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Daily Manchester City: City humbled, eh? the return of bitter rivalries
11 Plays27 days ago
Episode 69, Daily Manchester City - Jools, Jack and Keelin are back together discussing City's battering at the Emirates, housery and bringing back bite into rivalries
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Transcript
Welcome and Introduction
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Manchester City Podcast on the Global Sports Podcast Network. I'm Jules Jordan-Probet and today I'm joined by Jack Ward. Hi Jack.
00:00:17
Jack
How you doing Jules? Yeah, it's good to be back. and Good to be part of the three of us. It's been a while since us three have been on our podcast together. Wish it had been under better circumstances, but happy to be here regardless.
00:00:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good, good, good. And the third of the three, Keelan McNamara. Hi Keelan.
00:00:34
Keelin
Hello.
00:00:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello.
Arsenal vs. Manchester City Match Recap
00:00:36
Jack
ah
00:00:37
Keelin
that of to
00:00:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Well, if the gloomy tones from the boys weren't enough of an indicator, today's episode will be going over the horrendous 5-1 loss suffered at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon. A loss which ends cities unbeaten running the Premier League and brings Pep Guardiola's men crashing back down to earth. So despite the worst of starts, getting criminally caught playing a defence for Havoc to lay down a plate for older guard after 45 minutes, that's how it stayed and said he were playing pretty well, forcing a few very strong saves from David Ryan in the Arsenal goal.
00:01:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Arsenal themselves could have scored more too, Havertz in particular missing an absolute sitter as he often does. City came out in a second half with impetus and made a count with an excellent equaliser. Good work from Savino to find space and clip in a perfect float in cross for Earlan Haaland to expertly header in. It's 25th in all competitions this season and it's only just turn February.
00:01:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
The blame for this at times wretched season ah definitely does not lie at his feet. but Unfortunately, Harlan's goal is where the positives end for Pep Guardiola and his team, as Arsenal truly turned to screw and put City to the sword for the remainder of the game. Arsenal immediately retook the lead.
00:01:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
with a very unlucky deflection and part-day strike from distance after sloppy play from Foden, left Ortega with absolutely no chance. so The same can't be said for the other three goals, though. Miles Lewis-Galley had all the time in the world to pick his spot for the third. Havard finished an easy counter-attack with a plumb and Ethan Wanyari's left foot curler off the bench sealed the deal for the Gunners. So as I mentioned, that run of six unbeaten in the Premier League has now ended.
Analyzing City's Performance
00:02:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
So where did it all go wrong, Jack?
00:02:17
Jack
To be honest with you, for me at least, that the game was over before it began because I just thought that this was always going to be the toughest task at the start of our year and even from the start of the season, since that 2-2 really with Arsenal, you knew it was going to be as kind of voracious, as violent, as kind of, you know, it was bitter. It was always going to be a bitter matchup. You expected that going in. It delivered on that front, especially for the neutral. I'm sure everyone enjoyed watching it that didn't have anything to do with the Association of Manchester City. But it it went, I think it honestly went wrong from from half time, because before we went in for half time, we were still kind of
00:03:01
Jack
sort of in it I mean it definitely wasn't out of our reach I think it was possibly only yeah yeah it was only one nil going into half time and then we came out played 10 minutes quite controlled got another goal back around 55 minutes but just like in the start of the game when we conceded within two minutes we conceded straight away from the restart for that goal so you just you lose control when moments like that happen because when you get back into it that's when you've really got to take advantage of the fact that you're in an away stadium it's not a home you just scored a goal kill the crowd off
00:03:42
Jack
just deplete all of Arsenal's momentum, all of the Emirates um noise and atmosphere and bring the game back into your hands. And that has been the tail of this season really is our lack of control. We've talked about it time and time again on this podcast about how little control we've had in these games. And this was just another example. So for me, you asked me where it went wrong I'd say again the lack of control going in and to half time and and coming out and conceding straight away. Am I surprised particularly shocked? No not really but honestly it just went from bad to worse from now in fact I didn't even stay to watch the last goal I missed it so
00:04:22
Jack
and yeah it was just a pull poor day really probably our worst and well it was the first time we've conceded five goals away from home since our 8-1 loss to Middlesbrough in 2008 would you believe so definitely our worst away loss under Pep Guardiola but it is what it is.
00:04:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
They say it's the hope that kills you, and it's a good thing that there was hope for the shortest amount of time then, because any
00:04:48
Jack
yeah
Midfield Struggles and Solutions
00:04:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
more would have been catastrophic.
