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League Cup 3rd Round Review - Newcastle lack of goals
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Join your Global Sports Podcast Network team for your daily briefing on all things premier league – News, transfers, analysis and opinion – you’ll find it here on Daily Premier League part of the Global Sports Podcast Network podcast channel
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Transcript
Introduction and Host Banter
00:00:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome everybody to the Daily Premier League podcast. It's Wednesday the 24th of September. It's the early morning edition. The sun has just risen over Oakwood and is streaming through Nick's window.
00:00:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
My name's Nick. and My name's Ken Davis. It's not Nick Britton. My name's Ken Davis. His name is Nick Britton. And together we bring you the very latest news, analysis and insight every day on the most competitive football league in the world.
League Cup and EFL Playoff Format Changes
00:00:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello Nick. How are you doing?
00:00:43
Nick Britten
I'm very well, but you've managed to get two things wrong already. A, I don't know, don't even know where Oakwood is, let alone whether the sun is rising above it.
00:00:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, you're not in Oakwood, are you?
00:00:52
Nick Britten
ah um And B, my name's Nick, yeah, and your name's Ken.
00:00:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:00:55
Nick Britten
But hey, we're off to a good start.
00:00:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're a little over.
00:00:58
Nick Britten
We're off to a good start.
00:00:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're in a little over. Why do I think of Oakwood? I've been through a lot recently. But anyway, welcome, Nick, from Little Over. um And a big welcome, not only to Nick, but to everyone who makes listening to Daily Premier podcast part of their daily listening routine. You can find us wherever you find your podcasts. Make sure you subscribe Leave us a rating, generally just joining the fun, because we like to have a little bit of fun, as well as covering all the news and stories.
00:01:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
There are things three things on today's agenda. Firstly, it was a very busy night in the third round of the League Cup for Premier League teams. Some interesting takeaways from those games, some interesting games to come tonight as well.
00:01:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Secondly, in a move that is relevant to the Premier League, to the make-up of Premier League at least, The EFL, the Championship, are currently analysing changes to the format of their playoff structure, which would expand it to include teams who finish as low as eighth, which essentially is the top third of the league.
00:02:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
So... want to talk about that. want to talk about actually is that a smart move? ah It's used in the National League and I can talk about that because I've seen it in action nationally.
Diego Gomez's Hat-Trick Analysis
00:02:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But is it really fair to expect a team who finishes over the course of a season in eighth place to have any chance in the Premier League?
00:02:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's what we talk about. The other thing I want to talk about quickly is Newcastle. uh distinct lack of goals i think it's three and five games eddie howe was uh talking about it a couple of days ago ah nick has spent a lot of his time uh through his marital status watching newcastle and we want to touch on that so there we go so the first thing we talk about really is the is the league cup last night some interesting games anything particularly to catch your eye last night nick
00:02:54
Nick Britten
Yes, two words, Diego and Gomez, who scored an unbelievably good hat-trick for right and ho her Brighton and Hove Albion away at Barnsley.
00:02:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yep.
00:03:04
Nick Britten
And there was it wasn't just, well, he scored four, actually, but it was the quality of these goals was unbelievable.
00:03:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:03:11
Nick Britten
And whilst his first one was a bit of a close-range finish, his second one, you go, wow, what a hit, because he's run he' running away from goal. He's kind of on the air on the edge of the area, if you like,
00:03:24
Nick Britten
ah the penalty area that is, and he smacks it first time across the goalkeeper like a rocket into the top corner, and into the far corner. And you go, whoa, what a hit. Little did we know, little did we know that a few minutes later, it was something that, I mean, it's yeah potentially goal of the season stuff already, whereby...
00:03:44
Nick Britten
It's a lofted ball up towards the Barnsley defence. ah Jake Rooney kind of nods it down. Jake Rooney is on loan from Derby at Barnsley. And um it's not the best header by any stretch the imagination. And it's into Goins' path. But he's a fully 30, 31, 32 yards out. And he hits it first time.
00:04:01
Nick Britten
And from the angle behind the goal, you kind of think, right, this is going straight to the goalkeeper. And then it kind of veers to the goalkeeper's right a little bit. So the goalkeeper kind of shifts his body weight slightly and suddenly it just bends and it bends with such swerve, it ends up in in the top corner of the goalkeeper's left.
00:04:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
you
00:04:22
Nick Britten
and And the goalkeeper's kind of looking at it and diving and just looks completely flummoxed by the whole thing. It was unbelievable hit.
