Transcript
Speaker: Alright lads, welcome back to another episode of Who's Got The Ball. Before we do jump into our ah usual very witty back and forth that myself and Shane have, I want to tell everyone, if you're new here on this channel, you're just watching this, subscribe straight away, just click it, just takes two seconds. We're getting new viewers, but we've only got about 25% of you guys subscribed and based on the metrics. So get that subscription in. And if you're listening on podcast platform right now, give us five star review and follow us because we really do appreciate that. But Shane, first thing I want to know is you're back once again, another episode, but you've had your accidental 12 points as you put it last weekend. I need to know about this.
Speaker: Yeah, so I went to Ennis, spent a bit of time with my sister and my niece and I came back and I met the lads over in the woodfields for wings and two or three pints just catch up. And the wings were great and the pints were flowing and myself and Killian ended up leaving there about half eight or nine after drinking the bones at 12 pints at least. and They were just going down so easily. That's one of those where you don't even realize what you're doing until you're walking home absolutely blathered. You're like,
Speaker: Wow, that got out of hand. But thank God I went home and didn't go to town. It was a Sunday as well, so it was a school night. Yeah, I didn't even realise it was in the Woodfield, which if you're not familiar with Limerick, it's not exactly the place you go to. It's two minutes away. 12 pints.
Speaker: Yeah. So, yeah, was quite an interesting interesting choice. But, yeah, for luck, that's what Sundays are for. Football is on. I was rattled Monday. Put pints into it. I'd say when you walked home, that's when it hits you. Like when you're out in the air. Oh, yeah. After having that many points, that's when you're, yeah, you're finished.
Speaker: On Saturday, I was over in the Aviva Stadium. First credentialed game that I was at covering college football. So it was a great experience. Obviously, see on our social media, the interviews or press conference questions they got to ask to Sonny Dykes and Bill Battlecheck after the game. Also have one from starting and quarterback for UNC that will come out.
Speaker: doing enough as well, saving it for before their next game. But it was such a great experience. The game was great. I really liked the defensive adjustments UNC made. And although the score was low, there was a lot of interesting moments with stakes by both teams. And Bill Belichick getting the win, he was in great form after. But yeah, it was such a great experience covering my first game as a media member. And one I won't forget, but yeah, that's what I was at on Saturday. And football, football is back.
Speaker: NFL is coming very, very soon. He's hyped. Yeah, I actually can't wait for two back. And it's kind of like my Sunday evening to now once I meant to do. Once the NFL is back, you're you're you're literally kept going from 2 o'clock on the Sunday till 2 a.m. on the Monday morning. So looking forward to having that back.
Speaker: I thought your interview with Conan was just like, it was like the podcast we did just a couple of weeks back as well, where none of us could stop laughing and the two you tried to keep a straight face to make something semi-serious is absolutely brilliant. Everyone should go and give that a watch on TikTok or the Instagram or both if you want. Yeah, I thought you smashed it again. You're really good in the interview. Your cover job was absolutely superb. And think everyone needs to follow us just for your media duties that are going to be coming and ticking faster the way you started anyway, I think.
Speaker: Much appreciated. Yeah, appreciate the kind words. that Conan, the interview was funny because before that we were both looking at each other and we were both just like, what are we like? Like the both of us, it was our first media thing and Jimmy was recording it from Gaelic Gridiron and he was just like, it's like two kids on their first day of school. Like what are you two at? Yeah.
Speaker: But we managed to knock something out anyway. But yeah, let's let's jump into what we talked about in this episode. So it was just football since the NFL isn't back just yet. But next week, two episodes, NFL preview coming on Tuesday with Conan. So plenty of laughs, plenty of analysis. And then usual Friday episode, which we'll have...
Speaker: A couple of NFL game mentions because the first two games of the season will be done by then. And we'll we'll also have some Premier League to touch on. But this one was just Premier League. Similar outlook to last week. Performance of the weekend, we touched on City beating Palace quite comfortably. And then United's game against Ipswich where they notched up five goals.
Speaker: Next up then we did a transfer roundup of the deadline day moves and those kind of in in the last few days before it and touched on the absolute madness of the sagas of Follern, Balgan, Elamin Kamara and also that of Malik Fofana. So a lot of interesting stories there which you don't usually get on deadline day which was great. Touched on all the rest of last weekend's Premier League games just a a quick thoughts on each of the results and what it means for the teams and then finally wrapped up with an arsenal versus chelsea preview and predictions for this sunday to sink your teeth into so let's just get into the good stuff so with our last week of no nfl or nba for the rest of the year We're doing another Just Football podcast based on the Premier League. Plenty to talk of about because the the transfer window is in business. we're gonna or It's closed for business, but it was plenty of madness happening yesterday, which we'll get to in a bit. But we'll start with performance of the weekend. Similarly to last week, we'll run through a couple of performances we thought were...
Speaker: top class really and deserve to be spoken about more than any of the others so first up was City walking all over Crystal Palace and they won 4-1 in the end the first half was a bit dodgy they did get one goal but didn't look great but the second half they dominated proceedings and Charky ran the show once he found his groove in the game and got that first goal for himself which was the second for City and so yeah what did you make of City in this one I know they're probably a long way off squad ways but I think the football was definitely better Yeah, so I only saw a kind of extended highlights of this because if you want to talk about treaty losing to Kerry, I can do that no bother. I was at that game on Friday night, but they just seem, I'm still at the stage of the season where I can't break out if City good or Palace bad. The same way when last week we were speaking about teams and we're like, were Spurs good or were Newcastle bad whatever it was. And I think it's just kind of,
Speaker: At this the kind of season we just say this the stage of the season where you just need to be getting the results more the performances. But from what I saw from the highlights, that second half, they just looked to be, as you said, they just walked all over Palace. But I do think Palace are a team that are really going to struggle this year. And I think playing them now is probably the best time to get them then rather than later in the season because they do a good bit of transfer business. So when they all kind of...
Speaker: build up and might be a lot harder to go to Sellers Park than it is now. But even just based off the stats alone, City had double the amount of shots. They had six corners to two and they had 72% possession, which is just outrageous. And I think that's the way it kind of was the whole way through. I think City kind of just just strolled through the game and just walked away quite comfortable winners.
Speaker: Yeah, I watched this one on Friday night and I thought the first half was kind of boring like city got the goal i thought they were gonna route them then like in the first half but they didn't and then de looked a little bit on but like unstuck in the situation or stuck in the situation of the game kind of like uh how do we unstick ourselves in this because it's a tricky way when you're trying to find the football you want to play with a new manager new players and it just doesn't look fully connected but then turkey the second he scored that first goal that's just what he needed like the whole game before that he was struggling and then he got that goal he kept dropping deep collecting the ball playing it out to whoever was in space and he was kind of the go-to player um foden played quite well as well but turkey was kind of the star even after the game on sky sports they interviewed him and he was just like oh i played shit but uh yeah
Speaker: Yeah, I think that's probably his feelings up until that about 55-minute mark when he got the goal. And then he was just dictating play from there. I thought he was brilliant. and Not sure about Nico O'Reilly again as another second, kind of a second poor enough performance from him where he could have got involved more. i'm Not sure what it is within the last couple of games. I'm sure he'll snap out of it. But...
