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Episode 51 - Is City's squad depth a myth? Is it time to stop Spurs bashing? And who will replace Steve Cooper
11 Plays24 days ago
Nick and Marcus discuss the realties of Manchester City's aging squad and which clubs will benefit from their recent declining form.
They also take a look at bookies favourite to replace Steve Cooper - Ruud van Nistelrooy - is he experienced enough or will Leicester regret their decision.
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Transcript
Intro and Guest Introduction
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome back to the Daily English Premier League Global Sports Podcast Network. It's episode 51, which we're super excited about, very proud about. And I'm very excited because for the first time, I, Marcus Ramtholt, am joined by Nick. How you doing, Nick?
00:00:27
Nick
I'm good, I'm happy to be joining you for the first time and at a crazy moment in football where Man City are terrible.
Manchester City's Performance Woes
00:00:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Yes we absolutely must talk about Man City and yeah interesting ah interesting use of words I have been on this pod for about well for the whole season saying do not write off Manchester City and I feel like that my fellow Liverpool fans have been like come a man have a bit of you know stop sucking up to City and and Pep and the project there. I I can't believe what I am seeing. It is unbelievable. and and i can't I'm standing with a smile on my face as well. It's really bad. Sorry City fans, but you know it's been a long time.
00:01:13
Nick
Yeah, it's such a weird one as well because obviously, Rodri got injured against Arsenal and it was like a big moment. But then they were... I wouldn't say they were fine because they were letting up a load of opportunities. the one that's The game that stands out is Fulham where they really should have won against Mansi at the Etihad. But at this point, like you can't just blame Rodri being out. There's so many weird things going on. Like last night, obviously,
00:01:41
Nick
there were three new up and then edison makes three howlers and it's three three it's like what like what is going on here at this point this isn't this isn't just one player missing this is a lot of stuff going on that you don't attribute to man city and particularly pep Guardiola
00:02:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah and in fact you know we've we've talked a lot about Manchester United across the park with a lot going on in in the background. City have got you know just renewed peps contract so you'd think okay that should settle the dressing room that should settle the nerves. They've still obviously got deal with these 115 charges which I think the outcome is due next
Age and Experience: Boon or Bane?
00:02:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
year. they're They're paused at the moment for final statements in December. So that's kind of looming over them. As you say, one of the things that I've been really impressed with with City over the years is um how they've built squads, how they've kind of had almost like a second starting 11 and you can't write off their depth. So to say, oh, we lost Rotary and now everything's falling apart,
00:02:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
is a bit much however you know he's quality player so glad he won the ballon d'or but Nick you were talking before about kind of what's happening with that city squad maybe not as robust as we've previously thought
00:02:53
Nick
Yeah, so like you said, there used to be this moniker that they had a second 11 and the last few years people have like come to terms with that's not really true. They were down to a score of about 18 really. But I was looking over the weekend after the loss and a lot of the team is over 20 over 30 now.
00:03:13
Nick
So if I just run through it, you've got Gundogan 34, Walker 34, De Bruyne 33, Edison 31, Kovacic 30, Stones 30, Bernardo Silva 30, AK 29, Grealish 29, Akanji 29, Rodry 28, Diaz 27.
00:03:31
Nick
Like, that is a large chunk of your squad who will continually have less and less legs and that is quite a big part of the issue at the moment. You mentioned the problems with United. The problems we're seeing in this city side aren't dramatically different as the ones we saw under 10 hard where the gaps between the defence and the midfield were huge and we saw that particularly against Tottenham at the weekend. so This Asian squad is not something we're used to seeing with city.
00:04:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now they have been very good at succession planning, which is why
Pep's Predicament: Can He Adapt?
00:04:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
kind of whether Pep was going to stay or go, or who his replacement might be, if he was going, that seemed to be all up in the air. um It's really kind of, it's so odd to see that this is the case. Do you think it's panic stations, though, you talk about the situation, Man United and Ten Harle, do you think it's that bad for City right now, or are they still, at the end of the day, they're still Manchester City and they still know how to win titles?
