Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Episode 019 - Preview of West Ham vs Ipswich at the London Stadium!
13 Plays2 months ago
In todays episode Tom and Josh look to the weekend for West Ham vs Ipswich at the London Stadium. Hoping it will be a much needed win, the boys talk about their thoughts on if Lopetegui is the right man for the job and discuss how the West Ham players are performing this season so far!
GSPN Daily West Ham Links:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gspnwestham/
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@GSPNWestHam
X (twitter) - https://x.com/GSPNWestHam
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@gspnwestham
Zencastr
Built for quality - Designed for growth
A new era for creation is here.
The only complete audio + video platform to get best-in-class recording, intuitive editing, AI-powered growth features, and top-tier distribution tools — all in one place.
Get started for free!
We highly recommend it!
Global Sports Podcast Network - Creating the world’s first network of 30-minute daily podcasts for the world’s biggest sporting export, the English Premier League.
For advertising and sponsorship details or to learn more about the scale and demographics of our audience – email Ken Davies, VP Business & Development at:
www.globalsportspodcastnetwork.com
Copyright | 2024 | Global Sports Podcast Network | All Rights Reserved
Recommended
Transcript
Reunion and Team Form
00:00:09
Josh Keech
Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of the GSPN Daily West Ham broadcast. Now today, I'm not joined by just myself, I'm with Tom, how you doing buddy?
00:00:19
officialgspn
I'm doing very well mate, it seems like we've not been on podcast in a while so it's nice to be back with you mate.
00:00:24
Josh Keech
I know, I've missed you. it's been ah It's just been everyone hearing my my very sad voice after our recent bit of form. So it's good to have you back so you can share the pain with me. um Now, today, I want to be talking to you a little bit about what's been going on. I appreciate it. There's been a lot that's probably happened while you've been soaking up the sun on some beaches. So, yeah, I mean, there's a lot to catch up on really,
Upcoming Ipswich Match
00:00:45
Josh Keech
isn't there? And and we're going to be talking as well, obviously, about the match on on on the weekend, obviously, against Ipswich. I know you've already spoken with the Ipswich.
00:00:53
Josh Keech
team over the GSPN to see what their thoughts are, and I think it's going to be an optimistic one for us, but I'll allude to that a bit later on. but i mean off Off the start, how have you been keeping up with West Ham and your thoughts? What what have you been thinking so far?
00:01:07
officialgspn
It's been a difficult time as't it as as West Ham fans because the the vibe around the club is, I wouldn't go as far as saying it's negative, it's just difficult to pinpoint necessarily what's gone massively wrong and the things that we need to change
Player Dynamics and Challenges
00:01:25
officialgspn
to improve it because, you know, as we've gone week by week, we've had more players kind of get introduced into the starting 11 and we've had different people play and we've had some people come in that hadn't necessarily been what we thought were starters. I think Carlos Soler is probably a good example, someone that we didn't necessarily think was going to be a starter. And then he's kind of come into the fold and he's looked quite good. And we've had some people that have been, you know, regular West Ham starters for a long time who look like they aren't really on the pace. I think Antonio and Kufil are probably the examples of that of players who
00:01:59
officialgspn
typically for the past few years have been stores in the West Ham team, but now it looks like they're starting to take away from the football that's being played. So it's tough.
00:02:10
Josh Keech
Thank you.
00:02:10
officialgspn
It's a ah difficult time, but I think we just need to try and stay positive and keep looking forwards and trying to work out what we can do to improve because I think it'd be so easy to get into a really negative mindset and feel like everything's wrong.
00:02:25
officialgspn
and you know point fingers at the manager and the players and make it this big massive thing when right now it's still not terrible and we're still early into the season and obviously there's been a lot of change so I think we just need to try and stay as level-headed as we can and take the lessons from each of these games that we play and try and move forward and I hope that with this Ipswich game is a good opportunity to get some positive vibes coming from West End because it's kind of been difficult to come by over the past few weeks.
Reflecting on Past Matches
00:02:59
Josh Keech
That's completely fair, I think. I'd love to be able to hop on on a Monday morning for us to be able to react so positively to a lovely win. Because it's it's been a while, all the way back to Palace, practically really, that we can sit and go bloody hell with a really good week. But it hasn't really happened so far in that sense. Looking back, it seems like ages ago now. but 5-1 against Liverpool and 3-0 against Chelsea off the back of ah you know two weeks of games isn't what we want to be seeing at the end of the day. No one wants to be seeing it at all. and you know I always say every week that you know when I'm ever at home I get surrounded by Liverpool fans and they always ask me all the questions and they love seeing that. Every time we play it's with a bit of a a camaraderie and I had to break and be and be very miserable when I went home this weekend because ultimately all I had was constant West Ham abuse so it's a it's always not what you want to hear and equally 5-1 just I don't think reflected the game at all.
Managerial Decisions and Patience
00:03:53
Josh Keech
I think it's one where I think we set up you know the very start of the season that it was very much building on that sort of the upward trend of getting everyone settled and I feel like we've had dipped recently in the last couple of games but
00:04:06
Josh Keech
I thought Liverpool didn't reflect a 5-1 game and then I also thought as well that obviously the Brentford game it almost seems a little bit now like the ship's getting a bit steadied you know it seems to be you know 5-1 we played we played well for you know relatively well not to reflect 5-1 you know I would have said it was much closer than that and the first half I thought there's a couple of things if it wasn't the Caravale Cup there'd be a few more calls in there that would have gone both ways um And then Brentford as well, you know, we can't, you know, a one-all draw in a London, a London Derby practically as well, that, you know, it seems to me at least we're getting a bit closer to where we should be aiming, you know, or at least trying to reach you know those heights that we've been, you know, trying to reach aspirationally. So yeah, it's tricky. My my big question for you that I think I've been getting, and it's why I'll wait for you to come back on holiday before I ask you it, if this form continues,
00:04:57
Josh Keech
I'm already seeing the lop in, lop out stuff at the moment and it horrifies me because I thoroughly think it's not the right time. My question would be to you, what is the right time then? when should If everything continues the way it's going, when would you start to get worried and look at the likes of people like Potter that are still, you know, immediately available?
