Transcript
Speaker: Alright lads, welcome back to another episode of Who's Got the Ball. Myself and Shane back once again. Shane, what's the crack? Quiet, quiet for a fur change. Quiet weekend and just, yeah, there's no football, so there's no soccer to watch this weekend. Ireland are playing Thursday, Tuesday I think so it's just a a free weekend for a change. We can just focus on the NFL for probably the only week that we we can.
Speaker: Yeah, there's a not many weekends where you just get NFL coverage and yeah nice sneeze there. God bless you. session Yeah, the that international series will be kicking off in London as well. So...
Speaker: The game Colts, Commanders and the following week and Jags, Eagles, they'll be on for on the 4th and the 11th of October. I will be present at both of those games with Gaelic Gridiron to cover from a media perspective. Obviously, we'll get some stuff over for here as well. um And yeah, I'll report back from there. But I'm excited for that because it'll be my first NFL. I've been obviously college game as media, but first time NFL as media.
Speaker: and So really excited about that. And obviously you said, yeah, international break gives us time to focus more on the NFL side of things. We do have an interesting episode for you with kind of international football side of of Ireland, what their squad looks like, the fixtures ahead and and and a couple of other of our thoughts before we talked about how Brighton absolutely dismantled Arsenal. and Shane was delighted with that one.
Speaker: My favourite topic. Yeah, so that was our performance of the weekend. It had to be. It was such a good performance from them and gives Arteta food for thought into the window, international window. Then next up we did Ganshans. Those are our underdog picks in the NFL and in football and the NBA at the moment. It's...
Speaker: No NBA, so divided there across NFL and football. But we give three underdog picks every single week against the against the odds. And we see how we get on. and Next up, we had Michael on. But this time, it wasn't for the NBA. He's back on for the first time since the NBA kind of and trickled down in the summer.
Speaker: He's usually our bi-weekly correspondent for the and NBA, but now he's dabbling into the NFL. He's been following it for years now, and he has great knowledge on it. So we we got him on for that side of things, and he did a great job. So we're delighted to have him on there. we We talked about some of the big storylines at the moment. So Jackson Dart, obviously, going down. What it looks like for the future of the Giants, unfortunately for myself as a Giants fan, is not good.
Speaker: Chiefs and Mahomes are they back and then a preview of the Jets at the Lions the Cowboys versus the Ravens in Rio and the Rams at Broncos on Sunday Night Football and then myself and Shane wrapped up with a bit of a game and brought us this week for a new bit of a segment and Shane's gonna come with his game for me next week and just have a bit of crack to end the episode so hopefully you enjoyed that and you could play along with us but yeah that's the episode so let's jump into it So the international break is upon us, not the most enjoyable part of the year by any means. and But it's a very long one this time. That's a good and a bad thing because like you get more of the games done at once. So there's less international breaks, but it drags on. It's like three weeks without any club football. What are your feelings about this extended over international break itt as a whole?
Speaker: Like, I think this is as an Irish find, I think we're finding in a place where international football isn't like the bane of our existence with the squad we have at the moment. So it is good in one sense. In another sense, three weeks is, it's just so long.
Speaker: And I know it means we don't get one next month, which is obviously good. It gives a a bit of a flow then. So i think it might be better to get it like, instead of like debt by a thousand cuts, it's just debt by one cut, get it over and done with. And then we're,
Speaker: We're home and hoes till Christmas then. i Just chop the head straight off. like Yeah, oh no, there is one in November, but there we yeah theres there isn't one in October. So I think it's good to get it done with. And it's a pity that not all of the games are available for people to go to. But I do think it's a really, really exciting squad this time around. I think there are couple of players who have...
Speaker: maybe being harshly done by, but we'll get into that in a second. But I don what i don't mind it. I'm i'm glad that they're we have something to enjoy. We have the likes of Troy Parrott, obviously, is back in the fold and he is in such good form for his club and he always seems to convert that to Ireland with the way things are going at the moment.
Speaker: Yeah, for me, like I don't mind the international break because I go to all the home games here, as you said. One less one this time around, which we'll touch on at the end here. But yeah, it's...
Speaker: It's quite good to have, you know, the atmosphere and have the games at home and then the away fans, obviously, that travel as well. is great, like all the way around. So I do enjoy that part of it. And when the NFL is on for us, like there's a lot of stuff going on on the weekends anyway. So it's actually quite nice to not have soccer to watch as well. yeah Yeah, exactly. But you mentioned the squad, so we'll start there.
Speaker: and We're recording this before the Kosovo game, but this is going to come out the night the morning after, so you everyone will know the result. We won't spend too much time on the prospects of that game because, look, there's no point in it. It was a great win for Ireland. Fingers crossed, but...
Speaker: Yeah, you mentioned the squad. There's some good additions. The ones that stand out to me, i think James Abanqua is great to see him in there, and I really hope to see him starting right wing back. I think he deserves it. and I'm happy to see Tom Cannon back in there because he he looks good at club level, so he deserves that call-up.
Speaker: The new faces and Liam Kitching is one that, you know, that people were pushing to see him in an Ireland jersey and it worked out. Owen Elding is an exciting one for the future. I don't know we'll see too much of him in this window. He's still quite young and and raw, but to get him in is good.
Speaker: And another one is Jack Moylan, I think. It was interesting in the way his his call-ups went with the red card he got, despite him playing quite well in the game before that. So, yeah, it's good to see him back in there because he's been good for a Cardiff since his move. So those are the ones that stood out to me. But any any faces in there that you really like to see?
Speaker: Yeah, Owen Eldling for me is great as well. He's just out of the Irish leagues, so it is good to see that... On one hand, it's good that he's getting the call up. On the other hand, doesn't mean he could have been called up and he was playing for Sligo at the time, but I guess we'll never know.
Speaker: and Just the ones you mentioned, I also think Rocco Vata being in the senior fold is really good as well. He's such a quick, exciting winger, and I think it's pace we're going to need against Austria because their defenders are quite good as stand-alones.
Speaker: But if you have wingers and strikers running at my pace, they are all aging now. Davila Lava hasn't played this season for Udinese where he's just signed. So I think we're going to need guns need to to see pace against them. Tom Cannon, obviously a great addition as well, a good backup striker to Troy Parris.
Speaker: They're similar in one sense, but it's not like having, you're bringing Evan Ferguson on for Troy Parris, like you're changing your whole style. Bringing on Tom Cannon, you're getting the same kind of not the same quality player, but the same but kind of the same attributes, can run him behind, can do whatever want you. And then in midfields, I just, I hope Boast and Law will get to a couple of minutes at least or get started doing this because I think he's been solid for Stoke.
Speaker: Every now and again, i just think he has so much talent that is is just untapped. And yeah, it's good to see Kitching in there as well. Yeah, I think obviously Lall is not going to be there for the start, at least because of his hamstring injury. Like he was named in the squad, but and he won't be there till the second half. So I think that him playing in the neck in the second two games would be really...
Speaker: important he looked good when he came on and i know it was only friendlies and friendly against macedonia but he looked really strong and he's the kind of presence we need i do agree that we'll need pace i put down a likely lineup here now this isn't what i would go with but it's a five at the back because this is the way we play so i think kelleher is nailed on a bank was should be starting right wing back after how he's played at eudonese um and then i think O'Shea, Egan and Scales will be the likely three. I think O'Brien is probably better than Scales, but I just think Heimer always picks Scales and if it's not at left wing back, which is atrocious to watch, he'll definitely be playing left centre back, which is as much better position.
Speaker: And then Manning left wing back. I think that makes sense. Midfield then Malumby and Knight to start with. That might rotate. Malumby has to be a shoe in. He's been good for West Brom and he was good in the last break.
Speaker: Azaz and Ogbené with Ogbené probably coming off after about an hour and then Parrot up top. Now I would make some changes there. Personally, I wouldn't even play that formation, but that's what I think he'll go with.
