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00:00:01
The Man City mentality - will we stop the rot against Spurs?
13 Plays29 days ago
Episode 48, Daily Manchester City - In this Friday Forecast, Keelin and Jack sit down to discuss how Injuries and players returning can galvanize the squad and whether the losing streak comes to an end this weekend.
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Transcript
00:00:09
Keelin McNamara
Hello ladies and gentlemen and welcome back to daily Manchester City, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. We are of course your one-stop shop for pretty much anything and everything Manchester City. Today I am joined, it's a two-man show today, unfortunately Lewis and June's are doing, we don't even want to know what but unfortunately they're not here. However, I am joined of course by the man who may or may not be the real Yasco Vardial, we haven't quite got that down yet.
00:00:36
Keelin McNamara
Either way, I am, of course, joined by Jack Ward. Jack, how are you?
00:00:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm good. Yeah, we haven't quite solved that mystery yet. I mean, nobody has seen me and Josh Goegwadi all in the same room at the same time. That's all I'll say on that matter. so But it's a pleasure to be here. Great to be back on another episode. Friday forecast is it is a great one because we get get the chance to kind of discuss a little bit more wider in the Premier League other than just Manchester City, which is always nice.
00:01:02
Keelin McNamara
100% absolutely. I mean, listen, Man City's official training pictures. I haven't seen Jack and Yasuko on the pitch together. So, you know,
00:01:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah I had to sneak away from my day job to go and take them pictures just so you know.
00:01:18
Keelin McNamara
So, to kick off the episode, of course, it's another great weekend of Premier League fixtures, as it always is. Funny enough, this weekend, Man City are involved in the biggest game of the weekend. Of course, we are at home to Tottenham Hotspur, who have a very annoying habit of being a massive pain in Man City's ass anytime we try to achieve anything. um Obviously, it's not been great so far this season. We got knocked out of the League Cup because of Tottenham, and now we have the chance to get some revenge on them.
00:01:47
Keelin McNamara
So where I want to start with this Jack is we were talking about this before we started recording. Man City have had some huge injury news and for once this season it's positive. Manuela Kanji, Nathan Aque, John Stones and Kevin De Bruyne have all been spotted taking part in training again which would indicate that they are closer to a first team return.
00:02:09
Keelin McNamara
So I just wanted to get your thoughts on that, because obviously they've been four of the biggest injuries this season, aside from Roger, of course, who but we might not even see him this season. What are your thoughts on the four being spotted back in training, Jack?
00:02:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, it's absolutely huge news. I mean, to to to go through the phone that we've been going through at the moment, it's so easy to say it's it's because of this, and it's because of that, and it's because of lack of motivation or discipline. But like you know like it or not, we've been hit with some massive, massive injuries and and multiple of them. And know it's funny you mentioned about Manuel Kanji being spotted back in training. and And he's a player who's kind of played through a lot of pain at the moment this season. And I remember watching the sporting game, which was about the the second um or third game into our lost streak at the moment and I remember he took a really nasty knock I can't remember it against who but in that sporting game and I genuinely said when I was watching that game that I thought he'd done his ACL right there and then because it was right above the knee and it just looked really uncomfortable and it
00:03:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
and it it looked like a painful injury but he played the rest of the game and I thought it's going to be a case like some of the players who play play on and and and it'll come back and bite him and then that that kind of came to a fruition when he pulled out of the Switzerland squad but he seems to be relatively fine but that that was a player at the time who was our kind of last senior centre back to be playing in that back line of course we had Roscoe, Jasko Guardiola playing there is kind of a superstar, but he was the last defender that can kind of really organize the defense. And we've seen that, you know, with Ruben Diaz out at the time, we were just all over the place. So the the the prospect of losing Manilakanji on top of that was really worrying. So to see both him, Stones, Akke, all back training and and hopefully some of them will feature against Spurs, it's a huge sign because
00:04:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know it's like It's like a light at the end of the tunnel, really. you know we're We're going through a bit of bad form at the moment. But when these key players, these important players start to come back, it's just huge for it. And it's huge for the confidence. Because I don't know what it is, but when it comes to Manchester City, when we go through these kind of patches of rough form, I almost have this thing in the back of my head where I can see the kind of cameras rolling and and the players in the dressing room start to get to get big as Reuben Diaz famously said in in that documentary, this is when we start to get big. And I just kind of feel like when people start to put us down and out and the underdogs and I kind of relish in that, I relish in that. So when other people look at City and say, okay, we've got this injury crisis going on at the moment, I see little murmurings, little whisperings of
00:04:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
the confidence growing actually in City that we can turn this around because people are starting to doubt us and put us away and under the bus and that's when we really start to relish.