00:04:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
You mentioned that lack of control, being a running theme this season, of course, that midfield the or the lack of it. Once again, we have to talk about it.
00:05:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Kavacic Bonado in a double pivot. Pep has gone for a double pivot recently in what on one hand. Very good to see him adapting. On the other hand, probably not with this personnel killing.
00:05:16
Keelin
Yeah, I mean, listen, you've hit the nail on the head and I've lost kind of how many times we've talked about this goddamn midfield this season, but it's as topical now as it was the first time we talked about it. You know, a double pivot or any kind of midfield is great when you have the players to make it effective. The problem is, city just don't have the midfielders to do it. That's the reality, you know, there's no kind way of dressing it up.
00:05:43
Keelin
you know Mateo Kovacic does not have the legs to cover a back line, he just doesn't. Bernardo Silva, as much as I love him, and I do love him very much as a football player, you know playing him in a double pivot is useless. He can't protect a back line. I would almost rather, and we said this before we came on the podcast so people know I'm not lying,
00:06:06
Keelin
I would rather play one man protecting the midfield and at least let Bernardo Silva be effective up front you know dictating the rhythm dictating some control like Jack said but when you put two players with no energy in a double pivot against a rampant Arsenal midfield you might as well have no midfield at all you have there was nothing to stop Arsenal hitting that back line a back line that is not good at the best of times anyway and realistically
00:06:16
Jack
Right.
00:06:34
Keelin
The whole thing fell apart like a house of cards from the very beginning. You know, Manuel Acangi made an absolute mess of a basic, basic pass two minutes into the game. Stefan Ortega, absolutely horrible distribution out from the back, really put Mateo Kavicic against it for what should have been 2-0, but for the fact Kai Havards can't play up front.
00:06:58
Keelin
and And it just didn't get any better from there. It really didn't. I mean, yes, Holland was brilliant with the header and to his credit, it was very, very, very well taken. But at the end of the day, it is what it is just it's such bad quality and we'll get into it more as we go on. But yeah, midfield is just an absolute nightmare at the moment.
00:07:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
So there's a couple of things I want to pick up there. Firstly, um about the first goal, with the Kanjis pass to Karvacic, definitely a hospital pass, and it was mentioned in the commentary Gary Neville said, but so you've been doing that for eight years.
00:07:29
Jack
And.
00:07:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
that That is the style of play, right? I don't think Pep would have said that was the wrong decision. It just feels like we've been saved for the last couple of months, that when things are going wrong, it's like the whole house of cards is coming as well. All of these things are just happening at the same time and it's probably confidence, right? Last season, if you'd have had Carver Chitch and Bernardo at as a double pivot, people would have said, yeah, that'll work. Bernardo can dictate from deep and Carver Chitch can be the legs. But that's the thing about central midfielders. It's like,
00:08:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
with a switch, the legs go, you know, we have, we watched it happen with Casamiro is probably the best in that position over the last 10 years happened to a bus gets running it for bar. So one day looks out of place in the MLS and next, it just happens that way with midfielders.
00:08:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:08:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, Citi are looking to address that position in the transfer market. There's been links with Nico Gonzalez from Porto over the last ah two weeks, someone that Citi have been chasing for quite some time. What can you tell us about ah him, Jack? And will he look to try and solve this, ah this everlasting problem in the midfield?
00:08:43
Jack
and Well, it's a pretty exciting time for us to be recording because as of the time that we're recording this episode, Nico Gonzalez has completed his Manchester City medical over in Portugal.
00:08:55
Jack
deal
00:08:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here we go.
00:08:56
Jack
Here we go from Fabrizio, all clear. I believe we've negotiated a fee that's the exact same fee as his release clause, which is top tier negotiation from Citi. But I do think that it's to kind of amortise and stretch out that fee to be paid in the lump sums over the course of the year. Absolute masterclass in bargaining from Tiki Bereghiristan.
00:09:21
Jack
and
00:09:21
Keelin
We're honored.
00:09:22
Jack
cool Let me draw some parallels because the last time City suffered a horrendous and defeat, conceding five goals and ended up forcing themselves into a panic sign.
00:09:35
Jack
It was a few years ago when we suffered a 5-2 home defeat to Leicester. I'm sure you can both remember that. One of the worst quality City games you'll ever see, conceded two penalties.
