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00:00:01
That Saturday Feeling 8
24 Plays1 month ago
Join Ken and Nick as we talk Spurs, who's coming up from the championship and the big games we're looking forward to watching this weekend.
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Transcript
Introduction and Episode Overview
00:00:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome to that Saturday feeling version number eight. I'm your host, Ken Davis, with my Rexham shirt on. And I am joined by my partner in crime, my co-conspirator in all things, all round, good egg, Nick Britton.
00:00:23
Nick Britten
Hello, Ken. You're looking very smart. You're looking very smart with your XM shirt on, I have to say, ah but not as smart as me, obviously.
00:00:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:00:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, he's got his Derby shirt on, I can see. The EFL has taken over the Premier League then.
00:00:37
Nick Britten
Well, not before time, let's face it.
00:00:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not before.
00:00:40
Nick Britten
It's where all the real entertainment is at, isn't it? Let's face it.
00:00:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
yes
00:00:43
Nick Britten
Come on.
00:00:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
telling me telling me right okay brilliant well we're going to be talking about four things today we're going to be talking about Spurs and I know you had the pleasure of going to White Hart Lane last night so we're going to talk about Spurs we're going to be talking about who's coming up from the championship so we're just prepping ourselves for what to expect ah next season we're going to have a look at some of the key weekend fixtures that are about to hit us and we're going to have a go at predictions. Nick is traditionally a lot more successful than me at that
Podcast Growth and Network Expansion
00:01:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
type of thing. So this podcast is part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. It's the only network that brings you exclusive daily news and views on your Premier League team, women's football
00:01:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
and we also do a roundup in English and we also do a roundup in Spanish so there's a lot going on it's a unique listening experience puts fans first brings you the very latest news and now we are Nick we're on YouTube
00:01:44
Nick Britten
We are on YouTube and we started out on YouTube a couple of weeks ago and you will be able to find us. Every single podcast from every single club is now being broadcast on the Global Sports Podcast Network YouTube channel. So you can find us on YouTube, just sport, just just search for Global Sports Podcast Network and and we're all there. So not only can you listen to your own teams,
00:02:09
Nick Britten
excellent podcast but if you wanted to you could also dip into other teams either who are around you or your rivals or team you're playing anything like that anything like that it's all under one roof global sports podcast network on youtube for january 2025
00:02:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's working well. We're getting thousands and thousands of downloads today.
00:02:26
Nick Britten
but
00:02:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And talking about thousands of views and thousands of downloads, January, it's been good for this network. 10,000 podcasts downloads this month. So that's absolutely staggering.
00:02:38
Nick Britten
It's great. and Thank you to everybody for downloading. Thank you everybody for listening. Thank you to the podcast. thank you Thank you to the world, Ken. Thank you to the world, because 10,000 is a great number. but We're really, really pleased with it. And that number is going up and up and up, week by week by week.
00:02:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think the world is thanking us, to be honest. Now, OK, so I
00:02:57
Nick Britten
Not for that shirt, it's not.
Spurs' Stadium and Academy Success
00:02:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
beg your pardon.
00:02:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, listen, you were at White Hart Lane last night. ah tell Tell us all about that experience, because I've never been to the ground, actually. I normally and end up going to bury in places like that.
00:03:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Never been to White Hart Lane. What was the experience like? but um And generally, we need to talk about Spurs, because things are going seriously wrong. But they went seriously right last night. So ah tell us about your experience.
00:03:23
Nick Britten
Well, it was great. So swap yeah, swap Pride Park for the new White Heart Lane. It was, it's an extraordinary ground. First of all, if you haven't been there, it's an extraordinary ground because it's not really like going to a football stadium. It's like going to an event stadium that just sort of happens to be showing football and the first things that you experience you won't really experience anywhere else in a football ground for example there are kind of three checks of your ticket or security so you have to sort of have your ticket scan sort of right on the outskirts then you have to go through these airport style scanners and take all the stuff out of your pockets and all of that ah then you kind of go through another ticket scan then you kind of get into the stadium
00:04:02
Nick Britten
and where we were last night, which is the East End, you walk in, and the first thing you hit with is this enormous brewery, because I've got a ah Beavertown brewery inside the stadium, so you've got to look at it as beer.
00:04:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're the neck oil people aren't they?
00:04:14
Nick Britten
You what, sorry?
00:04:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Are they the neck oil people?
00:04:17
Nick Britten
They are the neck horn people, so go and have a pint, we had a pint of neck horn, it's very nice. So you've got to see this brewery, and it's really bright, and there's pop music playing, and it just doesn't at all feel like a football game in that traditional sense.
00:04:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's never going to catch on, is it though? It's never going to catch on.
00:04:33
Nick Britten
It's the absolute future. It's the absolute future of stadiums and of football. And then there's lots and lots of flights to the stairs. And then you come out and about five minutes before kickoff, there's a big laser show and lights and drama and music. It was just great. It was great.
00:04:50
Nick Britten
It was great. it did And I think in the in the world of modern football, particularly the high-end modern football, this is what stadiums are going to be like. They are going to be built with multi-use design in mind.
00:05:01
Nick Britten
and Of course Tottenham have a lot of concerts, they have a lot of NFL, you know, they do lots of other stuff apart from the football.