00:04:58
Keelin McNamara
So I think, Jack, you've just made a really, really interesting point there because we've seen the debt ah we talked about this yesterday, in fact, and on Thursday's episode. Go and check that out as well if you haven't had the chance to watch it. Obviously, injuries have a devastating effect on any team in the world. Of course, the Premier League's no different.
00:05:16
Keelin McNamara
But one thing we have seen with Manchester City, maybe that we haven't seen with other clubs, is that even though the injuries are devastating, they do almost seem to galvanise the players and they seem to bring an extra 10-20% out of each player that is fit. Do you think in a weird way the amount of injuries that we've seen already this season could almost be a mental positive and that it might actually motivate players to take their chance more and that it might actually fire City up more than it would ah otherwise?
00:05:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think if you ask the same question about any other team in Europe the answer is unequivocally absolutely no but I think with City the mentality is just so different that I actually think it does start to galvanise these players because if you take the roger injury for example I don't think I remember a time in football where an injury to a player was that widely celebrated amongst other fans of other fan bases which i think was wrong of course obviously no one wants to see a player gets injured but but like it or not he is the absolute engine of the best midfield for the best mid best team in Europe at the moment so with him going out all these other teams are thinking right here's our chance so i do think that absolutely galvanizes the team because when you look at take last year for example when Kevin De Bruyne was out for a massive portion of the season and and came back against Newcastle
00:06:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
That, I think it was, it might have been Jurgen Klopp that said, you know, that famous quote, Kevin De Bruyne is warming up and the whole country is shaking. That absolutely galvanises this city team because that is a performance where everyone on the pitch in that Newcastle game at St James's Park was in absolute awe.
00:06:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
of Kevin De Bruyne when he came back from a massive injury and he completely changed the game. A brilliant goal, one of the best assists I've ever seen and and it was just huge for the mentality of the squad and I think that when we get some of these players starting to come back now that's also going to be huge for for the galvanization of the squad. I'm particularly looking at Ruben Diaz's return. When Ruben Diaz starts playing again and gets a good run of form and a good run of games underneath him, then that's when I think that the mentality of this team will start to be really, really evident. I think we'll be grinding out results. I think we'll even be battering some teams. But I just think that it all starts to turn around when some of these key players start to come in back, not just because of what they are capable of doing on the pitch,
00:07:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
But like you said, Keelan, the mentality, it changes when these players start coming back. And not just with these certain players, but for the rest of the team, they're seeing that big, big hitters coming back and going, right, now is the time. This is it. And I'm thinking about players like Rico Lewis and stuff like that, who are going to be looking at these giants in defense. And you know for someone like Rico Lewis, to have Ruben Diaz coming back into the team, that's going to be huge. Because he knows that any times he maybe makes a mistake in the midfield or in the defence he turns around and sees him, you know, covering for him. I think it's just a huge mentality wise for these players to start coming back. So yeah, any other team in Europe? No, not a chance, but City, absolutely. like
00:08:24
Keelin McNamara
Yeah, 100%, I really don't disagree with the word that you've said. Last thing I want to ask you before we head to break before part two is, and the four players that are training back from injury, are there any of the four that you would put into the team to start against Tottenham, or do you think it's important to give them a game to before you start integrating them back in again?
00:08:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think maybe Pep might be forced to to play one of them or start one of them. I'm thinking there's there's several different opportunities for some of these different players to come back. I'm thinking particularly Nathan Akay has played very minimal minutes this season.
00:09:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
If Pep wants to say, okay, okay, he needs to come in to that left back position. So Kvosko, er, Josko Kvadio can play in that centre-half position and maybe both of them can double up on threats like Brennan Johnson and Dejan Kulesevsky, who operate in that right-hand area, and then I think there's an opportunity for that. I also think there's an opportunity for John Stones to come back straight into the defence and play at centre-half if If he needs more cover in that midfield, obviously we've got a midfield at the moment, which has been kind of ran through this season. Let's, let's face it. It's been, it's been weak and lacking physicality. If you've got someone like Johnstone, so you can operate in their midfield areas quite comfortably. I think there's opportunities for that. I actually don't really necessarily know what Pep's going to do or what he's going to go with, whether he is going to rush any of these players back, but I certainly think there's opportunities for these players to come back.
