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Episode 044 - Can Potter get his first win!? Fulham Crossover
19 Plays8 days ago
In this episode of the podcast, Tom and Jacob are joined by Gavin from the GSPN Fulham podcast! They dive into Fulham's success this season and West Ham's lack there of! They finish with a combined XI Let us know if you agree with their picks!
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Transcript
Episode Introduction with Gavin from Daily Film Podcast
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, guys, and welcome back to another episode of the Daily TSPN West End Podcast. I'm joined by Jacob Saylor.
00:00:16
Jacob
ah hi and
00:00:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm doing well. I'm also joined by Gavin from the Daily Film Podcast. How are you doing, mate?
00:00:22
Gavin
Yeah, not too bad guys, not too bad so...
00:00:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
Fulham vs West Ham: Changes and Predictions
00:00:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
So today, crossover day, game coming up, West Ham Fulham, it's going to be an interesting one. I think if we had been recording this a couple of weeks ago, if the fixture had been there and it would have been, um I think a much easier result to predict because I think most people would have said that Fulham would have steamrolled us, you know, because earlier in the season we didn't do very well.
00:00:37
Gavin
yeah
00:00:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
But new manager for us, hopefully bringing a little bit of positivity So we're gonna start by asking Gavin some questions that we have about Fulham generally. I think for me, what...
00:00:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
What do you think the kind of most important aspect of your team has been this season? Because you've been really good across the pitch. like you've You've had really good players like show themselves to be high quality. you like You look at the players that have come from Arsenal, you know the the other players that you've had shine this season. Who do you think is the most pivotal player to your squad this season?
Fulham's Performance and Player Contributions
00:01:22
Gavin
Yeah, I mean, there's been a lot of good performers, some stand out above others. If I were to pinpoint sort of one or two individuals and they may have an impact in this game, for instance, you're looking at Anthony Robinson, who I think has been the most consistent left back, the best left back for me in the Premier League this season. He just seems to get better and better season after season, game after game. You just, I've never, I rarely see a player with such an engine like his and he doesn't stop running. He must be a wingers nightmare to play against because you're just like,
00:01:47
Gavin
give me a give me a break give me a break and he's like that non-stop throughout the game and the other one who's just been a little bit quiet in the last couple of games he's probably Alex Awobi who's definitely playing the best football of his career he's been in the Premier League a long time now hasn't he? Arsehole and Everton played over 100 Premier League games from both of those sides and now you're finally seeing the fruit of his labour and what he what he can do at his best now that he does have ah I guess that feeling that he knows he is going to play every week, which he probably didn't have when he was at Arsenal, but just in terms of the overall team performance, I think what's been impressive this season is the belief they have when they go into games, when they play a lot of the big sides. They don't go into those games overall and with an inferiority complex, um but there has been some disappointment as well. They are ninth in the league, but there are no doubt a lot of fans will be disappointed because I think the stats will prove that they've they've dropped more points from winning positions than any other team in the league.
00:02:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it is interesting. Like if you were gonna kind of pinpoint where it started to go right for you, what would you say? Is it a signing? Is it just kind of things clicking? Is it the manager doing something different? What would you say it is?
West Ham's Managerial Changes and Expectations
00:02:52
Gavin
Yeah i think it's the I think it's the manager, I think we've got to understand as well that Fulham were known as a yo-yo side a few seasons ago before Marco Silva was at the helm and and when he take up when he took over instant promotion back to the Premier League and then you have the doubters don't you say oh yeah they're gonna go straight back down and it's just been two seasons of Really being comfortable never being involved in a relegation scrap the fact that they finished top half the first season back and then 13th last season and then it's just Steady improvements and I think a lot of people feared probably from the outside losing in a play like Joe Pelina in the summer how that would it how that would affect things and even Mitrovich in the season before and but they just seem to keep going and you know even if the replacements may not appear ah quite as good on paper they just have a way of gelling as a team and performing week in week out the fact that they've only lost four games this season ah which is you know less than Manchester City and um I think only Liverpool get better that.
00:03:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's it's pretty incredible, isn't it? How quickly things can change. Like the the way that you mentioned going from being seen as a yo-yo club to kind of stepping out of that viewpoint. I think it's such a difficult step and it's something that so many teams suffer with. And if they do manage to get out of it, it's usually only for one or two seasons where it's like, oh, they might push on and then they kind of regress back and yo-yo up and down. So it's really impressive the work that Marcus always done. ah Jake, have you got any questions?
