December 17, 2024 • 38 mins
Welcome to the London Club Council! The FAN's Brett Blakemore and Robbie Rosenhaus are opposing fans in England's biggest rivalry. They talk about the results of the week, and the huge cup games midweek!
The guys on Twitter: @BrettKFAN @robbierosenhaus
The guys on Twitter: @BrettKFAN @robbierosenhaus
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
We're at it again. Welcome to another meeting of the
London Club Council. Now representing Tottenham Hotspur. In this corner
we do have Brett Blakemore and repping Arsenal is Robbie Rosenhaus.
So boys, let the banter begin. Welcome into another edition
of the London Club Council. I'm Brett blake More representing
(00:26):
Tottenham Hotspur with me as always representing the Arsenal. It's
Robbie Rosenhouse.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Hi, Robbie, Hi Brett. I think one of these weeks
we're going to have to kind of reveal some behind
the scenes footage as our many listeners don't know. Sometimes
we have to record this remotely, so we go on
a website and I get to see Brett smiling face
and break us to see my smiling face.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
And you managed to wear an Arsenal scarf every time. Funny,
I did we lose or draw?
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Which is what Arsenal did. We'll start with them before
we get to your club, Tottenham, and they're waxing of Southampton.
But no, it's good to be here for another week,
despite the ups and downs of my club and your club,
finishing the week on a high. But it's cup week.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Brett, It's cup week.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
It's Carabell Cup week. But again, before we get to
a little bit of the preview as to what happened,
let's kind of review the week that was. And Arsenal
draw nil nil against Everton at home. Did not create
a lot from open play, had a lot of possession,
but Everton really did a good job of playing some
(01:40):
good defensive football. They did not allow a ton of
great chances. Arsenal had a couple where Pickford was stood
up and really was up to the task. I mean,
he's not an England international for no reason. I mean
he is still a top keeper and I expect him
to play well. Arsenal still had no excuse for not
(02:03):
getting one by him with all the possession that they had.
Everton would have signed for a point before the season
and they would have signed for a point that morning
and that's what they got. And it's been a disappointing
run here, despite them not dropping full points. A couple
of draws here in the last few games, despite the
European form has me concerned just a tad Brett.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Yeah, I mean, when I'm looking at the stats, it's
all read seventy seven percent possession and the XG. You know,
I've been ripping on you guys for not having any
open play XG. Well you your open play XG was
much better relatively to the last couple of fixtures. Well
one point zero five open play. Your set play XG
(02:44):
was actually zero point one. So there was nothing really
on that front. But the XG for open play was
actually a little bit better for you guys. So is
it just a keeper standing on their head? Do you
think it's the whole sitting low block dice ball? What
do you think was the biggest contributor of that.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Well, the problem is a lot of what they're trying
to do attack wise has been down the right channel,
and a lot of their injuries, whether it be to
Ben White or to Califiori or to Zinchenko that they've
(03:23):
they've really forced players to play in positions that they're
not supposed to really play in. I mean, I don't
like Thomas Party as a right back, and it seems
like Arteta he made five subs in that match, and
it was he was basically throwing spaghetti up against the
wall and seeing if it was going to stick. I mean,
(03:43):
that's exactly what I texted a friend of mine, an
Arsenal fellow Arsenal fan during the match that I said,
I said, what is he doing? I said, interesting? Bringing
up Now. I understand Odegard was not great in the
first hour of the game, but I mean he's still
one of your most, if not your most creative player
in the middle of the park, and I just felt
like it needed that one moment of brilliance. It did
(04:09):
not need him coming off the pitch, and I thought
that despite him not having a first, you know, sixty
minutes of brilliance and not creating a ton, there's always
room because as we've seen in some of these matches,
they have turned it on in the second half and
scored some goals, whether it be from set pieces or not.
(04:30):
The five subs really confused me. I mean, taking Rice
and Ordigard off at the same time, I scratch my head.
They have problems going down the left. It's very one sided.
But this is a team Brett just overall. I mean
putting this result aside. I mean, I'd much rather have
it this way, where I'm struggling to score goals in bunches.
(04:56):
I mean they have done that. I mean Lisbon Monaco
West tam You know they won five nil. But the
way the Arsenal used to be six seven years ago,
I mean they were leaking goals for fun. I mean
I can remember a game when they lost to Manchester United.
I don't know about eight ten years ago, eight two.
(05:17):
I mean they lost to Liverpool at Hanfield, I think
six nil. I just, I mean they were leaking goals.
This version of Arsenal and their defense is awesome, and
I really like that they built from the back. They
got rid of Ramsdale and they went with Raya and
again rams is a fan favorite, but I know that
(05:38):
ray is good. It's not like he was Chop Liver.
And Arsenal right now have allowed fifteen goals Brett, which
is you know, it's it's pretty good. It's second in
the league next to Liverpool in terms of goals against.
So I just think that defensively they're playing really well,
but they really could use some more creativity in the
(05:58):
final third and they just haven't been getting it recently domestically.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
I just, I mean, I'm happy for you that you
guys got the clean sheet and the defense is so good,
but you have to score there. I mean that that
I believe. I agree that anything but three points would
be a disaster. I think was disaster. Disappointment was the word.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Disappoint disappointment, and that is that is a fact that
doesn't change. I'm not trying to sugarcoat it. I'm just
trying to kind of tell you where my mind is
at this point, where it's the squad is still has
the defensive kind of backbone that's not going anywhere, Like
(06:39):
Saliba and Gabrielle are, if not the best center back
duo in the league next to maybe what they have
going on in Liverpool there. But I just I think
that the way that the team is structured, they're crying
out for a number nine. And everybody has said that,
and that's what every critic wants to kind of throw
(07:02):
at Arteta that he thinks that Havertz is good in
that role or that Jay Seuss is gonna score goals.
The facts remain that Havertz has been good too, okay,
And there are some matches when you don't notice him,
and Jay Sus has one goal in like thirty matches,
but he does a lot of stuff that helps in
(07:23):
creating chances. They just don't finish them off. I think
they need some more youth maybe playing one airy do
you see Lewis Kelly playing. He contributed to one of
those goals from open play the other day in Europe.
So the talent is there. It's just a matter of
(07:45):
kind of putting the pieces together. Chelsea have done a
great job of doing that this season. It's been more
stop start and it really stinks because if they were
playing the way that they had the last couple of seasons,
there's no doubt about it, they'd be on top of
the league right now, Brett. And that's what's kind of
frustrating is that their form, especially two years ago. I
mean they would have been running away with the league now,
(08:06):
but unfortunately they picked a spell where they just not
getting those results. And we'll see if they have enough
goals in the in the second half of the season
to compete for the title. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
I'm looking through some stats right now for the league.
I mean goals per match. Arsenal rank fifth in the league,
trailing behind Chelsea at one, Spurs at to Liverpool three,
Brentford of all people at four. So I mean good,
I mean clean sheets, you're up there. Goals conceded per match.
(08:41):
Like you said, you're up there tied for first goals
conceded with Liverpool go figure. But like even like shots
on target per match, you're sixth behind Bourne, myth and
then some of the top four and Spurs. So it's
I just feel like, I'm your defense is world class,
but I just think it's more of a problem than
(09:01):
you're you're putting on. I think you're really glossing over this.
I think there's a big problem that you're not scoring.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Yeah, no, without a doubt. And to add to that again,
I'm not trying to gloss over it. I'm not saying
it's not a problem. I just told you that you
know Havers and jaysus up front. Plus add in the fact,
one thing that we haven't talked about, one name we
haven't mentioned is bookay Osaka. Are they too over rely
(09:29):
ont on him? Now, you don't have the stats in
front of you. I don't have the stats in front
of me, but I can tell you from watching every article.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
You give me enough time, I'll find it.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
But I'm ahead, well, no, but I'm ninety nine percent
sure he's played almost, if not every single minute in
the Premier League. This year close to I mean, you
rarely see him getting subbed off. He plays ninety minutes,
he works his tail off, he's as fit as a fiddle.