Speaker: yeah i think overall the team looked sharp palace were just there nothing they could have done i think they they played okay but they're just not as good as they were last year their squad they've added a few on deadline day and stuff but their squad is kind of bare bones and they looked like they were wrecked after half after an hour like they couldn't get after city after 60 minutes was on the clock it was just city passing around and palace chasing shadows Yeah, I think Palace are going to find that in a lot of games this season against teams who are able to keep the ball and just pass around because do just they just do not have the quality in there at the moment. And that's why like you predict them at the start the year as you're one of the streets go down. And I had them low enough as well, I think, and hope.
Speaker: i just I just think they're really, really poor and they are going to have quite a tough year. I think they'll do really well to stay up. I think there's a couple of teams down there who are poor enough as well that might kind of be the reason they stay up. But I think when they come up against a City or an Arsenal, I think they could get just literally just swept aside and just say, what's the actual point of even playing this game but by the time the match finishes?
Speaker: Sharkey's goals were superb. That first and in particular was just like it was just so easy for him like how How have you managed to walk through the five Palace players you have and it's like, oh, it's just because they're not very good.
Speaker: Then looking like Adam Morton is one lads he just walked past, who was being touted all the summer with a £120 million move as well. as so He was quite poor. i think yeah I think when Cherky is on form, I think he's probably the best number 10 or one of the best number in league because Bruno Fernandes obviously plays a 10 as well. We'll have to talk about him in a second, unfortunately. yeah I just think it was very easy for City and I think they have a nice run of fixtures now to try and build a head of steam as well.
Speaker: Yeah, I agree with you. I think the it was a nice one for City just to get that win under the belt after a kind of questionable performance week one. You had Palace 14th in your prediction, so you had them low as well.
Speaker: Yeah, I think they're they're probably going to struggle against any big team, and I don't think they're going to do as well as they did in previous seasons, but... ah On to Sunday then, our other performance of the weekend was United battering Ipswich five two and Some interest interesting statistics out at the back of this one. United had 33 shots, which was the most they've had in a Premier League game since 2016. 4.77 XG, think, is their sixth highest since that model was brought in.
Speaker: and it was the first time to score five goals since opening day of the season 2021 versus leads where i believe bruno fernandez also scored a hat-trick um so quite interested interesting you united just kind of routed leads in the second half there were ipswich in the second half they were shaky in the first it was an even enough game and then i think that second goal was just coming and coming and coming and for the first 10 minutes and i thought united might make a sub here if they don't get it and then they got it and then it it just brought fell apart for ipswich and that point like bruno just ran the show three goals and his assist was so good over the shoulder one look into him boomo and another player kabi main who was spectacular like He just ran the show in midfield and his ability to win the ball back as well is something that clearly he's worked on with Casemiro and Carrick since he came in because he had like 10 defensive contributions, I think the most of anybody in the game. And he was clearly using his physicality as he always does, but this time in a defensive way instead of carrying the ball.
Speaker: So I was really impressed with him in there. But what did you think of the game? I actually thought 5-2 was quite harsh on Ipswich. I thought Ipswich were very in the game until it went 2-1 with that Maguire hilarious own goal. thats If Maguire puts it in, it doesn't stand. But because it went in off the defender and he wasn't the scorer, it stands. it's That rule is just... Ridiculous. It's absolutely bonkers that that's how it works. But I think after that, then, it was just all United.
Speaker: I thought Ipswich, when they went 1-0 up, they were more than deserving of being the ones that took the lead in that game. And then United really struggled until they got the goal to make it 1-1. And then once it was 2-1, I think it was always going to be game over. 33 shots is quite lot. I didn't actually realise it was that from watching the game. It doesn't feel like they're having 33 shots, but then you see the statistics after you're like, oh, right, it's okay. And obviously 4.77 and five is...
Speaker: its I mean, it's pretty bang on the money. It was 5-2 unexpected goals, basically, and that's what the match finished. So it's kind of one of those where it's a fair result at the end of the day. But I just thought it's such... I think they'll feel like they hope dick dick probably should and could have gotten some gotten something out the game if the man doesn't slip before halftime. Nunes slips and gives the ball away for the first scenario to go. And after that, then it's kind of... They're always just...
Speaker: they're playing for their best result being a one-all and they just didn't have the ability or the legs to hold on for long enough. Yeah, I think that goal before halftime made all the difference for United because going in 1-0 down is a big, big difference even at Old Trafford.
Speaker: um But I do think Ipswich were better than the scoreline suggested but also I think United kind of ah cashed in on what they missed out on last week against Hull because Mbumo missed a couple of really good one-on-one chances against Hull.
Speaker: Like, you United have created the most XG so far, and they have the most big chances missed so far. Like, so I think they kind of cashed in on how they... had chances that they missed in that first game. And then also there's a couple more in the Ipswich game that they could have scored. and So I think the attacking output was definitely a lot better.
Speaker: Dallot has a big impact on that because Shaw doesn't have to go up and down as much. Dallot kind of goes forward as that almost as a right winger. And Martín, his long-range passing from defence is something that the team missed last week. So...
Speaker: I do think Dalo and Martinez and Menuh coming back in made all the difference, even though they did struggle a little bit in that first half of the team. I think ultimately that second goal was coming, like the first 10 minutes of the first half before the goal United were just dominating them. And then it did come. But...
Speaker: I think United needed the win after losing the first week and Everton next up is a tougher a tougher matchup, but Everton are not happy at the moment with how the window went, so we'll get on to that in a minute. But yeah, I think that'll be a bigger challenge and that'll really show what United are up to.
Speaker: Yeah, I think what I said about City obviously stands for United as well. We're at the stage of the season where obviously not everything is going to look perfect and fine and dandy. like It's going to take a couple of weeks and especially the chance of winning the West finally stand shot.
Speaker: I think that now you know the kind of you know who your teammates going to be for at least the first six months. So just kind of it's about bedding down, not bedding down. It's just kind of... I can't think of a cliche to use. It's about just getting all together now and just just just go and just moving forward now with what you have.
Speaker: United obviously needed a left fat, but if they don't have Shaw having to do as much running, they can drop Dorga back in there maybe and try and get him to do some kind of a role in some games as well.
Speaker: But that might be kind of... needs more than anything. So would' just have to wait and see. But yeah, United were a brilliant second half, but it was made very easy for them by Ipswich. And having Hull in Ipswich as your first two games is a really nice way to start league, even though you did lose the first one, I know. But on paper, it nice way to start. And now everything is the toughest one, again, on paper that you you'll have so far. Everything away.
Speaker: yeah And their fans are going to be up the walls after the Florian Balagoon thing as well. So we'll just have to wait and see how they go there and how they get on. Is that a Sunday game? Yeah, it's 2 o'clock on Sunday. And then the following weekend is Manchester Derby on Sunday.
Speaker: so Very early in the season for that. Yeah, it is. It is way too early. But that's the way it broke down, I think. Also, ah a couple of more thoughts that just came into my head there when you were speaking is that Maz Rowy coming on um at left-back. I thought it was interesting because...
Speaker: Yarrow looked good at right back when he came on and they did that in preseason quite a bit. So maybe he can play right back as ah as a backup to Dalo and then Maserowy as the left back backup. Obviously that's not ideal and it's kind of a penny pinching way of approaching the season by not going and getting a left back.
