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Daily Premier League in English: Episode 98 - Bournemouth dominated by Manchester City in FA Cup quarterfinals, who made the final four at Wembley?
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Club football is back after the international break! Join Michael Thompson and Michał Czarniecki as they discuss all the action from the FA Cup quarterfinals, including Eberechi Eze's standout performance against Fulham, the thrilling matchup between Brighton and Nottingham Forest, Marcus Rashford's spectacular display against Preston North End, and more! Tune in and enjoy!
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Transcript
FA Cup Quarterfinals Recap
00:00:44
Mikey
Hello and a very warm welcome on this fine Monday, wherever you find us, morning, afternoon or evening. It is me, Mikey Thompson. I'm joined by the one and only Mikhail, all the way from America. How are you today, sir?
00:00:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hi, hi. i kind of sleepy, but ready to go with some facts and some excitement about the game.
00:01:05
Mikey
Absolutely. And what a weekend of football it was. We saw the FA Cup quarterfinals come to a conclusion this weekend and we're going to be covering all four games in this episode. We're going to look at the semi-final results and we're going not results we're going to look at the semifinal fixtures and decide which team will go on to win the trophy.
00:01:27
Mikey
And you will have heard it here first on the GSPN Daily English Premier League podcast.
Man City vs Bournemouth Analysis
00:01:33
Mikey
So without further ado, we are going to structure our episode today with the Bournemouth-Man City game to start with.
00:01:40
Mikey
And what a game to kick it off with. I think it's the pick of the bunch for me out of the four. ah It saw an inconsistent Man City side go a rather consistent Bournemouth side when we talk about league form.
00:01:53
Mikey
um The game was quite interesting from many points of view. The biggest takeaway for me was I don't feel that it was ever in doubt for Man City. um I'll just walk you through the the the key talking points and I'm going to come to you, Mikhail.
00:02:08
Mikey
We started with Haaland having three huge chances, one of those being a penalty and he missed all three or penalty was saved, should I say. um And it it looked as though at that point it could have been and ah but the rub the rub of the green was against Man City.
00:02:27
Mikey
And that played out because City were on top in in the early phases of the game. And I felt that they were dominating. And Bournemouth went away and snatched a goal. ah Clive had found himself in a really dangerous position.
00:02:40
Mikey
And then it was poked home by Evan Nielsen ah and just after 21 minutes. So not long into the game. Yeah. And Bournemouth held on tight. What I didn't did see, though, was City didn't really react to going down. They continued to play the game that they were playing.
00:02:56
Mikey
And from that, they continued to create chances. um Early in the second half, early in her Erling Haaland managed to bag his goal. And I've got to say, so written down in my notes, City, for me, during the game, were playing so narrowly that they didn't have any options out wide.
00:03:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:03:14
Mikey
and And then they brought O'Reilly on and down the left-hand side, when as soon as they they opened their play, they started to create more opportunities, I felt.
00:03:24
Mikey
and And that's where the first goal came from. And then Haaland went off injured, which is quite an interesting talking point for City going forward. and And he was replaced by Omar Manoush, who managed to bag City's second goal, which, again, another shout-out for O'Reilly, the young left-back or left-winger, whatever he was we would class him as playing.
00:03:48
Mikey
He took advantage of a slip in the Bournemouth defence and he got two assists today. um And he he gets my shout-out for ah creating a difference in this game where City needed someone to step up.
Critique of Man City's Performance
00:04:00
Mikey
As a game for you, do you feel that it was a simple tie um for Man City or do you do you disagree with my opinion in the sense that and you felt that Bournemouth offered a bigger test than what ah than what I thought they did?
00:04:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I have a feeling that Manchester City dodged a bullet big time. And let me tell you why. I mean, when you look at the starting lineup of Manchester City, ah you should expect this side to walk through any opponent easily.
00:04:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And even if we're talking about high-flying Bournemouth, who are, as i call like as I say multiple times like during this podcast, that they are the um like they are the the representation of what the modern football used has to be right now. right But like regardless, you still have a lot of quality. Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Kovacic, De Bruyne, Mbisic.
00:04:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
the the Belgian nightmare of Ukrainians from the last Nations League playoff tie. ah You've got Gryszko Gwardiol. Those guys are capable of running through every single Premier League side.
