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Donovan Mitchell and the Lakers | Atlético Madrid’s Form and Dean Huijsen | Jets’ Woes and Who’s The Best Player in the NFL?
23 Plays7 days ago
In this week’s episode of Who’s Got The Ball? the lads speak about Donovan Mitchell’s season as the leader of the Cavs and the Lakers’ form with Luka, before breaking down Atlético’s season and Dean Huijsen’s impact at Bournemouth. To wrap up, the lads discuss the New York Jets’ woes and pick their best player in the NFL.
Gan Seans continues with the score at 15-6 to Shane & there is an update on the WGTB Multi-Sport Power Rankings.
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Transcript
Episode Introduction and Milestone
00:00:09
Speaker
Welcome back to another episode of Who's Got the Ball. So we're on episode eight this week, myself and Shane back again. What's the crack, Shane? Not a whole lot, yourself. Just I can't believe it's eight episodes already.
00:00:21
Speaker
I don't know. Just when you said it there, I was like, gee, it feels like, I don't know if it's been more or less, but it does feel, you it's just been been really good start to finish so far anyway. anyway Yeah, it's hard to actually put a number on it.
00:00:32
Speaker
Like eight doesn't seem like the right number. Yeah. Yeah. Like you said, it seems like it's been more but also less. But yeah, it's probably we've been
Audience Engagement and Social Media Shoutout
00:00:40
Speaker
enjoying it a lot. So I appreciate everybody who's been listening.
00:00:42
Speaker
And if you are listening along, just urge you to you know subscribe on YouTube if you can or follow it on whatever podcast app. and if you have the time to share it around or if you're enjoying it, let us know.
00:00:55
Speaker
We'd really be delighted. So just to say that at the top of the show. we're ready really appreciate all the kind of the views on our clips on TikTok and stuff as well. like They seem gone down a treat as well, which has been great. But again, if you'd give a follow on the TikTok or on the Instagram page, whatever you whatever you can do will be but go a long way to helping us as well.
00:01:13
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. Only just a couple of clicks means a lot to us. So anything you can do is greatly appreciated. But we hope you're enjoying it. That's the main thing.
Football Match Recap and Upcoming Game
00:01:22
Speaker
But yeah, weekend, we were last Friday. We're back at the treaty game again.
00:01:27
Speaker
So you've got to win this time. Yeah, and it's the end a way to Dundalk this Friday now in a top-the-table battle. Oh, yeah. Big clash. If only they hadn't done what they did against Cove, now they'd be flying high. But you know what? It's a great start to see them. back-to-back wins, the highest scoring team in the country.
00:01:45
Speaker
Yeah. can't really complain at the moment too much yeah to be honest they were better in the cove game than they were at the week yeah weekend like but just didn't get the results so i suppose you take something yeah exactly yeah the lads are saying after they won 5-0 in that loan last week that someone told them it was smash and grab because their fin harps game there on friday was definitely more of a
Match Analysis and Team Performance
00:02:07
Speaker
smash and grab than i've seen in quite a while Yeah, they weren't the better team until maybe the last 20 minutes and then turned it on a little bit yeah after that penalty. But the three points is all that matters.
00:02:20
Speaker
Exactly. And you don't want to be losing games against the likes of Finharps at the moment. They're going to be in the bottom third. Hopefully. Yeah, another shout for me was was at the Carlo game um on the weekend.
00:02:33
Speaker
So unfortunately conceded a goal the 74th minute to draw the game. um to draw it again One, we probably needed to win to give a proper chance to get into Division 1A next season. But still thereabouts, playing in Dublin this weekend.
00:02:48
Speaker
Haven't lost yet. And we're the only team to take any points off awfully so far.
Media Coverage of Carlow Hurling
00:02:52
Speaker
So, look, doing really well. And I just wish that RT or TG Carr would show us a bit of respect and show one of our games' lives. Because, honestly, it's and serious, man. like this These games are shown every week. And some of the football games are shown.
00:03:06
Speaker
And Carlow play good hurling and they have been for a while, so they deserve a shout, as do other counties like Offaly as well. But look, that's neither here nor there, but yeah. Yeah, they did they kind of picked their six favourite counties and kind of this they're almost showing them on a loop.
00:03:21
Speaker
And most are kind of them are from Munster as well, so you're probably right. You probably do need to maybe branch out the coverage a bit to... the back ends of Leinster counties that do need to be shown a bit more and get a bit of appreciation as well. So I do agree with you, Bruce.
00:03:38
Speaker
It just sounds mad when you're like, Carlo Hurling needs to be put on television, just kind of. It's not as lengthened as thought I'd be here in any time soon, to be perfectly honest with you. But that's the thing is like, since it's not mainstream, it's like, like they're not showing it enough and they're not advertising it enough. So then people really don't know the extent of how well they're playing. Like they beat Waterford this year, last year Drew with Kilkenny.
00:04:02
Speaker
Drew Waddafli this year who've been excellent as well. like that It is a shame that they haven't showed it more because like especially this time of year around league season, in my opinion, that's the best time to show off some of the teams that don't get as much of a shout. like I'm not out here trying to say show us the lowest division art on RT or TG Catter Live. This is Division 1B. This is the second best division in the country. Yeah.
00:04:31
Speaker
Anyway, that's how you're doing right there. Very far from the and NBA, so we'll move on to that. So the first the first thing we're going to go with is our
Donovan Mitchell and Cavs Performance
00:04:42
Speaker
player in the NBA. So this week I had the player to chat about.
00:04:45
Speaker
So I've gone with Donovan Mitchell, Spider Mitchell. um So leader of this Cavs team who are at this point probably the best team in the league in the regular season.
00:04:55
Speaker
you've You've been saying it for about a month now. And yeah, definitely over the last 10 games, are they 10-0? Yeah, they've won 11 wins in a row.
00:05:06
Speaker
They're just flying. It's ridiculous. They're up to 50 wins. And he has been very, very good for them. and And the thing is, I think they've managed him very well this season because...
00:05:20
Speaker
He's only played like 31 minutes per game. It's the lowest he's ever played. and But they don't need him to play a lot of minutes because they have a very deep team. And one thing I've mentioned before is that I liked continuity in teams and the Cavs had that.
00:05:35
Speaker
They continued with that same roster and they made a nice move in adding DeAndre Hunter and before the trade deadline. And that was that was nice as well. um So apart from that, they didn't really break anything up from the team. And that was only a a bit of extra scoring off the bench.
00:05:50
Speaker
I think he's really benefiting from the fact that Garland and Mobley are offering about 40 points per game between the two of them this season. and So I think that that definitely eases the burden on him. What do you think?
00:06:03
Speaker
I think so when I was looking at it, like doing up the kind of bits and pieces of this, I kind of noticed there's something that stood out to me for the Cavs was that they have no kind of, they no superstar, if you for know what I mean. Like I don't want to put
Cavs Roster and Playoff Potential
00:06:15
Speaker
anyone down and or disparage anyone, but like they've no, they don't have a Luka, they don't have a LeBron, they don't have someone that kind of,
00:06:21
Speaker
makes headlines every single week for doing something different. They have team of players who are all, they all benefit each other, they all suit each other, they're all perfect the way they play together. And I think that has shown over the course of season, it has been a massive advantage for with the way things are going.
00:06:36
Speaker
Donovan Mitchell is probably the superstar of the team, for one of a better way of putting it, but he's not, he wouldn't have really be a household name. I know he's six-time NBA All-Star now, but he would never have been If people were naming out their top 10 players in the league last season, then he probably wouldn't have made many of them like to know So it's kind of the way he's gone, as you were saying, like he is on his lowest minutes per game and it's helped.
00:06:58
Speaker
But he's still averaging 24 rebounds and five assists and 46% shooting. Yeah, the is the main thing there. It's very, but very efficient. Yeah, so the group when he's on the court, he's doing damage. And the points they're putting up, the defence, they're showing they don't need to kind of overuse him. And as you said, the continuity, the way to manage the roster all season has clearly worked because they're 51-10 11 wins in a row again. And they keep going on these mad winning runs.