Speaker: Look, if that's what they're doing, I guess that's the plan. And then another thing was, it was a typical Gary O'Neill team that when you get to 1-1, you don't just shore up and try and get the point when you're in a tough stadium. You keep trying to play and then you just get exposed. So he he hasn't changed at all after his multiple stops in the Premier League.
Speaker: So we'll get on to the next the next round here. And this is the transfer roundup. We did it last week with everything that kind of happened over the last few weeks. So we'll move on from there. And the last one we hit on was Barcala.
Speaker: So we'll get through a few of the deals before deadline day. And then we'll talk about the madness of deadline day. and Because it's rarely this dramatic. and Because like we know what deals are coming usually with the way social media is. But this was just a lot of back and forth. And yeah, we'll get to that. but first two i have on the list here are munoz gone from palace to forest for these are all in euros because i grabbed them off transfer marked uh 25.7 million euro and then ibrahim and bye to aston villa from psg for 55 million euro any thoughts on those two
Speaker: I think the in-buy deal, considering they accepted a £35m bid from Bayern Leverkusen two weeks ago and he hasn't played any football, what has he done to add €20m to his value in the space of a month from the offer they accepted from Bayern Leverkusen?
Speaker: Look, I'm not going to sit here and slag him off because I wanted Liverpool to sign him, so he's clearly a good player. A lot of clubs are looking at him. I think Villa have done well to pick him up, even if they did pay. over the odds on him. I think the reason Uphill didn't buy him is because the money was being quoted. So we'll have to wait and see. He's only 18. He's such a bright future ahead of him. And the important thing for Villa is that he'll be homegrown when it comes to squad registration when he turns 21.
Speaker: So that that's a massive plus as well. So think it's a good signing for both him and for Villa because Villa clearly needed reinforcements. As for Munoz,
Speaker: I thought if he was leaving Palace, it was going to be for top-16 playing Champions League football somewhere. I didn't think he was going to leave to be staying in a kind of a mid-table slash relegation side, maybe. We don't know. They looked really good against Liverpool at the weekend, but this is still a team that were utterly crap for nearly all of last season.
Speaker: So we'd have to wait and see how it goes. But Oliver Glasner clearly just accused him when he wanted and he got him. yeah yeah back with glasner um and then forest were terrible against leads the first in the in the league and then again in the cup so yeah i think i do think but i do think glasner will get a good himm out with him out of them but yeah it is an interesting interesting one and i do like the um by one because i watched a a bit of him before the world cup because i was hoping to see a bit more of him than we did but he looks exciting so one for the future for villa ah Harwood Bellis is another one that's gone to Villa. I think the price is ridiculous. 29 million euro. It's just because he's English.
Speaker: He's not worth it and he's definitely not Consa's level. So I don't think that's a good enough replacement, but that's what they went with. And then the next one I have in the list is Honest Anahor to Palace on loan from Atalanta. But Chelsea have agreed to sign him next summer. The reason Chelsea didn't do the signing this summer and loan him to Palace is because they already have too many players on loan with Palace and they can't send another one there. So another loophole found by Chelsea, but thoughts on those two centre-back moves?
Speaker: I don't know a single thing about you, Matt, I'm honest, so I'm not going to say anything it would all be a lie. Wahey! Harbert Bellis, I do think he's a he's a good player, but he's not the kind of player Villa needed. Villa needed someone with a bit of experience. He's had one year in the Premier League and got relegated, and now they're paying the bones of 30 million for him.
Speaker: It's one of those just stinks of desperation, but at least they have Roy Keane on side now for a while because it's his son-in-law, so that might be the reason. It might be worth an extra couple of million just to keep Roy Keane on side so that he won't stag off their transfer or business too much.
Speaker: I think Villa...
Speaker: i I think their squad has been weakened so much on what it was last season that I don't see how they can possibly do as well as they did last season. Yeah, Emery to have to I mean, they don't have to be a deal anymore.
Speaker: Oh yeah, that's a big loss. But Emery is going to have to like do some wizardry with this team. We know he's capable of but like this I don't understand how he can get the same him out of this team. and It's just not up to the level. And I love that yesterday Villa posted after...
Speaker: at the end of the deadline day or maybe it was this morning, it was like a picture of all the new signings with Emery. Yeah, the 11 new signings. Yes, like that't that doesn't mean anything. He's trying to cod the fans into thinking he did well. but Next up then is Matthias Fernandes-Pardo to Newcastle. 60 million euro. He was a ah big...
Speaker: A big deal for them. They they were tracking him apparently since the start of the summer and I think they weren't hopeful of getting him because we thought there'd be a lot of challengers to his signature but they they managed to get the fees together and they grabbed him. Valtomata then got on loan to Juve just a kind of out of the club. And then next up I have Njai to City for €70 million. euro So thoughts on Pardo and Njai.
Speaker: I think Hardo, the reason Newcastle got him on a a kind of what seemed like a one-horse race by the end is probably the money they paid for him again. 60 million is an awful lot of money for a lad who has never done anything absolutely outrageous in his career. He's never scored more than 10 league goals in a season and he's coming in as maybe your your first race on the left wing or your backup striker. i think it's an awful lot of money.
Speaker: Valtimada going, I think it's good for Valtimada. He still gets to play in black and white, but he might actually enjoy his football. If he continues to play like he did for Newcastle, he won't be enjoying anything. Yeah, and then I think enjoys good signing for City, but again,
Speaker: I don't know if he's the answer to any of their problems. like I think he's a good player. I don't know if he has the ability to be great. And €70 million euro is is just wild, I think. Again, just the money City spent us the last two days, the window is is frightening.
Speaker: yeah Yeah, I agree. I think the the one thing with Newcastle is they've done well and previously in terms of bringing in talent and then elevating it from other leagues. lot of clubs do that as often as they do. The season before they signed Isaac, he scored six goals in La Liga.
Speaker: yeah true so you know then 10 in the in in his first season with newcastle and then from there he just took off so i think they've they've got a good eye and he's shown flashes this young guy i don't know a whole lot about him but i think it's it's worth it when they have the money to spend and then enjoy yeah he's he's a really really good player but it's just city we're in desperation mode because they let so many players go so they had to pay up they could have got him for 55 maybe 50 in pounds early in the summer um but they went with 65 million pounds and 70 million euros and then tolson gone to from chelsea to spurs for 11.65 million euro about 10 million pounds and then mudrick also gone from chelsea disperse on loan and there's a 75 million pound by option not sure what that is in euros because it hasn't gone through yet so it wasn't done the system but
Speaker: That's just outrageous. There's no way they can be cashing that in at the end of the season, no matter what he does. I think those signings are hilarious. This is their third attempt at signing Toastin. The first few times he turned them down and he's finally just like, right, it's kind of like you keep asking the one girl to bring you to the Debs and she eventually just, you've worn her down so much, she eventually just says yes to something like that. It's just mad. Speaking from experience there.
Speaker: No, absolutely not. I was just thinking of saying that. was like, yeah, i'm deing on he's definitely going to say the experience comments. And then the... The Mudrick one is just utterly, utterly ridiculous.
