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Newcastle v Liverpool X Over Episode!
20 Plays12 days ago
The Daily Liverpool podcast team of Jesse Sarwar and Louie Easton go head to head with fearsome Geordie duo Joanne Ayres and Nicola Pringle-Adams from the Daily Newcastle podcast team to argue all the big talking points ahead of this big PL clash.
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Transcript
Introduction and Crossover Announcement
00:00:05
Speaker
Your daily soccer podcast with the Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:00:15
Speaker
Hello and welcome to the Newcastle GSPN podcast. um And that's pretty much a tribute all of our American listeners right now, that our intro is now fully Americanised. So shout out to you lots, that one's for you guys.
00:00:28
Speaker
um Today's a bit of a different one. It is the crossover with Liverpool. It's probably going to be the saltiest or funniest episode or I don't know what, of crossovers, but we have been challenged by the directors to make this the best ever crossover. So the pressure's on people,
Host Introductions and Match Excitement
00:00:42
Speaker
just saying.
00:00:42
Speaker
um So it's girls be boys, really. So from the Toon side, I've got my girl, Nick. are you doing, Chick? Hello. Yes, I'm good. Thank you. you okay? All good. All good. Ready for this one. It should be ah spicy, as some people have said.
00:00:55
Speaker
um And from the Liverpool side, first up, we've got Jesse. are you doing? I'm very good. Really looking forward to this one. And we we don't buy it. Yeah, I do. So apologies in advance.
00:01:08
Speaker
Not even a nibble. Oh, here we go. And last up, who's just spoke down the microphone right there, is Louis, who's all kitted out as well and good to go. So if anyone's watching this, you'll see that. How are you doing, Louis?
00:01:20
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, I'm ah buzzing for this one. Really looking forward to the match Monday as well. We are too. ah I don't know on what levels or what expectations, but we'll discuss this as the pod goes on, I'll be honest.
00:01:34
Speaker
um And obviously going to get the obvious subject right out out of the way for everyone. um And I think I'm going to set you guys off first because you're bound to then set us off.
00:01:45
Speaker
So we're going to put it on you guys to stir it up a bit. Me and Nick will come back at you, which I think might make for the more fun content,
Debate on Alexander Isak's Transfer Situation
00:01:52
Speaker
let's call it. Yeah. So I think Nick's waggling her finger. So are you agreeing with me there, chick, do you want to say something in advance to this one?
00:02:00
Speaker
I'm ready. I've been ready since their colleague put a message in the group chat and he's dipped out of this ah podcast, hasn't Absolutely. So I love that Louie and Jess joined I think you got the wrong finger. We'll put him on other finger later on. It's fine.
00:02:16
Speaker
But anyway, respect to Louis and Jesse because, yeah, the other guys are scared of me and Nick apparently by the looks of it. um So at least they came on had a big crack. I like that. So anyway, yeah, guys, um come on then.
00:02:27
Speaker
Throw us your take on the whole Ezek situation and, I don't know, start with whatever you want on him if you want. Go for it, please. Jesse, do want to go first or shall I take this? Yeah, no, I don't mind giving a brief kind of overview of –
00:02:43
Speaker
Our position as as Liverpool supporters, um look, he's an absolute world-class striker. If you put the um ah kind of shenanigans to one side, you know, he's probably the best striker in in Europe, you know, alongside maybe Haaland.
00:03:01
Speaker
um He's an absolutely outstanding talent. And there isn't a team in the world, I don't think, who would who would not want him in their starting eleven So do we want Alexander Isak?
00:03:13
Speaker
hundred percent 100%. Yes, we do. Are we all comfortable with the way that it's played out in terms of um the player? Not really. Um, but unfortunately this is modern football.
00:03:28
Speaker
Um, you know, we, we've, you know, Lou will know every Liverpool sport listening will know we've been on the receiving end of this, you know, when Luis Suarez a few years back, you know, through his, you know, toys out the pram, wanted to leave, um, eventually got his move. Coutinho did the same, eventually got his move.
00:03:48
Speaker
um And it just seems to be that when a player puts his, his digs his heels in and says, that's it. I want to leave nine times out of 10.
00:04:01
Speaker
I can't think of many situations, high profile ones anyway, where they don't get the move that they want. And I think that with them Newcastle, I think there's a couple of things that are at play here. One, you've got you've got this game on Monday.
00:04:18
Speaker
And I think that has been a factor in whether Newcastle want to sell Isaac and when they want to sell him. I think it was inconceivable that they were going to sell him before this game. Can you imagine St James' Park? Yeah.
00:04:33
Speaker
If, if, uh, you know, if it would ah it would have been worse than all those years ago when, uh, um, Egan sold Andy Cole and, and you know you don't get that anymore. yeah Yeah. Um, so there's that factor.
