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NFL Dublin Game Preview | Negative Tactics Taking Over the Premier League | The Clippers’ Kawhi Debacle
37 Plays22 days ago
This week on Who’s Got The Ball – THE NFL LANDS IN IRELAND as the lads break down the Steelers vs Vikings clash and dive into the chaos brewing in New York. Can either the Giants or Jets be saved?
Then it’s Premier League time — and things are getting ugly. Are Arsenal, Chelsea, and Newcastle playing too cautious? We dig into the negative tactics they used at the weekend and what it means for the title race. Plus, we recap Brighton vs Spurs and preview this weekend's massive clash: Newcastle vs Arsenal 💥
To wrap things up, we jump across the pond to the NBA — what’s going on with the Nuggets, Jazz, and Clippers?
Oh, and don’t miss the latest installment of Gan Seans (James leads 1-0!) and a spicy new Power Rankings update. Let’s gooo! 🔥🎙️
🎧 Listen if you’re into:
- Football (soccer) analysis
- NBA previews & predictions
- Weekly NFL reactions
- Underdog betting tips
- Draft-style sports debates
- Power rankings across multiple sports
- Sports content from an Irish perspective with global takes
🔁 New episodes drop weekly!
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🌍 Based in Ireland | Talking global sports weekly
(00:00) Intro
(02:30) Where do the Giants and Jets Go From Here?
(20:05) Steelers vs Vikings: An NFL Showdown in Dublin
(28:15) Negative Tactics Surging in the Premier League
(37:00) Super Sunday Preview: Newcastle vs Arsenal
(43:40) Brighton & Spurs are Teams on the Up
(49:22) Gan Seans: Our Underdogs Picks for the Weekend
(53:15) Can the Nuggets Bring the Lombardi Home Again?
(01:00:10) The Jazz Tank Rolls On
(01:05:49) Will we get a Resolution to the Clippers & Kawhi Aspiration Debacle?
(01:12:05) Premier League and NFL Power-Rankings
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Transcript
NFL in Ireland: Steelers vs. Vikings
00:00:09
Speaker
Alright lads, welcome back to another episode of Who's Got The Ball, myself and Shane here once again. was the crack Shane? Not a whole lot, just living, watching Liverpool win every single game they come up against is really, really fun to watch.
00:00:22
Speaker
And United finally won a game last weekend as well and there's something big happening this weekend that I don't know people will know about this, I'm sure they do in all fairness, but the NFL comes to Ireland.
00:00:33
Speaker
Yeah, I'm absolutely buzzing. I'm going to that game. Steelers and Vikings, we're going to obviously have a good breakdown of it in this episode, but it's going to be amazing and just to have it here. Hopefully it continues for a long time into the future. But and yeah, really buzzing for that. We're going to go into that in detail, as I already mentioned.
00:00:54
Speaker
Looking at our full slate then, what we talked about today.
Giants and Jets Analysis
00:00:58
Speaker
We start off with a little... breakdown of the two New York teams and how they've had a bad psychology session for the two of us yeah exactly we're two I'm a Giants fan Shane is a Jets fan so we talk about where they've gone wrong and what they can do basically to turn this around in New York And then moving on from that, then, as I mentioned, we went in depth in the NFL Dublin game. and We gave a preview of that, what we thought was going to happen and and some of the key points to look out for and some of the key players as well that we're were looking forward to watching. and
00:01:28
Speaker
Then after that, we moved on
Negative Tactics in Premier League
00:01:30
Speaker
to football. um We talked about the Premier League. We talked about some negative tactics that have been prevalent recently that we've been quite annoyed about and why they're annoying and why they need to be cut out because a lot of the teams don't need to do those things and then we we talked about a performance of last weekend which is Brighton and Spurs we were really impressed with that game on both sides so we talked about that and we previewed Newcastle and Arsenal and how that's going to go this weekend and gave our score prediction back on to Gunshans then where we pick our three underdogs for the week and we give an update on the score from last week and we give three more picks each for this week and
00:02:06
Speaker
and NBA previews continue we've got the Nuggets we've got the Jazz and we've got the Clippers three teams one team really pushing for a championship another just trying not to bottom out and then another that are dealing with an off the court crisis and then lastly we have the power rankings update on that from last week so you need to stay tuned to see if Shane managed to put the Eagles back in there once again but hope you enjoyed this episode action-packed as always and let's get straight into it All right, so where else would we start this week? Only the NFL, considering it's coming to Ireland this Sunday.
00:02:35
Speaker
But before we get into that game, we're going to talk about the New York teams and how they've struggled. It's only fitting considering we're fans of each. I'm a Giants fan and Shane is a Jets fan.
00:02:47
Speaker
So we're going to talk about ah what is going on, honestly, and where do we go from here. I'm going to start before I actually get into this to say that I'm more optimistic about the Jets than the Giants, but...
00:02:59
Speaker
um we'll start with the Giants I think bringing in Jackson Dart to start would be good because at least it'll give a bit of hope for in the future even if he's not like a world beater or anything like that it'll still at least provide some kind of positivity around the team because Russell Wilson I think I said, despite how he played in the Dallas game, the first thing I said is that's just after buying him another starter, another game as a starter.
00:03:24
Speaker
And then he showed, back to his usual self, any semi-decent defensive team was quite easily able to take away that deep ball. And I just hope to God that Brian Daywell is able to come up with some kind of better play calling than what he was calling for Russell.
00:03:43
Speaker
Because... It seems like that was aimed at him. But like, you know, you never actually know until you see somebody else playing. It could be a fact that that's the best he could come up with full stop.
00:03:55
Speaker
Now we've seen in previous years he's done well. Yeah, which is not very good. Yeah, not very good at all. So you would hope that he goes back to kind of previous ideas and draws up nicer things for Dart, which he'll allow him to do a lot more in the first place.
00:04:10
Speaker
So hopefully the play calling changes because I think that will be massive and Dart brings another kind of opportunity to play in a different way than Wilson is.
Giants vs. Jets Comparison
00:04:21
Speaker
Yeah, and I have another two positives. Well, a positive and a half because you've mentioned one. I think Wilson being dropped is definitely positive. I just don't see... like There was no way you could continue with him after...
00:04:33
Speaker
He was going so well and then his two interceptions against Dallas and then one interception again on Sunday. um It was just horrific. like And he's just not doing anyone any favours. He looks so... What's the word in front? He looks nervous in the pocket.
00:04:48
Speaker
And I don't know why he would be because you said the O-line is quite good. So like it should be... it's It's poor until last week and Andrew Thomas came back and it looked good then.
00:05:00
Speaker
yeah But he's running into pressure more than anything. like Yeah, exactly. and And like he's he's ah an app he's a veteran, like the later he's probably one of the only few people left who's older than me in the league, I think. So it's kind of like, so it's getting to that point. like So I think bringing in Jackson Dart is definitely definitely a positive.
00:05:19
Speaker
And also Scott of all at the weekend looked really, really good. And the touch he had, I thought he was excellent. and just fearless, which is like, it Joe, I know he's a rookie it's kind of what you expect from rookies, but he was, he seemed extra fearless, just taking everything he could for good yardage. And he was really, really good the weekend. so but There is definitely something to kind of cling on to with Dax and Dart and Scott above. They both start this weekend coming as well.
00:05:43
Speaker
But it's the de defensive side of things I just cannot get my head around. The chopping and changing and the rotations. I was looking at last night. i signed up for a website called Pro Football, I think it is.
00:05:56
Speaker
Fancypros.com. Oh, Fancypros. know, Fancypros.com. And just I literally signed up to look at the stat count for the three. So Thibodeau, Carter and Holland, they've all played less than 70% of the snaps across the three games.
00:06:09
Speaker
Okay. Javon Holland was Yeah, Javon Holland was old, yeah. That's strange. The three of them have played less than 70% of the snaps across three games. And there's just too much chopping and changing for anyone to kind of get a grip of each other, understand each other, especially Aldo Carter, new into the league. He needs to just be in there and kind of fighting fire with fire really. bo Now I didn't really go through all the other teams and see like, see what are the Vikings doing with their starters. I know I looked at Will Campbell is only on 56% for the Jets as well. So it could be sometimes some the rookies. I don't know. I've never really looked this up before. But I just think when you have those three they're all so good, you should be just putting them in there as much as you can and just letting them just just go
Critique of Giants' Defense
00:06:53
Speaker
to town.
00:06:54
Speaker
Absolutely go to town on these other teams. Well, I'm just... of the opinion that the defensive coordinator is awful and like, he's going to hold back this team for a number of reasons. So one of the things I had highlighted was the utilization of the talent.
00:07:10
Speaker
And I think Carter, however much he's being used. Okay. Maybe it's cause he's a rookie. Holland is only new to the team. So maybe that's why Thibodeau is having a great season.
00:07:21
Speaker
He should be utilized to the max that he can. and The fact that when he's on the field, a lot of time see Carter is literally playing like off-ball linebacker. He's not actually coming off the edge.
00:07:35
Speaker
He's not going in the center of the line. I think if you literally matched him up against a center and you also had Dexter Lawrence there who's getting double teamed, then that's a recipe for success. But they're not doing that. They're...
