Latest / Friends on Football / Ep. 29 The Premier League Preview (Preseason Awards, Bold Statements and Final Table Predictions)

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Ep. 29 The Premier League Preview (Preseason Awards, Bold Statements and Final Table Predictions) · Friends on Football

0:22
SPEAKER_01: Hello, friends, and welcome back to another episode of the Friends on Football Podcast.
0:27
SPEAKER_01: I am Sean Boyle.
0:28
SPEAKER_01: I am joined, as always, by Brandon Johnson.
0:30
SPEAKER_01: Brandon, how are you?
0:31
SPEAKER_00: Sean, I'm doing well.
0:33
SPEAKER_00: Sean, we are one day away from the Premier League beginning, so I'm ready to go.
0:38
SPEAKER_00: I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve, just waiting to open the presents and get it going.
0:42
SPEAKER_00: How are you feeling?
0:44
SPEAKER_01: I'm feeling amazing.
0:45
SPEAKER_01: Vibes are at an all-time high.
0:46
SPEAKER_01: Coming off the back of Olivia Dean at Madison Square Garden.
0:50
SPEAKER_01: I mean, we just couldn't ask for a better week with Premier League football kicking off as well.
0:54
SPEAKER_01: It's just all things are coming up, Sean Boyle, until that Tottenham result on Saturday.
1:00
SPEAKER_01: So we're excited about the Premier League beginning.
1:02
SPEAKER_01: We've got a lot to get into.
1:04
SPEAKER_01: This is our official predictions episode, our final preview.
1:08
SPEAKER_01: We're going to do preseason awards.
1:10
SPEAKER_01: We're going to do some bold predictions.
1:12
SPEAKER_01: And then we are going to go through and give you our best shot at predicting the table from 20 all the way to one.
1:18
SPEAKER_01: We'll see how that goes.
1:20
SPEAKER_01: We're going to start with our preseason awards.
1:22
SPEAKER_01: The first item on the agenda, Brandon, this seems like a bit of a formality.
1:28
SPEAKER_01: I'm not even sure why we included it.
1:30
SPEAKER_01: I guess it's something you just have to do.
1:32
SPEAKER_01: We're going to talk about the golden boot.
1:34
SPEAKER_01: Brandon, who do you think will be winning the golden boot this year in the Premier League, which for new fans means who will score the most goals this season?
1:43
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, Sean.
1:44
SPEAKER_00: So on top of that, individual player.
1:47
SPEAKER_00: So not necessarily a team award.
1:49
SPEAKER_00: It's the individual player that scores the most goals in the Premier League this season.
1:52
SPEAKER_00: I think there's a strong, strong favorite, and that would be Erling Holland.
1:56
SPEAKER_00: Erling Holland last year had 27 goals in 35 matches.
2:01
SPEAKER_00: Actually, didn't even play in all 38 of Manchester City's games last year.
2:04
SPEAKER_00: I'd expect very similar productivity this year.
2:07
SPEAKER_00: He has a great cast of characters around him that can get him the ball.
2:11
SPEAKER_00: He takes a lot of penalty kicks, uh, which will definitely help to boost those numbers as well.
2:16
SPEAKER_00: I do think Sean, we can't hand him the trophy yet, but it's going to be his to lose.
2:23
SPEAKER_00: And you have guys like Alexander Isak, Ali Watkins, Gia Pedro, Igor Tiago.
2:29
SPEAKER_00: Those are, in my opinion, that next tier of guys who will be challenging, but I don't think anyone tops Holland.
2:36
SPEAKER_00: I think he repeats as the golden boot winner.
2:38
SPEAKER_00: What do you think?
2:39
SPEAKER_01: I'm right there with you.
2:40
SPEAKER_01: I think we would have to include it in a bold prediction if we were going to go in any other direction.
2:44
SPEAKER_01: It's just the fact that Erling Holland is the best finisher in the world right now.
2:48
SPEAKER_01: He is the best inside the box number nine, just in terms of how he can contort his body, how athletic he is, how he can run in behind.
2:56
SPEAKER_01: He could just finish and kill you in a variety of different ways with both feet, with his head, and he plays in the past in one of the best teams in the league year over year.
3:04
SPEAKER_01: I'm interested to see just how different Enzo Maresca's Manchester City is compared to Pep Guardiolas.
3:10
SPEAKER_01: That's something we've touched on a little bit, and we will continue to touch on in this episode.
3:13
SPEAKER_01: So I'm not gonna lock it and throw away the key, but I do think it would be just a little bit bold and a little bit rash, quite frankly, to sit here and honestly predict somebody else to beat him in that Golden Boot race.
3:26
SPEAKER_01: I agree with you on the next tier of guys.
3:28
SPEAKER_01: The guy I actually had who I wanted to give a shout out as a runner-up was Alexander Isak.
3:32
SPEAKER_01: It's not great for me that you own both of these guys in our Premier League player draft.
3:37
SPEAKER_01: That's not good news.
3:38
SPEAKER_01: But I do think those would be the two people I'm looking at the most for Golden Boot this year.
3:44
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I think Holland, I know we're a little bit maybe skeptical about Manchester City, but I look at Holland form in the summer with Norway, and not to say Norway's a bad team by any means, Sean.
3:55
SPEAKER_00: They're strong, strong outset, and they performed extremely well at the World Cup, but at the end of the day, it's still Holland's team with Norway.
4:03
SPEAKER_00: It's Holland and a bunch of other guys, and teams know this playing against them too, and they're gonna try to double and disrupt Holland as much as they could, and he still had a fantastic World Cup.
4:13
SPEAKER_00: So I just think that shows his quality, even in a situation where he has to be the guy, quote unquote.
4:19
SPEAKER_00: And now he's going back into a Manchester City side where yes, he still will need to be the guy, but he has an off-night, and there are four or five other guys that could easily bag braces or even hat tricks in the Premier League.
4:30
SPEAKER_00: So I maybe maybe we're just glancing over this a little too easily, but I but I I would be shocked if he's not the golden boot winner, if not second at the worst.
4:42
SPEAKER_01: Exactly.
4:43
SPEAKER_01: If he's 100% healthy throughout the season, which you can't predict injuries, he's been pretty durable throughout his tenure.
4:50
SPEAKER_01: He stands up pretty well.
4:51
SPEAKER_01: So I just think given those things, you can't sit here before the season and predict something crazy unless you want to get really bold and carried away.
4:59
SPEAKER_01: So that was kind of a free space on the bingo card to start things off.
5:03
SPEAKER_01: Now I think things get a bit interesting.
5:05
SPEAKER_01: We're going to talk about breakout stars.
5:07
SPEAKER_01: There's a lot of different ways you could kind of take this question, Brandon.
5:10
SPEAKER_01: There's different levels to breaking out.
5:12
SPEAKER_01: There is the level of becoming a good player from an unknown player.
5:18
SPEAKER_01: There's a level of becoming a star from an existing good player.
5:21
SPEAKER_01: So there's a lot of different ways you could go.
5:23
SPEAKER_01: I'm interested to see how you took this question.
5:26
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I have two listed, Sean.
5:28
SPEAKER_00: Maybe I'll go to the first one and then if you want to add one in, and then I'll give you my second one.
5:32
SPEAKER_00: My first one is Shay Lacey.
5:34
SPEAKER_00: Uh Shea Lacy on Manchester United.
5:36
SPEAKER_00: As we get through this preview, you'll see my thoughts on Manchester United.
5:40
SPEAKER_00: But he's a forward slash winger.
5:42
SPEAKER_00: He's 19 years old.
5:43
SPEAKER_00: He played in their preseason a lot this uh these past few weeks, and it sounds like he's gonna get a lot of minutes under Michael Carrick.
5:50
SPEAKER_00: He knows Carrick well.
5:52
SPEAKER_00: Uh, Michael Carrick's son actually played with Lacey in the Manchester United Academy, so it's a homegrown guy.
5:57
SPEAKER_00: I think in this Manchester City or sorry, Manchester United team with Bruno Fernandez and Yuri Tielemans in the midfield, a lot of chances will be created for these forwards and winners.
6:07
SPEAKER_00: And I think he's somebody who I'm not saying he's gonna be player of the season or anything crazy like that, but I think it's gonna be a big step for him as he's as he plays more minutes and and gets more into the first team.
6:19
SPEAKER_00: On a team where Manchester United, again, we'll talk about it later, but could really make some noise, I think.
6:24
SPEAKER_00: So Shea Lacy was my my first player.
6:27
SPEAKER_01: I like that one, Brandon.
6:29
SPEAKER_01: He was on my radar just in terms of I became aware of who he was this preseason and did a little bit of digging.
6:35
SPEAKER_01: I think that's a good shout.
6:36
SPEAKER_01: Anyone who could get minutes at that position at that age in this league, that's impressive enough.
6:41
SPEAKER_01: And I think Lacey has a chance with a striker room and a forward room at Manchester United that's not overly crowded.
6:48
SPEAKER_01: I do think he has a chance to at least implement himself in the squad and make a name for himself this season.
6:55
SPEAKER_01: Even if he's not bagging tons of goals, he might become a little bit of a cult hero for Manchester United fans, and he might become a name that the rest of us Premier League viewers become a little bit more familiar with.
7:05
SPEAKER_00: Exactly.
7:06
SPEAKER_00: And that's what I was going off of.
7:07
SPEAKER_00: Maybe it's an eight goal, four assist season, and Manchester United, they're gonna be in the Champions League, so they're gonna have a lot of fixture.
7:15
SPEAKER_00: So maybe he gets some of the lower level games, some of the Premier League season games if they're prioritizing Champions League, and I think he can really make his place in the team this season.
7:23
SPEAKER_00: I like that.
7:24
SPEAKER_01: I, of course, have more than one name written down, Brandon.
7:26
SPEAKER_01: That's gonna be a common theme.
7:27
SPEAKER_01: You know me.
7:28
SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna throw out a few here, but I have three written down for breakout star.
7:33
SPEAKER_01: I will lump two of them together and get your reaction.
7:36
SPEAKER_01: I have gone with two midfielders who are new to the Premier League, and that is first Sean Stir coming from IAX to Newcastle, and then Caleb Uranke, who is a Ghanaian midfielder who is going to be playing at Coventry City.
7:50
SPEAKER_00: Caleb was my second breakout star.
7:53
SPEAKER_00: So we are on the same page, Sean.
7:55
SPEAKER_01: Let's go.
7:56
SPEAKER_01: I love that.
7:56
SPEAKER_01: That's good stuff.
7:57
SPEAKER_01: This is not pre-orchestrated.
7:59
SPEAKER_01: So these are two guys that I think are in similar boats where they're just trying to make a name for themselves in this league.
8:05
SPEAKER_01: They are not established yet in basically any capacity in England, but in clubs around the world and where they came from, they've really excelled in their age groups.
8:14
SPEAKER_01: Sean Sturr has been a standout his whole youth career at Ajax.
8:18
SPEAKER_01: Caleburenki featured for Gone in the World Cup as just a 19-year-old.
8:22
SPEAKER_01: I believe he just turned 20.
8:23
SPEAKER_01: So those are two guys who are midfielders, they're fun to watch, they're dynamic, they could do a little bit of everything.
8:29
SPEAKER_01: I really like both of them from what I've seen.
8:31
SPEAKER_01: And I think they're in situations where both are going to be relied upon at least a decent amount.
8:37
SPEAKER_01: And I think that's the key.
8:38
SPEAKER_01: Oftentimes young midfielders can kind of get lost in the sauce.
8:40
SPEAKER_01: But with all the turnover at Newcastle and them having a new manager and kind of implementing a youth movement this offseason, I think Sean Stirr has a really good opportunity there.
8:49
SPEAKER_01: And then at Coventry City, I look around their midfield and I think Cale Buranki immediately becomes the most dynamic player in that room.
8:56
SPEAKER_01: So I'm excited for both of them.
8:58
SPEAKER_01: If I had to pick one I'm more excited for, it might just be Cale Buranki because of the fact that I think he could be a real shining light for a Coventry team that doesn't have a ton of others.
9:09
SPEAKER_00: Yep.
9:10
SPEAKER_00: And that was exactly why I had Caleb on my list as well.
9:13
SPEAKER_00: Anytime you're 19, now 20, and you played for your national team at the World Cup, played in all four games for Ghana.
9:19
SPEAKER_00: He also featured as a right back a couple of the games for Ghana, so he's a little bit flexible there.
9:23
SPEAKER_00: He was young player of the season last year in the Danish Superliga.
9:26
SPEAKER_00: So a lot of credentials behind him.
9:30
SPEAKER_00: And exactly like you mentioned, going into a Coventry City side that has a lot of question marks, and they're gonna need leadership, they're gonna need players who can make a difference.
9:39
SPEAKER_00: Uh, that that'll be extremely useful.
9:41
SPEAKER_00: Sean Sturr is someone who I personally am not super familiar with, but a guy that comes through the Ajax Academy, you have to have respect for.
9:47
SPEAKER_00: That's a well, well regarded academy, well regarded setup at IAX.
9:52
SPEAKER_00: And to go to a Newcastle team where, like you said, you you look in the midfield and you're like, hmm, there's there's some space.
9:58
SPEAKER_00: You may play immediately.
10:01
SPEAKER_00: It is is promising.
10:02
SPEAKER_00: So you love to see that for sure.
10:04
SPEAKER_00: And I'm I'm glad we we both had the same same uh in KLU Ranke.
10:09
SPEAKER_00: He I almost put him in my best transfer, but I thought it would be more appropriate to put him in the in the breakout star.
10:15
SPEAKER_00: So I'm I'm glad we're we're on similar wavelengths here, Sean.
10:18
SPEAKER_01: I'm happy we are aligned for sure.
