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Are the Broncos Super Bowl Contenders? | The Return of the Long Throw-In | Giannas’ Biggest Challenge Yet
12 Plays16 days ago
🚨 Are the Broncos Super Bowl Bound? Chargers CURSED?! | Long Throws are BACK | Giannis' BIGGEST Test Yet?!
This week, the lads are asking the questions every fan is afraid to answer:
🏈 Can the Broncos SHOCK the NFL and make a Super Bowl run? (06:39)
⚡ Are the Chargers just... CURSED forever?! (14:41)
Then it's a wild turn into the Premier League, where the most unexpected weapon is making a comeback:
📦 The LONG THROW is back — and it's CHAOS (24:19).
Plus, transfer drama (35:36), bold predictions, and tactical takes from the big clash between Liverpool and Arsenal (29:04).
Next up, the spotlight turns to the NBA:
👀 Can Giannis handle the pressure? (48:01)
💥 Are the Bucks, Pistons, or Bulls ready to break out — or break down? (53:10)
AND to wrap it all up:
🇮🇪 The lads DRAFT the greatest Irish sporting moments of all time — and things get competitive (01:03:30).
🔥 Don't miss this one — it's a rollercoaster.
Like, comment, and subscribe if you love your football with a side of NBA and NFL heat!
Don’t forget to give us a follow across social media too!
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Transcript
Introduction and Manchester United Discussion
00:00:09
Speaker
right, lads, welcome back to another episode of Who's Got the Ball? Back again, myself and Shane. There's a massive elephant in the room that we're going to have to talk about. Man United getting knocked out of the FA Cup on Wednesday night by Grimsby on penalties.
00:00:22
Speaker
ah Probably should have lasted a regular time, but... What I say? Effacup? Yeah, that's it africa help yeah but sir that's a big blunder there on my behalf already, early days. But yeah, we are recording this episode. Yeah, true.
00:00:36
Speaker
I'll let you say what you think first.
Manchester United's Performance and Future
00:00:39
Speaker
What did you make of that game? I don't understand what has happened to Manchester United.
00:00:48
Speaker
It's great. It's hilarious. course They put out a team last night that wasn't exactly the weakest team ever fielded. They had still had a number of starters from the weekend.
00:00:59
Speaker
i And then having to make three changes at Greenfield halftime to bring on the likes of Bruno, the likes of Mbremo, it shouldn't get to that point when you're playing the team in League Two.
00:01:10
Speaker
They bullied you for so much that first half. I know in the end you had more shots and more possession. Of course you did, the Premier League team. They were mildly better than you for the start of that game. The two goals, Unanna must be doing it on purpose at this stage. like You can't actually be that bad.
00:01:26
Speaker
The fact that he could have saved seven of those penalties. He gets his hand to towards seven of them and they all just go further into the corner. i he only one way. How have you gotten to say to her all your goalkeepers?
00:01:37
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. You've gotten to say to her none of your goalkeepers but would would would get a game for Karen Evan. Like it is actually, it's gotten that bad. Like they're all un horrific. It's... like I just can't get my head around this.
00:01:49
Speaker
Really can't. I don't understand. And now selling copy mania apparently, or it might be, makes that none of it makes any sense to me. that main thing i'm like yeah we're probably going to touch on united next week because there'll be more certainty around who they sell and ephemera is still there next week during the international break so we'll probably deep dive on that i mean more issues but we have to talk about it because it just happened and i think main to go would be horrendous let's talk about that next week if he goes i'll give my full take on that but uh yeah i would not be happy and that would be
00:02:23
Speaker
one of the lowest moments really. and But yeah, I agree with everything you said. Grimsby were the better team. it It doesn't matter who had more shots or possession. They were the better team. As you said, they bullied United. They deserved to win in regular time, but they they managed to get it done on penalty. So they deserved it and brilliant for their fans and, you know, all that stuff. But United shouldn't, they shouldn't be losing there.
00:02:46
Speaker
It doesn't matter what tactics you have. It doesn't matter what manager you have. They should be able to go out there and play. Now, The issue is not off the manager. He's still part of the issue.
00:02:58
Speaker
There's so much issue with the application of those players and the effort they could put in against Arsenal and then the effort they've put in against Fulham when things started going wrong and then against Grimsby. They did not want it one bit.
00:03:11
Speaker
And and that's no that's a massive, massive issue. And getting rid of the manager is not going to change that. So I don't know why where they go from here. But he does he needs to change some things as well about himself, about his tactics. And he needs to get away from being wedded to one system. But yeah, the players are... He needs to stop offering himself for the sack as well, every chance he gets. I'd say he's offering himself, if they want to sack me, they can sack me. He must have said it four or five times at this stage. It's such a strange attitude for a man who's managing one the biggest clubs in the world.
00:03:44
Speaker
He said it at the end of last season. it did It's actually like he's begging to be sacked. Yeah. Yeah. And he said that last and then last night he kind of said that well he said that the players did their talking on the pitch for what they want and they'll decide during the week, like all these like things. He's way too emotional after games.
00:04:01
Speaker
He seems like he's too young to be a manager of a team with this much limelight. um And he he lets things get to him very easily. And he's obviously a top manager, but this might not be the right project for him right now.
00:04:13
Speaker
ah So yeah it might be too early for him. Yeah, we'll talk more about it anyway next week. But we had to get get a little touch on that before we get into the episode. I just have one more thing to say on this.
00:04:24
Speaker
um Tesco taking the 10th penalty was very strange. Yeah. Your you new star striker taking the 10th penalty. but I just I didn't I didn't like it. I didn't think it was a good look. Yeah, I had a had that in a tweet I put out about the main questions Amarin should be answering. And one of them is that because there's clarity needed on that. and He had cramp was the report that that's why he wasn't going to take a penalty. So whether you believe that or not is up to you. But that seems like a viable reason. Until I found that out, I was very confused as well myself.
00:04:56
Speaker
Yeah. Okay. Fair enough. Yeah. So anyway, we'll get more into the whole situation at United next week, where we have a chance to an international break and see what's going on after the game at the weekend.
NFL Team Previews: Broncos and Chargers
00:05:07
Speaker
But Burnley probably could be another loss the way things are trending. But this week, we covered a lot a lot of good topics.
00:05:15
Speaker
And we previewed our last two NFL teams of the season before our full season preview next week. So those were the Broncos and Chargers. Then moving on from there, we moved on to football. We took a quick look at the Champions League draw for all the English teams and who they're going to be playing.
00:05:30
Speaker
and We chatted about the return of the long throwing and the tactic that that is and how it's going to play a part in this season and how it may play a part in the Arsenal-Liverpool game, which we previewed. and That's the big one this weekend.
00:05:42
Speaker
usual transfer roundup not as much this week as other a weeks but next week is going to be the big one the last week of the window and then we previewed three nba teams again this week we touched on the books the pistons and we rounded up with the bulls who again we rounded up with a team that were pretty yeah not the greatest to talk about you were saying yeah you were saying at the top that we covered a lot of good topics and the bulls is what is what you sort of said at the start of that there yeah You're 100% right. um But then we made up for it with the last topic because we drafted the best Irish sporting moments into since 2000.
00:06:17
Speaker
This is probably the hardest that we've done to pick down to five each. But I think complainer we both had the exact same list pretty much. And and we we each got five off our lists and we touched on some class moments when we chatted through them. So I really enjoyed that draft. I think it's the best one we've done.
00:06:33
Speaker
So that's it for this. This is going to be a really good episode. So we hope you enjoy it and let's get straight into it. All right. So let's jump into our two NFL previews. So these are the final two we have left where we're fully diving into teams.
00:06:47
Speaker
And then next week, we've got ah and two episodes coming, same as the Premier League. weve We've got a full preview and we've got a couple of guests coming on. So keep an eye out for that one.
00:06:58
Speaker
It'll be coming on Wednesday before the season starts on Thursday. So First team that we're going to touch on today is the Broncos. A lot of buzz are in them right now. But where do they need to improve most from last season, do you think?
00:07:13
Speaker
ah So I didn't actually realise this until I was looking it up, but they were 29th in offence last year. Far too many third down situations. So they really need to try and try and get some for early success, try and get some first downs at work instead of always kind of pushing it to two and three downs, putting them themselves under pressure constantly. I know they still won a lot of games, but imagine what they could do if they were like more...
00:07:35
Speaker
more decisive in first downs if they could like to joe use the ball better at the start and instead of this all it needs to to get someone in that's going to be a a big man to do the running on a 3-2 or 3-3. So I think they really need to improve on their early downs.
00:07:49
Speaker
Yeah. i Actually, before I get into my interest and point on that was about... the drop back of Bo Nix during the season, like early in the season, he was dropping back more and trying to force things and figure out what he wanted to do.
