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- [00:01]
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- [01:01]
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- [01:53]
Matt Davis Adams
The Athletic FC welcome to the preview from the Athletic fc. It's the show get you up to speed with the festive Premier League action past and future. This week we're rounding up and looking ahead to Arsenal versus Aston Villa. And joining me today we've got two preview heavyweights. Hello Carl Anchor. Hello. And Stu James is back with us too. How you doing Stu?
- [02:22]
Carl Anka
Good morning Matt. Merry Christmas to you.
- [02:24]
Matt Davis Adams
Yeah, likewise. I think we can still just about say that on the 29th of December, but from tomorrow it's going to be Happy New Year.
- [02:30]
Carl Anka
We're all the way.
- [02:32]
Matt Davis Adams
Right. Later in the show, we'll get into some of the other big matchups of matchweek 19. But first, let's get to our feature presentation. And no home comforts for Aston Villa. In fact, all the teams play either successive home or away games. Is that an advantage?
- [02:47]
Carl Anka
We'll see.
- [02:48]
Matt Davis Adams
I guess both these sides go into this one off the back of 21 wins. Arsenal beat Brighton at the Emirates in not entirely convincing fashion. Villa left Stamford bridge with all three points to extend their winning streak to 11 games. In all, that equals a club record set in both 1897 and 1914. That's ages ago. Karl Morgan Rogers has grabbed the headlines of late, but it was Ollie Watkins who was the hero off the bench. He'd only scored thrice all season. He got two in just over 20 minutes at the bridge. Excellent in game management from Unai Emery yet again.
- [03:22]
Stu James
Absolutely. I believe there was some post match comments from Ollie Watkins where he explained some of the changes Emery employed in the second half. It seemed like they changed the way they were going to attack because it looked like Chelsea were playing with a man to man press. And Watkins, who as you've already said hasn't had a great season so far. He looks like he may have lost half a yard of pace came up trumps slightly fortuitous with the first goal, the sort of shot goalkeeper save deflection onto your knees. But we take those. We take those all day.
- [03:53]
Matt Davis Adams
Yeah. Villa have now won 18 points from losing positions across 18 Premier League matches. That tact flexibility really on show at Stamford Bridge, Stu. I was there and it was kind of rope a dope for an hour and then they just hit Chelsea and Chelsea couldn't live with them. How important is that flexibility going to be if they are to sustain their title ambitions? You question whether Emery's the best manager in the Premier League right now in your briefing up on the Athletic.
- [04:18]
Carl Anka
Yeah, that'll trigger a few Arsenal fans, won't it?
- [04:20]
Stu James
I'm sure.
- [04:21]
Carl Anka
I think that tactical flexibility is huge also because it isn't a squad with huge depth. So it becomes even more important then I think Watkins coming back to form, you know, five goals all season. Yeah. Three just before Saturday would be huge for Villa, I think, you know, if we're honest as well. Those changes, of course they were brilliant. You know, the triple substitution worked spectacularly well. But something had to happen because Chelsea were completely dominant, especially first half. But really for the best part of an hour. But then you have to give Emery huge credit for what he did. Do you know, in terms of putting Tullimans in a more advanced position, the influence that had on the game, obviously Watkins spearhead in the attack and you know, Roger's going wider and Sancho coming on, not just coming on, but playing really well. You know, he was excellent. That's as good as I've seen Sancho for a long time. You know, I think back to not that long ago actually when they played. Was it the Man City game when he was Chelsea, when he was subbed as a sub. And he looked, you know, really kind of demoralized then. But I thought Sancho on Saturday was excellent. He kept the ball well for Villa when they needed him to. You know, he's intelligent in how he used the ball. So yeah, all of that was clearly a, you know, a real success for, for Vil and really talks to the point that Emery is an excellent coach. He had a tough time at Arsenal, it didn't work, that's obvious. But he's really rebuilt his reputation in England certainly with this three year spell at Villa and so that ability to make those changes, to recognize what needs to be done in a game is so, so important. And I think then there's the other side of it too. What you touched on there, Matt, the fact that they do have this mental strength, you know, this resilience, this capacity. And that's really, really hard to measure other than looking at those numbers. 18 points from losing positions. So yeah, you'd never fill in a comfort zone with them. If Arsenal go a goal up on Tuesday night, then actually Arsenal being a goal up leads to a lot of anxiety at the Emirates anyway at the minute. But against this Villa team, you'd be really, really wary.
- [06:26]
Matt Davis Adams
Well, Arsenal wise own goals account for four of their last six in all comps. One of the others was a penalty. They've had narrow wins over Wolves, Everton and Brighton. They needed penalties. Palace in the Carabao Cup. So it's not exactly scintillating stuff, Stu. But is it encouraging to still be winning the games anyway or, or is this the sort of thing that should worry Mikel Arteta?
- [06:49]
Carl Anka
Yeah, I always think this, this question, this scenario really divides opinion among fans at all clubs. I think some fans would just be like, we're winning, that's all that matters. Just focus on results and some. And within that they'll also say, you know the old cliche. Well, it's a sign of a really good team if you're, if you're winning in playing and playing poorly. I think the other side of it is you think, is that sustainable? Can you keep getting results when your performance levels aren't great? I think a couple of things concern me about Arsenal right now. The first is the attacking output, goal wise, you know, from, you know, their, their players in those positions. You know, I think Korea is one in six, Saka one in six. I think Mourinho is possibly the only person with a better return than that across the last six matches. And then, you know, that puts a strain on the team to score goals elsewh. And also because they don't put games to bed. And that ties into my second point, really. I was at the Wolves game. I couldn't believe what I was seeing the last seven minutes of that game where Arsenal are, on the face of it, you know, in control of a match. And then inexplicably, it just completely turns. You could feel the nervousness in the stadium. You know, they. They struggled to put three passes together. That's not a throwaway line. That was their longest sequence during that final seven minutes. And it was really weird to watch Arsenal struggle to see a game out. And then Saturday, I'm looking thinking too now, okay, comfortable. Kill the game. They concede and then they're indebted to David Ra for that incredible save. So, yeah, that's. That's a bit of a worry at the minute. Of course, what we can't ignore is the fact that they've had such terrible injury problems. The defense in particular has been decimated. That has to lead to, you know, anxiety in the team, especially, I guess, in those closing stages. So I cut them some slack in that respect. But I think more than anything, you want to see Arsenal playing with a bit more control.