00:05:16
officialgspn
This is something I was actually talking about with the the Ipswich guys. They were asking me a little bit about the how I feel about Lopatei and I kind of used Des Moines' situation as a ah comparison to when it's the right time to get rid of a manager. so When it comes to getting rid of Lopateia, I think it's still way too soon. If you look at the kind of overhaul that we have with transfers, everyone was saying that we had the best window. And I still think, regardless of our form now, we have still had the best window because we had made the best signings. It just hasn't clicked like we wanted it to.
00:05:49
officialgspn
And then you you think about how long a manager stays in the job before you actually decide to get
Defensive Struggles
00:05:55
officialgspn
rid of him. And for me, I think it has to be Christmas. If it's if it's exactly the same, we're still lying in 14th, 15th, 16th of Christmas, then I think that's the time when we need to start thinking about whether he's the right man for the job. But but right now it's just too soon, like he's,
00:06:14
officialgspn
We've not been getting absolutely battered and we've not been looking really poor. It's just been like one or two small things that have meant that we haven't ended up getting the result, like with the Brentford game. And Waymo scored three goals this season in the first minute.
00:06:25
Josh Keech
Yeah.
00:06:28
officialgspn
So the fact that he does it to us, it's obviously it's frustrating and it is defensively poor, but he's done that before. And it's obviously something that he's capable of. so that isn't necessarily completely indicative of us just being terrible.
00:06:41
officialgspn
is's There is some sort of understanding behind why it's happened. So when you look at it like that, you... you start to understand why these things are happening. And it doesn't then look as badly on the manager, which is why I think the vibe around the club, like I was saying earlier, isn't completely terrible.
00:06:58
officialgspn
It's just, it's frustrating more than anything, because it's, it just seems like things aren't clicking.
00:07:02
Josh Keech
Yeah.
00:07:03
officialgspn
And, you know, some players are playing really well, some aren't playing as well, the system looks kind of confused at times, you don't really ever look like we've got control of the game but then sometimes we do like against Crystal Palace like that second half in that game the only game we've won this season we look really good and to be able to bring um the game against Brentford level shows we have some character you know so Yeah, it is is difficult, isn't it? And I think Lopatei, if it's exactly the same as Christmas, still not getting very many wins, still kind of not looking terrible, but not being able to get games over the line, not being able to get points, then I think Christmas is when the pressure will really start to pile on. but
00:07:45
officialgspn
I wouldn't want that pressure to come from me I would still rather just keep him because he's come in with a philosophy and he's bought players for that reason so if we get rid of him and bring someone else in who's to say that it's going to be any better and it could just end up being worse and when so far it hasn't been terrible it just hasn't been very good I think it's it's very risky to change something where the foundations aren't necessarily rotten they're just They just haven't quite settled how we'd like them to yet. so So I think Christmas is when the pressure starts, but for me, I think it's very unlikely that we'd get rid of him anytime you know this year. It would definitely be next year.
00:08:25
Josh Keech
Yeah, I mean
Substitution Strategies
00:08:26
Josh Keech
there's two things that I think need breaking down when you look at what's been going not so well and what has been going well um you know over the last couple of games because there are positives to take and I want to talk about a few of them in the next segment with individual players but I think that that's one of the biggest things so far is individual performances injuries have definitely at least stunted our performance that hasn't you know hasn't made us look particularly great we always say about striker curses and I was the first one to say with Brendan because I know they're suffering from a few injuries at the moment but um but equally I know that, so so we've been recently with some of our my most vital positions, you know, Alvarez at the start of the season being out, no fool group, he was going to be our star striker that was going to save everything, but has been injured for the first, you know, two months to the window of this early part of the season. It's it's almost, in that sense, we've been struggling with new individual battles, and also as well, we've got the other side where, you know, I would say it's been Lopategi's lucky dip with the substitutions, because he still doesn't seem so sure at the moment and where
00:09:24
Josh Keech
You know, we we're seeing people getting subbed in the first half, half time, 50, 60 minutes. And I think everyone can seem so confused with what's going on that yeah that's the bit I think that creates the most, the more negative attitude, because it it shows that if he doesn't know what he's doing to some level with the substitutions, then, you know, what are we going to do next? Because if he doesn't know how we're going to know either, um it's tricky. I think that's probably led to some of the more, I guess,
00:09:51
Josh Keech
the sort of lopper take you out kind of decisions but I agree completely that I think Christmas would be that time where we have a bit of a look and go right do we think it's been better to how it's been since October and we've got things coming up you know we've got another international break around the corner you know we've got we've got a lot of things that are gonna give us some more time to get some players back to full health. I know we've seen those folks back for the Tottenham game. So that'll be nice. Obviously, hopefully he's back and really got on the score sheet for a big London derby. But we'll, ah yeah, we'll see. But as I want to talk to you about individual players, that I think really need a bit of a showcase in their performances that have been and so you've said a few really that haven't been so good and also so the ones that I think should be getting more of a mention. So we'll talk about that. But I believe first is a word from one of our sponsors. so
00:11:14
Josh Keech
right there's a few players from me that i think at least in the last few games deserve a bit of a i guess a special mention if we're doing the awards for most improved and you know getting all the certificates out and stickers there's a few that i think definitely deserve a bit of a kind of I guess a pat on the back, so to speak, because I've been saying for the last couple of weeks of what I think should be happening based on the individual injuries and problems that we have with players, at least in the upfront in the middle as well. I think at the back, we've had a few issues here and there, but there have been things that can be relatively resolved.