Speaker: Yeah, I think you're pretty much spot on there. I think the midfield kind of picks itself when you're looking at your other options here. They're either They're not as good as the two you've mentioned, or they're very raw at the international level. The likes of Harvey Vale isn't going to get a start in the first two games anyway. Maybe by the time, because it is four games, by the time the second round come around as well, he could be the man in the running for the start, for starting games. Then I think Fina Zas needs a big window here. After, I think for himself, I i i don't think the Irish fans hold anti against him for the penalty miss, but I think he holds it against himself.
Speaker: So I think he's going to be coming out all guns blazing. I was watching a podcast the other morning and they said that they think he's the biggest difference maker in the championship. It was it admittedly an Irish-based podcast, so small bit of bias there likely. But I think if he can show just like what he is actually capable of doing the way he does at club level, i think he could be a master player for Ireland. He is still quite young as well at 25 or 26.
Speaker: John Egan probably does deserve a start with the way he started the season, but I would have Jake O'Brien in there some way or somehow. He's never done anything wrong on an international level. I know he's not getting in the Everton team at the moment, which I think is actually madness, to be perfectly honest. It really is. so I think he deserves to get in there. Maybe not over John Egan's, but over John Scales? Liam Scales. He's had such a weird start to the season for Celtic. Every time he does something wrong, he turns around and does something right to make it better. But we can't afford for him to do something wrong for him to get right at this level.
Speaker: So I wouldn't mind seeing him on the bench to come on. If we're trying to on to our one or two in the lead, bring him on at left wing back where he'll just sit in there and hoop the ball to link to the pitch every now and again. But I don't mind your lineup aside from that.
Speaker: Yeah, I think Azaz probably is up there though. in Even in an unbiased opinion with players in the championship, I think he's superb and he makes all the difference for Ireland. I know it's like frustrating for Irish fans who aren't used to players with actual... like ability to go and make something happen and that take risks.
Speaker: So people get frustrated with him because they're like, oh, he's giving the ball away. But for every time he gives the ball away, he plays a killer pass the next time. And you have to take the good with the bad with these creative players. All the best players at that kind of position in the world do lose the ball because they take chances.
Speaker: So I think he is the key to unlock and power it as well in this team. So I think he's a must ah must play. and The Austria game is the one that's at home.
Speaker: Look, we'll have a a word separate on the Israel games because I don't think it's right to talk about the football inside of things there. We both kind of agreed on that and because there's much bigger issues.
Speaker: And the Kosovo game will have already gone down. So the Austria one is one to look at here. It's an interesting test. like You're looking at the number 23 ranked nation who are just in the World Cup.
Speaker: I think the fact that they press so highly will cause an issue for Ireland who are already quite leannient leaning in on the goal long whenever under pressure, just panic, and which was really annoying when we had Checha in that game because we could have controlled it, but we just hoofed the ball.
Speaker: This Austria team is better than them. They're better at pressing. And I think Ireland will probably go long and then sit in with the five rather than push up the two wingbacks. So it could become a really hard game to watch.
Speaker: I think it's going to be 1-0, but I don't know to who. I think that's it's going to be a tough one to watch, and I think we're just going to be clinging on to our to our jocks by the end of it either way. Yeah, I think it is going to be a really hard watch. That's why I'm hoping the Cosmo game is easier on the eye because the other three games might be absolutely horrendous watch for many different reasons. But I think this one, like they have really good players. Obviously, they have the likes of Sibitzer, who's at Dortmund tearing it off. Paul Wenner recently got a big move to PSV and he's had a slow start to the season. David Alaba has gone to Udinese, which I only realized when I went to look him up to find out. was like, oh yeah, I forgot he had left to be in Madrid. Where is he now? He hasn't played yet. So there is definitely space there for Ireland to get at him. I don't think Kevin Danso is offering a whole lot. I think Troy Parrott has the potential to get at him and Alaba if given a chance. Alaba, I don't know why keep calling Alaba.
Speaker: Himself and Alaba could definitely be got at. I think this is a winnable game for Ireland, but only if they don't. either fall behind early or if they just lack confidence from the outset because of what happened in Kosovo. I think it it is there for to win. And if they win that and they obviously beat Kosovo, I think it'd be such a good start to to this group.
Speaker: But yeah, I think your either way is a good shout, but I'm going to say it's going to be 1-0 to Ireland and Tom Cannon is going to be the man that gets the goal. Oh, that'd be a good storyline for him in the Aviva.
Speaker: Everybody going mad. Yeah, there you go. Yeah, we'll see how it goes. But we have two games against Israel also in this period. Now, we don't want to talk about the football really here. And I think it's only right, no matter how many listeners you would have on a platform like this, that you do say what you think is the truth. And... and I think the fact that these games are going ahead is wrong.
Speaker: It's putting the players and the manager also in a terrible position because they can't even voice their opinions without getting verbally attacked and by multiple people online. And the Israeli FA, after Heimer came out and and referred to the genocide as a genocide, which is what it is, it's what Israel are doing to Palestinian people,
Speaker: The Israeli FA tweeted, we have contributed to the world and humanity in countless fields, earning an impressive number of Nobel prizes along the way. Unfortunately, we have not yet found a cure for stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy displayed by the Ireland football team coach.
Speaker: We're not playing with ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity. We're playing against the coach who embodies them, which is trying to take his words and use them in a different way because he said that we're not playing with genocide, we're playing against it. and They've made themselves look incredibly ignorant here.
Speaker: because he's not stupid, ignorant or hypocritical, he's simply speaking the truth. Israel has killed nearly 74,000 people through their genocidal destruction of Gaza up to today, that's up to about four hours ago, with a further 175,000 injured. of those were children as of the eighteenth to september and You just see those tolls rising daily.
Speaker: up to today, even, you can see various clips coming out all over your social media feed, all over the news of destruction of lives of innocent people. And for something kind kind of smallest football to be dragged into it and i think is kind of comical because football should never be a part of this this is like so much bigger than football and for the f fai to allow even heimer and the players to be put into that position where they get slated for even openly expressing their own views which i'm not to say that all of them have the same views but whatever they are they are going to get slated for it and
Speaker: If these players want to speak about it, they should. But they shouldn't be put in a position where now they have to play this game against Israeli players. Dar O'Shea has had to say that they may do some kind of in-game protest protest, but the players have to speak with each other about that and decide as a team...
Speaker: uh it's a complete mess we shouldn't be playing against this nation and the fact that fifa is still allowing them to take part even in this competition is a disgrace given how quickly they banned russia um for their attack on ukraine this should be not a dissimilar situation that they step in and they don't allow israel to play but that's i think for another podcast and for another kind of type of person who has more knowledge on the situation to discuss but The numbers are alarming, the videos are alarming and disgusting and the fact that even we have to weigh in on this, you know, you would think that this isn't something that should continue to go on. But I felt it's only right to say something about it. I don't want to talk about the football when it comes to Israel. That's all I have to say on this matter, to be honest. And look, I'm i'm not going to put pressure on and anybody to agree with me or agree with anybody, but I know the correct side here. And and that's pretty much it.
Speaker: Yeah, so you the point you made about they kicked that Russia in a heartbeat for their war against Ukraine. Why they weren't able to turn around and say, Israel, no. I'm sorry, you're epicu're nasty and you're not being a part of this while you're doing what you're doing. It's it's absolutely scandalous that the Irish players do you have to go through this.
Speaker: We'll never know how they feel about it because, as you said, they're not allowed to speak about it. They have to just show up on the day. Oh, the Israeli players don't want to shake their hands. I'm sure the Irish lads are absolutely... devastated that these lads, that the Israelis have taken the side of, oh, Ireland are the bad thing here, we we're the good sides. As you said, we know which side history we fall on and hopefully the Irish players come out of this kind of falling on the right side as well. If if they are able to do that in-game protest or whatever it is they want to do, hopefully they're able to do it and it's not.