- [08:39]
Matt Davis Adams
Yeah, we'll talk about returning defenders later, Carl. But, but just on the. The goals things and players not finding them. Scored just one from an XG of 9.23. If you take out pens, that kind of suggests that they're not playing badly, doesn't it? They just, as Stu said, need to remember how to put the ball in the back of the net. Victor Yokares, I'm looking in your direction. Yeah, it's.
- [08:59]
Stu James
It's been curious for Yokarez in that when he first arrived, he looked a touch heavy, both with his feet and perhaps his stature as well. But it seemed to be like he was developing a sort of sense for killing off the bottom half clubs. The small team killer in that. Okay, Yokerez can occupy the 2 cent, a center back or two, create more space for Saka, create More space for other people and that's how we're going to start beating the smaller teams. That's not really working. And I agree with Stu in that. Economist Mikel Marino up front. I know he's midfielder by trade, but there's a pleasing 1997 Ness to him when he's up front. He's quite good when he makes a double movement into the box, when he's trying to get his head onto a cross there. Control has become sort of the all powerful word in our football analysis. They don't know how to control games. They don't have to control games. And I think it's really worth noting what each and every manager thinks I am in control of the game means, because I can look at Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea and that was a team that they would control games by having four players behind the ball at nearly all points in time. And if one of those players behind the ball is in Golo Kante, they're in control. I'm looking at Manchester United under Ruben Amron and his version of control is the team that is in front is the team that's in control of the game. And for Mikel Arteta it seems to be almost handbrake on a little bit. The team that controls the space is the one that controls the game. And I think this is more. Yes, this attack is massively underperforming. But rather than throw caution to the wind and try and win games. 3, 2. I think Mikel's been so. He's taken on so many lessons of those three second place finishes. He's going, we're just going to try and scab or scratch and claw on 1 nil instead. @ least until Gabriel comes in or our other set piece threats can come in and then that's another way we can control games by having that set piece threat. So Jocorez, not the striker I expected him to be, certainly missing that sort of explosive yard of pace that is so important for so many Premier League strikers. If Gabor Jesus can play close to 90 minutes every single week, I would suggest doing that for as much as possible. But I'm still. My shiny penny is still on Arsenal winning one of the big trophies come the end of the.
- [11:09]
Matt Davis Adams
Season. Well, there's only three points between the two going into this one. The price of victory is massive then, Stu, isn't it? Basically we saw how it was so significant for Villa when they won the reverse fixture. But similarly, it would give Arsenal the chance to kind of reassert title credentials if they could pick up all three.
- [11:28]
Carl Anka
Here. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, Villa first. I just think it would be an incredible statement for them to go and win at Arsenal when they're on this incredible run of form on the back of winning at Chelsea, you know that would put them level on points with Arsenal and you wouldn't put it past them at this moment in time. Obviously I know they're going to have to make a few enforced changes through suspensions, but that would be an incredible result. I think Arsenal, it's really big for them too because look, until Arteta gets this team over the line, if that does happen in terms of winning a title, there will be these questions all the time. Are they an early team? How do they react when the pressure is on? And the pressure is on now. It's not on just because of Villa, it's on because of Man City's run of form too. And they're right on their tails. So you know for Arsenal, when they haven't been playing that well as we discussed, but they have been getting results. If they can beat Villa, that would give them a huge level of confidence and self belief going into the going into the new.
- [12:24]
Matt Davis Adams
Year. Okay, next we'll look into who will be available for each side and where they'll look to hurt each.
- [12:29]
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- [13:02]
Adeo Advertiser
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- [13:53]
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- [14:58]
Carl Anka
Acast. This is the Athletic FC podcast proudly sponsored by.
- [15:09]
Matt Davis Adams
Betfair. Well, it's one in, one out for Arsenal at the moment. Jurian Timber missed the game against Brighton. Ricardo Califiori got injured in the warm up. Both of those not believed to be too serious. In more positive news, Gabriel returned to the matchday squad and came on in the second half. Arsenal, 13 clean sheets in their first 16 matches, but just three in 11. Ten of those have been without Gabriel. He's been missed you not just at the back but also in the opposition penalty.
- [15:38]
Carl Anka
Box. Yeah, he has. He's been a huge absence for them. I think, you know, it's, it's not just what he brings as an individual, it's also the effect he has on people around him in that Arsenal team and actually how he unnerves the opposition as well. You know, that presence he's got. I've looked at that Wolves game and I thought what difference would that have made if, if Gabriel had been playing that day, you know, in terms of that chaotic final seven minutes when, when, when Wolves equalized and, and I think, yeah, you can't overstate, is important to this Arsenal team. I look at spine of that team and I think I see sort of three really key players in terms of David Rare Gabriel and Declan Rice. I think they're probably missing one through the middle up top. As you know, we've been talking about in terms of Victor Yokerez and that number nine figure. But his return would be huge in terms of what he gives them on set play. If he's not scoring, he's a distraction, freeing up space for others. It's interesting. A couple of years ago when I interviewed, we did a my game, in my words with Declan Rice. That point Rice had just started taking set pieces and I showed him a clip of Gabriel scoring from one of his corners against palace. And I just scribbled down the quote here. He said, if you watched him train, he scores about three of those a day. He's so aggressive. We play against the kids and he doesn't care. It's like a Premier League game. I had this image in my head of the youth team being brought over and 3 or 416 year olds on the floor as Gabrielle turns into the PE teacher and cares. Mr. Sugden Running off celebrating and I think that's what he's like. I think there's some centre backs and this really frustrates me. They go up for corners just because a centre back's supposed to go up for a corner. And there are other centre backs and Gabriel's one of them. I think every time he goes up, he thinks I'm going to score here. His return for Arsenal, yeah, it couldn't come quickly enough and it will be huge for.
- [17:31]
Stu James
Them. I think it's also the way they're going to unlock or score more goals in that some of the more frightening, and I mean frightening as a compliment here, Arsenal performances this season have come from them having an arm wrestle with an opponent, getting that first goal from a set piece, and then as the opposition opens up a bit, trying to get equalizer, they just drop the hammer on them. I remember watching Arsenal play against Atletico Madrid this season and it goes from 1 nil to 3 nil so quickly once they get that set piece goal. So that's also why Gabriel's return is going to be really, really important. That's how they're going to start putting games to bed because teams are now respect Arsenal, they respect Arsenal to the point where it's damaging to Arsenal. They're just going to hunker down deep and go, well, you, set piece threat is mostly gone now. We'll see what you can do. So Gabriel comes back, starts on some things in the back post and it's not going to be those frantic Seven minutes anymore. It's going to be those seven minutes where you're like, well, there's a hat trick. Good for.
