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Ep17 Crossover Thursday x Daily Manchester City
25 Plays9 months ago
This is your Crossover Thursday, where we team up with the boys at Daily Manchester City to preview this weekends clash. How do we expect both teams to set up and who are the key players to look out for?
Hosts:
Keelin McNamara (Daily Manchester City)
Jools Jordan-Probert (Daily Manchester City)
Daniel Toppin (Daily Brentford)
Instagram/X/TikTok: @gspnbrentford
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Transcript
Introduction and Crossover Excitement
00:00:01
Speaker
Every club, every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network. Hello, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome back to daily Manchester City presented to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. My name is Keelan McNamara, and I'm joined today by the brilliant as always and representative of Craig Bellamy's Barmee Army, Mr. Jules Jordan-Probert. Jules, how are you?
Previewing Brentford vs. Manchester City
00:00:25
Speaker
I'm good. Happy to be here for best, best episode of the week, in my opinion, the crossover Thursdays. Love that. Absolutely love that. Unfortunately, Jack couldn't join us today, but we are joined by Daniel, who is basically the one man army representative of Brentford. Daniel, great to have you on the show, mate. How are you? I'm all good. Thank you. Looking forward to the game at the weekend. Same, mate. Same. Hopefully it's not a repeat of last time for us.
00:00:50
Speaker
No, and great to have you on the show, as I said.
Brentford's Season Start and Challenges
00:00:53
Speaker
And for this first segment, we're basically looking at the season so far for both teams. and Obviously here on the show, we've broken down this our season pretty in depth, but I'm very curious to get your thoughts, Daniel, because there's been quite a lot going on with Brentford. We've obviously had the Ivan Tony saga. We've had the team taking a very different shape ah for Brentford in the beginning of the season.
00:01:17
Speaker
But as a Brentford fan, what have your thoughts been on the start of the season so far? Well, firstly, regarding Ivan Tony, I think we were quite well practiced playing without him, given his band this time last year, which meant that we essentially started last season with Whistler and then Burma up front, which is what we're left with now, um given that Ivan Tony's replacement is injured, ah unfortunately, until until Christmas. but In regards to that whole saga, I'm glad it's over. I think a good time to sell him probably would have been the summer he got banned, but obviously the ban stopped that. We still got a fee for him, which is good with a year left on his contract.
Impact of Ivan Tony's Departure
00:01:59
Speaker
From my point of view, it's good that he's gone to Saudi. We don't have to face him. He's not going to score against us and celebrate and wind up all the fans. So we don't have to go through that. I think we're ready to move on from him. I think it was probably the right time, although also at the same time, I'm grateful for all he's done. And especially in our first couple of years up, he scored 20 goals in our second Premier League season. You know, it's been a massive part of why we're now more established in this league.
00:02:27
Speaker
because I mean scoring 20 goals as a mid-table team um as a striker
Adapting to Injuries and Squad Depth Issues
00:02:32
Speaker
is brilliant. and In terms of fixtures and start of the season, I think we've won the games we need to win. We had Southampton and Palace at home and obviously immediately you saw our first away games and it was Liverpool, it was you guys, it's Tottenham the week after, it's Man United after that. So our home games being really crucial and We've won the two home games we've had so far, so I think we can go into this one without feeling that pressure, um without you know with with a good number of points on the board, and it's almost a bit of a free hit for us. um I think it's just very important that you know we've ticked along nicely in those home games, and we've looked good, and I like Whistler and Abuma up front in place of Tony. Yeah, absolutely. And I just wanted to ask you something real quick before I hand it over to James, because I know he's got some comments on this as well.
00:03:24
Speaker
and You mentioned your new signing that's meant to be taking Ivan Tony's place, Tiago. and Obviously, he unfortunately suffered a terrible injury in pre-season and the reports say that he's out to Christmas. and Have there been any updates on his condition? and Is it still Christmas that he's scheduled to come back? No, yeah, so we replaced Ivan Tony nice and early. We confirmed this signing in February, so we had him lined up nice and early.
