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NBA Finals Preview & Thibs Gets Fired | Cowboys & Eagles’ Season Previews | Liverpool & Sunderland’s 25/26
16 Plays28 days ago
In this week’s episode of Who’s Got The Ball? the lads previewed the NBA Finals between the Thunder and Pacers and took a look at the Knicks firing of Tom Thibodeau. They were then joined by Evan to preview the season ahead for the Cowboys and Eagles, before Shane and James finished up by breaking down the key points of the 2025/26 season for Liverpool & Sunderland.
The lads continued their new section for the summer, where they break down the biggest football transfers/rumours of the past week, as well as adding in a new draft style game which started with the Premier League’s most underrated players.
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Follow Evan on Instagram/Twitch: @drftrofficial/@hypoxx
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Transcript
Intro and Light-hearted Banter
00:00:09
Speaker
ahri lads, welcome back to another episode of Who's Got The Ball. Shane always gets the giggles here when we start. If you're watching on YouTube, you just see the two of us like laughing at the start because it's always the same before we start recording. But we're back again, two of us
Sports Seasons Ending: Reflections
00:00:22
Speaker
here. Shane, what is the crack?
00:00:24
Speaker
I can't complain, to honest. I know I say that every single week, but I really can't. and It's kind of sad now that everything is coming to a close. All we've left now is League of Ireland really. Munster are out. We don't talk about them. They're probably going to win, I suppose.
Matchday Experiences and Observations
00:00:41
Speaker
Yeah, I was down in Cove last week at the 3D match where the football got in the way of a really, really good day out in Cove. The Cove fans were sound, the bar after was great, but the match wasn't the best result. But we move on. They even have their break now.
00:00:54
Speaker
Oh, unreal. Absolutely unreal, yeah. yeah in this place but Talking about League Ireland, I said it to you already, but like when i was driving I was driving back to Carlow from Dublin,
00:01:05
Speaker
Last weekend, driving down the N7 outside on Puching still. If you go to Dublin, you'll know it's always the place that has all the flags outside of all the counties that are playing that weekend. ah Just like before you get into Dublin.
00:01:17
Speaker
And Damien Duff there on the side of the road at the bus stop with a school bag on his back. Looking up the road, just looking really pissed off. Waiting for whatever bus was coming with the whole Shelburne squad to travel down to Cork.
00:01:29
Speaker
It was funny. Just not something I expected to see.
Rugby and Soccer Previews
00:01:32
Speaker
But outside of that little League of Ireland bit, I suppose I was at the Leinster game last week, as you already alluded to.
00:01:40
Speaker
ah you didn't want to talk about it, but they won, weren't great, just basically won. There's not much more to say about how they played because they barely got the job done. But was kind of nervous at halftime when it started raining heavily because I thought, oh God, anything can happen when the ball is wet, especially if you don't have a comfortable lead.
00:01:59
Speaker
But they got over the line. Leinster game was an absolute cracker. They were unfortunate. They kind of threw it away at the end. And it's unfortunate to lose in penalties in any sport, especially rugby. It's just like if like, I don't know, it just feels very harsh. But then this weekend, then I'm going to.
00:02:15
Speaker
Obviously, the semi-final Leinster are in now against Glasgow. And today, when you'll be listening to this, it is Friday. Ireland are playing Senegal. First time an African team, um African country is playing in the Aviva. So I'm also going to that back-to-back days in the Aviva. So can't get enough of the play, sure.
00:02:30
Speaker
Only over the road for me now. But how do you think Ireland will get on with that? They have to just go out there and win, to be perfectly honest. I don't think there's any beat around the bush on it. if which we we with With what Hymer is saying constantly about we're going to World Cup, we're getting the World Cup, book your flights.
00:02:49
Speaker
These are the kind of games where teams rack up and you think you have to beat them. If you want people to believe in what you're saying, they really do. You have to beat these teams. and Just an all 2-0 or something would be really, really nice. Just something, get over the line, get it done and get out.
00:03:04
Speaker
Just in front of the home fans as well. It'd just be so hard to get a nice, friendly win against a big team. A team who's won the African Cup Nations, not last time, but the time of course. yeah That's pretty big. So hopefully they get a
PSG's Dominance and NBA Finals Preview
00:03:17
Speaker
win. But yeah, I suppose moving on from that, the other thing that was on last weekend, which we we obviously see gave a big preview.
00:03:25
Speaker
I picked Inter to win. You picked PSG to win. Neither of us foresaw a 5-0 absolute drubbing. um was unbelievable by PSG, the way they played. It was really a thing of Inter, their strategy to sign older players caught up with them at the end of the season when the going got tough. And then PSG's strategy of having a younger squad with a lot of legs and a lot of pressing really outdid Inter, in my opinion. And that just really killed them. But I didn't expect it to go like how it did.
00:03:54
Speaker
I don't think anyone saw the result coming. but yeah I obviously i did pick PSG to win, but I said it'd be 2-1 or 2-0. yeah The way they tore him apart, Inter couldn't lay globbin' him, really. I think Don Romer made maybe two saves of note in the whole game.
00:04:09
Speaker
Desiree Due sensational. um What a player for 19 years old. even hit I know it was an easy finish for Hakimi, but the pass for the first goal from Due is just like he's picking that out when he's 19.
00:04:21
Speaker
And then his two finishes were... His second finish in particular was the finish of a man who was 29, not 19. They were just they were incredible. Their full-backs incredible. Dembele is pressing from the front I think a lot of teams and think Liverpool are doing it now as have said it a while but I think Liverpool are trying to base what they're doing next year now on what PSG did this year and you wouldn't be surprised to see many other teams kind of follow that that mould well maybe yeah Enrique well a manager I'm happier for him to be honest than I am for PSG in general because of I suppose how they built the club with the money and stuff like that but
00:04:56
Speaker
The football on the pitch, putting everything else aside, was superb. And I think yeah Enrique deserves all the credit in the world. But I suppose moving on to the big one, then, NBA Finals.
00:05:08
Speaker
First game will be over by the time you listen to this, but we don't we don't know how that's going to go because it's very late on Thursday night and we're getting this out for you Friday morning. So and we're going to give basically a preview on who we think is going to win without any knowledge of the games and you'll only be one game ahead of us. so um you want to start with maybe looking at the Pacers? Because I think we spent a lot of time on OKC last week.
00:05:32
Speaker
Yeah. buty What really stood out to you about them and how do you think, you know, how well do you think they did to get this far? I think they've had an exceptional season. At no point this year was I ever high on the Pacers. I really never saw them getting to this point.
00:05:50
Speaker
i had um I think every single time we talked about the Pacers coming up against the Knicks or whoever else they come up against, I was backing against them. But the way Pascal Siakam and Tyree Salyberton have just been off the charts, especially against the Knicks, um I think outside those who then did like, they're kind of, they're the The players that be kind of fit in around him have been really, really solid well. So the likes of Nismith has kind of... I know he hadn' been he's had maybe one outstanding game, but the other games where he's just been kind of'd been plugging a hole, filling a gap, and he's done it really, really well.
00:06:27
Speaker
Obviously, Nemhand has been a really, really good foil for Halliburton as well. and but At the start year, I didn't see this coming from the Pacers at all. I really didn't see it. And the fact during the finals now, there's a whole loss about the way they've handled the season, the way they've come together at the right time.
00:06:44
Speaker
They made the Knicks look silly at times. And Jalen Brunson didn't get his own way too often either. I just think... if they're going to do anything against OKC, now I don't think they will.
00:06:57
Speaker
But I've said that every single other round as well. So who knows? But just think the way they handled Jalen Brunson for therefore the four games they won was sensational.
00:07:08
Speaker
Yeah, I think the ah performance from Nembhard in the last game was unbelievable. like I think him and Neesmith playing so well on defence. I think Nembhard found it very hard in the early games of this series.
00:07:23
Speaker
And then in that last game, the way he hit some timely shots and the way he defended Brunson, which he's never been able to do that. Like they've put him on Brunson so many times and it didn't work. So they switched it to Neesmith and Neesmith was great because he's more physical, but he picks up fouls early and he was kind of injured.
00:07:40
Speaker
It looked like in the last couple of games, he has that injury he he's carrying. So for Nembhard to step up like that after having a bad series in general, it was just really incredible.
00:07:51
Speaker
I think... Halliburton, it's his team, the way they play. They don't turn the ball over. 13.2 turnovers per game in the regular season, only behind OKC and the Celtics.
00:08:02
Speaker
That's down to 12.7 per game now in the playoffs. And then, obviously, the other side of things with the assists per game in regular season, 29.2. It's the third most in the league, and they have the most in the playoffs so far with 28.1.
00:08:16
Speaker
So the fact that they, you know, They can still hit maybe a higher height of what they had in their regular season with their assists. Shows something crazy of how Halliburton just dictates this team.
00:08:28
Speaker
They play the way he wants to play. I think he should have won ah Eastern Conference Finals MVP. ah you agree I agree. But Lux Fiss, I think he thought he should have as well, but the way he was almost walking up to collect it.