- [18:24]
Matt Davis Adams
Them. Yeah. And you guys aren't having a shot on target. Villa wise. No. Matty Cash or Boubacar Kamara, both suspended after picking up their fifth yellow cards of the season against Chelsea. A strong argument for Cash to go contact Atlas if ever I saw one. Carl, we've already spoken about Emery's ability to adapt. I mean, these are pretty costly emissions though, right? I guess less so Kamara because Onana can come in for him as he did against Chelsea. But just trying to think who Cash's replacement would be. And I landed on a chap called Andres Garcia. Me neither. Brackets. Apparently he's a Spanish under 21 international who hasn't played all season due to injuries. So that will be an area of concern for Emery and.
- [19:06]
Stu James
Villa. Absolutely. I saw this on the running order and I went, oh, wow, I don't know the answer to this question. Let me go message the Aston Villa fans in my life. Jamie Whitehead, fantastic gentleman adviser. It could be Bogard filling in there, depending on Konza's injury availability. He might also play in that position. But I also went, who is this Garcia gentleman? I messaged some other Villa fans in my life and they made noises of a. Yeah, that's one of the misfires of the Emery monkey Aston Villa era, which is really interesting for me in that this Villa team, they very much play themselves into a conversation and we're talking about how the squad isn't the biggest. It's also got quite a few weird signings or, I don't want to be too harsh here, possible dud signings and the way Emery has seemingly absorbed some mistakes in the transfer market and kept this team trickling along. I don't know how many other Premier League managers would have been able to maintain this positive momentum if their number one striker, Ollie Watkins, was playing the way Ollie Watkins had been playing for most of this season.
- [20:13]
Carl Anka
Right.
- [20:13]
Stu James
It's. It's remarkable how Watkins's lack of goal scoring form hasn't inhibited Aston Villa so far. And I think that's because Emery is. Is fantastic. When Villa beat Manchester United last week, I watched Matcha Day. I listened to Danny Murphy and Wayne Rooney just talk gushingly about Emery specifically. And I think it's quite unusual when we talk about a title race where we're not necessarily talking about the team, we're talking about the USP is the manager. Normally when the USP is the manager we're talking about Pep Guardiola. So this has been really, really interesting there. I'll be fascinated to see how Emery replaces Maticash, because the way Villa build up from the back is in such a pronounced manner. These sort of two pods of three on either side that, and it's rehearsed and rehearsed and rehearsed. I don't think you necessarily throw someone in there like that. So how he adjusts, how he copes with that, fascinating to me. Maybe it's going to be time for Emi Martinez to just start punting it along for Inanna, who indeed is quite good in the air. So we'll.
- [21:11]
Matt Davis Adams
See. It's only just over three weeks since Villa got the better of Arsenal. Villa really good in transition during that game. Is it going to be as open on Tuesday? Stu Villa only one clean sheet in nine and that was against Wolves. Arsenal only one in the last four Premier League.
- [21:25]
Carl Anka
Games. Not sure Michael Arteta will want it to be that kind of open basketball game. I think the timing of the Chelsea game, not the Arteta, will need any reminder of Villa's threat. But it does feel timely in respect of, you know, that half an hour was a window into what Aston Villa can be if you. If you let them hurt you on those transitions. I actually thought Villa wasted some really good opportunities. Matson, when he ran through on the underlap, brilliant move, fantastic football from Villa. You know, Villa kind of at their best under Emery and he could have squared it. There was people lining up and I was starting to wonder, you know, I think even Watkins at one point, after he'd scored his first goal, maybe it was what led to the corner. He could have picked someone out. And I was thinking, are they going to make the most of these brilliant transitions? Obviously they did in the end from a set play, but, yeah, that's not the game Arteta is going to want. You know, they know how they were hurt at Villa park and, you know, Villa were trying to exploit space behind the fullbacks. Obviously one of the goals conceded there, you know, as a completely switched off on that occasion when, when Cash Gord, who we just discussed, won't be playing. And I do think that's a real blow for Villa. So, yeah, I don't anticipate seeing a match like that. I hope it's a really good game. Sounds an obvious thing to say, but some of these matches, you know, we get really excited about them beforehand. I remember going to Arsenal Man City earlier in the season and it was really underwhelming it was really flat. So I hope it is an entertaining match and that, you know, I kind of feel at the minute that we have to tune in for Manu Bournemouth to see something like that. But it'd be nice to see that kind of game played out at the.
- [22:53]
Stu James
Emirates. Manu Bournemouth was great. It was just terrible to write about because trying to get that done for the full time whistle was hellacious.
- [23:00]
Matt Davis Adams
Anyway. Well, that was a draw. I was just gonna say Carlin. In terms of predictions, we spoke about how significant victory or indeed defeat would be for either side is actually the most likely outcome here. I don't know, a one all.
- [23:12]
Stu James
Draw? I think so. I think that's the funniest one. The football gods like tragicomedy and a tragicomic result here is one of these teams is in the lead for the better part of 30 minutes and then you get a finale of just attack, fee defense and then you get like a dirty equalizer. So one all in my book here. I think. I think this is gonna be a game where Arsenal fans are gonna go. I'm glad that's over. And Villa fans are gonna be.
- [23:40]
Matt Davis Adams
Happiest. Can you pick a winner.
- [23:42]
Carl Anka
Steve? I'm going one nil Arsenal. For reasons I can't explain really. I don't know, I guess I just feel Villa, it can't. I can't keep winning and winning win can. I do think the absence of Kamaru and Cash is big as well. I think that will. That's a real blow for them. But yeah, I'll go one nil Arsenal. This is the Athletic FC podcast, proudly sponsored by.
- [24:02]
Matt Davis Adams
Betfair. So this is the part of the show where with the help of our partners Betfair, we show you how you can play in a different league this season. James Mackey's with us. James, before we get started with this week's bet, we've had a.
- [24:14]
James Mackey
Winner. Yes, we have had a.
- [24:16]
Momentous Advertiser
Winner.
- [24:16]
James Mackey
Yeah. 15 2. Last week in the Liverpool spurs game, it was nice to get one across the line. It was Ekatike to score, Liverpool to win and Graven Birch to make two or more fouls in the game. So look, a lovely winner. Lovely Christmas winner for everyone as well. So hopefully we can make it to attitude.
