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Man United’s Early Season Woes | Will the Magic Contend in a Weak East? | Transfer Window Winners & Losers
14 Plays8 days ago
What’s Really Going Wrong at Man Utd?! 🚨 Shocking Start EXPLAINED + The Surprising Stars Keeping Them Afloat 🌟
We break down the chaos at Old Trafford — who’s to blame and who’s stepping up. Then, it’s time to crown the BIGGEST Winners & Losers of the transfer window: Forest and Liverpool making big moves 💪, while Villa and Fulham are in freefall 😬
NBA fans — the deep dive continues!
Can the Pacers survive without Haliburton? Are the Magic in contention? And is there any hope for the Wizards? 🏀
PLUS: We draft the European nations best positioned to win the next World Cup — some surprise picks ahead! 🌍⚽
🔥 If you love your football mixed with some NBA and NFL heat, smash that LIKE, drop a COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to stay ahead of the game.
🎯 Follow us on social to never miss a moment of the madness!
https://linktr.ee/whosgottheball
(00:00) Ireland’s World Cup Qualification Kicks Off
(04:02) Where are Amorim & Man United Going Wrong?
(23:14) The Biggest Winners of the Transfer Window
(31:59) The Biggest Losers of the Transfer Window
(41:50) Can the Pacers Survive Without Haliburton?
(47:47) The Woeful Wizards
(51:58) Do the Magic Finally Have the Magic?
(59:33) Drafting the Best European International Football Teams
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Transcript
Weekend Sports Recap
00:00:09
Speaker
Alright lads, welcome back to another episode of Who's Got The Ball, our second one of the week, back with a usual episode, me and Shane here. What's the crack Shane? Not a whole lot, just kind of not a massive weekend of sports other than the Ireland game that you're travelling your way to, well not travelling, you're crossing the road to in Dublin, so looking forward to that the weekend now. There's not a whole lot that's on. I just you don always find these international breaks too early in the season, and but it'll be good to see what Ireland can do now and hopefully Heimer can deliver on his promise.
00:00:39
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, I agree. Yeah, I think you're forgetting the NFL is back this week. Probably slipped through. Oh, i have actually, yeah. yeah mass Yeah, we're just thinking soccer ways there about a weekend off, but thank God the NFL is there to
Ireland Football Prospects
00:00:51
Speaker
save us. So hopefully all you NFL fans are happy. But yeah, the Irish game, I'm buzzing for it now. I think...
00:00:57
Speaker
Heimer has bigged us up a lot and I've gone to see couple of friendlies too and watched numerous games over the years, obviously in the flesh. And there was pretty much no improvement until now. I can actually see a kind of a vision a little bit.
00:01:13
Speaker
and And hopefully that comes to fruition now because this will be... to see them get into a World Cup like absolutely amazing it would be so so special especially after closest we've come recently is that 2010 and the buckle with Thierry Henry so hopefully we can finally actually get there but even like so many of the players have made such a promising start to the season Josh Cullen Evan Ferguson they all look to be in real good form I know Cullen put the ball in the wrong net at the weekend but it wasn't exactly his fault he'd be next in for Burnley so far captaining him
00:01:45
Speaker
Derrish A captain Ipswich it there's just so much to be kind of really positive about coming into the season Casey McAteer has finally gotten the move as well we'll see he gets on at Ipswich now because he wasn't getting a look in the Leicester I just I think there's so much to be positive about Troy Power being a loss obviously but hopefully Evan Fersin can step up now and do it yeah Ferguson coming back kind of covers off that Parrott last week's game.
00:02:09
Speaker
I think Parrott has been probably our most prolific striker over the last year or two in Europe, but Ferguson looks great so far for Roma, so hopefully he can cover that blow. Ogbené coming back is massive.
00:02:21
Speaker
He's probably not fully fit yet, but having him around the squad and having him as an option is huge. and McIntyre was really, really good when he came on, or he didn't come on, he started against Senegal. He was really good in that game.
00:02:32
Speaker
So that'll lose confidence a lot. And as you mentioned, having a lot of captains, like we've got Collins as the Brentford captain. branford' only a problem like It's really, really good. A lot of big characters and we've got a very good keeper as well in Kelleher who will have some usual minutes under his belt from now on. So that's great.
Manchester United's Challenges
00:02:50
Speaker
This week, we we didn't have any NFL because we did a full preview episode earlier in the week. So go back and give that a listen, but Evan, if you haven't already. We give a lot of stuff in that, best bets, predictions, playoff predictions, award predictions, the whole shebang. So go back and give that one a listen. But this week, we touched on Man United's early season woes.
00:03:11
Speaker
where they've gone wrong, how they can improve and what's going to happen for them in the year ahead. Then we moved on to the transfer window, winners and losers across the whole summer. Then we went on to the NBA, covered three more teams in our season previews. And this week we had the Pacers, Wizards and Magic.
00:03:27
Speaker
So three teams on very different trajectories there. It's quite interesting to see how they're going to match up in the East. And then last up, we did our final draft of the summer. Ganshans will be back next week. So lock in for that one. We'll give some underdog picks as we did last week, as will our power rankings. So that coming back with obviously NFL and Premier League being in full flow.
00:03:48
Speaker
So our draft this week was the best teams in European international football just for the week that's in it. So give that one a listen. and Final draft of the year. Let us know if you liked it and get straight into the episode, lads. Let's do it.
00:04:01
Speaker
All right. So let's jump into our first topic. We did tease it a little bit last week and we said we'd get more into it this week while we had an international break. But it's... kind of how United have been playing so far this season, their woes early in the season.
00:04:15
Speaker
So to run through their first few results, if you weren't aware, basically they started against Arsenal. think we could both agree that they were very good against Arsenal. They probably should have won, but they had lost 1-0 or at least got a point out of it.
00:04:28
Speaker
They go from that then into the Fulham game where they started off very, very well. And then when they didn't take their initial chances, it seems like they just reverted back to last year and played very similarly to how they did last year threw that away with a 1-1 draw then the abysmal penalty loss to Grimsby which is one of the low points in the recent history of the club the players didn't seem arsed at all they just weren't weren't up for it one bit which was very alarming and then forward on Burnley game at the weekend where they probably should have been about 6-0 up at half time just didn't take their chances and then managed to win in the end but
00:05:03
Speaker
a lot of better performance there, although the scoreline wasn't overly flattering. So obviously I'm a United fan, you guys will know, but we're coming at everything like with a non-biased view and we'll come at where they've done well, but a lot of issues too. So what's your initial feeling about them early this season?
00:05:23
Speaker
I think so. We were only discussing it the other day when we were talking about XG the most. So Arsenal at the second least created XG from open play in the league. And you were saying United have the most.
00:05:36
Speaker
I've been extremely critical of Ruben Amarim, particularly to you. I don't think he's the man for the job. also but if you sack him then you're back to square one but there's only so much he can do he can't be the man to put the ball in the back of the net unfortunately um it's it's up to the 200 million worth of strikers that he's signed in the summer to try and get the ball in the net and I don't understand why he doesn't trust Seshko enough to throw him in yet.
00:06:02
Speaker
Although Mason Mount has been incredible, he's the one that would be dropped. So there is the plus minus to that. But four goals scored, four goals conceded in the three games. Three those goals were against Burnley.
00:06:13
Speaker
and As you said, should have been 6-0 up. That should be for 10 from the opening three games that the chances they've missed. They should have at least seven points. and The point you made about players' heads dropping, like Bruno, when he missed that penalty against Fulham, it just seemed to have it out for the referee for the rest of the game because the referee walked into him and he was going back for the penalty. he He just completely lost his head in that game, lost a run of himself, did absolutely nothing after missing that penalty.
00:06:39
Speaker
and Just completely... That seems to be the problem they've had nearly all season. Every time they seem to get a setback, it seems to affect them all so much. They don't seem to have that get up and go, OK, this has happened.
00:06:50
Speaker
Let's just go again. like Going muddling down to Arsenal, it was such a poor goal to conceive. Bayern there has to do so much better with it for us. After it took them 10 or 15 minutes to just kind of string three passes together again, it's like, oh, we've done so well and now we're 1-0 down. We don't deserve this, blah, blah, blah. And they just don't seem to be able to screw their heads back on and say, OK, look, we were hit with a soccer punch. We need to go out and just do better.
