him you know go go off and get that that record. but
01:13:21
Chuku
look another day I just think uh the Rams they're cute you know they got some guys but I just don't think they have enough talent on the offensive side to compete with with the boys and I think hey got some boys they got they got some boys I like they got some boys I like but they
01:13:32
Chino Onwuka
Man man its see the way you're talking about the rounds when they got to your boys when they got boy are three boys You know, what I think Philly is the favorite but Philly is so frustrating because when I watched them I Guess in a way their almost like
01:13:55
Chino Onwuka
arsenal where I feel like they should be blowing teams away, but it just looks, doesn't look pretty. Apart from Saquon, like, I don't know what's going on with Jalen Hurts, and I know he just came out from a concussion, but he's regressed this year compared to his previous years. You know, the passing attack isn't what it used to be, and I guess that's why you bring in Saquon, and it's the playoffs, so maybe that's what you rely on, but theyd be better but they better come correct because, you know, it is McVeigh.
01:14:24
Chino Onwuka
You know, if you look at the coaches, you know, McVeigh over Siriani, but you know, they better come correct and don't play with your food. Don't play with your food.
01:14:32
Chuku
This is not the week I'm worried about, man. I think we handle business. The week that really will have me really, you know, making sure the boys are, I mean, look, don't get me wrong. We want to, we definitely want to have a better, a better show out, better performance this week, you know? And obviously, as you know, Hertz is coming back from the concussion, so I don't want to put too much, too much on him because obviously he didn't have a spectacular game, right? But it's one thing, one thing I like about this team is, like I said,
01:15:01
Chuku
Even when we're not playing out of control, balling under a control, we still find ways to win. That is the important thing. And we did what we needed to do to get that victory against the Packers. Now,
01:15:15
Chuku
The Rams, they'll be a different test. I'm still not as worried with the Rams as, like I gaze said, I was i knew one. The team I care about is the Detroit Lions. That's the team that, like yo well we won again, why don't we face them, which is going to be most likely the case, because I don't see the commanders being the Lions personally speaking.
01:15:32
Emeka
When we face.
01:15:34
Chuku
I just don't see it. But again, that's who I'm looking at in terms of, but whoever comes out of that competition, the the Lions or the commanders, either way, Those two, in my opinion, are teams that I think or I feel are better than the Rams. And either way, like I said, the moment I knew we didn't have one of those two, I was calm. You know what I'm saying? I was calm because I know we are going to handle business. And when it comes to the Rams, yeah, they got some guys on offense. They got that Puka Nakua. They got that Karen Williams. They got some decent pieces. But you know what?
01:16:13
Chuku
I just don't think it's gonna be enough, you know what I'm saying? We still got Saquon, Baekwon, we got AJ that is still in the club it's still the club and can still hit you for a quick 40, 50, 60 yard touchdown. Still got the in the cut. We got so much supreme talent on the offensive side of the ball that I just think we're gonna be too much for them overall. And yeah, we'll see how it goes. you know Again, this is not the week I'm too worried about next week.
01:16:43
Chuku
most likely when we made it through and we're looking at most likely the Detroit Lions. That's when, you know, I'm going to have to start some, you know, things get serious. You know what I'm saying? Things are going to be serious. But as you can tell, man, I'm pretty confident. Like, I just think regardless of whatever, you even have a great game. Ideally, I want to have a good game from Jalen Hurts. But I think personally speaking, even if we don't have a good game, we're still going to be too much for the Rams.
01:17:12
Chuku
And I just have us winning this game. There's no scenario that plays in my head that doesn't see the Eagles coming out this week without a victory. it just I just don't see it. i just I just don't see it. Hopefully the play calling is better. But like I said, even with sauce play calling and you know some play, you know the the maybe not the greatest play from the QB position, granted because of, you know again,
01:17:39
Chuku
coming back from a concussion is not an easy thing to do, like Jillian's doing. I just think, again, we're going to be too much. We just got too much two muchsh talent in this team to not be able to beat the Rams. And yeah, we'll see how it goes. But I'm feeling really, really excited to see the boys again. I just think, like, yeah, Eagles egos are going to make it to the Super Bowl.