10:20
SPEAKER_01: The last name, Brandon, I'm kind of glad I saved this one because I do think it's a different conversation.
10:25
SPEAKER_01: It's one where this guy has been in the Premier League the last two seasons.
10:28
SPEAKER_01: He's been on two different clubs.
10:29
SPEAKER_01: Both of those clubs have been relegated in those two seasons.
10:31
SPEAKER_01: So he was at Southampton, they were relegated.
10:34
SPEAKER_01: He was at West Ham, they got relegated.
10:36
SPEAKER_01: But it is none other than Tottenham's new midfielder, Mateus Fernandez.
10:39
SPEAKER_01: And you guys may be familiar with his game a little bit.
10:42
SPEAKER_01: I think you're about to become very familiar with his game.
10:46
SPEAKER_01: I think he is an absolute world-class midfielder.
10:49
SPEAKER_01: He can do just about everything.
10:50
SPEAKER_01: He can put in a defensive shift and break up play if that's what you're asking him to do.
10:54
SPEAKER_01: He's very calm on the ball.
10:55
SPEAKER_01: He can receive and turn under pressure.
10:57
SPEAKER_01: He has great passing vision.
10:59
SPEAKER_01: He can hit long passes, can play short passes and make quick runs to free up space.
11:04
SPEAKER_01: He just has, he checks every box for a midfielder, especially a modern one and a progressive one that we have been desperately needing at Tottenham.
11:12
SPEAKER_01: And I think because of the fact that we have not had a guy like him in a long time, I think he's gonna break out and have an absolutely unbelievable season.
11:20
SPEAKER_01: I think he's gonna be Tottenham's player of the season, and I think that would constitute as a breakout on the Premier League level if you're one team's player of the season.
11:27
SPEAKER_00: Absolutely, Sean.
11:29
SPEAKER_00: And I love the excitement you had explaining Fernandez's game because again, a Sean Sean Boyle picking a Sean Boyle type of player, this guy, this guy loves his own kind.
11:39
SPEAKER_00: But no, in all seriousness, Sean, I I agree with you.
11:41
SPEAKER_00: And I I don't know the last player who we really had that could do all the things Fernandez couldn't.
11:48
SPEAKER_00: Maybe uh a Musa Dembele, but Musa Musa's passing range maybe wasn't as strong as Fernandez's, but the dribbling and and keeping the ball, I mean Musa Dembele, that's he's one of one in that category.
12:00
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, a lot of people when they talk about Musa Dembele, current players, former players, they always ask them like who's a guy who you might not come to might not come to mind when you think of the best players you played with or against.
12:12
SPEAKER_01: A lot of them say Musa Dembele, so that's high praise.
12:15
SPEAKER_01: I love that.
12:16
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, he that guy is he is special.
12:18
SPEAKER_00: But but I agree, Sean.
12:19
SPEAKER_00: You Tottenham really struggled the last few seasons.
12:22
SPEAKER_00: We talked about this offline about having uh Joel Paulinha last year, where absolutely fantastic destroyer, fan like breaks up plays, did all the dirty running, made all the dirty plays for Spurs, but when it was time to make that pass, he would pass it to the other midfielder to have them pass the long pass.
12:40
SPEAKER_00: And and it just wouldn't break lines and it wouldn't be progressive or dynamic in any way.
12:45
SPEAKER_00: And and you missed that.
12:47
SPEAKER_00: And with James Madison being out last year, we really did not have it was like defenders and forwards.
12:52
SPEAKER_00: That midfield, it just never got put together.
12:55
SPEAKER_00: And having him, Sandra Tonali coming in, I I think yeah, I think Mateus Fernandez is an incredible signing for Spurs and will be somebody that will will lead him immediately to try to help them, you know, finish better in the the league this year.
13:10
SPEAKER_01: For sure.
13:11
SPEAKER_01: And I think a lot of that does also play into Roberto De Zerbi's management.
13:16
SPEAKER_01: I think because he has such a clear vision of how he wants to play and what he requires of his midfielders, it makes their role a lot easier.
13:23
SPEAKER_01: When there's a manager like Thomas Frank who doesn't really have specific roles for the midfield, he kind of bypasses them in build up.
13:30
SPEAKER_01: It's just a bit helterskelter, go in second balls is kind of his messaging.
13:34
SPEAKER_01: That's difficult for anybody to shine.
13:36
SPEAKER_01: And then when you combine that with a lack of talent in that area for Tottenham, I think that's what led last season to such a poor finish, in addition to many other things.
13:43
SPEAKER_01: But I think this year, one of the reasons I'm so bullish and optimistic is that midfield, it is that pivot.
13:49
SPEAKER_01: And I think Mateus Fernandez is, for my money, the best player in that group.
13:54
SPEAKER_01: So I'm excited about him.
13:56
SPEAKER_01: Along similar lines, Brandon, you mentioned best transfer as another one of these preseason words we're going to give out.
14:01
SPEAKER_01: I'm interested to see what you have to say here.
14:04
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I have what do I have?
14:06
SPEAKER_00: I have three.
14:07
SPEAKER_00: I'll do two, I'll lump two together, kind of like you did.
14:10
SPEAKER_00: Uh, they are James Trafford and Harry Wilson, both going to Leeds.
14:14
SPEAKER_00: James Trafford is the goalkeeper.
14:16
SPEAKER_00: He is England's number two, three goalkeeper, probably will be number one goalkeeper once Jordan Pickford retires.
14:23
SPEAKER_00: Uh Leeds has Dominic Calvert Lewin to lead their attack, but their problems have always, always stemmed from not having a great goalkeeper.
14:32
SPEAKER_00: And honestly, I think a great goalkeeper is one of those positions, Sean, that you don't realize until you have a bad one.
14:37
SPEAKER_00: And you're like, oh wow, we are losing games or dropping points because we don't have a guy that can block the ball.
14:42
SPEAKER_00: And I think he immediately comes in and improves that back line immensely for them.
14:48
SPEAKER_00: So I think he may not be the biggest name and you know, not the biggest transfer fee or whatever, but I think for I think he'll be a huge part of Leeds.
14:56
SPEAKER_00: And then on the same wavelength, Harry Wilson, more of a winger, but he adds quality up top and he was a free transfer for full.
15:03
SPEAKER_00: So I think you talk about best transfer, especially money-wise, um, getting a guy like him who last year had 10 goals and seven assists for Fulham, immediately coming in and playing next to Dominic Calvert Lewin uh for leads.
15:16
SPEAKER_00: I think it's really going to help them uh progress this year and hopefully have a better finish than last season for them.
15:23
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I think I'm pretty high on leads this year, and I think a big reason is kind of those transfers you mentioned.
15:29
SPEAKER_01: I also think Harry Wilson, I like Harry Wilson, he's kind of a fun player to watch.
15:34
SPEAKER_01: He's very streaky, is his thing.
15:36
SPEAKER_01: He can go on a run where he doesn't stop scoring and then he could kind of disappear for a while.
15:41
SPEAKER_01: But when you're talking about a free transfer, a player of that quality doesn't come around on a free too often, and I think that's just a brilliant bit of business.
15:48
SPEAKER_01: So I think that's a good shout by you.
15:49
SPEAKER_01: I have only gone one in this category, Brandon.
15:52
SPEAKER_01: And I kind of wanted to highlight somebody that's a little bit off the beaten path.
15:55
SPEAKER_01: I went, I steered clear of the big six.
15:57
SPEAKER_01: I didn't want to, as you did, like you went to Leeds, but I like that.
16:01
SPEAKER_01: I went to Brentford, and I have gone for their midfielder, Mamadou Sengare.
16:05
SPEAKER_01: He comes from the French League.
16:07
SPEAKER_01: He is an absolute disruptor.
16:10
SPEAKER_01: He was in the top three in all of Europe in regaining possession stats last year.
16:14
SPEAKER_01: He's just a ball-winning midfielder.
16:16
SPEAKER_01: I think that's going to be huge for Brentford in the way they like to play.
16:19
SPEAKER_01: I think he's going to stand out and excel in that role.
16:22
SPEAKER_01: He could also do a bit more.
16:23
SPEAKER_01: He's not just a disruptor, as we kind of mentioned, with the Paulinia type.
16:26
SPEAKER_01: He's a little bit different than that.
16:28
SPEAKER_01: He has a bit more to his game.
16:29
SPEAKER_01: I think it's a perfect signing for a club like Brentford, who typically do a very good job of spending wisely.
16:35
SPEAKER_01: When they bring in a player, it's usually going to work.
16:39
SPEAKER_01: Clubs like them and Bournemouth, you just feel like they have a track record of getting these things right.
16:42
SPEAKER_01: Brighton's another one.
16:44
SPEAKER_01: It's one where they have good systems in place.
16:46
SPEAKER_01: So when you bring in a player and you have a defined role for them, they're going to have a better chance of succeeding.
16:52
SPEAKER_01: Whereas other clubs have more money, but they might not have a clear plan in place.
16:55
SPEAKER_01: And they're just signing talent when they see talent.
16:58
SPEAKER_01: I think clubs that have a very specific structure and ask people to play very specific roles, that's how you see some of this development happen.
17:05
SPEAKER_01: And these guys go for much bigger dollar amounts down the road.
17:09
SPEAKER_01: I think Sangare will be a team or a player next summer that every club in the Premier League is keeping their eye on and saying, why didn't we sign this guy for 30 million?
17:18
SPEAKER_00: Yep.
17:19
SPEAKER_00: And it's funny.
17:20
SPEAKER_00: Again, we did listeners, we did not go over this before.
17:23
SPEAKER_00: Uh he was not on my best transfer list, but when we talk about one of the other topics later, he's a key point in why I think Brentford will do what they do.
17:32
SPEAKER_00: So, Sean, I appreciate that I'm on the same exact wavelength as you.
17:35
SPEAKER_00: My other best transfer, I did go big six for this one, and maybe this is a layup, but uh Yuri T.
17:41
SPEAKER_00: Allemans to Manchester United.
17:42
SPEAKER_00: Uh I seem to be on this Manchester United wave tonight, but I I think it's gonna help Bruno Fernandez so much.
17:49
SPEAKER_00: Bruno Fernandez at the World Cup, we saw he played in that deeper role and he just wasn't nearly as effective.
17:54
SPEAKER_00: Uh, he'll get to play as much more of a traditional 10 in Manchester United system.
17:59
SPEAKER_00: Telemans will be deeper.
18:01
SPEAKER_00: He'll do all the dirty work, and as long as he can stay healthy, I think he can be what Casemiro was to Manchester United, and maybe even a little bit better, because I do think he's a little bit more athletic than Casemiro was, and will only help to free up the Shea Lacy's, the forwards, the Bruno Fernandez's, and and just help the team out.
18:19
SPEAKER_00: So I think for Manchester United to get him, I believe he was about 30 million.
18:23
SPEAKER_00: It's for me, it's like very plug-and-play.
18:26
SPEAKER_00: And and I think he's immediately going to start and have an incredible impact for Manchester United this season.
18:31
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, Manchester United's biggest weakness entering this offseason was their midfield, and they've attacked that with a ferocity.
18:38
SPEAKER_01: They were able to get, as you mentioned, Tielemans over the line due to a 30 million pound release clause, which is an absolute bargain for a player of his quality.
18:45
SPEAKER_01: He can do a bit of everything, but he's so good on the ball, and his passing distribution is unbelievable.
18:50
SPEAKER_01: I think him and Bruno linking in the midfield, that's a scary prospect for teams, especially when they're going to dominate the ball in some games.
18:58
SPEAKER_01: It's hard not to break down a low block with two guys as creative of those as those two.
19:03
SPEAKER_01: I also think they've done good business.
19:05
SPEAKER_01: Andre Santos, they paid a bit of money for him from Chelsea, but he's a young Brazilian midfielder who has a lot to offer in both directions, defending and going forward.
19:15
SPEAKER_01: And then they were able to get over the line Carlos Baleba from Brighton.
19:19
SPEAKER_01: So they've completely revamped that midfield.
19:21
SPEAKER_01: They didn't spend all that much money, all things considered.
19:24
SPEAKER_01: I believe it's probably around 140 million pounds for all three of those players, which of course is a considerable amount.
19:30
SPEAKER_01: It's probably an amount unique to the big six.
19:32
SPEAKER_01: But when you talk about the quality that they brought in for that dollar amount, I think that's really good business by Manchester United.
19:37
SPEAKER_01: And something they had to do as last season they weren't playing in Europe and this season they will be in the Champions League.
19:43
SPEAKER_00: Absolutely, Sean.
19:44
SPEAKER_00: So I do think the new signings, the midfielders, and then just the form they were in at the end of last season.
19:50
SPEAKER_00: I mean, they were playing extremely, extremely well.
19:53
SPEAKER_00: And I know Arsenal ended up winning the league, and Pep leaving Manchester Manchester City was kind of the big topics, but this Manchester United team was a top four team last year, and I feel like they didn't get a lot of a lot of words, a lot, a lot spoken about them.
20:07
SPEAKER_00: And now I feel like they're only better this season.
20:10
SPEAKER_00: So would expect a lot from them.
20:13
SPEAKER_00: And I think Tieleman's coming in is is only gonna boost that even further.
20:18
SPEAKER_01: Let's flip it around now.
20:19
SPEAKER_01: Now we have to ask you the uglier question.
20:22
SPEAKER_01: Who do you think is going to be the biggest flop transfer this year?
20:26
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so Sean, this was an interesting question because theoretically you want to cheer for everybody.
20:32
SPEAKER_00: You think they are all gonna have good seasons and it's all gonna go well.
20:35
SPEAKER_00: So I didn't want to get too crazy with this one, but this one I feel personally that was it wasn't a good transfer.