00:05:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then again, they were not only did they not take advantage of their situations, not only did they miss 100% situations, including a penalty. I mean, if you can't score a penalty, then come on, like you're in trouble.
00:05:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
But also he let one of the easiest goals I've ever seen in my life ah go past Edison. Like for me, Man City were in big, big trouble. And I actually agreed with a lot of commentators ah ahead of the game once they saw the starting lineup and was, where is Marmush?
00:05:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
This squad is ah and really tired. They obviously cannot keep up with the pace of the game anymore. They cannot give what Guardiola expects of them anymore.
00:05:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So how about we introduce something fresh? How about we introduce, so you know, O'Reilly, like you said, or how about we introduce Mamouche not from the second half, but from the beginning? I really can ponder a completely different reality,
00:06:05
Mikey
And
00:06:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
of this game had Mamush started from the first minute. Like, do you also agree with that, that Mamush should have actually started in that game?
00:06:18
Mikey
um Yes, um possibly.
Fulham vs Crystal Palace Defensive Struggles
00:06:23
Mikey
i think i think he had an impact. um I don't agree with you your your opinion of of how City played.
00:06:33
Mikey
um I think there's a lot of a lot of lot of context that we need to give, really. Playing away from home, ah considering the form that they've got at the minute, that they they've got a lot of doubt in the in the squad.
00:06:45
Mikey
um there was only There was only two clear-cut chances, really, for Bournemouth in the game.
00:06:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:06:51
Mikey
And one City didn't deal with, and I agree with you, that it was ah a weak goal to concede. um The second one they managed very well. And the stats stack up against Bournemouth. When you look at the chances that City created, and they had a lot of, but what, three times many shots as they did. They're 64% possession away from home.
00:07:13
Mikey
I think all of these signs are ah of a team controlling a football match ah over double the amount of passes that they've made in the game. I just never looked at the game and thought City are on the edge here. Bournemouth could take City.
00:07:28
Mikey
I never felt that it was, even when they conceded, I didn't think it was out of reach for City to pull that back, um which for City fans will be will be quite refreshing to hear. it I mean, it's awful for me to say that. I hate saying it.
00:07:41
Mikey
i But I genuinely think that that although they didn't look amazing, I felt that they had the game under control.
00:07:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Well, having the game under control, like what does that mean in modern football, right? like this wish We could spark another you know like at least one hour discussion about that. um Yeah, in a way I can agree with your point that City might have looked a and strong in terms of like they dominated, they controlled the game and all that.
00:08:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But then again, ah there is this old adage in football, if you do not... ah If you do not take advantage of your opportunities and your chances, those chances will come back to bite you at your backside.
00:08:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm saying this very politely as this is a PG show. So I have a feeling that because of that, and of course, yeah, because of that, Man City kind of dodged the bullet, but okay, they got the semifinal and kudos to them.
00:08:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we should also talk about the, I think the letdown of this game, which I think it has to be Ilya Zabani. Because i but i remember those talks ah right after he received a red card and he needed to ah go off the pitch after a game. I think it was against Millwall, if I'm not mistaken.
00:08:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Was it?
00:08:59
Mikey
Keep going. I'm...
00:09:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, probably, probably.
00:09:01
Mikey
Hmm.
00:09:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
But like right after right after right as as soon as he received that red card, ah the discussion started of no Zabani, no party in the defense. And Bournemouth actually started slightly overachieving at the absence of Zabani, but still conceding hefty amount of goals.
00:09:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And now Zabani came back right after the international break. um He had a pretty decent international break, really. ah Well, how could you stop the Belgian side, really, like from a Ukrainian point of view?
00:09:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then Zabani comes back to the starting XI and he just presents really like subpar football. I think that was the biggest letdown. and Well, maybe not as big as Semenyo with his rating of 5.2, which was like the worst play on the field, according to the stats.
00:09:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
But still, like I think as a Bournemouth fan, you have to expect a lot of more a lot more from Zabani than what he actually presented.
00:09:51
Mikey
Thank you.
00:09:58
Mikey
Yeah, definitely. And I do think that the person we've probably not mentioned is Kepa, the Bournemouth keeper. ah
00:10:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah.
00:10:04
Mikey
I do feel that he had a fantastic game. And as as I mentioned before, he stopped City from from this game looking like it was a whitewash, really. and He made some big saves, including the penalty.
