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Champions League Cinema, What Do We Think Of Arsenal + Belichick Hall Of Fame Scandal
23 Plays2 months ago
Football Week in Review
Champions League Cinema
- Madrid v Benfica dramatic finish
- Thoughts On Current Champions League Model
Arsenal Check-In
- 8/8 in the Champions League
- United result disappointment
- Thoughts on summer signings?
Transfer/Trade Deadline Day
Winter Transfer Window
- Is It More Quiet Than Usual ?
NBA Trade Deadline
- Giannis - will he get moved now or in the summer?
- Will there be any other major moves?
NFL Hall of Fame Fallout
- Bill Belichick - Can there be any justification?
- Eli Manning - is he a Hall of Famer to you
Games of the Week
- Liverpool vs Newcastle
- Tottenham vs Man City
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Podcast Overview
00:00:11
Emeka
Welcome, welcome, welcome everybody to episode 46 of the Love of the Game podcast. Recording this on a Friday, January 30th, week before the trade deadlines and a week before a little event called the Super Bowl.
00:00:26
Emeka
As always, on a Friday night, no place I'd rather be than spending it with the broskis, starting with the man Chukwu. Chukwu, how you living this Friday?
00:00:34
Chuku
Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Good to be back. Another great week. You know, I'm doing well, you know, just ready to chop it up with the gang and, you know, give the people what they want, man. Another episode.
00:00:45
Chuku
Let's go.
00:00:47
Emeka
We consistent, baby. Back to back to back. Let's get it. And I was always making the magic happen. If you don't know, he's the guy producing this podcast. We don't go know we got no funds for an extra external producer, you know. So we need your support so my man Chino can go back to his life and and not spend his slaving away giving you this heat. But my man Chino, how you living right now, man?
00:01:07
Chino Onwuka
I'm doing good. I'm doing good. Hope you are as well. Yeah, no. TGIF, thank God it's Friday. It's been a long week. It's been a long week. So looking forward to just kicking back and just relaxing this weekend. And, you know, that starts off with with right now.
00:01:22
Chino Onwuka
Let's get it.
00:01:24
Emeka
Yeah, you know, like, long week, big week. We got a lot to cover. We're going to cover, you know, as always, the games of the week. We got to, you know, like I mentioned, next week we have.
Football Highlights: Champions League Drama
00:01:34
Emeka
The transfer window and the trade deadline both expiring next week, so we'll chat about that. But as always, we start off by recapping the week in football and and what a week it was with the Champions League.
00:01:47
Emeka
Final match day, every team playing at the same time. There was drama all over the pitch, but I think there's only one place we can start. And if you haven't seen it by now, you've missed out. Real Madrid away to Benfica, Jose Mourinho...
00:02:03
Emeka
25th place Benfica, somehow winning three, two, two men down by Real Madrid. it but just two set record what One red card to save a counterattack, then one red card. I have no idea why Rodrigo was crashing out.
00:02:18
Emeka
And if you're watching the game, you would be yelling at the TV because Benfica, did not realize that they needed one more goal to qualify for the next stage. They were time-wasting. Keeper was testing the ball down, playing around. Mourinho was subbing on defenders. And then word finally came down that they needed that one goal. Time was ticking.
00:02:39
Emeka
In the 99th minute, they get a cheap free kick. Mourinho calls the keeper forward and... Oh, classic heritage moment. I'm sure he'll tell his kids about rest of his life. Benfica's goalkeeper, Turbin, heads it in. 4-2. Benfica go through to the next round. Just absolute cinema.
00:02:58
Emeka
I mean, there's so many places we can start here, of you know, just as a football moment. I'm going to start with you, Trenall. What were your initial reactions watching all that drama unfold?
00:03:09
Chino Onwuka
Well, I'm surprised want to start with me. I want to hear from Chukwu since this is his team. But I mean, my reaction was, you know, like this is one of those things where I was actually watching it live. You and I were watching this live. So it's not just a thing where we saw the highlight la and we were like, oh, this is crazy.
00:03:27
Chino Onwuka
In the moment, we were watching it, chatting. We were more concerned with Real Madrid scoring a goal because that would impact, you know, our rivals Man City and you know them having to play two games. So I wasn't even even, even though like, as you mentioned, Porto definitely didn't realize that if they scored one more goal, you know, they qualify for the top 24. But honestly, I wasn't even worried about that. It's like, oh, are Real Madrid going to score?
00:03:55
Chino Onwuka
But you know and then the first red card happened, the second red card happened, and then you know finally they realized just in time for that last free kick, and I was like, I see i see the goalie going up, and I'm like,
00:04:08
Chino Onwuka
Man, that would be crazy if they scored. I saw the ball get crossed in and I saw it going towards the keeper. And I was like, ain't no way. Keeper gets his head on the ball. I'm like, ain't no way. And then it nestles into the net. And i yeah y'all youall heard it. Like ice i screamed like audibly out loud.
00:04:28
Chino Onwuka
So that was a crazy moment, a special moment. And this is exactly the type of moment that, you know, UEFA was looking for when they moved to the Swiss model.
00:04:40
Chino Onwuka
you know I've seen a lot of debates as to, hey, this is the second year of this model. What do we think? Is it working? And you know you see both sides of the equations where you know maybe By the group stage, by the end, it isn't as exciting because you already know who's going through or not.
00:04:56
Chino Onwuka
But, you know, each game does, you know, mean more. Maybe this Swiss model gives you more more spectacle games because you have more games. Teams are playing different teams. But, you know, it's really this...
00:05:10
Chino Onwuka
This last game week where you can get a little bit more of jeopardy because there were so many permutations as to who could finish where. So it was a crazy game. Awesome moment for Benfica.
00:05:23
Chino Onwuka
Real Madrid, you know, you still got problems in your house. And yeah, I was glad glad I was able to see it live.
00:05:31
Emeka
I mean, I tend to watch a lot of football in my office. You know, door closed. I can keep my composure. The two times I almost got in trouble from screaming in the office. the First, Declan Rice's free kick against Madrid. It took everything in me not to say something.
00:05:47
Emeka
and This header you screen I also fell off my chair because I wanted to yell so badly that I could not believe what I was seeing just the drama of as you mentioned I'm watching this rooting for Madrid to score goal Useless guys couldn't do anything for me and then I'm simple I just turn over to the drama of they don't realize the need but because I realized they need one more one more goal and I'm thinking if this game ends this way There's going to be a generational crash out when Mourinho realizes that he messed up. But, you know, i somehow word got to him and they score a keeper goal, a keeper goal. I just, I mean, i my mind instantly turned to Alisson's goal for Liverpool. They make them get top four, but that was to qualify for the Champions League. This is in the Champions League against Real Madrid. Again, just the an absolute cinematic moment. But,
00:06:38
Emeka
I started you, Channel, because I wanted to get Chukwu to end on this with the Real Madrid perspective.
Real Madrid's Challenges and Prospects
00:06:42
Emeka
I mean, I know you weren't in support of firing or Alonso quitting, whatever the case may be. But now that you've had Albeloa for close to a month, give me the Real Madrid perspective of what is going on with your boys in white.
00:06:59
Chuku
Yeah, you know, so the game on the week was kind of surprising, you know, from the Real Madrid perspective. I mean, obviously, we'll come into this game, know, under the understanding that we need a win to basically, you know, win or I believe a win or draw was going to be good enough to be able to get top eight position, I believe.
00:07:18
Chuku
And the fact that, you know, we go into Benfica and lost the game, not just lost the game, but lost and in the manner that we did with a couple of red cards you know along the way, just goes to show that you know there's still not that cohesion that were no that were that we're typically looking for as a team yet, especially under the new caretaker manager. But, you know, this is not something that's anything i new to to Madrid. you know like in Even last year,
00:07:47
Chuku
We had to go through the, you know, get to the knockouts through the hard way, through the playoffs. And, you know, the team is is built to win, you know, these type of, those type of games as far as knockout stages or or playoff stages. So i I wasn't really too concerned because I knew at the end of the day, joe was still going to find a way to, you know, be in the picture as far as, you know, least within the playoffs. And surprise, surprise, you know, of course, we get a chance of revenge. You know, as you guys ready already know, Belfica is going to be playing Madrid again, and this time is going to be playing at home at the Bernabeu. So I'm pretty confident that the boys, know, when when they have a chance to play at home, they're going to come through, going to get the win, and, they' you know, it will be, you know, as normal into the group stage or into the, you know, the knockout stage of the Champions League. So, look, it's disappointing, but is it the end of the world?
00:08:42
Chuku
Can't really, you know, I'm not going to go there. You know, I would definitely say, I mean, I'm not sure if you guys noticed as well, but I was, the pitch that game, I don't know. I was seeing guys slipping and sliding and not being able to control the ball as, you know, as well as before. I don't know if that played a factor.
00:08:58
Chuku
I'm not going to use that as an excuse, but, you know, either way, no Rumor J should to be doing better in that situation, and they're going get a chance to get revenge. So, that's all I can really ask for, and we've got to see how it goes. But long term, I don't i don't really see how Abeloa keeps the job. He's to have to do something miraculous to keep the job at this point, but You know, I don't think it's going to happen, but, you know, with the talent that Madrid has, any coach should be lucky to be able to manage such a group of talented players. It's not going to be easy because you're going managing a lot of egos.
00:09:32
Chuku
We know this, but the fact of the matter is this is still a team that is very much, you know, has a lot of major talent from top to bottom. And, you know, it can surprise it can surprise anybody, you know. and all All they need is a chance.
00:09:47
Chuku
And, you know they're always going to be in the mix, right, as far as trying to win the Champions League goals. So the main thing is, you know, they're going to get a chance to play Benfica in the playoffs, get some revenge, and, you know, hopefully make it through.
00:10:00
Chuku
So that's that's where I'm at.
00:10:04
Emeka
You say any manager would be lucky to manage them. well What about the manager who just beat them? I've been hearing murmurs that Mourinho is a candidate to come back. If that was the, you know, Abloa has a regular season and they move on and they hire Mourinho, would you be pro that, against that, or want somebody else?
00:10:23
Chuku
Hell no, man. No, no. Listen, listen. Mourinho's had his chance. He's had his time. i think it's time for new blood new blood to come in as far as management goes. So I think i think we're going to need a new a new voice. A new voice in locker room is be my personal opinion on the matter.
00:10:43
Emeka
Fair enough. I mean, listen, he's the special one. He's out here orchestrating Benfica. All right, they won the first game. They got next playoff round coming up. If they didn't if they do something big there, you never know. like I wouldn't be mad at it. I wouldn't be mad at it you go from To go from Alonso to Mourinho would also be hilarious to me. Big ups to Kylian Mbappe. After all the drama going on, it kind of went under the radar that would have braced. I think he's got 12 goals already in the Champions League. It's...
00:11:12
Emeka
The brother the brother can score goals. He's a number nine now. but this Speaking of the Champions League, though, i mean we could talk about all the games. There were just too many to to cover, really. It was just amazing.
00:11:25
Emeka
Chinna did bring on a topic that I was actually curious to your guys' thoughts on, is that when they announced this new format, I know people who weren't familiar with it from video games saw it and just went, two more games. What's all of this about?
00:11:38
Emeka
I think it's fair to say this last round showed the vision that UEFA had, and this this is here to stay from now on. But something I have been thinking about is...
00:11:49
Emeka
There's a lot of talk of that. There's too many teams that make it through. You play eight games to take 36 teams down to 24. And there's a you know there's a school of thought that it should be just straight top 16, next round, knockout, another extra playoff round. And then even then maybe you know you go 16 to 24.