01:18:06
Chuku
and That's my, that's my, I guess I'm just giving a, you know, giving a little heads up there, but that's my prediction. And yeah, we'll see how it goes. We'll see how it goes. But I guess I'm curious to see what, to hear what y'all thought. see like I mean, cause obviously I'm the Eagles fan here. I'm, I'm, I'm feeling pretty confident. All right. What about, what are y'all, what are y'all feeling outside of, you know, what's the thoughts on the Eagles? I guess from a, you know, al outsider's perspective.
01:18:31
Emeka
I've never seen one guy try so hard to jinx his team, the one I just heard for the last seven minutes.
01:18:32
Chino Onwuka
Go ahead, my friend.
01:18:39
Emeka
My guy.
01:18:39
Chuku
I ain't worried bro, I ain't worried.
01:18:40
Emeka
hey and ah I hope for your safety, Eagles win this week. I really do. I think it would be a close game. I think it would be generally a close game. The Rams D-line smacked up the Vikings. The Vikings won 14 games this morning in this regular season. And the Rams smacked them up.
01:18:58
Emeka
and McVeigh, I rather have McVeigh than Sirianni, even though I think Sirianni is way over hated. All he does is win games. That being said, he's not McVeigh, McVeigh is special. I rather trust Matthew Stafford than Jalen Hurts in a crux moment. And the Eagles got that, you know, that Weapon X, Saquon Buckley. If he's going to run for 255 yards like he did last week, very few teams can beat them. It wouldn't shock me if the Rams stuffed and maybe helped Saquon to like,
01:19:27
Emeka
120 130 and if that's the case I rather put my faith behind Stafford then hurts in the gunfight and the Eagles are super stacked in my opinion second most step in the third most acting in the league the Rams are I didn't I didn't hands up I didn't see this season coming from them but I got coming
01:19:47
Chino Onwuka
No, I think in terms of just player for player, I think the Eagles are the most stacked team in the league. Their problem is Jalen Hurts.
01:19:56
Emeka
That's gotta be the Chiefs. I can't hear this.
01:19:57
Chino Onwuka
Their problem is Jalen Hurts.
01:19:57
Emeka
That's gotta be the Chiefs.
01:19:59
Chino Onwuka
Nah, nah, look for position for position.
01:20:01
Emeka
You pull up the Chiefs, position for position. They got the best defense in all of you.
01:20:04
Chino Onwuka
no Eagles got wide receiver combo of of Devonta and A.J. Brown, they got the tight end. You look at their O-line is deep.
01:20:16
Chino Onwuka
You look at their defense. oh like you Your GM is the way he restocks that that team, all their draft picks, is just talent everywhere on that Philly State.
01:20:29
Emeka
You can say the exact same thing for the Chiefs.
01:20:31
Chino Onwuka
Chiefs just have those bets and coaching that that equalize it.
01:20:31
Emeka
I don't know what I'm talking about.
01:20:36
Emeka
That's talent! Bro, I have the same player for player.
01:20:39
Chino Onwuka
I said, I said clear. I said clear for clear. Like you could just look at it.
01:20:43
Emeka
The Chiefs have the most talent roster in the league, and to me, they'll be remotely close.
01:20:46
Chino Onwuka
I don't think so, but that's, that's, I respect, I respect that different take them all.
01:20:50
Emeka
How many top 10 players do you think the Eagles have on their roster? Because I have, I count one in my opinion. And I argue the chief the Chiefs, I don't care.
01:20:58
Chino Onwuka
I'm looking at like, if you're looking at like higher level in certain positions, okay.
01:20:59
Emeka
but
01:21:03
Chino Onwuka
They have the best quarterback by far. They got Chris Jones, you know they've got playoff Kelsey. Sure, but I just talked about, yeah, I think there are players on the Eagles defense who are at that level, to be very honored.
01:21:11
Emeka
I'm trying to be duffy.
01:21:18
Emeka
I love it, but the Chiefs got the best interior defensive lineman and probably the best corner, or maybe top three corner. I mean, we're getting on track.
