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Episode 043 - Liverpool Match Predictions!
23 Plays13 days ago
Ahead of our clash this evening against Liverpool, Tom and Josh discuss our recent uptick in form over the last few games as well as theorise how we will shape up against the top of the league this evening.
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Transcript
Welcome and Holiday Greetings
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, guys, and welcome back to another episode of the Daily GSPN West Ham Podcast. I'm joined by Josh. Say hi, mate.
00:00:15
Josh Keech
Hi guys, you hope you all have a good Christmas.
00:00:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, I had a very good Christmas. I hope you did as well, Josh. I'm gonna get into some West Ham chat today. We've not heard too much from Josh recently. He's been a busy boy.
West Ham's Recent Performance
00:00:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I'd just like to start by saying eight points from four games. How are you feeling about that?
00:00:32
Josh Keech
Well. Firstly, it's good to it's good to be here. It has been a while. it's ah i think if If this is how it's been looking, I think they need to start having some more time off because it's ah we're doing quite well, which is which is a relief, to be honest. I think there's two ways we can look at it. The first way is, firstly, brilliant.
Improvement in Play and Identity Challenges
00:00:50
Josh Keech
you know Last five games, two wins, two draws, not a great game against Leicester. We'll look away from that one for now. ah But you know on the whole,
00:01:00
Josh Keech
no So for that that to me, it's a nice upturn in results. It's a lot better than when we were looking in October, November time, but if we were were becoming a bit more worried about how things were looking.
00:01:10
Josh Keech
I always use the example that the draw to Everton, which is a clear example of where we shouldn't be performing. And I think we're seeing a bit of a change up from that, you know, the last couple of games, we've had record numbers of shots, which is something that we pride o ourselves on not doing enough anyway. So that's always a good thing for me. Possession wise, we're, you know, we're we're looking in the right direction. I think the only thing that I can appear to be missing is one of few players based off the last recent injuries, but equally,
00:01:38
Josh Keech
as well just a bit of identity i think it is i i heard a pundit say the other week well i think it was uh i think it might have been the brighten game but it was it was the one thing that it just looks like we have a bit of a lack of identity at the moment we're playing relatively well but it's hard to identify this loppategi ball i think is my my understanding at the moment but i can also sort of acknowledge that Lopate is a bit like Bear Grylls at the moment, he's's he's constantly changing his game, you know adapting, improvising, and it's you know seeing this sort of uptick in performance, I imagine he had to do a few fixes to what he'd like to normally
Team Identity and Optimism
00:02:09
Josh Keech
see. So for me, it's it's good to see this improvement, but I'm still apprehensive because equally, every time it seems to be that Lopate is using the risk of getting sacked.
00:02:19
Josh Keech
all of a sudden, you know, we get a prime Real Madrid performance or prime basketball performance out of everyone. So ah that's my glass half empty approach. I'm not going to use that again after every time I seem to come on, I keep saying I'm glass half full or empty. But ah but yeah, I think it's it be interesting just to see how it continues. And I think obviously Southampton was a big one playing bottom of the league. Not the best, but you know, one new result. Good, good to take it. And also, you know, three points, as we say, but Liverpool is going to be the biggest um obviously test for us today.
00:02:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah definitely ah I completely agree it's it's been a weird time because you know when it's been such a tumultuous start to the season it's difficult to know how to move forward.
00:02:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think the fact that we have seen, you know, improvements in results, we've seen, I think just generally better performances from a lot of players that up until now hadn't been playing amazingly, you know, like the likes of Peketa, the likes of maybe even Kuda, see, you know, wasn't hasn't been absolutely amazing.
00:03:10
Josh Keech
Yeah.
00:03:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think his recent kind of step is going up a little bit. um obviously full crew coming back into the starting 11 i think is is unbelievably important for us because you look at the the focal point that we have in antonio he's obviously been such a good servant and the way that he plays is quite unique i don't think there's many strikers like him so the fact that we we're able to bring in a guy who i think probably has a little bit more quality not as experienced in the premier league but has bigger game experience generally you look at the
00:03:31
Josh Keech
yeah
00:03:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Champions League football and playing for Germany and stuff, you know We've we've spoken about how highly we rate him the fact that he's actually coming into the squad now I think he's so positive for us, you know getting an assist in that Southampton game I think is so crucial for his confidence as well You know when you're making such a big step so late in your career it must be seen as such a big risk because he could have quite easily stayed in Germany and just kind of Sore out the rest of his career there, but he's decided to take the leap he's gone to a new country to try and have a new challenge and
00:04:07
Josh Keech
yeah
00:04:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
the fact that he's able to you know was he on one goal one assist now so it's a good start hopefully he can press on. My
Injury Analysis and Squad Depth
00:04:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
main kind of talking point I'd like to hear your thoughts about are the injury situation because in that last game we had Max Killman and Fabianski go off injured in the first half which really isn't what you want looking forward to to a long Premier League season is it?