00:09:47
Jack
I believe it was a Jamie Vardy heart trick or... um um
00:09:51
Keelin
and was
00:09:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah yeah i was it was yeah
00:09:53
Jack
Really, Paul, that forced our hand into signing not our first choice centre half, but our second choice centre half, a young, unknown, 23-year-old Portuguese centre bat named Ruben Diaz from Benfica for a reported 62 million, with, of course, Nicolas Otamendi going the other way.
00:10:13
Jack
so I mean, a young prospect that we've been forced into signing from Portugal for 60 million, not our first choice.
00:10:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, it was.
00:10:16
Keelin
It was.
00:10:23
Jack
Ruben Diaz went on to kind of save our season. He won the league in every season that he's been here since. Not saying that that's going to happen. All I'm saying is there is some direct parallels. Now I'm seeing a lot of city fans online that are kind of writing him off already.
00:10:38
Jack
he You know, he wasn't our first choice. He wasn't our second choice. We're just panicked by him. Karma. That's all I'll say. Give the lads some chance. right We signed Rodrigo from Atletico Madrid when he was 23-24. The first two seasons at City, he was beyond average. you know He did not look like a City player at all. Now he's just won the Ballon d'Or. He's the best midfielder in the world. Is Nico Gonzalez going to come in and fix our season completely?
00:11:08
Jack
No, I think you'd be a fool to say that. I think there's too much pressure on his shoulders. I think he's got to come into a midfield that he's not going to compliment him, but he's coming in to fix it. That's too much of a task to ask for him. But is it exciting? Is it fun? Is it going to give us something to enjoy watching and give us some control back in that midfield? Undoubtedly. He's 23 years old, it's extremely efficient and technical on the ball. and Got some bite in his tackle.
00:11:36
Jack
and I'm saying all of this from the 32nd TikTok compilation that I watched from him just an hour ago when his signing was an announced. and But I do feel like ah an expert on it now. But what I will say is it's been coming in, it's been needing.
00:11:50
Jack
And you know what? I've always been a little bit of a fan of those signings that we make that aren't our first choice, that aren't our second choice, because people just write them off too quick.
00:12:00
Jack
And I just think there's a little more there to be looked at, a little bit more there to look forward to. So I, for one, i'm I'm really excited for Niccolo Gonzalez. And it's bringing back some of that Spanish heritage back into that Pequodialo in midfield,
Transfer Strategies and New Signings
00:12:14
Jack
which, I mean, it's no longer a story.
00:12:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's what he wants. That's exactly what he wants, isn't it? He wants players in the mould of himself.
00:12:19
Jack
like
00:12:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
and i don't think ah
00:12:22
Jack
and Also, so he's he's tall, he's physical. He's ah he's what I've been crying out for in his stature. So, you know, I don't feel like this is something that can go wrong, really.
00:12:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's um it's ah it's a shame City have waited so long um because these are problems that we even discussed in in the summer before before it all it all went wrong this season. But um yeah, i think he's I think he's a great sign in exactly what City need. Do you agree, Keelan?
00:12:52
Keelin
I do, yes, and there's actually a point I want to address while we're on this topic because I've seen people like Paul and Merson get very uneducated opinions on Nico Gonzalez and I want to clarify something. I get why people think this is a panic signing but Nico Gonzalez is not a panic signing. Man City have tried to sign Nico Gonzalez twice before. One time I think was when he was still a Barcelona player and I think it was maybe last year when he was still at Porto.
00:13:20
Keelin
So this is a player Citi know very, very well. His dad actually worked for Citi's Academy. I still don't quite know how that happened, but it happened. So this is someone Citi have profiled very extensively, and this is someone they are confident can come in and do the job, and at the very least be an excellent understudy derogatory. So I'm really looking forward to this, and I'm confident that he is the right person for the job.
00:13:47
Keelin
On the centre back topic quickly before we move on, we were speaking briefly about Manuela Cangi and how he fuddled the basic paths. We have the best passing centre back in the world and I'm Rick LaPorte and we did not replace the quality. This is the lesson that we are harshly learning now.
00:14:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and good point. um We will get into a bit more about the game and where that leaves City after this short break.
00:14:18
Keelin
yeah
00:14:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Manchester City Podcast on the Global Sports Podcast Network. Just before we went to a break, Keelan, you were talking about the two centre backs.
Defensive Partnerships and Challenges
00:14:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's been so many different centre back parents this season for City.
