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Episode 149 - Leicester Preview & Delap nominated for YPOTS
13 Plays1 day ago
Rob & Richard look ahead to Town's trip to the King Power Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The lads reflect on Jamie Vardy's Leicester career before he brings down the curtain on it against Ipswich, share who they want to see in the starting 11 and react to Liam Delap's nomination for Premier League Young Player of the Season.
The Daily Ipswich Podcast, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network, is the home of all your ITFC. Join us every weekday for the latest news, build-up and reaction in the club's first season back in the Premier League.
Host: Rob Binns
Guests: Richard Popple
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Transcript
Introduction to the Daily Ipswich Podcast
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Ipswich, brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only place you can find daily content on every single Premier League club, women's football and Premier League wrap-ups in multiple different languages.
Match Preview and Expectations
00:00:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is a Friday podcast today, it is our match preview and it might as well be a championship preview, let's be honest, because it's a warm-up game for the two of us. Leicester away, King Power Stadium, somewhere we'll be going again next season if we both We've both finished down in the bottom three. with play We went there twice last year, come up together, we've gone down together. We're back there again next year.
00:00:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it does feel have a feel of a who cares sort of fixture to it. as first But say we're going to go through it anyway because what it does offer, and the way the way to look at it is, is a chance to sort of set the standard for next season.
00:01:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a good opportunity to test because this is a um a direct opponent you'd expect to up the top of the championship. We're hoping to be there. Leicester are hoping to be there. So we can look at it in that sense, if nothing else.
Sentiments on Upcoming Leicester Match
00:01:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And joining me, Rob Binns, to go through all of that today is Richard Popple. How you doing, mate?
00:01:19
Richard
I'm very good. Yeah, very good. It's a great introduction, Rob, because it's, you know, welcome to the pod, everyone, for for a game that no one really cares about.
00:01:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, worry about it. I'm going to get this out of the way first in case I forget to bring it up. There's a strange stat relating to this podcast.
Podcast Milestone Reflections
00:01:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And games like this, which doesn't bode well for us going into this weekend.
00:01:39
Richard
yeah.
00:01:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I don't know if you've noticed that this is episode 149, which means match reaction on Monday will be episode 150.
00:01:46
Richard
Mm.
00:01:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And do you know what episode, you obviously know what episode 100 was for us. Our last milestone was reacting to to losing to Southampton.
00:01:56
Richard
You'll have to remind me. okay.
00:01:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Match reaction to Southampton. And do you know what happened episode 50 on the milestone before that?
00:02:04
Richard
I don't know.
00:02:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
we It was Matt's reaction to losing to not losing to decides drawing to Leicester at home in the last minute.
00:02:13
Richard
Okay.
00:02:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
So somehow we've managed to line it up with this podcast that every milestone episode we've had so far has been reacting to a disappointing a result against a fellow promoted team in a game we should have won.
00:02:26
Richard
right
00:02:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
which So what what's episode 150 going to be? reacting to Leicester away. So there's a trend to buck there or we are officially a jinx. if that If it happens three times, then only four of these games happens. And then if it's the only one that hasn't been followed directly is when we score from the last minute and we'd be happy about it, then we might be a curse at that point.
00:02:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah It might have come down to podcast milestones and we'll have to just do extra episodes or something to not let it happen again in the championship.
00:02:48
Richard
Yeah.
00:02:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
But this is something I spotted in the week. I and wanted to mention it and say, we're not actually going to talk about the game first. I just had to mention that before I forgot. because we're going to talk about something a more positive before we move into our match preview.
Season Award Nominations Discussion
00:03:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's of course, the breaking news from yesterday, or today as we're recording this, is the nominations have come out for player of the season, young player of the season, and manager of the season, which you might be thinking off the bat.
00:03:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
A lot of people will probably be surprised that the team sat down in 18th in the table or having it would be having a conversation about this. But we've managed to get a nominee in there somehow. Liam DeLapp is on the shortlist for Young Player of the Year, which is ah a controversial award.
00:03:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, not really. it's It's a deserving award, but the requirements to to be to win it are what's controversial. because we We'll read the list of nominees out in a minute, but where my problem with it is, and i'm where and most people agree, is the rule is to qualify you have to be aged 23 or under on the first day of the season.
00:04:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then it doesn't matter what happens from there, which for me is far too old for a young player. And you'll see why. Let me read some of the people that have been nominated because of the way this rule works. So obviously we've got De Lapp. You've then got William Saliba, who is in his third year as a full-time starter slash one of the best setbacks in the league.
00:04:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've got Cole Palmer, who in won it last year and again is now in a second season of tearing the league up. You've got Ryan Gravenberch, who's just won his sixth league title of his career, or fifth or sixth league title of his career or something this season. So fairly well-versed in European football.