01:21:24
Chino Onwuka
thinking agree yeah i'm thinking as a you're thinking you know into I'm thinking as a collective,
01:21:28
Emeka
I think that's a collective, the Chiefs.
01:21:29
Chino Onwuka
If you look at the level of their average player as a collective, I think Philly has a better collective than Casey.
01:21:40
Emeka
right Fair enough?
01:21:42
Chino Onwuka
And the second team I would have put in that position isn't even, geez, I would have put the Ravens next.
01:21:48
Emeka
I put the Ravens and Eagles too.
01:21:48
Chino Onwuka
I would have put the Ravens next, yeah.
01:21:50
Emeka
That's why I said three. The Chiefs, Ravens and Eagles for me. But regardless, my guy has spent seven minutes trying to jinx his team and I wish him the best of luck against the Rams.
01:22:01
Emeka
I am so confident. I'm
Detroit Lions vs. Washington Commanders Preview
01:22:03
Emeka
shook how confident he is. And you know what, to be fair, if I was an Eagles fan, I would be confident too. I just think constructed the Rams won at all.
01:22:10
Chino Onwuka
They should be. but should be if youre If there's any game that I would want where I want to see an upset, that's the game.
01:22:13
Emeka
I wouldn't be really shocked if the Rams won.
01:22:21
Emeka
i would not be holy shaw if the ras won
01:22:23
Chino Onwuka
That's the game where I want to see an upset. OK, lastly, we'll talk about Detroit Lions versus the Washington Commanders. I think it should be an exciting game. This should be an offensive game.
01:22:34
Chino Onwuka
also most of these teams Both of these teams got you know talented quarterbacks. weapons on the outside so it'll come to which defense can contain the other the most.
01:22:45
Chino Onwuka
Detroit is definitely the favorite.
01:22:47
Emeka
I would not be really shocked if the Rams won.
01:22:47
Chino Onwuka
I think a massive massive shadow has to go to their coaching staff as to how they've dealt with all the injuries that they've had and still you know people keep expecting it to bite them at some point so far it hasn't.
01:23:02
Chino Onwuka
Let's see if they can they can hold off this upstart Washington Cinderella team. you know the the The key factor is you know rookie quarterbacks in the playoffs. Well, you know, Jaden Daniels, he he he shook off that in the wildcard round by by winning the game.
01:23:23
Chino Onwuka
And you know, maybe what helps is that he's probably the age of most quarterbacks after their fifth year in the league. Maybe that helps, but all jokes aside, I always got to see a young black king succeeding in the league. So that should be a good game. Just because of how explosive their offense is, I think they will do just enough to keep ahead of Washington. I think that's going to be a shootout. So I still have Detroit winning that game.
01:23:54
Chino Onwuka
in a shootout.
01:23:56
Emeka
I mean, I hope Detroit would win that game and shoot out, but you never know with these things.
01:23:58
Chuku
Hey, man.
01:24:01
Emeka
You never know.
01:24:01
Chuku
Yeah, I mean, Jayden Daniels has shown that he's definitely a, you know, he's a, yeah I mean, for I'll be honest with you, man, I knew he was a, obviously he was a top talent, obviously being one of the high rank, you know, first round quarterbacks picked, but like, abi on I did not think he would be this good.
01:24:20
Chuku
I swear to, I just did, I just did not think he was going to be like, This guy is crazy. Like this guy is like, bro, he's something else, man. He's, he's, de I'll give him his problem. And he's definitely surprised me this year. but I just think, man, it's going to be another situation where, you know, a rookie quarterback, it is getting his taste in the playoffs against this Detroit lines is going to be a big, ah ah big ask. And I just, I don't, I don't know if that's going to be enough to, to carry this team.
01:24:55
Chuku
to that, to that, you know, next round. And quite honest with you, I just think, you know, personally, I think Detroit's win this game, you know, by, by, by a touchdown, easy, like touchdown spread in my opinion. But yeah, it'd be interesting to see what the kid does. You know, there's going to be, I mean, look, he has nothing to lose. Obviously it might, there's no, no question. There's more pressure on the, on the lions to come out of this with a victory than the commanders.
