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EP26 - Crossover Thursday: West Ham
14 Plays9 months ago
Join Matt and Jake discuss and debate all things ahead of the weekend clash with the Daily West Ham team!
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Transcript
Introduction and Hosts
00:00:10
Speaker
Hi, guys. Back with another Daily West Ham podcast. I'm joined with Tom, as usual. Say hello, Tom. Hi, guys.
Chelsea's Recent Performances and Transfers
00:00:20
Speaker
And I'm also very happy to be joined with the two two of the Daily Chelsea podcast boys. We've got Jake and we've got Matt with us today.
00:00:32
Speaker
Hello,
Sterling vs. Sancho: Trade Analysis
00:00:33
Speaker
hello, hello. Hello, hello, hello. So, um we're going to get into some questions. Basically, Tom, have you got a question you want to get into first? Yeah, my first one is quite topical. It's been kind of a relatively hot ah discussion point when it comes to Chelsea.
00:00:50
Speaker
jaden sancho It's a very interesting move. What is the thought process you think from Chelsea's point of view with getting rid of Raheem Sterling and bringing in Jaden Sancho because it seems like they're quite similar profiles of player. So yeah, I'm not um'm not really sure what the thinking is, but it does seem to have paid quite well because I know Sancho played pretty well in a couple of the games he has played.
00:01:14
Speaker
Yeah, I think it comes from, um I mean, firstly, Sancho is younger. So, like, Sterling is is is approaching, if not, it already is 30, I think.
Sterling's Performance Issues
00:01:23
Speaker
um And I think Sancho obviously has that younger profile, which, you know, Chelsea just typically go for younger players at the moment, that sort of strategy.
00:01:30
Speaker
um But I just think in terms of output, firstly, I think the owners never really wanted to sign Raheem Sterling. I think Raheem Sterling was very much a sign in that came from Too Cool, like listening to Too Cool and trying to get a winger like that in. So I don't know if the ownership have been massive fans of Sterling since the start in my opinion.
00:01:48
Speaker
um But his performances for us for the last couple of years are just not that good. And I think we sort of saw the opportunity come up with Manchester United, you know, obviously, you know, it's sort of came out that they were willing to accept, you know, sort of 20 to 30 million. um And yeah, we were able to so sort of deal with them. And that obviously meant, sort of meant, I think, I think it meant that Sterling was sort of, you know, being dropped from the squad already. But once Sancho was coming in, it was basically like we had to get Sterling out the door.
00:02:14
Speaker
Um, and yeah, that's that's seemingly what happened. But I think yeah, just just basic points just that he's he's younger and I think probably He he's probably going to have a better output than what's learning how to what do you think man? Yeah, I totally agree I mean, I think we have to remember that sterling has been worth for two seasons and he has been really really disappointing uh, you know signed for 50 million or maybe 45 million and It was clear that he wanted to step up. He wanted a new challenge from man city coming to chelsea to step up into this leadership role but there were so many times where Chelsea's back was against the wall and we really needed him to step up and shine a light and he just didn't do it.
Sancho's Potential Impact
00:02:54
Speaker
There were so many times you know we got into great attacking positions in the box and he'd just slow it down or he'd make the wrong decision and so I think the board basically saw all of this and just got tired with it. um On top of that when he brought the statement out before the Man City game I think that's him just
00:03:11
Speaker
being really unselfaware about his his position of being one of our highest paid players, or actually our highest paid player at the moment, um being one of our older players, that younger players will look to, and just trying to make everything about him, it's just really not the way to go about it. um I think we've tried it with Sterling, we've been really patient, and it's just not working. And so even though on the surface, Sancho and Sterling may look similar, because we're both on the left wing, they're both quick, they're both wingers,
00:03:41
Speaker
I actually do think Sancho's a lot more technical than so Sterling. I think his touch, his movement, his his dribbling is actually far better than Sterling's. I mean, if we look back at some of Sancho's highlights at Dortmund in the Champions League, there were some of his dribbles where you almost looked like he was going to over dribble, but he was actually always in control of what he was doing and then would actually be able to turn a defender And I actually think Sancho is the closest thing we've had to Hazard ever since Hazard left. So I'm really excited about it. And I actually think we've got a bargain for 20 mil.
