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S1-E72 : West Ham Crossover!
8 Plays24 days ago
On today's edition of the Daily Arsenal podcast, Josh visits the Daily West Ham team for a crossover epiosde prior to our visit to the London Stadium! Listen along as he fights our corner, and tries to keep the combined 11 all Arsenal!
Host : Josh Keech
Guest : Tom Elkins
Arsenal Guest : Josh Vince
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Transcript
00:00:01
Speaker
Every club.
Introduction and Podcast Overview
00:00:03
Speaker
Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network. Hello everyone and welcome to another GSPN Daily West Ham
The 'Josh' Confusion at GSPN
00:00:12
Speaker
episode. Joined with Tom Elkins today and another Josh that isn't me. How are you guys worth doing? Yeah, really good mate. Not bad at all. Good to see another Josh. I know, there's loads of us here at GSPN, but it always keeps it hard to ah remember who's who who's which Josh basically. Now, obviously viewers will know that they've got the best Josh today, but okay only joking. We've got the two best Josh's at GSPN here today. that's That's how it should be.
Arsenal vs. West Ham: Fixture Insights
00:00:39
Speaker
ah Now, as you say, it's a crossover episode today here joined with Josh from Arsenal, obviously for the upcoming fixture ahead. Now, we're going to be a bit happy, ah obviously on a happy bounce against the Newcastle game, and you guys have had some great fixtures and results recently. You know, it's been a tricky bit earlier on in the month, but actually all in all, still looking quite hopeful. So it's going to be interesting talking about how we're expecting people to shape up later. But I believe first, first sort of port of call raise, bit of news regarding both teams, how everyone's doing and how everyone's feeling.
00:01:08
Speaker
Yeah, 100%. I mean, from from the Arsenal perspective, obviously, ah we're recording this on when Wednesday. We beat Sporting 5-1 last night ah when Manchester City dropped a three-goal lead as well. So it just it was kind of like a double joyous evening for us as Arsenal fans. um But I have to say, I was saying to Tom just before we started, your result against Newcastle was incredible. not Yeah, it's baffling. I'm so surprised myself. It is such a great performance compared to what we've usually seen.
00:01:40
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. I think the the one thing that is is so much better is the fact that basically no one gave us a chance. And I think that really, especially in this game, this Arsenal game, I feel like we're coming into it and people are being a bit like, oh well, everyone wrote them off against Newcastle and they beat them 2-0 pretty convincingly.
West Ham's Triumphs and Challenges
00:01:56
Speaker
So I think it's going to make everyone a lot more tentative when they come to predict the result of this game.
00:02:03
Speaker
You reckon? I think so. Theo Walker on the Sky Sports commentary, the fourth yeah quote for the game was him saying, oh, they've got absolutely no chance. And then they cut to him at the end of the game and they go, Theo, what happened there? And he goes, oh, ah God, I got that completely wrong. I think it's so easy to make it seem like there is absolutely no chance. and In all likelihood, it's going to be very difficult for us to get anything out of this game. But after that performance against Newcastle, there's clearly something that's improved. There's something that's happened in that game that has meant that all of the the different cogs have clicked together, and we've actually produced a really, really good performance. So if we play in the same way, there's no reason to why we can't get something out of this game. I mean, to have done it away from home as well, and then you're going to be playing us at home,
00:02:52
Speaker
I mean that's hopefully think from your perspective anyway that you'd be bringing that form forward Yeah, it's uh, it's it's always an interesting one though whenever we line up against you guys I know last year if we look at a bit of a a Past record, which is always the scariest point. Obviously. Yes There was the there was a very awful game But I do remember last year when we said, you know What we can feel a result was coming and there was that game early towards christmas where we had the uh, it was 2-2, isn't it? I think it was where it was a bit more of a uh ah what what we but hopefully we'll be expecting a similar kind of result hopefully this time around maybe even a cheeky win who knows but ah but yeah it was a very interesting the last couple of recent fixes we've had against you guys and hopefully I mean both teams are on a bit of a bounce of happiness at the moment with some good results so it's gonna be very nervy I think going into the weekend
00:03:39
Speaker
Well, I actually have a bit of ah an axe to grind about last year. We were very, very close to finally winning the league after 19 years. We missed out by two points. If we hadn't have lost against you at the Emirates, 2-0.
00:03:54
Speaker
it would have been fine. You guys, I mean, I can't obviously fool them and villa, I blame them as well, but you're included in it too. And so I look at West Ham and I feel a small bubbling rage. And admittedly, like you said, we did get our revenge with, what was it? Let's let's just double check. my my fact it's sick That was at six now.