00:14:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Akanji and stones today stones not had much game time this season much less many starts of course he got that equalizer in the return fixture of this game but it really looked like Akanji and stones hadn't played a lot together this season do you think that's um to do with them specifically or just to do with the defensive structure of the team at the moment or how good Arsenal were
00:15:24
Keelin
I think it's a combination of everything, Jules. I do think on your point, it's very, it was very, very evident how little they've played together this year because there was no connection there whatsoever. You know, usually when City are at their best, the two centre backs are completely in simpatico. So whether that's Ruben Diaz and John Stones, Diaz and Akanji, whoever it is, even Diaz and Bardy all the times,
00:15:51
Keelin
when City are playing at their best they are always together and they are always in sync and you can see that when City move around the pitch. Yesterday there was none of that it looked like two individuals trying to do their own thing and it backfired exactly the way you thought it would. Now to be fair Arsenal played very very well and they played that high press like they knew like we knew they were gonna do but Although Stone's didn't have the best game, a kanji I have less excuse for because he has played a lot more games this year, he's been much fitter more regularly and he's always struggled with doing the basic things to the highest level and I think that's a very real problem. Jack, what are your thoughts on it?
00:16:34
Jack
Well, just on that on that topic, I mean, I think one of the big problems that we've had is you think of Manchester City, you think, who's our best centre about partnership? which obviously John Stones and Reuben Diaz, in the past 10 months, they've started one Premier League game together. I mean, that just goes to show that how how little these combinations of players have played together and every single time we filled a bat four, it's a different kind of makeshift bat four. So I think yeah you're absolutely right, Keelan, and it's just ah it's a lack of chemistry between you know these players. I mean, how how little has Nathan Arkay played this season and last season? and you know we've We've got,
00:17:12
Jack
players that uh you know make shift right backs and fair play to Mateus Nunez we've all been these harsh harshest critics um over this season last he is a makeshift right back and that's why he looks poor at right back he's you know he's he's decent going forward at times but a he's rash defensively so i think it's a case of you know lack of time with these these defenses playing together
00:17:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah and Yeah, that's a good point on Nunes, definitely. and He makes a lot of individual errors more than anyone else in the team, which makes him an easyk an easy scapegoat.
00:17:43
Jack
Not sure.
00:17:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he was bought as a £50m centimetre fielder. He has not played there. He has played left wing, right wing, left back, right back. so You've got to make mistakes when you're playing everywhere except a position.
00:17:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've played all your career, aren't you? But yeah, you can't keep making such horrendous errors, but hopefully you won't have to play out of position for the rest of his career. And then we can get...
00:18:09
Keelin
Well, in Matthias Nunez's defense, he's not even a good midfielder. It's completely unfair.
00:18:13
Jack
like so
00:18:15
Keelin
It's acting like a whole life.
00:18:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I agree. He probably has a writeback right back, right?
00:18:17
Keelin
you know
00:18:19
Jack
Yeah, you know what?
00:18:19
Keelin
yeah
00:18:20
Jack
Yeah, yeah his future has made me alive, Mark.
00:18:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's an athlete, but I don't think he quite has got the grasp of the intelligence required to be anywhere near the middle for City yet. And we'll leave it at that on Nunes. You mentioned that it was a rare five goal conceding. and The only other time under Pep was that Leicester game that you mentioned, Jack.
00:18:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
um it's It's the equal worst loss and under Pep this with um the 4-0 against Spurs earlier in the season and 4-0 to Everton and Barcelona in Pep's first season. That Everton one we can repress forever. Tom Davis looked actually good there but we'll move on.
00:19:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
have So we obviously have recent examples to compare to and maybe recency bias is an effect here, but is this one the worst loss under PAP in your opinion Keelan?
00:19:18
Keelin
No, I don't think so. um the The thing that's common across all four of those big losses, I think it's four, isn't it? um Either four or five, however many it is.
00:19:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, there's there's four by four goals.
00:19:31
Keelin
Four by four, yeah, you're absolutely right. What's common across all four losses is that in those four losses, Citi were undergoing major, basically like spinal surgery on the team. And that's what's very, very evident across all four losses. I mean, if you can make Tom Davies look good and with respect that clown squad Tottenham look good, then something's going terribly wrong with your team. And that's what's going wrong with Citi.
