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EP 78: Matchday Review - Leicester... and more! image

EP 78: Matchday Review - Leicester... and more!

S2425 E78 · Daily Chelsea
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17 Plays21 days ago

Join Matt and Yashar discuss all of the weekend action for Chelsea!

Today marks 120 years of Chelsea Football Club, what are your top moments over those years?

Looking ahead, Chelsea have a tough run in - can the blues beats the blues and step up?

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Transcript

Introduction to Daily Chelsea Podcast

00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Global Sports Podcast Network. In particular, this is Daily Chelsea. Daily Chelsea to talk all things about the Blues and we've had a good week.

Chelsea's Recent Performance: Victory Over Leicester

00:00:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've had a good week. I'm your host, Matt Blagden, and I'm joined today with Yashir. Yash, are you doing today? Yeah,
00:00:27
Yashar Alizadeh
Yeah, not bad, thank you. Excited to get into this now.
00:00:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know. I know. Some good news at last in the Chelsea fan base. We've got to We've got to win. We've got to win. And of course, that is yeah very treacherous here.
00:00:37
Yashar Alizadeh
act Back wins, actually.
00:00:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that is unfortunately, not a common thing with us. It was maybe 10 years ago. Not really a thing nowadays. Obviously, Yash, we got the 1-0 win over Leicester on the weekend. Quite a tight game.
00:00:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, personally... you know sort of Unless we're like 3-0 up, I'm really not confident that we're going to secure a win

Chelsea's Defensive Concerns and Player Form

00:01:00
Yashar Alizadeh
Mm-hmm.
00:01:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
just because we we can be so prone to leaky goals and silly mistakes at the back and just not having that solid concentration that I think comes with experience really above everything else.
00:01:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
So delighted that we actually held that clean sheet and actually got the 1-0 win. I mean, from the stats, it does look like we deserve to win the game, more possession, more expected goals, total shots on target.
00:01:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
But overall, Yash, what did you rate the game and what did you rate the performance from Chelsea? Yeah.
00:01:33
Yashar Alizadeh
I think we've seen a lot of games with Chelsea where we've had more shots, more possession, more XG everything, and we still end up drawing or even losing. So I wasn't in a place of confidence. It was a strange one.
00:01:45
Yashar Alizadeh
um um i think from a Chelsea standpoint, Korpommer missing a penalty. I think that was the biggest talk but like talking point. you know Six games without a goal, like a goal contributions is unlike him. But I think I think he's been a downfall of his own success, you know, lot of how he's performed in the last two seasons. He's bound to have a dip in form.
00:02:05
Yashar Alizadeh
And then I think a lot of people, especially rival fans, are some more happy about this. So it's more of a thing of, it's going to happen. It was going it bound to happen. He's not, you know, he's not right, like he's not inhuman to have not a bad game or bad few weeks, but it's more like Cole Palmer's turning to Phil Foden in 2025. So don't what's happened,
00:02:24
Yashar Alizadeh
five suddenly it happened but It was a good game overall. Another clean sheet, so back-to-back Premier League clean sheets, which I can't remember the last time we actually had a clean shit of my backto- back clean sheet, clean sheets, with two different goalkeepers.
00:02:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:39
Yashar Alizadeh
So it's in a sense where I think as soon as Robert Sanchez has become bold now, he's like the...
00:02:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:47
Yashar Alizadeh
next Pepe Reina. don't know what's going on there. I think he's shaved his head so like all of a sudden. and It's good to have Wesley back. It's such a strange one, isn't it? Because like when you hear Maresca a month ago saying he's out for the season and then he he just starts, not even coming on, he just starts.
00:03:04
Yashar Alizadeh
I know Gusto's injured and obviously Rhys needs to be rested. but then i was like like Good day out. Good to see Joshua Chempong back in coming on again.
00:03:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:15
Yashar Alizadeh
said, I got a yellow card, but needed that. But again, there's a few things you look up on. It's like, it was a good result. Three points is needed. And then Kukure just shows he's our best defender or even best attacking out there right now, to be honest.
00:03:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
you
00:03:27
Yashar Alizadeh
That's what it seems like.
00:03:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I know, literally. He's kind of almost rolling back the Euros he had with Spain with that sort of goal and just that kind of attacking prowess.
00:03:35
Yashar Alizadeh
Yeah, he's bringing back the Marcus Alonso days, isn't it?
00:03:38
Yashar Alizadeh
it's It's someone where think we lack that a lot.
00:03:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
00:03:40
Yashar Alizadeh
i think we've lacked a goal-scoring defender. I think it's that we have Rhys James, but like even Mareska said after the Copenhagen game, he sees it more a midfielder.
00:03:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:52
Yashar Alizadeh
He doesn't see him as a defender.
00:03:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah,
00:03:53
Yashar Alizadeh
And it's very evident where he played as a number number six, double pivot with... them Carseido against Copenhagen, but it was a good few weeks for Chelsea.
00:04:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah, yeah.
00:04:05
Yashar Alizadeh
I'm very surprised and it's a good confidence build up for the next week.
00:04:19
Yashar Alizadeh
Hmm.
00:04:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, you know, yeah, I know, it's only been one game, but yeah that's true.
00:04:28
Yashar Alizadeh
I can't speak too soon, obviously. He's only been... He played against la plaas Copenhagen. Didn't have the best game, obviously. But i too for it's like the shots that he had to deal with, he didn't deal with them.
00:04:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:38
Yashar Alizadeh
It's like this against Copenhagen, obviously. and But I think it's with Southampton. is Sorry, Leicester. thought Leicester had three shots on target. You know, three... Obviously, he saved all three of them, but it's more of a thing of...