00:04:14
Speaker
6-0 the last time that we were at the London Stadium. um And who was it? Saliba Saka got to Gabrielle Trossard. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I don't remember that. hold's a bit Yeah. I didn't mean to dig that knife in too hard.
Transfers and Team Changes
00:04:32
Speaker
But when I have to ask, because I've not met many West Ham fans in the last few years, when that happened and you sold rice to us for, you know, the absurd amount of money,
00:04:43
Speaker
Did it feel like you were getting a good deal? Did it feel like it was time for him to go or does it still hurt? ah you tell a meto I don't mind. I think we've both got a similar opinion on this one. Yeah, I think the opinion is similar. it's just Is it a good deal? like It's probably the best deal that we were going to get and on this on you know on the face of it, it is a good amount of money for a player that It's so difficult to convince someone of that quality to stay at your club. you know He's yeah obviously far better than what the means we were able to give him when it comes to like you know European football. And if he wanted to consistently play for England, he was going to have to play against.
00:05:23
Speaker
better opponents on a more consistent basis. So, you know, it's, is it what we wanted? No, but is it kind of the best we were going to get out of the situation? Yes. And, you know, it was a really good fee and we were able to reinvest that money really well. And I don't think he left on bad terms. Like he stayed longer than he could have done. He could have had one season where he played really well and then gone straight away, but he didn't. He stayed with us for a few years. He got us a European trophy and then he left for big money. So what can you really ask for more than that? You know,
00:05:49
Speaker
I mean, as West Ham fans, you've enjoyed European trophies much sooner than we have. I mean, that must have been um must have been awesome that night. Yeah, incredible. I think it's also it's also a much more difficult competition to win than people give it credit for because, you know, Aston Villa were in it. Was it last year or the year before? And did they win it? No. And you'd think that they were a much better squad on paper than what we had. So it's not really the sort of joke competition that everyone calls it to be because it is it's a difficult thing to win.
00:06:19
Speaker
i couldn't have said it better myself. I think even as you're right, Villa have been in it, even I think both of our shared rivals of Spurs had their turn it in and didn't do too well. And they had Kane still that time. So it was even more depressing for them that they couldn't get anything out of it. So it's, I mean, it was, it's one of those where I think everyone gives it a bit of an easy look going, Oh, yeah, it's easy. Have a go. But I think I think we really did show how Our team at that point was next level in comparison. I know we talk about our current team versus them. And yes, the players sound, you know, the levels of players now, the difference is such an amazing difference. But equally as well is the way we form because we went unbeaten for so long in it that it was almost this kind of even with the openly beforehand, it was a very similar team that it was almost shocking how
00:07:01
Speaker
We had this brilliant result and every player was playing it. I would say their best, which was the best thing i think to enjoy. That's why fortunately I was with Tom on that night. So when we did win, it was ah very, very reality from both of us. I can only imagine yeah if we haven't had many of them to enjoy yet, but it's coming. I could feel
Rivalries and Humorous Tales
00:07:19
Speaker
it's coming. By the way, I mean, the joint disdain for Spurs. That's like I didn't even think about it. It's it's nice to meet fellow GSP owners who have a similar sort of like dislike for the Tottenham.
00:07:31
Speaker
And especially since Harry's left as well. They've just been such a weird team Especially what they what they did at the weekend as well. like i I live in Manchester. I lived down the road from the Etihad It was pure empty had energy by the end of that game like the streets were filled with supporters leaving early. It it was hilarious quite frankly I can always yeah they they have some changes and I know that they' look they're going through this period, of and obviously a good result recently for them as well. They had that blinder, so that was a very unexpected. But I always love it when I see some brilliant Tottenham memes. I can always send to the GSPN club. I mean, I'm always willing to try just sending those their way from our account. It's the ah the best entertainment I always get. But it's ah yeah it's always brilliant having that shared rivalry against them. but ah We will always back you up on that. We'll always back you up on those memes, don't worry. He'll get the reactions from us.
00:08:23
Speaker
Now, before we go into our next section, I believe it's time for a brief word from one of our sponsors.
00:08:31
Speaker
This podcast is part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. The only network bring you exclusive daily news and views on your Premier League team, the Premier League, women's football and fantasy football. A unique listening experience that puts fans
GSPN Promotion and Offerings
00:08:43
Speaker
first. Bring you the very latest breaking news from your team. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and make us your first listen every day. Global Sports Podcast Network, every club, every day.
00:08:55
Speaker
Right then, now I've heard, Tom, that you've got a couple of questions that you've got for our amazing Arsenal counterpart here about the typical day in an Arsenal fan life.
