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S1-E109 : Manchester City Crossover!
12 Plays1 month ago
It's that time again! The Daily Arsenal podcast host Jools Jordan-Probert, the main host of the Daily Man City podcast to discuss all things about the upcoming massive fixture between these two sides!
Host : Josh Vince
Guest : Jools Jordan-Probert
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Transcript
Introduction to the Global Sports Podcast Network
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, hello, hello and welcome to the Daily Arsenal and Daily Manchester City Podcast brought to you as part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. Today we are looking forward to the big fixture, let's be honest, in everyone's calendar. Liveable might be top, whatever, no one really cares about that.
00:00:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
But if you're an Arsenal fan, this is a big game, and I'm sure if you're a City fan it is as well. And I'm joined today by Jules Jordan-Probert from the Manchester City podcast.
Excitement and Reflections on Arsenal vs. Manchester City
00:00:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Jules, thank you very much for coming along. It's lovely to meet you. How have you been doing?
00:00:41
Jools
ah Yeah, a lot better the last few weeks. um Not completely ah tied in with the City's form, I promise. But yeah, and thanks for having thanks for having me and hopefully it'll be yet another quality game between these two sides.
00:00:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I certainly have a feeling it will be if the last game was anything to go by. I mean, I'd say a good game. It was a sucker punch of pain for Arsenal fans.
Tactical Analysis and Key Moments
00:01:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we'll get into more detail about the game in just a moment. But when you look back to that two-all draw at the Etihad, coming away from it as a City fan, how did you feel about the match itself?
00:01:17
Jools
i'm I think getting the point made it feel like more than a point. you know it was It felt like the tide was turning for Arsenal to possibly topple City in that match. As the game developed, then obviously ah you retreated, got more defensive, which you've been and If you've got a lead against City, you know, at the end of the day, I don't blame me for going behind the ball.
00:01:42
Jools
You had a red card just before halftime as well, that I thought City would come out and steamroll you in the second half.
00:01:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
yep
00:01:48
Jools
That's what they tend to do when they sense weakness. But I think you defended excellently, gave up barely anything until the last seconds where a half hit John Stones gets that so, so vital goal.
00:02:00
Jools
Not vital for City's title challenge this year, it turned out, for but ah could be vital for you guys come May.
00:02:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it really could be.
00:02:08
Jools
But yeah.
00:02:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
It really could
Manchester City's Form and Challenges
00:02:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
be vital for us. I cannot tell you how much I despise John Stones now. As a result of that, it was...
00:02:16
Jools
yeah the only You're the only man in the world that doesn't like John Stones.
00:02:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was...
00:02:19
Jools
Oh, maybe maybe other Arsenal fans too, to be fair.
00:02:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe other Arsenal fans, yeah. God, that was... i'm what Where else were you watching the game? what What were you doing with the game?
00:02:28
Jools
Oh, I was just at home. But um yeah, i was I was home alone. But my my neighbors probably heard the celebrations come 90 plus eight.
00:02:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
God, you had eight minutes, wasn't it? Eight minutes at a time. i was So I live in Manchester and I was in a bar watching it, surrounded by city fans. I was the only asshole fan in there. And I'd kind of like retreated into a little corner, just praying and praying. And when that goal went in, I basically got bundled.
00:02:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
by all the City fans and yeah it was one of the most chastening experiences of my life.
00:02:57
Jools
Yeah.
00:03:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean so in terms of like City that was obviously it was towards the beginning of the season your form at that point was was pretty solid like how did you feel about the way that you came out because you just said like you retreated a little bit is that sort of normal of City or has that been sort of a feature of this season in particular?
00:03:19
Jools
And no, I said that you guys retreated um ah tactically.
00:03:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh yes we retreated and you should have come out that's it sorry yeah
00:03:25
Jools
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm definitely from city's perspective, not put teams to the sword at all. Even when the form was good at the start of the season, and the games were only one or two goals in it.
00:03:35
Jools
You know, um, Brentford, Ipswich games that you'd expect city to dominate at home. We're narrow victories. So the, ah the, right the write-in was a bit on the wall. Even if we were all being a bit blind to it for quite some time, you know, the,
00:03:49
Jools
The squad build up had always been scary, the lack of players compared to other elite teams.
00:03:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm. Hmm.
00:03:55
Jools
i'm Luckily, no injuries had halted City's progress over the past few years, but it didn't take much for the House of Cards to to tumble.
00:04:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
it didn't and it was actually in that game where the arguably the biggest injury of this entire season took place.
00:04:11
Jools
ever who has talked more about an injury than that but maybe i'm biased because it's all we talk about every week twice a week it seems like but uh yeah that rogerie that rogerie injury sent shockwaves through the footballing world to be honest depends who you ask
00:04:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
It really did. like i can remember I can remember seeing it, and it was it wasn't a malicious challenge, I don't think, or anything like that. It was it was just an unfortunate injury. i remember seeing well I remember seeing him limp off and thinking, that's awful, but brilliant, because now we might have a chance. But I didn't realize how much city relied on the man.