00:08:05
Speaker
And they were actually playing pretty poorly. And then later in the season, his drop back was short, which would show short or passing so while that did work for them as the season went on like teams are going to figure that out quite easily and so yeah they need to figure out what else he can do and first down is the time to probably dabble in some of those things absolutely but I said something offensively as well that they could just do with a bit more of a kick to it like their defense is very good
00:08:41
Speaker
And it's hard to just rely on that. I know that even if it was the best in the league, which defense has changed from year to year, it's very volatile. But I do think that they have enough good players for to continue to be good.
00:08:53
Speaker
But they need something more in the run game as well to help Bo Nix. He's not... Exactly a world beater yet. He had a great first season, but the system was very much one dimensional, as we kind of already mentioned.
00:09:07
Speaker
So I'm thinking that they probably know that already if they drafted RJ Harvey and they have JK Dobbins there now. So they're hoping for a bit of explosive rumming. So maybe they've already identified that, but that's somewhere I thought they could they could definitely improve.
00:09:23
Speaker
Yeah, I think that's a very good point, Jack. Yeah, overall, defensively, there's not much we could really say. so it's offensively definitely that they'll be looking to improve but three players then on the team that you think are going to make the biggest impact.
00:09:39
Speaker
like You actually mentioned to a mind and kind of didn't overview another one so I think Patrick Sertain I think he's just Such a good corner. Four interceptions last year. One, which he ran back for a turn for for a touchdown.
00:09:52
Speaker
Just think the man's a star. He's an absolute star and he's just he just keeps getting better. He's only 25. So he's only gone one way and that's... Further up. Aside that, I also, I have put in Bo Nix. I think it's a big year for him this year. I know we say that a lot about a lot of people, but him in particular, I think he a solid enough year last year. As you said, he's still from the Finnish article, bos but 29 touchdowns, 12 interceptions last year.
00:10:17
Speaker
Peaking... Bring that up next year to 35 and ace. I think he's in a really, really good place moving forward then. And finally, then J.K. Dobbins, for all of you just said, looking for explosive running. Nine touchdowns last year, 905 yards, really solid.
00:10:31
Speaker
If he can break that 1,000-yard mark next year, adding on a couple of touchdowns, who knows what the Broncos can do heading into next season. Yeah, yeah, no, I like all those shouts. I think, especially with Sartan, like how good he is at such a young age, as you mentioned, like people don't realise how young he is. And then he won defensive player the year last year, which is so rare for a cornerback to do that.
00:10:53
Speaker
So, yeah Good shouts. But I had actually three different players, so covering an awful lot here for the Broncos. the shows the depth that they have. But I like the addition of Evan Ingram.
00:11:04
Speaker
I think it gives Nix a big target to aim at. And he was reliable throughout the years with the Jags, even when they had a poor offense. I think the Giants gave up on him too early. So um Sean Payton is definitely going to dial up some something here for Nix, and that might probably give him some early...
00:11:20
Speaker
Nice passes to settle into because he has reliable hands. Secondly, Zach Allen. He's an unbelievable talent. Sometimes he's overlooked and because the sack numbers aren't there compared to some of the other guys. But have remember that he does play as a defensive tackle more so than off the edge.
00:11:40
Speaker
and The way he gets to the quarterback is just unbelievable, the pressure he can apply. So last year, i i' looking at some of the guys, he had more pressures than Chris Jones, Micah Parsons and Nick Bosa.
00:11:53
Speaker
All last regular season, he had more pressures with 75. And he had the most QB hits in the league with 40. Seven and a half sacks, but he's hitting the quarterback 40 times, putting him under serious pressure.
00:12:06
Speaker
and So that's one that they have an absolute star. And then Dre Greenlaw. thought it was a good pickup. Three years, 31.5 million contract. After that freak injury in the Super Bowl against the Chiefs where he was running on to the pitch from the sideline to celebrate he just destroyed his calf and ankle. I don't know what was it officially. Maybe it was Achilles, but...
00:12:27
Speaker
He was out for most of last year. Not the first injury he's gotten, but when he does play, he's basically a tackling machine. 82 solo tackles in 2022 and 75 in 2023. So he has that pedigree as well, getting to the Super Bowl with the Niners, as I mentioned. So I like that pickup, make their defense even better.
00:12:48
Speaker
Then looking at the over-under for wins, it's 9.5. Last year they 10. Personally, I think they're going to get there just with a solid system
Football Tactics and Arsenal vs Liverpool Preview
00:12:57
Speaker
around the quarterback, a solid defense.
00:13:00
Speaker
I think that's kind of generous. They probably will manage to reach that, especially if we do expect the Chiefs to take a step back. We probably do see the Broncos taking a game off them. So what did you have?
00:13:11
Speaker
Same as yourself. Yeah, I think between 10 and 12 is a very, very realistic run this time around. I just said 10 wins last year. They're definitely going to get to playoffs again this year. I think they're definitely going over.
00:13:22
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. I think a lot of people are really high on them. So I'm surprised the line is still low, but it's Oh no, yeah. Yeah, like it's probably going to shift around. yeah Obviously, you can bet the alternate lines. So if you do fancy them a lot, you can go higher. But that's the way it's set at the minute. Then for their ceiling, I said that they could win a playoff game.
00:13:43
Speaker
I think people are going a little crazy with the Super Bowl predictions that they can get there with the AFC and that they can really cause waves. They are a good team, but I don't think they can get that far. I think they can win a wildcard game, which would be better than last year, where the Bills really showed them what it takes in the playoffs. So, yeah, I think they can go one better than last year, but it's early days for this whole system yet. So I think they need some more time before they progress.
00:14:09
Speaker
Yeah, indeed, like State Mizzou. They can win a wild card game, but they're not going any further than that, really. Yeah. I think people are probably... It started out with a few people are really getting high on them, and then everyone jumped on the bandwagon, and now it's just like the team, and now people are kind of trying to go the other way because you don't want to be the same as everyone else. But I think just for remain even-keeled pretty much the whole way and just see them for what they are, and they're an improving team, but...
00:14:37
Speaker
They're not really up there with the Bills, Chiefs or Ravens as of yet. So last team, last team previewing, Chargers. Where do they need to improve most from last season? So I think Justin Herbert needs to improve massively. um He's 6-13 in one-score games, which is absolutely horrific. I know we talked about a couple of weeks back, but he is such a problem from here.
00:14:59
Speaker
He's terrible in four quarters, inaccuracy, success rates, yards per attempt, tight games. He's awful, as said, 6-13. He really, really needs to improve if they're going to any hope of doing anything ever again.
00:15:11
Speaker
Yeah, I had the exact same thing. We need to see more from Herbert in big games. like They couldn't take down any elite teams. I'm pretty sure they were 0-6 against winning teams at one stage last season.
00:15:24
Speaker
And he does have a really big arm. And he showed that in his early years, but now they're going very, very run heavy. But I think if they use the speed of Vlad McConkie and their new wide receiver Trey Jones, I think they could really rack up the yards with him to break up the running game.
00:15:42
Speaker
But I think they're going to run the ball like mad, but he does need to use his arm more and he needs to get involved more in these big games and actually get them a playoff win before we can start...
00:15:54
Speaker
you know, really, really backing him highly. haven't had anything nice to say about him. Yeah. Yeah. He's, he has the all the potential, but, and he is a very good quarterback, but when you can't do it in big games, there's only so much that you can be, so can be said for you.
00:16:07
Speaker
So looking at three players, I'll, I'll take this first, the three players to make the biggest impact because I already shared with one, um, Vlad McConkie, so good last season as a rookie.
00:16:18
Speaker
he had 1,149 yards just receptions. with seven touchdowns. He was overshone a bit by likes of Brock Bowers, Malik Neighbours, Brian Thomas Jr. But he has incredible ability and his speed down the field is is very, very important. Another player that they picked up just recently is Joe Ault.
00:16:41
Speaker
I think it's really important for him because he although he is their right tackle now with Rashan Slater getting injured right after they paid him, he's going to have to shift to left tackle. And having somebody who has the ability to do that is a blessing.
00:16:54
Speaker
So he's a massive one for them. And I have no doubt that here he'll fill in that spot nicely. Lastly, then, Deion Henley. It's kind of an under-the-radar pick, but linebacker picked in the third round in 2023.
00:17:09
Speaker
his progression is crazy in his first season in the league he had nine solo tackles last year he had 84 um that included seven tackles for a loss and an interception so he's going to be a massive one on this on this defense especially when I'm playing at the heart of a Harbaugh defense and linebacker yeah
Football Transfer Updates and Rumors
00:17:29
Speaker
I really like it so he's my he's my third pick Yeah, we only have one the same there, which again kind of shows there is a good bit of depth to this team as well.
00:17:38
Speaker
I also had Lab McConkie, obviously. I think he was just an obvious one to pick. he's he's He's going to come on so much more this year if Justin Herbert can throw the ball. Outside of him, I went with Audrey Casteme, the fifth rounder out of Denver.