Managerial Debates and Strategies
00:09:06
Speaker
I can't imagine it's from my my imagining it can't be very ah very positive but you know um I think for me the main one is there's always so much kind of discourse about is Arteta the guy to win Arsenal a Premier League and people keep questioning oh you know he hasn't done it yet all the money all of this stuff from my point of view is
00:09:30
Speaker
I don't like he's got closer than anyone else. So why do you think that someone else is going to do better than him? That's kind of my opinion. But what is what's your opinion on that whole kind of debate? So, the yeah, the Arteta discourse is really interesting at the moment, because especially when we were going through well about a month ago or so, it was towards the beginning of November, we're going through a bit of a rough patch and there's no getting around it. You know, the lost of bornmouth um we lost We lost away again to Newcastle. We had some really rough performances. We weren't playing very well. We weren't penetrating through the middle.
00:10:00
Speaker
And you know, every team goes through those periods. We had a few big injuries as well. I'm not going to blame the injuries because I hate when teams blame injuries on bad performances. You're a football club with millions of pounds. but You should have backups and we just didn't have good but good enough backups. That was our fault.
00:10:15
Speaker
but the discourse around him out a lot of arsenal fans have picked up on that and you know it's not like arsenal fans to want their manager out at any point you know arsenal fan tv is a perfect perfectly normal reputable station with completely normal chilled views it definitely speaks to all arsenal fans as well doesn't it oh all arsenal fans yes they they speak the gospel truth and we all pray to them every night What are you saying he's come closer than anybody else apart from your clock who ultimately did it in the time the patio has been around he's been trained by.
00:10:51
Speaker
I mean, I don't think anybody can deny the best manager in the world, despite the weird comments that he came out with after last night about hurting himself, which was really uncomfortable and weird. Yeah. He's not dude. I don't think there's any getting around that with Pep, but he trained Arteta and Arteta has developed his own style and he's still young. It's his first job. but Can he do it? I think he can. I honestly think he can. I think When you're looking at the managers in the Premier League at the moment, Slott is doing way too well. It's just been weird. But he's the only one that I can really see challenging for a title still. So yeah, I'm very much Arteta Rin. But on the on the note of managers, I wanted to switch this around and ask you guys a question too.
00:11:35
Speaker
Lopate, he's been under a lot of pressure and I'll be honest, when he was announced as coming in, when we were doing our predictions for the start of the season, a lot of us thought that West Ham would absolutely fly with him. um It's not been brilliant, I guess. I mean, I'm looking at looking at the form table now. What, you've got ah four, five wins in, is it five wins in the prem? No, four wins in the prem. He's done okay.
00:12:03
Speaker
But he's been under a lot of pressure. What do you guys make of Lopategi? And should he be sticking around? um i'll so I'll start with that. And I think Tom will probably back me up with a similar thing to what I say in Echo. First of all, we've had loads of injuries. It's been rough. and no like we haven't We haven't had that many injuries that have caused particular worry to the squad. I think where our particular challenges come is obviously, obviously, we've got a few new managers in the league. Obviously, as you say, Slott's been doing really well. and I think everyone's kind of expecting new manager in.
00:12:32
Speaker
teething to start with, that those kind of problems of getting settled, get new new transfers in as well. But yeah, that hasn't happened with Liverpool, but I'd say it probably has happened a lot more than we expected with us. You know, Lopategi's had the pre-season time as well as obviously all this time in the Premier League now. And I think we're kind of, we're still in the kind of lop-in, lop-in, lop-out. i think I think we're still lop-in, to be honest, um from from our thoughts anyway, because the realistically he needs the time and the Newcastle result shows it. The the couple of wins we've had before that have been good games. I'm thinking Crystal Palace we shot like ages ago, which is the first one. Ipswich as well, which should be a win.
