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Transfer Window Bonanza ! + Chelsea Crowned CWC Champions
10 Plays6 days ago
CWC Recap
- Chelsea prevail over PSG
- Thoughts on Format
Summer Transfer Window
- Isak Transfer Request Shocker !
- Liverpool Splash The Cash
- Have Arsenal Finally Found Their Man ?
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Return from Break
00:00:00
Chino Onwuka
Thank you.
00:00:10
Emeka
Welcome to episode 29, the Kai Havertz edition of the Love of the Game podcast. Coming at you. I say sunny summer, but it's been pretty dreary and rainy over here.
00:00:23
Emeka
Trying to lighten mood up a little bit. as As always, I'm here with my main man, Chinon. How you living, brother?
00:00:30
Chino Onwuka
I'm doing good. I'm doing good. I know it's been a while since we last recorded, but you know, we needed a little bit of a summer break as well. And as as always, life happens, but glad to be back recording. We have a lot to talk about, so let's keep it moving.
00:00:45
Emeka
You already know. I mean, yes and too many games has been a constant topic. What about too many podcasts? We you know we need our rest too. But a big episode today. You have
Guest Introduction and Club World Cup Discussion
00:00:55
Emeka
to bring out all the guns, including my main man, Chukwu. Chukwu, say what's up to the people.
00:01:00
Chuku
What's up guys, glad to be back, you know, here episode 29. I know we got a banging episode loading and, know, just can't wait to chop it up with the boys and see how we're doing so far this summer. It's been it's been a good summer so far. Exciting with the transfers.
00:01:16
Chuku
looking forward to the discussion. So let's get started.
00:01:21
Emeka
Yeah, as my man Chukwu mentioned, you know, summertime usually is the the sports doldrums, unless you're a big baseball fan, I'd say. But that doesn't mean, especially the beautiful game, there's any breaks. And it's been a long time since we've chatted to y'all.
00:01:35
Emeka
A lot has happened. And we're going to spend most of this episode breaking down all the comings, goings, and and latest transfer news. But beforehand, you know, there was a little tournament that happened in the summer.
00:01:49
Emeka
the first ever new edition of the Club World Cup. I mean, I'll open it up to the floor. What were you guys' initial thoughts from watching that tournament this summer?
00:02:00
Chino Onwuka
I mean, I guess I'll go first. Coming in, i didn't know what to expect. Actually, let me rephrase. And people are going to laugh when they hear this, but if you know, you know.
00:02:12
Chino Onwuka
I didn't have a little bit of understanding of what it would be like because of FM. Yes, I do still play FM.
00:02:16
Emeka
thousand percent
00:02:18
Chino Onwuka
Shout out, shout out. So really, so I sort of understood what the tournament was. It's really considered part of the initial season. It's weird in between where not pre-season, but it's almost post-season.
00:02:32
Chino Onwuka
And my thought process was how seriously are teams going to take it? You know, before, you know, understand, Playing it in FM, I just thought, yeah, teams are just going to send out their kids because nobody wants their players to get hurt.
00:02:49
Chino Onwuka
It's just a glorified preseason tournament. It is what it is. But actually, after having played through it, you know, understanding the money that's em involved, it was like, hey, okay, like teams are going for it. You have Real Madrid post-sporting.
00:03:04
Chino Onwuka
Drew Bellingham surgery just so he can play in the tournament even though he's going to miss a significant part of the next season. You have a separate transfer window created to happen just before the tournament starts and you see teams doing the most to get players in. So I'm like, huh.
00:03:19
Chino Onwuka
All right, let's see how this goes. So to me was it was more i wasn't taking it too seriously.
00:03:22
Emeka
you
00:03:27
Chino Onwuka
It was just good to have something to watch. you know, during the world cup, you're watching almost every game that you can get your hands on. Was i watching, i' not trying to insult it anybody. Was I watching so United versus Adelaide when they played? No, I didn't care.
00:03:45
Chino Onwuka
What I would tune in was the big matches between the the two big European teams, or if there was a new signing that I was trying to get a look at, check them out. So those are my thoughts coming in. I
Impact of the Club World Cup on Teams
00:03:56
Chino Onwuka
think it was a,
00:03:58
Chino Onwuka
For the first one, it was it was decent. We had some good games at the end of the season. you know you also saw the risks of the tournament where you know you had Musiala slapping his ankle and now he's he's done for a significant period of time.
00:04:11
Emeka
Yeah.
00:04:17
Chino Onwuka
Jude Bellingham, he's now goingnna have to deal with his social shoulder surgery. And then we really don't know what the impacts long-term impacts are going to be to these players going into next season for some of the teams that went deeper. So I'm curious to see how that pans out, you know what's real, what's a mirage.
00:04:37
Chino Onwuka
know We'll talk about it later. Chelsea, you know, spoiler warning, Chelsea with the were the champions, you know, surprising PSG in the final. Is that, you know, a sign of what's to come for them in the season? So this is the first one.
00:04:50
Chino Onwuka
think people are trying to see how it shakes out.
00:04:50
Chuku
you
00:04:51
Chino Onwuka
So um it'll be interesting to see the repercussions of it.
00:04:56
Emeka
I mean, just to piggyback on what you said, like I think I was a little bit more optimistic about it than most people just because I know how these clubs operate. And as soon as FIFA started waving all this big money, I knew teams are going to take it seriously.
00:05:10
Emeka
I mean, like, I agree with you. I didn't watch a lot of the games. I did try to watch the European games and I did like the whole trend of, you know, Brazilian teams mostly, but non-European teams, you know, getting some scalps.
00:05:22
Emeka
Like I, that's always fun to see. Like, I feel like the regular club world cup, it's middle of the season for half these teams. You know, the Europe team plays two games. Everyone else plays like three. you don't really get to see much, really much different matchups. So something like this, you get multiple groups, you got multiple games. I was a big fan of it. And Yeah, it's extra games in the season. It's every four years. I don' know this Arsene Winger's talking every two years. That that talk.
00:05:48
Emeka
Every four years, I think it's it's calm. It's a little summer treat. nothing else we're doing in the summer. And ah the first edition, it was all right. could work out the kinks a little bit. I look forward to watching this every four years following up. I don't know about you guys, but that's that's my stance on it.
00:06:03
Chino Onwuka
So like I got two things to ask you. Give me an honest thought as to, apart from Chelsea and Real Madrid, how many teams and players within those teams were really upset when they got knocked out?
00:06:20
Chino Onwuka
of the
00:06:21
Chino Onwuka
I'm talking to European teams.
00:06:23
Emeka
Yeah, a lot. You didn't see many scraps there were after every game? The Bayern PSG game, Maslow, was scrapping. There were two red cards in that game.
00:06:34
Chino Onwuka
I mean, that might just be because of the heat, in my opinion, but I don't know.
00:06:38
Chuku
you
00:06:38
Emeka
mean...
00:06:40
Chino Onwuka
If I was a player and you know why Real Madrid wants to win it because of the prestige, you know why Chelsea wants to win it because of the money, for me, me all those other players were like, bet, I can actually go on vacation now.
00:06:52
Chino Onwuka
I don't know.
00:06:52
Emeka
I think that's harsh.
00:06:53
Chino Onwuka
That's how I honestly feel.
00:06:55
Emeka
I watched the City-Al-Hilal game. That game felt like a cup final.
00:06:59
Chino Onwuka
Okay, fair enough.
00:06:59
Emeka
So I can't, you know, like, end of the day, natural competition. If me and you play FIFA for zero dollars, we're going to take it.
00:07:08
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:07:09
Emeka
At some point, we're going to kick in natural competition. You're going to lose any success.
00:07:11
Chino Onwuka
So that's right. Apart from that, how many, like apart from just the natural competition, I'm playing this match, cause I'm playing, I want to win. It's hard. I don't want to be wasting my time here. You know, I'm losing out on time off because of it. So I might as well win.
00:07:26
Chino Onwuka
How many of them were like two days later, like, Loki, I'm glad we're out. That that's that's might be the pessimistic view, but i feel like there's probably be a lot of players, especially the European players who played Euros last year, had 16 days off, started a long season, season ended, had Nations League, had a one-week break, had this.
00:07:48
Chino Onwuka
In my mind, i'm like a bunch of them were like, honestly, I'm glad we're out.
00:07:53
Emeka
Hey, and but I'll say, though, football is bigger than Europe because you can't tell me the South American teams, you know, the Asian team weren't playing their hearts out for that tournament.
00:08:00
Chino Onwuka
Sure, sure, sure. For sure, for sure.
00:08:04
Emeka
So, you know, that's all I can say.
00:08:05
Chino Onwuka
For sure.
00:08:06
Emeka
it's i get what you're citizen I get what you're saying. If I was a player, I would be saying, coach, you can sum me out halftime.
00:08:08
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:08:13
Emeka
I don't need to be here for this. And I know Musiala breaking his the ankle on me.
00:08:16
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
00:08:17
Emeka
You mentioned it. That's a hard pill to swallow or something like this, like to happen. Like it's... You know, it is what it is. But i'm watching the games, I truly felt teams were taking it seriously. I mean, we saw in the finals, match ended, Luis Enrique's choking Manziel.
00:08:31
Emeka
Like, how often do you see ever see coaches
00:08:32
Chino Onwuka
I think a pride thing kicks in, but like I was just thinking about it from, and this isn't a throw shade. I'm sure Chelsea fans are ecstatic they want it. As an Arsenal fan, as long as we were in it, would want to win it.
00:08:46
Chino Onwuka
The second we were out, I'd be like, low-key, I'm glad these players can rest. I don't know.
00:08:52
Emeka
As the poet Chris Brown once said, Heiko here from outside the club, you can't even get in. but you know If you're in it, it's
Future of the Club World Cup and Transfers
00:09:00
Emeka
a whole different game than if you're not in it. And from what I can see,
00:09:02
Chino Onwuka
ru I would manage to win, but the second we're out, I would honestly be a little bit relieved.
00:09:09
Emeka
i'd be disappointed. Well, depends how we went out, but I i think i but think I'd be disappointed. like It's always nice to win things, and we can laugh what we want. It's one of those things where...
00:09:17
Chino Onwuka
i'm not I'm not laughing. like I think it's this it's a serious cup to win. like Shout out Chelsea beating the best team in the world 3-0 very comprehensively, but... like I don't know if you saw the article of what Declan said today about he didn't really feel himself until December because he was still fatigued from the Euros.
00:09:40
Chino Onwuka
He only had 16 days off and then jumping right into a serious season.
00:09:42
Chuku
you
00:09:44
Chino Onwuka
and We saw how it scattered the whole team, how many teams in Europe got scattered. So I'm i'm really – this games play thing, can see teams sort of trying to stack depth Now, like, this, I don't know when, you know, we talk about bubbles and lots of things. I don't know they're going to see bubble crash with some of these players.
00:10:04
Emeka
or you know managers who get paid tens of millions of dollars can rotate their squads once in a while. That's know that's another another thing to throw out there. And you'll say, yeah, we'll sacrifice points. Might be better sacrifice a draw in December versus sacrificing your star-placed ACL in January.