00:17:51
Speaker
He's just something that they read and they're probably going to have to rely on quickly. They've lost J.K. Dobbins now to Denver as well, as we just mentioned. So I think he's the one that's going step in and kind of just get going from the start. And then Tuli to Paluto, with Joey Bosa gone, I think he's the one that's going to need to step up. but that He's going to need to be the key kind of the past Russian force for him in this season coming.
00:18:12
Speaker
Yeah, he's a solid player. um They've got such such a strong defence with so many big players on it. and But yeah, the running back situation is definitely an interesting one with Dobbins gone on last year.
00:18:26
Speaker
i went with Gus Edwards as well. That didn't really work out. So I wonder, will they see more success this year and and who they have? Because yeah, they've they've got... Obviously, they drafted a running back as well, Lomarion Hampton. So I don't know. Let's see what they can do there because...
00:18:41
Speaker
I would like to see, as we already said, Herbert to throw the ball more, but it's highly unlikely with the way they play. Over-unders the same as the Broncos, nine and a half. do you think they're going to hit it?
00:18:54
Speaker
I don't think so. I just...
00:18:58
Speaker
I just really, i'm I'm not high at all on Justin Herbert doing anything this year. And I know they have talent there. And what I'm going to say when we ask about this evening is going to completely contradict me. But I just don't think they get there. If everything goes away, I think it's going to go.
00:19:12
Speaker
Yeah, I have them getting to it because just think good coaches general generally help the teams get there. And if you look at the entire AFC West, it's all brilliant coaches. I think I picked all of them to get over.
00:19:27
Speaker
Or no, I didn't get picked the Chiefs who picked the other three to get over. Probably that kind of ties in with... The Chiefs lose in a few wins. But yeah, I think 11 last year, they'll probably get around 10.
00:19:40
Speaker
I think just a good defense and a strong run game with a
NBA Team Previews: Bucks, Pistons, Bulls
00:19:43
Speaker
good head head coach is kind of, it's a very good recipe. So that's my opinion on that. But what's their ceiling then for you with the current roster?
00:19:52
Speaker
I think if things go to plan, I think they're upside. They can challenge for the FC West. and They can reach the playoffs. i think they're I think they are good enough to do that if everything goes right. I just don't see everything going right for them. Okay, so i've I've gone with they'll get into the playoffs at like a wildcard level.
00:20:13
Speaker
And I actually think they could get to the AFC Championship game. If Herbert steps up and he plays well and everything else continues to moulder like it did last year, like that defence was unbelievable last year. and like They have lost Bosa now as well, though.
00:20:29
Speaker
Yeah, they've lost Bosa, but... Again, like how reliable is he considering he had a lot of injuries down the years? I think they you don't want to be relying on a guy that consistently was getting injured towards the back end.
00:20:43
Speaker
um Again, he is a great player, of course, but you know I don't want to say he's the worst brother, but he's not he's not the same as Nick. so um I think...
00:20:54
Speaker
They have so many good players on that defence and so many hard hitters. I just can see that kind of football getting them there. Now, do I think they will get there? You'll find out next week about my thoughts on that. but um I think it's a possibility with the squad that they have.
00:21:09
Speaker
and So that's our last two NFL teams done. We've covered them all. And we'll we'll move on now to football. So the other type of football, soccer, if you will. A return of them some old tactics in a sec. But first, we're going to go through the Champions League draw for the English teams, because that just just came out today.
00:21:30
Speaker
would have come out yesterday for when you're listening to this on Friday. So you want to go through what we've got, Shane? Yeah, I'll just go in order here. So I'll go with Chelsea first. So Chelsea at Barca at home, Munich away, Benfica at home, Atlanta away, Ajax at home, Natalie away, and then Pafas at home and Carabaig away. So not the worst job for them. Like they're part three and part four teams there.
00:21:53
Speaker
OK, I mean, the fact Napoli are a pot three team after winning the Serie A is a bit mad. That's how it goes. For Liverpool, it's Madrid, Inter, Atletico, Frankfurt, PSV, Marseille, Carabao and Galatasaray.
00:22:09
Speaker
i I don't like this, but we'll have to just have to deal with this. City have Dortmund at home, Madrid away, Leverkusen home, Villarreal. Napoli at home, Bodo Glynt away, Galatasaray at home, Monaco away.
00:22:21
Speaker
Arsenal have a tough one as well. Bayern Munich, Inter, Atletico. and Club Rouge, Olympiakos, Slavia Prague. Kairat Almaty, the who just knocked Celtic out. And then Atletic Club away to finish up.
00:22:34
Speaker
The Bears have Borussia Dortmund, PSG, Villarreal, Frankfurt, Slavia Prague, Bodo Glint, Copenhagen and Monaco. That Spurs-Bodo Glint game is, I think that was the semi-final of Europa League in the year just gone. It was. um And today they did they they found it hard down there so we'll see what when they're playing each other in the Champions League now. On a plastic pitch over there so.
00:22:54
Speaker
Yeah, think that's the first time in that history. chair Yeah, it's the first time in the Champions League in their history. And then finally, Newcastle have a tough one as well. Barcelona at home, PSG away, Benfica at home, Leverkusen away, PSV at home, Marseille away, Oletic Club, Bilbao at home and Union SG away.
00:23:14
Speaker
ah wonder if he is equally playing for Liverpool or Newcastle away at Marseille. I'll have to wait and see. And they definitely won't be paying for Newcastle anyway. No, probably not. But I think the hardest one there actually is probably Liverpool.
00:23:28
Speaker
um That choir bag game is obviously going to be a handy one. Galatasaray is a hostile environment we were talking about before that we started recording. I do think they could probably still get the win, but it's tough at the top there. if The main few games... that Chelsea one sounds pretty easy, to be honest. So they got a nice throw. They always somehow get away with it, Jack.
00:23:52
Speaker
So, yeah, it's a lot good games. That's the way with the new kind of league format. There's so many good games. So we'll be keeping an eye on those and we'll be chatting to you about them as the season goes along.
00:24:04
Speaker
Yeah, just a quick correction there. So it's actually the Liverpool of Atletico Madrid at home that way. So it's Madrid at home and Atletico Madrid at home. So think said three away games in row there, which makes absolutely no sense.
00:24:15
Speaker
No, far
Irish Sporting Moments Since 2000
00:24:16
Speaker
fair enough. Either way, tough all around. a So moving on to our first topic then for today is just something that has kind of resurfaced and in the last year or two, but especially and early in this season, looks like it's a massive part of teams' tactics.
00:24:35
Speaker
Long throw-ins. So week one of the Premier League season saw 11 out of the 20 teams try at least one long throw-in. And that's compared to four in the season prior.
00:24:47
Speaker
And that didn't include Newcastle or Man United. Newcastle scored little one against Liverpool. And Man United tried it a couple of times, but they weren't able to throw it long enough. So there's definitely like 75% of the league doing this.
00:25:00
Speaker
What do you make of it? i I love it, to be honest. um Like Liverpool had throwing coach at one stage and he'd like, he they were like, oh, we have a throwing coach now. We're going start throwing along. And they just never did it.
00:25:13
Speaker
Even when they were one little down going into the 90 minute, they never would let Joe Gomez take along. It was driving me insane. That's the type thing if Arsenal got a guy like that, you'd be absolutely roasting them for it. So... Well, did they do have now. They have Califiori taking long throws now as well. Just to add insult to injury, with the fact that already said piece FC, we'll talk about them in a few minutes.
00:25:33
Speaker
I think long throw, then big number nines, seem to be back in fashion. Like Liverpool signed Ekotike, United signed Sesko. Maybe, obviously, if Haaland's... Giocares, he's not as big, but he's still... He's a presence up top. They're all to kind of going back to big physical number nines, long throw-ins, corners of the back post. Everything has gone back to the early 2000s. I'm absolutely all for it. I've no issue with Obviously, the main man that began this was the...
00:26:01
Speaker
The Irish Rory, the lap, launching balls into the Stoke penalty box. like You even had teams putting the ball out for corners instead of throws for fear of the long throwing, which is mad.
00:26:14
Speaker
Looking at some more stats than Opta had a good bit on this, because obviously it's a prevalent enough thing, but 32 total. in the first week of the Premier League season, which was 3.2 per game, much higher than pretty much any other season. But obviously it's just a one-week sample, so that can change over the season. But it's it's a bit mad. This has been really brought in by Thomas Frank massively.