That's like something that my grandfather would say. But he's
(09:58):
he's supremely resourceful, and he gets fouled all over the
pitch and he's involved in everything, and I think they
are over relying on him, and I wish I had
somebody down the other flank that can kind of match
his playmaking ability. But right now, whether it be Martinelli,
(10:18):
whether it be Tressard, it just it's just not working
down the left. And teams know that, so they set
up a lot of players on that right side, and
they they know where Arsenal's bread is buttered when they
set up those triangles, and they try and get in
in the mix there and and and counter the other way.
(10:40):
So they usually and then they usually meet resistance, which
is what kind of happened in the nil nil draw
against Everton.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
So I have some stats here. I believe this is
correct from what I'm looking at here. This is on
the fly stats. But from what I'm seeing, how many
games do you think he's played under forty five minutes
that could be zero, like anywhere from forty five minutes down.
How many games this season?
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Not many, not many at all, one I can count
on one hand. Yeah. I was just gonna say.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
You could you name which game it is he played
twenty eight minutes?
Speaker 2 (11:23):
No, I don't know off the top of my head.
Perhaps it was.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
It was in the competition we will see on Thursday.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Oh, okay, so it was.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
It was against the original Lily Whites, Preston North End.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Oh, Preston North End right now? Five nil? Okay, yes,
that was. That was away from home at Preston North End.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
Yeah, so he played twenty eight minutes. But even so,
he played twenty eight minutes. There's not a single game
on here that I can see since the start of
the season, since the first game against Brighton where he
hasn't played like they've rotated him. He's played every single
game at least forty five minutes, except for that game
against President, which he still played the twenty eight minutes.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
As I've just said, you know, are they a one
man team? I think that's harsh to say that. But
are they over relying on him? I don't think it's
harsh to say that at all. I mean when it
comes to assists and goals. I mean, he's a fantastic player,
don't get me wrong. But compare that to let's say,
you know, Tottenham in the past when they had Harry Kane.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
I mean that he called him the Harry Kane team.
I believe he said, yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
I mean, we'll think about it, Brett. I mean when
you first started watching the team, I mean, how often
did he have to come across the midway line to
go get possession of the ball because the midfield just
wasn't up to snuff like and no, no, seriously, you know,
he he would have to do a lot of the work.
And obviously Sun was you know, at the peak of
his powers down the left hand side and and and
(12:54):
he was fantastic down down that channel. But I mean
just I mean just up the middle. I mean he
would have to come and and and win balls. And
that's not you know, at in the ordinary for an
out and out striker. But he just kept doing it.
And just he wasn't exactly you know, a guy who
can run around for you know, for ninety minutes. I
mean he's not you know, he's not Sokker, but you
(13:16):
know he's still you know, one of the all time
great players, but as it may just being overlying on
that one player. I mean, you see Chelsea, they're not
overlying on Cole Palmer. I mean Nico Jackson's having a
great season. I mean Enzo has started to come into
the mix here. That big goal against your squad obviously,
but it's it's good to have goals coming from a
(13:41):
lot of different places. And that's what I saw when
I went over there two months ago against a Southampton
team which we'll get to in a couple of minutes
here against your your side that's, if not the worst
in the league, definitely a bottom three candidate. I mean
they just fired their manager. But Arsenal got a goal
(14:05):
and two assists from Lucay Osaka. The other two goals
coming from Havertz and uh And and from Martinelli. So
that's what I want to see. I want to see
multiple names on the on the on the goal sheet,
and what did we see for Tottenham this weekend. I
know Madison had a brace, but we saw multiple names
on the goal sheets. That's what you love to see. Yep.
(14:29):
So in any sport, whether it be the wild with
Caprice off, whether it be the Arsenal with Sokka, whether
it be Tottenham with Harry Kane. You never want to
rely on one player or baseball with with a certain
bat that's not that's not hitting at the time, like
then the rest of the team doesn't hit. I mean,
I know this is all cliche stuff, but it really
(14:50):
is true with Arsenal. I mean, I do think that
they need to be more creative in the middle of
the park and and order Guard came back, gave them
a little spark and now they've hit a little bit
of a lull. But they'll take on Crystal Palace in
the Cup. They'll take on Crystal Palace this weekend again,
back to back, which is kind of weird. It happens
sometimes it does from time to time where you'll play
(15:11):
the same team twice in a row. But right now,
I'm okay with where they're at. But I would have
much rather had the three points on the weekend.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
Well, I think that's enough Arsenal.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Before I think I think, I think so, I will,
I will just say this, which is kind of odd
to me, and not to use a pun there, but
popping up on my screen here, the odds for the
Caravell Cup as we get two, as we get two
Spurs okay, yes, and.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Spurs who defeated Southampton five nil. Southampton is still in
the Caravell Cup, which is the real yea and they
are forty to one the longest odds to win the
Caravell Cup, and Tottenham sit at nine to two. They
are four and a half to one, tied with Newcastle
(16:05):
and the top two teams are at about three to
one are Arsenal and Liverpool. Just popped up on my
screen here as we kind of transition from Arsenal to Tottenham,
and you couldn't be happier with the performance from your team.
It doesn't matter if you're playing a pub side, if
you're playing Southampton, because at this point, Brett, whether it's City,
whether it's Southampton, you're getting those type of results, those blowouts,
(16:29):
and you know that they still have it in them
and maybe they can use this. I think you're hoping
as a springboard to get them through this cup competition
and then on their way in the league. I assume
that I just took the words out of your mouth,
but is it more wishing and hoping or do you
actually think that this is a turning point here for
your football club.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
I think trying to predict Spurs is a losing effort.
Say you just at this point, but I'll say this,
There is no like, oh well it was just Southampton.
Oh well there they are relegation side like, none of that.
It is fully because we've lost the relegation signs so
(17:09):
any progress exactly. So and Lester, well, they drew that game.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
They drew, they blew it, but they played, but they
played terrible in the second half a.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Correct, So I'll take any progress. And not only that,
but Jed Spence gets a start and I think thirty
three seconds in gets an assist since Madison in and
that's what they needed. They needed that because Southampton was
on the brink of utter morale, collapse.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Mutiny, mutiny on the bounty exactly.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
So the fact that they got out early, I mean
not just it killed the game off. I mean even
one nill I thought it might have killed the game off.
But at the time, in the moment, I was like,
more and more and more because it's Spurs and we
need as much as we can get. But looking back
on it, the game was probably dead at one nill
and they just continued to roll Madison with the brace.
(18:00):
Deckie gets one sar At a great goal, Sonny As
a goal and two assists. So the only l of
the night was that Destiny felt a little tightness in
his squad and we were trying to rotate Poro for
the game on Thursday against United, the Cup game that
we'll get to and Poro had to come in at
the twenty eighth minute, which stinks. So that's he had
(18:24):
to play it, which is fine, but you know, I
would have much rather preferred to rotate him. But it
was just an all out blitz the entire time. I've
never seen a NaN's team kind of let off the gas,
and I'd say probably around this seventy seventh minute they
kind of did. They were like, all right, we're done,
we're putting in, We're getting the Spurs debut and Alfree Dorrington,
(18:47):
Timo came on. Lancashire got some time. He's one of
our own, he's one of our own, Will lank Share,
he's one of our own, so he got some time.
A new chance has emerged. Did you hear the new
chance that? Because it's always been you know, we want
Levy out, Yes, we want lev out, you know, and
that's the same thing over and over again, but now
(19:09):
a new one, which Spurs reporters have said that it
was so catchy that people in the press room were
humming it because they couldn't get stuck out of there,
couldn't get it out of their head. Do you know
what I'm referring to, Robbie?
