Transcript
officialgspn: Welcome, welcome, welcome to our very brand new podcast here at GPS Network. It's GSPN Network, I say which it would be.
Japtej: Thanks.
officialgspn: We are the English Premier League Football Daily and we are providing you with information, thoughts and punditry on all things English Premier League on a daily basis. ah Today, I have the pleasure of being joined with one and only Mr Marcus.
Marcus Ramtohul: Hello, hello.
officialgspn: How are you?
Marcus Ramtohul: Very well, very well. I could do without all the tech fear in my life, but im looking forward so much to a brand new Premier League season.
officialgspn: Very exciting. And of course, we're not only supported by Marcus today, we have got Japtej with us today. How are you?
Japtej: Yeah, good. Thanks, mate.
officialgspn: All good, all good. i'm Very interested to see what you guys are thinking. We're pre -season, we're about a week away now before it kicks off officially with the Community Shield. And and we are very excited to share with you our thoughts. And today we're gonna cover a few segments and we're gonna kick off with the title race. Then we're going to jump into European football. Who are the teams that are going to make European football this year? And we're going to finish with the people on a pessimistic level that want to join us at the end with anyone who might be relegated. Who are those teams that are going to go down and how will our newly promoted teams fare in the English Premier League? So without further ado,
officialgspn: Gentlemen, I want to know your opinions. City have the opportunity of maintaining the Premier League title this year. Are they going to do it? Juptage what you think.
Japtej: Yeah, I think I think they will do it. I think for on the bounce they're on now and I don't really see a way that it stops. I think Arsenal obviously signed Callifiori, who's a good player, but I don't think it's enough to take away the title from City and I see them retaining it.
officialgspn: Yeah, man.
Marcus Ramtohul: I am loathe to agree. I feel like it's City's year again. I do think it's going to be close. I do think there are going to be some interesting matches, some interesting games, but that they've looked really sharp pre -season.
Japtej: Well.
Marcus Ramtohul: They've not really done a lot of investment at all. I think it just made one signing because I think they know they've got everything that they need. But I'm curious, actually, you mentioned about the signing, Califuri, and I know you like your Italian football. So what do you reckon, a good addition for Arsenal?
Japtej: I think he's a very good addition to be fair. I think definitely an upgrade on Zinchenko because he can play left back and I think you'll probably start with him out left back. um I think that he's obviously great with the ball at his feet. ah He's got it nipping in in front of attackers, snatching the ball, driving up the pitch. He's basically got everything that you'd look for in a defender. But the thing is that the problem with Arsenal was never the defence. You guys were the best team defensively last season. So I think that he'll definitely make you guys better, but how much better is the question? And I'm not sure. I don't think he'll be enough.
officialgspn: I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you're both wrong and Arsenal are going to win the league this year.
Japtej: How come?
officialgspn: but I felt really sorry for them last year.
Japtej: Why do you think that?
officialgspn: I thought they were phenomenal. I think City were obviously undeniably brilliant and they've got so many players in so many positions across the pitch that their second team would compete for the title as well. and But I just feel like Arsenal and Arteta, it's their time. it's their They're they're on on on a wave of of of something that's about to happen. ah But to contradict myself, I also think this might be Pep's last year.
Japtej: Yeah.
officialgspn: And if that is true, you know it would be in city's corner ah to to go out on a high. I don't think he'd i think you'd do another year if they didn't win this year. yeah
Japtej: I think yeah, I think you're right. I think this will be peps last year and I think Next season is when Arsenal should really be looking at it and if they can if they can win it next season I think they could have a period of like three years when on the bounce but so I think I think they will get it close this season.
officialgspn: Yeah.
Japtej: Obviously our test is up for it I think a couple weeks ago. he Yeah, he got asked, you know, what do we need to do to to win the prem and he said get 114 points and
Marcus Ramtohul: Thank you.
Japtej: You know, that's a ah bold statement. Obviously that's what he wants. You know, he thinks that they can do it as well. And last season, to be fair, they didn't really bottle it. You know, two years ago, you could say they definitely did bottle it. They obviously dropped points in the running and they let it slip. Last season, they were pretty much flawless in the last few months. So you couldn't really blame them. It was just. you know they didn't have quite enough and City got over the line. I think the last two years we'll have taught them a lot.
officialgspn: Yeah.