00:04:20
Speaker
Yeah, I think the price is good. it's just I guess the main issue is how are you going to be able to get the Dortmund, Sancho? Because I think it's <unk> obvious that there are different versions of Jaden Sancho. Sancho that isn't happy and isn't in favour. I don't think he's going to be as effective as someone who feels like he's got the backing and the support of his manager and his
Optimizing Sancho and Management Strategies
00:04:40
Speaker
fans and the club generally. I feel like that's how you get the most out of him.
00:04:42
Speaker
I guess that's my one worry is kind of an an outsider looking at Chelsea. I feel like it can be quite a volatile place sometimes for many people involved. So you go, yeah, it's all well and good while he's playing well, but what happens as soon as he starts to kind of, he's formed dips a little bit. Are we going to see him kind of recess and become that player at United who was kind of in the kind of back of the squad because he he wasn't really favored and the fans weren't happy with him. And when he had such a positive spell at Dortmund, he kind of, he knows that he can do it, but because his performance is maybe out there for United and the fans are there, you're just not able to get it out of him. So yeah, I guess that's kind of my one concern is can you get that Dortmund Sancho?
00:05:27
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, sort of there's definitely a risk with with him, absolutely, and that's why I think United were willing to to sell at such ah a cut price, because they did buy him for 73 million, so that's a huge loss for them. But I think the fact that we've got Enzo Marusco, he signed a five-year deal, he seems to be, you know, bought in with the board on what they want to do, and to be on this, you know, ah longevity task at hand at the moment.
00:05:53
Speaker
he's He definitely understands about what it means to you know put your arm around a player. I think he's actually got great man management. I think he's going to make Sancho feel loved and cared about. And there are particular players like that that do just need need that kind of treatment. They need that extra treatment to to be told they're wonderful all the time um for them to perform.
Chelsea's Wage Structure and Squad Management
00:06:11
Speaker
And although that might be you know maybe a bit ah vacuous, quite a bit of vanity, and almost kid-like, because these guys are adults,
00:06:21
Speaker
um You know, sometimes players are just like that and they get wrapped up into this world that is so hard to understand when we're on the outside. Um, I actually do think he will have some dips in form from time to time, but I think what really matters then is that Enzo's right back behind him and is still, and and on top of that, you know, he's on huge, huge wages at United's and from reports he's willing to cut them by about 150, maybe even 200 grand to come to Chelsea on his weekly wage.
00:06:51
Speaker
And I think if he's willing to do that, he really buys into the project and buys into Chelsea. um You know, he said he was a Chelsea fan growing up. So I think that helps with everything, it helps with the whole environment. So it's definitely a risk, but I think we'll get a lot more good moments rather than bad from him. Yeah, definitely. I think especially for 20 mil, like the the financial risk is kind of mitigate quite heavily when, you know, you're signing someone that does have quality for 20 mil. I think that's,
00:07:19
Speaker
On paper, it looks like a really good signing. It's just the worry that it's going to go sour is the one thing. ah Jacob, what by you what what questions do you have for the Chelsea guys? My main one was your guys thoughts on the is kind of expanding on the man management thing you brought up. um Just be it seeing um what Mareska said about excluding certain players from the squad. You know, we had not really seen that sort of thing.
00:07:49
Speaker
previously. um it It felt very strange. you know He's got obviously got this massive squad, didn't stop them bringing in more players and then seemingly axing certain faces you know that we're so used to seeing. I just want to know your guys' thoughts. Do you think they went about it the right way? Do you think um maybe it was a bit unfair?
00:08:15
Speaker
john go for um yeah i um yeah i think i think it was i think it's sort of fair i think you got realized like the source stra gives me the strategy that we're going for um and it's it's It's tough, certainly, on a lot of players, and I think it's... The thing is, it's it's quite it's quite complicated when it comes to most of our players anyway. um I think there's certain situations that just literally, like, like there's one we were just speaking about, like, with Sterling and stuff like that, like, you know, the strategy to move him on, you know, even though they might have been thinking about it anyway, you know, he sort of ducked himself the hole there, but then obviously it affects players like...