00:10:20
Emeka
you know That's just things for them to think about. That's why they get paid the big bucks. And i listen, like you, I am curious to see how it plays out. The thing is that it only affects such a small number of players and teams.
00:10:31
Emeka
Yes, they're the best of the players or teams, but it's still not everybody. A lot of players were chilling this summer. So...
00:10:37
Chino Onwuka
that's that's That's what I'm saying, but like again, it's difficult to talk because our team wasn't in it, but when it's your team and then all of a sudden you have three players drop out with hammies in December, then it's going to feel different.
00:10:53
Emeka
Sometimes players drop without hammies for no reason.
00:10:54
Chino Onwuka
If it's not your team, it's not about like... Sorry?
00:10:58
Emeka
Sometimes players drop out with hammies for who just sitting at home.
00:11:00
Chino Onwuka
I know, but I can guarantee you if your team was in the Club World Cup and you have that happen... your mind is automatically gonna go to like, man, how much did this play factor into it? Even though it could happen on a regular reason, that's not gonna help. So when your mind's gonna go there and again, I'm i'm just thinking this is new, this is novel, I'm just thinking about it. And then you now have the fact that I think I just saw the other day, the next one's probably gonna be in Qatar
00:11:34
Chino Onwuka
And so how's that gonna look? what what are the What are the times of the matches going to be? The heat, because again, it's not gonna be, when they did the World Cup over there, they moved it to the winter.
00:11:48
Chino Onwuka
This is going to be in the summer and they're gonna try and do it in Qatar. Scary, a little bit worrying.
00:11:58
Emeka
I mean, our team is across the globe right now and it's about three weeks before the season starts in Asia. like These teams take these preseason tours as it is. i get what you're saying. I just, I don't know.
00:12:09
Emeka
As much as I hear the arguments, I just, I can't find it in me to feel even sympathy towards this because you can rotate your team and these guys all make silly money and they all have 25 man squads.
00:12:22
Emeka
You can rotate this team. You don't have to play everybody 90 minutes and have them gig impressed the entire time. And again, it only impacts such a small number of teams and players that if anything, I kind of like that evens it out.
00:12:34
Emeka
You know, maybe that's the natural balancing of it every four years is that they take the best teams, they get tired. And maybe you get, we we get more random one-off seasons where like an Aston Villa or a Newcastle might explode because they have healthy players. I'm not mad at that either.
00:12:50
Chino Onwuka
Can even mention our team amongst those teams that could explode?
00:12:55
Emeka
I mean, that's disrespectful to Arsenal, but we'll get there. We'll get there later on. been going on.
00:12:58
Chino Onwuka
is it? We ain't want no CL.
00:12:58
Emeka
Chukwu, you have...
00:13:03
Emeka
Oh, my goodness. Not did half the teams who performed, but again, we'll get there. We'll get there later. Chukwu, you've been quiet. You have any thoughts about the Club World Cup? You know, our London neighbors winning, Donald Trump lifting the trophy, anything?
00:13:17
Chuku
Yeah, I mean, you guys were having a discussion. I didn't want to interrupt y'all, you know, as you were going back and forth. But, you know, I thought the Club World Cup was actually, you know, lived up to expectations. I mean, I definitely thought.
00:13:31
Chuku
definitely lived up to his name, you know, all teams, you know, competing. My, I mean, my initial concern was, were we going to get, you know, competitive games? Where are we going to, you know, our team's going to have, oh, sorry, the players, as you say, they're going to, you know, actually take this, you know, tournament serious.
00:13:50
Chuku
I personally, know, I thought it was a brilliant idea for FIFA to back this tournament, as they want to make this a major major ah major tournament for the next know several decades.
00:14:02
Chuku
And know one of the key motivators, I believe, achieve this it was by simply the prize money that teams were going to be getting from this tournament. I definitely thought you know it definitely know made an impact with how serious teams took the tournament to be. And you know i thought it showed with the product. like We saw some really good games.
00:14:25
Chuku
I saw some really competitive games. you Teams were going all out. We got to see new sign-ins early on as well in a competitive environment. and yeah Personally, I thought it was a success. success i mean Everything was great apart from obviously seeing our London rivals lift up the trophy at the end.
00:14:44
Chuku
you know Not something obviously as Arsenal fans we want to see, but would say overall you know Chelsea were... know they showed out they showed out when they needed to show out uh they had an amazing final as we you know we all seen they handled business against psg um you know i'll just say overall like i said it it was a great success success if you ask me so i'm just hoping in four years time hopefully you know with how we're building at the club at the moment
00:15:15
Chuku
Hopefully that's the tournament we we see Arsenal, you know, join in in ah next next time next next go next go around. And yeah, something to strive for, you know. So I definitely think this is something that I'll be paying attention to moving forward. And yeah, a lot of teams...
00:15:34
Chuku
I guess it's incentivizing a lot of teams now to actually go out and really, truly work on squad depth because as the game grows, you know, more is going to be just more and more games know coming up you know, a year by year basis or.
00:15:51
Chuku
depending on you know the year right with such seasonal tournaments, is going to be important for teams to have or build out their squads. So this is a good way or good to know reason to have teams oh no je get get better squad depth. And you know hopefully it doesn't you know endanger the players because obviously we don't want know anything like what happened with Musiala in the tournament to occur to any of our players.
00:16:20
Chuku
It's a shame he's going to be gone for, you know, quite as a substantial amount of time. But again, but with how the the game is going, you know, you just got to think as teams are starting to have more and more, you know, better players and build out their squads, you'd hope that the manager is able to rotate and, you know.
00:16:43
Chuku
that will be able to kind of ration out the the minutes in a sense to not burn out and know sort of know burn up most players. And you got to hope that whoever's team's manager is taking that into account when it comes to such games.
00:16:59
Chuku
So hopefully you know we don't see cases of the Musialas. I mean, that was a more of a freak injury, if anything. you know Not really much to deal with.
00:17:10
Chuku
a player being tired or anything like that. But, you know, it's just something that you don't want to see in the game. So hopefully, like I said, those types of injuries are minimal and we just get to enjoy, you know, the sport that we love and we get, we get to see for an extended period of time, which is, you know, no complaints over here. Cause mean, to any time you have a chance to,
00:17:33
Chuku
watch competitive play and in the off season. It just buys us more time till this new season starts. So, you know, overall, I'll say it was a ah ah success and hopefully, you know, looking forward to future tournaments like this to come.
Evolution of Transfer News
00:17:51
Emeka
Yeah, no, it's, I feel like end of the day for the first edition, no matter what you want to say about the tournament, I do think at the very least it's neutral, even consider it a success.
00:18:05
Emeka
They're going to have more of it. We'll see if Saudi Arabia and FIFA kick in the same amount of money next time. But hey, at the of the day, what am what else am I doing in the summer? So I'll take out the footy I can get.
00:18:17
Emeka
Before we wrap up, you know, a brief shout-out to the Mandem and Chelsea. I know people would be mad if we say we were burying it. You know, mentioned it, though. They smacked PSG up, and that was a shock to me in the finals. So Cole Palmer, Kaisseto, all the Mandem, they really balled out.
00:18:35
Emeka
The first-ever Club World Cup champions, and if this goes on for, you know, 20 more editions, that's going to get more and more prestige. But, you know, look forward to next editions. But the summer...
00:18:47
Emeka
When you think of summer football, you know, i'm I'm sure some people think about the World Cup and the Euros and all that stuff. But let's be real. What we really think about in summer is that those three words from Romano, i here we go, that one Steam Twitter notification, the drama of the summer a transfer window.
00:19:05
Emeka
We've been gone for far too long. So much has happened. I can't wait to ch-op about it with my boys. Before we begin, though, just a quick... uh, call question I have, because I see this thing going on Twitter all the time.
00:19:17
Emeka
You know, we're all, I won't give away our ages, but you know, we're seasoned vets in this game. We've fallen in football for a while. We've seen the transition from, Loading up BBC.com or pulling up TV and seeing a guy announcing it on Sky to now we're getting up to the minute updates on Twitter for every transfer.
00:19:33
Emeka
I'm just curious, which one do you prefer? Back when we didn't know anything and it was a surprise or these current days when you feel like you're getting up to the minute updates from every transfer every hour?
00:19:45
Chino Onwuka
It was different for me because I've been in this world for like 15 years now. y'all know I've, I was the one trolling forums and Twitter going back to 2010, you know, trying to dig up the in the nose and I'd be sending you guys links to who would seem to you random people being like, oh, this is happening, this is happening. And honestly thinking about it, like I can't even imagine what y'all's reactions were to some of the stuff I was sending you guys. But now that stuff that was a little bit ni niche back when, you know, I started dabbling into it is is the game right now. So really all I know, all I've known for the last 15 years or so is, you know,
00:20:43
Chino Onwuka
insiders giving you up-to-date information of what's going on, trying to decipher which reporting outlets are real or not. Like we're we're we're all experts at the game now. like We know now when we see a link from Calcio Mercado, we know not to pay attention to it. Whereas, you know, 10, 15 years ago, were like, oh, is this real? Is it not? So we know what's real. We know what's not.
00:21:12
Chino Onwuka
I'd have to go back to the early 2000s where I wouldn't see a transfer until it showed up on Sky Sports News or BBC.com or in a newspaper. Yes, I'm i'm aging myself here, but.
00:21:26
Chino Onwuka
But this is all I know and I love it. For the highs and the lows, I remember the summer of Eden Hazard where I didn't, I'd actually had a night out, I'd come back and I didn't sleep because I kept refreshing my Twitter every second to finally find out where he was going, only to have my heart broken that he was going to Chelsea. And I had to go outside at three in the morning to just take a walk because I was, was tough because y'all know how much I loved Edin back in the day.
00:21:58
Emeka
Tough times. Tough times.
00:22:03
Chino Onwuka
And for him to go to Chelsea of all clubs, by was painful. So this is all I know.
00:22:07
Emeka
people so
00:22:09
Chino Onwuka
Shout out to my Arsenal Mania fans. Shout out to all my Twitter in the knows. Those who are who are now retired and and paved the way for for Arsenic and the current hand of Ozil.
00:22:23
Chino Onwuka
Y'all know who you are. Shout out my my Reddit stalkers. Shout out my aggregators. Hey, even shout out the guy who for who this is Christmas for, Eduardo Hagen.
00:22:36
Chino Onwuka
You're little bit crazy, but but what we love you.
00:22:38
Emeka
but
00:22:39
Chino Onwuka
Shout out. Shout out.
00:22:42
Emeka
Yo, Chuka, I know you're a transfer aficionado. What are your thoughts about the the summer window? yeah I know it's Christmas for you.
00:22:49
Chuku
Oh, yeah, you know, this is a time of the year that, you know, I definitely love personally. I mean, no question, i you those those end of the, well, not like those summer transfer, Sky News, is this Sky? Yeah, Sky News, you know, deadline day, you know, used to hit like back in the day, you know, when I used to remember it would be like when we're returning back to, you know, university, know,
00:23:17
Chuku
Usually it was around the time when they had were having those, you know, transfer news deadline programs that you'd just be, you know, tuning in to see all the deals go, you know, reporting in.