00:04:30
Nick Britten
To get that bend and that whip on it was shit.
00:04:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
what yeah is that Is that skill or is that ball dynamics? I mean, do you think he was trying to do that?
00:04:40
Nick Britten
It's all in the way you hit the ball. It's all the way that the you connect with the ball on your boot and the spin that you put on it. So, yeah. I mean, you can – there's always an element of luck in these things, isn't there?
00:04:52
Nick Britten
Especially when you're 30 yards out. But you can intend to strike the ball in a certain way with the intention of sending it in a certain direction. So, you either – other words, if you put your laces through it, it tends to go straight.
00:05:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is the...
00:05:04
Nick Britten
If you use it – if you whip it with the inside of your boot, it tends to curl around. curl around one way, et cetera, cetera. You know what i mean.
00:05:11
Nick Britten
And actually, professional footballers are so skillful and the boots they use these days are so adept that they can manipulate the ball in lots and lots of different ways.
00:05:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, gee...
00:05:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's the equivalent in baseball of the knuckleball. ah which is the whole purpose of the knuckleball is to hit the ball or to throw the ball as fast as you can, but with absolutely no revolutions on the ball at all.
League Cup Game Reviews
00:05:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
So the ball doesn't move or turn revolutionary in any way. And what happens then, it gets absolutely deflected by the wind resistance it gets, and it gets this side wobble.
00:05:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
It gets wobble. And so he hits it like a baseball pitcher would throw a knuckleball.
00:05:51
Nick Britten
Well, no, he didn't, but I take your point because actually that knuckleball was something that was ah really perfected by Cristiano Ronaldo ah from free kicks.
00:05:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it was. It was.
00:06:01
Nick Britten
And you can see and it had just wicked dip on the end of it.
00:06:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:03
Nick Britten
And you can see it. you exactly I know exactly what you mean. You can see it kind of wobble in the air without even turning.
00:06:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. But, yeah, absolutely no revolutions on the wall.
00:06:07
Nick Britten
And then it would just dip. It was
00:06:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fascinating. And what a great result for Brighton.
00:06:13
Nick Britten
So yeah, brilliant. Brilliant result for Brian.
00:06:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
By the way, and plug to Rota World Cup 26, which if you're interested in the World Cup 26, as we all are, ah you might want to listen to. It is the original and best World Cup podcast out there.
00:06:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah We did a bit of a deep dive into Paraguay, who we all fancy. We all fancy in quite a big way because they started off on minus three points and they still finished second in Combo Mall.
00:06:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Paraguay...
00:06:40
Nick Britten
You're in Ecuador.
00:06:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, I do mean Ecuador. No, he's Paraguayan. Forget him.
00:06:44
Nick Britten
Yeah, you're talking Ecuador finished second in Commonwealth.
00:06:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
what what What is it? It's six minutes gone. I've made three absolute basic errors.
00:06:51
Nick Britten
Paraguay did it qualify though.
00:06:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
They qualified it. Yeah, they're a decent team, Paraguay.
00:06:53
Nick Britten
Yeah.
00:06:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we have covered Paraguay on that. So do check it out. It's very interesting. so So Brighton win 6-0.
00:06:59
Nick Britten
Yeah.
00:07:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fulham win 1-0 against Cambridge.
00:07:03
Nick Britten
Yeah, I mean, look, expected win. You expect expect teams to beat teams from lower leagues. You expect Premier League teams to certainly beat teams from further on down the leagues, 1-0. fine. It's one of those where you just get on with it. I think for teams like Fulham, the League Cup, it's not a priority.
00:07:19
Nick Britten
You make lots of changes, you give lots of game time to players who are in and around the fringes and move on.
00:07:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Don't you think Fulham should be charging the League Cup as something worth going for, though?
00:07:26
Nick Britten
hundred
00:07:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because Newcastle did it last year very and and it brought the city together.
00:07:34
Nick Britten
I think every Premier League team should be in with a shout of winning the League Cup, but the reality is they're not. If you look down the history of both League Cup and the FA Cup is very rare.
00:07:46
Nick Britten
It does happen, can happen, but it's very rare that a team outside what you might call the big
Wolves' Important Win Against Everton
00:07:51
Nick Britten
five or six teams in the Premier League win it. I mean, to the point that when Newcastle win it and they're a big team, everybody goes nuts as it' as if, you know, Derby or Wrexham won it.
00:08:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, we'll come to that in a moment.