- [24:31]
Matt Davis Adams
Today. Matt, the perfect present.
- [24:33]
Carl Anka
Etc. And so.
- [24:34]
Matt Davis Adams
On. Right, before we get to the bet builder, let's talk about the game in general. It is Arsenal versus Aston Villa, which is our focus. Which way do you guys see this one going?
- [24:44]
James Mackey
Yeah. What a Christmas cracker this game could be, couldn't it? The betfair Sportswalk has the home side Arsenal as the odds on four to nine favorites to take all three points. But the Gunners, they've lost three of their last five Premier League matches against Aston Villa and have not been overly convincing their last few games, have they? So this looks like it's going to be another tough game for them. Villa, on the other hand, they look a big price here at five to one, winning 11 on the trot and villa and beating their last two away league games against Arsenal, looking to complete a league double over them for the third time in six seasons. So even though they're a the stats are with Aston villain for this game, the draw is priced at 13 to 5 and that was the result in this exact fixture last season at the Emirates with the sides drawing 2 2. So maths, he looks an absolute cracker and I really can't wait for.
- [25:28]
Matt Davis Adams
It. And as for the bet builder, it includes two boyhood Arsenal fans, albeit they'll be on opposing sides in this.
- [25:35]
James Mackey
One. Yeah, look, like we said, let's try and make it two out of two. But focusing on two players, one for each side, we'll start with the Arsenal player, Eberici Eze, who scored in his team's final Premier League match of the calendar year in each of the last three years. I thought that was quite a quirky one. He really gets rolling at the end of the year. Obviously that was for palace and now he's with Arsenal, but also he loves playing against Villa. He's been involved in five goals in four home Premier League starts against Aston Villa when he obviously was at palace, netting two goals and getting three assists. So he's 10 to 11 to either score or assist in the game. Having not played against Brighton. Hopefully he gets the nod on Tuesday just having that fresh angle and he has played in a lot of the big games this season. So at 10:11 he starts off the bet build either to score or assist in the game. And then secondly to round it out, I'm going to focus on Ollie Watkins for Aston Villa, who obviously netted two from the bench at the weekend to beat Chelsea, showing unai Emre that well he deserved to start. I think Watkins will start and he scored four goals in five away Premier League appearances against Arsenal. Like you said, he's a boy Arsenal fan, but it's the most of any Aston Villa player has netted away at the gunners. He's 165 to score anytime in the game on Tuesday and I really like that price. So overall those two selections come together for around a 132 bet builder. And the beauty of the goal scorer and score assist mark is mentioned is they have safe sub attached to them, meaning if those legs haven't won and those players come off, the player that replaced them carries on that leg of the bet. So hopefully we can get another one across the line.
- [27:07]
Matt Davis Adams
Man. Fantastic. Yeah, let's keep our fingers crossed for two for two. James, appreciate your.
- [27:12]
James Mackey
Time. Thanks.
- [27:13]
Carl Anka
Man. This is the Athlet Athletic FC podcast, proudly sponsored by.
- [27:16]
Matt Davis Adams
Betfair. Now then, sandwiched in between Arsenal and Aston Villa and Manchester City in second place, they were 21 winners against Forest at the City ground on Saturday. Stu. That made it 13 wins in 14 games in all comps, nine in a row in the Premier League. They've switched to ominous mode. What could possibly slow them.
- [27:35]
Carl Anka
Down? I know Crafton tweeted about this the other week. I think it was before the West Ham game. He said something like, you suddenly feel there. I don't mean this disrespectfully. Or maybe I do. They're playing a team like West Ham every week and they've just winning constantly. You know, you look at the fixture list and think, oh, that's another three points. And yet on Saturday, they weren't brilliant. And Forest were really in that game at 1:1. I know Foden had that chance, but it wasn't like City were laying siege to the. To the Forest goal. And then obviously they work a set play, you know, really well. You look back at it now and I remember seeing the corner before and I thought, that's really poor. Foden's overhit that like that. Well, obviously it was, you know, it was a. It was a plan. He was trying to pick out Bardiol for the head, the head down, and he did it perfectly for the next one. And having someone like Shirky now to. To exploit those situations, you know, what he's added to this City team, you know, docu's absence. But Foden and Shirky have come really good. It's taken the dependence away from Haaland a bit. It was actually really quiet on Saturday. That's another worry for everyone. You know, he didn't do much, but City still find a way to win. I think if you're an Arsenal supporter, you know, the more optimistic Villa fans, you, you know, maybe are thinking we're in a tit. And I think they are at this moment, you'd have looked at that game and thought, 10 minutes to go. Come on, Forest, hold out here. City are going to drop points. And then there's just that sinking feeling they've done it again, they've won again. So, yeah, I guess, you know, on the flip side, as much as they are in that groove at the minute, Matt, they have obviously lost games away from home this season. They lost at Brighton, they lost at Newcastle, they lost at Villa. There is some vulnerability there. I just think it's a shame for the rest of the Premier League and a shame for Sunderland that they're going to Sunderland at this time when Sunderland are certainly not at full tilt because of afcon, because of other injuries as well. So, yeah, that's a bit of a shame. But it's very ominous. You have to say that going.
- [29:25]
Stu James
Into this season spoke to one person who knows far more about football than me, and they went, this is going to be the worst city you're going to be possibly for the next four or five years in that. That we always talk about how every now and again, you know, Pep Guardiola scratches his head, go. Sits in the toilet and he goes, oh, right. The solution. Every football team needs to play this way now and then. Bokdibum. And there was this sort of idea that Guardiola would figure that out after the World Cup. And look, this City team is nowhere near the finished product. We all sort of. I'm half expecting the day where it's Rodri as the six and then you've got Cherky Foden as three eights or. Or Cherokee reindeers or someone else. That is still to come. And Roddy was on the bench against Forrest and we're all sort of half looking at that. That's the ominous bit for me. That's Chekhov's gun of. What's he doing there? Is he fit yet? Please, for God's sake, don't let him be fit yet. But the. The scary thing is, I mean, yeah, Cherokee looks a lot of fun and he's able to do some of Phil Foden's thinking for him or the. The intuitive imagination, but which sometimes frees up Foden to do other things as well. So it's so annoying when City get into this groove and they reach this critical mass of attacking players and you go, okay, we've got enough plans to stop this one. Genuine phenomenal game. Breaking play in the final. Oh, there's another one. Like you said, Doku's injured right now. I completely forgot. Doku's injured because they do this. They just absorb the hit of a player being injured. And then when Doku returns again, everyone's like, oh yeah, Doku's great. Oh, for the love of Pete. So the team that finishes above City is likely going to be a team that finishes the league. And then next season everyone needs to be very worried about how good City are going to be because they're not going to go away.