20:43
SPEAKER_00: Was Andy Robertson coming to Spurs.
20:45
SPEAKER_00: Now, don't get me wrong, Andy Robertson is class, his left foot is cultured.
20:50
SPEAKER_00: At his day in Liverpool, one of the best left backs in the league.
20:53
SPEAKER_00: But I you know, Sean, I love Destiny Udogi.
20:56
SPEAKER_00: And I know Destiny likes to be injured and is you know in in the training room sometimes more than the training pitch.
21:03
SPEAKER_00: But when he's healthy, I love seeing him on the field, and this guy will probably take the majority of his minutes.
21:08
SPEAKER_00: Jed Spence going to inner Milan, probably also part of this because Jed could have potentially played on the left with Pedro Porro on the right.
21:15
SPEAKER_00: Uh, but signing Andy Robinson kind kind of takes that away from those guys.
21:20
SPEAKER_00: So selfishly, I say Andy Robertson, don't worry.
21:24
SPEAKER_00: On Saturday, I will be cheering for him.
21:26
SPEAKER_00: I will hope he has an assist, maybe a goal.
21:29
SPEAKER_00: For sure.
21:29
SPEAKER_00: Anything to help our boys win, but selfishly, I'm upset because Destiny will be on the bench now, most likely.
21:36
SPEAKER_01: Houdini is easier to find than Udogie.
21:39
SPEAKER_01: He he listen, I could not disagree more with this brand.
21:43
SPEAKER_01: I love Destiny Udogie too.
21:45
SPEAKER_01: Huge fan.
21:46
SPEAKER_01: And I think this is going to help his development.
21:48
SPEAKER_01: I think learning from a guy like Andy Robertson, who's just a winner and has an absolute mentality about him, he's the captain of his national team.
21:55
SPEAKER_01: Yes, he's a bit beyond his best prime playing years, but I still think.
22:00
SPEAKER_01: In this role that Deserbi's going to be asking him to play, I think he's going to be fine at just whipping balls in and doing a decent job marking his man on the other side.
22:08
SPEAKER_01: So I'm I'm not going to go too hard on you because I know it's hard to pick a flop.
22:12
SPEAKER_01: So I know you're not exactly saying Andy Robertson stinks.
22:15
SPEAKER_01: No, but I do I was a huge fan of this.
22:17
SPEAKER_01: It's another free transfer.
22:18
SPEAKER_01: And just bringing a guy, a culture guy, into the locker room, even if he didn't play, I would pay whatever we're paying him per week in wages just to have him in the locker room and have a guy like that developing Udogi, talking to some of these guys in this squad that have not won much.
22:34
SPEAKER_01: And this is coming from a guy who's won a lot and has a lot of experience in the biggest games in world football.
22:39
SPEAKER_01: I am very happy to have Andy Robertson in the squad.
22:41
SPEAKER_01: Even if I do think if both things are equal and they're all fit, I do think Udogi is a better player.
22:46
SPEAKER_00: That's fair.
22:47
SPEAKER_00: No, and I I get the leadership point.
22:49
SPEAKER_00: I mean, they do have Ben Davies still, who's just kind of hanging out.
22:53
SPEAKER_00: But who also can play who also can play left back.
22:56
SPEAKER_00: But but no, I I I from a strictly soccer perspective, Sean, absolutely.
23:00
SPEAKER_00: Sign me up.
23:01
SPEAKER_00: It's a great, great move.
23:02
SPEAKER_00: But personally, selfishly, I I love me some destiny, and I and I wish he was gonna be on the field more, but I do understand the the soccer behind it.
23:11
SPEAKER_01: That's that's fair.
23:12
SPEAKER_01: And I've actually I've I've three here, Brandon.
23:14
SPEAKER_01: And I'm not committing to any of them actually being flopped.
23:18
SPEAKER_01: I'm kind of bending the rules.
23:19
SPEAKER_01: I just think you might not get what you paid for.
23:22
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
23:23
SPEAKER_01: And I'm actually going to include a Tottenham guy in this, and it's nothing against I listen, I I call it how I see it.
23:29
SPEAKER_01: I'm as fair and as honest as anybody.
23:32
SPEAKER_01: I do think Sandro Tanale for 100 million pounds is a bit much.
23:37
SPEAKER_01: I I think the production that he's going to need to have over his time at Tottenham is going to need to be at such a high level to pay for that price that we paid for him, that I just don't know if that will happen, especially in year one.
23:52
SPEAKER_01: I think there might have been some better deals around if you shopped the market a little better, if you were a little bit more prudent in your scouting and maybe developing, you don't get to a situation where Sandro Tonale becomes associated with a price tag because of your ineptitude in midfield.
24:07
SPEAKER_01: You have to overspend and get that Premier League quality player through the door.
24:11
SPEAKER_01: It's nothing really against Tonale.
24:12
SPEAKER_01: I think he's a brilliant player.
24:13
SPEAKER_01: He's been so good in preseason, and it's a breath of fresh air seeing him in the midfield.
24:16
SPEAKER_01: It's like, oh my god, that's what a competent midfielder looks like.
24:19
SPEAKER_01: So I think he's gonna be good, I think he's gonna be fine, but I do think Mateus Fernandez is gonna be a little bit better, and we paid less for him, and I just think the price tag associated with Sandra Tonale is the bigger problem I have.
24:30
SPEAKER_01: The similar boat, I'm gonna throw Morgan Rogers in that mix.
24:33
SPEAKER_01: The the record transfer fee for an English player for Morgan Rogers, that just doesn't sit right with me.
24:42
SPEAKER_01: I think Morgan Rogers is great.
24:43
SPEAKER_01: I like him.
24:44
SPEAKER_01: I don't think he's the most valuable Englishman ever.
24:47
SPEAKER_01: So that's and that might have been broken.
24:50
SPEAKER_01: I don't think it was.
24:50
SPEAKER_01: I think Elliott Anderson was just a little bit less.
24:52
SPEAKER_01: I think Morgan Rogers still holds that title.
24:55
SPEAKER_01: But listen here, I think Morgan Rogers could even have a really good year at Chelsea.
24:58
SPEAKER_01: I'm pretty bullish on Chelsea.
24:59
SPEAKER_01: I like Jabby Alonso.
25:01
SPEAKER_01: I think things are going pretty well there.
25:03
SPEAKER_01: I just think Morgan Rogers for that amount of money when you already have a Cole Palmer is a bit crazy.
25:10
SPEAKER_00: That that's fair, Sean.
25:12
SPEAKER_00: Uh I mean Drew Bellingham will break that record whenever he leaves Real Madrid if he ever leaves them, because he's the best midfielder of all time in English football.
25:20
SPEAKER_00: But no, I hear the shout, and and I think it's funny because we're talking about dollars in the the millions, and to these teams it's like pennies.
25:30
SPEAKER_00: But you're right, like the market for a midfielder doesn't need to be over a hundred million for someone like Morgan Rogers.
25:37
SPEAKER_00: I don't know, maybe, maybe not, but that's just where we're at, and that's how the markets change.
25:41
SPEAKER_00: So I guess you kind of have to either you know adapt or you don't get Morgan Rogers.
25:46
SPEAKER_00: So there's some of that, and and Tanali, I think same thing.
25:50
SPEAKER_00: It's like Tanali's people or whoever knew that Spurs needed midfielder, they they have money, they don't spend, so there's money sitting somewhere.
25:59
SPEAKER_00: So they're gonna get every penny they can out of the deal.
26:01
SPEAKER_00: So I I get that part from a business perspective, but you're right, the the transfer fees are become exorbitant, it's it's insane amounts of money.
26:10
SPEAKER_00: So I I hear where you're coming from about flops because Morgan Rogers, especially, like he's gonna play next to Cole Palmer pretty similar to Cole Palmer, playing style-wise, and it's like we paid all that money to get a Cole dupe, basically.
26:26
SPEAKER_00: So yeah, I I I I don't think it's a crazy shout from you.
26:29
SPEAKER_00: I think it's I think it's a fair, fair assessment.
26:31
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and I again I want to make sure we emphasize the point.
26:35
SPEAKER_01: We're labeling this segment as transfer flops.
26:38
SPEAKER_01: I don't think either of these guys are gonna be flops.
26:39
SPEAKER_01: I just think they're not going to live up to maybe that price tag, but that's not their fault.
26:44
SPEAKER_01: So it's kind of a double-edged sword.
26:45
SPEAKER_01: I'm not blaming them for their transfer fee.
26:48
SPEAKER_01: It's just in the club's perspective and maybe the fans' perspective, you might at the end of the season go, oh, it was good, but uh, it's a lot of money we paid.
26:55
SPEAKER_01: If Morgan Rogers ends up with 10 goals and nine assists this season, not a bad year.
27:00
SPEAKER_01: But at the end of the day, you're gonna be like, well, we paid 120 million for those.
27:04
SPEAKER_01: It's like, well, is that good?
27:05
SPEAKER_01: You know what I mean?
27:05
SPEAKER_01: So I think there might be a little bit of that.
27:07
SPEAKER_01: And the last name I want to say, you could go ahead and say flop for me on this one, and that is Alejandro Garnaccio.
27:12
SPEAKER_01: You know, I'm not I'm not a fan of his.
27:15
SPEAKER_01: It's not that I don't see it sometimes.
27:19
SPEAKER_01: I do think if anybody were gonna be able to unlock him, it would be Unay Emery.
27:23
SPEAKER_01: I think he's a brilliant manager, and I'm kind of putting a lot of faith in Unay this year when we talk about Aston Villa.
27:30
SPEAKER_01: There's a lot changing by the day, by the second.
27:32
SPEAKER_01: And I think Garnacho is a risky bit of business.
27:35
SPEAKER_01: I know it's a loan with a believe an obligation to buy.
27:38
SPEAKER_01: I just have never seen it fully quick with Garnacho, and by all accounts, he's not exactly the easiest inside your ranks either.
27:46
SPEAKER_01: He's been kind of exiled from both of his former clubs in the Premier League.
27:49
SPEAKER_01: Both fan bases cannot stand him.
27:52
SPEAKER_01: And that to me is just not a good sign when the fans of teams that you're gonna be competing against can't wait to get rid of the guy.
27:58
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I had a inkling you were gonna bring up Garnacho.
28:02
SPEAKER_00: I I do think Aston Villa kind of covers himself making it alone, so maybe it doesn't work, he can go back, but yeah, it's an interesting one.
28:10
SPEAKER_00: But Unayamory, who knows?
28:12
SPEAKER_00: He's he's known to make some magic happen.
28:15
SPEAKER_00: And it's an interesting team at Aston Villa, um, which we'll I'm sure we'll get to in a little bit, but I I don't love the I don't love the transfer either.
28:23
SPEAKER_00: And and I think, yeah, I think it's a fair fair call to say this could be a flop.
28:27
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
28:28
SPEAKER_01: So let's move on, Brandon, to some team-oriented awards that we're gonna toss out in the preseason here.
28:35
SPEAKER_01: And first up, we're gonna do a surprise package.
28:37
SPEAKER_01: Now, this is kind of open for interpretation.
28:39
SPEAKER_01: You could take it either direction.
28:40
SPEAKER_01: You could take surprise in a good way, you could take surprise in a bad way.
28:43
SPEAKER_01: I've got one of each for you.
28:45
SPEAKER_01: I'll give you my first surprise in a good way.
28:48
SPEAKER_01: And I want to see how you react to it.
28:52
SPEAKER_01: I think I'm very in on Nottingham Forest this season.
28:57
SPEAKER_01: I think Nottingham Forest are going to have a really, really good league campaign.
29:02
SPEAKER_01: I admit that Oliver Glasner combined with Maranakis can absolutely result in a powder keg explosion.
29:12
SPEAKER_01: For sure.
29:14
SPEAKER_01: Glasner's not the easiest guy to get along with to begin with.
29:17
SPEAKER_01: Apparently, he rubs, he just can't stand owners at times.
29:21
SPEAKER_01: He he just wants out.
29:22
SPEAKER_01: We've seen it at Frankfurt, we've seen it at Palace.
29:25
SPEAKER_01: But Maranakis is ambitious, and I think for this one season, we're gonna get the best.
29:31
SPEAKER_01: Now, long term, will he be the manager there in two and a half years?
29:34
SPEAKER_01: No shot.
29:34
SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
29:35
SPEAKER_01: It will flame out at some point, but there's usually a lot of good with Glasner before the bad comes and it blows up in your face.
29:43
SPEAKER_01: And now the uncontrolled variable in this experiment is the Maranakis factor, because he's also a wild card.
29:48
SPEAKER_01: So in science, you like to control as many variables as possible.
29:52
SPEAKER_01: We don't have many controlled variables.
29:53
SPEAKER_01: This is all up.
29:54
SPEAKER_01: This could this could go tits up instantly.
29:56
SPEAKER_01: We're also gonna do first manager fired in a second.
29:59
SPEAKER_01: This could easily be this could easily be Glasner, but I'm choosing to be bullish for this particular season on Nottingham Forest.
30:07
SPEAKER_00: I I like the shout.
30:08
SPEAKER_00: I mean, I love Forest selfishly.
30:11
SPEAKER_00: I will go over it in the rankings.
30:15
SPEAKER_00: I don't think I'm as bullish as you are on Forest.
30:18
SPEAKER_00: Oh, I can guarantee you're not because I'm bullish.
30:20
SPEAKER_00: You're waiting to see where they're at.
30:21
SPEAKER_00: They're high.
30:23
SPEAKER_00: Oh wow.
30:23
SPEAKER_00: No, no, but I I I don't I don't hate it, Sean.
30:26
SPEAKER_00: I don't hate it.
30:27
SPEAKER_00: I think if they can get it all together and get it correct, I love how we're only talking about Maranakis and Oliver Glasnar and not even the players, but but that's literally how much of an impact Maranakis has on the team.