00:05:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:07
Nick Britten
It is a great, I'd urge you, forget the opportunity to go and visit. go visit ah The game itself was very one-sided. Uh, and, uh, it was a good, entertaining game. Good to see some high quality football. Uh, son was brilliant. He just, he just ripped Elspourg apart down the left-hand side time and time and time again. Uh, he got subbed at halftime, but the real story of the night, the real story of the night, and this kind of feeds into what we're just about to talk about is that Tottenham one three nil, but their goals were all scored by products of their academy.
00:05:37
Nick Britten
which is really, really interesting. So you had Dane Scarlett, who scored his first goal for the club. You had Damola AJ, who was making his debut for Tottenham, three minutes after coming up with the pitch, making his debut as a substitute, scored his goal.
00:05:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wow, what a debut.
00:05:51
Nick Britten
And then Mikey Moore, who the Spurs fans absolutely love. So the Tottenham fans I was talking to before the game and during and and after, they love Mikey Moore. They're very excited by him. He's been in the club since he was seven years old.
00:06:02
Nick Britten
He's 17. He's broken through to the first team now.
00:06:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
One of their own, eh?
00:06:05
Nick Britten
i and they yeah and they and they And they love him. In fact, James Madison recently described it as like having Neymar on the left wing. a you know and and And all those goals were scored by then.
00:06:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wow.
00:06:17
Nick Britten
And that's great. And it was great to see. And that's what kind of Tottenham is that sort of club, isn't it, that should be bringing through these young these youngsters.
00:06:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, i think I think the future, I suppose, kind of depends on it, because they're not they're not buying him in, let's be honest. um So let's, I mean, that sounds like it was a great performance. I mean, it wasn't against against the greatest opposition ever, I suspect.
00:06:37
Nick Britten
No, no, else I've got to say else for look like a lower end championship side. I mean, yeah, taught them yeah for first first minute to the 90th minute just dominated the game.
00:06:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was about to ask why you'd pitched him in the English, in the
00:06:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right.
00:06:49
Nick Britten
Really did. I mean, three nil. I think both teams put it like this. Both teams will be happy with a three nil.
00:06:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, okay, that kind of guy. Interesting what you're saying about the stadium. If you've ever been to any of the American stadiums, the NFL stadiums, particularly not so much baseball, they're very much built that way.
00:07:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And and I think that that is definitely the future of of spectator sports really, isn't it, I think.
00:07:12
Nick Britten
Very much so. Very much so. And a lot of it was based on on that spectator experience. You know, traditionally football football stadiums, as we know, are not built for spectator experience.
00:07:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:23
Nick Britten
They're at built so you can get in and watch the game.
00:07:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:26
Nick Britten
but The more these modern stadiums around the world come online, it is this whole experience of the spectator that is very much high up in the mind of the of the designers and I think if you we say we were in the stand opposite the main stand, I think if you go into the main stand and into the posh seats, it's even better.
00:07:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Did it lose anything in terms of traditional spectator experience or did did you still feel, you know, it was a, it was a great watch for for, you know, within the stadium?
00:07:58
Nick Britten
ah It was a great watch. Yeah, no, it was a great it was a great watch. There was no, I didn't ever get a sense that that you're missing out on anything.
00:08:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:05
Nick Britten
particularly and i think the way they've designed it particularly with that enormous bank behind one goal it meant that the sound was was was was well kept in the stadium because some of these stadiums particularly the big stadiums and i'm thinking in perhaps new castle or old traffic where they've just built it as they've gone along and added bits here and there you can lose the sound the sound has speeded up instead of being kept you know so
00:08:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Great.
00:08:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it escapes, yeah. No.
00:08:31
Nick Britten
ah No, I think it was fine. I think it was it was good. it was great It was a great place to visit and it was it was a great night. Funnily enough Tottenham around it, around this an extraordinary sort of spaceship-like thing that's sort of dropped into the world.
00:08:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Careful.
00:08:45
Nick Britten
ah Hasn't really changed. Hasn't really changed society.
00:08:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's still lovely. It's still lovely, traditional, red brick, kind of place you're going holiday, Tottenham. Right, ah but if that was the high point of Tottenham, the 3-0 last night, I mean let's just set it in some context of Spurs' season.
00:08:56
Nick Britten
Yeah.
00:09:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
15th,
Tottenham's Financial Strategy and Risks
00:09:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
24 points out of 23 games, 4 points out of the last 33. couldn't believe it when I was prepping for this. Now, they're still in the FA Cup, obviously, they're still in the Karabakh Cup, very close to winning it. Still in Europa League. But it's been horrible. I'm just wondering, have you got to take on why it's been horrible? whether angie's going Is the man, is he going to turn it around? Or is he going to be the 17th manager in 24 years?
00:09:37
Nick Britten
Well, I'll tell you what, there's two stats or there's two bits that sort of really struck out. One is like, there was a report published last week, which was the Deloitte Money League for 2023-24.
00:09:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you want it?
00:09:48
Nick Britten
And that looks at all the clubs around Europe in terms of wages to turnover. And top of that league with the lowest wage to turnover was Tottenham. And their wage to turnover is 42% or what was in that year, 42%.
00:09:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:10:04
Nick Britten
Okay. So they're not paying players as much as other clubs. And to put it into context with who else elsewhere, the next English side on that list was Arsenal at 53%.
00:10:15
Nick Britten
Chelsea at 73%. So they're paying 73% of their turnover in wages. And then Aston Villa with, with rather disturbing 96%. So, What that shows you is Tottenham aren't spending.
