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That Saturday Feeling 9
23 Plays1 month ago
So that's another January transfer window closed. Who were the big winners and losers - Which PL teams showed ambition and which, desperation - and which newly signed players will stand out as the Premier League enters its final stages
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Transcript
Introduction and Overview
00:00:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome. Buongiorno. Bienvenu. Und verkommen. Wherever you are in the world to that Saturday feeling episode nine. That just about covers the world, doesn't it, Nick?
00:00:22
Nick Britten
It covers about two countries, yeah. I think there's but quite a lot of the rest of the world you've missed out, but it was a good effort. It was a good effort.
00:00:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Excellent. Thank you.
Super Bowl Weekend and NFL Highlights
00:00:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I am your host, Ken Davis. I'm joined by Nick, the hitman, Britain, for the usual roundup of all things. Premier League. Welcome, Nick.
00:00:39
Nick Britten
Hello Ken, great to see you as always and you're looking beautifully garbed out in your Super Bowl gear.
00:00:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Didn't you get the memo?
00:00:47
Nick Britten
I didn't get the memo and I haven't got any American football stuff anyway so it would have been a bit of a waste of time even if I had.
00:00:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Big weekend this weekend, Kansas City Chiefs against Philadelphia Eagles. The country to ah Kansas City Chiefs are going in for the three timer and we don't want them to win because it's boring.
00:01:08
Nick Britten
Yeah, there was a mo there was a moment. I have no idea. I literally have no idea. There was a moment at the end of the Newcastle Arsenal semifinal last night where Dan Byrne came out and did his post-match interviews and Mark Chapman, who who was on Skype, but um obviously soon to take over from Gary Lenneke as one of the three new hosts of match of the day said Dan Byrne sort of the the in interview ended did and Dan Byrne said to him, just simply said to him, that Eagles or who's the other one?
00:01:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:01:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah Get the cheese Because he's a big NFL guy
00:01:34
Nick Britten
Who's the other one on it? and Yeah, he was the Chiefs and it took it took chapters completely by surprise. It totally threw him. He didn't know what to say. He's a big NFL guy. Just didn't expect the question.
00:01:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fair enough. Anyway, I'll tell you, it's going to be the Eagles, 31 to 27. The twenty seven ah halftime show, by the way, Kendrick Lamar.
Premier League Transfer Window Debate
00:01:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And SZA, who is a goddess, magnificent.
00:02:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
SZA. S-Z-A. Don't look at me like that. How come I've got my fingers on the pulse and you're like shaking your head? SZA.
00:02:09
Nick Britten
What's something like that? Are you trying to be down with a kid here?
00:02:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
I am down with the kids.
00:02:12
Nick Britten
my what No, no, no, who's?
00:02:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, i ah I used to be down with the kids till I got that letter from the police. But anyway, it's she's ah she's a superstar.
00:02:18
Nick Britten
and but
00:02:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Looking forward to that. So what are we talking about today?
00:02:21
Nick Britten
Okay, but no know it's gonna be it's gonna be better than it's gonna be better than Kanye West and his naked Grammys girlfriend, isn't it?
00:02:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
hey
00:02:27
Nick Britten
So let's face it, it's gonna be more ins entertaining than that.
00:02:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. That was a bit minging, wasn't it?
00:02:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Anyway, so this week we're going to take a look at the January transfer window. ah Obviously, it's it seems to creep into February. Is it just me? Or there was definitely stuff going on in February, wasn't there, Nick?
00:02:32
Nick Britten
It was horrible.
00:02:46
Nick Britten
No, because the window shut. but it did go Yes, it did go into February, because the the window didn't shut till Monday night, and that was February the 3rd.
00:02:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ridiculous.
00:02:54
Nick Britten
So it did go it did go into February, yes.
00:02:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Isn't that weird?
00:02:57
Nick Britten
But it's always kind of...
00:02:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Considering Friday night is the 31st.
00:03:00
Nick Britten
Yeah, yeah friday ah Friday night was the 31st, but the window actually shut at 11 o'clock on Monday the 3rd.
00:03:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Call me old-fashioned, Nick, but the 3rd of February ain't the January transfer window.
00:03:09
Nick Britten
No.
00:03:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, we're going to have a look a good look at that in terms of which teams did well, which teams did badly, which players I think we're going to have to get used to ah smashing it in the Premier League.
00:03:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
By the way, Nick, is it actually possible to do good business in the January transfer window, do you think? I mean, is it as you've ever done?
00:03:32
Nick Britten
It is. It is. Um, and we're looking at some teams today and look, I mean, look, not many teams spent that much. The whole thing was skewed by the fact that Manchester city spent 178 million pounds. Now that is just obscene. If you ask me at any and at any level for a club that's facing so many charges on PSR and it just feels wrong, but they did. Uh, the next was wolves who spent 42 million pounds. So, so,
00:03:59
Nick Britten
the answer The answer is we don't quite know yet, is it good is but if we'll stay up having spent £42 million, pounds that's good business. because staying up is going to be worth a lot more than £42 million.