00:03:48
Speaker
He came for pre-season, he played 45 minutes in a friendly against Wimbledon, scored twice, looked like it was going great, ah turned out he got injured in that game, and yeah, um I think it is, yeah, right around Christmas, New Year's time, but knowing Brentford's timescales and and um the timescales we put on things, it's probably going to be longer. The likes of Rico, Henry, and Aaron Hickey, we haven't seen for a very long time, and they weren't meant to be out for this long, especially Aaron Hickey, so.
00:04:19
Speaker
We'll see how it goes. I'm hoping our injuries won't persist as much this season, but yeah, it's ah it's a shame to be without him. But like I said, we started last season with Wisser and Abuma up front. Nothing's really changed in that regard. No, absolutely. And Jules, coming to you, and I know you're a big Brentford fan and you're a big fan of the way the clubs run and basically what they represent. What have you made of Brentford's start of the season so far?
00:04:43
Speaker
I totally echo Daniel's sentiments. They've won the two home games that they needed to and look good doing so. um I was a bit worried. Well, I think as old Brentford fans would be, um when Tiago got injured, because that leaves you with no cover up front.
00:05:00
Speaker
And I've said on this podcast before, I think in Bremo and Visser are both very good players. But if one of them, for whatever reason, can't play, then the whole structure, the whole tactics of the team needs to change. But until that happens and they keep scoring goals, there's not really an issue. I'd love to know a little bit more, Dan, about what type of player Tiago is, because I think in Bremo is someone that could take that step up, right? But it feels like Visser is a good player where he needs to be.
Tactical Dynamics and Player Roles
00:05:27
Speaker
Is that the position of the team he'd be taking over?
00:05:31
Speaker
Yes, I think he will be playing as that central striker where Wisser is currently playing. I don't know whether he'd automatically be first choice over Wisser. I think they're different types of strikers. so In terms of when we're playing teams like Southampton and teams that we're more meant to be on par with, teams that we feel that we can, you know, match up against, I feel like it's fine to have Whistling and being more up there because we we don't need to rely on long balls. We can start playing through the midfield. We can try and get on the ball and we can try and dominate things a bit like more like we did in the championship. But I think where the problem arises at the moment
00:06:08
Speaker
is when we play the bigger team. So when we went to Liverpool a couple of weeks ago, and probably this weekend as well, when we go to you guys, I feel like we will struggle to play out from the back. I feel like we we will need some so some kind of target man up front to play off of, bounce off of. And I feel like that would be Igor Thiago. And obviously it used to be Ivan Tony. I don't think Wisser is that profile. Wisser is a great finisher.
00:06:33
Speaker
He works well with Mboumo. It's a more dynamic front line with them, but I feel like without that presence, because Igo Tiago, I mean, he's taller than Tony. He's known to be quite a physical presence. He's you know he's someone that I envision us to be able to play off of. Obviously, it's difficult to say having him only played in Belgium, and we've not seen him in the Premier League yet, but I think that's what we hope what we hope he can offer when he does return.
00:06:59
Speaker
Is that some of the problems with being, ah well, I say problems, but being an established Premier League club now, when you first come up, it felt like you were taking scalps by being so defensively solid, playing off set pieces. But as you kind of become a more, a more solid and um expansive team, or suppose that's where I'm getting at, is there a trouble in finding the balance between trying to progress and evolve as a club and as a style and also trying to maintain the same things that kept, brought you in a Premier League in the first place?
00:07:28
Speaker
I think Thomas Frank is very adaptable. I think he adapts very well to every game. He's not fixed to one way of playing. And I do think against, you know, any other team in the bottom half, any other mid-table team, we are trying to develop that starter play. We are trying to play out from the back more often. We are trying to dominate the ball more often. And we are obviously trying to make the use of likes of a Burma and Whissa who are different sort of attackers to Ivan Tony.
00:07:53
Speaker
yeah um getting them in behind and you know making use of their dynamic and attributes. But obviously against Manchester City and against Liverpool the other week, we we do have to still adapt. We do probably have to find a way to go a bit longer. If we if we try and play through you guys, it probably won't end too well for us. So you know I trust Thomas Frank and i and and I think he will adapt to these kind of games.