- [31:07]
Carl Anka
Unfortunately. I watched a lot of Shirky last season and I was just fascinated by him. I would never have seen him going to Man City. I was amazed when that deal happened and a part of me, I don't mind admitting, was a little bit disappointed because I thought, no, he needs to go somewhere he can just be given complete freedom. You know, Pep's going to, to get on his back about not defending enough, which he didn't even like doing at Leon, let alone, you know, for Manchester City, where it's an absolute requirement. And yeah, he just, he's a maverick. So it's, it's absolutely fascinating for me to see how it's working out at the minute. You know, his, his numbers, his assists, his goals in the Premier League and all competitions are incredible because he hasn't even played that much but he's, he's got that ability to affect games. There's a great quote from Pep on Saturday, wasn't there, where he said.
- [31:54]
Stu James
Always with Ryan, have that feeling for.
- [31:56]
James Mackey
Day one, man, the moments I shout.
- [31:58]
Carl Anka
Him and the moments I want to kiss.
- [31:59]
Matt Davis Adams
Him. So I have that ambivalence feeling.
- [32:03]
Carl Anka
With him and that is him. You know, he did a little bit of skill in the first half when he went in between Morgan, Gibbs, White and Nico and actually the commentators just passed over it and I was thinking, no, no, no, no, no, you need to go back and properly break that down. What he did, it was real street football in his own half almost for no reason really. And I did think at that point, I wonder if Guardiola is thinking that should have been a bounce pass. But hey, he is so much fun to watch. And yeah, he's given City something.
- [32:32]
Stu James
Different. Genuinely two.
- [32:33]
Carl Anka
Footed? Oh.
- [32:34]
Stu James
Yes. Perhaps the most two footed player in the league, if not one of the more two footed players in Europe. And that ability to par, shoot, distribute all sorts of things, it just opens up so many angles in both halves and it makes it so hard to legislate against. If you're a defender in that you're, I mean she will be able to talk to this far better than, than I do. But the whole shove him out wide, put him on his weaker foot, you can't really do that with him. And because he's got that ambition because he's got that creative joie de vivre of I'm not going to do the bounce pass, I'm going to try and embarrass you. There are genuine times when I'm watching him play and you go, why have you done that? And the answer why he's done that is because he thought it'd be funny to himself. I am going to be entertained by doing this, so I'm going to try and do this. Which to do that in a City.
- [33:20]
Carl Anka
Team. Fair play, 100%. I do think he does things for his own pleasure. Kyle on the pitch at times, you know, completely unnecessary, totally gratuitous stuff. And yeah, I'm all for it. The 2 3rd thing is fascinating. Cliche, girl. Cliche tells a story. When they're with France under 21s, they're practicing corners in training and he was taking, I think it was an outswinger with his left foot. And then Henri so said, you know, no, no, we want an in swinger. And Cliche was thinking, we need to get someone else over. And he just went and walked around the other side of the corner flag and took it and took a perfect corner. And it's that clip that you see of Santi Casuala years go at Watford doing the same thing when Koshani goes, no, no, no, I want it the other way. And I know people will listen to this and think, guys, they're professional footballers, they should be able to play with both feet. But it's so rare to see someone who is completely comfortable with either foot. You know, that technique when he drills that ball in with his right is every bit as good as it would have been with. And yeah, you're right, Karl, in terms of, like, how you defend against that. Just. Just so unsettling. I think so, yeah. A really intriguing addition to the Premier.
- [34:23]
Matt Davis Adams
League. Loads of attacking quality. And they're about to stick Antoine Semeno into the mix as well. It looks like. Not fair. Sunderland, meanwhile, hosted Leeds on Sunday. They shared the points. It finished 11 Dominic Calvert Lewin on the score sheet again, so I'm officially dubbing him England hopeful Dominic Calvert Lewin, once more, we alluded to this earlier about the Sunderland absentees. Stu Dan also missed this one with an injury. They got so many players away at afcon. They're really going to need the skipper back for this game against.
- [34:52]
Carl Anka
City. Yeah, they are. I think that was the first game he'd missed since the end of September and he's been outstanding for them. You know, Sunderland have done brilliantly and when you look at their record, they, they don't concede many goals. They're in games all the time. They're really, really competitive and I think that says so much for a team that's been promoted from the championship to be like that immediately in the Premier League. It is a real shame. You know, I mentioned there's six players away at AFCON that' really, really going to hurt them. And also it's a bit of a perfect storm in terms of the timing too. We've got this crazy run of games and that's the point when Sunderland's squad is most stretched. So you know, they've obviously been brilliant at the Stadium of Light all season. I did think they looked a bit weary second half against Leeds. Have to give huge credit to Leeds. You know, they've, they've had a, you know, tremendous run of form. Not just Calvert, Lewin, but the way the team's playing with real hunger, determination. You know, they're, they're not easy to play against. They've got, got a fantastic set piece threat too. So all of that probably feeds into what we saw from Sunderland yesterday or on Sunday I should say. But I just think other teams as well would probably look at this like, you know, Arsenal and Villa and think, I wish man City had been going to Sunderland at a different time. But who knows, you know, he'll push you under the lights and you know that that place has been a fortress for them. Maybe they can, maybe they can get a.
- [36:11]
Matt Davis Adams
Result. Yeah, I was going under the lights too, kind of. Well, for my justification for Sunderland here, I'm also thinking Ji Dong Wong was that New Year's Day 2012 Last minute winner in this fixture, iconic Martin Tyler, commentary, etc. But also, I mean they have held Arsenal at the Stadium of Light. It's not just like they've been able to beat a bunch of.
- [36:33]
Stu James
Chumps.
- [36:34]
Matt Davis Adams
Right. That home record is something that should give them some confidence going into this.