00:04:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's right.
00:04:10
Nick Britten
pounds If they go down, having spent £42 million, pounds that is not good business. so it is look Traditionally, it is it's a bit of a desperate market. Prices are inflated because if you are buying in January, the seller knows that you are in need.
00:04:25
Nick Britten
Therefore, they can inflate the price. i But you know there are there are some good signings that have been made out there. and i're going to highlight I've got three three players who I think have been the best signings. of the of the transfer market.
00:04:38
Nick Britten
um and and and you know Ultimately, is there business to be done? Yes, of course there is, because if you are in absolute need of a striker or in need of a defender or in need of a goalkeeper, then you've got to go out and buy one. It's as simple as that.
00:04:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
makes a lot of sense.
Premier League Transfer Highlights and Analysis
00:04:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is an interesting kind of dynamic that's going on in January, I think, between desperation and ambition. There's definitely some transactions which have taken place, which I think indicate ambition. And I'm thinking, maybe Esther Villa. I mean, I think Villa have had a decent one. We'll come to that later on. ah But also,
00:05:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
there's some deals it' just a smack of desperation and um and we'll call come to that as well. So you are listening to episode nine by the way of that Saturday Feelings podcast part of the glorious global sports podcast network. The only network bringing you exclusive daily news and views on your Premier League team on women's football and we do a big round up in English as well and loads more to come. and MSL is going to be on its way soon. A World Cup podcast is going to be on its way soon as well. So very pleased you've joined us. Thanks for everybody who listens every day to the GSPN. So Nick, over to you. So if you were to highlight a couple of couple of transfers that caught your eye, which ones would you what you say were top of that list?
00:06:04
Nick Britten
like I picked up three, which I think might be great deals. The first one is Giulio Solaire, who's moved from Lannis to Bournemouth for £6.7 million, pounds which in in Premier League transfer funds is loose change down the back of the sofa. But he's a really, really exciting prospect. He's only 19 years old. He's a really, really good left back. And he fits into Areola's high press, high energy,
00:06:34
Nick Britten
a way of playing, it might not play you know all the time from the off, but I think it's for that amount of money, you are getting massive bang for your buck, particularly as we talked about in January. ah The January transfer window, it's probably worth saying this at this stage, the January transfer window, particularly this year, that's just finished, seems to be far more about teams keeping hold of their best players than it is about teams buying other players.
00:06:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah that's that's a very good point.
00:06:59
Nick Britten
And there's been a lot of that because eight out of the 20 Premier League teams didn't spend a penny, but their supporters will tell you that it's been a good window because we've managed to hang on to you know this player or this player or this player.
00:07:11
Nick Britten
um
00:07:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
There will be a few of them that we go through, I think, in the course of this episode where you kind of may have put money on you know that that player moving on, but they've been tied down to sometimes longer deals.
00:07:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
So yeah, that's certainly been a feature.
00:07:27
Nick Britten
So yeah, so, so, um, julio Solaire, I think will be a very, very interesting player when he, when he comes in, you look at the, look at the youth of Bournemouth team. Um, you know, so many of Ariel's permanent signings are under 21. Um, they're they're playing regular football and they really fit his style. And I think to get a player of, of Solaire's quality,
00:07:49
Nick Britten
For that amount of money, I think it's an excellent deal.
Team-Specific Transfer Insights
00:07:51
Nick Britten
I really do because the the worst thing that's going to happen is his value will go up by being involved in the Premier League. So even if it don't even it doesn't work out particularly, they'll be able to sell him for more than what they bought him for.
00:08:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he's got a model, I think, going on at Bournemouth. We saw that even in in the Liverpool game, which I thought they were very good in. And I think that you say that high energy, that high press, clearly this guy's got a very high ceiling. The nice thing about that particular deal, I think, is that he's got a high floor and he's got a high ceiling. So whatever happens, he's unlikely to lose a fortune on Solaire, I would have thought.
00:08:28
Nick Britten
but Exactly that and he's a safe, he fits that revolution. so So that's great, that's the first one. um The second one I've highlighted is Mathis Tell, who's gone from Bayern to Tottenham. On loan initially, but Tottenham have got a £45.8m option to to sign him. He's only 19, so he's still young. But german the the German media and certainly people at Bayern rate him very, very, very very highly. His his development at Bayern has been somewhat um Not stunted is the wrong word, but but perhaps slowed down or because of Harry Kane.
00:09:00
Nick Britten
You can't get in the team ahead of Harry Kane. Who can?
00:09:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:04
Nick Britten
Harry Kane has been unstoppable at Bayern since he went there. so Tells how to bide his time. he's had to When he's played, he's had to pay out play out of position a little bit on the wing, but he is a front man. He will want to play through the middle.
00:09:15
Nick Britten
and Let's face it, with Dominic Solanke out, Tottenham don't have any strikers and they are absolutely desperate. i and And they're not, in my opinion, any danger of getting relegated. Let's put it. Let's just sort of stop any of this relegation talk. That's not going to happen. But they do need to get up the league. They do need to start putting some wins together. ah So they need a striker. I think getting him on loan up until the summer is a decent move because it'll allow him at least to have a look at how he fits into the system.
