Transcript
Speaker: right, lads, welcome back to another episode of Who's Got the Ball. Myself and Shane here once again. Shane, what is the crack? All the place. Nice quiet weekend for a change. Had a work night out on Tuesday then. Aside from that, it's been quiet. Just there's not much happening in the world of football. Only Ireland and Man City making an absolute show of everything. so Yeah, just a quiet week. if I was on the Gaelic Grid armature this week, which came out yesterday evening.
Speaker: I will say for Jimmy, how on earth we got that caught and clipped and onto YouTube in like an hour was something like I've never seen anyone do before. But yeah, it was good fun. So you might see bit more of me over there as well. But other than that, all the players, what about yourself?
Speaker: Yeah, all good. I'm really looking forward to this weekend. I'm going over to London for the Colts Commanders game. First NFL London game of the season. And it'll be my first time covering NFL as a media member. Obviously, I went to the college game as a media member earlier this year, but I'll have this game. And then next week, I'll also be back over for Jags Eagles. which I'm really looking forward to. Should be a great matchup. and So yeah, hopefully get some content over there, mostly for Gaelic Gridiron, but try and get some for for over here too. So make sure to give them a follow because as Shane said, we were both over there and I've been kind of with the guys now for about a year and consistently and Shane is jumping over, which is super exciting um and first time on this week. And
Speaker: He was great, of course. Didn't look out of place whatsoever. And we have an interesting and very exciting announcement ourselves about a regular member of this podcast. But we will wait till next week and to give you that one. We're nearly at 100 episodes. We're about to have and a big announcement and then 100 episode coming up soon. So plenty of big landmarks for us.
Speaker: Big episode this week. As you said, there's it's the international break, but the amount of talking points in football is mad. But we did start off at the NFL. Those Raiders, they are 3-0. We have to talk about them before talking about the Texans, who are 0-3 on the opposite end of the spectrum. Nothing going right for them. We did preview the Texans and Cowboys matchup because I think it's it's quite a big game. Both teams need to get right, so we previewed that one. And we also previewed Broncos at Niners because I think that's probably the game of Sunday. and It's going to be an absolute cracker.
Speaker: We moved on to then talking about Ireland, ah how they handled the whole situation around the Israel game and the FAI and everything that they did wrong, basically, in this whole rundown of of events. And we had to go through that. The episode would have been 10 minutes if we talked about what they did right, because it was it was quite literally nothing. So it would have been a lot easier if we just just talked about what the FAI did right in this period, but they literally haven't done anything.
Speaker: Yeah, 100%. It's just... They just made an absolute far side, but then you get to hear our take the rundown of the whole thing there. we move into Man City and the financial scandal surrounding them. Shane was super excited to talk about that one. That was another one with plenty of details and plenty of just mad storylines to get out there. And that's going to continue to evolve. And then...
Speaker: A bit of a funny one, Cristiano Ronaldo and his the leaving of the Portuguese squad. And maybe this is the end for him. We have to give a little bit of a talk on that one. Sandwich in between those two, we did have Gonshans, as usual, our underdog picks.
Speaker: We gave our NFL power rankings for the first time this season. And then we wrapped up with a game. This time I was the one getting quizzed. I wish I could have that one back, but you'll have to listen at the end to to hear how I got on. And that will come come back again next week and it'll be Shane's turn to get quizzed. So I'll have to make it a little bit harder for him. but Yeah, I feel like I've i've set ah a standard here now that I'm not going to be able to keep up myself. But anyway, i'm looking forward to next week's minigame.
Speaker: Yeah, so that's the episode, lads. We'll jump into all the good stuff. but So those Las Vegas Raiders are shocking us all to start the season. pretty mad. I think if you looked at the start the season, them you definitely wouldn't have said they'd be in this position.
Speaker: But you might have looked at their first three games and gone. You know, they have the Dolphins. They've got a team in the Saints that they could kind of challenge, but nobody would say that they're going to win three games. You might say, oh, they might get one of those first three at a push, but they've completely turned themselves around. i think Klinkoubiak is a massive part of that. He has Kirk Cousins playing such good football. He fits into the system so nicely.
Speaker: No surprise considering what he did with Sam Darnold last year, helping the Seattle Seahawks win a Super Bowl. And then the defense just stepped up massively so far this season. Max Crosby is like...
Speaker: He's just a man playing with his hair on fire every single week. He doesn't want anything to go wrong for this defense. He wants to prove, you know, what happened in the offseason was wrong. And yeah, I think him playing with a chip on his shoulder is dangerous for any quarterback he goes up against.
Speaker: Yeah, we said that in our preview of the NFL, where Max Crosby is going to go one of two ways. He's already going to come out like the man with his hair on fire, as you just so wonderfully put it, for a man who doesn't have any hair. Or he was just going to come out and kind of just coast through the season.
Speaker: And he is fully leaned into, I am not letting this team down. And it's been an incredible watch. butd I think you've mentioned the two reasons they are in this position. It is Kirk Cousins and it is this defense. And I think another man who deserves a lot of credit is Nick Holby-Dean. He's leading the NFL in solo tackles and he's tied with three forced fumbles as well. So it's the most, and joint most for forced fumbles and the most solo tackles.
Speaker: But on top of that, the offense is actually, it's it's purring under Kirk Cousins. And in particular, having Brock Bowers back this weekend made a hell of a difference. 10 catches for 116 yards and Max Meyer getting a touchdown as well. So it was really all about the tight ends in Vegas, which Michael and Schur was loving.
Speaker: But aside that, so if their their defensive week numbers are actually unbelievable. So week one, they five sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. Week two, three sacks, four forced fumbles and two interceptions. And week three was two sacks, four forced fumbles. Try and say that ten times a row. And an interception. So it's not like it's been one good week and they've fallen off. It's like they've literally gotten better almost every single week. And...
Speaker: forcing eight forced fumbles in two games I think is incredibly impressive for a team that were so unfancy going into the season and know they did spend a lot of money on free agents in the summer and everyone was like jeez what are they doing where are they pulling this or what are they doing with this and quite clearly they finally knew what they were doing in Vegas and it's clearly working for them and they just look They looked like such a complete football team, which is not something anyone would have said coming into the season, especially not about the the Raiders anyway.
Speaker: Yeah, I think looking at fumbles and how many times they've turned the ball over, over often like people point to that stat and say it's not sustainable in the long run if you continue to turn the ball over and that's all your defense is. But the Jags did that last season and a lot of people pegged them to kind of regress and they look like one of the best teams in the NFL this year. It's like those...
Speaker: turnovers were down to skill level on that defense. But then when it came to this year, maybe they're not turning the ball over as much, but the players have leveled up in other ways, even though they lost some guys. So in the long run, if the Raiders don't continue to turn the ball over, I'd still think the defense is strong because...
Speaker: They've added people like Crosby feels like a new addition given what happened in the summer. yeah You mentioned the Kobe Dean. He comes from a winning pedigree with Philly. i think they've they've just been really smart across the board. And you mentioned Bowers.
Speaker: I think if you if you want more breakdown on NFL specifically, myself and Shane were both over on the Gaelic Red Iron podcast this week, so that's all NFL-focused. But I did mention over there that A thing to watch is Brock Bowers and how he's lined up this season because he lined up out wide and in the slot solely on the weekend. He didn't line up in line or as a tight end or to block. Maybe it's because he's coming back from injury, but it looked a lot more than that. It looked like he was schemed up to play out wide and in the slot and to just bully people with the ball. and be that kind of jumbo wide receiver i kind of put it but i think if kubiak continues to do that he could wreck games for so many offenses or so many defenses should i say and perform so strongly for this raider's offense and genti to be honest hasn't even been that great and i think he's just going to get better like he's been working hard
Speaker: 21 attempts per game rushing, but he's only had three yards per carry and he he hasn't been great after contact. So I do think he'll improve as well. And if that happens and next year you're getting in a Mendoza who's learned for the whole year under Kubiak, this team could be really scary next year. And they already are quite a prospect this year.