00:04:33
Nick
I'm sure they'll get back on the right track but the games coming up aren't easy. They obviously got Liverpool at the weekend so they there's not a quick fix it doesn't feel like and as much as Pep's, essentially a god of football tactics you could say, we we're always talking about players and maybe it's there for like we were talking about walker he he's lost his legs and but at some point you have to look at pep and go like this is five games in a row where teams are just playing through you and even before that like i mentioned with fullum that teams are playing through you consistently like he has to fix this this isn't just
00:05:11
Nick
players getting old or like problems individually big mistakes obviously it basically washed that yesterday to and yesterday against firenord but the these are big issues in their system and people will be looking to pep he's got this new contract and you're never gonna regret giving up contract to pep Guardiola but he has to sort this out quickly
00:05:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is there potentially a lack of hunger amongst that squad and that manager? Because they have won everything. They've got good contracts. They've got good wages. I don't doubt for a minute the athletes at the top of their game will continue to fight the hardest they can fight. But have they lost a bit of the appetite?
00:05:55
Nick
There was there's the big talk of that going into last season more than there because they'd won three in a row, they'd won the treble, but eventually they beat Arsenal to the title. And perhaps it is now when they're going for five in a row. I almost think that's more like exciting for the players to go for than four in a row.
Youth vs. Experience: Fresh Blood Needed?
00:06:15
Nick
But yeah, that they've fallen apart. I went through the old players. if i if you I've I termed it the new city in my notes and these are like players 24 and under Foden's 24, Harlan's 24, Guevario is 22, Docu's 22, Oscar Bob who's obviously injured this year broke his leg is 21, Rico Lewis is 20 and Savio Savino is 20. Four of those are primarily wingers and Nunez has been used as a winger a lot this year.
Legal Troubles: Transfer Market Impact?
00:06:48
Nick
So even this the younger group
00:06:50
Nick
it's all in like one area mainly in the attack generally and then you've got Rico, Luis and Guevardo who are both fullbacks there's nothing really in the center of midfield there's nothing at center back so the rebuild is going to be huge and when when do they start do they start in January or do they wait till the end of the season it's going to be interesting to see
00:07:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and obviously now, losing so many in the bounce and you the lack of that kind of depth in midfield that we're starting to see, are they starting to to regret selling Cole Palmer with what he's been doing at Chelsea? It's been absolutely phenomenal, absolute joy to watch. My suspicion is that there won't be any rebuild in January. I think if the club doesn't win a championship this year it will be a shame for the record books but they've got a good history behind them they're in good position financially and the reason i don't think there'll be a lot of investment in january is these charges are still hanging over in manchester city there's a lot to kind of deal with behind the scenes and they've up until and now they've kind of been
00:07:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
okay at dealing with it, and I think maybe that's that's playing on them a bit more. I did read today that if the the kind of the findings go against Manchester City in a big way, um Liverpool, Arsenal, others have put in to say, listen, we want compensation if we have been cheated out of. um you know good Good wage packets for winning or finishing home in Premier Leagues, and you can't really argue with that. So I'm wondering if they're kind of just looking after their finances as well, particularly as most of these charges are to do with with finances too.
00:08:33
Nick
Yeah, they're, well, they're $116 million in the green from transfer this season. So it's not like the money's not there if they did want to spend it in January. The only position you really think they look to is defensive midfield for a rogeri replacement. If we've seen Zubermendi linked, I wouldn't be surprised the Edison from Atalanta linked. So that's the one area that I think they'll probably look to and if they can get someone, but yeah. the The are gonna loom and I only put more pressure on Man City at the moment.
00:09:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. So um I think the whole world is taught at Manchester City at the moment. Before we move on, let's hear a little bit about Zencaster.
00:09:19
Nick
Here at Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencaster claim came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and r's, 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.
Liverpool's Dominance: Unstoppable Force?
00:09:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, we do indeed love using Zencaster here at GSPN. um And I opened the show. I'm really sorry city fans with a big grin on my face because Liverpool Football Club are sitting eight points clear at the top of the Premier League. um We've got a title race and And there's a lot of talk about, you know, really position they're in, no no no team is throwing that away. I keep saying never right off Manchester City. But also Arsenal have been back in it, back it not just on form, but playing some lovely football. Yesterday they they they had a fantastic win away from home against sporting. um Yeah, so Nick, tell me, would you reckon Arsenal this season, do you think it's still on the cards for them?