00:09:43
Nick Britten
Um, and she said he had a good couple of hours on the phone with him. Uh, so it seems like a really smart move for all parties. He, he gets, he's a very, very good player. He gets to play in the premier league at a very big club. Uh, and, um, Tottenham have got, I think a good deal out of it as well. Um, you know, as we've just mentioned, good deals and January transfer windows don't often, they're not often easy bedfellows. So, yep, that's my second one is, uh, Matthew's tell, uh, Matthew's tell rather from, uh, Bayern to Tottenham.
00:10:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's a good one. There's a lot of clubs chasing him. I know Ren, who were very interested in him from the French league. Now, you suppose you're always going to pick the Premier League over the the French league. But but so yeah, there's there's certainly a lot of interest in him. Though I did hear, though, that ah he chain kind of was really on the cusp. He couldn't really work out whether he wanted to buy this time at Bayern or whether he wanted to go to Spurs. And in fact, there was for a period of time, he hed decided he was going to stay.
00:10:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then he spent a couple of hours with Anj on the phone. Anj was offering him boomerangs, kangaroos, as as many Barbies as you wanted, and managed to manage to turn him around and said,
00:10:50
Nick Britten
Steady, steady. You won't have time for that. He's playing football.
00:10:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah well yeah But anyway, you got in there. And not only did you get in there, they actually got the claws in there. that they've got ah They've got a bite option as well. So well done, Spurs. Well done, Daniel Levy. Well done, Hans Postekogli.
00:11:09
Nick Britten
Yeah, I don't I don't suppose don't you believe he's going to get any praise. I don't suppose the leave you out banners will be being taken down from from Tottenham games of late, but it is a good signing and it probably is a good bit of business.
00:11:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Great.
00:11:22
Nick Britten
but and And my last one.
00:11:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Go on.
00:11:25
Nick Britten
If you want to go, do do you want to come in with one?
00:11:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, no, no, you you crack on and then we'll just look at some of the teams.
00:11:30
Nick Britten
Yep, my last one very quickly then is Emmanuelle Agbadou who's moved from Stade Durem, speaking of um not turning to him French teams for the Premier League. He's moved from the French League to the Premier League and he's gone to Wolves for £16.75 million.
00:11:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:11:44
Nick Britten
pounds He's a very again young, untested at this level, Premier League level, but he's got a good pedigree, he's well thought of and Wolves have done a bit of good business because they've realised that they go ah there's a great chance they'll get relegated if they don't stop shipping loads of goals. So they've strengthened their defence and this guy is a very good defender. I think he'll do well for them and again just short 17 million pounds is not a bad bit of business for the January transfer window and I think Wolves focusing on their defence for January and bringing in a couple of players is absolutely the right thing to do.
00:12:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, in fact, they double dipped at REN because they got Manetsi as well. So Wolves have made a bit of a statement, I think, ah more than some of the other relegated teams. We'll talk about some of the teams in a moment. First, before we get onto that, I just want to play you this.
00:13:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
That bloke's got a sexy voice, isn't he? Who's that?
00:13:15
Nick Britten
but you know you know what I always didn't recognize you then until I felt I heard that little twang just towards the end. You can quite keep it up for the whole advert there, could you?
00:13:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, story of my life, not being able to keep me twang up till the end, but but there you go.
00:13:27
Nick Britten
ah
00:13:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Yeah, that was that was not that was what's called an advert. um Anyway, um let's let's talk about some of the teams then, because they they they're some of the stars that we're going to look forward to to seeing in the Premier League over the course of the next few months. Teams-wise, I had a good look through all the teams and you're right, it's kind of Half the teams just just kind of, there's not hardly any flicker, hardly any interest and in in in any kind of moves, but certain teams definitely rolled the dice in January and there's three or four I just want to pick out here. Get your view on what's going on here. First one is Villa.
00:14:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Clearly, they're eyeing up a return back to the Champions League. Emery's got, there's five, there's Axel D'Sarcy on those from Chelsea, defender.
00:14:13
Nick Britten
All right, let's move on.
00:14:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Marco Asensio, on loan from PSG, midfielder. Daniel Milan from Dortmund, forward. Andres Garcia from Laganish, who's a defender, and of course,
00:14:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right at the end, Marcus Rashford, last chance saloon for Marcus, um and they managed to keep hold of Ollie Watkins.
00:14:34
Nick Britten
but
00:14:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
So all in all, yeah that's you've got to if you're a Villa supporter, you've got to be pretty satisfied with some of the activity that was going on there. watch What did you take on the on the Villa transfer window?
00:14:53
Nick Britten
but Also, also, you know, they sold John Duran didn't they do to Saudi to the Saudi league?
00:14:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
They did. Well, that funded everything, really.
