Transcript
Emeka: What's good? What's good? Welcome to episode 51 of the Love of the Game podcast. Last time you saw us, you actually saw us. We were recording a video and it took up all our resources and cap space and economics. The system crashed and that's why we had to disappear for a little month stretch. But, you know, we're back now. We're back.
Emeka: Long, long, long time. lot has happened since. Can't wait to catch you up through the summer dead months, you know, get you through it. As always, I'm joined by the man making the magic happen. Chin off, Chin off. How you doing right now, man?
Chino Onwuka: I'm doing good. I'm doing good. Glad to be back. Have to dust the cobwebs off, you know, and we apologize for the long layoff look. A lot of things have happened in the last couple of months.
Chino Onwuka: We ended off with a bang episode 50 live on video and life happens, life happens. And a lot has happened that we really looking forward to getting to over the next couple of weeks, but glad to be here today.
Chino Onwuka: Let's get it.
Emeka: You know, life happens, world happens, but through it all, we remain here. when I say us, I also mean my brother from the same mother, Chukwu. How you doing, brother?
Chuku: Yes, yes, yes. We are back, finally, man. It's been little hiatus, but, you know, it's good to be back. You know, it's been amazing summer. You know, we're just dusting up those cobwebs, but, you know, I mean, look, don't know about y'all, but, man, it's been a blast enjoying, you know, this time, know, being Premier League champions. know we're going to get into it, but a lot to catch up, a lot to discuss. I'm just ready to chop it up with the boys, so let's get it.
Emeka: You know, we got a bagged episode today. I'm sure you guys are well aware. All listeners, two days ago, my second NBA team was decided to LeBron James, signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. But before we get into that, you know, my brother mentioned a point there that think we have to emphasize.
Emeka: Since the last time we recorded podcast, a little football club in North London, Arsenal became Premier champions. Yeah, we won the Champions League final. I'm not talking about that anymore. But my brothers, we watched that. We met up that last day. We popped champagnes. We had a great time.
Emeka: But now that two months have passed, what does it feel like to say, you can look back and think, Arsenal are Premier League champions.
Chuku: Thank you.
Emeka: I'll start with you, Cheney.
Chino Onwuka: It feels good. Like, I don't actually don't think I have the words to actually encapsulate how I feel.
Chino Onwuka: was a combination relief, joy, happiness.
Chino Onwuka: How many years, decades of, we all know what the journey has been like and just for us to finally get over mountain, get over that hill and reach the mountaintop, which we should have been arguably before this, you know, thinking through heartbreaks, the times we came close, the players that couldn't get us there.
Chuku: Thank you.
Chino Onwuka: And now we're finally here. then even most of all, just thinking about, you know, just going through that journey with you all and others. And that even made it more special because they knew how I was feeling. I knew how they were feeling and to just, know,
Chino Onwuka: You it's going to sound a little bit much for some people. Sometimes you just look into their eyes and you didn't have to see anything. And we just smile and smirk. And the joy of that, the, what's the right word?
Emeka: Euphoria?
Chino Onwuka: The euphoria, but just like the proof that, you know, we weren't being gaslighted, that this was a team that could win the championship and we did it. And then they're seeing, and the other cool part, we're just seeing like the whole world.
Chuku: Thank you.
Chino Onwuka: Like it's not just us, like us is global, us is universal. Seeing what happened in the streets of London, see what happened around Africa, around Asia, all over the world. So...
Chino Onwuka: It just shows one, what a great club Arsenal is, how big and beautiful the community is and the potential for how big the club can be. And won't speak too much to me. It just lit a fire in me that I want to see this club continue to be at this level and parlay that to the next level. And that's what I would love to see.
Chino Onwuka: But apart from that, I'm good. I'm Gucci for like the next 10, 15 years, honestly, like... That's how feeling.
Emeka: Michiku, how are you feeling now, two months later and still, championes, championes?
Chuku: Man, honestly, hear everything my brother Chino just mentioned, for me, it's really just more of having that sense of, like, relief to finally make it to the mountain.
Chuku: Because, I mean, we've been here before. We've been, you know, we've done this journey as in, you know, we've been on this road for, like, what, two decades since, over two decades since we last, you know, lifted the Premier League trophy. And,
Chuku: to us to finally get back to where we know we're meant to be, just again, huge sense of relief because again, with a lot these players that we've been watching over the last close to a decade, but let's say the last over five years,
Chuku: You know, we know how good those guys are. The guys that have been watching this team week week out, we know how good Saliba, we know how good Gabriel, we know how good Saka. I don't have to name the whole list, but we know how good these guys are.
Chuku: And I think for the most part, even our rivals know how good these guys are. But at the end of the day, you know, when you bring these names up in discussions, it's hard to, you know, talk about their greatness without having that, you know,
Chuku: elite echelon trophies to go behind it and i mean i know we've won the fa cup in the past and you know we've won some community shields but man it feels good to finally lift up uh you know that premier league trophy and to have that validation not that we needed it but either way just good that we got it and we have it and again i've been enjoying every moment of it and i'm just hoping that we don't rest on our laurels you know i really hope the club continues to build off of this because we really do have a chance to make this, you know, something that is like memorable in the sense of, you know, going on a, on a journey of, know, back to back and, and really setting a dynasty. So again, it's been an amazing feeling so far. I just hope it's something that, you know, we don't have to wait another two decades to relive.
Chuku: And yeah, I mean, I'm just excited to see what the future holds for us, but it's been so amazing. So, Hopefully, know, the team continues to keep it up. And, yeah, we see more of this moving forward.
Emeka: Inshallah, man. I can't do 22 more years. me, relief is the word. I was saying all year, speaking with my chest, that we were going to win the league.
Emeka: It wasn't pretty. wasn't easy. And I gave up after the City loss. I fully gave up. I'm only going to sit here and say I was believing the entire time. And then we just clawed and scraped and we got over the edge. And honestly,
Emeka: One, takes me back to, you know, my childhood and all the warm memories. But above all, really, I just feel happiness for all the people involved. That, like Chinon mentioned, we really should have won one by now. And if they got through this stretch without winning one, it just wouldn't feel right.
Emeka: And the outpouring, you can feel the outpouring. And it's funny, like... There was this moment before the Bournemouth game where City drew, where they were like, wouldn't it be nice to win the league in front of your own fans in a game?
Emeka: And now, having seen it play out, I think winning it when you're not playing is the best way. Because then party starts immediately. Like, if you win on the pitch, you got to go back to locker room, got shower. Like, literally, it was just organic. They all watch at the training stadium, City drew,
Emeka: Streets were flooded. You saw, we've seen the pictures of Rice and Saka and Timber just walking around Emirates at 2 a.m. Like, that kind of freedom only happens if you're not playing when it happened. And I, it was a beautiful day. And two months later, I'm happy.
Emeka: You know, we'll talk about it near the end of the episode of all the transfer talk. I can tell you right now, I could not care less. Like, I want to be one of Premier League, man. I'm satisfied. But before we dig into that and, know, a little tournament that happened called the World Cup, as I mentioned on Friday,
Emeka: Adam Silver made a few calls and said, hey, bro, I'm trying to finalize his TV schedule. And he finally announced it. I, you know, step back a bit. It's funny. When he first left Cleveland TV special, when he went back to Cleveland, he had a whole article in Sports Illustrated.
Emeka: When he went to L.A., he had a clutch mafia press release. When he went to Philly, it was just a sham tweet. Even LeBron's tired of this, man. ain't trying to make a big deal about it. But the last domino has fallen.
Emeka: I have my second team. And the world now knows LeBron James is part of the Philadelphia 76ers. Announced Friday morning because LeBron hates my work schedule. Shuku, what were your first thoughts when you saw that sham tweet come through?
Emeka: That the process is now here.
Chuku: Man, honestly, as a LeBron stan, I was relieved because of all the places that he could have joined. For me, just want to see LeBron maximize his time he has left in the league.
Chuku: And I mean, want him to be in the best position to win another ring. And I honestly felt amongst the teams that were mentioned and talked about, unless he was joining the Spurs OKC,
Chuku: I honestly felt Philadelphia was the place to be. And I'm just happy that he chose, you Philly because just made too much sense for me, at least on paper. Like you look at our starting lineup and I know people are going to look at, you know, Embiid and his health and, you know,
Chuku: The fact that there's so many, you know, all the guys on the team seem like they might be players that need the ball. Is there going to be enough ball to shit go around? mean, there's only one ball on the court. There's that in the third.
Chuku: But I'm like, man, you know what? LeBron at, you know, age 41, going to 42, like, he's not really trying to be doing too much, you know, as far as, you know, if he's just coming in and being a distributor and, you know,
Chuku: getting his shots where he fits in. I just think he, of all the, know, I guess major superstars at the moment, like, he just has a game that I can, I just feel like it fits, can help be a perfect glue guy for young group who is going to be leaning on, you know, the continual growth of Maxi and now JB coming in.
Chuku: Like, I just think they have enough going on that, you LeBron can just come in, not have to do too much. The team's going to be nights where he's going to be able to rest more during the regular season.
Chuku: They're going to be winning so many games because, you know, you have the young up-and-comers in Eshkom coming second year rookie, or second year rather coming off his rookie year, and Maxi still coming in to establish himself as one of the top dogs in the league.
Chuku: JB has, know, things to do as far as all the talk of people talking smack about his time in Celtics. mean, you're hearing all sorts of, know, data reports about, know, analytics, talking about JB being not of the top six players on his team, you know, based on analytics and all that rubbish. Like, I just think...
Chuku: Philly right now is a team with a lot to prove. And LeBron coming in is going to add valuable experience, valuable, you know, key synergy that is just going to help overall. And I honestly, I mean, I know we're going to talk more about it as we progress.
Chuku: But overall, I'm just happy with the choice he made because, I really do believe Sixers are going to really optimize his chances of being able to win another ring. And if that ends up being a one or two, and maybe finds a way to go back to back, even better. But it's going to be definitely something fun to watch, and I can't wait to see how the season unravels, you know?
Emeka: Okay, on that point, I like that point there. And before we get into the actual team, I want to just tease this out. Because we're all, in case people don't know, we're all LeBron stans on this point. Besides Arsenal, I think the most unanimous opinion we have is that we're all huge LeBron fans.
Emeka: So as a LeBron fan, when you saw this news, were you happy with this decision?
Chino Onwuka: I was because when you look at sort of the other alternatives or the other names that were floating out there, one Warriors, I just... I don't know, maybe some people were excited about that, but I never saw the point of that.
Chino Onwuka: Because, you know, as a LeBron fan, what do we want to see for him? We want to see him win and have the best chance to win, play at high level. And I just never saw the worst being that. That would just be a retirement tour for LeBron, Steph, Butler, and...
Chino Onwuka: Draymond and I just didn't see that team going anywhere yeah know they'd be on tv all the time but I wasn't sure how good that team could be then honestly I would have let me let me go reverse order then Miami same thing okay he was there before but one Pat did him wrong too and we haven't had a chance to talk about this trade yet I think we will in further episodes but I didn't think Miami would give him the best chance to win either. And that's purely the lens I was looking at, sort of his next possible destinations, because, you know, clearly by his choice, he could see what was most valuable to him as winning. And so even prior to him saying that, that's what I was looking at as well.
