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Impressive and Ugly Debuts and Early VAR Controversies
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Nick Bird is back to talk about the Premier League's freshest debutants and The Good, The Bad and The Slightly Irrelevant of those new faces. He also discusses the early VAR controversies as it looks we're set for another long season of refereeing decisions.
Join your Global Sports Podcast Network team for your daily briefing on all things premier league – News, transfers, analysis and opinion – you’ll find it here on Daily Premier League part of the Global Sports Podcast Network podcast channel
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Transcript
Introduction to the Podcast
00:00:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to the Daily English Premier League podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. My name is Nick Bird, back again for another week and it has been an exciting first week of the Premier League kicking off with a storm on Friday night at Anfield and maybe not quite delivering as much as that opening game did but we got the first week out of the way.
00:00:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
My team, Arsenal, played terribly, but got the got the win on the road at Old Trafford. And that's all we need to do this season. Just keep picking up those three points, even when we don't necessarily deserve it.
00:00:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
But that first week brings...
Standout Debut Performances
00:00:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
An excitement around those new players. And um want to focus on first of all the debutantes. There were a lot of good ones.
00:01:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And a handful of like ugly ones. So I'm going to take you through what in my opinion were the good, the bad and not quite the ugly. But I'm going to with the slightly irrelevant.
00:01:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
So where else can you kick off apart from Hugo Eketike on Friday night. He got a goal and assist. on his debut, as well as doing the dirtier back-to-goal work.
00:01:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
He won the most ah flick-ons, the most layoffs in the game. And the goal, he got a little bit luck, but it was a great finish. He did that dirtier work for the assist. He ran into space, held the ball up, laid off Cody Gakpo, who was allowed to triple across the 18-yard box.
00:01:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
We saw a little bit of the ah lack of defensive... um
00:01:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hurt, like Harmony, i think is the right word for this scenario for Bournemouth. They were missing Christie, they were missing Cook in midfield, so Tavernier was having to put in a shift defensively, which isn't where he's most comfortable.
00:02:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then, obviously, the centre-back pairing have had it had mere days together with Diakite and Sanesi, who had a really poor day on Friday.
00:02:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
so obviously, Ekiteke was phenomenal. The next day, Rinders matched him with a goal and assist after... I believe getting a goal and assist on debut hadn't been done for quite a few years.
00:02:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Reinhardt has also had the most progressive carries, the most attacking third touches. This was an unbelievable debut for a guy that they should never have been able to get for so cheap ah from AC Milan.
00:02:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've seen Milan fans losing their mind pretty much all summer and that just stuck the nail in a bit further. ah Stuck the knife in a bit further, I should say. ah He was unbelievable.
00:03:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Loads of running when City had the ball, but when... when he didn't have it at his feet, and even when he did, ah like I say, had the most progressive carry. So this is going be a superb player. ah Feels like the successor to ah Goodwin more than the successor to ah Kevin De Bruyne, but maybe this next player, Rayne Cherky, who scored on his debut off the bench. We didn't get see much of his playmaking necessarily, but we his goal was really good.
00:03:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Quick step over, push it out, lower crossed goal. Maybe you can ask for Sarr to do a little bit more, but it was a great finish from Cherki. ah Moving on to a team who you could honestly have their entire team as impressive Premier League debutants.
00:03:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sunderland. All three goalscorers had their Premier League debut. Mayenda, Isidore and ah Dan Ballard. Great finishes. Hermansen, we'll be getting on to later.
00:04:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Probably not his best for that third goal in particular, but though those three stood out. And then the Kaisi didn't score, but just getting about.
00:04:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
You look at Noah Siddiqui, signed for 15 million from Union Senjiwa. He covered the most ground in the game, had the most intensive runs in the game, and the joint most tackles and interceptions in the game.
00:04:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is superb performance when ah you need players who are going to get about in the midfield, which may sound a bit old-fashioned, but we saw the sort of job that Kante did for Leicester. And if Siddiqui can get anywhere close to Kante, he's going to be an unbelievable signing for for Sunderland.
00:04:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Also, want to give a little bit of notice to Granit Xhaka, created the most chances in the game on his Premier League return. I spoke about last week how important he's going to be, and you see straight away bring that leadership, and despite playing the deepest of their midfielders, he created the most chances in the game.
00:05:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, a really strong return to the league from him. Kudus, two assists, created five chances, the most in the entire game week, or the joint most in the entire game week, I should say.