Arsenal's Quiet Resurgence
00:10:28
Nick
I think but it's it's on the cards because teams are going to drop points. I think we've been talking myself and Geptij especially on this podcast that the top three teams are going to drop points. It's going to be a lower title winning point points total and as much as Liverpool are winning There are signs that it's not perfect like at the weekends and it really should have been a Southampton win they just decided to donate three goals two of which to Mohammed seller and you've got obviously a big game tonight against Real Madrid and an even bigger one at the weekend against Man City and
00:11:10
Nick
Well, you wouldn't have thought this at the start of the season. You go into games against Real Madrid and Man City in the same week as favourites. The pressure is so on on a slot at the moment that Arsenal can just do their thing in the background. Erdogan's back. Players didn't go on international duty and look refreshed. Saka is in absurd form. So things are just ticking along quietly in the background. I think Arsenal fans were quite happy for it to stay quiet around us at the moment.
00:11:43
Nick
We win 5-1 against Sporting and although they've got a new manager, it's the same team, it's the same system, this isn't a complete overhaul.
00:11:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:11:55
Nick
And at the same place city lost 4-1 we go there win 5-1 and outside of about 15 minutes at the start the second half it was incredibly comfortable. So Arsenal do look refreshed there's slight tweaks to the system as well I think.
Liverpool's Upcoming Challenges: Can They Maintain the Lead?
00:12:10
Nick
Arteta preferring more technical players rather than physicality we saw that especially against Forest so I think we've got a good run now we don't leave London until I think mid-January which is an incredible feature list to have over the Christmas period so Arsenal will continue going out along in the background. I think Liverpool will eventually go through a bit of a rough patch so I wouldn't rule out Arsenal or even City yet.
00:12:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. And it's it's a really good point there about the run-in. I think, you know, Liverpool fans aren't stupid. We've had... some interesting games, games like the Southampton game, where really top versus bottom, good form, you know, players like Mohamed Salah in your team, Diaz on the bench, you go, right, that is a win, an easy win, and it wasn't easy. And actually, I don't believe we faced many challenges yet. We've had a fairly easy run of games. Biggest challenge, Arsenal away, um and that was a tough game. I mean, we were lucky, it's a great point out of that. So,
00:13:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think there's there's a lot more to play for, and Arsenal are kind of sneaking
Tottenham and Chelsea: Consistency Issues
00:13:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
under the radar. I'm looking at these these fixtures that are coming up. Liverpool have got Newcastle away. Arsenal host Manchester United, who, although they're refreshed by a new manager, at the end of the day, I think he's working with you know a set of players he wouldn't necessarily have chosen himself, so Manchester United still got a way to go with that. ah I'm not writing off anyone yet. I think it's really wide open.
00:13:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I'm just looking as well. What's really interesting for me is is this top four at the moment is Liverpool City, Chelsea, Arsenal. You've got Brighton, Tottenham, Forest, Villa coming in behind. And um we we talked kind of at the beginning of this run of dry games for Manchester City. Oh, you know, our city having a bad spell. But you made the point Fulham went to the Etihad and they ran a really good account in themselves. And likewise Spurs looked incredible. Is it time
00:14:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
to stop spurs bashing.
00:14:20
Nick
It's hard to say because the game before the international break, they lose at home to 1 to Whipswitch and they're going into a Fulham game where I have a joke that it's Arsenal's B team and there'll be a lot of ex-Arsenal players treating this as a second North London derby essentially you could say.
00:14:41
Nick
so ah And obviously the choreo fractured his ankle during the game at the weekend. He's out. Spurs fans aren't massive fans of Fraser Forster so if he gets the nod it will be ah'll be interesting to see what Tottenham do. I was saying to some friends at the weekend like I can enjoy this Tottenham win because I know that next week they might just lose to Fulham and like this result doesn't even matter for them at the end of things. So that game could be a massive turning point as much as I'm joking about how inconsistent they are.