00:04:16
Jacob
yeah i mean yeah ah don't think i mean i mean no disrespect by this at all but i don't think i pictured being at this stage of the season and full of being above us you know based just based purely on the transfer business and and you know everything that surrounds that with the amount of money we spent doesn't necessarily mean you you're automatically gonna finish hiring the table but i just i wouldn't have
00:04:48
Jacob
predicted it and yeah like he said so only lose four games you know i would bite your hand off if you offered that to us right now like
00:04:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:57
Jacob
we've been nowhere near that good so lot of credit's got to go to to marco silver and sort of solid group of players that he's got there's not been a huge amount of but movement there and i think that's that's definitely helped and and it's nice to see the likes of him and asz you know having ah having a decent season as well because you know we we all saw what he went through previously and yeah he's a great player and but what i would ask is do you think i think the answer is no personally but do you think there's anybody
00:05:32
Jacob
or a particular position that you need to strengthen and during this window to so not to say improve because so've being great anyway but you know just to sort of solidify their position maybe work a little bit higher up the table is there is there one that
00:05:51
Gavin
Yeah, it's a
Graham Potter's Potential Impact at West Ham
00:05:51
Jacob
stands out
00:05:51
Gavin
good question. I've been pondering the same thing myself over the last couple of weeks, and if all of them are to do business in in this month, what that's likely to be. And the truth be told, I don't see much activity in terms of income or I think it might be the case one goes and then they might just have one to come in. but I think it's just a bolster squad, if anything. they They do seem a little bit light in the full back position at the minute. Kenny Tetay, which just had a setback in his injury, looks like he might not be back until April on now, which leaves them short in that department because they've only got one fully fit right back now, which is Kostaner and one fully fit left back in Anthony Robinson. ah Ryan Sesignon did a fill-in job against Watford, but I think going forward, if if something were to happen to Anthony Robinson, you wouldn't want
00:06:34
Gavin
for instance Aunty Robinson going bound injured the day of a game against Liverpool and Ryan Sessony on filling in the left back so I think you're looking at possibly full back as the areas ah that may need strengthening.
00:06:46
Gavin
Other than that I think there's been talk about possibly bringing in a centre forward but I think given the recent form of him and as he scored three in his last two now and you've also got Rodrigo Meniz who's come off the bench at times been impressive he scored in the Cup win against Watford they look okay in that department so
00:06:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think that's fair.
00:07:01
Gavin
I don't think there's any urgency to strengthen, ah but it might be something in the fallback positions if there are incomings.
00:07:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah i think that's fair The one worry I think you always have in January is you don't want to upset the apple cart. You don't want to disrupt the group of players that have been doing really well. So I think, I think focusing more on keeping everyone, I think is much more of an important goal than trying to sign everyone else. Because, you know, if, like you say, if you do lose Anthony Robinson, that would be such a huge loss. You can say that for probably so many other positions as well. You know, if one of the bigger Cubs comes,
00:07:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's very difficult to try and persuade a player to stay so so yeah i think for this job is probably to keep as many players as they can in in this window okay so we're going to go to our first advert and when we get back we are going to hear some questions from cabin to the west down boys up about west down
00:08:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gavin, take it away my friend.
00:08:19
Gavin
Right, so I guess the obvious thing to ask is about the manager, the recent change they're going from Lopategi to Graham Potter. Before I come on to Graham Potter, the Julian Lopategi situation. I mean, it seems like he was under pressure from Dave Dot, doesn't it? I ah can't remember. I might have spoken to you earlier on in the season. You didn't sound convinced about it. A lot of West Ham fans felt the same way. Do you think it was just inevitable that's the way it was going to end?
00:08:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think so. Jacob, do you would you would you want to want to talk about a lot of things and talk about Potter?
00:08:46
Jacob
yeah
00:08:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because one of them is going to be a more positive one, and one's going to be pretty negative, I think.