00:04:49
Jools
I think if any any team in the world loses their best player, it'll have an effect. And not only their best player, the world's best player, which he was crowned um six or so weeks later.
00:04:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:02
Jools
and You guys have candled soccer being injured quite well, but I'd say that that that defensive pivot position is probably the most important on the
Player Impact and Awards Discussion
00:05:10
Jools
pitch.
00:05:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:10
Jools
Hence why we've seen all these elite teams spending hundred hundred plus million on players that probably aren't worth that but it just shows how important our position is to to the top teams in this day and age and Rodry is the best at it and he He comes up in vital moments all over the pitch whenever you need him. Defensively, he can be the last man. He can make a fantastic clearance, snuff out danger going forward. He scores goals, creates goals at vital moments too. He's the perfect midfield player ah and City just haven't got the personnel or or um the depth to be able to cope with the the um the strenuous nature of that position for Manchester City.
00:05:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's a very, very specific skill set, isn't it, in that position. You have to have that ability, like you say, to be able to be defensively minded, strong in the challenge, but also acutely intelligent and aware of what's going around you. But I think one of the things that Rodri has in particular is also a real threat going forward.
00:06:13
Jools
Definitely. you have to You have to defend differently because you expect that holding player to be someone that stays there and just kind of dictates play, which Rodry does do. But then if you've got him crashing the box late with brilliant finishing, to be honest, and he's a threat in the air, he says, what I mean, what a complete footballer. And um yeah, he is solely, solely missed.
00:06:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And um I have to ask you this because we we commented on it at the time and we thought it was hilarious. As a Manchester City fan, what did you make of Real Madrid refusing to go to the Ballon d'Or ceremony because Rodriguez, because Vinicius wasn't going to win it?
00:06:48
Jools
And it shows the whole thing is just stage theater, isn't it? You know, like if everyone knows who's going to win the Ballon d'Or before it even happens, like what is the point of
00:06:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm hmm.
Squad Management and Strategy Concerns
00:06:57
Jools
having the whole ceremony?
00:06:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:58
Jools
We all seen on um Twitter before what was going to happen. But yeah, to answer your question, a little bit pathetic, not too surprising from Real Madrid. They are quite like that.
00:07:08
Jools
um And i I'm not against the ah the idea of Vinny being a Ballon d'Or winner too. He was the best player in the best team last season.
00:07:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm.
00:07:16
Jools
So that normally tends to get you the award. But I also don't think if, you know, if you're a football fan and your objective, you can't really argue that Roger is the most valuable player in the world. And this injury, this season, I think has proved that having the world's top, you know, one of the best teams in the world completely crumble in his absence.
00:07:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think I think it would be fair to say that even if Roger E. I mean, obviously he was granted the title of the best footballer in the world. But even if he wasn't the best footballer in the world, he's probably the most important to his team in the world, because it's I mean, who else have you got in that position?
00:07:46
Jools
I agree.
00:07:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nunez can play in that position. Kovacic can play in that position.
00:07:52
Jools
Nunez cannot play in that position. Honestly, like Nunez can barely play many positions but I think right back works well because he doesn't have the best brain but he's a good athlete and he works like hell. So I think fullback is pretty good but no, do not have him in that pivot. He will lose the ball.
00:08:08
Jools
And you can't trust him to be where he needs to be. Kava Chiches, who has played in that position, to to vary in success.
00:08:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
yes
00:08:15
Jools
He is brilliant in some moments. He looks like a fantastic press resistor.
00:08:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:08:21
Jools
And he'll skip away from a challenge. And then he can score from 20 yards. And he's done that four times this season. But then other times, he just looks like he's so slow and so weak and, you know, attacking.
00:08:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm. He gets lost in games, doesn't he?
00:08:33
Jools
He can do, but I think a lot of that is because of the way that's how high City play, and he's basically on an island there.
00:08:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:08:40
Jools
The defenders, it's been a different um back four every week, back five even with Ortega and Edison, and Kavacic has been all by himself because there's normally been two number 10s in the midfield next to him going forward.
00:08:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:54
Jools
So and it isn't all his fault, but he isn't the ultimate solution, but I think he might be because I'm not sure if City are going to get get one over the line. so Um.
00:09:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'll be honest, I don't think we are necessarily either. Right. We're going to take a quick break now. And when we come back, we're going to do more of a laser focus on City, their season, and how Jules thinks everything has been going. So that should be quite an interesting conversation. So we'll be back just after this message from our partners at Zencaster.
00:09:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
And welcome back to the Daily Arsenal and Daily Manchester City crossover episode. I am joined today by the fabulous Jules Jordan-Probo from the Manchester City Podcast. Now, Jules, 41 points from 69 in the Premier League in 23 games, and currently 25th place in the Champions League. We are recording this 45 minutes before the final Champions League ah fixture of the league stage. As a total,
00:10:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
How would you feel the season's gone? Because it would be, we would be lying if we didn't say that City have had a bit of a rough time.