00:08:57
Speaker
Shaloba like we really we really didn't want to see him affected and you know, then that there is now a chance he might be reintegrated into the first teams quad, but a lot of Chelsea fans didn't feel right but about that in the summer like we discussed that on our podcast we might discuss that many times about how how we're a bit you felt a bit sorry for some of the players our club right now, um but I think a lot of it is necessary to in terms of like building the squad that we want. And I think now we've, in terms of the 25, 27 players that we look at as our as our squad, I think now we've got really good depth in attack, we've got really good depth in midfield, we've got good depth in defense as well. Plus we have players who you know who are of decent quality who we can call upon at some point again if we need to as well. Like Chillwell, he's got a squad number, but he's not really involved. It's sort of been said he's not really going to be involved in the squad. but
00:09:47
Speaker
if we really, really badly need a left back and we need to call upon Ben Chilwell, it's not the worst thing in the world. um But I do i do i think it's fair. i think I think it's fair in terms of where we want Chelsea to get to, but in terms of certain situations, it's obviously not not been the best for the players. And we've discussed that quite a lot.
West Ham's New Manager and Strategies
00:10:06
Speaker
I mean, what about you, Matt? Yeah, I think this all of that outcasting is purely a financial a decision. It's purely a financial motive.
00:10:15
Speaker
in terms of what they're doing with that. And particularly with Sterling and Chilwell, they're on massive wages. Sterling's on three to five a week. Chilwell's on 200 a week. Those are big, big wages. And it just doesn't fit in with the new structure, within with the new boards in terms of their wage wait regime. And you know they they've I think they've changed it in the correct way because the problem is you do have these players on these massive wages with no incentives to play.
00:10:44
Speaker
And they're still gonna get this massive pay packet, whereas with Palmer and whatnot, they're on about a third of the wage of Sterling, but he's incentivized because of all the bonuses he could get by goals and assists. And that's best best for both worlds because the players want to play, they want to achieve on the pitch, and that keeps the fans happy, that keeps the club happy because we're getting results. um And so the new model's right.
00:11:08
Speaker
The one obviously for Chalabar is really gutting because again, that's financially motivated motivated because he's homegrown, so it's just pure profit um if we do sell him. But I think he's the one player out of those three that was really outcasted um that we really need to keep. Other players like Broya, he's never going to get in the team. Lukaku, that was gosh, you know, if if what happened this summer could have happened, you know, two, three seasons earlier, that would have been amazing. But finally,
00:11:36
Speaker
he is out of the club. um So that's amazing. So it is a bit harsh, but I think with BlueCo, it's just hammering home the reality of football, that there is so much impact ah from the financial side of it. And sometimes that really trumps the love of the game. Yeah, yeah, I think that's fair. It's
Chelsea's Season Prospects
00:11:58
Speaker
a tough situation, is it? I think especially when When managers change, you you know that you're left with the remnants of what the last manager had. like We've had that with Moyes, where it's there is going to be a ah transition period from kind of getting rid of the remains of one manager and trying to replace that with the foundations of another. so
00:12:20
Speaker
when you're talking about these big contracts, it it kind of puts Maresco in a difficult position where he's got players, they're on big wages and potentially big contracts when they're not necessarily his guys or they're not guys that fit into his system. So it's you either try and sell them a cut like ah cut price or you you try and get them somewhere in the pecking order of of you know players and trying to get in a starting spot. And then some aren't going to be happy with where they are. So they're not going to be in that starting kind of group. So it's a really tough situation. And that's one that if I guess only time will tell, I felt like it's kind of too difficult to tell right now if it's been handled in a ah positive way, because you know as the season progresses and injuries happen and you know form changes up and down, I guess that's when we'll really see where the the whole
00:13:07
Speaker
kind of main squad with the main bulk of the Chelsea team, how they are as a group. So with that, only time will tell. but But yeah, it's a difficult situation. So yeah, time will tell whether it's it's been positive or not.
Chelsea's Starting Eleven and Adjustments
00:13:21
Speaker
Okay, go on. Sorry. We said I was just gonna I think I was gonna say what you were gonna say. Go for it.
00:13:29
Speaker
So that leads us perfectly into our first outbreak and then we'll be back ah to talk more of Chelsea's start to the season.
00:13:40
Speaker
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00:14:07
Speaker
Okay, so guys, we'll just want to talk a little bit. Can you just summarize the start of your season quickly? Just give us a little quick overview of how you think it's gone so far.