Promotion and Break
00:08:19
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. That's real phenomenal insight there. and Obviously, Brentford very good at doing that. And it's interesting to see if they will be able to do that. And that segues us very well, because as we go into part two after this break, we'll be talking about our predictions for the game, as well as any potential tactical changes from either side for that. So we're going to take a quick outbreak, but stick around, because we'll be back in a minute.
00:08:43
Speaker
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Speaker
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Match Predictions and Past Encounters
00:09:27
Speaker
Hello, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome back to part two of the episode. I am, of course, joined by Jones and we are joined by Daniel from Branford.
00:09:35
Speaker
In part two of the episode, we're going to look at our previews for the match. So predictions, how we think each team's going to line up, and basically how we think the game's going to go. So this is a very interesting segment because as most people will know, Brentford were successful the last time they went to the Etihad. They were very adept. They had the target man, and they ended up winning. So Daniel, coming to you, how do you think Brentford are going to approach this game?
00:10:01
Speaker
Yeah, I think it was a couple of years ago now. I think you won. You beat us last season. It was before the World Cup. So I believe we're still the last team to win there, which is insane because we've had a whole World Cup. We've had a whole Euro since then. Still nobody else has won there. I was there that day and yeah, I love a repeat, but sadly, I'm not too sure that will happen this weekend. I think we we will set up in a similar way to that day, to be honest. that We'll likely set up in about five.
00:10:28
Speaker
We tend to go back four against teams that we can go toe-to-toe with and and more of a back five against the big six. um An issue still is kind of the fallback area for us because Rico Henry is not far away, but he's not quite back yet. And Aaron Hickey is still a little while little while out and both of them have been out the best part of a year now. So we very much kind of still have makeshift fullbacks or wingbacks in in this situation. I think, and I do expect us to defend quite solidly, I think,
00:11:01
Speaker
even the times we have been to the Etihad and lost, it's only ever been, you know, maybe 2-0. We don't tend to get completely blown away. I think we will be quite solid and quite difficult to break down, but my concern is, like I mentioned earlier, us being able to break City's attacks up with attacks of our own and getting the ball forward and making it stick and creating chances without having somebody like a target man figure to play off of. We're going to have to move it quickly through the midfield, try and get the like some and put them in behind and I think that's
00:11:37
Speaker
more difficult said than done and I do fear that it will just be a pattern of us defending, clearing the ball, not keeping hold of it for very long and then and another wave of attack and I think eventually if that's going to happen we're going to get wet, worn down eventually um I fear so Like I said, though, nothing to lose. It's a bit of a free hit for us. So the longer we can keep the game at nil nil, I think hope will grow and maybe anxiety on your side might grow um that you you might not quite find the breakthrough.
00:12:11
Speaker
Yeah, very interesting point. And I just wanted to touch on something you mentioned, Daniel, which is makeshift wing backs. Obviously, at Citi, we focused a lot on our white players. So Jeremy Dockley slash Jack Relish and Oscar Bob slash Savino on the right. Now, obviously, it's not going to be Bob at the weekend because he's injured, unfortunately. But we focused a lot on Citi's right wing because it's much more dynamic now than it has been maybe in years past, and especially since Riyad Mahrez.
00:12:39
Speaker
My question for you is on the left wing back sort of position, do you think it's going to be an Ethan Pinnock type job? Do you think Brents are going to set up with like a physical wing back or do you think they're going to try and go from mobility to try and get people in behind?
00:12:54
Speaker
I think, well, against Liverpool, and obviously Salah plays on the right for Liverpool, so what what we did on our left side for Liverpool is Keen Lewis Potter kind of played as a wing-back. When we had the ball, he he joined and Boomer and Whistler as a front three, but very much when Liverpool had the ball, he sat deeper and Boomer and Whistler stayed high, and between Lewis Potter and the left-sided centre back, which may well have been Pinnock. It was Pinnock or Chris Iyer. Pinnock was there. I don't know which side he was playing on. um they They dealt with him okay, but my my worry is that Lewis Potter is not
00:13:32
Speaker
a wing back. He's an attacking player. I don't feel like you get the best out of him by restricting him to that position, by asking him to defend. I think he's still very much somebody who we're looking for a bit more consistency for, and we're looking to for him to grow into the side. And I don't think it really helps him playing these roles.
