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Episode 6 | What's Five Years?...
46 Plays6 months ago
In this episode, we break down two major Premier League fixtures: Crystal Palace vs Manchester United and Chelsea vs Arsenal, with full analysis, talking points, and narrative threads from both games.
We start at Selhurst Park, where Crystal Palace vs Manchester United delivered another chapter in United’s unpredictable season. We look at Palace’s structure — their compact mid-block, quick transitions, and wide threat — and how they aimed to disrupt United’s rhythm. We discuss United’s performance in and out of possession, the key players who stepped up (and those who didn’t), and the defining moments that shaped the result. Was this another sign of United struggling to control games, or did they show resilience against a tricky Palace side?
Then we head to Stamford Bridge for the marquee matchup: Chelsea vs Arsenal. We unpack the tempo of the London derby, Chelsea’s approach under pressure, and how they tried to break through Arsenal’s structure. On the Arsenal side, we discuss their control, pressing intensity, and the key individuals who dictated the flow of the game. We highlight the turning points — whether it was defensive lapses, individual brilliance, or tactical adjustments — and examine what the outcome means for both clubs in the wider context of their seasons.
Across both fixtures, we talk momentum swings, standout performers, tactical battles, and the narratives that fans of all four clubs will be debating.
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Transcript
Introduction of Hosts and Guest
00:00:35
Speaker
yo Don't blame ref don't blame the reff welcome to another episode or the don't blame the ref podcast representing the red corona ye have me dumb represent in the blue corner you've got eman and today for the first time ever We actually have another guest, so it's not a one-on-one match. It's a triple threat now. so Sounds spicy.
Weekend Game Highlights and Special Guest
00:01:01
Speaker
It was a big game this weekend, so it only felt right to bring in another person from the red corner, but it's the wrong red corner. There's only one that we recognise in this pod, but we're allowing for today, isn't it? so representing the other red corner you want to introduce yourself bro representing the correct red corner youef thank you for having me guys yeah let's come let's come so no don't worry guys we'll get it we'll get into the the um battle at the bridge or whatever you guys call that thing i don't even know what you lot call it do you guys even have a name for it nah just it's just just a scrap
00:01:41
Speaker
just a scrap
00:01:45
Speaker
That's it. Yeah, so we'll save that for the main event. But for now, you know, you have to hear me waffle about Man United for a little bit because
Manchester United's Performance Issues
00:01:54
Speaker
same same old things, isn't it? Same old things that's been happening for the last couple of weeks. People are surprised about performances when the same things basically happen all the time and people just aren't honest. That's what that's why I'm at the point where I'm at. I'm just not.
00:02:11
Speaker
um um' not I don't get too high and I don't get too low on either result but um yeah so where should we start with United
00:02:23
Speaker
ah Yeah, that match was dead, bro.
00:02:28
Speaker
I didn't want to say it. That match was so dead, bro. And I hated the... I couldn't even see the pitch properly because the I don't know if the stadium, the sun was just hitting the stadium. It was weird. And then I just disengaged. can't lie.
00:02:43
Speaker
I disengaged. But... I think Palace had the better of the first half. I think you guys really struggled to just get close to them, especially in midfield. You let Warton and who else was with Warton in centre-mid? It was Kamara.
00:02:57
Speaker
um it was a kamodo Kamado, yeah. You guys, no PNP in there, but you man just let let them have the ball. They found space, they found
Coaching vs. Player Quality at United
00:03:08
Speaker
gaps. um And they found it relatively easy to show play through.
00:03:13
Speaker
um It's a shame they didn't get more than one goal. um More than one goal, bro. No, but to be fair, yeah, that first half, I think... We were just getting outplayed. We were not in the game at all. That was up there with like one of the worst first half performances I've seen of us this season. i think But then but the formation is the same, no? so I just couldn't get why you guys couldn't get close to them.
00:03:38
Speaker
It was just five yards off every single pass. They're coached better than us. It's a simple thing. It's not about player quality. Because if I asked... every United fan would just swap the ah entire XI with their entire XI. They would say, no way. They wouldn't do that.
00:03:53
Speaker
They would probably only take one or two players, but that's about it. So it's not a case of like the typical, ah, the players that let the manager down. The players weren't stepping in for the manager. they let like all All of them same like tropes that they always want to use when it comes to United. But all it was, was they were just coached better. It felt like every time...
00:04:13
Speaker
the ball got to Wharton and Kamada was like, two touches, ball's gone. The ball's gone. no No one could get anywhere near them, like whether it was Mount or Mbemow, like whoever was trying to press, whatever, they were just gone. They were gone. It's like everyone knew what position they needed to be in. So it kind of made me feel like, is this an issue of player quality or is it just pure coaching because I'm not rating their team that highly there's a few pieces in there that i would say like oh yeah like they're top quality would happily have them but nah like they were just bopping us off the park Zerksy couldn't hold on hold hold on to the ball for anything bro like I
00:04:55
Speaker
Bro, Zerksi can't be the first name you call out, man. No, but the the only reason why... Zerksi can't the man. know what's so funny? The only reason why I'm saying Zerksi is because the way this manager wants us to play is not the ball long, so he's the first point of contact.
00:05:10
Speaker
If Zerksi the ball long, he's gone. I'm not saying him. like Like I said, do you know what's funny? do you know the I'm the one who was even saying play Zerksi. I'm fine with playing Zerksi. He even... we'll We'll talk about his goal and that later on, but he was...
00:05:25
Speaker
For the first half, he was bad. He grew into the game, especially after his goal, you got he got
Identifying United's Positive Moments
00:05:30
Speaker
better. But that first half was rubbish like that. But I expect him to be rubbish because he hasn't really played all season.
00:05:36
Speaker
You get what mean? But for me, the worst player on the pitch was me, bro. So it had to be him, my boy. Lenny Earl. Wait, wait, wait. i wait Just oh wait, wait, wait. Okay, before we get to that, yo let's try have some positivity today. Let's try have a little bit of positivity. Bandha, bandha. There's always something positive to say.
00:06:01
Speaker
So what is it that United did that was positive? Scorched in the world. Yeah, but beating Palace at South West Park as well. What did you say?
00:06:13
Speaker
Beating Palace at South West Park is a very tough thing to do as well. yeah Exactly. It is, it is, it is, it is. So what I could say is most phases Kool, you didn't really get on the ball as much as you wanted to in the first half, but with most of their chances that they had, not many of them were clear, clear cut.
00:06:35
Speaker
There was a couple... Do you know what was? felt like Mateto was kind of snatching at a lot the chances. I felt like he was like... He wasn't... I felt like he just got half a yard and just kind of shot it. Like he was tired. He wasn't bothered to take the extra touches to get closer to the goal to try get a clean shot off because there was an opportunity in the first half as well.
00:06:57
Speaker
The ball was cleared. It came to the lit. He headed it. It hit Lenny Ura on the black back of the foot. Mateo was through. He was through and he just shot from outside the box. It was like, bro, what are you doing? Don't get me wrong. Lenny Oro was probably quick enough to like catch him, but I think he could have taken an extra touch and he probably would have scored on another day.
00:07:16
Speaker
But that's the benefit of playing one game a week. They they just came from a midweek game. So I think that started to show more in the second half.
00:07:27
Speaker
yeah so So what is it about, at cool so let's let's just say, tiredness aside, what is it about Glasner's, the way Glasner plays if the five at the back with that that just seems to be better than what you guys
Palace's Tactical Superiority
00:07:42
Speaker
are doing? So what is it that you guys are not doing that makes his formation effective?
00:07:47
Speaker
I think for me, the the clearest difference between what Glasner does and what Ameren does, i feel like When the ball goes long for Mateta, it feels like every all he has to do is just cushion the ball down. There's always palace players around him. It doesn't matter. true it It doesn't matter where on the pitch he's actually like dueling for the ball.
00:08:12
Speaker
he just needs to cushion it down straight away. Then Pino, what's his name? Yeri? Yeah, you know me? pin Pino, yeah. he He's their commodist there, there.
00:08:23
Speaker
Saar, I good. I think he got injured, actually, at one point. I think he came in. But... but um Yeah, it just felt like they're a lot more closer together. It feels like more compact with everything they're doing. There's not as many big gaps within their team. It felt like every time the ball went to Wharton, like I said, two touches, boom, the ball's straight into Mateta's feet, straight into Pino's feet and they're running straight at us. They're not even thinking too much about With us, it kind of feels like we kind of just pass the ball around and wait for something to happen and then just kick it long and hope.
00:08:58
Speaker
sorry come So why can't the team get more in sync?
Formation Critiques and Player Roles
00:09:03
Speaker
Why can't they get into get into a position where they're not having to play on these little islands or you know gaps in midfield, gaps between the midfield and defence?