00:07:47
Speaker
constantly moving things around but not in a positive way they're not going back to things that are working and then they put way too much pressure on they're putting way too much pressure on the secondary because it's not that good Adebo is new I like Drew Phillips but he's young and outside of that I'm not too sure what to expect Tyler Newbin looked really bad this year so far at safety but they're asking him to play cover one So you just have one guy deep and then you're lining up man to man. And sometimes like Adebo is literally being told to sit miles off.
00:08:19
Speaker
And he's most of the time, he's the guy who's on the opposing team's best wide receiver. And that doesn't suit him at all. So I just think everything he's using just doesn't fit the system or fit the players, should I say.
00:08:32
Speaker
The system that he has does not fit the players that are there. I think they should maybe drop two, play cover two, play deeper and more conservative in the DB position, but then push harder on the line with less up front. Like they're putting lots of people up front, but they're not getting home because the way he's changing things around.
00:08:52
Speaker
Just use better tactics because it's clearly not working. We saw that against Dallas, how you can get torched by somebody who has a decent arm. And then in the game against the Chiefs and week one as well, the defense wasn't that bad, but it was like, Ben, don't break. And this team shouldn't really be that. It could be an explosive defense as they wanted it to be.
00:09:15
Speaker
So, yeah.
00:09:18
Speaker
anyone can lose to the Chiefs the same way like the Bills came and absolutely destroyed the Jets and it's kind of expected it's the same with the Chiefs the Chiefs can blow up anyone but that Dallas game you didn't lose that Dallas game because of the defence I know they conceded a lot of points but it was down Russell Wilson's really really ridiculous throw that caused the interception that led to game being lost I would argue that like In general, Wilson played well that game. I wouldn't put that one on him until the overtime, then he threw the ball backwards and threw an interception. But in in regular game time, the defense did cost the team because right at the end when Dallas needed to get a field goal, they were given 10 yards to each of their receivers. And you know Aubrey can kick from half field.
00:10:01
Speaker
So they gave them two easy completions. So I think they cost them back in that game. But yeah, in a sense, I would agree overall, Wilson has cost them. What do you think is... like why what If you were in charge there, you're getting rid of off the rip anyway, straight away. He should have been gone in the off-season. like The owner did not even like... like After the end of the season, he was saying how bad the defense was, John Mara, and pointing specifically to how he doesn't like watching the team get run up and down the field.
00:10:32
Speaker
And he didn't get rid of him, so... you know it's kind of your own fault at that point if you're not going to step in or if the GM can't read it then I don't know what to say other than he needs to be fired yeah like there's only so much the players can do as well especially when like if he's just not good enough then there's really very little that can be done about it like because unless they sack him it's just going to be the same and they have so much talent on a loop yeah the signs of madness is doing the same thing over and over again and that's what the Giants going to continue doing while they have this fella in charge so yeah I think until they get rid of him then there isn't really going to be much of a change which is sad to say do you have this
Giants vs. Chargers Preview
00:11:12
Speaker
weekend? I forgot to look it up Chargers they're going to get waxed by the Chargers this weekend so
00:11:17
Speaker
I think bringing in Dart, I think that's the right thing to regardless of if, say, the week after they're playing the Saints. yeah I would rather him be ready after playing another game to go and take on the Saints and hopefully get a win and then go into the rest of the season looking to pick up four or five more wins because I don't think they're going to get too far with how far bad the schedule is.
00:11:36
Speaker
But I think bringing them in now, even though they will lose on the weekend, is still the right thing to do. But I think we've spent enough time on the Giants. Let's look at the Jets. What is your feeling on them?
00:11:48
Speaker
I just, I still, like I said in the hot takes after week one that the Jets might actually be good. And i still don't think I'm too far wrong with it. Week one,
00:12:00
Speaker
just they do something stupid every time that ends up costume week one it was the fumble after just conceding a touchdown to give them another easy touchdown could never come back from that week three they blocked down the field goal then let's Baker Mayfield run off a 33 yard run off the back in in a non-designed quarterback sneak or whatever it's the quarterback run just get them into field goal range and just stupid things like that always cost them they could very easily be two and one if it wasn't for those kind of mistakes yeah the the bills are going to come and They're going to walk all over many teams in this league. And I know I backed them to beat them, but that was more out of hope than expectation, really. I was kind of struggling for something to pick for Ganshan. But...
00:12:42
Speaker
just like if you could just cut out the stupid mistakes that there is there really is a season there to be be had for the Jets there's a winning season there to be had if they can just just switch on the amount of penalties in that the first quarter of that game against Tampa was mental I know was mostly Tampa but even the ones the Jets were giving up were stupid times like it was like giving up a ah holding call on the 10 yard line when they were on third and 18 or something it's just so silly so so there's things you shouldn't do and
00:13:13
Speaker
It's just things that just need to be cut out of the game because there's so much talent there. The offense has so much talent. Gary Wilson has looked like an actual good player again. He's 21 catches on the season.
00:13:24
Speaker
10 catches last Sunday, two touchdowns, 229 yards. They still don't really have a second back up to him. So Taylor had four catches this weekend, but... Like, it was Lazard and but Reynolds both had two catches each then after that. And they're not really spreading it out very well.
00:13:43
Speaker
It's just the defense needs to be better because the offense have put it up in the two games. And then it's just the stupidness on defense that's cost them. Well, special teams as well. Like, Gibson was dropped for doing that and then he signed him up, which says a whole lot about where you're going as well, I think.
00:14:01
Speaker
look i'm I'm really not as down on the Jets as I thought I'd be. They just need to do something and they need to start by winning this game and then they have to Cowboys after. And if you can get back to two and three, if you can win those two, you're in a really, really good spot then.
00:14:16
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's a long stretch to get to a winning season after starting on three I do think they could still have a 7 or 8 win season, but I know as well the same thing as you, that they could easily be 2-1 if they just took care of business.
00:14:33
Speaker
Now, I would say, you know, more likely to be fair is one and two because that Bucs game, they, yeah, they fought hard, they came back, but they didn't really deserve to win. Against the Steelers, they did deserve to win.
00:14:46
Speaker
And I think looking at how they played against the Steelers in general, they had 394 total offensive yards versus the Steelers 271. So they did kind of put the sword to them and they just couldn't...
00:15:02
Speaker
So, yeah, that's kind of frustrating as a fan, obviously, for you. But I would take the positives, and I think you are. But also the fact that Tyrod Taylor kind of looks more solid than Fields.
00:15:14
Speaker
I know we saw Fields go mad on the Steelers week one, but that Steelers defense is tragic. It's after giving up so many yards, so many points to teams that haven't been amazing, um and you wouldn't expect them to at least give up that much.
00:15:28
Speaker
And then when you brought in Tyrod, I know, week two it's the Bills but the Bills defense isn't the world beaters and Justin Fields looked horrendous in that game until he got knocked out of it a lot of passing attempts only three completions for 27 yards Compare that to then Tyrod coming in last week, 197 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, 48 rushing yards in his first full start for the team.
00:15:54
Speaker
He's solid. He's like a floor raiser, but he won't have as high a ceiling as Fields, but he will, i think, help you win games. So I don't know what the situation is around Fields when he's due to come back, but I do think that Even if he does play, he should beat the Pats. But if it's Tyrod, I would say he will definitely win it because I don't really like the Pats team. And I think it's a big chance to turn it
00:16:19
Speaker
It's the Dolphins this weekend. Oh, sorry, sorry, sorry. Yeah, yeah. yeah But even still, I think your point stands that whoever, if they should start me a quarterback, they should be beating the Dolphins really without how bad they have been this season.
00:16:30
Speaker
The thing I really liked about Tyrod was gets the ball out so quickly. and but Whereas Fields kind of jumps around the pocket for a bit. He was like, hey, I'm going to Wilson. I don't care where Wilson is. I'm finding him and just found him.
00:16:42
Speaker
And that was the big difference. That's why Wilson did have the 10 catches the weekend because Tyrod just trusted him. If I put it up for him, he's going to catch us. where Justin Fields seems to be more kind of tentative about airing it out. He wants either run himself or just hand it off to Brees Hall.
00:16:56
Speaker
The massive difference. Brees Hall didn't do that much running at all the weekend just gone. Yeah, that is but negative still negative. He was still a leading runner. It makes Hall kind of yeah less of a weapon because they're expecting if it's going to be a run, it's going to ball.
00:17:11
Speaker
Yeah, he only had 21 yards at the weekend, so like 21 yards run rushing. So to like that does show that they've kind of, they ripped up the playbook for this one because week one he was getting hands off, handoffs a lot from fields and was ripping off big yards. But they just need to be able to mix it up.
00:17:28
Speaker
Plus everyone they have and just for the defense not to do something silly and just block all avenues and just get wins on the board because there's definitely wins there for him. um Yeah, it's just, I'm more frustrated than upset with him because I can see the vision. I think Aaron Glenn has been brilliant since he came in. In general, he looks like he has the there makings of a really good coach. So we'll have to just work from here. But yeah, im i'm I'm really not that down on him, thankfully.