00:07:14
Speaker
They were full on, like hit with soccer punch. We aren't able to go back and do better. And that's really, really worrying. The Grimsby game, OK, they came back from 2-0 down, boss Like you shouldn't have to be tunneled down to Greensby to start playing.
00:07:27
Speaker
You shouldn't need a ah header from a corner and a beautiful finish and to get back to 2-0. It should be header from a corner and beautiful finish to go 2-0 up and then you coast through the next 70 minutes. It was really, really...
00:07:40
Speaker
I enjoyed it, obviously, from my side of things, but like looking at from it from an unbiased side of things, like I just don't see... there's no There's no real fight in them, from what I can see. They just seem to just... Once their heads go, they go, and Ruben Ambram doesn't seem to be the man that's able to lift him up again.
00:07:55
Speaker
They warned him sitting on the bench with his feet off for Bruno's penalties. That really gets to me. Yeah, it really gets to me, because know Klopp didn't overly enjoy watching penalties, but least he stood up.
00:08:08
Speaker
And he kind of, he'd look down or he'd look look sideways. He wasn't there with his back to goal or sitting on the bench looking at his tactics board. Like it was really, really strange for us what Emmerim has been doing. I think like i but arguments like that that you're making there is, that's like a clinically online argument where someone looks into where somebody is standing and where somebody is looking.
00:08:29
Speaker
And it's funny to say things like that, but I've never in my life heard someone be analysed based on where they sit or where they look. outside of Man United managers. And people can say anything they want, but they do get like viscerally attacked in the media.
00:08:46
Speaker
And I did see, off topic slightly, but a funny couple of moments on Twitter recently where we saw the amount, obviously, Liverpool spent. And someone said, watch now, the second Liverpool has spent this much money, the graphics are all going to be in net spend on Sky Sports.
00:09:03
Speaker
And don't you know, the next thing under that was Sky Sports net spend list. If that was Man United, like, they didn't even include some of the things there. So my point is that everything is, like, kind of aimed...
00:09:15
Speaker
in a way that these are things that are being nitpicked on because it's one of the biggest clubs in the world. That's why so many players can't hack it because the second they get there, like this new goalkeeper signing, all you see online is from rival fans is his biggest mistakes.
00:09:29
Speaker
This guy hasn't even played a game before in the Premier League. And I don't know a whole lot about him, but he stopped the most goals statistically amongst European keepers last year. So I think I'm willing to give him a chance. Obviously he hasn't played a game yet as I would be with any player.
00:09:44
Speaker
But straight away, this kind of thing of them getting attacked. And that's probably why the players, at times, I see their heads dropping and they just know they're going to get abused. And after every game, it's some funny stuff online.
00:09:58
Speaker
Like, none of these players should be looking online firstly, but it's only human nature to do it. And I think those things aren't the issue.
Ruben Amarim's Tactics
00:10:06
Speaker
They're like these little snippets and memes or whatever.
00:10:09
Speaker
They're not anything to do with the actual football. And... I've said to the point there that Amarim... Or you said the point there that Amarim may not be the right person to get the response.
00:10:22
Speaker
I think he's quite... I won't say immature because obviously he's not immature, but maybe a little bit out of his depth at times with the media side of things. I don't think tactically or footballing wise he's out of his depth because I think he's very knowledgeable and he could work at a number of clubs and he he probably...
00:10:40
Speaker
hopefully for me, will work at United. But I think on the media side, when you're doing, ah heard the guys talking on the United podcast on The Athletic, basically by the time he gets to those like videos with say ITV after a game, or if it's on an f FA Cup game or with Sky, he'll have already done around 11 12 interviews.
00:10:59
Speaker
And they're all the same questions. and He has more media responsibilities than a lot of other coaches. So I think he probably was not prepared for that in any sense.
00:11:10
Speaker
And that doesn't help because it allows him to say more things than he probably shouldn't be saying in the media. I do still believe that he can do well. Because as you said, he can't put the ball in the net for his players.
00:11:24
Speaker
You don't need to have any sort of of tactical setup as a Premier League side against Scrimsby. You should still be able to beat them. doesn't matter any point. It doesn't matter if five at the back, two at the back. It doesn't matter.
00:11:36
Speaker
like That's completely up to want. and how much they wanted it and i think when they show that they want it like i know they didn't beat arsenal but they showed they wanted it they put on a good performance they showed they wanted it again yeah the city game they they showed they wanted against burnley um because of they wanted a bounce back and now they barely won but they played well so the question is are you going to want it every week because that's that's the thing that's missing for me um with a lot of the players and hopefully getting rid of some of the guys that have sucked the life out of the dressing room for years will help that in the long run because I think, yeah, ah one person that stood out to me a lot is Mbumo.
00:12:14
Speaker
It seems like he really wants it no matter what. Even, i know it's Grimsby, but when he came on, he took the game by the throat and he's like, lads, what are you doing here? Just give me the ball. And those are the type of people that are missing. So hopefully he can be one of the people that does turn things around a little bit.
00:12:30
Speaker
I think the thing with Emmerman as well that you said there is like he's clearly not tactically stupid like he knows what doing and if he let's say he was sacked by United in the morning and went to Bayer Leverkusen I'd back him Leverkusen to push Bayern Munich really really close because they play the same system as he does they have the players in there already I just don't know if yeah it's this United squad just seems to be kind of you know what here were the big characters so like Bruno is a big character but not in the right sense of the word for me and he just he seems so petulant and you can try and argue that against me if you want I wouldn't agree with that
00:13:06
Speaker
at all. He loses his head so often and just drifts in and out of games and i know he's the one, he was the only man pressing in the game last year, he was running around after everyone like a headless chicken and and know he's trying to get people to do it with him but
00:13:23
Speaker
i I don't think I'd want him to be the captain of my football club, especially if you're trying to get back towards the top the league. You want someone who's Arsenal's captain. oh guy I wouldn't want him as my captain either, to be perfectly honest. I want Gabriela or Saliba to be captain there.
00:13:38
Speaker
Um... I think with Bruno, though, it's like that there's constant, you know, this but thing that he fades in and out of games. I don't think and it's physically possible for him to phase in and out of games if already this season he's created the most chances out of it any player.
00:13:55
Speaker
And he's won the ball back more than any other player. He's playing in a position that people... He's not supposed to play in that position. No, absolutely not. And he's still winning the ball back more than anybody else. So... I'm talking Casemiro is not a good centre midfield ownership if you want to. Coming up against... Like, you you've Man City next.
00:14:13
Speaker
Now, I know they're... There are no great shakes at the the season either. We might get into them next week when it is the international break. But they've had an an awful start season as well. They've been at they've been really, really poor.
00:14:24
Speaker
Even the Wolves game, they won 4-0. But to start that game, Wolves had the goal disallowed. They had another couple of chances. If Wolves go 1-0 up in that... Yeah, there's no way the City can come back and win that game if Wills are 1-0 up after 20 or 25 minutes.
00:14:38
Speaker
But if you go into that game starting Bruno and Casemiro as your midfield too, then I think you'll be in trouble no matter how bad City are because Reinders, Rodri... Foden, Bernardo Silva, maybe not Foden, but Bernardo Silva. like That's in midfield three that will absolutely walk all over Casemiro and Bruno.
00:14:56
Speaker
And I just don't see how that goes well for you, especially if when you are missing so many chances and leaving so many goals on the pitch as well. So that would be a really interesting game when we come back from the international break.
00:15:08
Speaker
Yeah, it's a massive one for both teams. Yeah, like I understand you have massive belief in Ruben Amarim that I just don't see. and It's not that I have a massive belief in him. like I have said to you that you know, I'm i'm not sure if he is the right man. I would like to believe that he is. And there's certain things I've seen from him that I'm like, this makes no sense. Like you need to change from that.