Memorable Chelsea Moments and Club History

00:04:51
Yashar Alizadeh
You know, it's... I think our defence is shaky with him there.
00:04:57
Yashar Alizadeh
You know, like they don't trust him. I think a lot of them don't, but listen to bolds, bold, Robert Sanchez, his new era. I'm really looking forward to this actually.
00:05:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe that's just the weight off his shoulders that he he needs just to kind of relax.
00:05:11
Yashar Alizadeh
I think it happens a lot. It's like same with like Nicholas Jackson. As soon as he became bold, he just suddenly, I think it's a boldness.
00:05:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's true.
00:05:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
baldness giving boldness, something like that.
00:05:20
Yashar Alizadeh
Yeah. I think next, yes. So I think we, next, I think we need Neto to go bold or, uh, Sancho to go bold or even Cole Palmer to go bold.
00:05:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, gosh.
00:05:28
Yashar Alizadeh
He might come in back.
00:05:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'd almost love to see that just one one weekend, just maybe the last weekend of this of the season, just all the players go bald.
00:05:36
Yashar Alizadeh
everyone's bold. It's just which is like, it's like even a bold cap.
00:05:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:40
Yashar Alizadeh
They don't even have to go by many bold. They can just wear a bold cap.
00:05:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:42
Yashar Alizadeh
That'd be amazing. Just everyone.
00:05:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gosh, they would overheat.
00:05:46
Yashar Alizadeh
Fans as well.
00:05:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gosh. Yeah, yeah.
00:05:49
Yashar Alizadeh
so all ma with endz morreca they were old is this that what we're matching all matching.
00:05:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, wow.
00:05:52
Yashar Alizadeh
That'd be wholesome.
00:05:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gosh. So what's the thing in... Oh, yeah, I just want to match the coach.
00:05:57
Yashar Alizadeh
Just wondering, really.
00:05:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know Exactly, you know.
00:05:59
Yashar Alizadeh
so Yeah, top four. We want to match the coach and have a good time, really.
00:06:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's That's it. That's it. Oh, funny. No, absolutely. Yeah. I mean, I guess just touching on Palmer as well, like missing the penalty, obviously out of form can can from what we've seen from him in the last 18 months since we've signed him.
00:06:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously getting some criticism from people. Personally, I'm not really too worried about it because I'm sure he'll bounce back eventually. And like say, it's a natural thing to kind of just go through, you know, sort of a period of just not really hitting on target, missing penalties, things like that.
00:06:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
And also sort of I do, I've been saying this for a while. I think it just shows that we were so reliant on him that we do need other players to step up I guess, you know, sort of Sanchez, Neto, Nkunku kind of fine games, but I'm still sort of struggling to see where Nkunku fits into the sides.
00:06:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, do you do you have any ideas about, want Neto up top now, which I think is great for a pace and a break, and he does have a solid shot on him, like we saw against Southampton.
00:06:56
Yashar Alizadeh
I'll
00:06:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think Nkunku has probably been our biggest disappointment this season.
00:07:02
Yashar Alizadeh
tell you where Nkunku needs to be like on the bench and not come on he is think it's really think it's really upsetting to be fair it's like we invested lot in him and he was one a lot of Premier League clubs wanted him Barca wanted him at one point you know this was a player that everybody wanted and I think
00:07:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Mm-hmm.
00:07:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:07:22
Yashar Alizadeh
We have tendencies of getting players that everyone wants. That's one thing. think that's one good thing about Chelsea. We have a good pull factor. But the problem is we pull the wrong people. You know, Timo Werner and Kunku. And these players were from Leipzig.