00:04:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've got Jao Pedro, who's also 23. And again, it's been around four five years now because he was at Watford first. And you got then you've got some more sensible ones in there, which is Liam De Lappe, Dean Housen at Bournemouth and Morgan Rodgers.
00:04:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
So what's your take on the, ah on on the award as a whole,
Debate on Young Player of the Year Criteria
00:05:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Rich? Cause I've given my sort of inkling to my life. I'm trying to keep my point brief. Cause I will go on about this for the whole podcast. Cause it's something irks me every year, but what are your were thoughts on this award? So as a whole one of that list of nominations and the,
00:05:18
Richard
Yeah, like I'm kind of in agreement with you, really, in the sense of like there's a few people in there that just don't really seem to fit the category of young player. I mean, as you say, Saliba is, what, 24 now and has been...
00:05:32
Richard
ah ah but That's his third full season. He's played, what, I suppose nearly 150 games for Arsenal, whatever. And he's deemed one of the better players in the world. But I agree with you. You know, Cole Palmer's on the edge of that.
00:05:45
Richard
Yao Pedro doesn't really feel like a young player to me. If I was going to give it to anyone on that list, would probably Gravenberch, absolutely. I'd probably go... For Rodgers or Dean Hjalson, I would say have probably had the best seasons. I think De Lapp maybe would be fourth behind Alanga.
00:06:05
Richard
and but And I don't think the other three qualify or the other four qualify really. So yeah, I'm kind of in agreement with you that they need to probably change the rules and regs.
00:06:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh god yeah yeah definitely but also just like to put my apology out to Alanga because I missed him off the list luckily you filled that gap there because I completely just realised I only yeah I don't know how I've only managed to read seven I've got a list of eight names in front of me I've somehow only managed to read seven out and so apologies to Anthony and Anger here he's on the list as well and yeah
00:06:21
Richard
Yeah, he's been good. He's been good.
00:06:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
where my thing is it I think the overall rule isn't like you're on the right lines just change 23 to 21 is my is my thing that and it's a but then it's sort maybe it's an argument to why they do do it with the list of nominations because straight away there's eight names up for it that list goes down to DeLapp and Hausen if you take the age down to 21 but you could argue you can keep this rule but just like it almost needs a bit of common sense in there like why are we still putting William Saliba in a young player thing?
00:07:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Like, it it's almost like it's got those things in If you're good enough, you're old enough, isn't it? Like, he shouldn't be in the list for this, really, that in that case, I mean, like,
00:07:13
Richard
Yeah.
Player Performances and Future Outlook
00:07:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
i mean, sticking at Arsenal, for example, you've got Lewis Skelly in the same defence, who's like 18 years old, broke through this season, exactly what young player of the year should be about.
00:07:24
Richard
Yeah. Yeah, exactly.
00:07:31
Richard
Yeah, totally.
00:07:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he's lost out because his vice-captain...
00:07:33
Richard
And played in like the Champions League semi-final. yeah, yeah.
00:07:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, exactly.
00:07:36
Richard
I completely agree with you.
00:07:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And saying he's lost out on a space because the bloke who plays one position to the left of him and has been Arsenal's best player for three seasons in a row still falls in under a technicality and has got him in so hidden in place of him.
00:07:49
Richard
That is bizarre, isn't it
00:07:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know what to say. It irks me every year it comes up.
00:07:53
Richard
it? Who would be your pick?
00:07:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't know. It's tough. Other things from the nominees and how they do it, I think it'll be Ryan Gravenburch. because he's been a key player in the midfield of the team that's won the league.
00:08:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But if you do it on the way I think it should be done, and how I would judge it, so the fact that three or four of these wouldn't even have made the nominations in the way I think young players should work.
00:08:10
Richard
Hmm. Hmm.
00:08:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Down that case, I would go for, saw Howzen or Rodgers. I think if Villa get Champions League, I'd go Morgan Rodgers. And maybe if they don't, I'd go Dean Howzen.
00:08:29
Richard
Uh.
00:08:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, he's been in the he's been the league for one year and he's already got Real Madrid. trying to agree personal terms with him to get him in for the Club World Cup. So he's obviously done something right down that. But I think, yeah, if I get Champions League, I go Morgan Rodgers because he has been, he's been, he's been the one for me from the outside looking in at Villa. It's been him and Telemans for me that have been like the consistent players that have kept them ticking along because even like you normally put Watkins in that category, but he'd lost his space towards the end of the year. And so had to win it back, but,
00:08:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Rodgers and Telemans have been the two to sort of the way Villa play. So if they again if they get Champions League again, I think that'd be where my vote would go, the way I think the award should be won.
