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Episode 10: La Decima
12 Plays5 months ago
- Great Week For Liverpool: Do we believe they can keep this going ?
- Good Week For Arsenal: How important is Odegaard, Starboy Nwaneri
- Nightmare Week For Manchester City: Is Pep okay ? Where is Foden ?
- Game of The Week: City vs. Liverpool
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Thanksgiving Greetings
00:00:10
Chino Onwuka
Hello and welcome to another episode of the love of the game podcast. This is episode 10 numero d's What other the decimal there we go looking for something fancier
00:00:21
Emeka
Ledesima.
00:00:26
Chino Onwuka
Episode 10 is a big one is a marquee episode. So let let let's be let's be on top of our game today know here are my boys as always we'll start with Chuka still so And Eka, how are you?
00:00:37
Chuku
so Guys got to be back another week another banking production in the works Hopefully we have we have another banking episode and we're just here to get the people what they want. So Hopefully it's gonna be a good good episode here guys
00:00:54
Emeka
Bing, bak, boom, bak, bing, bak, bam.
00:00:54
Chino Onwuka
How
00:00:56
Emeka
Hey, man, we kill you all. Shout out to all the people. 10 episodes. And we're still doing this somehow. It's a miracle. yeah Hopefully, you stick out for 10 or 20, 30. Who knows how many more?
00:01:07
Emeka
We're happy to be chopping up with the boys on a Thursday evening.
00:01:11
Chino Onwuka
and actually it's Wednesday. So,
00:01:16
Emeka
you yeah you Listen, man, I know the podcast coming out Thursday. I'm trying to.
00:01:19
Chino Onwuka
because i what I want to say is depending on when this podcast comes out, you know, Happy Thanksgiving to our American people out there, you know, as you're sitting around, you know, the living room with your family, you know, maybe before or after in between the football game, you know, this is a great you know, you know, just put on this episode as you're you're eating your dessert, as you're having some family time.
00:01:42
Chino Onwuka
I think it, you know, this episode of Thanksgiving just goes, just goes great together. So happy Thanksgiving to all the people out there and to anyone else who's not in the US, but wanting to celebrate Thanksgiving anyway.
00:01:56
Chino Onwuka
Happy Black Friday.
00:01:57
Emeka
And watch some football, you know.
00:02:00
Chino Onwuka
Happy Black Friday shopping. Okay. All right. Let's get into it. Yeah, we'll just start at the
Arsenal's Recent Success and Key Players
00:02:07
Chino Onwuka
top. It's been a good week for Arsenal fans. It's, I would say, long overdue, but we've had two great results in the last two games, a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest and a 5-1 demolition of sporting in the Champions League. So I'm just going to throw it out. What are you guys' thoughts? How are you guys feeling? Maybe we'll start with Chuka. How are you feeling?
00:02:37
Chino Onwuka
after those two games.
00:02:39
Chuku
Man, you know, I mean, as any Arsenal fan should be feeling after seeing those two games, I mean, I feel i like, you know, the team's looking more like what we, you know, have been accustomed to seeing the last couple couple of years. You know, I mean, if I'm giving you an honest opinion, I mean, obviously I'm happy with what I'm seeing. To me, it's still kind of, I still feel a way as to,
00:03:08
Chuku
like how crazy of ah ah of a shift and, you know, difference, you know, at this point in Arteta's reign with the club that two players can really make on a team, you know? I mean, look, granted, these are, you know, probably two of the best players, among the best players in Europe, because these were players that were voted, you know, at least top 15 in the world in just the most recent Ballon d'Or, referring to if you guys aren't, you know, because I'm wondering, if we're into Saka and Odegard here, you know, especially with, again, with Odegard coming back as well, it's crazy just like what difference, you know, those guys can make. And for me, this is more of an indictment as to how and why we're not, not saying that we need a life for life in terms of like the exact quality, because it's going to be hard to ever to replicate the quality of an Odegard as well as, you know,
00:04:05
Chuku
of Osaka as well, but it's crazy how, in my opinion, if those two go down, we see what we become, right? and won't say, you know, mid-level fodder or mid-level club, but I will say we're definitely not challenging for for the league without those two guys. It's as simple as that. And I just think, you know, I'm expecting us to be, you know, world beaters without them.
00:04:33
Chuku
But at this point in Arteta's reign, I would like to think that we can at least hold our fourths. So I think as much as I'm excited having everyone back, while the main, the main guys, Saka, Odegard, you know, and seeing Martinelli also playing well and seeing the rest of the team clicking, I'm much of them happy to see that. All bringing back full circle. I'm just more looking at the club now to see what can be done in terms of getting some more additions to help strengthen the depth up top because I just think we shouldn't have to rely on order guard and Saka especially those two have been playing a lot of games these last couple of years seasons like we can't rely on them 100% all the time we need to be able to at least have a way of still keeping up this form of play without those guys in the team and that's just my one concern
00:05:26
Chino Onwuka
Thank you.
00:05:32
Chuku
But all in all, it's been great seeing the boys playing what we've been usually accustomed to seeing. And you know it's good to see the team kicking clicking again. And you know one minute may continue. And I hope it continues for the rest of the season and see we see where it goes. But that is just my two cents on the matter.
00:05:52
Chino Onwuka
i I think it's honestly normal to see, and I think I've touched on this before. I think it is normal for if you lose your two top players, like and you said, two of the best players in the world, for your the level of your team to drop when you lose two of your top players. What I will say is I don't like how much it seems to impact us when just one of our players is down. you know Whether that be Saka and Odegard. And you know I think this sort of you know touches on a you know the topic that I think it's stupid bit that it it gets discussed the way it is. you know
00:06:44
Chino Onwuka
who's our most important player but I just want to wonder what your opinions are because I feel like I'm trying to think of how we've looked when we've had Sokka in the game but no Odegard versus Odegard playing and no Sokka because really what I want to talk about and highlight and you know just gush over is having Odegard back in and what he's meant to the team and how we've seen you know us embark more of the style we expect to see from Arsenal in the last two games. And so it's just to highlight the importance of Odegard.
00:07:29
Chino Onwuka
What I get annoyed with is from people with there's this war going on and maybe it's just on Twitter. you know, Odegardism, you know, versus Sokka, who's the one I like. To me, it's like, let's enjoy both players. So it's not, it shouldn't be one versus the other, but it's like, are we two reliant on, you know, either of those players? And and that's probably a bit to the cheapest point. Because when I think it's normal to to drop one, two of your best players are down, like think about Liverpool without both Salah and Van Dijk in the team, or,
00:08:04
Chino Onwuka
You know, Man City without both Halland and Roger at the same time, like you expect them to drop. I think any team would suffer with that. But are we too reliant on on those players? I'm like, what do you think?
Tactical Analysis and Team Evolution
00:08:19
Emeka
i Think I don't understand how We won 8-1 cumulatively this past four days and yet I'm hearing just worries and complaints and I i Don't understand man.
00:08:33
Emeka
I don't understand it.
00:08:33
Chuku
Oh, oh, brother.
00:08:34
Emeka
I truly don't I'm so confused but the last eight minutes I've heard from this thing because why we Because that's what the majority of the time was spent on war like I'm I don't know for two Alliance So i I'm let you guys do that.
00:08:35
Chuku
Oh, brother.
00:08:39
Chuku
How can you I be the only focus the year in those? My, is my.
00:08:47
Emeka
I don't kill my vibes I, this was some great football back again.
00:08:50
Chino Onwuka
I really can't carry that. I was just trying to, that's what Chuku came with. So I was just trying to address that.
00:08:56
Emeka
Hey man, I get y'all can have, I mean, I don't know what to say.
00:08:58
Chuku
Okay, go ahead. Go ahead. and let i
00:09:02
Emeka
Y'all can have this talk. I mean, it's a fair conversation. I just don't get why this had, after I just saw her still be supporting that game, man, city for one, a smooth five, one dominated the game.
00:09:14
Emeka
It was fantastic to watch.
00:09:15
Chuku
Well, can I ask, can I answer that question though?
00:09:16
Emeka
All right.
00:09:17
Chuku
Or do you, I mean, you can go off bar yeah because you're asking a question.
00:09:18
Emeka
Yeah, please.
00:09:20
Chuku
I don't know if it's open-ended or if you're just, if it's a rhetorical question that you're asking there. Like, is that an active question I want answered?
00:09:28
Emeka
i say absolutely go my mother guy
00:09:31
Chuku
Okay. Simply put, you just, we just said, you just said it's the same team, right? That gave sporting the business, which we saw, right? Give them five one, right? but this same team that we're talking about, right?
00:09:44
Chuku
Mind you, what what kilomet ah this that team we put out against Portland wasn't even our full first team. it was was was That was a makeshift team, especially in midfield, mainly in midfield, right?
00:09:53
Emeka
Go. I said, after listening, go, man.
00:09:58
Chuku
But still had those key players that we're talking about, AKA with the Garden Saka, and see what we produced, right? Why is it that ah ah sooner we have we put we had our full regular team only missing Odegard Saka and for even chunks of the time when it was just Saka back and no Odegard.
00:10:21
Chuku
we looked ah You cannot tell me what you weren't concerned with the type of football that you were seeing us play. We all talked about this a few episodes back. It's not that we were like creat ah playing good ball and then just losing games. We were playing horrific. like It was like diabolical football that we were watching. And then also on top of that, not winning games or dropping points. So it was like, how does all of a sudden We get back with the guard now and he's back in the mix, right?
00:10:52
Chuku
Playing playing for 90 minutes, whatever it used to be. And all of a sudden, when I was back to smashing teams or playing a lot better, at least better football on the ice. How is that possible in how many years?
00:11:04
Emeka
Because Odegard is very, very, very good. That's the that's the answer to that question.
00:11:06
Chuku
Okay, great. I don't disagree. I don't disagree with that.
00:11:09
Chino Onwuka
I see your point. Let me just jump. I see your point in that we just had two wins.
00:11:12
Chuku
ever
00:11:14
Chino Onwuka
And you just want to celebrate those two wins.
00:11:18
Chino Onwuka
And maybe we should have spent a little bit more time there. But I think Chuku brings up a good point, because at this point, these are the type of results that we now expect from Arsenal.
00:11:31
Chino Onwuka
So to me, I'm glad we're playing.
00:11:34
Emeka
5-1 away in chapters that you expect from Arsenal.
00:11:36
Chino Onwuka
Is it something to over-celebrate? It's like, yeah, like this is this is what we should be doing to team. So it's what is the difference between these last two games and the games before?
00:11:48
Chino Onwuka
That's that's that's what we're trying to dig into. Because at this point, at this stage, the question is, are we going?
00:11:55
Emeka
Listen, y'all can...
00:11:57
Chuku
At the very least, it's a conversation to be had, bro. We can't just forget what we've seen. but like It wasn't like one week that we're seeing. like don't This was multiple weeks, my brother.
00:12:10
Chuku
Like, come on, bro. like Multiple weeks of oh diabolical play.