Speaker: He hasn't kicked the ball in two years. How is he worth 75 million? I know you haven't paid it yet, but how is that the obligation? Like, are Chelsea just laughing at everyone? Like, the money they're getting for the Laz they're selling is just, it's wild. I know Spurs won't pay this and it's all for sure, blah, blah, blah.
Speaker: How many games is he going to play this year where he'll he looks like he's able to play football anymore? I just don't think he's the kind of signing that's going to put Spurs anywhere other than where they are already. like He's not starting to get you off the bottom of the table anymore.
Speaker: He hasn't played football in two years, for God's sake. No, it's it's absolutely ridiculous. When I saw that, even they were going for him on loan, they were getting slandered online, everyone was getting them. And then they go and £75 million pound buy option. Now, obviously, they haven't they haven't actually signed him.
Speaker: highly likely that doesn't happen but to even have that in there is just hilarious like there's no way that that is a value right now and yeah i don't know how chelsea have managed this like after the enzo deal yesterday which we'll get onto in a sec they're they're into the positive they've made money in this window after buying so many players and everyone they've sold is just racking up funds for them left right and center Next up is a cousin of yours, Zion Fleming.
Speaker: Well, not really your cousin, but we can say he is. is that that He's a tall, blonde fella. And yeah, he's banging in goals for Burnley in the Premier League last year. And now he's gone to Ipswich back in the Premier League, 19.8 million in euros. and Another one I have is Quentin Timber to Palace for 20 million euros. I think that was it probably one of their best bits of business that they did.
Speaker: I think they're both good bits of business, to be perfectly honest. understand I think Fleming's actually a really good striker. I said to you, I'd have taken him at Liverpool as a backup to Isaac, especially for under 20 million. he He hit his XG bang on last season. He was in my article on players that someone should sign. I can't remember, there was 20 now, but I know he was in there somewhere. think his XG was 10.9 and he scored 11 last year.
Speaker: If he gets 11 goals, it's again this year, and it will but would put him in a really, really strong position. With the players that are around him, and I think it's it's more than possible. And then I think Quinton Timber is really, really good. I i thought his level was higher than Palace, to be honest. It might just be one of those ones where he kind of gets himself into the league, does a year, and then someone says, yeah, we should have signed Tim Nassar when he was 30 million instead of 17 million this year.
Speaker: Yeah. I think Ypswich have done some really smart business, and I think that's definitely up towards the top of us. Yeah, I'm actually just pulled up your article here as you were speaking. And and you had him...
Speaker: to Everton, which would have been a great shout. They should have done that instead of what they did. And then at the end of that, you have my main advice for them, avoid Richarlison. So they at least followed that bit of advice. Yeah, thank God. Thank God. But ah but yeah, i think that I do think it is a really good bit of business. I think he could, if he does grab, sure, look, if he grabs 12 goals for them, then Chelsea will buy him for 35 million and then they'll sell him to Forrest for 50 million after doing nothing for Yeah, exactly, yeah. so It's the ideal.
Speaker: the full Liam De Laff treatment. Okay, the next two I have are the ones that all the drama is surrounding, but I'll will'll start with Enzo Fernandes because the drama wasn't surrounding him, but it was surrounding his club. So first of all, get your thoughts on that one.
Speaker: Equaled the record, the British transfer record fee, the same as Isaac, £125 million. pounds so yeah i i just don't know why they spent this much on him he's not worth it he's it's way too much and yeah said he just throw around money because they actually don't care and 125 million it's just nuts for for fernandez he's a good player but that kind of money is just outrageous Yeah, but he's just the one they wanted. And if they had to have paid 200 million euro by the end of it, they'd have done it because they needed that centre mid-in and he was the one they were dying to get. They've completely reshaped their home with Cleod and the three lads cost...
Speaker: the bones of 330 I'm dropping again on the chair. Leave that in. It cost them the bones of 300 million quid to get the three them in. It's just absolutely, it's frightening that they can just get away with throwing around whatever they want and there's there's no consequences whatsoever.
Speaker: I do think he's good, don't get me wrong, but he was never worth what Chelsea paid for him and he's definitely not worth what City paid for him he hasn't done anything in the last three years of Chelsea for Man City to think oh yeah he's the one let's go and splash our whole budget on him was he a record when Chelsea first spot him was he the record yeah he was yeah okay and then it was Caicedo and then it was Isaac that's And that was back to him.
Speaker: you It's just crazy. like I agree with you. I think he's a good player. He's better for Argentina than he ever was for Chelsea, but he is still a good player. And obviously Moresca has a good connection there with him. But like yeah, to spend that on him is just too much. But we want to get into the the whole drama of yesterday involving in Chelsea. So the first saga was around Foller and Balogun.
Speaker: was due to sign for Everton. So I'll just give the cliff notes here in case you don't know. there Anybody that's listening, they were unhappy with his fitness, though they pivoted to get Xerxes in from United instead on loan. That's being reported that they offered United £10 million pounds for a loan deal because it was in the last two hours, which is outrageous if that's true. United turned that down because they didn't have time to...
Speaker: basically get a replacement in and and all this was going on monaco need money they're on the brink financially and chelsea knew this so they go after selling enzo fernandez and they offer 47 million pounds for lamin kamara which is below what monaco wanted from but chelsea knew that they needed the money and since balligan wasn't going to everton monaco reluctantly accepted and then when united said no to everton for therxy Everton turned around and said, actually, we'll get Balogun. They negotiated a lower fee with Monaco. And Monaco turned around to Chelsea after everything had been signed. Medical had been done in France. He was due to fly tomorrow. Camara. They said, actually, no, you're not getting Camara anymore. Chelsea were absolutely raging with this.
Speaker: And then Everton submitted deal sheet to get the Balogun deal done after the deadline. Balogun is in their training ground. And about half past midnight, he turns around and says he doesn't want to sign for Everton anymore.
Speaker: What a load of madness. It was hilarious. We were texting at the time and I was like, Balagoon's not going. You're like, oh, they're going for Xerxes. And I was like, watch him now pull out of the Lamine-Kamara transfer.
Speaker: And I'd say it was no more than streaming to say, you're like, you just sent me a lot of laughing faces. Yeah, they're after pulling out of it. was like, oh my days. And then you text me again. I was about to not have to sleep and the message came in. I hadn't turned on the sleep mode on the phone yet, so the message was still coming And you're like, Balagoon turned on everything. I was like... but What are you talking about? like how How has this happened? like I thought I had enough of the drama a couple of minutes ago. We need to talk about Fafana as well, speaking of drama, actually. That just popped in my head. Yeah, I've got that down here It's just madness. and on All three clubs end up...
Speaker: getting getting done over in this. Chelsea don't get their midfielder, everything don't get their striker, Monaco don't get their money. Absolutely hilarious. I don't know how a team called Monaco based in one of the richest places in the world is in financial trouble in the first place anyway, but if they can bring drama like this every year, hope they don't fold. I just hope they have some an issue every single window because it was absolutely hilarious. I'm glad it was everything.