00:11:46
Josh Keech
Now, I think for me, one of the players that I've been preaching that we need to be utilizing so much more has been Somerville. And I think if you look back at the last couple of games, you can see that you not only see Raring to Go, but I think when we spoke before about the kind of what you want to see from the players, it's not just that dying for three points, but that kind of passion to, you know,
00:12:08
Josh Keech
we could be two goals down and well still they'll still put the effort in and they don't lose that motivation. you know We've said about Antonia recently where he's given the ball away and just shrugs it off and walks back even though he's given it away, which you'd never see in Five Aside these days. but um but But yeah, I think it's still one of those players that you know he's one of those I've seen so far is yeah in the Liverpool game, he had he had Bradley on toast, if I'm being honest. i you know I think that even though that was a 5-1 game, I would have said the He gave a lot of Liverpool players a bit of a worry. So I think in that sense, you know we we definitely need to think about that for a little bit.
00:12:41
officialgspn
Yeah, it's I am a big advocate of playing Somerville more because he definitely has the quality eater to play in the Premier League and make an impact to a lot of Premier League teams. It's just the issue comes is where who do you take out for him? And I think I know that you've been a ah big advocate of putting Bowen up front and then bringing him into the fold.
Midfield Restructuring
00:13:03
officialgspn
And I think now that probably is the right thing to do. It's just Playing without someone who is like a proper recognised number nine I think sometimes is our detriment. I think especially when I know how hard Jared Bowen works defensively and I don't know if Somerville does those same sort of hard yards. ah talk could He could and I could just not have seen it yet but because we've not seen him a lot I don't know if he's defensively putting in the sort of covering and tracking back that Bowen does on on the right constantly. so
00:13:33
officialgspn
It's <unk>s definitely an option. I think it's probably the way to go, but I don't know if it's the fix to all of our problems, if that makes sense. And and when when you're talking about players, there's just been a lot of people that just haven't done very well. And I don't know whether it's a system thing or, you know, they they don't like the way that we're playing or it just so happens that they're just not doing well enough. it's It's tough, but I would definitely like to see some of you use more. And I think I'm surprised that he hasn't been brought into games sooner. When you see some of the changes that Lopatei has made, he's taken players off, he's taken kudos off at halftime and things like that. But I don't know why we've not seen Summerville brought into the game more as a lively attacker who's going to try and beat people and do things that aren't necessarily the sort of the most common things to happen. so So yeah, I want to see a lot more some of Summerville.
00:14:28
Josh Keech
Yeah, I agree. I think he's been one that we've been saying needs to get a couple of minutes at least just to get set up into the games. And it's been the case with the recent set of games that he has played that he's able to get more minutes in now and has actually impressed fans. I think it was we look back to the it I think it was a Chelsea game where he got subbed off very early into the second half, which I you know i can't i just remember the fans just sat there booing him you know we were talking to yet boos now already and and quite severe levels with the city subs he's been making and that was one of them even i went what what are you doing mate why have you why have you brought the one player who's been classed off and you know you've you've been bringing the likes people now just to stop us conceding three girls when he's the one that could probably make it a 3-1 or a 3-2 so you know i said with brentford you know with the i got the the very old question of favorite london derby games and the one that came to mind was the
00:15:18
Josh Keech
the recent games we've been 3-0 down or 5-1 I think of Spurs against us a few years ago now it was 3-0 in the first half and 3-0 in the second half or 3-0 in the second half and we scored the back three in 10 minutes. you know It shows that we owe that we are one of those teams that can you know knuckle down and get those results and we have players that can do that.
00:15:36
Josh Keech
but um But yeah, now there's one thing I wanted to talk to you about because there's one player who I know that you love so much. And I think it's time we we face the facts and say it might not be the ah the best thing for him anymore to be getting all the minutes he he has been getting. And that would be your best mate Guido Rodriguez. I'm going to be bold and say it. I really don't think that he's been the replacement that we'd be expecting from the likes of Flynn Downs or Ward Prowse.
00:16:06
officialgspn
Yeah, I think I agree with you mate, to be honest. He's, I think he worked really well when we're playing a sort of possession orientated football that we're supposed to be, but when we're not dominating the ball as much, I don't think without the ball he's as kind of defensively solid or he's not able to marshal the back line like Alvarez is. And then I think because he's not like massively strong or massively pacey when we are under the karsh and you know we're having we're being attacked repeatedly it's that i don't think that's his strong suit so yeah right now i don't think he's really one that's been thriving and it's frustrating because i think if we are playing the way that we're supposed to be playing in this you know new ball dominant more uh style of football then i think he does really well but we just haven't been so yeah so for for me i don't think he's been doing as well as he he could do and
00:17:00
officialgspn
I think when Carlos Soler has come in, he's done really well. I liked how he's he's more of a kind of attacking and defensive threat at the same time. I think he's got maybe um a more well-rounded game and physically I think he's more imposing. So I think for me, I'd rather have him in there because I feel like when we are under the cosh, I'm happier with him in front of the back line than than Guido Rodriguez right now, which is is a shame because I think Guido has got really good quality and I think the way that he can receive the ball and his his calmness under pressure is really good. it just Right now it's just not working and I think that's any good manager has to understand what's going wrong and try to do what they can with the players they have and if he's not doing well enough then he shouldn't play it and it's as simple as that really.