Speaker: Yeah, I think the kind of the biggest compliment you can pay them now is that their next three games are the Chiefs, the Patriots and the Bills. And if they come out of that, and even if they're four and two, they lose to KC and they lose to the Bills,
Speaker: But they don't disgrace themselves. Like yeah the Biddles showed at the weekend that they are actually fallible. I know they still got over the line, but they were so, so poor. And Kansas City looked like they were a bit of a honeymoon period. and But they could probably be caught as well. If the Raiders come out of this 6-0, we might have to actually have an hour podcast about about how they are Super Bowl contenders. because Everything about him at the moment is going really, really well. Kirk Cousins is another man, like so many in the league this year, who've turned back the years, and he just looks like a man possessed. And as you said, they have the quarterback whisperer in Kubiak who turns Sam Darnold from a jet into Super Bowl winner. And that that doesn't happen very often. and If Mendoza is not only learning from Kubiak, but learning from Cousins on top of this and seeing what to do with Brock Bowers, what to do with Gentry. And then he comes in next year after a year of litter and study.
Speaker: They could actually be set up for a long time to come. Because I do think Gentry has all the makings of a top NFL tight end. Not a tight end. I'm thinking like Michael. A running back in this league for the next 10 years. and He doesn't have the size of Derrick Henry yet.
Speaker: like He's obviously never going to be as tall as him, but I think he has the ability to bulk up and just bully his way through people the same way Jameeric Gibbs does now, who looks absolutely unstoppable so far this season.
Speaker: yeah i I just think it all looks so bright in Las Vegas now, which is mad because their fans couldn't be the got more opposite. day All they wear is dark makeup and skulls masks. and it's It's actually must one of the scariest places to go as a fan if you had no idea what you're walking into.
Speaker: Yeah, until you realize that as soon as you leave, you're in the you're in Las Vegas and you can just yeah have the absolute crack. so yeah you You come out of the desert and you go in into a casino, you're like, oh yeah, this is exactly... It's like the time where they they were lined up in the offensive line and a fella goes, are you guys going to Vegas after? Like, we're in Vegas. Yeah. I mean, like, it's the team was, like, such a far cry from Oakland where they're situated now. But it feels like they're getting back to that, like, old Oakland-style play where it's just kind of smart football and on defense you're just destroying lads.
Speaker: So I think it's it's quite nice to watch. And everything is going kind of the way they planned. And we're going to look at a team now where nothing is going as they planned it, and that's the Texans. They are o and three and Yeah, like I don't really know how to analyze this team that well because they're so confusing for me right now. I think CJ Stroud has been actually solid enough.
Speaker: Like he has the most intended air yards of any quarterback in the league with over a thousand and he has the fourth most completed air yards. So he's airing the ball out. He's he's getting deep catches.
Speaker: His accuracy does need to improve. It's around 70%, but also on 70% are Cam Ward and Josh Allen. So there's two complete opposite ends of the spectrum. That stat alone means nothing unless you look at other things. And I think looking at the way he's played and the fact that he's able to throw the ball deep,
Speaker: with a terrible offensive line shows he's actually not playing that badly. I just think their offensive line is crap still, even though they've added to it. Like they faced one of the lowest blitz rates in the league, 20 blitzes, yet they've given up 30 pressures, which is one of the top six or seven in the league. It's just terrible. And Montgomery is not the option. They nearly need to go to Woody Marks right now because... Montgomery, 2.8 yards per carry, 37 attempts so far. Okay, that's fine. You could say they could have played against tough defenses. Maybe that's why.
Speaker: Last week, they played the Colts, who are one of the worst run defenses in the league, and he could not get it going whatsoever. So I'm really concerned. Maybe that's down to the offensive line too. But yeah, what have you made of this team so far? They're quite confusing to me.
Speaker: Yeah, i the same as you. i there's It's literally so hard to analyze what's going on because... like They're scoring... Well, they were scoring points. and They scored 31 in the opener against Buffalo. But week one and week two, I was kind of willing to give them a small bit of a pass.
Speaker: But against the Colts, they only managed 223 yards. And that was a defense that came into into the game with the worst in points and the worst in yards allowed for runners and for passing. And none of them could get it going. I just think...
Speaker: the ah offense just looks so, so poor because the defense hasn't actually been terrible. It's not been as good as we expected, but Will Anderson, is I think he's on five sacks, and which is still quite good considering how bad they're playing really. good And on top of that then, they're just struggling. They just cannot get going on the ah offense at all.
Speaker: like So the last 36, 31 to Buffalo. So 31 points is enough to win a game in any game of football. Fair enough. But then putting up six against Cincinnati. I was like, OK, Cincinnati, they just had one of those games. They just went out and they absolutely batted around the place. But then last week, like 67 yards in the first half.
Speaker: like that's just not good enough. like if if if If the Dolphins put up that kind of a number, and we know how bad the Dolphins are, people would still be questioning what on earth is going on. does This is the most you can do in a half football. So,
Speaker: I just think like while the defense is good, they're still conceding too many points and the offense is really bad. And in the last two weeks, they've only scored 23 points after putting up 31 week one.
Speaker: There's just problems everywhere. And it's all it's almost like where do you start? Because it looks like everything needs to be fixed. And do you start trying to by trying to fix the defense or do you start by trying to fix the ah offense? I think it has been the ah offense because Will Anderson can still do bits and pieces here and there and kind of keep the defense.
Speaker: 70 ticking over, but if you can't score points, you're obviously not going to win a game unless you're the Giants and you're playing Tennessee where you don't need points, clearly. But um yeah, like they've scored 54 and conceded 75 across three games.
Speaker: You're not going win anything that. And this is a team who, like I thought were a real outside Super Bowl show. I don't know I'd be surprised to get to playoffs now at this stage with an 0-3 start. Yeah, I picked them to go to the Super Bowl. I thought that that defense, how good it was last year, and that the offense was going to improve an ah offensive line revamp. But it hasn't been the case so far. like The defense has regressed, but you look week one, the defense was poor. okay They lost because of the defense wasn't as strong, but it was against such a good Bills team. They were great against the Bengals, like you said.
Speaker: Bengals only scored 20. Burrow was under serious pressure. And then they forced, I think, four turnovers against the Colts last week. And the offense couldn't capitalize. And I think Stroud has been mediocre. He could have been better. He's been fine.
Speaker: But I think it's down to the play, Colin. And I feel like D'Amico Ryan's in his press conferences has alluded to things being bad and and the run game and etc. I think he won't stand for this for much longer because when things go wrong, he changes them.
Speaker: And so I think things are going to have to change scheme wise or Nick Caley might be out the door before we know it. I just wanted to point out on the offense or on the defense. I find this quite interesting. Like last year, they averaged an offensive score allowed to the opponent 27.6% of the time, which is the best in the league.
Speaker: but this season they're averaging an offensive score allowed to an opponent every 45.7 so nearly half of drives for opponents are ending in a score whereas last year it was one in every four yeah so you're basically doubling the output of the opponent and then They've given up 28 penalties so far this year, which is quite alarming on defense. And then they've been very poor in the past game. They've given up 240 yards per game, which is seventh worst in the league. And last year, they only allowed 185 yards per game through the air.
Speaker: So it's just a downturn on defense to kind of mid-level for a few weeks. And then the offensive line struggles and the run game struggles are kind of absolutely blown up then. And this has caused them to be 0-3. Now we look at the games they have ahead.
