Transcript
Speaker: all right, lads, welcome back to another episode of Who's Got the Ball. Myself and Shane here back once again. Shane, what is the crack? Yeah, just surviving. Quiet weekends, didn't do much.
Speaker: You know yourself. I had quite a hectic weekend up with you in Dublin on Sunday for week one of the NFL for the Gaelic um watch party in Kennedy's.
Speaker: Really, really good night. kennedy's The food in Kennedy's I thought was absolutely exceptional. and And the points of Guinness were actually really good as well. So it was just a good good weekend all around. And if you have been listening to Get a Good Iron, you'll have seen plenty of James, but you're about to see a bit of me as well as i I've joined the crew over there now as well. So looking forward to getting started next week. Aside from that, all is quiet. Liverpool won with...
Speaker: and Another Sabaz like stinker performance and belter of a goal other than that all is quiet. Yeah, as Shane said, Gaelic Red Iron Live podcast went really well. So hopefully we'll have some more of those as the season unravels with the new sponsorship with Buskers. So that should be great. And as Shane said, obviously delighted that he's going to be part of the yeah the team as well over there on the podcast, as you said, first time next Wednesday. So obviously if you want a bit more NFL fix on Wednesday nights, you'll get the episodes over with Gaelic Red Iron. So do give them a listen as well as listening to ourselves.
Speaker: If you are watching on YouTube, I had to give the disclaimer that I do have a black eye. No, I did not get punched in the face. It was much more embarrasseding much more embarrassing than that. Shane was overexcited because the Jets won and he hit me. and No, I was actually like flicking the sheet of the duvet with the phone on it. Didn't realize the phone was on it. Comes up, cracks me in the eye. Straight away, I knew. i felt the pain of it I was like, this is going to swell up.
Speaker: I put ice on it, but now it's after starting to go kind of blue and black. So yeah, it's great. It just looked like look like some kind of a hard shot going around with the black eye, but really it's hit myself in my face with the phone. So yeah, great story all around. But if you're wondering why i have that, that is why. um And a shout out also Back in Carlow this way, there's a different setting behind me, but came down from my sister's football final link in Carlow tonight. Under-14s, they fought very hard, did well in the second half. She scored a brilliant goal, but unfortunately they did lose by a couple of points in the end. But yeah, great effort from her. I'm delighted to come down and watch her, so I said I'd give that a shout-out before we get into the episode.
Speaker: so this week covered a lot again started off at the nfl this time around obviously we have to talk giants and jets because myself and shane are both hyped that they our team's got a win week one and they're both one and oh and then previewed this weekend we've got some really good matchups so we've got the bangles at texans saints at ravens and vikings at bears those are the three we focused on and gave our thoughts broke them down Gave our predictions and and where we think the games are going to go. Got into Gonshance to give our underdog picks. And then we moved into the football side of things. Talked about VAR and the absolute farce that they had in the Manchester Derby last weekend.
Speaker: Then some performances of the weekend for last weekend too. Newcastle getting battered by Leeds 4-1. And Brighton beating Coventry 5-0 away from home. So two brilliant performances there.
Speaker: Carabao Cup draw, look at the interesting ties in the next round and kind of which ones stood out, which teams, you know, could cause an upset as well. Quite an interesting round there with some lower league teams definitely going to get through.
Speaker: And then Bournemouth versus Liverpool preview to wrap things up this Super Sunday, as usual, previewing a Premier League game. So plenty of of good action let's get into all the good stuff so where else to start then with the Jets and Giants of course the two New York teams get a win week one myself and Shane are I'm a Giants fan Shane's Jets fan so we're gonna have to bask in this glory while we can let's start with the Jets win over the Titans in week one Robert Sala came looking for blood but he did not get it Aaron Glenn comes out on top how are you feeling after that
Speaker: Just we can breathe now. and We have the first win on the board. You were telling me on Sunday, it was up in Dublin with you on Sunday, were saying it was the first time in God knows how long the two of them had started 1-0.
Speaker: We're not doing on power rankings this week, but I'm i'm sure they both but i'm sure they'd both be in both of our power rankings just get them in once before the season finishes. i I didn't watch it live, obviously, because I was with you We were at the the watch party for Get a Good Iron, which was actually a really, really good night. It was a massive turnout as well, which was great.
Speaker: So I was just watched back the extended highlights on DAZN, the game pass after. They actually just looked so good. They looked like adults in the room. for the first time in God knows how long.
Speaker: The O-line I thought was brilliant. Gino Smith didn't get touched the whole game, which was very on Jets-like. And then on the offensive side, while they weren't perfect, they did leave a good few scores out there as well.
Speaker: I thought Brees Hall was absolutely excellent with the run-in, run-in the first touchdown. But I just want to focus on the defense for a couple of seconds because after what they did last year, going the whole year without getting the interception, all that kind of stuff. I know they didn't get an interception here, but they got to the quarterback three times, sacking second Can three times, and they forced a fumble as well.
Speaker: And they just kind of... It's one of those where like normally you're waiting on the off, the offense are waiting on the defense to make the big moves to keep them in the game. And this time the defense are making the big moves with the ah offense or backing it up as well.
Speaker: I don't want to go over the top completely because it's still the Jets and we don't know how it's going to go. The next two games are quite tough with the Packers and the Lions, but... Just to start the way they did is just really, really... That's the word I'm looking for. Yeah. i see yeah it's it's It's just good that they managed to go out there a win week one against a team who, let's be honest, so but they're really, really poor as well.
Speaker: So it was one of those, if you are going to get a win this season, it's going to be against the Titans in rounds or something. So to go out and beat the first one and beat him quite well is just, it's such a solid start. And it can only get better when Gino gets a bit of a relationship with Garrett Wilson.
Speaker: If the O-line can keep doing what they did, I know they're not going to stop him getting hit every week. But if they can minimise him getting hit, he obviously can't fumble if he doesn't get hit. So that would be great as well. And then he has time to get his passes off.
Speaker: Yeah, I was impressed with the O-line massively. Like that was the number one thing I have down here. It's like the the improvement is just obvious. And it's one of the strong points of the Jets team where they've they've invested draft capital and it seems to be working. 3.8% pressure rate per drop back was the lowest on the first weekend. So they were the best performing O-line of any in terms of allowing pressure on Smith's drop back, which is really impressive. He had 100% on-target throw right now. all that All his passes didn't get caught, but they were on target every time. Only quarterback to have that in week one. So both of those are really positive stats. and The eye test backs that up that he looked to be on the money. There was some funky plays thrown in there too. like They had...