00:12:16
Emeka
when i was no clean Arsenal when we complain, just complain the entire season.
00:12:21
Chuku
Whatever you're talking about. I'm not complaining.
00:12:23
Chino Onwuka
No, no, no.
00:12:23
Emeka
yeah That's what I'm hearing right now.
00:12:23
Chuku
I'm not complaining. home my
00:12:24
Chino Onwuka
This is, well, I mean, Chuklu Chuklu's brought about his frustrations.
00:12:28
Chuku
All right.
00:12:30
Chino Onwuka
I'm asking a question. Asking a question is not complaining. The question is, are we too over reliant on older guard or?
00:12:36
Emeka
You can ask the question.
00:12:39
Chuku
The answer, as a writer, has to be a yes.
00:12:39
Chino Onwuka
That was the question I was asking.
00:12:41
Chuku
It has to be a yes.
00:12:42
Emeka
I just.
00:12:42
Chino Onwuka
That's what I asked.
00:12:43
Chuku
The proof is in the pudding. We literally seen what we looked like when this man was not playing. We literally look weve seen it.
00:12:54
Chuku
don know Hold on. The thing about it is, I don't know if again, cause what the closest thing of one year, which we will talk about, I'm pretty sure we'll talk about him. He will have his own section, but one year it looks like he's going to be it a big part of the team in the coming years to come.
00:13:12
Chuku
But I think we can all agree he's not there yet to be leading a team at 17 years old, being the the the force in the midfield that's going to carry us to, to, to win major owners just yet, just yet.
00:13:24
Chino Onwuka
i mean And he should have been. you should have
00:13:27
Chuku
right? he shouldn't i He shouldn't be exactly he shouldn't be like we've seen what in the past, we've seen how being over reliant on a teenager can affect their development, aka look at this fabric us and his time, you know, as a teenager, and how we had to how we had to over rely on him, right? to To carry us in certain certain situations and how that played out. So it shouldn't be the case. But that's why I'm i'm questioning and asking, how was it again, we're not in year one, we're not in year two,
00:13:56
Chuku
We're not in year 3 of Ateta. How is it that if Odegard is missing, we've had these players work for a good couple of species?
00:14:03
Chino Onwuka
Okay so trip let me let me reframe the question then you know since this is frustrating Ameka.
00:14:05
Chuku
Why don't we have any replacements?
00:14:12
Chino Onwuka
Alright Ameka tell us how good Odegard is and tell us let's talk about what he brings to the team that changes the dynamic of how he plays.
00:14:24
Chino Onwuka
Let's frame him as a celebration of the player that he is. What does he bring to the team?
00:14:27
Emeka
Y'all can have the conversation. I know I feel like we're asking questions that have very simple answers Yeah, we're over reliant on Odegard and Saka. Why not? if They're great players.
00:14:37
Emeka
Are Liverpool over-reliant to Mo Salah?
00:14:40
Emeka
I'm asking are they over-reliant to Mo Salah?
00:14:40
Chino Onwuka
That's what I, I, I literally.
00:14:43
Emeka
Because if I take Mo Salah out of Liverpool right now, I promise you they're not gonna be this good. Are Man City over-reliance on Rodri?
00:14:48
Chino Onwuka
He's scoring 48% of their goals this season.
00:14:52
Emeka
I'm asking you over Alliance on Roger Roger.
00:14:52
Chino Onwuka
and
00:14:54
Emeka
He's injured now. They're losing every single game and it's happening like oh good teams rely on good players like yeah, that's the point I agree over Alliance and order garden sucker. Guess what? It's hard to get an order guard back up or the guard is very very very very very good He's amazing.
00:15:10
Emeka
He's controlled the tempo. He's the the classical Ozil number 10 except he presses like a madman and He's got creativity. He helps our defense and offense and when you lose him and our part or two primary creative threats in soccer as well who I mean, I can't say enough about soccer.
00:15:26
Emeka
He's amazing dribbling the cold control. He's not add a little bit of ruthlessness to his game Like yeah, we lose two good players. We're gonna struggle also that quote-unquote struggle. Look who we're playing. We're playing Big teams like yeah, we're gonna struggle because we're playing good teams.
00:15:40
Emeka
I kept I kept saying that the entire time Our schedule was crazy to start the season when our schedule changes something's gonna happen That's why I was like, I haven't given up hoping the season yet cuz early and things are gonna change But all of that beside the point I still stand on my take We had a great this is a great week not no force was fourth the Sun entered the game smack them smooth 3-0 Sporting came in we dominated sporting the hottest striker in Europe came up against Gabriel and Saliba and didn't do nothing Gabella hit my man with his own celebration. That was amazing. I come in here That's about ten minutes. I'm just hearing all the two were reliant on good players. I listen if no one had the conversation that's fair I I'm we had a terrible month before we talked about
00:16:28
Emeka
Was watching turgid football. Yeah facts. We had a great week. So if I can be mad about the bad month damn round I'm gonna enjoy the great week. Oh, man. It was a great week could get and I challenge your statement on is what we expect because You can't tell me you expect to beat teams like split give sporting credit here. I thought you guys don't Didn't understand what that sporting Lisbon gave Man City for one see what you want about Man City I watched that game smack Man City up We came in this boardings house and gave them five one and it wasn't even that close. So hey I'm happy. Our touch does a way get a streak in Europe has been terrible too. That was a nice nice smooth win We're in the top eight in Champions League automatic qualification Things are looking up. I I'm looking forward to next week. What's time away? Let's go and if you want to over Hey, we over rely on soccer and order guard I rather rely on second order guard over a lion like is that and
00:17:21
Emeka
I won't say I'll ball my game, that's disrespectful. But back four or five years ago, the guys are over relying on. We've got some good players now, it feels good.
00:17:29
Chino Onwuka
at At this stage in our progress, you know where we've been for the last three teams, I do expect to to beat sporting, even if it's away. Does that have to be 5-1?
00:17:40
Emeka
Fair enough.
00:17:41
Chino Onwuka
No, but that's if we hold ourselves to the standard of, you guys said we were gonna be first coming into the season, win the Premier League, that that's a bloody good team.
00:17:53
Chino Onwuka
So a team that's winning the Premier League should be beating sporting away. So it's a big result.
00:17:58
Emeka
This morning today last week last champion week yeah believe police you know miss sporting play a last Champions League week play putting play in Champions League the week before we played them Oh So, yeah, and we say team exposed to win a champion the Premier League a team that won the Premier League four years in a row again smacked up and we're just expected hmm
00:18:00
Chino Onwuka
but that's that's what
00:18:05
Chino Onwuka
That's that's sorry and they want for not That was us If city had won that game would anyone have been surprised if city had won that game for nothing would anyone have been surprised? No, I don't think so
00:18:29
Emeka
I'll be surprised.
00:18:29
Chino Onwuka
And that and that's the team that's the team we're trying to compete with.
00:18:30
Emeka
Away, away. That's a good win.
00:18:33
Chino Onwuka
So if it should if it wasn't a surprise that City 1-4 nothing, it shouldn't be a surprise if Arsenal win.
00:18:38
Emeka
It'd be a surprise for me.
00:18:39
Chino Onwuka
It wouldn't be more of a surprise because Arsenal hasn't done anything in Europe. But if those are the standards, if that's where we want to be, then results like this hopefully should become the expectation going forward.
00:18:50
Emeka
No, all this reminds me of a great quote. I think it's very applicable. Happiness is a function of your expectations. You know, I guess I got low expectations in you guys because I, I, I enjoy, I'm still, I still enjoy five one away wins.
00:19:00
Chino Onwuka
That is so I have, I honestly, I have lower expectations than the bottom.
00:19:06
Emeka
Not really for what I'm hearing.
00:19:08
Chino Onwuka
We go to the season preview. I have lower expectations than the both of you.
00:19:11
Emeka
But week to week for some reason.
00:19:12
Chino Onwuka
pages You're just more even keel than the both of us where you have high expectations, but if you don't meet it, you're still happy.
00:19:16
Emeka
All right.
00:19:20
Chino Onwuka
What I'm trying to look, I'm trying to analyze like. what this team needs to do to take the next step because that's what I said.
00:19:27
Emeka
But I just feel like...
00:19:29
Chino Onwuka
I just felt that we still have some gaps to, we're one of the best teams in the world. We're not yet the best team in the world. We have some gaps that we need to make up and this is one of those gaps that we have, right?
00:19:43
Chino Onwuka
So yes, every team is over reliant on their talk to players, which is fine.
00:19:47
Emeka
What's he...
00:19:48
Chino Onwuka
But even then, what my main complaint has been is that
00:19:53
Chino Onwuka
There was such a big change in the style of playing. That is what I did not like. Yeah, we were playing some big teams, but we were playing some teams that weren't as big as well, and it was still crap.
00:20:00
Chuku
That's my biggest issue. It's so clean.
00:20:07
Chino Onwuka
We played Shaq Tower. That was crap.
00:20:10
Emeka
yeah i was back but
00:20:11
Chino Onwuka
We played Bournemouth. Yes, they're a good team, but performance was bad.
00:20:14
Emeka
and
00:20:17
Chino Onwuka
It's not like we played well.
00:20:18
Chuku
Oh, come on, man. but
00:20:19
Chino Onwuka
I mean, that that was bad. So there's there's clear flaws. like We don't work good. like Trust me, I want to celebrate. not And probably the unfortunate thing is you know we didn't have this podcast the last two seasons where all we would have been doing is waxy lyrical.
00:20:32
Emeka
Yeah,
00:20:34
Chino Onwuka
But you know when you get to the center, all you're doing is you know all there is to do is nitpick about about little things.
00:20:35
Chuku
You didn't bring out a new castle.
00:20:36
Emeka
that was bad. That was bad.
00:20:41
Chino Onwuka
And that's that's what we're going to talk
Defensive Strength and Player Development
00:20:42
Chino Onwuka
about here. What I really like, you know, that I've been seeing in the last two games is, like, I just love watching that Saka Odegard combination. Like, you know, it reminds me of the the great combinations we've had at Arsenal throughout the year.
00:20:51
Chuku
Oh, man.
00:20:58
Chino Onwuka
You know, people have talked about, you know, Thierry...
00:20:59
Chuku
but Doesn't it remind you of Uzo the Sanchez?
00:21:02
Chino Onwuka
Thierry Burgham.
00:21:03
Emeka
It was a soundtrack.
00:21:04
Chino Onwuka
It's not even Thierry Burgham.
00:21:05
Emeka
Nice TV press, that's mine.
00:21:07
Chino Onwuka
Thierry Perez, Thierry Perez and just the two of them together.
00:21:09
Emeka
That's my beer, that's my imagery of...
00:21:14
Chino Onwuka
And I think what they bring to the team, especially when Odegard is in, is the way we can recycle possession in the final third, because it's like, it's not that Trossard isn't technical when he plays there, but the way Odegard and Saka interplay with each other just means they just keep possession in that area of danger for so long that it sort of begins putting a lot of pressure on the defense, and then they start moving the defense around.