00:07:36
Yashar Alizadeh
They had over a 30-goal contribution season. And think we get them in expecting hit the ground running, but they don't. And they don't hit any ground. It's like just just it just mud and just sand and whatever it is.
00:07:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, literally.
00:07:50
Yashar Alizadeh
I think we get to a point where we need to, I think the no only reason we're playing Kunku is because we're thin on attacking options. don't know what's happened with Madrid. I think, I think his second, second test was cleared, but it's like every time Mureska has been told question about him, he just, like, he just said, I don't know.
00:07:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's true. Yeah.
00:08:08
Yashar Alizadeh
So, it's either he's hiding something or something else have him behind the board. Because I think in my knowledge, if someone is cleared off something, I'm not a, I'm not expert, but if something if someone is cleared on something, you would say and try to back the player.
00:08:22
Yashar Alizadeh
So it's quite worrying. But to speak on Cole Palmer, I think it's somewhat good, actually, that he's not reaching for him. I'll tell you why. Because it shows that, first, it shows the board what we need. We need an attacking tech profile, but also it just gives the team that, you know what, we need to back him up a little bit.
00:08:39
Yashar Alizadeh
Thankfully, we put Thankfully, we're doing quite well without his goal contributions. We're scoring goals. Not as many goals as you hope for, i guess especially against Copenhagen. But again, that is a hard place to go, Copenhagen, especially when it's one of the better teams in the Conference League.
00:08:56
Yashar Alizadeh
And they haven't lost in a while. don't know what their stat was. haven't lost in so many games. So I think there's a lot of things we need to look up on. But I think the biggest thing we look up on is 120 years of Chelsea, isn't it?
00:09:08
Yashar Alizadeh
yeah
00:09:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very true. Absolutely. 120 years. And we'll get into that after this break.
00:09:22
Yashar Alizadeh
Thank you.
00:10:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome back. Yes, as you just mentioned, we're celebrating 120 years of the mighty Chelsea today. And what 120 years?
00:10:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, here's to the next 120.
00:10:13
Yashar Alizadeh
Yeah.
00:10:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, how much has happened to the club?
00:10:15
Yashar Alizadeh
Yeah,
00:10:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's pretty incredible. Many, many things we could say, but I guess maybe, yes, let's give, let's hear your top three moments of Chelsea over the last 120 years.
00:10:30
Yashar Alizadeh
yeah I want to speak on, obviously, three moments that I've watched. Okay, it's quite easy to name. so many moments back in however long. However, the top three moments for me that I've watched was, has to be Munich, number one.
00:10:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sure.
00:10:43
Yashar Alizadeh
I think that just our first Champions League, it was against the odds, against the best team in the world at the that moment, against in their own ground.
00:10:52
Yashar Alizadeh
It was just, and it was something where They scored late on and that was it. And then obviously the King came back and scored to take it to extra.
00:10:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know.
00:11:00
Yashar Alizadeh
And then they got a penalty. just It was written in the stars for us, I right i think.
00:11:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it really was.
00:11:05
Yashar Alizadeh
it was just It was. And it was just moments. Second, it's a lot of things, but I really enjoyed watching Chelsea v Arsenal for the Europa League final.
00:11:16
Yashar Alizadeh
I think especially when...
00:11:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
e yes Yeah,
00:11:18
Yashar Alizadeh
But I think that's the only reason I know is the Europa League, but also it's something that we weren't favourites. It's like, it was surprising because a lot of, you know, pundits, et cetera, and were looking at Arsenal. They haven't won a champion.
00:11:31
Yashar Alizadeh
It's like they haven't won a European trophy ever. So, and for them, it was like, it was destined. But I think the way we played, it was just like, Eden Haswell and his, like, I think his last game for the club.