Speaker: mad sets where there was five tight ends in the game at one time when Sadiq ran in that touchdown which is crazy worked perfectly so I like that um and you yeah you mentioned Gino and you mentioned Brees Hall so those two were kind of the standouts of of the game I know Gino is kind of did what he does best and managed the game, didn't force anything. and And I think if you can continue to have that kind of Seattle Seahawks style Gino play, then he could be like a middle ground quarterback, which is a a massive improvement on what we've seen in Jess Green over the last few years. and
Speaker: The defense... was strong looked like glenn had actually coached them up and versus what we had last year and another point as well coming back to the o-line that just struck me there when you were speaking like there is other defenses you'll come up against with more explosive talent off the edge but Geoffrey Simmons is one of the best defensive tackles in the league, and he couldn't get near Geno. Like, he was stifled the whole game. So if you come up with it like against a team that has good interior pressure, you know that your O-line is going to hold up, which will in turn help the tackles against edge guys. So yeah, there's positives to take from it. You said there's two tough games coming up. like
Speaker: The Titans are a horrible team, so you should be beating them. But there's years that the Jets might just scrape this or they'd lose by a point. And you'd be like, well, there goes the whole season. So at least there's that you know hope still going into week two. You don't want your season to be done after one week.
Speaker: Yeah, it's like either, I can't remember it was last year the year before, where they played the Browns and they got up very early and then threw it away. And that was just so... That's just what the Jets were doing for so long, constantly. They'd have a really good offensive game and the defense would just diminish. They'd have a really good defensive game and the offense do nothing.
Speaker: it's It's the first time in... a long, long time to start the season where both the defence and the offence showed up. so They always do it when the first pick is on the line. Everyone all of a sudden realises they can play football and they end up with a second or third pick.
Speaker: It was just really, it was, yeah, it was really heartening. That's the word I was looking for a while ago when you said confidence. was really heartening to see that they they were actually able to do something. They they beat a team they should be beating and I think the Packers are there for the taking this weekend. They lost. I know Christian Watson had an unbelievable first game the season. Himself and Love seemed to have a really good understanding. But if the join the Jets can get out early and just kind of just do what they did again, just play football, just play simple football.
Speaker: Keep it simple. Don't be trying Antoin Wilde. I know the five tight end to run is wild, but it worked and they've obviously been working on it. And just one more thing I'll go back to then. You brought it up, but it really did look like Aaron Glenn had his hand on the defense in the summer, unlike last season.
Speaker: He was such a good defense. Yeah, it was it was he was such a good defensive coach when he was at the Lions. So it was so weird seeing how bad the defense was last year. But it seems now year two, Aaron Glenn has...
Speaker: just kind of maybe remembered what he was good at and just gotten it into the lads and it was such a massive difference to what we saw last year completely day I don't think they're going to go this season but without an interception again but I have been wrong before surprisingly Yeah, that's the next one off the list. Get that interception in the bag. So that doesn't hang over you any longer. But we'll move over to the other side of of New York. And, well, they play in the same stadium, so we're not going very far. But the Giants in MetLife on Sunday Night Football...
Speaker: Probably the best I've seen the Giants in a long, long, long time. Like that season under Dayball where we got to the playoffs, there was some positives, but it was ah some of it was down to luck, some of it was down to like erratic plays that... you know, just something crazy that you can't replicate. Whereas this was just hard-nosed football, running the ball down the Vikings, the the Cowboys' throats, just wearing them out. The Cowboys didn't want anything to do with the Giants by the time that fourth quarter hit because they had just been worn out by the offense. Seven and a half minute drives, just systematically picking the defense off, picking the right passes, Jackson Dart, you know, using his feet, squaring his body perfectly, not erratically roaming around the pocket. It looks like he's kind of worked with someone who really knows what to get out of him. And the Giants did well, like they got Brian Callahan, used to be the QB coach for Joe Burrow. Matt Nagy was in there, used to work with Patrick Mahomes, Greg Roman, used to work with Lamar Jackson. All three of them are in there now.
Speaker: So it's no wonder that Dart looked more professional and the team in general looked more professional under John Harbaugh. Like he just had them ready to go from the start, which they are never ready to go from the start. And this is the first year that they came out the gates and beat a team in the Cowboys who a lot of people had fancied this season. There's still plenty of time for them to play well, but...
Speaker: It's the offense of the Cowboys was also stifled. And last year it was so explosive. And the biggest play of the whole game was 17 yards that they had on Sunday. So that's a positive too for the Giants. The defense wasn't amazing, but it was professional and it did the job a lot better than it did last year. So I was really impressed. I think just playing smart football and being hard to beat. And that's looks, looks like what the Giants are going to be this season.
Speaker: Yeah, it was complete bully ball from start to finish. We watched the first three quarters together before I packed it in and everything they did was just, again, it was simple football, but it was right football. Just give the ball to Cam. He is, he's not like a Jameer Gibbs or a,
Speaker: someone like that, he doesn't try and get to the edge and just run around him. He just goes straight at people and just runs over him. It's absolutely wild. And I thought, as you just mentioned, Jackson Dart as well, I thought he was brilliant as well. Neighbours was absolutely superb in his first game back. He looked like he had missed a step after being out for the bones of a year.
Speaker: And then Isaiah Likedley looks like one of the smartest pickups of the offseason. Like, you don't always need to have two really good tight ends. If you're tight end, sorry, two very good wide receivers. If you're wide receiver one is someone like Neighbours, and then you have a tight end like Isaiah Likely, who, the way he played, it he was basically a wide receiver.
Speaker: He was absolutely brilliant. So... Everyone that the Giants wanted to play well played well on both sides of the ball. um Abdul Carter, I thought, was really good as well. and you You mentioned a couple of times to me before the game that he doesn't always get the sack or get to the quarterback, but he's the one that's always almost always there first and he pushes the quarterback in another direction and someone else will get the sack.
Speaker: or get the interception or something and it's the kind of thing like he's like the midfielder who in soccer who the less you hear his name in the game the better he's played he's one those where the less you hear Abdul Carter has done this or Abdul Carter has done that it means he's he's had the game of his life and I thought he was excellent at Sunday as well I just thought both sides of New York will be really really pumped up going into week two after the way they've both started now Yeah, I think with Carter, like I mentioned before, but he led the league in time to pressure last season. So he's putting pressure on quarterbacks the fastest of that every edge player in the league. And I think he was in the top five again in week one.
Speaker: again just over two seconds which is crazy he his speed off the line is just unmatchable really so he looked really really good um i thought javon holland actually came back into his own he was terrible last year shane bowen i don't know what the scheme was in any capacity but holland looked like the guy that we got from from the dolphins he really stood out got his interception was a leader on the team and yeah likely just He does everything so well. like like Having him, he's such a good blocker as well, and he's a willing blocker, but then he's so good at catching the ball and getting into playmaking positions. Like you mentioned, 78 yards, eight catches, and two touchdowns on your debut is crazy.