00:26:40
Speaker
He had Spurs... ace eight times in the first couple of games that they're playing that includes the PSG game and their first Premier League game against Burnley that doesn't include the City one but eight in those first two games and all of last year they only did it six times so it's like teams are looking looking to do this because it it worked so much for Brentford last year they scored five goals from it and created 7.2 xG so obviously Frank is just bringing this tactic over to his new team
00:27:11
Speaker
Yeah, Liverpool finally appointed a like a set piece course today as well after 18 months of trying to find one. and i think we're going to see it continue. I know it's only two weeks and it's mad, but like you know Spurs are going to keep doing this. so any Any chance Arsenal will take or any chance Arsenal get to like get an advantage over anyone in anything, going to take it. I'm not saying it's a bad thing this time. like any Any little advantage they can get, Arsenal is going to use. So they're going to keep going if they're someone that can throw it that long into the box. And then Brentford I nearly called him Stoke but Brentford I'm just going to leave it because yeah Thomas Frank is gone it it was Keith Andrews who was the man who was on the set piece of last year so he was probably doing doing all the training on it in the first place so yeah don I think there'll be at least five or six teams who continue to use this over the course of the season.
00:27:57
Speaker
Liverman does once cause Liverpool so much trouble on Monday there's no way he's going to stop him anytime soon so yeah I think it's I think it's here to stay. We're seeing guys that people didn't even know could throw the ball in long just starting to do it now. yeah and Obviously, teams are trying to find who can do it.
00:28:12
Speaker
Like last season, there was 19 goals in total it score from throw-ins. That was 10 more than any of the previous five seasons. So that's why teams are doing it because there's a clear advantage to be had. and So tactical tactical changes, we might see some bigger forwards and some bigger centre-backs coming into play here to deal with this type of thing.
00:28:32
Speaker
I think the fact that you you can't be offside as well means that people are just kind of like running off the back. The defenders coming around them to try and get get their first flick on as well, which a massive help. You can't do that at corners or free kicks, obviously, because you get flagged. But from throw-ins, you can do what you want.
00:28:46
Speaker
And it's mad. I think it's going to be interesting. yeah Yeah, you're not going to be caught outside the corner. Yeah, but freeze, yeah, it is a better situation. than You know almost almost nearly have a long throw now than a free at that thats side, like on the side of the pit.
00:29:01
Speaker
um so that could play a big part in the game we're going to chat about so Arsenal vs Liverpool is obviously the big one this weekend Super Sunday going to be a very interesting game with a lot of tactics at play and we'll definitely see some wrong throw-ins but obviously you being in the Liverpool fan we'll throw it to you first what do you think is going to happen in this game the only thing I'm nervous about with Arsenal is the fact that Liverpool can't defend set pieces it seems at the moment They were so bad against that piece against Newcastle again. I know they conceded one from that throwing, but every single corner they were six and sevens.
00:29:39
Speaker
There was one where Alisson had to punch it twice to get it away and put it out for another throwing and led to more trouble. like it The set pieces are killer because Kanata's head is all over the place. He was doesn't know if he's coming or going.
00:29:50
Speaker
Our two fullbacks are a combined six-foot. and They're both so small. And then... When Canadi can't win a header, it's only really Van Dijk back there who's the natural defender that's able to win a header. So that really scares me.
00:30:03
Speaker
Other than that, Arsenal haven't been great in open play. to start see that I know they scored five against Leeds, but we were only saying the other day that Leeds are are going to struggle this year.
00:30:15
Speaker
And I was looking, the Arsenal XG from open play in the first two games is only 1.96. And they played game. Yeah, and and like that they they were lucky against United as well. United should have scored in that game 100%. The fact they didn't was more about United than it was Arsenal. So if we can keep them out at set pieces, then I'm not too worried about them doing much from open play. That Grokker is just not the one. I know he scored twice. He should have given the penalty to Max Dalman or Durian Timber instead of taking it himself, I think, personally.
00:30:49
Speaker
yeah yeah Get Timber the hat-trick or get the 15-year-old goal scorer or 4-0 up. Didn't we say, like we mentioned it already, that he will score penalties and against lower level teams. Now, we are well prepared to eat our words if he bangs in a hat-trick at any east stage. But for now, that's the clear thing. And that's already been the first the first bit of evidence that's happened where he didn't score against United. He was a passenger. And then what he did against Leeds.
00:31:14
Speaker
And my uncle is an Arsenal fan. I was just talking to him the other day and he said he's still really unsure about him. But the one thing I will point to about... them from open play as is going to be a his first time playing for them and that's going to change a lot sometimes like we've already mentioned as well with jokeres like he needs to play like on the end of balls into channels and link up and stuff like that but they don't really play that way usually but then against united it almost seemed like they were trying to play that way but to like kind of
00:31:47
Speaker
was very physical with him and United had two centre-backs, so he found it difficult. But I think if Liverpool are open and Arsenal actually can counter-attack effectively, which Eze is very, very good at that, he's very good at picking the right pass and having some flair to him. So that would be something that I would point to being a big part in this game if he kind of shows his shows his level from the very start and he unleashes Giacres a little bit.
00:32:12
Speaker
But in general, i think set pieces will be the main part of this game. Arsenal will be happy to sit back and allow Liverpool have the ball. They did it against United and they'll happily do it again and try and get some set pieces and some counterattacks gone.
00:32:26
Speaker
They'll do whatever they have to to win. And I think Liverpool, while they've showed their ability to score very, very freely... They've been very underwhelming in the first two games, especially defensively.
00:32:39
Speaker
and yeah And I think Arsenal are going to get the win here, to be honest. I'm giving i'm giving them a 2-1. I think they're going to just get one set-piece goal and one counter-attack. Liverpool will inevitably score because there their attack is so good, but Arsenal just...
00:32:54
Speaker
They know how to defend and they're going to get this grindy, grindy win, which I think then will in turn probably wake Liverpool up after this to see, yeah, we need to do something about these set pieces.
00:33:07
Speaker
You think the Arsenal are going to win at Anfield? Yeah, had them winning. I actually went for the 2-1 Liverpool win. You won't be surprised. But I do have a couple of negatives for Liverpool that I do want to mention.
00:33:21
Speaker
Jesus, Florian Beert really struggled against Newcastle the other night. The physicality, the pace of the game, he just really couldn't get into it. He did pick a couple of nice passes, but it's like you really when you really want him to kind of step up and do something special, he just wasn't he wasn't in the place to do i Even Harvey Yellick came on and looked a bit more lively than Beert was. I know it's it's late in the game, it's a lot easier then, but...
00:33:45
Speaker
I think Florian Berth is waiting for a moment, kind of just something where he like scores a goal or gets an outrageous assist and that would get him going. would be great if he could do it this weekend, so that would be a really, really good time to get going.
00:33:56
Speaker
a The set pieces, yeah, Liverpool are struggling at him. Kanata has been absolutely awful. i Kirk goes as well. What's he doing for that Newcastle ball?
00:34:08
Speaker
Not even looking at the ball. His back is looking into the net. He's the best hero of the ball in the back of the net. No awareness of what's going on around him. It's alarming, to be honest. Yeah, it was really strange to see.
00:34:20
Speaker
Your other full-back is not even a full-back and he's doing a better job. I thought he was class. Yeah, that's quite alarming. But yeah, I just think there's too many issues in the first few weeks.
00:34:32
Speaker
I really do honestly think that Liverpool are lucky to have six points at this at this stage. Oh, I couldn't agree more with you. I think Arsenal are as well. Don't get me wrong, but I just think this is a quite interesting game. It's going to be a chess match.
00:34:45
Speaker
And I'm looking forward to seeing it. But i agree with John Virts. He was completely bodied out at Newcastle game. And this is not going to be any easier with the physicality of Arsenal. But yeah, he does need something to settle him because you can't be worth that much money and then go five, six games without doing any anything of note. So it's getting it's getting important now that he contributes.
00:35:07
Speaker
So that's a that's our football covered off. Just wanted to give a shout out to Keith Andrews, managing to get his first win as well for Brentford. A big win against Villa, fair play. And then they won 4-0 in the cup against Bournemouth as well. So off to a very good start. And the players clearly are rallying around them. And there's a good there seems to be a good kind of vibe around the team and stuff. So happy for him. This after I said to get relegated as well. So thanks for that, Keith.
00:35:32
Speaker
Yeah, a long way to go, but Keith is doing his best so far. Let's stay on soccer then and move to the transfer roundup. Considering it's going into the last week, sometimes it does get a little bit quiet the week before the last one. So next the next episode we do is international window. We'll have a of time to spend on transfers. and We'll probably touch on the window as ah as a whole, but there'll be a lot more to talk about at that stage than there is right now. The ones that have gone down, and first of all, Tyler Dibling gone from Southampton to Everton, initial fee of €40.5 million. euro
00:36:05
Speaker
And then another is seeing James Justin go from Leicester to Leeds for €9.3 million. euro i I think he's a very, very bad defender. So I don't really like that whatsoever. What's your take on those two?