01:25:24
Chuku
And, yeah, I guess they they can, they're playing with house money referring to the commander. So, you know, they somehow beat the bucks. I look, he thought the bucks would be, would, would have won that game personally speaking, but Hey, he came out, ah ah came out of there with that, with that, with that drive to get the field goal at the end. So.
01:25:42
Chuku
Kudos to them. But yeah, I just think this is the end of the road for the commanders. They've come as far, they've had a great season. Kudos to, to you know to I guess, to like I said, to Jayden Daniels. By none, best quarterback, best rookie quarterback. I think, is that fair to say, guys, <unk>s he's been the best rookie quarterback this year?
01:26:05
Chino Onwuka
He has, he has.
01:26:07
Chuku
I think so.
01:26:08
Chino Onwuka
I think Drake May's performance has been underrated just because of the situation he's dealt with. But yeah, best best rookie quarterback. this it's been a It was a great rookie class.
01:26:16
Chuku
It was great, yeah, great great look rookie class.
01:26:17
Chino Onwuka
Great rookie class.
01:26:18
Chuku
No question, no question about that. no No question about that. But yeah, like I said, I think he stood out the most. And you know, Drake me is a shot good shout, even Bo Nicks, man. I've been...
01:26:29
Chino Onwuka
No, this was the biggest surprise.
01:26:29
Chuku
Wow.
01:26:31
Chino Onwuka
I thought it was going to be a shout out something.
01:26:31
Chuku
Wow. Right.
01:26:34
Chino Onwuka
you know that's that's That's a good coach right there.
01:26:37
Chuku
Yeah man shout out to them shout out to them shout out to them but yeah you know it's been it's been a great working class but yeah uh Jayden Daniels definitely stands out the most and I mean good for them good for the commanders they're finally finally relevant again you know making playoffs you know we'll see how long it lasts you know but yeah I just think and with news of David Montgomery coming back the Troy Lions are just so stacked on on offense it's crazy how they got that Jameer Gibbs Montgomery combination like and you guys still got golf to throw to you know Jameson Williams and I'm on Ross on God. It's like it's a crazy combination what I've seen from the from the from the Detroit Lions and man like their play calling has to be some of the best play callers I've seen in football. It's crazy. So yeah, long story short. I just think yeah easy the tour Alliance got that game and we'll see we'll see what happens boys
01:27:36
Chino Onwuka
And there you have it. you know Those are our picks for the divisional rounds. you know Hopefully it's an exciting bunch of games. One last thing.
Questioning Mike Tomlin's Future with Steelers
01:27:44
Chino Onwuka
I wanted to catch you guys a little bit off guard with this. I wanted to get thoughts fresh. Maybe you've thought about it already. What should Pittsburgh do with Mike Tomlin? A little bit of a parallel to discussion. We had to start the podcast, but they've been in a situation where they've not won a playoff game for five or six years.
01:28:05
Emeka
Six, try seven.
01:28:05
Chino Onwuka
You don't have a losing record. AFC North, he's a charismatic leader, but have they reached their ceiling? What does Pittsburgh need to do next with Mike Tomlin? Do they revamp things around him or is it time to move on?
01:28:20
Chuku
This is so funny. And again, I don't want to take too much over time because I know we're trying to wrap up here, boys. But i when I look at Mike Tomlin and what he's done, I just look at Arsenal and Ateta in terms of what this could be in like the next five years, if Arsenal go on the same run. Regardless to say, to answer your question, I i think i just think matt like Mike Tomlin has done such an amazing job, like with talented every year like He makes nothing out of something.
01:28:49
Chuku
I don't know how he does it but at the same time not having That's why I said make something out of it No, you can you can go back and check the the record is mad they said he makes Hey, but you how you how much I'm not trying to get money man.
01:28:52
Chino Onwuka
you make makes you you mean you make something out of nothing he said he said he makes something out of something I don't know how much money you put on it how much yeah 25 bucks 25 bucks nah you can take my money let's put 25 bucks on it
01:29:12
Chuku
It's all good
01:29:17
Chuku
Look, I was trying to wrap it up here, man.