00:05:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
For Spurs, he didn't necessarily get as many dribbles as we're used to seeing from him, but that was because he was getting doubled up on by Burnley, and he still managed to provide two assists for Richarlison, who was really had really strong finishes for both of them, especially that second one.
00:05:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
So ah really strong debut from Kudus. ah Dan and Doi, really impressive header for his first goal on his debut. The first Swiss player to score on their Premier League debut, which when I read that was a little bit of a surprise, but maybe when you start thinking of the Swiss players who have been in the league, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise.
00:06:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
He also had the most touches in the box, more touches in the box than any player in the game, despite not playing the full game. And I mean... I was surprised that they got him, like, it seems sort out of nowhere, he seemed set for Napoli, and then suddenly he was being announced by Nottingham Forest, and think it's a really strong Alanga replacement.
00:06:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
So they've done really well there. ah Moving on to our last of the good. Brian Mboumo and Matthias Cunha.
00:06:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cunha dribbled through Arsenal's midfield in defence a number of times. And sometimes yeah he was finding the space and not necessarily getting given the ball ah when he was in certain scenarios, especially in the first half. I think that um chemistry will grow with the team over the season, of course.
00:07:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Buemo had, i think, the most shots in the game and the most shots he's had in a game since 2023, I believe I read. So he was really good. And while he maybe didn't have the efficiency in front of goal we're accustomed to seeing from Brandon Buemo, he was threatening. And i think both of these players brought a life to attack that Man United haven't had in the past few years.
00:07:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
so So those are my list of the good. Obviously these are quite knee-jerk reactions. This is one game week. You're going to hear about the more knee-jerky reactions after we hear about Zencastr. But this is not me saying these are going to be good all season.
00:07:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
These are not me saying these players we'll hear after the break are going to be bad or irrelevant all season. and So let's hear about Zencastr and then hear a little bit more about this weekend's Premier League debutants.
Underwhelming Debuts
00:08:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
So moving on to the bad and they're slightly irrelevant. Let's kick it off with the slightly irrelevant. I think this will be a bit quicker and ah lesser antagonistic, maybe.
00:08:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh I thought Jeremy Fringpong and Florian Verts had quite quiet Premier League debuts. Verts especially. But I was looking through the stats when trying to...
00:09:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
formulate the opinions really but Vert still was progressing the ball a lot I believe he was second or third most progressive in passing on his team after think was Alisson and Van Dijk so he maybe didn't pass the eye test in in this debut but he was still doing work for his team.
00:09:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Frimpong kind of, like, you forgot he was out there almost. And he, when I was looking at the stats, he only progressed, his progressive pass total was only like 35 yards.
00:09:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And when you think he has Salah in front of him, you maybe want a bit more, but at the same time, because of how aggressive he is and how high up the pitch he starts, It's maybe a bit more understandable.
00:09:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll come and see a bit more of that after the week's progress. Zubemendy, I think Arsenal were just so bad technically all game that with the ball, he didn't impress as I've seen him across Arsenal's preseason.
00:10:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think defensively, kind of went under the radar and he was really good at breaking up play. getting in and making tackles to snuff out chances before they became chances. So i actually thought it was quite good defensively, but we didn't see what we want or what we or Arsenal want him to bring primarily, which is his on the ball skills. So i think he was falls under the slightly irrelevant for this week. um
00:10:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Dewsbury Hall, just two progressive passes in 90 minutes for him. I actually have quite high hopes for him at Everton, but I think this wasn't a game to be proud of for Everton generally, and this wasn't a debut to be particularly proud of for Dewsbury Hall.
00:11:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Then on to guy who... could be in the bad but because I only saw the match of the day highlight so he wasn't really highlighted much he's going to come under the slightly irrelevant although the the online discourse i discourse I've seen from Chelsea fans have been quite negative about his debut so yeah he could fall under the bad if yeah you saw his full 53 minute debut but
00:11:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gittins falls under the slightly irrelevant for me when I was looking at the stats only one of his 14 carries was progressive and I think you buy him for his sort of progressive abilities and Yeah, that's not what you want to see out of him. So a short debut, but a potentially worrying one early on. But I don't think it will stay quite as bad.
00:12:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that brings us on to the bad. um Milos Kerkis, I don't think, had a strong debut. He... had a familiar opponent he was up against in Semenyo, and you'd think that would help him out a bit, he knows what to expect.