00:04:46
Speaker
There is the other factor, which I think is a bit of a it's an unknown, which is, you've got this new ownership, um, this, this new kind of Saudi own ownership, which,
00:04:58
Speaker
You know, historically, if you look at their sporting projects around the world, they don't like to be pushed around. And it's not beyond it's not beyond the realms of possibility where they just say, you know what?
00:05:11
Speaker
You're staying. And if that means you're going to sit on the bench, twidding your thumbs, or if that means that you're not you don't want to play football and so you're going to be in the reserves in a World Cup year, in a World Cup year,
00:05:23
Speaker
That's your loss. We'll absorb the loss, but that's your loss and you will never get that season back and you will never get that World Cup back. So yeah there are a lot of variables here.
00:05:34
Speaker
I do still think that this is going to be one of those deadline day, get in the helicopter, Andy Carroll style, um you know, last minute deals. I think it will be sanctioned and I think Liverpool will get...
00:05:50
Speaker
the required money that Newcastle want to have, which is around about the 150 million pound mark. If whether that's just all cash or whether that's ah cash plus a player, but I think they'll work something out.
00:06:04
Speaker
Excellent points. And not enough to stir my anger. So go on, Louis. Add to that, please. Well, I mean, the thing is, ah i just look at players like Isak who have got all of the talent and all of the ability. You know, 23 goals last season, I think he got in the Premier League in 34 matches.
00:06:25
Speaker
That's a player who wants to play for the very best teams in the world. And right now, you know You're looking at Liverpool, you're looking at PSG, you're looking at Barcelona. Those three are the best teams in the world. and i mean he He wants to win trophies and that's what all
Player Aspirations and Public Statements
00:06:44
Speaker
of these players want. i mean You won the Carabao Cup last season against us.
00:06:48
Speaker
That was annoying day for me. So if anything, you're getting some comeuppance now for that. Thanks. You can have a couple, take your best player. Cheers. Yeah, yeah,
00:07:00
Speaker
Just like we're doing to Crystal Palace with Mark Gay for the Community Shield. Yeah, yeah. It's just our style at the moment. um ah And, you know, i you even as Newcastle fans, you do have to understand that Liverpool are at the very top level in the world at the moment. And as good as Newcastle have done in recent years, you know, getting back into the Champions League and all of that, it's not enough for him.
00:07:27
Speaker
And he just wants to take that next step in his career. The way he's got about it, fine. Not very good, especially since, you know, from a Liverpool perspective, when Isak seemed like a deal that was off the table, we went for Eketike. And then afterwards he said, do you know what?
00:07:44
Speaker
I fancy Liverpool now, now that we've bought this new striker. So I'm a bit annoyed with him on that perspective and him putting out that statement ahead of the award ceremony was incredibly stupid. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen that.
00:07:57
Speaker
um And I actually respected the response from Newcastle, albeit against us, ah which kind of put him in his place sort of in social media.
00:08:09
Speaker
And You do have to do that with some players sometimes because a lot of these players do need to be a bit more humble and a bit less outspoken. um So from that perspective, it's not an attitude that I'm looking for, but unfortunately, you can't you can't deny the talent.
00:08:28
Speaker
So um I do still want him at the club. And as soon as he scores a goal for us, you know we're going to forget all that happened anyway. So yeah. Sure you will. um Look, guys, you've you've you've put a lot more sense across. And if I'm honest, this is kind of why we like doing stuff like this, because unfortunately on social media, all you ever get is the viciousness you get, stupidity you get people just on the wind up 24 seven, um just putting out ridiculous statements. So what you guys have said, look, we're not going to deny it, by the way. And we're not going to deny right from the start, Jesse, what you said about the, about being a world-class talent.
00:09:02
Speaker
We know he's one of the greatest, if not the best striker in the world right now. It's what we were kind of saying last season. The massive disappointment, I'm sure you guys will understand, is just came from the way this has all happened. um He's talking about broken promises.
00:09:15
Speaker
What broken promises, Isaac? Who promised you it? He's not saying anything, so he knows he can't because he's liable for like a legal case at that point, isn't he really? um Or... What was the promise?
00:09:26
Speaker
Was the promise about being sold? Was the promise about a new contract? He's been so vague in anything that he's come out with. Well, that stupid little statement on Instagram is really all he's came out with. But it's so vague and it's more the frustration. And Nick, I'm sure I'll back this up on this one.
00:09:42
Speaker
It's more the fact that this didn't happen at the start of the window where the club or anything like that has almost had time to, all right, we've been going after strikers and stuff, but I think we would have really upped our game a lot more if we thought that we really were going to lose Isaac. You know what i mean?