Speaker: And I actually like the other receivers the Giants have because they might not get a million catches, but Malachi Fields, the rookie, he had two big catches. He's he a unit, 200 pounds. And he had the most crack blocks of any wide receiver in the first week of football. So he's putting his body on the line for everybody, laying down blocks, first game the season. Like he doesn't care. He's like, this is my game. This is what I'm going to do. He did it all last year for...
Speaker: Jeremiah Love and Jadarian Price in Notre Dame. And then you also have Darnell Mooney, who had a nice couple of catches. I think he'll come into it more once Dart has that connection built up with him. And we didn't even see Odell Beckham. So I really like the options the Giants have. and Patrick Ricard lead blocking for Scadaboo. Like Patrick Ricard is going to run you over, Isaiah Likely and Theo Johnson are throwing blocks. Malachi Fields is throwing a block, and then after that, Scadaboo just runs you over. like That's the kind of football that it's really, really hard to stop, and they'll wear you down physically in the game. So, super impressed.
Speaker: They need to put more pressure on the quarterback. They only... Put pressure Dak Prescott, 11% of his dropbacks. So it wasn't amazing, but he does get the ball out fast. um And he didn't have any really explosive plays. So I think we'll we'll continue to see that improve, I'd hope. And only gave up 15% pressure on Dart, which is such a big improvement. Francis Mowinoa did not give up a single pressure. QB hit sack, and he's playing his first game ever at right guard. He is a right tackle in college.
Speaker: So, superb from him, oh the first the first round pick that we that we got, apart from apart from Blanken, Arbel Rees. So, yeah, really good draft class so far, it looks like. Really good recruitment by Harbaugh, and yeah, let's long may continue. I think ah there's probably going to be an up-and-down season. they'll be Rams next week is a really tough one, but look, I i i fancy us not to get destroyed, which I wouldn't have probably said a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker: Yeah, fair enough. I just want to just touch it. I wasn't saying your wide receiver room was bad. I was just saying that you don't need, like if your other wide receivers are are out there to do the blocking and stuff, and then you have Isaiah Lightley and Neighbours and Cam Scadaboot running the touchdowns, you're in a really good place.
Speaker: Just a quick word on Devin Singletree as well. I thought it was a really good backup running back for Ben Scadaboot, needed a break as well. Completely different. he's He's the kind of guy that does like to get to the edge and jink around people, buss Having that kind of a one-two punch is really, really important. And I know nearly all teams have it now. The Jets have it with Brayden Allen as well as the Camp Scalaboo of the other side of New York. So, yeah, I think it's really important to two good running backs.
Speaker: And I just, I just, I hope it continues on both sides of New York for a couple of weeks anyway, so we can get them into a power rankings towards the end of our time. Yeah, fingers crossed. I do i do think that Singletary was even a big improvement from last year already. and So this scheme seems to work for him. And we didn't even see Najee Harris, who would probably get some snaps too. So positive times but for both of our teams. and We'll look ahead to this Sunday now because there's some cracker games coming up. um First up is the Bengals at the Texans. Texans are two and a half point favourites.
Speaker: Bengals picked up a win against the Bucks in week one. The Texans fell just short against the Bills, but a lot of positive signs from them. And, you know, against that Bills team, they got a lot going on on ah offense.
Speaker: And it was quite interesting because usually the Bengals offense bails them out, but it was actually their defense that was better on Sunday last week. And it's the opposite for the Texans. It's always their defense that helps them get to where they need to be. But the defense might have let them down a little bit in this one. So this is an interesting game going into Houston again. Like the Texans will not want to lose twice at home um in the first two weeks.
Speaker: Yeah, it was one of those where the Bengals won, but it was really labored. And the Texans looked really good, but just couldn't get over line at the end. um Just two receptions for Jamar Chase. If they're going to have any hope of winning this game, that needs to be five times the amount. It needs be getting 10 or 12 receptions for 100 yards there.
Speaker: They're really in trouble. Higgins can't be your main man. I know they paid him big as well, but they need Jamar Chase and Higgins as the kind of that one-two punch for him. Burrow, just I don't know what's after happening him of last couple years. know he had the turf tour last year, but he just doesn't look like himself. He looks like he's lacking confidence massively in nearly every part of his game. And when you put so much money on him, on Chase and on Tee Higgins, you really need him showing up 15 out of 17 weeks every single season. And if this is the one of the two they drop, its they're lucky that they got over the line and got the win as well. But they're going to need a massive jump, especially, as you said, going to Houston.
Speaker: They're going to be out for blood this week. The defense going to out for blood. Every part of Houston, Texas is going out for blood. They're going to have really, really tough going. Yeah, it's an interesting one on Burrow because I always put it down to like, we've seen so many times how good he is and we've seen him do so many good things, but we haven't really seen it much in the last two years, as you've said.
Speaker: And it's always like you just mark it down, oh, Burrow is one of the best in the league, like he's going to come back into his own. But when does it get to a point where you actually start worrying a little bit that he lost a step or two on some of the other guys? Because he's not a dual threat and...
Speaker: that's fine because he's superb in the pocket and he makes a lot of things happen. But the league has gone heavy on dual threat. And is he falling behind the guys like Lamar and Josh Allen and how effective they are, especially given his, his injury history, which isn't on him. It's down to their terrible O-line. But it is an interesting thing to think of.
Speaker: On the other side, CJ Stroud, I thought he was good. Like... He had a couple of fumbles, but he had 107 passer rating, 274 yards, decent completion percentage. I thought he was smart with his plays. He looked more settled in the Nick Caley offense than he did last year. And Montgomery, while he only had three yards a carry, and He had three touchdowns in total, including his receiving game.
Speaker: And Woody Marks added 42 yards on nine carries, which is more effective. So that's a nice one-two punch. Nico Collins looking good again. And i really don't think that the D-line of the Texans will be ever kept as quiet as they were in week one by the Bills. I think it was just an abnormal game.
Speaker: they did well to stop the run which is tough because james cook is such a good runner but they couldn't get after josh allen because they had eight sacks on him last time they played and in this game they couldn't get to him at all so i think that's just an abnormality i think that'll shake out and i do see this game having quite a number of points because i do still believe barrow can rack them up and and i do think that their defense is good enough to kind of put up a fight now but the 46 and a half point line i think we could go just over that and maybe see the Texans winning by a field goal, because I think ultimately they are the better team, um and they deserve to win in week one. I don't think they come out of this 0-2.