00:21:41
Chino Onwuka
You don't know who's making the run off, who, are they gonna do an interplay between each other? Are they gonna play a through ball into the box? Are they gonna you know take a shot? And it's just lovely. And then what's been nice to see is the way Tinberg has just joined them.
00:21:56
Emeka
Tim was a bowler
00:21:57
Chino Onwuka
And it's a little bit different than what Ben White was doing, but it's he's also Sometimes, you know, there'll be an interplay denim, like, was that timber or was that Saka? And so that's been really, really good to see.
00:22:10
Chino Onwuka
You know, again, it sucks that, you know, apparently we have this rule where only one right back can be fit at one time because, you know, I don't want us to, especially just coming back from an ACL, I don't want us to to wear timber out.
00:22:22
Chino Onwuka
But yeah, just that right side of Saka, Odegard and timber is it beautiful to watch right now.
00:22:29
Emeka
great magnifique, great magnifique. I mean, listen, yeah um I get where you guys are coming from. I guess philosophically, I just disagree with it, but you know, it was fair enough.
00:22:39
Emeka
But, uh, real quick, I just want to give a shout out.
00:22:41
Chuku
there to three but i'm so confused not google sir what are you disagreeing with is what i'm trying to understand first
00:22:45
Emeka
I'm disagreeing because I feel like, like I said, what team isn't over reliant on their best players. We can never
00:22:53
Emeka
Oh, I just like the whole premise of the Are We Overreliance? Well, first of all, I just agree with the fact that we had a great week and we spend the majority of the intro wondering about negative things. Personally, but also also disagree on are we over at or our we are over reliant on order garden soccer I agree I disagree that that's a problem because any team take away the two best players would struggle that's a promise like but regardless I don't give a quick shout out. I touched on it briefly, but when I was watching the game It made me really appreciate it. I man I we've seen
00:23:26
Emeka
I don't know to suspect Cola, uh, Koshasny and Murtis. Like, cause they were good, but we've seen like Mustafie, Socrates, Dava Louise, just some bums at center back. So it was just so, so confident to come into games. It was Gabrielle and Salima. Like that might be, I don't know, it sounds hyperbolic. It might be the best center back combination I've seen as an Arsenal fan. It really might be like, I know Turi and Campbell is the best pair, of but Cold to ray even though it was good. He still had a little bozo in him Gabrielle and Saliba just so many all these strikers like Holland and Gil Carras who like rely on face and physicality You're not gonna our physical Saliba and Gabrielle like I think it just makes me so happy when I see these trackers get frustrated because they can't big-body our guys after so many years of watching Arsenal get you know bullied it's nice to have the bullies on our team and I
00:24:18
Emeka
Gabrielle on corners man. It's actually a weapon. He's actually a threat. It's like it's I Watch these teams. don I feel like they disrespect my man Gabi because they'd be putting these small men on him Like he's gonna shake you out the way get to the far post or near post in. Oh, it's fantastic to watch and man He didn't hit in the yo caress celebration. Just a cherry on top like what a man. ah What a what a Titans we have back there It's amazing
00:24:44
Chino Onwuka
I think they're, because yeah, you know, the competition is, you know, Soul Campbell and Toure, you know, they were part of the Invincibles, you know, Koshanya Murdersacker, they had a good run for a bit.
00:24:58
Chino Onwuka
And probably, you know, Tony Adams and, and, and Bold and Keelan was, that was probably just ending slightly before our time.
00:25:04
Emeka
Yeah, well, yeah.
00:25:08
Emeka
I've said before my times, I can't put them up there.
00:25:09
Chino Onwuka
But, you know, that's probably That's probably a little bit of the pinnacle, but yeah, like they are so complete as a center back pairing together. One is 6'3", one is 6'4". They both have pace. They both have physicality. You know, they compliment each other. You know, one is the warrior. One is the Rolls-Royce. It's lovely to watch. You know, sometimes I try not to think of, you know, how long can we keep both of them for? But, you know, just enjoy it while it lasts.
00:25:39
Chuku
Yeah, I think that's the best way to put it.
00:25:40
Chino Onwuka
i
00:25:41
Chuku
You just have to enjoy wildlife.
00:25:43
Chino Onwuka
And it interesting to see, I think Ameka had mentioned this in a group chat, you know, the guy that people, even myself had previously been trumpeting up to, you know, come in and compliment them, had a stinker of a game. why lord dearmongo man My man, my FM wonder kid, man, that was not a, maybe he was just trying to drop the price, you know, so that, you know, super. He'd been sent off like like three times.
00:26:13
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, it should have been sent off like three times, you know, some, you know, some other notable things, you know, across the two games, you know, good to see Martinelli on the score sheet again, good to see Kai back in the goals. You know, one other thing that, you know, we're tied up with the two games is I really, really love the rotation that we saw on Saturday. I think probably most of us were surprised.
00:26:43
Chino Onwuka
You know, probably what these last two games have shown is a little bit of growth from Artata. Again, you know, sometimes you forget this is only his fifth year overall managing and he's still super young. You know, this is the first time we've seen him use the squad and not only did he use the squad, I think sometimes what's dissuaded him from using the squad as much as possible is that some of the few times he tried to do it, especially in the cups,
00:27:10
Chino Onwuka
those guys would not show up and maybe it's because too many of those guys were playing but but we saw Jesus come in at striker which people were surprised to see. Tracer started on the left by the midfield of Jurgenio.
00:27:23
Emeka
How's the question?
00:27:26
Chino Onwuka
Odegard and Marino, so lots of surprises and you know the guys function well.
00:27:30
Emeka
marian know Merino.
00:27:32
Chino Onwuka
So I think that stands us in good stead going forward to be able to to mix and match around our core players of Saka and Odegard.
00:27:42
Emeka
You got a squad. Hey, you even dusted up Zinchenko. I haven't seen that guy in a minute a minute. You know, nice to see him again. I've always liked Zinchenko. I know he has a defensive issues, but yeah I'm always mad.
00:27:53
Emeka
I can't forget the the good time when we first came in and it looked like the most impactful for I get it
00:27:57
Chino Onwuka
Again, again what happens is as the standards rise, you know, more, more things. So Zenchenko is still a super, super useful player in our squad. There's certain games where we're playing, you know, some lesser teams or even coming on as a sub in certain game states where, you know, Zenchenko is extremely, extremely important. And, you know, people talk about us, you know, missing Odegard, missing Saka. We really missed
00:28:31
Chino Onwuka
We were really struggling for fullbacks at some point, and I think that hurt us as well. I think there were certain games, especially with Odegard out, you know, having Senchenko or even Georgina available for some of those games would have really helped alleviate some of those issues.
00:28:47
Emeka
Absolutely, man. We need need more technical players.
00:28:50
Chino Onwuka
Okay.
00:28:50
Emeka
Always happy with technical players.
00:28:52
Chino Onwuka
You know, and so speaking of...
00:28:53
Chuku
i still
00:28:55
Chino Onwuka
Go ahead.
00:28:56
Chuku
No, no, no, I was just gonna just back up like, yeah, just, you know, I didn't have a chance to jump in and say some things with regards to the whole, every element of Saliba. I just wanted to say, like, first of all, I think only true, like, and Arsenal supporters and fans would recall many, you know, couple years ago when we were talking about Saliba and how how good he was going to be and how good we seen him when he was winning. well The young like player of the season and for his club when he was playing in France and the hype around him and and you know like everyone was just losing patience because we're wondering why why why why are we losing this guy no back to the French team? We just bought him. Why isn't he playing for us? you the other All of a sudden, it's just it's just crazy to see how like you know after all the years have passed,
00:29:50
Chuku
like Saliba really getting the accolades of like truly being one of the best center backs in the league. And also nice seeing Gabrielle getting that same because at some point early on, you know, Gabrielle was getting that bozo, was getting, was getting the narrative of bozo jeans.
00:30:00
Chino Onwuka
Watch.
00:30:06
Chuku
And I'm like, dude, the guy's playing next. He has no help. He's literally the only like, you know what I'm saying? Like you have to, you have to overcompensate in order to, to, to, to show that like,
00:30:18
Chuku
He's a good defender and and like not having a good, you know reliable partner next to him. You weren't seeing the best of Gabriel. So I'm just so glad to see like that combination together because I remember just talking about it.
00:30:30
Chuku
And obviously, you know people were obviously classic.
00:30:31
Chino Onwuka
Hey, and to be honest, Gabriel probably was a little bit raw when he came to Arsenal. Think about the state Arsenal was in when he came in. That was the type of profile we were able to get, and he's grown, right?
00:30:45
Chino Onwuka
You know, we come from the same...
00:30:45
Chuku
Yeah. but you can't tell me part of that wasn't not, you can't tell me part of that like roughness wasn't like, you know, packed with him playing with the lesser partner.
00:30:54
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, yeah it for sure. When you're in a team that's all over the place, but he was wrong, but sport much and I'm really glad he's getting his flowers.
00:31:00
Chuku
Exactly. That's what I'm saying. That's what I'm saying. Like, yeah, that's what I'm saying. Yeah.
00:31:07
Chino Onwuka
You know, sometimes, you know, some people will shadows him a little bit, but I'm really glad.
00:31:11
Emeka
too much for me.
00:31:12
Chino Onwuka
I'm really glad Gabriel is getting his flowers. And I think as Ameka has pointed out a couple of times, we got two world class centerbacks for 60 million combined in this economy, which is amazing.
00:31:25
Chuku
Crazy He's deserving of one
00:31:27
Chino Onwuka
Which is amazing. Okay. So, you know, we've talked about
00:31:30
Emeka
real quick on We talking about the someone's kids quote-unquote son, you know, I took that gets the big stick about not put play young players eating one year is getting Consistently, you know starts how it starts off the food and diet as you called it 20 minutes subs But he's getting them consistently now bagging in goals You know, hey
00:31:49
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, he's the facto member of of the first team squad now.
00:31:54
Chuku
He's an observant.
00:32:00
Chino Onwuka
you know He's first or second name you know off the bench. you know you know We've talked about you know the reliance on Odegard, you know what coming to dispel him.
00:32:11
Chino Onwuka
We have
00:32:14
Chino Onwuka
definitely someone in Ethan coming up to do that. And it's just been, you know, beautiful to see, you know, sometimes, you know, you have these, these, and I'm talking about myself, you know, as someone who, you know, really loves watching youth, you know, come up and try to fulfill their potential. You have these dreams as to what players can be. And, you know, progression isn't linear, but it's been so great to see you know i've I've been following, for some people who don't know, I've been following Ethan since he was 14. And just to see how he's lived up to the hype at each stage and how he's come up and he's contributing to the team, you know is she been my favorite part of the season so far. To be very honest with you, hopefully there's other things that we can celebrate going forward. But you know he comes on against Nottingham Forest.