00:10:27
Nick Britten
They're not spending money. They're not buying players, and they're not paying players in wages. Now, that tells you that the ones who want the bigger money will just go elsewhere. you know Harry Kane, for all his brilliance, was getting paid less than kids who were sitting on the Chelsea bench when he was at Tottenham, which is outrageous.
00:10:44
Nick Britten
you know It's outrageous.
00:10:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:46
Nick Britten
so You've got that sort of sit situation, and then you've got
00:10:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Some people would argue, some people would make the point there saying, well, this is Daniel Levy managing things in a very conservative but very sustainable way.
00:10:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, that is one argument. One side of that coin, the other side of the coin is, well, you're just not justre putting yourself at a competitive disadvantage as regards talent. And there's got to be a balance there that you've got to strike.
00:11:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's the point you make in there that they're not really striking that balance.
00:11:14
Nick Britten
That is the point I'm making. And that is the sense that I think if you look down the what's happened to Tottenham in the last few years and the managers they've had in, they're all good managers and they've all failed. And the common denominator in all of that is they have all complained that they have not been supported in the transfer market. And Antipos Cataglia, he's got an injury list that he could put a world-class team out of.
00:11:41
Nick Britten
And he still, I suppose, has bought nobody in this league other than a sort of second choice or reserve goalkeeper and a youngster who's you know just there for development.
00:11:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:49
Nick Britten
They haven't they haven't bought a first team proper first team player in the whole of the transfer market, despite this massive injury list and the manager saying after last week's game against Leicester, he's put out two players who are basically injured, but he's just got to field a team.
00:12:04
Nick Britten
And I wonder, I mean, the funny thing about last night is, of course, You've got three youngsters there who come on and score goals and won the game for Spurs. And are they doing Andrew disservice, their own manager disservice, by putting the thought in Daniel Levy's mind? Well, you know what, I don't need to buy players because I've got three lads here just coming through. There you go, Andrew. Play them instead. But the other bit to that is that all of last night, despite Tottenham being dominant, despite being kind of pretty easy and a good night for them, the the the evening was populated and interrupted constantly every 15 minutes with the chance of we want Daniel Levy out. And it just
00:12:37
Nick Britten
It feels like, and I know we've been here before with Tottenham fans, it feels like they've had enough and something's got to change. And it's really, when you look at the team and you look at the and you look at where they should be, the manager needs to be supported better. It's as simple as that. They're not going to get better until until they buy some better players.
00:12:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think you're right. i I think one of the interesting things about the situation is there's relatively little ire being directed at Poster Cogley. There's much more ire being directed towards Daniel Levy. And I think for the reason you've just outlined there, I was looking at the ah the January fixtures, obviously had just gone past, there was three Premier League games tu Tottenham played, they lost them all. There's five. Well, it's yeah, in in in the course of February, there's six games.
00:13:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah but there is one cup game. So we've got Brentford away at the weekend, loss in my book, we'll come to predictions later, Liverpool away, loss, Villa away in the cup, loss, United at home, that's Posh the Cogloos,
00:13:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
doom game if he loses that that could be it. Ipswich away you don't know probably as they'll probably win it 5-0 and then City at home and City at home I mean they have got some proper tough games coming up I can't see more than four points out of them
00:14:07
Nick Britten
and And therefore you're suggesting that they are, they're going to get sucked into a relegation fight.
00:14:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I mean, yes, I mean, it's very hard. It sounds unbelievable to say that, but but actually, if you if they get four points out the next five games, well, cheron yeah know they're on points after 28 games. That's relegation form.
00:14:33
Nick Britten
It is. and i ah don't think that I don't think it's as bad as that. I don't think they'll get relegated. I think theyll they will pick up the necessary points. but And they are in all the cups, and they've got a great chance, obviously, in the league cup, and they've got a great chance in the Europa League.
00:14:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
they do
00:14:46
Nick Britten
They are two cups that are eminently winnable. uh for Tottenham and but it's just you talk you you hit the nail on the head here you can't fault Daniel Levy for what he's done in terms of building this extraordinary club this extraordinary stadium making it very sustainable and running it like a really really tight-knit run business you can't you can't knock him for that because that's what he's done absolutely brilliantly but football is about what happens on the pitch
00:15:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
They did.
00:15:12
Nick Britten
and ultimately success and failure of an organisation of a football club will be determined by what happens on and off the pitch and right now that balance as you put it the scales have tipped well away from supporting the manager and investing in the first team and we're seeing the result.
00:15:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's all that matters. That's all that matters. That's all people are interested in. What happens on the pitch? Right, we are going to talk about who's going to replace Spurs in so in a second in terms of what's going, what's bubbling away at the top of the championship. But first,
00:15:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here at Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time when we were setting this network up, selecting our delivery platform, Zencaster, was the clear winner of that little competition, with 4K video recording from your phone, AI editing that automatically removes all of the glitches that Nick constantly, do you won't hear of them of course, it's honestly, it's constant, he's making mistake after mistake, but Zencaster just deals with that.
00:16:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's amazing. So it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. Nick is looking at me with daggers at the moment. So if you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster, Nick.
00:16:21
Nick Britten
lucky no you know what you know I can't ah can't do what I was about to do. i can't do
00:16:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
You should learn and more about Zencaster.
00:16:30
Nick Britten
i do I love Zencast. it's a brilliant It is a brilliant platform. It's a great platform. I can't do what I was about to do because we're there on YouTube. so but
00:16:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, so
Championship Promotion Contenders
00:16:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
let's have a look at the championship.