- [36:38]
Stu James
One. Absolutely. Libri is always talking about connections and solutions in these post match press conferences about how that's the key key. He's been very good at finding solutions to problems. And to be very frank with you, Sunderland knew this would happen. They knew there was going to be a three to four week period where they were going to be missing so many players. In fact, if you look at the draw against Leeds, I'd say Sundance best player was a player who should be at AFCON in a Dingra. Right. The fact that he's not at the Ivory coast squad right now was a little bit head scratching but Afcon is afcon. So we just keep going. I think it's. It's a draw that start November you'd say Sunland have dropped two points there. But you're looking at this Leeds team now. You're like you know what? Fair play. This Leeds team have a momentum to them that I certainly didn't think they were capable of. So before the last international break I was looking at the fixtures. One of the questions was who do you think's the manager next like to be sacked? And I saw Leeds fixtures. I went oh good luck Daniel Farker. This is it. And the fact he's pulled off this, however you want to describe it mini run of form is incredibly surprising to me. And I mean it's not created too many personnel changes. Okay. Sometimes they now defend in the back three, two or three changes in midfield. But Leeds are good now and they're good in a way that partially part of you is going okay. If they'd started that well they wouldn't be in the relegation conversation. But teams are going to get stung going playing as Leeds in the same way teams are going to get stung when they get play against Sunderland. So I would be surprised if man city keep a clean sheet here. I'm not sure if they're going to if someone can get a result but I definitely see him.
- [38:14]
Matt Davis Adams
Scoring. Well we mentioned Leeds there. They go to Anfield on New Year's Day. Liverpool back in the top four after they squeeze past Wolves slot slot leapfrog Chelsea as a result of that. Chelsea as we know beaten by Villa Enzamaresca's side hosting Bournemouth. They were thrashed by Brentford on Saturday. Chelsea Stooges one win in the last six Premier League games. They're 10 points behind Villa in third. So they're as close points wise to Leeds as they are Villa. They're three points behind Liverpool in fourth. Positive fight back against Newcastle just before Christmas. But. But the defeat against Villa just emphasizes the inconsistency that's blighted them and it might end up costing them a place in the Champions League next.
- [38:58]
Carl Anka
Season. Yeah, I think if you're a Chelsea fan you're really frustrated with that on Saturday because they were so good in the first half. They had complete control of that game. They were a goal up but they should have been two or three up maybe. And I think therein lies one of the problems Matt. I look and think have they got really elite players in those attacking positions. They've got good players, but are they elite players? How good is Garnacho, Joao, Pedro, Liam Delap? Are they going to win you a Premier League title or Pedro Neto, really effective sometimes, but top, top player, I don't know. Palmer sort of floated around, caused problems without really looking. Like, obviously he's still finding his way back. The Palmer who was, you know, bang on it the first half of last season. So, you know, the goal itself was a really scrappy goal. Right. So. So for all their good play, I never felt like they carried enough of a threat where you thought, thought, yeah, they're going to score here. And, and I think that's, that's a bit of a worry. I remember watching them in the Arsenal game and thinking, you know, they played with incredible intensity in that match. Did they play with incredible intensity because it was Arsenal? Can they do that, you know, consistently, again and again and again? I think that's the thing that drives fans mad at times. You think, come on, why can't we, why can't we play like that every week? But yeah, there was a real vulnerability about them in that last half an hour. They look so loose and to the point that you could feel the villa, the Villa goals come in. You know, that game had totally turned at that point and, you know, I'm sure we'll come on to talk about substitutions, etc, but I think Chelsea are where they belong. Sometimes you look at a team in the table and think they're underperforming or they're overperforming. They're fifth now, right, Matt and I think they probably are a fourth or fifth place team. I don't think they are, you know, a top three team at this moment in time. So frustrating time for them really, because if they could put together, you know, 90 minute performances, then that might look a little bit different in terms of the top of the.
- [41:00]
Stu James
Table. Stand clear of the closing doors.
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- [43:23]
Carl Anka
Done. This is the Athletic FC podcast proudly sponsored by.
- [43:34]
Matt Davis Adams
Betfair. Maybe not Elite attacking options Carl do they have an elite coach? Maresca's subs, as Stu alluded to, induce much head scratching. Palmer comes off, looks cross about it. They swap a hamstrung cucarea for gusto. He's at fault for one of the goals Liam delap came on not even half fit. I mean, how much of that is on Maresca and the decisions that he makes and how much on it is on the people who've built the squad for.
- [43:58]
Stu James
Him. When I look at a manager's substitution records or tendencies, the thing I try and look for is when they're more likely to make the first up. Do they make their first up earlier if they're winning or losing? Losing. Who's their preferred player to try and get a goal? Who's their preferred player when they try and shut up shop. And when you look at this Chelsea bench, the Chelsea benches are a pop quiz answer in themselves in that there are times I'm looking at going I do which one? How many appearances you've made. And I think Shu's right in that this Chelsea team has a lot of good players. I don't know how many great players they have. There are times where they do things and I'm going, you still got your baby teeth. They're not quite mean enough. Pedro Neto is not a mean football player with that sort of horrible intensity that I, I remember looking at Saudi Armane at phase at Liverpool or when you're looking at some of Man City's players when they really switch on like okay, I'm not losing today. I, I don't see that from Chelsea right now. And that's not the Chelsea players fault. I think it's a project that it's a Chelsea project that a lot of these players need to get, get older and grow up together and learn each other's tendencies. It's a cursory scroll at Chelsea. Twitter right now is just a lot of fans lamenting the sales of Madoeke and Jackson because they were their two sort of premier final third threats and they make Cole Palmer's life so much easier. I greatly enjoyed Cole Palmer and Madueke's link up last season and season before that. And Jackson, okay, his ball striking is off odd but his movement in and around the box and the way he provided a platform for other players to do things is something that I'm not seeing from Xiao Pedro, I'm not seeing from Liam Delap. I mean Joe Pedro is, he's one of those 9.5 players where okay, good. Yeah, your link up plays really good for a striker but also could you be a bit more selfish and get in the box. Liam Delap is just having a season that is unfortunate. I don't think it's really his fault there. So I'm sure if if Maresca had a, had a Jackson or a Madueke on the bench, his substitution would look less head scratching inducing. But unfortunately this, this is the situation. This is the way it is pretty much every time now I look at Chelsea in a pre match when the, when the lineup is first announced, I'm constantly going who is the other person next to Enzo? Next to Enzo and Caicedo and that is to me the greatest indicator of how that game is going to go. So looked at the lineup against Aston Villa and it seemed to me it was Caicedo and Enzo as the central midfield pivot in the two and you go, uh, oh, oh. Because I still don't think those two work. I think it needs to be Caicedo next to another. You watch this scene far more than I do. Matt Vibe.