00:09:53
Keelin McNamara
Yeah, I completely agree with you. And with that, that wraps up part one of this Friday forecast. In part two, we're going to do a bit of a breakdown in Tottenham, how we think they're going to approach this game. And in the last part of the episode, we'll go round the league and look at the rest. Catch you after this.
00:10:36
Keelin McNamara
Alright ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to part two of this Friday forecast. Me and Jack are now going to have a look at our visitors from North London on Saturday and that is of course Tottenham Hotspur. Now we mentioned in part one that Tottenham have already got the edge over us once this season, albeit against a much weakened squad in the Carabao Cup. So Jack,
00:10:57
Keelin McNamara
Before we get into anything, I wanted to do a bit of a breakdown in Tottenham because they've had a real mixed run of form this season. They've had some games where they've been the best team in the league in terms of how they play and we've seen performances like before the international break where they lost to Ipswich Town. What are your thoughts in Tottenham this season and do you think Andr Postercoglou is the right man to manage Tottenham? And if so, what do you think he needs to change?
00:11:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Well, you talk about Tottenham with a mixed form this season. Their last five games has been loss, win, loss, win, loss. That could not get any more mixed. It is literally 50-50. So, I don't know necessarily where it's going wrong for Anj post a cochlear this season. Every time I've watched Tottenham play, they play pretty good football. I'm i'm excited and I'm and sentence entertained when they play football. And it's free-flowing attacking football.
00:11:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just think that in the final third, in those attacking areas where they need to be clinical, bar the purple patch Miguel Almoron version of Brennan Johnson that we're seeing at the moment, I'm not seeing a lot of clinicality up there. and We've seen time and time again, Timo Werner, no matter what club he's at, unless it's RB Leipzig, he's just not that guy in front of net.
00:12:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they make some you know beautiful chances with him on the pitch. But he's just not the one to convert it. What has changed in recent games for them is Dominic Solanke. He's been playing great since the start of the season. In my opinion, I've loved watching him. And I thought he's a player to watch out for. And even in the games that he wasn't scoring, he was playing really well. But we're starting to see him score a few goals now, which could be an absolutely massive threat for Tottenham against those at the weekend.
00:12:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I do think Anders is the right man for the job. I don't know what it is. I just like him. And I know he said, you know, in his second season at a club, that's when he starts to win his trophies and it's not looking, you know, for them at the moment. It's a bit against them, but I just, I don't know. I'm not worried about them. I don't know what it is. Everything points to me saying that I should be worried about them. They're formed this season. What's going wrong? but I just think that Angie is so clear, so concise in his communication with the media that it has to translate to the players. And I just feel like the philosophy that he's got them playing, to be able to be that strict with how he wants them to play, it's huge because you look at every Tottenham game and they play with the exact same spirit, the exact same philosophy, the exact same attacking patterns of play. It's got to click at some point, surely.
00:13:34
Keelin McNamara
Yeah, you would certainly think so. Like with the money they've spent, the amount of players they've brought in, you would think it has to change at some point. Now, you've touched on a few names there already, which I completely agree with, by the way. But where else do you think Tottenham could have the most potential to really hurt City here on Saturday? Because we've seen games where Tottenham have been completely out of it, and they've managed to have a sting. And we have seen moments in other games where they've been very good. Where do you think the big threats are for Tottenham Saturday?
00:14:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Well, I'm not actually 100% sure on their availability and fitness at the moment, so these players might not be available or or not.
00:14:10
Keelin McNamara
I don't even think it answers to be fair.
00:14:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
They might not be available or not, but there's two names that every time I play Tottenham, now that Harry Kane's gone anyway, two names that every time I play Tottenham, I worry about. And that is one player that I've already mentioned in Dejan Kulesevsky, who for some reason, he's he's good all season, but he only ever scores or assists his goals against us. And a player that just loves to play us and must hate us as a club is human song.