00:09:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But ah I think it will be Gravenberg because of the way, they've let him in the nominations, you then it's then hard to argue that someone who's been nearly ever present in the midfield, the team that's won the league in that case.
00:09:22
Richard
Yeah.
00:09:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
But said i'm that it's nice to see that De Lapp's in there because it would be very easy to do it
00:09:28
Richard
Yeah.
00:09:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
just based on team rather than an individual as well. So it's nice to see because he has had, that yeah again, talking about first season in the Premier League for Housen's case, so De Lapp has also had one year in the Premier League and has loads of people vying for his signature.
00:09:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
12 goals, 2 assists, something like that, 11-12 goals he's got in a team that is very poor going forward.
00:09:49
Richard
Yeah, 12 goals, yeah. Uh-huh.
00:09:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
which say is a good credit so credit to him. And as I'm glad they put him in there because there is normally a case of these things where there's a bit of swing based on say like on on the team or what's going on. and just so We're not talking about the player of the year, but for me, that you've got Morgan gives White in the player of the year.
00:10:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
when ah ah i would argue he's not even in top three for Forrest and he's made it he's made a top eight in the league. Whereas like, But they're both centre-halves of Forest, for example, who I would argue have had a better season. They're are more important
Closing Thoughts on Match and Player Prospects
00:10:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
to them.
00:10:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
They haven't got in. So I think there is sort of a way of just... sometimes There's a tendency to go and pick the big names. So i' say maybe Dillap getting in there despite the fact we've been relegated. is It's a good thing to see. And it'll be good for him because if dave he's already getting nominated for these sort of things, then he's going to stay in the Premier League. that we can I think we' we're all past the point of holding out any sort of hope that He's with us again next year. But to see him kick on. And I don't think he'll win it, but it's nice to say getting nominated, if you if you can get nominated playing for a team that doesn't score many goals down the bottom of the table, if you then move on somewhere higher up next year, you still qualify again.
00:11:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's only he's only to obviously turned 22 this year.
00:11:06
Richard
Yeah.
00:11:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it could be an award maybe he wins in the next year or two, or maybe he'll fly all the way up and get the main player of the year.
00:11:10
Richard
Yep.
00:11:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
But and nice little bit, a nice positive spin because I did not think even Even at the start of the year when I thought when I was being quietly confident of survival, I didn't think we'd come to the the season of awards and have anybody nominated.
00:11:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Especially say of not knowing too much about Dalap at the time. So something we can take out the season, I suppose. But good luck to him anyway. well hope Hopefully we're wrong and he snaps up the award. But say the stupid way it's run and some of the other players are in now, I don't think he has a chance in all honesty. Because...
00:11:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
The argument is whether they should be there at all. I don't think you'd struggle to argue a case of even Saliba, who knows blatantly shouldn't be in the line-up. he You couldn't, because he is in there, you can't really say that you'd give it the hap over him, apart from because the rules are stupid of the award. But anyway, it's good for him, though. let's say if they If it was run my way, he'd have a 50-50 chance. it be him It'd be him and Dean Howes going up against each other. Everyone everyone else would be too old but if it right if they run up my way.
00:12:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
but give him I'll give him a good chance there, but Anyway, good luck to him. We'll find out how that goes. But that's that's the positive. That's the fun bit of news we have for the day. that's Now we're going to the preview the Leicester game because there's a big talking point that has come out again, breaking news yesterday, which has added a little bit of narrative into the game. and We'll get into that once we have a quick message from one of our sponsors.
00:13:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome back to the second part of today's Friday preview show. And it's time to actually get on with the preview. We're off to the King Power Stadium on saturday Sunday. sorry There's no Premier League football on Saturday because of the FA Cup final.
00:13:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sunday afternoon, we are in Leicester. And like I said at the start of the show, it's it's a fixture to prepare for next season is the way to look at I think, because... On paper, you'd expect the Turles to be up there again in the Championship. We know it obviously doesn't play that and play out that way, guaranteed. Just case in point, Luton this season. But it's going to be an interesting game, I think, and when you put it in that respect. ah The big talking point coming into the game was obviously the breaking news to come from yesterday that it will be Jamie Vardy's final game.
00:13:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's two reasons for this. They want to give him a send-off at home. And also, there's ah ah there'll be the fact that he's on 499 appearances. So, would you rather leave him 500 or 501? On that sentence as well. So, that makes it interesting because there's also, he's obviously chasing 200 goals for Leicester.
00:14:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he's still on 199. And this is going to be the last chance for him now. So, it feels like the script writers, and in in there the fact that we can't keep clean sheets as well, it feels like we're fairly certain to be the victims of Jamie Vardy's last ever goal for Leicester if the scriptwriters have their way.
00:14:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it'll be interesting see how it plays out.