Speaker: They've got the Texans on Sunday. They're having the Texans.
Speaker: You're correct. They've got the Cowboys on Sunday, which is... Okay, we're going to get onto that in a minute. But after that, they've got Titans. They should win that. The Jags, that's a tough game.
Speaker: Giants, they should win. Chargers, they should win with the Chargers they're playing. Browns, they should win. And Colts, they should win. So it does soften up a little bit, but this Cowboys game is massive. And I think we're going to preview two games, so let's just get into that one now.
Speaker: Cowboys at Texans, Sunday, 6 p.m., Texans are two and a half point favorites. What do you think is going to happen on Sunday? So this is the game. You just mentioned Dave Montgomery and how he is doing little to nothing at the moment.
Speaker: The Dallas run defense are allowing 180 rushing yards per game and and it's 100% their biggest weakness. If Dave Montgomery can't get going here, then I agree with you that it is time then for Woody Marks to become the lead back.
Speaker: Montgomery last year was so good as the kind of I wouldn't even call him a backup to Jameer Gibbs, but he was like, he was the second head to that offense. And now and now he's the the only head to a running offense by the looks of it. And he just, he cannot, he just cannot get going at all. And is it a big fish, small pond kind of thing where he was better as the smaller fish in the big pond in in Detroit where he was, there was no pressure on it was like, oh, Jameer Gibbs gets 187 yards. I'm only thinking he was Whereas now it's like we we need you to get 110 yards a game because you're the only man that can do it.
Speaker: um So it might be okay Woody Marks you're now Jameer Gibbs if they can't get going here. Houston have 11 sacks through three games and Tyler Smith is out this week for Dallas.
Speaker: So he's their main kind of guard from what I e from my limited Dallas and defense knowledge. Offensive line. Offensive line sorry yeah. so Can they get enough pressure on Prescott to stop the passing game going? And if they do, then I don't see why this can't be the game where they do get a bit of a bounce back and get their first win on the board.
Speaker: I am going to i'm i'm going to back the Texans to win this one. and The fact that it's at home, it's a derby, if you want to call it a derby in terms of NFL.
Speaker: But I just think Dallas have been lucky in their wins. I think they were very lucky against Washington in the fact that Jalen Daniels was... he was actually tearing him asunder a small bit towards the end of the first half. And then he went he went down, obviously, and they kind of just saw it out.
Speaker: And at the weekend as well, they just kind of... Oh, they lost at the weekend, actually. Sorry, I forgot that. Yeah, they lost the Tyler Loop. Yeah, think they're going to go back-to-back losses. Both these teams are so desperate for a win.
Speaker: And I just think the Pexans needed a small bit more. And I think at home, they're not going to get away with being as poor of day as they have been so far again. Yeah, there's a, like, i think that's twice this season I've said Texans are going to win at home because they, you know, I think they have to win at home. They have to get their home wins. But I think there's no way they can go to 0-4 at home to this Cowboys team. I just think it can't happen for how good they are. I just think it's going to have to turn around. They started o three last year and they ended up completely turning it around and they got into the playoffs and only for CJ Stroud's meltdown that they would have gone pretty far, I think. But just silly mistakes from the Cowboys is continuing cost them. Like their offense looks fine, but then they make stupid mistakes in their kind of
Speaker: situational football where you see on that kickoff in Rio on Sunday they kick the ball into the end zone to stop the clock at seven seconds which allows Lamar to have that one chance to get the ball down the field if you kick that in play the clock gets down to maybe three four seconds left and he has no time and they don't have the time to get up the field the games goes to overtime you settle it there They didn't do that. they They made a complete mess of that. And then the coverage was just so soft. Like this kind of shell sitting back, allowing that deep pass over the middle.
Speaker: It's really an embarrassing way to end the game. Like, and the Cowboys have been doing this for so long that you would think that they would eventually turn things around. I thought that, you know, they'd bounce back after losing to the Giants by beating the commanders. You're right.
Speaker: Daniel's going down and played a massive part in that because he looked like he had their number. So I don't know this team, they could go to one and three this weekend and they could be in a serious spot of bother. They added Joey Porter Jr. via trade today, and which is a good pickup. He's a very good player, but Kobe Durant is likely still out and both of their starting safeties. And one has gone on to IR and then Malik Hooker is also questionable at the moment. Thompson has gone to IR. His name eluded me there for a sec, but yeah, they got him in and He's going to have to just go out there and play now because Ravelle is also injured.
Speaker: And he's banged up himself, Joey Porter. He had this back issue before he came over. So don't know. Is it a back issue or was it a home loss? Monetary, I think more so. But also he hasn't trained that much. And to ramp up, to go straight into a game could be tough on the road in Texas or in Houston, should I say. And I think...
Speaker: It's going to be a really difficult one for the Cowboys to come and bounce back from that Rio debacle. And they have to fly back, get home, get themselves sorted, a banged up secondary. And as you said, their run game is the second worst defensively in the league. And they're coming up against a Texans run game, which is one of the best in the league and defensive stats.
Speaker: But I think the key to this whole battle is exactly as you lined up. Can they get the pressure on Stroud? And can the defensive backs of the Texans finally step up this season? Because I've been really disappointed with other units, Stingley, Lasseter, Petrie, Bullock.
Speaker: They were so good last year. And now this season, they're kind of... looking like a mediocre kind of set of players when they're not. They're so good. And I just think that that's the key. Can you get the pressure on Dak? Can you have lockdown on CD and George Pickens? Because they both got going at the weekend.
Speaker: it's It's quite an interesting matchup. Texans, two and a half points. I'm going to go with them winning by five. I think at home they get the job done. And I still don't think Dallas are situationally good enough to play a team with a head coach like D'Amico Ryans, who's going to be so really, really on this one.
Speaker: Yeah, I just want to, i agree with everything you said, i just want to have a quick word on C.D. Lamb and the way he started the season. From my but recollections, he's normally a bit of a slow starter and he kind of, he kind of burst into life from week seven when it looks like everything he is dead and buried. But he started the season at 309 yards and three touchdowns already and that's,
Speaker: That's some going. That's 103 yards per game so far. And if he keeps that up for the whole season, we could be looking at the offensive player the year, I think. and If he keeps going the way he's going, it probably won't happen. Dak Prescott will somehow have him meltdown at some point and Stevie Lange will fall apart. But it is some start.
Speaker: I think Nico Collins being back for Houston, if he is, will be absolutely massive. It's absolutely huge. It will be massive for them and will be massive for my fancy for one of my fancy teams because wide receiver is doing nothing as well. I need to have a word with DeMarco Collins about how he's going to get his lads going because I need to do the same.
Speaker: But yeah, I agree with you on the Houston defense. They all look, they look like giving space jenned and they need to get back to being Michael Jordan instead of the aliens as soon as possible, please and thank you.
Speaker: That's a great way to leave that game and move on to the Broncos at the Niners. This is our other game that we're previewing for this weekend. and This is in the late window. The late window is great because you've got the Chiefs and Raiders who we talked about earlier. and And then we've got Seahawks and Chargers who, you know, that's an interesting one. Seahawks need to balance back. Chargers are in the toilet. But bro Broncos and Niners is arguably the highlight.
Speaker: Niners, four and two and a half point favourites. Brock Purdy is just unbelievable so far this evening. Watching him is a treat. He's top five QB in the league right now for me. 263 yards per game, 10 yards per pass, getting the ball out, reading the offence, nine touchdowns, only one interception, 133 passer rating. Not sustainable, but that's insane through any three game stretch.
Speaker: Running the ball over 30 yards per game too. I just think he looks so good. Shanahan has got him dialed in and Trent Williams is apparently back in training from today and good to go for the weekend, which is absolutely huge for them. And Mike Evans and Drake Greenlaw might not be far behind him. So if all those guys are fit and firing and Kittle continues this streak of 80 yard games he's having, the Broncos are going to, they're going to have a tough time of it because this Niners team is rolling at the moment.
