Latest / Friends on Football / Ep. 45 - Champions League Action, Premier League Weekend Preview, MLS Minute, Women's Club World Cup and El Classico Is Here

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Ep. 45 - Champions League Action, Premier League Weekend Preview, MLS Minute, Women's Club World Cup and El Classico Is Here · Friends on Football

0:22
SPEAKER_01: Hello, friends, and welcome to episode 45 of the Friends on Football Podcast.
0:26
SPEAKER_01: I'm one of your co-hosts, Brandon Johnson, and joined with me as always is my good friend, Mr.
0:31
SPEAKER_01: Sean Boyle.
0:32
SPEAKER_01: Sean, what's going on tonight?
0:34
SPEAKER_00: Brandon, I am doing well.
0:36
SPEAKER_00: Not much is happening online.
0:37
SPEAKER_00: I'm excited to talk about some football with you.
0:39
SPEAKER_01: How are you doing?
0:41
SPEAKER_01: I'm the same.
0:42
SPEAKER_01: Not too much going on, but another great day to talk about the game we love.
0:46
SPEAKER_01: So let's jump right in, Sean.
0:48
SPEAKER_01: Start with our number journey as we continue.
0:51
SPEAKER_01: Number 45 had some options, but I went with somebody that we both know well, Mario Ballotelli.
0:58
SPEAKER_01: Mario Bellatelli most famously played for Manchester City, AC Milan, Nice, and the Italian national team.
1:07
SPEAKER_01: Ballotelli wore number 45 because he was assigned it as a youth player at Inter.
1:13
SPEAKER_01: But he would make jokes that four plus five equals nine, uh, which is the traditional striker number, so he decided to keep it.
1:20
SPEAKER_01: He actually made his debut in the senior team at Inter.
1:23
SPEAKER_01: He kept it because he scored in the first four games they had.
1:27
SPEAKER_01: So he was like, all right, this number's doing well for me.
1:29
SPEAKER_01: I'll keep this.
1:30
SPEAKER_01: Uh a lot of controversy around Ballotelli.
1:32
SPEAKER_01: The why always me shirt uh reveal after he scores the goal at Manchester City.
1:37
SPEAKER_01: Uh Jose Mourinho famously has said that he's unmanageable, uh, always involved in a scandal, known to get a red card or two.
1:45
SPEAKER_01: But Sean, on this on his day, this guy scored goals.
1:48
SPEAKER_01: One of my favorite all-time quotes from Balotelli was when he was asked why he doesn't celebrate much after scoring, he replied with, When I score, I don't celebrate because it's my job.
1:58
SPEAKER_01: When a postman delivers letters, does he celebrate?
2:02
SPEAKER_01: And that's absolutely and for me, Sean, that that's what did it.
2:05
SPEAKER_01: So wanted to highlight a player that I'm sure you are familiar with as well, but just a cool little story and one of the legends of Manchester City, I would say.
2:15
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, one of the more electrifying players of all time, Brandon.
2:18
SPEAKER_00: He just oozed talent, but he also had that something about him that made him just so much fun to watch.
2:24
SPEAKER_00: But I would say, mostly if you're a neutral, I would not love depending on Balotelli for much of anything.
2:30
SPEAKER_00: He makes that postman comment, but then he actually he goes nuts sometimes when he scores two.
2:35
SPEAKER_00: I would say he was an unstable cat.
2:37
SPEAKER_00: You know what I mean?
2:38
SPEAKER_00: And listen, bags of talent, bags of goals, but awfully unstable at times as well.
2:43
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, you got a little bit of everything from him.
2:45
SPEAKER_01: Uh I got my Itali shirt on tonight.
2:48
SPEAKER_01: So it's a good touch.
2:49
SPEAKER_01: Just to honor him.
2:50
SPEAKER_01: But uh yeah, just a fun one for that.
2:53
SPEAKER_01: Sean, I know you watched the Champions League this week.
2:56
SPEAKER_01: We had some results, uh, games on both Tuesday and Wednesday.
3:00
SPEAKER_01: Do you want to run through some of those results?
3:02
SPEAKER_00: Brandon, I would love to.
3:04
SPEAKER_00: I enjoyed a couple more days of Champions League action.
3:07
SPEAKER_00: I would encourage all of you guys to get in on Champions League watching if you haven't already.
3:11
SPEAKER_00: It is shaping up to be a really good year.
3:14
SPEAKER_00: I'll start on Tuesday.
3:15
SPEAKER_00: We mentioned the Saba FK game.
3:17
SPEAKER_00: They were hosting, Borisia Dortmund.
3:19
SPEAKER_00: They did end up falling short.
3:20
SPEAKER_00: They lost two to one.
3:23
SPEAKER_00: Garassi for Dortmund, Brandon.
3:25
SPEAKER_00: He's quietly racking up the Champions League goals.
3:27
SPEAKER_00: I think he's up to 23 lifetime Champions League goals.
3:30
SPEAKER_00: That's not insignificant.
3:31
SPEAKER_00: That's quite an accomplishment.
3:32
SPEAKER_00: He scores both goals for Dortmund as they get the win on the road.
3:36
SPEAKER_00: Dortmund are going to be around in this competition just because they're a fun side and they're they they seem to come alive in knockout tournaments.
3:42
SPEAKER_00: So I like watching this Dortmund group.
3:45
SPEAKER_00: Hopefully their success continues.
3:47
SPEAKER_00: Also on Tuesday, Roma, a big win for my Italian side.
3:51
SPEAKER_00: They win 4-0.
3:53
SPEAKER_00: And honestly, the most impressive part of this, Brandon, was I think if you asked their manager, Gasparini, how many of their first choice 11 he had out there, he would probably say one player.
4:03
SPEAKER_00: And that was Daniel Mollin.
4:05
SPEAKER_00: They probably had about 10 guys in there who would be considered second choice, maybe have played their way into starters for this group, but a really rotated side because of injuries.
4:15
SPEAKER_00: And they did not skip a beat.
4:17
SPEAKER_00: It was a great performance from them and a response to their last outing at the Olympico in the Champions League, where they choked away a game against Real Madrid.
4:24
SPEAKER_00: So I was encouraged by the Romans' performance.
4:28
SPEAKER_00: Also in Italy, Napoli hosted Bodo Glimped in what was a seven-goal thriller.
4:33
SPEAKER_00: Napoli do get their first three points in this Champions League campaign thanks to two goals from none other than Scott McTominay.
4:40
SPEAKER_00: He continues to love his life in Italy.
4:43
SPEAKER_00: Liverpool go down two goals, but fight their way back to beat Via Real 4-3.
4:49
SPEAKER_00: They're continuing to prove that they're full of chaos, Brandon.
4:53
SPEAKER_00: We talked about last week.
4:55
SPEAKER_00: Is this a good sign for Liverpool?
4:56
SPEAKER_00: Are they going to settle down?
4:58
SPEAKER_00: Early return suggests they're not ready to settle down just yet.
5:01
SPEAKER_00: They're still out and they're in their early 20s, this team.
5:03
SPEAKER_00: You know, they like to go out and party, have a little bit of fun, let loose on the weekends.
5:07
SPEAKER_00: It does lead to some unpredictable results.
5:09
SPEAKER_00: Lastly, on Tuesday, certainly not least, it was the game of the week.
5:14
SPEAKER_00: PSG hosting Barcelona.
5:16
SPEAKER_00: PSG win 4-2.
5:18
SPEAKER_00: It was a deserved win for PSG because they somehow lost really key players throughout this match.
5:23
SPEAKER_00: They lose Dembele in the first half.
5:25
SPEAKER_00: They lose one of the best players in the world, Kavichek Vardashkaya to an ACL tear, which we hate to see.
5:32
SPEAKER_00: He's one of the best wingers in the world.
5:34
SPEAKER_00: And Marquinhos also exits due to injury.
5:37
SPEAKER_00: And somehow, after all those losses, PSG find a way to score two unanswered to win 4-2.
5:43
SPEAKER_00: They are just built for this competition, it seems.
5:47
SPEAKER_00: They were certainly more fit, I would say, than Barcelona.
5:50
SPEAKER_00: The biggest takeaway for me was Barcelona hit a wall in the 55th or 60th minute and they just lost all their legs.
5:56
SPEAKER_00: They tried making substitutions to fix it, but it seemed as if the group's intensity just completely fell off.
6:02
SPEAKER_00: And Laminia Mall scored a brilliant goal in this one to try to keep them in it, but they just ran out of gas, and PSG certainly did not, even while losing some really key players.
6:11
SPEAKER_00: So the champions remain the champions until proven otherwise.
6:14
SPEAKER_00: And PSG said you better respect us this year as well as they go for their third straight Champions League.
6:19
SPEAKER_01: I appreciate that, Sean.
6:20
SPEAKER_01: No, that's that's good.
6:26
SPEAKER_01: Glad your Roma did what they had to do.
6:30
SPEAKER_01: You love to see that.
6:31
SPEAKER_00: Much needed.
6:32
SPEAKER_00: Yes.
6:33
SPEAKER_00: And then Brandon, Wednesday, we didn't really slow down too much because the first game on Wednesday, I talked about how I had Manchester United losing at Como, and they did not just lose.
6:44
SPEAKER_00: They got battered up.
6:45
SPEAKER_00: It was a joy to watch if you're a fan of beautiful football.
6:49
SPEAKER_00: Como are fun to watch.
6:51
SPEAKER_00: I do hate that a lot of this credit seems to be going Sesk Fabergas' way.
6:55
SPEAKER_00: He seems to be every bit of a great manager already.
6:58
SPEAKER_00: We've been singing his praises here.
6:59
SPEAKER_00: I think we should continue to do so until proven otherwise.
7:02
SPEAKER_00: They're just really good Como.
7:04
SPEAKER_00: Nico Paz comes out, he scores two.
7:06
SPEAKER_00: His first goal was brilliant.
7:07
SPEAKER_00: I mean, just a really good strike.