Speaker 2 (19:23):
No, but you're gonna tell all our listeners and I
right now, or sing it to us.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
It goes, I don't care about Levy, he don't care
about me. All I care about is cool to sav
Ski well too, and it just repeats over and over again.
So it's it's ripping lev while also backing the team
at the same time. And they were singing Ange's name
all night as well, so I thought it was brilliant.
(19:53):
Watching the postgame highlights, they managed to edit out every
one of those chants. Funny how that works. So yeah,
I mean, I'm I backed them. I you know, I've
I've said my bit on Levi a thousand times. But
as far as this game in particular goes, I thought
it was exactly what Spurs needed. Yeah, will it be
a jumping off point, I don't know. And who knows.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
I think you you just hit the nail on the head.
And there's not really much else to take in this
game other than the fact that the best thing you
can take from it is that when you have a
team that is down and out and a team that
is in complete disarray and you score, like you said,
within a minute of scoring. Now, I don't think the
(20:34):
game is over at one nil. Okay, no game is
over at one nail. But when they kept scoring and
it becomes two and three, then you know, it's it's
basically an exercise for the for the next hour.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
I mean, the group Cha was getting blown up with
with gifts because I couldn't keep up with all the
goals ever coming.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Yeah, I had. I had to put my phone on
silent about six pm on Sunday. But no, no, it
was I think that was the best part of it,
just that they they not so much that they piled
on because that was kind of cosmetic and listen, great goals,
especially Madison a second goal, but the fact that they
scored so quickly and just got on them and kept
(21:14):
at it, and I guess sometimes it's not that easy.
And as we've seen from Tottenham, I mean, you can't.
You can't put a dollar, a pound anything on that
team to win, loser draw, because you, like you said,
you really don't know what you're gonna get, but who knows.
Maybe by the end of the season. I mean, here's
the thing, here's the best part about it. Like there's
(21:36):
still half a season to go. You're still involved in
in all these in all these competitions, and they're going
to play a ton of games. Yes, like last season
they didn't play a ton. I mean, you know the
loss of Forest which left you scratching your head in
the in the.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Cup they are four right now? Yeah right, it's not
and we've seen in years past that that is not
an over comable feet even a couple of months left
in this season.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
And not only is the pictureless going to get fast
and furious here, but if if Tottenham beats the United
on Thursday, the Caramell Cup semi finals are two legs,
that's home and away. Europa League, which I know you
(22:23):
weren't thrilled with. Although they did get that late goal. Listen, goot,
it was fine and that atmosphere I thought they played okay,
I thought one one was was just just to kind
of mention that game. I thought it was fitting of
how they I mean they listen, Forster made an amazing save.
They they they could have lost. Should they have lost,
(22:44):
you can argue that, but I thought one one was
not the worst result for either side, although Rangers were
I mean, they would have exploded had they ended up,
had they ended up getting the victory, So it was
a little disappointing for their fans and kind of it's
kind of a saving point there as they stay right
outside that top eight and that's another two games that
(23:05):
they want to avoid playing. Although they have to play
a Carabell Cup semi final. You don't want to play
those two extra games against the likes of a team
from Bulgaria or Sweden or Norway or just to get
by which and then end up going on to the quarterfinals.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
So I think they's a good spot for Europa. They're
a point out of I mean, they're tied with Rangers,
but with gold differential, they're out of it. But Rangers
are in that final eighth spot and they both have
eleven points, and I think that the last two Europa
League games for Spurs a little bit more favorable than
the way.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Well, yeah, they Yeah, they go to Germany and they
host the Swedish side that's that's not very good, so
they should be able to get results there and then
comfortably put them in the quarterfinals and then they can
kind of sit and wait to see who they'll play.
But I honestly think that that is their best path
to a trophy this year. I mean, you're sitting there
with you know, with with you I did on Thursday,
(24:00):
which just we're going to talk about them in a second.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
I think that's possible to win. I really do it.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
It is, but I think it's more likely that you
dominate your way through some weaker European competition to get
yourself to play an Italian or a Spanish side in
let's say a semi final, and then maybe overcome that
and then play another German, Spanish or Italian side in
that or you know, a Cinderella or who knows, just
(24:27):
somebody that you'd be favored against, because I think not.
I mean, if you knock off Manchester United, you're still
probably going to have to get through two of Arsenal,
Liverpool and Newcastle, which is going to be no small feat,
especially over two legs, especially if it's my club because
you know that the electric Yeah. Could can you imagine that? Yeah?
(24:52):
I mean it would actually be even better if it
was in the if it was actually in the in
the actual final, Yes, because then and we'd have to
find a board op Kara for about or I don't know,
I don't know about seventy seventy two hours, and I'd
have to get on the WhatsApp with with some of
(25:13):
my contacts over there.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
Because on both sides of the aisle those.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
Yeah, those tickets, yes, because those tickets obviously they do sell,
those are not.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Could you imagine if we did that?
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Yeah? Yeah, can you imagine that? I'm going to be
sitting in opposite ends of Wembley going to the uh
the chick King after the game near Tottenham Stadium to celebrate.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
I'm going to expose myself a little bit. If if
United and Spurs and in a draw, is that a
replay or do they go that the penns? Is that
extra I don't know.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
So so they got so they got rid of they
got rid of extra time. I believe it. I believe
it just goes to penalties.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
I didn't know if it was this far in, if
they'd change it or not, but we'll see.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
I think I believe the semi the this round is
goes to penalties, and I believe once you get to
the semi finals, the two legged ties those are aggregate.
I believe. Yeah, I do think.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
I do think if we beat United, we're going to
be taking this competition way more seriously than you guys
Arsenal by you guys mean Arsenal and Liverpool. I don't
think they're going to play there full eleven in that.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
I disagree Arteta is under pressure to win a trophy.
He's Nie Arnie Slot's not, but Arteta is. Why is
he not under pressure to win a trophy because he's
competing Chelsea. Chelsea have been through four or five managers
since Ourtet has been hired, and they're above Arsenal right
now on the table. You don't think that his fan
(26:42):
base sees.
Speaker 1 (26:43):
That, Well, won a trophy and he still got sacked,
So what does it matter?
Speaker 2 (26:48):
Well, that, but that, but that. But the team was
playing like garbage, playing LIKEBA and.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
They still are. Marcus Rashford wants out, He's like, get
me out of here.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
So and they and they just beat City with an
amazing comeback. City goal to win it there as he
controls the long ball and then puts it past the keeper.
Just fantastic scenes there. I don't really care for EA
the Manchester team, but seeing one sticking in the other
is very entertaining for me. It didn't matter which way
it happened. I mean, you can go back twelve years
(27:18):
ago when Aguero scored the final goal in the ninety
fourth minute or whatever it was to beat United as
the United players like running around the pitch lick and
then all of a sudden they got word that City
had scored across town and the etty had basically came
down on itself.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
And yeah, I think I'd rather have a city. I
think I'd rather have City get the best of United
than the other way around. I feel like United fans
are a bunch of pratts.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
You know, well, well, United has a history and they're
you know, the most winningest club in English football and
city or kind of kind of the new kids on
the block, or as they call them, the quote nosy neighbors,
so nosy or no sorry noisy neighbors, not nosy noisy.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
Getting in their business could be noisy.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
Rue that. But that United City game was want to
behold and also may give United a little bounce in
their step as they'll take on your club this week
on Thursday.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Yeah, so that that's arguably the biggest game of perst season.
Like I think you can make a case for that.
Like now, obviously North London Derby and Chelsea at home
are like big games for the supporters, but like as
far as getting a trophy at getting something, I could
argue that this game on Thursday is the biggest game
of per season and it could be the biggest game
(28:31):
of per season for the entire season. It very well
could be, depending on how they do in Europa, So
we'll see. I do want to quick rapid fire on
some of the other clubs here before we get out
of here, if that's okay. Chelsea two to one winners
in a heated you know, a hated rivalry West London Derby,
(28:51):
same side of town. You know, they just hate each other.