00:33:11
Chino Onwuka
immediately comes in does a step over you know leaves a defender you know on his ass and curls a shot that just goes right out of the post and a couple of minutes later you know Sterling comes on and assists him and he snaps one to the bottom corner before his first Premier League goal becoming the second youngest player in Arsenal's history to score um Prem goal at you know 17 years and 249 days such an accomplishment for him. You know, I'm sure he he must be buzzing and a lot of us are buzzing for him. So yeah, really good to see. And, you know, I've been, you know, we talked about this going into the season. How much did we think he would play? And, you know, it's clear they had a plan for him. He's been on that food and diet, which I think is the right thing to do, to build him up, to manage him.
00:34:08
Chino Onwuka
Are there games, and we've talked about it here on this spot, where we we really could have used him in some of the life against Shaqdar. I feel like we needed him in those games as young as he is, as early as it is for him. But I can't really fault what it is they're trying to do. And I think as the season goes on, we'll actually see him begin to play more and more.
00:34:31
Emeka
I mean, i will I don't know about more and more, but I hope so. I yeah i think what he's getting now i would probably always be what he's going to get, like these 20, 30 minute cameos.
00:34:44
Emeka
Tuktuk is doing better rotation, but I'll be shocked if he's starting Premier League games if I'm not an injury crisis. But I hope so.
00:34:52
Chino Onwuka
I don't think it's consistent, but what what we can now see is it's not just okay giving him minutes to give a youngster a minute.
00:34:52
Emeka
I mean, hey, who knows?
00:35:01
Chino Onwuka
It's he trusts Ethan, which is which is which is how I've always felt Arteta is. Arteta's not gonna give you, maybe in the League Cup, okay, you two will play, but for him to be coming on as much as he is in the pram in the Champions League, first name off the bat for the offensive positions, that shows he, Arteta's not like one, for you to play, you need to be better than all these other guys. So I think in games where Odegard needs a rest, I think, and there's and there's things around him. I think part of the reason he didn't play Ethan in other games is we,
00:35:37
Chino Onwuka
Going through an injury crisis, you know we didn't want it where it was solely on on on Ethan's shoulders to carry it. But I think if everybody else is down, we need to spell Odegard per game. I think as he continues to get more experience being in and around the team coming for these games, I think he will. By the time we get into the second half of the season, you know Ethan would have built up a certain level of trust, of understanding the system.
00:36:04
Chino Onwuka
You know, and they're probably still trying to build him up physically so that he can, you know, play a full game or 60 minutes or 70 minutes at the intensity that you need to at Arsenal Football Club.
00:36:18
Emeka
Anything theatrical?
00:36:20
Chuku
Well, I mean, I was just of the opinion that I just think this season you can't expect that one year is going to have any sort of huge minutes. I just don't think that's going to be the case. And I think I'm not saying I'm just, I'm just speaking in general, not, I'm not saying that's what you're saying.
00:36:30
Chino Onwuka
No, I'm not going to have you.
00:36:37
Chuku
I'm just saying in general, if there's any export expectations of one year, like playing, you know, a huge, a bigger part than when he already is,
00:36:49
Chuku
at this moment in time, I just don't see that happening. At best, you know, like you've talked about, you know, in the, you know, league cups, that sort of thing, competition, it's more likely, yeah, you you might get extra minutes. I mean, there's a reason why, you know, like I said, start of season, you know, Arctita was okay with letting, you know, Emma Smith roll and Fabio Vieira leave, right? The club, like those, he clearly has a plan for, uh, one year, and if he, if he, if he see,
00:37:18
Chuku
his talks from last last week's, last weekend's game. I mean, I thought I talked about, you know, building, I'm just paraphrasing here, but something about a long lines of, you know, slowly building brick by brick, right?
00:37:31
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:37:32
Chuku
And like, you're not just going to just, you know, you're not just going to just build it, the build this brick and then just have it fall down all of a sudden and then just expect, I guess what he's trying to talk about is not putting such high expectations on the kid, but he's going to slowly, you know,
00:37:35
Chino Onwuka
Bye!
00:37:47
Chuku
bring him into the fold. So, I mean, I'm more of a line at this point. I'm thinking, you know, I'm just looking more forward and into the coming seasons because I just know as he continues to get these, you know, cameos here, 10, 20 minute cameos here. I know that in the coming seasons, he's definitely going to be a bigger part of the of the team. And honestly, it won't shock me if Fabio Guerrero is gone. Like I don't see now, you know, with the emergence of one year that you're going to have a guy like five years a year are still in the club. In my opinion, it doesn't make any sense. We're probably going to expect that, you know, he's probably going to be leaving, racing, and once we grow leave, you know, I just think, you know, I'm excited for the, for what's to come, know, and you know, among me continue, even with MLS, MLS, I'm pretty sure is also, you know, going to be coming, coming in. I i know we're not seeing him in a little minute here. He had a, you know,
00:38:41
Chuku
was playing earlier in the season with injuries that we had going on but I'm pretty sure that's another a player that again slowly you know getting back get into the fold and now I hope to see him again you know at some point in the season I'm sure we'll see him again especially in the league cups and whatnot but you know without a doubt when you definitely want to watch and I think rival fans are also you know starting to see that and I mean anyone with two eyeballs can see this kid he's gonna be sweet I don't want to jump into, you yeah, because I know I'm the one I always like to hype certain players, but I mean, like the play itself, you can just see it.
00:39:21
Chuku
Like in my opinion, you can you can just see this guy is going to be a special player, a baron, no injury setbacks and things of that nature. Like, I just don't see how, you know, yeah, a man, a man, a man.
00:39:28
Chino Onwuka
anymore
00:39:33
Chuku
Well, I just don't see how, you know, this kid doesn't pan out because bra he he literally has it all. He has the Tekkers. You know, he knows he has such good control of the ball like this is why I was so honestly so upset with that um that um run of games where we weren't playing like as appealing football as as we could because I Honestly, I'm of the belief in my opinion again obviously autism a food differently and you know he's the boss Maybe if he he feels like, you know, we need to bring him on slowly. So be it. Okay, and again, I don't again
00:40:10
Chuku
to the point, I don't want to have to rely on a 17 year old to have to carry the season. But I don't know if it's the opinion that like, you know, earlier we talked about how our style of play changed. I just don't see, am I, I just see Wanyeri as a good older guard sort of like, he literally is like a mixture of the older guard Sakabra. I don't know if y'all see it as well, but my like key how's he has the game similar to an older guard and can also cut in and,
00:40:39
Chuku
take finesse shots just like a sucker like yeah
00:40:40
Chino Onwuka
you He he he's he's he's folding with a little bit more pasta No,
00:40:49
Emeka
I don't know over height players, but here are the comparisons I'm hearing.
00:40:49
Chuku
I
00:40:52
Emeka
All right.
00:40:53
Chino Onwuka
no because because we're trying to talk about the type of player that he is and what makes Ethan so special is
00:40:53
Emeka
I hope, I hope, I hope these guys.
00:40:54
Chuku
but
00:41:00
Chino Onwuka
He's maybe not as much as that you know interplay guy like Odegard is. He can do that, but that's not his game. He's got the technique. He's got the frame where he can create space for himself. And this guy is a sharpshooter. What's sort of different between him and some of the other attacking midfielders that we've had is he scores goals. like He scores goals at the rate of what you would expect. An attacking player would score rather than a midfielder. So that's the dynamic that I think he brings to the team in that position that we don't we don't have as much in in other positions. you know ju You talked about him you know being more prominent in the future. What I'm curious to see, if we can lock
00:41:54
Chino Onwuka
If we can unlock the team to the level where we can play a six with Odegard and Ethan, or just players of that nature, more offensive, less of that duel type, like we saw at Man City, we saw at Barcelona where it's a six with two more creative eights. If we can get to a stage where, I know we've tried it once or twice with Odegard and Tresard, but if we can get to a point where we can play You know, for certain games, you know, a six and Odegard and Ethan or Tressard and Odegard, you just get back to playing that. Like, that's that's the one thing we haven't seen.
00:42:36
Chino Onwuka
you know, with the team yet, if we can get to pro and see that, I think that would be sure a really good evolution in the team. You know, just touching on MLS, I think just with the way the bodies are at left back and even at those defensive midfield positions, I think probably what we might see for MLS is alone. I think, you know, I don't see as many opportunities for him as I do for Ethan, so I think it'd be good to send him on loan.
00:43:03
Chuku
I mean, that's a good shot of honestly speaking, but I just don't know in the, I mean, I mean, I guess, I guess Man City with, with Audrey, Bernardo and, and, uh, who'd you say was the the other?
00:43:17
Chino Onwuka
Multiple combinations, right?
00:43:18
Chuku
It was multiple combinations, yeah?
00:43:19
Chino Onwuka
It was multiple combinations, right? It was Raji and in front of him you could have combinations of KDB, Fodin, Gundaghan, Silva in front of him.
00:43:31
Chuku
The thing is, I just don't know, like, can he be such a special type of player that, like, I mean, like, when I say special, especially in the sense of, like, his physicality, like, I don't know, like, just the way, like, his, his body build is, like, older guard is not that player in terms of that stature-wise, you know, i so he has all the skill, you know, I'm trying to say, like, but stature-wise, like, I just don't know if
00:43:49
Chino Onwuka
Mm-hmm. Yeah.
00:43:56
Chuku
You'll take a special type of player because I just don't know I'm just trying to envision it You know, I mean obviously maybe in some certain types of games we will be able to play it but like against like in majority of the teams in the EPL with how physical the league is especially in the field I just don't see Yeah
00:44:04
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, certain types of yanks, certain types of yanks.
00:44:13
Chino Onwuka
But they did it with with the way. Katie B's been hurt the last couple of seasons. We were seeing 49 Silva. And they were running team.
00:44:25
Chuku
I mean, again, that was with the Roger.
00:44:26
Chino Onwuka
So things i what I would love to see that from us.
00:44:29
Chuku
Yeah, I mean, it's enticing, not to be wrong. I mean, we've seen Barcelona do it for years with Xavi and Iniesta and then have like a busquette, you know, something like that, you know. I mean, I would be very intrigued, trust me, because, you know, but again, one year he hasn't, I guess, you know, whenever he's played so far, I've never seen him on the left.
00:44:53
Chuku
has always been on the right hand side, you know?
00:44:56
Chino Onwuka
and And that's why everyone was so curious in preseason, right?
00:44:56
Chuku
So I don't know how that will...
00:44:59
Chino Onwuka
Because that was the first time, that's what I was like, oh, when he, it wasn't that he would sub Odegard for Ethan. They played in that, especially in that game against Man U when Ethan assisted.
00:45:14
Chino Onwuka
And throughout all of preseason, when they were playing at the same time, it would be Odegard on the right and Ethan on the left. on the left that was That was what they were doing recently.
00:45:26
Chuku
but see i no no cap dust I mean, look, like I'm here for it. I just don't know if that would be the case, but either.
