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Liverpool Title Coronation + Balon D’or Salah + Odegaard Disapointment
8 Plays3 months ago
- Liverpool 2 - Man City 0
- Odegaard's poor season continues
- Games Of The Week: Midweek Madness
- Forest v Arsenal
- Spurs v City
- Liverpool v Newcastle
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Podcast Milestone
00:00:10
Chino Onwuka
Hello and welcome to another episode of The Love of the Game. It's your boy Chino. I'm here with the boys. Episode 17. Okay, okay.
00:00:21
Chino Onwuka
Now let's give ourselves a little pat on the back for consistency. and We're still out here. I'm here with, you know, two the people who I love discussing but with the most. Chukusio, what's up to the fam?
00:00:35
Chuku
What's up, gang? <unk> Episode 17. Wow.
Sports Discussions Begin
00:00:39
Chuku
If you told me we reached this point a year ago, I'm going to have to slap somebody because I didn't think this is something I finally left the group chat and made it to an actual thing. So I'm just part of the progress and, you know, where we've come and how far we've come.
00:00:55
Chuku
I'm here for another banging episode. I got some i feel like today we're going discussing some takes that I might have the boys rowdy. You know, my I might have the boys rowdy. feeling some type of way, but I feel like it has to be discussed. So I'm looking forward to the conversation.
00:01:10
Chuku
And yeah, I'm here for another banging episode, guys. Let's do it.
00:01:15
Chino Onwuka
Okay, okay. I don't know if I should be excited or scared. We'll see. Emeka, what's up? How you doing?
00:01:22
Emeka
Hey, man, I feel like I've been here before. It's crazy. But episode 17, still delivering for the fans. We love you all. Thank for rocking with us. You know, the vibes are low, but the vibes are high at the same time, man. I can't wait to to hear my brother's spicy takes and and chop it up one more time, man.
00:01:39
Chino Onwuka
All
Liverpool's Recent Matches and Title Race
00:01:40
Chino Onwuka
let's get right into it. So when we last left off, you know, this was going to be a a pretty potential pivotal week, you know, looking at the Premier League, Liverpool, you know, I think they were coming...
00:01:53
Chino Onwuka
coming up against a tough run of fixtures. They had Aston Villa, Man City, and then Newcastle back-to-back-to-back. And we said, you know, if there was any chance for a slip-up, you know, it could be during this period. And so this was a window for them to either, you know, solidify their hold of the Premier League title or potentially slip up and, you know, open a little bit of a crack for...
00:02:17
Chino Onwuka
Arsenal in particular to potentially come back in. So they drop points against Villa. And so, you know, right off the bat, there's one eyebrow raised. And so it's like, okay, Man City, Pep, you know, you've been stumbling all season, but, you know, is this your chance to, you know, potentially do something for your protege, you know?
00:02:39
Chino Onwuka
yeah, that was not the case. It was a pretty straightforward 2-0 victory four for Liverpool, in my opinion. you know, maybe if they had, you know, one hand on the title before now, they definitely have two hands on that title.
00:02:54
Chino Onwuka
And, uh... Yeah, don't i don't I don't know what else to say. You know what? I'll open up the floor to you guys to sort of give you views of the game itself. You know, what stood out to you? What does it say for Liverpool and the title?
00:03:09
Chino Onwuka
You know, what does it say about Mo Salah and the form he's been in? And what does it say about, you know, Man City and Pep as well? So I'll open up the floor to whoever wants to go first.
00:03:22
Chuku
My bro, I'll let you start first with this one. I'm curious to hear your takes on the game, and I'll take it after you.
Fan Reactions and Strategic Analysis for Liverpool and Arsenal
00:03:30
Emeka
All right? Like... Ugh. Where to start? Where to start? Where to start? I guess it's going to start with what you said. Like, Liverpool... I know they have a title wrapped up. I know it in my heart in my brain, in my heart, in every fiber of my being.
00:03:45
Emeka
And yet, for some reason, I still check every result they have. I watch all their games. I'm just delusional. And I just wanted to maybe. And like you said, they drop points midweek. And I'm thinking, hey, man, something happens there. i mean, we're going to talk about it soon. But the duo day before, obviously, Arsenal lose to West Ham. So...
00:04:02
Emeka
I'm not that stressed about it, but I'm still watching it like, let's see what happens. And before I could even, you know, digest my Sunday breakfast, Small Salah already scores a goal with a corner routine. And I'm just thinking like, this Liverpool team, man, I don't get it. I don't and don't get the disrespect people have for them.
00:04:20
Emeka
I don't get the whole, like, oh, what is what but a shocking upset Slott's winning the league his first year. Look at the team. This is the same team that was winning 90 games left and right. The same spine. Virg, Salah, and Trent. Like, Allison, like, these are heavy hitters.
00:04:37
Emeka
I can't help but watch as an Arsenal fan and just think like, why can't... Obviously, I know reasons why, but why can't we look like this sometimes, man? Just a respectable, scored early, Salah just terrorizing Gavardial, somebody's team of the year left back, just getting bachata dancing with Mo Salah all game.
00:04:57
Emeka
is click the I don't blame him. I'm making fun of him, but I don't blame him because any left back, Salah will cook. It's just... Oh, man. I don't know what else to say except Liverpool, congratulations on on on the title, man.
00:05:10
Emeka
And Mo Salah, I really hope you get a Ballon d'Or this year. I really, really do.
00:05:16
Chino Onwuka
Honestly, that's a very good point because I think maybe it's something that a lot of us lost perspective of. I mean, when we were doing our predictions, you know, I had Man City first, Arsenal second, Liverpool third. And that was because of, you know, what we'd all seen in the last, the previous two years. And so the the big thing was, you know, okay, they have a new coach in in in slot, you know,
00:05:44
Chino Onwuka
Are we going to see, you know, some sort of, you know, after effects from that?
00:05:45
Emeka
Thank you.
00:05:50
Chino Onwuka
Clearly not. Slott's been a brilliant manager. You know, he's gelled that team together, you know, just built upon the foundations that were already there. Like you said, they were a top team. You know, i know we'll touch you've talked Mo Salah.
00:06:06
Chino Onwuka
You know, i think that's clearly the title for them. To me, it's like, huh, So what happened the last two seasons then? Because like you said, it's the same spine of the team.
00:06:18
Chino Onwuka
You know, where where were they the last two seasons? What happened? and Maybe they were fighting on too many fronts and, you know, they got jaded and couldn't last a goal. Because look at it, at this time last year, they were also top of the league by like five points and then they faded hard, you know, when they were trying to go for for all four titles. So is it, you know, maybe...
00:06:40
Chino Onwuka
clock leaving you know allowed for
Liverpool's Team Depth and Key Players
00:06:43
Chino Onwuka
a breath of fresh air and renewed reinvigorating thinking? Is it, oh, you know all that spine that we've talked about,
00:06:53
Chino Onwuka
This is all their last years. People were talking about last year being the last dance as a club. Maybe this year is the real last dancing as they're all in their final seasons and they're trying to do whatever they can to win that title, you know, without an asterisk. I don't think there should be an asterisk, but to win that last title before some of them leave. So, yeah, that that's actually the the what's because, you know, the last two seasons, it was two teams going for the title, Man City and Arsenal into the last days and...
00:07:21
Chino Onwuka
Liverpool would start hard, you know, by Christmas, January, February, they'd be in it. And then, you know, through the last couple of months, they would fade off leaving just those two teams. So, yeah, that's actually what's what I'm curious about now.
00:07:35
Chino Onwuka
Chukwu got anything add?
00:07:36
Emeka
Sorry to cut you off, Chukwu.
00:07:36
Chuku
also No, no good.
00:07:37
Emeka
I just got something real quick to say because this point is a point I was saving a little bit before we talk about Arsenal. Because you really you you you spoke about it, you went right up to it, and I'm going to go jump two steps in front of it.
00:07:51
Emeka
I am not a doctor. I don't play one on TV. I don't know the human body physique that well. I will say, though, I think there's something to this era of high-pressing, gang-in-pressing, you know, everyone's doing it now.
00:08:05
Emeka
I feel like we're reaching a point where it's unsustainable to to players. And that's something I've noticed with Slott. And he was a huge against Man City. He doesn't press that much. Like, people still look at Liverpool like they're the same.
00:08:17
Emeka
Heavy metal, football. They don't press that much. and And against City, they literally scored two and just sat back. You watch the second half of the game. It was like 10 men in the box.
00:08:28
Emeka
They were just chilling. They didn't press high. They didn't do that. And all this season, I've noticed that Slott has just said, Salah, you're the main man. You're the you're the you're the you're the talisman. Don't even track back.
00:08:40
Emeka
camp at the halfway line and hit teams on the break. People see Trent getting cooked all the time in this game.
00:08:42
Chuku
you
00:08:45
Emeka
My Lord, he got cooked all the time by Doku, but he's by himself. You watch a lot of these highlights is Trent by himself. Maybe Konate will slide over or grab him back. Salah doesn't track back.
00:08:56
Emeka
Salah stays up front because I think Slaughter's realized that We're asking these team too much from these players to press up
Mo Salah's Ballon d'Or Candidacy
00:09:03
Emeka
high, track back, move forward. And I hate to being oh bring things back to Arsenal all the time, but I've slowly been thinking about this about Arteta and what he's asking from, especially his forwards, namely Saka and Kai Havertz.
00:09:16
Emeka
These mans run their body off. If you watch them, say what you want about Kai's finishing. You can never test his is work ethic. Arteta has these mans pressing.
00:09:27
Emeka
And even when Kai was the only fit striker, he still had him pressing. And so what happened? Torres' hamstring. Saka, Torres' hamstring. Gabriel injured his hamstring.
00:09:38
Emeka
I feel like that's the connection there. Same reason why all our fullbacks always get muscular injuries. It's because we're asking them to do the most. And I kind of feel like, same kind like you said with Klopp, that they always start off fast and in they fade off end of the year.
00:09:51
Emeka
Now, granted, part of it is that Salah goes to Egypt and play AFCON. But I also think part of it is you can't ask these men to play three no two to two games a week, Champions League, FA Cup, Prem, and press like mad men. Like, they're only human.
00:10:04
Emeka
You can only do that if you're like Man City, Prime Man City, where you could just get 19 guys at the same talent level, rotate them out. Bernardo Silva plays one game, Silva plays the next, KDB plays the next, keep running.
00:10:16
Emeka
When you have a smaller squad, you can't ask these guys to do that. It just doesn't work. And I feel like that's an underrated part of what Slott has done. The biggest thing he's done is obviously unlock Gravenbach. But for me, the second biggest thing is he's like, he just said, Salah, you're not going to track back.