I'm being tongue firmly in cheek. Chelsea two to one
winners over Brentford. Kind of weird. They didn't put the
game away earlier. Kukarea gets a second yellow. That sucks.
Don't feel bad for him at all, but he does
get the goal to put them up one nil. Nico
Jackson gets the second in the eightieth minute. They kind
(29:12):
of leave it a little long, a little play with
their food territory potentially, but sixty two percent possession in buemo,
they always get one. Brentford, like I mentioned earlier in
the stats that they're one of the league's top scores
despite them being at where they are on the table.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
They are oh yeah, well, yeah, Brentford's up there.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
Yep, So I think a little bit of er. But
you still win and you're right there in the table.
So I'm if I'm a Chelsea fan, I would be scum.
But if I'm a Chelsea fan, I wouldn't be concerned
at all. I'd be like, yeah, we won, no big deal.
That's my take on that.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
Yeah, Tottenham sit second in the table with thirty six
goals scored. Chelsea sit one above them. Yeah, thirty seven
goals scored, so we've seen they've had no problem putting
the ball in the net. They can still leave goals
at the back, as we saw in the first fifteen.
It's the game at Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium, although that was
more kind of you know, the freakish mistakes by not
(30:08):
wearing the right cleats on a certain.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
You know, the the second right goal differential. There's Liverpool
at eighteen, Chelsea at eighteen, Spurs.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
At seventeen seventeen.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
Yeah, and we are where we are there, yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Right, yeah, exactly. So it just it just goes to
show you that the the the volatility and the inconsistencies
of your club have have led you to that because
there have been matches when I mean that that place.
I mean there have been you know, four and four nail,
five nail, the Villa game, the Southampton game, west Ham
West Ham, and then there have been esli when when
(30:47):
you've gotten blown out. I mean there was that early
morning game here here in the States when they lost
to Brighton. They lost, you know, I mean, I.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
Mean a lot of the loss were like one nil,
you know, like like Ipswich one nil. I think Bournemouth
was one nil personal one nil. So yeah, and then
we lost technically by one to Chelsea, even despite it
being a garbage time goal to get it within one.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
But that's true anyway again regardless, Yeah, and Chelsea are
the high scorers in the in the league, and the
big debate this week is you know, are they in
the title race? I mean, we don't have to give
way too many thoughts on this because we're I mean,
we're not even halfway through the season. But if if
anybody wants to tell you they aren't, they're just being coy.
They're lying. I mean, of course they are. They're the
(31:36):
highest scoring team in the league. They're playing probably the
best football domestically consistently of any of the teams, and
they overcame a two nil deficit like it was nothing
at Tottenham, although it was obviously helped by I mean,
I don't even want to relive. Yeah, let's not the
defensive breakdown move on stuff, right, But whatever the case
(31:58):
may be, they you know, they did they did the
job onto they pulled their pants down basically, all right,
and moving on that result, yeah, well that result is
in the books, and so is this Chelsea win over Brentford.
And now they sit second in the table. They are
not in the Carabo Cup. They have been they have
been eliminated, but they are alive and well in the
Conference League. After going to Kazakhstan on a sixteen hour
(32:21):
round trip flight. I mean, those those poor fans, but
they must be rich fans because to a fourth flight
the Kazakhstan. I don't know. I don't know what their
I mean that travel budget is my goodness. That game
they had to have chartered. I assume that they've chartered
flights there for the fans. That's what I have to assume.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
That game was colder than the coldest game I've ever
been to at lambeau Field. That's how cold that came was.
So I hope they trust form a couple two other
clubs I want to get to before we get out here,
we should touch on the league leaders. We really haven't
touched on Liverpool that much because they keep winning. But
they did drop points to Fulham at home. Funny enough,
(32:59):
a straight red hard to Andrew Robertson. Antony Robertson or
Anthony Robinson is the best left back in the league.
Fight me if you want. The guy is UnrealEd. He's
probably gonna be playing for Liverpool next season. He is
amazing and he showed it today or he showed it
the game. Two assists. But they how do Liverpool drop
(33:21):
points there? I mean, I get the red card and
they do fight back and equalize with Jodah late but yeah,
I don't know. I feel like that's that's a pretty
big l if I'm a Liverpool fan.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
No, I think it's a point. That's a good point
for them. I mean going down to ten men, yeah,
against an in form fulham side when you're when your
form isn't you know, the the greatest at the moment.
I mean, they eked by a Spanish side midweek and
(33:54):
I know they have a perfect record in the Champions
League right now, but they didn't look tremendous in that
in that match, and I think some of their players
are getting a little tired, little worn down. You see
some of the changes that that slot's making. He made
some changes in that match, and I think he'll continue
to rotate the squad, especially this week in the Caravell Cup.
(34:15):
They're still alive and they'll.
Speaker 1 (34:17):
They get to Southampton.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
Yeah tomorrow against Southampton, so they should cruise and then
you'll have Liverpool in the semi finals as potentially one
of Tottenham's opponents or Arsenal's opponents if they should make
it there. But I mean Liverpool are They're They're right
where I expected them to be a couple of weeks ago.
They're still they're still on top of the table and
(34:38):
I didn't think that they were going to go anywhere,
but they definitely can show some more consistent results for sure.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
So we expected them to be there. Who we didn't
expect And I think it's high time that we gave
this club a little credit because it's almost Christmas, two
weeks away from Christmas and Nottingham Forest are in the
top four. And the last two games they beat United
at a old Trafford three to two in the Premier
League and then they beat aston Villa at home two
(35:05):
to one and they're in the top four. Like I
don't I need to sit down this Saturday and watch
Forest first Brentford start to finish whistle to whistle because
I need to know what the hell's going on. They
just keep pumping out results man. And yeah they lost
the City the two games before that three to zero.
That's City for you, not recently, but still you're in
(35:28):
the top four at Christmas time and you're Nottingham Forest.
I mean, what else can you ask for, Robbie. I
think it's time I acknowledge them.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
No, they they have some very quality players in their squad.
I mean Anthony Alongo was a guy who United basically
kind of tossed to the side, and he was viewed
at one point as the front line successors with Marcus Rashford,
who we had some news today that he wants to
leave the club. But Alanga is thriving at Nottingham Forest
(35:59):
and maybe that's what Marcus Rashford sees because when the
two of them were there, I remember thinking, well, you
know this, this United side is young, and it is
and and is is attack minded. But Rashford probably going
to go somewhere else, and and along has done a
great job along with Chris Wood who who came over
(36:20):
with a with a I think it was a thirty
million transfer free from Newcastle, big striker and he's done
a great job scoring goals for them. They're solid at
the back, I mean, Morgan, Gibbs, White and they they
have some good pieces and they really work together in
that new No system, and they they find a way
(36:41):
to score early and score late. I mean they've they've
they've they have a habit of doing both this season
and kudos to them. I don't know if they're going
to stay near the top four for the entire season,
but I mean if they're in it with three or
four games to go and they have a chance to
nick forth from from uh you know, let's say a
uh you know, Manchester City or or or or Arsenal
(37:05):
or Chelsea whoever even Tottenham or United. What we'll see. Yeah,
So I I just think Forest so far have have
done a great job and new Know right now is
the manager of the season, no.
Speaker 1 (37:18):
Doubt about it, which is just a wild sentence to
say that Neto is the manager of the season.
Speaker 2 (37:24):
But yeah, we're about to play Carabell Cup games and
he basically had a cup of Cariboo.
Speaker 1 (37:30):
With yes for the for the local listeners in Minnesota.