00:12:10
Emeka
They drop down to Europa or something like that. And I guess i'll start with you, Chinon. Is that, are you okay with the system right now in the sense of you get the top 24 and you get the playoff round?
00:12:21
Emeka
Or would you want to will it down, adjust it, either just a straight 16 top go or 16 go and then 17 to 24 drop down to Europa?
00:12:32
Chino Onwuka
I definitely think just a straight top 16 go through because that would add even more drama and pressure, especially if you remove the the safety net of dropping down to Europa. Because if anything, I would say that with this format, there's still too much of a safety net where, you know, if you don't get top eight, top 24 in a 36 team league with some of the teams you're facing, you know,
00:12:58
Chino Onwuka
unless something even like look at last year, in the horrible form Real Madrid and PSG were in, they were still be able to make it. But just think of the drama of how much more drama there would have been last night Two nights ago, if it was top 16, make it. you know There is no safety net of you know the team 17 to 24, make the Europa League.
00:13:20
Chino Onwuka
That would just add even more drama to it. You're already getting the getting the benefit of two extra games compared to the previous group stages. So I think those two extra games are enough, and then we can just go straight to the straight to the top 16, in my opinion. I'd i'd like that.
00:13:37
Emeka
my only I mean, I agree with that just the extra trauma would be amazing. My only concern and why I wouldn't include the 17-24 Europa thing is just that that format, you lose four games. Like if you're a Kairat or you're a even an Ajax or a Napoli, you're playing for nothing by week, by the seventh round, sixth round.
00:13:57
Emeka
I like when there's jeopardy still. I like being i don't want it to be in a case where the – 14th place team, just because they're just scheduling their last week, they're playing a team on seven points, nothing to play for.
00:14:09
Emeka
And they can just roll over. Like, I like that. You know, give them a carrot to chase. So I wouldn't mind 17 to 24 going, having the Europa drop down, but I'm fully with you. And the, the level of,
00:14:21
Emeka
Cutthroatness that would come from only top 16 going through I would love that so much and also I would like that it would make it these draws are getting too much We got to do a draw for the playoff and then a draw for the day now one play 16 two plays 15 Simple as that and people will say you can jockey for position. What is that tight? You're risking a lot So I I just want to straight one is 16 go through Bracket style one and two opposite ends of the bracket and you go from there All this extra draw stuff is a little much for me.
00:14:53
Emeka
I guess, Chuka, where do you stand on this?
00:14:56
Chuku
Honestly, man, I think I'm going to be more for the whole idea of the top 16 just going through. Because quite frankly, man, we're already playing as like a crazy amount of football as it is.
00:15:09
Chuku
i just think, you know, trying to manage and trying to, like, you know, lower those extra games, you know, in this case, the the playoffs, to get into the knockout round. I just think, although, don't get me wrong, as a fan,
00:15:22
Chuku
I mean, I'm not complaining. know I would love to watch those games. It's pure entertainment. But the fact of the matter is, I just think looking at it long term for the, you know, for no I guess for players' health and safety, i do think the workload is quite, is asking a lot of these of these teams. And not everybody can have the kind of squad that, you know, is required to be able to, you know, to kind of play those type of extra games, right? And We obviously want to see the better players playing more games or playing just playing games, period.
00:15:55
Chuku
So I just think, you know, being able to shrink it to remove those extra games, for me, maybe has a chance to give us a better product. I understand that the the worry of like if a get a team is completely out of the picture, know what the incentive do they have to to play?
00:16:12
Chuku
I get it, but truth is, you got to put in the whole... That's why the group stage is so important as far as the games, you know, the early games being played. So maybe, you never know, i maybe it gives a chance for teams to be more, you know, take those first early games, you know, more serious, you know, as far as if they realize only the top 16 goes through. It might, it maybe might change the way some teams play. I don't know. But I just think for the sake of, you know, players' health and safety, being able to just kind of reduce the amount of games, the wear and tear on the on on these players, I definitely think can make for a better product. So I'm i'm in favor of shortening those games and just making it straight 16 going through.
00:16:53
Chuku
But either way, I'm loving the whole league format as it is, as far as like everyone playing, you know being able to have a chance at least of playing each other. you know more likelihood of getting better matches or getting better you know matchups. I just think it's it's yeah it's it's been a product better product for me at least compared to the initial group stages that we had you know in previous years as well.
00:17:14
Emeka
To me, anybody who says they like the old group stage, I think is sick of the head. i'm not I'm not exaggerating. Like, listen, the only argument I can hear is that two extra games.
00:17:22
Chino Onwuka
Well,
00:17:24
Emeka
I don't care. I've been on this thing, like it's two extra games. We're picking the richest teams in Europe to play two extra games. They'll survive. This new format, absolute cinema, all on the same page about top 16 going through.
00:17:38
Emeka
you know I mean, I put the Riopa League as an extra little safety net, but definitely we're all top 16. But I think you mentioned the Chukumah, like the downside is we get these playoff games instead. Like, I'm not going to be mad at all.
00:17:52
Emeka
There's some bangers scheduled, Galatasaray, Juventus, Dortmund versus Atalanta, Monaco and PSG. And of course, the rematch, Benfica and Madrid again. Like, oh, it's going to be just muy delicioso.
00:18:04
Emeka
And especially as an Arsenal fan, we're not involved. So I just get to watch as a neutral. And those games are coming up February 17 and 18 in the next week. And I'm sure we'll cover all of that in more detail in episodes closer to the playoff round. And hey, maybe we get some upsets. Who knows?
00:18:21
Emeka
But as I mentioned, like, you know, not everybody is is mucking it about in the slot. You know, the top eight teams go through directly to the quarterfinals. And this year, five of them were from the Premier League, led by the first place in the group phase.
00:18:40
Emeka
Eight out of eight, perfect record. Our club arsenal with a with a mighty struggle against the mighty Kairat. Capping off at an interesting week, I'd say, for the club. We recorded it last week, and we talked all of us said that we expected Arsenal to beat Man U. And then I'm sure listen to this podcast, you're aware. And and honestly, incredible results.
00:19:04
Emeka
Man U win 3-2 at the Emirates. First time Arsenal have lost to Man U at the Emirates in 13 years, I believe. So nothing happens every Sunday. You know, people are in the in the dumps, mood is low, fan base is getting agitated, and then they go midweek, and win a game 3-2 that I've never seen a 3-2 win somehow feel like a like a loss in that that should have been way more comfortable.
00:19:31
Emeka
But a win is a win, eight out of eight. We're in this weird position now where every game outside of the Premier League, three goals or more is scored
Arsenal's Performance Analysis
00:19:40
Emeka
consistently. Whereas in the Premier League, we're struggling to find goals. I mean, there's multiple reasons for that.
00:19:47
Emeka
This is a long-winded intro just to say, as if you're an Arsenal fan right now, it's an interesting time. And I guess we're three of us on this podcast. I'll start with you, Chukwu. What is just your vibe right now as an Arsenal fan following the week, a loss, a win, and moving on to the next Premier League fixture?
00:20:04
Chuku
Oh, man, it's it's been an interesting week. It's been an interesting week. You know, this is the beauty about being a fan of of of the beautiful the beautiful sport of football. You know, one week, you know, you're chopping an L, you have to lick your wounds, and the next week, you're getting, you know, you're going unbeaten in the Champions League, you know, group stage, number one on the table. You know, i just think it's all about, in this life, it's about having balance, you know.
00:20:32
Chuku
end of the day, it sucked that we lost to my United. You know, it always sucks when whenever we lose to United, especially at home. But, I mean, truth is, we're still top of the table, still four points clear.
00:20:48
Chuku
You got to just let things kind of just, you know, settle, you know. And I really enjoyed, I'm not sure if if you all had a chance to take a listen to Ateta's, you know, press conference prior to the Carabao game.
00:21:01
Chuku
But, I mean, he talked a lot about, you know, backing the team and and thinking, know, more positive, you know, thinking positive, you know, putting yourself in, know, living in the moment, realizing what can be achievable. And the truth of the matter is, like, so far in the season, I mean, as Arsenal fan, you really,
00:21:18
Chuku
really can't have too much to complain, you know? We've put ou ourselves in a position where we're vying for four competitions, or four in in you know in and a couple of them, know so talking about semifinals, finals, and at the end the day, you know we just have to believe in the team that you know there's not going to be such negative karma, or you know that you can't keep thinking about the past, you know?
00:21:45
Chuku
We've got to think about the present and what's going on now. And right now, I'm still of the belief with the squad that we have, we still have all the makings to go out there and win some major honors, you know?
00:21:59
Chuku
And the biggest thing I can honestly say, at least looking at the Carabao game, is honestly the health and introduction of Kai Havertz back in the starting lineup.
00:22:11
Chuku
Lord, oh, Lord, have we missed this guy. And I really do feel he's going to play a big, big part of our season if we are going end up winning some silverware. And we need him. Like, we honestly, we need him. Like, I mean, he's going to be vital. to our, you know, helping the offense, you know, push on. Because, again, there's no, to me, there's no coincidence that with him not in the squad or not him on in the team, we're we're noticing that, again, not that we're not scoring goals per se, but, I mean, we've seen the reptor we've all heard the stats, seen the stats. You know, a lot of arsenals, know, attacking players haven't really been, you know, tearing it up, let's just let's just say. You know, as far as, you know, the GNA is concerned.
00:22:54
Chuku
But you know what is a team effort? You know, one zero win is still considered a win. And I just think with Kai Havertz, you if he can come back and stay healthy, you know, towards this, you latter stages of the season.
00:23:06
Chuku
I do think he's going to help a lot with increasing the overall attackers GNA, you know, in the team. because hes he has that effect, you know, on on guys. And I just think it's going to be a big, you know, it's going to be on Arteta to be able to, you know, get the best out of these players, you know? Like, i mean, I'm still waiting for the impact of Eze, know, and into the squad.
00:23:28
Chuku
And we're still looking at, you know, other additions as well. Yoko Rez. I mean, I'm sure not so some people in the pod will have more to say on that topic. But at the end of the day, like, I just want just summarize and just say, like, you know, there's a lot to be, you know, thankful for as an Arsenal fan. You know, we're were in position.
00:23:48
Chuku
to get some major honors. And you just got to keep that in mind, you know, as far as, you know, expectations. I do expect that we do come come away with at a least one or two trophies this year. And it's up to the team to, you know, to to push through and, you know, and pretty much get it done. So, yeah They have my support and I just, I still have the belief that we're going to get it done. So until something crazy happens, I mean, we're just going to keep on, you know, monitoring the situation and yeah, I still think, you know, we're in a good position. So hopefully we're able to see it through.
00:24:26
Emeka
It's funny the difference a year makes. This time last year, January 2025, in a game against Man United, funny enough, Kai Havertz put in One of the worst performances I've seen a starting striker play for Arsdale.
00:24:40
Emeka
It broke me. He gets hurt shortly afterwards and everything falls apart. And now a year later, he's coming back after a loss to Man United and he's hailed as the savior. I mean, look, I'm with you. I'm looking i'm very much looking forward to Kai Havertz. As much as I was calling him a donkey last year, he's still a fantastic football player. And when plays as a striker, he might not look pretty, but the numbers support. He he produces. And...
00:25:04
Emeka
If he can't match what he was doing that 2023-2024 season, i would like our I would really like our chances a lot lot a lot more moving forward. Anyhow, you know, you know you've you have been raising the alarm about recent performances very fairly, especially in the league.