00:16:40
Nick Britten
but Let's look at the temperature.
00:16:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
So as as it stands, Leeds top, Chef United second, Burnley, then Sunderland following close behind West Brom, Middlesbrough, Blackburn, Bristol City.
00:16:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going to ask you a couple of quick questions, Nick. Who's going up in the automatic places and who do we need to look out for in the playoffs?
00:17:01
Nick Britten
It's a four horse race in terms of who's going to go. I think it's a four horse race, who's going to go up generally. Although the playoffs, as we know, anything can anything can happen.
00:17:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:10
Nick Britten
but Leads United are top of the table and I think should be running away with it because they are from what I've seen. I've watched obviously a lot of championship football this season.
00:17:21
Nick Britten
My team is in the championship and they are far and away in my opinion the best team in the league bar none.
00:17:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
now
00:17:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're a class act.
00:17:28
Nick Britten
um Yet they're only two points ahead of Sheffield United currently who sits second and I'm going to watch Sheffield United tomorrow when they come to Pride Park. who who who themselves are in one point ahead of Burnley and then you've got a couple of points to to to to Sunderland to in fourth so five points separate top and fourth place but I think I think Lees will win the league I think they are the best team in the division and uh I struggle to see anything anything else the rest you know are much of a muchness and I think the notable thing about the championship this year again this is only my opinion
00:18:01
Nick Britten
But the the quality seems to be quite low compared to previous years. And I worry for anybody going up next year to the Premier League if they continue with the team that they've got. I think everybody's going to have to invest quite heavily know in the summer because they're not none of them are great sides.
00:18:17
Nick Britten
it's It's a little bit funny. It's quite tight-knit. um And you can throw a blanket over shift at the night of during the Sunday.
00:18:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
because we've seen that before haven't we in the championship where where a team has gone up and I remember the Fulham team that went up from the championship absolutely I remember him seeing them at Pride Park absolutely played them off the pitch clearly a class above and you often see that in the championship a couple of teams which are just really very close to Premier standard apart from Leeds we're not really seeing that then.
00:18:45
Nick Britten
Really, not really. I think, you know, Burnley seemed to be the Neil Neil draw specialist at the moment. They haven't conceded a goal for ages. And that's, you know, that's that's upon ah which bedrocks of promotion campaigns are built, clean sheets and so which is extraordinary.
00:18:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
and They've conceded nine in 29, nine goals in the whole season. Unbelievable.
00:19:05
Nick Britten
And James Trafford and goals doing an amazing job. A lot of people, you must have seen the game the other week when they play Sunderland at home and Trafford saved two penalties in the dying minutes of that game.
00:19:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:16
Nick Britten
It's just like, wow, extraordinary. He's a really good keeper. And that that will carry you. That will take you a long, long way. and But on the basis, they've only conceded nine goals.
00:19:27
Nick Britten
Their goal difference is only plus 10. So they don't actually score that many either. and your goal difference amongst those teams ah is is pretty much the same. The, the, the goal difference is about the same.
00:19:39
Nick Britten
You know, it's, it's, it's, it's really tight up there. It's really tight up there.
00:19:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who would be your second team then?
00:19:43
Nick Britten
and
00:19:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've got a gun to your head now, Nick. I haven't actually. You can see on YouTube I don't have a gun.
00:19:47
Nick Britten
I think, okay, if you've got it, if you've asked if you've got a gun to my head, I think it'll probably be Burnley. Not because they're any better than Sheffield United of Sunderland. It's just cause I don't see goals.
00:19:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think you're right.
00:19:56
Nick Britten
And Scott Marcus just got them absolutely watertight.
00:19:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm with you both are both of those two.
00:19:59
Nick Britten
He's got, he's got absolutely watertight. Um, so There'll be more too.
00:20:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Scott Parker's a good manager. I like Scott Parker. and those Yeah, I mean, he's he wouldn't be my first choice for Bernie, but he's done a good job there.
00:20:06
Nick Britten
I agree.
00:20:12
Nick Britten
Well, he's done a great job there, and I think he's got every every chance of success. And then if you're looking at who's going to go out in the playoffs, well, it's I would argue that the other the the other two teams are in that mix are quite a way ahead of other teams and in that sort of playoff mix. The teams like West Brom, I think Sheffield United and Sunderland are better than better than them both, ah but but better than other teams in the playoffs. And it'll be one of those. So I think out of those four, three of them are going to get promoted. I can't see anybody else unless somebody hits an absolutely mad run of form between now and then. And I'm not quite sure who who that would be looking at the rest of the championship.
00:20:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Brom are my dark horse. West Brom are on a decent run of form. And I can see, you know, I like Tony Mowbray. I've always liked him. And ah i think he's going to get I think he's going to get a turn out of West Brom. So I can see, I can't see them getting anywhere close to automatic, but I think they're going to be a real danger. If you were talking about about this being a four horse race, West Brom are the dark horse.
00:21:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
West Brom of the other team.
00:21:16
Nick Britten
I think Tony Mowbray is an absolutely brilliant appointment.
00:21:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that of the others could could get in the mix in the playoffs.
00:21:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:21:26
Nick Britten
I think he's a brilliant, I'm so pleased that he's back in football after his his enforced break.
00:21:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, me too.