00:08:41
Speaker
I thought he was mad he didn't win it. And I think that's something that's really going to spur him on going into this these finals. He'd be like, how on earth do I not win that? I really want to get the big one now. I want to get the finals MVP. Yeah.
00:08:54
Speaker
I couldn't believe he didn't win us, to be honest. But maybe it was kind of going after you see Byers with Siakam scoring 31 in the final game as well. He might have true tipped it in his favour. Yeah, I think it does come down to stats a lot. And I think it's a lot about narrative too.
00:09:10
Speaker
Like with that vote where you know Halliburton was rated as the most overrated player in the league by other players. But like they only polled a small number of players. And he got maybe like four votes.
00:09:22
Speaker
Another player got like three or whatever. So it's not like this is an overwhelming opinion. And that kind of feeds into things and the stat watching as well, I think, of these voters. I think i don't think it should have been it shouldve went that way, but I think it's not egregious. It's not like Iguodala winning over Steph that time.
00:09:39
Speaker
it's But yeah still it still it's still annoying for him. But I think you're right. He will use to his advantage. And I think seeing him after the game, like telling Siakam to get a picture with the two trophies and everything, that was like he took it well. He took it in his stride.
00:09:53
Speaker
And I think... I think the in general, like i already mentioned, Nemhard and Neesmith, they're going to play very hard again on defense, but I don't think they're going to be able to match up with the Thunder in terms of strength and physicality because, yeah, they can match up with maybe Shea and I wouldn't even go as far to say Jalen Williams. He's too big and strong, but they still won't be able to slow him down. They can match up in physicality. They can push him. They can do whatever, but he's still going be the smart player and do what he needs to do.
00:10:22
Speaker
and I just don't think they have enough to stop this historic Thunder run. i I don't think anyone has, with the way they've played all season, I don't think anyone going into these finals, but I'd be like, oh, I'm really confident and they're going to be able to stop this um this team.
00:10:38
Speaker
Everything they've done nearly every game all season has been just, they've been off the charts all year long. Everything they do, Chet Holmgren has been incredible. che obviously has been incredible. Partenstein has had a really, really solid year as well. I just don't see how anyone was going to stop them.
00:10:55
Speaker
And especially now when they're in the finals, they have a lot to kind of give a lot to prove to themselves. And I think they're going to go out there and their bench tape, we mentioned it last week, They just have players that can come on and do bits for days yeah upon days upon days. And I hate being down on the Pacers again because they clearly deserve to be here. But I can't see them laying a glove on this OKC team, really.
00:11:19
Speaker
and Do you think it's going to be a sweep or what way do you have it? No, I think I put down 4-2. um And then the more I think about it, I think it's more likely to be a 4-1. They won't win more than two games. like We're not getting a game seven by any stretch imagination.
00:11:33
Speaker
If it does go to 4-2, it goes to 4-2, then it's 3-1 and... they want to get it back home And they're the ones they kind of dropped. They dropped onto the Timberwolves as well, where they just kind of don't show up one week.
00:11:44
Speaker
it's going be a 4-1 or a 4-2, then that's going to have to happen. Because if they're on their game for the first for the first four games of the series, then it will be a sweep. Yeah, I think it could. I think it's going to be a 4-1.
00:11:57
Speaker
I think they'll get it maybe 3-0. um And they'll they'll lose one there. Maybe 2-0. And the they might lose the first one in Indiana if Indiana really push it.
00:12:08
Speaker
And then the Thunder will be like, we need to close this back out at home. But I think they'll close it out in OKC again for one. But I think Indiana are very good. It's just the OKC team that is there right now is literally historic.
00:12:21
Speaker
This will be like people are not rating this team properly, I don't think still, and because like this is going to be one of the best teams we will witness in a long time and have witnessed in a long time in terms of their dominance.
00:12:33
Speaker
If they win this whole thing out, they'll have the third most wins in a season between regular season and playoffs combined ever. So only behind the 15, 16 Warriors who had 88 and the 95, 96 Bulls who had 87. They'll be tied with the 96, 97 Bulls with 84.
00:12:52
Speaker
And just looking at those teams, so I was looking at all the teams who had the most wins ever in like the top 10 in that category, combining regular season and playoffs.
00:13:03
Speaker
And if OKC managed to reach it in there, They have the most points per game out of all the other top 10 with 119.9. Only the Warriors are second with 116.5 in 2016-17.
00:13:17
Speaker
They have the most steals out of all the other top 10 teams. 1019, the Warriors are like 80 behind. That was that same Warriors team. And then a really interesting one is they will have the least field goals or free throws attempted out of all those other top 10 teams.
00:13:33
Speaker
So... Maybe Shea gets to the line a lot, but they don't need that to win because it shows how well they've done with this elite defense, stealing the ball, scoring at will, and they will be one of the most historic, well-performing teams, I think, in the history of the NBA if they if they do win this, and I i do think they will.
00:13:53
Speaker
I think... Yeah, i think SGA is going to be the I can't see anybody else winning. I think he'll dominate this. He'll get to his spot. He'll do what he needs to do, as usual. Oh, yeah, 100%. I think he's going to have the time of his life in these four or five games, and he's going to walk away with the MVP, maybe buying myself and yourself a Rolex this time, so he's already got the rest of the team one.
00:14:15
Speaker
And, yeah, he's just
NBA Coaching Changes and Impacts
00:14:17
Speaker
going to peel away into the sunshine. We said a couple of weeks back that this is this is definitely the start of a dynasty in OKC. Because it's a young team, the contracts aren't mad yet and obviously they'll go up. But the way they play, they're all young. i just They're going to be a really, really exciting team to watch for the next three to five seasons.
00:14:36
Speaker
Yeah, i think I think they have like the ability to take this forward for at least five seasons, as you said. And with the age of these guys, it could be for a longer, depending on how long Shea holds up and and injury look and things like that. But everything would point towards this working out in the long run. it's It's a roster building just perfectly.
00:14:55
Speaker
Perfect. It's a clinic of roster building, similar to what Howie Roseman has done with the Eagles. um I think moving on then to one little topic that just happened in the and NBA, I suppose, just to quickly touch on it.
00:15:07
Speaker
we've We've both gone with OKC to win 4-1 there, but then looking at another side of things is a bit obviously positive in OKC in Indiana and then negative and in New York. Well, depending on what way you look at it, Tom Thibodeau was fired.
00:15:20
Speaker
I said to you straight away, I wasn't surprised by this. What was your first take from seeing that he was fired? but As I said to you when you went, I was like, is that a bit mad? And you kind of explained to me why it wasn't. And I looked into it more and i was like, oh yeah, it actually does make sense.
00:15:36
Speaker
It was three years in a row. They were conference semi-final losers two years in a row and then conference final losers this year. And he just hadn't been able to get them over the line. And it probably was time for a fresh face in there because they were so poor against the Patriots. And after after taking the Boston Celtics apart, you thought, oh, they they' probably they're going all the way this year. Well, not all the way, but they're they're going to the finals this year. And then...
00:16:00
Speaker
the Pacers just walked all over them and I'd be really surprised at how badly it performed across that series. And then I saw he was fired. It's like, okay, it's not just thuds that actually thought they were performing really poorly.
00:16:11
Speaker
and his His record in the playoffs was nothing great on here. It was 48 wins, 55 losses. You probably need someone who has... the other way around, maybe 55, 48 coach coming in who has won more games he's lost in the playoffs that kind of might get him over the line a bit because they they have a talented squad there that it could very well have given OKC a better game than the Pacers might.
00:16:34
Speaker
But yeah it depends who they bring in now because that's going to be absolutely massive. Yeah, I think that there's like a number of things that played into it and I think his inability to rotate the team in the regular season was the biggest one.
00:16:50
Speaker
Like, why are you only starting to rotate in Landry Shammond and DeLon Wright in the last few games of the Pacers series when that should have been done a lot earlier in the season?
00:17:00
Speaker
There was games where they're up like 25 in a blowout win and Jalen Brunson is still on the floor with like two minutes left in the game. in the regular season. We're not talking about playoffs like this. These are things that it's quite obvious that the coach is not doing things correctly here.
00:17:17
Speaker
There was reports obviously coming out now about other players being unhappy with Cat's ability to defend and reading the system. That ultimately comes back on the coach that was from the Athletic.
00:17:27
Speaker
And then more coming out now about Rick Brunson, possibly people being unhappy with his input and that's from Hoopswire so I'm not sure obviously how you know how many sources this is from I know the athletic like triple check their sources I'm not I'm not sure about the Hoopswire one I can't speak to that but I think the the athletic report about Cat definitely if Cup falls back on the coach that comes out the day after they get eliminated but what he did there was was really good he turned the team around he he literally did like what he was brought in to do
00:18:00
Speaker
he set a better culture. The players work harder than when he was there but ah money took over. They were increased their winning percentage. They reached four of the last five playoffs and they didn't have a playoff appearance in seven years before that. So he took them to the next level, but it's like now they can't get over that point with him and the way he does things.