Speaker: Yeah, this 49ers team looked like the real deal. While a lot of our apparent Super Bowl favourites at the start of the year are really underwhelming. The likes of the Rams, the Bills have all been, they've both been really, really underwhelming.
Speaker: This Niners team are just ticking along so nicely and it's their veteran offensive players who are doing all of the damage. Mike Evans is out this weekend, as we know, but McCaffrey is, he's averaging around 10 yards a carry, I'm pretty sure.
Speaker: And as you said, it's he's at ace. but he No, he's at like five. and If he was at 10, that'd be insane. Sorry, yeah. no Five yards per carry on 35 attempts. Yeah, which is, that's mad. It's insane. him doing that and then you have George Kittle with his 80 yards game on top of it and Brock Purdy in the form of his life, looking like a man who deserves to get paid win last year was a bit kind of questionable. was This is just a team that are just picking along so nicely. They're so calm.
Speaker: Just nothing is phasing them at all. It doesn't matter who they're playing. you You're just backing them to win. And that's despite the fact that they're still picking up. on average an injury and a half a week by the looks of it and none of them are ever short term either it's all oh you've broken your ribs that's weeks or oh it's another ACL they just seem to have the the next lad up seems to be as good as the one that goes down and that's something that again isn't isn't it's not sustainable the semi 133 passer rating isn't sustainable but if they can get themselves to six or seven wins really really quickly
Speaker: it puts them in a great place to win that division and to kind of see how the season if even if they sought out 5-5 from there or 6-4 they'd be in a really really good place then so yeah I think they're going to win this game again because I don't think Bo Nix and this Broncos team have enough to to put it up to stop them Bo Nix has been such a slow starter and this is the one game he really cannot afford to start slow and i just don't think he's going to get a second to breed from this 49ers defence either Yeah, i was disappointed with myself when I looked at the Niners the first few weeks and looked at how good Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw were. And I was disappointed that I didn't think about that before the season and how important Fred Warner is because I love watching him so much.
Speaker: And the fact that he's back in this offense and just absolutely our defense and just controlling things, he's he's the hub, he's the green dot. you know i think... that's a massive part of this Niners defense.
Speaker: and And I think Bo Nix will struggle to kind of break that down because Warner will be on him. He'll have him dialed in every single way and he'll be watching his every move. I think Nix was pretty dodgy against the Rams. I know they got the win, but the defense won it for them. Nix, you know, he had 17 completions, but...
Speaker: Nearly 50% of them were to running backs and dump offs. Like a lot of yards came from giving the ball into the backfield and Harvey going and doing something. He did have some nice passes to Bryant. They got bailed out by that ridiculous ah DPI call. That was clearly Bryant pinning the DB's arm back. And then so he still got in front of him and caught the ball and made the play, got his knee down and the refs threw a flag and gave broncos the Broncos life when they should have lost. But...
Speaker: You get these sometimes and that's what happens. I think Hufanga for the game he had deserved the win. Like three passes defended, one sack. that he looked like he got on that sack in like half a second. Staff had no chance.
Speaker: And then the huge pick six as well kind of really turned the game on his head at that moment. So if he can have a big game, Nick Benito, Zach Allen need to have sacks again as they did last week. But again, Pardee is looking smart. He's getting the ball out quick. If Williams is there, he'll be protected.
Speaker: I just can't see the defense playing a big enough par to give Bo Nix the chance to get back into the game because he had the chance last week because of how erratic Stafford was playing. And it's funny to say, i don't think that Brock Purdy is going to be as erratic as Matt Stafford. and And you would always say Stafford is the guy who's cool and composed, but Purdy is coolness personified this season. Yeah, it's Matt.
Speaker: I just want to say that. i've worried tro I've actually got them winning by at least a touchdown here. I think the Niners walk away with this. Yeah, I have him by 10 as well. i think yeah I think it's going easy for him. I just want to say on the Broncos offense that they are in during on my hit list this week.
Speaker: And in particular, J.K. Dobbins after what he his pivotal performance as as my running back when when we squared off in fancy football this week. All I needed was five more yards from him, three more yards from him because I lost by 0.24 of a point. Three more yards. He's going to go out this week and get 87 yards and four touchdowns. But then they're so what they are still going to lose by 10.
Speaker: Yeah, got me my 3-0 to join in the Fantasy League. I'm joining in the realms of the likes of the Niners here with my 3-0 record. um We'll move into Ganshans because we've got to pick our underdogs. It's been a good start to the season for me.
Speaker: I've got eight points so far. You were on four. You had our first duck egg of the season last week. So... i'm surprised I had the Raiders to beat the Saints and that came up from you know, Shuck crapping his pants down the end there unfortunately for Conan. I had the Broncos to beat the Rams and complaining about the call but they helped me get a win here and and then I had the Jets to beat the Lions which they gave a great effort but they didn't get over it.
Speaker: Two wins for me there. You had Wales to beat Denmark, Cowboys to beat the Ravens which they threw away and Patriots to beat the Jags so unfortunately none those i came up. and I think you went first last week, so I'll go first this week.
Speaker: So if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Give me those Raiders one more time. I picked them last week to beat the Saints. I think they're going to beat the Chiefs. I said it on the Gaelic Gridiron podcast. They are 9-5. They're the biggest outsider I'm picking this weekend. Chiefs are 5-11. I think the Raiders are going to make a statement this week, and I think the Chiefs are we're kind of in second, third. I don't know what gear they were in, but they weren't really trying too hard against those Dolphins. Yeah.
Speaker: Next up, I'm surprised the Jags are underdogs in any game. They are 6-5 against the Bengals. The Bengals are 5-7. I know the Bengals are at home, but they just lost to the Steelers. They made some mistakes. The Jags look superb so far this season.
Speaker: They're unfortunate to lose the Broncos, and they won their other two games handsomely. So I'm going with that. And then thirdly, I've got to go with my Giants. They eked out a win against the Titans last week. I think they could do the same against the Broncos at home, or the Broncos, the Cardinals at home, six to five there. And the Cardinals are five to seven favorites coming into MetLife. So interesting interesting. I know they haven't been terrible, but I think the Giants under John Harbaugh play some smart football and get this done for me. Yeah, so we'll be actually have two the same this week and we have one outlier. I'm also going to go with the Raiders to beat the Chiefs.
Speaker: This is more due to a lack of options and a wrong pick 30 seconds ago that has put me in panic stations. But I think everything you've said is just kind of fair enough. Then I'm going double New York.
Speaker: I'm also going with the Giants to beat the Cardinals. You've given the odds there. But I am going to go back to my my wonderfully wonderful New York Jets this season and to beat the Chicago Bears.
Speaker: So the Bears are the 11-8.
Speaker: I know the Jets are 1-2, but they have actually looked like an an actual football team in all three of their games. And this is a Bears team that are coming off the back of a big win against the Eagles, could be flying high, could be going with their third string quarterback again, and hopefully it just bites them in the ass and the Jets can get to two and two which they they probably deserve to be with the way they've started the season.
Speaker: Yeah, Jets should definitely have two wins already. So they might pick it up for you this weekend. But let's see how we get on there. Both of us hoping for a five-pointer, of course. But we're going to move into the football side of things. It is international break, but the storylines are piling through.
Speaker: We'll start with Ireland and because it was last week. We'll get to Man City, don't worry. We'll get there. We have to start with this, I think. I'm going to just kind of give a synopsis of events and then throw it to you because there's a lot to cover off here, but I've made kind of notes, cliff notes of the whole thing.