00:13:09
Speaker
There's been the results where you look and go, you know, there should be things that be happening. You know, I think that Everton game, which was absolutely woeful in terms of performance where you think that should be that should be three points. But but it isn't. And that's when you look. And that's when obviously the question marks revolve around the manager. But I, I thoroughly think time's the biggest thing. And we've, we've also, I think if you if you ask in terms of our signings as well, that's the other big thing that happened this season. And I think It's almost like you've had a million pounds, so much money to spend on transfers. You've had a career mode season where you've just signed so many people and getting them all integrated as well as the manager can obviously take more time. That's my thoughts anyway. I don't know how much that differs from you, Tom. Sorry to jump in very quickly, Tom, do you reckon that the fact that he's a new manager and the comparisons probably being made with Herzler at Brighton
00:13:57
Speaker
and Maresca at Chelsea is making it harder for him to convince people because they've done such a good job and he's struggled a little bit. Yeah, I think so. It's really difficult at West Ham because under Moyes we very much played a certain way and Lopategi has come in and he's tried to kind of change the foundations of how we want to play football so when actually developing a squad that wants to play that way it's understandable that it does take a little bit more time like if you look at Brighton they've never like obviously maybe in the past when they've been in the championship but since they've been in the Premier League they've been a very positive football club in the way that they play it they play positively but
00:14:37
Speaker
you know, under more is the time where we had our most success. We didn't really play very positively. We were quite defensive and we looked to break on the counter attack. So the comparisons, I feel like are kind of harsh because we've completely changed the way that we want to play football. So it's obviously going to take more time and it's going to be more difficult to make that transition. And obviously we've had a massive squad overall. You know, I think most people kind of agreed that we had one of the best windows, if not the best with the signings that we made compared to a lot of the other teams around us. um And then.
00:15:08
Speaker
After all of that, in the beginning of the season, we just weren't seeing the kind of progression in tactical ability of the team that we should have done. If you actually look at the performances or the results, they're not terrible, but it's how we actually played in those games that was the most alarming part. like We weren't showing any sort of tactical development. It was all just kind of really disjointed poor play and then when it we got late into games and you know we've managed to score quite a few goals late on in games which is one of the things that saved us all of the players that were moist players seem to revert back to the old style of kind of being more direct we you know when you look at the stats on like how many direct passes we played how many long balls we're up for there with the best of them in the league for playing long balls over the top
00:15:58
Speaker
um So that's the reason that I think a lot of West Ham fans have been frustrated with Lopatei because we've not seen the tactical changes that we thought he was going to make. And it's yeah he's probably only in this Newcastle game that we've just seen where we've actually outplayed a good team.
00:16:17
Speaker
because you look at the other wins, we played Crystal Palace and they were pretty poor, to be honest, and we beat them, not because we were amazing, but just because they weren't great. Ipswich, kind of a similar thing, you know, like, that was better from us, but it wasn't us being amazing, it was just them not being great. But this Newcastle team, like, they played pretty well in the first half, they had a lot of chances. And then in the second half, we just completely nullified them, the way that we were playing the kind of short, intricate passes and holding onto the ball as something that we've not seen.
00:16:44
Speaker
And that's the sort of style that Lopategi has been trying to bring. So the fact that we actually have seen it in this Newcastle game, that personally gives me a lot of hope for just having faith in what he's trying to bring to the players and to the team is is working. If you go, I mean, I think Josh probably agrees with me. i dare you Yeah, spot on, to be honest. I couldn't agree more with that. I think that's you've you' painted it quite well there with the day in the life of West Ham pain.
00:17:13
Speaker
Have you got any other questions regarding Arsenal? I'm kind of curious. You said you had a couple, Tom, and I want to know what the what the digging for days. Yeah. So this is ah this this might slightly transfer into um some of the the latest stuff we've got to do in this podcast. But yeah I always question why Trossard doesn't play more, because in my mind, I think he's a better player than Martinelli. up And he doesn't. He doesn't seem to play as much as I thought he would.
Player Performances and Lineup Debates
00:17:45
Speaker
like he's Whenever he plays, he seems to really positively contribute, but then I don't really hear as much positivity about Martinelli, but he seems to play every game. ah i don't It's confusing, I might be wrong. but
00:17:56
Speaker
Okay, so what you've done there, Tom, is hit on a really sore spot. Because in in the Daily Arsenal podcast, there's two there's there's another Josh, yeah Josh Duncan on the Daily Arsenal podcast, and um he can't stand Kai Havers. He thinks Kai Havers is a waste of time.
00:18:12
Speaker
I can't stand Leandro Trossard. Really? Yes, we both have ideas that we cannot stand. think I think his attitude is poor. I don't think he's technically gifted as Martinelli. I don't think he brings as much difference as Martinelli does particularly. I think Martinelli has a gift in the Arsenal squad that none of our other players do. I think Trossard occasionally tries to be a little bit too much like Erdegaard in breaking those lines, but he doesn't quite have the skill set.
00:18:40
Speaker
and um they argue that Trossard is the best finisher at the club. The guy of Saka is much better than Leandro Trost's side. The guy of Saka is light years ahead of him. So I have to disagree with you, that Tom, quite effectively. I think Martinelli, he's been at the club for years and I've loved him ever since. He's had up and downs, definitely. He wasn't in the best of form earlier this season either. And last year he was suffering with a really bad injury. I think he could be a world-beater, but he just needs that bit of consistency in there.