00:14:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Every time he plays us, he just loves to score a worldie, all three. and It's horrible. He's fantastic at the Etihad. It doesn't seem to faze him whether he's playing at home or away. Human Son always turns up against City. And yeah, Kulesepski does as well. So I think that in those wide positions, Tottenham are going to be really dangerous. And I think with the width that they've got and from their full backs as well, um they've got really dynamic, fast-paced,
00:15:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
and you know, kind of eccentric fullbacks in Pedro Porro and Destiny O'Doggiay, who's not been fantastic this season, the latter, but he's still fantastic on his day and when he when he wants to be. So I think they've got real threat in the wide positions in the midfield. Down the the the center of the pitch, I think they're missing a couple of plea key players. So I think we could pair.
00:15:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
maybe possibly exploit them down the center of the pitch but they're dangerous everywhere. So where do you even look to go and when you're playing Tottenham? But I definitely think that their strength is out wide.
00:15:40
Keelin McNamara
Yeah, I absolutely agree with you. And I'm going to ask you the inverse question now, which is, were City's biggest threat in this game? Because this might be the first game of the season where our midfield doesn't get completely tanked, which would be nice. But you've mentioned their fallbacks, Pedro Porro and Destiny Doggy, who have been quite badly exposed the last few games with you know near post-defending and the general positioning on defensive play. Do you think this is the kind of game where Jeremy Dokku and Savinio start?
00:16:10
Keelin McNamara
Or do you think it's a game where a Jack Ralicious needed for more control? what do Where do you think Siddy's big hitting is here?
00:16:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know what, you took the words right out my mouth because I think this is exactly the type of game where I would line up with Jeremy Dokku and Savio on either wing. Usually, I'm not a massive fan of that that wing pairing because there's just not that much control, but when you're attacking two young fullbacks, and we'll get onto their injury issues in a little bit, but I do think they're missing Cutie Romero and Mickey Van De Ven.
00:16:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
So they're two starting centre backs and not going to be their first choice. and So unless they're starting, and I think it's Dragison out on the left, which they have done a couple of times this season. If Jeremy Dokka were facing up against Destiny or Dokye and Pedro Porro, for as fantastic as they are going forward, like you mentioned, they are incredibly suspect defending. We've seen and I can't remember which game it was.
00:17:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
It might have been the Brighton game actually, where Destiny or Doggier was at fault for all three goals that they ended up conceding um after going to Nalup.
00:17:07
Keelin McNamara
Mm hmm.
00:17:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
So there's definitely room to expose them there. And I think that Jeremy Doggier and Savio, who we've seen this season, has been so impressive in his chance creation and his beating at fullback.
00:17:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
They you can have a real field day. They really can have ah have a good day if they turn up.
00:17:27
Keelin McNamara
Absolutely. And you touched on another interesting name there, which is Dragison Tottenham's centre bank. I know a lot of people might not have seen this, but Tottenham were playing in the Europa League. I think it's the Europa League before the international break against, was it?
00:17:44
Keelin McNamara
was a Galatasaray maybe, and Drago's team got badly, badly exposed in that game.
00:17:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
ya well
00:17:49
Keelin McNamara
I think he actually got sent off straight red card. And I think what it shows is that Tottenham's defence is very brittle and it is easy to break if you can get in and amongst them.
00:17:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:18:00
Keelin McNamara
So I do love the shout of Daku and Semenio. I think this is the kind of game where you start them and just try and work them out early on. You mentioned that there are a couple of other big names missing.
00:18:10
Keelin McNamara
The big one that stands out for me is Rodrigo Bentenker, and that's sort of central midfield number six role.
00:18:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it was.
00:18:16
Keelin McNamara
And to be honest, without Bentenker, I don't see who ties the midfield together really that well for Tottenham. I know we've assumed he's been okay this season, but again, I think he's easily got at.
00:18:28
Keelin McNamara
I actually wanted to ask you as well before we move on, is this the kind of game where you almost maybe start Phil Fulton as well? Because we've seen with that quick one touch play and that ability to get in and amongst different players, Fulton could be a real pain for this Tottenham defence.
00:18:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I actually think that this is not only a game that you start folding. I think it's a game that you start folding at the 10.
00:18:50
Keelin McNamara
Nice.
00:18:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that's an option that hasn't been used this season a lot because without Rodry, that midfield is very suspect and we need that kind of doubling and tripling up of players who are going to get back. But I think with this midfield against Spurs, like you said, they're missing their key man in Ben Secura. I do think that it can be got out a little bit. One player that does worry me slightly is Papsar. I think he had a great game against us. Was it in the in the cup?
00:19:17
Keelin McNamara
It was there.