00:17:47
Josh Keech
Yeah, I mean, you look at his history you of you know international caps for Argentina. we know We know that he has the capability. So I think his problem seems a bit more system-based, at least from from from what we've seen so far of it. But I do think that he hasn't equally put what we've been expecting to see you from him in as well. I think the probably most embarrassing thing that he's had so far this season was the sub at 38 minutes.
00:18:09
Josh Keech
you know, that we saw a few matches ago, which which doesn't doesn't ever look like a good story at all, unless you're injured. That's the only way that it can go well. But, um but yeah, I think it's a tricky one with him at the moment, because I think we've seen, you know, Sucek scored, we've seen that recently, you know, in the last couple of games, and he's at least been scoring international breaks as well. It definitely shows, I think, that ah one that there's something wrong with the system, with some of the players getting the hang of it, but equally as well. You know, is there a reflection of how good the Premier League is and that you these players that can rule, you know, they have to match different qualities. And ah my question to you before we go to another sponsored break, i I would like to hear from you now, if there's one player that we don't have from the current, you know, from the midfield, at least to replace Rodriguez, if you could have one of the previous players that have either gone out alone or have left recently, who would you have?
00:19:00
officialgspn
Well, there's one that's obviously very obvious. You go deck and rise, obviously.
00:19:05
Josh Keech
You're not allowed to get that one right. No, that doesn't count.
00:19:08
officialgspn
Not allowed to pick deck and rise. Oh, crikey. I don't know if it's maybe a light for light replacement, but if we could bring Pacattar, bring him back, because I know that he can do quite a good job as one of the the pivots. He's maybe more of an attacking one, but I know he can do that defensive work. I just like to think, imagine if we could bring Pacattar back, have Kudas on the left, Bowen on the right, full correct front, and then Dimitri Pyatt in that hole.
00:19:41
officialgspn
would be absolutely unbelievable. He would bring that kind of creative spark and the the clinicalness that you know he would bring. It would be amazing and I think that's that's really what we need right now. I think Jared Bowen has been doing that as much as he can. He's been kind of pulling us through games with his his goals and assists and the way he can consistently create chances I think is second to none really in the league I think he's he's so such a useful asset for us as being especially when we're not playing very well he seems to kind of drag us through games but but yeah I'd absolutely love to bring Dimitri Pyatt and just sit him in that hole him playing balls to full krug that link up with Bowen and Kudas as well it would it would be deadly
00:20:23
Josh Keech
it really would be I can see it now was the next that'd be the the fc 25 front three and then and then you cam as well that would be the it's like those old teams back in the day when you used to have jovino and and everyone all up top as the you know that that hyperlink between all the players i i can see it now no i i agree with that you've you've thought of the good solution i was running with defensive midfielders or who would be equally that good one that could you know come back and go forward and the only yeah i guess you're right actually there's
00:20:40
officialgspn
be
00:20:48
officialgspn
Best form of defence of attack mate, so...
00:20:54
Josh Keech
the with that The one person I was thinking about, I like you know ah thought Ward Prowse has done it, you know he does put a good shift in, but you know with with pleasant sort of surprises I've seen, obviously Crest was at a few games recently, we've got a few minutes, and I've actually thought ah Besides his pace, he's actually looked quite good. you know not For his reflection of the age, I remember we said at the start of the season, he's one of the ones that we'd be winding down and probably not getting any minutes, if any. And I've been very surprised to see how good he's looked considering the amount of game time he's had in terms of minutes and his form, that actually it was nice to see, to be honest. It was a bit refreshing. While ah you know we've but a not a great game, there's been a small kind of bit of positivity with that, which
00:21:34
Josh Keech
it's always nice when you see a player you're expecting to do well does quite a good job. so But my my answer would be for midfield. I'm going to go very rogue and I actually don't agree with it fully, but just for the sake of the banter, i would have I'd get four nals back just because I miss him.
00:21:48
Josh Keech
um That's the only reason why.
00:21:49
officialgspn
ah yeah
00:21:50
Josh Keech
But what I would do is I'd have Alverez as the main defensive midfielder and then I have four nals that set them in with Soler and they can have a little Spanish partnership.
00:21:50
officialgspn
yeah
00:22:01
officialgspn
Yeah, that does sound really tasty. That strong link would be very nice. And I think we all love, we we love Pablo Fornales. I think he's got a really pleasant place in all of our hearts because how much he he loved West Ham and all of the good things that happened around West Ham, you know, when we were finishing really high on the table and winning European silverware, it seemed like his his fingerprints were all over it. So I completely understand that and I love it as well. I'd love him to come back. It would it would be amazing. I think for the for the West Ham fans, it would it would be very pleasant, I think.
