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The Saints & Falcons Season Hopes | Man Utd & Aston Villa Season Previews | What Heights will the Rams & Cardinals Reach?
15 Plays20 days ago
In this week’s episode of Who’s Got The Ball? the lads finish off previewing the NFC South competitors with the New Orleans Saints (11:15) and the Atlanta Falcons (17:17), before talking about Aston Villa (24:06) and Man United’s (31:00) road ahead and discussing the latest transfers in the Premier League (42:14). James and Shane then finished up with further NFL chat, delving into the NFC West by analysing LA Rams (53:12) and the Arizona Cardinals (58:20).
The lads continued their weekly drafts, where this week they drafted the best NBA Jerseys from last season (01:03:53).
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Transcript
Welcome and Tribute to Jota
00:00:09
Speaker
Alright lads, welcome back to another episode of Who's Got The Ball. and Obviously, most of you will know, being sporting fans, over over the last week there's obviously a bit of sad news. um and Shane is our our Liverpool fan here, so Shane I'll let you say a couple of words because obviously it wouldn't be right to to to do this without starting on and something as sad as this.
00:00:33
Speaker
Yeah, I just, when I woke up on dave to Thursday morning, woke up excited. I was going on holidays the Thursday afternoon, couldn't waste, and just woke up to a message from one of my friends saying, Jata's after dying. And I was like...
00:00:47
Speaker
Hardly. I went on Twitter, nothing up about it. There was nothing there. Frantically looking everywhere, going on to this is Anfield, Sky Sports, looking absolutely everywhere. And then I went on to Liverpool's website and there was no there' no stories of everything had been pulled.
00:01:01
Speaker
I was like, well, sure, they haven't done that by mistake. They haven't done that for... to put up a big massive sign all of a sudden so i had a feeling and it was true and i think the best thing you can say about jota is he was clearly always his authentic self because the way everyone has spoken about him like i didn't know him and the impact it had on me is absolutely crazy so can only imagine his family in particular i just feel so sorry for them married 11 days ago lost him them and sorry lost him and his brother in in one fell swoop it's just It's horrific. I think I said to you in the 30s as well that you look at these people and you just think they're superheroes. Nothing can ever happen to them. It's like when Kobe passed away as well, it's like you're almost waiting to hear that he survived the helicopter crash. You're just waiting to hear that this is just one big, massive mistake and he's actually fine and his brother's fine and he's on the ferry back to Liverpool bus.
00:01:53
Speaker
it was just It was really horrific news to wake up to. and i just i like I am glad that they have decided to play the game on Sunday and kind of give them a bit of a send-off to start and just kind of see where they go from there. i just think it's It's still really hard to talk about to be honest. I really don't know what to say about it. I just think it is it's so, so sad.
00:02:14
Speaker
Yeah. No, I think it's horrendous, obviously, seeing anybody dying. diane um at any age, but to see somebody who like a lot of people looked up to as a role model, obviously, around the sporting world, but Liverpool fans and people from his hometown dying so soon after getting married.
00:02:35
Speaker
And then to hear that his brother passed away, you know his brother Andre Silva, um obviously another footballer in the Portuguese world, side of things he was playing over there and for his for their parents to lose both kids yeah just utterly horrendous but we wanted to to say a bit about that at the start just to just to open it up but we'll We'll touch on what we're going to actually touch on this week. That sounds a little bit odd. i so on um What we're going to... Great segue. So we started a new style of intro. Now we're going to go back at the end and just tell you everything we chatted about so so you know what's the crack. So
NFL and NBA Discussions
00:03:18
Speaker
we we talked about Norm Powell and his trades and what went on over there.
00:03:23
Speaker
um in the NBA. We kind of just used that as the only bit about the and NBA because we wanted to do a bit more on the NFL this week. So this week we touched on the NFL again. We kept our season previews going. We finished up the NFC South. So we did the Falcons and the Saints.
00:03:38
Speaker
And then we also did the Rams and the Cardinals from the NFC West. But in between those, we we took a little break and we chatted about football. We did our usual thing.
00:03:49
Speaker
And we did the season preview for two more football teams, Aston Villa, and my man United, of course, which was not, yeah, that wasn't the best because... I actually thought, yeah, we weren't as harsh we probably could have been on United. Yeah, true. And we were probably too harsh on the Saints.
00:04:06
Speaker
Too harsh on the Saints, maybe, but... Yeah, Conan was going to be pretty upset by that, but, yeah, I think probably I swung the United bit in in a positive direction, probably, but then we did our transfer roundup, um...
00:04:20
Speaker
after the after the Premier League chat before we got into those two NFC West teams in the Cardinals and Rams, as I already mentioned. And then we finished up on a bit of a fun draft for you. So we we drafted the and NBA jerseys that we most liked and we'll break down what kind of categories we we went into there and what the reasoning was and which pools we had to choose from of them. So you'll hear that.
00:04:44
Speaker
towards the end if you if you want to stick around and have a bit of a bit of fun a bit of a laugh at the end but one thing that we wanted to correct from last week um courtesy of of my mother for for bringing this up because she was listening to the podcast and she said to me oh um Shane mentioned something about Callum Wilson signed a new contract and you weren't sure about it and she said afterwards I I didn't think he did so I looked up and she was like no he hasn't so she was like you need to tell Shane that there so uh Let's throw that spanner into the works.
00:05:15
Speaker
Yeah, I need to apologise to your father and also to my friend Cillian who I told him on the flight to Spain that Callum went to the San Antonio contract when we were 30,000 feet in the sky and therefore we were unable to fact check if I was right or not and when we landed I fact checked and then I didn't tell him I was wrong I didn't want to ruin his holiday so...
00:05:36
Speaker
apologies to kylian and uh your both of your parents and for my mother supports man united it's all right that's where i got the the fandom from but she just she just wanted to call you out more than anything she just wanted to see you suffer in the podcast you know she said a shame fella you know doesn't know about the wilson i i wouldn't call it much of a suffer now because i as i said it's at the end of the show um which is weird saying it now but i did have it at top of my my page to bring it up anyway too to hold my hands up and say i'm very sorry to all the Newcastle fans who listen and if you'll allow me to continue.
00:06:10
Speaker
i We will take Ezek off your hands and you can have Hugo Ekotike. All right, let's save all that Liverpool crap for another time. This transfer...
00:06:21
Speaker
This guy absolutely is dying for Ezek to come to Liverpool. But yeah, we'll we'll let him we'll let him have it. And he's been called out on his on his Wilson mistakes. So let's not go too much further for that one. But yeah, enjoy the show, lads.
00:06:34
Speaker
Right, so we're just going to start with the Norman Powell trade. Just a quick topic on the and NBA because we're covering a little bit extra on the NFL side. But Norman Powell, first of all.
00:06:46
Speaker
He's gone. Well, other players included in this are not just the Norman Powell trade, but I feel like that is the most important part. So the Clippers, Jazz and Heat basically did the did a trade last week. The only major bit of NFL, NBA news, I guess, outside of the Summer League kicking off, which we'll dive into next week, actually, because we've got some Irish representation, as you have seen on our page. So we'll cover that next week, how he got on over there, CJ.
00:07:10
Speaker
But it was and Norman Powell went to Miami. John Collins went to ah a Clippers and Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson, and one of the Clippers 2027 second round picks went to the Jazz.
00:07:24
Speaker
few things I thought were, I think it was interesting for the Jazz to dump Collins. I've heard some stuff about them being interested in signing Kaminga on a sign and trade. So that might free up the salary that he he needs to take.
00:07:41
Speaker
And also they drafted Walter Clayton Jr. who apparently the Warriors wanted so that might be part of that sign and trade. I thought there's not a whole lot of point for the Heat in this because they but they didn't give up too much so i guess it's worth it to take a flyer on Howell. I just don't think he makes that much of a difference to them.
00:08:01
Speaker
and But they didn't give up much so I think while he will do a lot, he'll take a lot of shots and He'll probably put up a lot threes. I don't think he's what they need. And then for the Clippers, I just thought the only way this has really worked is if Bradley Beal ends up there after gets bought out by the Suns, which seems like it's going to happen.
00:08:21
Speaker
But those are my three main takeaways. Yeah, i agree with you in one sense. I don't think like he's not going to be the player that's going to be pushing them up to like be borderline winning their conference. That's not happening.