00:19:15
Speaker
And very quickly, I know we're going to move on to another section in just a second, but I have to ask you guys, your front line, in particularly your central options, I mean, Antonio Ings, Bowen occasionally plays down the middle, I think as well, doesn't he? Occasionally.
00:19:33
Speaker
People are saying that Arsenal lack somebody central who can do the job for them. When I look at those two, Antonio's a good player, but he's not brilliant. Danny Ings has struggled to prove himself at most clubs he's been at. Do you need someone new in there?
00:19:50
Speaker
Yes. um have i hit on a sore spot that yeah yeah I'm funny it's when you ask because I was going to say, what do you think is missing for the Arsenal team will stop you getting a Premier League title, which i I imagine was going to be a solid Stryker Harland 3.0. Someone like that with that just scoring prowess. That's our biggest curses at Stryker with the amount of people that we've signed at Stryker that haven't particularly fitted in with the system the manager's had matches the profile of what we need, but doesn't get settled well. It's something that's our biggest problem and it's something we were talking about earlier about the window with it coming up and what we can potentially look at doing because that is our biggest problem. We signed full cricket at the start of the window, injured, has played right now. Oh my god, you did, didn't you? Yeah, I completely forgot about that. He sits in the bag with... Corne was the other one as well that you signed and he just forgot he even played at the moment. It's a situation that's rather worrying because we need to score more goals and
00:20:54
Speaker
i You know, we've been talking today about whether Boeing should play more up top and we have differing opinions on that actually me and Tom Which is quite interesting, but um but yeah, I think I think that's one of our biggest problems is is we able to get goals on the board Who would you have if you could? Realistic ish signing. Who would you have if you could?
00:21:13
Speaker
It's tricky. So the the recent news is that we've been looking at Evan evan Ferguson for loan for the rest of the season. so was great years and That's a really good signing. And then we were discussing as well today that the other kind of two links that have been around for a little bit of time was Tammy Abraham was one of them.
00:21:29
Speaker
and then and then lookman was the other one potentially as well which and we think all of those would be viable options and a kind of realistic ish transfers if you saw them in there right merit but yeah the money we've got that's the big question of what we can spend so man would be pricey with the way atlanta are playing at the moment it would be very very pricey Yeah, I think probably the cheapest one there because of the fact that Roma are 10th. So yeah, I think Ferguson's a brilliant shell folks on the line for you guys would be superb. It's exactly the sort of signing you need really. Yeah, the the only problem with it is it is the issue we've had with lone players in the past is
00:22:06
Speaker
if you If we're getting a loan player, we have to have an option to buy and it has to not be extortionate because I hate it when yeah you have a player on loan like Jesse Lingard is the perfect example. If we'd had like a suitable loan to buy, we could have just snapped him up straight away and we would have kept him. But then there was like contract issues and couldn't agree on a price. So then yeah it drags out and it doesn't happen. and That's the kind of frustrating thing you don't want to get into because I think he would flourish at West Ham so much because I think they're so like, I think Wamba Saka is like the perfect example of players that come from a club where they're not doing well. They come to West Ham and they're given the freedom and they're given the opportunity to play and they do really well. So yeah, I'd love it. We just need to get an option to buy in there because I'd hate to have him him do really well for half a season and then go back to Brighton and start banging him in and us be like, why did we not buy him?
00:22:51
Speaker
It'd be a pricey option to buy though for him. I mean, weren't they talking about a hundred million like a season or two ago or something ridiculous. But I think if, if we could maybe do some sort of, some sort of like sell on clause or have something in the contract that means that maybe like performance based like add-ons or something like that, that mean if he doesn't do as well, then we don't have to pay as much. I think that kind of hopefully be the way that we go with it. Fair enough.
00:23:15
Speaker
Yeah. Now, I believe it's time for our final section where we're going to be doing a combined 11 of both squads we're going to the weekend where me and Tom are going to be fighting for our lives to get some of our players in there. But before we do, it's time for a word from one of our final sponsors.
00:23:30
Speaker
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencaster came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster. Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network. Right then.
00:23:57
Speaker
now <unk> and that's it it's ah yeah It's going to be a tricky one for us, I think, to go through here, but we're going to do our best. I think there's a couple of players we both know in mind of where we can try and maybe convince a couple in maybe. but But yeah, I mean, do I just work from the the the bottom workaway up to the forwards? That sounds good to me.