00:10:18
Mikey
um And yeah I just don't think that Bournemouth brought enough today. Defensively, I don't think they were strong enough. And I don't think that that they attacked well enough to create enough of a problem.
00:10:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:10:28
Mikey
The game was too easy for Man City. So whether the City was on form or not, I do agree with you that the the names on the team sheet, that it should have been quite a straightforward and easy win for City. ah But I just don't think Bournemouth did enough.
00:10:42
Mikey
ah And it was the centre of the pitch that they found the trouble. But as soon as City managed to play that out wide, they they just They became more dynamic. that did yeah they The opportunities were but worth we're coming for City. And rightly so. They've done they' doing a job away from home. And you know what wins Cups, winning games.
Podcasting Platforms Banter
00:11:03
Mikey
And City have another green tick against the name in the FA Cup. And they're through to the semi-finals where they play at Wembley. And they're one step away from you know another chance at silverware.
00:11:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:11:15
Mikey
I think it's important to to to move on and a look at the second game that we're going to discuss, which was, of course, Fulham against ah Crystal Palace. you have you've got You've got quite a few opinions on this. I'll walk us through the game.
00:11:32
Mikey
um The first one is the Le Mourn volley that smashed the crossbar. ah What a beautiful strike that was, one of my favourite things to watch in football.
00:11:43
Mikey
But after that, the game changed quite quickly. um And Eze is without doubt the person that we need to speak about that changed the game for Fulham. His move from the long ball over the top cut inside and smash it into the bottom corner was phenomenal.
00:11:59
Mikey
ah He then went on to assist. Causing absolute havoc for me down that left-hand side. It was a great headed finish um and a good attacking move. And then Nketiah came off the bench ah in the second half and sealed the victory.
00:12:15
Mikey
All in all, ah very comfortable win. But your opinion of how Fulham should have stacked up against this game before a ball was kicked is...
00:12:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
is I have no idea how on earth Fulham has got such a great defensive record at Premier League after watching this game.
00:12:32
Mikey
Yeah.
00:12:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Plain and simple. I do not understand that, especially when ah them commentators said it well. And I said, and I told you that like right before we started recording that how can you expect side, which is like when you look at the statistics of goals conceded in the entire league so far, Fulham is, if I see correctly, they are currently positioned eighth as the best side, which doesn't concede a lot.
00:12:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Fulham, they conceded 38 goals in comparison. Arsenal, which are the top of that stance, is so they conceded 24 goals. So, you know, not a lot of difference.
00:13:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, yeah, somebody could say that Crystal Palace, is they are the third best team, which does not concede a lot in in the league with 33 goals conceded only. ah But then again, ah that those margins at that kind of level, they shouldn't be so um like you shouldn't be able to see that kind of distinction.
00:13:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
like like it shouldn't be i actually I think it should be super difficult to place the boundary of good of of best and and awful at this kind of level. And yet here you are with Fulham.
00:13:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
This second goal, I mean, Eze, he got such an easy route to that assist. And like the the defenders left so much space for him on the on the flank that the commentators started asking of the questions, guys, is this the FA Cup quarterfinal by any chance?
00:14:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because it really looks as if it was just a Premier League tie with nothing to play for, with Fulham playing the second or third or even fourth suit because of either injuries or because of you know ah early vacation ah for players.
00:14:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
So... I'm just speechless. I really think that Fulham, they blew away one of the biggest chances of making a name for themselves this season in the f FA Cup.
00:14:22
Mikey
Thank
00:14:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, ah well, it's their loss. it it's It really is their loss. They were on a great streak. They eliminated Manchester United, of course, after penalties, but still playing much better football than the Red Devils.
00:14:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
They had some motivation. They knocked the title holders out of the competition. and And yet they just bottled it so much. ah Shambles. Shambles. I have to quote Sir Alex Ferguson here. It's a disgrace.
00:14:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, okay. It was actually Didier Drogba, but Ferguson also used it.
00:14:58
Mikey
I think a lot of people probably said disgrace in the time. um I agree with you. i do ah Looking at the game, ah feel that Fulham maintained possession and lacked any ah distinction as to what what they wanted to do with the ball.
00:15:16
Mikey
um and and And they just seemed void of ideas. they made you know They made five substitutions in the game ah and ah none of those subs kind of managed to...