00:14:34
Richard
Yeah, yeah. I mean, i think he's, I quite want him to do it, to be honest.
00:14:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:14:40
Richard
I mean, I think 500 games, 200 goals. but He's had a pretty pretty remarkable career. You don't really get players that play for clubs for as long as he's done.
00:14:51
Richard
I mean, I know he winds up some fans and stuff, but i quite like it for the most part. You get a bit of
00:14:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:14:57
Richard
You know, that cliche there's no characters in the games and stuff. i wouldn't necessarily call Jamie Vardy a character, but he's probably like the closest you get these days with actually having some form of personality. So, yeah, ah im I'm rooting for him. I'd obviously like Towne to win the game, but I don't mind if Vardy gets the goal to...
00:15:14
Richard
to sort of finish off an incredible career, really. I mean, you know, he's won Premier League and he's won on an FA Cup with Leicester City. He's taken them into the Champions League or been a big part taking them into the Champions League and into Europe.
00:15:27
Richard
Who cares about them getting relegated? If you're Leicester City, like i don't you're a fan i don't think you've got any grumbles whatsoever about the last 10 years that you've had as a football club it's like it's kind of been incredible really you've won more premier leagues than arsenal you've won more premier leagues than spurs you've won more playing leagues in newcastle and villa and whoever else so you know they're an incredible story really no matter no matter how they're kind of like yo-yoing at the moment That's an amazing amazing achievement. And Vardy is literally the the one person that's kind of been there the whole whole time of of all of that success. So good on him. And yeah, it's kind of nice in a way that Town are a part of the last last game for him.
00:16:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so we've seen to we've done a bit of a fail on on the farewell tour, haven't we, since we've already been relegated. We've been final ever Saturday three o'clock kick-off at Goodison Park, and now we're the Jamie Vardy's final ever game at Leicester after, God, I don't know, 13 years, something like that.
00:16:21
Richard
Hmm.
00:16:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's been there.
00:16:25
Richard
Yeah, a long time.
00:16:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
He came up from the non-league for a million quid at the time, didn't he? And 500 appearances later, like you said, a Premier League winner, an FA Cup winner, a Champions League. quarter finalist I want to say I don't think it was the semi-final they got knocked out but like you say there's incredible period of time and so he's been there for that entire journey Leicester have been on over over the last sort of 10-15 years and say of it's going to be a great day from their point of view so the the club asking people to get there early they get and hang around after the game as well they're going to give him one hell of a send off because he has been Leicester's well was going to say
00:17:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
best player, but and I suppose technically best ah ah on ability, you'd probably put Mahrez or Kante, but he has been the standout man for 10 to 15 years at the club. So he's going to get he's going to get a big send-off and I say, does just feel inevitable that he's going to get that 200th goal, doesn't And just hopefully in our case, it doesn't actually lead to Leicester winning the game because we keep feeling it as a sort of nothing game, but actually there is something to play on because...
00:17:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
The whole narrative this season has been Leicester and Southampton are rubbish. At least Ipswich should give it a go. and And when you look at the relegated signs, but actually after Leicester's got a surprise point against Forrest, which I'm sure they would have absolutely loved, yeah taking ah taking two points off Forrest to harm their Champions League run, they'd love that.
00:17:52
Richard
Yeah.
00:17:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
But that means we're now level on points of each other. So if they was if they were to beat us on Saturday, we'd end up, we'd more than likely finish 19th in the table, which I've done.
00:18:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
say which doesn't really the The whole idea of us has been that everybody likes us because we've we've at least come give it a good go. To then finish below Leicester, who are terrible and on the sort of the outside view, is not a good way to end the season for us, really.
00:18:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
After not really thinking about looking over our shoulder at the two below us all year to suddenly Leicester might pit us at the end. So a little thing to play for there. And say there's a couple of benefits of finishing 18th. Ultimately, you're still down. I've spent it the other week about that.
00:18:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
It could lead to a bye in the Carabao Cup next season, depending on how Europe gets on. And obviously, there's more money, about 5 million quids difference, something like that, for finishing 18th compared to 19th.
00:18:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's more just a bit of pride, isn't it? You want to finish as high as you can. And we're still three points off the worst ever tally in the top division, which I know Tom is keeping track off.
00:18:58
Richard
Yeah.
00:18:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, there'll be an opportunity to level that. And it is a winnable game and chance to poop on their parade a little bit, Leicester, because we've had a bit back and forth, particularly last year in the championship promotion running. So what do you sort of see for the game? is Do you think we're going to be up for it try and spoil the parade? Or do you think it's going to be another drab one like last Saturday was?