00:09:15
Speaker
ah think I think the main thing i would start off with is one of the main issues I have with Amorin. Because of the nature of his formations,
00:09:26
Speaker
it feels like everyone's playing our position. I feel like a lot of these players in the key positions don't know what they're supposed to be doing. I feel like, and when I say key positions, I mainly mean the two midfielders, bro, like Casemiro and Bruno.
00:09:41
Speaker
That pivot here in comparison to Adam Wharton and Kamada, especially in the first half, it was night and day. It was night and day. the Those guys couldn't string together like two, three passes. And it was even like the simple moments where it's just like,
00:09:57
Speaker
slow calm down everyone just calm down like bro we're getting bopped off the park let's just slow down slow down the game a bit so that we can grow and into game bit more that switch doesn't happen between either of them two it's just as soon as the game gets more chaotic they just join in they make it worse they they just make the whole thing worse and then it just leads to bro on another day we played this game last year Palace are 3-0 up, first off.
00:10:24
Speaker
They're 3-0 up. And then, we're having the same conversations. all Should he stay? Should he go? Like, bro, it's just the same thing. But, like you said, if I have to be positive, I'll say we made it out the first half. Only one goal down.
00:10:39
Speaker
And, speaking of speaking of that, which might end up being even my don't blame the ref moment, bro. Lenny Euro, yeah. not even to gun Not even to gun him to say that, oh, he's the worst. Like, I did say he was the worst player on the pitch. But,
00:10:52
Speaker
He was just rattled, bro. I don't know what it was about this game. It reminded me of the... Who did we play? Southampton. Sulemana. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was a different type of cooking. Today was a different type of cooking. This one was slow cooking. The last one, that other they had them on the flash. They had them in the air fryer. Who remembers Montero versus Ivanovic? Was it Ivanovic? No, it was Belorin.
00:11:19
Speaker
Chambers. Chambers. It was Chambers. We had Belorin on the bench and Chambers. Wenger just left Chambers out there to die, man. He absolutely cooked it, bro. Right, but Yeah, just I felt like he was a step too slow on most of the things he was trying to do. He was always on the wrong side of Mateta when he was like um trying to come in for duels. Even when um he had to cover for Ahmad, which he had to do a lot today because he was a ghost as well.
00:11:49
Speaker
it just it It just kind of felt like he just kept making the wrong decisions. But that's not to say that he shouldn't play again. hitla you know what I mean? It's just a very bad game. And then The penalty, bro, that's ah that's a stonewall penny. What?
00:12:06
Speaker
He's gone on the wrong side. He dived in. He just panics. Yeah, he just panics. And then even then, when he when he got subbed off in the second half, looked like he was going to cry on the bench, bro. He was so finished.
00:12:24
Speaker
And the thing is, he got ripped up with France as didn't he? couple of weeks ago. Yeah, yeah. He's bad couple weeks. Yeah, It hasn't been good. He hasn't been good this season, but he's been and out of the squad, so I don't know. To be fair, last year... Someone check on bro, so it might be happening personally, man. Someone said he put like a black screen on his Instagram. Like, he did that thing. You know on BBM, when you deal with this... You put your display picture black.
00:12:52
Speaker
Let me re-check. Let me re-check. Let me re-check before i start spreading fake news. and Yeah. Love man, man. You know what? he's He's a good player, but... it I think we've got to remember that sometimes, what is he, 19?
00:13:09
Speaker
What was I doing at 19, bruv? Can you imagine 19 playing at in these high-pressure moments? So, the fans just got to allow him a little, made a mistake.
00:13:21
Speaker
but they got to stick with him because I think he's he's one of your most more mobile and better defenders. So you can't, and obviously you spent you spend 60 mil on him. Sorry, 110 110 mil if you count fee. Oh yeah, no, you're right. You're right. They had to grease their agent with. but yeah think just give him give him some time but yeah it's looking very very shaky see in these moments you hope you you would hope to have someone to come in and just you know take responsibility show it up take the pressure off the young boy give the young boy a few a few weeks but when he's one of your better defenders and really the team kind of starts relying on on that defender it's a lot for 19 year old in my opinion
00:14:11
Speaker
Yeah, and obviously because it's Manchester United and the bright lights of United, it is um all your mistakes are amplified even more. like I was going to say the Southampton game last season where he got cooked. After that, I think for the rest of the season, it was actually pretty good. So it's probably just one them things where you just have to go back to the lab and just...
00:14:34
Speaker
We just work on this game a bit more. That's about it.
United's Second Half Improvements
00:14:37
Speaker
Nothing to do. so what what um So apart from energy, what do you did you notice anything that changed with with United's approach? Was there anything that you guys did stylistically different? I think i think you kept the ball a little bit more. yeah you't rush You didn't rush your decision-making. You guys were a bit more patient on the ball. I don't know if i don't know if Crystal Palace's press kind of dropped off due to their energy levels, but I definitely saw more patience, especially from Bruno.
00:15:06
Speaker
um I think he stopped trying to force those passes forward. Yeah, i think I think once we got that first goal with... um which I think was a good ball from Bruno from the free kick. he's He's done that before. He did it with Martial. I think we playing City or someone. It was a couple of seasons ago. He just clips it over and then first time shot from Martial and Xerxes took a touch. That was a tough finish as well. And I think he meant that, ah not to like gas it up a bit more, but it was... like it was it was
00:15:40
Speaker
that's out of all the chances I've seen them miss, that was probably one of the harder ones for him to score. Yeah, facts. I have respect it. It's a week of thought on the spin, so... But I have to criticise the decision to shoot, though.
00:15:54
Speaker
Was it like a... Maybe it was like a cross shot sort of thing, but if I'm the manager, I'll be looking him to square that into the box, no? Yeah, but they were saying that... um No, like, what was I going to say? Um...
00:16:11
Speaker
i think I think he just felt like, I've made the run, I've done the hard work, I'm just getting shot off. I haven't really done anything all day. That's what I think it is. like and I don't mind strikers yeah being a little bit greedy. i think that Don't get me wrong, I agree with you.
00:16:26
Speaker
That angle, you should never be shooting from there. Logically, you shouldn't be shooting. If he crossed that, I don't think anyone's looking at crazy like, why'd you cross that? Yeah, of course. But he scored, so what can you say? You've got to go in the end.
00:16:41
Speaker
helped us get back into the game and then Palace's let energy levels just started to drop. You could really see like with these European games for these mid-table clubs, you could see that they really struggle with like team depth.
00:16:55
Speaker
It's a lot. it's so It's a lot. When you realise that, we take it for granted a bit. Like sometimes we look at you open and just play youever you wherever, who cares? And then the Premier League and then Blah, blah, blah. For some of these teams, they're stretching thin. Palace would love to win a conference league, even though they should be in the Europa League, but that's a whole number of things.
00:17:12
Speaker
They would love to win. Obviously, Glasner said that he's he's he's been a bit annoyed at the um recruitment and they haven't got enough players. and so um But then I'm not...
00:17:24
Speaker
even when the managers have loads of players, I don't see them, a lot of managers anyway, I don't see them rotate a lot, honestly. i think it's maybe just the players themselves, the coaching staff, the fitness team, maybe they're not used to that quick turnaround and how to handle handle the players and keep them fresh and things like that. so um but then But then again, I would say Glasner's team is experienced because I think, assuming they have the same people, they they he's been in the Europa League multiple times.
00:17:55
Speaker
He's won it, hasn't he? Yeah, he's won it. So i maybe yeah maybe it's just a player thing. They're not used to it. But they've got a couple of players in there that have been in and around big squads, played European competitions, commandos in their teams.
00:18:10
Speaker
It's true. He was Don't get me on I'm saying that they they some of them know the demand, some of them know how to navigate it as well.
00:18:23
Speaker
Yeah, definitely, definitely.
Chelsea vs. Arsenal Pre-Match Expectations
00:18:26
Speaker
Well, big up Palace, man. They disappointed me. They really, really disappointed me. Do you know what's so funny, yeah? Whenever people say we're going to get smoked, we never get smoked. These dogs games, when there's so much anticipation for Man United to get smoked, whenever we've played Liverpool and everyone's oh, they're going to get smashed, they're going to get smashed, we end up like...
00:18:46
Speaker
drawing it's like a boring game. It's when we're in good form, allegedly, or there's like a bit of hope that United are going to do something. That's when the badness comes.
00:18:58
Speaker
That's when madness comes. Nottingham Forest Liverpool 7-0. Everyone's like, whoa, what the hell? What the hell was that? But yeah, and then on to the second goal.
00:19:14
Speaker
and that That goal kind of makes me sick a little bit because it counts as a Bruno assist. So um I'm not really i'm not you feeling that. This is Bruno. This is Bruno, man.
00:19:26
Speaker
He tapped the ball. He just wanted to be involved in the free kick. He just tapped the ball and then Mason Mount's shot and it goes in. Did you see Mason Mount's interview? No, I didn't. I didn't actually. you What did you say?