00:08:03
Nick Britten
it was it was so It was such an extreme example and yet they are a big side. So Fulham to go and win it would be even more extraordinary.
00:08:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I would have thought, I thought you the League Cup would represent Fulham's best chance at Silverwell. But yeah i take I take your point. Chelsea won two.
00:08:18
Nick Britten
It might still, mate. It might still, because they're through. They won. They beat Cambridge, so they're through. Through to the
00:08:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Chelsea two on away at Lincoln. Again, expected. Yeah.
00:08:26
Nick Britten
next round. Expected, although not, I would say, not a game that was one for the ah Chelsea supporters to to celebrate much, because there was a period in the game, particularly in the early part of it, where Lincoln were well on top. And actually, if you look at the stats, although Lincoln had...
00:08:47
Nick Britten
only 28% possession, excuse me, twenty eight and Chelsea had 71, Lincoln had more shots on goal. That's 16 shots. Sorry, they had more shots, 16 to 14. ah Chelsea had four on target, Lincoln had two on target.
00:09:00
Nick Britten
But there was a period of the game where Lincoln were winning and were well on top. So yeah, Chelsea turned it around with two goals just after half-time, and then it was probably pretty comfortable after that.
00:09:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Interesting.
00:09:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:12
Nick Britten
But... It was not a comfortable night, I don't think, for Chelsea. And it's not one where we're all waiting, aren't we? And we've spoken about this on the Premier League podcast quite a lot. We're just waiting to see what Chelsea are going like.
00:09:24
Nick Britten
We don't know what they're going to be like yet this season.
00:09:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
right
00:09:26
Nick Britten
We're waiting for them to either kick in or just continue to be a little bit like this, where they're very unpredictable and actually not that good.
00:09:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very inconsistent team, Chelsea. Very difficult to predict what kind of what's going to happen there. Wolves to Everton nil in the only all Premier League tie of the night. I didn't see that coming. I thought, I fancy Everton this season, but obviously that's ah that's going to be a disappointment to
00:09:49
Nick Britten
When we talk about the League Cup and we talk about, well, does it matter to Premier League teams? Sometimes results really matter. They really matter. And I think for Vito Pereira, who's Wolves team have played five, lost five in the Premier League, yet to win a game.
00:10:03
Nick Britten
This was a big result. I don't care
Liverpool vs Southampton Performance Analysis
00:10:05
Nick Britten
it was in the League Cup. I don't care that... There were lots of changes to both sides. And the fact it was against Premier league team and fact they've won it 2-0, I think is is a big result.
00:10:14
Nick Britten
Wolves are looking for something.
00:10:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I needed it.
00:10:15
Nick Britten
Well, they're looking for something, or anything that can kickstart their season.
00:10:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. No, good. and And well done to them, because Everton are no pushovers these days. Obviously, Wrexham 2, Reading 0. It doesn't directly affect the Premier League this season, but probably will next.
00:10:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So that's an excellent...
00:10:30
Nick Britten
but No, Reading can't jump two leagues in one go.
00:10:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
so very ah So a great get-right performance by Wrexham after winning the weekend.
00:10:35
Nick Britten
It's impossible. We can't go from League One to the Premier League in one go. So don't worry about
00:10:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah As do we all head up to the big game at the weekend, Wrexham v.
00:10:47
Nick Britten
it. It is a big game at the weekend.
00:10:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Darby.
00:10:49
Nick Britten
This this might be the last podcast we ever do together.
00:10:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Go on, can't wait that.
00:10:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Liverpool 2, Southampton 1, which was an interesting watch last night on the TV. um Interesting for lots of reasons. ah Liverpool were patchy. Liverpool did the Liverpool thing, getting a ah late goal.
00:11:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then Ekiteke decides to have a brain fart. what was she What was your take on the on the game?
00:11:12
Nick Britten
yeah
00:11:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And what was your take on Ekiteke being a doughnut?
00:11:18
Nick Britten
It's a decent enough game. Yeah, it's decent enough game. I mean, Southampton contributed, i thought, very well to what was an entertaining game.
00:11:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it yeah,
00:11:23
Nick Britten
I mean, they did a very Southampton season 23, 24. three twenty four In fact, i was I was messaging the guys who run our GSPN Southampton podcast. And if you haven't heard, that's very good. Daily Southampton is very good.
00:11:37
Nick Britten
I was messaging him last night saying, am I stuck at a time warp? um i been Have I been rewound 12 months here? Because that's the very last season's Hampton, sort of 60 seconds, wasn't it? They miss an absolute sitter at one end.