00:18:20
Speaker
They now need somebody maybe more offensively minded because they've gone all in on the players. So they're going to need to change the coach. And I think it was the right thing to do. Obviously, he'll be disappointed, but I think they did it at the right time and they did the right thing.
00:18:34
Speaker
It'll definitely be one to watch. Yeah, it's good that they've done it so early into the off-season as well. The way the Nuggets fired their coach before the season is over, think that's the wrong time to do it.
00:18:48
Speaker
But when you've just been eliminated, this now gives the new coach basically a whole off-season to... get a message across, get any free agents in that he might want to pick up. Instead of like, you see a lot of teams just leave it, leave it and leave and then they've left the two legs to bring in a new coach and nothing changes.
00:19:04
Speaker
At least they've they've been they've been proactive on this end. I think that will send them a good set as well. Once they get the appointment, Royce. Yeah, no, I definitely i agree with you on that. I think that's a big one.
00:19:15
Speaker
We're going to be watching that over the off season and who comes in and what they do going forward. But, Yeah, that was that was the stories around the and NBA.
NFL Preview with Guest Evan
00:19:24
Speaker
Let's jump into the NFL. So, lads, jumping into the NFL portion, we've got, myself and Shane, I've got our buddy Evan on, big Cowboys fan.
00:19:33
Speaker
And we're going to do a little preview. He's got the CD top going. I'm sure we're going to give him a mention. Rocking CD, boys. CD. So, you're to need to jump onto YouTube to watch this because you're going to have to see Evan's CD top that he's got on him. But what we're going to do is...
00:19:51
Speaker
We're doing like a season preview. Since we obviously only do like weekly episodes, we're going to do our season preview starting now per team. And then I suppose we'll do a bigger episode with like our predictions and stuff before the season starts. But we want to give equal time to each team in the NFL.
00:20:07
Speaker
So this week, we're starting with Cowboys and Eagles, starting in the NFC East since Evan is on deck. um We've got like four questions we're going to answer for each team. So we'll get started with the Cowboys and we'll throw...
00:20:20
Speaker
the first question to Evan on this one. um You guys will pick up the questions as you go. But the first one that we kind of looked at for every team is where do you need to improve the most from last season? and So what do you think of for this?
00:20:34
Speaker
Thank you very much for having me on. Much appreciated. ah yeah For those that don't see, we are rocking CD Lam t-shirt today. So do give the YouTubes a gander. But ah yeah, we do have a couple of things that we need to work on from last season. And what I thought of specifically is it's got to be stopping the run for sure 100 we have to be able to keep the average rushing yards per game down significantly in comparison to last year we were getting run over even by teams that we probably shouldn't have been run over by now that's a tough one to do stopping the run obviously depending on what schemes and all that good stuff but specifically i targeted someone who really needs to step up major
00:21:22
Speaker
And i think it's it's got to be the ah defensive tackle, Masley Smith. yeah Last year, he had relatively poor season in comparison to where we thought we'd be with him being able to stop the run.
00:21:35
Speaker
So if he can, in fact, go ahead and get that, fuck it ri being able to get in there, stop the run, that would be absolutely massive. I mean, we specifically picked him up from Michigan for that purpose. That that was the whole goal there.
00:21:50
Speaker
And if he's not being able to perform up to the level to be able to to hold it off, it's going to open up. Obviously, you see their teams are pushing the run. It's being successful. We're a heavily focusing on it then. And then they're then countering with, you know, a deep pass or or whatever it might be. It's opening us up for those key passes as well. So if we can at least eliminate that, it would be massive for our defense.
00:22:15
Speaker
I think games are won and lost in the trenches on either side of the ball. That's why i I definitely agree with you. It was a toss-up for me between improving your rushing offense or defense, and I just went with the offense of sight, because six worse in the league with just under 105 yards per game.
00:22:33
Speaker
was pretty poor last year. Shane, did you have anything different for that? I went just with what you were saying as well, which they really needed to improve the offensive running of the ball. And that's why they brought in Miles Sanders, they brought in Javante Williams in the hope that at least one of them could do something. And the rookie, Jadon Blue as well, is hopefully make a big deal in Bigford too.
00:22:54
Speaker
I think like it's very easy to keep throwing the CDL on, but as Evan just said, when they know what they're doing, it's so easy to just... just stop CD-Rum and you seem to stop the L.A. Cowboys so if they can get their running game going at all it would make such a massive difference for them I think Yeah, that kind of leads into the next question which is the three players on their team that will make the biggest impact and two of the guys you mentioned there I had them down so I had CD I just think he's the best player on the team and he's probably going to get even more yards if Pickens has any sort of kind of input so that's going to free him up a little bit
00:23:31
Speaker
I also put Jaden Blue. I think it's really important that he hits the ground running. Texas have had a lot of good running backs enter the NFL over the last few seasons, and I'm willing to think that he's a good one.
00:23:42
Speaker
The third guy that I've picked out then is Donovan Izuraku. I think that was an unbelievable pick in the draft from Boston College. 16.5 sacks last year with Boston College in 12 games. And if you have Micah on the other side, it's only going to make life easier for you. So I think those three were The guys I picked out, did you guys have anybody different or overlapping with me?
00:24:04
Speaker
I'll always look back to Trayvon Diggs because I have such high hopes for him. I always have high hopes for him. always will. I don't know if he really does have in him, but I think he's a really good, solid cornerback. And if he can get back to the kind of levels he showed two years ago, then he could be one that's commanding big money when his new contract comes to pass. But...
00:24:24
Speaker
I don't know, maybe he's kind of hit a ceiling, we'll see. But I really you like him. And one on a personal level, I really hope that Rivaldo Fairweather does well. Just because I think his name is absolutely class. love the name.
00:24:36
Speaker
ah Yeah, he he's an undrafted tight end who they picked up. and Again, I always look at tight ends and think, can you be a Travis Kelsey? Can you be someone like Dallas Goddard? And I really hope he's the one that makes the jump this year outside of obviously the one that the Jets have picked up.
00:24:57
Speaker
Ev, did you have anybody different? Yeah, look, at s i aside from going with the the regular names that we see come through for Cowboys, we got yeah Lamb, we got Parsons. One that I think could be massive, Turpin.
00:25:12
Speaker
I think Turpin could be a pretty big potential wide receiver three. like That whole wide receiver three battle now is a very interesting one. I mean, he got the he got the extension, but which was massive.
00:25:25
Speaker
The new contract rolled in there for him, which was huge. ah special teams return specialist, you know, that's massive. We saw him absolutely break the commander's ankles off what appears to be like a muff punt return.
00:25:38
Speaker
And he just brought us to the house for touchdown. That was insane. Whether or not he did that, Would that have guaranteed his new contract? Who knows? But I think we can definitely put Turpin up there anyway for an interesting wide receiver three spot and potential impact player.
00:25:54
Speaker
Yeah, the running back situation, the running back room is huge. There's lot names in there. Jaden Blue obviously is huge. And also, i think his interesting rookie counterpart is Mafa, who got pulled in from, I believe it was Clemson, I think.
00:26:09
Speaker
he is an absolute truck. So if they're struggling with the running back room, I think they got a lot of options there um for like a good one, two punch combo.
00:26:19
Speaker
That would be sick. And the other person, my other impact could potentially be bland. I mean, bland, massive impact. record-setting year. Literally put him in the history books for pick six, ah you know, I think, was it six in the season? Five, I think it was.
00:26:38
Speaker
Five? Yeah, whatever he had back-to-back was, like, I think the most as well in, like, a run. It was unbelievable. Yeah, ah like, with with him having a touch-and-go injury there and being out for a couple of weeks, that that that's unfortunate.
00:26:57
Speaker
Hopefully, with him coming back, that will be huge for the defensive side. And, yeah, yeah, I think that's my three-covered ruling. Yeah, he had nine interceptions for 209 yards and five touchdowns.
00:27:09
Speaker
Insane. Yeah. himmo Most interception returns for a touchdown and most interceptions in a single season. Yeah, great that but that was an absolute monster season. You'd love to see it.
00:27:22
Speaker
Yeah. I think then... Moving into our last two questions, they kind of go together because the first one is, do we think they'll hit their over-under wins with the bookies this year? So they're projected to have seven and a half wins. So it's either over or under that. And then the second question part of that is, what is their ceiling with the current roster and coach for the season ahead? Not to look too far into the future, but just the season ahead. So Shane, what did you get for these two?
00:27:50
Speaker
I think they'll go over on wins, but not by much. I think maybe eight. I like i don't think they're only going to win six or seven, and I think they'll get to the playoffs, but they'll be one of the first teams knocked out when they do get to playoffs, I think. I just don't think, with Dak Prescott still in there commanding that money, I just don't see how anything changes up there, really. Unless now their running backs go off and Bland keeps going as he was, I just i don't see him pushing too far into the playoffs this year.
00:28:17
Speaker
Okay, what do you have for this? I honestly think this is an absolute steal for the better.
00:28:28
Speaker
I think if you're a Cowboys fan, you go ham here. We're going over seven and a half, without a doubt. I know that the schedule, it does look a bit tough, right? i I think we got some some easy losses.