00:23:30
Chuku
But I would say, like, the with the introduction of the, you know, Orange Bombs and the Here We Goes with Fabrizio, I personally enjoy what we have going on right now. So I think what's going on presently is definitely more, if I had to pick, I would say as much as the nostalgia is there for those Sky transferring new deadlines, what what we got going on at the moment with the different, you know, in the nose, ITKs,
00:24:01
Chuku
and the different reportings and what we see no being reported with X now, formerly Twitter, is definitely, you know, a fan is, as fans, i feel like we're just more in tune with the transfer market or transfer news.
00:24:17
Chuku
We get it, you know, we we're hearing news, like ASAP, a loss earlier than we we were before in the past, I believe. So either way, I think i think it's good for the game. It's good for you know for fans to be able to get that kind of inside scoop by the ITKs. And, you know, overall, um yeah like I said, personally, I prefer what we have going on nowadays with the transfer news reporting.
00:24:41
Chuku
far as like, are you asking like how I'm feeling about the current transfer market, like what's been going on? there, bro? Or what, I guess, what what did you want to kind of discuss more about?
00:24:51
Emeka
No, no, that was it. Just, you know, Jack has said. It's been... a
00:24:55
Chino Onwuka
like what do What do you prefer? How do you feel about it?
00:24:58
Emeka
Me? It's funny because I asked that question because you can still do those olden days right now. Like, my dad will pull up to the first game of the season, and I know for a fact he's going to ask me my brother, who's this Zubimendi guy?
00:25:12
Emeka
Is he new? Because I don't recognize him. And you can still do that. But... but My brain, I think you nailed it, you know, where it's like, yeah, I can, you know, I'm back in the back in the days, you know, early 2000s.
00:25:25
Emeka
Yeah, I was going on BBC.com, but while I wasn't as deep as you in the forums, i my life has been online, and you would send me these weird links, and I'd be definitely going on these random websites, and I can't associate it with Trans was accepted like that and I fully echo my brother Chukwu was saying because those days were dark. I know that there's some nostalgia with them, but those days when I'm looking at DiMarzio random Italian websites and I'm trying to Google translate them, those were some dark days. Now, i'm my old age, like my mother my brother Chukwu perfectly nails it. I went for the Ormbaum, I went for the Here We Go.
00:26:01
Emeka
And yeah, there's some other guys, you know, I'm, I hate that I can know these reporters like Liverpool Joyce or Newcastle, Luke Edwards, but For the main, you know, across the globe, Ornestine could tell me, lots you were buying someone from Australia, and my mind, it's out sitting delivered. So it makes life a lot easier.
00:26:19
Emeka
Although, I'm not going to lie, I do miss Chinon sending me the most obscure Turkish website where we're scouting some young kid. You know, those those, you know, it makes you feel like you know something. But life is easier these days, man.
00:26:30
Chino Onwuka
Those are the days. Those are the days. Like, it's, you know, what was sort of hidden has become more mainstream now. And I think on top of it, I think the one negative with the way it is now is because there's so much information, you have certain guys where you know, where we're sort of starved for dopamine, we're sort of starved for new updates. And so I know sometimes I'm sure we'll talk about we get frustrated where it seems like we're hearing the same thing every day, and people are just using the same words to say the same thing, know, the joke with ourselves that we've been monitoring, romanticizing, stalking, peeping, and it's the same thing every day. And it's because
00:27:13
Chino Onwuka
You know, some guys, that's how they make money is by getting views on certain things. And so you also need to become an old hand and to know, okay, this is what's happened. And, you know, I'm like, you point out some of those journalists, some guys are just going to keep regurgitating the same thing just to get views. And some guys are only going to give you another update when something new is happening. and it's just being able to to understand where to Guy, there's a lot of information.
00:27:39
Chino Onwuka
What information do you actually pay attention to what do you just sort of skim by the wayside?
00:27:46
Emeka
hey And that's the that's the beauty of it. But, know, listeners of the pod, from now on, don't worry about because what we're going to tell you is the highest quality facts. No speculation.
00:27:56
Emeka
No
Transfer Speculations: Isak and Liverpool
00:27:57
Emeka
bad sources.
00:27:57
Chino Onwuka
one. Tier one.
00:27:58
Emeka
Tier one. Tier one talk from here on now. Love of the game. Tap in with your boys, man. I know my brother's itching to talk about this. We're itching to talk about this. Earlier today, speaking of an Orenbaum or obama Romano Baum, news burst in the scene.
00:28:13
Emeka
Personally, it took me by surprise. I don't know what my co-hosts are going to say, but I've always been adamant that Izak isn't going anywhere. Well, earlier this morning, everyone reported it. It's out there right now.
00:28:25
Emeka
Izak is currently not on tour of Newcastle. Is he injured? Is he Quote-unquote injured. Who knows? He's put in a... I love how nowadays no one wants to actually give up money and put in a real transfer request.
00:28:37
Emeka
So what they do is just leak it. Put in leaked transfer request, let Newcastle know. I'm out. Liverpool somehow sniffing around. We've got other talks sniffing around. I'll start man, Chukwu.
00:28:48
Emeka
I'm open floor for you. How will you want to take it? What are your thoughts on the Alexander-Ezak situation that's been brewing earlier today and moving forward?
00:28:57
Chuku
I'll just say, in a way, i was definitely caught by surprise. Like, the fact that it was reported that the player himself wanted out from the club, that I did not understand.
00:29:18
Chuku
think would happen, at least not this early on, especially because the whole, you know, narrative from at least, don't know, I mean, at least from what it was portrayed from the outside looking in was that for Newcastle to keep, you know, Isak, for him not to, you know, complain or want out from the club, they had to meet certain, you know, criterias coming, you know, when it came to their season.
00:29:47
Chuku
And one of those criterias was believed to have been to make it back into the Champions League, which they did. they they they They got back.
00:29:58
Chuku
They're currently going to be playing in the Champions League this coming season. And on top of that, they also won a trophy. So, you know, i guess me personally, my thinking was at this point, the moment they secured that Champions League,
00:30:13
Chuku
That it was it was it was going to be a long shot that we see ISAC leave, at least for this summer. right And then all of a sudden, you know we enter the transfer market. you know Of course, we hear about the club's interest in ISAC.
00:30:30
Chuku
And all that keeps getting reported or keeps getting talked about was that Newcastle was not going to sell. They're not looking at any offers. You know, ESAC is going nowhere. So we left it left it at that, you know. as we've seen, know, clubs, other clubs have been going, getting other strikers in the market. You know, different clubs have been active when it comes to those strikers.
00:30:53
Chuku
We've seen what Arsenal, I'm sure we're going to talk about later, but we've seen what Arsenal have been able to do in the markets. We've seen what Chelsea has been able to do in the markets. We've seen what, you know. several other clubs have been able to do in the markets. And, you know, there was no fri talks with Isak, you know, with Isak moving. And all of a sudden, just couple of days, we we've seen, you know, discussions of the whole new Liverpool in for, know, Eketike, you know, both Newcastle and Liverpool in for Eketike.
00:31:26
Chuku
And, you know, we're thinking, well, at least I'm thinking to myself, hold on. what no What's going on with Newcastle being linked with Eketike? Because this was originally reported that you know they were looking for or they were looking to add him, Eketike referring to Newcastle, whilst simultaneously still having Isak and something about that just...
00:31:47
Chuku
you know, didn't seem right because I felt like, you know, it was going to be a situation, least I thought, that if Newcastle were going to be going in for a guy like Eketike, that maybe that could be, you know, foreshadowing to the exit Isak.
00:32:05
Chuku
Lo and behold, you know, Newcastle is still, you holding firm that, know, Isak is going nowhere, that they're just trying to bolster their attack. And then eventually we seen one we've seen what happened with Newcastle stepping down, players showing preference to join Liverpool, Liverpool end up getting their guy.
00:32:25
Chuku
And then, you know, I thought thou would that would be it. Liverpool have gotten their striker. Lo and behold, next thing you know, we're seeing reports now that, you know, the player, you know, wants out. And with the landscape of the markets and teams in the markets and what teams have done so far, you know, with additions,
00:32:46
Chuku
it kind of leaves only a ah handful of clubs available that can realistically still go after Isak you know considering the the demand that the player has right on the transfer market and and how much you know a team would have to pretty much you know offer to obtain his services.
00:33:05
Chuku
And Liverpool are one of those teams that just so happen to be able to to do this, you know especially if they you know end up selling one, or if not two, of...
00:33:19
Chuku
Louis Diaz and Darwin Nunes, and we've all been noticing the, you know, Bayern links to Louis Diaz. And, you know, there's already a substantial bid for Diaz on the table.
00:33:33
Chuku
So it's a scary proposition to think, you know, that we're at the stage today now where Liverpool have the ability to, know, generate very good money in terms of from their sales.
00:33:47
Chuku
enough to be able to get a guy like Isaac while already got in, you know, the services of Eketiki and of Florian Wurtz to add on top of a whole list of, you know, we know that the additions Liverpool have done so far this this summer, it's it's ah it's a scary proposition, you know, it's ah ah it's definitely a scary proposition, but, you know, the end of the day, you just got to, you know, you just got to be prepared, you know, as ah a team.
00:34:16
Chuku
you know and hope that you know the work that and Arsenal have done is going to be enough to compete. Because as much as ISAC to Liverpool seems like a very you know crazy addition, it's not something that I would say automatically tips them over to wit you know to win the league. I don't think it's going to work way.
00:34:40
Chuku
It is going to help them for sure, no doubt. Having a starting lineup of Salah, possibly Eketiki and Isak, that does seem like a scary proposition have to think about or worry about.
00:34:57
Chuku
But at the end of the day, you know this is a team sport. One player is not going to no change are you know One player is not going to be enough to just guarantee a team winning the league.
00:35:12
Chuku
The whole team has to mesh well. So that no that's something that we're going to have to at least you know see how that works out on the football pitch. But, you know, so far on paper.
00:35:23
Chuku
know, Liverpool look like a scary ah ah scary team to to have to worry about, to face. So going to definitely cause a lot of teams' problems. And at this point in time, I'm just, you know, looking forward to seeing how that, know, ends up looking when it's all set up.
00:35:41
Chuku
So, yeah.
00:35:42
Emeka
I feel like we're getting a little ahead of ourselves. And i i um um'm ki I'm pivoting off that point and tossing the chin off. In July twenty fourth we're recording this.
00:35:52
Emeka
Give it six weeks from now, September 3rd, 2025.
00:35:53
Chuku
Thank you.
00:35:56
Emeka
Right now, sitting here, is Alexander Izak a Liverpool player in your opinion?
00:36:03
Emeka
You
00:36:05
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, you know what? It's funny because as was listening to Chukwu, I was like, i I don't think it's a ah ah foregone conclusion that Isaac's going to be at Liverpool because Newcastle still does hold a lot of power in this situation.
00:36:19
Chino Onwuka
you know, Isaac has three years left on his deal. so Newcastle will, if they do get, you know, forced, if they do get pressed on the issue, he will command a big fee. So,
00:36:35
Chino Onwuka
To answer the question, I think it's 50-50, honestly, that he's he's that he's at Liverpool.