00:07:25
Speaker
like They'll lose one and then they'll go and win 10, then they'll lose one, they'll go and win 15 minutes. Their season has just being come out of nowhere for me, to be honest. Yeah, it was an unexpected, especially with how a last season ended and people who were calling for things to be blown up and for Garland to be traded away. So I'm glad that they didn't do that. and And I think some of the things about how efficient Mitchell's game is, is kind of what has stood out to me this season. Like he's had his best and three point percentage of his career. Yeah.
00:07:57
Speaker
Nearly 40% there. And that's on over nine attempts per game. And that's a direct combat of what the Cavs do well but take or theeltics too well sorry and by taking, by taking lot threes, being a volume three-point shooting team.
00:08:13
Speaker
and And that's something the Cavs have added into their game this season, which is important. if you you know If you want to compete, you have to do your own thing, but also do well what other teams do. You can't be just shot out of these games, and they certainly won't be.
00:08:28
Speaker
He's also had the least turnovers per game of his career with only two per game. So I think that's been really important because his previous lowest was 2.6 per game. So it is a good decrease. and You know, you're taking off one turnover every couple of games there. yeah And his number was low already to begin with, but it's even lower now. And he's just being very careful with the ball, selecting what he's doing.
00:08:53
Speaker
And I think the fact he's played less minutes will be very beneficial in the playoffs. We've seen him before in the playoffs, like that year of the bubble when they had that crazy series. Um,
00:09:06
Speaker
And he was just going off against, I think it was the Nuggets. And we had, I think it was Murray on the other side. Just like that year, I think he had an average of 32 points per game in the playoffs over 10 games. And the year before that, he had 36 points per game over seven games.
00:09:23
Speaker
I'm not sure they could be flipped, but like to average 36 points per game and 32 points per game in the playoffs, he is a playoff performer. Yeah. So there's no one need to fear that he can't step up on that level, especially with less minutes under his belt throughout the season. Exactly. And like, if they brought him up to 37, 38 minutes per game when they get the playoffs.
00:09:42
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. He clearly, he'll have the gas in his, he'll have the gas in the tank from what they've saved him over the course the season. Like, To get to fifty one and ten i know and i just I think this needs to be mentioned over and over again, the fact they're 51-10, but to have him to have that record and him playing so little minutes, it's yeah just that the way they've managed the whole season has been a credit everyone in the organisation. And as you were saying, people calling for it to be blown up and started again in the summer and they've backed their men and it's worked 100% in their favour and they've just been incredible all season.
00:10:16
Speaker
That's incredible. We'll definitely get more into them as an entire team once playoff season rolls around because there'll be an interesting in topic. But like it's also a thing that he's been consistently just outside cusp of that like top 10, as you mentioned. He's been a six-time All-Star now, um and that's six years in a row.
00:10:37
Speaker
yeah So he's he's right about breaking in there. and He was once in the All-NBA teams, And so, you know, that was in his first season with the Cavs. He made the second to all and NBA team.
00:10:50
Speaker
We may well see him get his first um first all NBA team. Now, personally, i think he's probably second all NBA team level. But... The fact that the Cavs are 51-10 and they're only going to be a rising will add to his stock because I think the first four positions there between Giannis, Jokic, SGA and Tatum are probably taken. And it's going to be between him and Ant.
00:11:15
Speaker
And I think Ant is having a better season. But the record that Mitchell's team has might be something that plays into it. So, yeah, we might see that for him. And look, can't we definitely can't say he doesn't deserve it.
00:11:30
Speaker
because he's yeah he's been a leader of of the best team in the league this year. So, yeah, yeah prop props to him. And I think he's only going improve, I think, in this leadership role as he gets more minutes in the playoffs. And as we mentioned, but he can take games over and in the playoffs he can take games over too. So be interesting to see if they do need to rely on him a little bit more come playoff season.
00:11:54
Speaker
Yeah, it's like yeah I can't see how they don't kind of use them more when it comes to playoffs. Like if they don't put his numbers up to 36, 37 minutes, then i feel like they'll have missed the trick. And if they get knocked out, it's all anyone will talk about for the whole summer. We'll be like, oh, why didn't they use them more? They saved them in the post in the in the sea regular season for what? Like so surely they bring them up to close to 40 minutes come playoff time. And then surely I can see him definitely reaping the benefits of it then as well.
00:12:21
Speaker
Yeah, no, I think he'll definitely be on a 40 minutes per game minimum yeah once we get deep into the playoffs. That's all I have on on Mitchell. If you have anything else or you want to move on to your team? No, we'll move on to it Lakers.
00:12:35
Speaker
Nice. And we we picked a good time to bring him on
Lakers' Recent Games and Defensive Strategy
00:12:38
Speaker
because they... yeah after last night when LeBron broke the points, broke 50,000 points and Luka decided to show up and drop 30 as well. So I think it's a good time to start talking about him.
00:12:51
Speaker
I just, I could kind of wanted to talk about him for a while, especially with the Luka trade and the fact that they they robbed the Mavericks, basically. At first rounder, Anthony Data Davis and Max Christie and got Luka in, who was It took him a while to get going, but now he's really, really kind of stepping up himself and certainly LeBron seem to have a good understanding.
00:13:12
Speaker
Like yeah we were saying when well you were saying on the podcast with the two lads that you were worried about the defensive side of things. And in the last five games, they've only averaged 104 against.
00:13:23
Speaker
and when you have Luke and LeBron going off and you have the tools around them, Austin Reeves, like they are always going to outscore 104 points, but they can keep their defense to the level they're now. they They could go on a very, very serious run between now and the end of the season.
00:13:39
Speaker
They have several wins in a row now, which is second to only the Cavs who are, as we were saying, are a joke. Their home record is unreal as well. They've only dropped seven games at home. So clearly playing at home is really, really an advantage them. And if they could guess a home first round in the playoffs, then it's hard to see them not getting through in that.
00:13:57
Speaker
Like, yeah I just, I don't even know where to talk about him. Honestly, I think Luka luka has been averaging 28 points and eight assists before they've signed him. And it's he's now just, he's dropping bombs for them now as well. He was 30, 15 and eight last night. Yeah.
00:14:12
Speaker
The defence, as I just said, is getting better as the weeks go on well. They're getting better than I expected with the two boys. Yeah. What do you think yourself, you want to... I think with Luka, when I was looking at some of the notes I made kind of overlap with what you said. I put here like that was, it's funny that they're one of the top 10 defenses in the NBA this season.
00:14:35
Speaker
And they've looked fine without AD. They're eighth in points per game allowed across the whole season. Now, a good portion of that was with him and the team, but they've looked fine without him, as you've mentioned.
00:14:48
Speaker
Now, whether that translates into the playoffs is a whole different story when things get more physical. and But I think it seems like they've got a good they've got good tactics in terms of how to...
00:15:01
Speaker
play without probably a big name centre. Like how when they played against the Nuggets recently, they were kind of just like crowding Jokic, putting two men on him, getting a lot of hands and just wearing him out.
00:15:12
Speaker
That could be something that works. We'd have to see that in the playoffs to see how feasible it is. But yeah, i agree. They've been very impressive in defence and they've surprised me. And I think looking at their their recent run, like they're on a 16-3 run and the only teams they lost to are Philly, Utah and the Hornets. Three of the worst teams in the league. and I don't know, those are just mental lapses, I think, more than than anything. but In general, they've been excellent. efficient They're a very efficient team. They don't put up a whole lot of points compared to the league average. yeah I think they're below the league average, but they do shoot 48% from the field, which is incredibly efficient.
00:15:52
Speaker
um And LeBron adds to that. um He's obviously slowing down because he is 40 years of age, but He's slowing down at such a low rate for somebody of his age. Like, I can't believe what he's doing.
00:16:05
Speaker
He's got the fourth highest assist per game of his career. That's only going to go up with Luka. And he's the third highest three-point percentage of his career with nearly 40%. So this guy has played, like, over 20 years. So this isn't the short career we're comparing. This is, like, top of the top.