Japtej: um There's no way that all of those players on our Tessa haven't been learning, feeling what it's like to be in a title race. And the last season they they were able to manage the Champions League, which is a big thing, because now they know what they're up against. Nothing's different this season, whereas last season they had to adjust to a few things. So I think that they will bring it close and you know they could win it, they definitely could.
officialgspn: Who knows Marcus? What about you? Do you think there's anyone outside of sitting Arsenal that could compete?
Marcus Ramtohul: I don't think so. I mean every liveable fan i think is is ah ah think every Liverpool fan is resigned to the to the idea that this is a season for Arne Schlott to kind of get his feet on the table.
Japtej: yeah
officialgspn: What about 10 hard?
Marcus Ramtohul: I absolutely loved what Villa did last season but I can't call them title challengers, and certainly not yet.
officialgspn: It could be easier.
Marcus Ramtohul: Funnily enough, i I think Keeping Ten Hug is a really um ballsy and the the right choice for Manchester United.
Japtej: Yeah. I agree.
Marcus Ramtohul: um They have been doing a lot, ah you know, investing and pre -season. But it's interesting you're talking about kind of, you know, could Arsenal challenge this year. And I think the issue is City, like you say, basically got two first teams. And I know, you know, Arsenal have proven they can like can hold it up in the Champions League as well now. But I think that the number of games, the intensity of games, the quality of the squad, that is why my money is still on city over Arsenal. But I i do think there is that kind of power vacuum.
Marcus Ramtohul: Once Pep walks away, the league starts to open up and you start to see who's been building towards kind of taking city off their perch, to to borrow a phrase from another side of Manchester.
officialgspn: Thank you.
Japtej: Okay.
officialgspn: Well, yeah, I mean, that's the hope for for anyone who's the red side of Manchester, I guess. I just think that the City are such a formmoable a formidable team at the minute and it's very difficult for anybody to be able to. They just look so consistently good. And even when they play badly, they pick up results. And that's the sign of a team that knows how to do it.
Japtej: Nuts, Dives
Marcus Ramtohul: Yeah, that was Fergie's teams, wasn't it?
officialgspn: and
Marcus Ramtohul: they They picked up points even when they looked really bad and united one title after title. I'm interested very quickly, you know, there was a lot of talk in the middle of last season, Arsenal need a striker. And now they've gone and bought a defender. Do Arsenal need a striker?
officialgspn: you know ah Yeah, cool question.
Japtej: Yeah, I mean, I think that they do sell. I don't really know why they haven't gone in for one. Obviously, Ozzymen and Tony were sort of the obvious two. I think that they asked or did speak to Tony and and it just didn't work out. They weren't, they weren't such a fan of the player and his attitude, maybe. And Ozzymen, to be honest, I don't see why they're not in for him because Antonio Conte has made it clear that he wants Lukaku and Ozzymen isn't in his thoughts. So obviously Chelsea are in for him, but I don't see why Arsenal aren't stepping up the chase as well.
officialgspn: Yeah, absolutely. Anyway, we'll do we will find out shortly. It will kick off before we know it, and there will be a quite easy contender to see from the beginning of the season, I'm sure. ah Let's hope you're wrong about City, but we'll find out later.
Marcus Ramtohul: And then a word from our sponsors. So this this episode is sponsored by Zencaster. Built for quality, designed for growth, a new era for creation is here. The only complete audio and video platform to get best in class recording, intuitive editing, AI powered growth features and top tier distribution tools all in one place. Get started for free. We highly recommend it. Visit zencaster dot .com.
officialgspn: Well, I know where I'm going to go to my podcasting platforms.
Japtej: I hope.
officialgspn: Zencaster dot .com. Love that, Mark. It's well done. Let's jump into our next segment. European football. So who's going to make European football? The biggest surprise from last year has to be Villa and how they performed under European football. What do you reckon, guys?
Japtej: think I think Villa could very well be in the mix again. they've the The good thing that Villa did last summer was they got their business done early. And what that means is that all the players have got a full preseason, and a lot of teams don't do that. And Villa have done it again this year. They've they've got it done early. They've brought in Mattson, who is a quality left back. They've kept a lot of their big players. I think there's no reason why they couldn't be challenging. i think Obviously, Newcastle will be up there as well. They had sort of a disappointing season last last year, I guess, after what their fans would have thought, given what they did two years ago. I think all your standard top six teams will be in there. I think it's going to be ah an open race this year. I think the top two will be sitting Arsenal in whatever order, but then the other two facing the top four,
Japtej: I think, are massively up for grabs. There's so much uncertainty at the top end of the of the league this season, I think. United on the 10 -hug. Like Marcus said, it was a big decision for them to keep 10 -hug. No one knows if it's if it's going to pay off or not. Liverpool under a new manager. Who knows how long he'll take to get his style working. I think Chelsea as well, under a new manager, so many new players. Tottenham with PosterKogloo, they sort of fell off a cliff towards the end of last season. ah think and And then you throw in Villa and Newcastle. I think there's eight teams going for the top four or five spots.
officialgspn: Yeah, I agree.