01:29:18
Chino Onwuka
Come back, come back, come back, come back
01:29:19
Chuku
I tried to get money, bro. Either way, like I said, Mike Tumbling, he makes something out of nothing. And I'm just like, it's crazy what he's been able to do with this team.
01:29:32
Chuku
But sometimes, man, I think a Clubhouse needs a new voice. And like at at this point in time, there's nothing showing me that, you know,
01:29:44
Chuku
There's nothing showing that this team is going to ever take that next step in terms of where they're trying to be. And until he leaves, it's crazy to think he's almost too good of a coach. Because I promise you, the next coach that comes in, most likely he's going to carry this team to as many wins as Mike Tomlin has. But sometimes you you just you need to hit rock bottom and start fresh, man. Because as as this team is presently constructed, they're just not a team that I think can compete in the highest of levels to, you know, get to where they need to be.
01:30:20
Chuku
And maybe, you know, he needs and a fresh environment, something different, because I still think he's definitely one of the best coaches in the league.
01:30:24
Chino Onwuka
Thank you.
01:30:29
Chuku
But, yeah.
01:30:30
Chino Onwuka
and and so And then, Ameka, I want to get your views on it, but you're going to want to ask your question. How about, should San Francisco move on from color Shanahan?
01:30:38
Chuku
Hell no, they had a complete different scenario.
01:30:40
Chino Onwuka
Very interesting, very interesting, very interesting.
01:30:42
Chuku
We had a complete different you know scenario.
01:30:45
Chino Onwuka
Very interesting. I wonder if the scenario is very parallel to the team we talked about at the beginning of the episode. Very interesting. I might count your thoughts on my comment.
01:30:57
Emeka
I don't get why you're throwing Mike Tomlin and Kyle Shannon in the same boat. Kyle Shannon has won the playoff game since Obama's new president.
01:31:05
Chuku
Thank you.
01:31:05
Emeka
Mike Tomlin has not won the playoff game in eight years.
01:31:08
Chino Onwuka
No, that that are what the reason I brought that in is he is comparing Mike Tomlin to Arteta. I think Arteta is more comparable to Kyle Shanahan, where they've come close multiple seasons. The team that's been in their ways, been the Kansas City Chiefs, and they had a bad year with a lot of mitigating circumstances. And you said, hell no. So I just thought it was interesting. Carry on.
01:31:30
Emeka
Yeah, I mean, fair enough, because I just don't get Mike Tomlin. I like Mike Tomlin, and he's a really good coach. And if he ever got fired from the Steelers, he got another job in a week. But I mean, what is the difference between Mike Tomlin and Mike McCarthy?
01:31:47
Emeka
Like, really think about it.
01:31:48
Chino Onwuka
I saw a graphic on that today. I saw a graphic on me that today.
01:31:50
Emeka
What is the difference between them?
01:31:52
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
01:31:52
Emeka
It's not that big a difference. And yet, everyone acts like Mike McCarthy is a bum.
01:31:54
Chino Onwuka
so one one guy's one guy One guy's a G and it's cooler.
01:31:56
Emeka
and so
01:31:58
Chino Onwuka
That's the difference.
01:31:59
Emeka
that's what it is literally it's because Mike Tomlin looks cool that's he gets away with so much bullshit because he just looked and i i watch hard knocks i love Mike Tomlin i love to play for him but when you really look at his record and like my brother is saying it was a fair point he makes something out of nothing I'll push back a little bit and say, the Steelers organizationally decide that they commit fully to defense. They have the highest paid defense in the league by far. It's not even close. So yeah, he has a bad offense, but that's by choice. you can't You don't get to pay Cam Hayward, TJ Watt, you know joy all these guys they have, you don't have to have all these dogs, and also have a good offense too. It's like the Bengals. The Bengals want to pay Joe Burrow, Jamar Chase, Higgins,
01:32:44
Emeka
everybody well guess what your devices are gonna suck it's just how it is there's only so much money to go around the Steelers have decided that they want to go all in on defense they're right to do so you don't get to do that and then complain that you have a bad roster because that's by that's my design so And Mike Tomlin, I know he's not the GM, but you can't be the coach in the place for 20 years and not have the loudest voice in the room when it comes to the roster.