00:16:21
Speaker
It's ridiculous. I think he played 38 minutes last night at 40 years old. He's still going out. They're still putting. He's still putting out. That's the when they need him to the minutes, he does it. Yeah. And I know he's not doing it every week, but even like for someone who's 40,
00:16:36
Speaker
I know 40 is not old, but it is in like 22 years in the league. And with the amount of minutes he's put down, for him still to be able go out and put up the club ball in nearly 40 minutes in a game, it's just... yeah I think he needs to be studied in a lab because it's it's outrageous what he's doing. And he seems to have a new lease of life since Duka has come in as well. And San Felucas seemed to get on really, really well. So...
Lakers' Gameplay and Playoff Strategies
00:16:58
Speaker
I don't know. I think, as you mentioned there, like i one of my notes here is that Jackson Hayes as their centre is a problem I see. That's the biggest issue. Yeah, I think it's going to catch up with him come the playoffs.
00:17:09
Speaker
I really like your man Hachimura. Hachimura. i think key enjoy reading Yeah, Hachimura, sorry. I really like him. don't know why I like him, but I think he's a good fit there as well. But I think Jackson Hayes is where the problems could be come playoff time.
00:17:23
Speaker
Yeah, I think you're right. And I could see them maybe doing something a bit funny with their lineup come playoff time where they do go small and LeBron almost plays as like a center.
00:17:37
Speaker
um Not really in terms of the defensive stuff, but as that might be his position where he starts. Because, you know, you probably have to go with Hachimura and Dorian Finney-Smith.
00:17:50
Speaker
who's only started eight games since he moved, but I think he'll be important in the playoffs. And I think he's a similar player to Hachimura because they can shoot threes when they get into a rhythm and they're strong, big wings.
00:18:03
Speaker
Like that adds an element when you're maybe missing a center. So I think those... kind of guys are important and I know you mentioned Reeves. I think he's the X factor in terms of how far this team can go.
00:18:15
Speaker
He's on 19 points per game this season and he's averaging seven three points attempted per game. I think he just needs to improve on the efficiency of that and but I think he'll get more open looks with Luka as the season goes on and Dalton Connect is another guy who might knock down some threes in a couple of games in the playoffs. They need guys like this. It's funny because I know that I made my notes before the game last night and I noted that Luka's ramping up nicely and he's had a couple of 30-point games for them.
00:18:45
Speaker
He added another last night and yeah the only caveat I had with him was that the assists will come when he gets used to playing in the team and gets used to his teammates. And then last night he just dished out 15 assists. yeah So it didn't take very long.
00:19:00
Speaker
And the thing with Austin Reeves, what you're saying about Luka there as well, is that like if Luka if cutbe luca keeps kind of going ways, but now he's dropping 30 and 15, teams are going to have to double up on him. And that will give Austin Reeves the extra space then to get... That will give LeBron extra space. Yeah, does that would able like steve will give but ah give Austin Reeves a chance then to kind of bring up to the efficiency if he has more open looks.
00:19:21
Speaker
He's not going to miss his money if there's no one in his face. I think those three, I think Reeves, LeBron and Luka could bring this team a long way. But I think if they stick with Jackson Hayes, then they will end up having a problem in the playoffs because he's not a centre you can win something worse, I don't think, anyway. No, I don't think so. um But I think just imagining that in the playoffs, if LeBron and Luka are running pick and rolls and you're drawing three defenders into that,
00:19:50
Speaker
or you have a double team then on LeBron off that, and he just can dish it out to a wide open Reeves or connect to knock down a shot. Like, that's definitely the recipe for success. So let's see how far they can go with it. and But if have nothing else on Lakers, we'll move on to the football.
00:20:08
Speaker
No, I think if anyone is kind of looking for something to watch in the NBA, I think the Lakers are a really good team to watch at the moment with LeBron, with Luka, with Austin Reeves. So if you are looking for someone to kind of keep an eye on, obviously the Cavs and the Thunder are miles of the front. But if you want kind of closer games and an enjoyable watch, the Lakers are definitely fun to watch at the moment.
00:20:27
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. And Michael that we had on, I had on that week, you weren't around. He's loving watching the Lakers at the moment. So shout out to him. So where do you want to go here? Are we going with a team or a player first for the football? We go with the team first because we're kind of branching out a bit here.
00:20:43
Speaker
Let's go. So I've got a special one this week, something a little bit different. So I thought, you know, Champions League week, big game last night. So we're recording this on Wednesday last night. Real and Atleti were playing. So I said, let's do, let's go with Atleti for this week, for the season that they're having.
00:21:00
Speaker
Because I love the way they've I love what they do in general, but what they've done this past season has just worked perfectly. So over the last couple of seasons, they sold Joe Felix, Morata, Renan Loddy, Cunha, Carrasco, a whole bunch of other guys for about 200 million.
00:21:19
Speaker
And they kind of stockpiled that money over the last couple of seasons. And then in the summer, they brought in... Julian Alvarez, Conor Gallagher, Robin Lenore Mand and Sorlott, Alexander Sorlott. So that was about 200 million then.
00:21:33
Speaker
They basically traded some of the guys that were surplus or aging or moving on for some really top talent, especially in Alvarez. And I just really liked the way they built that team and how quickly it's bedded into what they already had there.
00:21:49
Speaker
and And you can see even these guys are coming off the bench last night. like The only one of those that started was Alvarez in probably their biggest game of the season so far. I thought they were the better team against Real Madrid and they didn't come out on top.
00:22:02
Speaker
I thought the first 15 minutes Real dominated, but then Atleti really settled in after that cracker of a goal by Alvarez. And... After that, they really took control and they were kind of hit, sucker punched really by that Brahim Diaz goal.
00:22:18
Speaker
And then they but kind of seemed of a bit shocked from that. But I think heading back to home tie, only 2-1 down in the Champions League, they'll be very confident that they can get something from it. But what stood out to you from them this season?
00:22:34
Speaker
I think the main thing is like it they are... they're probably the only team that I can think of in your top five leagues that are still playing a flat 4-4-2. And it works so well. Like, Conor Gallagher was playing left midfield at the weekend, not the Madrid game, obviously, at the weekend. And he was absolutely unreal out there. And he's just, he's a workhorse. Julian Albers, workhorse. Robin Leonard, man.
00:22:57
Speaker
He's a no-nonsense centre-half. Like, he's brought in players for... basically an Italia 90, 4 for 2, and it's it's just working so well. I kind of agree with you to a point. I do think there was a large stage last night where they were the better team.
00:23:12
Speaker
And I think after 10 minutes, they mean if if if you had offered to me only a 2-1 deficit, after 10 minutes last night, you'd have been your handoff. Now, when they got to 1-1 and they were the better team, I think you'll be disappointed. But bringing them back to the Metropolitana, I think...
00:23:29
Speaker
like I almost make them slight favourites to to make that one nail and bring it extra time at least and maybe even Nicky to know because don't know that Madrid team there was something funny about him last night.
00:23:41
Speaker
They're just they're the devil's love. It's like they have some kind of hold on this European Cup. But I think if anyone is going to knock him out, I can see it being this a little bit of a team. And like I was looking and they've only conceded 16 goals in the league. I see. Yeah.
00:23:57
Speaker
in one of the 26 games. like it's the best record and yeah best It's the best record in all of Europe's top five leagues. It's crazy. It's mad how little they concede. Barred a four-all draw, they had a Barcelona in the first leg of the Copa del Rey, which made absolutely no sense. but like You wanted to bring them up because they're still on for a treble?
00:24:16
Speaker
Yeah, that's that's the main reason. and yeah how many How many can you see them actually winning of the three? I think they'll get one, at least. I think they're a good league team.
00:24:28
Speaker
Like, when on one-off occasions, I think they could get sucker-punched by somebody. Like, I know that was 4-4 against Barca, but on another night, Barca could have won that 4-1.