Chino Onwuka: So Miami was an it for me. So I'd heard Philly, you know, at the very beginning of the process, But then it just seemed to be between Warriors, Miami, and Cleveland. And so I thought Cleveland, you know, based on which team would give him the best chance to win and the sort of romanticism of all of him going back,
Chino Onwuka: to his first team, the team he won, came back to win the title with, and that's sort of where he would end his career. So actually thought Cleveland could be a good shot, but then, you know, when you look at the situation in Cleveland, that would have been a good team, but the situation in Philly is even better for lot of the reasons that we'll discuss soon.
Chino Onwuka: then some other shouts that I thought would have been good would have been, you know, Minnesota. There was a lot of talk about them. That would have given him a good chance to play on a good team.
Chino Onwuka: Maybe even Denver. think Denver, I think would have been a better opportunity than Minnesota, in my opinion. But then obviously I'm a Spurs fan, so that'd be him in the West. this just ticks all the buckets for me.
Emeka: Fair enough. I ask because even though I've talked myself into a little bit more and we'll talk about the basketball fit, I just, as a LeBron fan, my thing about this whole winning thing is obviously I can't speak for the guy because he clearly wants to win.
Emeka: That's what he said in his statement, and I'll take his word for it. But for me, it was what is a fifth ring going to do? That's always been my stance on this. Like, LeBron is... We're in the extra, extra zone now. Like, if your opinion of LeBron will not change, there's nothing he can do more to make you rate him higher or lower. Like, it's entrenched.
Emeka: Even if he wins his fifth ring or his sixth ring, Jordan Stans are still going to say, Jordan won hitting out the team strong. had jump between teams. He won his all- Like, it will not change anything. So that's why, for me, I want him to go to Cleveland.
Emeka: I just think... You shouldn't be ring chasing when you're 42. It's not really ring chasing, but, like, just don't get that from me. Like, you're going to go a new team now, and this whole chance might go wrong and all this extra stuff. Just go back home.
Emeka: You know, go to the fans that adore you. And the team I wanted the least him to go to was the Warriors because it's always going to be Curry's team. It's Curry, and then you're going to be, yeah, LeBron was there for two years. That was cool.
Emeka: With Philly, I'm still on the side just because they love Embiid and we're going get into more. you know, is Embiid going to be there for the whole two years? Like, what's happening there? There's no really entrenched guy. So, like, I guess he could get that on his side too. But I just didn't – I mean, behinds up. Like, I didn't see him going to Philly. I just thought – the fit there was weird. Like, LeBron's going live in Philadelphia. Like, just didn't make sense to me. But I'm starting to see the vision a little bit more now. And I'm just happy he's in the East. I'll say that. I'm happy he's in the East. I'm happy he's not in the West. I'm happy he's not in Golden State.
Emeka: I won in Cleveland. That was what I was rooting for, for the story. But, you know, he's going to playing meaningful basketball. So, I'm happy with that. What are your thoughts, Chana?
Chino Onwuka: Yeah, like, honestly, it's not even about, you know, him doing anything to put him, change his status on people's perception of him.
Emeka: Yeah.
Chino Onwuka: It's just, for me, it's... wanting to see, as a fan, LeBron having chance to play his best ball and him playing his best ball in a situation that isn't wasted. So again, I thought Cleveland would have been a good fit, not just basketball side of things, but just the whole off-court picture as well. But again, just to see LeBron, as he's still good, right?
Chino Onwuka: We saw him be the best player on a team that won a playoff game.
Emeka: So I'm going to best play the playoff series.
Chino Onwuka: So good. Yeah. So that whole piece for him to just go and just chill, embrace it, there's still time for that, honestly. But he still, and he sees it himself, has the ability to impact winning and impact at a certain level. So go somewhere. And it didn't have to be just one place that gives you the best chance of doing that. And Cleveland could have been that.
Chino Onwuka: Minnesota could have been that. Denver could have been that. And I think Philly definitely is that.
Emeka: That's a thing I've seen, and I agree this take. I saw it on Reddit and Twitter. Is that, just again, we're talking, leave it aside the basketball fit for now. It just feels weird that LeBron, you see him in Philadelphia. It just doesn't, you know, the jersey and the city just doesn't feel like a natural fit. Do you agree or disagree with that, Jukwu?
Chuku: Did I get it? I didn't get that second part.
Emeka: Like, not basketball-wise, but just like, it just doesn't seem right to see LeBron. I guess I'll describe it like, when I see Klay Thompson in a Dallas Mavericks jersey, it's like, this doesn't look right to me. It doesn't feel right.
Emeka: doesn't, you know...
Chuku: Oh, I see what saying. I see you're saying. Nah, man. I've been... Nah, I'm not one that thinks like that. I mean, ever since he left the Cavs way back, drawing up the Heat, that ship has sailed, bro. And then from the Heat...
Chuku: you know, went back to the Cavs, and from the Cavs went to Lakers. I mean, once he went to three teams, like, it's – that ship is gone. See, that's the part that I've just – I don't know, man. I feel like, again, maybe just have a different viewpoint on this because I did not have the Cavs at all in my, like, thought process of him going back there because, look, I mean, again, on a side note, I guess, you know,
Chuku: the viewers aren't going to be aware, but I was pretty confident on LeBron to Philly that I put a wager on that. You know what I'm saying? That's how much belief I had because in my head, it just made too much sense. The moment reports came out that money wasn't an issue, he was willing to take less to play for team that he would choose for his next ball club,
Chuku: On paper, first of all, we all knew it had to be the East because, for one, playing with Golden State, sure, but what's him joining the Stephen Curry team, a team that had been his rivals at one point?
Chuku: What's that going to really do in today's current stage? The moment Golden State couldn't get Anthony Davis or couldn't get a deal to get one of his boys in, That ship was just gone. I just didn't see it. Like, why would, at age 41, 42, want to be trying to battle in the West when there's these young cats in Spurs and OKC to deal with? It just didn't make any sense. So they were out of the picture. So I knew was going to be a team in the East.
Chuku: And then with the Cavs, I'm like, yo, LeBron literally just came out of a situation where he had to play with two guards who were offensively minded but had zero to no defense.
Chuku: And he's going to be subjected to that pretty much something similar when it comes to Cavs roster. Like, it just didn't make any sense, at least with Philly. The Philly boys, you have Eshkom who takes pride in playing defense.
Chuku: Maxi might not be the most elite defender, but he sure knows how to, you know, work the passing lanes. He knows how to create a steal or two, you know. We know what JB's about on defense.
Chuku: We can say the same thing about Embiid. I just think LeBron just... on paper at least, he just seemed to fit like a glove, in my opinion. And I just think, like, at this stage of his career, I'm sure he wants to be able to enjoy his basketball.
Chuku: He wants to have a chance of actually winning a ring, especially if he's not going to take a pay cut. Sorry, especially if he was willing to take a pay cut because it's going to one of two things. He's either looking for the money,
Chuku: And if that's the case, all bets are off on that. Obviously, a team that's most likely not going to be a contender would have been the one to pay him the most. Or he takes lot less to go play with a team that can be that actual contender. And I think he made the right choice going to Philly because on paper, everything just seemed to have aligned perfectly. And I mean, look, obviously...
Chuku: basketball is not played on paper. We've got to see how it all meshes in real time. I'm sure it's going to take a little time to adjust. But, I mean, man, if they can figure it out, man, I'm just saying,
Chuku: It's going to be fun to watch. That's for sure. And, I mean, I just can't wait to just see how that's going all play out. But, yeah, you got to imagine Philly have to be favorites, in my opinion, to come out of the East.
Chuku: They just, on paper, look too good. I know everyone's going to talk about Embiid having to be healthy or, you know, his health being an issue. But I'll be frank, man. I honestly feel like Embiid has a chance to be the most rested he will ever be.
Chuku: entering a playoff situation because quite frankly, they're not going to really need him to play all that much games in the regular season for them to be able to beat most of the teams they're going to be coming across. Like,
Chuku: I imagine they're going to have, you know, a lot of time to be able to rest, guys. You still have a lot of, you know, you still got JB, who I literally seen with my two eyes carry those Celtics boys without Tatum most of the year to the tour. Is it number two or number three seed?
Chuku: JB can carry the load. And if you have LeBron you still got Young Cats and Eschcombe and Maxi, and Maxi who's literally becoming a superstar in front of our eyes, I just think, you know, long as, you know, the coach can manage the minutes, I just think this is going to be the best chance we're ever going to see, like, Embiid playing up to full par in the playoffs.
Chuku: the healthiest he's going to be without having to strain himself so much in the regular season to have to get, know, these guys, you know, to be able to enter the, or get a good place, a good position to enter the playoffs.
Chuku: So, I mean, I imagine if everything goes as planned, like we honestly should be seeing LeBron carry at least one, if not two rings in the next year or two. So I, I'm excited, man.
Chuku: As a LeBron fan, I'm excited.
Emeka: One, if not two. Not three, not four, not five.
Chuku: Hey, I'm,
Emeka: this the Miami Heat? Press conference I'm hearing?
Chuku: I'm pretty confident, man. One, at least one, at least one championship. I see LeBron carrying at least one. So, hey, we're going to see how it goes.
Emeka: All
Chuku: I mean, yeah. Go
Emeka: right. We'll circle to that. We'll circle to that at the end. But, guys, put it on the record.
Chuku: ahead. All
Emeka: At least one.
Chuku: right. All right. 100%, man, at least one.
Emeka: Fair enough. Fair enough. wanted to save that until the end just because that's a nice little boulder conversation. But I'm trying to think what else we can even cover with this. I guess I'll wrap it up a question.
Emeka: Will Bronny James be on the Sixers next year? Yes or no, Jono?
Chino Onwuka: Honestly, was going to be a hard no until someone mentioned that, not someone I was listening to, I it was the Bill Simmons podcast or the beginning of the Zach O podcast that Lakers currently have 16 players on their roster. And I was like, oh,
Chino Onwuka: Because to me, think what LeBron has done is he does what every good dad does. Give his son an opportunity, open the lane for him. And then once you get there, it's up to you to establish yourself. And LeBron has done that, made sure Bronny got into the league, made sure Bronny had a safe landing space. And now, okay, Bronny, I've done my part. It's on you. So to me, that the whole mentality.
Chino Onwuka: It's a quick fire question. will say no, because I don't think it's a must or requirement that Bronny has to go there. If it happens, it's a nice to have, but I don't think Bronny is demanding, oh, Bronny has to come too. So I think Bronny will still be on the Lakers.
Emeka: Yeah, you know who else has 16 people on the roster? The Philadelphia 76ers. And they're trying to sign KCP. So it's a hard no. It's a funny joke, and I get why I was saying it. Like...
Emeka: I'm on the hill on this one, and I don't care. I think Bronny James is a decent potential NBA player. And if I'm the Lakers, I'm not giving him away for free. And if I'm Sixers, I'm not trading for Bronny.
Emeka: So at that point, we're just kind of at an impasse here. So, yeah, I think it's a hell no. If I'm Bronny, I don't want to play for Bron anymore. Like... Bruh, leave. I'm trying to live my life here in LA. So, you know, I'm trying to do things. I'm trying to get it popping on these road trips. And I can't be doing that when you're there. So, yeah, I'm hope for everybody's sake.