00:15:20
Nick
You mentioned Brighton, you mentioned Chelsea. I'd be very surprised if come the end of the season Chelsea aren't in the top four with how they're playing. Brighton, Villa haven't won in six I believe it is and they're still eight. I really like Bournemouth, they had an incredibly close game with Brighton, they should have at least got a draw.
Underdogs: Can They Make It to Europe?
00:15:41
Nick
So I think though the the tussle for those European positions for us of course in there as much as Arsenal made them look average at the weekend it's going to be interesting again because even i keep I keep looking over at the table there's more and more teams you notice and go well they should be out there Newcastle uh Manchester United if Amoram can turn things around quickly so I think we're gonna begin to see especially over the Christmas break a pack of relegation teams probably six or seven and then we've already well we haven't got the pack of three at the top but I think everyone's sort of aware it's those three as much as Chelsea are
00:16:24
Nick
on the same points as Arsenal at the moment you'd imagine with the run Arsenal have that they'll sort of pull away from Chelsea but yeah I mean like you say it's it's really close at the top at the moment
00:16:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's it's a very exciting time. um
Relegation Battles: Who Will Survive?
00:16:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it comes, as you know, for me, I'm thinking, yeah who which clubs would you like to see kind of going into your I'd love to see Brighton, Forest Villa, um kind of breaking into European football and showing what other teams in in the UK and sorry, in in England can do.
00:16:56
Nick
Imagine big big European teams going to Bournemouth's tiny stadium.
00:16:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
So
00:17:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
shit That would be incredible. And that is the power and the beauty of the Premier League, which is why we love it so much. um Before we finish up with with some news at the other end of the table, let me tell you about the Global Sports Podcast Network. Because this podcast is part of the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only network bringing exclusive daily news and views on your Premier League team, Premier League, women's football and fantasy football.
00:17:02
Nick
That would be so funny.
00:17:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
a unique listening experience that puts fans first, bringing you the very latest breaking news from your team. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and make us your first listen every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network, every club, every day.
00:17:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Yes, we do talk about every club. We have got a podcast for every club, so we don't just cover the top of the table. We do have a look at what's going on at the bottom as well. Just as exciting for me. I love these these kind of early doors, clashes to see who's going to go up, who's going to go down. um and i'm I'm such a romantic. I don't want anyone to go down, but I know three have to.
00:18:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
im
00:18:04
Nick
I'm sure you want Everton
Leicester City: Managerial Shake-up
00:18:05
Nick
to go down really.
00:18:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know what, I really don't. I really don't ive i just i don't.
00:18:08
Nick
Really?
00:18:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
I can't see a Premier League without Everton. And I'd hate to to miss those Derby days as well.
00:18:12
Nick
That's fair.
00:18:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's such a big part of everyone's lives as well. And it's not so long ago, ah certainly in my lifetime, that Everton was serious European football contenders.
00:18:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
But um near the bottom of the table, not in the relegation zone, ah i I said at the beginning of the season, I think Leicester City will stay up because they've got depth and experience. I think um having you know Vardy, IU, et cetera in the team really makes a difference. But one of the reasons I said, okay, Leicester City will stay up is because they've got a Premier League Experience Manager in Steve Cooper.
00:18:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
and and Well, his reign is over and what is the current news about who's going to replace him?
00:19:01
Nick
Well, Rufa Nistroy is the betting favourite and very comfortably so you'd imagine he is pretty much in the door of the training ground already. And it's a bit of a weird one because the sacking came out of the blue. I've seen Leicester fans say how bad Cooper had been, like the in-game management, as much as they'd got results, they needed red cards and that's part of the game and they've taken advantage of that. but for any newly promoted team to come up, be out of the relegation though zone and still sack their manager is really weird. So it's almost like, what what do they expect from this season? they They expecting to be comfortably clear? So it's such a weird decision, don't you think?
00:19:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, so currently there are 10 points from 12 games, sitting at 16th, you know, the next next place is walls built up behind them and then bottom of the tails have hamptor on 4 points. So, it's certainly not comfortably clear, but again, I agree, I'm not really sure what they are expecting. I do i did expect so Leicester to survive.
