Transcript
Speaker: We are back! with another episode of The Dire Need of a Podcast. I am your host. Chris Dyer, not joined by producer Christian today because...
Speaker: We're actually doing a little lunch recording. It launched on Friday, October 9th, and we are joined by an absolute beauty on the show today. We have the 2015 -2016 Memphis Grizzlies leading salesman from the inside sales class. My quality from the spot. Co -host.
Speaker: We have Mr. Brian Walker, Texas Ranger, eating the first. Brother, how is it? goings So good dude. I don't know if you could have crammed anything else into that introduction. I was just trying to give you your flowers, dude. tryingking their flowers So good, dude. How are you doing?
Speaker: Dune Doing good, man. um we'll talk about What? Uh... No, I have some questions for you, and we'll get to that in a second, but... I just want to real quick say this was supposed to go out a few weeks ago. and Sorry, a couple weeks ago. um But we just had some technical issues, and so we're getting it out. literally the day before Premier League ah returns. But this was going to be a transfer window pod, you know, just kind of recapping the first five weeks of the Premier League season.
Speaker: and talking about some of the bigger stories in the game leading into this. Uh... Kind of. post. international break. frenzy that we have about to start. But Walker, before we talk prem...
Speaker: I wanna ask you a few questions. I just wanna catch up. let's do it What's been going on in your world? Anything new? How's the family? I know you got some exciting things happening on the horizon. Yeah, dude. Family's good. Auburn's good. um Get a concert in our football stadium tomorrow night that who we thought. Zach Bryan thought we might not have it because of the hurricane.
Speaker: But it looks like that's going to be out of the area by tomorrow night. so um Should still be good for that. But yeah, like you mentioned, Baker News, we're having our... Second child. um and about ah 10 days which is very exciting but also very crazy because it's been a while Our our daughter's almost seven, so. I feel like we're gonna have to relearn. relearn some things on the fly.
Speaker: How's Emma Kate? Feeling about it. ah Great. I think she probably doesn't know what's about to hit her. but um she's super excited Called her the other day, practicing reading to her little brother in her room, which was cool. um And, you know, she just brings up baby brother like all the time. Like, oh, well, we'll need to be careful with this for baby brother or that. So I think she's going to be a good little mini mom. but um
Speaker: Hopefully that first month right will be will be okay as she's getting adjusted to having another little one in the house that's going to need some some more attention at first. Yep. I can't can't wait for that for y 'all, man. Super exciting.
Speaker: And... ah As you know. Mr. Eaton, I've recently started running and I know you're a big runner. oh And um yes, for my friends hearing this for the first time, it is true. I am doing something I swore I would never do, which is running. ah home I got the Salcany running shoes, and I'm actually running a 5K with...
Speaker: Curtis, my buddy Curtis, and Christian, producer Christian, tomorrow. just to kind of Wow. Yeah, just first things. I feel like that's the first step. What's the goal? What's the goal? uh to finish this you've done that already yeah this will be the third time i've ever run uh over three miles so um yeah i'm excited for you to to to get to experience like uh
Speaker: Just like the race day adrenaline, just like the excitement that comes from like being around other people all going for the same goal. It's like a... I don't know. It's just really, really fun. Love it. I can't wait. I'll definitely let you know and the listeners know how that goes. But I also, as far as like pace goal, I just don't want to stop running.
Speaker: You know, I don't want to walk. I want to at least keep a slight jog if I need to slow it down a little bit. That's going to be the the real goal there. Yeah, I would encourage you to take it out easy. right like It's going to be...
Speaker: very um not to use the same word again maybe very easy to like Just go with the pack and take off because that's what a lot of people are going to do. You kind of got to. Put the governor on. a little bit and like You know, like you mentioned, just take it out easy. You want to save the energy for the for the back half of the race.
Speaker: um Because you don't want the opposite to happen, right? Like you said, you don't you don't want to have to... be fighting for your life like two and a half miles in just because you went out too hot exactly Exactly. But man, you've been so helpful and honestly just a motivation for me. But I just want to know what's your running journey going through right now? What are you training for? ah Yeah, share that.
Speaker: Mid -December. My training partner and I are running in the... Mississippi Gulf Coast Bowl. So we'll we'll take down a marathon. I believe it's December the 12th. Um... Pretty excited about it. We're in week seven of 16. in our training block right now um we have 17 miles in the morning. Oh my gosh.
Speaker: It's going to be memorable because it's going to be raining and windy from the remnants of the storm that's going to come through. So there is a chance we might have to push it until Sunday if it's storming in the morning. but um Yeah, man, we... yeah We're kinda in the thick of it. right now. Next week will be halfway. We're actually doing every four weeks, we're doing deload weeks. essentially as we ramp up our mileage like every fourth week we're kind of scaling it back a little bit um just for because of our old you know, mid thirties bodies. Um,
Speaker: Can't take it. Yeah, man. 17 tomorrow in the rain and the wind. We'll see how it goes. Good luck, my friend. That's insane. How long does that take you? Like just a training day in the morning? Is that going to take you? That's a it's good question. We'll probably learn that.
Speaker: Our average, it'll take longer than that. Our average pace will probably be around like nine minutes. Insane. Um, So yeah, we'll probably start out closer to like 930, 945 pace over the first like few miles, but we'll probably settle in.
Speaker: closer closer to non -minute pace. of which according to google No, man, it pays for 17 miles because I don't feel like doing. that public math right now is going to take us two hours and 33 minutes. So we'll see. Alright, well, so can can't wait to hear how it goes. and um
Speaker: But I also want to give the listeners just a little history here, a little backstory on how quality from the spot started. I think it was back in 2015 when we were in our first year of ticket sales with the Grizzlies. We had connected on our Premier League fandom.
Speaker: One of the first things I knew about you was you're a Chelsea fan. And I thought that it would be a great – no, we thought, I guess, it would be a great idea to ah just record us talking about it because we were already doing that on a daily basis. So might as well just – recording and Got to put some crazy takes out there. But yeah we didn't we didn't ever really have an audience. We didn't really care if we had an audience. We just wanted to talk soccer.