00:14:59
Nick Britten
About 70 million quid. Yeah, so so it all a good bit of business because they're all they're all decent players.
00:15:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:05
Nick Britten
Obviously, the whole thing was overshadowed overshadowed all of their business was overshadowed by Marcus Rashford ah coming in on loan from Manchester United. But you're right. It is yeah who knows who knows how that will work out.
00:15:18
Nick Britten
It could be an absolute disaster could be a bit of genius. It's all down on Rashford and his approach to to the move. He must know.
00:15:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Did you see the photo of Rashford being signed?
00:15:26
Nick Britten
if i go understood No, didn't know.
00:15:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:15:31
Nick Britten
No.
00:15:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was at a funeral today. There were happier people there.
00:15:36
Nick Britten
Right.
00:15:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's all I'm saying.
00:15:37
Nick Britten
Yeah. Okay. That kind of plays into the narrative of how it's all gone. um And there was criticism already being criticism of Rashford um because he I think he said that he was going to commute from his home in yeah know an hour and a half or an hour and 40 minutes from Birmingham.
00:15:54
Nick Britten
if you think By the way, if things didn't get from Birmingham to Manchester or that area in an hour and a half on the M6 during Russia, think again, my friend. You can you can double your time for that.
00:16:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:05
Nick Britten
And suggestions that he really ought to be living he ought to be living very much closer to the training ground and closer to the stadium. Um, so it hasn't really kind of started, isn't it? It's already started. Uh, but it'll all be, it'll all be whether Unai Emery can get a tune out of him. It's as simple as that. And it's an odd move. Well, I've got to say, I didn't see, I don't think anybody saw it coming. It was a curious one. And I suppose if you're Villa, you need back up for Watkins and Rashford can also play through the middle or it can play out wide. So there's a bit of versatility in there, but it'll be very interesting to see how it gets on. But you're right. Villa sort of stake their claim and, uh,
00:16:42
Nick Britten
And having a big push, having a big push for Champions League. Glory, of course, this season, because they're in the competition still, but also to qualify in the top four. It's a bit of a challenge for them. I i think i think that ship might have sailed.
00:16:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
Rashford and Aston Villa's Ambitions
00:16:52
Nick Britten
They're going to have to put on a hell of a spurt and hope that other teams above them fall off ah fall off a little bit, but they're giving it a go.
00:16:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, they've given it a go, and I'm pleased about that. There wasn't too much interest in Rashford. I mean, do I think it's very far. Certainly one of the Turkish teams may have been in for him, but that was kind of it.
00:17:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah And a good look to him. I think he needed to move. I mean, clearly things aren't working out United.
00:17:16
Nick Britten
I mean, it's sad, it's sad to see in many ways, isn't it? It's sad to see, because we all remember when he was in his absolute pomp.
00:17:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh yeah.
00:17:22
Nick Britten
Brilliant. When he's on it, he's absolutely fantastic. But it's just sad to see that nobody even wanted to buy him, presumably because of the reported £325,000 a week wages. That's probably why.
00:17:32
Nick Britten
It wasn't because I didn't think he was a good footballer, but there are very, very few teams who can afford that kind of money. And I'd very much imagine any suitors were immediately put off by the wages.
00:17:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just Birmingham City and Wrexham these days. Right. The other that two teams that so we should mention, Dark Horse Ipswich. Dark Horse Ipswich had a decent add a decent transfer window. of Ben Godfrey from Atalanta, defender.
00:18:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Philogene from Villa, they've been after in the yeah in the summer forward, obviously. They've managed to get Jaden Philogene. Julio Enciso from Brighton, midfielder Alex Palmer from West Brom, he's a goalkeeper. And I'll try this, Somto Chukwu, Boniface.
00:18:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
from Chelsea under 21 defender, but obviously somebody they're looking to the future with. But you know, plenty going on Portman Rd. Good luck to him. I think I think it's with you. I've given themselves a chance and I think this is going to help him again.
00:18:36
Nick Britten
Well, they've had to because they are on the back would slide here. It's which we talked about them quite a lot earlier in the season when they weren't winning games, but they were always in games.
00:18:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:49
Nick Britten
and yeah And they were always competitive and you always felt they're in it. And and even if they're on the the end of a kind of one one or two goal defeat of late, they haven't been. And I'm afraid losing Southampton at home last week, ah last weekend is pretty catastrophic. And they've I think they've they've they've had to roll the dice but to try and stay up. Ben Godfrey, former York City lad, by the way, is a good player. you know He's a good player. He's tried and tested at this level with Everton.
00:19:17
Nick Britten
um and I think he'll do well for them. I'm i'm not sure, you know, signing under 21 players from other, other teams, reserve teams is is really going to be that much help.
00:19:27
Nick Britten
I don't know.
00:19:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not this year.
00:19:28
Nick Britten
Um, it's going to be difficult to, to be pitched into a relegation battle and that's what they are because they've got to just roll up their sleeves and and fight now. ippswi They've got a chance as long as they can keep Rory dilapfit.