00:22:30
officialgspn
Talking about the Aaron Crespo stuff as well, I completely agree with everything he said. like He's someone that we didn't necessarily think was going to get as many minutes as he has, but I think he's one that's actually benefited from the kind of system change that we've been trying to implement. I think on the ball, he's really tidy. like Technically, he's really solid, and I think that that contributes to why he's so good at set pieces, you know corners, free kicks. He's scored free kicks in the past, and he's got assists from corners, because technically, he is really solid. and Obviously, as he ages physically, it's is only going to decrease as he gets older. But with this more possession orientated style of football that we're trying to play, I think he he definitely benefits from that. so So I'm really happy for him. me you know he's been I think he's the the longest serving player at the club now. So I'm um'm just happy for him. I'm happy that he's got a place in the squad. And as as long as he's
Cresswell's Impact
00:23:21
officialgspn
playing well, then I don't see any reason why he can't get minutes.
00:23:24
Josh Keech
Yeah, no, I think you're right. And if listeners couldn't tell already, I clearly think with a FIFA brain. So that's, that's, that's all I see football these days now. No, I'm joking. But yeah, I think he's, you know, at least for now, if you ever, if you ever thought about coming back, I found it quite interesting. Did you see about learning a lot of take you put solar, both of them and message for now as privately to get an understanding of what's done before joining, which I found was wholesome is probably the word of saying it to me give me a bit of you know still get some street cred but i think it's very nice to see that you know is that reliable source to provide those just all things west ham and that's why i think you'd be that person there but yeah i i completely agree i think with with uh with creswell it's been good to see a bit a bit of a shining light and leave some set of peace special some specialties there as well so it's with that absence of ward browser provides a bit of a you know a bit of a difference so
Pre-Ipswich Match Strategies
00:24:11
Josh Keech
Yeah, ah but we're going to talk about next the how we're going to tackle whip switch, what we're going to see with the lineup, some predictions, but it's time first for another word from one of our sponsors.
00:24:48
Josh Keech
Right. So it was weeks this weekend. How are we going to do our best to make sure we get three points? Because this is the game we should win. We should 100% win it because the difference in form, I think, and difference in quality of play is is all there. i'd be I'll eat my hat if we lose this game. There's my there's my guarantee to listeners. But what how are we going to make sure that we're in the best place to get the three points is probably the biggest question that everyone wants to know.
00:25:17
officialgspn
I think firstly, the sound of you eating a hat isn't great podcast content. So as long as that's a clip, that's fine. You just munching on ah a baseball cap. I don't think it's the best audio content, but that's fine. um I think this game, we have to approach it the way that it is on paper. Let's forget about form. Let's forget about how the season's gone. We should be beating Ipswich every single time. 10 times out of 10, we should be Ipswich. We need to approach it like that. We need to approach it like with a better team. we need to like From the first whistle, we need to be at their throats, and we have to capitalize on any opportunities that we make. because
00:25:54
officialgspn
so many times this season we've started so poorly and so slow and it looks lethargic and we're it doesn't seem like we really want to go and attack teams it's more oh we'll just you know kind of slow into the game and then by the time we get to halftime we come back out and then we actually start playing which against this Ipswich team right now is a very dangerous game because um this is what I was talking about with the guys on the Ipswich podcast is I really like Lee of the Lap. I think he's a really so really solid player and if he does get chances, are I think he he will score because he's in good form and the vibe around Ipswich right now is really positive. they're They're riding the positive momentum wave of coming into the Premier League and looking like they belong there. so
00:26:36
officialgspn
We definitely need to take our chances and we need to play like we want to win and that we're going to win because yeah, if we if we start slowly, it's going to be such a long day.
00:26:47
Josh Keech
Yeah, it almost seems, I think, with every game I've watched so far, it looks like the players have all been on a big booz of the night before. they've been They've been down the pub on the on a Friday night, and yeah you see it every every Saturday so far. It looks like they've all just been wait you've just been woken up before the match. um Yeah, I think it's you're right. We need to just get into the game and just settle straight away. No no time to feel for it a little bit. you know We need to just go in and and and get started. And I think that's been the biggest challenge we've had so far.
00:27:14
Josh Keech
Now normally we usually say that pretty much the back line decides itself because we've had Mavropanos who's been doing well but every every sort of Monday when we come back and sit down and say who's been good and who's not been so good, Mavropanos always falls into the shaky category. Now I was pleasantly surprised this week it seems like Wapategi does listen to GSPN because I said that Tadebo needs to get some minutes desperately and lo and behold he plays and gets a man of the match performance in the week so My question will be is should he be getting some time this week?
Defensive Stability
00:27:45
Josh Keech
I think so.
00:27:47
officialgspn
yeah Yeah, I agree. I think there's a reason that he was so sought after by other clubs. you know We kind of pinched him from Juventus last minute. So someone of that quality, if if there's an opportunity allowed by someone else not playing as well, then they have to come in and they have to play. and I think Tadebo has got that quality and I think he brings kind of a level of calmness in the way that he defends similar to Kilman which I really like when when you've got two really calm centre backs in front of the keeper and you know as the the stores of your defense it provides a lot of calmness generally for the team obviously when you're you're building a team you want to build from the ground up and
00:28:28
officialgspn
Also, we all know how good Ariana is. And if we can have that little triangle of you know defenders or center backs and goalkeeper that are really solid and really good and really strong and they can build a really strong connection, then that's only going to have positive ramifications for the rest of the team. And I think that's what we need if we're going to.
00:28:45
officialgspn
kind of turn our form from kind of lackluster and negative to positive is building from the base so yeah I definitely have him starting and I think he has got the quality to do it and with like you say with the the man of the match performances it's obvious that he has the quality and he can do it for us so so let's give him give him some time in the team.
00:29:05
Josh Keech
Yeah, I think it's every game we've said that that's been the kind of if we're looking at some of the shaky performance, it's usually been never upon us because I think it's unfortunate, you know, but I like to think that, you know, with today becoming into show that we've got that player there that is ready. And I think back to the Bournemouth Caramel Cup game about house.