Speaker: I remember there were plenty of podcasts that just lived in my garage band on my old laptop. And then we ah we threw them up on SoundCloud for a little bit. But ah yeah, just I've always loved talking soccer with you. And I know that we're going to pop in in and out just throughout the season. ah just you know We did a preview pod, but we'll kind of have you on here whenever you...
Speaker: One, and with with new new kiddo and stuff going on. but ah Just looking forward to talking some soccer here today. Yeah, dude
Speaker: You wait, hold on I feel like you started with the question and then ended without it. I'm sharing how I became a Chelsea fan. That was going to be my question to you. okay I don't know why I like zoned out because I knew it was coming. I'm like, wait, did he ask that? This is also this is a new thing. you know I felt like my intro or a little bit of ago was a little bit rocky. I'll be honest with the fans, with the listeners out there. but this is a lunch This is a lunch day.
Speaker: uh midday podcast recording so uh we're just we're trying to get content out to y 'all but yeah how did you become a Chelsea fan when did it start and why is the question for you um I never played soccer a day in my life. um The only soccer experience I have is intramurals, which is at the lowest level possible.
Speaker: Um, Yeah, just post, I guess post -World Cup. you know i'm back in like 2010 range combined with that, with just being in college around some guys that love soccer.
Speaker: The sport that played it. um you know, that also played a lot of FIFA, just became like more and more exposed to it. And so from there. Um... you know Again, just ended up watching a lot with them on Saturday mornings at the house. Ended up playing a lot of FIFA with them.
Speaker: naturally and so I just kind of fell in love with Chelsea mainly because of Didier Drogba and so I did a lot of like watching YouTube videos of the players that I like to play with and watch. on the weekends and so that was it for me i just love watching jogba obviously a very very easy player to to enjoy highlights of so nothing overly complicated it wasn't really about like who's doing well at this moment in time it was like strictly Hey, who do I like?
Speaker: to watch and so that's that's where i landed I love how our stories are so similar because for me, it was Gareth Bale on YouTube that that guy was... awesome and um that's why i fell in love with spurs so right post 2010 world cup when he was ripping it winning player of the years so it was pretty cool how our our stories are so similar um but let's go ahead and let's let's get this going here let's dive into the meat of the podcast and that is going to be this current Premier League season. And real quick. I don't want to...
Speaker: you know, I want to speak directly to those listeners who don't classify themselves as soccer fans. I know some of my friends don't watch it or don't you know like it, but I got a recommendation for you before we begin. Just just start now. it's better there's There's never been a better time to get into it than right now. we just had The World Cup here in America, soccer has never been bigger in America. Watch some games.
Speaker: Pick a team. find a player, and just dive in. That's it. Right, what was it? That's all you gotta do. I've got some friends at the office mentioning him earlier, the guy I run with. He did the same thing. after watching soccer this summer, and he's been following it ever since. Is that the guy that might be rooting on a League One team here pretty soon? Yeah, unfortunately, yeah. Get ready to not be able to watch your team, buddy. Shout out Man man City there. But, ah all right.
Speaker: Five games in, what do we actually know? What is going to be the biggest takeaway that you're taking from the first five game weeks, Walker? I feel like I've got to start. at the top and that's that it's a two team title race Um,
Speaker: I know we'll get to this later. I haven't really changed who I thought was going to win the title. um But... I don't think like no one's going to be able to go. game for game with with City and Arsenal, I don't think.
Speaker: We... I guess we'll have to see like how the city news shakes up their camp. That's definitely a possibility, I'm sure. You know, each individual player's agents are putting bugs in their ears like, hey, you need to get out of here before.
Speaker: Even if something were to happen, I'm not convinced that anything's going to happen to them, but... you know I think there could be some... ah There could be a little uneasiness in their camp. so ah but But, yeah, at the end of the day, no one's going to challenge those two teams. That's probably the biggest takeaway for me. I've got a couple more, but um that's probably the biggest one.
Speaker: Yeah, i'm I'm in agreement with you. City currently sitting five wins from five. on 15 points. Arsenal having dropped that last match before the international break to, to Brighton sit at 12 points, four wins, one loss. It's gotta be those two. And it's just going to be interesting to see kind of like you mentioned with this whole city.
Speaker: city thing like if they reach a decision you know before the end of the season or here sooner? like are Are they going to be... deducted points you know everton it was everton and forest but over the last few years they got deducted points just on those charges alone you know and so it's like 115 charges that man city found you were found guilty for what's going to be the ramifications of that so or the repercussions of that for this right like there's no precedent for this i don't
Speaker: like i again i'll believe it when i see it i just don't see the Premier League and the FA coming down on them. but Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm wrong. I hope I'm wrong. But...
Speaker: We'll see. Yep. And another question I had here was, what has surprised us most? so far and i'll take this one and i think it has to be just two promoted teams are outside of the bottom three i was gonna say that anyway yeah now i Going into this season you know We did that preview pod and I did a lot of research leading up to that so that y 'all don't have to. um and
Speaker: Every single person that I read was saying, as far as the relegated teams predictions go, was it's going to be the three recently promoted teams. It was going to be... Coventry.
Speaker: Let's see here. Coventry Ipswich, right? And whole city. Am I correct in that? Yep. And right now, Hull City sit 8th. We'll talk about them in a second. And Ipswich Town sit 11th.
Speaker: And only Coventry... 18th and relegated and in the relegation zone. So I think that just proves to the point that the Prepper League's never been more competitive than it is right now.
Speaker: and It feels like any given week, anybody can beat anybody, which I think that's what what makes it the best team. Honestly, and I think that's what makes it the best league in the world. so Yeah, no, I would agree. i mean There's just parody all up and down the table.
Speaker: I, uh, Fully expecting Chelsea to lose to Bournemouth this weekend. You know, I'm in Bournemouth or sitting there at 17th and they, you know, that could happen. Right. So, yeah you know, you got Tottenham Hotspur sitting in the 20th, like. could Could they be you know someone like a Leeds United who are sitting in fifth? You don't know. it's yeah There's definitely no predictability. Alright. title race. We kind of mentioned this.