00:11:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah and give it away
00:11:48
Nick Britten
And then within about 30 seconds, commit total Harry Carrier the other end, where the goalkeeper tries to pass it out. It goes straight to a Liverpool player who gives it to his sack.
00:11:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do they never learn? We were talking about this yesterday.
00:11:58
Nick Britten
I know.
00:11:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
They probably don't listen.
00:12:00
Nick Britten
goes to his
00:12:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
They should listen to this podcast. They wouldn't do those kind of silly things.
00:12:05
Nick Britten
Exactly.
00:12:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Eketike, though, I mean, is that and mean lack of professionalism, but do you think he's going to learn from that?
00:12:11
Nick Britten
I hope you learn from it. First of all, let me just say it was notable because Alexander Isak scored his first goal in a Liverpool shirt. That was Liverpool's first. Liverpool's second came from a tap-in from Ekiteke, from Keita's very, very good run.
00:12:25
Nick Britten
And ah like Keita. I like Keita. And actually, talked to Liverpool fans and indeed talked to him. This is my second plug in in a few seconds. Speak to the GSPN Daily Liverpool podcasters and they all rate him.
00:12:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Chiesa looked very good, didn't it
00:12:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:37
Nick Britten
They all rate highly. He hasn't really had that much game time since he arrived. What, a season and a bit?
00:12:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's not he's not even in in the in their Champions League squad.
00:12:44
Nick Britten
Yeah, I like him.
00:12:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah you even he's a very good player.
00:12:45
Nick Britten
I think a good player.
00:12:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah, Eketike taps it in, goes and takes his shirt off
Championship Playoff Format Debate
00:12:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
and sees red.
00:12:53
Nick Britten
Yes.
00:12:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is that a fair, by the way, is that a fair rule, do you think?
00:12:57
Nick Britten
which Considering he's got a red shirt and a red undershirt that he was wearing, a red card seems only applicable.
00:13:04
Nick Britten
Is it a fair rule? Yeah, course it But I mean, well, it doesn't matter whether it's fair rule or not. It's been a rule for absolutely ages.
00:13:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, apparently.
00:13:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:13:12
Nick Britten
I mean, it's not something that's just been introduced and everybody goes, forgot about that. It's been a rule and football for a long time.
00:13:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I did actually look yesterday whether it's a rule in France. I was giving him some credit and thinking, I wonder if he's like not used to it. But it's not. It's a UEFA, Europe-wide rule.
00:13:26
Nick Britten
Yeah. There's no, there's no, mean, you may it's stupid and pointless rule, but it's pointless taking a shirt off. Why do you want to take your shirt off?
00:13:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
mean, it's not as if he's got anything underneath the show, is it? um mean, it's just another red shirt.
00:13:36
Nick Britten
Well, he had red undergarment. but But my point is, why do you want to take your shirt off in the first place?
00:13:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:43
Nick Britten
What's the point? would do you i don't really understand it. ah a i liked i did um Bear in mind his first yellow card, which which happened not long after he came on because he came on at half-time.
00:13:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:13:53
Nick Britten
for his hack, his first yellow card was stupid as well. It was just like throwing a ball up in here.
00:13:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And
00:13:58
Nick Britten
I did like Arnie Slott's comments, by the way, after it, because arie Arnie Slott, who I'm big fan of, I think he's a very, very good manager and obviously obviously doing a brilliant job. he's He's sort of proper old school.
00:14:11
Nick Britten
He's proper old school. And he said,
00:14:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
he's Dutch, and so he therefore he won't mince his words.
00:14:16
Nick Britten
Well, he said, it's not as in stupid because it was his second yellow. It's stupid even if you haven't got a yellow card. Maybe I'm a bit old-fashioned, but I did score a few goals.
00:14:27
Nick Britten
And if I went past three players and put it in the top corner, then maybe you can say, this is all about me. But if you score a goal like like like you did last night, which was just a tap-in from Chiesa's rune,
00:14:38
Nick Britten
I would turn to Chiesa and say, it's all about you, Federico. Great assist, great run. And I didn't have a lot to do. Maybe that's me being old school. It was stupid, not smart in every sense.
00:14:49
Nick Britten
The good thing is his teammates helped him get the win over the line, et cetera. But he's now suspended, of course, for Saturday's game ah away at Crystal Palace. Interestingly, we were watching the game last night and I was saying, this sort is sort Izak-Ekite-Ekite kind of pivot, if like.