00:19:59
Keelin
Across all four losses there are no legs in midfield to compete, there is no unity within the defence and the goalkeeper had a shocking performance in all four games and I think even though City have gone through a very very expensive outlay this winter,
00:20:15
Keelin
There are at least three more major signings that have to be made at the beginning of the summer. Diogo Costa needs to be signed to be goalkeeper. Canviasu has been linked to be the new left back or right back at City. You probably need another new fallback again. You probably need two new number eight midfielders.
00:20:35
Keelin
I mean there is so much work that needs done in this city team and all those losses exposed the work that needed to be done. Now that's arrogance, that's incompetence, it's whatever way you look at it but the work is there to be done and City have just got to try and hobble to the finish line and hope they get Champions League football because when Rodry comes back this machine will tick again but without Rodry you see the cracks he was papering over, it's quite unbelievable actually.
00:21:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah unbelievable yet we all identified it months ago so it is incompetence in in this critics humble opinion and I know matches aren't won by stats especially not xg but can anyone guess or does anyone know how much arsenal had in that game
00:21:23
Jack
I'd say 0.3 something. points is that Is that naive to say 0.3? No, no, three points, sorry. Three points something, yeah.
00:21:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, Keelan.
00:21:36
Keelin
I'd say 5.1.
00:21:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
One on the dot.
00:21:41
Keelin
oh
00:21:41
Jack
What?
00:21:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
City at 0.82. And I know that's not how games work, but if you think of the deflection, the screamer, Ortega should have saved Miley Scali's goal in my opinion as well.
00:21:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
It could have been another a day. Raya made a couple of great saves in that first half. Obviously, City got ran through in a second. I'm not i'm i'm not naive. I watched the game. But on another day, it definitely could have gone differently. And like we were saying earlier, um the snowball effect of everything falling apart just happened in that 25-minute spell, I think. um And that is what happens when teams are suffering from confidence crises. ah Jack, what do you think about that?
00:22:24
Jack
I mean, I think it's it's it's an interesting point to raise about you know the the quality of chances and quality of shots that Arsenal generated. They were all kind of great goals in that they were from difficult angles or some lucky deflections. Bad goals for us to concede. On another day, you're looking at Ortega as one of the better shot stoppers in the league. He was really poor. I thought he should have done better for almost every single goal by the ones, obviously, that were we know pretty wonder goals. but you You raised a point earlier on in the podcast tool it was about Ortega's distribution for that first goal that was poor. I think it's an underrated quality that we have with Edison that for all his flaws, we never ever have to complain about his poor distribution, even close up. Everyone knows about his ability to play long distance balls, but he is so calm and composed in possession while playing out from the back that we're never going
00:23:19
Jack
Oh, Edison, how how could you have played such a poor back pass to this? you know Obviously, you could pick out certain examples where it's happened in Peptol tenure, of course.
Edison's Role in City's Play
00:23:28
Jack
But as a general rule, we're never complaining about Edison's distribution, be it short, be it long. It's usually a shot stopping ability that we we've got issues with. I think that if Edison hadn't started that game, I think, in fact, I'll definitely say it wouldn't have been 5-1.
00:23:45
Jack
Whether we'd have won it or not, I have have no idea but it definitely wouldn't have been 5-1. What do you reckon Keelan?
00:23:51
Keelin
I think you've absolutely hit the nail on the head Jack for quite a few different reasons. The thing is, for me, I've always rated Stefan Ortega because he's had his strengths where Edison's weaknesses are, which is shop stopping. The thing is, in damn near every game Stefan Ortega has played this season, he has not looked anywhere near as good as Edison.
00:24:12
Keelin
And my thinking is, if you can't be as good as Edison where your strengths lie, then there's no point in you having you on the bench. You might as well play Scott Carson for all the good that is.
00:24:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
in Addison's worst season.
00:24:22
Keelin
iphon
00:24:24
Jack
Yeah, exactly.
00:24:25
Keelin
In Edison's worst season, by an absolute mile, and I think you both made an excellent point there, we almost take it for granted how good Edison is with his feet and we almost don't appreciate sometimes that you know the rhythm is started from the back, the play is built up from the back, the confidence is dictated from the back.
00:24:47
Keelin
And for all of his faults, you cannot deny Edison's confidence and his calm and his ability on the ball. And the other thing as well with Edison, which is maybe his most underrated feature, his willingness to pump a ball long to Holland, who was just a passenger in the game.
00:24:54
Jack
right
00:25:03
Keelin
Edison is willing to play that ball to play direct and just completely bypass the midfield problem. Sometimes he just got a lumpet forward and Edison is willing to do that.