30:38
SPEAKER_00: Like, yeah, how many other teams do we know?
30:40
SPEAKER_00: We went over the preview a couple weeks ago with the breakdown of all 20 teams, and how many of those owners do I remember?
30:46
SPEAKER_00: Probably four.
30:47
SPEAKER_00: But Maranakis is one that we just can't forget.
30:51
SPEAKER_00: He's on the touchline in every game.
30:52
SPEAKER_00: He's he's firing coaches on the pitch after games.
30:56
SPEAKER_00: Like he's always around the team, and I think if he can tame himself a little bit and let Glasnar cook, yeah, I think this could be a great experiment, Sean.
31:04
SPEAKER_00: I worry that he's not gonna let Glasnar cook, and we could be talking November 1st that this is over.
31:10
SPEAKER_00: So yeah, it I I think if it goes well, Sean, absolutely.
31:14
SPEAKER_00: I'm behind you.
31:15
SPEAKER_00: I think it's a I think it's a good shot, but I don't know if it's going to.
31:20
SPEAKER_00: So I'm a little bit of wait and see, which is probably the lazy kind of cop-out answer, but I'm definitely not as high on them as you are.
31:28
SPEAKER_00: Which is okay.
31:29
SPEAKER_00: Which is okay.
31:29
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
31:30
SPEAKER_01: No, yeah, we we each have our own opinions.
31:32
SPEAKER_01: That's what the show is for.
31:34
SPEAKER_01: I do think you made a good point in bringing up Renevin talking about the players on the pitch.
31:38
SPEAKER_01: We're so we have to focus so much on just that owner-coach relationship.
31:42
SPEAKER_01: He went through four different coaches last season.
31:44
SPEAKER_01: No way he goes through four again this year, right?
31:47
SPEAKER_01: Can't happen.
31:48
SPEAKER_01: I will say on the pitch, the thing that makes me the most excited about Forrest is their back three.
31:52
SPEAKER_01: Glasner loves a back three, and they have three center backs that I think are absolutely great, not only on their own, but as a unit.
32:02
SPEAKER_01: We've seen Mario and Malinkovich link up and be a great partnership.
32:05
SPEAKER_01: They're adding Diamante from Sporting Lisbon into that mix.
32:08
SPEAKER_01: I think he's a really good center back as well.
32:10
SPEAKER_01: And I think that three makes up a really strong partnership group that is going to be difficult to break down.
32:16
SPEAKER_01: So that's kind of where the genesis of this thought starts, and then you start looking up further into the pitch and you see some nice pieces that if you get a good manager getting the best out of those guys, I think we could see a good finish.
32:27
SPEAKER_01: So that's kind of where I'm coming from.
32:29
SPEAKER_01: But yeah, the storyline throughout most of the season is going to be unfortunately on the man in the boardroom and Oliver Glasner.
32:36
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, no, that's that's a good one, Sean.
32:39
SPEAKER_00: I have one positive, two negative, so I guess we'll stay on the positive train since you started it.
32:45
SPEAKER_00: My positive team this year, uh, and you hinted on a bit earlier, is Brentford.
32:50
SPEAKER_00: I think with the setup that the league has the way it is, I think they can make a jump and qualify for European football.
32:58
SPEAKER_00: I think we have kind of that top crop of teams, but after that, I think it can go a lot of different ways, and I think Brentford can find themselves right in there.
33:07
SPEAKER_00: They really didn't lose a lot.
33:08
SPEAKER_00: They lost Jordan Henderson's probably the biggest player that they lost, but Sangari from from France for 48 million.
33:16
SPEAKER_00: Jaden Anthony, they got from Burnley, a nice little winger for 17.5 million, and Callum Wilson, they got on West Ham from West Ham on a free.
33:25
SPEAKER_00: I think those guys will all make pretty instant impacts.
33:28
SPEAKER_00: Uh and Keith Andrews, he's a manager that we don't really talk about a lot in the Premier League, but I think he's a good manager.
33:34
SPEAKER_00: He took over for Thomas Frank when Thomas Frank came to Spurs, and he's done well at Brentford.
33:39
SPEAKER_00: Brentford makes good transfers, like you mentioned.
33:41
SPEAKER_00: They do very good business, they're extremely analytics driven, and they were very close to Europe last year.
33:47
SPEAKER_00: I believe it was goal differential that kept them out of Europe.
33:50
SPEAKER_00: And I think this year they'll take that jump and make it into a European spot.
33:54
SPEAKER_01: That's a that's a pretty hefty shout, I think.
33:57
SPEAKER_01: It doesn't look like it when you realize where they finished last season, projecting them to just improve a little bit this season.
34:02
SPEAKER_01: But I think part of getting back to where they were last season is having another great season in terms of Brentford standards.
34:09
SPEAKER_01: Last season was their joint highest finish ever in a Premier League season.
34:13
SPEAKER_01: That was as good as they've ever done.
34:14
SPEAKER_01: So projecting them to go just a little bit further this year is a little bit bold, but I do see where you're coming from.
34:20
SPEAKER_01: I think when I was originally looking at Brentford this offseason, I kind of was thinking the other direction.
34:24
SPEAKER_01: I was kind of thinking, okay, they had that nice first season under the new manager.
34:28
SPEAKER_01: I think it maybe gets a bit stale.
34:30
SPEAKER_01: I didn't love the business they had done at that point.
34:32
SPEAKER_01: Now I'm starting to see some of the signings they're bringing in, and they're just very calculated.
34:37
SPEAKER_01: They're very analytics driven, as we've talked about, and they often don't get signings too terribly wrong.
34:44
SPEAKER_01: So I think you can kind of trust in their activity.
34:46
SPEAKER_01: I think you can trust that Keith Andrews is a bright guy that knows what he's doing.
34:50
SPEAKER_01: And I think set pieces are going to be a key for them, as always, so that's where Keith Andrews' background is.
34:55
SPEAKER_01: And any team that's smart enough to rely on set pieces in a positive way, where it's an added influence to their game and not their sole reliance, I think that's important.
35:05
SPEAKER_01: And I think Brentford do that in a good way.
35:07
SPEAKER_00: Who were you uh hinting at when you mentioned that?
35:10
SPEAKER_00: No team in particular, Brandon.
35:11
SPEAKER_00: Those are your words.
35:12
SPEAKER_00: Those are your words.
35:13
SPEAKER_03: All right.
35:14
SPEAKER_00: Just just wondering.
35:15
SPEAKER_00: Uh Sean, do you want to start us off with the uh negative teams that you have?
35:19
SPEAKER_00: I'm interested to see if we have the same one.
35:22
SPEAKER_01: I've got a team that I'm just lower on than consensus, is what I would say.
35:26
SPEAKER_01: I've listened to some previews, I've seen some things, and I really haven't seen anybody picking Aston Villa to finish outside of those Champions League or at least those top six, seven places.
35:34
SPEAKER_01: And I just don't have Aston Villa in the top seven.
35:37
SPEAKER_01: And it's hard for me to say that because I really do think Unai Emery is amazing.
35:42
SPEAKER_01: If you look at the active managers in the Premier League, I'm not sure how many are better than he is.
35:47
SPEAKER_01: So that's what makes me scared of this prediction.
35:49
SPEAKER_01: But at a certain point, you can't just rip out the entire spine of a team from a season ago and replace them on the fly with good players, but unproven players at this level, at a Champions League level, I should say.
36:02
SPEAKER_01: We've seen good, like Johan Manzambi, we've seen him be really good at the World Cup, Drough, we've seen him be really good at Wolves.
36:09
SPEAKER_01: But it's a different leap going into the Champions League, and that's where Villa are playing this season.
36:13
SPEAKER_01: So between balancing Champions League football, losing the entire spine of your team, it looks like Ollie Watkins might be going to Saudi Arabia.
36:21
SPEAKER_01: It's a done deal that Ezra Khansa is joining Arsenal.
36:23
SPEAKER_01: They've lost Morgan Rogers, they've lost Yuri Tielemans, they had Onana suffer an ACL injury against the United States.
36:30
SPEAKER_01: Their Debu Martinez, their goalkeeper, is being replaced by an upgrade, I think, in Zion Suzuki.
36:37
SPEAKER_01: But that's an entire spine of a team that I just listed off, all gone from last season.
36:41
SPEAKER_01: I think slotting them immediately into that top six just because they've been good under Emery is a bit bold.
36:47
SPEAKER_01: I'm interested to see how they balance the Champions League.
36:50
SPEAKER_01: I don't think they have the squad right now to compete on all fronts, and I don't think they'll do well in just the domestic front as well.
36:56
SPEAKER_00: I'm with you, Sean.
36:58
SPEAKER_00: I don't want to give too much away, but they are not in my top seven either.
37:03
SPEAKER_00: So I I feel the same way.
37:05
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you can't lose that many players in those in such key positions on the field and expect to just roll out the ball and and and repeat what you did last year.
37:15
SPEAKER_00: And we've talked about it time and time again, and I'm sure we'll continue to talk about it on this pod.
37:19
SPEAKER_00: Is that two games a week, Champions League, Europa League, whatever it is, conference league, football, and the domestic league.
37:26
SPEAKER_00: It's not easy to balance.
37:27
SPEAKER_00: We've seen it with the teams we like, we've seen it year in and year out that teams struggle when they have to decide, hey, do we want to focus on A or B?
37:37
SPEAKER_00: And you kind of have to you kind of have to focus on both.
37:40
SPEAKER_00: And and maybe Villa says Champions League, hey, look, thanks.
37:44
SPEAKER_00: We're happy to be here, take a few losses and just bow out and focus on the Premier League, fine.
37:49
SPEAKER_00: But still it's not it's not a walk in the park in the Premier League either.
37:52
SPEAKER_00: So yeah, I like the shout from you, Sean.
37:55
SPEAKER_00: That wasn't one of the two teams I mentioned, but I do I don't disagree with you.
37:59
SPEAKER_00: I I think you're on you're on point with that.
38:01
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and I think it's a situation where we could see just a minor dip in form this year and then a strong bounce back next next year.
38:08
SPEAKER_01: I really like some of the signings they made.
38:09
SPEAKER_01: I think they will bet in well eventually.
38:12
SPEAKER_01: It's just asking a lot for them to all click and fire at a top four level this season.
38:17
SPEAKER_01: I think it's a biting off a bit more than they can chew.
38:19
SPEAKER_00: Yep, yep, absolutely.
38:21
SPEAKER_00: Sean, I have two negative teams I'm negative on this year.
38:25
SPEAKER_00: I will start with Fulham.
38:26
SPEAKER_00: I think Fulham will be in the regular relegation battle uh with some of the newly promoted teams.
38:32
SPEAKER_00: I said, I think they'll struggle under Arbaloa.
38:35
SPEAKER_00: Real Madrid got worse with him last year, and I'm not sure he's the guy.
38:38
SPEAKER_00: You've mentioned it as well on this podcast.
38:40
SPEAKER_00: Uh got Gonzalo Garcia and Shea Charles were their kind of biggest transfers in the offseason, and they'll bring quality, but I don't know if it's enough to even keep them in the Premier League.
38:51
SPEAKER_00: I would not be surprised if Fulham is in the relegation battle at the end of the season.
38:55
SPEAKER_01: I'm not gonna comment too much on this, Brandon, because the next segment I have you're you're hinting on some very, very good notes, in my opinion.
39:04
SPEAKER_00: So I will tie a ball on that in just a second for you.
39:08
SPEAKER_00: No worries, no worries.
39:09
SPEAKER_00: I'll give you another negative team.
39:11
SPEAKER_00: And I'm a positive guy, Sean.
39:12
SPEAKER_00: You know I'm a positive guy, but doesn't seem like it.
39:14
SPEAKER_00: These negative teams are just screaming at me, I have to call them out.
39:17
SPEAKER_00: Is is Sunderland.
39:18
SPEAKER_00: I think they're also gonna be in the relegation battle.
39:20
SPEAKER_00: I said I think they might we'll we'll talk about next segment, but I think they might be worse in Fulham because of the Europa football as well.
39:26
SPEAKER_00: The two games a week, just like we just talked about.
39:29
SPEAKER_00: They'll feel that they can compete somewhat as in the second level of teams in the Europa League, not Champions League where you're playing the top teams in all the other countries.
39:37
SPEAKER_00: But those teams are still good, and I think it's gonna impact their Premier League form if they really try to go after the Europa League.
39:44
SPEAKER_00: They only really brought in Thomas Munier as a right back so far.
39:47
SPEAKER_00: They haven't really done many much else in the transfer window.
39:50
SPEAKER_00: They finished seventh last year, um, but I think they're poised for a big drop.
39:55
SPEAKER_00: And I think it can be an especially big, big drop for them this year.
39:59
SPEAKER_01: I can see where you're coming from on that one for sure.
40:02
SPEAKER_01: I don't agree with that one as much, but I have seen that opinion floated out before, and the points you make are valid.
40:09
SPEAKER_01: With your balancing European football, that is a step that they need to try to maneuver.
40:13
SPEAKER_01: And also just the fact that they haven't really done much with their squad this summer scares me a little bit.
40:17
SPEAKER_01: They basically brought in an entire new team last season in hopes of staying up.
40:21
SPEAKER_01: And while a lot of those guys are young and exciting, and you hope that that familiarity and growth together takes them a step forward this year, you could also see it warp working counteractively and the squad becoming just a bit content and thinking, oh, everything's fine.
40:35
SPEAKER_01: Next thing you know, you pick your head up and you're in a relegation fight.
40:38
SPEAKER_01: And nobody wants to do that as somebody who survived a couple of them.
40:41
SPEAKER_01: No, not at all.