Speaker: So we won't talk talk about this too much, but City, 15 -15. Real quick, are you surprised by the strong start under new manager Enzo Maresca? Because I want to give you the floor here because he came from Chelsea.
Speaker: Of course, dude. I think. um Again, when we were... doing this pod originally when we had our technical difficulties was looking back at There's tons of games within their five -game unbeaten run that that could have gone the wrong way. you know Like we always say, you've got to get the breaks to win the title. but I am. I am ah very.
Speaker: I'm surprised we just mentioned the parody. in the league. If my memory serves me correctly without looking on it up, I believe they have ah a 10 -man victory against Manchester United with their own red card. So, again, there's been a lot that's gone their way. I wouldn't expect them to...
Speaker: you know, to continue on this kind of form. But yeah, I mean, I'm excited. I mean, he's a manager that I really liked at Chelsea, but I thought had his flaws. And so maybe he just, you know, needs to manage ah a team full of superstars.
Speaker: So yeah, we'll see Yep, and then Arsenal How much should that 3 -0 defeat to Brighton worry the Gunners? um I personally think that, again...
Speaker: We mentioned this a second ago. It's a two -horse race. Yes, thats ah you know you never want to lose, especially going into an international break because everything just gets blown out of proportion. right everybody that's That's the last taste that people have in their mouth. But I think Arsenal are going to be just fine. they They're dealing with some some injuries, specifically in the back. right with is it
Speaker: Is it Saliba that's hurt or is it Gabrielle? I feel like it's so it's Saliba. Yep. so they You know, they all... They they buy center backs like they're going out of style. So like they're definitely not short of.
Speaker: you know. They're not short of of ah players that they can plug in. Right, absolutely. I mean, they got Ben White, who's doubtful it right now with a groin injury, saliva, due back late. 2026. They have Konza's got some some Injury concerns. How does he say uh him then the new guy to soul to solace so there's just you know
Speaker: I think they're going to be just fine. I don't think that losing to... a really good brighton team who we'll talk about here in a second uh is too worrisome because uh brian are good and anybody can beat anybody like we mentioned but I think it's going to be a two -horse race. I do want to touch on Liverpool real quick. They are undefeated, unbeaten.
Speaker: But they do have three draws. Do you have anything to say on them? and I'm trying to see what the question I had here on the sheet. Yeah, know I know is out injured. um right now and You know, he definitely has it. Like I thought going into the season, I think we touched on this on a preview. I thought he would be a player that would. kind of burst on the scene this year. um You can score a lot of goals for them.
Speaker: Um, They've only scored seven goals. in five games. And so for me, it's really just a matter of. you know What clip are they going to be able to score? um You know, I think he'll be right there.
Speaker: in that top four race, but we'll we'll see. who who can step up i think akatika is also hampered right now by injuries. you know what let's see Kind of what that lineup looks for them. You know, they probably paid a lot of money for verts who we know has been a disappointment They just paid a lot of money for Boricola.
Speaker: um You know, they were able to keep hold of Gakpo. So I would ah i would expect Gakpo to fill the void up top for them. But, um you know, that's that's a team that's that's got their flaws. It looks like they're they're going to have an uphill battle to to to be in the top four, but I think they'll be in that race all year.
Speaker: Yeah. Completely agree. All right. Yes or no. question here. We both predicted Arsenal to win the title. Has your predicted title winner changed after the first five games? Unfortunately not.
Speaker: I'm going to go ahead and say the same, especially with the unknown. of the whole city. mess and just how that affects players that, you know, let's say they come down hard and maybe it's not even for this season, but will players want to stay? Will they care? Right. So I'm looking to potentially leave. So, all right.
Speaker: Next segment here is, wait, are they actually good? Brighton! We've mentioned them already! but they sit third with a plus 11 goal differential. League high 16 goals? Are they top 4 material? They have beat Villa? 4 -0. United, 3 -2. And Arsenal, 3 -0 right before the international break. Are they legit? i don't think you can argue that they're not.
Speaker: Um, specifically with how They handled Arsenal before the break. I mean, that was a completely... full -strength Arsenal side Other than... um Saliba, but again, he's been out and they've had...
Speaker: They've had no problems. so um i You know, what's what's interesting is I think Brighton just play them aggressively. many Many teams, I think, set up to just try to to defend and hold on right and against Arsenal. We'll probably talk about...
Speaker: We did this last time. How do you pronounce Pascal Gross's last name? Is it Gross? and I think you looked it up. It is Gross, but it's like... That's right. It it looks like a B. But you nailed it. he He had the quote that i that I saw. basically like hey we're not going to try to dance into their box because no one's going to be able to get through that back line. We're just going to, if we have...
Speaker: Space to shoot we're just gonna shoot even if it's outside the box and that's what they did and that that works So I think they just were able to you know tactically outsmart Arsenal, which no one's really been able to do. So yeah, I think they're absolutely legit and they can absolutely finish the top four.
Speaker: Yep. Couldn't agree more. Now let's move on to Brentford. Another team, right? They sit. currently in fourth all right and they have beat Spurs 3 -0
Speaker: Chelsea 3 -0. So those are our two teams that they've absolutely waxed. They sit unbeaten, though, with two wins and three draws on nine points. I've been really impressed by Keith Andrews' squad here. Specifically, the person I've been most, the player I've been most impressed with. with is that um what's his first name i think kevin shade is it shade or shade however you want to pronounce it but he has three goals on the season they have the brazilian tiago who lit it up last season and they have that anthony kid on on the right wing like they just got they just hits you on the counter. And they just, I just, all I remember, you know, I try to block out most of Spurs results so far this year, but all I remember from when we got drubbed 3 -0.
Speaker: to to Brentford was just How quickly they hit us on counter and they they were just getting in great positions and their their players are just so fast. Yeah, I also want to shout out. um the ah Their midfielder, Mamadou Sangare, I think has been one of the standouts of the Premier League.
Speaker: Again, I don't remember the context. He did not start the game against Chelsea, but like when he came on, I'm just thinking like this guy's absolutely dominating. our midfield which in fairness that midfield we had to start jordan henderson and valentin barco so maybe not Anything to write home about, but... Yeah, he's just another another player, but but to your point, they did the same thing to Chelsea, just like electric.