01:33:09
Emeka
He has the loudest voice in the room when it comes to the roster. And look, he got to ride Big Ben for the first, what, 15 years of his career.
01:33:13
Chuku
Thank you.
01:33:16
Emeka
Not like he was dealing with bums all the time. And much as he's disappointing now, to me, Mike Tomlin was always on thin ice for me because people really don't understand how stacked those late year Big Ben Steelers teams were.
01:33:29
Emeka
When you had Brown, Bill, Bryant, the Killer Bees and everything. And you know what I know this, the Jacksonville Jaguars under Blake Bortles rolled up in Pittsburgh and smacked the Steelers.
01:33:39
Chino Onwuka
we killed them we killed them
01:33:41
Emeka
Smack the Steelers.
01:33:42
Chino Onwuka
ju
01:33:42
Emeka
That's embarrassing. That's embarrassing.
01:33:44
Chino Onwuka
he threw proper interceptions he threw five interceptions that day then woffelsberger
01:33:46
Emeka
Yeah. That's what I'm saying. And like Tomlin gets away with these things because he's so cool and he oh he never bottoms out, which is impressive. I am on this merchant. He always wins 10 games.
01:33:58
Emeka
He's always good. You can only get away with that for so long. And these playoff choke, and you not know what? They lose close games in the playoffs. They get smacked in the playoffs every single year.
01:34:06
Chino Onwuka
We killed him. We killed him. We killed him. He threw five interceptions. He threw five interceptions that day.
01:34:09
Emeka
At a certain point, you just had to roll the dice. And yeah, there's a chance. you know, it might be bad and you know, is what it is. The chances might be good. And to bring it back full circle to this podcast at the beginning, my brother brought up the time's example. Sometimes you got to fire a Mark Jackson to find a Steve Kerr. I'm not saying Tom is Mark Jackson. In fact, I'm definitely not saying that. It's not to my coach T. He's a great coach. But the Steelers man, you're for a franchise of that kind of organizational clout, you know, build up that kind of sway in the league.
01:34:40
Emeka
It should never go eight years without wanting a playoff game. That's unacceptable. And I'm gonna bring it back to my team. I'm a Patriots fan. If Bill Belichick can get fired, anyone can get fired. I love you, Mike Tomlin. They're not gonna
Podcast Wrap-Up and Future Content
01:34:52
Emeka
do it, but if I was a Steelers owner, I'd say thanks for the memories. It's time to move on.
01:34:59
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, they're not going to do it. I think it's been really interesting, you know, that the trade scenario they brought up where, you know, if they traded my commoner way and they could get, you know, all of assets, I think that is actually the one, that's the only way where I see it makes sense for them to get rid of him at this point. You know, you hope he can refresh it some other way, but you know, because that's, that's, that's that's the the blessing on the course is that the, the,
01:35:25
Chino Onwuka
The floor is high, but the ceiling is also high because the floor is so high. They never get into a situation where they can bottom out to get maybe the picks they need to to refresh it. Then you can question is he's too stubborn to sort of be a little more modern and it's always approach to the game. So let's see if he can learn from that. But you know, it's the Steelers. They've only had what? Three coaches in 60 years or something like that. So they're not going to fire him.
01:35:52
Chino Onwuka
We all love Mike Tomlin. He's been holding the candle for black coaches in the league for a long time. It's getting a little bit still there now, so but let's but's see what it can happen. you know it it also It's kind of funny though, because in a way Steelers fans are are kind of delusional. So it's always funny to see them get smacked and brought back down to earth during playoff time.
01:36:15
Chino Onwuka
But with that, I think we will wrap up today's episode. It was ah a a good one. Less a talk about, I think we got a lot off our chest, some interesting discussion. And we have a lot more to discuss, argue, comment, share with you all. And that is all to come next week, where we will catch you on another episode of The Love of the Game.