00:15:29
Speaker
But in another sense, I understand he believes exactly what his viewpoint is and it's to it's quite difficult to play the system like as you mentioned they don't have the squad the main thing is they don't they don't have good enough wing backs and that's a tiresome job that you need to be rotated in and out of and when you barely have any options anyway It's pretty tough. And then when your midfield is poor, and the midfield is, I think this year, getting bailed out a little bit at times because De Ligt is quite good at that jumping forward from the centre-centre-back role, which is what you need to do in this system.
00:16:03
Speaker
So I think he's the man. that needs to keep playing going forward. I can't i don't want to see Maguire in that centre-centre-back role because he can't do that, whereas the Ligt can. And that's massive in this system, but that's a bit in the tactical weeds.
00:16:16
Speaker
But yeah I know you did mention about early on about the expected goals. I just wanted to to give a few stats... From the first, I know it's a small sample size, it's just three games.
00:16:27
Speaker
But um so far this season, United have had 55 shots. Second is 44, Brentford. 6.8 expected goals. That's above. That's first in the league also.
00:16:39
Speaker
Chelsea are 6.7. The most shots on target per game have been Liverpool at 5.7. United are on 5.3 in second place. The most touches in the opposition box is also United with 99.
00:16:51
Speaker
12 ahead of Bournemouth in second. Accurate crosses per game, 6.7, most in the league. Accurate long balls per game, more than 6.7, more than second place.
00:17:02
Speaker
So the players are actually picking up on what he wants to do, clearly. They still haven't scored enough goals, and I think that's leading to them mentally kind of dropping at times. But I think it's going to come.
00:17:14
Speaker
And also another maximum for me. One that was one of more massive one is that if you look at second ball win rate, which is, I'd say if you looked at United over the last 10 years, they were probably last in the league on this because of their lack of effort.
00:17:29
Speaker
They have 68% second ball win rate, which is more than Brighton in second place who have 61. So they're massively outperforming a lot of other teams in a number of key places so far.
00:17:42
Speaker
If they can start putting the ball in the net, things will change massively, in my opinion. But if they continue to have struggle in front of goal, then there's going to be a massive issue for Emerim because no matter what else you do, if you don't score, that's the main part of the game.
00:17:54
Speaker
Yeah, but even last year, 44 goals in 38 games. like That's not really going to get you anywhere. Just looking here, West Ham's K46, not too much more. Wolves finish a place below E, 54.
00:18:05
Speaker
Spurs, 64. The only three teams from what I can see here now are, they're doing teams that scored last year. The three that relegated. This is last year. Last year, yeah.
00:18:16
Speaker
That's not relevant to this argument of how they play. I know, but I'm just saying that your problem last year was scoring goals as well. And your problem at the start of this season has been putting the ball in the net as well. And you said, if that doesn't improve, then you're going over. Because you can have all the expected goals you want. The expected goals don't put points on the word at the end of the day, unfortunately. Exactly. That's the point of what I'm trying to say. If he doesn't have the goals, then they're in trouble.
00:18:46
Speaker
yeah Comparing to last year, that was the main issue and that's why they spent money on forwards. So these forwards need to start delivering. But last year's goals, the way they played last year is not the same as this year. It's very, very different as can be seen from the Arsenal performance and the early game against Fulham and then most of the Burnley game. They played way different than they did last year. So I think that shows a little bit how they're getting the system. But at the same time,
00:19:15
Speaker
they have to score. So expected goals means nothing if you don't put the ball in the net. But last year, they couldn't even create enough chances that were solid. Bruno was putting the ball in a lot. There was chances there, but outside of him, who was doing anything? There was nobody.
00:19:31
Speaker
So that was an issue. Yeah, I have one question for you and we can move on then. Do you think he should have a backup system? So if the 3-4-3 isn't working, he takes off a centre-back and brings on a forward and goes to 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1. Do you think that should be an option? Because he's so wedded to this 3-4-3.
00:19:52
Speaker
that even when it's going really, really badly wrong, he won't... He'll just change the centre-back, bring on Masraoui and get him to push higher up. I think every manager should be able to play him more than one way, and he doesn't seem to have antelope in his locker outside of this 3-4-3.
00:20:08
Speaker
If he had a 4-4-2 in his back pocket where he brings on a winger, now he doesn't really have any wingers left when you think about it because he's gotten rid them all, but if he brings on someone that can... just make it a four at the back instead of a five and they push further up and try get goals. Do think that should an option or are you happy to just keep going with this 3-4-3? Yeah, I think that should be an option. It has to be an option.
00:20:30
Speaker
And I think you kind of answered your own question a little bit when you made the point about bringing on Maserawi and then he may push up. Formation in modern football is not very important.
Transfer Window Reviews
00:20:43
Speaker
If you play on paper a 3-4-3, if you watch Man Utd, A lot of the time they defend with four at the back. And then there's other times they defend with five at the back, as do a lot of teams that play with three.
00:20:55
Speaker
So they play multiple formations within every single game. I think that's just an initial setup. And a lot of times players do move in and out where you may have a centre-back pushing into midfield and then the wing-backs come back and you have four when they defend in a certain way. Or you may have where they build up with only two or they have sometimes where they build up with two centre-backs, one of the midfielders drops and the two wing-backs push up.
00:21:21
Speaker
So it's all variations. And I think that's why it's so difficult for some of these players because they're just not capable, they're not good enough. They're stupid. they Some of them couldn't understand the system and that's where they're gone. Yeah.
00:21:33
Speaker
They couldn't understand their position in it and they didn't want to accept it. So my answer is yes. I think he needs to have more formations available, but... they have more of our formations in every single game they play.
00:21:47
Speaker
If, like, tactically, you watch where they move on the pitch, it's just some of the players act don't get it, and they don't they don't know how to... They're not capable, as well, of covering the ground that they need to and to rotate.
00:21:59
Speaker
So I think he does know that, and that's probably a lot of his frustration, too, because it's kind of a hard thing to explain to media, and the media will not want to listen to some convoluted answer to them. So...
00:22:11
Speaker
One final thing before we move on. I know we've spent a long time about this, but obviously United have been very, very poor and sometimes they have moments of flashes, so it's hard to fully dissect it.
00:22:23
Speaker
But with the Cesco thing, the reason he hasn't played much is because he basically had no pre-season. He didn't play much with Leipzig and then he came to United and he wasn't fully fit.
00:22:35
Speaker
And that Grimsby game, after playing 90 minutes on a watery pitch, he had such bad cramps like he couldn't play at the weekend. That's why he came on for only like 15 minutes. So it's very frustrating not being able to see him enough, but there's a reason behind it so far.
00:22:49
Speaker
So I'd say give that one time, I think, after the international break. We'll probably see him more. I think not getting a centre mid in the end will come back and bite you bit if you have to go with Castamere and Bruno for the season. But we want to chant a window now anyway and talk about our winners and losers.
00:23:05
Speaker
Well, you know my feeling on that anyway with hopefully Manu is the long-term solution there. But that's another conversation totally. So the transfer window in general, we've obviously talked about a lot of United signings there, but we each picked a winner and a loser for the transfer window, a team that we thought kind of won with the deals they did and a team that we thought lost.
00:23:27
Speaker
So we'll start with our winners. I'll let you go first and throw yours out there. I don't think anyone will be surprised with your answer. Yeah, I think there was only one way to go with this and it it absolutely had to be Liverpool.
00:23:40
Speaker
genuinely do think it was a 10 out of 10 window. and the only player we went for and didn't get by all accounts is Mark Guay and that was nothing to do with him that wanted to come or Liverpool pulling the plug at the last second. It was Palace not getting in their replacement and...
00:23:56
Speaker
Just scuppering it. Maybe he's better off staying there playing a bit of football between now and January. and just The thing about Steve Parrish today, apparently he was in a fitness class till 16. ah Outrageous.
00:24:06
Speaker
Absolutely outrageous. When you look who they brought in, so Isak, 125 million. Vir, 114 million. Eketike, sorry, these are all in Euro and I was going to to change up. So, Isak, 145 million in Euro. Vir, 125 million in Euro. Eketike, 99 million.
00:24:24
Speaker
No, sorry, 95 million in Euro. Perkins, 46. Primpong, 40. Giovanni Leone, 41. Freddie Woodman, free transfer. What a goalkeeper. And Mamad Ashfili, 25 million. Like, it's just...