7:10
SPEAKER_00: I saw some United fan reactions and I was kind of drinking them in brand, and I couldn't get enough of it because they were like, oh my god, it's happened again two minutes in.
7:17
SPEAKER_00: So that was exciting.
7:19
SPEAKER_00: Du Vikas adds a goal, and then so does Jacopo Ramon, who is a center back.
7:23
SPEAKER_00: I don't know how familiar people are.
7:24
SPEAKER_00: He's certainly not a household name.
7:26
SPEAKER_00: He's a Spanish center back, young player who came to Como last season, and he is so good.
7:32
SPEAKER_00: He's so good on the ball.
7:33
SPEAKER_00: He's good in defense.
7:34
SPEAKER_00: He's tall.
7:35
SPEAKER_00: He looks the part.
7:36
SPEAKER_00: He looks like a real proper center back.
7:38
SPEAKER_00: I'm a big fan of him, but the big takeaway from this game, of course, is that the seat of Michael Carrick's is continuing to get hotter and hotter.
7:44
SPEAKER_00: So that was the biggest news I would say from Wednesday.
7:47
SPEAKER_00: But we also had Aston Villa continue their perfect start in the Champions League.
7:51
SPEAKER_00: A little bit of a gentle handshake of a schedule so far for Phil.
7:54
SPEAKER_00: I will say that, but they are nine points from nine.
7:57
SPEAKER_00: Ross Barkley and Emmy Wendia find their way onto the score sheet there.
8:01
SPEAKER_00: And then the best game on paper on Wednesday was Bayern Munich to Arsenal two in Germany.
8:07
SPEAKER_00: Harry Kane was outrageously good in this match, Brandon.
8:11
SPEAKER_00: Oh my god.
8:12
SPEAKER_00: The goal, the assist.
8:14
SPEAKER_00: It was a penalty, but it was a class penalty.
8:17
SPEAKER_00: The assist was worth its weight in gold.
8:19
SPEAKER_00: He was also dropping deep and taking goal kicks.
8:22
SPEAKER_00: He played a goal kick, Brandon.
8:23
SPEAKER_00: One of the best goal kicks you ever see.
8:25
SPEAKER_00: I was like, what's my striker doing back there?
8:26
SPEAKER_00: It didn't matter.
8:27
SPEAKER_00: Hand him the Ballon d'Or now.
8:29
SPEAKER_00: Unfortunately, they did end up conceding and giving some points away in this one.
8:34
SPEAKER_00: Eze and Rice find the score sheet for Arsenal.
8:36
SPEAKER_00: And I have to tip my cap and say it was a good result for them to go into Byron and get a point out of that because it certainly looked at certain points like Byron would be taking all three.
8:46
SPEAKER_01: Thank you, Sean.
8:46
SPEAKER_01: Thank you for the update in the Champions League.
8:49
SPEAKER_01: A quick question for Como, do you think they could compete in Italy?
8:54
SPEAKER_01: Like, do you think they have a chance to win the Italian League?
8:56
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I would say so.
8:58
SPEAKER_00: I think Lazio have been really good to start this season.
9:01
SPEAKER_00: And Inter are clearly the team to beat.
9:03
SPEAKER_00: They've won the last couple, and they have started, of course, almost perfectly.
9:08
SPEAKER_00: So Inter are the standard right now in Italy, but after that, that chasing group, it's certainly not made up of AC Milan and Juventus as we're used to.
9:17
SPEAKER_00: I think the two most powerful teams for me are Roma and Como.
9:21
SPEAKER_00: And those were kind of the two resurgent stories from last season as well.
9:25
SPEAKER_00: Napoli are kind of in the mix, but I just don't trust them.
9:29
SPEAKER_00: It seems like they're not settled.
9:31
SPEAKER_00: There's actually a big match which we'll get to this weekend that's going to tell us a lot about how that pack kind of starts to separate itself in Italy.
9:39
SPEAKER_00: But overall, I think Como definitely can contend for a Serie A championship this season and also in seasons to come because that group that they have, that nucleus, is super young and only getting better.
9:50
SPEAKER_01: Okay, cool, cool.
9:51
SPEAKER_01: No, that's definitely one to watch.
9:53
SPEAKER_01: I've seen bits and pieces of that team, and they look extremely fun to watch.
9:57
SPEAKER_01: And it's one of we we've talked about the stadium and the the uh scenery around it, and it's it's a cool story, it's a really cool story, especially in it in a league like Italy where you have those traditional Titans, the Juventuses, the Inters, the ACs that you mentioned, even Roma in that in that category as well.
10:16
SPEAKER_01: And it's cool to see a new kid in town and doing their best and seemingly competing at the top of the league.
10:23
SPEAKER_01: So definitely a team we'll keep our eyes on, Sean.
10:26
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
10:27
SPEAKER_01: Transitioning into the Premier League now, Sean.
10:31
SPEAKER_01: We have a full slate of matches again.
10:33
SPEAKER_01: Uh we actually have a Friday match this week, so today we have our first game of the weekend, but games Friday, Saturday, Sunday, so a full slate.
10:43
SPEAKER_01: We'll start with the Friday game, 3 o'clock p.m.
10:46
SPEAKER_01: Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest.
10:49
SPEAKER_01: Sean, I'll let you describe how you think it's gonna go, but I'll just tell you right now, this is my Brandon's best bet.
10:55
SPEAKER_01: We're starting early, we're throwing it out early, but I'll let you I'll let you throw your piece in first.
11:01
SPEAKER_00: And this is a big spot for you.
11:02
SPEAKER_00: You need to bounce back.
11:03
SPEAKER_00: I do.
11:04
SPEAKER_00: I do.
11:04
SPEAKER_00: I have faith in you.
11:05
SPEAKER_00: I will say I do have faith in you.
11:07
SPEAKER_00: I'm hoping we're on the same side of this one, but I don't know that we're gonna be based on your tone in the last couple of episodes.
11:12
SPEAKER_00: I think we might be different.
11:13
SPEAKER_00: I don't know where to go with this one.
11:15
SPEAKER_00: This is certainly one I'm scratching my head over.
11:17
SPEAKER_00: I've gone back and forth.
11:19
SPEAKER_00: When we when I was first looking at this earlier in the week, I thought I could see Ipswich getting all three.
11:24
SPEAKER_00: Then I was like, you know what, this reeks of a draw.
11:26
SPEAKER_00: And now I've kind of talked myself into Forest finding a way to win on the road.
11:30
SPEAKER_00: So ultimately, since we're recording right now, that's what I'm gonna give you.
11:34
SPEAKER_00: I've gone 2-1 to Nottingham Forest.
11:36
SPEAKER_00: Do I have any faith in it?
11:37
SPEAKER_00: No, not really.
11:38
SPEAKER_00: I really don't trust the vibes around this forest side right now.
11:42
SPEAKER_00: I like how I thought they'd be so stable defensively, and they put in a really good shift last week against Arsenal, which is what's leading me to believe they could replicate that.
11:50
SPEAKER_00: And against a lesser quality opponent, I think they'll be able to minimize Ipswich's threat.
11:56
SPEAKER_00: I trust that they'll be able to get a couple goals passed.
11:59
SPEAKER_00: That might be where I fail myself, but I've gotten Forest 2, Ipswich 1.
12:03
SPEAKER_00: What about you?
12:04
SPEAKER_01: That's funny.
12:05
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, actually the opposite.
12:07
SPEAKER_01: I went 2-1 Ipswich talent.
12:09
SPEAKER_01: I Forrest, I was higher on, and they've just sputtered and sputtered and sputtered, and I just think offensively they struggled so much.
12:20
SPEAKER_01: I cannot see them scoring more than one goal.
12:22
SPEAKER_01: Morgan Gibbs White is scheduled to be back into the team, which does help, but they won't have Igor Jesus, their their main forward, which means your boy.
12:32
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, Liam the Lastback will be the nine.
12:36
SPEAKER_01: So for that reason, I don't think offensively they're gonna be much of a threat.
12:41
SPEAKER_01: Uh the Tractor Boys have won two of their last four, and even with the let the loss last week against City, I thought they looked okay in Spurs.
12:49
SPEAKER_01: City, that the quality of City is unmatched, and we've talked about that many a time.
12:54
SPEAKER_01: I I do think they'll feel confident, they're at home.
12:58
SPEAKER_01: And in a week where I didn't really feel strongly about many games, this one for some reason kind of rose to the top, and I thought, all right, I know it's early, could ruin the rest of my weekend, but I think this is my best bet.
13:11
SPEAKER_01: So I'm gonna go Ipswitch to Nottingham Forest one.
13:14
SPEAKER_00: Well, Brandon, you mentioned that not a lot of games stood out to you.
13:17
SPEAKER_00: This is another week where once again I'm gonna make my best bet live on the show because I really don't have it.
13:22
SPEAKER_00: I've I've gone so many ways back and forth, and I feel confident about exactly zero of these games.
13:27
SPEAKER_00: So yeah, I don't think you're wrong for picking Ipswitch, and this one I was torn myself.
13:32
SPEAKER_01: Yes, and listeners, just as a reminder, we're trying our best, and it doesn't always work out, but we're trying our best not to pick City Arsenal, the bigger clubs, if we can avoid it, because that's not really as fun.
13:45
SPEAKER_00: So listen, I I'm two for two, and both have been absolute laughers.
13:49
SPEAKER_00: So yeah, I mean, I'm trying to keep it.
13:51
SPEAKER_00: I really want to come through for the listeners.
13:53
SPEAKER_00: I'm just gonna warn them if you're following these picks for any gambling purposes, there's no chance I do as well as I did last week.
14:00
SPEAKER_00: Regression to the mean is coming, it's probably coming hard and fast.
14:04
SPEAKER_00: So just be warned.
14:06
SPEAKER_00: This could be some real egg on my face this week.
14:08
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's either gonna be an egg on your face, Sean, or you're gonna be a professional gambler.
14:12
SPEAKER_01: So we'll we'll time will tell.
14:15
SPEAKER_01: Saturday Saturday morning, Sean.
14:17
SPEAKER_01: We have uh a 730 match.