00:14:19
Speaker
um oh think I think it's generally positive, as in like i said we lost to Man City. That was kind of going to happen regardless of because of where they are and where we are. But delighted with the wins at Bournemouth,
00:14:36
Speaker
Frustrated with the draw against Palace, but ecstatic with the win against Wolves for sure, because that was just relentless. Sort of Neto and Felix really gelling really well in that game, and we just took full advantage. So I'm quietly confident. I'm feeling much, much better, as I think Jake would agree with me, that we're feeling a lot more positive about this season compared to the previous two seasons, where we just had the total mismatch of Graham Potter, Frank Lampard,
00:15:06
Speaker
Pochettino making weird signings over those two years. Whereas now our attack actually looks a lot, lot more threatening and and much better. So,
Upcoming Fixtures and Strategies
00:15:17
Speaker
and I think we've seen that from, from the game so far. So very confident after the the game so far, still a lot to do, but I think based on what we've seen so far, we can believe that we can get sixth this season, maybe push for top four. Yeah. What about you, Jake?
00:15:35
Speaker
Yeah, I think I've been quite, um, I'll be very happy with, with jealousy starts with seasons, to be honest. I think, um, ah you know, and in, in preseason we were showing, you know, sort of an identity again that we hadn't really seen for a while. Um, and then we, we definitely showed that in that first game against city, which, um, you know, we sort of played quite well in, I know we lost, you know, but we played quite well in that. And, um, you know, we've, we've had some confident games, you know, against wolves. Um, you know, I feel like,
00:16:04
Speaker
the win, we sort of grinded out against Bournemouth on the weekend. We really wouldn't have done that last season or in the last couple of seasons. To be honest, we didn't really have that mentality to sit there and grind out games, um which I think is something the Maresque has definitely given us. And I think that's just partly come from having an identity and know what to do most of the time in the game, um which I think is something we didn't have that much under Podge, to be honest.
00:16:25
Speaker
um And I think it depends. It definitely depends on how many points we pick up over the next two or three weeks, because obviously um basically we we have, you know, some not not easier games, but we have um opponents we should be looking to beat over the next few weeks. You know, we had Bournemouth last week. um Going away to you is now a lot a lot tougher challenge, but it's it's a game we we really want to be getting three points from. And we have a couple of games coming up like that, including Nothing Against Forest as well.
00:16:53
Speaker
You know, we want to be getting three points there because when we come back for the next international break, I think we play Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, um all in the same sort of small period. So we need to be building up our points here, really.
Chelsea's Attacking Options and Chemistry
00:17:05
Speaker
um And if we are able to do that over the next two to three weeks, I think we can we can look towards top four this season. I think i'm um'm I'm pretty confident that we can sort of look towards top four at the very least. I think we should be looking at top six. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So question I've got quorum.
00:17:24
Speaker
sorry go on no go on no you go honestly it's all good sorry all right okay um i was just gonna say do you do you guys think maresca already knows what his best 11 is or do you think he's still because we've been seeing like performances such as madawake who perhaps we weren't expecting i mean i certainly wasn't expecting i don't know you'd be would have seen more of him than I have, but do you think he knows his best 11 now? Or do you think, due to the size of the squad, do you think everybody needs to get their opportunity? It's still a building period, isn't it? So, I don't know. What do you think?
00:18:10
Speaker
Yeah, i think i i think he I think he's getting closer to that. I think um in terms of you know the back six, including the first couple of midfielders, I think he's very much sort of there. um Obviously, we've got a few things upsetting that sort of those starting players at the moment. like We've not had a right back at the moment. Reece James is injured. um Gusto is still out. um and So we've had to you know change it up a little bit. But I think in terms of the back four and the two he wants in front of them, I think he typically knows the players he wants there. And I think Sanchez's spot is also quite sturdy as goalkeeper. I think in terms of the attack, I think we're we're going to be waiting a while to see who's going to be our starting players there. um We have a lot of attackers, a lot of creative
00:18:53
Speaker
creative attackers and I think it's gonna take a while to find out who has chemistry with who um who doesn't really work with who else um we don't really want to suffer from the latest same thing in our last few seasons where we've got ah quite a few quality players but we just can't get them to link up in the slightest and I think that you know completely ruins attacks yeah I think I think we'll be waiting a while for the attacking side of it to be sort of you know so to see who are sort of starting four or five are in attack but Um, I think we know who we're consistently going to start in terms of defensive midfield now. What about you, Matt? Yeah, I agree. In terms of, I think it's mainly the front three that is up for the most discussion. Uh, as in upfront, is it Jackson or Kunku on the right? Is it Neto or Madawake on the left? Is it Neto on that side? Um, or is it Sancho or Madrick?