00:24:37
Speaker
The squad is so much stronger this year than it was last year. and I said to you recently, I would have loved more forward, and especially now when you look and Chies has been left out of Champions League squad as well. So clearly, not sure if there is trust there that it looks to be for the first couple games of the season. and £482.9 million is some ask and considering if they've gotten in Mark Way that's pushing it over 500 million and if I got my other forward you're probably looking at close to 600 million so it's a bit silly like i don't think they need in the long run though that extra forward I think no probably not at all like I wouldn't think they do but yeah
00:25:19
Speaker
Also, bringing in 219.5 million is is really good in for for sales. Second to Chelsea, it brought in almost 300 million, which is... I wish people would stop buying theirs from Chelsea.
00:25:31
Speaker
Because they keep selling to them. Yeah, exactly. yeah To see that lad they sold in July and bought back and then sent them on to Swansea. He was a Stralberg player for 33 days. But anyway... It's crazy. It's absolutely crazy.
00:25:46
Speaker
I just think Liverpool's window was really, really exceptional. Yeah, the signings that they got in were really good. It's hard to argue with your point. I don't think there's any way on earth that they should have signed another forward because the forward they would have wanted is is's going to be way too expensive. And I think that would have been, you know, that would have been a crazy money. And also, I just can't see, like, obviously, it's unless there's an injury, then you're saying, OK, maybe. but So maybe in January if there's an injury between now and then. But someone's going to be very, very disappointed.
00:26:15
Speaker
on a weekly basis if there was another forward in there. Yeah, that's what it looks like. Gakpo is already going to be disappointed probably most weeks to be on the bench. So, yeah, but the signings, I think i already said multiple times about Frumpong, how good he's been Leverkusen and how was so excited to see him.
00:26:36
Speaker
Obviously, the Premier League is different, but I do think he has the ability. And Izak, then, is the big one. and He's going to bang in so many goals. We've already seen him do it in the Premier League. So to have him and Ekitike as striking options, both them come in the one window, it's that brilliant work.
00:26:52
Speaker
But my option then was, who I picked, was Nottingham Forest. I think what we said about them, what I said anyway about them when we did the preview of them throughout the summer was that their main thing in the transfer window was to bring in more depth because now that they're playing in Europe, the squad they have isn't deep enough.
00:27:13
Speaker
But they've done exactly that. They went pretty mad towards the end of the window. Some of the main ones then, also these are in Euro. Amari Hutchinson for 43.4 million.
00:27:26
Speaker
Dan Ndoy for 42 million, Dylan Bakwa for 35 million, Cali Mwendo for 30 million, James McAtee 25.5. They signed three four players in total from Botafogo in Brazil.
00:27:42
Speaker
couple of those were impressive in the Club World Cup, but let's not speak too much on that one. Who knows what's going on there? and Back up right back then, Niccolò Savona from Juventus, 13 million. And then one I really, really like, which i already mentioned, is Douglas Luiz on loan. and He's a solid player. He's been great in the Premier League. And then they got Zinchenko on loan too.
00:28:01
Speaker
The thing that was impressing me the most is that the average age of the players they brought in was 24.1 million. years it old and so that's a clear message there that they're trying to get younger but also get deeper um there you have up like three options that can play right wing alone so it's quite interesting to see where those guys are going to play they're obviously going to rotate in europe and then in terms of their sales they i think they did very well here on the other side of things selling Anthony Alanga for 61.4 million euro million euro they also sold Sosa, Amabamadeli, Matt Turner Carlos Miguel and Lewis O'Brien all for fees so those guys all went out at an average age of 26.1 so you're getting a couple of years younger and they got 133 million in so they only spent about 100 million euro net I think that's brilliant for the amount guys they got in and I think they're well set up now for the year ahead with
00:28:59
Speaker
with this squad as long as they can keep Nuno happy and he stays in place they're they're laughing at this point but obviously if they if he goes an it's a different story who knows what's going to happen because he is a really really good manager Yeah, I think they're absolutely mad.
00:29:15
Speaker
i'm Just that the way they went about in the last couple of days in the window. So they finished up signing two keepers, two left backs, a right back, six forwards, a centre back and a defensive refielder. um They basically designed a new first team squad if they can all get on the pitch. It's but just, the Zinchenko one is a really strange one to me.
00:29:33
Speaker
I just don't really see the sentence, but I suppose, Joe, i that might be his level, dropping down to that kind of level. Yeah, like Joe, he has that winner mentality. Maybe that's what they were looking for.
00:29:44
Speaker
Botafoga thing is really weird to me. and it It kind of its it stinks of John Texter's Crystal Palace era ending and him making a new partnership there with Maranakis. But I just think like they sold they bought four and sold one.
00:30:01
Speaker
And the first two they signed and selling Danilo all worked out to be zero net profit for either of them. So just feels PSR did leave us.
00:30:12
Speaker
I don't know. We'll have to wait and see how they get on. I think they needed left backs anyway, because the one they were using last year was Moreno, and he had gone back to Villa. I don't know who their backup left back was last year, which says enough.
00:30:26
Speaker
I don't think they needed to sign two right backs. But one of them is Brazilian. He's a little kid, like so he could be one for the future. you mind um And then the other fellow is a 22-year-old from Juventus. So he's probably the main backup to Oleana coming into the season.
00:30:41
Speaker
I think some of them are adversarial as well. Like that centre-back, the young guy from Brazil. I think he can play in centre-back as well. And you did make the point there that he's young. Some of these guys are 20, 21, 22. So they're not going to play every week.
00:30:55
Speaker
and the The best deal they did was getting rid of Ilanga and bringing in Dan and Doy because I think Dan and Doy will have a much bigger output than Ilanga had. Ilanga hasn't done a whole lot for Newcastle, but have run really fast to people so far. So that's kind of what he was doing before all in last year. think it's going to be very good when Valtemada plays...
00:31:11
Speaker
Yeah, because he can cross all the time. He has a man in the middle. That's what he had forrested with Chris Wood. So he needs that because he does put in a good cross and he's fast, but he doesn't really have the finishing.
00:31:25
Speaker
So I think he needs the assists really to make it count. But I agree with you that getting Ndoyan was probably more what Palace needed, as we've said a few times, because they needed more goals outside of Wood.
00:31:37
Speaker
So they got that there. And I think Bakwa is a good option as well as a right winger, a proper like pacey right winger, different option for Ndoy. So I think they've covered a lot of bases there and they've really improved their squad, which is exactly what you want to do. And only spending 100 million euro to do that is very, very impressive, despite some of the bigger fees that they did pay.
00:31:59
Speaker
Looking at the losers then, we've got two. I'll go first with this one. I'll throw it to you. I've got Fulham. They just did basically nothing until the very end. They signed Kevin from Shakhtar Donetsk.
00:32:12
Speaker
Yeah, Brazilian left winger. i think this is ah like a back to a 2010 sign and we're a ah a winger from Shakhtar Donetsk who's Brazilian in the Premier League. Now, who only has one name?
00:32:23
Speaker
I don't know anything about the guy, so he could be good. But apart from that, they signed... Chuck Wiese on loan from AC Milan, who I don't think is a great shakes, personally.
00:32:35
Speaker
They signed a backup goalkeeper for 500,000 who's 34 years of age. And they signed loan striker from Bayern, Kusi Asare. And he's only 18. I don't know how much he's going to play because they're already rotating Muniz and Jimenez.
00:32:51
Speaker
So think that's pretty pointless. They spent €44 million euro in total. And then they lost... Andreas Pereira, who was very important to them, I thought, for the last few years and not replacing him as a mistake.
00:33:03
Speaker
They also sold a young winger, Martial Godo, to Strasbourg for €7 million. eurro And then they loaned out Carlos Vinicius and Rhys and Elisou went back to Arsenal and Willian's contract ran out.
00:33:16
Speaker
So... They barely barely did anything and they needed to actually get in some solid players if they wanted to improve. I feel like they're just happy to finish the table and it's very underwhelming of a window for for their fans.