Speaker: Um, Jaden Anthony, who you were mentioning, he had a goal against Chelsea. so Again, just these mid -tier clubs, like they're finding...
Speaker: They do a great job recruiting and then they have a system that they stick to. And, you know, because of that is there's not a lot of like. question marks on um you know what they do with the ball and and or without it, and they they punish. they they punish they that's probably the the craziest thing to me is like They don't miss chances. If they have one -on -ones, like they're so confident. It's clear you mentioned Keith Andrews. It's confident that their manager has instilled in them that confidence, and um they put stuff away.
Speaker: So impressive. Um, quick shout out to whole city. I mentioned them a little bit ago to sit on sitting on eight points, win versus United and draw versus Chelsea. They came in. I... people were saying that they could set the record and be the worst Premier League team in history. And previously, I guess you could say Derby, with one win and 11 points in 07 -08, were the worst team. But they were saying that they could challenge that. And they already are at eight points. So quick shout out to Hull.
Speaker: Yeah, defensively, they've been really, really good. Um, Yes. I think about. you know, what, what first like put me on the whole, other than like seeing that opening. We went against Manchester United was.
Speaker: Hey, their defenders are really good and really cheap in fantasy. Yes. But, yeah, they're – They're late. yeah Their last fixture was a 2 -1 loss to Newcastle, who...
Speaker: You know, Newcastle's another team that started okay, but that's a whole other team I'm really excited to see. how they continue on. They have a pretty favorable next few weeks with Everton, Fulham, and then Brentford. Obviously, we just talked about Brentford, but then Ipswich before they start to get into some heavier opponents. They have Arsenal and Brighton follow that. So I'm really excited to see how they do over the next few weeks.
Speaker: Yep. All right, quick plug here. I want to just shout out FOTMOB, dude. This is an app that we... I'm on it right now. I am too. I got to pull it up. This is an app that we found back... in our Memphis Grizzly days. And I,
Speaker: I'm on Thought Mob all the time. All the time. It's just the greatest for stats and tables and different leagues and players. It's very user -friendly. very user -friendly they got an app for your phone they got a web you know website so you can pull up on your computer as well on the website oh i'm there right now it's fantastic Wow.
Speaker: And so quick shout out, no free plugs, no free ads, but you know, FODMAP. All right. I was just trying to delay Because of what we're about to talk about next. Big six panic meter.
Speaker: Let's start with Chelsea. Currently sitting in 10th. 12 goals conceded, the most in the league. What hasn't clicked so far for Xavi Alonso? The boys.
Speaker: Dude, it's such a good question. Um, And I don't have. are particularly great. Answer, you know, we came out. the first like at the start of the season.
Speaker: Um, If I remember correctly, it's Fulham we played first. I'm pulling it up. Yeah, Fulham. Um, you know, immediately to start the game. Joel Pedro scores, then Josh King hits back. It's like, okay, no big deal.
Speaker: We scored a couple times, 3 -1. All right, can we see a game out? No, we can't. It's 3 -2. No, eventually we did see the game out, but that was a problem under. previous managers too, just the inability to see.
Speaker: to see games out. And so I think. you know, where we where Chelsea's probably struggled the most. is you know having ah a competent midfield that is committed to like seeing a game out. um Obviously, like Caicedo, I... can't speak highly enough about, but he's just one guy.
Speaker: right And now he's been out. I think he's played like 20 minutes for us all year. It was just announced. in the press conference that he's able to play this weekend. So that's exciting. um but yeah i just think we severely been lacking some control in the middle of the park and so when you combine that with a completely new system you know using three at the back.
Speaker: As well as like how aggressive we are going forward with. um you know palmer rogers and joel pedro i think it's just created a you know, mostly just thought, hey, we're going to play basketball, right, and just go up and down because right now the way our squad looks, that's what best suits us and that's what gives us the best chance to win. I don't know that I fully agree with that. But that's kind of how we've been playing. So, you know, panic meter, I would not say it's it's very high. I'd say it it could get to that point if we don't.
Speaker: turn it around we definitely need a result against Bournemouth and then against Everton before we get then we go um We'll have Spurs in the NFL Cup. before actually i know that spurs and then we have liverpool in the efl cup And then Manchester United. So it's going to get. Fairly tough here in the latter part of of the month. so Biggest thing for me is...
Speaker: Hey, Caicedo's fit and healthy. Who's going to partner him in midfield? And, you know, can we just maybe have a slight change? Just let's control the ball. a little bit more because we're we're definitely playing many of these games where we don't have even half a possession because of how the counterattack suits us. So im not not a high panic meter, but but definitely something that I'm...
Speaker: you know could grow in concern over the next month or so Yeah. I would say that for, you know, Outside looking in, not a high panic meter. It'll click. You got a lot of talent there. Get Caicedo back, which you are, like you said. This weekend. You guys will be all right. And you've got a free win coming up against Spurs in three weeks. so That's a good point. yeah Um,
Speaker: Quickly United. I don't want to spend too much time on them, but sitting in 12th on five points you know I guess the question is, are we seeing the same movie? you know right Does Carrick have what it takes? He led them to the Champions League last year, now. United like to...
Speaker: you know, hire someone from the club, like. you know, soul share and then you know that doesn't work it goes alright for a little bit then it doesn't you know then things start getting a little contentious doesn't go go well. And then they fire him for someone like Ruben Almarin. And then they go back to Carrick. So, and then I'm hearing like maybe Antonio Conte or someone like that coming back or coming back to the prem, you know, so there's just, it's just a cycle with them. Are we seeing the same old story or, or is Carrick going to right the ship?
Speaker: i don't ah You know, i am my panic meter on them is a little bit higher because if you look at what they've done so far this season. Again, we mentioned this earlier. you know Phil Foden got a a red card in the 23rd minute. I know. And they still lost. Not only did they lose. Chris, they only had three shots on target. So they had...
Speaker: a whole 70 minutes plus you know with all the extras. and they could not get more than three shots on target. So, you know, when I look at their results so far this season,
Speaker: um You know, not including whoever Saba is in the Champions League. um Their one win is Ipswich. Which, again, newly newly promoted team. ah but But that game with Bruno Fernandes was amazing.