00:25:23
Emeka
They all came to roost against Man U. No, I'll let you speak. What are what is your thoughts like following this last week of of results for Arsenal?
00:25:33
Chino Onwuka
First of all, I just want to welcome all the Manning supporters who have tuned into this episode, hoping to hear some sort of crash out, you know, welcome. We're glad that you're here.
00:25:44
Chino Onwuka
You know, congratulations on your victory. I know that this was a cup final for you. So, so good for you, honestly, if I was you, I'd be happy as well. You know, people have been calling Arsenal Man your rivalry and it was becoming a bit of a farce. So, you know, we have to give you guys one so that it could stay a rivalry.
00:26:03
Chino Onwuka
But with regards to Arsenal, dia like you said, I've been ringing the alarm bells for a while now and it sort of seemed like I was being a bit of a, you know, old man yelling at clouds and it wasn't because I was unhappy or I was scared. It was just, I could see things that were worrying and things that, you know, if we don't rectify, know, specifically the attack, you know, regardless of what other teams are are doing, that is not title winning form. It is not title winning performance. And so that is what had me concerned, has me concerned still until we can break out, you know,
00:26:43
Chino Onwuka
A lot of, a lot of our for some reason, You know, partly the the way opposition is playing us, partly maybe some nerves on the on on on the boys, partly just some guys uninformed for whatever reason.
00:26:59
Chino Onwuka
You know, our attack isn't doing well. It is stalled, you know, and I think this is what the third January in a row where I don't know what it is about January. You just seem to stall out in January. So I'm really hoping it's just a blip.
00:27:13
Chino Onwuka
I'm really hoping, you know, we can see some different patterns of play or, or you know, between Arteta and the squad, they're able to solve the issue. But, you know, we need to sort the attack.
00:27:25
Chino Onwuka
Some of the things that I have issues with are, you know, and I'm not a coach who might to talk to Arteta, but to me, from my layman's eyes, you know, I think we can have better balance in the attacking, know,
00:27:40
Chino Onwuka
the composition of the attack, you know, a lot of times we're starting Jesus, Saka, and Trossard. So lots of technical players, but no runners, or then we're starting Yokores, Marueke, and Martinelli. And then now we have all runners and no vision, no creativity, no, you know, technical security. So that's one thing I, you know, to me, maybe if we mix that up a little bit, that would open up more avenues or we'd see better balance. But,
00:28:10
Chino Onwuka
Look, this is January 30th, 2006. i don't How many games have we lost throughout the whole season? I'm pretty sure it's just three.
00:28:22
Chino Onwuka
Three games the whole season. We're four points up in the Prem, eight for eight in the Champions League. Shout out, we're the first team to ever do it. We're the semifinals of Carabao Cup. We're still in the FA Cup. So overall, you know, this is still the position You know, if you asked us at the beginning of season, this is still the position we want to be in, you know, and it's up to us to, you know, we' we're we're fans. But the other word for that is supporters. So I'm still going to support the team. Yes, I will get frustrated. Yes, I will get angry. But look, we're still overall in a position where we control our own destiny. And that's and that's and that's a positive thing.
00:29:04
Emeka
First of all, you know, word got my man so stressed he thinks we're in 2006. I wish I was 2006, but sadly we're grown men in 2026. And secondly, you're being too hard on yourself.
00:29:16
Emeka
What do you mean on a manager? I've seen you win multiple troubles in football manager.
00:29:20
Chino Onwuka
Thank you.
00:29:20
Emeka
you I think you got the tactical nuance to to give my tetra some advice. For me, speaking of tactics, I'm sure if you haven't seen this trend going around on Twitter, it had me laughing this week of great moments in football history if coached by Arteta. They'll take screenshots of you know attacking play and they'll circle the players up front and label them as Arsenal fullbacks. and and Watching Arsenal, I don't understand why...
00:29:50
Emeka
I hesitate to say we platform them because obviously it's more to it, but it feels like we're platforming Timber and when he was fit Calafiori in advanced positions. And I just, the it I want us to go back to what the formerly was when it was Ben White overlapping on the outside and Saka moved inside. I i don't want Saka holding the width anymore. I know they do that so that he can get more isolated and not doubled up as easy, but I want that triangle again. I want Odegaard, Saka, and White.
00:30:21
Emeka
Our best moments in attack came when that combination was there. I love what Timber is doing on defense, but I see too many moves end up with him in the box. And, like, I love Timber. I love him. But, my goodness, I can only see him fluff chances for so long. and it's clearly a tactical decision. And same with having Odegaard drop so deep when the midfield combination is him, Rice, and Zubimendi. What ends up happening is, it's just a giant disconnect between them and the forward players. and just isolated. And,
00:30:55
Emeka
I know he can do this. We used to famously say the Ozone, that place outside the box, Odegaard made a living scoring goals off there. And he has, i think he's only had one goal there in the last like two years. I don't know what's happened. It's clearly been a shift. And I kind of want us to get back to that again. Like, I just don't, I don't like the composition of the team. And I haven't, I wouldn't say it's hot take, but it's it's a take I'm curious of you guys' thoughts on. I've seen it pop up online and it's that,
00:31:23
Emeka
If they're going to keep these same tactics, maybe Rice, Zubimendi, and Odegaard isn't the midfield composition for us to move forward in the sense that what wind ends up happening is Odegaard and Zubimendi overlap way too much.
00:31:37
Emeka
They both drop deep so much. And Rice, the forward runs he used to make, teams have scouted it clearly and have now also realized that he's not as... You know, he's improved in his area, but he's not as progressive and quick forward passing as you would like from a number eight. And then by playing these three together, we're kind of limiting our attack. And it should be, you know, at a Rice as a DM or maybe as a in for Odegaard. But that's a topic I've been seeing covered by Arsenal fans on Twitter. So I guess I'll start with you, Chukul. What are your thoughts about our quote unquote first choice midfield? And do you think there should be some adjustments made to it?
00:32:15
Chuku
Oh, man, man. i I still have the belief that i that the combination of Rice, Zubimendi, and Odegaard can work.
00:32:27
Chuku
I just think it's how it's deployed. But truth of the matter is, man, like, look, I don't know what's going on Odegaard. He just needs to, for me, just needs to be more. he needs to find his his his shooting boots again.
00:32:42
Chuku
i know he's been trying to take, nos you' there was a time he's been trying to take more shots, but i just I'm just not seeing enough from him, at least, and the final when we get to the final third. Like, I need – I know what it is. If it's the is is the tactics we're playing, I don't know if it's the player himself. At this point, I don't know, and i don't really care. I'm just looking for answers at this point, man. Like, Odegaard just needs to show me some more, more. That's all I'm asking. Just show me more of of the twenty that 2022, 2023 Odegaard that
00:33:15
Chuku
we saw perform and what was so like so good for us, right, in in the no opposition end. So, I mean, Zuby as well, though, Zuby, man, he's been, I know he's been he's been one of the better signings of the year, no question. He's had a really good year, but, you know, he just got to just you know tighten up a little bit, tighten up. Like, I've been noticing some little some little mistakes, little errors here and there that, you know, in the past haven't been so costly, but You know, it' looking back at that United game, I mean, that mistake card know cost us severely. So, I mean, I just – I think it can work. I thought i still think it work. Just maybe some fine tinkering, just, you know, some players improving better or improving, trying trying to improve in their game. And, I mean, I think it can work. Like, look, the reality is that midfield has gotten us to first place in both the Champions League group stage as well as in the in the in the league itself.
00:34:13
Chuku
So, I mean, it can't be that bad. you know I'm trying to say? Like, these are still quality players we're talking about. So, I just think maybe just, again, just maybe just little fine tweaks, you know, from the from the tactics maybe can go a long way. And we'll have to see. But I definitely think, you know, the fact that, again, getting some competition in, trying to make some, you know, some changes, maybe that can also help as well. you know, with, you know, getting Havertz involved, Eze involved more, that could be, you know, a possibility, Marino as well, we'll have to see, but at the end of the day, i don't want to make any, like, you know, drastic changes, or think that, that midfield three that we listed out there can't play together, because the reality is they can, and, you know, we're just having a little blip, you know saying, a little blip, but overall, I've been pretty much pleased with that, with with that with those three, so, We'll see how it goes, but it's definitely something to monitor in the coming games.
00:35:12
Emeka
Chinna, what are your thoughts on our first choice midfield? Would you keep it or would you make any any slight tweaks to it?
00:35:19
Chino Onwuka
I think if anything, you know, what I'd like to see is just more rotation. I think we can afford to rotate more, you know, based off the games that we're playing.
00:35:30
Chino Onwuka
Like, I still think our best three midfielders are Odegaard, Zubomendy, and Rice. But do they have to play that combination every game? No. In some games, you can have Odegaard at the six and play, I mean, Rice at the six and play Odegaard and Eze and start working on those combinations. You can have Zubamendi, Declan, and Eze up front. You know, Anor Teta came on set today that, you know, maybe Odegaard has started getting that inclination to to come deep and get the ball, and that's his gameplay.
00:36:04
Chino Onwuka
But that's not necessarily an instruction from him. And he likes to give his players freedom. So, okay, you know, Teres Kamman said he's giving Odegaard freedom. All these other players, you know, you have that freedom as well. So just play like it. Yes, you have set instructions, but, you know, do what makes you good. so Yeah, i so again, i think probably our biggest games, you still want that combination. noruo i You mentioned Zuby has had some errors here and there, and I just think that's because he's been overplayed. So I do think we can afford to rotate some of those guys a bit more. Even Norgaard in some of these games, like he can play.
00:36:46
Chino Onwuka
So I think if you do that, keep those guys fresh as well. I think you you you could see a bit of a difference. And, you know, Emeka, to your point of as to some of those zones where we're seeing not our our attacking threats occupy those dangerous zones, but it's our fullbacks and our, you know, not DM, but Rice.
00:37:08
Chino Onwuka
And I think it's it's interesting because there has to be a reason for that. And, know,
00:37:14
Emeka
you
00:37:15
Chino Onwuka
you know I was listing listening to some pods today and reading some some of not some analysis by some tacticals and it's because the reason those guys are in those spaces because that's the only space that we are given.
00:37:33
Chino Onwuka
And so they now have to be the ones to occupy space to make sure that defenders don't just triple team some of our players. And so it's like, okay,
00:37:45
Chino Onwuka
why can't we have Odegaard, Saka in that position or Trossard in that position? And you know one of the things I heard was, okay, if you switch that about and you have put Saka starting there and Trossard starting there,
00:38:05
Chino Onwuka
All those defenders are just going to cram that middle. And who do you have on the wings? You know, Timber and, you know, Calafiori and, you know, one-on-one in those positions, you know, what are they really going to do there? So, so it's a dilemma that we keep having to solve, you know, do we have the right players to do that? You know, there's a big difference when Calafiori and MLS are in certain positions versus where, when Timber's in that position or when Rice is in that position, but, know,
00:38:35
Chino Onwuka
You know, look, teams are gearing up their playbooks to stop us as much as possible. We don't have, we have an effective attack. We don't have the most fluid attack.
00:38:49
Chino Onwuka
You know, I questioned some of the signings in the summer for this very reason. And so hopefully he can get us across the line, but it is still an issue. And what has built us out in these moments before is Saka has been a superstar and he has not been playing at that. He's been playing well, don't get me wrong, but he's not been playing at that superstar level this season for whatever reason. And so it's it's's it's a lot more, those deficiencies are a lot more stark now.