Speaker: I just don't want whatever Ireland to do to be taken away from the real problem here, which is genocide. I don't want all the news like, oh, Ireland did the way he said in match against Israel, and Israel gets 24 hours off the news coverage because everyone's focused on what Ireland are doing. This should be the top news story every day until it ends.
Speaker: And unfortunately, there' there's no end in sight for the Palestinian people, which is... it's that's That's the real problem. That's the reason we're not focusing on the football on this because the football is so unimportant in this kind of a situation.
Speaker: Yeah, there's no there's no other way to move on to the next topic other than to just do it. But yeah, but that's that's what we have to say on that. and This seems fairly trivial now, but Brighton battered Arsenal on the weekend. It's never trivial.
Speaker: Yeah, that was our performance of the weekend. Like, unbelievable stuff. I'll throw it to you first, but Brighton just so slick all over the park. They looked brilliant. it's It was just so Brighton.
Speaker: They showed everyone what to do against Arsenal. You just absolutely put it up to them, bully them, don't let them away with all their nonsense and take your chances. And they're very, they're very, very flappable as well. The corner goal was so good to see because Davariah was pinned to his line, but I think it was by his own players.
Speaker: um And then everything Brighton did was just exceptional in this game. Pascal Gross is in the form of his life. and The man, he was absolutely unbelievable against United in midweek and then comes out here against Arsenal and does the exact same thing.
Speaker: Gets his goal. puts in a captain's performance even though he wasn't wearing the armband and just just rend the show from from start to finish and then your man consultinius the fellow up front they signed him last year and he's one it's one of those where they kind of set him in the wings daniel welbeck's backed up blah blah blah and then he comes into the season and he's just scoring goals for fun and even he's not scoring he's setting up other people and They're a joy to watch. They really are. They do everything right. And Arsenal just had absolutely no answers to them in this game. They were outrun. They were outfought. They had more possession. But when you're training a lot, you just give the ball to Arsenal and let them pass around between Rice and Zubimendi and Bruno where they can't really hurt you in the midfield.
Speaker: Yeah, it's just such pace of attack and like intent from the very, very start for Brighton. 17 shots to 11, 5 on target to 2. Their new signing, Cema Andres, gets the goal. like Another lad they just pulled out of nowhere, got him from Stuttgart in the summer. Kind of went under the radar a little bit because he didn't play the first few weeks. And then he plays and he just looks dominant out of the Real Madrid Academy. and Just another baby Rodri in Spain.
Speaker: Well, he looks it. He's a superstar already. Pascal Gross, I had him down. He said, all you need to say there. And Costoulas, man, he is so good. He's a star. Like, 19 years of age.
Speaker: I'm sorry, Evan Ferguson needs to leave Brighton because there's no chance he gets near this team when he comes back. Because Costoulas is too good. And then Rutter is the backup. So I think there's not much chance, unfortunately, for Evans. I think it's better if he does get a move. and But the things this lad can do, even in the game against Brentford, and I watched him a couple of weeks back, or not Brentford, Leeds, he was so, so good. He didn't score, but some of the moves he had and the way he played was just so nice to watch. And then the next two weeks, he's gone out and scored and assisted. a few times so that that's coming to light i think he'll be great all season long and then vuscovic like he looks 10 times the player of van hecke and they paid 54 million euro for him and spurs paid 60 million euro for van hecke it's just a joke they've made six million euro and they have a player that is way better look and he's literally dominant like a croatian star at at the back and
Speaker: I don't know, Kreisjar was up at the back for years to come with him and Gavardial because that those two boys are our class in every way. And he's a real threat from corners too. They have a real threat from set pieces now, which is kind of something that they were lacking maybe a little bit. And now they've added that to their game as well.
Speaker: Yeah, the thing about Vuscovic as well is he's better than any of Spurs' centre-backs by the looks of it. And he's kind of a... a story in himself of why Spurs are the way they are at a moment. I couldn't wait to get rid of Sent him out and on to Hamburg last year, bring him back and like, oh, we'll send you to Brighton. It's a Leicester club. Well, first of all, it's not.
Speaker: And ah second of all, he should be starting week in, week out for Spurs. And so, Vincent Nessie will be better than the two they have in there at the moment, Van Hecke and Van de Ven. It's just, it's it's quite frankly... Borderline criminal, the way Spurs have done business. And he's the yeah he's absolutely top of the pile for me, the way they just shipped him aside, they'll we want someone more experience, but bring in Van Hecke.
Speaker: If you just put him into your team, you might have a point at this stage, or you might have a win at this stage, sorry, you another the point. they have They have one point. Yeah, I just, I thought Brighton, just everything, they just keep doing the smart thing. Ayari didn't start this game, come looked a real threat as well. He's a really good player, a good World Cup for Sweden.
Speaker: the man chen by now I think he's only 21 or 22 as well. Like the way they find these young lads and bring him in don't rush him into certain lineup as you said chemo set aside the first two weeks and then comes in and bang um iary kind of his first year he was in and out last year he was one of the stars of show this year he's in and out again but he'll just go bang again at any time and this is just how they work hertsella even is a 33 year old treasure yeah in he's born in so he had like i know I know they got him from St. Paulie, but it's taking the risk to go and get your 30 or 31-year-old manager, bring him in and trust him. Lewis Donk is older than him.
Speaker: Passyl Gross is older than him. And they're more than happy to listen and help him. And I think all they're missing is a trophy of some kind that they add to the repertoire and say... Kind of like Crystal Palace, the way Crystal Palace have been working this model for a lot longer than Brighton had, but they have the trophies to show for us.
Speaker: If Brighton can add trophies to what they're doing, then why wouldn't anyone want to go there and win a conference league or an FA Cup and just take in Palace's trophies as an example, and then move get your move to a big club.
Speaker: Sounds condescending, but you know what I mean. Get your move to an established Champions at League club. Yeah, I think that they they likely will add trophies because because the football they play is is more attractive, I think, than those best Palace teams. And I think it's probably more sustainable as well. um And...
Speaker: On the Arsenal side of things, finally a bit of adversity for Arteta. I know he has three weeks to stew on this now, so how did they come out like of the international break? Not in first place, City's still up there, having won all their games. You know, it's something for him to actually think about, which he hasn't had really in the last couple of or last season and and a bit.
Speaker: Yeah, I also don't think City are anything special after seeing that Sunderland game. They're so leaky at the bat. It's actually, it's so not City-like um to concede three goals. I know they scored five and that's all well and good, but that's not sustainable over the whole season. So no team in the league, I know City won all their games, but no team the league looks ready to really push and run away with the title and with the way things are going at the moment. So we'll have to wait and see.
Speaker: It's going to be a long three weeks for Arteta, for Carrick, for Xabi Alonso and for Robert Zerbe. And that's four of the the big six on paper. So i think we'll have plenty time to talk about it now, so I'll just touch on quickly. But once this international break ends, there's a run of games where those four in particular really need to just kind of get back on the horse straight away off the bat and just just get going from week week one after the international break, especially, I think, Michael Carrick, because we can talk about him next week.
Speaker: Yeah, I think there'll be plenty of time for for a Carrick. and And particularly, I would rather let it sit at least for another week before we go near it. But yeah, let's move on to Ganshans then, because we have a very, very good week from last week. Almost two five-pointers. I did grab the first five-pointer of the season after grabbing two last last year, which puts me in a six four lead right now.
Speaker: So I had Aston Villa away to Spurs, Brighton at home to Arsenal and the Vikings to beat the Bears. And they all came up. Shane, you also had the Vikings to beat the Bears and Brighton to beat Arsenal. But your Jets let you down in a double whammy, losing in overtime, your favourite team and knocks you off in gun chance.
Speaker: What an absolute pain they are, that is. But what can you do? Back to It's a better start to this year than we had last year. yeah last last year we were so slow to get off the mark yeah this this year we both have got four out of the six right to start off but the five pointer obviously has me in the lead so this week we'll throw to you first what have you got we just have nfl this week so three underdogs in the nfl oh i actually have a football one Oh, have you? Go ahead with that then if you have an introduction.