- [46:40]
Matt Davis Adams
Check. The Enzo Fernandez thing is a problem for Chelsea because I don't think he gets in the first choice team. They want it to be Rhys James and Caicedo, and Enzo Fernandez is not a better number 10 than Cole Palmer is. So quite often they find themselves shoehorning him in, as they did against Villa. Was completely ineffective in that game. So, yeah, five, check. Not great at the minute. Haven't managed to string together successive home wins in the Premier League yet this season. And it is the end of December and, you know, a majority of the fan base, I think it's fair to say, have never been that keen on Enzo Maresca. And he's not exactly helped his cause with some of the decisions that he's made of late. But they're coming up against a team here, Stu, who are in even worse form. Bournemouth started the season brilliantly. Now they're all over the place. They've got Arsenal, Spurs, Brighton and Liverpool to come after this game. They might well play some of those without Antoine Semeno. I mean, they're not going to get relegated, are they? Probably got enough points to. To avoid that. But is this the kind of inevitable consequence of all the sales that they made during the summer finally catching up with.
- [47:45]
Carl Anka
Them? Yeah, partly that. I think in a normal season they possibly could get relegated. But I look at the bottom three and, you know, forget Wolves in Burnley for a minute. But even West Ham, I mean, West Ham have been so, so poor. I. I was startled when I looked at the comparison with the table this time last year, and Leicester in 18th had more points than West Ham have got now. And most of us thought those bottom three last year were among the worst ever. So I say this in the context of Bournemouth, because there's a big buffer there. They're on 22 points. You know, West Ham would have to put together a run of form that they just simply do not of. Of doing. Bournemouth is a. Is a concern. I can't believe how quickly it's unraveled. Maybe there's an element here. They were overperforming at the start of the season, but they were second after they beat Forest towards the end of October. They've dropped like a stone. They've gone nine games without winning. It's not just nine games without Winning. They've conceded an incredible number of goals, I think something like 22 across that period. And yet they can still be fun to watch at times. Like my new.
- [48:49]
Matt Davis Adams
Game. I love.
- [48:50]
Carl Anka
That. I was thinking, come on, give us another 10, 15 minutes. And actually, Bournemouth looked like more likely team to win that game at end. But yeah, there are, There are alarm bells. I think the Brentford result in particular the manner of the goals they conceded, you know, to see their central defense and obviously they were decimated in the summer. They. They, you know, lost, you know, three of their back. Four really good players too. And yeah, inevitably that's going to be. That's going to be hard to. To deal with, especially for Bournemouth. But yeah, it was. Seeing sort of Charlotte running riot against them on the weekend was a real worry. And then as you say, there's the combination of the fixtures to come against Chelsea and Arsenal, Tottenham, and then Semenya, I mean, he is their talisman. He's the guy. He's, you know, 15 goals, six assists in 2025. He's completely driven the progress of that team. And you know, to hear Aeriola saying on the weekend, you know, he sounded almost just desperate. He said, you know, I hope he's here for, for years, if not years, then months. And then he said, you know, months, if not months, then weeks. I thought even going to go to days. And I think he probably would have done that. I think they're just thinking, give us as much time as you can in January, resign to him going, but play a couple more games. And it wouldn't need much, Matt, for them to get enough points to be almost safe because of how bad the bottom three are. So. No, I think they probably are, you know, okay, but it's obviously really concerning when you're on a run like that and, you know, you're about to lose your best player.
- [50:20]
Stu James
Too. So I spoke to iriola after the 44 at Old Trafford and, well, I asked him about the strength of Semenyo and the strength of his attacking unit, and he sort of flipped it and said the big thing for Bournemouth to start the season with was working on the defending. He said, because we lost so many players, that's almost the primary aim of the training ground stuff, which is interesting to me because, I mean, Bournemouth are best when they're defending, when it's high up the field. So, you know, that requires your attacking players to contribute and work well and do everything. And Stu's completely right in that they just had a terrible October. Semenya, Jerome, A blank. The team sank like a stone. There are some still two or three players in there that I'm sure Liverpool and other top six clubs will be looking at them. Eli Krupi Jr looks very, very good. The way he can get shots off with minimal backlift is the sort of thing that sees a striker very quickly get touted with a 60 million price tag. So the treadmill started. This is. This is the thing that happened to Southampton in the 2010s or the thing that happened to bright Brighton pretty much every single summer in that your best players will constantly be taking away. I will also say it's not just the three defenders they lost. I'd say going from Kepa to Petrovic is. Again, Matt, you'll be able to know more because you've watched a lot of more Chelsea goalkeepers than I do. Petrovic is. He's uncertain in a way that encourages me as an attacker in that there's probably two or three players now in the Premier League where if they're on the edge of the box and they look up and they see Petrovich ago. Yeah, may as well. And I think when that starts happening, that can also make things quite dangerous and ruinous for a defense that still is learning two or three processes there. So yeah, Bournemouth will stay up. They're probably going to lose Semeno this January. It's looking like City, which it's okay, fine, less exciting to me than if you went somewhere else. But that's. My personal bias is showing they will get another player in because that's how Bournemouth do. But yeah, I think that we're going from Bournemouth being potential Conference League quad qualifiers to now Bournemouth being in the sort of 12 to 14 vortex going.
- [52:34]
Matt Davis Adams
Forward. Onus maybe then on Michael B. Jordan and co to focus on incomings as well as outgoings next month. And now then New Year's Day, Thomas Frank returns to his old stomping ground as spurs go to Brentford. Thanks to producer Jay for using the phrase stomping ground there. What kind of reception is Thomas Frank gonna get, do you think, Carl? I wonder if maybe the Brentford fans will go more down the respectful applause route given that their team are doing per perfectly fine under his.
- [53:02]
Stu James
Successor. Possibly I would prefer it if they booed him just for atmosphere. That's the horrible, mean, petty part of me. My tongue is in my cheek a little bit. It's a small joke. Yeah. I think this game, this game has a potential for spice if the crowd wants to play into it. And I hope the Crowd does. I think there's a lot of drama here to be had, a lot of fun. A lot of chaos can be had here. So, yeah, I hope Brentford aren't too respectful and they try and apply some pressure onto Thomas Frank because I mean, Tottenham haven't played very well for the calendar year. So if you, if you try getting at them early, let's see what.
- [53:40]
Matt Davis Adams
Happens. Another good win away from home for Spurs. They've had a few of those this season, Stu. They might get another one here. But I mean, from Frank's perspective, he really needs to start doing stuff at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Right. If you're going to win spurs fans round, that's where you're going to do.