Marcus Ramtohul: It's interesting.
officialgspn: ah No, sorry about Marcus, you go.
Marcus Ramtohul: I was just going to say, interesting you mentioned Chelsea. I know you you're covering there ah doing some work on the Chelsea games that are coming up for the pre -season.
Marcus Ramtohul: It seems to have been quite the mess for them. And um'm I'm not certain they can turn it around this year. um eight And I'm not sure what what has gone wrong. So many things seem to have gone wrong. ah Curious to think what you guys, you know can they turn it around? what is What do they need to do? And can they do it for this season?
Japtej: I think, yeah, you're right. It's not a case of one thing that's gone wrong. It's pretty much across the broad the board. when i When I really think about it, pretty much everything that has gone wrong, that could have gone wrong has gone wrong. I think that the recruitment, I'm not a huge fan of it. um I think, you know, getting rid of a player like Gallagher who is one of Chelsea's best players last season and then bringing in, you know, Drewsbury Hall, who I know was good under Maresca last season. So hopefully you can rec recreate that. but
Japtej: You know, bringing in all these young players on big contracts, offering Gallagher a two year contract, it's a bit of a slap in the face and a lot of Chelsea fans are quite unhappy with it. Then, you know, a lot of fans disagreed with the decision to sack Pochettino at the end of last season. You know, I think there were only four or five points off Villa in fourth place by the end of the season. So he was building something there. And now it's basically starting from step one. I think that Maresque is going to have to get up to a ah quick start. If he can start quickly, then he might be able to quell some of the disbelief in the fan base.
Japtej: But, you know, their first game is against City, so a fair chance of that.
officialgspn: Yeah, it's a great way to start. Yeah, absolutely.
Japtej: yeah so i think it'll be another tough season but i do have some hope because like i said i think that two spaces in the top four are hugely up for grabs and the the one thing about chelsea that is in their favor is that first 11 for first 11 they have one of the best 11s in the league. the The problem is we never got to see it last season.
officialgspn: Ooh.
Japtej: and No, no, I do believe that. If you put Chelsea's best 11 on the pitch, I think that aside from City and Arsenal, it's the third best in the league.
officialgspn: Yeah.
Japtej: so
officialgspn: No, yeah, I can see your point to be fair. And if you look at, I don't know, just touching on what you've said about Chelsea there, we've kind of jumped into it and the guys in the Chelsea podcast will be smashing this, but let's carry on. Conor Gallagher, for example, hasn't actually gone yet, but he's rejected three contract extensions, which is, the all of this is in public. and yeah It has the smell of Man United, you know, a club that's not being run professionally, in in my opinion.
Japtej: All
officialgspn: And that then translates as being, you know, it affects the game, it affects how they play on the football pitch. And I think things like that cause disruption amongst the team.
Japtej: Yeah, I think as well, it's such a bad example for the younger players. Chelsea is a club that has been has had a reputation for great youth prospects. You know, two of the club's best ever players, John Terry and Terry Venables, came from the academy. If you're telling players like Levi Colwill, Trevor Chaliver, that they don't have a place in the first 11 and they don't have a path for progression, that they're just going to be sold for profit. also you know What sort of thing is that? I'm not a huge fan of it, but I also understand it. that They're throwing so much money at this project. They have to comply with the profit and sustainability rules. And the fact that academy prospects are sold as pure profit, it does make sense, but yeah, not a fan.
officialgspn: Yeah, tough. Marcus, any outsiders that we've not mentioned you feel might make in the top six?
Marcus Ramtohul: oh To be honest, I feel Chelsea is the outsider you mentioned, which is why which is why I asked the question.
officialgspn: Yeah, I love that.
Marcus Ramtohul: i i You know, I think they have the potential, just not this year, um for me. And I do think there's a lot of work to be done there. And you know, funny enough, you say, in je teach i I said before the ah the game at Anfield, oh gosh, Chelsea going to Anfield. Actually, that's going to be a difficult game for Liverpool, and it really wasn't.
Japtej: Okay. All right.