00:21:33
Nick Britten
I think he's a great manager and any team in that at that level is lucky to have him and it was it was good to hear him sort of back on the radio last week after the again giving an interview and he was talking about his health and uh you so you may be right if there's going to be if there's going to be a put on the street but they are you know 11 points behind Sunderland that's big that's a big gap yeah yeah but yeah
00:21:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, there's no there's no no way they're going to get anywhere close to automatic, but I just wouldn't want to fancy them. I wouldn't want to play against them in the playoffs.
00:22:03
Nick Britten
Yeah. And then you got, I mean, you're looking at Middlesbrough as a good playoff contender. Blackburn is good playoff contender. Um, Bristol city and eighth, maybe not Watford and ninth, probably maybe so. Cause they've just, they, they, they've maybe underperformed, underformed a little bit.
00:22:15
Nick Britten
So yeah, it's tight. It's tight. But I think if you are a premier league team, fan of the premier league team, uh, book your tickets to leads, go to the road next season, because I think that they are going to be the league title winners this year.
00:22:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Which is very good news for Kate Monroe, one of our key stewards of Global Sports Podcast Network, because she's going to have a podcast to do.
00:22:34
Nick Britten
I don't like to say I don't like saying any of these things. ah Particularly about the leads. But I'm being objective here, Kenny.
00:22:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, you're going to do you're going to do him a favour tomorrow, I reckon, I reckon, I reckon Darby are beating the Chef United tomorrow.
00:22:45
Nick Britten
I'm being objective.
00:22:52
Nick Britten
Well, seven straight defeats in a row in all competitions for Derby. So six in the league, one in the cup. um if we, if we beat the team that sits in second in the automatic promotion, that is going to be the coupon buster of the weekend. I can tell you that now.
00:23:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, get get your money on it. I mean, Hull City beat him 3-0 at home last week.
00:23:11
Nick Britten
yeah
00:23:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Batted him. So it's, ah I think, i my money's on Derby. So that's who's coming up. We reckon Leeds, we you reckon Burnley. You've got to pick another one who's going to be in it.
00:23:25
Nick Britten
Um, I'm going to say Sunderland.
00:23:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, I'm going to...
00:23:28
Nick Britten
I'm going to say some of them because I think they're a good side. I do. I think they're good, really young, really vibrant. ah They can turn it on. The only thing that might be, might hamper them is that lack of experience towards the end of the season when the pressure is really, really on. That might hamper them, but I saw them recently and I was, I was very impressed with their movement, with the way they were coached. Just, we're just, we're there. They were just a vibrant, you know, young, vibrant, energetic side, p plenty of skill.
00:23:56
Nick Britten
And so I'm going to go i' got put my hat on Sunderland. There you go.
00:24:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, that's ah that sounds like a pretty good formula.
00:24:01
Nick Britten
That's my third team.
00:24:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going to go for West Brom. I just think the Tony Mowbray story would be a great story. And so I've got my fingers crossed for those guys.
00:24:08
Nick Britten
and what you're going story
00:24:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're a long way behind, but so I think they'll be there in the playoffs. So that suit's coming up to replace. he was it Who are they going to replace before we move on, do you reckon? We we we had a pretty good go at this a couple of weeks ago.
00:24:20
Nick Britten
that you
00:24:23
Nick Britten
Yeah, not much has changed in my view. I think, um, I think, uh, Sampton, I Leicester and I think Ipswich.
00:24:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, only me.
00:24:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Southampton, I think Leicester still. ah Ipswich are having a bit of a go, aren't they? And Wolves have having had a great start under Pereira, and now, shouldn't they come all wobbly?
00:24:42
Nick Britten
They are having a good go, to be fair. I know.
00:24:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Whatever wobbly is in Portuguese.
00:24:48
Nick Britten
I know. Yeah, you can. Yeah.
00:24:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wobbly.
00:24:52
Nick Britten
Well, I don't even know.
00:24:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wobbly.
00:24:53
Nick Britten
I'm not even gonna try. have It's, um yeah, it's an odd one that because I think i did I expected them to pull away. I really did expect them to pull away. And they haven't and they're down there. um But I still think they've got enough in them to get out of it.
00:25:07
Nick Britten
And the fruit switch is all about for me, it's all about keeping dilapfit. If they can keep dilapfit, they got a chance.
00:25:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:13
Nick Britten
If they can't, then they haven't.
00:25:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's a good way of summing up. So I'm going to ask you for your predictions. And let's go through them from Saturday.
00:25:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Forest Brighton. Now, I've got a i've got a i've got a point about a forest that I want to make.
00:25:30
Nick Britten
ah for
00:25:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And it's not an original thought. You know me. You've known me well enough for long enough to know I never have an original thought.
00:25:36
Nick Britten
I'm glad you said that.
00:25:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah And this is no different.
00:25:39
Nick Britten
I was going to say that but you've just beaten me to it.
00:25:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, self-deprecating, you see, is ah is where it's at.
00:25:43
Nick Britten
What's your unoriginal thought then? Go on, amaze me.
00:25:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, Forest, obviously, they lost last weekend, heavily. But they also lost the second half against Southampton 2-0.
00:26:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
They were 3-0 up at halftime, ended up being 3-2. Southampton won the second half 2-0. Forest then go and get Battered Five, don't they?
00:26:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bournemouth, was it? last so ah I think the forest bubble has burst.