00:09:54
Speaker
um It's the disrespect he's shown to the club, towards Howe, towards his other teammates. What some of those guys must be thinking of him right now, because they'll not come out and say it. They're all media trained. They're not going to say what they want to say, but can you imagine what's being said behind closed doors? I'd love to be a fly on the wall for some of those conversations. I think Big Joel will want to rip him a new one, by the way, along with Bruno.
00:10:14
Speaker
and a lot So really, I can't see Isak being integrated back into our team. I know what Howe's saying because Howe is like the ultra cool. Like I couldn't do what Howe's doing right now and play this like total chill game.
00:10:25
Speaker
ah bet nobody's asked Jason Tindall these questions because Jason Tindall can't be calm. So he'd probably go off on one, wouldn't he? um But the point being is... Do you think players like... When players like Isak are in this situation...
00:10:38
Speaker
Yeah. um'm I'm trying to look at it from it from a player's perspective perspective. And I know it as fans, we we sometimes find that difficult, but i'm I'm trying to put myself in his shoes. Do you think that this is a kind of conscious strategy by him and his agent? Because he's probably thinking, look, I'm, I think, is 25, 25, 26 years old?
00:11:00
Speaker
you know, he's now entering the peak years of his career right now. And he's got, I think two or three years left on his three three years left, three years left on his Newcastle contract.
00:11:12
Speaker
We've got to go for the nuclear option. and that is to burn bridges so that it becomes it becomes it becomes basically untenable for him to now, like you said, be reintegrated into that team. I just can't it happening. yeah Exactly. So do you think that's a deliberate strategy to so that Newcastle will just say, you know what, just just leave? Because the alternative is having a player who is not only just unhappy,
00:11:43
Speaker
But his very kind of presence is toxic to the rest of the team. Toxic, absolutely. yeah And he's getting paid more than the rest of the team as well. Yeah, I just i just think that these players aren't stupid. Their agents aren't stupid.
00:11:54
Speaker
I think there's a lot of thought that goes behind each step that they take, which is massive because everybody knows that all of these steps are played out on social media. The whole world is watching.
00:12:05
Speaker
um So what do you think, um you know, up you know with for the Newcastle podcasters here, Is that a deliberate strategy? Nick, you take this one. You guys are really calm about this whole situation. he's um actually think I know Alexander Isak personally, the mal and amount of venom i have towards him.
00:12:26
Speaker
I can't work out if he's... I can't work out if it's him that's being idiotic or his agent. um Yeah. yeah Because to me, they both have to hold up some responsibility. But my problem with the the whole situation is And I know it's not about this. So I know you guys are going to be thinking, well, it's not about that. It's a business. And I get it.
00:12:47
Speaker
Six weeks ago, he traveled with Newcastle to Austria for the preseason training. He traveled with that squad. Was seen laughing. He was happy. He was buzzing when and his best friend, Antti Langer, joined.
00:12:58
Speaker
He was included in all the preseason and and kit promotions. Then he's decided at that point, I'm not happy. yeah Now, I know, again, that is work and that's how that's how it that's how that's what happens.
00:13:14
Speaker
Something has happened within that really short span of time where his agent, I think it might be his agent, has thought, I think we can do something here. My problem with the situation, I don't mind that he wants to leave, by the way. Yes, I am absolutely devastated that our best player is going to, we knew was going happen at some point.
00:13:33
Speaker
i don't I understand why he wants to go to trophy winning clubs and Champions League winning clubs, particularly you guys, I get it. I absolutely 100% get it. But I have now compared it to um the the dude that's gone to Arsenal now, Eze, where he handled his transfer with absolute grace.
00:13:54
Speaker
yeah He played his last game for Palace with absolute grace. He made the fans aware that he wanted to leave and he made his manager aware that he wanted to leave. But he'd done it with absolute decorum, respect, and everything that you did. Did his job. Yeah, did his job.
00:14:09
Speaker
What I don't like is, like you guys say, he released that statement at the most unbelievable time. And it was all about him being included the PFA team. No one cares, mate. Eddie Howe's actually defended you um to the hilt.
00:14:22
Speaker
Like, oh, he's got an injury. He's got this. He's got that. yeah You've disrespected him. You've disrespected your teammates. You've disrespected the fans and the club.
00:14:32
Speaker
there's no coming back from it and to be completely honest I'm a bit like I mean get why you guys are excited for him potentially coming to you I think he will end Liverpool player that's my absolute take on it I think you're right I think the game tomorrow today whenever this goes out is playing apart I think maybe that's maybe waiting to get out the way because of that toxic and hostile environment that's going to be there's no denying that it's going to a cauldron tomorrow yeah it's not going to be good but to answer the original question I think between him and his agent, I think Alexander Isak is his agent's moneymaker and he's got two ahead of himself, bit big for his boots and hasn't had no other option but to go for the nuclear option.