- [53:56]
Carl Anka
It. Yeah, that was a hard watch yesterday, Matt. Oh my God. And I will watch any football. Football, I mean, you know, that drives my wife mad. Not another game. And I stuck with it. But I mean, I was reading Jack Pitt Brooks piece this morning is very interesting. I didn't realize that Tottenham best away record in the league. You know, that really shocked me when I read that one five drawn two out of nine. Only three teams have got a worse home record and that's the bottom three. And unfortunately, as sort of Jack Wright's in his piece, Tottenham kind of looks like that are waiting when they play at home as well. And yeah, it's not. I don't know, maybe I'm being a bit romantic here. Maybe I'm thinking of Glenn Hoddle and Gazza and all that kind of stuff. I have this image in my head of how Tottenham should play with flair and they are a long, long way from that at the moment. I guess what you would say is they've lost some really good attacking players, you know, or they're missing some really good attacking players. Combination of the two. If you think of, you know, Kulasevsky song, Kane Madison. Yeah, that. That forward line doesn't look anything like that now. But it isn't just that. It's their whole way of playing. And you know, I read a little bit again, Jack, talking about what that Brentford spurs game will look like and I was thinking, yeah, that's not going to be one for the neutral, you know, that's that set piece heaven in it, let's be honest with you. And yeah, pretty turgid affair. Wait now that'll be a five. Five. I've. I've completely cursed it. But anyway, I, I think he has a lot of work to do, Frank. We. We know what he can do. He can set up teams really well. To be diffic. He can exploit weaknesses, he can be really good on set play. But Tottenham fans want more than that and I understand that. They want to see a team that's really, you know, easy on the eye, enjoyable to watch and they're a little away from that at this moment in.
- [55:39]
Matt Davis Adams
Time. They sure are. Right, let's go. Rapid fire through the rest of the games. Man United against Wolves Karl Reuben Amarin changed his formation. What's next minutes for Kobby Minu if and when he's.
- [55:50]
Stu James
Fit. Who to thunk it? Who'd have thunk it? He said it. So this was first tipped off by Laurie Whitwell ahead of the Bournemouth fixture that Reuben Amren had told staff a change is coming. He's now joking about playing with the back four. In press conferences he goes, if the player back four, we have to play with back four. I'm like, excuse me. So we'll see. It's not a back four all phases of the game. Much like even before it wasn't a back three during all phases of the game. It's really interesting that he's doing this now where he's lost two of his best attackers in Brian Mbumo and Maggiel at afcon, but they're cracking.
- [56:24]
Matt Davis Adams
Along.
- [56:24]
Stu James
Well. Manchester United look competent now and I'm just going to say it again. Manchester United look competent.
- [56:30]
Matt Davis Adams
Now. And that's enough for the moment. Burnley against Newcastle. Last time Burnley won this fixture, the only goal of the game was scored by a man who played for both sides. Can either of you tell me who said man was played for Burnley and for.
- [56:43]
Carl Anka
Newcastle? Chris.
- [56:44]
Matt Davis Adams
Wood. Chris woods is absolutely spot on, Stu. And that takes us nicely into Forest against Everton. Stu. This is must win for Forest, right? Given they've lost back to back games and Everton without a lot of their star men.
- [56:57]
Carl Anka
Here. Yeah, it is really. I mean, I think Burnley would have thought that's a missed opportunity. You know, when they drew against Everton the other day for the reasons you've just said that really depleted and I was interested. I was talking in the office to one of the editors yesterday about the relegation mix and I hadn't mentioned Forest at all. And he sort of just said to me, well, what about Forest? And in my head I'm just thinking they'll be fine, they'll be okay. You know, they've got a lot of good players. I think there's already been an upturn under dice, so. So it's a great opportunity for them to get what would be three.
- [57:28]
Matt Davis Adams
Really big points so very, very Jekyll and Hive are my team at the moment. It's very frustrating. At least I don't support West Ham, though, Carl. They're at home to Brighton. Seven games without a win. Does Nuno last the.
- [57:39]
Stu James
Season? He should. I don't think West Ham's problems can be laid at his feet. I think it can be laid at just horrendous recruitment and am. Forgive me for being blunt about this, this West Ham team is old and slow, profoundly ill equipped for the current moment of Premier League football. I know in October there was conversation about how this is going to be a big January transfer window and they might spend upwards of 150 million. But also partners going, do you trust west ham spending 150 million? Even if. Even. Even if it wasn't a winter window, even if you had time to properly think about it, do you trust that club to make correct decisions with only a month? Oh, my goodness. I don't think it's Nuno's fault in that. It's just a really bad squad. He's got much of a muchness. There's such a limited amount of things he can do with these substitutions as well. So I know he's been some shout. He's getting his subs wrong, you know. Well, look at the bench. Who are these guys? Sorry, that's.
- [58:40]
Matt Davis Adams
Mean. Not his fault. But also just wait a bit and wait for another job to come up and then you don't have to be West Ham manager. Lastly, all Stu palace against Fulham. Are Fulham good again or have they just played Burnley, Forest and West.
- [58:52]
Carl Anka
Ham? Yeah, I don't know what Fulham are, really. I. I don't know. You know, even that game on the weekend, Bowen had some good chances. Right. You know, it wasn't like a. Well, I guess it was in the end, a perfect away performance and result. But they're just there, aren't they? Fulham, I don't really know where they're going in the Premier League. And as for palace, that. That's just worrying. You know, I looked at them yesterday and they look what they are. A team that's knackered, that desperately needs some signings. Actually needed the signings in the summer and now they're running on empty a bit. And it was a shame because they had good opportunities yesterday, albeit they didn't play particularly well. So I'll go for a thrilling. Neil. Neil there.
- [59:35]
Matt Davis Adams
Matt. All right. Spoken like a true Oliver Glassner as it relates to Palace's lack of squad depth. Right. That's where we'll leave it for today. Loads of great games to look forward to across this match week. My thanks to Kar and to Stu and producer Jay and to you for listening. Enjoy the football and we'll catch up with you again.
- [59:52]
Carl Anka
Soon. You've been listening to the Athletic FC Podcast. The producer was Jay Beal and the presenter was Matt Davis Adams. Executive producers are Abby Patterson and Aidi Moorhead. The Athletic FC Podcast is an athletic media company production and proudly sponsored by.
- [60:08]
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- [61:19]
Carl Anka
Done. Par le tu francais Hablas.
- [61:23]
Stu James
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Stu James
Softer? Can I make my site.
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