00:19:39
Speaker
So Mason Mount said they were just like deciding what they want to do. And then Bruno just said, no, I'm just going to knock it and you hit Then Bruno just done it straight away and did give him a chance to actually take the information in. So if you rewatch it, you kind of see Mason Mount starting with shock.
00:19:58
Speaker
Like, what what's this guy doing? Yeah, because that he was on his back foot when he when he kicked it. He was like, oh, shoot, shoot, shoot. And then and and it just speaks to Bruno's like mentality. Like, he's on a different wavelength to everybody else. And he'll do whatever he wants.
00:20:15
Speaker
He'll do whatever wants. And everybody else has to do what he wants. Basically, that's that's the Bruno Fernandes experience. I'm going to do what want and good luck everyone else, man. what up well im I'm leaving with You work out.
00:20:29
Speaker
That's it. What a guy! He's crazy, man. crazy good okay What a guy! What actually happened? You know what? i think I don't know if I was sleeping at this point. yeah Why did Mateo have to retake the penny?
00:20:43
Speaker
it It kind of bobbled off his toe, his second toe, so you can't have both feet touch the ball. But don't they just... um They don't let you retake that. um check up the rule Because of Alvarez last year.
00:20:55
Speaker
Oh, yes. Remember, was reading Chelsea's league it from Madrid. music He hit it off his left foot and went in. They didn't allow him to retake it. they change if you if you So it. So if it goes in, like your day you get to retake it. oh Okay. If you miss, you don't. But if you score, you have to retake it.
00:21:12
Speaker
Which I think is a stupid rule in general. If you miskick the penalty, that's it. Yeah, it's like a foul throw. You don't get to take the throw again, bro. you you so so So you think the double touch should lead to no retake?
00:21:26
Speaker
Yeah, just a free kick to the other team. Just free kick to the other team, bro.
00:21:34
Speaker
It's a difficult one, but it's a bit... it The defending team are at disadvantage because of it. If the striker or the player taker makes a mistake, then you have to just draw a line and make a mistake.
00:21:47
Speaker
get the ball back yeah i get that i get that because if i chuck a throw now and accidentally chuck it off my own head you'll say it's a far throw and you'll move on yeah exactly exactly well just because it's penny you know it's actually true it's actually true uh let's move on to the main event yeah i Yeah, forget Man United anyway. Who cares? Three points, we move on, man. I'll i'll give the all give a heck about that game at all. I'll be sniffing for blood later. Bruno walked away with a man of the match, man. Anyway, keep it separate, man. he care Who cares? Bruno. Yeah, he was rubbish. Oh, this guy. Two assists, man. You cares.
00:22:37
Speaker
um So... When I was young, these man... Oh, my God. Let me finish. Let me finish. Let me land. Let me land.
00:22:50
Speaker
Let me land. When I was young, these man were my whipping boys. Every Saturday, every Sunday, any time we buck these man, it doesn't matter. Rain, snow, wind, thunder, God, Armageddon, we're going to come and beat these guys.
00:23:11
Speaker
Now, haven't beat these guys in years. Bro, it's it' getting mad. It's actually getting mad. Ten games, we haven't beat these guys. What, seven years ago? Ten games. that That is absolutely insane. So for me, I'm coming into this feeling up.
00:23:29
Speaker
I'm feeling, all right, we might have something for these guys. I'm thinking, finally, let's do it. We can do it. Come on, boys. Come on, boys. Beat Barcelona. I can't lie. thought they were winning against Bayern Munich. they like Don't get wrong, they were the better team. But i but i'm I'm looking at the mistakes that Bayern made and I'm thinking, if we just avoid any mistakes, we can do something here.
00:23:51
Speaker
Arsenal versus Chelsea. Prime time, 4.30. Ugh. ah we We almost had him. We almost had him. um So, Yusuf, how do you think, when you when you saw your line-up, when you saw our line-up, how was you feeling before the game started?
00:24:12
Speaker
Before the Saliba news came out, I was confident. I thought, you know what? I'll be honest. I said, I'll take a draw before the game. We've had two tough taxing games in a row.
00:24:24
Speaker
Got away with Chelsea. They're in form. Top of the table. Keep them at arm's length. I'll take a draw. Obviously, I wanted to win. I know we could win, but I set my expectations just to see where we'd end up, where we'd go.
00:24:37
Speaker
saw the Saliba news and it just went down. I'm like, I'm taking a draw right now. I'm taking a draw right now. for What actually happened to Saliba? They haven't really said he's got a knock in the training the day before.
00:24:50
Speaker
Okay. if if he play If he plays on Wednesday, that's a pussy. What the heck? What kind injury makes you miss one game? What the heck? what What happened? like you got The same face, he can't play Wednesday. you can't.
00:25:05
Speaker
He can't play on Wednesday. But we don't know what the next thing is yet. Whoever sent him packing to France, that's probably what happened. He was on the bench. So I think he was nearly ready. He came with the team, he was only sitting on the bench.
00:25:19
Speaker
So I think he was nearly available to play. Who have we got on Wednesday? Is there a big game on Wednesday? We've got Brentford at home. Midweek games. Okay. friends They're away on Saturday, so I think they'll save him for Villa away.
00:25:36
Speaker
Okay. That makes sense. That makes sense. tough So for me, as soon as, as soon as I see Saliba out, I'm, I'm drooling.
Chelsea's Dominance and Red Card Impact
00:25:44
Speaker
Oh my goodness.
00:25:47
Speaker
I am drooling. I'm salivating. I'm about to chow down on some Arsenal grub, honestly. But I think the game going into the first half, I think the game was pretty even in the first 15 minutes. Um,
00:26:04
Speaker
I think we had the better of the game until the red card and then Arsenal kind of you know just took control from there. um We had a debate in the group chat and I think a lot of the feeling that Chelsea fans have um about ah the game post is that, you know, 11 v 11, we feel like we would have had Arsenal there. Yusuf disagrees. What's what's your reasoning behind that?
00:26:30
Speaker
Well, half of it is just to wind you up, to be honest. No, I'll you I think you were definitely more up for the game. You had better of like the possession, the control of dangerous areas.
00:26:47
Speaker
But I felt like it was a lot of it was our downfall as well. We're making sloppy passes in the wrong areas. not doing the right thing. like A couple of your chances came from Zubimendi gave the ball away.
00:27:01
Speaker
The Estaval chance was Mosquera not clearing the ball properly. it was always you're pushing, but we're making mistakes as well. So I think it's not hand-in-hand with you dominating like the wide areas, especially That's where most of your attacks were coming from.
00:27:17
Speaker
and on the other hand, i think we had the clearer chance of the Saka Chansa. Martinelli... Which was offside, by the way, just so you know. Yeah, but carried on, innit?
00:27:29
Speaker
It wouldn't have carried, so i don't want I don't even want you to include that. ah But then we we we made the only like goalkeeper save from counter-attack from when you felt like you werere getting on top. We showed how quickly we could turn you over.
00:27:44
Speaker
It's a good save from Sanchez. Martinelli could do little bit better. But then I'm thinking back to any of your chances... Nothing really worried me.
00:27:55
Speaker
The only one that sort of worried me was Esteval, but saw on his right foot. i knew I was going out stadium. No, no, no, no. We've just seen him smash one into the top corner versus Barcelona. You s***, don't You a s***.
00:28:10
Speaker
It's dropped in the middle of the f***ing box. He's... Hey, put the number there so we can believe that. was saying...
00:28:21
Speaker
is He's just... No, but this is why I get This I Arsenal fans act like this all the time. Like, why are you downplaying everything? They're just downplaying it. That girl, he didn't even say anything mad.
00:28:35
Speaker
actually agree. i agree. Man said big
00:28:43
Speaker
10 yards from the goal. Look what he ended up. Forget XG. That is a big chance. He should be scoring that. I don't care. Right foot, left foot, middle of the 10 yards from goal, he should be banging that in. So let's not even talk about that. That's a big chance.
00:29:00
Speaker
Yeah? Esteval, ball into nettle, touch, goes around... I don't even know why he's trying to go around rice in that moment. He's just got to turn and and bang it in. That's another big chance. Jao Pedro nicks off in Campe. He should be shooting. That's another big chance.
00:29:15
Speaker
Everything was from mistakes from us. That's what saying. I don't know if it unforced, but we were the creators of our downfall in that first half. Everything you just said, that all the chances you created was, this is a bad touch.
00:29:28
Speaker
He licked the ball off him. He's done they done that. so Okay, okay so when so when we gave away the ball twice, one from Sanchez, one from something, and you did nothing with it. is like ah We were poor. I'm not saying we were good. du't you We were poor. I'll admit we weren't anywhere near what we could be. look but's tiredness Whether it's whether it's, I don't know, whether the players were up for it.