00:36:36
Chuku
Thank you.
00:36:43
Chino Onwuka
But what is clear is that he wants out. And is his player power going to be enough to force Newcastle's hand? That's what it's going to come down to. And I'm not sure.
00:36:57
Chino Onwuka
Any other club, you know, I would say, you know, a player of Isaac's stature wanting out is done, but this is a nation-backed state we're talking about, and things are always a little bit different with those kind of clubs.
00:37:09
Emeka
No, and that was why I was curious because nine times out of 10, if a player downs tools and wants a move, we just saw it with another Swedish striker at the summer. They're going to get their move. It's just what it is.
00:37:22
Emeka
Contracts don't mean anything in football. It's just how it goes. But, like Chino mentioned, this is Saudi Arabia we're talking about here. Like, this the these men aren't going to just take no for an answer.
00:37:34
Emeka
And usually the tool players have is, well, if you don't sell me this summer, I'm going to walk next year for free. Isak's got three more years left on his deal. Newcastle can make him sweat.
00:37:45
Emeka
So, you know, I think what I'm piecing together is earlier in the summer, Isak said, all right, he I mean, we're winning champions. Like, true question, you we're winning Champions League. We're vibing things good.
00:37:58
Emeka
You know, I'm making, like, $100,000 right now, $120,000. You know, while going for the contract extension, they were making some talks. All of a sudden, Liverpool's sniffing around, offering 100 million pounds. Or Newcastle's saying, well, to get them, need 150 pounds.
00:38:16
Emeka
Isak's agents say, all right, well, if you think I'm worth 150 million pounds, that clearly means you think I'm one of the best players in the world. You got to pay me like I'm one of the best players in the world. And now Newcastle rocking a hard pace where I'm sure if they offered Isak that giant 300,000 week extension earlier in the summer, he signs it.
00:38:35
Emeka
And none of these stories are occurring right now. Well, because there's there's still a rocking hard place with PSR, Isak knowing high wages, I don't blame him for agitating for a move. Honestly, I don't. because You
00:38:46
Chino Onwuka
and And the other factor is, you know, the really suboptimal performance that Newcastle has had in the transfer window so far. Yes, I know they've signed Alanga, his Swedish brother, but considering they just made Champions League and, you know, this is a team you would say, okay, hey, it looks like they're ready to take the next step.
00:39:05
Chino Onwuka
You know, qualifying for Champions League was such a big deal for them. They have whiffed on a lot of targets. Joe Pedro. DeLapp, Grave, Trafford, like considering all the noise of what they needed to do come end of the season.
00:39:18
Emeka
James Trafford.
00:39:26
Chino Onwuka
Like, it's just normal choosing United over them. Like, it's just been after L. And I could also see Isaac, you know, looking at that and being like, you know what, I'm 25 now.
00:39:39
Chino Onwuka
I need to start thinking about where I can win trophies. I've won a League Cup. I've done something at Newcastle. Shout to them. But you know what? If I want to take this next step, this might have to be my chance now or else, now that given me time to think about it, like Emeka said, you didn't give me what I wanted now. Now seen what's happened.
00:40:00
Chino Onwuka
I don't want to find myself stuck here.
00:40:03
Emeka
Yeah, but i get I hear all of that. and And like I said, I do understand why Isaac agitated because, you know, pay paid me my money. But flip side, you know, Newcastle are in the Champions League.
00:40:15
Emeka
They still have you know a couple of weeks to make something shake. Yeah, they've lost our primary targets, but they still have money. They haven't really lost anyone major. They kept everyone. like You're on a trajectory there where like I feel like it's not the worst thing in the world to ride it out.
00:40:30
Emeka
But yeah we careers are short. i mean, we saw Musiala break his thing. i Anything can happen anytime. So I'm never mad at a player for maximizing the opportunities. But it is...
00:40:39
Chino Onwuka
are are you Are you surprised though?
00:40:40
Emeka
home
00:40:42
Chino Onwuka
Because we saw this with Arsenal every single year and you know one could argue maybe we were at a higher level than what Newcastle are where you're in a good place but you get to a certain age.
00:40:56
Chino Onwuka
you feel like you have a certain stature, you want to feel like you have to challenge. Like, I don't know. doesn't surprise me as much thinking about it because as an Arsenal fan, we live this for a certain period every year where our biggest stars want it out.
00:41:12
Emeka
It's a pecking order in football. You're not wrong about that. there' There's a pecking order in football. Well, We'll see. We'll monitor this this transfer, alleged transfer. and i'm i'm Personally, I'm still thinking he's going to stay just because Saudi Arabia or Saudi Arabia. But, you know, player power is undefeated. I'll tell you that for free.
00:41:32
Chino Onwuka
One thing I'll say is I know the initial question that you asked Juku is, you know, were you surprised? I'll say is I wasn't, i was shocked when Ornstein talked about it, but I wasn't surprised because y'all might laugh, but Camden came out and said a couple of days ago that his people, you know, had offered him to us.
00:41:51
Chino Onwuka
but that we were too far far down the line. And then obviously you have to think about the financial ramifications to do anything about it. So that was my first clue that, you know, some of these things about him missing training camp was a little bit more, more serious than it was. And I know you might laugh about Camden and mean, he, he's, he's When he says something, you have to pay attention to it because when he's right, he's really right. you know he He called his show on the Zubimendi thing last year about Arteta telling him to wait a year for us. And that seemed pretty ridiculous and clickbait at the time. Turned out it was true. So you know when Camden talks, I still do listen. He's an OG.
00:42:31
Chino Onwuka
might favor him a little because he actually follows me as well. But you know i I wasn't surprised.
00:42:35
Emeka
There it is. is
00:42:37
Chino Onwuka
I did see that. Newcastle, it looked like, based on that, he he was looking for ways out.
00:42:45
Emeka
I guess for me, why why I was shocked the most is is the timing of it. Like Chukwu mentioned, Liverpool came in two weeks earlier with Eketike and him, and then they bought Eketike.
00:42:57
Emeka
You said it, like, Arsenal are right now deep in negotiation with Jokoras. Like, you would think if he was going to down tools, he'd have down tools earlier to let those two teams be in the hunt for them.
00:43:08
Chino Onwuka
The timing is crazy. I don't understand that at all. I know Chukus said there's a handful of teams that can buy him. I don't think it's even up to a handful. If he had made his intentions clear and known earlier in the season, he would have had your Liverpools, your Arsenals, other teams all battling in for him.
00:43:27
Chino Onwuka
Now he wants out. It might be a little too late. I mean, I guess Liverpool is still in the picture. But yeah, I don't understand the timing at all. I really don't. And again, maybe he wanted that new contract and they pissed him off and now he's like, right, bet, I'm out.
00:43:38
Emeka
And that's a big shock.
00:43:44
Chuku
Thank you.
00:43:45
Emeka
And that's why I keep going back to the contract theory because that's the sort of thing that makes sense to me is he's saying, well, like, you know, I'm 20 goals a game striker, 20 goals in the league striker, big money people coming after me. Like, got to pay me like I'm that guy. And Newcastle are worried because people, you know, quick tangent. I mean, as Chino's an FM manager, he knows what about to say.
00:44:06
Emeka
People think it's so easy, like, oh, just give Isak $300,000. The thing is, you give Ezek 300,000, Bruno Gimmaras comes up now and says, well, I'm making half of that. I'm not half as good as him.
00:44:18
Emeka
You got to give me like 275. Now, Tonali say, hey, man, I'm better than Bruno. Give me 250. And now everyone in the club's wages increase. And that's why teams fight tooth and nail to keep their wages down.
00:44:31
Emeka
Because otherwise, you end up in situations like Barcelona where your wage bill is your revenue at that at that point. Because it can explode fast.
00:44:38
Chino Onwuka
and And united as well.
00:44:38
Emeka
Exactly.
00:44:41
Emeka
Exactly. Like, it's such an easy negotiation when you have bad players making big money because you can say I'm better than him. So why am I making half of what he does? So it's tough. I mean, ah selfishly, screw Newcastle. And I'm glad that they're suffering.
00:44:56
Emeka
These men have been cooking us for too long. So I'll eat some L's. But Chukwu touched on it. I'm going to throw it back to you because you you mentioned that Liverpool are scary. you And you just you know talked about it quickly.
00:45:09
Emeka
in depth right now. I've heard Liverpool fans... Years and years and years say they're the most sustainable club in the world. All their money is grass-fed, GMO-free, organic.
00:45:23
Emeka
You know, this Coutinho sale they made in 2017, the interest on it must be incredible because they've been spending Coutinho money for close to a decade. They're the ethical, wholesome club. And you're telling me I'm going to see them spend, break the British transfer record for Wurz, spend $80 million on Eketike, buy Frimpong, buy Kerkhez,
00:45:44
Emeka
And after all of that, they're going to break the British transfer record again for ISAC. I know Chukwu said sales. What sales are we talking about, man? what How can we fund a window like that?
00:45:55
Emeka
So personally, forget even the Arsenal part of this. For me, I'm just, the prem money is crazy. I know they didn't spend much much last year, but when you're breaking the British transfer record twice in a window on top of extras, that's one hell of a window. I'll tell you that for free.
00:46:12
Chuku
With Liverpool, you have to understand, remember, they didn't spend any money all of last, believe it was last year, right? Last last summer, they they didn't bring anybody in, right? So factor that in.
00:46:24
Chuku
They won the league, right? And then on top of that, they're going to have sales or they have the ability to generate sales from Darwin Nunes and Luis Diaz. Those two guys are going to generate well above 100 pounds.
00:46:42
Chuku
from those two sales, right? And so when you put that together, I mean, I'm sure that this all plays a role or or you know plays a part in their ability to be able to have the kind of summer that they're having at the moment. cause again they, for the most part, you know, this is not something that they do on a year-to-year basis, right? Like, it pretty much seems like it's Liverpool's MO where they, you know, have...
00:47:13
Chuku
transfer windows where they spend big and then for other times they don't spend at all. So I think, this very moment, we're just seeing, we're just seeing one of those windows where Liverpool have money or, you know, they're looking to spend this time around and it shouldn't surprise people most likely, you know, come in like transfer windows. We're not going to see them spending, you know, as much if any. Right. So, yeah, I mean, as much as, you know,
00:47:43
Chuku
We're seeing the crazy amount of money that Liverpool have spent so far and what they could potentially continue to spend if they do manage to get the services of an ISAC. It's definitely know well within their ability to do so with the trophies that they've won and the fact that they have not made any kind of know big purchases, at least none, that were made the year before.
00:48:06
Chuku
So that's i guess that's the but that's how I'm looking at it, at least from the Liverpool perspective.
00:48:13
Emeka
I'll say is one summer I saw Arsenal only sign Peter Cech and next summer we weren't moving like this. We weren't moving like this.
00:48:21
Chino Onwuka
What I wanna say is what what this is showing is ambition.
00:48:21
Chuku
But did we win the league?