00:36:20
Speaker
I think it's lot of money for Tyler Dibling, but I do think he's a good player. But when you look at the price that are going around this summer, we've said it every week now, 40 million is absolutely nothing anymore. Like when Django Otaro is going for the bone for 40 million as well, then there is really a real problem. I know he's scored now, but I think everything needed someone like him. And I think it's kind of beggars can't be too. They just have to pay you what you're going to have to pay to get these lads.
00:36:45
Speaker
Matthias Fernandes talks of him going to West Ham today for 42 million as well. yeah there like a clear come Clare's coming from the Championship costing over £40 million that's three in the last week because Omari Hutchinson as well was horrific last year and now he's playing for Forest at £40 million too like the Dibbally move
00:37:06
Speaker
No, i was just going to say, i wouldn't mind and some of the players that actually like played for a team that weren't Southampton, but how are Southampton players going for that much? but Yeah, how are Southampton getting 80 million for two lads that got them one win last season? and Yeah.
00:37:20
Speaker
And then James Justin, like there's a reason that he was he's been at Leicester for so long, it's because he actually can't defend... And now Leeds, who showed they can't defend last weekend, despite having seven lads who were over six plus, are like, yeah, let's go bring in a right back who doesn't to defend as well.
00:37:36
Speaker
Great stuff. that Yeah, I don't understand that move. And I saw Leicester fans post some compilations of all the mistakes he made over last three years. It's not good viewing.
00:37:47
Speaker
A second, next one then is Eze gone from Palace to Arsenal, 69.3 million euro initially. And they've got absolute cracking player on their hands there. We kind of touched on them before, but any other thoughts on Eze?
00:38:00
Speaker
I think he's lost. I think he's he's only going to do good things there for them, which is very unfortunate. my i read like I think it's mad that it's taken until he was 27 for him to get a move like this because he's been showing this kind of promise for the last three years.
00:38:15
Speaker
So I wonder if it was just kind of... no now is the time if if like if he didn't go this summer he was never going he was going to be the next Wilfred Zaha so I think for 70 million probably a bit on the high side again but every transfer is on the high side this window so yeah I think it's just kind of because he only broke out when he was kind of in his 20s and he broke down to the Premier League high level like three maybe three four years back so that's why the move is coming at this age and I i think yeah I think that's the best transfer to Arsenal I've gotten in this window. I really, really like it.
00:38:48
Speaker
Yeah. couple of other moves then. Forrest still making a charge at things. They've gotten Douglas Luiz on loan for €3 million over loan fee, which is, i think, a cracking move because he's a very, very good midfielder and he has a lot still in and And then Andrew Moran gone from Brighton to LAFC and the MLS on loan.
00:39:09
Speaker
Ridiculous move for a player that has a lot of potential. I think this is just a bad, bad career move. Badly advised he could go anywhere in Europe. when he's chosen to go over there it's a really bad idea he won't be going the world cup as far as i'm concerned now i think that rules him out of any hope of getting in a world cup squad because ireland are definitely going the world cup but i don't think he'll be going like you it's a very high highmer has promised us said bucket hook gets booker hotels grand and early grandheimer get us there which you believe in andrew moore and in l la i think i don't think he'll be part of the squad somehow
00:39:44
Speaker
No, he's not in the qualifying squad for the first round anyway. and it That's why he was still with Brighton during the summer in training. Now that he's over in America, it's not going to lydia You won't even hear a word about him for the whole season now, unfortunately. No, not at all.
00:40:00
Speaker
Next two then, Noah Okafor gone from AC Milan to Leeds. Another €19 million euro spent by Leeds on guy who can't really do too much. There's not a there's a reason why Milan have sold him. I don't rate him that highly, to be honest.
00:40:13
Speaker
And then, I mean, Adley gone from Leverkusen to Bournemouth for €21 million euro potential there and because he had a good season a couple of years ago, but quite enough last year. So, yeah, what did you make of these two?
00:40:26
Speaker
Noah Ockleford is a fellow who's been threatening to break out since he was 15 and he's just never done this um you like You hear his name every single summer. Oh, this is the year now. Noah Ockleford goes and does something.
00:40:38
Speaker
Maybe you might find you're doing it this year. You might buy 20 goals and need stay up. I think there's more chance of...
00:40:45
Speaker
Ruben Ambram having a job at the end of the season than there is of no Okafor scoring 20 goals. But I honestly don't know enough about me and Adelaide to have anything to say on it, really, to be honest. and It's going into completely the different system than he's been playing at.
00:40:59
Speaker
yeah i live kids and So I think it's ah it's a big move for him now. We'll have to wait and see. I hope it works out because I think Bournemouth were, ah outside Liverpool, Bournemouth were one of my favourite teams to watch last year. They were just so direct, so good attacking.
00:41:13
Speaker
They can slip him in and Ben Doak on the other sides. And then you have, geez, have so many players now. They have Clybert Semenyo. I think they they were really, really potentially brilliant attacking talent there.
00:41:24
Speaker
Yeah, they do. and With Okafor, to score only... Didn't play a whole lot last year, but to score only once in the Serie A. The year before, he had six in 28 games. is not It's not like really someone breaking ground at 25 years of age.
00:41:40
Speaker
But that as you said, a breakout can come at any time, but it's not looking likely. but i The season of the undefeated domestic year for...
00:41:52
Speaker
for Bayern. He was very good as kind of like a backup. He had in total 10 goals and 12 assists in 42 appearances. Now he did take a step back last year, but he only had 28 appearances. So it was a little bit tougher. I think he had injuries and things like that. So I think it's worth taking a flyer. He can play it through the middle as well.
00:42:13
Speaker
He mostly does kind of play through the middle. And so I think Evan Nielsen to have a backup there is important because he he has evan ilsen has potential but sometimes he misses absolute sitters and you're like how is he missing that kind of like rodrigo muniz for me a bit but um last two then are rumored not really rumored they're basically done but it's like for britzio is the one who said it's done so yeah until we get the armstein full fully fully signed for someone else then We're not going to say it's definitely done, but Milan, they've reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign in Cuncu.
00:42:48
Speaker
That's for €42 million euro and a sell-on clause. How is he worth €42 million? Similar price to Dango Watara. I know we keep bringing him up, but in Cuncu he has so much more talent than potential in my eyes. And then the other one, just before we get your thoughts, is just come in a few minutes before we start recording, Nick Valtemada to Newcastle.
00:43:10
Speaker
over 80 million euro plus i think around 5 million euro in add-ons um it's going to be a long-term deal with newcastle and so they've finally got their first striker anyway and they'll probably end to get another one yeah um first of happy birthday david ornstein and now t's back yeah when i went on this page a while ago the balloons came up so yeah so happy birthday to you um What did you say? The first? Oh, yeah. ni thing In Conquille. Chelsea just wasted him. I know he did his ACL in his first season and he didn't get a look in then, but he was scoring goals for fun in the Conference League and I know that's basically League 2, but he never got a look in the Premier League after. it I just thought it was really strange. It was just kind of... Merski decided he was never going to like him, so he was always going end up going.
00:43:55
Speaker
They have so many players there they need to get rid of still. So they're probably just accepting fees that sound like they're... that they're good money. like And then the starts of the four, they'll like, oh yeah, we'll take that. They'll probably take 40 million for Nicholas Jackson as well, 20 for Sterling. They just need to get these lads out the door before in the next five days or these are paying an awful lot of money in wages then when you have a 42-man squad, which, you know, I think he 25 of them. yeah Then Fultimata, I'm not 100% convinced in him, but he is very, very young. he's I think he's 6'6". He's a really, really big lad.
00:44:27
Speaker
He was the under-21s. He had some down games, but he had some good games too. Yeah, was but he played for the German senior team, I think, against Spain in the Nations League over the summer. And he was absolutely horrific.
00:44:44
Speaker
His first touch was horrific. Everything in touch just went wrong. Yeah, so we'll have to wait and see. I'm just glad they're signing a striker, to be honest. And hopefully other striker then, they stop. They just let him go.
00:44:55
Speaker
Yeah. i'm saying I'm so bored of it. so bored of it this season. I think they've cut ties. They both seem to be done with each other. So I think it's a broad good thing now to get in a replacement. I think they did a good thing by getting in a young player who has like...
00:45:09
Speaker
The physicality, the size, the potential, someone that Bayern are interested in in Germany shows that he's he has talent. And then yeah if they do get a Premier League proven guy in there in Larson or Wissam in the last week, I think that's good. That's a good matchup to have. Yeah, I think that's a good hell.
00:45:26
Speaker
um I think it's it's very like the EVE Act deal they did in general. So it's about like 21 or 22 matchup. Yeah. It's the same amount, the same around around the same price, 64 million, just a bit more expensive. It's kind of like, let's see what he can do in the next three or four years and see if we can get the 120 million for him again. Now, they obviously, at some stage, they are going to want to get a striker and keep him for 10 years and try and fire him to a Premier League. But I think, I think selling Isak now is the best thing they can do.