00:29:23
Josh Keech
Shocking that he did look then I don't think it was a good reflection of his caliber of what he can do and you know I'm glad to see it's a different story this week with the mid minutes he has played so I'm I'm I very think you just deserve it So we've given that chance and especially until it can give him a good bit of form now as we go into You know another spell of international break coming up and then hopefully a nice little run up to Christmas So fingers crossed the papa take you listens to this episode and decides to do that now
00:29:49
officialgspn
Well, I think he should listen to every episode, not just this one. I'm not just the last one. i I'm hoping that he listens to every episode and makes all this decision based off what we say.
00:29:57
Josh Keech
every time I've suggested in the last couple of weeks what to do, it seems to be it's been done. It's just, I don't know why it doesn't seem to work every week, but that would show what I'd be like, a manager, I guess.
00:30:02
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:30:07
Josh Keech
So I guess I have to give a stern word to all the players.
00:30:09
officialgspn
yeah
Midfield Selections Debate
00:30:10
Josh Keech
But yeah, mid midfield then is going to be the big question mark, because obviously that's what we're saying. There's been a few differences in what we've been seeing from some of the individual players. Alvarez is 100% going to start. We know that's going to happen anyway.
00:30:21
Josh Keech
Who's going to be that second person that's going to start now? Is it going to be Sucek or Solaire? Because I think Unfortunately, Rodriguez has probably sealed the deal for at least a couple of games. I i think, I think he'll probably give Solaire the minutes he deserves because he has looked good recently and he needs to give him, we've been saying that a run of minutes is what's needed from players and we know the suit check can come on and do a job anyway. I think it probably will be Solaire's time in my opinion.
00:30:46
officialgspn
Yeah, I think I agree. I i would like don't mind if either of them play, to be honest. I would be happy with either of them, as as long as Guido doesn't start, because he just hasn't been good enough. um I would be happy with either of them. i think I might even slightly lean towards Sucek, just because if you you look at the the way that he's been able to score goals for us this season, it so he's been a source of goals that's otherwise been relatively difficult to come by, other than kind of Jared Bowen. And when we've got, still got full cricket out, we don't know who's going to play out front, it probably would be Antonia, which is something that I'll get onto that later, which I'm really not going to be happy about. um
00:31:28
officialgspn
it His goal threat, I think, is something that we need to utilize, especially in this game, that we need to win. I think it's the more offensive option, because I know that Carlos Soler is kind of, I say he's very well-rounded. He's not necessarily greater, one particular thing. I think he's just good at everything. But you look at Sucek, and his late runs into the box, I think, are kind of, I don't really know who else plays like that in the league. And it's not something that I think Ipsos would have come across very, very often.
00:31:57
officialgspn
so I would love him to start and I think he would potentially to be someone that gets a goal for us. So yeah, I think start to check but equally ah I'd be happy with Solaire because he he there's ah a good argument for him getting a start as well.
00:32:13
Josh Keech
Yeah, exactly. It wasn't, I think it's one of those tough questions where it doesn't, either one would be class. I think, I think you're, you're right in the sense of that goals going through it. We know that if Antonia's up top and with Fort Grigau, we're going to need to see goals across the board from other individual players that aren't just forwards.
Forward Options and Strategies
00:32:28
Josh Keech
And that's where Sue Chek comes in. I think if there was a special award for for people that are going to just get the odd goal here and there and do that job where you really need one. You can call it the unexpected item in bagging area award. It's worth it. I think it would be Ings and Suechek would be the ones that'd be in contention each week to be able to, you know, the likes of who you'd be expecting to get that little last goal that you really need know or just someone to get a goal at least in the second half usually. And that's where those two would come into play. So we'll have to post a little award tonight at the end of the season for for the players.
00:32:58
Josh Keech
that could be one of the awards. But yeah, I think i think that that's that kind of player where you expect to see a last minute kind of goal or at least a goal in the second half that can come on and have that impact. So I agree with both options anyway. But then you're right. Obviously, I think Pacattas are going to play in that hole, um you know, in front of the team fielders. But up front, the biggest question is going to be who's going to be playing where I think we know what Lopategi is going to do if we were, you know, if someone asks us to write it down without looking at each other, I think we know what he's going to do. he He'll play Bowen.
00:33:28
Josh Keech
Antonio and Kudos on the left, which I'm also going to be bold and say, but I think we both don't agree with. So I always say anyway, I think that it's best to have Bowen up top because he's better than Antonio.
00:33:39
Josh Keech
but
00:33:40
officialgspn
Yeah, I agree in your suggestion of our non-agreeance. um
00:33:44
Josh Keech
Yes.
00:33:45
officialgspn
i and Antonio is such a difficult one because, again, this is what I was i was talking to the guys on the Twitch GSBN podcast about. it He's been such a brilliant servant and I think he is generally so underrated by everyone who's not my stand fans. He was our our first player to get 100 goal contributions in the Premier League, so he's obviously doing something right and you you can't be a a rubbish player if you're getting that many goal contributions in the Premier League. like It just doesn't happen.