00:15:12
Speaker
Yeah, i'm just I'm just looking at the the statement again, because he said this final paragraph really does speak levels. He says, when promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can't continue.
00:15:27
Speaker
and We agree. And not only that, he said, that's why change is in the best interests of everyone, not just myself. So is what he's basically doing there is he's speaking on behalf of the club.
00:15:41
Speaker
or what he believes the club is interested in in his head. So i'm I'm wondering if that's a miscommunication error with the club. is ah It's a dysfunctional relationship that can't continue regardless. But when he says it's in the best interest of everyone, what's your reaction to that?
00:16:01
Speaker
where you reading them they and We want rid of him, to be fair. We we don't want him. 100% we don't want him, by the way. but It's a strange one. it It goes back to the fact that we've got nobody else as well. it's like the time ever When you bring in all the factors, right?
00:16:15
Speaker
Honestly, please God, you guys come in with a massive bid and take him because we do not want to see him back in black and white. We don't. But it all falls down on the fact that, unhappy or not, we don't have a striker, man.
00:16:27
Speaker
They're even talking about letting Asula out. We're only actual striker. They're even talking about letting him out on loan. I mean, how insane is that? I mean, if this is how little trust he's got in Asula, so ah weg are we just going to go on this season now with no striker? We're about to start a Champions League campaign. We're about to start all sorts.
00:16:44
Speaker
So even if we've got an unhappy player, I'm so angry at him. i quite like the attitude of our owners of screw you. You're not going to win. We're not letting you go. We're not going to give you this move because diego again yeah we've got we have got that kind of anger towards him, haven't we?
00:17:01
Speaker
Where we don't want him to get something out of it Because why? Because if he goes, he gets what he wants and we still get absolutely nothing. All right, we'll get a chunk of change. But do you honestly think you guys are going to come back in with 130, 140, whatever now I don't think so because you don't have to. And I'm wondering whether that kind of price tag that Newcastle or the ownership has has put on the player, I'm wondering if that's a factor in him really kind of going public with this because maybe he thinks that he's being priced out of a move. Maybe he thinks that Liverpool aren't going to stump up £150 million pounds and so he's got to really make...
00:17:39
Speaker
he's got to really make it difficult, the the whole situation difficult, so that yeah boat the club thinks, you know what, we just can't have this player with us now. So, okay, we'll sell him 125 130, you know, whatever they can negotiate at.
00:17:54
Speaker
But I think that that's probably a factor as well. Yeah. Look, it's going to play out one way or another. Something's going to happen but by the 1st of September. But everything's so up in the air.
Newcastle's Striker Dilemma
00:18:07
Speaker
So many things could happen between now and then. ah pray to God we at least get one striker in, by the way, at this point. We're getting a bit desperate. It's getting a bit silly. We've been after to too many players. We need to get someone in, whether it's Vissa, whether it's Jackson, whether it's God knows who, because we're linked to everyone now, obviously.
00:18:22
Speaker
And everyone seems to have 60 million. I don't what's going on with the 60 million price tag. Everyone wants 60 million, which I have laughed at so many different, they're all worth 60 million. I was like, all right, okay. um But genuinely, I think, and I think again, Nick will back me up on this.
00:18:36
Speaker
We'd be more than happy to get replacements in the net years ago at this point. We really would, but we just have to have something we can't, we just can't let him go with nothing. And I know people like, well, you're getting a load of money. I'm like, yeah, it's all great having a load of money, but if you're not spending it on anyone, you then got a very weak team going into the season and we can't then trade until January again. It's huge, man.
00:18:57
Speaker
like This situation for the club and players, not great. Like, no matter what part of the situation you're in, like, no play it play it potential players are going to be looking at this thinking, this is a mess. Is this how Newcastle with this?
00:19:08
Speaker
I mean, I think Newcastle have dealt with it really well, I'm going to be honest, but I can understand why future players will be hesitant in coming to the team now because they're like, well, this has been made real public. um So thanks, Alex, for that.
00:19:20
Speaker
yeah The other issue that you've got, I think, is is you're you're in that kind of, you don't want to be in a situation where you you get a huge chunk of money in and then you've got to go out and buy your players because everybody knows now, ah, they're £150 their now, he's now £80 million.
00:19:38
Speaker
so that sixty million pound player now he's now eighty yeah yeah Ideally, which to be fair, Newcastle have been trying to do is to get players in and then say, right, it's out, off you go, because you've already done your deals.