00:12:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think he just kind of got bullied and bypassed by Semenyo, and he only had one tackle and interception combined in his whole debut, which i was only about fifteen nine sixty minutes.
00:12:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
you want a little bit more, I think, from Kerkhez than what we saw on Friday night. Giocarez, I think, falls into the bad and it may be a little bit harsh because, like i was saying on Zubemendi, all of Arsenal were just quite bad ah on Sunday.
00:12:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think he had a rough day. yeah The slip on the ball when he looked like he was going to have his first chance as an Arsenal player in the Premier League... was sort of indicative of the game he had and it's quite an ugly moment to define your Premier League debut.
00:13:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And at the end of the day, he he had zero shots. So I think it's just about fair to put him under the bad, but he needs to gel with that attack, know when... when to make runs, who's going to be willing to make the passes for those runs.
00:13:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I don't think we'll see Arsenal quite as bad this season and as they were on Sunday. And finally, Mads Hermanson in goal for West Ham. I actually think he's quite a good goalkeeper, but he had an ugly, ugly debut at the Stadium of Light and that third goal,
00:13:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah it bounces over his hand ah for Isidore's extra goal as West Ham were trying to push to try and find way in late.
00:13:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think that was quite ugly. Mayender's header, I think you could maybe ask a little bit more from him as well. So it it's not a debut to be proud of. I think it will be one that ah you're able to forget though with the quality he is capable of. of capable of So those are all the debuts for the first week that I wanted to touch on. I'll reiterate, this does not mean they were bad. This just means I don't think they performed to what they're capable of or what they were expected of. So...
00:14:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll hear about Bionique and then we'll touch on the early VAR controversies because I think there were more than ah even expected there to be in the first weekend. So it's going to be another long season. and But first, let me tell you about Bionique.
Controversial VAR Decisions
00:14:39
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00:15:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
forty percent off your first order VAR had an interesting first week of the Premier League. It got talked a lot talked about a lot last season, more than I think even the first seasons it was brought in. I think it felt like it was talked about so, so much last year, all just refereeing generally.
00:15:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it began with just 13 minutes into the the season. Sanessi's handball for me is just a clear red card. The ball's hit his arm twice.
00:15:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And while the first time I think you can give to him is accidental, the second time he swipes at the ball with his arm. He's the last man. Eketike is right on top of him. And...
00:15:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think if Ekotike wins the ball, he probably runs through and and at least has a chance to score. So I think this is a denial of a goal-scoring opportunity. And Arsenal, I saw had it twice last year where on the halfway line, Saliba got a red card for Dogso and Lewis Skelly got a red card for Dogso in Arsenal's half.
00:16:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, sorry. ah in in the attacking half, so I don't think the location of it should really matter, because we've seen precedent that it doesn't. So for me, ah this this was the worst decision of the weekend, I think, and moving quickly on to the second worst decision.
00:16:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
The Eze free kick, this rule about Gehi being within a metre of the wall where he pushed Kaiseido to create the gap for Eze to put the ball through was introduced in 2019. It has not been implemented once in both Premier League and European football, according to what I read.
00:16:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And um I guarantee if you go and watch the last 10 free kicks that were scored, you probably see that rule broken in quite a lot of them. So this just doesn't, this feels like something that VAR doesn't need to intervene with really.
00:17:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
So this feels like the goal should have stood and yeah, this this is quite a confusing decision.
00:17:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Moving on to Saliba's challenge on Kunya. This feels quite 50-50. i think there are a fair um fair arguments for this being both a penalty and not a penalty.
00:17:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
It looks like Saliba goes to block a shot, ah but Kunya receives the ball with his back to goal and he's backing up into that leg Saliba's gone to block a shot with.
00:17:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he ends up, Cunior ends up going down because of it. The referee let VAR decide and VAR clearly didn't think there was enough. So potentially Arsenal were were a little bit lucky on that decision.
00:18:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah And after last season, from an Arsenal fan perspective, I i think we were due a little bit of luck, even though i don't think this is necessarily clear as day.
00:18:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Ayari on Josh King in the Brighton-Fulham game. King's first touch sort of gets away from him while he's in the box. And he's going, him and Ayari are both going for for what I would say is a loose ball, a ball that's there to be won.
00:18:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And King just about beats Ayari to it. And as Ayari's swinging to try and kick the ball, he just catches the heel of Josh King. there's not It's not like a strong kick into the heel, which I think is why it wasn't given both by VAR or on the field, but sort of similar to Kunya one, I think.