Speaker: um He scored. uh, He scored three goals, I believe, and he had an assist. so If he's not firing, I don't really know where they're going to get any power from. It's crazy how much...
Speaker: United rely on Bruno. If he is good, Sorry, if he's his normal Bruno self. They look amazing, but if he's off or the you know the opponent shuts Bruno down...
Speaker: Like you've seen it. They don't. look good they look like kind of chickens with their heads cut off at times so i ah Yeah, i don't it's a little bit definitely higher than Chelsea as far as the panic meter goes.
Speaker: But you know who it's not higher than? Wait. Did I say that correctly? Yes. You did. Tottenham Spurs. ah Bottom of the table.
Speaker: Two points. Two goals scored. google goal scored Six goals conceded. You know, I guess what has gone wrong with the Zerbies team? Do I trust him to right the ship?
Speaker: I'm going to keep this pretty brief. I think I went a little bit long winded when we did our. failed upload podcast a couple weeks ago but It is concerning, yes. Obviously, sitting two points, that's... One of the worst starts, I think, in the most...
Speaker: recent Premier League history for Spurs. You know, I... since I've been following them. We spent a lot. a lot a lot of money over the summer Tons.
Speaker: So many new players. And i I legit think, Walker, that we have quality players in our team. I do not think this is a quality of player issue. I just, I think.
Speaker: Now, call me a happy clapper or whatever, but I think things are going to click. And I think it's just a... gel issue. Getting this squad of all these new pieces to... Come together.
Speaker: and to start clicking. We have... Okay. I've watched every game so far.
Speaker: And there has been at least a 20 to 30 minute stretch during the game where we have been dominant of every single game we've played. Now, typically it's in the first half. and we haven't scored. But if we get a goal or two during that stretch, it switches the entire momentum of the game. It's when we don't and then we give up a soft goal and then you just see all of our players' heads fall and we can't crawl back because we're mental midgets out there.
Speaker: So, yeah i just I really think that... Having this international break, while as a fan it's been the absolute worst, I think it couldn't have come at a better time for Tottenham.
Speaker: Spend some time with Deserby on the pitch. Get his... you know Because – When he came in last year, he was just trying to survive. right So he really wasn't implementing Deserby Ball according to him.
Speaker: that much Well, now, you can know through the summer, through the new you know signings, he's starting to hopefully get that ingrained in the players. And we get people coming back from injury. We we have Kuluseski, who is apparently fit enough to make the team.
Speaker: to maybe not start, but at least make the trip up to Manchester against United on Saturday. And he was... amazing before he got hurt. He was...
Speaker: He's been out for over 500 days. How is that even possible? What did he do? I don't know, and I don't want to pretend like I know. um But... It might have even been multiple things. Because before he got injured.
Speaker: to your point like he was playing at such a high like team of the season type level but even then like he was leveling up from what he was like i always thought he was good, but then he became like this like I don't know, golden assist machine. And then, yeah, like you mentioned, he's just been gone for a year plus.
Speaker: Yeah, so look, I think... Yes, pantime meter panic meter obviously so high. Two points is not great. Bottom of the table. But. I'm going to stay optimistic for now.
Speaker: That. We will write the ship. We just have to Put the ball in the back of the net. I mean, six goals. Six goals conceded. Wait, no, is it six or eight? I think it's six goals conceded. ah which is you know nowhere near the top. like It's kind of middle of the pack there.
Speaker: So... you know The defenses looked okay at times, you know pretty good at times. But ah it's just the offense that we have to get firing. yeah Yeah. I think y 'all will be fine. Obviously, you're not going to get relegated. but We've been saying that for the last two years. There's got to be some type of gelling between all the new players by like Christmas. Hola. You know, we've got got some issues. Alright.
Speaker: Let's get this Train. moving along here. Players. We're gonna go more individual. players here. Player of the season so far... I'll start this off. I'll just go ahead and say Erling Haaland, five goals in five games, sitting top of the table. I don't know if really much else needs to be said. I know he's turned... to just this absolute global superstar because of the world cup especially here in the states but um Things are just firing for him. Five goals in five games. It's pretty impressive.
Speaker: yeah i mean I don't really have anything to add. I think you could make a case for somebody we're going to talk about later from Brighton. But, um yeah, I think it's got to be Holland. You know, he's just the focal point of of every match. and um You know, he's like ah he's like Megatron. kind of in football, like Calvin Johnson, you know, like you just can't guard him. So big and fast, there's just no answer for them.
Speaker: Yep. Alright. Best signing. I'll start it off because I know he's a Chelsea player here just to kind of tee it up for you. but I think we both agree that Morgan Rodgers has to be the the answer here. Immediate impact, three goals, four assists in all competitions. You know, compared to some of the other big transfers of the summer, Savio, Barcola, who haven't really hit the ground running too much, but Morgan Rodgers has made kind of an instant impact with Chelsea.
Speaker: Dude Amy he's he was a player that i always really liked from afar but i hadn't really watched him a ton Right. Cause you only have kind of somewhat, you know, we definitely don't have the time we used to like back in our Grizz days and just watch all the print matches, but it's been, it's been so impressive, you know, like with his size and durability and how he can ride challenges. um it just draws a bunch of attention to him and so not only has he been firing but but yeah i mean
Speaker: having someone else that can that can deliver some assists has been a huge Huge plus for us. Yeah, and... um every time I watch, or like, I know a Chelsea game's going on, because, you know, just to text you, or because of you, I always see like, Oh.
Speaker: Two minutes in Morgan Rogers a goal. It's just like that's happened multiple times this season. It's been crazy. Yeah. ah It's honestly wild. like I think. it's just a lot of money, you know? And so with the history, especially in the prim, but certainly with Chelsea, right? Like when you spend that, I mean, you're going through right now with players, like when you spend that kind of money.
Speaker: You just can't have them. starting off poorly and for him to i'm Not only scoring his first preseason game, which means nothing, but immediately get off the mark in the season. I mean, just what a... breath of fresh air and and obviously You know, it's it's taken a ton of pressure off him and it's allowed the whole team to play better You're getting pretty good at this podcasting thing because you're teeing up the next.