00:29:51
Speaker
we definitely weren't anywhere near could be at all. That's what was its disappointing. I think i think I'm going to try and mediate a little bit more and I want to get a bit more insight from above of both of your perspectives. So, Yusuf, you've mentioned already. um So, what do you think was Arsenal's downfall in that first half more than anything? Are you saying there's more individual mistakes and why i couldn't Arsenal get into the game? what what What do you think was the reason for that?
00:30:21
Speaker
I think a little bit was down to more than Chelsea than us. sir To be fair, our team from the first minute, we're usually up for these London derbies. Like we saw against Spurs, how quickly we started. weren't getting to them straight away.
00:30:35
Speaker
ah ah don't want to make excuses, but it looks like a team was a little bit tired. Maybe they were surprised about how fast and how up for it Chelsea were.
00:30:47
Speaker
but just saw under pressure, kept giving the ball away. Maybe they didn't expect Chelsea to press as quickly or press as high. ah It was a combination of things. Obviously, we haven't got our centre-backs together. It's only second time they've played together. They looked very nervous.
00:31:03
Speaker
They got better as the game grew on, in that first half, all the touches were a little bit wonky. The passes were a little bit one yard wide or one yard too short. All those little things were building up that it's made i think it made the rest of the team quite nervous as well.
00:31:19
Speaker
Yeah, do im coming into the game, were you expecting three points, even though you were away? Or were you like looking at it as Chelsea are real contenders? Before the Saliba injury, I thought we'd nick a win. I'd say we'd nick a 1-0 win from a set-piece or something. We'd keep them out for as long as we needed to.
00:31:39
Speaker
I know how good we are defensively, although st to we to, wouldn't say leak goals, but we're conceding... goals every so often now. But I know in big games, the defenders turn up no matter what.
00:31:50
Speaker
Like when Mosqueira and Hincapié come in for either Saliba or Gabriel, they do well with one of the other ones. But together, it's only the second game together.
00:32:00
Speaker
so it's always a bit, as we saw, they were nervous each other. They don't really understand each other yet. Yeah. But I thought, yeah, before the game, I thought we could nick a or a 2-1. Okay, cool. Fair enough. And then... I know know i've I've spoken to Iba separately in it
Caicedo's Aggressive Play and Consequences
00:32:19
Speaker
so can see him. He's got a big smile on his we have to We have to talk about the biggest moment of that first half, man. This is this is where the the tide changed. match was built up to be Rice versus Kaiseido. 100 million versus 100 million. Who's going to come out on top?
00:32:37
Speaker
Whatever. Like... What... How do you think Kaiseido played before the red card? And what the hell was he thinking? but Two questions. What was he thinking, bro?
00:32:52
Speaker
Because he started that game off on some stupidness. I'm not even going to lie. So, first thing I'll say is Rhys James was the best midfielder on the pitch. We're not talking about Rhys James. That's a direct question, bro. So, um look, this is the thing about Kaiseido that I've...
00:33:11
Speaker
but I've vocalised before. um ease and He's a good player and he's really good on the ball. However, i don't like the way he approaches tackles. I don't like his line of approach.
00:33:28
Speaker
So if you even see from that red card, look at the way he approaches tackles.
00:33:35
Speaker
the Marino he comes from the side and then he leaves the path to the goal completely free that's that's not what a DM should do That is not what any centre midge should do, no matter what type of centre midge you are.
00:33:49
Speaker
His approach to to Marino must always block the line to the goal, must always protect the defenders. And too many too often, his line of approach is horrible.
00:34:01
Speaker
So I'm not saying that's why he got sent off. I'm just saying it's a um it's a microcosm of the issue. And he does this so regularly. And then if I...
00:34:14
Speaker
look on the dangerous tackling, he does that so many times. I'll be very honest with you. He is so lucky not to have got a record. Apparently that's his first in his career. I am so shocked. can't believe that. What? That's his first?
00:34:25
Speaker
Yeah. It's madness. That's crazy. So I've watched him play games and I've seen him whack people, foul people for no reason. And he's supposed to be this super nice guy apparently here as well. like And um'm I'm telling whack, smack, whack, push, whack,
00:34:42
Speaker
Like, it's bad. It's really, really bad. Yeah, they're calling him a I thought he was supposed to be quality. And he's running around just kicking people. Come on, man. He deserves it. He deserves it. Because, look, he is too too good of a player to be doing all that.
00:34:58
Speaker
And don't get me wrong. You want your team to be aggressive. You want us to be front-footed. You want to, you know, put some fear into Arsenal... but at the same time, there's too many times where I'm leaving the game thinking, Cacero, you could have got a red card today and you could have messed up the whole thing for us.
00:35:14
Speaker
And it's some of it's just so needless, so, so needless. um It's one thing to give someone a shove. It's another to to be using your feet to to swipe them.
00:35:24
Speaker
Like there's one swipe he tried to give, who was it, Martinelli that dropped in or Marino that dropped in, someone dropped in. He's lucky, he just kind of nicks them slightly tiny, otherwise we're afraid to give him a clear yellow for that.
00:35:35
Speaker
um And he would have been booked from early. So, Kaysedo's good. He's just got to, number one, he's got to change his line of approach. And that's why he gets, and I think also Chelsea fans start to think, oh, um there's an agenda against Kaysedo. He's always winning a ball. and No, he's always going through the player's legs and then kicking a ball.
00:35:57
Speaker
You can't just go through someone's legs and then not expect it to be a foul. Him and Kukurela are the top two at doing that, bro. They love that one. but then know But then at least with Kukurela, at least with Kukurela, a lot of it is actually decent defending.
00:36:14
Speaker
And you see with Kukurela, at least he's always goal side. What I'm seeing from Canseido sometimes is is, honestly, it's reckless running, just no thought of, you know,
00:36:26
Speaker
guile, no thought to it, just kind of yeah full crunch, everything in it. And I'm just like, bro, like, come on, man. Come on. This is top ball. I need you to just be a bit more sensible. So I think that will come with maturity. He's still... Nah, bro, he's 23. He's 23, though. That's still young. That's still young. How long has he been playing top-flight football? Even 24. He's even 24. Four years now. Four years in the Premier League now. Four or five years. Bro, he's four years in the Prem. He's years in the Prem. Getting booked, booked, booked, booked. Ten bookings last year.
00:37:02
Speaker
Ten bookings the year before. He's not learning. This is him. is him. but I think he's one of those players where he, if he has, I'm going to do something, going to tackle, nothing's going to happen. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's what I'm saying. With the Marina tackle, he knew from 10 yards away, I'm going to crunch Marina no matter what.
00:37:22
Speaker
If I get the ball, I get him. I am crunching him. The ball's gone and it's all going to Facts, facts, facts, facts. It was, I can't even believe, like, like why? did you know It always wasn't a dangerous... Yeah, go ahead, go ahead, Yusuf.
00:37:38
Speaker
It wasn't even like a dangerous attack or anything. Mourinho's got his back to goal. He's received the ball back to goal and he can see his body is going to pass backwards. There's no danger, nothing. But he's making my mind. I have to tackle him now.
00:37:52
Speaker
I have to either leave my mark on him or just show I'm going tackle him. And even even from the off, man, like, went like he padlocked Eze, though. Eze... Yeah,
Player Performance Comparisons: Eze vs. Odegaard
00:38:05
Speaker
was bit. I don't even think that's a padlocking Eze. Not to say Kaiseido was bad, but mean, like, Eze's kind of played like that this season. Whenever I've seen him, like... Yeah, like...
00:38:15
Speaker
play for Arsenal this season, I feel like he kind of seems like he's off the pace a bit when it comes to what Arsenal do. I feel like everyone else seems a lot more intense and like the press is a lot more sharper. And when they're making decisions, there's a lot more crisp and sharp. But he always seems like he's kind of like strolling around a bit or like just not like as sharp as everyone else. And then obviously with the Tottenham stuff and scoring the hat-trick, people are act like those games didn't happen, but they happened. Yeah. It's okay, he hasn't been great, but he's he it's the reason why he spent that money to get the moment. So you will you won that North London derby off his back. He's going to have another moment, couple of games down the line where he wins you three points instead of you guys drawing. And that could be the difference between you guys winning the league and not winning the league. So it's not too much to focus on. But yeah, go ahead. So, so so we'll we'll quickly move on to the Arsenal midfield. And, yeah, you make a good point. It's definitely probably not the start that Eze would have wanted it in terms of consistency. He's had great moments. um
00:39:18
Speaker
I think... I think... That's his style. I think in terms of like just trying to remain um like just remaining composed, um you know just getting the ball in those kind of half spaces, even though Kayser didn't let him today. But yeah, for you probably want to see a bit more intensity from him, a bit more effort, a bit more drive in certain moments the game to just really bust the gut and get on the ball a bit more.