14:19
SPEAKER_01: This one, Manchester City goes to Aston Villa.
14:24
SPEAKER_01: Now, Aston Villa, you mentioned nine of nine.
14:26
SPEAKER_01: They won all three of their Champions League games.
14:28
SPEAKER_01: They are playing a little bit better.
14:30
SPEAKER_01: I would say they're playing better in the Premier League as well, winning two of their last three.
14:35
SPEAKER_01: But I just think with Big Bad City coming to town, I think the quality from City is just gonna be too much.
14:42
SPEAKER_01: I don't think it'll be easy, but I do think City will pull this out, pull this one out fairly comfortably.
14:48
SPEAKER_01: I put three to one as my projection.
14:51
SPEAKER_00: We're going different ways again, Brandon.
14:53
SPEAKER_00: Okay, all right.
14:54
SPEAKER_00: I went for a draw here.
14:56
SPEAKER_00: I think this is where City finally slip up a little bit, and it's in part because I do think Villa have started to turn a corner.
15:04
SPEAKER_00: They they're starting to settle with these new signings, and they look, like you mentioned, better each week.
15:10
SPEAKER_00: They're growing into themselves.
15:12
SPEAKER_00: I just also think it's a tough place to go.
15:14
SPEAKER_00: Both these teams play in the Champions League midweek.
15:17
SPEAKER_00: The trip to Birmingham, it's not the longest journey in the world.
15:22
SPEAKER_00: We see these NFL teams fly cross-country, they're flying to Australia and playing for God's sakes.
15:26
SPEAKER_00: So it's it's relatively short in that sense, but I think the early kickoff on Saturday, it's a little bit of a sleepy spot for City, and I could see them getting off to a poor start, and I think Villa are just able to get something out of it.
15:40
SPEAKER_00: So I went for 2-2, but another one where I'm not I'm not exactly, it's definitely not my best bet.
15:47
SPEAKER_00: You know what I mean?
15:47
SPEAKER_00: I'm not hinging my reputation on this game.
15:49
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I and I don't think it's a crazy shot.
15:52
SPEAKER_01: I do think if City are a little bit asleep, Villa can jump on them, and that could be a little bit of a trap game for them.
15:59
SPEAKER_00: I just think City will be fit.
16:01
SPEAKER_00: I think he's gonna be, but they started they started a 17-year-old at striker midweek in the Champions League.
16:07
SPEAKER_00: That could be a question mark.
16:09
SPEAKER_00: I don't I just don't know, you know?
16:10
SPEAKER_01: No, that's fair.
16:11
SPEAKER_01: I I think I think with everything going on with City outside the pitch, it's going I think it's actually going to help them because Villa will be on them.
16:21
SPEAKER_01: There, the crowd will be on them just like they were at Liverpool a few weeks ago, and I think it'll sort of jolt them into form.
16:30
SPEAKER_01: I don't know if it'll be enough.
16:32
SPEAKER_01: I I do think it'll be enough to sort of motivate City and and then City turns around and plays well.
16:39
SPEAKER_01: But I do think Aston Villa do have a chance to win this game, or at least get a point out of it.
16:43
SPEAKER_01: But I I just think especially with Phil Foden, he's been in great form.
16:48
SPEAKER_01: Cherokee's been in great form, so so Moreska can choose who he wants to start between the two, or both potentially, if you want to put one out wide.
16:55
SPEAKER_01: I I think the even with Holland at maybe not 100%, I think the rest of the team will pull pull everybody else up and and take them through this one.
17:05
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's gonna be a fun game to watch, too.
17:07
SPEAKER_00: One of the more exciting games on paper, I think.
17:08
SPEAKER_00: And yeah, you mentioned Foden, Champions League hat trick for him.
17:11
SPEAKER_00: It's just a wealth of riches, so it's kind of next man up, even if there's not a true out and out striker.
17:16
SPEAKER_00: It's gonna be one that I will try my best to tune into on Saturday for sure.
17:20
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
17:21
SPEAKER_01: Next matches.
17:23
SPEAKER_01: We have two matches at the 10 a.m.
17:25
SPEAKER_01: window.
17:25
SPEAKER_01: The first one, Coventry and Fulham.
17:28
SPEAKER_01: Uh, this game will be played at Coventry.
17:31
SPEAKER_00: I kind of want to let you go first on this one.
17:33
SPEAKER_00: I've been going, I've been you've been nice enough to let me go first on both, but I'm just gonna say I had a real hard time trying to get anything out of this one.
17:42
SPEAKER_00: I have no clue what I'm doing.
17:43
SPEAKER_00: That's fair.
17:44
SPEAKER_01: No, I I did struggle as well.
17:47
SPEAKER_01: I went 1-1.
17:48
SPEAKER_01: Um in my note in my notes, but neither of these teams are very good.
17:53
SPEAKER_01: Uh but Fulham Fulham did get their first win of the season last week.
17:56
SPEAKER_01: Coventry, I think we'll try to use the crowd and the high press at home to build energy and to make Fulham uncomfortable.
18:02
SPEAKER_01: I do think both teams will show bright spots, but ultimately I think they'll share the points.
18:06
SPEAKER_00: I don't see one team having that extra little boost to get them through to pull all three up.
18:13
SPEAKER_00: Yes.
18:14
SPEAKER_00: So my thought process on these games where neither team is jumping out at me as good enough to take all three points or in the right position to take all three points.
18:22
SPEAKER_00: I've just been picking a draw.
18:24
SPEAKER_00: It's been working so far, so I'm gonna continue doing it.
18:27
SPEAKER_00: I went one-one as well.
18:28
SPEAKER_00: It just seems kind of like you said, I don't know that Fulham's good enough to go away from home and beat a Coventry side that are at least set up in a way that they're difficult to beat.
18:38
SPEAKER_00: You have to play decent football to beat them.
18:40
SPEAKER_00: They're not gonna kill themselves, usually.
18:42
SPEAKER_00: So I could see Coventry getting a goal at home.
18:45
SPEAKER_00: I could see Fulham capitalizing on a mistake from Coventry, but I don't think Coventry are gonna toss two, three, four goals in their own net, and I don't think that Fulham are good enough to go score those goals themselves.
18:56
SPEAKER_00: So 1-1 sounds about right here.
18:58
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
18:59
SPEAKER_01: Glad we're on the same page there.
19:01
SPEAKER_01: The other 10 o'clock game we have Arsenal and Everton.
19:06
SPEAKER_01: I guess I'll I'll start with this one, Sean.
19:08
SPEAKER_01: Arsenal 18 points, only one loss.
19:10
SPEAKER_01: They are second in the table at the moment.
19:12
SPEAKER_01: I don't think, though, they've had a signature win.
19:15
SPEAKER_01: I their style to me just isn't conducive to get a five or six goal victory like the Brightons or the Cities.
19:22
SPEAKER_01: Um, they played midweek and drew 2-2 to Bayern Munich, which is a fantastic result.
19:26
SPEAKER_01: You mentioned that earlier.
19:28
SPEAKER_01: I don't think it'll be easy uh against a team in Everton who just took their first loss last week, but I can't see Everton scoring in this one.
19:38
SPEAKER_01: And I think Arsenal end up pulling this one out 2-0.
19:41
SPEAKER_01: They're at home.
19:42
SPEAKER_01: I'd expect them to be on the front foot.
19:44
SPEAKER_01: Everton, unfortunately, don't trust their don't trust them offensively.
19:49
SPEAKER_01: I think they'll be very sound and compact defensively, but if you're down 1-0, you're gonna have to come out of that shell eventually.
19:55
SPEAKER_01: And I think Arsenal will get it maybe a second goal late when Everton's trying to chase the game.
20:00
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, we see this one pretty similarly, Brandon.
20:02
SPEAKER_00: I was thinking 2-0.
20:04
SPEAKER_00: I ended up settling on 2-1.
20:06
SPEAKER_00: I I kind of think it's a very controlled result for Arsenal, though.
20:10
SPEAKER_00: I kind of had them going ahead by two, maybe in the 65th, and then Everton kind of scrapping one back near the end of the game, but never really threatening to do anything other than leave there with a loss.
20:22
SPEAKER_00: So I just think there's there's levels still in the Premier League, and Everton just aren't at Arsenal's level.
20:30
SPEAKER_00: I wouldn't even say cons I was gonna say consistently enough, but I don't even think they reach that level on most weeks.
20:36
SPEAKER_00: I think Everton's level is just a rung or two below what Arsenal's kind of cruise control is.
20:42
SPEAKER_00: And because of the midweek fixture, maybe Arsenal do settle into a cruise control, maybe they trip themselves up, but I just have a hard time predicting that.
20:49
SPEAKER_00: So it's boring, but I think an Arsenal win is probably what we should do if we're erring on the side of caution.
20:55
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it might be a situation where Arsenal rotates the squad a little bit, some younger guys come out, less experienced guys come out, and maybe Everton hold them for a while, and then it's a 60th minute sub, and they throw in Sokka or Declan Rice or whoever, and they sort of turn the game on its head and score one or two to close out the match.
21:16
SPEAKER_01: And I think I don't it's just weird because Arsenal just doesn't play the style where they go and win 6-0.
21:22
SPEAKER_01: Because on paper, like this could be a 5-6-0 game.
21:26
SPEAKER_01: I'm not saying Everton's bad because they're not, but Arsenal should be better than the scores that they've produced so far this season, even though they're second in the table.
21:35
SPEAKER_01: So it's hard to say that, but they just don't have that.
21:40
SPEAKER_01: I don't know if they're just missing a nine or or what, but the the goals just aren't flowing as much as I think they should be for a team of that quality.
21:49
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, they they make their money on keeping teams out and being so structurally sound that they're difficult to break down.
21:56
SPEAKER_00: And they struggle sometimes to look the part of the championship.
22:00
SPEAKER_00: And when we talk about that, it's stringing all these passes together and really threatening a defense for extended spells.
22:06
SPEAKER_00: Arsenal will dominate possession, but they're kind of passing aimlessly.