00:17:56
Speaker
Yeah, and but even with the Hall thing, I think if it is Tyrod, you will see a difference there where Hall will find it more difficult to get going. And you will have a similar season, think, to last year because you couldn't really run with Rodgers. They didn't work because the defense knew that nobody else was going to run. He doesn't look like, to be honest, a great running back.
00:18:16
Speaker
um He needs someone who can run the ball as a quarterback to help him out. So I would be a bit wary of him if Tyrod stays but again I'd prefer Tyrod to Fields maybe to to get some wins on the board but Yeah, I think you have... Yeah, I think Brees Hall Yeah, I think Brees Hall has fallen off from what everyone expected he was going to be.
00:18:36
Speaker
And I think downgrading him to a running back two and bringing in someone like an explosive player. Like, look at Bucky Irving. how Like, he gets off the line, he's just lightning. He just makes people miss tackles. We don't want to have that in Brees Hall anymore. We had it in year one.
00:18:51
Speaker
That injury just really does seem to have derailed him a good bit. If we had someone... I can't even think of someone who came out this year. Maybe like, geez, what Pascal about it at the weekend would be unbelievable for the Jets even if he could keep that up consistently. But they just seemed so set on making Brees Hall this wide receiver one who's going to get 15 touchdowns in a year and bring us to victory. And I just don't think he has it in him anymore.
00:19:15
Speaker
Which is sad because I do i really like him. So I think bringing in a running back next year's draft is going to be massive or potentially trading for one. I don't know if he can at this stage, but if they are going to try and run it with him in fields, then it needs to be someone better than him to come to in fields rather than fields trying to give him the ball, just give him touches when they don't really trust him.
00:19:38
Speaker
Yeah, you can see even though like players that come available at the end of seasons, like how the Vikings got Jordan Mason, like it's still possible at the end of this year that you could pick up somebody who's in the league and might not even have to be a draft. But I think we've spoken about Rodgers.
00:19:55
Speaker
Now, there's a mention of Jordan Mason. We spoke about the Steelers playing the Jets. We basically touched on the two teams in passing, but let's move on to the NFL Dublin game preview, which is the Steelers versus the Vikings.
NFL Dublin Game Predictions
00:20:10
Speaker
Steelers are the designated home team. I will be in attendance. I cannot wait for this game. It's come around so quickly. It seemed like it was so far away, and then the season starts, and all of a sudden you're into week four.
00:20:24
Speaker
and So, yeah, ah what do you think? What's your thoughts on how this game is going to go? After what the Vikings did at the weekend, I think it's really hard to look past them against what I think is a pretty poor Steelers team.
00:20:38
Speaker
They haven't been terrible by any stretch, but they were absolutely battered by the Hawks. They were lucky to get over the line against the Jets and the Pats even. So we like they've won games that they should have lost to the Jets, probably could should have went to overtime as with the Pats and who knows from there. so They're another team that could very easily be 0-3 if things went against them, the way to things had gone against our two teams. But they're coming into a 2-1 like the Vikings are.
00:21:03
Speaker
i just I just really find it hard to look past the Vikings with the offense players they have. t Jefferson, Mason, Hockaday. like They're three really good players. Hawkinson. Hawkinson, sorry. I don't know where Hockaday came from. God.
00:21:18
Speaker
I'm trying to read it behind the phone screen. I could only see Hockaday. But anyway, yeah. So the three of them alone... are just, they're monsters. And then you have the defence, who seem to be in top form after last weekend. So, I find the time to the Vikings. Yeah, he is actually, yeah.
00:21:36
Speaker
Yeah, so that's another massive one too. But, I think I fully agree with you. I don't, I can't see the Steelers winning this game, despite all the Steelers fans that are already in Ireland and that have travelled over.
00:21:49
Speaker
i just think they're very bad. This is going to be a losing season for... Mike Tomlin but I already mentioned how it went down against the Jets Jets had 394 yards the Steelers 271 against the Seahawks the Seahawks had 395 and the Steelers 267 against the Pats the Steelers only had 203 total yards and the Pats had 369 and then against the paths the steelers only had two hundred and three courtards and the pats had three hundred and sixty nine So, the Jets and the Pats beat themselves in those two games, and then the Seahawks destroyed them because they were able to take care of the ball.
00:22:24
Speaker
The Vikings will also take care of the ball. Now, both teams won on the weekend because the opponents they played had a lot of turnovers, but the difference was... despite all the turnovers of the Pats, the Steelers still almost threw it away. Whereas the Vikings, you give them that many turnovers, they're going to win games so easily.
00:22:42
Speaker
um They're two and a half point favorites. Personally, i think the Vikings defense is way better than the Steelers one. I don't think they'll go over 300 yards this time, that the Steelers. They haven't done it this season. They won't do it against this Vikings defense.
00:22:58
Speaker
You look at what they did. Isaiah Rogers is one thing. Two forced fumbles, one interception, and he returned an interception for a TD and one of the forced fumbles for a TD.
00:23:10
Speaker
An unbelievable game. But Harrison Smith is what unlocked that. He was injured first two games. He's the beaten heart of the defense, playing at safety, 36 years of age. He doesn't show up on the stats. He didn't have tackles. He didn't have any forced fumbles. He didn't have sacks. He didn't have interceptions.
00:23:25
Speaker
But he is everything this defense needs. He's the one who sets everything up, organizes everything, covers people so tightly, knows where to go. and just can't wait to watch him, and I think he's going to put Aaron Rodgers into a whole world of pain. So i mean only thing is...
00:23:43
Speaker
I personally am in a situation where... I'm similar to what I said about the Jets where Tyrod Taylor is is a ceiling right as a floor raiser. Carson Wentz is also a floor raiser.
00:23:53
Speaker
JJ McCarthy looked really bad in his first two games. He had one good quarter out of the first two games. and Carson Wentz did the job for them last week. And I think he'll do another job for them this this weekend. I think with him starting, they'll win by more than seven points. And Jordan Mason looked immense on the weekend. He's a big thing that now he's going to be hopefully their starter over Aaron Jones.
00:24:15
Speaker
for the future I think but that when he gets unlocked he's going to be unbelievable and I can see him going for over 100 yards again yeah I agree with everything you said I wrote down here as well that Wentz has had no issue stepping in there at all and he does look like i a better fit for that than JJ McCarty did across the first two games Also, Mason showed a flash of his brilliance last year and he's just kept it up this year. and They keep him as their running back one and keep the confidence in him, then he'll have more 100-yard games than he has 50-yard games, I think. So I think he's really, really good. Obviously, Jefferson is just a monster as well. like Just what a player in general. He's throwing it up, he'll bring it down. So outside of really DK Metcalf, I don't know what the Steelers can do to hurt him.
00:25:01
Speaker
and Johnny Smith isn't really... No, Roger doesn't seem to want to go up now. No, not at all. Which I don't understand because he take came over in the trades.
00:25:12
Speaker
Yeah. They've been drawing things up for him as well. Designed runs and everything. Designed reps and they're just not going to. And Roger just has no interest, which is strange because Roger should be looking for his biggest targets to get anything going because they haven't really gotten going. So agree with It would be Vikings by more than seven and I wouldn't surprise him if it was double digits.
00:25:33
Speaker
yeah Just looking at Roger's first three games for you here, 65% completion, 586 yards, set and seven touchdowns and three interceptions. On the surface, it looks fine, but you know he threw two interceptions against the Seahawks in a game they got blown out in.
00:25:53
Speaker
He looked really good against the Jets, but he had a point to prove there. And then it's just kind of all been downhill since then. 139 yards total last weekend. You know, that's that's really bad. Horrific.
00:26:05
Speaker
Horrific. Yeah, I don't know. It'll be great to see him like before he retires, see him in the flesh playing. But we're not getting ah an elite Aaron Rodgers. We're getting a probably bottom 12-level quarterback in the NFL.
00:26:18
Speaker
Yeah. He's one of those people... Yeah, he's one of these people, when Carragher said, leave the football before the football leaves you, he should have retired either before this season.
00:26:28
Speaker
Yeah, he should have retired it before this season or before the season. That's his second year the Jets because... He's going to be far too this season. Yeah, like I'm not saying he's tarnished him his legacy, but he's not doing himself any favours with the way he's playing at the moment. No, I agree. And...
00:26:45
Speaker
who who he thought he was holding out for so long, seeing if any other teams would want him, expecting someone big was going to come in and snap him up and make him a Super Bowl winner again. It's like, bud, just pack it in, please. But as you said, it it would be good to see him in the flesh. I don't know. I just don't see them doing anything really this season. I think the Jets are probably better than them if the Jets can iron out their creases.
00:27:09
Speaker
But we'll have to wait and see. I think um ah funny storyline is that when he was holding out, I think it was for the Vikings because he wanted to play with Kevin O'Connell yeah and he wanted to play in the dome.
00:27:21
Speaker
So i think he he thought that was an ideal situation for him. Now, maybe Kevin O'Connell regretting that because, you know, JJ doesn't look great. He seems to be injured. I don't know if he's actually injured at or just kind of putting him on the back burner.