00:19:22
Richard
I mean, I think you would like to think that they'd be up for it, obviously. don't think you can accuse them of not being up for anything, really. i just think a lack of quality and maybe ability has has limited us for the most part. You know, coming from 2-0 down at Everton a couple of weeks ago, obviously showed a lot of fight and stuff. And as we've said over year, we've been much better away from home than at home. So I think we're more likely to win this game than we are to win the game on the final game of the season, and and final day the season.
00:19:49
Richard
and even though West Ham are obviously in pretty poor form as well. It would be great if we could finish the season with six points, but we've won four games all year. So the likelihood of that, I would imagine is quite low.
00:20:02
Richard
but I definitely say it's getting something from this game purely, purely based on the fact that we've just been far better away from home. yeah, Yeah, I think Leicester are great shakes, certainly at the back. I think they'll definitely score.
00:20:14
Richard
As I've already mentioned with Vardy, I'd be pretty happy for him if if it happened to be him. But I think Town will score as well. So i i can imagine a a point might be might be the most likely outcome. And I think...
00:20:29
Richard
ah ah Yeah, as you mentioned, you know, finishing 18th, I mean, i i don't ah personally, I don't care less, but as a for the club, you know, five million quid is no is no small change. So I'm sure that that would be a a welcome kind of boost and not that they're playing for that because that's not the player's problem particularly.
00:20:50
Richard
But, you know, moving forward, that would obviously be a crumb of comfort as we as we slip back down.
00:20:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think yes. I think the fact that what's gone on with the away allocation for this game shows you where the general thought process is because pretty much every week we go away somewhere and you see online afterwards that the Ipswich lot have been one of the best fans there all season, one of the best in years.
00:21:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
We sell out really quickly every game. I think this away allocation got all the way down to like five points to be able to go in opposed to usual 20-something because people just are bothered
00:21:26
Richard
Right. No.
00:21:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's on a Sunday, like Sunday instead Saturday because the FA Cup, it's a nothing game. It's a ground we're going to again next season that it is going to, I know if it's sold out in the end, but it has been a real struggle to sell it out, which sort of sums it up because the away support has been sensational every so every other game this season so far.
00:21:38
Richard
Yeah.
00:21:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think it shows where the general thoughts are going into the game. But like I said, the way to look at it for me is like I said the start is, a marker for next season, which I would like to see that reflected in terms of what sort of team we line up. But we'll go into that once we have another quick break and hear from another one of our sponsors.
00:22:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we are back for the final part of today's show. Let's get into team news. Look, it as always, the with the way the club works out, there's been no official word anywhere yet. We're not very good at doing that anyway.
00:22:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's too a Time of recording is too early for Kieran McKenna's press conference. but So we're we're going off our own thoughts here rather than any sort of breaking news. But what's what's your where's your head at with the line-up for this game? Would you like to see sort of more of an XI...
00:23:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
that you'd expect to see sort of next season with some of the players? like we've already been doing that a little bit with, like say, Taylor's been getting more game time. Chaplin's had a couple of starts. Do you want to see it like sort building for next year or do you want to just go as strong as we can?
00:23:17
Richard
I think we sort of discussed this, didn't we? I can't remember it was you and i you know, about players in the shop window and all the rest of it. I mean, I think... With lone players, for sure, if you know that there's no chance for them coming back, there's an element of, you know, why you why you why bother playing them to to a certain extent.
00:23:37
Richard
I think Nciso is probably the the one that bucks the rule on that because I think he's he's just been good and effective and pretty consistent, I would say, for the past few weeks as well. So I think he keeps his place. But like in terms of, you know, the Phillips, Quesstays,
00:23:52
Richard
Ben Godfrey, I guess, falls into that category. To Ben Godfrey, we learned him, right?
00:23:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:57
Richard
Yeah. I guess he falls into that category, but he's not really been, you know, part of the equation. and But yeah, the two midfielders... Personally, it's kind of a bit pointless playing them to a certain extent, because if they're not coming back, then, you know, you kind of need to work out if you're going to keep the other guys. So Taylor, for me, probably does keep his place purely because you're trying to work out whether you're going to keep him or not. And if and if you're not, then, you know, sticking him in the shop window a little bit to try and get some eyes on him is no bad thing.
00:24:31
Richard
we've We've discussed this so much. i mean The midfield is an absolute mess anyway, so that that's going to be the the clear area of concern going into next year anyway. So for me, that makes sense. The only thing you could say maybe is that Kyuste's had a really good season. And if he's back to full fitness, then, you know, maybe he deserves the opportunity to play, you know, a couple of games. Maybe he's looking to stay in the Premier League. I'm sure there's there's a couple of teams that would maybe take a look at him.
00:24:57
Richard
and But you don't know what the parent club is saying. Napoli might be a bit like, you know, he's had injury issues all year. Don't play him, please. And because we're trying to flog him in the summer and all that sort of stuff. So you don't really know what's going on behind the scenes. But I think from from from that point of view, the lone players, yeah, you'd you'd you'd kind of avoid playing them at this stage.