Speaker: Yeah, I have Texans by a score as well, is what I've written down. I didn't say if it was 3 or 7. I'm not going to go with that brave, just yes. Montgomery is one of those players where he doesn't need to have an explosive play every time. Like he went 20 carries for 60 yards, but he got two touchdowns off it and then three receptions, another touchdown. So if you're putting up those kind of numbers while itll limited, we'll say, then once he does get, he he will have a game where he explodes for 120 yards, gets four touchdowns, and it would be a game where the Texans really, really needed him.
Speaker: Obviously they needed him in this and he did show up, but If if he not even double, if he added 20 yards, if he went 80 yards for those 20 carries, you don't know what kind of a place he could have been in then at that stage. But...
Speaker: He's a really, really good running back. And I think once he gets used to being in Texans, being the Texas, being the main man, not being the number two behind arguably the best running back in the league where he just comes on to do that bully plays, I think he'll be really, really solid for The Bengals just need to get their stuff together and just just see if they can get moving again. Because if they...
Speaker: go here and get blown away, which I don't think they will, obviously, but if they do get blown away, then there'll be questions to be asked amongst the whole organization about where they're after putting their money. And I think this is a massive game for both teams, but the Texans will just shade it for me.
Speaker: Yeah, just a final thought on that is the fact that their defense is good. Like, Jonathan Allen got a sack on his debut, so did Boya Maffae. And for the Allen sack, that was because Dexter Lawrence is getting double teamed, and then Allen gets through.
Speaker: And also you had Brian Cook. he I think he had the forced fumble and the recovery. So all these new signings, like, really worked on defense. So I wouldn't... I'm not...
Speaker: As concerned as I would be, if their defense was awful and the offense continued to be amazing, then I'd be like, oh, this is trouble again. The defense is terrible despite new signings. I do think the offense will kick into gear a little bit. But yeah, like I said at the start, if Burrell continues to come out slow, then there will be questions over you know his overall level. Can he reach the heights he was at before?
Speaker: so next up is saints at ravens so another afc north team in play but this time against an nfc south team eight and a half point favorites the ravens are tyler shook had a crazy up and down game he had the most intended air yards of any player with 482 in week one 294 completed air yards, which is crazy.
Speaker: He ranked second, though, in bad throws with nine and took the most sacks alongside Deshaun Watson. So first half was terrible. a little bit into the third quarter, he mounted that comeback. They got it to overtime and they just narrowly lost.
Speaker: Good fight from him, but he's so erratic it's hard to judge. And then the Ravens just steamrolled the Colts. Derek Henry just destroyed them. And Lamar looked so, so good in in this new Declan Doyle offense.
Speaker: Yeah, Deshaun Watson is not someone you ever want to be in the company of either. So Tyler Shock definitely needs to to fix that up. I think on the Saints, I think they had their moment where kind of no one fancied them. They went into that with a real kind of... whatever happens here happens attitude.
Speaker: And I don't think it's the attitude to be able to take into the whole season because if Tyler Shook, yes, he put up 294 yards, but everything else he did was a bit wild at times. He won't get away with that the way the Lions let him away with it last weekend.
Speaker: and I think, you know what, i've I've actually written down here, there was opening day adrenaline and I don't think you can get much better than that. Gid's just ran over him, like 156 rushing yards and 30 receiving yards and two touchdowns. And I know he's the best in football. He could do that to absolutely anyone. But the Saints are going to tough time stopping Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson from doing the same thing to him. And maybe both of them putting up those kinds of numbers. And that might be a bit hyperbolic. But...
Speaker: You never know. ah And Amon, Amon, Rath, Saints, Brown getting 10 receptions as well is just really, really tough for to for the Saints to stop the Ravens doing the same kind of thing to him again.
Speaker: I don't think ETN is running back one that you want to be doing the whole season with. um' He's just, he's he's fine. He is fine. Olave is obviously the main man. 10 catches, 182 yards, but Can he back that up every single week over and over again?
Speaker: We'll have to wait and see, but I just don't know about ETN as your main man. i know, what's his name? Kamara. Yeah, I know he he'll be back at some point and he might be the the main man when he gets back, but he is pushing on now as well. He's been doing it.
Speaker: for them for the last seven or eight years at a really high level and that obviously takes its toll on your body as well when you're running back that likes to run through people so I think the Saints had their day they were unlucky but I think they could get could get battered here by the Ravens sorry kind of Yeah, I'd be on a similar line, to be honest. I think sometimes the Lions do this where they're like way up in the game and then they just completely switch off and they end up losing. They got out of jail on this one, but the Saints kind of took advantage of that. So credit to them. But look, Shuck, two interceptions with two fumbles as the well. He's just two up and down.
Speaker: And I think... ravens are going to take advantage of this saints defense because they have some okay players and they got some stops down towards the end of the game but they got destroyed by jameer gibbs as you pointed out uh derek henry will do the exact same thing to them not worse yeah exactly and then you had uh zay flowers having the most yards after the catch of any receiver in week one and the ravens in general had the most yards are after the catch of any team 169 three seconds in the pocket as well most in the league so lamar was completely stable behind that offensive line they relied a little bit on play action 114 yards out of six passes there which is astounding like other teams relied on play action not as much as the ravens did but every time they did it it worked so well so it seems like the way they've designed this offense like
Speaker: Declan Doyle did work with Ben Johnson, so hes I'm sure he's got some of his ideas, but Lamar Jackson is just better than Caleb Williams all the way around. So having him in there, I think, is going to...
Speaker: This season could look really good for the Ravens if the defense continues to tighten up. It's going to make it tough for the Saints. I don't think they'll have as much points on the board as they did in week one against the Lions. I'm looking at the line here, and I had it noted down, but can't seem to see it. I'll come back to it, but I think it's pretty high, and I don't think...
Speaker: we will see it hit that i think the saints could be kind of quiet on ah offense and i do have the ravens to win by two or more touchdowns i just think that the defense will be no joke against the saints team and the offense will just completely run ragged yeah i have the ravens by 10. i think that's been nice to the saints yeah i think so i think we're on very similar lines there as saying 46.5 is the line. I don't think it's going to reach that. I don't think it'll be good. Well, the Raimonds might get to that by themselves, but they might as well be able to just take the foot off in the fourth quarter and just almost play it like a pre-season game to finish the game. But, Joost, the line-in... Sorry, I keep getting my teams confused. The Saints did light it up towards the end of that week one.
Speaker: So maybe taking your foot off the gas will be the wrong thing to do. So you might need to keep pushing and just kind of just put him to the sword if he can. Try and just completely knock him down before they start knocking you back. So, yeah. yeah i I do think it'll be a very watchable game.
Speaker: Yeah, I think the Ravens will do to the Saints what they did to the Colts. They'll just bury them and there'll be no way back out. um So, yeah, we both have the Ravens in that one. The last game we're on a look at is um an NFC North showdown. The Vikings at the Bears. Bears, 59 points in week one is crazy. Ben Johnson said he wanted to have the best offense in history of the NFL in terms of points per game. So they started off well on that front.