Emeka: You lots to go and then, you know. We've seen them play together. Isn't the next stretch the best highlight to be LeBron guarded by Bronny or he guards Bronny? Wouldn't that be cool? Let's see that instead. LeBron dunks on him or something. I don't know.
Emeka: That's just fun. Second Rappify question for you, Chiku. If you were a commissioner, what would you pick as the Christmas Day matchup for the Philadelphia 76ers?
Chuku: It gotta be Philly Boston, man. I think gotta be Philly Boston. That would be my pick for sure.
Emeka: Gary, what would you pitch, you know, before I go a tangent?
Chino Onwuka: Yeah, it's two, three options. Philly Warriors just because LeBron and Steph again, but that's Blair to me. Probably exciting for a lot other people.
Chino Onwuka: Philly Knicks... You know, because those are, to me, the two top dogs in the East. But then Philly, Boston will just be spicy for so many reasons. Not only do you have the JB angle with Philly and Boston, but LeBron and Boston is always a thing. So I think that would be that'd be that'd be crazy.
Emeka: In a world where they can juice the schedule, where that is the first matchup, then I'm all for Philly versus Boston on Christmas. They play in the same division.
Emeka: That means they play each other four times. I don't know. I know they can move the schedule. I don't know if they can move the schedule that much where they don't play each other for the first two months of the season.
Emeka: If they can do that, I love it on Christmas. If it's not the first matchup, I don't want that on Christmas because then all the juice is going to be that first matchup. That's the thing for me. So if want to see silver, that's opening day for me.
Chino Onwuka: I'm sure.
Emeka: My opening day game is six months.
Chino Onwuka: Yeah, because that's another option.
Emeka: Yeah, that's another option.
Chino Onwuka: Opening games, opening day games are going be spicy as well. I'm trying to remember Spurs OKC. I think it was something similar where their Christmas Day game was like the third one. Right. But it was still.
Emeka: Yeah, it was the third one. It wasn't the first one. They each other like two times before.
Chino Onwuka: Yeah.
Emeka: That's my point, right?
Chino Onwuka: Yeah.
Emeka: Like, I feel like the Boston Phillies, that first time is must-see TV. I just don't know if you can, like, even Spurs, OKC, they couldn't do it. Like, they play together too much. They just have to fit them in the schedule sometimes. So for me personally, give me Philly, New York. That's what I want for Christmas Day.
Emeka: And there's a big part of me that wants the finals rematch. It feels right for New York, San Antonio. But let's be real, man. San Antonio, OKC is the real rivalry.
Emeka: So get that matchup on Christmas, New York versus Philly on Christmas. We'll give Golden State, like, the Lakers or Miami or somebody, man. We don't care. Boston can have Miami. We can figure it out. But I just thought there's been a scuttlebutt about the Christmas matchup because, like, you're right, you know, there are three, didn't even say four options because would never happen, but Philly, Cleveland would be kind of spicy, too, if that was a Christmas. I wouldn't hate it. I wouldn't hate it. But I don't think the Cleveland fans would boo LeBron and they wouldn't care that much.
Emeka: Like, Let's be real. So, anyhow, I'm very curious. Adam Silver, was laughing and joking at that interview he gave. I know deep down he was dead serious. I got ESPN calling me. I got NBC calling me. Like, bro, make decision, man.
Emeka: We should make the schedule. So, hey, we all good. All right, now Chukwe touched on this. This is the question, you know, and we're recording this obviously July 26th. Like, who knows?
Emeka: There's been a lot of talk about people saying, like, who will let the trade and beat. I'd be shocked they did. But you never know these minimums and these buyouts and things can change, like all these moves. But sitting here today, July 26th, I'll ask you this way.
Emeka: What do you think is more likely to happen? The Philadelphia 76ers win the championship this year, or the Philadelphia 76ers lose in the second round? Chukwu?
Chuku: winning the championship this year.
Emeka: They win the championship this year. Chukwu?
Chino Onwuka: They lose in the second round.
Emeka: Count me in for losing the second round. And just really believe in the Knicks. I don't know. I just really believe in the Knicks, and I know that's the talk. Are they the best starting five?
Emeka: I don't want to start and make this podcast a Jalen Brown podcast because is what it is. There have been enough podcasts recorded this summer about Jalen Brown. I think the idea of Jalen Brown versus who Jalen Brown actually is is two very different things. And this year will tell me a lot because everyone pencils him as a plus defender. I promise you he's not a good defender in the last two years for good reason because you scored 30 points a game.
Emeka: And if you could score 30 points a game and be a good defender, you're Michael Jordan. And he's not Michael Jordan. It's just what it is. So the more he's had to score with Tatum being out, the less he tries on defense.
Emeka: Fair. Now he's on a stacked team. I want to see what Jalen Brown does. He's my most interesting player. I'm so invested in what he does this year because he's coming in with all the anger, disrespecting me, all the blog boys are saying I was blah, blah, blah.
Emeka: But then he gets traded from being the first option to there's going to be nights where he's the fourth option. Or the third? Like, he's not going to be the guy. He's going to shoot way less. And he's got a big contract coming up.
Emeka: So is he going to be satisfied? So nice. We just need you to guard Luka and stay in the corner and hit threes. Or is he going to want to say, right, man, LeBron, I'm of these pick and rolls. Give me the ball. Let me cook on the wing. I need an ISO.
Emeka: So I'm, I just, I don't think the fit is as clean as people make it out to be. And, The East is a bloodbath, so I just think on probabilities, it's much more likely they lose in the first second round. Embiid might even get hurt. haven't about Embiid. Embiid can just get hurt, how he always does in the playoffs. He gets hurt after round one, and they lose to somebody else. So count me in for more likely they lose in the second round than win the championship.
Emeka: But, hey, guess any final thoughts before we move on? This is LeBron's in Philadelphia. What a world.
Chino Onwuka: Yeah, because
Chuku: I'm going to just say, oh, go ahead, know.
Chino Onwuka: I don't know if we're moving on from this topic, so I'll get it out. I will still ask the defending champions. I will still have Knicks at the top of the East. I think Philly, hopefully by the time playoffs come around, will be...
Chino Onwuka: will be sort of their, their arch nemesis. I think it's going to take them a while to gel for so many reasons. You have so many high usage players who are going to need to gel hierarchies are going to to be established.
Chino Onwuka: Are they going to come up with frameworks where, you know, and I think it was on the bill Simmons podcast where look, Hey, Embiid only play home games, LeBron going to put you on a Kawhi, like, you know, load management thing. So that everyone's healthy for the playoffs.
Chino Onwuka: But to that statement that you made, it's essentially versus the field. And who would I take?
Chino Onwuka: I will take the field. I think it's the same thing where, what were we talking about maybe last year where I had a team ranked a certain place where it was like, oh, who's more likely to win the championship? And I think I said, it was probably Cleveland or something.
Chino Onwuka: Not because I thought they were better than OKC, but just because I thought, you know, getting out of the West is going to be a bloodbath. And that's what the East is going to be this year. So it's just not that Philly isn't a great team, but...
Chino Onwuka: Round two, round three, round four, it's going to be a battle of attrition just to get through all that. then by the time you get to the final, you're having to face an OKC or a San Antonio and who knows what shape you're in. But at that time, we saw what it was this year where after all the battle San Antonio fought, they came in against a fresh, experienced New York team and just it was 4-1. So...
Emeka: Any last comments, Shuku?
Chuku: Yeah, just two things. I find it interesting. Don't get me wrong. The East is definitely going to be lot more competitive this season, no doubt. But, I mean, maybe I just don't see it right now at the moment. But apart from the Knicks, if I'm Philly, I don't really see too much competition as far as, like, teams that are on equal par with what I've got as far as firepower the moment.
Chuku: I could be wrong, but...
Chino Onwuka: So Chukwu, let me ask you a couple of questions on that, right? Because I get your point, but okay.
Chuku: Go ahead,
Chino Onwuka: Maybe it's the Knicks there, but is Miami going to be better than last year?
Chuku: Sure they are.
Chino Onwuka: Is Toronto, if the trade goes through, going to be better than last year?
Chuku: Sure they are.
Chino Onwuka: Is Indiana going to be better than last year?
Chuku: Sure they are.
Chino Onwuka: So just for all those reasons, not saying that they're part of the 76ers, just for all those reasons, right? I think that's why we're saying the East is going to be tougher.
Chuku: But again, hear all the points you guys said, and I don't disagree with – I came in saying the East is going to be definitely a lot more competitive.
Chuku: There's no question about that. But for me, when I look at it like playoff basketball, looking at at least how teams are presently constructed, sure, teams like Miami, we're saying it's going to be better. Indiana, sure, they're going to be better.
Chuku: But better in comparison to where Philly is at at the moment. Again, just giving my opinion. don't see it. If Philly is fully healthy, which I believe they have a chance to be entering the season with the kind of stacked squad that they have at the moment, I just think if the coach knows what he's doing,
Chuku: you're going to be able to rotate guys in the season you're going to be able to win enough games to finish in a top four seed. As long as you can finish in the top half of the standings or make the playoffs,
Chuku: The goal should be just being able to just make it with everyone being healthy and ready to go. If they can do that with the way I'm seeing things, looking at the moment with the teams in the East,
Chuku: Like I said earlier, it's really only the Knicks, in my opinion, that I would say gives me cause to pause when it comes to proclaiming the Sixers as the best team to come out from the East as things are presently constructed.
Chuku: But again, look, things have to play out. We have to see how it goes. But yeah, I just think, in my opinion, I have Philly ranked well above most of the other contenders in the East, apart from the Knicks.
Chuku: Now, other thing I was going to quickly mention, though, was, man, if you're Cade Cundum, how are you feeling at the moment with what you've seen transpire in the East and what your ball club has done after taking your team to a number one seed last season?
Chuku: I mean, I got to feel like, you know, a bit depressed. I'm seeing all the other teams adding, know, quality players to the roster, guys coming back healthy in the form of Halliburton when it comes to the Pacers.
Emeka: Why you don't like John Collins?
Chuku: Say again.
Emeka: You don't like John Collins?
Chuku: Hey, sorry. Look, okay. John Collins is a nice... There was a time when I used to have a lot more about him as far as how he was viewed in the league.
Chuku: But I'm sorry, man. Those were like... Many years ago, man. At this point in time, I don't really see John Collins being a needle mover at the moment, if I'm being frank.
Chuku: Yes, it is another option that he can shoot a little bit, and he does offer some love threats for Cade. But as far as, again, like I said, being a needle mover...
Chuku: I don't know, man. I just, don't see it. don't see John Collins being that guy. At least not this version of John Collins. That's for sure. So, yeah, no, I got to say, if I'm keeping it with what my club has done so far, is all I'm trying to say.
Emeka: No, no.
Emeka: If I'm Cade, I'm thinking, what can I expect? I mean, I would never say this publicly, but if I'm Cade, I'm thinking, you guys better not pay Dewar in the max. Because I saw what he was doing in the playoffs, and that's not the guy I want to commit myself to. So, you know, I'm sure in the group chats, he's like, yeah, man, go get your money, big fella.