00:24:39
Speaker
And, you know, because Atletico don't score that many goals. So, I think something like that could happen to them and in a cup. That could be the end of you then. That's it. But in the league, it's different story. And I could honestly see them winning the league. They're only a point behind and they don't concede many goals. yeah they But they've scored 43 goals in the league. But they they have the third best goal difference because of how good their defence has been. But the thing is, they're very fast with...
00:25:10
Speaker
how they play and how they transition. Like they, they only have around 51% possession on average in the league, but they've created 60 big chances and they have the third most final third passes in the league with over three and a half thousand. So they move the ball very quickly into the final third. And when they're in there, they move it quickly as well.
00:25:30
Speaker
And I think that's important for when you're soaking up pressure. They're basically what like a, Nottingham Forest would be if they spent 30 years building their team in the way that they're now. They're really, really such a good team to watch.
00:25:47
Speaker
They've only lost five times all season and twice in the league, once last night and then twice in the Champions League. and One example of them basically getting sucker punched is losing to Benfica, who I think have been very good this year.
00:26:01
Speaker
I'm interested to see what they'll do against Barcelona because I think that's a dangerous tie. and But I think that kind of a game is something that I'm a little bit wary about with them. One player that I already noted is Alvarez, but he's got 10 goals in 20 games in the league on 8 XG.
00:26:20
Speaker
In the Champions League, he's got 7 goals in 9 games, and his XG has been 2.2. Wow. 7 goals off 2.2 XG. Well, that one last night was probably 0.1, the one he scored last night, because it's just so gorgeous.
00:26:35
Speaker
And he's such a good free kick taker, which we saw in the World Cup as well. So I think that was an excellent signing. But the main guy in my eyes is Griezmann. Oh, my God. I could watch him play all night. Like every single day if he was on, I'd just watch him.
00:26:48
Speaker
Any game he's in, I'd watch it. Because yeah the way he plays, the way he moves around the pitch. And he's not a young fella. And he's just moving like he's aging like fine wine. Those little one-twos he makes runs confusing literally everybody.
00:27:01
Speaker
There was one last night where he was playing deeper than any of the midfielders and then he was the first one making the pass into the final third. So he won it back off Finney Jr. in front of a centre house, played it off and he was the first one making the run to get him behind then as well. I agree with you.
00:27:16
Speaker
He's had a great career. He's been a magician, in fairness, and he's absolutely class. But I just want to go back to something you mentioned a few minutes ago. Just go back to the way they transition from defence to attack. like When they're such a flat 4-4-2, the fact that they can transition so quickly and die, I just think...
00:27:33
Speaker
that it's only a semi only team will be able to do it because they get they move the ball so fast and they win it back and when they don't have it everyone digs in there's there's no kind of there's no one back by characters there's no kind of there's no one standing around everyone is back everyone is helping out and that's why the sign of alvarez he loves running he showed that he loves running conor gallagher loves running like everyone they brought in in the last 18 months maybe sarlacc doesn't love running so much but he still does it yeah exactly there they all they love to the sense they do they all love the defensive side of the game as well even the strikers and yeah i i would love to see him in the league because i'm sick of seeing the other two kind of kind of pass it over and back between them especially i'm i'm sick of real madrid winning everything like guess i'd love to i'd love for let it go to get something over on my really well and i i think they've been they're a really good team to watch as you said numerous times already and i think they're one that i'd i'm definitely keeping it closer i am between now and the end of the season
00:28:30
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. And if they get through against Real Madrid, they'll be well-deserving of it because I feel like they've come very close a number of times against Real through the years and just never quite made it. But I think hopefully this time we'll see something different. But as you said, Real just have that dark magic in the in the Champions League. It's very hard to get past them. But yeah, one to watch and kind of... a I think nice to branch outside of the Premier League in depth.
00:29:01
Speaker
But we're we're going to jump back into the Prem now with your
Dean Huysin and Bournemouth's Future
00:29:04
Speaker
player. So who have you got for us this week? I want to talk about Dean Huysin. so A couple of weeks ago, we we mentioned him and we were talking about Bournemouth.
00:29:12
Speaker
But I just want to go more in depth him because I think he is quality talent. He's he's 19 years old. nineteen years old um He doesn't win as many headers as I'd like him to win, but he is still only a child. like lifestyle For a 6-for-5, should be winning 100% of his headers. But I just find that the more you watch him, the more the harder I find it to believe that Juventus watched him at Roma last year and said, now let's get rid of him.
00:29:38
Speaker
And how boring it was, where the place he ended up with also baffles me. But... Like, and he's had 16 starts in the league this year. He's played over 1,500 minutes. He has two goals, five yellow cards. Like, he's again, he's only 19. Centre-backs don't come into their prime until they're 24, 25, 26. And the minutes he's getting under his belt, he's going to be...
00:30:00
Speaker
absolutely incredible i think he won 67 of his aerial jewels in the league 75 of his ground jewels like he's he is flying and once he fills out and gets stronger gets more confident those numbers are obviously only going to go up he'll be up i i think he's the next coming of van dyke to be perfectly honest with you i really do i really do rate him that idea i think he's unbelievable and the way he kind of breaks out as well from which is he's good at running the ball he can pass it forwards he has it on at locker he just needs to like he's only going to get better at age and I just wanted to give him a bit of praise.
00:30:33
Speaker
Yeah, I think the fact that he's 19 is the most shocking part of all of this because as you said, centre-backs often take a lot longer to develop than other players and it's easy to spring onto the scene as a, not easy, but easier as a 20-year-old winger and, you know, you're get bit of flair about you and couple of goals, but people hardly notice when a young centre-back is doing well.
00:30:56
Speaker
And that's how good he's been that everybody noticed. And like he's he's the 10th most interceptions in the league with 35, but he's played way less than the others in the top 10.
00:31:10
Speaker
He's got 115 clearances, so that's the 16th most in the league. And Zabarni has 149, so between the two of them back there, it's just... And actually, for Rick Wall, Zavarnia's played 700 minutes more than him. So again, Hoisin and himself would have similar numbers in terms of defensive output.
00:31:30
Speaker
If you look at a per-minute basis, his his passing is something that you mentioned, I think... His long passing is very, very important to the team, how quickly they need to transition.
00:31:42
Speaker
That's what they like to do. And they do play speculative passes into space at times, but he's the right man to do it because he is very good at spraying those long passes. And he's quite accurate with them as well, which is...
00:31:55
Speaker
which is a bit of a testament him as well considering how often he has to do it i think he has like about 50 accuracy on those long passes so he his he's he's 84 accuracy on all his passes across across the season and with the amount of long balls he plays as you're mentioning there to still have 84 accuracy goes to show that he is finding he's finding his target more often than he's not yeah yeah no he's he's really sight to behold at his height as well like how well he's how well he's able to perform he's got like a team there in Bournemouth that have the third least goals in the whole league this season, which is crazy.
00:32:29
Speaker
Really a testament to not only himself and Sabarnie, but to the whole team. and But, what Areola has done and finding him with the scouting team and implementing him perfectly a few games into the season, a couple of months into the season, everything is just ramped up exactly the way they'd wanted to.
00:32:49
Speaker
And they've been very dominant defensively at times, which is something that I didn't expect. And he's somebody that just came out of absolutely nowhere for me. And I think if, If Bournemouth are to make it into Europe this season, which they're very close to even that fifth position, which is going to be probably Champions League for the Premier League, it'll be down to his performances. And I'd love to see him on ah on a European stage of Bournemouth and hopefully get another couple of seasons there under his belt before he moves on.
00:33:15
Speaker
I think he'd be silly to move this coming summer. As much as I'd love to say, oh, go to Liverpool. Like, it makes no sense for him to go to Liverpool at 19 or 20. He should be with Bournemouth for another two or three years. So he's playing every minute of every game.
00:33:29
Speaker
Kind of like almost by this time, like there's no rush again. He won't be in his prime for another five, six years. So he might as well stay with Bournemouth where he's guaranteed to play 35, 36, 38 games every season and keep growing yeah i to say like to hire Yeah, exactly. like i think i really think you should stay there.