00:39:47
Speaker
I think that's the part that's a bit disappointing. i i look I'd love to see him touch the ball more. a player of his quality. To fair to him, the last two, three games, he's been his intensity has got much higher. In the last three games, I know on paper he's playing as the other card or whatever, but if you actually look at where playing, he's playing as a striker.
00:40:05
Speaker
Where you saw against, oh obviously Tottenham, he was always the spearhead of the attack, whether it's He's the first line of defence for us. He's set in the press, like Odegaard would do, not to the same extent, Odegaard's one of the best I've seen at the club do it.
00:40:22
Speaker
Obviously, Eze is a separate player to Odegaard. But in the last two, three games, he's got that intensity in him now, especially against Bayern as well. He was very, very active against Bayern. that's why, if I was wondering if it was Ty and his creep in, he's not used to doing that three times a week at the top level. Obviously, Alistair wants it, so not the same.
00:40:42
Speaker
i yeah, I didn't think he had... enough influence. We know how good he is. We know what he can do. We've seen him years. think, I think what it is, is is where hes such a like contrast to what Odegaard does when he's in the team. Odegaard, I feel like he wants, if five seconds go past and he hasn't had the touch, he's fuming.
00:40:59
Speaker
He feels like he needs to always have the ball at his feet, even if he's not doing anything significant. But Eze is happy to like float around into that spaces. and Yeah. Eze lets the game or to come to him rather than Odegaard. Exactly. Odegaard goes and plays the game. Yeah.
00:41:14
Speaker
Eze will sort of try and stay in his little space. If the opportunity comes, give me the ball and I'll do something. We've seen Odegaard. Odegaard came on yesterday and sort of, you saw for the first five, 10 minutes, the game state sort of changed where Odegaard was pushing, he was probing. He had that little connection with Saka on the right and Timba.
00:41:33
Speaker
So you see the contrast of players. And I think people have to sort of differentiate. They're playing same position, but they're completely different players. Yeah, i think I feel like that's a good thing as well, though. You don't want to sub like for like. You want different things. You're going to spend 60 mil on a player. You want him to add some spark and do something different.
00:41:56
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. I think that's why a lot of Arsenal fans want Odegaard and Eze to play together. Yeah. Arteta's been quite reluctant. I think he played against West Ham, Odegaard got injured in 20 minutes off, 25 minutes. so That's the only time you've ever seen it.
00:42:10
Speaker
but In the home games, against the smaller teams, you can think they can play together, either with Rice or Zubimendi behind them. the sort midfield you want. that doesn't That doesn't sound very Arteta-like.
00:42:23
Speaker
But that's ah yeah he's reluctant to do it. He once. ah And everyone was gassed. Everyone was like, yeah, he's go to do it we' going to it. We're going to score Or the guy got injured in 15 minutes, man.
00:42:34
Speaker
All right, so moving it on. um
00:42:39
Speaker
Can I say to get sent off, um Hinkapie should have got sent off. Should have got sent off. And as much as, i ah don't get me wrong, he doesn't make any eye contact with the player that he makes contact with, but his elbow is so high above his head. It's about jumping form. And it goes straight into an opponent's face. And it's moments like that that just really get Chelsea fans, or any football fans, riled up.
00:43:08
Speaker
And... And they look, I don't know what i don't know what it is. Maybe they they look at the letter of the Lord too closely and just kind of without using common sense.
00:43:19
Speaker
And you could see from the video, even full speed, there's a force in it. there's a It's not like a light tap. It's a proper force into it. Yes, he's a doing a jumping moment, but his elbow is so high above his head. Yeah, it' it's one of those things where it's too subjective. That's why people get mad at referees and people get...
00:43:38
Speaker
mad that things aren't consistent. Like to me, obviously, as a biased Arsenal fan, that's not a red card to me. But we had an incident with Sunderland a couple weeks ago where their centre-back elbowed Mourinho in the face. But it looked like a natural...
00:43:51
Speaker
motion. Yeah. okay like It's against me. I want a Ricard. But if my team is doing it, should it shouldn't be a Ricard. for the For the sake of consistency, what do you think is the right decision? That that kind of thing is not Ricard's like throughout football.
00:44:06
Speaker
Because if it is, then we we're going to go down the dark path It is. As Manu said, that he's got eyes on the ball. lucky he You can see there's no intent, but his jumping form so bad that it causes danger.
00:44:21
Speaker
this is reckless because he's not in control of his arm, man.
Referee Performance and Match Management
00:44:24
Speaker
this is this is my thing and then the VAR says it is reckless but no malice but we've sent people off for recklessness that's what that's what they us through from that's what frustrates I've been very very cool about how bad referees are cannot stand referees when the inconsistency comes in we have literally in the same game week the same weekend one player gets sent off for the same thing someone else gets sent off for not to get sent off the same thing that's what causes more anger more than anything
00:44:55
Speaker
So our pod is about not blaming the ref. So trying our best not to blame the ref. les I'm going to try and balance it and give give the ref some props. And I personally think, apart from that red card, I think it's difficult for anybody else just survive for people to... Well, people finding easy to criticise the ref, but I don't think um the referee deserved a lot of criticism up until that moment. And watching back on it with a little bit less emotion...
00:45:27
Speaker
You can see, i i know some people don't like early bookings, but a booking is a form to try and control the game because it lets that person know if you do something similar again, you could get sent off. So naturally, in your next challenge, you'll ease off a bit.
00:45:43
Speaker
And the ref, in every single booking that he made, I think the player deserved it. And possibly Kukurela could have, I think people are annoyed at Kukurela because he obviously hurt him, you know, very close and hurt him Saka.
00:46:01
Speaker
but I think he doesn't give him a booking for that first challenge because he gets a slight k nick on the ball, um which doesn't always think, but you could argue because he's challenging for the ball and not just trying to take out the man, then he's decided not to give the yellow card.
00:46:18
Speaker
um So, yeah, I don't know what you guys think, but I do think sometimes we need to balance it and just go, you know what? In the circumstances, Chelsea were super aggressive.
00:46:29
Speaker
and by And because of that, Arsenal became super aggressive. And there were a lot of cynical, a lot of tough challenges. And I think the ref did did what he could to control it. I think um what is is...
00:46:42
Speaker
In this country especially, I think there's an unwritten rule when it comes to derbies to like let the game play. The referee shouldn't be involved too much. If you start the game off giving yellow cards for someone's first foul, unless it's really obscene and like that that common man, like that's a yellow card, you're you're being stupid.
00:47:03
Speaker
I think you have to start off with a little bit of leniency. There's always going to be a bit feisty, and especially with the way that Chelsea came out. he did need to figure out a way of getting control, but that's where you go to your captain. and That's where you speak to the leaders within the team and say, listen, I didn't the yellow card you guys. And a few tackles there should have been yellow cards.
00:47:24
Speaker
From this point onwards, if someone does something again, it's yellow cards now. It's not even a joke. Just to just to allow the game to like settle down. Because then even maybe without you having to do the yellow cards, the game settles down.
00:47:38
Speaker
You know what mean? Just off the back of that. I personally don't think there's anything you could, apart from a red card, i don't think there's anything you could have done to to to kind of calm everybody down. And I think a red card was just waiting to happen. like that Yeah, that's the thing. Chelsea came out with that sort of game plan, trying rattle things up, get into them, get into their face. um So, you look, I just think, yeah, let's let's give the ref a bit of leeway. Let's focus more on the game and let's focus on why Arsenal couldn't break down 10 men.
00:48:11
Speaker
ah To be fair, I'll give
Arsenal's Second Half Challenges
00:48:13
Speaker
Chelsea props. They played very well. I don't think we had enough of an answer in the second half. I thought we were really poor, really slow. There was a couple opportunities that we did get.
00:48:26
Speaker
yeah well obviously the goal came from Saka taking on Kukurela, which didn't happen a lot. Obviously, did very well to close down that space, double up on him. But once he opportunity, he did put a good ball in.
00:48:40
Speaker
Obviously, Mourinho somehow was always carrying on scoring. After that, I thought that was it. I thought we'd... Same, same. I thought that was it. I thought with half an hour left, we're going to get two, three more goals.
00:48:52
Speaker
And then we just sort of, I don't know. was... it was weird. there was It was a weird watch because usually we go for the kill in an instance. We know got 10 men. We're going to press you all over.
00:49:03
Speaker
But we let you keep the ball for a little bit too long. We let you get out way too easily. and I was getting really frustrated because obviously bought Lewis Kelly off for Califuri because Califuri was in yellow.
00:49:17
Speaker
Lewis Kelly gets booked within five minutes per second half.
00:49:22
Speaker
That's what I'm said that's all i' saying about the yellow cousins. i say And yeah that was dumb as well. that tell it was a stupid tackle, a very stupid tackle. I think three of our four our players got booked for the same tackle in Rhys James.
00:49:32
Speaker
You know what going to do, right? And you're still running across him. Just let him run. Zubi Bendy got one for it. Was it Kelly Fiori got one for it? Lewis Kelly got one for it.