Emeka: But shit, man, I'm telling the GM, do what you got to do, fam. Don't pay him the max. Because, yeah, he's wild.
Chino Onwuka: But if he doesn't pay the max and he's seeing what these other teams in the East are doing then and Duran leaves, how does that, you know, Detroit's going to struggle to contend.
Emeka: But if he doesn't...
Emeka: I've watched basketball 20 years now. No one ever takes the qualifying option. And if Dewey wants to prove me wrong, I'm confident in speaking with my chest on this.
Chino Onwuka: That's fair.
Emeka: If someone's saying between door one, I'll pay you $35 million for the next four years.
Chino Onwuka: That's fair.
Emeka: And door two, you make $8 million this year. You're a free agent. Take the money. And it's not like they're offering them the minute. offering them like $30-something million. Like, yeah.
Emeka: No one ever takes the qualifying offer. So we shall see. actually remembered I had a couple, besides the Brody question, I had a couple more true or falses. I was going to run by you guys. So I guess I'll give this one for you to a quick start.
Emeka: You know, Mr. Philadelphia wins the championship next year. July we're recording this podcast next year, July 26th, 2027. Right now, do you think Nick Nurse will still be the coach of the Philadelphia 76ers in a year's time?
Chuku: Yes, I do.
Emeka: Chin-on.
Chino Onwuka: Yep.
Emeka: Nick Nurse likes to play guys a lot of minutes. That's all I'm say. He likes to play guys a lot of minutes. I don't know. don't know. He's a clutch client, though. So the flip side, I'm honestly leaning yes just because clutch client. But Ty Lue, if Ty Lue ever becomes a free agent or if they come down hard on the Clippers and punish them, I wouldn't be shocked as well if this time next year Ty Lue's head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers. That's all I'm say.
Emeka: And my next question, I'll start with you, you know. Does LeBron make an appearance on Jalen Brown's podcast the next year?
Chino Onwuka: I'll say
Chuku: I would say no.
Chuku: I think that's more of a Maxi-Eshcombe kind of thing, man. Leave it to the young books to get that going. LeBron, he too awful all that, man. I don't see him jumping on that.
Emeka: Hey, man, LeBron with the kids, man. He's with the kids. He has a podcast.
Emeka: Not a stream, right?
Chuku: Hey, man.
Emeka: Love of the game, man. He makes a mix. He makes one of us have one video with Nash Cobb. He makes an episode with Jalen Brown. He pops in the podcast. I don't know. I feel like that would be a nice little team bonding thing for him to do.
Chuku: Hey, man, maybe if Jalen Brown changes up how he does platform and maybe has an actual setup and not just streaming from his bedroom or wherever he does it from, maybe it might be a different story.
Emeka: Maybe if Jalen Brown changes the...
Chuku: But at the moment with how things are presently constructed, I just don't see it being an environment that LeBron just comes in to just pop by, you know? I think the setup has to change.
Chuku: The layout has to be different. And even then, no guarantee is going to happen. But the way Jalen Brown does at the moment, though, I just think it's more of just the young bucks. You're definitely to be seeing an episode where Maxi and Eshcombe probably make an appearance.
Chuku: That would be my thoughts at the moment.
Emeka: Fair enough. And my last question, because I'm 30 years old and stuff like this is interest to me. If you were LeBron, and that comes with the LeBron size back account,
Emeka: Would you live in Philly or would you commute from New York? That's been a subtle internet argument going on about will LeBron actually live in Philadelphia? Apparently, there are a few people do this who play in Philadelphia just live in New York or New Jersey. Just commute two hours by driving, one hour by train, 40 minutes by helicopter. All I can say is I hope just take a helicopter for obvious reasons. But I'll start with you, Chinon.
Emeka: If you're LeBron James and you're a billionaire, would you live in New York or would live Philadelphia?
Chino Onwuka: Yeah, I think he wants to live in New York.
Emeka: Yeah,
Chino Onwuka: I mean, he's from Cleveland, so he grew up in those ends. And if you look at the pattern of the places he's gone to, it's been Miami. Miami's Miami. It's L.A. L.A. L.A.
Chino Onwuka: He's gone to places, you know, partly based on the situation, but definitely with L.A. on where he wanted to live. And I think he's trying to try out New York right now. So, yeah, LeBron can afford any means of transportation that works with his schedule and his needs.
Chino Onwuka: Obviously, we know the history of what happened with another ex-Laker starting helicopter, I just have a little bit of PTSD because of that, but yeah, he can take that heli from New York and back.
Emeka: What about you, Juku? Would you live in New York or would you live in Philadelphia if you're LeBron?
Chuku: If I was LeBron, would just live in New York, man. New York means the Mecca of basketball. It's a bigger city, bigger lights. I mean, yeah, why not, man? I would definitely say New York, for sure.
Emeka: Yeah, I know. Again, feel it wrong, man. What I'd do if I was him, I'd have a giant mansion in whatever the suburbs, New York people have it. I'd just get a condo in Philly. Like, if I got to be playing a back-to-back or something, I'll just stay there.
Emeka: little condo by the practice facility or something and just stay there. But, man, I never made a connection to that point. He went to Miami. He went to L.A. He's going to big cities.
Emeka: Yeah, I never really made that point. That makes sense. Like, you know what? I actually believe Rich Paul, not taking somewhere, if the Knicks didn't win a championship, LeBron wouldn't go there. I actually kind of believe it now. Like, it doesn't seem like he likes the big market. He likes the big team. Why not? I'm LeBron James. Whatever.
Emeka: Anyhow, we are going to talk about this. Lord knows, over the summer of the next year, they're going to be the biggest story. We're still the NBA dead season.
Emeka: So, I mean, there's so much that's happened since. Giannis, Kawhi investigation, blah, blah, the draft. The rookies are here. Well, we got more future podcasts to record all that from. So, we want to touch on LeBron. Like, this is, you know, for guys of our generation, of our ilk, our age, this is a huge deal. Like, the final decision.
Emeka: Braun's coming to Philly. I can't believe it. It still feels weird to me, but I just can't believe it. But shifting gears a little bit, we did record this summer, and there was little tournament that happened in our backyard.
Emeka: If I talk in my backyard, I think I see Messi. Because the World Cup happened. Beautiful tournament. Amazing tournament. España, Viva España. Spain are champions, defending Euro and World Cup champions.
Emeka: Is it 2020 or 10? 2010? don't It seems all the same to me. I don't know where to start with this, so I guess I'll just say, Juku, what are your thoughts now in the World Cup?
Emeka: You know, now that it's happened, we're looking back in two years. What would you think about the World Cup?
Chuku: Man, I just think, again, maybe it's just me or maybe, I don't know, maybe I've been living under a rock. I don't know what it is, but Spain, man. Spain, I don't know if a team as good as Spain has ever...
Chuku: Like, feel like, how do I put this? It's not like I think people find them or think they're, like, underrated, but I definitely don't think they get enough credit.
Chuku: You know, I mean, because, again, I definitely fell victim to this because, you know, everyone coming into the World Cup was talking about, you know, oh, my God, France, you know, the starting... and then the bench and the options and this and that and third. They had all the names.
Chuku: Everybody, you know, was killers. And Spain, you know, with Spain, mean, you know, The front line, yeah, they got Yamal, great. But like, yeah, they got Nico Williams. But, know, he's, I mean, we've had, you know, conversations outside of the pod with Nico. And, you know, ever since the Euros, he hasn't really, know, lived up to that, what he showed, right, pre-Euros.
Chuku: But the point I'm making is, when you really look on paper, right, Spain don't really have the names that are like, know, like star-studded or, you know, like, you know, Some may say, you know, needle movers or just, you know, that spark.
Chuku: But boy, when they get on that pitch, man, they are one hard team to beat, man. For you to have only conceded one goal, is that correct?
Chuku: They conceded one goal? Was it the entire tournament or the knockout?
Emeka: Yep, Belgium.
Chuku: Yeah.
Emeka: One gold the entire tournament from Belgium.
Chuku: That's incredible. Only one goal. I mean, man, look, it just goes to show, man, like, you know, Spain are just real powerhouses. I'll just say, man, I'm glad they won, right? Because end the day, I mean, look, as much as, you know, Messi's the goat and we want to see, you know, want to see Messi win one last World Cup before he retires.
Chuku: Who knows if this is his last World Cup? Who knows? But... I just think, man, like Spain won and it feels like football won because Spain actually came to play football this entire tournament.
Chuku: And I mean, look, they have been like, they have been lovely to watch, man. Like they, Spain plays some beautiful football. And I just think, you know, it's about time to get the respect that they deserve.
Chuku: And I mean, it's funny saying that they won the Euros, you know, a couple years ago. But, man, Spain are just, they're just, they're just something else, man. I don't know what they got, you know, in their waters, but they have ballers, man. They have ballers, and I just think it's about how high time that they get, you know, some of the players start getting recognized for, like, you know,
Chuku: For their play. Because honestly, I just don't think... mean, maybe because I don't get to see too many of their... A lot the Spanish players that play in Spain, I don't get to see too many of their games.
Chuku: But someone that I know has been good even from his time in Germany and now playing ball in Barcelona, who I don't think gets talked about a lot. Almo?
Chuku: Man, don't want to have one hell of a tournament, man. Like, he may not have scored a lot goals or, you know, been the key guy giving the assists all the time, but Man, just seeing him and the way he fit in that team, he was definitely one of the players that impressed me this tournament.
Chuku: I mean, there were a whole bunch of names, to be fair. But I'm just saying, overall, man, Spain have a lot of underrated ballers. And I just think this World Cup, there was a chance to kind of showcase that more.
Chuku: I mean, they really got to showcase it in the Euros. But in the World Cup, in the biggest stage, They were able to do it again. They were able to replicate it. And, you know, I just think Spain just have my respect, man. They are a real football nation.
Emeka: Yeah, I think with Spain, lot of it is, even with football in general, and I'm guilty of it. I picked France all tournament, England as well, is we kind of go by, okay, who are the best players? Who are the biggest names? And Spain don't have big names, but obviously France and England for sure have bigger names.
Emeka: It's team game. You know, it's a beautiful game. It's a team game. And this Spanish side really encapsulates that. Yeah, they have Yamal. But Yamal wasn't even the best young player on the team, let alone best player. Like, Hubarsi had a better tournament than he is. Because he came with a bum hamstring.
Emeka: And it was just... An overall team effort. The defense was immaculate. Midfield was midfield. And then when Osobaial didn't score, Ferran Torres came off the bench and scored. Or Mourinho came off the bench and scored. Just a complete squad effort. So I think that's probably why they didn't get their respect, even though they're literally the defending Euro champions. And haven't lost a game, I think it was in two years.
Emeka: That's why they didn't really get it. And also they went boring. You Spain go up 1-0, they just pass the ball around and that's it. So I think that contributes to them not getting the respect. But I mean, everything you said is fair. Like they are, they are the best team in the world, reigning Euro and World Cup champions and reigning female World Cup champions. Like what do you want more? What more can you want from Spain at this point? They are the best footballing nation right now. And it's not even close.
Emeka: Yes. What are your, what are your thoughts on Spain as a champion? General.