00:04:27
Josh Keech
Yeah. Aw.
00:04:40
Josh Keech
No it isn't and firstly yeah it's it's a tricky one with that Southampton game because seeing two players come off with injuries within the first half an hour I wasn't sure it was going to be a win to be honest after that because that's not what that's not the encouragement that players need you know fans don't like to see players go off injured and particularly in the manner that Fabianski went off I firstly but I think credit to the fans actually at the match for obviously cheering him off once he's ah you know for the work that he's done recently because if i'm honest the last couple of games i've been getting confused thinking that we'd signed Manuel Neuer because he's been an absolute master class in between the states he's been so good he's he's one of this showing showing how good experience comes with age and equally how you know players don't just fall off once they hit 30 which i think some people seem to do sometimes so
00:05:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's been
00:05:25
Josh Keech
it's great to show that even when we've haven't got an aging squad that people still deliver and we can see those results so very sad to see him go off because he has been really good recently i thought ariel considering being thrown into the you know throwing into it quite quickly performed relatively well but uh but yeah obviously it's uh it's it's really sad to see him go off uh injured but i was having an argument today about concussion subs with someone about how they shouldn't be allowed and i think you know generally rules around them i think are usually a gray area but actually i the first thing i said was how the fabiansky ones used in the perfect situation that's the that's meant to be the kind of model answer for why they exist so um see ironically it's little poor fans i ended end up arguing with half the time so uh it's gonna be a fun one for me today and tomorrow we're putting on the result but uh
00:06:08
Josh Keech
yeah I think that one's you know particularly worrying but I know we have Ariola who has been you know a bit up and down particularly but I think he has got the calibre to you know come and do the same job that Fabianski's done. Kilman for me is the worrying one because that is something that I would say he's been one of our better signings just instantly hitting the ground running so same as Juan Bassaca a little bit to be honest but once when you win two of your best players coming in from chancellors have been in the defensive line and one goes off injured it's not something that gives me a bit of encouragement as we go into the game tonight so i'm not sure in his injury time yet i don't know if they're coming up with any updates yet i've not been relatively clear on his his
00:06:47
Josh Keech
fitness and well-being after the game, so i'll I'll be curious to see what that is. But um but yeah but all being considered, I thought, you know if I was giving an award up to most underrated players from the game at Southampton, for me, I think it was going to debug because I thought he did an excellent job stepping in middle of the match and I thought he did a relatively good job at holding the back line because I think first off we looked a little bit shaky. We had a few good shots so did they though and I thought either the team was going to score and we struggled to get into it and he actually came in and it felt like we had a bit of solidarity at the back.
00:07:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, I completely agree with that. I think the fact that we do have players that are able to step into the starting 11, so with such short notice, but be able to still perform at that high level, I think is testament to the squad that we've created. A conversation that we've had on the podcast I had with Jacob in the in the last podcast was looking forward to January, we need to make some signings because with those injuries it then depletes our squad so much and when you look at the the players that we do have on the bench the amount of kind of varying positions is actually quite limited you know you look at the the defensive um substitutions that we have we don't really have another fit center back we've basically only got three we've got keelan casey who's you know a young youth academy product who i'd love to see start to get a few minutes just because
00:08:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
If he's forced into it, you'd rather him have had some experience and played some minutes rather than getting thrown straight into starting a game, having not even stepped foot on a pitch, like hardly at all.
00:08:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know So I
00:08:20
Josh Keech
Yeah.
Predicted Lineup and Tactical Adjustments
00:08:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
think January is going to be really important.
00:08:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
um We're going to get into our first advert now. And when we get back, I want us to give our predicted lineups for the Liverpool game.
00:08:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, okay. So let's get into this predicted 11 for the Liverpool game. We are very much limited with injuries and suspensions because if I'm not mistaken, we lose Sue check and another midfielder.
00:09:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who is it? Oh, bloody hell. Let me find it.