00:19:46
Speaker
You know, that's generally, I think, the question because we're normally going to play Caesado, Enzo and Parma in the midfield um if everyone's fully fit. So, but I don't think that's necessarily an issue. I do think, and this is slightly comparing comparing because Enzo did work with Pep under City, but under Pep, there's plenty of times where Foden's all the talk and then he gets, and then he has a bit of a quiet period and then it's Grealish or then it's Doku.
00:20:15
Speaker
Maybe this season, it'll be Savino. In previous years, it's been, Maras has really stepped up. And then it was Sterling, Wood City, under him. And it's always fluctuated. And I think that's really important because unless you're really like the Messi Ronaldo top, top players, you just can't be the best player the whole season going. You're going to have some off periods for maybe up to a month or so. And that's where you really need some of your teammates to step up and fill in for you and get the goals and the assists.
00:20:45
Speaker
So I think having a lot of depth upfront is really, really ideal for us. And so, yeah, I think. Obviously, Palmer will be there in amongst everything because he's just such a playmaker. But we'll see things like Madawake getting a hat-trick against Wolves. And then we'll probably see Sancho do that or, you know, we haven't even spoken about Zhao Felix. You know, he's in there to potentially play the number 10 or out wide as well. So I don't think Enzo knows his best 11 just yet. ah But I would be surprised if he did just because there's so much jelling to do. Yeah,
West Ham's Signings and Squad Depth
00:21:19
Speaker
that's very fair. I guess it's kind of
00:21:21
Speaker
I know I'm making the comparisons with West Ham because that's kind of my reference point and it's kind of the same thing when you're, you know, yeah there's been a lot of change in the squad. you've You've got a manager that's still new and that kind of feeling out time is happening constantly. And I feel like we're we're both kind of, we have squads that you feel like you're kind of getting a sense of who he likes, who he doesn't like, who he maybe likes to bring off from the bench, who he trusts to start. So yeah, it would be be very interesting to see who does end up starting for most of the season.
00:21:51
Speaker
Now over to you guys, do you have any questions for us as West Ham fans, podcasters? Um, I think, um, looking over from the Chelsea side, um, you know, a bit earlier in the transfer window, we were, we were really wanting our own attacking signings and we were sort of looking over a bit lustingly over at West Ham because, you know, there was, you had a lot of rumors going on, you were signing some attacking players. Um, I like to catch up sort of, I suppose on, on how your, your new signings have been doing for you. Cause obviously you did.
00:22:21
Speaker
have quite a good transfer window, you know including like full crew Summerville, which is obviously a really exciting signing. Have all of your new signings you know you know sort of had a chance to sort of bet into the team yet? If they have, how well have they done? And um out of those new signings, I suppose, who should we as Chelsea fans be worried about this this weekend?
00:22:45
Speaker
it We've not really actually had that much of an impact from the new signings offensively so far, I don't think. It's been tough because, so obviously just recently, Fulcrung's been injured when he was away with Germany, so that that's been frustrating. And Lopategi at the start of the season, he's mostly gone with new signings starting kind of in the more defensive roles. And then offensively, we've gone with more of the the old Mois players.