00:34:12
officialgspn
but he just can't do it anymore. He just can't. he's He's not physically able to lead the line for a whole game of Premier League football every single week. And it is so obvious when, you know, we're we're starting so poorly in the first half of games and he's someone that's not doing well when he when he has kind of the the energy and and the vigor to be able to play in that way. And then he gets to the second half and he just looks leggy. He looks like It comes across as unmotivated, but I don't think it is. I just don't think that his body can do it the way that it used to. So it's always really depressing and his tracking back slows down and his pressing stops. And it's is tough because because i I love him and I think he's been such a brilliant servant for us, but I just don't think he can start for us anymore. So I'd much rather see sta Danny Ng start. He's someone that's
00:35:04
officialgspn
looked more lively when he's come on and then having Antonio as someone who could come off the bench I think is such a better way to utilise him because if we can give him, you know, 25 minutes, half an hour at the end of the game, tell him to just run his socks off, he will be able to use his limited gas tank in a much more effective way against defenders who were already tired. I know we've touched on this before but He just can't start. he He doesn't have the ability to play full game to Premier League football anymore and be effective. So, so yeah, I think Danny Ng starts. And then you can you can go either way. You can, you know, at half time evaluate how it's going and you can take Danny Ng's off and put Jared Byrne up front and bring Somerville on at wide or anything like that. But I think we need to understand who can and who can't actually play and who is going to be effective when they do play. And Antonio just isn't that anymore.
00:35:55
officialgspn
And at the same time, we need to be constantly evaluating what's going on in the pitch and make those decisions when they need to be made about who comes on, who comes off, which I can commend Blopper take you for, because it it doesn't seem like he's been afraid to take the better players off if he doesn't think they're doing well enough. And, you know, regardless of whether you think his decisions have been right, he has been making them, which is is something that I think is really positive. It's just I think Antonio is playing way too much.
00:36:21
officialgspn
And that's one of the things that contributes to the way that I think especially other teams are looking at us because ah our attacks should be so dangerous and so threatening.
00:36:22
Josh Keech
yeah
00:36:34
officialgspn
And every time I've talked to the guys on the crossover, I don't know if it's the same with you, but they've been apprehensive about playing against all of our attacking players, but then
00:36:40
Josh Keech
Yeah.
00:36:44
officialgspn
we just aren't scoring that much. you know like we We're not being that offensively threatening.
00:36:46
Josh Keech
No.
00:36:48
officialgspn
So there's there's obviously some sort of disconnect between what's happening on the pitch and the players that we have because we we have more than enough quality to finish easily in the top half of the league.
00:36:59
officialgspn
you know Even with full cricket, we've got you know some of the best wide players in the league. So it's is something that has to be addressed and it has to be changed.
00:37:10
officialgspn
And I think that Antonio coming out of that lineup is the kind of the star of the the radical changes that need to happen in order for us to be this kind of attacking threat that we know we can be.
00:37:25
Josh Keech
Yeah, i I think you've nailed it on the head practically with what to do. I ah could not emphasize enough how much you're right with that. Antonio is playing too much. The way I describe it is, is if you had a car that could, you know, has a full tank, but it could only, you only really, you know, fuel up to a quarter and you pay 20 quid each time to only fill a quarter of the tank up. And you know, you you really see Antonio doesn't really have the full game length time. You're right. And the quality diminishes the longer he plays and we we need to impact. He's been an impact sub more than anything. We've seen things come on.
00:37:55
Josh Keech
ah Literally ten fifteen minutes and set the ground the light practically with the just the instructions like I imagine are just run as you say run your socks off and that's what we need to use Antonio a bit more for as well and with the players we've got we have so much freedom what we can do with the forwards you know I think if we were putting it on merit of just how good they've been, you'd probably put Faulkruge as the one that would outrank everyone who would play at Stryker.
Squad Depth and Youth Integration
00:38:21
Josh Keech
However, but yeah the the front three would probably be Kudas, Faulkruge, Bowen, if you were doing that that kind of so and superstition of who it would be and that that prediction. but
00:38:31
Josh Keech
but the players we've got we need to be a bit more creative in how we're using them and I think Antonio coming off the bench is that start you're right that we'll the catalyst so to speak I guess of what needs to happen to to get us more points and I think that's that's where we can hopefully if if that's if a lot of taking us listen that's what I hope you would do this weekend get to help us get three points against Ipswich
00:38:50
officialgspn
yeah Yeah, I completely agree and you just hope that the what seems like the smart decisions are being made and obviously its I think it's always so easy for anyone not actually directly involved in the situation to say, oh, all these decisions are wrong because it's never black and white and there's always so many different things that can happen and different things that do happen. and From the outside point of view, it just does seem like Antonio shouldn't be playing as much as he is. so And obviously it is difficult with the full career injury. I just want to point out one thing. So I've been on the football website. It's got basically loads of stats about football teams, players, everything you could look for. And out of all of the players to play in the Premier League for us this season, do you want to take a guess at who have the two lowest ratings?
00:39:39
Josh Keech
Okay. Now I'm going to say one of them is Guido. It has to be.
00:39:48
officialgspn
It's not actually.
00:39:49
Josh Keech
Oh my God.
00:39:51
officialgspn
Two.
00:39:51
Josh Keech
Antonio, Antonio, maybe is one of them.
00:39:52
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:39:54
Josh Keech
Okay.
00:39:54
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:39:55
Josh Keech
Um, maybe, maybe Kufal.
00:39:59
officialgspn
It is Yeah, that's so indicative of what I was talking about earlier, like the
00:40:02
Josh Keech
They are the players.