00:11:45
Yashar Alizadeh
And it was just like, these things are just,
00:11:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
so good.
00:11:48
Yashar Alizadeh
I don't know. It was just written in the stars again. Third one, it was a it's a really it's very niche one, but I really...
00:11:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it was.
00:11:59
Yashar Alizadeh
The Chelsea Man United 4-0 when N'Golo Kante scored that solo goal.
00:12:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah.
00:12:03
Yashar Alizadeh
I think that was because I was there as well.
00:12:04
Yashar Alizadeh
I think it was just that, but it was just the fact that we it was like it was a Kante season, wasn't it?
00:12:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:09
Yashar Alizadeh
And it was just where like it was just we were just beating everyone.
00:12:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
was
00:12:13
Yashar Alizadeh
And there was honourable mentions like West Brom when Michy Bacuay scored and then Courtois ran to the bench.
00:12:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:12:18
Yashar Alizadeh
It was just like these things, like is is these things are so ingrained, but those my top three.
00:12:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:12:24
Yashar Alizadeh
I'm going throw that question back at you. What is your top three?
00:12:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, solid.
00:12:28
Yashar Alizadeh
You can't say mine either.
00:12:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:12:29
Yashar Alizadeh
It was,
00:12:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
i mean, your three, very top, absolutely up there. I think for every fan, Munich's obviously got to be up there for sure. And just to touch on that 4-0, it was quite sweet doing that against Mourinho after, you know, he went to United, you know.
00:12:41
Yashar Alizadeh
it was. it was
00:12:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, so good. Funnily enough, another game against United, and because it was my first ever game actually at Stamford Bridge, was our 1-0 win over United in the 0-4, 0-5 season when Jose actually got our first, yeah, yeah, literally 20 years, 20 years literally crazy.
00:12:59
Yashar Alizadeh
Wow, as for that is throwing it back. That is throwing back.
00:13:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, when we first had Mourinho, got a first title for us. Just because, you know, back then, United were the team. They were, you know, ruthless. They still had players like Roy Keane back then.
00:13:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
So proper hard graft, really tense game. And, you know, I i loved Good Johnson as a player, man. I think he's one of those sort of like...
00:13:23
Yashar Alizadeh
some Underrated.
00:13:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah underrated sort of club legends sort of just uh you know sort of that that kind of character classic you know sort of second striker sort of role back in the day not really a thing nowadays but loved you know sort of seeing that when i played pro evo growing up you know so definitely that that was just
00:13:42
Yashar Alizadeh
yeah
00:13:46
Yashar Alizadeh
Shout ProEvo for the ones that know.
00:13:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly. Exactly. Yeah. get so nervous about it nowadays.
00:13:50
Yashar Alizadeh
Yeah, no, they don't know about that one.
00:13:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
So so that was definitely a great result. Also, might and these might just be games that I've been to, actually. Another great moment for in that season as well was when we beat Liverpool for the Carling Cup and we won 3-2 in extra time.
00:14:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
I distinctly remember it because I was on the end. where like Risa scored like the early goal for Liverpool and and and like as a kid like distinctly remember like you know when something goes wrong you just start to feel ill and that's what I started to feel for like the whole game pretty much and I was just like
00:14:21
Yashar Alizadeh
yeah
00:14:25
Yashar Alizadeh
I might be wrong. Is that when Czech saved that Andy Carroll head off the line? Is that the same game or am I...
00:14:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, no, no.
00:14:30
Yashar Alizadeh
No, that's a different game.
00:14:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was like... Yeah, yeah.