22:10
SPEAKER_00: Where you're, if you're a supporter of theirs, you're probably wondering, like, okay, when are we gonna go and where is that incisive pass that we need?
22:16
SPEAKER_00: And they ultimately get a couple moments of that, but it's nowhere near as frequent as we see from other great attacking sides like the Brightons or the City or Chelsea.
22:26
SPEAKER_00: So I'm with you.
22:27
SPEAKER_00: I think we're seeing this game the same way.
22:29
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
22:30
SPEAKER_01: They're one of those teams where the stats come out at the end and it's like Gabriel, Consa, Ben White, they have the most passes in the team.
22:37
SPEAKER_01: And you're like, they're they're defenders.
22:39
SPEAKER_01: Like, what are we doing here?
22:40
SPEAKER_01: So yeah, I I'm glad we see this one the same way.
22:44
SPEAKER_01: The 1230 match, on again, another special spot for our Tottenham Hotspur.
22:50
SPEAKER_01: This week, they go to West London and play Chelsea.
22:55
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
22:55
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, Brandon is a proper, proper, proper Derby here.
22:59
SPEAKER_00: This is the Battle of the Bridge.
23:02
SPEAKER_00: If you guys remember the 15-16 season, the game dubbed the Battle of the Bridge, a 2-2 that was hard fought.
23:11
SPEAKER_00: Yellows flying, Pachatino on the touchline going nuts, breaking up fights.
23:17
SPEAKER_00: That's my Tottenham.
23:19
SPEAKER_00: Harry Kane, Eric Lamella, Hyungmin's son, Christian Erickson, Jan Vertong, and Toby Audaverald.
23:26
SPEAKER_00: Ah, God, do I wish we had those boys back?
23:28
SPEAKER_00: And I wish the atmosphere would be up for it like it was on that occasion.
23:33
SPEAKER_00: It's not going to resemble that.
23:34
SPEAKER_00: This Chelsea side, they've had nine different managers since 2022.
23:39
SPEAKER_00: I know they're believing in this project under Jabby Alonso, but I don't think if you gave any of them truth serum that they would say they're 100% convinced any project will work given the current ownership situation.
23:51
SPEAKER_00: So it's an interesting game because it's a side that finished 10th last year and a side that finished 17th.
23:58
SPEAKER_00: And they're still trying to take shape this season.
24:00
SPEAKER_00: Chelsea have obviously looked a lot better, especially going forward.
24:04
SPEAKER_00: I do think they're susceptible still at the back.
24:07
SPEAKER_00: And I'm not going to get on here and pick Tottenham to lose a Derby.
24:10
SPEAKER_00: I'll tell you that for free.
24:12
SPEAKER_00: So I have gone for a a worse, uglier, not in a good way, ugly, more boring 2-2 remake of the Battle of the Bridge some 12 years later.
24:25
SPEAKER_00: Maybe no, only 10 years later.
24:27
SPEAKER_00: I'm not a math guy yet.
24:28
SPEAKER_00: I think Tottenham showed encouraging signs against Coventry.
24:32
SPEAKER_00: Some of that XG regression to the mean in a positive way started to come through for Spurs, which is good to see.
24:39
SPEAKER_00: I don't think they deserve to beat Coventry 3-1, but they found a way.
24:42
SPEAKER_00: And seeing goals go in might get some of those guys going.
24:45
SPEAKER_00: If we can get a midfield, maybe Fernandez, Tanale, Madison.
24:49
SPEAKER_00: Now we're starting to pour a little bit.
24:51
SPEAKER_00: I I see Tottenham scoring on Chelsea.
24:54
SPEAKER_00: I also see Chelsea scoring a couple past Tottenham.
24:56
SPEAKER_00: So I've gone 2-2.
24:57
SPEAKER_00: I'm praying, Brandon.
24:59
SPEAKER_00: My biggest concern is Anthony Nikinski throws one in his own net.
25:02
SPEAKER_00: There's been some warning signs of him maybe being a bit shit.
25:07
SPEAKER_00: I don't want him to be shit in this one.
25:10
SPEAKER_00: Just pick a different game and we're going to throw one in Tony.
25:14
SPEAKER_00: But I'm going to go 2-2.
25:15
SPEAKER_00: I feel pretty good that this is going to be one of the best games to watch this weekend.
25:18
SPEAKER_00: Anytime Chelsea and Spurs get together, it's a it's a fun affair for the neutral.
25:22
SPEAKER_00: It's usually cagey.
25:24
SPEAKER_00: It's just that Spurs have had very, very little success winning at Chelsea.
25:28
SPEAKER_01: Um glad we're again on the same page.
25:31
SPEAKER_01: I feel like we started this episode.
25:33
SPEAKER_01: We were on different planets, and now we're we're much more aligned.
25:36
SPEAKER_01: I also went two to two.
25:38
SPEAKER_01: Obviously, I'm a biased Spurs fan and loved the match on Monday winning their first match first game, but I am afraid of Chelsea's attack, just like you said.
25:46
SPEAKER_01: They've been Spurs have been giving up too many goals, especially cheap ones.
25:49
SPEAKER_01: Like you mentioned, Kinski.
25:50
SPEAKER_01: Even the one against Coventry, we didn't really break it down.
25:52
SPEAKER_01: Sean probably needs a stronger hand on that.
25:58
SPEAKER_00: Oh, yeah, for sure.
25:59
SPEAKER_00: That was that was almost, I would say, more than 50% his blame.
26:03
SPEAKER_00: He should have also come out for the ball earlier in that sequence, I think.
26:06
SPEAKER_00: I think there was a couple of errors from him there.
26:08
SPEAKER_00: I know it was a close-range shot, but certainly he didn't cover himself in glory.
26:12
SPEAKER_01: No, no, definitely not.
26:14
SPEAKER_01: So that does worry me, just like you said as well.
26:17
SPEAKER_01: Uh Emmy Martinez is confirmed to be out.
26:19
SPEAKER_01: He's out for about two months.
26:20
SPEAKER_01: He had jaw surgery, actually, after after that last one when he got stretchered off the field.
26:26
SPEAKER_01: Uh so I do think Spurs will get a few goals.
26:28
SPEAKER_01: They'll be playing a goalkeeper who's a lot less experienced, but there's still questions in Spurs attack, I think.
26:34
SPEAKER_01: We we talked about the goals, and it's great to see Madison on the scoreline and Marmoouche, but I don't know if James Madison, 25-yard bangers, is gonna be in the books every week.
26:45
SPEAKER_01: I would love it, trust me.
26:47
SPEAKER_01: That'd be fantastic.
26:49
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, nice little dart celebration afterwards as well.
26:52
SPEAKER_01: But then Ben Davies with a right footed top of the box, close my eyes and kick it.
26:56
SPEAKER_01: That's probably not gonna happen every week either.
26:58
SPEAKER_00: So that might have been a left foot travella, Brandon.
27:02
SPEAKER_00: That might have even been a left foot travella.
27:03
SPEAKER_00: Don't roll out gentle Ben from scoring a banger.
27:06
SPEAKER_01: So so I I I don't I do worry about that, but I do think there will be goals on the table.
27:11
SPEAKER_01: I do think this will be a good game, and ultimately I think points will be shared two to two.
27:16
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, just some iconic matchups in this derby.
27:18
SPEAKER_00: And even in recent years, the Tuchel and Conte handshake fiasco, that was a freaking cagey affair, too.
27:25
SPEAKER_00: Ange has had some moments with Chelsea and his tenure at Spurs that were great.
27:29
SPEAKER_00: It's gonna be a good one to watch.
27:31
SPEAKER_00: So I'm excited for it.
27:32
SPEAKER_00: I do also have that feeling of dread, which I have most times.
27:35
SPEAKER_00: It's a London Derby away from home.
27:37
SPEAKER_00: It's not a pleasant watch for me.
27:38
SPEAKER_00: It's usually one of those excruciating, like, oh my god, I hate this, I hate this.
27:41
SPEAKER_00: Don't throw one in your own net situation.
27:43
SPEAKER_00: So I'm just hoping to come out of here with the point, Breaking.
27:46
SPEAKER_01: Let's keep a little bit of positive momentum.
27:48
SPEAKER_01: No, I agree.
27:49
SPEAKER_01: Switching to Sunday, Sean, this one's odd because we have we actually have four games at the Sunday 10 a.m.
27:56
SPEAKER_01: window.
27:56
SPEAKER_01: Uh a little bit different.
27:59
SPEAKER_01: We don't typically see that in the Premier League.
28:01
SPEAKER_01: I think it's because of the Champions League Europa League conflict, so they push the team's games back a little bit.
28:07
SPEAKER_01: The first one that I have on my list here, 10 a.m.
28:12
SPEAKER_01: Brentford traveling to Hull.
28:14
SPEAKER_01: This one's an interesting one.
28:16
SPEAKER_00: I'll let I'll let you start.
28:18
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's tough this one.
28:20
SPEAKER_00: I I hate to do it.
28:21
SPEAKER_00: And I went back and forth.
28:23
SPEAKER_00: But I went for Brentford beating Hull away from home.
28:26
SPEAKER_00: I've gone 2-1 to the B's.
28:29
SPEAKER_00: I just think there's a bit more quality in that Brentford squad than Hull have to offer.
28:34
SPEAKER_00: Not gonna be easy.
28:36
SPEAKER_00: Certainly will be testy.
28:38
SPEAKER_00: I just think Brentford find a way to get the job done.
28:40
SPEAKER_00: I I see that one going down to the wire, though.
28:43
SPEAKER_01: That's exactly what I picked.
28:45
SPEAKER_01: Same thing.
28:45
SPEAKER_01: Brentford winning 2-1.
28:47
SPEAKER_01: I said Hull at home is a fun sight to see.
28:49
SPEAKER_01: I said, but I don't think their fans will be leaving happily after this one.
28:52
SPEAKER_01: I think Brentford will control a lot of the possession and they'll be on top for most of the game.
28:57
SPEAKER_01: I think Hull will need its stars, your guy below me for one for short, to create chances and get through a Brentford side that doesn't give up a ton of goals.