Speaker: Giving up 37 points is worrisome. Definitely. They continued to what they did last year. the Vikings, they just obliterated Jordan Love. They went after him and after him and after him. Pressured him on 47% to drop backs.
Speaker: They blitzed him 72% of the time. The second closest blitz rate was 43% from Tampa bit Like Brian Flores is insane. Some of the tactics he pulls out. And if you look last year, the Bears did win the first game of the season, 1917 in November. or that was the second game. Sorry, the first one was 27-24 to the Vikings in September.
Speaker: Both of those games had JJ McCarthy at quarterback as well. So they're both super close. In both games, Caleb was quiet. I think he only threw one touchdown between the two games. So I think Brian Flores will go after him again. and I cannot see the Bears putting up the points that they did in week one against this Vikings defense.
Speaker: No, they won't put up the points they did last week. I'd be surprised if they put up those points again at any any point this season. 59 is just ah just frankly ridiculous, to be perfectly honest. But I still think they'll have enough to get all over the Vikings.
Speaker: If they go with Carson Wentz again in particular, only 133 yards in week one. that's just not enough. I know they got the win, but like if he's going to be a quarterback next week, and it looks like he will because Murray was limited to practice again today, so I doubt you're going to be able to throw him in on Sunday with a concussion. So if he does miss the week, they're not putting in JJ by...
Speaker: Doesn't look like they will anyway, despite the fact he might think he's QB1. I don't think you'll be he'll be showing up anytime soon. i just i think the Bears' running game was just so good.
Speaker: Managhi, 100 yards as your backup running back is ridiculous. And then ah Swift was very, very quick with 124 yards as well on top of it. And they're both a threat through the air as well. so It does make Caleb's life a lot easier when he can just hand it off to one of those two or just throw it up over the top to any number of of really, really good weapons. And they might just have enough, especially if Carson Wentz is going to do what he did. And Aaron Jones was so quiet, only 40 yards on 12 carries. I know he got a touchdown, but that's not the kind of...
Speaker: confidence builder you want from your you you're running back one in week one if you can't even get off the ground at all. So they do need a lot more from pretty much everyone. Yeah, I think I i had noted down that, you know, looking at Aaron Jones versus Jordan Mason, Mason is clearly should be the RB1 and then now Mason is on IR because he he fractured his tongue.
Speaker: So that's another negative for the team going into this week. I just think The fact that they like were so close twice last year with JJ playing in the games, Wentz is better than JJ.
Speaker: and And I think he had a good connection with Jefferson on week one. So I do think this game will be really close. Just purely on the fact that their defense, like last week, one and a half sacks from Van Ginkle, a forced fumble and a recovery, Dallas Turner, a sack and a forced fumble. Your big names standing up, doing what they need to do.
Speaker: And I've said, like, the the Bears' defense was terrible. One of the reasons why I picked them to be a big regression candidate. Dylan Thienemann was good. Their rookie, in fairness to him, he was kind of all over the place, kind of trying to cover as much as he could. But there's so much holes in the defense that I just have the Vikings gnarly. Probably mostly because I'm having to stick with my guns of the Bears being bad, and I picked the Vikings to be...
Speaker: good this year so I at least have to stick with that for a few weeks before I fall off it and admit that I was wrong but it's an under 48 and a half spread is what I'm banking on here too I think there's no way this goes to 49 points between these two teams I think the the defense of the Vikings is too strong for that and the ah offense is too bad so yeah I'm going with a field goal win for the Vikings so we're different on on this one Yeah, I'm going for the Bears 10-9.
Speaker: um After the coach saying he wants the best offense of all time, the Bears are going to score 10 points, but they're going to limit the Vikings to three field goals, 10-9 to the Bears. Yeah, I could honestly see that happening. Carson Wentz on one side. Oh, God. um Okay, so that's the NFL for this week.
Speaker: Gone Chance, round two coming off Shane, you were the victor in week one, so you're ahead on the scoreboard. um So our predictions for last week, I had Aston Villa away to... No, sorry, that's this week. I'm giving away already. I had Everton away to Spurs. That was a draw.
Speaker: Everton should have won, but they didn't. I had the Jets to beat the Titans. That came off. The Broncos to beat the Chiefs definitely did not work out. The Chiefs destroyed them. And then you had the Jets to beat the Titans also, which came off. So we both had that. You had the Falcons to beat the Steelers, your favorite team. The Falcons did not come off.
Speaker: And then Ipswich to beat Palace, which did work out. And since I'm already after stuttering my first one out there, I might as well give the rest of them. So my first pick is Aston Villa, No way, really?
Speaker: Yeah, I'll wait to Spurs who are even. Surprise Spurs their favourites in this one, to be honest. You didn't let me have an evens one last week. I didn't let you have an evens winner.
Speaker: We've been doing it for... Sorry, I did it the wrong way around. Apologies. Yeah, don't be coming at me. Don't be coming at me. I have to be the ombudsman for this game because they're okay eggma there's there all sorts of things being thrown out by you from you from time to time. The letter apology is in the post.
Speaker: Okay, great. So that's Saturday, 12.30. And then I've gone with Brighton 15-4 at home to Arsenal, who are seven to ten That's 3pm on Saturday. i think Brighton look really good this season and Arsenal eventually are going to have to lose. So why not away to Brighton? um And then last up, I've gone with what I just said. I back myself. Vikings 9-5 at Bears, who are...
Speaker: and The favourites in that one, 6pm on Sunday. So my three picks are Aston Villa, Brighton and the Minnesota Vikings. Yeah, i' I've written down four, but the first time a long time, there would it looked like there were actual options.
Speaker: and Two to say two of them that I have are the same as you. So I have the Vikings at 7-4 to beat the Bears as well. And I have Brighton at home to Arsenal 4-6. They're my two locks. My other two then that I'm stuck between are Hull at 4-1 to beat Newcastle and the Jets at 13-8 to beat the Packers, who are 1-2.
Speaker: I'm going to go with the Jets this week to beat the Packers at one to two Just if anyone's interest is, the four of them together is a hundred and seventy to one Without Hull, it's 34-1. So Hull are the real moneymaker there. But I'm going Brighton at home to Arsenal.
Speaker: Jets versus the Packers and the Vikings against the Bears. Even though i just said the Bears are going to beat the Vikings two seconds ago. Yeah. You have to hedge your bets.
Speaker: Yeah, exactly. and like I think the Jets-Packers one, I actually looked at. But I did think Jordan Love was good, and he didn't get he and he won't get obliterated as much by a defensive front. So i think he'll have a better chance, but I did consider that one.