00:45:53
Speaker
i Get that money in, bring in their strikers, get their backup striker. they were I have so much praise for that team from Monday night I thought they were absolutely exceptional I think they really are going places this year if they can just get someone put the ball on the net for them because that header in particular Anthony Gordon missed in the first half Isaac's not missing that this fella yeah of course he would so it's kind of like they need an actual number 9 in there to help him and then when you have
00:46:22
Speaker
Alanga, one side, Anthony Gordon, the other side, Harvey Barnes have backed up. It's just pace, pace, pace. And then they arguably have one of the strongest midfielders in the league when they're all facing those three that started on Monday night as well. Tenali is an absolute, he's a superstar. He's a Rolls-Royce, what a player.
00:46:37
Speaker
Bruno is the kind of, the hard tackling player just a monster, the press a monster, and then Joe Linton can make 100 fouls and not get booked, which is really handy for a central midfield rooter as well. so Well, when you keep fouling people all the time, the refs have to start being like, he needs a hard one before he gets it. it's mad.
00:46:54
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. The team looks... And I actually like some of the signings they've made in general, like getting Chau in and Ramsey and getting in Alanga, these kind of guys that... May not be starting every single game, but they've got really good depth. And I mentioned to my dad, who is a Newcastle fan, as we've mentioned before, and that Alanga will work way better if you have a big striker and you have someone who can score headers, like with Chris Wood.
00:47:20
Speaker
And this guy is it's a perfect formula. He's going to score headers, yeah. and One point, actually, on Nkunku before we move on, is just... I think before, when they were looking at Garnaccio maybe in January, night there was a proposal of a swap deal for Nkunku for Garnaccio. And they said they wanted more money than Garnaccio just directly for a swap.
00:47:43
Speaker
Now they're selling Nkunku for 42 million euro and it looks like they're going to spend close to 50 million euro on Garnaccio. going the other way it doesn't make a whole lot of sense and I would liked to see Nkunku at United so ah would have taken him but yeah that's all the transfers we've we've got for this week we'll move on to the and NBA previews we've got three more teams we had Michael on last week of course so that was a pleasure but we've got and three more teams to play through this week so we'll start with the Milwaukee Bucks where do need to improve most from last season
00:48:17
Speaker
Rebounds, first of all, um there's a lot of places, but that's the main thing. Their opponents pulled down around 45.3 per game last season.
00:48:30
Speaker
And they pulled down themselves 43.4. And those are both bottom 10 in the league. So that's going to be something they need to improve on. I'm not sure if Myles Turner helps them in this way.
00:48:42
Speaker
But I suppose having two big bodies with him and Giannis should theoretically help. But it's obviously not a guarantee. But that's an important thing to... for them to get second chance points and continue to up in general the shots that they can put up Yeah, i do I had that on my list as well, but I didn't go with that. I went with it and it's kind of something they have looked at already, but they really needed to add some depth in the frontcourt to help Giannis. As you've said, they've made that sign-in now, so it's a really good place to start.
00:49:11
Speaker
They were quite poor last year in terms of kind of ball handling. Who was going to be the moment of ball if it wasn't Giannis? So to have a bit more flexibility going into this season now is going to help them a good bit.
00:49:22
Speaker
Yeah, and I just think it in the backup center as well, like they have Jericho Sims there. i'm not sure if that's going to cut it. So any injuries, they're kind of in a bad way, really. So they they need to pray that they don't they don't have the same injury luck that they've had in recent years.
00:49:38
Speaker
Which one under-the-radar player that you like for the box, please? Don't be long enough to get that out. So I've got Gary Trent Jr. I don't really like too many things on this roster, but he contributed mostly from the bench last season. He played 11, sorry, 25 minutes per game.
00:49:57
Speaker
And he had 11 points down that stretch. We've seen him start for the Raptors. We've seen him start for the Blazers. For the Raptors, I think the highest he got up to was 18 points per game at 35 minutes.
00:50:09
Speaker
So he can do it if he does start. I think I mentioned before listening to Doc Rivers on the Bill Simmons podcast, and yeah he seems to really like him and have a lot of faith that he can continue to grow.
00:50:21
Speaker
So once he likes somebody, he generally plays them kind of into the ground. So let's see if if he can continue to be a good part of this team. Did you have someone different?
00:50:32
Speaker
No, I actually had him as well. I just think he's, he like, I think he will be coming in to be a starting player this season. The Bucs playoff record of nine threes in a game as well is a bit mad. So I think there's only one way he's going as And as you said, Doc Rivers seems to really like him.
00:50:48
Speaker
And that's only a good thing when he likes you because you are going to play an absolute ton of games. you had Do you think they'll hit the over or under with their wins at the Buc-ee's? It's 43 and a half. Yeah, so 48 wins last year. i think they'll manage it with Miles Turner, and now they're in kind of a weakened East.
00:51:07
Speaker
Although the East wasn't on a great shakes last year, it's it is not as good this year. I was kind of teetering on this because I was thinking if Giannis leaves, there's there's probably little chance that they do this. And if things start to go wrong, I could see them leaving mid-season and requesting a trade. But I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt for now and say that they'll get over it probably around the mid-40s mark.
00:51:30
Speaker
Yeah, the same as you. was kind of like and give I'm kind of with the fact that Giannis will stay for the whole season and going over from as well. I think they will get to close to 48 again if he stays.
00:51:41
Speaker
If not, then they're not breaking. know They won't break 40 if he goes. They might get around 35. So I think it's a big it's a massive difference if he stays or goes. It really is the make or break for the season.
00:51:52
Speaker
Yeah, I agree, definitely. And finally, on the Bucs, what is their ceiling with the current roster and coach for the season ahead? I said if Giannis stays, then 50 wins in an easy East and get into the second round of the playoffs. But I think they don't have enough to go any further than that in terms of depth.
00:52:11
Speaker
And i not sure. Dak Rivers is a good coach, but he's not what he used to be. And in recent years, he hasn't had a whole lot of playoff success. So I think that's the absolute push. But if Giannis leaves, it's a whole different story. So I'm going with the fact that he's there right now and that could be the push for them.
00:52:29
Speaker
Yeah, same as myself. With him staying there, I think they can get a top four in the East. If they stay healthy, their defence tightens up, they bring down more rebounds than their opponents, then they they can definitely get their playoff game. They can definitely win a couple of series.
00:52:44
Speaker
If anyone's wondering, their title odds at the moment are apparently 40-1. I wouldn't be backing it myself, but someone out there and might have a look at it. Yeah, yeah it's it's fairly high for a team who's won it in the last number of years and arguably it has the one of the best players in the league, probably the best in the East right now. So, yeah, it's interesting one. As you mentioned, I won't be going near it either, but I think it's something if someone really likes them, it's a possibility.
00:53:10
Speaker
Moving on to the Pistons then, if that's OK. Where did the Pistons need to improve most from last season? So they were bottom 10 in three pointers attempted in the league with 35.4 per game.
00:53:22
Speaker
They need to spread the floor more in general for Cade to be more effective. it's you you know If he's going to have more space to drive into the paint, he's strong, he's physical. If they're taking more threes and there's more space inside, it's going to make life easier for him.
00:53:37
Speaker
Now, I do think Jaden Ivey, when he's fit, is going to be massive for that. We saw it at times before his really horrific injury. And then signed Duncan Robinson, who can't do anything else that apart from shoot threes. So...
00:53:49
Speaker
It shows they the same line of thinking as me, but what do you have for an them to improve? So the fact they were so good defensive last year made it kind of hard to go anything other than how bad they they have been offensively.
00:54:02
Speaker
So I just said they do need to involve further offensively. need to like They're spacing, their shot creation was always, it was really, really poor last year. They need to improve that last year, or sorry, this year coming, because they do have the potential to be a really, really solid team.
00:54:17
Speaker
yeah Yeah, they really do, especially with that really strong defense. it' It's hard to look away from them, but two things, fitness in general with them, and players staying fit, and then and more creative <unk> of play offensively. and That's going to come in time okay, but you can't rely on him for everything, so opening up the floor with threes is definitely going help.
00:54:39
Speaker
Yeah, 100%. I'll go first on this one. So who is the one under the radar player for the team? I've gone with Ron Holland. 81 games last year, only two starts. But in the 16 minutes, he was scoring six points per game.
00:54:51
Speaker
He's really versatile. He's strong. He's defensively, he's kind of like, he's he very, very solid when he comes on defensively. and If he can develop further, he could very, very easily get off to a couple of starts, get more minutes up and then start averaging 10 to 12 points a game if things go the way they're going.
00:55:07
Speaker
Yeah, interesting show. He fights very hard as well, which is something they want. They want somebody who's physical and doesn't give up on anything. So I like that. I've gone with the twin of your beloved, A-Man Thompson, Ossar Thompson.
00:55:23
Speaker
He's an absolute monster, just like his brother. 53.5% from the floor last season. Very, very efficient. um Five rebounds per game and two two and a half steals and blocks.