40:43
SPEAKER_01: That's not for that's not for the faint of heart.
40:45
SPEAKER_01: Brandon, we're gonna now talk about first manager fired, who we think that will be first to get the sack.
40:50
SPEAKER_01: And I will be echoing a lot of what you just said about Fulham.
40:54
SPEAKER_01: And my pick for this is Arvaro Arbaloa.
40:58
SPEAKER_01: He comes from Real Madrid where he got sacked last season.
41:00
SPEAKER_01: Real Madrid are still interested in him in the future.
41:03
SPEAKER_01: They they're buying stock on him as a manager for years down the road.
41:07
SPEAKER_01: He is familiar with that group.
41:09
SPEAKER_01: I just don't know that I've seen a ton from him, and maybe that's me being naive, but I think this is a tall ask, and I think the squad is the biggest issue.
41:17
SPEAKER_01: I don't necessarily even think it's him.
41:19
SPEAKER_01: I'm not convinced by their squad at all.
41:22
SPEAKER_01: The biggest signings that they've brought in this season are guys that have come from Real Madrid.
41:26
SPEAKER_01: They're really expecting a lot of things from Palacios in the midfield.
41:29
SPEAKER_01: Okay, exciting young player.
41:31
SPEAKER_01: They're also expecting a lot of things from Gonzalo Garcia up front.
41:35
SPEAKER_01: Exciting player again, but you're asking two Spanish midfielder and striker to come in to a league that they've never played in before and be guys that you really rely on.
41:44
SPEAKER_01: And I'm not so sure that that's wise.
41:46
SPEAKER_01: I don't really love the rest of their squad.
41:48
SPEAKER_01: I think it lacks quite a bit in terms of quality and depth.
41:51
SPEAKER_01: And when you start looking at some of these teams that are going to be in and around the middle of the table, I think it's easy to predict full to be well below those.
42:00
SPEAKER_01: And if you're well below the middle of the table, you're in the relegation fight, especially if one of those relegation or one of those promoted teams gets a hot start, all of a sudden you could pick your head up in November and be like, well, what the hell?
42:10
SPEAKER_01: We're an 18th.
42:11
SPEAKER_01: So I think for those reasons, I could see Arboloa being the first man to get the sack.
42:16
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
42:17
SPEAKER_00: Now, Sean, I think that's a great shot from you.
42:20
SPEAKER_00: I have him as my second manager to get fired.
42:24
SPEAKER_00: I went with Sergei Yakorovich from Hull City.
42:26
SPEAKER_00: I just think Hull City, unfortunately, that might be the easy way out, Sean, but they are going to be in over their heads in this Premier League.
42:34
SPEAKER_00: Uh they essentially barely squeaked out of the championship last year to even get to the Premier League.
42:39
SPEAKER_00: Haven't done a ton in the summer.
42:41
SPEAKER_00: It just doesn't add up well.
42:43
SPEAKER_00: And maybe they're gonna pull a rabbit out of the hat at the last second, Sean, but it doesn't look good.
42:48
SPEAKER_00: And I can see them with an 0-7 start just saying, hey, thank you, but no thank you, and hire somebody, hire one of these guys that just cycles in to save teams and hopefully hopefully they save them.
43:01
SPEAKER_00: And but I I I can't see it going too well for Hull City.
43:04
SPEAKER_01: My notes on this were Arbaloa or whoever the fuck Hull's manager is.
43:09
SPEAKER_01: And that's it.
43:11
SPEAKER_01: So I think we're right on the same page there.
43:13
SPEAKER_01: Yep.
43:14
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
43:14
SPEAKER_01: My exact reason was what you gave.
43:17
SPEAKER_01: It's just one of those things where the squad's not good enough, and unfortunately, the only thing you could do in the middle of the season, you can't change your squad until January, and even then it's tough to really bring in a whole new playing squad.
43:28
SPEAKER_01: You just don't have the money to do so.
43:30
SPEAKER_01: The one thing you could change is the manager, and I think that's maybe what we see from Whole City sooner rather than later.
43:36
SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
43:37
SPEAKER_01: Absolutely, Sean.
43:39
SPEAKER_01: Brandon, now this is where we we let our guard down a little bit, we have a little bit of fun, we have some bold predictions, and I don't know if we could even call them bold.
43:48
SPEAKER_01: We're not trying to get clicks.
43:49
SPEAKER_01: These are based on some thoughts that we have.
43:51
SPEAKER_01: Brandon, you might have a couple bolder ones than me.
43:53
SPEAKER_01: I would say mine are lukewarm at best on a hotness scale.
43:57
SPEAKER_00: I got one that's I would say lukewarm.
44:00
SPEAKER_00: That maybe is a little a little hotter that maybe was uh prefaced a little bit in the last the last section.
44:06
SPEAKER_00: But do you want me to start it off?
44:08
SPEAKER_01: I how many do you have?
44:10
SPEAKER_01: Okay, I will start it off then because I have four.
44:13
SPEAKER_01: So go ahead.
44:14
SPEAKER_01: On the whole city point, we'll just tie a ball on them.
44:16
SPEAKER_01: This was the last prediction I wrote down, but I think whole city will finish with 24 points or less and have a pretty miserable time up here in the Premier League.
44:26
SPEAKER_01: I was doing some digging, Brandon, and the talk of the town is Whole City have the last season they had the second worst underlying numbers in the championship.
44:34
SPEAKER_01: They actually were closer to a relegation team in terms of expected goals and chances created than they were a team that should have been promoted in the championship.
44:42
SPEAKER_01: I don't think that's gonna work out so well in the Premier League.
44:45
SPEAKER_01: I think that's a real cause for concern.
44:47
SPEAKER_01: We talked about when we were doing our player draft, just who's gonna put the ball in the net for them.
44:52
SPEAKER_01: Mentioned maybe Ollie McBurney.
44:53
SPEAKER_01: I took Joe Gelhart.
44:54
SPEAKER_01: Joe Gelhart's not gonna score a damn goal.
44:57
SPEAKER_01: These guys, they're in trouble.
44:59
SPEAKER_01: And now, with all that being said, you should probably take a few bucks and put them on put it on hold to beat Manchester United this weekend because that's that's just how it goes.
45:07
SPEAKER_01: But I think over the course of the season here, whole city are they're in a they brought like a a butter knife to a gunfight, and I don't think it's gonna work out too well.
45:18
SPEAKER_00: No, you called it a bold prediction.
45:20
SPEAKER_00: I think that's just a fair prediction.
45:23
SPEAKER_00: I hinted on it, I guess, a little bit with the first manager fired as well.
45:27
SPEAKER_00: I I just can't see it going well for them, unfortunately.
45:30
SPEAKER_00: And look, prove us wrong.
45:31
SPEAKER_00: Like, hold prove us wrong.
45:33
SPEAKER_00: We'll we'll we'll be the first to admit we're wrong, but there are not many signs leading to them proving us wrong here.
45:41
SPEAKER_01: Love it.
45:41
SPEAKER_01: I I I love that we're on the same page there.
45:44
SPEAKER_01: I want to hear your bold prediction.
45:46
SPEAKER_01: One of yours.
45:47
SPEAKER_00: Alright, I'll I'll do the more mild one first, and you're not gonna think it's that bold at all.
45:52
SPEAKER_00: But I I do think Tottenham qualify for European football next year.
45:55
SPEAKER_00: I I I'm not ready to say top five finish, but I do think top seven and they get to Europa League through that way.
46:03
SPEAKER_00: The quality of the team has just improved so much.
46:07
SPEAKER_00: Barring injury, Sean, there's no way this team can finish less than seventh because we only play one game a week.
46:16
SPEAKER_00: It's not that hard.
46:17
SPEAKER_00: We get hole twice.
46:19
SPEAKER_00: That's six points right there.
46:20
SPEAKER_00: Like, don't say that.
46:23
SPEAKER_00: Better be six points right there.
46:25
SPEAKER_00: But but you know what I mean, Sean?
46:27
SPEAKER_00: Like, everything is pointing in the right direction, and of course, health we can't predict, but the rest of it looks right on point.
46:34
SPEAKER_00: So I I gotta I gotta back the boys.
46:37
SPEAKER_00: I don't know if I'm ready to say Champions League football, but I will say Europa League football next year for Tana.
46:43
SPEAKER_01: Brandon, I've been screaming it from the rooftops.
46:45
SPEAKER_01: I'm happy to have you.
46:46
SPEAKER_01: I'm happy to have you.
46:47
SPEAKER_01: The water's warm.
46:48
SPEAKER_01: Come on in.
46:49
SPEAKER_01: I've been I've been saying this for a month now.
46:51
SPEAKER_01: I think we haven't even had a player, a month and a half.
46:54
SPEAKER_01: We've we did all our business in June.
46:56
SPEAKER_01: I I'm all in on these boys.
46:58
SPEAKER_01: We do need to get some attacking signings over the line, but we're close.
47:01
SPEAKER_01: They're coming.
47:02
SPEAKER_01: I will piggyback off of that, and I have a similar one.
47:05
SPEAKER_01: I have the 16th and 17th place teams from last season, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur, will both finish this season in the top eight.
47:15
SPEAKER_01: So I'm expecting big jumps from both.
47:18
SPEAKER_01: I will echo your sentiments about Tottenham.
47:20
SPEAKER_01: I just think we had a dog shit loser manager in charge last season and a squad with a whole bunch of issues and a whole bunch of injuries.
47:27
SPEAKER_01: This season, I think we've alleviated some of those issues.
47:31
SPEAKER_01: We're still pretty injured.
47:33
SPEAKER_01: We're never healthy.
47:34
SPEAKER_01: We you said we can't predict health.
47:36
SPEAKER_01: We could predict health with Tottenham.
47:37
SPEAKER_01: We won't be healthy, but I still think we're in such a better space now to be able to go and compete.
47:43
SPEAKER_01: I think a top eight finish is the least we could do in this specific prediction.
47:48
SPEAKER_01: I've given us a little bit of wiggle room.
47:50
SPEAKER_01: I made it top eight so that Forrest can sneak in there as well.
47:53
SPEAKER_01: I've just been bullish on both these clubs.
47:54
SPEAKER_01: Both don't have Europe, both have done well in the market, in my opinion, especially Tottenham, and I think we're gonna see really good seasons from them.
48:02
SPEAKER_01: Now, I mentioned the Glasnar effect, that could go could go a couple different directions, but I think for this season it will go well.
48:11
SPEAKER_00: Just a follow-up, Sean, and and you can have some fun with this.
48:14
SPEAKER_00: Do you think Nottingham Forest is the team in the Premier League that has the biggest range of possibilities on where they could finish?
48:21
SPEAKER_00: Like you met you predict them in the top eight.
48:24
SPEAKER_00: I could see them being 16 or 17.
48:27
SPEAKER_00: Like, do you think they have the biggest range out of any team in the Premier League?
48:31
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I would say they're in that group, especially if you see you can see them finishing that low.
48:35
SPEAKER_01: I don't really see the lower end of those outcomes as likely as maybe I would say I actually think like a Bournemouth could be a team that has a wide range of outcomes.
48:45
SPEAKER_01: I like Bournemouth.
48:46
SPEAKER_01: I really like their playing squad.
48:47
SPEAKER_01: I'm not sold on Marco Rosa, and I really love Andoni Areola.
48:51
SPEAKER_01: So when you combine those two things, losing Areola and getting a manager that I'm not super in on, I think they have a pretty wide range of outcomes, and they are navigating European football as well.
49:00
SPEAKER_01: So that's one where I would say maybe they're in that group as well.
49:03
SPEAKER_01: But yeah, Nottingham Forest for sure, there's a lot of split opinions on them too.
49:07
SPEAKER_01: So I'm pretty bullish, but there are people who are thinking they could be in a relegation fight.
49:11
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I don't I I don't I don't I mean we'll go over this in the next section, so I don't want to give away too much.
49:16
SPEAKER_00: I don't think they'll be in a relegation fight, but I think see it with the manager situation going wrong and everything going sideways.
49:23
SPEAKER_00: I could see them really kind of like last year, where they were right right down there with Tottenham uh until until the end, really.
49:29
SPEAKER_00: So no, it's an interesting it's a very interesting shot.
49:33
SPEAKER_00: They're an interesting team, Sean.
49:34
SPEAKER_00: Scott, do you want to do your next one?
49:37
SPEAKER_00: I have one more.
49:38
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
49:38
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
49:39
SPEAKER_01: I will do one and then you go and I'll do my last.
49:42
SPEAKER_01: So my next prediction is that we have three different teams win the three different domestic trophies.
49:48
SPEAKER_01: So not too bold, but I just wanted to highlight the not just the Premier League.
49:53
SPEAKER_01: We're FA Cup fans.
49:54
SPEAKER_01: We're to a lesser extent care about Cup fans, a little bit Mickey Mouse Cup.
49:58
SPEAKER_01: But if if Spurs win, what a trophy.
50:01
SPEAKER_01: I think that we will see three different teams win those three.
50:04
SPEAKER_01: I don't necessarily know why.
50:06
SPEAKER_01: Maybe it's just the fact that I don't really see a dominant team.
50:09
SPEAKER_01: I think, as we've talked about with Arsenal, I think they're the clear favorite, but I don't think they're a dominant side.
50:14
SPEAKER_01: And I think their priority is going to be Champions League this year, and then trying to defend their title.
50:20
SPEAKER_01: So I think maybe they're just making decisions not to pursue those cups as heavily as some of the other trophies they're involved with.
50:27
SPEAKER_01: But I think overall, I think there's just a lot of up in the air nature to this season.
50:32
SPEAKER_01: And I think because of that, we're gonna see maybe a surprise team emerge and win one of those two cup trophies.
50:37
SPEAKER_01: But overall, I do think we'll see three separate.