00:39:19
Emeka
I mean, you you made some great points there, and I wish I could drag address all of them. But the the one I keep wanting to just double down on, I keep curious to hear your thoughts on this, Juku, is that it it has been, i mean, I think Arsenal fans have noticed it and been whispering about it, but I think now more and more i'm seeing national people notice it, and it's that since the hamstring injury, Saka hasn't hit heights, and it's getting dangerously long now.
00:39:47
Emeka
We all, like, of every player, I think he's earned the most rope in that I'm not going to worry about him. He's shown he's quality. He's shown he's world class. He's shown he's all of that. But while more and more games go by, and he's not producing these moments anymore. He's lost that little yard of pace. And you know, like, he was the paciest guy to begin with. But now you... I've seen it. He loses a little bit more and I'm beginning to worry. And I think I've, I see a guy who is on a long goal drought and it's starting to get to him.
00:40:19
Emeka
That is what I've seen when I see soccer, because at no time ever would I've ever dreamed of calling him a selfish player. He's usually one of the most creative guys on our team. But this year, especially the past recent months, he's been he's been taking these shots a little bit more. And you you want to do that? Listen, you're the star man. You have the right to do that. But if you do that, you better score.
00:40:44
Emeka
You better score. And we're now 14 games in without him scoring a goal. I mean... We're going to pay this brother, well-deserved, $300-and-something-plus-thousand a week. If you're earning that kind of money, I can no longer treat you like the young starboard. Now I have to look at you like the talisman, the main man. And if we're going to hit the heights we're supposed to hit this year, and I'm sure he will say, listen, I'm not the guy who decided to spend $60 million on a donkey.
00:41:12
Emeka
Fair. But we're the guy we're paying you for, so you have to cover for the donkey. And I need you to put up some numbers right now. And I and i guess I'm curious to hear your thoughts, Shuka. Am being harsh in kind of saying that i'm I'm expecting soccer to step up a lot more second half of the season?
00:41:30
Chuku
See, it depends on how you look at it, right? Because one well not one aspect, I don't think you're being harsh when you're factoring the the new contract deal that Saka just signed that is going to take place after this season where he's going to be making the kind of money he's going to making and being the highest earning you know player on the team, which, by the way, well-deserved.
00:41:52
Chuku
But at the same time, also got to factor in the fact that, like you mentioned earlier, dealing with the hamstring injury, the fact, you know, we we have been riding this boy, like like, for no, like, we've basically been reliant on him for so many seasons, and he's been so good, so consistent, that is like, what the moment he's showing that bit of, you know,
00:42:18
Chuku
inconsistency, he's going through a downturn. I'm not ready to just turn on no turn him... I'm not saying that you're doing this, by the way, but I'm not ready to just turn on him completely. like I still have a lot of faith in the fact that, like look, he's going to maybe get some extraise some extra... games to be able to know get back to where you know where he was prior to the hamstring injury. It's not like he's been playing terrible. I just think to his standard, he's just not obviously no playing to to that level just yet, right, at the moment. But I do think there's definitely enough room and time left in the in the you know in the in the season for him to you know kind of come back to form. And you know what? This is exactly why we have the squad that we do because, again,
00:43:04
Chuku
uh you know games where you know he's not there he's not up to up to standard this is when the coach has to you know have the you know that that that readiness and belief to be able to make the decision to to rest him to to to drop him in some game in certain games and you know give others a chance to you know to to shine or to play so it's going to be a it's definitely going to be Something to monitor for sure. But I also will say that as much as I've enjoyed Timbers' defensive side, I do think Saka does stand a chance to benefit a lot more with the health and playing time over Ben White next to him. Because those two just have some sort of like strong connection with their play that I think they help bring out the best in both of them.
00:43:54
Chuku
And with those two connecting in general, it definitely brings out the best in now our attackers. And I just think for all Timber does for us defensively,
00:44:06
Chuku
we're really starting to, all these I mean, I'm starting to notice a lot of the downside as far as what he brings to the table offensively. Because at the end of the day, Timber is not really one to whip in a cross, right, to attacking options in the middle. He's shown a lot of times that when, you know, giving the ball in certain areas up the field, he's not able to make always the best decisions with the ball or, you know, yeah, as far as, you know, attacking-wise. So it has kind of stunted a little bit of Saka's, you know, I guess, movements and and ability to attack from the the right side. But again, I'm just going to throw that up to growing pains at the moment. We'll see if that's something that continues to play out as the season progresses here. But I definitely do think the health of Ben White is going to play a long role.
00:44:57
Chuku
for sure, because I do definitely see a difference with Ben White when he's on the pitch, playing next to Saka. Just his ability to be able to overlap, get crosses in, you know, it it helps open up a lot for Saka's game. And I'm very interested to see if if that's something that, know, Arteta goes more towards as we play, you know, and enter those, you know, important games in in the season. So we'll see how it goes. But, you know, I just think having the squad healthy is going to help. And he's going to be on our agenda to make the right call on who gets who gets to play. And we'll have to see how that goes.
00:45:36
Emeka
Absolutely. And again, like you said, I said it, but I just want to make it clear because I love me some soccer. Like I, by no means am I turning on him. He's the star boy. He's the star man. He's the main guy.
00:45:48
Emeka
And the truth of the matter, like I joked about it, it's that, you know, I'm not going to blame Yoko Riz. Like we signed Yoko Riz, we signed Eze, we signed Maduweke. Three, so I think combined, 180 million in forward players. And none of them have really hit the floor running.
00:46:07
Emeka
So as a result, i've relyed on older uli I'm relying on the guys who were there. I'm relying on Saka. I'm relying on, we were talking about Kai Havertz earlier, Charles Sarban. We need somebody to step up. And as the guy who gets paid the most, I'm turning to him.
00:46:22
Emeka
But... I was saving this, you know, General mentioned the transfer window and the money we spent. And I have a take. I'm curious how hot you think it is. My take is, despite all the consternation and slander, and and I fully agree it's all warranted, Yoko Ress actually isn't the most disappointing signing we made this summer.
00:46:42
Emeka
For me... We spent $50 million on Hinkapie, and I cannot see something. like yeah my I'm not going to lie here and say I saw him in Germany.
00:46:54
Emeka
I know Juky, you were very excited. You got me excited. You were saying, oh, he's playing for Leverkusen. He's got pace. He's a forward. So I'm thinking, all right, we got us South American flair, fullback and center back. And For me, he doesn't give enough at fullback going forward to get excited for $50 million.
00:47:13
Emeka
And every time we play him at center back, we look shaky. So now i'm looking at a guy who costs, again, $50 million for a defender. And you're not that good at fullback, and you're not that good at center back. And I'm just thinking, are these where the resources should be going to?
00:47:28
Emeka
And I don't know, like at least who Yoko has for as bum as he is, and by all means he's a bum. I'm not here to defend him. He's at least starting to scam goals. Give me something to hold on to. Hey, Capier, give me something to hold on to. Whether it's a fullback or center back, give me something to, like, I can kind of project and going forward that will make me feel comfortable that we spent this kind of money on you. Because we got Mosquera for a third of that price, and that brother looks way better.
00:47:55
Emeka
So now I'm just curious your guys' thoughts. Am I off base in thinking that of all our summer moves, Hekape's actually disappointing? Or is it still our 60 million pound striker who I'm always stunned on you can control the past?
00:48:07
Chino Onwuka
gonna go I'm go first on this one. Yeah. Like, to me, Jokeres is still our worst signing of the season so far. And like you said, hey, he's still productive, right?
00:48:19
Chino Onwuka
Like, he's still, well, productive in quotation marks. He scored some goals in maybe games that don't mean too much because the expectation he had a certain expectation on him, right? And he's not lived up to that expectation.
00:48:33
Chino Onwuka
Now, I see what you're saying on Henkapie. You know, he came in for a big fee. We were all really surprised because, you know, it didn't seem like something that was a priority in terms of a position we needed to address. But the expectation for Hincapié was not to come in and be a starter for this team.
00:48:51
Chino Onwuka
It wasn't. So I think that's one thing that colors the perception for me. And two is you have to know, maybe the thing is people not really understanding the type of player he is and where he was really effective.
00:49:07
Chino Onwuka
Now, yes, he was a more of a flying fullback before. He is pacey. But I think like what he does well is that a touchline fullback, straight line speed, and being able to whip in across.
00:49:28
Chino Onwuka
That is what he's doing. He's not the type of guy who's going to be able to take us to break down one-on-one. That's not his game. It's... You have the ball on the overlap. Honestly, i have the perfect example, Tierney, right?
00:49:41
Chino Onwuka
Think about Tierney and the way he plays, and that is what Hincapié is really, really good at. So now when you put him in position where the way we play fullback at Arsenal is, regardless of if you're the main inverter or not, we have our our wingers hug the touchline and then you sort of fill in that, you know, middle space at the edge of the box.
00:50:07
Chino Onwuka
I'm not surprised he doesn't look good doing that. I'm really not. So I'm not judging him harshly on that because if we're playing him as a fullback, it has to be on the wing, on the overlap where he can whip across in and guarantee you will see a totally different player.
00:50:22
Chino Onwuka
Now at center back, I think he's had some good games and he's had some games where he has shaky moments. Somebody had this analogy for Hinkapie that just made me laugh.
00:50:36
Chino Onwuka
But I'm not too fussed about that because, you know, I think I was talking with Emeka with you about this. is He's 23. We have been spoiled with Saliba becoming good so quickly because also remember what Gabriel looked like when he came in at 23. He wasn't this player. So he has a lot of refinement that he needs to his game, and I think he'll get there.
00:51:01
Chino Onwuka
But, you know, I still think these are sort of the growing pains you expect for a 23-year-old defender when you when you come to this level. He's had some good games. he's He's had some rough games. So it's really, this is a situation where I think, you Arteta, you've seen guys come in for a specific reason and, you know, the role has evolved as Arteta has worked with them. I think this is a situation where they're still trying to find out where he best fits, how to use him. He has some learnings to go and I still think well'll we'll see levels from him.
00:51:35
Emeka
Before I get your take, Chukwu, what's the analogy? You didn't even say it
00:51:40
Chino Onwuka
i I have to go on my phone and look for it because it's it's hilarious. But I don't i don't know what to do in my head, yeah.
00:51:47
Emeka
say it. Very accurate. He's 23. Gabriel overcame the Bozo gene, and now he's one of the best in the world. So maybe it is. Maybe I'm just being harsh. Because, again, and I want to turn to you, Chukwu, because you were the most excited about this transfer.
00:52:00
Emeka
You got me excited about it. And and i was I was in it. So, you know, so
00:52:04
Chino Onwuka
and and And so before you finish, just on this thing on Gabriel overcoming the Bozo team, and I want to reite reiterate this point, what happens with maturity is those moments happen less and less.
00:52:06
Emeka
before you finish.
00:52:17
Chino Onwuka
But when you play a certain style of defense, it will still be always there because as much as we've v lauded Gabriel this season and deservedly so, think about some of the bad goals we've conceded this year. And a lot of them Gabriel has been at fault for.
00:52:32
Chino Onwuka
The goal against Man City, that was Gabriel. The goal against Newcastle, that was Gabriel. The goal last second against Sunderland, that was Gabriel.
00:52:44
Chino Onwuka
That pass against, which team was it again? That was Gabriel.
00:52:48
Emeka
You leave it all warm with the biggest one.
00:52:50
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, exactly. So the moments are still there. It's just, it's not happening every single game. And so when you're defender, when you're asked to play a certain style, When you are super aggressive, those moments are still going to be there. Now, Gabriel has scored us a lot of goals, so we forget about those other things, but you know it's it's still there to some extent.