00:13:51
Speaker
um and And equally on the right hand side, you're probably going to see Mads Roslev, who is, he is a right back, but I wouldn't say he's the strongest for this level. I think he he can be okay. I think particularly on the ball, he worries me a bit in terms of playing out. I think.
00:14:10
Speaker
He's very much our second choice when everyone's fit. And I think we could do have an upgrade in those areas. I think another issue, which might be up for debate. I don't know who the third center back will be because we don't always play over back five. Pinnock and Collins will be two of them. Um, it could be Chris. I, uh, I will play somewhere. He could potentially play at wing back because he has played it right back and left back this season.
00:14:35
Speaker
um but he may also be needed as a third centre back, or it could be Vandenberg who he signed from Liverpool and he played in the Bundesliga last season. So it it depends how we how we choose to set up. We've got plenty of centre backs, not many wing backs. um Absolutely. So James, bringing it to you, and basically, what are your thoughts on Daniil's insight there, and does that change your thoughts on how said he might approach the game?
00:14:59
Speaker
Not really, but ah Daniel's insights um definitely helped my understanding of Brentford, giving it that given a towards City. um Brentford have never lost by more than two goals to City in the Premier League. like get ah In my memory, the games have always been close. They've always been tight. Brentford have always defended well and caused problems, including, um as Daniel mentioned, and you Keeling, that the last team to beat City at home in the Premier League, I think it is, was Brentford all that time ago. a Life's easy sometimes, eh?
00:15:34
Speaker
but Yeah, my memory of Redford is that they're always well coached. I think Thomas Frank, as you said, Daniel, is adaptable and um and progressive in his ideas and styles. Redford always seemed really well set up with the right spaces between the players. Very hard to break through when they're playing against so-called bigger teams. So I expect ah an incredibly difficult match. and Yes, you'd expect City to win uncomfortably with the talent on the field, but I think any any three points is one you should have we should we should happily stick in the bank and move move forward from.
00:16:11
Speaker
Without question, and Jim, sort of sticking with you for a moment, and do you think this is a game where Raudry has to start in midfield? Because we know Brentford have got a lot of energy and pace through the middle. And when they break through the lines, they tend to do so very effectively. Now, we've seen Kovacic and Gundogan sort of rotate and sort of playing that defensive midfield position. But do you think this is a game that really more than a lot of others requires that high IQ of someone like Raudry?
00:16:40
Speaker
Perhaps, but I think there's no football match on this earth that Rodry wouldn't elevate his team standing in because of how good he is. I think Ghandoan can provide that level of football IQ and I do see Brentford sitting deep for the majority of the the match, so maybe a Ghandoan could be utilised to break Brentford down a little easier. But then Rodry is so good at doing that himself with late late box crashes and a amazing shooting a vision on the edge of the box. So yeah, with Ganda on Back, it feels like a plethora of options for the danger position as we thought it would be at the start of the summer. um So yeah, so in answer to your question, yes, Rodry would be great to have always is,
00:17:24
Speaker
but I don't think he will be as important perhaps as the players that are going to break Brentford's defence down. No, very fair, absolutely. So Daniel, and do you have a prediction for the game? and you know it It doesn't have to automatically be a negative one because we've seen Brentford be very effective. Do you think Brentford have a good chance in this game or do you think it's going to be something less so?
00:17:48
Speaker
there's There's always a chance, like like like you said, we've shown before we can do it with a similar system and the same manager and we're gonna, if we're gonna get anything, we have to make no mistakes defensively. I think last year.
00:18:01
Speaker
I think it was only 1-0 at the Etihad and it came because Chris Iyer slipped and that's right yeah Harland obviously ran through and and he doesn't miss in those situations. So just one mistake like that and and you're in and you know you probably won't miss. I think I'd be more confident if we had someone like Tiago up front and if we had the likes of Rico, Henry and Aaron Hickey back, a wing back in terms of us.