Speaker: Starting from last week, considering Ireland were due to play Israel and they did play them, but there was a lot that went on before the game. So... The day before the game, Gavin Bozzuno indicated that he did not want to play due to the atrocities being carried out in Gaza by Israel. He didn't it' explicitly say that in his statement, so I don't want to put words in his mouth, but i think we can put two and two together and realize that's why he didn't want to play.
Speaker: Reports came out that agents were telling players that they must play or they would never feature for US-owned team again in the UK. This is why the team meetings were going on. the morning of the game to decide, or the morning before the game to decide whether it was gonna go ahead or not when the players were due to have a vote.
Speaker: The choice to play the game or not was brought to a vote. It was said by FAI CEO David Carell that there was an overwhelming majority who voted to play the game. This is categorically false.
Speaker: because there's many reports, including firstly by Brian Carr, that advised eight players voted against it. It later came out that Bazunu was not at the meetings because they said they knew his stance. and So he didn't vote. And two others also didn't vote. So it was 12 to eight in the end. If you consider three players abstained, you can probably guess where they're standing. So it's more likely you're around 12 to 11, let's say at least 12 to nine, like you said.
Speaker: It was announced Ireland will wear black armbands to represent all lives lost in the conflict, which is disgusting wording because we are not here to represent and anything other than the opposite of the genocide that Israel is carrying out, which we said last week. We made it clear that our stance and a lot of Irish people are in the same boat.
Speaker: we see bazuna release a statement my decision is based purely upon my personal belief that the killing of a innocent innocent people is wrong don't know how anyone can argue against that there are a few times where you get to stand a chance in life to stand up for something bigger and i strongly believe that this is one of them really well put then there's some reporting i'm going to give the reporter credit here where where i have it davin cooney i was going to mention him he just before you go on but you brought him up i was going to bring him up i thought his reporting on the day the day before the game, the Saturday, when the meetings were going on himself. And there was another lad whose name, think it's Neil O'Riordan.
Speaker: david's knight yeah David David Snade. Yeah, the three of them, thought their reporting was nothing short of exceptional. And the whole way through that day, they weren't bombarding people with with posts every 10 minutes trying to get their clicks off. there There was time service 40, 45 minutes between posts. They're like, the meeting's going on now. We'll have more when we get it. And they weren't just retweeting the one they did a couple of hours before trying to kind of stay engaged they were just on top of it every time something new broke One of the three them had this and I thought their reporting on it was absolutely exceptional. I know none of them will probably hear this, but I did want to get it out there. That's the three of them deserve massive praise. And Cooney asks, asked the question in the press conference to the FBI CEO about was Gavin Bozzuino asked and said, it's a simple yes or no answer.
Speaker: And I thought that was just, it was just, he was, he was not having the bullshit. that the FEI fellow i was trying to give him, he was not having it. He was like, I want a yes or no answer. Okay, you've said all this. Is it yes or no answer? so I just thought the two them were brilliant. and Sorry to cut across just wanted to get that in there. No, I wholeheartedly agree with you there. So, as I said, ba Cooney, he reported that Bozuna was abused to his face by a member of the Ireland squad during the process, which is...
Speaker: Yeah, that's quite something we need to find out who that was. We still haven't. Hymer then backtracked and took back the wording of genocide, even though that is what's happening. And our own Taoiseach uses that wording because that is what's happening.
Speaker: And he was under the FAI thumb, clearly Hymer, and was told to withdraw those words. Then he said on Bizunu, it's not like it was a surprise we were playing these matches. If you don't feel comfortable playing, of course you reject coming in. Now being told, obviously, to use Bizunu as a scapegoat, which is horrible luck across the board.
Speaker: Then reported by Neil O'Riordan, who I mentioned already, and He said, because of the soluble minority opposed to playing calling off the game as very much on the cards even atde lateide hour were however that was ruled out following crisis talks with cook and kihan the fa declined to comment when contacted which is alarming in itself it can't be investigated, which is utter disgrace.
Speaker: idf chants from israel fans and monkey chants from israel fans towards a banwa and adam eda which cannot be investigated because apparently mulumbi told the ref to listen and did not say explicitly racism so it can't be investigated which is an utter disgrace Ireland win 3-0, FAI President Paul Cook comes out after the game and says the way journalists reported the story was the issue of the whole thing. and The likes of Cooney, who we've alluded to, the likes of O'Rearden, the likes of Saneid, and continue on, Dan McDonnell is another one.
Speaker: It's an absolute joke to blame any of those guys because we know the issue here. Dan McDonald this Wednesday, he said there's a lot going on in this FAI visit and there some punches landed, some not. It was interesting that CEO David Carell suggested that if the player vote had gone the other way, the FAI may have proceeded with the game anyway.
Speaker: He says they came into the presser referencing the vote as the information had been leaked about it. So that's obviously why he was annoyed. with the reporters because he felt that they leaked information that they didn't want out there.
Speaker: and And then John Fallon reported on Wednesday that the FAI chief executive David Carell reveals the Ireland manager, Hymer, visited Gavin Bizzunu at his club in August, says this hour long conversation was adequate time to raise any concern regarding participating against Israel. And it didn't arise. Complete and utter bullshit because Dan McDonald followed that up.
Speaker: by saying one significant part of David Carell putting it out, Heimer had met Gavin Bizzunu at his club for an hour in August. He gathers, it was a much shorter meeting arranged around the Southampton game Heimer-Halgamson happened to be attending. Attempts are now coming to clarify where this statement came from. So an utter lie, again, trying to throw Bizzunu under the boat,
Speaker: under the bus. And then the final thing I'll say, yeah, just whatever they're trying to do to him. And the last thing I'll say is a hilarious quote, David Carell in February, when a percentage, sixty when 63% of PFA Ireland members voted against playing the game,
Speaker: This was his statement. At 63%, I actually think that demonstrates there is very much a divided viewpoint on this topic. It's not entirely weighted on one side. Yes, a 12 to 8 vote when it was for something that he wanted was an overwhelming majority.
Speaker: So this guy is an absolute spoofer. He should not be in the job anymore. Himself and Cook are a disgrace to Ireland and to the FAI. And this whole situation has been handled horrendously. And like you said, credit to these excellent reporters that put the questions to him and that also reported on this across the week because that was the only thing that was keeping us in the loop here because the f FAI, sure shit, were not going to give us the full story.
Speaker: Yeah, that press conference, I think it was yesterday, Oh God. terrific disgrace. it's all Oh my God. The stuff they were coming out with to try and save themselves was... It was beyond baffling.
Speaker: I actually... I have words written down and there's no point even saying and because you have covered pretty much everything. What want to say is that nobody thought it was relevant to speak to the goalkeepers.
Speaker: I think that's absolutely hilarious. um we we we pulled 20 to 30 players any of them goalkeepers i know they don't count we only speak to outfit players is basically what they said if you're there's only 26 in the squad there's 23 outfit players in the squad and you spoke to 30 players and none of them were goalkeepers that's absolutely wild but then they lied and said that they met with him for an hour when they didn't yeah so they're telling like five different stories about this thing yeah karell and cook then I thought Cook handled that press conference yesterday worse than anything I've ever seen. This is quite possibly worse than Saipan.
Speaker: And dad is saying that is saying something with the way this been handled. handles Bezunu is Bolton's Player the Month for this month. I think that's great. I don't know if his stance so has something to with it. If they were trying to get positive comments or whatever was. I i don't know how well he played for Bolton this month.
Speaker: totally honest. He's also a national hero. 100% a national hero. He's the only one who was willing to stand up. I think Hymer could be out of a job after this window as well with the way that's been handled because apparently his relationship is strained with the FAI.