00:33:31
Speaker
Yeah, I reckon Marco Silva is human. They did had a really good season last year under him and this was their year to try and kind of kick on Brentford are going to be weaker this year, West Ham are going to be weaker this year. There's a lot of teams around them who are going to be weaker and they didn't go out and just kind of put the money on the table to say, OK, we believe in you.
00:33:51
Speaker
Let's go and do something. like they They didn't make any real signings until deadline day. Like that 18 year old from Bayern Munich is not going to play a game of football this year. No, he's been 10 minutes left. Yeah, exactly. It's it's a very, very strange. i agree with you, Chuck Wasey.
00:34:07
Speaker
When he was 18 and 19, he the world at his feet. Now he just doesn't. I've never seen Kevin kick a ball in my life. So fair play to him. I wish him all the best. like Because i do love a Brazilian with a mad name.
00:34:18
Speaker
how would you pick Kevin when you're coming from Brazil? like Like, where does he come from? So i wish him all the best. But I think there was so much potential there for And then they let it go. they Like, why did they pull out the Tyreek George deal at the end? I think he'd have been a good bit of business for him.
00:34:35
Speaker
They pulled out because they couldn't sell but couldn't send Harry Wilson to lead, so they stopped signing Tyreek George. Tyreek George would have been...
00:34:43
Speaker
Tyreek George would have been a massive upgrade on what Harry Wilson is. Harry Wilson is a top of the championship player. I think he probably should have moved on this summer. would have been better for him. ah Yeah, dave they've had a sinker. um There's really very little more to say. and is's like Actually, there's no redeeming qualities for their window.
00:35:02
Speaker
you I could talk redeeming qualities for many of the other teams. I could give United a couple of redeeming qualities. I could probably give West Ham one if I looked into Fair enough. Your man Juve has been unbelievable for the start season. and For now they can't cross the ball. He put in a hell of a cross for Callum Wilson at the weekend.
00:35:18
Speaker
But there's just no redeeming qualities for this fuller window at all. Yeah, I agree with that. I don't think there's anything really to celebrate there. So we'll move on to yours.
00:35:30
Speaker
Yeah. I feel for Aston Villa fans, but this window was coming and it's because of how badly they've spent their money in the last couple of years.
00:35:42
Speaker
which has led to them only being able to spend £30 million and having to make a profit to comply with UEFA. i They had to sell their homegrown talent in Ramsey, who a lot of players came out and said they were really unhappy about.
00:35:55
Speaker
Bringing in Jadon Sancho is a a stinking move by any club. I think it should be sackable offence for any award at this stage, honestly. That's... The only fella they spent money on was a backup striker, and at Evan Gussand. I do think he's really good, but he didn't look and look anything like a footballer against Palace at the weekend, but none of them did in fairness. um Harvey Elliott's a good bit of business. I can't believe the game, the number nine shirt, though, that's driven me in insane already and he hasn't even kicked the ball from yet.
00:36:22
Speaker
And then Marco Bizzou, who I presume came in thinking he was going to be the number one goalkeeper. Emi Martinez looked like he was definitely out the door. sitting by his phone on deadline day for no one to call him. um That's, that's,
00:36:36
Speaker
jesus that that's it's a that's embarrassing for him. He was crying himself off the pitch in the last game the season thinking this is it and now he's going have to have look at those people in the eyes again and say, oh, I really want to be here.
00:36:48
Speaker
You clearly don't. Do they go back to him? Do they stick with Marco Bezos despite the fact he's a stinker the weekend? Apparently, tried to sign Asensio, they tried to sign Rashford, they tried to sign another couple of others that just didn't go through. They tried to sign the lap and they've ended up with Sancho, Harvey Elias and Spichtel Indelof as their options.
00:37:09
Speaker
I think their problems go back to Sanyo Nanna for 50 odd million. Matson, like none of these lads are doing anything in the first team. Buendia, another one, lot of money from Norwich and just isn't, just doesn't affect first team.
00:37:23
Speaker
Leon Bailey, going out and loan out, they spent 31 million on him. And the other lad to sign from Bayer-Leverkusen who's in Saudi Arabia now, Diaby, another one, but they just wasted the money. they've Like these teams say, oh, we can't spend money because of financial fair play.
00:37:37
Speaker
they've just spent their money really badly. And that's the problem.
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00:37:40
Speaker
Newcastle are another team who spent their money quite badly over the last couple of years and it's what has them in this position. I don't think they've spent their money badly at all. Look at the team. dispese Yeah, now they're fine, but i'd like they spent £35 million on Chris Woods. so they' like If you're going back a couple of years, I think that's... We're talking a long way back though.
00:37:58
Speaker
Yeah, so, but now, like, I think the squad they have now is exceptional and they were in my top three when I was looking at Windows to talk up, especially how badly it was looking like it was going to go. Where they finished with, I actually think they were okay. been A lot of money went out on this in the end, but we're not talking about Newcastle, we're talking about Villa and...
00:38:16
Speaker
I just don't see where they go from here. I don't see how they they push it and try and get get top six, top seven again. i think neither of us have had them in our top six or top seven when we did our little Premier League prediction.
00:38:30
Speaker
I think both of us had them fifth. reasonable Yeah. I think then where and yeah think we should edit that and re-upload it then Yeah, I don't think i don't think we did we hit the nail on the head there, especially with how they started. Yeah, we both had them fifth, I think.
00:38:47
Speaker
Oh. Yeah, not great, but yeah, i'd i'd it's just a really bad window. As you said, they spent money badly in other seasons. i think I actually think the Onana signing was probably a little bit much, but it was a really good signing. actually think he's a really, really good player.
00:39:03
Speaker
And... who's the other person you mentioned also, Mattson is good, but they just, like, they haven't used him the right yeah best way that they could have, which is a bad, a very bad trait to sign players that, and you're not even really able to use them properly.
00:39:19
Speaker
and Yeah, Sancho on loan, Elliot on loan, you know, ah if these, if you want to be, say, a top four or five team, and you're getting loan players from other teams that want to be in that position too, and they don't want them money anymore, then,
00:39:35
Speaker
you're kind of having to look at yourself there and say, like, why are we getting these players? Because the other team is happy to to let them go. And then, like, the Marco Bizzotte thing...
00:39:46
Speaker
Hilarious interview with Emery, where all he said is Marco Bizzat. And now Martinez was completely used by United. They just did that to get the Lamins deal through. And now he's got egg on his face and he has to go back there.
00:40:00
Speaker
That kind of makes the window even worse. But yeah, it doesn't also help with the amount of money that the likes of Martinez is on. like That's not going to help them either with fair play. So they're in a very tricky situation and this window has definitely not helped them.
00:40:14
Speaker
I actually think Lindelof is alright as a backup, but if you see him starting, then you know you're in serious your trouble. You're in trouble. Yeah. Yeah. He's probably a grand four-trice centre-back.
00:40:25
Speaker
Yeah. Tyrone Mendes is quite injury-prone. Another fella just popped in head. They spent big money on it. know they've seen is Diego Carlos. They spent 30-odd million on him, and he was he never he never fit into that squad there.
00:40:37
Speaker
But looks like never fits in anywhere, but it looks like it's always another really, really badly spent money. Yeah. yeah I think PSR is going to is going to be their problem for another couple of years. And so to miss out on Champions League on the last day, last season.
00:40:53
Speaker
And now I don't see how to get anywhere near it this year. Especially after that start that they just had haven't even scored yet in three games. No goals, yeah. Yeah, I just think they've had a bit of a shocker the start. We'll just have to wait and see what they can do. but Yeah, and I can tell you for certain that Sancho isn't going to help. No.
00:41:12
Speaker
no They're in a sticky situation there. Covering 80% of his massive wages too is a lot. Mad. Yeah, that's pretty tough. But that's our transfer window kind of wrapped up. We covered the transfers every single week and now we've given our winners and losers. So hopefully you enjoyed our coverage of it.
00:41:30
Speaker
Now, with that being gone and the NFL coming back this weekend and after the international window is over, that means that Ganshans is going to be back next week, as is the
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00:41:40
Speaker
power rankings. So get ready for that.