00:55:36
Speaker
If he didn't have those blood clot injuries, he'd be further along in his development. But I think he's already yeah very, very far along. He just comes out of nowhere sometimes with some of the defensive plays that he can make, which is imperative for this team, the way they play defensively.
00:55:50
Speaker
Athletic, very big, fast, strong, everything you want. And he's going to be one of the best players in the East in the next 10 years, in my opinion. So, yeah, I really like him. Yeah.
00:56:02
Speaker
Yeah, the two of them are just monsters. Like normally when twins come out, you think, oh, one of them is not going as good as the other one. But the two of them just do. They do everything so well. They're both so efficient. They're so strong. They're like dogs when they're going after a piece of meat. Like once they see the ball, and they're going for it They're not stopping.
00:56:19
Speaker
I can't believe how I like the two of them are in terms of how they play. and you like Well, I actually adore Amy Thompson. When you said when twins come out, thought you were going to say that. Like straight away, you just rule one of them out when they're born.
00:56:32
Speaker
wow no I'm not sure my parents did that anyway. I must ask them if they did that with me and Paula were born. Maybe you were ruled out early on. Hope not.
00:56:44
Speaker
You wouldn't have made it out of this illustrious podcast if you were. So definitely not. Absolutely. i think both of them are absolutely going to the moon. The two of them are. And I'm glad you brought him up because I was looking forward to talking about him. and Do you think they'll hit their over under with the bookies?
00:57:02
Speaker
45 and a half. I think, yeah, they'll get there. 44 last year. And I think they can get around what the Bucs had last year, which was 48. they're not the finished article but they have a good coach and a very very good star player a solid defense and as we've said a number of times the east is kind of weak so definitely they can get there i think it's a high enough line for a team that jumped up massively last year but i think they'll just jump up again so i have over yeah same yeah uh i said 46 to 48 a bit like yourself as well i just think i think they're really good
00:57:38
Speaker
They have route like Kay Cunningham. If he continues getting better, they have people around him. Then obviously Thompson, Ivy, Holland, if he can make any strides, I think they could definitely be Yeah, they they they'll go over, I think.
00:57:51
Speaker
Yeah, no, definitely. And... Go ahead then, last one. Yeah, so finally for them then is the seeding with their current coach roster. This is a tough one because...
00:58:04
Speaker
like you don't want to jump too much on teams that they make like too much progress because I think they have like a lot potential but They showed last year that they could really battle with the Knicks in the first round. I said it was going to be a tough one and that it would go far. And it did inevitably went to six games. It should have went to more with some of the decisions that were made across by the referee there. But I think they can go on better this year. I don't want to jump too far. I think they can get to the second round.
00:58:30
Speaker
They're not quite there yet to get any further, but they're definitely on the way up. I think that's probably a ceiling for them to get to the second round. Yeah, I said they they can get to 50 wins in the second round as well, if everything goes right for them.
00:58:44
Speaker
Like if we're here saying they'll get 46 to 48, and that's kind of just us kind of in the middle ground. I think if we're talking about a seeding from, they can definitely get to that 50 win mark and they day they'll they'll win a first round of the playoffs this year as well.
00:58:58
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. i think they will. i think I think almost a floor for them is winning in the first round unless they get a really bad matchup. And I think it's also a ceiling probably not getting any further than that because they're kind of in that The growing period where, yeah, it's hard to see them going too far.
00:59:15
Speaker
But a team on a whole different level of focus is the Bulls who are going to move on to next. That's just a whole different kettle of fish. I was sitting there and I was like, what is actually the point in talking about them? Because they're just going to do the exact same thing every year. But we'd start anyway with words they need to do.
00:59:34
Speaker
Or do they need to improve most? i' I'm sure with a long list probably written on your wall, which are the things they need to improve on. But which one would be done with? It was hard to pick one thing, but their defence in general, like just how many points they allowed to other teams, it's crazy. Like their offence was not even that bad last year, but the defence, 119.4 points allowed per game.
00:59:56
Speaker
Only the Wizards and Jazz were worse. Those two teams were trying to lose with everything they had to get the number one overall pick. And for some reason, the buzzer were worse than the Nets, like, which is incredible. Like imagine you can take more points than that Nets team.
01:00:09
Speaker
but I know we're talking about two teams at the end last week, the Nets and this week, the Bulls are just, what's even the point, but what did you have for their, their play center? Same as you defensive defensive quick consistency just needs, they just need to actually make an effort.
01:00:25
Speaker
You can't be conceding 120 points a game and expect you to come out of too many of them on top. They really do need to fix that massively. Yeah. hundred percent. Who's one under the radar player you like for the team?
01:00:38
Speaker
I really like Mattis Bozelis. um yeah like I couldn't really, there's no one else. and There's no one under the radar. Like there's guys who are obviously on the radar of everyone in like Vucevic and Josh Giddy and stuff, but he's kind of under the radar.
01:00:53
Speaker
He was someone they drafted last year, started 31 games, played 80 in total, eight and a half points, three and a half boards, one block per game. He will shoot trees. He needs to improve his efficiency there and shooting numbers, but he will shoot them.
01:01:07
Speaker
and and he got all rookie second team i think he could have pushed to get to the cusp of all rookie first team to be honest he played pretty hard if he was on a better team he probably would have been closer but yeah i like it i think i and i would say he probably is the same guy yeah that's the reason i laughed and he said this there was literally no options like yeah i wasn't going to sit here and say oh josh giddy is under the radar no he's not everyone knows about him um and Anyone they have that is does anything that makes a highlight reel, it's so easy to talk about him because they have no one else. So yeah, it was, and I'm glad you said his name first and saved me. him'm to do it. I'm not going to try and butcher it again. but
01:01:46
Speaker
ah Do you think they'll hit the over or under wins with the bookies? I've gone It's 32 and a half, I think. Yeah, 32 and a half. I've just gone with, yeah, because they're just going to do the same thing. Like like you said, like last year they had 39, they got into the play, and the main thing they should do this season is tank.
01:02:07
Speaker
But they won't. They just hold on to a few pieces just to keep them enough to win enough games to get to the play-in. And then they lose in the play-in and they're like, oh, well, what is the point in that? There's absolutely no point in doing what they do every year.
01:02:21
Speaker
So I'm going to say, yeah, even though I really don't think they should.
01:02:26
Speaker
agree. I said the same thing. I think they'll go over and reach the play-in, but that's... That's literally their ceiling. I'll just go straight to the next question. It's only to talk too much about them. But their ceiling is the playing for me at best.
01:02:38
Speaker
They get to playing, win 36, 37 games and then just get knocked out. And their fans be like, why did we do the same thing again? It's like because they're so because you're tick.
01:02:49
Speaker
sea yeah like If you're not tanking, then you're tick. I think it's really bad as well for like a storied franchise like the Bulls to be behaving in that way where they're just happy to be mediocre. like No one wants to see that. And I've got a mad mad one here for them.
01:03:05
Speaker
They're going to win a play-in this time. Every year they get bounced out of it. I'm going to go, let's see them get the eighth seed this year in an absolute mad one and get absolutely hammered in the first round of the playoffs.
01:03:17
Speaker
Someone has to get hammered in the first round against the one seed. So let's just make it them this time. and But that's yeah far too much time on the on the Bulls. no like Just pointless a year on year doing the same thing.
01:03:29
Speaker
So let's let's move on to our drafts. Quite an interesting one for you since we're coming up on the international break. We'll probably have some Irish soccer moments here. But the best Irish sporting moments since 2000.
01:03:42
Speaker
two thousand um Shane, are you ready for this one? No, I think I need another eight hours of research before I can actually narrow this down to five. Because there's just... That's a sore talk. Like when I was looking it up, was like, there's actually so much.
01:03:59
Speaker
I crossed so many different sports that it is quite hard to just pick five here. Yeah. Is it me or you first? You're first, you're first. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You you you you picked United first last week in a shopping mall.
01:04:12
Speaker
He even knows this week who's first, but we're just going to keep the bit going where we don't know. So... I think there was only one pick for firsts, which I'm delighted with, and I'm going to go with the Robbie Brady goal against Italy.
01:04:26
Speaker
i just The scenes in every house in the country when that went in, it was just unbelievable. So it it could only be that for me, to be honest. Yeah, that for me is probably my favourite, probably top three sporting memories.
01:04:42
Speaker
It was just absolutely unbelievable. If I didn't start crying, I'd say I was very close to it. I was going absolutely nuts at that. on below Because you we just thought before it out that that they had squandered it with that Houlihan chance.
01:04:57
Speaker
And then Houlihan puts that peach of a ball in and Brady buries it. On cross. Yeah. That was an unbelievable moment. I actually had it a little bit lower because I just think some other achievements and moments were really, really special for for a lot of reasons. So I'm going to take my my one and two here.