00:24:19
Speaker
Okay then, well I guess goalkeeper to start with. Nice and easy, Lukas Fabianski. There we go. Happy to have him back. I was literally looking at the goalkeeping stats now. That looks like a slight problem area for you as well, because Fabianski is getting on a bit. Ario, the save percentage is 56%. It's not very good. Is it is that a concern for you guys? The goalkeeper?
00:24:46
Speaker
I don't know if it is massively, to be honest. um It's been really difficult because I think if you looked at most of our players' stats this season, they're all going to be pretty poor. But when you look you look at how we've actually played, it's not been great. So any one individual player criticizing their performances is, I don't think it kind of lends to the full picture of what's happened for them, like how they've been. if And, you know, our four back four are new signings, you know?
00:25:16
Speaker
defenses, it takes time to build any sort of good partnership. So it's not the end of the world. And Fabianzky's actually played really well this season. I know it's kind of joke, but he genuinely has been really good. He's a good, he's a good goalkeeper, Fabianzky. I always liked him at Arsenal, but um I'm afraid I can't see past David Wright at the moment.
00:25:34
Speaker
fair enough these are not think so wiy I think both of our keepers are better than your backup keeper. So I'd say it'd be Raya first and then either of our two. And then whoever, I don't even know who your second choice keeper is right now. That's Neto at the moment. Oh, is it? Yeah. Neto alone. But I would actually have Fabianzki as the second choice. Yeah. Honestly. Yeah. I'd have him as the backup. Okay. We'll take that. That's a win. That's a win and a sneaky arsenal win because he was one of ours. I think defense is going to be a tough one for us as well based on the current season.
00:26:07
Speaker
The only thing I'll highlight, and probably not as ah not as a main starter in this this combined 11, but I think out of all of our transfers, probably one of our most, the stats won't show it, but Kilman's been one of probably our better, most settled signings so far. yeah I think it's probably my contribution, but I think it's a bit unjust that he's not been at least selected to go on internationals, even though it's been a tough time. And I imagine that's probably why with our teams form, but I think out of everyone who signed he's looked like one of the most solid players we've had so far that have got settled quickly he was i think he was started in the preseason in the very first game and looked absolutely rock solid i like killwin i'm not gonna lie and i think it was brilliant signing for you guys too it was quite pricey wouldn't he yeah like 45 million holy that's more than our that's more than arse love ever sold a player for
00:26:55
Speaker
Blimey. 35 million is our record sale price. Alex Oxley Chamberlain. yes but So who who are you your wing backs at the moment? So obviously it's Wambasaka and, is it Cresswell? Emerson. Okay, because that's the only place that we've got potential issues because we've had so many injuries with sort of left back. But I think I'd still possibly have to put Calafiori over them. See, I would actually go with Wambasaka at left back because he played there a lot for us this season when
00:27:31
Speaker
um because Emerson hasn't always been massively fit. So we've kind of taken Emerson off, put a Wampus Acre at left back and had a coup file on it right back. And he's been so good for us. I think the one thing that you don't even realize or I didn't realize before he came to West Ham is how good he is attacking. He's so creative and because of his kind of physical attributes, he's so strong and he's so quick that he he really is able to beat a man. And I don't think that's anything that anyone expected from him because he's known as the kind of one-on-one defending monster, but he's actually been really good going forward. So I think I probably would argue that Wambasaka should go left back to be honest. Do you know what?
00:28:14
Speaker
That was quite a convincing argument. ah Yeah, well, he sold me. and the eye iron Right. I can't let Gabrielle Saliba be shifted from the centre back position. Yeah, that's fair. That's understandable. Left back, because it's been so choppy and changed for Arsenal and he has been consistent Yes, let's us do it. Aaron won Bassaca at left back. And then right, i even though he's just got injured, Ben White's been great for us this season too. So I'd be struggled to convince me to move Ben White out of the team. Yeah, no, that's fair. Yeah, I have no arguments. I think that's that's all completely valid. Yeah. All right. Bassaca.
00:28:56
Speaker
Yeah, well that's another win for us actually, that's a result. That's a win. And one of Osaka's a good start so far. You've got another Josh on the podcast. I'm going to be gracious when there's another Josh here. I guess midfield then is going to be a bit of an intro. I mean, midfield wise for us,
00:29:14
Speaker
Well, Tom's tom's best mate is Guido Rodriguez. It's just in case you didn't know. But i I think the only case for a player maybe I can make, but I still don't think, I think that's not justice for us really, is Pacquita last season, not this season.