00:28:40
Speaker
First game against the Eagles is brutal. However... Last season, our first game was against Browns, and I had us written off of that game, and we smashed them and ah in Cleveland.
00:28:51
Speaker
So that was a big dub for us. So do I think we're going to beat the Eagles? No. But looking at the schedule, I think that's an easy 9-10 win season for sure. Okay, so I've gone – you guys have gone – Evan, obviously, gone bit higher. Shane's gone in the middle.
00:29:08
Speaker
I've gone lower. I just think the schedule is way too tough. I'm just – It's just so hard this year. Playing in the best division in football pretty much with the Commanders and Eagles there.
00:29:19
Speaker
And then you also have to play the AFC West and the NFC North. It's going to be so hard. And I'm just not willing to put them higher than seven wins with the fact that I think they'll hit a similar level to last year because I'm i'm really not sure about the coaching hire.
00:29:36
Speaker
um Although I see a future with some of the young guys they have there, this is kind of looking at the ceiling for next year. I've just kind of gone with, I think, at a ceiling, I think nine wins this year.
00:29:48
Speaker
If some games swing their way, but I don't think they make the playoffs. and But that's kind of, i do I do think they will go under, but at ah at a push, I think the most they could get is nine. But it's just with the schedule. If things flip another way, it could be different, but it's so tough.
00:30:02
Speaker
So... so I suppose that's us wrapped up our four questions on the Cowboys. Our second team that we're going to touch on then is Super Bowl champion champion Eagles. um It's a bit of a different outlook, although they have a very similar schedule in toughness. um They're obviously ah team that just won the Super Bowl, so the outlook is going to be a little bit different.
00:30:25
Speaker
What I've said about where do they need to improve for last year, i just said nowhere. They're the Super Bowl champs. um Their defense was absolutely amazing. and And I think although the offense could improve in certain places, it is already ramping into that direction. So I don't see any real issues.
00:30:43
Speaker
Did you guys highlight anything throw to you first, Dev? Yeah, you're right. like That team is absolutely stacked. From front to back, top to bottom, both sides the ball, they're churning. and And like they're a tough one. They're easily up there.
00:30:58
Speaker
I wouldn't be shocked to see them in the in the Super Bowl. I wouldn't. i The only thing that i I suppose was the loss of Mekhi Becton going to the Chargers, I believe.
00:31:11
Speaker
Solid-ass guard. What an absolute stud he is. Huge. Massive. He is. He is. He's a big boy. And like, yeah, that's a big loss. Huge game for the Chargers.
00:31:23
Speaker
It's not like a massive loss though the Eagles. They do have a lot of depth to fill the guard spot. I think the that's so overcomable, but like still, it's unfortunate to see him leave.
00:31:33
Speaker
He was great pass blocker and he was an excellent run blocker as well. Gives the the extra room that he needed to get in and out, slip in and out and get those yards. Yeah.
00:31:46
Speaker
Yeah, no, definitely. That's a good point. Shane, what you got for this one? There's very little to kind of, you really can't pick holes in them, as you both said already. and They brought in a new backup running back in AJ Dillon, which I think is a massive pickup as well.
00:32:02
Speaker
So even if they were weak and running back last year, because they only had safe one, they're not weak now. Their wide receivers, Devontae Smith and AJ Brown, Dallas Goddard there as their tight ends. They just have so many options. And Evan has just gone in-depth on the defence as well. like they're It's so hard to pick any holes and it it wouldn't be as great to see them go back to back. It really wouldn't.
00:32:23
Speaker
Their head coach as well is quite clearly very, very good at what he does, even if people don't like him. He's a menace of a man, but he's he's a brilliant head coach. Yeah, yeah. It's hard to argue with that.
00:32:35
Speaker
so Yeah, a lot of people have conflicting opinions about him. We've mentioned it before, like whether he's actually running everything or not is something that is maybe left up to interpretation. But we'll see now after. he has done plenty of times. He's lost coordinators.
00:32:52
Speaker
And I think losing Kellen Moore is probably a big one. But I think I'd be more concerned if he lost Fangio on the other side of the ball. He kind of really dictates the way this defense is played.
00:33:03
Speaker
So I think moving into what three players on their team will make the biggest impact. I looked at some defensive players and what Fangio can do with them, really, because I think she had Campbell slipping in the draft in the first round. Like I had him ranked top 10.
00:33:21
Speaker
I thought he would be excellent out of Alabama linebacker. And he just slipped perfectly to them as players tend to do. They just draft best available because they already have a great roster. And it works so well.
00:33:32
Speaker
And looking at what Fangio did with Zach Vaughn last year, I think he can only improve Campbell's game. I've also gone with Quinone Mitchell just because I think some of the wide receivers in this division with CD, Malik Neighbours, Terry McLaurin, he'll need to have a huge season if if they're going to continue to be good on defense and he'll need to match what he did last year.
00:33:52
Speaker
And the last guy I had then is obviously maybe an obvious one, but I think Jalen Hurts is only going to get better because he had a lot of critics, I think, over the years. And the way he bounced back from the previous Super Bowl loss to how he performed in this year's one was absolutely amazing.
00:34:07
Speaker
And I think he's going to be really a leader for this team and up there pushing in MVP consideration. What did you have for this, Evan? Yeah, I agree. Like, all of those players, there's just, there is, there's too many impact players to pick on both sides of the ball. It's insane.
00:34:24
Speaker
Yeah, if Jalen, i mean, like, playoff Jalen is something else as well. when When he gets to the playoffs specifically, he just shreds and puts up great numbers.
00:34:35
Speaker
You love to see it. Or, well, not so much we, you know, we don't know we don't get it. But it's good to see him, though, you know, and like that past criticisms and all that good stuff. Overcoming that is obviously a mental challenge in the itself.
00:34:47
Speaker
And stepping up, getting it done, and moving on is huge. and He's able to do that. Yeah, AJ Brown, absolute stud. What receiver. And I think his impact is only going to continue on into next year.
00:35:01
Speaker
or this year, sorry, which is gonna yeah it's going to seal them, the Super Bowl, surely. I'd be stunned if they didn't get there. And then another person that I thought was massive is Jalen Carter.
00:35:12
Speaker
yeah What an absolute warrior on the defensive side of the ball. I believe even in the Super Bowl against the Chiefs, he was just locking it down consistently, have play after play.
00:35:24
Speaker
I don't think they sent more than their front four at the Chiefs. I could be wrong. and on na don think day didn't and yeah They need to. the The boys just held it down. and yeah He's a huge key piece of the puzzle on the defensive side, I think, for for getting it done.
00:35:41
Speaker
yeah Definitely. He's only going get better as well with how young he is. And Shane, did you have anybody different there than we mentioned? Yeah, so there was a rookie last year. you know He only started one game, but he played across 18, think it was, or 16, sorry. And it's Jalex Hunt.
00:35:56
Speaker
Do like his name too? 21 tackles. No, I actually think like if if they're looking for something big this year, he was the third round pick last year. And if they can kind of slot him in and as a linebacker this year, it could just be another one that they picked up, let him settle for a year and then just throw him in now and see what he does. Alongside the obvious one, they decide to, yeah, Campbell's a great pickup. They have Cupid Eugene and what he did last year.
00:36:20
Speaker
And then the offensive of weapons, we don't need to go too much into them again. I just think they they just have talent all over the place. It's so hard to narrow it down to three that aren't... Instead of just saying Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, AJ, Devontae, Dallas, to whoever you want. You just have to sit back and admire what like the way they've built the squad over the last couple of years.
00:36:44
Speaker
Yeah, their roster building is unbelievable. Yeah. And it's like with Saquon, you don't even have to go into detail. We just know what he's done. its Yeah, he's obviously going to be the most impactful if he's on the pitch. But I think, you know, thinking outside the box, we're getting to some other names. But yeah, Jalex Hunt is an interesting one. And they're lucky to have that luxury to like have a guy that you drafted and the third round. He doesn't have to play an overwhelming amount of minutes. And then he has a Super Bowl ring and he's ready to go year two.
00:37:12
Speaker
So yeah, that's it. That's a very interesting one. But then the last two questions, obviously, they're over under is 11.5. And then looking at their ceiling, I'll go first this time.
00:37:24
Speaker
I think 11.5 wins is a lot, but I think they can hit 12 at least coming off the back of the Super Bowl high. I think there's no reason why they won't exceed 11.5 wins. I think that's the most that any team has at that mark there and there with the Bills and maybe the Lions, couple of other teams. But Yeah, I think they'll definitely overcome that not margin. And I think their ceiling is a Super Bowl back-to-back. I think it's obvious to say because they've just won it, but I think most of the best parts of the roster are intact.
00:37:56
Speaker
Obviously, you lost a couple of pieces on defense. um And obviously, have you you've mentioned already on the ah offensive side of the ball, a big loss in Becton. But I think they have enough to overcome that.
00:38:08
Speaker
I think their offense is always improving. So I think, yeah, back-to-back Super Bowls is the ceiling here. What do you think, Shane? Yeah, I agree. They are going over 11.5, think, as well.