00:15:29
Mikey
have a desired impact. ah or It's really hard. It's so easy to to to look at football and and consider one team not doing well, which is what I'm saying. Fulham didn't do very well at creating opportunities.
00:15:43
Mikey
But my argument to that could be, Did Palace do a good job at nullifying any attack from Fulham? Were they happy and comfortable letting them have the ball because they were 3-0 up or 2-0 up quite quickly?
00:15:57
Mikey
um I don't know. It's a really difficult one. As a Palace fan, you go away from that game and think, yeah, wow, what a game of football and we're into the semi-final, a trip to Wembley.
00:16:08
Mikey
For Fulham, you're thinking, what like you're saying, what has gone so badly wrong today that in a cup tie against a team where we shouldn't be losing so so drastically, we've come away losing 3-0 at home.
00:16:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:16:22
Mikey
ah and And you're exactly right, squandered your hopes of ah a great chance of going to the cup final or at least semi-final.
00:16:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and to be honest, I don't even know what to say to this sort of like consolation for Fulham fans. I mean, guys, you had a chance, you blew it, but but then again, you just have to continue. But like, I don't know what else they can actually continue for, like in and the real expectations of clinching some title.
00:16:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Maybe clinching any title for Fulham was a dream, like some some dream that should like we should never mention. ah you know but and just I recall now you know this quote from Asit Vega that some managers do not want to ah announce publicly that they're in a title fight because they're afraid of failure.
00:17:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
um that is ah That is a direct reference to the quiz, which will be published on GSP and on our daily EPL very soon. So tune in for that. 100th episode is are going to be. So it's going to be fun. Trust us.
00:17:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah But as far as Fulham goes... I do not really know what to tell him,
Fulham's Missed FA Cup Opportunity
00:17:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
really. I mean, i would just tell people like Castagne, like Baze, like who else was there? Like Munez or Pereira.
00:17:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Get your stuff together. Get your stuff together because the season is not over and you still have to clinch those points. And as far as Crystal Palace goes, kudos.
00:17:43
Mikey
Yeah. i do
00:17:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
All I can do is just to you know ah perform the same and you know ah tutorial of how to clap and how to honor somebody after a victory like I did after the match in Arsenal game.
00:17:57
Mikey
Yeah. And if you want to get your stuff together, it is possible by doing that through our ad, and that is Bionique.
Aston Villa's Dominance and Rashford's Role
00:18:45
Mikey
Yep, make sure you do that for us. And our third game, our third quarterfinal that we're going to discuss today was the early kick-off on Sunday, the 1.30pm kick-off, UK time that is, ah that saw Preston, the Championship side, placed in 16th in the league against Aston Villa.
00:19:05
Mikey
The exceptional Aston Villa, who are doing phenomenally well um this season, they've made some great signings and Unai Emery continues to to bewilder the world of football with the way that he manages his squad.
00:19:20
Mikey
um Marcus Rashford has had a step-by-step improvement since joining Aston Villa. And it's been quite refreshing to see. It's annoying to see from United front point of view.
00:19:33
Mikey
ah But it's great as well for him and his his career. um And he capped that off today. But ah just before we jump into Marcus Rashford, I want to make a note of Preston's efforts.
00:19:46
Mikey
They were dogged. in defence. They set up to prevent Villa and they did an exceptional job of that and they managed to hold the Premiership side for almost 60 minutes and hours football ah before Marcus Rashford scored a very, very training ground move. It was very succinct um and I like to see football like that that made it look so simple and that it was just very nice to watch um So in 58 minutes, Rashford got his first goal for the club.
00:20:20
Mikey
And five minutes later, and they won a penalty, which was a penalty. Still a stamp on a standing foot. um And I don't think it was it was a bad decision.
00:20:32
Mikey
What was interesting was the composure Rashford had in in the run-up to his penalty.
00:20:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:20:39
Mikey
For somebody who who seems to... be so inconsistence can inconsistent with form. and I thought that his his confidence running up to that penalty was very good.
00:20:50
Mikey
And he yeah he converted quite well um down to the right the keeper. At 1-0, you felt as though it was a tough, tall order for Preston to come back.
00:21:03
Mikey
ah But when they got the second, I i felt like that was game over. And the epitome of game over was the Jacob Ramsey goal.