So anyways, I think that about wraps it up the
biggest game of season for my club, I think on Thursday,
and we'll see where the draw may lie. Will we
see two more extra North London Darby's or will Spurs
crash out and everyone rips some even though they made
(37:51):
it to the quarterfinals. But we'll be back next week
to recap all the action this has been The London
Club Council
We're at it again. Welcome to another meeting of the
London Club Council. Now representing Tottenham Hotspur. In this corner
we do have Brett Blakemore and repping Arsenal is Robbie Rosenhaus.
So boys, let the banter begin. Welcome into another edition
of the London Club Council. I'm Brett blake More representing
(00:26):
Tottenham Hotspur with me as always representing the Arsenal. It's
Robbie Rosenhouse.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Hi, Robbie, Hi Brett. I think one of these weeks
we're going to have to kind of reveal some behind
the scenes footage as our many listeners don't know. Sometimes
we have to record this remotely, so we go on
a website and I get to see Brett smiling face
and break us to see my smiling face.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
And you managed to wear an Arsenal scarf every time. Funny,
I did we lose or draw?
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Which is what Arsenal did. We'll start with them before
we get to your club, Tottenham, and they're waxing of Southampton.
But no, it's good to be here for another week,
despite the ups and downs of my club and your club,
finishing the week on a high. But it's cup week.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Brett, It's cup week.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
It's Carabell Cup week. But again, before we get to
a little bit of the preview as to what happened,
let's kind of review the week that was. And Arsenal
draw nil nil against Everton at home. Did not create
a lot from open play, had a lot of possession,
but Everton really did a good job of playing some
(01:40):
good defensive football. They did not allow a ton of
great chances. Arsenal had a couple where Pickford was stood
up and really was up to the task. I mean,
he's not an England international for no reason. I mean
he is still a top keeper and I expect him
to play well. Arsenal still had no excuse for not
(02:03):
getting one by him with all the possession that they had.
Everton would have signed for a point before the season
and they would have signed for a point that morning
and that's what they got. And it's been a disappointing
run here, despite them not dropping full points. A couple
of draws here in the last few games, despite the
European form has me concerned just a tad Brett.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Yeah, I mean, when I'm looking at the stats, it's
all read seventy seven percent possession and the XG. You know,
I've been ripping on you guys for not having any
open play XG. Well you your open play XG was
much better relatively to the last couple of fixtures. Well
one point zero five open play. Your set play XG
(02:44):
was actually zero point one. So there was nothing really
on that front. But the XG for open play was
actually a little bit better for you guys. So is
it just a keeper standing on their head? Do you
think it's the whole sitting low block dice ball? What
do you think was the biggest contributor of that.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Well, the problem is a lot of what they're trying
to do attack wise has been down the right channel,
and a lot of their injuries, whether it be to
Ben White or to Califiori or to Zinchenko that they've
(03:23):
they've really forced players to play in positions that they're
not supposed to really play in. I mean, I don't
like Thomas Party as a right back, and it seems
like Arteta he made five subs in that match, and
it was he was basically throwing spaghetti up against the
wall and seeing if it was going to stick. I mean,
(03:43):
that's exactly what I texted a friend of mine, an
Arsenal fellow Arsenal fan during the match that I said,
I said, what is he doing? I said, interesting? Bringing
up Now. I understand Odegard was not great in the
first hour of the game, but I mean he's still
one of your most, if not your most creative player
in the middle of the park, and I just felt
like it needed that one moment of brilliance. It did
(04:09):
not need him coming off the pitch, and I thought
that despite him not having a first, you know, sixty
minutes of brilliance and not creating a ton, there's always
room because as we've seen in some of these matches,
they have turned it on in the second half and
scored some goals, whether it be from set pieces or not.
(04:30):
The five subs really confused me. I mean, taking Rice
and Ordigard off at the same time, I scratch my head.
They have problems going down the left. It's very one sided.
But this is a team Brett just overall. I mean
putting this result aside. I mean, I'd much rather have
it this way, where I'm struggling to score goals in bunches.
(04:56):
I mean they have done that. I mean Lisbon Monaco
West tam You know they won five nil. But the
way the Arsenal used to be six seven years ago,
I mean they were leaking goals for fun. I mean
I can remember a game when they lost to Manchester United.
I don't know about eight ten years ago, eight two.
(05:17):
I mean they lost to Liverpool at Hanfield, I think
six nil. I just, I mean they were leaking goals.
This version of Arsenal and their defense is awesome, and
I really like that they built from the back. They
got rid of Ramsdale and they went with Raya and
again rams is a fan favorite, but I know that
(05:38):
ray is good. It's not like he was Chop Liver.
And Arsenal right now have allowed fifteen goals Brett, which
is you know, it's it's pretty good. It's second in
the league next to Liverpool in terms of goals against.
So I just think that defensively they're playing really well,
but they really could use some more creativity in the
(05:58):
final third and they just haven't been getting it recently domestically.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
I just, I mean, I'm happy for you that you
guys got the clean sheet and the defense is so good,
but you have to score there. I mean that that
I believe. I agree that anything but three points would
be a disaster. I think was disaster. Disappointment was the word.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Disappoint disappointment, and that is that is a fact that
doesn't change. I'm not trying to sugarcoat it. I'm just
trying to kind of tell you where my mind is
at this point, where it's the squad is still has
the defensive kind of backbone that's not going anywhere, Like
(06:39):
Saliba and Gabrielle are, if not the best center back
duo in the league next to maybe what they have
going on in Liverpool there. But I just I think
that the way that the team is structured, they're crying
out for a number nine. And everybody has said that,
and that's what every critic wants to kind of throw
(07:02):
at Arteta that he thinks that Havertz is good in
that role or that Jay Seuss is gonna score goals.
The facts remain that Havertz has been good too, okay,
And there are some matches when you don't notice him,
and Jay Sus has one goal in like thirty matches,
but he does a lot of stuff that helps in
(07:23):
creating chances. They just don't finish them off. I think
they need some more youth maybe playing one airy do
you see Lewis Kelly playing. He contributed to one of
those goals from open play the other day in Europe.
So the talent is there. It's just a matter of
(07:45):
kind of putting the pieces together. Chelsea have done a
great job of doing that this season. It's been more
stop start and it really stinks because if they were
playing the way that they had the last couple of seasons,
there's no doubt about it, they'd be on top of
the league right now, Brett. And that's what's kind of
frustrating is that their form, especially two years ago. I
mean they would have been running away with the league now,
(08:06):
but unfortunately they picked a spell where they just not
getting those results. And we'll see if they have enough
goals in the in the second half of the season
to compete for the title. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
I'm looking through some stats right now for the league.
I mean goals per match. Arsenal rank fifth in the league,
trailing behind Chelsea at one, Spurs at to Liverpool three,
Brentford of all people at four. So I mean good,
I mean clean sheets, you're up there. Goals conceded per match.
(08:41):
Like you said, you're up there tied for first goals
conceded with Liverpool go figure. But like even like shots
on target per match, you're sixth behind Bourne, myth and
then some of the top four and Spurs. So it's
I just feel like, I'm your defense is world class,
but I just think it's more of a problem than
(09:01):
you're you're putting on. I think you're really glossing over this.
I think there's a big problem that you're not scoring.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Yeah, no, without a doubt. And to add to that again,
I'm not trying to gloss over it. I'm not saying
it's not a problem. I just told you that you
know Havers and jaysus up front. Plus add in the fact,
one thing that we haven't talked about, one name we
haven't mentioned is bookay Osaka. Are they too over rely
(09:29):
ont on him? Now, you don't have the stats in
front of you. I don't have the stats in front
of me, but I can tell you from watching every article.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
You give me enough time, I'll find it.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
But I'm ahead, well, no, but I'm ninety nine percent
sure he's played almost, if not every single minute in
the Premier League. This year close to I mean, you
rarely see him getting subbed off. He plays ninety minutes,
he works his tail off, he's as fit as a fiddle.