00:08:51
Jacob
yeah all um ah yeah ill deal with the negatives ah um yeah i think i think basically there was just a bit ah little bit too much hope pinned on someone that i don't i think was quite obvious wasn't going to be able to level what we needed you know i obviously we we've just done this as well but i always have doubts about hiring a manager who has been unsuccessful at a different premier league team i know
00:09:25
Jacob
with potter that is basically the same scenario you know having then very little time at chelsea before you know losing his job and ah yeah i think just with the with the sheer amount of money we spent i think that basically meant you know if if we would in ah in its top sort of six position at this point ah don't think any west arm fan or the board would have been happy and we had great expectations at the start you know we
00:09:57
Jacob
saying about how been the best in the in the window you know not necessarily being the best just spending the most um and yeah i think he has so struggle to get that cohesion and and show his um you know get his ideas onto the pitch because at times we've looked you know like ah ah semiprote so and um that might sound harsh but i think i think from some of the performances we've watched
00:10:29
Jacob
um the change had to but change had to come it was only a maritime um i'm surprised they left left it quite as long as they did to be honest um and the way they went about it wasn't really the best way to go about it i think it changes things being midway for a season you know i think they had to have somebody lined up so when they made that decision which makes it no so disrespectful towards the the current manager
00:11:01
Jacob
um when he probably knows he's not going to lose his job butasta so continue with day today tasks you know taking training and you know press conferences and that kind of thing but it i think it's just sort of the ah way it was going to be um and yeah' hoping for better things tom what are you but your early thoughts we've only seen we've only seen from one game what do you think of you know how how his start's going to be
00:11:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
is so difficult to predict
West Ham's Performance vs Expectations
00:11:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
isn't it? I think the way that you're talking about the expectations being too high I think is a valid point it's just it wouldn't necessarily been as bad if we hadn't played so bad but like some of the performances were so poor where Yeah, our expectations were high, but I think most most fans of teams aren't that great have, you know, they have expectations that are huge. But then as soon as reality kicks in, they understand that it's not going to be that big and still be a good season. We just instantly got put all the way down to zero because we had these expectations of European football and we're
00:12:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
scraping a relegation battle which is seems like such an insane place to be when you say like obviously people think that we won the window as well so yeah it's really tough and i think i'm relatively confident that potter will be able to do a good job it's just how long that will take and if it doesn't go well how long will he be given to kind of implement his systems are i think is probably the the main thing that i think and i i just question why we didn't get him in the first place to be honest you know if it was it seemed relatively simple to get him now i don't know why we wouldn't have gone for someone who has been successful in the league opposed to someone who hasn't really been successful in the league i know potter had ah obviously you mentioned the bad spell at chelsea but he
00:13:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Potter has done good things in the Premier League and Lopatea hadn't really. He'd done good things at Sevilla, but, you know, it's a completely different league and different way of playing. So I say, yeah, I don't know. I'm, I'm confident that he'll do well.
00:13:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just don't know if it, if we're going to be able to get anything from this season, basically.
00:13:17
Gavin
And sorry to cut in, something you've both mentioned there is there's the word expectations. Do you think possibly the expectations were set too high and that they maybe saw the benchmark of being those top six sides and they wanted to be in that mix along with the likes of Aston Villa and Newcastle, they saw themselves on that sort of pedestal and maybe the disappointment has come from the manner of some of those defeats against those those bigger clubs because they have lost those games quite convincingly, haven't they?
00:13:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, the frustration comes, go on.
00:13:45
Jacob
yeah um i
00:13:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, the frustration, I think the main frustration comes from the fact that
00:13:47
Jacob
go now you i going go
00:13:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
we have the ability to compete I think that's the frustrating thing like if we weren't good enough and we didn't have the players and we didn't have the fan base and you know we didn't have the kind of platform to be able to compete then you'd understand it but you know we've got the the new stadium which you know we get the highest attendance in London on average every game like We've got players that we're signing. We're signing the players from good clubs. We had the best transfer window. You know, we've won a European trophy. The trajectory was it seemed like it was only upwards and there wasn't really a lot pointing to the fact that it was like a temporary kind of high, if that makes sense. it It seemed like we'd been working and improving year on year and consistently pushing forward. So
00:14:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
when it comes to the expectations I think the expectations are fair because I think that is where we should be aiming and I don't think the expectations long term should change obviously in the short and maybe medium term you have to be slightly more realistic but the aim has to be to get back there and the one The thing that kind of makes me less angry about the situation is the fact that we had to move forward from David Moyes It like that had to happen.
00:15:03
Gavin
Wait,
00:15:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
We were never gonna consistently win European silverware playing the way that Moyes plays because
00:15:09
Gavin
wait.
00:15:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Football just isn't really like that. How often do you see teams winning the Europa League and the Champions League fail playing defensive counter-attack in football? It just doesn't happen. And if you look at the same in the league, it's very unlikely that a team is going to have prolonged success playing a style of football that is more kind of tentative and more on the back foot looking to exploit on a counter-attack.
00:15:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
The fact that it didn't work to me is like we took a risk. It didn't work, but the reason behind taking the risk, I think was really solid. And I think we shouldn't steer away from that. Like if we'd got Mois back.
00:15:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
it would have it would have been solid it would have been decent and we might have just snuck into Europe but how are we ever going to kick on if we don't try to be better if that makes sense I don't know if that bit of a waffly answer but yeah it's tough and it's just difficult these things are tough you know like it's never as simple I think as people make it out to be and you know we've tried something it hasn't worked and that happens and we're not really going to get relegated so this season maybe look at it as trying to progress and hold on to the players so that next year we we can really kick on.