00:48:21
Emeka
what
00:48:23
Chuku
Did we win the league? oh
00:48:27
Chino Onwuka
Like you have a team who, you know, they're the one team who are similar to us who run up a self-sustaining model and they just won the title. And instead of saying, okay, we've won the title, we're going to make some moves on the margins. Oh, we were signed Salah, we upped his wages. We were signed Van Dijk, we upped his wages, you know, one or two signings here, you know, flesh out the depth. They said, no, we step in on everyone's next because we know what the premise, we know what the champions league is.
00:48:57
Chino Onwuka
All right, Florian Wurtz, dynamic, attacking player. He can score. He can assist. He can playmake. He can dribble. Bayern, oh, you think you'd be hovering up everybody in in the Bundesliga? Nah.
00:49:13
Chino Onwuka
We're going surprise you all. We're stepping on your necks. You guys have laughed at us with Bellingham, with Chumani, Taisedo.
00:49:21
Emeka
Okay. caa
00:49:23
Chino Onwuka
All right, we're serious this time. we stepping on your necks. We're replacing Trent. Oh, Trent's going to leave for nothing. We're replacing him with Frimpong. We get Kirk has to replace Robertson.
00:49:36
Chino Onwuka
You know, Allison, he's a baller, but we're bringing, you know, the, the Georgian amazing keeper as well. You know, his, his, I know they signed him last year, but he, he comes on the books this year.
00:49:48
Chino Onwuka
Okay. We want Isaac. You don't want to give us Isaac. I, we're going steal your target. Who's the next, who's the next, who is the next Isaac? Oh, Isaac really still wants up?
00:50:00
Chino Onwuka
We're going to get him too. Nah.
00:50:03
Chino Onwuka
It's a scary sight, but all I can do is hold my hands up. That is that was ambition. That is what I would love to see out of my club.
00:50:16
Chino Onwuka
I respect them because I know that they're doing it in a they're doing it based off their own revenue. They've won titles. They've won Champions League.
00:50:28
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, they've spent money, but they do recoup, and maybe they're pushing the boat out a little bit, but this is what every fan of their club should want to see, and I can't hate on it. you know I morbidly want to see it next year. I do think they have a big single point of failure in Van Dijk, in 34-year-old Van Dijk, and if he fails, everything could fall off the wheels, but They're saying they're they're doing what they can to overcompensate for that at the end of the pitch. And shout out to them.
00:51:02
Emeka
You know, it's a little funny, I can't lie. Every time I see Liverpool spend money, I always think like 3% of this money is LeBron's. So it's, hey, LeBron's the Clutch Mafia is doing well in the summer because they opened up their money.
00:51:14
Emeka
i will give a quick ah ah thoughts to my poor Red Sox fans because it must hurt to see Liverpool spend all this money in the world. Meanwhile, they're cutting costs with the Red Sox, but... That's neither here nor
Arsenal's Transfer Window and Jokeres' Impact
00:51:24
Emeka
there. Well, I'm very curious see how this exact thing plays out and how Liverpool, if they get him or if they don't.
00:51:29
Emeka
But another Swedish striker is on the move. He's compatriot. Bikki Glocker has finally, in what felt like the longest transfer saga in God knows how long,
00:51:41
Emeka
has essentially completed his move to Arsenal. and And we're going to talk about this and all that for a very, very long time. Believe me when I tell you this has been heating up in our group chat. so I'm going ask a question I know the answer to, but i know going to get him heated.
00:51:54
Emeka
Sitting here July 24th, assuming Jokeres, he's signed. So was it we'll give Jokeres and our fellow from Valencia, which I can't pronounce, Mosquera. I butchered your name, I'm sorry.
00:52:07
Emeka
to ask man Chino. Sitting here today, assuming those two signings are confirmed, how would you rate the summer transfer window for our Arsenal team? We're not spending Liverpool money, but we're spending 200 million pounds in the summer.
00:52:22
Chino Onwuka
Good, but not good enough.
00:52:24
Chino Onwuka
Good.
00:52:25
Emeka
good
00:52:25
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, we did some good things.
00:52:28
Chino Onwuka
Not good enough. Job finished? No. Do you look at our team and say, all right, that is the clear favorite for the Premier League. That is a team that is a favorite for the Champions League? No. And those are really high standards and harsh standards, but that's where I'm at now.
00:52:47
Chino Onwuka
i I know y'all get sick and tired of me and where say, okay, but this guy is good. This guy is good. That's fine. To me, that is not enough because we we could win, we could not, but there's jeopardy in this sport and you have to stack the desk the deck in your favor, right?
00:53:09
Chino Onwuka
If Liverpool does get Isaac, you could argue who bought the best striker the team that finished first or the team that finished second with what, 13, 15 points behind.
00:53:24
Chino Onwuka
And forget all the talk about money, but Liverpool would have bought the better striker. Okay, cool.
00:53:31
Chuku
Thank you.
00:53:32
Chino Onwuka
Who bought the better attacking player? Liverpool with Wurz or Arsenal with Marueke even if you want to throw Eze in there.
00:53:43
Emeka
One weekend.
00:53:46
Chino Onwuka
The answer is still Liverpool. So that's what we're competing with. We're competing with Saudi's billions. We're competing with City's billions. I mean, we're competing with Chelsea and all their spending, hoovering up all the young talent, where whether that works out for them or not.
00:54:02
Chino Onwuka
And to be the best, we have to do better than good. And I'm going to pause there because I know there's a lot to talk about, but we have... We have to change our mindset as Arsenal's fans. I think we're cool with good, and Jokeres could turn out to be better than good.
00:54:18
Chino Onwuka
Could turn out to be, but
00:54:20
Chino Onwuka
in terms of stacking the deck for you, it's to buy the best players. It's to buy the the superstars. It's to buy your option A's.
00:54:31
Chino Onwuka
Option A coming out of the season was was Isaac. Option B was sesco option three was yuckers and even if yuckers turns out to be amazing i'm just looking at the process we got our third choice striker we got our i don't know what choice winger so far and to me i'm hoping those boys ball out i think they can do a lot of good things for us but it is good but not good enough
00:55:02
Emeka
Chukwu, you have any thoughts on what you just heard? Is this window good or is it good enough?
00:55:08
Chuku
For me, the moment, it's just scraping and just good enough as things stand at the moment, assuming that, you know, Yokoz is coming in.
00:55:20
Chuku
We've just seen the announcement of Mascara and what we've already brought in so far in the club, Norgaard, Zubamendi, and Kepa and Nicole. But for me, we're still going to need that one...
00:55:36
Chuku
Extra addition. Now, at the moment, if you're putting into perspective in terms of a grade or like a number, you know, at the moment, I'll have this window at a. As things stand with what we have right now, would say 6.5 to 7 out of 10 is where I'll give it at the moment, but it has potential to go anywhere from. You know, an eight to a nine.
00:56:05
Chuku
depending on who we bring in as that you know last attacking option. So for me, it's very important
00:56:15
Chino Onwuka
If, if, I know you said who, but if, yeah.
00:56:18
Chuku
Yeah, it's a big if. Yeah, it's a big if, no question about it. I think we're going to discuss here, like, you know, I believe at this point any further addition to the attacking, you know, lineup is going to most likely require us from our reports to sell somebody.
00:56:36
Chuku
So we're going to have to see Berta, you know, work his magic in the transfer window. when it comes to player sales. But if we are able to add that one no extra attacking option as again, what had been reported was that you know at the time we're looking at a winger, we're looking at striker, and we're looking at an attacking-minded midfielder.
00:57:02
Chuku
We've gotten the winger, we've gotten the striker. The attacking-minded midfielder is the one that is left by all accounts that was meant to be Eze, who knows if, you know, again, we do manage to bring in Eze, but if we were able to bring in Eze, that for me puts us at an 8.5 out of 10 window for me personally.
00:57:26
Chuku
And I would be very, very, very much happy with what we have or what we had entering, you know, the season with the what we know what with the business that we've done so far.
00:57:39
Chuku
Assuming we managed is to, again, also sell the players that, you know, that we were looking to sell that 8.5 could easily turn to a nine.
00:57:47
Chino Onwuka
It's so funny because I interpreted that report differently than you. and I know we've spoken about it in terms of those three signings. i see What I heard was there's a striker, a left winger, and a third attacker, ideally somebody that can back up Saka.
00:58:03
Chino Onwuka
And that's who I think Madueke is. You think Madueke is the winger. I think Madueke is the third attacker because early in the season, when we're looking at Mbwemo, you know then we were looking at Sané, and then now it's Madueke, who I think fits in that bucket.
00:58:22
Chino Onwuka
My thing, what I think Arsenal have done is they've said, okay, we wanted this third attacker. Madueke has come out as a market opportunity. Let's get him, and if we fail to get the winger we've been asking for the whole year, then Madueke can fill in that gap too. And that's, again, where I'm...
00:58:44
Chino Onwuka
don't know frustrated is the word, disappointed, but we've been Arsenal fans for many years now. We've seen... it's it's it's it's it is a surprise when the team goes above our expectations. you know The year we we did Rice and Havertz, but you know that was a year where we were pleasantly surprised because I'm sure we all thought Man City would get some plus in the end, but...
00:59:12
Chino Onwuka
We're Arsenal fans, so we know what transfer windows usually go for us. And so it's frustrating because I can see what's going on. It's like, okay, let's get Madueke. He's the third attacker. But if we can't get the players we really want again, then, you know, he can come in and and fill that role. You know, no shade on Madueke. I think a player with potential. But again, when you're looking for that clear upgrade, when I'm looking at the team saying, hey, these are the players we want to get and being able to get them,
00:59:43
Chino Onwuka
we're We're still not doing that. We're still not doing that.
00:59:46
Emeka
And i look, I get it. know, we started off this summer, i mean, i personally did, with dreams of Rodrigo, watching the Club World Cup and being excited every time he left on the bench.
00:59:57
Emeka
So to go from that to signing Madueke, and he's an Arsenal player now, so I'm not going to disrespect him, but let's just say someone I've slandered extensively over the last year or so.
01:00:08
Emeka
And then how the message... I won't say changed because it was always there, but I felt the headlines changed. When headlines went from, it's st striker, winger, third attacker, like Chino said.
01:00:21
Emeka
Suddenly that morphed into, well, it's going to striker and a forward, and maybe if there's some sales, you know, maybe they'll get a third person. And if that's the case, the fact that we went all in from out to Wicked, Star, it was hard to swallow. I'm going let my manager cook, though. He's talent ID is one thing, so...
01:00:40
Emeka
But I'll be the more positive, and I'll say oh i'd rate this current window as it is 7.5 to an 8 because personally, coming to this season, I'm pretty said on the pod. If not, I know I've yelled it in the chat.
01:00:56
Emeka
All I cared about was ah Arsenal signed a gunman number nine striker. And you can say what you want about the league he came from and all the other things. My man has scored 100 goals in the last two years.
01:01:10
Emeka
He is a number nine. None of this 9.5. None of this. He's a nine. And we signed a mad striker. Later than I wanted. I wanted it earlier in July, but we still got it.
01:01:23
Emeka
We signed Zubimendi. We signed some quality depth. I'm confident about the team. I think our first 11, you could put him up against anybody. Yeah, we have a weak spot at left wing that could be better.