29:04
SPEAKER_01: I don't think this one will be as fun of a watch as maybe previous Hall games were.
29:09
SPEAKER_01: Just because I don't think Hull will really be in control of the match.
29:13
SPEAKER_01: Uh and I think they'll ultimately drop the points to a Brentford side that wants to be in that European conversation.
29:18
SPEAKER_01: They're currently in sixth, tied for sixth with Leeds and Everton.
29:22
SPEAKER_01: I think they want to stay in that upper echelon and potentially look for a European slot for next season.
29:28
SPEAKER_01: So this one will be key for that.
29:30
SPEAKER_01: You're playing a team that theoretically on paper should be at the bottom of the table.
29:34
SPEAKER_01: They are clearly not.
29:35
SPEAKER_01: Hall is in ninth place, actually, one point behind Brentford, but I do think Brentford have just a little bit more and they'll ultimately win two to one.
29:44
SPEAKER_00: I'm with you on that.
29:45
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I don't think it's gonna be one that you need to tune into, like you said, but I do think it'll be a close cagey affair that Brentford squeak out.
29:54
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, especially with four games at this 10 o'clock window, Sean.
29:57
SPEAKER_01: So this one you might you might skip this one.
29:59
SPEAKER_01: The next one here, this one might be the game of the weekend for me.
30:03
SPEAKER_01: I know we mentioned Chelsea Spurs, but can I interest you in a little Liverpool Brighton at Anfield?
30:11
SPEAKER_01: At Anfield.
30:11
SPEAKER_01: I mean the Seagulls are flying.
30:14
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, see what I did there?
30:15
SPEAKER_01: Seagulls flying.
30:16
SPEAKER_01: But going to Anfield's not easy, and I think these two teams, they're in the top five of the league.
30:21
SPEAKER_01: They're looking to push Arsenal at the top.
30:23
SPEAKER_01: Brighton currently have a plus, I had to check this when I first did my research, plus 18 goal differential.
30:30
SPEAKER_01: Clearly shows quality on both ends of the field.
30:32
SPEAKER_01: They've only conceded five goals, 23 for them.
30:35
SPEAKER_01: Liverpool have been much more modest.
30:37
SPEAKER_01: They only have currently a plus one goal differential.
30:39
SPEAKER_01: They haven't looked great for full 90 minutes yet in the Premier League.
30:43
SPEAKER_01: And again, you mentioned the Villarreal win in Champions League, same thing.
30:47
SPEAKER_01: I'd expect this to be close.
30:49
SPEAKER_01: Uh the Anfield Faithful definitely will be helping Liverpool, but I'm gonna pick Brighton to pull this one out.
30:55
SPEAKER_01: Also, same score line as the last game.
30:57
SPEAKER_01: A two to one narrow away victory for Brighton.
31:01
SPEAKER_00: I I I almost did the same, Brandon.
31:03
SPEAKER_00: And if I could make my best bet to be the over three and a half in this game, I would do it.
31:09
SPEAKER_00: But I'm not gonna take it that direction.
31:11
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
31:11
SPEAKER_00: I've got one more at this window that I'm edging it to.
31:14
SPEAKER_00: But if I was breaking the rules, I would say I think there's gonna be four or more goals in this one.
31:19
SPEAKER_00: So I've gone 2-2 for Liverpool.
31:21
SPEAKER_00: I can't quite quit picking Liverpool, even though they really haven't convinced me that they're a top-level team.
31:30
SPEAKER_00: And honestly, what I've seen from Brighton has been more encouraging.
31:32
SPEAKER_00: I just can't get past the fact that Anfield's such a tough place to go.
31:36
SPEAKER_00: It's it's gonna be a challenge.
31:38
SPEAKER_00: The fans are gonna be up for it.
31:39
SPEAKER_00: I just I don't see Brighton being kept out against this Liverpool side that has thrown a couple goals away.
31:45
SPEAKER_00: I think Brighton will score.
31:47
SPEAKER_00: I just think Liverpool might be starting to find something at least going forward.
31:52
SPEAKER_00: And we saw it a little bit against Villarreal.
31:55
SPEAKER_00: McAllister scored two.
31:56
SPEAKER_00: We we've seen Barcola get on the score sheet with an assist.
32:00
SPEAKER_00: We've seen Verts really up his level of performances recently in both the Champions League and the league.
32:05
SPEAKER_00: So I think Liverpool find just enough to get a draw out of this game, but even that would be a disappointing result for the infield faithful.
32:12
SPEAKER_00: So I think Brighton have really established themselves as one of the best teams in this league because neither of us are batting an eye at considering picking them, going in the infield and winning.
32:21
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's it's a crazy, it's a crazy point you make, but it is true because we before the season were high on Brighton, but not this high.
32:30
SPEAKER_01: I mean, it's been ridiculous from them.
32:32
SPEAKER_01: And Liverpool, the only reason I didn't pick a draw was because Liverpool just they've they've scared me with this half performances.
32:40
SPEAKER_01: It's great to play 45 and be great, but you're playing Brighton, and they're type they're the type of team that will pick you apart if you're not at the top of your game.
32:48
SPEAKER_01: And I worry that Brighton gets to two early, Liverpool are asleep, and they crawl claw back and get one, but maybe aren't able to get that second one.
32:57
SPEAKER_01: Uh so that's why I went 2-1 for Brighton away from home.
33:01
SPEAKER_01: The next game, this this maybe is your best bet.
33:04
SPEAKER_01: I don't know.
33:05
SPEAKER_01: We have Bournemouth, the Cherries going to Manchester United, Sean.
33:10
SPEAKER_00: This is certainly not it, Brandon.
33:11
SPEAKER_00: I couldn't do it on this one either.
33:13
SPEAKER_00: No, no, no.
33:15
SPEAKER_00: I don't know what to do here.
33:16
SPEAKER_00: I settled on a 1-1 because I don't see it going all up in flames at home at Old Trafford, but I'm much more encouraged by the last couple of performances from Bournemouth than I am from United.
33:27
SPEAKER_00: Bournemouth go in the Europa League on Thursday, Brandon, and they kill AC Milan.
33:32
SPEAKER_00: 3-0, and it could have been seven.
33:34
SPEAKER_00: They just had a laugh for AC Milan never were in the game.
33:37
SPEAKER_00: It did help that their keeper Mike Magnon got sent off very early into the match.
33:41
SPEAKER_00: He had a huler, which you hate to see, but he had a he had a real hooler.
33:46
SPEAKER_00: I think Bournemouth might be rounding into a bit of form, and I think they're not gonna be a pushover by any means.
33:53
SPEAKER_00: If you just look at the two 11s, I don't see much in it at the time.
33:57
SPEAKER_00: This is how dreadful Man United have fallen, how far they've fallen.
34:00
SPEAKER_00: It's brutal.
34:01
SPEAKER_00: So I've gone one-one.
34:02
SPEAKER_01: What about you?
34:03
SPEAKER_01: Interesting.
34:04
SPEAKER_01: I actually think this one could be it for Carrick.
34:08
SPEAKER_01: And you remember I picked United to finish second in the table.
34:12
SPEAKER_01: So this is clearly uh an admission.
34:15
SPEAKER_01: Starting on the white flag for me, but I think it I think it's gotta be done, Sean.
34:19
SPEAKER_01: I think I put one nil for Bournemouth.
34:22
SPEAKER_01: United have not won in their last five Premier League matches, they've drawn the last three.
34:25
SPEAKER_01: They need to they need to get three points.
34:28
SPEAKER_01: Bournemouth have underperformed this season.
34:30
SPEAKER_01: They're starting, like you said, to play a little bit better, but overall, Bournemouth have not been great this year.
34:35
SPEAKER_01: Both teams did play midweek, so there may be some rotation, but I think both teams will want to get all three points.
34:41
SPEAKER_01: And I said it's make or break for United, but I think the pressure might get to them and they crumble.
34:45
SPEAKER_01: And I have them losing 1-0 in this one.
34:47
SPEAKER_00: Storyline-wise, Brandon, I kind of hope that happens.
34:50
SPEAKER_00: I'd love to get on this podcast and have a manager sacking to talk about.
34:53
SPEAKER_00: So I'm I'm up for it.
34:55
SPEAKER_00: I'll be rooting for Bournemouth, make no mistake about it.
34:58
SPEAKER_00: I just think Kerrick just continues to tread water.
35:03
SPEAKER_00: He might drown eventually, and it certainly appears like he will, but he's going to continue treading, in my opinion, for just a little bit longer.
35:09
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
35:09
SPEAKER_01: No, and that's and that's fair, and that may happen.
35:12
SPEAKER_01: And look, they lose this 1-1-0.
35:14
SPEAKER_01: That doesn't mean he's gone.
35:16
SPEAKER_01: But if it's three or four, yeah, yeah.
35:20
SPEAKER_00: He it wouldn't be out of the room of possibility if he got sacked if they drew this game.
35:24
SPEAKER_00: True.
35:25
SPEAKER_00: Very true.
35:25
SPEAKER_00: That seats hot.
35:26
SPEAKER_00: That seat's hot.
35:27
SPEAKER_00: They I think they've won two games this year.
35:29
SPEAKER_00: Like, period.
35:30
SPEAKER_00: Point blank.
35:32
SPEAKER_00: And they they beat some somebody in the prem.
35:35
SPEAKER_00: So it's not it's not been good.
35:38
SPEAKER_00: It is near November.
35:41
SPEAKER_01: They won, they won the one Premier League game five to two.
35:44
SPEAKER_01: And that was like, I think that was either their first or second game, and they haven't won since then.
35:47
SPEAKER_00: So yeah, did they beat Hull?
35:49
SPEAKER_00: Maybe it was I think it was.
35:51
SPEAKER_00: I think it was whole city.
35:52
SPEAKER_01: I know Fernandez had a hat-trick.
35:54
SPEAKER_00: I remember that.
35:54
SPEAKER_00: Yes.
35:55
SPEAKER_00: I'm pretty sure they beat Hole City and Saba FK, which listen here, Mikey.