00:16:18
Gavin
Yeah, and one of the players that is out injured at the minute, he's the West Ham captain, a bit of a talismanic figure in Jaller Bowen, at least when I watch a match, is he seems to do his talking on the pitch, leading by example. And I do you think maybe there's been an over-reliance on him and some of the other attacking players, the likes of Somerville, Pacattar, and Kudas. I'm a big fan of Kudas. I ah you was saying earlier in the season, I could see Kudas playing for a Champions League Caliber Club on the seat on every season, basically. but um Has that been disappointing? As you say, you do have a talented attacking players, but maybe they just haven't stepped under the plate and have possibly let the previous manager down.
West Ham's Transfer Window Strategy
00:16:58
Jacob
yeah i think and yeah definitely we've relied on them too much you look at you look at some of the other teams that we think we should be in the same sort of and position as you know like yeah your villas and your your brightens who have that ability to constantly change things around you know and whereas we have even though we've done a lot of business
00:17:31
Jacob
it we're still not really in a position where we've got room to to change things if they're not going and rob but going well and we have to rely on those so few players to come up with with um moments of quality you know like you mentioned ah care and and bowen being out now is a huge blow for us because ah you know if we score a goal hes almost always involved in it somehow
00:18:01
Jacob
so it it just basically lessens our chances of of gang points but um yeah we definitely do rely on them too much and i think that is just down to depth really and bringing in new players you know they're not jelling they're not you know performing under what the manager wants and yeah i think we've we've got more to be done this month to so hopefully change that
00:18:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah i would agree i think that if
00:18:31
Gavin
Yeah, that's interesting you say that because that was going to be just kind of my final question was ah um was if Brooke Graham Potter was going to be given back in this month to bring in players of his own or given the fact they spent so much over the summer, is he just having to rely on this set of players now and then having to wait until the summit to mould his own squad?
00:18:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
If we hadn't had the injuries that we would have had, I think it would have been a much more of a make-do situation, but because Fulcrug's injured now, um obviously Bowen's injured, we've we were low light on set in the backs anyway, um I think he will be given some money. It's just how much and how much faith the board will give to him to try and change something mid-season. It's a difficult one. like you you can quite easily see them saying no that there's not really much money we spent so much in the summer you just have to kind of secure the ship and then in the summer you might be able to spend some money but at this point i don't know i i would like to think that we do send some money if it was me i'd be focusing on youth because i think we've got like one of the oldest average ages in the Premier League which is really bad for a team that's looking to press on you know it's it seems very short term is to try and
00:19:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
progress as a club when you're signing players of ah a certain older age profile. so Yeah, I hope that we can make some good young signings so that the mix of experience and then some new youth I think would rejuvenate the squad and hopefully give us a bit of a boost that Potter can then use to try and push on generally. I hope that happens anyway. My one fear is that we just don't sign anyone and injuries start to creep in and then we get really light towards the end of the season. That's when the wheels could come off completely. And then there's another manager sacking and yeah, it puts your club in a really, really risky position at that point.
00:20:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
So yeah, okay, we are gonna go for another ad break. And when we get back, we are going to do a combined 11.
Combined West Ham and Fulham Starting Eleven
00:20:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, getting into our Goodbye 11. I think this is gonna be a really balanced one, to be honest, but I think both both squads have a lot of depth. I think if you were going on form, not sure how many West End players would get in there, but if we're going on pure ability, which we are, we're also gonna, injuries doesn't matter. They can be injured, they can have, you know, they can have a leg that doesn't work, it doesn't matter. We're gonna put them in. We'll start with the goalkeeper. I think this is actually, it's,
00:21:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
really sad for me because a couple like last season I would have said Ariola but this season I genuinely think Leno to be honest. I think Ariola hasn't been good enough and you know when Fabianski is claiming the starting spot at basically 40 years old it it says something about how good your keeper has been performing and I think I think Leno has been really good this season. Gavin, what do you think about that?
00:21:42
Gavin
Yeah, this is one of the tougher positions for me, because I know about Ariola and his qualities. Of course, he was at Fulham a few seasons ago, and one of the seasons, they did go down. he's actually I think he was actually voted player of the season. So, but yeah, Leno has been, I don't think he's been quite as good as last season, ah but he has been called upon at times to make crucial saves. So there was a game against, I think Brentford as well, where he made a very important save lay on that led to them i going up the ever ending score and securing the late 2-1 victory.
00:22:12
Gavin
I'm probably going to edge it towards Leno, as you say, maybe based on this season, but on honestly, you're splitting hairs. There's not much between them at all, I don't think.
00:22:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but um I don't think that's the bad way. I think they're both really solid actually.
00:22:26
Jacob
yeah
00:22:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Both really solid. Okay, Jacob, I want you to take me through your back four.