Speaker: And for anybody that is unaware of the rules of this or your new listening, we get new listeners all the time, which is great to see. It is us picking underdogs, at least one from each sport. So when the NBA comes back, we'll do one from each sport, ah Premier League, NFL and NBA. But right now it's two from one and one from the other. So it has to be an underdog against a team who are at least even. So it can't be two teams that are one is three to one and one is two to one. You can't pick... It's not really an underdog pick there. It's kind of a toss-up. It's expected to be a draw. a draw But if it's evens or better for the favorite, then you can pick that team as your underdog. So we get a point for each correct answer. And if we get three right in a week, we get five points. So that's worth a lot more than than anything. Our five pointers are golden. And Shane won in the first season. I won second season. So let's see who comes on out on top this time around. But Shane... Obviously, as I mentioned, in the lead 2-1. So let's see how we fare this weekend. We'll move on then to football. We have to start with the VAR farce that went on in the Manchester derby.
Speaker: Look, it's just terrible process from top to bottom by the n by by the NFL, by the Premier League. and VAR is always something good. They completely ignored the fact that Enzo is attempting to play the ball from that cross in. They just looked at whether Haaland was offside or not, and then they said, oh, Enzo doesn't touch the ball, that's fine. But the rule is that if he makes an attempt for the ball, he is in an offside position, then Haaland is, and also Enzo was on the cross. So...
Speaker: Look, ProRef came straight out on it and sent whatever they call it, a statement of acknowledgement to unit United, which I don't know what the point in that is. They might as well not bother. And it it costs United maybe a point in this game. Now, they should have won danuues it anyway because was against 10 men. They should have done better than they did. They were poor in the game. So that's not an excuse. But the point of this conversation is the VAR because it could happen to any team. And if they don't know the rules in the booth, then that's a serious issue.
Speaker: It's every single week. Oh, also, the statement of acknowledgement is for transparency, James. They want to be transparent and open with all the clubs and stuff. So, and come on on. Thank God for that.
Speaker: What else do you want to do? with Just want them to get every decision right and just not have to apologize. like That's way too much to ask. It's just every single week there's something in one of the games. Every week, whether be...
Speaker: A penalty that's contentious that they didn't give, which was quite clearly a penalty, or giving a penalty and then the VAR not being and not being a big enough mistake for the VAR to turn around and take it off.
Speaker: That's the one that drives me insane. If it's a mistake, it's a mistake. If it's not a penalty, it's not a penalty. But this one is clear as day. Like, yeah oh, at Enzo went for the ball. I've never seen a man more go for a ball in his life. He just wasn't tall enough.
Speaker: So the reason he didn't touch it, he absolutely flung himself at that header. And it completely took, I think it was Lysandro Martinez out of the game. And it kind of takes lemons out of it as well because he's waiting for the header and then has to try and readjust. And we know Haaland from there is just, he's never going to miss. So I do think it's absolutely ridiculous.
Speaker: i like I'd love to sit here and slate United it for how poor they were, but that's not the point of this one. It's just one of those where these are the ones you have absolutely got to get right 100% of the time.
Speaker: The same with Diaz won a couple of years ago. You have to get that right 100% of the time. Offside is factual. it's okay it's It's subjective when they decide it's subjective. That one shouldn't be a subjective decision. He's gone for the ball. He's such a clear offside position.
Speaker: That's one you have to get right 100% of the time. And if they can't get those right, then my God, we're in trouble because we're only in week four and we've nearly had an issue a week at this stage. And that's just really, really not good enough.
Speaker: Yeah, it's and the fact they overturned the ruling on the field as well just makes it even worse that they went and sought that out and then got it wrong. And then Dermot Gallagher on Sky Sports is just an embarrassment every week defending the refs and saying that. they I think it was Jay Bothrow, they messaged you about it. First time I've seen him come up and say something superb and well put together in fairness to him. He was like...
Speaker: that they need to have the rule books open next to them. if Like if they don't know the rules and Gallagher was like, oh, they know the rule book inside and out. And then he was like, so how did he get that wrong then if he knows it? And then he was like, oh, a lack of focus.
Speaker: But and Bothrayde laid into him and it's like, this is the only job they have. They're sitting in a room miles away from the game. All they have to do is be focused on the rules. It's just a joke, but less time spent on that, the better, I think, because... there's Just one more one more point in it before you do move on. So, first of all, Jay Botteroid looks like he's grown a backbone in the summer because he's gone after Dermot Gallagher nearly every single week this season.
Speaker: Dermot siding on the referees and absolutely everything. other one I can think of, he absolutely annihilated him after the Nico Williams penalty was given against Liverpool. And then the KMI came out and said it shouldn't be the penalty. So, Jay Botteroid was right again. He's been...
Speaker: He's actually making that show semi-watchable just to wait for him to absolutely bounce off Derby Gallagher every week. So fair play to him for that. And they just, the the the punishment for these lads is they don't get to officiate this weekend. So oh and so dave they just get a month off because the international break is coming up and they're not involved in those. So, oh lads, just go out there for a holiday for a week. i Get out of the spotlight. We won't put your name on any games and then we'll come back after to international break. Everything will be forgotten and you can just go back to doing what you were doing so well the week before.
Speaker: There's absolutely no accountability in that pro ref. I'm just going to actually just start calling it ref because they're clearly not professional at what they're doing. and just There's absolutely no accountability. You get a week off.
Speaker: There's referees getting week offs getting weeks off left, right and centre anyway because they too many refs for the game. So and so it's not a punishment. and the sooner they just put an ex-player in the booth or have ex-players training as referees, I think that would make such a difference. because Until then, for too i i don't want to talk about VAR every week, but we could genuinely be here for the next 38 weeks saying, oh, VAR missed this or VAR didn't do that. And I just hope it's not another factual offside that they get wrong. Penalties contentious. like You can see why Danico Williams-Overs1 was given.
Speaker: even if it is ridiculous. Like you can see why those ones aren't given. But as you said, just have the rule books open if you don't know the rules, especially if ones like this, my God, like, yeah Yeah, we'll move on to Newcastle i getting battered by Leeds because that was our performance of the weekend. and This one will make you happy if you move away from the VAR stuff.
Speaker: They were bullied completely from start to finish by Leeds. It could have been worse. There were some good saves by Hornacek for Newcastle. The first goal was a massive piece of luck with the two deflections, but then once that went in, it was the floodgates time. and They just completely opened. Terrible pass out from the back for the second goal.
Speaker: Calvert-Lewin, huge header, like how high he got up was mad. Bogle got the goal though, which is hilarious. But then a brilliant third goal for Calvert-Lewin, proper striker's goal. Another good finish from Okafor for the fourth, but bad defending the ball, breaking Tim from a long throw.