00:20:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it's a brave decision because the yeah I do fancy that Cooper would have done a really good job in keeping them in, unless of course the board was like we want more than that, we want you know to finish mid-table, we want to start competing again. you don't know if forget long Not so long ago they were Premier League champions um and now we're talking about survival, which is the nature of this league.
00:20:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
i'm I'm still flabbergasted by the whole, you know, get Cooper in at the beginning of the season, sack him after they've played 12 games, and and then to replace him with a manager who's not experienced in Premier League, but also, you know, Vanisteroy's been at Manchester United coaching there with, I believe, much more resources, right? he He's had a lot more at his disposal than he might have at Leicester City.
New Managers: Facing the Gauntlet?
00:21:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm curious to see that transition. I'm always really kind of wary of legendary footballers who move into management. I don't think there's many who have done it very successfully.
00:21:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
um and it's Of all the people you could appoint, and at the time you could appoint them, but it sounds like they were going to get rid of him anyway. And there was an international break, so why why the extra game?
00:21:23
Nick
The timing's weird, isn't it?
00:21:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:25
Nick
The timing's of quite a bit of a red flag around the ownership, I think, because I know Leicester fans aren't particularly happy with their ownership as well, and then you've had two weeks, you could've sacked him then.
00:21:36
Nick
Like, why just one game against Chelsea convinced you? Oh, now's the time, actually. like realistically you were losing this game anyway like no disrespect to Leicester fans but Chelsea is just a much better side and maybe it's the aspect of Enzo Maresco was their former coach but it's really weird timing like I don't like I said what what did you want
00:22:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i can't I still can't get my head around it. Lester fans, if you could tell us what you want, that would be great. um i I said, you know, stay in the Premier League. I believe that would be possible. For me, big part of it, Steve Cooper, um is is why that would happen. I think still looking at kind of form and the way teams are playing at the moment, I still think Lester will stay up. But I don't think it will be because they've sat in their manager.
00:22:28
Nick
Oh, like, Vanness Roy's only managed PSV and then the interim spell at Man United, as far as I'm aware. He did well at PSV, but like you were saying, this is a completely different scenario for him. Maybe he'll come in and absolutely ace it, which is fair enough, but I wrote in my notes after the second of the weekend.
00:22:49
Nick
David Moyes should be in or watch the point from the outside looking in. This is someone who is proven to not just survive relegation battles, but he took West Ham to Europe twice. He won the Europa Conference League. I don't understand why you don't go out and get him. Maybe maybe they did. Maybe they've asked him and he doesn't want the job because I know Wolves fans when Gary O'Neill was under pressure.
00:23:15
Nick
They were saying get like get David Moyes in so Yeah, it's gonna be interesting how van this Roy does I think one of the major red flags in this is the players response as well I don't know if you saw they players went to Copenhagen the night of the game and there's pictures of them holding with signs that say Enzo we miss you like they clearly never bought in into this guy and I don't think the fans did either which is I take that however you will, he managed a somewhat local rival in Forest, but you he never got the buy-in, so he was never really
Leicester City's Future Under New Management
00:23:55
Nick
gonna succeed anyway.
00:23:56
Nick
So there's so much stuff going on around this sacking that makes me think things aren't gonna massively improve either way.
00:23:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, and and I think for for clubs in and around the bottom, you're probably kind of licking your lips going, okay, what we need is a little bit of kind of something's going on behind the scenes and the boat's being rocked in our clubs. to Just give us that ah extra edge. Time will tell. ah Perhaps the next time we speak, Rude Vanister, I will be confirmed as the Leicester City Manager.
Conclusion and Upcoming Fixtures
00:24:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And maybe Steve Coover might have a different team under his belt to manage as well. That's all we've got time for today. I want to say thank you to Nick.
00:24:38
Nick
Thank you, and it's been a pleasure to spend time with you talking about this crazy league.
00:24:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
this is an incredibly crazy league it's very nice to be into ah looking at game week 13 I believe is coming up next yes and the guys will be back tomorrow to talk all things game week 13 you've been listening to the global sports podcast network
00:24:52
Nick
A team this weekend, yeah.