00:25:15
Keelin
and I think with Edison sometimes we just, i the point I was only going to make is I think we really take it for granted sometimes because with his fate, he's he's better than a lot of the midfielders we have already and that says something.
00:25:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And, uh, you'd imagine that when he does go long, that's not at the behest of Pep Guardiola. That's his own intelligence identifying Holland, uh, pinning a defender one-on-one and et cetera, et cetera, building in from that.
00:25:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he's a playmaker from the back really, isn't he?
00:25:45
Jack
I've already got two assists this season, two Harland.
00:25:46
Keelin
and
00:25:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:49
Keelin
And when you look at how bad the medfield is and how much of a mismatch the medfield is, bypass the problem.
00:25:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:56
Jack
Yeah.
00:25:56
Keelin
Kick it over the medfield. Get it where you have an advantage one on one.
00:25:58
Jack
Yeah.
00:26:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Pep would rather die.
00:26:00
Keelin
I mean, listen to me.
00:26:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, he might actually do it to himself at this rate.
00:26:08
Keelin
Listen.
00:26:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's maybe a bit, maybe a bit dark.
00:26:10
Keelin
Listen, Tony Pulis was ahead of his time, alright, that's all I'm saying. He knew the one-on-one ISO, he knew what he was doing, but but in all seriousness, if your midfield is so much weaker than the opposition's, you have the best No. 9 in world football, and you have an ISO against Gabrielle who is not gonna keep up with Holland. Pump it long!
00:26:32
Keelin
The big Chelsea playing long ball, you know, have a willingness to change and turn the game to your advantage. You always lose a fight the second you fight your opponent's fight. You have to fight your fight and City have completely forgotten how to do that.
00:26:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it was ah it very much felt like Arsenal's day. they They dictated the terms. They'd been... waiting for a moment in a performance like this for some time, because even though they've had glimpses, they've never looked like they were really going to win a game. Yes, it took Stone's score in the 98th last time, but they didn't they didn't make three passes with the ball in that second half, so it was coming. And it means City of Windlass versus Arsenal in 5 now. It's the worst loss to Arsenal since 2003, which was a 5-1 loss at home, where
00:27:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Birkam, Pires, Henri and Saul Campbell all had Arsenal four goals up in 18 minutes. Vieira got a fifth before Analca got a consolation for City. That is quite the squad. Do you want to hear what cities was? Yes, you do. Okay, but so we have Carlo Nash and Goh. Richard Dunne, Nicholas Jenson, Sun Ji Hai, and David Somay in the back. Steve Howie, Jamel Belmadi, I.L. Berkovich in midfield. And then we've got three center forwards on at home against Arsenal. I think this is Keegan era, right? Mark Vivian, Faux, Nicholas Anelka, and outgga Robbie Fowler all up top.
00:28:04
Jack
that but That squad brings me joy.
00:28:04
Keelin
What's a pockling?
00:28:07
Jack
I'm hearing names like Sunday High, A.R. Berkovich, Vivian Foe, Fowler. Wow. Take me back.
00:28:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
and two subs Sean Wright Phillips for Richard Dunn and then Ali Bonavia for Jamel Belnadi.
00:28:21
Jack
Makes me happy.
00:28:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just wanted to highlight that because life is obviously very different at City these days. I think that squad would be delighted to be fourth where City are currently in the Premier League.
Champions League Concerns
00:28:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
This squad and the ambitions of it are obviously much more lofty.
00:28:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
The title race I'm finally willing to admit is definitely over. um but The Champions League place is in jeopardy. um I don't know what the current Chelsea score is. and We're recording this as it's playing, but before um Chelsea were one point away, ah one a two one up or two one down.
00:28:52
Jack
2-1-up.
00:28:53
Keelin
up.
00:28:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Chelsea were going to fourth and that will mean City will be fifth. Depending on European performances for the English teams, it might well be the top five Premier League places that qualify for the Champions League, which City might well need. on the run On the recent run, it's really seemed like City were going to consolidate one of those positions, but um there is a lot more doubt about that situation now. Keelan, how confident are you of City consolidating one of those five Champions League places?
00:29:23
Keelin
At the moment, so not very, to be honest, not very at all. But what I was going to say in a more positive note, Thursday night road trips with the boys in Europe. You know what? We haven't been in the Europa League since about 2011.
00:29:34
Jack
but Heh heh.
00:29:36
Keelin
Let's go back to our roots, back to our heritage. Let's go win the Europa League and we'll be back next year.