00:08:35
Speaker
and Even joining the likes of Tyler Hero, Bam Adebayo, they'll still probably be like middling of the road. So for the price, it probably was a small wave of no-brainer. was quite cheap for what they got him for a bus.
00:08:48
Speaker
It's really not the kind of deal that pushes them anywhere more than what they were before they made the trade. So it is a strange one in that sense that it's it's it's it's he's a good player, but he's not affecting them in a way that a trade should affect them.
00:09:01
Speaker
ah Exactly. Like, it's just kind of like, as you said, he he'll shoot trees and all that, but they need to kind of build on this if they want to be pushing to do anything. And like you there Miami always find themselves as the eye i kind of under pressure because of how bad their front office works.
00:09:18
Speaker
so it's going At times, it's like recently it just seems to be bad. like In the past, the things they've done were just amazing. But now it seems like people are still saying they've been doing good. But I just think Spolstra has been bailing them out like time and time again.
00:09:33
Speaker
Big time, yeah. Absolutely. i couldn't agree more with you. I just think it's really it's such a strange trades that it Somehow, they've managed rub three teams into doing this and they've ended up with probably the best player from us.
00:09:45
Speaker
But it still doesn't make it... It makes all three teams don't get any better from us, really. Yeah, I think i i think that the luck for Powell like going there... I actually thought he played well last season, but he worked on the Clippers because there's a lot of defense around him.
00:10:00
Speaker
And like Chris Dunn, if he played next to him or whatever, he can make up the defense for two players. Whereas at Miami, he's going to be a massive hole on the defensive side. I don't really think they can play him and Davion Mitchell together, which would be what would counteract.
00:10:15
Speaker
But I just, I don't know. I just feel like Miami are like clutching at straws at this point. They're like, what move can we make? We'll make this one. And the Clippers probably, i think to get John Collins is not a bad one because he still has some potential. And I think he's good defensively when he wants to be.
00:10:34
Speaker
So I think he but he makes sense there for them right now. But Again, I don't think it sends them over to the edge either. I'd be interested to see what happens if they do get Bradley Beal that replaces the Norm Powell position and now they have a good player in Collins.
00:10:48
Speaker
And yeah, you know, let's let's see let's see what happens. and And then on the other side for the Jazz, it'd be interesting to see if they dumped Collins for a reason because I feel like they could have got more for him in another a season.
00:11:04
Speaker
Yeah. Not a whole lot right now in the NBA, I guess. and That was kind of the only thing. So let's let's just move straight on to the NFL because we've got a lot to cover. um So we're going to start with the last two teams in the NFC South.
00:11:19
Speaker
We've got the Falcons and Saints to go through. So we'll start with the Falcons. Back to the usual four questions that we're covering on each team for the previews. Where do the Falcons need to improve most from last season?
00:11:33
Speaker
So cornerback depth. So AJ Tyrrell is back this year, but outside of him, they're really, really struggling in that position. If he gets injured again, they've no one coming up behind him to cover him at cornerback. him He is brilliant, but everything else is kind of, it's it's it's a massive downgrade on what he brings you.
00:11:51
Speaker
if they could get anyone in to kind of help cover him and maybe compliment him even, I think that would be a massive thing for him to do. Yeah. and I think overall if you look at them last year like it looks like they're pretty okay in most positions um and most stats they're kind of like middling across the board so it was hard enough to pick this but one thing for me that I know stood out a lot and they tried to to sort it out um during the season when they brought in Matthew Judon from the Patriots um but
00:12:26
Speaker
Sacking the quarterback just wasn't a thing that they did last year at all. Only 28 sacks last season, which was the second least in the league. Now, they did add in the draft through James Pearce Jr. and Jalen Walker.
00:12:39
Speaker
Now, Walker didn't have a huge production number in terms of sacks overall, and but yeah the pressure he put on the QB was massive. And when you add that alongside the likes of James Pearce, who there's question marks about his character,
00:12:56
Speaker
and things like that. But look, I think they're taking a fly on both of those guys and they they got Leonard Floyd from the Niners. So I think those three things all together, yeah I think they're they're in a nice position now um to rectify that because I thought that was the biggest issue.
00:13:14
Speaker
Yeah, I think that's a good share as well, in fairness. They just couldn't get near any quarterbacks last year. They couldn't get in the same ballpark as them, let alone the same pitch. So we'll see if they can kind of improve on that. That'll be a massive thing for them. Yeah, that kind of falls into my next question of who are the three players on their team that will make the biggest impact next season. The first one I went to it is Leonard Floyd.
00:13:35
Speaker
The reason is because looking at his last five seasons, he had 10.5, 9.5, 9, 10.5 and 8.5 sacks. nine and a half nine ten and a half and eight and a half so So that's sheer numbers there to start. That's like a third of what they got last season.
00:13:47
Speaker
So he knows what to do. He's a veteran in the league. He's played for some very good teams. Then Drake London. I think this is a no-brainer. He's one of the best wide receivers in the league entering year four.
00:13:58
Speaker
I think he'll need have a big year to help out Michael Penix because yeah he will make mistakes and he'll find it hard being a full-time starter. So he'll need to be to use his big frame and size to help him there.
00:14:09
Speaker
And then last year I went with Jesse Bates. Starr on the defensive backside. and He's unbelievable safety. So I think that kind of helps in the issue that you highlighted maybe at corner depth when they have such a strong guy sitting at safety, it does help out the corners.
00:14:28
Speaker
Yeah, that's not bad. I also have Drake London. As you said, it is a no-brainer. 1,200 yards on 100 receptions and nine touchdowns last year. He probably needs to stick to that or go higher, especially as he is definitely going to be Michael Penix's number one target all season long.
00:14:45
Speaker
Outside of that, I put in AJ Tyrrell again. he's like he's He's their franchise player, really. He's there on a massive deal on a long-term contract. He's the one they need to to need to kind of really hope that he can get back to his best. And I put in Michael Penix Jr. then as my last one.
00:15:01
Speaker
How he performs well will define where their ceiling is this season, I think, is It's his first full year now as a starter. We'd love to see if he can come to grips with it quickly and kind of just just find his men, make things happen with his feet, with his arm, everything. And just he's the one that can lead them somewhere to somewhere this year.
00:15:20
Speaker
Yeah, I think there's a lot of people really impressed with him when he came out of college. And I think people are calling for him throughout the season to step in. And I was actually really impressed with some of the games I watched him play in. But he just looked like he looked like a rookie, to be honest, like yeah He was a rookie, but he looked in the early stage rookie, but at the end of the season and because he had been thrown in so late, which I think is quite hard.
00:15:44
Speaker
and So, yeah, I think he's he will be important. I think he'll do well for them. So the next one is, do we think they'll hit their over under with the bookies for wins this season? So they're projected for seven and a half.
00:15:56
Speaker
What did you think? I think they'll sneak in over. their Their division is quite weak. So but I think they'll get eight or nine. They were eight and nine last year. So I think they could flip that to nine and eight this year and see see where leaves them then.
00:16:12
Speaker
Yeah, I had the same. I think they'll get there. And I actually like them very solidly to win the division this year. Yeah. I think they're better than the books across the board if they just need to put it together.
00:16:25
Speaker
Although I like the Bucks too, but I do think that they're they're the better side. and I think they'll win the division. I think they'll get close to nine or ten wins, to be honest, given that the division is quite easy.
00:16:37
Speaker
and But then looking at their ceiling with the current roster and coach for the season ahead for our last question, since I think they'll win the division, I also think that at an absolute push, they could win a wildcard game if they got there. Yeah.
00:16:50
Speaker
I think winning on a wildcard game is is definitely a ceiling for them this season. What did you have? Yeah, I i have the same. I think they will probably win the division and they'll get to a wildcard game and see.
00:17:03
Speaker
They will be aiming to just kind of just end that playoff drought and just kind of build from there then. Yeah, yeah. No, I think so. I think they'll get there this year because they were so close last year and full season and Michael Panix is a big difference maker. But...
00:17:17
Speaker
Moving on then to the last team in the NFC South, we have the Saints. Conan's team, he said to go easy on them. I told him that. I'm not going easy on this team.
00:17:29
Speaker
I just think that they're probably the worst team in the league. But yeah, let's let's get into it. Where do they need to improve most from last season? If you had to pick one thing. yeah baby The thing was having to pick one. It was a bit like we we'll talk about United it later. And it was trying to pick one there as though it was impossible. But I think their run defense last year was a shambles.