00:38:18
Speaker
I think they'll hit 12 or 13, and then they'll get to the Super Bowl, and if they get to the Super Bowl, I think they'll win it again. I can see them going back-to-back. And it's very hard to bet against them, really, as well.
00:38:31
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. as Yeah, I think 12 is absolutely doable by the squad in its current state. I think, as well as saying, 100%, it's Super Bowl-bound, I think.
00:38:42
Speaker
Obviously, unless something absolutely nuts was to happen, i think that's the goal. i like Nick just knows what's going on. He knows what to do.
00:38:54
Speaker
Last season, they had a ah rough start. I'm pretty sure they pulled a couple of losses early. And off rip, the fan base is, get Sirianni out. Well, look where he ended up.
00:39:06
Speaker
yeah know what mean? Yeah. so think if it wasn't for that big Goddard run in that game... I don't know who their Jaguars maybe. And he took out of Saints and he took it like like one minute left, fourth and one way down the pitch. And then the season turned from there.
00:39:22
Speaker
So yeah, they were a big Sirianni out until that point. Yeah, I think, you know, fan bases will do that. the the you know The mentality will shift very quick. and But as did the Eagles, their mentality shifted fast. And once they got into Dub after dub after dub.
00:39:39
Speaker
The growth kept going. And ah yeah, it's huge. Yeah, I think Sirianni is a pivotal character either way. Because some people will come out and say now that he could, you know, take this and have too much confidence. Well, I don't think so. I actually think this might tone him down a little bit because he has the win now and he has nothing to prove.
00:39:57
Speaker
He's one of the best winning records in the history of the NFL. Obviously, small sample size, but I think he will take this in a stride. But
Premier League Prospects and Transfers
00:40:05
Speaker
yeah, that's it. That's the first two teams previewed. We're obviously going to hit them all as the season goes by. um Thank you for coming on, Ev, and joining us. We hope to see again. If you want to plug anything, I know you do Twitch from time to time. So want to plug that or your Instagram for the guys.
00:40:20
Speaker
Thank you. Yeah, thank you both very much for having me on. i appreciate it I know... We jump in on just Cowboys there and a bit of the Eagles, but I'm happy to come back for another epi if if that's down the line I'm in.
00:40:31
Speaker
This a bit of crack. Yeah, some of my socials for a bit of streaming. I'm only kind of getting back into it now recently and enough, but typically any of my socials are just whatever it is, forward slash Hypox.
00:40:43
Speaker
That's H-Y-P-O-X-X, just Hypox. But yeah, thank you both for having me on, and I appreciate it. Cheers, thanks very much. Thanks for joining us. and it that All right, let's let's move on.
00:40:55
Speaker
So we have a bit of a different one now that the power rankings are done. We used to do them at the end of the show. We've moved in a new kind of game for the summer where each week we're going to do like a draft. We're going to do like a snake style draft where one of us will go first, the other person gets two picks and then back two picks and so on.
00:41:14
Speaker
And we've picked like different topics to go over. So just kind of fun things to draft as the season goes on You can let us know if there's anybody you think we missed out on in each of these topics. So the first one is most underrated players in the Premier League.
00:41:28
Speaker
So we're going to draft five people each. Obviously, we can't take the same people. So I'll do a little spin the wheel. see who goes first this time and then we'll just swap with them next week and go forth from there but it's kind of even enough when it's only two people it's like because we're gonna we're gonna do like snake style so it's not the worst but let me just enter this in James Shane and Spin you guys can't see this terrible podcasting but here we go Shane you won you're going first bud off you go to the races I'm gonna start with probably
00:42:07
Speaker
And it's probably an easy enough pick. I think Johan Vissa doesn't get enough credit at Brentford's. and Absolutely. Yes. Perfect pick, bro. He was first one. i So he he did 19 goals in 35 games this season.
00:42:21
Speaker
And I think the reason he doesn't get talked about so much is because he's 28 now going on 29. He's probably not getting the move that Brian O'Brien was getting or the other players on the team are getting. But I think he has he is the so solid for them.
00:42:34
Speaker
19 goals from the player who no one talks about is outrageous, if you ask me, to be perfectly honest. I think he was the most obvious pick in this this draft. No, he's definitely the most obvious pick I wanted him for. So I'm going to move on then to my two and three, which are Strand Larson is my guy I'm going to go with. I think he's very underrated for how good he's already performed and how good he will perform into the future. 14 goals and four assists last season.
00:43:02
Speaker
um He's not he's not ah very young, as we touched on previously, what kind of we went over and looked at him when we were talking about Wolves, but I think he has still a lot of growing to do in the game and he's the proper physical profile of for it.
00:43:14
Speaker
And then my second pick is Nathan Collins. I think he's an incredibly underrated player. Obviously Ireland's captain, the only outfield player in the Premier League who played every minute of last season.
00:43:26
Speaker
Incredible talent. Obviously, probably a bit of Irish bias, but I do think he's he's a very good player who should be playing close to the Champions League level because he has all the ability in the world with his passing and reading of the game. So, there are my one and two.
00:43:40
Speaker
Yeah, he was my my second pick, to be honest, Nathan Collins. The 38 games, every minute played, and Brentford had a really, really good season, and he was pivotal to it, so he was up there for me.
00:43:52
Speaker
Do I pick two now? I do, so I'm going to have i'm goingnna go with Alex Iwobi from Fulham. 15 goals and assists across the season this year. He can play in random positions, but he was mostly playing centre mids and he ran himself into the ground in so many games last season that he was literally limping off the pitch after 70 minutes after putting his heart and soul into the game football. and But I'm kind of briefed about it this season. I think data they fell off a bit at the end, but they had a really, really good season as well.
00:44:21
Speaker
There's so many teams in the middle middle of that table now who are kind of, they're probably pushing top eight and even if they don't get there, they have players that will be starting in many other leagues. players that will starting in Leicester League and stuff. And I think Alex Wolby will be starting for a Premier League team. i Sorry, yeah, a Premier League team if he was playing in Germany or France or somewhere.
00:44:41
Speaker
Yeah. other than that, in Guntz, yeah. and then they're going to go for Ilya Zabaryy from Brentford. I'm sorry, from Bournemouth.
00:44:52
Speaker
Bournemouth. This is third season now at Bournemouth and he is really, really good. i gave Dean Huysen all the credit last year because I was hoping he'd listen and go to Liverpool. But Ilyas Zabari is such a solid centre-half as well and I think they'll do really well to hold on to him this summer.
00:45:09
Speaker
Yeah, incredible box defender. Good height. yeah they I think they need to hold on to him after losing Huysen, definitely. and So then I've gone with a goalkeeper then for my next pick. I've gone with Matt Sells.
00:45:21
Speaker
um I think he's a real floor raiser for any team that has him. And I think the way he plays for Forrest in big moments, some of the saves he makes. He's 13 clean sheets last season, the joint most in the league.
00:45:38
Speaker
Obviously, that's down to the defense too, but he makes a large majority of his saves. He has a high percentage of saves and he's good for penalties too. So I think he's underrated. And then next, I've gone with Jared Bowen.
00:45:49
Speaker
I think... 13 goals and 8 assists last season in a very poor West Ham team. He's the proper, consistent guy that they have, that they can always rely on. I think they're lucky to have him with his talent.
00:46:01
Speaker
He can make a goal out of nothing. and He was pivotal for them winning a European trophy just a couple of seasons back. So I think he's he's very underrated for his ability. Last two for you. Yeah, I've also, I kind of picked it as a fight beside him, so I have a goalkeeper and another centre mate to come in.
00:46:17
Speaker
Okay. I've gone with, I was going to go with Dean Henderson, but then he won a trophy, so he's probably not as underrated as I think he is. I've actually gone for Kepa as my goalkeeper. I think he had a really, really good season in at Bournemouth.
00:46:30
Speaker
and Joe, he was laughed out of Chelsea. Couldn't wait to get rid of him. and he If he was at Chelsea this year, they'd have been a far better team, I think, because Robert Sanchez is rubbish and we've said it all along. I think Kepler's a better keeper than him.
00:46:43
Speaker
Yeah. He's going to be sold this season. I wouldn't be surprised if Bournemouth do pick him up or if he does end up back at a top team in Spain. you know I'm not saying he's a world-beater by any stretch of the imagination. I just think the year he has, he deserves a bit of a mention.
00:46:58
Speaker
And then Gio Gomez at Wolves, himself and Andre are both incredible for the level they're playing at. They should both be looking at moves to European clubs this season.
00:47:09
Speaker
Jaugolman is so good, such a good passer, such a good blocker, such a good defensive midfielder. And he slots into my five-a-side team, lovely. Yeah, that's a nice make-up. I think, yeah, I might as well go for something similar then to make it a kind of a five-a-side team.
00:47:25
Speaker
I'm going to go with Tyler Adams. I think incredibly underrated player, pivotal to that Bournemouth team, like captain in his his country and the USA. I think, what age was he, 23, something like that.