00:10:31
Emeka
Stay up front, get those goals and assists. We'll figure out the rest out. And I hope Mikel is taking notes. And I hope next year Saka gets to do a little bit more of that.
00:10:40
Chuku
That ain't happening, but hey, you know what I'm saying?
00:10:42
Chino Onwuka
Hold on, Chuka, before you go, I think maybe what what I'll say to this is, you know, you talked about, you know, why can't Arsenal be that team, you know, that scores early and then sits back. I'm pretty sure that was...
00:10:56
Chino Onwuka
pretty much our modus operandi, especially last year. You know, people, people we would we would s score goals early and then we were very comfortable, you know, sitting in in a mid-block as well.
00:11:09
Chino Onwuka
And teams just couldn't penetrate that. So, you know, guess we'll touch on Arsenal earlier. I think it all... we We ended up being too conservative. Or for some reason, we don't score early like we did before. And so we have to chase the game a lot more versus last year.
00:11:27
Chino Onwuka
You know, we really could control the game from a league. But Chukwu, let's focus on
Arsenal's Challenges and Strategic Missteps
00:11:31
Chino Onwuka
Liverpool-Man City. If there's Arsenal talking there, that's fine. But Chukwu, let's finish off on what was the game of the week.
00:11:39
Chuku
Yeah, I mean, i think my brother summed it up pretty pretty well there. I mean, it was a very comfortable Liverpool win. Granted, you know, there was no Haaland this time around, and I'm pretty certain Haaland could have made a difference, maybe with the addition of a goal, maybe.
00:11:59
Chuku
But watching the game and how things was going, whether he was there or not, I still think Liverpool would have... comfortably been the victors of that of that game.
00:12:13
Chuku
Maybe Haaland's difference between, know, Man City going scoreless versus maybe, you know, getting a consolation goal, possibly. But overall, like, Liverpool, they were just too good, man. Like, Salah, what more can you say about this this guy? Like, Salah might...
00:12:34
Chuku
really have to be a top five EPL player of all time. like I think people need to understand like how consistent this brother is. like It's incredible the body of work he has done. If not for the the obviously the emergence of Man City, Pep, and and and all the awards that they've taken away from Liverpool. like With the stats Salah has, if he had more credentials in the league, which obviously, you know, winning the league this year definitely is going to help add more to his legacy.
00:13:10
Chuku
But, I mean, it could could have be it could have been a lot worse, let's put it like Liverpool, as we know, have deserved to win, you know, plenty of other times.
00:13:20
Chuku
But the juggernaut that Man City has, you know, been has held them back, you know. for the last, you know, handful of years. and But this time around, you know, Liverpool came came out and, you know, by far looked the better team, the better side.
00:13:37
Emeka
you
00:13:38
Chuku
You know, much as talk about slots and unlocking certain players, you know, Galvenberg, yep, totally agree. But I feel like someone that goes on doesn't get enough credits, even though he may not have contributed in terms of goals, but just his overall play.
00:13:58
Chuku
Luis Diaz has been one of the better left wingers in the league, in my opinion. Watching him play, and what what's some of the services I see him combining with Salah to do it, it's insane. Whether you've asked him to play in the left wing, whether you've asked him to play through the middle, I've always, i've just i I just think he brings a lot to the Liverpool attack. And, you know,
00:14:23
Chuku
he had an underrated performance. Can't speak enough about McAllister. Can't speak enough about Van Dijk. The whole Liverpool team, you know what, kudos to them. you know they deserve it they They deserve it. They've been they been definitely the most consistent team you know in the league. and you know
Liverpool's Title Race Position
00:14:50
Chuku
That's what happens when you have you know well, a good depth in your front line. your frontline Like, you know, you're able to rotate guys. They always are able to make subs to bring in fresh legs and, know, fresh energy in the front line.
00:15:07
Chuku
And the defense has been standard. Midfield, as you can see, it may not be the deepest, but they have solid guys that know they know their role, they know their job in the midfield. And when you have a guy like Salah who just needs one or two chances to put a goal away, that's the difference. That's the difference, man, especially when you have a good defense.
00:15:32
Chuku
And Liverpool have easily one of the best defenses in the league. So when when when they score, when they have
Arsenal's Future and Transfer Market Concerns
00:15:38
Chuku
a guy like Salah up top that can just – doesn't take too many chances to score, is going to equate to lot of victories. and you know Yeah, it's unfortunate that the year Man City decides to wet the bed and and not be their usual selves, Arsenal couldn't capitalize on it. and It's a shame. This is the one year that you know injuries played a big factor in the Arsenal team.
00:16:06
Chuku
i don't want to use that as an excuse because over the last few years, you know Injuries have plagued Liverpool as well. And you know they've still found ways to to manage. Even though it didn't lead to them winning the league, you know they still find ways to... to to you know They don't give that excuse.
00:16:25
Chuku
So, you know, it's a long season. And, you know, being able to, you know to a Mecca's point, not having to... you know getting press, you know, as often, definitely I can see the correlation to to less pressing in that department and having less injuries from it, you know.
00:16:52
Chuku
Although I will say that there are certain players on the Liverpool team that definitely run their butts off, like Shabazz Light being the number one, you know, you know, factor when it comes to that. Like, that's a player there that I see literally runs the floor back and forth so heavily, you know, all over the pitch. I see him everywhere pop up.
00:17:14
Chuku
So, I mean, there's definitely something to be to be said about that. And whatever it is, Slott has been able to, you know,
00:17:25
Chuku
gel with the team, unlock the players he needs to unlock to put Liverpool in a position where they most likely are, at this point anyways, most likely to win the league. So kudos to them, you know, can't hate.
00:17:41
Chuku
And all I can just say is Mo Salah, what a player. Fair
00:17:48
Chino Onwuka
Dewey, Dewey, Dewey, Dewey.
00:17:49
Chuku
and enough.
00:17:52
Chino Onwuka
I don't even know if this is a question, but he has to clearly be the favorite for Ballon d'Or at this point.
00:17:58
Chuku
I mean, it all depends on what happens with Champion League because, you know, the thing about it is, as of right now,
Odegaard's Role and Midfield Contributions
00:18:08
Chuku
I would say he has to be, in my opinion.
00:18:11
Chuku
But with the way –
00:18:11
Chino Onwuka
No one is like, I get Champions League is, you know, a big factor, right?
00:18:17
Chuku
has to be.
00:18:18
Chino Onwuka
If Liverpool win the title by a big gap, you know, and they're even fairly decent next year, no one is having anywhere close to the season he's having this year, regardless of what you do in the Champions League.
00:18:35
Chino Onwuka
like unless Unless you go and start doing Ronaldo's and Messi's and scoring a hat-trick every game, i don't think what anybody does in the Champions League... you anybody It will take a lot for someone to do in the Champions League to equal what Mo Salah has done this season so far.
00:18:54
Chuku
I hear you. I hear what you're saying. But and look, the truth of the matter is there's some names in Madrid that, again, Real Madrid have, you know, they're starting to turn up. They're starting to turn up.
00:19:09
Chuku
They're starting to but put here turn up the heat. And if certain mans go on a run, which we know can happen all the time, and they win their perspective league,
00:19:23
Chuku
and then come and show up and put on performances that we know they can do and win the Champions League. It can be a different conversation. That's all I'm going to say.
00:19:33
Chino Onwuka
actually I actually see where you're going, and i make I want to see your point.
00:19:33
Chuku
It can be a different
00:19:36
Chino Onwuka
But, okay, right now the guy who's in hot form is Mbappe, right?
00:19:43
Chuku
conversation.
00:19:44
Chino Onwuka
He's the only guy that I see with just because of the goals he's scoring. Unless Vinicius starts, even like a lot of those guys are playing well.
00:19:47
Chuku
100%. 100%.
00:19:51
Chino Onwuka
The thing with Real Madrid is, you know, it's a conversation you see you know in other sports a lot of the time where you have so many players that, you know, maybe the vote can get diluted. money no Do you see what Mo Salah doing right now? Goals and assists. I'm sorry.
00:20:09
Chino Onwuka
You to score 20 goals in Champions League to equal that even if you win it. I don't think, oh, just because you win Champions League and you're Real Madrid, then one of your players should win Balamdor. That doesn't make sense to me.
00:20:20
Chuku
I hear you.
00:20:20
Chino Onwuka
If you carry the Liverpool team in this Premier League, to the title with all the goals and assists that you have. I'm sorry. Like, jeez, Liverpool is first in the champ, finished first in the table in the Champions League. So they're right. Like,
Arsenal's Competitive Edge and Needed Changes
00:20:37
Chino Onwuka
I get what you're saying. I'm not saying there can't be other challenges, but I think what I don't agree with is just say, oh, if Real Madrid wins it, then it should be one of their players. I don't think that makes sense. And Mecca, what do you think?
00:20:50
Emeka
Bro, I have quite a bit of money on Mo Salah winning Ballon d'Or because to me it's... I'm with you, Chino. It's a lock. Like... the The biggest thing that Salah has going for him, and people like are killing my man Jimmy Carragher for saying it, is there's no Euros or Copa this year.
00:21:07
Emeka
That's usually when you get a lot of funny, funny winners is when like a Modric or a Cannavaro happens and they ball out in international tournaments. That's when you get those funny winners. Like the only competition he has is from the Madrid guys. And you kind of you nailed it. You said man's guys.
00:21:25
Emeka
There's a reason for that. Plural. I think the Madrid players will cannibalize each other's votes. Like, Mbappe is the second runner-up right now. But you can't tell me, like, would you be shocked if they win the Champions League and Vinny's the better player or Jude's the better player? Like, they always have that weird... There are three... Four-headed monster, low-key. Shots are Rodrigo, but he's not going Ballon d'Or.
00:21:45
Emeka
But they have three huge names that will eat off each other. Meanwhile, unlike previous years when... You know, it would be like Salah, Van Dijk, and Mane, and they'd always do the same thing.
00:21:57
Emeka
This year, it's clear. Mo Salah is the man. And you know what? It's funny. were talking about Ballon d'Or. Someone asked me this question today, and I'm going to you guys. Forget the Ballon d'Or.
00:22:08
Emeka
Obviously, the season's not over yet, and things can change. But right now, is it crazy to say Salah is having the greatest Premier League season of all time? Because recently biased or what, when I look at the numbers he's doing, they don't make sense to me.
00:22:21
Chuku
Hey, I'm with you, bro. like He's putting up video game numbers right now. like he's gonna he' is definitely like He's going to finish. I don't want to even say on pace. I'm saying and this point in time, it's almost a guaranteed lock.