00:27:35
Speaker
And then Wentz. I think he'd still prefer Rodgers than Wentz, but Wentz did the job. and outside of all that I think the actual fact of having the game here is going to be unbelievable know Croke Park is going to be full I think 6,000 less than the full attendance because of the seats in the hill so it's like 76,000 capacity just going to be unreal there's so much stuff going on over the weekend so keep an eye on our Instagram because I'm living close by. I'm going to attend a lot of the stuff over the next couple of days and get some stuff up there for you. So hope to see some of you there as well. Let us know if you are going.
00:28:09
Speaker
But let's leave that. ah Next week, we'll come back to it and and chat about how the whole thing went. OK, let's get into looking at the Premier League, some football side of things.
Arsenal's Defensive Critique
00:28:20
Speaker
So we wanted to touch on, obviously, we we've been doing the best performance of the weekend. We'll get on to that in a sec. But first something we wanted to touch on that seems to be prevalent and and kind of You know, not something you want to see. There's a lot of negative tactics in the Premier League.
00:28:35
Speaker
um And we're seeing it from a number of teams and a number of teams that are actually quite good. So who do you want to start with talking about out of these teams?
00:28:47
Speaker
I think we had to start with Arsenal and then I think we should leave Chelsea at end. Go Arsenal, Newcastle, Chelsea in that order, I think, because what Arsenal did against Man City is just criminal.
00:28:59
Speaker
like
00:29:02
Speaker
there There was something that I saw after and I'd look it up because I couldn't believe it's that. Between the two teams, there was 10 centre-backs used in that game of football. in 90 minutes. ah did They both, like you you you start with two centre-backs normally.
00:29:15
Speaker
They use 10 centre-backs in that game over the 90 minutes. That is as mental. Arsenal got back to winno and brought on Mascara instead of going for it. Like, that just oh yeah, we have the 1-0 draw, lets it in and just let's sit in and just take this now.
00:29:31
Speaker
I just don't, I don't get him. I don't want to understand him. Art Heather makes no sense to me. He never has. I don't know if he ever will. I think he is probably a good coach because you don't want to keep leading the team but technically he's not good coach but if he doesn't step out of his comfort zone they're never winning anything big with him.
00:29:48
Speaker
I just don't see how they do it. No, I think... If he keeps doing this, it's like teams that don't take risks, they don't get their award. And I just want to look at something. I just want to say something here. like right So let's look at the lineup just very quickly.
00:30:05
Speaker
We have Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel. Centre-back, centre-back. And then the midfielders, three defensive midfielders. Marino, Zubimendi and Rice. And then you had your three forwards. okay right That's against City.
00:30:20
Speaker
at home in the Premier League where you want to take it to them and win. Let's look at how they lined up against Port Vale last night and the in the Cup.
00:30:29
Speaker
We've got Kepa, Lewis Skelly, who's an attack-minded full-back. Two centre-backs, then Moscair and Sarriva, fine. Ben White, centre-back. Okay. Midfield, Ethan Nguyeneri, Christian Norgard, Eberice Eze. Three attacking-minded midfielders.
00:30:45
Speaker
Saka, and then Mourinho up top, which, okay, let's all allow Arteta to do what he does. And Martinelli. Now, you're not going to play the exact same situation like that, you know you would in a big game you're you are going to you're not going to play that attacking of a midfield but how is it starting against Port Vale and i don't I don't care if it's like w resting from the Champions League, resting against Port Vale while you're resting them against Man City when he came on to change the game they only needed one attacking player in that midfield to link defence to attack and the whole thing changes but they couldn't do it and against Port Vale they're going to put out that's just mind-blowing for me
00:31:23
Speaker
Yeah, so when Eze came on at the weekend, as you said, he was the difference maker. But that was actually, it turns out it was actually an enforced change because Madureki was injured and he wanted to bring someone on to link with Saka. So if Madureki could have gone out in the second half, Eze wouldn't come on until the 60 or 65th
00:31:42
Speaker
his comments during the week, then we have the most attacking goalkeeper saying how Michael Marino played as a nine last year. His centre-backs are attacking players. He mentioned where defenders are. I was like, yeah, i was like, oh my God, was like, what are you actually talking about? Like, you just, you have so much talent there and he just refuses to use it and,
00:32:01
Speaker
As you said, it was basically seven defenders and three attackers at the weekend against Man City. And then he then he had to change it. So he went to six defenders, Eze and three attackers. And it made it all the difference. Fair enough. They absolutely battered Man City in that second half.
00:32:14
Speaker
There were CEOs texting him and everything. They were so impressed with how they did in the like oh I can't take them. They won't be a problem for Liverpool this season if they keep doing what they're doing.
00:32:31
Speaker
yeah im i want to touch on Giaccares again. i just i think when Havertz come back, I don't think he's going to be their soundstriker. I think hell kid he'll end up being a flat-track bully, which is fine. You need those as well, but they play him against the likes of Burnley, the likes of Leeds, where he got his two goals. It's the only time he'll score.
00:32:50
Speaker
Yeah, but like he won't be starting when Liverpool come to the Emirates or Chelsea go to the Emirates or they go to the Etihad. He won't start those games if Havertz is back. He'll start with Havertz instead playing a striker to go with another midfielder or boss.
00:33:05
Speaker
just He hasn't been very good in the three games against big teams. Yeah, that's exactly what he said before the season started. That's what was going to happen. And it has happened. Because it's that's the that's the sample. That's what's always happened with him. So it's hard to understand how it would change in the Premier League versus the Portuguese League.
00:33:23
Speaker
Yeah. Especially against in the negative team. So, yeah, that's difficult. But a very similar situation is with Newcastle. Now, what they're doing is doing this away from home. They're playing very defensive teams because last year they were very poor away from home.
00:33:40
Speaker
But if they continue to play this negatively away from home and not take risks, they're not going to get 0-0 draws in every game. And they're not going to get anywhere near the top four because that's just not how works. You can't just keep settling for 0-0 draws because you're not going to win. One, you're not going to win every game at home.
00:33:56
Speaker
And two, you're not going to get away with this every game. So a very similar attack... and segment I want to do here. Let's look at their team versus Bournemouth on the weekend. We've got Nick Pope, a five at the back with Lewis Hall, Dan Byrne, Sven Bottmann, Malik Chow and Tino Livermento.
00:34:13
Speaker
Then two defensive midfielders in Miley and Tonali and then we've got Jacob Murphy, Willock and Valtomada as your front three. Now let's look how they lined up against Bradford in the cup last night.
00:34:26
Speaker
Ramsdale, Emile Craft, Chou, Bottman, Hall, that four. Bring back in Bruno Goomerise, bring back in Joel Linton, because of course, you know you need them against Bradford. Bradford are a big team, you don't want mess around too much against them.
00:34:40
Speaker
and You still have Miley. Bring back in Alanga, and then start a striker in Osula. and bring back in Anthony Gordon of course it it makes perfect sense that you would save Joe Linton, Gu Marais, Alanga and Gordon for the game against Bradford like that's that's normal I would think yeah definitely what you need to do there this stuff just ignoriates me it makes no sense whatsoever like I understand he wanted to make changes after the Champions League game.
00:35:08
Speaker
Stouven he made for the Bournemouth game. But again, like we said about rest and Eze for the Man City game. Rest these lads against Port Vale. Yeah, rest these lads against Bradford, sorry. Don't rest them in the the next league game.
00:35:21
Speaker
but You've just been beaten by Barcelona. Two really good goals from Rashford is what did he in the end. And he's just putting back out to say, OK, lads, we go again. We're away to Bournemouth. We need this kind of game we need to win.
00:35:33
Speaker
You don't make seven changes. Change the whole system. like i know Anthony Gordon was suspended. That's fair enough. He'll be back in this weekend. you want have a guess at DXG that they created at the weekend against Bournemouth? If you don't know. 0.43.
00:35:49
Speaker
oratory 0.14. Oh my god. 0.14 actually. they They literally went out there and said we have nil all.
00:36:01
Speaker
let's start Let's that be the worst result we get. They didn't go out to win that game. They went out there to get a nil all. Lettled in for nil all and just they got what they wanted and How you can be happy with that as a coach, as a fan, as a player, as anything is beyond me. I just, I... Like you, I'm infuriated by what I saw as well. It just doesn't make any sense. Nothing that I'd like... Arsene make no sense. Newcastle made no sense the weekend.
00:36:29
Speaker
And now the two of them are playing each other in a game where there will probably be 10 centre-backs starting with the way things are going. like so Yeah.
Newcastle vs. Arsenal Predictions
00:36:36
Speaker
digest it The thing is with Newcastle then, okay, i my mistake about Gordon, yeah, you mentioned he was suspended.
00:36:45
Speaker
But the rest of them, they arrested them. But ah the thing about Newcastle is when they're playing at home against Arsenal, or playing at home in general, they go attacking. So it's like you know they can go the other way. Whereas Arsenal, they always do this, you're expecting it.