36:02
SPEAKER_00: It's not gonna get it done.
36:02
SPEAKER_00: It's not gonna get it.
36:03
SPEAKER_00: Not gonna get it done.
36:04
SPEAKER_00: You're gonna need to figure something else out.
36:07
SPEAKER_01: The last 10 a.m.
36:09
SPEAKER_01: match, Sean.
36:11
SPEAKER_01: We have Crystal Palace and Newcastle.
36:14
SPEAKER_01: Is this the game?
36:16
SPEAKER_01: Sean Boyle's best bet?
36:18
SPEAKER_00: It is, and I hate it.
36:19
SPEAKER_00: It's a team I've been talking about, how they stink, but I think one of the teams stinks a little bit worse.
36:26
SPEAKER_00: I think Crystal Palace are dreadful.
36:29
SPEAKER_00: So I have gone for Newcastle 2, Crystal Palace 1, Newcastle being my best bet.
36:37
SPEAKER_00: I don't like either of these clubs, Brandon.
36:39
SPEAKER_00: And this one, I'll say it, listeners, it's gonna come, it could come back to bite me.
36:42
SPEAKER_00: This is the best bet I feel least confident about so far, but I just think what I've seen from Palace has been really, really next level bad.
36:51
SPEAKER_00: And Newcastle, it could be chalked up to some growing pains after a hot start, almost like beginner's luck under the new manager.
36:57
SPEAKER_00: They got a few good results, a couple of wins, and then they've really regressed.
37:02
SPEAKER_00: And you're starting to see some warts in their squad as well.
37:04
SPEAKER_00: And a lot of it is down to the personnel too.
37:07
SPEAKER_00: But I'm not convinced at all by Crystal Palace.
37:10
SPEAKER_00: I just don't know what they're good at, what they're hanging their hat on, what their game plan is going into a match.
37:15
SPEAKER_00: And I think Newcastle at least will have an identity, and not being at home almost allows them to be fine not having the ball for some stretches and use some of that pace they have on the counter.
37:24
SPEAKER_00: So that's my thought process behind it.
37:27
SPEAKER_00: I think Newcastle find a way to get three points in this one, but by no means am I calling this a good wager.
37:34
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I went a little differently.
37:36
SPEAKER_01: I actually did go one to one.
37:37
SPEAKER_01: Uh I picked a draw for this one.
37:39
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, both teams have been struggling.
37:41
SPEAKER_01: I think Crystal Palace will make it ugly and they'll just squeak out whatever they can squeak out.
37:46
SPEAKER_01: Newcastle have not been great either, but they do create chances, Sean.
37:49
SPEAKER_01: And I think that will be what's key.
37:52
SPEAKER_01: They'll create enough chances.
37:54
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, the the even the blind squirrel finding a nut kind of theory is what I'm taking for this one because they'll they'll eventually get one in.
38:02
SPEAKER_01: I do think Crystal Palace, again, claw back in the second half and maybe just score a cheap one, and they just share the points, and everyone goes home, kind of not happy or sad, just melancholy, I guess.
38:15
SPEAKER_01: But yeah, this one will not be on my 10am screens.
38:19
SPEAKER_01: I think I'll just settle for Bournemouth United and Liverpool Brain and just watch the highlights for this one and the whole game.
38:27
SPEAKER_00: I'm with you on that.
38:29
SPEAKER_00: In terms of TV rankings, this is probably third for me out of these four.
38:33
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, third.
38:34
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
38:34
SPEAKER_01: The last game here at 12:30, my guys, Sunderland FC, AFC, whatever they're whatever the freak they're called, who knows?
38:44
SPEAKER_01: They host leads.
38:46
SPEAKER_01: Sean, I'll start because we already know how this is gonna go.
38:49
SPEAKER_01: I don't think they have a chance in this one.
38:52
SPEAKER_01: I not that leads have even been that good.
38:54
SPEAKER_01: I just have absolutely no hope for Sunderland.
38:57
SPEAKER_01: I've said it multiple times.
38:58
SPEAKER_01: I even went against my own best will last week, picked them to win, and they did not do that either.
39:04
SPEAKER_01: Leeds have only conceded six goals in their first seven matches, and I expect another clean sheet.
39:09
SPEAKER_01: Dominic Halvert Lewin has really been in good form, and I think this is a game where his quality will shine again, and leads pull off a road win.
39:18
SPEAKER_01: I picked 2-0 to Leeds taking this one.
39:21
SPEAKER_00: And I'll tell you what, Brandon, we're going different directions again.
39:24
SPEAKER_01: That's fine.
39:25
SPEAKER_00: I I've dubbed this one Lebris' Last Stand.
39:29
SPEAKER_00: And when I reference a last stand game, I'm undefeated lifetime in these.
39:33
SPEAKER_00: I will say, listeners, Thunderland did go on the road to Poland on Thursday in the Europa League, and they did drop points to Lek Posnan.
39:43
SPEAKER_00: Everybody knows that Poznan's a difficult away day.
39:47
SPEAKER_00: That's a tough place to go.
39:50
SPEAKER_00: They really didn't look good.
39:53
SPEAKER_00: They also did heavily rotate the squad.
39:55
SPEAKER_00: So that's a courage sign.
39:57
SPEAKER_00: LeBrie might know that hey, we gotta win this weekend, we gotta get something this weekend.
40:02
SPEAKER_00: I've gone for a squeaky 1-0 win.
40:06
SPEAKER_00: I again I just haven't been convinced by Leeds and attack.
40:09
SPEAKER_00: That's right.
40:10
SPEAKER_00: I think they're gonna do a good enough job at keeping it low scoring, and I think it's gonna be a game that could swing either team's direction late.
40:17
SPEAKER_00: I just have a feeling the Sunderland run goes on a bit longer with this manager.
40:21
SPEAKER_00: So I've edged Sunderland in this, and I think they find a late winner somewhere.
40:26
SPEAKER_00: I don't know where, I don't know how, I don't even really know why, but I'm I'm picking Sunderland to get the job done at home in the Stadium of Light.
40:33
SPEAKER_00: Don't let me down Stadium of Light.
40:35
SPEAKER_00: I've talked about you being a fortress before.
40:37
SPEAKER_00: Let's let's let that ring true on Sunday.
40:40
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, the Stadium of Light will be a fortress next year in the championship, Sean, for sure.
40:43
SPEAKER_01: But uh that's harsh.
40:45
SPEAKER_01: It's so harsh.
40:46
SPEAKER_00: They're going down a lot, Brandon.
40:47
SPEAKER_00: That club's been through a real lot.
40:49
SPEAKER_01: I know they have.
40:51
SPEAKER_01: And here's the next chapter in their book.
40:52
SPEAKER_01: They're going back down because they are so bad.
40:55
SPEAKER_01: I yeah, I don't want to I don't want to say anymore.
40:59
SPEAKER_00: They're I'd like Delta Boyles last in, too.
41:02
SPEAKER_00: This might be a me and Libris.
41:04
SPEAKER_01: It might be.
41:04
SPEAKER_01: You both might be going down after this one.
41:06
SPEAKER_01: I'll go down with the ship too.
41:08
SPEAKER_00: That's fine.
41:08
SPEAKER_01: Oh my gosh.
41:10
SPEAKER_01: But those are the 10 games this weekend.
41:13
SPEAKER_01: Some some good matchups.
41:14
SPEAKER_01: We have some potential.
41:16
SPEAKER_01: This could be some sacks.
41:17
SPEAKER_01: We we didn't even mention mention Crystal Palace too much, but that game goes sour.
41:22
SPEAKER_01: That could be another coach potentially out.
41:24
SPEAKER_01: So maybe we see three new managers come Monday morning.
41:29
SPEAKER_00: We could certainly start to see that carousel start to swing.
41:32
SPEAKER_00: I don't know if teams are going to try to tough it out until that November international window when there's a little bit extra time off.
41:38
SPEAKER_00: But if you sack a guy now and you start your search, if it's not an interim manager that's quickly named, it could take that long.
41:44
SPEAKER_00: So it's an interesting weekend with a lot hanging in the balance in the prem.
41:48
SPEAKER_00: So I'm excited to tune in.
41:50
SPEAKER_01: Something within that coaching search is one of those things where it's like, hey, if we fire our coach now, we might be able to go get person X because they're available.
42:00
SPEAKER_01: But if we wait and somebody else sacks their coach, they're gonna go after the same guy.
42:04
SPEAKER_01: He might choose them over us.
42:05
SPEAKER_01: So there might even be a little bit of an advantage to going earlier if you can get that guy in place.
42:11
SPEAKER_01: So a lot, a lot can happen this weekend.
42:13
SPEAKER_01: And I think maybe this doesn't look like a great fixture weekend on paper, but there could be a lot of things going on behind the scenes this weekend.
42:23
SPEAKER_00: I think, yeah, I actually think this weekend will prove to be one of the better weekends so far of the Prem.
42:28
SPEAKER_00: I think we have just enough of intriguing ones on paper, and then I think we have enough hanging in the balance in those other games that'll make them worth tuning into as well.
42:36
SPEAKER_00: So I'm excited for it.
42:37
SPEAKER_00: I'm jacked up.
42:38
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, no, it's gonna be a good one, Sean.
42:41
SPEAKER_00: Except for this Friday game, which is a real, real stinker.
42:45
SPEAKER_01: No, let me start my weekend off with it with a with a big win.
42:48
SPEAKER_00: Oh, I think you get it right for your best bet.
42:50
SPEAKER_00: I do hope that.
42:51
SPEAKER_00: I just mean in terms of like me getting to my TV at 3 p.m.
42:54
SPEAKER_00: on a Friday to tune in.
42:55
SPEAKER_00: I'm not sure Ipswitch force does the trick.
42:58
SPEAKER_01: That's fair.
42:59
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
42:59
SPEAKER_01: I also we we can't we can't we can't give the best on Friday because it's not a great window.
43:06
SPEAKER_01: Just an appetizer.