00:23:10
Speaker
So when it comes to new signs, we haven't really seen a lot from Somerville. Obviously he came on late on against Manchester City and had a really good shot saved by Edison like right at the the end of the game. So that was positive. And I hope that as the season goes on and what we've kind of found out recently, I think, especially in the last game, I don't think Michael Antonio is really able to hold the line for 90 minutes anymore. So you hope that with Falkrug coming back sooner than anticipated which is which is what we've recently found out that his injury is not actually as bad as we thought it was so he could potentially start against Chelsea I'm slightly hesitant I wouldn't want to rush him back because we need a striker I'd much rather him be ready to play when he's fit so for me I even think the way that Ings came on and scored that late equaliser I think I'd potentially even start Ings for this game and then bring Falkrug on at you know 60-55 minutes and hope that he can make an impact but
00:24:08
Speaker
But just because the the new signings haven't made an impact offensively doesn't mean that they they won't. And I think we still have a lot of time. And you know when you sign the championship's best player of that season, you know that he has ability. So it's just being able to kind of slowly bring him into the squad and find somewhere that he can be affected. Because but as wide players go with Bowen and Kuda, like we there's not actually that many teams in the Premier League that I think have a better wing of duo because I'm one of Kudos' biggest fans. I think he is unbelievably good. He's definitely a Champions League player. And I don't think he'll be with us for very long if we don't get Europe. And Jared Berlin is, I think, just as good. he His goal numbers and his assist numbers are so consistent. And he's done it this season. He did it last season. And he he continues to just help kind of keep our attack chugging along as it seems like we kind of become a bit stagnant when we have Antonio leaving the line looking relatively lackluster and
00:25:08
Speaker
sort of um Sucek playing in the 10, which isn't really where he plays. So attacking wise, it's not really his his thing. So yeah, I've got a bit off tangent um attacking signings. I think that they will be fruitful for us and I'm positive that they will come into the squad and have an impact relatively too soon. What do you think, Jacob? Yeah, I mean, my view is much the same as yours, Tom. um I think that the the starters that we've got in there are difficult to get out of that starting 11, you know, Bow and Kudos, you know, Paquetta, as long as they're fit, they're going to play because they're our real difference makers. um But we find ourselves in a position that we haven't really had for, I don't know how long, where
00:26:00
Speaker
we have to rely on them. um You see it with full krugs injured but we do have options which we haven't had previously. you know For example last season when Antonio is carrying a knock and he has to play basically because we haven't really got another option.
West Ham's Season Expectations
00:26:19
Speaker
um So I think there are exciting things to come. I just think that Wyles, Kudos, Bowen, um all these exciting attacking players keep performing. I think it's going to be hard for them to lose their places in the squad um and the likes of Somerville are probably going to get his his chance to sort of shine, um you know, cup games coming off the bench late. But yeah, we we're just grateful really, I think more than anything that
00:26:52
Speaker
We are not stressed out all the time. Like if, you know, for example, if soo checks injured, like who's going to take his place? We've got that now we've got, um, we've got a world cup, you know, when are in Guido Rodriguez, you know, he might not be a deck and rice, but he's got that experience. He's got that class. Um, yeah, we're, we're in a great place. Um, I'm excited.
00:27:19
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. i think so ah Sorry to interrupt, mate. I think the the ability to have a bench that you can have faith in is so, so useful in it. As a fan watching a game, you're not terrified that someone's going to get an injury while they're playing. And you know that if someone isn't maybe performing as well as they could do, you have people that can come and make an impact. And as West Ham fans, we've not had that for quite a while, to be honest. We've kind of just had a starting 11 that's decent and then kind of made do with bit part players and youth players that don't even really get on the pitch. So yeah, it's good to have a bench. Yeah, I guess just on that with all the songs that you've made this summer and increasing the squad size and having that extra depth, you guys finished ninth last season. What is the expectation for this season now and is there real pressure on Lopategi to finish seventh or even higher?
00:28:14
Speaker
it's It's difficult, isn't it? because when you look When you look at it objectively, you think, new manager, you know we've we've had European success previously. He brings in a load of players. Everyone says that we basically have the best window, which I think we probably did. And then you know the the first few games aren't maybe as exciting or you know as fruitful as we'd like them to be. And you go, what is what is the reason for that? And I think then when you actually look at the situation, the situation kind of Under the microscope, you go, well, we've we've changed style of football massively. we now won We actually want the football when, kind of previously, we were quite happy not to have it and kind of hit teams on the counter. Now we want the football. We want to play with it. We're trying to get more possession in games. We're trying to change the whole kind of ah identity of the way that we play, because everyone goes, oh, the West Ham way. But that doesn't really like what even is the West Ham way.
00:29:07
Speaker
um So when you combine that with a lot of you know squad change, ah big players leaving like Kurt Azuma, who's been our captain previously, is left. And you look at kind of how how volatile clubs can get so quickly. I think most West Ham fans are relatively relaxed still because we know that these things take time. And I think there's so many case studies of teams giving a manager time when it potentially looks not particularly favorable.