00:53:12
Chino Onwuka
Look at Van Dijk, the best defender in the world. How many times do we see moments where he's he's doing aura bum defending, but he has so many of other moments that overshadow that because that's what happens as he matures a defender.
00:53:26
Emeka
That's not the Bozo gene, though. Gabriel has the Bozo gene. I hate to say it, but it is what it is. He has You're right. you know't You never fully overcome it, but you can reduce it. But yeah I'm just worried and happy he has it, too, and it's it's scary. But as I was saying, I want to end of the topic, Chukwu, because you were the one who most hyped about him. So I guess I'm just curious, has he lived up to your expectations so far, albeit it's only just his first year as a 23-year-old in the new system?
00:53:54
Chuku
I'm going to start off by saying i think you're a little bit little bit too harsh on the young kid and the young lad. Like, look, I was hyped for a good reason because, Juna mentioned, you have to understand,
00:54:08
Chuku
This was not a sign that we expected, one. It came out of the blue, right, to be fair, for most most of us. And two, the quality and type of player that we got, he it wasn't coming in to be a starter right away.
00:54:21
Chuku
This is someone that was playing a lot of football for a top German side in Leverkusen, and he was going to be coming to the club to be literally a backup left back. At the of the day, we already have our starter in Cal Fiore, which we've seen so far this year.
00:54:37
Chuku
And for me, what he offered is the versatility of not just being able to play a left back, but he can also play a center back, which we've seen in spurts this season where he's had to fill in for injuries, were right, in the squad, for him to be playing. And for me, he's actually not, he's not been terrible. Like, I don't know, like ive like I said, I think the whole Saliba, you know, having a young defender coming in and and playing really well, and I guess also added to the fact that You know, Mascara is also very young, and he's been playing, you know, pretty decently for the most part. Maybe that comes know plays a part in all this.
00:55:14
Chuku
But quite frankly, I just think, like, not every player is going to be the same. Like, some players may take need a little bit longer to adjust to to a new league. And quite frankly, I'm still very high on Hincapi. I do think, you know, he's going to be a player that is going to be really good for us in the long run.
00:55:33
Chuku
And, you know, I just think the fact is he's 23, he's young, he's still learning, has all the physical attributes you need in a defender. i prefer mostly as as a fullback, in my opinion.
00:55:47
Chuku
But the fact is he's actually been really, really surprising me at center back as well. And I do think, like said, we'll give him more time, you know, development and training under, you know, tutelage under Arteta. I do think he has a chance to become a very, very good player for us. So, by no means has he come in and you know done amazing or anything like that. I'm not saying that at all, but at the same time, he's not been our worst signing. That, I can tell you for a fact. Like, Yachares, it pains me.
00:56:20
Chuku
It pains me to have to say this, but That brother, although he's been finding a way to get some goals of late, e by for that's somebody that we bought in to make immediate impact. And I mean immediate. And we've all seen, you know, we've all kind of, know, bared witness to a lot of his shortcomings. And the fact is, he's not someone that, again, you know, has the the whole time on his side. Because, again, this is an older player. that you know we're talking about in Yorcares. And like I said, we we we had a lot more expectations of him coming into the the season. So for me, I still think Nkapi has a lot of improvements to do. He definitely has you know improvements he can you know to he can make. But I just think he's going to be one to keep an eye on and he's still going to be one to watch because he's he's a good player, man. I definitely think we've got a good player there. and
00:57:20
Chuku
you know, going forward is on him to just kind of just continue to adjust to the new league and show why, you know, he's going to cost the kind of money he costs to bring him in. And, yeah, that's where I'm going to leave it at.
00:57:32
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, so I just i just found the the joke. I just sent it to you guys, but and this is what it says. Great tackle by Hencapié, but he still makes me feel nervous. Feels like watching a dog drive your car perfectly.
00:57:45
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, they're driving perfectly, but they're still a dog. And when I saw that, I just laughed because I was like, yeah, that captures it perfectly.
00:57:51
Emeka
like yeah that cap I'm telling you, I'm giving this, listen, this first year, all that. I'm looking at it from a price tag perspective. Like, he costs 50 plus million.
00:58:04
Emeka
If you're costing 50 million, I'm expecting more than a car driven by a dog. That's just where I'm at. But, you know, he is young. He's not been that bad. He's not kid.
00:58:12
Chuku
He's young, you gotta factor the age in that Emeka. Like, and this was someone that was also old.
00:58:15
Emeka
I factor it in, but I'm here for the now. Give me something to hold yeah give something to hold on to. And the funny thing is, Chuno mentioned that he reminds him of Tierney.
00:58:26
Emeka
Arteta here, Tierney. So, you know, that that that gives me some worry, man. Like, we're buying a round peg to put in a square hole.
00:58:31
Chuku
But, bro...
00:58:33
Emeka
I don't know.
00:58:35
Chuku
That's tourney that... but Hold on, hold on. I don't really like that. I mean, I hear you on the tourney comparison, but bro, this is someone that is... turn You can say tourney, but tourney could never play center back in the back in the back four.
00:58:47
Chuku
And Hikabie has proven he can play a center back at a back four at an elite level, like, or close to an elite level. So, for me, I just think he offers more as far as the team than you can just compare to just Turney. And even speaking of Turney alone, how much did we, I'm curious, how much did we buy Turney for at this time? Do you guys know, remember?
00:59:09
Chino Onwuka
one from It was, I mean, it was cheap now, but 25 million at the time, which was a lot of money for a fullback from the Scottish league, from the Scottish league.
00:59:09
Emeka
It was cheap, it was like...
00:59:17
Chuku
But again, $25 million for a full back,
00:59:18
Emeka
Oh damn, I thought it was cheaper than that, my bad.
00:59:20
Chuku
Well, I don't remember it being close to like something like 20 to 30, so that sounds about right.
00:59:20
Chino Onwuka
Oh 25 million.
00:59:24
Chuku
But what I'm saying is, the way I want to look at it, the way looking it, right, is if you're spending 25 mil on left back, who, again, Turney, when he was brought in, was brought in to play just left back.
00:59:37
Chuku
wasn't really offering much as far as... I know he did play sometimes, i think at times, maybe like a handful of games, maybe they played but in the back three at the time, but the fact is, for the most part, he was deployed as a left-back.
00:59:50
Chuku
Hincapi, it costs him 50 mil, who can play both left-back an the buck and and 23, and was in a team of the seat year or team of the season, Bundesliga. Like, this is a quality, quality player for his age, and I just think $15 million in today's game is not that expensive to play for, you know, for player. Not too long ago, Man City were paying upwards of $50-plus million for just full-time fullbacks in Cancelo and Kyle Walker. And, I mean, look, those are some, you know, big names there, but let's not act as if, know, Cancelo, for example, didn't have
01:00:23
Chuku
know, his, know, I guess, you know, people who were questioning his defensive ability, although he did, you know, produce a lot offensively. You know, again, I said, I don't think he's going to come good.
01:00:35
Chuku
I'm very high on him. And the fact that we have a player like that next to a guy like Calafiore, I definitely think bodes well because, again, we know we all know how so far Calafiore can be with his injury history. So we've got to need some sort of quality player to be playing or know to to basically know shadow him as far as squad depth. So I definitely think he's going to have ample opportunities to play and he's going to have time to be able to show his worth. So I definitely think just give him some more time. He's going to come good.
01:01:06
Chino Onwuka
not Not to want to go too much longer on this topic.
01:01:06
Emeka
Not too not
01:01:08
Chino Onwuka
So I think a key thing is, you know, when we when we when he came in, you know, he was primarily playing fullback. It looks like we brought him in to be a center back because, you know, just reading up on some things, one of the things that he's really good at is...
01:01:23
Chino Onwuka
He is a beast area lead. you know They were showing some of the stats as to some of our best players you know winning aerial duels. And Incapier is there right along with Gabriel, whereas Calafiori isn't as high. So it's interesting where Calafiori was originally a center back, now he's playing left back for us. Incapier was a left back, now he's playing center back for us.
01:01:47
Chino Onwuka
But they have that utility where you know in an injury crisis or something, you know they can fill multiple roles. And the other thing is we're not seeing it as much as he's a really good crosser. Even his stats so far with Arsenal, his crossing accuracy is 20% versus some of our players like Timber.
01:02:04
Chino Onwuka
Not so good. So, yeah.
01:02:08
Emeka
I think I can outcross Timber. No joke. But I'll end this topic with, listen, if Hincapier can be 80% as good for us as Kyle Walker was for Man City, I will be ecstatic.
01:02:21
Emeka
First year, I'm not too fussed. I just, you know, it's something i was realizing watching it. As bad as Jokoraz is, at least he's scamming something. Give me something to hold on to. And I could go on and on about another of our transfers, but we've already spent long enough on Arsenal as it is.
01:02:36
Emeka
Before we leave this topic, I'm remiss, you know, we are top of the league, four points clear. I know better now than to ask, especially my manager now, about the title race, which is fair. It's one game at a time.
01:02:47
Emeka
So I'll rephrase this question one game at a time. We're not picking the result. So I'm not going to say, you think we'll win? But I'll phrase it like this. On a scale of 1 to 10, how confident are you we you will put in a good performance this weekend against Leeds?
01:03:02
Emeka
I'll start you, Chikou.
01:03:04
Chuku
Sorry, or i what was your question? just
01:03:07
Emeka
On a scale of 1 to 10, how confident are you that we'll put in, not a win, a good performance? that We're coming off a stretch of some nil-nils and some losses. We had a good performance midweek in Champions League.
01:03:19
Emeka
Will we carry that over to against Leeds this weekend?
01:03:24
Chuku
Yeah, I would give us at least and after the performance of midweek, I got about 8.5. I think we're going to put in a good show in. against Leeds.
01:03:35
Chuku
I think the boys come to play. We score a couple goals. Havertz gets, you know, gets, gets, and I think Saka finally breaks, you know, also gets a chance to, you know, to put a goal in. So, I, I mean, I'm not sure we're going to give score line, but I definitely think we're going to score more than one goal.
01:03:53
Chuku
And I think it's going to be a a comfortable victory against Leeds this weekend.
01:03:57
Chino Onwuka
six point five seven
01:04:00
Emeka
I'm a 7 as well. I'm a um'm cautious. i my My hope will go a lot further if we put in... yeah win is essential, obviously, but I just want a good performance. Just a nice multiple goal, open play goal performance. And... so It's a Saturday 8 p.m. game. we We play before Man City. I'm actually really curious to see if that helps the nerves in that previous weeks. Every time City drop points and we are like, oh, we could take a lead or we know the results, we get tight.
01:04:31
Emeka
Maybe they play looser. Playing before City. It's not national TV. It's in the 3 p.m. blackout window. I'm in my gossiping on straws, but maybe those help you know help the squad out. But maybe we can rest too. I don't know. We'll see.
01:04:47
Emeka
Funny enough, you know, as Arsenal fans here, we're mentioned we're recording this January 30th, and years gone by, we would all be, this episode would literally be us stressing and wondering about transfer targets and any moves we make in the window.
Transfer Window Insights and Strategies
01:05:01
Emeka
Because it is the January transfer window, which ends on Tuesday, February second Quiet, you know, and it's strange that it's, I guess, financial fair play really has spooked teams because it has been a quiet window.