00:19:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
So he's definitely, ah yeah, he's definitely a player that can hurt us, but I think maybe they start Madison, Papsar and Yves Spisuma could be completely wrong. Maybe, ah you know, someone like Berg, but I'll get some minutes.
00:19:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm not too sure. and But I do think this is a game where if we're on the attacking floor and if we do have the the majority of possession and we can hold onto the ball for a long time,
00:19:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think this is the game where it's safe enough to play Phil Foden, sacrifice a little bit more of that control and go for the attack because they're going to play a massive high line. We know that. We play it as well. And this game is almost going to be the kind of the, you know, in the top half of the table, the the game of the two worst defenses or suicide high lines in the league. So it's going to be a fun one to watch for sure. And I think that Pep might just have to sacrifice all of that control because you've got to get out of this Tottenham team. You have to, and especially with the the players that have got out.
00:20:15
Keelin McNamara
Yeah, absolutely. I agree with everything you've said. I mean, if you can't get up this Tottenham defence, I don't think there's a defence you can get up. It might actually be City end up defending Tottenham's goal and Tottenham end up defending City's with how high they play. But listen, we've broken it down. We've basically told you how we think the game is going to go. We're going to take a short break and then in the final part, we're going to do our rounds around the lakes. We're going to look at the big games of the weekend and we're going to give our quick fire predictions for who's going to win each game. Stick around.
00:21:13
Keelin McNamara
Alright ladies and gentlemen and welcome back to the third and final part of this Friday forecast. We're going to run through the rest of the fixtures this weekend and we have some really fun games in store here Jack. and I'm going to run them by you one by one and we'll see what we think basically.
00:21:28
Keelin McNamara
So, early kickoff, really fun game here at the King Power Stadium, Leicester City against Chelsea. Leicester obviously haven't enjoyed the strongest start of the season. Chelsea have really started to show some good form under Enzo Marasca. What do you think of this game?
00:21:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Well, to be honest with you, I'm just glad that we've got an early kickoff back in the Premier League. It's been like two weekends on the bounce where there's been no early kickoff. I'm not sure what that woke nonsense is, but and it's great to have another early kickoff back, unless the Chelsea is it.
00:21:55
Keelin McNamara
welcome come on
00:22:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
It just feels like a Premier League game, a proper Barclays game to me. So I'm happy to to see that. I think that, like you said, last Lester had a bit of a tough time to the season. But you know in the last five games, they have won twice. So they're only two wins this season coming in then the last five games. So they are starting to warm themselves into the Premier League. and So I think it could be a good game. It could go either way. But I just think this season, Chelsea have way too much for them. So I can't see anything other than the Chelsea winner.
00:22:30
Keelin McNamara
Yeah, I think that's a very good argument. Tough to argue against it.
00:22:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bye.
00:22:34
Keelin McNamara
ne skin Next game that we have is Fulham Wolves at Craven College. Now, these are two teams that I think have a lot of potential. Fulham, of course, have really started to fire.
00:22:45
Keelin McNamara
Wolves, I think, still their league position doesn't really do them that much justice. We have two teams here that I think could really play at a high-scoring game here in London.
00:22:56
Keelin McNamara
A lot of potential here, a lot of two really really good attacking teams with a lot of potential. What are your thoughts on this one Jack?
00:23:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
um To be honest with you, I think this could probably... mean I want to say it could go either way, because I think that Wolves have been a bit of a a bit of a facade of a team this season, because they haven't had the results, they haven't had anything really go their way, but they haven't been playing bad. And players like Mateusz Cunier have been playing really well this season, they're under underlying numbers that have been quite good. And I just think it hasn't really gone gone well in terms of their luck this season, so it could go either way, but on the other hand, Fulham at Craven Cottage is a horrible place to go. I never like going to Fulham, so I think that it can only go for a Fulham win here.
00:23:43
Keelin McNamara
Let's be honest, nobody likes going to Craven Cottage. It's not a fun place to go to at all. But we are going to go to Merseyside now, and we are going to Everton, who hosts Brentford. This is a really, really intriguing game for me. Brentford, of course, the early goals specialist. Brentford, yes, Everton kind of starting to show a bit of life. Do you have any particular thoughts about this game?
00:24:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I mean, yeah, Everton have not really been and firing on all cylinders this season. They're they're doing OK. But I mean, one winning the last five, three draws. They're not necessarily losing all the games or a particularly large amount of games, but they're not winning them either. And they they've had a massive goal scoring problem for the last few seasons now. So um um I wouldn't be surprised if Everton don't lose this game, but I would be surprised if they win this game.