00:29:37
Speaker
you you say the Michael Arteta example is probably the best one where people weren't sure if he was the right man for the job and then you give them time and you just trust the process and you say, okay, it might not be amazing short term, but we're going to trust the guy we've got, let him make his changes and we'll see what happens. So I think most West Down fans are We want to be better, and I think the the expectation is it has to be top half. Obviously top half non-negotiable. Europe is the hope and the desire, but if we don't get there, it's not the end of the world. As long as you can see a progression in the way that we're playing and you can see solid foundations that we can build on, I think most West Ham fans would be relatively okay with that. I don't know what you think, Jacob.
00:30:23
Speaker
Yeah, I don't really know what the expectation is, to be honest. we all um We're seeing a completely different side to our team than we've seen in many years. like We don't know what to expect. um We've got all these new players. We've got a ah new manager with completely different ideas to Mois. And I think, yeah,
00:30:53
Speaker
Top half, I think I would be happy with 10th. It's not exciting, but I think realistically, we can't really expect a lot more with all the changes. um It takes time. like I'm sure you guys will agree with that as well. like Just because you've signed tons of players doesn't necessarily mean you're going to go out and finish fifth.
00:31:20
Speaker
um So yeah, I think if if we get top half, I think it's a good job well done um and then just look to build honestly. um Yeah, that's it really.
00:31:34
Speaker
Yeah, I definitely agree. I think the emphasis is way more about how we play and how we look rather than the place on the table specifically because you know we we could finish eighth or seventh and play pretty poorly and you you know the the foundations aren't there for the next season. I'd much rather finish like a solid eighth or ninth, but knowing that we're playing the way we want to play, you know that finish the end of the season really strong,
00:32:03
Speaker
And then next season, we can kind of build that momentum. The only one worry with that is the quality players that we do have, will they want to stick around for another season without European football? That's kind of the one worry. So it's, yeah, it's tough. We'll just have to see what happens. Obviously, the hope is European football. and I think that's what e everyone hopes. And I think that is a possibility, but it's not by any stretch of the imagination, like a demand or a necessity because, you know, good things take time and I think I'd rather be patient and have faith that things are going to work out well with a plan and a manager who's given time to kind of implement that plan, rather than get all frustrated and annoyed and sack the manager and get a new manager in who then sides a load of new players, which means we have to get rid of all the old players and kind of go into the the cycle of sacking managers really quickly. I think that's something that only brings uncertainty to a club, which is is not what anyone wants really.
00:33:02
Speaker
Yeah, perfect. Well, we are going to head to our second
Advertisements and Closing Predictions
00:33:04
Speaker
ad break. and When we get back, we're going to give specific predictions about the game. Do you have a story to tell that the world needs to hear? Have you struggled reaching new audiences who are already engaged with your story? It might be time for you to start a podcast. Let me tell you about a platform we use here at the Global Sports Podcast Network. Sengaster makes it easy to start a high quality podcast built for growth from day one.
00:33:28
Speaker
with 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes ums, ahs, your nose and 22 other speech patterns. Zencaster makes it super easy to start a podcast that sounds great. Ready to tell your story? Check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster. Okay, so I want one key player from each team and how that player can play to be effective for their team.
00:33:59
Speaker
I don't mind if you guys, you guys take it away and we'll go second. We'll let you go first. Matt, do you want to go or should I go? You go for a trick. One, the key player for Chelsea, I believe will probably be this weekend in cuckoo. I think he's very good in tight spaces. I think he's going to shoot his boots on this weekend. I would also have said Cole Palmer, but I think it's a bit of an obvious option. That's the only reason.
00:34:27
Speaker
um But he will he will have he will obviously go by my will as well after you have quite a bit back But I think you could you might be the one who gets the winner for us again this weekend um I think he's really trying to nail down that striker spots for us and I can really see him scoring for us um in terms of score I'm gonna go with 2-2 I think we'll probably start well, um but I'm a bit worried about how we do and like it, like in terms of longevity, in terms of the game, because I think it's, you know, it's an away game and the crowd start to get on top of us and stuff like that. I can see us scoring maybe two goals in the first half and going in at two and a half time and then drawing to two-two.