00:17:48
Speaker
I said that about a team last because I can't remember which one. But they allowed 136
00:17:54
Speaker
and in the run last season, which is criminally high. They really, really need to improve that and see where they can go from there. But that's, that's, that's shambolic. Yeah. Yeah. I had the exact same thing. Remember last week we talked about the Panthers and how the Panthers had 180, just around 180.
00:18:13
Speaker
Now, the fact that the Saints are only 40 yards less than, They are 40 yards less. You'd think, wow, they're way away from the worst.
00:18:24
Speaker
But no, the Panthers were just exceptionally, unbelievably bad. The Saints were also very bad stopping the run. But the Panthers were just on a whole other planet. But it's not to say that you should disregard the fact that the Saints were were shockingly bad. Because I think, yeah, it's really, really, really bad for them.
00:18:43
Speaker
And there's a lot... When you're in the same division as some solid, solid running backs, I think B. John Robinson caused them a lot of trouble. Bucky Irving in his second year.
00:18:54
Speaker
And then also Chubba Hubbard, who looked very good for the Panthers last year. It's going to be tough. And they took a DT in the third round, pick 71, Vernon um Can't pretend I know anything about this guy, but it's a lot of pressure on him.
00:19:09
Speaker
A lot of pressure if he's the guy they brought in to help out here. But... Yeah, who are the three players on their team that will make the biggest impact that you you went with? I went with their new offensive tackle, Calvin Banks Jr. for a start. So i he had a really good college career.
00:19:25
Speaker
I had to look it all up, to be perfectly honest. I don't watch it enough college football to know anything about these lads. But nine to pick overall. So he's probably going to come in and be starting straight away. And again, just like you were saying there about that defensive tackle, this the the amount of pressure that's going to be on him to try and fix this from the off is going to be absolutely massive. And I'm kind i'm looking forward to seeing what he can do i in the step up.
00:19:48
Speaker
Outside of that, then, I think the two went the next two are obvious. Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave. Olave missed a good lot of football last year. He just kept getting concussed, which is yeah impressive. like yeah So if he can kind of stay fit, they will have some hope. And Alvin Kamara is just an output machine, in fairness to he's He's always able to run.
00:20:09
Speaker
ah Last year probably wasn't his best year, but he is still really good. And they'll probably still need to keep building the offense around him, especially if Olave can't get a stronger helmet. Yeah, i I also have Olave.
00:20:21
Speaker
I just said returning from injury, he'll be big for them if they can get him the ball. I don't trust the quarterbacks that they have, to be honest. But yeah, yeah we'll see we'll see what happens on that side of things. But I also have Danny Studsman.
00:20:34
Speaker
Now, they picked him up late on in the draft. And I think that he's somebody who just gave a lot of production when he's in college. Fourth rounder, he's 6'4". And he he finished, he played in Oklahoma, but he finished um ninth in the school's overall tackling history.
00:20:54
Speaker
So he he has a lot of production, puts in a lot of work, big size to play at linebacker. May help in the run game if he if he's that kind of player that's going to help on the line as well.
00:21:06
Speaker
But seems like he he puts in a lot of effort and we'll see if that translates over to the league. I think it was worth a flyer in the fourth round. And then last, I went with Chase Young. I think after a solid season last year, he's back again. he had five and a half s sacks last year. I think he'll have more than that. I think he'll get back closer to his best.
00:21:24
Speaker
So I think he's important for them. He's he's one of their star guys. So yeah, to me for me, look, it was kind of, it's kind of tough because With a lot of the teams I was thinking, do I pick the obvious stars or mix it up and pick half and half? But with them, I was just like, find myself to be kind of clutching at straws a little bit. yeah And I think, yeah, Chase Young's last season wasn't amazing, but I think, yeah, this year he could make a big impact if he's a lot better and continues with them in a good way.
00:21:57
Speaker
Next is, do we think they'll hit their over under with the Buc-ee's? It's five and a half wins. I'll start it off, to be honest, no. they're the worst team in the league. They're not hitting them. Yeah, same. I had the under as well. I think the fact they still haven't picked a QB1 in training camp, yes.
00:22:15
Speaker
And they're not exactly picking between two superstars. Yeah, so that's what I said. like don they help They're not exactly picking among superstars, so I think they're in big trouble.
00:22:26
Speaker
I really do. I think they're in big, big trouble this year. And as you said, they probably will be the worst team in the league. Yeah, and I... those like videos of, I know he it was when he was younger and stuff, but I still feel like he has that same personality, but like of of Spencer Rattler when he was in high school.
00:22:45
Speaker
It's just hard to watch. um I just feel like that's a bad look. And then Tyler Shook is like 40 coming out of college. So I don't think that's very beneficial to them either.
00:22:56
Speaker
I really don't like the situation there right now. I think they'll be hoping for the number one overall pick and getting the Mannings back over to the Saints nation is probably what they'll be hoping for. a But looking at their ceiling with the current roster and coach, I'm going to say I'm stuck between six or seven wins.
00:23:16
Speaker
I'm going to say seven, let's say, because it's the ceiling. Let's say every single thing breaks their way. And, you know, Spencer Rattler is a lot better. Tyler Shook is kind of working from the off.
00:23:27
Speaker
I think if everything really works for them, they could get seven wins, but that's an absolute ceiling, to be honest. I don't think they're going to get near that. Yeah, their ceiling for me was eight wins. and Same reasons. There's no real need to delve too much into it. I just think they're crap, and they're going to be crap, and I don't think they're getting too many more wins than their five, and which will keep them on the under for the bookies.
00:23:51
Speaker
Yeah, no, I don't think so. I don't think so at all. Right, let's move on then to... To football, we're looking at a couple of Premier League preview teams. We'll move back to the NFL then to cover two more teams in a bit, but we'll break it up here with the next two Premier League teams. So this week we have got Aston Villa, first of all.
00:24:12
Speaker
So where do you think they need to improve most from last season? Set-piece defending. Despite the fact they have Aston McPhee who jumps up and down the touchline a bit like the Arsenal lad every time they get a set-piece, they still conceded 16 goals from set-pieces last year.
00:24:27
Speaker
Six of them also, six goals also from direct in-play crosses. So they really need to get that sorted if they think they're going to push way back into top four for next season. i think I think it was the same as Leicester. 16 conceded from set pieces. So that's not where you want to be.
00:24:44
Speaker
No, that's really, really bad. I didn't realise it was that high, especially when they put big emphasis on set pieces. You think it could be better. But I said they need to...
00:24:56
Speaker
balance the running of the season better because I think they'll have no issue to start off well again and with the team they have and with Emery and everything like that but it gets tough when you want to continue at a top level on all fronts as they did last year and ultimately like they kind of came to a really abrupt ending to their season.
00:25:18
Speaker
Whereas things everything everything ended at once. They knocked out of the FA Cup. They got knocked out of the Champions League. Even though they were fighting really hard in these competitions, they just didn't have the juice to get over the line.
00:25:29
Speaker
And I think they need to then it a really pace themselves a little bit better or manage these things a bit better. And obviously that comes with experience and squad size and things like that. But I think that's most important for them. um Then looking at three players who...
00:25:45
Speaker
who are on their team that will make the biggest impact. I've gone with Onana. I think he's a star and he's still so young. I think they're lucky to have him in the team and they're lucky to have picked him up because I think he'll only get better as years go by. like He's an absolute engine in midfield. He's very good on the ball. He can add a goal. He can defend.
00:26:05
Speaker
He can pretty much do everything. So if they look after him, he'll be a star for them. Morgan Rodgers is their star. hell He'll only get better. Last year, after his breakout season 14 goals and 13 assists across all competitions, I think he was only going to get better. and we We already raved the about him earlier in the season, but I'm really interested to see where he goes next year.
00:26:28
Speaker
And then lastly, I think an interesting one was Ian Mattson. I thought that was smart business for them when they picked him up. He took a while to bet into the team, but I think if he gets a consistent spot from the start of the season, he'll make a huge impact because I like him going up and down on the left side. I think he's a good engine.
00:26:44
Speaker
Very good attacking ability as well, which which is needed now and to play in the full-back position. So I think he's another interesting one. Yeah, I think we must have copying notes on this because I also have Rodgers and Mattson, but I also have Tealmans over Onana as the midfielder, so his midfield partner.