Speaker: Yeah, going to a Monaco game, I went there before. No in there, obviously, because you're not in the EU anymore. So can't find out where you're going to get to the stadium. You have the notion, you get there, you go try to grab a pint, you realize can't buy you can't even buy a beer in there, not even bring it in, you can't buy one. Then you go into the stand and they go and give you a nil-nil draw. So yeah, the they get what they deserve, from my opinion. But I think I saw an Everton fan say on Twitter as hilarious. sweet He was like, we got food chained by nobody.
Speaker: He was like, there was nobody coming in bigger than us to bid. Your man just turned around and says, no, he doesn't want to be here. Like, oh my God, I don't know why. like They knew they needed a striker. And if it was a fitness issue, he could have brought his fitness up to the level they wanted.
Speaker: Like, why did they go and say, oh give me Xerxes? What has he shown for United in the Premier League that he could do a better job? Like, just get Balogun and don't be messing around. I'm sure it was them saying no and then coming back that pissed him off in the end. Because there's no other reason why he would turn around and say no like that late on.
Speaker: Yeah, that's exactly what it was. And every time then we're trying to blame Monaco that they didn't send over his medical records ah quickly enough for them to have a look at it. So i i agree with I think they all got what they deserved. I'm delighted Chelsea had to deal with what we had to deal with with Marque last summer who was pulled at the last second. Steve Parrish. I do feel sorry for the player, but Luftham called him two or three times during the day anyway and told him not to sign for Chelsea that they were... potentially going to come back from in 2027. So that's what you did that was another highlight for me. and Your top reporter, Ben Jacobs, reported there in Hawksport. I had just told you that I was back on his good day. He was back on my good books and he came out with that. was like, oh, but you couldn't wait until tomorrow. You'd give me 24 hours a piece. But it's just...
Speaker: how teams get themselves in this position on deadline day is something i I'll never be able to get my head around. thinking Liverpool and United are in the same boat where we knew all summer everyone and their mother could tell you United need a left back, Liverpool need a right back and a midfielder.
Speaker: United are bidding there, going after Aitnori apparently, going after Aitnori in the last second of the window. think it was more likely that Baldy was the one. I think, I don't trust Jacobs on that Aitnori story but...
Speaker: like you You had all summer to sort out two positions and you're going to Chelsea then in the last second saying we want Mano Gusto, we don't want to pay the money, we want him on loan and we don't want an obligation. You knew you needed a right back.
Speaker: like You knew last summer you needed a defensive midfielder when you went for Zubin Mendy, he turned you down. Then you went for Caicedo before that, you went for Lavia before that. Chelsea have signed nearly signed all four of our midfield targets and we haven't signed any. Since we last signed a midfielder, United have signed, or sorry, City have signed 10 since Liverpool last signed a central midfielder. That's mad. Like if you you have all somewhere to work out the problem areas, they're not hard to see.
Speaker: Just look at the bench every week and then you're waiting until deadline day and you're like, oh, we'll Again, you already said it, but you said shit, so I'm just going use it again. If you throw enough shit at the wall, it's going to stick. None of the shit they threw at the wall stopped. United did the exact same thing. They just threw things at the wall and none of it stayed there.
Speaker: And they both ended up short for at least the first six months of the season. Just it drives me insane that these lads getting paid millions upon millions to do this job. And they're quite nearly just not doing it.
Speaker: Like Richard Hughes is doing it for two clothes this summer by the looks of things. And he's doing better for the other one. I think, and in the case of United, it's clearly just being cheap because Hull spent more than United did. And United brought in more funds from transfers than Hull did. And United just didn't go out and spend.
Speaker: They were digging around for deals in midfield and ah eventually they got good value in what they wanted. but Everyone knew you United needed a backup striker. Why couldn't they have gone and paid what Chelsea did for Welbeck? It would have been perfectly fine. And then you can shift Xerxes early and instead of getting rid of him last minute. And then left-back was clearly an issue. like I'm not too annoyed about the striker because Cunha and Buma can rotate in and Cesc goes there and Rashford is back now. So I don't worry too much about that. But the left-back is so concerning because Shaw could get injured like tomorrow like walking into the training ground. He's never done back-to-back seasons where he's been fit. so yeah it's just like you said i don't know why these guys wait till the very last minute and then get all caught up in a panic trying to get something done over the line you did mention the fufana thing as well so i'll we'll we'll run through that one if if you have if you want to hear it this one is this one is almost just as funny if not funnier i think it's funnier
Speaker: I've actually never heard some of the things that happen in this. I've never heard of happening before. So Malik Fafana from Lyon to Sunderland, he ended up going for 30 million euro, but he was at Lyon airport with two private jets waiting for him to decide what he wanted to do because Sunderland had an offer accepted. But then Palace made a higher offer and Lyon said, right we'll take that instead.
Speaker: And then the Sunderland owner flew from Switzerland to Leon to speak with him directly to convince him to pay or to play for them. But to pay, they he could have paid him something. now we don't um Apparently then there was a medical... Allegedly.
Speaker: Allegedly there was ah there was... Well, this part of the this part is... Something I think that did happen then, apparently a medical was done for both clubs to use, which I have never, ever heard in my life that they did a medical. Leon did medical. I was going to bring that up. Leon did the medical, so it wasn't either clubs, doctors. That never happens.
Speaker: I've never heard that before life. Yeah, hilarious. And then... whichever club was going to come in first and grab him, that was going to be the one. And then apparently when Sunderland's owner went over, he eventually kind of convinced them to go down to the Northeast instead. I don't know what a but was involved with that, what alleged payments were made, but today the reports are that the his agents in Roc Nation pay to played a part in the negotiations and that two of Fofana's family members demanded 500,000 each part of the deal.
Speaker: as part of the deal and So I don't know how true that is. That's alleged. And also it's alleged that Fofana was confused by the whole thing and didn't know what was going on. I'd say that's highly unlikely.
Speaker: Look, it ended up being wherever he could get the most money, whoever could give Leon the most money. The fella had two private jets waiting for him. I think he can spare a penny or two. And he ends up at Sunderland and Steve Parrish gets a bit of what is due back to him, I think, after his dealings the last few years.
Speaker: I think Roc Nation have become the bad guys of the Summershance window. I haven't heard a single positive thing said about them for the whole way through. They were Diamandis agents.
Speaker: They were Mbaye's agents. They were Flanders agents that... All three of those ads ended up in massive scuffles between clubs to get them and kind of one team getting screwed over at the expense of another, money changing hands, parents getting money.
Speaker: just landest This one was just, from start to finish, was hilarious. Like, oh and we're going to Sunderland. Actually, now Palace want to. Pick one your jets. Oh, no, we'll do the medical here. Leon's staff will do it so no one is getting one up on the other one, blah, blah, blah.
Speaker: ah just outrageous stuff that you you never hear. there any wonder Arsenal pulled out? First of all, they didn't want to pay the 40 million, but they were never going back in and dealing them with the headache of, oh, we we might we actually might get turned down for Sunderland here because we don't want to pay his parents a million quid. I think it was more of a saving face and ah we are absolutely not dealing with these agents. And I think there'll be a lot of teams who'll be reluctant to do any any business with Roc Nation unless herre donene the player is an absolute and utter superstar.
Speaker: just yeah I actually don't have the words. i was just reading through the tweets and it was just laughing. like It's just like, what is this? What is this whole day? or What is this actual move as well?