00:36:59
Speaker
But then that comes to the point, let's just talk about the game now, with the Arsenal-Newcastle game on the weekend, and we'll come back to Chelsea. It's hard to see either team going for this too hard. Now, Newcastle have gone harder at home, as I mentioned, but you know against a team like Arsenal, who you know is going to set up defensively,
00:37:17
Speaker
you would think you'd go after it, but I think Newcastle might get sucked into playing Arsenal's game, and I do i don't know. I don't know what way it's going to go, but I could see and very similar script to the Man City game, where maybe Newcastle do start off attacking at first, Arsenal are defensive, Newcastle get the goal, Arsenal switch at a half-time, and then Newcastle retreat a lot, and are happy to hold on to a 1-0, and it ends up being 1-1, and that's actually my prediction. i think it I think that is maybe what will happen, and it will be a one one but...
00:37:47
Speaker
I find it hard to look forward to this game after seeing what these two teams did last weekend. Yeah, so my prediction was actually 1-1 as well. I think Newcastle would need to come out the blocks the way they did against Liverpool.
00:38:01
Speaker
They absolutely battered Liverpool for the first 40 minutes up until the Anthony Gordon red cards. and Newcastle should have won should have had that game won by half-time really with the way things are going and they got sucker punched.
00:38:12
Speaker
think they need to make sure they take the chance to get against Arsenal to get 1-0 up. And then... but all to put all Put everything on Arsenal to turn it around. so Say, okay, you've started with your four centre-backs, your three defensive midfielders. Go and waste another two substitutes at halftime.
00:38:28
Speaker
Bring on attacking players and see what you can do. i think Newcastle are okay defensively, but I don't see them being able to hold out. There'll be a goal from a corner or someone's going to score a worldie that's not called Victor Jokeres because he's going to spend the whole game on the fringe of this again. He's not going to be able to get into this one again.
00:38:44
Speaker
Yeah. i think I think he has to go Gordon, Valtemada and Alanga now that Gordon is back. And have the two lads running at the full backs and just keep pushing them back.
00:38:55
Speaker
Keep pushing them back. and So to push back that really attacking centre-back, Daryon Timber. Just need to make sure it's a back four and not a back two. Don't give them any space. And just... If Newcastle can play them at their own game, they can definitely get something positive out of this.
00:39:10
Speaker
Yeah, I think Newcastle have the ability to win it. I just hope that they actually go for it and go for it until, you know, take a lead into the 80th minute and then sit back. OK, that's fine. But you can see even what they did to Liverpool when they had 10 men, like they were exceptional. They have it in them.
00:39:26
Speaker
Whereas I don't think Arsenal have it in them. So that's kind of the difference here. But just rolling back then to Chelsea, what was going on there with those subs, Mureska? I'll just tee it up.
00:39:39
Speaker
Red card to Robert Sanchez for, could have been two red cards to be honest, studs on the knee and also taken out the last man. I don't know how there was an argument about that online, but anyway. After the red card, Jorgensen comes on for Esteveu. Obviously, you have to do that. You have to bring on a keeper, but then brings on Tosin for Neto.
00:39:56
Speaker
and So you're taking off another attacking player to bring on another defender when you already had your full complement of defenders. Then you go 1-0 down and Palmer comes off because he wasn't 100%. He shouldn't be starting if he's not 100%.
00:40:08
Speaker
And Andre Santos comes on. and It looked like Maresca was trying to make himself look like a genius and he ended up looking absolutely ridiculous on the sideline with things he was doing.
00:40:20
Speaker
I think it might be the worst managerial performance i've ever seen. But what he did is mental. Absolutely mental.
00:40:33
Speaker
Fair enough, you have to take off Esteveu. That's grand. He's probably the most dispensable player that was there. So he's he's the young Philander pitch. But if Palmer isn't fully fit, then take off Palmer at that moment to bring on especially your goalkeeper.
00:40:46
Speaker
Like, if Joe, if you're like, OK, he's not fully fit, but we still want people that can run at the defence and push him back. United aren't exactly... rimming with confidence at the moment. So like you do need to keep the lads up there to just keep running at the back three and cause issues.
00:41:01
Speaker
Like that was after seven minutes he took off his two wide men. Then after 20 minutes he takes off Palmer. Like I don't understand why he didn't try and go with like a 4-2-1-2 and put Neto and Dao Pejo up front, Palmer in behind him. The two you had him in the field already, I think it was Caicedo and end And then you're back four. And if that doesn't work after 20 minutes, then say, OK, I need to bring on a centre-back here.
00:41:26
Speaker
Like, Kauai, he went straight to panic mode, took out the fire extinguisher and just took off all the attacking players and just left Joe Pedro standing up there. And it was a horrible night to be up there on your own as well. The weather was absolutely horrific. Can you imagine how Joe Pedro felt standing up there? No ball coming near him.
00:41:43
Speaker
And then, especially when Casemiro went and did the decent thing and got himself sent off because United were so dominant and he had to make it again. Of course, he had to make it hard. His subs had already put him in such a difficult position.
00:41:56
Speaker
There was nothing he you could do. He had already wasted three subs, but wasted two, had to use one. He wasn't going to make another two subs and have nothing for the second half. So he had to try and go with this. Oh, Rhys James can push up into midfield and Lucrella was basically a left winger and just played with a little tree at the back. But he did himself no favours. And that's why I think it was the worst managerial performance I've ever seen.
00:42:18
Speaker
the panic... that set in on him at the weekend was it it needs to be studied like how do you go from this is this is the team I'm going with we're starting with this this is great this team that'll beat United oh we're down to 10 let's just rip up everything I spoke about for the last two days and go with something we haven't used this season what's going through his head is what I would like to know because it You can't explain that kind of head loss. like it And like you said, they'd used the subs, so I think they had to wait till between 60 and 70 minutes to to make their other two subs. and they They brought on an attacking player for, I think, ah can't remember who they took off, maybe Gusto, or did Gusto come on? And they brought on another attacking-minded player then for for a defensive player
00:43:06
Speaker
But like you know they didn't create anything. The you the only chance they had they scored is United just defended. They were quite easily and happily able to defend. So yeah, I i agree with you. was absolutely crazy.
00:43:18
Speaker
and But you know on the do you have anything else on that Chelsea performance or we will move on to the positives of the
Chelsea's Managerial Issues
00:43:25
Speaker
weekend? I could probably write a thesis on the Chelsea performance but we'll move on to the positive performance of the weekend I think. I think we've said enough on ne negativity now so let's get on to something positive.
00:43:36
Speaker
Yeah, so we've already previewed Arsenal and Newcastle for next weekend. Let's take a step back to last weekend. I think we both agreed that there was a very low number of actual like positive performances and yeah standout performances, but both Spurs and Brighton both impressed both of us a
Spurs and Brighton Highlights
00:43:53
Speaker
lot.
00:43:53
Speaker
So we wanted to shout out that game in general. It was 2-2 final score. I think it was fair enough. Maybe Spurs were slightly the better in control of the game, but both teams were very good. And what did you make of it?
00:44:06
Speaker
Yeah, so I thought it was a game of two halves again. So Brighton had the absolute best of it in the first half. They pinned Spurs back, went 2-0 up, and then Spurs out in the second half, and it was like he'd changed all 11 players. And Tudos came to life. Spurs came to life.
00:44:21
Speaker
They probably could very well have won it. When it got back to two old they were looking the more likely. I just think what Thomas Frank is doing with Spurs, he's making them look really, really interesting. Yeah.
00:44:32
Speaker
I think he has him rolling. I think they're a real, real European threat this season in both Champions League. I think they can go far in the Champions League with the way he plays. I think they'll be pushing really, really deep for the top four as well.
00:44:44
Speaker
Top five, maybe. So and just i i can't believe it's like night and day from what we saw under your favourite manager last season compared to what they're doing this season. Yeah, it was done exactly how I expected them to do so far at Forest.
00:44:57
Speaker
and that will continue into the future. But yeah, it is night and day. that and But they also have utilised the squad that they have well, and they've added to it in the right places. They've got European experience, a bit of flair.
00:45:11
Speaker
Xavi Simons only he came on like for... ah Did he come on in that game for i don't know how long? Yeah, he came on stuff. Yeah, he looked he looked quite dangerous when he did come on. And now there was a guilt-edged chance that Bergvall stepped over that he should have kind of put at least put on target. But he had another nice long-range shot. I think Bergvall looked brilliant. He was really impressive.
00:45:33
Speaker
He's going to stand out for them for a long number of years, I think, if they hold on to him. particularly liked him trying to cheat at the corner. When you run around the back post and try to come out at the prom post, it was absolutely brilliant, of course.
00:45:46
Speaker
Little things like that, you know, you remember those things about players as well. Like, that you know, it's not really anything amazing, but these little things, you're just like, things that stick in your head. And they had 64% possession. It suited Brighton because they were 2-0 up, of course. and But Spurs did well with their possession. It seems like they're kind of comfortable passing around and holding on to the ball and then attacking when they need to and penetrating when they see a chance. So that's something that we haven't seen from them before.
00:46:16
Speaker
We also haven't seen them really much and ever being a team that comes back from 2-0 down and shows the guts and guile be patient and take their chances. And I know the second goal was an own goal, but they deserved it.