00:22:30
Jacob
yeah i think
00:22:33
Jacob
okay and haven't even thought about it so ah think ah think i'm going to go two from each team because i think as poor ahars has been in comparison i still think we should get a couple and i think for me it would be think it would be wambassaka and then i would go anderson kman
00:23:07
Jacob
and robinson of course um yeah i think that's fairly self-explanatory um i think anderson is one of the most underrated centre acts in the league and i think kilman has shown how much worse we could have been if we didn't have him um and has been important ah times for us lambasakers made a great start to his west career you know he's got a couple of goals more than he
00:23:39
Jacob
ever did for man i i'm not sure how ah why but you know we're happy about it um and yeah like you said earlier robinson's been you know play his best football this carra i'd say so yeah i think that's that's quite an easy one for me
00:23:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I completely agree.
00:23:57
Gavin
kind Yeah, I actually, you got the same four that I have. The only one I was going to, not question, was I was going to ask you about Kilman. Do you think he's bought for a lot of money from what I was wanting? There was a lot of eyebrows raised. Do you think he has sort of lived up to that price tag?
00:24:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah it's interesting is it when when you look at defenders i think especially ones that are more defensively minded obviously it's very unlikely to get an attacking minded center back but you're looking at fullbacks as well if if they are more defensively focused it is difficult for them to kind of shine If that makes sense, you know, like he's he'd played every single minute up until a couple of games ago when he came off with a shoulder injury. He played every single minute for us. He'd been an absolute stalwart and he'd been really solid. And I think the one thing that he brings is kind of a calm to our defense, which is something that's been lacking a lot.
00:24:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think another thing that also might have slightly diminished his performance is the fact that he's not really had a solid center back partner. is The back four is basically alternated between Tadebo and Mavropanos basically every game. But Kilman has been there the whole time and I think he has been really solid. it unfortunate that we've been so poor defensively because it makes him look bad but if if you actually look at him and his highlights during games he's been really solid and he just does the simple things like not making mistakes and he's good at covering and he makes the last ditch challenges and areally he's really solid and on the ball he's really calm and he can play a really nice long ball
00:25:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
the conversation we've been having is we think he should be in like a conversation for an England caller because we aren't blessed with left footed Senate backs really we don't have a huge amount and he is someone that has been consistently really solid so I think if we do well under Potter I think that conversation massively increases but but yeah I completely agree with that back four and I think
00:25:40
Gavin
yeah
00:25:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Kilman has just been unfortunate to be part of a defense that hasn't been very good, basically. Okay, Gavin, I'll go to you. I want you to name me with midfield. Are you going for a four? Are you going for a three?
00:25:58
Gavin
ah I'm gonna go for three, so I'm gonna go for... I don't know actually. I'm going to go for a cam and then I don't have if to go for two sixes or one six and an eight. The midfield, the midfield two actually in there was one I'm having a bit of trouble with to be honest. so I mean, you'll be able to tell me better because I mean, I know some of the West Ham midfielders, they haven't really impressed me to be honest, but that's probably based on this season. And I know they got some talented players and they're like, it's an Alvarez. um But yeah, he has he just hasn't blown me away this season. and what are What are your thoughts on the midfield before, before I give my er
00:26:33
Gavin
with my midfield selection.
00:26:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Jacob, go for it.
00:26:38
Jacob
yeah i think eight nobody itli has stood out from from our team like um one that i i will be putting in is is soja just because he's saw been one of our you know shining lights in ah and a team that's just struggled um and he's done it for basically every season we've had him now so i think he deserves to get in there but other than him really nobody else has really
00:27:12
Jacob
lived up to it um piquette has been up and down all season not really been able to actually you know find his best form and the others have just been rotated really and it's just none of them have stood out um i'm sure tom probably agrees with that um so yeah i think from us i i think soche could be the only only midfield i'd put in there probably
00:27:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think I agree. Carlos Soler has been really good when he's featured. I think he's someone that's gone on the radar as a signing.
00:27:43
Jacob
yeah
00:27:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think too many people are that enthusiastic about it, but he has been really solid. You know, you can tell that he's been playing. ah club where they have high quality players, you know, spending, you know, seasons at PSG is going to turn you into a technically really strong player. And I think that's what we've got in him, which is really positive. I've got one thing that really annoys me. I'm going to go on a bit of a tangent now. When people talk about Thomas Zuchek, they say, I've seen this argument that's always, if Thomas Zuchek is the one that's performing the best in your team, you know, you're in trouble and, and things of that ilk. and I'm like, well, surely it just means that he's good.
00:28:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
that he stands out. People say it as if it's, oh, everyone else is bad. So he just happens to be there. It's like, no, we could be playing badly, but he is so good. He's so unsung in the way that he plays. Like, obviously he his build is very unconventional.