00:49:43
Speaker
yeah It's really frustrating. But even then, Lewis Kelly, obviously some instructions from the manager. He was constantly in the centre of the pitch, no matter what. If you had the ball, if Chelsea had the ball.
00:49:54
Speaker
It was way too easy for your wingers to get out. If we had a left back there or on the right side, we were fine. We had Timber there. On the left side, Pedro Neto was getting out way too easily.
00:50:05
Speaker
It was easily one ball. I think there was a chance where he shot from like 20 yards. sir He just stared down Hicapie for good 40, 50 yards. ah No challenge whatsoever.
00:50:16
Speaker
Bro, and and neto neto Neto did not do enough with that. It's so much space down and the wing. Four chances to do the exact same thing. One of them, obviously, Nkappé tackled him and it in his face, celebrating. The other one, he shot and went over. There was a couple of times he made the wrong pass.
00:50:33
Speaker
But it was just way too easy for Chelsea to get out. we didn't We weren't able to sustain our pressure, whether it's, I don't know, tiredness or whatever. But that left side of Chelsea getting out was so frustrating to watch.
00:50:46
Speaker
there' there's a few There's a few players individually. Sorry, Iman, would you go something? No, no, go, go, go. There's a few players individually that I think need to be spoken about, like for good and bad reasons, right?
00:50:59
Speaker
Not to say that I think this player was bad, but he was built up to be part of this big showdown that was going to happen. So once his counterpart got sent off, what why do you think Declan Rice...
00:51:14
Speaker
couldn't really influence the game in the way that people were expecting them to. Yusuf, sorry. I don't think that games for Declan Rice in general, if a team's sitting back, it sort of limits a lot of Rice's capabilities of like stretching the game, going on runs, taking the ball, driving. When the game's all in front of him, he's not the person you really want on the ball. Mm-hmm.
00:51:40
Speaker
Saying that as well, I'll say that. Wait, wait, wait. I I just need that point emphasised, yeah? No, I'm honest. lucky you If long you want someone to break down the team, man. There we go. that right picks of it If you're playing in an end-to-end game, but it's 11 versus 11, if the game's turned 11 versus 11, I think we would have a better battle of Rice versus Corsedo.
00:52:06
Speaker
Corsedo was more prevalent in the first half because the madness he was doing, man. I think eventually as the game went on, I think Rice would have showed his qualities as well. Chelsea would be attacking. Arsenal would be attacking. That's his sort of game. He's going to dominate that game no matter what.
00:52:22
Speaker
Whereas Ars, Mendy went off folk with a yellow card. So he had to come back and help the centre-backs. Centre-backs were struggling to progress the ball because after they looked nervous, as they were...
00:52:34
Speaker
They got better as the game went on because obviously there was less pressure and whatnot. But he still had to hold the hand, collect their ball, drive up. That's not what you want Rice to do for 45 minutes against 10 men.
00:52:47
Speaker
Do you feel quite thatly that's why ibreak tu was but yeah de think that's why he just moved them to the sixth? Because it's like, look, you're not going to do anything in those funnel in the final third. So you just sit back and just screen just in case they break and then...
00:53:02
Speaker
um Aldergaard and whoever, who was on at that time. So Aldergaard came on foot. And then Gokura's up front.
00:53:13
Speaker
Okay, cool. it we've i've seen it well I've seen it before where Zubimendi comes off for Declan Rice to go in the sixth when we don't need to we don't need him and Rice together. Yeah. So in that situation, Rice will go into the sixth and then we'll play someone else in the left eight. Yeah.
00:53:29
Speaker
Like said, we didn't need Zubimendi and Rice. Zubimendi was on the yellow card. He's obviously not athletic as Rice. He's not as firm in the tackles Rice. So makes sense to drop him back and leave him off.
00:53:42
Speaker
So that takes away a little bit from what Rice can do. it wasn't a great performance from him, but defensively he was solid, made tackles when he needed to broke up a lot Chelsea's attacks.
00:53:53
Speaker
Yeah, true. It was just a regular sort of nothing spectacular from him, which is a shame because obviously it was billed as the Rice-Kaisedo showdown. But then once he got sent off, there was nothing much we could do to sort of, you know... But I don't know Rice didn't get sent off for that sort of game ever, so...
00:54:14
Speaker
Yeah. and So I think what what could have Arsenal done to to take advantage of the extra man? um Because I could see that there was this rotation that you guys kind of like to do repeatedly, where Saka goes into the half space, full-back pushes up out wide, and then they kind of interchange positions.
00:54:36
Speaker
um I think the same kind of happens... with the other side, but a little bit less so. um But like you said, I think there's there wasn't enough intensity to actually cause us any issues. And to be honest with reviewed we spent a lot of time just kind of joking and and just you know keeping up with you, which I was i found it very strange. i was i was looking at I was looking at us to kind of, okay, yeah, press them, press them. But not to say that I wanted us to press you past the halfway line, but I just felt...
00:55:11
Speaker
once you guys got into a half, we could kind of let you have it. And then you guys just kind of did do kind of didn't do anything with it. So how would you have structured the team to try and take advantage of the extra man?
00:55:24
Speaker
I think we were unlucky with the trossard injury and off the Califiori getting a yellow card. Martinelli was not good. In the second half, we brought Madaweke on, obviously, to play the left. Not in a strong position.
00:55:37
Speaker
And we had didn't really give him support. And the support he had to was Lewis Kelly in the field. So your Gusto he's going come inside.
00:55:49
Speaker
Rhys James knows they're both going come inside. If we had someone like Trossard, who's good on the ball to manipulate space, and we still had Calafiore, we still the chance at the end when Hincapier went on overlap and we need squad from it.
00:56:03
Speaker
That needs to happen more often. Lewis Kelly's never going to overlap. Madalewake is not going to go around outside too often. So it's like they're compacted the centre of the picture.
00:56:17
Speaker
Odegaard's not getting the ball anymore. Mourinho's not getting the ball. Jokor is the less said about his touches in and around the box. So you want to see something different.
00:56:28
Speaker
I think if if you didn't get that yellow, would be we would have seen a little bit more on the outside. He obviously works better with Trossard than Martinelli. So... But then you look on the right side, like you said, we have that sort of triangle where either Timber or Saka come inside and there's someone always on the edge.
00:56:45
Speaker
But Chelsea were very quite wise to that as well. think the one chance we got through is what we scored from. yeah But there just wasn't enough variety in the attack. I think Jokic is coming on was more detrimental because then we had, when it was off, Marina was coming in as they was going up, Odegaard was going in spaces. It was harder to track runners. You could cause a little bit this.
00:57:08
Speaker
Once you have Glocker as that spearhead, he has to stay there. And even then he was still dropping deep and getting the box, man. don't know what he was doing. We're just trying to sustain pressure and he's next to Saka trying to one-two touch.
00:57:25
Speaker
You know who, from a Chelsea POV, you know who used to do that a lot? Diego Costa, man. like Like, bro, that's just not your bread and butter. Can you just get out the way? Just get out the way and stay in the box.
00:57:40
Speaker
it Yeah, him coming on, it makes sense because you want score goal. He nearly did with that transfer. I think it just sort of took the wind out ourselves a little bit. Mourinho midfield is a completely different player to when he plays up front, man.
00:57:55
Speaker
So it's just... he's He's not a midfielder. He's not a midfielder. He's um the strangest player I've ever seen play for Arsenal. He's not midfielder. He's Spanish international midfielder. He was one the World Cup, one whatever. Does well for Spain. Constitucing scores for Spain from midfielder.
00:58:10
Speaker
He comes to Arsenal. He's like very slow. can see he's got technique, but you can't execute things quick enough. ah But get him in the 18-yard box, everything's going to Too touch. Everything's too touch. Everything's too touch. So clean. It's the same with...
00:58:28
Speaker
It's the same with McTominay. It's like playing McTominay in CDM we trying to receive receive from centre-backs. That's just not their skill set. It's just not. The strangest player seen. He's made a name for himself as this technical player, technical A. He can do everything, but he just can't.
00:58:47
Speaker
Okay.
Rhys James' Versatile Performance
00:58:48
Speaker
So, moving forward... um Oh, sorry. i have one one One last person have to talk about is the guy you mentioned quite a while back, Rhys James.
00:59:04
Speaker
um that's That's a man of the match performance if I've ever seen one. like that he He was unreal. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. like That's a right back going to be a makeshift centre midfielder on the team that's 10 men down.
00:59:21
Speaker
and just completely bossing the game. Obviously, he's played centre mid Was it Reading? He was on loan? Yeah, he was playing centre mid there. Yeah. yeah yeah When you're just a good footballer, you're a good footballer. Always show through. It don't matter.
00:59:37
Speaker
Look, man, the the main thing... It's frustrating because, obviously, you know when someone gets injured so often, some people either forget or downplay his qualities. Yeah.