00:25:16
Richard
Other people, it's difficult to know, isn't it? We've had so many injuries that it's kind of been about just trying to get a team on the pitch. And I think... you know You mentioned the away ah ah allocation and everything else, even though this one might have been a bit of a struggle to sell.
00:25:31
Richard
Generally speaking, the club have been supported unbelievably all year again by the fans, and obviously at home, but away from home consistently. And as you say, we've had that reputation built from lots of other fan bases saying how good we've been away from home. So the club kind of owe owe it to put out a strong side and you know not experiment and all that kind of thing too much.
00:25:52
Richard
And I think they're kind of limited in that anyway. You know, we don't really see any young players coming through that they're willing to chuck in and and sort of see what they've got, not in any kind of like pressure situation, but just to see what what they've kind of got.
00:26:05
Richard
i'd I'd like to see that to a certain extent. But if there's if there isn't the quality coming through, then obviously we're probably not going to see that. and But yeah, other than that, you kind of go as strong as you can and and keep people sort of vying for for squad places for next year.
00:26:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's good. That's interesting to to hear, really. I think that... did I don't know where I am with some of them. I think in ke as i think you're right about in Cesar, but think it's more the case of he just hasn't had that many games because he's been unlucky with injuries since he signed.
00:26:35
Richard
Yeah.
00:26:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
He had a sort of sustained spell out, so it's like you don't really want to kick him out just because you know he won't be back because he's not really had that chance to consistently play, especially when he's been on form, which he he has been really good.
00:26:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
I wouldn't be surprised if you are if your sort of point about Napoli is right about Caillouste, because he hasn't really...
00:26:55
Richard
yeah
00:26:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
he's put He's played through a fair amount of stuff over the course of the season. He's had little niggles and stuff that he's played anyway. And then suddenly, once relegation is confirmed, he starts dropping to the bench. I do wonder if that... We said something about the lap, didn't we? We had that rib injury for a couple of weeks and Hurst was playing. Was that same sort of thing that, in the shop window, don't get injured now?
00:27:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
but So it's good to see Taylor.
00:27:18
Richard
Yeah.
00:27:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm convinced Luongo's starting next week because he doesn't i highly doubt he's getting a new contract if he hasn't signed one by this point. So I think he'll start for a bit a farewell because he's played a big role over the back-to-back promotions.
00:27:34
Richard
Yeah.
00:27:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, for this week, I think Taylor will keep his place. The big one for me that I've gone about loads of times, so I won't make the full point again because people must be getting bored of it by now. But start George Hurst.
00:27:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's the... he's He's going to set up like as as it stands, because De Lapp's going to we'll be in next season with Hurst and Alhamadi will come back from his loan. So obviously we'll be looking at striking anyway, but you have to assume we'll go into the new season with Hurst either competing for number one spot or just being outright number one.
00:28:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he's been playing really well when he's had games the last few weeks, whereas De Lapp has actually sort of, since the whole, since relegation has been confirmed, whether that is an element of hold him back slightly to a avoid injury or anything that could scupper or a move in the summer. But he just hasn't been as good as he we know he is in the last couple of weeks. like ah The Everton game, it felt like he was just running around trying to get sent off the whole time.
00:28:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know he's like that generally, but so it was a bit there was a bit more emphasis on the on the fights and the aggressor side of things than there was on the actual attack and play, getting in goal-scoring positions for him.
00:28:33
Richard
Uh. Uh-huh.
00:28:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Again, he was fairly damp against Brentford as well that, So for how well Hurst, it's not like I'm just saying it for the sake of it, that Hurst has been very good whenever he's played, whether it's off the bench or from the start in the last month or so. And two games left, I'd say Leicester, it's a game to set for next season. would say West Ham, neither has got anything to play for. So that sort of game for me, I'd have started in the last two as well, especially if they if there was this.
00:29:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now probably does seem like Delatva actually did have an injury that he's now over, but he's come back in the team.
00:29:15
Richard
Mm-hmm.
00:29:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
But when there was question marks on or sort tinfoil hat conspiracies going on why he was suddenly out the team. But for me, just play Hurst these two games because you want him to go into next season in confidence because the likelihood is he will be the starting number one from that first game of season because we're not particularly quick in the transfer window.
00:29:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
So even if he ends up, somebody comes in to try and fight him for that number one spot, the season probably would have started, no one else, by the time they actually find that person would come in. So, you want to put send him in with ah as as much confidence as possible. And I'd say he has played really well. it it was so He's been a bright spark in some poor performances.