00:35:08
Speaker
um or it might be, you know, 1-0 and 2-2, but we'll see. um i But yeah, that's that's my prediction. I think i think we'll will come away with a draw. I think it's be quite tough to go come away with a win. What about you, though? Yeah, I think it will be a really tight game. My stand-up player will actually be Enzo ah Fernandez, just because I thought he was brilliant when we played you last year. ah ah Admittedly, it was only a 1-0 draw, but he had that fantastic fit assist to Jalf Ilex.
00:35:38
Speaker
and we had him on the line. And i think he I think you guys will be really compact and defend really, really tightly. And so we'll need him when we're when we are on top um in those moments for him to be that deep playmaker and to get those assists in um for for all the attackers that are on the pitch, whoever that is, depending on Maresco's lineup. So yeah, Anzo Fernandes for me to to get a great um performance and get a couple of assists tomorrow.
00:36:08
Speaker
My result is going to be 2-1 to Chelsea because I think we're on the up from Bournemouth. You guys are still kind of a bit in the mud. Maybe that's a bit harsh, but as in, you know, you've won. Jacob's shaking his head. You can't say that. That's hard. But as in, you know, four games in, um you've only won one. So still finding your feet, um which is, you know, okay, but I think we will take advantage of that.
00:36:38
Speaker
I do think the crowd will be a factor and we will have some edgy moments when you do score and the crowd get on you, ah get on us. But, uh, ultimately I think we've just got the better quality right now and we will get the three points. Yeah, yeah I think that's a fair, fair evaluation. Jacob, what do you think? Um, I, I was also going to say two, two, but I'm now not going to say two, two. I'm going to say four nil. yeah No, I'm going to, I'm going to say one all.
00:37:08
Speaker
um And i my stand-up player probably is going to be Kuda, so I'm sure Tom was more than likely going to say. um I just think that Kookarela, who I assume is going to play on the left, um is iss just going to have a long day, really. I think he's he's going to find it very tough. um Yeah, we all know what he can do. so yeah Yeah, I think mine was going to be the same. I think, especially with your kind of fallback injury problems, I think the fact that our our wingers are so effective, I think, is really good for us. You look at the one-on-one battles, you think that our attacking wingers, I think, line up really favorably against your kind of defensive fallbacks in those when we're attacking. so
00:37:57
Speaker
I was going to say Kudas, but I will say Edson Alvarez, actually, because I think he's someone that's really underrated by everyone apart from West Ham fans. He's such a good kind of enforcer in front of the back four. I think where we've had, you know, there's been a lot of change in our back line. Another little shout out to Wamba Sakur as well. He's looked really good. Obviously, everyone knows what he can do defensively, but off offensively for us, he's been really positive. So a little shout out for him.
00:38:23
Speaker
the way that Etan Alvarez kind of gives the centre-backs confidence that he can mop up anything that is right in front of them so they don't then have to kind of step out of defence and make those kind of decisive decisions where we can then be exposed in behind. So yeah I'll say Etan Alvarez and I think School prediction, I'm actually also going to say 1-1, I was going to say 1-1 the whole time, I haven't changed my opinion based on other people's comments. um So yeah yeah, I think 1-1, I think just because I think you'll get the first goal early and I think we'll go into the half time, probably 1-0 down and then the second half.
00:39:03
Speaker
will probably sit back and then I think on the break, our wingers will expose the full backs because I think the the quality that you have defensively in the full back positions isn't great right now with the injury. So yeah, I think that one-one, I'd be relatively happy with that to be honest, kind of the way we've been playing it, it hopefully puts our momentum a little bit upwards because we've drawn with a team that I think a lot of people expect us to lose to. So yeah, that that's my thoughts. Anyone else got any other parting comments?
00:39:34
Speaker
Good luck. Thank you very much for watching and listening to this episode of the Daily GSPM West End Podcast. Say goodbye guys. I've been joined by Matt, Jake and Jacob.
00:39:47
Speaker
Thanks everyone. Thank you. yes if you enjoyed this episode please go and check out their podcast the daily chelsea gspn podcast they put out great content just like us very regularly check them out there are also many other podcasts under the gspm podcast umbrella we have the ah wrap up podcasts in many different languages we have the fantasy podcast women's football podcasts Go and check those out if you enjoyed this one. Obviously all of the other Premier League teams as well. If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate it or wherever you can, wherever you get your podcasts. All of our socials are linked in the show description. Thank you very much for listening and we will see you very soon. Goodbye.