00:14:33
Yashar Alizadeh
Okay.
00:14:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah. That was a great game as well, though.
00:14:35
Yashar Alizadeh
That was a good game as well.
00:14:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And...
00:14:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, just because that was the first trophy I saw us lift. Super dramatic with kind of... I mean, just so so so much kind of poetry with within that as well, in terms of our equalizing goal was a Gerrard-owned goal.
00:14:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And just... It just...
00:14:54
Yashar Alizadeh
And Jero was supposed to be coming to Chelsea, wasn't he?
00:14:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly.
00:14:56
Yashar Alizadeh
Yeah.
00:14:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. All that drama around that time. And yeah, just for us to sort of, you know, and, you know, back then we didn't have Wembley. So was at the Millennium Stadium in Wales, a long journey and all of that.
00:15:05
Yashar Alizadeh
a
00:15:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was a top, top moment for us. And yeah. Yeah, I think for all Chelsea fans, got used to winning. Well, that was the start of it. So we really enjoyed that feeling. And another and another sort of moment, a game I wasn't at, but I think a really crucial game that does stand up to me was when Demba Bar scored at Anfield.
00:15:34
Yashar Alizadeh
Yeah. It's just the slippy G moment.
00:15:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
for
00:15:36
Yashar Alizadeh
That was it.
00:15:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just exactly, just iconic.
00:15:38
Yashar Alizadeh
Sounds like a Stephen Gerrard hate podcast, doesn't it?
00:15:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, certainly almost. I mean, you know, he was a great player, but just top, top moments.
00:15:43
Yashar Alizadeh
Yeah.
00:15:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
are Unfortunately, not for him.
00:15:47
Yashar Alizadeh
Yeah.
00:15:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think it just was for me when I when that whole game happened and the way that we played and we were so, so negative with like slowing the game down, long throw ins, just basically super anti what Liverpool wanted to do, which was high pace.
00:16:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
press lots of passing all of that i thought it just epitomized how we can just figure teams out really go against them and kind of almost understand why there's so much hate towards chelsea that we sort of when teams are really striving to get that win we can just come in and just wreck the whole the whole script and sort of make sure that we get our win
00:16:10
Yashar Alizadeh
no
00:16:25
Yashar Alizadeh
i agree
00:16:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
uh and ultimately sort of you know you've got that's what we've got to do in football sometimes you've got to play pretty sometimes you've got to be rugged and ragged and yeah i think the fact as well like for our second goal the fact that torres just passes it william passes it in super chill yeah but we are just running down yeah
00:16:41
Yashar Alizadeh
literally and then Mourinho goes crazy he just absolutely loves it I think another moment there's another honourable mention I think this was the year we won the second Champions League 2021 Covid year when it's the second leg Chelsea v Real Madrid when Timo Werder scores their header and Mason Mount just tops all off with that just the whole and did
00:17:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh yeah.
00:17:07
Yashar Alizadeh
the whole and i the togetherness of the team at that point it was just like it was just amazing then i don't know just like those are the moments you look back and like that athletic Madrid game when it's like it's the way Emerson scored and then like you saw Tiago Silva, Mesa, Moussa, Eugenio just like by the stands are just absolutely going crazy i don't it's just little things you look back but again 120 years of like is that we can make three four videos on on a moment but those are the top ones and
00:17:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's true.
00:17:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know.
00:17:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, easy.
00:17:35
Yashar Alizadeh
Again, there's going to be a hundred hot more 120 years. We won't be here, but