00:10:28
Jools
um Yeah, to to put it lightly, sure. um I think it's been catastrophic, to be quite honest.
00:10:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:10:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wow.
00:10:35
Jools
and ah This is as big a collapse as um as one can remember, maybe not in terms of position and points, but from the standard set by the team, the club, to the performances and the results over that two months. you know And it's still not fully out of the woods yet. The performances and results have improved, sure, but there's still a lot of problems there.
00:11:00
Jools
teams were exploiting a little bit less now, but sorry, I'll get back on track.
00:11:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, no, no, go for it.
00:11:05
Jools
um The the start and start of the season, like I said, and the results will come in, but the performances weren't fantastic. A lot of that could have been down to um people recovering from injuries and having a long summer, Foden being one of those, he didn't score on his first dozen or so appearances, got um seven and two assists in his last night, no, so he's back on track now.
00:11:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mmm.
00:11:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it's is fair to say you had a shattered squad because they had gone so, I mean, yeah, we've seen a massive injury crisis throughout, well, not just the Premier League, but football in general.
00:11:30
Jools
Everyone.
00:11:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
But City in particular, and I'd say to an extent extent spurs as well, though no one's giving them any sympathy, don't worry about it.
Player Performances and Potential
00:11:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like your your players have played so much football over the last three or four years at the highest level.
00:11:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
A drop off was inevitable, but I don't think anyone expected it to be this big.
00:11:54
Jools
this the consequences of somewhat stingy and um determined squad building, i.e. pep not wanting more than 20 senior players in ah in a squad, ah like as a rule, um which sounds great when you're winning every week because everyone's getting game time but then when the wheels start falling off and you've got no options and you're having to play Debbie Thompson the Champions League every week and you know I understand people's and lack of empathy for City because obviously the amount of money spent um over the over the last X number of years and and City had everything in their power to not
00:12:39
Jools
let it get to this point. But it is. And everyone can say, oh, you know, everyone has injuries over the course of the season.
00:12:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:12:46
Jools
But that is the main cause of what has been a terrible season. and Getting up to fourth place over the last few weeks and only six points away from you means I don't i don't think the season will end catastrophically.
00:12:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:00
Jools
But up until this point, I don't think anyone in the city ah hierarchy could have foreseen and such a drop off.
00:13:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think any other real football fans could. I mean, for example, on on our podcast, we obviously did preseason predictions. And myself and a fellow Josh on the Daily Arsenal podcast were the only two. But we were both adamant that City were going to win the title. We just couldn't see you. We couldn't see them dropping off because of the levels of professionalism that have been over the course of the season. But you're right. This inevitable this inevitable sort of addling of players and injuries to players. And I think I'd argue that probably your biggest issue has been your back line. As you said earlier, the chopping and changing. Karl Walker, ah goodness only knows what happened to him.
00:13:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he went completely off the boil. Rika Lewis looks like a good player, but he's not a good enough backup for him. And then injuries all along.
00:13:52
Jools
Yeah, so um on that Walker Lewis topic, which I think has been rifle season, I don't think the the plan was to play Carl Walker much this season. and um I think everyone at City had recognized that he served his time and he's, you know, a little bit over the hill.
00:14:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm.
00:14:08
Jools
I think even he might admit that, you know, he's been great over the years and I and i and I feel bad for a lot of the stuff I've seen about him, but you can't argue that he's not the same player. ah um even Even last season, I think, the physical qualities that he has always kept him at the top of the game have started declining and without them, you start to see the cracks. Rico Lewis started the first 10 games of the season,
00:14:33
Jools
got his debut for England at left back um and then came back a bit injured and then fell off. So again, I think you know an 18-year-old wasn't expected to play every minute for the first couple of months, um but he did and he got worn out and then he lost his confidence and that's when City's run started. So it's hard for a young player like that who isn't able to physically impose himself.
00:14:58
Jools
He's you know he plays with the ball his feet and and his brain and it's really hard to do that when the whole team is lacking confidence and you don't know where to go and you're playing alongside different people every week. So yeah the back line in general has been one of the many problems sure and we you never know who's going to start every week.
00:15:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:15:17
Jools
yeah like It's different centre backs injured all the time and coming back for a game, which means they're clearly being rushed and then injured again. And that's Akanji, Ake, Stones, um Diaz, all four of those elite centre backs have been injured constantly from the start of the season. And and if you imagine if Saliba and Gabrielle was the same for you guys,
00:15:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, yeah.
00:15:38
Jools
You know, it is so hard to build a title winning team without solidity in your backline. That is probably your strongest aspect, you know, that two of the best centre backs in the world. And you know, they're going to be there every week. That gives you full backs confidence, that gives you midfield confidence and it gives you goalkeeper confidence.
00:15:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:15:53
Jools
And without that, we've seen that teams are just finding this so easy for about two months to just get at City. And it's still quite easy now, but things are improving.
00:16:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
The thing is Jules, you're not Man United. It could be much worse. it could
00:16:08
Jools
so I've said that on the podcast myself.