00:33:50
Speaker
and I think if Borussia get to Europe, I'd love to see that whole team kind of stay together. I'd love rest of that team just stay together. I think they've been they've been a joy to watch all season.
00:34:04
Speaker
Yeah, no, I agree. and terms Their whole backline is just rock solid. When I was looking at the interception stats, I was blown away. I think I mentioned it before in that other episode, but just again, like what Tyler Adams has done when he's in there for them in terms of just output defensively and between himself and Cook in midfield. it's just yeah It's just been very, very impressive. but as As a whole, the team has been has been quality. Three big games coming up for them.
00:34:34
Speaker
um so Spurs away on Sunday, then Brentford home the following week before City away in the Cup after the international break. What do you think their chances are? Is it not City at home? Is it not City at Dean's Court?
00:34:50
Speaker
i don't know. I'll double check, but I i have it away here for some reason. What do you think? Are there chances in that? in their fi i think give I think it's a big difference between if it's at home or away. I think it's at home.
00:35:02
Speaker
can see him winning that, to be honest. I don't see him winning the FA Cup. I think... but i can see him win in that to be honest like i don't see him when in dic cop i ink I don't know. I think Gaston Villa are going to win the FA Cup.
00:35:15
Speaker
Yeah. ah Personally, but I'd love to see Bournemouth or Fulham win this. I don't think either team has ever won manager of Kofi in their existence. And I think if like with the way the FA Cup has opened up this year, with all the top teams, Bear City being knocked out, it's a really good chance for someone to kind of but put their name in light. A Fulham or Villa or a Forest to choose well, like some of them. But I'd love to see Bournemouth. the them Yeah.
00:35:41
Speaker
Oh, God. Yeah, I forgot about that. Yeah. They're still knocking around, but I think, yeah the... I really hope City don't win it because I'd love to see basically any other team there win it.
00:35:52
Speaker
And I think you're right about Villa. I think it's a natural next step for them to win a cup now. And they'll definitely put a lot into it. And obviously they're still in the Champions League, but this is a more realistic option with the field that's left. But yeah, a really good show. I like talking about Hoisin, to be honest, is nice bit of a different one.
00:36:11
Speaker
yeah i just I think he's absolutely quality. really, really do. I think himself, tempt himself the partnership with Sabari, and they didn't rush it out. He's only started 16 games, so they kind of gave him a chance to bet in. They were playing Sinesse.
00:36:26
Speaker
And then once Heysen got in, they're like, well, we can take him out now. Look what he's doing. Yeah. And the two of them together, despite the fact they wear the short sleeves and the gloves, drives me bananas. Other than that. I know the three of them, three clowns.
00:36:39
Speaker
course The three of them are, they're three quality players. So I probably need to let them away with us. Just this once. Yeah, the short sleeves and the gloves is a bit mad. and I think Cliver does it as well. and yeah So they've got about five boys there in the starting line up doing it. like That needs to sit down and give them a good shake.
00:36:57
Speaker
Another one is the goalkeeper with short sleeves like Ramsdale. That just drives me mad. It's ridiculous looking like... and like i just I don't even trust a goalkeeper who wears short sleeves.
00:37:10
Speaker
You can't trust a goalkeeper full stop but to be honest. no there but man yeah You can't trust a goalkeeper called Aaron Ramsdale anyway. can't keep concentration for longer than 10 minutes he said once. so yeah Yeah, that was an outrageous quote. As he said, like he loses concentration during the game. He has to keep himself. yeah And then there was video of him looking at a pigeon or yeah not if it's yeah looking at him him like look at the seagull and then a goal goes in and it's like, oh God, you're not helping yourself.
00:37:37
Speaker
and ah Well, sure, look, you'll have plenty of concentration for the rest of the season with Southampton anyway. Yeah. But ah let's move on to Gonshance now. Last week you laid you laid your second duck egg of... ah Yeah.
00:37:51
Speaker
Incredible. Incredible. From the highest to the lowest of lows. Yeah, after going back-to-back of tree of tree and o I've gone... 0-1-0. Hopefully you get back on track this week. I've changed up the strategy this week.
00:38:06
Speaker
Yeah, I've changed up the strategy this week. Let's get with you first, though. Let's hear it. so i As I said to you, the the football is getting a bit difficult, so i've done I've decided to go with two NBA games and one football game this week.
00:38:18
Speaker
have unfortunately backed my Rockets to be beaten by the Pelicans. ah lot ya The Rockets are on a stinker run at the moment. They're just... Everything has gone wrong. see the team they put out the other night, it was a team that wouldn't win a G League game and they're putting it out in an NBA game.
00:38:36
Speaker
They lost again last night. I think they're on three losses in a row. The Pelicans are The Rockets are 37-25. But I think the Pelicans are just going to pick them off and I don't think it'll be difficult for either.
00:38:50
Speaker
Yeah. I also have the Hawks who are 28 and 34 to beat the Pacers. They are 35 and 25. I think they're a closer match than the win column looks at the moment. And I think it could go either way. And I think the Hawks will pull it out.
00:39:09
Speaker
And I think United at 4-1 are going to beat Arsenal at 8-11. I think it would be the most United thing of all time to lose the Fulham in the FA Cup, get knocked out.
00:39:20
Speaker
they went like They went to the Epihan and beat City. they kind of They show up for these games. There's a bigger rivalry between the two of them. I think at 4-1, I think you're silly not to back United to beat Arsenal. Yeah, 4-1 is a good price actually.
00:39:34
Speaker
And one i looked at myself and was just like, i can't trust him. Especially after Arsenal smacking PSV last night. Yeah, but PSV did lose to go ahead Eagles at the weekend as yeah was reliably informed by a friend of mine. So, yeah but its it's not that special. You can't beat anybody. so Yeah, that's true.
00:39:50
Speaker
it's regardless um yeah that's a brave one going with united so uh i overlap with you slightly i've gone with the hawks to beat the pacers as well i really like that one because the hawks just randomly have a game where trey just dishes out like 26 assists just out of nowhere and they just absolutely go off think even without jalen johnson they're at times they can be impressive it's not consistent but yeah I think they could beat anybody on their night and especially at home um so I've gone with them to beat the Pacers just like yourself I've also gone with the Clippers to beat the Knicks in LA on Friday night um another one where Clippers are up and down yeah they've been a bit
00:40:31
Speaker
port since schooli came back but I think the Knicks can't really defend, as we mentioned recently. If Norm Powell gets going on one and the Knicks just can't stop him, and then the Clippers then have one of their lockdown defence nights, which...
00:40:50
Speaker
they are They are going to have because there's times where they defend very, very well. So that's just another one that I thought, you know, there's a chance there of that happening, especially being in l L.A. and Both of them lost last night, both teams. So, yeah, they're they're both on a an up and down run. But Clippers are 32-29 and the Knicks are 40-21. So and an eight-win gap there.
00:41:12
Speaker
And then for the football, I've gone with Fulham to make one away at Brighton. So Brighton are 10-11 and Fulham are 14-5. So Brighton are money on there. i think, yeah, Brighton had a good win against Newcastle.
00:41:27
Speaker
Again, both teams did play extra time. So and it's not like there's more minutes in one team's legs than the other. But Fulham are just very up and down. You're not 100% sure what you're going to get with them. But I have been impressed with them a number of times this season. And their away form is something that's improved massively.
00:41:46
Speaker
compared to where it was in previous seasons. So, yeah, I just don't trust Brighton to be consistent. They're on a great run now, but I think it's going to stop at some stage. So let's let's go with Fulham. I think I saw a thing about Fulham as well, is that they've won more away games against the teams ahead them in league than they have against the teams behind them in the league. And I'm pretty sure Brighton are ahead of them as well.
00:42:07
Speaker
I don't think it's a bad shout at all. Nice one, yeah. So that's my three. Let's see if I can gain some more ground on you this week because I'm still nine points back. So you want to move on to NFL?