Speaker: Yeah, it was great to have stuff going on because like it never really does come down to this. like it Years ago, we had stuff like with the De Gea one and the facts didn't go through until one minute after or one second after whatever it was, the deadline. like That stuff doesn't happen anymore. And then we got yesterday, these two stories and both of them are still unfolding after midnight. like They reported that... Sunderland on three separate occasions yesterday were told that they had the player sorted and then it fell through three times and then eventually they got it done and because the money does talk. But it's interesting, I heard that Arteta had the opinion that Fofan is not physically up to the level of the Premier League in his opinion, so that's why they didn't go after him. So we'll see if that actually reigns through or not with Sunderland.
Speaker: Yeah, to what it wouldn't surprise me. He's quite a small winger. Playing league and in France, he's been knocked off at the ball of good, but now it's time to look them up to put a piece together on the transfer window. So we'll have to wait and see if he can do anything for Sunderland.
Speaker: like He is rapid. he He is really, really fast. So that that will help, obviously. But if he has any sort of end product, you'll have to wait and see whether he if he can add anything for Sunderland. Yeah, he did look good in that game against United when we did the mad comeback. But that was a couple of years ago now at this stage. So be interesting to see how he's developed. So we'll do similarly to what we did last week and run through the rest of the games from last weekend. I actually just want to run through another couple of transfers. Oh yeah, fire away.
Speaker: So I think Dario Asario going to Palace, he looks a really good player. I think that's one they definitely need it, especially if Sar isn't going to play for him ever again, which it kind of looks like with the way his attitude is.
Speaker: This lad that leads signs, Bahia, everyone has gone mad about him at night. Never seen of him, never heard of him, but for a loan of two million, it could it could be quite good. A big one for Ireland is that Chidoise Agbené has gone to the Championship to join Lincoln City, and I really hope that works out for him.
Speaker: um I think he just needs to run a run of games again to try and get his confidence back up. Limerick FC legend and he's still playing in the top two tiers of English football so that is really good to see and there was one more but Maitland-Idles to Everton. Everton finally signed a right-back gift their first summer right-back signing since the signed Phil Neville in 2005.
Speaker: What the hell? That is nuts. Yeah. That is absolutely crazy. Then Liverpool signed that goalkeeper, but he doesn't count the next season, so he doesn't actually count. We could all be dead by then.
Speaker: So, yeah, we'll move on. Yeah, and Ogbenay, actually, it's good for him to go to Lincoln because Mason Melia is there as well, so a nice Irish connection already with the club, so that continues. And then Aaron Cashin has gone back to Derby on loan from Brighton. Yes, another go wrong as well.
Speaker: I don't know. where did I saw someone say that Brighton actually just signed him by accident because they just keep loaned them back to people and loaned them out to their army again. So, yeah. We'll move on to last weekend's games then. The first one, I'll do it as similarly to how I did last week and just throw two at a time. So Liverpool 2, Forest 2, that was our Saturday morning game.
Speaker: And i only caught a bit of that in town while I was getting a bit to eat before the college football classic in the Aviva. um And then Bournemouth 1, Everton 1. That was on 3pm on Saturday. Everton by the last minute equaliser after Alex Scott got the opener for Bournemouth.
Speaker: So what are your thoughts on those two matchups? Yeah, just Liverpool weren't very good in this game. um Again, the weaknesses we were just talking in the transfer part there were all really, really shown. The two full-backs were so poor again. Midfield, the balance of it just looks so off.
Speaker: Dominic Sobis like, I don't know, he's just not up to any kind of speed He keeps running into danger, giving the ball away, and then he went right back and he was absolutely excellent. So is that his position for the first six months of season until they sign someone?
Speaker: Who knows? But I just kind of want to touch on the Forest penalty. Because those kind of decisions just drive me up bananas. like he He gets a shot away, and it's not just for Liverpool, because last week in the Spurs, Brentford game, the same kind of thing happened as well, where the shot was put over Kinski, Kinski took out the Brentford player, and there was nothing given.
Speaker: And this week, Sam Bartlett, or Barron, if whatever his name is, I don't care, I never want to see him at Anfield again, to be perfectly honest. But... The shot's away and Alisson touches his leg as he's gone down and he gives the penalty. And then VAR obviously aren't going to overturn it then it's given. But it's one of these rules that they need to just buckle down and say, OK, this is it. If he touches it if he touches him after shot has gone, it's a penalty or it's not a penalty. And it gets given one way the other every single week. But it's the inconsistencies and running in week two.
Speaker: I thought the referee was absolutely crap for both teams. He just wanted to be the star of the show. He clearly didn't pass maths in school because he's very, he's very bad at his five second countdown for throw-ins in corners. And he's not the only one there.
Speaker: Arsenal-Villa game was the same for the the countdowns. They start them whenever they want. And then it's it's magical that their five seconds never run out before the keeper gets kicked the ball bus. Liverpool have a lot of work to do if they're going to do anything. They were out-exceeding this game 2.3 to 1.75, but the penalty obviously brings that up by 0.7 or 0.8, I think. So it's probably fairly even. And again, the draw was probably the fairest result, but Liverpool just need to just kick into gear. Hopefully, Barkola can come in against Ipswich now, who are going to be
Speaker: and like none of the times Zoufield have played have suited him like playing the first game away at Newcastle half four on a Sunday not ideal half twelve on a Saturday for your first home game not ideal and you're going wait to Ipswich half eight o'clock on a Friday night not ideal and drown the line on the timing it is what it is it always comes around but it's definitely I don't know let's move on to Everton who Yeah, I think they'll be really, really happy to get away from Bournemouth with a draw. I think a lot of teams will be happy to get away with boers from Bournemouth with a draw. on I think the longer the season goes on, the better a point it will become.
Speaker: Bournemouth, thought, were really good first game the season against City and they were unlucky to lose that. They were probably unlucky to draw this one. They were the better team throughout. Everything just kind of snuck one over the line and Bournemouth didn't have their finishing touches then.
Speaker: Yeah, I think I'm not having that time thing. I'm bringing that back up because City played Sunday at 2 and then they play Friday at night the next week and they won both their games. I'm not saying about the the gap between games. That's not what I'm saying. But the timing is still various times. I'm playing Newcastle 4 on a Sunday. What difference does that make? They're football players. They know who to play at different times.
Speaker: It doesn't just affect know, but I'm told it for the pretty atmosphere. Okay, forget about the atmosphere. Forget about the atmosphere. Look, let's just let's just call it what it is.
Speaker: Liverpool been Liverpool have been bad. And they may turn around, but it's been a bad couple of first weeks. I do agree with you. The penalty is absolutely ridiculous. I know you you told me to look at that because missed it because that's the game.
Speaker: um And I forgot to get back to you, but I thought it was a ridiculous the decision. I hate when that happens, but once you get your shot away, it's never a penalty. You've had your shot. That's it. The keeper's coming out to block the ball and the ball is is gone. Then in that situation, like that's...