Marcus Ramtohul: um but You look at, sometimes you look at Chelsea, you look at Stamford Bridge. Do you remember how hard it used to be to go to Stamford Bridge? um And I think there's still an element of that there. um But i've I'm not placing any bets beyond a kind of obvious top six, to be honest. I'm thinking Main City, Man United, Arsenal, Villa, I think Spurs creep in there maybe. um But yeah, I can't see Chelsea up there. ah But maybe we're pretty wrong.
Japtej: Yeah.
officialgspn: Well, because both of you have have kindly sat on the fence, which is something that will change as this podcast develops, there will grow opinions where they actually say something of interest and the listeners will love it. and I'm going to throw in West Ham as my outsider.
Japtej: Ooh, that's actually a great now.
Marcus Ramtohul: Oh!
officialgspn: New manager, and I think they've signed really well.
Japtej: Yeah.
officialgspn: ah They've signed a lot of players that I'm a big fan of. So if they can make all of that come together.
Japtej: Oh yeah.
officialgspn: I think West Ham could be a team that might, you know, get rid of the shaft, like, you know, like Spurs, for example, get get rid of the get rid of the rubbish.
Japtej: It's a good start.
officialgspn: um But yeah, that that kind of brings us on to our next ad, which is all about GSPN.
Japtej: Yes, the Global Sports Podcast Network, creating the world's first network of 30 minute daily podcasts for the world's biggest sporting export, the English Premier League for advertising and sponsorship details or to learn more about the scale and demographics of our audience. Email Ken Davies, VP Business and Development at Ken Davies at GlobalSportPodcastNetwork .com www .globalsportspodcastnetwork .com
officialgspn: Hey, it's almost like you've done that before.
Marcus Ramtohul: yeah
officialgspn: that was That was seamless, beautiful. Yeah, and of course that is our network, the one that we are supporting and part of. ah So do go and check out those. was Obviously listen to ours, but check out the other guys because they do a smashing job and we might have them on one week as guests as well because hey, who knows what's going on. and So we're running out of time, really, guys. We're on to our third and final segment already. and And if you can avoid sitting on that fence for this section, I'd be really pleased to.
Japtej: Oh, yes.
officialgspn: We're going to talk about the newly promoted. and And we're going to talk about the teams in our opinion of which we'll be going down. And we're going to try and do that in a nice and opinionated manner. I'm going to go to Marcus first.
Marcus Ramtohul: So you you will get you'll definitely get an opinion on this, but I'm not sure I can walk around my local Sainsbury's afterwards. So i'm I'm in Colchester in Essex right now. um The buzz around Ipswich's promotion is is something to behold. It's really quite special. It's captured this part of the country. People are really excited for what they're about, excited for Kieran McKenna. I'm excited to see what they do. I think that opening day of the season, they could give Liverpool, you know, 12 .30 kick off.
Marcus Ramtohul: They could give Liverpool a little scare, a new manager.
officialgspn: Nice.
Japtej: Thank you.
Marcus Ramtohul: But ultimately, I do think I'm going to add them to my my list of clubs that will go down. um And a club that I think has been fighting and scrapping for a long time in the English Premier League that I don't believe is going to survive another season is full. And I think they've got potential to go down.
Japtej: Interesting.
Marcus Ramtohul: And other newly promoted clubs you know it's difficult coming up and staying up I think Leicester City have still got something about them to stay so I'm going to say Southampton so my three you've heard it here off the fence Ipswich Southampton Fulham to go down at the end of this season
officialgspn: ah dutas are you goingnna Are you going to sit on the fence or are you going to be? a opinion
Japtej: I'll agree with you on two of those, but I'll actually quite strongly disagree on Fulham.
Marcus Ramtohul: oh
Japtej: I think I don't see Fulham going down.
officialgspn: Oh.
Japtej: I think they might have a slightly worse season than last year, but I think the fact that they've signed Smith row is a huge statement of intent, you know, 30 million pounds and he is a top quality player Also, I think their biggest asset is Marco Silva. I think he's a great manager and I think that he'll keep them up. The team that I would, so I agree with Ipswich and Southampton, the team that I would say are going down is Bournemouth. The reason why is I think that Solanke is going to leave.
Japtej: You know, he's been heavily linked to Tottenham. I think that deal will happen. And then I think that they're in trouble. I mean, you know, he was huge for them last season.
officialgspn: Hmm.