00:28:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's the the similar kind of marijuana for Laney sort of thing that David Moyes seems to create these like big lanky players that are able to score goals.
00:28:37
Gavin
Thank you.
00:28:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But he's just really good. He does, he does the hard yards, he runs all game. He does last-ditch challenges. He's really physical. He wins basically every single header. Like, I very rarely see him lose ah of a 50-50 in the air when he's going for a header. And the goal is, he just pops up with goals, set pieces, edge of the box. He is a really, really good Premier League player. And I think people disrespect him so much because they say, oh, you know, he's, he's good, but is he better than this person or is he better than that person? I'm like, well,
00:29:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you actually just look at his stats and and the way that he plays, he does the things that he does well, he does better than so many other people. Like how many other people win most of their headers and pop up with goals and are good at set pieces and are making last-ditch challenges. And, you know, now captain that Bowen's injured, like he's so good. And I think people really lose sight of that because of his build and his kind of mild personality. He seems like a really kind of down to earth nice guy, but on the pitch, he's really good and he's a really good friendly player. so Yeah, that's my run over. Gavin, and how are you goingnna how are you going to sort your midfield then?
00:29:45
Gavin
you saw that to me. we have We'll have Thomas Ochre based on what you guys have said. The other one I'm going to go for, it's a choice between two Fulham midfielders, and it's either Sanderberger or Sassa Lukic.
00:29:50
Jacob
a
00:29:55
Gavin
Fulham fans absolutely love Sassa Lukic, they absolutely rave about him. He's probably one of those players that goes unnoticed by you ah the neutral casual observers to watch in Fulham games, but um he's he's filled that void left behind by Pelina.
00:30:09
Gavin
he is He is kind of a walking yellow card though. I mean, if I've got one guarantee for tomorrow's game, it's that he will get booked. Absolute guarantee nailed on. But the ah the other one that was up in the conversation is Sander Berger as well, who adds a little bit of a slow start to his Fulham career. He's just got injured and it's just been evident in the last few games how much of a miss he's been because he had a shaky game in his debut against Aston Villa, but since then he's just been a colossus and just great composure, physicality, not so much of the player we saw maybe at Burney or Sheffield United, we used to drive forwards and kickstart attacks, but just that great, he's a great shield, that great presence in front of the back four for you to have. So just the fact that Sassadou Kitch has played more, he's been more of a constant, even even though he had his injury as well midway through. Well, we are midway through the season, about a month or two ago. I'm just going to go for Sassalukic alongside two check there.
Evaluating Midfield and Attack for Combined Squad
00:31:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's fair. I really like that midfield. I think the the kind of physicality and the tenaciousness of that midfield is really attractive. I really like that. um So you're saying that's a two. I'm guessing that means there's going to be one midfielder slightly further forward than those two.
00:31:14
Gavin
Yeah.
00:31:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who who would that be?
00:31:17
Gavin
I'm going to see a couple of months ago, I might, I might have gone for Emil Smith row, ah but he's just come back from injury as well. And maybe he hasn't quite hit the heights recently. So I'm but i'm going to go for Paquetta. I, you know, cause I just think he is such a talented player. He's obviously been linked with big moves away in recent times. ah Maybe hasn't seen the best of him this season, but I think at his best, he is a really talented player.
00:31:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I completely agree. we've We've just not seen the best of him, have we, Jacob? out i know I know you're a big fan of him, aren't you?
00:31:46
Jacob
no yeah i think i think it is fairly i mean if we're talking about corent im you know form and ah i think putting piette in there is generous but like actual ability definitely but you know we've seen what he can do it's just we don't always know when it's going to come and it is frustrating um but you know it's
00:32:19
Jacob
he's just one of those players where you just pray he's feeling good on that day and you can pull something out of the bag
00:32:23
Gavin
Okay.
00:32:25
Jacob
um but yeah i think that is a very strong midfield um
00:32:29
Gavin
Okay.
00:32:31
Jacob
what's your tom what be your your front front for
00:32:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
so this is there's quite a ah lot of attacking threat which which i really like i think yeah the the thing we sell on this podcast so much is that we are strongest in the wide areas you know you you look at all wingers and they are so solid so for me it would be jared bowen and kudas as the wide player that put kudas on the left bone on the right and then i'd have rao hymnas up front because you know you look historically his goal scoring in the Premier League it has been really solid and you know there was a time when he was kind of out of favor and not so good and he joined Fulham and I don't think he had the best starts but this season he's been so solid he's been really good getting goals leading the line like he did do for Wolves back in the day I say back in the day it's not that long ago but I think it's good and and you look at the West Ham striking options it's just not it's just not strong really is it I think
00:33:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
If full crew had been fit and he'd played every game up until this point, I think he probably would have been in there because he does have the quality.