00:21:14
Mikey
i don't i don't know one I don't want to be too harsh on Preston because they've done phenomenally well getting to a quarter-final, but to turn in the middle of the field and an almost jog towards the centre of the penalty area and and smash it with power past the keeper. It just looked to me like a display. That goal demonstrated the distance in class between the two sides.
00:21:39
Mikey
ah And it topped off a very comprehensive win in the end for Aston Villa.
00:21:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah. And to be honest, it's kind of interesting what you said there about a great display of how Unai Emery manages his team. It's kind of ironic because not too long ago, when this Champions League was still going on and they were still ah goal being in industry they were still in this transition from league phase to the knockout phases so of Champions League,
00:22:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah the discussion was, what is happening with Unai Emery guys? Why can't they manage Premier League and Champions League and all the competitions they are in They are so tired.
00:22:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
They are so not ready for Champions League football. So ah that is pretty remarkable, you know, that kind of transition. But... ah Yeah, and this game, it was Aston Villa's game to lose.
00:22:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
And of course, they did not lose this game. Of course, they comfortably won 3-0. And as far as Marcus Rashford goes, um I can just paraphrase. Who put the goal in the Preston's net?
00:22:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Super Marcus Rashford. Man you United fans know what I'm talking about. This gent, beautiful gent.
00:22:47
Mikey
And.
00:22:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Yeah, that just goes to show how Aston Villa is um is is perfect at, would say, retrieving the pearls from the market and shining them real nice and presenting them as brand new.
00:23:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, like, if that's not true what I'm saying, then how else can you call ah that great reinvention of Marco Asensio, of Marcus Rashford? Like, I'm still shipping their um ah their duo on the on the pitch so, so much.
00:23:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
you ah To be honest, I did not watch that game super closely. Like, i mean... I hope that there was some sort of connection between Asensi and Rushford in this game.
Unai Emery's Tactical Impact at Aston Villa
00:23:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah But overall, All Night Emery is the master of retrieving those pearls, shining them up real nice, and just presenting them for the world to see again.
00:23:38
Mikey
Yeah, there's a couple of things that you've mentioned there that like to touch on.
00:23:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Beautiful.
00:23:42
Mikey
I think that the issue that that we've mentioned about Unai Emery and juggling the squad was the the dip in league four compared to the cup competitions.
00:23:57
Mikey
But what he has demonstrated is is a way to win in these competitions. And I think that that's where the priority for him has lied. And That's what I wasn't sure of.
00:24:08
Mikey
If I was him, and I'm talking now like three or four weeks ago, and where your priorities should lie?
00:24:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm. Hmm.
00:24:14
Mikey
where what as a v If you were a Villa fan, where would you prefer your team to go? Would you prefer them to go deep into the Champions League? Or would you want them to become a consistent team of landing in Champions League football and and focus on the Premier League?
00:24:29
Mikey
So, yeah, I think he's trying to establish himself in both sides of that. ah But I do have um a quiz question for you. It's off the cuff, but it does relate to Aston Villa. So bear with me.
00:24:42
Mikey
I reckon you'll be able to. I reckon, i reckon what well, let's see. Only five teams... have lifted the FA Cup more times than the seven times Aston Villa, but they have not done it since 1957.
00:24:56
Mikey
Can you name any of the five teams that have lifted it more than Aston Villa?
00:25:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
More than Aston Villa.
00:25:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, I'll go Selfishly and I'll go Manchester United.
00:25:11
Mikey
Tick, one out five.
00:25:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. ah So four more. Okay, there you go.
00:25:14
Mikey
Four more.
00:25:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I would go maybe Liverpool.
00:25:19
Mikey
Yeah, two out five.
00:25:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
There you go. Then Man United, Liverpool, Arsenal. Arsenal.
00:25:27
Mikey
Yeah, three out at five, well done.
00:25:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, and that leaves out two.
00:25:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
um my I might have a problem with those last two because those first three are super obvious, right? But those last two, are those two super obvious as well? Or am I just embarrassing myself?
00:25:44
Mikey
and ah No, one surprised me, that's why I asked the question.
00:25:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ah, there you go. There you go. ah To be honest, I really have no idea. I really have no idea about those remaining two.
00:25:56
Mikey
So the remaining two are Chelsea, wait which is is is a little bit of a shock, but I can imagine Chelsea.