00:22:36
Chuku
He's going to get 30 goals, 20 assists, which is a ridiculous, like, that is ridiculous to say.
00:22:39
Emeka
Crazy.
00:22:44
Chuku
Like, it's, I mean, yeah. Look, I don't disagree with you. And by the way, to your to you, I want to clarify my point earlier before, you know, you ahead and say this is coming from me. Because it's not coming from me in the sense of, like, I think it should be the case where Madrid player should win the EPL, so should win the Ballon d'Or if they win Champions League, for example.
00:23:08
Chuku
I'm not saying that. but um'm so what What I'm just trying to point out us is with the way the voters borders votes for the Ballon d'Or, I'm just saying, regardless of the amazing season Salah having right now and they win the league, if they don't perform in the Champions League and Madrid pulls their own no domestic, like their own double with the domestic league and they win the Champions League and Mbappe, using Mbappe in this case,
00:23:43
Chuku
shows out and has a crazy performance. I'm just saying i wouldn't be surprised if the voters go off of, especially in a year where there's no international tournaments and and none of that.
00:23:56
Chuku
I wouldn't be surprised if they they base off their their votes based on just those two things alone. But regardless, with who's having the the more influential season,
00:24:09
Chuku
I will still have to say right now, Mo Salah has to be the the guy because of what he's doing for this Liverpool team and the fact that like he's doing doing all this at age 32.
00:24:22
Chuku
It just screams... It's ridiculous. It's ridiculous what he's doing. And so, I mean, if you ask me personally who I think should be Ballon d'Or at this point in time, I don't think there's a question that Salah is definitely know the only correct answer.
00:24:35
Chuku
But, again... we'll, we'll shall see. I just hope for his sake, they're able to perform in the champ, in the champions league and, you know, solidify his case even more to, to, to as to why he should be the, you know, Ballon d'Or winner because like, he's been one of the most consistent players ever. Like,
00:24:59
Chuku
with putting up over 20 goals and 10 assists every year. And for i him to be at this stage of his career and never once won a Ballon d'Or, I mean, obviously, lot of those years, you know you have to you still got the the monsters of Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi. But like it's been a while since those guys have been household names in terms of Ballon d'Ors.
00:25:24
Chuku
And I know Messi only won the most recent one so oh know, out of the the big two from, you know, having won the the World Cup.
00:25:35
Chuku
But I just think Salah definitely deserves to have his name, you know, called out for best player in the world because some of the things that he's been able to accomplish and do for this Liverpool side has been nothing short but of amazing.
00:25:52
Chino Onwuka
I don't even think we need to talk about giving him a legacy award because of what he...
00:25:52
Chuku
So...
00:25:56
Chino Onwuka
On this season alone, Emeka just asked if he's having the greatest Premier League season of all time. While you were talking, I was checking on my phone because there's some seasons that really stood out in my memory.
00:26:08
Chino Onwuka
Obviously, Haaland's first season, you know, in the Prem, 36 goals in 35 games stands out to me. Cristiano Ronaldo's last season before he went to Madrid, you know...
00:26:21
Chino Onwuka
I just looked it up. I forget the numbers. I think he had 37 goal contributions that season. That stands out to me. Obviously Thierry Henry with his 20 goal, 20 assist season. That stands out to me.
00:26:32
Chino Onwuka
And Mo Salah is eclipsing all of that so far. So honestly, yes, I would have to say this would be the greatest individual season for a player in Premier League history.
00:26:48
Chino Onwuka
have to say. And To do that in Premier League history with all the players that have played in the Prem, I think, yeah.
00:26:55
Chuku
at At age 32. At 32.
00:26:59
Chino Onwuka
Forget about 80.
00:26:59
Chuku
Like, this deal
00:26:59
Emeka
Hey, man.
00:27:01
Chino Onwuka
Whether it's 16, 17, 50, 32, that should win me the ball on door. Okay. True. True. okay
00:27:08
Emeka
Contractors are a powerful motivator, man.
00:27:09
Chuku
I agree.
00:27:11
Emeka
My man's trying to get paid. He's trying to get paid.
00:27:14
Chino Onwuka
true true Okay, so now the the the other, you know, you know i think yeah i was saving this, but one important fact that I think I talked with you guys about this off-air is I believe that Arsenal's, you know, tepid loss against West Ham really took a lot of the pressure off Liverpool, you know, in this game. And, you know, if...
00:27:40
Chino Onwuka
if Arsenal had won that game. i think the gap would have been, what, five points with one game less played, and that would have put a lot of pressure on Liverpool. With that loss, I think that really you know gave Liverpool the people of freedom to, you know, took that weight off their backs, and they knew what they had to do with without any of that pressure. So before week one question before we go into Arsenal.
00:28:02
Chino Onwuka
I think the title is done. Some people say that, but feel like they still have a little bit of hope in their heart. They still be checking scores. If Liverpool
00:28:13
Chino Onwuka
loses to Newcastle, are people going to change their minds or are are they going to be consistent?
00:28:20
Emeka
I don't think it'll change their mind, bro. This news cycle, man. What you mean? There are two Liverpool losses away Arsenal, two wins from Gary Neville going on TV. The title race isn't over.
00:28:32
Emeka
it's It's over. Like, listen, they're trying to sell TV slots and advertising. Like, it's over, man. It's over.
00:28:37
Chino Onwuka
It's been done.
00:28:38
Emeka
It's been done.
00:28:39
Chino Onwuka
It's been done. Okay, all right. Arsenal, man a snow West Ham, 1-0 loss.
00:28:40
Emeka
It's over.
00:28:46
Chino Onwuka
Honestly, I really felt like we would drop points in this game. I know people were, you know, really high high off some endorphins after the Leicester late win with Marino. I was i was shouting my caution there saying, hey, it is...
00:29:04
Chino Onwuka
just Leicester. They're not a very good team. I was saying I would still start Sterling because Marino might be more useful as a change of pace. And a lot of my fears came to fruition. I told y'all, I thought we would drop points.
00:29:20
Chino Onwuka
yeah, very unconvincing in attack. We did not create a lot. West Ham stifled us with five at the back. We didn't know how to, to combat that. And, um, And,
00:29:34
Chino Onwuka
we We let in a very poor goal, and then that got compounded by Louis Skelly red card. So it was done before. i think this just...
00:29:50
Chino Onwuka
stopped people from making what it's not out of it. Like, know, I know some Liverpool fans were worried and I found myself in the place telling them, guys, you guys have nothing to worry about. We have no attack right now.
00:30:01
Chino Onwuka
So y'all can actually sleep easy, but I think now they can finally sleep easy. It is done. It is dusted. Like I said last time, the aim of the season is to still hold on to top four because, again, we have nothing in attack.
00:30:15
Chino Onwuka
and try not to embarrass ourselves in the remaining Champions League campaign. So that's all I have to say about it. I don't i don't have a lot to to discuss. It
00:30:28
Emeka
oh
00:30:28
Chuku
Oh, oh, oh,
00:30:28
Chino Onwuka
look it was really dry. I don't know if you all have anything to say.
00:30:31
Emeka
It really was. it really was.
00:30:36
Chino Onwuka
i know you got to say.
00:30:37
Chuku
oh, oh
00:30:38
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:30:38
Chuku
oh
00:30:38
Emeka
but no i like I'll go first because Chukwu's, what he's going to say is going to derail the entire conversation.
00:30:40
Chuku
it
00:30:43
Emeka
Real quick, I just want to say prayers for Ethan.
00:30:44
Chuku
oh
00:30:46
Emeka
I really, are thought that I said it's just fatigue. I really hope it's just fatigue because, man, and that I got injured too. And, oh, man. It's funny because i'm I usually am the one who says refs, man. Let it be, blah, blah, blah.
00:31:00
Emeka
Oh, man. That angle with MLS getting elbowed by Kourouz.
00:31:05
Chuku
going to go back to the next slide.
00:31:05
Emeka
That's tough, man. I wish he just flopped. I wish he did. Because now he's suspended.
00:31:09
Chino Onwuka
You notice I didn't anything about that?
00:31:10
Emeka
Hey, man.
00:31:11
Chino Onwuka
i just...
00:31:13
Emeka
I'm usually the one who's like, whatever. But when I see that angle, is just i just wish he flopped. And that's the modern game.
00:31:17
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:31:18
Emeka
You don't get that call unless you fall down. So it is what it is. Before we move on, and like it's going a spicy. I know it's coming up next. Shout out to Kudos, man. You know, terrible season. My boy Chinon called it to before the game. He said, Kudos has been terrible all year.
00:31:31
Emeka
Watch him show out. Boy, did he show out. And I know you said it was a janky assist. I think it was Janky goal. Honestly, AWB, he cooked Calafiore, man. yeah He cooked Calafiore, man.
00:31:43
Emeka
Like, oh my goodness.
00:31:43
Chuku
He caught him. He caught
00:31:45
Emeka
He cooked him. So, I didn't know he had it him. Bro, I understand the thing. When I saw the goal, I thought it was kudos. Like, whoa, who's gypping like this? This is crazy. And lastly, before a game we get distracted, big shout out to Raya.
00:31:54
Chuku
him. See
00:31:57
Emeka
What up, man? 90-something minute. Yo, James Ward Prowse, get in the gym, man. Get in the lab. Get in the lab.
00:32:02
Chuku
what we're here talking about.
00:32:04
Emeka
How am I keeping dusting you like that, bro? He dusted him. I only wish we scored off that because that would have been an all-time highlight moment if we scored off that.
00:32:10
Chuku
oh
00:32:13
Emeka
My boy Raya sprinting, hitting Cruyff turns. like i Listen, well that's just crazy. like I had to laugh at that. That's what was that's what we celebrated. That's what we
00:32:22
Chuku
That's all I wondering.
00:32:22
Chino Onwuka
you know I thought it was sick, but do you know what was going through my mind at that time?
00:32:27
Chuku
What?
00:32:27
Chino Onwuka
was like, watch Raya pull his hamstring.
00:32:30
Emeka
but
00:32:31
Chuku
Are you kidding me, Stahl?
00:32:32
Chino Onwuka
my be with i was like the written I was like, this is sick.
00:32:33
Emeka
Hey, non-believers. Non-believers.
00:32:34
Chuku
No.
00:32:37
Chino Onwuka
like He's giving it all. I was like, the way this is going, even after he cleared the ball, like i was like the way he clashed with with the West Ham players, he's probably going injure himself doing it, like the the way our season's gone.