00:26:12
Nick Britten
almost yeah
00:26:18
Nick Britten
Well that's music to my ears. Uh, but I don't think I'm not sure. I'm not sure. Cause I also think, and we've talked about predictions for tomorrow, you know, the Brighton bubble's been a little flat.
00:26:29
Nick Britten
It hasn't burst, but it's a bit, it's been a bit flat, hasn't it? In recent times. That's interesting.
00:26:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:34
Nick Britten
Yeah. It's an interesting point. Actually. I've not really thought about that. Yeah.
00:26:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
this This game is going to be as flat as last year's Open Asti Spumanti.
00:26:38
Nick Britten
Look, I spoke to a mate of mine.
00:26:45
Nick Britten
Which you've still got in your fridge, I believe.
00:26:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
You have be watching that game.
00:26:49
Nick Britten
yeah Yeah, you can have it tonight. help it yeah yeah but Listen, you're right about it. Bournemouth went up to Newcastle and thrashed Newcastle at home.
00:27:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, good team.
00:27:01
Nick Britten
They're on a really rich vein of home. The Southampton thing, I spoke to a mate of mine about that. He was a massive Forest fan and he was at the game. And he sort of said, yeah, we were just we were just a bit complacent.
00:27:15
Nick Britten
That's all it was. We just thought the game had been won. and Sampton got a goal and everybody, well, yeah, yeah, they've got a goal. And then they got another quite late on. And then of course, a little bit of nerve saying, but I don't think it was, I don't put it like this.
00:27:27
Nick Britten
If the score being nil, nil at halftime, Sampton wouldn't have won the second half two nil. I ah think is my point.
00:27:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I can see that. But then when when forests go and follow that up with a 5-0 on the receiving end of a 5-0 thrashing, I just got a feeling, I've just got a feeling that might end up having been the zenith of forest season.
00:27:42
Nick Britten
Okay.
00:27:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And from now, the second or sorry last third of the season, I think we may see forest. Reverting to mean is what I'm saying. will you know I wouldn't have ever had him third at any point in this season.
00:28:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I don't think they're going to finish third. So let's but let's get these predictions in the book. So Forrest Brighton, what are you going for?
00:28:08
Nick Britten
Yes. I'm going for home win because um I know what happens when you have a feeling Ken and it never ends well.
00:28:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's true. But I've been taking my tablets
Premier League Predictions
00:28:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
for that. I'm going for a draw, a nil-nil draw, as flat as last year's Asti's mementi. Bournemouth against Liverpool.
00:28:26
Nick Britten
Yeah, it's I look all my senses are saying that Bournemouth on the back of this amazing run of form are are arguably favorites for the guy. I don't know. They're going to give them all a really, really good game, but I can't bet. I just can't bet against Liverpool at the moment. I just think they're too good. So away win for me.
00:28:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the same for me. For all the reasons you've just said, i'd like I think it'll be a great game. I just still think it'll be 3-0 for Liverpool. Even against Leicester, this is one of my games of the weekend. I'm very much looking forward to this for all the wrong reasons.
00:29:01
Nick Britten
Well I have got this down, not not as as as flat as the 1974 Asti Schumabanti bottle in your fridge, but perhaps as last century's Asti Schumabanti because this is this is going to be a really really boring dull game of football that's going to end 0-0.
00:29:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wow.
00:29:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's a 5-3 away win.
00:29:22
Nick Britten
It won't be, but it won't be.
00:29:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Get it on your pool scoopers.
00:29:24
Nick Britten
It just won't be because
00:29:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you're going for a 0-0 draw.
00:29:26
Nick Britten
the Everton don't, Everton, Everton don't score goals and Calvert-Lewin who, who I know, you know, hasn't been amazing recently, but it's still got capability. He's out injured now for a while. Leicester away from home. yeah um yeah No, I mean, it's just, they beat Tottenham away. It's just one of those random results. But they've lost seven on the spin before that. I can just see it. Nobody's scoring. Nobody. It's just, it's just been rubbish. It's just been rubbish. don it'll draw go
00:29:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
you're not exactly selling this one but i so it will be yeah you've got it down as a draw i've got it as a home win i think i think having gone a sneaker 1-0 there ah Ipswich Southampton now
00:29:57
Nick Britten
to stop No, I'm not. I'm not. You're right.
00:30:07
Nick Britten
No, I'm not. I'm not. I've said it. You look at it, most but it's like the off it is. But you think it's going to be a dull one that will win then.
00:30:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I do. I do. I can't. i can't i ah I'm only predicting a 5-3 away with victory you simply because you've given it such a deadly spin. So, Ipswich, Southampton. Now, I know Southampton is important to you because and it's worth explaining to our listener why it's important to you that Southampton ah getting oh ah yeah start getting some points.
00:30:37
Nick Britten
I'm rooting for Southampton massively for the rest of this season because for those of you who don't know, well you'll all know I'm a Derby County fan because I relentlessly go on about it. that but But some of you may not know that so Derby County are officially the worst team in Premier League history. That's because in 2007-2008 we amassed an almighty 11 points across the season. We won victory, out of all of that we only won one game all season.
00:31:04
Nick Britten
um and we amassed 11 miserable points. So Hampton have only got six points and they're in danger of breaking our record. And you won't find a Derby supporter out there who doesn't want this record to go.
00:31:18
Nick Britten
We want to keep this record, yeah?