00:19:40
Nick Britten
Um, ah but yeah, they, they, they, again, they've, they've tried here.
00:19:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
ro Rory de laap.
00:19:44
Nick Britten
I mean, interestingly, one of the signings is a goalkeeper.
00:19:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Rory de laap. They've got Rory de laap playing as well now for them.
00:19:48
Nick Britten
Did I say, I meant Liam to that, obviously, his son, my apologies.
00:19:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're made.
00:19:53
Nick Britten
um Yeah, interestingly, one of the signings was a goalkeeper, and they've signed a goalkeeper only six months after spending 10 million pounds on on Mureich from Burnley as their first choice goalkeeper.
00:20:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:04
Nick Britten
So that money is, you know, that's 10 million quid down, down the spout, isn't it?
Relegation Battle and Strategies
00:20:09
Nick Britten
They don't fancy Mureich anymore. He has been making mistakes of late. So yeah, they, they, they are, it's quite, quite, quite a signal of intent.
00:20:19
Nick Britten
from Ipswich they've only spent 20 million pounds but then again they spent 120 million pound in the summer so for their sake you want to hope they stay up because you go down with that sort of debt into the championship even with parachute payments it's going to be very very difficult.
00:20:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're looking at the four teams at the bottom. ah We touched on Wolves earlier. They seem to have rolled the dice a little bit. Ipsu seems to have rolled the dice a little bit. Leicester got Cully-Ballied in the full back.
00:20:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah But it just feels like they haven't done enough work, they haven't done enough business. Southampton just seemed to have given up. So it's ah it looks like of the four teams who are certainly in my in my ah kind of um on the piece of paper to to maybe lose their premiership status this year, ah two of them seem to have rolled the dice and suit two of them seem to have kept the dice in the pocket.
00:21:14
Nick Britten
Yeah. Um, and I don't think, and when you look at the two, yeah, yeah Lester, you kind of feel a given up, Samson, you kind of feel a given up. Um, although, although Lester only two points behind and they were out of the relegation zone briefly, um, uh, the other week when they beat Tottenham, but they're back in it now. Wolves, ah if I'm, if I'm honest.
00:21:34
Nick Britten
I think Wolves have done the better business out of the four because they seem to have really targeted their one weak spot.
00:21:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:21:40
Nick Britten
We know they've got good attacking players. We know they can score goals. We know they've got good flair. The reason they're down at the bottom of the league is because they can't defend.
00:21:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:47
Nick Britten
And they've gone out and really strengthened their defense. And that to me just makes sense. It's that, sense i you know, Ipswich, you go, well, they bought a player for here and a player for there own and a player for there. Fine.
00:21:58
Nick Britten
But it looks like like like Wolves are just a little bit more structured and they've they've really targeted that weak spot. And look, I said at the start when Pereira took over, I expected them to pull away from the bottom three quite comfortably. And I expected them to see them in, you know, 15th, 16th, 17th, 15th, 16th kind of place, but with no danger of going down. They haven't done that, but there's still a chart. I i think they probably have still got enough.
Manchester City's Season Aspirations
00:22:25
Nick Britten
So I would expect the bottom three to remain as they are. So Hampton is switching Lester.
00:22:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think we're on the same page on that. And it's a very good point you make there. They seem to have been much more clinical in targeting their weakness. And yeah, good point, well made. I suppose the only other thing to mention before we move on to predictions in the FA Cup is Citi. They dominated the spending. Of course, we were saying a few weeks ago, they've turned things around a little bit, but we were saying a few weeks ago, aging squad, it's all unbalanced, loss of rotary.
00:22:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, have they done enough this time just to kind of steady the ship? We've got Omar Marmouche, who's joined from Frankfurt forward. Kuzarnov, did you see Kuzarnov mistake at the week?
00:23:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, a word from Lance.
00:23:13
Nick Britten
Yeah. Hello.
00:23:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Defender, that was that was grim.
00:23:14
Nick Britten
Hello.
00:23:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Vitor Raiz from Palmeiras, Brazil, the defender. Gonzalez from Porto, 60 million pounds. and That's going to give them some physicality, some size in midfield. That's probably going to be a good move. ah But they've said goodbye to Kyle Walker. So on balanced City, how would you rate City's window?
00:23:35
Nick Britten
Well, we'll see. It's difficult to know until all these players start playing. um
00:23:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, it was about a minute, wasn't it, in the case of Kasanov?
00:23:41
Nick Britten
ah is Well, that's true. Yeah, he didn't have the best. He didn't have the best day. But to be fair, after that, how which gifted Arsenal goal, he did play well, I thought, you know, he did play well.
00:23:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:23:55
Nick Britten
and But they've got to bed in. And it's always difficult to bed four or five players into a team at once. It's always difficult. It takes time. And Man City don't Well, we don't have a lot of time, ah depending on what they're, um, what they're there.
00:24:11
Nick Britten
Well, what they want to achieve, I guess, out of this season, they want to win the champions league, but they're not going to do that unless they have a massive upturn in form.