00:18:26
Speaker
being able to counter and having some chances on our own, because I do think that we can't just sit we can't just sit back for 90 minutes without you know creating anything ourselves if we if we expect to get anything out of the game.
00:18:38
Speaker
i Unfortunately, I would probably say it'd be about 2-0 to City. It's kind of similar to normal. I think we will be relatively solid. I don't think it will be ah a really high score, but I do think eventually you'll break us down and you'll get one. And then maybe you'll get you'll get a second one towards the end as as we do have to open up and try and get try and get one back for ourselves. Okay. And Junz, your thoughts on the game?
00:19:08
Speaker
Yeah, it doesn't make very interesting listening, but I completely echo those sentiments and the same score line and the same breakdown of the game, to be honest. I just want to add um quickly that I think, again, Rico Lewis is going to be key in this game. I think against a low block like that, Rico Lewis' is unpredictable movement has been key to City this season. And I think, again, he will maintain his an excellent form of career overloads that could unlock the game. But yeah, to no City.
00:19:37
Speaker
Alright, I'm certainly one to watch out for, as Riku Lewis always is. Battle about Dus for part two, ladies and gentlemen, and we'll be back with the final part of this episode after these messages.
00:19:49
Speaker
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00:20:17
Speaker
Hello and welcome back to Daily Manchester City on the Global Sports Podcast Network. and We're here again for a crossover Thursday episode with Daniel from Daily Brentford. And to finish the podcast, we're going into to do a combined 11 or more specifically ah at the risk of sounding arrogant. Is there any Brentford player that will get into the city team? And then we're also gonna hop back to some previous podcasts where we have being a transfer director and I picked a player that I think Brentford should sign um and I'm going to get Daniel's thoughts on that and whether he would agree with me or who he would pick instead. So, Daniel, I kind of have an idea myself of who I think could get into the City team and probably possibly should. There's one I definitely think, but state your case. How many Brentford players will get in and who are they?
00:21:15
Speaker
Well, I think being realistic, regardless, we've also got to look at player ceilings, perhaps if if we have any players who could go into a role at a club like Manchester City. And I said on the Liverpool podcast that Brian and Bumo could be a potential target for them when Salah moves on. I think he's got the potential to go into that role. I think if you look at his numbers per 90, they're getting better and better.
00:21:41
Speaker
Um, he's getting better and better every year. He's kind of our main man now. And I think he's growing into that role. He's already got, um, three goals this season. And he was nominated for premier league player of the month. So I do think given his age as well, he's got many years left in the tank. I do think that he does have the potential to one day grow, um, into a team, a top team like city or, or, or anyone else. So I think he's definitely one.
00:22:09
Speaker
in terms of other players, it's it's really difficult. There's players that I like a lot and there's players who I think in their position are probably, you know, definitely top half Premier League players, you know, maybe you know, top six or seven players. I think someone like Ethan Pinnock is very solid. I think he's very underrated. I like Pinnock. Yeah. But equally, obviously, City City have many, many good centre backs as well, who, you know, are very least or um on Pinnock's level. So I'm sure he wouldn't elevate the City team too much. But I do think he's really, really solid and underrated. um It's difficult. i know I know you guys were in for Aaron Hickey before he got injured.
00:22:54
Speaker
um Obviously, again, he's he's very early 20s. Obviously, he's had a massive setback in the last year. He's been basically been out for the best part of a year now. yeah But if he had continued his tra traditional trajectory, I mean, by the age of 20, he had played in the top league in Italy. He had played in Scotland for a couple of years as well. So he started very, very young and he's got high ceiling. Obviously, it just very much regarding him depends on how he comes back from this injury because he's been up for a very, very long time. But I think, yeah, I'd say in terms of potential will grow into the role yeah and Bummo and Hickey are probably the obvious two.