Speaker: it's not the same as somewhere else in the field if the same thing happens it the rule can't be applied so yeah i agree with you that that is really bad decision but from the like extended highlights packet and the bit that i saw forest looked to be improved based on how they were in the first couple of games against leeds obviously the cup in the league so we'll see how they are going into this week but yeah if switch on friday look i think ipswich looked good at home the very first week against underland so um they might look decent again but they're definitely there for exploitation based on what united did to them to be and then the the the the born with and an everton game from what i watched in that born with did look like the better side but like you said everton just came out and and kind of
Speaker: nabbed that goal right at the end Ryan just looks like something else there's a couple of moves he had in there and touches are just unbelievable like the level he has is so good and I'm glad Alex Scott got a goal because he was super in the first week against City and they and they ended up losing when they probably should have won but he got a goal this week so I think he deserved it for his performance from the last week alone um next up then we've got two more on saturday at 3 p.m and those are coventry against hull well actually sorry it's one again one at 3 p.m coventry against whole whole one one nil lean miller grabbing the winner in the 82nd minute and then he gets sent out to and then on loan on deadline day which is
Speaker: Interesting. And then too na to Newcastle against Spurs. That was the half five game on Saturday. And I will say that was my prediction in the preview. tune it to Newcastle. So yeah, I'm goingnna'm going to big up myself for that one for nailing it. But what are your thoughts on those two games?
Speaker: Did you have 2-0 in the Super Bowl or did you go something else on it? Yeah, I did 2-0 in that. Yeah, that's a good shout. I did 1-0 in the Super Brew because that was my shout before the game as well. And I'll ah'll take half the credit that you're taking there. But i just thought that was a really, really good win for Newcastle. Who have actually had a much better start than I expected from which I have to hold up my hands and say because I do have him finishing
Speaker: They just looked like a different team. They look happy. They all look like they're there to play. They're all there to do a job. They all have their jobs. Lange is like a new man. Wisse is like a new man. And now they've brought in some talent around them as well.
Speaker: I thought Nico Gonzalez was absolutely superb in centre mid for him. I thought he absolutely ran the show and Spurs spent all that money on their centre mid just to get absolutely ran over by Nico Gonzalez.
Speaker: Yeah, I actually think Newcastle, if they continue way they're playing, I think they're in for a really, really good season. As for Coventry, I think this is the worst possible result they could have gotten all season. I said after the Arsenal game last week that they've gone from their 38 hardest game to their their number one easiest game, which was Hull at home, and they've managed to come out with Oaks.
Speaker: Really laying a glove on Hull. I actually hope Hull win all 38 games just for the TikToks that they're putting out. They're absolutely hilarious. if you've If you've seen any of them, they're absolutely brilliant, I suppose, and I still think Hall will go down. I just think that they're kind of pulling themselves away from getting that diary record, which I may have predicted and in the summer podcast that they might struggle to get to 10 points. But they have six after two games. I think they're just, they're they're kind of riding the wave of being a Premier League club. But on paper, they're still a team that wouldn't finish in the top half of the championship.
Speaker: And i think... If they get battered once, then they could get battered four or five weeks in a row. I think their heads could drop, so it hasn't done yet hasn't happened yet. Yeah, I think that they were not even brilliant against Coventry. Like, Coventry, ah from what I saw in the game, watching it back, that ah Coventry dominated the possession. Again, a team with less possession gets the win, similarly to Newcastle.
Speaker: And I think... XG wise, Coventry also had the win and I think Hull didn't really create anything other than the goal that they scored. So I do think that they will be in trouble, but I also have Coventry as the team that are in big, big trouble. and They look really terrible for the first few weeks. And on Newcastle, yeah, they look, I have them maybe seventh or eighth in my league. I think they probably, in my prediction, I think they probably will hit around that point because it's not all going to be perfect for them.
Speaker: A lot of new players get embedded in, but they do look great so far. And like the ground they're covering as well in the game, that their pressing ability, everybody's going together. And I think they really have nailed it so far with Yaisal and they're kind of playing the way he wants. And I think that will only improve. So yeah, they got the win. Spurs are in big trouble, as you said. They'll probably get it right and finish around mid-table as the season evolves. But they just look terrible first two weeks and they're dead bottom and the of the table for it.
Speaker: Moving into Sunday then... First game on Sunday was ah was a brilliant game. kelsey four brighton three Chelsea 3. Chelsea were 3-0 up. Brighton pulled it back to three two They looked like they were going to get a three three Palmer scored a great goal. And then Brighton grabbed one in the last minute.
Speaker: Brighton dominated possession. Another game where the last possession won. Chelsea only had 26% possession in this game, which is mad. Grabbing four goals and and getting the win. And then the second one that was on the same time and was Leeds and Brentford.
Speaker: So Leeds 1-1 against Brentford, Calvert-Lewin scored, Shada scored. who Two pointless stats for you that they kept throwing around on Sunday was that Brentford never lost when Shada gets a goal and that continues. They must have said about 20 times on Sky Sports. And then Calvert-Lewin, the only Premier League player that's active to score in the last 11 seasons or something like that, I think it was.
Speaker: which is it is mad that he's been knocking around that long and scoring goals. But yeah, those two games, any thoughts on those? I won't touch too much on Chelsea because we'll talk about them when we do our preview in a couple of minutes.
Speaker: i think Brighton will be A-OK this year. We said it last week after what they did to Villa. I think they're very unlucky to come away with this, to not come away from this with a point. But Chelsea's goal scoring looks superb, but their defence looks very, very weak.
Speaker: Brighton, I think Kinshawood is going to be a big loss from now. He's going to be out for six or seven weeks. But do I still think that'd be fine. Pascal Gross, I think bringing him back in January of... Last year was a brilliant move and he scored the third and the seventh goal in this game. This was when my accidental 12-point day started, so I don't remember the whole match now, to be perfectly honest. But ah yeah, it was definitely a crack of a game. Some really, really good goals. Chelsea looked so good looking forward, going forward.
Speaker: Then Leeds and Brentford is one of those games that you forget it's on. And then you look at the results and you're yeah, that makes sense. and There isn't a whole lot to say about two goals, not a whole lot has happened. I still think Leeds will get top 10, but I think Brentford are pushing right on there as well because their the signings they made in the summer are just so smart.
Speaker: um And they have a really smart manager there as well, a good Irish man who have always backed. Yeah, yeah, you didn't definitely didn't have them getting relegated last year. No, absolutely not. Yeah, I agree with you on Brighton. I think they'll be perfectly fine this year. and This is Brighton for you. So inconsistent. But going forward, they look so, so good. And they're really great to watch. So that was that was a great a cracking game. You touched on it there. Like, so much happening. And we will get more onto Chelsea in our preview. Leeds and Brentford for all...
Speaker: uh i've heard from from people who analyzed it deeply i've only saw the highlights brentford looked very good in this game and they were the better side but leeds did manage to get the draw so fair play to them for that and they're continuing to rack up points and they're through in the cup as well so great start for them this season and and brentford will continue to push on i think especially at home they're they're always really really strong at home so getting a point away is probably good enough for them and The final two, not a whole lot to say about either of these two. There's another 2pm game on Sunday. Isidore grabbed the winner for Sunderland, beating Fulham He had a really good chance just before that that he missed.
Speaker: They missed three big chances in the game, and but they managed to get one in the end. And then Arsenal also won ni against Villa. Terrible game. Villa, no shots on target still yet this season. Arsenal looked very boring, usual from last season. Just shut up shop, tried to defend.