00:26:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Chelsea.
00:26:05
Mikey
And the last one's Spurs.
00:26:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:26:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
There you go. All right. Yeah, now I see it. You know what? actually wanted to mention Chelsea, but then I was like, hold on a minute. I do not remember Chelsea punching the title way too many times.
00:26:14
Mikey
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't
00:26:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Something is off here. ah I decided to keep my mouth shut.
00:26:20
Mikey
I do think... And that's fair enough. I do think that we should sign off this game, though, as as as a point of... we've We've made a point of, you know, the player of the match was Marcus Rashford and that goes without saying. and and But I think from...
00:26:36
Mikey
from Preston's point of view, and I think this season's FA Cup's point of view, teams that are underdogs have done so well in this competition and carried themselves well.
00:26:47
Mikey
and The buzz around Preston would the from the press was was phenomenal. And and as as a day for them to have a quarterfinal against a Premier League side is fantastic. It didn't go the way they wanted it to, ah but...
00:27:02
Mikey
You know, they've showed great character to get to that point, defeating some massive teams, including Liverpool.
00:27:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep. Yep. yeah And kudos to him. Kudos to him.
00:27:14
Mikey
Yeah, that there's the there's the ah applaud from everyone who can see Mikael. He's showing you how to do that. and But what else? What else we can show you here at GSPN is our choice of podcasting network, and that is GSPN and Zencastr.
00:27:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:28:03
Mikey
Yeah, do it, we use it, and that's why we sound so good. We may not know what we're talking about, but our platform of choice makes us sound very, very good.
Brighton vs Forest Match Recap
00:28:13
Mikey
Our last segment, this is the last part of today's episode, we're going to wrap up the Brighton Forest game. ah We're going to look at the semi-finals, and then we're going to discuss who is going to carry home the trophy.
00:28:26
Mikey
So as I've mentioned, Brighton and Forest went up against each other. And what a game of football, really. It was on a nice edge. I do feel that Brighton, from watching the game, had the better of chances or they looked more imposing as a team throughout.
00:28:42
Mikey
um They also had a penalty that was then ah reverted. So a decision was given on field and VAR overlooked it. I don't know why VAR was used in the semifinals. I'm assuming it's because it's got they can They can manage it rather than having a widespread game where there's games all over the country.
00:29:03
Mikey
and But yeah, it was reversed. I do want to get your opinion on it. um And it went to penalties, which Forrest seemed to be very comfortable with um and and managed to go home winning 4-3 on penalties into the semi-final.
00:29:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Yeah, to be honest, when you said at the beginning of our podcast here that the boardroom of Man City was basically might might be the highlight of of of the quarterfinals, I kind of tend to contest that because Brighton Forest, for me, even though it was it ended up goalless after 120 minutes, I think it was one of the most exciting moments.
00:29:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah matches during those quarterfinals so many chances well of course no chances were wasted but yeah this game had its drama it really had its drama and there were some superb plays from both sides um yeah you want to have my thought on the penalty that was that ended up being chalked off and cancelled yeah
00:30:09
Mikey
Yeah, so on that, the just to just to to describe it, I can't remember who the winger was, but Mitoma slid in and he went past the player um and the standing foot of the attacking player landed on Mitoma's arm, ah which then made him lose balance and and fall over.
00:30:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:30:29
Mikey
The referee overruled it and said it wasn't a penalty. i don't I could see it going both ways. i'm not um I'm not that strongly opinionated on it, but I wondered what you thought.
00:30:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah To be honest, I don't know whether it's going to be come as a surprise or not, but I will be strongly opinionated on it. And I will say that if this penalty stood, then we would need to rewrite the entire rule of when to when the referee should give a penalty and when not. Because come on.
00:30:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
What was Nitomo supposed to do with his arm? Was he supposed to cut it off? Was he supposed to like like glue it to his to his ah his body at the moment? It was his natural reaction. And ah if that was supposed like if that caused the trip, like I'm sorry, he's got the arm.
00:31:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, well, I don't know. like ah For me, it was a very weak penalty. And it shouldn't have stood. didn't need to stand. And it rightfully so, it did.
Controversial Penalty in Brighton vs Forest
00:31:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
and i was super happy at the vr that they canceled that penalty
00:31:24
Mikey
Yes.