01:01:36
Emeka
Every other position, 4.5 to 5 out of 5 stars for me. Quality in the team and quality on the bench. So um'm I'm excited for next season.
01:01:49
Emeka
A lot of seasons in my life I've gone into last year where i will even though i did pick up to win the league, I remember saying in the pod, Marino and the Calafiore signings, I wasn't i wasn't feeling them.
01:01:53
Chuku
Thank you.
01:02:01
Emeka
I'm going to the squad excited for all the signings we've made. Quality players. Would I like an Eze or someone else added it on as well? Absolutely. But even if we didn't get that, I am just thrilled to see what this team looks like next year.
01:02:17
Emeka
i hope Arteta can finalize a little bit more on rotation. But yeah I didn't watch the full game of a little I've seen. Ethan Ranieri, I might have to put my hands up and give Chinon some credit.
01:02:30
Emeka
Looking pretty nice in midfield. Looking pretty nice in midfield. So if that's ah ah if that's the man, if that he takes a step, I'm seeing what MLS gave us last year. Ethan can give us that this year, maybe we're cooking something.
01:02:40
Chuku
Thank you.
01:02:42
Emeka
So I'm optimistic. I get it. We wanted more. And again, I wanted Rodrigo so badly. But what I'm seeing and what like what we have, if Jokeres can cook how I, in my heart, hope he cooks, and we get a solid 30 goals in all competition striker to add on to the team we have, the growth we've taken, I think some magic can happen this summer, this year, man. I really i really do think so
01:03:09
Chino Onwuka
I hear you. I honestly do hear you, but I'm just going to say a couple of things. And some of these are a little bit belated points, but you know, the rest of y'all, unfortunately, you you don't have the pleasure, the privilege of being in our group chat. So because we're doing this pod so late, there's lot of discussion you've missed out on. a like Yocharez.
01:03:31
Chino Onwuka
I want to love him, but I guess I have scars from previous relationships. And so i'm not I'm not letting my heart be free ah about Jokeres. One, yes, the league he comes from. I know he scored a lot of goals, but I was i knew Portuguese league wasn't the best league. But I was actually honestly shocked to when I understood that the Portuguese league is actually below the quality of the championship. I was surprised to hear that.
01:04:07
Chino Onwuka
Okay, well, moving on apart from that, I know he did great in the Champions League. He scored, come on, he scored a hat-trick against City. Come on. Then I go back and look at the tape.
01:04:19
Chino Onwuka
Two of the goals were penalties. okay, okay, okay. All right, he's a gum man. Look, he was the top scorer in the Nations League, nine goals in six games. I go and look at the teams he scored against.
01:04:31
Chino Onwuka
Azerbaijan, four goals. Slovenia. Armenia. So i knowing i think part of it is I just know how tight the margins are.
01:04:42
Chino Onwuka
I think we have a great team. But I don't think I would, considering how we've lost out on two seasons, those first two seasons we came second, I will never rest easy until I feel like we have the best team. We have a great team. I want us to have the best team.
01:04:59
Chino Onwuka
And there's a 50-50 chance Yoko Riz can help us be the best team. But I want to, again, I want to stack the deck. And so you have the risk of a player who has a lot of great qualities, but he's only shown it in maybe not the best competition.
01:05:19
Chino Onwuka
How is that going to translate to the Premier League? How is it going to translate to Arsenal? What does it mean that he wasn't our first choice? But we've seen Arteta, you know, not that Jokeres is a lemon by any chance, but we've seen him make do because he's such a great coach.
01:05:38
Chino Onwuka
Let him make do. And I've heard the argument, look how many goals Havert scores. Look how many goals Marino scored. Why are we worried about Jokeres? Okay, cool. If Arteta can do those with those players, why should we want him to work with the best of the best and have it even 10x what we have? like So when people see those arguments, you know i hear the argument, man, look at the way he's... And I rate this too. you know The way he's been pushing... you know i know there was the rumor that he left his girlfriend. I think that ended up being a little bit of cap.
01:06:12
Chino Onwuka
But... Him going on strike, making his agent leave out fees. I love that desire. i think that's the one thing that he shows is his mentality, his drive, his hunger.
01:06:22
Chino Onwuka
You know, he's had a little bit of a different path till he's ready to show out. Cool. I love that. You still need to have the quality to back that up. Because myself, I will go on strike to join Asana. I will go on hunger strike. I'll do everything.
01:06:38
Chino Onwuka
I will write poems. I'll sing songs.
01:06:42
Chino Onwuka
Does that mean you're gonna be happy to sign me just because I'm showing passion? There's millions of people that will show that much passion, but you need to have the quality to back it up. So I think he can, but the statistics aren't in his favor.
01:06:57
Chino Onwuka
When you look at, you know, strikers, especially strikers of a certain age coming from the Portuguese league into the Prem. So can he break that mold? you know, strikers coming from lower leagues and at a later age coming in and and and banging the prep.
01:07:11
Chino Onwuka
Can he break that mold? Because, yeah, you can rattle off, you know, some success stories, you know. I'm thinking Jamie Vardy is a player that I can compare him to. You know, when people talk about his play style, what he can do. I see a lot of Jamie Vardy in him, you know.
01:07:27
Chino Onwuka
But that is a statistical anomaly. We've had a lot of players, strikers, in recent years, come from the Portuguese league and not bang. And at the very least, those are younger players who you have time to mold, get them to adapt. He's 27. So he needs to come in ready-made, all guns blazing. So those are my competes. That's why it's it's only a good enough because, you know, I feel like one of the things I've heard is you know, I've seen a lot of revisionist history where people are saying, oh, I prefer Yokores to Isaac.
01:08:00
Chino Onwuka
I think... I think that's a little revision in history. I think you can say you love Yokeris, but if I were to make a poll in April asking, okay, would you rather spend $130 million on Isaac, considering what we're going through at the time, or spend the equivalent amount on Yokeris and Madueke, everyone, if anybody says otherwise, I wouldn't believe them I think everyone would choose the Isaac option, even understanding how much it is.
01:08:27
Chino Onwuka
Now I'm seeing people say, oh, Jokeres, Jokeres, oh, Jokeres has scored more for Sweden and all that stuff. Okay, but you know keep the same energy you were saying in April. I've spoken a lot, but you know I just want to be upfront with my apprehension, mixed in with a little bit of excitement with what Jokeres can do.
01:08:46
Chino Onwuka
But you know again, i still, I hope he can make us the best team. On paper, doesn't look like that yet, but let's see what Mikel and Jokeres and the rest of the boys can do on the field.
01:08:59
Emeka
i'll I'll say quickly, for I know Chukun wants to cook and he's a Yoko Harus fan with me in the trenches. But real quick, going to just throw say that, you know, the Azerbaijan shouts, Isak was on the pitch next to Yoko Harus during that game. I'm sure if you're listening to this podcast, you're probably on football Twitter and you've seen that famous meme and i at this point.
01:09:19
Emeka
Your career has four goals, 10 out of 10 rating. Isak, nothing. Obviously, Isak is better. Before you people come at me, I'm i fucking around here. But I'm just saying.
01:09:28
Chino Onwuka
It nice. Much of them cooked us multiple times last season.
01:09:33
Emeka
Isak I'm not going the best track in the league because early Holland exists, but he's second. So obviously that's a big guy. Yoko Ress is coming in to make ah approval points.
01:09:44
Emeka
And I love that. you mean You mentioned the mentality part, but for me, I can't talk about that enough. He is ah ah mentally in the prime of his career. He's putting up video game numbers.
01:09:58
Emeka
In Portugal. Like, people don't understand. People always mention the whole, oh, look, of Darwin Nunes, whatever. Look at what Darwin Nunes did and look at what Jokeres did. It's not the same. It's really not the same.
01:10:11
Emeka
Jokeres was going to be the first non-top-five league guy to win the golden boot since they've been giving that out and that changed the coefficients. Do you know how much you have goals you have to score to be that? Like, he was performing at a level, yes, it's in a weaker league,
01:10:26
Emeka
But he's saying, that's got nothing to do with me. Well, if you're not going to give me the credit then, I got to show out in the big stage. Forced move to Arsenal. Now, they always say, if she cheats to get with you, she's going to cheat on you.
01:10:39
Emeka
I'm sure in the alternate universe, in two years, we're seeing Jokorres go on strike to go to Real Madrid. Be it as it may, it ah feels a lot better. As I know our stuff as we've suffered, we've seen teams put jerseys on our players in the World Cup final.
01:10:51
Emeka
We've seen, by Percy say, the little child in him needs to go to Man U. I can't lie. It felt pretty nice to see a man... You know, i wish that girlfriend story was true, but to see a man go to war to come to Arsenal makes me feel good.
01:11:06
Emeka
This guy iss ah is a gunman ready for the challenge, and I'm looking so forward to seeing him with our two best players. I mean, you can argue me on the second best player, but Sakai and Odegaard primarily are creators, and now they have a focal point to feed.
01:11:23
Emeka
And maybe he's delusional. Maybe he's optimistic. But I'm thinking you get a gunman like Yokoz next to some creative engines. We're going to make something happen. I believe in Arteta. I believe in the boys.
01:11:35
Emeka
And I'm just going to pretend, and like you said, and in even though it's more accurate to say Isak versus Yokoz and Madueke. I'm going erase that. I'm going to pretend it's Isak versus Yokoz and Zubimendi.
01:11:45
Emeka
And I'd rather have Yokoz and cooking in our team than just Isak. I know that's cheating, but.
01:11:51
Chino Onwuka
No, that doesn't work because it was going to be easy. So that doesn't work.
01:11:53
Emeka
I know he's cheating. I don't care.
01:11:54
Chino Onwuka
You can't do that. you can't do that
01:11:57
Emeka
I know he's cheating, but don't care. I talk about him mentally.
01:12:01
Emeka
I quit it in my brain. It's Isak and Zumendi instead. Hey, those are two. Zumendi and the Yokeres instead. Hey, those are some two great signings. But, you know, my brother-in-arms with me fighting in the group chat, depending on Yokeres.
01:12:15
Emeka
I'm going to let Chukwu cook for a little bit. What are you expecting this season? Give me a number. well Let's put a number next to it. Your career stays healthy. Knock on wood. How many goals are you expecting from our new striker by the end of next year in all competitions?
01:12:29
Chuku
Before i go ahead and give my answer to your question, bro, I just got to start off by just going on a quick soliloquy on this Yorcares signing because I'm just going to tell you all right now, man.
01:12:42
Chuku
I don't see a world barring injury where Yorcares does not bank. And I repeat, I don't see a world barring injuries where that Victor Yorcares does not bang.
01:13:03
Chuku
This is somebody that, he said put in video game numbers. This is somebody that's averaged over 40 goals a season in back-to-back seasons. This is somebody, I know Trino talked about all these games where he was, again, he was the leading,
01:13:19
Chuku
goal scorer in the Nations League. And you mentioned clubs, teams, countries, sorry, that they played. Again, thank you for bringing this up, my brother. But people are we going to just forget that Yoko Rez plays in the same country team as Isak?