00:24:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Can't see it.
00:24:20
Nick Britten
And I don't, it's going to be hard. It's going to be, you don't see, you can't see where that's coming from. They look so fragile against Arsenal last week.
00:24:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:28
Nick Britten
They're so fragile. Um, ah so, so I guess it's all about. Premier League. It's all about winning. It's all about qualifying for the top four. is That's kind of what it's going to be.
00:24:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good, I think they're going for third.
00:24:38
Nick Britten
I think of see we've had that's going to have to be it's going to have to be a kind of the benchmark of success as if they can get back into the top four.
00:24:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, i think that I think that's it. I think they're aiming for third place. And that's ah that that's as these additions to the squad very much with that in mind. So here at Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencaster came out the clear winner with 4K video recording from your phone. AI editing automatically removes all of Nick's mistakes.
00:25:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
All of them. It's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great.
00:25:16
Nick Britten
Sorry, we removed some of your terrible jokes.
00:25:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And just live it efficiently, if you want to tell your story, check out the link in the show notes to learn more about our friends at Zencast who do a great job for us. So thank you, Jamil.
00:25:30
Nick Britten
example they do They're great partners, I've got to say. i really I really like them and they do do a great job with us.
00:25:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
and did They do, bless them.
Reflection on Predictions and Accountability
00:25:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now we've got to talk about something that I didn't really want to talk about this week, which is predictions. I didn't cover myself with glory last week. I didn't i may i got out of 10 predictions right, but I also i also said 3 things. I said that the forest bubble had burst ah I said that Spurs were clearly going to lose at Brentford.
00:26:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not even worth turning up. And I said Darby were going to surprise Sheffield United at home.
00:26:10
Nick Britten
okay yeah
00:26:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
That didn't play out too well.
00:26:17
Nick Britten
No, no, it didn't. It didn't. And I message you relentlessly on Saturday morning, as all the forest goals were.
00:26:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I turned the phone off in the end to be honest.
00:26:26
Nick Britten
Yeah, all the forest goals are rattling in. ah Listen, at least you don't own that pod in Gendling, which gave three points out for every goal for a scored thinking they might sort of sneak it one nil or two nil. They won seven nil, they lost equivalent of 1500 quid in 300, 300 free points there to get out.
00:26:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wow. Wow.
00:26:42
Nick Britten
and So yeah, at least you own that.
00:26:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that was a party.
00:26:46
Nick Britten
Um, but, uh, yeah, amazing forest water bounced back and a superb performance. Um, Tottenham, again, funnily, interesting enough, that was the Tottenham's defeat.
00:26:57
Nick Britten
Sorry. Tottenham's win at Brentford was exactly what Tottenham fans have been crying out for in as much as it was a proper away performance where they defended.
00:27:07
Nick Britten
Well, they were well structured and they weren't all the things that Tottenham have been this season, which is just a bit nuts and gung ho and leaving yourself wide open.
00:27:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
flaky yeah
00:27:15
Nick Britten
And they had to face quite a lot of pressure, especially in the latter part of the game. And they did really well. They did really well. And to, you know, to take them to score in the opening few minutes of a match and then to click on and win one nil for the vast majority of the match is extraordinary. We've not seen that for a long time. So it wasn't just the result that was there. I think the performance was certainly worth noting. um And as for Derby, ah surprising Sheffield United, they probably did surprise them because it was only one nil.
00:27:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Well, we should say, we must not move on from this point without saying that Derby are now seven losses on the bounce. i mean
00:27:50
Nick Britten
Your ace, if you include the FA Cup, but i I view, you know, with an element of annoyance that, you know, Leighton Orient are home to Manchester City tomorrow, because that would have been Derby had they beaten Leighton Orient, but they didn't, they lost in in the middle of this bad league run. So that's eight defeats on the road, seven um in the league, you know, one in the Cup. And we go to Norwich. We go to Norwich Saturday and their home form is very, very good. So we're going to have to pull something out of the bag.
00:28:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
You are, you are like a new manager.
00:28:19
Nick Britten
little
00:28:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. Okay.
FA Cup Fourth Round Predictions
00:28:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh, by the way, I got three out of 10 last week. That gives me a running percentage success rate of 33%, roughly Paul warns, uh, yours, uh, yours, Nick, you got full.
00:28:34
Nick Britten
It's no need, isn't it? There's no need for that.
00:28:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
ahh No, there's no need.
00:28:36
Nick Britten
There's no need for that.
00:28:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's gratuitous. It's gratuitous warn-baiting. But we can do that because we're in Derby.
00:28:41
Nick Britten
but
00:28:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nick got 4 out of 10. He's now on 24 out of 49. 49% success rate. You know, that's more.
00:28:50
Nick Britten
Yeah, i started off I started off last week really well and then it tailed away massively. I thought I was going to be on for a bumper score last week. But do you know what? Two of the results, which i I knew when I was this time last week, when I was saying those words coming out of my mouth, I knew I was wrong.