00:27:03
Speaker
Tealmans last season was just a rock for him. I think the amount of games he started, he started over 50 games, I'm pretty sure, from last season. And he never tires, just keeps going right to the end of every game. Scored a couple of really important goals as well. I think if he can keep up that kind of form,
00:27:18
Speaker
The fact that he got him on a free transfer, I just think i think he's been absolutely superb for him and i think he's a really, really good player. Yeah, I think that when I saw him going for free at that time, I was like, United hadn't been linked to him before and then he was there on a free. I was like, surely like we need a midfielder for years and shall come on to it later. But that's the exact type of player that United needed since Carrick and they just let him go to Villa on a free, seemingly without making any effort to get him.
00:27:47
Speaker
um so Yeah, I think i think that's that's a good one. I think they're really solid in a lot of positions, but their depth maybe needs a bit of work. So next up then, what's their ceiling with the current manager and squad for this season?
00:28:02
Speaker
I think if they do a bit more business, as you say, kind of add strength and depth, then I think they can get back into top five. um They were really close last season. They were robbed on the last day and by a shock and a free decision. Yeah.
00:28:18
Speaker
I'm not even playing United. That wasn't United's fault. I know, but... like you't want to run for a game That's true. That's true. But they were being, in fairness, they were useless in that game. Oh, it word they were. They were absolutely shocking. We'll talk about it tonight in a few minutes and how easy it was to get ahead in games against them. But yeah i think I think they can definitely try and qualify the Champions League and make sure they'll be pushing top six anyway for me.
00:28:41
Speaker
Yeah, I said the ceiling is to get third in the league or win the Europa League. one or the other to get them into the Champions League. I think if, depending on which works out for them, if they go out of the Europa early and they can focus more on the league and they can get, you know, I think they could really push for third at most, attmost either that or winning the Europa League if they stay in it till the end.
00:29:08
Speaker
One or the other, I think definitely a ceiling and probably a goal for them should be to to get into the Champions League. And then lastly, what one piece of business that they need to do to help them this season. I think there's a good few things they need to do. and I think the most important thing that they can do is to keep Watkins.
00:29:29
Speaker
They need to repair a relationship if if there's any issues with that, because it seems like there might be. I think he's so reliable. 16 goals, 19 goals, goals, goals and goals.
00:29:43
Speaker
um from his most recent seasons and like that's in the Premier League he's proved it at a top level they need to keep him they can't let him go and he's been providing assists very regularly too so think that would be a massive for them if they do keep him I don't think they should even be considering letting him go I agree with you on that one, but I think if Martinez goes, then obviously they need to get in.
00:30:06
Speaker
New goalkeepers, they've lost their one and two now because Robin Olsen is gone as well. So if Martinez goes somewhere too, and it looked like he was at the end of the season, but there's been absolutely no talk of any clubs being in for at the same time. So we'll have to wait and see. But if he does go, they do need to get in a top goalkeeper to replace him.
00:30:23
Speaker
Yeah. Did you see all the stuff about United announced? ah that he he was kind of pushing there he was doing a Peter on a wingy almost like but they don't seem to be interested now I know it seemed like there was a reporting from certain outlets and seemed to be pushed by Fabrizio of course that like he that he was being considered by United and all this stuff but I think that's ultimately bogus like they're just his agents wanting to be shopped around and United had no interest in him so I think that's yeah that's funny one
00:30:56
Speaker
team when players do that um so actually then speaking of united we as we said they're going to be the next one unfortunately we have to talk about them here so where do they need to improve most from last season as i said it was it was hard to pick one but this one kind of just sticks in my throat every time i hear it they conceded first in 23 premier league matches last season and second worst in the league to leicester um 31 across all competitions Like, yeah you're you're starting every game needing two goals when you're doing that. And when you're kind of trying to rebuild the way United are, you can't afford to be going one-on-one first in every single game, basically. You're two-thirds of the matches in the league.
00:31:40
Speaker
It's like you can't afford to do it at any level. You can't afford to do it if you're fighting relegation, trying to get back in the top after looking to win the league. You just have to be able to stay tight at start and... there was There's a couple of those games where United did start dominantly.
00:31:53
Speaker
They were the better team and a lot of those matches and then go one mil down and the shape falls of apart, at the heads drop and it just kills them. that that's yeah That's the biggest thing they need to fix going into next season for me.
00:32:06
Speaker
The one for me then is it's almost the other side of that because it does fall into it. Now, I wasn't specifically talking about in games when they're on top. But in general, they need to score more goals.
00:32:18
Speaker
But in those games where they're on top, they need to score more goals, especially because, like you said, you're not going to dominate like 90 minutes of every game. So if the games they are dominating in the first half and then all of a sudden they just allow the other team to score out of nowhere, out of the blue, and then the momentum is completely swung and they don't have even a goal to show for.
00:32:42
Speaker
And that happened over and over and over again. And I feel like it's been happening for years. So more goals is is really important. But to score them when you're on top, like it's pivotal. like You can't be doing the things that they were doing and allowing teams to to do things to them the way that they were.
00:32:58
Speaker
Yeah, it's bread and butter stuff, really. Yeah, like utilize your momentum, finish chances. like It's not like they weren't creating good chances. Bruno was creating so many good chances.
00:33:10
Speaker
There's times when you need to score out of nothing too and they literally did not have players to do that. Which I thought was, yeah, that's a massive issue. So I guess the three most important players for me, I would like to include Mbwemo in this, but he hasn't been confirmed yet. It's still ongoing.
00:33:29
Speaker
Looks like Brentford are putting the squeeze on trying to change the terms the whole time. So we'll see where that goes. I think United are smart for not just giving in and paying them what they want in a ridiculous way like they used to do.
00:33:40
Speaker
So I personally, United fans are losing the mind online about no business, but I would rather do things properly and get them in in a couple of weeks, two or three weeks at the latest and and go from there, then pay ridiculous money like we used to do. But I'm going to go with the other signing then for this point, since Wemo's not in, I'm going to go with Konya.
00:34:00
Speaker
I think mentioned like players being able to score out of nowhere. do something special out nowhere. where He's one of those guys and he did it in the Premier League multiple times over the last couple of years. So he's my first one.
00:34:12
Speaker
Second is Ahmad. I think he is United's best player last year outside of Bruno, even though he didn't play that much. I think if he played more, there would have been a proper shout for him to actually get player of the season ahead of Bruno.
00:34:26
Speaker
He's just electric and he's just one those players that like one of the, probably the only one of United's players right now where every time he got the ball, I'd be like, this is our chance to do something. There's not many other players on that team that I think that's the truth.
00:34:41
Speaker
And then last up is Jaro. i think he's massively important. I think he needs to get another season. He only grew and grew and grew last year. He had some massive games for the team, especially coming off a tough injury at such a young age.
00:34:56
Speaker
I think he'll only grow playing at this level. And I think he'll be very important to the team's success if they're going to have any next year. Yeah, again, we're very close. I had Cunha and Jorah as well, and then I had Bruno as the last one.
00:35:09
Speaker
don't like giving him credit or talking about him because just don't like him. But I think he was pivotal to what you did last year. He kind of dragged to that Ropoli final. He's captain for a reason. We'll see if he can keep doing this year now after turning down the mega bucks from Saudi. We'll see what he's able to do this year now.
00:35:27
Speaker
Yeah, you would hope so. You would hope so that, you know, it translates to something more for him, having turned that down, you know, and that the team does perform better. And then what do you think they're sealing? Is it the current manager and squad for the season ahead?
Manchester United's Performance Issues
00:35:43
Speaker
I think if they can kind of keep on top of everything, don't let things get like a bit muggy or anything, then I think they can get back into top seven. I think it's going to be a massive push. They need to start really strong, stop conceding first, and their ceiling would be getting back into Europe for me, qualifying for the Europa League again. I don't think they're going push the top four or top five.
00:36:03
Speaker
I think if they could get top seven, top eight, I think they it gives them somewhere to build again because they're not the United of old. They're not... They're full of players that shouldn't be playing for a club of the size many United and they need to, you can't just sell 15 and buy 15 in the summer. You need to do it slowly. And they could kind of give themselves a base to work from there being in a good position.