00:59:49
Speaker
the guy is just mustard. Like someone who can actually defend and has so much quality on the ball as well. It's it's it's it's a dream to have that level of quality in your in your team.
01:00:00
Speaker
And it's even better that it comes from your academy. me um The thing, Rhys James in midfield hasn't... Because my view of Rhys James has always been overlapping, scoring goals, whipping balls into the boss, getting assists. I've been very...
01:00:19
Speaker
opposed to it and it's it's been really frustrating but not just not just because of my view of it but also because some of his actions within the centre midfield it was like when Trent came into midfield and you could see his struggle because that it's it's one thing to be out on the right hand side and have one view of the pitch It's another to be in between, in the middle of the pitch and be always on the half turn, always scanning and ready for anything that comes that comes to you. So um it's a lot harder. And I felt Rhys James...
01:00:50
Speaker
whenever he's in Whenever he's been in there, I think he's he's done relatively well. He's done okay. But there are there are moments where he's losing the ball or you know he's getting caught on the ball because he's not quite got his head on a swivel. He's not quite aware of of his surroundings. But look, he's had...
01:01:09
Speaker
is Every time we play a big team, we we play a midfield three. And Rhys James is usually at the base of Kayseril. So his performances versus PSG, Barcelona, Liverpool and now Arsenal, they've just been top. And there's there's um there's less I can say to to not have him in there.
01:01:31
Speaker
And... and I just love that he's fit now. I just love that he's fit. And i haven't got to think, oh, what if, what if, what if, what if we had Rhys James? What if he wasn't injured? What if we had Fofana? What if, what if? And I just hope these guys can just keep staying fit and we just find a way to get these guys on the pitch and enjoying their football again. Because when we have these players...
01:02:00
Speaker
we are just much better and I don't have to watch people like Tosin and I don't have to watch, um you know, Gusto coming into midfield. i I just want competent ballers on my football pitch so that my team can play to their best of their ability and and give us a chance in games. And you know what?
01:02:21
Speaker
Big up Rhys James. He's a... a Yeah, he's he's he's my dog, man. He's my dog. i hope i hope I really hope he stays fit and hopefully we can um we can go on to win some stuff with him.
01:02:34
Speaker
Cool. um Seeing as we've got a guest here, ah before we get into our, don't blame the ref moment. I
Arsenal's Season Expectations
01:02:42
Speaker
just want to get... ah A few things from the mouth of Arsenal fans themselves. Right now, they're sitting top of the Premier League.
01:02:51
Speaker
Your expected closest challengers in Liverpool completely fallen off a cliff. Don't look that dark for it. Don't think they'll even come back to being close in the picture.
01:03:04
Speaker
But you've still got Chelsea and City just behind you. um What are your expectations of this season, considering how much money has been spent? It's Arteta's, what, 19th phase.
01:03:18
Speaker
We're going to... At the something's going to have to give, in it? So what are your expectations for this season? Well, before the start of the season, I said he has to win something.
01:03:32
Speaker
like He's got to the stage now where he's got all his players, he's got all his backup options, he's got everything that he needs to win everything. We didn't come close last year in the league, obviously.
01:03:45
Speaker
We got semi-final of Champions League, but outclassed by PSG. So we went and bought players to compensate for when we get injuries, which we have now. I said, personally, I needed something to happen this season. I know that he's not going get sacked. I know he's not going to walk. I know he's going to be here for three, four, five years, no matter what.
01:04:06
Speaker
But for me personally, I know he's got too much control at the club, but maybe it's a positive thing. He's taken us from eighth and he's taken us to where we are now. Like, you have to give him credit. and yeah i know he spent a lot of money, but he gives other managers the same amount of money and they're getting sacked within six, seven months. So he's built, not just a team, but he's built, obviously he's quite cringe to say, it but he's built a completely different culture at Arsenal now.
01:04:33
Speaker
I know going into games that we're very unlikely to lose, go back four or five years before he's there, don't even want to watch Arsenal anymore. So have to give him credit there.
01:04:44
Speaker
But this season, i said before we had to win something. I looked at our start of ru the victory we had. very tough start the season. i said, if we get to Christmas and we're in touch with um top of the league, we have to go on and win the league.
01:05:01
Speaker
So now we're in a position where a five points clear. I know it's Man City. They've got... They look like they're slowly getting better. They've obviously got Haaland. Foguil looks like he's getting bit of form back. But I still expect us to push on. We're getting our attackers back now.
01:05:17
Speaker
It's unfortunate. We've got Gabriel out. We don't know Saliba's out long-term. So it's quite frustrating place to be in. But from the games we've got left, ah I think we should be winning the league.
01:05:32
Speaker
City and Chelsea still have to face each other twice, sir which they haven't faced each other yet. So that's a very big in indicator of work. They haven't each other once. So if they both get draws, they're going to drop points either way.
01:05:46
Speaker
think City are closer to be, well, they are definite contenders. Chelsea, you don't really know. Sometimes they're good. Sometimes they look like world beaters, but then they lose to Sunderland. They lose to other teams. So you don't really know, but it's still there.
01:06:03
Speaker
When you say win a trophy, if you guys finish the season with and a domestic trophy and you're like three points off the top, is that a good season? Are you going to Yeah, the f FA Cup or
01:06:24
Speaker
League Cup by discard completely. know it's a cup, but no one... FA Cup is nice, but it's not what we're here for. like Obviously, it's the only trophy that he's won.
01:06:36
Speaker
So it's not an indicator of sort of progress. to yeah You measure progress success by winning the Champions League. You win... the Premier League. of Champions League a bit more, obviously much more difficult because you've got luck and you've got see if you get in Champions League. League is a better indicator of 38 games. Who's the best team over 38 games?
01:06:59
Speaker
Yeah. Even now, I don't think we've been that great over the first, was it 13 games? But to be in the position we are, we've gone away to Old Trafford and won, away to Anfield, obviously we lost.
01:07:11
Speaker
Been to West St. James' Park. We've been to bogey teams and we've won. been to Stamford Bridge, we didn't lose. I think you look at fixtures, you have to think we have to on
01:07:26
Speaker
Arsenal have to win it. Arsenal have to win it. If you don't, I'll be there. I will be there. I will be there. I promise you. And anyhow, Chelsea win this league, I don't think they will.
01:07:39
Speaker
I genuinely do not think they will. I just want to get that straight. Anyhow, Chelsea win this league, I will be insufferable. What's the word? Insufferable. Insufferable. I will be so at it every day for seven days straight. Like it's prayer and worship. I'll be fasting for seven days, praising God.
01:07:59
Speaker
yeah I'll go night vigil on a Friday. I'll go to church. I'll sleep at the church. I'll come back on Sunday morning. Then I'll go home 4pm on a Sunday just to watch the the parade.
01:08:10
Speaker
I'm telling you guys, I'll be so... Chelsea win the league with Joe Pedro and the La... Fair play, man. Fair play.
01:08:18
Speaker
We're never going to win the league. We are never going to win the league. Fair play, man. and You know what it This could go one or two ways, yeah. If Arsenal win the league or Champions League, yeah, I'm going on holiday, bro. I'm out. I'm out. I'm out. There's no way I could be in London for that. I mean, I'm to exit the group. I'm never coming back. Forget it.
01:08:40
Speaker
if you people do this stuff on this yeah If we win anything, if we win Champions League, if we win Premier League, I'm not letting anyone live. here Nah, I already know. already know. know too many Arsenal fans, but it's actually ridiculous, bro. The one thing I'm hanging my hat on is Arsenal never winning stuff. like this This is what i need. like It keeps me going. Someone asked me a question. They said, oh would you want would you have a Chelsea and Arsenal with no no no titles for 10 years?
01:09:10
Speaker
Or Arsenal win seven and Chelsea win three. i said zero. Zero. I don't want either of us to win anything. If I can't win, you can't win. That's it. That's pure hate.
01:09:24
Speaker
That's pure hate. What did you say, Yusuf? I saw one TikTok the other day. It was like, ask an Arsenal fan. It was like, in the next five years, ah you you can pick the amount of trophies you win.
01:09:36
Speaker
Mainly Premier League and Champions League. So, 10 trophies up for grabs the next five years, whatever. But every trophy you win takes a year off your wife's life.
01:09:48
Speaker
How many trophies do you ask to
01:09:54
Speaker
What?
01:09:58
Speaker
I was thinking about it. I was hmm. How many trophies you ask to win?
01:10:04
Speaker
Wait, for five years. How many people do back to back to back to back to back? That's actually crazy. Oh no.
01:10:15
Speaker
ah you crazy no Tony's not thinking about it. I'm not even thinking, though I'm just thinking about like, from the point of view from my Arsenal fan, bro. I settled that one trophy a year. we over Five years, bro. You just said the five leagues.