01:13:36
Chuku
So for all the games that we're talking about, Yoko Rez and the games he scored, Isak is there as well. And if it was so easy to score these goals, why are we not seeing Isak being in the Golden Boots winner?
01:13:48
Chuku
But that's, I digress. You know, I digress. All I'm say is with Victor Yorcares, I like that comparison that you made, Chino, to Jamie Vardy in terms of his style of play. Because, yes, Victor Yorcares is a channel runner. He's somebody that has an amazing, yeah he's an amazing striker of the ball.
01:14:13
Chuku
Something that Jamie Vardy also had in his game. But something that I believe Jamie lacked, which I think you you know we can all agree here, is Jamie didn't have the physical stature that Victor Yorcares has.
01:14:30
Chuku
People question whether are not Victor Yorcares is going to be able to replicate a lot what he did in the in the portuguese in the Portuguese League into the EPL.
01:14:41
Chuku
They talk about, okay, the standard of play in terms of defenders in the Portuguese League is not up to par with that of Premier League team. But all I know, yeah, all I know is that when Arsenal plays Sporting, I saw Victor Jokeres turn who I believe is one of the best, if not the best, young center back in the world, a guy that goes by the name of William Saliba.
01:15:12
Chuku
He turned him out, was able to pull away and get a shot off that, thank God, hit the bar, came out, he didn't score. But if he had scored that, would have been something that would have been you know, a class finish. I'm not sure if you guys know the chance I'm talking about, but all to say is on that sporting Arsenal game, i I had seen enough in terms of what Victor Yorcares can do against...
01:15:45
Chino Onwuka
and Shout out to that, but you were just just to keep it a buck, you know you talked about Isaac, but we also saw Isaac turn out Saliba multiple times, and those came with three goals.
01:16:04
Chino Onwuka
So just to keep it a buck.
01:16:04
Chuku
Isak has had a chance. Yeah, of course. Nobody is here talking about or trying to mention that Isak is a bad player. no like Nobody is saying that Isak is a world-class striker. I would hope that as a world-class striker, he's able to do or is you know is able to no turn out most defenders that he's up against.
01:16:24
Chuku
But all I'm trying to say is Why are we acting as if we have not seen Jocares apply pressure against some of these so-called top the defenders in world football?
01:16:36
Chuku
Like, we're not going to make it out to seem like he's only produced in the Portuguese league because, as we've just mentioned already, that's not the case. He has had, in every competition he played last year, he was not only, you know, good or great at it, he was thriving in those competitions, whether that be at club level with the Portuguese League, whether that be country level with the Nations League, whether that be in European competitions like the Champions League, all Victor Yorcares does is score goals.
01:17:11
Chuku
And you mean to tell me this is the guy that we're putting or hoping to lead the line for a team in Arsenal that all they do is produce opportunities for the number nine position in how we play.
01:17:33
Chuku
That's all all we do is produce. You can look at the numbers. Saka Odegaard, as my brother already kind of mentioned, in Europe, create opportunities.
01:17:44
Chuku
some of the most chance attacking opportunities in world football. And I have to believe that if you put a guy with the mentality, the physical attributes, the know-how, you know, the experience, you put a guy of the stature of Yoko Reyes in the Arsenal club in position, in positions, I should say, attack,
01:18:12
Chuku
attack I just don't see how he's not going to continue doing what he has been doing these last handful of years, which is score goals.
01:18:24
Chuku
So to answer your question, you know my brother, if you're asking me what I expect from the Yoko Rez in all comps, bare minimum, bare minimum, because I do see us going far in a lot of these competitions, mainly the Champions League,
01:18:44
Chuku
I expect no less than 30 goals in all competition. And I think that's a very, very, you know, realistic number. In fact, if I, to keep it a frank, I would venture to say upwards of 35 goals, but just to keep it, you know, respectable and, you know for a first year ah accounting for, you know, heavy, you know, I expect there will be some,
01:19:11
Chuku
Rotations there with Havertz and himself as well. And Jesus is also coming along, hopefully. He can stay healthy and make some and appearances. I still expect Jokeres to be the one that gets the most minutes at the 9th position.
01:19:26
Chuku
Therefore, I expect him to, you know, he's going to have games where, you know, I don't i don't suspect it's going to be a situation where he's scoring a goal every single game. Although I do think his goals per average is going to look similar to a goal a game.
01:19:42
Chuku
But what I suspect is that the games when he does score, he's going to be scoring... three, four goals in a particular game. You know what trying to say? And maybe he might not score two games, but then scores another no two goals here, three goals there, and so on and so forth.
01:19:57
Chuku
So long story short, I'm expecting a season of 30 goals with a forty g at GA in all comps come this coming season. And I definitely think that's something that, you know,
01:20:08
Chuku
from what I've watched and seen of Jokeres, very doable. And he's going to be the difference maker for us this year. I truly believe that. And, you know, I'll just run up by saying, yeah, I believe as of right now, Isak is the better overall footballer.
01:20:25
Chuku
But if you ask me, again, this is why I'm so curious to see how this season goes. But from all accounts, I believe Jokeres is a better goal scorer or a better nine in terms of goal scoring than Isak is. And that's just my personal belief.
01:20:43
Chuku
So for me, you can tell I'm very much excited to see Jokeres in an Arsenal jersey. I know, you know, I'd mentioned about, you know, all this, you know, how we feel about Arsenal getting there no their options, their first, second, third, fourth.
01:20:59
Chuku
For me, I don't look at it that way because... You're, you know, for a fan's first option, second option can be different from another, you know, fans, you know, another person's first or second option.
01:21:11
Chuku
We don't know, it's been reported that Sesco was very, you know, very high amongst Arteta's, you know, evaluations and Arsenal's evaluations. But me personally, I've always, if anyone has asked me, I've always had Jokka Rez rated higher than Sesco.
01:21:27
Chuku
So for me, I've always viewed it as if we, you know, we're not able to get a player like Isak, which I'm sure everyone would have wanted, you know, initially as a first option. Jokeres was right behind him as a leading, you know, option, know, for a player outside of Isak to come in and lead the line. So I'm very much excited.
01:21:51
Chuku
i definitely think he's going to hit the ground running. know just we're Obviously, we're waiting at this point now for the announcement, and hopefully we're going to be able to see him early on you know in some preseason action.
01:22:03
Chuku
But I strongly believe you know he has all the tools. He has the right know makeup as far as mentality mentality-wise goes for him to be a huge success for the club.
01:22:16
Chuku
And I expect big things from Victor Yorcares. So I'm excited to see how it all pans out. But, yeah, I think he's going bang. And I mean, bang in in ah in a big way, you know, this coming season. So watch out.
01:22:31
Chuku
But, yeah, I'm curious to see ah hear what you guys think as far as, you know, numbers-wise. What do you all think he's going to be putting up for his first season?
01:22:41
Emeka
Obviously, you got to factor in health. Like, hey, Inshallah, full season. I'm there, man. 30 goals for me. i think I think it's a reasonable expectation if he's if he's playing 40-plus games.
01:22:56
Emeka
definitely not going to goal of game. That's an exaggeration. Chukwu's saying 3-4. If he gets a hat trick this season, I'll be happy with that. But I just think 30 times I'm going to be hitting the Bain celebration front of my TV.
01:23:10
Emeka
And I'm sure our are going to cook up a great chant. I'll be singing that chant all the time. I think he's going to put up numbers. That's the one thing I'm confident about. And people are going to argue about how he impacts a build-up play and all this and that.
01:23:22
Emeka
He's going to score goals, especially if I mean, I hope the team does this. He takes all penalties because I love you, Starboy Saka. After the Panenka against Madrid, you might have to you might have to get hooked.
01:23:35
Emeka
And we got a real gunman. And people say, hey he scores a lot penalties. But guess what? Penalties aren't free. And if you got a guy who can put them away 100% of the time, I like that my number nine. So, yeah, I'm with you, Chico. I think 30 goals all competitions.
01:23:49
Emeka
is I mean, it's asking a lot, but hey, man, responding you your prime is what we expect. And I expect that from Victor Yokoz next year.
01:23:57
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, it has, the expectation has to be 30 goals in all competitions. You know, if he is who he says he is, if he can bring the impact that we believe he can bring and that we hope he brings and that we want him to bring, it has to be 30 goals in all competitions. Because again, we come back to who we competing against.
01:24:18
Chino Onwuka
We've got the Egyptian king, Salah, at Liverpool, and who knows what else they're going to do. You got Haaland over at Manchester City and that's the firepower that we haven't had as a team. Yes, collectively we've been able to do some things, but we haven't had, like a me i said, that one gunman.
01:24:39
Chino Onwuka
And Jokeres is our gunman now, so it needs to be 30 goals in in all competitions.
01:24:46
Emeka
Yeah, I mean, I'm excited, don't know about you guys. I'm excited for next season. like it's There's something about having just a number nine goal scorer. I know modern football, it's different now. You want your wingers to contribute, button blah, blah, blah.
01:25:03
Emeka
there is something There's nothing like it when you just have a number nine hitman goal. it just It takes me back to being football I grew up with, when teams would always play with two strikers and just have that that guy. and and im First time I've felt this way since Obama-Yang, which doesn't seem that long ago, but still three, four years ago.
01:25:23
Emeka
It's nice to have that guy and in the side, and I'm looking real forward to seeing yeah how it impacts me.
01:25:27
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, that guy that strikes fear in the defense, like where every game is like, all right, what's this guy going to do? I don't think we've had that. For as good as Saka is, I don't think he's... He's a little bit more nebulous as a player. I don't think he's that guy. You know he's going to do a lot of damage by the end of the game, right? But he's not that guy that...
01:25:55
Chino Onwuka
strikes fear like we see. And maybe maybe that's because i'm an Arsenal fan so we don't see it how other teams see it, but again,
01:26:02
Emeka
was about to say, I think you're being, for once, you're being too non-biased because Saka strikes fear in man's hearts. I know this because every team double-teams him. So, he you know double-teams somebody...
01:26:12
Chino Onwuka
i maybe was And you know what, that's a good point. And maybe that's why we don't see it as often because teams have already, he strikes so much fear that they've already tried to, you know, repress a lot of his game. And so now, know, that's a very fair point. Now that we have another guy there, maybe either they can't do that as much to Saka and we see more of Saka's flourish or okay, you now put more mans on Yoke.
01:26:40
Chino Onwuka
then Starboy has more time to shine. So you know fair point, fair point.
01:26:44
Chuku
I have to hope because like I said, oh like you've said, like the only player that we see consistently getting game planned for in our attack has been Saka.
01:26:54
Chuku
So having a guy like ah Victor Yorcares who has to demand the attention of the other teams you know, center backs or defenders, I'm hoping is going to open a door, not only just for Saka as well, to be able to attack more, create more from the right, but hopefully God willing, maybe this unlocks Martinelli, you know, hopefully be able to get more one-on-one chances with the, with, you know, with with the fullback and Hey, maybe, you know, that helps with the overall attack, you know what saying? And, you know,
01:27:26
Chuku
with the introductions of guys like, you know, Wanyeri in the fold, maybe they're able but to also capitalize with some of the spaces that they might get with a Jokeres running or, you know, this may be on locks and Odegaard as well in in the pockets and hopefully we'll get into, you know, talking about, you know, the addition of a Zubomendi who, man, from what I've seen so far with the 45 minutes he put up in our preseason game,
01:27:51
Chuku
He looks like someone to to to definitely keep an eye on because of how he's able to manipulate and and control the game, make certain passes that you know me other midfielders may be afraid to make initially rather than just passing back.