Chelsea's Current Season and Future Prospects

00:17:38
Yashar Alizadeh
also our kids and kids and kids will be here and we'll see.
00:17:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:17:41
Yashar Alizadeh
And we'll see where Chelsea is in the next 100
00:17:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. Yeah, I look forward to seeing that. Hopefully a few more Prems, Champions Leagues, FA Cups, League Cups, and much, much more. But more on Copenhagen and upcoming fixtures after this break.
00:18:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome back. This is Daily Chelsea. We're talking all things now. In the kind of, you know, sort of latter stages of the season now, Yash, we're getting into the real business end as it's sort of, or the run-in as Sky Sports normally sort of feed it as.
00:18:40
Yashar Alizadeh
Hmm. Hmm.
00:18:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Chelsea, you know, sort of two competitions that we're kind of in. I mean, we're not going to win the league, but we're definitely in the run for Champions League football. And obviously we've got the Europa League.
00:18:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just on Europa League, as we did touch on it earlier, 2-1 win against Copenhagen. Very strong result, really, like you mentioned, because it is a tough place to go. And a few seasons ago, United did lose 4-3 there in that epic game. So to come away with a win is great. Obviously, it would have been brilliant to have a clean sheet.
00:19:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I would say, you know, coming back to the bridge, confident to get the job done, confident that we'll win at home again. Thoughts on that, Yash? Are you confident as well? Or do you think we'll concede and there might be a lot to worry about?
00:19:32
Yashar Alizadeh
I'm confident. i think going into the game where we've won a lot of games in the run-in, so three games in the bounce we've won, and I think with that confidence we'll win the game, I reckon. I hope for a stronger line-up.
00:19:43
Yashar Alizadeh
ah ah like I think Mareska kind of underestimated Copenhagen a little bit, especially in the first half when we saw them a hard team to break down from the low block.
00:19:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:19:54
Yashar Alizadeh
But going into it, it's going to be, hopefully we're going to see the likes of Neto, and obviously Colpom has started, we know that, but I think Like, I think hopefully this will be the game Corpon will come back to life.
00:20:06
Yashar Alizadeh
I think this was the game where we hope for a stronger line. I do like Tariq George. I think he should give a start. Tariq, I think he's just a breath of a share. I think with someone like him, we need a direct winger. And it's like we have a lot of them in the club, but when lot of them are unavailable, like Maduaka is injured now. Mardrish is somewhere in Colombia. I don't know where he is. And then there's, you know, there's like players, like,
00:20:29
Yashar Alizadeh
Like people like that, we don't know. So I think Tariq George coming in too. We're going to do really well. I think confident. I reckon a 3-0 win.
00:20:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, wow, great. Do you think Mareska will line up similarly to how we did last week in Copenhagen? So like, you know, James in the midfield alongside Kaisoto.
00:20:48
Yashar Alizadeh
I think, well, i think there'll be a few change i think Jürgensen will start this game. I think just because i think Sanchez started the last game.
00:20:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:20:56
Yashar Alizadeh
out That's only my... reasoning over that.
00:20:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:59
Yashar Alizadeh
I think, like, I think a champion will but start only because I think Maresco wouldn't put him on as a sub against Leicester if he's not going to start on Thursday. That's my only thought process over it. But, I think Cajsedo should have a rest.
00:21:12
Yashar Alizadeh
That guy has been run ragged, bless it. Like, that man has been, since Lavia's got, you know, glass knees and glass everything, he has been running ragged.
00:21:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes. Yeah. Yeah.
00:21:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:21
Yashar Alizadeh
I do feel for him. But,
00:21:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah,
00:21:25
Yashar Alizadeh
because he's been chucking all the time. He's been playing right back. He's playing the yeah He's playing everywhere. think one point, was playing centre-back against Leicester when they were yeah so like when they're shifted to a back five just to keep the lead.
00:21:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
it must have been. I wouldn't be surprised. Yeah.
00:21:35
Yashar Alizadeh
but I
00:21:39
Yashar Alizadeh
think Carcedo needs a rest, and especially where it was so risky, because if Carcedo got a booking against Leicester, he would have missed Tottenham and...
00:21:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh no! Oh flip!
00:21:48
Yashar Alizadeh
He would have missed Arsenal and Tottenham, but he didn't.
00:21:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wow.
00:21:51
Yashar Alizadeh
So thankfully thankfully, he can still play.
00:21:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank goodness, yeah.
00:21:52
Yashar Alizadeh
But yeah, we're going to... Yeah. Like, the sideline, i think, will be very similar. I think Neto and Palma will start. I think Karseda will be on the bench, hopefully.
00:22:03
Yashar Alizadeh
Fingers crossed. If he doesn't, then Mareska has a good good a physio team under him because if he gets injured, then it's all on him.