Chino Onwuka: Yeah, and that thought of Spain, I think it's just as simple as, you know, Chico was talking about, oh, maybe hasn't paid enough attention. You don't need to pay attention because the beauty of Spain and, you know, other sports, they talk about the system is Spain truly has footballing system. It doesn't matter which club you come from.
Chino Onwuka: They all have the same philosophy. They all develop the same sort of players in that. Apart from certain key guys, but even with those key guys, you can swap them for the next guy, next man up, and they would play the exact same way with not too much drop-off.
Chino Onwuka: And so that's why Spain are able to be as successful as they are. And I know we didn't see it as much in this tournament, but they now have that bedrocked-out foundation, that system, and they now have a Maverick in Yamal. So...
Chino Onwuka: That's going to be a scary sight for future tournaments that we didn't really see for this one that we saw at the last Euros. And then the other thing is, what's the name of their coach? This is his fourth title with Spain.
Chino Onwuka: And I saw a graphic of when he won, either was it U-17s first and U-19s and then U-21s. And you look at the players on those squads from ages ago, who you're seeing? You're seeing Marino.
Chino Onwuka: You're seeing Ruiz. You're seeing a lot of these same players that he's coached up through the levels. So these guys, know each other. They know how to win with the coach. They know how to bond. And so just on so many levels, you're just having this perfect storm of things that are just congealing together for Spain to be as not sexy, but as dominant in a boring way as they are.
Emeka: Yeah, know. That's a good point, too. Like, national teams especially, it's not just the biggest names. It's about chemistry. It's about systems. And playing together with the same group of guys in both club and country is one of the biggest cheat codes you can do.
Emeka: Like, when Germany won in 2014, it was a Bayern Munich court. When Argentina I guess Argentina's different, but Spain won in the it was... Barcelona.
Emeka: Now again, 2026, it's a group of guys who kind of came up together and played in similar. And you also love Barcelona players. So, I mean, yeah, Spain is just, they got a system. And have a system in national football and quality, it's really hard to beat.
Emeka: It's really, really hard to beat. And, you know, there's going to be some big names getting hired now from these national teams, like Zidane and Klopp are now coaching. And I'm curious how they kind of approach national team football.
Emeka: But,
Chino Onwuka: Her logo hired for Italy.
Emeka: I mean, I'm not putting him next to Klopp in Zidane yet, but, like, it's interesting, like, how that kind of, to be too cool in England, like, there's now big money signings, I guess, equivalents in national team football. And Spain does truck along, promoted some guy from the youth team, and keep carrying him forward. It's just, it's beautiful to watch.
Emeka: Before we still go into the football, know, just... We do live in a host nation, and, you know, did go to the World Cup, so I'm biased. I thought it was fantastic and beautiful.
Emeka: What are your thoughts about, like, the three countries that hosted it and the overall just vibes, I'd say, about the World Cup, let alone on the pitch stuff, the off-the-pitch vibes? Because I've heard some people saying that you don't really feel the culture of the World Cup for this one. It just felt generic. And was just others saying that they loved it. So guess I'm curious. I'll start future now.
Chino Onwuka: Yeah, it's tough for me to say because unfortunately wasn't able to attend any of the games in person. I wasn't in a host city or anything to feel the vibes. And, you know, the World Cup that I have been to was in Brazil. So it's always going to be tough for, you know, non-footballing countries to compare to hosting the World Cup in a nation such as that. So I don't think I can really speak to that aspect of it.
Chino Onwuka: But what I will say is I had a lot of worries about this World Cup. There were a lot of geopolitical things that were in the mix. We don't need to speak too much about that.
Chino Onwuka: There was a bunch new rules that were coming in. How would that shake out? And honestly, you know, maybe Emeka, you can speak more to sort of what things felt like on the ground. But I think there were aspects that I thought would be an issue that turned out well. The expanded field, for example.
Chino Onwuka: You I just thought this was just them doing a money grab, you know, to try to expand, you know, more games means more television money. But then you saw some of those smaller countries who, you know, not a lot of the world knew about, not to talk of hardcore soccer fans, get the chance to show themselves to the world, give people an insight into their players, their team. And obviously, you know, it's a sum of,
Chino Onwuka: advertisement for their country. People got exposure to their culture one way or another, and it was just beautiful. I'm talking about the Capo Verdes. I'm talking about the Curacao's who came, and they didn't just come to come in and have vacation. They came to show themselves out, and they surprised a couple of teams. So I thought that was really beautiful.
Chino Onwuka: You know, I don't know what your experience was, but I know a lot of the friends I had in Vancouver, they just said the vibes were electric. And I think Vancouver is a little bit more different because Vancouver is a little bit of a football city already.
Chino Onwuka: So just people who were in Vancouver, our family in places adjacent to Vancouver, and they said it was just a different atmosphere than what they're already seeing. So I had a lot of worries, but it seems like on the whole,
Chino Onwuka: You know, obviously there were issues with tickets, but on the whole, went lot better than I expected. And there were really some beautiful things that came out of it.
Emeka: I'm biased. I went to the games in Vancouver. 10 out of 10. I just absolutely loved it. The vibes were immaculate. The people who traveled in, all the teams that I saw play, you could see there were thousands of people from the countries that were there and vibing, and I just loved that stuff.
Emeka: But... Now that I've sat back and reflected on it for a little bit, it did strike me that there wasn't any, like, particular flavor. It was just all, like, come to Vancouver, where obviously I've never been to any other World Cups, but you see clips, and they're very, like, local.
Emeka: Everything's a very local experience. Like, yeah, it's the World Cup, but we're going to Brazilian flair and everything. We're going have Russian flair and everything. And I think that's just because there were three host nations. So when there's that many host nations, you – Canada the US are similar, but we're also very unlike in many ways. Talk about Mexico.
Emeka: So who has energy and time to be making all these generic things for all specific sites? So energy is becoming kind of generic, for lack better word. I still didn't need that stuff. I needed the people what I cared about most. And the people delivered.
Emeka: I wasn't as worried about all that stuff because say what you want about United States and their current government and their leader, they know how to host things. Like, they've been hosting things and they always, you know, there's too much money in the country for things not to happen.
Emeka: And that's really what it is. And I thought all the, it was fun seeing people The games at primetime. guess that was also a big deal for me, selfishly. The games are on at, like, instead of waking up at 3 a.m. to watch a game, the games will start at noon and end around 6 or 7. So seeing football at primetime is a big, huge, positive thing.
Emeka: And...
Chino Onwuka: Not even that.
Chino Onwuka: For the first stage of the World Cup, we were getting footy from 11 10, 11 p.m. was beautiful.
Emeka: I miss it already. I miss it already. But, yeah, no, like, that was fantastic. I love that. And then also, like... It was cool seeing different, like I don't just say, I hear what you, know, about Brazil was more of football nation.
Emeka: But I thought it was interesting seeing a non-football nation start to embrace football. Like, Holland became a superstar, which is hilarious to me because Holland is probably the top five most famous people in football before the World Cup. Like, you know, he plays for Man City, Starstrike, or whatever.
Emeka: But you still – people come to me work like, yeah, this Arlen Holland guy. Like, have you heard of him? Like, he's good. Like, that's just so funny to me. So seeing things like that, I really – I don't know. It was big. I'm getting more – less cynical and more warm my old age, but it was cool to see that whole nation just started embracing football and I'm biased. I'm Canadian.
Emeka: This is the most football ever had a ground roots in Canada ever in my life. And I really appreciated seeing that. I love seeing how the country got behind the team. If he got crashed in the group stages, maybe I still differently, but winning against South Africa, being there live, being part of the marches and the parades like i thought the vibes are immaculate so i and i thought this was one of the i honestly i thought this the best world cup ever like watched as a as an observer like it was fantastic from beginning to end so i don't know i i'm biased but that's kind of where i stand on it how would you rate this world cup shuku as a viewer like is it one of the better ones you've seen or middle of the pack one of the worst ones you've seen
Chuku: you
Chuku: Man, I'll say it was I. It was I. You know, like, obviously, like, I guess I might be a bit biased because, you know, the World Cup was in, you know, our backyard, as we talked about, you know, Canada as one of the whole state nations. And, you know, mean, unfortunately, I wasn't able or blessed to be able to attend.
Chuku: But, you know, I did have a lot of, you know, friends that were able to, you know, whether was in Vancouver or in Toronto, you You know, they were able to experience and kind of share, you know, the experience. And I mean, I was living vicariously through them, you know, as each were, you know, in the environment. And it just seems like, or rather it seemed like, you know, it was a really good environment. You know, I mean, I'm sure you can talk more about it. as you got to experience being around the festivities in Vancouver. But overall, I just think it was a great time for the game to come to North America. We're seeing how a lot of the North American countries are really taking the game more serious, investing a lot to their development and really producing much better product than they have
Chuku: you know, in the past decade or so. So I'm really very, you know, glad that we got to experience that. And I'm hoping that that continues to help grow the game and at least in this region of the world. And, you know, people start you know, start to take this more seriously. And, you know, we actually start to, you know, actually see, know, bigger names, bigger talents coming out from this region because, you know, North America, we have a lot of people, you know, in this country and, know,
Chuku: as more and more immigrants come into the country, I think there's a chance to kind of grow the game out more, kind of bring opportunities for homegrown players to come through. And I'm just excited to see where the game goes because honestly, it's been a long time coming, honestly speaking. So I think it's really great for the game.
Chuku: was lovely being able to actually watch games from morning to evening and not have to be awake at odd times or odd hours of the day just to be able to keep up.
Chuku: So definitely not gonna take that for granted. But overall, I just think it was a success. It was a huge success. And hopefully there's another chance for this region to host the World Cup again in our lifetimes. So I'll be looking forward to that, possibly.
Emeka: Yeah, I know. I'm definitely biased for many reasons, like I said, but I just thought the vibes. Even taking aside the Canada part, like, I love when stars show up, and that was a big deal with this World Cup. The stars were stars. Like, Mbappe, Golden Boot again, missed World Cup.
Emeka: Vinny Jr. was showing now. Like, I mentioned Holland became an international superstar. Messi was Messi. Like, Harry Kane, Jude. I love seeing the big names because it's always tough when I watch. lot of people don't know football. So tell me, like, oh, yeah, I'm watching the Spain game. And I'll say, yo, look out for Yamal. Or, hey, I'm watching Norway. Yo, the Holland guy, look out for him. And then they go and do nothing. And the guy's like, don't look that really good.
Emeka: This time it was like, oh, I see what you mean. Like, yeah, Mbappe guy, amazing. Like, oh, yeah, all that stuff. So I guess I just like the World Cup too. What can I say? And I also think for me particularly...
Emeka: I love this World Cup a lot because the last one we had was in Qatar and in the winter. And I hope, I really, really hope, and I'm looking at Saudi in eight years, that we don't have a Winter World Cup again because it's just not the same. World Cup, need to be outside. need to be, know what mean, like going out, doing things. We live in Canada, fam. I'm not going out minus 30 when the World Cup is on. Like, let me enjoy some sunshine. I hope and pray that next couple ones are in the summertime and I can enjoy it again. Even though I doubt I'm going to be pulling up to any these other host countries for the next couple ones, I hope and pray that it's in the summer.