00:36:24
Speaker
Yeah, I think I've gone with, at an absolute ceiling, fifth place. um The fact that they're not in Europe helps them a lot and that they have an advantage over other teams that are pushing for that five to eight, nine range.
00:36:40
Speaker
some of these teams are going to burn out a little bit. So I think they will, at a ceiling, they'll capitalize on that and things will work out. Now, that being said, I don't think that that is where they'll end up. um I think sixth or seventh is more realistic, but I think if everything does break their way, they could get there by a couple of points. But I think they did the right thing getting Amram in at the time that he got in because he was able to see all the problems and all the issues and the season was already in the bin.
00:37:08
Speaker
So like, I think, yeah, he did really badly in terms of record and things like that, but none of those players were his. That wasn't his team. And he was basically given how bad it was and went, there you go.
00:37:23
Speaker
Look at how bad this is. Now you make a plan from here. And I think Berrard has spoken well in the summer about how that was his vision, first of all, when he brought him in at that time, rather than to wait till this summer and him be like a shiny new tie. And then when ultimately something similar happens,
00:37:40
Speaker
everybody's losing their ag again. and So I think now he has to perform, of course, but I think they put him in a nice situation to do so. Yeah, I agree with you. I honestly thought there was stages during last season where he might actually get sacked.
00:37:54
Speaker
um Things were just going so badly, but I do see the vision. I think bringing him when they did, as you said, was really smart. i It gives him a chance to... Give chance to work the players, see which ones fit in the system, which ones 100% need to be replaced this summer and which ones need to be replaced in the next two to three windows.
00:38:12
Speaker
Yeah. Give him a really good read. So but we'll see how it goes. But i think I think just getting back into top half for a star would be... a place goal because Man United shouldn't be finishing what was it 15th to finish it yeah yeah that's not where Manchester United should be i love us that they're down there but it's not where Manchester United should be in all fairness no it's not and I think that the the fact of what you said there that some players will be like instant replacements needed and some players like the guys that now are being told yeah you can go find a new team um
00:38:46
Speaker
And then the others are guys that you might be able to tie over. Like, I don't think Casemiro is a long-term player for your United, but Casemiro only has to play one game a week. You know, play him 70 minutes every week and then hook him off when he gets tired after giving full effort. I think that that's a much better plan for a year than just get rid of him too when it's going to be difficult to do so.
00:39:09
Speaker
So last thing then, what one piece of business do you think they need to do to help them this season? let you go first on this one. I'm still struggling to pick just one, to be honest. understand i went with a sentiment fielder, to be honest. pause Yeah.
00:39:24
Speaker
Let me go first, and then you gave your answer. I know, sorry. thought you were telling me, thought you were about say, well, you just do it, so I just went with it in case. Didn't want have first on-pod argument, so said I'd just go with it.
00:39:37
Speaker
see First ever argument. We don't argue, guys. No, I promise. promise. ah Yeah, centre mid, so what's the reason? I just think, be honest, when I putting this together, actually forgot it was only going to be one game a season. And I was thinking about...
00:39:54
Speaker
Casemiro would need someone to do a 60-30 split with him. So if he plays 60 one week and then on the Wednesday night from a league game he plays 30 and whoever else they sign plays a 60 and kind of split it that way, I think that would be a good signing for him.
00:40:09
Speaker
But at the same time, they have so many centre mids that need to go. Hugh Garthay isn't really up to the pace of it. Cobby Maino probably needs a loan now. i don't Unless you're just going to throw him in and... Hope for the best.
00:40:21
Speaker
no I don't know. I think that they need a centre made who can add a goal or two as a... Someone that can maybe get forward a little bit more because i just i just think their midfields is crap.
00:40:34
Speaker
Yeah, I said athletic box-to-box midfielder for mine that can carry the ball. And I don't care if he's if he's young, if he's like 19, 20, because as you said, there's a lot of midfielders there, so he doesn't have to play every single game.
00:40:47
Speaker
somebody that's fit for the future um at this point, I think is would still be beneficial because they need proven goal scorers. going to spend the money on that. Maybe you just have to spend 20 on another. But I also like the fact that Ndidi has a 5 million release clause for Leicester because i think he's really good.
00:41:03
Speaker
And I think they should they should look at that because that's not not much for a quality midfielder. No. And yeah, I don't like the Manu slander at all. Don't be going on a loan.
00:41:16
Speaker
like Some of the things that this guy can do on the ball, just he's he's young. can't You can't expect his progress to be linear and to be level after level. like He was excellent two years ago.
00:41:27
Speaker
He was injured a lot last year and he looks to be in a lot better shape now coming into this season. and Let's see what he does. He has clear talent. What I just find, the main question, let's see where he fits into this team because I think he's better as a 10 than sitting further back. I think that's the main issue for me. but I don't want to hear this long slander.
00:41:47
Speaker
Okay. I will just say now that I am glad I went first there because it kind of looked like I was just going to copy your answer. And then I went first you went with the same answer. So I'm i'm glad I went first there now. All right. That's United covered off. Now we don't have talk about them again until the season starts.
00:42:04
Speaker
So that's good. Unless they drag out the transfers and I will start getting annoyed if nothing is done by the end of this month. But for now, let's leave it. So we're getting into our transfer roundup.
00:42:16
Speaker
Last week we did some and NBA free agency stuff. So we've got two weeks of soccer stuff to go through. So I've just highlighted some of the stuff here that's happened since the start of July pretty much.
00:42:28
Speaker
So let's start with the done deals anyway. What do you think of these? Well, we'll start with one team. First we'll go Arsenal. Two defensive midfielders, Zuby Mendy and Norgaard. 15 million for Norgaard from Brentford. 60 million for Zuby Mendy from Sofidad. What do you make of those two?
00:42:45
Speaker
I think they're good players, but again, we're saying this every single week. Arsenal need to sort their front line. Not, like, getting their... A Declan Rice backup and a backup to their Declan Rice backup is just ridiculous. Like, it really is. I know they replaced Jorginho and Thomas Parity, and fair enough, jo they did need those players, but why are they making them the priority at the start of the summer?
00:43:08
Speaker
like they They could get Christian Urgaard at any time over the next three weeks for £10 million. Mendy's been done deal since May of last year, but with the way things are coming out, like the way it's been announced every single month for the laffer last year or so, like they should have really been focused on getting in Kyokuras, even though it does look like he is going to sign now, it is becoming more and more likely.
00:43:31
Speaker
ah just I don't get Martetta's obsession to centre-backs, left-backs, defensive midfielders. You can only play so many. You can only get so many into your 25-man squad and he needs to relax.
00:43:42
Speaker
Yeah, no, I think so too. I think it shouldn't have been a priority. I think that the Norgaard one is a market opportunity probably more than anything. Yeah, course it is, yeah. um But yeah, I think they should be focused on other things. and yes Yeah, let's just touch on Galkaraz then, I guess.
00:43:57
Speaker
Ornstein has it, I think it was yesterday, that. The discussions continue about the fee, but personal terms on a five-year contract has been kind of sealed with the player.
00:44:10
Speaker
But I think we talked about this before, and I said that if like a Liverpool signed him where he can run into the channels and use his strength and stuff like that, it would be way more suitable than if Arsenal signed him.
00:44:24
Speaker
I don't think he'll work as well at Arsenal as he would at the likes of the Liverpool, even the likes of Aspurs, to be honest. and But yeah, let's see how it goes. I just don't think that it's the perfect signing for Arsenal. And I think there's a huge difference between the Portuguese league and the Premier League. And although he is a very talented player at 27 years of age, he needs to be good fast and they can't waste a lot of money on nothing here.
00:44:48
Speaker
Absolutely, 100%. Now, I do i think it's a better bit of business than signing Seshko because we were talking about how Arsenal didn't need a project layer. Gioch Garez, if he hits ground running, like he's 27, as you said, he's not a project layer. He's someone that can potentially get you 20 or 25 goals straight away because he's a good finisher. We just have to see if he...
00:45:07
Speaker
They can make the step up from the Portuguese league to the Premier League. We'll just have to step the wait and see, really. Yeah, well that's it. Literally, it we'll just have to wait and see what happens there. Then moving on to Chelsea, I guess two more signings. We already talked about Gittins and how that was ridiculous, you know, them finding the need that to get him. But they've got him now.