01:05:16
Emeka
Absent Man City, you know, making some two big moves to Semenyo and Gay, which we've already talked about. Not really much has been happening. You know, Chelsea, famous for dropping 500 million on every window. Doing nothing so far. So I guess, you i still review Chukwu as a fellow transfer connoisseur. Have you been surprised with how quiet the window has been so far?
01:05:38
Chuku
Yeah, I mean, i'd definitely expected no more teams other than just Man City in the in the top top half to make you know't make certain moves. But really, all we really saw was you know players leaving with more outgoings rather than incomings.
01:05:55
Chuku
for the, at least the top sides right in the league. So, I mean, it's a little bit surprising, you know? I mean, but to be fair, I mean, like looking at it from the perspective Arsenal, I think we did most of our business right in the summer.
01:06:08
Chuku
So as far as January was concerned, if anything, we were, you know, over stacked. So it did make some sense to see some, you know, some, some players, well, a player or two leave the club, which we ended up seeing, you know with one year, which was to me, wasn't really as, That's shocking, to be frank, just because he wasn't getting the minutes. So I'm happy that he's actually been able to know leave and get playing time elsewhere. But, yeah, no, I mean, I expected, to you know, i thought I'll see United making moves.
01:06:37
Chuku
I guess they're saving their moves for the summer. You know, Man City, you know, Man City are going to Man City. They're used to making their moves in you know in the January window whenever they need to add to their, you know, to their... you know, fuel to their, you know, to their car, you know, in the sense of always, you know, replenishing their team. So, I mean, I'm not surprised there. But overall, I guess, you know, teams are just more gearing towards the summer is what it looks like, right? As far as the top teams in the league add-in. Sorry, yeah, in terms of add-in to the to the squad. is more I'm noticing it's definitely more of a summer thing. So we'll go and see. I mean, that right now we're monitoring some no departures going on. Like, I know so Crystal Palace have definitely been making moves. I'm not sure if you all have seen about was called even Forest. They were making some interesting moves today. They got linked with Fratizi. Forgive me for mispronouncing the name, but
01:07:30
Chuku
To me, that was like a shocked move. I was surprised to see coming as far as the force was concerned. So they've been making some moves. Villa have been making some moves. Crystal Palace have been making some moves, but not really anyone.
01:07:43
Chuku
I guess you can put Villa since Villa in the top, you know, top six. But apart from Villa, not really much teams in the top half have been making many moves at the moment, which maybe is just, again, it could be the whole, you know, maybe wanting to make save those moves for the summer.
01:07:59
Chuku
You never know. But either way, i think it's good in the sense that, you know, there weren't too many moves being made because, again, a lot of these teams as they are already stacked as is. So,
01:08:10
Chuku
maybe it's a chance for guys to still get settled in with the teams. We'll see how that goes and pans out. But looking at from, you know, ending it with the Arsenal perspective, I just think, you know, for us, it shouldn't have come as much of a surprise that we didn't make any major additions because quite frankly, our squad is as stacked as it it can be. And, you know, right now it's just about managing the team as best as possible and, you know, making sure all our players can get healthy, stay healthy. And I think, you know, it's going to help us out you know, in the longer in a long way. And it's going to feel like, you know, certain players are to definitely feel like new signers once they're, you know, back in the fold and and playing more consistent minutes again, right? So, you know, just got to see how it goes.
01:08:53
Emeka
Chenna, are you surprised with how quiet, especially for the bigger teams, the January transfer window has been?
01:09:00
Chino Onwuka
it's just I think it's just perception for Arsenal fans because we're not scanning every day to see what's happening with Arsenal. And, you know, as a byproduct, we're not then seeing what's going on with other teams until, you know, there's an actual announcement. It just feels like...
01:09:18
Chino Onwuka
not as much is going on, whereas I think there's just as much activity going on in a January transfer window as you would see in previous years. I mean, last year was a bit unique with, you know, all the spending that Man City did, but even then, Man City has bought two starter-level players in a January window, which is rare. You know, Chelsea have been trying to sign young players as they always are.
01:09:42
Chino Onwuka
you look at the bottom half of the table, teams that are trying to claw their way back out of relegation or trying to avoid relegation are still making their, you know, quote unquote, desperate, you know, signings as they always do. You know, West Ham have signed a whole bunch of players for us. So I so honestly think the same level activity is happening, but because we're a little bit more removed from it as Arsenal fans, it just doesn't seem that
01:10:10
Emeka
No, maybe, maybe you're right. I mean, there's definitely, it's the least I've, like I started off this thing with, it's the least I've, you know, paid attention to the January window at all. Like I do not,
01:10:21
Emeka
do not notice or even like remotely care about anything. Like Juku mentioned, if anything, we need to drop off some names and free up some space. But I guess I'm just... Particular two teams for me are Liverpool and Man United in that they're right on that cusp of top top five, I think is we can say clearly now.
01:10:42
Emeka
They're probably going to get five Champions League spots. They're right on the cusp of the top five battle and they're like one player, especially Liverpool, like... if they don't somehow even get a loan for a center back or something like that, I'll just be a little stunned by it because they're just that one little move away from maybe solidifying something. And maybe as an Arsenal fan, i have PTSD because so many windows, I felt we were one player short of something and we just didn't push it along the edge. And I'm seeing it happen in our, I can't in the competition, humbly as I can say this. So like, and like I'm worried about it, but it's just, if I was a Liverpool fan,
01:11:46
Chino Onwuka
Yeah. You know, even just looking at those two teams you just mentioned, you know, Liverpool and Man U, like Liverpool spent 500 million in the summer, right? They spent a lot of money in the summer. They brought in a lot of players. So,
01:12:03
Chino Onwuka
they just might not have the money to spend. like Even Manchester United, you know at the end of last season, we were all celebrating at them losing in the Europa final because we thought this would be a death knell for them in that you know they could go bankrupt. There was no European money. you know They were firing tea ladies and things like that. And then somehow they found $200 million to to spend on forwards. So you know to me, I'm not surprised that you know they They haven't made any signings yet because they've spent a lot of money. that the The credit card might just be maxed out. and you know In general, that the the January market is already a bit tougher because it's not just about you wanting a player. is Is the other team willing to let those players go? And if they are, what is that price? And is that the best value for your money? Yeah.
01:12:57
Chino Onwuka
I think that that's having an effect as well. You know, you even apart from those two teams, I was just taking a quick look, you know, Tottenham spent a lot of money, you know, Xavi Siemens was 60 million. Kudus was 60 million.
01:13:12
Chino Onwuka
You know, they had to, they had to do the obligation to buy for Tel. So a lot of money has been spent. How many players did Sunderland bring in? Sunderland brought 11 players. So, A lot of money has been spent. You know, January window is is hard, but there there's still lots of activity going on.
01:13:30
Emeka
As Liverpool fans would love to tell you, you got think of the net spend. We sold players. We sold Diaz and and co. you're all Very true. It's just, you know, I'm just used to deadline bombas, you know? And maybe I got spoiled by Chelsea two years ago and in Man City last year in that people are are splashing in January. Because truth is, January normally is very, very, very quiet. So maybe, again, I'm just getting spoiled, but...
01:13:55
Emeka
Hopefully, there's something that happens. I love a deadline day. I love a good deadline day, especially as a non-invested party. Arsenal will just have a great squad. I'm not going to be tripping about it. So if I can scroll through on Twitter and see some moves, I want to be mad about it. I want to be mad about it. But, you know, Premier League and football aren't the only league with a with big deadline coming
NBA Trade Deadline Speculations
01:14:16
Emeka
next week. As I mentioned, the NBA trade deadline is on Thursday, the February 5th. And I will be remiss in this podcast if we do not touch on, you know, it's funny enough, last episode, breaking news, you know, sprung on us. I thought we were have an emergency podcast where Shams tweeted, Giannis was injured and he came out and just self-diagnosed himself, which I thought was hilarious.
01:14:42
Emeka
Following up on Monday night, breaking news again, Shams comes out and says, Doesn't say Giannis requests a trade, which i I did look and I did flag that. Instead, he says, the Milwaukee Bucks have now turned their minds to trading Giannis.
01:14:59
Emeka
Of course, everyone exploded. The NBA podcast economy can help itself. Dropped every episode, every podcast I listened to had an episode about Giannis trades. And all of a sudden, I'm hearing about all these trade packages. And, you know, maybe I'm wrong about this. And I'm curious what you guys' thoughts are. But,
01:15:18
Emeka
I guess I'll just start off by saying I think it'll be crazy for the Bucks to trade Giannis midseason. Because unless you're Nico, got Harrison who's fired now, and you just hit your star player.
01:15:32
Emeka
Unless your star elite super duper star crashes out. they almost never get traded midseason because you're not going to get the return you need. Everyone is still married to their team. no one wants to just gut the entire roster.
01:15:46
Emeka
So why am I taking these terrible offers? And secondly, Giannis, you know, the self-diagnosis was funny, but it kind of helped him out. He's not, again, he's not crashing out. He's injured. And it wouldn't shock me if the Bucs,
01:15:59
Emeka
you know, quote, quote, nudge, nudge, kind of hold them out because they'd suck. And luckily for them, the Pelicans also suck and they're going to get the worst, the no quote, unquote, better or higher up pick between the Pelicans and their pick. If they're both top five, guess what? They got a top five pick in a loaded draft. I want to lose games.
01:16:18
Emeka
So why am I, I don't need to do a trade right now. Let me just hold Giannis out. And as long as he's not making a scene about it, like, you know, I'm talking like,
01:16:29
Emeka
It's a national incident. The fact that he can't even come out and say he was requesting a trade kind of tells me, why am I trying to trade him midseason? I just don't get it. So I guess I'm just kind of confused by how the media is kind of reacting to this and and acting that it's a foregone conclusion.
01:16:46
Emeka
Giannis gets traded before the trade deadline. So guess I'll turn it to you, Chukwu. Do you think Giannis gets traded before the trade deadline next week?
01:16:55
Chuku
I mean, at this stage, if I to take a guess, I think it's a yes, man. Like, the way it's been talked about and reported nowadays, I mean, it's definitely looking like, you know, like I said, he has a set teams that, you know, that are looking to make a deal happen.
01:17:13
Chuku
Golden State, from what accounts, are pushing extremely hard, willing to give up the bank. to make good a happen make it happen. I just think, you know what? It's time, man. It's time. It's time. You know, pretty much everyone that's the main the main parts of that championship team, you know, the big three, Drew, Chris Middleton, they've all gone. They all left. Even the people that they brought in to help, Damian Lillard, he's gone.
01:17:41
Chuku
Like, at this point, you're the Bucs. You've you've walk got in your ring. It's time for a fresh start, and I do think that they end up making this – they facilitate this this deal happen taking place. So, yes, I do think he does get dealt by the deadline.
01:17:58
Emeka
You
01:18:02
Chino Onwuka
I don't know. i don't know. i Like you said, I think if I'm the Bucs, you probably have a better market. You know, if you wait till the summer, you know, you know with the injuries, probably a benefit if he doesn't play.
01:18:16
Chino Onwuka
Because, you know, what are the teams that you're hearing right now have the best offer? Like if if any report that's telling me the Warriors have the be best offer out there right now, that means, yeah, if you can afford to wait,
01:18:30
Chino Onwuka
Then let let me wait. I mean, the one thing then that could happen is maybe his value goes down a bit because he is then he'll have just one year left on his contract. And then so the the argument could be you're getting him for only one playoff run versus two.
01:18:47
Chino Onwuka
But.