00:32:50
Chino Onwuka
But thankfully... Thankfully, it was just a nice highlight and nothing worked.
00:32:54
Emeka
Exactly. It's a nice highlight. Now, Chukwu, the floor is yours.
00:32:56
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:32:57
Emeka
Please. Please.
00:32:59
Chuku
Oh, man. Oh, man. I mean, let's just start with, obviously, Arsenal season is over. I think we can all agree at this point in time. By over, as one I want to be very clear about I mean by over. I mean over in the sense that it's going to be another year, zero trophies, hopefully a top four finish.
00:33:27
Chuku
And we go again next week. Okay, go ahead.
00:33:30
Chino Onwuka
no.
00:33:30
Chino Onwuka
I'm I'm um um'm just, like, the way you said it, is is this new news?
00:33:33
Chuku
Go ahead.
00:33:34
Chino Onwuka
Because I think we've made this exact declaration multiple times on this part of the report.
00:33:39
Chuku
I don't think it's news. I don't think it's news.
00:33:41
Chino Onwuka
All right, this one is going to throw for you guys.
00:33:42
Chuku
I don't think it's news. I'm just reiterating the fact that the season is over. And, you know, obviously you were asking earlier about, you know, if Liverpool drop points against Newcastle.
00:33:55
Chuku
There will be some people that will do the bring out the calculators, start doing the math, have some the the belief starts to come up. My belief has been non-existent.
00:34:07
Chuku
Again, we have the preview of having you know conversations outside of the pod. But I told i made it very, very clear. And this was specifically for this reason.
00:34:20
Chuku
If we didn't, Arsenal would tell me all we need to know about our ambitions of this year in how we proceed in the January transfer window. The moment we ended that window and we had zero signings, that told me everything I needed to know.
00:34:39
Chuku
And look, I'm not here saying that obviously, like, okay, I get it. Like, you know, there's plans. we The players we wanted, we did it. We know we couldn't get them.
00:34:50
Chuku
We don't want to spend money on just anybody. And... have a good case where they might not fit, and we want to save our money for the summer, yada, yada, yada. Great.
00:35:02
Chuku
Cool. My thing is these opportunities, like, i to me personally, I still don't get that line of thinking because how many times are we going to be in a situation where The possibility of winning the league is right out off is right at our fingertips, but we refuse to take gambles.
00:35:27
Chino Onwuka
Hold on though. Was it right at our fingertips?
00:35:33
Chuku
Yes, yes, I believe it was right our fingertips.
00:35:35
Chino Onwuka
How so?
00:35:38
Chuku
How so? Well, we've seen the drop-off...
00:35:40
Chino Onwuka
what was always the bat What was the gap to Liverpool at the time? dr story
00:35:45
Chuku
the
00:35:46
Chino Onwuka
Honestly, i' love I'm just playing devil's advocate.
00:35:47
Chuku
No, you clean as I hear you. I hear you. I'm saying it was within our foot because they are so this is entering, this beginning of January, where it was within somewhere between oh five to nine point gap between us and Liverpool.
00:36:05
Chino Onwuka
i I would go with the nine point. It was nine points.
00:36:08
Chuku
Okay. Okay. Okay. We've dropped points since that time. Right? We dropped points to West Ham, We drop points to Newcastle.
00:36:19
Chuku
We've dropped points in certain games since the Generations from window. Is that correct?
00:36:27
Chino Onwuka
It was Aston Villa, I believe. We haven't played Newcastle in the league, I don't think.
00:36:35
Chuku
Was it Asimov?
00:36:35
Chino Onwuka
it It might be here. I think we did play two games against Newcastle, so we we might have drawn one.
00:36:39
Chuku
I thought we did play
00:36:40
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was...
00:36:41
Emeka
Those were both in the Carlin Cup.
00:36:43
Chuku
Oh, it was Villa.
00:36:44
Emeka
it was It was Villa, like you said.
00:36:46
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, Villain.
00:36:47
Chuku
Okay, my bad. Okay. So either way, we have dropped points in that spam since the generation surrender. And I'm saying a lot of the points we've dropped this season have been from us not getting in my opinion, having enough, you know, gas in in the tank as it pertains to our forward lineup and scoring, putting away chances.
00:37:15
Chuku
And again, you know, look, say what you say, what you mean. I just think it's something to be said for a team like ourselves in the position that we're at to add warm bodies to that depth or to that front line as we cannot be relying in a big 2025 on players that we initially brought in to be stopgap players.
00:37:49
Chuku
And I've said this before. Look, I love Trestauri. I love what he's become in our team. But let's not like act as though when we first got him, we knew what the deal was.
00:38:00
Chuku
he was a stopgap player. And now we're asking Trossard to be our main, one of our main focal points and in attack next to a 17 year old.
00:38:12
Chuku
Like, let's look at what the season has turned into. Like, this cannot be a team that's trying to vie to win its first league title since early 2000s. Like, it's to me, it's crazy. Like,
00:38:29
Chuku
Like I said, the moment we didn't sign anybody, you know, that told me all I needed to know. The second thing I wanted to bring up, and again, this is something we started a conversation over the weekend, and I'm just telling you all, I'm standing on this this business because my eyes have been glued on this particular player.
00:38:49
Chuku
And for me, I'm wondering why my eyes weren't glued up. I feel like I've given this particular player – a lot when it pertains to benefit of the doubt. But as much as I can, if I can harp on Martinelli, I feel like I should i should be able to harp on this particular player.
00:39:06
Chuku
And his name goes by Capito Odigaad, the Norwegian maestro. At least that's what initially would would have thought.
00:39:19
Chuku
This guy let him, lets not just myself down. feel like he's let the team down. I feel like... In fact, you know what? i don't even know if he's let down anymore because at some point, I have to ask myself, like, is it that he let myself down or let let let the fans down or is it that we just over-hyped or over-thought who we thought this player was? Because I'm just i'm sorry, but at some point...
00:39:53
Chuku
We just have to call it what it is. like This guy is not who majority of Arsenal fans thought he was going to be.
00:40:04
Chuku
And that is a difference maker in our attack. He's not that guy. In fact, I want to say right now, I look at Odegaard now, the more i look I look back in certain performances,
00:40:18
Chuku
I look at Odegaard as more of a passenger player on this team than a difference maker. And one thing I've realized with Odegaard is that this brother, when Saka is not around...
00:40:34
Chuku
looks even he looks so out of place. It's incredible. It's honestly incredible that I ever had thoughts of this guy being one of the best camp camps or best midfielders in the league.
00:40:53
Chuku
it's it's It's amazing to me. And I know the people are going to talk about chances once,
00:40:58
Chino Onwuka
right just to butcher your point like yeah you're totally right just want to bring up some starts stats here you know has he ever like he's not been a difference maker you know like look at stats here arsenal player of the season 2022 2023 in which we went for the title Arsenal player of the season, 2023-2024 season, in which we also went for the title, lost it on the final day.
00:41:29
Chino Onwuka
Some other things here. of the year, 2022-2023 Premier League, 2023-2024. So, like, yeah, ass. London Football Award, Premier League player the year, 2023, straight ass. So, yeah, you and, you know, everybody, yeah.
00:41:50
Chuku
And I wonder what was so common with those years.
00:41:50
Chino Onwuka
we Everyone's doing so.
00:41:53
Chuku
I wonder what was so common in those years. Yeah, Saka. He was playing with Saka. Saka was available those years. See, the thing is, I know it's going to hurt a lot of Arsenal fans to bring this up, and I know it's a very uncomfortable conversation.
00:42:06
Chuku
You know, you can bring up those stats all you want. All I know is I've seen Odegaard when Saka is not around, and if you're asking this brother to be the difference in our team, whenever.
00:42:18
Chuku
We are lacking, obviously, another star talent in Bakayasaka. Odegaard has not performed at that level in order to warrant those awards that you just listed out in those previous years.
00:42:35
Chuku
what what What exactly has Odegaard done this year does made you but that makes you believe he's a difference maker in this Arsenal's team? Seeing what he's done without...
00:42:46
Chuku
having a Kiyosaka around. Like, please, you need to tell me.
00:42:49
Chino Onwuka
Look, look, look, look.
00:42:50
Chuku
image You need to tell me.
00:42:51
Chino Onwuka
Odegaard has had a really terrible year.
00:42:55
Chino Onwuka
had
00:42:55
Chuku
Terrible is putting that lightly, but go ahead.
00:42:58
Chuku
Terrible is putting that lightly. He's had a horrific, and I mean disgusting, and I mean terrible, terrible year. Like, I'm thinking...
00:43:10
Chino Onwuka
I just used terrible. You just said terrible twice. Hold on, hold on, hold on.
00:43:13
Chuku
Hey, I'm reiterating the terrible.
00:43:15
Chino Onwuka
You've had your five minutes.
00:43:18
Chuku
Okay, all right, let's go off, go off.
00:43:19
Chino Onwuka
He has had a really, really bad year.
00:43:20
Chuku
Let's hear the defense. 100%.
00:43:22
Chino Onwuka
you know Can you say he's in poor form? Yes. Can you say he he looks a different player when he's not playing with Saka?
00:43:30
Chuku
hundred cent
00:43:31
Chino Onwuka
Yes. Right. I mean, sample sizes, this is just one season. So, well, I mean, there there are other things in play. she First of all, players great players have bad form all the time.
00:43:44
Chino Onwuka
Even players better than Odegaard, too.
00:43:45
Chuku
and
00:43:48
Chino Onwuka
He had a horrific ankle injury that he rushed back from to help the team out. You were begging for him to come back because we needed a creativity. He just had a kid, so who knows how that's affecting him. so there's and but The whole team in general has not clicked this season. Even when everybody was there, we were still struggling in attack. so Has Oldergaard, is he having a poor season? Yes.
00:44:13
Chino Onwuka
Does he need to be called out for it? Yes. Does he need to be improved? Yes, but You know, I hate where we're at in 2025 when it comes to football discourse, sports discourse, where just because somebody is playing bad right now, all of a sudden it just goes to his ass.
00:44:32
Chino Onwuka
Like, I'm sorry, because then are we going to say, and honestly, we need to. look at who's having this conversation because you have come here and asked if Ollie Watkins was washed.
00:44:46
Chino Onwuka
You have come here and said, is Martinelli, you know, worse than Mudrik? So honestly, the, where this conversation is coming from does not really hold a weight because of your past record.
00:44:57
Chino Onwuka
There are other players who have been struggling, and what we say, we we cook them for struggling. We don't deny the talent that they have. Phil Foden has been asked.