00:29:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
See, everyone says that until you have to travel to Karabag on a Thursday night. And and then and then you got us like Southampton at 12 o'clock on a Saturday.
00:29:53
Keelin
Boys, this reason God invented Ryanair. We will be there.
00:29:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
The city definitely travel on Ryanair.
00:30:00
Jack
what
00:30:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Guardiola in the post-match and said nothing that we wouldn't expect. He said, it's happened all season. and We're giving away two too many, many, many things as he scratched his head. We say it cannot happen, yet it happens. We lose control of the match in five minutes and we can't finish a chances like this when we play like this, even though we could have scored three more.
00:30:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Any thoughts on those comments before we end the pod but um by getting into some of the housing that has been going on over the past week?
00:30:37
Jack
You know what, the the comments are exactly what you expect from Pep Guardiola in a post match. It's always going to be, oh, I love my team. and We played well, blah, blah, blah, this and that. I think he is unintentionally the funniest human being on the planet. He's just become the funniest person ever. I think it was in response to a reporter asking him, in fairness, a really stupid question. You know, what did you think of Miles Lewis Skelly?
00:31:01
Jack
doing the harlan celebration and he just went oh it's good it's good i didn't know that he's just the funniest human being in football right now but i mean stupid questions pep pep's gonna be pep um but i'm i'm sure we'll get into it the the match had some vim it had some real nasty vibes to it and me personally I kind of loved it. you know what If we were giving them a 5-1 drubbing, we'd all absolutely love it. and you know walk in you know
00:31:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
as has happened very recently.
00:31:33
Jack
exactly yeah we've We've done the same to them in the past and and we're on the receiving end of it now. I think it's great for the sport. I don't like these friendly kind of Darby's and rivalries that we are doing. I mean, just look at the past couple of years when we've played Manchester United and and all the players are hugging and clapping and shaking hands. this I can't stand that. Bring back vicious rivalries. Bring back, you know, face Darby's again. Do you know what I mean?
00:31:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely, because that that that is how we cement a rivalry in history, isn't it?
00:32:04
Jack
Not really.
00:32:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
throughout history history Throughout the Premier League's history, at least, we remember the games where there was Agro, ah Martin Keown screaming in Rudvan Istroy's
Rivalry with Arsenal
00:32:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
face. and and City and City and Arsenal over the last couple of years have been reminiscent of that, definitely. Arteta said before the game that there will be no emotion carried over into the match. Gabrielle interview in his interview said there absolutely will be. I cannot wait to beat them. Well, he's managed to do it in the Premier League now. um So good for him, but couldn't be a nicer bloke.
00:32:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gabrielle, but fair play. he He has Harland in his pocket at the moment. But yeah, Keelan, any thoughts on some of the needle that's been produced by these two over the last week or past couple of years?
00:32:54
Keelin
Yeah, I do have thoughts on it and I like where Jack's coming from. I won Vicious 2010's rivalries back again. I want pennies being thrown at rival players when they celebrate in your corner. I want some needle in the stands. I want my bus getting bricked so it motivates us to play better. You know, in many ways football has gotten too soft and I do think football is obviously a mirror to society in a lot of ways. We know that for a lot of different reasons.
00:33:23
Keelin
And I agree, I don't like that they this is sort of lovey-dovey friendliness, you know, international teammates playing against each other all the time. I want somebody I grew back, and yeah, we deserve to lose, and we deserve the stick that we're getting, even though Arsenal haven't won anything since before the iPhone was invented, and they never will.
00:33:43
Keelin
But you know what? and Enjoy your petty hatred while you can, because when we get Rotary back, and when Holland's firing, and when Ruben Diaz is back, it's over for you in North London.
00:33:54
Keelin
So enjoy your meaningless victory while you can, because we are going to come back next season, bigger, better and better than ever. And when it's a repeat of Leroy Sanayera City, it's over for you.
00:34:05
Keelin
So yeah, good on you.
Player Achievements and Fan Reactions
00:34:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just want to add to that brilliant promo. even that That was a great mic drop moment, so um I know I'm ruining it. But I just want to add that um everyone's talking about you know MLS and Harland and the celebration and stay humble.
00:34:07
Keelin
Enjoy your
00:34:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
But isn't that exactly what Harland meant?
00:34:24
Jack
Exactly.
00:34:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
So so ah he is someone that is barely 25, so still got another 10 years at the top. He has won everything. he has been and named the second best player in the world for a season where he should have been the first and obviously more Champions League goals and appearances, nearly more goals in international, appear ah more international goals and appearances too.