00:15:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Rivalry.
00:15:05
Nick Britten
Well, rivalry, pivot, call it what you want, means that whoever starts only ever gets an hour and then the other one also automatically comes on. ah That dynamic has now shifted because obviously Izak is going to start now on Saturday against Palace, you would think.
00:15:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:18
Nick Britten
And, you know, EQTK won't be featuring and this might just change. You know how tiny little things change in football, don't you? yeah were talking about moments yesterday on yesterday's podcast, weren't we?
00:15:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Huh?
00:15:28
Nick Britten
This is a moment, Ken. know it's your favourite word. This a moment which might just shift the dynamic a bit.
00:15:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
It might. If Zach goes and scores two goals, ah then that's it. He's the first choice, number nine, I suspect. um Interesting, very interesting game. We've got four games tonight, by the way. Very quickly look at them.
00:15:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Huddersfield against Man City, Newcastle against Bradford. We'll come on to Newcastle later. Spurs Edelcastle, Port Vale against Arsenal. I don't really see any potential banana skins there, do you?
00:15:54
Nick Britten
No. No.
00:15:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:15:57
Nick Britten
the only The only one that kind of you might look at and go, hmm, is Port Vale Arsenal, depending on what team Arsenal put out.
00:16:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Can't see it.
00:16:05
Nick Britten
i If they just put out their under-21s or something, then Port Vale have got a chance.
00:16:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, maybe.
00:16:09
Nick Britten
But no, i don't I don't foresee any difficulty in in any of those.
00:16:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fair enough. As we know, in football, it pays to get your team selection right. Here at Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery partner, and we chose Zencastr because Zencastr makes it easy to bring your vision to life, share it with your audience, wherever they may be. So with four k video recording, easy AI editing, and top-tier distribution all in one platform, which is the key,
00:16:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you've got a story to tell, tell it with Zencastr. Check the show notes for a lot more of those details.
00:16:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
OK, second talking point of the day is this ah proposed change to the format for the championship of including six teams in the playoffs at the end of the season, of which one will go up.
00:17:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Similar to the National League. National League is slightly different, though, because National League only has one automatic promotion spot. That's why it was introduced in the National League. ah to make it a little bit fairer compared to the all the other leagues.
00:17:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Seems a little bit unnecessary to me in relation to the Championship. What's your view on it, Nick?
00:17:31
Nick Britten
and don't like it. I think it's a stupid rule or stupid idea rather. I don't think it works in the National League at all. And the playoffs are brilliant. I love the playoffs. They're really, really, really good.
00:17:44
Nick Britten
keep them as they are, why are you mucking around with it? Literally, what is the point? I don't understand the justification for even thinking about it, let alone doing it. Because if you're going to start, i mean, what is this is this? I mean, and how far does it go? we going we're then going to see the entire heart top half of the league in five years' time enter some kind of end-of-season competition?
00:18:04
Nick Britten
Is this all about money?
00:18:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:05
Nick Britten
is it all about this kind of modern culture where everybody has to have a go and and get a medal, ah regardless of taking part? I just don't see any sense in it. And if you look at the... Championship table over the last couple of years. Two years ago, Middlesbrough finished in eighth and on 69 points.
00:18:20
Nick Britten
Ipswich finished in second, who were then the the second automatic team to go up, finished on 96 points.
00:18:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:18:27
Nick Britten
So there's a big gap. Last year, Even bigger gap, Millwall finished on eighth 66 points. Burnley finished in second on 100 points and Leeds finished on 100 points. so And if you think of go back, take it back a year because we don't know how this season's going to pan out yet.
00:18:42
Nick Britten
Leicester finished on 97th. Ipswich finished on 96th. Leeds finished on 97th. So Hampton 87th. Now Leicester went up, obviously Ipswich went up. So Hampton went up through the playoffs.
00:18:54
Nick Britten
They all got relegated. So if the team's finishing high up in the top of the league, get relegated, ah they And they have that amount, they've got that amount of quality during a champion season championship season to amass the amount of points that they have amassed.
00:19:09
Nick Britten
What is a team that can't even get even close to that going to do if it sort of flutes its way through the playoffs somehow and gets promoted? What happens if you dump a mid-table championship team in a Premier League when teams even at the top of the championship can't compete?
00:19:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Derby lose their record as the lowest point scorers ever and in the Premier League.