Speaker: The only positive for Newcastle was Torre getting in his first goal. and But looking at the stats, like... It matched exactly what you saw. Both teams had an even amount of the ball, but Leeds did so much more with it. Double the amount of shots, 28 touches in the box to 20, three big chances to two, 2XG to 0.9. Just more intensity and a team that went after it more than Newcastle did and just just really caught Newcastle cold in this one.
Speaker: Yeah, Dominic Calver-Lewin has been an absolute revelation for Leeds in the last two seasons. like If he's not in this England squad that comes out this week at some point, I assume it comes out, then I think it's it's it's ridiculous. He's the most informed England striker not called Harry Kane. Definitely the most informed England striker in the Premier League and He's bullying people left, right and centre. As you said, the height he got for that jump for the lovely assist for Jadon Bogle is absolutely scandalous. There's no one getting up that high to get anywhere near him.
Speaker: And aside from that, Newcastle was so poor. I said after, maybe it was after week one, that Newcastle would get a hiding at some point soon. And did I think it was going to be week four? Probably not. But I had a feeling it was coming. I just think there...
Speaker: That was just one of those games. But you completely backtracked on that then in the last two weeks and said that they impressed you. So, you know. yes no they absolutely did impress me. But I still felt something like this was coming. I didn't say, oh, I'm going to backtrack and say they're not going to get hammered now. I still thought they might get a beat. And I didn't think it'll be from Leeds. I thought be a city or someone would go out out and just take them to the cleaners. It's far worse for what Leeds did to them than anyone else. And...
Speaker: Leeds have maybe given teams a bit of a blueprint on how to play against Newcastle. Just go man to man against them. Mark them, cause mistakes. And yeah, they were just wide open the back. As you said, it could have been a lot more than four, even if the XG doesn't say that. So Newcastle just need to tuck their tail between their legs and try and come back this week. I think they have Coventry at home, which is a really, really good one to bounce back because they look absolutely abysmal at the moment.
Speaker: I think it's Hull they have in the next game. It is Hull, sorry. But still, yeah, one you should be winning at least, even though Hull have started well. But I don't know how many teams could actually mimic what Leeds did because Leeds are so good physically and they're just drilled to play that way.
Speaker: um And they've got a good keeper in Trafford. I think... They've been really good this year, really hard to beat, and I think they'll continue to be that way. So they've done a good job, I think, kind of fitting the mould of what a good Premier League side needs to be to get yourself enough points to feel safe early enough because it's all about physicality right now and they've got it in spades.
Speaker: another game you did wanted to mention was brighton batter in coventry uh five nil they were already way ahead obviously there were only a couple of goals up but they looked up streets ahead of coventry before that red card and then they added three more goals domination really like the xg doesn't tell the story of how good they were But the possession, you could tell Brighton's 70% of Coventry is 30.
Speaker: They created four big chances to Coventry's one. and They were just clinical across the board. And the one that stands out to me the most is distance covered. 99.6 kilometres for Coventry, 109.1 kilometres for Brighton. Obviously, Coventry had one less player, but that was only for 37 minutes. you know That doesn't account for the fact that...
Speaker: you can cover 10 less kilometers in that amount of time. It was already kind of trending that way. So just complete domination. Brighton looks so good this year and their intensity levels are insane. Yeah, that was with Brighton holding back as well. If they were still playing against 11, they'd have gotten to 112, 115 maybe, but Coventry just could not get near them for the whole game. Every time we checked Flash scored, it was another goal gone in. It was just one of those where Brighton, they just recruit so well over and over again. I'm not even going to try and pronounce this new lad's game, but he was really, really good last night against United as well. The fellow you have in fantasy. Yeah, I'll call it.
Speaker: Yeah, Yalcoué, he was really, really good in this game as well. The Cowper looks just looks for reformed playing on the left wing. ah Higher up, less defensive responsibility and he can finish, apparently, which no one knew last year.
Speaker: But this commentary team are what everyone thought Hull were going to be by the looks of it. They're just miles off. Man, Rushworth, who they spent all that money on goals, he he looks like he is just a championship keeper.
Speaker: He's terrible. came up Yeah, when Tundling came up last year they got rid of Patterson, even though he brought him there. And they were like, no, he's he's not a Premier League goalkeeper. And now he's gone alone to the championship. They brought in a new keeper.
Speaker: Coventry thought, oh, this lad looks unbelievable. He'll be in England international soon. he adds he's He's offering him absolutely nothing. He can't stop the ball going in. His distribution is quite pure poor.
Speaker: poor And he just looks like constant panic stations. And he's not the only one. This a Coventry team that's definitely, when they walked the championship last year, they came up way too early by the looks of things. And they're going to go straight back down and probably in 20th.
Speaker: Yeah, yeah i i I had them going down. I just didn't think Lampard was up to it, really. And I think Rushford, I think, came from Brighton, so I'm sure they were happy enough having watched him there that they got rid of him for as much money as they did.
Speaker: Looking at the Carabao Cup draw quickly before we preview again this weekend. Who's United Guest? Yeah, they're probably better off going out because they would have had City in the next round. So that would have just been another poor one. and But Fleetwood's at home to Arsenal, a cracker for them. Really great for them to have a big tie. Their players were delighted with that. and City, as I said, home to Brighton. Everton home to Newcastle, Sunderland home to Brentford, Liverpool home to Chelsea is probably the standout game. Bradford versus Peterborough, very interesting, we'll have one of them in the quarterfinals.
Speaker: Fulham Palace and Bournemouth Villa. I think Liverpool, Chelsea and Bournemouth Villa are are really good ties alongside Man City and Brighton, so there'll be some interesting ones in this next round.
Speaker: Yeah, I think it's safe to say a City were never in trouble tonight. They were 2-0 up on the half hour and it's it's just over there now. It finished Liverpool-Chelsea, it's just not the draw I want. It's not the draw you want. It's in between Brighton and Arsenal matches for Liverpool as well. So it's that's already a tough week. Now you have to deal with Chelsea coming mid-week too. Yeah.
Speaker: it's It's great to get these big ties, but i'd I'd rather have gotten the Arsenal draw. Arsenal now get Man City draws, which is hilarious. The way Man City used to get us. Man City used to get Burton Albion in the Champions League and now Arsenal are getting the likes of the only League 2 team. or No, they're not Bradford League 2 as well. So one of the only League 2 teams.
Speaker: I think they were the lowest ranked team left in the competition. But I think that's a massive game for them. I'm delighted for them sticking its arsenal at the God. I wish they could have gotten any of the other big teams. But I just think every game is lined up to be really, really good.
Speaker: I think it's one of these competitions that just gets overlooked so often. But if teams actually go out and try and play in it and try and win it, then it is a really enjoyable competition. And have your first trophy in the back by at the end of February, start of March. And...