01:05:15
Speaker
First one is Katie Taylor, gold medal at the 2012 Olympics. Just so special. I think that was just an amazing moment, the whole country. And there's a few Katie Taylor mentions it possibly on this, but that moment was...
01:05:32
Speaker
just unbelievable in 2012 the whole the whole country was watching and egging her on and just to see her winning gold and she's the flag bearer for us at that olympics and to see her kind of stand there with the national anthem blaring out it's that was special um and then my second one is ireland beating new zealand for the first time 2016
01:05:52
Speaker
That was unbelievable. Soldier Field in Chicago went over there first time ever to beat New Zealand and showed them what we're all about. And we continued from there really in our rugby success. But that was a special, special moment for everybody watching and over at the game.
01:06:09
Speaker
I actually wrote those two down for you before you said anything. So I try and like you get a bit ahead so it doesn't look like I'm typing the whole thing. tell you the other way around. Ireland and New Zealand top for you and Katie Taylor would have been gold a second.
01:06:21
Speaker
and Yeah, two really, really good picks. I think she's the Irish sport in gold for me. so Yeah. She's actually next in my pick, i winning in her fifth Boxing World Championship in 2014. This was kind of... She'd she'd won the gold in 2012 and then was like, oh...
01:06:39
Speaker
What can you do next? And she went and then this, then they're like, all right, she really is. she She really is the real deal here. And she's just gone from strength to strength since then. Been absolutely incredible. with Everything she does, she's such a good role model for every single person in this country.
01:06:54
Speaker
um Obviously played for Ireland, played for soccer for Ireland as well. and you And now is just doing this. And still, like like she won again a couple of weeks back and she was just incredible. Like, so what a woman, honestly, what a woman.
01:07:08
Speaker
Yeah, which is really really impressive. Probably go with turds. I'm going to hope this one counts. Does McIlroy winning the Masters this year count?
01:07:21
Speaker
Is he Irish or is he Northern Irish or is he British? sir I don't know. I found that tough i find that a tough one. I don't know what his... He hasn't really said his allegiance outright. No. So, I don't know. It's what whatever you want to say for that. But personally, I think I would stick with from definitely like announce that they're kind of representing Ireland in general. Yeah.
01:07:44
Speaker
Go ahead. If you want to take it, take it. but No, I have another one. i'm going to go with the O'Gara drop goal against Wales. I think it's secure at the Grand Slam. Nah. That was just some moment. I remember watching that down with my parents and it was just outrageous. He didn't even hit it well and he said it in the interview himself after. He was like, I sliced it, it bobbled over the bar instead of going and flying over. with what That was just an outrageous bit of rugby and what a player he was. That was my next pick.
01:08:13
Speaker
I should let you have the McIlroy one, but... yeah ah that was an unbelievable moment that's like probably one of the first I was like I was eight at that time as like one of the first sport memories I have to be honest I just remember that and going crazy like you know you remember things just when you're younger ne but that was unbelievable yeah I'm raging you got that one but anyway I have a few more Katie Taylor ones. I'll probably mention them at the end as honorable mentions. I want to give the but some other props here. So the next one I've got is...
01:08:46
Speaker
In 2024 Olympics, Paulo Donovan becoming the first Irish Olympian to win medals in three Olympics in a row. Unbelievable, like unbelievable feat.
01:08:59
Speaker
He's one of the best in the world at his sport. He has a world record and he's multiple, multiple medals at world championships and at the Olympics. And with more than one partner he's been with in...
01:09:13
Speaker
Double skulls, I believe, is the is the kind of class that he yeah races in. So that was a really special moment, seeing that somebody representing Ireland to do it for the first time three times in a row.
01:09:25
Speaker
And then next up, I've got Ireland winning the Grand Slam in the Six Nations in 2018. It couldn't be any better beating England St. Patrick's Day and winning the Grand Slam.
01:09:39
Speaker
Yeah, that was an unbelievable moment. And yeah, just getting that in. That was the first time since that O'Gara drop goal that they'd won the Grand Slam. So nine years on, yeah and that was a special one. So that's my my next pick.
01:09:54
Speaker
Nice. I had that my list as well, obviously. I didn't actually have the Paula Dunnvorn one, which is, I'm annoyed at myself for not even thinking about that, to be honest. um I'm going to go for a bit of a rogue one next. I'm going to go with Rachel Blackmore winning the Gold Cup back in 2022.
01:10:10
Speaker
Absolutely incredible. i She had 18 winners at Cheltenham all in all, but 2022 winning the Gold Cup is obviously the highlights. She retired this year after what a career she has.
01:10:22
Speaker
I won't claim to be the biggest horse racing fan. I won't sit down and watch it very often, but I just thought that was just such a proud moment for the country when she went and... just literally she walked it in on a plus tard.
01:10:34
Speaker
Really, really cool. finally, what am I going to go with? I have, I had 10 moments here and I think we've pretty much, well, we've knocked one out because McElroy doesn't count. So we're down to nine. I think eight of the nine are in the list here between us.
01:10:49
Speaker
um I'm going to have to go with the Irish women's team qualifying for the World Cup in 2023 for the first. I know they went there and did absolutely nothing other than score directly from a corner. boys it' just It was really cool.
01:11:02
Speaker
It was just good to see that like they put so much work in over the previous years to finally get that recognition, get the payoff. I think it can only be a good thing for Irish football if we can keep a women's team that are...
01:11:14
Speaker
competing at any sort of a level. and They did end up in a group with three of the top four teams in the world. So it was only going one way in fairness, but it was really cool to see them there in the first place. Yeah, I had that on my list too. Actually, the only thing I have on my list left that's not Katie Taylor late is what I'll take last.
01:11:34
Speaker
It's Shane Lowry winning the 2019 British Open. That one was on in Northern in Ireland. The way he played was absolutely unbelievable. First two rounds were quality, but in that third round, he set a course record.
01:11:49
Speaker
shooting a 63 on that third day and I think he won by about six shots in the end so that was a really special moment for him to get um to his name so we've got one golf on there covered off but I really like that Rachel Blackmore one that was what I was gonna pick as my last pick and I left it for my last thing because i didn't think you would go near it um so I'm annoyed that I didn't pick it earlier but I'll settle for Shane Lowry here at the last one so you want rattle off what you've got Yeah, so I have Robbie Brady scoring against Italy, Katie Taylor winning her fifth boxing gold world championship in 2014, Rowan O'Garris drop gold against Wales, Rachel Blackmore winning 2022 Gold Cup and the Irish women's team qualifying for the World Cup.
01:12:31
Speaker
Yeah, so I've got Katie Taylor, gold medal at the 2012 Olympics. Ireland beating New Zealand for the first time in 2016 in Chicago. Paulo Dunnevin becoming the first Irish Olympian to win medal at three straight Olympics, all of those being gold, and he won many more along the way.
01:12:49
Speaker
Next up, I had the Irish Six Nations Grand Slam in 2018 versus England and to clinch it on St. Patrick's Day. And then Shane Lowry, 2019 Royal Portrush Open Championship winner.
01:13:02
Speaker
It was great to get a representation of both male and female sports here there's so many special moments since 2000 so many more that we we could have mentioned the special one I wanted to know about Katie Taylor one I thought was a massive moment was when she did lose to Cameron in the first fight and she came back and fought her again in the three arena in 2023 um That was an unbelievable fight, an unbelievable display. And the emotion that she had after, i was i was mesmerized by that fight. And second female boxer to be the undisputed champ in two classes at that point. So that's an honorable mention I had left off the list. But yeah, I really enjoyed that one.
01:13:44
Speaker
Yeah, it's mad when you think about it. So we've beaten New Zealand for the first time in 2016 after never beating them. And since then, have we beaten them three times? So she can't go in two other times, think. Four times. I think it's one. It's mad when you think about like that just getting that monkey off their back of actually winning the one game has just opened them up to be able to escape. Well, now we then we know we can compete with them at this kind of a level and they can just go and do it now.
01:14:10
Speaker
Just the one that will always annoy me is that quarterfinal in the World Cup. And I was just about to say, probably when they were at their weakest and we couldn't do it. It's just, that's the next one we need to get off our back actually getting through to a semi-final. Getting out of a quarterfinal, yeah. So hopefully we see that soon. But yeah, that's going wrap it up for this episode. We hope you enjoyed it.
01:14:33
Speaker
All the usual good stuff. it It really helps us out if you leave a rating or you subscribe if you're not already across whatever channels and keep an eye out on our social media. Obviously we've got...
01:14:44
Speaker
lots of good stuff out there all the time and yeah next week double episodes so keep an eye out for those shane i'll throw it to you to wrap it here's that um we'll talk to you on wednesday yeah and yeah we'll be recording in a tuesday so we'll talk you wednesday um thanks very much just keep watching keep enjoying it hopefully and see you soon