00:19:26
Nick Britten
Well, they nearly did it last year, didn't they? Sampton nearly, nearly beat Derby's record.
00:19:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:30
Nick Britten
They managed to scab a win at the end of the season, which took them over that 11 points.
00:19:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fantastic.
00:19:35
Nick Britten
But yeah, it doesn't make any sense. And my other real issue about this, and this is where I refer to the National League, is that last season, and this happened, so I lived in York for a little bit, so I've got an interest in York City and I'd like to see how they're getting on.
00:19:52
Nick Britten
And this happened last season, and it happened about two or three seasons ago as well. York finished second. Now, the way the National League playoffs work is that top team goes up final. Second and third kind of hang around for a bit, whilst fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh have a little kind of playoff competition, mini competition.
00:20:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mini competition.
00:20:11
Nick Britten
And then the winner of that mini competition, one team plays third place, one team plays second, and then the winner of that goes into final.
00:20:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Correct.
00:20:17
Nick Britten
Oldham Athletic last year, finished way below York, something like 25 points below York, maybe more.
00:20:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:20:25
Nick Britten
can't remember off the top my head, but it was a big, big, big gap. They won their first round and then came to play York. By the time they played York, it was about three weeks until after the season had ended, and York just looked totally rusty, totally kind of not really...
00:20:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:20:40
Nick Britten
Yeah, they were just they were just they weren't game ready. They hadn't played any fixtures, competitive fixtures, whereas Oldham had, and they got the momentum behind them from winning that. And i think, genuinely think, it's an unfair advantage. And they and they went to York and rolled them over 3-0 and rolled them over quite comfortably.
00:20:56
Nick Britten
But they look fit, they look sharp, and new York looked very rusty. So why are you penalising a team that finishes in second place by making and wait for two or three weeks to play another game when they deserve, if anything, they deserve to be giving an an advantage?
00:21:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I would agree with that. Obviously, if it was happening in Championship, it would be ah the teams in third and fourth ah would be waiting. And it's I agree with you I've seen it too many times.
00:21:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
We know that playoffs are all about momentum. And if you if you take all the air out of the tyre because you're sitting there playing training games when the other team that is coming at you has played two really competitive games...
00:21:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're going the back foot and York saw that. And I think we'd see that in the championship. The only thing I'd say about the championship is it's a pretty competitive league. You can throw a very small net over about seven teams.
00:21:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Any of them could finish eighth. I mean, a finishing eighth in championship is like anyone. ah there's There's always about six good much better teams, six dreadful teams, and everyone else is just the same.
00:22:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And what we're going to see is a very much the same team ah end up in eighth spot and end up in the playoffs. Yeah, I don't see any reason. I think the championship is one of the most competitive leagues in the world.
00:22:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a fantastic watch. It's always exciting. Everyone's got a chance. Everyone can beat everyone. I don't think really there's much need to change this. Don't know where the idea is coming from.
00:22:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Don't know why. ah because Because actually, I think they play less games because they're generally one leg, these games. So I don't really understand the issue.
00:22:40
Nick Britten
well the other Well, the other issue is, does this then elongate the playoff season, if you like, the end
Newcastle's Challenges and Form Analysis
00:22:48
Nick Britten
of season playoff season, so the final actually later?
00:22:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
yes yes Yes, you will.
00:22:51
Nick Britten
And we already know that teams who go up in a playoff final, through the playoff final, are three or four weeks later than anybody else in the other two teams in terms of their transfer business.
00:22:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
you
00:23:04
Nick Britten
Can't do any transfer activity until you know whether you're promoted or not and which league going to be playing in. So if you then become five weeks later than the other two promoted teams and, of course, the rest of the Premier League, it becomes a massive disadvantage.
00:23:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, interesting. So that's got a pretty bucket of cold water being poured on it here. Except with the one note, that if Rexham finish eighth and go up, it's the best idea football ever has come up with.
00:23:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, Global Sports Podcast...
00:23:36
Nick Britten
There's no chance.
00:23:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just
00:23:38
Nick Britten
Don't run. Don't just run on there into an ad. Just leave that hanging out as if it's going to happen.
00:23:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
say it.
00:23:46
Nick Britten
Maybe ah not this year. It won't. Not next year. It won't because you'll be back trying to get back up to the championship from League One. Maybe this season. We'll see.
00:23:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:24:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:24:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okey dokey. um Right, final thing to talk about today is your beloved Newcastle. you're kind of loving Newcastle, but they're in the pecking order.