01:18:49
Chino Onwuka
Giannis is clearly trying to protect his image and not say, hey, I'm demanding a trade, which is sort of locking, tying the arms behind the backs of these reporters. So that's why they're trying to be so politically correct in how they're phrasing this.
01:19:06
Chino Onwuka
He wants out, but he doesn't want it he doesn't want it on paper, on record anywhere that he said he wanted out. So he has plausible deniability. So, you know, if I'm the Bucks, obviously it's Giannis. So you want to do what's best for the guy that's won your only your their second title in history.
01:19:24
Chino Onwuka
But, you know, you also need to look out for yourself as well. So if I'm them, hey, Giannis, right, you want out, we'll look for the best trade. But if we don't see anything we like, we will wait and reassess in the summer.
01:19:39
Emeka
Thank you for saying this because my goodness. And I recognize, you know, have been called a Golden State hater in the past. So I will own up to that. But the media propaganda I'm seeing when they're trying to hype up this garbage Golden State Warriors trade offer of Jimmy Butler, who's 36 years old, making 50 million next year. And by the way, Torres ACL.
01:20:02
Emeka
Kaminga, who Steve Kerr openly hates. I don't know. You put Steve Kerr in a room with Kaminga and Trump in a bullet and a gun of one bullet. I don't know he was going to shoot. That's how much he hates this brother.
01:20:12
Emeka
And yes, they're saying, oh, but then you add all the first round picks and the Warriors, when Curry retires, they're going to be so bad. First of all, who says Curry is retiring anytime soon?
01:20:24
Emeka
And Giannis is barely 30. And I know everyone wants to say, oh, how's going to age? If I'm giving a team Giannis, I don't care about their picks. For the next five years. Because if Giannis is there, they're going to be good.
01:20:35
Emeka
So yeah, if the best offer in front of me is this garbage Golden State offer, there's absolutely no way I'm trading Giannis in the regular season. I'm going to wait until the offseason. And guess what? you know I'm going to call your San Antonio Spurs.
01:20:50
Emeka
And I'm going to say, hey, you have all these young talent. What's Castle really worth to you? What's Dylan Harper really worth to you? I got Giannis here. Giannis and Wemby, the freaks. like I'm calling Houston, and I'm asking for our men Thompson.
01:21:04
Emeka
I'm calling these teams, and I'm asking for guys because maybe after a disappointing playoff run, they're not more open to making trading their bigger names, whereas you're not going to touch that midseason. so You know, it's funny because, like you said, Giannis clearly wants out, but he refuses to do it. And, you know, he's the franchise guy. i like i he deserves to get traded. We've now had too many seasons when a star like Giannis isn't in the main consciousness and he deserves to be in big moments and big playoff games. But, brother... If you're not going to request a trade, i don't have to tell you, man. You can hold out for a year. Go stay with your wife. He's out here tweeting about getting Trojan ad sponsorship, so he doesn't care.
01:21:46
Emeka
You know, the Bucks aren't going to win anything anyway, and the big key for me is they get a pick this year. So I i want don't want to get Kuming and be good. Let me tank, and maybe get blessed by the lottery gods, and I pick top four, and then I can trade Giannis, and I can put up...
01:22:02
Emeka
I know you're the draft guys. AJ DeBaza or Cooper or Carl Boozer on the on the season ticket for next year. I don't know. But, yeah, unless Giannis wants to freak out and actually come out and move some furniture, as they'd say, to demand a trade, hold tight, brother. Hold tight. we We'll deal with this in the summer.
01:22:22
Emeka
But I guess that's just that's just where I'm staying. I mean, look, I'm a Raptors fan. I would love for the Raptors to trade for him. What do we have that the Bucs want? I don't know. But, hey, I can dream. The Knicks, my thing with the Knicks is if he was going to be a Knick, he would have been a Knick in the summer when they had quote-unquote exclusive trade window, which I've never, ever heard about two NBA teams having. The Knicks didn't trade for him then.
01:22:45
Emeka
Every other position that's out there, i just it doesn't seem realistic to me that a midseason move makes sense. So in a weird way, this injury was a blessing because I think if Giannis was on the floor, it becomes a bigger distraction in the story. Whereas if he's injured, you can kind of like hide behind it. But i i'll put I'll be stunned if Giannis gets traded before the trade deadline. I would be stunned.
01:23:07
Emeka
The issue, though, is that by all accounts, Across the league, there are a bunch of deals that have essentially already been made and signed, but teams are refusing to put them through because everyone is waiting for Giannis to get traded.
01:23:20
Emeka
So I guess, Cherno, I'll ask you this. Let's say Giannis doesn't get traded. Is there another major move that we're not kind of seeing or or looking that happens? Or do you think, like the football window, it's just a quieter quieter trade deadline and nothing too insane happens?
01:23:38
Chino Onwuka
Honestly, there's there's some names out there, right, who, you know, are sort of trade bait, you would say. You know, John Morant, you know, is out there. i think, you know, with how well the Hornets are playing, you know, the the calls for the mellow ball have sort of gone down. But, you know, I think teams are going to be making calls for for Trey Murphy. You know, do the Pelicans want to give him up? I don't know, but I know teams will make calls.
01:24:06
Chino Onwuka
Laurie Markkinen, teams always make calls for him. Those are some of the the bigger names, but even some smaller moves, right? Like what what are some, you know, with injuries and things like that, what are team things that teams need?
01:24:19
Chino Onwuka
I wouldn't be surprised if, you know, you know if Giannis doesn't happen, I wouldn't be surprised if the Raptors have a center trade out there because, you know, with Poto's injury, they they need they need a center.
01:24:33
Chino Onwuka
you know You know, Miami... You know, Kelo Ware is a talent, but for some reason him and and Bam can't play together. So is it something where you want to, you know, maximize his where his value's at and make a trade? So I think there going to deals on on the on the periphery.
01:24:52
Chino Onwuka
You know, there are going to be some teams that are older that are going to make some all-in moves. But I think another thing that's difficult, and I haven't really wrapped my head around it yet because – probably do this exercise come trade line days.
01:25:06
Chino Onwuka
Things are a lot more complicated now because of all the first apron and second apron rules. So it's like you would have to figure out what teams can and can't do and then sort of try and decipher what kind of moves they can make.
01:25:19
Emeka
From your lips to God's ears, please Raptors trade for a center. That's really all I can say. Please, please, please. yeah I don't care who it is. Just let them be over 6'10 and can rebound the ball. That's all I ask for.
01:25:30
Emeka
But, yeah, I guess too clear you know what i guess you think Allen gets traded, but if he doesn't get traded, will we see, like, a Ja Morant trade? I've seen Herb Jones out there. I've seen Sabonis out there. Like, you know, not a periphery move because those always happen. But will we see – would I get a a Shams bomb in my phone this next week? I guess that's my question to you. 100%.
01:25:51
Chuku
100%. can put it in the bag. like You're going to definitely see some moves. Maybe might not be blockbuster moves like Giannis, per se. But I mean, I was even hearing, I mean, I'm pretty sure you're all are you know in tune with some of these rumors, but the Lakers looking at DeAndre Hunter, you know, that's and that that could be a little nice addition, right, to add some wing depth to the Lakers.
01:26:12
Chuku
You know, and again, like Chinna mentioned, the whole Khalil Ware, that's one I'm definitely monitoring because You know having him and Bam, I guess, for whatever reason, doesn't seem like it's working like as much or, you know, to their expectations. That could be a nice, you know, a nice player to come to move at. Ja Morant, you know, he's been definitely, like, he's looking like he's out of there, but I'm wondering which team is going to make that move. i don't know. They're definitely going to be monitoring. So, there are definitely some names, you know, the names out there that – you the one to monitor for sure. But I do i do suspect we're going to see some some, if not any blockbuster moves, at least some, you know, little know little sneaky, sneaky trades. Trey Murphy is someone I'd be very, very interested that man. I wish we had a player like Trey Murphy at Orlando, man. we We need all the shooting we can get. But, yeah, no, he's definitely another one want to keep an eye on. I definitely think the whole situation with the the New Orleans is going to be one to watch because, Like, they have a but large a lot of talented players on the on that team that, again, can see them having an impact, right, on on a conended contending team. So, yeah, I mean, to be frank, the answer is yes. and I definitely do see some some moves happening, for sure.
01:27:28
Chuku
Because we're entering that top time of the season where, you know, there's going to be buyers and there's going be sellers. And right now, you know, depending on what which team we're looking at here, there's definitely going to be a lot of a lot of movements I can see taking place before but before the trade line day is over. So I expect to see some some wo some less Sham bombs going off. So, yeah, going to be watching for sure.
01:27:52
Emeka
Hey, again, from your lips to God's ears, man, I'm itching for a move. I feel like I was, we've been team. Trae, Trae Young, I love Trae Young, but that can't be the biggest trait of the season. I need something more. So hopefully we got a lot of, you know, blockbusters and bangers. And when we record next week, we can break it all down for you. Next episode on Love of the Game, I'm sure. mean, I'm hoping, hoping something has to happen. Otherwise, ugh.
01:28:17
Emeka
But, yeah, I think, you know, usually it's just for this year it's the Giannis thing for sure I can see it of like – and people have come out and said it. Like there literally are trades that have been agreed to that everyone is just waiting for the Giannis trade if it happens or not so they can know if they can actually put these picks on the table. But if Giannis stays, maybe we get a flurry last hour or so of the trade deadline.
01:28:37
Emeka
And I'll be happy to – distracted at work, scroll to my phone at five season. Bring it all on. Before we move on to game of the week, as we always do, just one quick touch on the NFL.
Bill Belichick Hall of Fame Debate
01:28:49
Emeka
i mean, Super Bowl is next week. I feel like we can redo our preview about that next week. You already you know my New England Patriots made it all the way to the Super Bowl. i know Hold your applause. Hold your applause. It was with a young, long seven-year wait for me. I really was i was trying out there.
01:29:07
Emeka
But it's not positives in Patriots land because i think the biggest NFL news amidst all the hirings and firings and moves is that NFL Hall of Fame committee had some leaks, some rats on the ship who weren't happy that a certain young Bill Belichick is not a first ballot Hall of Famer.
01:29:28
Emeka
There's been a lot of reports coming about why. Some saying it's punishment for Spygate. Some saying... They thought he was a lock, so they voted for somebody else to come in. If you're not familiar with the voting process, what happens is for players, it's standard. You wait five years, you go on the ballot, and then you get voted on. And if you're certain percentage of votes, you move on to the next round, ya yada, yada. Whereas for contributors, and that's for coaches, owners, and senior players,
01:29:56
Emeka
players who have been on the ballot for 10 plus years and didn't make it in. What happens is every year you get five contributors and everybody has to vote for three of them. And if you get 80% yeses, then you get, make the hall of fame.
01:30:10
Emeka
I'm saying that because it's interesting that people would think it's, You know, you wall in a room, someone comes up, Bill Belichick, yes or no Hall of Fame. You either vote yes or you vote no.
01:30:21
Emeka
What actually happens is there's five names and there's 50 people and everybody picks three. And only if you get 80%, qualify. And i I can see a world where guys sit around and go, oh, yeah, like, oh, there was a lock. let me let me Let me vote for the other guys. Let me get these other guys in.
01:30:38
Emeka
I can see world well that happens. And then enough people wake up and realize, oh, crap, I thought it was a lock. And then 11 people don't, and he misses out. Or I can also see it of there's a you know murmuring going around about, hey, he cheated for Spygate. We have to punish him.