00:18:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
If either of those are given, they're not overturned. So... Yeah, probably if you're a Fulham fan, you can feel a little bit aggrieved. But I personally don't think there was enough contact or force to to give this as a penalty.
00:19:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Sangari's handball for Brentford penalty. This one is a little bit weird. I think it's similar to the previous two where... because it's given, it's not overturned, but if he doesn't give this on the field, he I don't think it's given him by ba There were only nine handballs given last year by referees or VAR generally, um and...
00:19:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
That kind of feels like they wouldn't give this one then. and So if you haven't seen it, ah there is the ball sort of coming towards him.
00:19:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's not looking at it and his arm sort of raises but and hits it, but... So you can argue that his arm is moved towards the ball, but because he wasn't looking at it, it's a little bit weird.
00:20:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the positioning of his arm was behind um a Brentford player at the time. It's a little bit of a weird one. ultimately it didn't matter it only mattered if you had um forest defenders in your fpl team then i think you'd be quite annoyed that this was given but yeah the this ultimately didn't matter and therefore don't think it's quite as controversial but I mean, I've already talked about five decisions.
00:20:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
There were probably a couple more that you could include, but were less controversial. feels like we're in for a long season of VAR yet again. um Especially when you look at the Senesi and SA1s.
00:20:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Having two like quite high profile ah errors, in my opinion, even though technically the SA1 is following a rule, it just doesn't feel like it needs to be a rule that's brought in um well the like like i said when i was talking about the rule would was brought in six years ago and it's this the first time it's been implemented so they've clearly not felt they needed to um they've not felt the need to implement this rule in the past six years so why did they suddenly decide to this weekend is
00:21:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
you struggle to understand it. The Sanessi one, I think, if this is then if that game had ended 2-2 like it seemed like it was going to into the final stages, then this would have been a big talking pool point all weekend. It probably would have been discussed on Monday Night Football yesterday, which is actually, ah that's the final one I forgot to put my notes, sorry.
00:21:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
James Tarkovsky's handball for Leeds' penalty yesterday. Leeds, obviously, were phenomenal. ah they having I think having that home game similar to Sunderland, having in that ah that first game week is so important.
00:22:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Both having opponents who could be down there towards the end of the season, was they had to kind of get off to a good start. And I thought the league performed really well and deserved to win, but the the way they got their win is quite controversial.
00:22:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Stack has a shot from long range and it gets blocked. And Tarkovsky's got his arms by his side, almost behind him, more so than by his side. And...
00:22:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's like leaning towards it. It hits his arm quite high up on the arm, like just just below the sleeve. And the referee, after talking to his linesman, gives it. He's confirmed by VR.
00:22:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
It feels quite harsh because his arm like his arms are by his side. like There's not a lot he can do. Like, If you cut off his arms, he probably still just about blocks it with the side of his chest, maybe.
00:23:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can make the argument he doesn't even need to make the block because Pickford is behind him, but Tarkovsky's the sort player who's going try and get in front of it every every shot, so... It felt quite harsh. i think Everton are rightly aggrieved despite not playing well. Similar to Arsenal, they played badly and got the result.
00:23:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Everton had the chance to play badly and still walk away with a point. and Unfortunately, VAR and the referees intervened and they didn't get to have that point.
Standout Performances and Conclusion
00:23:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just mentioning Stack actually reminded me he's a player. ah I forgot to talk about the Leafs players. ah I noted down as the good debutant. So just before i leave you for the day, Anton Stack most touches, most progressive passes.
00:24:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the second most progressive passes on his team had half of what he had at six. So 12 progressive passes in his Premier League debut.
00:24:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's always really impressive. Goodman Sun as well at left back. I thought i was really impressed by um the second most touches in the attacking third after stack. Had the most successful take-ons and the most progressive carries as well as the most progressive the most carries into the penalty area.
00:24:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought those two really stood out for Leeds yesterday. That is be all for me today. I'll be back tomorrow perhaps with ah Victor... who those of you listened to the podcast last year will already know.
00:24:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'll be back with you tomorrow to talk about perhaps ah how the newly promoted teams did over the weekend and if there are any teams that looked like they were missing key things at the weekend. So I'll be back with you tomorrow.
00:25:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
This has been the Global Sport Podcast Network daily Premier League podcast. I've been Nick. Enjoy the rest of your day. Goodbye.