00:45:08
Chino Onwuka
Cole Palmer, who you came up to and asked us the dirty question, if he's the best player in the league, he's been asked. okay Does that mean that they have no talent? No. They're just having either in poor form or having bad seasons.
00:45:22
Chino Onwuka
That's all it is.
00:45:24
Chuku
Like I said, i know youve some people will not be happy with some of my takes on this. And it is okay. is what it is. But again, i stand firm.
00:45:31
Chino Onwuka
The reason is, Chukwu, we've known you for decades.
00:45:33
Chuku
I stand firm with what I'm saying.
00:45:39
Chino Onwuka
You have some of the worst takes in history.
00:45:41
Chuku
Sure. Sure.
00:45:42
Chino Onwuka
And we let it go, but like you can't just come up here saying anything when you have, like, yeah, you can have takes, but like let it let there be some substance to it.
00:45:42
Chuku
Sure.
00:45:49
Chuku
Hey.
00:45:53
Chuku
You know what?
00:45:53
Emeka
but
00:45:53
Chuku
that
00:45:54
Emeka
I'm kind of confused for the run for the record though.
00:45:54
Chuku
You can see what wants.
00:45:56
Emeka
I'm confused. Let me just clarify something. is it Is the take, Odegaard needs to be replaced?
00:46:03
Chuku
Autoguard needs to be replaced. Yes.
00:46:07
Emeka
Damn, replaced.
00:46:07
Chuku
That's my take.
00:46:08
Emeka
That's the that the take.
00:46:08
Chuku
Yep.
00:46:09
Emeka
Hey, I can't.
00:46:10
Chuku
Yup, yup, and yup. We need a better player than Odegaard in that position. And I am so sorry, but he is not the guy that I thought he was.
00:46:23
Chuku
And, like, maybe it might be the injury. I don't know. Maybe it might be the lack of form. I don't know. But he even when he was on quote-unquote form, i do there have been numerous times,
00:46:40
Chuku
We have asked and begged this brother to take shots. We need you to add some extra add something to our attack.
00:46:52
Chuku
He does not take enough shots for our liking. He does not contribute. Apart from the one season that he had in that scored double digits, that he scored double digits He is not produced consistently enough in the arsenal position of playing, quote-unquote, 8-10. I used to call him a 10, even though, like...
00:47:18
Chuku
He plays a quote-unquote an eighth role in our position. But when on without the ball, he's one of the no one of the two players that's furthest up the pitch in his role at the club.
00:47:32
Chuku
And he is not delivered in terms of what a top player. top attackish midfielder. at the end of the day, he's still going to be categorized as a quote-unquote attacking midfielder.
00:47:46
Chuku
And he has not produced enough in that role for this football club.
00:47:51
Chino Onwuka
Should Foden be replaced at Man City?
00:47:54
Chuku
that That is just an asinine comment because Phil Foden is...
00:47:57
Chino Onwuka
No, no, no! He's not 23, he's 24 turning 25!
00:47:58
Chuku
No, no. I'm going to answer your question. That's an asinine comment because Phil Foden is how old exactly? 22, 23? twenty what twenty two twenty three
00:48:07
Chino Onwuka
he
00:48:08
Chuku
Odegaard! Odegaard!
00:48:09
Chino Onwuka
he's like <unk> not twenty three he's twenty four turning twenty five
00:48:10
Chuku
Odegaard!
00:48:14
Chuku
Oh my god, one year different. Okay, so sorry. Okay. Odegaard is 26, turning 27 this year. He has been at the club...
00:48:20
Chino Onwuka
He's 27.
00:48:23
Chuku
What?
00:48:24
Chino Onwuka
He just turned 26.
00:48:26
Chuku
He's 26, turning 27 this year. I don't know. He's turning 27 this year. Is he not? Like, what are we doing here? like He's turning 27 this year. Is he not?
00:48:37
Chino Onwuka
All I know is his birthday was, he just turned 26 two months ago.
00:48:41
Chuku
His birthday is December 17th. He's turning 27 this year. The semantics is crazy. Either way, Odegaard has been in the league for how many years?
00:48:54
Chuku
He's been in the club for how many years?
00:48:57
Chino Onwuka
You still haven't answered my question.
00:49:01
Chuku
I don't think that's something to be answered because that's not a question.
00:49:03
Chino Onwuka
asked you a question, so just answer
00:49:05
Chuku
No, if no, Favreau doesn't need to be replaced. no.
00:49:08
Chino Onwuka
and That's enough, thank you.
00:49:08
Chuku
no Yeah, of course. You're welcome. Phil Foden has won the wait, what? The triple? he's What has Odegaard won in Arsenal, Jersey, apart from an FA Cup?
00:49:20
Chuku
What does he want? like no This is actually crazy. At least I feel Foden can say he has won trophies for Man City. Odegaard has only won an FA Cup.
00:49:32
Chuku
I'm not going like, what are we doing here, man? i did And he's younger. he's showing more in terms of being able to score goals, create chances, even though Odegaard creates, I guess, one of the most creative players.
00:49:47
Chuku
Again, okay cool. But Phil Ford has been playing behind Kevin De Bruyne for the longest period of time. Odegaard has been the clear number one choice in Arteta's system, in how we play ball. Like, I don't understand. Like, so hold on.
00:50:04
Chuku
Right now, right now, if you have to pick between Odegaard between o guard and Phil Foden. us pour As poor as Phil Foden has had this season, who are you picking right now, Chennault, between those two?
00:50:15
Chino Onwuka
guard.
00:50:17
Chuku
Okay. right. Fair enough. and mc I'm kind of curious. who Who are you picking between the two? Phil Foden or Martin Odegaard?
00:50:25
Emeka
for this season or for a movie for it?
00:50:27
Chuku
Moving forward, as the body of work, What they've done up until this season and what you believe they're going to, what they will do for you moving forward.
00:50:38
Chuku
Who are you picking between the two?
00:50:41
Emeka
don't want to say, I said they're the same tier of players, but Odigord has one more year of pedigree, so I got to go with him.
00:50:50
Chuku
All right. Fair enough. Fair enough. Well, know I know picking Phil Fulton. So the way either way, look, it is what it is.
00:50:54
Emeka
It's close. I'll see that. It's close.
00:50:59
Chuku
my finalup my just My point is I just think, you know, at this point in time, until something no changes and improves, I think I'm ready to say that, you know, Ortegaard is not absolved from having a,
00:51:17
Chuku
an upgrade in this position. Like if such a player exists, we should not be looking to turn that option down for the sake of having to play Martin Odegaard.
00:51:28
Chuku
And, know, that's just my opinion on on the matter.
00:51:29
Chino Onwuka
and
00:51:31
Chuku
on the matter
00:51:32
Chino Onwuka
And so on that note, are there any players who you would suggest for that position, players you've seen in the league, outside of the league, who you would bring in as an upgrade for Odegaard as a more attacking midfielder who can contribute in the final third?
00:51:49
Chuku
You know what? I mean, again, not saying that this the player i'm going to mention right now is is better than Odegaard right this minute.
00:52:00
Chuku
But does he have the possibility of being better and producing more than what Odegaard has done so far in their Arsenal shirts? Possibly, possibly, possibly. And that would be the...
00:52:16
Chuku
Ryan Cherky out of Lyon.
00:52:21
Chuku
Cherky.
00:52:22
Chino Onwuka
Okay.
00:52:23
Chuku
I see him as a oppos does a possible, you know, someone on as available and could do something similar, if not better, than what Odegaard is doing right now. That would be my suggestion. That's realistic.
00:52:39
Chuku
That would be my suggestion.
00:52:41
Chino Onwuka
Okay. Mecca, your thoughts on Chuku's take?
00:52:46
Emeka
I was happy to go for a reason. You can off with all this boring Arsenal as they win trophies. was waiting for the Odegaard take. was saying, you know, you're not exempt from this because it's funny. My man's talking about how, you know, the media these days kick bands when you're down.
00:53:03
Emeka
I remember on this podcast, I was fighting for my life defending Phil Foden when he was having a terrible start to the season.
00:53:05
Chuku
Thank you.
00:53:09
Emeka
And I kept saying, listen, he's bad now and he was bad in the Euros. That doesn't absolve the previous year. I finished it by Odegaard. Odegaard's been terrible this year. And I wouldn't be shocked if, like I said, this summertime, report comes out where he has a secret ankle operation or something. Because he does doesn't look good. I know you said we'd be begging him to shoot.
00:53:29
Emeka
Previous years, he at least would pepper one every like five games in. like he He had more in his locker than what he's showing this year. I'm surprised you even brought up the clip. Arsenal fans online, I'm sure you've seen the clip.
00:53:41
Emeka
We had a counterattack and Odegaard just went in a straight line and Faded off into the corner. that... When saw that, it exemplified it. Like, as your captain, you want him to take the game by his neck. You want him to, know, put the team on his back, Steven Gerrard style.
00:53:56
Emeka
He's not doing that this year. And you expect him to do that with Saka out. Yeah, I fully agree. It is what it is, man. Like,
00:54:04
Chuku
Well, not to interrupt you, Maka, sorry, not to interrupt you.
00:54:04
Emeka
or
00:54:07
Chuku
I want to just mention this before before a so you continue. Just on your earlier questions, you know, about who would I want to bring in to replace Odegaard, right? I gave you Cherki as my quote-unquote realistic because that's someone I can actually see us actually being able to afford.
00:54:25
Chuku
But if i if i if depending on how ambitious we were, Honestly speaking, I don't know why we wouldn't want to go and get Havertz German teammates and Florian Wurz.
00:54:37
Chuku
I think that should be, i knew that, personally speaking, i feel like that's who I would truly want to come and replace Odegaard in terms of leveling up.
00:54:37
Emeka
I'm not going to say that.
00:54:48
Chuku
And I mean, if we have any ambition about us, what that should be a signing we should, like, why not? Like, why why why not?
00:54:55
Emeka
Because he costs all just $3 million.
00:54:55
Chino Onwuka
No, I agree with you there. and i and And I think maybe what that shows to me is that is the level of player talent it takes to upgrade. For all we're saying about his poor form, the disappointment in what he's producing, what maybe people want him to be versus what he actually is, what it would take to upgrade on Odegaard is a 100 million pound player.
00:55:24
Emeka
And that's being generous, $100 million.
00:55:24
Chino Onwuka
I think we're good.
00:55:26
Emeka
That's $150 million.
00:55:26
Chuku
But that's in today's price. But that's today's prices, bro. Today's prices, as much as I'm shitting on Odegaard here today, I'm not here to say that Odegaard is a shit player.