00:45:33
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, I'm not going to see them. I'm just saying in the future, right? Because what?
00:45:36
Chuku
Of course, this is on the future. and I'll be intrigued to see that.
00:45:40
Chino Onwuka
Because the other thing, and we're not, I'm just going to mention this once, just because In the future, we have somebody else that's doing things that even Ethan didn't do, who's coming up, who's also a left-footed attacking midfielder.
00:46:00
Chino Onwuka
And if you want to keep him at the club, we're going to have to find a way to play that type of formation so that all of them can get good game time, if they're all at the club at the same time.
00:46:12
Chuku
What's the name?
00:46:12
Chino Onwuka
And I'm talking about Max Doman.
00:46:14
Chuku
Max. That's what I thought. I've been with Max, you're talking about.
00:46:16
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:46:17
Chuku
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've heard about it. I've heard i've only been wrong. I mean, you're probably gonna know more than me. But the fact that I've heard his name, just, I mean, hopefully, hopefully, you know.
00:46:29
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:46:30
Chuku
that But that's the year, that's lasts last once a couple of years.
00:46:31
Chino Onwuka
what would of but like i'm I'm hyping him up as much, like not hyping him up. I've seen his style as much as people. I've heard some really high level scouts in the game just say earlier this week that they wouldn't be surprised if he made his debut this season. And I was like, okay, that is crazy. But for that person to say that was really like shocking to me.
00:46:53
Chuku
I mean, you're the first person I've heard bring it to bring this kid's name up. So, yeah, well, I'm interested. I'm interested.
00:47:00
Chino Onwuka
I mean, I was the first person to bring him up to you because I mentioned him last year when he was 13, but anyway.
00:47:00
Chuku
I'm interested.
00:47:07
Emeka
Hey man, be a look out for Arsenal, Wonderkid, Gideon, Zellalem. You know, gonna break through the first team any day now. Carry the team to new heights.
00:47:15
Chino Onwuka
I don't know why you're being, you're talking about us being downers, you're being such a downer.
00:47:19
Emeka
What are we talking about? We're talking about Wonderkids for sure, but come on, man.
00:47:21
Chino Onwuka
All right, let's move on. All right, let's move on.
Manchester City's Struggles and Tactical Issues
00:47:26
Chino Onwuka
you know, you know, on on sort of the opposite spectrum to to to Arsenal, you know, this week has been Manchester City.
00:47:26
Emeka
Oh my goodness.
00:47:36
Chino Onwuka
Coming in, we talked about how they've lost, what, four games in a row. Yeah, we talked about this last week, and they were playing Tottenham, and Chukudai predicted a smackdown on Tottenham. We both predicted I mean, how jokingly, but 7-0 wins.
00:47:55
Chino Onwuka
And what we saw was the complete opposite of that. You know, Emeka, you called it. I don't know if you were calling for nothing, but Tottenham laid the set up to Man City away from home.
00:48:05
Emeka
It's definitely not for nothing.
00:48:11
Chino Onwuka
And then after that, that was compounded with them being up 3-0 at home to Feynord. It looks like they were at least getting the train back on the track and they gave up three goals in 50 minutes blow their lead to tie 3-3 with Fedonort in the Champions League. So what's going on with Man City?
00:48:36
Emeka
You see pep in his face after the locker room after three three What the harm myself oh Wow, you i love all you guys are yeah, you guys were wrong your predictions But well you didn't mention that one of us was right and one of us has been bagging the table Well, you say loud enough is say that What
00:48:40
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, Humboye is going through.
00:48:41
Chuku
Yeah, it's going good for him.
00:48:52
Chino Onwuka
I know. I don't know what you want. I don't know what you want. I don't know what you And you say this every year.
00:48:58
Emeka
Say it loud enough because one of us has been banging the table from preseason That man city are due from a season from hell the vibes you don't win Hey, well not on record our listeners don't know that I Will
00:49:08
Chino Onwuka
You said this in two thousand and two. You said this in two thousand and three. A broken book. Yeah. That's what I'm bringing up. A broken book is right twice a day.
00:49:18
Chino Onwuka
So, congrats.
00:49:20
Emeka
he really represent for the last two years. I want to hear that I listen for the last I
00:49:23
Chino Onwuka
it would have been were It would have been nice if you were right the last two years. but
00:49:28
Emeka
Hey, I was in the last two years. I don't understand you bring it from from time and I really wasn't really only half jokingly but this was the first time I said it preseason because again the People don't the 115 thing. I feel like he's hanging over. What a really god is that? Roger you talk about over-reliance man senior committed to the greatest Bellendore campaign of all time because my goodness Roger blows his ACL out and Remember after that game me you guys had a debate I said would you rather we went to one and Roger? He stays or we draw and Roger was ACL and I was the only one who said I take the draw with Roger You blowed his ACL out and this is why I said I take the draw because man
00:50:08
Emeka
Man City's system just collapses without my guys tactical files to break up transition because now they just walk through. It also helps that this backup is Kovacic and Rico Lewis, who I like Rico Lewis but lightweight compared to Roger's physicality because teams cut through them like butter. But even besides Roger, my also my thinking was matt You know football we all on sports especially football like it goes in cycles and eventually a court gets old and Man City's core has gone old have You guys waxed about the burner who I agree fully with Chuku underrated physicality. I always compare him to Yaya Turi
00:50:45
Emeka
Physical beast he's not like 34 contract aspiring. I ain't Saudi the physicality in there anymore Like that makes it a difference like guna gun same thing captain clutch 35 years old now the physicality really isn't there anymore man city team besides Holland and Akanji really are just full of lightweights and Pep still commits to this suicidal high line But we doesn't have the the horses really to make it work man city's defense honestly relied I want to single-handedly but like they relied so much on Kyle Walker's recovery pace and my man Kyle Walker is washed up and now the I Also Diaz and they're putting my boy Rico Lewis in these unwinnable positions because I watch as I like right Rico Lewis The one thing he lacks is physicality.
00:51:23
Chino Onwuka
And and you're they're really missing Diaz right now.
00:51:34
Emeka
She's not putting him in a high line having him recover. It's just not gonna work and I
00:51:39
Chino Onwuka
i And, you know, so I'm just, we'll get back to you. You know, Chico, I know I mentioned last week, we talked about putting Zinchenko in the midfield and how it sort of dilutes the effectiveness of what you really get from him.
00:51:52
Chino Onwuka
You're seeing that with Rico Lewis because there's a difference between Rico Lewis playing right back and stepping into midfield versus playing Rico Lewis in midfield. And this this is just what an example of what I was trying to
00:52:04
Chuku
That's not fair. That is not. I'm not hearing that. I'm so sorry. I'm not here. Rico Lewis is not Zenchenko. Zenchenko is definitely more of a physical player than Rico Lewis. But anyways, you go off. You go off. Because I don't know. I disagree with that point. I don't know where that came from. You need to bring that one up. Because in my opinion, Rico Lewis, Zenchenko are two completely different players. I don't know why. Yeah, they both play the inverted role from left back or from, sorry, from full back.
00:52:34
Chuku
but i what what why why like what no what like you cannot recall Lewis first of all much younger right how would you call Lewis isn't isn't recall who is still a teenager already close to being a teenager and me just check something here i can't use yeah just turn to just turn literally just turn 20 like a couple days ago
00:52:48
Chino Onwuka
He's probably just turned 20.
00:53:01
Chuku
The band was a teenager up until a a couple of days ago, like birthday November 21st. That is not a fair comparison at all. Zinchenko is a grown man. He's like, what?
00:53:14
Chuku
Like Zinchenko? Anyways, you know what? It's okay, it's okay. I don't know why that i was even brought up because we've literally seen Zinchenko playing with field in his own culture.
00:53:19
Chino Onwuka
I think you're missing the main point of what I'm trying to say, but...
00:53:26
Chuku
I think that was a poor example. That's all I'm going to say because like I said, I'm not seeing Rico Lewis play midfield forest for his country and be very successful at it. I've seen Zenchenko play midfield for his country and been a standout player doing it. So anyways, you go off. I don't know. I just don't, I don't know what I can compare this to. You can go ahead.
00:53:49
Chino Onwuka
Anyway, Mako, sorry to cut you off. Keep going.
00:53:55
Emeka
I think it was a pretty fair comparison. If I could compare it to Lewis to any player, I could probably compare it to Zinchenko, but pretty similar. And he's played midfield, I'm pretty sure he played midfield for England once, but he played midfield before and it's a lot of different playing midfield of Roger there than playing midfield without Roger there because Again, what a commitment to a Ballon d'Or campaign I've seen from Man City because it's really it's incredible. Speaking could of over-reliance, how losing one guy has just shifted their entire team. They just can't, they can't stop teams from playing through their lines. Again, I joked about it, but it really is the truth. All those ticky-tack
00:54:33
Emeka
Files that roger get away with there was they were needed for a reason because when you don't do those files teams just by play you and Edison is like newer in the sense that all these sweeper keepers when they lose that half a step all of a sudden those balls that were getting to first they get into second and it the the fault of the fall off of a sweeper keeper is drastic when it happens and The third goldman city conceded a perfect example of that Yeah, sure.
00:55:00
Emeka
They played him out to dry with that high line, but he comes out just gets dummied and it's an open goal open goal for fire north like it's Unbelievable what what I'm seeing for man city and you don't to blow a 3-0 lead like we come here We have Beto breakdown sometimes imagine if our so blew a-0 lead in the 70 50 minute like my goodness
00:55:21
Chino Onwuka
Oh, man. Oh, man.
00:55:25
Emeka
It's uh, yeah, obviously look we can't hold it anything against pep pep is My opinion of the greatest manager ever you win four premier leagues in a row You get a lot of rope a lot of leeway, but my goodness man.
00:55:25
Chino Onwuka
Oh, man.
00:55:35
Emeka
I can't imagine losing the game like that
00:55:37
Chino Onwuka
Question, what's what's going on with with voting with with player of the year voting like I've never seen someone go. And again, I think I make a unit both agree. We all thought Roger should have been one player of the season but how do you go from having and he still had an amazing season last year, how do you go from that to to the season he's having this year?
00:55:51
Emeka
yeah
00:55:59
Chino Onwuka
like i I'm not sure what's going on.
00:56:01
Chuku
See, this is what needs to be talked about more than anything, because I promise you, I promise you, without a shadow of a doubt, if this was soccer having this kind of season, thank we would not hear word, we would not be able to walk around, like go through the interweb, go through the social medias. We would not be able, can you imagine the kind of abuse
00:56:32
Chino Onwuka
Bro Bro
00:56:32
Chuku
the kind of squandering, the kind of talks that will be happening. If Saka was having the kind of season Phil Foden has, our story is currently having, we will not be able to, we will not hear us. like but it would be It would be chaos. But somehow,
00:56:54
Chuku
somehow, Obviously, granted, I guess because Man City have come off the treble, come off winning four in a row, I guess, it's all right to get a pass, I guess. But I just think it's crazy to think that after all the years of Pep protected, folding all these years in terms of bringing him up slowly, not just throwing him out there to play a whole bunch of minutes,
00:57:23
Chuku
And when the team needs you, you're having one of the worst seasons.