Speaker: I've gone with Wales to beat Denmark on Sunday. So Wales are 9-2, Denmark are I honestly, i thought we were going to have to do football and NFL as well. So I was scraping the barrel to try and find a football one. So I went with this one. and Do I have much belief in it? I have more belief in it than I did some of the NFL ones. So I'm going to go with that. Okay. I have the Cowboys at 6-4 to beat the Ravens who are 8-15.
Speaker: This one just speaks to me. The Ravens were so poor last week against the Saints. um Just borderline inexcusable. I know they might be looking for a bounce back, but the Cowboys attacking play, I can't believe I call it a time play, we just talked about football. Their offense was absolutely exceptional last week against Washington.
Speaker: And if they can put up any sort of a show again, I think this Ravens team is there to be taken. And then the Patriots beat the Jaguars. I'm still not a ah Lawrence believer, despite the fact that he has looked good at times. And I just think the Patriots, if they're going to win any games this season, this needs to be one of them.
Speaker: So the Patriots are five to four the Jaguars are eight to thirteen and the three them together is 29-1. Okay, nice. I actually surprised none of us. We don't have any of the same because I went 3-NFL. Is that okay with you if I take the 3-NFL? Yeah, course. sure No, go first.
Speaker: Yeah, I unless you get a five pointer, then we're only giving you three. I thought the two what NFL ones you picked, those were on the very edge for me. And I was going to put them in as my third pick, but I opted against it to go for a bit of a shocker instead. So first up, I've gone with the Raiders six to four to beat the Saints, who are five to nine. That's Sunday 25 past nine.
Speaker: I think Tyler Shook has been good closing out games. And look, he has an incredible amount he had through the first two weeks, but he has made mistakes. And this Raiders defense looks great. Max Crosby is on it and their ah offense is much improved under Kubiak. So I think this could be a close one that the Raiders just sneak.
Speaker: Secondly, I've gone with the Broncos to beat the Rams. Broncos are six to five. Rams are five to seven. That's Sunday night football. I think the Rams, they are more settled as a team now that they beat the Giants. I think they're probably the better team, but it is in mile high. It's a tough place to go with the altitude after the Rams had just gone to Australia a couple of weeks back. So the Broncos might sneak this one at home, even though they are still trying to right the ship a little bit on offense.
Speaker: And then thirdly, I've gone with your Jets. 5-2 at the Lions, who are 10-30, should I say. um Sunday, 6pm. i just have a feeling about this one. Aaron Glenn going back to Detroit.
Speaker: The defense on the Lions is just absolutely battered. We are going to preview this game in a little bit, so it'll give some more reason and then. But I just, I don't know, this one just stuck out to me. It was between this and the Cowboys for me, and I just said, let's go with the Jets. Why not? I have a feeling that this could be the freakish result of the week.
Speaker: So those are my three picks. Yeah, the Raiders one was on my, if if I wasn't picking the football one, it would have been the Raiders against the Saints. And I backed the Jets in the first two weeks. I didn't want to go three weeks in a row, so I did leave them out. So there, yeah.
Speaker: Do I hope, you yeah, I actually do hope all three you guys come in because I'll be happy, Cullen will be sad, and the other one is what, the Rams. Ram-less. Yeah, it'd be great if the Rams lost again. So I hope you get another five-pointer. All right, thank you for that. and Let's see how we get on this weekend. And we'll welcome Michael in for some more NFL chat.
Speaker: So here he is back, but for the NFL, it's Michael. He's not just an NBA head. He's got the NFL knowledge too. So you're going to enjoy this. He's got the knowledge. He just needs to he just needs to share it with everybody. So we're delighted to have you back on, bro. I want to start with Jackson Dart.
Speaker: Obviously a sad way to start, but the injury was Horrific for me as a Giants fan. You also had Jackson Dart as QB1 in fantasy, so you were feeling it in your heart as well.
Speaker: Tell me what you think of the whole situation and and what it means for the Giants going forward. Honestly, genuine devastation. Not only did I have Jackson Dart in our fantasy football league, but I also had him in two other football leagues as my QB1 because I thought this year was going to be the Giants year. You know, the Knicks just won the and NBA championship. I thought now is the time I'm going to draft all Jackson there.
Speaker: And I just couldn't be more upset. Truly the most authentic experience as a casual giant supporter is to have all your dreams dashed in week two. ah Drafted last year. i was thinking about it and I was like, what do the Giants do here? I think it's too early for you guys to even begin to look to pivot. Like, unless you guys are about to trade him at the end of the year because you feel great about some draft pick, you've got to just run it back next year and assume that, you know, this is just unfortunately something you have to deal with, especially in his younger years.
Speaker: It's shocking that I didn't see him... go running into three lads, get a concussion and blow his knee out. That's kind of the injury I was going to be expecting. But once you saw him on the sideline, I, i really felt like, oh, it's not that bad. Maybe a week, maybe two weeks getting the news that he was out for the season.
Speaker: hurt my soul i think the giants honestly your season oh i'm going on to the season we'll just talk about dar for now i'll leave it out there no you're good i just want to go on head chain uh like it's one of those where you were saying there about oh do you do you trade them away or do you run it back next year you have to run it back next year it's not one of those injuries where like It's not like, oh, you can't trust his hamstrings because every time he runs, he tears hamstring.
Speaker: It's one of those where the collision from both sides is one of those that any quarterback in the league, if it happens on him, is going to miss the season. It's not one that he's kind of brought on himself. he was still kind of think He was still in the pocket. So it's not even one that he was doing anything stupid. he was just trying to throw the ball, got hit. And then the second hit is just absolutely horrific. And he should not go that way. should not be able to go that way.
Speaker: So it's one of those where you're absolutely running him back. I know last year he missed a lot of time and that one was more his fault. and It was just him being kind of rookie central and just kind of doing what he wanted to.
Speaker: This year it was actually, he was playing s smart football. He was in the pocket, he was getting his pass off and he just got his. And unfortunately for him, that's that that is the end of the season. But if if they don't run it back with him next year, I think it would be just madness because he's clearly so talented. We saw that against the Cowboys in game one in particular.
Speaker: and go to sleep God above. second sneezy episode um i think for dar there's no two ways around it that it's just incredibly unfortunate like you like like you said shan he was still in the pocket and he made a hell of a throwll and t o johnson dropped it i am sick to death of t o johnson dropping passes couldn't even drop the pass that was a dime while your cubi is lyinging on the floor half dead and you still can't catch it it's right in your breadbasket
Speaker: but I think the fact that he was midair probably saved his ACL from being part of this injury. If his foot was planted, his ACL was probably gone.
Speaker: And this is a much worse issue. It's still bad as it is. Cause it's an MCL, PCL and meniscus injury. And, and, that means he's going to have to go undergo surgery for that meniscus to be sewn back together. and It's not something that you can't you can't recover from. He'll be back probably for the off-season program at the start of next year. and He was already in watching film again this week with the quarterbacks. He's not going to leave the facility. He's going to learn the system. He's going to learn how to work with his players and Harbaugh and and Matt Nagy.
Speaker: And he'll come back the better for it. I think he looked so good in week one. So smart, like measured. He had kind of gotten rid of all those things that he did as a rookie when he ran. It was a designed run or if he scrambled, he got down.
Speaker: he just looked mature and he's the youngest starter in the NFL at the position. So if anybody's going to get injured, it's going to be, if you' if if there's any team that you're going to be okay about an injury there, it's going to be with him because you know, he has so much time ahead of him. and In terms of the Giants' season, look, Damus Winston is Jekyll and Hyde. Like, you could say he'll come out this week against the Titans and throw for 500 yards. Malik Neighbours will have four touchdowns. And then next week, he'll throw six interceptions against the Cardinals.