00:09:13
Josh Keech
This is news to me, I haven't actually been cleared up on the yellow card, so I'm actually rather worried about seeing what you're on site here.
00:09:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. So, um,
00:09:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so who's suspended? Yeah, so it's Quido Rodriguez and Thomas Ucek are going to be suspended for this game.
00:09:27
Josh Keech
Okay, okay.
00:09:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yellow card. So it's very much making our midfield look depleted, which isn't good. So when you are doing your predict 11, take that into consideration.
00:09:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, let's start with the goalkeeper because of the Fabianzky injury, it's going to be Ariola. It's not going to be wastewatering him. That would be unbelievably insane. If we just threw him in to face Liverpool, like baptism of fire, much bloody hell.
00:09:49
Josh Keech
Yeah, wrong time. but Yeah, that's fine with me.
00:09:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Him going up against Mo Salah is his like basically first appearance in the league would be horrific. Um, but yeah, Ariola happy with that. Happy with Ariola.
00:10:00
Josh Keech
Yeah, that makes sense.
00:10:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. Perfect. Right. So I actually think we might go for a back three because of these injuries.
00:10:07
Josh Keech
Okay.
00:10:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
If I'm honest, I think back, so back three or back five, probably more of a back five, but then a back three. And you know, when we're, if we ah attack at any point, you know, um,
00:10:18
Josh Keech
Yeah.
00:10:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
So my back five slash back three would be Wambasaka's right wing back and then the the three sensor backs of Tadebo, Mavropanos and Aaron Creswell and then Emerson as the left wing back. how How do you feel about that? What do you think?
00:10:36
Josh Keech
Yeah, I think guaranteed stars, obviously Emerson's been so solid anyway for the last few seasons and he's had a relatively good set of games obviously coming up. So I think it'd be silly not to have him in. So I agree with you with both those and one with Saka. And yeah, I think that, you know, a five-back, you know, talking to a three-back mid game, I think that's very reasonable. You know, the the other chance is going to be a four-back, isn't it, with just Mavropanos and Tadebo. And I think we do need that extra man there to be on this, based on the fact that it is Liverpool. And ah so when it's a five-back, we've got the width for the likes of They're very dangerous looking attackers.
00:11:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, yeah, I completely agree. and So moving into midfield, this is this is where it gets tough, because it's probably going to be a two-man midfield, I would assume, with Alvarez and Paqueta, just because Carlos Saleh, I think, is an injury doubt, which is slightly worrying.
00:11:27
Josh Keech
yeah
00:11:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then, obviously, the two um suspensions from ah Rodriguez and Suchak mean that we are slightly limited in midfield. i I don't know how I feel about the whole five at the back setup. It feels quite defensive, but you know if there's ever going to be a time where you're forced into playing a more defensive system, the fact that it's against Liverpool is maybe a slightly more favorable time to be forced into playing that sort of system, if you get what I mean. What do you think about it?
00:11:57
Josh Keech
I mean, Soler being a bit of an injury is tricky because I think he's been one of those ones recently. Did you see what he'd said in his interview? Whereas he'd said, I think we've been doing better.
00:12:08
Josh Keech
I've been starting a lot of the games and didn't kind of say much more than that.
00:12:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:12:11
Josh Keech
There's very much a I'm starting. That's that's why we're doing better kind of line.
00:12:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah yeah
00:12:15
Josh Keech
um So is ah we always love that kind of attitude.
00:12:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:12:18
Josh Keech
Sometimes with the players that we have, because he's got confidence, even though we're having a bit of a struggling time to where we should be in the league. but Even if he is a Dao, we know he'll get some minutes but probably won't start, which is probably a good rotation if the likes of some like Packetart isn't having a good game, but seeing as he didn't get involved last game, I don't really
00:12:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:12:39
Josh Keech
I can't imagine who we say, you know, we bring him off and he comes on fired up because he's, you know, I actually think you've he's had a better a couple of games recently, bit of a controversial one, but I'm now waffling lineup wise. I think that, um, yeah as Alvarez and Packeta because that's the most solid we've got in the midfield. and It might be a bit stinky, but if we have the other players around, you know, if Bowen's actually playing out wide, he can come and get involved. I thought he got dragged quite a bit on the, ah on the game against Southampton, but if he can just sort of stay near the middle and to the right and do his normal cutting in forward, him and Pagata, you know, likely goal there potentially and equally, depending on who we have up top as well. So I'm i'm going further down the pitch with the lineup now, but I think that's where he's going to come from having those two players in the midfield. And I thought Alver has been decent recently.