00:16:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Now, I mean, you know, it's really funny because obviously sit here and they've had a rough season but they're in fourth. Arsenal have had an odd season but we're in second and I find on the Arsenal podcast we're very negative about the team.
00:16:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
a lot of the time because we were expecting so much and with you falling away and everything it felt like our year. So let's let's change it around to a couple of positives for City. Savinio, my word like I knew that he was a good player coming in but my goodness me has that man just exploded onto the scene at the Etihad.
00:16:41
Jools
And so soon as well, you know, he's so young and took him a few weeks to find his feet.
00:16:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
e
00:16:47
Jools
and I think he still is, but and you could see the quality he possessed. Every single game he does something that makes you go, oh my God, that was wonderful. He can go either side.
00:16:58
Jools
He's got a peach of a left foot. yeah I know Yamal is young, but I feel like they've got quite a similar style in in the way that, um I think Savini was faster, but in the way that they both cutting on cut in from the right inside, and they deliver a lovely weighted ball that just kind of goes over the centre-backs, you know, and lands in that space where you want Harlan to be.
00:17:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:17:21
Jools
Who else would you want there?
00:17:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, when you've got Erling Harland in there, a ball that peachy is just going to, it's so inviting.
00:17:28
Jools
And that's what happens when City play poorly. Everyone says, oh, Harlan's not in the game. Harlan never gets on the ball. He needs service. Every striker needs service. He's not um a habit that is there to link the play.
00:17:41
Jools
He's there to score goals. you know Obviously, we want him to link the play. And he's been better at it this season than than previously. But he needs service. And Savino is someone that looks like to have been providing that.
00:17:52
Jools
um Yeah, very exciting player.
00:17:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm.
00:17:54
Jools
um And I can't wait to see what else he can do.
00:17:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
we can this week he's only twenty years old what eight goal involvements already in twenty eight parents is for some of the age that's as it's a remarkable turnaround it really is and another youngster who we briefly spoke about before we start recording but for the listeners session the daily are still because you might not be quite as aware i mean goodness me mackity james mackity fourteen appearances more competitions five goals immediately three of them wearing a hat trick against sulfur but still the The youngster has so much talent, but reports seem to be that City are looking to shift
00:18:32
Jools
Well, I mean, over the last few years, and you've seen some of the talent city you've got rid of. It wouldn't be so surprising, would it? And um I think if you get rid of Cole Palmer, who everyone at city already knew how good he was, it wasn't a surprise when he went and did what he did at
Transfer Strategy and New Signings
00:18:48
Jools
Chelsea to people at the club.
00:18:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:18:49
Jools
If you get rid of him for 40 million, it shows that you're willing to get rid of any academy player, doesn't it? ah but Back to Makati, I think he's a fantastic player. As I said to you, I think he's been i think he's been this good for a couple of years. He's definitely had this potential for a couple of years. He's got a lovely touch on him. ah He finds himself in pockets of space really well, which is exactly the type of player that Pep would want in his position. and Lovely wand of a left foot and yeah, like you say he started banging in the goals recently to which if he can do that He'll get more and more minutes because now is the time kdb Look, I still still my favorite player and and one of the best in the world But you know his time is numbered and city are gonna want a replacement and Macatee keeps going the way he is Who knows?
00:19:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm. Hmm.
00:19:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, yeah, KDB, he's 33. No one can ever deny how beautiful a footballer he is. Whoever you support. KDB is one of the most stunning footballers, I think, on the planet in terms of the way that he plays his game and the way he ties football together.
00:19:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I mean, Macatee, he looks like a really good prospect. But I mean, they're not the only squad members. The last thing I wanted to really ask you were in January. There's what, two days, I think. Oh, no, it's an extended. say No, Friday. Sorry. Two days left of the transfer window. You brought in two signings already. um One, a young center back who Cushionov, I think, isn't it?
00:20:08
Jools
Actually, more signings than that, if I could just take over for a sec.
00:20:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh no! Oh no! not You don't need any more players! Go on!
00:20:16
Jools
um So, in Pep's entire tenure before this season at City, he had made, I can't quite remember whether it's 6 or 7 January signings, but either way, 6 or 7 in the nearly 10 years ago that he's been at the club.
00:20:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:30
Jools
City have made 5 in January.
00:20:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Five!
00:20:33
Jools
three for Three for the first team, um and then two that... ah one what So alex I'll explain quickly.
00:20:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ah!
00:20:39
Jools
So yeah, you met you you mentioned Kucinov from Lens, um who obviously had that baptism of fire against Chelsea.
00:20:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, go for it, yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
00:20:47
Jools
and What I do want to say if we're trying to be positive on this podcast is after after that four minutes, We'd already written him off, do you know what I mean? so i So I think he did really well and impressed me a lot to recompose himself and play pretty well until he got subbed off then, in my opinion.
00:21:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was key in the block ah from Jackson when Cole Palmer should have shot when he was in on goal, wasn't he? Like he, he, himself quickly.