00:23:37
Speaker
Yeah, I think I'd agree. Hickey are comfortable on both sides as well, in which that flexibility, something path definitely looks, looks towards in his signings or city look towards in their signings. And yeah, I think I'd go one further than you. I think Bummo could start the city on the right today. I think he's better than Savino right now. I think Savino's got a higher ceiling, but I think Bummo could slot right into that city team and cause an impact. I also want to um admonished him a sin of mine because I didn't used to rate him but I i will say now i've had my I've had my head turned. I used to think he was a bit of a penalty merchant and he looked inconsistent and wasteful but I think I'm being too harsh because he was new to new to the Premier League at the time. He was very young.
00:24:23
Speaker
um And I thought he didn't look quick enough, but I think he's improved the timing of his runs. He uses his body shape because he's quite a stocky lad, isn't he? He uses his body shape to hold onto the ball really well. And the icing on top is now he looks clinical in front of the goal over the last maybe 12, 18 months. And that is all the ingredients of a top player. ah What's your take on the Brentford squad, Keelan? And is there anyone that you fancy, Nick, in?
00:24:50
Speaker
There actually is, yes, and I'm surprised he hasn't been mentioned, actually, and that's Johan Visser. I love Visser. I think it's it's unfortunate for him because he's a midfielder who's been forced to play in the front line, obviously, with Ivan's filming situation and this sort of thing, but Johan Visser is a brilliant midfield player.
00:25:09
Speaker
he reminds me a little bit i don't want to go too far but when i look at him he reminds me of ungolo cante the way he plays you know that profile that gas tank he's all over the pitch everywhere he's got a high defensive iq he's good at shielding the brenford defense and i actually think with the right not that he's not getting the right coaching because I rate Thomas Frank very highly, but if you had someone like Guardiola coaching you on this, he could be a brilliant understudy to Rodri, and I'd be confident with him shielding cities back for. I think he's a brilliant, brilliant underrated midfielder. I'm not sure about that either, to be honest. I'm standing on it, I like you on this side. As a defensive midfielder? Yeah, is this due to like his is profile and like his attributes as a player? I think I need you to elaborate a little bit more there.
00:26:00
Speaker
Well, Johan Visser, when he normally plays in midfield for Frankfurt, he plays as a number eight, roughly. So he's sort of here, there and everywhere, box to box kind of thing. But I think if you look at his profile and his attributes, he is the stamina and he's got the durability to shield that back for all game and have the energy to push up and join the attack as well. I think he's... spot excuse me I'm choking on my own defence here. I think Johan Visser is a very underrated midfield player. From the first time I saw him, I've been a fan. And like I said, I think it's unfortunate he's had to play in the front line because he's not a natural ah striker or attacking player, but I think he's a really, really good midfield player.
00:26:45
Speaker
I think he is. I think he is a natural attacking player. I think also before, when when we had Tony, he would play on the left in a front three with Mbuma on the right, um obviously Tony down the middle. um Or when we play a back five and have a front two, he'll be part of that front two, either next to Tony or now next to Mbuma. I don't think he's ever been like a really central midfielder. um I think he's, I actually prefer him down the middle.
00:27:15
Speaker
as a striker because I think his finishing is his main quality. I think that is what I like the most about him. He's not, he's not perhaps as quick as like Kevin Shada, who will probably play on the left in a front free now. um I think, yeah, it his strength is really his finishing and his ability to be that central guy and he will score you goals. I think he scored when When he started, he scored a lot of goals. It's just the fact he's been on the bench a lot or been coming off the left a lot with obviously c Ivan Tony and the team. I don't ah don't see him as ah as a central midfielder. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to disagree with you on that one.
00:27:55
Speaker
No, it's it's absolutely fair. It's just, like I said, maybe it was just one particular moment in a game where he was just improvising, maybe something like that. I just think he is the profile to do it all. i think I think he'd be very good there. He's a good physical player as well. He doesn't get knocked off the ball easily at all, whether he's in the front line or he's move maybe playing slightly deeper, even out wide, he doesn't get knocked off the ball. But I would definitely agree on this, that he's a Swiss army knife and clubs need those now.