Jets' Struggles and Future Prospects
00:42:20
Speaker
Yeah. I'm not sure if I'm looking forward to this or scared of this, but after we... We had a go at the Giants last week to give you a bit of a cancelling session. It's my go this week to talk about the Jets and get a bit of cancelling in myself. Honestly, when I was trying to make the notes, they're just all over the place. I even know where to start. We've picked number seven.
00:42:43
Speaker
Like they've been trying to fix this all I know for my whole life I'm pretty sure and they they just fail and fail and fail. i i If they could I think they'll take Will Campbell at seven if he's still available.
00:42:55
Speaker
ah He's the offensive tackle out of LSU. He's a really really good college season. He's the fastest offensive line prospect at the draft. He had 4.98 40 yard dash. Was he the guy that was shouting while he was running?
00:43:08
Speaker
No. okay i so I don't think so. can't remember which guy it was. There was one all-lineman and he was literally like shouting at himself. buting I don't think it was him anyway. I didn't actually watch 40-yard dash, to be perfectly honest with you. But outside of him, like yeah there's just so much turmoil. they've Obviously, Devontae Adams was released there yesterday. Alan Lazare is going to go. So they need to fully rebuild the wide receiver core.
00:43:36
Speaker
I'm crying out for him to bring in a tight end that is can catch passes. You look at the difference tight end makes for Kansas City, the Eagles with Dallas Goddard, he's just seen a reliable option. we have I couldn't tell you the last tight end the Jets had that there was a reliable catching option.
00:43:54
Speaker
Every tight end we have seemed to be a blocker.
00:43:58
Speaker
but Don't get me started. um Then we clearly need a corner eric quarterback. But it's a bit like we were saying the Giants last week. Anyone you put in behind that O-line is going to get crushed to smithereens. There's nothing need to protect them.
00:44:11
Speaker
If you start with the quarterback, you start with the O-line, you start with the wide receivers, you start with the running backs. There's problems everywhere. Devontae Adams was it's one of the biggest bus signings in the history of the league as far as I'm concerned. He gave away a third rounder for nothing.
00:44:27
Speaker
He got nothing out of him. He got no outfuss. Just so he could play with his buddy. Yeah, and then the two of them just sail off into the sunset at the end of a couple of months. this ridiculous. like I just don't understand the thinking behind, oh, going to bring in Rodgers, now let's get Lazards, let's get...
00:44:44
Speaker
Bob, let's get the Mondeada. He's not happy. And it just hasn't worked. They have a good core there. So they have Sauce, obviously. He had a bad year last year, but he is clearly quality.
00:44:56
Speaker
Garrett Wilson has the potential to be a really, really good wide receiver if he gets a good quarterback that trusts him. Bruce Hall, obviously, another man. Yeah, exactly. Bruce Hall, another man who had a poor season last year, but we've he's lightning. Literally, Bruce lightning. He's...
00:45:13
Speaker
John, I don't know. and then you have the Quinn and then what's brother Quinn and Williams and Quinty, Quinty, Quinty, sorry. Yeah. Quincy, I think. are Yeah. So kind of like, if you can build around those and just get an O-line and a quarterback that can run, then I don't know, like we'll probably, not even going to mention Superbowl because we're so far away from that. It's not even funny, but as know I'll let you speak a bit because I've just got on and on there. No, I wanted to let you get it all out before I i jumped in. But I think but the first note I had was that they're just as bad as the Giants, but they're just more dumb.
00:45:54
Speaker
And I don't know how that's possible. it's It's just down to the owner. Like Woody Johnson is an absolute simpleton, to be honest, in terms of running a football team. Like,
00:46:05
Speaker
this It comes out that the guy didn't trade for Jerry Judy because of his Madden rating. And like this, like this thing, these things are comical the way he runs this team. And but just in general, allowing Rogers to basically run the team and anybody who says anything about that. It wasn't Rogers making the decisions last season is an absolute, that's an absolute pile of crap. Like,
00:46:31
Speaker
It's no wonder that Germain had a meeting in there with Rodgers and then the next day all of a sudden there was the firing of Salah, who I thought was a really good coach and very good defensively. He's the one who built that defensive side of the team.
00:46:45
Speaker
And then it went to complete smithereens last season when they got rid of him. like So I think that was a huge mistake. He wasn't the best head coach in the league, but he wasn't the issue there. And I think Bringing in Rodgers' buddy, offensive play caller, Nathaniel Hackett, and then having his best buddies on the team as well, like you mentioned, and Lazard and Adams.
00:47:08
Speaker
It's just a joke. like Rodgers has set this franchise back multiple years by what they're after doing there. because now there's massive holes all over the roster, he could still play this season if things had worked out properly and the Jets had handled him properly.
00:47:25
Speaker
And then you would still have Devontae Adams if you'd played things a little bit more, you know, coolly and didn't, you know, just blow everything up by bringing in all of Rodgers' guys. Just take it slow, take the guy you really want, which would be a Devontae Adams.
00:47:41
Speaker
It just didn't work and they're not great in terms of the cap space situation as well. and The only saving grace I think is... that they have Aaron Glenn. um And I really did like that appointment, especially as a Jets legend.
00:47:56
Speaker
And I think it's worth taking a punt on your new offensive play caller, Tanner Engstrand. I think he was the passing game coordinator for the Lions. So he's worked very closely with Ben Johnson. I think it's worth taking a punt on a young guy like that, especially when he's worked with Glenn. So I think that that's the only...
00:48:16
Speaker
That's the only thing for me. I know you mentioned you'd like to take that O-lineman in the draft. Yeah, if it came around to you. But, you know, say if things went another way and you traded up and went for like a calm ward, how would you feel?
00:48:31
Speaker
Well, then I think that would go to show that they are kind of prioritising the offence more than the defence. And as I said, it's sound like they've been trying to fix that O-line since I was born. but maybe you change a change of strategy where they do kind of trade up and get the next best quarterback.
00:48:45
Speaker
coming out of the draft and kind of work from there. Like, look at the difference that Jim Daniel has made to Washington this year. Like, you never know if you do get any good quarterback, who can run, who can pass, who can do everything. It might make all the difference instead of trying to fix an O-line that probably, to one one rookie is not going to fix the O-line anyway, but one rookie can fix the offense.
00:49:08
Speaker
That's true. Like if they do trade it up and take Cam Ward, I'd have absolutely no issues with this. I think another a thing as well on Aaron Glenn, like he was, they've tampered, they brought in another a man who was the defensive coordinator, like what Salah was. So I think it kind of showed that they're going back to it. They're like, oh, we had it with Salah and we made a mess of it.
00:49:27
Speaker
Yeah. Like going back to the same kind of profile as Salah, only hopefully bit better. kind of a leader of men as well. Yeah. in a guy Yeah. So I think the Aaron Glenn appointment is a really, really good one as well.
00:49:39
Speaker
And i am and hopeful in one sense, but there's just, as you said, Aaron Rodgers has set us back so many years. like It's going to be another couple years of turmoil before we get anywhere, I think.
00:49:52
Speaker
And I saw some, like last season, was some hilarious like Super Bowl shouts going around for Jets. And I said to you like that season when Rodgers got injured, I was like, when he comes back, he's not going to get you more than seven wins because the team is such a farce in the background that somebody like him is not going to be a good thing.
00:50:11
Speaker
And it's nothing got to do with his ability. It's just the actual situation he's in. So, yeah, I think it'll be interesting one to see what happens with the likes of Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner, these kind of guys, how Glenn deals with them and if he kind of gets a bit of a rein on them a bit. I think I'm i a bit more positive for you than I was the last couple of seasons, but I think it is a long road ahead as well.
00:50:35
Speaker
So, yeah, strap in, same thing as the Giants. Let's see what happens. I think the good thing is like, so Gareth, Sauce Gardner and Gary Wilson have both kind of come out on and Twitter in the last couple of weeks and saying that they want to be at Jets.