00:57:26
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:57:28
Emeka
I, I, I, I, I gotta, as much as I enjoy this, we're going, we're going, listen, I get what you're saying, I get what you're saying, you guys are having pilot points, but we're getting,
00:57:31
Chino Onwuka
This is what he should be.
00:57:31
Chuku
what i'll give what this witness
00:57:36
Chino Onwuka
No, with the talent, this is what he should be stepping up.
00:57:45
Emeka
For some reason we've let for that for everything you said about this year is 100% factual I'm just stepping in for this point because for we've let photos terrible the year now and terrible euros a Little bit outweigh that when Massey needed him the most last year He stepped up and yeah, I thought Roger should have one player of the year, but let me not take anything away.
00:58:06
Chuku
me
00:58:08
Emeka
From 40 because I said Ford and stepped up last January when it order was the was the most pivotal player and it's just run for Man City to win them a Premier League so like he's he's like oh Yeah, that's fair
00:58:15
Chuku
Where are we? Where are any of these agreements? Hold on, hold on, hold on.
00:58:18
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, we we're just saying that for the for for the for the ability that he has at his age now, it's not a thing where, OK, I stepped up for six months ago.
00:58:19
Chuku
Pause. I don't understand. What's the way we're going with our points?
00:58:29
Chino Onwuka
It's cool. Now, that you need to be that player every single day. And that's what we're surprised at.
00:58:32
Chuku
Every citizen! Nick, what?
00:58:35
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:58:35
Chuku
Yeah!
00:58:36
Emeka
not the terrible yeah everything I everything you said this year is 100% factual.
00:58:36
Chuku
Wait, I was so confused!
00:58:40
Emeka
I just yeah I just I don't know what you said when the team isn't the most Where is he? I we when the team didn't last year.
00:58:45
Chuku
I'm talking about this season bro!
00:58:45
Emeka
He was there. That's what I'm saying But also I think it's valid if I was looking at issues of Man City it starts and if me with the diff like their defense like they still score enough goals really The best is the real issue
00:58:46
Chino Onwuka
No?
00:58:47
Chuku
When the team is...
00:58:47
Chino Onwuka
oh bless you
00:58:49
Chuku
What? What? What are you talking about?
00:58:57
Chino Onwuka
specific default
00:58:58
Chuku
Bro!
00:58:59
Chino Onwuka
no
00:58:59
Chuku
Do you think guys care about... Hold on, hold on, hold on, but I gotta just jump in there. Do you think... Okay, do you think if Saka was having the kind of season that Folding Hat is is currently having this year and we didn't have Saliba or Gabriel were hurt, Saliba or Gabriel were hurt, do you think that's what that was what i thought the narrative would be?
00:59:19
Chuku
Oh, well, the the issue has been the defense and while Saka has has just not been...
00:59:24
Emeka
We're shipping crazy goals and they might be If you were conceited you seen the kind of goals man see you're conceding right now terrible year He's having a terrible year I some agree with you having a terrible year
00:59:25
Chuku
but You really think that would be the narrative?
00:59:34
Chuku
but It's not even that that they're concealing it. My man is not producing. Bro, he's not producing. You know, i see how, see, see, sorry. So a second. ah ah But that's I'm trying to, it's not even that, it's not, be if it was a situation that he was scoring goals, he was contributing to the to the team offensively.
00:59:58
Chuku
and yet they were still putting just more goals than what he was producing. That's one thing. I'm saying he's not even ah ah he has been the literally been a non-factor all year. i this is We're entering this, December's around the corner.
01:00:18
Chuku
He has literally been a de facto non-facto at all, bro. like like If I had to pull up the stats, I'm pretty sure mine doesn't even have up to 5GA. Does he have 5GA?
01:00:31
Chuku
like
01:00:32
Emeka
Probably not.
01:00:32
Chuku
up I don't think so.
01:00:33
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, I don't know. This season's been really long.
01:00:37
Chuku
Bad is putting it lightly. And and I'm sorry, ah like Saka has been one of the most consistent players in, like year in, year out, whether we've been good, whether we've been bad, whether we've been in the middle, whatever the case may be, you can book it. Saka is going to get GA. Like he has been producing, he's always been a ah top performer. Like if you look at like his average match reading, like Saka is due for a seven out of 10 in most,
01:01:12
Chuku
average, seven out of 10 performances. I'm telling you, Phil Fulton has been complete and utter like garbage this season, this season, this season. Granted, yes, yet last season, yeah, yeah, it was good. He went off, like he went off last season. We seen what he was doing you know and in the Champions League. We seen what he was doing you know in the league. he was He had an amazing season last year. yeah No one's going to take that away from me.
01:01:42
Chuku
But like Chino just said, just because you have a great season or you've had good seasons in the past, right, doesn't make it seem that you can just go and have a complete blank no-show and for one season doesn't like if you're gonna if you've shown that you've been that player especially with the way again i bring this up because of how he has been slowly been introduced into the mancd team in terms of how pep has called it this is not something that is new like this has been widely reported widely seen widely talked about in terms of peps um well not
01:02:21
Chuku
peps upbringing and folding and how he's handled his career. He's never been a player that has been relied upon, heavy, in this Man City team the last couple of seasons. Last year was his bit was his was real big introduction in terms of being a very more vocal, reliable part of the team and them winning their trophies. And no one's going to take it away from him. He had probably, yeah, I'm pretty sure he had his best season last year. Great. But now that, again,
01:02:51
Chuku
Kaylee B we're seeing age and nutrition and nutrition coming to play in his, in you know, currently in the season. We're seeing, Gundogan is not the player that, you know, they thought they were going to get back obviously, you know, get back the season, but no Suva, you know, I don't know what's going on with him. And, you know, he's been all right, but like, he's not having the greatest of campaigns.
01:03:14
Chuku
Fordy is supposed to be the guy that is the, is the you know, the light and shining armor that's supposed to be the one that, you know, they're supposed to turn to, especially coming to the, like, he's not a young puppet, you know what I'm saying?
01:03:27
Chuku
He's a, this is someone as a seasoned player, right? You're entering the power of his career.
01:03:31
Chino Onwuka
24 to 24 now
01:03:34
Chuku
Entering the power of his career. And I'm telling you, he has been, but he is ghosted. Like, he is not, he has not had a good season whatsoever. And this is when the team, Man City, needs you the most. Like, you got you gotta you gotta to do something. You got to perform. I'm not saying that he's the end-all reason why Man City are struggling with their struggling, but to say that he's not playing a big factor in the in the in the team struggle would be
01:04:07
Chuku
underselling because he has not been good and maybe that you know that could change before we know that could change maybe second half of the season but until then as far as we can report them up until this point he has been he has just been bad he's been there's no there's no other way to put it he's been bad and I can I can assure you if Saka like I said it was having the
Liverpool's Strong Season and Contract Talks
01:04:29
Chuku
kind of season that he was having born old boy oh boy Boy, oh boy, we will hear about it.
01:04:36
Chuku
And I just don't know how he's getting away with it. But of course, because it's because he's playing for a team that's won all these trophies. I'm sure there's no reason to talk about it. So, you know, he is what it is. But I can tell you right now, this Osaka, man, it's going to be a long day.
01:04:49
Chuku
It will be a long, long, ah long day.
01:04:49
Chino Onwuka
and it's It's it's it's quite it's quite interesting. Yeah Okay it's it's It's it's it's just banter slander we're not seeing it in the mainstream like you would with other players it's not in the
01:04:56
Emeka
We're in different circles because I read for the slander on the daily I guess I Read for the slander on the daily
01:04:57
Chuku
Yeah.
01:05:03
Chuku
Yo, Chino, please tell me I'm... You mainstream, you really be here in Fortin.
01:05:13
Chuku
I promise you, like, whatever, whatever you've seen on Fortin, I promise you, if it was Saka, oh my God.
01:05:22
Chino Onwuka
You still have people questioning, you still have people questioning if Saka is world class.
01:05:22
Chuku
Anyway, I just... To
01:05:27
Chino Onwuka
I still see people, I still see people saying, oh, if, if, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm,
01:05:27
Chuku
this day!
01:05:46
Emeka
Is that mainstream or banter?
01:05:46
Chuku
Bro, people are a top five winger, bro.
01:05:48
Emeka
Let me just look for the record. Is that mainstream people saying that or banter?
01:05:51
Chino Onwuka
I remember when I came out last year and said, I don't know if Saka is world class.
01:05:55
Emeka
No, I'm talking about the Amadiello one. It was that mainstream or banter, please.
01:05:58
Chino Onwuka
But I'm just showing you that's what you get with Saka, that you don't get with other players.
01:06:05
Chuku
yeah.
01:06:06
Emeka
I have read Plenty, Fold and Slender. That's all I can say.
01:06:09
Chino Onwuka
Mainstream.
01:06:10
Chuku
All right.
01:06:11
Emeka
We just talked about Amadiello. He told me that's mainstream.
01:06:15
Chino Onwuka
I'm going, I'm talking back to the mainstream years.
01:06:18
Emeka
i've heard preach truth people say is what is no more class go to step up more blah blah blah and look listen
01:06:19
Chino Onwuka
i think up
01:06:24
Emeka
I don't know why if if we do if you want to praise one person, we got to tear down another person I don't really do that. So yeah, it's not great.
01:06:30
Chino Onwuka
I'm not trying to put someone down.
01:06:30
Emeka
It's great Sounds
01:06:31
Chino Onwuka
I, I'm floating is one of my, what is one of my guys.
01:06:35
Emeka
it Why are we bringing them suck out there?
01:06:37
Chino Onwuka
That's, I'm sorry. sorry
01:06:41
Emeka
Why are we bringing them suck out when we're talking about Man City being terrible?
01:06:46
Chino Onwuka
man you you're really on some today okay moving you you i don't even know how to answer you on that one okay all right all right okay so we we we we've it's all good let's let's move on i think just looking at the time i think thing we do need to discuss and this will lead into our our game of the week discussion is
01:06:49
Emeka
I'm just saying, man. Hey, you're like me.
01:06:56
Chuku
I have no question.
01:06:56
Emeka
I don't I don't understand.
01:06:58
Chuku
but simply and Very simply put. simply put. Still folded. I love it. No worries.
01:07:12
Chino Onwuka
You know, with you know, Arsenal's earlier struggles to the season with, you know, the struggles, Mazzi, they're going on right now, you know. Like, it is looking peak for Liverpool right now.
01:07:25
Chino Onwuka
If you're a Liverpool fan, you must be extremely excited, you know, you must be dreaming as to where the season could go because not only are you now, you know, eight points ahead of City, you know, you seem to be cruising through onto the new leadership of Slough, you know, that's been a seamless transition.