00:47:38
Speaker
A real leader. He was brilliant at Leeds and the step up the moment. Obviously, unfortunate with the injuries he suffered. Really set him back. But since he's come back in, he's been so good. Breaking up the play.
00:47:49
Speaker
Fifth most successful tackles per 90 in the league with 2.3. A real kind of dual winner and a good passer as well. So I think he's very underrated in that team. So I've got i'm Strand Larson, Nathan Collins, Matt Sells, Jared Bone and Tyler Adams.
00:48:08
Speaker
and then you've got Wissa, Iwobi, Zabarni, Kepa and Gomez. So let us know there's anybody else you thought we missed out on lads. Those are our five most underrated players each draft for the Premier League.
00:48:21
Speaker
So moving into football then, we've got something similar to what you just heard for the NFL. We're going to do this leading up to the start of next season. Obviously we'll do a bigger kind of predictions and and preview before the season starts but We're going to do like a preview for each of the teams before the season gets underway.
00:48:41
Speaker
So we're going to go with basically the team who finished the best last season and the team who was worse off. But in this case, it's Sunderland because they qualified through the playoffs.
00:48:52
Speaker
So we're going to do Liverpool and Sunderland. We're going to answer four questions on each and we're going to do that for all the Premier League teams so they all get covered before the season starts. So we'll start with Liverpool.
00:49:02
Speaker
um The first question is, where do they need to improve most from last season? Obviously, as a resident Liverpool fan, throw it you first. so There was very little here to kind of pick apart. A bit like when were talking the Eagles, but the one thing that came down to for me was they need to improve their set-piece goals.
00:49:23
Speaker
They only got 16 set-piece goals, including penalties, last season. It was the same as Southampton, Leicester, Ipswich and Fulham. ah Imagine if you can add a couple more goals to what they already had. You'd be adding maybe 8 to 10 points for next season and put them back up to a 90-point team.
00:49:39
Speaker
Clearly scoring goals wasn't their issue. They scored 2-plus in 31 of the 38 games of the new Premier League record. They conceded at 41, but nine of those came after the league was won. So it was 32 up until the final four games of the season. So like that's probably easy to stand for as well.
00:49:56
Speaker
I just want them to do more from set pieces. And Alexis McCallis, who seemed to be kind of getting his head around having to kick ball from the corner flight towards the end of the season. the There was a couple there from Van Dijk towards the end of the season. So hopefully they have...
00:50:08
Speaker
looked at but that was the one that really annoyed me all season was if Liverpool were taking a corner, I could and make a cup of tea or coffee because I knew they weren't scoring it, and I could come back then. Yeah, that's actually interesting stat, and it's interesting to see them lower than United because United are shocking at set pieces too.
00:50:24
Speaker
But my one was just the depth of squad and their ability to rotate in certain positions was the biggest one. yeah I think when you get into more competitions, you need to have better rotation ability. And, you know, the likes of Shimakas coming off the bench,
00:50:37
Speaker
These kind of guys like getting minutes when you like you might need a good solid replacement. And especially when you lose certain players too, you're going to need to replace them but with good but good talent. and I think they're already starting to address that. That was the biggest one for me.
00:50:52
Speaker
I think the second question we got them was like, who are the three players on the team that will make the biggest impact? Similar kind of question to the to looking at the NFL. So I've gone with is one new signing.
00:51:03
Speaker
and in Frimpong I think his ability will but really make a huge impact on this team I think he'll translate into the Premier League with his ability like the number of goals and assists may not be the same as what he was getting for Leverkusen a different system but his skill level his pace, his ability to cross will just be nothing but a benefit for this Liverpool team.
00:51:27
Speaker
And then the other two I've gone with are guys who were already brilliant and think they'll continue to grow is McAllister and Gravenbirch. I just think for McAllister, I really love watching him play. I've said him many times, his talent is unbelievable. And i think he'll grow more and more confident in this system.
00:51:43
Speaker
I must stay with a new manager and Graven Birch playing a whole new position last year. I think he can only get better after how well he did this this last time around. So I think he'll make a huge impact too.
00:51:54
Speaker
Yeah, so like outside of the obvious ones, it's so easy to sit here and say, oh, Salah and Virgil Alisson. like but People know that themselves. People don't need to listen to us talking for 10 minutes to find out that Salah and Virgil Alisson are the most impactful players on the team.
00:52:09
Speaker
Yeah. i think I think you hit the nail on the head with the show you picked there. I think Graven Mertrand and McAllister in particular are going to... they are going to get better. They're going to just keep getting fitter. McAllister in particular to get Gravenberg is going to get more confidence.
00:52:21
Speaker
I think Sabah's life next year is going to be key. I think if Floinberts does come in, Sabah's life probably going to drop deeper and maybe rotate in and out a bit more with McAllister or Gravenberg. And I think that's a role that will suit him better than...
00:52:35
Speaker
day more attacking when he had this season. Maybe four weeks where he was on fire. i think over the course of the season than he was more making blocks and tackles than he was being the last man making a run into the box and I think that's where Verts if he signs will come in.
00:52:49
Speaker
I'm going to put Verts in there as my second man because i really everything points to it even his his Instagram post saying I didn't ask for the number 10 shares. It kind of all the signs points the fact that he is probably signing for Liverpool now.
00:53:02
Speaker
I think he's going to be an exceptional bit of business and I'm just so excited to watch him play in a Liverpool shirt. Everyone was on Florian Verswatch last night and he's stamped on Bruno Fernandes and scored a goal. Everyone was delighted. So hopefully he brings that to the Premier League with him.
00:53:16
Speaker
And my third one then, I'm going to go with Ibu Canate. and If he's looking for this massive contract he wants and he's hoping to get it, he needs to be doing what Van Dijk is doing.
00:53:29
Speaker
needs be able to lead the back line when Van Dijk's not playing this beside him because he did, we played it's the Chelsea game, Van Dijk didn't start, it was Quanta and Kanate and Quanta was like the more senior defender, Kanate just shrunk into shell of himself and if he wants this 250 grand a week or whatever he's looking for for six years, he needs to be able to be the man he can rely on if Wittenberg does go in two or three years time.
00:53:52
Speaker
So he's he's one to keep an eye on this season as well. No, fair enough, I like those ones, I think. and I think there's a number of players you could really point out in this system. I think the the way Slott has approached things, I think he'll only make more and more players more impactful, to be honest. But I think that leads in to the next question of what do you think the ceiling is of this team with the current manager and squad, obviously, for the season ahead?
00:54:18
Speaker
For me, I've said, for looking at ceiling, I think that ceiling is to win another title. I'm not sure they will, but like I think sometimes things can go bit more difficult in a sophomore season and across any sport.
00:54:33
Speaker
It is difficult to replicate you know your first season success. But I think unless City like really turn things around and things don't go right for them with their with their case that's in, obviously, the courts at the moment,
00:54:46
Speaker
my I don't really know which other team would push fully based on last season. I don't know if Arsenal have it in them without a good number of signings. So I think I'm going to say win another title at the ceiling.
00:54:58
Speaker
Prediction-wise, I'll leave that till closer to the season starts, but I think they definitely have that ability. Yeah, I put down that my ceiling is... really pushing hard for the Champions League this year as well as trying to go back to back on the title.
00:55:13
Speaker
I think you you made a great point a while ago about the squad depth. If they can really develop that squad depth. If they had squad depth this year, they could have won Champions League and probably Calvert Cup and topped the league title.
00:55:24
Speaker
And I know no one does a treble. It's not easy to go and do treble, but it was there for them with a bit more depth. And if they can bring that in, then I don't see why they can't push further in the Champions League next year as well as kind of keep up the standard they had in the Premier League.
00:55:38
Speaker
Again, as you said, we won't, we're not going to do our Premier League prediction just yet, but I really hope that they can be in ah in the competition again come next March or April if they're still in with Shouts. In both competitions, I'll be very, very happy.
00:55:51
Speaker
Yeah, no, that's, I think how well they did this season, it's hard to argue with that. I think them The last question we're going to touch on for the soccer teams are what what one piece of business do they need to do to help them this season?
00:56:03
Speaker
So what did you put down for this? I feel and we have a similar answer. Well, I've kind of skipped over the ones I think are done. So, Primpol, Bert and Kirkhead, I haven't looked at. It's obviously a striker.
00:56:16
Speaker
yeah It's obviously a striker they need. And when it came to names, I just i don't know enough about Eketike to throw him out there as a definite option. Benjamin Sesko looks like he's going to Arsenal.
00:56:29
Speaker
I kind of said that I'd rather a good kind of forward option. Someone like the Turkey or Rodrigo Real Madrid, but... I really couldn't, I couldn't nail down one answer. If they are going for striker, I think it will be Eketike.
00:56:41
Speaker
And I think it will be very late in the summer because they're not going to pay the 80 to 100 million that's Frankfurt are asking. Unless Chelsea go and do it now because they're stupid. We'll have to wait and see.