50:39
SPEAKER_01: I don't think anybody's doing a domestic double.
50:41
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
50:42
SPEAKER_00: I I like that.
50:43
SPEAKER_00: I think that makes it more fun.
50:44
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, the teams at the top are definitely gonna be prioritizing the Champions League football, depending on how they're you know, how the bracket lays out.
50:51
SPEAKER_00: But yeah, I mean, we've seen it with Crystal Palace.
50:54
SPEAKER_00: We we've seen it with some of these other teams who finish mid-table winning FA Cups or Carabael Cups.
50:59
SPEAKER_00: So I really do like that shout, Sean.
51:01
SPEAKER_00: Do you care to throw a prediction on the two cups?
51:05
SPEAKER_01: I have said Tottenham for the FA Cup.
51:07
SPEAKER_01: That is our trophy.
51:08
SPEAKER_01: I I do think this year, I think Tottenham will go hard for those cups because of the fact that they're not in Europe.
51:14
SPEAKER_01: And I think they have the squad to compete, especially if those other squads that are in the Champions League maybe aren't throwing their best resources at them.
51:22
SPEAKER_01: So I think that would be where I look in that one.
51:24
SPEAKER_01: And then in the other one, I think Chelsea, Manchester United, they'll be swimming in those cup waters as well.
51:30
SPEAKER_01: Chelsea don't have European football, they have a deep squad.
51:33
SPEAKER_01: I could see them really pushing for a cup trophy in Jabi Alonso's first season and just getting something on the board and giving something to build on for the next season.
51:42
SPEAKER_01: So maybe those two would be where I look.
51:44
SPEAKER_01: What about you?
51:45
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
51:46
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, no, I I I haven't given much given it much thought, but I could definitely see a United or Chelsea uh definitely going for the for the cups.
51:54
SPEAKER_00: Uh maybe United less so, probably Chelsea a little bit more.
51:58
SPEAKER_00: I wouldn't be surprised to see honestly, like maybe if it all goes right, like a Nottingham Forest going for one of these cups.
52:05
SPEAKER_00: Spurs, of course.
52:07
SPEAKER_00: And then I don't see like the Brentford Brighton Villa crew because of the other cups they're in.
52:13
SPEAKER_00: Um I I can't see that happening.
52:15
SPEAKER_00: Maybe a Newcastle in a on a weird in a weird way if they decide to get it all together.
52:20
SPEAKER_00: But yeah, I think Chelsea, I think Chelsea Spurs, maybe a Manchester United.
52:25
SPEAKER_00: Those could all be where what I would put.
52:27
SPEAKER_00: But outside of Arsenal, of course, I think they'll still also play.
52:30
SPEAKER_00: You know, they're they're gonna have maybe their second team guys or whatever, which could still be in a lot of lower level teams.
52:36
SPEAKER_00: I I would say those are the teams that I would pick for for the Cubs.
52:39
SPEAKER_01: And you know what?
52:40
SPEAKER_01: I'll give a shout out since I'm in a giving mood and I she made my whole entire year, Olivia Dean, West Ham supporter.
52:48
SPEAKER_01: I can I you know what I hope West Ham have a nice little cup run in the champo.
52:51
SPEAKER_01: Uh you know, you know, enjoy your season down there, Olivia.
52:54
SPEAKER_01: I hope you come back up.
52:55
SPEAKER_01: We're gonna miss you up here.
52:56
SPEAKER_00: You know, she'll she'll be back.
52:57
SPEAKER_00: She will absolutely that look, this is not even a bold prediction.
53:01
SPEAKER_00: This is just a fact from from me to you.
53:03
SPEAKER_00: West Ham will be in the Premier League next year.
53:05
SPEAKER_00: There's absolutely no way they don't get promoted.
53:07
SPEAKER_00: I'm sorry.
53:08
SPEAKER_01: Oh, I love that.
53:09
SPEAKER_01: That you're saying it with chests.
53:10
SPEAKER_01: Good.
53:10
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I don't and I don't even like West Ham, obviously.
53:12
SPEAKER_00: But but yeah, they're they have to be back in the Premier League next year.
53:16
SPEAKER_01: No, I know.
53:17
SPEAKER_01: We we don't need them, but they do need us.
53:20
SPEAKER_01: Yes, they're going, they're starving without Tottenham.
53:23
SPEAKER_01: So the fact that they can't play us is just killing them.
53:26
SPEAKER_01: We will see them in a cup run, probably watch.
53:28
SPEAKER_01: Of course.
53:29
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, because they do it geographically too, so yeah, we'll have West Ham for sure.
53:33
SPEAKER_01: But I think that would be a cool story as well.
53:36
SPEAKER_01: It's always awesome when you see lower division teams, and West Ham really don't fit that mold.
53:40
SPEAKER_01: No, but teams that aren't in the Premier League making runs in the cup competitions is always cool, so hopefully we get one of those as well.
53:46
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
53:47
SPEAKER_00: No, that's that's a that's a good shout.
53:49
SPEAKER_00: Shout out to Olivia.
53:50
SPEAKER_00: Brandon, hit me with your last one here.
53:52
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, my last one, and it's gonna sound weird when I say it out loud, but when I break it down, I don't think so.
53:58
SPEAKER_00: I think there's gonna be a team that's playing European football this year that will get relegated.
54:05
SPEAKER_00: Obviously, that process of elimination that eliminates a lot of teams.
54:08
SPEAKER_00: I think it's Sunderland.
54:09
SPEAKER_00: I really think they're gonna struggle.
54:12
SPEAKER_00: I I could see them finishing in 18th.
54:14
SPEAKER_00: So and I know that gives away a little bit of what we're gonna do next after this, but I'll I'll put it out there now, and maybe it's maybe it's extremely bold of me, but I can really see them getting relegated.
54:24
SPEAKER_01: That's interesting.
54:25
SPEAKER_01: I don't think you're too far.
54:27
SPEAKER_01: Like, I could see the line of thinking is what I'll say.
54:29
SPEAKER_01: I don't necessarily agree with it.
54:31
SPEAKER_01: I'm pretty in on Reggie LeBrie as a manager, and I think they've cultivated something there with the group.
54:36
SPEAKER_01: I think the whole might be greater than the sum of its parts with Sunderland, which may be why it doesn't look as good on paper, and the lack of signings might be like, oh, well, that's why.
54:47
SPEAKER_01: I'm choosing to buy into that, but I could also see how it goes the other way.
54:51
SPEAKER_01: So, and then they're at panic stations in January trying to get players over the line.
54:55
SPEAKER_01: So that's interesting, and I do think we can emphasize enough just how much that strain of European football weighs on teams.
55:02
SPEAKER_01: I'm I like that prediction, Brandon.
55:04
SPEAKER_01: It's at least a fun one to monitor.
55:06
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
55:06
SPEAKER_00: And we want to have fun here.
55:08
SPEAKER_00: You're usually the bold one.
55:09
SPEAKER_00: I figured I'd I'd join in.
55:11
SPEAKER_00: But I I do I'm not just saying this to say this, Sean.
55:14
SPEAKER_00: I I do feel it.
55:14
SPEAKER_00: Like I do think this could actually happen.
55:17
SPEAKER_00: And maybe it will, maybe it won't, but I I do think they're really gonna struggle this season.
55:22
SPEAKER_01: Well, I'm gonna say this one, and I'm not just saying it for Theatrics.
55:25
SPEAKER_01: I believe it.
55:26
SPEAKER_01: Enzo Moresco will not be the Manchester City manager by next June.
55:30
SPEAKER_01: I think at best he gets through the season and they replace him immediately after.
55:36
SPEAKER_01: I think at worst this thing turns into a failure pretty quickly, and they see the writing on the wall and replace him as soon as one of those world-class managers becomes available.
55:46
SPEAKER_01: So I'm just not I'm maybe it's overreaction to preseason or his time at Chelsea.
55:52
SPEAKER_01: Something about the guy, he it's like it's it's like he has imposter printed across his forehead for me now.
55:58
SPEAKER_01: I'm just not buying what he's selling.
56:00
SPEAKER_01: I'm not picking up what he's putting down.
56:02
SPEAKER_01: He's on a real, real like show-me contract if if I'm in charge of Manchester City.
56:09
SPEAKER_01: I'm not trusting him as far as I could throw him.
56:11
SPEAKER_01: I don't know how that's gonna end up looking for me because they have the squad talent to potentially win the league.
56:16
SPEAKER_01: I still think their squad is that level of good that it's maybe not as in place as Arsenal's is, but on their best day, they could still easily be the best team in this league.
56:27
SPEAKER_01: I'm just not so sure I trust Moresca to be the guy to get them there.
56:30
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
56:31
SPEAKER_00: It's it's it's still a little bold.
56:33
SPEAKER_00: And I you've never been high on him, Sean, so I I don't necessarily disagree or think you're coming out of left field.
56:40
SPEAKER_00: You've been kind of saying this from the start, yeah.
56:41
SPEAKER_00: But I'm I'm glad you put pen to paper and and finally said it out loud.
56:45
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, like if Manchester City's owners pick their head up in January and they're in sixth place, it's not that bad of a season when you think of all things, but if you really look at it, that's pretty bad for Manchester City and what they've spent.
56:57
SPEAKER_01: That's unacceptable.
56:59
SPEAKER_01: You know what I mean?
56:59
SPEAKER_01: To not be I would say second or third.
57:02
SPEAKER_01: Anything outside of that is kind of oh, that's below our standard.
57:06
SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
57:07
SPEAKER_01: And I just don't think I have them finishing in the top three.
57:10
SPEAKER_01: So I think that's a good segue, Brandon, to our top 20.
57:15
SPEAKER_01: I'll let you start because we already know one of your elegation teams.
57:19
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, a gave away.
57:20
SPEAKER_01: We're starting at the bottom and working our way to the top.
57:23
SPEAKER_01: So we'll discuss each team briefly as we go through them, but we've already talked about these teams a lot.
57:29
SPEAKER_01: So give me your 20th team, start working your way down.
57:33
SPEAKER_01: I cannot wait to hear what you have here.
57:36
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so 20th place.
57:37
SPEAKER_00: I have Hull City, uh, as previously mentioned, just not doing enough in the window, barely making it into the Premier League.
57:45
SPEAKER_00: I think they'll be right back down.
57:46
SPEAKER_00: 19th.
57:47
SPEAKER_00: Ipswich Town, love Ed Sheeran.
57:50
SPEAKER_00: We will be seeing him together in Philly next month.
57:54
SPEAKER_00: But yeah, his tractor boys will be riding their tractors back to the championship.
57:58
SPEAKER_00: I just can't see it.
58:00
SPEAKER_00: It's we talked about it many times on this pod.
58:03
SPEAKER_00: It's so hard to cut to come up and stay up in the Premier League, Sean.
58:07
SPEAKER_00: And the other teams I feel like are just a little bit too strong.
58:10
SPEAKER_00: 18th, Sean Sunderland, the other team going down.
58:13
SPEAKER_00: I have, which would not mean that all three promoted teams are going back down.
58:18
SPEAKER_00: Sunderland would be a different team.
58:20
SPEAKER_00: We just touched on them, which naturally leads to 17th being Coventry.
58:24
SPEAKER_00: I think they'll do just enough to stay up.
58:26
SPEAKER_00: I think it'll be sort of like Spurs battle down to the last day, and we'll see what happens.
58:32
SPEAKER_00: But I I do think Coventry are are gonna do just enough to stay up.
58:39
SPEAKER_00: Maybe that's a little bold.
58:40
SPEAKER_01: I love I like that.
58:41
SPEAKER_01: I'm glad I'm glad you have one of them staying up and one of the existing teams going down.
58:45
SPEAKER_01: I will say that's that's good for the league, I think, when that happens.
58:48
SPEAKER_01: So I don't think that that's a crazy shout, and I I like that you did it.
58:53
SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
58:53
SPEAKER_00: 16th, I have Fulham, which we touched on in the last segment.
58:56
SPEAKER_00: I think they'll be in the battle with Coventry and Sunderland.
58:59
SPEAKER_00: I think they'll pull out and and be okay.
59:02
SPEAKER_00: 15th, I have Everton, just to me, just uninspired, uninspiring team.
59:09
SPEAKER_00: 14th, Crystal Palace, new manager, some signings, but they're always in my I I feel like in our lifetime, Sean, they're always kind of in that 10 to 15 range, and I think they'll stay right there.
59:22
SPEAKER_00: 13th, I have Leeds.
59:23
SPEAKER_00: I'm a little higher on Leeds.
59:25
SPEAKER_00: I mentioned those signings earlier.
59:27
SPEAKER_00: I think I think they'll they won't be in a relegation battle, but I think they'll be a mid-table team.
59:32
SPEAKER_00: 12th, Newcastle.
59:35
SPEAKER_00: A lot of new players, new system, not sure.
59:39
SPEAKER_00: They're very Jekyll and Hyde team, I feel like, and I think they're gonna repeat that.
59:45
SPEAKER_00: 11th, I have Nottingham Forest, so I'm not as high on Nottingham Forest as you are, but I do think you know they'll obviously improve on the 16th from last season.
59:54
SPEAKER_00: Going up five spots doesn't seem like much, but it that is a pretty substantial jump.
59:59
SPEAKER_00: So I do think they will be improved.
1:00:01
SPEAKER_00: 10th, I have the Cherries of Bournemouth.
1:00:04
SPEAKER_00: Ninth, I have Aston Villa just outside of the European spots.
1:00:09
SPEAKER_00: So kind of like you you had mentioned earlier, people putting them automatically kind of in that top four.
1:00:14
SPEAKER_00: I'm not as high on that either.