Speaker: ah two games that probably aren't worth much of our time really, but ah two 1-0ers to wrap us up. Yeah, a bit a start like this last year as well, they'll still finish fourth. I don't think they'll finish that high this year, as we mentioned earlier on, but...
Speaker: Jeez, Arsenal have just rinse and repeat from last season. I thought winning the league would mean that they'd try and do something, but they're just not going to try and do anything. and They're going to be as boring and horrible to watch this as they were last year.
Speaker: Fulham, big, big trouble for Fulham with the way they've started. They don't. Now, I know they scored three last week against Chelsea and that kind of paper over couple of cracks. If this is the Fulham we're going to see for the season, then they could be the ones that finished 20th because they look absolutely dreadful.
Speaker: and they've just signed another young fillet from Real Madrid. So Arbelo is just bringing all the kids to London and hoping for a nice year out for y'all to go back to Santavigo next year after getting relegated.
Speaker: Yeah, your show on Fulham getting relegated also looks good. and that They look pretty poor. And yeah, this is the type game that they probably wanted to get something from. They were really interesting against Chelsea because it was such a high-scoring game. But we don't know if that's just Chelsea against everybody. is, I think it's just Chelsea.
Speaker: But yeah, that an interesting thing, when I looked at all the statistics, Fulham had a huge amount of ground covered in both of the games. So I don't know what that... and indicates And another interesting thing is the biggest discrepancy between ground covered in two teams was Liverpool and Forest. Forest covered 5.3 kilometres more than Liverpool, according FootMob. So that was the biggest gap, which is an interesting one. Shows the effort levels, I guess, and in that first half.
Speaker: so looking at the table now city are top plus four goal difference arsenal are second also plus four goal difference last goal scored hall and chelsea both six points as well brentford newcastle everton and leeds all have four points so unbeaten and then we round up the top 10 with brighton and united and the bottom three is palace Aston Villa and Spurs. That will definitely change as the season evolves. But Spurs down there haven't scored a goal yet. Neither have Coventry, neither have Villa.
Speaker: and Not looking good for those three so far. But we'll move into the preview section before we wrap things up. And... This is the Super Sunday matchup between Arsenal and Chelsea. I think this game is really, really interesting because Chelsea have looked so good going forward. Arsenal have been their usual selves defensively. Arsenal have only given up 0.5 xG so far this evening, which is the best in the league, of course.
Speaker: And Chelsea have 5.2 xG4, which is third best in the league. So... They're up there and they're overperforming it with the amount of goals they've scored. So this game is two very different teams going against each other. And I think Xabi Alonso and Chelsea will really want to make a statement in this one and get something against their rivals.
Speaker: Yeah, this would be a big test of everybody's mettle to see where they all are. I know it's so early in the season. i i I don't remember games like this being up this early in the season last year. But Chelsea's front three have just been they've just been red hot from the start the year. Palmer, Rodgers Joe Pedro all look really, really good. Palmer looks like the rest he got in the summer has helped him out massively. He's been absolutely superb in their first two games so far. Rodgers has just settled in and like it's not a bother for him. It's like he's still playing for Villa the way he's playing and then Pedro scoring goals for fun.
Speaker: Their issue is that they can't defend, but the good thing to them is that Arsenal can't attack. So this is either going to be 0-0. We'll have to just wait and see which way it goes. Yeah, I think another interesting thing I noticed is that Chelsea have three set-piece goals already, which is interesting because Arsenal are known for their set-piece ability. So that'll be an interesting one to see how they match up and how much wrestling and diving and rolling around there's going to be um done.
Speaker: Arsenal, they're pressing high. they They're winning six high possessions per game so far. So similar level to Brighton. And then against Brighton... emmy martinez only attempted one short pass everything else was long he didn't want to mess around with it so that'll be probably something that's continued because the arsenal will try to press up high on him solace was poor against villa after an easy first game and a good performance so we'll see what he does against a team like chelsea who are poor in defense he'd be wanting to get something going i guess
Speaker: I don't know. I do think that Arsenal, if they actually wanted to play here, they could grab three or four goals and win this one, maybe four or But I don't think they will want to play because we saw last week against Villa, like they just went back to the same as last year. They still didn't make a statement signing an attack. They signed more defenders defenders once again, more centre-backs. They want to double down on this thing and stodgy the whole thing up as much as they physically can.
Speaker: And they're probably going to be scared of Chelsea's attack and probably sit in and not score as as much as they can. But Chelsea's defense is so, so bad that they probably will get a couple. So I'm going to go with a 2-2 draw on this one. But really, it could go absolutely anyway, depending on what Arsenal try to do. But no matter how many times I've said they can go out and try and win a game and play well, they never, ever follow through on that. So I don't think I'm not counting on them doing it this time either.
Speaker: But I am going with a 2-2 draw. Yeah, i need you to push over in that fence a bit there so I can hop up beside you because I have gone for a two-all as well. Oh, there we go. plus No, I'm agreeing with you. I think it's going to two-all as well for the exact same reasons as you said. i just think, as I said at the top, Chelsea can score goals they can't defend and if arisel I think if Arsenal had two shots, they'd get two goals here. I think if they let Robert Sanchez play the way Emi Martin has last again, then he wouldn't have had have half the issues that he had. They just kept forcing him to pass it out and he's just not very good. at Then Emi Martin comes and like, oh, let's just change our tactic completely.
Speaker: and i think he'll be the reason Chelsea get a point from this game. I think he is a really good keeper when he wants to be. And I think this is kind of game he's going to want to be. He was obviously at Arsenal before.
Speaker: will be his first... No, it won't be his first home game with Chelsea. That was last week. I just think he's going to put it in a performance here that will be... It's in the Emirates anyway. Yeah, and I'm going for two all as well. Arsenal were so lucky against Fille. I think their luck will have to run out at some point. If they lose this game, I wouldn't be surprised. I would actually be happy, even though I don't really like Chelsea. I just want see Arsenal start dropping points asap Yeah, no, I was saying here we go to welcome you onto the onto the fence. Oh, sorry, sorry, sorry. I thought you were saying that i was coming at you. yeah, I think Villa were just...
Speaker: ah but yeah i think v our justs so stodgy in the pack every time they had a break they were just terrible and any team that was any good could have broken arsenal down in that game and i think chelsea will so i if they win if chelsea win this like three two i i wouldn't be surprised and yeah that would be good for the table i think to to get arsenal to drop points because chelsea won't ride this way for too long and yeah they won't continue winning whereas arsenal could well do so them dropping points early would be good for the league i think But yeah, both of us going 2-2 there. Let's see how it goes. and
Speaker: think that's another another episode wrapped, just football-based. Obviously, the next one that will hit your inboxes and your YouTube channel feeds is going to be our NFL season preview. We're coming next Tuesday. It'll be out. And then we'll have a regular episode on Friday, as usual. That'll be after a couple of NFL games have have hit us.
Speaker: for the season so we'll have them to talk about as well as the Premier League next week so that'll be exciting stuff but yeah Shane I'll throw it to you to wrap up yeah just as usual thanks so much lads and again double week next week so do hit that like and subscribe and all the good stuff and just thanks so much see you early next week I'm about to piss myself