West Ham's Future: Strikers and Formations
00:29:29
Speaker
and the And I think Alvarez has been good for us. I think he's one of those underrated CDMs is the rice replacement. There's actually put the shift in and considering the the the difference in price tags alone. He's been very good value for money and considering that I know that we've not had our best performances across the back in the midfield. So I'm open to controversial opinions. The thing is, again, we've got we've had a bit of chopping and changing than we feel with injury. I think rice has to go in, which could satisfy both parties. Yeah, we both feel we both feel quite good about rice going in.
00:30:03
Speaker
I will not be convinced that despite his injury, that Martin Idegard can't be in the best 11. He's phenomenal. I am potentially willing to concede the left side of my field.
00:30:15
Speaker
because Merino hasn't proved it to me yet. Yeah, it is difficult because if we were talking about just players, Paquette is definitely in there, 100%. On his day, he is an absolute world-beater. It's exactly who I was thinking. But if you're going on kind of consistency and like actually really underrated, Thomas Sucek in there, I think does very well. I like him. He is so good and the goals, I don't know.
00:30:40
Speaker
how he seems to always be in a good position to score a goal. But he's been so consistent at providing when we really need him. And I think the other thing is the set pieces. He is unbelievably good at set pieces. You see the the Newcastle set piece where we scored the first goal. His movement, he he like makes a forward run and then takes a step back and then takes a step forward. And the defenders just don't know what to do with him because they have not seen someone move like that before. And it's our first set piece and he bangs it right in the gut.
00:31:09
Speaker
I think Thomas Ucek maybe would be the one this season, but if we just go and play it, it would be Paquetta. I mean, I'm actually willing, i I'd be, I like Ucek, but I'd be happy to have Paquetta in the combined 11. I think he'd be, I think he's good enough for it.
00:31:24
Speaker
I think even the Newcastle game, Paquetta was like top of all the stats. so ready get say Just off this week, he'd have the reason to go in. Off this week, stick him in. i say oh no yeah that's That's all that matters. No, that's perfect. Well, at least at least we've got some, there's been some good negotiations here. I'm loving it. I'm all there for it. Now forwards is where I think we've got ah the biggest, this is our biggest case to be honest. because i Really? I think one i think okay we've got two brilliant players.
00:31:52
Speaker
so the The natural ones for me that I'm going to be, I'm going to say Danny Ings.
00:31:59
Speaker
bow Bowen and Kudas are the greatest propositions here of who should be going and in from our side at least anyway. Obviously I'm i'm scared anyway and I've been saying at the time that i'm I can easily see Kudas getting poached off us by someone at the end of the season because of the quality of the player he is.
00:32:17
Speaker
is it's just been different gravy is the best way of saying it to be honest because I can see him in a Liverpool share, I can see him in all of them and it horrifies me anyway because of how good he is. so yeah Yeah, same with obviously, you know, Pacattar minus what's been going on. He was looking at Man City beforehand, but he's that player. You know, I think that he he generates a case of his own in terms of his instant settling in the Premier League and and doing a solid job for us last season and this one.
00:32:43
Speaker
Bowen as well is the one I think we always preach about is the underrated player that goes under the radar. You know, he doesn't play for England as much as he probably should do in our argument. But equally, I think he lights up in the Premier League just as much as he did. One of the big arguments we always say is regarding Bowen, Sacher and Salah, because they all play a similar profile position. And I think we had a stat towards the start of the season about if you look at from last year onwards, I think he had a combined assist total more than Salah. So for us, it was like, well, no one's no No one's saying anything, but we're staying really quiet because I don't want him to leave. The thing is with Kudos, I can entirely see your point. He's a phenomenal player, but considering he's going to be wearing an Arsenal shirt in January, his point was putting him in this. and you like I think it's an 80 million price tag or something like that. Yeah, it'll be a loted on it it'll be a hell of a lot of money. um I want him as Saka competition.
00:33:38
Speaker
For one of his starter, these sackers starts ahead of him. See, i i ah but I would actually put my mouth up. I think it's better than Martinelli. actually thank give about the moity you look at You look at the instant impact he has and his his dribble numbers are ridiculous.