00:41:42
Speaker
That is on the way. I'll be defending my crown. He's defending his crown. We're locking back in another big season. But let's move on then to the NBA. We've got three more teams to preview.
00:41:53
Speaker
and No NFL talk this week because the season is, it will be one game down when you listen to this. And we did a full preview already earlier in the week. So if you didn't listen to that, go back and give that a listen.
00:42:04
Speaker
was a great episode with Evan. am But and NBA stuff. First is the Pacers. Usual questions. Let's get into them. Where do they need to improve most from last season in your eyes? so Their wing and interior depth.
00:42:19
Speaker
did They have no real lockdown defenders on the wing. They never have. and They now have very limited centre options with Myles Turner gone as well. i I don't know who they've signed or if they've brought in anyone big that's really going to fill his void.
00:42:32
Speaker
I think that would be their biggest issue this coming season if they don't sort out that centre position. Yeah, I think the centre is the main one. I do like Neesmith on the wing.
00:42:43
Speaker
I think he's a very good defender, so i would more so highlight the centre position. And actually, when we get to the under-the-radar question, i'll I'll throw out an answer there, but the guy isn't under-the-radar player. He's not a starting level, which is the issue. But my thing was just to find a way to continue to play the way that they have been without Halliburton.
00:43:04
Speaker
and Because I think whenever they see him off the floor... TJ McConnell does try and push the pace, but he does have a lot of tor turnovers when he does that. And think if you stray like really, really far from the way they were playing with Halliburton, then it may be difficult to kind of lock back in quickly to that many returns. So I would like to see them continue to at least try and play similarly to that style.
00:43:27
Speaker
I think Nembhard is going to have a lot um of ball handling a lot more than he's used to, which will be good for him in the long run. So I don't think they'll be very good this season, but I think they need to continue at least similarly in the way they play to kind of utilize Halliburton the best when he comes back.
00:43:43
Speaker
and But the next question is one under the radar player you like for the team. Since I already teased it, I'll throw mine out with Sam. Jay Huff. He turned into a solid enough option off the bench for Memphis.
00:43:54
Speaker
He travelled around his first three years. He initially was with the Lakers. He was also with the Wizards and Nuggets, but he never really did a whole lot. Last year, he broke into the Memphis team a little bit. 12 minutes per game, seven points and two boards, and he shot the three a little bit. so that's kind of like a very, very discount option of Myles Turner.
00:44:14
Speaker
I would like him as a backup to Turner, but obviously Turner is gone now, so... Yeah, he's a guy that'll do well, but hopefully they don't try and use him too much because he won't be able... Yeah, you're talking about good options off the bench there, and that's I've got the one myself. So, Benedict Matoran last year, 30 minutes a game, 16 points. and Really, really solid every time he came on the floor. 30 minutes a game is quite high, considering the game's only 48 minutes. he He did play quite a lot last year. He's still only 23.
00:44:45
Speaker
Is this the time for him to try and break into that starting five, especially with Halliburton gone? Does he come in and start starting games? Bring him up to 20, 22 points a game and see where they go. As you said it's previously, I don't think they will be very good this year. So this is the year to try and give lads like him chance to really try and show what they can do and see if they can build a future around them when Halliburton does come back.
00:45:07
Speaker
Yeah, I really, really like Matt Turin. I think he's good. He has good physicality and the way he's able to score... in isolation is very good and he can get to the line. He can do things a lot of players on the team can't do.
00:45:19
Speaker
The main issue I have with him is he just kind of does what he wants most of the time when he's out there. yeah And in the finals, in that last game when Halliburton went down and they were trailing by like 10 in the third,
00:45:31
Speaker
my call was to put Matherin on and let him go ISO. And when they actually did that in the fourth, they cut the lead down to like closer to 10 again when it was close to 20. So he can do those things. But again, the issue is if you want to keep playing the same style, he may not be your guy. So hopefully he can mature a little bit and figure out his place in the system that can then translate to when Halliburton returns because that would be yeah that would be really good for them and good for him if he can do that. So I like him a lot and i like that shout.
00:46:02
Speaker
Then their over-under wins is 38.5. They had last year. What do you think? I really, really struggled with it, to be honest.
00:46:12
Speaker
I just think it's so hard because the loss Halliburton is so big, but I also think dropping from 50 wins under 38.5 is massive. So I've gone for them to go over, but not by much, maybe 40 or 41 wins.
00:46:25
Speaker
um ah just i think it's it's it's it's too big a drop for any team, and especially team who who were so good last year. I know they've lost their main piece, but they still have talent around that can keep them kind of...
00:46:37
Speaker
in with a chance of getting a playoff. So I am going to give him the benefit of doubt and say they're just about the Wolver. Yeah, I agree with you. Everything you said there, I think it was really, really tough. And being without like probably their best two players in Turner and Halliburton this year,
00:46:55
Speaker
To me, that puts them around the Bulls level who got like 39 or 40 last year. So that's what I think they will get around 40. and Just because I do think they still have talent and the East is weak enough that they can do it.
00:47:07
Speaker
But again, and it was a really tough one. And you never know if they get on a really bad slump, they might pack it in and then they'll go downhill. So this kind of depends on their start for me. And then looking at their ceiling with the current roster and coach, I've gone with an eighth seed.
00:47:22
Speaker
If they did manage to get like 41 or 42 wins, they could get the eighth seed. And then I think they just lose in the first round because they don't have enough to compete. But I think that's the very, very best that they could do.
00:47:33
Speaker
Yeah, I said the same. that Between seven and nine seeds is where they'll probably land coming into next year. I think their core is still strong, but it's just their depth is nowhere to be seen now with losing in Turner and Tallyburn for the year.
00:47:45
Speaker
Yeah, no, I agree with that. Moving on then to a team that maybe they're in the ascendancy, mayor but I think it could be a long time before we see it. It's the Washington Wizards.
00:47:57
Speaker
So where do they need to improve most from last season for you? So they ranked among the bottom in offensive rating in three-point percentage. They were 27th and 29th. That really needs to improve if the Argonnes do anything.
00:48:11
Speaker
Do they want to do anything is the big question for them coming into this year again, or do they want to keep keep tanking and keep getting those lottery picks i have to wait and see? Yeah, I i think ah very similar. I said that last year they attempted a lot of threes, 39.1 per game, and that's 10th in the league.
00:48:29
Speaker
But they had one of the worst conversion percentages at 33.5%. So that was the second worst in the league for three-point percentage. um They won't win games because of this improvement, but it still does need to improve because if that improves, it'll bring games closer and the fans can kind of get a little bit more behind the team and see where they're going.
00:48:51
Speaker
And maybe they can get a few extra wins because of it. And then to tie you into that one, and one under the radar player that I like is Trey Johnson, the pick that they got in the last draft, because he kind of does add that.
00:49:04
Speaker
He had one year at the Texas Longhorns, played 35 minutes a game. averaging 20 points, three boards and three assists, and he shot seven threes per game at 40%. So he's a very good three-point shooter and he's not afraid to pull up from anywhere and shoot.
00:49:20
Speaker
So I think it's it's good to have a confident guy like that coming off one year of college, only 19 years of age. and They're not expecting a whole lot this year, so they can kind of let him fly. And I think he'll be a very big addition and a strong one to this team. So I like Tim coming in there and kind of it helps in a position that they do need it. So that's my under the radar guy. Did you have somebody different?
00:49:42
Speaker
I've gone with Alexander Sarr. He's been playing really well for France in the Eurobasket this year. He averaged 13 points last year. The scheme is nothing special. He might be the shining light for him coming into this season. We'll have to wait and see. He does handle the ball really well. and He can defend a bit.
00:49:59
Speaker
But again, do they want him to defend or do they want him to let people show past him so they can get that tank going again? boce We'll have to wait and see. But I think he's a real talent. He's a shining light for him.
00:50:11
Speaker
Yeah, I like him. I think he's a good player. And I do like a little bit what they're building. It probably won't show this year and maybe not even next year. But I do like him. I like Koulibaly. like Trey Johnson. I like some of the pieces that they have. So yeah, he's ah definitely one for the future and good size to him as well. So that's important.