1:00:16
SPEAKER_00: Eighth, I have Brighton, seventh, I have Brentford, sixth, I have yeah, sixth, I have Tottenham, fifth, Chelsea, fourth, Manchester City, and I have them low, that low because of the manager situation and the question marks that come come along with that, but at the same time, there's so much quality in that squad.
1:00:39
SPEAKER_00: I can't see them finishing lower than fourth.
1:00:41
SPEAKER_00: I have Liverpool finishing third.
1:00:43
SPEAKER_00: I I think Alexander Isak was gonna have a true.
1:00:47
SPEAKER_00: I don't want to call it breakout season because he's already broken out, but I think he's gonna have a true, true quality campaign.
1:00:53
SPEAKER_00: Second, I have Manchester United.
1:00:55
SPEAKER_00: I I'm high on these guys.
1:00:57
SPEAKER_00: I preface it with the new signings and the breakout stars.
1:01:00
SPEAKER_00: And then first, unfortunately, Arsenal, and I don't think it's gonna be that close, Sean.
1:01:05
SPEAKER_00: Brandon Weldon.
1:01:07
SPEAKER_01: Honestly, I you give good reasons for your listing.
1:01:10
SPEAKER_01: I agree with a lot of it.
1:01:11
SPEAKER_01: I think generally we're in the same kind of area, we're fishing in the same pond.
1:01:15
SPEAKER_01: Some slight tweaks, which I'll get to in just a second, but overall, I do I do think the way you're seeing the board is is pretty clear, and I don't think you're too far off base.
1:01:25
SPEAKER_00: Okay, okay, thank you.
1:01:26
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it was I went back and forth with a few teams, but it was mainly kind of the 7 to 11 range.
1:01:34
SPEAKER_00: I played with those teams a lot, but settled.
1:01:36
SPEAKER_00: I I think Brentford under Keith Andrews, I think they sneak into I guess seventh would s probably be Europa, depending on how depends on how it shapes out.
1:01:47
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
1:01:47
SPEAKER_00: And then I had Villa just outside of that European spot.
1:01:52
SPEAKER_01: I love it.
1:01:52
SPEAKER_01: I have the Premier League finishing as follows 20th place, whole city.
1:01:57
SPEAKER_01: We've beaten that horse, the horse is dead.
1:01:59
SPEAKER_01: 19th, Ipswich Town.
1:02:02
SPEAKER_01: Unfortunately for the Tractor Boys, I just don't think they have enough.
1:02:05
SPEAKER_01: They're trying to do the Sunderland where they just sign a whole new squad.
1:02:09
SPEAKER_01: I just don't think it'll work as well for them as it did for Sunderland a year ago.
1:02:13
SPEAKER_01: 18th, I do have Coventry City, which means unfortunately I have gone for the three up, three down.
1:02:18
SPEAKER_01: I hate doing it, but I just think that this year I don't see any of those clubs that are those perennial mid-table, lower table teams.
1:02:29
SPEAKER_01: I don't think see them being weak enough to actually get relegated.
1:02:32
SPEAKER_01: I can see a couple scares, but I don't see one actually going down.
1:02:35
SPEAKER_01: The team I have 17th, Brandon, along similar lines with you, I have Fulham 17th.
1:02:40
SPEAKER_01: I'm very low on this Fulham squad as a whole.
1:02:43
SPEAKER_01: I think they'll be in a little bit of a pickle and a little bit of a fight, but they will survive.
1:02:47
SPEAKER_01: 16th place, I've gone for Crystal Palace.
1:02:50
SPEAKER_01: I think the new manager's fine, but it's not super inspiring.
1:02:54
SPEAKER_01: And honestly, this was one for me that I just had a really hard time placing.
1:02:57
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
1:02:58
SPEAKER_01: I wanted to go a little bit higher because I like some of the business they've done, but more from a long-term perspective.
1:03:02
SPEAKER_01: But we have to keep in mind they're actually balancing European football as well.
1:03:05
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
1:03:06
SPEAKER_01: That's gonna make it difficult for Crystal Palace, in my opinion.
1:03:10
SPEAKER_01: 15th, I've gone Sunderland.
1:03:12
SPEAKER_01: So I don't have them in the relegation zone like you do, but I do think they will have a worse season than last year.
1:03:18
SPEAKER_01: I just think that the Stadium of Light going there, it's gonna be tough for them to lose some of those games with that atmosphere in those fans.
1:03:26
SPEAKER_01: I think that stadium will keep them up, if anything.
1:03:28
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
1:03:29
SPEAKER_01: In 14th, I've gone for Bournemouth.
1:03:32
SPEAKER_01: Another team I had a difficult time with, just not knowing where to go with them.
1:03:36
SPEAKER_01: I am not the biggest Marco Rosa fan, is ultimately what it came down to, leading me to put them in 14th.
1:03:41
SPEAKER_01: 13th, I've gone for Brentford.
1:03:43
SPEAKER_01: I know you're bullish on them, and I've talked myself into them a little bit.
1:03:48
SPEAKER_01: And this is one where I think this group of teams between I would say 14th with Bournemouth and 8th, I could really see going a number of different directions.
1:03:58
SPEAKER_01: I just think they're all kind of in a similar bucket.
1:04:01
SPEAKER_01: And unfortunately, the way I did it for this time, I have Brentford finishing 13th, but I can see them with the room to grow up to maybe eighth, seventh, or eighth place.
1:04:08
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, uh, Sean, it I think I said when I was describing to you maybe seven to eleven being the toughest, but yeah, it's that seven to fourteen, seven to eight to fifteen range where it's like you catch a team on the wrong day, you lose three points, and then those three points are the three points that dropped you to 13th when you could have been 10th.
1:04:28
SPEAKER_00: I do think that will be really, really tight.
1:04:31
SPEAKER_00: So you know, I have no problem with with how you're ranking because yeah, it's gonna be messy in there.
1:04:37
SPEAKER_01: And that's ultimately what the middle of the table is.
1:04:39
SPEAKER_01: It's two, three, four games throughout the course of a season that determine those places, and injuries and all different sorts of variables can factor into it.
1:04:47
SPEAKER_01: So it's very hard to predict.
1:04:49
SPEAKER_01: I'd rather I think there's a better chance we win the lottery than get all 20.
1:04:52
SPEAKER_01: So boy would I prefer to get the lottery than to some for some reason get these teams in order.
1:04:57
SPEAKER_01: In 12th, I have Newcastle.
1:05:00
SPEAKER_01: I kind of agree with what you were saying.
1:05:02
SPEAKER_01: Just a lot going on.
1:05:03
SPEAKER_01: I kind of just want to take a minute and chill and see what we have with Newcastle before I really rush to judgment in either direction.
1:05:10
SPEAKER_01: But Matthias Yassel, interesting manager hired to say the least.
1:05:14
SPEAKER_01: We'll see what he does.
1:05:15
SPEAKER_01: I just am not super, super into their squad at the moment.
1:05:19
SPEAKER_01: I just think they're one for the future.
1:05:20
SPEAKER_01: I think they're a year away from being really good and pushing for those European places.
1:05:24
SPEAKER_03: Okay.
1:05:24
SPEAKER_01: In 11th, I've gone for Everton.
1:05:26
SPEAKER_01: They're so boring, but David Moyes just does this.
1:05:29
SPEAKER_01: He just stays in the league, finishes mid-table, rinse, repeat.
1:05:34
SPEAKER_01: So I've gone for that again.
1:05:35
SPEAKER_01: Hopefully Brendan Johnson scores a few.
1:05:38
SPEAKER_01: In 10th, I've gone for Leeds.
1:05:39
SPEAKER_01: I'm pretty in on leads this year.
1:05:41
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
1:05:41
SPEAKER_01: I I I like their squad.
1:05:42
SPEAKER_01: I like the signings that they've brought in so far.
1:05:45
SPEAKER_01: I think they're one body short in attack.
1:05:48
SPEAKER_01: I'd like to see them get either a creative player in or a goal scorer, aside from Dominic Calvert Lewin.
1:05:52
SPEAKER_01: For me to really love them finishing in the top half.
1:05:55
SPEAKER_01: But overall, I think their business so far has been pretty solid.
1:05:59
SPEAKER_01: In nine I've gone for Brighton.
1:06:01
SPEAKER_01: Just kind of managing European football and the fact that Brighton always finished seemingly between sixth and eleventh.
1:06:08
SPEAKER_01: I just had to pick up a lot in the middle for them, so I've gone for ninth.
1:06:11
SPEAKER_01: Eighth place I have Aston Villa.
1:06:13
SPEAKER_01: This is a pretty big drop.
1:06:14
SPEAKER_01: We're similar in how we view Aston Villa this season.
1:06:18
SPEAKER_01: I have them in eighth, one spot below Nottingham Forest, who I have finishing seventh place and getting some European football, which would be cool to see if we get European Knights back at Forest.
1:06:29
SPEAKER_01: That'd be nice.
1:06:30
SPEAKER_01: I'm just in on this squad for this season.
1:06:33
SPEAKER_01: I do think Glasner's brilliant until he's not and it blows up in everyone's face.
1:06:37
SPEAKER_01: I just don't think that blow up date is going to happen in 2026, 2027.
1:06:42
SPEAKER_01: I think it'll happen maybe before next season begins or really soon after next season starts, but I think we get through this one just fine.
1:06:48
SPEAKER_00: So we get one one calendar year, and this time when we're recording it next year, you're gonna be like, oh, the new Forest Manager, so and so.
1:06:56
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's like Glasner had a brilliant season, and then it's July, and no signings are through the door, and Glasner's just pounding his fist on the table saying, Well, this seventh, what are you doing?
1:07:05
SPEAKER_01: And then by September he's gone.
1:07:07
SPEAKER_01: Because Marnakis didn't like that.
1:07:09
SPEAKER_01: Fair enough.
1:07:09
SPEAKER_01: That's what I have for Forest.
1:07:11
SPEAKER_01: In sixth place, this one team we're a little bit different on.
1:07:13
SPEAKER_01: This is one we have to break down at the end of this, and that's Manchester United.
1:07:16
SPEAKER_01: I've gotten them sixth.
1:07:18
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
1:07:18
SPEAKER_01: I like their squad, and I think they're better than last season.
1:07:22
SPEAKER_01: I just think having to play Champions League football and the honeymoon phase being over for Michael Carrick are two things that make me a little bit weary of where they're actually going to end up.
1:07:32
SPEAKER_01: I don't think sixth is bad by any means.
1:07:34
SPEAKER_01: It's gonna be Europa League.
1:07:36
SPEAKER_01: It's a good finish.
1:07:37
SPEAKER_01: I think they'll be fighting closer to those top five places than the six or the seven through twelve range.
1:07:43
SPEAKER_01: I think there's a pretty pretty clear gap, in my opinion.
1:07:46
SPEAKER_01: Unfortunately, it is the big six that I have finishing in the top six.
1:07:49
SPEAKER_01: But I do think four, I do think United have a good season overall.
1:07:54
SPEAKER_01: I think they compete.
1:07:55
SPEAKER_01: I think maybe they win a cup, maybe they make a little bit of noise in the Champions League, but ultimately in the league, in the Premier League, I think they come up just a little bit short of expectation.
1:08:04
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
1:08:04
SPEAKER_00: No, I I think it's a fair shot.
1:08:06
SPEAKER_00: I I think the new the Champions League format with it being this kind of I don't even know how you want to describe it, but it's almost like a season where you're playing, I think it's eight games and it's based on how you finish in the eight games, you can kind of game the system a little bit towards the end when you're like, hey, we're probably already in the knockouts, we don't need to play as hard.
1:08:24
SPEAKER_00: And I could see Manchester United, especially with the name and the brand attached to that badge, you can't really mail it in for the Champions League.
1:08:32
SPEAKER_00: And I'm not saying teams would mail it in for the Champions League, Sean, because it's the biggest competition they can win.
1:08:37
unknown: Yeah.
1:08:37
SPEAKER_00: But there are some teams in the Champions League that will that we can say today will not win the Champions League.
1:08:42
SPEAKER_00: So you have to be in that weird space where it's like, yeah, we want to put our best foot forward, but at the same time, finishing top four and and maybe getting the the checks and the money to revamp our squad for next year's Champions League run means more.
1:08:57
SPEAKER_00: So it's like you have to you have to balance and choose.
1:09:00
SPEAKER_00: And Manchester United, I can see them publicly.
1:09:03
SPEAKER_00: Of course, they're gonna be like, we're going for the Champions League, we're going for the Champions League.
1:09:05
SPEAKER_00: But I do think they will get to a point where they hit hit a wall in the Champions League and then focus domestic, and I think that will really help their domestic form, and that's why I had them as high as I did.
1:09:16
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, because I do like the Manchester United starting 11.
1:09:20
SPEAKER_01: It's just the rest of the squad, I don't think they're deep enough, really.
1:09:23
SPEAKER_01: And that's my concern with them.
1:09:25
SPEAKER_01: And also it's like, oh, Marcus Rasher just came back and everything's hunky dory.
1:09:28
SPEAKER_01: Like he's everything's fine, he's just gonna be a key player for them again.
1:09:32
SPEAKER_01: That's one that's an interesting one, too.
1:09:34
SPEAKER_01: Yep.
1:09:34
SPEAKER_01: And I do think he should be because he's arguably one of their best players.
1:09:37
SPEAKER_01: So it's a weird one.
1:09:38
SPEAKER_01: I'm just not all in.
1:09:40
SPEAKER_01: And also, I like I said, with the honeymoon phase of Michael Carrick, I'm weary of the interims who get the permanent job.
1:09:46
SPEAKER_01: It starts off well for a lot of interims, and then all of a sudden it changes.
1:09:51
SPEAKER_01: So we'll see with that.
1:09:52
SPEAKER_01: In fifth place, another little bit of an upset.