00:24:36
Keelin McNamara
Yeah, no, completely agree with you. and Onto the next game, this is fairly easy, Arsenal, Nottingham.
00:24:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Arsenal taught them Nottingham. and Yeah, think I think if any team this season can give Arsenal a run for their money, then it's absolutely Nottingham Forest. Three wins in their last five. They did lose their last game.
00:24:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Arsenal are certainly not on hot form at the moment. they've They've only won one in their last five, and no wins in their last four. So I think with the confidence that Forest have got at the moment, they definitely could go to the Emirates and get a point. I'd be surprised if they get three. And I think this is probably the game that Arteta turns it around for Arsenal. So I wouldn't put it past Arsenal coming back and just completely walking all over Forest. But I'm going to go for the for the sake of controversy and for the sake of this podcast. I'll go for a one-all draw.
00:25:26
Keelin McNamara
Come on, I'm an honorary forest fan for the day, I believe in you. Next, we're coming to a game, and I think this might actually be the game of the weekend, Bournemouth Brighton. I think this is a really, really fun tie, and um I can't even ask you for a prediction because I have no clue where this is going to go.
00:25:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
you're absolutely right. no You can predict this game. I mean, this is the Manchester City Derby, really. I mean, the two teams that have handed us the losses and in the last couple of games, both have done it, absolutely blowing us away.
00:25:49
Keelin McNamara
is a
00:25:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it could completely go either way. I mean, I really don't know, but I have been really, really impressed with Bournemouth this season. and And although I like Fabian Herzler, I think that I just like iola a little bit more.
00:26:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'm actually tempted to lean a close Bournemouth win here.
00:26:16
Keelin McNamara
Milos Kirkis Fan Club 1 of 1 over here.
00:26:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:26:20
Keelin McNamara
and Yeah, so on to the next game, pretty exciting game, Aston Villa Crystal Palace.
00:26:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, I think this would have been an exciting game if you asked me at the back end of last season. But Palace, for whatever reason, this season just haven't been clicking. I think that the loss of their key creative outlets in in Michael Elise, say, was huge. So to lose players like that, Daiichi Kamada has come in, and I had really high expectations for him because I do really like the player. But it's just not been working for him. I think he might actually be suspended for this game as well. I'm not too sure when that red card kind of ends, or when it even happened, I'd i'd have to jog my memory. But listen, if you asked me last season, my answer might have been a little bit more spicy, but this has got to be just a completely cleanle clean slate from Aston Villa.
00:27:11
Keelin McNamara
Yeah, no, hard to argue with that. I mean, I love Oliver Glazner, but that Crystal Palace team, I think, like you said, I think Olise was just a torpedo to that team because he was so, so good last year and he was always gonna leave, but it's it's sort of a shame in a way because I do like Crystal Palace. Next game, Man City Tottenham. I mean, we've kind of covered it very extensively. I'd be concerned if we hadn't. ah Do you want to offer a prediction for this, Jack?
00:27:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Well, I was just going to say, I've not actually heard your predictions from this yet. What did what did you and the rest of the guys say yesterday on the crossover plot?
00:27:45
Keelin McNamara
So I predicted a 2-1 city win. and I think it's gonna be close just because it's gonna be a matter of us not effing it up for ourselves, which let's be honest, we're always capable of doing. Junz, to be fair, was more optimistic. He said a 3-1 city win, I think. So I'm gonna stick with 2-1 city just as long as we don't blow it at the very end.
00:28:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Well, you know what? I'm going to take that optimism and I'm going to double it. I'm going to say we're going through a bad run of form at the moment. It has to end at some point and we have to get another clean sheet at some point. So I'm going to say that the galvanization we've talked about on this, this episode, it's going to come into play here. And I'm going to say a convincing three nil victory.
00:28:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah months
00:28:27
Keelin McNamara
Come on, I like it Jack, I like the series.
00:28:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
from yeah
00:28:30
Keelin McNamara
Okay, and that brings us to Sunday's games. Early Sunday games, Southampton, Liverpool in Southampton. So nice little day to the seaside for the Scousers, but do they come away from that with all three points as well as a seagull chasing them back?