00:56:51
Speaker
Yeah. Chelsea would be willing to pay anything for anybody. seems, well, apart from Sancho, but they were willing to pay 5 million to get rid of them. So my one piece of business was also a striker. I didn't give like a solid name, just some options I thought would work.
00:57:04
Speaker
I said Oshman would be an interesting one, although it be expensive. Giacarez, I think, would be a really, really good one. Although I don't know how interested Liverpool are in him. I think he's an unbelievable striker and he's shown the physical levels, I think, to be capable of Premier League.
00:57:20
Speaker
And then another one I said, which would be expensive, but an option like a Wissa, who is like a goal scorer or like a Mateta, somebody like that, who can really contribute to the team. consistently and can play in multiple different competitions with you know your likes of Warts or Salah or Diaz playing off yeah I think that would work but that was my that was my suggestions yeah I saw a talk on Twitter last night of I can't remember his name now the strike that had started for Germany last night a 6 foot 6 fella and I wouldn't want him
00:57:53
Speaker
oh when He was just like, he's he's like Darren Nunes, 2.0, only taller. I'd i'd love Kjokker as I think he'd be a great bit of business. But as you said, there's no real talk about him. And maybe now we get to the point where Lupert keeping the quiet, hoping his name kind of falls off e everyone's radar. Chelsea go sign like a TK, Arsenal bring in Sesco and then they're like, oh, we have a free run at Kjokker well.
00:58:13
Speaker
and we get him for whatever, then there's there's no bidding war. That could be the move, and they might be waiting as well to make sure they can rid of Darwin Nunes, who, before they do, go and look and see what they get for him. And if they get 60-plus million, just turn around to Sporting and say, here, we got this, you can have us.
00:58:28
Speaker
Here's Benfica's money. Yeah, I think that would that might work. I think he would definitely be someone that a top Premier League team should really look for. but The guy's name was Nick Valtamada.
00:58:40
Speaker
um Stuttgart striker. I'm not going to pretend like I know much about him. But ah yeah, big... Six foot six is all I know. yes Yeah. And his touch was horrific all night. Oh, here we go. Another, yeah, exactly copy of Nunes there. But yeah, I think moving in then to the opposite end of the spectrum, Liverpool on top of the world after winning the Prem last year.
00:59:00
Speaker
Obviously, Sunderland on top of the world too, just winning in the championship playoff final. But They are on a whole different level of skill than Liverpool, so the conversation might be a little bit different here.
00:59:12
Speaker
For me, with what what do they need to improve on the most from last season, I've gone with goal scoring. If you look at the top six of the championship last year, they had the lowest amount of goals scored amongst the top six with only 58.
00:59:25
Speaker
They've got some young strikers up front. Their options are kind of limited. And although I do think Looking at Mayenda, he was pretty good towards the end of the season and he stepped up in the playoffs.
00:59:36
Speaker
I think that that's a position that they struggle with and they're going to need to add more goals if they have a hope of staying up. What did you have for that? I didn't really pick out any one position. I just said that the consistency is going to be key for them.
00:59:51
Speaker
I know that's such a a simple thing to say, but they were so consistent nearly all season until obviously the last five games where they kind of just packed in the championship season and they knew they were in the playoffs.
01:00:04
Speaker
If they can keep a level of consistency where they're even at 1.2 or 1.3 points per game, that will keep in the league. that would keep them in the lead And if if they can just do that across the season with a couple of signs, then i think they'll be okay.
01:00:17
Speaker
I don't fancy them to stay up, but I think they might have the best chance of the three that are coming up to do it. They have the biggest kind of biggest stadium, biggest fan base, we'll see. I'd really like to manage her.
01:00:28
Speaker
Yeah, I think there's, I don't know, we'll move on anyway, we'll talk about their ceiling later, but I think, what do you think about the the three players on their team that will make the biggest impact? Who do you think?
01:00:39
Speaker
And so your man, Enzo Nfe, who they've just signed permanently from Roma, I think is a really, really good player to watch. His numbers were not special. He only you had one goal and one assist from January on last year. But he really passed the eye test for me.
01:00:54
Speaker
Every time I saw him play, he was he was just involved in everything. ah think he was brought down for the the penalties, the games where they missed the penalties. think it was him that missed them. but I'm pretty sure he also won him.
01:01:05
Speaker
and he just He's lightning. He's just a really, really solid player. And and i think he's only going to get better, especially after yeah kind of settling for six months in England. I know we've gone upper division now, but he's really, really good.
01:01:19
Speaker
And Patrick Roberts for me, I've always liked him. From his time at Celtic, he was really good. He had had two goals and seven assists in the championship last season. it's It's kind of like you had to come up to league and see what Forrest did and buy 28 new players and hope for the best. So you are going to need to keep a couple of these championship players and yourre in and around your squad as well.
01:01:37
Speaker
And I think he's a really solid option to keep in a His pass for the goal in the playoff final was exceptional as well. His vision is clearly all there. So he's starting to, coming into his own now with at least 28 as well. So he needs to kind of, it's now ever prim in the Premier League.
01:01:56
Speaker
So I think he's going to be key for him next season. And finally, I've got Luke O'Neill. Yeah. He was a bit of a laughingstock when that documentary came out, Sunday Until I Die.
01:02:09
Speaker
But he I think he was their captain for the season just on. He only missed two games all season from him and scored three goals. i just I think he's a really solid player and he'd wonder if they were to bring in a Jordan Henderson or something, sit him in beside Luco and I, and I think he'd only get better.
01:02:26
Speaker
i think, yeah, I had him as well. I think his experience with them being with the club since 2018, um You know, playing very well on the defensive side of the ball.
01:02:39
Speaker
Kind of whether he's like a long-term option for them i like that that's not it's not the real point here. It's kind of the fact that he's been at the club for so long. He did perform in the lower levels. He might not be up to the level of the Premier League long-term, but I think it's still important to keep him there because of you know his experience with the team.
01:02:59
Speaker
he's only I think he's only 30 years of age, so he's not exactly close to retirement or anything like that. So like I think he he has good experience. He's a solid player in the lower leagues. Let's see if he can take the step up.
01:03:11
Speaker
I still think he'll be important around the team. Second, I've gone with Troy Hume. I think he was very good at right back for them. He has a good ability to attack and provide goals and assists, and he's a very good defender. He likes to get stuck in.
01:03:24
Speaker
So I think his game is one that translates over to the Premier League. I know a lot of people looking at Dennis Serkin, especially with the surrounding talk about maybe he could play for Ireland, things like that. He's a big topic.
01:03:34
Speaker
and But I think Hulme on the other side was very impressive. I think he will translate to the Premier League. And then last was Mayenda. and I mentioned him already, but I think having 10 goals and five assists in his first full season with the first team at 20 years of age is not anything to kind of turn away at. I think he did he did well, although he wasn't very consistent.
01:03:57
Speaker
I still think he did, you know, he stepped up in the big moments, scoring in the play and the championship playoff semifinal, scoring in the final. You know, these are big moments for a 20-year-old.
01:04:08
Speaker
And I think he'll only use that to his advantage, stepping up to the Premier League. So I think with their current squad, those are the players that I think will make the biggest impact. Kind of keeping that in mind then, our last question, or second last question is the about their ceiling.
01:04:23
Speaker
What's the ceiling with the current manager on squad this season? and I've gone with the ceiling for them is to finish 17th. I don't think they can get any higher than just one spot of above yeah their relegation zone.
01:04:34
Speaker
um That's if they recruit very smartly. But I think without a proper striker, I think their ceiling is going to be 18th because I don't think they'll score enough goals. But if they do get someone in, I think they can they can just about stay up. But that's at a very big push. But again, I'll make my proper prediction on that later on in the summer.
01:04:51
Speaker
What have you got with that? I agree with you. Their aim just has to be staying in the league. Rida Sabri is a good manager. I do like him. had a 45% win ratio in the Championship last year.
01:05:03
Speaker
If they could bring that over, they'd be looking at European players. Obviously, they're not going to keep that kind of level of winning up. But I think he knows a good player and I think he'll get in some really top players from the summer we'll see. But I do think the highest they're going to get is 17th as well. And I'm They're more likely to be 18th or 19th for me too. i just I can't see any of the three teams that are coming up staying up for us.
01:05:26
Speaker
We'll see. It's going to be quite difficult. I think, last question then, what what piece a difficult one one piece of business do you think would really help them this season? Obviously, a striker is the easy one to go for, but I've actually gone for a goalkeeper.
01:05:40
Speaker
I don't want like Anthony Patterson. i yeah I know he killed he kept 14 clean sheets. He only had one error leading to a goal last season. That's nothing to be sniffed at, but that's at Championship level.
01:05:51
Speaker
I think they need someone really, really commanding when they come up to this division. Obviously, I don't want them to sign Aaron Ramethal because that's his kind of MO of going to team him up, I think. I've i've heard that Barcelona signing Yaman Garcia from Espanol and Noni Amos.
01:06:07
Speaker
I think if they got him in for a year on loan, I think that'd be a great bit of business. It might be completely unreliasing. It might be living in a fantasy land, but if they're looking to get... Sorry, Barcelona looking for him to play football where he's going to face a lot shots and have to kind of pick passes out over...