00:19:52
Speaker
So I think that's another... think these clubs will be wise to that though. Yeah. I think they'll be saying, hold on, you've got £120 million pounds that you've just been offered and you want to pay £50 million.
00:20:03
Speaker
We know that you'll be able to afford it once you let Isak go, who is yeah definitely going to be leaving at this yeah stage and after reading those statements. Yeah. i don't I don't think that does make a difference, to be honest.
00:20:15
Speaker
But this is the mess of it all, Louis, isn't it? It's just a massive entangled mess that whether we bid now or bid later, you're right, you bang on People are going to want to have our eyes out, so to speak, because they know that, all right, we don't have it in our pocket right now, but it'll come eventually.
00:20:30
Speaker
So, yeah, yeah look, it's it's a huge mess at the end of the day. And we can joke about it, we can get angry about it, I guess, but at the same time. Especially when you're still playing Anthony Gordon up front. and another player who's linked to us interestingly enough it is not the answer know it's just not the answer is it's so true yeah I'll tell you we'll not go on that one either nobody joking I'll tell you what we've spent 20 minutes on him we'll promise we wouldn't spend the full pod so should we stop talking about him now because I would genuinely like to talk about the match on Monday because I think there's still a lot to talk about on that side of things so I will play the sponsor now and then we can move on to actual match talk yeah
00:21:06
Speaker
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00:21:26
Speaker
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00:21:37
Speaker
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Match Atmosphere and Strategies
00:21:45
Speaker
Cool. Thanks, Ken. um Right, so i'm sorry on to Match Talk. Yeah, exactly.
00:21:53
Speaker
The match. I mean, honestly, I don't even know where to start from it. We've already touched on the fact that it's going to be like an actual cauldron in that stage. I expect an atmosphere on the levels of PSG that I was there at and some of the other amazing matches I've seen over the years. But it's going to be a cauldron.
00:22:09
Speaker
Probably in a very vicious way. Unfortunately, I'm right up next to the your fans. So I will be having a few pints first or something to calm. I would say calm the nerves. It probably might stoke the fire. Oh, no, Matt will not calm the nerves at all. It will not calm the nerves.
00:22:24
Speaker
Honestly, Louis, if you know knew me personally, Nick's probably laughing because she'll know that it just makes me go off on one anyway. that's fine. But you know what it is? I'm kind i'm all in for it. i love a bit of that. I hope it's as loud as hell. I hope it's a great atmosphere all game long.
00:22:36
Speaker
You guys would be probably winding us up about EZAC. We'll be giving it back. I want to see a good game on the pitch as well, apart from the fact that everyone's just going to shouting at each other, by the way. um But yeah, I mean, let's let's actually talk about the football. like Nick, I'll ask you first.
00:22:51
Speaker
How do you feel? ah know. How do you feel about the match on Monday? do you think, or today as you listen to this, do you think we've got a bit of chance? Do you think that we'll come out firing because of all this?
00:23:04
Speaker
I'd like to hope so. But um yeah, give us your thoughts, girl. um well i hope we're all ready to bail joe linton out of jail um he's getting arrested he is seeing blood tomorrow night um no um look we have every i mean yes okay we're without our star player we have ah to we've established that um i think the fact we're at home um st james park on a on a on a bad day still a bla a a tough place to come so tomorrow i think the atmosphere is going to be something the team needs um
00:23:35
Speaker
home crowd right behind them. So I think, I think they're going to come out guns blazing. um And there's, that don't get me wrong, Liverpool are a tough team to play. We know that. We get it.
00:23:46
Speaker
um And they have got, you guys have got an unbelievable squad, by the way. um So I am a little bit nervous um because I don't know, i don't know what to expect. I don't know what formation Eddie Howe is going to put out. Obviously only he knows that because obviously we're trying to play around with players up front and whatnot.
00:24:03
Speaker
um But I do think we have a chance and I think it's, I'm hoping, I'm going to be a baller and no-no, but I'm hoping it's going to be one of those games where it's just box to box, goal to goal. And when St. James Park is on its um honest good night, it's um like the PSG game and like you say. um We've seen teams crumble under the pressure.
00:24:23
Speaker
So, yeah. The box-to-boxing is a great point, to be fair, because I think it is going high energy and very much attacking on both sides, isn't it? Both teams are going to go for it. And you guys are unreal. We know this, by the way. There's no denying how great Liverpool are, and that's where we are bit scared. But...
00:24:38
Speaker
we can beat you guys. So it's it's one of those that we have to have that belief still, don't we? You know what i mean? We're very much aware that technically and on paper, yes, you're the better team. And yes, we are 100% the underdogs tomorrow night.
00:24:49
Speaker
But we've got to hope that we'll come out and just give it literally everything we've got. so be The underdogs stop by a lot, though. I mean, I think the... um You know, Liverpool, Newcastle, even in recent history, been great games. And in historically, Liverpool, Newcastle, very rarely are there nil-nils.