Emeka: But if you're not brought up something that I'm actually curious your guys' thoughts on. So as you guys all know, this was the first World Cup that was expanded to 48 teams. I didn't hate it. didn't love it. It is what it is. But...
Emeka: The one thing I'll say is if you're going to go to 48, you might as well go to 64 because this whole third place chat, it wasn't for me. I didn't appreciate it.
Emeka: So I guess I'll ask it. If you were head of, you know, Infantino came up to you and said, hey, broski, man's done pressure on me. Would you keep the World Cup at 48?
Emeka: Would you go back to 36 or would you expand to 64? I'll start future now.
Chino Onwuka: Like, it already looks like they're on the road to, like, expanding it to 64, which is just going to be crazy. You know what, now that the Pandora's box has been opened, now that you've let the G9 out of the bottle, I'd keep it at 48.
Chino Onwuka: I think it was a good mixture of, you know, allowing more teams to have an opportunity, but still keeping the quality at a certain level and also making there be jeopardy for qualification. Yeah.
Chino Onwuka: Like if you keep it at 64 teams, you know, you don't make, you maybe lose the impetus of certain federations getting their act together.
Chino Onwuka: Like Italy, you do not have the choice to just rest on your laurels because, oh, whatever, we're going to make the World Cup anyway. You have to make sure that your team is ready at all levels, not just on the playing side, but on the organizational side to make the World Cup.
Chino Onwuka: Nigeria, can you imagine how much worse it's going to be if Nigeria can just rest on its shoulders like, we're going to get in anyway? Please, let's do enough that those guys...
Emeka: We still might not make it. We still might not make it.
Chino Onwuka: Get their act together. Make sure you're pulling from the pool to get. There's lots of people of Nigerian descent making sure that the federation is doing enough to get the best players possible so that we can make World Cups and have that impact on the next generation. Because, you know, see a lot of these teams. Morocco, they had a team of all players that were born outside the country.
Chino Onwuka: it's going to be very easy to convince the next French Moroccan talent to play for his father or motherland. So I think I just, again, I was worried at 48. It turns out those worries were unfounded, but at 64, you just, everyone's going to get So,
Chino Onwuka: why are we doing international qualification anyway? Like at some point it's pointless. And then we didn't see it this time. And I was talking to some people just because we didn't see it this time. doesn't mean that Verde shows up at the next one and there's no Virginia net and they get pumped eight, nothing.
Chino Onwuka: So.
Emeka: probably saw from Tunisia, but yeah, no, I hear you. Chukwu, I got the same question. Keep it at 48, back to 36, or up to 64?
Chuku: Hey, man, I'm always going to be a proponent of increasing the numbers, you know? So, hey, I thought that they already kind of announced that they were planning already doing that, though.
Chuku: But anyhow...
Emeka: South Africa said that it's happening, but South America, sorry. Head of South America said it's happening, but it's all kind of, have to vote on it still, but who knows.
Chuku: Fair enough, man. But hey, man, if there's ever a chance for more African countries to make it, man, I've got to give Nigeria as much chance as they can get. So yeah, man, I'm a big proponent. I'll take, especially with the whole multi-nation hosting kind of bids thing going on at the moment. I mean, if that's going be the case, hey, man, more games.
Chuku: I mean, me as a viewer, I'm selfish. So if there's more games to watch, Hey man, better for me. So yeah, I'll definitely be a big proponent of them continuing to increase the numbers as far as teams to qualify for the World Cup.
Emeka: I'm pro expanding to 64 just because I just despise third place teams qualifying. I think it's ridiculous. And we avoided, you know, I think it was Algeria and Austria.
Emeka: thought we'd see some shenanigans happen and I put a sizable wager on the draw and I got bailed out by the last second goal. So shouts out to them for being honorable people and playing this straight up. But...
Emeka: I just don't want to be dealing with that stuff. Like, let's just... If we're going to go all this way, let's just go all this way. However, it needs to come with giant caveat of if they're going to go to 64, then South America and North America need to merge and be one qualifying region. Because South America have 10 teams in the entire... No, 12 teams, I think, in their entire pool.
Emeka: And I don't want have an entire confederation automatically qualified. They should at least earn it somehow. So if we go to 64... right now, think it's 10 out of 12 or something like 8 out of 12 qualified. Joke.
Emeka: So if you go to 64, merge South North America and let them battle Bahama and, you know, Curacao and all these other... Tobago. And let's see them play Vinny Jr. in Brazil and get something there. But...
Emeka: I mean, you know I'm selfish. More teams, more games, more whatever. And, hey, Nigeria might qualify, even though we still might not qualify for 64. I'm not joking. It still might not happen.
Emeka: But it is what it is. I guess, I mean, the World Cup is gone. came and won. I feel like everyone was giving their takes. But, you give me a winner or a loser from the World Cup, Chuku. I guess it can be anything, a country, a player, a team, a coach.
Emeka: Well, give me one winner or loser from the World Cup.
Chuku: Hmm.
Chuku: Oh, man, they put him on the spot.
Chuku: I think
Chuku: a winner has to be North America, man.
Emeka: I didn't hear? No.
Chuku: I just think North America being able to host a World Cup, especially a World Cup where we actually got to see all the big names actually show out the way they did.
Chuku: I definitely think, you know, it was definitely great for the game. Great to get a lot of these people's, you know, great to get a lot of these household names popular, more popular in the, you know, in this region, especially for those who are watching, you know, football for the first time, you know, it's always a great feeling to, you know, to have to see the big names that being introduced to all kind of just making their mark at the biggest stage. So I'll just say, you know, North America as a whole, as a host,
Chuku: That was a W. And then biggest L. Biggest L has to be Turkey for me as a nation, footballing nation, man. For a country that's, you know, it's been talking about, there's been a lot of hype when it comes to their, you know, up and coming players. I mean, I'm sorry, but they didn't really come out to, you know, they didn't come out to play this tournament, man. They had some awful, I mean, God awful performances.
Chuku: some terrible losses they shouldn't have taken. And yeah, man, I just think overall, they need to go back to the drawing board and figure things out. Because for a country that this is supposed to be one of their top groups of up and coming talent,
Chuku: They definitely didn't have a chance to or didn't do themselves a disservice with their performances in the World Cup this tournament. So they'll be my biggest losers for sure.
Emeka: Both very valid. My biggest winner, controversial winner, Donald Trump. Because I've watched football for a very long time.
Emeka: I've never seen president overturn a red card like Trump did. He got Ronaldo to win the World Cup. People sleep on this. He got Ronaldo to win the World Cup. He wasn't to miss one game, but he did some why-yo-wayo and deferred the suspension.
Emeka: And everyone was like, whatever, whatever. this guy overturned the red card. Like, that's something. And didn't have the decency to try to hide behind the shadows. No, he tweeted to take credit for it. So, it's on the record.
Emeka: I mean, it's unbelievable it happened, but I'm glad they got tumped up the next game in the USA. But, shots out to Donald Trump. I mean, damn. Now every time there's a suspension, I'm going looking at, hey, yo, King Charles, man, put a phone call in. You never know.
Emeka: You never know anymore now. And my biggest loser... And I hate to say this because there's a stand in the chat here, but Cristiano Ronaldo. Brother, I hope the people in your life have really sat you down and said, you don't need to do this, bro.
Emeka: You don't need to do. Like, you're Ronaldo, man. You're Ronaldo. Why are you putting yourself through this again? You're 42. Why are you putting yourself through all this? I get it. He still thinks he's good. He's scoring in Saudi Arabia and he's doing... It's sad to watch. And it's sad to watch because the Portuguese coaches don't have the cojones to realize that starting a 42-year-old guy, unless he's literally producing messy numbers or playing 10v11, bring him off the bench.
Emeka: And he had to see his rival put up these numbers, get all this PR, get all this positive buzz, and him being reduced to... I have only going further. So without elaborating more, my biggest loser is Rion Ronaldo, and I hope this retirement is true. Don't disgrace yourself even more at the next Euros.
Emeka: Chin up. Give me a win or a lose, please.
Chino Onwuka: Yeah, I wanted to talk about the stars, but you already mentioned them. I loved how they were just going bar for that bar the whole tournament. You know, Haaland scores two one day, Mbappe comes and scores two the next day. Reminded me of Messi versus Ronaldo, you know, 10 years ago.
Chino Onwuka: Biggest winner. It's got to be Canada. First point in a World Cup. First win in a World Cup. Going to our first knocking round. Last minute winner to go through.
Chino Onwuka: Just beautiful. Just, just beautiful. I don't think enough has been said about that. It's hopefully a big catalyst in the future of football in this country and for the next generation. So...
Chino Onwuka: Big winner in Canada. Also shout outs, Krakow and Cap Verde. Biggest loser for me is Brazil. I find Brazil so weird because I know they have a lot good players, a lot of players that play in the Premier League and maybe it's the Premier League's fault, but they just look so dry.
Chino Onwuka: Apart from Vinny, they just look dry. Where the Joga Bonito that we're used to? We saw it in Fitz and Burst, but without Neymar there, you know, the next generation really needs to step up to make sure that that football heritage is still there. Yeah, you need some solidity at the back, but the guys up front, I think if I'm Brazil, I think they need to...
Chino Onwuka: It's funny because hurts the team I support, but I think they need to do something to keep their best, definitely attacking players in the country at least one or two extra years. Right now you're having kids leaving right at 18, going to Spain, Portugal, England, Russia, Kazakhstan, just for money.
Chino Onwuka: They need to keep them at least another extra one or two years because I think what a lot of people forget is Santos was able to, the government industry came together and they were able to keep Neymar in Brazil until 21, which I think helped because there are lot of super talented players coming out But a lot of them get lost along the way. wonder if they would hold on to a little bit of something more if they stay just that extra year younger. So, you know, Brazil, look, what is it? 2030, it's going to be Vinny, Rodrigo, you know, hopefully Endric is out of Ancelotti's, whatever shadow realm he's put it in. And some other young kids that I know about who,
Chino Onwuka: you know, probably the world isn't aware of. And you just hope that by that time, know, they're ready to shine and we can see Brazil be Brazil. Just like we saw France be France. We saw Spain be Spain. You know, I think we all want to see Brazil be Brazil.
Emeka: Listen, Brazil... I don't know if you might have academies. want to be racist. I don't think so. But if they do have academies or young youth training, every fourth winger, tell the fifth kid, stay in the middle.
Emeka: Like, just stay in the middle. Maybe play midfield, you know? Just play midfield. Every fifth winger, just pick a kid and say, right, man, we got enough Neymar. Just play midfield. We need some Jogo Benito. I don't understand how our nation can produce all the tricky wingers in the world, and yet all the midfielders are hatchet men.
Emeka: doesn't make sense to me. Like, all of you skill guys are wingers, but one of them is a member of the team.
Chino Onwuka: They're not all hatchet, man.
Emeka: You're not all hatched against it.
Chino Onwuka: But what happens is the game in Brazil is so end-to-end is that you just, they're number 10s or like old school number 10s of back in the day. And they don't make it to the next level in football.
Chino Onwuka: So they have those, those guys just stay in Brazil. And they can't make it out of there. So they need to find a way to blend those abilities with still being able to do all the other stuff that's now paramount in today's game, where you still have to be, you know, physical, dynamic, be able to press and do all that stuff. If you look, there's still Joga Benito, they still have the number 10s, but those number 10s ain't making it out of Brazil.