00:40:08
officialgspn
The guys that have been around the club for a while, and I love them, I love both those guys, I think they're so good, but they they are getting too many minutes for the way that they're playing, and it it's slightly frustrating, of especially when we've got Wamba Saka on the bench, and you know new signings, you don't want to throw them straight in, straight away, I understand like trying to wean them into it, but when we've we've got talent in the squad, and guys that are older. Our squad generally has had an issue with being older than other squads. Our average age has always been higher. So I think we need to start weaning these older players out. And Kufal is one that I know that he was potentially linked with them and move away for a while. And Antonio has kind of always been, oh, is he going to start this season? Is it going to be someone else? And
00:40:57
officialgspn
the The fact that they're the the two lowest rated players and so Kufail's average rating is a six and Antonio's a six point zero eight. So It's pretty poor. So That's it just shows that They're the guys that we need to get out of the team as much as possible and I'm not saying completely drop them I'm not saying never use them.
00:41:17
officialgspn
I just They're some of the guys that have been getting the most minutes for us but they're some of the worst rated which
00:41:19
Josh Keech
Yeah.
00:41:24
officialgspn
You know, um I don't think that's what should happen. I think if people aren't playing as well, they shouldn't play, you know, it shouldn't be, Oh, I've just, I just play these guys because I play them. It should be, we play the guys that are playing well. And if you're not playing well, you will get changed out. And we have the squad get squad depth to do that now, which in previous seasons, we just haven't had. So the fact that we do have that squad depth, I think we need to use it and we need to get the guys out of the team. We want to play them up.
00:41:52
Josh Keech
Yeah, it's your I hate to agree with you so much, but you are right. So I'm gonna have to just admit defeat and say that yeah you're you're right with it. I think that we need to not be afraid to you know, if if if the the performance isn't there to make some changes. And I think, you know, we see a bit of that with the loppetages lotto with with the substitutions that, you know, it could be a lucky day where someone else just comes on, we're not expecting but we also have we ah you know we we could spend hours talking about the youth squad as well you know we have we know we've got players that are out on loan that we can easily bring back if we had to but i think at least with the the amount of squad that we have got that are fully fit we don't need to but we have got that ability and we we have those players we know that could come on and and do their best to show that they need to be playing in a squad every week so you're you're right i think there's a lot we can be doing that we're not and
Future Matches and Predictions
00:42:41
Josh Keech
Hopefully we can see, you know, these are the Brentford steadying of the ship, the moving onwards now with, you know, we're actually, we're going to be leaving London at some point in the next couple of weeks. Cause he's, we were only playing teams at home. We're only, we're, we haven't left London practically or the South because we played Villa. Obviously I know, but you know, we're not, we're not really left the South in God knows how long. So.
00:42:59
Josh Keech
Hopefully we can, a bit of a change coming up towards Christmas, international break, which we said will be hopefully good for the manager because we've got a few players that aren't going. Bowen's not going now. So we know that there's a lot of things now that hopefully can help to just give us a few more glimpses of hope. And we can hopefully next week be positive, completely full of energy and very cheerful that we've got three points against, against it.
00:43:23
officialgspn
Yeah, you hope so. And I think that's the way that we have to look at it. We have to try and be positive because I don't think there's much point trying to be like, oh, we're going to do this. so We're going to do that. It's going to be terrible. We're not going to, you know, we're not going to score blah, blah, blah. I'd much rather be positive and say that we can get some, some points from this game. What are your predictions for this game quickly?
00:43:43
Josh Keech
Alright, okay, I've been thinking about this all week and my answer is 3-1 to us and I'm even going to be so bold as to say that the goal scorer for them is going to be the one and only Mr Calvin Phillips.
00:43:57
officialgspn
Yeah, that would be a proper kick in the teeth, wouldn't it? um Yeah, I actually, when I did the the podcast with the Ipswich guys, I said 3-1 as well. I was debating... 32 to us because we've looked like we've gonna concede early in in basically every game.
00:44:13
officialgspn
But I went for 3-1 and I'm not gonna will that into existence. So I'm gonna disagree with you and say that Coward Woods does not score. I think he has a terrible game and Ibsu fans understand what happened when we had him.
00:44:23
Josh Keech
thanks like
00:44:27
officialgspn
So yeah, I think 3-1 to West Ham.
00:44:30
officialgspn
I want it to be good and I want it to be positive and I want us to play well the whole game and I don't want there to be any kind of poor starting and you know people with their heads down and questions being asked against Lopategi because I think this has kind of come at a really good time for us when we're in quite a poor vein of form and
00:44:30
Josh Keech
yeah
00:44:45
Josh Keech
Yeah.
Closing Remarks
00:44:49
officialgspn
there's a lot of questions going on about what's what's happening with the manager and the squad.
00:44:49
Josh Keech
Okay.
00:44:53
officialgspn
So if we can just put a really good performance performance against a team who's on good form, then I think it it puts us in a really good stead going forward and giving us the opportunity to change people's opinions of the the season and how it's going to go and kind of change the trajectory of of the season generally because I really don't fancy a a season where we're languishing in like 15th or 16th you know it's not where we should be at all we should be expecting Europa not maybe Europa League but European football specifically so So yeah, we'll just have to wait and see. Well, thank you very much for listening to this episode of the Daily DSPN podcast. I've been joined by Josh Keats. Say goodbye, mate.
00:45:32
Josh Keech
Goodbye, everyone. Thank you so much for listening.
00:45:34
officialgspn
If you enjoyed this episode, please go check out our social medias. They are in the show description. If you like this podcast, there are many other podcasts under the GSPM banner. We've got the women's women's podcast, the fantasy football podcast. We've got the the daily Premier League wrap ups in many different languages. And we have all of the ah other Premier League teams that have their own podcast. So thank you very much for listening and we will see you soon. Goodbye.