00:55:38
Chuku
like Even Odegaard, as he is right now, on the market, should easily go for anywhere from 50 to 60 million but like British pounds. like He should still go for...
00:55:47
Emeka
Disrespectful.
00:55:49
Chuku
That's disrespectful?
00:55:50
Emeka
You might have said $50, double that.
00:55:52
Chuku
You think Odegaard for 100 million right now?
00:55:55
Emeka
In these prices, absolutely.
00:55:58
Chuku
Hey, man. Okay. You know what? i'm not goingnna do I just wanted to be safe. I just said, you know what? I said, you know what? Bare minimum. Bare minimum. Because I don't want this to be a debate. to Bare minimum, I'm saying Odegaard should still go for at least over 50 million pounds. Over.
00:56:15
Chuku
That's not like... We can all we can agree. We can all agree on that. So if Odegaard is going to go for over 50 million pounds, it would only make sense that the player that I would mention...
00:56:27
Chuku
to replace him will go for higher amount too. And that's just what it is. Wurtz is younger, has the potential. Of course, he's going to go for more more money. He's going to go for a higher price.
00:56:40
Chuku
And that just is what it is. You know what saying? And I just think, you know, Odegaard should not be absolved from that possibility of being upgraded on because... We're at the stage where we need to be able to get these type of players to push on.
00:56:56
Chuku
Like, we need to be able to push on. We can't just, we've seen where we've where we've finished these last handful of seasons, second place, second place, second place. Like, at some point, you're going to need to change something in order to push on.
00:57:11
Chuku
And that's the stage where we're at. And, like, we've had a conversation in the past, like, in terms of how many more times are we going to go through something like this before we we're going to say, hey, like, you know, we need to change something.
00:57:27
Chuku
Like, I don't know for y'all how much more, you know, we can go about, you know, how many more years that we you know keep can keep doing this.
00:57:38
Chuku
But, you know, ideally, you know, I would say, another two, three more years of this, and we might be looking at a situation where we start to lose some of our best players all over again because of the inability to to push on and get to to to where we know where we need to be.
00:57:57
Chuku
Like,
00:57:58
Chino Onwuka
and don't I don't think it's even too figured. I think we're a year out from that. Yeah.
00:58:02
Chuku
that's even scarier to me. that's That's scary.
00:58:06
Chino Onwuka
We're year out from that.
00:58:06
Chuku
so So, look, either way, I'm just saying, look, at this point in time, The fact that we're at getting to that point where we could see legit, see our players, top players. We've already seen lengths of Saliba. One might be going to Madrid. There's already those type of things coming up already.
00:58:28
Chuku
Who knows whether that happens or not. But all i'm trying to say is the longer we go with this continuation of not being able to push on and when and and actually win the trophies that you know we aspire to to get to, the more these stories are going to come up keep on one coming up.
00:58:48
Chuku
And the the likelihood and the possibility of having a situation where our top players decide to go elsewhere can become a reality. And that's something that I'm pretty certain we all agree don't want to be the case.
00:59:02
Chuku
So, A, at this point in time, it's either there we are improving improving and bringing in better talent to replace the talent that we do have, or maybe it's, you know, time to consider a different voice in in the locker room. And, you know, it's possible, again, love Atara and what he's done for the club and, you know, getting us to this stage where we're, know, competing again for major honors.
00:59:27
Chuku
But sometimes, you know,
00:59:30
Chuku
Sometimes maybe, you know, it could be it could be a case where you're just not the right voice, so you're not the right right guy. And I'm not saying aokma saying that that's what i truly believe is the case right this minute.
00:59:44
Chuku
But I'm not ruling that out as a possible outcome that at some point, maybe it it comes to realization that Arteta is not the guy and we have to move on from him and get a different voice in the locker room.
00:59:58
Chuku
my as That might well be the case in terms of what goes down you know in a in two, or three years from now. But as things stand, Arteta is not going anywhere anytime soon.
01:00:09
Chuku
And if that's the case, All we can do to best support the club is make the proper additions to help give Ateta as best a chance as as any other manager in order to win to win these these major honors.
01:00:25
Chuku
And that includes that that involves upgrading the players that we have as well as building more depth squad. depth squat in our team. And we we can, I think we can all agree that, know, us not taking that, taking the opportunity to do so this January, obviously impact is going to have a big impact in terms of the outcome of the season.
01:00:47
Chuku
And guess all that's left is to see what we do in the summer to start off next season. But either way, just to summarize, this season is a wrap. We move on to the summer.
01:01:00
Chuku
I'm already looking on to what, you know, what interesting moves, you know, we're going to be making this summer because from the from what we've you know from the sounds of things, it looks like there's going to be a big overhaul this year this this particular summer.
01:01:12
Chuku
You know, the likes of Jorginho, Partey, and Zinchenko Co are most likely going to be stepping out. So with all these type of experienced players leaving the club, it's going to be all eyes on Arteta and just the the board and, you know,
01:01:27
Chuku
the know sporting director that we end up putting in place to see what they bring into the team. Because if we just continue to let things roll like this and we don't make any key improvements in terms of sign-ins, well, we can kiss another year of winning no trophies and, you know, and that's and that's life. And that's it. So anyways, that that's just my summary there with it. Sorry, sorry I'm not going to – I just want to just quickly get that out of the way. And, yeah.
01:01:55
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, quickly get that out of the way.
01:01:58
Chino Onwuka
Emphasis on quickly. I might go back to you on what you were saying.
01:02:02
Emeka
I mean, if the bar for replacement is get Wurtz level signing in, then literally everyone but Saka can get replaced. So, I mean, fair? Like, you're telling me we could replace, like, Demaraya with Allison? I'd do it.
01:02:17
Emeka
If we could replace, that could...
01:02:18
Chuku
That's not fair, bro. That's not fair.
01:02:20
Emeka
Wurtz is, like, the best make attacking midfielder in the world.
01:02:20
Chuku
That's not fair.
01:02:24
Emeka
don't understand. Like, Wurtz is amazing. I would love Wurtz. Hey, if you're saying we can sell Odegaard and get Wurtz, why not? Wurtz is amazing.
01:02:31
Chino Onwuka
You've had a lot to Let Mecca finish talking then we can bring you back in at the end.
01:02:35
Emeka
I mean, I don't understand. like I love, I mean, maybe because I rate Wurz really high. Like, Wurz is like our worst top three in this position in the world. And, hey, if that's the case, that's the bar, Saka and maybe Saliba the only guys I can confidently say are top three in the entire world in their position.
01:02:52
Emeka
So, obviously, yeah, we can get replacements. But if you're going to replace guys in the team, don't know how you you, we're talking about Odegaard when, like, it's a left winger and a striker are the two top things for sure we need to replace.
01:03:05
Emeka
Why are we talking about Odegaard? I'm confused. Like, yeah, we make improvements.
01:03:08
Chuku
Bro, that if you ask if you're asking to me that question, you're acting as though I'm saying that Odegaard is the one replacement that we need to make. That's not the case.
01:03:19
Chuku
I just make a general statement that he's a player that we can look to improve on. But you already know my feelings in terms of Martinelli. I've made my feelings pretty clear in past episodes. Like, we need a striker and we need a left winger.
01:03:33
Emeka
But that's my point that if you're saying Odegaard is a player we can replace, I'm saying that can apply to literally everyone in the squad except maybe Saka and Saliba.
01:03:33
Chuku
That back there has not changed. That has not changed.
01:03:39
Chuku
you
01:03:43
Emeka
That's so all I'm saying. Odegaard had a terrible year this year. He was a player of the year the last two seasons before that. like He's not the guy I'm worried about replacing. I'm worried about replacing Martinelli,
01:03:56
Emeka
Kai Havers as a striker. Like, that's what I'm worried about changing. Like, Odegaard's, like, not the... To me, he's the most and least of our problems because that's Saka and Saliba. But he's, like, bottom three issues I have with the team. He's having a bad year, but that's that's why I'm just confused about
01:04:08
Chuku
And maybe that's the problem. Maybe that's the problem. Because, again, these but like i feel like the benefit of of of doubt has been given to Woodard for so long that, again, we're calling this as a short dip in form.
01:04:23
Chuku
But I'm here to tell you, look deeper into these numbers. Like, bro, he is not...
01:04:27
Chino Onwuka
Okay, shoot honestly, respectfully, I'm to cut you off right there because I know sort of the narratives that you're sort of latching onto. I know who the the cult leader of this propaganda is.
01:04:40
Chino Onwuka
Look. if you If you sit here and say he's having a bad season, no one here is arguing with that. Where I'm going to respectfully cut you off is if you now try to take what's happening this season and project it to the last two seasons.
01:04:57
Chino Onwuka
We're not going to do that because then we're to have to start talking about, you know, was the moon landing you know shot in Hollywood? you know, Loch Ness Monster and all of that.
01:05:08
Chino Onwuka
What we are talking about is fan fiction. That did not happen. Odegaard was great the last two seasons in conjunction with Saka.
01:05:17
Chino Onwuka
This season, he's having a poor season. Let's not go back and and try to paint the two previous seasons for for what it's not, honestly. I think that's just disrespectful to to your captain, honestly.
01:05:29
Emeka
But feel like people are...
01:05:30
Chino Onwuka
He seems... He seems...
01:05:31
Chuku
To my captain, again, give me the years apart from the 2022-2023 season where he's averaged over 10 goals, 10 or more goals.
01:05:42
Chuku
Can you name me the seasons, please?
01:05:45
Chino Onwuka
Chukwu, who was our chief creator in the season where we scored the most goals we've ever scored in the Premier League?
01:05:50
Chuku
Oh, my goodness.
01:05:52
Chino Onwuka
Who was the chief creator?
01:05:54
Chuku
You're not going my question, are you?
01:05:56
Chino Onwuka
Are you going answer my question?
01:05:58
Chuku
I asked you first. We're not going to do this.
01:06:00
Chino Onwuka
I asked you last.
01:06:00
Chuku
We're not going to answer.
01:06:03
Chino Onwuka
I asked you last.
01:06:05
Chuku
What? We're not going to come on. Like, come on now.
01:06:07
Chino Onwuka
Okay, all right, we can go back to what Micah was saying.
01:06:07
Chuku
Come on now.
01:06:09
Chino Onwuka
Micah, carry on.
01:06:10
Chuku
It's okay. Okay. Okay. No worries. i just
01:06:12
Emeka
Odegaard score.
01:06:14
Chuku
Just so audience is clear, he can't name the answer because he's never had any other year that he dropped double-digit goals apart from the one year and the 2022-2023 season. Just to be clear. So, anyways, carry on. Carry on.