00:21:09
Jools
Definitely. So many players um can just capitulate in that moment. And who would have blamed him? you know it it The worst had already happened. He could have got sent off for that challenge after four minutes too.
00:21:21
Jools
I thought i thought it was going to be a red to be honest. It looked like one of them where he knew he'd made a mistake and chopped him to make up for it. And you always see them given, don't you? But anyway, yeah, he's one of the, one of the, one of the signings from, lot from lawns in France and city have bought, um, uh, another center back called Juma bar from valid delete for five minutes for 5 million and loaned him to lawns.
00:21:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
okay
00:21:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, oh, okay.
00:21:44
Jools
So, so I assume there was some business going on there.
00:21:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is, Islam's one of the city group by any chance.
00:21:52
Jools
No, it's not, it's not, no.
00:21:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is it not? Oh, right, okay, cool, okay, okay, fair enough.
00:21:56
Jools
But um another player city of both is from a city group club. um And that's McFarline from New York City, 18-year-old left back, um just another youth player.
00:22:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, no.
00:22:06
Jools
But on to the exciting ones. So we mentioned Kuzminov. And it's Vito Rice, 19-year-old centre back from Palmeirach, very highly rated, ah and Anders International for Brazil.
00:22:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
here
00:22:20
Jools
But I'm not going to lie, I don't know too much about him. I don't watch too much Brazilian Anders football. that We all want to talk about is Omar Mamoush.
00:22:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, we don't know we don't we're gonna forget that you've ever signed him no I Am so in the upcoming game, I'm half expecting us to play party it right back because our tetta keeps doing it
00:22:29
Jools
Oh, yes, we do. Yes, we do.
00:22:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
If that's the case and he decides to put mamush up against him, mamush will have a field day and eviscerate him.
00:22:46
Jools
And it could not happen against a nicer bloke either, could it?
00:22:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely right. No, no, I'm not going to defend it on that. a Correct. A hundred percent.
00:22:54
Jools
uh... yeah a mamush uh... water season he had in abundance leader fifteen goals nine assists and nine man of the matches in seventeen games for frankfort you've got star starts you'd expect from harry kane at bayan is an effort it isn't it's from and x frankfort forward mamush no one thought he was gonna blow up the way he has he's been uh...
00:23:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:23:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:23:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:23:18
Jools
highly rated for a few years but this season he's just you know it' skyrocketed in he looks He looks fantastic. He's versatile, which is something that Pep always looks for in his team. um So he can play anywhere across that front line. Expect him to play out wide, and he's fast and he's direct, which is what City have been crying out for from those forward positions. The amount of times we've seen Daku or Grealish get the ball in a promising position, and we're like all in anticipation, awaiting something to happen, and and then they come inside and pass it back to Carver Church.
00:23:52
Jools
so Mamoush, even though we only played about an hour, 70 minutes against Chelsea, we're all seeing that that is not his game at all. He is is like a whippet, making runs in behind, um stretching defenses, good with the ball at his feet, confidence to shoot from anywhere, free kick specialist.
00:24:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:24:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
He had a gold chalked off as well, didn't he?
00:24:12
Jools
He did, yeah. yeah yeah And and he was um he was important in the um
00:24:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:19
Jools
The Godial goal as well.
00:24:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
no
00:24:20
Jools
um He made that run inside. and the ah the cha Robert Sanchez kind of flopped out because he's rubbish.
00:24:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
He is rubbish.
00:24:27
Jools
and Yeah, he is rubbish.
00:24:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
i take I still don't understand that.
00:24:30
Jools
I think i think he's ah he's homegrown. He's been in England since he was a teenager. So I assume that's one of the only reasons that Chelsea haven't got rid of him yet. because But yeah, anyway, we don't need to talk about Robert Sanchez and how rubbish and how rubbish he is.
00:24:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, most likely.
00:24:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, no. I mean, I'm on my wish he's I think he's arguably um there haven't been huge January signing so far realistically city have been sort of like the big team who have done it. But I mean, he's such a coup, absolutely such a coup. I think he could be devastatingly good for Manchester City going forward.
00:25:02
Jools
It's what is's one of them, right, that you never see Citi, well, the point I was trying to get to earlier was you never see Citi react like this in the transfer market. They don't need to. And because of that, they've signed a player that has one elite, actually six months of an elite career. So the the risk factor is way higher than we're used to seeing from what is normally a pretty, ah well, maybe not the last couple of years, but during,
00:25:29
Jools
at least Pep's tenure, the signings have pretty much all been hit, right? Especially the big money ones.
00:25:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:25:34
Jools
So this is much more of a risk. um Many players before them have come to the Premier League off the back of hitting a good form over the last six months or a year, and it's not panned out. But I mean,
00:25:46
Jools
that that faff hour on debut against Chelsea I think has diminished most of those doubts you know if you can terrorize one of the best teams in the league when and he only arrived the day before I but i believe Pep said so he but barely had ah at any time to understand maybe maybe that is what helped right because Pep's known to over complicate and
00:25:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah it can have
00:26:06
Jools
It's very mentally draining for the players, especially ones that have been there for a while. Maybe that's exactly why they've bought him because he is someone that is just going to get the ball and he is going to attack, not think about tactics too much.