Speaker: If that's down to them saying retracted genocide statement or we're going to fire you or something along those lines. And I wouldn't be surprised if we're looking for a new manager as well. The way this whole thing has gone down And it was over like 24, 48 hours that this all just literally just fell apart. And it all fell apart on the FBI's doorstep.
Speaker: and the way The way they've handled this whole thing is diabolical. And we've had a history of having like such a poor, it's probably the worst board of directors in anything that is worth so much money in the world.
Speaker: I do genuinely believe that. I think the way they handle everything is, it's manic, it's crazy, and it's just so incompetent and on every single turn.
Speaker: I can't think of a single thing they've done they've done well over the last couple of years. And they lost Stecklin Rice and that might, I know that wasn't their choice, but they could have said Martin O'Neill, you need to play him in one of these games, not leave him sitting on a bench. Or when when when he was in there before he realised how good he thought he was, just get it done.
Speaker: Jack Grealish, another one, get him up to this dee the senior squad before you lose. And I know they're ridiculous examples, but it's another thing that was just completely and utterly F-duck. on on all parts and that's going back borderline 10 years like and going back to the Trapatoni times John Delaney that book Champagne Football if you haven't read it just guess whoever you are read it it's yeah I actually I don't even think they're worth our time I just want to have a quick word on the Israeli fans who if you've seen some of the videos on TikTok about them chanting for the IDF the fact you can't
Speaker: look at the racism because the word racism wasn't said. It's 2026. There's enough videos out there where you can hear us. Oh, oh hed he told her free to listen. Yeah. What? Listen to what? Oh, do you?
Speaker: I don't actually just annoys me that it's 2026 and they, day if you don't say the word racism, they can't look at it. And it just feels like another I don't know. And then that Manor Solomon's statement or interview after.
Speaker: i didn't even want to talk about that because that's driving me crazy. Unbelievable. Honestly, unbelievable. I think we should just leave it there and move on. I think you said all that needs to be said. and I think we're both just going to end up winding ourselves up if we keep going. It's just it's a madness. And if we had the same kind of thing happen again on Sunday,
Speaker: or Saturday again when the players are in the hotel for four hours trying to work out if they play the game, then just everyone on that board should just make a decision before the players have to argue with each other and give big statements again. Because I know we won 3-0 and the lads actually played well.
Speaker: If there's another one of that, there's no way can put this squad of players together in in the squad ever again because there's too many there'll be too many clicks and factions. Yeah, I agree. And I just want to say that you said there, like, get the FAI.
Speaker: You know, they they they need to make a decision here on this before, on the weekend. You know, it can't be the same again. That's the problem. They want the players to be the scapegoats. They want Heimer to be the scapegoat. They wouldn't make that decision on their own. I know. That's what I'm saying. No, I'm just saying, like, that's that's the biggest issue of all. Yeah.
Speaker: And I want to say that Ireland are playing 20 minutes from right now. I'm a season ticket holder. I have a ticket to that game. And I'm not going, I'm not filling my seat and I won't be renewing my season ticket either because they're not getting my money back. I've been a season ticket holder for years.
Speaker: it's It's an utter disgrace, this carry on and to throw players from our country under the bus and the abuse that some of the lads are getting online and at the game. Racism. You knew that was coming from those Israeli fans and they did them nothing to protect them. So...
Speaker: just mike did I think I'm looking forward to seeing the reception Bezino gets when he gets out on the pitch. I know we'll have missed it in the stage, but I'm sure it'll be up on Twitter by the time we're finished here. I think it's going to be the biggest share you'll hear in the Aviva in the last 10 years, quite possibly.
Speaker: yep Yeah, yeah. Let's move on to another scandal. but This one is monetary related. We've got a bit of a synopsis here. Not as long, but I'll go through it before I throw it to you. Manchester City.
Speaker: So the reporting is that from an independent review, Man City arranged sham contracts, is the quotation, with a number of commercial partners as a part of a scheme to disguise secret funding of more than £830 million, pounds the Premier League says.
Speaker: The league confirmed the city had been found guilty of all charges related to breaches of Premier League financial rules. between 29-10 and twenty seven eighteen seasons. An independent commission found that during that time period, the club arranged the sham contracts as well as relying on sham agreements to artificially inflate the club's revenues and reduce its costs.
Speaker: The club continues to deny any wrongdoing. They have until Friday, which is the day you'll be listening to this, to appeal. News broke last week that City had been found guilty of breaking the majority of the 115 financial rules that they were accused of, but on Tuesday the Premier League published a redacted version of the Commission's report.
Speaker: The Commission's report said the charges concerned well over 100 alleged individual breaches of Premier League rules across four broad categories. It has also found the club guilty of all charges except one relating to non-cooperation with the Premier League investigation and said that a number, this is a quote, a number of important club witness witnesses gave false evidence in key aspects and some knowingly gave untrue and dishonest evidence.
Speaker: The sham commercial deals were described as being part of a disguised funding scheme to the scale of 830.69 million pounds. And a key region of that or a key time point was between the 2011-12 season, the 2013-14 season and the 2017-18 season. If you take those three seasons, they recorded 360 million pounds in sponsorship fees. Those were the three seasons they won the league. They thought they could get away with that, but it was only 43 that was legitimate the rest came from their owners disguised so it's not only a financial doping but it's also perjury in court by club officials who knew what they were saying and they knew the information and they didn't give it this is just crazy could be one of the biggest cheating scandals in sporting history it is the biggest cheating scandal in in sporting history in my opinion
Speaker: I want to just kind of give you another a couple of facts on the numbers you've just mentioned. so the 855 million is what I had it down as. I can't remember I got it from. You said 830 in the overstated revenue.
Speaker: That's more than every single club in England bar eight. So the eight are the other five members of the big six, West Ham, Newcastle and Everton. And they were only about 100 million a ahead of West Ham, Newcastle and Everton.
Speaker: um These inflated sponsorships every year, Man City were clearly getting more successful as the time went on. When their sponsorship money should have been going up, it was going down and the Shan payments were going up every single year the COVID year, where they were like, oh, this will be too obvious.
Speaker: So they kind of just settled down on that one and then went down it again. mr one The origin of the money is from the Abu Dhabi companies that yeah are run by the owner.
Speaker: And the one that I actually find the most damning is they've always said that they aren't state-rend team. But now their main defense in this, and the irrefutable evidence they have, is that the money has come from the Abu Dhabi government and not the owner.
Speaker: Now, the first issue there is it's state-owned. The second issue is the chairman, Sheikh Mansour, is a like now is Emirati royal and politician who is current Vice President of the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Irish Emirates, as well as the Minister of the Presidential Court and a member of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi.
Speaker: So is he not on the Abu Dhabi government where they're saying the payments have come from them and not him? It's him allegedly. I actually don't even know where to start to finish with this. I've started reading that redacted, the redacted Premier League thingamajig, and it it is quite hard to read, obviously, with all the black writing, but you're it's one of those you're reading with your mouth open at what they thought they were going to get away with. it It's absolutely and utterly disgraceful.
Speaker: The word sham is used eight times in the statement, and I think that is probably the most damning part of this. that they're using word that Limerick people use to call one of their friends eight times in a statement to say how bad it is.
Speaker: Yeah, it's it's absolutely incredible. um I think it's now more than 114 charges. So 115 the original one that's put out, but they've kind of they've kind of totted up. I think it's closer to 140.
Speaker: One four zero. the I honestly think the only outcome for this is is expulsion. And you're basically folding the club. The suing that is going to happen to Man City from every single club that has played against them in the Premier League over this time period.
Speaker: And also, I know they had to stop it at some point and they picked 2018, as if that hadn't been going on in 2019 to 2025 or if. Halland's contract was 115 months. Like, was that not just ah two fingers up to the Premier League that we are we are so confident we're going to get away with this? Those players must all be on the phone to agents thinking, like, how and how tight am I in this contract? Because if they get thrown out league or they're relegated, can I walk away for free?