Speaker: Like, he's so unreliable. He looked like a guy who wasn't prepared to play in this offense at all. You would hope that a full week of being QB1 in training and and walkthroughs will make him kind of be more aware because he's he's a veteran. He should know how to pick up the offense with that. He should have already been aware, but obviously they didn't play to his strengths because they had a kind of a different style in mind for Dart. I think if he's horrendous for the next like three weeks,
Speaker: Look to see the Giants make a move for Jimmy Garoppolo, and more of a game manager and a smarter quarterback, and kind of bringing him out of semi-retirement, I guess, and getting him to kind of man the offense and just hand the ball off. But there's no reason why Winston shouldn't be able to do that either. I just don't trust him not to make stupid decisions like he did all night against the Rams.
Speaker: Yeah, the thing with Jameis Winston is, are you going to get the one from 2019 threw 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions? I'd take that. Sorry? I'd take that one rather than the one that's going to 50 touchdowns and 70 interceptions.
Speaker: Or are you going to get the one that throws 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions from 2024? when the twenty four Like, as you said, like literally, talk Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is the perfect...
Speaker: way to describe him. He spent the off season making memes. Basically everything he was doing was just look at me and James Winston and I can do funny interviews and I can do this and that. He needs to buckle down and be serious now if the Giants going to any hope of doing anything.
Speaker: I think the less we hear from him between now and February, the better for the Giants. Yeah, that was honestly going to be my exact ah response as well. he James Winston looked so unprepared in that game once Dart went out. It it worries me to think. i'm I'm kind of hoping the same way James said. I think a week of him being prepared as QB1, more of a different style because he's got very different skill set to Jackson Dart.
Speaker: should help him but it makes me worry is he like mentally retired already like after gonna say something else oh god that was close russard moment is not here yet don't worry but I was like, is he mentally retired already with with all of the media stuff he's done? I truly don't think he was even planning on taking a snap in the first six weeks of the NFL season.
Speaker: And if he comes out and he looks horrible again this next week, ah I'm with you, James. You've got to trade for someone. I was looking at your your schedule. I don't really hate your schedule either, but you just don't have a quarterback for your defense is pretty good. i like your pieces on offense, but you've got James Winston and then people are saying, oh, they should have kept Russ. No, you should not have kept Russ.
Speaker: Absolutely not. um But who knows? You know, JJ McCarthy is out there. No way. No way. I'm telling you, I don't do not... Anybody that's saying that is just wrong. Because, like, i watch i i stayed up for the game. When it happened, i was like...
Speaker: instant depression i was like he's done then he walks out he stands on the sideline doesn't look that bad joe shane gm opening his big mouth saying oh he's gonna be okay before any mri tests are done which is the real teller and then all of a sudden he needs season-ended knee surgery so it was a bit of a roller coaster the way the whole thing went and then people start talking about jj mccarthy i was like i seriously can't can't watch the nfl anymore this is what's gonna happen I think Jimmy Garoppolo is the obvious option if you're going anywhere. you're not But the thing is, you have to trade for JJ. The Giants aren't giving up draft capital for any quarterback. Anybody they sign is someone who's out without a team or on a practice squad. There's no way they give up draft capital and for somebody because Jackson Dart is still the guy for the future.
Speaker: It's gut-wrenching another season has gone down the toilet. But the next few weeks are Titans, Cardinals, and then Commanders without Jaden Daniels. So if that was Jackson Dart, Giants sweep those three games.
Speaker: James Winston, I'd even take two wins, to be honest, because it's so hard to tell what way he's going to play at any given week. So yeah, ah in this situation, i think if the Giants win two of the next three...
Speaker: and reevaluate based on his play. Maybe they can, the teams they're playing, they could still win two the next three, even if he plays badly and then maybe go after a grapple, but we'll see. Another quarterback who, who had a severe knee injury was Patrick Mahomes, but he's on the other side of it now. He's back out. He's playing for the Chiefs and they look good. They look like they're back again, to be honest. Across the board, they look really good. A couple of things with him. i think he's not fully back to himself, but the way the ah offense plays now, he's fully in that and he fits. And it could be a different Mahomes because...
Speaker: 386 of his 566 total yards passing came after the catch. So the the players are making plays. They're scheming up nicely. Now, Broncos missed a lot of tackles week one.
Speaker: That plays into it. Cole's defense looks terrible. That plays into it. But... there is some type of scheme element here. That long ball to Tyquan Thornton to set them up for a touchdown at the one-yard line, 45-yard pass, everything about that is identical to the touchdown, or to the yeah the long touchdown he threw to Tyree Kill in the Super Bowl. and Even...
Speaker: the blockers to the route concepts, everything was the same. So they're clearly in their bag using things that Mahomes loves to do. and He's kind of around the league average for on on throw percentage or on target throw percentage. He's...
Speaker: 76.5 the league average is 76.7 so everything about him is is reaching kind of that baseline and i think he only gets better from here and it looks like he fits very nicely into this offense but what did you make of him coming back so far shane and i did say in the off season that i would be surprised if the chiefs weren't back to if not their very best very very close to it and i know it's a very very small sample size of two weeks but they do look really really good but considering no one thought he was going to be back until week three or week four, the fact that he's out there already and he's making these shows, he's making these plays, and as you said, like the wide receivers at just dirt they are just working so hard for Thornton's working really hard.
Speaker: um I can't remember the other fella's name, but he's working really hard. he's getting out of him Yes, thank you. Xavier Wardy looks pretty good too, to be fair. Yeah. And then Kenneth Walker is just one of the smartest pickups of the offseason. He's just an absolute monster when he's running with the ball.
Speaker: And Travis Kelce looks like a football player again. He's another man who seems to be having a renaissance. He's the most yards after catch of any tight end in NFL history now, which is just outrageous. It's just outrageous.
Speaker: If they can continue going to where going, then they'll definitely be in the playoffs, like I said they would, and they might be an outside Super Bowl pick if they keep going the way they're going. They were never going to have back-to-back really, really poor years, not with Mahomes and Andy Reid in there as well. like It was only going to go one way for this year.
Speaker: And if Mahomes came back the way he has, then yeah, they were always going to be back. Yeah, i'm I'm fully in agreement with you. A lot of people had a lot of questions for the Chiefs coming into it, but I mean, the biggest thing with the Chiefs has kind of been their like winning, what would you say, attitude, atmosphere.
Speaker: I didn't really have a doubt. i thought it would take I thought it would take maybe the first two weeks and then maybe we'll have a Dolphins game where Patrick goes absolutely ballistic, but he seems to have hit that early with this this win over the Colts. I think Kenneth Walker has been such a fantastic pickup for them.
Speaker: It really felt like... especially last year, they were a little bit shorthanded. They were really leaning on Kelsey a lot and Rasheed Rice. The rest of the wide receivers weren't really up to par, I felt, last season. And then the running back room was...
Speaker: Sad at best. Whereas now it feels like you've just got Kenneth Walker back there doing whatever. i think the biggest thing for this team is ah you've got Travis Kelsey against the Colts getting 11 targets and Kenneth Walker getting 10, which is more both of them receiving more than Thornton and Rasheed Rice combined.
Speaker: He's using every single receiver or like route runner on this team, spreading the ball everywhere. it really, like James was saying,
Speaker: It almost feels like each player has kind of a specialized role and he's just choosing when to use each one and it's allowing him to be absolutely firing on all cylinders. It'll be interesting to see how this team kind of rounds into shape when it comes into the playoffs. We could be looking at another situation where oh, we just kind of expect them to be in the finals. Like they're playing so well. They're blowing teams out.
Speaker: Like, okay, we'll just, we'll we'll see them in the Super Bowl this year, I guess. Yeah, I'm sure Josh Allen is looking at this and going, come on, man. Like yeah I couldn't have taken advantage of this last year. He's back again. The boogeyman is coming for me.