00:13:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, I completely agree. Hopefully it can be a good match of both of them are able to do the defensive work and then hopefully we can give Paquetta some license to push further forward and Alvarez can sit a little bit more. If it is a two-man midfield with Paquetta and Alvarez, we really need Paquetta to step up.
00:13:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
like He's really not been as best this season. I don't think he's been terrible. I think he's he's kind of gone under the radar for the more kind of solid all-round performances that he's been putting in.
00:13:49
Josh Keech
No.
00:13:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know He's put in some quite good defensive numbers in quite a few games. But we just need him to be the piqueta that we all know is in there because if not, we're going to get overrunning that midfield so easily. And he's so calm under pressure.
00:14:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's so skillful. He has that little bit of flair that I think is able to kind of push you over when you don't necessarily have the the all-round level of technical ability as a Liverpool because you know they're probably one of the best teams in the world right now.
00:14:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
So if we can get Paquetta firing on all cylinders I think that massively increases our chances of winning this game. Okay so we'll move to the front front three. I think it's relatively straightforward.
00:14:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Kudos for
Potential of the Front Three
00:14:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Craig Bowen. I
00:14:34
Josh Keech
Yep.
00:14:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
On paper it looks like such an attractive front three if we can get full Krug scoring some goals. And this is such a good opportunity to get him some kind of recognition for the striker that we all think we, you know, all the West Ham fans hope that he can turn into this really good striker for us and score, you know, 10, 15 goals a season, which would be amazing. And the best time to kind of prove yourself as being able to to do it in the Premier League is against the best players. So I think it's a really good opportunity. what How do you feel about that front three?
00:15:06
Josh Keech
I think that's ah it's the only option realistically you know I think when we're looking at everything that's guaranteed I think anyone even teams outside of us would look and go yeah that's probably how it's gonna go.
00:15:18
Josh Keech
they There's lots of signs there that are encouraging, obviously, with Phil Grey actually getting back into the swing of things. He's had a golden and assist recently. So despite that, I think that recently he's not had the best of service because we've we've been backpedaling quite a bit. We've ticked Southampton for a game where he's had a full start as an example. First half, I don't think he had too much that gave me a bit of confidence that it was going to come from from his his work.
00:15:45
Josh Keech
um But equally, I think that for a good stint in the first half, we struggled to even get out of our side of the pitch. So it was one of those things where, as the game goes on, players get tired, you know, the impact they have on the on the current match gets worse. I think that it was only, you know, a fact we need to make more subs. So I think that will be a good ah good opportunity for him now that he's settled. I also appreciate that he might not get as much service because of the fact we're playing Liverpool and they'll have a lot of position their possession against us. but You know, we have those strikers that are good at scoring as a job to stay at the top of the pitch, get the ball and um put it in the back of the net. That's there. I don't want to see him doing an Antonio's typical job of coming in quite deep. I want him to stay quite high at the pitch if he is going to start. Um, because on the bench, he always got the likes of Somerville, who's keen to come and show what he can do on the wings. And I think that'll be an example of, you know, some pressure for the players in the pitch as well, that we've got some fire on the bench we can use too. So I think that will be the best from three we can have.
00:16:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, I agree. And if like, yeah, like I said before, if we can get forward scoring some goals, I think our our form massively improves, just because, you know, the the foundations of the team are really solid. It's just when you've not got a focal point that is able to score a lot of goals, it does make it a lot more difficult. And it will take some of the pressure off of Jared Bowen, which I think will only improve his scoring numbers as well.
00:17:05
Josh Keech
Yeah.
00:17:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, so, yeah, I'm not actually too unhappy about the team.
00:17:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is going to be a tough game.
00:17:10
Josh Keech
oh
00:17:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think the fact that there's very little expectation going into it isn't a bad thing, because, you know, if we lose two nil, three nil to Liverpool, it's not the end of the world, really like they are an unbelievably good team and they have beaten sides much better than us this season.
00:17:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we just have to go into it, not expecting anything, but
Match Predictions Against Liverpool
00:17:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
just trying to do what we can do and hopefully get a good result. Okay, we're gonna go into our second advert now. When we get back, we want some specific match predictions.
00:18:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, I would like your predictions for this game. How do you think it's going to go? Who do you think scores first and what do you think the final result is?