That's like something that my grandfather would say. But he's
(09:58):
he's supremely resourceful, and he gets fouled all over the
pitch and he's involved in everything, and I think they
are over relying on him, and I wish I had
somebody down the other flank that can kind of match
his playmaking ability. But right now, whether it be Martinelli,
(10:18):
whether it be Tressard, it just it's just not working
down the left. And teams know that, so they set
up a lot of players on that right side, and
they they know where Arsenal's bread is buttered when they
set up those triangles, and they try and get in
in the mix there and and and counter the other way.
(10:40):
So they usually and then they usually meet resistance, which
is what kind of happened in the nil nil draw
against Everton.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
So I have some stats here. I believe this is
correct from what I'm looking at here. This is on
the fly stats. But from what I'm seeing, how many
games do you think he's played under forty five minutes
that could be zero, like anywhere from forty five minutes down.
How many games this season?
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Not many, not many at all, one I can count
on one hand. Yeah. I was just gonna say.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
You could you name which game it is he played
twenty eight minutes?
Speaker 2 (11:23):
No, I don't know off the top of my head.
Perhaps it was.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
It was in the competition we will see on Thursday.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Oh, okay, so it was.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
It was against the original Lily Whites, Preston North End.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Oh, Preston North End right now? Five nil? Okay, yes,
that was. That was away from home at Preston North End.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
Yeah, so he played twenty eight minutes. But even so,
he played twenty eight minutes. There's not a single game
on here that I can see since the start of
the season, since the first game against Brighton where he
hasn't played like they've rotated him. He's played every single
game at least forty five minutes, except for that game
against President, which he still played the twenty eight minutes.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
As I've just said, you know, are they a one
man team? I think that's harsh to say that. But
are they over relying on him? I don't think it's
harsh to say that at all. I mean when it
comes to assists and goals. I mean, he's a fantastic player,
don't get me wrong. But compare that to let's say,
you know, Tottenham in the past when they had Harry Kane.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
I mean that he called him the Harry Kane team.
I believe he said, yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
I mean, we'll think about it, Brett. I mean when
you first started watching the team, I mean, how often
did he have to come across the midway line to
go get possession of the ball because the midfield just
wasn't up to snuff like and no, no, seriously, you know,
he he would have to do a lot of the work.
And obviously Sun was you know, at the peak of
his powers down the left hand side and and and
(12:54):
he was fantastic down down that channel. But I mean
just I mean just up the middle. I mean he
would have to come and and and win balls. And
that's not you know, at in the ordinary for an
out and out striker. But he just kept doing it.
And just he wasn't exactly you know, a guy who
can run around for you know, for ninety minutes. I
mean he's not you know, he's not Sokker, but you
(13:16):
know he's still you know, one of the all time
great players, but as it may just being overlying on
that one player. I mean, you see Chelsea, they're not
overlying on Cole Palmer. I mean Nico Jackson's having a
great season. I mean Enzo has started to come into
the mix here. That big goal against your squad obviously,
but it's it's good to have goals coming from a
(13:41):
lot of different places. And that's what I saw when
I went over there two months ago against a Southampton
team which we'll get to in a couple of minutes
here against your your side that's, if not the worst
in the league, definitely a bottom three candidate. I mean
they just fired their manager. But Arsenal got a goal
(14:05):
and two assists from Lucay Osaka. The other two goals
coming from Havertz and uh And and from Martinelli. So
that's what I want to see. I want to see
multiple names on the on the on the goal sheet,
and what did we see for Tottenham this weekend. I
know Madison had a brace, but we saw multiple names
on the goal sheets. That's what you love to see. Yep.
(14:29):
So in any sport, whether it be the wild with
Caprice off, whether it be the Arsenal with Sokka, whether
it be Tottenham with Harry Kane. You never want to
rely on one player or baseball with with a certain
bat that's not that's not hitting at the time, like
then the rest of the team doesn't hit. I mean,
I know this is all cliche stuff, but it really
(14:50):
is true with Arsenal. I mean, I do think that
they need to be more creative in the middle of
the park and and order Guard came back, gave them
a little spark and now they've hit a little bit
of a lull. But they'll take on Crystal Palace in
the Cup. They'll take on Crystal Palace this weekend again,
back to back, which is kind of weird. It happens
sometimes it does from time to time where you'll play
(15:11):
the same team twice in a row. But right now,
I'm okay with where they're at. But I would have
much rather had the three points on the weekend.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
Well, I think that's enough Arsenal.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Before I think I think, I think so, I will,
I will just say this, which is kind of odd
to me, and not to use a pun there, but
popping up on my screen here, the odds for the
Caravell Cup as we get two, as we get two
Spurs okay, yes, and.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Spurs who defeated Southampton five nil. Southampton is still in
the Caravell Cup, which is the real yea and they
are forty to one the longest odds to win the
Caravell Cup, and Tottenham sit at nine to two. They
are four and a half to one, tied with Newcastle
(16:05):
and the top two teams are at about three to
one are Arsenal and Liverpool. Just popped up on my
screen here as we kind of transition from Arsenal to Tottenham,
and you couldn't be happier with the performance from your team.
It doesn't matter if you're playing a pub side, if
you're playing Southampton, because at this point, Brett, whether it's City,
whether it's Southampton, you're getting those type of results, those blowouts,
(16:29):
and you know that they still have it in them
and maybe they can use this. I think you're hoping
as a springboard to get them through this cup competition
and then on their way in the league. I assume
that I just took the words out of your mouth,
but is it more wishing and hoping or do you
actually think that this is a turning point here for
your football club.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
I think trying to predict Spurs is a losing effort.
Say you just at this point, but I'll say this,
There is no like, oh well it was just Southampton.
Oh well there they are relegation side like, none of that.
It is fully because we've lost the relegation signs so
(17:09):
any progress exactly. So and Lester, well, they drew that game.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
They drew, they blew it, but they played, but they
played terrible in the second half a.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Correct, So I'll take any progress. And not only that,
but Jed Spence gets a start and I think thirty
three seconds in gets an assist since Madison in and
that's what they needed. They needed that because Southampton was
on the brink of utter morale, collapse.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Mutiny, mutiny on the bounty exactly.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
So the fact that they got out early, I mean
not just it killed the game off. I mean even
one nill I thought it might have killed the game off.
But at the time, in the moment, I was like,
more and more and more because it's Spurs and we
need as much as we can get. But looking back
on it, the game was probably dead at one nill
and they just continued to roll Madison with the brace.
(18:00):
Deckie gets one sar At a great goal, Sonny As
a goal and two assists. So the only l of
the night was that Destiny felt a little tightness in
his squad and we were trying to rotate Poro for
the game on Thursday against United, the Cup game that
we'll get to and Poro had to come in at
the twenty eighth minute, which stinks. So that's he had
(18:24):
to play it, which is fine, but you know, I
would have much rather preferred to rotate him. But it
was just an all out blitz the entire time. I've
never seen a NaN's team kind of let off the gas,
and I'd say probably around this seventy seventh minute they
kind of did. They were like, all right, we're done,
we're putting in, We're getting the Spurs debut and Alfree Dorrington,
(18:47):
Timo came on. Lancashire got some time. He's one of
our own, he's one of our own, Will lank Share,
he's one of our own, so he got some time.
A new chance has emerged. Did you hear the new
chance that? Because it's always been you know, we want
Levy out, Yes, we want lev out, you know, and
that's the same thing over and over again, but now
(19:09):
a new one, which Spurs reporters have said that it
was so catchy that people in the press room were
humming it because they couldn't get stuck out of there,
couldn't get it out of their head. Do you know
what I'm referring to, Robbie?
Speaker 2 (19:23):
No, but you're gonna tell all our listeners and I
right now, or sing it to us.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
It goes, I don't care about Levy, he don't care
about me. All I care about is cool to sav
Ski well too, and it just repeats over and over again.