Speaker: I'm one of the people that didn't have them making the playoffs. I said it was between the Chiefs and Patriots for me for that last spot. And I went for the Patriots. And and Drake May has continued to be poor this season so far. So that doesn't put too much confidence in me from from that standpoint. And Mahomes obviously looks like he's ramping up nicely. But you both mentioned Kenneth Walker and you both mentioned how they didn't have that last year. Like 290 yards and two games It's the best in the league, obviously. 199 of those after first contact. They never have ever had a guy like that. Like their their offensive line isn't even that good. He's just amazing after contact. You cannot get him down to the ground. Now, whether that's because the Broncos and Colts defense is Broncos had a really bad day.
Speaker: They were caught cold. Colts defense. My God, they've given up like over 500 yards per game so far, which is nuts. But 6.2 yards per attempt to rushing as well is crazy for me. I think he's the key addition. And yeah, it's all looking up with the Dolphins looming this week. I think they just battered him and probably only get into second gear because of it. But we want to keep looking ahead to this weekend. We've got three games that we want to preview. One in the 6pm window, one in the late window. So at 9.25pm and then one Sunday night football. Those are Irish times. So first up...
Speaker: Jets at Lions. Shane, your Jets. Lions are six and a half point favorites. The points total is set 47 and a half for the game. Before we throw it to you, I just, last week, I think.
Speaker: Aaron Glenn just made an absolute mess of the game, but the way he called um and and looked after the clock and managed everything there is about being a head coach, because the Packers became the only team in NFL history to win a game with 200 or fewer yards, at least 100 penalty yards and a negative turnover ratio.
Speaker: Even if you take the turnover ratio away, there's only 17 teams in the record books that have won game with those stats, and the last was 2018. So it was just a complete mess of coaching.
Speaker: But having said that, the Jets' defense looks superb. The offense is solid, and I do think that they are going to get things right and get some wins under their belt this season. And that's why Michael, you weren't here earlier, but an Argonne-Chance underdog pick, I went with the New York Jets.
Speaker: So Shane, after all that being said, the good and the bad, how are you feeling? I'm just so i'm i'm so pissed off with how that game finished. I don't want to talk about overtime because I don't even have ever seen a more pitiful three and out of my whole entire life with the way they went about that. was so wrong.
Speaker: The commentators were just saying they need to get the run game going. They have to go to run game and they... The first one is a terrible pass, gets batted down. The second one, I think, is a penalty. And the third one is is a fumble or a sack. And he ends up third and 30.
Speaker: You're never going to be able to punt it far enough away to not lose the game. But before that, there were 10 points up in the fourth quarter against a team in the Packers who lacked confidence. They'd lost six in a row.
Speaker: None of them were playing well. They were so well disciplined. Everything was there for the Jets to get to to and i And they somehow made the balls of it. So hopefully they can... come out this weekend, beat the Lions. I'm not as confident as you. I actually have the Lions by eight in this one because I think it's one of those where the Jets had their good start. If they went 2-0, I might back them to win this, but you could be easily see the Jets end up falling into one and seven here now. And that might just be me being the ultimate pessimist because I've had no other feelings for the Jets over the last couple of years.
Speaker: Can the defense hold out Gibbs and St. Brown? They've managed to hold out with nearly everyone so far. As you said, the defense has looked really, really good. But I think they're coming up against a completely different standard of receiver in Amon Nassim Brown. Christian Watson is good, but St. Brown is on a whole other level to him even. So hopefully it's a close game. Hopefully the Jets can just hold on. But they do really need their defense to be at their very, very best and not give away stupid penalties like the one, again, in overtime that gave the Panthers, the Panthers,
Speaker: Packers, the basic chip be field goal. God, those words were hard to say.
Speaker: Honestly, I'm sitting here, I'm thinking, you know, the Lions, they're 1-1 right now. They just had a disappointing loss to the Buffalo Bills, I feel like.
Speaker: the I said Lions, right? I didn't say Giants. Yeah, you said the Lions. Yeah. Honestly, i think I'm right there with you, James. I think we're together on this. I was coming into it and I was like, you know what? I don't hate the Jets' defense. ah The Lions haven't really blown me away with how they've played.
Speaker: I don't think they're world ble beaters right now. And you know what? there There are more... reasons yeah know there's a lot of reasons to not hate this New York Jets team. you know I like Garrett Wilson. Adnai Mitchell, I'm still in between on whether or not he can sustain 12 targets from Gino Smith.
Speaker: But i I love your tight end. Gotta say, love Kenyon Sadiq. think he's great. I don't know. i think... I think you guys have a chance to come out here and kind of take a win that I feel like in the schedule was not there for you. There has to be at least one or two. At some point, you guys have to... It it looks like...
Speaker: This is going to sound so mean.
Speaker: The Jets looks like a good football team that has no confidence in themselves to the point that they're self-sabotaging. Like, that's kind of how I feel. It feels like...
Speaker: You look at the Jets and if they had any other like crest or color on, I would feel better than the fact that it says NYJ on it. yeah i just I can't lie to you, but this is your week now.
Speaker: I've got a two-touchdown Garrett Wilson game incoming. i'm I'm feeling it. It's in my bones. I also think they will get their interception this week.
Speaker: Okay. Jared Goff. Jerichoff is going to throw up something scandalous i man and to Amandras St. Brown and it it's going to come down in green hands instead of blue hands just once.
Speaker: like it's it's It's only going to happen once. We just need it to happen ASAP because this run is actually, I think this is game number 20 coming up. So if you don't get an OB 20 games in all without an interception, I don't think it can continue to go on, especially when the defense do look so good.
Speaker: um I think that's all they're shy on now is just getting that interception over the line. Yeah, especially with... It sounds ridiculous they're a professional football team. Yeah, especially with Aaron Glenn being a former defensive back and a defensive-minded head coach. You're like, come on, please, just do something for me.
Speaker: They've stifled their own game massively so far, with only 66 yards allowed to the Titans and the Packers on the ground. But Gibbs is a different animal. I think that'll be tough to slow down. I do think the Lions will put up some points here, but they were blown out by the Bills. The Bills took the foot off the accelerator, and they nerdy threw it away against the Saints as well. So I don't think they're a great team. I think...
Speaker: There's question marks around the lines, especially with Brian Branch still being out. I think their their safeties are questionable at best but without him as kind of the heartbeat in there. So, yeah, I think that the Jets could take advantage of this and take advantage of Jared Goff, who Aaron Glenn knows well from his time there. So I'm going with the Jets with a narrow victory. We're holding it down for you, Shane. Thanks so much. We'll move over to brazil Cowboys versus the Ravens in Rio.
Speaker: Ravens are three-point favorites. And the points total, they're expecting a big high-scoring game here of 52.5. Understandable because the Ravens' defense has been questionable. Cowboys continues to be questionable. and But the offenses... Ravens were slow last week. Did not look great against the Saints. But week one, they put a lot on the Colts. And the Cowboys looked good on offense last week, but poor in the first week against the Giants. So a bit up and down. The Ravens are heading into into Rio with all too familiar skid marks in their pants because they threw away another four-quarter lead that they have done so many times. This time the first of the Jesse Minter era. Not a good taste in your mouth to be going down to Rio after losing in the fourth quarter at home to the Saints, Michael.
Speaker: Coming into this, i I feel like the obvious choice is the Ravens, but I am also an Eagles fan. So my first my first decision, my my first instinct is to just say the Cowboys are not going to win.
Speaker: But to keep looking at this team, and honestly, i think... For no reason other than Flowers might not play.
Speaker: And i think the Cowboys are better than how they've played so far. I think the Cowboys could win by like 14 points, honestly. I think this could be just one of those blip games for the Ravens where everything seems like it's falling apart. And then next week they go back to regular regular scheduled programming. I think they no Zay Flowers is going to hurt him a lot.
Speaker: I know he's questionable at the moment. We're still yet to see if he plays or not, but I'm assuming he's not playing by what reports have kind of indicated. Dak Prescott, every year i think is the year that he will kind of
Speaker: show that he's below mediocre and every year he just has a great stretch where he looks fantastic the offense looks great he's talking about the Cowboys are the greatest offense of all time so you know what this one time i will believe in you I think the Cowboys are winning over 10 points lock it down Damn.