01:10:34
Speaker
Like, let's say you just won the Champions League fight five years in a row. Like, something like that. No, we go in the league in there somewhere as well. Champions League will get boring. You go in one league in there somewhere. So you're saying you wipe five years for my life.
01:10:47
Speaker
5 years man yeah what's 5 years? what's 5 years man? life expectancy is going up man everyone's healthier shoot that was a good fight man said if she lives to 95 90's still good some good innings man yeah some good innings man I'm not even going to answer that question let's move on let's move on let's move on we've got people who want to clip us up get us in trouble man move on move on honestly man But yeah, so, all right, cool. We've got that wax here. Youssef is the representative of all Arsenal fans. He speaks for all of them. Let me just write that down. So, Arsenal want a win. Treble.
01:11:31
Speaker
Treble win the league by 15 points. I hear it. All right, cool, that's down. right, cool. But yeah, all let's move on to ah don't blame the ref moment.
01:11:43
Speaker
Yusuf,
Blaming Referees: Fair or Unfair?
01:11:44
Speaker
if you're not familiar, we have a segment where we look at the last game week and we pick out a moment where the referee plays significant role and players like to like players and fans like to put the blame on the referee, but really the referee isn't the one on the pitch making the decision to do the dumb thing in the first place. So...
01:12:08
Speaker
Eamon, do have ah you your don't blame the ref moment? To be honest, it's probably going to match whatever you guys select. um Try your best to fix that in different because I'm just going to go straight for it.
01:12:24
Speaker
Moises Kayser.
01:12:27
Speaker
What were you thinking, my brother? What were you actually... He wasn't thinking. That's the problem. He wasn't thinking. Just come and hatch it, man. Hatchet man for a minute off. Pushing... I don't know who you push. You push someone. Just pushing them. For no reason, they barged Timber off the ball. That should have been a yellow card as well, to be fair. That's one finger that...
01:12:53
Speaker
one I think the referee let get away of that, so he thought he could do more. And he just took it too far. Another thing as well, yeah, we didn't mention. Why did he fake an injury after afterwards? Why did he fake an injury? From his ankle to his shin, to his knee, to his arm.
01:13:11
Speaker
and What the hell? What was that about? For a second, I genuinely thought he might have injured himself. But then I watched the replay. There was no buckle in the ankle. There was nothing. I just said, hey, big man, get up. Big man, get up. You know what he did? When he made the tackle, started limping. Yeah.
01:13:28
Speaker
When he made the tackle, he looked at Moreno and said, oh, I actually got him. i and Let me just fake it. Let me fake it out. Because I don't think he was aware of how bad the tackle was until he saw him rolling around. You're oh.
01:13:40
Speaker
All jokes aside, I genuinely think he's insane because I've seen him. No, do, do, I do, I do. i do i think he i think he's mad in the head because I've seen him absolutely wipe a man out and in genuine anger, screaming at the ref like, what did you What do you mean that's how foul? Like, insane, bro. I think once he gets once that guy gets into game mode, I don't think he can see anything else. So I'm a bit scared of man sometimes. Like, I don't know what I'm going to get with him. So I mean, we're even lucky it's the first red card. Moises Kaissado, don't blame the ref and stop kicking people, please.
01:14:20
Speaker
Yusuf, do you want to go next? you have anything different? or I know. It could be the same thing. Because of the magnitude of the game, and what is there's nowhere else to go, to be honest. I think we touched on earlier, the Mateta penalty, obviously it's the rules and whatnot, but I think Caicedo is just...
01:14:38
Speaker
He's the pinnacle. You can't describe it, man. that We've been building up for one week, two weeks. Rice, Quesado, Quesado, Rice. And it's just... and people problem I don't know where people are being honest or not and saying, that's not a red card. It shouldn't be red card.
01:14:58
Speaker
like Let the game flow. Halal, man. know the reason the reason why The reason why I say it's a red card is because, number one, the ball's nowhere near you. Number one. Number two, I've always felt like if you are just on the ankle or just above the ankle, that is like people some people don't think that's low. But that is really dangerous. And if he if he if his foot gets stuck or buckles, that ankle's gone.
01:15:24
Speaker
Absolutely gone. If Romero doesn't make that pass, he's probably got looking at a very serious injury there. Exactly. So people just got to ignore the fact that it's a low foot.
01:15:34
Speaker
And yeah, he he just had to go. He had to go. I understand Chelsea fans looking at it from, oh, you know, the guy... pentacle i think he did it obviously the manager mentioned it pentacle did a tackle and there's always various other other you know challenges and things that we could all bring into this conversation but my thing is regardless of what the refs have let go in isolation that is still a red card like we've got a we've got let tribalism go and stop stop this you know don't get me wrong i do it in a group chat a lot though i get um
01:16:09
Speaker
we've got to really try our best to be fair and really ensure tackles like that have to be punished. It wasn't even just a tackle itself, it's the sheer force of it as well. twist' speak downing to He down. didn't slow down. With the Benton Hall one, it's similar area, but it's nowhere near enough forza.
01:16:31
Speaker
It's debatable, it's on the borderline, but Kaiseido has gone in there saying, I'm not pulling out a single percent of my strength. he f up crying No, um I'm slightly argue that I still think the Pentacle one is still a red card. He still goes in with enough force.
01:16:50
Speaker
Just this, can say the one's next level? He's absolutely insane for that. Give him two red cards, man. Six game suspension. yeah but If the FA came back and said he's now banned for five to six games, I'd be like, yeah, that makes sense to me, boy, because that was crazy.
01:17:06
Speaker
Give him like a speed awareness course. sign and Just make him be a lot of classes. Like a management. Anything. He needs
Young Players at Manchester United: Potential and Challenges
01:17:16
Speaker
to tackle awareness course because Donny needs to learn how to tackle without foul fouling. but Honestly.
01:17:21
Speaker
Big up guys though anyway, man. what about you, Don? If have to do, man, I've mentioned it before, but Lenny Euro, bro, bro, he didn't really argue. He didn't really try to blame the ref. I think he just knew, but Bro, that... In the split, he looks bad. Yeah, yeah,
01:17:42
Speaker
I think... no like He doesn't need to dwell on it for too long. we will call him three points. Just try to keep a calm head next time. and it's not It's not that deep, though. I still have stocks in him. I still think he can become a good centre-back.
01:17:59
Speaker
I'm not going to get into debates on what level I think he can be at because I think all of that is circumstantial circumstantial. And I've seen too many young, talented players come to Manchester United and just never make it to even half their potential. So it's all going to be a lot on his own personal development and also he's going to make it he's go to be given the opportunity to make a decision on whether he commits to Man United or leaves at the right time. a lot of players commit for too long and to it doesn't really pay off.
01:18:30
Speaker
If he knows what's good for him, he tries to get out as soon as he can. good and and And I don't say that because of you know your results, your current results. I say that because of Where's your team going to be in two years? Nobody really knows. like you know What sort of professionals or seniors is he going have around him that can teach him, that can you know guide him?
01:18:51
Speaker
Is it the best place for his development? I don't know, man. I don't know. The thing that would worry me as a or if I was a United fan, you don't obviously play with a back three or back five, whatever you want to call it.
01:19:05
Speaker
He obviously plays usually a 10-0 on the right. Usually in those sort of positions, they're shielded, like centre-backs can hide a little bit. it new You can get by bad performances, but it feels like he's constantly in a position where he's vulnerable. he's Things like that could happen to him. So why is that u why is it always him that's always in that position, especially as a young centre-back? I do feel like he is targeted, right?
01:19:34
Speaker
a lot by other teams as well. I do think they do see him as a weak link. I think De Ligt has started the season fairly well. He's a lot more physical and he can deal with a lot more. He's a lot more experienced, even though he's only, what, 26, 25, 26. He's been playing senior football since he was like 17, 18. So he's way more seasoned. Lennie Euro, this is only his, what, third full season as a professional footballer. So he's going to be a lot more shaky in some of his decision making. And also on the other side, where's Luke Shaw,
01:20:07
Speaker
He's always got a defensive partner next to him in terms of if it's Dogu, he's a lot more defensively minded. He's going to have the support on that end. and And also, if it's not Dogu, it's Dalot. So yeah he's always having the support that he needs. Lenny Uro, he's with Ahmad. Ahmad's going forward.
01:20:23
Speaker
So he's always going to be left on the island. So
Conclusion and Call to Action
01:20:27
Speaker
it's just something he's just going to have to with, unfortunately.
01:20:32
Speaker
Okay. Shall we call it quits, lads? Yeah. Yeah, yeah. All right, people. Please like, subscribe. Please do a couple five stars. Follow. Do all them stuffs. um We're poor. We need it. So keep it up. Yo, yo, yo.
01:20:53
Speaker
be telling people my business sometimes my business ain't your business like okay trust me um don't cry don't beg and don't blame the ref peace peace