00:50:30
Speaker
Looking at the over-under limits, 20 and a half. They had 19 last year. I think that they can get an extra couple just with some of their young core kind of chomping at the bit to try and win some games and not being afraid to go out there. And, you know, they don't want to lose. They want to have good performances and just get maybe three more wins over the line and barely scraping by this. So I'm going to take the over, but just about.
00:50:54
Speaker
Yeah, it's very hard not to take the under. Yeah. But I have gone over as well in just about. i have had about 20 in a round. They might just get to 20 and then kind of sit there and hope they can finish bottom of their division with Dasbos.
00:51:10
Speaker
I don't know. ah It wouldn't surprise me if they, like as you said, they did get 19 wins last year. yeah So it's not that it's not that big a jump to say to get 21. We'll just have to wait and see.
00:51:22
Speaker
Yeah. Then with their ceiling, what did you have for this? I just said that they they're clearly still in rebuild mode so that their ceiling is getting the highest draft pick they can.
00:51:34
Speaker
there's they're They're years away from playoff intention. It's just about developing what they have and getting high draft picks and hoping they can start pushing on the next couple of years. Yeah, I just said 25 wins. I think they're too young to do any more than that. yeah And the older guys are going to start getting traded because they do still have uses to other teams that are in better positions. So I think they'll probably trade those guys away as the season goes along.
00:51:58
Speaker
Moving on to a team then that people are really excited about for the year ahead and probably one of the Eastern Conference favorites. It's the Orlando Magic. Where they need to improve most from last season, I kind of tied it in to the point about the Wizards, because the only team that was worse in 3.0% last year than the Wizards was the Magic.
00:52:16
Speaker
They had 31.8% last year. KCP did not help in the slightest. They got him in to do that, but now they've added Desmond Bain. It's something that they'll expect from him.
00:52:28
Speaker
He's a confident three-point shooter. He does shoot at volume. Across his five-year career so far, he's been attempting six per game, and that's at 41%. But even if he does do very well, they need more three-point three point percentage and output from Franz and Paulo because although that's not their game, you can't be as bad as they have been and be like the top players in this league because...
00:52:52
Speaker
That's what they expect to be. And if you really have a very, very poor three-point shot, teams are going to take advantage of that and allow you the space on the perimeter and kind of guard Bain like a little bit harder on the perimeter, but not them. So last year, Franz was 29.6% on six attempts per game and Paolo was 32% on six percent six attempts per game. So really, really bad and not good enough at all. So they need to step up as well as Bain kind of filling in ah So I did look at that. I didn't go with it. I went with how high their turnover rate was last year.
00:53:29
Speaker
They ranked in the league for turnovers and they also ranked twenty four in the league for for giving away free throws. Both of those need to... yeah I don't know if I need say if need to come up or they need to come down, but they they need to be lot better than 26th and 24th if they are going to... like They just need to mature, basically. They need to be better at controlling themselves instead of giving away so many free throws.
00:53:53
Speaker
And turnovers are massive. du The Rockets love to turn the ball over and it drives me absolutely insane. The Magic are the same. I think if I was a Magic fan, I'd be tearing my hair the same way I am when I'm watching the Rockets at times.
00:54:05
Speaker
If four of them improved, then they can really be a a good, strong contender coming into the season. Yeah, yeah. I think there's a few key points that they can do. And those things are actually, like, very doable.
00:54:17
Speaker
And I think if they're actually just locked into it and they... It's called contraction. Yeah, like, just... yeah They're a very good defensive team, but their offense just stinks. So i think if they can cut the fouls down on the defensive side and improve with their three-point percentage, then they'll be striding a lot further than they did last year. so One under the radar player then that you like on the team, who have you gone for?
00:54:41
Speaker
I've gone almost very under the radar, but Anthony Black last year, 24 minutes, nine points again. Can he be an another man who kind of makes a step up? Maybe not in minutes, but in terms of bringing his points up to double figures over the course the year off the bench and just to see what he can do. Maybe he can have breakout year.
00:54:59
Speaker
Yeah, I think they probably expect him to step up a little bit. But again, it's it is a little bit hard. He was good in college. And, you know, to think the issue with them for a long time has been they haven't had a solid backup point guard.
00:55:15
Speaker
And yeah the person I've highlighted here is probably someone that Anthony Black can learn from. And that's Tyus Jones. He was a very good signing, I think. getting him in from the Suns last year. He's already played with Bain at the Grizzlies as well, which is, I don't know, that might help. I don't know what kind of relationship they have, but it can't hurt. yeah And he's always been a solid backup point guard. So I think that's way overdue something they needed. Last year, he averaged 27 minutes per game with the Suns, five assists per game, 10 points per game.
00:55:45
Speaker
And he also stepped up to a career high in three-point attempts at five per game and a career high in three-point percentage at 41.4%. So those are things the team really needs.
00:55:57
Speaker
And he kind of brings that all in one package. So I actually almost like that sign and more, if not equally to the Bain one, I know the Bain was kind of a big splash that they traded for.
00:56:10
Speaker
Tyus Jones is a good free agent sign. And so I think they've they've done very well with that. And I like him a lot. And then looking at their over-under wins, it's 50.5. Last year they had 41 wins. So it's a very big jump. But I do think the team has improved massively.
00:56:27
Speaker
Getting in Bain, a year of having Suggs healthy, fingers crossed, and Tyus Jones coming in now, I think that should push them to that kind of Knicks-Pacers level of last year and get to over that.
00:56:38
Speaker
So I think they're probably going to hit 51, 52. So I would take the over if I was to pick, but it's not something I would probably be betting on. Yeah, I don't like it. um I think it's very, very high. I think 10-game jump is humongous.
00:56:54
Speaker
So I think they'll fall somewhere between 41 and the 51. Maybe they'll get close, but I don't think they'll get there and enough. like To go from a 500 team to maybe 600 or 650 is asking a lot over the course of one off-season. Yeah.
00:57:09
Speaker
It's the same, like we'll talk about the Rocks in a few weeks and even like they did 52 last year. Like, I don't know what their line is, but I don't see them going up to 62 or 63 going next season. I think, I think that's a massive jump and I just don't, I don't like it. Even with the players they have, I think they're a really good team.
00:57:26
Speaker
just, I don't like that big of a jump. yeah Yeah, it is a very, very big jump. And I think the only thing is that last year they had such bad injury luck that you could say if they were fit, they would have hit higher. But again, you knowt if they're if they're consistently having bad injuries, it's hard to say that that's going to stop. too yeah So then looking at the ceiling with the current roster and coach for the season ahead, what have you gone for there?
00:57:49
Speaker
ah Potentially a top three seed. and Maybe challenge for the division crown even, both teams. Yeah, I think that's their senior. don't think they're winning it this year, but I think they they have enough to maybe get a divisional crown, but it will take a lot of luck and a lot of keeping people fit, taking better three points, not fouling so much, and we'll see what they can do then.
00:58:09
Speaker
And how far do you think they could get in the playoffs? Would you see them getting as far as an Eastern Conference Finals, or do you think they'll fall short? I guess. No, think they could get an used to an East-to-Comfort final. I don't think they will. But again, with Sogs, if he can stay faced with Bain, Banchero, then I think they have a strong enough core there to be a real force.
00:58:27
Speaker
It's just, candidous can they all stay in this court at the same time? That's where the problem might be. Yeah, I've gone with getting to the East Finals if everything clicks. They're just a very physical team. there they They have the probably the best defense. I think statistically they're like the best defense in the league, but they were in the bottom five offensively.
00:58:46
Speaker
So if they can push that offense even to the top 17, top 18, they'll be even better. They probably want to be in the top 15 to challenge for anything. if they're if you you know If you're a mid-level offense but an incredible defense, you can still challenge.
00:59:01
Speaker
And I think if they do push it up to that level with the additions that they've had and the East being a little bit weaker, I think there's an advantage they could take there. And maybe, as we've mentioned a couple of times, knock off the Knicks in
European Football World Cup Predictions
00:59:13
Speaker
a big physical game i'm using that their advantages to them against the Knicks and teams like that against them. So I could see them getting to the Eastern Finals. I just don't think that they're ready yet to get to the Finals. But I like the team. I like the way they're building.