00:22:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:11
Yashar Alizadeh
But yeah...
00:22:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely.
00:22:13
Yashar Alizadeh
yeah
00:22:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, testing times for the whole squad, really. But yeah, definitely, particularly for Kusaito. At this rate, I'm sure he'll be our player of the season just because of everything that he's done. But yeah, yash looking ahead to our next three Prem fixtures, we've caught three London derbies.
00:22:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're away to Arsenal, home to Spurs, and then away to Brentford's. And to be honest, our run in and until at the end of the season, looks pretty fierce. And then we've got the Club World Cup after that.
00:22:40
Yashar Alizadeh
yeah
00:22:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, we'll come to the Club World Cup when we get closer towards May and June. But, yes, Arsenal obviously drew against United, so little bit sort slip up.
00:22:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it's almost confirmed, if not already, that Liverpool... will be the title holders this season.
00:22:59
Yashar Alizadeh
Well, you'd be surprised.
00:23:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
i mean, I know, it would be crazy.
00:23:02
Yashar Alizadeh
You saw, yeah, you saw Ates as a reaction, you know, getting interviewed, he was a baby about it.
00:23:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:23:07
Yashar Alizadeh
And that's what happens, really. But that's, again, that's how it is, especially with, if we know how, we know how Arsenal is one-dimensional.
00:23:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:23:17
Yashar Alizadeh
We drew against him at the bridge, you know, and we know the, we know their ground is a very hard place to go to.
00:23:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:23:24
Yashar Alizadeh
We know that. But I think,
00:23:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:23:28
Yashar Alizadeh
We know they're one dimension. know And Man should have won that game. The amount of chances they had...
00:23:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, absolutely. Yeah, yeah.
00:23:34
Yashar Alizadeh
I think they were there for the taking. I think we'll get a draw. It's like, we'll get at least a draw, I reckon. We won't lose that game.
00:23:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:23:40
Yashar Alizadeh
Like, I don't think we can afford to lose that game because City's on our tail.
00:23:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I agree.
00:23:44
Yashar Alizadeh
i think top five is Champions League, most likely. I think we're going to have the extra spot. But just to make sure we've got City on our tails. as And as much City's slacking off right now, they're going to have games and they have easier game run-ins.
00:23:58
Yashar Alizadeh
So we need to have that much of a...
00:23:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I do.
00:24:01
Yashar Alizadeh
We need to be, i think, more direct in our play. So I reckon we'll get a draw. Obviously, I'm hoping for a win. My prediction is going to be a 2-1 win, obviously. I'm going back our club.
00:24:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's go.
00:24:12
Yashar Alizadeh
just I think just because I think how we're playing right now, I think especially with Carseido coming, like Carseido's not banned for that game either. It's going to be a good game. And I'm not sure if Gusto's going to be back. I think Gusto's injury going to last longer than Arsenal game, I've heard.
00:24:27
Yashar Alizadeh
I think Mureska did say he was he's missing the Copenhagen game. So I'm not sure if that's extra precautions for him to be fit for Arsenal. But either way, we have Rhys.
00:24:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:24:36
Yashar Alizadeh
And then think Gusto's been slacking off a little bit. You know, i thought like that could be because of Mureska's tactics. We used to be, I think Gusto was really, really good.
00:24:47
Yashar Alizadeh
But I think dropping into the midfield now is not really his thing. But 2-1 win, confident. I think we'll make that five wins on the bounce, hopefully, with Copenhagen and Arsenal.
00:24:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wow. That would be an amazing turn of form, especially going into into the run-in. Because, yeah, not really what happened to us. We were amazing until Christmas, and then after Christmas, I think everyone just used up all their energy.
00:25:09
Yashar Alizadeh
It's after Mudras.
00:25:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
we Yeah, that's true, actually.
00:25:10
Yashar Alizadeh
As i soon as Mudras has been stung, like everyone's like, oh my god, we're next, maybe.
00:25:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah oh my gosh yeah too yeah the whole the whole squad's just getting banned for drug use gosh that would be awful yeah
00:25:17
Yashar Alizadeh
yeah Hopefully not, actually. I'm not jinxing it.
00:25:26
Yashar Alizadeh
It's like the whole team can't go bold otherwise. Yeah, we have to we have we have to bring the we have to bring the academy boys up.
00:25:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah literally but only the bald ones so yeah literally
00:25:36
Yashar Alizadeh
Yeah, only the bold ones, which is Hard hear them unless they got... Something's gone wrong there, but...
00:25:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, hopefully not.
00:25:43
Yashar Alizadeh
Someone's lying about their age.