00:50:48
Speaker
Yeah. So I think like that is a good start, obviously. Maybe Glenn got to them already. and Yeah, 100% and kind of he could tell him his kind of plan for them and how he sees their development going and it might have. Hopefully. Yeah, so... Because those are two stars. Strap in. Oh, 100%. They're the two lads who could... Either one could be the face the franchise if they kind of just bucked up a bit and stopped giving out all the time and showing hands. They'll be absolutely fine.
00:51:12
Speaker
But it is going to be... Breaking news live on the pod. that DK Metcalf has requested a trade from the Seahawks. So yeah that's one to watch. actually had the three them written down himself. DK Metcalf, the other fella as well. The part of Lockett.
00:51:27
Speaker
Of both. I think one of them has been released and one is requested a trade. Jesus, man. Could the Jets look as one at one of them? Could they look at Chris Godwin? Are they realistic targets? Do they have the cap space? Are they kind of... Metcalf maybe not, but Lockett could be a good...
00:51:43
Speaker
Yeah, I kind of a good wide receiver too to to compliment Gary Wilson who we've just been talking about. Kind of lead him on as well. Yeah. But then like if they bring him in, then I doubt they'd have this the picks to trade up to get Cam Ward.
00:52:01
Speaker
So there is kind of, does I'd say there's a lot of thinking going on in the background. Yeah, a lot of things to be to be thinking about. I think there's a massive, there was that note, like, of kind of, I just wanted to see what you'd think about moving up for Cam Ward because there's huge rumours now that the Giants are really solid contenders to move up now to first pick, coming out with a combine.
00:52:26
Speaker
Jordan Rannan, who reports on the Giants, I think for ESPN, has said that there's a lot of solid talk that that might happen. So, look, let's see. A lot to watch. have the Giants been moving up for?
00:52:38
Speaker
they been moving up to take Hunter? Move up for Cam. Oh, to move up for Cam Ward. Okay. Yeah. Apparently so. So let's see. Let's see what happens. Lots to keep an eye on.
00:52:48
Speaker
So for for the second topic, I went with a little bit of something different for this week. So I went for both of us pick our best player in the whole NFL. Who do we think is the best player? And given our reasons basically for that.
00:53:04
Speaker
So I'll let you take it away. and Neither of us know who the other person has gone for. So you you go ahead. I, as I said to you off just before we started this, I really struggled to pick one best player in the NFL. I thought there were so many I went through my head, on but landed on Patrick Mahomes.
00:53:22
Speaker
um i think what he has done is three super bowls wins in seven years as a starter two more finals appearances so that's five super bowls in seven years since he started it over 30 000 total yards uh in the regular season uh 245 regular season passing touchdowns i think what he has done with that chief team has just been phenomenal since he since he was drafted into the league and I know he had a really bad Super Bowl this year, but the fact that he got that team to a Super Bowl in the first place, it it's it was incredible that that team wasn't good. The amount of one-score games they won and then they put on their best performance of the season against the Bills in a game they probably should have lost.
00:54:06
Speaker
yeah And I just think what Mahomes does at a football, some of his passing just leaves you just literally speechless. i think I think he's the best player in the league. Okay, cool. So that's your pick.
00:54:18
Speaker
I was hoping that you would give someone different than me, and you have. So oh I've also gone for a quarterback. Do you want to guess? Gosh, I'll then. No.
00:54:30
Speaker
One more. You'll get it. and Lamar Jackson. Yeah, there you go, man. I've gone with Lamar Jackson. For me, he just has...
00:54:41
Speaker
the most impact in his position. Like you mentioned what Mahomes has done and in terms of actually winning and leading teams to victory, he has had the biggest impact, of course, in recent years. But in terms of talent, the reason I've gone with Jackson is just because of everything that I think he can do and he's only getting better.
00:55:03
Speaker
Like looking at last season, over 4,000 passing yards, 900 rushing yards. like That was his best season passing. And that was the thing that people dinged him on all the time to say he wasn't a good passer.
00:55:17
Speaker
And now he's taken a couple of years back from the running, running a little bit less the last couple of seasons before this one and improving on his passing. And now this year he's ramped back up with the running again.
00:55:30
Speaker
Along with having Derek Henry there, yeah he's been able to run like for nearly 1,000 yards himself and his passing is ramping up. So both of them are on the way up. like Next year, we could see this fella have close to 5,000 passing yards and over 1,000 rushing yards, which would be unprecedented as for a quarterback to do that.
00:55:48
Speaker
Two-time MVP, should be three-time in my opinion. I haven't seen a regular season like his last year. I've never seen a quarterback do what he did last year. And Allen won it because of voter fatigue.
00:56:00
Speaker
I love Josh Allen, but people just get tired of voting for the same person. And the fact that Lamar Jackson was first-team all-pro quarterback... Yeah, and didn't win MVP.
00:56:12
Speaker
People literally just split the votes because the same people voting for both. So they just want to give one to Alan and one to Jackson. Not to like to say that there's anything wrong with Jackson or you know that he' is not good and or alllan ah to say that he's not good enough to win it, but like I think...
00:56:28
Speaker
Jackson deserved it last year, and I think his passing game was the last box he needed to tick to be elite in another skill, and he has that now. and There's always that playoff question with him, but he is the ultimate quarterback in my opinion, and he has every possible skill in his locker, and we saw that in that game against the Bengals.
00:56:51
Speaker
Snap goes behind him, drops it, picks it up, dodges at three or four players and throws an absolute rocket. to Isaiah likely after running around for maybe 20 yards himself like these kind of things they're not normal and he's led this offense to only six games without scoring 30 points this last season so you know I didn't actually realize it was I didn't realize it was that much that's actually madness yeah he's he's just in my opinion he's the best overall in terms of talent but yeah that's that's what that's my opinion what do you think
00:57:24
Speaker
i think the kind of the main one that sends out for me there from what you were listening because obviously because i didn't know you picking him i didn't do a deep dive into him yeah but the fact he got 900 rushing yards with derrick henry as the main rusher and derrick henry loved running over people like the fact he got 900 yards rushing on top of derrick henry's rushing yards i think that is i think that is special i do agree with you i think he should have been mvp this year And like you even just off the i test without doing a stats test, like what he did over the course of year was incredible. Some of his passing was unreal.
00:57:59
Speaker
His Thanksgiving game, he was absolutely superb. Like I just I think he I think he had an absolutely incredible season and I can see like he was on the list of me of near near hook out close calls for me. i had himself. I had Chase Burrow.
00:58:15
Speaker
Alan and I gave Mark Bartley mention as well because of the season he had but I do think Jackson and Mahomes do think we picked the top two players in the league there yeah no I think so I think in terms of One guy who's the ultimate winner and the ultimate leader and another guy who just has all the skills in the book.
00:58:33
Speaker
i think yeah I think we've covered bases there. But it's interesting, in your shortlist and all the guys we mentioned don't aren't all are all offensive guys. It's just, yeah yes, we love to see good defenses too, but offenses are are what ticks and these are the moneymakers. I think the main guys we'd look at probably on defense are going to be like an edge rusher, someone like a Miles Garrett.
00:58:54
Speaker
Miles Garrett is the one you would mention, yeah. Yeah, but like we're looking at the these guys, unfortunately, are playing on the top defensive guys are playing on kind of teams that aren't as good.
00:59:06
Speaker
um I think at the moment, for me, some of the best defenders are like Dexter Lawrence is playing on the Giants. We've got Gard was on the Browns and Watt was with the Steelers who were kind of middling teams. So yeah, i think to be to be the best in the league, you've got to play on a top, top team and we've picked guys on top, top teams. Yeah.
00:59:26
Speaker
yeah i like both of our picks there i'll let you go ahead if you want to give it give us a go of your power rankings first maybe recap on what you've had last week and then fire away perfect so last week i had liverpool top the calves a second thunder a tree pistons for the celtics five and arsenal six so i had a i'm a four nba two primary split ah This week I've gone back to a 3-in-3.