00:29:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
and i was not Arsenal comes to mind particularly, that how somehow, yeah, a 4-0 loss where we didn't have a shot on target and somehow a striker walked away as the one the player who covered himself the most in glory.
00:29:55
Richard
yeah
00:29:58
Richard
I completely agree.
00:30:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah ah so That's the big one for me.
00:30:07
Richard
Yeah, I completely agree.
00:30:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
the that's That's why I'm at it.
00:30:10
Richard
i think yeah I think he's played quite well all all year.
00:30:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:15
Richard
pretty much when whenever he's played. And i i would i would agree with you on the Dalat performance thing. I think there's probably a combination of stuff going on there, isn't there? It's kind of human nature that you you know you're reading all of these reports about yourself where you're being talked about going to all the biggest clubs in England, basically every single one of the biggest clubs in England.
00:30:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:30:37
Richard
So of course he's going to be thinking about that, even if all of that a lot of that smoke will be coming from his own agent and you know other people involved with it and stuff. Of course he's going to be thinking about that. I think the stories about Town saying you know he might stick around and stuff.
00:30:53
Richard
I don't know whether I believe that or not. I mean, i can't imagine, because McKenna obviously said that, and I can't really imagine him saying that unless there was a bit of truth behind it.
00:31:04
Richard
Maybe he's playing the game a little bit as well.
00:31:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:31:06
Richard
But it it feels to me like McKenna wouldn't necessarily say stuff like that and mess unless he did kind of believe it a little bit.
00:31:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Dunno.
00:31:12
Richard
He wouldn't really get involved with it. But he's probably so bored of talking about the defeats in the games themselves and stuff. He's just like, and it's any bit of deflection is is good to talk about something else.
00:31:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:31:21
Richard
But I totally agree. I think Hurst should be starting... De Lapps had a great year. it's It's pretty clear that he's not going to be a town player next year. And, you know, obviously we can we can all wish him an absolutely fond farewell and hope he has a brilliant career and stuff. And, you know, he played outstandingly for us, certainly for the first kind of half of the year.
00:31:43
Richard
I think it has tailed off a little bit in the second half of the season, but that's because the... The team he's playing in has been struggling so much and and you can't really fault him for it. But yeah, I would agree, Hurst.
00:31:55
Richard
I'm not sure if you want him to be your bona fide number nine next year because he just doesn't have an injury record that speaks of any confidence, but he's definitely going to be at town. So, and he's going to be hopefully important back in the champ next year.
00:32:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so it's ah it's obviously interesting in all that side of things that happened, but does he hang around? For me, agree. lot I don't feel like it's the sort of thing that would be said unless there was maybe belief in the camp there, but also like how many teams are crying?
00:32:21
Richard
Yeah.
00:32:24
Richard
But why would he? Like, why would he?
00:32:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't know. yeah So the thing is for me as well, though, that how many teams in the Premier League are just crying out for a striker?
00:32:33
Richard
Yeah, exactly.
00:32:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And there's a twenty to as as someone who's 22 years old, got double figures in his first season, available for £30 million. pounds you gotta to be You can say right quite rightfully there's people scrapping for that.
00:32:45
Richard
Yeah.
00:32:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
be the ones that get their ugly There's no way in a worldwide market so deprived of proven strikers, someone to go and get somebody for they relatively cheap in in the modern in the modern age and young as well.
00:33:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
that you' said there's no There's no way he's still there next year, but so ah but her Like you say, Hurst will be in for me. that it's It's been my big point from since the relegation was confirmed in that Newcastle game that that's been my point from there. He should have been playing the rest of the season and from that point onwards. and And there's a lot of them in there.
00:33:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah ah quitea I like to see Jack Clark, but then thing is, I don't know where he plays. I'm looking that because see he's playing really well and you're going to play Hutchinson, aren't you?
00:33:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's had some lively cameos. I say he he got Really unlucky two weeks in a row, didn't he, getting hooked in the first half because he's someone else in the team had been sent off. And then he's had some lively cameos in the games, sort either side of those two, which weren't his fault. that Again, someone who I think will have a bigger role to play next year, that maybe that'll be another cameo off the bench, that one though, rather than the start.
00:33:50
Richard
Yeah,
00:33:55
Richard
I do agree. And yes, there is an element of you know being unlucky if you get if you get hooks because you know someone gets sent off or whatever. But if you're the first person that like the coach is thinking about to go to sacrifice, I'm not sure...
00:34:11
Richard
That's a great place to be, if I'm honest. For me, the jury's out on Jack Clark, but you know it it was at the start of the season. i think everyone was a lot higher on him than I was.
00:34:21
Richard
and So we'll we'll see. We'll see.
00:34:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, we'll see how plays out. So the other one is interesting with Ben Johnson for me because one of the few players who seems to be in the shop window, this Fulham, are the ones said to be lurking around, aren't they?