1:09:55
SPEAKER_01: I've gone for Manchester City in fifth.
1:09:57
SPEAKER_01: Ooh, okay.
1:09:58
SPEAKER_01: Meaning Tottenham Hotspur finished top four.
1:10:01
SPEAKER_01: Fourth place Tottenham.
1:10:02
SPEAKER_01: Champions League knights back in North London, of course.
1:10:05
SPEAKER_01: You love to see it.
1:10:06
SPEAKER_00: The best.
1:10:08
SPEAKER_01: And then in third, I have gone for Chelsea.
1:10:11
SPEAKER_01: I think Jabby Alonso is really good as a manager.
1:10:14
SPEAKER_01: That's basically why I have them third.
1:10:16
SPEAKER_01: It's a combination of me trusting him, and then also the fact that they have so many options that if you give a good coach that many options, I think he'll get it right.
1:10:25
SPEAKER_01: And they're only playing one game a week.
1:10:27
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that's in a weird way, Sean.
1:10:30
SPEAKER_00: I think that might mess with them a bit.
1:10:32
SPEAKER_00: Because you're gonna deal with players being like, well, F this, like, I'm not playing week in, week out.
1:10:38
SPEAKER_00: They only have one, you only have 90 minutes to split up each week, versus you throw them in a Europa League or a conference league, and you're like, hey, go play on Wednesday in you know, Switzerland against so such and such, FC Basil or or Youngboys or whoever in in Switzerland.
1:10:52
SPEAKER_00: But yeah, 90 minutes a week is tough when you have that many names, and I can see it being a little bit contentious in that locker room.
1:11:01
SPEAKER_00: So that's why I had them at fifth.
1:11:03
SPEAKER_00: Still a great finish, in my opinion, but I I do worry that they're a team where not having the extra game actually hurts them.
1:11:12
SPEAKER_01: That is the always what could happen.
1:11:14
SPEAKER_01: That's the that's the flip side blessing to have a deep squad, but then when you're not utilizing that squad, those players become angry.
1:11:21
SPEAKER_01: I just think hopefully it's the bench players that become angry, and yeah, you know, the the good ones don't care as much.
1:11:26
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, keep keep called Palmer happy, you'll be all right.
1:11:29
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
1:11:30
SPEAKER_01: In second place, I've gone for Liverpool, and that's largely due to, I think at a certain point this season, they'll click and we'll really start to see a good version of Liverpool.
1:11:39
SPEAKER_01: I'm buying stock in Liverpool in the future.
1:11:42
SPEAKER_01: I think ultimately, because of the fact that their team's not settled yet, I think you hate to say the title could be over before it begins, but because of the fact that Arsenal seems so settled, it seems likely that they'll start the year strong.
1:11:55
SPEAKER_01: And Liverpool might have some growing paints under the new manager with a lot of signings coming in.
1:12:01
SPEAKER_01: I love Ireola.
1:12:02
SPEAKER_01: I think it'll work eventually for them.
1:12:04
SPEAKER_01: And I think the back half of the season, they might actually be the best team in the league.
1:12:07
SPEAKER_01: I think there just might be a gap that is too big to overcome for them for this particular season.
1:12:12
SPEAKER_01: Give me the Liverpool stock in the future, just for this year.
1:12:16
SPEAKER_01: Unfortunately, I don't need to say it.
1:12:18
SPEAKER_01: Everybody knows who I have first.
1:12:19
SPEAKER_01: I don't need to repeat it on air, but I do think that's the most likely way this league goes.
1:12:24
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
1:12:25
SPEAKER_00: I I mean, Sean, a few teams I think we had different, but for the most part, yeah.
1:12:30
SPEAKER_00: And in it's it sucks that the league is looking like how it's gonna look on paper with Arsenal just kind of walking to the title, barring anything you know crazy happening.
1:12:43
SPEAKER_00: Of course we can't predict injuries and things like that, but you had you had Liverpool, I had United.
1:12:50
SPEAKER_00: I think they give them a fighting chance, but I I don't think it's gonna be that those traditional when as we were growing up, those one and two teams, and you're like, who's it gonna be?
1:13:01
SPEAKER_00: One week you're on top, next week the other team's on top.
1:13:03
SPEAKER_00: And I I can't see it being that way this year.
1:13:06
SPEAKER_01: On the flip side, it's a perfectly, perfectly good opportunity for Arsenal to squander and bottle a championship.
1:13:12
SPEAKER_00: It'd be fantastic.
1:13:13
SPEAKER_01: Oh, it's primed for that.
1:13:15
SPEAKER_01: So please, script writers, give us that.
1:13:17
SPEAKER_00: And imagine and imagine it's Spurs, Sean.
1:13:20
SPEAKER_01: Oh don't let uh don't don't let us be top of the table at Christmas.
1:13:25
SPEAKER_01: Don't don't let it happen.
1:13:26
SPEAKER_01: Tell you that for free.
1:13:27
SPEAKER_01: I'll tell you that for free.
1:13:28
SPEAKER_01: I'll be there on boxing day to see, I'll be there on boxing day to see to it.
1:13:32
SPEAKER_01: I I think that that's a that's a preview, Brandon.
1:13:35
SPEAKER_01: I think that sticks a fork in our preview.
1:13:37
SPEAKER_01: We are done.
1:13:39
SPEAKER_01: I love what we did today.
1:13:40
SPEAKER_01: I think we're thinking about things in a different but slightly similar way.
1:13:45
SPEAKER_01: So I think that's good.
1:13:46
SPEAKER_01: It's comforting to have somebody thinking along the same lines as you.
1:13:49
SPEAKER_01: For the listeners' context for their knowledge moving forward, how we're going to structure the show will be we plan to have a reaction kind of breakdown episode out for you every Monday morning.
1:14:01
SPEAKER_01: So Brandon and I will get together on Sunday nights, we'll recap all of the action in the Premier League and beyond to date.
1:14:08
SPEAKER_01: And then sometime in the middle of the following week, we will give you a storyline, a preview episode where we kind of talk about things happening around the game in Europe in the Premier League.
1:14:20
SPEAKER_01: We'll touch on some key points, some news that comes about, and then we'll give you some games to watch each weekend, some things that we're keeping an eye on.
1:14:28
SPEAKER_01: In that way, there's a nice flow of things.
1:14:30
SPEAKER_01: So you'll expect two episodes a week, one more of a recap, one more of a preview of what's ahead.
1:14:34
SPEAKER_00: Does that sound pretty good?
1:14:36
SPEAKER_00: Sounds great to me, Sean.
1:14:37
SPEAKER_00: It's gonna be fun to break all these games down and look ahead because it it's it's I know I get excited about this, and I can't really put it into words, but like this is this is it.
1:14:49
SPEAKER_00: And with no playoffs in the Premier League, the 38 games are the 38 games, and the team at the top at the end is the winner, and I think that little niche compared to American sports makes it that much bigger every week because you slip up one week and lose to whole city, those might be the three points you needed to win the title.
1:15:08
SPEAKER_00: So every game really matters, whereas we talked about we talked about the MLS on this show.
1:15:13
SPEAKER_00: I mean, as long as you're in the top 75% of the league, you make the playoffs, which is absurd.
1:15:18
SPEAKER_00: It's not like that in you know American sports in other American sports here.
1:15:22
SPEAKER_00: So it's it's a great league, and every game truly matters starting this weekend.
1:15:28
SPEAKER_00: So we're we're getting after it right away.
1:15:30
SPEAKER_01: I cannot wait.
1:15:31
SPEAKER_01: So I'm excited about that.
1:15:33
SPEAKER_01: All the other leagues are kicking off soon if they have not kicked off already.
1:15:36
SPEAKER_01: Siri A starts this weekend while Liga is underway.
1:15:39
SPEAKER_01: The Bundesliga starts next weekend, but they have the DFB Pokal kicking off this weekend.
1:15:44
SPEAKER_01: So action across Europe is coming hot and heavy.
1:15:47
SPEAKER_01: Brandon, as we head out, we're not gonna do a week one preview, match week one, because we just gave you an hour plus of all of the preview content we have in us.
1:15:58
SPEAKER_01: But we will each give you a game that we are keeping an eye on outside of our Tottenham Hotspur this weekend.
1:16:02
SPEAKER_01: Brandon, who do you have for me?
1:16:04
SPEAKER_01: What game are you most looking forward to?
1:16:05
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, Sean.
1:16:06
SPEAKER_00: So I have uh Brighton, Aston Villa on Sunday, 9 a.m.
1:16:11
SPEAKER_00: That game for me, in my prediction, my table, that was eighth against ninth.
1:16:16
SPEAKER_00: So I think two teams that are both gonna be fighting for European spots.
1:16:21
SPEAKER_00: Uh I I think it's gonna be action-packed.
1:16:24
SPEAKER_00: Both teams will get after it.
1:16:25
SPEAKER_00: I think there'll be some goals in this game.
1:16:27
SPEAKER_00: Of course, I'm saying that it's gonna end 0-0, which is fine.
1:16:30
SPEAKER_00: But I do I think it'll be a good game and definitely one of the one of the games that don't include uh you know a top six team that I that will be interesting and and I'll have my eyes on for sure.
1:16:42
SPEAKER_01: I've also gone for a Sunday game.
1:16:44
SPEAKER_01: I've gone for the 11.30 Sunday morning, Newcastle hosting Liverpool, the Alexander Isak Darby.
1:16:50
SPEAKER_01: I think this one is guaranteed for some goals.
1:16:52
SPEAKER_01: I hate to stick my neck out there early, but I do see some goals in this one, which makes it fun to watch.
1:16:57
SPEAKER_01: I think this one will be exciting.
1:16:59
SPEAKER_01: I'm not high on Newcastle, but I think the fact that they're pretty unpredictable at the start of the season makes this one fun.
1:17:04
SPEAKER_01: Especially when you lump in the fact that Liverpool are also pretty unpredictable.
1:17:06
SPEAKER_01: We don't know what we're gonna get with them.
1:17:08
SPEAKER_01: Two new managers, two revamped squads going at it.
1:17:11
SPEAKER_01: I'm excited for that one.
1:17:13
SPEAKER_01: I'm excited for all of these, to be quite honest.
1:17:15
SPEAKER_01: I also would point to listeners Saturday morning, if you're not doing anything, 7:30 a.m., whole city back in the Premier League, first time in forever, hosting the Giants, Manchester United.
1:17:24
SPEAKER_01: That's just cool stuff.
1:17:25
SPEAKER_01: You're gonna see an absolutely raucous crowd amped up for their first game back in the Prem.
1:17:31
SPEAKER_01: Will they be able to get something off of Brandon's United?
1:17:33
SPEAKER_01: I don't know, but it'll be fun to see anyway.
1:17:36
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, Sean, it it'll be great.
1:17:38
SPEAKER_00: Those opening fixtures, especially for the promoted teams, uh, if they're at home.
1:17:44
SPEAKER_00: I know I don't know if Ipswich and Coventry are at home or not, but those first few games when you get your first walkout and you're in the Premier League now.
1:17:53
SPEAKER_00: It's not the championship.
1:17:54
SPEAKER_00: The the the music's different when you come out.
1:17:56
SPEAKER_00: The it just means a little bit more.
1:17:59
SPEAKER_00: You look across the the field and you see guys that are in the world that played in the World Cup this summer at high, high-level teams.
1:18:06
SPEAKER_00: And it's just different than the championship.
1:18:08
SPEAKER_00: There's nothing against the championship, it's a great league, great preparation for this, but you you can't replicate that in a training session or anything like that.
1:18:16
SPEAKER_00: So it'll be eye-opening for some of these teams.
1:18:19
SPEAKER_00: Ipswich was here not too long ago, so they may have some familiarity around it.
1:18:24
SPEAKER_00: But Hull, I mean, that's a that's like a childhood team.
1:18:27
SPEAKER_00: When we were kids, like Hull was in the Premier League.
1:18:29
SPEAKER_00: And Coventry, same thing.
1:18:31
SPEAKER_00: Like they have not been up for a while either.
1:18:33
SPEAKER_00: So it'll be it'll be it'll be fun to get the the league started with these guys.
1:18:37
SPEAKER_00: For sure.
1:18:38
SPEAKER_01: I'm I'm very much looking forward to it.
1:18:41
SPEAKER_01: I think this is a perfect time of year for those fans from the World Cup that we gained to give the Premier League a watch.
1:18:48
SPEAKER_01: We've got a couple weeks before football is underway.
1:18:50
SPEAKER_01: Start your weekend with some Premier League action.
1:18:53
SPEAKER_01: Tune in to us on Monday mornings to recap it all.
1:18:56
SPEAKER_01: Brandon, thank you very much for your work today.
1:18:58
SPEAKER_01: I think this was a job well done.
1:18:59
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, same to you, Sean.
1:19:01
SPEAKER_00: Always love getting together, talking the beautiful game.
1:19:04
SPEAKER_00: And yeah, it's match days tomorrow.
1:19:06
SPEAKER_00: First game's tomorrow.
1:19:07
SPEAKER_00: So I'm ready to go.
1:19:10
SPEAKER_00: I am as well.
1:19:10
SPEAKER_01: I cannot wait.
1:19:11
SPEAKER_01: Listeners, thank you all for tuning in.
1:19:14
SPEAKER_01: Feel free, you know, just on your way out, just toss us a five stars and maybe a comment like, hey, half decent even.
1:19:21
SPEAKER_01: You don't have to say good.
1:19:22
SPEAKER_01: Give us a half decent comment, you know.
1:19:24
SPEAKER_01: We would appreciate it.
1:19:25
SPEAKER_01: It all helps in those algorithms, as the kids say.
1:19:27
SPEAKER_01: So thank you all for tuning in, and until next time, take care.