Speaker: i would I just want to say something before I throw it to you, Shane. yeah I think that the trenches in this game are massive, the run game, because the Saints only got 2.4 yards per carry off against the Ravens, and Javante Williams has looked really bad so far for the Cowboys running the ball.
Speaker: He just cannot get it going, and I think they'll struggle to get that off the ground. And we saw them struggle with the run game so far on the other side for the Cowboys' defense.
Speaker: you know they didn't look good against jackson dart as a mobile quarterback design runs lamar jackson will do the same Jaden Daniels had the same on them as well. They couldn't contain it. So expect quite a few design runs from Lamar.
Speaker: And then Derek Henry. He's leading the NFL in rushing success rate with 70%. It's just crazy. So success rate is you get 40% of the yardage on first down, 60% on second down, and 100% on third or fourth down. He's doing that 70% of the time.
Speaker: He is a machine. I do not think that the Cowboys will be able to stop him or be able to run the ball enough on the Ravens to win this game. Personally, I have the Ravens winning maybe by a touchdown, but I do think it could hit that over on that very high line because 53 points can rack up quickly when you're two defenses that make make mistakes across the board.
Speaker: Yeah, I think this is game of the weekend and I'm going to do what I did last week again and go against my Ganshan's pick because I have the Ravens winning this as a... Pretty much everything you said, the run game is just the Cowboys run defense is pretty much non-existent and they can't run it themselves by all accounts.
Speaker: Derrick Henry is still the king. I think the fact they're getting out of America after the first two weeks they've had is actually a real help to them and it's a bigger help to them than it is to the Cowboys.
Speaker: I don't like it to go over 52 points, but I do like it to definitely break 40 between the two of And I think it's going to be close and going to save the Ravens by less than a field goal. Oh, is my thoughts on this.
Speaker: The Ravens just need to bounce back up to what they did against the Saints. That should actually be a criminal penalty to lose in the fourth quarter to the Saints. There should be big fines going in all over the place. Maybe a prison sentence and as well. But I'll leave away with it for this week. But yeah, I think i think they'll get the bounce back they want.
Speaker: The Cowboys just, I think they're going to be borderline unstoppable at home. and then looked like a bunch of gnomes when they go away from home. And I think this could be week week one of the gnomes from Dallas. Okay. Okay. That's fair. I think... I hope not, though, for my gun chance.
Speaker: Yeah, you have the opposite in gun chance. But this time... I know, but I did that last week as well, and worked Yeah, and worked out. So the first game, we had two Jets, one Lions, and this time we've got two Cowboys, one Ravens. Let's see if we can all agree on our final preview. No, we had two Ravens, one Cowboys. Yeah.
Speaker: But last game is Sunday Night Football Rams at Broncos in Mile High Rams are two and a half points favorite The points total is set at 45 and a half I think it'll be an interesting game Because the Broncos found a nice rhythm at the end of the game Versus the Jags Rams look strong versus the Giants, but as we said before, they had nothing going at quarterback. So it was kind of a cakewalk for Matt Stafford. And this is actually a proper test. I think both offenses have the opportunity to make explosive plays and to make this game exciting. But I think it'll be kind of a tactical battle between two very good head coaches.
Speaker: I like the over on the points total. I think this is one that could be like 27, 24.
Speaker: I'm finding very hard to call a winner. and I picked the Broncos in gone chance, but I'm going to do a Shane on it, I think, and go with the Rams because they do have a more settled team where everything is the same. They have the same style of McVay calling plays on ah offense.
Speaker: Now Bo Nix is still trying to learn how to work with Davis Webb. That's kind of an issue. Their defense hasn't been fully right, neither has the Rams. But I just think that experience of the Rams might bode well for them. But again, as I said during Grand Chance, mile high, the altitude is tough.
Speaker: and So I really, really think this could be a quality game. And it's a pity it's on so late for Irish fans, because I think it could be a cracker. What do you think, Shane? Rams by six.
Speaker: um Obviously, he had a really tough time in Australia. McVay's interview where came out and said, sometimes you have a dumbass coach who stupid travel choices.
Speaker: That's the thing your your players want to see, where you're not coming out and showing them under the bus saying, oh, they didn't show up, but they didn't do this. He just seems like a really, really top man, and really sound. And I'd say he's a good man to work for. They all want to work for him by the looks of it as well. So...
Speaker: I think week one was a blip. I think they're going to go on and show us why they are everyone's, nearly everyone's Super Bowl favourites. And it's going to start here with a win in my life. I know they had it easy Monday. We don't need to go back over that again. But this is, it will be tougher for them. But I just think they have the better players all across the board that they should get over the line against the Broncos team who have struggled with themselves.
Speaker: Michael, Broncos, I bet. You guys you guys make me... I truly... Every time I come into these and both of you go for the same pick, I truly... Every fibre of my being just wants to pick Bo Nix now. I am going to go with the Rams. Oh, we all agree. I'm going to go with the Rams. We're all going to be on the same train now.
Speaker: So if we end up losing, i will never, ever, ever do this again. Just no. Just no.
Speaker: I just think the Rams, they've've they've kind of, exactly like you were saying, Shane, they kind of had such a disappointing start to the season. Giants wasn't really much of a game. I feel like they still kind of have that feeling of we still need to prove we are who we've been saying we are, who we showed we were last year.
Speaker: The Broncos don't look, I know they had the win against Jacksonville. They don't look as kind of steadfast as they did last year. We'll see, obviously, as their as their season goes on. Last year, i wasn't really impressed with them. And then they had like 13 clutch wins. So at that point, it doesn't matter if you're impressed with them or not. They're winning.
Speaker: i think I think you could get spooky. Even though there's a good chance there's no Puka, Devante Adams just looks absolutely it fantastic.
Speaker: And then... I kind of love some of the tight ends for the Rams as well, which kind going under the radar. You're a big fan of a tight end, Michael, is what I'm trying to notice here from this episode. Love me a tight end. A big man who can block and catch a touchdown. Love that. Okay. I was screaming at Jawan Johnson week one. James was there. Shane was there.
Speaker: Oh, when he caught that touchdown pass, my whole week was made. Still owen to in fantasy, but still. back to the Back to the topic. I think the Rams are winning. I think it could get spooky for the Broncos. This could be another blowout here.
Speaker: The Broncos, Bo Nix has a lot of... They could blow out at their tight ends in this one. Yeah. I was going to say, you're loving a tight end and you're loving a blowout, Michael. I don't know if talking about football anymore. Let's continue. Earlier on when he spoke with the Jets, he was just like, to you, Shane, oh yeah, I love your tight end.
Speaker: Yeah. It took me a second not to say something there. It's the guy's first time. and You have to keep it on topic here, lad. I'm getting too excited now. Jesus. Excited about tight ends and blowouts.
Speaker: ah Oh, anyways. Anyways, i even though i I feel like I'm way more optimistic on the Broncos than most people, I love a lot of their wide receivers like Troy Franklin and Pat Bryan. I think they don't really get a lot of usage. And yet every time they touch the ball, they seem to get like 30 yards, which is fantastic.
Speaker: I just think there's not really much you can do against this Rams team. I know they're not exactly the same world beater as they were last year, but I would be shocked if they don't round into form by the end of the season. I just think by week 14, 15, we'll just be looking at this Rams team being like, oh, I don't know why we really doubted them at the start of the season. These guys are the exact same. Like,
Speaker: So i'm kind of I'm kind of expecting another 10-plus win for the Rams, honestly. Give me two blowouts this weekend. Make it really boring for us. i actually I actually think that like that the Rams are going to come up to their level much quicker, and it'll be the Broncos. that They'll like be 9-8 or 10-7 and scrape into the playoffs, but they'll have perfected that Davis Webb system, and the defense will be humming, and then come the playoffs, no one will want to play them.