00:34:40
Jack
Top score in every league, every season that he's been in a league.
00:34:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
That is someone who is in the apparatus of the game. If he retired today, never mind the next 10 years of someone who apparently is super fit now, and he hasn't been for years but he looks like he can play every game this uh you know the last two years or so so he could easily play another 500 games how many goals you think he could score in 500 games we might not have even at his peak so less of this chat from all these arsenal fans yeah because
00:35:15
Keelin
Jeez, just one second, I gotta to get in on this. Let's look at Arsenal fans, okay? Let's look at the state of the amount of fan channels they have. Is this a fan base you really expect the most intelligent self-awareness from?
00:35:31
Keelin
Really? No, it isn't, you know? Holland tells you...
00:35:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I like to give everyone a fair shake.
00:35:36
Keelin
Have Arsenal fans done anything during the first shake, though? I don't think they have because Holland tells you to stay humble and then you copy his celebration when you haven't won anything and Liverpool are probably going to win the league and you're going to be second best again. So you're welcome, Jack.
00:35:54
Jack
I mean, you know what? I describe Arsenal as an Instagram football club. They play football for the pictures that they can post on Instagram after the game is done. They've got a picture for everything. They've got a picture of all the team around Miles Lewis Skelly doing the Highland Celebration. They've got a picture of Erdogan using the camera to take a picture. You know, it's always called this, called that.
00:36:16
Jack
Where is their picture holding a trophy? Where is that? Where is their picture holding the Premier League trophy, a European trophy? They've won less than Leicester City in the past eight seasons.
00:36:28
Jack
Where did he get this bravery from? This confidence from? This is you exactly right, Jules. This is exactly what Harlan is talking about. And I'm sure that he is probably the least bothered person on the planet right now because he will just be laughing to himself, wiping his tears with his Champions League medal, you know crying into is you know one of many ah golden boots that he's got.
00:36:53
Jack
he will absolutely be laughing all his way to the bank because at the end of the day, Harland will always have the last laugh because they were flexing that win over everyone's head so much on Sunday that they forget to realize that they're six points behind league leaders Liverpool who have a gaming hand on them. They need to be worried about them, they're running away with the league. I don't know where they get this confidence from, but I for one find it hilarious because come to the end of the season, we will be finishing with the exact same amount of silverware, niche.
00:37:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah feels it feels like um
00:37:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
that this City Arsenal rivalry and this match, because obviously it was the biggest game of the weekend, biggest game of the season in many ways, it feels like it's going to keep bubbling over, doesn't it?
00:37:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Especially now we got this stay humble needle. That could disrupt Arsenal's title charge.
00:37:43
Jack
Absolutely.
00:37:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
So City could still end end Arsenal winning the league come the end of the season, and despite losing 5-1. Wouldn't that be sweet,
00:37:53
Keelin
All I'm gonna say is this, stay polishing your pre-season Emirates trophy, boys.
00:38:01
Jack
I will be celebrating every single Liverpool goal from now until the end of the season.
00:38:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
What?
00:38:07
Jack
I will be showing up to the Etihad in a Liverpool city half and half scarf, probably take a battering on the way out, but it will be worth it.
00:38:12
Keelin
and
00:38:15
Jack
You'll never walk alone, we'll be bellowed out at the top of my lungs from now until the rest of this season.
00:38:19
Keelin
You know what? You know what?
00:38:21
Jack
Have I lost my head? Yes, I absolutely have. I absolutely have, but it's sweet, isn't it?
00:38:27
Keelin
You know what, for the rest of the season, Omar Marmouche is my second favorite Egyptian in the Premier League.
00:38:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
You'll never
00:38:32
Keelin
I don't care. I want to see Arsenal suffer now.
00:38:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
You'll never walk alone because Keeling and Jack will be alongside you. And Harland will have the last laugh, but it looks like Jack and Keeling also will for this podcast.
00:38:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's been an absolute pleasure, Corbin.
00:38:50
Jack
Slightly losing our heads there.
00:38:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Corbin over the last 40 minutes.
Closing Remarks
00:38:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you all very much for listening and stay tuned for what will hopefully be some better city results in the coming weeks.
00:39:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've been Jules Jordan-Probert. Thank you to Jack and Keelan. ah We are the Daily Manchester City Podcast on the Global Sports Podcast Network. I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day.