00:31:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
The only thing that makes you relevant
00:31:20
Nick Britten
We want to keep this record, we're proud of it. It makes us relevant. It's about the only thing that does make us relevant to football so at the moment. so So, you know, come on Southampton, you can do it. You only need six more points until now, until May to get to that magic 12-point figure and allow Derby to, you know, just out of a sense of decency, allow Derby to keep that record. So on that note, I'm backing the Saints tomorrow for a point and I'm going for a score draw.
00:31:48
Nick Britten
and
00:31:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I'm going for a home win, rips which I think I'll turn in a bit of a corner. ah And I think they're going to I think they're going to handsomely beat Southampton. I also hope that Southampton managed to get 12 points.
00:32:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I can't see where they're coming from, but they will be dancing in the streets of Normanton and Alastri and Sponder if if Darby hang on to that somewhat ah strange record that they seem to want to hang on
00:32:03
Nick Britten
yeah
00:32:18
Nick Britten
Yeah, just for listeners in America or anywhere else in the world, and or indeed anybody outside of Derby, those places that Ken mentioned are suburbs of Derby. Just in case you hadn't didn't know where Alistair or Spontane were.
00:32:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, I was about to tell you a terrible, spondent joke then.
00:32:31
Nick Britten
yeah
00:32:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just realised we're actually going out to the world, so I won't tell you that joke. ah So Newcastle, Fulham, this is an interesting game. What do you reckon?
00:32:45
Nick Britten
Yeah, this is an interesting game actually. Um, and, and, and Newcastle are doing really well. Um, their little unbeaten one, not even an unbeaten run, their winning run came to a shuddering halt against Bournemouth a couple of weeks ago, but they picked it up again with a good win against Hamilton, uh, last week. Um, for them on the other hand, they're just a bit up and down at the moment. And, and you know, the 13th in the form table over the last six games and I just, I think Newcastle will win this.
00:33:15
Nick Britten
I think it'll be a good game because I like watching Fulham play. I think they're really good this season. They're very entertaining to watch.
00:33:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
That'd be a good game.
00:33:20
Nick Britten
Just wanted to see Harry Wilson's out injured for a while as of last weekend. That's a shame because I always liked watching him play. But I think Fulham will give him a game, but I think Newcastle will win.
00:33:32
Nick Britten
So home win for me.
00:33:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, home win for me as well. He's actually on a roll. He's looking a really phenomenal player. ah Newcastle on a roll. I just think they yeah when we look at the the teams that are likely to end up in the Champions League spaces, I mean, Newcastle got it all to play for. We'll come to that before we wrap things up. Here's an interesting one. Wolves Villa. This is an important game. It's obviously ah ah a bit of a West Midlands Derby. There's a lot riding on this for both teams, I think.
00:34:04
Nick Britten
but There is, there is, um, and we talked about walls a moment ago and I can't, I'm scratching my head as to why, why they've kind of just fallen off a little bit and why they kind of haven't run away from that bottom three, as I i expected them to do with the new manager, giving the players the bow.
00:34:20
Nick Britten
So I just don't know. I mean, the car defense set pieces, the car, the car defense set pieces still, and they're too easy to score against.
00:34:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Four consecutive disputes.
00:34:28
Nick Britten
That's, that's the issue.
00:34:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:34:29
Nick Britten
And I think Villa's front line is really, really good. I can't genuinely can't see anything other than a Villa win here. A way win.
00:34:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Interesting. I've got it down as a draw, but I can absolutely see the case for a Villa win. But if Wolves happen to make it five defeats on the bounce, it's going to start to look very grim for for Wolves.
00:34:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then Sunday, the big game of the weekend for me, Brentford against Spurs.
00:34:47
Nick Britten
we but Why is it the big game of the week for you?
00:34:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
i Because I like watching Jeopardy. ah Not the program, the the the old 1980s American game show, but Jeopardy in the sense of I'm like glued to post a cog glue at the moment.
00:35:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I just think, you know, when you've had to kind of run a form that Spurs have got, you know, everyone's biting the fingernails. Brentford decent. They can be decent. They're a bit up and down.
00:35:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
They can be really good. I just think that it's going to be a cracking game. um And I've got it down as a home win.
00:35:26
Nick Britten
yeah like
00:35:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Brentford are going to turn them over.
00:35:30
Nick Britten
Yeah, do you know what? If you can see my bit of paper where I was working all this out earlier on, I've got H scrubbed out by A, scrubbed out by D, scrubbed out by H with a question mark next to it. I can't gock it you can't go i can't work this out.
00:35:43
Nick Britten
ah can' ah I said ah settled on an H in the end for a home win.
00:35:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
It could be anything.
00:35:48
Nick Britten
um Because I think that they are, if they're on the form of Brentford at home, they're brilliant. they They are brilliant. They've shown to be. And Tottenham, playing elsewhere is one thing. Going away to Brentford is a whole new, different ballgame. And, yeah, in the end, I think Brentford will have too much room. Maybe a 2-1 or something like that.
00:36:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
OK, makes sense. Manu Palace. I just can't call this one. Palace have definitely overachieving now. I think there they kind of they pulled it around a little bit in the course of the last couple of months.
00:36:22
Nick Britten
That's great.
00:36:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Certainly more stable. But Manu were just unconvincing still. What do you think?
00:36:29
Nick Britten
The palace Palace, you're right, have turned it around. and They've turned it around on the back of their away form more than anything else. So they they you talk about their form over the last five games. They sit sixth in the form table in the Premier League, which is you know pretty impressive to Manchester United's 11th.