00:28:44
Keelin McNamara
but
00:28:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, it has to be. Southampton have had their their first win this season, and not last game, the game before, but other than that, they've had nine losses this season. They've conceded 21 goals, scoring only seven. There is just no way that that Liverpool don't absolutely blow them away. they've They've almost got a completely reverse goal difference there because Liverpool have scored 21 and conceded just six, so Liverpool have actually conceded fewer goals than than Southampton have scored. That's worrying. I can't see anything other than a comfortable Liverpool winner.
00:29:21
Keelin McNamara
Yeah, that would be a massive shock, I have to say. I mean, when you score nearly three to one and your opponent concedes three to one, it's just a recipe for disaster. So really no arguments there. And then Sunday's main event, Reuben Amorim's debut as Manchester United manager, he's going to the tractor boys who pulled off a huge win last time at Ipswich Town. Do you think Reuben Amorim has a happy debut or does Liam Dilapp tank it for him?
00:29:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well it's funny you say that because I've been discussing this game and Reuben Amorim starts at Manchester United at full length today so I think that this could really go either way because I'm a massive fan of Reuben Amorim and I think that if he implements this system quickly and then it could go really well for his start to Manchester United.
00:30:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think what he's going to try and do is implement the philosophy first and maybe implement the system a little bit later on. um So maybe they stick to that four at the back with Manchester United with the players that they've got at the moment.
00:30:17
Keelin McNamara
Man.
00:30:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
But on the other hand, I could completely see him coming in and they've been training in a 3-4-2-1 like he has been at sporting. So we could be seeing a completely fresh change and it could go the United's way. Having said that, it's not necessarily always going to be the time to experiment when you go into a newly promoted team away because they can hurt you. And we've seen this season in Ipswich on the break are fantastically dangerous.
00:30:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sam Smodyaks to Liam Dalap is a combination that I've loved watching this season and we were talking in depth today about how Liam Dalap can hurt teams. He can get at them and if Reuben Ammerim plays that three at the back system and these these makeshift full backs, I'm thinking maybe even someone like Anthony plays in the right wing back position, if that gets exposed and if they play that high line because they're going to eat a lot of the ball,
00:31:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
then Ipswich can break and it can counter quite quickly. And with players like Liam Dalap in the attack, who are just so insatiably hungry and to get the ball as close to the goal as they can, goals can happen. And I think this is going to be goals this game. So I'm going to say it's going to be an entertaining 3-2 victory to Ipswich. I think there's going to be a lot of positives to take for Ruben Amorims United, but I think the experimentation is not going to come up good at the weekend.
00:31:41
Keelin McNamara
best striker in the league at the moment Liam Dilop, you never bet against him. and So that brings us to the end of the weekend, which is Monday night and that is Newcastle versus West Ham in Newcastle. Again, West Ham massively up and down under Julian Lapategi. Newcastle have been a bit better but still not maybe as good as people thought they'd be. How do you see this one swinging? and
00:32:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, I mean, you hit the nail on the head. We all were massively wrong about West Ham this season. We all had massively high hopes for a mirror at Man City. and We do have a little soft spot for them, but they've just not been firing on any cylinders at the moment. And just three wins in all the Premier League this season.
00:32:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
not scoring enough, conceding too much. and They've got great players, they've got exciting players, but it's just not been clicking this season. And and I think the the appointment of Yulian Lopatei was a mistake to begin with, to be fair. I never really had high expectations of Lopatei from his time at Wolves and from his time with the Spanish national team. I don't think he was but i don't think you particularly deserved the role. And I don't think Moyes necessarily deserved to be sacked, but that's the direction that he wanted to go in.
00:32:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was a fresh start, a fresh change, but it's not paid off for them this season. And Newcastle, for for all their flaws and whatever form they're going through at the moment, are good at home. And St. James's Park is a horrible place to go to, especially on a Sunday, by the way. ah So I think the Newcastle come away with, the oh, it's on a Monday, actually. Monday night, that's even worse. and So I think Newcastle come away with the three points, no question.
00:33:12
Keelin McNamara
All right and that pretty much brings it to an end ladies and gentlemen that is your Friday forecast for this incoming weekend and I have to say it's been a really good episode and looking forward to just great to have the lake back to be completely honest but Jack pleasure having you as always thank you for taking the time and ladies and gentlemen thank you for joining us as well make sure to follow us anywhere and everywhere you get your podcasts and we will see you on the other side of the weekend Cheers