00:31:28
Mikey
what So just out of interest interested with what you said, if it was his trailing leg, so not his leading leg, but his trailing leg that took him out, would that mean it's a penalty or would that be the same as you? I do agree with you.
00:31:40
Mikey
His arm wasn't in an unnatural position, which I think actually went in his favour. If his arm was in an unnatural position and he was trying to like recover ground or something like that, I could see that the referee might have a difficult challenge on overturning his decision. But what if it's a trailing leg? Does that mean the same as what you've just said?
00:32:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, okay, here actually have a problem, because, okay, with the trailing leg, i think yes, because still, there was like the natural position of the arm, like, Miitoma couldn't have done anything more about it than what he actually did.
00:32:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
But then again, i recall, I don't know if our listeners remember and our viewers remember that the penalty that was given to Barcelona on this um historic ah tie of round of 16 in and Champions League when Barcelona ended up winning 6-1.
00:32:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
There was a penalty given on after foul on Neymar and the defender of PSG He just tripped on the field, on the penalty box.
00:32:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And surprisingly, Neymar, like he he had his foot caught by the the head of the defender of PSG.
00:32:58
Mikey
Hmm.
00:32:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
He fell down and the result was penalty. So Neymar was fouled by his it was fileed by the defender's head. It was accidental, but the referee gave it.
00:33:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And at the time there was no VAR. So that is an argument that so that actually supports my stance that that should not be a penalty. I can see both sides of the argument, but then again, like what's the next great idea that we will support in football, in the refereeing that after every single contact, we're going to give a penalty.
00:33:19
Mikey
yeah
00:33:30
Mikey
Yeah, no, I agree with you.
00:33:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:33:32
Mikey
I've just actually looked up the rules. So it says in football, a farewell involving physical contact with employment such as kicking, tripping, pushing, striking or tackling carelessly, recklessly or with excessive force.
00:33:44
Mikey
And I think those are the three that are key to this conversation, really. So ah tackling carelessly, he wasn't tackling carelessly. ah He actually had his body in a very ah but good position to try and avoid contact.
00:33:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:33:58
Mikey
It wasn't reckless and it wasn't with excessive force. So with that being said, I think i think you're absolutely right on on this decision that he was right to overturn that and it wasn't a penalty.
00:34:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And i'm i'm I'm so happy that the referee was brave enough to make this decision because you see a lot of instances ah during like not only in Premier League, not only in England, but all over Europe that ah in the
00:34:15
Mikey
Yeah.
00:34:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
in such contestant, like when, you know, the the the result hangs in the balance, the referees are, they think that they would be more forgiven by the public by just giving the penalty than by just making one bold decision and overturning it.
00:34:40
Mikey
Yeah.
00:34:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And not just about the penalty, for example, about giving the red card when it's due, you know? And and and to note note to be honest, I kind of do not understand why there is such problem in in European football and in football overall that referees are afraid to give decisions, which are actually rightfully, which they usually actually should be given.
00:35:02
Mikey
Yeah.
00:35:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah I do not understand that. And I don't know, maybe we'll shed some light on it.
00:35:08
Mikey
Yeah, no, my I have actually got an opinion on this. So I think that this is the one thing that VAR needs to change.
00:35:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:35:14
Mikey
And that is the decision doesn't have to be by the referee. So for that referee, I agree with you. He was brave to make that decision based on the fact that he'd given a penalty against Forest at Brighton.
00:35:29
Mikey
and And then he had to look at a screen inside a stadium that contained mainly Brighton fans. um and then and then yeah managed to and manage to overturn it, which I think at that point, in the VAR room, whoever that is, they should say, pause play for a second.
00:35:50
Mikey
It wasn't a penalty. We've looked at it three or four times and we disagree. So you need to overturn that decision. And it takes the decision away from the on-field ah decision. And I don't understand anyone who would argue that.
00:36:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, I agree. I agree. And well, that is basically how VAR works. You've just basically ah reiterated the the principle of VAR, that the VAR reacts only if the on-field decision is drastically wrong ah comparing to reality, to what the camera is caught.
00:36:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's the That's the protocol of VAR 101.