00:46:29
Speaker
And they still could have went on and won it in the end. Yeah. But I do think both teams deserve something. I really like Brighton too. Very solid young team. Although they only have one win, two draws from the first five games, they will pick up a lot of points this season. I think yeah they just need to be more consistent. and But a lot of the young guys, they have their beautiful goals from both Minta, very calm, took a pass to keeper, nice counter-attack, and then Iari's goal was lethal.
00:46:55
Speaker
So I think they have a lot of good talent going forward all over the pitch, and they'll be perfectly fine. Yeah. They have a new, um looks like a new in-seesaw region that played there in the week, scoring four goals in their game. Yeah, Gomez.
00:47:10
Speaker
hu Unbelievable. like one of the His second and third goals. Crazy. It's absolutely ridiculous. that The third goal in particular, the one and a half volley from my back garden.
00:47:22
Speaker
It was absolutely outrageous. It's one of those where he doesn't hit that if he hadn't scored the first, but he also doesn't score the second he hadn't scored the first. So it's kind of it's a build-up confidence. The first one was tap-in.
00:47:33
Speaker
Deco won a scream, or the third one out of this world, and then the fourth one, a bit of a tap-in as well. was just one of those games where everything falls for you. just want to go back get for a bit there, because can just talk about the wingers that were in that game. So Kudos, Minte and Mitouma.
00:47:47
Speaker
They're all a joy to watch. They're so good to watch. Everything they do has a purpose to it. Kudos taking people down the right, down the wing, to down the line and to his right fuss and still Joe not being afraid to use it. Whereas a lot of players try and cut back in onto their strong foot and just like ruin all the momentum.
00:48:05
Speaker
He's been some signing for Spurs at 55 minutes. I think you tweeted about it during the week as well, how good he's been. Minta looks like a real problem for Newcastle. The fact that day they sold him as their as the one of the PSR fellows. They should have been holding on to him with both their hands and locking the doors to keep him as well because he looks really, really good and he's only going to get better as well. And then we all know about Mitome. He's been doing it for years now, but...
00:48:31
Speaker
The fact that he did a thesis in dribbling and can't see it because he's so good at it. He's so good when he has the ball at his feet. like he doesn't He doesn't waste many opportunities to run with this. And he always either finds a pass there, picks out a good cross, even if there's no one there and his stats won't always look great. But I think he's great. I think if he was two years younger, one of the big teams would have been for him by stage. He'd be playing in a chimze consistent Champions League team wasn't already 28th.
00:48:59
Speaker
Yeah, no, I agree with you. I think he clearly practices what he preached in that thesis. He knows exactly everything he needs to know about dribbling. And Minta, yeah, with the pace, I i think it's just a nice complement between the two of them. It works perfectly. But yeah, kudos. It stood out to me. I think it's the best sign of the summer so far. And I think he will continue to be that good.
00:49:21
Speaker
but yeah let's let's move on then to gun chance now last week no good neither of us had any points it's still 1-0 to me after two weeks so let's we really need to pick this up but i think i was really annoyed because i had the rams did you have the rams too I the Rams as well, yeah.
00:49:42
Speaker
And like, come on, like they, two blocked field goals. If they kick either those, they win it. and That was infuriating. And then the Texans literally had it on a plate against the Jags and they somehow managed to throw that away.
00:49:53
Speaker
So, yeah. yeah I had the Broncos as well. had the Broncos at the Chargers. I can't remember. Yeah, and another close. And then Brentford were just annihilated by Fulham. Yeah, and actually Brentford, they could have been okay in that game if Nathan Collins didn't want to literally hand the game to Fulham.
00:50:08
Speaker
He's taken his Irish form back to the Premier League. Yeah, was just going to say, he must have thought he was wearing in green again because he was yeah he had a particularly poor game. But onwards and upwards, I have to get a three-pointer eventually and I need it to be this weekend.
00:50:23
Speaker
Okay, you go first, so give us your picks. and I have Brighton 3-1 against Chelsea. After Maresca losing his head last week, I think he might not have fully back.
00:50:34
Speaker
So I'm going to back Brighton and the confidence they have after the last two games, I'd say they're going to be absolutely come out flying. I'm for a sticky one, but I like the Panthers at 15-8 at the Patriots. So the Panthers absolutely destroyed and the Atlanta Hawks at the weekend.
00:50:52
Speaker
Falcons, not the Atlanta Hawks. The Atlanta Falcons at the weekend. ah That must be, that is a basketball team. yeah they they They destroyed the Falcons at the weekend. They looked really good. The Patriots don't look really good. So, about a fifteen ten it's not a bad price at all.
00:51:06
Speaker
And the last one feels like a steal. The Chiefs are 6-5 at home to the Ravens. Oh, Yeah, I think... though i was Yeah, so I think... I think i like i the understand why the Ravens are favourites, but the Chiefs at Arrowhead is one of those games where anything can happen.
00:51:23
Speaker
And the Chiefs winning that would be surprised absolutely no one. So the fact that they weren't favourites for that game, it's like, yeah, I have to pull on that. Yeah, I think it's always hard to go against the Chiefs at home. That's back-to-back now that they've been underdogs at home.
00:51:38
Speaker
It hadn't happened for, think, 10 years or more before that. So that's an interesting one to see. but i think Or maybe since 2017, maybe it was. It was like eight years. So now it's happened twice this season.
00:51:50
Speaker
Very strange. But I haven't gone with the Chiefs, but I've matched you in the other two. I think Brighton was the only pick in the Premier League, the only only team that was going up against... An odds-on favourite that actually, i think, have a good chance of winning. and Chelsea were at 3-4. just think it's only because Brighton are away that the Chelsea are odds-on favourites. So I've also gone with Brighton. Panthers as well, I've gone away against the Patriots. I don't like the Patriots at all. They're or that's very...
00:52:21
Speaker
i think that's a very Yeah, I like the Panthers last week. I like some what some of their defense has been doing. Tweeted about Adjaro Everall, their defensive coordinator. He's going to be a head coach next year. He's brilliant. Makes...
00:52:33
Speaker
It gets a lot out of a little. And then third of all, I've gone with putting my money where my mouth is and going on with the Jets to beat the Dolphins. Now, I did mention earlier that I thought they could do it. And I think Dolphins are quite poor. I'm surprised that the Dolphins are four to six.
00:52:49
Speaker
Monday night football, 12.15 a.m. We've got the Jets five to four. So that's my third pick. Put the freedom together. It's 27 to one. um But yeah, I like the Jets. Mine is 26.5 to 1 as well.
00:53:02
Speaker
Nice. So that your your yours is, yeah. little bit more out there because of the Jets pick. But anyway, I still like them to get to take down the Dolphins who have been woeful.
00:53:14
Speaker
So let's move on then to the NBA. Three more teams to preview. We've got... A couple of big teams and one smaller team. and That seems to be the the kind of team because we we are working through by division.
00:53:26
Speaker
I know the nfa the NBA doesn't really go by divisions, but there is divisions and in the conferences. So we're just working on it that way.
Denver Nuggets Season Analysis
00:53:34
Speaker
Let's start with the Nuggets. Where do they need to improve most from last season?
00:53:39
Speaker
ah Their turnovers. 13.5 average last season is mad for a team as good as they are. and Especially in like late games, critical positions, they seem to give up an awful lot of turnovers towards the end of games last year, so they really need to pull that back.
00:53:54
Speaker
Yeah, yeah that's a that's a very high number. I didn't realise that they were they were that high. I actually just want to check like where they were in the league for that last year. Yeah, that's pretty poor. are like you want to be They're kind of in the bottom third, roughly around. So you kind of want to be starting that road if you want to challenge. likeck You need to look after the box.
00:54:16
Speaker
But I said they need to shoot more threes. They moved on their main three-point shooter, I guess, in Michael Porter Jr. because he just wasn't doing it for them. They've brought in a guy who I think is better at that, but also better at other things like defending in Cam Johnson.
00:54:32
Speaker
I thought that was a brilliant trade for them. They attempted the least threes in the league last year, 31.9 per game. So I think if they can attempt more threes, open the game up more, that'll allow Jokic more space to do even more damage than he's already done.
00:54:46
Speaker
So that was my my choice there. Looking at an under the radar player that I like for the team, then I i went with Bruce Brown. I think bringing him back in was incredibly smart.
00:54:58
Speaker
He's back with them. He was part of the championship winning team two years ago. He gave them 11.5 points per game off the bench that year with four boards and 3.5 assists. Since then, he's played for three teams across the last two seasons. He's moved around in a number of trades. I think they did a really good job of getting him back on and on a quite a low contract because, obviously, he has bounced around. He hasn't settled anywhere. They knew they could get him at a low price. And he works great with Jokic, and he's quite good defensively too. So I think that was a good pick and someone who's going to help the team a lot.
00:55:30
Speaker
Yeah, I like that one. You can call me out on this one now if you want, but I went with Christian Braun. Yeah, he's on the brink of it, but I'll allow the radar because a lot of people won't know who he is who are not really in the news. Yeah, so the reason went but him was because last year was his first year as a starter. So his third year at Denver, his first two he started combined 10 Last year he became a re real, real key piece of that starting five, starting 77 games.