00:25:07
Speaker
It's always goals, action, end-to-end stuff. um And, i'm you know, I'm just looking at your your team, you know, which should be your starting eleven And it is a very, very good team. And when you put in that St. James' Park factor, the home factor, the fact that everyone is going to be so up up for it.
00:25:26
Speaker
and that And look, that's why we love English football, right? That's why English football is the most watched football around the world, is because of these games, these kinds of games, the kind of atmosphere that's going to be there.
00:25:38
Speaker
But I think the tactical side is, I think, is going to be really fascinating because, um you know, you've you've mentioned that you're not sure how Eddie Howe is going to shape up. I think with Arnie Slott as well,
00:25:51
Speaker
i I've got a feeling that he's going to try and do what we did last season against Man City at the Etihad, which is play four midfielders and two forwards.
00:26:04
Speaker
So instead of the normal kind of two holding midfielders that we've got with a double pivot and then three midfielders and then, you know, or, you know, a 4-3-3. Yeah. yeah I think he's going to go for a double pivot and then I think he's going to go for two number ten Soboslai and Witts.
00:26:22
Speaker
And I don't think we're going to have an out-on-out number nine, even though Eketike is there. i got I've got a feeling, because I think that the games where we've struggled with against Newcastle is the physicality of their midfield.
00:26:37
Speaker
And I think Slott will want to basically outnumber them. The way to... ah don't think we've we've got the physical game. I don't think Gravenberg... has got the physical game to go up against Joe Linton.
00:26:50
Speaker
um But what we can do is if we've got four midfielders against Newcastle's three, I think that that is something that could work and then just hit them on but on the break where you've got the likes of Sabozlai who's got an unbelievable engine on him. The guy will just run for 90 minutes up and down that pitch.
00:27:10
Speaker
And if you've got someone like him and Vietz, who can just drop into midfield and then join the attack as well, then I think that's something that um that could work well with us.
00:27:21
Speaker
But I think Liverpool's tactic will be just to quieten the crowd for the first 15, 20 minutes. And again, for me, it speaks to packing out that midfield, holding possession, and then just trying to build from there.
00:27:35
Speaker
Yeah. Louis? Yeah, i I am looking at some of these matches on the pitch. I think the fascinating one will be Gakpo versus Trippier if he plays.
00:27:46
Speaker
um Because I just don't know if Trippier has the legs to catch Gakpo anymore. He's so good on the left-hand side. And, you know, he's one of those players where you can predict what he's going to do and he'll just do it anyway.
00:27:58
Speaker
He cuts in on ah on his right foot and he sweeps it into the box. Or he shoots. It's one of the two. And he's so effective at it. um So I think Dan Byrne at the back is going to have a huge, huge job.
00:28:13
Speaker
um What will be interesting to me is who plays at right back for Liverpool. Because obviously we're missing for Mpong. Bradley hasn't played a single minute yet. yeah And um it the question is...
00:28:25
Speaker
Could Soboslai actually play at right back? Because we did see him do that quite a lot in preseason. Or will it be Curtis Jones, who we've seen on a slot experiments with before? I think either of them are clever enough players where they can do that.
00:28:40
Speaker
Anything you can for Joe Gomez, Louis? I just think with Joe Gomez, he doesn't offer that much going forward. I think he's one of those players that, um well, he's a natural centre-back. We all know this.
00:28:53
Speaker
um If he's playing at right-back, it usually means we're winning and there's 20 minutes to go. that's that's That's how I see it. But, if we're going to see Joe Gomez... Well, let's hope he comes on then on Monday night then, yeah? Yeah, that would be absolutely lovely. Happening tomorrow.
00:29:09
Speaker
oh Maybe we could see him start instead of Canate after that ah disappointing match he had against Bournemouth last week because that's my fear. Will Ibrahima Canate be able to bounce back from such a disappointing game? Because we all know yeah he is yeah incredible on his day, but he has got a penalty conceded on him.
00:29:33
Speaker
He's got a miss sliding tackle on him. He's got... all sorts ah going for him. Anthony Gordon's ears. So he's just so inconsistent. You're winding him up.
00:29:45
Speaker
Oh, God, yeah, there'll be a lot of that. There's going to be a lot of winding up. There is. Someone's getting carded. If you want to stick any bets on, there's 100% at least one red card, I reckon. I would bet on it, but I've banned myself from betting on two matches now, so it's fine.
00:29:59
Speaker
um Just I'm using a curse, so I'll stay... Absolutely. If only Sandro Gnale could do this thing. Jason Tindall's getting a red card. He is getting sent to the back. Probably, currently yeah yeah um I mean, I'd like us personally is um play the formation that worked quite well on the few games that we did it with the kind of...