00:33:24
Jacob
yeah
00:33:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
He just hasn't played enough. He hasn't been fit. He's he's got goals and assists when he's played, but he just hasn't haven't seen enough of him. So I struggled to make a case for someone who hasn't really played at all.
00:33:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know and and And I think Raul Jimenez is on fire and the wide players, I just think it's difficult to beat Kudos and Bowen. I don't think there's actually that many teams in the league that beat that combination, to be honest.
00:33:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think they're so good. Bowen is Mr. Consistent, he's unbelievably good, goals, assists, defensive work. You know, the way that he leads, he's he's not necessarily the most sort of vocal captain, but he he leads with his performances, which I think is such an underrated skill. And I think the West Ham fans love it because he's not a show off, he's not a showboat, he's just a hard worker who is also really efficient and direct, which we really love. And Kudas, what can you say about Kudas? He's so good. I think if we do finish mid-table, I do think he'll go, which will be so heartbreaking because he does deserve to play Champions League football. Like you said before, Gavin, he's so good. he's Every year he's got the most take on numbers and dribble numbers. he He just does it for fun. So slightly worried that he's going to go. But yeah, I think that's my front three. Gavin, what do you think?
00:34:39
Gavin
Yeah, it's hard to argue against that really. Definitely Jared Bowen would be in my team. um I've always liked Jared Bowen even from watching him in his championship days when he was at home. and he's and he integral to that team, so they need to get him back on the park as soon as possible, really.
00:34:52
Gavin
As you as you mentioned earlier, that the goals and the assists, he tends to be the mainstay when it comes to West Ham providing goals and assists. Centre forward, I think, is an easy one.
00:35:03
Gavin
At the moment, it is Raul Jimenez. That seems to be a bit of a cursed position for West Ham, doesn't it? Because um obviously, you know, Michael Antone's had that hir horrific act, and that's him done for the season now, is that correct?
00:35:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's at least a year he's gonna be out.
00:35:16
Gavin
Yeah. Yeah, so that's a shame. And Fauqra was that guy I guess brought in the summer look to seeing that seen as that replacement, that that centre the forward position that they've been looking looking for for so many years, but it maybe hasn't quite happened. He's out with injury now, and riled him and as he does look back to his best, which is, you know, it's great to see obviously after that horrific head injury he sustained playing against Arsenal for Wars, many people thought that was probably the end for him in probably top flight football now we'll see him now he's not double figures this season every chance he can get double figures as far as the Premier League and maybe even his best ever scoring season which is you know a 33 years of ages you know it's an amazing story in itself I would like to get Alex a world being I think he probably has had a better season than Mohammed Kudas but it would probably be wrong of me to put him in because I think Mohammed Kudas does have the highest ceiling of those two players and you know as I said earlier on I think when he's playing well you could easily sit see him fitting into one of the top teams in the league.
00:36:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
the the The place that I see Kudos is actually Barcelona. I think he does so well at Barcelona. And it's really scary, like the fact that I can see that is kind of heartbreaking to be honest. I really like the Alex O'Wovey shout. I think he's so underrated. I think he has been for a long time. I think even when he was at Arsenal, he was good. It just, it seems like there's this thing at ah big clubs that we've seen it with Wambasaka like,
00:36:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
you can kind of go under the radar and and play pretty well and and be okay and and get some good numbers and be consistent but because you're not completely setting the world and like fans look they always want more and they don't actually appreciate what they have and I think that's something that Alex Awobi kind of suffered that fate because you see him when it when he plays at Fulham, like when Fulham are flowing, it seems like so much goes through him, which I think is testament to how good of a player he is.
00:37:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think it's kind of the same now with Aaron Wambasaka that we've given him the freedom and the confidence to say, right, we are going to pick you and you're going to play every game.
00:37:15
Gavin
yeah
00:37:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
So just go and and do what you can and don't be worried that we're going to instantly go and sign someone else who's going to take your place. So. I think those moves away from the big clubs ignite so many players careers and Alex Awobi is definitely testament to that.
00:37:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
i'm um this
00:37:30
Gavin
yeah just ah Yeah, just on the Adobe thing, I think as well.
00:37:33
Gavin
He's playing a ah good club in Fulham where there is expectation. there There's always pressure on a player, no matter what club you go, even if people from the outside think, oh, he's got his own Fulham, there's no pressure on him at all. But I think it's a good environment to play your football.