Speaker: Or do I have something where I can go somewhere for 10 million? And in Halland's case, where he's probably worth upwards of 200 million in today's markets, are they just going to lose him on a free two? Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool. How is this going to work out for these players? does If they get put down to tier 8 and they have to basically start again, don't think even Phil Foden is going to want to play in tier 8. I think you are literally going to have to to to tear the club and start again. Other Rangers, when they were thrown out of their Scottish membership and had start again, this is...
Speaker: I think they waited until the international break, the Premier League, to bring this out so that it would be the only talking point for three weeks. And... I think the, again, i've I know we've been talking a lot about agents, not agents, we've been talking a lot about journalists on this episode, but again, the reporting of this from everyone across the board has been exceptional.
Speaker: And that statement that Farron, whatever his name is, sorry sweet where he doesn't blink for three and a half minutes. Yeah, it's like and like a robot. It's it's it's AI. It has to be AI. Yeah, I just want to repeat again that the only the chairman is a politician who is the current vice president and deputy prime minister of United Arab Emirates.
Speaker: Yeah, I think you raise some great points there. In terms of the figures, I just took that from the BBC's report of the commission report. So I know they could vary in different places, especially with currency exchange and stuff, but...
Speaker: Just the sheer scale of it is insane. Just everything they've achieved basically at all in their history jesus is cheated. It's not worth anything.
Speaker: They're likely to be stripped of everything and that they've won. i don't think there's any point in... giving the titles to other teams because i don't think the other teams would want that because it's kind of like oh i won but it was an asterisk i don't think there's a point in that i think the main thing is that they get taken that treble taken off them because it shows how hard it is to have a domestic or any type of travel especially including the champions league and you have to cheat your way to it which they did I agree you. They have to be expelled from the league system. And the Football League also has to back the Premier League. in this They don't have to take them. They have to to have to back them. They have to go whatever you're coming up with here, whatever you're putting down, we're getting on board with it. And you make a great point about other teams coming in to sue them because the amount of teams that if City weren't in the league or didn't spend their way to the top that would still think they could be in the Premier League right now with that one extra place, they might have missed out on goal difference, missed out on a point, or you missed out on Champions League.
Speaker: or you missed out in Europe for the first time ever, like the case of Swansea, they missed out one season by one place and said they were in there. And now look at them. So they're going to be coming after them with everything they've got after whatever is laying on them. And I think the club could be completely destroyed from this because there there could be no end to the amount of suing and... and kind of going after City that's done by other teams in the English pyramid and even outside of England teams that they would they beat in the Champions League, etc. So, yeah, I think it's it's really a disgrace what they did. They thought they could get away with it. I saw City fans, some of the coping mechanisms they have online is hilarious. Some of them coming out and saying that.
Speaker: Teams like Liverpool and United are allowed to spend X, Y and Z, but City aren't allowed do it. all That's revenue rules because City did not build up a fan base to bring up in enough revenue to do what they were doing, whereas United and Liverpool have. And if United and Liverpool wanted to turn around and take over the TV rights the same way that Real Madrid and Barcelona do in La Liga, then you'd see what a real dictatorship of football or monopolisation is.
Speaker: of football in a country because that's what it is in Spain that's how because they have so much TV rights money and the other teams don't get it whereas they share them amongst themselves in the Premier League the big teams don't take it so all these city arguments are just a joke because they're gone and they cheated their way here I think this is the end of English football as we know it. And what you're saying there is a joke about Liverpool and United going and demanding more TV money.
Speaker: i don't I don't think we're actually that far removed from this happening if Man City don't get a a punishment that is befitting of the crimes here. Because if the Premier League don't do something that is far more than a slap on the wrist, if they get a points deduction that puts them down to the Championship and they get fined 500 million, you could see...
Speaker: a massive shift in dynamic in the Premier League and in English football in general. And I think that's the biggest problem. And that's why I think this punishment is going to come down very, very quickly because they're not going to want to risk Man City winning the league this year.
Speaker: like but We could get to the next international break and Man City are good enough to do this where they could be 10 wins from 10 and 8 points clear of Liverpool, Arsenal, United, any team you want in second and it looks like they're going to stroll their way to a title.
Speaker: The Premier League cannot have another year where Man City are walking away with a league title here. So that punishment is going to come down really, really quickly. Even if it's one punish, like this is our first one, it's minus 70 points. there There's more to come in the mail.
Speaker: They have to do something that just knocks Man City off their stride straight away because they cannot let it let this get to a point where Man City looks like they're going to walk away with something again. That would be the worst possible outcome for yep I agree with that. I think that's a good finishing point on this. There'll be more to come as it continues to elaborate and we get more information throughout the year. Hopefully it doesn't take too long before we get the the punishment. A little funny story on football. i just want to get your thoughts on this before we move on to power rankings and wrap up with our game. and
Speaker: Cristiano Ronaldo, yeah he hit them he's in the news again. He did not feature against Norway and when Portugal won 2-1. He didn't join the teammates.
Speaker: ah When they applauded the Vividen fans, he went down to the dressing room. There was reports he was unhappy with the manager. Then we had from their manager, Jesus, who actually managed Ronaldo before at Al Nassar. Yeah, at Al Nassar.
Speaker: He said there was no incident whatsoever. Any player, and I was a player myself, when you spend 20 or 30 minutes warming up and then don't get on, no one is happy about that. He said afterwards, as a coach, I decided to not bring him on It's nothing to make a fuss about because he told Ronaldo he might bring him on if he doesn't start, and he didn't.
Speaker: And then Ronaldo via Instagram said, after the press conference with the national team and following a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, I've decided to leave the national team training camp. In time, i will tell all the Portuguese the truth about the reasons that motivated me to leave. So stay tuned, Piers Morgan fans, because here comes another interview for you. And then lastly, you wrapped up with...
Speaker: A funny, a funny little flashback that I saw and that was in the World Cup when they played Spain. He said, if Portugal no longer wants to rely on me, I can leave from today. I have no problem with that. At least he's the man of his word. They don't clearly don't want him anymore and he's gone. So your thoughts on that quickly, because it's just a ridiculous story thrown in amongst everything else.
Speaker: It's just another example of why he's the biggest child in football, possibly of all time. Roberto Martinez was afraid to drop in the World Cup because that's the kind of reaction he was going to get.
Speaker: he's he He's forced to sit out one game where they're playing four games in 10 days or whatever it is. You're 41 years old, bud. you You cannot play 90 minutes upon 90 minutes upon 90 minutes upon 90 minutes.
Speaker: They won the game anyway. I know it was only 2-1, but they were quite comfortable against Nourra. They were good. If they lost this 3-2, then he'd have some kind of a light to stand on. Oh, I could have made a difference. You haven't made a difference Portugal in 10 years.
Speaker: You stop. I just think 10 years is a bit of an over-exaggeration, but like he's 41. I'm actually glad that this is the end of his internationally prepared with Luchten. And end the way it's ended is so befitting of a man who...
Speaker: has never acted like Anton more than a child. And I've nothing else to say in him. I actually don't he's worked my best. Let's get on to our little game and the power rankings. He'll rear his ugly head. He'll be back in like on the last day. He'll be like, oh, I'm taken back. He'll be like, I'm a coach now. And then he'll come on to the pitch somehow.
Speaker: Oh, God. Yeah. Well, that was a nice, funny little thing to wrap up the football. But yeah. Power Rankings. So if you weren't tuned in a few weeks ago, we've changed the Power Rankings format this season. We're going to do it on a weekly basis still, but it's going to rotate. So it's going to be Premier League top five, NFL top five, NBA top five. We wanted to wait till we had about three weeks of action before we started for each league. So we have three weeks of the NFL nailed on now. So we're going to get our NFL top five Power Rankings. Shane, let's go. What have you got?