01:30:54
Emeka
Does he make first ballot? to be all right. I'm very close to this and biased. I think it's insane. This doesn't happen. But I guess I'll ask you this, Chukwu. Does this even matter? He's going to make the Hall of Fame next year.
01:31:06
Emeka
Clearly, he's a Hall of Fame coach. Does it matter that he's not a first ballot Hall of Fame coach? Or is it actually that egregious that votes should be confiscated and things should be, you know, tables overturned? And it's actually a a huge controversy.
01:31:22
Chuku
I'm definitely leaning towards the sign of this egregious. Like, I don't know how. And, like, there's no world. You accomplish the kind of things that Bill Belichick accomplished in his time. And mind you, I hate Bill Belichick. Like, i I mean, you know me, bro. We've had our rivalries as far as the Eagles and the Patriots for a long time.
01:31:46
Chuku
The Patriots have been one of the teams I've hated the most. A lot of that to do with. That man Bill Belichick as well as that bad man Tom Brady.
01:31:57
Chuku
But regardless of what he said, the most winningest coach in the NFL won the most Super Bowls you can win as as a head coach in the NFL and somehow still not able to crack first ballot Hall of Fame. Like, that has to be something going on. There's something going on in the background. No question about it.
01:32:20
Chuku
And I just think it's egregious. Like, of course, i do understand the point that, you know, in 10, 15 years, are people really going to, you know, are kids, you know, people talk when they're talking about Bill Balcec, are they going to talk about, oh he didn't make the Hall of Fame the first year? Because we know he's going to make the Hall of Fame, just a matter of when he makes it. But...
01:32:39
Chuku
At the same same time, I just don't like presidents the president's, you know, and I just think there's no question by confidence in the language. But frankly, that's how it should be viewed as far as votes for getting into the Hall of Fame.
01:32:57
Chuku
He's done more than enough to warrant being a first battle hall of famer, and it is egregious. if he's not chosen to be a first ballot Hall of Famer, that's just something that should not stand should should not stand for at all.
01:33:10
Chuku
So, yeah, I'm on the side of his definitely egregious if he's not a first ballot Hall of Famer.
01:33:17
Emeka
Trino, is this something that matters or you know is it yeah you was say an egregious travesty or whatever the words you want to use? Sacrilegious. Blah, blah, blah. Stephen A, shout out.
01:33:30
Chino Onwuka
So before I answer that, kids, you know, if you're listening, let this be a lesson to you that the way you do things matters, right? Because in this situation, Bill Belichick is the greatest NFL coach of all time.
01:33:49
Chino Onwuka
Potentially or arguably the greatest sports coach of all time. And yet, Chukwu talked about how he hated him. you know i don't like to use that word, but I strongly dislike him.
01:34:02
Chino Onwuka
A lot of people strongly dislike him. I'm sure he made a lot of enemies in his coaching days with the way he went about things. And clearly, this has had an effect on this situation. Someone who, by merit, by any standard or statistic,
01:34:20
Chino Onwuka
is the greatest coach in this game. He is the definition of what a Hall of Fame entrant should be. He is has a first ballot resume me and because of other stuff, he's not getting in. So let that be a lesson to you.
01:34:39
Chino Onwuka
The way you do things matters. The way you treat and approach people and situations matters. Now, as it gets to this, I agree with Chukwu just to keep it simple.
01:34:52
Chino Onwuka
This is egregious. If you have the honor of being on the panel to vote on something, this moment is something that's a record of history.
01:35:04
Chino Onwuka
you know you have a a duty of care to to do better as a whole. So whether this means they need to enact some reform to make sure something like this doesn't happen, you know something needs to be done because a Bill Belichick,
01:35:26
Chino Onwuka
is a hall of fame coach. He's a hall of fame figure, and he's definitely someone that should be the first name ticked on everyone's ballot box.
01:35:38
Emeka
I'll keep mine short. Again, I'm a Patriots fan. Bill Belichick is the greatest NFL coach of all time. I think, yes, in the grand scheme of things, he's a Hall of Famer. He's going to be Hall of Famer.
01:35:50
Emeka
It doesn't really matter. like Who cares if he's first ballot or not? That being said, as three of us are, you know I think it's fair to say we're sports nerds. We care about things like this, like Hall of Fame, first ballot. and I think you nailed it right, Chinaw. As a Hall of Fame voter, you have a duty of care to do the right thing.
01:36:08
Emeka
So for me, if I was the Pro Football Hall of Fame Committee, from now on, votes are public. If you want to leave Bobelczyk off your ballot, be up front, come out and defend yourself.
01:36:18
Emeka
Actually, let's seal the record. Put it out there what you your thoughts are about why you're leaving him off the ballot because this is just ridiculous. And finally, and I apologize in advance to our amazing producer for having to bleep this out, Bill Polian, go yourself.
01:36:36
Emeka
Moving on to the games of the week. As always here, we like to you know pick up some results and make some predictions, and we've been doing pretty poor this year. I'm not going lie, boys. i've been I've been going through and seeing it.
01:36:51
Emeka
Not great. Not great. Not great. But maybe we can rebound now. I purposely didn't have us do Arsenal leads because we always seem to pick Arsenal away and we lose. Instead, are there are two big games going on this weekend, one on Saturday, one on Sunday.
01:37:05
Emeka
On Saturday, we have two Champions League sides, Liverpool hosting Newcastle at Anfield, and on Sunday, in a game I'm going to pay very much attention to, Tottenham Hotspur host Manchester City.
01:37:19
Emeka
Tottenham, can you do something for me? I'll start off and I'll be quick. On Saturday, give me a classic, boring 2-2 draw. Liverpool love to draw. Newcastle don't love to win away.
01:37:32
Emeka
Give me a 2-2 draw there. And I'm picking with my heart here. I know how bad Spurs have been. And my God, they've been terrible. Give me a 2-1 Spurs win, man. No matter who the manager is, whether it's Pochettino, Nuno Espirito, even Ange, they beat Man City.
01:37:52
Emeka
Do something for me, Tottenham. 2-1 Spurs win. Chenna, what's your predictions?
01:37:59
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, i have a a draw between Newcastle and and Liverpool as well. If you want to score, i would go 2-2 as well. And then, you know, for the very same reasons, you know, if it any other matchup of teams, I would pick Man City. But Tottenham seem to have Man City's number over the last couple of years. So I'm going a 2-1 Tottenham victory where they they where they scam it somehow.
01:38:26
Emeka
Inshallah. Chukwu, take us home.
01:38:29
Chuku
Man, I think we're in connection on the Newcastle-Liverpool game. I definitely see a draw. Maybe not 2-2 if you have to put a score to it. Maybe I'll go 1-1.
01:38:40
Chuku
But there's definitely going to be goals in that game. And, man, I think you all are reaching on this one. I'll be honest with you, man. I know what history is with Man City and the Tottenham. But, man, Tottenham in the Champions League is one thing.
01:38:56
Chuku
Haunting them in the Premier League is a whole other thing. And I'm so sorry with the additions Man City have made. I'm just backing them to, yeah, I'm backing them to have a performance this time around. Give me 3-1 Man City, man.
01:39:10
Emeka
Damn, 3-1 Man City. I mean, listen, you know what said? Any other team, I'm picking City, but there's just some black magic at play here, and maybe I'm being wishful, but I hope so. And now there you have it. I'm sure we'll recap some of these and touch you next week.
01:39:26
Emeka
Before we wrap up this episode, i want to start a new tradition of this podcast in that, yeah, we you know the world of sports is bigger than maybe the NBA, NFL, and soccer that
Future Podcast Plans and Sports Highlights
01:39:37
Emeka
we do talk about. Even when we talk about those sports, we only cover so much.
01:39:41
Emeka
So for every episode now, before we wrap up, I would like just each of all to go around and give a shout-out to a storyline, a player, a team, in sports or outside of sports, in pop culture. Just something quick that we haven't covered in the episode because there's always so much we can do. We record once a week. You know, listen, support us. Like up this podcast. Maybe we can make this a full-time gig. Wink, wink. But, you know, just a quick shout-out to end the week. And I'll kick us off.
01:40:07
Emeka
I want to give a shout out to Dr. Jonathan Glashow. And you're thinking, who? Who is that? have to look this guy up because he is the guy who performed the knee surgery on Joel Embiid. And my goodness.
01:40:20
Emeka
I thought Joel Embiid was cooked. Hands up, I will admit it. I thought it was a wrap. I thought it was over. He is balling right now. And when he's doing so good, I Googled the name of his surgeon. Because if I ever tear my knee up, fly me out to Dr. Glashow, man. This guy has has done miracles on Embiid. And I'm so happy for it. I love Embiid.
01:40:42
Emeka
I love watching him play. I thought it was over for him. He's out here balling. Shout out to that. And hey, maybe the Sixers do something this year. So quick shout out to him. Chukwu, any quick shout outs for your wrap up?
01:40:56
Chuku
Hey man, might come as, it should not come as a surprise, but man after the amazing header that he did to put his team through, Shout out to Benfica goalkeeper, Anatoly Trubin.
01:41:08
Chuku
This brother put the team on his back, went across, got the most. yeah When I go back and watch highlights, people need to understand. You got to give this guy props. That that was a striker's finish with that header that he put in.
01:41:23
Chuku
And, yeah, he managed to put his team, Benfica, through to the playoffs. And, yeah, I just think that was just an amazing storyline. So, shout out to to him. Young, european Ukrainian goalkeeper. But yeah, that's my shout-out for the week.
01:41:37
Emeka
Take a song, Chino.
01:41:39
Chino Onwuka
My shout out is to an amazing Australian Open semifinal slate. I was actually up till about 1 a.m. in the morning watching the first semifinal.
01:41:53
Chino Onwuka
Carlos Alcaraz versus Zverev, you know, was looking like an easy dub for Zverev. He went for Alcaraz or he went two sets up, but then suffered cramp in the in the third, lost the last two sets, but then battled back to win it in a five-set thriller.
01:42:10
Chino Onwuka
And then I went to bed thinking, okay, we're going to see Alcaraz Sinner again, but only to wake up and see that Jokovic, Rolled back the years to beat Sinner in five sets in what was an epic match and an epic performance by him. So shout out to the Australian Open.
01:42:28
Chino Onwuka
Shout out to Jokovic, especially at his age, still making it to the final. And the final is going to be huge because Alcaraz has the chance to become the youngest person to win the Grand Slam. That's winning all the four majors.
01:42:44
Chino Onwuka
And he's Joker Jokovic has the chance to win his 25th title and be the most winningest player on tennis on both sides ever in terms of Grand Slam victories
01:42:57
Emeka
Man, life comes at you fast. I remember growing up and and growing up, being a teenager and seeing Jokovic come in, his young gun, and snatch the change from Federer and Nadal. And now he's the the old lion fighting off the young Cubs. You know, just how it goes in the sports. I love it. Again, you know, we we try to cover everything. We don't like to cover so much. I'm trying to incorporate this a little bit more. Let us know what you think about it.
01:43:19
Emeka
you know, you've got these longer podcast episodes shorter, let's give the feedback. We always appreciate feedback. Again, i want to thank every single one of our listeners for joining us on this journey. Episode 46, closing on two years of doing this. I've enjoyed spending time with my boys every week covering the world of sports. And I'm just grateful for every single listener we have.
01:43:41
Emeka
Keep rocking with us on this journey. Big episode next week. Super Bowl preview. Trade deadline fallout. Transfer window fallout. Everything and more. We're going to cover it all, break it down, and chop it up as we always do.
01:43:54
Emeka
Thanks for tuning into another episode of the Love of the Game podcast.