01:06:22
Speaker
kind of joe at tight defence. Now the more I talk about it the less sense it makes because Barcelona is a completely different level but anyway. yeah but I think he'd be good goalkeeper for Yeah, no, it makes... I can't see that happening but it makes sense, like that kind of logic. Somebody, he faces a lot of saves, he will face a lot of shots.
01:06:40
Speaker
But yeah, I think and that's interesting. i've obviously gotten a more obvious one and a striker or attacking midfielder, that can be reliable. I don't have any exact names in mind because I feel like they'll find it very difficult to attract players at a Premier League level already.
01:06:54
Speaker
The guys who've gone down, that's the typical thing. They just got relegated, so I don't think they should be looking there either. I think they'll have to look in different leagues, and I think if they recruit smartly in in other leagues with players that can reliably give you 10, 12 goals, 5, 6 assists, maybe a few more assists if you're playing deeper, that is what they need at this level because it's very, very important.
01:07:18
Speaker
And I think their defence is probably stronger than their attack. And they have two good full-backs there. So maybe someone who's a bit bigger and can nod in a few headers. But that's definitely, for me, the most important.
01:07:30
Speaker
So that's your Liverpool and Sunderland. Kind of look ahead to the next season. Next week will will be on Man City and currently and because city are sorry Arsenal and Burnley. Because Arsenal were second. And Burnley came up in second place in the Championship. So that's one to look ahead to.
01:07:47
Speaker
I suppose then just to wrap up, as we mentioned last week, we're going to look at transfers, um the main ones that have come up in the last week. Just a quick chat about them before we end the episode. So what ones kind stuck out to you over this last week?
01:08:01
Speaker
um The big one actually for me, obviously being a Liverpool fan came out today and it was newest years of comments in his interview before the Columbia. Where is he from again?
01:08:13
Speaker
Columbia. Yeah. Yeah, his comment before the Columbia game where he said, um I'm very happy at Liverpool. They've treated me well since the first day.
01:08:24
Speaker
We're talking with other clubs. It's the transfer window. It's normal. If Liverpool reduce my contract, I have to say the two years I've left, I'll be happy. But it's up to them. ah Very strange for players come out and say it's representative. They're talking to other clubs, especially...
01:08:38
Speaker
when the talk is that Liverpool just turned down Barcelona's advance stay as well. I think he's the he's the kind of player that Liverpool are going to sell if the price is ridiculous. They're not going to sell him on the cheap and they'll put out he's not for sale, he's not for sale until someone offers 80 or 85 million. Like, oh yeah, he's very much for sale. So I think that's a big one to keep an eye on over the course of summer.
01:09:00
Speaker
I think what Man City are doing is really, really smart and it makes me kind of scared about them again. If they get in Cherokee and Rinders before the Club World Cups they're in and they're settled, I think that's absolutely massive and I think that would be great business for them. Yeah, I think those are the two big ones with City. Obviously, Rinders, 55 million euro fixed fee and plus bonuses and he's going to sign a five-year contract and then Cherokee at the moment it's I expect that City are going to make a bid for him very, very soon.
01:09:32
Speaker
Another one then is Aitnuri for them. you know they They need to reach an agreement with Wolves, but it looks like all parties are expecting to reach a move, according to David Ornstein, 23-year-old. I can't believe he's so young, to be honest. I thought he's been around for a lot longer than yet. But you know City doing business early.
01:09:51
Speaker
One could point to you know they're trying to cover their bases before their case hits the fan. and But that's for another day, I suppose, to talk about that. Then a couple of other ones that stood out to me, obviously, as a United fan, Brian Mbumo. We talked about him earlier in the season.
01:10:07
Speaker
He had a really big breakout season this year, you know, with his 20 goals. And he had a good number of assists. I can't remember exactly off the top of my head. But ah that just that looks to be something that he's decided he wants to go to United, according to Ornstein.
01:10:20
Speaker
Still 25 years of age. I think he fits in perfectly playing as that right 10. If Kony is the left 10, it makes a bit more... sense now you know that you could play Xerxes up front if he is going to link play obviously we still need another striker but it doesn't put us in that position where you need to go and spend crazy money on a striker right now just build the other positions of need like backup wing back and a good defensive midfielder I think as this see as the window progresses and you sell other other bodies getting these two in adding Premier League experienced guys that can score goals I think is very good first bid
01:10:59
Speaker
£45 million pounds plus £10 million pounds in add-ons was rejected. I think Brentford are looking closer to what United it paid for Cunha. Obviously you have to start low. and But I think it seems some of the talk today is that they'd be willing to accept if there was like £50 to £55 million guaranteed and then whatever add-ons.
01:11:15
Speaker
Because obviously we don't know what those add-ons were. They could have been something silly just as a way to open up the bidding. But Hopefully that continues because I think he wants to go to United now. So that should push on and get done, which I'm delighted about.
Brentford's Goalkeeper Upgrade
01:11:28
Speaker
And then a very last one, Cuevin Kelleher leaving your Liverpool. think that's massive. £18 million. Great deal for Brentford for a top keeper after they just sold Flecken for, I think, £11 million. Yeah, £11 million.
01:11:45
Speaker
So I think £18 million pounds is the max that they'll pay for Kelleher. I think this is a massive deal. What did you make of it? I think I'm delighted for him, to be honest. Yeah. He has, every time he's stood in, he has never put a foot wrong.
01:11:59
Speaker
ah He's never let Liverpool down in any match, which is really, really impressive for, kind of, the like a second choice keeper always coming in colds. Even if he is playing eight or ten games in a row, he never knows which of those ten games is going to be his last one for the whole year. So the fact he came in, he was always liable.
01:12:17
Speaker
most Most penalty saves and most shooter wins as a goalkeeper in Liverpool's history is madness. It's brilliant. he's just been he's been exceptional and the most disappointing thing is that they've only gotten 12 and a half million for him because i thought they'd get double that to be honest I know yeah it's the contract situation if they'd sold him last summer they probably would have gotten double it but we got another year out him he got another a Premier League he played 10 Premier League games so he made an impact and he leaves with everyone in Liverpool's best wishes I'm pretty sure because I think he absolutely incredible for the club yeah I think so too i'm looking at from the outside and then
01:12:53
Speaker
I think we're really smart from Brentford because you get $11 million for Flecken, who is great, but then you're only paying an extra $1.5 million for an incredible young keeper who, you know, yeah he's clearly Ireland's number one in a position that we're actually quite strong in.
01:13:06
Speaker
So i'm I'm very happy with that as well. And great for, think it was Ring Mahan, his team in Cork, who had a 20% add-on. or 20% sell-on clause, sorry. Sell-on, yeah. So they get, like, what, 3 million or something?
01:13:18
Speaker
3 million front and they can only rise then, Azalea. It's absolutely amazing for a small team in Ireland to get something like that. Yeah, the thing for me as well is that last year, not the season gone now, the season before, I thought Mark Fleckham was one of the worst goalkeepers in the league. I really did. I didn't rate him at all highly. I think he was a bit better this year, but I still, I think they've upgraded their goalkeeper massively, getting killer in here and getting...
01:13:43
Speaker
Getting 11 million for him as well. Now, we'll see how Keller does with his this first year of being an actual first-trace goalkeeper. It kind of comes with different pressures to what he was doing the last couple of years. But I think if he keeps playing the way he has been playing, then Brentford have gotten an absolute steal for a player they could sell in two years for a double or triple dash.
01:14:01
Speaker
Yeah, I think so. I think it works perfectly for them, especially having Collins there as their captain or like their yeah captain figure. and On the fish captain, yeah. Yeah, you know, so I think...
01:14:13
Speaker
Yeah, I think that's a smart move for them, to be honest. And I think i don't really think it can go wrong. I think Flecklin is more of a ball player, and i think but I think Kelhar still has those skills
Episode Wrap-up and Listener Engagement
01:14:23
Speaker
too. So, yeah, that's so that's pretty much the transfer roundup for this week. We'll come back again next week with whatever is done in the next week or whatever is on the way to being done.
01:14:33
Speaker
That's it for the episode, lads. Got a good bit of breakdown for the season ahead and we'll continue in this fashion going forward. Obviously, next week, We will be very close to having an NBA Finals winner.
01:14:44
Speaker
So we'll talk about what's going on between now and then. And we'll break down the next two teams in the NFL and the Premier League leading into next season. But appreciate you all for listening. If you made it this far, leave a like and subscribe on whatever you're listening on.
01:14:59
Speaker
Give us a follow on socials. I'll throw it to you, Shane, to wrap it up. Thanks so much, lads. As James has said, this is episode 21 now and I can't believe how how long it's gone how easy it's been for us to kind of settle into it. and just we We love doing it. We love giving it out to you. And if you do like it, just as you said, like, comment, subscribe.
01:15:20
Speaker
Share it if you would as well. That would be brilliant. And just keep listening because we are only going to get better. Thank you very much. Nice one, lads. I'll see you next week.