Speaker: I actually think it pretty easy. So i hope this year is the exact same as mine. I've gone Niners first for obvious reasons. We've just spent a lot of time talking about them. I've gone Raiders second. I wanted to get them in there nice and high where they could. I just think they've been absolutely brilliant. They've been great to watch.
Speaker: I've the Biddles third and they're not higher because of how bad they were in week three. But Josh Allen is still the best quarterback in football so he's third. A surprising one maybe. I've the Vikings in a four and they're also 3-0 and they've They've managed to get rid of their biggest problem to New York. And Kyler Murray was okay at the weekend. And the Chiefs found out the top five. And it's only because they're literally just coasting along in like first, second gear and just winning games. So yeah, so it's 49ers, Raiders, Bills, Vikings, Chiefs.
Speaker: It feels weird not having the Super Bowl champions in there in week one, but they've just been dreadful. Well, you have them. I do. I do have them. and I've got a different list to you. I'll start with the Niners the same as you.
Speaker: I've got the Niners to start. I think they're the best team so far in football. And long may that continue because i love watching the way Brock Hardy is playing. I've no real support of the Niners, but I just like watching him play. So that's great.
Speaker: Number two is Bills. I think the first two weeks they were absurd on offense. And I actually have them still at two because they managed to win a dirty game and they didn't throw it away. So I think they're still powerful and they're 3-0, you know, so I've got that there. Seahawks, I thought they did really well week one against the Patriots with a backup. And then week two, they absolutely steamrolled the Cardinals. And then last week, I think it's just a free game. Sometimes these things happen. a couple of bad mistakes by Sam Darnold. And i'm I'm still going to put them in there. Super Bowl champs still played well, I think, across the board.
Speaker: Number four, I've got the Jags. I think they look really, really good. actually forgot the existence. I genuinely forgot the existence. I think it's a fact they're 2-1. It's like they should be 3-0. They threw away that game against the Broncos. which they shouldn't have, but they won the other two games with such ease. They battered the Patriots last week, who were literally just in the Super Bowl from the AFC. So I've gotten them at four, and then I've got the Raiders at five. Same with you. I wanted to have them in there.
Speaker: Three wins. They might not get in again this season, and while they're riding hot, I've got them in. Near misses for me were the Chiefs and Vikings and I also considered the Bears based on how good they were on offense last week and even without Caleb but they might be one that features a little bit later so I've got Niners, Bills, Seahawks, Jags and Raiders so that's our NFL power rankings we'll be back again with them in about three weeks but last week we ended the episode with a bit of a fun game and we're going to take it in turns bringing a game to the other person kind of a something to test them, something to have a bit of crack with. and We're not keeping score or anything, just a bit of a laugh to end the episode. So last week I had one for Shane, blind ranking of Premier League goalscores Liverpool edition. So Shane, I'll throw it to you. It's your turn to have a game for me to finish the episode.
Speaker: Yes, I didn't want to kind of piggyback off your one and give you a blind ranking of United goalscorers. I've gone with something completely different. I'm going to read out to you six statements.
Speaker: Three are true, three are false. I want to tell you, tell me which three are twitch tree i correct and which three are incorrect. I like this. and there has been six goalkeepers who have scored in the Premier League.
Speaker: Okay. you don I'm just going to give you chance to kind of take a keyword from all of them so you know what's one you're talking about. The Premier League's fastest goal was quicker than seven seconds. Okay. and One Premier League player has scored five goals in one half of a Premier League game. Okay. Petrček kept 25 clean sheets in one single season.
Speaker: West Brom are the most relegated team from the Premier League of all time. And the most gold scored by a team in a Premier League season is 106.
Speaker: so Okay, you true I'll talk through these. Okay, so six keepers have scored you have down there. I feel like this is one of those dirty ones where it's like five keepers scored or like seven keepers have scored and you're trying to do me in there. So I don't think that's true.
Speaker: I will confirm at the end. what Okay. Premier League faster than seven seconds. That is really confusing me because I feel like there was, was it like 7.4 like 6.4 that was a goal?
Speaker: I'm coming back to that one. One Premier League player having five goals and a half. I don't think that has ever happened. I'm going to say that's false. 25 clean sheets for Czech. I'm pretty sure that happened. the The amount of consecutive clean sheets they had with him was a ridiculous. So I could imagine he would have 25 in a season. I think that was a year they only conceded 13 goals or something. So I could see that happening. It was 15. That was going to be one of the ones I was going to put into this was the amount of goals they conceded.
Speaker: I'm thinking about that. West Brom most relegated. i think that is right. it It could be West Ham either. but It's one of those... It's West something. I've heard this stat before, but I cannot. And then most goals scored in a season. 106. That would be 38 games, you're looking at nearly three goals a game.
Speaker: Jeez, okay. Could one of those City teams have done that? I think they could have when they were quite electric there in the seasons. They scored eight, seven, six goals. so putting these down, I'm going to say six keepers did not score in the Premier League.
Speaker: The Premier League faster than seven seconds is...
Speaker: correct i'm gonna say the premier league five goals scored by one player and a half is incorrect tech 25 clean sheets that's correct west brown most relegated that is correct and most goals scored 106 incorrect i'm gonna say it was like 105 or something okay how'd i get that news for you you're you're zero of six oh my god
Speaker: oh la There have been six goalskeepers who have scored the Premier League. Who were they? Peter Schmeichel, Brad Friedel, Paul Robinson, Tim Howards, Azmir Begovic and Alison Becker.
Speaker: Oh my God, that's crazy. Six? You were shane Long. He scored in 7.34, not 6.34, which is what you were thinking.
Speaker: How fast did he score 7.34. So you said, I said, what was the quickest goal faster than seven seconds? You said that was true.
Speaker: Why did I say that? I didn't even think that one was true. The player who scored five goals in one half was Jermaine Defoe against Wigan for Spurs. Oh my God, I don't remember that.
Speaker: When was that? and This was a dirty one and I'm sorry. Petr Cech kept 24 clean cheats that season, not 25. I knew there was someone at least in there that you were going to do that to me.
Speaker: Norwich are the most relegated team in Premier League history. Not one of the Wests. And Man City's Centurion team scored 106 goals that season. I knew that that was close. And I was like, I knew that you were doing me on so at least one or two of them where you were like, it's very close to that number, but it's not that.
Speaker: And yeah, that was good. That was tough. Yeah, I'm disappointed that I didn't at least get one of those right. But what can you do? I don't i don't even know why I said the Premier League faster than seven seconds. one I thought the last three were right. And as I was going through them, I was like, oh I'll just say one of the first three instead because I kindt i didn't think you'd bunch them.
Speaker: I should have said the Man City 106 because I actually did kind of think that that was true, but I messed it up. Okay, okay. I'll have to redeem myself next time. That was bad. But yeah, I enjoyed that. That was good crack.
Speaker: So I'll throw it to you then the episode after after that absolute farce where did myself dirty across the board. Yeah, just again, you haven't even given me the running you normally give me here. you Just put me on the spot. Just thanks. Thanks as always for listening, lads. The two of us are also over on the Gaelic Gridiron now. I'm not sure if I'm a weekly feature yet, but James is a weekly feature at the moment, but you will see a lot more of us. You'll be seeing us twice a week now.
Speaker: in the coming months honestly we just really really appreciate the support and the tiktoks are are taken off we seem to have found um a remedy that is working and ashley is putting some great work in and i was well to give her a quick shout out in this as well and we'll be back to you next week thank you so much nice one lads i i love your tight end