Emeka: Oh, fair enough. They're all luxury players. But, yeah, I just – I couldn't believe my eyes now seeing Casemiro and Fabinho still be starting at Brazil in 2026. It sit with my soul. But, yeah, it's the World Cup, man. The World Cup is the World Cup.
Emeka: I'm sad now that it's gone. We're not really in the dog days of summer. so dog, we came out retirement to give you all a podcast to get you through the days. But I'm going to be thinking about this World Cup for a very long time.
Emeka: Very, very, very long time. But sadly, all good things have to come to an end. And now we're into what I would humbly say is my brother's favorite part of the season. Chinon might be up there too.
Emeka: I used to love it, but now I'm out of it. The transfer window. And the day before the World Cup final, I think it was the before, or day before the third place game, I woke up one day to our group chat. Someone put there.
Emeka: had to squint and make sure I wasn't seeing things wrong. Because I saw an Ornstein tweet with Morgan Rodgers.
Chuku: Thank you.
Emeka: And I was like, we go. I waiting for this tweet all summer. And he's going to Chelsea. My man went to Chelsea. There have been a lot of transfers that we could talk about. And I'm sure we will during the summer. But I want to spend some time on this one. Because...
Emeka: I've never seen a gazump that came out the blue like this. Maybe I was missing things, but every single story ever released was Arsenal were in for Rodgers, Arsenal were in for Rodgers, Arsenal were in for Rodgers.
Emeka: Was he the first or second option?
Chino Onwuka: I mean, is that true? We're literally seeing another one like that happen right now.
Emeka: But with Diomande, I feel like it wasn't just like PSG. They were like, Arsenal sniffing in Liverpool.
Chino Onwuka: No, at some point, like after the second game, it was like, yeah, PSG's got this lock. He said no to Liverpool.
Emeka: I guess maybe.
Chino Onwuka: He only wants PSG and...
Emeka: I mean, that was little murkier than this one, though. feel like was just clear-cut. Like, it was runners-cut to Arsenal. Like, everyone else is on defense. And then I woke up to see Chelsea sign him.
Emeka: And it's now been a week. We've had to process it. There's some news that obviously has been breaking a couple days that we can touch on later. But... You know, Chinon, I feel like you've been on me. I'll put my opinion on there. was on the record.
Emeka: I wasn't a big fan of Rodgers for the money that were being quoted, let alone the prices that he's gone for now. But a week later, how do you feel as an Arsenal fan now with Rodgers going to Chelsea for $17 million and that some deals happened and the other way Grand Ancho going back? So who knows?
Emeka: But how do you assess this Rodgers deal?
Chino Onwuka: No, look, I'm not going to lie. Like, I didn't want to express it too much in the group chat because I know there's some guys on here who would always refer to Rodgers as my Rodgers. So I didn't want to, I know I come across a certain way sometimes with certain things. So I wanted to not do that this time. But I was relieved. I was like, oh, thank God.
Chino Onwuka: Because again, I'll state this. I like Morgan Rodgers. I think he's a great player. I think he has some really outlier abilities, but I just did not see how he fit into this Arsenal team, especially...
Chino Onwuka: as either the starting left winger or, you know, at other positions, not that he wouldn't be the starter, but it just caused lot of issues otherwise. I know last year when he was in the mix with, you know, I think the first report was Arsenal looking at Eze, Madueke and Rodgers for sort of that other winger position who could sort of be backup, but also start. And I loved it then because Rodgers is an up and coming player who has potential.
Chino Onwuka: But there's a valuation that had for that that I hope Arsenal had for that. And the prices I was seeing, even in this inflated market, just didn't make sense.
Chino Onwuka: Because to me, if you're going to pay that money for a left winger, whether he's worth it or not, let him at least be a left winger. And it wasn't me. All the reports just kept being said that Arsenal view him as their number one target for the left wing spot. So they said it, not me. And so that was always confusing to me. And at the end, I was at the point where just holding my hands up to say, hey, you know what?
Chino Onwuka: Y'all know better than me. Y'all the professionals. I hope you know what you're doing. But it didn't work out and I was happy. Honestly, would rather sign nobody than have Morgan Rogers be the left winger at that price.
Chino Onwuka: I tried to squint hard during the World Cup to see anything. I didn't see anything. The one thing I saw, Pete, like, again, I'm not to like, he had a shot where the goalkeeper clearly fumbled and I don't know, maybe was a little bit satire.
Chino Onwuka: were like, oh, Rodgers had the shot. And I was like, wow, y'all reaching here. So I didn't see anything that alleviated my...
Emeka: I mean, he assisted the goal against Argentina. I'll give him that.
Chino Onwuka: Okay, yeah, yeah. So I didn't see a lot that alleviated my worries, especially compared to some of the other guys that were potentially targets. And so... Yeah, I think he'll go and do well for Chelsea, honestly, because he's a good player. But in terms of what I wanted at Arsenal, and I'll make this selfish, I was relieved it didn't go through. Now, the one thing I will say is still think it is a concern that wherever I feel not, this was reportedly Arteta's number one target.
Chino Onwuka: And again, and this has been a repeating pattern, this is another case of us not being able to bring in Arteta's number one target. I think, honestly, apart from defenders in Declan Rice, especially when you look at attacking top targets, we have not landed a single one.
Chino Onwuka: Now you can squabble about what those guys ended up doing at other clubs, but Vlahovic, we didn't get. Rafinha, we didn't get. Rodrigo, we didn't get.
Chino Onwuka: Isaac, Izak, we didn't get. And then option B was Sesco, we didn't get. There's one other player forgetting. Now, people say, oh, well, those guys, some those guys didn't work out and the players who ended up getting worked out.
Chino Onwuka: To me, that just shows that Arteta has been able to make... lemonade out of lemons. So it's like, if this is what Arteta is doing with maybe not the guys that were his top choice, what would he have done with his top choice? Because we've seen him bring players that weren't doing certain thing at the club they were before and then come to Arsenal and he's He's been able to utilize them. So that's what I see. So I'm like, to me, it's just like just once and we can put the debate to bed.
Chino Onwuka: Let's bring in Arteta's top target and see what he does with it. So that's the one concern I have there. I'm not really going to talk about Mr. Spinning Plates because that's for another topic. But, you know, those are all my thoughts with regards to the Morgan Rodgers situation.
Emeka: I'll let you cook, Chukwu, because I really want to carry your thoughts, but I'll just say quickly, when you listed off those names, what I kept thinking, what came to my mind immediately was when Arrino went on that Football Heritage rant and he said, see all these players?
Emeka: See where they play? See how they play? See if they play? And that's how I feel all those names. Vladovic! Because I remember Maslow losing their minds over Vladovic. Where is he now?
Emeka: So, that's all I can say about that. And what
Chino Onwuka: But that is to my point, and I know how it turned out. My personal belief is that I feel like if those guys played for Arsenal, even Mudrik, I feel like their careers would have gone very differently just because of what I've seen Arteta do with the guys that were second or third choice.
Emeka: Fair enough. I just, and I do agree.
Chino Onwuka: Yeah.
Emeka: do agree. And, you know, some of them, what, you know, yeah, I do agree, but it's just, it's a cage in my mind. But before I let my brother cook, because he deserves to cook on this topic.
Emeka: I want to get on the record that even though was anti-Rodgers, I'm also fully aware that on this very podcast, maybe two years ago, I got on here and said that Rodgers was the best player I've seen play against Arsenal in the last two years.
Emeka: He has his moments. He's fantastic. He's not a winger. And that's always my issue with him is that he's not a left winger. I'm not spending 112 million pounds to get a guy who...
Emeka: If you asked him, he will tell you he's not a winger. That's not who I want for that kind of money. And talk us of XG comes for us all and all that things. I was consistent on it. I did not want Rodgers.
Emeka: So when I go about, even, but even with that being said, when I first saw that tweet that he went to Chelsea, I was, I was disappointed. I couldn't believe it. Just going to Chelsea. Like how do these guys afford him? Like all those questions. And then now I've really sounded a little bit more and I, I,
Emeka: I'm happy didn't come to Arsenal. So I can say for that kind of money, I'm happy to come to Arsenal.
Chuku: Thank you.
Emeka: But I had some chats with my brother from all the way back in April, even before the season was over. And he was telling me, look, we're this good now. Wait until we get Rodgers in next year.
Emeka: And now, Chukwu, we're going to see Rodgers link up with his fellow cold brother in Chelsea. So as the biggest Rodgers fan I knew, what are your thoughts now one week later after he was transferred to Chelsea?
Chuku: I mean, I've sat here, I've listened to y'all both chat about him, and mean, listen, I can hear y'all saying all this talk now about, you know, being glad we didn't sign him.
Chuku: I hear it, you know, and that's y'all's opinions, right? And don't get me wrong, like, look, Obviously, with the news that's been floating around recently with who might be possibly available, by all means, if that possible player does end up signing for our club, then, you know, who's Rodgers? You know, who's Rodgers?
Chuku: Whatever, right? But for me personally, right, until that player who shall not be named is actually signed or actually is...
Chuku: holding up our jersey i personally just don't get the whole narrative about not wanting not wanting or rather guess not let me just put this way basically being okay with the alternative being not signing anyone as opposed to signing rogers at the price you know that i guess was needed to be paid to get it to get a deal done I mean, look, I get it. Like, obviously, Chelsea overpaid, no question about it.
Chuku: I was initially heartbroken when I first seen the news. I couldn't believe it because in my mind, I already ordained Rodgers to be our sign-in Cup.
Chuku: It didn't happen, and, you know, it is what it is. I do find it interesting, though, you mentioned Emeka, that, like, you don't, you're saying if you ask Rodgers himself, he doesn't view himself as left winger?
Chuku: don't know. I disagree with that. I mean, first and foremost, before he even came to Villa, and even before he was in Middlesbrough, in the youth set-up,
Chuku: Left wing was the position he played. You can do the research. He played left wing. There's no argument to be made. The guys, are people who have covered him coming from the youth game.
Chuku: Left wing was a position he is very familiar with. Now, did he play that a lot at Aston Villa? No, no, he didn't. We saw him play more centrally.
Chuku: And will say, if you ask the player right now, The fair point I would make is he will mention, or he would mention because he has already mentioned his preference of playing through the middle.
Chuku: And that's fair. But at the same time, Chinon made a point where he mentioned about what Ateta has done with his second, third, fourth options that were provided to him and how...
Chuku: a player who may have not succeeded, a player we were linked to who had gone to a different club, didn't succeed, right? Maybe it's a different story if that said player was playing for Arsenal, playing in our system.
Chuku: I feel strongly about that with Rodgers because I just feel like from what is available on the market, yes, Rodgers isn't some super world-class talent,
Chuku: You know, I agree. He's not that. Should you be paying the kind of price Chelsea paid for guy that's not really world class? Probably not.
Chuku: But at the same time, to think that a signing like Morgan Rodgers doesn't improve at the bare minimum our overall squad or our overall team.
Chuku: I just think that's silly, in my opinion. I just think... I just don't see... I just don't believe that. I believe Rodgers would have greatly helped improve us going forward.