00:18:14
Josh Keech
You've got me in a bind here because I've got a bit of a predicament this evening as I'm going to watch it with a bunch of Liverpool fans around their house in a nice little post-Christmas catch-up. So I'm very worried that I'm going to get... I am the hen in the foxhouse tonight. So I'm going to have to give my best model example here of why we should be winning this game. Now, my prediction is going to be... Oh, you've got me here. It's tricky. i' I'm going to say one all.
00:18:42
Josh Keech
I think we're going to play well, but I think they'll score first and that that will be there. We'll get some kind of reaction goal or maybe some kind of, some kind of call that's going to give us an advantage somewhere at the end of their pitch. So I'm going to say one all, but they score first is my overall prediction.
00:18:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, so I'm going to go rogue. I'm going to say 2-1, my Stan.
00:19:01
Josh Keech
Okay. Oh, I love it.
00:19:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
2-1, my Stan. We're at home. a I don't know where this is coming from in my brain. I just think we are going to pull an amazing result completely out of nowhere.
00:19:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that Bequette is going to have a brilliant game. I think full crew is going to score.
00:19:21
Josh Keech
Nice.
00:19:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Bowman is going to do what he always does. And somehow we're going to look amazing. And then people are going to be so confused and excited by West Ham how I feel like we should have done at the start of the season.
00:19:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know it's rogue. Is it going to happen?
00:19:36
Josh Keech
No.
00:19:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Probably not.
00:19:38
Josh Keech
Don't jinx it.
00:19:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I definitely think it's possible. you know like That Liverpool team is really good and they're really solid, but they aren't like unbeatable. you know like that There are definitely frailties in their team. You know you look at the ah defensive ability of Trent and Robertson, it hasn't been anywhere near to the level that it has been in the past. Trent's defensive ability has always been questioned and Robertson also as well just hasn't been as good as he has been in the past you know and if they don't start they've got decent understudies but you know our wingers are really good they're really solid so I think they will get the better of them to be honest and then you you look at Falkberg he's he's a big guy and he does know how to score and I know the Liverpool defenders are obviously very good they're certain about partnership but
00:20:10
Josh Keech
Mm.
00:20:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
i just I just think that Fulcrum will be able to get the better of them somehow. I think it might be more of a, he's able to just find himself in the right position. And if he does continue to repeatedly get into good positions, he will score.
00:20:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
So yeah, 2-1 West Ham, that's my prediction. It is very rogue, but you know, you got to go for it sometimes.
00:20:42
Josh Keech
yeah no i think that's uh i think that's really rational yeah no no i like it i like it well uh
00:20:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think this is the time to go for it. you know know
00:20:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no no pressure, no expectation. Let's just pull a pull a result out of absolutely nowhere.
00:20:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, well, I I hope you like it because it's gonna happen, mate.
00:21:03
Josh Keech
Well, the thing is, right, is I don't want to say 2-1 for your lineup prediction. I actually did. I wanted to say 2-1, but I've got to show some restraint because if I go in in tonight with a bit of, you know, nice, calm and solemn and and we score, then I can unleash all hell and all the Liverpool fans around.
00:21:20
Josh Keech
So I've got to be nice and calm and composed and then and then let it all out later when we do score. But, uh, but yeah, I do, I do think that they share a bit of weakness too.
00:21:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
Farewells and Promotions
00:21:28
Josh Keech
So I'm, I think that we've got that opportunity there.
00:21:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Yeah, well, I completely agree.
00:21:31
Josh Keech
Yeah. Well.
00:21:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if we do end up winning 2-1, you better tell them that I predicted that and tell them to go watch the game.
00:21:38
Josh Keech
Oh, yeah, I'll say I don't know if you heard, but we've we've done a podcast today saying you're getting battered. So that's that's what's going to happen. And that's how it's going to go down. But ah but yeah, well, thank you so much for listening, everyone.
00:21:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:51
Josh Keech
And we hope you all have a great new year. Say goodbye, Thomas.
00:21:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Goodbye, guys.
00:21:56
Josh Keech
It's lovely to have you all here. And if you have enjoyed this, then please feel free to give us five stars on Spotify, but also please be free to listen to some of the other podcasts under the GSPN name. We have coverage for the women's football, fantasy football, as well as also coverage in other languages and each individual club other than West Ham. However, this is the best one to listen to, obviously. Now, ah yeah, we hope you all have a great week so far. And obviously we'll speak to you all in the new year. Take care, everyone.