00:55:59
Speaker
33 minutes a game, 40% from three, 82% from pre-throws and averaging 1.1 steals a game as well. So naturally all his stats came up last year. Everything came up.
00:56:10
Speaker
His field goal percentage came up to 58% as well from 46.
00:56:15
Speaker
I just think it it was clearly a really, really smart decision to bring him into the team. and he He did what he needed to, 15 points a game as well, up from 7.3 the year before. I know now his minutes, he had its nearly doubled his minutes, so obviously his points going to double as well. But I thought he had a really solid year for him, and I think he's going to another solid year for this year.
00:56:33
Speaker
I think he's one of the the young guys that they trusted that actually delivered for him. So I think they're pretty happy about that because Stroud really hasn't looked up to standard on You've got someone in Brown Braun there that look you know looks the part and looks like a key part of their team that they wouldn't even consider giving away. So, yeah, I like that show.
00:56:54
Speaker
Yeah, you can tell as well. Because when he came into the playoffs, his minutes went up to 38.9 minutes per game and he started all 14 in the playoffs. So they clearly trust him from the pro the regular season to bring him into the postseason and to use him even more again. So, yeah, I just think he's a really, really solid player.
00:57:12
Speaker
Yeah, no, that. 53.5 wins then, 50 last year. What do you think? Can they hit Ober, yeah. yeah Yeah. I just i just i think they're really good. When you have Jokic, you're going to win a lot of games that you probably shouldn't win because of the stuff he can do for you. So I think 53.5 is definitely doable for him.
00:57:32
Speaker
I actually, the line I found was 56.5 and I still had him Ober at that as well. So I was always i was going to be... That's very high. Yeah, I think... Yeah, massive ease. I would find it hard to pick them at that one, but 53.5, I think, is the even line on sportsbooks. So 50 last year, I think, seen as kind of a down year, I think they'll push very hard and they'll probably get like 54, 55. So I think that they can definitely get it too. I agree with you.
00:58:03
Speaker
Then what's the ceiling with the current roster and coach for the season ahead? Their ceiling is challenge for an NBA title. They can definitely win their conference and then see where they go from there. I don't want to think they have enough to win this. You'll have to wait and see when we do eventually get around to our nba prediction, whenever that comes around now. But their margin for error is is so slim, I think.
00:58:27
Speaker
They could just easily get to the finals. They could be knocked out in the first round. So I do think their ceiling is the finals, but I think their actual, what they'll get might be a conference final at best. I think they can win the whole thing.
00:58:40
Speaker
I really like the team. They've still got Jokic there from, obviously, their previous championship winning team. They've also got Aaron Gordon and Murray. So that's a nice court. You've also got Brown there, as you've already talked about.
00:58:56
Speaker
And then adding Cam Johnson, adding Jonas Valanciunas, bringing back Brown, and Bruce Brown, that is. And then adding Tim Hardaway Jr., someone who can shoot threes as well.
00:59:07
Speaker
I think they're all helpful pieces, something that they didn't have last year. That's why Christian bro ah Brown had so many minutes in the playoffs last year because they didn't really have anybody to rotate in.
00:59:18
Speaker
Now they actually have people they can rotate. I really like the team. And is as I mentioned, I think in our NFL season preview, I've doubled them up with the Rams to win the Super Bowl. So just as kind of an outside pick, I think, yeah, I actually really like how the Rams are playing so far too. So I like that. I'm still happy with that.
00:59:36
Speaker
But now that's kind of my outside pick. I'm not sure if I'll go with them to win the whole thing. As you said, we'll have to see in the season preview, but I think they're well capable. Yeah, ah yeah we can see where you're going to go already.
00:59:49
Speaker
Let's see how it goes with a Greg Van Fleet. It's going to be tougher. Yeah. Things change and that happened to Fred Bentley. He had to rip up all my notes and start again, unfortunately. Yeah. And get to them in the next couple of weeks.
01:00:01
Speaker
Yeah, we haven't done them yet. So that's going to be nice to I'm glad we have that information before we touch on them because it does change things. Yeah, 100%. Moving on to the Jazz then, complete opposite end of the spectrum.
01:00:12
Speaker
Where they need to improve most from last year, i would be surprised if you had anything other than this. I have the worst defense in the league last year. They averaged 121.2 points per game allowed.
01:00:24
Speaker
How are you supposed to win when allowing that many points per game? It's mental. I knew they were bad. I didn't think they were the worst in the league first. Like you said, you're basically going in every single game with your hands tied behind your backs and you're playing basketball. You can't really throw the ball in your hands behind your backs. But needing put up 130 every game, like you just you can't have any down days.
01:00:47
Speaker
And they had many, many down days last year. So that that is definitely something that needs to be picked up. Yeah, and then looking at how many points they actually scored per game last year, they weren't the least in the league, but they were down there and it was 111. So like you're losing games by 10 points like pretty much every time. yeah but There's no team that can go out there and go, right, we need to score 130 every week.
01:01:09
Speaker
like The most yeah and team averaged was the Cavs and that was 122. So you're literally just ruling yourself out straight away from the start of the season. Yeah. What player under the radar then that you like for the team?
01:01:23
Speaker
ah Kyle Filabowski. 72 games last year, 27 started. I just really like saying his name. He's young, but he has plenty of potential. He's tall, strong, he's mobile, he can shoot. and His free throws were 65%, not great, but his field goals were just over 50.
01:01:40
Speaker
And in a team that's not very good, that's not to be sniffed at. 21 minutes a game last year, I think he will kick on again this year. Yeah, have you seen the kind of thing in his personal life last year before when he went into the draft?
01:01:54
Speaker
yeah if yeah If any of you have ever seen that, just give that a look and give it a read and a laugh. yeah I actually like him as well. He's but he's he's a good player.
01:02:05
Speaker
but I was thinking maybe I was going to pick him too, but I went with Walter Clayton Jr. and They picked him up in the first round this year, 18th overall pick. They picked him, Ace Bailey obviously, as their first choice in the in the draft, but they got him later on.
01:02:20
Speaker
He won the NCAA championship last year. He was picked as the final four most outstanding player. And he made the consensus first team All-American team amongst many other awards that he got last year.
01:02:33
Speaker
He's an experienced player. He played in college for for literally four years, the full whack. and A lot of players come out after one or two, but four years. And then in his final year, he he gave four assists per game and 18 points per game, obviously leading the Gators to the national championship. So...
01:02:51
Speaker
I think that was a steal. I think you'll be very good for them. And I think we'll see him in the league for a long time to come. Funnily, I wanted to point out that when we did the Celtics, it was the very first week we did this and I picked George Niang as their under-the-radar player and now he plays for the Jazz because they traded him there literally like a a week or two after so honestly thought you were going to go for him again as a kind of a trope after what you did out in week one but yeah go that but then I was like no he doesn't work for this team the way he does for the Celtics yeah it it really is the the look of the who's got the ball part it's no matter of what we say it just seems to go mad madly wrong whatever we say like what's Chelsea come out this weekend and
01:03:32
Speaker
that 10 strikers instead of bringing in defenders and beating Brighton 8-0 because we both back Brighton beat them. like It's just the luck we have is insane. yeah we got It has to turn. It's going to turn someday and it's going to turn with this Utah Jazz team, Filipowski and there Clayton just lobs going up there, slamming them down. yeah happen I can definitely not see that happening, but do you think they'll hit their over-under wins? It's 18.5 is what book has done.
01:03:59
Speaker
i mean the book as I think they'll be under because I think they're still going to try and tank again. They're still rebuilding. don't They're just not very good. If they're going to be conceding as many points as the Cavs are scoring, they're not going to win many games. So I just thought the under was the safer bet here.
01:04:17
Speaker
Yeah, they had 17 wins last year, so they went under. I'm just going to go it over, not because they're good, but just because only two teams... hit under that mark last year, and that was the Wizards and the Jazz.
01:04:29
Speaker
So it's not correlated to their skill. It's just unlikely that they go under twice in a row. and I think they'd probably just get around 19 or 20 and just miss out. So I'm just going to hit the yeah hit no under the over, because just because it's probably too low of a line. It's the lowest in the league as well.
01:04:47
Speaker
and There's no team that has lower line than that. and then looking at their ceiling i said outside of marking and at a veteran level their team is woeful and they have some good good young pieces but actually that can contribute on a weekly basis they have no real veterans so i think they can't get more than maybe 26 27 wins if if things go right and that's still a really bad team so that's what i've gone with Yeah, I just said that like there actually is no ceiling here because they're just so bad.
01:05:17
Speaker
um I couldn't even put a win total on them. So I'll i'll just go with what you said and think 20-ish is probably the best they can do. I trying to look something up they're like, oh, really? See, they can get to 35 wins? I was like, on what planet? Is any other team leaving the league for them to get to 35 wins? So I was just like, don't know where to go from here. So yeah, I like your calling of that. I think 20 wins is, they get to 20 or 25 wins, I think they'll be very, very happy with that. And it's something to build on.