01:06:27
Emeka
He had 11 goals last year in all competitions, at least.
01:06:29
Chino Onwuka
That's why didn't see anything. that why i didn't say anything
01:06:32
Chuku
I said in the Premier League, bro. I didn't say.
01:06:34
Emeka
Hey.
01:06:35
Chuku
asked in the league, Premier League. Bro, and even then, 11. my God. You know what? Go ahead. Go ahead.
01:06:42
Emeka
also won PFA team of the year and Arsenal player of the season last year. aye but, uh, again, I keep circling back to if we're replacing guys, i don't know why we're talking about Odegaard and not the other guys who need to be replaced. And, uh,
01:06:55
Emeka
Yeah, I mean, it's tough this season. It was tough for a lot of people on the team. But a point I want to raise, i feel like everyone says, Odegaard had Saka, Odegaard had Saka. He did have Saka.
01:07:06
Emeka
People are leaving out Ben White. It was that combination of the three of them. It was Saka, Odegaard, and Ben White. That right side we had. We used to say that we were so right side dependent that our left side was weak. And I think Ben White's a huge part of that, and he's been a big miss.
01:07:21
Emeka
And we just saw his first game back. Odegaard had that nice back heel, and Ben White slashed the ball. I wish that went in, because that was that was a smooth goal. Like, the chemistry they had between White, Saka, and Odegaard was, don't want to say carrying, but, I mean, it was essentially carrying our team last two seasons when we finished, barely finished second. Like, he's missing two of those guys.
01:07:42
Emeka
And like I said, you want your captain to take the game, like Jude Bellingham, like just put the team on his back, carry, and and that's not his game. I think he's Modric. He's Cruz.
01:07:54
Emeka
He's not that, like we said, essentially a 10. We played him as a 10 because Arteta wants him to press. He's the first line of press every time. and he's And he does that job well and he wins the ball.
01:08:06
Emeka
he is i don I blame his ankle because this guy used to be able to say what you want. He used to still be able to shoot, and now he can't shoot anymore. i don't know what's happened. And clearly, he's messed his confidence up because you can't tell me why.
01:08:18
Emeka
One down one nil. He's given up free kicks to Sterling. That that was that's over my eyes. And I'm sure people online are going to say, well, statistically, Sterling's the better. I don't want to hear that nonsense, fam.
01:08:29
Emeka
You're the captain. You see, I hope you guys are watching Syria these days. Everybody's taking penalties now i trying to be the man. I want my captain to take that ball, put it down. And Lash won it. That's what I want for my captain to do.
01:08:41
Emeka
He's not doing it this year. It's tough to see. But I'm not going to disrespect the guy, two-time player of the team of the year. Like, Odegaard's been great. larryric Come on, man. What are we really doing here?
01:08:54
Emeka
What are we really doing here?
01:08:55
Chino Onwuka
and and And I think it's just sort of to wrap up this conversation, I think, you know, a key factor to this is sort of one of the things that Chukwu mentioned at the beginning, people's perception of the player that Odegaard is versus who he is, or people's perception of the player they want Odegaard to be versus the player that he is. I think, you know, offline, Chukwu had mentioned Odegaard is an Ozil.
01:09:22
Chino Onwuka
And, you know, that sort of raised eyebrows, Roy, because, I mean, we've seen him now at Arsenal for multiple seasons. You know, we saw him, you know, in his previous jobs. He's never been Ozil-type player, a KDB-type player, a Fabregas-type player where they're final ball killers. What he is is he is more of a connector.
01:09:43
Chino Onwuka
And another thing that as that we've seen is as the years have come by, his role has changed at Arsenal. You know, that first season he was a 10. You know, when we had Shaka, Shaka was able to help in the buildup.
01:09:56
Chino Onwuka
Last season with Shaka gone and Haberts doing whatever he was doing in the midfield, Ozil had to start coming a lot deeper and bringing the ball from the back and also contributing in the final third in terms of linking up attacks, which he did an amazing job at.
01:10:11
Chino Onwuka
This season, that has been a struggle. Honestly, the only game, funnily enough, where I think he he showed the old Odegaard was the game against Man U where he he missed a penalty and that second half against Leicester.
01:10:26
Chino Onwuka
Emeka talked about Martich, and I think that's the player he he's going to end up becoming. you know When we talk about you know things you can possibly do in the team, I really want to see Declan as the six and then two technical players, you know, talking about replacements, you know, Wurtz, that's the one player who, if if there's someone who can come in and replace an older guy, I'm like, yeah, let's do that quickly is Wurtz. But I don't think the finances are there with all the other needs that we have.
01:11:00
Chino Onwuka
I think potentially, and it's a risk, we do have that player in the team already. You know, i would love for us to switch Odegaard to more of a deeper role. And I know Emeka, you like Ethan at right wing. I really think that guy, that those things that we're saying, you know, goals from that position, I think that's what Ethan can do. So that's what I would love to see. But just going back, Chukwu, I know i was sort of, you know, taking the piss out of you for your your question about, you know,
01:11:32
Chino Onwuka
Double-digit goals. Okay, if you want to just focus on the Premier League, that's fine. He's only done it for one season. Last year, he created the most chances in the big five leagues, which is in all of Europe. So I don't know what we're doing there. But, you know, if I asked you who was the attacking midfielder or one of the attacking midfielders for Man City during their decades-long run, who would you say?
01:11:55
Chino Onwuka
Obviously, we'd say KDB. Who was that, you know,
01:11:59
Chino Onwuka
goals and assists killer, but it was also David Silva. And if you look at his goal contributions for Man City, you've seen two goals, three goals, four goals, but he was there knitting the attacks.
01:12:12
Chino Onwuka
You know, there's there's different roles and different archetypes of players. And I think that's what Odegaard is more. Those most intricate one-twos doing that pass to open up Ben White, who plays the ball to Saka, or who plays the ball across the box to finish the goal. That is what he does.
01:12:27
Chino Onwuka
Once in a while, you know, he'll he'll do that those two balls. Or lot of the times, those is dinks over the top of the defense, right? What's the problem? We talked about needing you know better attackers. Those guys don't finish some of those dinks. So all of a sudden, you don't see you don't see it show up in goals or assists. But if you look at the statistics, he created a big chance. So that's what I see Odegaard more of. And we just need him to come back to form.
01:12:57
Chino Onwuka
We have seen the talent that he has. He's not displaying that talent this year. So he hopefully he can come back healthy, come back with his mind right, the healthier team around him, better circumstances. Arteta needs to find a way to to utilize him to his best extent. But I think that is where the conversation is. I personally believe, you know, talk of, oh, he's he's not a good player or, you know, he he needs to be replaced. I think that's a little too far-fetched. I think that's a little too...
01:13:33
Chino Onwuka
emotional of of a reaction right now. i I really understand that people are are hurting with the way this season is going. I think it is showing up in in in different ways. You know, it's like some people where, you know, they're, you know, you know posting they're angry about something, right? But, you know,
01:13:53
Chino Onwuka
they don't They don't burst out because of it, and then something else goes wrong, and and that's what they explode over. I think a lot of that is what's happening right now. And, you know, it was Martinelli at some point, and now Odegaard is the current scapegoat. And i think but I think that is what it is.
01:14:10
Chino Onwuka
should i't if
01:14:11
Chuku
Long get it twisted, now Martinelli is still someone I believe needs to be replaced. I don't like... I don't... see I'm bringing i'm bringinging up Odegaard now, but the reason why i can't bring up Martinelli is because he's hurt. He's not playing. like What's the point of bringing up a dude that's injured and not playing? like I mean, another player that I could have mentioned that... I mean, he's not even worth mentioning, but Sterling, I think we can all agree, we serve our signing. He's not done...
01:14:40
Chuku
much for us in our Arsenal jersey. so see To our January transfer window, I know we've got to bring up this name, but no you guys were not the biggest fans of this.
01:14:54
Chuku
I think a lot it has to do with the player's salary or whatnot, but I would have been one of the first. but I would much rather have had taking a gamble on a guy like Rashford than ever touching a guy like Sterling anytime soon. and That's just my opinion. I feel like Rashford could have done a lot more for us and our team and current structure, but that's not something that we're willing to take a gamble on. But somehow Sterling was someone and someone that we were willing to add. And you know what?
01:15:23
Chuku
It is what it is. And, you know, like bringing it back full circle in terms of the Odegaard conversation, Again, I want to be very clear about this.
01:15:34
Chuku
I'm not saying that Odegaard is shit. I'm not trying to depict that this guy is not a good footballer because obviously, like, we can all agree he's like he's he's pretty good.
01:15:46
Chino Onwuka
So this is my issue some of the things you you you do sometimes because you start off the conversation hard and say all those things.
01:15:46
Chuku
And it's a player that's on... Hmm...
01:15:54
Chino Onwuka
And then at the end, you now come and say like you weren't insinuating those things. Just in case it's not clear to you, the way you frame certain things at the beginning of conversations implies exactly that, which is why we come so hard at you.
01:16:07
Chino Onwuka
And now after doing all that and all that bluster, you're now saying, oh, I'm not saying this. Then there's no point to comment the way you did if that's not what you're saying.
01:16:16
Chuku
When did I ever mention that Odegaard was bad? like When did I mention that Odegaard was he a bad footballer? like I never once mentioned that in the conversation. I literally was just trying to explain that we can improve on Odegaard. It's not that crazy to for me to mention. like He's having a shit season.
01:16:40
Chuku
that like That part is undeniable. He's in bad form. Okay, great. Understandable. But looking back at, again, back to my earlier point of that idea, the thought of what a player, and again, I agree with your point, right?
01:16:59
Chuku
agree with your point of Odegaard is that connector from midfield to attack, and he's not necessarily that final ball player in terms of providing advantage the GA that I believe a traditional 10 would provide, AKA the Ozos of the world, the KDBs of the world, hell, even the Bruno Fernandes of the world.
01:17:23
Chuku
I don't believe he is that player. At least that's what I've come to a conclusion with. And if that's the case, well, i got the man let me throw this question out there.
01:17:37
Chuku
Do you guys believe that we need that type of player in this team right now? Or do we are we okay with just that midfield connector that transitions the ball from midfield to attack? like cause i guess Because in my mind, I'm saying we need to have that traditional 10 who, again, can be a major source of GA in our attack.
01:18:06
Chuku
That's my belief. What do you guys take on that?
01:18:10
Chino Onwuka
I guess the way I'll frame Emeka, unless you wanted to jump in first. Sorry. and i been
01:18:16
Emeka
Give me Yokoz, give me Isaac, give me Osman, give me an actual striker to score goals. I'm tired of midfielders scoring goals. That's my response to that.