00:59:52
Speaker
so But my top three remain the same, so I still have Liverpool top. I have just no reason to change them. The Cavs are second. They're now on an 11-game winning run. like it They're not going to fall anywhere soon. And the Thunder are still in three for me. They're clearly second the second-best team in the NBA.
01:00:10
Speaker
But from there on, I've changed it. So Arsenal have moved up from six to four for me. They won 7-1 last night. it couldn't just kind They couldn't be kind of heating on the edge of dropping out. They are clearly the second best team in England at the moment and they deserve to be higher. I brought the Lakers in after doing a bit of a deep dive in them.
01:00:27
Speaker
Seven wins in a row. Luka and brannie and o and na rony lu and Lebron are clicking. and they're up to five. And I brought in Everton.
01:00:40
Speaker
i Yeah, so they're all beaten in their last five. There's no team in the Premier League that really kind of jumps out and is making a real claim for me outside of the top two. Everton and Arda team are best run of form outside of those top two, really. I think they might even be in better form than Arsenal at the moment, and they're quite clearly not going down anymore, so might as well give them a bit of props there as well.
01:01:02
Speaker
Yeah, I think I like the list very similar to mine. and So last week I had Liverpool, Celtics, Thunder, Cavs, Newcastle and Everton. I've gone and taken a leaf out your book and gone for NBA this week and because there wasn't too many Premier League teams that stood out to me to put in a third. But I still got Liverpool first, like you mentioned, no reason to drop them.
01:01:24
Speaker
unless PSG smacked them around tonight. Let's see what happens. Then second, I've got the Cavs. Same as you. I think best team in the NBA currently. And last week, they were just unbelievable. So moved them up from fourth to second. The Thunder are third for me. So our top three are actually the exact same.
01:01:44
Speaker
yeah Then I've added the Pistons in, just as you've dropped them out. and I've moved them in at four because I think They have been very good. and They only lost to the Nuggets. Of course, that was the one game that we picked both for our gun chance. And that was the one game they've lost recently. I know.
01:02:01
Speaker
they They did beat the Celtics recently and they're on a very good run in general. So I thought give them some props there. and The Celtics have moved down. I didn't think they were... warranting to be completely dropped from the list.
01:02:14
Speaker
um I think the Lakers would be an interesting choice too, but I didn't think they should be completely dropped when I had them in second. So they've moved down to fifth and then Everton remain my sixth as well from last week.
01:02:24
Speaker
and So that's our two power ranking lists. um bit of changes, but some stability as the season rolls on at the minute. I've got one last little bit of business. I'm conscious of time. i don't want to spend too long on this, but I did want to give you this one. This is a bit of an interesting in one.
01:02:43
Speaker
So I want you to give me your perfect Irish starting 11 right now. Just think of everybody is fit. There's no injuries. And let's just go with what the formation is probably going to be with the five at the back.
01:02:58
Speaker
and go from there with your whatever you want to do for the rest. which Just do three centre-backs, two wing-backs and then make up your midfield and and attack as you want. to Okay. Kelleher in goals.
01:03:10
Speaker
Yeah. If we're going three at the back, I'm going to have Jacob Ryan as the right centre-back. Darroche. And if there's no injuries, then i boy would put in Andrew O'Mobamadeli, just because I enjoy saying his name.
01:03:24
Speaker
um i just decided I think it's a solid back three. I think Darroche and and your Jacob Ryan can both do a good bit running. So they could support a lot in the midfield. and four across so i'd have fesce right back i just think he is he's rapidly so fast he's so good um i'd have malumby and josh cullen as the two kind of sitting in between the other fullbacks and left back jesus i can't think of who is our current but it could go we could go out bened or your wing back wise
01:04:00
Speaker
Yeah, I actually also forgot Nathan Collins. He's captain. So put him in there instead of Andrew Amabamadeli. He completely saved my mind. I was going to wait until you were done then. Yeah, so i so Jacob Ryan, Derrachet, Nathan Collins.
01:04:13
Speaker
Plus, yeah, plus, she's always on the lefts. Bessie on the ice, Cullen and Malumby in the two centre. I would go with two strikers and one in behind them. So the two strikers are Klay, Adam Ida and Troy Parris.
01:04:28
Speaker
Troy Parris is absolutely flying at the moment. Ida, when he's starting for Celtic, is getting a good few goals as well. And in the hole behind them, it's nice and nice, maybe. Okay, yeah, I love no i like Nate. I think that's a good show because he helps defensively too.
01:04:42
Speaker
Yeah, so it's more kind of a five and he'll break forward when needed, but... Do you want hear mine? Yeah, go first. Okay, so I just listed mine out to see if how similar we'd be. so I'd also have got Kelleher in goal.
01:04:55
Speaker
I've also got Collins and O'Shea in my back three, but I've gone slightly different. I've gone with Abanqua as the third centre-back. He's been very impressive at Watford, and I think that physical presence is something that we need back there, and he's good on the ball. So those three as my three centre-backs, Feste, right-wing back,
01:05:15
Speaker
and Aguilene left wing back then the two deeper midfielders I've gone with something a bit mad so I'll put Jacob Ryan in there because I think the man can play right back so why can't we just throw him in CDM that's got a bit of physicality into this team because the only other option for me is Malumby and Like how much I love Molumbi and how much he cares and how much effort he puts in and how much he loves breaking lads up. He's just not going to cut it.
01:05:41
Speaker
He's quite limited. Yeah, he's quite limited. Let's move O'Brien in there for the international team next to Azaz because I love Azaz and I think he's a quality player. I think he'd be good deep as well. and Just getting on the ball. And when you basically have four centre-backs playing around in there,
01:05:56
Speaker
I think he has that bit of freedom. And then just ahead, I've got Sammy Smoddix in the 10, because I think he's probably our best option in terms of creation.
01:06:07
Speaker
And then up top, I've gone the same way as you, Troy Parrott and Adam Ida. Yeah, so like yes I forgot about Finnazad and Sammy Smoddix. It's so much harder when you're kind of on the spot trying to think of names, and that's why you put Jason Knight in there. But I would have either Finnazad or Sammy Smoddix in the hole behind the two strikers, especially if we are going with your four centre-backs, then I don't see why you shouldn't be going kind of a or 4-2-4 almost with the four centre-backs.
01:06:33
Speaker
Yeah, because I've got O'Brien there playing CEM, so that's and another one to add to Banquo Collins and O'Shea for me. like but yeah i think Yeah, I like her as well. I'm not a massive fan of the 3-4-3 in general. I'd rather go back to a or a 4-3-3, but if it's the one he's going to go with, then we kind of just have to and to work with and deal with it.
01:06:54
Speaker
Yeah, I think if we did play for it, the back, it would probably be Collins and O'Shea in the centre, O'Brien right back, and then Festy could probably switch over to the left. I think so too, yeah. He's not going to change the way he does it anytime soon anyway.
01:07:07
Speaker
No, but yeah, I thought that would be an interesting one to wrap things up and see what you had come up with on the spot compared to what I had come up with last night when I had a few minutes to think about it. Yeah, close enough. Yeah, nice one. And so that's pretty much it. So that's that's this week's episode wrapped up.
01:07:24
Speaker
Great episode again, really enjoyed it, covered a lot of topics there. There's more and more and NBA breaking news. I see Max Crosby just got a new contract, just came in, highest paid player something. I don't know what highest paid player is.
01:07:36
Speaker
some Some sort of highest paid player, but... I couldn't read the full thing, but I'm sure we'll get into that next week yeah about all these big stories that are breaking and in the NFL. So yeah, that's pretty much everything for me. Really appreciate everybody who tuned in. and i Nice one, Shane. Really appreciated it.
01:07:54
Speaker
Really appreciated it. I'm just on a run of appreciating things. I really enjoyed it. Yeah, I enjoyed that. It is really, really good fun. Yeah. as long as the people are enjoying it as well, then there's no reason for us to stop doing what we're doing.
01:08:09
Speaker
Yeah, that's it, man. Would you like to wrap it up? I'll talk to you next week, lads. Yeah, nice one. See you later, lads.