00:25:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. But yeah, you're absolutely right, Yash, just because City, we're only two points ahead of them. And, you know, fourth till ninth, there's only five points in it.
00:25:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Newcastle still have a game in hand. So they could be right on our tails up to 47 points as well.
00:26:01
Yashar Alizadeh
Yep.
00:26:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's pretty much everything to play for. and you know if forest keep their good runner form up they'll they'll take third but it would be sweet pickings if we could just nab third from them before the end of the season's out uh but they are just showing very strong you know strong result against city on the weekend like they did against liverpool they're looking very very strong indeed i guess with with the run-in, Yash, and Spurs and Brentford.
00:26:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think we can realistically not lose against those teams as well?
00:26:37
Yashar Alizadeh
I think Spurs is a win. It's a must win. I think with Spurs now, I think with them, i think with Spurs-Bournemouth game was a weird one because it was more a thing of it was end-to-end for the first 15-20 minutes and then Bournemouth dominated and then Spurs got back into it I think there's a lot of things where don't think Kepa did us a favour so thank you for that but it's more of a thing of I think Spurs is a winnable game, Brentford's winnable game.
00:26:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:27:00
Yashar Alizadeh
It's a two teams where they're not as good as they were last season. So there's two teams where vulnerable and such in certain situations. We already beat Brentford once.
00:27:11
Yashar Alizadeh
We already beat Spurs once. he does and We did the double against them last year. we Hopefully we're to again this year. I can see seven points out of nine for the last three these three London derbies. I know that could be me being delusional. That could be me being, it could be me being optimistic, but I reckon we can get at least seven points, hopefully nine, but a draw against Arsenal, I wouldn't mind that. And then two wins against the two other clubs and we're going to hopefully secure. Cause like,
00:27:38
Yashar Alizadeh
I think from second place down is is really open. I know Arsenal are six points ahead of us, but that could easily change, especially if we win.
00:27:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very true.
00:27:44
Yashar Alizadeh
That's three points behind them.
00:27:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:27:46
Yashar Alizadeh
Anything could happen. So from second place onwards, probably from first to fifth, it's going Champions League. It's like, unless something drastic happens and we don't get like the fifth space, but I reckon ninth is like, I think ninth, I think the fifth place is is evident.
00:28:03
Yashar Alizadeh
So Champions League will be huge, not only financially, but also for the player pull as well, especially if we're trying to bring in players. I know the board's not on end. we are We are trying to fight that. and But it'd be really good for us and for the players as well to keep stay at the club.
00:28:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, we need to keep everyone that we've got at the moment. And I do actually think it's in particular players like Enzo Fernandes in terms of we did sign him when we were in the Champions League, albeit just for, you know, a couple of months before we got knocked out.
00:28:30
Yashar Alizadeh
Mm.
00:28:32
Yashar Alizadeh
Mm.
00:28:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he's the kind of caliber that we want to attract and keep and play and... you know, he he's definitely Champions League level player, as much most of our players are, but he's the kind of temperament that I think, you know, if Chelsea went downhill, say, like, to what United are doing, he could quickly be like, look, i want to go to Real Madrid. go to Barcelona.
00:28:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just because...
00:28:54
Yashar Alizadeh
funny enough, all the rival fans are not talking about his price anymore, which is funny. So it just shows how he's a world-class player.
00:28:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly. Yeah.
00:29:02
Yashar Alizadeh
And so is Carcedo.
00:29:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:03
Yashar Alizadeh
That midfield is it's something that you can look forward and be like, you know what, so we can see that midfield for the next 10 years. Hopefully Carcedo can be the next legend and so can Enzo.
00:29:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. Next, Makaleli. Next, maybe not quite like Lampard, but Enzo.
00:29:16
Yashar Alizadeh
Balak. More like a Balak.
00:29:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, Balak. Yeah.
00:29:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I like that. I like that comparison.
00:29:18
Yashar Alizadeh
Balak is a good shout in there.
00:29:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:29:20
Yashar Alizadeh
don't try to blow my own horn or anything, but Balak was a good shout.
00:29:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely.
00:29:24
Yashar Alizadeh
isn
00:29:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah I'll bag you with that as well.
00:29:26
Yashar Alizadeh
Cheers, mate. Thank you.

Conclusion and Podcast Engagement

00:29:30
Yashar Alizadeh
No, pleasure.
00:29:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Everyone, thanks so much for listening. Do follow us on social media. Do check into Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts on Apple Podcasts as well. But we'll see you on the next one.