Chuku: But again, will never see it. So it is what it is. I've already made my peace with that. Now, granted, you know, I know was a lot of comparison with him and Barcola.
Chuku: And if I'll be frank... For the play style and the type of players they are, because Barcola and Rodgers are two completely different style of players.
Chuku: For what I would want on the left wing, I think for sure it's safe to say I would prefer the style of play of a Barcola. But I think in the background, obviously we've had our chats. I've now given my explanation, and I'll make it clear.
Chuku: Part of the reason why was willing, or rather, of the reasons why wanted to sign a Rodgers was, one, we already saw what the market was looking as far as other players, what they've gone for, and the price they were going to cost.
Chuku: I mean, it's no surprise we're seeing Barcola, PSG quoted a price well over 100 million euros for Barcola services.
Chuku: And I'm of the belief, especially after the debacle that took place with the Pepe sign-in. If the market is telling us we have to spend over 100 mil to get quality sign-in through the line, a quality forward through the line, I'd much rather spend 100 million on a player that I know I've seen, that has done bits in the league already, that's primarily proven,
Chuku: Even though he doesn't fully fit the kind of style I would prefer to see on the wing, my thought process has always been, if I could see Trossard do what he did in the wing and he doesn't have nearly the kind of physical traits that Rodgers possesses in his toolbox the moment at this stage, I just have to believe Rodgers could have done a massive job.
Chuku: And if Arteta had asked him to play a role, there's a reason why Arteta had him as one, if not his number one target. Like, we've seen what Arteta has done with players in his system. I know offensive-wise, hasn't always looked the best or been the best as of late.
Chuku: But I really do believe that Rodgers has shown me enough. at least at the time, where I was believing that he would come in and at least add some positivity to our front line.
Chuku: Now, at this stage, though, having a week or a couple of few days gone by since the announcement or since the quote-unquote hijacking from Chelsea, I kind of, know, cooled down a bit because, look, the end the day, we just won the league, man.
Chuku: And have to just have faith and belief that the organization as a whole, Arsenal as an organization, they know what they're doing.
Chuku: They have the right people in position to run the club. And if they felt like Rodgers exceeded the valuation that they had for the player,
Chuku: I have to stand by the club. And I mean, they have their reasons. So it's really been clear in interviews how the club thinks when it comes to evaluating a player.
Chuku: If they don't feel like the player fits that evaluation, they're more than willing to move on to another target. And whoever the club brings in I'm always going to be behind them.
Chuku: And we're still yet to see. Even if we don't sign anybody, I've already got in my heart. At this point, already started getting behind the idea of Tazolos being the next wonder kid, wonder boy, whatever you want to call him.
Chuku: Who knows? Look, at end of the day, I just have a lot of faith in the organization, Berta, Arteta. the Cronkies, I have a lot of trust. They've earned that with what they've been able to build so far and getting us to the pinnacle of winning the league.
Chuku: And I just think, you know, Morgan Rogers is not the end all be all. I'm not going to die on that hill just because we didn't sign him. You know, it is what it is. I'm going to be very interested to see how he links up though in the Shabby Alonso system with Cole Palmer and the crew.
Chuku: But, you know, For now, with what we have going on, I don't think the end of the world. There will be other players that will become available when the time comes, and we just have to sit back, wait, and watch and see what the club does. But either way, the club has my full backing, and I'm just eager to see what other moves we make before the end of the transfer window.
Emeka: Fair enough. Fair enough. I guess I can get back to you, Chano. You said for the price Chelsea paid, you'd rather have nothing.
Emeka: Would you still, if August and September rolls around, that we make no more signings in the left-wing spot, would you still feel that way? I'd rather not have spent $117 million on Rodgers than get no one in.
Chino Onwuka: Yes, because again, I just feel like I just had so many questions and at that price. And the thing with that price is you spend that money for Rodgers. And you know, I do agree with Chico that at some level, it would have improved the team.
Chino Onwuka: But I feel like that I've still been a ceiling on that. And once you spend, we're still Arsenal. Yes, revenues are growing. But once you spend 117 on Rodgers, that locks you up for a while.
Chino Onwuka: Like you can't just take that back or you can't spend 117 million again. So it's that opportunity cost of doing that deal the point where wouldn't be happy. I'd probably upset, not due to Rodgers, just upset at the fact that we're going, you know, another season where we haven't upgraded the left wing spot, but then it would at least still give us the chance in the future address it. I feel like,
Chino Onwuka: you know, if you make Rodgers that signing, that is your bet and that bet better pay off. Similar thing I felt about Yokores is, you know, if you make that bet with Yokores, it better work because you then have to deal with that for two or three years. And we're seeing that this summer where you're looking at different opportunities that are there and now you always have to deal with fact, but okay, well, Yokores is here. So you can't just, you have to do something about that, right? So If come the end of the season, summer, it is just Solis and Martinelli, think Arsenal would have not been successful in their plans for the summer, but I can accept the process even if the result didn't work out because clearly they tried for Rodgers.
Chino Onwuka: Clearly, however feasible or not, they're trying for others. but they stuck to a valuation that I happen to agree with at this point in time. So I will be okay with the process for Rogers.
Chino Onwuka: If we don't get anybody in that's an upgrade, I will not be happy with the result.
Emeka: I like it. Before, it wasn't on this podcast. My brother can back me up on this. End of the season, I said with my chest, if Arsenal didn't sign anybody this summer, I would still pick them to win the Premier League.
Emeka: I'm still 10 toast on that take. Would I be thrilled? No. And I mean, we've already signed Solas, and sure we'll sign somebody else, but I believe in the boys, man.
Emeka: And, uh, I hope it doesn't come to that, but I wouldn't be kicking screaming because I think we have a great squad. But hopefully it doesn't come to that.
Emeka: Before we move on to our shout-outs, we're going all along a little bit, but there's some news out there. I didn't want to touch on it too much, but there's some news.
Emeka: We talked about Brazil, but there's some samba flavor brewing in the pot, cooking up, that we might be – Digesting a little bit. I guess just quickly.
Emeka: Do you think in the next week, in the next week, one week from now, we would have signed one of either Bruno or Samba Man Vinny Jr.? Chukwu?
Chuku: I definitely think there's more likelihood that we sign Bruno, for sure. And I definitely think if it's going to happen, I expect it to happen this week. As it is announced that Bruno, I'm pretty sure it's seen for Vinny, but both of them are supposed to be off holidays come end of the week, end of this coming week.
Chuku: So I just think, you know, from all reports, I mean, look, been hearing all this exploring and deceleration and blah, blah, blah, blah. But I really do believe that this week we're probably going to, if the deal is going to be done, we're going to be hearing news this week about Bruno G signing for Arsenal. So fingers crossed, but that's my belief at the moment.
Emeka: You know?
Chino Onwuka: I believe by the end of this week on both fronts, we will have resolution as to if the deals are feasible or not. By the end of this week, Arsenal will know whether we can actually strike a deal with Newcastle or if Newcastle asking too much, at which point we will move on because preseason has started and we need to secure targets.
Chino Onwuka: And all the reporting is saying that Real Madrid wants a resolution with Vinny on if he's extending or not. And if he's not extending, then think there's then a pathway as to how things can go. So I don't know whether either of them are signing or not, but I believe we'll have resolutions on potentially both by the end of the week.
Emeka: I'm a hard hell no on both of them. I think this drags on until mid-August. Sadly, this is just, it has sniff of a saga that annoys me for far too long, but it is what it is.
Emeka: Well, we could have a full two hours on Arsenal Transfer Talk, so I wanted to delay that purposely for the next time. But as we usually do, we like to give a quick shout-out at the end of the podcast for anything sports or non-sports that we haven't touched on for the preceding episode. And I'll do my really quickly, give a big shout-out to Christopher Nolan.
Emeka: He had a banger with the Odyssey. I can tell you listeners, go watch that movie. Don't wait for an IMAX. All this IMAX chat is a little much for me. Like, go pick a movie theater and watch it. 8.5 out of 10. I bumped it I first did 7.5. Now I'm bumping up to 8.5 out of 10. Better than Oppenheimer.
Emeka: So, Christopher Nolan, a guy making a Greek Odyssey, making a billion-dollar movie. Shout out Christopher Nolan, man. Trinnell, you any shout-outs this week?
Chino Onwuka: Yeah, shout out the creator of the process. I believe y'all can name him for me.
Emeka: Say thank you.
Chino Onwuka: Yep, Sam Hinckley. And also shout out Daryl Morey. You guys set up the foundations. You saw the potential Unfortunately, you weren't there to see it actually happen, especially for Deramore.
Chino Onwuka: He just missed the boat by week or a couple of weeks. But hey, I think you're seeing the culmination of the process. Now you guys have the team not saying whether you win it or not, but I believe we can officially close that book that now officially the process is complete.
Emeka: I mean, not the tangent off it, though, but would LeBron still have signed if Maury was there? I'm not so sure. People sleep There's some beef between them. Would LeBron go out for China?
Chino Onwuka: Fair enough.
Emeka: love that.
Chino Onwuka: Fair enough. I mean, the new GM is someone that LeBron played high school with and was, you know, in the Cleveland organization when LeBron was there.
Emeka: I mean, the new G. And that too as well.
Chino Onwuka: So I'm sure there's parts of that. But yeah.
Emeka: know, like, it's funny because I got that thought because you mentioned it. But, like, I don't think LeBron signs him or he's there for those two reasons. You got beef with him, and his replacement is his boy. So, you never know. But, fair enough, shout out Sam Hickey for sure, man. Like, even if they don't win, the process led them to signing LeBron.
Emeka: I mean, what can you say? Dracoom, take us home, man. We just shout out for the week.
Chuku: Hey, man. I think I'm a second Chanel, man. Shout to process, bro. Because, man, the process has definitely been a long time coming. But the fact that you could get, you know, has led to where we're at today. LeBron James of Philly.
Chuku: Who would have thought, man? If someone had mentioned LeBron James going to be in another team that's not Cavs, Heat, or Lakers, I mean... I would have been, I would have had to, you know, I would have thought they were smoking some, you know, some herbs because, yeah, I just didn't see it.
Chuku: But lo and behold, you know, fast forward, July 2026, LeBron James is a Philadelphia 76ers, man. It's crazy. So, yeah, no, shout out to the process.
Chuku: I already told y'all LeBron going to win another ring before retires. You know. know if it's going this year. I think it'll be this year. But if it's not, best believe it'll be next year. But I got my money on Philly, man.
Chuku: They're going to do some specials. Shout out to them. Shout out to the process. Shout to the city. And let's go. Let's go.
Emeka: On that note, trust the process. Trust, love the game. We'll be back. Who knows? Recording scheduled in the summer. I'm not going to lie Ad If there's some breaking news, if Vinny gets signed, we might jump in the booth. If not, we might be seven or eight days until hear from us. But you will hear from us.
Emeka: That is a promise. We're back. back for the rest of the summer, bleeding into the football season. We're in August. Scary hours. Premier League is back in three weeks. Scary hours.
Emeka: I love it, man. So thank you for joining us. You know, appreciate sticking through the little hiatus we had. had to recharge batteries a little bit, but we're back at it, man.
Emeka: That's another episode. Catch you next time on Love of the Game Podcast.