00:30:17
Speaker
three central defenders and have the wing-backs. It worked perfectly, especially against Arsenal. um Absolutely loved beating them um with that formation a couple of times last season, much to Arteta's tears.
00:30:28
Speaker
um But yeah, seriously, ah it's it's a formation that could work against you guys because we'll kind of need that extra defensive display, but it does allow us... to play out very well from the back. Anyway, we've got the speed on the wings as well, which we've got to utilise really.
00:30:41
Speaker
um And I know it won't go down well, but I said it the other day, I wouldn't mind seeing Gordon back out on the left and sticking Barnes in the middle because to me, Gordon is wasted in the middle. He's more effective on the left and Barnes technically is a better striker of the ball.
00:30:56
Speaker
So appreciate Barnes isn't a striker, but neither is Gordon. He's just not, he is a winger. All right, he can play in the middle, but he's a winger. um I don't think that's going to happen. I don't think Eddie will play that, but it's just what I would like to see.
00:31:07
Speaker
Osula's blatantly not being trusted, so he'll be on the bench. and there Is there a world, I know this sounds absolutely crazy, but is there a world where we could run it back four years and stick Joel Linton up front?
00:31:20
Speaker
He would do it all, honestly. He would?
00:31:24
Speaker
I want him in the middle though. We need him through the middle. He'll be in the middle. But I generally think now light on the pitch that Joey Linton is one of them players that Eddie Howe's just magically transformed.
00:31:34
Speaker
You tell him to go and play in goal, go play in goal. He'll do whatever he wants. Yeah, he'll just do whatever he wants. But I do think that Anthony Gordon out on the left on Monday night, because as Louis mentioned, yeah um Jeremy Frimpong, who's out Speedster, he's out.
00:31:52
Speaker
Connor Bradley, I don't think he's going to play. And so... yeah but no huge shame shame he a nice guy You're left Joe Gomez as centre-back or potentially new fielders.
00:32:09
Speaker
It's Jones and Sir Bosley. So, you know, i I would, if I was a Newcastle fan, I'd want Gordon out on the left. yeah And also Canate's covering him.
00:32:19
Speaker
I watched your game v Bournemouth, I'm not going to lie, like as i was watching it and as it finished, I know you guys won. But Bournemouth gave you a game, man. And I said at the end of the game, of I was like, can you please look at, you know, and like talk to the TV. I was like, can you guys please play like that next Monday?
00:32:35
Speaker
Because like, yeah, it might give us a chance, man, because you did not have your strongest game. You're fully aware of that. But in true champion style, you still won 4-2. So it's a but it's one of those, isn't it? Like you've still got the players no matter what.
00:32:47
Speaker
Yeah, we can't keep conceding like that and expect to win. But I think Ryan Gravenberg coming back in, I think, is is a is a massive... he was He was a massive miss for us against Bournemouth.
00:32:58
Speaker
He just gives us that extra shield in in front of the back four. And him and McAllister are just so good at kind of plugging those gaps, you know. And so if you if you remember the Bournemouth, the second Bournemouth goal, it went literally straight through us.
00:33:13
Speaker
I thought said you wouldn't play him. Yeah, that's a position where Gravenberg would be. So um I'm hoping that that is not going to be the case because um i I'd be surprised if we could score four
Historical Rivalry and Player Connections
00:33:27
Speaker
goals in St. James' Park to win that game.
00:33:31
Speaker
That ain't happening. No comment. I'm not Jason ending me. I'm not saying anything. Nothing's happening. so Nothing's happening. All three. I see four. Oh, man. I'll tell you what. you see, I'm old enough to remember those games. Louis isn't Nick, you're not, are you, chick?
00:33:46
Speaker
and And you know what? I know we lost them, right? But they're still... And it goes back to what you were saying, Jessie, before about historically. We just always have great games kind of to watch between us, don't we?
00:33:56
Speaker
And they are still two of my favourite games. Like, it's mental that we've lost them, and that could be up there in my favourite games. But... It's just the the actual spectacle of the whole game and the dramatics of it. And yeah, all right, we were on the losing side, but you can still appreciate the game as a whole as to what it gave us. You know what I mean? So, yeah.
00:34:12
Speaker
Well, feel sorry for me, guys, because my husband's a Liverpool fan. always feel for you. My house is hostile. Very hostile. When Eckertique got stolen from us, was like, oh, for God's sake.
00:34:24
Speaker
And then the Eastland drama, and i'm like, oh, i can't do this. Yeah. So it's hostile over this side. I don't know how you do it. I'm not going to lie. Not very well. Ginger rage would take over with me.