00:34:30
Richard
Yeah.
00:34:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
that I'll be interested to see what approach we go with that. Does he end up playing less to sort of quash the story a bit because we want to keep him? Do we go and stick him in that shop window and and get Fulham to get some money for us? But I don't know. We'll see how it plays out. But as long as we go, I'd like to see a strong team. I'd like to see a team that sets for next year, but also strong because...
00:34:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't know whether it's just personal pride. You don't want to finish below less. like ah ah I know they've been there in terms of points with us all season, but they've been so poor.
00:35:11
Richard
Yeah.
00:35:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
To finish below them would be fairly it would be quite embarrassing, really.
00:35:15
Richard
I mean, Rob, yeah, you know,
00:35:20
Richard
we'd have said this two months ago, i would have agreed with you. But I don't know if you can say we've been poor, but I guess we have been poor.
00:35:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:35:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it's true i wait to be fair.
00:35:30
Richard
I mean, I guess we've been poor. We are where we are, right? We've won one game in 2025.
00:35:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:35:37
Richard
We've been bad in the second half of the season.
00:35:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:35:39
Richard
I think i think we have, yeah, we've been we've been kind of shown up to where where the standard is, unfortunately.
00:35:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Really bad.
00:35:47
Richard
And I think you could argue that Leicester and Southampton have been better than us this side of of Christmas. You could argue that.
00:35:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Southampton, definitely. Southampton have been the best of the three in the last sort of two two, three months, which has been the problem, really.
00:36:00
Richard
Yeah.
00:36:03
Richard
Yeah. And that's not to say I don't want us to finish yeah you know as high as we can.
00:36:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah so We can't afford to get in the home form again, can we?
00:36:07
Richard
i completely agree with you. But yeah, don't know.
00:36:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
but say we obviously We're the only team in the 92 to not win at home this calendar year.
00:36:19
Richard
Is that right?
00:36:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't even know if we've got a point off the top my head, either. I'm trying to think.
00:36:26
Richard
and
00:36:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think we might literally have literally lost every single one.
00:36:28
Richard
Have we lost every single game at home?
00:36:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
we might we We might have done it. Well, we beat we what we won there in the Cup against Bristol Robes. That doesn't count towards league points. i we you
00:36:36
Richard
That's awful. That can't be true.
00:36:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
We might...
00:36:38
Richard
Can it?
00:36:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
i'm trying to think like yeah and I'm trying to think of every sort of home drawer I can think of and they're all before Christmas. Yeah.
00:36:45
Richard
going back. I'm going back to look at the, look, go going back to look at the fixtures.
00:36:49
Richard
So, uh, I'll give you the rundown of the home games. Okay.
00:36:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:36:55
Richard
Bristol Rovers, we won. You're absolutely right.
00:36:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good start.
00:36:58
Richard
what 12th of Jan. Then we lost to Brighton. Then we lost to Man City. Then we lost to Southampton. Then we lost to Spurs. Then we lost to Forest.
00:37:10
Richard
we lost to Wolves. Then we lost to Arsenal.
00:37:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh yeah.
00:37:14
Richard
Then we lost to... You're absolutely right. we've lost We've lost every single home game in 2025 in the league. That is ridiculous.
00:37:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Well, that's a fun way to end the podcast, isn't it? It's all right. then We're playing away this week. Who cares?
00:37:31
Richard
Hey, there we go.
00:37:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:37:32
Richard
There we go.
00:37:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll talk about that next week. Yeah, we're playing away this week. So that's all completely irrelevant.
00:37:38
Richard
Yeah.
00:37:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, let's go ruin Vardy's party as much as I like him as a player. Let's let's go dampen the day for him.
00:37:42
Richard
Yeah.
00:37:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's go thrash him.
00:37:44
Richard
Yeah.
00:37:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
He can get his goal for 200 and we'll go beat him up 5-1 or something and just ruin the day. Something like that.
00:37:49
Richard
Happy days.
00:37:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
What we hope for. But we'll see how the game plays out. Look, that's the thing the way we are at the moment is that we're pretty carefree regardless as long as you don't get as long as it's not embarrassing the performance you're fairly carefree at this point because you can go and say go and play out your skin and win 10-0 don't change anything does it where we are on the table but take we'll take take each game as it comes and like said the key thing is is that the away form has actually not been that bad so maybe there's a bit hope this weekend to
00:38:18
Richard
that.
00:38:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And hope we break the podcast curse of milestone episodes being underwhelming results against fellow promoted sides. We will see if if we can break that curse on episode 150 on Monday.
00:38:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
We look back at the game. and Until then, thank you for listening. And me and Richard will see you next time.