00:33:56
Speaker
I think it was last season, he had like 30 or 40 more successful take-ons than the second best person. Like he's unbelievably good. And I think in a team with better players, he would completely flourish because for us, he's got to do so much like hard defensive work. And when we are playing poorly in games, his his work rate and his tenacity really helped defensively. but Yeah, going forward, he is unbelievably good. And he he will he can be absolutely anyone, which is is so fun to watch. And so we're not gone. Yeah, the biggest, the biggest point with us is he scored against the city with an incredible bicycle kick. And you know, honey and if he can score against the city, that's what you guys need. So that's very true. I mean, we're we're not considering Raheem Sterling in any of this. No, ill let I think Do you know what? The thing is,
00:34:46
Speaker
You make really good points. he He is. He's a better player than Martinelli. He is. I love Martinelli. I think I'm just, I'm stuck on my love of the player. Saka's not moving from the right though. I'm sorry. Yeah. No, that's fair. What I would say is yeah why don't we put Bowen up front? Down in the middle. Up front. Because this is the conversation we've been having about whether we should play Bowen up front. And I always say no, because the kind of defensive work that he puts in for us is amazing. And our second best option playing in that role, I don't think he's as good. But when you've if we've got Saka there, it's someone that is obviously unbelievable in that role. And I think that would then allow Bowen to play so well up front, being like the target, like not the target man, but like leading the line. I think because of how direct he is, if you actually watch him play, he is unbelievably direct. I don't see many players like him in the league these days, to be honest. like
00:35:37
Speaker
Technically, he's not really skillful. And, you know, if he was on FIFA, he's not got five star skill moves. But yeah, he is so like single minded when it comes to beating someone and getting a shot off. He does it so consistently. The the trademark bone goal is him like cutting in off the right and pinging it top bins with his left foot. And he does it time and time and time again. He did it in the um in the game against it's Ipswich this season. And he's just so good. And I think he would be so good up front. And I think he better them have it up front.
00:36:07
Speaker
I think he is. I don't think Haverts is really that great of a striker. I think he's a good football player, which allows him to do well up front, but you're actually looking at someone who's like goals, goals, goals. Bowen is definitely going to get more goals than Haverts. I mean, even just looking at the stats now, what, six goals in assists this season in the press compared to the five of Haverts' as well.
00:36:28
Speaker
Yeah, our biggest argument before the, obviously all the or the big national cups at the moment is that the reason we think Bowen should be going and playing more is, but well, last year we were saying that I think towards the end of the season, Bowen and Saka finished on the same goals and assists. Yeah. But Bowen didn't have a penalty. So that was the, that's the that was the big difference. And and nu chi that's not what I was saying.
00:36:50
Speaker
I promise. i I actually really rate Saka. They both finished on similar numbers, except I think we had a higher ratio of open goals was the was the difference. But but that was yeah it shows that that all the players are up there in their calibre. And yeah we've been saying today, Bowen down the middle, I say yes. Tom says no, but can half agree with me. And then given Kudos, we said Kudos at Cam, because you could do it at Ajax. It's not unheard of. OK. It's not unheard of, but I don't think he fits in the team that way for Arsenal. but You know, this is going to make Joshua Duncan's day on the Daily Arsenal podcast, but I i will concede Havertz for Jared Bowen up in the middle, which is more West Ham players than I thought would get into this squad. I'm not going to lie to you, lads. That's what is really strong, by the way. That for three is really dangerous. Terrified, Sakakudas Bowen down the middle yeah with Erdogan feeding them in behind and PachTER as well. That's felt like really tasty.
00:37:46
Speaker
I think it's, it's actually closer to happening than what I'd like to be honest. If you do end up signing kudos, just hey you get to write us another big old check that we can hopefully sign the next kudos and the next, you know, whoever's going to actually make us that money back. You can sign three more center forwards in their thirties. You got to give us forward. We just need to be taking everyone's 30 year old instructors. I'm afraid we're letting Kettie go to Crystal Palace and you know, he's having a great time there.
00:38:13
Speaker
so gosh We got no one to spare, unfortunately. i's say because We were linked for them for a while, to be fair. I'm kind of glad we didn't get them, to be honest. this so i was I was really happy we didn't in the end. It was one of those where didn't it didn't look right on on kind of profile, I think, for what we were looking for. But I'm glad i'm glad be we kept what we didn't miss there.
00:38:31
Speaker
so Yeah,
Conclusion and Farewell
00:38:33
Speaker
definitely. Well, thank you very much for listening to this episode of the Daily GSPN West End Podcast. Say goodbye, Josh, number one, and Josh, number two. Thank you very much for having me. Thank you, everyone. If you've enjoyed this podcast, please rate it five stars and check out all of our social medias at the links in in the description. If you did enjoy this podcast, we have many other podcasts under the GSPN Podcast Network.
00:38:53
Speaker
We have the um women's football podcast, we have the fantasy football podcast, we have the wrap-up podcast in many languages and we obviously have all of the other podcasts for each of the Premier League teams. so Thank you very much for listening and we will see you soon. Goodbye.
00:39:11
Speaker
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