00:29:03
Nick Britten
I knew Palace would go and beat Man United and I just don't know why I put down a draw. There were a couple of results there where I just thought I've not gone with my heart here.
00:29:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well.
00:29:11
Nick Britten
I've just said something that I didn't mean to say.
00:29:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, what we're going to do now is we're going to go through the ethical fourth round for every game that includes a Premier League team in it, so I've got 12 of them. i Hope I haven't missed anyone, so we're going to rattle through them. Just give me whether you think and by the way, these the 90 minute scores are not messing around with extra time or penalties, so I want to know from you, Nick. Man United Leicester.
00:29:38
Nick Britten
Yeah, Man United will win.
00:29:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
OK, you go for home after 90 minutes.
00:29:44
Nick Britten
Yeah, home after 90 minutes. Yeah, I don't think Man United are great, but you don't have to be great to beat Leicester, do you?
00:29:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not on last week's performance, I've gone for a home as well. Leighton Orient versus Man City. Oh, what what might have been Nick?
00:30:00
Nick Britten
I don't even want to, I don't, I'd love ah'd love Lake Norrin to win. um a They won't, I don't think they will win. So I'm going for an away win for Manchester City. And I think it'll probably be quite comfortable in the end.
00:30:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Of course it will. Coventry Ipswich. Interesting one.
00:30:20
Nick Britten
Yeah, no, I think Coventry will win. I think they're playing quite, I think they're playing quite well and I can see
00:30:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:30:25
Nick Britten
I can see, I don't know this obviously, but I can't imagine Ipswich are going to put out a full strength side. They've got bigger fish to fry. I've got bigger fish to worry, things to worry about. Um, so now I'm going to go for Frank Lampard's Coventry City.
00:30:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very good. I've gone for a draw after 90 minutes. Everton Bournemouth.
00:30:43
Nick Britten
Uh, Evanston Bournemouth. Yeah. Good one. um eton ah ah I probably owe Everton a bit of an apology because I keep going on about how terrible they are, but they've actually really picked up on the David Moyes and last yeah i had a really good win last week.
00:30:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
I really, I have.
00:30:57
Nick Britten
So I've got to stop i've got to stop sort of being so down on Everton and being... sort of they are They are, despite losing you know some key players, they're suddenly scoring goals. So Moyes has gone in and done a really good job there, straight away.
00:31:09
Nick Britten
Big big kudos to him, big kudos to Everton. They're going to be safe after a couple of more wins, if if they're not already. ah But Bournemouth are a difficult official together. and i It's a hard one to call. I might just go down the middle here after 90 minutes and and call a draw because it's very difficult in the FA Cup, isn't it, to know what teams are going to be put out. If it's a Premier League game, I'd fancy Bournemouth, if I'm honest with you. But you just don't know who's going to be rested and where the priorities lie.
00:31:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's all true. I am going to. I've gone for a home win. I think Evan are riding them always wave at the moment. I can see Evan getting to the cup final. Just got a feeling about it.
00:31:47
Nick Britten
wow but does this does this go down with torus yeah yeah can just remind you those words torus bubble has burst yeah everything will get to the cap final anything else you got for us today oh
00:31:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mark Mark. That Saturday feeling Episode 9. You know how good my predictions are as well.
00:32:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I just know I'm going to be getting the text from Bournemouth for 3-0 half time.
League One Spending and Newcastle's Performance
00:32:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, Southampton Burnley. There's a tricky one.
00:32:04
Nick Britten
you bet yeah
00:32:09
Nick Britten
it is um So Burnley are obviously, they've not let a goal in in like nine games or something ridiculous. Uh, and they haven't conceded a league goal in 2025.
00:32:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, this is considered nine in 30 games.
00:32:19
Nick Britten
Okay. I think that's one game, whatever. Yeah. Um, a lot of them being nil, nil, they don't score that many, but they don't concede many. Southampton at home. My fans are giving me a go.
00:32:30
Nick Britten
Uh, they're a decent championship side to Hampton. So it could be a good game. Um, but ah yeah, cool. I can see this because I'm going to go for a home win.
00:32:43
Nick Britten
We have a home win on this.
00:32:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Homewind, I've gone for a draw. Wiggenfallen.
00:32:46
Nick Britten
Yeah, draw draw is about right, but I'll go for a home win.
00:32:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wiggenfallen.
00:32:53
Nick Britten
Well surely away win.
00:32:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, I've gone for a draw. Birmingham against Newcastle. This is an interesting game.
00:33:00
Nick Britten
What a game. I think this is I think this is the best game and of the entire draw.
00:33:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, no question.
00:33:05
Nick Britten
I think it's a great game.
00:33:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:33:06
Nick Britten
um And you know, Newcastle, what a what a performance last night, by the way, because we're recording this on Thursday. What a performance last night against Arsenal. Absolutely superb.
00:33:18
Nick Britten
And two games, they've beaten Arsenal home in a way to reach the Caravo Cup final. So they will be absolutely buzzing.
00:33:25
Nick Britten
But we're running away with league one. And out of the two big spenders in league one, ah one of them is going to get promoted, one of them might not.