00:26:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's just
Arsenal's Challenges and Key Players
00:26:18
Jools
Well, I say, i I say that. I say that I'm sure he will have to, but hopefully we won't get another Grealish out of it. But yeah, Mamous definitely exciting sign-in and I think he will prove his worth.
00:26:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
a single-minded bullet.
00:26:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
he He's the one who terrifies me about ah this weekend, and I'll be honest. And that is it for our Focus on City. When we come back after this little break, a little message from the Global Sports Podcast Network, we'll be talking all about Arsenal and what Jules thinks might be the big threats coming from the Mighty Gunners. And then, of course, the main thing you've all come here to really hear, our match predictions. So we'll be back just after this break.
00:27:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
And welcome back to the final part of this Daily Arsenal and Daily Manchester City crossover podcast. You are here with Josh Vince from the Daily Arsenal podcast and Jules Jordan-Probert from the Manchester City podcast. And now it's time to talk about Arsenal. We've talked about City in some depth. Now, Arsenal, much like Manchester City, we've had our problems with injury this season. We really, really have. We had Erdegaard out for a considerable period of the season. We had a really rough patch at that point.
00:27:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah We have Saka out currently until the end of February and we are really really missing him and we also have a German forward who I actually really like I think is a vital part of the team.
00:28:11
Jools
I like him too for what it's worth.
00:28:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
but he just can't score. He's just struggles to score. He definitely struggles to score headers at the very least. um When you look at the Arsenal squad in its current iteration, where do you see, especially with the Manchester City team as it is in its current state with players coming back from injury, where do you see the current threat coming from particularly?
00:28:34
Jools
and particular I think Arsenal are and and ah are an elite football club now.
00:28:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:28:39
Jools
So I think you have threats littered throughout your squad. You've been building towards this with young players that are all kind of getting to that age now where starting to see them in in their best, at their best, thinking of players like Odegard, who maybe maybe not after his injury, being up there, but Ryse, Saka, these are world-class or just below world-class.
00:28:59
Jools
They're about to be world-class players. I think you've got a bunch of them. Saliba, another one. um Yeah, so um I would say Saka is the primary threat when he plays, but of course he's injured.
00:29:11
Jools
I like Odegard, but um he he like he's looked not as sharp as usual. I think that connection he has with Saka is vital to the team um and without either one of them on the pitch.
00:29:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:23
Jools
I think you suffered, like you said, when Odegard was missing, you you were struggling to score goals earlier in the season. and Then he came back and then he started banging them in. so But yeah, um I think
00:29:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:29:33
Jools
Defensively is probably where you're strongest.
00:29:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:29:36
Jools
um We have found it difficult to score goals against you over the last three seasons. um you Same with you scoring against City too, to be fair.
00:29:46
Jools
I think it's one of those games that it normally gets decided or not decided on a better quality, or or a mistake, or a red card, or something like that. you know Just does fight those fine margins.
00:29:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
yes
00:29:57
Jools
But I think and with your... I don't know um if Timber is fit at the moment.
00:30:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
he He's not been confirmed as being fully fit, but he's being worked back into training currently. So he might be available on saturday on Sunday, but I'm not sure he'd be 100% fit, honestly.
00:30:14
Jools
ah Well, if he is, I think he's impressed me so much. I can't believe how immediately he settled in after that awful injury last year. And you hate do you hate to see a player that just signs, get an injury like that, don't you?
00:30:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's it's rough, isn't it, for anybody? i mean like A lot of football fans joke about injuries and things like that, but nobody actually wants to see any players being properly hurt and being properly out. So, but a bit like the situation with Roger, I was generally gutted for the player when he was when he was actually injured. And with Timber, I mean, it was his first game for us, first proper game.
00:30:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
and and ACL and he was out for the entire season but he's back now he's I think the fact he he wasn't rushed back from the injury which is really key and I think that's been a so it's been a staple of Arsenal under Arteta there haven't been that many recurring injuries there's been obviously the odd ones like Zinchenko Gabrielle J Zeus I mean I love Gabrielle J Zeus and but he's just he's a broken man
00:30:54
Jools
Yeah.
00:31:11
Jools
Yeah, he was made of mashed potato before you signed him from city. So, i't I can't blame Altata for that.
00:31:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, no, no. I mean, it's such a gifted footballer as well. But I just, I have a feeling that his arsenal career might be coming to an end. Honestly, I think he might be becoming, we've had this discussion a little bit, sort of, obviously we brought in Jay Zeus and Zinchenko to try and bring winners to the team.
00:31:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was kind of the big argument to bring.
00:31:35
Jools
it was up it It was up in the floor, wasn't it?
00:31:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, exactly. Yeah.
00:31:38
Jools
And now you need to up the ceiling, I think.