Speaker: topic here, and that's going to be biggest disappointment. and someone who cost a lot of money, who hasn't hit the ground running since moving over from the Bundesliga, that is going to be Liverpool's Florian Wurz.
Speaker: Only one assist to start the season. No goals. Just one assist. He's got to be the biggest disappointment so far because I know going into it, I really thought that he was going to start, you know, having a year of experience in the prem. get his body acclimated. Just come out firing this season.
Speaker: And I think I even predicted that in our preview pod. and Um, One assist so far in five games, nothing else. and Not great. That's the kind of player, before I let you talk, Walker, that's the kind of player that has to be chipping in on goals and assists. He has to be. because that They bought him for that much money. He has to do that in that attacking midfielder position. And not somebody like a defensive midfielder who kind of makes the game go. like No, he has to be contributing.
Speaker: I think... yeah Are we just seeing another small guy from the Bundesliga not be able to play here? I mean, how many how many times are we going to see this? you know Obviously, Werner is a different player. But...
Speaker: Even his speed didn't translate, I mean. ah I'm not going to be able to get excited about another small kid from the Bundesliga next time or link to one. I'm just not going to be able to do it. Just like me and French wingers, dude, you and a Bundesliga.
Speaker: um Breakout player. I mentioned them earlier on. Yep. right? Kevin Shade. Shad, Shade, whatever, Shade. Sure. Three goals, two assists for unreen unbeaten Brighton.
Speaker: Hit the scene. strong this year. Kind of talked about it. Brentford, Brentford. You said Brighton. Ooh. See, Walker does the research, so I don't have to. Or Walker just listens and knows more. um Okay. Breakout player, any any commentary on that? Or we can, I guess, move on.
Speaker: and not Not a ton other than like... Again, like I just watched... Brentford. destroy chelsea we were talking about it and again just the speed like it's top He had the top speed in the match, 21 miles an hour. Um... It's just you know they keep finding these guys that are both like big and fast. you know This guy's six foot tall.
Speaker: And he's running. at the highest speed, you know, in the in the match. And so... Again, I just can't say enough how good these these clubs do with developing these guys. I mean, in in his case, he came over from Freiburg to Brentford back in the 22 -23 season, so obviously like when he was a lot younger. but um
Speaker: Yeah, I mean like quietly he's just been been developing Two seasons ago. you know He scored 12 goals last season, eight goals, and and this looks like finally he's going to break out as a 24 -year -old kid.
Speaker: Yep. Alright. Player you didn't know of? or care about and preseason who you're suddenly obsessed with. can You take this one. I'll take it. ohll take it well no well we can We kind of both have already taken this one, right? like We've already talked about Pascal Gross.
Speaker: Um, Highest score in FPL. Is that right? I know that's in our notes. yeah Is he really the highest score in FPL? again i
Speaker: I think... You know, earlier I said that I think Brighton are here to stay. I am not. at all changing. changing that. I think they're just too solid. um Is so he going to keep this pace up?
Speaker: Probably not. I mean, to be 35 years old. Insane. ah What's crazy is just looking at their last match, again, shout out Fat Ma, but just like covering the most distance in the match. I mean, the guy's 35.
Speaker: And he's just all over the place. Like, looking at his heat map, I mean, he's he's got some... Like so much time just spent back in like the left back area, you know, and he's up there playing like attacking mid. so
Speaker: It's pretty cool to see someone like him just giving it his all, like all over the pitch. And again, that just kind of goes back to to their system and how they all play for each other and fight for each other. Yeah, three goals, three assists. And this is his second Brighton life. He he he left, went to Dortmund, then came back to Brighton. like This dude is 35 years old, ripping it up for a team that's sitting third right now. Very impressive. And I'm obsessed with him. And I'm so obsessed with Mr. Pascal Gross that...
Speaker: i This is going to be an absolute shock to you, okay? You're not my kid. I know I completed his player of the month ah SBC on FC 27 the other day. 50 pays probably.
Speaker: um No, he's actually got good stats. Almost all 80s because it's the player of the month card. But I'm still using my 10 -hour trial, so I haven't spent money on the game yet. I need to do that. looking It's been great. All right. Overreaction court, this is where we're going to make a claim and the other...
Speaker: person says if it's a reasonable claim or an overreaction i'll go first Walker. If I were someone getting into footy. in the Premier League for the first time.
Speaker: I should choose Brighton. as my team to follow. Is that an overreaction or is that reasonable? Now, I know we've gassed, brightened up all podcasts, but what do you think? No, I have an answer to this. No, i I don't think it's an overreaction. And this is what I'll say. went before. When we were on the soccer come up.
Speaker: I think like... The coverage was okay, but coverage of the Premier League, the ability to watch all the games, like... everything is so interconnected. Like it's very, very easy to follow.
Speaker: Um, any club in the prim. right like i wouldn't necessarily tell you to like pick someone that has a chance of going down and that's Not because I want to tell you to pick a winner, but more like...
Speaker: ah Okay, we you need some longevity. right like if you're going to become a fan you need to have a team you can follow for for many many years so like maybe don't pick coventry off the rip but No, do it's so easy to follow everyone. So why not pick a team like like Brighton that's it's going to be battling for top four all year? It's going to play spoiler and beat a ton of you know clubs that haven't spent a lot more money than them. So I have no no issue with that. I don't think it's an overreaction at all.
Speaker: Yeah. And so I pulled up their history, the historical table positions over the last 15 or so years. And back in the 2010 -11 season, they were in League One. They won League 1, so that bumped over the championship.
Speaker: They spent the next six years in the championship, and then in the 17 -18 season, they got promoted to the Prem. They spent some time covering kind of hovering around, you know, drop zone there. But since 21 -22, they have been firmly mid -table, finishing as high as sixth in the 22 -23 season. So I don't think there's any risk of them going down because of how well run this team is and just the investment in developing players that they have. They're always going to have stars. They're always going to have Chelsea, Spurs, City. you know getting players for
Speaker: Triple what they got him for maybe even quadruple what they spent on him. So they're here to stay It's interesting just pulling up there. I just pulled up their managers, like not only. um current but previous.