00:33:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
whoa
00:33:34
Nick Britten
the Hollywood, the the of the Hollywood, Hollywood ownerships.
00:33:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
We haven't spent like they've spent.
00:33:38
Nick Britten
ah Did Rex, did Rex?
00:33:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
We haven't spent like they've spent.
00:33:41
Nick Britten
No, you haven't. Nobody spent like they spent. No championship team has spent like Birmingham spent in league one. So, so they'll be up for it. um It should be a really good game. I ah think Newcastle will will edge it.
00:33:54
Nick Britten
I think they'll win. because they're a very good side and they're on ah theyre riding a fantastic run of form. um I know they've had a couple of home defeats recently but they're still on a really good run of form when you take into account all the other games that they play. That's nine, I think it's nine victories, two defeats out of the last 11. And ultimately Birmingham are a league one side and Newcastle are a top-end a Premier League side so Newcastle to win it.
00:34:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, I've got draw after 90 minutes. Brighton Chelsea.
00:34:19
Nick Britten
you
00:34:24
Nick Britten
There's a lot of draws in your thing.
00:34:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
There is, actually.
00:34:26
Nick Britten
You're you're you hanging around it.
00:34:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
It just happened, you know, extra time. I want extra time for Birmingham. I want i want them. I'm just sad they can't have 18 replays, to be quite honest.
00:34:33
Nick Britten
no
00:34:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, I'm going to have to just hope for extra time. So Brighton, Chelsea.
00:34:40
Nick Britten
Yeah, ah draw two teams that are two teams that are out of form, two teams that are kind of searching for something they can't quite put a finger on at the moment.
00:34:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Draw.
00:34:48
Nick Britten
And I think I'll be a draw after 90 minutes.
00:34:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've got home win for that. but Blackburn Wolves.
00:34:56
Nick Britten
Hmm. Blackburn win, home win.
00:35:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And when I've got that as a draw Plymouth, in Liverpool, Plymouth, Liverpool.
00:35:03
Nick Britten
so um woman agreed Well, I don't think we've agreed on any of them yet.
00:35:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not many.
00:35:07
Nick Britten
Sorry, who's playing Liverpool?
00:35:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
One city away at Leighton Orient, we agreed on.
00:35:10
Nick Britten
Yeah.
00:35:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Liverpool, Plymouth, or Plymouth, Liverpool.
00:35:13
Nick Britten
Oh, well, I think we're going to agree on this. but I think we're going to agree on this. ah Plymouth, nil, Liverpool under 15s, nine or something.
00:35:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Aston Villa v Spurs talking about tie the round.
00:35:27
Nick Britten
Yeah, um yeah, that is a good that is a really good game, isn't it? That's a really good game. I think I think home advantage might count. So I'll go for Villa.
00:35:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, we're agreeing now.
Conclusion and Farewell
00:35:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
And final one, Doncaster Rovers against Crystal Palace, your old stomping ground.
00:35:42
Nick Britten
No, no question here. No question here. Palace is away for me sensational.
00:35:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:35:47
Nick Britten
And yeah since September, they've not they've not lost an a away game. And they went to Old Trafford last Sunday and quite comfortably turned Man United over. and that They're great to see Adam Walton back on a pitch after three months out, injured. He came on as a sub. That's really good to see.
00:36:02
Nick Britten
Mateta's, you know, banging form at the moment. It was their second goal. By the way, the second goal was a classic kind of thing that you tell you tell kids when they're playing. ah Yeah, they're playing.
00:36:13
Nick Britten
So it's a shot comes in, it hits the bar, comes down off the bar. And you've got Mateta and Harry Maguire. Yeah, Mateta is anticipating and moving towards the ball.
00:36:24
Nick Britten
And Maguire is just standing stock still looking at it. And Mateta smacks it in the net, empty net.
00:36:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah How ordinary were you, aren't you though? I mean, they can be proper ordinary, can't they?
00:36:33
Nick Britten
Oh, really poor. Really poor. I mean, I think Amarin will turn it around, but he's got a hell of a job on him. So anyway, Palace win.
00:36:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Great, I've got a palace wind as well. So that's where we are prediction wise. Hopefully I'll do better than last time. I need to start clawing some of these results back, getting close to you. So that's it for ah that Saturday feeling version nine. Enjoyed that. That was an interesting little ah dabble through the ah January transfer window. Thanks for your input, Nick, on that. Thanks for your predictions. ah Have a great week, mate.
00:37:05
Nick Britten
Yeah, have a great weekend and good luck in the Super Bowl for you and yeah please don't wear any of that.
00:37:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, we're not, the Bengals aren't playing. The Bengals aren't playing. We should be. That's why I've got my Joey Burrow kind of thing on.
00:37:17
Nick Britten
Yeah, don don't wear any of that out of the house please.
00:37:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, well, no, the wife won't let me do that anyway. Have a good one.
00:37:25
Nick Britten
and said so Thanks Kenny.