01:28:08
Chuku
He's always trying to look to pass forward.
Premier League Financial Dynamics
01:28:10
Chuku
I just think overall it's going to lead to a more aesthetically pleasing offense know this coming season with the additions we've made so far.
01:28:18
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, that's a good shout. We haven't talked about Zubomendi enough on this pod. I'm with you. I think he's going to be a big addition to the team. I think he's going free up Odegaard to do other things, maybe free up Depp and Reitz as well.
01:28:30
Chino Onwuka
I know we're running out of time. like Like you said, like there's so much to talk about. I think, at least just in terms of the pram, this is where you're seeing all the big teams all really just trying to
01:28:39
Chuku
Thank you.
01:28:43
Chino Onwuka
create a gap between themselves and the rest of the prep. We talked about Liverpool little bit. We're talking about Arsenal. i haven't spoken about Manchester City. We haven't spoken about Chelsea and all the business they've done. So know we're running out of time, but man, these teams are, i least on paper, you're beginning to see, you know, there's a separation, but you're you're you're seeing four teams separate themselves from the rest of the league.
01:29:07
Emeka
And even as much as it pains me, team like Man U can finish 15th and they still can spend $160 million on two players. Like, it's the financial power of the big boys. I think it's been a reminder this season of just...
01:29:25
Emeka
the vast, vast, different level playing fields teams are. You have a team like Aston Villa, made Champions League last year, Europa League this year, still in Europe, you know, and they can't sign anybody because they're just right up against the PSR levels.
01:29:41
Emeka
And then you have teams like Liverpool and Chelsea who can be spending, and even Arsenal, who can be spending big money and haven't made any real big
Excitement for Upcoming Premier League Season
01:29:49
Emeka
sales yet. So, it just goes to show, like, there's real levels to this game right now and Hey, Premier League coming soon, quicker than you think.
01:29:57
Emeka
So I'm really excited to to to see play out.
01:30:02
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, we're a month out
01:30:05
Emeka
I think less than a month out.
01:30:07
Chino Onwuka
out. Yeah, less than a month from the season starting again. Wow. How about it quick?
01:30:11
Emeka
Yeah, Community Shield is the 7th of August. I'm pretty sure off the head. And that's always my annual season is about to start, Community Shield. So it's really crazy to think about.
01:30:19
Chino Onwuka
Yeah.
01:30:21
Emeka
Like, much as I know, listen, I'll never, ever, ever feel sorry for these players because they make all this money. It does blow my mind how short the and and football offseason is when it's a summer tournament.
01:30:32
Emeka
Like, it really is, feels like you finish the season, you go play a tournament, and next you know you wake up and it's middle of July and then season starting in four weeks. It's it's incredible.
01:30:42
Chino Onwuka
like i'll scream I was thinking about this the other day, and I know obviously you know NFL is a way more physical sport, but you know both seasons start at about the same time.
01:30:43
Emeka
Yeah, I know.
01:30:53
Chino Onwuka
you don't make the playoffs, your season ends in December. Even if you go all the way to win the Super Bowl, your season ends in February. Meanwhile, for the real football, your season used to end in May.
01:31:09
Chino Onwuka
Now it ends, what, in June, July, late July and then all of a sudden August we go again. So it's it's crazy.
01:31:17
Emeka
Yeah, it really, really is. I mean, we're running a little long, but we still got, you know it' summertime. We got time to chat a little bit. So open open open floor, like you mentioned, there have been so many other moves and other teams excelling.
01:31:30
Emeka
Give me one transfer that we haven't spoken about this podcast that you're really looking forward to seeing how they look next year the Premier League.
01:31:40
Chino Onwuka
And I'll just start, the one I'm really curious about is Ryan Cherky at Man City. Obviously with KDB leading, they need to replace their creative spark.
01:31:48
Emeka
um That was good.
01:31:54
Chino Onwuka
And so Cherky, he's on a fold since he was 14. was seen as the next one. You know, started off with a bang. You know, he's an attacking midfielder, ambidextrous, lots of flair, lots of tech.
01:32:11
Chino Onwuka
But probably from the 17 to 28, started getting questions about you know his fitness levels, you know maybe some off the pitch stuff. So he's someone that's always been seen as a 10 out of 10 talent.
01:32:24
Chino Onwuka
You know, last year, you know, he seemed to come into his own. He really drove that Leon team. And now he's at Man City with Pep, you know, who he's a little bit of a taskmaster. You know, he's someone who sort of seen as maybe restricting players, creativity. But this is also the coach that, you know, nurtured and made Messi explode. So considering how last season went for them,
01:32:51
Chino Onwuka
A little bit of a revamp but beginning to take place with the squad. You know, they spend lot of money, Ryan Cherky Man City. One we haven't really mentioned is one I'm really curious to see how it pans out.
01:33:03
Emeka
I was going to say, I'm not going to lie, that was I was going to mention. So I'll pivot. I fully what you're saying for all those reasons. Especially, he's filling in some of the biggest shoes you can ever fill in, coming in as the KDB replacement. So we'll see how that pans out.
01:33:18
Emeka
I'll stick to the quote-unquote less noisy neighbors these days. And I know we've looked we've made a lot of jokes about Man U over the course of this podcast, and hopefully we get to make a lot more next season as well. But I will give them credit and say they signed two players who I am big fans of in Brian Mbwemo and Cunha.
01:33:38
Emeka
And... We'll see how it fits when Amarim's 3-4-3, but I'm really, really intrigued to see how those players who are going from being the biggest fish in a small pond fit into a team that has the player with the biggest big fish syndrome in the league in Bruno Fernandes.
01:33:59
Emeka
How do you accommodate three quote-unquote protagonists? Leave him out because he can fit in. Cunha and Bruno are the two biggest... lack of a better word, heliocentric players in the Premier League.
01:34:10
Emeka
And I'm very, very intrigued to see how Amorim fits both of them in the same lineup because there lot of overlapping skill sets I can see. They all like to play the same way and have the ball.
01:34:21
Emeka
And Man U, anything but balanced already last year, now you're adding those big personalities into it. I'm very curious to see how it pans out next season.
01:34:31
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, I think, you know, i think Cunha is a great player, but I think he can sort of be a little bit hit or miss. So can he be more consistent at meant at United? And so to your point, I think the better signing for them is Mwemo by far. I think he's the better signing for them.
01:34:50
Chino Onwuka
And that was a that was that was a big get because, you know, Newcastle were in for him.
01:34:51
Chuku
That's so interesting you say that.
01:34:56
Chino Onwuka
Arsenal were also interested him sure i don't know if he made an offer and and he said hey United is team I want to go to so you know, considering how they ended last season I think that's a really, really good signing for them.
01:35:08
Chino Onwuka
They did they pay a bit more than I would have expected yeah but I mean beggars can't be choosers.
01:35:15
Chuku
Like I said, that a big that's interesting, to man. I thought Cunha was the better signing for them. But anyways, you know, we'll we'll definitely, I'll definitely be keep my eye out for both of them. Let's just put it like that.
01:35:26
Chuku
But for me, I mean, I'm just interested to see what, you know, Chelsea's been up to. Because for me, with, know, Chelsea and their continual additions of, you know,
01:35:37
Chuku
the big signings of Ja Pedro, Gittins, you know, and co. Like, I just, I'm just interested to see, you know, what what ends up being their starting, you know, best 11.
01:35:50
Chuku
You know, curious to see the, you know, the income, well, incomments that are being reported with, you know, I believe what's Xavi Simmons and Hato, you know,
01:36:01
Chuku
Those are the two names I was also hearing that they might also be bringing in in the coming, coming days slash weeks. I'm just interested to see, you know, how Chelsea go about fitting all these, uh, new additions to what they currently already got, as well as their incomments from players that were out on loan, you know, the previous season is going to be very interesting to see, you know, how, uh, Mariska is able to kind of, uh, you know, mold the team and, um, and,
01:36:28
Chuku
and it what okay I guess I was going to see what that looks like for for Chelsea because they looked really well or really good in the Club World Cup. You know, got to see if that's something that they're able to carry on into the season. And, yeah, it's going to make for a very, very, very competitive but interesting, you know, season ahead to keep track of.
01:36:52
Chuku
So, yeah.
01:36:54
Chino Onwuka
No, I agree with you because I know we we clowned them last year. We didn't really understand their transfer business. It started to clear up a bit. And it's a weird one because sometimes it's tough to juxtapose how much they spent with where they were actually finishing, and that still doesn't line up. But, you know, seeing how good Joel Pedro looked in the Club World Cup, you know, they've won a big trophy.
01:37:21
Chino Onwuka
you know, with that squad. So who knows what sort of change that can do to a young team, you know, and, you know, some of their signings, you know, you sort of see what's the plan. But if you're telling me they're signing a Simmons and a Hato, that's a little bit of a game changer where you see their recruitment policy started to crystallize a little bit, at least at the top end. And I know maybe it's a little bit of multiple false downs, but maybe this could be the one where really their project really goes back.
01:37:48
Chino Onwuka
You know, I think a curious one, I think maybe because it's gone on for so long, people sort of forgotten about it. But I mean, they've signed and we're going to who was, you know, so someone billed as the next star boy from Brazil, Esteval.
01:38:06
Chino Onwuka
He's coming into the prem and that's not really even spoken about anymore. And so. If he's the player he's been spoken about to be, then that could be something as well. So Chelsea is a team I'm going to be watching a lot this season.
01:38:20
Emeka
I mean, he looked, speaking in the full circle, he looked great in the Club World Cup. That was another guy I was i was making an eye on. He even scored against Chelsea. So, yeah, it's, a oh, man, it feels like the season just ended. I think a lot of that is the Club World Cup.
01:38:35
Emeka
And I'm looking real forward. You know, I looked it up August 10th. So, man, three three weeks of and a bit. Community Shield, and then boom, we're on to the next season. And thing I love about football is, man, you start in August and it goes all the way to May. That's the entire year pretty much. So you already know your boys are going to be back at you covering the Premier League.
01:38:58
Emeka
Episode 29, I feel like, you know, we got to make episode 30 in the offseason and then kick it back off with season two. later on in August. But, you know, if anything pops up transfer-wise, you know we got it we're going to get you covered.
01:39:10
Emeka
and NFL training camp starting soon right now. You know, a good time to be a sports fan. You know, you made it through the dog days of summer, and now we're we're cutting turning in the corner and Brighter days are coming up ahead.
01:39:23
Emeka
And like I said, you know your boys, Chinnal Chukwu and me, we're going to giving you the live, hot tier one takes only, as we said, on this podcast. We always appreciate you guys sticking around with us.
01:39:35
Emeka
We hope to see you guys next time on the Love of the Game podcast.