00:24:49
Nick Britten
Steady, yeah. They're in the pecking order, yeah.
00:24:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. So but behind Derby and Crystal Palace, isn't it? Are they behind York, would you say?
00:24:57
Nick Britten
No, I don't think so, no
00:24:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. Okay. So three goals for five games. ah Obviously, Newcastle have had this weird off season. They couldn't, couldn't bring anyone in. Isaac was being Isaac.
00:25:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Lots of upheaval, lots of late changes. Uh, Eddie Howe's talking about the fact that yeah it is an issue for them. They know it's an issue for them, but obviously made some made to moves. They've strengthened their front.
00:25:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
What's your take on that? Is that something Newcastle fans to be yeah very, very unhappy about and nervous about? And is this going to be a recurring theme of the season, you think?
00:25:35
Nick Britten
No, I think they'll be absolutely fine. they' found What Eddie Howe says is absolutely right. they've had The biggest change they've had for a while, over the summer, all of that kind of Izak stuff, will he, won't he stay, is he, is he not going to sign, what's he doing, et cetera, meant that the moves that Eddie Howe could make in the transfer market, i.e. bringing in Nick Veltemada, bringing in Jan Wisser, were very, very late in the day.
00:26:01
Nick Britten
And He's absolutely right when he says that in an ideal world, you'd have that full preseason together.
00:26:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:26:08
Nick Britten
You form friendships, you form partnerships. You get to know how each other, all all all the game all the players are playing and how your teammates play. And we talked a bit about this the other day, ah regards Liverpool, exactly the same kind of thing.
00:26:21
Nick Britten
and when you start the season, they've they've already had that period where they're gelling in, and you're kind of hitting the ground running a little bit. Now, Newcastle have not been able to do any of that because of this ridiculous Izak saga.
00:26:34
Nick Britten
So they brought in Valtomar and they brought in Wisser. Wisser's straightaway injured and and won't play until after the next international break. Valtomar isn't quite up to speed with the Premier League. He had a great debut against Wolves, scored a cracking goal, played really, really well, but has then had his time...
00:26:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:26:50
Nick Britten
very cleverly, in my opinion, and very rightly managed. So he was on the bench ah for the ah Barcelona game and he was he started and indeed played much of the Bournemouth game at a weekend. Now, um'm not it's a funny one.
00:27:09
Nick Britten
I'm not sure that's the... I totally agree, by the way, that he needs his time managed, but... I would have played him against Barcelona, even if was just for... Do what Liverpool did last night with Izak, just say, right, go out and give me 45 minutes and we'll bring you off at half-time.
00:27:23
Nick Britten
Because knowing how Newcastle was going to set up against Barcelona and knowing how they were always going to start the game, which was like an absolute train, they started brilliantly, but they played Anthony Gordon as a nine.
00:27:37
Nick Britten
He missed a couple of sitters. We know he's not a number nine. We don't think he's any good there. Valtemar would have scored one of those at least one, maybe two goals and then bring him half-time when you're in an advantageous position.
00:27:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:27:49
Nick Britten
As it was, they later waited until later on to bring him in when they're already losing the game and Barcelona are fully in control. So, I totally agree with with it with him being having having his time managed. I think that's absolutely the right thing to do. You've got to worry about injury because if you lose Whistler for a few weeks and then you lose Valtomada for a few weeks, you really are up the creek with very little Anthony Gordon paddle to worry about.
00:28:12
Nick Britten
And then, so all of that's fine. But if we fast forward a few weeks' time and going into the real heat of the season, you've got Valtomada fit and playing, you've got Whistler fit and playing, Newcastle will be absolutely fine.
00:28:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I wouldn't disagree with that.
00:28:26
Nick Britten
Oh, yeah.
00:28:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
They still seem very depleted of resources. Valtemada looks like decent player. he's He's carrying an awful load there in terms of the responsibility at the top.
00:28:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
um You know, the...
00:28:40
Nick Britten
Well, listen, I'm a big fan of Anthony Langer. And I think he was a smart signing from Nottingham Forest.
00:28:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:45
Nick Britten
And he'll he'll do well. I think there are question marks over Harvey Barnes.
00:28:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:50
Nick Britten
i think I think, and I may be wrong here, but I think there are question marks over Anthony Gordon, although he is much better out ah wide than he is
00:28:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:56
Nick Britten
ah through the middle, as we've seen. But they've got the they've got the... And with Wisser and with Alanga and with Barnes and with Gordon and with Jacob Murphy, and I'm a big fan of Jacob Murphy, they've got enough players there to supply the bullets and to score goals and to take... I don't necessarily agree that this is all going to be on Voltemada, that there's going to be too much pressure on him because I think there are goals elsewhere. And the other thing about him is you can't really look at him and go...