So it's it's ripping lev while also backing the team
at the same time. And they were singing Ange's name
all night as well, so I thought it was brilliant.
(19:53):
Watching the postgame highlights, they managed to edit out every
one of those chants. Funny how that works. So yeah,
I mean, I'm I backed them. I you know, I've
I've said my bit on Levi a thousand times. But
as far as this game in particular goes, I thought
it was exactly what Spurs needed. Yeah, will it be
a jumping off point, I don't know. And who knows.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
I think you you just hit the nail on the head.
And there's not really much else to take in this
game other than the fact that the best thing you
can take from it is that when you have a
team that is down and out and a team that
is in complete disarray and you score, like you said,
within a minute of scoring. Now, I don't think the
(20:34):
game is over at one nil. Okay, no game is
over at one nail. But when they kept scoring and
it becomes two and three, then you know, it's it's
basically an exercise for the for the next hour.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
I mean, the group Cha was getting blown up with
with gifts because I couldn't keep up with all the
goals ever coming.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Yeah, I had. I had to put my phone on
silent about six pm on Sunday. But no, no, it
was I think that was the best part of it,
just that they they not so much that they piled
on because that was kind of cosmetic and listen, great goals,
especially Madison a second goal, but the fact that they
scored so quickly and just got on them and kept
(21:14):
at it, and I guess sometimes it's not that easy.
And as we've seen from Tottenham, I mean, you can't.
You can't put a dollar, a pound anything on that
team to win, loser draw, because you, like you said,
you really don't know what you're gonna get, but who knows.
Maybe by the end of the season. I mean, here's
the thing, here's the best part about it. Like there's
(21:36):
still half a season to go. You're still involved in
in all these in all these competitions, and they're going
to play a ton of games. Yes, like last season
they didn't play a ton. I mean, you know the
loss of Forest which left you scratching your head in
the in the.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Cup they are four right now? Yeah right, it's not
and we've seen in years past that that is not
an over comable feet even a couple of months left
in this season.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
And not only is the pictureless going to get fast
and furious here, but if if Tottenham beats the United
on Thursday, the Caramell Cup semi finals are two legs,
that's home and away. Europa League, which I know you
(22:23):
weren't thrilled with. Although they did get that late goal. Listen, goot,
it was fine and that atmosphere I thought they played okay,
I thought one one was was just just to kind
of mention that game. I thought it was fitting of
how they I mean they listen, Forster made an amazing save.
They they they could have lost. Should they have lost,
(22:44):
you can argue that, but I thought one one was
not the worst result for either side, although Rangers were
I mean, they would have exploded had they ended up,
had they ended up getting the victory, So it was
a little disappointing for their fans and kind of it's
kind of a saving point there as they stay right
outside that top eight and that's another two games that
(23:05):
they want to avoid playing. Although they have to play
a Carabell Cup semi final. You don't want to play
those two extra games against the likes of a team
from Bulgaria or Sweden or Norway or just to get
by which and then end up going on to the quarterfinals.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
So I think they's a good spot for Europa. They're
a point out of I mean, they're tied with Rangers,
but with gold differential, they're out of it. But Rangers
are in that final eighth spot and they both have
eleven points, and I think that the last two Europa
League games for Spurs a little bit more favorable than
the way.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Well, yeah, they Yeah, they go to Germany and they
host the Swedish side that's that's not very good, so
they should be able to get results there and then
comfortably put them in the quarterfinals and then they can
kind of sit and wait to see who they'll play.
But I honestly think that that is their best path
to a trophy this year. I mean, you're sitting there
with you know, with with you I did on Thursday,
(24:00):
which just we're going to talk about them in a second.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
I think that's possible to win. I really do it.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
It is, but I think it's more likely that you
dominate your way through some weaker European competition to get
yourself to play an Italian or a Spanish side in
let's say a semi final, and then maybe overcome that
and then play another German, Spanish or Italian side in
that or you know, a Cinderella or who knows, just
(24:27):
somebody that you'd be favored against, because I think not.
I mean, if you knock off Manchester United, you're still
probably going to have to get through two of Arsenal,
Liverpool and Newcastle, which is going to be no small feat,
especially over two legs, especially if it's my club because
you know that the electric Yeah. Could can you imagine that? Yeah?
(24:52):
I mean it would actually be even better if it
was in the if it was actually in the in
the actual final, Yes, because then and we'd have to
find a board op Kara for about or I don't know,
I don't know about seventy seventy two hours, and I'd
have to get on the WhatsApp with with some of
(25:13):
my contacts over there.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
Because on both sides of the aisle those.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
Yeah, those tickets, yes, because those tickets obviously they do sell,
those are not.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Could you imagine if we did that?
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Yeah? Yeah, can you imagine that? I'm going to be
sitting in opposite ends of Wembley going to the uh
the chick King after the game near Tottenham Stadium to celebrate.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
I'm going to expose myself a little bit. If if
United and Spurs and in a draw, is that a
replay or do they go that the penns? Is that
extra I don't know.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
So so they got so they got rid of they
got rid of extra time. I believe it. I believe
it just goes to penalties.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
I didn't know if it was this far in, if
they'd change it or not, but we'll see.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
I think I believe the semi the this round is
goes to penalties, and I believe once you get to
the semi finals, the two legged ties those are aggregate.
I believe. Yeah, I do think.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
I do think if we beat United, we're going to
be taking this competition way more seriously than you guys
Arsenal by you guys mean Arsenal and Liverpool. I don't
think they're going to play there full eleven in that.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
I disagree Arteta is under pressure to win a trophy.
He's Nie Arnie Slot's not, but Arteta is. Why is
he not under pressure to win a trophy because he's
competing Chelsea. Chelsea have been through four or five managers
since Ourtet has been hired, and they're above Arsenal right
now on the table. You don't think that his fan
(26:42):
base sees.
Speaker 1 (26:43):
That, Well, won a trophy and he still got sacked,
So what does it matter?
Speaker 2 (26:48):
Well, that, but that, but that. But the team was
playing like garbage, playing LIKEBA and.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
They still are. Marcus Rashford wants out, He's like, get
me out of here.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
So and they and they just beat City with an
amazing comeback. City goal to win it there as he
controls the long ball and then puts it past the keeper.
Just fantastic scenes there. I don't really care for EA
the Manchester team, but seeing one sticking in the other
is very entertaining for me. It didn't matter which way
it happened. I mean, you can go back twelve years
(27:18):
ago when Aguero scored the final goal in the ninety
fourth minute or whatever it was to beat United as
the United players like running around the pitch lick and
then all of a sudden they got word that City
had scored across town and the etty had basically came
down on itself.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
And yeah, I think I'd rather have a city. I
think I'd rather have City get the best of United
than the other way around. I feel like United fans
are a bunch of pratts.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
You know, well, well, United has a history and they're
you know, the most winningest club in English football and
city or kind of kind of the new kids on
the block, or as they call them, the quote nosy neighbors,
so nosy or no sorry noisy neighbors, not nosy noisy.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
Getting in their business could be noisy.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
Rue that. But that United City game was want to
behold and also may give United a little bounce in
their step as they'll take on your club this week
on Thursday.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Yeah, so that that's arguably the biggest game of perst season.
Like I think you can make a case for that.
Like now, obviously North London Derby and Chelsea at home
are like big games for the supporters, but like as
far as getting a trophy at getting something, I could
argue that this game on Thursday is the biggest game
of per season and it could be the biggest game
(28:31):
of per season for the entire season. It very well
could be, depending on how they do in Europa, So
we'll see. I do want to quick rapid fire on
some of the other clubs here before we get out
of here, if that's okay. Chelsea two to one winners
in a heated you know, a hated rivalry West London Derby,
(28:51):
same side of town. You know, they just hate each other.