00:36:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, good.
00:36:44
Nick Britten
Man United are very unpredictable. We don't quite know what to expect from them. Whereas away from home, Palace have settled into a little bit of a groove. um So I think Palace will get something out of the game, so I've gone for a draw.
00:36:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good.
00:36:57
Nick Britten
But it wouldn't surprise me if Palace won, to be honest. It wouldn't surprise me.
00:37:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, wouldn't surprise me.
00:37:00
Nick Britten
But I've gone for a draw.
00:37:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was in a similar predicament to you in the previous game. I've gone for a Man United home win. ah just think I just think ah for no particular reason, I just i just think United will just hang on to a 2-1 or something there.
00:37:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Now here's again, here's an interesting one. City, resurgent, well that's probably overstating it. Certainly more more comfortable than they have been. A way of arsenal, arsenal obviously in pretty good form themselves. Foden's come back to life, he remembered where where the where the net is.
00:37:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
City look decent last couple of weeks and when I've seen them. ah Of City getting back to winning ways, how how do you see this one going?
00:37:49
Nick Britten
I'm getting back to winning ways. And as you say, Foden has been sort of a catalyst for that in a lot of ways. um they're They're looking a little bit more like their old selves, but you know what? I keep backing against Arsenal and they keep proving me wrong. So I'm going to go with them for this week. I'm going to go with them. I'm going to predict a home win.
00:38:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Home win, I've got it down as a draw. I think it'll be a ah two-two. I think it'll be goals.
00:38:10
Nick Britten
Yeah, I think, yeah, that's a fair shout. That is an absolute fair shout. Yeah. Yeah. Maybe I should do that.
00:38:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, no, you're not.
00:38:16
Nick Britten
Maybe I should change it to a draw.
00:38:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's too late. It's written down now.
00:38:17
Nick Britten
I don't know.
00:38:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've got a home win. i need all I need all the victories on this I can possibly get and miles behind you. And finally, Chelsea West Ham will seem to have come off a little bit for Chelsea recently.
00:38:22
Nick Britten
You know, yeah, yeah, you might be right.
00:38:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
A bit of a wobble going on there. Boeing supposed to be back for West Ham. Still don't think they're going to have enough to to to trouble Chelsea, though.
00:38:37
Nick Britten
No, I don't talk. I don't talk. Are you right about Chelsea? They're, they're forms of a bit of a bit of a, bit of a ditch, uh, in many ways. Um, West Ham are an interesting one because they are getting better.
00:38:52
Nick Britten
They are getting better, but they need to get better quicker. I don't think there are any danger of going down now, but I think they need to get better fairly quickly. The signs are decent, but neither team, frankly, are on form.
00:39:05
Nick Britten
You know, if you look at the last five games, Chelsea have won one, drawn two, lost two, West Ham have won one, drawn one, and lost three.
00:39:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:39:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:39:14
Nick Britten
So there's not much going on in there. So you then kind of think about home advantage. So because Chelsea are home, they've got home advantage, I'm going to go for a home win.
00:39:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I wouldn't agree with that. I wouldn't disagree rather with with really any of that. So, and of the I've got three asterisked games that I'm interested in in watching.
00:39:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Evan Lester, I just think that's going to be an interesting one. Brentford Spurs is going to be an interesting one. Obviously the Arsenal Man City game on Sunday is going to be and to be a great way to finish the weekend I think. Anything really jump out to you in terms of key matches? ah
00:39:48
Nick Britten
um Our key match absolutely Everton versus Leicester City because it's a bottom of the table clash. Everton have kind of dragged themselves out of it a little bit but they can get dragged back into it very very quickly and can less to capitalise on last week's win against Tottenham and then um I think just for purely entertainment value I think Newcastle Fulham could just be a great game to watch.
00:40:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it will be. I think it will be. Right, that's just about it for another episode of That Sadly Feeling. It's been great to catch up. One thing I'm just going to surprise you with, just going back to ah my prediction that the forest bubble has burst. So imagine they are not in the top five.
00:40:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who are going to be the four teams in the Champions League and who is going to be the team in the Europa League?
00:40:40
Nick Britten
Liverpool are going to win the league, then the other three teams in the Champions League are going to be Arsenal, Manchester City and Newcastle United.
00:40:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:40:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. yeah
00:40:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Wow. And who's in Europa?
00:40:58
Nick Britten
Chelsea. i
00:40:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I wouldn't disagree with that. I wouldn't disagree with that. i was i was interested i but I wrote exactly the same down myself and I was interested if you if great minds thought alike and they did. So thank you, Nick, for ah for dressing up in your Derby top and joining me to as the EFL take over the Premier League in that Saturday feeling number eight.
00:41:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll be back next week with, I don't know who will be around on this, but I probably will. You probably will. There might be some others too.
00:41:25
Nick Britten
i will i
00:41:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Make sure you check out the Global Sports Podcast Network, whoever you support. And if you support, no one. And you just fancy a team. If you're if you're sitting there in San Antonio, Texas, you think, I need to get into the Premier League. I really need to pick a team. Get yourself on the Global Sports Podcast Network. Have a listen to all the kind of nonsense that's going on there. And Bob's your uncle, as you say, in the UK.
00:41:50
Nick Britten
I will. I'm watching all on YouTube now. It's so much the better.
00:41:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
watch it on YouTube. Thanks very much indeed, it's been an absolute pleasure.