00:45:25
Speaker
Just will give you the fee, 48.5 million from Dortmund. So that one's done. Another one which we didn't talk about at all, their goal scorer, in the Club World Cup semi-final, the prestigious competition that it is. Joe Pedro, 60 million from Brighton, beating Newcastle amongst other teams to the signature. What did you make of that one I think he's a good player.
00:45:48
Speaker
That's about it though. I don't think he's a world beater. 60 million is probably on the high side of his valuation. His two goals were outrageous to the night in fairness to him. But is he a striker? Is he a 10?
00:46:00
Speaker
Where is he going to play? What's he going to do? He scores a lot of penalties. He's not going to take penalties at Chelsea. I can see him finishing the season with five goals and everyone looking to get him out again. I think that a i think he's a very good player and I think 60 million is steep and i think he would have been better suited to like a new castle because a newcastle he could play off an exact or whatever but like this just begs the question even more about the need for wingers because now not only do they have lot of wingers they also have guys that can also play on the wing like you can't start a lap um pedro and
00:46:37
Speaker
Jackson up front every week. So if you want them to play, some of them might go on to the wing like Jackson used to play on the left wing. It just makes not a whole lot of sense to me. But anyway, then couple of other deals around the league is big ones actually today with Spurs looking to reach, they reached an agreement for around £55 million for Mohamed Koudis um mohammma kdi six year contract the medical is scheduled for today so i'm not sure if that's done yet or not but then the the other one for spurs that looks to be coming out in the last hour or so is that they are going to trigger gibbs white's release clause of 60 million pounds so those are two massive pieces of business i really liked the
00:47:28
Speaker
the Koudis one, i I think he's absolutely class. And yeah, I think it'ss it's very good sign that they're backing Frank straight away if they're gonna spend that much on Gibbs way too. Oh, 100%. And I think if they go with the three at back, which I think they might, because Frank is a big big fan of that formation, then just give them so many options. They'll have the two lads to sign in, Kulishevsky, Son, James Madison, all to play behind the striker that they're going to sign, I'd imagine.
00:47:55
Speaker
i I think they're two really good best players. Yeah, I forgot about him actually, yeah, so it will be Telazel. And if even if they play 4-3-3, Kudos off the left, Son off the right, Telstra the middle, one of Madison, Gibbs-Weiss, Kudosewski behind, i think it's I think it's good business.
00:48:14
Speaker
Yeah, I think they have a really nice squad now. I think i know we talked about them last week on what they need to sign, but I think right now if they went back to Brentford and got a... and Frank's old buddy Nathan Collins.
00:48:30
Speaker
Oh yeah. And whacked him back into into that back three. I think they have an unbelievably good team. But yeah, let's see. Let's see how it goes. That's a couple of bit of business for Spurs. Another few I have down here then are a bit of a mad one that went down last week was the Burnley signing of Kyle Walker.
00:48:52
Speaker
35 years of age, two-year deal, believes to be worth 5 million if bonuses are met. I think a bit more than that. But it's a bit mad to see him going to Burnley after seemingly looking like he's going to like go abroad or maybe somewhere for a good deal. So what did you think about that?
00:49:10
Speaker
I hope he enjoys the championship next season. If he's gone to the championship, he's walking out that door, without a doubt. Yeah, I think he'd sooner retire than playing the championship. I think it's it's a weird one. now Joe, he is a multiple Premier League winner, in fairness, and it is a good bit of experience to add in, but I just don't i don't see why it's a good fit for Burnley.
00:49:32
Speaker
um I'd say, i think he probably played with Scott Parker during their Spurs days, maybe, together, but I think, other than that, I don't see how this makes any sense. Yeah, yeah. I think they've got a pretty young team, and then maybe you could say adding the veteran presence, but I think he you kind of want to stay young and keep building that yeah system that they they've got there. And they also let Egan Riley go on a free, which I thought was a bit mad after we talked about what he's going to be for them. So yeah, I'm not sure what they're at.
00:50:01
Speaker
A couple of
Sunderland's Strategy and Challenges
00:50:02
Speaker
others then, Alanga set to head over to Newcastle, 52 million. We've talked about that a couple of times, so we won't spend too much time on that again. Then, Sunderland, absolutely going mad. and So first of all, they've signed like five or six players, but let's touch on two of the biggest ones. and Habib Diara from Strasbourg.
00:50:21
Speaker
I don't know a whole lot about him, but 30 appearances at 21 years of age and in Ligue 1 last year, scoring four goals and five assists for a Strasbourg team that qualified for Europe or was just on the brink of it.
00:50:32
Speaker
I think they were in Conference League and they could move up with the Lyon relegation. And then another one is, looks like they're going to spend 21 million on a dingraft from Brighton. Now, not the mass, huge amounts of output, but he has Premier League talent. He's very fast and I think a good young player as well that can fit nicely into promoted team. So what you think of what Sunderland are after?
00:50:54
Speaker
I think you said at the top they've gone mad and I think they have gone mad because they've signed five Africans in an African Nations Cup year. So they're all going to be gone in January. They're all going to go in January. going to be playing their championship squad for four games in January.
00:51:08
Speaker
oh like i Don't get wrong, I think some of them are really good players. Le Fay, who was there last year, is a really good pick-up from this year. Simon Lidinger is a good player. Yaman Kamara, by all accounts, a good player.
00:51:19
Speaker
I just think when they all go to the African Cup of Nations, some of them going be in bother in January, and whoever has them January is going to have a field day, I think, I think they're spending the money, which is good to see.
00:51:31
Speaker
Yeah, it's hard to argue with that as well, like with the... but the African Cup Nations is going to be tough for the squad, especially in January. It's like the toughest part of the season. They're going to lose a lot players. um And then one more I have highlighted then is and Everton.
00:51:46
Speaker
I think Everton only have like 18 senior players or something in their squad. Yeah, 15. Which is absolutely nuts. So they made a sign and they signed Tierno Barry from Villarreal, who's touted to be a very good star, a young player, 22 years of age He scored 11 goals and got four assists for Villarreal last year in La Liga 35 appearances. And he scored five goals in the Swiss Super League in his first three games before they signed him.
00:52:11
Speaker
So 27 million. I think a lot of people are saying this is great business. I'm looking forward to seeing how he gets on with them. Yeah, he's another lad who I hope enjoys the championship next year. Liverpool fan.
00:52:25
Speaker
And I had a special one for you and that I didn't throw into our joint doc. Biggest bit of business of the summer, I thought, to be honest, is David McGoldrick. Freddie Woodman? No, Big Didsy.
00:52:37
Speaker
Going from Notts County back to Barnsley. Well, not back to Barnsley, but back to his old teammate, Conor Horahan, as the as the manager over there. Barnsley, love a good Irish player. and uh mcgoldrick has still got the sauce i think so looking forward to watching that absolute beast of a man keep playing think he's about 38 years of age at this point so are they're gonna ireland car i think he is that as well yeah yeah he probably will but that's the so transfer roundup uh done good couple of weeks of stuff covered off there and we'll be back again with that again next week hopefully you know you'd have something to to talk about there but
00:53:12
Speaker
Let's do our last two NFL teams for today. We're moving next into the NFC West. I think after next week, the NFC will be done completely. We'll be moving into the AFC then the for the previews. So let's start with the Rams.
00:53:28
Speaker
Where do need to improve most from last season, in your opinion? They
Rams and Cardinals Season Outlook
00:53:32
Speaker
have a severe lack of depth as linebacker and cornerback. Spikes and Chris Paul Jr. are really unproven.
00:53:39
Speaker
So we'll have to see if they can pick anyone up again in the free agency, I think. I think if they don't strengthen that position, they could be in a a lot of trouble. Yeah, I think I like some of the young guys they have and I like some of the young safeties. But yeah, I think depth is important and veterans as well. They don't want to get exposed there. and there's nothing enough I went to it.
00:54:01
Speaker
the fact they need to diversify their own game outside of Kyron Williams. it I know it's really tough right now because a lot of teams are opting for like a good running back and a mobile quarterback that can get them extra yards, but they don't want have that at all from Stafford because obviously he's older, he doesn't want to get injured. That's not the usual thing for him to do, to run a lot. So I think that is tough, but they'll be probably hopeful that Blake Corham can take a leap in year two, but I didn't see a whole lot from him last year that would suggest that.