00:29:23
Nick Britten
well, he's a direct replacement for Alexander Izzak because he's a different type of player. He will drop in, he'll receive, he'll link, whereas Izzak was very much an out-and-out traditional number one where he'd run off the shoulder, he'd look to get in behind.
00:29:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
is it?
00:29:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nine. Yeah.
00:29:34
Nick Britten
And other than scoring goals, ah which I know sounds ridiculous, but other than scoring goals, know, that's kind of what he did. So, Voltemar is not that kind of player. So, Newcastle might just have to kind of re... just reshape slightly the way they play.
00:29:49
Nick Britten
But... I don't think they'll have any difficulty whatsoever. i think I think they'll be in for another good season because they've strengthened elsewhere in the team. I think Jacob Ramsey's a very good signing. I think Chow is a very good signing coming at centre-half the other night and they'll be absolutely fine.
Conclusion and Teaser for Future Discussions
00:30:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's an interesting one. i've got I'm nervous about Newcastle, I have to say. Look in next four games. Arsenal at home. That's not going to be easy. Forest at home. Might be a bit easier than it was last season.
00:30:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Brighton away. Brighton look a decent team. Fulham at home. Fulham are better at Craven Cottage they are away. ah we need ah Need a couple of wins there, I think.
00:30:26
Nick Britten
And I think they'll get them. I think they'll get them. yeah the key The key, as well as all the players we've talked about, is their midfield three. And a midfield three of of and Bruno, Gimaraes, Joe Linton and Sandro Tonali is as good as you'll find in the Premier League.
00:30:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. That's...
00:30:42
Nick Britten
They're a great three. And if keep them fit, and you've got Jacob Ramsey to come into that mix, there's no reason why they can't finish in the top four or five again this season.
00:30:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Interesting. us I think it's starting to look a bit of a stretch for me. um But they've got a good get-right game tonight. Home against Bradford City. Got to be an interesting game. Of all the four games involving the Premier League clubs tonight, ah I think that's the one I'm going to keep my eye on closest.
00:31:06
Nick Britten
um keep my
00:31:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I think you know Newcastle need ah to turn in some kind of performance tonight. I'd like to see a 2-3-0 and kind of get the scoring boots on.
00:31:18
Nick Britten
What makes you think they won't?
00:31:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Momentum.
00:31:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Momentum. I just don't think they've got a very good momentum going into them.
00:31:28
Nick Britten
Well, Brad, listen, Brasley's had a great start to the season.
00:31:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. half
00:31:31
Nick Britten
They're top of League One. They've played nine.
00:31:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:31:33
Nick Britten
They've got 20 points. They've had a terrific start. They're attracting big crowds back in Valley Grave.
00:31:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's probably an easy game. so It's a potential banana skin. I think Newcastle will win, but but i don't it's not going to be an easy game for
00:31:42
Nick Britten
Well, they're all... Yeah, we shall
00:31:49
Nick Britten
see.
00:31:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right on that bombshell, we shall call it a day.
00:31:51
Nick Britten
i
00:31:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah It's Wednesday morning. Hope you've enjoyed that. That's been a fascinating little review through those three talking points of the Premier League. Join us again tomorrow for more fun and games in the ah daily Premier League and see how Newcastle get on.
00:32:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Nick, thank you. Enjoy the rest of your day. ah All my listeners, all our listeners, enjoy the rest of your day. And yeah, we all...
00:32:18
Nick Britten
I'm about to get i' about to go on a train up to Scotland, up to Edinburgh.
00:32:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ah, very nice.
00:32:21
Nick Britten
so
00:32:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very nice. um I'm about to make myself couple of two important feet to or five minutes. And obviously, I know, obviously, the the big story I know everyone's talking about is Rex and Derby at the weekend.
00:32:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll try and cover that in a bit more detail as we close the week out. Anyway, thank you, everyone, for listening.
00:32:37
Nick Britten
that's goingnna be worth but That's got to be worth an entire episode of the Daily Premier League podcast.
00:32:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think so.
00:32:42
Nick Britten
Awesome.
00:32:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
think we'll start a new podcast one. Anyway, brilliant. Thanks, everyone, and we'll see you next time.