01:05:42
Speaker
Yeah, just get the young guys involved and decide what they're going to do with marking in the long run is kind of key for them this year. and The Clippers then are next. I'm going to go first on where they need to improve most from last season because I've not really given an answer here. It's and it's basically a non-answer, but it's surrounding this whole Kawhi Leonard situation. So basically, if you don't know, it seems like Leonard, well, it doesn't seem like it definitely happened that he received a lot of payments close to 10 million per season from this company called Aspiration, and who are supposedly supposed to like plant trees for helping the environment that was narrow tree planted. I can tell you that.
01:06:21
Speaker
And yeah, this situation is kind of unraveling. It's given NBA fans something to get through in the off season. But my answer to the question is If they can come out of this as unscathed as possible, that is a win.
01:06:36
Speaker
Because we've seen things happen now. It wasn't when Adam Silver was the commissioner, so maybe he's a little bit softer. But when Howard Stern was there, like he did some mad things to teams that were breaking the rules. And they could lose first-round picks here.
01:06:50
Speaker
They might terminate Kawhi's contract. you know If they manage to hold on to him and they don't receive a massive blow to their future that kind of gets everybody in the organization down about things, then this is going to be a key to going forward into this season.
01:07:06
Speaker
yeah so i' I've actually gone with the same kind of thing as you. um i said where they need to improve is to keep Kawhi on the course, but will they have him to keep him on the court in the first place was the big question for me.
01:07:19
Speaker
like did his his head last year in Harrodin's as well is going to be key to their future. And this stuff that's going on with us Aspire is oh I don't want to say it's criminal because it might actually be so and I use that word as kind of um and that's just something that's a bit mad like but I just oh it's crazy absolutely crazy that they thought they could get away with this they were always going to get caught I think got away with it for long enough they probably should have packed it in after three and said okay let's kind of let's let's leave it there before someone gets suspicious of it but they kept going until they got caught and
01:07:56
Speaker
Yeah, it's it's a massive variable for him for their whole season if if if he's missing. Yeah, i are gone we're on the same track there. I think in the long run, Kawhi getting cut might save them a lot of money and what they had to pay him and they might maneuver things and might work out, but it's not going to help them this season, which is what the point of this whole preview is here. so Then looking at one under-the-radar player that you like for the team, who did you go with for this season?
01:08:24
Speaker
Zubac. I know he is he is kind of well-known. He's an anchor in the paint. He's steady. He's passing and everything. But when you have Kawhi and James Harden, it's hard to be star, for one of the way. Putting it like you're always going to be playing at best third fiddle. So I just thought he deserved a bit of a shout-out. I think he's a really, really good good player. He's more than just a finisher for him.
01:08:45
Speaker
Yeah, and statistically and also eye test wise, he's clearly the best defender in the league on Jokic. He's the only one that can actually slow him down to some degree, which matters a lot when you're in the West. and So I think yeah that is also something he deserves
Chris Dunn's Defensive Role
01:09:02
Speaker
points for. I've also gone in a defensive way here. I've gone with Chris Dunn.
01:09:06
Speaker
He's an amazing defender. the At 31 years of age, he'd probably be one of the youngest starters on the team, which is hilarious. But he carries that defense along with Zubac. 1.7 steals per game last season.
01:09:19
Speaker
That was fourth overall in the league. He's had quite a journey of a career. In 2023, he was on the G League all-defense team. So that was that was pretty mad. And then the step up to be an elite defender in the NBA two years later at 31 years of age is a testament to him.
01:09:37
Speaker
And he's very important for everything they do with balancing out the offense and basically the non-defense of James Harden. is' It's very important. So he's a key part for them.
Playoff Strategy over Regular Season
01:09:48
Speaker
47 and a half wins then they had that's the over under they had 50 last year i think their team is a bit old to reach this in a regular season even with kawaii being there if he is there um i just think they're not going to put too much emphasis on the regular season they want to get into the postseason healthy and around 45 44 might be where they get now they did hit it over it last season but i just don't think it's going to be as important to them as it is to some of the younger teams
01:10:16
Speaker
Yeah, so I went under as well and I was kind of thinking along the lines of Kawhi's... The way this pre-season has gone for him, the the kind of lack of clarity on what's going on.
01:10:29
Speaker
think it's very hard just going through season and just be all gun-blazing then. I always think what you said is very true, that they're not going to be... they're not going to be putting the lads out there for massive minutes because they want to have them healthy for the postseason. So if they can just win, as you said, 44 or 45 games, they should get a playoff position and then try and keep all the lads healthy then for that.
01:10:51
Speaker
Yeah, no, definitely. We're on the same kind of right line there.
Experience vs. Age in Playoffs
01:10:54
Speaker
Then looking at the ceiling with the current roster and coach for the season ahead, dump I follow kind of follow that on from... Their team is old, but when you get to the playoffs, that actually benefits you because some of them know what they want to do.
01:11:07
Speaker
And I think if they keep them healthy, they've got some good signings this offseason. I think they've done one of the best out of everybody. So if they keep Kawhi, keep the same unit, then I think they can get to the Western Conference Finals.
01:11:20
Speaker
I don't think they can win the West, but I think they can get to the finals with this team of their of their conference. Yeah, so yeah I said a deep playoff run ending in the Conference Finals.
Chris Paul's Leadership Return
01:11:31
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's it's there for them. It's in front of them. If they sort this Kauai thing out, then you know they they use the good talent. I think the bringing in Chris Paul back, he's going to be kind of like a kind of more of a locker room guy. I think that's going to be important to have him or around back with the team he started out with.
01:11:49
Speaker
And then you also added Brook Lopez. He's 37 now, but he's still a very good player. And these kind of pieces are they're helpful. And they're players that can get you far in the playoffs. So...
01:12:01
Speaker
That's a another week of NBA action wrapped up.
Updated Power Rankings
01:12:04
Speaker
So we've got one thing left to touch on, our power rankings. I think I went, did I go first last week? I think I did. No, I did because you gave out to me for not having the Eagles then. Oh, yeah, I did give out to you. so I'll go first this time.
01:12:18
Speaker
And then we'll go back to you and see if you've screwed your head on this week. But um by the look on your face, you haven't, which is just ridiculous. and right last week i had liverpool packer sorry liverpool eagles packers bills spurs and bournemouth couple of changes this week my top two stay the same pool liverpool top and because they've continued to do what they've done and there's no reason to drop them eagles won a super bowl won three games in a row this season so far can't be anywhere other than top two
01:12:51
Speaker
despite what some people think uh third then i've got the charges really impressive beating three divisional rivals is no mean feat like it's really tough to do i think the way that they beat the broncos in a tough game and herbert looked immense in that as well so yeah move them up new entry but they're in a third the bills stay at fourth they won again so i don't want to move them out even though they weren't amazing against the dolphins but they got the job done And then I've kept Spurs at five. They've continued to play well. They just didn't get a win. I think if they got a win, I'd move them up, but keep them where they are.
01:13:26
Speaker
And then in sixth place, I've dropped Bournemouth out. I know they did draw with Newcastle, but Palace got a win at the weekend. They won in the cup. They're still undefeated in all competitions so far.
01:13:37
Speaker
I think they deserve a place in this top six. So they're wrapping up my six.
01:13:42
Speaker
So last week I had Liverpool, Chargers, Packers, Arsenal, Bills and Man City. have made a lot of changes this week because nobody in the Premier League is impressing me and I didn't want to have Arsenal or Man City in there after what they showed at the weekend. So have Liverpool at one.
01:13:59
Speaker
The Lions at two. and they're new for me I just I love what they do on offense think they're absolutely brilliant i i tweeted during the week that I think their defense could be what's costing them because they just can't keep conceding as many points as they do and even if they are scoring points for fun heard I have to put my head on the Eagles are in there they have won three in a row even if they were lucky they were lucky last week with the block field goals made it look like a it It was a far closer game than the scoreline looks because of that field goal at the end. So I have them at three. I have the Chargers at four.
01:14:35
Speaker
Again, as you said, the three divisional rivals. Don't know why I couldn't remember my mind there. And then to top it off, I have Palace and Bournemouth. Palace are 17 games I'm beating now. They just look like they're having so much fun.
01:14:48
Speaker
And then Bournemouth are just really good to watch. They weren't at the weekend, but I think that was more Newcastle's doing than they're doing. So...
Closing Remarks and NFL Tease
01:14:55
Speaker
Yeah, Liverpool, Lions, Eagles, Chargers, Palace, Bournemouth.
01:15:00
Speaker
No, I like it. I think the only... need I would have the Chargers remain high since you had them high because I think they've continued to play well. But again, I like the shout of the Lions and I'm not going to get too hard on you because you brought the Eagles back in after I shamed you last week. So let's let's take a win here. Let's take the win of seeing the Eagles back into this book.
01:15:22
Speaker
Yeah. yeah that's that's wrapping up another episode for you hope you enjoyed it and um all the good stuff like subscribe all that jazz and leave comments uh anything you want to see in the future follow us on social media and as i said earlier keep an eye out we'll have plenty stuff surrounding the nfl game in ireland so nice one lads and we shall see you again next week