00:54:33
Speaker
So I think, yeah, that's important. If they could get a decent running back through a trade trade or just someone to back up, I think it's important. So who are the three players on their team that will make the biggest impact?
00:54:47
Speaker
ah Jared Verst, the Stars, defensive rookie the year last year. Really, really good linebacker. We were just talking about linebackers. They really need to be able to count on him this year now to follow up on what he did last year.
00:54:58
Speaker
Obviously, Puka Nikua, one of the best wide receivers in the league. i think himself and Stafford need to click if they're going to get anywhere good this season. And finally, then, Matthew Stafford, he signed up again.
00:55:09
Speaker
he can stay healthy and can find Nikua, then they could be okay. But i think they are going to have a bit of a struggle of a year. Yeah. I like those shouts. I think they've they've built a nice young defense, but I think yeah there's some holes that need to be filled, and I think first was a standout there.
00:55:26
Speaker
I also went with Stafford, and but I also said that we don't mention quarterbacks much in this part because we're kind of trying to avoid the obvious, but also given the star guys too.
00:55:38
Speaker
But I just think with his mentality and his gutsiness, I think that could be the difference between this team getting very far And andm not at are not at all, like if he gets injured, that would take a massive hit to them.
00:55:50
Speaker
i think is I think he's very, very good. And I think he's going to elevate the team no matter what, just some of the plays he can make. Second, I also went with Nakua. I think he'll absolutely explode this season. I think he'll have an unbelievable season. Could go for way over 2,000 yards, to be honest.
00:56:07
Speaker
And then the last one I went for is Cameron Pinchins. At safety, I thought he was very impressive in his rookie season with four interceptions, 57 combined tackles.
00:56:19
Speaker
I think he he played very well. Obviously, the highlight was the big touchdown return off an interception that he had. I think that, yeah, I think he he helps the fact that they might not be as deep at cornerback. But yeah, I think he he's another one that's going to stand out again this year.
00:56:36
Speaker
So next up, do we think they'll hit their over-under with the bookies for wins this year? This year at nine and a half. And I said, yes, definitely. I think they're the best team in the division. And I think they were winning.
00:56:49
Speaker
So they're definitely getting 10 or 11 wins. And I think it'd be comfortable enough for as long as they can keep everyone fit and healthy. They should be absolutely fine. Yeah, yeah, definitely. And then looking at their ceiling.
00:57:00
Speaker
Let you go first. What do you think for the season ahead? there like they're They're definitely into the playoffs. So their aim should be getting they're winning their conference finals. Conference finals. What am I talking about? They need to win their division and win their playoff games and see where they go from there. I don't think they'll get to a Super Bowl, but I think they'll get close enough.
00:57:21
Speaker
So what do you think is an absolute last mark for them? Championship? NFC Championship? Yeah, championship game for Okay, so I've gone... for Super Bowl. I think they have everything there for it.
00:57:34
Speaker
I like the young defense they have. I love the offense. I love the quarterback. They have Devontae Adams now, and I love Sean McVay. I think he's probably the best coach in the league up there with Kevin O'Connell and a couple of others. But I think they only barely lost to the Eagles. They were one of the only teams to get very close to them in the last few games of the playoffs.
00:57:56
Speaker
They lost basically on one play. like They could have beaten them if they had one more play. and I think they've gotten better and some of the young guys have improved. I think Super Bowl, I'm going mad. I think that's their seed and I like them a lot.
00:58:09
Speaker
Okay, fair enough. I have no real complaints with it, to be honest. I just think they will get beaten by the Eagles again. Okay, yeah. well It's hard to argue with that considering the level of the Eagles.
00:58:21
Speaker
Another story then is the Cardinals. For me, I said... where they need to improve the most this season is Kyler Murray needs to finally be either the main man or not. They're stuck in purgatory with him where they're not sure.
00:58:33
Speaker
They need to get out of that. And he needs to be either the star and the guy they're going forward with or the one they move on from. They need to decide. And that's up to him in his play. 100%. I did look at that as well, but again, I found it hard to look past their run defense. And I know I've done this a lot now, but this was mad when I read it. So they were the worst in the NFL last year for yards per carry at 4.6.
00:58:59
Speaker
like Allowed. you know really on Yeah, sorry. Yeah, 4.6 allowed per carry, which is absolutely criminal. criminals So a lot of teams need to fix their run defense this year, but they're definitely up there.
00:59:11
Speaker
Because I think offensively, they're really talented. And we'll talk about that when we get the three players will make the biggest impact. I think they're really talented offensively. But they need to learn how to to shut down runs and shut down passing lanes and just see if they can build from there.
00:59:26
Speaker
Yeah, I think it is't that is really important. and Because 4.6 is a lot. You're basically saying to other teams, if you run the ball three times, most of the time you're going to get time. definitely getting 10 yards.
00:59:38
Speaker
So yeah, that's not not a very nice stat to see and for them. But I've gone with three players then. I've gone with one offensive guy who is Marvin Harrison Jr. It could be a good impact or a bad impact. yeah It depends on how he tackles this year. i think he needs to do better overall due to the pressure that were put on by other rookies last year, like neighbors, and Brian Thomas Jr. Brock Bowers.
01:00:07
Speaker
It didn't make him look, didn't put his name in shining lights, let's say. So I think he needs to to step up. Second then is Will Johnson. I think he's a great pickup at cornerback. They got him in the second round. He's probably the best out-and-out corner in the draft after he won the national championship a couple of years ago and was defensive MVP in that process.
01:00:27
Speaker
So I think that was a really good pick in the second round. And then last year I went with Josh Sweat, who they picked up. I think he'll have helped. and on the defensive line a lot. He'll probably help with their own game stopping. um He'll get after the quarterback too.
01:00:41
Speaker
He's a great pickup um after getting ah winning the Super Bowl and getting eight sacks. Obviously, the Eagles had to let some people go and for them to step in and take him, I think, was it was a good a good one. Yeah, I went with three offensive players.
01:00:55
Speaker
I have Marvin Harrison Jr. this year. I think he really needs to be the one that helps Kyla Murray. Prove that he is the man that they can go forward with. I think he really needs to be able to rely on Marvin Harrison.
01:01:06
Speaker
He also knows he can rely on Trey McBride, who I've also put in here. 111 receptions last year for 1,146 yards. Only one touchdown, though, so he definitely needs to improve that.
01:01:18
Speaker
Needs get in the end zone, but I think he is absolutely class. And then I have put in Kyler Murray as well. As you were just saying, I think... Like he's he's kind of, I think he's going on 28 now. So he needs to be able to do it now.
01:01:31
Speaker
He has two potentially top receivers there in Harrison and bright. He just needs to just find them. Stop playing PlayStation games as much maybe. Don't worry. new grant If Dado comes out, just just play your football and see where you can get there.
01:01:44
Speaker
He's a big Call of Duty, man. You need to keep him. Love the Call of Duty. Yeah. i and look Well, I think he's going to play a massive part. Obviously, every quarterback will, but I think him more than some others because of how he seems to be in the middle lot.
01:01:59
Speaker
I think looking at their over-under, eight and a half is a very good one by the Buckeyes because I found it quite hard to decide. But ultimately, after looking at the schedule, I think they will just get nine because they're playing this year.
01:02:14
Speaker
Some of the teams they play is very, very easy. They've got the Jags, Falcons, Panthers, Cowboys, Colts, Titans and Saints. Those are, you know, looking, if you compare it to last year, you would say that they should win all those.
01:02:26
Speaker
um Now teams aren't going to be the same year to year, but those are a nice base to start and like to aim to pick up some wins. But I think they'll end up getting nine wins and then just be none the wiser about the team going forward. They'll be in the same position again next year.
01:02:40
Speaker
I said no, I think they'll get to eight. Again, I think the line was insanely good. And like we criticised the line in a good few of these because some of them are just either ridiculously high you ridiculously too low. But this one is a really good bar.
01:02:55
Speaker
I don't think they'll get to nine this year. think they'll get to eight. And they were eight last year as well. They finished eight nine last year. I think they'll repeat that. And as you said, they'll just be like, where do we go from here? Because how are we not improving year on year?
01:03:08
Speaker
yeah Yeah, I think that ultimately looks like they're going to be the new Steelers just sitting around that point all the time. of Looking at their ceiling then, what did you say with the current roster and coach? What's the absolute max that they can achieve?