01:07:33
Chuku
will be called mine.
01:07:45
Chino Onwuka
You also took down the the the giants of Europe today, cleanly, cleanly I would say, in what was built to be a big game, but really was just ended up being one-way traffic, a 2-0 victory over Real Madrid. Like, wow. know It's been a good week for but Arsenal. It's been a bad week for Man City. It's been a really, really good week for a little for Liverpool.
01:08:11
Chino Onwuka
Man, no one wants to give Liverpool flowers.
01:08:14
Chuku
No, no, no, I don't let you go off.
01:08:15
Emeka
I've been giving you the blue flowers.
01:08:16
Chuku
But yeah, yeah been i this I've been, I've been getting a little profiled. I've been, like, I've just been impressed with all the circuits going on, with all the big names that might not be returning back.
01:08:28
Chuku
Somehow these guys, I guess this is why they're professionals, because again, like, you know, all it takes is just, I don't even know, like, I just, I'm, to say, to think
01:08:38
Chino Onwuka
Do it, do it. They can keep it going.
01:08:42
Chuku
I mean, that all depends on injuries. It depends on health. apparently honest Like okay I was saying, like you know we talked about teams being dependent on certain players. I mean, Salah has proven to defy all odds with health.
01:08:55
Chuku
This dude does not get hurt. I don't know what the hell it is. He just always finds ways to stay healthy. I really don't get it. But I mean, I'll be lying if ah if I wasn't saying I was worried about Liverpool
01:09:10
Chino Onwuka
spirit is there is that afhan this year
01:09:11
Chuku
consist
01:09:14
Chuku
No, bro, I wish I wish I wish I wish No, I've gone he's gonna be he's gonna be playing the full season and it's a scary scary thoughts because this is Salah What was something to prove as you as you've seen it?
01:09:15
Chino Onwuka
not i
01:09:31
Chuku
I'm sure y'all have seen That's what I'm saying, man, he had to get a big payout at the end of the season, you know I'm saying so This is is a scary is a scary proposition to to to to think.
01:09:43
Chino Onwuka
This is contract your Liverpool
01:09:46
Chuku
Contract year, Liverpool. Bro, we're talking about Van Dyke, we're talking about Salah, we're talking about Trent. These are all guys that are playing for their lives. And man and of all seasons, is this is when Louis Diaz decides that he can actually become a functioning player that can score goals.
01:10:06
Chuku
i mean another is not Nah, nah, take it, nah. He's always been a decent player. We always liked him, but we always looked at him as the general. The talk was, this guy's good on the ball, good on the ice, but it was never really clinical in front of net.
01:10:22
Chuku
All of a sudden, this year, that guy's ass changed. He's become clinical in front of net. And even Cody Gackpo is surprising me with some of the things I'm seeing.
01:10:32
Chino Onwuka
Yes, Sloane wonders with the Dutch boys.
01:10:33
Chuku
I'm just like, while I was down, amazing things man i'm just i'm envious i'm lucky lucky kind of jealous i mean conati looking great van dyke i don't know what's going on like like
01:10:46
Chino Onwuka
here's where on matt that The season that they're having is reminding in terms of the surprise it's been is reminding me of you know, the season where Arsenal came out of nowhere and no one expected them to be where they are and we ran to the top of the league. And I was making that comparison except at that time we were the youngest team in the league, you know, with players who'd never been there before.
01:11:10
Chino Onwuka
This is Liverpool with guys who are Champions League winners.
01:11:13
Chuku
experience yeah it's definitely grown man broke bro peak listen
01:11:13
Chino Onwuka
So it's always different. So when I think about how they keep doing it, I'm like, wait, this is not just you know a 20, 21-year-old soccer, 22, 23-year-old.
01:11:26
Chino Onwuka
They're doing this with Salah, with Van Dijk, with players who have been there before. Macalesters won a World Cup. So it's like, yeah, it's it's a scary sight.
01:11:42
Chuku
It is I mean like y'all y'all I mean, I know I know we don't want to hear this man. I no know hey this and it's still early days. I mean, like I said, we've never hit December yet, but like, bro, if Liverpool go on this run and somehow God forbid, but they win Champions League win, they win. They pull off a double. It's one thing if they win one of those trophies, but they somehow go on a crazy run and win a double.
01:12:10
Chuku
Like, I don't know, man. I'm going to have to turn up my TV. I'm going to have to turn up my social media. I might just need to just not be in. I don't know if y'all have any Liverpool friends in your life or not, but I got a couple.
01:12:22
Chino Onwuka
I do, and they're and they're all really cool, so I honestly don't like...
01:12:22
Chuku
And I ain't funny.
01:12:27
Chuku
all the ones Not the ones I know that. He must be nice.
01:12:28
Chino Onwuka
They're from fans of the ones who like actually have good football opinions and understanding, so...
01:12:36
Chuku
Hey, I wish that you must have been surrounded with some good ones.
01:12:38
Chino Onwuka
Yes,
01:12:38
Chuku
I remember, I think, is it key for a good one fan? I'm sorry, I'm not a fan.
01:12:42
Chino Onwuka
yes, yes, yes.
01:12:46
Chuku
Fair enough. Nah, he seems decent, but man, the ones I know, nah, nah, nah, man.
01:12:51
Chino Onwuka
Shout out to Keith.
01:12:54
Chuku
I ain't trying to hear, to hear. the ones I know because they'll be sending me to this day, they'll be sending me, I had one just send me a rubbish meme about, about Mo Salah having more goals in the, than, than, what was it?
01:13:09
Chuku
I had to go to check it out. But it's only about Salah having goals, more goals in his career than Arsenal, some sort of comparison between Mo Salah and Arsenal.
01:13:18
Chino Onwuka
Shout out to Keith.
01:13:19
Chuku
I don't know. Either way, I just don't want, I'm just tired of of of these little guys coming out of the world. I'm not, I'm not, I'm not to deal with these guys. in a minute and all of a sudden they all come out, the wood works come out of, you know, the little crack homes where they were hiding at.
01:13:36
Chuku
And now coming in full force, trying to to to to no show face with chest we want with wrong to do with the team. Man, no key, man. It's pissed me off, man.
01:13:46
Chuku
I don't know. I don't know. I don't want to see it. I don't want to see it. But man, it's a little poo.
01:13:51
Chino Onwuka
All I know is that the Liverpool fans that I know were the only people in the world who are like, you know what? I want Arsenal to win when we were going to top Man City. So I will give that back to them.
01:14:01
Chuku
hey man hey that's
01:14:08
Chino Onwuka
Again, it's probably because I know really decent Liverpool fans.
01:14:11
Chuku
what
01:14:12
Chino Onwuka
yeah If I was maybe dealing with the people you're dealing with, I would feel differently.
01:14:17
Chuku
i'm trying to say and yo can i just talk about like what smod is doing with ravin like no no number six you know i'm saying no no no big names you know cdms and Somehow they get in the way with this Graven Burke, McAllister, like Miss Phil.
01:14:37
Chuku
I'm just blown away with what's going on here, man.
01:14:41
Chino Onwuka
auto credit jones You know, we were linked with him in the summer, you know, FC Camden, my boy, you know, wish you were right.
01:14:42
Chuku
Yeah, he's
01:14:48
Chino Onwuka
He's, he's come back from injury and he is playing really well for them.
01:14:52
Chuku
looking good, man. He's looking good.
01:14:55
Chino Onwuka
and make go after
01:14:57
Emeka
Yeah, Liverpool are great. like ah guys are touching all ah the other, you know, Mo Salah is scoring and assisting every single game. like It's unbelievable. I don't get how FSG is dilly-dallying with paying the man. I know he's old, but you can be old and you can produce. And if I had a guy who's producing like Mo Salah is producing,
01:15:17
Emeka
i'm Painting whatever he wants Big shout out to Curtis. You're like you said I remember when we got linked to him. I was reading people slandering the the the Transfer, act I don't understand it. Curtis Jones is good. He plays with Liverpool.
01:15:27
Emeka
Like if you can break it down Liverpool midfield You've got some stuff to tell him about you and like my guy mentioned like, you know, Grabenburg I I never would have thought in entering this year that Liverpool's best midfielder.
01:15:41
Emeka
They have show was lied. They have a callister and You can really make the case the best we feel that this year is grabbing Berkeley. That's slot really and you know the engine but It frustrates me sometimes when these managers go to clubs and the heckos think about how I need my own players I need two or three transfer windows to to really get my own players, which is fair but part of it also is why are we pay you all this money to coach like
01:16:11
Emeka
These aren't bums. You should be able to coach them, you know, implement your tactics and fit the team to what you, how you want to play. And I, I ah really respect how slot came in and said, you know what? I'm not making any transfers first. I want to see the squad, see what I have, and then we'll go from there because Liverpool are a great squad. Like this is a team. I, I, I'm honestly confused why people act like they're surprises when this is a team that was putting up 90 points.
01:16:17
Chuku
McAllister.
01:16:38
Emeka
but pushing city to the in my opinion the best era Premier League I remember it last four or five years when they were putting up 90 90-point seasons winning every single game 31 seasons it was unheard of like and Won a Champions League when the Premier League and it won down here and then last year for the most part It was a three-way race. Like this is a great team and They've taken a step this year like, you know wagwan. It's Entering December. I always say table really really counts at Christmas and If they keep having a big gap entering the new year is like, I got to put my hands up to them. Like it's my man, Arnie slot showing showing levels. Every little fan. What is Abby Alonso? It turns out they don't need Abby Alonso. They got the real Bob King genius in the Premier League. It's crazy.
01:17:24
Chuku
Crazy man.
01:17:24
Chino Onwuka
OK.
Surprises in Recent Matches
01:17:27
Chino Onwuka
So we talked about we've talked about you know Liverpool's big win, any other you know Champions League results that we want to highlight. I was going to talk about Aston Villa.
01:17:37
Chino Onwuka
I don't know why. I swear I checked on the the score. The notification showed me that they were one up you know in in added time.
01:17:46
Emeka
94th minute goal got disallowed.
01:17:48
Chino Onwuka
But I guess he got this a lot, hey?
01:17:51
Emeka
94th minute goal on disallowed. It was heartbreaking.
01:17:55
Chino Onwuka
off-site or what?
01:17:57
Emeka
Following the goalkeeper.
01:17:58
Chino Onwuka
e
01:18:00
Chuku
That would do it.
01:18:01
Emeka
Pretty soft.
01:18:01
Chino Onwuka
yeah I mad at it.
01:18:02
Emeka
Pretty soft, I have to be honest.
01:18:05
Chuku
I ain't watch it so I ain't mad at you.
01:18:07
Chino Onwuka
I ain't mad at it. and any Any other big results?
01:18:11
Chino Onwuka
I'm just checking them out.
01:18:11
Emeka
I just want to really quick put out
01:18:14
Emeka
I just want to put a missing person's report out for one killing and a puppy. It's ah it is sad. it's It truly is sad because this was a guy, he was the golden child.