00:31:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh Yeah.
00:31:40
Jools
And Zinchenko and Tezu specifically are two players you could improve on, to be honest.
00:31:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and I think that's been one of the big debates that we've been having. a Left back, we've got Callifiori and Marzlo Skelley. Marzlo Skelley, who by the way, is not red carded anymore.
00:31:53
Jools
Oh, yeah.
00:31:55
Jools
oh Oh, did you win the appeal?
00:31:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
We run the appeal within like two hours.
00:31:58
Jools
Oh. and but I thought they were gonna stick to the guns after the the statement they put out, but yeah.
00:32:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah i we We just don't, ah ah what did you make of it? Did you just look at that and go yellow?
00:32:10
Jools
That's never a red, is it?
00:32:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's never a red, is it?
00:32:12
Jools
It's never a red.
00:32:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:32:14
Jools
I'm pretty sure Altair to Ampep instructs his players to to make those challenges, those yellow card ones. And I'm pretty sure they trained them on how and when to do it too.
00:32:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, hundred percent yeah.
00:32:24
Jools
so i ah yeah but He'd gone past him and he barely lifted his leg. like There was no malice in it at all. It was one of those that The attacker's happy to take a yellow and get a bit of respite as well, because wolves had been under the cost for so long as well.
00:32:43
Jools
So yeah, I thought it was ridiculous.
00:32:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:32:45
Jools
The PGMOL's reaction was ridiculous. I think that if there were any more space in the coffin to put nails in for that organization, and then this would be yet another one.
00:32:57
Jools
But somehow, I think i think that ship has passed. Scrap scrap it all, man. Scrap VAR while we're at it, too.
Debating Football's Off-field Issues
00:33:04
Jools
i don't i don't The idea of VAR is correct.
00:33:07
Jools
I don't know why I've ended up just going on a random one, ever.
00:33:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, um actually, please carry on because we discussed this a lot recently. like When you look at VAR, obviously, you look at it from a different perspective, just coming from a different team, you have different experiences with it. Arsenal have had a torrid time with it this season, but then like last season, Forest had an awful time with it the season before. I think Bournemouth had so many opportunities and decisions going against them.
00:33:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
The consistency is not there it's just not there at all and something needs to change either I would argue potentially a um a system like in tennis a challenge system we got a number of challenges per half and That's it or get rid of it completely.
00:33:41
Jools
Yeah.
00:33:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Where do you stand on it?
00:33:48
Jools
Oh, I've not actually thought of a solution. I just enjoy, you know, venting. But ah yeah, i've I've seen this challenge system talked about and it works in basketball.
00:33:59
Jools
It works in tennis. Everyone just accepts that that is the way it is. If you don't have any more challenge or cricket as well. If you don't have any more challenges, you don't have a challenge.
00:34:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:34:07
Jools
It's as simple as that. So I think it would work. What we need to do is take power away from that organization. So anything that does that is a good thing because it's ruining It's ruining elite football and in a lot of cases and before we could all accept, not that we did, but when it came down to it, we could accept that there would be variances and bad decisions in football.
00:34:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:34:30
Jools
It's 20 athletes all running at full speed and full contact into each other for 90 minutes. There's going to be collisions and mistakes and things missed.
00:34:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Things will be missed exactly. It happens. It's human nature.
00:34:42
Jools
But to then implement VAR with the goal of being 99.999% correct and the quality of refereeing has not improved. In fact, many would argue it's declined, even though they've got more power now and and less accountability.
00:34:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, it's... I would argue.
00:34:57
Jools
So yeah, it's been a failure as an experiment. um Scrap it all and start again because The games are taking longer. The flow of the games are getting interrupted. Some of the times it's taken to make these decisions is outrageous.
00:35:12
Jools
How you can justify the game stopping while the clock's still going, by the way.
00:35:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Third.
00:35:16
Jools
That's my other biggest gripe about football. You should go to a rugby system.
00:35:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, just stop the clock when the play stops.
00:35:19
Jools
it Yeah, every time.
00:35:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:35:21
Jools
And then you get rid of time wasting. There there is literally never, ever been time wasting in rugby because of the because of this system.
00:35:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:35:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:35:28
Jools
And it means everywhere. Anyway.
00:35:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:35:30
Jools
anyway
00:35:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
You make a very, very good point. I genuinely agree with you on the time-wasting situation and on that. There's so many things that need to change. And also, when you have big gaps, these are elite athletes who are warmed up, they're prepared to go, they prepared their bodies, and they're often playing at night, especially the English season.
00:35:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
The majority of it happens in sort of autumn, winter and sort of early spring. It's cold in England.
00:35:53
Jools
the the The weather is terrible, whatever time of year it is.