Speaker: If you're a team pushing towards the top the table, that can real confidence boost going into the last couple of months. Or if you're kind of middle-to-ground team like a say, a Palace or someone and you win it, you've European football guaranteed and you can go out for rest of the season and just enjoy yourself then. So it's one of those. I think it's a competition that more teams should be taken seriously.
Speaker: All I've seen online over the last 24 hours now at this stage is people saying, oh, Liverpool should throw this game, just put out the kids, blah, blah, blah. It's like, no. like I know it gives you a tough December when you have the two-legged semifinals, but if you can win a trophy this early, it's such a confidence boost. And and any trophy is a good trophy for me.
Speaker: And they would put out the record wins in the results. I want them to go out there to beat Chelsea, make a couple of changes, bring in Louis Cummins again, who was absolutely brilliant against Spurs, bring in Trey Nione, but do try and win this game. So yeah, I'm looking forward to I think it's the middle of October when the next round is.
Speaker: Yeah, we commence on 26th of October. We do have another game to talk about before we wrap up, and that is Bournemouth versus Liverpool at home, Sunday 2pm, the start of Super Sunday and the Vitality.
Speaker: Bournemouth, they're 2-1 up currently as we're recording this, with 15 minutes left against Real Sociedad in their first ever European game, so that could be a monumental win for them. Liverpool come off the back of just beating Spurs in the Cup after a disappointing draw.
Speaker: at home to Fulham at the weekend for them to pick up their first point of the season. So up and down a little bit. Bournemouth, they've only got three draws so far in the league, despite being very, very solid. and So I think this one and would be a really exciting game to watch ah and for a neutral at least.
Speaker: Yeah, this is a big game for both teams. Bournemouth have had a lead in every single one of their games so far this season and have managed to let it slip every single time as well. But they do look really, really good. You watched them last weekend. You said they were absolutely exceptional against Brentford and how they didn't win that game was beyond you.
Speaker: Liverpool have just been so indifferent then on the other side. Three draws and one win. The one win was wrapped up after 10 minutes against Zipzic and it was just and a cat playing with a rat then after that for the other 90 minutes. Aside from that, the Fulham game in particular was so poor and they really, they need to bounce back in the league. They did beat Spurs and there were they were good for large chunks of that game, but they don't seem to have gotten quite to see Areola's.
Speaker: Iriola's style of play. Just yes. Oh, God. Brody and slip there. Yeah. This is another one where they're coming off the back of midweek game, but it's the first time Bournemouth playing in Europe as well. So it could be...
Speaker: quite possibly the best time possible to go to the Vitality and try and pick up three points if you can get a lead early and but we'll have to wait and see I just I think Gakpo, McAllister and Jacquet have been absolutely super superb for Liverpool so far and Tavernier, Ryan and Clivert have been really good for Bournemouth and I think if anyone's going to do Liverpool in harm it'll be those three behind Ewan Nielsen Yeah, I think um looking at the score now, Ryan and Clivert got the two goals, so they're on yeah i target. two Two really, really good goals as well.
Speaker: If you look at the statistics and obviously how the teams played as well, I have been impressed at Bournemouth this season. like They've created 13 big chances, but they've only scored six.
Speaker: And Liverpool have only created eight big chances. They've also scored six. and There's only six teams worse in that ranking than Liverpool. They both have exactly 5.2xg conceded, but Bournemouth have conceded seven and Liverpool conceded four.
Speaker: So you're looking at, you know, two teams that could easily be flipped in terms of the points they have right now. Like Liverpool, like they have six. Bournemouth somehow have three. You know, both teams should probably be around five based on their performances, in my opinion. I think Bournemouth have been good and got unlucky. Liverpool haven't been amazing. So I think this is a good acid test because...
Speaker: Both teams, I think, are so far this season on a similar level. They both have new managers. But does that European game play into it? I'm not sure. i think Bournemouth will need to start off fast and put Liverpool under pressure. I think at home, they're really just due a win. But this European game is kind of messing around with my thoughts on it. But...
Speaker: Look, I'm going to go with Bournemouth. I think that they have been really good this season. I don't know how they haven't got a win yet, to be honest. And playing there is always tough in that small stadium. The fans are on top of you. So i'm going to go with Bournemouth 3-1. I think their their offense is too much NFL talk. Their attack is really going to come to life in this one. But I can't see a game in which Liverpool don't score because their their attack has been very potent as well.
Speaker: I think the Europa League game plays a massive part in this, to be honest. Their first ever a away European game as a club. The players, they mightn't be physically exhausted coming back, but they'll 100% be mentally exhausted. You're arriving back on the Friday, maybe they might fly overnight after the game. I don't actually know. i don't even know how to look into that, to be perfectly honest.
Speaker: And then they did such a quick turnaround to the Sunday. It's a former down to team that are used to playing twice in a week, three times in a week even with last weekend as well. And their squad is quite small. I've gone for 3-1 as well, but to Liverpool. Surprise, surprise.
Speaker: I just, i think... Liverpool have no excuses. and It's one of the only times you go to Bournemouth, you no excuses not to win with Bournemouth coming off the back of a Thursday night game. You played the Wednesday, and no, you played the Tuesday. true You have so much more rest than Bournemouth have. Their first European game, you have to go there and pick up the three points year, go into the international break.
Speaker: Of all weeks, don't go there and lose 3-1. We're going to have to sit in it for the longest international break of all time. And that's not even a joke this time. It actually is the longest international break of all time. Just go there and pick up the win and go into the national break with a win, nine points coming back.
Speaker: No, no more than six points off the top with a good run of fixtures. There's no October international break as far as I'm aware. Yeah, I think it's it's going to be a good game. I think there's hard to judge it. There's so many factors, but I think one thing is for certain. There's sometimes they're not sure, but I think this is definitely going to be a good game to watch.
Speaker: Yeah. so I think the one last year was as well for a neutral, the 3-2. Yeah. That's vitality as well. Cracking game. But yeah, that's pretty much it for this week's episode. Another one wrapped. Shane, I'll throw it to you to wrap it up as usual.
Speaker: Yeah, back to one episode week now until the NBA comes back. Just thanks again, as James said, while ago, we are getting new listeners every single week. So you're really, really welcome. We do hope you're enjoying it and watching the whole way through. Just please hit that subscribe button on YouTube if you can, because makes such a difference for us. We'll pop up on more people's pages and they can enjoy it as much as you do as well. We're on the road to 100,000 subscribers as well. So it'll be great. Any help we can get is obviously massive. We just appreciate every one of you and we'll see you next week. I'll hack the metadata whatever it is. That's what people keep saying now.
Speaker: I'm leaving that hack the metadata thing in there because that's like so ridiculous.