01:18:25
Chuku
Oh man.
01:18:26
Emeka
This was the next one. This was the the prince that was promised. ie Connor Gallagher pocketed this man. And I want to hear no excuses because Madrid changed their tactics to put him back in left wing.
01:18:40
Emeka
So there's no more of this. Oh, I play as a nine I don't know what's going on left wing ISO against Connor Bradley and he just got bait wasn't even a competition Make sure it's the Connor Bradley Connor Bradley
01:18:48
Chuku
You said Conigale, but this one wasn't without their anyway scratch. Yeah.
01:18:53
Emeka
And they even gave my man, I would call it a cheap penalty because it was a foul. They gave him a penalty and he, Keller, who somehow is making me say the little bush itself, my opinion, the best keeper in the world. That's how good Keller is playing. Pulls a save out of his butt. I don't know where that came from. And it's just sad to watch him. We don't want to judge the general, but in my opinion, especially because I don't know about you guys. I'm not watching a French league like that So when he got transferred to a quote-unquote big club in a big league, I was like, all right I can finally you know, I was you seen by painting the Champions League. Let me see him week to week and It's a terrible season to see about the week to week with the first time because it does not look he looks like he's 30 years old Which is incredible because he's like 25
01:19:37
Emeka
It's unbelievable just the shades of of the former guy he is now. And I really, really hope he finds his form because, man, the world is a better place when Kylian Mbappe is a great football.
01:19:48
Emeka
That's all I can say.
01:19:48
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, we we definitely want to see him at his best. You know, he's he's someone that, you know, we expected to take the throne, you know, after now that Messi and Ronaldo in the twilight of their career. And yeah, I don't know what it is. Is it the the pressure of, you know, Wil Madrid and family getting his dream move and all the pressure that's on him? Is it, you know, I think a like I mentioned before, could it be something physical, you know, or could it be, you know,
01:20:18
Chino Onwuka
Emotional we we we don't know we also don't want to get sued. So, you know, what what else is what else is going on?
01:20:24
Chuku
Yeah.
01:20:25
Chino Onwuka
I mean chucky or the madrista. what What are your thoughts?
01:20:29
Chuku
Hey, man. I don't know. I wish I had an answer for you. No, I don't know. All I can think of is maybe it's just like an adjustment to the level of competition that, and everyone with that being said, I don't know.
01:20:40
Chino Onwuka
Isn't it can't be that it can't be that
01:20:42
Chuku
Hey, you always say that it can be that, but like, I mean, I don't know what else it could be, man, because it's like, you know, Yeah, it was in it was but you know national is a different game than know what to tell you, man.
01:20:49
Emeka
It's kind of a hat trick in the World Cup Final.
01:20:53
Emeka
He's had big games and big moments.
01:20:53
Chino Onwuka
He scored six in the Champions League at 18. So it's not the competition because he's been doing this in Europe since he was 18.
01:21:08
Chuku
I don't know what to say. I wish I could give you a better better answer. But like me, I'm shocked because I was expecting him to hit out the blue works, man.
01:21:12
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
01:21:18
Chuku
I was expecting him to like, you know, like like breakthrough in a big way, you know, for in But, no case.
01:21:28
Chino Onwuka
Because yeah, it looks it looks the gear it looks to be a trend because I'm just looking at his goals for France as well. And you can see a clear drop off from his previous year, so 2024, where he's only scored two in 11 games.
01:21:40
Chino Onwuka
So something something's going on recently. Something's going on recently.
01:21:46
Chuku
that awkward
01:21:47
Chino Onwuka
I guess the other you know big thing that I noticed, no Champions League, you know the thing that stood out to me, You know, it was a Barcelona having a good time with Brest.
01:22:01
Chuku
Yeah.
01:22:04
Emeka
A big or small breast competes week in and week out. That's all we can say.
01:22:10
Chino Onwuka
They competed, but I think their their shape got, a you know, Barcelona was able to manipulate their shape to to to great success this week.
01:22:20
Chino Onwuka
So, yeah, Brest.
01:22:23
Emeka
The risk of having two up top, you know, is the risk of having two up top.
01:22:27
Chino Onwuka
Yeah. shut out bres Shout out Shout out CVS Galavo.
01:22:30
Chuku
Shut up. Shut up, Michael Richardson. oh what
01:22:38
Chino Onwuka
Okay. All right, guys.
Upcoming Liverpool vs. Man City Clash
01:22:40
Chino Onwuka
And there's nothing else to wrap up the show. You know, we'll talk about our game of the week, which features two teams that we've talked about pretty heavily in today's episode. Man City versus Liverpool. This should be a banger you know a lot of ramifications depending on the result of this game you know does Liverpool take an 11 point lead over Man City does Man City you know halt their their rut and and come back and maybe start showing the first cracks in the Liverpool team I
01:23:18
Chino Onwuka
I'm not gonna say I'm really excited to watch because you guys will calm really excited to follow the scores Of the game and see and see the result. But uh, yeah, but what do we think?
01:23:30
Chuku
No, I'm excited to watch. I'm excited to watch because I have a feeling this is going to be a Liverpool massacre.
01:23:37
Chino Onwuka
Did you know I do not you know I able to watch You know the church that's why
01:23:40
Chuku
Why? Fair play, fair play, fair play, fair play, fair play. Well, either way, I'm excited to watch is all I got to say because I'm just ready to see. I'm here for the Man City downfall, you know what? and At this point, I ain't trying to see Man City 1-5 in a row.
01:23:58
Chuku
you know, whatever, whatever it takes, you know, I was hoping it'd be us that finally take not to reclaim, reclaim, uh, you know, the title that, that, that Man City wouldn't carry. But hey if it's not Man City, you know what, at this point I'm coming around to at least having to be a team like Liverpool. Cause I'll tell you, I'll tell you this, I run Liverpool in the league, then Chelsea, Miami United. I ain't trying to see those guys anytime soon. So, you know,
01:24:26
Chuku
You could have went to a better club, you know what I'm saying? And, you know, as long as it's Liverpool or Arsenal thing, you know, I come around to it and I'll be in Arsenal and, you know, if it's not going to be Arsenal, let it be Liverpool. So, I'm here for a Liverpool slacking against the city, bro. I think they're going to be comfortable, comfortable, 3-1 or, you know, if someone wants to tell me 3-0, but I think the city could be due for at least one goal. So I'm thinking more of a 3-1-ish, but very comfortable win. And I think, yeah, I think Liverpool is going to go 11 points ahead. And hopefully, if that's the case, you know, an Arsenal can win their game against West Ham, which I think we should. You know, we're going to be ahead of Man City for the first time this year, so that should be something to look forward to. And, yeah, that's my thoughts.
01:25:22
Chino Onwuka
Let me go order your thoughts, your prediction.
01:25:28
Emeka
Everything Chuku said is right and yet for some reason I still feel like in a way pep goes out like this again If you haven't seen the picture go look up what pep looked like after the game You think I'm joking when he looks he He had but the wall.
01:25:41
Chuku
Miles was was bleeding.
01:25:46
Emeka
It's incredible like It's really incredible. what What the man is going through I Have to feel like these go
01:25:52
Chuku
Yeah, you ain't lying.
01:25:55
Emeka
all this pain for a reason.
01:25:57
Chino Onwuka
Oh.
01:25:57
Emeka
He's going through all this pain and...
01:25:59
Chuku
Look, all that pain and all that pain and suffering he's going through, he ain't gonna bring back Roger, you know what I'm saying? So I mean, certain things cannot be done.
01:26:04
Emeka
I get it, but if you're a managing player and you're seeing your manager look like that, how does it not motivate you to play? I just feel like as a human being, seeing what the damages do with the pep, it would motivate me to really, to get my, oh, this man might die out there.
01:26:20
Emeka
Crazy.
01:26:20
Chuku
Oh my god.
01:26:21
Emeka
What do I do? My goodness, so I guess my better judgment I'm gonna I'm gonna guess another Premier League classic 2-2 Man City Liverpool Get what we go to come back next week and think that was me now. That was Barclays right there That was the Premier League a cluster two tights. That's what I'm gonna predict
01:26:40
Chino Onwuka
that That would be dope. I'm hoping for a draw. That's what I would love to see. I think that's the score line that would be in the the best interest for Arsenal. Sort of pulls li up a a little bit closer you know without you know keeping Man City in check as well. im umm like a like I'm hoping for a great game.
01:27:03
Chino Onwuka
lots of highlights, lots of talking points in terms of actual football being played and a a high scoring draw would be would be would be beautiful to see.
01:27:14
Chuku
Yeah, man, we can all go for a draw. But the reality is, this ain't your typical pap capacity team out there these days. And the way, with White Liverpool clicking, Justin Liverpool take you take it to a whole room of dread.
01:27:23
Emeka
It really is not.
01:27:28
Chuku
Granted, they'll know if they junior, they're missing some other pieces there.
01:27:31
Emeka
It's your typical real Madrid either.
01:27:32
Chuku
But there's still a little bit of dread we're talking about with Mbappe up there. They still have some guys, is all I'm saying. And they they they did the job comfortably.
01:27:43
Chuku
you know comfortably so yeah well you know we'll see we'll see we'll see what happens but anyone trying to hold their breath for my city to perform against against this Liverpool team I would have you look at what just went on and you know this is the same same city team has lost five in a row so anyways we'll we'll see we'll see yeah we'll see But I definitely think we're going to carry this one. It's the same game that we're going to see Man City turn up. But I could be wrong. I could be wrong. I've been wrong before. So we'll see how that one goes.
Conclusion and Thanksgiving Wishes
01:28:26
Chino Onwuka
All right, guys. Well, we will we will see who will see what the what the talking points are when we do this again next week. But again, another episode with, you know, interesting discussion, interesting debate. Again, shout out to our listeners. Hope you enjoyed this one. Again, Happy Thanksgiving. You know, all those who are celebrating.
01:28:53
Chino Onwuka
Enjoy your Black Friday sales. jesus You guys got anything you're targeting for for Black Friday sales?
01:29:01
Chuku
Not this year, man. Not this year. Nothing in good.
01:29:06
Chino Onwuka
I mean, i mean you know if you're looking for for something to get me for Christmas, you know it's a good time to to look. You can get me something nice on on it and a good deal. since you know Since you can't think of anything, i'm trying to hope you I'm trying to help you. I'll send you my list after this.
01:29:22
Chuku
Sounds good.
01:29:24
Emeka
All I want for Black Friday are a nice three points for Arsenal this weekend. That's all I want for Black Friday.
01:29:31
Chino Onwuka
That'll be beautiful. That'll be beautiful. All right, guys.
01:29:35
Chuku
Yes,
01:29:36
Chino Onwuka
Again, thanks for a good episode.
01:29:38
Chuku
sir.
01:29:38
Chino Onwuka
you know It's always great chomping out with you, with y'all. Catch us next week for another episode of The Love of the Game.
01:29:48
Chuku
yes sir