01:03:21
Speaker
If everything goes their way, they can get to wildcard game to lose us. That's about it for me. I've gone something similar. I said if Kyler and Marvin Harrison Jr. step up massively, they can get to the playoffs. But I said they could win.
01:03:35
Speaker
a wildcard game. I don't see it happening. It's just because their defense seems to be improving and their offense is there if they do everything. I think everything clicks. That's where they can go, but I don't see it happening.
01:03:47
Speaker
I don't really think they will get to the playoffs at all, but that's a push if things work out for um yeah So that's ah four teams covered from the NFL free this this ah this week.
01:03:58
Speaker
good bit Good bit covered. um Let's go with the the draft portion that we've been doing for the last few weeks. So let's start with the... Sorry, don't know what saying there.
01:04:13
Speaker
It's okay. I just got distracted because when you move in your chair, its so fucking loud. Is this? Yeah. I'm not even trying to move her because I can hear her but I didn't realize it was coming that loudly through the screen. Sorry.
01:04:28
Speaker
Well, it's good. i don't know what. to Your headphones are like super reactive today. Like usually I can't hear anything, but even when you like open that bottle there, it was like so loud. Oh God. Okay. I won't touch it again anyway.
01:04:41
Speaker
Grant. So we're moving into the chat section. Yeah, this filters out background noise anyway, so it should be fine. Perfect. Good. Okay.
NBA Jersey Draft and Picks
01:04:50
Speaker
so So let's wrap up then with our draft that we've been doing every week as our as our game. This week we've gone with a bit of a fun one, something a bit different. The best current jerseys in the NBA.
01:05:02
Speaker
So we're just looking at home and away strips or like in the NBA they're called. I think the think the away one is the icon jersey and the home one is the association jersey or something like that.
01:05:13
Speaker
There's some kind of name on it. right well' We'll just tell you the colour of the one that we're picking because make it easier. But who went first last week? I always forget. First last week. Can't remember. Neither of us remember. Last week's draft was the best defensive player I went. Oh, you went first because you went Parsons. Yeah, went first. Yeah.
01:05:31
Speaker
Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Here we go. i me Let me go first this time. I'm going to pick up. I'm happy with this because I wanted this one. and So the first one I'm going to go with is the Bulls jersey. Just the classic jersey.
01:05:43
Speaker
And I think that that's just, yeah, I think it's just so iconic. And I really like that those jerseys that have around for like a really, really long time. And it's still similar to like the Michael Jordan one from all those years ago.
01:05:56
Speaker
So I think that's really cool. And I like the the black numbering on the red one. And so that's the Bulls icon jersey. So the icon is the one that's not white, I think, for teams. And the association is the white one. So that's my first pick, Bulls icon jersey, red.
01:06:11
Speaker
Perfect. I think we've probably gone down the same kind of avenue here because my my two picks are going to be the Lakers and the Celtics, the yellow and the green. yeah Iconic. They've never changed. Always the same.
01:06:24
Speaker
Going back the whole way, the Will of Chamberlain days, the Colby days, everything just has remained the same. And I think it was really, really hard to overlook the two them. I had the Bulls there as well as my top three.
01:06:34
Speaker
So I'm glad to have gotten two of my top three in there. Yeah, I think... for For me as well, i'm I'm like a stickler for those like iconic jerseys that just the team always keeps a similar one.
01:06:46
Speaker
I think the Celtics one for me, is the green is just class. like It's unreal, yeah. I just really like that. and have the Lakers a little bit further down, so I'm going to pick my third choice.
01:06:58
Speaker
um Here, and this is going to be the fourth pick overall, but it was my third on my chart. I'm going with the OKC jersey, the blue one. I really, really like it.
01:07:09
Speaker
I think it's probably just haven't seen it so late into last season, but I really liked that from back when Harden and Durant and Westbrook were together. And I think yeah that's only continued now. I think it's a really nice jersey and I like the color of it. So I think that's going to be iconic now for a different reason with Shea.
01:07:27
Speaker
And then the next one is probably a little bit left out left field a bit. I'm going with the King's jersey, the black one. I really like the purple accents on it. I like the kind of um the style of the writing.
01:07:42
Speaker
So it's like, I know it just looks, it's a bit of a mad one, I think. But yeah, I think it's, I really like the way that they've done this. And I think, yeah, they started with this one in 2023. So that's the icon jersey, the black one. So that's what I've done with next.
01:07:57
Speaker
Nice. I think that is a rogue shout, but it's a good one. And I think my next one is bit of a rogue shout as well. and It might be a bit high here, but I love the Charlotte Hornets blue jersey. Ooh.
01:08:08
Speaker
The turquoise one, sorry. It's more Miami Dolphins than it is Charlotte Hornets, but I just think it's an absolute beauty. I had to put it on my board. I couldn't leave it behind. And at four for me, again, is another kind of one close to home. I'm going to put in the Rockets black one. I wanted the white one, but you banned that at the very top of the draft. So I'm going to with the black one instead. No, no, no. Oh, sorry. Is the white one their alternate? It's the city edition one.
01:08:35
Speaker
Yeah, the city edition one. So I'll go with the black one. It has the red on the sleeves. It has the white numbers. It just looks so clean. So that's the one I'm going with there. Yeah, i like that one. I like that one a lot as well.
01:08:46
Speaker
I'm... Yeah, you kind of have to go with your own team, I guess, as well when you're doing these. Even though I may not go with mine because there's a good few ones that I like left. Yeah, sorry, Sixers, you're not getting picked this time. There's too many nice jerseys left. I'm going to pick this Spurs icon jersey, the black one.
01:09:04
Speaker
Again, iconic Tim Duncan, Kawhi Leonard. um And then just moving into, I actually had this jersey with DeMar DeRozan on the back when he signed for them.
01:09:16
Speaker
and yeah i i still have it somewhere but i really really like that jersey so that's my next one and then the last one is one which i didn't even think was was actually in a way like association in jersey i thought it a special one but they actually brought it back as their full away jersey last year and that's the miami heat miami vice style jersey oh yeah so with the pink and blue right and i think that's like really really really iconic uh recently like Yeah, people go mad for that jersey, and I think that has to get a shout because now look that is their official association jersey from last year. So that's my last shout in the draft.
01:09:53
Speaker
So what have you got left? i
01:09:59
Speaker
oh not Joe, I'm not sure which one is which here, but I want the Indiana Pacers yellow jersey and if I can, but I'm not sure if that's home or away, and if not, I'll take their navy one.
01:10:12
Speaker
Yeah, I think the navy one is the home and the white is the away. Okay, I'll take the navy Indiana Pacers jersey. I think it had such a good run throughout the playoffs. It looked really, really good. Really, really nice. Yellow and kind of orange on the sleeves. Just it's a really, really cool jersey.
01:10:28
Speaker
Yeah, no, I like it as well. I actually had it in my 10 and then I bumped it at the end. I was like, I'll put Philly at the end. If all my other ones are gone, I'll have to take them. But yeah, those are those are our picks.
01:10:39
Speaker
So... I've got the Bulls red jersey, the OKC blue, the Kings black, the Spurs black and Miami Heat white, Miami Vice style jersey.
01:10:53
Speaker
And I have the Lakers yellow, the Celtic green, the Hornets turquoise, the Rockets black and the Indiana Pistons navy. Pistons?
01:11:04
Speaker
Yeah, I knew it was wrong and I stopped myself. Indiana Pacers Navy. I knew when I said it was like, did Tiffany Aaron call the Pistons? But anyway.
01:11:15
Speaker
They only just got the whole list of finals and they don't even have their...
Corrections and Conclusion
01:11:20
Speaker
Actually, ah this is at the end of the episode, so i probably nobody's listening anymore at this point. but Yeah, that's probably okay. last week Last week, though, one more correction is you told me that Callum Wilson had signed... I actually had it written at the top of my sheet to bring it up first and then...
01:11:38
Speaker
I was going to bring it up in the intro. I was going to bring it up in the intro. Oh, nice. Okay, let's do it then in the intro because we're recording the intro right now for you guys. So let's just end it now. You'll have already heard it because there's point in us mentioning it again. So we'll catch you next week.
01:11:52
Speaker
All the good stuff we usually say. Subscribe, like, blah, blah, blah. Long episode. Let's just end it. Good luck. Cheers, lads. Good luck.