00:28:23
Speaker
i Yeah, I think he's definitely a very good player and I think Brentford would be struggling without his box presence and goals though with the current makeup of the squad which leads me to our last point of the podcast where I've got to reference myself because I love doing that um in our in a previous episode we ah picked a player collectively from from each Premier League team to sign that we think would improve their squad and ah with Brentford's lack of striker options in mind ah due to Thiago's injury. I picked Adam Oler-Lochman as someone that I think could upgrade ah the team or perhaps just fill in for that viscer role and possibly to a higher standard, higher ceiling, although I do like viscer. What say you on that shout, Daniel?
00:29:11
Speaker
um I think the fallback area is probably the area i'd prioritize over getting another striker in. Obviously, we do have Igor Tiago as well um coming back it around Christmas time. And I think between him and Whissa, I think we're okay out front. And if it really came to it and Bumo can play down the middle, Kevin Shada can also play down the middle um if they needed to. I would probably go with maybe more of a fallback.
00:29:37
Speaker
um could be either side to be honest, but, um, we just need covering those areas and potentially an upgrade on Roslev. And now, um, Aaron Hickey is going to be out for, ah I think most of the season. Again, I think we do just need cover in those areas. Um, in terms of who that would be, uh, swap you Sergio Gomez from Bamo.
00:30:02
Speaker
Sergio Gomez. Yeah. Who's that? Is that your oh you left back? yeah Yeah. Who is that? Exactly. i I wouldn't know. I wouldn't, I wouldn't soften. vermo But um I mean, we had Sergio Regulon from Tottenham last season, second half of last season.
00:30:18
Speaker
I would have taken him back on you know another short loan deal if we could have done that. I saw him on deadline day. We were linked with Ben Chilwell from Chelsea. Again, I assume wages were a stumbling block in that. But another one would be Alfie Doughty. He got relegated with Luton. I think he got a good number of assists last season. I think he His strengths are where Rieke Henry is perhaps not as strong in, so I think Rieke Henry is strong defensively and he's quick, whereas Alfie Doughty can offer more of a creative option off that side. So I think to some depth along those lines, I would have gone for personally, but obviously we haven't done that now. We've got we've got to make do with what we've got.
00:30:58
Speaker
Yeah, I suppose as we did it just after the transfer window had finished, so um you're obviously not going to sign a player where you've just spent money and there's injury, but we were kind of going along the lines of who would improve the squad for what they need right now, you know. um Is there anyone that you think Keelan would suit Brentford?
00:31:19
Speaker
Yes, i'm I'm struggling to think of a specific player, but I very much agree with Daniel and where they, I think, need to improve. And I actually think the left side, I think left back is really the first sort of area to patch up. And there's a couple of reasons for this. The first one is it solidifies the side where there's a lot of dangerous players in this league. You know, you mentioned Mohamed Salah, Daniel, just as one. and There's players like Savino,
00:31:46
Speaker
Noni Madaweke Chelsea is the master. Saka. Saka, absolutely. And I think that's a very important area of the pitch to cover. The second reason I think it's important is if you sign someone who's very, very good and naturally good at left back, it frees up King Lewis Potter to thrive in midfield. Because like you said, he's had to do that wingback role. And I think if you can get someone in there,
00:32:11
Speaker
I think it just helps the whole dynamic of that Brentford team move a little ah smoother. So in terms of the actual left back, I will have to get back to you on that, but um I think if you can get a left-sided defender, a lot of stuff for Brentford clicks in into place, because then you've got Lewis Potter mid-thing, you've got Fabio Carvalho, who can come into mid-thing as well.
00:32:32
Speaker
And I just think it frees a lot more stuff up. And like you said, Daniel, you have Christopher Iyer who can play in the right back position as well. You've got someone like Nathan Collins who could do a job there too. But left back, I think you fixed that. You fixed a lot. Yeah, absolutely. OK, so I guess that'll do it, ladies and gentlemen. This has been a very interesting episode, very enjoyable one as well. I want to thank Jules for joining me as always. Jules, thank you. Thank you very much.
00:33:01
Speaker
And Daniel, a huge thank you to you for joining us today as well. It's been really, really interesting and we really appreciate the insight on Brentford. Thank you very much. Yeah. ah And as always, ladies and gentlemen, remember, you can catch us on all your platforms, all your normal podcast highlights. And thanks again to Daniel for joining us and we will see you