43:07
SPEAKER_01: For people like me and you on a Friday, we have the luxury where we can turn that on.
43:11
SPEAKER_01: A lot of people are still in the office, still doing their thing.
43:14
SPEAKER_01: So it's alright to throw just a little appetizer out there.
43:17
SPEAKER_01: It's it's the Thursday night NFL game.
43:19
SPEAKER_01: It's like, hey, we got football.
43:20
SPEAKER_00: Top us, it's not the best football, but it's it's all playing.
43:23
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, top us.
43:24
SPEAKER_01: Exactly.
43:25
SPEAKER_01: Exactly.
43:25
SPEAKER_01: Say you get it, Sean.
43:27
SPEAKER_01: Sean, some some more, some more soccer around the world here, here in the MLS uh in the US.
43:34
SPEAKER_01: We saw a lot uh these past weeks, but I wanted to highlight the games coming up this weekend.
43:39
SPEAKER_01: Montreal plays Nashville in Montreal.
43:42
SPEAKER_01: If Nashville does win that do win that match, they will win the supporters' shield, which clinches them the most points overall in the league.
43:51
SPEAKER_01: They actually, depending on how they finish, could end up with the most all time points in a season, which is which is pretty cool.
43:57
SPEAKER_01: Have to highlight my Philly boys, of course.
43:59
SPEAKER_01: Cavan Sullivan was ranked number one on the top 22 players under age 22 in MLS.
44:05
SPEAKER_01: Pretty cool.
44:06
SPEAKER_01: Frankie Westfield and Neil Peter also on the list.
44:09
SPEAKER_01: I believe they were 7 and 11, respectively.
44:13
SPEAKER_01: So definitely a lot of skill coming out of Philly.
44:15
SPEAKER_01: They host New England in a huge, huge match.
44:19
SPEAKER_01: Currently, Philly are in sixth.
44:20
SPEAKER_01: New England are in third.
44:22
SPEAKER_01: This could actually be a playoff preview depending on how the standings finish up.
44:27
SPEAKER_01: Philly probably won't go above fourth, but they probably won't drop below sixth just based on how the numbers and the points line up.
44:36
SPEAKER_01: So they'll want to get at least a point out of this one.
44:39
SPEAKER_01: Three, of course, is great, but New England is a very, very tough side.
44:43
SPEAKER_01: In the West, we have Dallas and San Jose, uh, that is third and fourth in the West.
44:48
SPEAKER_01: And then we also have the El Trafico Derby.
44:52
SPEAKER_01: LAFC playing LA Galaxy, sixth versus eighth, but more importantly, just a huge rivalry.
44:58
SPEAKER_01: Great uh energy in the stadium.
45:00
SPEAKER_01: There'll be fans from both sides, big supporter sections.
45:03
SPEAKER_01: These two teams hate each other, obviously being from the same city.
45:06
SPEAKER_01: And then the last uh thing I wanted to highlight a game that happened on Wednesday night, Sean.
45:12
SPEAKER_01: Uh we had the US Open Cup final.
45:14
SPEAKER_01: Uh I traditionally I am a US Open Cup guy through and through.
45:20
SPEAKER_01: I love it, but hand up, because now we have Leagues Cup, it ruined the Open Cup for me.
45:26
SPEAKER_01: I'll be back to the Open Cup next year when all NLS teams are back.
45:30
SPEAKER_01: I did not know this was the final.
45:31
SPEAKER_01: I actually just happened to stumble upon it.
45:33
SPEAKER_01: And St.
45:34
SPEAKER_01: Louis uh won in penalty shootout.
45:36
SPEAKER_01: It was a 0-0 game, went to shootout.
45:38
SPEAKER_01: Uh St.
45:39
SPEAKER_01: Louis won in one in the shootout.
45:41
SPEAKER_01: They actually, unfortunately, their goalie was also stretchered off in the game.
45:45
SPEAKER_01: Took a knee to the head.
45:46
SPEAKER_01: It did not look good.
45:47
SPEAKER_01: Thankfully, he was moving all his extremities.
45:49
SPEAKER_01: So definitely thoughts out thoughts go out to him.
45:53
SPEAKER_01: But yeah, St.
45:54
SPEAKER_01: Louis win the first trophy in their club's history, which is cool.
45:56
SPEAKER_01: They are a new MLS team, and this is only about their fourth season, I believe, in the league.
46:01
SPEAKER_01: So definitely a cool shout for them.
46:04
SPEAKER_00: I'm glad you brought that up, Brandon, because I tuned in just in time to see the last few minutes of extra time and then penalties for this.
46:11
SPEAKER_00: I it slipped my radar as well.
46:14
SPEAKER_00: It's a hand up.
46:14
SPEAKER_00: I did not realize the final was happening already.
46:17
SPEAKER_00: And I'm I'm a cup guy, you know that.
46:19
SPEAKER_00: I think US Open Cup, FA Cup, as long as it's not a Mickey Mouse Cup, I I I would love to collect the cups.
46:25
SPEAKER_00: I'd love to just win them all.
46:27
SPEAKER_00: And this one was cool because yes, St.
46:29
SPEAKER_00: Louis are a new team, but I read that the city of St.
46:32
SPEAKER_00: Louis has actually won the U.S.
46:34
SPEAKER_00: Open Cup a few occasions before and they really value the trophy.
46:37
SPEAKER_00: I believe back in the 1930s when there wasn't even a professional league like the MLS, they had won the cup then.
46:44
SPEAKER_00: I could have the decade wrong, but I know in the past they really they've won this before, they wanted to win it again, and their supporters in the away end were incredible in Columbus.
46:52
SPEAKER_00: So I love seeing that.
46:53
SPEAKER_00: So I think it was the deserved result just based on the fan breakdown.
46:58
SPEAKER_00: So cool stuff for St.
46:59
SPEAKER_00: Louis, and I'm glad that soccer's back there.
47:02
SPEAKER_01: Yes, no, it was cool.
47:03
SPEAKER_01: And one other thing I wanted to highlight outside of MLS, but still involving club soccer and and actually a US team as well, but on the women's side, so Sean coming in 2028, just announced uh this week by FIFA, we have the first women's club world cup.
47:22
SPEAKER_01: There will be 19 clubs in this world cup, uh, seven have already been announced, including Arsenal, Barcelona, Gotham FC, and a team from North Korea, actually, will be in this tournament.
47:34
SPEAKER_01: So very interesting.
47:35
SPEAKER_01: But I wanted to North Korea, North Korea, correct.
47:39
SPEAKER_01: North Korea.
47:40
SPEAKER_01: Holy, you didn't tell me that in the pre-show.
47:43
SPEAKER_00: Jesus, it changed the game.
47:45
SPEAKER_01: But I have the the fun part about this, Sean, is they announced it will be held in the United States, which is great.
47:53
SPEAKER_01: Uh my uncle Gianni said the US did a great job hosting the men's club World Cup and the real World Cup this past summer.
48:01
SPEAKER_01: But can you guess when the tournament is going to take place, Sean?
48:04
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
48:05
SPEAKER_01: I know you'll be there.
48:06
SPEAKER_00: I know that.
48:07
SPEAKER_00: Um January, February.
48:11
SPEAKER_01: It's the second week of January 2028.
48:16
SPEAKER_01: They have not announced the cities, but I would not expect Philly to be a host just due to the climate in the beginning of January.
48:25
SPEAKER_01: Um dome hunting.
48:28
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so yeah, I would expect Atlanta, the Texas football teams that have domes, but uh maybe I'll make a trip if I can.
48:35
SPEAKER_01: But I'm sure you'll swing it on Uncle's card.
48:37
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, yeah.
48:38
SPEAKER_01: I'll try my best, but January, it's a little rough.
48:42
SPEAKER_00: It's tough.
48:42
SPEAKER_00: It's tough.
48:43
SPEAKER_00: When you told me about this, Brandon, I was like, oh, I'm pretty excited.
48:46
SPEAKER_00: But then now I'm starting to wonder: is this a Mickey Mouse cup?
48:50
SPEAKER_00: Is this what I was just referring to as potentially a money grab?
48:55
SPEAKER_00: And far be it from me to try to keep the women from playing some more footy.
49:00
SPEAKER_00: I'm just gonna caution, I'm gonna throw some caution tape around it and say we're gonna investigate a little bit further.
49:05
SPEAKER_00: It has the sound of a potential Mickey Mouse asterisk cup.
49:10
SPEAKER_00: I don't want it to come to that, it's just early returns.
49:13
SPEAKER_00: We're two years out, but the January Women's World Cup with eight teams, including a team from North Korea, doesn't sound all of that enticing to me.
49:23
SPEAKER_01: No, there's gonna be so there's actually no no, there's gonna be 19 teams in the tournament.
49:27
SPEAKER_01: They have only announced those few that I mentioned to you.
49:31
SPEAKER_01: Okay, and there's a couple other cups, actually, Club America's women will be in it as well.
49:35
SPEAKER_01: But yeah, no, no.
49:36
SPEAKER_01: So so more teams to come.
49:37
SPEAKER_01: I guess they're gonna have qualifying somehow.
49:39
SPEAKER_01: I don't know how the teams that are in it have already qualified when they just announced the tournament.
49:44
SPEAKER_01: Yep.
49:44
SPEAKER_00: But Reeks of the Super League.
49:46
SPEAKER_01: We gotta sell some tickets.
49:47
SPEAKER_00: We gotta sell tickets, Sean.
49:48
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, see, that's the problem.
49:49
SPEAKER_00: Reeks of the Super League.
49:51
SPEAKER_00: I don't love that.
49:52
SPEAKER_00: I like merit-based competitions.
49:54
SPEAKER_01: No, fair enough.
49:55
SPEAKER_01: Sean, let me know.
49:56
SPEAKER_01: What else are you watching this weekend in the world of football outside of the Premier League?
50:01
SPEAKER_00: Brandon, I do think the best action's coming in the Prem.
50:04
SPEAKER_00: So we highlighted those games, which ones to watch.
50:06
SPEAKER_00: The two that I will be watching outside the Prem for sure.