Speaker: Obviously, you know, they plugged the Zerby. who we've talked about a lot. You know, there was Graham Potter before him. They were very good under Graham Potter. um All these guys have gone on to like bigger and better clubs. yeah However, they all haven't gone on to the same success level that they had.
Speaker: with Brighton. So that's that's just really interesting to me. It's a system thing, man. yeah i mean even i mean I know Chelsea, certainly it's a joke at this point how many players we've bought from them. but you know Some of their players have obviously hit. Um, But...
Speaker: It's the same thing with with their... With their players, but again, players and managers. So like, is this an ownership thing? Like, is this a. that's a great mystery like you know culture yeah I mean it's got to be cultural it's pretty pretty sweet Yep. All right. What's your overreaction? My overreaction is going to be a little different. I'm not going to go like big picture thought I'm going to go on a specific.
Speaker: o Big team getting relegated. isn't an overreaction that, no, not Tottenham, but that Manchester United could be in a relegation fight, especially if...
Speaker: Bruno G is like, I'm out of here. Bruno G, Bruno F. I meant Bruno, not Bruno G, sorry, Bruno F. Oof.
Speaker: Let's say he's like, transfer request, sell me. Sell me in January. Or they... Is there any world in which there... between 15th and 18th. through like April.
Speaker: Yes, I think there is. i don't We just lived this with Spurs last year. We did, and that's why I say yes. it's like I don't think any team, aside from you know a handful, are safe. and You would think that United would be in that handful, but we they finished 15th two years ago.
Speaker: Right, exactly. right And they have Champions League football to deal with. They have not looked good, so their fixtures are piling up. you know I don't think it's an overreaction. I need to see a lot more from this team as a whole before... ah you know before I started considering them yeah completely safe. What's interesting too is
Speaker: you know, first off they're in 12th. So like you say, Oh, they're not really that close. So that's only two points off. Right. 18th. Right. And so um they only have the one point one win on the year. You know, they had the magical run under Carrick last year, which is great, but that also means they're in the champions league. And so they are going to be stretched even more thin.
Speaker: And you would think that Bruno is going to play in those games, even if he is around. I don't know how fresh he's going to be. And then just immediately looking at... you know, their upcoming fixtures. I know we've we've joked a lot about Spurs, but I think Spurs are going to be looking for a point to prove this weekend. And so I think that's going to be a tough mix fixture that follows up with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. And then Leeds United, who's sitting fifth. So I think it's an interesting next couple weeks for Manchester United.
Speaker: For sure. And I was looking at their... They're players in... ah Mm hmm. And... So they they signed Santos.
Speaker: From Chelsea for 65 mil. And Tillemans. And Tillemans. And Carlos. beleba So all those are like defensive midfielders. none of them are overly impressive either by the way that's all they've done And it's in the. you know, in the summer transfer window. and Yeah, I'd be a little concerned if I was a United fan.
Speaker: No doubt. Alright. Let's move on to the game and then we'll wrap this up Blind ranking. I'll have you blind rank five Chelsea players and you have me rank blind rank five Spurs players. Now, we've done this before, so I'm going to have to come up with a new...
Speaker: a New list of players, but that's okay. We're just gonna kind of do this on the fly overlap I mean, I think if there's a couple repeats, that's fine, but we just need to go different order Number one for you to blind rank. I'm writing this down.
Speaker: I can edit rights don't do. All right. Number one, I am going to start off. With Eden Hazard.
Speaker: Last time we played this game. I made some mistakes. You got forced into pick putting him at one last time we played this game. As are. No, i thought we I thought I put someone crappy at one.
Speaker: No, you had Tosin at two is what I wrote down. Oh, that's what it was. I think what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna play this one more conservatively. Mmm. No, you know what? No, I'm putting Eden at two. I'm going him again at two. I'm just going to chance that there's someone better.
Speaker: And if we get late, I'm not going to risk it again. I'll just put someone at one. So I'm going to go Hazard again at two. The problem with not having the players down is I can totally just bot. No, it's fine. No, we're we're good. to Just rip it. I'm going conservative this time, though.
Speaker: Number two. Okay. We are going to go with... Peter. Pitter. Oh, young putter. Check. Petr Cech, I'll go three. I think not necessarily a player that...
Speaker: um I have a ton of affinity for. Okay. I think. Mainly because, you know. it was the latter stages of his career when we Not his career, his Chelsea career.
Speaker: um when we became fans but still like a huge amount of affection for him like for where He took us as a club. Um, you know being so solid at the back so i think firmly mid -table for me Petr Cech.
Speaker: Okay. I was going to put this guy in this spot no matter what, so... The legend himself, Mr. Juan Mata. One mana, I'm good with four. oh Wow, he's...
Speaker: Talk about that first kit you got, dude. Hold on, hold on, hold on. well first God. I guess I'm getting concerned now of what's what I'm going to have left, and I'm going to have one and five left.
Speaker: Hmm. No, I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna leave Mata fourth. Only because I've got someone in two and three. Already, to your point, my one moto one of my favorite players.
Speaker: Ever at Chelsea, just an all -around great dude. you definitely still have the white kit with the teal stripe diagonally down the middle um Again, just a guy that i love used to donate part so every check to charity uh a real Like, great.
Speaker: you know a sportsman for the club but Yeah, well, where I'm at, I'll go fourth, and I guess I am going to play the game. Alright.
Speaker: Next is going to be... Mr. Frank Lampard. I mean, he's going to have to go one. Like, I can't even chance it, even if you go. you know, Drogba or JT next, like tough luck, but.
Speaker: I also go to go one all -time. goal scorer for the club. um I remember very vividly some of his, like an assist he had to Ramirez against Barcelona in the semifinals of the Champions League round in 2012.
Speaker: Um, Again, i he's a Chelsea legend. like he's just He's just going one. There's no way I could chance it. All right. it doesn't It doesn't matter who goes five. I'm at least safe on Thursday, too. Nope, ri too no you're goingnna regret it. because the last person is going to be Enzo Fernandez.