Japtej: And I think, I think with that loss, just that enough could send them down.
officialgspn: Yeah, great.
officialgspn: Yeah, yeah you could but you could be right there, you know, it's a big show, but i um if all those things happen, you could definitely be in with something. I do want to mention another team, though, and I don't think that these will go down, but last year, they were definitely a team that ed everyone thought might struggle, and it was Brentford, and they had had a great season.
Japtej: and
officialgspn: But I wanted to say something that I saw on social media, that they've kept the same kit from last year.
Japtej: So I really like all that.
Marcus Ramtohul: Yes, yeah, I saw that as well.
officialgspn: And I think that, such a cool thing to do like fair play to them you know no one's got to spend any more money everyone can enjoy that kit for another year and i get that but like there is so much money in football so it's quite refreshing to see a team you know trying to support the the the little man the the people who actually go and watch the game and looking after your fans i think that's a really great way of doing it
Japtej: Yeah.
Marcus Ramtohul: Yeah, you know
Japtej: Sorry, you go ahead.
Marcus Ramtohul: I was just going to say, you we talked about a way a club goes about its business. You know, with Chelsea earlier, I think it's really difficult not to like Brentford, the way they go about their business with their kind of A and B squad, the way that they work that. um the the manager, you know, so charismatic, that the football they have played. I think they've been a bit unlucky over over certain seasons, but they've always been an interesting team to follow and watch.
Japtej: and
officialgspn: Yeah.
Marcus Ramtohul: I'd hate to see them go down. I really would.
Japtej: yeah i mean
Marcus Ramtohul: And I think as well, Ivan Tony is set for a big comeback this year.
Japtej: Do you think he's, it looks like he's stayed at Brentford, I think probably against his wishes.
Marcus Ramtohul: Yeah.
Japtej: I think he he was fairly convinced himself that he'd have got a big move, but I think think something about him is rubbing people the wrong way. I heard that Arteta wasn't a huge fan of him when he met him. And I don't know, maybe he's a bit too big for his boots, but yeah, he will have a lot to prove, definitely.
officialgspn: no No, that penalty that he took for England, um the arrogance to take a penalty like that after not being played, I think that says a lot about him as a person maybe.
Japtej: yeah
officialgspn: And and I think it's quite important to but when you bring somebody in like that, into a big club. i don't know I think you've either got to accept it or or not and maybe they're not seeing him as as enough of an added value.
Japtej: Yeah, to be fair, I think that he's probably not the right fit for Arsenal.
officialgspn: and
Japtej: I think they've built such a culture of supporting each other and lifting one up and it's like all young players in it together. I think he would I think he would disrupt that slightly, just purely because of, you know, he he might see himself as the main man, the big man. So I think that, yeah, I mean, it's a shame for him, really, because he's he's good enough and he should be playing for a better club than Brentford, to be honest. But hopefully that he can he can do well for them next season.
officialgspn: Hashtag sorry Brentford fans. Is that what you meant to say there? Yeah.
Japtej: Yeah, I mean, it's it's true, though.
officialgspn: Yeah, no, you you are bang on, right?
Japtej: and
Marcus Ramtohul: Yeah, I did.
officialgspn: Okay, so I'm going to give you mine. I'm going to go Forest, ah Wolves and Ipswich.
Japtej: ah
Japtej: right
officialgspn: and My team has seen the championship next year.
Marcus Ramtohul: Whoa! oh
officialgspn: and ah Yeah, if I'm wrong, so what? You'll come back and find out. and ah Boys, it's been an absolute pleasure ah chatting to you all about what's been going on. um We will come back to this recording and find out whether you guys actually know your stuff or do tell on the fence.
Japtej: Okay.
officialgspn: ah You guys that are listening, if you've got to the end here, we'd encourage you to go and see us on all our social platforms.
Japtej: All right.
officialgspn: ah We're on Instagram, YouTube Shorts, we're on X, And we're also on TikTok. And you can find us at GSPN English. and That's the same handle for all those networks. ah We'd love to hear from you. So send us a message on those and ask us any questions, anything you want us to cover in future episodes. ah But for now, it's goodbye from me.
Japtej: Goodbye.
officialgspn: You guys, you've got to do better than that.
Marcus Ramtohul: It's just it's just good for you Mikey. I'm gonna stay here and and figure out which side of the fence I'm gonna land on It's goodbye for me as well You've
Japtej: Yes, and goodbye from me.
officialgspn: I'll tell you what, I love an awkward goodbye. Maybe we could work on that one. ah All right, like, see you soon.
Marcus Ramtohul: got all season