Speaker: Yeah, I do agree with that as well. I actually just had something the end of my nose that said I don't think any of the teams who everyone told were going to be the world beaters, none of them have really started that well. Not off the top of my head anyway. like You had the Lions to get to your Super Bowl. and They haven't started very well. The Rams haven't started well. The NFC Championship game, but yeah. Yeah. ah Rams haven't started well. Broncos haven't started well. All these teams who...
Speaker: on paper looked like they were the ones that going go and run away with every single division known to man have all started kind of slow and don't know what it is but I do think they will all ramp up in their own time they'll all obviously make the playoffs and I think I think it could be a playoff for the ages time comes around where we have a lot lads who been getting pulled apart in the media for not showing up for 16 weeks all of a sudden now they're getting four touchdowns in the game and stuff and I think that's where things are going to get exciting this year but it It just makes it more interesting when everyone seems to be playing at the same kind of level as each other. Like, I know slagged the Saints, but for them to be able to go out and beat the Ravens, like, is it is it a thing where that's a one to offer? can
Speaker: Can the Saints go and do this to two or three other teams this season, get a couple of big wins, blow things wide open and just kind of go from there? Or is this just early season jitters? And that's the thing I'm most looking forward to over the next couple of weeks.
Speaker: Yeah, you'd almost think the Bills, they look so good so quickly. Have they like peaked too early when it gets to earlyity yeah the playoffs? Because you make a good point, everybody will be around and into form. But it makes for a great season and I'm buzzing for the rest of it to roll out. But Michael, appreciate you jumping on for your first NFL segment. and We'll certainly have you back on again. You killed it, sir. So thank you.
Speaker: Go and enjoy your tight ends and your blowouts and your football. Whatever you do in your spare time. Always pleasure, lads. Always a pleasure. All right, there goes Michael. His first appearance talking NFL. or He nailed it. Of course, he was always going to. We've been telling him he needs to jump on and talk NFL, so happy that he did that.
Speaker: But to wrap up this episode, we've got a little something that we've put together. Well, I've put together this You've put together. Shane will do next week. We're going to do a little game and to end the episodes. The power rankings are still going to be every every week once all leagues are back in action, but we're going to have this game too just to add a bit of fun. No real tracking in place. It's just a bit of a laugh, and you can play along as well at home. So first week I've got for you is blind ranking of Premier League goalscorers, Liverpool edition. Of course.
Speaker: So I'm going to give you five Liverpool players and you have to tell me who has scored the most to the least goals in order. So these are obviously not in order, but these are the players I have.
Speaker: So I've got Jordan Henderson, Ian Rush, Dirk Kaut, Roberto Firmino and Divock Origi.
Speaker: Now, I'll let you talk your way through this so we don't have dead airspace. Give us your thoughts as you're working this out. Can you give me the five again so I can just write them down for me? So Rush, Henderson.
Speaker: Kaut. Shit, where's this? Rush, Henderson. one second. I'm going to have to put it into the middle of my notes. That's no good. I need to get to the bottom. Okay.
Speaker: So we've got Rush, Henderson, Kaut, Firmino, and Origi. So, okay, well, Rush is obviously first. Listen, Kel Firmino and Origi.
Speaker: Okay, so you're going with Rush at number one in the list. Yeah, and going Firmino at number two. Okay. Because the man did, he didn't score as many goals as Salah and Manny, obviously, but he definitely scored more than Henderson, who's third. He's in third out of longevity and not because, obviously, he played defensive midfield for a lot of his time.
Speaker: Oh wait, actually. Leave Henderson out for a second. Okay, yeah. Keep us your thoughts as you're going through this. We'll let you so go through it. So, Dirk Hous in his time at Liverpool, when he didn't play as a striker, even though he was signed as a striker, he did take penalties. He was there for quite while too.
Speaker: Yeah, I'm going to Coutard, Henderson, fourth, Origi, fifth. So Origi, he had two years away in loan. He missed a year with an injury. I think he scored big goals, not loads of goals. um I think like he's he's a cult here in Liverpool because he got the Champions League final goal, the Barcelona goal, the goal against Everton, many goals against Everton. Actually, i think he's the highest Liverpool scorer against Everton.
Speaker: But I think he might only have maybe 30 goals overall. I think Henderson... Actually, see I'm going to say Origi has 23, Henderson is 31, Cout is 54, Firmino has 96, and Rush has the most goals, 245 or whatever. So that's my order. But this is just Premier League, though.
Speaker: This is just Premier League. Oh, I thought you went all time. No, this is just Premier League. So, Rush for Liverpool. No, they need to start again.
Speaker: Because Rush didn't play that much in the Premier League. That's the thing. or first version Yeah, that's the thing. So, need to reconsider your list. Yeah, I Firmino.
Speaker: Okay, Firmino. Henderson. Henderson, no. Kite second. Okay, Firmino. God, this is... More difficult than expected. Henderson, thirds. Okay, so you're going Firmino, Kite, Henderson, Arrighi and Rush. I think Rush only did one year of Premier League football.
Speaker: Firmino, Kite, Henderson, Arrighi and Rush. Now, the Premier League started 92.
Speaker: ninety two 92 and rush was there until 96. Yes. generous So he had four seasons with Liverpool. Does that make you want to change anything? We'll give you the chance. yeah I'm going to move him up to third, second, second, second, second it second or third second second the second. So we've got, so our final, mean, a rush.
Speaker: Yeah. po Henderson. Rieke. Okay. And you said Firmino, you think, has 96. You said Kout. Yeah. Yeah, 96 or so. You said Kout, 54. Yeah, this was all time now. This wasn't just Premier League. yeah prely we'll go We'll go this as your Premier League guess because I'll tell you, you're not too far off with these. um Okay.
Speaker: So your list, Roberto Firmino, Ian Rush, Dark Kout, Jordan Henderson, Divock Origi. You're exactly spot on. That perfect.
Speaker: Unbelievable. Oh. I missed both. Oh, no. Oh, no. I guess that was still thinking in my mind that you had put Rush third, but then you said second. That's why I said, are you sure second or third?
Speaker: That was the only mix-up. So Firmino is first. Ian Rush and Dirk Kaut are your only two mix-ups. Kaut was second. Rush is third. You have Rush second, Kout third. Henderson and Origi. The unbelievable part about this is you said Origi 23.
Speaker: He had 22 goals. You said Henderson 31. He had 29. You said Kout 54. He had 51. And you said Firmino 96 and he had 82. So you were like really close on nearly all them apart from...
Speaker: Firmino was about 14 off, but the rest were within like single digits, which is mad. and And the recalibration with Rush, look, we'll give it to you because you were going on the fly there. So you were very, very close. That was the impressive. How are you feeling? I'm fuming.
Speaker: I'm fuming because I had it right. I chief he was questioning my, like I've written it down here now six times on a list of the five names. And now i'm looking at the one that was correct and name I'll never forgive myself.
Speaker: You were very close though, in fairness, like Rush. Yeah. and co is yeah take Rush only had four years in the Prem. and So yeah, Firmino is top with 82 and Rush had 45 if you want that out there. So that was the final list. That was the the game for week one. Bit of crack. Shane is going to come with one and try and stump me next week. We'll do it across the the NFL, and NBA and and Premier League. But we'll start with the Premier League for the crack. So yeah, that is that is another episode. wrapped we hope you did enjoy it shane i'll throw it to you to end it as usual yeah um another good week it's great to have michael on talking about the nfl i honestly thought he was and nba and nba for life but he's he's well able to talk nfl as well now as we've seen so it's great and just again thank you so much for listening um that's when i mentioned the tiktok 200 people 200 new followers on tiktok over the space of last week is
Speaker: it's unreal honestly and you don't like we don't make money off TikToks but we just we enjoy that people enjoy them seeing the views on that pop-up was absolutely wild and we just appreciate every single one of you keep following please follow their YouTube and it's it's it's the one that just it would mean a lot to us I don't know what else to say so thank you so much we'll see you next week I love your tight end