Speaker: That's very kind of you. just Just remember that when you're giving me your list. He's fit, dude. um I don't. I mean... What a rat. Really fun, really fun player to root for, but yeah. just the What a loser, you know, just like off the pitch like the complete opposite of Juan Mata Yeah. Not who you want representing your club. Obviously, he got in the hot water one off season with some. off -the off the -field stuff. and um
Speaker: Again, like supposed to be a captain, especially like... the quality of player, but, you know. was not necessarily someone that united the dressing room. Yeah. Alright, I think after looking at your list, you had Frank Lampard 1, Eden Hazard 2. Peter Cech, three, Juan Mata, fourth, Enzo Fernandez, five. I think it... you might agree with this the only one I think The switch would be maybe Mata and Cech, but I think it's a good list but aside from that.
Speaker: Yeah, I'm good with it. um I'm good with it. All right, next up. We got Spurs. Yes. I've asked a vast AI to give me 20 Spurs players from the last 10 years. Names only. The first list it gave me was like all this these paragraphs. I'm like, get this out of here.
Speaker: Um, You know what I probably need to do? I probably need to copy this into something where I can highlight so I don't. double up here. All right, first up. Um, We mentioned him earlier. I'm going to go with Kulishevsky.
Speaker: Ooh. That's a tough one. It's always, it's always safe to throw somebody in in like that three. But, I mean, I like Dejan Kuliseski. Ooh, what a player, according to Pep. But I'm going to put him at fourth.
Speaker: Okay. forth. because they're yeah because they're just legends and and there's people that like more Next up, I'm going... One of the fastest players I've ever seen, Kyle Walker.
Speaker: He was part of that team with Pochettino on the right side, opposite Danny Rose. He was so good. Left a little bit of a bitter taste in my mouth because he asked to leave and got transferred to City. And actually, did there I saw him play for City against Spurs in Nashville, Tennessee, and everyone was booing him when he would touch the ball, which was pretty crazy. great
Speaker: I don't think he's fifth because of... just the good days that we had with him. He was so good on that right -hand side and locking down that defense. I'm going to go with three. Kyle Walker. All right, so so far we've got Kyle Walker third.
Speaker: We'll talk. Hulu 4th. Hmm. where do I want to go next.
Speaker: Next up I'm going to...
Speaker: I'm going to go with someone you sort of share a name with. I'm going to go Eric Dyer. Wow.
Speaker: Eric. Dire, the dire wolf. The dire wolf, bro. Now this is a player that. burst on the scene, scored... For his on his Premier League debut to win against West Ham, I believe. I remember it. I had an amazing friendship with Dele Alli, probably one of you know one of my top three favorite Spurs players of all time.
Speaker: He was again part of that Pochettino team Any third minute that goal, by the way. Yeah. Uh, that was so fun to watch and honestly i'm down to 10 men as well I didn't even remember that part. Kyle Naughton, early red card.
Speaker: But there's just, you know. he kind of left you wanting more at times he he for sure he he played for the badge though he loved the club oh he did He was ready to kill any Chelsea player at the Battle of the Bridge, dude. See, I was going to put him at five until you just mentioned that.
Speaker: That's all. i I mean, there's a couple of things I think about. Certainly that first goal. with Eric Dyer but I mean a lot of a lot of like Chelsea hate which again is fine it's part of the rivalry I'm going to put him at fifth.
Speaker: okay I thought you might go higher. I really did. I'm a little surprised um I hope I didn't just screw myself there. tight now you're fine Next up, we're going with Christian Eriksson.
Speaker: Loved prime Christian Erickson. Nobody could strike a ball better in that Spurs squad. Free kicks. Corner kicks did ping passes. He was so fun to watch. I'm gonna put him at two Wow. Mr. Number 23, Christian Erickson himself. Two, and then I'm going to go with one of my.
Speaker: Unfortunately, I'm not going to go with one of the all -time, all -time, all -times, but I am going to go with one of my all -time, if not my all -time favorites for maybe my second because I really love mint Mickey Vandiven, but Musa Dembele coming in at number one. Yeah, that's that here it's a great number one. now Every single...
Speaker: interview I've seen from that team. under Pochettino from Spurs players that said, who is the best player player you played with or against in training and games? every single person.
Speaker: Picks Musa Dembele. Everyone. And... You could just not get the ball off of him now He didn't score a lot of goals didn't have a ton of assists But the way you were not getting the ball you he just was such a rock in that midfield and Yeah, just an absolute engine there
Speaker: so Just when you thought the ball was getting away from him, he was like a little tentacle. Go out there and grab it, and it would just carry it right past you. Absolutely. I'm happy with this list. Moussa Dembele, one. Christian Eriksson, two. Kyle Walker, three. Kulusevsky, four.
Speaker: The dire wolf, Eric Dyer, fifth. Honestly, I might bump i might go Christian Erickson, one, Dembele, two. Just pure... off of you know my fandom. And then, I don't know.
Speaker: Maybe go Dyer and Kyle Walker switch, but still good list. Yeah, not bad. No tosins. No tosins for either person. All right. um What you got? No, that was it. I was going to wrap it up here. Um,
Speaker: Thank you all so much for listening to Episode 3 now. If you missed last week's episode, it was a fun one, Walker. It was actually... Faith. christian and my girlfriend hannah and we just played some games we did a blind ranking uh no sorry we did ah a draft of fall vibes things that you can associate with fall we did a few a couple blind rankings and then we finished with some wavelengths so go ahead and give that one a listen if you missed it last week
Speaker: Please follow the podcast, share the podcast, like the podcast, ring the bell on the podcast, review the podcast, as long as it's that five -star review. You can email us at direneedpod at gmail .com.
Speaker: That's D -Y -E -R. You can find us on Spotify and ah ah and on Apple Podcasts. We are that legit. Yes, we are. Hmm. Walker, I know you got some big things in your future.
Speaker: We will definitely get you back on whenever you want. you are the standing guest on this show whenever so. Thanks for joining me, man. Enjoy it, brother. I'm going to not leave the episode too soon this week, so maybe ah my podcast will upload.
Speaker: All right. Well, thanks, y 'all, for joining us for this episode number three. Hope you have a good weekend, and we will chat with you next week. Peace.