00:59:27
Speaker
Offensively, they need to step up a lot. So that's our three and NBA teams for the week. This is our very last draft. So until we're done, gone chance again and it and it rolls back around into next year. But our last draft is kind of in the theme of what we're looking at right now. We're heading into the World Cup qualifiers for Ireland. The first game is on Saturday and against Hungary in the Aviva. I'll be there myself.
00:59:51
Speaker
I'm very much looking forward to it. of A sold out stadium. Let's see if Heimer can can fulfill his promises but we're looking at the best teams in international football from europe so we're kind of aiming it in a way that which teams do we think could challenge the most in the world cup next summer but we're just picking european teams because obviously that's mostly what we what we have on offer to us around here what we're watching so last week you went first I'll go first this time around.
01:00:22
Speaker
there's To me, there's like three very good options at the top. There's one I'd probably like more than the others. I might regret leaving one of the others on the board. But anyway, I'm going to take Spain.
01:00:33
Speaker
and They won the Oros last time around. Incredibly good team. Very young. they have a lot of They could play a lot of different ways, to be honest, because of the talent that they have.
01:00:44
Speaker
You need look no further than the likes of Jamal for guys that are on this team that have potential. So I'm going to take Spain. I think they're the they're the strongest and I could see them pushing for a World Cup next summer. Definitely.
01:00:58
Speaker
Yeah, and they were my top spot as well. So I'm going to go to my second choice, which is Hugo Eketike's France. I think in general, France have just such a good squad.
01:01:08
Speaker
I watched a video today and the goals they score in training, it's like it's just some magic beans when they go in there. Like Hugo Eichel, Hugo Eichel scored a back kill to Bali from the penalty spot today. And then you have Ray and Cherky scoring those screeners last year. Always Cherky. Always Cherky.
01:01:24
Speaker
just, it's utterly mad. I know he's out for three months now, so he's not there this time. But I just think France have, they're young squads. They're beefing up too many. Camavinga, it feels incredible. They're just, they're really, really good.
01:01:37
Speaker
My second pick is a bit of a risky one, but I'm going to give it to Portugal. and i think it's Ronaldo's last dance, really, isn't and yeah I think they have they're such a good squad.
01:01:52
Speaker
The lads from PSG are insane. Xao Neves and Betinha is just some midfield, especially they're playing together. They're at this. Yeah, Nuna Mendes. It's just, it's so good to have players like that who are playing together, winning things together at club level, coming into the international level.
01:02:08
Speaker
Then you have Ronaldo setting the standards. As much as I dislike him, he just, he knows how to set the standards. I just, i do I think they're just absolutely quality. Absolutely quality. Yeah, I had them as my next... I had France and then Portugal as my next two, so we're going in lockstep so far.
01:02:25
Speaker
I really like the Portuguese squad, as you mentioned, and obviously Bruno Fernandes being there too, constantly output for him on that team. Ronaldo the same, non-stop. So... Yeah, I'm not looking forward to Ireland having to play them twice in the qualifiers. But I am looking forward to getting to see some of those guys in the flesh in Dublin and because I've got my tickets secured for the all of the Ireland games. but Next up, I'm going to go for one who probably have been underwhelming in recent years. But to go back to the last World Cup, I think they showed that they can still fight.
01:02:57
Speaker
Taking Argentina to penalties and continuously being a ah very solid team is the Netherlands. I like their squad a lot. I like a lot of their young players, the likes of Yavi Simons.
01:03:08
Speaker
And I think Memphis Depay is always really, really good for them. and No matter what way he's playing at club level, he's class for them. And their defence is class as well with Van Dijk and Van de Ven, centre-backs. So I'm going to pick those next. Next up, I'm going with England.
01:03:26
Speaker
I think they've got and a lot of options. Whether Tuchel can do the right thing with them or not is another question. But if you look at pure talent and squad depth, they've really got it there if they can pick the right team.
01:03:38
Speaker
I don't like some of the players they've been picking recently, but if everybody hits the right hymn sheet and things work, it's hard to look past them to to be one of the best teams from Europe. So i I'm going with them next.
01:03:51
Speaker
Yeah, unfortunately so. My next one, I'm taking Germany. and i think they're just Germany when it comes to international tournaments. They're just, they always show up. They always do something.
01:04:03
Speaker
I think the five teams we picked before them have a better chance of winning it out this year, but I do think they're definitely the sixth best option from Europe. And after Germany, I'm going to take the mighty Irish.
01:04:14
Speaker
and i'm done get I'm taking the sympathy vote here. Heimer is promised as a World Cup. He's told us buy the tickets, buy the hotels. He now has to fulfill the promise and get us there. And if we get there, what's to stop us other than the six teams we've already mentioned?
01:04:32
Speaker
Yeah, that's a brave pick, definitely. I think, I hope, I hope we go out on Saturday and kind of back that kind of belief that we all have. I think they're much improved and I like a lot of the options that we have now. And if Evan Ferguson can hit the ground running like he has done earlier this season, yeah it's going to be special. So yeah, fingers crossed with that one.
01:04:53
Speaker
With Germany, I had them in sixth as well. I just think they're... They're not the Germany of old. so some but Some of the players there are quite poor compared to looking at the likes of Spain, France, Portugal.
01:05:05
Speaker
So that's the reason. Now, next up is someone for me that hasn't played that well. And... They've been very underwhelming, but I think that they do have a very, very good squad and that's Italy.
01:05:16
Speaker
um Just the players they have at hand, some of their defenders as usual are brilliant. That midfield with Tenali in there, I think they've got some great options, but they haven't been proven it as of late.
01:05:28
Speaker
But I still think that they're they're worth a shout in the top 10. And then my last pick is Denmark. I think they're just a really, really well-drilled team. I like how they play.
01:05:39
Speaker
I like a number of their players across the board. They've got a good midfield. I like Humland a lot and I like their defence too. So I think they've also got options up front. So that that's another important thing. I think some other teams teetered on my mind, but I think that they're well drilled. They've played together for a long time. Eriksen always still does perform for them, even at an older age. um And they've got some good talent across Europe. So I'm going with them.
01:06:04
Speaker
take it you want I like those picks. I wanted Italy or Denmark. I didn't think you were going to take the two them. I didn't think i was going to get down to my options being Croatia or Austria, to be perfectly honest, but I'm going to have to take Croatia.
01:06:16
Speaker
Yeah. To the left Ireland to the fifth and take in one of the two. But anyway, I made the same mistake in my fantasy league last night. But here we are. i I don't really have a whole lot to say about Croatia because I didn't look into them too much. I really didn't think I was to end up with them in my draft. But here we are anyway. So I have France, Portugal, Germany, Ireland, Croatia.
01:06:36
Speaker
Yeah, and I've got Spain, Netherlands, England, Italy and Denmark. And I also, if we're looking at in terms of our lists, we were pretty much the exact same. I had Croatia next as well. And as an emergency pick in case it did go all the way down, I had Norway there because I liked some of their potential. yeah talent yeah i think we're I think we're fairly in unison with the teams and
Listener Engagement and Future Plans
01:06:58
Speaker
where we ranked them. So that's the last draft.
01:07:00
Speaker
Let us know if you enjoyed them. And if you have suggestions throughout the year, we'd be happy to do them next summer when we're ah getting straight into our drafts again but that's another week another episode hopefully enjoyed it two episodes this week we really appreciate if you could like or share or whatever because you know we put a lot of time into this obviously we love doing it but we would like to get it shared around as much as possible so that as many people can hear us so yeah subscribe if you haven't already and all that good stuff and give us a follow on socials shane i'll throw to you to wrap us up Yeah, we just appreciate the support so far and we could just try and push it a bit more. That'd be absolutely great. As James said, it's a lot goes into it and it's it's great. It's just great to see more and more people enjoying and more and more people talking about it.
01:07:43
Speaker
More comments, everything would be absolutely brilliant. And don't forget to leave us a rating on the podcast apps because that helps push it as well. So we'll see you next week. Thank you very much. Nice one, lads.