00:36:23
Mikey
Yeah, absolutely. I agree. But it didn't stop Sells being the hero and Forrester through to a final, which is an absolutely, well, it's an incredible achievement for them,
FA Cup Semifinal Fixtures Announcement
00:36:35
Mikey
ah getting all the way to the final.
00:36:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:36:37
Mikey
And we are going to move on to talk about who they're up against in the semifinals, um which is quite interesting. So the semifinals have fallen where...
00:36:49
Mikey
Forrest play Man City and Crystal Palace play Aston Villa. You'd have to say that Forrest have come out worse there.
00:36:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah. I mean, that fixture could look far, far more difficult. ah But right now, it looks as if it could be like a nice glorified...
00:37:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
um tie of of two teams which are ah pretty close to each other in terms of in terms of the... Okay, maybe not defense. You know what? Now that I said that they're close, I'm starting to think how so.
00:37:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
You see? This is the kind of... that that the that That's the kind of moment where I'm starting to argue with myself because I said that they are pretty equal to one another. and But then I look at the stats and I see that... ah Well...
00:37:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
them like there is a big risk of one side getting a you know at least three or four goals behind if their defense is careless but then again the the opposition's defense is not as bad so it really could go either way
00:37:51
Mikey
Yeah, definitely. So I'm going to push you, Mikael, to conclude this episode and for who you think will win these games and who will go on to win the trophy.
00:38:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah You know what? I have a very bad streak in predicting that stuff because I said infamously, and it was with you and during one of the podcasts, that Newcastle has... ah know I actually said that Newcastle has zero chance of of um having any trophy this season.
00:38:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you then said famously that, oh, you're writing them off so quickly. And then, lo and behold, they won that final. so
00:38:28
Mikey
Mm-hmm.
00:38:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Please take my predictions with a pinch of salt, everybody.
Predictions for FA Cup Semifinals
00:38:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
But in the game of Nottingham Forest-Man City, I think the story could be quite similar to what we saw in the quarterfinal of Man City against Bournemouth.
00:38:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that will be that Nottingham will try to play their football, but Man City will try to dominate... ah And I think with some changes in the squad of pepwwood of but of cupppe of Pep Guardiola, Man City can easily clinch another final.
00:38:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
i think it's I think it's already there, if I'm not mistaken, eight consecutive before the eighth consecutive for a semifinal of the FA Cup, if I'm not mistaken. that's That's pretty interesting. like like This is already another semifinal in a row, for sure, as far as Pep Guardiola's side goes. And Christopel, Aston Villa.
00:39:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here... Aston Villa, they pose as the favorite. um And this is what I said about, you know, that that those ah that it could have been much, much worse. It could have been far more difficult for those teams in the semifinals.
00:39:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
But then again, Crystal Palace, they have a pretty good defense.
00:39:34
Mikey
Thank you.
00:39:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Aston Villa, they have a pretty good offense. So that's going to be a great showdown of... Whether the Crystal Palace can hold the very st strong Aston Villa in attack with Marcos Rashford Asensio. But to be honest here, I kind of can predict Oli Watkins playing it that man and playing in that game.
00:39:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And McGinn coming back to the squad with Asensio and Rashford having a day off. Or just coming on for the last 30 or 20 minutes. I can easily imagine that. So that would be Manchester City, Aston Villa in the final.
00:40:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would love to see the upset of Aston Villa beating Man City in the final at Wembley. I would love to see that, but is it going to happen? I really know. Yeah.
00:40:15
Mikey
Well, we'll leave that up to the footballing gods. It remains to be seen. i don't really want to call it. I'm going to say Forrest all the way. ah That's the team I'm supporting from now on.
00:40:25
Mikey
Just because I feel like their season deserves some form of ah recollection at the end of it, even though they will be getting, hopefully, European football.
00:40:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:40:33
Mikey
and It'd be nice for them to win the FA Cup and cause a problem that way.
00:40:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly.
00:40:38
Mikey
But think that brings us to a nice, comprehensive end of another great episode with you, Mikhail. It's been an absolute pleasure.
00:40:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you. Thank you so much. And we have to ah pitch our 100th episode again because it's going to be a beggar. It's going to be something that our viewers and listeners haven't heard nor seen before.
00:40:58
Mikey
Absolutely. So make sure you tune in for this and the 100th episode. And until so next time, it's goodbye from me
00:41:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And goodbye from me as well. Bye-bye.
00:41:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.