I'm being tongue firmly in cheek. Chelsea two to one
winners over Brentford. Kind of weird. They didn't put the
game away earlier. Kukarea gets a second yellow. That sucks.
Don't feel bad for him at all, but he does
get the goal to put them up one nil. Nico
Jackson gets the second in the eightieth minute. They kind
(29:12):
of leave it a little long, a little play with
their food territory potentially, but sixty two percent possession in buemo,
they always get one. Brentford, like I mentioned earlier in
the stats that they're one of the league's top scores
despite them being at where they are on the table.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
They are oh yeah, well, yeah, Brentford's up there.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
Yep, So I think a little bit of er. But
you still win and you're right there in the table.
So I'm if I'm a Chelsea fan, I would be scum.
But if I'm a Chelsea fan, I wouldn't be concerned
at all. I'd be like, yeah, we won, no big deal.
That's my take on that.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
Yeah, Tottenham sit second in the table with thirty six
goals scored. Chelsea sit one above them. Yeah, thirty seven
goals scored, so we've seen they've had no problem putting
the ball in the net. They can still leave goals
at the back, as we saw in the first fifteen.
It's the game at Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium, although that was
more kind of you know, the freakish mistakes by not
(30:08):
wearing the right cleats on a certain.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
You know, the the second right goal differential. There's Liverpool
at eighteen, Chelsea at eighteen, Spurs.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
At seventeen seventeen.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
Yeah, and we are where we are there, yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Right, yeah, exactly. So it just it just goes to
show you that the the the volatility and the inconsistencies
of your club have have led you to that because
there have been matches when I mean that that place.
I mean there have been you know, four and four nail,
five nail, the Villa game, the Southampton game, west Ham
West Ham, and then there have been esli when when
(30:47):
you've gotten blown out. I mean there was that early
morning game here here in the States when they lost
to Brighton. They lost, you know, I mean, I.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
Mean a lot of the loss were like one nil,
you know, like like Ipswich one nil. I think Bournemouth
was one nil personal one nil. So yeah, and then
we lost technically by one to Chelsea, even despite it
being a garbage time goal to get it within one.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
But that's true anyway again regardless, Yeah, and Chelsea are
the high scorers in the in the league, and the
big debate this week is you know, are they in
the title race? I mean, we don't have to give
way too many thoughts on this because we're I mean,
we're not even halfway through the season. But if if
anybody wants to tell you they aren't, they're just being coy.
They're lying. I mean, of course they are. They're the
(31:36):
highest scoring team in the league. They're playing probably the
best football domestically consistently of any of the teams, and
they overcame a two nil deficit like it was nothing
at Tottenham, although it was obviously helped by I mean,
I don't even want to relive. Yeah, let's not the
defensive breakdown move on stuff, right, But whatever the case
(31:58):
may be, they you know, they did they did the
job onto they pulled their pants down basically, all right,
and moving on that result, yeah, well that result is
in the books, and so is this Chelsea win over Brentford.
And now they sit second in the table. They are
not in the Carabo Cup. They have been they have
been eliminated, but they are alive and well in the
Conference League. After going to Kazakhstan on a sixteen hour
(32:21):
round trip flight. I mean, those those poor fans, but
they must be rich fans because to a fourth flight
the Kazakhstan. I don't know. I don't know what their
I mean that travel budget is my goodness. That game
they had to have chartered. I assume that they've chartered
flights there for the fans. That's what I have to assume.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
That game was colder than the coldest game I've ever
been to at lambeau Field. That's how cold that came was.
So I hope they trust form a couple two other
clubs I want to get to before we get out here,
we should touch on the league leaders. We really haven't
touched on Liverpool that much because they keep winning. But
they did drop points to Fulham at home. Funny enough,
(32:59):
a straight red hard to Andrew Robertson. Antony Robertson or
Anthony Robinson is the best left back in the league.
Fight me if you want. The guy is UnrealEd. He's
probably gonna be playing for Liverpool next season. He is
amazing and he showed it today or he showed it
the game. Two assists. But they how do Liverpool drop
(33:21):
points there? I mean, I get the red card and
they do fight back and equalize with Jodah late but yeah,
I don't know. I feel like that's that's a pretty
big l if I'm a Liverpool fan.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
No, I think it's a point. That's a good point
for them. I mean going down to ten men, yeah,
against an in form fulham side when you're when your
form isn't you know, the the greatest at the moment.
I mean, they eked by a Spanish side midweek and
(33:54):
I know they have a perfect record in the Champions
League right now, but they didn't look tremendous in that
in that match, and I think some of their players
are getting a little tired, little worn down. You see
some of the changes that that slot's making. He made
some changes in that match, and I think he'll continue
to rotate the squad, especially this week in the Caravell Cup.
(34:15):
They're still alive and they'll.
Speaker 1 (34:17):
They get to Southampton.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
Yeah tomorrow against Southampton, so they should cruise and then
you'll have Liverpool in the semi finals as potentially one
of Tottenham's opponents or Arsenal's opponents if they should make
it there. But I mean Liverpool are They're They're right
where I expected them to be a couple of weeks ago.
They're still they're still on top of the table and
(34:38):
I didn't think that they were going to go anywhere,
but they definitely can show some more consistent results for sure.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
So we expected them to be there. Who we didn't
expect And I think it's high time that we gave
this club a little credit because it's almost Christmas, two
weeks away from Christmas and Nottingham Forest are in the
top four. And the last two games they beat United
at a old Trafford three to two in the Premier
League and then they beat aston Villa at home two
(35:05):
to one and they're in the top four. Like I
don't I need to sit down this Saturday and watch
Forest first Brentford start to finish whistle to whistle because
I need to know what the hell's going on. They
just keep pumping out results man. And yeah they lost
the City the two games before that three to zero.
That's City for you, not recently, but still you're in
(35:28):
the top four at Christmas time and you're Nottingham Forest.
I mean, what else can you ask for, Robbie. I
think it's time I acknowledge them.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
No, they they have some very quality players in their squad.
I mean Anthony Alongo was a guy who United basically
kind of tossed to the side, and he was viewed
at one point as the front line successors with Marcus Rashford,
who we had some news today that he wants to
leave the club. But Alanga is thriving at Nottingham Forest
(35:59):
and maybe that's what Marcus Rashford sees because when the
two of them were there, I remember thinking, well, you
know this, this United side is young, and it is
and and is is attack minded. But Rashford probably going
to go somewhere else, and and along has done a
great job along with Chris Wood who who came over
(36:20):
with a with a I think it was a thirty
million transfer free from Newcastle, big striker and he's done
a great job scoring goals for them. They're solid at
the back, I mean, Morgan, Gibbs, White and they they
have some good pieces and they really work together in
that new No system, and they they find a way
(36:41):
to score early and score late. I mean they've they've
they've they have a habit of doing both this season
and kudos to them. I don't know if they're going
to stay near the top four for the entire season,
but I mean if they're in it with three or
four games to go and they have a chance to
nick forth from from uh you know, let's say a
uh you know, Manchester City or or or or Arsenal
(37:05):
or Chelsea whoever even Tottenham or United. What we'll see. Yeah,
So I I just think Forest so far have have
done a great job and new Know right now is
the manager of the season, no.
Speaker 1 (37:18):
Doubt about it, which is just a wild sentence to
say that Neto is the manager of the season.
Speaker 2 (37:24):
But yeah, we're about to play Carabell Cup games and
he basically had a cup of Cariboo.
Speaker 1 (37:30):
With yes for the for the local listeners in Minnesota.
So anyways, I think that about wraps it up the
biggest game of season for my club, I think on Thursday,
and we'll see where the draw may lie. Will we
see two more extra North London Darby's or will Spurs
crash out and everyone rips some even though they made
(37:51):
it to the quarterfinals. But we'll be back next week
to recap all the action this has been The London
Club Council
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