00:34:37
Speaker
but The history between the two clubs, though, is um in terms of the relationship between the two two clubs, in terms of players. And I'm not just talking about average players. I'm talking about great, great players who have played for both clubs. And and like in last week's podcast, I ah did an episode um where I looked at the greatest players to have played for both Liverpool and Newcastle.
00:34:58
Speaker
And you just look back and you just look at those names, Kevin Keegan, Terry Mack, You know, some really Alan Kennedy, you know, yeah great, great players that have played for both yeah Beardsley.
00:35:09
Speaker
You know, so many, many top players. um So it's it's it's just a really interesting relationship because even at the, you know, with Kenny Dalgdish and Kevin Keegan,
00:35:21
Speaker
Kevin Keegan left Liverpool and Kenny Dalgleish replaced him as a player. And they did the same as a manager at Newcastle. So there's there's a lot of kind of overlap in terms of the history.
Match Predictions and Conclusion
00:35:32
Speaker
But I think everyone's going to forget that and hate hate each other on Monday night. Oh, it's going to be tough. Oh, 100%. And it should be like that during the 90 minutes. I love that during the 90 minutes. So it's what I want it to be. And that's you count on the kind of atmosphere. There's nothing worse, I think, than the dual games because there always is dual games in the season where,
00:35:48
Speaker
the atmosphere is flat as hell and no matter what what's happening on the pitch I'll be honest sometimes the atmosphere just stinks and like even the way fans can be poor and you're like oh no you count on them at least do something to wind us up to react back but yeah so no I'm i'm all for an atmospheric game like so I don't even and no in no doubt tomorrow's going to be that it's going to be all that and more I think um so it's fine looking forward to it very much so I'll be honest but I'll tell you what, we'll wrap it up. However, go on, we'll do the inevitable um predictions. So I'm going to throw in Ian's because Ian does love to give a prediction and he loves to give the same prediction every single game, by the way.
00:36:24
Speaker
and it comes off every now and again, as you can imagine, so eventually it's got to happen. But he's going to predict the 3-1 Newcastle win. That's his favourite thing to do. So never never more have we wanted Ian to be right. um Bless his heart. ah don't know he's going to be this time, but, you know, I love the optimism and stuff. But and come on, we'll we'll go for the you guys first. Jesse, what are you saying?
00:36:44
Speaker
I'm going 2-1 Liverpool. oh i'm going for an I'm going for an Anthony Gordon opener, and I'm going for Gakpo and Salah to sneak the yeah three points for us.
00:36:56
Speaker
Right, so we're going to get excited, and then going to kill our hopes. I love it. Right, I like it. Louis, what are you doing? Oh, this is such a difficult one to predict. i'm don't Don't say the 7-0 that you said on the group chat, yeah. Don't say it.
00:37:12
Speaker
so Just when I was partially liking you right there. i mean I think I'm going to go three two to Liverpool. I think it's going to be goals. And I think it will be a last-minute winner.
00:37:22
Speaker
ah We've seen it before. We'll see it again. There's always late goals in this game. Think about Darwin Nunez. Yeah, true. What a day that was. yeah Right.
00:37:35
Speaker
Nick, what are you saying, Chick? So I want the biggest plot twist of 2025 and I want Alexander Eastside to walk out in a Newcastle kit tomorrow night. Shut up.
00:37:45
Speaker
Men. Men. Sorry. Is this a fantasy podcast? She'll wake up in a second. It's all right. She's waking up. Now he walks on a little bit.
00:37:58
Speaker
I actually think it's going to be... I'm actually going to go for a draw. think it's going to be a 2-2 draw. I think it's going to be a draw. Oh, Nick, you've just nicked mine. Sorry. I was going to say No, no, because I agree with, again, what we've talked about this whole pod and what Louis just said there. I think there's going to be a lot of goals and I was going to go 2-2. So um I'm not shifting on that. We're going have to just tie on that one, Nick. so And I can never, ever predict a loss. So no matter what, I would never predict just a loss. So, yeah.
00:38:25
Speaker
Me either. We'll go 2-2. Yeah. but Two draws and two wins. like But no matter what, it's going to be spicy. yes I love saying that now.
00:38:36
Speaker
it it is It's going to be great. but um look It's been a pleasure having you guys on. It really has. I hope this has um and entertained the masses as Nick wanted. and then nick Obviously that is director Nick. um Not you, yeah. ah but yeah look It's been a pleasure having you guys and we'll see you again another time in the the season and Hopefully but can at least be happy, kinder to see you and won't hate you too much.
00:39:03
Speaker
It's been lovely. so Thank you very much, guys. Thanks guys. Cheers.
00:39:16
Speaker
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