00:37:45
Gavin
He was ah he was at Everton. You know what it's like at Goodison Park, if you are. if things aren't going well the crowd can turn on you get on your back and you know they're very quick to boo and start turning on on their own aren't they so at Fulham he's not going to get anything like that and he is a manager's dream obviously Marco Silva had him at Everton so that's where the links were he brought him in last season is is output in terms of goals and assists is infinitely better than it ever was at Arsenal and Everton, the fact that those stats will speak for themselves. and He is a manager's dream because he can play in a variety of positions, he can play on the right just as well as he can play on the left, he can play in a drop back in a deeper position in the field. He played in that deep position in midfield against Brighton early in the season and then he scored two goals, so it didn't seem to have any impact in terms of his ah attacking output. So, um yeah, it's at 28 years of age, the penny seems to have dropped and now we are definitely seeing, as I mentioned earlier, the best version of Alex Wobbe that anyone's ever seen.
Match Predictions and Closing Remarks
00:38:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I completely agree. Well, well that's our combined 11. Finally, before we go, I want quick predictions and who's gonna be man of the match for everyone. Jacob, go you go first.
00:38:49
Jacob
um i think it's really difficult to pull this one um
00:38:56
Jacob
i um'm going to say it one all um and i think i'm going to go for a ah burnt leno stand out and standout player it's not necessarily who i'm who i think should be but i think that's just kind of my prediction i could see us having a lot of shots and um just being very frustrated basically we've we've not taken our chances all season and like could quite easily see it happening again
00:39:27
Jacob
if but lado has a good game and so i think it i think it might just be a one one
00:39:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Gavin will go see you, what are your predictions?
00:39:35
Gavin
Yeah, I mean, I don't want to agree, but I do agree. I said it in my preview episode as well, that I think it's going to be won all. And for them, they do seem to be the drawers, specialists in the league. They haven't lost many games. They're unbeaten in nine or 10. I've kind of lost count now. Nine or 10 in all competitions now. But a lot of those games have been draws. And the problem this season has been able to convert some of those draws into wins. And you'll remember the game earlier in the season. It was it was a dominant full and performance. But Dannyings pops up in the 95th minute.
00:40:02
Gavin
95th minute um for 1-0 and probably see Danny Ings in this game, won't we? So as far as the man of the match is concerned, I'm going to go for Anthony Robinson. Of course, Fulham fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that nothing comes from this transfer window. Liverpool can steer well clear and not not look the yeah not look in his direction. But yeah, as I said, just fun fantastic athlete. He just does not stop running.
00:40:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think that there's any part of you that wants him to not play well in January, just to kind of ward off the other team?
00:40:31
Gavin
i was so I was saying this when I was doing the crossover episode with the Liverpool team, I was saying hopefully Anthony Robinson has a good game but not too much of a good game.
00:40:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:40:39
Gavin
and It was ironic as well because Andy Robertson got sent off in that game and and Anthony Robinson was head and shoulders the best player on the pitch. so yeah As far as an audition goes, um it couldn't have gone any better for Liverpool fans and couldn't have gone any worse for Fulham fans.
00:40:53
Gavin
but I think if Fulham are to part ways with him it's going to take a monumental bid in this month.
00:40:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:41:00
Gavin
i I'd be surprised if it happens but in the summer it's going to be a lot more difficult to hold on to him I think.
00:41:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, I completely agree. I guess only time would tell. My prediction, I'm going to go for a 1-0 to West Ham. I've got to do something different. We can't all do 1-1. I think it's a relatively cagey game, to be honest. I think Graham Potter is going to make us a lot more solid defensively. I don't see us being as threatening on the attack, you know, when we've got only got Danny Ings as the striker, we've got Jarrab Bowe injured.
00:41:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think we'll go into the game knowing that we can't necessarily play the sort of free flowing, attacking, shackle-less football that I think is the aim. But defensively, I think we'll be good. And I think Thomas Zuchek, he'll wear the captain's armband. He'll score a header from a set piece. he'll He'll beat his man. He'll do his celebration where he spins around with his arms out. Very goofy celebration, but with the captain's armband, I think it it makes it a little bit sweeter. So I'm going to say one nil and I think Thomas Zuchek is going to be our man and latch.
00:42:01
Jacob
love that right i yeah i think think we'll wrap up there and so thank you all very much for watching say goodbye gav thanks for coming on
00:42:10
Gavin
ah you Thank you, have it thank you for having me.
00:42:13
Jacob
no problem and tom as well
00:42:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Goodbye guys, it's been a good one.
00:42:18
Jacob
um please rate this podcast five stars and also check out all of our social media that's linked in the description um also there's loads of other gspm podcast ah there's the fantasy football women's football wrapup ones and they're all in multiple different languages and and there's the other premier league team ones as well so thanks for listening and we'll speak to you soon