01:18:24
Chuku
Okay.
01:18:26
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, because I guess my view is I do think, you know, one of the things that helped us in past seasons is because we haven't had the the striker that we need, you know, we have been getting goals from other positions.
01:18:42
Chino Onwuka
That's not happened this season. So I do think we need more goals and assists from the midfield. Again, I'm starting to wonder...
01:18:52
Chino Onwuka
how much of that is in Ozil's games. I believe he has more of that in him because he he's done it before. But when I think of my ideal balance, because of the players that we currently have in the squad, I would like to see Ozil be more...
01:19:11
Emeka
My man's calling him old school all the time. Odegaard, for the record.
01:19:14
Chino Onwuka
Sorry. i would like to see Odegaard... Yeah, is late and tired. Odegaard be... come deeper, you know, he's really strong there and have in the future, and don't think it's something that happen right away. You know, we do have a player in the team that has the potential to do that in Ethan. I don't think that is right now. He's still 17 years old, you know? So that is for the future. Truthfully, if you ask me, do we need more goals and assists from the midfield? I'll say yes.
01:19:51
Chino Onwuka
Where does that come from? i don't know. If you can get me a Florian Wirtz, I will bite your hand for that. I don't think that is in the horizon. So what are the other areas that we need to address and you can get? What's the right word?
01:20:07
Chino Onwuka
You guys can help with my English here. Better marginal gains on in terms of getting value for money. And I believe that comes from left wing and striker right now.
01:20:18
Chuku
And that's fair, but again, I've never once disagreed with that point because, you know, I'm the one that's been leading the bandwagon and in saying that I don't believe Martinelli is the one that's going to take us to that level of being able to compete at the highest love the highest stages of the game to win the major honors. I don't believe, I look at Martinelli at this point,
01:20:45
Chuku
Again, no no not a player that I'm saying, again, is a bad player. i just don't think he's up that level where, you know, he produces enough in that left-wing role to warrant starting week in, week out. And that's the reason why I believe that's another position that we can definitely improve on along with our strike force. And the only thing I wanted to bring up today...
01:21:09
Chuku
Again, to be clear, was not to say that Odegaard is shit, but it's to say that he's a player that I also believe we can improve upon in that in that role.
01:21:20
Chuku
And to Emeka's point of, oh, okay, well, if you're going to bring up, you know, a player like, you know, Wurtz, well, then that ra means everyone on our team could be replaceable.
01:21:32
Chuku
i don't I disagree with that point because, again, obviously you already mentioned Saka and Saliba. Okay, cool. I think Gabriel is on that list. i will I think Gabriel is one of the top center backs in the world.
01:21:45
Chuku
That's my belief. I think Jurian Timber is one of the best fullbacks in the league, in the world. That's my belief. I think Malou Eskely has shown to me this year that he can be one of the, soon to be one of the top left backs in the league.
01:22:01
Chuku
That's my belief. Like, there are already players in, like you you you guys already know how I feel about Davariah. like The part I'm trying to make is there are positions in the team that i already believe are of the par to warrant competing in the highest of levels.
01:22:21
Chuku
And my concern is order guard that player, at least the player playing in that role, that I believe can, know, take us to that know di the highest level of of of of not just competing, but winning such major honors?
01:22:40
Chuku
And if you ask me that question right now, I have to answer, don't know. I don't,
Episode Wrap-Up and Game Predictions
01:22:46
Chuku
realistically do not know. And if if he happens to, you know, turn it around and, know,
01:22:54
Chuku
starts having a no start turns out his performances and but is that player that we're talking about, then great. But i again, this is not to absolve the Marcellos of the world and the Harvards of the world where we really know the feeling is we need to improve in those positions. like That's not even a topic of discussion, at least to me at least, because I feel like I've made my points know in in the past pretty clear on how I felt about you know, those players playing those roles.
01:23:27
Chuku
I guess the only thing i wanted to do was add, I'm just saying, based off of this year, I'm adding the possibility that Odegaard is in my watch list in terms of someone to look at and and and question in terms of whether or not he's actually...
01:23:46
Chuku
the the player that can lead us to where we need to be or if it's someone I need to possibly be replaced. But anyways, I guess that's something that we'll find out, you know, in the coming, you know, in the coming seasons.
01:23:58
Chuku
So I'll leave it at that.
01:23:59
Chino Onwuka
Yes, we'll find out. And I think we have to start wrapping up this episode. So we will move on to, there's a lot more wanted to talk about. We wanted to talk about United and sort of the continued poor form that they've been Villa and Chelsea and what that means for them. And maybe we can discuss that in further episodes, but we will have to save that for later. So we'll quickly move on to game of the week.
01:24:29
Chino Onwuka
I have one thing I want to say to Chukwu's comment, but anyway, we we'll save it for later. Games of the week, some big games midweek. Forest Arsenal, honestly don't know if that's a big game or not.
01:24:44
Emeka
What are you talking about? Second versus third. My guy, relax.
01:24:46
Chino Onwuka
yeah I mean, that these teams in second position and third position. Arsenal's lineup is not a second position lineup right now. Spurs City...
01:24:58
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, I don't know. There's a lot to talk about there either. If you guys want to talk about that, go ahead. think it's still Liverpool-Newcastle. That's clearly the biggest game of the week.
01:25:08
Chino Onwuka
First two two Northern teams. But yeah, whatever you guys want to discuss out of those three games, shoot.
01:25:16
Chino Onwuka
Everyone's exhausted from all the time talk.
01:25:18
Emeka
Yeah, I'm exhausted. Y'all were fucking in fighting all the time. was keeping quiet. Hey, all right. I predict Arsenal be forced, and you say the top lineup.
01:25:24
Chino Onwuka
Thank you.
01:25:28
Emeka
Hey, Arsenal 2, Forest 1. I believe you're going to right the ship. Spurs City. Spurs have been... Every time i feel like the Spurs spurs have gotten their stuff together, they they find a way to disappoint.
01:25:41
Emeka
I wish I knew Holland is playing, but as of now...
01:25:45
Emeka
Spurs 2, City 1. Yeah, i it sounds about, it's it feels about right. like They always beat them for some reason in White Hart Lane, except the one time I needed Spurs to win last year, but neither here nor there.
01:25:57
Emeka
And lastly, game of the week, Liverpool-Newcastle, easing 3-0. Newcastle, for some reason they show up against us, but against Liverpool...
01:26:09
Emeka
spread the Agniesz and let them do what they say against Man City for some reason only against Arsenal they remember that they can physical bully teams but I'm excited it's a good midweek all on Wednesday for some reason usually they split them up Tuesday and Wednesday but all those three games on Wednesday I'm hoping I can find some time to watch because that's a spicy midweek lineup for me
01:26:31
Chino Onwuka
Che, che, che, che,
01:26:33
Chuku
I'm not looking forward to this week at all. But, yeah, I think Forrest beat us 2-1. I think
01:26:45
Chuku
City are going to beat Spurs.
01:26:49
Chuku
Yeah. I think Spurs... Spurs...
01:26:56
Chuku
Spurs, Man City. Yeah, I think Spurs are going to lose 3-1 to Man City. And I think, you know as and like i said, Newcastle, when it's against us, so something clicks.
01:27:10
Chuku
But against other top teams, by just like especially Liverpool, the way they're they're rolling, I just don't see a way i don't see how I don't see how they lose that game.
01:27:22
Chuku
So I
NBA Brief Discussion
01:27:22
Chuku
give it to Liverpool 2-0. And yeah, that's that.
01:27:28
Chino Onwuka
I think Arsenal draw with Nottingham Forest. I think Spurs beat City. And I think Newcastle takes points from Liverpool in another draw to frustrate certain people and have them think what could have been.
01:27:44
Chino Onwuka
Okay, guys, we're going to wrap that up here. I think we went longer on some topics.
01:27:49
Emeka
Nah, we can't.
01:27:49
Chino Onwuka
Okay.
01:27:50
Emeka
I am sorry. I got to jump in. The last thing.
01:27:52
Chino Onwuka
okay
01:27:53
Emeka
Big NBA. I'm sorry. Tomorrow, Luka plays the Mavericks. That's a huge game. Right now. What? Just quickly. How many points does Luka score tomorrow against the Mavericks?
01:28:08
Emeka
Because you know he's going to go off.
01:28:08
Chuku
thirty thirty thirty
01:28:12
Emeka
Chinna?
01:28:13
Chino Onwuka
Look, I'm going to be very honest with you guys.
01:28:17
Chino Onwuka
mya you know Some of you might some the disappointing news. Two pieces of disappointing news about my team, san Antonio Spurs, in the last week. So...
01:28:28
Chuku
Two, what's the second?
01:28:32
Chino Onwuka
I mean, Pop's not coming back, which I didn't think he would, but it's just like, you know, how's his health? How's doing? how's he doing so
01:28:39
Chuku
Oh, like he's not come back with all of Cesar? Is that what said?
01:28:41
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, he's not.
01:28:41
Chuku
That's what it's called?
01:28:42
Chino Onwuka
Yeah. Yeah.
01:28:43
Chuku
I know. Okay, I know. That's okay.
01:28:44
Chino Onwuka
Yeah. So, like, yeah,
01:28:47
Chino Onwuka
yeah he's going look up 40 points, whatever. Give me a couple of weeks before back in NBA mode.
01:28:56
Emeka
On the lighter note, I guess I'm going to closer to the pin.
01:28:58
Chuku
That was gross.
01:29:00
Emeka
Luka 42. Smooth 42 against Do It For Dirk. Against the Mavs. He's going to put on a show. If I know Luka, Luka's motivated by spite. He's going to put on a show shoot tomorrow. and I'm looking forward to watching it.
01:29:10
Chino Onwuka
is Is the game in Dallas or LA?
01:29:12
Emeka
It's in LA. I wish it was in Dallas. But, hey.
01:29:15
Chino Onwuka
If it was in Dallas, he would have dropped like 50.
01:29:17
Emeka
Oh, yeah. But even still against in LA, he's going to look up in the stands.
01:29:18
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
01:29:23
Emeka
going to see Nico. Hey, it's a wrap.
01:29:27
Chino Onwuka
Okay, okay. On that note, Emeka, can we wrap it up now?
01:29:31
Emeka
Oh, please. that so That's all, man. It's a big game tomorrow.
01:29:33
Chino Onwuka
Okay, fair enough. If there's other things, like that's fine. Okay, guys. Yeah, it was a spicy episode indeed. So we will be back next week for some more spicy takes on the love of the game.