50:10
SPEAKER_00: Saturday at noon, Napoli hosting Roma.
50:15
SPEAKER_00: Another game where Roma are gonna be battling some injuries and going on the road.
50:20
SPEAKER_00: Tough place to play.
50:21
SPEAKER_00: Probably no Dybala.
50:23
SPEAKER_00: He's been missing the last few with a calf injury, which sucks.
50:25
SPEAKER_00: I talked about how healthy he was and how great he was doing.
50:29
SPEAKER_00: We've run into a rough patch, but we'll be back up, don't worry.
50:32
SPEAKER_00: I think this is gonna be another fun one, and I think Roma have enough about them to go in there and get a win against Napoli.
50:38
SPEAKER_00: So I'm excited about that.
50:39
SPEAKER_00: I'm optimistic.
50:40
SPEAKER_00: That's at noon on Saturday.
50:41
SPEAKER_00: But the game of the weekend across all of these leagues, we you mentioned El Traffico.
50:47
SPEAKER_00: We have El Classico on Sunday, 4 p.m.
50:50
SPEAKER_00: Eastern Time.
50:51
SPEAKER_00: Barcelona hosting Real Madrid.
50:54
SPEAKER_00: It does not get better than this or bigger than this in the sport.
50:58
SPEAKER_00: Madrid are already six points behind Barcelona and behind them uh with a minus 16 goal differential difference between the two teams.
51:07
SPEAKER_00: That is the start that Barcelona have been off to in La Liga.
51:11
SPEAKER_00: If Real Madrid want to make a run at the league title this season, they almost can't afford to lose this game.
51:17
SPEAKER_00: And I might I know that might sound crazy, and of course stranger things have happened, but if you go down nine points uh this early in the season, I really see uh it being a very, very tall mountain to climb to get uh back into that title challenge.
51:32
SPEAKER_00: Conversely, if you go in there and really bruise Barcelona and take a point or God forbid take three points, that shifts the conversation entirely.
51:41
SPEAKER_00: I think a point would do the job for Jose's guys.
51:44
SPEAKER_00: I think he'll probably be setting them up to play on the counterattack.
51:46
SPEAKER_00: He's gonna let Barcelona have the ball and have that high line that we're so accustomed to seeing under Hanzi Flick.
51:53
SPEAKER_00: It's also gonna uh be a fun situation where does Barcelona have the legs?
51:58
SPEAKER_00: We just saw them run out of gas against PSG.
52:00
SPEAKER_00: Real Madrid took care of business in the Champions League this week with a four-to-one win over Leipzig.
52:05
SPEAKER_00: There's no Vinnie Jr., as we mentioned, because of that right card suspension.
52:08
SPEAKER_00: So that's one weapon that Jose will be without, but it's just a compelling fixture.
52:14
SPEAKER_00: I don't know what to uh predict in this one, other than I don't see Real Madrid keeping Barcelona out for long stretches.
52:25
SPEAKER_00: I think Barcelona are gonna find their way past at least twice.
52:28
SPEAKER_00: Uh and that leads me to believe Real Madrid will have a hard time winning this game.
52:32
SPEAKER_00: So I'm gonna go 3-2 Barcelona, but I think it's gonna be fun and full of fireworks, and probably a Jose Mourinho yellow card, if I had to guess.
52:39
SPEAKER_00: I could just I could see that coming.
52:41
SPEAKER_00: I wish that could be my best bet.
52:42
SPEAKER_00: A Jose Yellow.
52:44
SPEAKER_00: I think that is all out my sound wager in this.
52:49
SPEAKER_00: Unless Real Madrid really starts strong and he has nothing to complain about, he will ultimately take some frustrations out on a referee.
52:55
SPEAKER_00: So I'm excited for it.
52:57
SPEAKER_00: It's 4 p.m.
52:58
SPEAKER_00: It's a good time to watch the Steelers in the NFL.
53:00
SPEAKER_00: They play in Paris at 9 30.
53:02
SPEAKER_00: That's forget about it.
53:04
SPEAKER_00: We're long done with them by then.
53:05
SPEAKER_00: It's gonna be it's gonna be a great, great day of football on Sunday.
53:09
SPEAKER_01: That's no, that's a good one, Sean.
53:11
SPEAKER_01: And for listeners, even if you don't follow La Liga closely like Sean does, I'm I'm probably in that camp as well.
53:20
SPEAKER_01: Uh someone who doesn't follow the league as much as I'd want to.
53:24
SPEAKER_01: This is a this is a must-watch.
53:26
SPEAKER_01: This is a drop everything and and find a TV and watch it because there's always fireworks in this game.
53:32
SPEAKER_01: You're bound to see probably a maybe a red card.
53:36
SPEAKER_01: Uh the two teams hate each other, but at the same time, they all play.
53:40
SPEAKER_01: I feel like it's like the Spanish national team kind of all playing against each other, and and some other countries as well.
53:47
SPEAKER_01: These are two of the top teams in the world, honestly, and two of the biggest payrolls, two of the biggest followings, and these two teams hate each other, and it's always, always fireworks when they play.
53:56
SPEAKER_01: Uh, they've played this game in the US before, Sean.
53:59
SPEAKER_01: I believe they played in Miami maybe a couple years ago.
54:02
SPEAKER_01: Just it it's it's a worldwide wide rivalry.
54:07
SPEAKER_01: Thankfully, this one's in Barcelona.
54:08
SPEAKER_01: We're keeping it in Spain, but definitely must watch TV for this one.
54:13
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, the Miami El Classico is a games gone situation.
54:18
SPEAKER_00: We knew we've lost the plot if we're doing that.
54:20
SPEAKER_00: So I think if you begin to describe how much I hate that, but this one is in Barcelona, like you mentioned.
54:26
SPEAKER_00: This will be a proper, proper affair.
54:28
SPEAKER_00: Brandon, also, I don't know if you saw some of the Barcelona boys, they went blonde.
54:32
SPEAKER_00: Pedri, he's rocking a blonde do.
54:34
SPEAKER_00: Fermin Lopez rocking a blonde dude.
54:36
SPEAKER_00: I think Javi might have got another mix.
54:38
SPEAKER_00: Lamin's is kind of wearing out, he's back to his natural, it seems like.
54:41
SPEAKER_00: You've got to be, let me tell you this.
54:43
SPEAKER_00: This is a take I was working up.
54:45
SPEAKER_00: You've got to be world-class, in my opinion, to really pull off the blonde.
54:49
SPEAKER_00: If you're just, if Dominic Solanke came out with bleach blonde hair, it ain't working, brother.
54:54
SPEAKER_00: I'm telling him, no, no, no, no, no.
54:57
SPEAKER_00: He might be on the bench until he gets it fixed because I really think you have to be a certain ilk of player to pull that off and not look like a clown.
55:05
SPEAKER_00: The lowest level I will allow is Richarlison, and that's just because he's Brazilian, an absolute piss taker, and he scored some bangers in the World Cup on his resume.
55:14
SPEAKER_00: So if you go out and do that, then you you have carp watch to do whatever you want.
55:18
SPEAKER_00: But I want to see some more this Barcelona side.
55:20
SPEAKER_00: Let's go all go blonde.
55:21
SPEAKER_00: Let's go blonde for this one and let's be in charge.
55:23
SPEAKER_01: I like that.
55:24
SPEAKER_01: That's just a good, good shout.
55:27
SPEAKER_01: It's like when people say when you turn up to a field to play pickup, you know which guys are the ballers because of their boots, or if they're wearing the three-quarter pants instead of shorts.
55:38
SPEAKER_01: Like you know, those guys can play a little bit.
55:40
SPEAKER_01: That it's the same thing.
55:41
SPEAKER_01: If you die, if you dye your hair bleach blonde, you bleach blonde, you you have to be a player.
55:46
SPEAKER_01: And if you're not a player, you have to go back to your natural color immediately following the game.
55:50
SPEAKER_00: You look like a clown.
55:51
SPEAKER_00: You look like a real clown.
55:53
SPEAKER_00: So I think I think guys know that too.
55:55
SPEAKER_00: I don't think you see guys.
55:58
SPEAKER_00: And this theory I just thought of, and I'm workshopping, I'm gonna be taking note of bleach blondes, and I don't want to see any just meddling players rocking that do.
56:07
SPEAKER_00: You need to be of a certain caliber.
56:10
SPEAKER_00: And I think in Barcelona's team, if you're if you made it to Barcelona, you have the go-ahead.
56:14
SPEAKER_00: You could you could go ahead and do whatever you please.
56:16
SPEAKER_00: So, yeah, that's that's just a little observation I made during the Champions League this week.
56:21
SPEAKER_00: I think we're going to see some fireworks and hopefully some good hairstyles as well.
56:26
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
56:26
SPEAKER_00: No, thank you, Sean.
56:27
SPEAKER_00: It's the little things.
56:28
SPEAKER_01: We last week we teased it.
56:30
SPEAKER_01: Fashion, fashion and uh friends on football.
56:33
SPEAKER_01: So we're just we're just adding adding to it right now.
56:36
SPEAKER_01: That's right.
56:37
SPEAKER_00: That's right.
56:38
SPEAKER_01: No, thank you, Sean.
56:39
SPEAKER_01: As always, this has been a great episode.
56:42
SPEAKER_01: A lot of football to watch this weekend.
56:43
SPEAKER_01: I'm excited.
56:44
SPEAKER_01: Domestic, England, Spain, Italy, taking you all over the world uh for the beautiful game.
56:52
SPEAKER_01: So, Sean, any any last thoughts from you?
56:54
SPEAKER_00: No, Brandon.
56:55
SPEAKER_00: Not not anything new on my end or anything I forgot to mention.
56:59
SPEAKER_00: So I'm just excited to watch some football with you this weekend.
57:02
SPEAKER_00: It should be a good one.
57:03
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, should be a good one.
57:05
SPEAKER_01: Listeners, as always, thank you for your support.
57:08
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57:09
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57:11
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57:18
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57:20
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57:22
SPEAKER_01: And until next time, take care.