00:35:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
absolute crap the weather wherever you are in the UK and then for five six sometimes eight minutes the players are standing around not doing anything getting cold and then expected to start again and wherever all these injuries come from out of ah who knows you know exactly
00:36:12
Jools
And we, as a viewer, as a paying fan, we're missing out on football being played on the pitch while this happens. That's the key. Because they can say they added on at the end all they want, but they have a system where things get added on at the end, like like a quarter ah increment of what
00:36:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:36:31
Jools
what it what it actually was. i think I don't know the ins and outs of the system, but i I've heard the referee speak about it somewhat. So you can always time-waste effectively, because you know that time isn't going to go back on the end.
00:36:43
Jools
So yeah yeah so like time-wasting is like one of the biggest poisons in football.
00:36:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:36:48
Jools
And I totally understand why players do it. It's all about winning. The managers tell them to do it. I don't blame the players at all. But we can change the systems that allow it to take place so easily, 100%.
00:36:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Jules, you're welcome back on the Daily Arsenal Podcast. You're you're welcome to switch sides and come and join us here at Arsenal. We'd be happy to have you. Ditch City. that that like They're done and dusted now.
00:37:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Their time in the sun is over. Come to us.
00:37:11
Jools
let's let let let me wait until sunday and and i'll let you know yeah
00:37:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I mean, on on that note, we are coming towards the end now. And it I think it's time to do our predictions. It's a big game on Sunday. And also tonight, as we are recording in 15 minutes, the next group, the last set of games in the Champions League League stage, kickoff. So who knows what's going to happen? There could be massive debates. There could be huge injuries. Who knows? But as things stand right now, Jules, the game on Sunday, how do you see it going down at the Emirates at 4.30?
00:37:47
Jools
well city of Windlass in the last four against Arsenal so today or this week would probably be the wrong time to to back the boys if I was looking at it logically but I do have a feeling you know I do have a feeling I think I think it's going to be close.
00:38:06
Jools
you know i don't see I don't see either side running away with it because even though you could definitely say Arsenal have been a better team this season, I just don't see a world in which Arsenal win this game 3-0, 4-0 because of the way you set up against City and the way that you play in general.
00:38:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:38:22
Jools
It's not a system designed to go and get five goals every week. Even though you do sometimes because you're so good at times, but it's definitely not designed like that against the top teams at
00:38:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
Match Predictions and Podcast Conclusion
00:38:32
Jools
least.
00:38:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:38:32
Jools
So with that in mind, and with I think three of the last four being in draws as well, I'm going to go for another two-two.
00:38:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:38:40
Jools
So that's Desmond on both both fixtures of Arsenal City this season. But ah I wouldn't be surprised if either team won it 2-1-3-2 as well.
00:38:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, Jules, I also have a feeling as well and I'm scared. I think that Arsenal are at a point where they have to push on this season, they have to do something in this game.
00:39:05
Jools
You gotta win this game.
00:39:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
if they If they don't get a result in this game and you make three points up on Arsenal and Arsenal photo from Liverpool, I think the confident shock to the team will be immense and that concerns me and I think they'll be weighing on the players.
00:39:05
Jools
You gotta win this game.
00:39:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it's going to be incredibly cagey. As you said, it's going to be tight. These two managers know each other well. And our Teta at the very least on what I know of Arsenal is not the sort of manager who will risk it all to get one over on pep. He will play defensively minded, careful, intricate football. So I'm going to say one nil, but I don't know which way it's going to go.
00:39:45
Jools
So like last season, right? Um, where you, it was even, wasn't it? And then you got that relate Martinelli goal.
00:39:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:39:52
Jools
i Yeah. I could, I could see it like that.
00:39:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:39:54
Jools
I just think a city will make a mistake defensively. So there will be a goal. And I think city have got a bit in their groove.
00:39:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:40:01
Jools
ah recently scoring. So I see Harland or Mamoush causing some havoc and some, you know, harland ha Harland has been kept quiet for 90 minutes at a time this season, but I still wouldn't put money on it, you know.
00:40:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, chaos. Pure chaos.
00:40:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, gabriell is that's the only thing that I'm confident about, is that Gabrielle Saliba seemed to be able to have him in this and their pocket. that That's the one player in particular who they seem to thrive against, is Erling Harland.
00:40:25
Jools
Which could create the space for one Egyptian
00:40:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
A certain mamouche. The new Egyptian king on the scene. Oh god. I can't have city fans singing anything like that as well. Well, you heard it here, guys. Jules reckons it might be a two-all. I think it might be 1-0, but I can't call which team is going to win it 1-0. And for now, that is it. Thank you so much for listening to both the Daily Arsenal and to the Daily Manchester City Podcast.
00:40:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I've been your host, Josh Vince, and thank you so much to Jules, John Probert, for joining us from the Man City Post. It's been great having you, Jules. Thank you so much for coming along.
00:41:00
Jools
Yeah, thanks thanks for having me. It's been really fun. Cheers.
00:41:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
amazing and um I would say best of luck but I would be lying for Sunday so of course we'll see how the game goes good luck tonight you need a win you really really need a win by the time you're listening to this you'll already know the result whether City make it through in the Champions League I reckon they will but we'll have to wait and see anyway until then thank you so much for listening and have a great day and from us goodbye